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Opening and Pledge of Allegiance (Link: 00:03:00 – 00:04:00)
Chair Katie Phelan called the August 5th select board meeting regular session to order, noting that the meeting was being recorded. She checked with someone named Ethan to ensure they were ready to proceed. Phelan then asked everyone to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, which she led. After completing the pledge, she thanked everyone for joining the meeting and announced that they would begin with the Town Administrator report.
Town Administrator Report (Link: 00:04:00 – 00:12:00)
Interim Town Administrator Gino A. Cresta Jr. delivered a comprehensive report on ongoing town programs and initiatives. He announced that Traffic Mazi and Officer Ream will host a neighborhood meeting on Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30pm at the Swampscott Senior Center to address speeding concerns on Stetson Avenue and Franklin Street.
Cresta reported that the 3rd Annual Humphrey Street Block Party will be held on Saturday from noon to 4pm, featuring approximately 60 venues including food trucks, bands, martial arts demonstrations, and a new dedicated kid zone. He thanked Monsignor McLaughlin for allowing use of the St. John’s parking lot for the event. Humphrey Street will be closed from Redington to Greenwood beginning at 10am.
The Town Administrator Search Committee was present to present their top three candidates for town administrator to the Select Board. Cresta noted the committee has been working since June with the help of Rick White, interviewing nine candidates from many qualified applicants.
Cresta met with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin late last week at Kings Beach to discuss water quality challenges. Zeldin viewed the UV pilot project and was impressed with the partnership between the City of Lynn and Town of Swampscott.
For community development updates, Cresta reported that Pine Street B’Nai Brith Housing plans to submit a comprehensive permit application to the ZBA in August, with required public notices to be mailed and posted in local newspapers. The town and legal staff are working to update and finalize the land disposition agreement for the hotel project.
A request for qualifications was issued for a Community Life Center consultant, with bids opened on Monday, August 4th. The committee will meet next week to review RFQs and discuss issuing an RFP to hire a consultant for site feasibility studies for a future Community Life Center building.
The Building Department issued 120 permits this month, generating $77,290 in revenue, with some permits referred to the Historical Commission, ZBA, or Planning Board. At the library, the new English Language Learning Conversation Circle has been postponed to the first week of September due to the instructor’s vacation, though summer reading programs continue with record-breaking attendance and registration on track to exceed last year’s numbers.
The Senior Center will host a Lunch and Learn program on August 20th at 11:30am to educate seniors on real estate tax abatements and the Senior Tax Work-Off program. The Fire Department will also host a barbecue at the Senior Center later this month.
For recreation, Wednesday’s Swampscott by the Sea concert will feature Familiar Strangers with TJ’s food truck. The August 13th concert will feature Big Old Dirty Bucket and East Regiment with the Hungry Nomad food truck. Thursday movie nights on Town Hall Lawn will feature Twister this week and The Wild Robot next week, sponsored by Sam Walker’s American Tavern.
Cresta provided police department updates, noting two candidates are currently in the hiring process. He conducted a final interview with Chief Cassada and an exciting candidate, with an offer letter presented and immediately returned, though this still leaves three vacancies in the department. He announced the promotion of Brendan Reen to full-time Sergeant status upon Chief Cassada’s recommendation, praising Reen’s exceptional initiative, resilience, leadership in the Public Information Unit and Opioid Addiction Awareness Team, mentoring of junior officers, and maintaining high standards of professionalism.
Regarding the ongoing trash strike, Cresta reported that despite pressure from local elected officials, the Governor, and state legislators, the town continues to have curbside trash pickup only. The DPW yard remains open Fridays 3-7pm and weekends 10am-4pm to accept recycling only, not trash. Due to late notification last week, the DPW will accept yard waste for one more week, as the next scheduled yard waste pickup is in September. Cresta emphasized that residents should bring recycling in recyclable containers, cardboard boxes, paper bags, or yard waste bags, as plastic bags slow down the process and are not accepted. He expressed appreciation for residents’ patience, noting wait times sometimes reach 40 minutes.
Questions on Town Administrator Report (Link: 00:12:00 – 00:20:00)
A committee member asked Cresta for any public updates on the trash strike and progress being made. Cresta reported no progress, explaining that he meets bi-weekly with other administrators, managers, and mayors of the 14 affected North Shore communities and the situation appears to be at an impasse. He noted that while some have suggested hiring another company, the current company would have leverage and breaking in a new company would be difficult. The contract expires in June and remains very favorable compared to current market rates.
Phelan clarified that the town has been tracking costs related to processing recycling and obligations that Republic is not maintaining, which will be passed back to the company. Cresta confirmed they are tracking these costs daily, including police details, and thanked the police officers who regularly help control traffic at the recycling site.
A committee member asked whether Cresta’s meeting with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin included any conversation about using low levels of chlorine. Cresta responded that the subject was not broached because he knew the answer – if they chlorinate at any level, the EPA would still require dechlorination at the other end.
The same committee member raised concerns about the Community Life Center RFQ, questioning how much work the committee is doing to identify different locations in town versus hiring a consultant. The member expressed concern about spending additional funds before establishing solid financial goals, noting that a community center would cost between 20 to 60 million dollars and should fit into the capital plan.
Phelan, as the committee liaison, explained that the committee has done groundwork on available buildings but needs to parallel track community needs. She noted that a consultant would help determine if community needs, such as a pool, could be met by existing buildings or would require new construction. The process involves examining both needs and available buildings together to determine if the community need justifies the capital expenditure. She emphasized that the committee wants to consider the broader landscape beyond just the senior center being outgrown and lack of facilities for teens and kids.
The committee member expressed concern about developing ideas that would sit on a shelf for 15 years. Phelan agreed that nobody wants to spend time and energy on unimplementable ideas and noted there is a practical element to all conversations.
Cresta asked for clarification on whether the 20 to 60 million dollar price tag came from committee work and whether it was determined by new construction versus renovation. The committee member confirmed this was common sense reasoning – new construction would be close to 60 million dollars while renovation would still cost millions, emphasizing the need to consider how it fits into the capital plan.
A committee member congratulated Sergeant Brendan Reen on his promotion and thanked Cresta for including it on the agenda, calling it long overdue. Cresta suggested holding a proper ceremony at the next meeting with the chief, family present, and a pinning ceremony.
Sergeant Reen then spoke, thanking his family including his wife Sandy and daughters Emma and Caroline, as well as his parents and extended family for their support throughout his law enforcement journey. He thanked Chief Cassada for confidence in him, the men and women of the police department, and specifically mentioned Lieutenant Hennessy, Lieutenant Fraler, and Officer Mike Kenyon who attended on their own time. He thanked Cresta for his words and faithfulness to the community, and thanked the Select Board for their diligence and confidence in him, expressing his commitment to continue serving the community to the best of his ability.
Phelan then moved to Public Comment, inviting anyone to speak and requesting they provide their name and address, with a three-minute time limit.
Public Comment (Link: 00:20:00 – 00:50:00)
Charlie Patsios of 130 Atlantic Avenue spoke as a community member, noting he also serves on the Board of Assessors. He criticized the Select Board’s treatment of the Board of Assessors, stating that while the town funded an $80,000 position for a full-time assessor, nothing has occurred in that area. He emphasized that the assessing department sets values, the Select Board sets the rate, and the clerk collector funds the general fund. Patsios noted the town lacks a full-time assessor and has not had one for years, with the part-time assessor doing good work but facing a three to five year backlog. He said the assessor needs one full-time and one part-time staff member but currently has only two part-time positions. He criticized hiring a recreation director before an assessor, calling it like taking the captain off the deck of the Titanic, and said the town is operating dangerously and is underfunded. He concluded by suggesting a dunk tank at the block party where he would spend hundreds of dollars to dunk each Select Board member.
Bill Demento of 1008 Paradise Road raised three issues. First, he noted several vacancies on the water and sewer advisory committee for four months, urging the board to fill these positions for such an important subject involving millions of dollars. Second, he asked Cresta to send someone with a weed whacker to the town-owned Pine Street lot, which has overgrowth and trash. Cresta indicated a crew was there Friday, but Demento said they need to return. Third, Demento addressed the recreation director discussion from the last meeting, saying while the public discussion showed acrimony, it allowed people to see the issues. He expressed concern that removing the censure motion from the agenda might mean moving it to executive session, which he called the worst possible action since the incident occurred in public and any action should remain public.
Suzanne Wright of 6 Humphrey Terrace thanked Grishman for questioning practices at the previous meeting, despite the poor tenor. She addressed rumors about changing voting requirements for censure motions, hoping the board would not engage in such gerrymandering. Wright then advocated for a financial summit, noting her support for this during her time as school committee chair. She praised former Town Administrator Fitzgerald’s fiscal responsibility and proactive approach to fiscal planning, calling it the best thing that happened to the town. Wright explained that financial summits helped all boards and committees understand each other’s pressures and share resources, which was critical to passing the elementary school project. She offered to provide agendas from 2018 and 2021 financial summits to demonstrate their importance.
Joe Negri of 10 Ocean Street in Lynn spoke about the UV pilot program, describing how he and his partner discovered Swampscott 30 years ago and have felt deeply connected to the community. He criticized the lack of communication, transparency, and consensus among stakeholders regarding the project. Negri reported sending 100 emails to various officials without receiving any responses. He noted the project is on its third diesel generator, operating at 64-66 decibels at the nearest property line, which he claimed violates Massachusetts noise pollution standards. He said Klinefelter’s January 2025 report failed to recognize Massachusetts standards and incorrectly stated that Swampscott had no noise regulation. Negri expressed concern that the project is being pushed forward without addressing noise issues so it can be declared a success.
Peter Masuchi of 25 Topella Road spoke on behalf of the Swampscott Tides, the town’s new independent nonprofit newspaper. He reported the paper launched May 9th under President Ann Driscoll’s leadership, hired Monica Sager as full-time editor and reporter, and published over 180 stories in three months. The site has seen over 24,000 page views, the weekly newsletter has over 1,100 subscribers, and they were nominated as a national finalist for startup of the year by the Institute for Nonprofit News. Masuchi offered the Tides as a platform for town leadership to better communicate with residents, noting they are the only journalistic outlet focused solely on Swampscott. He suggested the board use the Tides rather than social media for official communications, emphasizing their commitment to professional journalism standards and ethics.
Pam Knight of 16 Ocean Street in Lynn spoke about the UV pilot program’s noise impact on her neighborhood. She reported writing to state and local officials about illegally loud noise levels confirmed by JNA noise consultants. Knight described the project as turning their beautiful neighborhood into a loud, unsightly sewage treatment plant, creating a living nightmare for residents during summer months. She criticized the lack of constructive responses and officials ignoring residents while focusing only on beach and water benefits. Knight called noise pollution a significant health hazard and questioned how Swampscott can ban gas leaf blowers while subjecting a neighborhood to 24/7 noise pollution. She asked whether discussions are ongoing to minimize noise or provide evening/overnight reprieve.
Katie Arrington of 40 Roy Street, speaking as an individual Finance Committee member, briefly commented on the recreation director controversy, noting that to procure censorship of an individual, the board would first have to amend a code of conduct.
Jan Santanala, a former selectman for 18 years, expressed support for Cresta and board members who stood up for him at the previous meeting. She criticized a board member’s attempt to embarrass the town administrator, saying she had never witnessed such behavior in her 18 years of service. Santanala emphasized that while board members didn’t always agree, they never resorted to trying to embarrass someone in front of the town, families, and other board members.
Steven Iannokone of 26 Barack Avenue responded to the Tides presentation, warning against any media seeking to restrict communication or become the sole source of information. While applauding the Tides as a needed investigative newspaper, he argued it should not be the only source of information. Iannokone noted he runs a monitored Facebook group that allows opposing viewpoints and emphasized that freedom of speech is essential to maintaining other freedoms.
Pam Patavani of 11 Eastern Avenue spoke about the UV pilot program, noting she pays taxes to both Lynn and Swampscott. She said while anyone can endure 90 days, the project has become more monstrous than proposed, creating safety issues and ridiculous noise levels. Patavani expressed concern that the project lacks a clear plan and that she was told it would not be on this site, but now hears it might be permanent. She worried about her home value and asked for transparency about whether she should sell her house. Patavani requested a steering committee with all options presented and expressed interest in serving on such a committee.
Dave Aldrich, who operates the bagel bus, praised doing business in Swampscott as a privilege and honor. He reported that every trip to town hall over three years has been a delight with great, fair, and thoughtful results, including his recent interaction with Cresta and his team.
Phelan concluded public comment and announced the next agenda item would be the appointment of the new town planner.
Appointment of New Town Planner (Link: 00:50:00 – 00:53:00)
Cresta introduced the appointment of a new senior planner, noting the town had a vacancy for an extended period. He explained that a qualified candidate was vetted through HR and Marzi, and that he and Marzi met with the candidate a week ago. Cresta expressed being impressed with her resume and demeanor, stating he believes she will be a great addition to the town.
Phelan invited the new planner to speak and asked if board members had any questions. Krista McGaha introduced herself as the new senior planner, expressing honor at joining Swampscott. She described having over 10 years of experience in GIS and planning in both public and private sectors, including municipal planning at city and county levels with focus on zoning, land use, and community engagement. McGaha stated she was excited to bring her experience to Swampscott and collaborate with town staff and boards on projects contributing to the town’s future.
A committee member welcomed McGaha, referencing a previous town meeting where there was an uprising from the audience expecting a good town planner, and expressed that based on her resume, the wait was worth it. Other board members also welcomed her to Swampscott. Cresta confirmed that McGaha’s start date is the following Monday.
Year End Department Updates Police Department (Link: 00:53:00 – 01:35:00)
Phelan noted that the DPW update would be moved to the next meeting and read the fire department update since Chief Archer was on vacation. The internal ladder truck committee has been meeting with representatives of Allegiance Specialty Vehicles and Pierce Fire Apparatus to begin specifications for the new Ladder 21, which is needed as the current Ladder 21 has suffered mechanical breakdowns with increasingly costly maintenance. Four newest firefighters – Kyrie Joshua Mora, Matthew Payne, Zoa Silva, and Zoa Silva Landry – are headed to the Massachusetts firefighter academy for 10 weeks of intensive training. Chief Archer has been working with newly contracted ambulance service provider Beauport to facilitate transition from the current provider, with an anticipated start date of August 15. The fire department will begin another round of interviews for new recruits and will hire approximately four new probationary firefighters this fall.
Police Chief Cassada presented a comprehensive year-end overview of the police department for 2024. He reported the department currently has five vacancies but has hired a lateral officer starting next week and gave a conditional offer to a new applicant, leaving three vacancies. Two additional positions are on extended leave for injury or illness, creating staffing strain. Since 2019, the department has seen officers leave or separate from employment while also hiring new officers.
The police department answered 17,981 calls for service last year, which is lower than the typical average, especially pre-COVID 2020. Cassada noted this corresponds with decreased staffing levels since 2022, with 25% fewer officers working. The department maintains four officers per shift, with five officers during summer weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day due to increased beach traffic and population.
Regarding crime statistics, Cassada presented FBI National Incident Based Reporting System data showing property crimes are on the rise, including burglaries, auto thefts, and larceny, requiring more proactive department response. Of the 17,981 calls for service, 287 were 911 calls with typical response times of five to six minutes. Officers wrote 1,057 reports, conducted 1,891 motor vehicle stops, wrote 1,604 citations, responded to 160 traffic accidents, wrote 689 parking citations, handled 74 animal calls, made 157 arrests, and took approximately 15,000 non-emergency business line calls and 7,000 walk-in requests.
Cassada emphasized community engagement as one of the most important aspects of policing, with officers making concerted efforts to attend school and church events to build relationships with residents. The department has two detectives in criminal investigations, with one spending 50% of their time in court. They conducted 10 search warrants, had 11 arrest warrants, and made 30 arrests. The detectives continue working the 1974 cold case murder with Massachusetts State Police and have current drug investigations.
The Harbor Master handled numerous calls including boats taking on water, persons in distress, mooring issues, and kayaker checks, while managing approximately 143 residential mooring permits and 25 non-residential permits. Traffic safety has been a top priority, with significant work on the elementary school area, reverting Redington Street back to two-way traffic, improved signage, new speed limit signs, stop signs at Humphrey and Atlantic, rapid flashing beacons near the school, and a bicycle safety event distributing 40 helmets.
Lieutenant Fraler in records received and responded to over 1,160 records requests annually, including 90 body worn camera requests requiring extensive redaction time. The department processed 150 license to carry applications, suspensions, and renewals. Special events required significant review time, including 24 one-day liquor licenses, 16 neighborhood block parties, yard sale permits, and road races, with security assessments for each event.
The department completed successful Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission certification covering 178 policies, equivalent to one person working full-time for six months. Sergeant Luck, Officer Kenyon, and Officer Caruso received special recognition for life-saving efforts. The department handled 63 documented mental health crisis calls averaging 38 minutes with two officers, followed by ongoing support through a shared grant with Lynnfield providing 10 hours weekly of follow-up services.
Community engagement activities included a youth leadership summit with state representatives, sending 15 children annually to Essex County Summer DARE program, overdose prevention summits, all faiths meetings, and various cultural celebrations. Cassada expressed pride in the department’s community focus compared to larger departments.
A committee member asked about retirement vulnerabilities, and Cassada confirmed one retirement in January, another officer who could leave anytime, and potentially two more in the next year to year and a half, plus officers leaving for other departments. Regarding staffing levels, Cassada discussed the need to balance fiscal responsibility with adequate service, noting that new developments should potentially require additional officers. The department has a three-year contract with Lynn for 911 services costing approximately $275,000 total.
Leonard praised the department’s community building efforts and presence at every town event, calling them second to none and unsung heroes alongside DPW. She thanked them for handling challenging tasks including elementary school traffic changes and parking modifications.
Phelan echoed appreciation for proactive community engagement, noting it reduces calls and tension while making difficult situations easier to handle. She raised concerns about dock fishing and boating safety issues with youth on docks, and thanked the department for handling the recent demonstration with no incidents. She asked about potential software solutions for records requests efficiency.
Cassada explained that police-specific software would be beneficial for handling sensitive information and tracking redactions, but noted that AI-powered tools exist at extremely high costs that may not be worthwhile for smaller departments. A committee member emphasized the need for benchmarking crime levels versus resources and finding marginal improvements in resource deployment while maintaining service levels.
Year End Department Updates Community Development (Link: 01:35:00 – 01:46:00)
Phelan introduced Marzi from Community Development for the final year-end department report. Marzi apologized for not having a PowerPoint presentation like the police chief, suggesting they could have an open discussion about community development instead.
Marzi explained that the Office of Community and Economic Development, along with the planning board, plays a key role in economic development and growth in Swampscott. The department provides support to most land use boards and works collaboratively with residents, the business community, and other town departments on growth initiatives. He expressed gratitude for the appointment of Krista as the new planner and noted they are interviewing for a land use planner position to bring the staff back to full capacity, allowing for more implementation of projects and planning documents.
Regarding significant ongoing projects, Marzi reported progress on the redevelopment of Hadley and Pine Street properties. With assistance from the Select Board and Cresta, they are finalizing land disposition agreements and lease agreements, expecting more movement on both projects this year. The Hadley developer is excited to partner with the town, while B’Nai Brith is working on the Pine Street affordable housing project. B’Nai Brith received their project eligibility letter from the state and will submit their comprehensive permit by the end of August to the ZBA. The department will seek grant funding to assist with this process, as the town has limited experience with 40B projects.
Marzi reported securing close to half a million dollars in grant funding this year. This includes $100,000 from the MVP2 program for resiliency projects addressing rising sea levels, over $95,000 from tree grants for plantings at the train station, Clark’s Park, behind the new school, and Phillips Park. They secured $60,000 for Community First Partnership to continue offering free energy audits to residents, $113,000 for construction of walking paths at Archer Street Woods, $20,000 to update the hazard mitigation plan, and $130,000 for completing a master plan.
The department has completed the design for the Archer Street Woods walking paths and will go out to bid within the next couple of weeks. They also submitted a grant application to replace safety surfacing at Clark Playground’s larger play structure area, keeping the equipment in place while focusing on surfacing improvements and potentially adding shade structures or trees.
For ongoing planning initiatives, the department is actively updating the master plan and working with the Hawthorne Reuse Committee on reusing a key town parcel. Marzi announced two public meetings about this project on August 18th and September 20th in the newly refitted auditorium, where they will share renderings created by committee members. The department completed several zoning updates including MBTA communities regulations, accessory dwelling unit bylaws for state compliance, and floodplain regulations. They received approval of a housing production plan good through 2029 and completed an economic development plan for the Humphrey Street corridor.
Marzi outlined goals for the year including redevelopment of Pine, Hadley, Hawthorne, General Glover site, and Vinnin Square. He noted significant movement in Vinnin Square with new businesses investing in the town, including Sam Walker restaurant, Kava, and three other unnamed restaurants. Other goals include completing and adopting the master plan, finishing the hazard mitigation plan, securing a long-term lease for the train depot, and seeking approval for a social equity plan and host community agreement policy for retail cannabis operators as required by the Cannabis Control Commission.
The department continues collaborating with other departments and land use boards on initiatives and long-term projects while working with the business community to celebrate new businesses through programs like sign and awning assistance, grant funding, and connections through Salem State Enterprise Center and Greater Lynn Chamber of Commerce. Marzi concluded by emphasizing their commitment to continuing grant funding efforts to assist the community and improve residents’ quality of life.
Community Development Director Report and Recognition (Link: 01:46:00 – 01:51:00)
Phelan thanked Marzi and asked if board members had any questions or comments. A committee member raised two items: first, a reminder that the fence taken down between the housing authority and the Westcott needs to be replaced soon, and second, praise for Marzi’s exceptional work ethic. The committee member described Marzi as one of the hardest working individuals they have ever been involved with, noting that thinking of Marzi’s dedication motivates them to finish their own work days.
Another committee member echoed the praise, calling Marzi’s dedication tireless and unlike anything they had ever seen. They noted Marzi’s involvement in numerous projects and meetings while giving 110% to every single project and board, whether harbor, waterfront, planning, or zoning. The committee member acknowledged that Marzi’s residency in town may contribute to her commitment but called the amount of work outstanding.
Phelan added that Marzi maintains a smile and good attitude even when dealing with angry or upset people at meetings, always taking things in stride and working to make situations better. A committee member asked about grant funding prospects at state and federal levels based on conversations with other regional community development leaders.
Marzi responded that grant funding remains an evolving discussion, with changes occurring that were unexpected given previous guardrails. She expressed confidence in state funding, noting the governor’s commitment to funding projects and formula grants that the town remains eligible to apply for. However, she indicated uncertainty about federal funding, describing it as a wait-and-see situation in the current environment.
Phelan raised the topic of splash pads in town, noting resident inquiries about water play options for children during summer. Marzi acknowledged that as a mostly built-out community, recreation opportunities must be created on town-owned land while considering equity and access to facilities across different areas of town. She explained they had looked at several locations for splash pads but preferred not to name specific sites, having learned from the pickleball discussion. Marzi proposed holding neighborhood meetings or town-wide discussions about planning and open spaces, seeking resident input to determine the best location using established criteria, noting that previous splash pad proposals were not well received.
Vote to Appoint New Town Planner (Link: 01:51:00 – 01:52:00)
Phelan realized that while Marzi had mentioned the appointment of the new town planner, the board had never actually voted to formally appoint her. She requested to go back and take a vote on the appointment, noting that since Thompson was participating online, they needed to conduct a roll call vote.
A committee member asked if they could take a vote since the agenda item said “appointment” but not specifically “vote.” Phelan agreed to proceed with the vote and said if there was a problem, they would rectify it at the next meeting. Grishman seconded the motion to appoint the new town planner.
Phelan conducted the roll call vote with the following results: Fletcher voted aye, Thompson voted aye, Leonard voted aye, Grishman voted aye, and Phelan voted aye. The motion passed unanimously. Phelan noted that if they had made an error in the process, they would address it again at a future meeting.
Town Administrator Search Committee Presentation Introduction (Link: 01:52:00 – 01:53:00)
A committee member expressed hope that they had not made an error in the voting process. Phelan then moved to the next agenda item, introducing the Town Administrator Search Committee presentation as a very exciting topic. She welcomed the search committee members and expressed gratitude for their work and energy on the search process.
Phelan acknowledged that this was both an exciting and nerve-wracking time, as the board was trying to select someone who would fulfill the future vision of Swampscott for the next five to ten years or potentially longer. She thanked all committee members for their dedication and time, noting that she knew they had taken the process very seriously as expected. Phelan expressed anticipation for hearing from the committee and requested a microphone be provided so residents at home could hear the presentation.
Town Administrator Search Committee Report (Link: 01:53:00 – 02:06:00)
Heather Rohman, chair of the Town Administrator Screening Committee, introduced the committee members present: Tivana Moore, Neil Duffy, Eric Hartman, and John Jantis. She thanked the committee for their hard work and commitment to finding the best finalists, noting that everyone brought different perspectives and took the job seriously. Rohman also thanked consultant Rick White for his insight, experience, and expertise in leading the screening process and gathering quality candidates, and thanked Dianne Marchese for administrative support including booking rooms, managing agendas, and ensuring proper formatting of materials.
The committee presented three finalists in no particular order: Jason Silva, David Williams, and Nicholas Connors. Rohman explained they provided resumes, leadership style questionnaires, and professional accomplishments for each candidate, with White to provide background summaries. She requested that the Select Board get to know the candidates through their career history and interview process before reaching out to committee members with questions, to avoid overly influencing first impressions.
When asked why only three candidates were presented, Rohman explained they started with 34 applicants, interviewed nine, and initially had four top contenders. However, one candidate withdrew before signing releases, leaving three finalists. She emphasized they only wanted to present candidates they were 100% confident would be a good fit for Swampscott with appropriate experience and capability.
Regarding their evaluation process, the committee used forms to rate answers to different questions and categories, but relied heavily on research into candidates’ backgrounds, career experience, presentations, and interviews rather than strict rubric adherence. The community survey significantly influenced their interview questions, with transparency and fiscal acumen emerging as the two primary concerns from residents.
Thompson asked if all three candidates had 100% support from the entire search committee, which Rohman confirmed with agreement from all present committee members. She stated they believed there was not a bad choice among the three finalists.
White outlined the next steps, explaining he would send reference summaries and background checks over the weekend before interviews scheduled for Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th, though one candidate had conflicts with both days requiring offline resolution. He had sent Marchese a list of 66 generic questions, asking each Select Board member to suggest two to three questions to create 11 basic questions for hour-and-fifteen-minute interviews.
White emphasized the importance of using consistent questions to properly evaluate candidates while allowing time for spontaneous follow-up exchanges to assess personality and working compatibility. He noted that while all candidates had demonstrated success, fit with the community culture was crucial. The screening committee focused on overall competency, financial planning and budgeting experience, developing working partnerships with select boards, public process and community engagement, and transparency systems.
White recommended starting interviews at 5:15 to allow 15 minutes for coordination, with each board member rotating questions and engaging in follow-up dialogue to assess candidates’ personalities and fit. He would be available to help frame questions before Tuesday and emphasized that the follow-up dynamic during interviews was most critical for revealing candidate characteristics.
Phelan thanked the committee for their diligence and responsibility in representing the vision of 15,000 residents, appreciating their consideration of community input during the interview process as requested.
Financial Summit Planning Discussion (Link: 02:08:00 – 02:25:00)
Thompson confirmed he had emailed thoughts about a financial summit that were shared by Jerry, who had participated in prior financial summits. Thompson explained that Jerry outlined a specific agenda suggesting November timing to correspond with the charter-mandated financial review, which would provide the latest financial information. The agenda would include presentations from the town’s auditor if completed by that time. Thompson noted that Jerry had specific ideas about conducting it on a Saturday, though he considered these implementation details to work through later.
Thompson emphasized that the capital budget, particularly the middle school, was the key puzzle piece from his perspective. He noted continued support for the elementary school debt and the inevitable need for middle school planning. He hoped for extensive planning among the school committee, new school superintendent, town administrator, and facilities regarding the use of different facilities and long-term obligations. Thompson stated the short term would be difficult but would see relief from commercial development, while the longer term impacts and magnitude remained unclear to him.
Fletcher suggested the November timeline was too late, proposing October instead since budget processes for the next year begin by November. Phelan agreed, hoping for earlier conversations that could become annual or biennial, potentially integrated into the charter with set markers for capital projections and financial health boundaries.
Fletcher emphasized that capital involvement was crucial from early stages, noting the middle school as an elephant in the room along with Clark School. She questioned whether the Select Board should first establish their short-term and long-term goals as the policymaking board before proceeding. Fletcher described previous financial summits that ran from morning until 4-5 PM, with the first focused on safety division spending and the second on educational spending, emphasizing the importance of setting board goals first.
Grishman agreed about setting board goals in August or early September to plan for the financial summit. He supported including the Capital Improvement Committee as a key player for prioritizing initiatives over 5-10 years. Grishman suggested following last year’s model of weekend goal-setting sessions with quarterly reviews to ensure alignment with the new town administrator and department heads.
Phelan clarified that the board had met in June to set goals but never followed up, noting this was not about Cresta but about the board’s failure to maintain focus. She emphasized that goals should be living documents that adapt to changing conditions, and that better goal-setting would empower the town administrator and department heads to work autonomously within established policies rather than requiring constant board involvement.
Grishman stressed the importance of extensive pre-work for summit success, suggesting collaboration through tri-chair meetings to prepare discussions about middle school and Clark School. He advocated for departmental benchmarking and investigating best practices and innovations from other communities to enable fact-based decision making rather than opinion-based discussions.
Fletcher pointed out they were planning a financial summit without a town accountant or director of finance, suggesting they lean heavily on Cheryl Stella, the school business manager and assistant superintendent, who has experience on both municipal and school sides to provide necessary factual financial information.
Phelan concluded this was the first of many discussions, emphasizing the need for realistic timing given the need to hire a town administrator and potentially a new finance director. She wanted the summit to be helpful, fruitful, and actionable rather than just theoretical discussions. Phelan asked Marchese to remind her in September about scheduling a goals conversation, possibly on a Saturday. She confirmed a tri-chair meeting was scheduled for Thursday at 5:30 PM, noting this would be her first meeting as chair with that group.
Phelan then transitioned to the final agenda item regarding discussion and possible vote on a new social media policy and code of conduct handbook, noting these items had been previously discussed and that the timing was appropriate following approval of a new handbook.
Social Media Policy Discussion (Link: 02:25:00 – 02:42:00)
Phelan introduced discussion of the social media policy, noting the town currently has no such policy. Leonard explained they began this discussion three or four months ago while redoing the handbook, with assistance from Maryanne. She noted most towns now have social media policies, which have become commonplace by 2025. Leonard emphasized that while the town relies heavily on social media for information, it should not be the sole communication mode, but guidelines and boundaries are needed given the extensive online discussion.
Fletcher reviewed Leonard’s proposed changes, finding most content to be common sense. She emphasized the need for consistency among town employees using social media to communicate town information and guardrails for elected officials to ensure accurate information in proper format. Fletcher questioned a section about personal comments disclaimers, asking why anyone would post personal positions on town websites.
Leonard clarified that the disclaimer was for situations where employees might post subjective opinions on departmental social media accounts like Swampscott Recreation or Swampscott DPW, allowing them to indicate personal opinions separate from official town positions. The discussion revealed various town departments maintain their own social media presence, including recreation, police, fire, library, and senior center.
Grishman noted technical corrections needed, such as updating Twitter references to X and questioned whether the town has an official TikTok page. He asked about cyberbullying provisions in the policy, suggesting it should be defined under the definitions section for elected and appointed officials within the town.
The board discussed the scope of cyberbullying provisions, with Phelan clarifying they cannot censure residents but can establish standards for town employees and public officials. She distinguished between personal social media pages and official town pages, noting that cyberbullying issues might be better addressed in the code of conduct or employee handbook rather than the social media policy.
Fletcher raised concerns about balancing free speech rights with policy restrictions, questioning whether elected officials should be restricted from expressing opinions like calling departments “greedy” on their personal pages. Phelan emphasized the difference between personal pages and official town pages, noting that free speech protections make censorship difficult and that suggestions rather than restrictions might be more appropriate.
Leonard mentioned that open meeting law creates different regulations for campaign-style social media pages versus personal pages, though she couldn’t recall the specific distinctions. Thompson questioned a provision requiring Select Board approval for all town social media sites, noting they had never approved existing sites.
The board agreed that some oversight mechanism was needed for departmental social media accounts, potentially through the town administrator rather than the Select Board directly. They discussed the importance of maintaining institutional knowledge and access when employees change positions, citing the recreation department as an example where social media presence needed to be transferred.
Thompson requested cataloging existing town social media sites and clarified that approval should be for establishing sites rather than monitoring daily content. The board agreed to research other towns’ policies, particularly regarding cyberbullying provisions, before consulting with KP Law to minimize legal costs. Phelan suggested borrowing from other vetted policies before seeking legal review of a cleaner version.
Code of Conduct Discussion (Link: 02:43:00 – 02:55:00)
Fletcher began by expressing strong dissatisfaction with the current code of conduct, calling it one of the most disappointing policies on the board. She described experiencing unprecedented disrespect and pathetic behavior during her time on the board, stating she was tired of it and that the previous week was her breaking point. Fletcher accused Grishman of lying about her asking an accountant to pay a bill, stating she had written documentation proving she did not make such a request. She criticized the board for allowing false statements to become public fodder without verification, including appearing in the newspaper unchecked.
Fletcher called for accountability, specifically stating that Grishman should be held accountable for his actions, which she considered a violation of the code of conduct. She emphasized the need for basic decency and expressed frustration that she could not force people to be decent, return phone calls, or stop attacking each other. Despite her concerns about enforcement, Fletcher indicated she was fine with the other proposed changes to the code.
Grishman reviewed changes in Chapter 6, noting new provisions requiring reports of inappropriate conduct by Select Board members to be made to the chair, and giving the chair authority to determine the next course of action for complaints. He expressed concern about who would handle complaints against the chair, recommending that reports should go to both the chair and someone in the town administrator’s office, or involve trained professional staff rather than being solely the chair’s responsibility.
Leonard clarified that she had edited the code of conduct and that this work predated the recent meeting incident. She explained that the existing code primarily addressed town employees but lacked provisions for Select Board members, so she added language making the chair responsible for overseeing board member conduct. Leonard acknowledged the problem of what to do if the chair was the subject of a complaint, suggesting the vice chair as an alternative, or requiring a majority vote of the Select Board.
Leonard expressed reluctance to have town staff investigate board members due to the power disparity, noting that staff report to the board. She suggested various alternatives including outside investigation, vice chair involvement, or majority board decision-making, and questioned whether such procedures should be handled in public or executive session.
Phelan noted that KP Law had advised that when policy conflicts with law, the law prevails, meaning detailed procedures could become problematic if they conflict with legal requirements like open meeting law. She suggested researching what other comparable towns do for their codes of conduct, noting that many towns may not have detailed codes because existing laws and checks and balances provide sufficient guardrails.
Phelan recommended following the same process used for job postings by examining peer communities’ policies and adopting common elements rather than creating procedures from scratch. She emphasized that the board should hold itself accountable without putting town staff in the position of mediating board disputes. She acknowledged that while this policy discussion had been ongoing for months, the current code inadequately addressed Select Board issues and chair accountability.
Thompson agreed with researching other communities’ approaches and suggested having KP Law participate in future discussions to ensure proper understanding of legal requirements. Phelan agreed with involving legal counsel but preferred to develop the policy further before engaging them to avoid wasting time and money. The board agreed to temporarily shelf the discussion to allow cooler heads to prevail while continuing to work on the policy development.
Consent Agenda Items (Link: 02:55:00 – 03:04:00)
Phelan moved to the consent agenda, with the board initially planning to remove the minutes and item one. There was confusion about whether to table item one, with Fletcher as the liaison expressing comfort with her appointment since the appointee was present. Ultimately, the board decided to handle items individually rather than as a consent agenda.
The board approved the third item on the consent agenda through a roll call vote, with all members voting in favor. They then moved to discuss the hawker peddler license application, which had been pulled from the consent agenda for clarification.
Fletcher raised concerns about the license description stating “Fisherman’s beach location only,” noting this did not match the applicant’s understanding. The applicant, Dave Aldrich who operates the bagel bus, clarified that he applies for locations throughout town within guidelines, including Fisherman’s Beach and various events, but not commercial areas like parking in front of businesses.
Marchese explained that the application originally listed both farmers market and Fisherman’s Beach, but she crossed out farmers market since a separate fee arrangement exists there, leaving only Fisherman’s Beach on the agenda description. The board agreed to amend the application to remove the location restriction.
Phelan noted that the police chief and town administrator had signed off on the original application and wanted to ensure they were comfortable with the amendment allowing operation anywhere in town. The board approved the amended hawker peddler license through roll call vote, with all members voting in favor.
Fletcher indicated she wanted to have a conversation about hawker licenses in September or October due to multiple complaints about how one of the authorized licenses was being used, but did not want to disrupt the current season. Aldrich asked for clarification about the license duration, expressing concern about having to repeat the entire process including fingerprinting annually.
Fletcher acknowledged that Aldrich had received misinformation from the town about licensing requirements, with conflicting information about whether he needed the license. She apologized for the town’s mistake and assured him they would work out the issues. Aldrich expressed frustration with the annual fingerprinting requirement, noting his fingerprints do not change and the process is time-consuming, expensive, and burdensome for the police department.
The board concluded by moving to the final agenda item regarding the appointment of Louis Strazzulo to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term expiring in 2026.
Recreation Commission Appointment Discussion (Link: 03:04:00 – 03:15:00)
Leonard introduced Louis Strazzulo’s appointment to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term, noting he was present and active in the community. She described him as organizing North End feasts in Boston and stated he would be a huge asset to recreation, as the commission was down at least one member after the chair’s resignation. Leonard confirmed he was married to Laurie Strazzulo, a cake baker who operates Shangri La Sweets and lives in town.
Grishman asked to question Strazzulo directly, asking if he had engaged in cyberbullying or made inappropriate comments on social media while masquerading on Swampscott Parents. Strazzulo answered no to both questions. Phelan and Leonard objected to this line of questioning, noting that social media policies apply to town employees and elected officials, not appointees to volunteer boards.
Leonard defended the appointment, stating the board’s role is to serve the people and act in the town’s best interests. She argued that disagreeing with someone should not disqualify them from volunteer service and noted that she regularly talks with her political competitor. Leonard described receiving criticism from 27 people on social media telling her not to comment as an elected official, stating she could handle the criticism as part of being on the Select Board.
Grishman maintained his position that Strazzulo had violated social media policies and engaged in cyberbullying while hiding behind anonymity, stating he would vote no on the appointment. Leonard countered that no social media policy currently exists and disagreed with Grishman’s assessment.
Phelan cautioned Grishman about his criticism, noting that some people would say similar things about his social media behavior. She suggested he be self-reflective about his own conduct before criticizing others, mentioning that his behavior may have negatively affected others regardless of using his real name.
Grishman referenced a conversation with Phelan the previous day where she allegedly indicated the incident had occurred and that Strazzulo had withdrawn his name. Phelan clarified she was not the Recreation Commission liaison and had only repeated what she thought happened.
Strazzulo addressed the board, explaining he had initially planned to withdraw his application after a conversation with Leonard, who reminded him of his community contributions including fundraisers, parades, and charitable work. He said Leonard reinvigorated his interest in serving, leading him to maintain his application. Strazzulo defended anonymous posting on social media, arguing people use anonymity to avoid embarrassment, slander, or attacks when expressing opinions about town issues. He noted that elected officials have power that can embarrass residents who may not have opportunities to redeem themselves.
Thompson made a motion to table the appointment, which Grishman seconded. The motion failed on a roll call vote with Thompson and Grishman voting yes, and Leonard, Fletcher, and Phelan voting no. Leonard questioned Thompson’s reasoning for tabling, calling it a lack of leadership to deny someone volunteer service over a personal Facebook issue.
Leonard then moved to approve the appointment, which Fletcher seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Leonard, Fletcher, and Phelan voting yes, and Thompson and Grishman voting no.
During Select Board time, Leonard announced the upcoming Saturday block party, expressing excitement about the vendors and community participation. She thanked Marchese for taking the lead and praised contributions from Marzi, Fletcher, and Cresta. Leonard stated she was tired of the banter and wanted to focus on actual work for residents.
Phelan concluded by urging the board to choose success over being right, stating they needed to put their swords down to accomplish anything. The meeting was adjourned by roll call vote, though Grishman left during the vote, which Phelan called disrespectful.
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