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Home My Public Portal AboutSelect Board -- 2021-01-25 Minutes (2) 6W 8 /i 0 r � Office of: vms ; F91, Town of Brewster o o . . 's Select Board ' 2198 Main Street Town Administrator o ; Ust 00 )09 Brewster, MA 02631 - 1898 r � — -� w Phone : ( 508 ). 896m3701 — Fax : ( 508) 896 =8089 >�IIMi0%ifs000Q��\\\ MINUTES OF THE SELECT BOARD REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DATE : January 25, 2021 TIME : 5 : 30 PM PLACE : Remote Teleconference ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY ; Chair Chaffee , Selectperson deRuyter, Selectperson Whitney, Selectperson Chatelain , Selectperson Bingham , Town Administrator Peter Lombardi , Assistant Town Administrator Susan Broderick, Assistant Town Administrator Donna Kalinick, Frank Bridges, Greg Levasseur, Chris Easley, Pete Dahl , John O ' Reilly and Executive Assistant to the Town Administrator Robin Young Call to Order & Declaration of a Quorum , Meeting Participation Statement and Recording Statement Chair Chaffee called the meeting to order at 534pm , conducted a roll call vote of attendance , declared a quorum present, and read the meeting participation and recording statements . Public Announcements and Comment ' Members of the public may address the Select Board on matters not on the meeting's agenda for a maximum 3 S minutes at the Chair's discretion Under the Open Meeting Law, the Select Board is unable to reply but may add Items presented to a future agenda . None . Update on and Discussion of Nauset Regional High School Proiect — Representatives from Nauset Regional School Committee , School Building Committee , Nauset School Administration , and Brewster Finance Committee Chair Chaffee introduced Nauset Regional School Committee Chair Chris Easley who read a comment from Superintendent Tom Conrad , who was unable to attend the meeting due to prior meeting commitments . Mr . Easley explained how the deadline extensions of the MSBA had transpired to date , due to the Covid - 19 pandemic . Mr . Levasseur, Chair of the Building Committee , reviewed a synopsis of the project to date . The building for Nauset Regional High School was built 49 years ago, and is in need of upgrading . Mr . Easley discussed the how the student population was considered for the project, with a 900 - 1000 student range . The MSBA set them at 905 students . The School Choice option is decided by the School Committee , who advised the Building Committee to plan a project for the 905 students . Chair Chaffee opened up the discussion to the Select Board members . Selectperson Chatelain asked for information on the programing at Nauset that would be made available to School Choice students, offering diversity to the student population . There is an IB program at Nauset that is unique to the region , and the school offers a robust AP program . The Arts program receives national awards annually . The intent of the Building Committee was to develop a www . brewster- ma . gov BoS 01 -25 - 21 Page 1 of 3 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552 g o„ IN r � Office of: Town of Brewster Select Board _ •+, ; 2198 Main Street Town Administrator a 3: U )0Brewster, MA 02631 - 1898 r Phone : ( 508) 896 -3701 Fax : ( 508) 896- 8089 �y�`4i,,�mfsinninimiva��a"`�°�\\\ school that would be able to continue such programming . Selectperson Bingham discussed the large School Choice population , and does not feel they were fully informed of the number of students since the beginning of discussions . Mr . Lombardi asked for clarification if the time of the poll hours had been determined . This was voted on at the last School Committee meeting . Mr . Lombardi also asked for the approved language that would be included on the ballots for them to be mailed out . That will be voted to be finalized on January 28, 2021 , Selectperson Bingham asked Mr . Easley if another extension was allowed . There was not a formal request, but when the OPM asked the State they were advised to "vote the project . " Mr . Lombardi asked when the debt issuance would be considered by the School Committee . This will be important to communicate the cost impact on the residents . It will not be until the Bids on the project are returned . The formal outreach and education plan for voters over the next few months will include themed Zoom forums with presentations and questions and answer periods held every Wednesday night until the vote starting February 3 , 2021 . These will be recorded and broadcast on local TV Channel 22 . Selectperson deRuyter considered the School Choice argument, which is integral to the program offerings at the school . He feels that the geography and demographic of the school system is attracting young families with children in the school district, and a new school will continue that draw . Selectperson Bingham noted the 48 . 5 % of the building cost that the trewster taxpayers will have to pay . Selectperson deRuyter feels that is an investment in the community, and it is a choice that the voters will be able to make . Pete Dahl of the Finance Committee has noted that they have a very detailed cost report on the School Choice students . The Finance Committee will review this at their January 27, 2021 meeting, and a copy is available to the public . He requested it be put on the website as well . Public comment was opened to the attendees of the meeting . Betsy Smith commented on the School Choice , and the cost of sending students to Charter Schools . John Lipman supports the renovation and expansion project . Rheanna Hastings noted the amount of money will impact the residents, and would like to know if they will be able to consider the School Choice after they vote on the school , and appreciates that the forums will be offered . Alice Steltzer would have liked better communication on the cost of the project as is, and why it was not scaled back for a smaller population . Richard Marx, the Owhers Project Manager, had direct conversation with the MSBA about an extension , and was told that it was time to vote . The budget is capped and inflation will occur if the project is delayed . The enrollment is set, and there is not the option to scale back the project without losing the State funding . Katie Miller Jacobus spoke of stewardship , for the future children and generations . Fran Schofield read a letter of support for the project . Gwen Pelletier spoke in favor of the school project . Brenda Locke is concerned why such a large school has been designed for inclusion of school choice students, and Deborah Johnson stated that it is not just a capital expense but an ongoing annual expense to the taxpayers . Chair Chaffee read some of the chat comments both with concerns of the project and in favor of the project . Brewster Community Network will be offering a forum for discussion before the polls open for voting on the project . Additional time for conversation will be allowed at the February 1 , 2020 Select Board meeting . Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair None . www , brewster- ma . gov BoS 01 - 25 - 21 Page 2 of 3 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552 \\\��po\ A E W 's !/4" of o;U�,, �9 � Town of Brewster Office of: Select Board Air + ; 2198 Main Street Town Administrator M Brewster, MA 026314898 Phone : ( 508 ) 896- 3701 — Fax : ( 508) 896- 8089 Questions from the Media None . Next Meetings : January 26 Feb 1 , 2 Joint with Fin Com Feb 8 , and Feb 10 , 2021 Adiournment Selectperson Bingham moved to adjourn at 6 : 51pm , Selectperson deRuyter second . A roll call vote was taken . Selectperson Whitney-yes, Selectperson Chatelain -yes , Selectperson deRuyter-yes, Selectperson Bingham -yes, Chair Chaffee -yes . The Board vote was 5 -yes, 0 - No . Respectfully submitted , Robin Young 02 / 01 / 2021 �UG Approved : Signed : Date Selectperson Bingham , Clerk of the Board of Selectman 4 Accompanying Documents in Packet : Agenda , School Choice Explanation , School Choice Graph, English School Choice, www , brewster- ma . gov BoS 01 - 25-21 Page 3of3 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552