March 17, 2025

“Upon motion made by Select Board Member B. Giovanoni stating "be it resolved that having convened in an open meeting on March 17, 2025, prior to the SOI submission closing date, the Select Board of the Town of Middleborough, in accordance with its charter, by-laws, and ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Meeting Minutes March 17, 2025 Building Authority the Statement of Interest Form dated March 2025 for the John T. Nichols Middle School located at 112 Tiger Drive, Middleborough, MA 02346 which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which an application may be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future replacement of the roof; and hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting this Statement of Interest Form, the Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of an application, the awarding of a grant or any other funding commitment from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, or commits the town of Middleborough to filing an application for funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority." Motion seconded by Select Board Member T. White. Motion passes unanimously by the Select Board..” (Motion: Giovanoni, second: White)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

“Upon motion made by Select Board Member B. Giovanoni and seconded by Select Board Member T. White to adopt the following resolution urging the Town of Middleborough to avoid the purchase or use of product containing fluorinated hydrocarbons ("forever chemicals"): WHEREAS the Town of Middleborough strives to implement policies to protect and improve the health and safety of its residents; WHEREAS fluorinated hydrocarbons (also known as organofluorines), including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS"), are a group of thousands of primarily synthetic Meeting Minutes March 17, 2025 organic chemicals that contain carbon-fluorine bonds, a condition that occurs in nature only rarely; WHEREAS the carbon-fluorine bond is so strong, these chemicals persist in our environment, and are thus often called forever chemicals; WHEREAS some fluorinated compounds enter our food chain and our water supply and accumulate in living organisms; WHEREAS some fluorinated compounds have been associated with severe health effects in humans at very low levels, i.e., parts per trillion (ppt), including: e kidney, thyroid and testicular cancers, hormone disruption and lowered sex and growth hormones in children, and altered mammary gland development, e immune system effects, such as decreased response to vaccines in children, e high cholesterol, thyroid disease, and hypertension; WHEREAS the production of synthetic petrochemicals is energy intensive and generates large amounts of greenhouse gases; WHEREAS fluorinated chemicals are widely used to manufacture non-stick and stain-resistant coatings in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including propellants, food packaging, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and upholstery, furniture, fabrics, construction materials, ski wax, floor wax, paint, lubricants, raincoats and other outdoor gear, synthetic turf, and firefighting foams and fire-protective personal protective equipment; WHEREAS Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, and Vermont have regulated PFAS in groundwater and drinking water; WHEREAS Massachusetts is in a minority of states that have not enacted bans on PFAS in materials, creating an imperative for municipalities to take more action; WHEREAS the Commonwealth's Operational Services Division has published an extensive guide for procurement offices to assist in avoiding PF'AS in products; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Middleborough will endeavor to purchase and use products that are certified free of fluorinated chemical ingredients (including PFAS) where such products are available in the marketplace, and encourage its suppliers to develop organofluorine- and PFAS-free products that do not have ready substitutes. The Board voted unanimously to pass the resolution urging the Town of Middleborough to avoid the purchase or use of product containing fluorinated hydrocarbons ("forever chemicals")..” (Motion: Giovanoni, second: White)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

“Upon motion to remove the placeholder and add the warrant article to "Opt Out" of the Act to Modernize Firearms made by Select Board T. Farley and seconded by Select Board Member B. Giovanoni. The Board voted unanimously to remove the placeholder and add the warrant article to "Opt Out" of the Act to Modernize Firearms..” (second: Giovanoni)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)