 Good evening everybody welcome to the Arlington Board of Selectments meeting for September 12th It's a little bit after 7 15 and I call our meeting to order Mr. Greeley cannot be with us tonight. He's traveling for business and Mrs. Mahon can't be with us because she has just become a new repeat grandmother So our congratulations to Mrs. Mahon and her family First item of a business RCN cable license renewal Council Hyme Thank you. Mr. Dunn what the board has before it is a renewal license for RCN that we hope to gain your approval on tonight and your your signatures With us tonight are Peter Epstein our special counsel who negotiates these licenses throughout the state on behalf of communities Mr. Maher as whom you all know, but also chairs our cable advisory committee and Tom Steele a representative from RCN I'll turn it over to mr. Maher and mr. Epstein to discuss the Draft license in detail, but the pieces that I want to communicate to the select and from my perspective as town council Are that this has been an efficient and effective negotiation the proposal? Doesn't give Arlington absolutely everything that it could ever dream of but it has been it is an extremely responsive Deal when considering our ascertainment process RCN is offering us things that as the selectman likely recall from previous meetings Comcast in our negotiations absolutely refused to discuss or even you know consider So it's a good proposal for the town. I can understand that there might be lots of questions because it is a It's something that we do, you know somewhat irregularly And it's a fairly detailed agreement, but with that I'd like to turn it over to mr. Maher the chair of the cable advisory committee Welcome mr. Maher Thank you, mr. Heim Gentlemen, it's always nice to be here before you As Doug indicated we have Tom Steele here with the executive vice president former cable commissioner for the Commonwealth By the way has been in this area of business for a long time Peter Epstein represents Well may not be known to you, but very capable counsel for us announced on cable related matters represents what probably about 50 or 55 or 60 other communities, so He's extremely capable and it was very much a Beneficial to the town's consideration of this going forward Is Doug indicated we think this is a very good license That we're recommending and I also should indicate that my colleagues on the cable advisory committee met at six o'clock this evening We had a thorough discussion of the aspects of it and they unanimously recommended to the licensing authority that you adopt the cable license The major provisions are a carrying forward of the 5% of gross revenues of RCN Which is essentially mandated by federal law and that Entire amount in Arlington at least goes to fund Local access ACMI and by the way we have Norma cloud here tonight from ACMI who might want to say a word if the board is inclined to hear The major provisions are as I indicated 5% for of the gross revenues, but Something that RCN really stepped up to the plate on it was an additional 2% of gross revenues for capital outlay for local access as you can only imagine I mean I could only imagine but the changing technology You know is expensive and there's 5% goes to you know the operating expenses of cable access ACMI But you know they they need additional capital outlays to keep To keep up to date with you know, whatever changes are apparent and obvious and necessary to provide Community programming for the town There is a modest senior citizen discount of five dollars, but it's more than It's actually more than we've seen in other licenses One of the major aspects of it is RCN has agreed at great expense really According to David good of my colleague on cable advisory who was also information technology officer for the town The continuation of the INED if he were to go out to a separate vendor This would cost the town, you know a very substantial amount of money And I mean a very substantial it could be as much as seven or eight hundred thousand dollars This is a value to the town that know it neither one of the other providers either Verizon or Comcast offers as you know, we continue to rely upon the internet and These kind of things that this is extremely valuable the town and RCN as I Agreed to carry it forward One of the items in the ascertainment process that we conducted a year ago last March was ACMI's desire and in separate discussions with ACMI that were that the manager and Doug and I have had they were very intent interested in getting high definition on the three access channels and RCN was Willing to do that and that's a major plus In addition, we were able to secure video on demand So for instance if someone out there tonight is looking at the selectments meeting Unless it's just rebroadcast rebroadcast you could actually go in now and choose to watch a particular segments meeting We were not successful in getting Tom steels a fair negotiation He's also a tough negotiator But he couldn't give us one of the things that we wanted but it was one of the lesser things and that is Electronic program guide in other words when you turn on your TV and you look at what's on TV tonight But there are technical problems in providing that so we were you know We agreed not to push that in return for getting the video on demand and the high definition channels Just a brief word Before we take some questions You probably saw in your packets that RCN is being Acquired by an additional holding company. We're not really here tonight to talk too much about that There is if there is a request for a transfer of the license There was a separate procedure that must be followed and it can take a period of time So we're glad to answer questions or else actually defer any questions to Tom on that issue But I think the bottom line for everybody understand is nothing's going to change If it is acquired and there is as I say a separate transfer mechanism under the statute that must be followed And we would be back before you with regard to that so I Want to take my hat off to RCN in particular Tom for stepping up to the plate on these various matters Unfortunately, we haven't begun to engage Verizon because their license expires not until next year But our negotiates with Comcast have been extremely difficult and I'm not in any way reticent to indicate that We're hoping obviously that Having a benchmark now of RCNs Stepping up to the plate and in you know on the particularly on the capital, which is a very substantial Commitment by RCN that we were able to persuade Comcast and eventually Verizon so Glad to respond or Anybody here can respond if I can I'm inclined to get questions and then seek other input Joe I have a few questions. I'll try to make it as quickly quick as possible Thank you very much for all your work on this. I really appreciate it. I know it's not an easy thing to Take on and you answered actually a lot of my questions in your introductory remarks. I appreciate that too I Did have some questions about the connections to some of the town buildings So I did see a reference in here to Gibbs connection, which we know we're gonna need but it looked like that's a town cost Is that consistent with our past practice when we're bringing a new connection up that the connection itself Was a town cost the work to Not at a position to be able to respond. Can either one of you gentlemen Peter Epstein Thank you Glad to be here Mr.. Kuro, are you talking about connections to public buildings or new connections to the Inet? Because they're two different creatures as you know RCN operates a fiber network in the town and there is an exhibit that has all those buildings that are connected For the most part My understanding is the Comcast does most of the connections to public buildings for basic service Yeah, but we do have An exhibit for RCN as well and there will be an exhibit for Verizon Now that cost is borne by the vendor not the town. That's exhibit to Institutional network buildings well Institutional network are the buildings connected to this fiber network. Yeah It's in Article 5. I believe covers the drops to Public buildings those are different drops one involves the subscriber network and its video Programming the Inet is Basically a closed circuit network for the use of the town and as John mentioned It really does have great value for the town such. Yeah. Okay. Great. Thank you very much Sorry, we use these electronic packets and I have to flip back and forth Question for the manager I noticed that web hosting is included in here Do we use the the web hosting that's provided or no actually our our new other not new anymore But our newer website we pay for hosting for that as part of the package. So now it's not covered here. Okay, okay I Had a question Well, just I think just to clarify for folks who are watching at home that this has been something We've had to remind folks of throughout this process There is a phrase within the contract says the issuing authority Reserves the right to regulate the licensees rates and charges to the extent Allowable under state and federal laws my understanding is that is basically nil. Yeah, yeah In in Massachusetts, Mr. Kerr The state itself was the issuing authority for rates now in most other states It would be the town or the city But here the Commonwealth basically exempted that so by and large there no longer exists Rate regulation that is particularly true in a community that is subject to so-called effective competition and there is a Arcane definition of that From the FCC but here in Arlington you are fortunate you have three Cable TV companies. That's almost unheard of now. There are some other communities around Needham and Newton that have the same It's very very unusual and so you don't really need rate regulation the marketplace Ostensibly does that for you and people should realize that even if you had rate regulation It only affects the basic service, right the the expanded services pay services Internet services were never subject to this and if you look at the number of subscribers in any community That's subscribed to basic only It's very small, right it's very small, but that is not The language was there in case it came back It's not coming back and you were you were right to bring it up So folks understand that the board of select men cannot control Comcast rates RCN's rates or Verizon's rates, but to that I would like to say that I'm appreciative that you were able to Negotiate the senior discount which we had asked for I recognize that we cannot actually and I think John was accurate in Saying that it is in the scheme of things of very generous I mean five bucks is is a generous discount RCN agreed to put it in the license Comcasts would not agree to a discount They they would never agree to put it in the license and Verizon Historically has just not agreed. So in your current Verizon license There is no senior discount nor is there a senior discount in your Comcast license. Thanks. I have three quick Section 10.3 Yes, and there are several other sections which which reference Their non-discrimination clauses and they reference state and federal laws Our lists of protected classes are actually much broader in in in Arlington Okay, and I'm just curious why we wouldn't reference also the local local by-laws as well For example, we include veteran status source of income gender identity. That's a valid concern for sure and Because you mentioned to me before the meeting I engaged Tom. Yeah steel about it and I think you know if you wanted to Agree to the license contingent upon a successful negotiation to include the additional protected classes, which are recognized by the town Tom is in the Kennedy's willing to do that and include that. So if you want to include that as part of your Vote, I'm sure we could you know come to a result a happy resolution to satisfy the board with regard to that I Don't have the language right in front of me that it references applicable state and federal laws If we simply put applicable local state in federal would so I mean the fact is we can even write that in on the Draft we have and I'll change it and I'll just add the word local and then whatever your Local by-laws are would would would then be triggered. I think that would satisfy it I think there are several places where there are such clauses Contract that's great Section 12.2. I just have a question that there are some performance standards laid out and there's one performance standard around I don't know it's 3% or 5% of the callers to the call center won't get a busy signal Okay, how's that measured yeah, yeah, that is the telephone answering and it is in the customer service obligations where it talks about people getting through 95% of the time it references federal law. It's not something that we negotiate The the way that and this the customer service obligations are probably 20 years old I mean they're they're in there. They were promulgated by the FCC which should tell you something Oh, so if you call the FCC and ask them what it means you get silence on the other end But the way to there is a remedy there, sir, and it's a busy study. So you could actually commission Verizon to do a busy study. I don't know that anybody has done so But but but there is at least on paper, Mr. Remedy, okay, that just left me scratching my head a little bit And just the last one is section 12.9 talked about Employees when they come to the home of the proper identification and I noticed there was no reference to contractors I don't know if you use contracted folks Who come or if they're considered legally employees? I thought it did reference agents Yeah, if you don't mind if you could come on up to the microphone to answer a question I'd appreciate it and as we say the millions at home who are watching they appreciate Thank you. If you could introduce yourself. Thank you. Yes. My name is Thomas steel junior I'm vice president and regulatory counsel for RCN welcome. Thank you And We're right down the street. We have our regional office here in Allenton. We're very happy to be here We're proud to be part of this community. That's why we're so anxious to see this agreement reached in so The if anybody were to come and solicit they would have to be have identification as police rules is all kinds of things that we follow Contractors the same way if we hire contractors as technicians for instance. Yeah, everybody's clearly identified with name tags Yeah, we have a welcome kids to hold the whole thing. Okay, great. Thank you. That's all I had Thank you very much. You don't have to apologize Joe Steve You know, I don't have any questions. I think Joe hit on a lot of question marks I had is I think John did an excellent job describing the contract I am very grateful for the work of the cable advisory committee and in particular I'm happy to hear that they voted on this unanimously and I think that shows that the town is getting a really good product and After our Initial hearing which well feels like a maybe a year ago. Is that people right you? Yes, that um, I think was the three of us I think it was yes, I know there was quite a lot of attention paid to MCI a Cmi at that hearing and it sounds like they were Really taking care of and I think that benefits the whole town and shows That RCN takes our relationship with ACMI as seriously as we do so. Thank you very much Did you want to hear from Mr. McCleod briefly? He was next on the list for sure Sorry, I almost missed my opportunity to speak with you because I was busy texting Sean downstairs and Jeff to make sure that they knew What was going on and Make sure that the sound over here is increased a little bit because I had difficulty hearing people speaking I'm Norma clouding the executive director for our Arlington community media I want to thank everybody who has been involved in the negotiation certainly the cable advisory committee Doug Heim our town manager and of course RCN. I want to compliment RCN in the access community around this area RCN has a very good reputation probably because everyone is excited about getting high definition high definition television is Critical to get for us to have people watch us and more importantly for people to watch you There are about 30 to 40 percent of the people that we've done when we don't surveys in the town Did a survey two years ago if you remember And about 30 to 40 percent of folks said they would not watch if it was not in high definition That and that that was two years ago So I'm sure that percentages has increased over two years So the fact that RCN has been so cooperative in giving us three channels We're ecstatic because we can provide more program for the community and have more people watching us so we can see High school events. We can see football. We can see the middle school We can see all of you folks certainly and more importantly town day is coming up in two days It will all be in high definition. The irony is there are really high definition ready now All we were waiting for is the channel the pipe out. Well, thanks to RCN We have it so I just want to thank everybody for for working on this and again RCN everybody. We're happy very happy Thank you very much. Thank you here for me. Is there anyone else here who wanted to talk about this license? Mr. Dunn. Oh, yes, mr. Steele. Did you have anything else you wanted to say? Oh, we have a RCN No, I just want to say it was a pleasure negotiating with that. I think John we were here for the first license and Second there's everything it's been a it's been a pleasure working with that committee It was and I think that we're particularly proud of providing HD services for the in programming I know the only equipment you can buy these days is HD equipment and so everybody was ready We have the bandwidth. We're small. We're not as big as Comcast and Verizon But we seem to be able to do some things they can't And one good element and not that I'm looking at any particular one of you, but HD tends to be more slimming But if you spill soup on your tie at dinner That's the other you might need some makeup And we have 250 miles of fiber in the institutional network serving 26 buildings Interconnected point-to-point. It's a huge amount of fiber in in the town and it it's reliable because it's part of our own network It's good for data good for video distribution and we're proud to be a partner with the town in that regard So it's all said and done. We're anxious to get this license signed be here another 10 years before we come back and The transfer that was mentioned by John briefly will be something that we'll ask you to address over the next month or two It involves an investment company really buying out the investment company that owns us now The the promises there that the management team will remain the same including me, which I'm happy to hear And so it'll be you'll see very little change other than the ownership at the top will be a different company And they'll they'll prove to you with the federal filings and the hearing that we might have That they have the Cape the capability to provide the services and they'll have to honor the license that you signed tonight Thank you. Thank you very much There are no other questions comments I Please I respectfully request that I'm excuse me motion be made to execute the extension license extension for our CN To be effective today, and that you sign same and may just add as modified Ever so slightly by mr. Kuro's request to insert We'll read state federal and town regulations with respect to non-discrimination So moved second. All right, so we have a motion of second any further discussion Hearing and all those in favor, please say aye aye. I'm going to hand you the signature page if you could sign it So it's good. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you all very much John. Thank you. Thank your committee Doug and Adam are running the Drive in the car here. I'm like a junior member of the of this thing of this team And I'm going to remind you of that when we come back from Verizon and Comcast, but maybe not so great a license John we're going to help you in negotiating position. Thank you. Mr. Meyer we won't Okay All right next up Arlington Heights banners mr. Chapter Lane Thank You chairman done I really only put my name here to be able to introduce the representatives of support Arlington Heights that we're able to make it tonight So I see we have Claudine and Debbie and I'll let them introduce themselves, but Quickly as the board knows we've been working with a citizen group a resident group named support Arlington Heights to make a number of improvements and to have a number of discussions about Arlington Heights and part of that was a Designing banners as they've done and they're here tonight to talk about them. Thank you. Sorry. No, it's good Welcome. Yes. Hello. Hello. My name is Deborah Richard. I live on Hillside Avenue in Arlington. Welcome. Thank you As Adam said we represent a citizens group in the Heights and we have gathered together to improve and Also bring along some of the businesses for the prosperity for the citizens up in that part of town One of the bigger things that we have done is beautification as well as a group meeting that had over a hundred members I know mr. Cario was there as well. That was in July and One of the items that we've decided to act on is to create banners that we would hang up and down the existing poles in the Corridor of the Arlington Heights Mass Ave Street We have a design that's in your proposal. I assume for 14 banners that will be hung on the streets They're triangular shaped and we were just respectfully submitting for your approval Thank you Questions No questions. I will move approval and I think these look excellent. Great. Thank you, mr You know, I think that what we've we've definitely seen this down in East Arlington I think this has been a you know, one good step moving forward, so I'm excited to get this going up the heights. We are too great And I will second the motion. I'll say I really I like the design. I think it's It's interesting. You're you're going away from the rectangular design that we usually see for banners Which is kind of distinctive and and using one of our more distinctive architectural Gems from the rights. Yeah, love it Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Hi. Thank you very much. Thank you for coming All right. Next up. I'm going to do the consent agenda We have the minutes for July 18th. Do we have the right three people for that? I forgot to check that We don't I am going to extreme for the 20-second meeting All right, so I'm so we are not going to include the minutes for either the 18th or the 22nd Request special one day beer and wine license 922 Robbins Memorial Town Hall for the art exhibit Martin Google of Google vision 2020 was where art committee one day alcohol all alcohol license on September 25th at the Whittemore Robbins for private wedding We have a request for a hero fest September 30 through October 1st From doctor from Reverend dr. Nicholas Castanus may regret that or saying that or not for approval Arlington Center for the arts 17th annual open Excuse me Arlington Center for the arts 17th annual Arlington Open Studios a Kino monitor on at Boyle's family market on 64 Broadway and a special municipal employee for the recreation department We also who's James Feeney? Excuse me the request is from James Feeney and we have several new election workers to appoint Donald Cone Linda Cone Claire Gibbons Melissa O'Brien Paula Silva Thomas Silva Aaron Sloanaker and Jeffrey Wright Marie just though we pulled the minutes because we don't have the right three So none of the minutes are on the list this list So we have got a whole bunch of items into I have a motion and who's here to talk about these items I move approval subject to all conditions except for Joe wins Second from mr. Burn. Who's here to talk about these items right up front come on up to the mic introduce yourself So Nicholas croquetos from St. Athanasius Creek Orthodox Church for Appleton Street. Welcome the one and only so judo fest this year the church is decided to Seek a fundraiser to renovate our existing building at 22 Appleton Street and You know fest will be focusing all of its funding towards that building in that project So I Entertain any questions you might have about judo fest. What is it? It's the first time we've ever done it So we're very excited about it. I'm sure a lot of people will be I'm sure a lot of people won't be Can't please everybody. Yeah, but do you have any questions for me? So is it the is the package of requests that you've got there? It does it differ from what you do for? The Greek festival it looked the same. Oh, it does. Okay, and I'm glad you asked that So as you know, the Greek festival is quite a large-scale event. This is not going to be that It's our first time having judo fest. I included in the packet a Request to change Appleton Place to the one way just for safety reasons We thought we would do that in advance to just try to mitigate any issues that may arise But we don't foresee any because this is a very much scaled-back event We actually don't know what to anticipate and to be quite honest We don't anticipate probably very much due to a lot of outstanding factors one It's the first time we've done it So we need to see how it goes and secondly, it's a different time of year. It's the fall and thirdly We're only offering one thing on that menu, which is you know, which a lot of people don't like but some do like I don't know if any I know Mr.. Kuros Come to our festival and I It is a different style of that will have pastries We're requesting the one-day beer and two-day beer and wine license There'll be sodas beverages available typically what you'll see what we typically offer at our ladies cuisine In the fall, which we're not having this year Okay officer or tow Good evening members of the board officer retos Marlington police department Some of you may know that I am the traffic safety officer, but in my division. We are details traffic and licensing We do have some concerns about the proposal as set forth for the Greek church while we We're not denying that, you know, it should happen We're just concerned that in their safety and security plan that they're asking to have traffic redirected on acting and I mean, I'm sorry Appleton Street and with that they're only asking for two officers during the entire time And we're concerned about that with it being such an unknown. It's still going to be outside. I believe this Similar event kind of might have been a lot smaller happening indoors But now they're doing something more expanded outdoors with a tent want to redirect traffic So we're concerned about only asking to have two officers there with a traffic redirection and You know, as he said to some people may not be happy about it. We don't know how much Word got out to the community because we do get a lot of pushback when they have the larger Greek Festival in Earlier in the year just wondering, you know, how much Publicity was gone out or if this is going to be thrust on the neighborhood all of a sudden seeing another festival coming in So those are our concerns about it. It's not that we'll deny signing off on it But those are our major concerns with the proposal How many officers would you propose using speaking with my supervisor lieutenant com right three plus a supervisor Okay That's if they want to have traffic redirected that there should be at least three officers on a supervisor watching over them. Thank you Yeah, so I'm curious so I'm a suit. I'm quite confident that you guys have talked about this before and so you Have you thought about running it without changing the street, but you still made the request Can you tell me a little bit more about that? Absolutely. So I Did that As a preliminary, you know discussion with the board of directors of st. Athanasius to provide better safety I don't know if any of you have ever been. I mean, I'm sure a lot of you've been up in the heights during the Autism drop-off and pick up. I Don't think I need to say very much more. I think we would I think doing just a two day to change the street path To a one way is something that we'd appreciate all year long And I know the residents would probably appreciate that too because that's a very narrow street I Haven't spoken with officer Ratau prior to this meeting. So these are all new facts being presented to me, but I Am if it's something that the town is uncomfortable with with changing the directional pattern I'm happy to drop that request and we can keep the pattern as as nor the normal pattern it is It that's entirely up to the town Yiddofest is not in replace of any other event. It is a new event and Because it's so scaled back we are anticipating a very much lighter crowd too. I mean we're not ordering Anything that you'd see for the Greek festival. It's it's not a Greek festival It's more of a indoor event as well because we're anticipating colder weather So the church hall will be open for seating. We'll have some seating under the tent which will be a third of what it normally is We really just have that tent to provide Greater access for those that are handicapped and also to provide Outdoor seating to those that just want to grab and go we're anticipating sort of a you know take out pre-order process We're trying to do that electronically online So we're just trying to stay ahead of the curve to satisfy as many people as we can Joe so I think I have a question for officer atto Am I understanding that if there is no change in the traffic pattern that the two officers that are requested here would be sufficient? That was what was related to me by my supervisor. Yeah, I think there is a valid concern here where the Friday is It's 11 o'clock. I think it is this the opening time. So it does conflict with Autism correct 11 a.m. Start time. Yeah, although as you'll note probably when you're at our festival And we do start the 11 a.m. Time. We have contemplated year after year whether or not to start at 5 o'clock because The turnout is so low It's not like it used to be across the street because we'd have people from the town halls Teachers from the high school walk over. We're in a different spot now. So we've been contemplating What are the change that but I? Just with them with added details as you know for our festival. We spend about $9,500 in details So we're trying we want to be careful because it's the first year and not Go overboard, but we're respectful of whatever the board decides and what we ever is recommended. Yeah I think is as I think about it. I mean if it's not even the volume that I'd be concerned with but as I think about it more changing the directional flow of that street to conflict with the the Autism drop-off and pick up. That's where the confusion could come I think with some of those those parents So if I'm hearing from you correctly, you're willing to drop the request for the for changing the the Directional flow of the street and correct Just keeping it to detail officers then I'd be inclined to amend my motion to that effect Joe men so Joe's making amended proposal to accept the to approve with the line through the Street street Second for mr. Burn, and I'm comfortable with that as well. Officer or toe Drop this on last minute It just was as a understood that I was going to be here on a separate issue tonight They said to make sure that I brought up that concern, okay, and that was the only concern everything else in the safety and security plan that they submitted Was fine, okay? Anybody else on anything on the consent agenda Anybody from the Center for the arts want us to talk about their employer nothing, okay? so we have a motion amended with an amendment of the And which I'm just going to take the amendment because we're already there All those in favor of the main motion to on the consent agenda, please say aye. Aye. Aye Unanimous vote. All right, we are now I'm going to now pull something out from deep on our list And I'm going to go down to item number 16, which is for approval doesn't need Purcell Road is one way from Everett Street North Union Street Since we have the pleasure of dr. Bodie being with us You're up Do you are you the right person to speak first? It's your request so it probably makes sense Officer Ratoa is with me. You're great. Well, thank you for Moving me up on the agenda. Thank you for having me here tonight. The reason that I have I'm here is Related to the letter that I sent all of you We would like to request That Purcell which is a one which right now is two ways and it is the one way It is the one block street that is adjacent to the Thompson parking lot Be made one way going east and the reason for this request is it right even right now under the current situation this street is jammed in the morning and We right now teachers park along the school side and when people park along the opposite side It is a two-way street and it's impossible for two-way traffic We anticipate or at least hoping to anticipate that we will be looking at some Construction in the near future at Thompson and if that occurs that's only going to exacerbate an already current situation that's very difficult and Officer roto and I Have talked about this a number of times and I think that he could give a little bit more information about What some of the that the current dangers are in the in the situation? One other one other thing that I would say is that we did contact all of the butters So they are aware of that tonight. We're presenting this and asking you for a decision I don't know if any of the butters are here this evening But they may they may have some comments on that as well. Can I just turn this over to officer roto? Definitely? I just yes No, I should please dr. Officer roto Thank you As state I've been working with dr. Bode on this for a while trying to brainstorm ways of Making the area around the Thompson school a lot safer as you know, it's like one of our greatest responsibilities is to make sure that we get our Towns children to and from school safely This intersection Where you have North Union and Purcell and on the opposite side you have Fremont Is constantly been a complaint area We do have a traffic supervisor there Assisting with kids crossing, but one of the problems is that the intersection is offset Fremont and so then that way you have cars coming Offset different areas trying to turn trying to come out and it makes it a lot more dangerous. We even had One of our traffic supervisors has been was hit earlier This year, I'm sorry. Well earlier this year the previous school year At that intersection by a car. So we're just trying to look at a way I believe that if we make it a one-way heading eastbound and we did pick heading eastbound just because after the previous construction at the Thompson the way that the parking area was set up along with the driveway It's more oriented to eastbound traffic and Like dr. Bode said she did send a letter out to the abutters. There's six of butters on the street I did get an email back from one person just wondering if it would be something that we try and do only time wise You know, maybe morning and drop off. I felt I feel like this is something that should be a permanent change to a one-way A lot easier trying to mitigate it than having someone trying to rush through the sign or anything like that or confusion Frustration, especially when there's a lot of kids going around Thank you Questions from colleagues No, no questions, but I will say that Looking at the map the that street doesn't go all the way through it is just the block of Thompson because I had to look that up first So no, it's not like it runs You know any more than the one block So so I will support it for that reason and it does seem to be a big safety issue. So I'm happy to support it And I'll say we have plenty of precedent. I think at some of our other schools I can think of Stratton up there Audison of making portions of streets one way in the city of the schools to facilitate the flow. So I think That's reasonable. So I move move approval Okay Dr. Bodie, did you we did you get any feedback? Other than this one emailed. No, that was it and officer roto answered it. Okay. Is there anyone here who's here to talk about? Purcell road, okay How dr. Bodie when do you anticipate that the construction is complete is it? So we're talking about so what you sorry in your letter you indicated you would like this to take effect in particular You wanted it before the construction started. Yes Well, we have some steps to go before that as you know We have to go to the school enrollment task force and then permit and then a special time meeting If if approvals go forward We would anticipate construction beginning November 1st and when would it end just I understand this is This is not this is the opening of speculating. It's not certain. Yeah, well. I hope it's certain It's a bit the opening of school next year. Okay, so my question then is should we consider Re-evaluating this next summer and see how it worked for this year So we have a couple options. So we I should say I'm happy to support this in particular for during the construction There are a few other traffic changes. We've made where we've done. We've called the pilot programs We've done them for six months or a year or something like that Is this something we would want to make truly permanent or is this something that we wanted explicitly call back before ourselves next summer? So I would I would be happy to consider that but I'd be interested to see how What type of valuation tools we're going to look at in the interim fair point I perhaps if it's just feedback and I'd be happy to reconsider it if some of the neighbors wanted to get together And come discuss it with us, but I am without actually having a way to Yeah, consider it over the past year. I don't think that I'd be willing to call it a pilot program for now May I make a point? Yes One assuming that we do have the completion Opening a school. There's going to be a six-room classroom building on the other end of Thompson I would I would if you're going to consider it. I would wait until we see how how traffic Patterns after this new addition particularly where the drop-offs are we know we've seen some surprises that we didn't anticipate with Thompson One of which is that more people are walking down the loading dock Driveway than we expected to happen So it's it's hard to say exactly what this will look like I mean as much as we might anticipate with traffic is going to be in that area Okay, but we are going to be seeing more cars Coming to that school and more walking traffic and right now that corner of North Union and Purcell is probably one of the most dangerous corners that we have and among all of our schools Any further discussion? Dr. Officer to Add to that in terms of like considering a pilot program I mean the Thompson has been redone for a couple of years and this has been an existing problem since it's been redone And I think it's something that you know, we need to do something to address it I'm not sure of trying to do a pilot on it for a year when we've been having problems at this intersection for two years already is a Just my opinion. I think the one way to take out that offset and the turning back and forth in there It's probably to save the solution. Okay. It didn't make the motion. So you're all safe Any further discussion? I'm motion from mr. Currow second by mr. Burn. All those favor, please say aye. Aye, three zero unanimous vote. Thank you very much Okay Next up item number love 11 board of health Dr. Fallon He is here. Welcome So Thank you very much for volunteering. Thank you for being here tonight. If you can share with us a little bit of what we've got your Resume in front of us, but at the same time if you could share with us and the people at home something about your experience And what brings you here and for this or actually or should I have called on? Mr. Chaplain, well, you know, I would actually just give a 10 second Dr. Fallon came in with a recommendation of after being interviewed by Christine Varnjurno and really we are blessed in Arlington with so many talented and experienced and very intelligent and Just excellent volunteers and dr. Fallon came in just really blew my socks off with his Expertise and the experience he has and I think he is going to be a great addition to the board of health So I'll let him talk more about himself, but highly highly right now. Maybe you shouldn't say anything Thank you, Mr. Chaplain My name is Kevin Fallon and I'm a resident of Arlington for more than 66 years and I have a business local business I've been through veterinarian school and in veterinarian school. We do do a lot of public health work Studies a lot of it theoretical, but I also was able to experience some work with a fist which is the animal health plant inspection service and I Also had large animal and small animal health experience other thing we do in school is we have a lot of food inspection and meat inspection and Training and I just thought that I could help out I can see from reading the minutes from the last couple of sessions that I have a lot to learn but I'm sure working with this team will be They'll help me along as long as much as I can help them. Okay. Thank you very much I will I'm happy to move approval. Dr. Fallon And I think I know that the other committee members will enjoy your Partnership on the committee. So thank you. Thank you very much And I'm happy to second second that approval. I knew you were a Local guy, but I didn't know you had done so much globetrotting in your career as well Yeah, we're just lucky, you know my wife's from Australia and so that was a big part of it Yeah, I see the Royal Bangkok sports club holo holo club. That's fantastic But I also see the animal and plant health inspection service certainly sounds very Relevant to to the work that you would doing with the board of health there, so Cool. So so thank you very much volunteers make the town work And we really appreciate your willingness to volunteer and I'm a will be happy to support it I will bend your ear however briefly on an issue that where I've had the opportunity to disagree with decisions the board of health has made and specifically the one that I'm Concerned me was the changing of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21, which I understand the health benefits of it but I think it's I'm a big believer in The the equality of citizens and I think that that is a type form of age discrimination That is just I think that people should be treated like adults and so having Bent your ear. I'm still gonna say well the other thing we I do believe in this is one of those things where you You point smart people and you let them make their own decisions, but you also tell them what you think I have done that Is there any further discussion? All right, and on approval all those in favor, please say aye. Hi And so for some reason my phone thinks that I'm talking to it, which I apologize for Thank you. Thank you very much I've never had that happen before Next up a council on aging Sorry, so mr. Fenton actually emailed me today. He was away last week and unfortunately sustained an injury that will prevent him from Being here tonight. He definitely wants to come before the board if the board would do as it's allowed in the past Maybe approve his appointment so we can start sitting on the CUA, but have him back at a future meeting And ask you to consider that so moved Okay Since you asked mr. Manager Thank you. All right any discussion on this one all those in favor, please say aye Item 13 request class 2 license Patrick Quinn Welcome. Hello We read your application anything you should want to share. No, my biggest and the reason I asked for class 2 is I sell a lot of cows Through the internet they never come to Allington And the Department of Revenue is mad at me for selling a few cows. Okay, so I need to become licensed in order to not go to prison Well Not the usual that's not the usual pitch We have a motion for mr. I will second it. All right, I Don't have the all those in favor, please say aye. Hi. All right. Thank you very much. Thanks, sir Next up approval change of manager not your average Joe's Lauren Dexter Welcome. Thank you. I read the application anything else we should hear. I don't think so colleagues I Guess the only thing I'd say is I'd the same thing we go through every time with changes of managers and new licenses presumably you're very well versed in the Preventing underage serving We know that in the past there have been some issues, but I think with several managers ago at this point So that's really all I have to Agree with Joe and second. Thank you. It's motion risk here. I'm gonna push harder on that one though and say So you understand the not your average Joe's had a serving violation a couple years ago. I do, okay? and Definitely one of the things we've seen when we see violations because policies either weren't written in your case I know they were written, but perhaps I just want to understand Tell me are you continuing to have what what's your new? Server education like what's the sign-off process to you're going through things like that? Could you share that with me? Well, actually Arlington has less strict requirements for serve-safe certifications for the hourly employees so My history with not your average Joe's has worked in stores that does require that So I kind of just go through that training with every new man and every new server Okay, bartender and then what happened are they signing it? They're signing it Yeah, they're signing off in an alcohol service policy form. Okay, but we just we reiterate it weekly at least The penalties and we've had some great examples locally of what can happen. So, okay Any further discussion will approval all those in favor, please say aye aye three zero. Thank you very much Next up Marie do we have anybody citizens open forum? Okay, just double-checking no one's here here for specifically for citizens open forum Seeing none moving on number 15 is next up So that number 15 a request once on space one space on street overnight parking at 35 Madison Street from Dorothy Louise miss Louise Good is that that's you? Could you come on up to the microphone and and so we've read your application? We read the responses to it. Could you tell us just about that about your application? Well, I have three cars and there's only two parking spaces. I've been a resident for 20 years I live at the end of the dead-end Street. So as you go down the the hill I was noticing why this occurs the driveways get a little shorter. So Because I'm at the bottom There's the driveway is very short and only room for two cars And I need a space for a third car We're all working Thank you So We we get these requests frequently and we very rarely approve them and I am going to Recommend or move to not approve your request tonight. Unfortunately, and we have Messages here from both the police and fire department recommending that we do not approve Of this additional parking spot. I would recommend and perhaps Looking around in the neighborhood and seeing if there could be somewhere that you could rent a spot overnight for the additional car There really isn't anyone. I mean, I've been there for 20 years My son is now home from college, which is why there's an additional car. Yeah, there's None of my neighbors. They would probably I'll give you a second to get way in in a minute, but it's not the moment. It's still his turn No, and but but even in the past as a instead of because we did have a Referendum on the ballot asking if people in our acting would like overnight parking and it was overwhelmingly voted no and So I think that we have a responsibility to kind of uphold the town's the that vote and You know, even in the past we've had a as opposed to If there is an area where someone could even put in an additional driveway We would recommend extending driveways as opposed to giving out spots like this So, you know, I'm really sorry, but I'm just not going to support this tonight Well, I We all get a cracker. I wanted to reply to his additional you'll get a chance at a moment. Okay, mr. Kira I'm gonna I'm gonna second mr. Burns motion and Largely for the reasons that he he described. I mean, I think a number of us were actually kind of interested in exploring Kind of a liberalization of the the on-street parking and that's why we supported putting the ballot measure on a set You know a number of years ago overwhelmingly defeated Opening it up Additionally the the fire department in particular has has written that that having Cars parked on the street at night would potentially impede access to the hydrant into the lake if they needed access to the lake for rescue so unfortunately folks in this situation have had to find another situation either with a public lot or a private lot or Our neighbor. I know you said that there are no neighbors who were able to help you in this way But I'm sorry, but I'm gonna I'm gonna be supporting mr. Burns motion I'm on the same page and really and I've said they've said it, but I'll just hit the three points One is because it's the town as a body has chosen to follow it And two is because the town lot the one by St. Agnes over here is a few minutes walk away and there are spaces available there for overnight rent and The third one is even if we were to permit overnight parking We wouldn't do it in places that public safety recommended against it, and this is one of those places So unfortunately, I'm gonna also vote no, but now it's First of all, I Approve I think safety is very important and I've been there for a very long time I've seen fire trucks come up and down the street, so I do not agree with that There's never been a chance or an opera, you know Situation where fire trucks have not been able to access it. I'm really It's there. It's there's a lot of room second of all having me walk from the town lot home is I think not very sensitive or appreciative of me being a Person in Arlington for 20 years in my house. I can't park in front of it. My son's home from college He's looking to park in front of our home So I feel that's a little insensitive to it and to put a driveway in Is I would have to take down a hundred year old sycamore tree, which is kind of Unrealistic too and the other part where the town voted on it I think if you there are so many different areas of Arlington, I think to ask the whole town globally is unrealistic. I should be done by Neighborhood or section because every neighborhood in Arlington is quite different. I also feel that in coming here The decision was already made from a conversation. I had with the police officer because Everything that you all said he had recommended to me and it felt like it was a done deal I also know that people who have come here friends have had parking approved. So That's where I am on that Okay, thank you Any further comment? All those favor, mr. Burns motion seconded by mr. Kuro, please say aye. I Put your name of smoke. Thank you for coming. Sorry Next up minute man campaign update mr. Ruderman Welcome. Thank you members of the board. Good evening Michael Ruderman Representing Arlington's contingent in the campaign for minute man's future We're working to turn out a vote a positive vote for minute man regional high school Arlington's Secondary high school for vocational and career technical education Vote is September 20th week from tomorrow. It is a little unusual in the timing polls are open noon to eight Which is different from our customary elections? This vote is being taken up in the entire school district because of the somewhat arcane rules of the district compact and state law In order to borrow money for a project the district has to have the unanimous consent of all 16 member towns We got 15 so lacking that 16th yes, the option was to go to a Direct vote of all the residents in them in the member towns and that's where we are coming up next Tuesday All right Thank you I don't think there are any questions I think it just just bears Reminding folks that we did have a debt exclusion related to this to cover Arlington's share and that two-thirds of those voting Voted in favor of that, so I hope folks will get out and that's right We had a vote in town meeting that was contingent on a successful vote on the debt exclusion question the town meeting vote carried by 80% the debt exclusion question carried townwide by Almost exactly two-thirds and so we're confident that if we get our supporters out We'll get a positive vote week from tomorrow Excellent. I will also say that not only should we get ourselves out to vote on September 20th But we should call everyone in Belmont because Belmont is indeed the 16th town who we haven't been able to persuade and If we can get this question to pass in Belmont It's a done deal and even if it fails in Belmont it still might get done but The way the way to get this done for sure is to call your friends in Belmont and say please vote couldn't agree more on September 20th Any further questions or comment? All right, I think that's probably it that I don't think we're going to take no. Thank you very much Thank you for coming Next up item 18 ADA parking space proposal and recommendation. Mr. Towne manager. Thank you, mr. Chairman So before the board tonight is a recommendation on the ADA space Proposal that was put before the board by a working group of the Disabilities Commission back in July At that meeting in July, I had asked for a little time for us to do a solicitation of public feedback on the proposal We did so though there there was not very much public feedback There were several emails that were in the board's packet tonight one from a group of business owners in East Arlington Expressing some concern about the proposal, but also a broader concern about The laws and enforcement of handicapped parking and parking in general in East Arlington and then several supportive emails from members of the community Reading those emails giving the proposal for the consideration what I Have asked the board to consider tonight Is what would basically be a phased-in or tiered approach whereby? Just over half 14 of the 27 proposed spots would be implemented immediately We would then if the board adopted this proposal perform a utilization review to see how well both the new Spaces as well as the existing spaces are utilized over a period of time we can define and then come back before the board and So far as there is a sufficient utilization of those spots that teams that there should be an expansion Approved the further 13 spots for the total 27 and we could even do it a year from now at the 1st September meeting and The only the only thing I would add is I I wouldn't want to be the one to pick the 14 recommended So I'd ask the disability if the board does Adopt this proposal going back to the disabilities Commission Which are the working group specifically to recommend the top 14 to be implemented? So that they're in the spots that are least of the highest priority as designated by the working group Okay Could you sorry? Yeah So I guess I have a question for the manager But I should ask my colleagues if they have a question for him first now The managers just answered my question because I was going to ask how how do you choose that? Would ask if you could Talk a little bit further about the Utilization review that we had undertake so what we would do is Within existing DPW funds we would hire an engineering firm to come in We'd probably do a weekday in the weekend count on all of the spots and actually count the amount of time that it was That the spots were actually Taken so we would just determine what the actual percentage of utilization was Thank you, and I don't know that there's a standard number that we would gauge it by But I would gauge that anything demonstrating regular utilization would warrant that Considering further expansion would be reasonable Alright, thank you Come on up Darcy Devney Thorn Dyke Street in East Arlington a volunteer for the Arlington Disability Commission an Adequate number of handicap parking spaces in the optimal places It seems like somewhat a simple request and it was one year ago in January the Disability Commission voted Yes in March the board of selectmen voted yes to send it to town meeting in May town meeting voted Yes 183 to 4 Do we need all of the HP spaces that we have asked for yes, we do I'm not gonna bother dragging you through all of the vision 2020 surveys and the town stats and the state stats yet again But they all agreed Arlington currently has only 23 on-street public HP spaces You've heard this before Adding 27 all 27 will barely take Arlington up to the minimum 5% recommended by the Massachusetts office of disability We've worked very hard with the business community to optimize placement and our plan reflects that As for that single negative email from the capital square we were aware of that issue We believe we have a solution and I can show you the diagrams acceptable to all concerned I'm worried that people with disabilities are going to end up as scapegoats for the loss of parking in East Arlington That was caused by the Mass Ave project That's not fair, and I hope you can make sure that that doesn't happen a Utilization study I Could go into some detail But it would be pointless and a waste of town resources because of the way handicapped spaces work Which you might not know if you're not a handicapped person Any specific HP space is a very local resource a study of whether a particular HP space is utilized or for how long Doesn't tell you anything about whether an HP space is needed a block away It doesn't actually tell you whether that's a useful HP spot or not because as I've explained before it is currently sort of the The moral idea of an HP space for most people who have those placards is to not use it Unless they have to that is unless there is no other space They can take because they want to leave it for another handicapped person who might need it more Therefore it is the very scarcity of HP spaces that makes them somewhat underutilized Because people don't want to they want someone else whose handicapped have them if there were plenty of them People would use them all the time, but they don't because they don't want someone else being denied the opportunity of a space When I said the HP space is a block apart I'm I'm gonna say again a person with mobility problems Doesn't necessarily have the option of walking that block That is why we have been so careful about the placement and that is why we need them and again That doesn't get us to the minimum that the Massachusetts office of disability recommends that the ADA in essence recommends You know when I was doing the original map for this project Adam Kuroski the map GIS director said You know Wow, you really do know every handicapped space in Arlington and I realized that I did Because that is my Arlington as a disabled person Then when we drove around to consider new spots, I realized how much of Arlington isn't in my mental Arlington map anymore I've been to retro burger Once and that is because of handicapped parking. I've missed meetings at town hall because I can't find a parking space How would a utilization study capture the missed opportunities the lunches with friends that don't happen the library books That don't get taken out and the volunteers that can't volunteer Disabled people won't come where they aren't welcomed and they can't come if you don't provide the legally required Access it isn't a case of waiting yet another year to see if handicapped people want to shop and visit and be contributing citizens of Arlington and then putting in HP spaces as We have explained from the first they can't come until they are there and I'm really very disappointed that it has taken this long and that we are at this Board again asking for something that's been said. Yes to so many times. I don't understand the difficulty here honestly as a disabled person and I hate to say you should walk in my shoes But you should limp in my shoes and then you might understand Thank you I'm the chair of this We've talked So I just got the message that this was occurring tonight Which in itself is about as aggravating as it can get because I had a full house of people and I was in little shorts And I said, okay, I'll be there in 10 minutes because I didn't know and I have a lot of respect for you I really do and I think we all work very very closely together And I've enjoyed every minute of it, but I respectfully very much disagree and I'm very upset by this Proposal because I feel like it's like changing the rules in the middle of the game We we did every single thing you asked and more I gave up every Not that I'm a martyr trust me. That's because it was important I gave up every single weekend in June in that 80 and 90 degree weather to walk Mass Ave and talk to everybody The whole town everybody knows in fact even today I was talking about it at Dunkin Donuts and one of the police officers said to me Yeah, I saw you good for you He said we need those spaces and I thought and then all of a sudden I get this email from Darcy and the Commission all trying to scramble to get people here tonight I I'm not a fan of people changing rules on me. I feel like we we respectfully did every single thing you wanted We collected data. We went to the registration We you know, we we've come here three different times and we were assured And you can look back because I watched it tonight We were assured that this was not a big deal that you were going to that it which we did You thought one group of people that said we got a couple of questions. You got nothing nothing we got The whole of Mass Ave saying yes and and with people that didn't say yes we came to a Resolution with the the next person or two down and they came into agreement So to tell us at this juncture, we're gonna wait another year after it's we've done all this with you folks I just feel like For me, I'm a volunteer and I want to play by rules, right? I mean, that's what you want us here for is to work and represent the community. So I just feel like I don't I'm speechless and I'm never speechless about this stuff I work with handicapped kids my whole life I this is all I do and this is all we talk about all the time is Access to a community and I want my Arlington To be accessible to everybody and everybody welcomed us with the open arms. That's why you didn't get anybody saying no so to tell us another year I Probably I'm gonna try to get back here with the Commission in some way I just would really ask you with all the respect to to just think about it because you've sent away a couple of times and Asked us to come back and do something else and we have So there's really I don't know what else I could do short of having everybody come to my house. So, you know the whole town I didn't think about getting a thousand signatures a town day and walking up and down and asking everybody to sign it but I You know our hope was to be honest with you We have town day all prepared with big maps about look at we did It's all ready for town day to say look at we accomplished as the handicapped Commission and Just kind of I feel like we're getting slammed. So I'm just gonna be honest with you Anyway, I was the emotional and sorry. Thank you Adam Thank you, mr. Chair. I Completely understand the frustration and I I appreciate sent these remarks and I equally respect her I I do feel like from the end of your remarks I want to make sure and I know you feel rushed into this that my proposal is not none It's implemented more than 50% of what was requested immediately. So I don't feel like Say that again. So I feel like and Sorry, I want to just I want to I want to I'm trying to make this as just as much a statement of fact as possible a good portion of my concern This is not at all meant and it could come off as accusatory and it's not meant to be When the group went when you were both before the board in July It was basically stated or put forth before the board that the business community was in 100% support We talked about soliciting feedback Before I even solicited that feedback for the most prominent members of the East Ireland business community Wrote me with grave concerns about the proposal So that instantly justified the concern I had that the community didn't was not aware that this was happening and Basically, that is the basis for my recommendation is that we're not we're not ignoring the request at all We're taking a first step, which I would say is this very significant step Seeing how the community reacts and then being able to take the final step next year That that's that's the basis for my Recommendation, I'm sorry ma'am. I it's really important that we only let the people talk when they're at the microphone when they're called on Thank you very much Please Robert Coon 110th Horn Dyke Street the reason that The town manager got that letter so soon was because those people had all been informed by The commission and encouraged to express their views they have one problem with one Owner of a property Who takes up a space because she's handicapped all day? That's in a nutshell their problem It is my turn to speak sir Please keep going That was very rude Please address us. I'm sorry. I've lost my train of thought because of the town manager We have gone back to those people and talked to them. We've talked to The person they were concerned about we have a solution for that issue There was one complaint that the town manager has received signed by four people we've resolved that and Yet he he acts like this is a grant proposal that we've added 50% Doubled the amount and he's cutting back the grant by 50% because that's really all they need Which goes against what the town voted for it goes against what the mass disability office Recommends for towns It goes against common sense because a utilization study will not tell you What the utilization is going to be for a handicapped space somewhere else? so it's wasting town resources on What is the town managers? Got feeling that handicapped people don't need that many spaces what it amounts to is not evidence That the town manager has brought before you But he's got feeling going against all the statistics all the evidence all the work done by the committee Thank you. Thank you. Are there other members here who wanted to in the audience who wanted to speak to this issue? Mr. Kara I had a question for the last speaker you referenced a specific issue and a solution that was that was reached could you Get more specific about that or If somebody else can answer it better, that's fine, but if you're the right Okay, thank you. I can explain it. Thank you Tarsie Devaney again. I can explain Barely straightforwardly we knew that this existed we had talked to them in our original walk shop about it How do I put this? Remember how I said that for handicapped people they always leave a handicapped space empty Okay What's going on in that block? I thought that you would have been given the emails By the town manager, but I guess you didn't what's going on in that block is in essence that there is There used to be nine spaces between restaurant, Olivia and Fox library and now there are six of Those six one is a handicapped space the person who Works there as an employee and is handicapped in that block Which is an issue we had in some other parts of town and we've resolved it in a different way in each part Because the employee was part-time or because of other spaces nearby So it's not that it's it's a new issue to have people who need handicapped spaces all day Because they're employed. They are now in the community working, which is the point of having that kind of access so But they're convinced that they should be leaving it for someone else because there aren't enough Handicap parking spaces So also the one that's in It's right in front of I think it's Tony's barbershop except that's moved The handicapped space was put in right behind a bump out which as we've explained before I think boringly enough is a bad idea for several reasons including that it is one of the hardest spaces to park in especially if you don't have enough flexibility and It is next to Street furniture so you can't get out on the side So in fact, I would grade it as kind of a D as a handicapped space So we're moving that back to where it was in front of the Fox library accessible door We're also putting another handicapped space around the corner So that there are two handicapped spaces there the employee can use one of them and that will still leave one for public use There's still going to be a shortage of parking spaces in East Arlington But that particular issue is really someone trying to be generous in case someone is more handicapped than they are Like some of their customers who are in this case more handicapped than they are So once we've provided enough handicapped spaces So we're adding as you can see one handicapped space right in front of the Fox We've done all this measuring of Cleveland Street We can add a handicapped space there and we can add an extra non-handicapped space So we will be adding two spaces and only one of them will be HP, but that will give us sufficient for the employee who works there and It is an accessible issue the Commission talked about because we knew this problem existed as I said in several different sort of permutations having some kind of Request possibility so that now people can ask for their employees to have a handicapped space nearby And do that on a sort of case-by-case basis once we've got the town up to that minimum 5% See how that's working, but I don't think that that is a reason to either reduce the other number of handicapped spaces by 50% or To halt the program for another year. I Just don't understand that it's a very specific as I said Although it's a an issue that comes up in a couple of different ways along that business corridor It can be solved in different ways and in this case that is the best solution We have for East Arlington if we had known about these problems when the East Arlington Parking was getting decided perhaps. We could have had a better solution than we now have but we are working with what we have Okay, all right. I'm gonna. Thank you for your answer So actually I gave the the chair to Joe and Joe asked a question and he got his answer So I'm gonna keep going back to Joe, but I'm gonna come back to you after I just want to give some some impressions of where I feel like I do agree that we discussed this at length and Tom beating discussed this at length and Really that the the Issues that were registered work with us were from you know capital square. That's a pretty it's a distinct You know several blocks of businesses It feels to me and I don't I don't know maybe there are some other considerations. Maybe they're Scheduling considerations. I don't know that weren't weren't referenced. It feels to me Like I'm not seeing right now Unless there's something that's escaping me that there's no reason not to proceed with the program for the other parts of The town both West and East of those distinct blocks that are encompassed by by these these businesses but that it then probably warrants a Consultation between the manager of disabilities commission capital square business association to find a solution for that particular Those particular blocks rather than just saying well, we're gonna. We're gonna implement the program at 50% There's actually a very discreet area that was that was that was brought to our attention But by the businesses and that's that's kind of where my head is at right right now from from what we've heard so far We don't have representatives capital square here. So I don't Yeah, please come on up just to help with this a little I could introduce yourself. I'm sorry. I'm Michael Daphne. Thank you I'm a volunteer. I think officially for now for the yeah, I Went through many of the stores up and down massive also. I do want to say relative back in Darcy up We had a at least a 35 minute if not 40 minute conversation. I think on Saturday or last week With the lady who I believe is the one the manager is concerned about And we went over very carefully with the maps and how she would use it or how she wouldn't etc So I can back up Darcy did in fact from what little she had learned I guess from the manager gone and Tried to resolve and make everybody as happy as possible on mass app which is of course a concern, you know, you don't want to Be unkind to your people what do you call it the people who own stores? They've gone through a lot during the Renovations they all lost the money. I'm sure the money didn't come in But let me say we definitely went with that lady and for half an hour 45 minutes Sure, you don't Yeah, I do please I Am I actually think a phase in approach is very fair? I think that doing a 50% phase in right now and having a Utilization study and having you know, I think a more town staff look at it is a very reasonable strategy and and I understand you know that you vehemently disagree with me and I'm not trying to take away from the work that you did or the importance of these spots But I do think that this is a reasonable approach that was set forth and I am I'm going to support it. So thank you My thoughts are that we're talking it feels I think what we're talking about is On a broad like taking a step back what we're talking about is the pace of implementation of a change. We're not talking Because the proposal the town manager is making is to increase the number of handy-gap spaces in town by you know, 60 odd percent or whatever it is and the People who are with us tonight advocating are advocating for a faster pace to that change So we're definitely talking and I think that that's a fair description of What we're talking about and I think that there is a nuance here. I'll come back. I'll come back here to the big further than a second then there is a nuance here that is That may be geolocationable that isn't like permit and perhaps I think Joe's point is is that there's parts place that we Couldn't perhaps move faster than others, but even still I think where it's it's it's about pace Adam do you think that's I'm gonna put you on the spot a little bit I'm gonna say could you tell me more about First of all, do you think I'm talking about pace is the right way to describe it? And tell me tell me more about why you're recommending this particular pace. Yeah, you know It's you just said more particularly and I probably should have led with that that to a great degree my overarching analysis of this has been give people change at the pace that can digest it and my concern has been that if 27 new ADA spots were along the Avenue and Broadway overnight that people who don't you know, don't take the active Sort of approach to pay attention to these discussions that we have here Would be very surprised that these that this happened And that was my concern that there would be an undue backlash against the Disabilities Commission in the town for making such What could be deemed the drastic change? So you you said it still better than I just said it in terms of trying to moderate the pace of change Can I? 50% 60% 75% no, I don't there's there's 50% as a smooth number to if there had been 28 spots I still would have said 14. Yeah, I tried tried to find a middle ground Okay, so I saw you took your head when I said it's not about pay when I said it's about pace What you're missing is the town managers insistence on a utilization study implying that Some of the spaces might not be created. That's the only reason for doing a utilization study to to Block what the towns voted for what the Board of Selectmen have Voted for so No, it is not just about pace and of course it's not overnight of course the DPW can't spend You know one night Putting in 28 spaces, they're gonna do it over a period of time, but they could do it over the fall and The the argument that the town can't digest it is spurious People the businesses care about their couple of blocks. So if it's there They may care about it and they don't care about the one So so it's it's gonna have that it's a spurious argument the number 14 is If the town manager had thought about it at all he would have said 18 the the number of Primary spaces as opposed to the secondary spaces, but he just cut the number in half just like Grant proposal they really don't need all that money cut it in half. It's an absurd number I think that we really have to watch our tone at this meeting right now. Yeah Actually, no, I will say so I will say that we do have to be careful about why as tributing motives and statements and things like that and so So keeping keeping on keeping to the salient facts, please well actually I had a Maybe a question and maybe a solution because I'm one of these people you You also in particular need to stay near the microphone, okay I'm trying to figure out how right I'm into win-win like we got to figure this out together Maybe tonight and say so what I think I don't understand is And maybe we didn't think about this together well enough is the rolling out So Personally, I think the study, you know, I just think it's kind of a waste of time But we could talk about that the piece I'm more concerned about is it's not overnight But maybe we should think about 30 30 30 percent and 20 or something that makes it over some time because I get what you're saying But it's also really the DP depth. I haven't talked to them about this by the way But I I'm trying to figure out a way that we can all work together so that we're not all At each other because I think we all want the same thing. Otherwise you wouldn't said yes three times, right? So if we could figure out a rollout phase, I think that might be where we're Disconnecting right now Because we're thinking I think if I were to ask you to you'd say, okay, it's past a year for the next group and I think we're thinking that's too long too far For the necessity of the handicapped spaces. So if we could figure out something together I don't know if you if you want to do it now or we just meet and then maybe I know I hate to say the Next meeting you're going to see me again, but we we figured that piece out so that we come to some kind of a Yeah, that sounds I'm actually may I please I'm actually completely open to that and I believe your commission meets next Wednesday the 21st Correct, and I was already planning on attending To discuss the whatever the aftermath of this discussion would be So having that opportunity to work in a collaborative fashion with the Commission, I would absolutely be welcome I think of you and Michael will be there from it. So Mike right of anchors there So it's like you've got all your your players in one and even though I'm not a fan of saying can we pause this? I feel like the emotions are too high and we need to Like strategically think about what we're fighting and I don't think we're that far off I just think we need to have we need to be able to feel comfortable all of us together on a reasonable Start date and then a target date for the end I Think that makes eminent sense. I'd like to move to request that the town man it well I don't think we have to move it. You've already offered it if we want to go on record is as requesting that town manager work with the disabilities Commission and some of the other stakeholders to find and reasonable rollout Define a reasonable rollout plan for this this program. I think that that would be okay. So we have our first motion So if you know I Will support that but one thing I do think that has to be considered throughout these discussions And I think that we No one is trying to say that handicap parking spots are not important. I know that no one in this room thinks that and That's just you know, that that's off the table But what we do have to consider is what if after there are 27 new parking spots? Which is I mean no one can disagree there I think that that's not a lot of new parking spot that is doubling the amount of Gas spots that that is that's a big change. It really is So what is going to happen if there are? You know, if there's a groundswell of opponents after the implementation and how are we gonna work with them? And as long as that is part of this discussion moving forward I will support Joe's because that I do think there's a chance that will happen and And you know, I don't think it will be fair just to throw those concerns by the wayside And so that's you know, I hope that's part of the dialogue move for it And I do think it's important and I think I actually made the last motion and it I At the last time this was To discuss at this meeting and I made it very clearly to say that we are not, you know Rubber stamping this project when we and that and this is why and so I think that it It's an unfair characterization to say that, you know, we had that this was rubber stamped at our last Meeting and I do understand the 5% Of parking my understanding is that 5% is not actually legally mandated Yeah, it's a recommend. It's a recommendation It's a recommendation a recommendation. So it's not law right yet. It's not mandated as you said So it doesn't have a percentage it talks about In essence that it's supposed to be like the national ADA There have been court cases where citizens have sued on this exact Part of the ADA and they have won because it is a public access issue Okay, Massachusetts as my grad maker told you in one of the many things that we did Was okay, so it's working on getting this into a state law. I'm gonna try to I'm sorry I mean it's still steves floor No, I that was a it was a question that I had and now and I think that it's more I think it could be it's a to clarify and set a direction for Where this conversation is going to go because it obviously can't go the way that it went tonight So I think that we have to you know have an understanding of where where you know How we are going to continue to you know make progress here because I think the tone But particularly when we all are trying to make Arlington the best place, you know possible Tonight we I hope that we take a different direction to it. So I will support Joe's motion, but I really hope that Those that's considered moving forward I throw in one more comment. It's not. Yeah, I don't want to amend the motion But I do want to say that if the if the idea of utilization study You know is brought back again I'd like to understand it a little bit more because I'm thinking back to earlier items tonight on the agenda And I know that we had that concern when we discussed the one-way Road on on Thompson, how would we measure it? So we want to know what that really means Utilization study and I'm also thinking of actually the question I asked of the RCN about Busy signals and how do we measure those that never get never get through so that Something I just would want to understand better I think if if part of the roll-off plan does include that that is as a component I had a couple of us one is really not Related to the very specific issue, but or to the specific decision, but Darcy it's actually it's related to something that you said which is I Will one of you said that you're concerned that it was a that this could be like about scapegoating the Disabled community or something along those there's a sentence along those lines Mm-hmm, and I I want to say that I definitely to me this I do not into believe endorse that I don't believe it I'm sure that there is someone out there who thinks that's true, but there are people think a lot of crazy things To me this is a conversation about allocating a scarce resource and it is it is a scarce resource and it's a shared resource And it's something that Every single selectman's meeting one way or another we're talking about advocating the parking is a scarce resource And it is a very difficult conversation, and that's what we're talking about and in my mind It's not about scapegoating or anything like that my second thought was that I Really respect the work that the disabled of the disability excuse me the disability Commission has done on this project and I really appreciate the the data and the Passion you brought because you brought both of them to it But I also want to be really clear that I respect the town manager a lot to be the To listen to all parties not you know and some of them And so in a lot of this I'm going to end up deferring to what his Suggest to what his recommendations are and I just wanted to share that because I understand that we're asking the town manager go You know to to go look at again, but I also want to say odds are I'm going to probably agree with Where he where he comes out having listened very carefully to everything that you've said so we've got a motion on the table to Essentially post-poem and and to bring it back for a future meeting the town manager is indicated that he wants to talk in a future disability Commission and we'll come back with a future proposal. So having said that are there any final brief remarks, please By the microphone, please I just want to thank you, okay I I am the chair of this commission and it has never been discussed that we Ever thought that you or any of you were unfair in this process So but I want to make that clear to the general public that might be listening and thinking somehow Other things have been going on it hasn't I appreciate that. Thank you. I just want to be clear about that Thank you very much. That's very I appreciate that I Just need you to say that thing again about that your your Fallback is to go with what the town manager recommends. It is a fallback. It is my it is my tendency I so in or not even tendency It's my what I haven't heard everything so far and the from the from your from your group and from the town manager And for many from anyone else is that in most issues I trust the town manager a lot and so I'm trying to give him a little guidance and a little bit One of the things we do we manage the town manager and I and so as a manager of the town manager I give him feedback and one of the things I say sometimes I talk to him privately and I talked to him publicly in this case I'm saying publicly You know I Respect your judgment and I respect the fact that he's listening to multiple parties not just Some not like I said like multiple parties across town and I respect his ability to come up with a solution that fits that You look perplexed I Guess what I'm saying is I Hate to drag in another issue, but when I came to you about the parks and recs. It was We let them do what they think is best and when I come to you as a Disability person with working with the Commission and we say this is what we think is best. I Get a yeah, so I don't understand that there's I can explain that very easily The town manager reports to this board. Yes parks and recommendation Rex does not So it's a very like one of these things I have one of these things I am a manager of and one of them I am not okay and Do you have a? Timeline in mind for these decisions To be made if you are telling us that there is going to be Some amount of so our next meeting is September 26th And if the meeting on the 21st goes you're meeting on the 21st you reach a solution I don't see any reason why I couldn't be on that agenda And if for some reason at that 21st meeting you or the town manager or that in particular the town manager thinks That he needs more time than he would he would get it So let's target September 26th, but that's We have a motion is ready for the discussion. No all those in favor, please say aye. I Three zero postponed. Thank you all for your time All right Next up we have nothing except for new business. So I'm gonna give it just a second for Yes, miss me to go mr. Dunn just as the board is aware We received a the comprehensive permit application for the new guard development site And there are a lot of conversations that are happening about making sure that the zoning board of appeals is appropriately resourced that The town, you know presents them with clear and consistent information We also Somewhat different but also important matter the board may be aware that There's been some ambiguity recently from the state on the rules that it wants us to follow for a registered marijuana Dispensary so that is also a matter of Concern and while we have a special town meeting warrant article that may may not Resolve that issue it continues to be something that my office is working very very hard on to prioritize Those two issues for it for the town. Thank you. All right Mrs. Krupp-Helka, but because ACMI asked me to could you please take the microphone To things first of all I need your approval Did you have a chance over the weekend to look at the warrant? I have to be at the printer with it on Thursday? So if you look at it just look at it you can call me tomorrow and then I'll send it out Okay, that's on the warrants Second if anybody has any individual concerns about the warrant the select men don't need to vote on the warrant per se You know, it's it's usually nice if you do but the warrants opened articles were submitted and closed and we'll be doing our best to provide you not only with the Background information on each of these articles, but if possible and if the select men are so amenable a Some kind of vague draft vote so the select men don't have to convene another time before the special time Second thing Friday night as you all know is town night And that's gonna start at five if you'd like to get down and join us and then town day Start at nine this year The select men are gonna have welcoming remarks at nine o'clock. All right upfront And I hope to see you all yeah, and the weather is gonna be amazing. It's gonna be beautiful It better be That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Chair Just two brief pieces of new business first last week. I was joined by Both selectman burns like M'Kuro with the lieutenant governor coming to town for the official signing of the town's community compact so along with the three of us and lieutenant governor we had a Multiple town staff from both DPW planning and it was it was a nice event Lieutenant governor was here for about a half an hour, but it was nice to be able to talk a little bit about Arlington And though we've already been working on those projects that were outlined in the community compact It was a nice sort of culmination to actually being able to Have mr. Kuro sign over chair Mahan's name on the community compact document, but it was a very nice Although there'd be a clean one coming. Yeah And the second thing is I Was able to run in the council on aging the friends of the council on aging race yesterday Pushing my pushing my daughter and a stroller for the first time as the as the heavens opened up with rain and wind in the middle Of the race and had me on the bike path of my town manager had on thinking God I hope a tree doesn't fall right now with all these people right on the bike path But it seemed to me like an overwhelming success. I didn't hear any final numbers, but seemed like a great turnout You know just a lot of smiling and happy faces and someone running in the 80 plus division finished for the second year in a row To just broad and raucous applause. So it was a nice nice part of the race Thank you Let's see what I have. Oh, I thank everyone who worked on the elections Last week particularly out of the Selectman's office clerk's office and all of our new election workers So my understanding is it went well although lightly attended but That's nothing that the People who dedicate all their time can adjust. So thank you very much Thank you, I guess on that note with elections, of course those same workers will be coming back out again next Wednesday and coming back out again for November 8th, but also I think it's what's that Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Rewind Rewind November 8th, and I I do know that for the presidential election this year and Maybe mr. Kripalka could maybe fall us in of more specifics, but we will have early voting now as being instituted in the Commonwealth this year for For the election including I believe one Saturday I'm gonna do it from October 24th through November 4th Except for Sunday in on the 29th, which is a Saturday. We're gonna do it from 9 to 5 p.m So it will be every day Monday through Friday regular town hall hours Saturday from 9 to 5 And then the following Monday, which is the 4th Or is it Monday at Tuesdays the 4th until 4 o'clock? Yeah, that's all at the hall though not at your own Early voting I think that's great My understanding is we got support from the Secretary of State's office for some of that So we'll get Joe got by having it opened on Saturday The Secretary State's office is gonna reimburse us $2,000. It's great Great Fantastic, and I also just had a question. I see we do have an audit report here on some accounts Is this a matter that's being brought before the audit subcommittee or Yeah, so, you know, I think it would be fair to bring it before the advisory committee maybe the next time We meet later in the year. I do think the Comptroller will come back before the board Perhaps at that time the board should formally receive it And I know chair Mahan did have a conversation with me prior to the meeting Suggesting that we do schedule some post follow-up or even a post report After a year's time to see if the improvements suggested or made so I just noticed it So I haven't had a chance to read it, but I was yeah, perhaps we should add it as a future agenda item to discuss Thank you Vote September 20th between noon and 8 p.m. And if you can't do it, please vote absentee Do I have a motion to adjourn so moved? No, let's stick around All those in favor say aye. We're adjourned