[0:42] Welcome to the town council regular meeting September 16, 20, 26, 7 p.m., town of Clinton, we're in the town hall, green room, that is what you please lead us in the pledge.

[0:54] Our pledge allegiance to the flag of your nice ace of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[1:08] Thanks, Dennis.

[1:09] You're welcome.

[1:13] I have number two on the agenda, Visitors,

[1:15] do we have any visitors that would like to participate?

[1:19] Carol, please, Carol.

[1:23] Yeah, please.

[1:24] And unfortunately, State your name and...

[1:26] Oh, unfortunately, it's not my name.

[1:29] Sorry to trouble you.

[1:34] All right, this is a totally different time.

[1:35] All right, Mike, in front of you.

[1:37] Yeah.

[1:38] Oh, Mike, Pete Nye.

[1:40] Yeah, I have a little thing that I say

[1:43] before public speaking, and that is that the council will not interact with you during a regular

[1:49] town council meeting.

[1:51] Well, listen, we appreciate your contribution, and we'll listen carefully if there's

[1:55] action to be taken based on what you submit the town council will put it on agenda for later

[2:01] meeting or the town manager, you can reach out to the town manager to take your something.

[2:05] With that?

[2:06] I like the good old days when there was banter back and forth, when we got things done,

[2:11] the same night that they came up. But anyway, Carol Walter, five-year-old court, and I am here

[2:17] riding on the co-tails of Doc Dates, which if you were there, it was a great day for Clinton.

[2:25] Everybody had a wonderful time and it was just a big wonderful accomplishment for all of us.

[2:35] I had two comments afterwards, outside of how much everybody loved it. One was,

[2:40] don't ever let anyone throw their dog in the water again.

[2:45] So that will be rule number one.

[2:47] And number two was people wondered where the beach was.

[2:51] And I, before this all came to be, I had talks

[2:56] with Todd Hageck and Rob dairy about the condition of the beach.

[3:02] And primarily, the fact that the condition of the beach

[3:07] being that there's no sand there anymore.

[3:09] It's probably 80% grass and 20% sand and the grass that is there is crab grass.

[3:18] The same is what grows in my yard if I don't dig it out.

[3:21] It's not some protected species of grass.

[3:24] It's just something that needs to, you know, if you had a claw down there, you could dig it out.

[3:31] So I'm here asking that maybe going forward into next year's budget you could put in

[3:39] some funds to create that beach, the way it was meant to be. I looked up the deed for that

[3:47] property and it was gifted to the town with the provision that it always remained a beach.

[3:55] And that the people from maybe would drive would always be allowed to swim at that beach.

[4:01] So I would think that, I mean there is a moral obligation to maintain it with the sandy

[4:07] surface that it had when my kids were growing up we were over there would be I mean

[4:11] they were families over there all the time playing at the beach with nobody would go

[4:16] in the water because it was awful now the water is great but you can't you can't get in

[4:20] there because I mean you won't go there because there isn't sand. I also have spoken

[4:27] with the Shapiro's at Cedar Island Marina and they say that that area is a half

[4:32] step from becoming declared a wetlands because of the condition it's in and if that were

[4:37] to happen, that would be the end of any use of that. I mean wetlands are more protected

[4:42] than anything we see around town. So I'm the problem that I had with Rob Derry and Todd

[4:50] Hitchett was nobody had money in there budget to do, to bring in the sand. This approved

[4:57] sand you have to put on a beach. So I'm hoping that, you know, somehow somewhere,

[5:03] something can be built in to scrape the craft grass out of the beach and bring some sand

[5:08] in and maintain it the way the deed asked that it be maintained. Okay. Thank you.

[5:16] I don't know. So what are you talking about is a carrot or

[5:19] Yes, we have the position.

[5:21] We'll have the time to knock.

[5:24] Any other persons?

[5:26] Yes, please.

[5:27] Please come to the table.

[5:28] State your name and address.

[5:33] Good evening, my name is Dean Cougan.

[5:35] For the past ten years, I've resided at 65 waterside lane.

[5:40] I want to start out with a shout out to the Clinton Police Department for the job they did during the fireworks show.

[5:46] We're on the front row with everything that's happening down there.

[5:48] 65 waterside lane, and I can't imagine how that could have been done in a better and more safe.

[5:55] For the record, the following narrative used my own, and was not authored by AI.

[6:02] Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you about the January 2025,

[6:07] flock licensed flight cameras activation in seven locations by the Clinton Police Department.

[6:13] I'm not here to be presumptive about the Clinton Police Department's intent nor its use of its

[6:18] flock system.

[6:20] I defer instead to Connecticut's most watched news organization, WFSB, and very investigative

[6:27] report concerning the Clinton Police Department's use of the flock system.

[6:33] According to WFSB, the Clinton Police Department had shared its flock immigration-related

[6:40] data, with other nearby states and agencies for 11 months.

[6:45] The police department acquired the flux system aware that it tracked individuals having

[6:50] immigration interest.

[6:52] The police department only suspended its flock of immigration data sharing at about the same

[6:57] time our state of Connecticut was passing legislation signed into law this past May,

[7:03] Outline continued sharing of such immigration flock data.

[7:08] When asked, FWFSP was denied access to the Clinton Police Department's raw actual data.

[7:16] Thus preventing a closer look at how the Clinton Police Department had been using their flock system since it started.

[7:24] I would surmise that my fellow Clinton residents would find such uncooperative behavior.

[7:30] By the Clinton Police Department to not be a model of transparency. I quote, the Fourth Amendment of our Constitution seeks to secure the privacy of life against arbitrary power and that a central aim of the framers was to place obstacles in the way of a two-permating police surveillance.

[7:52] as an individual maintains the legitimate expectation of privacy in the record of his physical movements.

[8:02] When reviewing the Clinton Police Department's flock policy and procedures section K for prohibited uses,

[8:10] It states, quote, any use that violates a person's constitutional rights is prohibited.

[8:17] As presently deployed, it's use of the flock's camera is such a violation.

[8:23] Our protected privacy is a public safety issue.

[8:27] What happens to each of us when our protected privacy rights become further diminished,

[8:31] especially with our present democracy teetering and our individual freedoms threatened,

[8:36] at the very same time of our 25th to 150th anniversary.

[8:41] Flax surveillance cameras degrade our protected privacy as the cameras are always on.

[8:48] Continuously track and store everyone's detailed travel histories today.

[8:53] Over 250 towns and cities across the nation are suspending.

[8:57] We're removing their flax surveillance cameras.

[9:00] At least three Connecticut towns have recently suspended or begun to have their flocks surveillance cameras removed.

[9:08] Two of our nation's largest bedrock law enforcement states, Florida and Texas,

[9:15] have very recently ordered a halt to their state funding, revoked permits,

[9:20] and or ordered the flock cameras removal within 30 days.

[9:24] I urge our Clinton Town Council in town manager to follow the same course of action to immediately call for independent oversight of the flock cameras in data use.

[9:35] Turning off the flock surveillance cameras, not funding the flock surveillance system when the present contract expires.

[9:42] And to order the flock surveillance cameras be removed as soon as possible.

[9:49] Thank you.

[9:50] I do want to just address that. I just want to let residents and encourage residents to know that

[9:55] the police commission would be the proper form to go and bring that concern. They're the ones

[9:59] that oversee it. They meet the second Monday at 5 o'clock at the police commission at the Police Department's

[10:05] community room. Thanks. Michelle, we don't hear you very well.

[10:12] This is more, thank you very much. Any other public comment?

[10:22] Supple 20 James Lane. I'll be quick. I told you guys that I'm just gonna file a lawsuit to have her removed

[10:29] We're gonna look to do it by mid October anybody who is in town and wants to sign on to it

[10:35] You can find me on Facebook and set the wall

[10:42] any other public comment here. You might set my turn on off that microphone

[10:48] Just a little pick up anything. Thank you

[10:54] I am number three on the agenda approval of minutes. So here a motion to approve the minutes for their August

[11:00] 19th twenty twenty six meeting.

[11:05] Second. Second.

[11:08] Discussion? All in favor?

[11:12] Aye. Opposed? abstain? Motion carries. Thank you. Next is appointments and

[11:20] reappointments. Item number four on the agenda. Amity Vs. Human Services Advisory Board

[11:27] for Termin til June 30th, 2029.

[11:31] Is anybody here?

[11:32] Yes, please.

[11:33] Thank you.

[11:37] I guess we are going to use the microphone, Maria.

[11:42] AMIDIVYS, I live at 13 Wildwood Park Road.

[11:47] Just looking to be appointed to the Human Services Advisory Board.

[11:54] Do you have any questions?

[11:55] Yeah, well, if you can tell us a little more about yourself,

[11:57] your interest there or your qualification.

[11:59] Yeah, I'm naturally drawn to roles where

[12:02] I can be helpful to people and I have a lot of work and volunteer experience working with the various populations that human services help support.

[12:13] I've worked as in various roles with children and I've been in domestic violence advocate, sexual assault, crisis counselor, and I've worked in a few different roles with senior citizens in the community as well.

[12:26] Any questions from the council?

[12:31] Do I hear a motion to appoint M.E.V. to the Human Services Advisory Board for

[12:35] Tournament till June 30th, 2029?

[12:38] Carry out in a second?

[12:40] Chris and Escovich?

[12:41] Yes.

[12:42] I'm sorry.

[12:43] Oh, right.

[12:46] Discussion?

[12:48] All in favor?

[12:49] Aye.

[12:50] Post?

[12:51] Stain?

[12:53] Motion carries.

[12:54] Thank you.

[12:56] Next is the appointment.

[12:57] to get sworn in.

[12:59] Oh, yeah.

[13:00] If you could go to the town clerk, it's office to be sworn in.

[13:04] Thank you.

[13:05] Not now.

[13:06] Yeah, they're not open to it.

[13:08] That's not open tonight.

[13:09] John Vassalo for the zoning board of appeals,

[13:15] alternate seat for a term until November 20, 27.

[13:18] He tells a little about yourself.

[13:19] You're interested in your qualifications.

[13:21] Well, I've been in the construction industry for about 45 years now, I live in town.

[13:33] I deal a lot with the different towns throughout the state, as far as permitting zoning and

[13:40] health department.

[13:42] My background is mainly in home improvements, residential construction, one point held of building

[13:51] official license.

[13:53] It's expired now, also a letter of aidment license for the state of Connecticut as a supervisor.

[14:05] I thought I could

[14:09] be a good addition to this process.

[14:12] Thank you.

[14:13] Anybody on the council?

[14:14] Any questions?

[14:33] Do I hear a motion for John Vassalo to be appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, alternate

[14:38] seat for Termin till November, 2027.

[14:42] Ryan Rock, Piori, 2nd.

[14:45] Chris Pesanti.

[14:46] Discussion.

[14:48] All in favor.

[14:50] Opposed.

[14:51] Of stain.

[14:52] Motion carries.

[14:53] Thank you, John.

[14:54] Again, go to the town clerk to be sworn in.

[14:57] Thank you.

[14:58] Thank you.

[14:59] Thank you.

[15:01] Next, the appointments is Park and Rec Commission, and we have four candidates for one vacant seat, and we have a process that's a little different for us this time, and that we, with four candidates under Connecticut State Law, the candidates have the option to be interviewed in public or an executive session, and we have one candidate that's opted to be an interviewed in public, and we'll do that, and then later in the meeting, we'll have executive session, and we'll conduct the interviews with the other candidates at that time.

[15:27] So, Patrick Shae, if you come up, please.

[15:37] Yeah.

[15:37] Yeah, we passed it.

[15:39] So, we have, hey, Patrick, welcome.

[15:44] Hello.

[15:45] Hello.

[15:45] Oh, the Board of Park and Recreation Commission.

[15:49] And we have four candidates.

[15:51] And we have extended questions that we ask or questions that we've often asked.

[15:55] And we're going to ask the same questions of all candidates.

[15:58] And so we can, I guess I could say I'm on behalf of the Council.

[16:03] These are questions from the Council, but I'll say them all out.

[16:07] The first question is, what interests you in serving on this Board of Commission?

[16:12] What interests you in serving on this Board, our Commission, this Park of Reck?

[16:18] Sure.

[16:18] What initially interested in me was the quality of the facilities,

[16:26] and as I grew interested

[16:28] the town and grew to watch town council meetings. I started to get to know council members

[16:35] and the town and how it works and operates and that's specific commission.

[16:44] Surprisingly, when ARPA funds existed, there was a lot that could have been done.

[16:50] And I know Chris is the liaison to the Parks and Rec Commission and I've listened to

[16:55] I listen to this council at the end of the day and I see what you need from various

[17:01] boards and commissions and I'm a sports lover. I grew up playing sports. I grew up

[17:08] watching sports and I don't love the way youth sports is going in terms of

[17:14] private equity and the expensive side of things and to me sports should be fun.

[17:23] and the kids should have fun and it should be affordable and I think that all starts with the Parks and Rec Commission.

[17:34] Do you have any prior experience serving on a broader commission? Any broader commission?

[17:38] No, I love this is the beginning for me. I want to get involved and I want to help serve my town.

[17:49] Are you able to commit to the regular meeting schedule in any additional responsibilities?

[17:52] Yes. I believe so at their Tuesday nights, right, or that might conflict with the, I don't

[18:01] know, the EDC that I'm going for, I don't, I don't, the timing, I don't, so maybe not.

[18:09] And how do you see the board, a park and wreck contributing to the overall well-being of the town?

[18:15] I think, when I look at kids these days and screens, I think it's incredibly important to be outside and playing,

[18:28] and I have a one year old myself, and he loves to play, and that's what separates kids from screens, not to say screens are evil,

[18:38] but like, playing and competition and that sort of,

[18:43] that's something I want to be a part of facilitating.

[18:45] And my background is in communications,

[18:47] and I think whether that's something that the board needs,

[18:53] it's something I'm good at, is outreach and getting people

[18:59] to join in and spread the word and participate.

[19:06] Thank you, so those are the questions for Park and REC.

[19:11] Can I quickly get confirmation, though, on the conflict, because I don't, from the timing

[19:17] of the meetings, if it's, I know the EDCs, the second Tuesday of every month.

[19:22] When's Park and REC?

[19:24] That first?

[19:25] Okay, so it's achievable.

[19:29] All right, so as I said, the Park and REC, we have three other candidates that are going

[19:33] an executive session later, and you're also a candidate for the one-bacon seat on economic

[19:39] development commission.

[19:41] And again, you've opted to have open session interview.

[19:44] There's another candidate for that one, and that person is also up to the executive session.

[19:48] So while you're here, why don't we do that one too?

[19:50] And the questions are the same.

[19:52] So if the town council feels this is the proper way to flow this, we'll ask you the questions

[19:56] again now for economic development commission.

[19:59] So what did you choose you to serve on the economic development mission?

[20:06] Ironically, it all started a little bit with my property taxes and understanding how

[20:14] the town works and getting to know various town council members and trying to understand

[20:24] procedure and I guess the optics of everything and over time I started to review the

[20:32] POCD from early 2000s and then I read the one in 2015 and the again in 2025 and

[20:42] I after a lot of the goals as it as it pertains to economic development carry

[20:48] across all three POCDs, but for the first time ever, we have an incredible town planter and

[20:56] the real capacity to move it forward.

[21:06] And there's sometimes there's, I feel like there's various gaps between communication

[21:11] between different boards and commissions and I think I could be a great asset to that communication

[21:19] crossover. I got very interested when it came to the EDC a lot of it was about and I've gone

[21:28] to the meetings as a member of the community since May and I think when I looked at what they were

[21:38] doing and business outreach and getting business inventory and I would watch the town council meetings

[21:43] and I would see this request going back to, even before our last town manager, this inventory

[21:50] has been requested. And although I'm not on the commission, I've made strides to just put

[21:58] it together.

[22:01] And that took me to another level where I started thinking about, well, if we want

[22:05] more businesses downtown and we want more walkability and this is the goal. This is what the

[22:09] people want. It's very much clear that the POCD let the people speak and this is what they

[22:17] are asking for and everyone signed off on it. So if that's the goal, I realize, well, if we want more

[22:24] business is downtown, how are we going to, how can we do that unless we

[22:29] Enders.

[22:30] Standing, planning, and zoning, and what's possible. We can't do it if we don't know what's possible. We can't have a real fluid conversation if we don't know what's possible.

[22:41] So that's where I decided, and it took a lot of work to create sort of a prototype that allowed for the means of understanding what's possible.

[22:52] And I had it presented through the EDC to council and whether that's ultimately adopted or not.

[23:01] That's in the hands, I guess, of the town manager and the town and really the town planner too.

[23:12] But whether it is adopted or not, that's fine.

[23:14] I just want to participate and I think I could be a great asset to the EDC.

[23:18] I've grown to meet and learn from some of them

[23:21] and understand like the group and the people.

[23:25] I also understand I'm there's alternate.

[23:28] So if any alternates want to step up

[23:30] and have the voting power, I would gladly give them that opportunity

[23:35] over me and I would be an alternate.

[23:38] And yeah, that's all I.

[23:40] Next question, we already know the answer to.

[23:41] Do you have any prior experience

[23:43] serving on boards and commissions you answered it?

[23:45] No, right?

[23:47] The item number three, are you able to commit to the regular meeting schedule?

[23:50] I think we just determined that, the answer is yes.

[23:53] And number four, how do you see this board commission contributing to the overall well-being

[23:57] of the town?

[23:58] You partially answered that in the first part, but if you have anything to add.

[24:02] I think that economic development means different things to a lot of different people and

[24:09] in some ways that people think that means we're looking for big box stores as for some

[24:15] people, it means we just want economic vitality downtown.

[24:19] Well, we don't know in any buildings, so we can't dictate.

[24:22] There's that side of it too.

[24:23] We can't tell storefronts to update their properties and all that.

[24:29] But we can do things like leverage the Andrews Memorial Theatre and see if there's ways to

[24:37] bring in, not be the key, but you know, bring in sort of, utilize that facility in such a way

[24:44] that it was meant to be utilized, and there's ways to understand what business owners need

[24:52] downtown in order to be fruitful and successful.

[24:56] There's ways to connect our social presence and our communication system with the businesses

[25:04] and give them, where's the live music tonight?

[25:09] Nobody can answer that question, and it shouldn't be on one business to promote only their

[25:16] live music.

[25:17] I think there's ways to get creative leverage, I leverage resources, and really connect with

[25:23] our business downtown.

[25:24] And the EDC is going back to even John Allen.

[25:28] I've watched some of these videos, and where the EDC's have some flows, I know you hang

[25:33] on it for a while. And I think, especially with a coordinator now, I think that it's a really

[25:40] poised committee to put forward some of these actions within the POCD.

[25:46] Thank you. That's the four questions. Just one of their items to know for the Council. I think

[25:51] everybody on the Council received a letter from the Chair of the Economic Development Commission

[25:55] recommending Patrick Shave for the position. That's all our questions. Thanks, Patrick.

[26:07] back to the agenda.

[26:12] So, the other candidates will be interviewed in executive session when we get to that item number.

[26:21] So, and we're on to item number five, what of education non-lapsing account?

[26:34] To use this, sir.

[26:36] If you hold it just for like two seconds or three seconds, it goes on.

[26:41] So, you want me to use it? There we go, sir.

[26:43] Okay. Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to be here tonight at the August 17th Board of Education

[26:51] meeting as we close out the here. The Board made a motion to authorize me to come and make a request

[27:00] transfer 250,000 to a maximum of the total unexpended amount from the 2526 Board of

[27:09] operating budget into the existing board of it non-lapsing account established by the town.

[27:16] The board talked a lot about this.

[27:19] It does appear as we're closing out our funds that we have approximately $500,000 of unexpected

[27:26] funds.

[27:27] And there was a lot of discussion.

[27:29] The request was put that way out of respect for the town and the need for the council to

[27:36] determinations as to best how to allocate that money. As you know, I was here in June. We had an

[27:43] unexpected capital project of the Joel Voila replacement, which was granted from the non-lapsing

[27:50] fund, which brought our fund balanced down to 321,679. So the board is asking for a minimum of

[28:00] 50 to bring that back to a reasonable amount that would protect us, hopefully against an unexpected

[28:08] capital expenditure or that fluctuation in special ed costs, which is the other policy reason

[28:15] for using the non-lapsing. So they worded that motion for the town council's consideration

[28:21] and out of respect for the fact that you have many other needs and can make that determination

[28:27] of the amount. Any questions? Any council members?

[28:32] I just want to make clear if you had a $500 surplus?

[28:35] $500,000. I believe it's an honor that $506.

[28:39] Okay, roughly. And you're requesting to take care of and put it in the

[28:43] Lapsing file. Yes. Okay. Thank you.

[28:46] So I have a question related to the same, but I think it's the

[28:49] Bob. So there's a second motion here to transfer the final that

[28:52] would be the residual. So if it's $500,000 and we're doing

[28:55] 250 to the non-lapsing fund, that means the rest, the other 250 would go to the roads

[29:01] and sidewalks fund, 66, how much it goes there?

[29:05] Yes, it would be nice, you know, there would be any available funds in the budget.

[29:11] This was approved, there would be another 250 available that we would get permission to transfer

[29:18] that 250 to the roads fund.

[29:20] So, under your agenda item number five, there's two motions.

[29:25] One would be for the request of a minimum transfer of $250,000 to the maximum of the total

[29:31] unexpected amount for the 2025-26 Board of Education operating budget into the existing Board

[29:37] of Education on Lapsing Account established by the town.

[29:41] So the residual from last year, $250,000 into an non-lapsing fund.

[29:46] Do I have a motion for that?

[29:47] So moved.

[29:48] Second.

[29:48] This question?

[29:51] All in favor?

[29:53] Aye.

[29:53] Opposed?

[29:54] Motion carries.

[29:56] And obviously.

[29:57] And now there's another motion to transfer from the...

[30:00] Final B-O-E-2025-26, you're available funds to the road in sidewalk fund, fund 66.

[30:08] So, the excess funds that we didn't just put in the non-lapsing fund, whatever is left, that fund that we created for...

[30:18] You're trying to say we're going to put it directly into that fund?

[30:21] Yes. I believe it has to go through the general fund first, possibly, because it's money coming from the Board of Education.

[30:26] All right, it's got to go through probably the general fund before we distribute it out.

[30:31] Is that right, Bob?

[30:33] General fund is comprised of all the departments, including the education department.

[30:40] You should be able to create a line item in the point of being budget,

[30:44] or transfer out to other funds.

[30:46] On that tonight, when I'm saying is originally, the motion shouldn't be made to go to roads,

[30:50] and the motion should be made to go general fund.

[30:53] And then if we want to put it into that extra place, whatever we want to land it, we can land it.

[30:57] But with their motion should not be to put it into a road, we shouldn't take their money,

[31:01] and put it into anything other than general fund.

[31:03] That's a proper way to do it.

[31:04] Are both those tonight?

[31:07] So let's do that.

[31:08] We have a motion.

[31:12] So do we have a motion to transfer from the final board of education,

[31:15] 2025, 2025, 26 year-end available funds to the general fund.

[31:20] So moved.

[31:21] Second.

[31:21] Second discussion. All in favor. Aye.

[31:29] Motion carries.

[31:34] So then in another meeting, we would do the other transfer.

[31:37] Okay.

[31:40] So that's it for item number five. We're on item number six on the agenda landfill capping update.

[31:46] This is an update only. No, no actions.

[31:52] So just to bring everybody up to speed on where we are with the landfill, the planning and zoning

[31:57] commission held a continued public hearing on Monday night of this week, and we'll be holding

[32:01] a special meeting on Monday September 28th, potentially to close the public hearing and potentially

[32:07] act on the landfill application.

[32:10] So it's the anticipated potential conditional approval could happen on Monday.

[32:16] It seems so far that most members are favorable.

[32:19] Again, they will vote that will be their decision,

[32:21] but I have been asked to start drafting a motion to that effect.

[32:25] In that motion, one of the things that would potentially be considered

[32:29] would be the question of third party review,

[32:31] which we've already discussed with the town council,

[32:33] we have received two additional quotes and we're in the process right now.

[32:37] We received the last one today.

[32:39] They range from, I believe,

[32:41] $86, $68,000, $247,000.

[32:44] So, the task right now is to make sure that we are comparing apples to apples in terms of the hours because there is such a wide span.

[32:51] We want to make sure that we're comparing apples to apples as that final decision of third party review gets made.

[32:57] But we do have those quotes and we did, we did go back and get that.

[33:00] So we'll keep you posted on what the best potential solution is for that.

[33:04] The commission could potentially just add a condition into a potential approval to say that third party review will be required.

[33:11] and the decision on that form would be deferred to Michelle and his group.

[33:16] So that's under review right now.

[33:18] The other piece that is also under review is one of their course request that L'Auro has made

[33:22] of the Planning and Zoning Commission is to consider permitting the stoppiling of material

[33:27] according to their material acceptability protocol and the permissions that deep has already granted

[33:34] to enable up to 50,000 cubic yards of material to be brought on to the site before the individual closure permit.

[33:40] the final actual large permit is issued from deep.

[33:43] So that's something that is, it's under review,

[33:46] Loura has submitted a separate correspondence

[33:49] to the town, essentially asking for that permission

[33:55] and identifying their assumption of liability.

[33:58] So if there's any problem with those individual closure pieces,

[34:01] they would remove that material.

[34:02] And for some reason, there was a problem in the future,

[34:04] which no one anticipates happening,

[34:06] but they would certainly take that on.

[34:08] That proposal is under review by the town's consulting environmental attorney.

[34:15] So I don't have an update from that attorney that memo just came in this Monday afternoon.

[34:19] So it's all recent developments.

[34:22] All of them moving the project forward, but I just wanted to let you know that there's a potential decision on the horizon.

[34:29] And additional attorney review, the third part of you stuff is in.

[34:33] And we'll just keep you posted as we go.

[34:36] Any questions?

[34:37] So do you need to get another permit from deep to bring additional?

[34:40] Correct.

[34:41] So the permit that's been done by deep there's this.

[34:43] Stormwater construction permits for the sediment and erosion controls is in place.

[34:46] And the other piece that they've done is they've approved the material

[34:48] Acceptability Protocol which says,

[34:50] We agree with the standards of testing that you have identified for the material and the thresholds of

[34:56] What chemical or what components might be in that fill when it comes on to site.

[35:00] So that part is approved.

[35:01] And as part of that, deep issued an authorization to say,

[35:05] we understand that you're proposing around 132,000 cubic yards of material

[35:09] to be graded in place in specific locations.

[35:12] According to your grading plan, we're still reviewing that part.

[35:15] That's that closure permit, that final ability to place the material

[35:18] where they want to place it.

[35:20] The given permission for is to say,

[35:22] while we're in that review period,

[35:24] you could bring on up to 50,000 cubic yards of material.

[35:28] That work hasn't started because they haven't gone through

[35:30] a full local permitting process yet, so they don't have P&Z approval.

[35:33] They do not have wetlands approval, but not P&Z.

[35:35] So what there are request is would be for P&Z to essentially

[35:39] make a finding that it would be acceptable,

[35:41] subject to town attorney review of their proposal for liability

[35:45] purposes to say, look, we'll let you bring that material on.

[35:49] We all anticipate this is coming in terms of a final closure

[35:52] and grading permit.

[35:54] But until that time comes, the town is a one-of-except material

[35:56] that we don't have a final permit for.

[35:58] So, the question for the attorney is, are we okay in an interim space?

[36:01] So, we just notify Deep that it's been approved by the town and then Deep's fine.

[36:05] Like, they don't have to do another review.

[36:06] Deep is in the process of reviewing the actual individual closure, like the grading plan and their order of operations,

[36:13] where and how they're going to track material on site.

[36:14] They're doing their final review of this.

[36:16] Deep has been in this process with them for, as you know, multiple years.

[36:20] And so, Pearl or Arrow, they believe that they will be receiving approval within the next several weeks

[36:24] for this individual closure permit so that it's not far off, but the planning and zoning

[36:29] commission is likely to be asked to vote before that permit is in hand. And so I think

[36:33] Laura is trying to say, listen, if that permit from deep is delayed to four weeks, six weeks,

[36:38] but we know it's coming would the town be okay with material coming on to site, not to exceed

[36:42] the 50,000 that deep is already permitted, but would we be okay with that? And so that's a question

[36:47] being asked to be planning and zoning commission.

[36:48] So there's no oversight by deep on that process, so that the field that's coming in prior

[36:53] to any of the final approvals.

[36:55] So deep's fine with that.

[36:56] Deep is fine with that 50,000 cubic yards.

[36:59] OK.

[37:01] All right.

[37:02] Any other questions?

[37:04] Thanks, Abby.

[37:07] She can stay there because she's going to talk about the ship.

[37:09] OK.

[37:10] Thanks.

[37:11] So we have item 789.

[37:13] I think, well, those 789 would be used.

[37:16] 789, Abby.

[37:17] OK.

[37:18] So tell us more about the, well, you've told us already

[37:20] about the ship grant application.

[37:23] Yep, so this is just a request to formalize authorizing Michelle to apply them to half of the town for the $400,000 ship grant.

[37:30] And for the drudging project at the town Marina Basin with the town's $600,000 match and funds that already exist, and we've given you a line number here.

[37:40] And essentially, the $400,000 would go to cover two things in the way that we're wrapped in this grant.

[37:46] One is biological testing of the sediment material that's in the basin today to make sure that we understand what the disposal path will be for it, whether that is open water disposal or land-based disposal.

[37:55] So there's some additional testing that the Army Corps will require for that, which is

[37:59] an eligible covered cost in this grant, which is lovely because we didn't anticipate

[38:04] that we would have to do that extra testing.

[38:05] So this is a great opportunity that the ship grant is coming forward when it is, and the

[38:09] rest of it would go to the direct cost of directing the mechanical removal of the sentiment.

[38:14] Any questions?

[38:17] Do I hear a motion to authorize the Town Manager to apply for the Kinetic Report Authority

[38:20] for Small Harbor Improvement's Project program,

[38:24] around six grant to support

[38:25] pledging of the townwren in the amount of $400,000.

[38:29] An authorized use of $600,000 committed in line,

[38:34] 604165-59865,

[38:36] pledging to fund the town's matching portion of the project.

[38:43] So, a motion by Kerry, second by,

[38:45] do I hear a second?

[38:47] Thank you.

[38:47] Thanks.

[38:48] Discussion?

[38:50] All in favor?

[38:51] Hi.

[38:52] Opposed, abstain, motion carries.

[38:56] Thank you.

[38:58] I'd admit, protect grant application.

[39:02] So this is an opportunity that is one of those grants that comes out, and we have a very, very short time to consider responding to it and determine whether or not the town is going to put in a potential application.

[39:11] So the protect the grant is a funding stream through the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration called promoting resilient operations for transformative efficient and cost saving transportation projects.

[39:25] So surface transportation roads and trying to look at the resiliency and a sort of long-term provision of service of those roads relative to things like flooding, excessive rainfall, all of those things that could potentially interrupt.

[39:39] What we've done is we went through our foreshore coastal resiliency plan, the plan of conservation and development and a hazard mitigation plan.

[39:46] Michelle Todd, Mike Neff and I sat down and said, okay, what potential projects might we have that could be a match for this?

[39:52] And we should at least have the conversation of whether or not we'd like to apply for funds.

[39:57] So when we went through the most potentially competitive project,

[40:01] would be to assess the condition and vulnerability of

[40:06] caus way, sure road, and hammock roads,

[40:10] so looking at that coastal stretch from a perspective

[40:13] of neighborhood access, viability of evacuation routes,

[40:18] making sure that we understand sort of what the modeling

[40:22] and threats to those facilities are in greater detail,

[40:25] and talk about pre-planning, pre-engineering,

[40:29] and cost benefit analysis for potential

[40:31] future construction projects. So I want to make it clear this is a planning grant. It is a 100%

[40:36] reimbursable grant that we would be going for. To go through activities like the existing

[40:42] conditions assessment, climate modeling and vulnerability analysis that takes us beyond what the

[40:46] four shore plan did, 3D visualization models to help people understand where the flooding might be

[40:50] and how it may affect into the future, engineering feasibility, conceptual designs,

[40:55] It's been environmental review, preliminary cost estimates, cost benefit analysis, stakeholder engagement

[41:01] and final reporting.

[41:02] And the goal here is to move some of the projects out of this adopted forest floor plan and

[41:07] hazard mitigation and POCD to shuttle ready because we talk about this a lot where we need

[41:13] to be able to find ways to advance projects.

[41:15] This is not committing the town to any one particular fix, we're not saying we're elevating

[41:21] caused way by 10 feet. That is not what this is for. This is to say, what are the most reasonable

[41:25] cost-effective methods that in now and into the future looking at the next 50 years of anticipated

[41:30] impacts might we want to plan for fund look for construction dollars and prioritize our projects

[41:37] going forward? We are not currently eligible for the actual construction funds anyway because we don't

[41:43] have these pieces in place and also we need some regional planning around this as well. But this would

[41:47] position us for this future funding from other protect money or other grant sources that may

[41:53] become available.

[41:55] So the ask would be up to $600,000 for that sort of scope of work again.

[41:59] It's a pretty decent stretch of our coastline to sort of say how does this function and what

[42:03] can we do to whether it's through, you know, nature-based solutions, drainage improvements,

[42:09] limited road-raising, those kinds of things would be the types of things we would be analyzing.

[42:14] So, it's an opportunity.

[42:15] We wanted to run it by you and see whether or not there are questions, concerns, if there's

[42:19] interest, it's due October 9th, so it's a really fast turnaround, which is why you're

[42:25] being asked to think about something the same night we're bringing it up for the first

[42:28] time.

[42:28] And a lot of times these grants just they move that quickly, and so we just didn't want to miss

[42:32] an opportunity if you were a medical.

[42:33] So, you said it was 100% reimbursable, so we would have to put the money up front.

[42:39] We would put the money out and get the money reimbursed.

[42:41] And how quickly is that reimbursement happen, maybe?

[42:44] So for federal dollars coming back in,

[42:47] I mean, the ones that the state federal partnership programs have been very quick.

[42:51] I don't have familiarity.

[42:53] I've not done a protect grant before, so I'm not sure how.

[42:55] You know, if we're talking weeks or a month or what that looks like.

[43:00] Any other questions from the council?

[43:02] I mean, to look into something like that, where would we be coming up with the money?

[43:07] You mean, other than from this grant?

[43:08] Well, I mean, you have to put the money out in order to get the grant.

[43:11] So I mean, we're coming up with 400,000.

[43:14] $600,000, and that's the biggest question.

[43:18] Pents on the amount of the grant.

[43:21] Are we talking about a million dollars, two million dollars,

[43:24] are we talking about 10 million dollars, up to 600, I guess?

[43:27] Yeah, so the preliminary budget that I started putting together,

[43:30] and I'm working with the town engineer, if we were going to go forward,

[43:32] is around 585, but there could be other costs associated with that.

[43:36] These aren't inexpensive things to do, and we could certainly scale back a scope,

[43:41] but we wanted it if we were going to put something out

[43:43] So the question is, our budget is fixed until June 30th, 2027,

[43:49] if we were going to get this money, would it happen before then or could we

[43:54] then go put it in our budget and our next we would do.

[43:57] So $500,000 grant, it would be funded by borrowing from fund bounce.

[44:04] When grant comes in, it goes right back into fund bounce.

[44:07] So we're not using fund bounce, we're borrowing from fund bounce.

[44:10] $500,000 would be so interesting if so when you have the receivable if you are awarded the grant from the federal government and you have a contractual obligation from them to pay us

[44:18] Then would you count that money in your fund balance so you wouldn't fall below the 20 percent?

[44:23] No, no, because the fund balance isn't actually decreased. It's the catch that's being used and yeah, you're just barring it

[44:31] You wouldn't put a question with that following that designated or undesignated

[44:37] It doesn't need to be designated outside of unassigned fund values in order to be eligible to for our shovel ready project if awarded

[44:46] I mean shovel ready project means shovel ready we're ready to go with that money with the money is authorized it's assigned not unassigned fund values

[44:54] So I've trained understand how we wouldn't count it against the 20% or you know wherever we're gonna get

[45:00] But it's just, it's an accounting entry. We use it every day. It's basically due to due from its borrowing from a grant fund, borrowing from the general fund.

[45:12] Fund balance itself in the accounting entry is not reduced. It's just borrowing.

[45:19] So fund balance is not debited or credit.

[45:22] But in order to apply for the grant, you don't need authorization or

[45:26] us appropriating the money in order to apply for it.

[45:29] That's how much it's awarded.

[45:31] Right, but we have to come back to you to accept it anyway.

[45:34] So we are going to, we don't know if we're even going to get it.

[45:37] So to approve us to release go for it, then it has to come back to you

[45:40] if we get approved.

[45:41] And then the conversation can be, is it, are we comfortable doing it the way that

[45:45] Bob's explaining to do it?

[45:47] The problem is that if we don't do it this way,

[45:50] We're never going to be applying for grants because we're always going to need to put something out.

[45:55] And we don't have a fund established where every year you're putting a set amount of money away to build it up that we can use on a rotation to apply for opportunities like that.

[46:06] Well, that's this this question. Then if we do get the grant if it's awarded to us and then we find ourselves in a pickle that we're not going to get reimbursed for two years and we have to come up 500,000 and we decide we don't want to do that.

[46:17] can we reject the grant?

[46:19] After it's been awarded to us.

[46:21] You can not have to accept it, though.

[46:23] I mean, right, you have to have the conversation

[46:27] about once it's, once, if we get approved for it,

[46:31] then it comes back and we have a conversation

[46:32] and Bob identifies a plan for this as a pool of money

[46:37] that we could use that is not going to be used for a few years

[46:41] or if we can sit there and we can re-reverse it.

[46:45] Here's a question.

[46:46] What percentage are we above in on a sign fun balance 21% and that 1% what does that give us to our

[46:54] Get them, obviously our policy

[46:56] So if we're there in that piece that ultimately we could reallocate that and assign that towards this grant that amount

[47:03] I don't know what's in the 20 dollars is that one percent

[47:08] Million oh is it that much we should probably have exactly numbers if we're going to I mean yeah, yeah, but

[47:13] Welcome, we can authorize base on that because we're not going below the 20th.

[47:16] I submitted it showing at 1.260 on a signed 14221, 21% but I mean, there's no, you know.

[47:25] I mean, I think, I mean, at some point we got to realize we in a position to go for these grants.

[47:28] I understand it if we don't get them, we'll never get them.

[47:30] I'm all about it because the money's there.

[47:32] But I mean, we also have to be in a strong position financially as a town to make sure that the money's there.

[47:37] So, let's just say we take money out of the undescendated fund balance, okay?

[47:41] And then, I don't know, something happens in town, right?

[47:45] Whether something happens in the town has to pay for that.

[47:48] Then we're dead because we're going well under 20%

[47:50] because we have to pay for that up front

[47:51] before we get refunded from FEMA.

[47:53] So I mean, I understand the concept of doing this

[47:57] and getting this, but the fact is,

[47:58] is you still have to be in a financial position

[48:00] in order to make sure that if something else

[48:03] does happen in town that we're still covering ourselves.

[48:07] And the closer we get to that 20 threshold,

[48:08] And we have a policy, I mean, what do we do?

[48:12] And the other thing to think about is,

[48:18] this is a large grant that we have to put money out

[48:22] for 100% reimbursement.

[48:23] Are there better grants or grants

[48:26] that are more worthwhile for this town

[48:31] to meet a greater need than that?

[48:34] And I'm not trying to put down what you said,

[48:37] from what you described to me, sounds like a nice to have rather than some of the other stuff

[48:44] that I've heard come down the pike. So just something else to think about.

[48:49] Another way we could look at it is that is a tremendous part of our grandma's set area.

[48:55] It's a very important part of the state to our town.

[49:00] They pay a lot of our taxes and we need to probably work on sustainability in that area

[49:09] water rise. We don't want to lose that. We have to think about it. We got a grant with

[49:16] old Sabrook and Westbrook and spent a year and a half working on how it is that we're

[49:21] going to save ourselves from the water and then we don't try. That doesn't look good. It's

[49:27] fully reimbursable. I don't think nobody's arguing. The biggest piece to me, you know,

[49:33] And we do a ton of federal grant work is, once you apply, and if you get it, if you ever

[49:39] give it back, that's bad for a grant.

[49:41] That's bad for a grant.

[49:42] That's good for that too.

[49:43] So my point is, and it comes right back to money, right?

[49:46] If we don't have the match or our cost to put up front, assigned and saying, hey, we're comfortable

[49:51] with this in an existing funding, then I agree.

[49:55] This is the first time we've ever heard about this grant, is this the right grant, right?

[49:59] Or is maybe we should look at grants as a whole?

[50:02] What are we setting aside?

[50:03] Because there's a ton of grants out there, but which grants are the ones that were most interested in.

[50:08] And I think, you know, having a limited time to look at this,

[50:11] it'd be tough to make a decision to commit funding behind those things.

[50:15] I'm just, that's me, but we just don't have a lot of time.

[50:19] So I guess.

[50:19] Well, that's always a good one.

[50:21] Go ahead.

[50:21] I don't know.

[50:21] Go ahead.

[50:24] I mean, that's not a good one.

[50:26] I always have problems.

[50:26] Or always given these things at the deadlines.

[50:30] We don't get a chance to think about it.

[50:32] So when do you have to send the invite?

[50:37] So October 9th, that goes by our next meeting

[50:40] because I was going to suggest at least we table it

[50:43] to the next meeting and we think about it.

[50:46] We can't talk about it for a week or two

[50:48] and then come back, but we don't have that time.

[50:51] We're always, I don't know why we're always on the gun.

[50:53] Well, when do we get the weekend, the weekend?

[50:54] That's been a single time.

[50:56] Last week, it came in the email.

[50:58] We got to understand.

[50:58] No, I mean, it's not that we're not looking at it.

[51:02] And it just seems he seems drop out of the sky and we have to make a decision like Mike says right now, you don't know all the facts, you know, you're not prepared with your mind mentally to.

[51:16] But okay.

[51:17] No, it's a lot.

[51:17] I do not like coming before this body without plenty of time to give you a chance to think about it at one meeting and ask again at the next.

[51:24] But we didn't want the opportunity to pass by without you having the chance to talk about it.

[51:28] The question I would have is, if there is a more limited scope, or if there is a budget

[51:33] number in your minds, that would be more palatable that we build a scope around, or is

[51:39] this just too much of an ask without the financial.

[51:42] So that's another dimension that you said, it doesn't have to be 600,000, it can be 100,000.

[51:46] Yeah, that's sort of the saying, look, this is what's in the plans, this whole sort of stretch

[51:50] of road.

[51:51] But do we talk about, you know, the load, you know, sort of saying we're going to limit this

[51:55] to either the low points of shore or we're going to limit this to cause way or some

[51:58] thing, a smaller scope, and take out, you know, two thirds of the ask, that's one element.

[52:03] I'm not sure how competitive it would be, but it is an opportunity to think about, but again,

[52:08] I understand we're asking, we're asking this on the fly, and that's the tough place to put

[52:11] people.

[52:12] Or do you think that this is, or do you, if sorry, or do you think that, to Chris's point, that

[52:17] this is not an area that you want, again, we get opportunities for grants.

[52:22] When we get them, we, we, we huddle, we could try to brainstorm and see what we can do.

[52:26] This is a quick turnaround and it's a lot.

[52:30] To ask because we also need a consultants to give us ballpark figures on prices. So it's not just us turning it around. We have to wait for our outside help.

[52:40] With that being said, is this an area that the council feels we should be doing? We should be putting some grant money towards or to Chris's point should we not and just be focusing on something else?

[52:55] I don't know. I would say that we should be pursuing grants and bringing them to the table for us to discuss just like we are now.

[53:02] Okay. The only issue is, the time compressed, the time, the time table. And that's just by the nature of this particular grant.

[53:11] I think this is in line with the town council's strategic objectives that we talked about. It's in line with the P.O.C.D., it's in line with the foreshore plan.

[53:19] My question was going to be, do you believe that going in at that level makes us the most

[53:24] competitive going into this group?

[53:26] I think we will be competing against regional projects that have perhaps higher priorities

[53:31] for planning dollars.

[53:32] So I think we are probably in the mid range of competition from the conversations that I've

[53:35] had with our consulting for the PSUD who deals with these grants routinely.

[53:43] I have not heard of any other immediately like very hyperlocal regional stuff, so I'm not aware

[53:47] other town going for similar projects right now or any of the towns that we've been

[53:52] participating with and other planning efforts I don't believe

[53:55] cog is at this point submitting anything in particular so for our sort of

[53:59] micro region and the lower Connecticut rally I think that would make us a little bit more

[54:03] competitive but you know but again it's I think that I think it's a hundred thousand

[54:08] dollars to ten million dollars just sort of the range of planning grant money that

[54:11] where they allocate so we're on the lower end of the things that they allocate

[54:16] But these are also, you know, there's millions and millions of dollars at stake here, and a lot of those projects will take up millions and millions of dollars.

[54:22] That's how we're asking for. We're on the smaller side anyway. So, you know, if we were to cut it in half or two thirds, they may make it easier to fund because it is smaller, but the reach will not be as far.

[54:34] So, it's just an annual grant.

[54:37] It comes right. I don't know if it comes around every single year, but it has, it has been, I don't know if it came out last year.

[54:42] I think it was the year before, but I will.

[54:45] So if it's an annual grant and we target October

[54:47] or it's target data release next year for 26 or 27 money,

[54:51] it might be a good idea to take that.

[54:53] Whatever we planned on planning on,

[54:55] look at the full content of what the grants for

[54:58] and then need to bridge those gaps

[54:59] or talk about what gaps it's gonna bridge for us as a town.

[55:02] I mean, and then that way, it gives us time

[55:04] in the planning side to make sure that it's in the budget

[55:06] or the money's there based on what you see as a need.

[55:10] That sounds good.

[55:11] We're saying we need you for all grants and sort of have a sort of a rolling list.

[55:15] Chris, I mean that's exactly that's a plan in place that we have going forward.

[55:20] We have something in place.

[55:21] I mean anybody's denying that this is an area that needs to be worked on.

[55:24] I think we all anybody who lives here understands where we have these issues.

[55:27] And we need to do something to help these issues.

[55:29] The issue is that we're making a decision without any rhyme or reason to wear the money's coming from.

[55:35] Like we're that's all we have it in here.

[55:37] We have it at Stairville Bar from here from Bar from there.

[55:38] For me personally, I want to know exactly where it's coming from

[55:41] and where the money is coming from to covered.

[55:43] We have a budget in place right now that we've passed.

[55:45] And so now it's just like, well, if we go to here and we borrow from here,

[55:48] we take from there, you know, that's not my kind of thing to agree with.

[55:52] That's not, I think, physically responsible in order to do those types of things.

[55:56] I think it needs to be something that there's a plan in place.

[55:58] And I think this is a, I mean, if it's an annual project that we have these things in place.

[56:02] I mean, we're sitting at a meeting.

[56:03] We're talking about it, is it a great idea?

[56:05] But we're not talking about everything else.

[56:07] there's still $4 to $600,000 that the town needs to come up with.

[56:11] And if we're going to keep tapping that on designated fund balance without knowing exactly

[56:14] how much is available to us, and something does happen in this town, well then we're

[56:18] in a big problem.

[56:19] We go under 20% then we have issues with the auditors because they're going to come back and

[56:23] they're going to lower our bond grading because that's what Dave agreed to, that's what

[56:26] we've agreed to.

[56:27] So it's a bigger picture.

[56:28] I mean, I understand the grants, we talk about it a lot, they're available, and they

[56:31] always are available.

[56:32] I mean, it's just a matter of, do they come at the right time for us to be able to

[56:37] So it's not always the opportune time.

[56:40] Thanks.

[56:41] At the 21% and our designated fund balance right now, we do have a bad amount of money

[56:46] to be able to still stay above 20% which is a goal that we set for ourselves.

[56:50] Not bad.

[56:51] The bond rate.

[56:52] That would stay.

[56:53] But that's the reason why we set that because they come.

[56:56] They came to us and they said.

[56:57] I started a stronger bond rating if we went to 12.

[57:00] If I have the floor, can I say this?

[57:02] We set that goal for ourselves, because if something happens, then we have that extra 5% to pay for that catastrophic storm that happens because we were afraid

[57:13] With the current uncertainty in the federal government that it would take a long time to get reimbursed for FEMA if we ever got FEMA resistance

[57:19] We would still have that there in the 20%

[57:23] Thank you anybody else have any other

[57:27] Comments

[57:28] I have one comment that as Brian mentioned, we've asked specifically through the POCD and now

[57:35] through our goals in our mission statement and our vision statement to pursue grants and

[57:39] you guys are doing that, and that's what we ask you to do.

[57:41] And that's now as before us to decide whether or not we want to take it or not, that's a

[57:45] different issue.

[57:46] You guys did your job.

[57:47] Thank you for doing what you did.

[57:49] So with that, if there's no other further comments on this, I'll ask, is there a motion

[57:54] To authorize the Town Manager to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation slash federal

[57:58] highway administration, promoting resilience operations for transformative, efficient, and

[58:03] cost-saving transportation, reimbursement planning grant in the amount of $600,000 for

[58:08] planning, vulnerability, assets, and the pre-design activities to increase resiliency for the

[58:25] I would just make one comment, if you're going to do it, I would have hoped that you would

[58:31] have reduced it down to about maybe 200,000 or maybe even 100,000.

[58:36] I agree with Carrie, we have to get started to show good faith with other towns that were involved

[58:44] with, but I can't see going on the whole 600, that's just my two cents.

[58:49] So, the motion is for this 600,000, and I guess we should have had sort of whatever you do.

[59:00] What got a motion on the floor, Mr. Chairman?

[59:03] Yes, Mike.

[59:05] I would ask to potentially amend the motion to also include the funding mechanism of where it's going to be funded within the budget.

[59:12] And the same thing, considering this is our first year and we first found out about it now.

[59:16] And we won't have another meeting for us to really do some research and ask some more questions.

[59:22] I would be a little bit more conservative about off, you know, putting out the whole amount,

[59:27] and then also to ask that the amount and where it's going to come from within the existing budget.

[59:32] So we have a motion to amend the motion to a dollar amount different than 600,000.

[59:37] What dollar amount are you saying?

[59:39] No, my recommendation is to amend to amend it.

[59:44] I didn't make the motion.

[59:44] I'm recommending to amend the discussion for me is that this is the first year that we're applying for

[59:51] or looking to apply for or seeking it, which is great. We're asking grants, grants, grants, grants.

[59:57] But I think it needs to be identified in the budget where the money is going to be out.

[1:00:10] So let me see if I got you now. You said you want to amend the motion.

[1:00:19] I'm making a recommendation to amend the motion.

[1:00:21] And that would say to designate where the money is coming from during the period of time that we're not reimbursed yet.

[1:00:28] Correct.

[1:00:29] which we've already allocated that money that we've now taken that money off the table or

[1:00:33] saying, hey, we're going to take whatever money we agree to tonight, put it aside, knowing

[1:00:37] that that's what you're going to apply for because you're going to need that in the application,

[1:00:41] knowing on the scope of the work and the plan and what things you're going to look for in the

[1:00:45] grant. Instead of you doing 600,000, you're going to do whatever money we would recommend or we

[1:00:50] approve to do that, because that's going to be the scope of your project. So you may, so you would like

[1:00:57] To amend the motion to designate where the money is coming is going to come from during the

[1:01:01] period of time that we're not reenversed yet.

[1:01:04] And I think it's been stated, but maybe we can ask the finance director, that it's going

[1:01:07] to come from the end of the fund balance, or is there some other place that money could come

[1:01:11] from?

[1:01:12] I mean, Bob is, I mean, Bob would as your opinion, I mean, even though some people don't

[1:01:16] agree with it, you're the finance director, what are you?

[1:01:19] Yeah, funds are identified in the budget process.

[1:01:21] This is a grant fund.

[1:01:26] When you're authorized of grant and the grants approved,

[1:01:29] I go to the grant fund.

[1:01:31] I have a revenue line item called grants.

[1:01:33] And I put in this made a revenue.

[1:01:35] I have an exponential line item called whatever grant project is

[1:01:40] and I have a budget.

[1:01:42] So now we have a balanced budget in the grant fund.

[1:01:47] We can start spending that grant

[1:01:49] in anticipation of that federal grant coming in one month, two month, three months, and

[1:01:55] how are we spending it?

[1:01:57] We're using the $15 million we have in the bank in investments, and it's just borrowing from

[1:02:05] the general funding.

[1:02:06] It doesn't reduce fund-outs on the accounting books.

[1:02:09] Fund-outs is not reduced.

[1:02:11] You're replacing cash with a receivable.

[1:02:14] So in other words, in the general fund, you're going to have do-funk grants 100,000 because

[1:02:18] grants to spend $100,000. One month later, you'll get $100,000 from the feds and goes back

[1:02:25] into the general fund cash account. So if I could say back to you what you just said, I think.

[1:02:29] So our balance is 21%. If we start to spend, and that 21% in an undisited fund balance

[1:02:34] is a combination of things. There's some cash, there's some bonds, there's different things.

[1:02:39] One of them will be a receivable pledge from this grant. So if he spends the $600,000 in cash,

[1:02:44] But he also has a receivable line in the books of $600,000.

[1:02:49] The fund balance stays at 21%.

[1:02:51] It will not go down.

[1:02:52] Is that what you said?

[1:02:53] I would never do this for $2,000,000, $3,500,000,000.

[1:02:57] $1,000 is $1,000.

[1:02:58] But fine.

[1:02:59] By that method of accounting.

[1:03:01] So that risk is not real.

[1:03:04] One of the things we didn't know is how long it takes to get a federal grant,

[1:03:10] That's a good question.

[1:03:11] So the conversion from the receivable to cash,

[1:03:13] Because the cash is going to be gone, you'll still have the receivable. How long is short the cash?

[1:03:18] Do you have an idea how long that reimbursement takes?

[1:03:21] No, we'll have to find out about it.

[1:03:22] I mean, you know, the state takes two and three, four weeks the feds could take the month.

[1:03:29] But I'd ask the question, who cares on your balance sheet whether it's a receivable from the federal government or cash?

[1:03:33] It's like a bond.

[1:03:34] It's a short time.

[1:03:35] It's a marketable security.

[1:03:37] You could actually factor it or sell it.

[1:03:41] If you, if you fund it, then it will come off your own designated fund balance before we get, I mean,

[1:03:46] so some point is going to come down because you have to, when you apply for the grant, you're committing that money.

[1:03:53] So if they approve the grant, correct? So they have to put the money out.

[1:03:57] So it's, there's going to be a period of time where it's reduced.

[1:04:00] Well, we give the money for the grant, and when we get the money back, cash.

[1:04:04] You can, you can call it whatever you'd like.

[1:04:06] signed versus unassigned, that's the question, right?

[1:04:10] And when it's assigned to a grant, tied up,

[1:04:13] tied up, meaning it's assigned to tie a get it,

[1:04:16] sitting in the account, not such in it,

[1:04:18] and when we get the money, but the point is it's assigned.

[1:04:20] I think that's the question I'm asking.

[1:04:22] I see a sign.

[1:04:23] So you're not interested in it?

[1:04:24] So when you assign something in fun balance,

[1:04:27] means you're going to actually use it.

[1:04:29] Whenever going to use, it's always going to stay at 21%,

[1:04:32] 1%.

[1:04:33] So if there's a three-year delay, and we have to pay for the cash, yeah, but you're 21% doesn't go down because you ever see

[1:04:40] Well, it's like if you went and what's stock with seats?

[1:04:42] So if we made a decision of the balance in the 21% what what's the dollars at that 20%

[1:04:49] $50 million or something like that

[1:04:51] So we could say I'm gonna buy some IBM stock

[1:04:54] I'm gonna buy some treasury bonds at pay five percent

[1:04:56] There's a host of

[1:04:58] Assets that are in that understanding of fundals one of them will be this pledge and so it's

[1:05:03] But it is an asset that counts in the 21%.

[1:05:07] So you've won that under accounting rules

[1:05:09] with a water's commited city.

[1:05:10] You have 21% answers, yes.

[1:05:13] Are we only voting, giving her the right to apply?

[1:05:19] We're not voting.

[1:05:20] Except that you're accepting that, and giving the money.

[1:05:23] But one ties to the other, because it's accepting.

[1:05:26] And that's the problem.

[1:05:28] If we got, we were awarded the grant, right?

[1:05:31] And if we don't accept it, what are the ramifications for not accepting the federal grant?

[1:05:36] It will be real hard to go back.

[1:05:37] It's yep.

[1:05:38] So, we don't want to do that.

[1:05:40] What is that actually?

[1:05:40] To the other.

[1:05:42] Okay.

[1:05:42] Good point dropped.

[1:05:44] All right.

[1:05:44] So there's discussion.

[1:05:46] Any more discussion?

[1:05:46] Yeah.

[1:05:47] I want to ask Mike.

[1:05:49] Well, you have to do it.

[1:05:50] We have to make the most.

[1:05:52] How mean?

[1:05:53] Okay.

[1:05:54] So we have a motion to amend.

[1:05:57] No.

[1:05:57] I mean in discussion.

[1:05:58] I made a recommendation to amend.

[1:06:00] But it's who made them all grind it right. It's either a friendly amendment or it's not a friendly amendment. Okay

[1:06:06] So can I ask about the amendment? Did you also mention that you wanted to and think about

[1:06:11] Spending less than $10 a month reduced the dollar amount. So we

[1:06:15] Is that would that be a real thing Abby to reduce the dollar amount and have anything left?

[1:06:20] We could we could build a scope around if you were if you wanted to go for the granted a lower amount

[1:06:24] We would build the scope and do as much as we could for that amount and it will involve making decisions about which roads are

[1:06:30] included and how much modeling or, you know, how far we can get in that pre-planning process.

[1:06:36] That's, we would just modify the scope.

[1:06:39] Okay.

[1:06:39] Let me ask you another question.

[1:06:40] How did Mike Neff feel about this?

[1:06:43] He was supportive.

[1:06:45] That's our emergency manager.

[1:06:50] So now, so it's still before the council is the question of whether we're going to amend

[1:06:54] the motion that we've described for two things, the dollar amount.

[1:06:58] And to designate where the money's going to come from, but I think we've just said, it's

[1:07:01] to come from the Undisputed Fundance.

[1:07:06] Does anybody want to recommend a dollar amount to change it, too?

[1:07:09] Or are we going to leave the motion with $600,000?

[1:07:13] You'd have to do it, carry it made the motion.

[1:07:15] I seconded it.

[1:07:15] I don't know.

[1:07:16] I'm saying Mike would have to.

[1:07:17] If he wants to put a number in there.

[1:07:19] Because it would have to put in a number.

[1:07:21] It's on the floor at 600.

[1:07:24] I mean, I'd feel better if we split it in half for this year.

[1:07:27] If that's manageable by you.

[1:07:29] if you think.

[1:07:30] I think that that, you know, because it's our year one, we've limited information tonight to respond to it, 300,000.

[1:07:39] I feel better at 200.

[1:07:41] Oh, let's not.

[1:07:43] We need to read the book.

[1:07:44] We can send your group down for one, third.

[1:07:46] I'm telling anybody else to present it.

[1:07:47] If you rely on you, I can read it.

[1:07:48] I feel better at too much.

[1:07:49] The work is for consulting.

[1:07:52] This is your lane, so.

[1:07:53] I mean, the things that I would probably take out, so I had $25,000 in for 3D flood

[1:07:58] So there's there's that off the top we could cut some stakeholder engagement and do more of that in house.

[1:08:04] So that you know if we don't do a story map and we said we were going to bring this thing back down from 30,000 to 15,000.

[1:08:11] The engineering feasibility and conceptual design.

[1:08:14] I have a 175 we could potentially knock 50 off of that and just don't go as far, right?

[1:08:20] Don't don't go as in depth.

[1:08:22] So there are places we could probably cut and simply just don't model to, you know, we may not get every rainfall analysis we want, we may only pick one flood scenario instead of multiples, right?

[1:08:33] Those are the kinds of things we would start to pull back.

[1:08:36] And again, these cost numbers are sort of coming from a best guess right now, they're out with the town engineer for sort of round-truthing and making sure that they make sense with similar projects and those kinds of things.

[1:08:47] I wish I had his answers for you tonight, it's just the turnaround was so fast.

[1:08:53] Okay, so I have a parliamentary process question.

[1:08:56] Now, so I have a motion for the 600,000 as it was read originally.

[1:09:00] And then I have a proposal to a recommendation of an amended motion.

[1:09:05] So I could, we can continue with the first motion and then see if it passes

[1:09:09] and then go with the amended motion, or do we just want it?

[1:09:14] Did you actually do an amended motion before you do the-

[1:09:17] Absolutely.

[1:09:18] Okay.

[1:09:18] You have to act.

[1:09:20] You have to do the amended motion first.

[1:09:22] Okay.

[1:09:22] You'd have to have a second.

[1:09:24] So do you have a second on the amendment?

[1:09:26] What is the amendment?

[1:09:28] So I'll read it now.

[1:09:29] Do you have an amount for us?

[1:09:31] We'll do 300.

[1:09:32] Yep, okay.

[1:09:34] So this would be the amended motion.

[1:09:36] To authorize the town manager to apply for a Connecticut

[1:09:38] Port Authority and a small Harvard proven projects program

[1:09:40] around six grant to support

[1:09:42] directing the town ring in the amount of $400,000

[1:09:47] and authorize the use of $300,000

[1:09:51] committed in line 604165, I'm sorry, I'm reading the wrong one.

[1:09:57] Yeah, you are reading the ship, I'm sorry.

[1:10:00] Okay, let's go back to the screen of the document.

[1:10:03] Protect grant application to authorize the town manager to reply for a US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration,

[1:10:09] promoting resilient operations for terms formative efficiency and cost saving transportation,

[1:10:14] reimbursable planning grant in the amount of $300,000 for planning, vulnerability assessments,

[1:10:20] and pre-design activities to increase resiliency

[1:10:22] for the cause-way shore road and hammock road,

[1:10:25] with the designation that the money is to come

[1:10:27] from the undisited fund balance.

[1:10:30] You can do it as a friendly amendment,

[1:10:32] and if he would accept it as a friendly amendment,

[1:10:33] then we move forward.

[1:10:35] If not, we have to vote on, get a second, and vote on it.

[1:10:38] Thank you for that.

[1:10:39] So there we go.

[1:10:40] So who made the motion was a carrier as a friend?

[1:10:43] He was a amendment.

[1:10:44] So do you take the friendly amendment?

[1:10:46] I will take the friendly amendment.

[1:10:48] Okay, so now we'll vote on the opposite.

[1:10:51] So that's now the motion.

[1:10:53] So the amended motion is now the motion that is before the council.

[1:10:56] Do I hear it?

[1:10:57] Do I hear it?

[1:10:58] So, do I hear it a second?

[1:11:02] Discussion.

[1:11:03] What do we need to discuss with you, your friend?

[1:11:05] Yes.

[1:11:06] You got it?

[1:11:07] Let's say it again.

[1:11:07] You want to hear it again?

[1:11:09] 300 grams.

[1:11:11] 300 grams.

[1:11:12] And we're clarifying that it's coming from the head

[1:11:14] to the front balance.

[1:11:15] Yeah, whatever to get it going.

[1:11:17] Okay, so

[1:11:18] You don't hear that off in front of that. It's

[1:11:22] All the people

[1:11:25] You're going around with sort of stain motion carries as amended for three hundred thousand dollars

[1:11:33] Thank you

[1:11:35] Thank you, Ari

[1:11:36] Oh, you're going much confused in tonight

[1:11:42] Okay, next is a library grant item number nine

[1:11:50] It's a town council to operate and state library construction

[1:11:58] because the town is building in the town.

[1:12:03] It's so moved.

[1:12:05] Discussion?

[1:12:07] I'm talking about all these grants and stuff.

[1:12:11] Do we have to put a million dollars up for this first?

[1:12:14] No.

[1:12:22] It's not a reimbursable grant.

[1:12:23] It's a matching grant.

[1:12:25] You get the money as you spend it?

[1:12:30] There's no delay.

[1:12:31] Okay.

[1:12:32] I just want to do it in the rest of the money.

[1:12:37] Any other discussion?

[1:12:43] Approved.

[1:12:44] All favor?

[1:12:46] Aye.

[1:12:46] Opposed?

[1:12:48] Stayed?

[1:12:49] Motion carries.

[1:12:51] Thank you.

[1:12:53] Find that's a report.

[1:13:02] I have the report in front of you.

[1:13:05] It's a report dated September 16th, 2026.

[1:13:09] I decided to include the 2025-26 revenue budget report in expansion of budget report after all those transfers that we did last meeting.

[1:13:21] So if you go on page two, which is the last page of the revenue report the last budget year, you'll see the balance is 2.6 million under, which is fine because we planned 2.6 million out of fund balance.

[1:13:37] So the revenue statement for last year is basically even just as planned.

[1:13:45] If you go to the next page 3, that's the budget for the prior year after all the transfers

[1:13:54] that we did.

[1:13:55] And as you can see, the account balances are actually quite nice and obviously no negatives.

[1:14:01] If you go to page the last page of that report, you'll see that we had $55,000 left, which

[1:14:13] would be fallen into a fund bounce once we close the books.

[1:14:19] The next page 12 starts the new year, we're two months into it, really nothing to report

[1:14:25] there.

[1:14:26] I don't see any thing popping out right now.

[1:14:29] I did include on page 14 the current year tax receipts history first two months always

[1:14:40] interesting we collect 54.5% and I've highlighted the fiscal years that match that

[1:14:48] So 22, 21, 21, 21, 21, 18, you know.

[1:14:52] All 54.6, 54.5.

[1:14:56] We have some years, 55.5.

[1:15:00] Typically, September will be a little bit larger. So it's pretty interesting how those percentages are consistent over 10 years. If that started a change and it got reduced, then there will be some concerns. So it's an ice report to look at.

[1:15:21] Then you have the expenditure report really nothing to report there. If you remember we're starting off with a pretty low contingency this year, because although no contracts,

[1:15:32] Basically, that contingency will be for winter maintenance

[1:15:37] expansions and we're hoping they'll load this year.

[1:15:46] And then, investments are staying stable as the last 3, 4, 5 months.

[1:15:53] I expect them now after today's news that they're going to increase slightly

[1:15:58] as the months go by.

[1:16:01] General Fund Fund Bounce forecast to June 30, 20, 27 will still, I'm forecasting will still

[1:16:10] maintain our 21% fund balance to a total budget, which would give us some slight leeway

[1:16:22] when we start the next budget process on using a small amount of fund balance as we did this

[1:16:31] Boarded on, Board of Ed non-Lax and Blacks in Fund that was reported on by the superintendent

[1:16:37] tonight after tonight's transfer from their budget of 250,000 they'll have a little bit

[1:16:44] above 571,000 which provides a question to their budget mainly special education expenses.

[1:16:54] On page 27 I've been including other funds as we move along just to

[1:17:01] Make sure we're off the millier with all those other funds that are out there, all the funds were actually reviewed when I did the financial statements, but we'll look at the current bounces as we move along in the months.

[1:17:15] Page 27 is a fund 69 open space acquisition created to put money in there for any open space acquisitions.

[1:17:27] Currently, we have a fund balance of $34,000.

[1:17:31] You'll see a note down there in the fund 60.

[1:17:33] The CIP fund 60, the town council

[1:17:36] is appropriated.

[1:17:37] Some money is for open spaces, 75,000 there.

[1:17:41] So it's there.

[1:17:42] We may as well transfer it into this open space acquisition fund.

[1:17:45] So we can see all out open space acquisition funds together.

[1:17:49] So it's not in one fund, it's none other funds.

[1:17:51] So I can transfer 75,000 out of fund 60 into this fund

[1:17:55] and we'll have everything together.

[1:17:59] Starting on page 28 is Fund 60, which is our CIP projects,

[1:18:04] which is Plan 4 in the CIP document.

[1:18:08] And it's also budgeted for each year.

[1:18:13] I will be there.

[1:18:14] You'll see some small available balances.

[1:18:16] I'll be reviewing them with the departments.

[1:18:18] Most likely, most of them will be closed

[1:18:22] with smaller balances.

[1:18:23] But I have highlighted some of the larger ones, as you can see, there's a landfill closure

[1:18:29] account there, which the town council approved from that designated fund balance, the last

[1:18:36] meetings, that's 301,000.

[1:18:39] We have a residual amount left in the sidewalk, which is a town match of 275,000.

[1:18:46] The next highlight is land acquisition, the 75,000 they talked to you about, we can transfer

[1:18:50] that to the roof and space fund.

[1:18:53] Below that, you can see the

[1:18:54] dredgering amount that the town council approved,

[1:18:58] a million 35, it was done in two approvals.

[1:19:02] There was a small amount for professional services,

[1:19:05] and then a million for the actual dredgering.

[1:19:09] In the police, I didn't highlight that, but in the police,

[1:19:11] you see some balances, and that's for their

[1:19:14] police vehicle leasing.

[1:19:18] And as run the subject, it will be kind of nice,

[1:19:20] I think in the future to give the town council a report on that, because I remember I think

[1:19:25] it was a year ago that you approved that program, I'll speak to the police chief, it will

[1:19:30] be kind of nice to report on the results of that, number of your police vehicles, balances

[1:19:37] and maybe in the future, because of these reservations that we have here, maybe the amount

[1:19:42] and the budget gets reduced.

[1:19:44] So we'll report on that probably in the next town council night meeting.

[1:19:50] In the fire department line items, most of that is our reservation for future fire apparatus and that's planned in the CIP.

[1:20:01] Don't recall when the next one is, but we've planned that when that time does come that we'll have enough money in here to purchase a fire truck.

[1:20:09] So that's one example where, you know, a five truck is a perfect item to bomb because

[1:20:14] it lasts more than 20 years, but if you can, if you can not bomb, if you have the money

[1:20:20] in the budget, obviously that's what you do.

[1:20:23] There are some items in the CAP when we plan it that we can't put it in the budget because

[1:20:30] we're always thinking about tax increase mill rate, so we don't, that's when you do bond.

[1:20:35] But anyway, this is a nice example of the town planning ahead with tax money putting

[1:20:44] in to this account, where it would buy fire apparatus, which is very expensive.

[1:20:49] Public works, you do see a negative amount, that's only because that's the public work

[1:20:54] storage building, that's going to be offset by a $500,000 grant.

[1:21:01] Transf, there's 281,000 in general roads, that was not spent because Todd has planned for a road project, typically over 500,000, so we're waiting for more funds.

[1:21:16] I think what I'm going to do is transfer that amount to our new roads fund, so again, everything is together, and we know exactly how much we have for roads.

[1:21:24] Where is that new roads fund?

[1:21:26] Fund 66.

[1:21:28] Once these transfers are made, I can report on fund 66 that the next other fund, we put

[1:21:34] 100 report.

[1:21:35] Right now there's 100,000.

[1:21:36] This is to anyone would read to 380.

[1:21:38] That's correct.

[1:21:40] If you think about it, if everything is approved, if everything is approved, if everything

[1:21:44] Funds won't be available until next paving season, we've missed a paving season.

[1:21:49] We should have enough funds in that fund

[1:21:52] to catch up.

[1:21:57] Parks and Recreation, they have residual amounts.

[1:22:00] They knew recreation directions, we viewed them.

[1:22:04] He's also reported on items that he's seen going around the Parks and Rec area that

[1:22:11] need paying attention and at a soon date, he'll be coming to you and we'll be reporting

[1:22:19] on those items, you know, transfers from here to another line.

[1:22:23] So we can fix some things like, for instance, playgrounds and then

[1:22:30] In education, I will be talking to the business manager on the items that are left over from

[1:22:37] later years to see if we can close those out, but there are items from 26. I know they're

[1:22:43] going to spend, and obviously 27, those amounts are still available.

[1:22:53] The last item is just interesting. It's just when we, in the process of an audit,

[1:23:05] and we're

[1:23:05] We have software program where we have a to-do list, so we keep on tracking.

[1:23:10] I thought it would just be interesting to include that at the back of the report.

[1:23:14] Just to give you an idea of the items that we give the auditors and the timing.

[1:23:18] There's a do date on it.

[1:23:22] When I submit it, they either accept it or deny it.

[1:23:25] We do get some denials and you go back and do what you have to do.

[1:23:30] But if you look at the due dates, they range from may where they do interim samples of our

[1:23:37] expenses and revenues, and then basically it goes up to September 30th and lastly there's some

[1:23:44] October items at the very end. But it's a quite extensive list, and it keeps us busy and I thought

[1:23:50] I would just present that for informational purposes.

[1:23:56] That's my report if you have.

[1:23:58] So what are you saying here, this is reports that you're doing your trial balance for

[1:24:05] balance sheet, your revenue detail, and it was accepted, and that was the due data it was

[1:24:09] due, accepted by who?

[1:24:11] The others, because sometimes you could submit a report, and I'm not saying it's wrong, but

[1:24:17] it wouldn't be in the same format that they were requesting, and they would deny it, they'll

[1:24:22] tell you why, and you'd resummit it.

[1:24:27] Thank you.

[1:24:28] Any questions?

[1:24:34] Next slide, I'm number 11, Tom Managers report.

[1:24:38] Okay, so everyone got a copy of the report.

[1:24:39] So I'm going to just go through it.

[1:24:42] So I'll send a little more time on.

[1:24:43] The first one is that the town has received formal notification

[1:24:48] from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

[1:24:51] That Clinton's 206 local emergency operations plan has been received and approved.

[1:24:56] You all have copied the letter, I'd like to thank and recognize Mike Neff, our emergency management director, as well as everyone else who contributed to the preparation in updating this plan.

[1:25:07] So, that's due to that.

[1:25:10] I wanted to give everyone an update on the DPW building.

[1:25:14] That was, there's a breakdown there of this steep funding, which was 543, the town's fund 179, 5, so the total cost to build this structure is 723,100.

[1:25:25] dollars. The footings have been poured and it's continuing and it's anticipated to be completed

[1:25:30] in October.

[1:25:35] Andrews Memorial Theatre I know that we've been talking about the use of that

[1:25:38] and we had an inventory done of the equipment in the theater and a master were in the final stages

[1:25:48] of creating a comprehensive master equipment list so that when people do inquire about theater

[1:25:53] we can send out this list to them with actually the projectors model number, the types of speakers

[1:26:00] we have, everything, the size of the screen so that if people are thinking of utilizing

[1:26:05] our theater for a film festival or something along those lines, they know the equipment we have,

[1:26:10] but with all events, they are welcome to rent and have an outside company come in and set

[1:26:16] So there is a lot of opportunity there, which we are working on, you know, again, making it easier and more accessible for people to utilize a space.

[1:26:31] One other topic is, I'm going to have copies of the emails.

[1:26:34] So, the council has had conversations in the past about using or having liquor in the building.

[1:26:46] And, to the season, we are now starting to get holiday request.

[1:26:50] So, as you're aware, over the summer we went with a new broker for our insurance.

[1:26:55] We did a deep dive into all of our policies.

[1:26:59] and the overall takeaway here is that we do have liability, liquor coverage.

[1:27:10] However, it is still best practice and would increase the town's potential liability

[1:27:16] in exposure if we do offer, allow the liquor and do the waiver.

[1:27:22] So I didn't want to mix words.

[1:27:24] This is a copy of the email thread between myself and the insurance company, our broker,

[1:27:30] explaining the coverage we have, the liability potential, so you obviously can still view

[1:27:38] some waivers if that's something you'd like to do, but this is just summarizing the potential

[1:27:44] liability. And then you had asked about the number of activities we've had in the past, so in

[1:27:54] We had six events that requested a waiver and in 2026 so far we've had two.

[1:28:04] Well Henry exemption was the library which was over at the library it wasn't in this building so I don't know if that really counts because they had their own additional insurance but those are the numbers of events that we had.

[1:28:17] So this is what we thought I we can add it to we can add it to an agenda in the future to have a more thorough discussion or

[1:28:27] You can just have this information and as waivers come in front of you you can make a decision if this

[1:28:34] Is something you want to do what you'll have all the facts

[1:28:39] So I hope that's helpful any questions on that because I know that I just wonder what the applications are of that on our future use of

[1:28:51] because all of these surrounding people who have events, whether it's a cater, what not, they have alcohol.

[1:29:00] Yeah, so...

[1:29:00] No, it's something to...

[1:29:02] My thought on that would be the significance of the amount of degrade it, the extent to the function benefits economically or culture or arts.

[1:29:11] As we have our goals, there's strategic directives that we say, we want to use the under's memorial theater.

[1:29:14] And it's going to be a big show and it's going to raise tens of thousands of dollars.

[1:29:19] You think differently, or you think harder about your requirement on alcohol than you would

[1:29:24] if it was just, you know, donuts on a Saturday morning and somebody wants to have Irish coffee.

[1:29:31] Again, so this is your information, you have a complete female thread.

[1:29:35] The waivers still are required to come to you, so you can refer to this, keep it in your packet

[1:29:41] and as you have to make decisions,

[1:29:45] refer to what the insurance brokers are saying.

[1:29:51] So the last specific plus notification,

[1:29:55] we have been talking about increasing notifications

[1:29:59] with...

[1:30:00] And there was, I shared with you a couple of meetings ago that we do have a notification system as part of our website. And we took a deeper dive and had a couple of workshops I want to thank Mary for her efforts on this part. We have had numerous meetings with civic plus who oversees our website.

[1:30:22] And there is a feature that we are paying for that we weren't utilizing to its fullest potential, which is civic send.

[1:30:31] So the town is in the process of working with the vendor to understand exactly how we can utilize this more, get it out to the public.

[1:30:40] And we don't have to start with a new system. We already have it, we're able to pay for it.

[1:30:45] It's just a matter of, on our end, figuring out how to make it more seamless for the residents.

[1:30:52] And because there's like all that back end configuring that has to get done.

[1:30:55] And then we'll do a big push out to our residents to sign up for text notifications.

[1:31:00] And then on our end, we'll do more pushing out of stuff via this system.

[1:31:05] So we do have it.

[1:31:07] So that should address those concerns.

[1:31:10] And that is my report for now.

[1:31:14] Any questions?

[1:31:17] I have one.

[1:31:19] And there's just on the Andrews Memorial Theatre.

[1:31:22] Our overall goal is to increase utilization of the theater and attract additional

[1:31:25] events and rentals.

[1:31:27] I was hoping that rapport would be a little more specific than that.

[1:31:30] About.

[1:31:30] Like what kinds of ideas, like a utilization of the theater, like in what ways or attract additional events,

[1:31:37] like what kind of events and what kind of events.

[1:31:39] Film festivals.

[1:31:40] We had the seniors use it for a musical which was greatly received and they're going to be planning on doing more of those

[1:31:50] You know, we don't market it

[1:31:53] We just at this point don't have the means to actually market it

[1:31:58] But right now it's a it's a good balance of

[1:32:01] global community groups using it and outside vendors. Yeah, so my thought on it is that we've ramped that up

[1:32:09] significantly and and we have an opportunity in the year 2027. We'll see what happens

[1:32:14] on September 29th in Old Sabre but it looks like they're going to close the cake for a year

[1:32:19] while they're renovating which might be an opportunity for us to have more stuff here.

[1:32:25] If we're going to enter that market or try to do more that's a window of opportunity.

[1:32:29] I have a question for you.

[1:32:32] Yeah, good idea.

[1:32:38] Is it the one day?

[1:32:41] Is it the one day?

[1:32:43] Is it the one?

[1:32:43] She November?

[1:32:45] Is she the she is with?

[1:32:46] Hi, I am Community Frost.

[1:32:48] Yes, I believe so.

[1:32:49] Yes, because that's wild.

[1:32:51] It was a one day film event.

[1:32:53] I believe I was.

[1:32:55] Yes, I did something.

[1:32:56] I was involved with them.

[1:32:57] Sierra.

[1:32:58] They would have to, I don't know, I mean, as part of the room rental process, as room, as part of the room rental process and the application, it explains all of that if that's something that they need to be considered for and the timeline.

[1:33:10] There will be someone coming to the council, I believe, at the next meeting asking for a waiver for an event.

[1:33:16] So that's what made me, you know, make sure to get all this to you in time.

[1:33:20] So you have the information. Yes.

[1:33:21] comment so you I'm I'm a little I don't get over to the

[1:33:27] Kate all those the functions over the Kate they're allowed to bring

[1:33:31] alcohol yeah yeah yeah well the count it's they serve not

[1:33:35] don't bring them sorry they serve it that we can we explicitly cannot

[1:33:39] serve alcohol for our content for our insurance we cannot serve out right the

[1:33:43] Kate is a town owned building but it is the inside is physically least

[1:33:49] and operated by an outside organization.

[1:33:52] We are very different here.

[1:33:54] We are a shared space.

[1:33:55] Or if we had places to stop here,

[1:33:58] there would be no alcohol involved, right?

[1:34:00] They wouldn't need to come to the council

[1:34:01] and have a waiver.

[1:34:02] And then if it's an outside organization running it,

[1:34:05] it's just like when the offer used to do it,

[1:34:07] or, you know, they can sell it.

[1:34:09] We can't.

[1:34:10] And I guess when I'm trying to say,

[1:34:12] do we always have to have alcohol now?

[1:34:14] No, we have this.

[1:34:14] I'm not a key to all the residents, but I just want

[1:34:19] to say that.

[1:34:22] I've written and I'll do and the the other Chester Playhouse.

[1:34:27] They run these plays and everything.

[1:34:29] They don't have alcohol there.

[1:34:31] They have a water.

[1:34:32] That's the quality of everything.

[1:34:33] I think I'm sorry.

[1:34:35] I have a day of alcohol.

[1:34:37] Where?

[1:34:38] Outside, they have that little tent.

[1:34:40] I've written playhouse.

[1:34:41] And it's a place I go to.

[1:34:43] But that's okay.

[1:34:44] Maybe they do.

[1:34:45] I'm not trying to.

[1:34:46] What I'm trying to say is I would like to push

[1:34:50] for a lot more use maybe for plays and stuff, you know, and as the manager said, you know, film festivals or whatever,

[1:35:00] but we certainly should take advantage of, like you said, to Kate not being around and so I take more plays

[1:35:09] of stairs would be nice. I said to me travel and up to Ivan. So these are these are major strategic

[1:35:16] directives of the council, right?

[1:35:17] We risk management is very high on our priorities and cultural and economic development

[1:35:22] and using the theater to get downtown very high.

[1:35:25] So, both of those are somewhat competing interests and the goal is to navigate that that

[1:35:30] we optimize or maximize both.

[1:35:32] And I think we can.

[1:35:35] This is a problem.

[1:35:36] I mean, one of the biggest complainers when we first started to quibble over the alcohol was

[1:35:43] struggles society because they would hold their annual meeting here. Well, historical society

[1:35:47] ran up against the same well and you did and they can no longer serve alcohol. So in this upcoming

[1:35:53] oyster festival, they're doing a non-alcoholic beer because I guess that's becoming all there.

[1:35:58] That's what it's popular, too, yeah? So that's what they're doing. We have to pivot, right?

[1:36:05] All right. Anything else on the time?

[1:36:06] I have a good news to report, and item number 12, the Chairman has doesn't have anything to

[1:36:12] report.

[1:36:15] And now item number 13 on the agenda, Council discussions.

[1:36:19] We've got anything on their mind that they would like to discuss.

[1:36:32] Nothing, though.

[1:36:33] Keep it going.

[1:36:34] Keep it going.

[1:36:34] The discussion.

[1:36:35] We've passed.

[1:36:35] We could.

[1:36:37] All right.

[1:36:39] So then I guess we'll move on to item number 14, which is town council committee liaison reports.

[1:36:51] Well, I'll start off with the police.

[1:36:53] I attended that last Monday night.

[1:36:56] Everything seems to be going very well there.

[1:36:59] I'm happy to report that they have done a lot of interviews and stuff.

[1:37:04] And they think they have a couple of good solid candidates to go to their academy.

[1:37:09] And if I didn't, maybe I misheard the right Friday, but the academy's either starting this Friday this Friday.

[1:37:16] This Friday, this Friday.

[1:37:18] And from what the chief was saying, they're hopeful that they'll have two people getting in free academy Friday.

[1:37:25] So that'll be good news because it's two vacancies that we present we have.

[1:37:30] And that's

[1:37:33] it. Parking right?

[1:37:37] I was just looking. I didn't go to the meeting because they were prioritizing the projects and I didn't want to influence that at all.

[1:37:50] But I did look through it. They did go through and prioritize a bunch of projects.

[1:37:57] hopefully they can bring those talk to Michelle and have dust and come in here and talk

[1:38:03] about that. And that's it. I could look it out of someone else wants to go first.

[1:38:13] All right. Right.

[1:38:14] At the high point with the landfill capping and they're going to continue their work in the

[1:38:18] PECD implementation starting with inviting groups into their meeting, starting with Harbor

[1:38:22] Management and EDC. How the works? I didn't make the meeting last night, but I spoke to Todd today.

[1:38:29] In the meeting last night in the director's report,

[1:38:31] he did a capital needs and infrastructure priorities.

[1:38:34] Talked a lot about the roads and I believe that's going to be in the minutes.

[1:38:37] So I know there's some questions before about road paving, status of road stuff.

[1:38:42] Todd did a nice PowerPoint presentation kind of outlining where things are at.

[1:38:46] So it's in the, it'll be in the minutes for review.

[1:38:50] And the economic development, I went to the meeting.

[1:38:54] The, I'll, the presentation, which was called,

[1:38:56] The process presentation on Connecticut Main Street that we saw, they did that to the EDC.

[1:39:01] Rebecca Mead was there and was introduced to the, and it's began to work with the EDC,

[1:39:06] so that's good that that relationship is developed.

[1:39:08] And the only other thing is, somebody mentioned in the meeting,

[1:39:12] something maybe you could follow up on our kayak rack here at the town hall,

[1:39:15] that it's hard to access when it's low tide and to look at whether or not that's safe,

[1:39:21] where there's something we ought to do to make that safe.

[1:39:24] That's it for EDC.

[1:39:28] There was one of their, I'm going to go backwards to Chairman's report.

[1:39:30] There was news in the, in the Harvard news at Old Sabre, looked at the public comment

[1:39:37] portion of the town council meeting where you can narrow the scope and the minutes.

[1:39:42] We have very long meetings.

[1:39:43] We carry covering a lot of work these days and that visitors, when they speak, we could narrow

[1:39:49] the scope of what they do first at the amount of time.

[1:39:51] I keep the track at the time, and I keep track about four minutes or five minutes, and I try to move along if it's longer than that.

[1:39:58] Board of Education, or Old Saber, made it three minutes, and also narrow the scope of the topics that could be discussed to be what's on the agenda for the evening.

[1:40:07] So you just can't go talk about anything. You have to talk about what's on the agenda. We could adopt a resolution to have the same type of rules on our public comments in the beginning of the meeting.

[1:40:17] So I put it out there for consideration.

[1:40:20] I think it would be a good future agenda item to talk about.

[1:40:24] Sorry.

[1:40:24] I think it would be a good future agenda item to talk about.

[1:40:26] Just hearing about it right now.

[1:40:28] You know.

[1:40:28] Sometime to sit with it for all of us.

[1:40:31] All right.

[1:40:32] And with that.

[1:40:33] Do I hear a motion to go to an item number 15 on the agenda?

[1:40:36] Do I hear a motion to go to an executive session?

[1:40:38] Persona Kinetic.

[1:40:38] General statute.

[1:40:40] Section 1-268 for purposes of interviewing candidates for the Park

[1:40:43] Correct Commission and for the Economic Development Commission.

[1:40:46] And I will invite Mary and

[1:40:49] And the candidates.

[1:40:51] And the candidates.

[1:40:52] So we'll go back to those names.

[1:40:56] Thank you.

[1:40:56] Good to have you, Evercamp.

[1:40:58] Dan Wilson and Ellen Bailey for Park and Reck and Richard Brachler for EDC.

[1:41:03] So this one's second?

[1:41:10] All the favour?

[1:41:11] Opposed?

[1:41:12] I'm staying.

[1:41:13] Motion carries.

[1:41:15] Thank you.

[1:41:20] Welcome back.

[1:41:21] Thank you for your patience.

[1:41:22] Thank you for staying for such a long night again. I'll repeat what I said to each one of you that we appreciate very much

[1:41:29] Devontarism and you are what makes this community great. Please keep up doing what you're doing. Do I hear a motion?

[1:41:37] To a point Ellen Bailey to the Board of Park and Reck Commission for the vacancy

[1:41:46] Second second

[1:41:47] discussion

[1:41:48] All in favor. Hi. Hi. Post

[1:41:51] I'm staying motion carries. Next, do I hear a motion to add Patrick Shea to the open seat or the vacant seat on the economic development commission?

[1:42:04] So moved.

[1:42:06] discussion.

[1:42:08] All in favor?

[1:42:09] Aye.

[1:42:09] Opposed.

[1:42:10] Stay motion carries.

[1:42:13] Thank you.

[1:42:15] Come on to get him.

[1:42:16] Those go for that microphone.

[1:42:18] What's that?

[1:42:19] Oh, you look like you were trying to turn it on.

[1:42:20] This isn't for those speakers.

[1:42:21] No, I know it's for that money.

[1:42:22] Oh, okay.

[1:42:24] Those are both of the time.

[1:42:25] It's awful.

[1:42:25] I don't know what's horn in it.

[1:42:26] You're earliest convenience.

[1:42:28] Thank you, everybody, for your patience.

[1:42:29] Don't forget if you get them sworn in, you don't have to.

[1:42:31] Okay.

[1:42:33] Thank you.

[1:42:34] Please get sworn in.

[1:42:35] What are you doing?

[1:42:36] It's horn in.

[1:42:37] It's horn in.

[1:42:39] Make the motion.

[1:42:40] No.

[1:42:41] We have another executive session.

[1:42:43] Thank you.

[1:42:44] Second.

[1:42:47] motion for a second session.

[1:42:49] Who's first?

[1:42:51] Motion to eat though I hear motion.

[1:42:52] Second.

[1:42:55] All the favor.

[1:42:57] I'm saying.

[1:42:59] I'm saying.

[1:42:59] I'm inviting Amy Jennings.

[1:43:02] And going back into executive set in the area.

[1:43:04] No, not married.

[1:43:10] Your motion to adjourn.

[1:43:12] Second.

[1:43:13] All the favor.

[1:43:14] Second.

[1:43:15] Second.

[1:43:17] Second.

[1:43:17] We need to adjourn.

Clinton Town Council - September 16 2026

Transcript