What was said

Select Board, September 3, 2019

the recording · 2:57 long, about 24,589 words spoken · captions carried this meeting moderately well

lunenburgbudgetproject.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/2019.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

  1. ▶ 1:48:34The Select Board voted 3-1, with one abstention, to let the Lake Shirley Improvement Corporation's notice of intent go to the Conservation Commission.
  2. ▶ 1:11:52The board renewed PJ Keating earth removal permits 15, 16, 17, 27, 30 and 57, some by split votes with abstentions and with conditions attached.
  3. ▶ 1:22:42The board accepted closure of permits 19 and 56 and the Lunenburg Water District permit, and did not renew them.
  4. ▶ 2:16:42The board accepted the Open Meeting Law response with the remedial action paragraph replaced by a public comment sentence.
  5. ▶ 34:34The board approved stop sign locations as submitted, and sent the old primary school repair question to the September 17 workshop.

Why it matters — our reading

  • Earth removal permit renewals and the Lake Shirley notice of intent decide what excavation and lake work can go ahead, and the Conservation Commission review is where abutters can comment.
  • Repairs to the old primary school and any independent Lake Shirley water testing would be paid from the town budget, mostly taxes, so the workshop discussion is where those costs would first be weighed.

Watch next

  • The September 17 workshop, where the old primary school repairs will be taken up with the preservation commission invited.
  • The special town meeting set for November 12, 2019, with the warrant opening September 10 and closing September 30 at 5:00 p.m.

facilitieslegalpersonnelplanning and zoningpolicypublic commentpublic safetytown departmentstown meetingwater sewer

Present: Town Manager (town manager); Town Counsel (town counsel); Land-use director (Adam) (land use director); Police Chief (presenter); DPW Director (presenter); Mr. Jeffries (member); Mr. McQuaid (member); Phyllis Locke (member); Mr. Chairman (Tom Lanza) (chair); Joan Pease (sewer commission member). Names are the caption model’s hearing and may be wrong.

Votes

  1. ▶ 2:40Approve one-day beer and wine license for St. Boniface Oktoberfest on September 28passed
  2. ▶ 4:52Ratify the town manager's appointment of Susan Mirchi as assistant treasurerpassed
  3. ▶ 6:21Ratify the appointment of Casey Burlingame as Building Commissionernot audible
  4. ▶ 10:40Appoint McDonald and Mike Null to the Sewer Commission (joint vote, roll call)passed
  5. ▶ 34:34Approve stop sign locations as submitted, including Rogers Way at Whalen Roadpassed
  6. ▶ 1:00:51Renew earth removal permit 15 for PJ Keating with vegetation condition by April 2020, expiring August 31, 2020passed
  7. ▶ 1:10:27Renew permit 16 for PJ Keating with conditions on priority habitat areas by year end and a plan for 2020passed 3-0 with one abstention
  8. ▶ 1:11:52Renew permits 17, 27 and 30 for PJ Keatingpassed 3-2 with one abstention
  9. ▶ 1:17:27Accept closure of permit 19 for PJ Keating (not renewed, covered by permit 15)passed
  10. ▶ 1:19:11Approve renewal of permit 57 for PJ Keatingpassed
  11. ▶ 1:20:56Accept closure plan for permit 56 for Powell stone and gravel and not renewpassed
  12. ▶ 1:22:42Accept closure of Lunenburg Water District earth removal permitpassed
  13. ▶ 1:48:34Approve the Lake Shirley notice of intent so it may proceed to the Conservation Commissionpassed 3-1 with one abstention
  14. ▶ 2:16:42Approve the Open Meeting Law response draft with the remedial action paragraph replaced by a public comment sentencepassed
  15. ▶ 2:21:14Set special town meeting for November 12, 2019, warrant opening September 10 and closing September 30 at 5:00 p.m.not audible

And 2 procedural: adjourn the sewer commission (▶ 12:06); adjourn (▶ 2:56:37).

Against the town’s minutes

The town published minutes (text) for this meeting; ours were compared item by item. 7 agree, 3 caption errors resolved by the official reading, 13 substantive differences. The town’s minutes are a full record.

  1. differsBuilding Commissioner appointment (Casey Burlingame)▶ 6:21

    recording Ratify the appointment of Casey Burlingame as Building Commissioner — not audible

    town’s minutes “to ratify the town manager appointment of casey burlingame to building commissioner”

    Our record has no audible outcome; official says passed (All in Favor). Check the recording/official vote.

  2. differsSewer Commission appointments (MacDonald and Nault)▶ 10:40

    recording Appoint McDonald and Mike Null to the Sewer Commission (joint vote, roll call) — passed

    town’s minutes “to appoint dave macdonald and mike nault to the sewer commission”

    Names are misheard captions, but official gives 4-0 and ours gives no count; low risk, check the roll call.

  3. differsStop signs / Traffic Rules vote▶ 34:34

    recording Approve stop sign locations as submitted, including Rogers Way at Whalen Road — passed

    town’s minutes “to approve the modifications to the traffic rules and regulations as submitted”

    Likely the same item, but official says the chief will provide an amended signed document including Rogers Way; check whether Rogers Way was in the motion.

  4. differsPermit 16 renewal for PJ Keating▶ 1:10:27

    recording Renew permit 16 for PJ Keating with conditions on priority habitat areas by year end and a plan for 2020 — passed 3-0 with one abstention

    town’s minutes —

    Official minutes record no vote on permit 16; check the recording and whether it was acted on.

  5. differsPermits 17, 27 and 30 renewal vote count▶ 1:11:52

    recording Renew permits 17, 27 and 30 for PJ Keating — passed 3-2 with one abstention

    town’s minutes “to renew permits #17, 27 & 30 for pj keating”

    Ours says 3-2 with one abstention; official says 3-1 (Luck nay). Check the roll call.

  6. differsPermit 19 closure▶ 1:17:27

    recording Accept closure of permit 19 for PJ Keating (not renewed, covered by permit 15) — passed

    town’s minutes —

    Official records no vote on permit 19; check.

  7. differsClosure of earth removal permit (Water District vs 496 Mass Ave permit #55)▶ 1:22:42

    recording Accept closure of Lunenburg Water District earth removal permit — passed

    town’s minutes “to accept the closure plan and not renew the earth removal permit tor 496 massachusetts avenue”

    Likely the same vote but described as different permit holders; check who held permit 55.

  8. differsLake Shirley notice of intent vote▶ 1:48:34

    recording Approve the Lake Shirley notice of intent so it may proceed to the Conservation Commission — passed 3-1 with one abstention

    town’s minutes “vote: 3 in favor, 1 abstention (luck)”

    Official says 3 in favor, 1 abstention with no opposition; ours adds a 1 against. Check the count.

  9. differsOpen Meeting Law response wording▶ 2:16:42

    recording Approve the Open Meeting Law response draft with the remedial action paragraph replaced by a public comment sentence — passed

    town’s minutes “to approve the draft with modifications to paragraph 2 on page 3 as presented by attorney costa”

    Same vote, but the description of the modification differs; check the actual amendment.

  10. differsSpecial Town Meeting date vote▶ 2:21:14

    recording Set special town meeting for November 12, 2019, warrant opening September 10 and closing September 30 at 5:00 p.m. — not audible

    town’s minutes “to set the date for stm to november 12, 2019 and open the warrant on september 10 and close”

    Same dates; ours has no audible outcome, official says passed (All in Favor).

  11. differsOld primary school repair figures▶ 2:23:27

    recording Old primary school repairs: $10,000, ten thousand eight hundred and sixty nine or eight hundred and seventy dollars

    town’s minutes “i asked the facilities director to get a quote for the repairs that they identified in their letter.”

    Official lists quotes $394.00, $7500.00, $125.85, $2000.00, $750.00, $100.00 (summing about $10,870); ours gives $10,000 and about $10,869-870. Likely consistent totals, but verify.

  12. differsOld primary school workshop date▶ 2:25:36

    recording The old primary school repair question will go to the September 17 workshop, with the preservation commission to be invited.

    town’s minutes “mr. alonzo suggested placing this on the september 10”

    Workshop date differs (Sept 17 vs Sept 10) and invitee differs (preservation commission vs APDC); check.

  13. differsPublic comment and social media policies▶ 2:55:13

    recording Public comment and social media policies tabled for members to review.

    town’s minutes “mr. alonzo asked the board to read the natick policy for future discussion.”

    Broadly similar, but official specifies Natick public comment policy and Easton social media policy deferred.

3 caption errors the town’s minutes resolve
  • Assistant treasurer appointee name:Ratify the town manager's appointment of Susan Mirchi as assistant treasurer — passed→Susan Murchie▶ 4:52
  • Warrants totals:Warrants: forth hundred nine thousand nine hundred ninety six dollars and fifty eight cents, five hundred fifty-seven thousand four hundred $11.05, seven hundred thirty nine thousand three hundred fifteen dollars and 76 cents→$409,996.58; $557,411.05; $739,315.36▶ 2:37:07
  • Chair name:Mr. Chairman (Tom Lanza) (chair)→Tom Alonzo; Phyllis Luck
In one record only: 4 from the recording, 2 from the town’s minutes
  • Recording only — Independent Lake Shirley water testing costs: Independent Lake Shirley water testing: $200 a sample, six hundred dollars, a thousand dollars a day, eighteen hundred dollars a month for five months ▶ 1:43:19
  • Recording only — Town manager evaluation tabled: The town manager annual evaluation is tabled until next week for lack of a full board. ▶ 51:27
  • Recording only — Open Meeting Law response invitation to LSIC: Open Meeting Law response will omit the remedial action; the board will extend an invitation to LSIC leadership to discuss the relationship. ▶ 2:19:46
  • Recording only — Joan Pease, sewer commission member: Joan Pease (sewer commission member)
  • Town’s minutes only — Chief Marino to provide amended signed Traffic Rules document: “chief marino will provide an amended signed document to ms. lemieux that includes rogers way.”
  • Town’s minutes only — Katey Adams absent; other presenters: “member not present: katey adams, member”

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

  1. ▶ 2:23:27Old primary school repairs

    Facilities director's estimate for repairs identified by the architectural preservation district commission; the board was asked whether to spend. Members were skeptical and moved it to the workshop.

    as heard:$10,000ten thousand eight hundred and sixty nine or eight hundred and seventy dollars

  2. ▶ 1:43:19Independent Lake Shirley water testing

    A member proposed that the town pay for independent water testing. The ecologist described sample and consultant costs.

    as heard:$200 a samplesix hundred dollarsa thousand dollars a dayeighteen hundred dollars a month for five months

  3. ▶ 2:36:21Package store license petition

    A member asked whether petitioning for an additional license has a cost to the town.

  4. ▶ 2:37:07Warrants

    The accounts payable and payroll warrants were read for signing.

    as heard:forth hundred nine thousand nine hundred ninety six dollars and fifty eight centsfive hundred fifty-seven thousand four hundred $11.05seven hundred thirty nine thousand three hundred fifteen dollars and 76 cents

  5. ▶ 38:50Mosquito control tire collection

    The town manager said the tire collection program has no additional cost to member towns.

Settled without a vote

  • ▶ 45:00The town manager will ask Unitil whether the tree walk can be held about 5:30 on September 17 and will coordinate the date.
  • ▶ 51:27The town manager annual evaluation is tabled until next week for lack of a full board.
  • ▶ 2:19:46Open Meeting Law response will omit the remedial action; the board will extend an invitation to LSIC leadership to discuss the relationship.
  • ▶ 2:25:36The old primary school repair question will go to the September 17 workshop, with the preservation commission to be invited.
  • ▶ 2:36:01Town counsel will research how to petition for additional package store licenses.
  • ▶ 2:40:16Renewable energy in the electricity aggregation policy to be put on a future agenda.
  • ▶ 2:55:13Public comment and social media policies tabled for members to review.

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:

  • Adam Burney's August 29 memorandum (excerpts italicized) on the PJ Keating Co. earth removal permits
  • Lake Shirley Notice of Intent (NOI)
  • Email from Conservation Commission Chair Bursch on the Lake Shirley draft NOI
  • Follow-up email from Matt Marro, Conservation Administrator
  • Dr. Wagner's report from Water Resource Services (WRS) (2018 WRS report)
  • Lake Management Plan referenced in the Lake Shirley NOI
  • Open Meeting Law complaint dated August 6, 2019 (from Joanna Bilotta)
  • Draft response to the OML complaint
  • Architectural Preservation District Commission (APDC) letter on Old Primary School repairs
  • Natick School Committee public comment policy
  • Town of Easton social media policy
  • Two proposed schedules for the November 12 Special Town Meeting
  • Nashoba Associated Board of Health community advisory on mosquitoes
  • Modifications to the Traffic Rules and Regulations (as submitted)

Heard in the recording

  • ▶ 52:37memo from the land use director dated August 29thmemo· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Adam Burney's August 29 memorandum (excerpts italicized) on the PJ Keating Co. earth removal permits”)
  • ▶ 1:27:09Conservation Commission chair's emailletter or email· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Email from Conservation Commission Chair Bursch on the Lake Shirley draft NOI”)
  • ▶ 1:51:01proposed response to Open Meeting Law complaintletter or email· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Open Meeting Law complaint dated August 6, 2019 (from Joanna Bilotta)”)
  • ▶ 2:20:09special town meeting date optionsother· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Two proposed schedules for the November 12 Special Town Meeting”)
  • ▶ 2:23:06old primary school repair estimateother· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Architectural Preservation District Commission (APDC) letter on Old Primary School repairs”)
  • ▶ 2:41:19Natick School Committee public comment policydraft policy or bylaw· named in the minutes’ text, not in a list (“Natick School Committee public comment policy”)

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

  1. ▶ 0:50Public comment was invited at the start; no speakers are evident.
  2. ▶ 2:55:34Public comment was invited at the end; no speakers are evident.

Where the time went

Minutes of recording by subject, from the topic spans below. A topic with two subjects counts toward both.

The whole meeting, in order

  1. ▶ 0:00Opening and St. Boniface one-day licensevoted · 2:55 long
  2. ▶ 3:47Assistant treasurer and building commissioner appointmentsvoted · 2:56 long · personnel, hiring
  3. ▶ 6:43Sewer Commission appointmentsvoted · 5:47 long · water sewer, personnel
  4. ▶ 12:30Castle Rock filminginformational · 11:05 long
  5. ▶ 23:35Stop signs and traffic regulationsvoted · 12:46 long · public safety, roads and dpw
  6. ▶ 36:21Town manager reportinformational · 7:24 long · town departments
  7. ▶ 43:45Unitil storm resiliency tree walkno resolution · 7:20 long · planning and zoning
  8. ▶ 51:27Town manager evaluationtabled · 0:21 long · personnel
  9. ▶ 51:48Earth removal permit renewalsvoted · 31:19 long · planning and zoning, legal
  10. ▶ 1:23:07Lake Shirley notice of intentvoted · 26:52 long · legal, planning and zoning
  11. ▶ 1:49:59Open Meeting Law complaint responsevoted · 30:10 long · legal, public comment
  12. ▶ 2:20:09Fall special town meeting datevoted · 2:36 long · town meeting, warrant article
  13. ▶ 2:22:45Old primary school repairsreferred · 7:04 long · facilities, capital
  14. ▶ 2:29:49Package store license petitionreferred · 6:32 long · legal
  15. ▶ 2:36:46Minutes and warrantsinformational · 2:04 long
  16. ▶ 2:38:50Electricity aggregation renewablereferred · 2:06 long · economic development
  17. ▶ 2:40:56Public comment and social media policytabled · 14:38 long · policy, public comment
  18. ▶ 2:55:34Closing announcements and adjournmentvoted · 1:46 long

What the captions could not carry

  • Whether the vote ratifying the building commissioner was recorded
  • Result of the vote on the special town meeting date
  • Exact vote counts were garbled in places, including the roll call for sewer appointments
  • Several speakers were not identified

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.

  • ▶ 2:23:06Old primary optionsWhat would it cost to stabilise, repair or demolish the old primary school?already answered: topic:old-primary-school-demolition
  • ▶ 1:43:19Lake Shirley testing costsWhat would independent water testing of Lake Shirley cost the town?

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/2019-09-03-a1GvUfsZpOM.json — 4,069 caption segments, sha256 3ed7dabb6f71…. All recorded meetings.

Every other report

The budget feed — every board, everything about money →What the town is deciding now →The blog — one finding at a time, in two minutes →This week in town — meetings coming up, minutes and recordings just posted →The boards — each one, in one place →Lunenburg’s homes and the tax bill →The School Committee’s finances — every fund and line it owns →Health insurance →Special education — four reports →School staffing — did it go up, and over which years →If students leave — what school choice would cost →What a family actually pays →

Every analysis this project has written, in one index, is at reports.

What changed

Version 15 — updated September 20, 2026