 Good evening. Welcome to the board of selectmen's meeting for February 10th. This is a rescheduled meeting because of the snow on Monday and the closing of Town Hall. That Monday night meeting had to be rescheduled to this evening. Our first order of business this evening is it is necessary for this board to go into an executive session to discuss contract negotiations with non-union personnel, specifically our town manager Adam Chap Delane. So may I have a motion to that effect? So moved. And a second? Second. And we need a roll call from our administrator? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So to all of you seated comfortably out there, I'm sorry to tell you, we have to ask you to step out. I expect it to be about 15 minutes, but I'm sorry. And it's a shame. You're going to miss great speeches, you know, interesting discussion. And so Cable will now go off the air during this executive session. Okay. So welcome back. We now again call to order the meeting of the board of selectmen for February 10th. In executive session, we've decided to change the name of the town to Greeleyville. No, I was sorry. Actually, in my opinion, it was a fairly momentous executive session. If I may give you some background, one week ago, Adam Chap Delane informed me as chairman of the board of selectmen that he would be leaving Arlington. He has been made another offer in a different community and was intending to accept that offer. There was, he had 24 hours in which to inform that other community, but his discussion with me was telling me he intended to tell them he would be taking that position. Did not want to give up without a fight. And so I called an emergency meeting of the board of selectmen since we had this 24 hour time constraint to discuss with my colleagues what they would like to do about this particular situation. We held an emergency executive session of the board of selectmen last Thursday morning. Thank my colleagues all for making themselves available to do it in such a quick turnaround fashion. And in that executive session, this board voted and asked me to meet with Adam one on one and to negotiate with him a new contract in the hopes of keeping him here in Arlington. I felt there were two messages from the board to me. One was we believe we have an exceptional town manager and it would be a tremendous loss to this community. And we also don't believe there's any like him out there in order to even consider replacing him. Graciously, Adam was willing to sit with me and we negotiated a new contract. The purpose of the executive session which we just held was to finalize that and in a moment we'll be taking a vote here in open session and approving that contract. In terms of the new contract, what we have done is renegotiated a completely new three year contract with Adam. The town manager act calls for believe me, we would have given him a 50 year contract if it was allowed. But it is not allowed. We can only do a three year contract. Some of the provisions of that contract that changes from what the previous contract called for. We as a board have felt for a while that Adam's compensation is not equal to a lot of others in this marketplace in similar positions either in terms of compensation or in terms of the staff that he has to conduct the business of this town. So the new contract which would commence tomorrow, February 11th, 2016 and would run until February 10th, 2019. Would first of all change his compensation, his base salary will be $200,000. There will be a 2% cost of living increase for each year after that. We have also voted a $2,000 a month housing stipend. And as well as compensation, the other area we felt and we negotiated with Adam was related to managing the expectations of this position. For us, the board of selectmen, for the people of Arlington and for Adam. And so also in this contract, we are clarifying the necessity and amount of night meetings that would be required. And colleagues, am I forgetting anything in the contract? There's one other, but this is not officially in the contract. Don Marquis, a previous town manager here in Arlington, had both a deputy town manager and an assistant town manager. Adam has only had a deputy town manager. And again, comparable positions around the state, other town managers have a lot larger staff than that. So we are encouraging and supporting Adam in also hiring an assistant town manager. Also to help with the expectations of how much needs to be done to conduct this job and his office. Have I forgotten anything? All the rest of the conditions in the contract stay unchanged. But I am really pleased that Adam was willing to negotiate with us and change his mind and disappoint another community. But thank God for Arlington that he has agreed and will be staying here. So may I have a motion on the contract please? Mr. Dunn? So moved. Ms. Mahon, second and common, Ms. Mahon. And I just want to say that I want to sincerely thank the chairman for the quick action that you took, gathering us all together as well as. I don't want to say this was difficult negotiations or renegotiations, but I really felt like Arlington's a pinnacle community and we kind of were on a precipice in terms of which way we could go. That I feel that the chairman fairly and accurately represented the board in terms of the parameters that we all discussed at length. And gave to you as well as left it to your communication and negotiation skills to carry that out. It is no easy task and I think it's really important that the residents and the employees and the businesses here in the town of Arlington really know, in my opinion, we dodged a bullet. And I also want to thank the town manager for being willing to listen to and give us, afford us the opportunity to what we deemed as what we should fairly compensate. Not only Adam Chaptolain, but I do agree with what's not in the contract, the additional position in terms of any future town managers. The terms of the contract, I want to make it very clear that we've negotiated through the chairman are specific to Mr. Chaptolain. And that's because of, I wouldn't have voted for this when we first hired Mr. Chaptolain just because of where he was in that time and place, however, having served with him for many years in two capacities now, I feel very strongly that we did everything we could and should. So thank you to the chairman for effectuating this. My pleasure. I think crying with him. That helped. I think when you grabbed his, but I grabbed your foot and said, please, don't do that. No? A little bit? Comments that Mr. Dunn and Mr. Kerrow. Two thoughts. I'll keep them brief. One is that I think that it's really important that we put some things into the language, but I think that what's outside the language is more important related to the night meetings, which is understanding that times change, people change, jobs change. And the nights that made sense for Adam four years ago don't make sense for him anymore. And that's okay because he's really good at his job and we need to adapt to what the right fit is. And he's developed some fantastic relationships, as we all know, and so I'm not worried about this. But I think it's really important that we acknowledge that we're part of this contract is saying it's a bit of a reset in terms of expectations. My second thought is something that this has been stressful for us, for all of us. And I wish that we had done more to see it coming, so you can't always see around corners. But it's one of my thoughts about the upcoming review cycle and things like that is having around a discussion where we say, how can we manage this better next time such that we don't, it doesn't hit a crisis point like we had. But it ended well. Thank you. Mr. Kerrow. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you also for all of your work on this. When the chair called to notify me that the emergency session was being called, my response was that if we did not try to do something here, it would be amount to dereliction of duty on our part. I think that Adam has been that valuable to our community. I want to remind folks that a number of years back, there used to be a requirement that the town manager live in Arlington. There was a residency requirement, and there was contentious special town meeting to remove that, so as to attract qualified candidates. And despite that, Mr. Chaplain moved himself and his family to our town and has really embedded himself in our community, sometimes to his own detriment, I would say. I echo my colleague's words as far as our responsibility to help set some reasonable expectations there as well. You never want to contribute to an employee's burnout, especially the one who's at the top of the helm. And lastly, I would just say that I think we all acknowledge that Adam's is a, it's not really a surprise that other communities are trying to attract him away. He's a leader not only here, but in the state through service on the Mass Municipal Association Board. And I spoke just recently to another town manager and I said, tell me what's Adam's reputation around the state. He said, a rock star. So I'm very pleased and thank you for listening to us and for working with us to try to make this work for the next three years. And I'm happy we're able to extend the period of time that you'll be with us. Mr. Barron. Thank you, Mr. Grayley. Not only did you do an excellent job negotiating, but an excellent job laying out the parameters of the contract here tonight. So thank you very much. I agree with all my colleagues. But what struck me is, and what's important to me and for all employees in Arlington is the proper work-life balance. I think a lot of you know, I grew up in a household with a father who worked for the municipal government. And it was important to me and to him to be at hockey practices and baseball practices, etc. And I think that this contract will hopefully lay out those changes for Adam as well. So this is great for Arlington, and I'm very happy to support this. So Mr. Chaptaline, you rock star you. Do you accept? Hey, absolutely, yes. Would you like to say anything else? I am extraordinarily humbled by the comments the board has made. I thought about what I'd say tonight and it's a little tougher to say it than I thought it would be. I think overall what has impressed me the most about how the boards reacted is I sat with the chairman and I talked to the individual board members and I expressed the concerns I was having with work-life balance and the expectations of the job and some of the challenges as you mentioned of the cost of living in this area and you heard every aspect of what I said. And the response that you gave me demonstrated that you heard that. And I did think I was prepared to go and when the comprehensive response that you provided came across me and I talked to my wife, we made it clear that I think we very much can make it work here and I'm grateful and appreciative and feel very valued and humbled and just want to say thank you. The other thing you mentioned of course was the leadership of the board. I just said that. So on the motion by Mr. Dunn and seconded by Mrs. Mahan, all of those in favor please signify by saying aye, unanimous vote. I'm going to now pass this over and ask Adam to sign this new contract and then each member of the board will sign it and my apologies to those of you out there because everything here tonight is important to the town and we're saying three years but I'm certainly hoping that it'll be much longer than that. However, for approval, Mr. Gilligan, a former member of this board, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the board, I appreciate your time this evening. I'm here before you to ask for a vote of the board for the approval of $1 million of a sewer bond and grant from the MWRA. The borrowing or the sewer bond itself is for $250,000 to be paid back to the MWRA at zero interest over a 10-year period. The remaining $750,000 is a grant from the MWRA for Arlington sewer facilities. You may recall that last year's annual town meeting voted the appropriation which could have been borrowed under a general obligation. It was our expectation, especially with communication with the Director of Public Works, that the MWRA would continue their sewer facilities program and in fact they've done just that. So this is an opportunity for the town to continue its Phase 9 and Phase 10 of the sewer facilities local improvement plan for infiltration infrastructure. And it's been a successful program for the town. It's under the management of the town manager and we're doing quite well. And this vote is to approve that loan and that grant. And there are lots of documents for the board to sign this evening that requires the bond to be signed, the certificates to be signed, and the manager must sign the two agreements. Any questions, Mr. Chairman? Any questions? No. Second. Second. Sorry, question? No, Joe? I have a question. It's zero interest. It's zero interest. It's zero interest, but yes, we would be saving approximately 2.5% on the borrowing. Yes, Mr. Dunn. Did you ever expect you'd be here past 8 o'clock? Sorry. No comment. And I've been in this chamber past 11 o'clock. Oh, yeah. Okay, so on the motion by Mrs. Mahan, seconded by Mr. Curell. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the board and I congratulate the board and the manager on their negotiations. Thank you, sir. Thank you. I'm going to be meeting for January 25th. Reappointments to the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, Phillip Goff, Jack Johnson, and Christopher Tonkin. Request for a one-day beer and wine license for March 5th, for Beats for Eats fundraiser at Robbins Memorial Town Hall, sponsored by Lauren Ledger. Also requests for a one-day alcohol license for March 19th, for Quiznight at Arlington Catholic High School, for Simmons and appointments of new election workers, Green Higgins, 37 Rangeley Road for Precinct 11, Judith Highland, 54 Webb Coward Road for Precinct 9, Patricia LePlant, 209 Jason Street for Precinct 3, Richard LePlant, 209 Jason Street for Precinct 3, Joanne Malatesta, 8 Walnut Terrace for Precinct 14, and Robert Radocha for 45 Columbia Road for Precinct 21. Is anybody here wishing to speak on any of those items that we just brought up? Please. Thank you for having me. I'm Lauren Ledger. This is Susan Stewart. We are two of the founders of Arlington Eats, and we would just like to say that we're so happy that our town manager is staying and that you should all come and celebrate with us. And eat on March 5th at Town Hall. We'll be having live music and silent auctions, and we hope you will all join us. If the millions watching at home would like more information, who should they contact? They can go to our website, www.arlington-eats.org, and they can buy tickets. They're $25 on our website, and I will be leaving some flyers at the front. Oh, yes. Thank you. Okay. And I hope you'll join us on the 5th. Thank you very much. And again, our apologies for keeping you waiting. That's all right. Thank you. Good luck with your event. Thanks. Anybody else on any of these other items? Any board members on the minutes or any of the other items? Yes, Mrs. Mahan. Just sort of an amendment to the minutes. I just want to thank Attorney Heim and Mrs. Grapelka when we had the hearing on common ground. I stated that we had not received all documents requested from common ground, which were supposed to be submitted to us before that meeting. Subsequent to that, Attorney Heim and Mrs. Grapelka were successful in obtaining those and forwarding them on to us. So I just wanted to make that clear. It's not a clarification to the minutes, but just acknowledge that we do have them and thank them for their efforts. Okay. Move approval. Move approval. Second. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. So that closes the consent agenda. Licenses and permits. We, at a previous point in time, said that we wanted to perhaps talk about and perhaps reconsider the fees we charged for sidewalk cafe permits. What we have put in front of you there is other towns and communities in terms of what they serve, what they charge. Melrose at $1,500 yearly. No. Yeah, it is. $1,500 yearly. There's a couple at our current rate of $50, but most are higher than what we charge. Would any member of the board wish to make a motion related to this? Yeah. Yes, Mr. Byrne. I'm going to make a motion then I'll explain why. And so my motion is that we keep the sidewalk fees at $50 for the time being. Okay. And is there a second? Second. Second. So I think that, and I'm making this motion for two reasons. And I'll start by saying I do understand, I think, the argument for raising these fees as well. But I do think that, you know, now that this is fairly new to Arlington, we will see a lot of external benefits from having this outdoor seating in town. I think it will certainly add to the vibrancy of town. I think that this will, you know, certainly assist us in our other economic endeavors, as I think it already has in certain parts of town. And to, you know, looking at, and I think I would be able to maybe some of the neighborhood options that we've seen before, but particularly for East Arlington and the establishment down there, they've gone through quite a bit lately. And I think that this, you know, would be a way to assist them in moving past the construction phase over the past few years. So, and I think that's really important to me that we recognize their patience. And I think quite a few of the establishments, you know, were very supportive of that project. And I think that, you know, we all benefit when there is outdoor seating in nice weather. So I am happy with the current fees. Okay. Anybody like to comment on that? I'd like to ask a question. You know, we view fees as the cost of our administering of licenses and permits, et cetera. So if you don't mind, Mr. Chapter Lane, I'd also like to ask our administrator, do you believe these have caused additional costs to us? I mean, we're young at this yet, but Mr. Chapter Lane, any thoughts on that? So, you know, I don't want to complicate this more than it needs to be, but I think this is not dissimilar from when the board talked about overnight parking permits a couple years back or just parking permits, on-street parking permits in general, where the first year of issuance, there is certainly a higher administrative fee because someone from building inspections might go out, Ted Fields might go out, someone from public works might go out, depending on the condition of the sidewalk. There's more labor-intensive investigation of the appropriateness of the site. But then, on a year-over-year basis, the issuance of a piece of paper by the board's office and then, you know, deliberation by the board is not a very costly endeavor. So, you know, I could see, you know, a structure where there's a higher upfront fee and then, you know, an ongoing charge. The problem being, I think we've already got quite a few that have been laid out and it would seem to be putting a, you know, a further impediment in place of people who want to add, you know, or for the first time have outdoor seating. So, we could, you know, we could do, before the next meeting, you know, a quick analysis of what we think the hours are that go into doing that, if the board would think that would be helpful in making a final decision. But, you know, before Mr. Byrne made his comments, you know, if asked, I was going to say, you know, I don't think anything beyond, you know, the Belmont $100 amount or the Newton $100 amount would, I think those numbers would, to go up beyond that would seem hard to justify, in my opinion, but I could do a little more analysis if that's helpful. Marie, do you want to make any further comments on this? I'd say the same as Adam, but the first year it's difficult because you have to get down and measure it right here. Even then, I have gone down along with the assistant building inspector in Tifffield to lay it out and what have you in mind just like the pocket. The annual fee is, put it down to $50 and the first, I think, should be under the put it to 50 because it's just another certificate that you can get. Okay. All right. Yeah, but we could talk about it later if Adam and I wanted to get into a marry in and build an inspector because they're the ones that have to get down there and look at it. Okay. Did you want to comment on that? No, no. Okay. Anything, Ms. Garib? Yeah, I mean, I'm going to support the motion right now because I don't feel like I have enough information to make any changes right now. That was my first impulse, was that the first year would be more. I also wonder if there isn't some marginal increased enforcement in cases where we've allowed alcohol to be served out on the sidewalks. And I notice one of these does handle that a little bit differently than the rest of the sidewalk permits, although it looks like they're trying to make it into a revenue scheme here. If I look at Wellesley, not to accuse them of anything, but that would just be one of my questions when the analysis is done with it. It doesn't tell any marginal law enforcement. That's it. Okay. And Mr. Dunn? I came in tonight ready to go higher to 100 or something like that, but I defer to the board's wisdom and Mr. Burns' passion. Just clarification. I was willing to propose the $100, but I just want to check with Mr. Burns that your motion would be to keep it where it was. And are you amenable to asking the town manager to look into that issue? Yeah, I'm happy to pull my motion away until we get a further analysis and review this again. But I do feel very strongly about keeping this incredibly reasonable, particularly the next time being, for the short time being here. And I agree. This isn't a big moneymaker. Right now we're talking about, I think, 16 establishments. Four or five of Maureen East Arlington. And I think the points that Mr. Burns raised are extremely valid and carry some extra weight. So I'd be interested in seeing what the town manager and the selectman's office say in terms of initial upfront costs in year one. And perhaps it'll work out better for the businesses in the end for outdoor seating, where the initial is 100. And maybe we follow up years, could perhaps be less than the 50 or stay at 50. Okay. If you're going to, that's fine. So I was surprised we already have 16, but have these out there. It doesn't seem like that many to me, but I think I've only had drinks at half of them at this point in time. Well, there's one other, but they own the property for the outdoor seating. So. So, Mr. McMahon, why don't you do this if I might? It sounds to me we're not quite decided. I mean, I, I hear your passion, Steve. Why don't you please move to table Stephen's motion so that when we come back in the 22nd, we start with that. His motion is to keep it at $50. Is that? Yeah. And that's subject to change after, I guess, reviewing this, but I'm still, I think that it's nice. We got that. Okay. As long as you get that, Mr. Chairman. Okay. So. Should I move to table and move to table. I would like to just hear what they think that, you know, maybe, you know, I mean, Marie and Mary Ann going down with the measuring tape. That's expensive. Yeah. So. All right. So, Miss Mahan. Should I move to postpone to the February? Is that? Oh, no. Move to table just in case something comes up in terms of time. Move to table. Mr. Burns motion. Second. Second. All those in favor and further discussion. I say nine. Aye. Aye. Those opposed. Item number nine for approval, a maple tree removal at 11 Kipling Road. Delio's with us this evening. Would you like to come forward? Well, whether you like to a nod, we. We're going to either way. Yes. So. Would you like to give us a little history? I mean, we certainly have information in front of us, but sir. Absolutely. I'll try and be brief and let me go with the running theme here and start off by saying congratulations, Adam, on your new contract. And first of all, we respect everyone's time and we appreciate you hearing what we have to say this evening. We're in the process of constructing a new home for our family on 11 Kipling Road. We've been there for approximately 10 years. Working with our builder Mark Barons and one of the issues we ran into was a maple tree that's in our front yard. The water table there in our neighborhood where we live has always been destroyed. And one of the problems that we had in the past was we constantly got water in our basement. If you look at the tree now, the roots have come above the ground. They've also compromised the current draining system there where every six months we had to have someone come in and clean out the roots. What would back up into our basement into our sinks, our toilets. And we have two small children. So that was also a health issue as well. To kind of make a long story short, if I can. In working with our builder and architect, we came up with a plan that we thought best suited our family. Right now where our driveway falls where you would enter our garage, the tree is in direct line site with that. And that presents two problems. One, first and foremost, it's definitely a safety issue. It presents a huge blind spot. Pulling out of the driveway, it's hard for oncoming drivers to see it. The second issue is we're putting in a drainage system underneath the driveway to kind of combat the problem we've had with the water table being so high in that area. And the roots would compromise that. So for those two main reasons, really, the tree would need to be removed for everything to function the way it's supposed to and for it to be safe as well. We did write a letter, had a hearing with the tree warden and we selected the tree, approved its removal. And we're here now tonight. Second phase wrote a second letter to the board of select men. And that's where we stand at this point. Did he do all that right for you? Usually I let her do all the talking. She's the boss, but tonight she let me. She was kind of mouthing things while you were standing. I think she's proud of you. I think she's proud of you. I think she's proud of you. I'm in concert with a recommendation from the tree warden to remove this particular tree. I second. Decided location. And it's also my understanding that you all intend to plant a tree in place of this. And I would assume that just for everybody's sake, including yours and your cost, just working with the tree warden in terms of getting a tree warden to plant a tree in place of the tree warden. And I think you said you would pay for the tree. Which I'm not trying to. So for all those reasons I would move approval. Thank you, Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. By Mr. So I'm sorry, sorry. I took that one. I didn't know if anyone else is here to speak about it. And I did have a thought. So. Well, I'm happy to support Mrs. Mahon's motion because I think on the merits of it in this particular case, this particular tree. It's the right choice. I do think that the question about how development within town in specific teardowns and how those are trees are for us in town and I know the tree committee is looking at doing something for the for town meeting that I think bears a lot of attention by us I think bears a lot of attention by town meeting because I think one of the things that would have helped in this case And it's something that's going to be really hard for us But I think it's going to be important is that talking about the trees before the building starts because we need the the tree management to be a part of the building process and So I'm going to support it but at the same time I think that this is a you know It's a this is a bit of a warning for us that there's more of these conversations to come Like Dan said everything that I Yeah, so But when did this start would wind it when did you first? Start on this process of wanting to remove this tree. Would you say? December 1st December 1st. Yeah, so I also am going to support this and thank you for the process You followed as an example to others as Dan says, you know, we'd like that to happen before the start of construction and and in consultation with tree wardens and tree committees and others but The the what's important for those of you listen millions listening at home is they have not removed this tree You have started construction, but you yes, I waited for the all-powerful board of select men to speak the tree is But the tree stands But but seriously you did Things in the way that you should and thank you for that Is there anybody else here wishing to speak on this matter? Hey, didn't you just speak? Mr. Greeley, I actually do so I do thank them for being here talking about this I Would argue respectfully suggest that it should have happened before construction started. No Okay, so it just when you said it happened the way it should have not almost well I think they I mean I think you know I understand they're gonna get their free a little bit I apologize that you're a little bit of an example for other things but because but don't worry I'm voting for it in the end. All right. I've changed my mind Understood yes, and that is the lesson we want taught but thank you, Mr. Greeley Thank you all of those anything else all of those and favorably signify by saying I All of those opposed none best of luck to you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for staying in Arlington for approval Arlington public art the Transformer box project Please don't make a part of Arlington public art. Yes. I hope that you all receive the map of the Transformer boxes that we're planning to do this here They are not on mass app because they're going to be two other large projects on mass app This coming year one is the banner project We're just gonna go all the way from East Arlington To Arlington Heights, and then there's going to be a large East Arlington public art initiative yet to be named So we've identified some that are sort of off the beaten track, but One on Bates and Broadway one on Near the hearty and one near thorn dog field Thank you Second discussion No discussion. I just want to say I love this project I think these come out so well and Looking forward to this as one of East Arlington's newer residents Okay, all of anybody else here. We shouldn't speak on this all of those in favor please signify by saying I Another unanimous vote. Thank you. Jill for approval cheerful way you sit Amy Hello, I'm Amy Goldstein representing the cheerful where you sit committee. That's part of public art And we want to use Woodmore Park this year July 21st to 24th for the cheerful event it's coordinated with the Dallin Museum and We have kind of a new group who's the organizers We expect everyone here to submit a chair Can you put the numbers on it now come paint it Yeah, we can do that being colorblind you can imagine what I'd come up with motion I move approval. Is there a second second second Joe you want to talk about this for sure. Absolutely I think actually the last two speakers here. I mean we've been accustomed to seeing this arch Come year after year on on both of these projects. Although it was make has been in also on the Transformer boxes, but I know that she's kind of So much been trying to pass the torture bit because she's worked so hard for so many years and so so happy you took this up Amy I know that I remember Amy did have one of the People's Choice Awards on her chair one About two years ago that two years I know you had thrown of games Last year I had the I survived the winter of 2015 So we'll see if you survive cheerful 2016 I actually had reached out to miss Goldstein because I I Happened to notice that the date that was being requested here coincided with a date that we had authorized The Dallin Museum to do a concert And apparently I understand you're working in conjunction to make this a much You know more comprehensive event. Yeah, so that they they both work hand-in-hand Yeah, they wanted to coordinate and have the music event during the cheerful weekend. Yeah, so I think it's it's fantastic We'll we'll get We'll get cracking and debating at home as to we always break up into teams of my family Okay, and see who sells and he doesn't Thank you. Thank you Someone second. Yes. Yeah, Dan. Thank you further discussion All those in favor, please signify by saying hi. Hi Thank you very much. We're working on this behalf and On item number 12 special town meeting To be held on April 27 2016 Adam the purpose of Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. So at this time at the minimum We'd like the special town meeting to be called to place a warrant article similar to what was placed at the special town meeting in January in regards to school enrollment needs so that we'd have an opportunity within this fiscal year but to Potentially fund any recommendations coming out of the school enrollment task force we'd also want to include an article in regards to Minuteman bonding which Depending on how the outcome of the regional agreement on all 16 communities the Minuteman school committee may take a vote To send a request to all 16 communities to actually authorize borrowing for the school project I think it still remains to be seen how Arlington will decide on that but we'll need to put an article in place for that We would also want to include An article for amendments to the FY 16 budgets if we so need that when we get to that time in the year There may be another one or two before that but the main reason are those two that I stated so We need we need this voted correct. Yes, right. So on a motion from some moves second second further discussions Do we need to set a date in a time? Yeah Yeah, April 27 Right Right from when to win February 22nd 2016 from 8 a.m. To 4 p.m. Unless is that the latest possible date Second So that's the latest date working backwards, okay So that would be my motion to vote for the I was just thinking about Yeah, in particular I am But The days that would be beneficial for us to wait for would be something like March 5th first or something like that And so, you know, I could imagine I understand Marie Like once needs to get it to the printer on March 2nd So we could do things like call a special Selectments meeting for that day or something like that, but it just doesn't feel like it would be worth it We're just gonna have to put we put Minuteman on for our January meeting. We'll do it again for April So yes, that's what I was thinking about but this sounds like it's the right solution Okay, so motion to approve special tell me need April 27 2016 warrant to open February 22nd 2016 at 8 a.m. In close same date 4 p.m All those in favor, please signify by saying I And now we have warrant Article hearings. We have three articles before us first is article 24 bylaw amendment camping on public property As if the town will vote to amend the town bylaws to establish an article prohibiting camping on all public property Or to take any action related there to inserted at the request of mr. Chapter Lane Right. Yeah Yes It says inserted at the request of the town man I guess they in effect will be no. Yes. Yeah. Yes Now we just renewed your contract. You know, you did this no Mr. Yeah, please so this proposal was developed by the legal department in consultation with the onion to police department the health department and other relevant town personnel and I want to take a moment to thank Peter Buckley of the legal department for coordinating a lot of the information necessary to Sort of lay out the parameters of this potential bylaw as well as some valuable research This bylaw is meant to address three issues some of which are very acute and present some of which are sort of more abstract The first to is to ensure proper management of any recreational camping in Arlington parks to the extent that we want to have that The second is to provide clarity and process necessary for addressing health and safety concerns Especially with respect to homeless encampments in the alwife area And the third is to address other abuses of public lands here in Arlington And at the outset one of the two things that I really want to emphasize one is this bylaw as we propose it Would allow camping if it's permitted in advance by the appropriate town department So nobody's stopping the Girl Scouts from camping at Robbins Farm Park It's just a matter of them basically getting permission to do that in advance rather than just showing up in Lighting an illegal campfire The second is is that and this is particularly important relative to homeless persons. This bylaw does not Depart from the police department and the health department's long-standing excellent practice of Trying to afford every reasonable resource to homeless persons and more importantly the Dignity and respect that they deserve and how they're they're interacted with the Bylaw also doesn't divest them of important discretion they have in the exercise of their duty What it does do is provide some much much needed uniformity and clarity In what the rules are for everyone or anyone who wants to encamp on our parks and public lands It also provides the town an additional tool to address health safety and environmental concerns created by long-term Encampments particularly in the alwife brook area which includes sanitation concerns concerns about potential open fires and heavily vegetated areas and several alleged incidents within the homeless encampments including an alleged shooting that was related to the situation in one of the homeless encampments as well as several sexual assaults or alleged sexual assaults that Took place a number of years ago Which really highlight the dangers for the homeless persons staying in these campments more so than anybody else It's also important to note that the homeless are not the only folks. We have concerns about camping On several occasions town personnel have notified myself and others that there are people who have homes in other parts of the State as well as other states in the New England area who are working temporary or seasonal jobs and rather than rent a room They're camping Essentially either in the alwife area or someone or somewhere else and we have the same types of sanitation and safety Concerns with respect to those folks Finally just to just to speak for another moment about recreational camping The reason it's so important to sort of have a sort of general prohibition unless you're permitted is that there are important rules That everybody should be following with respect to any recreational camping There are it already is illegal to have an open fire in Arlington But those types of things are not only things that Are concerns about you know damaging important public resource and a safety concern, but generally speaking the Whether it's the parks department or the police department folks should know You know when the Boy Scouts or whoever else are proposing to camp in Robin's farm So that you know we can make sure that not only they're aware of guidelines and rules that they should be following But we're also aware that they're there so I'd be happy to take any questions that folks have about this But I presented you a suggested motion which can be amended or tweaked or you know Even significantly altered if the board so wishes, but this is something that I think is again important to provide clarity and uniformity with respect to a Diverse set of concerns that Arlington has and to make sure that we have the appropriate Tools that our departments need to address those types of concerns Yes, Mr. Curell. Thank you very much. Thank you for the work on this a couple questions if the proposed Recommended vote is We're adopted. Would it also extend to Arlington's great meadows? So that's a good question Arlington's great meadows is situated Jurisdictionally in Lexington so probably not I think that we have rights as a landowner in Lexington But this is a by-law that is Within that that's meant to extend to our jurist Dictional boundaries and not to property that we own in Lexington, but is subject to Lexington's local by-laws and Secondly if someone were to bring it have a You know a small handheld portable grill for example and bring it picnic table or whatnot. Is that considered an open flame? I'm sorry. I'm sorry to say that I'm not a hundred percent certain on that I'd have to consult with the fire chief on that. I just don't know off the top of my head What the fire code regulations are with respect to what constitutes an open flame? I know that fire pits and campfires are not permitted. I just can't remember if the portable sort of Camp stove or a grill or something portable like that. I'm I would be concerned about it even if it wasn't Prohibited by the fire code regulations, but I'd have to check with the fire chief. I'm sorry. I don't know that. Okay. Thank you I'd like to make the motion Yes, Mr. Dunn. I move approval of the of this General idea knowing that we're going to see it for final comments and anticipating Clarification that there's gonna be fire but like broadly and do I support it? Do I think the broad terms are correct? Yes, right? So but technically you're recommending the favorable action. Yes, sir, which we always later vote the exact word Yes, and just to Just to mr. Curell's point and I'll leave it to Town council perhaps with any final comments. It's my understanding two things. I remember we used to have sort of barbecue Metal pits down at spy pond and it was deemed That we should take those out in terms of monitoring them trying to get to the vein of your questions Sort of throw it on you as another question number one and number two I know in concert with town day and town night In terms of the activities that the town day committee has down there We're always we always make sure to work on hand-in-hand with through the town manager the fire chief and the Board of Health in terms of any concessions Open, you know propane tanks, etc. As well as so I just wanted to do that in terms of Answering mr. Curell's query about what is constituted allowable and is not I'm leaning just Knowing those past case scenarios I'm gonna leave it to attorney Heim to clarify what the answer is but I just wanted to put that on the table I appreciate that I'll definitely make sure that I check in with the fire chief and check the codes to make sure we have a Good understanding because I think you're right that this town meeting may have questions about that Anybody else wishing to speak on this matter Okay, so on the motion of recommend favor think there was one. Oh, sorry. Yes It's a hearing Okay, Steve Revillac 111 sunny side Avenue and town meeting member of precinct one I have to admit the first time that I became aware of article 24. I was a little concerned usually the language Prohibit camping on public property Turns out at least in some municipalities to be code for outlawing home or criminalizing homelessness I have exchanged a few pieces of email with Our town manager about it and I thank you for taking the time to answer Answer my questions and sort of explain the the motivation. I'm still I Have very mixed feelings about this because I mean clearly it affects people who are You know, there's a homeless population Camping out near a wife and these I think are some of our most more vulnerable and more marginalized people in the town With respect to people coming out of you know camping because of work I've this is I hadn't heard that before but my first reaction as well is Are they doing this because are they doing this because they're unable to afford housing, you know This that's where they live in one place. They work in another For summary for whatever reason they can't afford or it's too difficult to make a commute So they're roughing it because that's the only option they have third the we There was a mention of the you know an alleged shooting incident at Thorndyke field last summer and From what I understand this because it's having seen it referred to as An alleged incident. I'm assuming this hasn't gone to trial yet. It's my understanding That's so it is I can you know, there is so with respect to the public safety aspect If part of the motivation is to prevent gun violence in the town of Arlington And thankfully we don't really have too big of a problem With gun violence. I wouldn't want to see us You know Go amending a bylaw before there's been a trial and before there has been You know a due diligence hearing of the facts. So thank you Do you mind I've got a question so Your points are very well taken and I share some of your concerns about that and There have been past conversations that I've had not related to this But you know talking about what the appropriate thing to what's the appropriate response for the town with the home with homelessness in particular around a life and In my previous conversations with the board of health among others was you know, they're they're taking making efforts to get the Individuals more permanent housing, but that's good But but they also tend to be the people are there with I mean obviously with exceptions But the ones you see for instance when you take the bike to a wife And you see the guy who's in the sleeping bag up at the top He wants to be there and he doesn't want to go anywhere else And so that you know, he is not someone that they've been you know able to persuade to go somewhere else So having said all that and being very very sympathetic to what you're saying and also some of the things that the town council has said related to You know protecting the health and safety of the homeless people themselves Do you have any thoughts about what we should be doing differently? You know like this is the time this is the part of the process where we get to really change it if we don't like It's easier to change it now than on the floor town meeting. Mm-hmm. No, there's um, I'm You know my my intent coming here tonight was to hear the discussion and you know from their talk to to talk with groups within the town like the You know health and human services with the Arlington Corporation for housing you know with Pine Street to just You know, I think the best way to Ideally the best way to Address homelessness is to provide long-term housing for people As you note sometimes not every individual is amenable to that But I'd like to see us, you know make sure that we're doing all we can to provide Long-term housing to those individuals who are willing to accept that option So can I if you don't mind so I are you comfortable that what we've discussed and are recommending and we need to see the final wording is Not criminalizing homelessness. I Have I'll be honest. I have to I have to think about it Okay, yeah Well, there's Your it you're not some not criminalizing homelessness, but I think you're criminalizing a symptom of homelessness So can I can I speak I want to speak candidly about this mr. Chairman if I may you know this what what this by-law really contemplates is Setting out again a process that's that it should be clear for town personnel And hopefully clear for also people who are you know encamped in Arlington that But along with that process will come measures that you wouldn't ordinarily codify in the by-law I mean, I think the way that It's been sort of envisioned that this would work is that you know police department folks along with health department folks Would basically and this isn't the first time this has happened. It's just happened without structure I mean it's happened without a set of codified expectations Would basically be going to you know meet with folks who are encamped in places like a wife with specter just thought the sort of homeless issue and You know advise them of look, you know here here are shelters here The resources that we have available to you hear the resources that our brother and sister communities around us I mean, I know that for example, Walt them in Cambridge have the most in terms of resources from a shelter standpoint These are the resources that we have available, you know, you this is not a safe and sanitary place for people to stay I mean, I just not to not to you know be subtle about it I mean the people who are using the L lifebrook is a bathroom and that's that's not good for them And it's not good for the the environment as an additional issue, but just keeping the concern on those folks You know, so that would be and at that time they would receive a notice that says look You know camping is prohibited in Arlington and you know, we want you to you know Find take advantage of these resources, hopefully But if not find, you know another arrangement for yourself, you know by a certain date and then when that date would come And if folks were still there they'd be given a final notice and that final notice would essentially say look You've got to vacate and hopefully at that same time would again be reiterated the resources and options that are available I understand that these folks are all folks who you know are struggling because we don't have great options But you know if at that point in time It can't be folks are still there the police department would be authorized along with the Health Department and others to basically remove their belongings now There's there's a whole set of legal requirements for what to do with those belongings afterwards They don't need to be codified in the by-law but again a big piece of this is making sure that this Process is there and that folks are receiving a notice and then a second notice And that if they don't comply with that second notice that those folks can be you know essentially evicted from Granite land that you know, they're arguably not supposed to be on in the first place But I want to be clear on that this is not you know This does have consequence for folks and folks could be it is codified in the proposed language at least that folks could Be fine for damage to public property That's probably not going to be an issue with the homeless encampment that we're talking about with respect to ill life But for example if somebody was you know roughing it and they you know You know a particular area of a park need to be cleaned up or they were we're using campfires and stuff like that And there was you know damage to trees or whatever it does contemplate that type of thing so I don't want to present it in the interest of Transparency and honesty is if this doesn't have any kind of consequences whatsoever The point is to create a process where you will arrive at a consequence that says we we can Fairly we fairly followed this process. We've given people notice and now we're telling you you've got you've got to go Or we're going to have to you know evict folks from the camp So I don't want to I guess you know lead people down the primrose path I think that is you know the end result of this hopefully doesn't get to that Right. Yeah, miss. Okay, and and I just want to say To Steve and when we have this I don't know how much further we'll go with the conversation But then we should have it and have it on town meeting floor In the past 20 25 years There have been three different incidents of sexual assault on women I've gotten an awful lot of requests for people who live in East Arlington in terms of safety especially around those when those assaults have taken place They have been tried and convicted and in the town was proactive and has done other things including putting lighting down there So people feel safe and secure, but in in terms of the homeless Encampment issue I have gotten concerns, you know from residents and sometimes from some of the homeless individuals themselves because I Have had conversations and sometimes they raise to me that they're concerned in terms of the encampment and how large it's grown and Who encompasses it and what activities are now going on that didn't and I think what this will sort of do is Further codify a practice that we're just being reactive when incidents come up about safety and about sanitation I've had residents around thawndyke field East Arlington that when the encampments really grow besides the hygiene and Outside bathroom activities when we're gonna grows to that extent in terms of all you know Animals and other things that appear and that start appearing at East Arlington residents home again We just react to it on a case by case basis And what this does is a it codifies it But it also in my opinion carries on the tradition for at least the past 20 25 years when the first of the three sexual assaults Not even speaking about the shooting late You know that comes on and probably close to a dozen requests by East Arlington residents that abut there when these encampments and two Different individual homeless individuals who have brought it to my attention. I basically see the town would be Doing exactly what it's done in the past. We've always gone down there with the Board of Health With the Arlington Police Department. I know myself and others Have been down there. There's always alternatives offered two individuals who truly are seeking them but as I don't know if mr. Donner yourself cited there are some that just don't You know want to avail themselves of that opportunity and that's their right to do that But it they also have to recognize the rights in terms of a public land and proper use of that So what I want to say is while this is sort of codifying it This is something that's sort of been done quasi case-by-case basis for at least the past 20 25 years since I've been involved And I think we've outlined a really good process, but Thank You mr. Cura. Thank you I did want to note also that assuming that this language is Substantially what we adopt that the enforcement mechanism is Progressive in several senses of the word where it begins with the written notice and then it we are actually Given the obligation to advise on alternate shelter locations and then it goes on to an advising on a date to vacate It's only after that that they're potentially Punitive sanctions and you should know that in addition to the health and human services our police department has on Staff a clinician Rebecca wolf. She's fantastic and when there are situations like this she goes out with the officers and actually works She works very directly with the population, and I know she's built very strong Relationships with some of the homeless coalitions in the area, so I Feel very confident in the approach Given that All right, so we have the motion by thank you we have the motion by mr. Dunn seconded by Mr. Mahan all those in favor please signify by saying aye Hey next one an article hearing article on Article 26 safe the time will vote to provide email accounts for the exclusive use of town business to members of the Board of Selectment school committee finance committee Board of Assessors redevelopment board and possibly at a pod public bodies take any action related there to inserted at the request of mr. Loretty Thank you, mr. Chairman Chris Loretty 56 Adam Street, and thank you for reading the article I won't repeat it as you said the intent of this article is to provide individual town email addresses To the boards members of the boards and committees that you just lifted a total of about 40 people And there's several reasons for doing this first is to provide greater accessibility of those board members to the public For the board members that actually use email It's not an attempt to force anyone to use email But it is to say if you do use email you should be using a town email address and not a personal email and In part of the accessibility question Relates to making it easier for people to know what your email address is You have a standardized format then people know it's just your name and whatever comes after the at symbol I sent an email to the secretary of the Finance committee last week who uses a personal email address on the website it bounced and what people often change the email addresses When they're changed into no service provider This you know if they had a standardized format for the emails that wouldn't happen But I think the more significant reasons relate to the fact that the members of these boards are municipal employees Now there might be special municipal employees, but as but they are subject their emails when they are sent related to town business are public records and that means that those those Board members have to respond to public records request It's a lot easier if that process is managed through the town and through the town's IT department Then it is if it's managed by numerous individuals Last fall I sent an email request to the finance committee relating to their Lobbying activities on reform of the public records law and I understand that calls some Consternation among the members because they had to go out and poll the 21 different members of the of the finance committee Having a standardized town email address and the email sent through the town server would make the response to those Records much easier Now the other the other aspect of that is because these are town records They also have to be retained under the record retention schedule Defined by the state and those that's a fairly complicated schedule the amount of time you have to keep the records depends on the type of record It can be range from a fairly short period to three years to five years I dare say that there's relatively few board members that are strict are in strict compliance with the state's requirements Simply because they're so complex And I would suggest that by having the emails managed through a town process It will ensure much greater compliance and again when I sent that email to the finance committee in the fall I also sent it to your board asking the same thing I'm not convinced I got all of the emails from personal email addresses and I can only assume That's because they weren't properly archived and it's for this reason the record retentions and the response to public records Request that the supervisor of records in the secretary of secretary of state's office has identified Using town email addresses for volunteers as a best practice, but it's really not excuse me not just The supervisor of records a lot of towns have recognized this as well I'm just going to read to you a few towns where the select men have individual town email addresses and Over Avon born brain tree Brewster bridgewater Burlington Charlton co-hasset. I don't want to go on I'd be here all night, but I think the you know the point is that a lot of communities a lot of communities with very Limited resources in much smaller populations in IT departments Value see the value of having the individual email addresses and in fact a number of people in Arlington do too So at least one of your past colleagues had a town email address One of the current members of the board of assessor your brother. Mr. Greeley has a town email address I understand the Human Rights Commission Has asked for individual email addresses, but I've been told it would be too much trouble to get them And I also understand that the finance committee chair has an individual email address Which he uses I think only for archiving, but for some reason uses a personal email address He shares with his wife for conducting town business And I'd like to you know dress from them with the Administrative aspects of this because I acknowledge that providing 40 more email addresses going to cause someone a bit more work But I think we need to put that in perspective. I've spoken to mr. Good, and he tells me that between the schools the school employees and the town the town maintains between 6,000 and 7,000 email addresses email accounts So what this would propose to do is to raise that number by well under under 1% and today the cost of You know maintaining these accounts is so low. You know to a 10 to 15 dollars a year. It's not a significant expense And I'm not proposing to that this warned article would apply to all town Volunteers such as town meeting members because I don't believe they are subject to the Director's law or their communications aren't subject to the law. It's a relatively limited number of people And I also understand that when you give out town email addresses also an acceptable use policy that has to be signed and And it managed as well I'd be more than willing to take on the responsibility of managing that process if that's deemed too too difficult But I also you know, I also want to acknowledge that Providing this benefit to the board. I'm actually and the other boards I'm putting you in an awkward position because I'm asking you to vote on something that's going to benefit yourself But I believe people realize that this is also a benefit to the town And I think the town will support it particularly given recent events, you know Anyone who has paid any attention at all to the current presidential campaign Understands how much trouble it can cause when public officials use their personal or private email accounts for conducting government business And yet in Arlington, we're basically forcing town officials to do that Because we're not providing them town email addresses So I think you know, it's the least we can do for our town volunteers is to give them The the town email addresses at least for this limited set of boards to begin with To avoid any of these difficulties regardless of whatever type of political aspirations those those members of the boards might have So I ask you to support this article. Thank you Yeah, I have a question actually It's from a sorority So at the beginning you said that it with these addresses would be optional in that you would only That the members of the board if they so you choose to use a town email They could correct. Is that what you saw when I was talking about optional. I and I should clarify this that You know, there may be members of the finance committee that just don't use email and My intent is that we're other boards for that matter if they don't want to use email The intent is not to force them to use email, but you know, I but you're I'm assuming the town acceptable use policy for the regular employees Would say something like if you're conducting town business, you're going to use the town email address You're not going to use a personal email address And I would expect that whatever acceptable use policy the members of these boards sign would would be similar that the expectation is That if you're given a town email address if you are using email that you will use the town email address Okay, thank you A couple more not questions comments though So I I think I would be okay with you know making emails You know Available if one risks so choose but I do think that we ask quite a lot of our volunteers We we rely on them for you know quite a you know quite a lot and they do great work and important work and I And I know that say, you know people have several email addresses already And I don't know if asking, you know some of the step forward and take a leap of faith to volunteer for a town Should come with, you know additional responsibilities over the call of duty to that committee So that's kind of where I'm at right now, but I'm happy to hear you know further discussions from the board I'm just thinking I guess sort territorial for myself in the course of Volunteer PTO president town meeting member and now selectman over the course of the 20 25 years plus I have disseminated my home phone my personal email address to not only the residents and employees of the town of Allington, but also and Lexington Medford some of all and I do receive queries from that and For me I see this really for my $3,000 a year job Making it much more cumbersome for me because then comes into play. What if I get a request? It's from the Allington list It's from one of my school users from the school user list. It's from a personal God bless you account And sometimes it's something as mundane as when do town day applications open up For me to have to I the way I read this if God bless you somebody took it literally in terms of What's included in here in the tenants of it that I would have to somehow redirect all that query Response and information to a town account and sometimes on some things as mundane as when can I get my town day booth application? this really Myself personally just thinking of all the lists that I maintain and the way that I receive information as well as the fact Similar to my colleagues current in past. I've certainly disseminated everything from cell phone home phone personal and Many many people utilize that For me, it's a system that isn't broke and responsive to and This would just make my life an awful lot harder in terms of trying to do my job as a selectman the way I see it presented to me Thank you, you actually hit one of the themes that actually had to struck struck me on this First I want to say I I can see the merits in having a standardized address for those who maybe are not Don't know us through some of these other spheres or what not and I know that technically it's certainly possible To set that up as a forwarding address that also archives out those those emails to say though that And I'm reading the article here saying that these email addresses would be for exclusive use of town business. Well that That makes sense. It's a town email address. It should be for the exclusive use of town business But to say that we can exclusively Do town business through that that address? That's actually not feasible and I'll give you you know my own Example and I think that this may ring true, you know, I got involved in affairs in this town advocating for my neighbors up by the Sims Hospital and I was very active up there and Since that time I've taken this office But if they've got an issue where you know, they had issues with lights shining into the the the windows or if they had You know issues with traffic going the wrong way up the street or whatnot They're writing to me as a select them But they know that they've been communicating to me with me for decades through this other address I'm not going to tell, you know, the senior who wants, you know to find out Is the bus stop really going to be reinstated up at the top as was promised to us years ago before you were ever You know a slackman. I'm not going to tell I can't Accept that here. I need you to send send this to me at my town address so I Think we're balancing two things here. There's the transparency argument I get but there's also the open access to to our constituents, which is the other end of the spectrum For me, I have the same situation. I have a professional job and I have My community life which includes this this life, so I'm balancing those two emails I'm a technologist. I get no problem if I have if I have to balance a third email address I can do it but when you cite an example of of someone who's You know husband and wife maybe are sharing an email address that is probably because I Don't want to say that they they have you know issues of technical support But but that's the way they know to do they know how to set up one and to flip back and forth between the clients as one who has to Provide technical support to my in-laws every weekend. I go down there on justice issue how to keep the spouses All right, you know not everyone on these boards is a digital native I Think on this board Steve is probably the only digital native We have actually not did not to single you out. So I do not profess to be So I have no I personally I don't know the cost Termifications I understand the finance committee is gonna be looking at that. I think I know Our CIO is here, but I think it's a per seat license is it not The Google apps so there is a licensing cost and I don't think that's our job to vet those I think that's up to the fin fincom in Principal I wouldn't have a problem if there's a if there's a forwarding and an archiving address that could be published on the Website so that that's the point of contact for people who have not had previous points of contact with us I do have a problem though saying that You know, we should not be responding off of our personal addresses if somebody Contacts us on a constituent request or what That's kind of where my head is at So I The part of this that is I think similar that I've heard from other members so far is that it does seem appropriate to me That we should be making these available to other two volunteers And so But that isn't something that I don't think we should be putting in a bylaw That's the type of thing that sometimes, you know, we get Citizen for we get there are many articles that come from citizens or from internally where we look at them We say, you know, the best way to handle this actually isn't the vote of town meeting to just do it And so Adam, I'm curious. What would your thoughts be if we encouraged? the IT director through you to make these accounts available to the you know these 40 odd committee members So My opinion is I guess I'll say I completely understand Sort of the operational frustrations that the board has expressed But I share mr. Loretty's concerns about the you know the possibility of public records requests and how we properly are archived these materials and then You know respond in the appropriate manner. So I Guess I am in Complete favor of talking of you know, the boys saying hey talk with David see what we can figure out And if there's a means by which you know, we can make this work so that It's not inhibiting in the way in which board members and other committee members are able to communicate But yet we're archiving in an appropriate fashion. I mean and maybe I'm talking ragtime and that's not possible But I think it is worthwhile To look at am I answering your question? I guess I So I mean I'm not I'm not opposed to providing the addresses, okay I Will make an editorial comment that it is amusing to me that there's concerns about transparency of my emails when the proponent of this particular piece has will write op-ed pieces of That contain email quotes from emails that I have provided to him under open meeting requests So evidently, I mean I I see the transparency. I see it printed in the paper Sorry, and I do think it is important that when we we look at the list It's important to you know take out who is you know, what committee should be offered Addresses and I think that to me if you're elected, but I think then that would give you You know a choice to have an email address if you are, you know a volunteer that's that's appointed to a committee You know, I don't know if I feel so strongly about that so that that's something I think that I hope you'll take the consideration as well. Yeah, I'll say may I mr. Chair Yeah, I that's a fair point. I you know when I look at this list. I see this list as maybe Maybe only missing the capital planning committee as you know Some of the major players at town meeting and in terms of you know higher level decision-making boards You know talking about this internally with town council You know, I've thought that you know going further than that with you know All the other boards and committees would become much more administratively problematic because people seem to you know They come and go off those committees more often than in these committees and I think you know sort of the establishment management and discontinuance of email addresses on mass or is probably more than we want to take on but Yeah, no, I think a dialogue around You know, which can which groups are the right ones in which it is fair and perhaps it's even An address that the chairmen's you know can use and then divvy it and then spread it out to the different members There's something along those lines as well Mr. Gooden did you want to comment on this sir? Probably not but I see him back there and he's always so colorful with his comments And David good. I'm the chief technology officer. I Think email has sort of proliferated to sort of boundaries way beyond The that they did say 10 20 years ago, and I think Every provider out there probably gives you an email address by default I Would just say that there is some overhead cost and some seat cost of setting up accounts There is probably a more frequent turnover of board members than there are employees You do lose. I think a firm hold on people who aren't either Employees or students who sign an acceptable use policy because forfeiting one's education or one's job in violation of a An email rule is pretty stiff. I'm not sure a committee member and no disrespect meant to any committee members I don't think that holds the same weight as an acceptable use policy for an employee or a student As I said, there is some overhead. Is it hard to do? No, it's not so I I would Go along with whatever the board and my New wealthy boss We will be looking for a new Allow you in a moment, but I just like to comment. I would not use this So I want to be clear on that for 27 years people have Communicated with me. I do not conduct town business by email. We conduct town business here in open sessions I so 27 years with the room. Sorry not that long. I've had sure 12 over 20 at this point But so I just I do not have the time to tell the world Communicate with me differently tomorrow Marine knows if people call the office. I asked them to call me on the phone I I would prefer the phone for a method of communication and I certainly wouldn't support something that excludes town meeting members If you want to talk about conducting town business and the sharing of information, they most certainly should be included But that's my personal opinion. Mr. Loretty Just a couple points to mr. Dunn's editorial comments I think he really makes my point because the emails that he referred to I did not receive from him I received him from the town manager because he had copied the town manager on them and therefore they resided on the town email system and so the the only emails I got from mr. Dunn were actually through Mr. Chapelling I don't think I got all of mr. Dunn's emails at least if I'm to believe what my state representative tells me So that that's my point So I don't know I don't want this to be about that particular issue And then to your final point mr. Greeley I could have sworn that your personal email address was on the town website if somebody you know constituent sends you an email That's a public record and so I'm not sure how you can say I can't use this What you're saying is if somebody decides to use the email that's on the town email address. No, sir I said I won't change my email. That's right. Mine is on the website You would take it off completely. I said I won't change it to a new email, which is what you're asking to do in my opinion I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you said you will not or will Watch the tape. Can I ask a question? So what I don't think so I want to make sure I understand is is that It's my position that you can make town email accounts available to elected officials and volunteers But I don't think that we can force them to use them is your Proposal to say I want to make 40 email accounts available to all these board and commission members these specific boarding commission members It's up to them whether they use them or not But I want I want these folks to have Codified in the bylaw that the town shall make email accounts available. Are you saying you want to buy a law that says These folks will only use this this email address if they're conducting any town business Maybe I thought that was maybe I thought I had understood that before and I apologize if I didn't but I just want to make sure I understand I mean my thinking is that if if this were to be implemented in the form of the bylaw The bylaw would simply be to make the emails accounts available But if you're having an acceptable use policy, I think the acceptable use policy would You know say that it's a policy of the town that Those employees whoever they are who have town email addresses use them to conduct town business You know, I don't think you can ever force You know someone to use it. It's not like it's you can fire an elected official But I also think once you make that available I think most board members will recognize the benefits and also the risk they take by using a personal email account rather than In rather than town-supplied email account and as I said just look look at what's happening in the presidential election right now Can't be any more prominent Yes, yeah I just want to clarify From what I'm hearing from my colleagues and or the town manager Are we saying right now either a to table this? be to Vote no action and ask the town manager with the IT department to come back to it with a report to us because We don't deem this rising to the level of a bylaw specifically and then My third point would be I Agree, I don't think anyone can be forced to use an email my fear would be that If it were made available And it wasn't something I responded to That I'd sort of be derelict in my duties, and I just want to state my own personal feeling that I have never used any access through the town computer system, especially in light of previous years To former employees who unfortunately by what whatever means keystroke program or otherwise those two paths merged in terms of a personal email account as well as the public school town account and and I will also further state that My husband and I Share computer hardware and software and he does work in the defense industry And he's very sensitive in terms of I know he has firewalls and things and this Things I can't even access so I would say for myself personally a in light of the past history in terms of What happens to former employees? I don't even log on if I'm in the selectman's office through my Personal account to see if a field is open or closed I go home and do it because I don't want either path to cross so So I'm just wondering what I'm hearing in terms of a motion here as well as I think I agree you nobody can force me to use any particular account or to force to open my personal Software that way, but my fear would be that if something was offered and somebody sent it to Daya mahan at town dot Medford ma.us and that wasn't a count I respond to I could get sort of penalized or criticized because I don't use that I don't check that I don't want to for personal reasons and they may not know all that so but how do we want to proceed or Yeah, I'm gonna move that we Recommend no action on on this by law and I will say that I thank miss Leroy to bring this to our attention I do think that this does not Warrant a bylaw. I think that pending our you know discussion here tonight And particularly we'll have Adam go through and maybe a see what's feasible moving forward And I think this is an action the board can take on our own moving forward. So thank you I'll second it Comment. Yeah, I'll support the no action just because I don't Think it rises to the level of bylaw not because I don't think that it's an issue worth worth considering My understanding The time I was elected the school committee was that if I wanted maybe mister I don't want to put mr. Good on the spot, but my understanding was always that if I wanted a Town email address I could get one. Is that correct? So I feel like this is a Solution, you know looking for problem We can do it and I think that some of us have articulated some of the reasons why we haven't I've always recognized that somebody goes on a fishing expedition or whatnot It's going to be a lot of headache to call through through the emails my personal email, but I kind of balance that you know access to the public with Potential inconvenience myself Okay On the motion by mr. Burn I recommend recommendation real action all those in favor, please signify by saying I Hi Okay, next warrant article is article 27 Vote lobbying by public officials to see if the town will vote to prohibit Policymaking elected and appointed officials from lobbying or engaging others to lobby on their behalf Matters affecting the town unless the specific lobbying initiatives have been approved at an open session of a public meeting of a Public body of the town or take any action related there, too And also inserted at the request of mr. Loretty and 10 registered voters, mr. Loretty Thank you, mr. Chairman again, and thank you for reading it the intent of this article is to Prevent secret lobbying in town and I'll describe that a bit more as I go through my presentation By lobbying I should clarify What I'm thinking of and for that and I would say lobbying is taking a position on ballot questions legislation at the state or federal level or what the state ethics commission calls non-election political activity And I think you might you know you could regard for example your letters to mass housing regarding the moog are 40 big This article does not seek to ban lobbying But it does to seek it does seek to ban lobbying without the public knowledge of what boards are in public officials lobbying about And I think you could see this What's intended as an expansion of something the school committee one of the policies of the school committee They have something called the school committee Legislative legislative policy and that doesn't talk specifically about lobbying and it doesn't talk About public versus private lobbying But implicitly it addresses both of those things because what it says is that the School committee will keep abreast of legislation in areas of its Jurisdiction or responsibility that is things related to schools and it will make its positions known on on legislation As a board and also it will designate someone on its board To represent it and that policy explicitly states that the person will be bound by the official position of the school committee And I think by definition if you're taking an official position something you have to do publicly Because the board is going to act on a matter of course it has to do it at a public meeting So while none of this is written out in in that particular policy The fact that it refers to a public position or an official position of the board you know makes that implicit and so that In that policy is is focused primarily on legislation, but I think the town needs something more broadly Related to lobbying and something that doesn't just apply to the school committee And I'd like to give you an example of what I consider, you know appropriate public lobbying and inappropriate private lobbying your board back in December Received some correspondence from the bicycle advisory committee asking that you support some legislation relating to bicycling and Indeed you had a public meeting on that Voted on submitting a letters to state representatives. That was entirely appropriate Anyone who was interested in that issue one way or the other knew exactly and could tell exactly what your position was but I would contrast that type of what I would deem Appropriate lobbying activity with what I consider inappropriate lobbying activity And in particular, I'm going to come back to the public records law and last July when the state house was considering and An update to the law and was in the in would soon be taking a vote on it The mass municipal association, which is a lobbying organization You know paid for by who the select men's Expense account and as was mentioned earlier in on which the town manager serves on the board Sent an email blast out to all town officials and municipal officials throughout the state Asking them to lobby against the changes that were coming up before the house And indeed the town manager forwarded that email on to you and at least some of you did respond to that Email and and lobbied you know state representatives and I consider that type of logging being inappropriate on on at least three levels first I don't think the public even knows that their tax dollars are going to support lobbyist, you know period I Don't think town meeting members probably even know that because the only place that lobbying expense Appears is buried in a something like a two hundred thousand dollar a line item for select men's expenses If somebody knew enough to look at the open checkbook It's I don't think there's a line item there for lobbying either and the payment that goes to the mass municipal association For their activities even isn't even listed as mass municipal association And furthermore even if they thought it was appropriate that the town had a lobbyist for particular matters They don't know what the mass municipal association is doing if nobody just discusses it at a public meeting So in this particular case, I think we had a situation where the town was paying a lobbyist to do lobbying That was frankly against the public interest because I think most people recognize how weak the state's public records law was is still and And yet here their tax dollars and the select ones lobbyists are going you know lobbying to maintain the status quo And then the other problem with this is of course that town officials and in this case the select men Were actually lobbying against it themselves without this being discussed at a at a public meeting You know indeed if it had been discussed at a public meeting And if you had followed the type of policy that the school committee had then everyone that would know what your position was It would be a you know matter of public record so you know the result of that activity was that the House of Representatives the results of the MMA lobbying and the lobbying by town officials like yourselves and in your Counterparts of the communities passed a much weakened bill Just last week the Senate passed its own version of the bill that was much stricter You know and the question remains is there going to be more secret lobbying in town to try to fight the Senate bill And either maintain the status quo or water it down like the like the House bill was so that's that's the aim of this article exactly how it gets a little bit I'm not entirely sure but I think you know the the school committee has a reasonable approach for their legislative lobbying and I think the type of openness that they demonstrate needs to be Expanded throughout the town not just for lobbying on legislative matters, but for other types of lobbying as well Thank you a question. Mr. Lurie. What's the difference between me calling a legislature and giving my Individual opinion making it clear. I'm not speaking for the board of select men But as as an individual and lobbying see I don't think you can do that and that's why what's the difference? What's the difference is that lobbying I? Called the senator. I call one of my reps and I give them my opinion on legislation Actually have asked me to come to the state house and to give testimony on certain legislation What's the difference between that and lobbying? No, I'm not saying that's not lobbying the question I would ask you though. Are you I'm not asked. I'm asking you the difference I don't I don't understand the question you consider that lobby. I don't understand the question You have to clarify for me. Do you consider it lobbying you clarify your question for me, sir? Okay? So if I call a representative and give my opinion to that representative on a piece of legislation is That lobbying as an individual member of this board not representing the board of select men But Kevin Greeley one select man. Are you referring to something that affects the town? Yes, of course. That's lobbying. That's lobbying. I disagree. Okay. Just want to be clear how you define it I know a lot of people want to speak. Good. Mr. Mr. Dunn you want to start? Sure. Okay? I have a couple concerns with this proposal and I guess actually be before I go to those concerns I do want to say that the lobbying that I or the lobbying I Because I'm definitely willing to accept the word that I did to our legislative body Regarding this the records public records act. I did myself I did not indicate that it was the position of this board and I did not hint in fact Depending on various stages of the conversation. I indicated that it was just me So I don't believe I did anything inappropriate. I do not believe that I misrepresented this body in any way Um But I also think that yes, so I'll go there but my concerns with the proposal My first concern is it runs afoul of the constitution specifically first amendment prohibition of laws that abridge the freedom of speech The proposed article is a seeking to restrict political speech and that type of speech has been given particularly strong protections By legislature and the supreme court my second point is Just equally philosophical, but it comes closer to home It's no secret that mr. Loretty disagrees with this board on many issues He's tried a number of times and a number of ways to attack the legitimate and appropriate actions of this board He once accused a member of this board of accepting payments from developers a claim that crumbled under simple examination Two years ago days before my reelection Mr. Loretty made a last minute allegation that I had illegally met with the sims developers That allegation was not true either to my knowledge. Mr. Loretty has not retracted his statements Nor has he apologized for the distress caused by his errors He's also tried to control what is said through lawsuits in 2012 when the governor chose not to appoint mr. Loretty to the rb His reaction was to sue the town and sue specific town employees After expensive deposition and discovery the court summarily dismissed his claims. It had no foundation in fact Worse than the direct legal cost. We are still paying for this an employee retention costs No one wants to work for a town where they get sued personally for doing their job This warrant article is a new and novel attempt by mr. Loretty to stifle speech that he disagrees with Mr. Loretty would not be here if the candidates he supported were on this board of selectmen I would argue the proper place for the control mr. Loretty seeks is at the ballot box I'm going to continue to advocate and lobby for ellington's Interests so long as the voters see fit to elect me I'm gratified that the voters have elected me twice to this position And I know that mr. Loretty has been unable to win a seat in town meeting for some years. These are not coincidences Summing up even if the first amendment issues are resolved I believe that this article would inhibit one of the important roles of elected officials in this town If an elected official isn't advocating the right policies the right place to fix that is the ballot box Not in a bylaw. I move that we recommend no action for this article Thank you very much. I I cannot um I I can't I can't meet your eloquence. Mr. Dunn. I I did want to say that um I think that there's a fundamental as someone who served four years on the school committee I think that there's actually a fundamental misunderstanding of what that legislative policy is about there is That legislative policy is specifically about policy positions that are publicly taken by the school committee And how they will be presented to the legislators It is not however intended to to bind school committee members hands in expressing their individual um positions on policies Yeah, in the introduction I know you mentioned that among the realm of of Lobbying activities would be supporting ballot questions but I mean we're folks we we've come up through the electoral process It's it's natural that we engage with the electoral process as long as we're not Representing the board and that that's one thing that in the school committee policies is very clear I think that ours are as well that When there is a board position We are bound to support the board position But that doesn't bind us from from contacting legislators individually A couple examples. I mean I Last last week. I happened to be at a A gathering and our congresswoman was there I took the opportunity to to raise with her issues around Air noise and and the need to to work with the um the f a a on on Air noise she has some legislation around it. I didn't address specific legislation. I think I'm doing a service there I didn't represent it as the whole board. I represented the experience and what I'm hearing on the on the on the ground I also You know a number of us make it a practice to attend legislative events You know, I often go to the mma Legislative breakfast where legislators Are present and we'll often we will Individually raise in the course of discussion issues that are affecting our towns I don't know if that's lobbying. Maybe it is maybe it isn't But I wouldn't want to be bound and and not have the ability To actually represent issues of the town in that way furthermore You know, we often will talk to our colleagues on other boards and committees It's not a violation of open meeting or whatnot. You could construe it as lobbying however I suppose if under this Um This definition and I I think that we would grind to a halt in trying to to reach certain types of consensus If we were not able to have those types of discussions with our colleagues, you know Across the avenue or on the finance committee or whatnot As we prepare to come back and and actually Take official positions of the board. So I mean I I'll be supporting the no action motion. I I Don't quite get this but This is a matter Um, I'll try not to repeat anything that's been said But I do want to say I take issue with the proponent in terms of making generalizations About myself individually in terms of the citation regarding the public records act You have no foundation For making any personal remarks to me because there's nothing you can back up on that number one number two As a member of this board of selectmen Since 1999 More times than not I've been averse to MMA directives And over time that's I haven't been the only one but initially when I came on the board I would say at least 50 of them a initiatives in my opinion. I've always disclosed my union labor roots background And they basically were In my opinion in my brothers and sisters in local 22 22 and other unions were basically designed to Effectuate negative changes to the unions and I know with the previous town manager not with the current but Two previous town managers put towards this board MMA Policies asked for endorsement. The board had a discussion. There would be a four-to-one vote One of them was around the gic issue. I was then working I respected that there was a four-to-one vote, but I feel first of all, mr. Loretty is is trying to abuse the Moron article and bylaw process for, you know, his own personal unsuccessful Charges or vendetta. I think he's trying to find another way To keep kind of picking at that um that that he hasn't gotten an adequate benefit, but I can tell you myself just in the gic situation. I was working with my unions with then representative, um, marty walsh with um Congressman steve lynch who was a brand new congressman And what we did was even though this board voted four-to-one in terms of what MMA was saying for gic's changes I worked with Those and many many other people and I don't want to take credit for that So that there were some changes to gic. So in terms of what mr. Loretty has here before me, I see To me it's a big vague and ambiguous exactly what it is Is being defined as lobbying and not lobbying, but I can see also when something's vague and ambiguous it can be Misconstrued that that could affect me. Um, or any other Future member of the board of selectmen. Yes, we do take votes In terms of what the majority of the board of selectmen does but We also represent that we all have different hats when we come here, you know, I mean some people You know look at me and I'm sure they you know, and originally it was like oh here comes a school lady She doesn't want to close bracket in pierce, you know and um In the general prevailing thought throughout town on the school side was they were going to close bracket in pierce Well, guess what, you know, it's town meeting member then no You know selectmen went out and lobbied against that and with many many other people. So Um, I was trying to look at the spirit of this to see what it is that mr. Loretty is trying to do I don't get it. It isn't really defined. It goes against In terms of state ethics lobbying issues and rules around gifts, etc It seems like maybe he's trying to add another category caveat to it But my number one reason for supporting no action besides the fact of We're all individuals is Um, I think the premise in which he's presenting this of what he's trying to accomplish is really just his Own personal vendetta Which he's allowed to do and he's been doing for many many years and in costing the town of valentine In his town employees many hours and dollars And I I think that's abuse of the warrant article process in town meetings time. So I will support no action. Thank you, mr. Burn Yeah, I think this is ridiculous for all of the reasons mr. John stated and I agree with everything he said Thank you I'm sure you'd like to Thank you. Mr. Chairman. No, actually I don't I I really don't want to respond to the smears that I've just been subjected to I will simply say I'm very disappointed in the lack of respect your board has for the truth And I'll leave it at that. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome Anybody else who I should speak on this mr. Heim No, no, mr. Chair Okay on the motion by uh, mr. Dunn Seconded by mr. Kuro Yeah, yes All those in favor of recommending no action on warrant article 27, please say I All those opposed New business. Oh, no, I'm sorry correspondence next receipt. We'll receipt Is but sorry about Howard has moved to lexington He's a long long time Person who served on a lot of committees and we owe him a great debt of thanks I'm on the motion to receive seconded by Mr. Kuro All those in favor, please sit in front of essay nine Opposed any new business marine Mr. Heim mr. Chairman just as a reminder, I've advised the selectman's office staff as well as the town manager that I Will be on a scheduled vacation during the next board of select meeting I'll make sure to have materials to you in enough time in advance and to make sure that they're covering subjects For which you have any questions that would be directed to the legal counsel. They'll be plenty of time for you to vet them with me All those in favor of letting him take a vacation I think mr. Malinga would probably be begging to sit in that seat I think so I I would be happy to bring that up to him. Thank you very much Especially from such a distinguished uh person such as yourself. You have I'd be happy to as well You have uh, earned Any vacation that you probably have been putting off but good luck to you and thank you Mr. Chapter lane anything new in your life Few things, uh, just I have two items. I want to mention I provided a hard copy for the board of a snow and ice expenditure update that if the Board will permit I'd like to just read for anybody watching so Micronomaker director public works, uh, throughout the winter will provide updates on expenditures to date So this memo outlines that we've had seven snow or ice events five snow events and two icing events For a combined total of about 25 inches of total snowfall This year the appropriation for snow and ice is 846 thousand dollars in this current fiscal year f y 16 And to date we have expended seven hundred and twenty seven thousand three hundred and forty dollars Well, so, you know, and I think it's important to hit on the detail the More than half of that. I'm sorry just a little bit less than half of that is in salt purchases So 348 thousand dollars in salt purchases 131 thousand dollars in vehicle parts and repairs 126 thousand dollars in dpw overtime and 121 thousand dollars in contracted plowing So that still puts us within a little bit more than a hundred thousand dollars About 120 thousand dollars of room underneath what the budget is So we will you know be closely monitoring that when we need to go to the finance committee to ask for Allowance to go over that amount and begin deficit spending will be prepared to do that. So it does um It does go fast. It's this again the salt sands through the Salt prices have gone up pretty dramatically over the past couple years as well So just bring your table salt outside and put it on your street Tell the flaws to go by And then the only other item I wanted to raise was um For the the meeting that had been scheduled for monday upon the timeline that the board had agreed to at the prior meeting I was or two meetings passed. I was going to be bringing my Narrative self-evaluation and evaluation document I hope the board understand that I'd been somewhat distracted over the course of the past week, but I'll plan to have that For the board at the next meeting and I'll I'll provide a memo that backs up the timeline for everybody Mr. Chair just to be clear so we're going to alter the timeline Yeah to give the board enough time to And you do remember we cannot hold goal setting sessions on saturdays. Who's that for? No, we'll talk about that. So yeah, mr. Um, you know not much although I do think that we should probably consider having mr. Go to 10 warm meetings because I really like to have all those in favor, please say no Yay Yeah You're number one That's not One query, um, and I'm not sure if it's through the chair to the town manager When I was in the state house a couple weeks ago Somebody mentioned to me and you have to give credit where credit is due. I would just like I was told that senator donnelly was successful in Getting the widows benefit Salary or reimbursement or rate increased from 9 to 12 percent and that many other cities and towns were Considering adopting that. I don't know if that is actually what was done. It just was so if we could somehow No, marie Did not accept it If we could find out if you if any way you can get Your hands on what that is and I can look at it and maybe I can follow up I didn't talk to marie about this. I honestly and now I feel silly. I know It's Okay, if there's any brief info you can get for me on that and maybe I can have a conversation with the chair Honestly was somebody said to me. Hey, do you know what senator donnelly did? And everyone knows my and then the other thing is um, I I would like to First congratulate coach bowler boys basketball Focusing team he won his hundredth game Um against burlington coach lions was not a former colleague Um, I want to first thank the players and the coach from Burlington who really were respectful and participated in the celebration. Um, which Only happened because um, Arlington won and they didn't and um, I I'd want to Congratually coach bowler once again the boys varsity basketball team will be going To the state tournament. Um, and again, that's a testament to coach bowler's Record and the like and then the last thing is I know it was forwarded to everybody On, um, I believe it's february 20th. There'll be a ceremony after the hockey alumni game Dedicating I believe it's a locker to Um, former hockey coach richard de caprio And um, his wife masha had contacted me and just wanted me to You know extend the opportunity not just to my colleagues, but anybody else So if you go to the hockey hockey alumni game down at the rink, I believe it's february 20th Saturday night, um Even if you want to come down and see the alumni game, that's a lot of fun And that ceremony will take place around six o'clock. Thank you Mr. Cura, thank you very much. Mr. Chair Tended a couple of things that that are going to Require board action down the down the road. Um, the planning community development department Had an excellent public visioning forum On the housing production plan they've They've obviously they've contracted with MAPC. It was ironically it was jenny rake who's going to be a new Planning director is actually was running that A good piece of that session. Um, it was fairly well attended, but It really, um drew into Stark lines how serious the issue of affordability of housing in the town Is there's an infographic which I think this wiener is going to share with us I believe one one Stat that that left out to me, and I hope I'm not getting this wrong is that since the year 2000 only nine percent of the homes that have been sold have been affordable to the median income in Arlington That that just puts in stark contrast some of the pressures that that were under in in that way At the end of the day though after the housing production plan is Pulled together the draft it does fall to this board to to adopt it So and this was one of the recommendations of the master plan said something for us to be looking out for I also attended a meeting of the managing partnership for the proposed Massachusetts cultural district Arlington cultural district running from the center to the the east The core members of the managing partnership are Our library the chamber of commerce and the Arlington Center for the arts Ms. Nicolai our library director did convene at you did an excellent job, but she run the great meeting Not as good as you mr. Chair, but you know she runs a great meeting And we're in the process right now of filling out the application for the state We're targeting a public input session sometime late march or early April before we get into town meeting season, but one of the next steps after all of that is pulled together is that Um The group will be coming to us one of the requirements and application processes that there be a resolution from the board of select men supporting that third thing Last night, um, I dropped by the open house for a work bar, which is at the old theodore schwan mill The myrack family and the work bar folks Joined together in in this and I'll tell you it is such impressive space The class A office space. It's going to do a lot. I think for that that Area and really this is a direct outgrowth of the economic development activities of the town I mean, mr. Fields held a session on one morning We brought in representatives of some of these shared workspace companies. He brought in some of the local land landlords and banks and Ms. Myrack was there and she said ha this is interesting And it was as a direct result of that activity that she went forward Work close to that historic commission that conservation commission and it's beautiful down there They've already they've been open a week and they've had people flooding in to sign up. So It's it's a real feather in our linkedin's cap. I think And the last thing if if I could ask kind of the town manager, maybe tomorrow is the long-range Planning committee meeting tomorrow morning and You know a lot of our focus has been on school funding I think there's been possibly some myths understanding out there in the community That that there has been a cut in school funding that's been proposed I don't know if with the chair's permission if the manager would like to clarify that or Yeah, I would be very happy to and I thank you for that Mr. Currow, so I think the best way to describe it is And I was actually having a conversation with nick earlier tonight about this that At the at the start of f y 16 in the finance committee report What was projected for f y 17 in terms of school expenditures? Represented about a 5.1 increase for school expenditures from f y 16 into f y 17 which we're now working towards We met over the course of the fall winter and we're still meeting with the long-range planning committee And those meetings resulted in the school department Requesting an 11.4 percent increase in their f y 17 budget as compared to f y 16 What the budget that I provided to the board proposed to the board on january 15th would do Is provide a 6.4 percent increase? To the school department for f y 17 which I still feel is a significant and dramatic increase In school funding So it was thought to be 5.1 Requested at 11.4 proposed at 6.4 or put into dollar figures What was expected last year was a 2.7 million dollar increase They ended up asking for a total increase You know i'm scratching at that number But nearing 5 million dollars and the proposal that I put forward was 3.4 million dollars So I think any Description of our school funding strategy as cutting the school budget Is inaccurate. I think what's being proposed is a significant investment in school funding in arlington and actually demonstrates a commitment To the educational system here in arlington. So I think it is important to get that message across Thank you for the clarification You know again, it's another reason why the manager deserves kudos. It's been very difficult with the enrollment pressures that we've seen Yeah Really listening to all sides and crafting what I think is a reasonable budget proposal going forward It doesn't get us all the way there on some of the programmatic areas that that I think it could be Valuable to our students, but but we know we're gonna Have to have some of those conversations, you know Probably not too long from now. Yeah Okay, Joe. Yep Minutely an update Uh, so seven towns have agreed to the regional agreement that includes of course arlington One of them was sudbury sudbury voted to leave the district. Uh, I believe that the other Five none of them were declarants. I think it's uh, but I wouldn't I'm not 100 sure about that They were supposed to be like three on monday, but they got post poed two So now they're all stacked up on february 23rd and 24th So it's gonna that'll be, you know, seven seven out of 16 is where we are right now um There i'm gonna steal something that adam told me earlier today Which is he'd spoke to the superintendent and the superintendent is saying, you know Come hell or high water, whether it's approved or not He's going to ask his board to put forward the building project, which would be march 15th is what he's saying. It will be the date which would mean that we've got 60 days to respond Which this special time meeting we open tonight is within those 60 days um The my comp my so those are like that's the facts update the kind of the the the the um Analysis update is that I've become recently really concerned that we haven't spent enough time thinking about what happens If the regional agreement is approved Because it seemed so unlikely for so long that we did a lot of planning for what would happen when it didn't get approved And one of the things that I've asked um to talk about tomorrow's long-range planning is to start talking about it but the thing that we're talking about here is you know that At that special town meeting minute man's can be asking us for something on the order of and this is A rough number a million and a half dollars a year to help build that building and We don't have a traditional way to analyze that type of request Because ordinarily that type of request would either come in from the school department where the school department is like You know an active participant in that conversation Or in the case of public safety would come in through the town manager and the town manager is an active participant in this case You know it's coming in from essentially outside arlington and we don't have a good Means of assessing that proposal and figuring out whether or not it's the right proposal for arlington And uh, you know despite the fact that we've been talking about it for 10 years We're going to end up having to do it on a fairly tight time frame. So that's my thought And i'll just conclude with uh, i really am very proud of this board and The your willingness to respond so quickly and to battle on all matters About positive and sometimes negative, but good night arlington To adjourn next meeting of the board of selectmen will be february 22nd. Good night