Good evening, Saleman.

Welcome to the November 17th, 2025 town council meeting.

Councillor Wright, would you lead us in the pledge, please?

I pledge the allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Wow.

So I'll introduce the board.

To my far left is Council Stramalia.

Good evening.

Good evening.

His right is Councillor Bettencourt.

Good evening.

To his right is Councillor Bryant.

Good evening.

To his right is the Vice Chair, Councillor Hatch.

Good evening, Salem.

To my immediate right is our Secretary, Councillor Withrow.

Good evening to her right is Councillor Pelletia.

Good evening, Salem.

And to his right is Councillor Wright.

Hello, Salem.

And to her right is Town Manager Joe Devine.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Okay.

Do I have notes and motions?

Please.

First, I would move that we seal the two non-publics from tonight, 91A32D and 91A32C.

For it is determined that the divulgent of this information would likely add affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of this board or render a proposed action ineffective.

Second second.

I have a motion by Councillor Withrow, second by Councillor Bryant.

All those in favor?

Unanimous.

Sorry.

That's okay.

I move the many meeting minutes from November 3rd, 2025, non-public session number one.

Second.

I have a motion by Councillor Withrow, second by Councillor Bryant.

All those in favor, unanimous.

I would move November 3rd, 2025, non-public session number two.

Second.

Motion by Councillor Withrow.

Second by Councillor Bryant.

All those in favor?

Unanimous.

I would move November 3rd, 2025, non-public session number three.

Second.

I have a motion by Council Withrow, second by Councillor Bryant.

All those in favor?

Unanimous.

And lastly, I would move November 3rd, 2025, public session.

Second.

Second.

I have a motion by Council Withrow, second by Councillor Pellatea.

All those in favor?

Unanimous.

Chairman comments.

So this evening I do have some chairman comments.

Um the first thing I wanted to let everybody know is scouting for food took place last weekend, and they collected 4,675 pieces of canned goods or products for uh the food banks, which I thought that was really fantastic.

The other thing I want to talk about is what happened the other night at the budget committee because I'm very, very disappointed in what I saw and what I heard.

You know, the town the the town staff here works very, very hard.

And for me to have a budget committee member or several members imply that there's deception going on, that people are lying, that there's misinformation.

I really really was taken aback.

And even when it was pointed out to them at the end of the meeting, there was no apology.

Nothing was said.

And I they should be ashamed.

They should all be ashamed of themselves that they would say that.

We have great employees in this town, and for them to try to say these negative comments, it's it just it it's really unfortunate.

And so I wanted to say that.

The other thing is for them to imply that this board's feeling is that either you pay your taxes or you leave town.

I mean, that is just an outrageous comment.

And I would think that Mr.

Gardeau should be thinking twice about what he says and how he says it, because that is absolutely not the feeling of this board.

You know, we we work very hard, the the uh employees work very hard to put together a good budget, and you know, we came in under zero percent.

And for for them to say that you know, we don't care, we don't care about the people who live in this community, is it's just not true, and it's just not right.

So I you know I just wanted to say that because I I have to I was very upset uh after hearing that meeting and what went on.

So um thank you for letting me speak.

Thank you for saying that anyway.

So, yeah, anyway, that's my opinion.

So counselor Bryant.

You want a motion on the consent agenda.

I do, Madam Chair.

At this time I move to approve the November 17, 2025 consent agenda.

Second.

I have a motion and a second by council with row.

All those in favor, unanimous.

Okay, additions request.

Yes, I have a member of the public who'd like to speak.

Uh Mr.

Kimpton.

Come on up.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

And uh just in reflection of your previous comment, um, my partner is a municipal professional, and uh I wholeheartedly agree with what you said.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm rising tonight for a third time since I moved to Salem from London Derry in March.

Uh the first time was on October 20th when I asked you to add a discussion to your next meeting agenda.

The council did not do that.

I spoke again on November 3rd, asking again that you added a discussion to your following meeting agenda.

And I see tonight, and now that it's been approved, once again it has not been added to the agenda.

So tonight I'm rising a third time to ask once again, either tonight under item five as a request from the public, or at your next meeting on December 1st, please hold a discussion on reconsidering this council's decision of March 24th to leave Salem underrepresented in our State House for nearly two years.

I also have to ask, madam chair, did the council ask residents before making their decision?

If there's a public record of that, I would like to see it.

Because as I've spoken about this with my neighbors, like fellow residents of the town, they don't recall any such dialogue.

And they express their disapproval by a ratio of 17 to 1.

I am asking for a discussion.

And I don't think talking about Salem's full representation in the State House is objectionable.

And I don't think opening up a public dialogue about our government is ever wrong either.

And even if the timelines and rules under state law are working against us, holding a special election to fill that vacant seat, then this council should be discussing how to prevent such situations from recurring in the future.

From what I understand, the primary objection on March 24th was cost-based.

Why aren't we discussing a contingency fund to defray the cost under this scenario?

Because as Councillor Wright pointed out, we've had this happen multiple times.

At one point, losing three representatives.

If cost is the barrier to equal representation for Salem, then please at least have that discussion or any form of discussion.

But right now, I'm not seeing any discussion happen whatsoever.

And at least one constituent is not happy about that.

So please, for the third time, please hold a discussion about that vacant seat, as well as how to preserve Salem's right to equal representation going forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Employee of the month.

Great.

So next on the agenda is going to be for the November Employee of the Month.

So I'd like to take a minute to recognize our standing outstanding member of our team and the November Employee of the Month, Greg Minen, who's our cemetery foreman.

Greg leads with genuine compassion and care.

He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that every detail, no matter how small, is handled thoroughly and respectfully.

Whether he's supported in grieving family or stepping in to help a co-worker without being asked, Greg approaches his work with kindness, professionalism, and a quiet dedication.

His work ethic and leadership sets a tone for his entire team and is clear how much pride he takes in both the role and the department as a whole.

He's a true example of what public service should look like, and I'm proud to recognize him tonight.

I would ask Municipal Services Director Wayne to come on up and introduce him.

Thanks, Joe.

That was great what you said.

Um I second what Joe said.

We had a lot of people want to nominate Greg, and uh some people beat me a month ahead of time.

He's uh he's uh rock star for us in the compassion that he has to show every day to everybody who comes in, he resets himself and helps everybody all the way from start to finish, which is all we could ask for.

Absolutely.

And Greg brought a few people.

Very good.

Greg's got people very good, yes.

Oh, yeah, we've got questions.

Oh, yeah.

Okay, congratulations.

Do you want your family to come up?

Come on, don't you want one with the kids?

Come on, even a big kid.

Let's go.

Absolutely.

Everybody come up and they'll be on TV.

You can see yourself on TV later on tonight.

Oh my gosh, they're adorable.

Oh my goodness.

That's all we're coming away.

And three more, just wait a minute.

Yeah, you gotta be in a picture.

Oh yes.

How fun is that?

Very nice.

Very nice.

Thank you.

Wonderful.

Wonderful.

Well, we're harder than everybody I know.

I'm sure.

Everybody wants something different over there.

Yeah.

He takes care of the farmers too.

Why'd you do that?

Why'd you put that on that side?

How can we cut the grass?

Yeah.

I don't like the way you cut the grass.

I'm like this.

I'm only going to blah blah blah.

I want you to cross-cut it.

Okay.

Okay.

Next item is consider an appointment to the conservation commission.

Mr.

Devine.

Um so the council may not be aware or maybe aware.

Linda Harvey has resigned from the Conservation Commission.

Current alternate member Claudia DeFiria submitted an application to serve as a regular member of the Conservation Commission.

Um Linda's term would end in April of 2026, so this would be an appointment until uh next April essentially.

Um Claudia is aware that she would have to um put in an application for the three-year term in April of 26.

Okay.

Do I have a make a motion to uh appoint move to appoint Claudia DeFruyer to a regular member position of the Conservation Commission with the term expires April of 2006?

I have a motion by Councillor Hatch, a second by Councillor Wright.

Discussion.

All those in favor.

Did you want to say something?

Well, I just think uh Claudia is very well knowledge about the town policy and stuff.

She'll make a good addition to the conservation committee.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All those in favor, unanimous.

Thank you.

All right.

Mr.

Devine.

Next on the agenda is going to be a first read.

And this is for resolution 2025-36, which is the request to unmerger lots at 180 Main Street.

Bernie.

Um we received uh correspondence from attorney Bernard Campbell on a reference to East Windfield Realty to unmerge this part property.

Um I don't see Attorney Campbell here tonight.

He was supposed to be at this meeting tonight.

I don't see him here.

I can tell you that staff has reviewed it.

I mean they have uh some uh submitted the documents saying that they see no reasons not to unmerger these lots.

Um so it would be our recommendation that we push this forward to a second reading.

Do we have to do a second reading or can we wave it?

Um, it's a public hearing.

You need a public hearing on it, yeah.

Oh this is the public hearing on it.

This is the public hearing.

You would need a no, you would need a public.

We haven't post- I have to have a public hearing.

You have to have a public hearing.

Okay.

All right, then chair.

I'm at this time I moved to the Salem Town Council hereby recognizes November 17, 2025 is the first reading for consideration of resolution number 2025-36 to consider a request of East Windfield Realty LLC, represented by attorney Bernard Campbell to unmerge lots at 180 Main Street, Map 90, lot 1489.

We hereby recommend a second reading and a public hearing to be scheduled for December 1st, 2025.

Second thank you.

I have a motion by Council Bryan, a second by Councillor Hatch.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor?

Unanimous.

Next in a new business.

Um unfortunately we do have to talk about winter, and this is gonna be a winter operations update.

Uh municipal services director Wayne Amaral is here to provide you with an update.

Hi, good evening.

Back again.

Um I'm actually here to introduce Greg uh Greg Benson who wants to present the snow and ice plant to everybody here.

I'll be here for questions.

Um, just real quick about the uh the finances of the uh so nice.

We do have a little bit of our surplus from last year, which we will carry over into this uh year, and it looks like it's got to start early.

Uh 86,000 in the contract services and another 63,000 and um winter weather operations.

So we're in very good financial position to take on winter if it comes early, which we expect to.

Jeff, Jeff.

Good evening, madam chair, council members, Mr.

Devine, I'm Jeff Benson, I'm Deputy Director of Public Works.

Uh quick little winter operations update.

Um so one of our major functions, the public works is obviously winter operations uh to provide back provide safe travel for all the citizens and uh emergency services.

So an extensive plan we put together.

We tweak it every year, depending on staff and uh you know, every storm obviously, depending on the weather.

Um so this was one of the big points I always say every year is that snow emergency handle handled by the public works division, but we also call in the utilities division to help us out.

So Fred's guys are just incredible.

I mean, um they come through on all the salt events and all the plowing, and then every municipal service employees working during the storm in one way or the other.

So but really utilities department helps us out, unbelievable.

And uh so one more thing to uh uh residents have to understand that we you know we try to keep our main roads going first and then we start working into subdivisions and called the sacks and gravel roads, and we work our way through.

But we really right out of the gate, we work on our main road to make sure it's safe for travel.

And the way we do this, we have a book, it's they're being printed right now, it should be ready by the end of the week for the guys.

Um basically they're all the route maps are there and all the salt routes, the plow routes.

And um, I just can't even tell you how many times I ask the guys you have your book with you, you know, have your book because they'll be doing a route, and I might send them on another route, or a foreman calls them to help someone out.

Well, grab your book, go to this route.

So John Vogel helps us out with the GIS and building all those maps in that book, and really incredible the way he does that for us.

So we basically have um nine plans, um basically salting, then we get into more salting and light plowing, uh severe weather, and then the big ones are like the plan five where we're actually full-blown plowing with all our contractors and everyone.

Um snow removal, we have a plan for that for night snow removals, and then we have a whole plan set up for all the sidewalks to to work through the town.

And uh so our goal obviously as soon as we see about two inches of snow, we go to plan five, where that includes all of the municipal service employees and all the contractor services come in.

Um, and we start working through our way through all the routes.

We try to keep every all the routes open for emergency services, and then as the storm winds down, we start pushing everything back, curb to curb, and we uh then we start going back out to the sidewalk routes, and then at the very end we'll run through all the routes again.

So it's a long process.

Our guys put in a lot of hours.

And so this is what we have this year right now.

It looks about average with uh what we've had before.

We have 75 pieces of equipment available, 66 personnel, including including contracted services.

Uh we have thir we run 36 plow routes.

Um that is it's 18 primary salt routes, those are all the main roads, 17 secondary routes, 35 miles of sidewalk we maintain, if you can believe it, with four sidewalk machines and four routes, uh 30 buildings and parking, and then utilities department with Ronnie, he helps maintain 22 of the buildings for the utility division.

So basically just a quick wrap-up of the way we explained that we run through our routes, and then one thing we like to point out is as the routes start winding up, we then get into our school zones.

Uh so all school zones have to be cleared, the immediate school zones before they can start school.

Um, and those operators that are running those trackless machines, actually they plow routes.

So what we do is pull them as soon as their routes are done, we pull them, they go into the track list, and we have other guys finish off the salting on their routes.

So we don't have enough manpower to dedicate people just to the sidewalks in town.

And then we carry through the whole routes, and then usually the next day we start working through the sidewalks with routes with those four operators.

So those operators stay busy in those sidewalk machines.

And one more.

Just quick staffing summary.

This is always interesting.

Uh we're doing good.

We have uh just came up with a vacancy the other day, so we do have vacancy, but uh up there we have 11 employees with zero to five years experience plowing.

So that's kind of interesting.

And uh six to ten years is seven, so eighteen of the guys have less than ten years.

So but a lot of six to ten have you know they have some storms under their belt, they'll be fine, and then moving up.

We have only two with 21 to 25 years.

I don't think I'm on there.

So questions, discussions, anything?

Yeah, uh can you tell me how are we doing with uh contracted uh services?

Would we do contractors?

Most of the guys are returning.

Um I I'd have one that left, but then had a contractor that came back, didn't plow for us last year.

Um the same group, the same castle characters from last year that they've been staying around for a couple years now.

Oh, good.

Yeah, yeah.

Um I picked up uh a couple of small guys, one or two, but we're doing good.

I've only lost two two contractors, two two pieces, and I replaced them with two more.

So very good.

Yeah, we're doing good.

Very good.

Council Hatch, did you have a great minds think alike?

Okay.

Yeah, no, contractors have been coming back year to year.

There are a lot of local guys who are contractors and different, like Merrill and Valco and stuff like that.

So very good.

Very good.

Any other questions?

Thank you, Mr.

Benson.

Thank you.

Okay.

Mr.

Devine.

All right.

Next is going to be the town manager's report.

So we're we're launching something called Civics 101.

And so what we're doing is just basically a one-night, very general overview of how town government works.

So on Tuesday, December 9th between 6 and 8, we're inviting residents to come on out to the Ingram Senior Center and kind of learn about how Salem works, how our government works.

Department heads will be there to answer questions for them as well.

So again, just trying to gain some interaction with the public, get them out so they can, if they have questions on how we develop a budget or how we decide what roads we're going to do in the road program, things like that.

They can come out, they can ask the questions and kind of learn why we're an SB2 town, how that works, things like that.

So it's very broad.

If you remember a couple years ago, we did a government academy that kind of really dove into each department.

We are looking at doing that again this winter.

But this is just again, this is just a broad overview of government so they can kind of get an idea of why we do what we do.

Just a reminder so we have the Salem Holiday Parade coming up, and that's gonna be on November 30th at 1 p.m.

The theme is the 275th anniversary for Salem.

So come on out and watch the parade if you're around.

Just so people are aware, the Thanksgiving holiday schedule for the town hall and transfer station in the senior center.

Um Town Hall and Senior Center will be closed on Thursday and Friday, the 27th and 28th, and the transfer station will be closed on the 27th, but will be open on Friday, the 28th from 7 a.m.

to 2.45.

Um regular hours, hours will resume on December 1st for Town Hall and the Senior Center.

Um there's a public hearing on Tuesday, December 2nd at the nightly room, and this is to talk about the Captain's Pond watershed management plan.

So if you have interest, if you remember we've kind of done Arlington, we've done Canabies, so we're moving on to Captain's Pond to start talking about that watershed and how we're gonna protect it from a stormwater standpoint.

So please feel free to come out and have conversation with our engineers if you're interested.

It's four to five right at the nightly room.

Uh Winterfest is going to be on December 11th, and this is at the senior center.

Um it's from 5 30 to 7 30.

Um there's gonna be a cocoa crawl, food trucks, um, letters to Santa.

Um, and I believe there may be a special guest coming as well, from my understanding as well.

Um, so again, if you want to come out to Winterfest, it's gonna be on December 11th.

This is just a bunch of different um adult recreation, youth recreations, what's everything happening this winter coming up?

Um, so we will be posting this on the website.

I know the senior center and community services already posted it on their website and on the Facebook pages.

Um, but there's a lot happening moving on as we're coming forward.

You have flag football, uh dodgeball for youth.

There's a lot of adult recreation.

Uh, there's some adaptive recreations for basketball.

Um again, we have some winter events.

Um, if you remember, we talked about um the freight lights for Salem.

We did the Halloween lights.

We are participating in Salem lights for the holidays again.

So that's gonna be for people to submit, and there'll be a Google map if you want to go around and look at Christmas lights.

Um so that will be out there.

Um they're doing letters to Santa if you want to drop them off starting 11:30 as well.

Um we are taking registrations for the ski and ride program right now, so people are interested in learning how to ski for kids.

Um there is some adult recreation.

We have men's basketball going on, men's volleyball.

Uh we have the tree lighting on Tuesday, December 2nd, uh starting at 6 o'clock, and that's gonna be at the Veterans Plaza, Town Commons, uh starting at 6 o'clock.

I just want to thank the Masonic Spigot Lodge of 85.

They donated a nice bench that's at the senior center now in honor of the Salem's 275th anniversary.

And then if the chair is okay, I also want to address the budget committee's comments if that if you have any issue with that.

Um I will say that you know, specifically I want to talk about how the comments were made that we misled or deceive the council.

I think that's the what really um hurt a lot of staff when those comments were made.

And I can tell you that as the town manager, I do take that accusation pretty seriously.

Um it questions the professionalism myself, our finance director, all of our department heads.

Um, and it implies that the council was misinformed when you made your decisions on passing this budget, which is which is false.

Um the concern that we heard going through this budget process, um, is bring stems from the FY26 budget.

Um, when we talked about the tax rate being proposed at $5.90.

That that's where they really seem to have an issue, uh, which is the same as the FY25.

The issue came in with the FY25's budget, included the approved warrant articles in 2025.

So it included the road program.

When we talked about the FY26 and that five dollars and ninety cents, it did not include the road program.

It did include all the capital improvements and included the entire operating budget, but did not include any standalone separate warrant articles, which we told you it did not, and it did not include any because you have not heard warrant articles yet, and they've not been finalized by the council.

Um we stated this consistently during all of our public presentations, work sessions.

Um we were very try to be very transparent, and we wanted to let the voters know that at the $5 and 90 cents, if they wanted to have that flat tax rate, they had the ability.

If they did not want to pass the road program, they would not have that tax implication.

If they wanted to pass it, they knew what they were getting into and how much the tax rate would be would be increasing as a result of that warrant article.

You asked my staff to develop a budget that was in line with CPI minus debt service.

That was the goal that the council gave us.

We worked hard and we gave you a budget.

If you look at the FY26 operating budget, including the capital improvements, it came in at 0.39%.

CIP at that point was almost at 3.3.

We are 3% below CPI CPI, excluding debt service.

But you have to remember the voters have already approved that debt service.

They understood that they were taking on a debt when they passed that police bond, and they overwhelmingly supported that police bond.

So when we gave the budget presentations during the police station project, we told the voters that in 2026 the tax impact would be 32 cents.

It is exactly 32 cents.

We forecasted that properly and told you exactly where it was going to be.

There's no surprises, there's been no last minute additions.

We're following through on what the voters have approved.

I even tried to make it more transparent this year by adding a new email address that the voters could reach out if they had questions about this.

We've tried to do nothing but be transparent.

So I want to say that at no point did town staff attempt to mislead this council.

We tried to provide you with all the details, the financial summaries, the cost drivers, we welcome questions.

We explained our methodology through the whole process.

To such to suggest otherwise and to accuse staff of deceit is not only unfounded, it disrespects the people who work for this community every single day.

I want to thank you, the chair, for your comments.

I want to thank the council members who already spoke out publicly and supported staff through this process.

Your presence, your words have been noticed, and the staff does appreciate it.

The entire team has worked hard to deliver a transparent and responsible budget.

I respect that people may come to different conclusions about the right level of taxation.

I think we all have that understanding.

But questioning the ethics of our professional staff without any evidence is something that should not be taken lightly, and it's something I did feel needed to be addressed tonight.

Thank you.

Councillor Betancourt.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

In support of the town manager's comments.

So I was surprised when my phone started ringing off the hook following the uh budget committee meeting.

I guess it was last week.

I was startled by what I was hearing, and so I went back and watched the meeting.

Now, as a lot of you know, I served on the budget committee for approximately seven years.

I've got great respect for the budget committee, their role in the process.

Um I think it's a unique position that they hold in the sense that they get to oversee the total spend of the town in the sense that they review both our budget and the school district's budget.

And the thing that was surprising to me is the budget that the budget committee has received from us the last two years, were budgets that during my time on the budget committee I could only have dreamed of.

We never got a budget that was as in good a shape as the budget that we've given the budget committee the last two years.

So I was surprised by that.

To your point to the town manager's point, uh, we delivered a budget that was slightly um less than a half a percent down in terms of the tax rate, but you were always very, very clear that that did not include the warrant articles.

We understood that.

So I was, I guess, surprised to hear that there were two million dollars being removed.

Now, if the budget committee found two million dollars worth of unnecessary spending and cut two million dollars on that basis, I would have said, well done.

Congratulations, you're doing exactly what you should do.

At least in my opinion, you're doing what you should do.

But the basis of that cut was based on warrant articles that nobody has seen yet.

Now, in fairness, they didn't make up a number out of thin air.

They went based off of historically what the warrant articles have come in at.

But for those who have watched our meetings, we've given the town manager and the staff a very clear directive that we want to try to keep the tax rate down.

And you've received that message, you've received that message in terms of the budgets that you've delivered to us, and we'll see how that comes through when the warrant articles come forward.

And we'll see how that comes through when the warrant articles come forward.

I don't know where they're going to come at.

I just don't.

And so to make preemptive cuts based on what may come forward, I think is not the best way to approach it.

I'll give Mr.

Goddu credit.

What he has done in the recent past is to come before us and say this is our goal.

This is our target as a budget committee.

We understand that you're going to be getting warrant articles for your consideration soon.

And so as you're deliberating town council about what the warrant articles should be and what the price tags on them should be, it would be great if you would keep our target in mind.

And I have respect for that.

We've taken that in.

I don't know that we've always agreed with him, but I respect the fact that he came forward and he put his cards on the table and told us where they were coming from.

I guess what is disappointing to me to your point, Mr.

Town Manager, is at no point in the process have I felt misled.

Disagree?

Oh, for sure.

We've had many passionate disagreements between myself and the staff and the town manager, not just you but others.

And I've I've not felt misled.

But I would also point out finally that a lot of this I think could have been cleared up.

If the budget committee had taken up the offer that we made that I pushed very passionately for to do joint budget hearings at the very beginning of this process.

Okay, that's certainly your prerogative.

But I think this whole hullabaloo could have been avoided.

If they had come to the budget presentations with us, heard from the staff, as we heard from the staff, had engaged as we engaged.

I don't know that I'm very confident that we would not be in the place that we are in today if they had taken us up on that offer.

And so again, I want to say that I appreciate the hard work the town manager and the staff have done with regard to the budget.

I think there have been good budgets.

Certainly the budget committee can perfect them as they see fit.

Uh, but I thought that the rhetoric that was used there was unfair and ultimately unhelpful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council Sweeney.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to echo Councillor Batoncourt's comments, your comments from the beginning of the meeting and the town manager's comments.

The nine of us are elected to lead the town.

We are the governing body.

Three of us are elected each year under the charter to lead this town to form this town council.

We roll up our sleeves, we work with the town manager and the staff to decide where the future of Salem is going.

We take in public input at every meeting, even when we might not want to hear it.

We take in public input.

We hear people out, we give them the ability to shape the guidance of where the town is going.

If there's another board or committee that has a problem with anything that this town council has produced, their problem is with us.

They should not be taking those problems out toward directed towards the staff.

The buck needs to end with us as the town council.

You know, this charter that we did, uh, myself, Councillor Bettencourt, Councillor Wright.

We form we were on the charter commission with six other citizens.

Uh it was a bit of a hodgepodge of kind of transitioning the town to the government that we wanted it to be, uh, while still sort of keeping in place the structure and the framework that there was there.

Obviously, the big change in the Charter Commission was switching from a five-person board of selectmen to a nine-member town council.

Um, and we're in the third year of that charter being sort of alive and well and initiated.

Uh, I believe December 1st is the meeting where we'll go over charter amendments uh that might be proposed.

I've heard a lot of chatter from folks uh looking to see if we even need a budget committee anymore.

If the town is is at the point where we should have a budget committee, if the nine-member town council and the school board uh produces their budgets and and governs their bodies over the course of the year and then presents those budgets and warrant articles to their voters on town meeting day.

Uh certainly uh members of the budget committee that want to keep a close eye on spending have every right to run for town council and run for school board.

Um, they don't have to serve on the budget committee.

Uh there's nothing that would stop us if there was no budget committee uh from forming a town finance committee that could work as as councilor Bencourt alluded to before the process really starts to help identify those priorities of the of the taxpayers of the residents of Salem.

Uh and and and we could do that all beforehand and work with us.

Um that to say, I I do think uh I've heard a lot, I've seen on online.

I've gotten calls and texts from members of the public uh looking for you know what are the opportunities to make changes here.

Um I think the uh two million essential back of the budget cut to the town budget when we all grinded our pencils to make sure that every line item was where we want it to be.

Uh making a blanket two million dollar cut uh isn't real leadership.

It isn't practical, it isn't reasonable, it's not responsible.

Uh it really does, it's it's a further insult to the town staff and the employees and the department heads and to us that put together the budget to actually present to the voters and and we still let the voters have their say.

And there's not going to be a charter amendment this year that changes that how that process works.

Uh, but I suspect we'll see on December 1st, and I might bring it forward a charter amendment to just get rid of the budget committee and move the town forward because I think it's it's uh it could be a relic of the past that's outlived its usefulness.

Uh and I just think the the growing fights and the the the we could produce the best budgets in the world, and they're still gonna be looking for a fight with us.

It just might not be worth it to the town, to the taxpayers, and to the public to go through that process every year when they're electing three people each year on this nine-member town council to govern and represent the town.

So just as a preview for what might come.

Thank you.

Do we need anything more than that?

I know for December one, Mr.

Devine.

If the if the council is looking to move forward with um the elimination of the municipal budget act, um, we would need to post that and through the public hearing process as well.

So we would need to know if that's the council's decision.

So for the public hearing, we would have to state that that's one of the charter changes that we'd be looking at.

Thank you.

Council Withrow, I'm one person, but I will jump on board with that second the thought of of doing that.

I think the budget committee was meant to be advisory as it was in the past.

The Chatter Commission had a lot of really great ideas, but there were there is too many bites of the apple too quickly, I think, and we weren't able to think a lot of them through.

And I think making this board not advisory might have been an oversight.

Um I I wish we could dig down on all of the uh changes because I think they were great, they just need some next steps, and and I I think we went backwards on this one, so I'd like to go back to not having them be able to override everything that this board did.

I agree.

So I have a motion and a second.

What is the motion for?

I'm sorry.

Scheduled December 1st is the public hearing on a charter amendment to repeal the municipal budget act.

Second.

I'm not in favor of that.

The motion maybe second a motion by Council Sweeney, second by Council Withrow for the discussion.

I suspect we'll have an opportunity to further discuss this on the first.

And so I will bring forward my thoughts on that at that time, but I'm not in favor of getting rid of the budget committee.

But again, we'll take it up at that time.

Council Hatch.

Uh, just so the people at home that are listening understand we could put all we want on the ballot, but it's gonna be the voters that will decide whether to do away with this committee or not.

The only thing that we will approve or disapprove is whether that moves on to that question moves on to the ballot.

It's up to the voters at that point in time once it reaches the ballot to either vote yes or no.

So it's ultimately their decision and not ours.

Just so everybody knows that.

Yes.

Any other questions or comments?

Okay, all those in favor opposed.

So we have eight in favor and one opposed, which is council of that and court.

Thank you.

All right, moving right along.

We we have one item on old business tabled, which is gonna be a first read waiver for resolution 2025-37.

This is also a public hearing to consider the proposed amendment to the Salem Municipal Code Chapter 185 ambulance services.

Anyone want to speak?

Madam Chair.

Council Bryant.

Madam Chair, at this time I move that the town council removes from the table discussion on proposed amendments to Salem Municipal Code uh Chapter 185 Ambulance Service.

Second of a motion and a second by councillor Betancourt.

All those in favor, unanimous.

Okay.

So we have a public hearing on the ambulance.

Come on up, Chief.

Not that eager.

Evening, Madam Chair, members of the council.

My name is Craig Lamar.

I'm honored to serve as your fire chief.

I'll just start as as you recall in February.

We were here discussing this the same this um this matter.

Um we believe we had a lot of uh good improvements to make with chapter 185.

And um at that time it was tabled.

I believe it was Council of Baton Court.

Um and wisely so, many changes have occurred with the Senate bill that was passed this year.

So um we we added uh some amendments to the chapter uh to reflect those changes from the Senate bill, which are now going to be RSA come January 1st.

Um so um I don't uh I don't know if you would like me to go through stuff um it's it's change or if you want to discuss uh or ask questions however you'd like to go.

Council Battencourt.

Thank you, madam chair.

In validation of the chief's words, I would move that the Salem Newham the Salem Town Council hereby adopts resolution number 2025-37 and further to waive the requirement for a second reading.

This resolution shall take effect upon its passage as follows.

Yeah, I'll pull it up for the up has it, sir.

We're asked section 1.2 of the town charter vests in the town council the powers of the legislative and governing bodies, and whereas the town council is responsible for adopting an amending town ordinances, and whereas the town council desires to update Chapter 185 of the municipal code to reflect current billing practices, procedures, and compliance with New Hampshire RSA 420-J, colon eight-i.

And whereas the town manager, fire chief, finance director, and human services director have collaborated to recommend amendments to improve the town's ambulance billing process.

And whereas these updates will ensure fair, consistent, and lawful collection of ambulance service fees while improving efficiency and collection rates.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Salem Town Council, uh that the Salem Town Council, that there's a grammatical thing on this thing that trips me up every time.

Anyway, the town council here by a de hops Chapter 185 Ambulance Service of the New Hampshire Municipal Code to incorporate the revisions as presented and in accordance with New Hampshire RSA 420-j colon eight-i.

Second.

Any discussion?

Yes, I just want to thank the chief and the staff that worked with him on this effort.

Um at the time this matter was tabled.

We were working on some things at the state level that I thought would greatly improve the process of ground ambulance billing, not just for salem, but really across uh the state.

The chief was incredibly patient.

I will say that I don't know that I necessarily delivered on my end of the deal to work with you as I had intended.

It took uh a lot more time and effort to get the legislation over the the goal line, and so that's where a lot of my time and attention was.

But uh I think we are in a much better place.

I appreciate uh that you have capitalized on what I think is a great opportunity for the town and again the state, and have enshrined that uh in in this amendment here.

Uh so thank you, Chief.

I appreciate it uh very much in support.

Yeah, and I'll say I I do appreciate the hard work because I know there was a lot that had to be done and changed, and you guys did it, and I appreciate it very much.

You know, help it'll help people who go to the fee schedule and to really understand what's happening and I appreciate that.

Okay, is there anybody from the public who wishes to speak?

Oh, please come on down.

State your name and address, please.

Not that tall.

Alyssa Cadillac 7 Clarlene.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Um thank you for the opportunity today.

Uh just want to also speak in support of having a discussion about filling our vacant seat.

You know, I think it's great that wait a minute.

I'm I'm I want you to speak on the fire fees.

I thought we had finished that.

Yeah, no, be yeah, I'm sorry.

Um public sector worker, how about it?

Sorry, I thought you would call you.

Yeah, no.

See, that's why we have a signed up sheet at the beginning of the meeting, and the public gets to speak at the beginning of the meeting before our business meeting.

So just you were all down.

My first meeting in person.

You're good.

That's okay.

Okay, so I'm gonna close the public hearing and take call the vote.

All those in favor?

Unanimous.

Okay, very good.

I'm gonna let you come up and speak, please.

I appreciate I will certainly go for the case.

Yeah, please come up and speak.

That's all right.

For future, where does the sign-in sheet?

It's usually right there.

Right here.

It's right there, yes.

So I will keep that in mind.

Alyssa Cadillac 7, Claire Lane from Salem.

Um I am fairly new to Salem.

I've been here for just about two years, so I'm still um it's great to hear that you're gonna do a civics uh 101 because I come from I hate to say it, I come from Boston, um, where we do things very differently.

So learning more about this process is one of the things that I'm working on and becoming more involved in the community I live in.

Uh I think it's great that you filled the the empty seat in the commission um locally.

I think we should have the same opportunity at the State House and that there should be a discussion about making sure that all votes count.

That's a big part of how I was brought up.

Um that you it is a right to be able to have a vote and it is a right to elect the people who speak for you.

Um and not having a discussion about the and leaving a seat empty, I think is a disservice to all the residents here in Salem.

I think every every time we should be able to have a voice um and have our full compliment up there.

And so I would just ask that you also consider holding a discussion um and maybe doing more involvement with the public and our residents to get that um across.

And I think it would just satisfy and then whatever whatever comes out of that comes out of that, but at least there's been that discussion, and we kind of put a check mark on seeing what goes forward with it.

So I appreciate your time.

Um and you will probably see more of me.

So wonderful.

Thank you.

Thanks for coming out.

We appreciate it very much.

Okay, so I have upcoming meetings, December 1st, 2025 and December 15th, 2025.

Counselor Bryant.

I had a question.

Oh, I'm sorry.

That's a surprise.

You usually jump in the gun.

Jump.

Jumping days of role of schedule to jump.

Uh can I ask what's going on with the trash committee and the and the uh town transfer station?

There was a trash committee made.

Yeah, there was making any progress?

Yeah.

I wasn't at the last meeting that the chair actually chairs that committee.

So yeah.

So how are we doing with that?

Because I swear, if one more person asked me, do you think I can leave this here?

You think anybody will take it?

I don't know if anybody will take it, but just leave it there.

Um we've spent more time really talking about updating all the the um uh signage that's up there.

We've talked about the potential for the ash pile.

We've talked about obviously the metal pile and the fact that we've finally got the uh vendor to come in and start to remove some of that stuff and the fact that we don't want people climbing on the dumpster on the on the pile.

Um, but we really I mean people always are leaving stuff.

I mean, I and I don't know that there's Mr.

Benson.

What do you what are your thoughts about people leaving, you know, items because there's a whole bookcase.

You know, it's a bookcase right, but people leave stuff there all the time.

I have no issue with it.

Subcommittee.

Yeah.

Jeff Benson again, deputy director.

Uh Brian, how are you doing, sir?

Um thanks.

Yeah, we've been discussing.

She's our chair.

We've been discussing all kinds of angles.

Municipal code, we've been working on that too, right?

Yeah, let me just aspect of it yet, but we're we're going there's a a lot of a lot of areas we're discussing.

And that's and the public are always welcome.

Our next meeting, I think is December 5th.

Is it the fifth?

I'm looking at the framework.

I think we pushed.

She's gonna look it up.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

We're working our way through all this.

Believe it or not, we do have public come.

Yep.

We do have we have some members of the public who come every meeting.

Yeah, absolutely.

Awesome.

Because we love w I mean, I love to have the input.

You know, it's it's it's their transfer station.

It's Monday, December 15th.

December 15th, four o'clock at the nightly room.

Yeah, I think you'll be there.

I will be there with bells on.

And in an effort, and I hope this only lasts a minute or two, but in an effort to kind of answer what does a special election cost?

Did we have a number for that?

I'd have to go back to the next one.

We did have I don't remember the exact number of I'd have to go back and look at the meetings.

I thought it was 2022 and change or something like that.

I don't know.

I can go back and get I don't have that number.

Because we had that discussion.

It was it was on the it was a noted meeting.

Yeah.

Because we have a March meeting and we're electing offices to boards and stuff.

We can't do that because that's a state office.

That is correct.

Right.

So we can't make a separate ballot to fill that seat.

Correct.

Okay.

And the average election that's not special.

Runs rough roughly about 15 to 20,000 round numbers.

I can get you the exact number, I'm happy to get it.

All right.

I don't have to.

Well, and the other discussion that came up uh surrounding that was the fact that you could possibly have uh a primary.

And that means you're having two elections, not just one.

Right.

So that was the other thing that we s discussed at that meeting.

That's right.

Well, there are a couple of items that were discussed openly.

Yeah, just want to make sure everybody understands what we were talking about before.

Because that was that was way back.

It was way back.

Council Sweeney.

I and I I just want to add that we're not the only community in the state that is object that has opted not to host a special election or vacancy.

Uh just last week the selectmen in Goffstown voted to not hold a special.

Uh back in May or June, the aldermen in Manchester voted to not have a special election for one of their vacancies, and they could have lined it up with their November election, and they just opted not to.

So it's not it's not a requirement to hold the special.

Um and we Salem still has eight members representing them.

So on that note, Madam Chairman, I will make my usual motion, and that is to adjourn.

I have a motion by Councillor Bryan, a second by Councillor Withroute to adjourn.

All those in favor, and that would be unanimous with Council Betancourt being absent.

Thank you.