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Home My Public Portal AboutSelect Board -- 2021-02-01 Agenda \�y,��a\\\e\A V�W 8/l� �i/// Town of Brewster Office of: p •� •,• 9 *+� Select Board = s• '+w ; 2198 Main Street Town Administrator - - Brewster, MA 026314898 10 r _ Phone : (508) 896-3701 ono Fax : ( 508 ) 896- 8089 %ya4j��i� MINUTES OF THE SELECT BOARD REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DATE : February 1, 2021 TIME : 6 : 00 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 , Bob Young, Pete Dahl , 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 6v00pm , 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&5 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 . Select Board Announcements and Liaison Reports Chair Chaffee announced the passing of long time Brewster resident Bill Porter . Town Administrator' s Report Mr . Lombardi announced a Charter Committee public forum , which will be held on Tuesday February 2 , 2021 at 6pm . Patrick Ellis, DPW Director, has announced his retirement . The process to hire a new DPW Director will begin in March . Mr . Lombardi reviewed the State Executive Order 62 , which extended occupancy restrictions on businesses until further notice . The Town offices could potentially re - open to the public the week of February 16, 2021 . Time restrictions on local business have been rescinded . The focus at the State level is now on the vaccine and distribution to residents 75 years and older . Efforts have been hampered , mainly due to a supply shortage . The Barnstable County has launched a Covid hotline , which had received over 7500 calls in the first week . Brewster has had over 350 Covid positive cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 105 in long term care facilities . In the past 5 weeks 141 new positive cases occurred . Last week the case count declined . Both elementary schools, the Laurel School and the Family School are using remote learning until at least the end of February vacation . All testing site locations are posted on the Town www , brewster- ma . gov BoS 02-01 -21 Page 1 of 5 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552 \\�Oa\\\0ai£uIW 8 ,,� Townof Brewster Office of: o ,. •,• 9 Select Board 2198 Main Street Town Administrator o Brewster, MA 026314898 r Phone: ( 508 ) 896-3701 Fax : ( 508) 896 - 8089 IIfill 1111W\\\\\\\�� webpage . Chair Chaffee added that the Barnstable County has launched a feature on their Covid page, which will offer an email sign up for those interested in vaccination clinics . Consent Agenda Meeting Minutes : December 21 and 23 2020 January 19 and 25 , 2021 Fee Waiver : Brewster Historical Society Farmers Market Appointment : Renee Dee — Historical Commission Acceptance of 2020 Donations Site Owner Estoppel Certificate • DSD Renewables for Captain ' s Golf Course Driving Range Solar Carport Mr . Lombardi asked for the Board to give him authorization to approve discretional wording changes on the estoppel certificate in the event minor changes needed to be made . Mr . Lombardi acknowledged the generous donations made to the Town and thanked the donors . Selectperson Whitney moved to approve the February 1 , 2021 consent agenda , Selectperson Bingham second . Selectperson Whitney moved to amend his original motion , adding to allow Mr . Lombardi authorization to amend the language on the estoppel certificate, Selectperson Bingham 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 . Present and Discuss Finance Committee Report on Nauset Regional High School Project — Pete Dahl , Finance Committee Chair Finance Committee Chair Pete Dahl updated to the Select Board that on Jan 27 , 2021 the Brewster Finance Committee voted 3 in . favor and 5 against a motion to support the Nauset Regional High School ( NRHS ) project . He then read a prepared statement that gave an overview comments made by Finance Committee members who both supported and opposed the project . Robert Young presented the report of the FinCom Subcommittee on Nauset Regional High School Project . This covered the history of the project, the current state of the high school building, project size and scope , student utilization of the high school , financial considerations, and the potential debt and repayment . As the largest Capital project the Town has taken , there was a great deal of effort put in to reviewing the financial impact of the project . Mr . Young reviewed a financial analysis on the FY18 Nauset Regional School operational costs, including the financial impact on School Choice students . Chris Easley noted that there are internet issues in Brewster during the meeting, preventing some residents from logging on to the meeting . The School Committee requested to be able to respond to this report at the next Select Board meeting . The cost to educate students is reported annually, and approved by voters . Greg Levasseur noted they are disappointed that the : Finance Committee did not support the project . The Department of Education had to sign off on the project before the MSBA issued the grant, and that the $ 95 million dollar cost is not fixed . Lower bids could come in and there is a $ 5 million dollar contingency fund . A $ 36 million dollar grant was www , brewsterwma . gov BoS 02- 01 - 21 Page 2 of 5 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552 "��\�a\�� a S IN 4 i J . F � Town of Brewster Office of: J . 0 •+. 9 �4 Select Board '+� ; 2198 Main Street Town Administrator : Brewster, MA 026314898 90 (44 V* - -� 60 AN Phone : ( 508) 896 - 3701 Fax : ( 508) 896 - 8089 issued by MSBA for this project, which would equal a $ 17 . 5 million dollar share to Brewster' s anticipated costs . He urged residents to vote on the project . Selectperson deRuyter and Mr . Young discussed the cost analysis presented and the impact of fixed and variable costs on the proposed savings of reducing the school choice student population . Selectperson deRuyter also mentioned an op - ed piece in the Cape Codder that noted the data of annual inflation rates on Massachusetts school building costs from 2009 - 2017 , being 6 . 33 % . If the project is rejected as is by voters now, it will be another several years before a project will be recognized by MSBA, and the inflations costs on the project will be considerable . Selectperson deRuyter does not want to build a school that would house the current number of students, and feels that they should be anticipating that the student population will grow as housing needs are addressed locally . Selectperson Bingham is concerned with percentage of School Choice students, and would like to see the number allowed reduced . Selectperson Chatelain would like to see a school that attracts families to the district . Selectperson Whitney is concerned . that the inflation costs to build a school years down the road will be much higher, and feels that it is too late to start over with a new proposed project . He supports the project as is . Frank Bridges noted the Building Committee was tasked to site a school for 905 students, which is what they did . No one wants to see the education levels decline , and if the choice was made back in 2017 to site a school for 700 students they would be having a completely different conversation that would have saved the residents a significant amount of money . The student populations across the Cape has had an annual declining trend , and he feels that a larger scale regionalization could be possible . Selectperson Chatelain asked if the School Committee is having a discussion on School Choice student population . Mr . Lombardi noted that the School Committee has the full authority to vote to determine the policy direction . There were preliminary discussions , early in the project, regarding the School Choice program . Mr . Levasseur noted that the prior Building Committee built the current school for 700 students in 1975 . As is, the building has too small of spaces to meet building codes . If the project is voted down , they will need to fund a new Architect and Project Manager , Chris Easley commented that when the project began , the problem being addressed was a 50 year old building, not the amount of School Choice students . Frank Bridges recalled meetings back in 2017 , where the Superintendent of Schools has spoken to each of the 4 towns, and at no time declining enrollment or the amount of School Choice students were mentioned . The School Committee originally recommended a 1000 student school to the MSBA, who reduced the number to 900 . Chair Chaffee opened the meeting to public comment . Helga Dyer feels it is unfair to residents to have to subsidize the student choice students, and take students away from their residential school district . Mary Loftus Levine noted the movement of families. to the Cape due to the Covid pandemic, the need for diversity on Cape Cod , and the financial impacts of voting against the project . Casey Mecca moved to Brewster specifically so her children would be in the Nauset District, and noted the 28 new students enrolled in a Brewster Elementary school this year . She would like to see the project pass, as the building is in critical need of repair . Michael Grugran noted serious' material flaws in the analysis by the FinCom subcommittee and asked for them to retract the report . He feels that the report contains an accounting premise flaw, is inaccurate as it does not account for a increase in per pupil' costs if the school population was reduced by 300 students . He has concern for the spread of disinformation by the community members , the press, and on social media . Adam Lange is against www , brewster- ma . gov BoS 02 -01 - 21 Page 3 of 5 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552 \\a\\p\pp u l u u u uW plplwi �o� $AewB ,i,, Office of: o� .� ,, � Town of Brewster Select Board Z +' % 2198 Main Street Town Administrator oit Ass Brewster, MA 02631 - 1898 �Y Phone : ( 508) 896 -3701 o ¢ \ Fax : ( 508) 896 -8089 /jU//n//lfNi111Hlllllull\0\�\\��\ the project, and does not feel that school enrollment will increase . He feels that the affordable housing in Town is not being created for families, and the reimbursement cost of educating school choice students will not increase . John Lipman is supportive of the Building Project , Finance Committee Chair Mr . Dahl feels that families are both moving to and away from the school district for various reasons, and that the cost per pupil at NRHS is high for the region . He thanked the Select Board for hosting this discussion . Review Select Board ' s June 2020 Statement on Local Issues of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Vote on Update to Pledge Last summer the Brewster Select Board pledged to address the local issues of equity, diversity and inclusion . This was identified as a FY21 - 22 Fiscal Year goal . An update was given by Mr . Lombardi on the steps taken through the summer of 2020 . Chair Chaffee read the proposed updated pledge . Mr . Lombardi thanked the Board for raising the issue . Training on Cultural Awareness and Diversity has provided to Town staff. The Massachusetts Housing Partnership is holding an educational forum on March 25th which will be re - broadcast . Mr . Lombardi had a discussion with the Martin Luther King action team and looks forward to having additional discussions with similar organizations, including the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association . He wishes to offer this as a joint statement from both the Select Board and Town Administration . Selectperson deRuyter Is supportive of the efforts and looks forward to future updates . Selectperson Bingham feels that the pledge reflects the community . The Board members all support issuing this as a joint statement . Selectperson deRuyter moved to adopt the amended statement and include the Town Administrator, Selectperson Bingham 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 . Initial Discussion on Spring 2021 Town Meeting Logistics Due to the continued 'Covid49 pandemic, the logistics of the Town Meeting will need to be held similar to the events of last year. Saturday May 15th or May 22nd are potential dates . The Annual Town Election is scheduled for May 18th, but can be pushed back if the Town Meeting is held on May 22nd . Due to upgrades at the Whitecaps field , the location of the meeting might need to be changed to another site . Mr . Lombardi would like the Select Board to vote on a date at their next meeting once further logistics have been defined . . Federal legislations has extended access to CARES funding to ensure additional costs of holding the meeting to meet Covid - 19 precautions and guidelines are covered . For Your Information ' No discussion . Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair None . www . brewsterwma . gov BoS 02- 01 -21 Page 4 of 5 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552 \��a\\\ \4 W Town of Brewster Office of: Select Board _ '+, ; t 2198 Main Street Town Administrator g o o f Brewster, MA 026314898 1 m Phone : (508) 896 - 3701 a Fax : ( 508) 896 - 8089 ,Z o j/U//nUINi1NHllilll111\\\\\�\��\\\\ Questions from the Media None . Next Meetings : February 2 , 8, 10, 16 , 22 , and 24 Adjournment Selectperson deRuyter moved to adjourn at 8 : 03pm , Selectperson Chatelain 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 / ' 08 / 2021 /7 Approved : Signed : Date Selectperson Bingham , Clerk of the Board of Selectman Accompanying Documents in Packet : Agenda , TA Report documents, Consent Items, FinCom Subcommittee Analysis and Comments, DEI Statement, Town meeting information , FYI Packet www . Brewster- ma . gov BoS 02-01 - 21 Page 5of5 Doc ID : af8accd29fd4ebce65f6ebd3b8196f570a76f552