Georgetown Board of Selectmen
Monday February 26, 2024
Clickable Transcript Printable Transcript Agenda
The order of items in transcripts appear in the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: February 28, 2024 Planning Board Meeting
The Board of Selectmen's meeting in Georgetown commenced with Chair Amy Smith apologizing for the delay due to extended executive sessions. Following the initial protocols of a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance, Smith made announcements. Among them was a heads-up about an upcoming Planning Board meeting scheduled for February 28th, which would focus on discussions regarding the MBTA Communities Act, indicating a topic of potential interest to the community.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: March 26, 2024 Finance Advisory Committee Meeting.
A meeting scheduled for March 26th by the finance advisory committee will focus on discussions around the budget and the override. Participation is encouraged either through physical attendance, online viewing, or via Zoom for those interested in these financial deliberations.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
During this portion of the public hearing, an individual who had previously intended to provide a public comment ultimately chose not to do so.
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NEW BUSINESS: Whittier Task Force
The discussion centered around the formation of the Whittier Task Force, initiated by Mayor Reardon, to address the regional school district agreement's complexities, particularly the inequitable funding formula based on overall population rather than student enrollment. Orlando Pacheco highlighted the need for a comprehensive review of the funding mechanisms, stressing the difficulty in achieving unanimous support from all communities for any amendment to the regional school district agreement. The task force aims to facilitate discussions among town administrators, select board members, or city councilors from the respective towns, acknowledging the process will be meeting-intensive and aimed at addressing long-term capital expenses associated with the Whittier school's deficiencies. Legal counsel has been hired to aid in these discussions, with an emphasis on cooperative effort among the towns. A call for volunteers from the select board was made to join the task force, with an expectation of biweekly meetings starting within a month, focusing on both immediate and long-range planning for the school's infrastructure needs.
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ON-GOING BUSINESS: • Solid Waste Advisory Committee/ Health Director Bill Holt to participate
During the public hearing, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee's bylaw revision and its impact on solid waste management were discussed. William Holt, the Board of Health Director from Georgetown, expressed his support for the revised mission and action items detailed in the proposal, highlighting their alignment with frequently addressed Board of Health concerns. The discussion covered historical aspects of solid waste management in the community, the formation of the original committee to address landfill issues, and a lack of documentation on recycling responsibilities. The proposed committee structure was outlined, including representation from various stakeholders and roles, emphasizing the importance of education, recycling, and solid waste reduction. The conversation also touched on the handling of hazardous waste, including disposal events and the costs involved. The potential amendment of the solid waste bylaw was discussed, with the aim of presenting it at the upcoming town meeting. The need for enhanced community education on recycling and solid waste management was highlighted as a critical goal of the committee.
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ON-GOING BUSINESS: Mello Host Agreement
During this segment of the public hearing, updates were discussed regarding the Mellow host agreement. Pacheco mentioned that the most recent version of the agreement reviewed by attorneys was sent to the board that day, with no new financial numbers to report other than previously shared. He mentioned a regulatory hurdle with DEP, as the permit to construct application was incomplete, causing a delay. Pacheco suggested the board consider any additional items they would like included in the agreement not yet addressed by other boards or committees. He also proposed the idea of including initial funding for household hazardous waste days in the agreement, arguing it is relevant to the regulatory environment of Mellow's business. The board showed interest in this addition. Smith requested the most current version of the agreement, and Hoover inquired about the date of the document sent, revealing it wasn't recently updated.
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ON-GOING BUSINESS: Mission Host Agreement
During the discussion on the mission host agreement, Dawes and Pacheco outlined uncertainties due to the CCC (Cannabis Control Commission) not finalizing the draft host agreement, with community benefit payments set to be removed. They emphasized that towns can't demand payments from cannabis companies beyond what is lawfully required, focusing on companies covering costs for their impacts instead. The conversation moved towards the state's significant cut from cannabis revenues without adequately sharing with municipalities. The officials lamented the initial financial encouragements from cannabis companies that have since diminished, highlighting challenges in imposing beneficial agreements for the town under new regulations. They discussed potential impacts such as traffic and odor issues, and how they could be addressed in future agreements, stressing the importance of documenting actual impacts to ensure companies cover necessary remediation costs. The discussion also touched on the broader legislative landscape and its influence on local cannabis business dynamics. Concerns were raised about the loss of funding for community programs previously supported by cannabis companies, underlining the challenge of securing benefits for the community in the evolving regulatory environment.
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VOTES BY THE BOARD: Approval of Apparatus Bay Lease Agreement with Erie 4
In a bid to approve a new leasing agreement between the town of Georgetown and Erie 4, Chief Matt McKay of the Georgetown Fire Department, along with the President of Erie ForgeRock Dower, presented the details of the arrangement to the board. Unlike previous agreements that involved leasing a fire engine, this new agreement focuses on leasing two apparatus bays from Erie 4 for the town's new engine. The lease, set at a ten-year term with the possibility of two additional tenured extensions, reflects a shift to accommodate the town's ownership of the new fire apparatus, ensuring continued access and operation from Erie 4's facilities. Additionally, it covers the lodging of some of the town's emergency communication systems at Erie 4 to enhance coverage. The financial terms involve a gradual increase in the lease amount, starting from a lower base about a decade ago. The agreement also unofficially encompasses Erie 4's commitment to equip the new engine with updated tools, including a significant donation of a new combi tool. This arrangement emphasizes the historical and cooperative relationship between the town and Erie 4, which dates back to 1854, reinforcing their mutual interest in maintaining the town's safety and heritage.
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MINUTES & WARRANTS: Approval of meeting minutes from January 8, 2024
In this segment, Smith addresses the matter of approving the minutes from the January meeting. Initially, Smith seems to realize that they had intended to include the minutes in the current discussion but quickly decides it's acceptable to postpone this approval. Smith suggests moving the approval of the January meeting minutes to the next meeting, emphasizing the need to double-check the details at that time.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Migration to Office 365
Pacheco provided an update on the Office 365 migration, stating it will begin in full on Thursday, March 14, and conclude by Monday, March 18. Smith expressed experiencing issues with accessing mail on the desktop, to which Pacheco assured that preliminary preparations were underway. Concerns were raised about potential changes to email and system settings, but Pacheco clarified that significant changes like domain adjustments wouldn't be necessary, though the appearance of Outlook might change slightly. Discussions also touched on the implementation of two-factor authentication, driven by cybersecurity needs and insurance mandates, with an acknowledgment of possible initial hurdles. Training necessity was questioned, with Pacheco suggesting it might not be extensive except for current email issues, emphasizing that the migration process is designed to be smooth and should not significantly disrupt daily operations.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Middle High School Electrification Study
In a recent public hearing, discussions revolved around a building electrification study, highlighting options for making municipal buildings more energy-efficient and moving towards carbon neutrality. One option includes installing air to air VRF and RTU heat pumps, with an estimated cost offset by a potential $1,400,000 utility rebate from National Grid, leading to a net cost of approximately $1,311,000. Other mentioned possibilities were geothermal systems and replacing boilers, with costs and benefits analyzed for each. The conversation also touched on the financial mechanisms behind utility rebates, emphasizing that these funds essentially come from the consumers, not the utilities, and debated the financial viability and long-term benefits of electrification versus traditional gas. Skepticism was voiced regarding the pace of technological advancements and their impact on such investments. The next steps include engaging with the school department and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to explore additional funding avenues, with National Grid showing support due to its corporate responsibility initiatives tied to climate adaptation. Concerns about infrastructure transitions and the rapid obsolescence of technologies like heat pumps were also discussed, along with the broader challenges of shifting from gas to electrification in the context of existing investments and municipal planning.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Public Safety Building Update
The initial phases of a public safety building feasibility study are underway, with the chosen site being a vacant lot next to the current campus. Both police and fire chiefs have completed and returned a detailed questionnaire from the architect, while wetland flagging has begun with Park Corp as the subcontractor. Further field survey work is scheduled for the week of March 24th to provide a clearer site layout, crucial for advancing the project. Funding for this phase has been allocated, but additional funds will be sought at the town meeting to complete the feasibility study. The next phase involves design, anticipated to cost around 10% of construction cost, with architects providing a rough cost estimation. The design will account for the expected growth of the town and emergency services, aiming to address current deficiencies and future needs over a projected 50-year lifecycle. Discussions are ongoing about a Bill to create a building authority for public safety buildings, though its success in the current session remains uncertain. Questions were also raised about the contour survey's specifics and the basis for the design fee percentage, highlighting a standard in the industry but acknowledging variability.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: One Stop Grant Application
The planning board is seeking assistance for a potential master plan update or overall zoning review, leveraging the possibility of grant funding from the one-stop grant application, contingent on the town adopting MBTA zoning to be eligible. There's a challenge in ensuring robust community participation in the planning process, often skewed by the limited demographic that typically engages in town meetings. Suggestions include conducting a town-wide survey to more accurately gauge community interests and desires, emphasizing the importance of finding strategies to ensure broader community participation in the planning meetings and processes.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Town Planner Resignation
John Castle resigns from his position, with his last day being March 9, to become the director of planning and economic development for the city of Woburn, a move made easier by the proximity to his home and the opportunity it presents for extended work years despite approaching retirement. In response to inquiries about a successor and interim plans, it’s mentioned that the planning board has been sent the job description and last used ad, but no successor is named, with an assurance that imminent work will not be backlogged nor will projected work be stymied owing to John’s regular communication. Tribute is paid to John's significant contributions and dedication as a town planner, highlighting his impact on projects like the rail trail and expressing confidence in his ongoing support despite leaving. The need for a successful successor search is acknowledged, reflecting on the town's history with planners.
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TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
In a recent update, DAWES highlighted the initiation of motorcycle awareness starting March 24th, a collaborative effort with Lieutenant Hatch for a presentation similar to the previous year’s. Additionally, DAWES announced a care package event organized for April 20th in alliance with the American Legion and the Newhart Bible Chapel, aiming to support Operation Troop Support. This nonprofit, founded by retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Dick Moody over 21 years ago, has successfully distributed over a million packages to troops. Collection boxes for the event are currently placed at Crosby's, with further involvement from local churches expected. Community participation is encouraged, emphasizing the assembling and packing of boxes on the day of the event. The community is informed and invited to participate via social platforms, with a special note on the postage cost of $17 a box, highlighting the importance of donations for covering these expenses.
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