 Okay, welcome to the Board of Selections meeting for December 7th First item up is the consent agenda for the meetings of November 9th for the minutes of the meeting of November 9th and November 23rd Is there a motion? Move approval. Second. Second. Discussion All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. Next item is specific at 730 So we'll move on to appointments to the Allenton Cultural Council. Sherry Green Sherry with us here this evening What's the board's pleasure on this? I'm sorry, I got I'm not connected again Do you want to? Well, what we've done in the past is we asked new appointments to Come before us, but we can't approve it and then ask that she come before us I would move that action move that second second Any other comments? All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed Her term would expire on November 30th, 2018 To the Allenton tree committee John Ellis John, how are you welcome, sir? Thank you for your willingness to serve. Thank you and handouts Thank you. Thank you So John tell me how can a tree boost a home sale price? I've given you three articles once from the Wall Street Journal once from the Washington Post and once from Federal Reserve communities and banking The Wall Street Journal article talks about how on average a price of a home goes up by seven thousand dollars with a public street tree in front of the home really seven thousand on average as a Wide study of fifty thousand homes in Portland, Oregon Second thing to point out is that there was a Washington Post on a major study that demonstrated that trees actually Controlling for age controlling for income controlling for a lot of factors improve the health of the people living near the trees and the third item talks about how trees actually improve Turnover and income for local businesses and I just wanted to to to mention that 2014 the town removed 174 trees and planned 167 So actually we're sort of heading in the wrong direction because each year there are less trees in town than there were before and that number Actually underestimates it a little bit because obviously the big trees are coming down and little trees are being put up so I would encourage the board to Consider the economic health and income benefits of trees and in future budgets Take accounting for the fact that there are many benefits beyond having a nice tree in front of your house that Pay dividends to the town for years to come and so I Think you're interested in trees and why else are you looking forward to serve on this committee, sir? Well, I've lived in Arlington since 1999 I have two kids in Hardy school own a business been in Arlington Center for 15 years So I'm connected with the community and like to play a greater role in the town. Thank you very much Motion I move approval. I don't have any questions after hearing all that second second any more grilling All those in favor, please signify by saying nine Thank you very much for your willingness to serve and the expertise you obviously bring So Let's do one more item and then I tingle with excitement. I see chairman Greeley has arrived We'll get to that in a moment This is under licenses and permits a request from Anatomy grill and tavern for a late-night event mr. Lyons Is my brother whistman something to you over there? All right Go ahead tell us what you're well. This is just for New Year's Eve if I could have the extended hour like last year Keep these keep the celebration in Arlington Second second and when is last call bill? 1230 You know and we'll be serving food right up, you know Right up to the end. Okay. Any any discussion? Okay, miss Mahan Just I have a few quick questions that I think I already know the answer to but just I'm just curious Do you have a policy what when I used to work back in the day of 53? So back in my 18s early 20s regarding employees in uniform consumption of alcohol and or Food when they're in the uniform on the floor on duty or okay So this is just monotony, right? No, I'm just If you've worked a shift You can't have a drink that includes me But if I choose to go to monotony on my day off I Can have a drink with my dinner? So I mean, okay, you know every company's different. It works for us. You know it kind of keeps Eliminates the gray area If you're a server and you get off you can't eat in uniform And we discount the food and all that so it's it's more about the alcohol and then Just with the extended extended hours Do you have any sort of a policy if somebody orders two drinks regarding any food consumption a purchase or well? We follow that, you know the town If you have that second drink we suggest food and then the third drink they have to have food So, you know, that was that's an adjustment when a guest comes from out of town because they look at you like you're crazy But if you greet them and let them know when they walk in it's really not an issue It's you know At least for us, you know and like I mentioned last time I'm fortunate at monotony. Everybody eats in ranks. I mean we're 60% food sales. So I'm proud of that Seconded by mr. Dunn Seconded But in any event it was moved and seconded so no matter who moved this thing Thank you And now we have a 7 30 p.m. Discussion and vote on property tax classification Weeks still have five minutes Well, they're all here. Let's go Who's speaking the chair? No, do I have to wait? I think it's fine. We're being like Alcinis. You mind Is the chair speaking on this to turn me who's up Hey Nick an honor to welcome mr. Robert really chairman of the board of solicitors. Yes, sir I think the last time I stood here in this position. You were the youngest person on this board And your memory was much much better versus what I just heard Thank you so much next It's nice to be here not having been here in five years as you know We're here tonight to give all of you Board members information so that you can then make a decision concerning the classification of Real estate and the potential tax rate here in the town Before I turn this over I'd like to make sure that we thank our staff downstairs For all of their help Phil Cunniff Ellen Kelly Mary MacMacon And especially our director of assessments Who we will turn this over to very shortly Paul Taney? In my opinion for someone who's been around here about 30 odd years. I happen to think that this may be the best Recertification that this town has had in 30 odd years so without any further ado I'd like to introduce you all to Paul Taney So the prior 30 years who was in charge of that recertification that wasn't done as well as this year's Your older brother. I was just curious I'm sure your guidance, but he's been you've been here every year brother on this But I think what you mean is this the first time you have been chair of assessors, and I've been chair of the board of select Very good, and I don't know whether we should publicly place a bet on who gets the most votes in the spring since we're both on the ballot Great opportunity for an announcement as usual you missed the pass Paul Taney Thank You Chairman. I'm sorry. He's running in the spring Paul Actually, no, I'm not I Would like to also thank my staff Phil Kinniff Ellen Kelly Maverick making they do a lot of work behind the scenes that no one sees and it's Everything that's made possible by all the work that they do And now we turn your attention to the pamphlet that we have That just shows out the levy that tax levy that we need to raise this year the town to run to calculate We take last year's levy at the school and debt exclusion water and sewer debt And the maximum to be raised is a hundred nine million So then we go down to the to calculate the tax rate take the amount to be raised divided by Total taxable assessed the value Multi-plied by a thousand Which gives us a tax rate of 1280 And the excess levy is twenty eight thousand six thirty-three go to the next page Just breaks down how the The amount that these the residential as you can see takes up 93 percent of our property close to 94 So we have a minimum of residential factor of 96 percent Turn to the next page. Just gives us the mesh general law That we are allowed to Classify property up to 150 cent we can shift the commercial industrial personal property And if we do that, you'll see all the calculations on the next page If we keep it at a hundred percent fuel tax commercial In real estate at 1280 which we think is the right way to do it if you go down that page You can see all the calculations if we do Offer a shift the next page is just the tax rates for all the years prior pretty straightforward Next page is the LA for which lists out all the parcels and their values separately Because it's the real estate count at the bottom exempt personal property The amount of tax the total real estate tax and if we want to the next page That shows our value by classes from the previous year The number of abatements we had as long as along with their values We take those adjustments We go into the next page It shows a lot of our our adjustments plus our growth for the year As you can see at the bottom right hand corner I would live growth for the year was 1,337,666 the following page we have assess values FY 16 and for 15 as you can see the comparisons In the middle 16 verse 15 The values went up quite a bit this year for residential It was 9.35 percent the commercial 14.12 percent Industrial properties 8.91 and the total real estate went up 9.56 percent falling page breaks down the taxes I As you can see it'll levy two and a half percent Your growth Water and sewer in the school debt as up to 1280 And we take Don't know if you break it all down. It's just basically what says in the previous two pages I already told you the growth for this year The average assess single-family value is $585,360 The average taxes for a single-family home this year 7493 On the final page, it's just a little graph to show some neighboring communities what their taxes are compared to Arlington and The Board of Assessors recommends a single tax rate of 1280 for the year Thank you very much Questions in the board comments mr. Dunn so one of the things I guess that I We don't there's a lot of growth this year as especially as compared To what we thought there was going to be you know sitting here a year ago Do you have any thoughts or perhaps a town manager wants to share like you know thoughts about growth? This past year and what that means going forward Well, a lot of a lot of the growth is coming from tear downs and rebuilding homes The condominiums that are converted into I mean, it's excuse me the two and three families that are being converted There are a lot of personal property growth in some of the new buildings in town So that in so that I can see that going forward is it going to be the same every year? That's very tough to project I would simply add to that that Paul and I talk about this We track a ten-year retrospective new growth average the two years prior to this fiscal year's did have some large and new growth Figures, but they included the Sims development and the Brigham's development so when we do our averages we net those out because those aren't you know that the Developments of that scope aren't going to happen year over year And we are trying to as part of the long-range planning committee decide whether or not our projected new growth On a go-forward basis is is appropriate and it is tough You know where we hedges if the economy keeps moving and people keep tearing down homes and rebuilding them I think new growth might tip up if it doesn't, you know, that could be a different story That's it. Yeah, mr. Killing. Well, firstly, I like to move to support the recommendation of the Board of Assessors and Just to speak to this I think we have this conversation each year. I mean the town of Arlington we only have about six percent of the The Valuation is built on commercial property, you know, the vast majority of it is residential property and The result of that is that, you know, the purpose of this hearing is to decide whether or not we're going to Implement classification and a different rate of tax for those who are not familiar with the hearing different rate of taxation for Commercial property versus residential, but the the numbers are so disproportionate that I think that traditionally for many years I guess forever really this board has declined to To have a differential rate and that's why I make the motion to support support that policy We know at the master planning Process we we stressed the need to build up the commercial base We always stress that we've invested in economic development planning in town If you just, you know look at One two three four fives and I think it's the fifth page here There's a comparison here based on 100% which means taxing both commercial and residential at 1280 per thousand Or going all the way to 150% so taxing commercial property 50% greater If we went all the way just to give a sense of the magnitude commercial property would see $3,200 per $500,000 increase in their taxes Well residents would only see 163 dollar drop per 400,000 I do wish that was the same unit those are the same units there I think would be easier to compare but it still draws the point that It would be minimal savings and potential, you know real detriment to our Commercial properties, so I think it's sound that we continue the policy that we have I also just wanted to note that This is the third year in a row that the the actual tax rate is dropping Now that's offset by the greater valuations It looks like you know residential Valuation is increasing by 93rd percent which which kind of demonstrates that the continuing strong market in this town Which we saw through the recession and we see onwards so I Think those are a few things that I draw out of this I really appreciate the work and the analysis and I think the only comment I would make is that it would be great if those units were the the same I'm not sure if there's a rationale for doing per 500 and per 400 The comparison is just tradition Yeah So, but thank you very much for all of the work to you and the board. I Would just add to that and I don't mean this as a negative a great deal of our commercial Businesses aren't what we call a mom-and-pop shop. I mean, that's right. Absolutely You know, they're working hard Thank you very much Well, what you know percentage I believe I when I've asked in the past it was around 10% that you'd consider going to a split rate Said about what you'd you know, probably the board would still look at Just put the commercial. Yeah What point would it make sense? Do you think when it comes down to a few women looking at 6% now? Yeah, if you treat if you went 10% Our residential home would only save $32 and Commercial the $640 Bobby you got to go to Mike's sorry the millions listening in at home, buddy I think the split is 68 32 off the top of my head So they not only have the classification Where they're shifting that amount on they can go to 1.75 if I'm not mistaken Whereas there's us being at 150 number one number two They then because they are not owned or occupied properties then get into a residential exemption If you own a four hundred and twenty five thousand dollar condo in the city of Cambridge or a house But you won't find one that's assessed that low Okay, your total tax bill isn't $1,900 you're given about 1,800 a year off on a residential exemption plus the split part of the problem here in Allington and we have no control over it because of Statutes we have more in assessed value for apartments than we do in all commercial and industrial property combined So when two and a half passed and started in 1983 Boma, which is the building owners management Association. They were smart enough after the decision out of Lincoln They had it legislated that apartment buildings considered residential properties for taxation one point in time Apartment buildings were taxed pre Two and a half at twenty five percent right off the top today the average statewide isn't 11 or 12 percent Thanks, and again outside of Massey have we don't have anything commercially we could expand Just to mr. Burns point I recall collaborating with a chair Greeley several years ago on an analysis like you're referencing and Mr.. Greeley mentioned triple it so we're at six percent I recall our analysis falling between 15 and 20 percent is where it starts to make sense to consider shifting if you're 32% then you're yeah, it's a lot easier to think about but until you get to that number the pain is too great Gotcha. Thank you I Just also want to point out the other two members of the Board of Assessors Is also with us Kevin Greeley and Mary win Stanley O'Connor and Mr. Gilligan Treasurer, did you wish to speak on this at all? So and anything else from the board I'm going to guess mr. Jamison would like to speak on this issue Thank you, mr. Greeley I'm Gordon Jamison. I'm co-chair of the physical resource task group and We've taken an interest at this over the past years and for those at home This is one of the really one of the most important meetings Hearings that this happens in front of the board of selectmen with all due respect for everything else you do in the year It happens every year at this time. It's always good to understand how your tax rate is set First off, I want to thank the the assessor mr. Timber and the board for Cooperating very kindly took time because of some of the turmoil over the last couple years in the office to provide us with some information We were interested in looking at commercial assessments and that that was very helpful for us and I also wanted to commend them on the decision to use an external patriot properties for for the commercial reassessment process this year Versus doing it in in staff to help secure that the commercial properties are properly assessed Yeah to follow on mr. Chairman Greeley, well this chairman Greeley No, you're the honorable because you're Terry he's just chairman right now downstairs. He's the honorable and you're just chairman On the deal that the but they'll all do respect to our large apartments have in that they get they get Assessed as a commercial property, but taxed as a real as a residential property such a deal if we could all have that I Thank mr. Currow for bringing up the the concept of split rate which We have brought up over the years and One member of the board a couple years a number of years ago thought about maybe we could ease into that You know that the discussion with all due respect is usually based upon what mr. Currow brought up which is the the fold the full hole Whole nine yards what happens when you go to 150, but we could go to five percent, you know But we're gonna we're not gonna push that right now or five or ten percent of split We want to look at what the commercial assessments have done over this past year Obviously the growth is doing well the tax rate is down I would comment also that Echoed the comment about new growth of mr. Dunn Is it 450 we scheduled in the budget this year? Yeah, and that's been something that this that our group is as Nudge the the manager and is and Andrew in here in previous people and I Guess the last question sort of Thinking forward and that is if we keep that up How do we how does that help the structural deficit perhaps a question directed if I may to mr. chapter lane So whenever new growth So to set the stage as Gordon alluded to and mr. Dunn alluded to earlier in the long-range projections we We project $450,000 in new growth per year the 10-year retrospective average today with that new $1.3 million figure if you net out sims at Brigham's is about $733,000 so a last year was six hundred fifty six thousand so it is inching up In a year like this when your budget 450,000 and then you get 1.3 million you have a nearly $900,000 increase this year and every year going forward so the base is increased by 900 So you collect that 900 every year going forward as compared to what you project So I guess to try to be succinct I would say it has a pretty tremendous impact on the town's long-term Financial viability and it and if it if it continued to happen year over year It would reduce the structural deficit by that requisite amount now. I get Noogy about Pushing it too far. I understand because it come this time of year as we're trying to set the tax rate If you've pushed your projection too far and budgeted too high and you fall short You're stuck and you know you have a budget out of balance You have to call a special town meeting to cut a budget somewhere and that's a situation No city or town wants to be in so I don't say that to oppose Considerations of you know a responsible increase, but I think that's there's also a good reason to be conservative in this particular projection no no and we We can agree to have a little a little arm wrestle occasionally there and which I think is appropriate as part of the process Which we have a very open process here in town The last thing I would comment on that is Some people don't understand the choice between development and I think many people some people are members of town meeting I think you can say no to development and all will be good, but in reality if you say no development You're saying yes to an override So that's that's that's the choice the balance is between so if we can get a sufficient amount of development as mr. Chapter lane alluded to we can help Keep our curve moving forward as far as when when we have to then next consider a new revenue So this this is a wonderful news as far as that goes and I think the board and the assessor for their Important input into this process Thanks Anybody else wishing to comment on the tax rate? Yes, very briefly. I certainly applaud Mr. Jamison's remarks in terms of trying to increase and Perhaps offsetting an override, but I also understand we're sort of confined with the within the boundaries of what land we can build in Arlington That we can go out and get new businesses, but I am up of the understanding that the redevelopment board is sort of Her last year's town meeting vote looking at the zoning bylaws in terms of the land We have what is commercial? And perhaps finding a way that we can entice some new businesses here. Am I correct? It's absolutely true Okay, so just to mr. Jamison's point a it's very difficult because because of the topography of Geography of Arlington will kind of stuck in terms trying to find new businesses, but mr. Chapter lane. I don't want to interrupt you That's fine. I Feel it isn't Everything you're saying is right on the ARB and the master plan implementation committee are working on Implementing some first steps in trying to incentivize further development, but that's what brought to my mind I don't want anybody watching to think that because there's residential new growth that it's a free ride Because as residential new growth occurs It's more than likely that that is improving or upgrading or expanding residential space and thereby potentially welcoming new families which increase our student population as we're discussing with the school enrollment task force so when You're dealing with an expanding school enrollment You're you're bringing in new tax dollars and probably incurring a higher degree of cost in that amount so incentivizing Economic development or commercial development isn't isn't free either, but it's certainly less cost intense than residential development So I'm not putting a value judgment on any of that But I think it would be it's important to state that as new growth occurs The type of new growth that it is can also have a counterbalance on the expense side of the ledger Anybody else? You know Marie and I have been doing some research for the Selectman's Handbook and In 1868 The tax rate was 15 dollars and fifty cents per thousand What a fantastic job our assessors have done Now try and find a house in 1868 worth a thousand dollars There were what a hundred dollars or two hundred maybe at that time. So on the motion regarding classification Keeping it one did I say that right? Although on the motion by Mr. Cura right seconded by Mr. Dunn all those in favor, please signify by saying aye All those opposed Thank you very much Further speech business you got I need to have the LA five sign Thank you While we're doing that Sherry Please come on up if you wouldn't mind Sherry and we'll we'll sign that Sherry I am pleased to report that unanimously this board has appointed you to the Allenton cultural council Thank you for coming back and sorry we messed that up last meeting Why did we unanimously elect you to the Allenton cultural council? You obviously have an interest Yes, I have a passion about the arts I grew up with a mother who was an artist and I Went to college and have a degree in art and anthropology and then a master's degree in social work But even in my current practice as a life coach I use the arts including playback theater writing drawing and have always done that I'm very involved in singing with the mr. Corral is one of my loves and I take classes with true story theater, and I usher at several I usher at Central Square theater and new rep and Enjoy music visual arts performing arts and would just love the opportunity to see that grow and flourish in Arlington And you'd be part of that Well, thank you very much for your interest and your willingness to serve miss Mahan Just want to say great to see you again. Sherry. I sort of cut my teeth way back in the day Sherry when we were bracket school moms Besides keeping bracket and Pierce open Politics one of the things when I was PTO president for a crazy five years. Sherry was active a in the turnaround in terms of fundraising Making the June fair and other things, you know, so we would have a five high-five figure budget but also with the cultural enrichment programs and Off and on on the PTO board and different subcommittees and it's amazing I think she and others Well, I was lucky enough to work with really laid the roots for the very active PTO Activities that go on up a bracket. So I'm thrilled to see her. I just want to let everyone know I've known her forever since my kids were babies and I'm thrilled I'm gonna get to see you in this extra capacity and I know you're gonna do a fantastic job. So, thank you. Thank you Thank you very much Thank you This Whispers be not you have to run for to get that All right friends, so the next item on the agenda is a liquor license violation hearing potential chapter 138 section 69 violation with the common ground Restaurant, so the procedure which we're going to follow here is first. We're going to hear from our town council Then we're going to hear from Mr.. Aguin and also his his council then there will be questions by from any member of the board To either either the council's or the owner any comments then we'll ask Town council if he has a recommended motion Remember So that said mr.. Hyam Good evening, mr.. Chairman madam vice chairman Members of the board I want to start out for a moment by going through the posture that we find ourselves in the basis for the evidence In this particular hearing so bear with me for a few moments before we get into the facts of the case before you The first thing I want to note is that what we're really here to decide tonight is whether or not common ground served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person On their premises more specifically to find a violation in this instance There must be sufficient evidence that a reasonable person Serving serving alcohol newer should have known that a customer was intoxicated prior to Overserving them Though the ABCC conducted a joint investigation with our police department They did not pursue process of their own in advance of the board of select men and the local as the local licensing authority Accordingly what we decide here will be the only substantive hearing there will be on this unless There is a decision that is appealed by the license holder to the ABCC In terms of the sources of evidence one of the things that I want to note at the outset is unfortunately inspector Foley Who is the chief person responsible for the investigation from APD is not available tonight? He's not going to be available anytime soon to my knowledge So we all just have to deal with that and unfortunately chief Ryan is out of town on business So all the facts that I'm going to present to you are based upon police departments reports the ABC and Police Department joint investigation in terms of interview notes that they took surveillance video at common ground Or other types of evidence such as medical evidence provided to the police department by the district attorney's office As well as some additional inquiries conducted by the police department in my office to directly to Mr.. Oguin and through counsel Mr.. Leone here So the overwhelming majority of these facts are not in dispute and so for the purposes of both efficiency in trying to respect the privacy What a somewhat sensitive situation is for the deceased and the family? We don't need to examine the direct evidence itself as these again facts are not in dispute The relevant facts that I'll run down you have these facts have been provided to you in advance So I'll just provide more summarized truncated West the board wants to go over all the individual facts in summary the gentleman Mr.. James McLaughlin was in a fatal car accident at approximately 128 on January 1st of this year the time of his death his blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit He just left common ground before the accident where he'd been served both food and alcohol Mr.. McLaughlin had been eating and drinking at common ground at various times throughout the day coming and going at several junctures Eating and drinking and at times with off-duty common ground employees It's important to note that none of the bartender staff or other witnesses indicated to investigators that mr.. McLaughlin appeared drunk to them Nor did surveillance video provide a sufficient basis for such a determination alone. I also have to pause Here to note the blood alcohol content by law is not sufficient in and of itself to prove a case of over service a section 69 violation Nonetheless on the basis of all the direct and circumstantial evidence this office and the police chief believe a hearing is appropriate It's beyond dispute the mr. McLaughlin was intoxicated That he was served alcohol although with food at common ground throughout the day in question And that during his last visit he'd been there for several hours before leaving and that during his last visit He had alcohol before getting an accident into a car accident which for which we have no other plausible Explanation than driving under the influence Further while all common ground employees insist that they did not know he was intoxicated Mr. McLaughlin's close relationship with employees and other circumstantial evidence At the very least raised the question in earnest of whether they should have reasonably known he was intoxicated Thus while this is a close case with many unresolved questions And I must also recognize that common ground has been extraordinarily cooperative Throughout all stages of the investigation and examination of this matter I respectfully submit that some modification or suspensions appropriate here I understand that common ground shares many concerns. It does not ultimately agree with the end analysis Myself and the police chief present to you So at this point, I would offer Common ground the opportunity to speak on their own behalf in response to these allegations And then I'd be happy to answer any questions the board may have for me or obviously mr. Leone Thank you mr. Time. Thank you mr. Chairman John Leone. I'm here with Robert of going the owner of common ground To a few points my own to start off with I'll start by stating the common ground unequivocally denies that is in violation of mass general law chapter 138 section 69 and 204 cm R 2.052 and That it is in agreement with the alcohol beverage controlled Commission's determination to that effect Further denies any liability occult culpability and mr. McLaughlin's unfortunate accident That being said common ground is concerned about the issue of drunk driving as all of you are and as I am Common ground has a strict alcohol service policy, which I have provided you just now And all of its employees have been trained on a weekly basis in alcohol service in its spotting intoxicated patrons In the instant matter mr. McLaughlin was served four to five drinks over a ten-hour period to win the afternoon to midnight And in that time he had at least one meal and snacks at different times And that he had left the restaurant for several hours during that time leaving coming back at least three to four times And his last time there he was served one beer in an hour and a half Time that he was there one Guinness as you know Guinness as a lower alcohol content than other beers Common ground employees and its general manager had chatted with mr. McLaughlin throughout the evening and as midnight approached As they were wishing everyone a happy new year and they were aware of no visible signs of intoxication from mr. McLaughlin In regard to the functioning of common ground all alcoholic drinks are served from the main bar There is no service bar. There's no opportunity for a Server to get a drink somewhere else in the restaurant and slip it to a customer unbeknownst to the main bartenders who make all the drinks In the fact 70% of common grounds revenue was from food and 30% is from alcohol, so it's Not a really one could say a lot of huge viral And since this occurred common ground on its own and its own volition has eliminated its employees so-called shift drinks And their employees are no longer allowed to remain at the bar They never were allowed to remain at the bar in their uniform and to drink They want to stay at common ground and have food or drinks. They have to leave change out of their uniforms and come back in civilian clothing This is a relatively new business in town about a year and a half Without any violations in fact about any violations of alcohol policy at all And in fact it has voluntarily on at least three perhaps four occasions called the Arlington Police Department to report Intoxicated and rowdy individuals who unsuccessfully had thought to be served in their bar room People have come from other places who they know were intoxicated and they have called the police to report these people having removed etc Again with all of that being said common ground is willing to work with the town to enforce strict alcohol service compliance Even though the four factors that mr. Heim Mentioned in the last page of this memo to you can all be construed in the negative They still want to do the right thing by the town of Arlington and by the license and take this matter for seriousness that it should deserve If you have any questions, we'd like to answer Thank you Question from members of the board start with mr. Dunn So the the alcohol policy the the gave us a how long is that one has it been since inception of the company? Or is it recent or since the inception of the company? I Had mr. O'glynn he had one in his Brookline restaurant, which also has never had any violations that might stay he had one there We refined it to reflect Arlington's particular service policies Thank you I'm probably for council Did you so in all of this did you come out with like having after sessing all the facts and thinking about everything in talking to all the People he did did you come up with a set of an outcome that you think is the appropriate one knowing our town policies? Yes, mr. Dunn, I think I'd be happy to discuss my recommendation following the Questions from the board members. Okay, that's if that's okay. I mean if yep. Yeah, that sounds good Yeah, thank you I was wondering it's following on to my colleagues question that the policy regarding Employees drinking in uniform. How old is that policy? They've never been allowed to drink in uniform. They've never been allowed To drink in uniform on the day in question How many bartenders actually served mr. McLaughlin? It was throughout the day. He came in periodically For ten hours, and I think it was about three bartenders It was separate bartenders. Does the evidence back that up? Yes, so mr. Kuro there at least two separate sets of bartenders two separate sets of bartenders, okay, and how How crowded was the establishment at the time of the lot that the last around midnight Wasn't crowded at all at the last service was not crowded at all Okay And I just is this time for comment or are you just I'm eager to hear what what council's recommendation is I just want to stress that I think that we all are pretty Grieved by this There's a death that that that occurred on this evening after the circumstances I know we may be in dispute as to what the direct The direct causes were but there does seem to be at least a dotted line if not a direct line and This is why we're so strict as a board on these violations because every violation is a Serious potential death Or or tragedy waiting to happen You know and I think that For myself and I'm scrutinizing this particularly closely because we've certainly we've broken some previous precedents For this establishment, and I think that we all came together as a board to do this You know open air windows and and alcohol served out in the public The public sidewalk we we allow we've allowed outdoor seating before but this is the first time with with alcohol in the public space So I'll be interested to hear my other colleagues questions and what Council has his recommendation for us, but I just wanted to to stress why the board is so Our eye for one. I'm so aggrieved by it by it by the incident Mr. O'guin appreciates that and he appreciates what the board has done, which is why we've been working with mr Council to come to a resolution of this matter because it is taken very seriously. Yeah Thank you Just a quick little preamble has nothing really to do with anything with the exception of For about 20 years. I worked for an agency that was a successful bidder with the city of Boston for Mokal Mayor of consumer office affairs and licensee and also over at ABCC I was there as a court reporter only I haven't had any contact with them in probably 15-20 years, so I just wanted I was never received any compensation from the city of Boston or the Commonwealth It was always through the agency. I was 1099 employee Secondly, I'm assuming everybody's comfortable with Including the gentleman at the microphone with inspector Foley not being able to make it tonight Yeah Yes, that's the yes, and I'm just going by what's been presented to us I had really overview procedural questions with the chairman and mrs. Kruppelka around scheduling and I've had At the chair's suggestion to all of us a pretty substantive conversation or two with the attorney Heim as well as with the town manager first off I Want to extend our condolences Mr.. Kero and all of us to the gentleman's family who unfortunately lost his life. That's really at the forefront In terms of what I'm thinking at I have a sense that I know Most recently we've had tips violations and had to sort of set a criteria for that For me, this is a more serious issue I understand the civil side and the statement pre-emboly had to make it the beginning But You know with the tips violations nobody was served nobody drove nobody died and nobody was point one nine I think it was There's a couple of contradictions in the report the way that I'm reading it that I have here before us But I just wanted to start off In the report that we got from the police department It says that on three separate occasions according to the video that this gentleman was seen socializing and drinking with employees Are you disputing that? At least twice I think only two times right? Is that the end of the night? Okay Not wearing a seatbelt that this it says in here three times and What that says to me? It seems like this is a new policy because if this policy was an effect And those employees should not have been drinking well when they're off duty They're allowed to do a socialize with individuals in town. That's that's on their own time There were two employees who Came back to the restaurant After their shifts had ended that were with him at the end of the night One was his daughter and one was the other woman involved in the accident Madam Madam blister may speak to that they include concluded their shifts But what I got from the report was that at least for the first three They did not go home or go anywhere else changed out of their uniform and Engage my incorrect if I may it's it's my it's my understanding of events And I have viewed all the videotape personally that At least two of the occasions were Staff members who came off their shift They met out of any uniform but they came off their shift and did in fact Consume beverages with mr. McLaughlin on the premises And I don't think that's in dispute that they were on their shift. They didn't leave and go home They drank with mr. McLaughlin there one was but not in uniform, but not in uniform. That's correct And then I believe the third time Mr. McLaughlin came back with One of the same employees who he had been drinking with previously that night. I'm not to be clear There's not evidence that these employees were on their shift while they were drinking they came off their shift And we're off duty and we're drinking with mr. McLaughlin not in uniform though, and I agree not in uniform. Yes Just my understanding was just from Gathering some information that you know in my opinion I think you need to have and haven't had my opinion a clear-cut policy on What I call the in uniform protocol In terms of I've worked as a youngster teenager 20s Plus I'm familiar with the restaurant business from so many people that have tried and failed and tried and successful And it's a pretty uniform rule that a and especially for a business like the common ground Where you've done it in Alston Brighton somewhere else, so I consider it more on the higher end as well as mr. Curell's remarks that we've really tried to work with you to Give you some sort of leeway, and I guess I'm looking at from you back from you, but Is it your policy now that in terms of Whether you come off if you're on a shift that day and you finish your shift You cannot sit down and order a drink and socialize With anybody another employee, or I mean what's your policy on that? I heard if you change your uniform if you change your unit out of uniform you allow them to socialize and have a drink your regular Person out there a customer, you know, I mean I can't dictate to you where you can and cannot go once you're off your duties I don't allow you while you're on your shift or while you're coming on uniform to have a drink You're not allowed to but if you go when you change and apparently the young lady had a dress on and stuff So she wasn't wearing a dress while she was being a waitress and she wouldn't change and came back and had a drink with them I Would just yeah, I've been told other things and I'm kind of Here, I think there's a minor dispute here And I don't want to make too much of it because I don't think it's absolutely central to this case But from the video surveillance, I don't think it's in dispute that there were at least two employees who were working They finished their shifts. They did not leave They can't they stayed they may have changed out of the uniforms, but they stayed in and drank with mr. McLaughlin Correct. Yeah, correct. Right. So so I don't think that that that point I think that miss mohan is saying is that her contention is that the policy Previously allowed Employees coming off shift to drink with customers Now they may not have been uniform, but they came off shift and immediately basically went to the bar or the restaurant At least in the incident question and that used to be allowed Am I understanding from what mr. Leone is represented that that is no longer allowed? Is that correct? They're not allowed to have a shift drink. No, they have to they have to I haven't spoke But they have to leave the restaurant and then come back. I can't tunnel they go They change. I'm the spoke on that. I'm sorry, you know out of the uniform Wherever they change that they have a locker area. They do change and instead of leaving and walking back up the door I mean they're not allowed to have a shift drink. They have to be a regular patron out There's no more we used to do a shift drink complimentary for doing the shift and stuff that's been You know completely off They're not I misspoke on that. I thought they had to actually leave the restaurant come back in I what would really Kind of weigh on me more in terms of that policy because I'm aware of it, you know I'm sure everybody is and especially for your liability and I picked on a previous speaker and I apologize in terms of that policy Basically, I think for your you're the manager of this Facility so you can put in whatever policies just like I understand we're going to get a recommendation from town council, but this is the board of selectmen We've granted you a favor a license and we do have our rules and regulations and I certainly hope you know Whatever this board leans out and then makes a decision that you can abide by that I would be much more comfortable if I heard in concert with what I know of myself personally and what I heard previously that You know if you're working that day you cannot you know when you get off shift I mean then this you know you go home and you come back I mean, I haven't seen the video, but I have heard some other things similar to the The way that I see this gentleman was served four or five times throughout the day But I only see two times where when he ingested at least two drinks if not more I think the end of the night was Guinness Champagne and I that's it One on Sam. I know but I'm just going by what we say. Mm-hmm. That's all. Yeah, that's all I mean a gentleman's idea that's all I'm trying to say. I'm not hearing for me in terms of I mean I don't want to wish you wash any of this away. I'm not placing any blame on you I understand the civil ramifications. Everybody started out in Fennita, Miami court reporter Come wealth of Massachusetts state and Rhode Island implantations and the state of New Hampshire So I'm certainly aware of the ramifications and the line that you're trying to walk right now but I'm my personal opinion I seem like I'm getting bite back and I Don't see the amount of contrition that I would expect And like I said, you know, it's been 20 years. I've been over at ABCC licenses for all sorts of violations including this and I'm sort of a little shocked by some of the my opinion biting remarks and retorts I just didn't want to do to misconceive. I don't want them to be a lie going to you I just wanted to tell you the truth what it actually happened when you thought that they left I just want to make sure you knew they didn't that's all I was saying that was my mistake He is taking extremely seriously. That's Why we actually requested the two-week extension so we could examine all the evidence the we hadn't been privy to anything that had been Before you folks for the last several months until we got our notice two weeks ago we have met sat and met met with mr. Heim for several hours and It's not something that he's taken lightly at all Which is why he's working with Everyone here to Demonstrate Seriousness of this issue as he committed similar to the alcohol surface policy Which just this basically told tells you how to card when you should card how much they look Terms of age have you put into written form? What I'm calling the in uniform Policy that you're talking about So in the reason I say that and I've seen this it's many many what I would consider your establishment to be restaurants and in the like that There's another sort of code of conduct. I'm calling it in uniform policy That speaks to so that every employee knows none of that's in here in terms of when you finish a shift In terms of when you're on shift socializing and or Ingesting alcohol, I mean I remember one place I went to it They even outlined if you had a really under party just pour some water in a glass and you know, okay Yeah, good luck. It toasts like that. Have you put any of This new policy or I'm hearing it's policy that was in existence in terms of Redefining the activity that I understand you're disputing But I'm just going by what I received from the police department the activities that went on here So employees know that that is not allowed I Don't quite understand is the rules regarding employees Staying at the bar and in the restaurant eating and drinking is that written down anywhere and the uniform part that they can't be Uniform or be on duty drinking and eating at the bar. I'd like to see you copy that if we could no I mean, I don't expect you to have it tonight. If you did, I'd say you really prepared and you Know I would have it on a computer, but I don't yeah, okay. I would like to see that and then I Was concerned especially at the end of the night where the police report indicates he was served at least Two drinks. I'm not going to debate you can say oh, it's only a Guinness And it's a glass of champagne and a small little refill But if you've been consuming alcohol all day and you've been in four or five times and only ordered food twice That small little Guinness and champagne and refill, you know, might be the thing My personal opinion and nobody else's I don't want to monopolize everybody else's time because I'm sure they're going to Have some questions that I will have I'd be interested in the sort of a redacted list of The people that you've called the police department of like if you can give me an estimate on that in terms of We've done this many quarterly. We've called them five more than five times more than ten Three possibly four over the year and a half Okay, it seemed like it was more no three to four really way was represented that you were really a police No, no over well over a year and a half time went to other places and came there a year in the air in the times They've been open. It's it's been the three possibly four Times it's Yeah, no, I'm just saying I appreciate that you represent your police police in other institutions that might have And also the community we want to make sure you know right out there It's similar to avoiding the circumstance that happened to mr. McCoy correct. Yeah, I'm just saying you know kind of put it out there You will perhaps wearing a hat bigger than you really should have I'm just wondering madam vice-chair Can I can I clarify something that you inquire because I don't think we got a satisfactory answer on it? I agree with respect to What your policy used to be and what your policy you're saying your policy will be now Which you said that you had a shift drink policy where essentially if I understand correctly people were employees were allowed to Change out of their uniforms, but they were still allowed to have a drink coming off their shift And you're saying that you're no longer going to allow correct Okay, and are you willing to put that in writing? Yeah, we will put that as part of our operation So that's one of the things we had already Okay, okay, so I'd like to see pre revision and post revision Just so I can you don't have to highlight the changes I can speed read through it and then and the reason I'm saying this is you know, I had gotten a sense that There were some Suggestions guidance in terms of when we've had the tips violations three days suspension For something like this and I'm looking at our rules and regulations and not going beyond and maybe it's something We address in the future, but we've never had a circumstance like this In terms of the suspension because this is such a serious issue And not going into any facts and disputes or anything like that. I would want five I don't see this as a tips violation sort of Situation and I don't want to compare the two I was just wondering To the gentleman at the microphone If is is that something that if the board and I was successful in getting the votes that It would be along with two other caveats That's something you'd be amenable to or do you already have maybe you have had some Previous conversations and you kind of have a game plan and you're stuck hot and fast on that Assuming we don't really have a motion in front of us. I'm just telling him where I'm going on the suspension That's my I until we have a Motion in front of us. We know what we're dealing with me. Mr. McGuinn doesn't want to pursue further Appeal of this we wanted to end here with a With a resolution That's good for the town and frankly good for the restaurant as well a five-day suspension would cause great financial harm to the restaurant that does 70% food It does 70% food and 30% alcohol It is a restaurant as most restaurants in Arlington serve alcohol if People know that they cannot get a drink they won't come in so if your revenue for one night was $8,000 and You a projection would be you would lose a good portion of that revenue if you have a revenue projection of 10 to $12,000 for two to three days and you have no alcohol You will lose a good. I can't say I'm not a Restaurant here, but sure Bob would speak to it what the projection loss of revenue would be Said he's a new restaurant town. He's at the point in his revenue stream Or he's just about breaking even paying his bills on time There's a lot of rent down there. It's a big spot so a five-day suspension would Cause cause harm them financially and that's where they Circumstances in the facts of this matter where it is subjective We he feels extremely bad for what happened to mr. I'm the Gloftland and the passengers in his car Don't get him wrong. Don't get me wrong. It's a serious matter. It's extremely serious I know as much as anybody about this sort of thing To that's not gonna factor into I know it's not but never raised at myself I know and I'm only raising because I've he knows Arlington's history and how we take these matters seriously and those that being said he's willing to work with the town to Continue to have these matters be taken seriously and to be a good corporate citizen in town Appreciates what the board has done for him and the various things that he's been granted and as you also see he Hasn't come in for the extended license this year for the New Year's Eve He's not seeking that this year So he's yeah in light of yeah, well, I mean, I have to answer to I know that I know that and I don't want you to perceive at all that this is a light matter that he's just gonna blow off It's not he and I was Spent more time talking to him in the last two weeks and I want to and that he wants to he likes me, but you know I Know but in terms of the community that I go in and the people that have spoken to me about this Yeah situation in terms of this is You know some something we grant you. It's not something just because you move in it's afforded to you I know that and yeah, especially where I'm hearing it. It's only 70% Sales or food, but I also need to demonstrate. I'm sorry. I also need to demonstrate Many not just parents but kids that I'm involved with That who said how serious of a matter this is and how we speak In the concert in terms of taking each issue as serious as we should and I guess Myself personally, I'm not hearing that and that's why I'm in the place I am last question to the town manager, and then I'll stop because I'm sure my colleagues have all the other questions I want to ask if not, I'll raise my hand again. Is this appropriate to ask now in terms of Regardless of whatever the majority are unanimous board votes And if they take as they've kind of put on the table and threatened that they're gonna, you know appeal it to ABCC and basically have no Penalty or fine at all in the event of that and or If for myself personally, I don't get the seriousness of this matter actually being realized for my satisfaction Is there anything that the town could employ and I did have a conversation with the town manager going forward in the future? Either a in light of the fact if they just decide to appeal everything so there's no punishment no penalty Or B. Can we do it anyways on top of that? Is there the question would be If there's any sort of probationary period period, is there anything through the board of health allington police department? With that without making it too cumbersome Sort of if you were on probation of some sort to me it would suggest some sort of extra vigilance Is there anything that we can legally do that would not? Place any undue stress work wise on I'm just thinking knowledge police department board of health Whether it be requests random requests To say you know would like to see video from from this hour You know maybe once or twice a year just on a random thing to see if things are being followed anything like that that we can sort of I Can say listen, I'm doing everything I can even if they decide to appeal and they don't want us You know have any kind of punishment. Is there any recourse so we can monitor and review or enforce license and permit Compliance as we normally would for any establishment And we can respond to any concerns that are brought to the attention of either the police department or the board of health But in light of any form of this discussion, we cannot take any special or You know sort of Extra action based on these discussions So if I may Steven just for a second let me re-ask this question whatever this board decides to do It is appealed And ABCC over rules or voids are whatever the right So can we then come back in and have another hearing or So chairman, I think we're I think we're putting the car before the horse, but but but the the ABCC's Has review of any decision that a local licensing authority makes if an applicant so decides to appeal it Whether or not, you know, the parties by mutual agreement are willing to come back in I don't I don't know but it would depend on the Actual appeal decision from the ABCC It's hard for me to speculate exactly what they would do. They could in theory say, you know, we agree with the decision They could say we disagree with the decision and we think more is appropriate They could say are we disagree the Decision entirely and we we void any penalty whatsoever and that's the end of that So it the ABCC has discreet a lot of discretion as as an appellate authority But yes, they it is a possible that they can overturn something and that there would be if they disagreed with the decision of this Word that there would be no that's my question, but they do void it. They can They could do that. What's our recourse after that? Nothing, right? I don't know what that recourse would be other than to you know When they appear for us next time for license renewal I think that that would would would be a much more involved discussion. I think we'd have to have a very That that would take a level of examination that is In other words, I don't think you can skirt around the ABCC's appeal process by Then saying, you know, the ABCC is voicing the decision of the local licensing authority Well fine. We're canceling your license under other grounds I think you'd have to have a really sufficient independent basis to be ready to make a decision with respect to a license renewal Because that process could lead to further litigation that I think we do we want you would want to be well prepared for that Mr. Burn Thank you very much. It's really So I think we've obviously already covered a lot here But we've been talking a lot about the policies that you presented and you know some other pending policies that Might be before us in the near future But can you talk about the implementation of these policies? You know if you're not there who's in charge? What's the you know the the pecking water of employees? How and how do you you know when you're looking to hire a manager to you know kind of run the place at night? What do you look for in that person? And you know, is there more that can be done? That you know from what you've seen and what you've learned from this to make sure this doesn't happen again Well in reference the general manager is in charge and then you get to floor managers and Assistant general manager bartenders know not to serve anyone Without payment and no one in uniform it goes all the way straight down And if anyone is caught with that they're immediately fired hence why I have cameras everywhere Which can be seen at any time and also we can be reviewed if something happens Questioning at any time we can review it ourselves as well as in the kitchen The they had to promise please themselves you can't just sit there and I can't stand there 24-7 watching over it It has to be some kind of you know Security within themselves is no because there's no there's a job if they lose and I've already stated this This is something, you know, you could lose the whole place everything can be lost Hence why we make sure everyone gets carded everyone gets checked for ID's we double check with everybody with the alcohol Since it's MacGuffin. We thought we did same thing. It's very serious to us on all manners because it's our livelihood This is how we make a living. I don't get rich off it. I barely make a paycheck But your general manager Rodney Rodney case Rodney is the general manager. What's his last name case and juror case and juror He's been the general manager since he opened and he has how many years experience in the restaurant business Oh quite a few at least I would say 22 23 and he's been general manager a few times at different spots at places in Boston that are very Licker oriented so I feel comfortable with him when he tells me things about the liquor more so in So in I appreciate that but you know, is there any you know Did you see any failures on this night in your policies that you know when we're looking at? You know implementing new ones and you know kind of making a doing a stronger job of you know Paying attention to the policies maybe mine. The only thing is that he revisited I mean granted was over 10 or 11 hours, but he revisited multiple times throughout the day That might be the only fault I could see in that but of course the first time you visit he ate a dinner Second time he had one drink third time. He had a drink again And then I think the last time he had a drink in the sip of champagne It's kind of hard to tell but like throughout the day that means We should have to figure out where he was at beforehand So apparently he was at some kind of party or something as well And I can't but again, we thought we did due diligence on handling the matter and talking to him and you know seeing how he handled himself But everybody makes mistakes everything can happen I understand we were very and he was very close to all the staff everybody his picture is still behind the bar Because everybody's you know very close on You know it does seem that you know particularly because he was so close to all the employees Maybe that did come up in discussion over you know as if he was chatting and kind of socializing with the employees That probably would have been helpful information to at least pick up one and I would recommend you know trying to Consider that as we do move forward here And you know I think it comes down to and I remember when we spoke about this I believe when we when you first applied for your license and that this isn't Boston and I know you have establishments in Boston and You know that's just I and I do think that common ground has brought you know a bit of liveliness to the center I think you see more people out and I do appreciate that but You know when it does come down to managing a place and making responsible decisions You know, I think you have to adapt to the community And not just look to you know what's worked for you in the past. So that I am I look forward to hearing You know Doug's pose on moving forward. So thank you Yes, it was one one one more question, and I don't know if I do want to I guess I'll ask the Council were the surveillance videos voluntarily offered. Yes, they were. Thank you I'll say for me where this gentleman was a very well-known party To me it seemed like that's an easier situation versus just saying all the gentlemen came in Four or five times throughout the day, you know, I know especially around the holidays This was a extra privilege. We granted you for New Year's Eve. I know I keep my eyes out Especially for my loved ones, but certainly other people I've been known to put people in a cab myself I was just wondering if there was any discipline or retraining of the employees involved in the five different incidents and I was wondering if The board could also read a receive a copy of the employees involved Any documentation pre-incident and or any documentation that they read agree to and sign post incident So I would say a in terms of the employees that were involved with this for me It seems like this gentleman was well known and the rules got really lax if there were any rules in place if that So I'm just wondering any discipline any retraining and can I see any pre and post this incident of the employees involved? So you can demonstrate to me that this matter was discussed with the importance that it should They read and understood it. They signed something and they understand that if a then be then if a in the future They do this probation or they were on probation or if a they do this in the future immediate termination Okay, but we did not lax in any way of the policy at all the gentleman was never served more than two drinks at one particular time He was he was given one drink On two occasions two drinks on one occasion and he was fed multiple times. We followed the rules I was appropriate I can't punish employees for doing what they're supposed to do and what we tell them and dictate to them what to do And what the rules are to do and he left there to point 019 double the legal limit Crashing killed himself. That's why I'm being I'm not trying to be a stickler on this That's the core to it So my question was instead of just kind of debating back and forth and saying oh no I didn't deny ability and no culpability is For the employees involved on the five different separate occasions Did you do any sort of retraining review any disciplinary action? And what I'd like to Ask for if it exists because you keep referencing documents. They already exist and they're gonna exist For the employees involved. I would like you to demonstrate to the board Whatever it is they signed that they were hired that said these are the rules that they got lax on in my opinion And then these new uniform rules that I assume you now have in place that you're gonna provide to the board that they've signed That so I want to know any discipline any retraining regrouping and those pre-imposed documents To the extent that they may as you take it I'm going by your representations of what you said, but you're I'm gonna stop on that they may exist as He said the employees didn't violate any of the policies either the town or the restaurant in The service of the gentleman so there may be no actual employee records where they were disciplined It was an extremely unfortunate accident whether he talked to the employees afterwards or not I that's what I'm asking did he do any kind of any discussion with any kind of retraining any kind of Your butts on the line if this happens again or even the appearance of this If it was was it okay, you don't want to I understand your friend Mr. Hunt please He's about the answer to question did you have any conversation with them following we had a conversation about the What happened and went through the procedures watched the videotape to ascertain whether they broke any policies or any rules or any ABCC rules and With that said we couldn't find anything so you can't You know punish anyone for doing something that they did appropriately I mean and just They knew the gentleman hence he came in but he came in like a three-hour period and then another three-hour period And a two-hour period it wasn't as if he was just coming in every hour doing a drink or anything it was he's not gonna go back and Create a record to satisfy the board that something was done when there was no post Discipline the reactions taken at that time. No, I'm asking for policies. Yeah Policies in existence, and you said they've been revised and you will provide We will get them to you. We can't do it tonight, obviously Can I interject your question here? I think one of the things that would be probative and the vice-chair can correct me if I'm I mean if I'm wrong about this, but when you're Paul when your employees are trained With respect to alcohol do they sign? The training manual or anything like this. There's no record of them sign Give it to him and tell him this read it in this is policy and we asked him questions Periodically throughout the time that they're there to make sure and if and if it were to be probative to this board for there To be some kind of retraining Would they be willing to sign to confirm that they have been retrained in the board and in terms of your old? Policies and your policies is revised I'll be happy to have no problem with that I know that's not the entire scope of what the vice-chair was asking, but I think it was at least a part of it I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure it because I don't think I was understanding that that that I said there is no written Confirmation that these employees have been have been trained. I know that you're representing to us that they've been trained You don't have anything that says they've been trained in the old policy and with respect to the new policy and any changes to that You might be willing to if they were retrained and and for them to sign that they understand this new policy Yeah So I'm not saying that satisfies all concerns. You just said they don't sign anything yet You provided a document to us that requires them to sign it. That's a signature place on it You say it has a signature line on a plea doesn't collect the signature line. I give it to them to read I don't actually make them sign it and hand it back in but you will change that from I will change that Yes, including the shift policy and this shift policy has been changed already. Yes So So you know number of questions have been asked here and it says as We always say Alcohol consumption in Arlington must be done legally and responsibly somehow There's some responsibility here And so, you know, I would are the two employees that were with mr. McLaughlin that night still working One is not and And these the daughter has gone back to school full-time. So she's not as well the other lady is Yes, and she's a waitress right now This is just such a terrible tragedy and the fact that his daughter was in the car with them Just breaks my heart, but I'm curious. Did you do anything with the employee that still works for you that provided? False information to the police at the scene of the accident. I did not know that until the time I met with Do we got reports the first time I've ever heard of that the happening and I have not had a chance to sit down and talk with her since then And I do plan on them and I Understand that the accident happens some people get they say things or whatever and I'm not too sure and I can't make a judgment Until I talked her about it Will you talk to her about? Oh, yes, I will I mean, I understand this is not a direct line, but there's enough of a line back to common ground in my opinion that there is certainly some fault here and You know just shape up Do you have a recommended? Motion for us mr. I do mr. Chairman The the outset I want to recognize that the stakes of this are very high that the All section 69 violation cases are by their very nature close cases because they involve What miss Mahan will recognize as an element of science her in other words what people knew inside their heads or should have known And those are very very difficult cases to prove I also accordingly. I know that license modifications suspensions revocations very extremely widely in section 69 Cases I consulted with the ABCC. I surveyed surrounding communities to find to try to find examples of penalties For section 69 violations that would somewhat fit into this fact pattern I will say that because each case differs I wasn't able to find something that directly falls in line here We'll note that many section 69 cases especially for first offenses only result in a warning That being said I think in light of what the board has said I think that a warning would be insufficient in this case This is an atypical case for Arlington as such the chairman authorized me to enter some preliminary Discussions with mr. Oguin and counsel for mr. Oguin mr. Leone There's obviously Significant disagreement with the assertion that over service actually occurred But as we've seen here They do share concerns are willing to stipulate that they will not appeal in the interests of goodwill finality and certainty To the following terms as I recommend and I will also note importantly the chief of police finds acceptable as well First at the outset of three-day suspension starting the day which the violation occurred with an additional 14 days or two weeks Suspension held in abeyance for a one-year probationary period That essentially means that if common ground has any violations whatsoever of alcohol policies or rules within the next Within the calendar year from when they start serving their suspension that they would automatically have a 14-day Alcohol suspension in addition to whatever additional penalties might be incurred for that violation whether that violation is very big Whether that vagilation is very small in addition a one-year probation on any extended hour requests So not only the New Year's Eve Issue that I think the board some members of the board referenced earlier. Mr. Leone referenced earlier, but But a sort of moratorium for a year on any extended hour requests Additionally as Mr. Leone has represented a stipulation to a change of policy with respect to shift drinks which would essentially eliminate that practice in the restaurant while Generally speaking the board only has the ability to modify Suspend or revoke a license if they stipulate to that condition it can be agreed upon and I Would only note that today it appears that they're also willing to stipulate to retraining and signing the policies that they The revised policies that they would put forth that's my recommendation to the board if the board has any questions I'd be happy to answer them was to done so I read the so the memos that came you know related to this and it's a tough It's been very hard for me to resolve where we is like where we as a board where I as a board member should should come out Because there's just so many unknowns and there's things that even if we you know Even if we had subpoena power and we you know, we could figure things all that out I'm not sure that we would even learn the answers like learn to you know for certainty with that with those powers and so that said The fact that we have gotten the dog Town council has gotten us to a place with the common ground where they've agreed to a set of Terms I have it's very easy for me to support that so I Move that we act exactly as Doug as a town council has outlined Is there a second? I'll have a comment as well and I I Do want to thank Doug for all his work on this. I know There was quite a bit that went into it. I will say I'm a bit surprised It looked at learning through the process about how the ABC kind of what their process is and that it seems like this The penalty that Doug put forward is probably the harshest that we would realize in this situation and and I am I Think that the two-week penalty is a really big sticking point for me because if there is Any lacks in these new drawn-up Policies at all. I mean they'll probably go out of business. I think if you shut down for two weeks That's what it seems like to me. So I think I think there's enough You know motivation to get this right and move forward and make sure this doesn't happen again. So thank you First and foremost with all due respect it's for this board to decide what penalties there should be if any not what the Gentleman at the microphone are saying this is a punishment that will agree to and that's it I don't I take that with the spirit It's given and I kind of don't like that sort of threat hanging over here if I were in your shoes I would see whatever this board sort of mess out Take it move and Learn from it. I'm not satisfied with in my opinion sort of the double-talk answers that I got a policy exists It doesn't exist When all I'm hearing is you did nothing wrong Everything's fine. I understand civil issues But that really bothers me. So I Would like to I will not I can support everything that's there, but I would like to impart And I may not get the votes at all. You may already have it all set to go In light of the fact of the seriousness of the matter the ultimate outcome what I heard from the microphone The sort of double-talk policies they're trained but nothing's been signed and here is our policy The fact that the gentleman does do business in Boston, and I know from working years ago in that venue You know a lot of what I'm being told Really should have been in place, especially being in an Austin Brighton environment It lighted the facts It's 70 percent sales for food for food and also for me to sort of met out punishment But I can demonstrate to others that I took this as a serious issue As everybody does I'm not saying that anybody doesn't on this side of the table that I'm not going to in terms of the suspension basically given the same suspension when The three-day suspension is for a tips violation nobody drank then and nobody drove and died As in this situation, so I don't know that I have the votes I would agree with everything that mr. Dunn has stated with the exception of a five-day suspension, so if not We'll see how the vote goes, but I really want to demonstrate not that what this is what our Punishment or penalties going to be because that's what they'll agree to and they're not going to appeal it that that really I'm kind of insulted by that my thing is you know suck up take your medicine and let's try to learn from this and move on and I Guess you're going to show us all these other things You just find it out in terms of our representation to the police by an employee that you didn't know about I find that hard to believe You're saying you know you have policies, but nobody has to sign them and you're going to do that now So I would like to say in light of what I've heard and when I go back to the citizenry that We took the extra step of not giving him a three-day's tips violation suspension. We gave him a five-day So that's sort of my pitch Mr. Carol, I think like my colleagues and this has been a very difficult one for me I think my initial reaction It's probably similar to Ms. Mahans that that you know typically on a first violation We have meted out three days my tip by initial reaction When this was brought forward to us was that this should be something more serious and looking at it though and long discussions with town council and reading the Investigatory report I recognized that that that reaction is informed by The tragic outcome of the incident not Fully by the behavior of of the establishment and that that's something that we have to Take into account in the out in most of the hearings that we have on these matters We actually have the the the establishments dead to rights because they've they've served underage Patrons and have very clearly violated our Our policies I feel a sense of urgency because of because of the the the tragedy that that accompanied this at the same time I also recognized that that This is an adult and there was some Shared culpability there with which we can't necessarily ascribe to a minor going into an establishment like this I Want to thank town council and and the police department for the long hours that they spent on this I will support the motion I Only feel comfortable subpoena the motion because of the addition of the the probationary period of two weeks and the fact that that it includes a General prohibition on any extended hours. I think it would be Actually disgrace to mr. McLaughlin's memory if we were to extend hours this this this year Or the next so I will be supporting the motion but I do so only after long reflection and some some real Questions that I've had to ask myself on this Okay, I just want to be clear. There was nothing decided here Mr. Heim has acted at my direction and he and I have discussed what Would be offered here tonight, but it's completely up to this board in terms of what this board Wishes to do after now hearing all the facts We encouraged each of you to speak with town council to whatever degree is necessary But I don't like any implication that things were decided before we walked in this room before the hearing ever took place Why I support the motion by mr. Dunn is it has been our policy that for first offenses We have been consistent that it is a three-day suspension And any business that can run losing 30 percent a night For longer than three days or five days or 14 days. This is by far the most serious Punishment we have ever handed out in my 27 years here on the board of select And now additionally having asked and I believe we will receive these additional new training and assurances from the owner from from a counselor Mr. Leone I Believe this is very serious in the way that we're taking this and I support the motion as made by mr. Dunn Does anybody else wish to speak on this matter, Mr. Green? Yes What Okay, all those in favor by on the motion well So first of all, did you make an amendment or you just said you had a wish there? I was putting it out to see what remarks from my colleagues would come back I just want to say that my remarks were based on what I heard fresh here tonight from town council who indicated that in conversations with the Proponents council that this is something that they agreed. They wouldn't appeal. That's so if I gave any A Semblance of the fact that something was already decided before we walked in here tonight No, what I was saying was that you know the attorney and Mr. O'Quinn have said if you just do this to us, we won't appeal it and that's what I took umbrage with so I apologize if I implied any sort of I just Didn't appreciate the sentiments expressed in terms of metting out your own punishment. So I'm ready for a vote Okay, all those in favor of the motion by mr. Dunn, please signify by saying I high all those opposed No, okay four to one. So mr. Heim the process from here is what? Mr. Greeley, I'll have to draft a formal opinion as as you know Consistent practice with our previous decisions and then that will be put before the board at its next regular meeting for the board's review to make sure it's consistent with everything that That we've discussed here tonight and and then Common ground is 30 days to institute the suspension. I think that's been our typical practice I'll make sure that that's that that's consistent and that we've got everything appropriately Again consistent with what we've done. I think in the last round of suspensions last year, but we'll we'll make sure it's Reflects all the things that are Appropriate to our previous practice and all the things that are specific to this case Okay, is it New Year's Eve was Wednesday night, so we'll start on a Wednesday night, right? And we do Wednesday Thursday Friday night, right, correct. That's our policy. I mean, that's my memory Okay, thank you. Thank you Tingling with excitement at this opportunity is there anybody here wishing to speak on the citizens open forum Anybody sign in I'm Gary Tibbets from Precinct 5. I'm a Tom meeting member and I'm also a member of the islanding business association and over the last couple weeks we became aware of a Thing that was put forward by Steven burn as far as banning trucks on Jason Street I've talked to Steve a couple times about it. He's been very helpful and I guess the latest thing of it is that it would be Local and service and delivery trucks would be exempt from it And I had suggested to Steven that most truck bans have some sort of weight on them to make them enforceable because There is no such thing as an empty weight in a truck The only thing that's registered and weighed in on a truck is the gross vehicle weight, which is the loaded weight And if you look at throughout the state, if you look at places where there are truck bans in effect It'll always tell you the weights that are banned and even if you go over important things like the Sagamore bridge or the Bourne bridge It'll even show you by axle what it is Steven told me that use your main interest was in banning the big trail is going to Whole Foods and Stop and shop Walgreens, and I get that You know those trucks weigh in it Usually around 65 75,000 pounds The local trucks that we use top out at about 40,000 pounds And so we'd like to you know as if you're gonna put signs up Make them enforceable and make them things that people can live with and you know Maybe put a 40,000 pound limit on Jason Street It just makes sense, and it's it's the way DOT does it and everything and You know so you were hoping we could work with you on that that's all and You know in the past sometimes we've run to put restrictions in without talking to the people at really concerns and You know he had said use of more than content with you know The landscape is the oil delivery guys the package delivery guys driving on Jason Street. They have to this would allow them to do it legally Because the other issue is if you know if you don't put a weight limit on it and you know The Ellington police are aware of it. That's fine But if a state trooper follows you up Jason Street and pulls you over he's going to write you up So because he's not going to know the local Jogging here, so I was just hoping just when that comes about you could consider putting a weight limit like 40,000 on it Something like that Okay Sure We're just here. There's a few of us came tonight. We got Billy and I got more calls about this than anything Turned out Newton by the way Gary. I do not know I don't I don't think they I think they went I read it in the goal. They want so persuasive that must be Well, they asked but I agree with you guys So how do we do this? Do we request through DOT or when it comes back? So my understanding of the request thank you Mr. Chairman It's a DOT is it's based on federal highway designated vehicle class and not weight My understanding of bridge restrictions are those bridges literally can't hold that way. It's not it's not a preference It's an actual engineering thing. So this goes from Federal Highway Class 4 all the way up through 13 for starts with buses up through 13 is your biggest tractor trailer truck So I think maybe a little homework With tack maybe with Jeff Max-Tutus. We just get a little more clarity on what exactly is included in 4th through 13 What those definitions are what the GVW ours are gross vehicle weights are in those classes and then we can try to parse it out Like very good. Okay. Thank you. And you can make sure the school buses that use that route a lot Because you said it's noted in the letter that it's a but safe road to school and that bus And and it is just you know, I think Kev if I can it's important to note that anyone who is Working or making deliveries can use it, you know, like it's no signs at all And we don't even know what Mass Sots gonna say about it So I think we could be getting a bit ahead of ourselves. I would like to see what their reaction to the letter first Good evening everybody. I'm Bob Lollacotta running a Business called Little Green Landscaping for a number of years and now it's Lollacotta landscape products I'm involved with this group for reason is I supply and deliver materials now If it's because of a heavier style trucks go running up and down Jason Street, that's understandable I don't think I'd want them through my neighborhood. We've lived up on Ridge Street for 21 years But neither here or there I need a way to get to Jason Street. I've got customers there I've got customers off the side streets of Jason Street. I don't think it's very difficult to drive around in any way So of course we're taking Oakland Avenue. We're taking Gray Street We're taking Ridge Street to get to wherever we need to supply customers in this town So, you know, Gary had said the 40,000 GBW that that that is a truck that holds that amount of material Loaded so a 5,000 ton or 5,000 pound weight limit all that is a pickup truck driving up and down the street So that's what a 10,000 GB like the 5,000 GBW truck Loaded would carry would be a pickup truck carrying two yards of the loam So you'd be going driving around delivered two yards of loom and a pickup truck And that's the best you could do under the rate or weight restrictions. I think it's on Lake Street We need greater than that Gary mentioned 40. I wouldn't mind going with 45 You know, let the oil trucks with the dual wheels be able to do deliveries Alex oil Devony whoever has those largest style oil trucks to make oil deliveries these people's houses and homes I mean, I do understand the fact that you know, we've got some population issues here that we have to deal with Go right ahead. I apologize. I'm not trying to interrupt. I was putting myself in line once you're done Oh, I see I did not mean to interrupt. I apologize People here don't want to speak but like I said from a business standpoint, I mean, I think this this could work But we've got to have some sort of limits So just don't put the sign up there because all of a sudden that person makes that phone call We've got trucks running up and down Jason Street all of a sudden Lelacata's truck goes by there's the police officer He's got a right of citation. He got a complaint and who am I gonna bring that $100 ticket to it's $100 fine All right, so please take that in consideration the small guy who's doing his work in town, you know I mean, you're gonna have cement mixes You're gonna have DNR construction doing road paving and all sorts of jobs of that nature, but that's a pot That's that's a quick thing, you know Municipality type of work, but you know, just keep in mind the small guy who's trying to make a living in this town It lives in this town and grew up in this town. Thank you very much, right I think we're all in agreement questions. Yeah, I think we're all in agreement But also we have to listen to residents as well. I agree understand that mr. Dunn so first off I voted against it so but even I haven't even having been opposed to it You understand that this even the proposed regulation doesn't affect you when you're making deliveries But a cut-through could if what if I got someone on Kensington? I want to go out, you know, I'm gonna take Jason to all gray street to Kensington, you know I mean, I gotta go up and around Pleasant Street. I gotta go up Oakland Avenue cut across down Street, I gotta go to pocket of the Watertown down Eastern Avenue I mean around the world and back and I don't think it's fair to To us who are trying to run a an establishment now What are the guys cutting lawns do they stop on the side street to go run the mows a quarter mile down Jason Street to do a lawn lawn service So and I understand but listen I cut my grass. I'm sure I am breaking leaves yesterday They go as a UPS driver FedEx Mail truck won't the street. I mean it's our everyday way of life delivery people don't pick up things anymore Everything is delivered, you know Bob's furniture, you know Jordans. They're all over the place You drive anywhere around town. Someone's making a delivery. There's trucks up and down these streets So just like it again, I'm repeating myself. I'm a dinosaur that died back with the dinosaurs You know just you know if you can raise those limits to 40 45,000 gvw That'd be a big help to a lot of people. Okay. Thank you Thank you. He's so shy Bob Such a sin Hi, I'm Bill Downing I'm from precinct 15 town meeting member. I Don't have a lot to add however when we put truck put signs up that say that ban trucks And of course the people that live there are entitled to have services So you got to run your truck up to the service. I have accounts on all those streets Whether it's Jason pleasant view stony Brook Lincoln and I'm on Jason Street all the time now I parked my car in the morning at my garage. I get in my truck It's a small dump truck 12,000 gross vehicle weight and I'll drive up Jason Street and I may not stop To do work. I might just have to look at an account so I can direct my men later in the day I'm going to be banned. I'm not going to be able to go on Jason Street unless I'm stopping to do work. I'm not going to be exempt That's the concern here If we are going after tractor trailers, let's put that gvw 45,000 pounds Those those trucks are all 45 and highest usually 60,000 gvw But that is the restriction and you can pull them over all day long Now there has been a lot of trucks up there this summer There were two houses being built on the bottom of spring Street There was a house being built on the top of Kensington Park It was a huge DPW project being done on Hillsdale in Brunswick There's a lot of trucks over there, you know I think All as I'm trying to say is Let's get that if we're gonna do this let's do it right You know I Don't have much more to add. I don't want to take up any more of your time. I appreciate you. Let me talk. Thank you very much If anybody has a question questions, I Think we'll say thank you So We want to set the weight restriction of 45,000 I'm getting I Don't think we have the right to do that. I think mass dot tells us what Should we amend our ladder and send that should we Would you like me to respond I thrown it out there my Tonight my understanding of the actual restriction in its implementation Is not expert and I'd like to talk with tack and with the engineer to get more information about it But from the information I do have I don't think that any of the concerns that the gentlemen have raised will be an issue I'd like to credit our police department with enough discretion that if mr.. Downing was pulled over and he said I have accounts on the street and I'm just reviewing those accounts that they would not be citing him based in the spirit of the Lot that said I think if we do a little more research, I can inform the board of what what the right next step is Okay, thanks So anybody else for citizens open forum? Next traffic rules and orders from the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee We've waited patiently Good evening everybody. I'll wait till Scott joins me if you don't that's okay of you guys Okay, well, I must start we're here for two reasons tonight and what the one of the reasons has two parts and it's We're recommending you write a letter of support, which we could actually draft for you if you approve it It's on to it's that is a support for some legislation that's passing through the state legislature That's to do a bicycling and therefore it affects us and in our capacity as being an advisory board towards you We're recommending that you you take this action So we have one is it does an act passing through the Senate and the house To protect Thunderbolt road users and this is not just cyclists. It should be pointed out. It's People such as wheelchair users might motorcyclists a question road workers Emergency responders and so on right now Massachusetts has a path to the safe distance. We just want to Specify possibly a minimum safe distance of being three feet and this is in line with about 20 other states currently So we feel that's a fairly reasonable request to make and a reasonable proposition to go to go into state law The second act is want to motion on that first question. Do you want to take them separately? Do you want to take them together? We're two separately. Yes, fine. Yeah, so do you want to motion I think I might want to do it separately actually Because I have a question before we make a motion on the question on this I do on this legislation. Can you talk about how it's how it works in other states and how the You know police have been you know kind of using their judgment to see three feet I assume that it happens pretty quickly. Yes Let me have Scott have a quick word on this because he's actually was looking at some article Sorry, he was looking at some articles recently And just showing me some of them. So I think he passed him. I have a better handle on the actual whatever states do Unless you just want me to say something Okay Scott Smith member of a back that that's a question it often comes up and And one thing that's appeared in the media is some folks fixed up a little range finder Put it on a bike and this is a Chattanooga, Tennessee. You have all places Doing it and basically using it as an educational tool when there are violations. So it's not that hard to enforce So motion I have a question. Yeah, it applies to both Has a back already indicated their support and yes notification Normally, well, we haven't done it separately because we felt that it would have more Weight coming from your select man and our job in fact is to advise you that's kind of what our title is You think it's gonna have more weight? That's what we felt but I'm just sort of a little bit cognizant of the fact that normally when I consider Signing on to legislation. It's either from my colleagues, whether in Arlington or throughout the community or If the town manager recommends thus and I haven't done it all the time, but more times than not I have I just don't want to I Appreciate that you think that this board of selectmen is you know Would carry that much weight. I would hope that it would but I can tell you they're quite a we have discussed it in our Meetings, I know what I'm what I'm saying is we're sort of opening the door here In terms of all these different subcommittees. This isn't something that We asked for the creation of I was wondering if the town manager had any guidance on of course this board can do whatever it Wants, I don't think I can vote for the second one because I don't really understand it And I'm not an expert in and bicycle usage and then the other thing is I'd be interested in If I supported this The impacts of actually enforcing it because I can't tell you how many people have said to me How come the cops aren't there taking in the bicycle riders that fly through through the red lights and you know Don't obey the rules of the road and I say well Yeah, I know that loss out there, but it's really hard to enforce given what a day-to-day Active police force has to do I'm not saying they don't do it, but So this I'm a little wary of terms of supporting legislation because I can see it everybody I mean, I agree probably with the spirit. I understand one a little bit more I don't quite get to so I would like them to be taken separately and I'm still in the fence whether I think it just Should come from a back and whoever But I don't know if you had any thoughts on that man. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair and Miss Mohan So in terms of enforcement, that's a very good question So as you know, the Arlington Police Department does not have a dedicated traffic enforcement unit in terms of cars or Men or women out on the street enforcing traffic. That's something the chief and I are working on trying to begin to rectify an FY 17 It's actually something that's pretty near and dear to me as a you know Multimodal user and seeing some of the things you're describing myself So I agree with you Existing policies new policies whatever they might be we can certainly try to focus either Existing staff or new staff and doing a better job of enforcement in terms of My opinion on these two bills if that's part of what you're asking You know, I think that it's very clear that we have a lot of people who use bicycles as a motor transit in Arlington It's becoming part of the Arlington culture I think we're seeing this infrastructure built in Arlington and in surrounding places and our laws don't necessarily match up with the Upgrades in infrastructure and the new types of infrastructure And I think these laws start to recognize those infrastructures Changes and upgrades and the need to govern them and regulate them in different ways. So I am in support of them To the following to the last question of whether or not it should come straight from a back of the board You know, I think there is a certain imprimatur that comes when the board of select been votes and says that they're in 50 or whatever the vote may be in support of a particular piece of legislation But if the board wants to not incentivize, you know, too many Requests for support for bills coming before them, you know, maybe it's subject to a further board discussion about how we should start to process Those but I I do think there's something about the governing body signing on that carries more weight for what it's worth And also feel I'm not sure you'd be terribly happy if we sent off lots of letters Doing saying we approve this out than the other without telling you or letting you know about that Might read to lead to real conflict. That's your expertise. I don't and that's that's fine My thing is if we're gonna do this for one, then we're gonna have to do it for everybody That's just my opinion. Yeah, but I would love to think we carried that much weight talk to our legislative delegation on Mugar and mass housing So, you know Christopher Christopher does raise a good point, you know, if an individual committee Started submitting letters of support for bills It could create a situation where our delegation quickly comes back to me or comes back to the board says What's going on with this? Yeah, you know, are you in support of this and then pushes it back to the board anyways? So having the board Again, I guess I say that based on the assumption that we don't always all agree on everything, right? So a committee could have a different opinion than the board. So I do think having the board vote Is a good good idea So first I'm going to move the the board support the recommendation Second and I don't know if we're gonna get to five, but we're gonna have the conversation one way or get three Excuse me. We're gonna have the conversation. I So I'm comfortable with the various committees coming to us with legislation at various points in time if the Committee on Commission on Disabilities came to us and said, hey, there's this thing going through state law That I think is going to make a big difference for the way I'd want them to come to us and talk about it The tree Commission saw that it's something that was happening, you know Related to the legislation that was going to make their jobs easier make the town better I'd want them to come to us and talk to us about it I think that there's like a there's a limiting factor here in that there all these other committees are generally You know somewhat busy as well And they're only you know that there's we don't have a lot of committees that are in the habit of wasting everybody else's time And should that actually happen? I'll worry about it, you know When we get there on the merits of this very specific bill as you all know I'm a bicyclist I bike into ill life a lot. I bike down into Boston. I have been known to bike this meeting though not in the last couple months and It's addressing a real problem. This is not a I don't think that this is a Sometimes you can look at things you see this is the solution that's looking for a problem There really is a problem related to public safety and I think that this is The type of thing that will help improve that I have similar comments on the next one But I'll hold off, but so in the interest of public safety in my personal experience. I'm happy to support this Let's go to the journal. I I think that's done. Okay Okay further discussion on this All those in favor of the motion by mr. Dunn to signify by saying aye aye all those opposed Thank you Okay, so the second one second one is to To encode that parking on bike lanes is actually an offense rather than whatever the technical term is. I'm sorry Rather than just allowing people to park on a bike lane for example, if you're cycling down Mass Ave towards ill wife and You encounter a delivery truck parked on the bike lane in that narrow bit just before you hit Cambridge You're going to have to go right around the the truck, which is a dangerous maneuver for a cyclist to make It's not necessarily easy for a cyclist to look behind himself Check that everything's okay in the front Unlike a car the rear view mirrors aren't as a satisfactory solution and therefore, you know moving from your your Protected bike lane or not protect a marked bike lane into and round a vehicle that's parked in traffic Where that vehicle could just move three feet and park in the roadway we feel is something that needs to be supported and Currently is not illicit to do that We'd like that to be so and this is what this bill tries to encode mr. Dunn a move approval my second second Comment that so I haven't had this experience yet in Arlington the bike lanes are relatively fresh and on mass ab And I have not you know traveled them that much I particularly experienced this and the given we are talking about a state regulation on Arlington So my experiences in Cambridge are relevant if you're biking through Central Square down Massachusetts Avenue They have really big bike lanes. They're really nice. They really Cambridge really works to encourage it You have a car that's double parked because it's gone into Dunkin Donuts because it's They couldn't they're picking up their food at Mary Chung's like whatever it is you as a bicyclist have to suddenly merge into a Traffic lane and that traffic lane doesn't really know that you're coming and then you have to come back out and that merge Like so you're coming towards a truck or a parked car and then you have to merge into a traffic lane That up until then has had other spikes, you know just coexisting next to them But suddenly have that intersection. That's where it gets dangerous and I've absolutely had Difficult and close calls with that experience and so even of the two this is the one frankly that to me is the Is the most distressing like when we carve out that bike lane for the protection of bicyclists We have to protect that or it's a it was point it was pointless Yes, mr. Currow Christopher does this Apply only to dedicated bike lanes or I believe so. Yes shared. Yes. No dedicated It's not shared once because there's no specified lane. All right. Thank you Okay All those in favor of the motion by mr. Dunn please signify by saying I Okay, thank you very much Okay, our second matter is that we've received communication from the rails to trails Conservancy that they wish to install a sign to commemorate the Rail origins of our rail trail And they've also contacted Lexington and Bedford and they're going to prepare to Make a sign for us that will be in good graffiti proof Etc condition they will cite it wherever we want it They will write it, but then we they will send us the copy and we have approval of that and we can amend it And there's no charge the town for installation Manufacture or even upkeep of it. So we feel this is a we can't lose on this It's something I think would be an enhancement to the rail trail. All we have to do is talk about a location so we wanted to bring this up to you and We had a couple of locations. We suggested there are several we rejected if you want to come up with some alternative ones We can discuss what we thought but we the we suggest opposite the dog park Down at near a wife at that end and then there's the old Lake Street rail station. I can't remember its real technical name, but maybe Lake Street station that was is a guest And it still exists a small pocket park There are a couple of benches there that might be another Have a good location There is an existing Historical sign there which we would like to move because it's right on the edge of the trail And if anybody stops to look at it there being peat they impede the trail So we want to make sure that when these get cited We give a location that allows people to gather around look at them But not impede traffic on the trail either bicycles or pedestrians or strollers or anything else And there's the communication that we've had with rails to trails is included in your package So I think you have a so all we're doing right now is accepting the signs and possibly saying which location you would like Or you prefer I move approval that we accept the signs and place them in the recommended spots by It's just one sign and we just gave you one spot and an alternative. No, no We're just giving you an alternative. So we didn't want to just say it's going to be here. We like to give people choices No, I'm afraid not Lexington's getting one in Bedford's getting one. So we take one of theirs Well, if you've got a wrench me. No, I don't think it's So so I think I like the spot at the Lake Street station Are we all happy? Mr. Chairman may make a request. Okay. Can you please confirm just confirm? Either with my office or with another office that we in fact own the property that we're putting in the precise location I doubt it'll be an issue, but I just want you to double check with us. Yes, that sounds reasonable. We can do that And a few mysteries lately you just you just sparked a Thought my head doesn't the rail trail come under the manager as it is I think he's just asking where the select man would like to place this. Okay, so this is just an expression of support We've already discussed this with the town manager and he's in general support of the proceedings Okay, so we can express our support then you could do what you want. Mr. Manager, right? Okay But we thought we you should we should let you know about this. Absolutely. Thank you. So on a motion by mr. Burns seconded by Will you put it miss my hand all those in favor please signify by saying aye So that's a Lake Street location doesn't want to make that clear. Okay, we can work on the ownership. Yeah, okay great Thank you very much for your time Wasn't there a third one for that? No, there were two two in the first part one one separate one So it makes three total, but that's it. Thank you. Thank you All right Next up Oh discussion and approval for the revisions to the selectman's handbook. So really these are two These are two two revisions that One is just if you notice on the introduction and board history We will have the board history for you at the next meeting. I was mentioning earlier that I've been gone through the town reports with Marie and Mary Ann and actually in the office helping out and We have now listed every selectman that has served Since 1867 On this board and I need to correct history We used to think that Frank Hurd was the first son Elected to the board of selectman whose father had also served which irked me because it made me the second and actually There was a Charles Bailey who served and then his son served 12 years later So there was there was an original father and son before the Hurd or Greeley father and son so But I'm gonna get my son to run and then I think that'll be a string My daughter might be anyhow, so we need to we need to start some daughter daughter No question So under introduction of board history you see they're highlighted in yellow the handbook shall be periodically Reviewed and updated as appropriate at the annual goal setting workshop of the board of selectman town manager Mr. Currie you that was something in particular you had wanted and we figured that's probably the best time and place to do it perfect, and then the other change is related to As you know it irks me when people have warrant articles and we hold hearings And they don't show up for our hearing and it's our responsibility to put a vote in front of town meeting town meeting votes on the recommendations of the board of selectman the school committee Zoning whatever else so That's now down in the town meeting section The only thing that's different is the again what's been highlighted in yellow there, which I'm sure you can each read But we just want to clarify that our recommendation of no action Isn't saying we don't think there shouldn't be any action We're saying we were not afforded the opportunity to vet this and therefore come up with a vote So I hope that's what that says to you Second discussion Very timely, Mr. Here all those in favor, please signify by saying aye aye those opposed it is our goal to have this handbook in front of you on the next meeting for your holiday reading pleasure to take with you and Bring home and then come back and we will vote on The selectman's handbook at our first meeting in January now. There's two major sections. There's the handbook and Then there is the Reference, what are the workbook the reference material reference materials? So there that's a much bigger volume, but that has the complete policies all Applications and the rest with a handbook would have a one or two page on each of our policies and procedures So look Bob and Nick are on the edge of this Because this has been quite a this was an assignment. I was given what five years ago. I think it a goal-setting meeting so Give it huh? You make it sound like someone else gave it to you said up this year. I'm gonna do I was napping I'll do that It is it's five times the project. I thought it would be but we owe so much to to Mr. Burn to Doug To eat from Adam's office You know they didn't marry and they just have done so much where who Mary and Mary Ann from our own office who? It was you know been master the getting this all put pulled together. Anyhow item number nine So right. Oh, mr. Paul Oh, didn't we I thought Okay, all those in favor, please say hi by saying hi Okay, sorry So I missed it Mr. Dunn. Oh This said you dug instead of me under that should I Was there anything else? I couldn't say better myself. Mr. Chairman What else would get us kids are looking forward to a draft handbook under the Christmas tree So mr. Dunn, how about the minute man regional agreement? This has been The pace has picked up I and minute man has become in every way in my second job. I A week ago today, I was on the phone with selectman from Lincoln and We made a breakthrough of sorts where we got to a Set of terms that I felt like I could sell back to you and to town meeting and That I could sell to the other 14 towns we get Lincoln and Arlington being 15 and 16 in that match and so then with Adam And Doug helped with Doug help a writing a set of writing up the legalese of one of the one of these terms And then Wednesday night, we had a meeting of the 16 towns in Western 15 of which were there Lancaster wasn't there and over two and a half hours. We hammered through most of the points and so I left I had hopes for Wednesday night with us walking out of that room with L16 towns saying yes This is a package that I can support and we walked out Wednesday night with a lot of towns saying well I think I can support this But there's parts of it that I'm not really psyched about it But before we're gonna get it done This is the way and a couple towns kind of openly grumbling so Then I and I at this point I've really kind of grabbed the wheel of this bus and like I'm doing the drafting and I'm doing the phone Calls and I'm working with the superintendent and I'm like I describe it as I'm trying to drag this over the finish line We haven't made it yet. So on Friday night, I sent out an email to all 16 towns saying Please take this to your respective boards and hear these three questions and please ask all three of your board I mean all of your boards to vote on these three questions. So I'm doing following my own instructions at the moment So I'm going to overview the three and then I'm going to dive back into them in detail One can your board in principle support a revised regional agreement as drafted? I'm going to talk about that in a second to Can your board? Oh, sorry Can you commit to calling a special town meeting by? February 15 to approve the same Conveniently we have already done so And see can your board decide promptly whether or not it is considering withdrawing from the district? so For me for us. I think number two is a moot point because we already did so it's easy And we even and we put the regional agreement and bonding on the warrant Can you decide decide promptly whether or not you want to leave I Don't think we want to leave. I don't think anyone's talking about us wanting to leave It's certainly not in this time frame and in this particular process. So I think that those two Are moot but if anyone wishes to you know, argue about them, let's do that because we should All right, so going back to a Yeah, let's do it I move that we Not take advantage of the option to discuss leaving the Minuteman district We intend and announce our intention to stay in the Minuteman district second all those in favor Okay Yeah, so all right going back to number going back to number one Can your board in principle sport revised regional agreement that is based on the 2014 draft? So we approved the draft in 2014 town meeting approved it that a number of changes related to capital a number of changes related to governance But it like clean up a whole bunch of language like so it's that draft as a base document In addition to that it permits any town to withdraw and the way that it would work is that a board like us sitting here would Announce this month saying we are considering leaving and then that would put you on a list That's in the proposed regional agreement and if you're on that list then at your subsequent town meeting before February 15th You would both vote to approve the regional agreement and you'd vote to withdraw or not So there's some towns like Wayland who have taken I think it's three votes already to withdraw From town meeting and we're making and they're like do we have to vote again, and I was like yes You do have to vote again But at the same time Wayland's you know, you they're gonna want to go box bro It's not clear Sudbury probably wants to go Western probably wants to go Dover probably wants to go Carlisle probably wants to go And so when we look at So what we look at when we come back to our town meeting in January the regional agreement is going to say Here's the list of towns that might be departing and we're gonna have to approve the regional agreement without knowing exactly who's in or who's out I've been I've been comfortable with that ambiguity because the towns that are leaving are all really small potatoes But the exception of Sudbury Sudbury is like verging on substantive, but you know Dover. I think has one Weston I think has two like this just not you know like the For most of those towns the number of departing small if we say tonight if we did vote leave would this blow up Yes, it would shut things down quite nicely And actually that's really one of my worries is that one of the larger towns will be like you know, hey We might as well take a lot big enough headache that maybe we'll just right in in the thing because For instance, let's just say hypothetically. Let's talk about it being Belmont if Belmont's oh, sorry I think a helpful point would be that In the agreement it says that the communities need to let you out through this vote But the commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would also need to let you out Yeah, and I can't guarantee this But I don't think that the commissioner would approve the exit of a community that would deep six the district Yeah, if you agree, I think that's a yeah, Dan Can I also add that that's the case right now? So that's not a change right with respect to the desi commissioner. Yes desi has final say in both the old and the new agreement All right, so 2014 permits towns withdraw pays a host community consideration of a hundred and thirty eight thousand dollars a year indexed to inflation to Lincoln Lincoln has been a challenge in getting them to the finish line and if All in all if like you just like you know take it early like what would I be endorsing this particular provision? No I do not think that it is And that's it is not necessarily a fair representation of what the costs are In terms of what like the benefit that the cost of the services that Lincoln is going to be providing in terms of the payments That they're that they would receive under this Lincoln has done this for 40 plus year Oh, excuse me Lexington has done this for 40 plus years. They haven't received payments and they've been You know perfectly happy to support the school because The education is important to them. I sincerely wish that Lincoln had the same attitude But they don't and this is the cost of getting the building done So the cost to Arlington of that hundred thirty grand is on the order of fifty grand a year, which is More than offset by the different by the improvements that we get in the capital consideration So if we get the new regional agreement and we build the school the new regional agreement Saves us somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 grand a year. So this is a little bit of a given a take to get it done. I'm Not particularly proud of it, but if it gets the deal done I in this is all about getting to yes That's why I'm here and I do endorse this. I do think we should support it Last last term is that the regional agreement would require all out of district students to pay not only their fair share of Operating costs, but also of capital and so this one's a little bit nuanced because the way it works right now If you leave if you're not in district, you don't have to pay capital The state is saying under a new regulation that we're going to be able to permit to charge capital for a certain level up to before for any like school building approved projects and What this is trying to say is that like even whatever the state says we're going to try to actually get the fair full and fair share and To give it some teeth There's a sentiment that people want to force the school committee to not back out of this and so that's where the two-thirds weighted voting is and so that if somebody if The school committee can you know back out of this fair share thing with a two-thirds weighted vote. So My motion for the purposes of discussion and with my full support is that we as a town Are prepared to support a regional agreement based on 2014 Has the withdrawal provisions we talked about has the host community payment that we discussed and the out of district second I'm going to be totally guided by mr. Dunn where you put a ridiculous amount of hours Years into this starting with the term on the finance committee. I don't like host community payment of a hundred thirty thousand dollars at all but What far outweighs that for me is all the time and energy that you've put on into this committee And I want to make sure that we all send you back With the strong unanimous voice from this board A in recognition that you're sort of staring this and guiding it and hopefully moving it along But more so be your expertise I'm really that that was one part, but I'm really guided by your recommendation. So I'm Also, I really appreciate that because Part of the reason we've been able to get the traction that we have is because I feel like I've been able to speak on behalf of the town Because which I've done by checking in with the manager and checking in with the finance committee and checking in with you That communication I believe has been flowing back and forth But that support has it's the only way I've been able to do it and frankly I'm concerned that not every town of the 16 has it and that's what makes this such a trick So the next meeting up to chest We'll see There's one of the tidbits I should add is that Concord Carlisle have both had formal meetings since Friday even Carlisle sorry Concord Lexington and they both so Concord said they both said they'd call the special time meeting and Both of them had grave reservations about the Lincoln provision Lexington in particular. I'm really Lexington is looking at it. And they're saying, you know, we've been doing this for 40 years because Because it's the right thing to do and they're really riled up that Lincoln is not on board that Sorry, I've cut you off, Joe That's fine. I think Not you know just get on the bandwagon. I mean, I think Dan almost downplays what he's done here and having Pinch it for you just one day and Tangentially watch this process unfold. I mean the people in these other communities know Dan and and and I think it's really played to our Advantage I think we've all been involved in negotiations and public policy things I don't think I've ever seen anything that has so many variables at play though And you seem to be able to hold them all in your head at once which So thank you for that Feels like we're close, but but I recognize that that that Lincoln is particularly Intractable Their average is really low like two or three that's currently 11 Which is like There was much stunned at the table when that number would came out They are You correct me if I'm wrong they they're also Claiming impact of the building itself on the surrounding neighborhoods. I think that's part of what's what's going on Yeah, at least part of the argument that's been put forward the proposed building would be the largest building in Lincoln And they've They've gained precedent with other institutions on these types of impact payments Do they have anything else planned for the property or is this the school like School owns it free and clear like oh, yeah, they have owned it since inception since 1972 or whatever it is I didn't know if they were like playing a different development benefit the town Finding my tongue Fair enough. Thank you, Dan Sorry, I was just gonna see Adam thoughts, too So I very briefly as mr. Dunn said we've been in very constant contact throughout this and I've told Dan how impressed I've been with the effort He's put forth and I think the real key is so you go you turn the clock back five years and Al Tosti and Brian Sullivan were highly involved in these discussions for regional agreement and there was a pause So you turn it back three years and and I got highly involved with other town managers administrators and then Charlie Fosk had put in a number of hours to try to negotiate this regional agreement and You know that the in retrospect I think what was happening was Elected officials selectmen from all of these communities weren't paying the attention they needed to pay Now with all of the communities looking and saying there could be a ballot question that will impose a building project and the debt associated with it Soon, you know within a couple of months People have come to the table and Dan has risen to that occasion as an elected representative of Arlington and said hey All you elected representatives we got to put our heads together We got to pay attention and it has spoken to sort of the power of getting the attention of Elected delegates from each of the 16 communities to come together and Dan is really, you know Grappable by the horns and done a great job pulling it forward We'll see we're all praising them. We'll see though. I mean really I mean I'll be I'll be happy to accept it when the deal is done, but right until it's still a long way from done All those in favor of the motion by Dan please signify by saying aye Opposed correspondence receive we'll receive is there a second? second any further action on the In terms of the safety audit request At Appleton and Park This is something that we send to the town manager to officer I mean, why don't we do that? Yeah, I think that's reasonable. Okay. I'd like to make the motion on that that we refer this to the town manager to the Appropriate Department in the APD All those in favor please signify by saying I Do we need it does the town manager need a vote on the last piece of correspondence Thank you very much Unfortunately, I do have one piece of new business We've received word from our legislative delegation that we should expect mass housing to grant site approval on the new car property Without receiving their site approval letter, I can't say anything about what the substance of that would be But mr. Whitten our special counsel and I are We'll make sure we audit all of our options But I think at this point it's safe to say that at the very least the most one of the most important things we can do Or make sure that the zoning board of appeals and the conservation commission and other relevant boards that the 40b application will be in front of now that site approval has been granted have the resources that they need to Properly examine properly and fairly examine that application Okay, thank you, mr. Chairman a few pieces of new business first on a sad note I know the board is aware of this, but we want to make public comment in regards to the loss of ten employees Scott and right Young man lost a battle with terminal illness with cancer and the services are going to be held Thursday So very very sad to lose any anybody who's a ten employee But certainly to lose an employee really in the prime of their lives tough loss and I am you know My my heart goes out to the family and I'm sure the boys does as well On a different note I wanted to let the board know that just prior to the meeting tonight I was able to go and deliver some remarks to the food link annual meeting The board might be familiar with food link from the appearance before the board last year as a CDBG applicant They're really a blossoming organization I had the opportunity a couple weeks ago to volunteer for a couple hours in the morning and observe how they do Their business and that they really amazed me they go to the Whole Foods in Medford Whole Foods in Arlington Panera and Panera I believe in Lexington As well as a few other locations and they just have this masterful system of collecting food that would otherwise Just be going to a dumpster and they've got a whole plan to get it over to The Boys and Girls Club to the Thompson School to the senior center to the housing authority And it really and to the food pantry. They actually they they their base of locations in the food pantry and they supply the food pantry And until just a month ago, they were all volunteer and now through grants. They have a part-time operations manager It's just an amazing program and you know, I was very gratified. They asked me to come say a few words to their annual meeting also Mr. Kuros efforts Attending a meeting of the the 33 L are now the the Logan runway issue that this board has deliberated on a number of times in ascent letters To the FAA in regards to that I've been asked as the town manager to sign on to a letter of all the communities that are affected to go to Logan Airport to Tom Glenn the CEO of Massport Asking for help and to get on board with with the issues that are being facing I think Mr. Kuro will probably add a little bit more to that Topic for the meeting he attended Also want to mention that The MAPC has asked me on Wednesday as part of a contingent as well to go into the MBTA's fiscal management and control boards meeting to advocate for keeping the Green Line extension project On track. No pun intended There's apparently been rumor that the whole project is going to be considered being scrapped And Arlington's you know through tack and other groups have long been a supporter of getting that Green Line out to Route 16 Because really a large number of Arlington residents would be served by that living within a half a mile as well as a large number of Arlington Low-income residents that are that are underserved would be served by that So I'll be going in to deliver remarks to ask them to not You know not scrap that project and keep it keep it on in line and finally Today governor Baker rolled out a municipal modernization bill that is being lauded as the most comprehensive piece of municipal reform ever released Any of its individual parts are nothing Incredible or major, but it has just a number of Small and insignificant improvements to the way we do business as local government So it'll be interesting to see how it moves forward to the legislature I think that the one of note that the board probably be most interested in is Taking off the state-imposed cap on liquor licenses so that when the board and the town would like to Consider increasing the number of liquor licenses issued would need to go through a special act of the legislature Be able to do that on your own Through through the boards bones boys own action So more to come on that but I think it's just a continued statement of partnership from the current governor's administration in terms of working with local government And I think that that's all I have. Thank you Mr. Brown known business Sides a great Thanksgiving day game Series is split for for Arlington Catholic Arlington high school Trophy's been renamed the Bob Jerobo Memorial Thanksgiving Day trophy So thanks to Paul Cale and others doing that. I'm actually probably gonna See if mr. Cure will speak to a different facet of it. We did have the first meeting of the school enrollment task force It was agreed upon that the town manager lead the chair And God bless him because everybody we have assembled around the table from our colleagues in the school committee capital Planning finance, etc. It was very efficiently run meeting Lots of things were discussed as well as we got a lot of public input But I'll take it the way the committee has conducted itself at least at this first meeting the next one is December 9th And then December 22nd a Lot of people who did get up Basically said you've already covered what I had to say a few of them had extra things and I took the fact that you know I had anticipated everybody in the audience would be getting out But I think it really spoke to the way what was discussed how it was conducted and how we're moving forward in the future And I just want to thank the manager for doing that. It was something that I wanted to make sure Somehow didn't fall to anyone else besides he so thank you for that and I'm sure Joe will probably have more I was 20 minutes late, so he might have more to have not say. Thanks I'm gonna add a little bit of extra info on both things that Ms. Mon and the manager raised On the school enrollment task force Yes, it was an excellent discussion, and I agree the manager ran it extremely well. This is gonna be a difficult slog I think that the The tenor of the initial discussions was around trying to define First a short-term solution to some of the pressures at Thompson and there are a couple of options They're ranging from temperate portals permanent portables Permanent construction there each with different costs and timelines, which we're looking for more information about at the next Meeting to try to gain a little bit of breathing room for a more comprehensive solution for the school enrollment challenges, which are impacting Most the elementary schools as well as the the middle school in particular which was noted One thing that I I'm hoping we're going to discuss This week This Wednesday is the chair of the school committee's community relations subcommittee did get up and mentioned that she had booked town hall for January 7th for a public visioning session around this so around the school And and quite frankly the related community concerns also with with this issue She has engaged Stacy Smith who's a professional works for the Consensus Building Institute has done work for I believe for the master plan Adam is that She's working on a number of issues including the master including the master plan She's an Arlington resident and has offered her time for this to run this and I think that will be will be the Community relations subcommittee will be asking the school enrollment task force to actively Cosponsor this visioning session So it's something that I think might be of interest to other board members as well and others in in the community I'm not sure what time that's at but I assume it's probably seven. Yes, we're going to have to confirm that but I know it's January 7th So we're looking forward to further discussions On Wednesday and the 22nd as far as the air noise Discussions go I did travel to Milton last week. There was a major Meeting concerning this this topic that was assembled by congressman Lynch and state senator Joyce congresswoman Clark and congressman Capuano were also there they managed this is I think this is really the first time that they had managed to Pull together some of the top Regional FAA officials the deputy regional administrator for the FAA as well as some of the top Massport officials there were hundreds of people in this auditorium Obviously the the south shore gets hit by this problem also as east Arlington and Belmont and Watertown and Somerville our neighbors get hit Some of you probably saw the globe article last week that Arlington's number two in the number of complaints that this year number two in the number of complaints I think after Milton which is is quite rattled by this congresswoman Clark and congressman Lynch both leaders in in the quiet skies coalition within the Congress and and I think That really the the FAA and the mass port heard the message really loud and clear that they have to find a way to equitably spread the burdens of the the air traffic Routes, you know this this Boston's one of the first cities to come online with with this system But there are a lot of other cities that are looking at us and how this goes and I know that we've all gotten calls and and emails about this and and East Arlington has been impacted so I'm really happy that the the manager is signing on to this letter on behalf of the town I think it's It's timely to follow up quickly on on that meeting mr. Siano who's our representative to the The community advisory committee to represent us on these issues He said that he was at the meeting began at seven. He said he left at ten and it was still going so People heard it loud and clear and lastly. I just want to report that earlier this evening. I was asked to You may recall that Earlier in the year we approved a public art project in memory of a young Arlington high school Girl who had passed away and her parents had graciously endowed a public art project a banner project to incorporate artwork from Arlington high school Arlington Catholic Minuteman And I was invited to serve on the jury and we we met earlier this evening at Arlington high school And we did choose the the 30 Banners that will be part of that that that project and let me say they're phenomenal I think the target is April for them to be equally distributed 10 10 and 10 in the height center and and and the the east Mr. Ardido kind of headed up the initiative. So that's all I have to report Thank you. All minute man all the time Thank you for that nothing else So We've had quite a meeting The first light celebration I think went very well this past weekend the Lighting of the tree on Friday night. There was quite a crowd there. I really was impressed and Santa Claus riding around town Remind residents that that there is free parking in the Russell lot common lot on Saturdays to Encourage people to please vote. I mean shop local Local to Local and national this holiday season. So The next meeting of the board of selectmen will be at 6 p.m. On December 21st motion to adjourn is there a second second all those in favor please signify by saying aye We are adjourned