ICAM Recording | Meeting Packet
Citizen Queries
Tammy Jones and Anne Carroll, both public safety building advocates, asked how the board will counter what they called misinformation at town meeting, including claims about water and stormwater at the site, and how it will honor repeated majority votes in favor of the project. Carl Gardner urged a short-term rental ban in the Planning Board's proposed ADU bylaw and asked the town to keep its existing special-permit ADU provisions. Linda Alexson noted the warrant version already bars short-term rentals of 30 days or less, and Gardner also urged the town to comment on proposed state ADU regulations by October 9.
Announcements
Old trash receptacles can be dropped at the dump through the end of the month.
Board and Committee Business
The board unanimously recommended Robert Thuotte for the Council on Aging. It also unanimously confirmed Town Manager Brendan Sweeney's appointment of David O'Brien to move from associate to full member of the Historical Commission, with both terms ending June 30, 2029.
Town Wharf Sea Wall
The board voted to endorse the Waterways Advisory Committee's recommended design for the unused section of the wharf: Pier Option 2 ($1.925 million), with loading space for four commercial vessels and a hydraulic davit. Wall Option 1 ($1.475 million), the least disruptive to Water Street.
The project totals $3.4 million, and the town's 20% share under the Seaport Economic Council grant would be about $680,000, likely requested around spring 2028. A separate $94,000 match for $470,000 in construction plans goes to fall town meeting. Linda Alexson raised concerns about supplying town water at the pier during shortages and about wharf parking. Lt. Jonathan Hubbard and Chris Murray said the water service could be dropped or shut off, and commercial trucks would move off public parking spaces. Neighbors beside the privately owned wall section have concerns about visual impact and activity, which Murray said should be weighed during permitting.
Public Hearing: Shellfish Rules and Regulations Amendment, Commercial Permits Daily Limits
After a hearing with no public comment, the board unanimously kept the commercial daily shellfish harvest limit at 300 pounds for another year. Without action, the limit would have reverted to 180 pounds on October 2. Police Chief Paul Nikas and Linda Alexson said the Shellfish Advisory Board recommended the extension unanimously and is rewriting the regulations to set a permanent limit, so the annual hearing won't be needed. Charles Surpitski and Nikas said 180 pounds isn't economically viable for diggers, especially after this summer's closure tied to Haverhill's incident.
Public Hearing: Water Rate Hearing (2 of 2)
Sitting as Water Commissioners, the board voted 4–1 to cut the winter residential water rate from $29.91 to $11.69 per 100 cubic feet for October 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Seasonal factor change: The rate reflects a lower seasonal factor, with the summer rate set at 1.3 times the base rate instead of 1.5. Revenue impact: Water/Wastewater Director Vicki Halmen said this shrinks the summer bill jump without changing total revenue.
Linda Alexson objected that ratepayers already paid the 1.5 factor all summer and expected the winter rate to drop to about $10.23. She suggested using reserves to cover the difference. Michael Dougherty and Halmen countered that tapping retained earnings could push next year's increase past the 8% target and draw scrutiny from the state Department of Revenue. Carl Nylen urged monitoring the effect on conservation, and Charles Surpitski raised summer affordability for fixed-income residents.
Discuss/Vote Partial and Total Street and Sidewalk Blocking Process
The board approved a policy moving routine street and sidewalk closure approvals from the Select Board to the Town Manager. Closures longer than two weeks will still come to the board. The approval included two edits: Police review will consider, case by case, whether abutters must be notified. The policy will state that it is adopted "by the Select Board."
Sarah Player pushed for notification when a full road closure could block residents from reaching their homes. Brendan Sweeney cautioned that a blanket notice requirement would burden small applicants, such as homeowners needing a brief sidewalk closure.
Initial Discussion of Outdoor Dining Policy
This was discussion only. Michael Dougherty and Brendan Sweeney will draft a policy for outdoor dining on town property, and the board will review it before it goes to businesses and the public. Early ideas include:
- A May 1 to October 31 season
- Fees modeled on other communities
- Insurance and liability requirements
- Trash and nightly cleanup rules
- ADA-compliant sidewalk clearance
- Seating kept next to the restaurant
The sharpest split was over dining in on-street parking spaces. Dougherty, Charles Surpitski, and Linda Alexson favored barring it, citing lost storefront parking and complaints from other businesses. Carl Nylen said parking data shows no general shortage and that a ban would effectively eliminate most downtown outdoor dining.
Public Safety Facility Discussion
No vote was taken; the board agreed to hold a special joint meeting with the Public Safety Building Committee within the next few weeks, and no member wanted to bring back the same proposal now. This follows the combined facility's failure to win two-thirds at the second special town meeting, despite majority support at the special election.
- Assessment: Brendan Sweeney plans to hire an outside firm, for roughly $40,000, to price immediate health, structural, and ADA fixes at the police and fire stations.
- Existing funds: Sweeney said the $27.5 million already appropriated can only fund a combined facility at Pine Swamp unless town meeting votes otherwise.
Members split on next steps: Charles Surpitski called new assessments a waste and urged better outreach before returning with the same project. Carl Nylen urged a joint plan with a single elementary school at the Doyon site. Sarah Player and Linda Alexson favored pausing other capital spending. Sweeney cautioned this could forfeit opportunities like the High Street drainage work.
Subcommittee Updates
Updates only; no action was taken. School building: Michael Dougherty said applications for an owner's project manager are due September 30, with a contract targeted for late December. Brendan Sweeney said a school vote is forecast for a January 2028 special town meeting. Veterans: Linda Alexson reported that state law requires the board to appoint a veteran as Veterans Graves Officer, which Sweeney is preparing. She also questioned placing a new veterans parking space at Town Hall's side door, which lacks a ramp. Other reports: A Styrofoam and electronics recycling event drew 231 vehicles and raised about $4,800, and a $6,000 donation was accepted for veterans services.
Consent Agenda
The board unanimously approved two one-day wine and malt liquor licenses for Gary Rogers of True North Ale Company. One covers an October 4 rain date for the Run for Amy fundraiser at 219 County Road, and the other covers Oktoberfest at Appleton Farm on October 3.
Approval of Minutes
The board unanimously approved the July 13 and September 14, 2026 minutes as presented.
Future Agenda Items
Michael Dougherty listed pending topics, including outdoor dining, the Town Wharf, free cash and FY28 projections, public safety, the Old High Street streetscape, the Charter Commission, and strategic planning. He asked members to hold off adding new items, since FY28 budgeting will dominate year-end agendas.
Key Decisions
- Council on Aging appointment: Passed unanimously to recommend Robert Thuotte, term ending June 30, 2029.
- Historical Commission confirmation: Passed unanimously to confirm David O'Brien as a full member, term ending June 30, 2029.
- Town Wharf Sea Wall design: Passed to endorse Pier Option 2 and Wall Option 1, with no opposition recorded (tally not announced).
- Total estimated construction cost is $3.4 million, with a town share of about $680,000 under an 80/20 state grant.
- A $94,000 match for construction plans will be requested at fall town meeting.
- Shellfish daily limit: Passed unanimously to keep the commercial limit at 300 pounds per day for another year instead of reverting to 180 pounds on October 2.
- Winter water rate: Passed 4–1 to set the winter residential rate at $11.69 per 100 cubic feet, down from $29.91, for October 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027.
- The rate reflects a seasonal factor lowered from 1.5 to 1.3.
- The dissenting member was not identified by name on the record; Linda Alexson voiced the main objection during debate.
- Street and sidewalk blocking policy: Passed with two edits (case-by-case abutter notification and adoption "by the Select Board"), with no opposition recorded (tally not announced).
- Approval authority shifts to the Town Manager, and closures over two weeks still require Select Board approval.
- Consent agenda: Passed unanimously, approving one-day licenses for True North Ale Company for October 3 and October 4, 2026.
- Minutes: Passed unanimously, approving the July 13 and September 14, 2026 minutes.
- Public safety facility: No vote. The board agreed by consensus not to re-run the same proposal for now and to hold a special joint meeting with the Public Safety Building Committee.
Action Items
- Notify the board whether the Phase 2 Seaport Economic Council grant is awarded — Lt. Jonathan Hubbard — October/November 2026
- Seek the $94,000 local match for Town Wharf construction plans — Lt. Jonathan Hubbard — fall town meeting
- Identify a local funding source for the ~$680,000 Town Wharf construction share — Brendan Sweeney — before a possible May 2028 appropriation
- Procure an outside assessment (~$40,000) of immediate health, structural, and ADA needs at the police and fire stations — Brendan Sweeney
- Review existing design-team building assessments for usable data — Brendan Sweeney
- Schedule a special joint meeting with the Public Safety Building Committee — Select Board — within the next few weeks
- Plan Select Board agendas through year-end, including public safety and strategic planning — Michael Dougherty and Carl Nylen — this week
- Add the abutter-notification and "adopted by the Select Board" edits to the street blocking policy — Brendan Sweeney
- Draft an outdoor dining policy for board review before public release — Michael Dougherty and Brendan Sweeney
- Research outdoor dining fees used by other communities — Brendan Sweeney
- Remove "until a successor can be appointed" from appointment letters — Michael Dougherty
- Review expiring board and committee appointments earlier in the year — Michael Dougherty, vice chair, Brendan Sweeney, and staff — around February–March 2027
- Monitor and report on the conservation impact of the water rate change — Vicki Halmen
- Prepare the Veterans Graves Officer appointment required by state law — Brendan Sweeney
- Relay the suggestion to move the veterans parking space to the accessible front entrance — Brendan Sweeney
- Schedule an Audit Committee meeting and fill the upcoming vacancy — Michael Dougherty — later this calendar year
Related Upcoming Meetings
- Select Board regular meeting: Monday, October 5, 2026.
- Special joint meeting on public safety facility next steps: Select Board and Public Safety Building Committee, within the next few weeks (date not set).
- Fall special town meeting (October): Includes the $94,000 Town Wharf construction-plan match (date not stated).