 Welcome to the Board of Selectments meeting for Monday, February 25th. I'm going to send it to everybody, you know, that our library is in a vicious competition with Belmont, Lexington and Somerville for which of us can sign up the most number of people for their library cards. We beg you please, before the end of February, is it 7, what's the last? February 28th. At 8.45 p.m., to please go to the library and sign up for a library card. It won't hurt you, but it will help us significantly. So item number one, for the consent agenda, which are the minutes of the meeting for February 11th, an appointment of new election workers, Jean Griffin and Charles Seamus, both for precinct 12. Move approval. Move approval. Is there a second? Second. Second. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. Selectment Mahan will not be able to be with us this evening. She is, and her cheerleading team, Marie, are participating in a state competition. It was canceled from yesterday. Yeah, didn't feel the need to ask me to compete, apparently. So they probably have a chance of winning. We are going to have a public hearing, but I'm going to take up two items very, which are quick items just before that, a public hearing on CDBG. And the first is to welcome back here a gentleman who graced this hall as a former selectman, and he has served as a chair of our Selectment Awards Committee. So let me call to the microphone Mr. Jack Hurd. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Pleasure to be here. We're submitting to the board our nominations for the town honor awards. And as I mentioned at the last visit I came a few weeks ago, we had an outstanding group of individuals that were nominated. We spent some time going through them, of course, and come up with some recommendations for the board of selectmen. And so I want to present to you all of the nominations. So you have them, including the ones that we're recommending for your review. And ultimately, of course, you folks will decide who is awarded the awards. The date, I think you folks are going to have a conversation at some point. It's going to somehow dovetail with the anniversary of Town Hall. So I believe that may be on your next discussion. It will either be towards late spring or perhaps early fall. But yes, we are trying to tie it into that, but we will discuss that and get a date together. So the process from here is we take these nominations from the committee and thank you very much to you and your committee for having done such a great job, Jack. And then this board will discuss, and perhaps if there are other nominations from this board, but and then these awards will be given out, as I say, at a ceremony in the very near future. So Mr. Chair, I move receipt of the nominations of the selectmen awards committee. Okay. Second? Second. Do we have a discussion? All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. And so Jack, these are all the nominations. This is the detail. You gave us that matrix, I know. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Jack. Okay, and next we have an appointment to the Allenton Committee on Tourism and Economic Development. And we ask people when they're first appointed to committees to please come before the board. And so let me call Paul Dredge forward. Mr. Dredge, welcome. Yes, sir. Okay. There are millions watching at home, Paul. So we want to be sure that all of them get to see you. But thank you for your willingness to serve. I've often said volunteers are the lifeblood of the town of Allenton. And this is a committee that we are particularly excited about. Are you as well, sir? And so am I, yes. Any particular reason that you have this interest? Well, I've lived in Arlington since 76, raised five kids, three of whom still live in town and have children and are married. And what's wrong with the other two? Well, they'd be coming back here. One moved to Northampton and one moved to Texas. But I thought it was time to give back. So this sounded like a really interesting thing to do, an important thing to do. So I'm here. Thank you very much for your willingness to do that. Comments, questions from the board? Mr. Curell. I just want to say that myself, as liaison of this board to the ATED, and Angel Oschewski, the chair of the Tourism Academic Development Committee, interviewed all of the candidates. And we're very pleased to recommend to the board, Dr. Dredge's appointment. So I would move to appoint Paul Dredge as a member of the Arlington Committee on Tourism and Economic Development. Thank you, Mr. Dunn. A second, sorry. Oh, he got in there in front of you. He didn't even make it the boat. Well, but far better. Any other comments or questions? OK. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. Thank you, Dr. Dredge. Thank you very much. Yes, sir. Thanks for living in Arlington since 76, by the way, too. It's been great. I have to run to a rehearsal. Thank you. Yes. So this is a public hearing. First of all, we're going to have a report on CDBG performance update for this past program year 2012, and we're still in it 2013. Carol Eisen. Thank you for the opportunity to present the update and the request for the next program year. Go to the request first. You're probably accustomed to. You're going to do the request. What are you saying? Are you reporting on the year first or? Well, the report, we can do the report first. We have, we've submitted reports that were provided by the recipients, including recreation, reporting on the scholarship program. They've received, to date, they've disbursed $1,565 to three individuals and families for the recreation scholarship program. For the jobs, jobs, jobs program, Arlington Recreation Fidelity House and the Boys and Girls Club have disbursed by January $4,000 to five individuals for those programs. And North Union Basketball Court received $59,000 to assist with the renovation of the basketball court at the North Union Field. And Arlington Youth Hockey Scholarship Program allocated $5,300 to seven individuals for scholarships, for hockey scholarships. The Housing Corporation of Arlington is a little detailed, but I don't know if I can summarize this. But most of what they've worked on is Capital Square. The apartments, you're familiar with. I think a lot of you are at the ribbon cutting. I'm going to try to go through these quickly. Just want to skip around and give you some highlights. Arlington Youth Counseling Center provided CDBG assistance to 28 eligible clients to date this fiscal year for the amount of $15,425. I think we already talked about this. Those are some of the highlights for public services. For the coming fiscal year, we don't yet know what our allocation will be. That's not unusual for this time of year. Our current allocation for the current program year is $1,020,887. It's been recommended to us that we operate under the assumption that we'll have a 10% cut. So if you add projected programming income of $150,000, we are operating under the assumption that we'll have $1,068,798 to disperse for requests. The total requests received is $1,376,448. I'm sorry, what was that number? $1,376,448. OK. Thank you. And that is $725,000 for housing, affordable housing. For public services, we've received about $250,000 in requests for public facilities and improvements, $197,000. Planning is requesting $94,300. And for administration, we're going to need $110,630. That sounds like actually lower requests than usual. I think they are a little lower than usual. I think that a lot of our recipients have observed the pattern of decreased allocations. And I think they've adjusted knowing, this is my conjecture, but I think they have seen that they can't expect the requests to increase when the allocations have not even stayed level. Carol, excuse me, but the memo we have says planners, the request is for $40,000. Did you just say $110,000? The planning category, the request is $94,300. So for planner staff, it would be $40,000. Right. Mr. Chair? Yes. In fact, I'm wondering just for, we obviously are all familiar with this program. I was wondering if for the folks who are listening and home are here, if you might set the table with just a couple sentences about the CDBG, what it is, where it comes from, and what it can be used for. Just for the interest of folks who are trying to follow along. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has administered the Community Development Block Grant program for communities that have a percentage of their population that meets the definition of low income. We have received community development block grant funds since the 70s, since the program's inception. Arlington is what's called an entitlement community. Not every community gets a guarantee of funds every year. Arlington does. And that's been hard fought actually over time. There are a number of communities that get to compete for community development block grant funds. We don't get that. We get this. So it's just two different ways that HUD administers these funds. Thank you. That's a little bit of information. And there to be distributed across a series of categories but to assist low and moderate income neighborhoods specifically, right? That's right. And these are specific categories. And there are some criteria for each and some limits on how much of the total can be spent in two of these categories. I just always like to point out on the CDBG, what a debt of gratitude we owe Carol references. What a debt of gratitude we owe to Tip O'Neill, Alan McLennan, and Charlie Lyons. These community development block grants entitlements are two communities with a population of 50,000 plus. And when Arlington went below 50,000, they went in to Tip O'Neill and he was able to and through the work of Carol and Adam and others continuing through the year. So we, even though a population of about 43,000, we still get approximately $1 million a year in funds. And you'll hear in a moment from a number of excellent causes around town of people who request these kind of funds. But sorry, I just. Oh, thank you. I think that's worth remembering. We are fortunate that we have a diverse community. And we want to continue to serve everyone in this community. And these funds really help us to do that. Thank you. Thank you. Other questions? So next, we'll hear from applicants. Or is that what you want to do next, Carol, or do you want to? Do you know, like, right? And can you tell me, I know you're saying we don't know the exact amount we're going to get. But do you know how much is being requested? I mean, normally, it's like twice as much, right? The requests right now are $1,376,448. Really? Does that include the one we just got? Thank you. That's right. We just got the Housing Authority request, which is significant. That's for $600,000. So that upset. That's right, $600,000. So that's what it normally is. It's closer to double what we get in requests for what we're actually given, right? That one just came in. Thank you very much. OK. So right, we want to hear now from those who have come to make application. That's right. It's not required. The paperwork is required. But so I just want to move receipt on the report of what we've heard about so far. And then let's hear about the second. All those in favor, what discussion? Just receipt. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. Thank you, Carol. OK. So anybody here who would get? What a night for those who have formally graced these chambers. Clarissa Rowe. Gentlemen, it's a real pleasure to be here. I'm Clarissa Rowe. And I'm here as, OK. And this is Janet O'Reardon, who is, we're here for the old Schwab mill. Janet called me tonight as I got walked in the door and asked if I would come. I'm on the advisory board of the old Schwab mill. And as you know, Arlington is very blessed, Joe knows, because he's part of the Arlington Economic Development and Tourism Committee. Arlington has some outstanding historic resources. And one of the unknown treasures is the old Schwab mill. And it is still visited very heavily. And there's a little problem getting to the second floor. So that's what this request is. And Janet's going to talk more about the details of it. But I think you'll see more and more that will be coming to you with requests for trying to upgrade our historic resources. I'm actually going to the FINCOM to try to get some historic signage money for next year. But this is a terribly important part of bringing business and people to Arlington. So I will now turn it over to Janet. Before you do that, I wonder, Ms. Well, would you comment on the comparison of the chairmanship of the board of selectmen last year versus the chairmanship of the board of selectmen this year? Have you noticed any differences? I will be frank with you, Mr. Greeley. This is the first time I have been back in this room. And I haven't actually watched any meetings. I'm sure that if I did, I would have a comment on that. So I move we reject this request. No, I'm sorry. Thank you, Chris. You know I love you. And I'm nowhere near the chairman you were. Janet, excuse me, please. I think I haven't found it yet. But we don't have the Schwarm. And then these are as well the long-time volunteer at the Schwarm Mill and on the board. And I'm here today because we need a second egress for the Schwarm Mill. We already have one staircase. But I don't know if all of you are familiar with the Schwarm Mill. Are you familiar? We're a pictor frame factory, 1864 pictor frame factory, and industrial museum. And over the years, we've been trying to become a greater cultural and educational resource to the town of Arlington. We've transformed a major part of our second floor into an art gallery. And we now host four different exhibitions, art exhibitions every year featuring local artists. And we have numerous public events practically every month, whether they're concerts or lectures or art workshops or open houses. And we also invite a lot of educational groups, students. And in fact, one of the things that I'm sending around is a recent newsletter from the Audison students. The seventh grade technology students all come to the mill, over 300 come to the mill every year for a tour. So we've really increased our numbers over the years. 10 years ago, we might have had two or 300 visitors a year at the mill. And now we have probably 2,000 to 3,000 people that come to the mill. And so it's become very apparent to all of us who work at the mill, who volunteer at the mill, that we really need a second egress. We have one egress, but it's not enough for public safety. And so we're here hoping that maybe the town could help us fund a second egress. And I guess that's about it. I have the information there, how much it's gonna cost and architectural fees, construction fees. And we're hoping to do this hopefully soon because really we are having a lot of visitors and we do need to have a second egress, a good set of stairs also for older. We do have a lot of older people that come to the mill as well and our stairs that we have now are a little bit old and steep. And so it would be much better too to have a new modern set of stairs for our visitors. So I guess that's all. Thank you very much. So for the stairs and the new exit, you're at 33,530? Yes, that includes architectural fees and the construction and oversight everything to have the second set of stairs. Okay, so any other questions at all or? Is there a subcommittee of CBDG people? Yes, there are. And who's on it now? Ah, if you two would like to have a tour of the mill, we would love to give you one. And others who might be interested in such a thing. Yes, we would love to give you a tour. You'd especially like me at the top of those old stairway, I'm sure. Sorry, Janet, go ahead, please. Yes, we're open at the mill, open up for you. Yes, please, we would love to have you come for a tour of the mill and see our woodturner who still comes down every Tuesday from Maine and crafts our frames. We're still making frames as well. Really fine craft of museum quality type frames. And so we wanna, we have a lot going on at the mill right now, yes? So just, obviously just looking at this now. So the trust, is that a 501C3 yard, we're a non-profit, yes. Okay, fine. We don't charge admissions, you know, it's all donations that come to the mill and we just depend on visitors, you know, giving donations. Okay, yes, Joe. Yeah, I was just wondering, given that you're on the National Register of Historic Places, does that create any impediments to architecturally changing the building? Actually, unfortunately not. We did actually, in fact, included with the attachments, 10 years ago we actually entertained the idea of putting a staircase in at the time and we went through Mass Historical Commission and they approved the second stairs. So their approval letter is there and they've been notified that now we really wanna, we really need to see the need for an egress at this point, so we have their approval so there shouldn't be any problem as far as the second egress. Great, thank you. Okay. Actually, I have a question. It talks about a little bit about handicap accessibility in here. Is there any plans to? We can put a ramp, a little bit of ramp for the first floor if there's one little step to get into the whole ground floor, but as far as I don't think that there's one. It's not really accessible. It's not. And they're doing, this is a step-by-step process. Really what they need probably is, well the main entrances can easily be fixed. There are a number of sets of steps that would have to have ramps. So it's possible, but it's, this is the first step to try to get people safely to the second floor and then the ADA work will have to come second. Great, thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. So everybody's clear. The process from here is that all of these applications, and of course once we know the specific amount, and the subcommittee will meet with Carol and come back to this board. The five members of this board and the town manager, we're the six who actually vote on these. We do go to town meeting with our recommend, with our vote and ask for their blessing on that vote. Okay, who else would like to speak? Okay, the outside, Peggy. And if you would please identify yourself right away and the amount you're asking for right away, if you would please. I'm sure this is the excellent program we funded before, Pegger. Hi, my name is Peggy Regan and this is Janet McGuire. And we are co-founders of the Operations Success Homework Center that we run and done in a metatomy manner. We come every year, so you probably know our story, but I'll just briefly fill you in. This is our 15th year. We are open four nights a week. We do homework support for the students in metatomy manner, who live in metatomy manner. We average usually between 15 and 20 kids a night. It gets a little crazy, but we're pretty tough. So that's not usually a problem. But Janet and I started this 15 years ago, but we couldn't have done it, first of all, without you people for helping us with the grant. So we appreciate that. The Allenton Police, who have always been very supportive of us, and also the Allenton Housing because they give us the apartment. We also couldn't do it without the volunteers. It's strictly volunteers. It's been volunteers straight for 15 years. So I'd like to just publicly thank, if you just bear with me for a minute, retired teachers from Allenton, Sunachella and Barbara Weba, current teachers from Audison, Travis Woodward, Rachel Parkin, Julie Keyes, Judy Packer, Jason Levy, Jenner Fernandez, Randy Flynn, Matt Coleman, and Stephanie Carlson. I mean, they teach all day, and then they come down. They're amazing, and they're very happy to be there. They're pleasant, so that's nice. Community members, Carol Whitney, D. Savioli, Chris Doyle, and Ethel Doyle, and we have a student volunteer, Danny Bianchi. So again, we couldn't do it without them, so we appreciate them. That's why we wanna publicly thank them, and now Janet will fill you in on the highlights of the year. And the request is for $6,000? Yes, it is. That's her, that's her. Oh, sorry. Oh, that's okay. Sorry, go Janet. We'd like to thank you very much. We have the new computers. Dan Sheen and David Good. I cannot thank them both enough, and for you people, for allowing that this year. The computers just enhanced the program tremendously because of the academic demands of school, the computers are all up and running and working well. So thank you very much for doing that because we couldn't have done that within the grant amount last year, so thank you. This past year, we have 28 kids right now signed up for the program. We have about six high school students that continue to come down, applying for colleges, asking for help for college applications, asking how to do fast performs, and all of these fun things that we do for our own kids. Now we're doing it for our own other kids. This year so far has been very successful. We have had cultural events. We had one cultural event that we didn't use CDBG grants for because we never can do that. So we had our own fundraiser and we took them into Boston. Lifeline ambulance was so generous and they took us in. So the kids enjoyed that. It was a treat for them. Did they use sirens? Excuse me? Did they use sirens? Yes, yes. No, we got the luxury bus. Okay. Before we had the sirens going. This year we've also had student nights and for girls nights separate and then a boys night separate. For anything to talk about domestic abuse. Also what's going on in their lives to set goals, to move on, to see what's out there for them. Instead of just getting settled. The students have, we're seeing academic gains with the students. We feel that they're really progressing. They're buying into the program for themselves. And just to see where and what they wanna do with their lives. They're not just settling as middle school students. They're becoming very mature. This year also we're asking a lot of the kids' families cannot afford backpacks and summer reading books. So we are putting that in the grant for this year because we've had to do that on a supplement, on another way. And I need to thank and I'm sorry on this is Anna Witton. Anna Witton has been fabulous with us. So I need to thank her very, very, very much. So, and she guides us. We cannot go over this, we can't do this. So thank you. But this year we are asking because some of the kids are going to school without backpacks. And some of the kids do not have reading books for the summer. It's a different life. And we need to help them because they are part of the Allenton community. Would love to have you come down some night. I know you guys are very busy, but would love to have you come down and visit. It's a wonderful organization. And I just keep on seeing it improving. So thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Janet. Sounds like you do quite a bit with that money. Thank you so much. Next. Hello, my name's Lisa Urban. I'm the Youth Program Director at Fidelity House. And we run a pretty unique program that we can only do with the assistance of the CDBG. And you guys have been incredibly helpful in the past. And hopefully this year too. Oh, we don't have this one here. Thank you. Thanks. We can still quiz you. You can just say read it. Just so people who don't know what we do, we try to make it an inclusive year round program to try to offer as many opportunities as we can for kids in Arlington that live down at Minami Manor. So during the summer, we have a summer day camp that's offsite, that they have swimming lessons. They just, it's a true old fashioned camp experience. And we go down in the mornings, pick them up in the school bus, bring them to camp. We use over $8,000 of the money that you give us for scholarships so they can come to camp and then drive them back at the end of the day by the school bus. And then during the school year, we go down, pick them up on Tuesdays, bring them to Fidelity House, they get free memberships. Pretty much whatever program they'd like to do, they apply to join in, whether it's a basketball team or first through fourth grade sports programs or whatever programs that we're offering that financially their family could not afford to do. And then we bring them back during the school year back. That's what we found was travel was a hindrance to them participating. So we make sure that we get them back and then we also run an onsite program. So we can try to meet the needs of all different ages. And we really through middle school see those kids and then they come back, whether they work at our day camp during the summer, but it really is a great program that we see the kids from the time they're little and it's a stable environment that they're always in and they just, you know, they're part of the community then and it's just, it's a great program and we can't do it without the CDBG and I don't wanna take it for granted so I wanna make sure I'm here every year and make sure you guys are aware of it. So thank you very much. Before you were born, I attended that camp. The day camp? Yeah, I did. 58 years. I literally, and I'm 62 now so you can imagine how long ago this was. I think I was camper of the mid-afternoon siesta break or something. I won some award, but I can't quite remember what it was. I don't know any kids. That's right. We don't have any of those. But good job as always Lisa, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you Lisa. Anybody else wishing to make application or? We have, we have I guess another 20 in front of us. Would you, is that a fair statement? So again, it's just that all applicants need to follow and many of them are applicants from previous years. Again, the subcommittee will meet, discuss with Carol's guidance and are telling us what we can and what we can't do as always and then it will be brought back here. Carol, closing thoughts or anything? Just quickly to say that it looks like we do have additional requests obviously so that amount will go up and we'll work on that in the subcommittee. But thank you very much for the opportunity and you can see an example of the impact these funds have. Yeah. Thank you. Actually I do have a, Carol, I'm sorry. Yeah go ahead. I'm sorry Mr. Chairman. What actually, is there a literal deadline? Because obviously I know we're gonna start considering these probably later this week or next week. Is there a, I mean, is it truly rolling or is there a? No, it was the 20th but I'll take them until Wednesday I think because we don't meet. It might stop me if I'm. Yeah, to accept applications. Okay. All right, if you couldn't hear her at home they need to be received now or it's closed so. Got that, okay. I had a question earlier this afternoon and so I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you. Yeah, we usually expect that they're in by this hearing. Yeah, okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, thanks for your excellent work. Okay, and I believe we already moved receipt on this. I don't think we did on the actual, I move receipt on the applications. On the applications. Okay, is there a second? Second. All those in favor please signify by saying aye. Aye, all those opposed. Thank you. Okay, a discussion, Water and Sewer Service, Gordon Jamison. Good evening, yes. My name is Gordon Jamison. I am the co-chair of the Vision 2020 Physical Resource Task Group. I apologize, David Gabarino could not be here. Work kept him late. Mr. Howard, our secretary is down the hall doing his FinCom duties as Mr. Don realizes. Heather Remoff is here though, member of our group. Scott Lever and Jonathan Houghton also couldn't make it due to work and other volunteer activities. So we're a busy group just like you all. So for you at home that don't really know what Vision 2020 is, you probably all get a census insert survey and we're part of the group that's the greater part of the bylaw-enabled Vision 2020, a bunch of different committees and subgroups or task groups that work to come up ways to make Arlington a better place. And our little task group, the Physical Resource Task Group, looks at things that others don't. So in the past we've done two retrospective of financial analysis of town expenditures once before the first most recent override, another before the second most override that's helped in the planning and understanding how performance happened. We've worked with the assessors to increase the visibility and transparency of their website. We've more recently, Heather had a very nice series in the advocate last spring. You might have read four or five series about taxation policy and assessment policy that we're continuing to work on. And we've had an interest in water and sewer over the years. So we wanted to share with you our thoughts on an issue that came up at town meeting last year that Mr. Rademacher remarked in passing that 25 to 30% of our water is not metered, meaning we don't really know where it goes or certain buildings are not metered. And we have to summarize quickly because I shared this with the manager previously. I think Mr. Rademacher will speak in a couple of moments. I think we're aligned pretty much on most things. We have some high priority items, which are making sure that we're not being overbuilt by the MWRA. It turns out that meters don't last forever. And after 20 years, they really start letting a lot of the water flow by without twirling. So that's an important issue. Our records looking at just stuff that you can get online pretty quickly, after 25 years, the metering rate may only be 87% or less. Obviously broken water mains happen all the time. I don't know if we're accounting for our estimates on how much water leaks when we have a large break. We have obviously water leaks and there's an ongoing replacement program. We flush hydrants in the spring and the fall now. I don't know if we actually attempt to calculate how much water is going there. And while the manager believes all town buildings and schools are metered, I don't know whether that's, we don't know whether that's actually the case. So we have a couple of different thoughts on what could be done. Most of these, I think Mr. Rettermacher will tell us are in process. Is that pretty much correct what you think? Believe, Adam? Or, well, finish. The things that- Yes, I believe they are. But the things that the board can do, okay, is, so obviously if we're going to institute, say, a water meter replacement program that's, there's going to be some funding required for that. One way to do that is to move to quarterly billing. We've had this discussion before. We had hoped to present the concept of sticking the water bill and the tax bill. That's against MGL laws. But we believe that that's the way to go because it's going to give us a one-time cash flow of about one quarter of our metered ratings, three or four million dollars. And that would enable us to stabilize the water and sewer fund while we work to plug leaks, make sure we're being billed the right amount. And for fairness, making sure that the users are all being billed using good meters so that someone's not getting a good deal while someone has a brand new meter that's been installed so we have a differential there. So, we spoke to the treasurer about this and he could implement quarterly billing if the board so measured, desired. And we think this is actually, since we can't do the double billing to save further on mailing costs, we think this would be an excellent way to move towards electronic billing because the water bills can be billed electronically. People could say, I don't want a paper bill, I want an electronic bill. I'm sure Mr. Dunn would be the first in line for that. And then of course we could promote more electronic payment so that long-term this could be a nice test case to see whether that type of system works well for other things. So as far as that goes, that's, oh, the other issue that would be helpful for us to begin to implement at the same time is the new water meters basically allow us to, we could measure them now and we could measure them 10 seconds from now. Well, I don't suggest that but it would be nice if there was a system enabled where the users could go on a regular basis and check to see how their water usage is progressing. I know David thinks that he'd be on that all the time telling his daughter to take shorter showers or maybe not watering the yard quite as much in the summer. So that's pretty much it. So I'm open for questions and for a response from Mr. Rodemacher. He wishes. And will you let us run the meeting? Gordon, thank you though. Do any questions for Gordon? Yeah, Mr. Dunn. Just Gordon, so I'm sure Mike's gonna talk about this but we have the DPW is hired a consultant to look at the water usage. Were you here when he came and met the board or did you see that on TV? No, I did not. And my impression was that was more about rates than actually the things we're talking about. I actually think it's both, but why don't we just see what? So Mike can speak to this as well. I met the fiscal resources test group on this issue about some two, three months ago now. Maybe last spring, or maybe September or maybe September. Yes, September the fall. And I think that conversation informed me when I had further conversations with Mike and then consultant Chris Woodcock. So some of the analysis that the consultant was doing is addressing some of the matters you're talking about, trying to balance what his estimates would be for a meter replacement program, working with Mike on unaccounted water and figuring out where the different pockets of that might be and how it can be addressed as well as looking at quarterly billing and what his estimates would be in regards to some of the estimates you put out. So I think we are very much on the same page in terms of issues to address and potential action items for water sewer rates. I think Mike generally feels the same way if you want to advance that. Since we've mentioned your needs. Yes, I figured I would at least stand up. This is Rademacher, sir. Thank you, thank you Chairman and members of the Board. I read the memo presented and as Adam explained, we are on the same page on many of these items. It's one of our biggest tasks here to get a wrangle on this unaccounted full water and I don't think it's necessarily as bad as maybe some preliminary estimates we're showing. Through our meter reading program that we put together we've been able to outfit a lot of municipal buildings with meters and are getting data from those locations that may account for some of that. We obviously think that maybe older meters may account for some but some preliminary studies show in our region where the water is so clean the meters last longer than other parts of the country so that's not necessarily where we're seeing a lot of water being unaccounted for. So I'm confident with the work we're doing with Chris Woodcock we will answer some of the questions that Adam mentioned about quarterly billing and the extra revenue we may, or the better cash flow will get through a program like that but in addition we're looking for areas where we can find opportunities to wrangle on this unaccounted full water. We've implemented an annual leak detection study now we were doing that by annually before it's fairly short money and it gives us a picture of the whole town where we may have leaks that are going unnoticed so we're doing a better job on that front as well. A few topics that were mentioned estimating water through hydrogen flushing and water main breaks these are things that we currently do take into account when we put together our statistical reports to figure out unaccounted full water. So the very good points were brought up by the memo a lot of them we are currently addressing and a lot we are on the plate for evaluating. Questions for Michael or Gordon or Adam? Yes, Mr. Kirill. Yeah, I just had one thing that was raised was water main replacements and I think Mr. Rademacher in your memo you said that one mile of water main replacement is at a cost of $850,000 to a million dollars to replace a mile. Last week the MWRA came and they talked about their major project that they're going to be doing along Brattle and Robbins and up to Park Circle and also over in the Brunswick Road area and they mentioned that when they're replacing their mains that they're going to have to do some relocation of ours too and I guess I missed it. We're going to get some water main replacement on their dime as a result of that and do you have a sense of how much that will be? Well, any work that they need to do to facilitate their water main installation and it's going to be covered by them entirely so they will pay the cost to relocate some water main. The relocation will include replaced. Correct, replacement. They wouldn't use the same pipe with new materials so there's going to be a significant amount, I think it's about a half a mile of water main replaced for the town in addition to the MWRA's infrastructure. They have some sewer main they have to replace in order to do their work and some storm drain work so we will get some new infrastructure out of that project. Let's look at about a half a million dollar value in water main replacement and then whatever the waste water. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. Gordon, do you want to say something else? Well, obviously we're quite pleased to hear all this and we just wanted to provide our thoughts to the board and one last question. If I were to get up a town meeting and ask about this would we have further information available maybe? My question was if I were to get up a town meeting during the water and sewer would there be more information available for us at that time perhaps or is that too early? No, I believe we are our goal is to have this rate study completed before town meeting and have some recommendations at that time. And so that's where I was confused. You call it a rate study but it seems like it's so basically it's an overall usage and ways to control rate study set. Is that correct? Well, what the rate study will make recommendations, excuse me, on whether or not it's cost effective to replace meters, are we going to recoup the expense of doing so? Should we ramp up our meter main replacement because we would see less water main breaks and less water loss, some of those things would be factored into the capital part of the rates. So the rates depend heavily on if we make a lot of investment in the system and you have to weigh the cost benefit of doing that. And the quarterly will be part of the package? Yes, the quarterly billing, yes. I look forward to hearing more. Thank you. Okay, Gordon, I just, I am always impressed with the kind of homework you and your Ramp Fiscal Resources task group do. So thank you for that. Thank you, Kevin. In terms of town meeting though, I would ask that you direct through our town manager if you do need information or some specific, I know. I'll be sure to approach the coach ahead of time and not catch him unawares. I've learned my lesson in those regards. Thank you, Gordon. Okay, so the correspondence is before the Warren article hearings, Maureen? Should I agree? Because of that. Okay. Well, I see Mr. Radosha is here. He just absented you his letter. Do you want to speak, Bob, to the letter? This is our, you sent us a letter about lettering in Arlington. No, you don't have to, Bob, I'm just. Thank you. I didn't come to speak to it. I just came for other things, but anyhow, as one point I'd like to add, just to enhance it a little bit, should I explain what that was about? It would be helpful, yes. Okay, you have it, they don't. You know, don't feel you have to speak. I just saw you there, so I'm giving you the opportunity. Basically, my letter was in regard to litter in terms of not having enough trash barrels around town. And a little bit on graffiti, but that's another issue. But in terms of the trash barrel comment that I made, that we don't have, we only have one within the town grounds, right? That is from Mass Ave to Maple Street Academy to Spangler Way. There's only one trash barrel behind the Whittemore Robbins in the playground. Now that's six close to seven acres. Down at the Jefferson Cutter, which is about 12,000 square feet, there are four of them. There's one across the street, Uncle Sam and a recycling, but only one on these grounds. So with the litter that's out back, just ask him to see what the big deal is about not getting a few trash bells put in. How's that? So it's interesting, this was on tonight. There's a resident named Maya Gins who was in, I think two meetings ago, or maybe the last time we were meeting. There was some follow-up to that. That was a follow-up to that. I believe I evoked Mr. Riddosius. And you encouraged me to. So I actually spoke with her both last weekend and this morning, and she's coming in to meet with Mike Rademacher and myself. Two weeks from now, she's organized a group of citizens to start tackling the littering issues. So why don't I put in a list of issues? Mike and I talk about trash bells, and maybe have an answer for you one way or the other. My point is, out in the garden there. I mean, it's a disgrace what's going on. There isn't one out there. When I come around here with my grandson on a Friday, and I've got a sticky lollipop in my pocket, and we come in here, I gotta go into the men's room to find a place to put it. So if you can have four down there, I think we could have about three anyway around here, library here and up back. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else here on correspondence that they sent us? Okay, move to receipt. So moved. Second? Second. All those in favor, please signify by saying nine. Aye. All those opposed. A warrant article hearings, article 15 by law amendment regulation of utility holes. Adam, do you wish to speak, is this? Oh, okay. All right, Mr. Lennon, excuse me. Good evening. And before you begin, congratulations, Kevin, on your awarded camp. No. No. The article that you have in front of you, first off, I do not take any credit for the article. It's entirety was drafted over 13 years ago by the original telecommunications committee, consisting of fine men and women who presented it to the board of selectmen. And at that particular time, as the piece of paper that hopefully you should have states, the selectmen decided for a three to zero vote to have confidence in the utilities and what they were saying at that particular time that there was a maintenance program that was either underway or was going to be underway in regards to the aesthetic work of the utility posts in the town of Allenton. I submit to you that even though almost 14 years has gone by and it's been 14 years of growth by these utilities in the town of Allenton, there has not been 14 years of maintenance on their products at the same time. Some of these utilities are not even in existence anymore. Some of the utilities that were mentioned, Bell Atlantic has been encompassed by Verizon, Boston Edison has been encompassed by Insta, Media One, the last time I checked, I think was encompassed by AT&T or Comcast. And sadly, the telecommunications committee is no longer in existence either. Therefore, I am only suggesting that whatever was on the boards with these utilities at the time is probably falling through the cracks in regards to any kind of maintenance in the town of Allenton. A little history would be that from what I've been able to find out so far in doing some research is that when a utility requires a pole in the town of Allenton, that utility has to turn around and pay a fee or a tax or something to have that pole exist so that they could use it. They pay that fee or tax or whatever it may be to the town of Allenton. And they in turn, if another utility comes along and wants to use the pole, they can then turn around and charge that utility to come off of their pole. Whether it's monthly or whether it's yearly, I haven't yet found out, I'm still doing more research on it. I submit to you that what is basically, this concept might be would be that in a word, the utilities are the owners of the telephone poles, utility poles or whatever, and technically they are the landlord of that pole. And the concept I like the board to consider is that the other people that possibly use their pole could be considered tenants of the pole. And a concept I like the board to consider is that, as we know with buildings in the town of Allenton, landlords responsible for their tenants. And they don't want to have any problems coming from the town of complaints about their tenants. They submit that what has happened over 14 years is that the tenants have made their various connections to the poles in the town of Allenton. And they have not been any accountable as to maintain them. As I've gone many times working up and down Mass Avenue, there's structures and things hanging on the poles right now that are serving no purpose whatsoever, such as wires hanging down. Brackets that used to hold up terminals that aren't there anymore. Now it's even going a step further. So one person mentioned to me once when I first started this project, what poles are you talking about? I started to make a list and I thought it was just totally ridiculous because it's gonna be about 20 pages long with all the poles. One of the poles that jumps out to me most of the time is right over there at the Sons of Italy, pole 770 over two. It's almost right outside the front door at the Sons of Italy. The 75% of the way up the pole is a telephone terminal and a little further right up is an electrical terminal and they've got more vines and branches and trees in and out of both of them that I've ever seen in my life. Another one is a pole right across from the Watertown Savings Bank on Mass Avenue. There's two cables that go from a pole on Mass Avenue and hit a pole on Mount Vernon Street. And both cables as they leave the pole on Mass Avenue are just sagging in the breeze. They're not connected at all. Doesn't make any sense. And lastly, I just noticed another one down here recently in the town of Allen and the Allen Center across from Caven Savings Bank when I was in the business for about 41 years we used to have what we call U-Guides which used to be a U-Guide would be protecting the cable that would be going up the side of the pole. Well, unless it's been fixed recently the U-Guides that's out here across from the bank and Allen Center, half of it's going straight up and the other half of it is not even connected. It's a disgrace, total disgrace. Lately what I've seen more and more is wires are now coming up out of the ground on the poles. Whether they be grounds for the electrical, grounds for telecom, I don't know. All I know is it is a temptation. The kids going to school, walking down Mass Avenue, what does this wire do? Let me yank on it and see what happens. There's no protection whatsoever. As they say, whether it be a ground or whether it be electrical wire or whatever. This just goes on and on and on. Condorts that come up the side of the pole used to be for protection of the cables. For some reason they can't seem to run cables into the same conduit, maybe it's different companies, so they add another conduit. Until such time as you got three or four round conduits hanging off of a pole and in some cases on Mass Avenue by string. They have pieces of string that's just wrapped around the pole holding it together. So one of the things I'm doing by bringing back this article. Every day we're 14 years ago, almost 14 years ago, with the help of the town council, the telecommunications committee, and other people involved, somewhere along the line it was decided we have to turn around and we have to give the board of selectmen the authority by changing the bylaw to at least get this process rolling, especially with the idea of ecstatic and cleaning it up in safety for the poles, utility poles in the town of Allington. What I would like basically again in repeating is to stress the fact that if people as property owners in the town of Allington, a so-called let's say held accountable in any manner, shape, or form to please keep your property up, why can't we do this to the utilities at the same time by basically saying you have property in the town of Allington. We're not trying to go after you. We're not trying to tax you, fee you, threaten you. We just say, maintain your property, that's all. If we can do it as homeowners, why can't you do it as property owners in the town of Allington also? Some other things that come across recently. There was an article in the paper of December of last year. It kind of has something to do with it in an indirect way. This organization in Massachusetts that was going after an individual, I believe in Stragas or Lynn, because they were not keeping their property up. I believe the way the story of what was demand was like a auto mechanic place. He repaired cars and he was claiming that people were dumping stuff on his property and he couldn't be fine for it. I won't read the whole thing, but the paragraph which is interesting states, under state law, a property owner is responsible for cleaning up even if he or she did not own the property at the time of the release, it had no role in it. I submit to you, utilities with your falls are property owners in the town of Allington, why couldn't they be held accountable at the same time? Lastly, one of the things which recently caught my eye was that in regards to litter in the town of Allington recently in the past couple of weeks, one of the wise men was once asked, what can be done about the litter in the town of Allington? And that man asked, answered by saying, we're talking a lot of cleaning up what's there, but the real solution is not putting it there in the first place. People must take pride in their individual property and the town's property. That was you, Mr. Grayley. I recognize it, thank you for saying it. Did you say brilliant, Mr. Leonard, is that? Wise men. Wise men, well. At this time, I would like Mr. Chapert to come up if he wants to add anything. Mr. Chapert is a town meeting member of Precinct 12, former chairman of the Telephone Communications Committee. Could I just ask you a question if you want me to wait, Rowley, if you want to? Mr., are you aware of other communities that have taken this approach? Not to my knowledge. I have talked to a gentleman over the telephone and he expressed to me, good luck. We've been doing this for 12 years here in Lexington and the state's been stonewalling us. I wonder whether there might be other state guidelines that protect the utilities. Oh, sorry, Mr. Dunn. So was that specific in relation to electrical power, that conversation with the gentleman from Lexington? I believe his issue was to turn around and have something done with the situation of all the utility poles and the conditions that they're in in the town of Lexington. What can be done to clean it up, whether it be a double pole issue or whether it be to clean up the wires or whatever, the impression he got, and he says he's been fighting it for 12 years and he'll continue to fight it, is that you just get stonewalled every time he turns around. Now, excuse me, I did not approach him with this because I didn't find this until later and I did not approach him with the idea that I'm not going with the double poles. What I'm basically saying is if you wanna really break it down is good housekeeping and good neighborhood and safe neighborhood. And as I say, all you have to do is just walk up and down Mass Avenue. I ain't even got the summer street and the side streets. It's deplorable, it's absolutely deplorable. You can't see, the more the issue has been and I saw this myself in the various phone companies, get it in, we make money on the end. We don't make money on taking it out. We'll come back later. And later is now almost 14 years. I'll pass. Okay, Mr. Byrne. I actually have a question for town council. Now, if, to say this more anecdotical, does go through town meeting, would we essentially be asked to you call the utility companies and just say, can you come clean this? And would we have any jurisdiction to them actually coming and acting on those phone calls? Well, Mr. Byrne, it depends kind of in what form it goes through and the article depends current form is not very specific as to whether certain standards of conduct would be implemented in the bylaws themselves or whether the bylaws would be amended to allow the Board of Selectment to promulgate regulations which the Board of Selectment would then do and how those regulations would be enforceable, would be part of the bylaw change that would have to happen. So if the bylaws were amended by town meeting, if that amendment was approved by the attorney general, which depending on the area may or may not occur, because in some areas, local regulation of utility polls is preempted by state law, there have been court cases to that effect. So, but if the bylaws were amended and that amendment was approved and there was an enforcement mechanism in place, it could be like enforcement of any other bylaw where tickets would be issued and those tickets could be challenged, but that's something that could be done either by the police or through implementation of regulations, depending on what form it took. Okay, thank you. No, and there's a number of other speakers for us, Mr. Shepard. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the board, Roli Shepard, town manager. When Johnny Leonard called me a couple of weeks ago, I really had to think about when did we do this? I'd forgotten, it was way back in 1999. I think, Kevin, you're the only one around at the time. It didn't go through, but unfortunately, there was some action that occurred after the fact. One of your predecessors, Jack Rear, had a group that put the pressure on both utilities to get going and primarily the issue at that time was to clean up a lot of the double poles. I think, if I recall, they were supposed to present back either to you or to the town manager or report on a periodic basis how well they were doing. They have reported to us once, but sorry, go ahead. Once? Okay. I don't know. I think it was, if I remember them right, on the double pole issue. Yeah, sorry, go ahead. Well, obviously it would have been nice if we had known even semi-annually how well they were doing. I think, I guess why I'm here is to back up John, of course, but to emphasize that there is an issue here, and he's talking about aesthetics, and that's a good point. It was in the original legislation, but quite honestly, I was much more concerned about this whole business of double poles and safety. So now if they've cleaned up a lot of that, there's no reason that they can't take the action that John is talking about, and from an aesthetic standpoint, quality of life in the town, yes, I think it's necessary. So I would hope that you can put something together here to present the town meeting that really makes some sense, it would be beneficial. Thank you. Couple years ago, I looked into this. I live across the street from a pole that has a big X on it indicating it's condemned. And it feeds, it goes to the pole next to my house, which is bent way over. The span of wires is too long, and from that pole is where I get my electricity, it's just a matter of time before things go down. So I looked into the state law, and the state law requires sort of timely replacement of double poles, but there's no penalty for not performing this, and that's the issue. In the last legislative session, which is two years, I counted at least three bills on the double pole issue, and apparently they all died in committee. So I'm curious what sort of penalty you're envisioning to get compliance and enforcement, is it to require approval of a new permit based on satisfaction of complaints against various poles in town, or what's the proposed enforcement mechanism? So, did you wanna respond to that, John, or something? No, basically, I will still go with the aesthetic point of view right now. The double poles are initialed, there's no question about that. But when this article was brought up back in 99, the wording is what attracted me once I rediscovered it. You could have a situation, and I'll just be right up front with it, you could have a situation where you could possibly clear some of the aesthetic problems by eliminating the double pole at the same time. I mean, as I say, I'm not trying to brag, but I've seen a lot in the 41 years. My personal opinion right now is that one of the ways that they're eliminating the double pole issue is in trying to satisfy the general public is by turning around and getting rid of 75% of the old pole and leaving 25% of it up top. That way, if John Q. Public comes up, the double pole is gone. I guess my gripe is gone. I have nothing to complain about as long as I don't look up. Then what happens is whenever we get to the rest of it with the other tenants, as I call them, that's fine, but we've kept this individual quiet by getting rid of the double pole. Some of the other things which may come up lightly, things that might be brought up would be like, well, how can we deal with this? We've got about five or six people in the pole, five or six different tenants. Again, to bring back the idea, you're the landlord, you take care of your tenants. Where do we get the people to do the work? Well, supposedly the economy is improving, veterans are coming back, why don't we hire a vet? You know, put them to work, give them a job when they come back. And oh, well, gee, this might have to turn around and be passed on to the consumer. It might be a cost. Well, excuse me, but not right now, but in the past, I own property in the town of Arlington. Whenever I fixed up my property, nobody did anything for me. I didn't get any rebates or anything. As a property owner, I just wanted to do it. As a property owner, and as Mr. Chappatt said, as a good neighbor in the town of Arlington, why don't you maintain your property? And we can all be happy. And lastly, I could think of nothing better than that basically we see a headline either in the Arlington Advocate of the Boston Globe. Insta takes the lead with Arlington to clean up Verizon to join forces with Arlington to remove excess waste. You got possibly like about five or six civil utilities and maybe I'm dreaming a little bit, but I think the first one was on board. The other people are gonna turn around and say, I want a piece of that. Because if nothing else, I don't even have to hire a public relations firm. They're doing it for me. And if I'm out there doing it, somebody's gonna buy my product just because I'm turning around and getting rid of waste. It's free publicity. Okay, very complicated issue. I mean, in some ways we need the utilities as much as they need us. But Adam, did you want to comment on this or Mr. Rademacher, do you want to? Very quickly. Yeah, but I'd like to ask you a question as well if I may. What is Mark's point? Let's say right now we do, we have an issue with the poll that's falling. What process would be falling? We'd call the utility directly. There's just one utility in charge of polls, correct? Even though there's multiple tenants on it. Sorry, go ahead. What I was gonna add was that, I think Mr. Leonard and Mr. Shepard and Mr. Kempel, they raised a very important issue in town in terms of multiple utilities and for the main utility in the poll, not maintaining the asset that's in town. But from what town council has said and what my grandfather directed public works has said, I fear that we can't effectively, as a community, put a buying lot in place to really get something done in this regard based on state preemption regulation of polls as well as the fact that if we put a penalty in place, I think we'd have to take a closer look at how enforceable financial penalty would be and whether or not the utility would really even have to pay attention to it and pay that. I can't help but wonder if we would be better served by working with Mr. Leonard in our legislative delegation and possibly even broadening that to the region if our neighbors are dealing with the same issues and working with a broader legislative delegation and see if there is legitimate state action that could be taken to address this issue in a more broad-based fashion. So I think it's a systems problem as Mr. Leonard accurately said, they have some financial incentive to get wires up there, but they're not incentivized financially to clean things up when they're no longer in service. So that speaks to the system. So if there's a means of adjusting that system regionally or statewide, I think that could be a much more effective tool. Okay, town council. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to pick up on a point that the town manager made. And I don't know if I have made this point to the board, but a few years ago, the town of Bedford did in an effort to address the double pole problem there, promulgate an enforceable bylaw with penalties through ticketing to put in the penalty that Mr. Kepline rightly points out is missing from the state law requiring removal of double poles within a certain period of time. And the result rather than kind of the utilities stepping up to address the problem was the utilities of Boston and Edison the time took the town of Bedford to court, to the Supreme Judicial Court and won that case. So that is at least historically been the unfortunate result of local efforts to try to regulate these issues. If I may just bring up a point, again, even though it is an issue, I'm trying to stay away from the double pole issue because if you concentrate on the double pole issue, you never get the aesthetics done in the town. To me, you can get the aesthetics done in the town without attacking the double pole issue right now. Mr. Dunn, I'm Mr. Carroll, sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about that, actually. I'm gonna play devil's advocate a little bit here and I hate doing this with the manager and the council, but as I read what's before us right now, what we're being asked of town meeting is simply to give us the authority. To give us the authority, there's nothing but specifically prescriptive that's laid out here. From my perspective, yeah. Yeah, I'm sorry, go ahead. Yeah, from my perspective, looking at this, it's kind of an opening and it gives us the opportunity to further look at the issue and if we are able to identify a workable way to approach this, we could act if we have the authority. If we don't have the authority, we have no ability to act. I mean, it feels like there's this kind of a theme here tonight in the last couple of weeks. I mean, trying to improve the aesthetics in our town, litter, maintenance of the poles, make sure they're looking well, especially as we're trying to make the town an attractive place for people to visit, spend money. I think it is important that we keep these on the table. So personally, myself, I'm inclined to support the language as it is here or something along this line that gives us the authority to look at the issue further and potentially regulate this. I don't see anything here that's directing us to draft those regulations until we have the information we need. Okay, Mr. Dunn. So I'm gonna come back to something you just said, but I'm gonna lay that out a little bit first. So I was actually started, I moved into town right around 1998, 1999. I forget exactly which year. And so I moved to this new town and I started showing up at Slackman's meetings. So I actually remember some of the stuff that was going around with the double poles. The first committee that I got appointed to in town was the municipal power committee, which was looking at whether or not the town should buy all the poles and wires and everything from the electrical power. So I can honestly say that I've studied this one not recently, but definitely in the past. And I feel like the conclusion that was made back then was we don't have the direct legal lever that we need to fix this problem, but we do have some legal authority. And the answer in one of the things we have is every time they come to us for a permit is we slow play the permit, we argue with them, we tell them we're not gonna fix this until you talk about this. And we definitely got their attention. I can even remember one particular meeting where a guy was complaining, a resident was complaining about a pole on Mystic Street that was bent over that wasn't right. And the gentleman from the utility said, I will have someone in front of your house at 8.15 tomorrow morning waiting for you. Please come out and talk to him. And I lived on Stokecroft Road at the time. So I came out and looked at the next day. Yes, indeed, there really was the guy there. So that was, but I think that there, and so I feel like the conclusion was reached then was there's a tension here. We don't have the right levers. And so the only lever we have is to just pull on this rope for a while and pull them in our direction a little bit and then using that. And so to me, my fallback position, if we can't do what Mr. Leonard is asking us for is we can definitely step that back up again and hold the utilities to the fire more when they come to us for the things that they need. So going back to the very specifics about what you just said, Joe, and so there's nothing in this language that's objectionable, but let's just say hypothetically, we vote and we say, yeah, tonight, we say, yes, we support inserting this article in this language and we say, respect the town council, please write us an actual motion that we can vote on because we can't vote, remember the difference the difference between and actually not for you, but necessarily, but for everybody else. When you talk about the warrant, the warrant is like an agenda item. You can put on the warrant, almost anything you want that says, this is what we're gonna actually talk about. When you get to town meeting, you actually have to vote the actual motion. So if we support this, then we're asking the town council to come back to us with actual language. And at the moment, I'm struggling at what that actual language would be because we could say, dear town council, please create a new bylaw section. Dear town council, please, like even like request a home rule petition to modify the town manager act that says Arlington has permission to control its polls as opposed to the other counts. You're like, I can't come up with and it's something that we could ask her to do that she could actually deliver back to us. Especially hearing the example about Bedford, like, you know, and I understand Mr. Leonard that Bedford was focused on double polls and I understand that you want us to be focused on aesthetics, but the link between the double polls and the aesthetics is they're both regulations. And I don't think that we as a town have the right to regulate these polls as much as what we'd like to. I mean, I would trust me, I would dearly like to, but I don't think we have the right and I think anything we pass a town meeting is immediately gonna get shut down. And so, let me finish. And so if we can't do what we'd like to do, which is control the polls, the next thing we can do is try to get what we want, which is better safety and better aesthetics. And I think we have some tools to those things, but I think that the tool being recommended here, I don't see us having the legal right to do that. Well, that's why I brought up the concept of the idea of property owners, meaning in a sense that they are property owners in the town. I agree that they are property owners, but that property ownership rights is very explicitly set in state law. And that it's related to the power generation and it's related to all that stuff. Utility polls aren't like every other piece of property in town. They have their own class of law. Let's hold on a second. Okay, Mr. That's a dang covered right. A dang covered it, okay. I can't believe there's anything we could write that would be approved by the attorney general. But I'm kinda leaning towards still writing something anyhow to put a stake in the ground saying, well, right to put, because as you say, I would really love to have the kind of authority Mr. Shepard and Mr. Leonard are talking about here. And at least we regenerate the conversation and say, you know, Allenton's pretty serious about the aesthetics of these polls and that they, you know, so I kinda wanna, I don't know, I would support taking a shot writing something up here. But I think when we do it would have to include what penalties we would enforce, right? Wouldn't it? But again, I'll bet you anything, the attorney general says no, but we've had the discussions, the utility companies perhaps have heard about it, and we follow some of the other tactics as you've recommended, Dan, that have been used in the past. So I'm just thinking that why not? Let's at least talk about it and tell them what we're thinking about. Sorry, the town council didn't see, she wants to tell me I'm wrong. No, no, no, I just want to point to clarification. All right, we'll wait, of course, to see what the full board votes, but I'm assuming that if the board votes to go that direction, what you would want is not something with the specific standards set up and the bylaw, because I don't have that here. What you would want would be something along the lines of what Mr. Curie was saying. A general authority to the board is likely to regulate some teeth without authority, some enforcement, but that the particular standards or time standards or anything else would happen through a regular period preceding before the board. Right. That is what I meant. I would move that, isn't it? Yes, and I would move to request that the council prepare a language that effect. Sorry, Mr. Fremont, I'm sorry. No, I just think that it's a silvery slope when we start looking into unenforceable warrant articles. And that's been a big issue with some other ones that have come across town meeting in the past. And I think that is something we should really consider before taking a vote on this, is how we will be able to enforce this and the best practice on how to move forward. I think that Dan had some pretty good ideas there about what happened in the past, and I wouldn't be comfortable supporting that. Where do you work during the day? In the back. And I think as a practice, I agree with you. I'm just saying in this case, sorry, Mr. Dunn. So one of the things that, so I definitely appreciate what you're talking about with trying to say like, do this. The telecommunications committee, I think was one of the ways that we held the feet to the fire. And I think that the Power Municipalization Committee was another one, because when you're saying that, say that we're serious about those things, that was, I know the Power Municipalization Committee really got their attention because we were, you know, it definitely worked. And so maybe, rather than try to do the bylaw, maybe creating another committee to beat the drum again for a while, might need those two ways. And if the drum beating doesn't get you where you want to, it builds the case that you need for the bigger picture that you're talking about. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Daniel, you're exactly right. We got some action because the utility companies knew that we were very concerned about this. And so if new legislation is written regardless of how it's written, there's gotta be something in it that says they have to come back and report to us on a periodic basis. They have got to keep their feet on the fire. I think that's really key here. You're probably right that it'll be very difficult to write some legislation that would pass muster. But even if they find out or get word that we're serious about this, it shouldn't be able to create some action. I'm liking it. So, Mr. Kerr. I'm fine with that. I like that. I think that the one hesitation I have is, I don't think I've heard that we know for fact that it's unenforceable. We know that something similar was struck down in Bedford. And I'm just so hesitant to close out the ability to act if we were able to identify why something was shot down in Bedford. And if we as a board were able to draft regulations that would address those concerns in the state. But how about the committee as a first step? I'm fine with that. That explores this issue as well as others. No, we just don't need one way to go on it. I'm an old guy, you can model to me. Well, maybe if the committee's formed and then looks into potential language for maybe next year's town meeting or moving forward after a little more work is done on it. Mr. Lane. I would suggest that the best committee to handle this would be the Board of Selection. I keep emphasizing the fact we've lost 13 years since anything like this was brought up before. Since everything was brought up the first time. I think maybe the word that we're looking for is guidelines. Some of the committees that I've been involved in are it's in that seems to strike the note that if you come up with guidelines, guidelines that maybe the utilities would have to acknowledge, pay attention to, whatever, that would be enforced by the Board of Selection. If you turn around and you make another committee now with all respect to the great work that the men and women of the telecommunications committee did, you're talking about losing almost like another year before it's brought up to the next town meeting. And it goes on and on and on. One thing, as I keep emphasizing over and over again, it's got me worried, is like I say, the why's that are now coming up out of the street. No longer is everything up above. It's why is that are coming up out of the concrete, out of the dirt and the pulp, not protected by anything. I'm reminded, I was reminded the other days when I was thinking about it, who would have thought maybe a couple of years ago you would read that animals in downtown Boston being walked by their owners were being electrocuted or zapped by walking on grates that all of a sudden utilities discovered they had a problem. Those are animals, fine. I mean, I'm not in favor of that naturally, it's too bad such a situation happened, but as I say, all you gotta do is walk up and down Mass Avenue and say here to Jimmy's and you probably got about 13 poles that the why is are not protected coming up out of the ground. There's nothing for a child to possibly grab, touch, et cetera. It's waiting for something to happen. Yes, who was first? I agree, Mr. Leonard, that the committee can slow things down. I also thank you, I think you might be putting us in a very high regard that we'll work any faster than the other committee in this regard because we are, by definition, we're a generalist board. I mean, we work on a lot of different issues at once and I think that having specialized advice, dedicated advice is useful. I would say though that I would still feel more comfortable if we drafted a proposed vote to town meeting if this is within the scope of the article, I don't even know if it is, that would create the committee that's proposed and that would still go forward and give us authority to promulgate regulations based on the advice that we were given by that committee. Mr. Dunn. Julianne, I've got a question for you. So the current, the warrant that's out there has an article about committees, excuse me, committees. I mean, like the reports and committees. Does that warrant article include the ability to create new ones or is it only, it lists the one? So we would have to have a different article to create a specific committee. Correct. Correct. I mean. I tried to figure it out how to fit it under this language and I couldn't figure out how to do it. Right, so there's two possible ways. One is the moderator could rule, and that's his ruling, so you're not mine, that the creation of a committee is within the scope of this article. I'm not sure how we rule on that. The other is that the board could receive this authority under the bylaw created by town meeting, if approved by the attorney general, and the board could create a committee to assist it without a vote of town meeting. My thought, Mr. Liner, listening to, you talk about the polls on Mass Ave, is that that committee isn't gonna make those polls solved by, like no committee nor bylaw is gonna make those polls be solved all by itself. In the end, they have to be reported by somebody and like whether we hire someone to go out and check the polls, but in this case, it sounds like you're doing it yourself. I invite you to take a picture of it with your cell phone and send it to the town website where we'll get processed and filed into our ticket system, and that's the type of data that I would use to talk to and hold the fire to the utilities, because I can't talk to them about the polls because I'll go for a walk myself, but at the same time, I invite you to, that data that you've got in your head has to flow into the town for us to react to it. Does that make sense? Yeah, the only problem with that is I don't have a cell phone. All right, then I ask you to write down the poll number, like 770-2 instead of in front of the Sons of Italy and pass that one along. Yeah, the only thing I'm afraid of that, Mr. Dunn, is that I have no problem with doing that. I mean, I could probably, I'm not gonna say I'm retired now, so I could probably go for a walk. People have told me to go for a walk for years, but I think it has just been a trend that has taken over. As I say, I cannot say it's one particular utility. I guess what I'd really like to do is I'd like to start with your top 10 and see what we can do. Independent of all this, I'd like to see what we can do. I bet Mr. Radosha would go for a walk with you because he was very good at putting a whole bunch of pictures together for us tonight. All right. Okay. We've explored this, I think, we haven't solved it, but I mean, we clearly know there's a lot of issues. I need a motion from a member of the board, but before, or Joe, did you actually make a motion? I did have a motion. It wasn't seconded though. Okay, so therefore, what would the board think of my appointing Mr. Dunn and Mr. Currow as a subcommittee of this board to take this issue, meet with town council if necessary, Mr. Leonard. And I understand it's not putting it before town meeting necessarily this year, but to come back to us with a recommendation of a formation of some form of committee or keeping it among the board itself or do you think that's a way to go at this point? I mean, we all like this idea, but I don't care how we word it, I really don't believe the AG is gonna, because of state preemption with their statutes and bylaws, that, you know. So we're not bylaws, but anyhow, you know what I mean. I'm not sure, let me see if I can read your mind or understand some of the other things that you said. So one of the things that you said is that you want us to leave it open for us to pursue something in a bylaw if we can. No, in regulations if we can. In regulations. That's why I like the spirit of the warrant articles. It's put forward because it actually just grants us authority within the parameters of state and federal law. But we all love that spirit. But no matter what, as a board, we have to recommend either no action or a specific motion. And you and I can recommend that motion on that. Oh, you're saying for short term to report back. Oh, gotcha. Yes, okay. Great, yeah, that's fine. All right? Yeah, you're willing? Okay, so moved. Okay, so so moved, is there a second? Second. So you understand what we're doing? They're gonna try and come back to us with something that we can then, therefore, hopefully put into a warrant article before a time meeting. Exactly. Okay? We like, everybody here thinks this is a good idea, but it's how we do it, okay? So all those in favor, please say the five. Right, moved and seconded. All those in favor, please say the five by saying aye. Aye. So opposed, thank you. Yes, yes. For housekeeping, does the chair want to put in a date for the subcommittee report back? Yes, I did. And your recommendation on that would be the May, March 11th, I mean, that's the next meeting. That's fine with me, I don't know. We need your, I mean, I think by definition, you're gonna be at one of these meetings, so. Sure, no, that's fine. But we can do it by then. Yeah. Okay. And we'll keep you in the loop, Mr. Leonard, okay? Thank you. Thank you. Okay, so article 16. That was quick. Adam, Mr. Oster? No, Oster. I should say Oster. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Adam Oster. The proposed bylaw would set pedestrian safety as a general criteria for street design. It's not retroactive. It has nothing to do with traffic enforcement. It sets a general goal and leaves the implementation to the professional staff. Because this sets a goal that has to do with the performance of the town's professional duties, and you are the political leadership of the executive department, you might be wondering why do we have to do it this way? Why does town meeting have to get in on this? And I think that's an important question. And I would start, first of all, by saying if this were a proposal to specify a particular outcome, which it isn't, you should reject it, a proposal like that. For instance, a proposal that there would be bicycle lanes on every street, a proposal that there would be four lanes on certain streets. That's the kind of thing that doesn't belong in a bylaw. That's the kind of thing that ought to be determined on a case by case basis. But in that respect, this bylaw is modeled after chapter 90C, it's the state law that establishes the general requirement that there be accommodation for pedestrians and also for bicycles in street design. The way that worked was a very short law. There's a copy of it in your packet. It's not important, but I included it if you're interested. Sets the standard, and then Mass Highway went out and promulgated many regulations and design specifications that some of you might be familiar with from the Mass Ave project. The principle of pedestrian safety ought to be in a bylaw to consolidate lessons that we've learned from other highway projects and to spare us from having to repeat certain discussions every single time. Only a bylaw can express the settled policy of the town. Forgive me for saying this. Selectmen can come and go. Town managers can come and go. Only a bylaw exists independently of them. Ow. Sorry, go ahead. I'd say also that to the extent that future projects and this is only about future projects face state and federal scrutiny, it would be useful for the town to be able to refer to a policy statement like this to support the designs that it comes up with. Recently, we've seen three years of dragged out conflict over street design, more than three years actually, including two attempts at town meeting to defund repair of sidewalks in my neighborhood. It's clear that street design is gonna be a bone of contention going forward. I learned last year that street design is actually the subject of a national campaign by Tea Party groups. Please don't laugh, but apparently bicycle lanes are the new United Nations black helicopters. And I attach to your packet, and again, you don't have to read this, but it's weird stuff. New York Times article from last year about this trend. I would like to read just the first couple of sentences. Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state efforts to control, sprawl, and conserve energy. They brand government action for things like expanding public transportation routes and preserving open space as part of a United Nations-led conspiracy. I'm not making this up. So, you know, Arlington, we argue about things a lot. We're gonna argue about a lot of things having to do with street design. We're always gonna have new projects in the hopper. Let's remove pedestrian safety from the line of fire. And in the process, simplify the process just a little bit. If in the future street design issues come up that affect safety, I want the town to be able to say this is settled policy and not waste time or energy over it. And we have wasted some time or energy over it. I'm just gonna refer briefly to some stuff from Mass Ave, although this does not affect the Mass Ave project because those decisions have been made. Last year, at the request of a business owner, the town with the very best of intentions made a minor change to the plan. They moved to bus stop. And it turned into sort of a jigsaw puzzle. And a lot of things had to be moved. And when the dust settled, the design for that area, which is down near Milton Street and Marathon Street, had been profoundly changed and not for the better in terms of pedestrian safety. There was a safety island removed. There was a crosswalk removed from the business district. So instead of having three crosswalks, there were only two. There were a number of other changes. And this made it into the 75% design. And I mean, the good news is the town fixed it. The town held a public meeting about it. People spoke up about it. The town listened as it has done, throughout this process. And my understanding is, although the drawings for the 100% plans are not available, is that it was essentially restored to the way that it was before with some other changes that didn't really relate to that. But my point is, I mean, I'm not complaining about people wanting to do good things for businesses. I'm not really complaining about anything, but this took time. This took money. It was about a year. The whole thing took a year. And it should never have gone as far as it did. It shouldn't have gotten into the 75% design. We shouldn't have spent a lot of time making drawings for it. We should have figured it out sooner. And it would have been better, in this case, if they had this bylaw been in effect. Only a bylaw can express the subtle policy of the town and no other local act speaks with that authority. I don't know if you've had time to look at what I wrote, I could walk you through it if that would be helpful. I'm seeing yeses for that. Briefly. We get it all just, you know, we get it on Friday, we got the draft, like so we've got your draft document there. Okay, I should explain that there's a revision that I think you have too that has three new words added to it. I'm not sure exactly where it is, but I'll tell you where the words are. And if you don't see them then you can write them in. But in the proposed motion, the enabling clause establishes that the bylaw will not apply retroactively. Section one just establishes that pedestrian safety should be the top priority of the town within the scope of the project and within the scope of state and federal requirements. And all those within mean that the bylaw cannot require the town to expand the scope of the project or require a more expensive design. It's not some backdoor thing that says, oh, okay, now we have to have, you know, bigger sidewalks everywhere and we have to have some expensive immunity for pedestrians. The changes that I put in after talking to TAC emphasize that even further. There are three words, excuse me, where it talks about the focus. The three words are programmatic and fiscal scope, programmatic and fiscal before scope of the design in section one. And that's just to make really clear that it's not a requirement for sidewalks. You wouldn't be in a situation where instead of refurbishing a street in front of a school, you were compelled to close the street down and discontinue a public way in order to protect the children. It doesn't go that far. It's about allocating the decisions that are within these frameworks. And some of those decisions are gonna be pretty small, but sometimes they're meaningful. Article two is just a definition of pedestrian safety. I tried to be as specific as possible so that it's not a catch-all phrase. The third section is, excuse me, it preserves the current role of police and fire chiefs in the process, which I remember from Mass Ave that they were able to weigh in. I want them to continue to be able to do that in exactly the same way. And section four is a modest reporting requirement, which I think is important to keep the bylaw present and paid attention to. It needn't be particularly detailed. So I guess in conclusion what I'd say about it, the community, through public participation, but also through town meeting, has a legitimate role in setting goals and priorities that the professional staff of the town implement. It needs to be done in the right way. The much better, I think this is the right way, as opposed to, for example, the idea of putting complicated technical questions before voters in the form of ballot questions. I appreciate from watching this process that adding the public to technical issues makes things harder to do. But I also think that it makes things better. And our staff does its best work when informed by that public participation. Arlington, I would say, is gripped generally by this whole question of how do we marry its democratic traditions to the technical demands of 21st century life and 21st century local government. And this bylaw is a small answer to that. And I hope that you'll support it. And if there are related technical issues, I'd certainly like to work on them to make it work. My first reaction, and I support you 100%, my first reaction is, how can pedestrian safety not be part of all street design projects already? I mean, how intuitively it doesn't, but I understand this is to clarify and set in concrete. The only thing I'm a little uncomfortable with is for that the requirement that this needs a special report at the end of the year, either in the annual report or at town meeting by the town managers. It's, you know, it's somewhat akin to we have to report on how well we did on, well, on every other issue that is related to projects in the town of Arlington. Do you know what I mean? So I just, I'm not sure, I see the necessity of that requirement, but I mean, I do, I favor this, but I'm one of my colleagues, Dan. I guess, so I'll say that I have a hesitation about some of the language in section one, which is, shall incorporate the greatest pedestrian safety that is feasible, it's stronger than I'd like because I like, because I think that all of this is a process of compromise of competing needs. And I don't, and I agree with Mr. Greerly that pedestrian safety is absolutely one of the big ones. It's not, if you know, a literal reading of that language could draw you to make some pretty extreme decisions about roads that I'm not quite ready to endorse. And let me go back to a specific example. So the example that you talked about where they move the bus stop, and then I move this, and then I move that, and so on and so forth. You think that this language would keep that from happening? I think that, I think it would have helped the town to recognize earlier that this was not a go. I think that, particularly with a reporting requirement that involved the town manager, that the staff would have been in a position to say, look, business, we'd like to do whatever we can for you, but this is just, and we thought we could do it, but this just can't be done. And I think that's, in fact, what they did say of what I imagined that they said ultimately, but I think they would have said it sooner. I guess that's the part of the problem is, or as much as I agree with the sentiment of what you're after, I don't necessarily agree with that example, because to me that example is the system working. Could have worked more efficiently, could have been faster, could have gotten, you know, whatever. You know, making these designs is a messy, complicated process, and the fact that we had a detour down one of it, to me is like, it's the cost of doing business. Well, I guess I just mentioned one thing in relation to that, which is that at the first meeting about the Mass Ave project, which was in 2008, people were talking about breaking ground in 2010, and now it's 2013, and we've just had another bump back by three months for advertising and presumably for when work begins. I don't think that's because of this incident that we talked about, but we might have been able to move faster, a little faster. Other members of the board wish to speak on this? Wait one second, yeah, go ahead, Mr. Kerry. Yeah, thank you very much. I like this as well. I mean, I think a lot of times bylaws are, I don't want to use the word prescriptive twice in one night, but I'll use the word again. And in the worst case, they tend over towards micromanaging, but that's not what this does. There are other cases where I think it is appropriate to be more aspirational and to use a bylaw as a clear statement of community values. And I think that this is important, this is important given some of the trends that we've seen. It's important to keep that before us. I actually do like having some kind of reporting requirement, not necessarily to town meeting, but maybe a paragraph or two in the annual report. Presumably, I mean, I know that in the annual report every year, I don't, and town manager, I'd fight him to chime in on this, but in the annual report every year, we report anyway on the projects that have gone on throughout the year around road design. So if we could just keep that in mind to highlight the safety, which I'm sure we do anyway. That's what I'm saying, but not a report specifically on. No, no. I don't think that's what that, I don't think that's what's asked for. I don't believe that's what's asked for. Just to that point, certainly not opposed to reporting on this as part of the annual town report, but I think this would be unique in the bylaws specifying one departmental function that would have to be reported on each year in the town report. So I think it would be setting a new precedent for dictating exactly what would be included in the town report, but not necessarily the one. With that said, I'm not opposed to reporting on it, but I'm not sure I'm setting a standard bylaw. I just have one more thing. I'm just wondering that Mr. Dunn's objections in the first section, if you'd feel more comfortable with something around, and I don't want to get into too much words, but I think I know we're going to ask council to do that, but just laying out the new design shall incorporate as its greatest priority, pedestrian safety consistent with state and federal regulations. Rather than saying to the greatest extent feasible, I think that's where you were nervous. Going in the right direction. You know, you're going in the right direction, but I'm not sure. I mean, obviously I presumably would want to defer a town council. No, I agree with my colleagues that I do support this. With, in regards to reporting, a question for Adam. How many roads are actually designed or redesigned per year that this would be applicable to? So that's a good question. I would defer to Mr. Rottemacher, but to some degree, every time a road is repaved if we're looking at redesigning the curb cuts and handicap ramps, potentially changing way out of the road, depends on what the scope of this bylaw would be. I don't know if you want to talk like about a simple repaving. Was there always something that could push it to a redesign? Is it not a redesign? Yeah, that's kind of what I'm starting to question now as well is where does this design or redesign kind of begin and end as, you know, in this policy that we're about to set. And I think that's important before we do, you know, add any, especially reporting methods to it. Sure, thank you. It could cause some confusion potentially. There are often roads that we will repave that have no sidewalks. And would this now require that we have to construct sidewalks to meet the bylaw? I feel that we may have trouble measuring this metric as we move forward on different projects. What is the greatest extent possible of pedestrian safety? It's very loose. So I think that we may have some difficulties enforcing this bylaw with some of the projects that we put forth. When we have a full-on design, such as Mass Ave. Corridor or we did Forest Street, there's another project in the center of town. They follow state federal guidelines and Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines for slope and cross-section and surface condition of sidewalks and crosswalks and so forth that set a pretty good guideline for pedestrian safety. I'm not sure what more can be measured. Thank you. I just want one more. Yeah, no, so with that being said, I do think that, you know, making a point that if we are trying to craft a bylaw that, you know, has a point that we are certainly considering, you know, this safety, public safety to be, you know, a top priority of ours. But I don't, I think that we have to, you know, kind of be, try to find some specifics that we can add to it that, you know, aren't gonna basically, you know, could potentially bankrupt our DPW budget at the same time. I think that I'd be, you know, I'm comfortable with the idea. I just, I'm worried about the implementation of it. So that's fine. Sean. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sean Harrington, Precinct 15. I didn't expect to come up and speak here, so it's a little bit off the cuff. And it's really about information that was used to advance this foreign article. As someone who was active within the Massachusetts Republican Party, I have met my fair share of Tea Party activists. What the gentleman was referring to was something that certain people who affiliate themselves with the Tea Party call Agenda 21, I know, I won't say that I'm friends with them, but I've met them, they've talked about it before, they're in great detail. And really it does not refer to what the gentleman is talking about. And I will even say, I don't know much about the issue. I quite honestly, I'm not worried about it. It's not even on my radar. I think the point needs to be made that this isn't, there's not as if the Tea Party or groups that affiliate themselves as Tea Party or Occupy are pushing to stop bicycles on streets or stuff. It's a little bit, it's far more complicated than that. And it should be really used to thrown around to advance a foreign article. That's just my point of view. Knowing people who are active with that group, I just think it's a, and knowing them who live in Arlington, I just think it needs to be clear that this issue does not affect, is not really, that issue is not really about bicycles on mass hubs. A lot more complicated, a lot more detailed. I don't even know all the details. It just, you know, I just want to correct a little bit of information from what I know from my personal experience has been, has been very active with conservatives and the Republican Party in Massachusetts. Thank you, Mark. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mark kept line precinct seven. For my benefit and the people at home, can we have a quick reading of the current language? I only see- The languages have developed until after the hearing. Oh, okay. All right. I'm gonna sort of echo Mr. Rademacher's points and Mr. Dunn's points. I found the proposed article that was very unspecific to be overly broad and really difficult to enforce. And, you know, and I'm grappling with what it means. I think everyone agrees that pedestrian safety is vital along with water and sewer and police and fire. We don't have bylaws on those, but requiring those are, you know, and how do we actually implement this one? It turns out for pedestrian safety, this sort of a law of diminishing returns as far as what you can do this feature or that feature. One of the most effective ones is putting a sidewalk where there isn't a line. And again, if you go and you have to put sidewalks on every street you repave and purchase land from private individuals or do easements, you know, there's considerable cost to the town. The next most effective pedestrian safety feature is a raised median. And, you know, can we put raised medians on major roadways everywhere? Or at least say a little island at a, where there's an intersection. That becomes problematic too. For example, in the center project, the proposals to take away the center median in order to put in bike lanes. So that would prohibit you from putting in bike lanes or else require you to lose the parking in front of Cambridge Savings. So there's a lot of issues. And then going down the line and even other pedestrian treatments that have little proof of effectiveness, there's the bump outs and road narrowing and the benefits are really scant and difficult to quantitize at all to know what benefit you're getting against the costs to other modes and other people's like will this benefit pedestrians at all for the given costs? So that's the problem. It might mean you'd want to take parking off the street because cars can block visibility of pedestrians. Do you want to do that? Do you want to band heavy trucking from all roads so that if a pedestrian gets hit by a dump truck or a garbage truck or an MBTA bus, they're likely to be injured much more severely than if they got hit by a car. So it's really a slippery slope and you have to put in pedestrian signals at every crosswalk. So I'm not sure how you're gonna go about and implement the idea. Although, it's a really good intention but it's really difficult to quantify and clearly define. Thank you. Thank you. Elizabeth. Hi, I'm Elizabeth Carr-Jones, member of the Transportation Advisory Committee and the committee's liaison to walking in Arlington. I'm here primarily tonight to apologize that the committee wasn't able to submit a memo or anything advising the board on this article. We received it and discussed it at the last meeting but didn't have enough time to formulate any specific recommendation to you. But I will say that our discussion at the meeting was similar to your discussion here before anybody got up. Many of us were sympathetic to the sentiments of the article or the warrant article and that we're, you know, we try in our work to balance all of the modes of transportation in town in our recommendations. So, you know, we consider all of the modes a priority, you know, in the same way. We did have some concerns about sort of playing out different extreme scenarios and how these might be affected by a by-law. And there was, you know, some question as to whether or not a by-law is the right excuse upon vehicle for this sort of, you know, work in the town. So I just wanted to report that that's where we are and if you would like the committee to prepare something for your review, we can do that, but we did not have time before tonight's hearing. Thank you a little bit. Yes, Mr. Purell. I think that we should take the tech up on their offer. I'm wondering when do you believe would be feasible to? Well, I do not set the agendas. So I don't know whether we can work out, you know, perhaps with Marie. Yeah, I believe our meeting, our next meeting is on the 13th, is that the second Wednesday. We may be able to, second Wednesday, we meet. So we should have enough time to prepare for that so that we can vote on something at the meeting if that's what you'd like us to do. So can I move to table this pending the TAC recommendation? So that's a motion, yeah. Is there a second? Second. But it seemed to hurt you to say that. My mind is actually on the bigger question. I'm having real debates with myself on what the right thing is. Before you completely dismiss this, could I just say one other thing having listened? Yeah, although I don't think we're saying we're dismissing it. Right? Do you know what I mean? I mean, we're just saying tabling, we'd like to hear TACs input. Okay, so that's bad. I did wanna mention that I did go to the TAC meeting and they were, they're awfully busy, but they were generous enough to spend about five minutes talking to me and I tried to incorporate what I heard. These scenarios, the sidewalk scenario came up, the school scenario came up and that's where those three words came from about the programmatic and fiscal scope, which it seems to me answered those kinds of problems. If they don't, maybe we can come up with wording that does. The other thing I'm hearing is limit the applicability so it doesn't apply to like, hey, we're just putting some new pavement down. I'm okay with that. I was thinking of big road projects and if there's a way to characterize that in a way that is sort of technically clean, I'd like to include that. And toning down the mandate, I'm also okay with that. I don't wanna make it so weak that instead of sort of taking pedestrian safety off the table, it puts it back on the table. I would also like to say that I think nobody likes to be told what to do, even if what you're telling them to do is what they would already do and maybe even especially in that case. However, if we don't do that, then you guys are the focus of this debate and the town staff is the focus of the debate. If we can do something like this, then at least we can say about pedestrian safety, hey, we decided this already. It's done. I was just reminded of the by-law that we have related to us making green purchases, especially around vehicles. And I wonder if there's a model there. And I honestly, this is really just, I have not looked at this closely enough myself, but I'm remembering we passed that town meeting and I wonder if there, I remember that it gave us the ability to, it said wait green, but don't do something foolish. So, all right. So, I think you're onto something when you referenced, do we somehow define the size of project here that we're talking about? So, you've compromised already, you've compromised after transportation advisory first hearing, you've compromised after what we've said tonight. What I'd ask you to do if you would, Adam, is would you also talk with Michael again in terms of that, you know, every time the street is repaved, how do we define it in such a way that, you know, we had a water main break recently, did that require some design, a redesign of a curve or something, I don't know. And then tack again, and if you don't mind, come back to us, because what I'm hearing is we're trying to work with you to find a way to do it. So, just a little more patience if you would please. Okay. All right, so on the motion by Ms. Currow and seconded, which is we're handling this until, well, basically Adam has had a chance to meet with tack again and any others you think are necessary and the input we've given you tonight and come back to us. Marie, what are we saying? I'm the 25th? On the 18th. On the 18th, on March 18th. So, just that I know, when is tax next meeting? The 13th. The 13th, that's what Elizabeth thought, right? The second Wednesday. Second Wednesday, whatever. So, the 18th was certainly, well, no, the 18th couldn't be the second Monday, obviously it would have to be at least the third, right? Okay. All righty, all those in favor, please stand by by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, thank you. Article 21, Mr. Evans-Maurice, if I'm saying that correctly, sir. Good evening. My name's Evans-Maurice. I'm here to discuss the homeroom legislation. I work as a police officer for Harvard University and I would like to work for the town of Arlington, but due to my age, I can't lateral over to Arlington because Harvard is not a civil service department. So, I go by taking a civil service exam, but because Arlington does not recognize the age that I can't get my score to be seen on the Arlington list. Now, I understand the town and the fees and trying to put somebody through the academy. I've already had, I have all of that. I actually went to the academy with some of your Arlington officers a few years ago. So, all I'm asking is to just have, I guess, a special consideration for my circumstance to be able to be seen on the list of Arlington. Yeah. Okay. So, questions or motion? Yeah, Mr. Dunn. How long have you been working in law enforcement? Five years. Are you a veteran, sir? No, sir. Mr. Cure, who's there? Oh, Mr. Berge, yeah. So, and you said that, how long ago did you go through the academy? Yeah, in 2008. 2008. I'm ready to move approval that the board recommend approval of this. I will say that I know it's sometimes controversial. I will also say that I know that the police chief and the fire chief have in the past recommended against these. It's one of the few times that I disagree with them and I respect them a lot, but at the same time, I remain, it's one of the things that, as a town meeting member long before I was a slackman, we've looked at a lot of these and I just can't reconcile with myself the age requirement that we put in there. I think that there's gotta be a better way and I just have a really hard time telling someone that they can't have a job because of how old they are. So, for all those reasons, I move approval. Is there a second? I'll second, but is not for the same reasons as Mr. Dunn. Mostly because you do already have the academy and I know that costs an awful lot of money to the town and going through, if look at the good thing about these is we can look at it on a case by case basis with that really huge expense out of the way. I come through moving forward in this situation. Mr. Currier. Yeah, I'm generally not favorably disposed to these petitions. I think I am willing to go along with this one in this case also because you have the academy and because you've been working in law enforcement. To my point of view, it has to really be a special circumstance where there are certain benefits that are brought forward. And I recall, I think we all recall an applicant a number of years ago who had served overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan and had worked in law enforcement in the military, that was why you couldn't, but whereas you're in law enforcement now and have had that sub-cost of training, I'm willing to go along with the motion. Yeah, I echo the board sentiments and certainly Dan's point, I know Adam might not be thrilled with us, the police and the fire chief, but I have always felt that if a person that age has for a long time now, you know, 32 is the old 22 and you know, my 62 is well the old 21 or so I guess. But if you qualify, if you meet the standards, you do well on the test, you do well on the interviews, you obviously present yourself well. I think you have every right to try for it. Thank you. So I believe I've supported every one of these that have ever come before me, so I certainly supported them. Any other, yeah. A point of clarification, Mr. Chair. The, in the past, the reports that I've seen to town meeting on these, and I haven't done too many of them, did include a statement as to what the applicant's actual age was. I don't have that information. 41. 41, yeah. Okay. Yeah, I mean, our vote is not making you an island 10 police officer. No, no, not at all. I just want consideration to have my scores. I was saying just let you go ahead, as if you were 32 years old and interview and go through the process and earn it. Exactly. So I'm sure you, good luck. Thank you. Mr. Dunn. Do I remember past ones that we put an expiration date? Yes. Oh, yes. But you'll include that in the final language for us to do. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. Please, yeah. Meaning what? He is one year. It's from the length of the list is what I think the previous votes have been. So the, we will recommend to town meeting. The town meeting approve him being permitted to join the list and the list has an expiration date. Can't come, yeah. Mr. Maurice. Yes, yes. Clear on everything? Yes, I am. Okay. Thank you. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Good luck. And article 41, appropriation and eminent of Main Route 60, Mass Avenue. Mobility improvement project easements. Mr. Rademann. Thank you. These are always long. Yeah. Always fun. So if you all remember, it wasn't too long ago we came and presented some different options for a project that we are pursuing in the center of town that will hopefully make improvements for mobility of pedestrians, vehicles and bicyclists and other users of the Minuteman path through the intersection with Mass Avenue Route 60. So that design has been progressed and we're at a 25% level. I think within the next month and a half, Mass Highway will be advertising for a design public hearing for that project. And as part of the design process, we have identified several easements that will be required in order to construct portions of that project, mostly handicap ramps, pedestrian ramps, which seems to be the norm for projects when you're trying to fit something and where it didn't fit before to build proper and safe pedestrian handicap ramps will require some temporary construction easements and some permanent easements. I believe there's 10 total, five of permanent, five of temporary, something of that nature. That'll be refined a little bit as the project moves forward, but it's similar to the process we used when we did the Safe Route School Project at the Dallin School and the Mass Ave process. We would get the values of these easements and make that known to the different property owners and purchase these by imminent domain, if agreed upon. Motion and more of approval. Second. Second. Discussion. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, item number eight, it's final votes and comments based on the hearings we've already conducted. Motion to approve. Some will second. Second. Discussion. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. Everything's been unanimous tonight. I've been so far. Item nine, Mr. Byrne, the non-binding ballot question in the overnight parking ban. This is from our discussion last week and I worked with town council to come up with some language for the ballot question. Kept it fairly simple. I don't think it will confuse anyone on election day. It's a simple yes or no vote. Do you favor lifting the town's current overnight parking ban? We looked at a few different options but I think that this was the most straightforward. And that gets, and I do also believe that it gets kind of to the crux of the argument in this situation. And that being said, we can look at the data after the election in some whichever way we'd like, but I think this is a very strong way to move forward. So that you're making that motion. I assume that we put this on the ballot. Is there a second? Second. I almost wonder, although you've used town council and she's far brighter than I ever am, would a paragraph follow this that actually explains what the current parking ban is? No, in place and we do not have the ability to put in any summary or explanation. Then I almost wonder whether the question should read, just remove the word lifting. Do you favor the town's current overnight parking ban? I worry about the word lifting. I don't know why it just didn't hit me. I have to admit I had the exact same reaction and the reason I have the reaction is because, not to get too technical or grammatical here, but now the subject and the sentences, well looks, I think a lot of people if they look at it quickly, they're gonna think it's the ban. And then they may vote the wrong way if you have lifting in and there. Because they're voting, do you favor, they're actually voting, do you favor the lifting? I'm afraid if somebody reads it quickly, they're gonna add, they may mistakenly read, do you favor the ban? Do you favor the town's current overnight parking ban? Yes or no? But you must have thought about that. You know, where, that's why we're aboard is to listen to all the suggestions and I am. Maybe you have strong feelings why you're putting lifting versus. You know, well, we tossed around a few different options. I did think that lifting, do you favor lifting town's current overnight parking ban? I was very comfortable with that, but if I'm also fine with removing it and going aboard at that road. So we can put it to a vote, I guess. Well, yeah, but this is your question. I don't, I want you to be comfortable. I mean, yeah. No, I am very comfortable. No, I think that we will get the same results either way. So I am comfortable with that. Thank you. I honestly feel there could be confusion reading it. A quick reading of it. Because Kevin and I were confused apparently. Now it's only 50% of us, so it's not, you know, a large group. Yes, Mark, quickly, please. This isn't a hearing. I've had a little, I've had a little practice on wording these things and it is a difficult thing. I might suggest relaxing, because you also want some sort of indication from the voters a way to move forward. So, you know, if you say removing that's a little broad or you say relaxing, that sort of gives you a direction to head. But that also would, that implies, doesn't it, we're gonna continue some sort of argument. Relaxing was actually an option that we looked over and we, and I kind of said no, because it doesn't have any, you know, real meaning towards it. You know, relaxing is not, you know, an actual, you know, real action that we could implement following. Yeah, so. But I appreciate your. Yeah, lifting is a little, has multiple meanings, but if you said, you know, removing or something, that might be more specific. Is it possible to put in the voters, note the voters book, any kind of description? Well, the information to voters that's mailed out. That's comes from the state. That's a solid, okay. Oh, no, thanks. We'd have to include in the sentence something like, currently Arlington Bands Park and overnight from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Do you favor continuing this practice? I mean, that's the only way to get an explanation and no, you don't like that. I don't think we can. Oh, we can't even do that? Oh. Well, I think. Yep, Joe. I think to Mr. Kaplan's note though, yeah, the state, we don't send out a book, but you know, you might wanna contact the legal and the voters. I'm sure they'll put a summary of anything that's gonna be in the ballot. Perhaps our friends in the media will be able to put something like that in there. Okay, so make a motion. Do you wanna leave lifting in there or you wanna remove it? Well, we can, I'm comfortable removing it, so. So then, so the motion, your motion is do you favor the town's current overnight parking ban? That's your motion? Yes. Is there a second? Second. Second question? I'm a little hung up on the word favor, but I'm gonna say yes anyway. Let's just talk it out. Humor me, actually. Let's just talk it out a little bit. I'll probably come around. Do you agree? I think support. Do you support? Yeah, my favor might be. Do you reverse the support? One of the phrases I've always loved is, a camel is a horse that was made by a committee. Anytime you try and write a sentence or a paragraph by committee, you know what I mean? It's all but, but go ahead, Dan, so. That's all I've got. If you, if people. What word were you landing on? I was, I hadn't landed on one. I was definitely, I was tossing around support. And so the phrase, so they would read, do you support the town's current overnight parking ban? And favor is probably good, favor is just. You know, we're looking for their opinion. Yeah. Right. And favor is more an opinion. Okay. Support is more an action, isn't it? Well, yeah. Yeah, I use the support and the lifters are synonyms, but we're using them in totally opposite ways. Right. I'm happy with favor. The motion is, the question on the ballot by Mr. Byrne, do you favor the town's current overnight parking ban? Yes or no? All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. You had second to vote, right, Mr. Curell? Yes, I had. Okay. Yes, I had. Thank you. Thank you for bringing it. Okay. Adam, loose extensions for the international school. And. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I need to ask, do you know who I can talk to about earlier in the agenda? Is it my? No. No. No. No. No. No. No. If I were you, I'd look to the left. Supposedly, I've been charged of this thing. So, at the end of before us, in regards to the two current tenants under lease at the Department of School, the International School of Boston as well at the Arlington Children's Center, they've both been long-term tenants and they're currently to expire under the close of FY13 on June 30th this year. So before the board tonight is about to approve the extension of the leases for one year for each tenant to the close of FY14, to allow the town to enter into a larger, more broad RFP process this fall, or even make some, to consider a long-term tenancy and the design of an RFP is something we can discuss, but want to discuss with the board, going forward how long a tenancy we'd like in the future, how we would treat an RFP, whether or not we would look at the two current condos for lack of a better term than each tenant exists or if we look at the whole facility. So those are still some issues we need to hash out, but we have good tenants that want to be in the building and need some stability, but of course they're not at program here. So that's why we put a one-year lease before the board for a period tonight. Also in the board's material, there's a quick analysis on where the proposed rent for this extension year falls against approximation of market rate. So the 2010, the town of Hyatt RFP and the G-associates to do a study on the market rent and potential uses for both department of school and the Crosby school, as we know the Crosby school has been sold, but the data for the department of school is still of use in this analysis. So if we look at the rent that was collected in 2011, there was a gap between what this study ensures market rent while we were collecting the rent, about $14,000 or a difference of 7.3%, with the proposed lease amendments that are before you tonight, the gap would actually be only $4,400 or 2.29%. So over the course of the past several years, the town, through the prior leases, closed the gap with a 3% increment again in leases before you and you come closer to closing that gap and you can certainly add market rent and what the town is expecting to get from the building in the larger RFP that we could do with the law. I love the sentence, this reduces the delta between market rent and actual rent, right? So who really is that? Language. That's good. That's good. I move to approve the leases as presented by the town manager. Second? Second. Discussion? Sir? Adam, we talked about, when you asked me about this previously, that, and I just wanted to hear what the other parties think about this plan. It actually signed, both bodies have signed these extensions for this one year and they're very interested in seeing what the town develops as an RFP going forward. I think they're, I think they like the space, they like to be there, and they want to figure out what the future holds by getting the spaces. Okay. All those in favor of signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. Next, let's keep on with Mr. Chapter Lane. Thank you Mr. Chapter Lane. So, last fall we had a discussion with the board, or I had a discussion with the board in regards to establishing a performance evaluation process to the town manager. And stemming from that discussion, myself along with the chairman, met with the HR director to take a look at different versions of an evaluation instrument that we have received from a number of other communities. So, in that meeting we made some revisions to the instrument that was actually used in the meet on the set reaction request. That provides the instrument for the board in their packet tonight. So, what I'm asking for the board to do is to, after some discussion, approve that instrument and kick off the town manager's evaluation process. Yesterday was actually one year anniversary of contract executions official in one year on the job yesterday. Congratulations. Thank you. So, it's its right time to begin an evaluation process. Also as part of the evaluation laid out in the instrument was the production of a narrow set of evaluation by me along and I included that in an update on the goals that the board adopted in August of 2012 that was provided to the board tonight. So, the schedule laid out in the memo provided to the board begins tonight with a discussion on the approval of the evaluation instrument, completion of the evaluation instrument over the course of the next week and a half, delivery of the complete instruments to the chairman on March 6th. The chairman would then work with the HR director to compile the evaluations into one consolidated document and then be discussed at the board's next meeting on March 11th. So, that's happy to hear the board's feedback on the process. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chair, I'd like to suggest that we, based on our success at rewording the one sentence ballot question that we take the next 360 minutes to rewrite the evaluations. Well, but seriously, I would, I'd like to move to approve the evaluation instrument. I can get a second, I'll speak. I mean, if you remember this, we had, was it four instruments, five instruments we had provided before? And we kind of already had looked through when people imported it at that point, and then we agreed Adam, Karen, and I would sit down. And I certainly am comfortable with this. But we didn't ask to vote to approve this tonight? I think I would, yeah. Yeah, just to make sure that- If I moved to approve the instrument. And I would include in that vote the process, which is, when are they to return to me? I forget. March 6th. March 6th, was that okay with people? And then it's my job to meet with Karen and we consolidate it, because the individual ones would not be released as a public document, but the compiled one would be. And this is Tom Constance's review of the process, and this is all. So what would be the individual, the individual documents would be available to the public, but the document that would be discussed would be provided to me, and then put in the personnel file would be consolidated. So each individual one, if the public wanted to see it. It's in the public realm. Okay. No. Okay. That all right with everybody? Yeah, I guess it just goes towards, it's just worth commenting that, unlike the reviews of a lot of people that are private, one of the joys of working in the public domain is that the review ends up being in the public, and that there is a certain awkwardness about that, but at the same time, because of the nature of the job, the role that we play in the job that Mr. Chaplain holds, it's kind of, it is somewhat, it's inevitable. And so I just want to, I mean, I think we should just call out the fact that it is a little bit awkward, but at the same time, even everything, the things that we write in these documents are available to a public records request if someone really wanted to. Okay. Thank you for your time, President. Any other discussion? All those in favor of approval of the document, please signify by saying aye. Aye. I will follow up personally with Mrs. Mahan who couldn't be with us here tonight. Just in case she feels there should be any change to the document, but I'll, you know, can we, Marie, can we get it delivered to her, or? Delivered to her tomorrow. Okay. Mr. Chair, can I also ask if it's possible to get electronic copy of this so that we can type up our feedback? Please. Okay, so do it, leave it that way. Let Adam, electronic copy all of us, or Marie, you should, but let's, I agree. But I think electronically would be much easier for us to get it out. I would like to note that. And then you can electronic it to me. Send it to me, technological dinosaur here, by the sex. Just one is unsatisfactory, which I'd like everyone to be aware of, because I remember at college I had one was, you know, the opposite. So, the higher the score, the better. Fair enough. Thank you for pointing that out. Okay. Please. Anything else, Mr. Chapter-Lean? No, but I'm not going to thank you very much. Okay, new business. Mr. Kruppelka, I know we have an executive session, but we'll do, because we'll come out, am I correct really, and we're coming out of executive session only for the purposes of what adjourned, right? Okay, so let me do new birth, new business. Man, am I getting tired of what, new business. Juliana? I will have a piece of new business. Wow. Yes. It's always a report that the Arlington High School girls varsity hockey team won their game tonight in the first round of the United States championship. Thanks, Mr. Chapter-Lean. Do I detect any maternal pride? Do I detect any maternal pride? Number 10. Number 10 for our last year of high school. Is there anything else happening in number 10's life today? Number 10 for me, too, today. So we all wish her a happy birthday as well. Thank you. I do forget her name, I'm sorry. Amelia. Amelia, happy birthday. New business, Mr. Chapter-Lean. So two pieces of new business. First, I wanted to share with you before that Senator Donnelly has filed with one of his budget priorities, reimbursement for the town for the microverse cost from July of 2012. And I know we shared that request with the house side of the delegation, so I'm very thankful that he did that. And I told him that I'd express that, his efforts to the board. Second, we all know we have a hearing tomorrow night in regards to the massive corridor project. So very briefly, I think some of the other board members might want to speak about the project that I just wanted to quickly say that the hearing can be conducted by MassVOT, Marie Rose, a MassVOT employee, will chair the hearing. There will be some public notices right at the beginning. An introduction by Mike Rademacher, a presentation by Facebook and Bornback Towns Engineer on the project and changes that have been made from 25% of the design to 75%. Following that, we'll allow for public comment first from federal, state and local officials and then we're going to have a public comment for those entities that will be agendaed tomorrow night. But let me follow up with that if I may, because I appreciate that local officials have the opportunity. What I'd like to ask my colleagues is, do you each want to speak tomorrow night, or would you like me as chair to speak on behalf of the board? I'll tell you what I intend on basically saying if you want to approve that, or if each of you want to speak, please. I'm a little worried that after a number of speakers that we're going to run out of things to say that we're not gonna, I mean, my basic approach is I really want to thank Federal Housing and the Department of Transportation for this project, for bearing with us for these five years. It's a very exciting opportunity for the town of Arlington. It's a very necessary project and just I want to thank them on behalf of us that they have come this far with us and we look forward to working with them through the completion of it. That's basically what I intended on saying, versus any, because I really do believe every argument why it's necessary, what we need to do is going to be brought up beforehand before I get up there to speak where local officials come down. Or is there anything you want me to say in particular? Or again, I have no problem if each of you want to get up there and speak and just tell me how you want to handle it. My intention had been to defer to you as chair because I get a sense that the board and we can take affordable, but I think that we're more or less on the same page as far as this project is concerned. I think you represent as well in that. I've been reminded and I'm sure others of us have been reminded that we all do, however, have the right and may want to avail ourselves of it to send individual written testimony to MassDOT. Or I'll tell you, when I finish tomorrow night, I'll turn to any of you who are there and say is there anything you wanna add or anything you wanna, I don't write out my speeches. That probably surprises everybody. So there's a chance I could go off script a little bit since there is no script to begin with. I don't wanna say anything that the rest of you are uncomfortable with. I mean, I believe in every recent instance, this board has been unanimous in their support of this project. So Dan, you wanna comment? My only? We can also wait till tomorrow night and answer me then if you want. No, no, I couldn't tell you what I was thinking. So I want to make sure, so we don't know exactly what's gonna be said before us. Like I haven't read the presentations, I don't know exactly what it is. And I know that sometimes we get caught up talking about arguing with the opponents about some of their arguments. And one of the things that I just wanna make really sure comes in some of the early speakers. And if it's not done already, then I'd hope that you would then make the case which is laying out the basic reason why we think that this is a good idea. And the arguments that I would make are pedestrian safety. I would talk about improved traffic flow with upgraded technology. I'd talk about better business, you know, like making it a town that works better for the businesses there, making better sight lines, better flow, better parking, just slow down. Yes, hold on, go, go now, sorry. So pedestrian safety? Improved traffic flow through technology. Right. Improved commercial environment, I guess is the phrase that I'm trying to get across there. And last but certainly not least, renewing an infrastructure that's really decaying. I mean, we've got sidewalks, we've got holes, we've got, you know. Traffic lights that can't be repaired. Yeah, stuff like that. And so I think sometimes in the, you know, the back and forth over the years we lose track of sometimes explicitly saying why we think this is a good idea. So if that case is not made before you get up there, I would appreciate it if you could make it. I would also add this is an all Arlington project. There's been this impression it's East Arlington and we even call it East Arlington, but the heights in the center travel through there or shop there, eat there quite regularly and it's as important to all of them. Adam and I have talked through this a bit and believe me, all of these I believe are going to be touched on. I just didn't want to get to where I'm repeating the same things over and over again. And, and this is Adam's advice as well. And I think it's very good advice. This isn't a point on point debate with anybody, you know. This is a very necessary needed project that can have a tremendous impact on the town of Arlington in many, many positive ways. And I hope we move it from East Arlington through the center at some point in the future as well. But it's five years now. Let's go. Did I misstate anything there, Adam? Go from that list as well. Steve, anything you want to add? You know, it's funny. Did you really want to speak either? Well, you know, I think that if you leave it open and if anyone else wants to come up, I'm sure that you'll hit it. I just keep thinking about Bill Clinton's speech at the convention and I think he just said it's a arithmetic. And, you know, I just keep seeing that come up and I feel like it could be implemented here as well. But no, I think Mr. Dunn covered just about everything that I would have liked to say as well. Okay. But again, I'm not trying to hold anybody off from speaking and I will, you know, we'll see each other tomorrow night to whatever degree we all are able to do that. Okay, sorry. That's all I have now for the business. Okay. No, that's, you know, I'm good to say that. And I'm going to in advance say I have no new business because I'm feeling a little tremor beside me. So before I get there, Mr. Kuro. Thank you. I attended the MWRA meeting last week. I think I referenced it earlier on this evening. They made a very good presentation about the project that they're bringing in. But I think it should just be on our radars. It's going to be two years. It's going to take two years. It's going to be temporarily disruptive to people along those routes. And I'm sure that we'll hear more. It's a lot of private ways that are involved primarily. Wayne Schwannad, the town engineer was there and very helpful. And I think the MWRA did a great job at reaching out and it was a very constructive meeting. ATED is going gangbusters, as you can probably tell. Some of the members were over at the FINCOM this evening on a couple of warrant articles that are being presented for town meeting this year. The chair, Angela, would like to have the opportunity to come into the board sometime in the next couple of meetings for a couple of purposes. One is just to give, not for a hearing, but to just give an overview of the warrant articles that ATED is presenting and ask if the board would consider endorsing the warrant articles, especially considering one of them, at least one of them, the visitor information, both the semi-permanent structure, involves land that's under the board's control. To talk about the Arlington Alive Arts Festival, July 13th, which we were working on and which the committee may be looking to the board for some support around some issues, potentially parking and things like that. And also to talk to us about Patriots Day weekend, which I don't want to steal, it's all Shorsky's thunder, but she'll have a specific request around that too, which we're trying to make it a little bit more fun and create some more identity for the town around that. I'd like to defer that. So I just, if it's possible, the next meeting or two if we could put her on the agenda, that would be great, yeah. And lastly, to end with what you began the meeting with, I would beg and plead that people go out and sign up for your library cards because Mr. Greeley laid down a challenge to me at the last meeting. And we're losing. And we're losing, and Mr. Livagood followed up to thank me for taking you up on that challenge, so I don't want to have to do it. I don't think I'll hold you to it. I'll hold myself to it. Thank you, that's all I have. Okay, Mr. Dunn. Mass Ave is on my mind. Talking to people in the run up to this meeting tomorrow and talking about, also talking about the ballot question that's coming up that was put on by registered voters in April. When we had the hearing about that, when the opponents of the Mass Ave project came forward and talked to us, they said, I suggested to them that their article was poorly praised and that the way it's written is that it's written for only one answer and that answer isn't actually an answer about the project itself. I mean, the question is, I mean, do you want Four Lanes in Arlington? And yes, I want Four Lanes in Arlington and I want lower tax rates and I want more public safety and I want a pony. But, and so yes, I want Four Lanes in Arlington, but what the Mass Ave project is not about just whether or not it's Four Lanes. It's a much, much, much more complex question. And in these conversations, people have said, Dan, why are we settling for this question on the ballot? Why aren't we putting a better question on the ballot or better questions that actually gets to the root of what the Mass Ave project is about? Because if voters are going to put their thought and time into answering a question, we should have them answer a question that actually means something. And so I am going to talk to Juliana this afternoon and so the deadline to put a non-binding ballot question on the ballot is 35 days before the election, which means that if we hand written notice to the town clerk on Friday, that it satisfies that legal requirement. And so I'm going to ask the chairman to schedule a unusual but regular because it's a duly notified and duly noticed meeting for the morning of Friday. I know a couple of us are already planning on being in the office because of the CDBG hearing. And so if we could get a couple more or perhaps even the whole board, I would like... CDBG hearing? Or you mean the subcommittee meeting? The subcommittee is meeting. The subcommittee meets regularly, if anyone. And so I just said, I put that date forward because I happen to know that a couple of us are already available. I'm open to other dates. But I think that we should avail ourselves of this. And I feel very strongly that we shouldn't... Sometimes it takes a while for me to come to a boil. I've come to a boil on this one and I want to put a question on the ballot. Okay. How early could you meet? I could, eight a.m.? Is that too late? I could do that. Yeah, I could do it, but I'm not sure I'm gonna. But I mean... No, no, no. We have a meeting up in here. This has been a strategy that you really discussed and I thought both of us from the original proponents were here of the now existing ballot question. And we kind of said, okay, if you put that, if you do get the signatures, we'll put on other questions in their stead. Yeah. Not in their stead, in addition. In addition, right, that's right. Their question is on because I got the requisite number of signatures. Talking with a couple of other groups, and I don't want to name them right here because I think it's, I don't want to do that. And if they want to come Friday morning, for example, I think they should be allowed to. Of course. But talking about that as a strategy, let us ask a better question or a series of other questions related to it. The argument is they feel one particular group that would be quite active in this that better to conduct a campaign that would explain what that question actually means and just take on the question head on. Everybody knows I am running for reelection and I want people to know that I'm going to also run on vote no on that question. In the past, I ran on Sims before. I've run on an override before. I have no hesitancy about it. And so use whatever platforms I will have available to me going forward to talk about this project and that question. Now, none of that says this isn't a good idea, which you're recommending Dan as well, okay? But I just want you to know that in discussions and they have convinced me to a degree, this is a better strategy. Here's the question. It is not a simple question. But let me ask you this. Can we really come up with one that would be better and not confuse it further? I think we can, but how about, so the good news is that as a chairman, you have some time to decide this one because we actually don't have, so if we were going to meet on Friday, we'd have to publish, we'd have to post it first thing Wednesday morning. And so we've got the hearing tomorrow night. Let's see how we feel tomorrow. And excuse me, let's see how you feel because- No, no, I am more than glad to right now agree to a meeting Friday morning. But remember, Friday morning, we might also vote not to put the question out. Isn't that fair? Absolutely. You know, so I'm more than glad to take the week on this, you know? And here's some wording because that to me will make a big difference. But I'm with you that, and you said it as well as it could be said that night. You know, do you want free parking? Yeah, do you want no taxes? Yeah, you know, I mean, so, and as I said, I could say yes to it. Yes, I would like four lanes, but that's not practical and it's not called for and the studies don't support it and blah, blah, blah. So let us agree to go ahead with a meeting for Friday morning at 8 a.m. And God bless Dan and Juliana as they try and come up with wording here, okay? Thank you. Is that all right? Are you okay? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Yeah. You're not like nothing's planned Thursday night. Would you be coming in by the evening? Let us know. All right, so that's a, what do I do? I call a meeting for 8 a.m. Friday morning. We don't know about Mrs. Mahan, but what can we do? All right, so is there, well, what do I need? Nothing, that we have a meeting for 8 a.m. Friday morning published at Maria, okay? Yeah, I think that's all it takes in your work. Okay. God, why doesn't that work at home at 363? Yeah, Adam, sorry. I wanted to add one of the, since the last time the board compounded, we all, we lost Nancy. Oh my gosh. In her fight with pancreatic cancer. So the services were held last Friday and Saturday and there was an incredible turnout from Arlington. I know the family felt very sold by that and we were very pleased to see what turned out from Arlington. I go about the wake and the very sad occasion, but I think it's important for the members of our office. Nancy was a long-term deputy manager and she served as our town manager for a year and a half. Did a spectacular job. I must, Mr. Cure did go out to the wake. The next morning I had another funeral mass that I had to attend, but it was, it's quite a testimony to Nancy. Both how many from Arlington made that trip out there and we are talking some country out there, aren't we Joe? We are talking, you know, there's lots of land out there. I wish you could have moved some of it here for us. Holden is technically the town, right? But yeah, let's all take a moment of silence in memory of Nancy Gokowski. May God have mercy on her soul. I'm so sorry I didn't open with that. I meant to and haven't been on my game that well tonight. Executive Session, we're going into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation in accordance with general law chapter 30A, section 21A3. We're having such discussion in open session we'll have a detrimental effect on litigating position of the town. This is in response to a February 18, 2013 open meeting law complaint by Christopher Loretti. We will come out of Executive Session for the purpose of adjournment only. Juliana, did I say that correct? Absolutely. All right, we need a roll call, Maureen. So moved, yeah, second, yeah, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right, we're in Executive Session.