November 1, 2023

“Selectman Hull motioned, Selectman Mello seconded and it was VOTED to enter into Executive Session under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(3){7) To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. a. Clerical Union b. Firefighters Union c. Police Union To comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special Jaw or federal grant-in-aid requirements. Executive Session Minutes . a. Approval of the Board of Selectmen's Executive Session Meeting Minutes of September 27, 2023. Return to Open Session The regular open session meeting was called back to order at 6:45 p.m., by Chairman Caron. Chairman Caron gave login information and the procedure for providing public input to the public. | Scheduled Appointments | 6:35 p.m. Lizeth Gonzalez, SRPEDD Overview of Proposed Draft Economic and Development Pian Ms. Gonalez gave a presentation and overview of the proposed Dighton Economic Development Plan. | There was discussion of Brownfields and the process for rehabilitation. i Lizeth said SRPEDD is prepared to assist with this type of project. : Chairman Caron said his concern was that we have to convince owners that this is in the best interest of the town. Chairman Caron asked about state funds for water. Ms. Gonzalez said there is USDA funding available for water. She said design and engineering funds should be sought first. Grant funding always wants to see shovel-ready projects. Chairman Caron asked about Zeneca and what type of funding that would be available for a site like that. Dan Higgins of the Dighton Development and Industrial Commission asked about growth and added that most businesses were home-based. He asked what kind of zoning changes might be applicable and allow greater flexibility in contro! of those businesses. | Ms. Gonzalez said most of the proposed projects involved using existing spaces because there is a lot of wetlands in Dighton. Chairman Caron said more than half of our businesses in Dighton are home-based. He asked about funds to assist those. Ms. Gonzalez said in the plan we talk about support available to small businesses. She said addressing the zoning and building relationships are key. Town Treasurer/Collector Paul Reynolds said one of the recommendations was to create a permitting guide. He said we have been working hard to streamline the permitting process and Building Commissioner Aguiar has been instrumental in this process. He asked if SRPEDD had any resources to help make it more seamless for the Town. Ms. Gonzalez said she could share copies of other permitting guides that SRPEDD has created. Selectman Hull mentioned the Dighton Development and Industrial! Commission and their program on Cable TV. He said they will be spotlighting questions that residents have, such as how properties are assessed. Mr. Reynolds said he loved the emphasis on agrotourism such as breweries that give people a place to go and spend money and he loved the way that the rail trail cuts through. Ms. Gonzalez said it would require some additional research to see what the liabilities would be. Dan Higgins said Dighton has a bad reputation for not being business friendly. He asked if SRPEDD could help with advertising that we are open to business and that we welcome them. 2 Ms. Gonzalez said the fact that we are putting together an Economic Development Plan is the first step. She said marketing could be incorporated. Ms. Gonzalez said Route 44 is a gateway into Dighton. She said creating connections between the vibrant areas in town is important and having the right conversations is also important. Public Input Tom Gallucci, 2086 Palmer Street, asked if Zeneca is funding the remediation of their site. Mr. Mullen said yes. | Mr. Gallucci said he was very concerned with the direction that the town is going and with this, comes more need for housing. There was discussion of zoning and what control that the town has over it. | Chairman Caron said we are not looking to build the residential community. | Mr. Mullen said the state requires every community that is adjacent to an MBTA rail to update their zoning. He said we don't have that requirement yet but, when it does happen, we would have to update our zoning to include a zoning area that would be in compliance with requirements. He said we are not one of those communities yet, but it would probably will happen in the next two - three years. | Chairman Caron thanked Ms. Gonzalez for her work on the Economic Development Plan. Announcements Announcements were read by Selectman Mello. Town Administrator's Report There was no Town Administrator Report. Old Business None New Business Collective Bargaining Agreement with Clerical Union FY24-FY26 Town Administrator Mullen went over the highlights of the proposed contract. He said the contract included 2%, 2.5% and 2.5% increases over three years and a longevity increase for long time employees. He said the clothing bonus was removed and there would be no payout of vacation time at beginning of year. Mr. Mullen said the contract included updated job descriptions and an updated grievance and discipline process..” (Motion: Hull, second: Mello)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)