 Welcome. I am calling to order this meeting of the Arlington Select Board on Monday, September 12, 2022. I am Select Board Chair Linda Diggins and I will now confirm that all members and persons anticipated on their agenda are present and can hear me. Members, when I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Diana Mahon. Here. John Hurd. Yes. Steve DeCorsi. Yes. Eric Kalamaz. Yes. Beth, when I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Sandy Poehler. Here. Doug Hine. Here. Ashley Meyer. Here. The meeting of the Arlington Select Board is being conducted in a hybrid format consistent with chapter 107 of the Acts of 2022. Signing the law on July 17, 2022, which further extends certain COVID-19 measures regarding mobile remote participation. The act includes an extension until March 31, 2023. The remote meeting provisions of Governor Governor Baker's original March 12, 2020 executive order suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law. The governor's order, which is on the town's website in reference with agenda materials for this meeting, allow public bodies to meet entirely remotely as long as there is a reasonable access that allows the public to follow along with the deliberations of the meeting. Before we begin, please note the following. First, this meeting is being conducted via Zoom. It is being recorded and is also being simultaneously broadcast on ACMI. Second, persons wishing to join the meeting by Zoom may find information on how to do so on the town's website. Persons participating by Zoom are reminded that you may be visible to others and that if you wish to participate, you are asked to provide your full name in the interest of developing a record of the meeting. Third, all participants are advised that people may be listening who do not provide comment, and those persons are not required to identify themselves. Both Zoom participants and persons watching on ACMI can follow the posted agenda materials also found on the town's website using the agenda platform. And finally, each vote tonight we've taken by roll call. So let's see how much of the town's business we can get tonight. Get done tonight. I think we can get it all done. And next on the agenda is the land acknowledgement. I would like to read the land acknowledgement that the board supported in the spring of 2021 and that was adopted at the 2021 annual town meeting. We acknowledge that the town of Arlington is located on the ancestral lands of the Massachusetts tribe. The tribe of indigenous people from whom the colony, province, and Commonwealth have taken their names. We pay our respects to the ancestral bloodline of the Massachusetts tribe and their descendants who still inhabit historic Massachusetts territories today. Now before we turn into item number three on the agenda, please note that the continued appeal of the denial of the removal of the tree at 261 Hillside will be conducted as a hearing. That is comments from residents as well as others will be heard when we get to that item on the agenda rather than during open forum. So now we'll move on to item number three on tonight's agenda, which is the hunger action day proclamation. And I think we have someone here at Andy perhaps being that is going to speak to that item. Can you can you hear me? Yes. Hi, I'm Andy Dome the executive director of Arlington eats and I appreciate you guys taking the opportunity tonight to declare September 23rd as hunger action day. We of course know that many of our fellow neighbors do struggle with food insecurity and so it's important that as a community we acknowledge that and we also take action in a variety of ways to to reduce and eliminate hunger and food insecurity in our community. Thank you, Andy. And so colleagues. Second. All right, so on motion by Mr. Hurd and a second by Mrs. Mohan. I had a plan. And I just lost my connection. So if you can. Thank you. Appreciate that. So on a motion to as on a motion to approve and a second by Mr. Hurd and a second by Mrs. Mohan. I want to say that we now therefore be it resolved me that the talent Arlington encourages any residents in need of food to call Arlington eats at 339 707 67 61 or visit Arlington eats.org and resolve that the town Arlington encourages residents to support efforts to alleviate food insecurity by volunteering and donating money or food when they are able and resolve that September 23 2022 shall be proclaimed as a hunger action day Arlington and that all residents are encouraged to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance. So on that we'll take a vote. Mr. Heim. Mr. Hurd. Yes. Mr. Corsi. Yes. Mr. Helman. Yes. Mr. Diggins. Yeah, I'm sorry. Yes. Thank you. So thank you. Andy and good luck with everything and good work on on this in this important cause. Thank you so much. Welcome. So next on the agenda is the consent agenda. Request contract to drain layer license monocupainment Emily Sakha one on one chemistry Burlington. 0201803 five request special one day beer and wine license September 17 2022 at Arlington reservoir for Arlington town day to 5K raise Brian Burke for a white it works and a number six request special one day beer and wine license. 924 22 at Robinson Memorial Town Hall for a private event a mean Humphrey Erebuni Armenian school, so on the consent agenda Second okay on a motion to approve by mr. Helm is and a second by mr. Mr. Herd Yeah, no problem. No problem. Yeah, we'll see you know so with that you know, it's time Mr. Herd. Yes, mr. Decorsi. Yes, Mr. Helman. Yes, this is my home. Yes, mr. D. Yes Thank you. So now we move to item number seven public hearing on Betterment a road betterment and that is governor that a man and it's a request to repair private way The betterment or order and we have Sheila Conner Conner All right, thank you Sheila. Hi, I'm a resident here 23 Governor Roden Arlington and Asking To have a repair done for our private way We found a contractor and I think we're just waiting for the town to say that we can go forward with the project All right. Thank you This is going to be a public hearing and so If there is anyone in the audience, I mean that is here to speak to that Please raise your hand Electronically I don't have my screen up Yeah, I mean I lost my connection me so so I can't see Seeing no hands one. All right. Thank you Ashley. So there is no one here to say anything when we're another so mr. Herd, it's nice to see unanimous consent. The road must be in tough shape move approval So emotions approved by mr. Herd and second by mr. Helmut Mr. Heim Mr. Herd. Yes, mr. Corsi. Yes, mr. Helm. Yes, this is long to all the H's. Yes Mr. D. It's quite the mouthful. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. So good luck. Mr. Rowe better miss Renani. Yep. Thank you. All right. Take care So next is open forum except in unusual circumstances any matter presented for consideration Of the board shall neither be active on nor is decision made the night of the presentation in accordance with the policy rules And the which to open forum was established it should be noted that there is a three-minute time limit to present a concern or a request So do we have it anyone in open forum? And also, I just want to remind you that if you have anything you want to say regarding the Appeal of the tree removal we're going to have that it may actually be the next item So anyone open forum? Seeing no hands raised. Okay. Great. Thank you. So The reason I said it's going to be next. He is because he I've been notified that The there's a bit of a Emergency me that means a person that was going to present for the DEI update is not able to join us tonight I mean, so we will be moving on now. I mean, so we take my mother. Oh Move to table again. All right. So on a move to table by miss behind a second by mr. Herd Mr. Hi mr. Herd. Yes, mr. Dacorsi. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Let's vote Thank you. Hope everything's okay And so now we move on to the appeal of the tree war decision Regarding the non-removable of a honey locust tree at 261 hillside avenue and this appeal is by Robin Eileen game fourth so What do we start on this so? Where we left off it was we continued this from our previous meeting in order to Work out Go about Accommodating in the request to remove the tree being and so I think what I'm going to do now is is turn it over to Mr. Heim if he has any comments, I think I saw maybe be back in need to say something and then go over to Mr. Helmets me for maybe an update on his Look his research like every word into the issue and then maybe to the tree warden, you know, so so I See motioning over to my colleague in and so would you like me to go to Mr. Helmets first? No, I'm very happy. Mr. Heim. Yes. Yes. No, Mr. I just wanted the board had several questions For me that I wanted to make sure that all board members had the sort of answers to those questions before you had any further Deliberation or considered further testimony or discussion of the matter So let me just sort of lay the groundwork as an initial matter With respect to planting a replacement tree we already include in the fee for Public shade tree removal the removal of the tree and then planting a replacement tree that is part of our current system And our sort of rules and regulations as it stands So you can't it is as a matter of course that if you cut down a public shade tree Through an appeal or otherwise that replacement tree has to be planted Second thing there was a question about whether or not the replacement tree had to go in the tree belt Or whether or not you could have something called a setback tree and the answer is yes, you can you can have a setback tree To be very frank with the board in terms of the ups and downs of this The setback tree is essentially a tree that's put on private property, but treated like a public shade tree by the town I'd be curious to see if the tree wouldn't have any particular insight or perspective about care of a Setback tree because it's not as if a setback tree is ordinarily subject to an easement or quite as formally Sort of codified so that runs with the land in the way other types of things might be third there was a little bit of discussion Offline not between members of the board, but I saw some feedback from the board's previous discussion About some requirements and do want to affirm some of those so that there is a 20 foot Width limitation in the by-law for any driveways. You can't have a driveway that's wider than 20 feet Similarly, I know that one person wrote in about the type of relief that would be required if you were to put in a second Driveway, and it is correct that in order to put a second driveway in under the zoning by a lot You would have to get relief from the zoning board of appeals So whether the zoning board of appeals would or wouldn't grant relief in this particular case. I don't feel Qualified to say but I just want folks to understand this sort of basic legal framework While we're talking about it if you're gonna have Mr. Harding Clarify So I've done this before so isn't it Curb-cut can't be more than 20 feet not the actual driveway I Will double-check on that but I've my understanding that the curb cut can't be more than 20 feet but your actual driveway can be and I mean, I guess this would be a building decision, but there's a lot all over town these drivers exists Where and I have that's next to Driveway that goes down in the building department when we put it in considered at one driveway So it's not a second drive a second drive was a second curb cut and Then just at the time and I could be wrong, but it's my understanding that the curb cut Limit is 20 feet not the width of the drive. I'll confirm that mr. Herd That's the that's the sort of basic ground rules that I sort of wanted to be responsive your questions I'll follow up I'll pull up the zoning by line and confirm that it's Defined specifically by the curb cut as opposed to the width of a driveway at a later point in time but That's the sort of basics that I wanted to go over just the board understood its posture and options Thank you sign and so any questions Thank you, mr. Chair actually a clarifying question from for mr. Hyman. I know he's trying to look something up In most of my comments, I think are going to be for the questions because I think The work I have done is kind of narrowed down what some of the issues might be the first is just to To confirm that I heard you correctly mr. Hyman But if the residents were trying to add a second drive that second driveway that would Require a special permit, but not necessarily if they were just seeking to expand the present driveway as long as they were complying with the curb cut Correct, okay At some point in this process mr. Chair, I hope that I presume we'll give the The residents a chance to make further comments to us in response to this discussion And maybe one of us can remember to check in with them about about that to make sure that that's the plan. Yeah The second question is I know that we have mr. Look we've our tree warden available as a panelist tonight As well as mr. Green Ford I believe is one of them one of the residents So they're just for my colleagues. They're here tonight if we if we need them And what a question I have that it's probably both in the purview of mr. Look we've in mr. Hyme is When it comes to the tree bylaw and interpretation interpretation of that If the select board grants the removal of a tree There is a requirement or you know, there's contributions to the tree fund or the residents can arrange for the replacement of an equivalent Diameter at breast type DBH tree. Can that be more than one tree or does need to be a single tree? That's me I would want to defer to mr. The quiva in terms of what his in his judgment would be a sufficient Or mr. Pooler, but I yeah, and actually in mr. Mr. Mr. Tom manager you you know some things about this and I apologize I did not give you a chance to make any comments about this or anything else. So please please do in your experience I I will defer to mr. Laquid because I do see he's up here And I don't know the answer to your question otherwise That's a sign of a good leader Mr. Chair your discretion if we could ask mr. Yes, yes in fact to me you feel free to Handle this part of me, okay So I'll mr. Agreeb if you're if you're Here and can speak if you could just speak to the issue of Should the board decide to allow this and I want to say that I want to listen carefully To all the public comments to follow before really declaring a position on this But just so we know what our options are should should the board decide this What would the tree by law require of of the residents? With regard to under the tree by law for replacement or contributions to the tree fund Absolutely everybody I'm Tim Laquid I'm the Allenton town tree wooden nice to see folks and Thanks for having me. This is this is great, and it's really important and Outstanding to have a community involvement as well. So to answer your question If the select board does permit removal chapter 87 under Massage Massachusetts general law which Retains specifically to public shade trees and these are trees that are growing in the public right away So this 18 inch honey locust if it's permitted to be removed The requester would be responsible to remove the tree Grind the stump below grade and to replace the DBH inches So what that means is that it's 18 inch so there's a combination so it could be planting trees in The public right of way and the vicinity where it comes down or paying into the trees Please fund and the town of Allenton has a value at $375 per DBH so you could do a combination of planting and Paying into the trees please fund or one of the other so it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to plant one tree at 18 inch That would be extremely difficult and extremely expensive that could be broken up So most shade trees that you purchase in a nursery are typically around two inches So there's an opportunity or maybe even three inches depending on if you can fit that in the tree belt on site So that could be a combination of multiple two inch trees or paying into the trees please fund So it would be a combination Or one of the other Yes, thank you And as a follow-up to that I know that you familiar with the site in question in your opinion And I know based Based on some of some previous reading that you know It's this question of interpretation of the state statute about where these replacement trees can go So this may invoke mr. Mr. Mr. Puller and mr. Heim But in your opinion is there what kind of space or availability would there be? for replacement trees that would that would reach the 18 inch dbh equivalent and You know, right so might be the question for mr. Heim I think I could answer that question I could have Scott and perhaps the council could have piggyback off of the off of my statement, but um So basically it needs to be Immediate inches replaced that not the long term it would be immediate. So for instance This is a corner lot. So there's room on the corner of George Street itself and on hillside out So let's just hypothetically just say maybe we can If this is just You know in retrospect Perhaps three trees could be planted on one On on George Street. Let's say three trees at two inch Let's say another three inch out front on hillside. That's another six inch You add those up. That's 12 inches So then there would have to be an additional either trying to plant in the vicinity Which would be difficult to have folks on board about accepting some plants And then also it could be a combination of paying that into the trees please bond that $375 per inch So when I've worked with Folks within the past we try to do our best to replenish the canopy And if that is just impossible then there's a payment into the trees, please fund I take those funds and I try to saturate that area as best I can to replant in the public right away So it's not just replacing Inches for long term. It's it's immediate That's very helpful Let me just make sure I'm not the problem here So, um, I believe mr. Heim had a comment. Yes, mr. Heim I think that part of your question was also about I'm sorry, man. Mr. Chair. Yes I think part of your question was also about whether or not the It had to be specific in the tree belt. What I was trying to Note earlier was that under chapter 87 section 7 you can Plant what's considered public shade trees within the setback, which is a 20-foot area With the written consent of a homeowner So it is possible to plant a tree and have it be considered a public shade tree even though some private property There's some logistical things about that that are a little bit more complicated in terms of like, you know 20 years from now. Does everybody know that there's a public shade tree? Um, and how you would sort of codify that and pass that information on going forward But that's another piece of it in addition to what mr. Lacriva thing is mostly talking about which is the actual public way layout itself Um, do we know, uh, mr Do we do we know, um, this may be for the town manager, um If we if there is a established practice of ralenton doing public shade trees and you know, a private setback tree Is that create any? difficulties in terms of our operating I'm I'm not aware that that is our practice Yeah, I don't know mr. Lacriva. I'm not aware of any agreements that we've had in any recent history for setback trees But sure, so If I may, um, yes, I can answer this question, please so In my um tenure here, um as tree warden for the last six years or so, um, we have not planted Any trees in the setback The town Is working with the ralenton tree committee to see if that is a possibility because this Kind of piggybacks off of our ralenton tree bylaw article 16 Protecting trees during bills So we are trying to find out different avenues to replant Sometimes trees are removed on a private way and that impacts the neighborhood And how can we replace trees in a public right-of-way? We haven't gotten quite as far as finalizing exactly what we can do But just to answer your question. We have not been planting Any trees in the um in a setback area? public works directors just He needs to work out all the legal Requirements having a public folk planting on private land or perhaps having um public funds Being able to be used on private land and have an outside contractors Doing the work in the planting So this isn't finalized yet, but it is a concept That we are working on so for a long-winded answer We have not been planting in the setback. No, that's that's very helpful. Thank you Thank you, mr. Gleave. I'm very very nearly done. I think one one thing I just like to I have been talking to people about this and I think frame my questions or my my findings in search of questions Because I think that's the questions we need to be asking Finally, I think in mr. Uh, mr. Poole or mr. Heim If I have interesting correctly what you've told us We had discussed in the last meeting the potential, you know Do we need to kind of do a novel mechanism like an MOU and it it sounds to me that the Between the state law and a tree bylaw that there's a mechanism in place that would require The activity for you know for planting equivalent Diameters of the trees and and other mitigation like that And if you have any comment on that either of you for For that interpretation or that that approach mr. Chairman Mr. Elmuth that's that's correct. So what other things that the board expressed it's very clear that we can Essentially try to recover Through various different means the diameter of breast height of the tree now some people might Want to discuss what that means substantively, but we can require Replacement tree planting or as mr. Lequive outlined Sufficient funds be donated be put into the trees police fund to plant trees elsewhere The board has that ability now the Other thing the board asked about was whether or not it had to be essentially in the tree belt And the answer to that is no although we haven't In recent years had any setback tree plantings and then finally the board asked About whether or not we would condition something like a pervious driveway on approval And I haven't found anything that suggests that that's at least an ordinary or tested principle related to public shade tree hearings That might be something that's more conventional for a zba to put on as a Condition of a special permit if that was required here. I understand that again one of the things that we're all struggling with this there isn't necessarily a Finished plan or an application for something so without seeing a specific plan. It's not easy to figure out like what the You know Width of something is and all that kind of stuff. So That I think that that is Overall a correct recitation of the board's abilities. Thank you. Yeah, that really kind of sums up into the work I've done so far So I'm happy to hear from my colleagues or the Okay, since I heard so there's just one question about planting new trees And does it have to be Within the town right away adjacent to the house Um to answer your question um It doesn't specifically say it has to be adjacent to the house chapter 87, um It's difficult because these laws were written in in in the 1890s and it hasn't been much update Since 1913 when they changed some language to add vehicles Into the into the law and then one other update in the 1950s that incorporate power lines So some of this is up to a bit of interpretation It doesn't specifically say Where the tree came down a tree has to be planted. It just says in the vicinity So, um, you know, I just do my best to try to replace the inches As close as possible To where the tree had had come down But council is 100 right. There is a statue in chapter 87 Where setback planting is is part of the chapter 87 planting You can plant within 20 feet of the public right away because that tree will benefit The road and the whole idea is to try to um pass shade On on the streets So that's where the regional thought process was to detect public shade trees So it doesn't necessarily have to be exactly where the tree came down but in the vicinity And the reason I say that because I live in this area and The area where this tree is there's a now on george street. There are a number of trees and I think there would be some space For another tree to be put there, but it might actually have some difficulty because of The enormous amount of shade that's already in the area where this tree is But if you go around on hillside Where I face this house There's a whole I mean there's got to be 75 foot stretch of Sidewalk with no trees. There's a tree on the corner And then I assume at some point there were trees, but I would anticipate you could put A whole lot of trees on the hillside side of it Which would extend beyond this how there would be At least a few opportunities on this property, but the property behind it There's no street trees on that on hillside on that side of the road either So I think you know that would certainly be in the vicinity that stretch of hillside Right next on on the hillside side of this property Yes, yep. Yeah, I agree because I'm um, I'm pretty familiar with um with the area so in my opinion, uh the corner lot hillside and george street would be a tidied in place for shade trees To start with all the way to renfrew because I don't think there's any trees on that side Except for that corner of ren of hillside and george I don't believe there's any trees all the way down to renfrew And that's where the the adjacent property not this particular property, but I mean, I think everybody would appreciate more More trees on that side of the road I concur Thank you, mr. Chairman. Um Get the easy one out of the way first and I don't know if it's our tree ward and mr. Laquie for our town council attorney heim. It's a process question Where the zoning board of appeal zba? also, I believe has to Make a ruling or take a vote on this Is that something that should happen Before this board makes a decision and I only say that Traditionally in the past Unless it's a policy statement like me you are Since we appoint the zba members When there's been a dual decision Usually zba zoning board I'm gonna say zba for zoning board of appeals zba Um Stots the process and then it comes to the board. So there's no Perception of the appointing authority making a ruling And then it goes back to them Um, and I don't know if I'm saying it's the tail manager or someone or mr. Attorney heim could speak to that Is there a process issue? Should they weigh in first? There's an excellent question, mr. Hawn I'm not sure that we've I've seen quite this circumstance come up before so the Immediately there's kind of a little bit of a question to me is what they're proposing to do as of right? Or is it something that requires a special permit? So Not to get back into the driveway discussion, but like without a very specific proposal in front of me I'm not exactly sure are are we talking about something that Is has to be a second driveway. Can it be done in a way? That's a single driveway. That's within the width limitations There's a little bit of stuff about the width with respect to within the setback I know what mr. Herd is saying there's a little bit of a difference between a driveway That's long enough so that you're not in the setback anymore when you have parking areas And the driveway that basically is in the side yard or setback and there's almost nothing else there if that makes sense so The bottom line is is that if they require a Special permit I see what your point is mrs. Mahan, which is that if they should require a special permit It might be helpful for the board to know Whether or not the zba is inclined to grant the relief they're asking Before it's taking down a public shade tree based on that relief If they don't and it's by right, it's a little bit of a chicken and egg situation If it's by right, you could do it either way and they don't necessarily have to be dependent on each other So i'm sorry that I can't be a little bit more Direct and just say yes no this is the right way to do it But if it is by special permit, you might want to defer to the zba first and say hey Why don't you guys let us know whether you think this is feasible before we authorize taking down a tree if it's by right They're kind of parallel rather than intersecting Which is sort of the way i'm not going to try to do any tree Metaphors is sort of the way i'm leaning right now And I don't know if our tree ward mr. Laquif if um I I don't recall in my time here this sort of coming before us, but if you have any thoughts on Well my first thing would be when can we get that determined so we know if zba is involved and then But I don't know if mr. Laquif has any comments on my process question Mr. Leif it's okay if you don't yeah I don't know as far as the setback parameters What I do know with working with the town engineers is that Only one driveway is permitted And last special approval from the zba in the curb cut So that's the actual Whip at the end of the driveway as you make way onto the public right away So that can only be 20 feet So you could possibly make a cut 20 feet and extend your driveway left and right to fit multiple cars But I don't know how that affects the setback area That's as that's as much as I know as far as any driveway issues and and working with trees themselves Mr. Did you have something that you could perhaps enlighten me I see No, I just had a comment I just Can we Sorry, I don't want to take up anybody's time. I feel like they keep jumping But we can I assume we can have a contingent approval where we say that we approve the removal of the tree on the Contingency that they a move forward with the driveway b if they need Need a permit and see if you do need to go to the zba They need they get approval well, so The only situation where they're gonna And of course the applicants are also going to want that too because they're not going to want to pay $4,000 into the tree fund and then find out that they can't even put the driveway So it's you know, I assume we can have some sort of our contingent approval Mr. Chairman, yeah, I mean, I think that's what mrs. Mahal was getting at from a process question To some degree that's up to the board. I mean as mr. Laquieve was highlighting chapter 87 predates The zoning by-laws we know it. So there's not A Specific order that things necessarily have to be done in it's just depends on whether or not You're concerned that you would be sending like a signal that you know, whatever now You could say that I'm not sending a signal because I'm saying this is contingent upon your approval And we want you to Evaluate it as you would evaluate anything else, but there's not a specific legal hard stop that says you cannot do that My only comment on that is that I don't think they have to go to the zba, but if they do Zba, there's no filing fee You don't generally hire an attorney to come on for a tree hearing a lot of people for the zoning hearing They have to pay $400 or whatever it is. They have to they generally hire not everyone does but they might hire an attorney There's more costs. There's more time involved. They might have to get a site plan at that point so there's a lot of Costs that they now have to incur before they even know if they can move forward from our perspective So, I mean if we can do In I don't know if the board even is going to move forward to approve it and that's certainly up in the air But I think there is a situation where we can have a contingent approval pending Approval of the building department for them to move forward with the driveway And make it here tight. So if the driveway never gets put in the tree never gets taken down And again, I think the applicants would want that because They're gonna If we do move forward, they're gonna eat whether they put in new trees or they pay into the tree fund They're gonna incur significant expense and it'll be All for not if they don't get approval of the zba Okay, thank you I would just say I'm just not comfortable doing that because that's been an issue in the past That the board's been very cognizant of that anything that goes before zba and also goes before the board We don't Take position On an approval until it comes before us and the only reason I'm being a stickler about this So I wouldn't be voting for it. My thing is I'd like to see everything else done first because we're setting a process up Um, so somebody else could come in in the future start with the board and say well I want your approval continued upon and then I'll go to zba or then I'll go to arb And and that's something that probably can be done within two or three weeks And if it's determined within a week that they don't have to go before The zba then that's fine too, but um, I'm just thinking not just this Application but future applications We're setting the process up by which it goes and that has been an issue in the past when I've been on the board Because when I first got on the board um The then zoning board of appeals Well, I won't go into old history. You're all Maybe aware of that, but that was an issue and then the board took steps to make sure that that was really Delinniated so I wouldn't want to vote on this until If there is a zoning board of appeal hearings It has to happen that that should be done and that's not a cumbersome Exhaustive thing because even if it's a contingent vote It's still saying We approve this And you are appointees What do you say so? And I'm not saying they can't make a decision independent of what this board Collectively or by majority thinks But I'm also thinking of the process question of when this goes forward in the future If somebody else does the same thing it says well, I want to start with you all because you did it a lot of time you know Neighbor or not neighbor kind of thing and then the other thing if I could Mr. Chairman if I could just ask just sort of briefly because I the letters that I have to date There's like five or six of them Letters of objection Which I reread so I would make sure that it was fresh in my mind If mr. Laquie could just kind of briefly Go through the process of To date I don't have any letters from neighbors In our packet In favor of or not in favor of this And I believe there's some outreach that you do mr. Laquie a my first question would be Do you and what is the outreach that you do to abutting neighbors? Or have you done on this that we're supposed to do under the law and bm I correct that We don't we do not have any letters of objections from neighbors to date Yeah, so I can kind of just run I can run through the process about how Chapter 87 work so basically public shade trees protected under mass usage state law chapter 87 The tree wouldn't doesn't have the authority to remove a a healthy public shade tree So We have a public tree hearing so the original hearing The tree is posted for two consecutive weeks Arlington advocates two consecutive weeks and and On the talent website. So anybody objecting could either write me or show up to the meeting This particular meeting was via zoom So I did receive a number of objection letters From island tree committee and also just from residents throughout town So one objection letter. So it's not a vote. It's not ten are in favor and five disapprove It's one objection stops the process. So anybody can object to a public shade tree being removed And the tree is not permitted be removed at that time The requester can appeal to this like what that brings us to this point Where they would like to continue the process and appeal the objection So in that time, so I've had multiple correspondence with residents and with island tree committee members Who have written to the slack board? written me specifically to Ask about how they can weigh in and discuss their Objection or disapproval of a public shade tree to be removed and specifically this 18 inch honey look Um, so I know that the island tree committee and other members Of the town have reached out and um, they were hoping to participate into tonight's Meeting and voice their opinion and concerns and um, so I hope that answers um your question Thank you, mr. Chairman and thank you, mr. Laquie for um Entering our questions this evening and for providing us some background here. I had a question for you Um, and I know the procedure once an objection is raised You don't have any further authority and there's a hearing before the select board, but As a result of that or maybe prior to that did you have any occasion? To look into the claim that the gain forts made that the tree is doing damage to their gutters doing damage to their driveway Or um, I don't know because of the process if you didn't even reach that issue No, so I didn't have discussions with with with the gain forts. That was the original request when they first reached out to me about removing the tree They felt that um, you know, it was doing some damage to their property clogging gutters clogging the street This is a Specific species where they have seed pods. Um, and they do drop seed pods and um, you know, that's part of this This particular species of a tree moving forward. Uh, we're planting these hidey locust throughout town, but they come Seedless so as time evolves and trees, um as they designed trees to be more Conducive in in an urban environment in an urban forest We're planting trees without thorns. We're planting trees without these We're planting fruitless crab apples that have pretty flowers, but without the fruit So they did reach out to me and they did express their concerns, but you know, I said, you know We all live in an urban forest, you know, our gutters will be clogged. There'll be things that we have to rake up off the ground Public work they do their best to try to clean up the streets and try to keep storm water gutters open So we did prune the tree um this past May we removed the dead wood from the canopy and we did cut it back from the roof line to try to reduce Kind of like the mess so to speak that this tree was was was making and you know Not so much exactly what they told me but in their words that it was somewhat of a nuisance tree and as far as Any type of underground pipes? tree roots cannot sense a solid object when you buy a plant from whether it's the nursery or or department store where you can Pick up the plants roots hit the pot and they go around around in circles So when folks reach out to me that they're having sewer problems or backup problems I just let them know that you know the best thing to do is to replace those pipes those underground utility Utilities are compromised and cracked but roots are very opportunistic They'll reach in places where there's cracks and crevices and they will do their best to try to grab Any kind of resources that they can so Like I said just to kind of A button up your question we prune the tree um to try to mitigate any type of um mess that the tree could make and My suggestion is to repair any underground utility lines. So the roots cannot handle So this is kind of some education and some background that I give folks if anybody requesting a tree removal or just having problems with the utility pipes or their gutters or their um or the or the facade on the house or their roof line So we combination with pruning and also with some education Thank you Thank you, Mr. C. And thank you, Mr. Please so I have a few questions. I mean first off when it comes to replacing in a tree of 18 inches diameter on breast height It's not a one for one, right? I mean if you replace it with me let's say six three inch Trees mean you're not going to get the same In effects on carbon So sequestration that you would from an 18 entry, right? Correct. Yeah, exactly. So it's it's best to preserve the largest trees that you possibly can Because the largest trees do the most They produce the most shade they sequester the most carbon not only do they do they absorb it they store it They absorb the most storm water runoff They they house, you know of different flora and fauna and and it produces the the most shade and it also lowers your utility bills And it also reduces light pollution and noise pollution Well, since it's anybody's I'm sorry, and if anybody's ever pulled a top, you know with leaves on it You could feel heavy those leaves are those leaves do an absorbent amount of grabbing rain To mitigate storm water runoff. So these are just a few examples of what larger trees do but yes larger trees do more Right, right. So two questions that come from that aim The first one is so then given that it's not one for one What do you think would be like the appropriate number to replace? Understanding that me even if you did like a hundred trees, you probably wouldn't have the same Circumstration or savings or a benefit that you do from the 18 enter me immediately But maybe in two or three years you would you would be there Do you have a sense of what that number is that we would need in order to Let's say in a couple years be where we were with that 18 inch tree Was benefit providing benefits Right. Yeah, that's that's that's a great question and that's really hard to like calculate and and try to pinpoint Um, okay, but you know, let's let's just say 18 inches came down. Let's just say 12 inches were replaced so and typically In five years a tree can expand anywhere from two to five inches so But it usually takes about three years for that tree to become established Right, so and and there's also challenges about keeping that tree Viable and it's a vibe especially you in in these conditions when you have you know extreme drought So it's it's hard to calculate and quantify that But let's just put for the sake of conversation. Let's say you planted 12 inch dbh The trees are viable in three years to become established Let's say another five years after that. That's when you'll see your return So to answer question 12 inches eight years Okay, great. Thank you. I mean so I mean looking at some of the trees in fact, I had the wrong tree in mind at first The trees under the power lines. I mean they are They're cut. They're pruned in a way that I think kind of removes a significant amount of the canopy You know, I mean like the one on hillside, I mean, I would say probably like At least a third of the canopy is gone. That's being generous Me know so so then it isn't the the width of the the tree the the dbh It's really the canopy that we're looking at in terms of carbon sequestration, right? I mean, so if a significant amount of the crown is gone We're not getting the savings that we think we would just by looking at the the width of the tree This the circumference of tree, right? Right, exactly. You need to take in totality of the crown but The crown will sequester that carbon and store it in that stem tissue, but that's where that's stored So when you see that 18 inch tree with maybe A third of the canopy that had already been reduced whether it was just a storm whether it's Circuit pruning from the utility company So those leaves are bringing in the carbon and storing it inside of that stem and that wood tissue So they do work in concept But again, it's kind of hard to to quantify Well, this much is reduced so it may not be doing all that it which it's not It's you know, if it had a full canopy, it would be doing 100 percent of that so You do have to take in some notion that some of the canopy is reduced but the main Stemwood is actually sequestering that that carbon. I got you. Okay. So then why is it that um meet Arlington meet is is um Has received a consecutive growth award as I guess tree city usa is a tree city usa community. I mean, what do we do? Yeah Yeah, what do we do? We're doing a lot So, um, one thing is that the town hired a full-time tree warden So that's a point to add on to our our tree city usa Um, the the auntie tree committee is very robust and they're doing a tremendous amount of things Where they're designing an adopted tree program where we don't have the capability and dpw to water all these trees they're coming up with with Programs where folks can adopt that tree and water that tree and take it on as as as their own also the auntie tree committee they're um designing a um um A canopy planting program where we're using some of these funds where we receive from the trees Please fund and having folks Plant trees on on their properties with with with some with some beneficial funding from the trees, please We're also treating our emerald ash borough. We have about 950 ash trees in town that make up 10 of our canopy And we have An invasive insect in town of the emerald ash borough So we're injecting these trees to try to keep them alive So these are just some of the many things that we're doing in town to not only keep up our tree city usa credentials But we're also received four years in a row a growth award Allington is a leader in the surrounding communities about tree preservation and Not only just preserving for the for the future, but also Planting for the future as well and planting a dynamic urban forest planting Trees in the proper location. We're getting away from planting trees underneath overhead utility lines where that hard pruning Practices will be eliminated as you had mentioned earlier So we're planting proper tree species In the right place and we're planting over 300 trees per year And um, these are just some of the many things that we're doing here in town Great, great, great. I think urban forest is like my favorite new oxymoron It uh, it certainly is a as a city person. So, uh, uh, but um, but in short though, are we Adding more trees and we're losing as a town That's our goal So we're removing about 200 trees in the public right away. These are large shade trees of the no way maples that are That's uh growing across the street from mr. Hurd's property town was planted with Thousands of noy maples after the world war two era. They thought it was the replacement for the american album But we found out that they're invasive and over time They become compromised and they and they have a limited lifespan and uh, and they're falling apart So we're removing 200 trees a year and we're planting 300 trees a year. So the idea is that we can get back to our accurate our goal in 1980 Where we had a full complete canopy um in irlington But we've been losing our our tree our tree canopy over the years. So we're trying to So we're removing 200 and we're planting 300. So we're trying to get a net gain of 100 trees per year however, and with climate change and um and and more and more heat and We're finding it difficult to keep these young trees alive So we've lost probably about 60 to 65 saplings the season due to the drought So we're struggling to Get where what we need to go. We were looking pretty good there for a little bit, but after microburst storms Drought heat stress invasive insects Our goal is to hit an additional 2000 trees planted in in 20 years We wouldn't add it for about four years. So we had a goal at 20 years to get back an additional 2000 trees to get back to our 1980 level but It's it's a struggle Okay, gotcha And one of the things that the concerns because i'm thinking ahead to The about other things that are coming our way and that is me. How do we Measure the public good versus public good? You know and so at what point we do we take down the Healthy huge trees me and then say it's okay to replace them with smaller trees that may not even come close To replacing me the benefits that we're getting from those taller trees Simply because we say it's public good It's a public good me so that because right now it's kind of easy to say well We're not going to take down a big tree and replace with something smaller You know Because well, it's the public good versus private convenience But when it comes to public good versus public good, I mean, I think if the overall goal is to benefit the climate I just have a hard time getting there, but that's not for this discussion Now i'm just kind of telling you where my head is mean and where i'm kind of going Going in general with this you know and so um So yeah, um, I had in some other questions, but i'm going to stop now And I think we're going to bring in it um The game force and uh, and then we will turn this over to anyone and the um Public that wants to um talking to hearing okay, and so Can we bring in the game force? Hi, hi. Hello. How you doing? Can you hear me? Yes, sorry. I'm on a video doing laundry to the kids. I apologize. It's okay Thank you. Thank you all for taking your time. I'm sorry. This is taking so much of it. Um, and uh To I just wanted to start off by saying thank you to tim For all the work he's done up to now. He's been really fantastic about getting back to me and uh, it's very appreciated Uh, so if I may um, just to start really quickly, I'll keep it short and sweet Um regarding the letters in our neighborhood We'd not really inclined to ask our neighbors to write letters. It's they're all dealing with a lot of stuff as we are So, um, we haven't Respectively asked them to do so. We had had one neighbor down on george called But um, you know, I appreciate it, but you know calls can sometimes go into the ether Um regarding the drains and the pipes to a previous comment um We did have some drainage issues But as I mentioned in my last meeting back in august that I Had rerouted all of the gutters and leaders to dissipate some of the water off Put into the drain and that helped tremendously. We haven't had a flood since knock wood So i'm not so much concerned about the root problems and I as as tim mentioned If there are cracked nature finds a way it gets in it. That's what it does It is what it is However, um It has been a major problem in the past But it's just one more kind of thing the tree is wonderful. We do love it We're we like as in my letter and in our last meeting I mentioned that um, we had planted six trees to replace our Jason neighbor on uh, renfrew and hillside removal of 12 trees We are tree people. We are both lead accredited professionals My wife is an architect. I'm a contractor. We only work in sustainable, you know items. So we're not anti trees It's just that we are expanding. I just started the company Our daughter is about to be driving in a couple years. So we're just concerned about Just being able to accommodate our lifestyle because I plan on being here for the rest of my life I love this town. I coach in this town So we are just concerned about our limitations So then to get to the next points. I'm sorry if I'm rambling Regarding the power lines. Um one, uh council person mentioned Um that the canopy has been adjusted based on those power lines It has been a problem. We have had Fence taken out because of a huge limb that fell on the corner of george and hillside during one heavy storm And it's understandable. It's part of what we are as as tim mentioned. We are in an urban forest We get that But we are willing to do whatever the town wants to do if you want to plant 20 trees on the walkway We are all for it. We would love a canopy as as a council person Mr. Hurd mentioned It is lacking especially now that those trees have been removed on the private property adjacent to us And that's their complete right to do so But it is lacking heavily on that corner right across from mr. Hurd Uh, and it's not just because you know, he's a council person It's just a fact if you're talking about carbon emission and carbon absorption We need trees along hillside and we are happy to have whatever you deem proper It would be a wonder to have that and that's what we're for. We're not again trying to take the tree down So sorry to ramble And regarding the uh the 1980 level that tim mentioned Having extra trees on hillside specifically on hillside Would definitely get you back to those levels. So I mean if you take this one tree out We are willing to do whatever is proper To uh, you know to appropriately accommodate what is needed So again, I'm sorry again to ramble. I appreciate all of your time and that's it. I'm sorry if you have questions, please feel free I'm sorry I'm sorry if I made just one more time We would prefer to do along as I mentioned it seems that we would like to do the tree line in a public way To uh accommodate for the 18 inch diameter And we are happy whatever we can do appropriately whatever You know tim would think is the appropriate amount of distance And then we would definitely pay into to make the you know the appropriate contribution That would make up for that And we are happy to plan even more trees on our property plan plan two more To speak of so uh, we are tree people. So sorry, that's it Thank you. I did leave one this part open in the you know And I had said that I was going to go right into the the hearing part of this But I'll just stop and ask my colleagues if you have any questions for the game for Okay, nope. Okay, so yes If I could um, I just want to clarify that I understand sort of what the potential Costs would be and and just verify with our you know, with the game for it that that's The ballpark that we're talking about if I'm calculating this correctly If uh, if the homeowner decided To just pay into the trees please fund that's nearly $7,000 um from for the 18 inches. Um, according to what mr. Ducleve Said so that's that's not insubstantial Um, and you know, I know that the homeowner decided to Work with the tent to plant the trees that the cost could still approach that just because of what trees cost So I just going to want to put that out there um, make sure that the resident understood that and um Before we get a whole lot further and also invite correction if I'm doing the math wrong understanding If I may not We would love the tree. We want the tree We would prefer to have this tree removed But have more trees on our on on our walkway I think would be wonderful for the neighbors for the canopy for the carbon absorption Um, and I know that our neighbors would love it and again. I'm sorry. We don't have letters to to to help in our efforts We're not imposing on our neighbors to ask them to write letters We're just hoping that you know the town's announcement on the tree that's him and his group put up Was enough Um, so again, sorry, please forgive me. Yes, so we want more Is we would love more trees and we are happy to pay for them All right. Thank you. Hey, so we're going to move into the public hearing part of this. I mean and so, uh I'm going to ask Each speaker to limit themselves to three minutes and ten seconds and he got I thought maybe we're going to have a countdown clock inside the Window here and I I don't see one So I'll have to work with ACMI to to get that so that the speakers could more easily see it in the other time But we see it here. I mean, and so I'll um, I'll let you know when you have about 30 seconds left me, so So we'll bring in uh, Steve Moore first Hello, Steve, you know and talking is permitted at this point. So Um, you're going to have three minutes and ten seconds. I'm a supporter I was just waiting for him to get in Yes Thank you, mr. Chair. I think it's a while to push all right buttons here to work Yeah, uh, I'm Steve Moore. I live on Piedmont street and I'm a member of the early tree committee um I was part of the the initial hearing back in august when when the initial field was presented and I I was quite frustrated at the time and that I couldn't provide any input. It was no possibility for the board to get any input other than uh, what was provided by the appellant which uh, surprised me since this was a There's been appeal of a tree hearing where a number of objections had been raised I was one of the original objectors back in uh, in april um that original hearing And so all this to say that I am very curious with the way this is going tonight This is exactly how I had envisioned it. It should happen. And I'd like to encourage for tree hearings That make it to the select board in the future appeals of three hearings. I Then this process happens in this way because there's clearly a lot of public interest in this I'm biased. I'm particularly interested in this and Sounds like the board is also registering Some very good points of interest are not much of a growing issue I mean from my perspective that tree warden and uh, the arlington tree committee are basically your resource professional and appointees for tree information And I would hope that you would always turn to both mr. We invent and are committing more information when issues like this come up because we have a lot of uh Some of it's just experience some of its expertise. But uh, again, we should serve as a resource resource to you And I would like to suggest in the future process for these sorts of things You don't ever move forward without Asking for the opinion of the tree warden on issues and also the tree committee for input As in their roles as advisors to the select board I think that probably isn't a good way to go just in terms of best practice in the future Even though, uh, mr. Hyman's clearly pointed out that there's no language that requires that as part of the chapter 87 Tree healing of the yield process. I think the board should just adopt that as a practice because I think it makes a lot of sense So I'm not going to say much more about tree issues in particular because there are a lot of people who want to speak with good knowledge on this I just Want to say that I think this is a very bad precedent set Say again. I'm sorry 30 seconds Oh 30 seconds. It's a very bad precedent Inconvenience is not a validation to make a public shade tree 18 inch shade tree Can not be replaced as inferred by small replacement trees This tree has survived and established itself and as mr. We would point it out that's not happening with our current batch of planting trees So I think we should keep this tree and not to not Thank you. You're welcome. So next we'll have keith Snell be snobbly Well, Keith, can you hear us? Um Steve can you guys hear me? Can you see me? We can't see you You hear you Okay, it says that my camera is not how's that that's better Thing on my front porch enjoying the evening in this this select board meeting. Uh, my name is keith snobbly I live on webcow at road. Um, I am a member of the tree committee Um, however, I'm just speaking as a private citizen of harlington. Um in this hearing Um, I I sort of just want to tell a story about how I got involved in the tree committee About five years ago a developer Wanted to take down a very healthy ash in order to build a driveway and um The neighbors who had rallied actually came to the select board in a in a similar hearing Um and spoke very passionately about why we needed to keep this tree Um, and I remember in that hearing One of the select board who's no longer on the board asked what's so special about this tree And I wanted to address that point because I feel like it's probably the same point for this tree that's up here We have lost a tremendous amount of canopy In this town since I've lived here and I lived here 30 years on this road when they moved in there was a dozen beautiful maple trees that Tree line is gorgeous in the autumn. We get shade up and down Um, we don't have that anymore. We have two healthy trees. One isn't a low gift And I understand every now and then it drops a tremendous number of seed pods and the other is the ash So we've been very threatened. We've had a lot of trees come down During that time and we witnessed, you know, the canopy Falling apart. Um, we have maybe three unhealthy trees left two healthy trees, but Working with tim and the town we've actually planted close to a dozen trees on this tree And it has been I wouldn't say longer. It's been about four years for those. There were some trees that were planted earlier It even the 15 year old trees here are nowhere close to what that locust is It takes several decades to reach that point. Um, and so What we've come down to as a tree committee and what tim is trying to do and the town is trying to do Is preserve our canopy, especially the healthy trees Um, take down the ones that are unhealthy and plant as much as we can to replace that canopy But it takes a long time. So we need to do the planting and I would suggest We plant along hillside regardless of whether this tree comes down or not. Um, and You know, we preserve our canopy for as long as we can while we're building a new, um, canopy Thank you. Welcome. Thank you So next we have susan stamps All right, um, can you hear me? Yes Oh, wonderful. Thank you. Um, also My name is susan stamps. Hang on a second before you start me. Can you maybe susan mean you're up your video is is is perpendicular Okay, let me try it like this. There we go. Is that better? Yeah, it's better So Look as good as possible So all right, go ahead Susan stamps grafting street town media member been on the tree committee for several years The what's concerning to me about these like boards even considering negotiating with the homeowner about removal of a public tree is that With all the respect it it seems like the board is is not Really treating public trees like the public assets that they are public trees street trees are owned by the citizens of the town and as far as I know the town does not allow private homeowners to encroach upon public assets for their own private convenience for example um, if I wanted to Claim a corner of the park near my house for Just my my children's playground just this corner of the park Of course park and rec then let me do it because it's an asset for used by the entire town um And I there are lots of examples like that we I mean um If if the the question were there's a public project like broadway plaza um The plan is to take down some trees. We may not like it, but at least you're weighing the public interest of a nice refurbished plaza to the public interest of the tree um, but in this situation for the first time in my memory Um, since I've been on the tree committee um The board is listening is is hearing the request of a private homeowner to take down a public tree The only other one I can remember was the web power tree that mr. Schnebley Referred to a few minutes ago the I think that private homeowners don't come in and ask to have the tree A public tree taken down is that they know that it's going to be rejected that the tree work by law has to reject it um the um, and by the way, there's nothing in the state law chapter 87 that I've seen that allows Negotiating with the private homeowner replacing trees um For a loss of a public tree if you can find that I'd be interested to see them But there is there's no standard for the appeal and basically Am I running out 30 seconds? Okay, thank you If if the slide board Allowed this removal it will open the floodgates to other private homeowners coming in asking for the private tree near their property to be removed Um builders who've worked so in such good faith with the tree warden to save trees on their projects For the good of the town. We'll say well, oh gee. Well, what what happened to us? Why why? Thank you. All right Next we'll have don selzer Thank you, mr. Chairman don selzer urban street um, the residents of arlington for 50 years Uh, I'm not going to talk about trees. I'm going to talk about driveways And to answer a question that was asked at the beginning of this meeting um, the by-law 6.1 0.10 Specifies that the maximum width of the driveway not just the curb cut is 20 feet um It also specifies that a driveway really can't terminate in a front yard It has to lead to a legal parking space either in a garage or Past the foundation line in the side or rear yard And for those reasons what the applicant is proposing just is not feasible um You can't make a A wider single driveway that will satisfy the by-law for engineering reasons. It's a very steep driveway and unless they're planning on Digging under the house and creating a two-car garage under grade. It can't be done so the only alternative is to put the um, a second driveway in in the side leading to the side yard And that automatically triggers a zoning board of appeals process and they're very unlikely to Grant approval for this second driveway because it'll create a dangerous and unsightly situation of three driveways side by side by side fortunately, there's a very Good alternative for these homeowners and that is the zoning board of appeals Was almost certainly approved a second driveway that leads from hillside into their very large side rear yard On the on the other side of the street so This is putting the carpet for the horse this board Shouldn't even be considering Whether to move the tree until the dba rules on where a second driveway could be established Thank you. Thank you, darling So, uh, next we have Mara that Hi, can you hear me? Yes Okay, um Uh, first of all, I would just like to thank this left board for taking this much time To hear this case. I did write a letter of objection and I hope you've all read that and I would just like to address a few more points I hear that the applicants want more trees But it's not clear if this property has enough room for the replacement trees Although I did hear a select board member request that the replacement trees be allowed to be planted further down the block specifically in front of his house The resident side of hillside avenue. However has power lines which limits the choices of trees that we could plant As tim said it would take half a dozen trees plus eight years to equal the benefits of this single mature tree The applicants have expressed how badly they want trees on hillside I would like to remind you that you do not need to remove the 18 inch tree in order to plant more trees You can request trees in the fall planting and the spring planting to be planted on hillside It sounds like they really need trees there The town does not currently have the resources to water all the trees that get planted every fall and spring If the replacement trees in this case don't survive for the first three years Will the town be responsible for replacing them a second time? Will the town be responsible for watering and for caring them caring for them? If you've driven around Arlington at all this summer you will see that many of the New trees that have gone in the ground are not surviving So it's not at all clear that replacement trees would actually replace the benefits of this tree It might take decades before you get enough trees established in that location to replace the benefits of this tree Last I would like you to think about the precedent that you're setting You're allowing residents to destroy public assets in order to develop their private property What will you say when a builder makes the same request if you approve this removal? How on earth will you protect trees in front of new construction? Thank you Thank you Mara So Looks like that's it. I mean and so the public hearing part of this item is over and we Just walking back. Oh, it's actually back. I mean, so I'll turn back to my colleagues. Now mr. Her I'll just clarify. I'm not asking for any trees. We planted in front of my house This trip that I'm talking about which mr. Kweef is aware of is Diagonally and across the street from me All right I mean, I don't know if the I hate to keep kicking this down the road, but if the first Decision is going to be whether or not it needs zba approval then I'm certainly happy to I want to make sure everyone's comfortable and Voting on the merits of the request So I think if anything, I think we can get a pretty quick Answer from the billing department as to whether or not it needs to go to the zba So I guess I would be Moving to a to table once again the hearing In order to get a clear Indication from so I don't think it would be I think we need to send it to the zba for this I think we need to send it to The billing department to confirm or to whether or not this a driveway in the proposed location would need zba approval and if it does I think it would be prudent for the board to come back and and Continue the hearing until after the zba approval. I wouldn't want to continue it No, I'll retract back I'm going to rest on what I just said Um The only other option would be postponed to the 28th, which I would be happy to do But I don't know if that gives everybody enough time. So definitely move to table. But if we can get all of our T's cross-eyed dotted and it can get back on the 28th. I'll leave that to the chairman So I'll second your motion to start. Yeah, so I would just follow that I would move put in the chair's discretion and speak with the town manager to get it Once we have a determination Then we're ready to hear the merits of the The request So if it's the 28th, great if it's in october, then We just don't want to come back go through the whole process again and not have an answer on that yet The board is proposing to continue the hearing until after determination is made by the Zoning enforcement officer who's the director of inspectional services as to whether or not This is as of right or a special permit or any project the one thing that the the building inspector will need just for the applicants Knowledge is they'll need it. He'll need at least a sketch plan of what's exactly going to happen So it's got to be specific enough to know This is the relief this this is the parameters of this So I would know whether I think that's fairly normal for the building inspector But but for the applicants information will need to be specific enough to answer some of the questions about Is it going to be a different grade? Is it going to be the same grade? Where is it going to extend to how wide stuff like that? Yeah, I understood. I guess my question is me. Can we Make the motion such that it doesn't have to come back to us if it's determined that it needs to go to the zba I think we would have to dispose of the hearing either way. So it would have to come back to us to I don't there's no ramifications if we deny An application correct As I know with zoning correct. There's no denial and the prejudice has some sort of two-year More atonement bringing back, you know, I mean, there's some notice requirements and things like that that need to happen If you deny it, they would have to start back with the tree working and if I may just clarify something This is an appeal of the tree warden's decision That is authorized by the law the select board is not deciding that it wants to hear an appeal The applicants have a right once they've been denied at the initial tree hearing to present an appeal for the select board Select board has the authority to say no, forget it. I don't want to do it or say yes or whatever But it's in chapter 87 that an appeal goes to the select board in a town So, uh, yes, there's no like prejudicial effect of it. All right Sorry There's no there's no prejudicial effect of a denial and going back There'd be no prejudicial effect of a withdrawal either The only thing is that you'd have to start back with the original notice requirements and the tree warden hearing Unless mr. Le Cuis if there's any corrections to that. I believe that that's really the procedural thing So if you want to continue, um, I think mr. Hurd is correct that you would eventually have to dispose of this I think we also Would have to wait on the merits at that time whether it goes to the issue that we We talked about before whether we wanted to give a contingent approval versus Just outright Waiting till after the zba because that is a whole different ball wax But I think the first Determination that this board needs elite is at least to know if it needs to go to the zba And that should be a fairly easy determination to make All right, so we have that motion a second by ismaheim, you know, you know, I'm gonna have But I want to turn my colleagues first for any comments questions All right, well, um, I think while we have people here, you know, I mean Mr. Heim regarding article 16 Me it says something to the extent effect of that the nothing in his article should apply to public shade trees I mean I feel as if I'm just missing something me like I feel as if I'm missing something obvious mean so So does article 16 have any application that we're dealing with here. Are you taking about mr. I'm sorry. You're talking about town bylaw. Yeah, that's a regulation regulation on the use of private property Because it's public property. Okay. All right. The tree belt is within the layout of the public way All right. Um, so a lot of people think of like that little grass strip as part of their property But it's actually not it's it's part of the street technically speaking And so public shade trees unless their setback trees are all planted within what's essentially public property All right, so chapter 87 governs public shade trees Are regulations on the use of private property really govern trees that are Not on public land. Yeah. Okay. That's what there's some tweaks and things like that But Is that it's oriented mostly towards that and it's also mostly oriented towards being triggered by things like construction Okay, all right, you know Well, I'll tell you how I mean I got to this point, you know, I mean in easy agreement mean to Um, even considering this because I gotta say when I came in when I saw this item on I was like Well, of course me we're going to support the tree more than me, you know in the tree committee mean and and and not reverse the The decision to take down to keep the tree And and then, you know, we look we it seemed It seemed like the process that happened with the hearing It was just perfunctory. You know what we got Was pretty much the tree ward and saying well, we had an objection I mean, and so we're going to leave the tree up Which just seemed to me to not give any kind of rationale for for leave the tree up me and so so because it seemed like it was Not really Deliverated on I mean in any meaningful way and I felt while it came to us for Deveration and that's what we were doing you know My feelings are first off me The tree warden's opinion mean has A very large weight for me, you know and the tree committee Opinion has a very large weight for me also I feel that if we're going to do Anything different it has to be done, you know in We have to build a framework, you know That we can then apply me consistently You know and that would take some time, you know, and it would take some time I think you take me a fair amount of public input I would be up for it because I I do feel that We um I feel that We can come up with a system me that would Accommodate these kinds of requests me and then put us in a better state me in A relatively short amount of time me and I think we could come up with that framework that would also allow us to deal with public good versus public good me and what number of trees we need to Put up to really effectively Replace what we're taking down because for me mean the paramount issue mean is the amount of carbon sequestration and other Benefits mean to the environment mean if that's paramount then we just need to do the math I mean and then figure out how we get the number trees That that we need and so I would like me for the tree warden and the tree committee mean and the town To really work on this this uh before I would just say Go against what the tree warden was recommending and what the tree committee is recommending now if Either of both of those want to change the recommendation Meant um in this situation then once again, and I'll go along with that, but I'm just going to have a hard time He'd not support it ultimately me where they are Lining up since it's their job mean to really know this stuff me a whole lot better than at least I do Me know and so So that's where I'm that's where I am me with respect to this motion mean I see What its objective is and I'm fine with going along with it I'm just kind of giving you a sense of where I'm headed in in the long run on this So so that's it. So unless someone else wants to say something Thank you, mr. Chairman, and I appreciate your comments You know big reason why we have the situation and in the stamps mentioned there's no provision for negotiation chapter There's no standards in chapter 87. So let's get that on the table That's one of the things that makes it difficult for us in an appeal process and the appeal is properly before us There are no standards DCR publishes a document a guide to local tree ordinances and they recognize in that guide That there are situations under chapter 87 where there are no standards and it makes it difficult for municipalities So that's what we are. Okay, and I think there's some there's some strong arguments here We have we have a tree on george street that if we were planting a tree We would not plant the honey locust that has seeds. They're seedless that is planted And on the other side We don't want to be cutting down trees because it is a detriment to the public So we have a conflict here and we're trying to work through it There is a proposed There is some guidance that DCR provides and and one of the things that I was trying to think through and Still equate was talking about what would you need to replace and in one of the proposed Guidelines or regs that municipalities could think of of of using is I'm going to read it petitions for the removal and tree replacement must demonstrate That the removal and replacement of a tree will be of greater benefit to the inhabitants of the town than the existing tree Now that's on the petitioners. That's the petitioner's burden. Maybe that's the type of thing we can think about when we come back Later in the month, but I mean I I think I think it's been a good discussion tonight But I think the reason why we're we've had two meetings here and we're hearing from people is We don't have any standards that the statute has provided for us. You're right. Mr. Mr. Chairman Article 16 does not apply to us Because it's only private property. So here we are. I think the petitioner deserves their hearing I think before we make a decision we get as much information as we can and is it if there is a way to show a benefit You know, maybe we think about it. I don't know where I'm going to come out on it yet but I I think there's a lot to consider here and Again repeating myself for the third time a lack of standards is is weirdly what what creates a difficulty I will say one thing on a lighter note I I want to give credit to mr. Seltzer for a clever virtual background because that was the tree in question That was behind him when uh before us when when he spoke tonight. So, um, there's a few thoughts that I had Well, thank you very much. So yes, Mr. Herd And I meant to mention this before and I think we're going to have another opportunity to speak but Just to one of the comments We have had at least since I've been I wasn't on the board when the webcow at tree hearing happened, but I I know I've been a part of a few sense. So it isn't A situation where this is the first private homeowner to I mean one of my first Uh articles I think when I was on the board we took we allowed to the removal of a tree over the objection of the Tree warden who was here at the time back then and uh It was because the private homeowner had a son who was fearful of the tree and thought it was going to come through its window, which um, it's certainly a Valid concern, but it has happened. This is not a novel situation that has never come before this board It sounds like that was Where some of the speakers had come we're coming from an angle that this has never happened before it has And that is like, of course, he just said that is a process for it That is a process. We all I don't think is anybody that Is in disagreement over whether this is a healthy mature tree and that's the role of the tree warden and to some extent that the Tree committee and where we've established that it's a healthy mature tree I think that's again the tree warden's role in this process is to tell us that But there is a process where the board is vested with this authority and you look at the totality of the circumstances so we'll Talk about this again, but So I just want to clarify those a couple points Thank you very much so On a motion by mr. Herd that we send this to the building inspector in order to determine Whether or not this needs to go to the zda Me and a second by mrs. Mahan Mr. Heim Mr. Herd, yes Mr. Corsi. Yes, mr. Helmuth. Yes. This is mahan. Yes, mr. Diggins. Yes, it's unanimous vote Okay, thank you. Thank you everybody. It's a good hearing and um learned a lot and A lot more to um so All right moving on. Hey, uh, we are on item number 10 review and approval Of the 2022 2023 select board and town manager goals. And so Um, hope We've gotten them had a couple of three weeks to look at them and uh, essentially if there's anything that folks need What's missed out was left out, you know, it needs to be altered in some way You know And approval motion for approval by mr. Herd Second second by mr. Helmuth So, and um any other comments? Okay, I'll just add for the public consumption Although this is a comprehensive set of goals It's not an exhaustive set of goals mean so you may see me some other things happen. I mean, um From expired by this board me members of the board, you know, and that's okay. That's gotta be a good thing Yeah, so yes, mr. Bahad Just very briefly. I want to um Sincerely thank the chair and the town manager um for a Conducting the goals meeting which is no easy feat and gathering all the information from before which we had a couple of blips in there and Mr. Pool or our town manager Got all the information and the chair made, you know help expedite that As well as coming up with the goals that are before us. Um, we don't do them just to do them Number one, you know, they're a framework and a guide and they don't just happen Someone who's been involved in things like that. I know that so I want to thank the chair and and the town manager and any ancillary staff that If that's the correct word to use That helped bring this all together because it's a lot of work It looks like it's an easy thing and you know, it's a 12 14 page document of the two combined goals and but Um, there's a lot of work behind that so I do appreciate it. Thank you, mr. Chair and thank you mr. Manager. Yeah, you're welcome, you know, so um I remember now and I'm just kind of throwing off a little bit because mr. Hyme has his left So I guess I will be the one to conduct the the roll call So on a motion by mr. Herd and a second by mr. Helms be that we approve our goals He now I need to remember the order in which we do this Okay Whatever I want. Okay. Well, I want to remember the order that Doug doesn't need so, uh, mr. Helms. Yes and Mr The coursey. Yes, and mr. Herd. Yes. Yeah, this is behind. Yes, and yes I think I got that right I Think I got it right. Anyways, I mean I could do it however want so I'll take it, you know, so So future select board here meetings, you know, and hearings too. I'm sure yeah, so I'm looking at the calendar I'm not gonna look at because I've thought about a fair amount, you know and what I am thinking is is that we do A meeting on the 17th. I know it'll be a while from the meeting on the 28th mean that meeting is a Wednesday and uh, and then maybe have a tentative meeting being on the 24th meaning that if the agenda for the 17th is just So packed being that it's really clear that we can't get it all done You know, at least we're prepared to have a meeting on the 24th, you know, the only reason I hesitate being on saying the The 31st is because it's Halloween, you know I definitely can't go Are you serious meet on heli I said definitely can't meet on halloween You're serious, right? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I wasn't sure. I wasn't sure if you're just being facetious in this case No, not here. I mean and then we and we may have people that we like to show up at the meeting Who really wouldn't be in a position to be either. So that's why I'm being a little differential being to Halloween, although I mean I'll tell you mr. Dunn has come in in some pretty impressive costumes made on the at least halloween Meeting if not on halloween day at least the meeting closest to halloween So so you just gave me an easy one, but I'm gonna leave that alone I'm pretty sure the chambers are cursed on halloween So, okay, that could be a problem. What were you saying for the dates only because I honestly have worked in the select board's office back when it was the board of selectmen What are you saying for dates because I know for october we'll definitely have enough for two decent-sized meetings as well as procedurally with Just regular administrative things. So can you say the dates to me again? I so so the 17s and for sure And then the 24th is a tentative Because the the 10th is a holiday And then I think the third is a little bit too close. I'll be on the 28th. How about the 12th and the 24th Oh Okay, oh so monday Is there another night that we all can meet that we yeah isn't an automatic note Such as a wednesday perhaps or that's what that's what the 12th is. What about the 13th and 12th is is is a tac meeting We're about 13 The 13th thursday, I mean I could do thursday, you know Well, I have hockey practice every day until April 15th, but they generally allow me to get out early enough to to go Any day of the week is fine You can't It's tac, I mean I really want to see yeah um I mean Mr. Tom manager does the 13th prevent presenting difficulties for potential staffing or it's just I just raised the issue because it's not It's not a regular meeting night. Like you don't usually do a thursday. Yeah, I have to ask Um, I mean we're open till seven so a lot of staff will be around anyway um So I'm not aware and I'm my own calendar that there's anything particular that would be a problem that day Council confer agrees So then we're thinking the 13th and then the 24th I'm just thinking of the business of the select board's office Especially in october they need those for people coming in I know it sounds silly, but if someone says if we say you got to wait three and a half weeks It's like oh, I gotta pay another month. You know I think it's really reasonable, but then I'm not being disrespectful. No, no, I hear you but but but but it is just Two business days before the 17th I'm saying 13 and 24 Right, right and and I was proposing 17 and 24, but yeah, all right, you know, you know Are you saying you want to do 17 to the other chair? So no, no, no, we're discussing it so so and and certainly if most people want to do the 13th But I was just saying the 13th He just gives us two more business days versus the something even though it sounds like four days I mean two of those days are Our weekend days mean and and I was gonna say do the 24th as a contingent in case me the 17th just had too much but if folks are wanting to do the 23rd, I mean, I'm sorry 13th, I mean, I'm fine I can do anything Okay, all right, so um, what we're gonna do the 13th mean and then and then a solid 24, you know, and And we'll come up with something for that 24, you know always have ideas for me. So, okay, you know, yeah Are we allowed to wear costumes on the 24th? Appropriate costumes just to her You know, I'm easy going You can wear that costume here or you can do it remotely No explanations, no excuses necessary. All right, sounds good Can I make a suggestion we go all the way till December? Oh, yeah. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. So um, so for Um, November, I mean, certainly the having lock it in the media on the 14th makes things easy because for me I'm thinking the 7th the 7th and the 21st for December it would be the first and the third Mondays, which I'm forgetting the numbers now Five and 19. Yeah Well, Hanukkah sats on the 19th So we should not do that We should we definitely do five and then what do you want to do besides the 19th, which is monday and Hanukkah so In that week me any other days will work for me. I won't have the conflict attack mean so That week is usually we started six o'clock for the second meeting in december It's usually just really short business that has to get done procedural things. Um, and then We're done for the evening. So so the 21st work for me better than the 20th with that Wednesday work folks So what was the first date? So the first day was the first and then Did the vice chair suggest 6 p.m. For the 21st It's usually 6 p.m. Because then we get our business done by 7 7 15 ish and then We have our No, we do Yeah Is that all right? Yeah, yeah, and and I I do want to say that I'm leaning very strongly towards Meeting remotely and meteorological You know, so so we could discuss that again in november, but I don't want it to be like wow a surprise. Yes, so go ahead Um, either on the 21st of november or the 5th of december will need to have a tax hearing It's at the tax rate. So, um, we will Staff is meeting now to figure out When they'd be prepared to do that All right, you know and we may need to squeeze in a meeting at Sometime another meeting sometime in there if we are going to try to do a joint meeting with the arb They are going to be having a retreat or something with the planning director when that person Comes on board and then once Then we'll try and do a joint meeting, you know, it may not happen until january I hope it happens before then because the school committee wants to meet with us I think I brought that up, you know and and um Initially, we were thinking this fall, but but then we had a meeting and it became apparent that that would be better Next early next year And so that will probably be sometime in just I think right now we're thinking january, you know, but probably everywhere at the latest But we're not scheduling those now, but just Back our minds. Yes If the chairs, um, is so inclined Um, we did get a warrant article from john ward many years ago Who's complained who highlighted that there wasn't enough time for Residents and others to submit warrant articles and he his warrant article says this should be at least 30 or 31 days And what the board traditionally has done in the past is we all recall is We try to give even more than that. So what would traditionally happen is At our december 5th meeting Um, everything that the select board's office and the town manager and town council um Needs to get in a row so that we can have the language on december 5th for Opening the warrant uh, I would anticipate it's opening the warrant on um december 5th and um Closing it Traditionally, it's I think been the last monday in january At 4 p.m So just so I know i'm thinking way far too far ahead But I just want to make sure that at that december 5th meeting that that is an agenda item We have the very specific language for um, and it would just be to open the warrant December 5th and to close it january, whatever that last monday is at 4 p.m. So Thank you Um, so I don't think we need to vote on this So great excellent, and then uh, so next is correspondence received move receipt Second Emotion of receipt by mrs. Mahan and seconded by mr. Helmins, and I think Much while being less Send that to tack, you know, and so Um Mr. Hyde Mr. Herd. Yes, mr. Corsi. Yes. Mr. Helmins. Yes. This is mahan. Yes. Mr. Diggs. Yes, so that is folk great, and so Normally, the second open forum is for spillover Quite like not quite sure how i'm going to handle that but since it's here Me i'm just going to ask if i'm someone in the In the virtual room he wants to um say something You see any hands Seeing no hands. Okay, great. Um, actually, I want to back up just a little bit, you know on the on the meeting sometime in in january to We should think about when we Regardless of whether we Meet virtually only or not we should think about how we come back in March being and How we incorporate maybe having more people In the room. So that's a discussion we won't have being Sometime earlier years. I just want to get that out there too being in let people know that we're thinking about that You know, so okay, you know, all righty. Uh, so, um new business, you know, uh Um Ashley mrs. Maher mrs. Maher No, no business great, you know thug I just want to note that one of the members in the legal department is starting on the NMA's municipal certificate program this week Jessica sparks who's our Worker's conversation claim coordinator and so i'm happy that She's participating in that and grateful to the town for providing The opportunities for continuing education opportunities for Its staff, so thank you. Great. Thank you I would just note that I will be at the icma conference in beautiful columbus, ohio I know you're all jealous about that Ohio that the state that's Round at the end and high in the middle So I will be there uh starting sunday and coming back next wednesday Great. Thank you Mr. Herd I think mr. Pooley you're going to find out just how many constituents you have in the next couple weeks from columbus, ohio um So I don't like to be the complainer a new business, but I came with complaints today now So I got I've got a number of call Number of calls a bunch of people stopped me in the streets and I don't know how many people have approached me about this but They recently repaved the area of Up where I live on hillside and It is when we notified that we were getting Our how our streets repaved. We said great new pavement and we all had an idea what What it was going to be And I know this is the old school way of paving, but it was They throw down the tar and they throw down some gravel and It's essentially A nightmare right now And I don't think I'm not putting this before the board or the town manager to say Go find some money in the budget to do it right or repave it again But I've gotten complaints that there's rocks in Dogs paws Kids can't use their role, but it's kids can't use their Their scooters. It's hard to bike. It's I scratched my floor because I had a rock stuck in my foot And again, this could be that this is the only way that they we can do it, but Mike what I would say to whoever the wherever the decision was made I don't know who the decision is made. I haven't made any Investigation of it and I'm not Blaming anyone because again, I grew up and I've seen this in this town before Is it just doesn't Jive with what Arlington currently puts forward as a friendly community for alternative means of transportation bicyclists of complaining Eventually some of the rocks will compact down But I gotta tell you it's real as of right now it has Dramatically reduced the use of our streets. We have we don't have a lot of Sidewalks up there the kids bike in the street scooter in the street play street hockey And that's all out for right now We put the the role blades and the scooters in the back of the garage and I have probably heard from 25 people about the streets asking if there's going to be a finish code We've established at this point that there is not going to be and so It's just for the future and I think this and so what everyone said to me the roads are fine I would much rather of it just said the way it was Then do this and they're not going to be anywhere near the condition they were for years Of compaction if they ever are And I know this is in response to a lot of utility work that's been done up in our area And I know they're doing it all across town. So I would say to the people making the decision In other areas of the town and it's probably too late for us, but I mean have A little thought about how this is going to affect the alternative means of transportation that many people use in the area from scooters to e-bikes and the like it because I have just I can't remember anything that's happened in town that has generated more complaints Than the repaving of our roads. So again, I'm not standing here asking To come back and repave our roads. I just think as we think about how we do this Then look at the cost-benefit analysis in the future. It might be a better way And I also do I was at the Ed Burns arena today and I was It's happy to see it's up and running Hockey has started skating has started. So that's a good positive the rink was in Magnificent shape. So I'm very happy about that end it with a positive note I am looking forward to town day and I'm assuming that the chair may have an update in his new business about that So I don't need to advertise it beyond beyond that Thank you. Sure And mr. Forsey, no new business Just to one very quickly just a sort of procedural thing Um at the next meeting That works out time-wise as well as with everybody all five board members and town manager in town council a town manager um If the town manager could speak to our new planning director who I believe has started but maybe she hasn't She she starts on the 19th That's in the 19th So whenever you can if you can just talk to her about Coming in to meet the board if she's not comfortable in coming in in person and wants to Zoom in that's fine, but maybe for the first one Um, if she does agree to come in if we can have a really quick early in the agenda so that she's not But I'll leave that to the chair and town manager to coordinate that and then um My other new business Um, I had conversation conversations with the town manager and the deputy town manager Um, and it's just really just an fyi kind of new business I've heard from quite a few parents about positives for the high school but a lot of them One parent said to me there's no bike racks and three or four different other parents said there's only one bike rack It's always full and um after my conversation with mr. Poole or mr. Feeny Not on this on other matters when I went up the app. I looked as quickly as I could And I'm pretty sure and I sent an email to mr. Poole or mr. Feeny saying, you know, I think I see a rack up there. It's full um I drove by the high school and every um All the frontage along mass have of the high school has a bike A scooter an e-bike leaning against it, which is great Um, but that that I had received these questions. So they just so my colleagues know they got back to me that Coincidentally, and I did not know this. Um, mr. Feeny had a meeting with the assistant principal at the high school And I'm blanking on his or her name today. Um, there were 115 Uh bikes scooters and e-bikes up there Um, mr. Poole can correct me if I'm wrong. There's one um bike rack that's been installed and planned for that holds 20 bikes um and there's one Down by school or court But they counted of the 115 is really only spots for 20 and where they're going now the bikes they're being tethered to Anything that's out there. So the benches which I totally understand. I'm not complaining about that. So, um, they are Looking at, um, but they have to get approval from the General contractor on the site. There's two bike racks down on I think on rider street that dpw has that can be put in there There will be more put in in the future But, um, I believe one of the reasons for the meeting this morning was they didn't anticipate um For the scooters The bike racks that we have don't accommodate them Did you want to fill this in better for me mr. Poole or I'd be glad to speak if you'd like, but yes, you are doing a great job. You go ahead. All right. So Mr. Chair, uh, many members as part of the whole high school project There are a lot more bike racks in the plan Many of them were scheduled to be put in behind the school when we put in that new bike extension that will Connect to the minute man bikeway. There's a whole big area of bike racks. It's supposed to go in there and I think what happened is just The building of the school and the full usage of it didn't sync up with what the total plan was So, uh, mr. Feeney has been very active talking to l mccarthy about, um, the principal of the high school Getting some more bike racks in there. He's looking for those And I think that there's realization now as It's mahan said that We need to do something with these scooters because we thought about bikes, but we didn't really think about scooters Um, I don't know what the answer to that is going to be yet But I have every confidence that mr. Feeney will be on top of that and we'll have some solutions So I think that is a situation And I think you'll see more racks going in there soon And I know it's school And we're the town side, but I just wanted to make sure that we're all aware of that because I know once we all start hitting games down There you'll probably get the same question Just to give the information that, um It's a work in progress and it will be addressed. So thank you, mr. Yeah, that's it. That's fine. Great. Thank you, you know, so yeah, my new business, you know First is um, you might have seen an article, um, and you're always in regarding the lose That I don't know I don't know how that got there because the only reason I sent that email to Bob Sprague was because he was Included in the list of people who had requested a helium tank. I did not expect my letter to end up in your I'm sorry. I didn't I missed it. Oh, it's just a letter. Uh, respectfully requesting the people who who Asked for helium tanks to secure their balloon balloons to me. Oh balloons. Yeah, I've noticed Yeah, oh, I'm speaking through a mask to me. So, so sorry about that, you know, uh, and uh, so so I'm just saying that because I think I'm also talking to to to bob or at least someone from your all into now It wasn't meant to be published. It's fine that it is me, but I wasn't sending it with that intent, you know And um, yeah, it looks like it wasn't going to be great for um for for today, you know, uh, and and um, and um It Gosh, I don't know how to say this. Um He's You know, your health is your responsibility Me, you know, we get all kinds of readings from, you know, the cdc, but in the end, it's your responsibility Me, so so, um, he For those of you incline me take a look at the biobot data He, you know, tried to take out that big spike from omicron and just gauge where things are and, you know, Me Do what you think is is in your best interest whether that's wearing a mask while outdoors mean or or spending less time You know, whatever, you know, there will be more town days, you know, and so so I just put that out there, you know, because As you can see, I'm a little a little conservative when it comes to that so And um, and on the last note, you know, is bittersweet, you know, and so, um, It requires regards three deaths. I mean, um, one was the mayor of new orleans, you know, moonland drew My mom loved him, you know, and the more I understand about Know what he did. I mean, he was really a He was big on desegregation back in the Just late 60s or 60s and 70s and and I went to school With two of his sons to me, you know, his his older the older son I went to school with and actually ended up being the mayor of new orleans and one of his younger sons was in my class Me and really really nice people The other is the queen of england me and I say that as a transition to the matriarch Of my partner's household, you know, his mom passed away. It Actually turns out it was on the day before labor day. You know, she was discovered the day after And which was a little long longest period of time considering how much His sister he and he spoke with her me, you know, me Multiple times a day, you know, and so they were very close and it got even closer after Um, their father died, you know, I mean, whereas they love both parents the affection for their mom Me was really deep and so it's so they're both having a hard time And uh, and so I was away me for nearly a week. I mean, and so So I'm behind on everything, you know, I'm gonna catch up, you know, because life goes on You know, I mean that's three we have to go on, you know And the fact that they love her so much is why they miss her so much. And so that's the bittersweet part of it. So So, um, you know Sorry to hear that. Please extend our sincere words to your partner. Yeah, I will. You know, so mr. Yeah, sorry for your loss, of course and to you and your family. Um, I just want if you add one more thing to a new business on town day Mr. Feeney asked us to say this and I totally forgot Just a reminder that the fireworks are on saturday this year not friday They've generally been on friday So they'll be on saturday as a culmination of town day With the hope that people will go to town day Go patronize our local businesses the beer garden will still be open All our wonderful restaurants will be open and it's a good place to eat and then Walk down to and check out the fireworks. So those are going to be on saturday Around eight o'clock. It's kind of a floating time, but they say at dusk Thanks Thank you everybody. So there is just Second by mr. Hurd Mr. Hurd, yes, of course. Yes, mr. Helman. Yes. This is mine. Yes. Thank you. Mr. Regans. Yes. See you in the stock. Thank you