What was said
Select Board, December 18, 2018
the recording · 1:49 long, about 14,433 words spoken · captions carried this meeting moderately welllunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The data this page is computed from: /data/recording-minutes/select-board/2018.json
The town published minutes (text) and an agenda for this meeting. Those minutes are the record; what follows is a guide to the recording.
The short version
- ▶ 16:16The Select Board approved the Water District's earth removal permit with the Planning Director's conditions plus set hours of operation and warning signs.
- ▶ 1:47:32The board authorized the town manager to renegotiate the Casella contract, with a cap per ton, because recycling will now cost the town.
- ▶ 1:06:57Annual 2019 license renewals were approved, with all of one licensee's tavern licenses made contingent on payment of outstanding taxes.
- ▶ 1:04:40The board agreed to send a letter of support for the open space and recreation plan and appointed two members to the cable committee.
- ▶ 27:45A Chapter 61B land conversion was set for the January 8 agenda; the board is unlikely to exercise its right of first refusal.
Why it matters — our reading
- Recycling moves from a service the town was paid for to a per-ton cost, and that cost lands on the general fund, which is mostly funded by taxes.
- The Water District permit lets excess fill leave the headquarters site under conditions on hours and signage, which affects truck traffic on nearby roads.
- License fees have not been raised since 1995, so any increase the board takes up would change what local license holders pay.
Watch next
- January 8 Select Board agenda: the Chapter 61B conversion and the board's first-refusal decision.
- January 15 workshop with historical groups on town buildings; January 29 is held in reserve.
budget fy28facilitiesfeesgrantslegalpersonnelplanning and zoningpublic commenttown departmentswater sewer
Present: Town Manager (town manager); Fran McManus (presenter); Jenny Moore (presenter); Brandon Kitty (presenter). Names are the caption model’s hearing and may be wrong.
Votes
- ▶ 16:16Approve the earth removal permit for the Water District with the Planning Director's conditions plus hours of operation and warning signspassed
- ▶ 18:28Approve change of DBA to Hannaford supermarket and pharmacynot audible
- ▶ 24:33Appoint Pete Lincoln and Steve Irishman boat to the PAC committee through June 30 2021not audible
- ▶ 1:04:40Send a letter of support for the open space and recreation plannot audible
- ▶ 1:06:57Approve 2019 license renewals, amended to make all of Donnelly's tavern licenses contingent on payment of taxesnot audible
- ▶ 1:47:32Authorize town manager to renegotiate Casella contract at a cost no greater than $55 a tonnot audible
And 1 procedural: adjourn (▶ 1:48:38).
Against the town’s minutes
The town published minutes (text) for this meeting; ours were compared item by item. 10 agree, 4 caption errors resolved by the official reading, 5 substantive differences. The town’s minutes are a full record.
recording Approve the earth removal permit for the Water District with the Planning Director's conditions plus hours of operation and warning signs — passed
town’s minutes “to approve the earth removal permit with the conditions as outlined above by the land use director”
Both record passage, but the official motion quote does not itself include the hours of operation and warning signs; the official summary says it was amended to add them. Check the motion and amendment wording in the minutes.
recording Approve change of DBA to Hannaford supermarket and pharmacy — not audible
town’s minutes “to approve the change of doing business as to hannaford supermarket & pharmacy submitted by victory distributors, llc”
Our record has no audible outcome; the official minutes record it as passed. Check the recording for the vote.
recording Send a letter of support for the open space and recreation plan — not audible
town’s minutes “sincerely, lunenburg board of selectmen vote: all in favor”
Our record has no audible outcome; the official minutes record it as passing unanimously with no mover recorded. Check the recording.
recording Approve 2019 license renewals, amended to make all of Donnelly's tavern licenses contingent on payment of taxes — not audible
town’s minutes “mr. mcquaid amended his motion to say that donnelly's tavern license renewals will be contingent on all taxes being paid to date. ms. luck seconded the amendment.”
Same amendment, but our outcome is not audible while the official minutes record the amendment as passing. Also check whether the contingency covers all Donnelly's licenses or just the tavern renewals, and whether the main motion vote was recorded.
recording Authorize town manager to renegotiate Casella contract at a cost no greater than $55 a ton — not audible
town’s minutes “to authorize the town manager to renegotiate the contract with casella waste for a cost of no greater than $55/ton”
Our record has no audible outcome; the official minutes record it as passed. Check the recording for the vote.
4 caption errors the town’s minutes resolve
- Name of PAC appointee Steve Archambault:Appoint Pete Lincoln and Steve Irishman boat to the PAC committee through June 30 2021 — not audible→Steve Archambault▶ 24:33
- Fran McNamara presenter name:Fran McManus (presenter)→Fran McNamara▶ 7:45
- Jennifer Moore presenter name:Jenny Moore (presenter)→Jennifer Moore▶ 18:28
- Brandon Kibbe presenter name:Brandon Kitty (presenter)→Brandon Kibbe▶ 1:04:40
In one record only: 1 from the recording, 5 from the town’s minutes
- Recording only — Donnelly's taxes $7,000: Donnelly's taxes: 7,000 dollars ▶ 1:07:44
- Town’s minutes only — Finance Committee snow dates: “they agreed they would add "snow dates" on the monday after their regularly scheduled thursday budget meetings in the event the thursday meeting has to be cancelled.”
- Town’s minutes only — Interim uses and feedback on town buildings: “mr. toale stated he would like to hear interim uses for these properties in upcoming town manager reports.”
- Town’s minutes only — TC Passios rental interest follow-up: “the school facilities director will be reaching out to the one known party that had expressed interest to learn why they did not submit a bid”
- Town’s minutes only — Select Board members present: “board of selectmen: jamie toale, chairman; damon mcquaid, vice chairman; phyllis luck, clerk; katey adams, member”
- Town’s minutes only — Boys & Girls Club raffle prize $2500: “if you are number 172, you have won $2500.00.”
Compared 2026-11-05. Neither record is treated as the referee: a caption error is the same fact heard badly; a difference is for a person to check at the timestamp.
The money
- ▶ 7:45Earth removal fill
Water District would charge local contractors per load for excess fill, who haul it themselves.
as heard:two dollars$40,000
- ▶ 38:11Ritter building shutters
Quote to replace shutters; a member suggested going shutter-free.
as heard:nine thousand dollars
- ▶ 46:44Police electronic item
Received free; a prior capital article amount can be reappropriated.
as heard:25,000
- ▶ 48:08Fire engine four
Repairs needed; replacement is in the FY20 capital plan.
as heard:$15,000six hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars
- ▶ 1:31:05Accounts payable warrant
Warrant for accounts payable presented.
as heard:one hundred ninety eight thousand two hundred thirteen dollars and 82 cents
- ▶ 1:31:48License fees
Fees not raised since 1995; members debated raising them.
as heard:$25
- ▶ 1:39:51Casella recycling cost
Casella wants payment per ton for recycling; impact falls on the general fund.
as heard:$55 atwenty five dollars a tonfifty eight thousand nine hundred and thirty dollars
- ▶ 1:07:44Donnelly's taxes
Outstanding taxes owed by a licensee.
as heard:7,000 dollars
Settled without a vote
- ▶ 27:45Chapter 61B conversion to go on January 8 agenda; board unlikely to exercise first refusal.
- ▶ 1:27:38Workshop January 15 with historical groups; January 29 held in reserve; agenda items between workshops.
Documents and exhibits
The town’s minutes
The minutes print no list of documents and exhibits.
Named in the running text, not in a list:
- Notice of Intent to Convert Chapter 61B Land at 994 Northfield Road
- Public hearing notice, Earth Removal Permit, Lunenburg Water District
- Earth Removal Permit application submitted by the Lunenburg Water District, 50 Lesure Ave.
- Memo from Land Use Director Adam Burney regarding the Earth Removal Permit
- Site Plan Approval dated 8 May 2017 for 496 Massachusetts Ave.
- Approved Site Plan dated 7 March 2017, with amendments on 27 April 2017
- Letter of Support for Open Space and Recreation Plan 2019-2026
- Casella recycling cost spreadsheet with Finance Director highlighted section
- Accounts payable warrant, $198,213.82
- 2019 annual license renewal list
Heard in the recording
- ▶ 14:28Land use director memo dated December 13th 2018memo· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Memo from Land Use Director Adam Burney regarding the Earth Removal Permit”)
- ▶ 54:46Open space and recreation planreport· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Letter of Support for Open Space and Recreation Plan 2019-2026”)
- ▶ 1:40:31Recycling spreadsheetspreadsheet· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Casella recycling cost spreadsheet with Finance Director highlighted section”)
State law asks minutes to list the documents and exhibits used at a meeting (M.G.L. c.30A §22(a)). Names from the recording are the caption model’s hearing; the two sides are matched by name, by script, so a document named two different ways can be missed. A place to look, not a finding.
Public comment
- ▶ 0:42Boys and Girls Club vice chair reported the raffle grand prize drawing and thanked donors and volunteers.
- ▶ 2:26Resident supported putting the Planning Board's marijuana items on the ballot and urged a contingency if regulations fail at Town Meeting.
Where the time went
Minutes of recording by subject, from the topic spans below. A topic with two subjects counts toward both.
- town departments38 min · 35%
- superintendent report29 min · 26%
- planning and zoning25 min · 23%
- facilities22 min · 20%
- warrant article22 min · 20%
- water sewer14 min · 12%
- contracts and unions9 min · 8%
- personnel7 min · 6%
- fees5 min · 5%
- legal5 min · 4%
The whole meeting, in order
- ▶ 0:00Public commentinformational · 3:51 long · public comment
- ▶ 3:51Earth removal permit hearing, Water Districtvoted · 13:31 long · water sewer, planning and zoning
- ▶ 17:22Hannaford DBA changevoted · 1:27 long · legal
- ▶ 18:49Cable committee appointmentsvoted · 6:30 long · personnel
- ▶ 25:19Town manager reportinformational · 28:41 long · superintendent report, town departments
- ▶ 54:23Open space and recreation plan letter of supportvoted · 11:29 long · planning and zoning
- ▶ 1:05:52Annual license renewalsvoted · 3:19 long · legal
- ▶ 1:09:11Timeline for town building actionsno resolution · 21:54 long · facilities, warrant article
- ▶ 1:31:05License fees reviewinformational · 5:13 long · fees
- ▶ 1:36:18Committee reportsinformational · 2:31 long
- ▶ 1:38:49Casella recycling contractvoted · 9:06 long · contracts and unions, town departments
- ▶ 1:47:55Schedule and adjournmentvoted · 1:29 long
What the captions could not carry
- Vote results for most motions are not stated in the captions beyond voice votes.
- Whether the earth removal quantity was 20,000 cubic yards or feet is inconsistent in the captions.
Reports this meeting suggests
Our reading of the discussion: questions where numbers were in play and a page laying them out would have helped. Every meeting’s suggestions are merged into one register.
- ▶ 1:39:10Recycling contract costsWhat will paying Casella for recycling cost the general fund?
- ▶ 1:31:48License fee scheduleWhen were town license and permit fees last raised and how do they compare?
These are ours, and they are not the record
OUR MINUTES OF A RECORDING, written by a language model from machine captions. Two derived layers stand between this file and the meeting. Cite the video at the timestamp, never this file. Figures are as heard and may be wrong; names may be wrong; where the town published minutes, those are the record.
Written 2026-11-05 by scripts/write_recording_minutes.py (sonnet) from sources/data/youtube-transcripts/select-board/2018-12-18-cZBJfv5TP6A.json — 2,391 caption segments, sha256 b376bd3b0295…. All recorded meetings.
Every other report
Every analysis this project has written, in one index, is at reports.