===PAGE 1=== Page 1 of 6 Select Board Meeting Minutes 6/11/2024 Town of Lunenburg Select Board Meeting Minutes Town Hall, 17 Main Street and via Zoom Tuesday, June 11, 2024 Members Present: Chair Caesar Nuzzolo, Vice-Chair Michael-Ray Jeffreys, Clerk Amanda Moore, Member Tom Alonzo, and Member Renee Emkey Members Absent: None Also Present: Heather Lemieux, Town Manager CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Caesar Nuzzolo called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Nuzzolo informed attendees that the meeting was being recorded and broadcast live and would be uploaded to YouTube after the meeting. He explained that the agenda listed topics that may be discussed, but not all items may be addressed, and other items not listed could be brought up as permitted by open meeting law. PUBLIC COMMENT Board Comment Member Renee Emkey stated that she has been doing a lot of thinking about the Town and the best way to spend her time to move the town in a positive direction. She had concerns that the town does not have a personnel committee, and the town manager's resignation. She is committed to being a contributing member of the board as long as she feels that it is in the best use of her energy and effort. Member Tom Alonzo congratulated all the graduates of Lunenburg High School, the class of 2024. He read a personal statement in regard to his foundational principles and will continue to fight for the best interests of the town and work to secure its future in whatever way he can. Public Comment Dave Passios, 56, Whiting Street, was present. He stated that he has concerns regarding ARPA money being unappropriated and detailed some possible projects the funds could be used for. Ana Lockwood, 91 Main Street was present. She stated that the Board will have the opportunity to appoint three people to the Historical Commission. She would like to request that the Board ask what the plan is for them to begin recording the meetings. She stated that she has requested the Historical Commission to begin recording the meeting for the sake of transparency. Debbie Lincoln, 46 Hemlock Drive, was present for the Council on Aging. She showed the Select Board a plan for a parking lot starting in 2010. She spoke to an architect engineer that stated the plans were still useful for ten to twelve thousand dollars more. They would be updated and what they need to be included in the next Capital Plan and use ARPA funds. ANNOUNCEMENTS None ===PAGE 2=== Page 2 of 6 Select Board Meeting Minutes 6/11/2024 APPOINTMENTS Presentation from BSC Group on Conceptual Redevelopment Plans for 925 Massachusetts Ave (the old gas station) Chair Nuzzolo introduced a presentation by BSC Group on the Conceptual Redevelopment Plans for 925 Massachusetts Ave, the old gas station. Town Manager Heather Lemieux explained that the town had received a grant through Mass Development's real estate technical assistance program and hired BSC Group to develop conceptual plans and a draft RFP for the site's revitalization. Jeff Beck from BSC Group provided an overview of the property, noting it’s a small, town- owned parcel located at the edge of the Village Center zoning district. He mentioned that the site, which is just over 8,200 square feet, has parking limitations and environmental concerns due to its past use as a gas station, although remediation work has been done. He presented two design options: one for renovating the existing building and another for new construction. Mr. Beck discussed the zoning, which supports uses like small retail, cafes, or office space, and explained the challenges related to parking and the small site size. The Planning Board prefers renovation, if possible. The community’s feedback from the Mas ter Plan process supports small businesses and cafes. Mr. Beck also reviewed the RFP process, mentioning the Town’s completed work, such as environmental cleanup and surveys, and outlined the evaluation criteria for the RFP. The discussion then covered how planning efforts would influence the property's sale price, with flexibility in the RFP process to encourage creative development. The next steps involve completing structural evaluations, continuing environmental monitoring, conducting an appraisal, and issuing the RFP. The Select Board will need to vote to declare the property surplus before moving forward with the RFP. If no proposals are received, additional funding may be sought for further remediation. The Board expressed appreciation for the efforts made and the importance of the project to the community. INTERVIEWS/APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS/RESIGNATIONS Motion by Clerk Jeffreys to ratify the Town Manager’s appointment of Building Commissioner/Land Use Manager Brian Gingras. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Motion by Member Alonzo to ratify the Town Manager’s appointment of Seasonal Lifeguard Brionna Bowser. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). The Board approved the ir FY2025 annual appointments (see attached) and ratified the Town Manager’s FY2025 appointments (see attached) Motion by Clerk Jeffreys to ratify the Town Manager’s Annual Appointments as read by Chair Nuzzolo. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0- 0). ===PAGE 3=== Page 3 of 6 Select Board Meeting Minutes 6/11/2024 Motion by Member Alonzo to appoint Mary Rae Holman to the Agricultural Commission for a term ending June 30, 2027. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Motion by Member Alonzo to appoint Richard McGrath to the APDC for a term ending June 30, 2027. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Motion by Member Alonzo to appoint Richard McGrath, to the Historical Commission for a term ending June 30, 2027. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). TOWN MANAGER REPORT Town Manager Lemieux provided updates on staffing, vacancies, and the upcoming beach season. Several vacancies were noted, including positions on the Agricultural Commission, Board of Health, and Personnel Committee. The board also reviewed the recent issues with the fourth-quarter tax bills, which were caused by an error in the Munis software, and updates on other town matters were shared. Sergeant Sean Zrate and Officer Jonathan Broc were commended for their quick actions in saving a suicidal male. The fourth-quarter tax bills had an error in taxable value due to Munis software, but the correct amounts were billed. The finance team is working with Tyler Technologies to resolve the issue before the fiscal 25 billing. There is no current Personnel Committee following a resignation, and no outreach has been made to the former members. Munis billing issues continue after migration. Chair Nuzzolo thanked the former Personnel Committee for their work on the SAP project. OLD BUSINESS Discussion on Tax Investigation Report 3. The Tax Investigation Report was discussed, with the mention that a summary had been received, but the full report was not yet available. The board sought clarity on when the full report would be provided, with some confusion about its distribution. It was acknowledged that the report's compilation is still being worked on. Discuss Use of Information Technology Resources Policy Next, the Use of Information Technology Resources Policy was addressed. The discussion centered around the need to establish a policy that clearly defines when employees lose access to their emails after leaving town employment, especially in cases where i ndividuals transition to appointed or elected positions. Member Alonzo expressed concern about past practices where individuals retained email access longer than usual. There was agreement that the town should adopt a clear policy to avoid confusion and ensure consistency in handling email access. ===PAGE 4=== Page 4 of 6 Select Board Meeting Minutes 6/11/2024 Discuss Outdoor Dining Policy Chair Nuzzolo stated that in light of new state legislation that grants the Select Board authority over outdoor dining arrangements that involve the sale and consumption of alcohol. The board is considering a policy to manage these areas, incorporating feedback from department heads. Vice- Chair Jeffreys raised concerns about the potential impact on residential neighborhoods but also acknowledged the benefits to businesses, such as increased revenue and competitiveness. There was an agreement to continue gathering public input before moving forward with any decisions. CURRENT BUSINESS Review of Interim Town Manager Job Posting The Select Board discussed the interim Town Manager job posting and its details, such as the requirements for leadership, financial, and communication skills. It was clarified that the Select Board has full authority to hire the interim Town Manager, unlike the process for hiring a permanent one. There was a discussion about how applications should be submitted, and it was decided that they should be sent to the Assistant Town Manager, Julie, for initial screening. Further details, such as required qualifications, were agreed upon. The revised posting was approved with updates, including a change to the contact information and adding municipal leadership experience to the job description. A motion to approve the changes and authorize the posting was passed. Motion by Vice Chair Jeffreys to post the interim Town manager job posting as amended. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Designate Town Manager Screening Committee Representative Motion by Vice Chair Jeffreys to appoint Selectman Alonzo as its representative on the Town Manager Screening Committee. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Vote: Five - Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Review of remaining ARPA funding and committed funds Town Manager Lemieux presented the updated spreadsheet of ARPA funding. Some funds have already been committed, while others remain uncommitted. The Board discussed reallocating unspent funds and the importance of committing and spending these funds before the end of the year. There was concern about ensuring funds are used appropriately and in line with federal guidelines, and the possibility of reassessing the allocation process in the future was mentioned. Discussion on Budget Task Force Member Emkey presented examples of budget task forces from other Massachusetts towns. The task force composition typically includes representatives from various boards, committees, and sometimes residents. The Board discussed the timeline for forming a budget task force, with a goal to have a recommendation ready before the start of fiscal year 2026. There was also discussion about the size and composition of the task force, and whether residents should be included as voting members. ===PAGE 5=== Page 5 of 6 Select Board Meeting Minutes 6/11/2024 Select Board Liaison & Committee Assignments The Select Board briefly discussed the need to assign liaisons to various committees. Board members reviewed the list of committees and assigned liaison roles accordingly. Minutes/Warrants/Action Items Committee Reports Chair Nuzollo stated that the board is in receipt of Bills Payable Warrant: $54,268.28, Bills Payable Warrant: $35,476.57 and Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant: $1,302,605.45. Committee Reports: Member Alonzo stated that all committees appointed by the Board such as the Historical Commission and APDC should be required to record their meetings using Zoom or similar tools to ensure public access. The Board was encouraged to explore available technology and resources to support this. While the Board cannot mandate elected or independent bodies to do the same, a strong recommendation should be made to encourage consistent transparency across all public meetings. Clerk Moore discussed creating a more consistent and transparent process for interviewing candidates for board and committee appointments, including developing standardized questions and clarifying why some applicants are interviewed while others are not. The board acknowledged the need to revisit its current policy to prevent perceptions of favoritism or targeting individuals, with agreement that past practices may have led to issues. Member Emkey provided an update from the School Committee, which discussed high school activity fees and is planning a meeting with the state delegation to address issues like Chapter 70 funding and the bus bidding process. Member Alonzo stated that the Capital Planning Committee met to address the five -year capital plan, though there was uncertainty about the committee's role and future membership. Chair Nuzzolo stated that the Council on Aging celebrated a long-serving member and discussed personnel-related items such as updating job titles and grades to better reflect staff responsibilities. UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS SCHEDULE June 17 (Executive Session only) June 18, and July 9, 16 and 23 PUBLIC COMMENT None Town Manager Comment None Public Comment Dave Passios, 56 Whiting Street, was present. He raised concerns regarding communication with committee appointees, including the need for more effective outreach beyond email. Additional public input covered board appointments, interim Town Manager compensation, and suggestions for ARPA funding to support cemetery needs. ===PAGE 6=== Page 6 of 6 Select Board Meeting Minutes 6/11/2024 John Bowen 162 Highland Street joined over Zoom. He expressed concern that some individuals are appointed or elected without contributing new ideas or plans and called for more accountability in the appointment process, specifically mentioning that no one should be appointed without appearing before the Board. Mr. Bowen raised questions about what compensation an interim Town Manager might receive, suggesting that if Julie Belliveau steps into the role, the pay should reflect the increased responsibility. He also suggested using ARPA funds to address the cemeter y’s needs, including hiring a consulting firm for a site evaluation and potentially forming a cemetery corporation. He expressed concern about perceived conflicts of interest. Board Comment Vice Chair Jeffreys thanked the outgoing Town Manager for her years of service. He briefly explained the federal protections under USERRA for citizen soldiers, noting that service members must be treated as if they never left their civilian jobs during their service. Clerk Moore recognized and thanked Dan Nadareski for his years of dedicated service to the town, stating he would be greatly missed. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Clerk Moore to adjourn the meeting at 10: 20 pm. Seconded by Vice Chair Jeffreys Call for the vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Rebecca Johnson, Minute Clerk These Minutes were reviewed and approved by the Select Board on: Tuesday June 17, 2025 Chair Nuzzolo made the Motion to Approve the minutes from June 11, 2024. Seconded by Vice-Chair Moore. Call for the vote: Four-aye. One-abstain (McLeod). Motion passed (4-0- 1).