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Town of Lunenburg Select Board Meeting Minutes Town Hall, 17 Main Street and via Zoom Tuesday, August 13, 2024  Members Present: Chair Caesar Nuzzolo, Vice-Chair Michael-Ray Jeffreys, Clerk Amanda Moore, Member Tom Alonzo, and Member Renee Emkey Members Absent:  Also Present: Carter Terenzini, Interim 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 Y ouTube 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 Member Alonzo congratulated the Lunenburg Town Band for another successful season and thanked Musical Director and Conductor Steve Archambault for presenting a diverse and entertaining series of performances. Public Dave MacDonald of 155 Island Road addressed the Board and shared his deep concern over the direction of town politics. He reflected on his 22 years of service in the community and announced his intention to initiate a recall effort against Vice-Chair Jeffreys. Mr. MacDonald cited various concerns, including the handling of the town’s tax billing issue, a perceived lack of transparency and communication from the Board, and a breakdown in public trust. He expressed disappointment in recent policy changes and stated his belief that morale had declined significantly among staff and residents. He concluded with an appeal for community healing and renewed volunteerism. George Burden, 39 Cortland Circle was present via Zoom, he offered brief comments expressing appreciation for Mr. MacDonald and his statements and indicated support for the proposed recall effort. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Nuzzolo announced that the Department of Public Health had received notice from Steward Health Care System of its intent to close Nashoba Valley Medical Center. He informed residents of an in-person hearing scheduled for August 15, 2024, and a virtual hearing on August 19, 2024. Written comments could be submitted to the Department of Public Health through August 19, 2024. 
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Chair Nuzzolo also reminded residents of the upcoming State Primary Election on September 3, 2024. The last day to register to vote or change party affiliation is August 24, 2024, at 5:00 PM. Absentee and early voting options are available. Lastly, he announced that the second annual Town Official Meet-and-Greet will be held on September 26, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Low Places Ranch. COMMUNICATIONS FROM OTHER BOARDS APPOINTMENTS INTERVIEWS / APPOINTMENTS / REAPPOINTMENTS / RESIGNATIONS Motion by Member Alonzo to appoint Interim Town Manager Carter Terenzini as the General Government Records Access Officer. Seconded by Clerk Moore. Call for the vote: Five-aye. Motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Motion by Member Alonzo to ratify the appointment of John Sharp as Seasonal Cemetery Laborer. Seconded by Member Emkey. Call for the vote: Five-aye.  Motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Motion by Member Alonzo to ratify the appointment of Denise McHugh as Data Collector. Seconded by Member Emkey. Call for the vote: Five-aye.  Motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Motion by Member Alonzo to appoint the following election workers for terms beginning September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025: Glen Reinhardt (R), 53 Pearl Street – Warden Judith Halligan (R), 29 Elizabeth Street – Deputy Warden Kathleen Pliska (D), 337 Whalom Road – Clerk Judy Haley (D), 184 Highland Street – Clerk Susan Andrews (D), 81 Horizon Island Road – Inspector Joanne Bergeron (D), 306 West Townsend Road – Deputy Inspector Jane Ranley (R), 450 Leominster Road – Inspector Lorraine Rudd (R), 340 Highland Street – Deputy Inspector Seconded by Clerk Moore. Call for the vote: Five-aye.  Motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). The Board acknowledged the resignation of Paula Bertram as Sewer Business Manager. Interim Town Manager Terenzini stated Ms. Bertram was moving on to another community. Members of the Board expressed their appreciation for her many years of service and dedication to the Town. Her last day will be August 29, 2024. Interim Town Manager Terenzini shared that she had offered to assist with training her replacement.  
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INTERIM TOWN MANAGER REPORT Interim Town Manager Terenzini provided updates on hiring efforts, staffing changes, and vacancies across multiple departments. He emphasized the critical importance of volunteer participation and listed current openings on boards and committees. He noted that one new application had been received for the Green Communities Committee and that a vacancy had opened on the Stormwater Task Force. He stated that second-round interviews were underway for the Planner position, and offers had been extended for the Assessing Assistant and Assistant Sewer Business Manager roles. Interviews had also begun for the full-time Sewer Business Manager position. Interim Town Manager Terenzini gave an overview of work underway to finalize a solid waste hauling contract, updates to the Council on Aging Executive Director job description, and efforts to post the Town Manager recruitment RFP. He mentioned design proposals received for Marshall Park design and noted that reviews were in progress. He informed the Board that public email contact for the entire Board had been restored via a forwarding setup managed by the Select Board’s administrative office. He also shared his availability for the coming week and thanked staff for their continued efforts during this period of transition. Member Alonzo asked follow-up questions regarding email configurations and town-wide accessibility. He highlighted the importance of keeping the Board informed of appointments and resignations, and Interim Town Manager Terenzini confirmed he would work with staff to ensure vacancies are tracked and posted consistently. Member Emkey stated that due to a resignation, there is an opening on the stormwater task force.  OLD BUSINESS Review of ARPA Funding Requests and Committed Funds The Board engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the prioritization and allocation of approximately $313,000 in remaining ARPA funds. A spreadsheet containing 48 funding requests, plus an additional eight capital projects, had been previously distributed, and members were asked to rank them. The aggregated rankings were used to develop a draft funding list. Member Emkey questioned the use of average scoring, suggesting that median values would better reflect consensus by minimizing the influence of outliers. Chair Nuzzolo stated that he preferred to retain the use of averages for consistency with prior funding rounds, and noted that it was the method most members understood and used last year. The Board agreed to allow members to revisit and update their rankings before the next meeting and to finalize the scoring method at that time. The Board then reviewed the draft funding list, which used average rankings and totaled exactly $313,000. The following items were proposed for funding: 
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1. Munis Consultant – $16,000 2. Two Intravenous Infusion Pumps for Fire/EMS – $7,500 3. Payroll Services and Implementation – Approximately $106,000 4. New Furniture for the Public Safety Building Day Room – $20,000 5. Weekend Food Kit Program (1 year) – $9,000 6. Conservation Commission Local Match for MassTrails Grant – Approximately $15,000 7. Lunenburg Historical Society Projects: o Computer Upgrades o Paint and Repair Exterior Trim o Photocopier Upgrade 8. Council on Aging Requests: o Sail Shades for Outdoor Patio o Two Adirondack Rocking Chairs o Triple-Sided Outdoor Message Board Kiosk 9. Facilities and Parks Capital Projects: o DPW Garage Floor Repairs o DPW Partial Roof Replacement Interim Town Manager Terenzini also recommended that the Board reprogram a previously committed $60,000 line item originally designated for ARPA reporting. Given changes in reporting requirements and staffing constraints, he suggested redirecting these funds to support internal procurement assistance, temporary staffing, or contract support. The Board expressed general support for this proposal and agreed to vote on renaming the funding category at the next meeting. Vice-Chair Jeffreys recommended prioritizing lower-cost items that could be implemented quickly and deferring more complex capital items, which may face delays due to procurement and prevailing wage requirements. The Board also revisited a request from the Village at Flat Hill for drainage basin improvements. Several members recalled a prior discussion during which the Board expressed its intent to support the project. The current request was for $35,000, though the Board discussed potentially allocating $15,000 to $25,000 to match a homeowner's contribution. Interim Town Manager Terenzini agreed to contact the applicants to verify updated costs and funding commitments. The Board also acknowledged that several requests were not included in the current funding draft but could be reconsidered if unspent funds become available. These included: • Tree Risk Management Survey • Tree Removal Requests • BrightEyed Child Enrichment Center (a late submission not ranked by all members) • Uncommitted portion of the $60,000 ARPA reporting line Chair Nuzzolo confirmed the following action items and next steps: • Each member may revise their rankings before the next meeting. 
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• Interim Town Manager Terenzini will provide an updated breakdown of current ARPA allocations, expenditures, and remaining balances. • The Board will decide on the use of average vs. median scoring. • The $60,000 ARPA reporting line will be renamed and repurposed. • The Village at Flat Hill request will be revisited pending updated information. The Board intends to finalize and vote on the ARPA allocations at its next meeting on August 20, 2024 to ensure all projects can meet the December 31, 2024 federal deadline for obligating funds. Select Board Staff Appreciation Chair Nuzzolo initiated a discussion on staff appreciation and morale. Vice-Chair Jeffreys proposed organizing listening sessions where staff could share priorities directly with the Interim and Assistant Town Managers, with Board members attending as observers. Interim Town Manager Terenzini agreed to begin outreach but cautioned that actual sessions might need to be scheduled for later in the fall due to workload demands. Clerk Moore expressed concern about delaying the sessions, warning that additional resignations might occur. Town Manager Salary Range The Board agreed that the salary range for the permanent Town Manager position would be developed with guidance from the recruitment consultant.  Outdoor Dining Policy Interim Town Manager Terenzini reported that a draft policy was in progress and would be brought before the Board once finalized. Draft Financial Policy Manual Interim Town Manager Terenzini stated that the manual would be distributed after the current work on the collective bargaining agreement concludes. Vice Chair Jeffreys asked that it also be shared with the Finance and School Committees. Board/Committee Handbook Interim Town Manager Terenzini confirmed that the handbook would be circulated following the financial policy document. It will be shared with all town boards and committees. CURRENT BUSINESS Petition Regarding Closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center Chair Nuzzolo introduced a resolution urging Governor Maura Healey to intervene in the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center. The resolution asked the Governor to declare a public health emergency and ensure compliance with the 120-day closure process. The Board discussed the impact on local emergency services and unanimously supported the resolution. Motion by Member Alonzo to approve the resolution requesting emergency action regarding the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center. Seconded by Member Emkey. Call for the vote: Five-aye.  Motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). 
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Vote on Fall Special Town Meeting Date and Warrant Opening/Closing Motion by Vice Chair Jeffreys to schedule the Fall Special Town Meeting for November 12, 2024, to open the Warrant on August 14, 2024, and to close the Warrant on September 16, 2024. Seconded by Member Emkey. Call for the vote: Five-aye.  Motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). Minutes / Warrants / Action Items The Board reviewed the draft minutes from the August 6, 2024 meeting. Member Alonzo raised concerns regarding several name misspellings and emphasized the importance of accuracy, stating that individuals’ names should be correct and consistently presented. He also recommended standardizing the formatting of Board member references throughout the minutes, suggesting the consistent use of “Member” rather than alternating between “Selectman,” “Selectwoman,” full names, or honorifics. Member Alonzo identified a revision needed in the second public comment section regarding a remark made by Mr. Burden. He clarified that Mr. Burden did not imply any causal relationship between the timing of the Police Chief’s retirement and other issues, but merely noted that the timing was coincidental. Member Alonzo recommended simplifying the sentence to reflect that Mr. Burden “questioned the timing and circumstances of the Police Chief’s retirement,” and ending the sentence there. Clerk Moore requested that the Committee Report section be corrected to reflect her name as the representative to the Economic Development Committee, as it had incorrectly listed Member Emkey. The Board agreed that these revisions would be made and that the amended minutes would be brought back for approval at the next meeting. Warrants Chair Nuzzolo then circulated several documents for signature, including warrants related to the upcoming state primary elections. No formal vote was taken on the minutes or warrants. Action Items Member Moore inquired whether the Board could consider transitioning its shared files from Google Drive to SharePoint. She expressed concerns about shared logins in Google and advocated for a platform with unique user credentials and version tracking. Member Alonzo discussed potential licensing barriers. Interim Town Manager Terenzini confirmed he would raise the issue with IT during an upcoming meeting with Suzor and Communication/IT Manager.  Member Emkey informed the Board that she may step down from the Stormwater Task Force due to time constraints from other commitments. She invited fellow Board members to consider serving in her place and noted that the task force typically meets monthly on the third Thursday in the evening. 
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Member Emkey mentioned that the Flat Hill Road traffic study had been completed and requested that the results be added to an upcoming agenda for discussion. Chair Nuzzolo confirmed he was already tracking it for future scheduling. The Board also discussed setting an internal deadline for confirming ARPA project viability. Members agreed that all funded items should be committed well before the federal deadline of December 31, 2024, to allow time for adjustments if projects cannot proceed. The Board tentatively proposed mid-September as a practical internal deadline and agreed to finalize that date at the next meeting. Committee Reports Member Emkey stated that the School Committee met the previous week to review the FY26–FY35 Capital Budget. Key discussion topics included the middle/high school turf field, the primary school backup generator, and the primary school driveway. The School Committee members are now working on prioritizing capital items. TMS presented a segment on budget development and financial management, recommending a needs-based approach that clearly communicates unmet needs to the public. They also referenced MUNIS modules for requisitions, purchase orders, and personnel controls, and shared that implementation challenges in other towns were often linked to resource limitations from Tyler Technologies. Additionally, the School Committee received approximately $31,000 in additional Chapter 70 funding and drafted a letter requesting that the funds be allocated directly to the schools. Chair Nuzzolo stated that the Council on Aging met earlier in the day and discussed the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center, as well as capital needs, including new flooring. In terms of personnel, the COA will no longer be seeking grade changes but intends to pursue increased hours for the meal site manager position in the next budget cycle. The COA also voted to begin recording its meetings moving forward. UPCOMING MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE The Board confirmed its next scheduled meetings for August 20 and September 3, 2024. PUBLIC COMMENT Interim Town Manager Interim Town Manager Terenzini had no additional comments. Public Dave Rogers of 82 Highland Street addressed the Board, calling for a renewal of civility in the community. He expressed concern over recent tensions and emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue and collaboration. He commended the Select Board for its hard work and predicted that the public would be surprised when all facts eventually come to light. John Rabbitt, 314 Townsend Harbor Road echoed Mr. Rogers' concerns and urged the Board and the public to shift their focus toward solving challenges and improving operations. He referenced a recent DLS report on financial management and warned against divisive efforts such as recall campaigns. Mr. Rabbitt emphasized the importance of maintaining unity to address growing organizational demands as the town population increases. 
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Dave Passios, 56 Whiting Street, speaking remotely, stressed the need for cooperation among the Board and staff and cited ongoing frustrations with the MUNIS system as a significant issue impacting employee morale and operational efficiency. Board Member Alonzo began by thanking Olympic athletes around the world for an inspiring and unifying event, noting that the Paralympic Games would begin later in the month. He reflected on the importance of planning and preparation in government decision-making, and last-minute efforts that could lead to costly mistakes. He encouraged the Board to maintain focus on long-term goals and thoughtful deliberation. Vice Chair Jeffreys responded to earlier public comments and emphasized the importance of maintaining civility and respecting differences of opinion. He reaffirmed his intention to serve the remainder of his term through May and stated that the current recall initiative appeared intended to damage his reputation. He reiterated that key decisions, including tax assessments, were outside his control and highlighted his efforts to help residents navigate financial challenges. Vice Chair Jeffreys called on the Board to find opportunities for collaboration and unity in the months ahead. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Member Emkey to adjourn the meeting at 9:03 pm. Seconded by Clerk Moore Call for the vote: Five-aye.  The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0).  Meeting adjourned at 9:03 P .M.  Respectfully Submitted,  Rebecca Johnson, Minute Clerk  These Minutes were reviewed and approved by the Select Board on:  Tuesday June 2, 2026 Vice-Chair Lehtinen made the Motion to Approve the minutes of August 13, 2024.  Seconded by Clerk McLeod.  Call for the Vote: Three-aye. Motion Passed unanimously (3-0-0).