Dartmouth Board of Public Works Meeting April 10, 2026

Good morning. This is the board of public works meeting for April the 10th.

The meeting is held uh virtually and uh the address for participation was on the agenda that was posted at town hall. I'd like to acknowledge we have all our members uh here Mr. G uh Mr. Gier present Mr. Leel Rosa the board is pre the board chair Alme is here our first order of business Mr. me.

Yes.

I'm not sure if you you stated that. Can you state that the meeting is being recorded?

Yes, the meeting is being recorded. That was announced earlier.

Okay. Thank you.

Okay.

The uh first order of business is to approve and accept to warrants.

Motion to approve and accept the warrants for bills payable period ending March 30 of 2026 and April 6 of 2026.

I have a motion by Mr. Label. Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Mr. Gier. Uh Mr. Label, how do you vote?

Yes.

Mr. Gier?

Yes.

Chair votes yes.

Uh warrants are approved. Uh, second item is approve and accept payrolls.

Motion to approve and accept the payrolls for weeks ending March 28 and April 4th of 2026.

I have a motion by Mr. Label. Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Mr. Gier. Mr. Leel, how do you vote?

Yes.

Mr. Gier?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh, next item on the agenda is old business.

Uh, I would request the board's permission to take these out of order and discuss item C, the residences at Hawthorne 40B. First, uh, we have special counsel uh, Susan Murray with us, and I would like to get through this discussion before we go to the rest of our business. Um, is that all right with you, Mr. Label?

Yeah, that's fine, Mr. Kanye. Yes.

Okay. Uh with that we will turn our attention to old business C discussion residences of the Hawthorne 40B proposal. Um for the record uh I have prepared some comments on the uh draft conditions that were posted on the uh town's website.

um that was uh given to um Mr. Barber the department head and uh sub submitted also to board members before this meeting. Um also Mr. Barber has provided a memo if I got this right.

dated April 6th, 2026 to um zoning board of appeals uh regarding WA water, excuse me, regarding RA waiver request response.

Um board members, uh how would you like to go? Uh Mr. Barber.

Yes.

Uh perhaps you could give us an overview of the requests and um uh what your memo covers.

Absolutely.

So the request for waiverss um was on behalf of the applicant uh by the by the engineer the applicant's engineer farland corporation uh for the hawthon residences peritted under 40b writing to formally request an additional waiver.

So this is in addition to um the the previous waiverss that were submitted for request um for additional waiver and or modification of certain department of public works utility related requirements specifically the II inflow and infiltration mitigation fees and water and sewer connection charges as currently structured. These requirements impose a significant financial burden on the project and material materially

impact its economic feasibility. Given the scale of the develop development and inclusion of 25% affordable housing, it is critical that all costs be evaluated in a context for 40B which expressly allows for relief from local requirements that render a project uneconomic.

The proposed development consists of 138 residential units, including a substantial affordable housing component that will contribute meaningfully to the town's housing goal. The project has been designed with mod infrastructure systems that are intended to meet or exceed current standards, including new sewer drainage and storm water management systems. These improvements will minimize and in many cases reduce

inflow and infiltration relative to existing conditions.

According accordingly, the application of full II mitigation requirements typically intended to address deficiencies in older or compromised systems does not appropriately reflect the nature or impact of this new construction. In addition, the project is already bearing the cost of construction constructing new infrastructure and complying with applicable storm water and utility standards resulting in a

duplicative financial burden when combined with IIPS.

For these reasons, Mr. Barber, may I interrupt you? Um, you provided copies um to us for this. So, before we go any further, I have a couple of questions. Yes. Um, when did um you receive these waiver requests? Do you have the date?

One second.

This was uh received on April 2nd.

Okay. That's after the um the last zoning board hearing. I note. My second question is um did he provide any detailed analysis of whether these partic the relief from these requirements would render the project uneconomic?

No, they did not.

And uh did he provide any analysis that indicated whether how these would the improvements would and I quote him here in many cases reduce inflow and infiltration relative to existing conditions?

No, they did not.

Yeah, there's no old older uh there's no sewer system on there except for the existing uh clubhouse if I understand correctly.

You're correct. Um,

so we have uh Council Murphy with us. Um, Miss Murphy, is it necessary to uh read the entire letter here in the interest of time?

The letter that the the uh Mr. Barber prepared that the board's reviewing right now?

Yes. and and that was posted on the uh town's website.

No, it's not necessary. Um once if you vote, if the board votes to have Mr.

Barber submit the letter, then I would just u make it available to the public as a public record if requested.

Okay. Uh Mr. Barbara, if you could continue on through the letter and simply note anywhere where um the applicant has provided uh detailed information to support their request.

Um there was no detailed information other than the request.

Okay. So um they simply are asserting with no analysis. Is that correct?

Yes.

Okay.

All right. Board members, do you have any questions?

Have we ever done this before?

Pardon me?

Not Not to my knowledge. H Have we ever lowered the rates because of a 40b development?

Not to my knowledge. No. Okay. All right. Uh, you know, in all indifference to Christian Fallon, I have never seen a new sewer system go in that improves the conditions of INI. Uh, the the only time I've seen any ini on any sewer improved was when you used in situ form and created a one length of pipe with no seams. I don't care how new a sewer is.

There's going to be there's going to be INI.

Uh, correct.

That's all I that I'm I'm still reading this. This is uh those those are my questions where, you know, had we ever allowed a waiver of this in any past experience?

and um you know I just don't think it's fair to to do so at the expense of every other rateayer in in the town.

I have a question Mr. Barbara, is is the INI program a requirement of the town's water permit?

Is is ini?

Yeah. Are reductions in INI used as a way of providing credits for the amount of uh water that can be taken out of local groundwater?

So it it it they used you know towards our our our wastewater permit. Um I I know protection and and conservation of of groundwater is part of uh the merits that D looks for in in in our water management act permit. So you know any infiltration of ground water into the sewer system is removing that from the ground. So yes and since the um sewer system is the wastewater treatment facility is

demonstrated to be at or near capacity by recent studies. Is the INI program important so that new projects are able to keep us from violating permits?

Most definitely. Yes.

Okay.

Mr. Chairman, in the in the presentations we saw from the two consultants on the uh comprehensive wastewater management plan, both consulting firms spent quite a bit of time talking about how the issue of I and I was a very important factor in consideration of the overall plan and it was not just a matter of improve improvements at the actual treatment plant, but out on locations where um we potentially have

older older pipe systems, that trunk line that services that particular area was put in in 1972. So, by my math, it's well over 50 years old. I'm fairly familiar with that particular area where it goes through, having grown up on Russell Mills Road. an extensive amount of that is in wetland areas and is in saturation situations.

Um that's going to be an extremely costly and in-depth program that's going to have to be paid for uh you know by the rateayers and I'm absolutely absolutely opposed any waiverss whatsoever.

Okay.

Uh, are we ready for a motion supporting uh submitt of Mr. Barber's memo? Um before you take a motion, um I would I'd like to inform the board that I am still working on some revised language to include uh the request for a waiver of water connection fees or reduction of water connection fees as well as uh information on the improvements to the water system because we we did recommend

improvements to the water system. and and my previous draft didn't include that. It the improvements for the water system include a 300 linear foot extension from um where the 12-in uh ductal eye and water main currently ends and extending it 300 ft to where this development will connect. The main in Tucker Road currently is an 8 in cast iron. Um and with the calculations and analysis done by the consultant, there

were some deficiencies in and volumes uh based on based on a demand that was provided and that that demand provided with only for domestic water use. It didn't include irrigation demands. Um so you know we we recommended that they improve or replace that with a 12 in to improve the the flows and volumes based on the demand basically just for this development. It doesn't really benefit uh

much other uh anywhere else in the town.

It's it's a short extension basically to benefit this this development alone.

Mr. Chairman, yes.

I would make a motion that the comments that have been made by Mr. Barber relative to the issue of the water uh main uh water system and the requested waiver uh that the waiver be denied for water and the comments in their context as made by Mr. Barber would be amended to the letter that's going to be uh sent if you know in fact we vote to uh so forward relative to the sewer. So my

motion would include denial of both water and sewer waiverss and the amendment of the content of the comments made by Mr. Barbara. So that would be my motion.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. Do I have a second?

I will second that.

Second by Mr. Leel. Uh, I'd like to discuss the motion. Um, it's apparent to me that the applicant's uh package of information was deficient and did not include uh a significant and very large water use, particularly in the summer when uh the town is forced to purchase water at 10 times its uh the the cost of producing its own water. in that water that supplemental supply is purchased

from New Bedford. Um I I think most of us are glad that it's available.

However, um this is a significant large project with enough landscaping and turf uh that the it's vegetation needs for irrigation are measured in acres. Uh and that's a lot of water. Um and so I support the motion.

Uh board members, how do we vote? M uh Mr. Gier, do you have a comment?

Just one comment I will make. Uh in addition, it's not relative to the motion, but it's applicable to the defense of our motion, the motion I put forth.

The town administrator Cody Hadad made his free financial presentation and specifically relative to uh articles for town meeting. And I'll remind town meeting members and uh community that in fact we have to go back to town meeting for additional money because we're not going to have sufficient money in the amounts that we have to pay to buy water to end this fiscal year. So we're I mean

this is at the status quo. Let's let's think about what's going to be happening you know between now and when all of these developments come on. So that's only my comment that strengthens the motion to deny all waiverss both water and sewer and to include comments that have been made as part of the meeting today.

Thank you. Do I have any other comments?

Only one question. Only one question, Mr. Chairman.

Tim, did they address fire supply? Will the existing will the existing 8 in support fire supply to levels?

Yes, they were they were deficiencies in volumes based on the calculation for five supply in instant tax memo through the zoning board which is which is one of the reasons why we recommended the increase.

Yeah. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do I have any uh comments by the members of the public?

Seeing none, I'll call the question. Mr.

Gier, I vote yes in favor of the motion.

Uh Mr. Leel, yes.

Chair votes yes. Uh Mr. Barber, uh, if you and your staff could revise the memo according to the, uh, motion and submit it well before the, uh, zoning board hearing. Uh, I thank you.

Can I can I ask a question of council um, uh, attorney Men?

The issue that we brought up uh last meeting was that all of the comments and items that are submitted to the zoning board of appeals, if the zoning board of appeals were to deny this particular request and it goes to the housing appeals court, are only the technical comments and letters of the zoning board of appeals allowed in the record when it's heard before the HAC or can new materials be submitted

when it gets to the state HAC when it get so the the clo the hearing is going to close this Monday night um April 13th the applicant had already given the zoning board a couple of extensions. So up until they close the meeting at the end of the night on Monday night anything that comes in is part of the record. So if Mr. Barber's memo is submitted, then that will be

part of the record and before the housing appeals committee, everything that's in the record as of when they close the hearing on Monday night be included. So um but after the fact, um no, they do it on the record and they primarily do it by um you know, expert testimony as well.

Thank you, Miss Murphy. I have a question as well.

Uh, this meeting, which is a a formal publicly noticed meeting by a town decision-making body, do minutes or does the transcript of this meeting become part of the record for the uh zoning board?

They they are will unless if you have draft minutes that are completed by Monday and they are submitted to the zoning board then they can become part of the record. Um but typically they would not only what gets submitted that's why Mr. Barber has been providing a lot of information to the zoning board over the course of the hearing. He's provided the MS4 permit. provided information the last I believe study

about the wastewater treatment plant um whatever information is actually submitted to the zoning board becomes the record in this case um you're not meeting again before the next zoning board meeting so you wouldn't have approved minutes um technically if draft minutes were approved and they were noted that they were a draft but not approved by the board those could be submitted but I

don't I don't know if that your would be your practice to submit draft minutes from a meeting.

I I will remark that um we really haven't been in this position before, right?

So, we don't have a um process for quick turnaround of of minutes for approval.

Okay. Um All right, board members.

Uh I I provided um some suggested changes to a number of conditions. Uh I want to indicate that the last two suggestions were mislabeled.

They were labeled for conditions H7 and H8 on the draft discussion for purposes only submitted to uh posted on the public website.

Uh they should be numbered I7 and I8 respectively.

Um, my intention is to have Mr. Barber uh to have the board review and to those changes that uh are acceptable to the board that they be provided uh to Mr. Barber and we would request that he submit uh revised conditions to the zoning board uh for their hearing consistent with uh any constraints that the town's uh special counsel Murphy uh imposes on them. That's my intent. Um what's the board's pleasure

here? How do we proceed?

Mr. Chairman, um I did read uh those uh documents that you provided as part of the um you know the materials. Um first of all, I think you did an exceptional job with that and it's very technical and very uh important items and I appreciate the work you put into that. I would certainly like with the revisions that you have so mentioned as edited that that be also put into the record so

that um the technical aspect if the zoning board of appeals were to uh deny the particular request those uh comments concerns and uh technical materials would be there for the HAC to review as part of the record. I think that's very important.

Thank you, Mr. Leel. Any comments?

Uh, yes. Uh, good job, Rob. That this was excellent.

I was reading it at 5:30 this morning and uh I did note uh what you just mentioned about I7 and 8. And um I I I agree completely that this should be submitted and and excellent job.

Thank you.

Uh Mr. Barber, uh are you in a position to either show revisions to the uh conditions as listed in my um my document uh prior to the zoning board hearing?

Yes, I can definitely submit both.

Okay. And a second question, uh Mr.

Barber, I presume you will be at the zoning board hearing. Uh would it be useful for one of uh the public works board members to be present?

Yes, I always I would always recommend that. Yes.

Okay. Um I can make myself present. Uh and uh any What is the date of the meeting, Mr.

Chairman?

It's um Monday night, April 13th.

Okay. April 13th at 6 p.m.

So, so um Mr. chairman, so that we officially make a vote on this matter, I would make a motion that the comments and the technical review uh done by our chair, Robert Alme with the uh corrections additions uh that are made today uh by him as the author of the particular document that I would make a motion that this board supports that particular position and those concerned concerns and it be uh submitted along

with um the other items we talked about in an earlier motion.

I will second that.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier and a second by Mr. Leel.

Mr. Chair, I'm I'm sorry.

Yes, Miss I I was just going to call on you.

Okay. Thank you. Um I would just I would I did um Mr. Barber did provide these to me a few minutes before the meeting. Um, I just had a question um regarding the comment to condition H12.

Um, I'm just wondering if there's a word missing. Um, or if it just seemed like the first few words of the sentence were unclear to me.

Let me look at the original here.

Maybe if I I recommend adding uh maybe provide what what page are we on of of the conditions?

Page one near the bottom. It's the last.

Yeah. Uh it's 12.

14 of the draft conditions. 15.

Oh no. So your um your comments on the draft conditions.

Yeah. Age 12.

currently reads, "Depublic Works requests additional funding for wastewater capacity and inflow and infiltration mitigation."

Right. I'm looking at your proposed com your comments.

Yeah.

Um that were shared this morning and H12 it says applicant shall funding for Oh, shall fund.

Yeah. She'll provide funding for her.

provide. Okay.

The word provide. Okay.

And Tim, yes, that $10 per gallon is similar to other projects that have requested waiverss of various kinds where their water use in is uh where their wastewater use is calculated to be more than either permitted amount or uh when they've requested a waiver from a permit. Is that correct? We had a project that went from commercial to residential, if I remember correctly.

Yes. So, the the the correct number is 12 that the board voted on was 12 $12 per gallon per day.

Okay. My memory is uh it's not as good as it used to be. Let me uh perhaps uh Mr. GE, you would uh modify your uh motion to include a $12 per day gallon per day sewage above historically treated from the project site.

I would so amend my motion to include that provision. Thank you.

All right. And um Okay.

So, just a a question on that. if the applicant requests uh reduced um fees for that for only the um affordable units. Would the board be amendable to that which would be the 25% of 138?

Uh Tim, you do you have uh calculations for the affordable units separate from the others?

Um all all the fees I don't know which units are going to be affordable and which won't. Um but the the fees are the same. So the connection fees everything's the same. I do have I do have example fees. uh since the applicant in this request uh for waiverss also requested um calculations for connection fees and II.

So I did I I did uh draft sample calculations that include both the mitigation and and without mitigation for the affordable units.

Okay. Board members comments.

I would be opposed to the motion. The price we pay for water from the city of New Betra does not change on uh you know issues of uh affordability.

Folks in Newred pay the same price if they're on a low income versus those that are on uh other income. So I would be opposed to the motion.

Yeah. And and again I I would ask have we ever done that in the past?

Not to my Yeah. So I I I I agree with Mr. Gagnet.

Uh for clarification, we're talking about wastewater here.

Wastewater. Yes.

Wastewater. Okay.

And we we haven't done this for wastewater fees either.

Same provision. same provision as wastewater is at the same cost regardless of what your income level is, right?

Okay. Uh if there are no other comments, are there any comments from the public?

Mr. Chairman, do you mind if I ask one additional question? So, the the current rate posted rate schedule for the water and sewer connection fees includes a $12 per gallon. Is that is this the same fee that's already noted as a or is this an an additional Tim?

I can add that. So yes, uh Murphy that that is correct. That is the same fee.

Okay.

For the board's knowledge, we have a we have a a posted uh fee schedule that's posted on our website or all our feed that the board has adopted as a latest revision and that is that is what Murphy is is mentioning.

Is that schedule included with your submittals to zoning board?

No, but I can't attach that. Yes, absolutely.

Okay. That would probably be a good idea.

All right. Um, if there are no other comments, uh, we'll take a vote. Mr. Gier, yes.

Mr. Leel, yes.

Chair votes yes. Uh, the item is approved.

Uh, Tim, is there anything else to go over on this?

Uh, just one uh one more update. So, the the zoning board of appeals meeting on Monday, April 13th, uh is scheduled to be at six o'clock at Darmmouth High School. So, this is not scheduled to be at at town hall on on Monday, April 13th.

Okay. Um I want I want to make a general comment here. I'm not sure exactly who put together the draft conditions and the summary table. Uh but it was very well done. Uh it certainly made review easier and I appreciate the time and effort that's gone into this uh by town and the the folks that are helping the town out with this. Um there's a lot of work here and um so again on the record

thank you.

Okay. Uh noted somewhere.

All right. Uh chair if you are you completed the conversation on Hawthorne then I'll take my leave. I appreciate being invited to the meeting and meeting well and we we appreciate you being here at 8:00 in the morning.

I will note that we normally meet at 7:30. So I appreciate the accommodation.

Okay. Uh thank you for your time and thank you for your work on this. It's it's evident you've you know what you're doing. I appreciate that too. Well, I worked very closely with uh Tim and planning director Dan Giosa and town administrator Cody Hadad and they couldn't, you know, it would not be what you see before you without without all the work that they did. So, thank you.

Right. Thank you. With that, we'll uh go back to old business item A operational study.

So there has been no change currently with the operational study as I've stated in past meetings that uh in in speaking with the town administrator uh the agreement was to wait until the business manager position was established in the DPW uh that position has been posted and advertised. So uh once we receive uh applicants, we will work with uh human resources and the town administrator to set up interviews

and then and then interview uh candidates and finally make a recommendation to uh to hire and at that time um I think uh we will discuss moving forward with with the efficiency study or operational study.

Right.

Board members, any questions?

Do you have a timeline on when when did the applications go out?

The the advertisement went out.

Advertisement. Yes.

This week. It went out this week.

This week.

So, it could still take some time.

It could. Yes.

If there are no other questions, um, Mr. M. I'm sorry. Yes.

Um I would just again ask Tim to verify with the uh town administrator that they are on board with the issue since it is somewhat of a deviation from what originally we were um looking at on particular subjects and items uh to go to hire an individual. If the board if the select board is on board with it and the town administrator confirms that I'm I'm fine with it. Okay.

and we'll work with them to confirm that.

Okay. And you'll bring this back to our next meeting.

Yes.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Uh if there are no other questions, item B, storm debris planning. Um, so the only update on storm debris planning is we've been working with the district uh and the uh emergency management agency in town uh to schedule a meeting with the uh refuge district director to move forward uh with additional discussions on the debris management plan. Um and and I've been working to to put together

uh members of of the you know the town agencies that would be included in in basically a working group for the debris management.

Um unfortunately due to scheduling this week um we had union negotiations that kind of took precedence with one of our scheduled meetings. So we had to change it around. So, we're we're planning on meeting now next week.

Okay. Board members, any questions?

Hearing none, we'll move on to old business item D, water quality evaluation.

So, the Mr. chairman had had asked me to update the board on this contract since um I worked with the uh the former uh acting town administrator and and the current town administrator to move this this forward. It's a water quality evaluation that we awarded to Tyin Bond uh being funded through OPA funds. Um, and it was this contract was signed by the town administrator. Um, so we we

recently had a a kickoff for this study with the with the consultant and uh and and Rob and the town administrator and and to move this study uh forward and uh it it is currently in action. So since this this since this wasn't approved by the board of public works, we're just updating you that it is it is an executed contract and this helps uh the upfront data compilation work for the comprehensive

wastewater management plan. Correct.

Yes, it does. And and it and it also includes um it includes mapping. So it it includes a lot of the water quality sampling and and mapping of and data analysis of those uh of those sampling analysis board members any questions?

So this is uh this is outside funding right?

This is out this is funded through through APA.

Yeah through the and not through Bristol County. This was funded through the revenue replacement portion of offer that was given to the town and uh you know it was directed by the select board to uh to approve the $50,000 towards this water quality study.

Okay, good. If there are no other questions, uh we'll go on to new business.

A an award.

Okay. So, um we had advertised the Ellswick and uh Route 6 sewer pump station upgrades based on the demand uh from the flows from the preserve uh 40B project. Um the the project was fully designed and we we advertised it and the original bids came in much higher than we had funding for. Uh we do have a $2.1 million grant from the state um towards this project and we we do

have a little additional funding um from from the sewer enterprise fund but it wasn't enough to cover uh the entire bid. So we met with our consultant we revertised this as a a base bid and a deductible ultimate bid. Um the base page was for the Elwick pump station which is the most critical capacity currently uh to move forward with the alternate being the route six pump station. Um this this

bid uh came in with the base bid and the and the alternate bid again higher uh than we expected.

Um, so we I worked to amend the grant through the state and the state approved the amendment to allow us to move forward with just the base bid uh the Elwick uh pump station upgrades.

So we, you know, we recommend uh based on the letter from from our consultant Stantech, we recommend to award the Ellsworth sewer pump station base bid to Bisco Building Systems Incorporated for 1,867,645.

Board members, any questions?

Hearing none. Uh I'll entertain a motion.

Uh I don't have that bid in front of me, but a motion to approve the uh Ellswick sewer pump station project award for 1 million for 1,867,645.

Thank you. I have a motion by Mr. Label.

Do I have a second?

Second.

A second by Mr. Gier. Mr. Label, how do you vote?

Yes.

Uh, Mr. Gier, yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh, next item is committee updates. Are there any committee updates?

I don't have any.

No, I have none. Uh, next item is director updates. Kim.

Uh so as you all know um the select board uh has a new member uh Stanley Mickelson has retired from the board and uh a new select board member Nathan Silva has been elected. Um so uh the other town elections um most of them were I think all the rest of them were uncontested and the two questions on the on the ballot were were approved as well were voted.

Uh one included uh board of public works members to increase the current membership from three to five and uh then also included question two included charter amendments which this is a charter amendment and and other grammatical uh updates that they had made to the charter. So those were both uh approved in the election.

Uh Tim, back to the select board um election.

Uh in the past, has it been customary to u offer new select board members a tour of public works facilities?

Yes.

Okay. I I think that's a good idea. And if you could uh let let the board members know and if one or more of us is able to attend and meet uh Mr. Silva, I think that would be a good idea.

Absolutely. And Mr. Chair, um previously we we did have a tour scheduled uh but due to due to weather conditions, uh we we postponed it twice. So it hasn't been rescheduled. I previously Mr. Silva was at on the finance committee and they were they were um invited to the tour.

So uh we will extend that invite and and hopefully uh reschedule that tour in upcoming weeks.

Uh I recall that those uh tours were cancelled because of snow and I ferently hope that snow won't cancel the next one. You and me both, Rob. I'm sure I'm sure a few others feel the same way.

It is New England. You never know.

Anything else, Tim?

All right. So coming up we have before we leave the issue that you know Tim has brought up on uh the questions and the u increase of the board from 3 to 5. I would like to just make one comment uh since they will be looking for uh two additional board members to join our cast of three. Um, one of the things that I I I think is important in this community is the

certainly uh the issue of sort of representation. Um, the three of us all live in the deep south as they would say of Dartmouth. Um, I would with with what is going on where all except one of these major housing developments is from Route Six North. Um, I would ask the board to specifically look at some individuals that have good technical background. I think that is extremely important. This is probably one of the

most technical oriented uh boards in town. certainly, you know, to see if we can get some representation, you know, um from the northern sectors.

We talk about water improvements, they're in the north. We talk about sewer situations, they're in the north.

Uh I think some good technical people from the north uh particularly should be sought. Um I I I really And the in the last item is I would like to have it somewhat memorialized in a letter to the select board is that also our board have an opportunity to review individuals who apply for uh the the two open positions and that we could make comments before the select board makes a decision. Thank you.

Mr. Leel, any comments?

Well, just for clarification on my part, what is the process now for this to be approved? It it would have to be approved at town meeting.

No, it's already been approved.

It's already been approved.

Yeah.

Yeah, it got approved last Monday and it goes into effect when, Tim?

Uh, no. So, so basically it's approved at town meeting. Once approved at town meeting, it it moves to the election.

Once the election is is official, um then they will work on posting this most likely on the on the town website and and maybe social media. But they do they do have a you know a boarding committee page uh that they that they you can that people can actually apply through the through the portal.

Okay. I I mean I I I might think I you know that's a great idea, but it would be I guess by the luck of the Irish that we would get somebody from the north that's going to want to participate.

I don't I don't think as a board we could specifically say that we're looking for someone from that area, but that's more that's more of a decision certainly for the select board and you know strictly you know my comment it's just um I don't think you can narrow it if you get the most technical person from wherever in town they may Yeah. Yeah.

just ought to put the word out to share some representation from other parts of the town. That's, you know, Oh, no. I I I agree with you. I think it's a grand idea, but I'm not quite sure you could structure it like that.

Yeah.

A thought.

I I think that uh as individuals, any one of the three of us can contact board uh select board members and let them know what we think would be helpful. And as you say, by the luck of the Irish, it might happen.

Okay. Any other comments, Tim?

Um, not on that.

Okay.

I do have additional updates.

So, moving forward, uh, 2026 Arbor Day, uh, uh, celebration. So, Arbor Day is believe April I think it's 22nd.

Our Earth Day is actually April 22nd and so the tree committee is so yeah so Friday April 24th is uh Arbor Day. The tree committee has put together a planting at 8 Bush Street, which is a school department administration building. Um, so they are there are currently uh three maple trees, well, four uh along the frontage of the school that are in poor condition. So they're looking to

remove those four trees and then replant three chestnut trees and one magnolia tree. Um so this is uh this is planned to take place on I believe May 1st. Um, as long as the the tree the existing trees can be removed by then and uh there'll be a there'll be a little uh ceremony. I'll be there to observe and and maybe say a few words as well.

Uh, is the tree committee making progress on um identifying areas that uh need to have trees replaced?

Uh, I I have to admit that having worked with them, I'm now more sensitive to the condition of trees as I drive up and down back roads.

Absolutely.

So, so they um they have um I know they they typically focus on uh municipal buildings currently. So, they've been working with the schools. They've been working with uh obviously the school department building uh uh they they last year we planted or worked with them to plant uh remove existing trees that are in poor shape in front of town hall and and replanted new trees there as well.

So, so they've been focused on on mostly uh municipal buildings currently.

And any other questions, board members?

Just say I I've also been focused on looking at some areas uh that I would like to improve as well. Uh I work uh closely with with Eversource uh Aberith.

They trim and prune areas around power line and remove a large number of of uh ash trees around town that are infected by the eastern ashbor beetle. Um there's a large number of these trees and you know every every year we see more and more of these ash trees becoming infested and and dying back which which provides a a definite threat to utility lines and public safety. So so we're

working with them uh they're doing a lot of the removals and and we we're working with them to also uh supplement with some planting. So replace some of the removed trees with with some new plantings as well.

Mr. Gier, did you have a question?

Um, for a future agenda, could we uh put on the agenda the discussion of the town's scenic road bylaw, which addresses trees and stone walls? Um, I think that's a, you know, a bylaw that was adopted. Uh it's got certain provisions relative to hearings on removal of trees along scenic ways. Uh I don't want to take the time today for it, but if I could have that agenda uh for a future meeting um

and the agencies that are responsible for enforcement of it and the requirements for hearings could be invited. Um, I think it's I haven't seen too many hearings posted for that and I see some trees that I believe are cut in certain areas that are covered by that bylaw.

Um, I can I can add one comment. So, any anytime there's a scenic tree removal, um, the the planning board does reach out to the public works and I work with them on this. Most most of the recent ones were Avisa with mostly pruning with a number of removals of either diseased or dying trees. Um other than that um we've also worked with with them on on individual residential work uh like if

somebody was removing a stone wall or trees to you know to build a new driveway. So I I I do visit the site and then comment to the the planning board on that. So so I can definitely bring more uh information to the next board meeting on that.

My past experience has been that they end up in the other community that I served in as de facto after the trees have been cut down for a lot that's been developed for housing and they should be dealing with the issue as some form of replacement plan.

um for the trees that were cut down without the hearing process. Uh that concerns me. Um and I think we ought to have a discussion first of all in how the public is made aware of this bylaw and which streets are covered by it. And if there are some in fact that are lots that have been cleared and the trees along the public way have been removed, then there should be a plan in place to

have a hearing on those and get the replacements in.

Absolutely. I agree.

Okay, Tim, any other comments?

Uh, lastly, so I mentioned Earth Day was also April 22nd. Um, so in celebration of Earth Day, typically there's a group uh that does uh they call it diamond greenup day. So, they have reached out requesting bags, solid waste bags, so they can clean up their uh areas of town. And we have we have a list of of locations that they they drop the bags off for our solid waste and our solid waste crews to pick

up. So, that's um scheduled. The pickups are scheduled or the the cleanup is scheduled for next week over the next two weeks and pickup is scheduled for April 21st and April 27th. Um, Waste Zero um basically sponsors us with us uh to they supply purple bags for uh for no cost so we can get those out to the residents that that are requesting bags for the cleanup. Um, so we we provide them with the bags.

Okay.

Anything else? Anything else? Board members?

No.

The one thing that I want to u ask Tim, my recollection is through the comprehensive wastewater uh management plan uh consultant review, we discussed the issue of the 80% capacity of the current wastewater plant.

Yeah. as this being sort of a trigger point for the D and the impetus to get going on your updated and revised CWMP.

I think I always believe information is important to get out and I'm wondering if it would be possible to do a a a press release that we could give to the local papers on in the past year how many times the current wastewater plant exceeded that 80%. Um that information is important in light of you know the time we spent this morning on uh the first item you know we discussed.

I think the public needs to be aware of the times we approach and exceed that particular threshold. I mean I know as recently as one of the interviews our wastewater facilities manager mentioned you know that we were we're hitting a threshold of either nine or 10 million gallons per day on uh you know the plant at that particular time. Um and I just think we need to share that information.

if you were to draw up some kind of press release and share it with the board members with Ron's experience, you know, relative to the facility in New Bedford, um we could then make some comments and then, you know, look to have it released so the public is aware of what the implications are of hitting or exceeding that threshold.

Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. And we were working uh with Dante, our consultant, on the flowing loading study, an updated flow and loading study. Um and they recently requested additional data which included uh basically the daily flows for all the months being updated. Um so those those daily flows would include that. So we can definitely we can definitely work work on that. So I I have I have that data that Dennis has

provided. Um and so the scant tech and I'm hope hopeful that the uh flow loading study will be uh finalized in the really near future.

It would be nice. It'd be nice, Jim, in a layman's form that can understand it where they take those daily flows. They take the new projected flows from the 1,400 units we're looking at and basically model them over the last year as to what's going to happen with that year of history. adding the flow from the 1400 units so that they can see you know when it's going to it you know

technically would have gone over on those particular dates again that's I think very important for the decision makers u and uh the more information we get out there I think the better inform you know the public and the decision makers our in town thanks absolutely and that that is what we're working on with that is to to model all the proposed flows uh over the existing clos have the folks at Stantech given us a

date? I know we've been pushing and pushing this uh down and they've had reasons why they haven't been able to get it done and we've got a a completion date. I think you know uh Ron said, "Hey, we need this stuff ASAP." And we do.

We're three weeks away from, you know, our last meeting and we're still waiting on it. So, I think we got to put a deadline on them.

I can do that. Thank you, Mike. I I really like your suggestion.

Um maybe it could be a press release that says um something to the effect of uh town starts or public works starts the CWMP process and and why we're doing it and include those graphs as part of the press release. Um, you know, and that that becomes hard news and that's easy to get in the newspaper, I think.

Yes. And I can I can also work with our communications director over at town hall on on putting something together with that with that data.

Sounds good. Yep.

Especially so it's easy to read, you know, for the public, right? Exactly.

which also means that we should be uh getting and I hope soon from Tai and Bond a schedule of activity with dates and timelines for the various aspects of that CWMP so that if we want to have some things prioritized in that uh from the very beginning we can get you know involved in that um we're we're at a critical juncture and we don't need any delays on moving forward with Tai and B on at CWNP.

I agree.

Okay, Tim, anything else?

Um, just update the, uh, compensation and classification study. Um, uh, draft has been approved by the select board, but we still have, uh, we're still working through some revisions, uh, that we recommended. Um, union negotiations have begun. Um I was invited to them this week uh by the town administrator. Um so that that will be taking place as they they try to negotiate uh an agreement or agreements

throughout the all the town union for uh for this fiscal year.

Um and other than that we we do have uh we did hire a new another new driver over at over at highway. So we are at full capacity. Uh we welcome David Gibbs. He's a new driver. Comes to us with a lot of experience and certification. So we're we're excited to bring him on board as well.

Mr. Chairman, uh first of all, I commend the town administrator for having our superintendent participate in those union negotiations. Critical component and a little bit concerned that hadn't been done in the most recent past. Um, I think as those negotiations progress, um, so that Tim can, uh, bring our board up to speed on them, we may need to schedule some executive session, uh,

time on our agenda so that Tim can, uh, brief us on the progress and direction those are going. um we don't we don't have a vote in that particular aspect but if there are things that are coming up that are of concern we certainly can share them with Tim and whatever the procedure is as far as scoping and advertising those executive sessions I would ask you consult with town council

so that he could brief us and we would do so in executive sessions not violate the collective bargaining process.

Okay, I will I will definitely work on putting that together.

Okay. Anything else, Tim?

Nope. That is all for now.

Anything board members?

No, I'm good.

Good.

I will entertain a motion to adjurnn.

Motion to adjurnn.

Second.

Motion to adjourn by Mr. Label, second by Mr. Gier. Uh Mr. Bell, how do you vote?

Yes.

Mr. Gier, yes.

Chair votes yes. The meeting is adjourned.

Thank you.

Thank you everyone. Have a great day.