 Please come to order a few town meeting members still coming in. We'll wait a few seconds for them to get their clickers Then we'll start to see the island to a minute minute here. Thank you very much for coming in One second If the town meeting members coming in could keep moving right along to the right to get your clickers They all got to show up at eight o'clock from now on Great should have put up enough seats Well, we're waiting for the last few town meeting members to come in You'll all find on your seats various motions and articles that are being submitted tonight Let's clear the center isles only a couple people left checking in Let's make room for the minute man. Please sit down in the center aisle. That's you brown coat curly hair Say down minute men coming it's Goldstein. Can you move out of the center aisle? Yeah, come in the minute men are gonna march down and knock you over you got to sit down Okay, it's clear to center aisle. Please here come the island to minute man. We're not a me minute man We're gonna so go Nation this evening is the Reverend James Savage password St. Ullele's parish Reverend let us pray in elected representation of Allington has been gathered the gavel has been dropped and The meeting called to order may the deliberations of this assembly serve to the common good of this town and May it reflect the wisdom and the heart of The divine and almighty judge and jury of us all Amen, good evening Welcome to the 2015 annual town meetings is Arlington's 208 our first being held in 1807 it's our 76 as a representative town meeting the first being held in 1937 we're following quite a lot of tradition here For procedural guidance we use a town by laws and town meeting time I'm mentioned in my letter you can get a copy of town meeting time come up and see me at the break I'll tell you how to order one Please remember we abide by the 48 hour rule All substitute motions and substantial amendments must be submitted in writing by placing a Sign copy on each member's chair and by providing the original two copies to the moderator No later than commencement of the session before the article is expected. I Also appreciate it if we get them by email Earlier tonight, you'll notice there are five amendments to article 11 I only saw two of them pretty big previous to this evening it makes it hard for me and it makes it hard for town council to determine if those are actually within the scope with within the proper form for our bylaws and Just for organization for myself. I have now have to figure out while on the fly how to Register and and vote on 11 on five different article five different amendments It gets a little disjointed. So please get into me beforehand It's just a little unfair to spring them on me myself in the meeting at the last minute like tonight I know yes, this is the one exception, but the hour on your computer typing them up You could have emailed it to me my emails everywhere Out of consideration to your fellow members and to allow full debate Please keep your remarks brief and concise so that all members have a fair opportunity to speak And I once again used mr. Dority a former and over moderator for many years who said We have don't I don't have a formal limit But I did tell the meeting three minutes is enough after five you're gonna put them to sleep after seven They're gonna vote against you Our speaking time is seven minutes. So you're gonna go to hole seven. They're gonna vote against you Speaking of time limits as a result of an informal poll last year revealed that we wanted to limit the time spent under announcements and resolutions at the start of the meeting therefore The moderator has the power to regulate the Meeting I'm gonna use that and I'm gonna limit all announcements and resolutions What do not have a substantive? Vote or do not come under a warrant article to four minutes. That's why you see four minutes here So anything under article three and production of reports and committees General announcements four minutes and please don't feel you have to use the whole thing either We have a new email distribution list you'll find on your chairs sheet that looks like this That's telling you how to sign up for the new list. It's a automated list. You go and you sign up once and you get a little email and We're gonna shut the old list down because that's not a Town regulated list and we don't have any control over the maintaining it for public records We want to shut that list down and it's gonna be shut down. So you take that piece of paper if you haven't Last I checked we had about a hundred ninety to a hundred people had signed up So for those other folks on the other list if you want anything you got it my great Appreciate the level of civility. We've been able to maintain the last few years. It's trying to keep it up now Two-thirds of us are used to electronic voting. Mr. Good For the other two other one-third would we have our clickers again? We're now officially with the clickers again to stay We gave the town money last year to do it We have at least three maybe four years worth of money. So you've all been issued an individually coded handset You may use no other handset and don't let anybody use yours The only keys that we are going to be using on these handsets like last year Our number one Number two and number three right across the top board number one Yes, two. No three abstained When we count the votes we only count the yes. No votes those are all that go towards the tally The note the abstentions do not get counted There is a power button on there do not turn it off ever it gets put it gets given to you turned on the batteries last for 200 hours or something crazy If you turned it off, it takes a while to recycle and to talk to the computer again You could miss a vote and if you turned it off and you miss a vote too bad You're not you're gonna get logged out for that vote. There's nothing we can do about it. I'm not entertaining questions during this Don't give you click it to anyone else to vote if you see someone with two or more handsets Let me know right away proxy voting is not allowed You have to be here. You have to vote when you leave the room We have buckets throw them in the buckets at don't take them home They cost us 75 bucks if you lose it We didn't lose any last year two people brought them home during the meeting we tracked them down and got them the next day We they're coded. We know who has which number we know if you brought it home the Way it's gonna work is We'll have our debate. I'll announce. We are ready to vote. I'll ask the voting administrator The OTI guys, mr. Renof. He's ready to vote. He'll give me the single signal that he's ready and We're not gonna use this clock lot the last year. I had issues with this on the 22nd They have their own clock When I'm telling them they're ready to vote and I say vote a clock will splash up here We have our 20 seconds that triggers the computer to start and stop voting only vote during the window One of the issues we found last year was people were voting too soon or too late So once the clock shows up, then you can start voting Again use one two and three We're gonna take a test vote every evening to make sure our clickers work which mr Look, I forgot you may more right mr. Renau. Are we ready? Yes? So if you want to take a test vote now just randomly press one two or three so go ahead and Where's our clock mr. Renau? So he's not ready. I haven't got been given the signal So go ahead and vote so you will get it's a round trip It goes from your clicker To the base station back to your clicker. You'll get yes vote received. No vote received during the 20 seconds You can change your vote all you want, but it's the last vote that is received is registered So did it work? We had 133 yeses it passed 35 no's So can we run through the screen the tallies? When we have close votes or if you doubt the vote and you want to see you five people can arise 30 people can arise and you'll see This as last year They're by precinct And you'll see your name. Make sure you got the same vote up there. It should They tell me a computer a flawless, but I don't know about it so we will splash this but not all the time only when close votes and When someone asks to see the votes this will appear in the website the next day I this year I intend to use the clicker on almost all votes last year I didn't use it on all votes I think because I was getting used to it as well as the meeting, but I intend to use it almost on every single vote this year except for No action votes and the procedural votes at the end that just should whiz right through If anyone wants to use the clicker and I haven't five arise will use them If you have any questions about the clickers ask Any of the kids at the back ask Eric Helmuth who's over there waving at you We're not allowed to talk to mr. Monroe or his Kyle his associate Eric's our interface with them So that's it for me. If anyone has any questions afterwards see me at the break. I'll explain what I said Now Andrew reports with the backhaul Everyone is take one of those please they came out early again this year. Thank you. Mr. Chapter Lane for making that happen and We have the tennis club selling us cookies at the break So now Do we have any new Tom meeting members who have yet to be sworn in brand new Tom meeting members just elected please rise Nope, just the new new people These are people that decided to put themselves through this raise your right hand and feed after me I And search your name there We'll participate fully and will fairly evaluate all matters before the town meeting and vote in the best interest of the town I Support free speech and will treat others with mutual respect and will conduct myself in the civil manner That is becoming of an elected town meeting member I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially Perform the duties and comfort upon me as a town meeting member of the town of Barlington in accordance with the bylaws town manager act And the general laws of the commonwealth so help me God and thank you Let's have all the regular old town meeting members who have just been reelected. Let's swear them in there should be a lot of them Mr. Coral Please raise your right hand repeat after me I Will participate fully It will fairly evaluate all matters before town meeting and vote in the best interest of the town I support free speech will treat others with mutual respect and will conduct myself in a civil manner that is becoming of an elected town meeting member I do solemnly swear that I'll faithfully and impartially perform the duties and comfort upon me It has a town meeting member of the town of Arlington In accordance with the bylaws the town manager act and general laws of the commonwealth so help me God Thank you very much Recognize board of chairmen's mr. Greeley Board of Selectman chairman Thank You mr. Moderator it is requested that members of the board of Selectman elected officials of the town town manager department heads staff superintendent of schools and staff committees Commissions boards of the town Minuteman regional vocational technical school district committee and superintendent members of the electronic voting committee and staff members of the general court representing Arlington and also any Consultants who have been retained to work for the town relative to articles to be acted upon by this meeting and Representatives of the news media be permitted to sit within the town meeting in closure All in favor pose It's so moved Constable's return madam clerk Do you have reason to believe that this meeting was appropriately called by this board of Selectman and that the console made a return of Service on the warrant in accordance with the laws She signifies yes Mr. Greeley Thank You mr. Moderator It is moved that if all the business of the meeting has set forth in the warrant for the annual town meeting is not Disposed of at this session when the meeting adjourns it adjourns to Wednesday, April 29 2015 8 p.m.. All in favor So move we don't finish tonight. We're coming back Wednesday one more thing Put them on vibrate, please or turn them off. I don't want to hear phones ringing and they bother our neighbors Thank you. Mr. Greeley article 2 is now on the table Thank You mr. Moderator since this is an article the moderator has been kind enough to allow me seven minutes to discuss the state of the town Since I've done eight eight others of these. I'm sure you wish he had enforced the four minutes But if you've heard me talk about Arlington before you know that I'm one who believes greatly in this town and especially because of the people of the town and I believe because we truly are a government of the people by the people and for the people That has made all the difference here in this community. I didn't come up with that by the way For us government of the people and by the people started really pre-colonial days when Europeans came over and for religious freedom the the churches became the center of our community and As that happened certain civic matters started to happen as well as religious matters And so after church services, they started to hold informal town meetings And they would select an individual who would then go out and investigate that particular matter and come back and report The next week and thus we have the starts of town meeting and the Board of Selectman Certainly during the Revolutionary War. We were of the people as we banded together in monotony. We did more than our fair share of Earning our independence from England 1800s certainly we saw many more people coming into Arlington as we move from a farming community To much more of industry in a residential community In the 1900s, of course, we have the two world wars and then and again a huge increase in the population A little while ago. I learned at the annual report from 1952 The first year that we changed the government by the people to become the town manager form of government Replicating that which was going on in businesses across the United States Where you would have a board of directors and then a chief executive officer as we have the Board of Selectman And we have the strong town manager and we've got a very good one in Mr. Adam chapter Lane It also was the first year my father served on the Arlington Board of Selectman When it went from three members to five he had been a member of the Board of Public Works Which was subsumed by the Board of Selectman and in 1952 the population of Arlington was approximately 43,000 people. I'm sure most of you are aware. That's approximately our population today But in 1952 they were concerned about the population explosion, which was going to happen And so they were trying to to figure out how are we going to support a hundred thousand residents by the year 2000? And so that town meeting by the people and the Board of Selectman dealt with zoning issues to try and increase apartment building and two and three family homes This year All of us today are going to look at 46 warrant articles Not all of them today, but it wouldn't be bad if we were able to do that, right? And I find it an interesting dichotomy that we do have the lowest number of warrant articles We also had the lowest turnout at this past election Now those of us in office believe it's because we're doing such a spectacular job People feel no need to change But on the same on the same issue We have 252 of you sitting out there who are willing to serve and who are willing to work and be a government for the people of the town of Arlington You know we also have more than a hundred boards and commissions throughout the town of Arlington and All of them almost entirely are Unpaid volunteer Physicians that's certainly in my opinion is a government of the people So on those 46 articles we're going to be dealing with things like budgets which they dealt with back in pre-colonial days as well As they'll be dealing with many years from today We'll be looking at a master plan which has taken an audit of where we are and maybe some of the things We need to do to keep going We're going to be voting on a committee of the people when the People the voters of Arlington supported the Community Preservation Act Putting together a committee there to help us preserve our history our open space our recreation and our housing in schools I'm no expert there, but it is by far the most important element that many of us will vote on and Understanding education is a journey for all Arlington residents all of the people in this town as they deal with the bulging populations and Rehabbing the facilities like the Stratton school like garlandton high school like the Minutemen regional vocational school We're also going to possibly look at some attempts at government restructuring So many of the issues that we have dealt with in the past we continue to deal with as we go forward as one people So I'd like you to take a moment now, and I want you each to think about 50 years from today What is going to be the greatest challenge? Facing that town meeting so I want you to think about that for 10 seconds 50 years from today in the year 2065 I will not still be on the board of selectmen at that point in time Yeah, some girly might be God God help us right but take 10 seconds 10 seconds Think about in your opinion what will be the greatest challenge facing the people of Arlington in this town meeting 50 years from today And now I want you to turn to your neighbors and share it talk to neighbors everybody go ahead Tell them what you think it's going to be and then hear what they think it's going to be One minute. All right Got one minute Kevin All right. All right. Hold on hold on. All right quickly. Give me a couple of examples Mr. Gilligan, what's going to be the biggest problem 50 years from today? Water sewer and automobiles Jim Water electricity and gas Are we underwater boy a lot of water things? Is East Arlington underwater all right we could go on but I know there'd be things like infrastructures facilities schools education and all the rest and just as we have before as long as we stay a Government of by and for the people as president Lincoln said we most surely will not perish We will continue to flourish. God bless you. Thank you very much. Thank you. I Went over by seven seconds next up. Mr. Moderator with your permission announcements. Yes, sir Okay, so we have some very special guests with us up in the balcony here today As you know for 30 years we have had a sister city relationship with Naga oka kill in Japan And for the last 11 years so this student change and for the last 11 years We have exchanged students between the two cities and we're now host to 26 students from Naga oka keo and their five adult chaperones give me a nice round of applause if you Mr. Moderator with your permission to say a few words on behalf of Naga oka keo the head chaperone and an Educational consultant from Naga oka keo. Please welcome. Mr. Okie son My name is Yoshimi Okie I'm a supervisor in Naga oka keo and the head chaperone of this dedication On behalf of Naga oka city Thank you for your warm welcome. We are very happy to be here Thank you again for hosting our students We really appreciate it Thank you so much. Thank you Okay, it's that time of the meeting announcements and resolutions. Remember four minutes or less Sir, thank you. Mr. Moderator Gordon Jamison precinct 12 and co-chair of the Arlington recycling committee David you might have seen this Though something will pop up there soon. I just wanted to let you know that upstairs and in the Hallway next to the selectman's hearing room. There's an Photographic exhibit called recycled beauty by one of the members of the a very talented photographer and member of the recycling committee Ellen Calloway And while they search That'll close up again So that's up here only for members of the Meeting and those at home that the show only goes till Friday. So that's why I wanted to make this announcement on the first night Yeah, there we go. That's what you it's a wonderful exhibit right upstairs. Enjoy Thank you anyone else Me in the back Oh John mr. Maher Thank You mr. Moderator John Maher precinct 14 chairman of the cable advisory committee as required by law the licensing authority the board of Selectment held an ascertainment hearing on April 15th upstairs in the lion's hearing room The deter the two inquiries were whether or not the cable companies have adequately performed as we approach a Renewal process of their licenses which all expire next year The other inquiry is what are the cable needs of the town moving forward the public record remains open until noontime This coming Friday any written comments can be Filed with the board of selectmen. I'm glad to respond to any questions out during the break that anybody has. Thank you Thank you. Mr. Bernal. Good evening Andrew Bernal chair of the redevelopment board here in Arlington You've each been given a copy of the Arlington master plan this evening if you decide at some point you've done with it or don't want it We'd appreciate it if you would use one of the bins by our table and at each of the corners of the The room so that we can reuse that rather than recycle it. Thank you And we'll also be giving you copies of the report of the Arlington redevelopment board this evening. Thank you Thank you Jeff Boudreau precinct 21 and member of the poet laureate selection committee Last year. I believe it was article 11 approved the position of a volunteer poet laureate for the town The I'd like to report that the town the committee has been formed. We were finally formed in March or so We have had two meetings and we are on schedule a timeline to Advertise the position in May Review applications in June and make a recommendation to the board of selectmen in July Thank you Mr. Conner move that the James O'Connor precinct 19 I moved at the town meeting procedures committee report. You'll find in the absence of two staples You have two different pages on article 8 and 45 will address those during the meeting. Thank you That report is received. Mr. Greeley Thank you, mr. Moderator. I move that the board of selectments report be received All in favor that report is received. Mr. Foskett Charles Foskett precinct 8 Mr. Moderator move that the report of the capital planning committee be received and I like to notify the meeting that on Wednesday night. I'm going to ask that the Capital planning article be taken out of order if it suits the meeting Due to a personal conflict that I have Okay, that report is received And the other group right here Yep, you good evening. I'm sherry baron precinct 7 and member of the Arlington Human Rights Commission for 21 years since its inception since it was formed in this room In the interest of time and I think much to the joy of mr. Leone. I'm not going to deliver our report You can find it in the annual report on page 61 But since there are two articles relating to the Human Rights Commission tonight We thought we'd give you a look at some of the things that we've accomplished Can't hear me better Since there are two articles relating to the Human Rights Commission tonight on the warrant We thought we would give you a look at what we've accomplished during the past six years, which is a little less than a Third of our existence and there's a pile of pink papers in the back with which is an information sheet We invite you to take one as you leave if we run out or if you forget we'll have them here on Wednesday We have two additional commissioners who also serve as town meeting members Christine Carney just give a wave and Bill Logan who's unable to be here tonight. We also have three former commissioners Selectman Curo Didn't hear me Christine Dashler and Douglas David off. Oh and Patricia Warden, excuse me My memory sorry, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire Commission to thank the town for their continuing support. We've always enjoyed positive collaborative relationships With the board of Selectman the town manager the school department and most especially Good bless you the Arlington Police Department under the direction of chief Ryan We meet on the third Wednesday of every month at the Jefferson cutter house in the lower level Except during months when town meeting is in session and then we meet on Thursdays the third Thursday Meetings begin at 8 and they're open to the public and we invite you to attend if you Want to observe or if you have something to bring to the Commission? We are extremely proud of the work that we do We take the mission that is entrusted to us very seriously And we are honored to be able to serve this town. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am Mr. Leonard, did you have a report or announcement? Thank you. Mr. Moderator John Leonard precinct 17 Mr. Moderator, this is about the fifth time that I have approached town meeting and asked why is The maintenance study committee Still on the reports of committee when the maintenance study committee has not had a meeting in 13 years You yourself mr. Moderator dissolve this along with other committees two years ago At the end of town meeting and for some reason we just can't get rid of this committee And it is not on the Arlington website either. I would like to make a suggestion that somehow Where is it the maintenance study committee? I was a member of it back and when it was formed in May of 2000 and this is the fifth year. I'm trying to get it Obliterated I'll make a motion to dissolve it again Maybe it'll go away It didn't it did not go away mr. Moderator. Let's try again All right, so could I make a motion to just put this under the rug and not lift the rug up anymore, mr. I'm gonna I'm gonna take that as a motion to dissolve the maintenance study committee drive a second I have a second all in favor. Please say yes. Yes. It is dissolved and gone This propell could can you make sure that committee disappears from our books forever? My second question mr. Moderator if I may If article 11 is passed with the we'll talk about 11 when we get there Well, it involves committees mr. Moderator. That's why I'm bringing it up. It involves Activating a committee will that then dissolve the community preservation act study committee which is in the reports of committees That committee Will dissolve when I'm about to dissolve a bunch of committees What I'm getting at is the committee that will be formed under article 11 Will take the place I would imagine of the committee that is named in the reports of committees Talking as a study committee that was formed in 2001. I have a list mr Leonard of a bunch of committees. We're gonna dissolve before this meeting ends I just can't put my fingers on it right now. Okay, but that is one of the ones we will dissolve Okay, and lastly, we won't bother you anymore mr. Moderator on the side of this the subject Is there any possibility that any committee will be discussing? What has been going on in East Allington? Come on John. This is way beyond announcements and resolutions, and I don't know what you mean by what's going on in East Arlington I don't see anything and reports of committees on traffic advisory And I was just curious as a member of the town of Allington How do I go about outside of asking people questions? What improvements are being made in the East Allington situation in regards to accidents and fatalities? Yes, mr. Chap playing that under public works Thank You mr. Moderator, sir Any other reports of committees or announcements? sir Wait rolly wait Alan's going next Go ahead mr. Tosti Fellow town meeting members. I move that the report of the Arlington Finance Committee be received So received I'd like to give the report of the Arlington Finance Committee now and to do that. I'd request Ten minutes. I don't think I'll use it, but I'd like that permission to have that Okay, that's the prerogative of the meetings mr. Tosti have ten minutes All in favor Opposed mr. Tosti you have ten minutes. I'll get you guys Thank you very much I'm very pleased this year for the first time Since I've been in the finance committee That we actually were able to get you the reports Together with the selectmen in the redevelopment report and actually got mailed out over a week ahead of time The stars were in alignment Marika Palco held up the postman Until we can get it done We'll do it in the future every time, but we're going to try I'd like to go through a few pages on the finance committee If you have their report right here By the way, you'll notice that the selectmen in the finance committee coordinate a lot of things Unfortunately, we didn't coordinate so they're both blue ours is a different shade of blue so Okay page four is the report of the chair of the finance committee. I think you could read through that yourself Please let me know if you have any questions. I think it gives a reasonable summary of the various issues that we have on page 18 on page 18 just a correction on Article 29 It was the whole bunch of committees and commissions which we appropriated money for and under age vision 2020 three thousand dollars there is in parentheses and nine to eight vote that is incorrect. It was unanimous vote It got carried over from a prior year So again on article 29 that was a unanimous vote for vision 2020 appropriation We can make that change administratively. Thank you. So just cross out the eight and nine in your books. Thank you. Okay on B1 the moderator Asked that we we make the budgets bigger. So my vice chair who was working on this Bumped them up a couple. We probably Added another page, but hopefully this is a little bit more readable for you. It is I can actually see it Thank you. You're welcome Now on C1 C1 This is the summary basically the financial summary for the whole budgets appropriations Everything and you'll see that on the first column is all your revenues broken out by property school On reimbursements local receipts in local aid The middle is all the appropriations the budgets are up top and then all of the individual warrant articles The enterprise funds and then a summary of all the revenues and a summary of all the expenditures So that gives you a good summary of what we're looking at What I'd like to spend a few minutes though is on the next page, which is D1 And the deputy town manager made a good try to fit it all in so this is also readable This is a little smaller, but it's a lot of years and a lot of data This is our long-term plan This has worked on for many months on the long-range planning committee And it's really the heart and soul of our financial plan If you look at it, you'll see that the revenues are on top and then project it out And then the appropriations in the middle section and then the reserve fund balances and then a couple footnotes down below We we made some changes this year and I'd like to go through them if you look at last year's report And you don't have to take it out now, but if you compare it to last year's report last year we had a small deficit in fiscal 2019 and then we had a 12.8 million dollar deficit in fiscal 2020 It was pointed it was pointed out by a couple people. This cannot continue We've got to bring these deficits down. We've got to bring them to a lease within a reasonable shot of being able to Take care of them pass an override cut the budgets, whatever we're going to do So the long-range planning committee started its work with the able guidance of the town manager and we made a lot of changes To rein in or postpone this deficit The first one is we allowed for slightly higher growth on our local receipts and instead of going up at 50,000 It's a small change, but you know, we allowed it to go up at 75,000 We look back at the what had been doing and this was more reasonable. So we made that change We revisited free cash. We've been using a set amount of a million five So we went back and did a 10-year average of free cash And we put that in so it's a little bit higher, but it's it's Probably also more accurate and then with our health insurance We have been carrying 7% right along we went back We looked at a 10-year average of the health insurance increases in the GIC, which is the group insurance commission For the state which we now are part of and so we modified it to go along with what that averages will be Now this is two things it closed the deficit a little bit But it also made it less conservative So now, you know a little bit more vulnerable if there's a recession If things start coming back down motor vehicle excise state aid things like that So there's always a balance in these things But we needed to reduce growth a special we needed to reduce our spending growth So we started to look at this the town manager the first part met along with representatives from the finance committee met with the Arlington Retirement Board And they agreed to decrease their usual 6% increase down to five and a half percent Now the Arlington Retirement Board has a responsibility under state law to have our pension system fully funded I think it's by 2040 and so we're very thankful that they were cooperative and and Agreed to reduce it up through fiscal 2019. I believe the town manager Reduced his own budgets and you'll see that the net Net town budgets So he reduced his own budget to three and a quarter percent for fiscal 16 and then from fiscal 17 on he reduced it down to three percent the schools have been Stayed the same for three and a half percent for next fiscal year went to three and a quarter and down to three percent from then on Now in that line keep in mind that the schools are still being allowed to grow their Ten-year average of seven percent on their special education and still have a provision where additional money is allowed for increased school enrollment So you'll see that the school budgets Are going up five point six one percent so over five percent all the way through Now all of these steps have eliminated the deficits in fiscal 19 and eliminated the deficit in fiscal 20 and reduce the magnitude in fiscal 21 And I think this has been a big change and we ask for your support on these budgets therefore But we still have a lot of challenges ahead of us We still have Arlington High School that needs to be renovated. We still have Minuteman Which needs a renovation there? So we've still got many challenges and we're asking you support going forward at this point There's a lot of information here, and I you only spent a few minutes to go through it We're available for questions and all of our finance committee members here And there's several that couldn't be here tonight But I'd like to introduce them if they could just stand briefly from precinct representing precinct 21 John Deist for here Hey precinct wait until the end Even though John likes it, but you know Precinct two is Stephen DeCorsi There precinct three Al Tosti myself precinct five Mary Margaret Frank Lamont in the back Precinct six Carolyn White also in the back there Precinct seven Jonathan Wallach. I don't think could stay precinct eight at the head table Charlie Foskett Precinct nine Brian Beck Here precinct ten Peter Howard over here on the right or my right precinct 11 Tom Cacovera Okay in the back precinct 12 Ken Simmons Okay, also on the back precinct 13 Paul Bear Right here precinct 14 at the head table Alan Jones and precinct 15 Richard Fanning precinct 16 Bill Keller Wasn't able to make it today precinct 17 Grant Givian precinct 18 robot devate Again the back here precinct 19 Christine Deschler Okay, precinct 20 Dean Carmen and precinct 21 Dave McKenna Okay, I'd like to thank all of them for their tremendous amount of work They've done and please don't hesitate to ask them questions point forward. Thank you We thank the finance committee. It's one of the hardest commit working committees We have let's start meeting in January Any other reports or announcements? Mr. Chappett, thank you, Mr. I ran early Chappett precinct 12 and a member of the electronic voting study committee Just a couple quick reminders. You all have a clicker now or handset Keep it on use it as you direct it Next my on Wednesday night when you come into the meeting and pick up your handset Just give us the number We can pull it pull it much faster that way. No have to look at us. Excuse me They might the numbers might change because we have three openings and when those new people get slotted in the numbers Are going to get bumped so continue with the names. Yeah, but the rule isn't going to really change I mean if three change out of 250 or this it's just going to save some time, you know Everybody's gonna get changed Secondly, I think for the new for the new town meeting members new people brand Randy knew at the end of the session when we Close the meeting for the night. There will be some blue buckets by the doors Put your handset in the buckets It just makes it more convenient for us to pick them up and bring them all back and re-slot them. Thank you Thank you, Mr. Chappett any other announcements or resolutions or reports of committees Seeing none What someone had one no good All right, so that takes article three off the table mr. Greeley Europe Thank You mr. Moderator my job now to introduce the individuals That are sitting up here in front of the hall up on the stage You know, of course our moderator mr. Leonee next to him We have Stephanie look really our town clerk next to Stephanie We have mr. Gabe Weiss who is the official stenographer for a town meeting the poor soul Can imagine having to track everything that we talk about here immediately to my left the mayor of the town of Wellington Marie Kruppelker actual title administrator and I would ask you now to hold your applause I know she deserves it though, but next to Marie We have our town council who is the proud father of daughter Piper since last town meeting mr. Doug Hine if you would save your applause please until the end as I get to the end of this table all of my Department heads are going to come up here and introduce themselves to you But first the proud father since last town meeting of daughter pearl our excellent town meeting meeting a town manager Adam chapter lane don't clap Andrew Flanagan no Our deputy town manager Andrew Flanagan sweet wait The young new children ever elected to the Arlington board of select man just former chairman mr. Stephen Burn The member the board of select man who has set the record for attending the most events in his first term in office mr Joe Cureau another former chairman down the end We have mr. Dan Dunn and the second longest serving member the Arlington board of select man Dianne Mahan now And here are your department heads Patty Brennan saw tell representing health and human services tonight I'm Paul Terney director of assessments Jim Feeney also representing health and human services tonight Andrea Nicolai representing Arlington libraries acting director Michael Rademacher director of public works Michael Burn director of inspectional services David good chief technology officer Ed Marlinga workers conversation agent benefits attorney Bob Jefferson fire chief and Back there stand up if you would please mr. Stephen Gilligan treasurer for the town of Arlington Oh To me we have I'll do it chief Fred Ryan the chief of the police department and Karen Malloy director of human services Who haven't I introduced in this in this Carol Kowalski our director of planning? I know but the redevelopment board was going to get up themselves That's why I didn't so anyhow our director of planning and development Carol Kowalski. All right. Who else? What? Table out. No, that's mr. Tosti show. I'm 19 now. No other reports or motions to be received mr. Tosti My rush to finish. I forgot to introduce Gloria Turcol our executive secretary. I Moved that the recommended votes contained in the respective reports of the finance committee Board of selectman redevelopment board and other committees be before the meeting without further motion All in favor Opposed so moved. I Moved that article 3 be laid upon the table second all in favor post Unanimous so to clear it article 3 is on the table with that brings us to article 4 measure of Wood and bark we have any nominations from the floor He's seeing not I direct the clerk to enter one vote for miss Elsie fury as I'm Measure of wood in bark all in favor, please say yes opposed Miss Fiori you were once again on measure of wooden bark. Would you like to say anything? That closes article 5 that brings us to article 6 Article 5 that closes article 4 we now have article 6 we're taking nominations for the assistant town meeting Moderator mr. Kites there just in town moderator Mike care precinct 12. I nominate for assistant town moderator Jim O'Connor of Precinct 19 to continue his work Okay, we have mr. O'Connor any other nominations for assistant town moderator Seeing none and direct the clerk to enter one vote from mr. O'Connor all in favor, please say yes Opposed mr. O'Connor Congratulations, you now have the unenviable job article 5 closed that brings us to article 6 We have a force to recommend to vote of the redevelopment board for no action Mr. Ruderman Thank You mr. Moderator Michael Ruderman precinct 9. I wish to offer a substitute motion under article 6 Thank You mr. Moderator I wish to bring to the podium to resident of the town is to Christopher Loretta who can speak in in Detail and clarity about this substitute motion As a town resident mr. Loretta is able to speak Six minutes and 41 seconds. Thank You mr. Moderator Chris Loretta precinct 7 and thank you mr. Ruderman for introducing me This substitute motion on article 6 aims to improve the process by which zoning compliance is assessed for projects or Developments requiring special permits here. So I have the clock to to understand how this amendment fits with current Practices in the zoning bylaw Mr. Good is put up on the screen Few excerpts from the bylaw itself, and I don't want to confuse anyone with article 10 That's up there that is the art the section of the zoning bylaw We're talking about article 6 here for a town meeting But what this article does is it lays out how the bylaw is to be administered and enforced and section 10. Oh one Simply says it's the building inspector who's responsible for enforcing the zoning bylaw Section 10.0 to says if you if you want to build something need a building permit And you don't get a building permit unless you're the project that you're building complies with zoning It also says that if it doesn't comply with zoning then the director the building inspector has to give you a written notification why Now those are is are largely These apply for all projects requiring building permits, but there's also a special category of permits Called special permits and that's what this zoning bylaw change applies to There are two special permit granting authorities within the town the one that gives the most permits Roughly 10 to 20 per year is the zoning Board of Appeals There's the redevelopment board also grants special permits and they do it under a process called environmental design review the projects have to meet all of the same criteria as the ZBAs but then their initial dozen or so other criteria it must meet as well but what I want to call your attention to is the Different responsibilities that are involved here. It's the responsibility of the zoning enforcement officer That is the building inspector to enforce the zoning bylaw It's the responsibility of the ARB or the ZBA to enforce the special permit criteria described within the zoning bylaw But and no others. That's what that those last two words mean in this section 10.0 10.11 so there's very clear in distinct lines of authority going on here if we go to the next page what I'm showing you here is Part of the permit application formed used by the ZBA. This is something they've adopted fairly recently and The way the the process works is the applicant fills out these forms and there's some additional pages at the front And then they're reviewed by the inspectional services department. We go to the next page at the bottom the text I've highlighted in red shows that the Application is reviewed by the inspectional services department and it's signed off by someone in that department As I said, this is a relatively new process and I really think it's a model that should be followed This is something that hadn't occurred in the past the ZBA Recognize that they needed to tighten up the procedures a little bit and this Process that they're using this form complies with the proposed amendment this amendment would not require any change to what the ZBA is currently doing in Their special permit process so at this point you're saying it might be saying well What do we even need a bylaw change for well? The problem as I see it rest with the way the redevelopment board is handling their special permits And if we go on to the next page what I'm showing here is the existing Form that the ZBA is using. I'm sorry that the ARB is using and this is an actual example I'm sure you can't read all the text, but what I want to point out is that everything I've highlighted in yellow is wrong in this form was actually presented to the ARB in one of their special permit hearings and You know, I don't want to sound too critical these these forms are typically done by an architect or people who aren't very familiar with the zoning bylaw and I'm just pointing out the errors to Emphasize the fact that we really need to have a professional in the inspectional services department Reviewing these as they do for the forms that the ZBA is using what happens is when this goes before the Redevelopment board is that the interpretation of the bylaw is left to the attorney Representing the applicant and that's not right There should be an independent review that the board can rely on it not have to listen to what the attorneys for the applicants are saying and I realize that a lot of these attorneys have very close ties with the select men I don't think that's acceptable And I don't think it's acceptable that certain applicants may have special ties with people in town We need to have consistent treatment for all applicants And what I want to do is bring the quality of the reviews that the ZBA is using to the ARB And that's really what's driving this this bylaw change I see I don't have a lot of time I'd like to address specifically some of the comments of the finance committee because they raised the question or concerned about cost and a couple things to emphasize one that this is not a spending article no money was requested none is needed and I think the best Example or argument for why no money is needed is the work that the ZBA has is already doing The form that I showed you in the process is relatively new It's only been implemented over the past couple months It has not cost anything yet and there have been no additional staff hired to implement it because this bylaw change itself Does not require additional reviews It just requires the documentation of those reviews and the sign-off for what's already being done And it seems to me as the town is moving forward with its master planning process It's incumbent upon the town to have maximum credibility in the way its zoning articles are enforced and I think if you saw Thursday's paper you saw that the League of Women voters supported this as a good government measure, and I hope you will too. Thank you Thank you, sir Mr. Maher. Oh, excuse me. Mr. Burn. You wanted to address the article first You can sit right over there next to the ARB table. Yeah, Mr. Burn. You're up. All right Sorry John Michael Burn director inspectional services I Guess I'll have to try to wing this a little bit because the article as submitted Had much more involved with than simply putting a signature on The special permit, but that's what was presented. So I guess John I would have to ask Is that what I would be reporting on because there are two sections to there are two sections to This article But only he's only addressed there's only been one addressed just mr. Ruderman's Motion you correct, right? There's one that talks about Should not take found the president In order to ensure all provisions of the by Laura met copies of all special permit application shall provide it inspector buildings will review I'm assuming that's where the signature comes through and then ZBA in cases of section 1106 the ARB shall not take final action on a special permit until as received in writing from the inspector buildings of his or her designee a Listing of the bylaw provisions that the ZBA area be as applicable shall rule upon Along with an indication of conformance the special permit application with all provisions of the bylaw Not to be specifically ruled upon by the ZBA ARB So I guess my question so we're speaking about that's all this before us all all of this here not even though it wasn't presented to us It was presented to us by email to the list and okay. It was on our chairs. Okay, so I'm gonna Then I will answer this way, sorry excuse me Michael burn director of inspectional services. Thank you, mr. Moderator and good evening town meeting members Elected appointed officials fellow department heads and especially to the residents of town of Arlington Will bestowed upon us the responsibility of following applicable laws bylaws associated regulate associated regulations And when properly put before this body and if affirmatively voted upon this body can amend our bylaws Is with this in mind? I stand before you this evening Unfortunately, not all Not always a proposed warrant articles or their amendments as simple to implement as one would wish in this particular case There are several obstacles with the implementation of article 6 most important being that master in a law chapter for 143 and 780 CMR the mass state building code chapter is 104.1 and 104.7 I'm up on the board now Set forth the specific duties and requirements of the building inspector including record keeping Process and even gives us power to waive permit requirements article 6 if allowed Not only adds to the inspector building inspectors duties, but tells them how and when to do his job The board of building regulations and standards and state inspectors office have stated in previous situations But also in this specific situation They've stated this type of change must be pursued through the building code amendment process at the state level where the inspectors Duties are promulgated Thus at this article where to pass this evening it very well would be seen instead the state level to be interfering with the Statutorily defined duties of the building inspector as 780 CMR 101.4 and 105.3 1 to indicate which brings us owning into the building code. I've been asked If the language such as that in article 6 were to come into effect what burden and cost with the inspector services department have to bear In short with a staff of four inspectors and 1.25 administrative staff During 2014 our department issued a total of five thousand nine hundred and seven permits 2,700 of which were building permit related and we performed an estimated 18,000 field inspections and probably 8,000 plan reviews Think of that before for four inspectors and one and a half one and a quarter staff So far this year as of this morning. There's been eight applications for special permit hearings As we are one-third of the way through the year. We can reasonably anticipate 24 such hearings I realized that the article the language of article 6 seems innocuous But but but one must understand in order for inspectional services to not only give a listing of the provisions of the by-law to be ruled Upon this is a section that was not addressed a few moments ago Not only give a listing of the provisions of the by-law to ruled upon which is already part of the special permit application We would have to give an indication of conformance with any other provisions of the by-law Now I think we're rolling that we'll be rolling the zoning by-law if we haven't already To specifically ruled upon by the ZBA or ARB Well, just as owning by-law has 12 articles 106 sections and it's on 127 pages Chapter 40 a the mass general the the state that's owning enabling act Alone has 17 sections and probably in close to another hundred and something pages And other reference regulations in chapter 40 a and the zoning by our include the state building code mass wetland protection regulations DEP regulations Firm matte firm maps, etc It would be my best estimate for the inspectional services to indicate conformance with all of the above For each special permit. We should anticipate an additional 1.5 to 2.0 full-time employees One statement that stuck with me during the process was the question the zoning board of appeals asked When this article was brought before them by the proponent after stating They had no issues with receiving information from the spectral servers until they stated why try to fix the problem We don't have I'd like to conclude that statements that state building inspector Ron Wentmore was hoping to be here tonight, but he did forward his email for any other questions by town meeting members I hope I've answered any questions, but obviously I stand for any questions by anybody. Thank you Thank You, sir. Mr. Maher John Maher precinct 14 I Found a lot of bad ideas have a certain surface appeal and this certainly is not an exception Why not give the special permit granting authorities as much information as possible? It sounds like a very good government idea There are many reasons why this article this substitute motion should fail It asked the substitute motion asked the building inspector to perform two tasks One is to list the by with regard to special permits He asked it is it asked the bill the building inspector to list the by-law provisions That are implicated to advise the special permit granting authority to redevelopment or zoning board what they should be focusing on as town council for many years more years that I can't remember I Never was once given the impression that this Special permit granting authorities lacked any knowledge as to what the special permit provisions on the zoning by-law were Implicated has been stated before by other individuals. This is a solution in search of a problem The building inspector all must also must certify that the project in question complies with every aspect of the zoning by-law There are over a hundred provisions of the zoning by-law that he would have to review As the town Finance committee has pointed out additional staff would certainly be necessary to accomplish this task Most important of all When a special permit application is filed the special permit granting authority only has a certain amount of time To file their decision if they don't file it within that time period generally 45 days What happens is the special permit is deemed granted as a constructive grant in other words if Because of the additional time needed To wait for the building inspector and they may not issue their opinion until the end building inspector Provides this information you run the risk of having a very short time frame for the special permit granting authority to consider what's before them and risking a constructive grant At least one state official that I'm aware of is indicated Who oversees building inspections throughout the Commonwealth that this provision is illegal, but I'll leave that to the town council? This substitute motion is an invitation to litigation The proponent of this article in fact is quite given to litigation attacking town officials and putting their families and personal assets at risk Please bear with me In Middlesex Superior Court civil action 2012 460 467 John Please keep it to the article. I'm I'm addressing the article. Mr. Mr. Martin talking about past litigating all The town meeting needs to know that Mr. Loretty sued the town Costing costing the town 50,000 50,000 dollar it relates to special permit granting authorities Costing the town $50,000 and outside council fees. Please bring it back in we don't talk about past history regarding Gentlemen and the town just talk to the issue on the force It relates to special permit granting authorities that and the procedures that they had to operate under. Yes The reason that Julianna Rice is no longer town council was because she was sued individually by Mr. Loretty. I Am not as a town meeting member. I am not going to be part party to personal vendettas against mr. Burn, which mr. Loretty has and I suggest that you don't either. I'm going to vote against the substitute motion and I urge you to do the same Thank you Gentlemen over here. Yes, Ryan Ferrara precinct for so When I think of this, I think of it a little differently. I think of town meeting and its relationship with the redevelopment board and the ZBA and Really when you think about what we do here as as an entity we provide General policy guidance to these groups we vote on zoning bylaws and we generally Direct the town what we want and where we want it So that's really our big picture guide and what we want and how we want to sort of direct the folks So when I think of this, this is really just the opposite of that. This is micro management. This is telling how how Processes can be improved when in fact the boards themselves have indicated that it's an improvement They don't need the redevelopment board actually voted no action on this and The ZBA when as I understand it when the proponent came before them basically asked the question What problem is it you're trying to solve? So? When I hear that and I also think about the precedent because the billion specter has to uphold State codes right so we've got that in other places as well whether it be health or Conservation Commission think about the precedent that this might set to ask for other requirements where any judgment That's made by town staff has to also include all of the various elements Both the reasons that are applicable and not applicable as to why a decision is made can add a lot more work and A lot more costs so I think it's something that should really be very Careful and we as an entity have to be very careful about I close with this that you know the proponent said before that he aims to improve the process and wants to do a good government thing and To me part of one of the things that you do in good government is that you actually want to gain the support of the Committee you're purporting to help They say they don't need the assistance They say that what's there already and as I understand it the relationship between the boards and the staff is a strong one when questions come up and The regular conversations the dialogues there. This is truly a Solution in search of a problem town meeting. So I Encourage you strongly to Vote down the proposed substitute motion. Thank you. Thank you, sir Thank you, mr. Moderator Paul Bayer precinct 13 And a member of the finance committee and a member of the subcommittee of the finance committee that looks at the building inspectors budget The first thing the proponent was saying that there was no financial Implication of this Substitute motion when we started our Finance committee process this year. We asked the proponent to come in and talk to us about it As it was originally expressed in the warrant the article was very broad and implied that that the amount of work that would be required of the Inspectional Services Department to satisfy this was was really much greater than what was presented here The the proponent Decline to come and spoke with us speak with us. So we hadn't really no choice but to Vote no action or vote to support the redevelopment board vote no action because we just didn't know what was really going to be involved in this article As you see the the finance committee was not unanimous and the reason is not that there were five people who Believed that this should go through but rather that there were five people who believed that either we needed more information Or that it was not actually going to involve any financial Implications so it was voted down. So I Hope you will agree with the redevelopment board and the finance committee and vote no action on this article Thank You mr. Bear It's 923 let's take our seven minute break and come back and we'll continue. Yeah, what do you want 10? Okay Okay Please come to order next No, you hadn't mr. McKinney on no, I'll say already have them Okay, mr. Harrington you're next on the list Yep, yeah, yeah, mr. Harrington has the floor please be quiet sit down. We're going all right Stephen go Time's running Mr. Moderate, I'd like to ask a couple questions. Yes, sir Oh Stephen Harrington precinct 13 Mr. Moderate I'd like to ask a question How many special permits are issued by the redevelopment board? You know in a year doesn't have to be exact Just to give us an understanding of mr. Brunel. Can you answer that how many? on average Average of five five permits a year five two page report two pages Maybe 40 lines a couple columns Five permits a year we're talking about When this came in front of the finance committee, it was said it'll cost two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to do this five two-page reports a year Mr. Moderate, could I ask someone? Whether or not the Attorney General's office would be likely to Accept this zoning change Mr. Heim you're asking a lawyer a question. He could take 10 minutes I'm asking a lawyer with a new child a question Doug Heim town council. Good evening. So there's two separate issues legal issues that are raised this evening The first doesn't really have to do with the Attorney General's office if the building inspector and state officials from the board of building regulations and standards are Contending that this is outside or this would interfere with or frustrate Authorities derived from state law that's not necessarily going to be an issue that the Attorney General is going to pay attention to Unless and until those state officials petition the Attorney General I just can't give you a satisfactory answer as to what the Attorney General's reaction to that situation is going to be And there's also the possibility of litigation that would be outside of the Attorney General's authority to look at a by-law if it were approved with respect to the Issue of whether or not the Attorney General would allow this type of zoning by-law I think it's kind of a close question But the major concern that they would express is that if the building inspector is representing that he can't He can't Ensure that these permits that these these this by-laws going to be met You have the issue that I believe mr. Marr addressed, which is that? If the permit granting authority doesn't Issue a decision within a timeline. They're either going to be forced into one of two situations Constructive grant of the permit which means a permit gets issued by default without addressing it on its merits or without putting any conditions on it or Violating our own local zoning zoning by-laws because the building inspector hasn't provide them with the reports that our zoning by law says they have to have before they make a decision and That is the I think the primary issue that would be of concern of the Attorney General. Thank you So we have five permits two pages On last question, mr. Moderator Of those five permits Can we do we know who the attorney on say any one of them is that's kind of outside the scope Well, it's not one. Is it possible that the attorney say on the one that I Excuse me. I did one. I did a permit special permit Did any other elected officials? Do a special permit? I don't think any of them are lawyers the Housing Corp Who was the legal counsel for the Housing Corp example that miss already showed us? No idea. Could you ask maybe the development board knows? They don't remember Mary win Stanley O'Connor another elected official You need to pass this. Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Schlickman you're next Paul Schlickman precinct nine Well, we have here apparently is a desire to go and add tickets of bureaucratic red tape to the current process Which may not be a bad thing except that by creating a requirement for a ticket of bureaucratic red tape If anything goes wrong with that ticket of bureaucratic red tape It now becomes open season for attorneys and if you know anything about attorneys They are integral to the process of appealing for zoning variances and special permits So they're all over the process and all over the implication and the results if we want to Leave ourselves in a position where we are more open to litigation Just because of the process that we're putting into the bylaw if we're open to the point where someone could challenge a Determination of the zoning board or the redevelopment board Based on failure to comply with this new bylaw to the extent that is required Go ahead and pass this thing The zoning board is proven that Administratively they can handle this on their own. I believe the redevelopment board Can and does collect the requisite information they need to make the case without an adjustment to the bylaw And I think the argument being made by the finance committee that the additional work required to comply with this would be Expensive and that it will require more personnel in order to do this So I urge no vote on this substitute motion Thank you, sir Mr.. Bernal you were next Good evening Andrew Bernal chair of the redevelopment board I'd like to echo something that mr. Schlickman just said the redevelopment board already collects the requisite information required to vote on a special permit as others have said tonight. This is a an amendment to change To a problem that doesn't exist we get what we need from Inspectional services we get what we need from planning and zoning we have the opportunity to review This proposed article several months ago and that was the decision that the board came to after much debate Setting costs aside setting other things aside The department heads the people that do their their jobs here do their jobs They give us what we need to make an appropriate decision. We're appointed to make that decision This The information is there. It's prevented. It's presented to us in the appropriate fashion if we have questions We're allowed to ask if we need to bring mr. Burnin to give us clarification We can continue a hearing and do so if we need input from planning We can do so the lawyer for the proponent on any special permit certainly does not drive the argument here We have the information. I believe we act appropriately and necessary Again this seeks to solve a problem that simply does not exist the work is done already this adds Additional layer on to people who are already working very hard and it opens up the possibility for Litigation, this is vague. This is very unclear this language here if you vote for it. I am concerned what might happen There is a very good reason that the board decided to take no action on this measure when we had the opportunity To do so. I hope that you would do the same. Thank you Mokron cave precinct to I move to terminate all debate on this motion of article 6 and All matters before Takes to a third vote all in favor, please say yes post In my opinion, it is a two-third vote Okay So This is our first real vote of the night. I'm gonna explain what we're gonna do first we're gonna vote on the proposed substitute motion of mr. Ruderman Depending upon how that goes we'll then to vote on the final vote As substituted or the recommended vote of the finance of the ARB. So first we're gonna vote on mr. ruderman's vote Mr. Renault Soon as you're ready Okay So voting window is now open vote one for yes If you want the substitute motion don't to for no if you do not want it the substitute motion fails It's a no vote 171 against 26 in the affirmative Yeah, that's what I did. I Explained then I said yes vote What's your point of order? You got to get five people to rise Okay, so five people have arisen There it is Remember these are available the next day on the website Yes, sir This article was about that's not a point of order. Okay point of order should mr. Burns Steven Have voted on an article. He has no It has does not in fact his father attacks the bylaws of the town of Arlington That's not a point of order mr. Burns Steven has no financial interest in this so he's not violating our rules against Whatever they are it's conflict of interest So his vote was proper and that's not a point of order. That's almost a personal attack. We won't have that anymore that okay We have now before it's a recommended vote of the ARB for no action Are you ready mr. Money or no sir? Who yes ma'am? Well then go see Eric Go see Eric is something wrong with your clicker Right now We're gonna vote again. We're gonna use the clicks in about three seconds. So if you've got a problem go over there and see him so while they Determined if their machine is broken Or what it wouldn't have changed the total at all Because of the quantum of vote Even if they voted in the affirmative it would not have changed the two-third the majority vote Now we have three people all right one down. It looks like we're gonna swap barbers out You click a broken To Yes, can we proceed? Okay, now we have the recommended vote of the ARB for no action Mr.. Renau are you ready? If you're in favor of the recommended vote of no action, please vote one if you're against it Please vote two one meaning yes, two is no and the windows open. Okay. Well, I Said we're voting on the well No means you do not want no action one is you voting for no action Did your vote get miss cat miss you want to see this we see what the result of the no action vote is oh Shush, we made it's a no action vote. It's a yes no vote So 145 yeses and 45 knows so no action wins. Do we want to vote again? No, okay, I Declare it a no action vote We move on to article 7 Carl Yeah, so mr.. Mr.. Renau don't start the clock until I give you the thumbs up So I understand they all understand that we all understand it's ready to go Good thing was an easy vote now that brings forth article 7 Sir Mr.. Deist Okay, I'm a no action vote that means nothing's gonna happen with voting no so to vote no you have to vote Yes, all right article 7 is before us. We have before us a recommended vote the Selectment and the recommended vote of the ARB Mr.. Brinnell Andrew Bonnell Chairman of the reader mail development board mr.. Moderator I was informed during our break that the proponent of this warrant article is out of town and would like to continue this to Wednesday the next Date when he will be available and back in town, okay, so the Proponent of the articles mr.. Christian Klein Christian is not here this evening. He was out of town on a family matter He will be back on Wednesday and he asked that we postpone this vote until Wednesday So we now have a motion on the floor, please second Say all in favor of postponing this article till Wednesday The 29th, please say yes I'll post it is postponed 27th first thing Wednesday Okay, so seven And that brings us to article eight Alarm meant we have before us the recommended vote of the Selectment they wish to speak to that if not, we have a Mr.. Warden You want to speak to it? Okay, mr. Warden. I missed it really is going to speak to it. You'd be next Thank You mr.. Moderator. Sorry, sir Basically the Board of Selectment are recommending no action on this Because so we feel that this is under your purview in terms of the time limiting for speakers Also the selectmen have changed the recommended vote to no action Can you explain it sorry? Yeah, I'm sorry He's unchanging No, okay. He's unchanging his no action. Yes Your Doug go ahead explain what's going on Doug Heim town council Just a quick note about the article eight So basically the selectmen support a vote of favorable action on this to amend the current Limits on speaking time for announcements reports as codified in the bylaw this is not a Drastic change, but rather seeks to further clarify what exactly We want to be using town meetings time to speak about not I don't want to take up too much time because I know that the proponent of the article mr. Slickman is here and he presented at this like in his hearing with the selectmen support a vote of favorable action on this Okay, mr. Warden Has a substitute motion thank you mr. Moderator John Warden precinct eight member of the Town meeting procedures committee Like to point out that you the town meeting members At some time in the past Established by bylaw a committee to deal with town meeting procedures and so The way that typically works is if someone has an idea for the Improvement of town meeting hard to conceive how that might happen, but it's conceivable that They that that person would come to the committee and we don't meet very often But we meet when when necessary and talk it over and figure out well Yeah, this is this is something that could be a tinkered with or we should maybe do a bylaw or maybe It's something that can be adjusted just by the sort of procedures that the moderator has Mentioned the outside of the meeting by on his own power under the general laws to control the meeting limit announcements and resolutions to Four minutes rather than the usual speaking time and In the past It has been a Problem that some people would have have a long report and they would read it and Sometimes you'd also have it on the screen and and then it would sort of go on and on so so it was Maybe desirable to trim these things down a bit now and we did The the proponent of this did not did not come to the town meeting procedures committee the one you established to think about these things in the first instance but we did we did consider it and we We came up with a substitute motion which it has been put on your chairs and Do you have a copy of it? Yes, I do sir. Oh, thank you And the Anyone who doesn't have it? I'd be glad to read it if you if you don't have it It says substitute motion for it was in the in the report of the town meeting procedures committee The the motion that I'm bringing forward at this point and We feel that the the proposal put forth by the select man is It's long and cumbersome It's an example of a camel's a horse designed by committee and and we and we think if if you must have a bylaw To regulate what the moderator says He's gonna do under the power. He already has then don't have these all these different Categories of votes and is this photo this kind or is it of that kind is it four minutes or seven minutes or whatever? No, we have a very short and and simple a definition It just says which reports will be four minutes and If you must have a bylaw we recommend As your procedures committee that this bylaw that this substitute motion be adopted as as the bylaw Or is the change to the bylaw? but actually We really we feel that If you must have a bylaw you should substitute this if you feel as Frankly as we do that that you don't really need another bylaw Then we urge you to vote down the whole business. Thank you. Thank you, sir So we have mr. Warden motion in front of us mr. Schlickman Paul Schlickman presign I I'd like to request 87 minutes For for the purpose of presenting a video replay of the announcements and reports from the May 12th meeting fifth session of our last annual town meeting 87 seconds you have it go ahead. Okay, I Don't think that's going anywhere But on a couple of nights last year we came personally close to having the announcements bump up against the 930 break members of Congress Can pack a mighty punch in their one-minute statements? Just one minute at the podium can point us to announcements and reports with more extensive text in email or on the web Literature can be placed on the seats in town hall trust me There are times when people need good reading material during town meeting More extensive reports and the Uncle Sam song Could be taped at the ACMI studio for multiple joyous replays our bylaw Regulates speaking time on the business of the meeting but not our remarks with no relevance to the warrant Seems kind of backwards to me and I hope you agree. I have no objection to the substitute motion Though I prefer less than four minutes But I urge you adopt one of the versions before you tonight. Thank you Mr. O'Connor James O'Connor precinct 19 a member of the town meeting procedures committee What I'd like to highlight For you is the bottom paragraph of our report article 8 verses the section of the Selecman's report on page 3 and the matter that we addressed was actionable versus unactionable matters and We deliberated over this for an hour and a half We covered a lot of details and possibilities But primarily the concerns that we bring to us here are warrant articles and as much as we want to hear a lot of other Discussion as to things that matter and pertain to the town They're not matters of the warrant articles. What we have been concerned about is that Frankly today almost every seat is full. I can congratulate all of you for being here today But I can promise you by session four and five Especially after the break There's quite a few less people a lot of people have approached members of the town meeting procedure committee and said How can we reduce? The lack of attendance you'll hear about that in article 45 But what we're looking at here is an efficient Communication method and all we're asking you to do is let the moderator do his job Just as the building inspector asked that he could do his job in the preceding article And what we're looking at here is the moderator has the power to terminate Anybody's idea of going 17 and a half minutes or Paul's 87 minutes Because he brings it to the floor and I'm sure all of you don't want 87 minutes on a topic So I'd like to be brief and just say in less than three and a half minutes I ask you to vote for the substitute motion if you're going to vote for a motion and then Terminate the whole matter by voting no action because the moderator can do the job as he's already done. Thank you Thank you, sir Mr. Jamison Gordon Jamison precinct 12 I Moved the matter and all the motion and all matters before us. Thank you. Mr. Moderator. Oh Is that a motion to terminate today? Oh good We have a motion to terminate the bid on all matters under the article before us all Cause two-third vote all in favor to terminate the bait. Please say yes opposed My opinion is a two-third vote. Okay. So now we're going to take a minute. I'm going to explain what we have We have before mr. Warden's substitute motion Which would substitute the procedure committee? by law Proposal for the selectments. So if you want to go with the town meeting procedure committee, you will vote yes on mr. Warden's substitute motion Mr.. Renau are you ready? Yes, okay? So go ahead and start the voting window if you want mr. Warden's vote. Yes, if you don't want mr. Warden's vote no okay times up and tally We have a hundred and sixty four in the affirmative 35 the negative mr. Warden's Substitute motion passes So now we have a force to recommend this is going to sound weird to the new town meeting members We have the recommended vote of the Board of Selectment as substituted by mr. Warden's Motion so we're now voting whether or not we want to make mr. Warden's motion a town by-law or not if We want to make a by-law regulating speaking on articles vote. Yes, if you don't and want to just go with I'm not done if you want to vote to make a by-law to regulate speaking times under announcements and resolutions You'll vote one if you think we don't need such a By-law you'll vote to one For yes, we want it to know we don't want it. Are you ready mr. Renau yes, go ahead and vote We have a hundred and four people Voting yes in the affirmative. We now have a by-law to regulate speakers under announcements and resolutions to four minutes so that passes as mr. Warden has dictated and That is a vote and I so declare it that closes article eight and brings us to article nine Article nine. We have the recommended vote of the Selectment of no action I see Steve go ahead mr. Greeley Thank you, mr. Moderator mr. Moderator my own colleagues in town meaning I apologize for confusing things in the last one But I'm ready on this one Article nine the Board of Select was recommending no action to primary reasons. We believe that the current Commission does an excellent job and there was nothing specific Presented to the Board of Selectment for us to vote on so we recommend no action Mr. Harrington you're next You can thank you Stephen Harrington town meeting number precinct 13 so I Want you to look at Article 33 the recommended vote from the finance committee open it up take a look at it Because articles nine and articles 33 are very much linked. I asked Wait, are you putting a recommended vote in front of us? No, did you just get it seconded? Oh, okay. Go ahead now. We have something to talk about go ahead Thank You mr. Moderator So take a look at that article you'll see I asked mr. Tosti if we could combine the two because really The recommended vote from the finance committee on article 33 is Essentially what I'm asking you what a substitute motion on article nine and so we can get to talk about this twice Okay, so if you look at it, the only difference is that the Fincom wants to make this a board of select men Initiative and I want to make this a town meeting initiative. This is a town meeting committee So what's on the screen first? Let's start at the end over the past decade this is the number of investigations and complaints that have been brought to the Human Rights Commission by Residents and you'll see there's been two and and the reason is And this isn't anything bad about the Human Rights Commission people. They're actually very eager to be involved But in 1993 when the Human Rights Commission was started the discrimination was based on housing and on employment Guess what? It doesn't happen. Oh, hey, you get your chance to speak. It doesn't happen anymore Okay, it doesn't happen What's the greatest problem in front of us the greatest civil rights issue of our time is the de facto discrimination by public entities? whether it's police in Missouri Whether it's school departments with suspensions of students Whether it's boards that won't follow the Americans with disabilities act So what I'm asking you tonight is really simple. It doesn't bind anyone to anything It's to form a committee a town meeting committee of five members That are appointed by the moderator to look at the by-law and come back next year and make some changes Now let's talk about why this is important two examples one out of school suspensions Mr Show the next page, please So down Mr. Greeley Said that um, yes what I wanted to vote on and I Actually answered them pretty much what I'm telling you tonight I want you to acknowledge by forming this committee that you care about de facto discrimination by public entities and I'm asking you a town meeting to form a committee of five members appointed by the moderator To make a recommendation and the reason that that's important isn't because of the Commission wanting this It's about residents needing this so out of school suspensions. Here's example number one Back in September. I found out By looking at the Department of Justice report that the school committee provides them the school department That if you were an African-American student in the out-of-public schools, you were 11 times more likely to be suspended than a white student There was shocking so I Had the school I went to a school committee the school department revised the numbers Down to only six times as much twice the national average and they had preliminary numbers for 2013 Six times as much twice the national average If you're a black student in the out-of-public schools, you're six times more likely to be suspended suspensions To incarceration track is what they call it if you're suspended you're more likely to be incarcerated We're only talking about a hundred instances So I went to the Human Rights Commission and it was really hard to make a complaint It was hard to get in touch with them. It was hard to get them to put me on the agenda. They refuse to put me on the agenda Excuse me, let's do you want to get on the list? Because it's hard to get in the agenda. I went to public participation I asked them to form a subcommittee and they did they black me because they're good people I Asked the school department the school committee to form a subcommittee and they did after two times to look at this Everyone involved takes it seriously Unfortunately, the school department saying well, they can't provide the data to this committee or to the Human Rights Commission because privacy records That leaves me with only one option. We have to ask the Human Rights Commission to Refer this to the Department Justice because I think it's really important. We know why We were actually suspending African-American students at such a high rate The second one is the Americans with Disabilities Act if you go to the Board of Selectment like I did tonight and You go to talk to them and ask them anything They make you stand up at a microphone with nothing no podium. No, what a recipe papers. You can't sit down for up to a half an hour Okay, imagine if we asked all the people behind us to get rid of the tables get rid of the chairs stand up in the corner and wait until We have a question for you. They do this every night that they meet and that's why Mr. Greeley didn't like when I pointed that out to him and when he Bully me didn't ask me what I wanted. I told him exactly what I wanted that I wanted Town meeting to take seriously the de facto discrimination by public entities by forming a committee of five people signed by the moderator To make changes to the bylaw so that residents can make complaints and Get them resolved. Thank you Thank you, sir Mr.. Harris e.j. Harris precinct five I Want to start because I want to be sure that we understand that this part isn't ironic As far as I can tell the Human Rights Commission does excellent work and are genuinely trying to pursue Better life in the town of Arlington and so even if we disagreed with all of their decisions They would still deserve our respect and gratitude That said I don't think this is about their performance From my point of view, it's about whether or not my girlfriend is going to leave me and I'll explain why You see About starting this fall She went she started going to this silly looking building across from the granary burying ground down by the Park Street tea stop a Suffolk Law School, I guess and they gave her these giant books About personal jurisdiction and the elements of felonies and what constitutes negligence and how not to keep your promises which I guess in Latin is called contracts and All we have talked about and all that we have done for the last nine months Has been talked about what's in these books literally right before I'm coming to town meeting She texts me tonight and said does it say good luck at town meeting does it say I'm glad you're at my life Says here's this case that we're talking about about Explosive ordinance and construction and its effect on farmed mink literally The worst of this is my birthday was Saturday and she was so busy writing a paper for one of her courses That I didn't get any chocolate chip cookies for my birthday Which if you've had her cookies you would complain about that to a room full of strangers, too. I'm serious Why do I mention it? She tells me that the reason she's going through this process and apparently it tends it for another three years Is that she wants to participate in this? apparently four hundred year old system of justice Where which has I guess been protecting the rights of the people of Massachusetts? Sense our founding more or less um If that's not true That she is taking the most elaborate steps to avoid me and get me to stop talking to her that anyone has ever taken Which is an achievement? I'm sure sure you all understand the idea of wanting me to stop talking, but seriously She is she is really working hard at that if that's what this is about The moral of the story is if the police beat you up like they did in Ferguson you need a lawyer If you've been unjustly suspended from school you need a lawyer If town entities have violated the ADA you need to sue those town entities you need a lawyer The Human Rights Commission does excellent work They can't redress these things like the tort system can If you don't if whatever your complaint is does it rise to the level of meeting a lawyer? Does it rise to the level of a lawsuit? I do have one other avenue of redress other than the Human Rights Commission that I'd like to propose to you all interrogating town department heads during The budget debate this is a time-honored town meeting tradition and something I know many people here enjoy But what you really need is somebody who's young who's brash Possibly somebody who's been considering harassing town officials to be a recreational activity since he was about 17. Mr. Schlickman can tell you about that Certainly you would need someone strong will utterly heedless of personal consequence and almost pathologically addicted to arguing Oh, yeah, you guys don't think that's why my girlfriend wants to leave Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris Mr. Harris Is this within scope? I'm thinking it's I'm thinking I know more about your cookies and girlfriend than I need to Why any future expansion is ill-considered and why we should put this to bed tonight rather than spend future meeting time on this I urge a no vote. Thank you Mr. Greeley Thank You mr. Moderator. How do I follow that? I? Can't possibly I just want to make two points of clarification first of all Unpoints of mr. Harrington made and one we all agree that the Human Rights Commission does an excellent job Why do we need to change anything? But first of all he said they make you stand up I'd like you to know that for that hearing mr. Harrington requested through the mayor of Arlington That we provide a chair a table and a microphone For him and that evening those were provided as we would for anybody who needs such things Secondly Four members of the Board of Selectment that night asked him what he was proposing and not once did he bring up? Which was brought up tonight that he wants this to be a town meeting committee instead of the Board of Select Never brought up so My colleagues was it written on that? I'd ask you to watch the tape. Thank you mr. Moderator Larissa, I don't know everybody's name yet. Oh This bad thanks Sherry Baron precinct seven and member of the Human Rights Commission To mr. Harrington's First or second point about this small number of complaints Which I can only Think that he's bringing up. Well, I shouldn't Dane to know that I think what he's thinking but Yes, we do have a very small number of complaints Whenever I get up to speak or anyone speaks before you through them and for the Human Rights Commission We say that's the good news and the bad news The good news is it looks like there are very few Complaints arising out of hate incidents in this town. The bad news is there are more than three or six complaints There are more than three or six incidents that happen I'm sure of it, and I know most of you believe the same to be true But when you think about someone whose rights have been violated Think about how easy or not that is to bring forward to someone think about what position they're in What protected class they're in where they come from where their country of origin is where it might have been absolutely Unheard of to go to an official to complain about how you're being treated So I don't believe that that is a true representation of what is really happening That said With regard to his to the proponent calling There are no records of him calling the Commission. He emailed our chair on October 24th She emailed him back, and he attended our November meeting We listened to his concerns. We formed a subcommittee So for him to imply that we've done nothing is untrue. Thank you Thank you, ma'am Molly Fluckeger from precinct for I am mixed feelings about What we're discussing today in the article? I recently resigned from the disability Commission and one of the reasons that I resigned from the disability Commission was after a couple years It was sort of unclear to the Commission what it was supposed to do and After trying to have that debate unsuccessfully. I decided to remove myself from that situation I think that's irrelevant here because we talked about a lot of folks have talked about ADA complaints The way I understand it if someone in the town has a complaint Against the Americans with Disabilities Act They're actually not necessarily supposed to go to the Human Rights Commission But they're supposed to go to the town's ADA coordinator Arlington There's a man of staff mr. Jack Jones whose Arlington's ADA coordinator Arlington Followed the law the ADA 25 years ago and wrote a grievance procedure that is supposed to handle this It's my understanding that in 25 years. We've had no complaints against the ADA in Arlington So that again, is that good news or is that maybe a sign that the process isn't working properly? I think the town doesn't do as much as it could to proactively promote the ADA For example, some of you may not know that here in town hall The Disability Commission has purchased assistive listening devices So for those of you who have a hard time hearing those resources are available and I'm not sure that anybody really shares that information There are also things I think that with some of these meetings We have that do challenge people with physical disabilities in different ways being able to read things being able to stand being able to sit etc So when I look at this article I think of it Not as picking out the Human Rights Commission because maybe somebody didn't get what they wanted out of it But maybe an opportunity to really look at an important issue Which is how we're handling our discrimination cases And I imagine that if a committee of five people took a look at the Human Rights Commission They also might think about what's happening on the Disability Commission and about ADA complaints So I think I'm going to support this and I encourage you to do that too Thank you, Mr. Deist, I move the question and all issues related there, too All in favor, please say yes So once again, we're ready to vote but we have before us and we're going to vote it this way first We're going to vote on mr. Harrington's Substitute motion if you want mr. Harrington substitute motion, please vote. Yes, if you're opposed to it vote no We're ready over there. All right, so the voting window is now open again If you want mr. Harrington substitute vote yes, if you do not vote no voting window is now closed We have 55 in the affirmative 149 of the negative mr. Harrington's motion does not carry We have now before us a recommended vote of the Board of Selected for no action All we're going to do a voice vote all in favor of no action. Please say yes All opposed say no We have a vote of no action on article 9 that closes article 9 and We move to article 10 Article 10 is before us By law amendment description of Monkeal boa district Hill district Crescent Hill district mr. Greeley Thank You mr. Moderator This is just to correct an error in the present historic district bylaws And it's to change the two addresses to our 9 Lowell Street and 105 West Minster to 207 Lowell Street and 106 West Minster Avenue Sir nope him who's Mr. McCalke Steve McAlke Precinct 9 also chair of the historic district commission just want to reiterate this is purely administrative change in Comparing the town's new GIS maps to the warrant articles originally passed in 1991 We realized that the very long legal description of the district which goes on for many many pages If you ever looked at the warrant article actually refers to two properties that don't exist so this is What I have up on the map shows the two Lot lines that are being the description is being changed just by changing the reference to the abutting properties Doesn't move the lines at all doesn't change what properties are in the district or out of the district It just fixes a transcription error that occurred many years ago and was lost somewhere in the 20 pages of text Anybody else wish to discuss this article Miss time this is a majority vote Yes, okay, so this is a majority vote all in favor. Please say yes Opposed say no Unanimous vote and I so declare it be must 427 and that closes article 10 that brings us to article 11 By law amendment establish a community preservation committee. Okay You have the floor sir, okay Thank You mr. Moderator This is to establish a committee for the community preservation Act and as voted by the town of by the voters in the town of Arlington and We're recommending the following. I know you have the vote in the select man's Report, but we're recommending a nine member come pursuant to general laws One member would be from the conservation commission one from the historical commission One from the redevelopment board one from park and recreation commission and one from the housing authority There would be four others at large members and what we are recommending is a a screening committee Of the town manager and the chairman of the board of selectmen or designee and then that would be brought Those four candidates would be brought before the entire board of selectmen for a vote by the Selectman including also the town manager the same way we do CDBG The rest of it do is responsibility administration and operation. I won't read through all of that for you But we do feel this is the most transparent way to elect these four at large members I really believe that this is going to take a lot of coordination First of all, we are dealing with taxpayers money in this instance on the property tax and Also with coordination of all other towns and commissions We feel this is the best way to go about this at this point in time. Thank you mr. Moderator Thank you, sir Okay, so I'm going to introduce first the various people who have given me substitute motions. Mr. Harrington Shawn Thank You mr. Moderator Shawn Harrington Precinct 15 I'd actually like to amend the amendment that I am presenting Amending your amendment. Yep instead of It's saying member. I'd like to change it to at-large member So the amendment would then read no at-large member of the Community Preservation Committee shall serve more than six consecutive years at a time waiting period of three years shall be imposed on any member of the committee after serving six consecutive years if they wish to rejoin the committee Okay, it's been seconded The originally I was going to have it for all members but after talking to town council This seems to be the best way to go. This is basically just to make sure that there's a consistent I don't know if change would be the right word, but making sure that the committee doesn't become stale at all Many times I've seen that people you know join boards and they get really excited after a while But when they're there for such a long period of time they end up kind of fading out, you know the point of this committee is Community preservation not self-preservation So I think it basically speaks for itself It gives them a chance to join the committee again But they have to take a little bit of a break take a breather allow someone else to come in with possibly new ideas It doesn't mean you can't be part of the process you could still show up to meetings You can still be active with it what it means so is that we're what this is going to do is try to get more People involved this should be a community effort. It shouldn't just be for one group of people to run and stay forever We should be trying to get a diverse group of opinions People to serve in this over the course of time, and I think that's pretty much it Okay, good. Thank you. Mr. Hainer Mr.. R. Excuse me. Mr. Moderator bill Hainer precinct to I'm offering an amendment I Move the recommended vote of the board of select men be amended following respect in section 1a 10th line after the word and delete from the word for Through and including the word section 1b and inserting two members appointed by the town moderator one member of By the finance committee is as designated by such committee and one member appointed by the town manager Mainly this is being more specific It gives the finance committee a At least one designated member The Mr.. Greeley said this is your money our money I think the finance committee does a phenomenal job, and I think it's important for them to have a person there I also think the town moderator has picked good people for different boards and things of that nature. Thank you Thank you, sir. So that's miss Taylor have a second Okay, mr. Hainers is also before us Mr. Carmen yep, you're next John Dean Carmen precinct 20 so for most of you except the people in the back to her as I apologize I had handed out two subs two amendments After you're probably like I I mean I didn't expect for three four others to be sitting there So I'm not going to Put forward my true amendments what I would like to do though is support Mr.. Hainers amendment and explain why because I think his amendment is somewhat similar to mine No, I'm not gonna put either forward because I feel like I've created a bunch of lit it We've created a bunch of there killed a bunch of trees So in supporting mr. Hainers amendment, I just want to explain my reasoning at All levels of government whether it's the federal government He can still speak I thought he was going to present them He has a right to speak as a town meeting member. I thought he was going to present them so Well, I'm just trying to get your chance. Do you want to speak? Go Dean go. Thank you. So and I apologize for the confusion. Um, the reason I support mr. Hainers Amendment is it? You know what we have here is really a separation of powers at all levels of government whether it's the federal government The state government or the local government spending and appropriation is the job of the legislature in Arlington the job of the legislature falls to town meeting all of us And so when you look at our two other committees that we have right now that deal with financial matters We have the finance committee the appointing authority for the finance committee Is not the board of select it is a three-person committee of The town moderator the democratically elected speaker the chair of the finance committee and and I always screw this one up So let me go look it. Thank you trust fund commit chair of trust fund commissioners and I Know when mr. Greeley said it spends a lot of you know, it's interesting to really say we spent a lot of money If we're spending a taxpayer money, so the select would have to make the appointment I don't think he was implying that that moderator finance committee chair and trust fund commissioner don't make good decisions But I think it shows the difference in thought process We also have a capital planning committee and the capital planning committee has some set members on it It you know and after that we have four citizen appointees or we have two system was I forget which one right now Let me look For registered voters of the town of approved by appointed by the town moderator again in the second situation We don't ask the board of select men We don't add we don't delegate our authority as town meeting members To the select men and say hey, this is now a committee of the executive branch We hold the power with the town moderator and we say no this is a committee of the legislature And so that's why I'm supporting mr. Hainer's motion instead of my own because I think it gets to the same place It takes the power of appointment and it puts it in the hands of The democratically elected speaker of this body as well as the finance committee chair Which and just for some clarifications if you look at state law the finance committee is a subcommittee of this town meeting So you're taking the chair of a subcommittee of this body and you're asking the chair of the subcommittee To help with that appointment. So that's my my thinking my rationale I apologize for any confusion that might have been started in the early going. Thank you. Okay, mr. Warden Thank you, mr. Moderator and Bell town meeting members Well, I I'd like to move a An amendment to the select ones recommendation Which is on your chairs and But if you look at it, and I don't know if you have a copy Yes, so we have one yeah, all right if you it's called Arlington meeting amendment article 11 and it's got today's date at the top in the second last line There is a Typographical error the second lesson in paragraph 3 Spell check doesn't do context check very well and So it says a term It says delete such and such words and it should say and insert The some other words So just so that I ask you to make that change Okay, so in number three Your subparagraph three after the word terms and italics should be and the end the end should be and yes, okay You're one layer right anyway. I see that So If I may have a second to my motion thank you Well, basically, I don't have neither do I have a problem with mr. Hainers amendment. I think either of them would Do what this amendment Tries to do to give your moderator the power to Appoint some of the at-large members of this committee This is an important committee. I supported CPA. I work for it. I wrote a letter in its favor. I gave the money, etc so I believe in this concept the state law has Established the outlines of the type of people you have to have on the committee and they allow for four at-large members my proposal was to divide the appointment of the four at-large members equally between the Board of Selectman and the manager on the one hand and the moderator on the other hand The the only problem I have with mr. Mr. Hainer would Slice the select one down by one more and put a member of the finance committee on the Fund on the community preservation fund committee, which doesn't sound like a bad idea at all But the the the problem I have mr. Hainer's amendment is the original a proposal of the select man Provided for staggered terms for the at-large people so they wouldn't all expire at once So the first one would be appointed for one year one for two years and Two for two years and one for three years or something like that and and I tried to maintain that structure and that seems to have been seems seems to have been eliminated so it would mean that the Yep, you're running out of time. I am okay I would I would ask you to support my amendment to the Board of Selectman's Recommendation, thank you. Thank you. Do I have a second on mr. Mordens motion? Okay, mr. Ruderman Thank You mr. Moderator Michael Ruderman precinct nine I Look at the portion of the select man's Recommended motion here that asks and and Expresses the desire for close communication cooperation and integration of town needs with those members of of the various boards who serve much much outside of the spotlight of Of you know our thanks and gratitude at looking forward in years and Trying to figure out now what it is We need to budget for what we need to put into action what we need to hold off until future years These are the folks who toil in the finance committee and capital planning committee. I would like to see the the express desire of the select man's recommended motion Ensured by making sure that a Couple of these people have the both the metaphorical and the literal seats at the table that Integration of purposes would require now I speak to you In a similar vein as our colleague mr. Word and just did but from a different viewpoint You probably know that I was not a supporter of Arlington's adoption of the community community preservation act A rather ardent one from the number of hours that my beloved was wondering what I was trying to do to avoid talking to her Through the entire debate, but I'm not here to recount Any funny stories about that And what I'm saying is that I opposed Arlington's adoption of this for a number of reasons one was that If I can trot out a line that summarizes From the campaign why I was opposed is that the community preservation act works to the benefit and the legacy and the the glory and the reputation of the folks who who get to propose new projects and Ultimately to cut the ribbons and welcome the public into something bright and shiny and new or old and restored Something which is a clear and obvious benefit to the community. They get to cut the ribbons There are some other folks in town here work who work very hard at putting budgets together and Sometimes they have to cut the budgets. I would like the folks who have to cut the budgets To have a seat at the table literally a seat at the table as well as the appointments Held by the people who cut ribbons That's all. Thank you. I use support to mr. Heiner's substitute amendment Thank you very much sir miss stamps I Was involved in getting the ballot question passed The most of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth who have the community preservation committee The members are appointed by the board of selectmen. Let's not forget that we're only talking about four Members of a nine-member committee The other five members are required by statute One has to be appointed by the historical Commission One by Parks and Rec One by the Conservation Commission One by the Redevelopment Board and I knew I was gonna forget the fifth one but And and then one by the Housing Authority, so you're talking about four people The board of selectmen operates in the most transparent manner of any Board in town there Their meetings are covered by the advocate and all the local media and they're in fact televised I Can't except for town meeting. I really can't think of another board that is televised every week and people watch the meetings so to give the Board of selectmen together with the town manager Oh the school committee. I'm very I'm very sorry. Mr. Schleifman my apologies All right, well, okay, maybe there are three boards, but that's you know that are televised But the process is very transparent and the The preview of the board of selectmen is to think about the needs of the town as a whole and it seems that to me that they're Proposed motion in their selectments report does make the most sense and we are hoping that that's the way it goes if you do read the their proposed Their proposed vote you'll see that in a couple of places it requires doesn't recommend but requires consultation with the finance committee The everybody thinks the finance committee needs to be involved in these discussions And don't forget that the role of the community preservation committee is simply to vet projects that are brought forward by whoever wants to bring them forward and then Ultimately the projects are voted on at the following Springs town meeting and the money voted at that point so at that It will be ultimately the decision of town meeting and with all due respect to the town moderator I don't think he needs to be involved in the process before that. Thank you. Mr. Leonard Thank You mr. Moderator John Leonard precinct 17 I Feel like I have to speak my mind on this especially after listening to some of the comments earlier this evening as most of us know most of us have heard so far out of these nine members on this committee Five of them are automatically taken away from us. They're appointed. They're Situated whatever so we only have four now according to the details of the law of the community preservation Act it states the four remaining positions Can be elected or appointed positions at the discretion of the community Now not to get down old roads, but Back in 2011 Certain people in the town Wanted to appoint a position in the clerks office in the town of Allenton rose up and said no we want to elect in 2013 Certain people in the town wanted to elect the treasurer's position a point. Excuse me. I changed it in The town of Allenton again rose up and said no We want to elect I would ask town meeting members to remember That what they're hearing tonight and what they're hearing with all these amendments Do not let Your elected power disappear there are many many capable people in the town of Allenton That either would want the position Desire the position or have the knowledge to do a good job in the position I just cannot believe what I've heard this evening about Let's appoint this let's appoint that let's have this committee appoint the point the point Where it's actually stated again like I said in the law at the discretion of the committee at the discretion of the community They can also be elected again five positions of the nine are already spoken The community community has been given the right to have the other four positions filled by electing and All we're talking about here tonight is let's give the power of appointing To certain people I thought we learned our lesson in the past couple years I Would appreciate and I would ask That we don't lose sight of the fact That there's nothing in the details of the law That states anybody Unless I'm totally miss misunderstanding this Has to go up in front of the board of selectmen or any of the board for approval It says to me by this law somehow These four remaining people should be elected Possibly on their merits or their knowledge But they should not have to be subject to approval by any board I Would ask the town meeting members to remember We got in trouble with appointment before The town of our ancient said we want to elect Don't take that away from us. Thank you. Thank you, sir Mr. Deist John Deist precinct 13 and a member of the finance committee My Opinion about the Community Preservation Act is that can enormously benefit the town if it is if it is managed in the right way and by the right way what I mean is What we're talking about primarily in the Community Preservation Act is Money that can be used for capital projects Primarily at least in my opinion. That's the sort of primary positive thing that can happen and And what I don't understand having seen Dean Carmen's Article amendment is that he had in his amendment appointing Let me read it to you appointed by an appointment John deans on Dean withdrew his I understand yeah, but That's what I find frustrating because He had the moderator the chair of the finance committee and the chair of the capital planning committee as The three appointing members. I think it is really important Having watched the capital planning committee for all of these years Do the superb job that it does that? The that that that combination of three people would be the right combination in in order to appoint the the four Remaining seats available on the committee. So I don't understand You know, maybe I should ask you if you you would kindly ask Dean why he decided that Mr. Heiner's Amendment is is preferable I Haven't had a chance to speak to him this evening about it But maybe you could ask him that because I happen to think that his amendment is the best one available Although I like mr. Heiner's as well. However, I think the Having the chair of the capital planning committee as a member Is important so maybe if I could ask that Dean comment I could be educated mr. Carmine do us to The lucid data son why you change your mind Substituted one person so No, I mean John I Was sitting at my chair there were five amendment and I I mean I wrote two of them I was confused and thought I was gonna vomit. I was so confused So I am I figured the discretion is the better part of valor and I just Withdrew my tail so Mr. Moderator is there no chance now for for us to have an amendment by which the The chair of the capital planning committee might be a member of this appointing committee You can make any substitute motion. You want you'd have to do it now and have it And I would like to submit maybe with my name attached to it Dean Carmen's Dean Carmen's Amendment wait a second miss rate a second Doug has a question Which one he has to Well, wait a second. Maybe he's gonna make his motion then we're gonna adjourn till next month next Wednesday because it's Three seconds to 11 which one mr. Deist it is the one that that States appointed by an appointing committee of three members Composed of the moderator the chair of the finance committee and the chair of the capital planning committee pointed by the joint Okay, this one here you want to take mr. Carmen's take his name away put your name there and submit this as a motion. Yes, all right Is everybody understand what mr. Deist is doing? Okay, mr. Deish will come up here afterwards and sign the appropriate paperwork Motion to adjourn Thank you have any motions for reconsideration now for the new members we can reconsider But only if you tell me about it tonight if we're no one reconsiders anything you can't ever talk about it again any motions for reconsideration none We are adjourned till Wednesday eight o'clock. Please be ready to go at eight o'clock Everybody was filing in at five ten past