[0:01] The time being 10:00 a.m., >> I now call declare the first session of

[0:06] the 2026 town meeting to order. >> Please stand and join us in reciting the

[0:12] pledge of allegiance led by Andy F.

[0:19] To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

[0:24] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[0:31] for all.

[0:38] » I would like now to have a moment of silence in memory of two former town

[0:42] employees which we lost this past year. Paty Tucker, who was the town clerk and

[0:48] tax collector for many, many years, and Tony Rando, who was our police chief for

[0:53] at least 10 years.

[1:06] Thank you.

[1:09] Please be sure your cell phones are off or muted.

[1:15] Also, please be sure you checked in and have your red voter card.

[1:25] Basically, today's meeting will review and discuss each article on the warrant,

[1:29] which will be finally voted on by ballot on Tuesday, March 10.

[1:34] The articles may be amended today with some restrictions, such as the intent of

[1:40] the article cannot be changed. Votes today are simply to put the

[1:45] warrant in final form for the town voting day.

[1:54] Some of our employees and department heads

[1:58] may be the ones best suited to address questions on certain articles. However,

[2:02] they do not live in Ashland. I would entertain a motion to f to allow

[2:08] such individuals to speak if needed to address any questions on an article.

[2:14] » So moved. >> So moved by David.

[2:17] » Second. >> Second by Michelle. Great.

[2:20] Motion was moved by David Rule, seconded by Michelle Roloff.

[2:24] Any discussion?

[2:28] Being no discussion, all those in favor of allowing these individuals to speak

[2:32] say I. >> I.

[2:34] » Any oppose? Nay. Pass.

[2:43] Article one to choose by nonpartisan ballot.

[2:49] I will now ask the town clerk to read the candidates who are running for the

[2:52] open offices

[3:07] on the ballot. It will read select two for a three-year term for board of

[3:12] selectmen and Marie Barney, Steven Felton, and

[3:18] Charles Bazilla.

[3:24] The next one will be a one-year term for board of selectmen

[3:29] choosing one. Your choices will be Steven Heath and

[3:34] Alan Silly. Trustee of the trust funds, a three-year

[3:39] term. Amanda Loud, Library Trustee, a three-year term.

[3:45] Robin Fisk, budget committee, three-year term, Jim

[3:50] Joyce. The two uh spots for cemetery trustee,

[3:58] no one uh put their name on the ballot. Treasurer, three-year term. Linda Gia,

[4:05] supervisor of the checklist, six-year term. Terry Lindon, supervisor of the

[4:10] checklist, two-year term, Elaine Allen.

[4:16] » Thank you, Becky.

[4:21] » Any registered voter in Ashlin can also run as a writein candidate for any of

[4:26] these open positions or any of the positions. Is there anyone here today

[4:30] that would like to announce their candidacy for writing?

[4:35] Okay, thank you.

[4:41] Articles two, three, four, and five have been submitted by the planning board

[4:48] after at least two public hearings as required by law.

[4:53] Therefore, although we can discuss them, we cannot they cannot be modified or

[4:58] amended in any way. I will entertain a motion to move and the review of

[5:04] articles 2, three, four, and five for purposes of today's meeting only to be

[5:11] discussed after article 31.

[5:16] Been moved by Linda Barnes. Have a second.

[5:21] I don't know who did that. I think it was John.

[5:23] » Oh, D.

[5:28] Any discussion?

[5:33] There being no discussion, all those in favor of allowing moving

[5:38] those articles 2, three, four, and five to after article 31 signify by saying I.

[5:45] I. >> Any oppose? Nay.

[5:56] Okay.

[6:00] Article six, water department bond, no tax impact

[6:08] to see if the town of Ashlin will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of

[6:12] $500,000 and no sense for the purpose of all work

[6:17] needed to identify, engineer, purchase of materials and replace water system

[6:23] services improving compliance with the federal lead and copper rule.

[6:29] such sum to be raised by the issuance of bonds or notes not to exceed $500,000

[6:35] under and in compliance with the provisions of the municipal finance act

[6:41] New Hampshire New Hampshire RSA 33 col1 at seek as amended and to authorize the

[6:48] board of selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to

[6:54] determine the date term of payment and rate of interest thereof.

[6:59] Further to take such act f other actions as may

[7:03] be necessary to affect the issuance, negotiation,

[7:07] sale and delivery of such bonds or notes as should be in the best interest of the

[7:12] town of Ashlin, New Hampshire and to further authorize the board of selectmen

[7:17] to apply for accept and expend unanticipated money from the state,

[7:23] federal or other governmental unit or a private source which becomes available

[7:28] ailable pursuant to RSA 31 col 95-B for the same or similar purposes of this

[7:36] article 3-fifth ballot vote will be required

[7:40] recommended by the board of selectment 5 to zero recommended by the budget

[7:45] committee 6 to zero.

[7:52] Is there is there a motion to move this to the floor for debate? Motion to to

[7:57] move to the floor. >> Bob

[8:00] second.

[8:04] » Any second? >> Second.

[8:05] » Oh, Michelle second.

[8:09] Is there any discussion on this article?

[8:15] There being no discussion on this article, we will vote to place it on the

[8:19] ballot as written. All those in favor? I >> I

[8:24] » oppose. N I

[8:34] » article 7 town budget estimated tax impact $96.

[8:40] Shall the town of Ashlin vote to raise and appropriate as an operating budget

[8:46] not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other

[8:50] appropriations voted separately. The amount set forth in the budget posted

[8:55] with the warrant as amended by vote of the first session for the purposes as

[9:00] set forth therein including or totaling 4,117,26.

[9:08] Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be 4 million 3,67

[9:15] which dollars which is the same as last year with certain adjustments required

[9:20] by provision by previous action of the town of Ashlin or by law or the

[9:25] governing body may hold one special meeting in accordance with RSA 40 col 13

[9:32] 10 and 16 to take up the issue of a revised operating budget Only majority

[9:38] vote required recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero recommended by

[9:43] the budget committee 5 to one. Is there a motion to move this article

[9:49] to the floor for debate? So move >> David second.

[9:53] » Second.

[9:59] » Is there any discussion on this article? There being no discussion, we will just

[10:06] vote to place it on the ballot as written. All those in favor? I.

[10:12] » All those opposed? Nay.

[10:25] Article 8, electric department budget, no tax impact. Should the town of Ashlin

[10:31] vote to raise and appropriate as the Ashlin Electric Department operating

[10:36] budget, not including appropriations by special warrant article and other

[10:41] appropriations voted separately. The amount set forth on the budget posted

[10:46] with the warrant is amended by vote of the first session for the purposes set

[10:51] forth therein totaling 4,125,826.

[10:58] Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be 3,553,636,

[11:07] which is the same as last year with certain adjustments required by previous

[11:11] action of the town of Ashlin or by law or the governing body may hold one

[11:16] special meeting in accordance with RSA 40 colon 13 10 and 16 to take up the

[11:25] issue of a revised operating budget. Only majority vote required recommended

[11:31] by the board of selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by the budget committee 6 to

[11:36] zero. Do I have a motion to move this to the floor for debate?

[11:44] » David. >> I'll second.

[11:50] » Any discussion on this article? There being no discussion,

[11:56] I move that we take a vote to place this on the warrant as written. All those in

[12:02] favor? I. >> Any oppose? Nay.

[12:10] Article nine, water department budget. Should the town of Ashen vote to raise

[12:16] and appropriate as the Ashlin Water Department operating budget, not

[12:20] including appropriations for special warrant articles and other

[12:25] appropriations voted separately, the amount set forth on the budget posted

[12:29] with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session for the purposes

[12:35] set forth therein, including totaling $48,365.

[12:42] Should this article be defeated, the default default budget shall be

[12:46] $399,086, which is the same as last year with

[12:52] certain adjustments required by previous action of the town of Ashen or by law or

[12:58] the governing body may hold one special meeting in accordance with RSA 40 colon

[13:04] 13 10 and 16 to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only majority

[13:12] vote. Vote required. Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero.

[13:17] Recommended by the budget committee 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move this to

[13:22] the floor for debate? Second.

[13:24] » That was Michelle and David. Is there any discussion on this article?

[13:33] There being no discussion, I would we will vote to place this article on the

[13:39] ballot on the warrant as written. Those in favor I

[13:44] » those opposed? Nay.

[13:55] Article 10, sewer department budget, no tax impact.

[14:01] Should the town of Ashlin vote to raise and appropriate is the Ashen Sewer

[14:06] Department operating budget not including appropriations by special

[14:10] warrant articles and other appropriations separately. The amount

[14:15] set forth in the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the

[14:19] first session for the purposes set forth therein totaling $847,327.

[14:28] Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $837

[14:34] $83713.

[14:37] I meant $837,113,

[14:41] which is the same as last year with certain adjustments required by previous

[14:46] action of the town of Ashton or by law or the governing body may hold one

[14:51] special meeting in accordance with RSA 4013

[14:56] 10 and 16 to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. Majority

[15:02] vote required. Recommended by the board of selectmen. 5 to zero. Recommended by

[15:08] the budget committee. 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move this to the floor

[15:12] for debate? >> Motion.

[15:15] » Andy. A second. >> I'll second.

[15:19] » Michelle will second

[15:23] article. Any discussion on article 10?

[15:29] There being no discussion, we will now vote to place this on the warrant as

[15:34] written. All those in favor? I. >> All those opposed, nay.

[15:45] Article 11, no tax impact. Should the town of Ashlin vote to approve the cost

[15:51] items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the

[15:56] Ashland Board of Selectmen and the SEIU local 1984 union which calls for the

[16:03] following increase in salaries and benefits at the current staffing level.

[16:09] Estimated increase over previous year level 2026

[16:14] 39 weeks April 1st through December 31st $49,933.

[16:22] 2027 52 weeks $25,283.

[16:29] 2028 52 weeks $26,042.

[16:38] 2029 13 weeks $8,681 and further to raise and appropriate

[16:45] $49,933 for the current fiscal year. Such sum

[16:51] representing the additional costs attribut attributable to the increase in

[16:56] salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be

[17:00] paid at current staffing levels said some

[17:05] to come from the general fund unassigned fund balance $34,98

[17:12] and further to fund the balance of the appropriation in the amount of $11,269

[17:17] from the electric department from the electric100 878 from water income, 1,878

[17:24] from sewer income with no funds to be raised from property taxes. Majority

[17:29] vote required. Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by

[17:35] the budget committee 5 to one. Do I have a motion to move it to the floor for

[17:39] debate? Andy

[17:43] second. >> I'll second.

[17:49] » Any discussion on this article?

[17:54] » There being no discussion vote.

[17:57] » I'm sorry.

[18:01] » Can anybody clarify what percentage that is?

[18:05] » Here 3%.

[18:08] » It's 3%. >> So on each year Say it again though. So

[18:11] that's a >> My question is if you did the math for

[18:15] 20 25 27 28 29 on that the denominator is the actual benefits and salaries of

[18:21] those union employees. So just clarifying that's 3% Yandy

[18:26] » I believe. So like that's what it was. >> Thank you.

[18:30] Good job. Good question. >> Any other questions?

[18:36] » Could you get to the mic please and announce your name and show your voter

[18:40] card?

[18:43] my red card. >> Yes.

[18:47] » Robin Fisk, I just had a question. What percentage of the um

[18:51] » Can you put it on?

[18:56] » Did that work? >> Press and hold it to the light.

[18:59] » I think you have to hold it right under the

[19:01] » There you go. >> Yeah. Try it now.

[19:03] » Can I just yell? >> Your mic Your mic's on now.

[19:08] » Robin Fisk. Um, I just wanted to know what percentage of the general fund

[19:12] unassigned fund balance will be used for this. Thank you.

[19:17] » Well, currently we have 1.4 million. >> Yeah, I don't know what the percentage

[19:22] is. >> What was the It does say it says how

[19:24] much is coming from the fund B. I just What was the question?

[19:27] » What was the percentage of the un the general fund unassigned balance of which

[19:32] $39,98 would be used for this expense?

[19:37] » Yeah. So, so currently we have 1.43 million in unassigned fund balance. And

[19:45] » can can everybody use a mic because it's really hard to hear?

[19:49] » Sorry. Thank you. >> I think it's okay. Yep.

[19:54] » So, currently we have 1.43 million in unassigned fund balance according to the

[19:59] auditor. And this would be a small percentage.

[20:05] » That that's that's good enough. I didn't need the exact number, but I just

[20:08] » Okay. Okay. >> Thank you very much.

[20:10] » You're welcome. >> Becky, why don't you keep the mic and

[20:12] keep it on? >> Hold on.

[20:16] » Any other questions?

[20:19] » Can I have a motion to move the question?

[20:24] » David moved it. >> A second.

[20:27] » Second. >> All those in favor of ending discussion

[20:31] signify by saying I. I. >> Those opposed, nay.

[20:39] We will now vote on placing the article on the warrant as written. All those in

[20:44] favor I. >> All those opposed, nay.

[20:49] » I

[20:53] article 12. to the town of Ashlin. If article 11 is

[20:59] defeated, authorize the governing body to call one special meeting at its

[21:05] option to address article 11 cost items only. Majority vote required.

[21:11] Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero. Do I have a motion to move this

[21:16] to the floor? >> I make the motion. Standing.

[21:19] » Second. >> Second. Done.

[21:23] » Any questions on article 12?

[21:29] There being no questions, we will vote to place this on the warrant as written.

[21:33] All in favor? I. >> All oppose? Nay.

[21:41] Article 13, master plan. Estimated tax impact 2 cents.

[21:48] to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000

[21:53] for the purpose of starting the process of updating the town of Ashen master

[21:58] plan recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero recommended by the

[22:03] budget committee 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move this to the floor?

[22:09] » Jenny secondy,

[22:14] » any discussion on this item?

[22:20] There will be being no discussion. We will vote to place this on the warrant

[22:23] as written. All those in favor I. >> All those opposed? Nay.

[22:29] Pass.

[22:33] Article 14. Contingency vote contingency fund no tax impact. to the town of

[22:40] Ashlin vote to establish a contingency fund for the current year for

[22:45] unanticipated expenses that may arise and further to raise and appropriate

[22:51] $100,000 to put in the fund. The sum is to come from the unassigned fund balance

[22:58] and no amount shall be to be raised by taxation.

[23:02] Any appropriation left in the contingency fund at the end of the year

[23:06] will lapse to the general fund. Majority vote required. Recommended by the board

[23:11] of selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by the budget committee 5 to one. Can I

[23:17] have a motion to move it to the floor? >> Jen second.

[23:22] » I'll second. >> Andy second.

[23:25] Any questions on article 14?

[23:31] There being no discussion, we'll vote to move this to the warrant as written. All

[23:37] those in favor I >> I.

[23:39] » All those opposed, nay. Yes.

[23:47] Article 15, fire department capital reserve fund. Estimated tax impact 6

[23:54] cents. Should the town of Ashlin vote to raise and appropriate the sum of 25,000

[24:01] to be added to the fire department capital reserve fund established in 2013

[24:07] for the purpose of repairing or purchasing fire department vehicles.

[24:12] Majority vote required. Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero.

[24:18] Recommended by the budget committee 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move it to

[24:22] the floor? Second.

[24:26] » Second. >> Michelle,

[24:28] any discussion on this article.

[24:34] » Oh, go ahead. Could you come to the microphone, please? Thank you.

[24:41] » Hello, Bonnie Bthun. 160 Alpha Growth. Just had a question. Do these gain

[24:46] interest while they're in the capital reserve fund?

[24:50] » Yes. >> Any idea how much?

[24:53] » Pass the mic. Amanda Low.

[25:03] » Hi, thank you. I'm Amanda Loud. I'm chair of the trustees of the trust

[25:06] funds. All capital reserve funds are by state law invested in money market

[25:13] accounts. That's to ensure their liquidity, fungeability um here at

[25:17] Meredith Village Savings Bank and they are earn earning the current uh interest

[25:22] rate there which is fairly minimal if anybody has everybody's like oh yeah

[25:27] yeah yeah okay so that's why um on the capital reserve funds statement list

[25:34] that I provided via Marissa for today's meeting um I said that you know it's a

[25:39] negligible amount in interest you know depending on how big the fund is it

[25:43] could be some dollars every month or it could be some cents.

[25:49] » Thank you, Amanda. >> But this just ensures when we have them

[25:52] invested in this way, that means that we can, you know, quite literally write a

[25:57] check at the drop of a hat. You know, we're not waiting for anything to settle

[26:00] and and also under state law, we are um uh encumbered to put the funds in a way

[26:07] that they cannot lose money. you know, these are your tax dollars and so we

[26:12] could get a lot more money. I I understand that through Charles Schwab,

[26:15] but uh we wouldn't be able to write like we did for a plow truck. I you know, we

[26:19] got a phone call from u Marissa and and and you know, two of us got together

[26:25] that day and wrote a check for a plow truck that Craig had found at a really

[26:29] good deal even though it was a lot of money. So, um that's how it goes. Thank

[26:33] you. >> Thanks, man.

[26:36] Any other questions?

[26:41] Do >> I have a motion to end debate on this

[26:44] article? >> I'll make the motion.

[26:48] » Second. >> Second.

[26:50] » Okay. All in favor of ending discussion on

[26:54] this article signify by saying I. I. >> All those opposed, nay.

[27:01] » We'll now vote to put this on the warrant as written. All those in favor?

[27:05] I. >> I. All those opposed? Nay.

[27:12] Article 16, police department car capital reserve fund estimated tax

[27:18] impact 8 cents. Shall the town of Ashlin vote to raise

[27:24] and appropriate the sum of $35,000 to be deposited into the police

[27:29] department capital reserve fund established in 2013

[27:34] for the purposes for the purposes of repairing and purchasing police

[27:39] department vehicles. Majority vote required recommended by the board of

[27:44] selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by the budget committee 6 to zero. I have a

[27:50] motion to push move it to the floor for debate.

[27:53] » Motion passion to move >> article 16.

[27:59] This >> Alexander

[28:02] need a second. Okay, Andy. >> Any discussion on article 16,

[28:10] there being no discussion? I'm sorry. >> Hi.

[28:15] » Yeah, my name is Hugh Healey. I live on uh 6 Michael's Way. It's just a general

[28:20] question for these reserve funds. Um, you know, you make a statement that this

[28:23] is a reserve fund and we're going to add to it. Does that mean that currently

[28:27] there's money in the reserve funds? >> Yes.

[28:34] » I don't know if it would be helpful or not, but maybe if we state that

[28:38] » there's a paper on the back table. >> Oh, that actually has that in there.

[28:41] Okay. Well, thank you. I'll take one. >> Good question. Yeah. So, the um police

[28:47] car line C uh CRF currently is at $33,1467.

[29:02] Any other questions on this article? >> I have another Sorry.

[29:08] » That's okay. Don't be sorry. That's what this meeting's for.

[29:11] » Hi, I'm Hugh Healey again. Uh so you know when you add all these numbers up

[29:16] there's quite a bit of money in here right and uh and a lady came recently

[29:21] and talked about you know where these funds go and there seem to be sitting

[29:26] simple savings accounts and and I get the whole liquidity thing but you know

[29:31] for myself and maybe others too um there's other places you can put money

[29:39] and make a little bit more that's pretty liquid.

[29:42] it seems to me. Um, and maybe that can be discussed a little bit because it

[29:47] looks like we're holding um like a half a million dollars there maybe. I don't

[29:53] know in in in these in these accounts that um unless you're kind of burning

[29:58] through it and then maybe that doesn't really make a difference. But if you're

[30:01] really holding on to it for any, you know, longer period of time and um and

[30:08] and I don't know if they're in like separate accounts or just one big

[30:11] account and they're, >> you know, how they're portioned. So u I

[30:16] don't know how it works technically, but it just seems to be that well maybe you

[30:21] could be making a little bit more money on it. You know, if you took this and

[30:24] the current rates, you could be maybe making five or six or seven or $8,000.

[30:29] It kind of makes a difference. So, >> Amanda, can you address that?

[30:33] » Sure. >> Thank you.

[30:35] » Yeah. Um, uh, no, absolutely. I I I do agree with with your math. Um, however,

[30:42] uh, we are obligated to follow New Hampshire state law when it comes to how

[30:48] uh, municipal funds are are set aside and invested, if you will. And so we

[30:55] where our hands are tied by conquered, not by anything that we can do here in

[30:59] Ashland about that. Uh secondly, um the the funds don't sit there quite as long

[31:05] as you would think. Uh when we bought a plow truck Oh, mercy. My num the numbers

[31:11] in my head. It was over $100,000 that we spent. Yeah, they got they got the Yeah.

[31:16] Thank you so much. um you know I I write big checks

[31:21] and it's pretty exciting. Um and then of course I get my tax bill it's not quite

[31:25] so exciting but um things are not are not cheap and we're going to put more

[31:30] money aside on this police car for example Capital Reserve and police cars

[31:36] are just not what you're going you know they're not a Subaru you know and um

[31:41] they're not what you're going to find on the lot. So, um, this stuff is a way of

[31:45] us not getting hit with extremely large tax bills every seven years or so or 3

[31:51] years or um, but then again, we're really very limited on what we we can

[31:57] and cannot do with the CRF. Um, that's not the case, for example, with with

[32:02] some of the trusts that we fund, which are or that we manage. We don't fund

[32:06] them. Um, which are completely different than a CRF. CRF is put is a capital

[32:11] reserve fund for a specific purpose that the tax bills pay into that's voted on

[32:16] by the town um uh for specific purposes. Our our trust funds on the other hand

[32:23] and we've got uh I think we have five of those now um that we can actually access

[32:29] through are still at legal but um those are set aside differently. They're for

[32:33] funding scholarships, for example. Um, and so those can be invested better and

[32:39] they are. They're at Vanguard and they're making more money, but but we're

[32:42] just very limited by the law laws of the state of New Hampshire.

[32:46] » Thank you, Amanda. >> Thank you.

[32:50] » Any other questions?

[32:54] » I don't have a red card, so can I ask a question?

[32:56] » Are you a registered voter? >> Yeah.

[32:59] » Okay. Um, does anyone object to her speaking? No, no, I'm just I just wanted

[33:04] to >> Could you announce your name though?

[33:05] Come to the mic and announce your name, please.

[33:08] » I'm sorry. >> Lori Mayo, I have a house on River

[33:11] Street, >> right?

[33:12] » I didn't realize I didn't vote register to vote. Um I just was wondering, so the

[33:16] the state law um prohibits us from investing in a high yield savings

[33:19] account. >> Go ahead, Amanda.

[33:24] didn't get her name. >> Honestly, that that I cannot answer

[33:28] because I think it would depend upon what the parameters are of that high

[33:31] yield account. So, I do know that at this point in time, Ashlin does comply

[33:37] with state law having them at Meredith Village in money market accounts. We can

[33:42] certainly look as trust fund, you know, our next meeting is in March and we can

[33:46] certainly look into that. That would just depend upon what the parameters are

[33:50] of the high yield account. uh we in inherited we you know I guess only I

[33:55] because um I was a a sole trustee of the trust funds when I was elected but um we

[34:03] inherited you know this at Meredith Village you know and they were legally

[34:07] and and accurately invested and we didn't look into that we had bigger fish

[34:11] to fry um and those that have been in Ashlin for a while are chuckling and and

[34:16] and understand that statement um but that is definitely something we could

[34:20] look too. >> Yeah,

[34:23] » Bob, if you have a question, Bob, you have a question, please come to the mic.

[34:26] » Bobo, >> Bob Lo,

[34:28] » the uh high yield funds have penalty fees if you have to withdraw them early.

[34:33] » Yeah, they they could be again, you know, that that would be more of a CD. I

[34:37] think that would encumber funds in which we are prohibited um because we have to

[34:41] keep our funds um fairly unencumbered and fungeable. Like I said, Marissa

[34:46] called and said, "Can you guys get us a check by 2:00 p.m.?" I'm like, well,

[34:50] we'll work on it. Um, so we have to have the liquidity of these funds. Um, and

[34:55] again, like I I said to answer your question, it would just depend upon what

[34:58] the the parameters and caveats are of that high yield fund.

[35:04] » Yeah. Thank you.

[35:07] » Thank you. >> Any other questions?

[35:12] Can >> I have a motion to end debate?

[35:15] » Motion. >> Second. A second.

[35:21] » All those in favor of ending debate say I.

[35:23] » I. >> Those opposed, nay.

[35:27] » We'll now move this article to the warrant. Vote on moving this article to

[35:31] the warrant as written. All those in favor? I.

[35:34] » All those opposed, nay.

[35:40] » Article 17, public works capital reserve fund.

[35:45] Estimated tax impact 7 cents. Should the town of Ashen vote to raise and

[35:51] appropriate the sum of $30,000 to be deposited into the Department of Public

[35:56] Works capital reserve fund established in 2016

[36:01] for the purpose of vehicles and equipment replacement or repairs.

[36:06] Majority vote required. Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero.

[36:11] Recommended by the budget committee 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move it to

[36:16] the floor? >> Second, Andy.

[36:22] » Any discussion on this article? >> Yes.

[36:32] » Clon60 Albrook Road. Just a question on procedure on how these are spent. I

[36:37] guess I had it in my head that we had to go to the town warrant to spend these

[36:41] funds. So, can somebody just explain how the capital reserve funds can be spent?

[36:50] » Yeah. Um, >> use the mic, please.

[36:57] » To spend these funds, um, they need the BOS board of selectment approval. Um, it

[37:03] comes to the board of selectment for approval upon the town manager's

[37:08] recommendation.

[37:13] Okay. Any other questions? >> I can just add one more thing.

[37:17] » Sure. Go ahead. >> Boy, I I I have not been This busy is a

[37:23] trustee of the trust funds in a town deliberative session. Um but that's

[37:26] good. That's good. Um so I just like to agree with absolutely everything Andy

[37:30] said. That's correct. However, we trustees of the trust funds act as kind

[37:35] of that balance to the board of selectman spending because um not only

[37:40] are we the ones that write the checks and not the board of selectmen, they

[37:43] just we get uh a big packet with all the information we need and we write the

[37:47] checks which we can by the way only hand to Becky. We are not allowed to hand

[37:53] this check to Marissa or anybody else in the office. Uh again that's state law.

[37:57] Um and then secondly, our second duty as a trustee in the trust fund is to ensure

[38:03] that what the board of selectment has asked to fund, you know, this check to

[38:08] fund and we'll have a list of that the receipt that that is indeed what the

[38:13] funds were voted to do. So, it's usually a pretty um no-brainer thing, like we

[38:20] have a CRF called police car CRF, and here's the receipt for the police car

[38:28] that they bought. So, we're pretty set on that. But sometimes it could get

[38:32] fairly um vague. For example, if we had a CRF and it's a something to do with um

[38:39] a a I'm making something up now, you know, like improvement or whatever, and

[38:44] we have to look at this and go, well, did they really use the funds to improve

[38:47] the whatever, or did they use the funds to improve the something else? Um, so

[38:52] that's where we act as a counterbalance to this to ensure that your funds are

[38:57] indeed being spent as the ballot box said they should be spent.

[39:04] Thank you, Amanda. Go ahead.

[39:11] Bonnie Bthoon 160 over wrote, "I just wanted to thank you. Thank the town and

[39:15] town's people and the boards and committees for the CRFs. I would love to

[39:20] have my personal budget like this." >> Thank you.

[39:25] » Talk to Amanda.

[39:29] Big bucket. Big. >> Any other questions or discussion?

[39:34] Can I have a motion to end debate? >> So move.

[39:39] » Second. >> Second.

[39:43] » All those in favor of ending debate on this article signify saying I.

[39:48] » I. >> Those opposed, nay.

[39:52] » We will now vote to move this article to article to the warrant as written. Those

[39:57] in favor I >> those opposed? Nay.

[40:06] Article 18 road and bridge capital reserve fund

[40:11] fund estimated tax impact 7 cents. Should the town of Ashlin vote to raise

[40:18] and appropriate the sum of $30,000 to be deposited into the road and

[40:23] bridges capital reserve fund established in 2013.

[40:28] Majority vote required. Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero.

[40:34] Recommended by the budget committee 6 to z. Do I have a motion to move it to the

[40:39] floor?

[40:42] second. >> Second.

[40:47] » Any discussion on article 18?

[40:52] » Yes.

[41:03] Hey, I'm short. Um, my name is Kathy Shear. I live on

[41:08] Spring Street. Our street is awful and my husband has lived there for

[41:15] something like 45 years. Never been fixed. It falling apart. It's falling

[41:20] into my um my garden. Um and I want to know how

[41:28] you figure out what roads to fix with this money. I don't know if this is

[41:33] appropriate for this, but um it's very concerning and I'm sure we're not the

[41:39] only ones.

[41:56] Good morning everyone. I'm the public works director Craig Moore. Um yeah, we

[42:00] have a a road improvement plan that we established probably

[42:05] more than seven years ago. So your particular road um was planned to be

[42:11] paved this year. Uh but we put it off because of the water and sewer condition

[42:16] on that road. So last year the town manager told us not to include that road

[42:22] because of um future upgrades. Now I know it's really bad. We'll be up there.

[42:27] We can probably do some repairs on it. Um but that was scheduled this year.

[42:34] The our Brook Road was is going to be paved this year. I don't think that's

[42:38] going to happen. But um but there is a road plan and your road was next for

[42:43] this year actually this coming paving season but it's been put off because of

[42:46] the condition of the the water and sewer on that road. So they want to don't want

[42:51] to waste money on it.

[43:04] » Good to know that. But I didn't know that. I mean, and I live there and I've

[43:08] been there for 35 years. So, it's nice when the people who live on the road get

[43:14] to find out about this. >> I would say don't hesitate to check with

[43:18] Craig anytime during the year if you have any questions.

[43:20] » How would I know? I mean, that's the thing.

[43:22] » He's in charge. >> Yeah, he's good good to let people know

[43:27] about this. The other thing is that I realize town and water is the water and

[43:32] sewer is not an issue, but our our basement and the whole side lawn on our

[43:38] our um house flood every year at springtime.

[43:45] I mean flood. It's bad. And um I've been told I've been told that they were

[43:52] putting a >> they meaning who?

[43:55] uh the town or or the um assisted living up above us. We are they are literally

[44:03] above us. They can see our house when we're there.

[44:06] » I would say you probably should like maybe meet with the town manager or with

[44:09] Craig or both. >> But this is kind of outside of this

[44:12] meeting. Okay. >> But it would be nice to know what's

[44:15] going on. >> Just ask anytime.

[44:18] » Was there another question back there, Craig? Or everybody's all

[44:22] » any other questions?

[44:41] I'm Dick Ogden from uh Ashlin Alber. As a matter of fact, I'd like to make a

[44:47] amendment to article 18 to increase the uh highway budget by 95,000

[44:57] to bring up to a total of 125. >> Wait a minute. What? We're talking the

[45:02] bridge road and bridge capital reserve fund

[45:06] » which is 30,000. You want to bring it up to what?

[45:09] » To 125 total. Increase it by 95 which will bring it up

[45:14] to Oh, he can hand me that piece of paper

[45:16] if he has. >> Okay.

[45:18] » Okay. >> Do you have a second to your motion?

[45:20] » Second. >> Okay.

[45:22] » By Alan. Thanks, Dick. Sorry, I didn't miss. I didn't understand.

[45:29] » You need his name on it.

[45:32] » Yeah. >> There's an amendment to this article.

[45:38] Should the town of Ashlin vote to raise and appropriate the sum of what's 125

[45:45] » 125,000 >> to be deposited in the road and bridges

[45:49] capital reserve fund established in 2013. This will require majority vote.

[45:57] I need a we got a second right? >> Yeah, we got a second from Okay. Any

[46:01] discussion? >> No.

[46:03] » No. >> I want I want a question. Can I ask a

[46:06] question? >> You want to ask a question?

[46:09] » You want to ask? Yeah, this is discussion. You can ask a question, too.

[46:12] » Shel from Thompson Street. I just want to know what the purpose of that

[46:16] $100,000 is. Although we know what the $30,000 is for. I have no idea what that

[46:22] 100,000 is for.

[46:32] So since 2013 that has been $125,000 every year. Last year it was 150 but for

[46:40] some reason the selectment decided to go to 30 this year. So they just cut it

[46:45] down to 30. So it's ever since it's been in inception it's been at least 125,000.

[46:54] » Any other questions or comments on the proposed

[46:59] And just so everybody knows, if it stays at a 30,000, I can't pave a road this

[47:03] year. I'd have to put put it off.

[47:11] » No. >> Any other questions or comments?

[47:14] » I have a comment. >> Go ahead.

[47:17] » Oh, my microphone. >> Um, Amanda, go

[47:22] » ahead. 50,000. I don't know how

[47:26] » I have a comment. Um I can just say as the town check writer, uh Craig spends

[47:31] that money >> it it it flushes out

[47:36] » when when when he gets the money, he doesn't sit on it. It's spent.

[47:42] » I don't know. I think she means that in a good way, Craig.

[47:51] » Come to the mic.

[47:58] Yeah. >> Uh Dave Dave to uh Smith Hill Road. Um I

[48:04] just wanted to say that um I was the one along with Steve Felton and other people

[48:10] on the capital improvement plan who initially set the $125,000

[48:16] uh amount for the capital reserve for Rose. And that was quite some time ago

[48:23] now. We've been putting 125,000 in that account for years every year. And that

[48:30] amount should have been increased, not decreased.

[48:34] » Um the problem with roads, I think that most of you know, is um there's a period

[48:39] of about 10 years where uh where the road is fine. After that, you need to

[48:46] think about resurfacing it. If you wait too much longer than that, you've got to

[48:51] completely repair the road and the expense goes up. Your expense for repair

[48:56] goes up um exponentially. >> So, we may be saving money in the short

[49:02] run, but we will not be saving money in the long run.

[49:07] » I have a question >> or statement when it was brought to the

[49:13] » microphone. I can yell

[49:22] So when this was brought to the budget committee, it was brought to us. I mean,

[49:26] not the budget committee, sorry, the board of selectment. It was brought to

[49:29] us at 30,000. We did not lower it. >> And my question is, what would that make

[49:35] the tax impact be? >> Do we know that?

[49:39] » Marissa's here. Ask her. >> Marissa,

[49:44] where is she?

[49:47] Is Marissa back there, Craig? >> Probably 16 cents in the neighborhood

[49:54] about 25 cents somewhere around there. Three times three times higher.

[50:05] » I don't know how that changes. >> I think it's about 11 or 12 cents

[50:11] usually, >> but seven right now at 30. So it'll be

[50:15] like three times >> be about 28 cents

[50:19] » total. But yeah, it's it's Yeah. Okay. >> And I I I did not enter anything for

[50:26] 30,000. It's I entered it for 125 >> to the budget committee or to the board

[50:31] of >> to the board of selectment. I'm not sure

[50:33] why it get in there at 30. I'm not sure. >> When it came to us it was 30. I don't

[50:45] » somebody's honest mistake. >> I'll take the microphone.

[50:50] » Sorry. It's okay. So, what was the amount? 28.

[50:54] » It's going to move it up to 125. >> What is the tax impact?

[51:00] » 28 cents. >> I have a question first.

[51:02] » Okay. So, my comment is when we >> state your name so they know.

[51:05] » Shall roll off. This is only my second year on the budget committee, so I'm

[51:09] still learning and I appreciate all of these questions. So last year we asked

[51:15] for 150,000, which was at the time a 33 cent um tax impact for roads and bridges

[51:22] capital reserve. So this year if we go back to something like 125,

[51:29] my comment is that seems reasonable to me.

[51:31] » Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments, Bob?

[51:39] » Uh, thank you. I I appreciate the information and uh I I understand what

[51:44] the 100,000 score and if I recall correctly, uh Craig is is correct. Uh

[51:51] when we had the uh original reserve funds for that particular line

[51:57] item, it was always 125,000. So yes, I support that because we need to keep

[52:03] those roads up because if you don't do them, it gets worse. It costs more.

[52:11] » Linda Barnes, Thompson Street. >> Wait till you get there.

[52:15] » Linda Barnes, Thompson Street. I'm the one whose dogs went missing a couple of

[52:18] weeks ago. At least now they all have GPS trackers on their collars now and

[52:23] they're grounded for life. Um, I guess my question, you said, if I understood

[52:29] correctly, that the request last year was for 150. And going back to the

[52:36] comment about how costs go up continually, I guess I would float the

[52:41] thought, why would we want to bring it back down given increased costs and the

[52:47] need in the town? So I guess I would propose the friendly amendment that we

[52:51] keep it at the 150 if the tax cost for residents was 33 cents.

[52:59] You know the tradeoff is our roads work and it gives more to the folks you know

[53:06] doing the work to do repairs on sewers and all of that stuff but in the long

[53:10] run benefits everyone. So I guess that would be proposing a friendly amendment

[53:15] to the 125 for 150 going keeping it with what it was last year.

[53:21] » Okay.

[53:26] » Okay. So just to keep this simple, we have two options. Um we can either vote

[53:31] on the existing amendment and then you Linda may do an additional amendment or

[53:35] Mr. Ogden may withdraw his existing amendment or amend it.

[53:49] Yeah, >> I think everyone wants it in there.

[53:52] » Just have them amend it. >> Amend it.

[53:54] » Do you want to amend it, Dick, or just leave yours the way it is?

[54:01] » Do you want to amend your motion to make it 150,000?

[54:04] » Yes. >> Okay. Can he just do that?

[54:07] » Yes. I'll take care of the pen work over here.

[54:09] » Okay. We'll get you to do it in writing after.

[54:12] » No, I got it. >> Okay. Oh, perfect.

[54:17] » And that's 30%. >> I need a second on that. I assume

[54:20] » I'll second. >> Okay, Michelle. Second it.

[54:24] Okay. So, now we have amended the existing amendment to be 150,000 instead

[54:29] of 125,000. Did I see somebody with a question?

[54:34] » Go ahead. >> What is the updated plan?

[54:43] Lee Davis, Cottage Street. Um, I just have a question on the Highland Street

[54:49] issue we were talking about a little while ago. Um, now Craig, you had told

[54:54] me two years ago that Cottage Street was going to get done and then it got pulled

[54:59] out. Uh, now you're saying that it was supposed to be done this year and it's

[55:02] getting pulled out um due to water and sewer. um issues. Um I worked for the

[55:11] town water and sewer quite a few years ago and then I went to Meredith for 20

[55:15] years. Um and the infrastructure, just a little history, the infrastructure was

[55:20] done over in the town over 70% of it back around 30 years ago

[55:26] when they got to Highland Street from coming up School Street. Uh the decision

[55:32] was made to upgrade school streets water main and a hydrant at the bottom of this

[55:36] driveway which there are probably less than six of those hydrants in this whole

[55:40] state. That's a very high capacity main high-capacity hydrant. So that money

[55:46] came out of what was going to go into Highland Street. So at the intersection

[55:49] of School Street and Highland Street, everything above that was put on hold

[55:55] and it's still on hold 28 years later. We still haven't developed a plan to re

[56:01] place the water and sewer on High Street, Cottage Street, Cottage Place,

[56:06] Summer Street, Spring Street, and we're still sitting here in this same

[56:12] form. We haven't done anything. So, how many more years are we going to

[56:17] put that off? >> You're looking at the oldest water man

[56:21] in the town, 6 in. Some of the streets 2 in water man, some of the streets are 4

[56:26] inch water man. And with sedimentation, tuberculation

[56:32] » in my history of 24 years of doing this, you I'll bet you you don't have a

[56:36] two-inch hole in the middle of that pipe that water goes through. And all it's

[56:40] going to take is tuberculation to break it loose from the walls of that pipe.

[56:44] Plug it and then you're going to be doing an excavation and a dig. And then

[56:48] what are we going to be doing? Bandating spot to spot to spot for another 28

[56:52] years. Let's stop putting this off and start figuring out a way to fix it.

[57:00] » Thank you. >> Thanks, Lee.

[57:03] » Would be.

[57:07] » Any other questions or discussion?

[57:12] » Do you have a motion to end debate? >> Motion.

[57:15] » Second. >> Thank

[57:21] you. will now vote on the amendment as presented which would change it to

[57:26] $150,000. All those in favor of the amendment.

[57:31] » I. >> All those opposed? Nay.

[57:38] We will now vote to place this article on the warrant as amended. All those in

[57:43] favor? I. >> All those opposed? Nay.

[57:56] Article 19, building maintenance and and repair

[58:00] capital reserve fund tax estimated tax impact 2 cents. Let's put this down

[58:05] here.

[58:10] Shall the town of Ashen vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be

[58:16] deposited into the building maintenance and repair capital reserve fund for the

[58:21] purpose of maintaining and repairing all town buildings. Majority vote required.

[58:27] Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by the budget

[58:31] committee 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move it to the floor? Motion. Motion

[58:37] to move forward. >> Second.

[58:39] » Seconded. >> Any discussion on this article?

[58:48] » There being no discussion, we will vote to place this article on the warrant as

[58:52] written. All those in favor? I >> I

[58:55] » oppose. Okay.

[59:01] Article 20 compensated leave trust fund capital

[59:05] reserve fund. Estimated tax impact 1 cent. to the town of Ashlin vote to

[59:12] raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 to be deposited into the compensated

[59:18] leave trust fund capital reserve fund established in 2022 for the purpose of

[59:24] fully funding employee leave benefits overtime. Majority vote required.

[59:31] » Oh, major benefits overtime. Recommended by the board of selectmen. Five to zero.

[59:36] Recommended by the budget committee. Six to zero.

[59:40] » Do I have someone to move the question to the floor?

[59:44] » David. >> Second. Michelle.

[59:47] » Second. >> Michelle.

[59:50] Any discussion on article 20?

[59:57] We will vote to move article 20 to the warrant as written. Those in favor I.

[1:00:03] » Those opposed, nay.

[1:00:10] Article 21, lease station capital reserve fund.

[1:00:15] Estimated tax impact 44 cents. to see if the town of Ashen will vote to raise and

[1:00:22] appropriate the sum of 200,000 to be added to the police department police

[1:00:28] station capital reserve fund established in 2024 for the purpose of purchasing or

[1:00:34] constructing a police station recommended by the board of selectmen

[1:00:40] 4:1 recommended by the budget committee 5 to one do you have a motion to move

[1:00:46] the question to the floor Linda

[1:00:50] Second. >> Second,

[1:00:51] » Michelle. Any questions or discussion on article

[1:00:56] 21?

[1:01:00] You got a question back there? You have to come up to the mic. There's one back

[1:01:05] there, too. Go ahead. And then he can go behind you.

[1:01:07] » Yeah. Hugh again. Hi. So, is that 200,000

[1:01:11] going to be is that for the actual acquisition of a building in a new place

[1:01:15] in the police department or because it doesn't seem like enough.

[1:01:19] » No, it's going into the capital reserve fund

[1:01:22] » to start until >> right

[1:01:26] » when they want to use it.

[1:01:36] » Thank you. Um so the capital reserve funds um again are just a way of us not

[1:01:41] getting hit with extremely high h tax bills every three years, two years,

[1:01:46] seven years for different projects. So instead of coming and I agree 200,000

[1:01:50] you ain't going to do it. Um but instead of being hit with a $1 million CRF that

[1:01:57] ups our you know that's going to be something like a $5.50 per thousand you

[1:02:02] know hit. Uh we do begin to acrue the money. Now, having said that, we've

[1:02:07] already made I can already say I've written a few checks from that CRF that

[1:02:12] have to do with um that uh oh gosh, one I think it was an architect to look at

[1:02:17] it. Yeah, thank you so much, Ron. Um could clarify that because I between my

[1:02:22] own checks and the town checks and the church's checks, I just write checks. Um

[1:02:27] but uh knowing that the money is there and it's being used as it was approved

[1:02:30] for. Um, but anyway, this not it it may not be sitting there for quite as long

[1:02:36] as you think because unfortunately in the building world and in the planning

[1:02:40] world 200 grand can go fairly quickly or more quickly than we would like it to.

[1:02:44] So, >> thanks Amanda. Was there a question in

[1:02:48] the back? >> Oh, he's gone.

[1:02:56] » Hi, Rick Pere on the road. I just want to make a comment. First of all, I'm all

[1:03:00] about capital reserve putting money away because just for the simple fact that we

[1:03:04] do get hit every once more for a big one. But we need to be very careful

[1:03:07] here. What we're doing is we'll just take this one, excuse me, just take this

[1:03:11] one page that we started out at $105,000. We just doubled it,

[1:03:15] » right? >> Literally just doubled that amount right

[1:03:18] there. And that and that's what happens at these meetings. All everybody has an

[1:03:21] agenda. I'm all about fire safety, etc., etc. But, you know, we're we're it

[1:03:28] almost appears that we're double dipping on a couple of these. I'd like to know

[1:03:32] the difference between obviously road improvement is very easy to define, but

[1:03:36] you come down here to public works. Do those two funds intermingle themselves

[1:03:40] or is an opportunity to two intermingle them so that one line isn't larger than

[1:03:46] the other? Obviously, we're getting a little bit out of control here in my

[1:03:49] mind. You know, we're forcing a bill on the This is not a good time to be

[1:03:54] banging our residents, our taxpayers for an additional funds. We need to tighten

[1:03:59] the belt just a little. Not not not wanting to go backwards, but a

[1:04:04] controlled forward motion is more of an appropriate time at this time. Thank

[1:04:08] you. >> Thanks,

[1:04:11] man. Did you have an answer for that? Thank you.

[1:04:14] » A bit of an answer. >> Sure.

[1:04:18] » Sure. So, I can just say that um without having because I did research when I

[1:04:23] became a trustee of the trust funds 2020 and I have it on my home computer

[1:04:27] naturally. I went through all of the the town reports going back and I found when

[1:04:33] we voted on these things and what the verbiage was and I cut and pasted it and

[1:04:37] I've got it all. So having said that I can just say from experience that the

[1:04:40] DPW for example those funds are used to buy are usually in my experience in the

[1:04:47] past six years have been to um buy trucks for DPW and things like that. Uh

[1:04:53] whereas the road improvement even though Craig is doing road improvement those

[1:04:58] funds for the asphalt and for the materials needed for stuff like that um

[1:05:05] are coming out of a different fund. So, they're really pretty much apples and

[1:05:09] oranges. And again, as even though we have a lot of funds, um it's in our best

[1:05:16] interest to have a lot of funds because that again puts uh more specific

[1:05:22] verbiage on exactly what that money can be used for. So when you vote as you

[1:05:28] know we will uh to either increase or not increase you know give you know

[1:05:33] putting amounts in these different funds you can rest assured that those funds

[1:05:37] can only be used for that purpose unless revisited by the town on a warrant

[1:05:44] article at another election. So does that help out answer it? Okay,

[1:05:50] thank you.

[1:05:54] » Uh Bobo again.

[1:06:01] » I just I just want to let everybody know as some of you probably know I was a

[1:06:06] selectman here six years ago for three years and this particular issue was a

[1:06:11] high priority for us back then. And when we were talking about

[1:06:16] building a transa energy plant to raise funds for the town, that was one of the

[1:06:21] main reasons is that the infrastructure in towns is getting corrupted and it's

[1:06:27] going to be expensive. We're seeing that those expenses coming through. Now,

[1:06:33] when it comes to the police department, we've been told by the insurance company

[1:06:38] that ensures this town that we are non-compliant, the state law or any law

[1:06:45] in the in the way that police station is at the town hall. It's completely

[1:06:50] unacceptable and it needs to be taken care of or we

[1:06:54] could lose our insurance at a tremendous liability. tremendous.

[1:07:01] We can be sued by people who are incarcerated there because there is no

[1:07:07] no jail cell there. They get chained to a desk

[1:07:12] » that's almost un inhuman >> handcuffed

[1:07:15] » and the safety for the officers >> is paramount. So when you have violent

[1:07:22] criminals chained to a desk in a small room and you have officers trying to

[1:07:26] write reports, you have an issue. >> Police department needs to be we need to

[1:07:33] have a police department. I had recommended years ago that we would

[1:07:37] build the safety center club and put the police department, town hall and the

[1:07:44] fire department all in one building. But that all got shut down. But just so you

[1:07:49] know where we are and why we're there, it's a lot of money, but it could get a

[1:07:53] lot worse. And I'm sorry to have to give you that bad news, but that's the facts.

[1:07:58] Thank you. >> Thank you, Bob.

[1:08:02] » I think it's actually handcuffs, not >> on the on the Bob.

[1:08:07] » Not working. >> No, on the stand. Squeeze the trigger.

[1:08:09] There you go. >> Linda, did you have a question?

[1:08:13] » Yeah. Linda Barnes, stops the street again. I um I really hear about let's

[1:08:19] not keep upping tax bills. On the other hand, just for a little context, and

[1:08:23] this is building on what Bob was saying, the police department has been operating

[1:08:28] within really substandard conditions for a really long time

[1:08:33] and without sort of the money to buy something. And you know, at least since

[1:08:38] I've been in Ashland, there's been discussion they need a new building.

[1:08:42] They need something improved. They need something that's up to current

[1:08:45] standards. And Bob is adding the variable of insurance. And I guess, you

[1:08:51] know, at the risk of being, you know, if I look at this correctly, and Amanda,

[1:08:55] correct me if I'm wrong, the current department building fund is not quite

[1:08:59] $20,000. >> You can't buy squat for never mind 200.

[1:09:05] I guess, you know, to keep asking the police department to wait year after

[1:09:09] year after year after year to provide them with adequate facilities. I guess I

[1:09:15] would float the question for discussion is 200. You know, clearly we can't ask

[1:09:22] to set aside half a million. I get that. but maybe 300,000

[1:09:28] just because, you know, to have to to have a fund that grows a little more

[1:09:32] quickly and to give the message to the police department that we really do

[1:09:37] support getting them adequate facilities and we're not trying to nickel and dime

[1:09:41] them as >> putting up with substandard facilities.

[1:09:45] And I'm going to say I may get accused of, you know, increased spending. And

[1:09:49] yes, I'm a Democrat, but I do in this case

[1:09:54] talking about defunding the police. >> Linda, are you proposing an amendment to

[1:09:58] the article? >> Uh, sure. I'm going to propose an

[1:10:02] amendment that instead of 200,000, we talked 300,000.

[1:10:07] I'm open to amending, you know, anybody wanting to amend that. But I just think

[1:10:11] it's really important to give the police department as well as the town the

[1:10:15] message that we support they're having what they need to do their work.

[1:10:18] » Linda, you need to come up here and do that in writing, please.

[1:10:22] » Do I have a second to her proposed amendment?

[1:10:29] » So second question on that. >> Wait a minute. Wait, please.

[1:10:34] » If there's no second, what happens? No motion. No motion.

[1:10:38] » Okay. Go ahead. >> Hi, uh Hugh again. Um I'm just trying to

[1:10:44] understand something here. Um so if we want to build another police uh another

[1:10:49] building, have another building for the police department, whatever, and that's

[1:10:53] been talked about for a long time. So if we all think that's a good idea, then

[1:10:57] that's a great idea. I'm trying to understand these capital reserve funds

[1:11:02] seem to be in my mind something about you know the year-to-year operations of

[1:11:07] things you know you're anticipating a cost to do something you know you're

[1:11:12] talking about road repair and all that good stuff but so for police you know

[1:11:17] say we want to put up a new police uh building which I think would be good

[1:11:21] thing based on I've never been in the police station but I I hear that it's

[1:11:25] not such a great thing right okay So, if we want to do that,

[1:11:31] I don't understand this thing about, oh, we're going to fund this capital reserve

[1:11:35] thing. It seems like a a plan that's like, okay, we need to put in a

[1:11:39] building. Let's go for it. Um, this is what you think it's going to cost, you

[1:11:44] know, and start um funding for that because these capital reserves, like the

[1:11:49] way this thing is written, it says that that $200,000 is to put up a new

[1:11:54] building and and nothing else, right? Is that what that's for?

[1:11:59] » I mean, can that account comp be used for anything else with the police

[1:12:02] department? >> It can only be used to to either to look

[1:12:07] into getting to building a new one or buying a an existing building and

[1:12:14] turning it into that. It can't be used to buy a police car. It cannot be used

[1:12:18] to fund another police officer. It can only be used for for what has to do with

[1:12:25] if building or getting I don't want to keep saying building because it has to

[1:12:29] do with getting a new police uh uh station which may or may mean buying an

[1:12:36] existing building and having that redone inside because they don't come with jail

[1:12:40] cells and whatnot that they need. But but it can't be used for anything else.

[1:12:45] Okay. >> Except that.

[1:12:47] » All right then. Good. Then >> does that help? Okay.

[1:12:50] But again though, it's a long-term thing. That's not going to happen

[1:12:54] overnight, right? >> Well, they've been exploring it for

[1:12:57] years, and the point is to kind of be ready when when they finally find the

[1:13:00] ideal property that we won't have a huge hit.

[1:13:03] » Okay. >> Okay. Does that help?

[1:13:04] » Sure. >> Okay.

[1:13:08] » I can speak to it if Okay, >> we'll let him go.

[1:13:13] » Dick Carter for Carv. Um, I mean, I I think we need a new police station. Um

[1:13:19] my concern is though if we're not getting any interest basically on on

[1:13:24] this reserve fund uh we're putting a lot of money in there

[1:13:29] that's not acrewing anything. Um and that you know so what you

[1:13:34] expressed that I do you know I do have that concern. Um so I mean maybe we

[1:13:39] should consider or keep in mind you know we don't want to get a big hit and

[1:13:45] everybody you know freaks out when that happens.

[1:13:48] But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. And I think to simply put a lot

[1:13:54] of money into the reserve fund, these reserve funds without any interest being

[1:13:59] acrewed. >> Well, there is interest, but it is

[1:14:02] minimal. But that's that's again where we are obligated to follow the laws.

[1:14:08] » No, no, I do understand that. I appreciate that. But I still have that

[1:14:13] concern that we're putting all this money into reserve funds and not getting

[1:14:18] anything out of it. >> So unless any station, you know, maybe

[1:14:22] we just have to bite the bullet point >> uh and do what needs to be done. But I,

[1:14:28] you know, we have a over a million or close to a million dollars already in

[1:14:32] reserve funds. uh as you hope you can follow up on you know possibilities

[1:14:39] uh >> accounts savings

[1:14:42] » that wasn't for me >> uh so anyhow for whatever that's worth

[1:14:48] my thoughts >> thank you Bob did you have a question

[1:14:54] » yeah I don't want to beat this trust to death but uh

[1:14:58] if she raises the 300,000 there's a a larger chance at won't pass

[1:15:05] in March elections. So, I I think it'd be a risky move to move it up to

[1:15:09] 300,000. The purpose of the 200,000 is specific. Uh they need the money to be

[1:15:15] able to do engineering and structural design. Then, as a town, we can go

[1:15:22] forward and ask for grants from the federal government and the state

[1:15:26] government to help us build. And then, at the end, we have to get a bond to

[1:15:30] build the police station. It'll be in the millions. It won't be it won't be

[1:15:34] cheap. This 200,000 is just the beginning, but it has to be done and

[1:15:39] you're going to have to build a building and it's going to have to be bonded and

[1:15:43] it'll be over, you know, a 20 or 30 year period. So, it won't be a huge impact.

[1:15:48] But in order to get started, you have to have seed money. That's what this is.

[1:15:53] Hopefully, you understand where I'm coming from. this the money that they

[1:15:57] put in this warrant out was for this specific purpose and they figured this

[1:16:02] is what they needed and I appreciate your your effort but I think it's a

[1:16:07] danger of losing it in the election and they go in another year with no no

[1:16:13] movement on the police station which is paramount it should be

[1:16:18] one of the things I know about government it has several duties fire

[1:16:24] police ambulances schools. Those are the things we need to

[1:16:28] support. This is our community. This is what we do. Thank you.

[1:16:34] » Do I have a second to Linda's motion to amend this to 300,000?

[1:16:41] » You can. >> Um Bob's explanation has clarified. I

[1:16:45] was under the impression that it was 200 this year and then another 200 next

[1:16:50] year. Um I'm willing to withdraw the motion based on the

[1:16:56] pardon me. >> We don't know that yet.

[1:16:58] » But but what you're saying is this would be starter money that we then could

[1:17:03] bring in other money for. Based on that, I'm fine with withdrawing the motion. I

[1:17:08] just want to make sure that we're doing it in a way that allows it really to

[1:17:11] move ahead. >> Thanks on this.

[1:17:14] » Any more questions or comments?

[1:17:22] Hi, I'm uh Steve Elton from Depot Street Nation. I just wanted to I used to be on

[1:17:27] the select board in the 2014 area and I'm trying it again. But uh one of the

[1:17:34] things I wanted to talk about is just a little bit on capital reserve since we

[1:17:38] talked so much about it. When I was involved a number of years ago, believe

[1:17:44] it or not, there was one capital reserve account in the entire town and it had

[1:17:48] $10,000 in it. So, we started put putting together the

[1:17:53] idea of capital reserves back in about 2012, 2013, excuse me. That's when it

[1:18:00] started. And it the purpose of it is, as everyone said, it's it's designed for

[1:18:05] specific reasons and you build it up over time. Another piece of that that's

[1:18:10] very important that I know we had then and I think we have now as well is

[1:18:15] something called the CIP. And that's a capital improvement program committee.

[1:18:18] And what that's supposed to do is as you look at whether it's roads or police or

[1:18:25] whatever, you you literally put together Excel spreadsheets and determine what

[1:18:29] the needs are over a 10 or 15 year period and you lay that out there so

[1:18:34] that you can kind of figure out what do I need in capital reserves over the over

[1:18:39] a period of time so that it evens the taxes out over a period of time as

[1:18:44] opposed to saying, "Hey, guess what? I need a million dollars for this. So,

[1:18:48] this is a combination of the capital reserves and the CIP

[1:18:53] help the town manage the expenses over a longer period of time. So that's I

[1:19:00] that's kind of what is I think being done now and it's and it's a very

[1:19:04] important part of it and I do agree that if we could get more interest that would

[1:19:09] definitely be well but you to the point made we have to stay within the confines

[1:19:14] of what the state will allow but those two things get married up very closely

[1:19:20] capital reserves capital improvement those two things to go together and

[1:19:25] that's how you you know that's how you project your spending over the next 10

[1:19:30] or 20 years. And the last piece I'll say is another thing that you saw and

[1:19:34] mentioned today is the idea of the master plan. There was an initial master

[1:19:39] plan done in 2010. So this is to update that and the master plan is like the big

[1:19:46] umbrella that this is what we want to be and then you go into capital reserve CIP

[1:19:51] and when you do that kind of thing it's much easier to go to state federal and

[1:19:56] regional offices and ask for grants because they know your town has it

[1:20:01] together you got the capital reserve you got astra plan you get a CIP plan so

[1:20:07] they feel comfortable in giving the more comfortable in giving

[1:20:11] the grants because you displayed that you have a

[1:20:15] long-term plan that they think makes sense. So that's it.

[1:20:19] » Thanks. >> Any other comments or questions?

[1:20:27] » Question second. >> I'm sorry. Do you want question?

[1:20:33] » A quick comment. Um,

[1:20:39] uh, Dave To from, uh, Smith wrote, uh, you may not be getting a lot of interest

[1:20:44] on those funds, but when you buy things for cash and you don't have to take a

[1:20:50] loan out, you save the interest payments on there. And and a lot of that is more

[1:20:56] than you would ever get from the bank in the first place or or an investment. So,

[1:21:02] um, it's it's not a complete wash, >> right?

[1:21:06] » Good job. >> Thanks, D.

[1:21:11] Have >> a second. Bob Luma move the question.

[1:21:16] All those in favor of ending debate say I.

[1:21:19] » I. >> All those opposed, nay.

[1:21:23] All those in favor of moving this warrant article 21 to to the warrant as

[1:21:30] written. signify by saying I. >> I.

[1:21:33] » Those opposed, nay. Why is that? Article 22. Estimated tax impact 11

[1:21:42] cents to see if the town of Ashen will vote to raise and appropriate $100,000

[1:21:48] for the purpose purpose of developing a comprehensive plan to redevelop the town

[1:21:55] of Ashen waterfront beach area. $50,000 to come from grant funds. Majority vote

[1:22:02] required. Recommended by the board of selectmen four to one. Recommended by

[1:22:07] the budget committee 5 to one. >> Do I have anyone to move the question to

[1:22:12] the floor? >> Yes.

[1:22:15] » David's going to question second. And >> any discussion on this article?

[1:22:27] What's a form?

[1:22:34] » Jen, Charlie, somebody want to address that?

[1:22:37] » Oh, >> who's on the economic conference?

[1:22:39] » I can't I Okay. Okay. What? >> Could you get the mic, please?

[1:22:50] » Hi. Um the economic development um committee was able to get a northern

[1:22:59] borders grant to spur economic development in town to do a

[1:23:08] revitalization to start the revitalization of the town beach. What

[1:23:13] this will do is the town is required through dees to have um an engineer take

[1:23:20] a look to tell us what the town can do. We've gotten, you know, people have told

[1:23:26] us they'd like the beach back because the beach isn't there anymore. It needs

[1:23:29] a new bath house. Um but we can't do anything without getting approval from

[1:23:34] the Department of Environmental Services. And so they said we need to

[1:23:39] probably hire a hydraologist and to tell us and then from that we will get

[1:23:46] hopefully an approval from dees to do certain adjustments to the beach. Um

[1:23:54] » Jen just to clarify this is just for a study. This is not has it doesn't have

[1:23:58] anything to do with the actual work. >> No what the expectation is this is the

[1:24:02] study. So a there's been some conceptual plans but one has not been created

[1:24:07] because we have to find out from dees what we can do and so we'll get the the

[1:24:15] restrictions or whatever from dees or what we can and so then after that there

[1:24:21] will be next year probably back here again with the plan of what we want to

[1:24:25] do with the beach. Now, just so everybody knows, there there it's um

[1:24:31] $100,000 grant. >> $50,000.

[1:24:35] » The grant is 50, correct? >> No. Well, it's $100,000.

[1:24:39] Raise and appropriate $100,000. 50,000 is coming would come from the

[1:24:45] state as a grant. The other 50,000 needs to be raised locally through a

[1:24:53] combination of inind volunteer services and funds. So that's what that 11 cents

[1:25:00] for is for. But what the committee has started doing in their hope, their goal

[1:25:06] is to raise those funds through donations. And so far, um, we have 4,000

[1:25:15] in pledges and, um, we are hoping to be able to to get all the funds needed that

[1:25:23] way without hitting the, um, tax rate. But to accept to be able to get the

[1:25:30] grant, the town has to guarantee that the funding will be there. So that's why

[1:25:36] there is an 11 cents on there. If we're not able to raise,

[1:25:39] » does the town actually have to expend 50,000 first before you get the 50,000

[1:25:44] grant? >> No. No. We have to approve this warrant

[1:25:47] article saying that if there is the need for the town to provide that match that

[1:25:53] they will >> Okay.

[1:25:55] » Does that make sense to people? >> It's usually the opposite. That's why

[1:26:00] I'm I'm surprised. Usually grant money is you have to pay your share first,

[1:26:03] then the grant money kicks in. That's why I'm questioning.

[1:26:06] » Okay. Well, is that the requirements of the G grant, we can't really raise any

[1:26:13] of that money until we get a a yay vote on this article. So, we cannot book any

[1:26:21] um volunteer time and we're only asking for pledges at this point. We cannot

[1:26:26] collect any money until we actually >> and the money will go into the general

[1:26:32] fund or does the economic council have it?

[1:26:34] » Ron is managing Ron manages the grant. >> Ron Ron manages,

[1:26:39] » right? But if we So where would this fund go though? If we if you get this

[1:26:43] 100,000, >> do does it go into the general fund? Is

[1:26:48] it from the general fund or does the economic council have its own budget?

[1:26:51] » We do not have a budget. the economic development come is is we have no we

[1:26:55] have no power whatsoever. So >> So any pledges that are paid after this

[1:26:59] is approved goes into the general fund until it's used.

[1:27:02] » Ron has a folder of pledges. >> Yes.

[1:27:05] » So it's >> I just want people to know where the

[1:27:07] funds are going.

[1:27:14] » Charlie wants Charlie.

[1:27:20] » Yeah. Yeah, Carter again. I just uh trying to

[1:27:24] understand so do we have to raise a h 100,000 to get to 50,000 we have to

[1:27:30] raise 50,000 and then we get the matching

[1:27:34] » yes so first on

[1:27:37] » in order in order to spend money on this project if it's approved by the voters

[1:27:42] we have to in the language be authorized to spend $100,000 but

[1:27:49] 50,000 of that is being reimbursed to us from the grant

[1:27:53] If it was only written for 50,000, we could only spend 50,000.

[1:27:59] But the grant is for 100,000. We're going to write checks out of the

[1:28:03] general operating fund to pay the bills. Then the grant reimbures us. It's a

[1:28:07] 50/50 match. So if if we only spend $50,000 to accomplish the task,

[1:28:16] we would pay 25 and the grant would pay 25. If we spend a hundred,

[1:28:20] » we pay 50. The grant pays 50. >> Okay.

[1:28:25] » If if I could just uh Charlie Bazelle, if I could just expand on some of the

[1:28:30] things Jenny said a minute that it's important to understand that we have a

[1:28:35] hydraulics issue at that beach that um has been an issue for over a decade and

[1:28:42] that's erosion. The sand in the past has been washing off the beach and down into

[1:28:50] the river. Double problem. The sand leaves the beach, clogs the river. The

[1:28:56] perch beach structure that you see there now um was intended as a a solution to

[1:29:02] that at least to minimize the erosion. Turns out that you know there's still

[1:29:08] sand going down the river is unrelated to the beach at this point. Uh also

[1:29:14] there's been improvements to the the drainage which in the past contributed

[1:29:18] to the problem. Uh the drain the drainage coming down the hill, you know,

[1:29:23] actually coming across the beach and and washing the sand away. That's what's

[1:29:28] keeping that beach from being developed into what I think most people would

[1:29:32] describe as something more attractive, easier to use. Meaning basically the

[1:29:39] traditional type of sloped sand beach where um you don't have to worry about

[1:29:44] children falling falling off the wall. um you know and you could use the full

[1:29:50] waterfront for bathing sun you know sitting in the sun or whatever uh you

[1:29:56] wanted to enjoy and the the Northern Borders regional conference that has

[1:30:02] offered us this this grant looked at it and said you know we're in the business

[1:30:07] of promoting economic development. We don't just think that this could be a

[1:30:13] nicer beach. we we think it could be an economic attraction. You know, we we

[1:30:18] think that, you know, that it it could be a regional uh asset and that it it

[1:30:24] would attract people because those of you who know the location and have seen

[1:30:28] it u it it's fairly exceptional. It has the potential of being a beautiful beach

[1:30:36] uh as well as hosting winter activities. Uh so the the intent here is to make

[1:30:43] something that contributes value to our town and uh you know it it's not not the

[1:30:51] be all and end all but it's a good start because I I think that this this this

[1:30:56] beach could be an attractive uh feature of the town if we get together and

[1:31:01] develop it. As Jenny's pointing out, you know, already we don't have to raise

[1:31:05] 50,000. We have pledges for four. So, we're down to 46 and and hoping that uh

[1:31:10] we'll do better. And we actually don't know what the expenditure will be. Um

[1:31:15] you know, we we can spend up to the 100,000. It may turn out that the

[1:31:19] engineering studies and things we need to satisfy dees before we can move

[1:31:24] anything forward. They they want that they want the hydraulics problem fixed.

[1:31:29] They they don't want erosion of sand on the beach. And to the extent that we can

[1:31:33] contribute to stopping the sand going going down the Squam River, um that

[1:31:38] that's a win for everybody. So I I would encourage people to consider this

[1:31:42] carefully because I think the town is going to benefit from this.

[1:31:48] » Any other questions or comments? >> Go in the background first.

[1:32:00] Hi, my name is Jonathan. I live on Seven Double Head Road on top off of Le Hill.

[1:32:06] Um, I just want to say something about the pledge money. Um, we were currently

[1:32:14] at 4,000. We just got another thousand. >> Oh. So, anytime anyone would care to

[1:32:23] pledge anything, 25 bucks, $10, it would help. Also, there's grant money

[1:32:29] available once we get to the point of doing this. So,

[1:32:35] yes, we're the the idea of the committee is that we don't want to charge we don't

[1:32:42] want to put this on the taxpayers. We want to come up with the money

[1:32:45] ourselves. So that's what I have to say.

[1:32:50] » Thanks.

[1:32:53] Just sorry friends. Go ahead Bob. >> Thank you. Bob Turner Thompson Street

[1:33:00] again. Sorry. Um >> don't be sorry.

[1:33:03] » To your question. I'll ask where's this money going to go?

[1:33:09] You have an account for this? >> We'll set up an account. Well, why

[1:33:14] didn't you why wasn't a capital reserve fund included in this war article sort

[1:33:20] of that money would go into a place that's specific for that purpose only?

[1:33:24] Because it'll be a lapsing account. So once once we've completed the process,

[1:33:31] any of the funds that was raised and appropriated through taxation, if we

[1:33:36] only spent 40,000, that 10,000 remaining would go into unreserved fund balance.

[1:33:42] Whereas if you leave it in a CRF, it's just going to sit there and sit there

[1:33:45] until you till you expend it. We didn't we didn't

[1:33:49] » assume that this town beach is going to need some work done.

[1:33:52] » Well, yeah, true. But that that's what was asked of us was to write a warrant

[1:33:56] article for this. >> I think that, you know, to make

[1:34:00] everybody happy, at least make me happy, that you have a special account for that

[1:34:06] money only for that specific purpose for spending. So it can't be dragged through

[1:34:10] other accounts. That's the way you do everything else. We get

[1:34:15] » Yeah. But the Warren article is specific and that those funds raised will only be

[1:34:20] spent on that. >> And what is not spent will go back into

[1:34:23] the unreserved fund balance. >> But you're going to manage it through

[1:34:26] the general fund >> as a line in the budget.

[1:34:30] » I don't like that. >> It's short term too, right? I mean, the

[1:34:34] hope is Yeah. >> this year. Yeah.

[1:34:36] » Right.

[1:34:39] Oh, not me. >> Come on, Frank. Come on down.

[1:34:47] » You can do it. >> Fran Newton Smith Hill Road. I just want

[1:34:50] to emphasize that this is a feasibility study. There've been been maps out there

[1:34:56] of the new concept at the beach. That is not the plan. There is no plan. This is

[1:35:01] a feasibility to find out what we can do. Once we find out what we can do and

[1:35:07] what we can't do, then we can decide to set up a CRF for beach improvements if

[1:35:12] if >> correct

[1:35:13] » they need to be done. But there's so much misinformation and rumors out there

[1:35:18] that you've got to ignore. This is a feasibility study only and really

[1:35:22] important. >> Thanks.

[1:35:26] » Amanda, did you have a comment? >> Yeah. Um, so just really quickly, if

[1:35:30] this were to become a CRF on the ballot this year, um, that means that as Ron

[1:35:36] pointed out, any funds that we don't spend, um, would again languish in this

[1:35:42] CRF until we came to a town u deliberative session again and we had a

[1:35:48] warrant article that said we could now take the funds that are in here and

[1:35:51] rename it to this and then we would have to put the verb because because again

[1:35:56] CRFs can only be spent for what they are voted on and that means that this is

[1:36:01] voted for a feasibility study then you know you can't do any improvements with

[1:36:05] it. That's it. And so we do have I think if you notice on the um list property

[1:36:09] tax map I think it's $9.80 or something like that and maybe it's up to $10 by

[1:36:13] now but that seems like ridiculous but that's something that will be funded

[1:36:17] again because unfortunately property tax maps must be revisited.

[1:36:22] » Thank you.

[1:36:28] Uh, Zack Harper, uh, Sandborn Road. So, I'm hearing that we need a new police

[1:36:33] station, new roads, new pipes. Maybe a beach isn't a priority right now and

[1:36:38] maybe we could, you know, revisit this in the future when we have less pressing

[1:36:42] matters. Um, I personally having to make a lot of cuts at home. I've got a young

[1:36:47] family. It's pretty tough right now. So, to keep adding more stuff and more stuff

[1:36:52] and Yeah, everybody needs more stuff. I get it. I'm there with you guys, but I

[1:36:57] don't have time to go to the beach. Um, maybe it's not a priority right now.

[1:37:03] » And even even getting grant money, that that's tax money. Grants come from

[1:37:07] taxes. I don't know why everybody thinks that's free money. It's still out of our

[1:37:12] pockets. So, I mean, not super super important to me right now. Uh, if we

[1:37:20] want to raise some money and donate, maybe we start doing that for the police

[1:37:23] station. Great.

[1:37:25] » Thank you. >> Thanks.

[1:37:34] » Hi, G. Garren Flores, double head road. >> Can you say your first name again?

[1:37:41] » Gayla or Gayla. >> G A L A.

[1:37:47] I guess first to your question about whether or not this will go into

[1:37:53] the capital reserve fund or not. I guess respectfully it sounds like

[1:38:00] there's transparency in the process and we will know at all times what's

[1:38:06] happening to this money. >> Y

[1:38:08] » So again, respectfully, I just think that

[1:38:13] that's a nonissue. If your problem or if your issue is that

[1:38:19] there seems to be non-transparency, I I don't see an issue with that here. This

[1:38:24] is transparent. Money goes in to a specific place, there's a line item, you

[1:38:30] know what happens to it. And I guess second with respect to the most with the

[1:38:37] previous comment about grant money being tax money

[1:38:41] uh this isn't a zero- sum game.

[1:38:47] This grant money is available to this project

[1:38:51] and yes, I understand that everyone has hard

[1:38:56] times right now and there are other priorities which in fact are being taken

[1:39:01] care of in all of the other warrant articles.

[1:39:05] This is also something that people need even in times of need. What Ashland

[1:39:12] actually needs is something that attracts

[1:39:17] more opportunity to this area

[1:39:22] so that in future sessions we're not talking about raising our taxes for

[1:39:28] everything that we need because there's more people contributing to the taxes.

[1:39:33] There's more businesses contributing to the taxes.

[1:39:37] So yes, I understand that

[1:39:43] building back a beach to maybe what its previous glory

[1:39:49] was or what it can be sounds like an item that's excessive.

[1:39:57] But if anything, it sounds like there's a through line here. The through

[1:40:03] line here is that we haven't been doing long-term

[1:40:09] planning and we've just been

[1:40:14] reacting to crisis after crisis. I would

[1:40:19] respectfully submit

[1:40:23] that this is something that Ashlin needs in the long term.

[1:40:29] This is an insurance policy for Ashland and it's for everybody.

[1:40:36] And with the grant and with donations that are now, I think after just a few

[1:40:42] days of having donations being accepted or pledges being accepted, it's now at

[1:40:47] $5,000. So,

[1:40:51] I think there's the great possibility that this wouldn't impact anybody's

[1:40:56] taxes. at all.

[1:41:01] » So, I just don't see a loss here for any for anyone. And it seems like a moment

[1:41:10] » to actually look at the long-term benefits to everyone in Ashland.

[1:41:15] » Thank you, >> Jen. Charlie, I have one question. If

[1:41:20] the for whatever reason the grant is not available,

[1:41:25] » I assume the town will still spend 100,000.

[1:41:27] » What? >> If the grant for some reason is not

[1:41:30] available. >> It is available.

[1:41:31] » No, we got it already. >> It's already we already have it for

[1:41:34] sure. >> Well, we have to My understanding is we

[1:41:37] have to get a vote on the Warren article.

[1:41:41] » When the Warren article is approved by the town, we get the money.

[1:41:44] » So, we've we've accepted we've accepted the grant. So, it's already funded

[1:41:48] » the money. >> The money The money's been reserved.

[1:41:51] Okay. >> The grant money has been reserved and

[1:41:53] allocated. >> Not that we've received it.

[1:41:56] » We're still We need to >> But it can't be withdrawn at this point.

[1:41:59] » We can't get a notice to proceed until we get the vote.

[1:42:03] » Okay. >> Once we get the vote, if it's in the

[1:42:05] affirmative, we will get the U letter to proceed. That's when we can start the

[1:42:12] project. If it's a no vote, then we are going to

[1:42:16] withdraw from the grant. Okay? And they'll put the money back in to

[1:42:20] allocate to somebody else.

[1:42:31] » Dave to again from Smith Road. Um I just want to make a plug for uh economic

[1:42:38] development. We've already had one. Um, you can see from all of the warrant

[1:42:44] articles and the taxes in town that we are facing

[1:42:48] uh uh an increase in taxes and we will be

[1:42:53] facing increase in taxes for a long time because as you can see we haven't taken

[1:42:59] care of a lot of the things that we should have in the past. Now, um

[1:43:05] » I think the select board has done an excellent job of helping us trying to

[1:43:09] recover from that. All of these capital reserve funds save us money in the long

[1:43:15] run. And uh basically they pay for what we use now. So it's a pay as you go plan

[1:43:23] rather than uh rather than putting that onus on people in the future.

[1:43:29] Uh but economic development um the only way we get ourselves out of this is

[1:43:37] either increased housing development or businesses

[1:43:42] attracting businesses to the town, attracting people to the town. And what

[1:43:47] businesses want and what people want are amenities.

[1:43:52] We've let our town go, but we have a number of important assets. One of them

[1:43:58] is the beach. Another one is the library.

[1:44:02] Those are things that people want that businesses want to have for their

[1:44:10] employees and that's the reason that they come to places like Ashlin. There

[1:44:16] are opportunities to redo the mill area. Okay, that is another important part of

[1:44:24] this process. So maybe investing now u in something that may not cost us a

[1:44:32] whole lot of money in the long run. Uh maybe that will help bring people to

[1:44:38] town. Um making simple improvements to make

[1:44:43] our town more beautiful and more attractive. Um that's a help too. So

[1:44:51] that's your decision here is do I want to

[1:44:57] uh do I want to uh

[1:45:02] promote economic development even though now it may be a hardship to me in the

[1:45:07] future that I know that in the future I want to

[1:45:12] lower my taxes and spread the cost of of operating our

[1:45:18] town over a larger population or do I want to put that off and continue

[1:45:24] » the way I'm going.

[1:45:33] » Does anybody oppose Lori speaking again? >> Can I have permission?

[1:45:37] » Lori Mayo, 193 River Street. Um, I just recently purchased a home in the town

[1:45:42] and one of the drawing factors was the fact of the Ashlin Town Beach. Um, I

[1:45:47] grew up in this town and one of the greatest things in my heart is that

[1:45:52] beach. My father and a lot of people um that are my age, their parents

[1:45:57] contributed to building the campground and providing the opportunities for the

[1:46:01] young children in this community um to flourish over the summer and to

[1:46:07] have a place to go um and be part of a community. And I think our park and

[1:46:11] recck department does a great job at bringing children into that area and to

[1:46:16] be part of that beach. And I think that there's a lot that we as a community can

[1:46:20] do to support um creating more opportunity for kids to be there.

[1:46:27] And I think that this study >> is asking for the town to contribute

[1:46:32] $50,000 which the people in the economic development committee have said we we're

[1:46:37] getting pledges and on top of that people are going to volunteer their

[1:46:40] times and efforts into the study which is going to be able to be turned into

[1:46:45] dollars that is through time and um volunteer efforts that reduce that

[1:46:51] $50,000. So in reality, we're talking about finding out what we can do to

[1:46:57] bring that beach back to life at zero cost to the taxpayers

[1:47:03] through the efforts of the economic development committee. And I just can't

[1:47:07] comprehend why we wouldn't do that. And also, we're never going to be able to do

[1:47:12] it for free if we do it on our own because we're we're quibbling over

[1:47:17] $50,000 where we can get matching funds. people aren't going to say, "Hey, let's

[1:47:23] come up with a thing to spend $50,000 to investigate something that we know is

[1:47:27] going to take a hundred." Um, I it's I think it's going to end up

[1:47:31] being a free thing and I think it's going to increase the quality of the

[1:47:35] fabric of this community and um I don't know. I just I think that there's a lot

[1:47:41] of reasons why it's the best thing we can do to the town. Thank you.

[1:47:44] » Thanks, Lori.

[1:47:54] Steve Felton again. One just one quick thing first. I agree with what a lot of

[1:47:58] the people have talked about as far as why we want to do this for the beach.

[1:48:02] But one other thing to consider is we've already applied for the grant and we

[1:48:07] were given the grant. If we decide, well, you know what, we don't want that

[1:48:11] grant. >> The next time we go to the state or the

[1:48:14] federal government to ask for a grant, >> that's a good point. they're going to

[1:48:17] say, "Well, honestly, I didn't really use the last one that we gave you uh

[1:48:21] when you asked for it." So, that's just another thing to consider. And again, I

[1:48:27] don't want to reiterate the points that have already been made, but it's pretty

[1:48:30] small money for what we're talking about looking at.

[1:48:36] » Any other questions or discussion?

[1:48:44] » Go ahead, Rick. As a resident of this community for the

[1:48:48] last 49 years, I want to say this is the most transparent water law warrant

[1:48:52] article and and paperwork that's ever been I don't know who did it, the board

[1:48:56] of selectman, the town manager, but this the footnotes in here make it a lot

[1:49:00] clearer. Though I still find it a little confusing. One of my main things is no

[1:49:06] tax impact. Well, anything you spend in this town is a tax impact somehow. You

[1:49:10] know, I I argued this point last year with a previous town manager about I was

[1:49:15] told that well, I don't pay for the uh electric light bills and the signals and

[1:49:19] stuff like that in town. Well, I only I own the AS1 electric company, so I do

[1:49:24] pay that tax. >> Regardless, I would like to say I'd like

[1:49:27] to move make a motion to move this forward.

[1:49:30] » Okay. >> Thank you.

[1:49:31] » Any discussion? >> Do I have a second?

[1:49:34] » I'll second. being reported. Okay, it's a motion to end discussion on

[1:49:41] this article. All those in favor? >> I.

[1:49:43] » All those opposed? Nay.

[1:49:48] » We will now vote to place this article on the warrant as written. All those in

[1:49:52] favor? I. All those opposed? Nay.

[1:49:59] Article 23. to see if the town of Ashland is in

[1:50:04] favor of increasing the veterans special disabled property tax credit to $4,750

[1:50:13] from $4,000 under the provisions of RSA 7235.

[1:50:21] The purpose of this increase is to replace the loss of the veterans

[1:50:25] property tax credit RSA 72 col28 of $750 that they are no longer eligible

[1:50:34] for due to a change in the state of New Hampshire legislative rules. House Bill

[1:50:39] 99 majority vote required recommended by the board of selectmen 5

[1:50:45] to zero. recommended by the budget committee. Five, zero and one. Does that

[1:50:50] mean one abstain? >> One abstain.

[1:50:54] » Do I have a motion to move this to the floor?

[1:50:57] » I do. >> Michelle moved it to the floor. Second.

[1:50:59] » Second. >> Oh, J.

[1:51:02] Any discussion on this article,

[1:51:09] there being no discussion, we'll take a vote to place this article on the

[1:51:12] warrant as written. All in favor? I. >> Any oppose? Nay.

[1:51:23] Petitioned warrant article 24 library capital reserve fund.

[1:51:31] Estimated tax impact 6 cents on this new reg legislation that any petitioned

[1:51:39] article anyone that has who petitioned this article may speak first. So Alice,

[1:51:45] would you like to speak first on this issue?

[1:51:48] » I'll read it too. Shall the town of Ashlin vote to raise

[1:51:53] and appropriate the sum of 25,000 to be deposited into the Ashlin Library

[1:51:58] Capital Reserve Fund established in 2015 for the purpose of purchasing, building

[1:52:04] and/or renovating a facility, including furnishing and equipment for the Ashlin

[1:52:10] Town Library. Majority vote required recommended by the board of selectmen 3

[1:52:15] to two. Recommended not recommended by the budget committee. Three to three.

[1:52:20] Alice, this is Alice Staples. >> Alice Staples, library trustee,

[1:52:26] 38 Post Street. Um, I just want to thank the voters for voting for this capital

[1:52:33] reserve fund in the past. We are now embarking on a capital campaign to fund

[1:52:41] our renovation and expansion. what we have in the

[1:52:46] capital reserve fund is going to go a long way towards that. Um, a couple of

[1:52:51] points that have been brought up already. Um, the non-compliance issue,

[1:52:58] uh, the library has very poor accessibility at this point. I have a

[1:53:05] hard time getting in there. Um, so that is one of the issues. Uh, Bob Lerno

[1:53:11] talked about being sued. We have library patrons who tell us all the time that

[1:53:17] they can't get to the library and people need to bring them books. The other

[1:53:22] issue that's been brought up that's important to having a great library in

[1:53:29] the town is the economic development issues and people do ask about libraries

[1:53:34] and libraries are important to people moving to towns. Uh I did a quick

[1:53:38] search. There's a lot of information out there about public libraries and

[1:53:43] economic development. So, we are close to halfway to our goal

[1:53:51] for our capital campaign to begin this process of making the

[1:53:56] Ashlin Farm Library accessible to all and enlarging spaces within the library

[1:54:02] for all residents of Ashlin from toddlers to all of us senior citizens.

[1:54:16] I want to thank um the friends. We have a brochure in the back to tell you about

[1:54:23] all the services that the library provides. I think you'll be quite amazed

[1:54:27] by that. And we have I have a couple of brochures

[1:54:31] about our capital campaign and happy to speak to you more. We're trying to raise

[1:54:35] private funds as well. So if anybody would like to make pledges or speak to

[1:54:41] me about donations. I'm happy to talk to you at any time.

[1:54:46] Um, we have a great friends group. There's a lot of them here today. And if

[1:54:51] you want to join the friends, they're a wonderful group and they're helping us

[1:54:55] quite a lot with this process.

[1:55:02] Any questions?

[1:55:16] Fran Newton, 54 Smith Hill Road. um an alternate trustee with the the library

[1:55:22] and I don't think even I had any appreciation of the what they do for

[1:55:28] this town until I became I had been on the friends for a while but being a

[1:55:32] trustee and hearing the reports of the programs that they run for senior

[1:55:37] citizens for school children for for any citizen there's knitting there's books

[1:55:43] books uh studies and it's just remarkable and if you haven't taken

[1:55:48] advantage of it. You're really missing something. As Alice said, the li the

[1:55:53] building is very old. It was never meant to be a library. It was somebody's home

[1:55:57] years ago that was donated to the town and we established the library there

[1:56:02] many many years ago. We got an an we we tried for several years to purchase the

[1:56:07] old school uh to build a library there. We were even given the money to buy it

[1:56:11] outright and the town andor the select board turned it down. Uh so they wanted

[1:56:18] us to stay in that building and you know what it's okay the building is

[1:56:21] beautiful. It's in the center of town. It's going to be really a showpiece and

[1:56:26] the plans that we have worked out with the architect will make it uh really

[1:56:31] wonderful. It there'll be an addition put on. It will be handicapped

[1:56:35] accessible. There'll be a limited access limited use uh elevator called Alula. Um

[1:56:42] there will be an improved ramp. There will be parking. So, that's going to

[1:56:46] have a lot of features and as Alice said, we're in the middle of a campaign

[1:56:49] committee. We've got about half of the money now. Um, thanks to some generous

[1:56:54] donations. Uh, we're working with some fundraisers and, you know, trying to get

[1:56:59] get pledges and I can't tell you how important this will be to the overall

[1:57:03] economic of e economic development of the town. I find it hard to understand

[1:57:08] that half of the budget committee and members of the select board could have

[1:57:13] refused this capital reserve request and in the past the select board has had

[1:57:19] their had it as their or article but this year they declined to do it and so

[1:57:23] we got the petition. It's $25,000 um a small impact or an enormous uh

[1:57:30] benefit to the town. Uh, again, there's been a lot of misinformation about about

[1:57:35] the library and about what it needs out there for years. Um,

[1:57:40] it's I I'm just telling you, you ought to come in and and check out the

[1:57:44] library. Talk to Sarah, our our director, and find out how how amazing

[1:57:50] this library is and how much better it could be.

[1:57:53] » Thank you, friend. Any other comments or questions?

[1:58:03] down in the background. >> Excuse me. In the back.

[1:58:08] » Shh. >> We can hear you.

[1:58:14] » Do I have anyone who want to move the question to end debate?

[1:58:17] » I'll move it. >> Michelle moved it. You want to second

[1:58:20] it, David? >> Sure.

[1:58:21] » David second. >> All those in favor of ending debate on

[1:58:24] this article, say I. >> I.

[1:58:27] » All those opposed, nay. We will now vote on this article to move

[1:58:32] it to the warrant as written. All those in favor I.

[1:58:36] » All those opposed, nay.

[1:58:50] » Is there anyone here from the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council who was a

[1:58:54] part of this petition on the next article that would like to speak?

[1:58:58] No, it's okay. Petition one, article 25. Estimated tax impact 3 cents.

[1:59:06] We, the registered voters in the town of Ashen, present this petitioned article

[1:59:10] to be included in the 2026 Town of Ashen warrant. So, the voters raise and

[1:59:16] appropriate $12,000 to the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Inc. for

[1:59:22] services for Ashlin residents. From July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025, the

[1:59:30] Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Inc. provided services for 68 Ashen

[1:59:35] residents and the Aging and Disability Resource Center resource center,

[1:59:40] formerly known as Service Link, provided services for 12 residents. These

[1:59:45] services included nutrition, transportation, outreach, support,

[1:59:50] activities, and more. The cost of providing these services was $79,6769.

[2:00:00] Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to z recommended by the budget committee

[2:00:06] 6 to zero. Do I have anyone to raise the question uh move the question to the

[2:00:10] floor? >> Yes. David,

[2:00:13] you want a second? >> I'll second.

[2:00:16] » I'll second. >> Is there any discussion on this article?

[2:00:20] » Got one.

[2:00:27] » There's a guy that just made a point about taxes going up. I'd like to

[2:00:30] increase this. I'd like to double this amount. I mean, we have almost 70 people

[2:00:34] that we're supporting here. $70,000. That's our bill right there. That really

[2:00:38] is our bill. We ought to get closer to that. So, what I'm uh advocating is that

[2:00:42] we raise this $12,000 to $24,000. >> You put that in writing.

[2:00:47] » Yeah. Put it. >> Okay. She's got this one.

[2:00:50] » Do I have a second to his amendment?

[2:00:55] » We'll need a second to it. Rick,

[2:01:02] » second. >> Oh, Linda. Linda back.

[2:01:07] Thanks, Linda. Any discussion on the amendment as

[2:01:12] proposed to increase this? Did you say to 25, Rick?

[2:01:16] » Uh 24 to $24,000 to the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council for Inc.

[2:01:31] So may we vote on the amendment or do I need to end discussion first? Do I need

[2:01:36] to end discussion?

[2:01:41] Okay.

[2:01:52] » Okay. >> Okay.

[2:01:58] Okay. >> Okay.

[2:02:09] Okay. Do I have a motion to end discussion on this on the amendment?

[2:02:14] » Can I ask a question? >> Oh, okay. This is before. Go ahead.

[2:02:18] » Um, thank you. >> Give her the mic, please.

[2:02:28] And do do we know where the $12,000 amount came from? And because you're

[2:02:35] talking about >> it came with a petition. Whoever

[2:02:37] petitioned it had it on there. >> So, but there's nobody here to ask

[2:02:40] questions as to why they're asking for 12,000 when they say they it's costing

[2:02:45] close close to 80,000, but we don't have any more information. Correct.

[2:02:50] » Right. >> What was it last year?

[2:02:53] » I think it was a number like that. >> Do you guys have last year?

[2:03:02] It was 12,000 last year. Uh I believe it was two years ago. It was raised from

[2:03:09] 6,000 to 12,000.

[2:03:21] » Go ahead. >> Wait a minute. Get get the microphone

[2:03:24] please. >> It's offered now.

[2:03:28] » Yeah.

[2:03:31] When we voted to keep this as a yes on the budget committee, we looked at it

[2:03:37] like >> I got to wait

[2:03:39] » 12,000 before I talk about this. >> You know, 80 80 people and it it's

[2:03:44] 80,000 in total. So we were like, okay, it's like $1,000 per person of which

[2:03:48] they given us 90% through the charity and we only have to pay 10%. That's why

[2:03:52] we were like, that sounds good. So my question is, does anybody in this room

[2:03:56] think we need to have more than 80 people using the services? Is anybody

[2:04:00] not getting the service for some reason? Is it supposed to be higher? Does our

[2:04:03] community need more? Does anybody know? I don't know.

[2:04:11] » It's a good question. Nobody has an answer.

[2:04:17] Any other comments or questions?

[2:04:22] » Who said that? Who just moved the question? Oh, Linda

[2:04:27] moved the question. Do I have a second to move the question?

[2:04:30] » I'll second. >> Okay.

[2:04:35] » Okay. This is a motion to end discussion on this amendment. All in favor of

[2:04:39] ending discussion say I. >> All oppose? Nay.

[2:04:44] Okay. Now we will vote on the article as amended. So instead of 12,000. It's

[2:04:49] going to >> vote on the amendment.

[2:04:53] » Right. That's what we're voting on. The a the article is amended. We didn't.

[2:04:57] » We haven't amended it yet. >> That's what we're doing right now.

[2:05:00] » Okay. >> How do you want me to word it?

[2:05:04] » It sounded like Okay. We're voting on the amendment. Is that

[2:05:07] » right? We're voting on amending it to 24 from 12.

[2:05:10] » All right. Very good. >> Sorry. Didn't mean to be confusing. All

[2:05:14] right. So, we're going to vote on a whether we want to amend the article

[2:05:18] from 12,000 to 24,000. All those in favor? I.

[2:05:23] » I. >> Okay. Let's put up your cards, please.

[2:05:26] All those in favor cards,

[2:05:33] keep your cards up, please, so we can count.

[2:05:40] Did you get 15? 16. >> Okay. Yeah.

[2:05:46] All those opposed? Nay. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

[2:05:53] eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Did I get a tie?

[2:06:06] » Are we on the eyes or the >> This is the naysay.

[2:06:11] » That's how I voted. >> It did not pass. So, the article will

[2:06:15] not be amended. Thank you.

[2:06:20] » Is there any further discussion on the original article for $12,000?

[2:06:27] » Move the question. >> Okay, Bob moves the question. Have a

[2:06:30] second. >> Second. M Michelle second.

[2:06:35] » All those in favor of ending discussion on the original article say I. I.

[2:06:40] » I. >> Those opposed? Nay.

[2:06:43] All right. We will now vote on whe on on placing this article on the warrant as

[2:06:49] written. All those in favor? I. >> I.

[2:06:53] » All those opposed? Nay.

[2:06:57] We got that.

[2:07:03] Is there anyone here from the Pemmy Baker Hospice and Home Health that would

[2:07:07] like to speak on this article? Yeah.

[2:07:13] Petition warrant article 26 estimated tax impact 2 cents to see if the town

[2:07:20] will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of 9,746

[2:07:28] 9 for Pemmy Baker Hospice and Home Health. As a nonprofit agency, Pemmy

[2:07:34] Baker Hospice and Home Health provides services without regard to ability to

[2:07:39] pay and serves many uninsured and underinsured clients. Many of the

[2:07:44] services Pammy Baker Hospice and Home Health provides are not covered fully by

[2:07:49] insurance. The requested appropriation amounts to

[2:07:54] less than $5 per year per resident based on the current census data and requests

[2:08:00] a small fraction of the cost of providing services to the residents in

[2:08:05] their homes. Pemmy Baker Hospice and Home Health provides home health,

[2:08:11] hospice, and palative care services in the Ashlin community as well as

[2:08:16] educational programs, workshops, and bereavement counseling. These services

[2:08:22] to uninsured or underinsured patients help the town limit welfare payments for

[2:08:27] medical services. Recommended by the board of selectment 5

[2:08:31] to zero. Recommended by the budget committee 6 to z. Do I have a motion to

[2:08:36] move this to the floor? >> Second.

[2:08:39] » And any discussion on this article.

[2:08:47] There being no discussion, we will vote to play now to place this on the warrant

[2:08:51] as written. All those in favor? I. >> All those opposed? Nay.

[2:09:00] Is there anyone here from the Lakes Region Mental Health Center?

[2:09:08] Petition to warrant article 27. Estimated tax impact 1 cent. The town of

[2:09:14] Asham will raise and appropriate funds totaling $4,980

[2:09:19] for Lakes Region Mental Health Center to support the delivery of highlevel access

[2:09:26] to mental health care. Lakes Region Mental Health Center

[2:09:30] provides comprehensive mental health services, including 247 access

[2:09:38] to emergency services and the Lakes Region Mental Health Center mobile

[2:09:43] crisis response, which respond reports to mental health emergency wherever the

[2:09:49] individual is located, whether at home, work, school, or elsewhere in the

[2:09:54] community. In early 2025, Lakes Region Mental Health Center opened the doors at

[2:10:01] a place to go in Plymouth, which officers offers short-term mental health

[2:10:07] stabilization services upon referral. Services are provided to anyone in need

[2:10:13] regardless of their ability to pay. Recommended by the board of selectmen 5

[2:10:18] to zero. Recommended by the budget committee 5 to one. Do have anyone move

[2:10:23] the motion? David moved it.

[2:10:27] » I'll second. >> Okay.

[2:10:30] Any discussion on this article?

[2:10:35] » I have a >> Okay. Go ahead.

[2:10:45] » Michelle Roloff. I have two people in my family that have um

[2:10:52] had mental illness to the level that they would need these kind of services.

[2:10:55] They don't happen to live in Ashlin. Uh they sent a representative to one of our

[2:11:00] last meetings and I'm just looking at the letter that she brought with her and

[2:11:04] um these numbers are really great. So they paid 18,000. We pay like 5,000. So

[2:11:11] we only paying like 20% of this. and they had a whole list of the number of

[2:11:15] people served and the number of service hours was like 17 kids and 40, you know,

[2:11:20] people that are not um elderly yet and another 12 elderly. So, I I was amazed.

[2:11:24] I thought it was a great um return on our tax dollars.

[2:11:28] » Thank you. >> Any other comments?

[2:11:53] There being no further comments, we will vote to move this article as written to

[2:11:59] the warrant. All those in favor of article 27 being moved to the warrant as

[2:12:03] written signify by saying I. I. >> All those opposed, nay.

[2:12:11] Is there anyone here from the Voices Against Violence?

[2:12:17] No. Okay. Petition warrant article 28. Estimated tax impact one cent to see if

[2:12:25] the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,297

[2:12:32] for 2026 to support Voices Against Violence, a nonprofit crisis center and

[2:12:39] shelter providing emergency shelter, court, and hospital accompaniment and

[2:12:45] general support to women, men, and children who are victims of domestic and

[2:12:50] sexual violence. violence, stalking, human trafficking, and bullying.

[2:12:55] Recommended by the board of selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by the budget

[2:13:00] committee 6 to zero. Do I have a motion to move this to the floor?

[2:13:06] » I'll make that motion. >> Second.

[2:13:09] » Okay. Any discussion on this article?

[2:13:18] We will vote to move this article to the warrant as written. All in favor? I.

[2:13:24] » All oppose? Nay.

[2:13:31] Is there anyone here from the Tri County Action Program?

[2:13:36] » Okay. Would you like to present anything on this petition be after I read it?

[2:13:43] » Okay. Are you an Ashlin resident? >> I am.

[2:13:46] » Okay. Thank you.

[2:13:50] Petition warrant article 29 estimated tax impact 1 cent to see if the town

[2:13:56] will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,876

[2:14:02] for the operation of the following Tri County Community Action Program, Inc.

[2:14:06] services in Ashlin includes fuel and energy assistance, guardianship, Head

[2:14:13] Start, community action resource coordinates, coordinators, USDA, TFAP

[2:14:21] food distribution to pantries and free diaper distribution programs recommended

[2:14:26] by the board of selectmen 5 to zero. Recommended by the budget committee 6 to

[2:14:31] zero. Have someone move the question.

[2:14:36] I'll move the question. >> You do second.

[2:14:40] » I will. >> Okay.

[2:14:43] Any discussion or questions on this article?

[2:14:50] There being no discussion, we will vote on placing this article on the warrant

[2:14:54] as written. All those in favor of article 29 being posted on the warrant

[2:14:58] as written, signify by saying I. I. >> All oppose. Nay.

[2:15:10] Anyone here from Transport Central? I don't even know what this is.

[2:15:16] Petition warrant article 30 estimated tax impact zero to raise an appropriate

[2:15:23] $1,250 to support transport

[2:15:28] central in providing essential medical transportation for qualified Ashlin

[2:15:33] residents. Recommended by the board of selectmen

[2:15:37] 401 abstained recommended by the budget committee 5 to one.

[2:15:43] » Can I move the question? >> Can I ask a question?

[2:15:45] » We have to move the question to the floor first.

[2:15:48] » Thank you.

[2:15:52] » Second. Okay. >> Now you may ask a question but stand up.

[2:15:57] » All right. I see this is for transportation for medical purposes. Uh,

[2:16:02] we have a brand new ambulance that does that for us now. Uh, is this still

[2:16:07] something that we need? Is this something that has been going on for a

[2:16:11] long time, but I know that we had an older ambulance we're having trouble

[2:16:15] with, but we got a brand new one. >> This is

[2:16:20] » uh, Transport Central provides transportation.

[2:16:23] » Any Sorry. Transport central provides

[2:16:28] transportation to those that need. They are um

[2:16:34] » doctors >> folks that don't need an ambulance.

[2:16:37] They're going to doctor's appointments and such.

[2:16:40] » Okay. Thank you. >> So non-emergency.

[2:16:43] » Yeah, it's all it's all non-emergency. >> Okay.

[2:16:46] » They they also have capabilities of um transporting wheelchair patients. Got

[2:16:52] it. Thank you. Welcome.

[2:16:56] not clear. >> Any other questions or comments?

[2:17:02] There being no other questions or comments, we'll take a vote to move this

[2:17:06] article to the warrant as written. All those in favor of article 30 being moved

[2:17:11] to the warrant as written, signify by saying I.

[2:17:14] » I. >> Those opposed, nay.

[2:17:20] » Okay. Mr.

[2:17:24] Petition born article 31 estimated tax impact 1 cent to see if the town will

[2:17:31] vote to raise and appropriate to raise $3,000 to be deposited into the account

[2:17:37] of the Ashlin Historical Society for the purpose of maintenance and repairs to

[2:17:42] the Whipple House Museum owned by the town of Ashlin. Recommended by the board

[2:17:47] of selectmen five to zero recommended by the budget committee 5 Z and one

[2:17:53] abstain. >> Can I have a motion to move the

[2:17:56] question? >> Motion

[2:17:59] » second. >> Second.

[2:18:03] » Any question or discussion on this article?

[2:18:11] I love the question.

[2:18:16] There being no discussion, we will now vote on the article.

[2:18:21] » This is a vote for article 31 to be placed on the warrant as written. All in

[2:18:26] favor? I. >> I.

[2:18:28] » All oppose? Nay.

[2:18:33] » Before I >> Anything to comment on that last one?

[2:18:36] » Excuse me. Just a minute. Bob, wait one moment, please.

[2:18:39] » Oh, okay. Before I adjourn the meeting, I just

[2:18:42] want to let you know the board of selectmen will be having a brief meeting

[2:18:44] after this meeting and the public is invited to wait to to attend.

[2:18:53] » Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. I do need to do this.

[2:18:55] » Just one second. >> Yep. I have to

[2:19:00] All right. I forgot about the articles that we delayed till the end.

[2:19:04] » Sorry about that. We're almost done. >> Like,

[2:19:07] » I tried.

[2:19:13] So this is a petition

[2:19:24] » need to be amended say it's not validated.

[2:19:35] » Okay. >> All right.

[2:19:40] Linda, I need you.

[2:19:48] » I'm going to ask for a motion to reopen the historical society donation to the

[2:19:52] Whipple House because it just says to raise and it should say raise and

[2:19:56] appropriate. >> Oh, okay.

[2:19:57] » So, um I will ask for a motion. You just say so move.

[2:20:01] » Okay. Okay. Thank you.

[2:20:09] All right, we have a little we have a little bit of house cleaning to do here.

[2:20:12] The last warrant article that we passed, article 31 for the Whipple House

[2:20:17] donation to the Ashen Historical Society. The article really should say

[2:20:22] to raise and appropriate $3,000. So, I'm looking for a motion to amend.

[2:20:28] » So, move. >> Okay. In a second,

[2:20:30] » I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion on our amendment?

[2:20:37] » Okay. So, we will vote on the amendment. The amendment is simply to revise it to

[2:20:43] say to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $3,000 to be

[2:20:48] deposited to the account of the Ashen Historical Society.

[2:20:53] All those in favor of the amendment as proposed say I.

[2:20:58] » All those opposed, nay. >> Okay. So now we vote on placing it on.

[2:21:02] Okay. We'll now vote to place this article on the warrant as amended. All

[2:21:08] those in favor I. >> I.

[2:21:10] » All those opposed? Nay. Okay. So now we have to do

[2:21:15] I guess it's just basically does anyone have any questions on the planning board

[2:21:20] items that have been proposed?

[2:21:25] » We're back to article. We'll do article two first.

[2:21:33] Okay. Article two was the new compact. So

[2:21:39] » any questions on that one? >> Maybe make them aware of these documents

[2:21:43] on the back. >> Right. There are copies of each of these

[2:21:46] in the back table.

[2:21:50] » Go ahead, Linda. >> Yeah. Linda Bar Thompson Street. I think

[2:21:55] I'm on the final board. We just want to make sure people really know what you're

[2:21:58] voting for. Um, a compact zone, I realized we I was looking through it, it

[2:22:03] doesn't say what a compact zone actually is. Um, a compact zone refers to how

[2:22:10] many people live or work in a given area. It's about density. And the issue

[2:22:16] is when you have a lot more population density, if people are setting off

[2:22:21] fireworks or discharging weapons, the risk goes up. So in 19 the last time a

[2:22:29] compact zone here in Ashley was defined was in 1968. It was over 50 years. It

[2:22:34] was over 50 years ago. In 19 in 2024 the town voted on ordinances related to uh

[2:22:42] noise disturbance disorderly contact conduct and said it's within the compact

[2:22:48] zone. The police looked at it and said wait a minute

[2:22:52] what's the current compact zone? the gold compact zone definition said, well,

[2:22:57] you know, from Mr. So and so's land up to,

[2:23:02] you know, the such and such family. Well, some of those properties aren't

[2:23:07] even owned by those people anymore. People may not remember. It's like if

[2:23:10] you look at the early deeds in town, you know, from so and so's land to so- and

[2:23:14] so's land. So, what we have done is redefine the town back zone. First of

[2:23:20] all, putting in lot numbers and maps. So you actually know, you can look at a map

[2:23:25] and you can see and it works off of state definitions of population density.

[2:23:31] This is about public safety. It's just making sure it doesn't say you

[2:23:35] can't own those you can't own fireworks. It just says where there are high

[2:23:38] concentrations of people use common sense. You can't set them off

[2:23:43] there. Um, it also raises the fine somewhat for disorderly conduct and the

[2:23:49] disturbances, but it's basically to make sure that people in dense population

[2:23:54] areas are safe. Does that any questions on that?

[2:24:00] Yeah,

[2:24:05] » Robin says high street. Does it affect if the property have

[2:24:10] butts on it but it is does it affect the entire parcel or is or does the compact

[2:24:16] zone only extend a certain number of feet of the street? So for example, I

[2:24:20] have property that the house is set back and then there's some land behind it.

[2:24:26] Are you saying that that entire piece of land then becomes part of the compact

[2:24:30] zone? >> I would have to defer that question. I

[2:24:34] do not >> No. You mean so you're saying that the

[2:24:36] boundaries of the compact zone sort of cut across the property but don't

[2:24:40] include the whole property? Am I understanding your question? The last

[2:24:44] time I read the the regs the I believe if I understood them correctly the

[2:24:48] boundaries for these zones were a certain distance from the road. And now

[2:24:54] this seems to apply all properties there but certain streets. So for example

[2:24:58] again I have a property that includes a lot of woods and things and so does that

[2:25:03] whole property suddenly you know compact zone.

[2:25:07] » I do not know the answer to that and I defer it to council.

[2:25:17] » It's going to depend on what the regs say specifically and I haven't reviewed

[2:25:19] the records themselves and we and I think people are aware of this. We can't

[2:25:23] amend zoning articles here today. So, I think that's probably information that

[2:25:27] could be provided before the actual vote on them. Um, and I'm not sure if it was

[2:25:33] discussed at the planning board meetings where these articles were presented or

[2:25:37] not, but it would be in the right. >> I I think in the planning board

[2:25:40] discussions it was taken as the entire property,

[2:25:44] » right? >> That was sort of the assumption.

[2:25:47] » Okay. Yeah. But it was sort of the entire property rather than so far into

[2:25:58] » Is there any opportunity for example?

[2:26:01] » Bob, can you get to the microphone so people can get your question or comment?

[2:26:04] Thank you. >> My question to the planning board, uh,

[2:26:08] is there opportunity for waiverss or any chance if somebody has some kind of

[2:26:13] event going on? They have a large property like you may have and you might

[2:26:19] want to make changes for

[2:26:25] the town to be able to offer a waiver permit for

[2:26:30] that one like we do with the with the cover

[2:26:34] bridge road. So is those opportunities

[2:26:39] available? Question. So the question is whether there if you were having an

[2:26:44] event on a property that's within the compact zone could you get a waiver and

[2:26:49] I for a permit um >> we did not discuss that because this was

[2:26:56] based on property density following the state RSA about what constitutes

[2:27:01] density. Um, as far as waiverss to things like that, I would have to again

[2:27:06] defer to the select board or to the police as to how that would work. Um,

[2:27:12] because this is simply defining the area. And I think so we didn't have the

[2:27:17] authority to propose how waiverss to that would work. But if there are other

[2:27:21] ways to arrive at waiverss, I I think that would be a question or for the fire

[2:27:26] team. I'm going to mention that to our groups. Um Robin, just to address your

[2:27:31] question, there will be colored maps um available. Um hopefully by the time

[2:27:37] we're voting, we're going to have a larger map so you can see the areas and

[2:27:40] then we have some colored ones up here that might help you.

[2:27:42] » Okay, thanks. >> It looks like it's the whole piece of

[2:27:44] property if it's abiding onto the road.

[2:27:50] » Any other questions on article two? Did we answer? I didn't get an answer.

[2:27:56] » What was your question? >> If there will be my question maybe legal

[2:28:00] to tell me what I for example we have 4th of July we have fireworks that are

[2:28:06] that are blown off at the school and we get permits for that. That correct?

[2:28:11] » Yes sir. >> So would that be possible for private

[2:28:15] citizens having a small event apply for some sort of a waiver or permit be able

[2:28:20] to do something? I'm not saying it's gonna happen, but perhaps it they may

[2:28:24] want to know if they could do something like that.

[2:28:27] » Those questions do come up. And that's the only reason why I'm bringing it up

[2:28:30] because I know that that that occurs. You know, people have events on their

[2:28:34] property. People have large trucks property.

[2:28:38] » I guess we start with policemen. >> Do we have a fireworks ordinance?

[2:28:43] » We do have a fireworks ordinance. However, it's

[2:28:47] inefficient at master. >> Maybe the chief will ought to pipe the

[2:28:52] chief. >> That was one of the reasons they did the

[2:28:54] comp.

[2:29:01] » I heard a number of questions. What's the actual question?

[2:29:06] » There's a lot of questions going on there.

[2:29:07] » You know, the question is pretty straightforward. The compact zones is

[2:29:12] going to have some restrictions on on firearms and fireworks, but I'm not

[2:29:16] questioning the firearms because we understand the safety of that. On the

[2:29:20] fireworks, we we call our fireworks in the middle of town for July every year.

[2:29:25] So, we have to get permit to do that. Is this possible for somebody that may have

[2:29:30] an event on their property and apply for a waiver or a permit from the town to

[2:29:36] have some kind of small demonstration? That's the question.

[2:29:40] » Yeah. Yeah. Sure. So the the answer would be yes. Uh so the compact part of

[2:29:45] town and any town ordinance falls under the selecting. So the selecting can

[2:29:49] override that for a permiting process and there is specific designations for

[2:29:54] permits for certain types of fireworks to either be signed off on by the fire

[2:29:58] chief or the >> correct. Thank you. That answers the

[2:30:01] question. Okay. >> Good answer. Thank you.

[2:30:03] » And I think that makes a lot of people happy to know that there are other

[2:30:06] options. >> Options, right?

[2:30:07] » Thank you. Could be options but no guarantees.

[2:30:12] » Well, I just want >> good diplomatic answer.

[2:30:15] » Any other questions or comments on this article?

[2:30:18] » Okay, so the article two, combat zone will appear on the warrant as written.

[2:30:24] Article three, mixed use zone. I'm assuming none of you mind that I'm not

[2:30:28] reading all these. Correct. >> Right.

[2:30:30] » Okay. Any questions or comments on the mixed

[2:30:34] use? Linda, you want to start it off? Now,

[2:30:37] pardon me. I I just like to make sure people know what they're for. So, mixed

[2:30:41] use right now. How many people remember all of the debate about you drop in?

[2:30:47] » Yes. >> Oh, yeah. Oh,

[2:30:49] » part of the problem for the folks trying to do drop in was that that whole area

[2:30:55] was zoned >> residential, right?

[2:30:58] » Which meant that they they the zoning did not allow them to run that business.

[2:31:04] Okay. In reality, that whole corridor up along Daniel Webster, there are

[2:31:11] existing businesses that were grandfathered in when the zoning got put

[2:31:14] in. They're also people running small businesses out of their home. Um, but

[2:31:21] may feel they have to do it under the radar because with unless they come

[2:31:25] before the planning board and get a home occupation

[2:31:29] permit, um, there's a lot of business already happening. So the planning board

[2:31:33] thought why don't we just make it official that way nobody has to hide

[2:31:39] they can run a small business at the same time we wanted to do it in a way

[2:31:42] where it wasn't going to turn into strip malls and huge apartment complexes you

[2:31:48] know how do you keep it so it has the village character remains attractive

[2:31:53] small scale so what we're proposing that that that

[2:31:58] whole area and it's laid out the the addresses are laid out in the warrant

[2:32:03] article that that be redefined as a mixed use zone.

[2:32:08] » So that would be you could have a business on the ground floor and an

[2:32:12] apartment above. You could have smaller restaurants, cafes.

[2:32:18] Um it is now state law that anybody who

[2:32:22] wants to put in an accessory dwelling unit like a tiny house or something on

[2:32:27] their land can do so. So somebody might want to do that and have the added

[2:32:32] income from rental. At the same time, we wanted to make sure that big developers

[2:32:37] did not come, we've kind of been through that, and propose, you know, a big

[2:32:41] apartment building. So it is limited. We're limiting the number of units in a

[2:32:46] given building. The idea is to protect the village character, you know, of

[2:32:52] Ashley and and to keep it attractive. And so any parking would have to be set

[2:32:57] back. In other words, it's really to preserve the the best of the feeling of

[2:33:02] the of the town, but allow more possibilities for small businesses

[2:33:09] to operate out of people's homes and so on. Um, any questions on that? So,

[2:33:17] that's what mixed use means. It's residential and small business owners

[2:33:24] would have to file for permits. So at this point there are two kinds of

[2:33:30] permission you have to have to run a business. If the state defines it as a

[2:33:35] business that requires permitting then you have to deal with the state. If it

[2:33:39] is just like I have a home occupation I'm a small scale dog breeder. So I came

[2:33:46] to I checked I make made sure that that within the scale that that the state

[2:33:50] requires I do not meet the demands to be listed as a kennel. but I have a home

[2:33:56] business. So, I came before the planning board. I laid out what we're doing,

[2:34:01] answered their questions, um, and got a what's known as a home

[2:34:06] occupation. Um, which is not the same thing as

[2:34:10] living in the place. It means like occupation is in work or business. I got

[2:34:14] a a certificate from the town free, you know, doesn't cost anything.

[2:34:21] So, it doesn't change. There are no fees to the town, no overhead for getting

[2:34:26] this, but it just means that the town is aware that I'm doing it. Okay. So, it's

[2:34:33] just to allow a way, but because the other thing too is for economic

[2:34:36] development, it's really important that we have an idea of all the economic

[2:34:40] things going on in the town. This is a separate topic, but I'm hoping we can

[2:34:44] end up doing an online directory. So, everybody who has a small business could

[2:34:49] list and have it be, you know, help in marketing the work that people are

[2:34:53] doing. That's a separate question. It's not part of this. But by having a

[2:34:57] mixeduse zone, it means that people can run a small business out of their home

[2:35:01] and not feel they have to do it under the radar.

[2:35:06] » Pardon me. So that means that do drop in could in fact

[2:35:10] » if as a mixed use zone do drop in could have operated.

[2:35:14] » Yes. >> Good. Okay. And so part of the the that

[2:35:19] was part of what started the discussion that the zoning board could not

[2:35:24] authorize do drop in. And I know they took a lot of heat for that but the

[2:35:28] zoning ordinance did not allow them to do that. And so to avoid that kind of

[2:35:32] issue in the future by making this adjustment, another do drop in

[2:35:38] initiative provided it went before the planning

[2:35:41] board and all of that met all the other requirements and in that case it would

[2:35:45] involve state permitting could at least hypothetically operate.

[2:35:52] » Any other questions or comments on this article?

[2:35:58] Seeing none, we will vote. um to place article three mixeduse zone on the

[2:36:04] warrant as written. All in favor? I. >> I.

[2:36:08] » All oppose? Nay.

[2:36:14] Article four, blasting ordinance. Do you want to start this one off?

[2:36:23] » Okay. So, article four about blasting. This one and the one about excavations

[2:36:28] the planning board put in place because in the last year or so there have been

[2:36:33] some incidences in town of largecale blasting and hauling off of stuff and

[2:36:41] the town was not kept informed and abutters were not happy because it did a

[2:36:48] lot of damage and the abutters had no recourse and the town had no recourse

[2:36:52] and we realized that the blasting ordinance

[2:36:56] was really inadequate. And so what this is an attempt to do,

[2:37:00] and we went through various examples of blasting ordinances from other towns and

[2:37:04] tried to put together one that really seemed like best standard of practice.

[2:37:10] It requires if you're going to do blasting, you have to show that you have

[2:37:12] the right insurance, that you have certification, you know what you're

[2:37:16] doing. You have to keep the town uh informed. You can't start at 8 in the

[2:37:21] morning. you know, who wants to live next to Glasgow that's starting in at 7

[2:37:25] or 8 in the morning. So, it sets the hours. Um, it also allows the town to

[2:37:31] track what actually is being disturbed, what actually is being removed because

[2:37:36] the damage done to one section in town by someone who came in and did a lot of

[2:37:42] blasting and a lot of removal of stuff cannot be reversed. And so this allows

[2:37:48] the town to step in a lot sooner because to proceed and it it also means that if

[2:37:53] there's if the state has to be involved through the Department of Environmental

[2:37:57] Services and so on, it just allows the town to step in sooner to prevent damage

[2:38:04] that can't be undone. Okay. Um so it basically the ordinance before was

[2:38:11] insufficient. This is trying to fix that. Even though we can't undo some of

[2:38:15] the damage that was done, it would allow us to prevent it going forward.

[2:38:21] » Any questions or comments?

[2:38:25] » Um, and Richard Hill Road. My question is when you say the town,

[2:38:31] who is the town in that instance? Like do they people need to apply or let the

[2:38:37] police know or >> all of the above?

[2:38:41] » Yeah. So there would be an application

[2:38:44] process. They would do an application to perform blasting. They get to provide

[2:38:49] their insurance certificate, the scope of the work that they're trying to

[2:38:53] accomplish. Then the proper notification to the police department, to the fire

[2:38:58] department, and the residents in the general area that could be adversely

[2:39:03] affected. Um, currently now there is none of that notification.

[2:39:07] So I I fully support the notification in my past life as a fire chief in the town

[2:39:14] that that worked in. I always got notification in advance and always made

[2:39:19] sure that the residents in the general vicinity of where the shoot was going to

[2:39:22] be were well aware and if they had opposition to it. They could voice their

[2:39:28] concerns and then the lasting company would put out monitoring devices

[2:39:33] so that they could monitor. they would actually look at your property, do a

[2:39:38] pre-b blast and then a post blast to make sure they cause no harm to you. So,

[2:39:43] I think you really this would be a good thing for the town to um put into effect

[2:39:50] and it basically keeps them honest and keeps them informative and everybody

[2:39:55] knows what's going on.

[2:40:00] » Any other questions or comments? These people need to be licensed as

[2:40:05] well. >> That's correct.

[2:40:07] » They have your licensed in good standing.

[2:40:13] » No further questions or discussion. We will move to place this article 4

[2:40:18] blasting ordinance on the warrant as written. All in favor?

[2:40:22] » I. >> All oppose? Nay.

[2:40:29] Article five, excavation ordinance. Do I have a motion to place it on the

[2:40:35] warrant or a motion to place it on the table? Sorry, Michelle. Do you have a

[2:40:39] motion? >> I'll second it.

[2:40:40] » Okay. Any discussion on article five? Linda, you want to start?

[2:40:47] » Okay, last one. Um this too arose the need to define

[2:40:52] this arose because again somebody was hauling out a lot of truckloads and the

[2:40:59] current ordinance says well some of them are removing multiple truckloads

[2:41:07] that two or 200 and the vagueness of the language allows

[2:41:12] someone to get away with a lot. So this um and the other problem is that if you

[2:41:19] abot a property where someone is doing a lot of excavation in addition to

[2:41:24] blasting, it can have runoff problems for your land. You know, if they're

[2:41:29] ripping everything down um and you have no say,

[2:41:36] that's a problem as well. So this is to protect the butters as well as the town.

[2:41:41] Okay. Um, it allows the town to just have a better understanding of how much

[2:41:46] is being removed and relocated. The town also gets paid by the truckload.

[2:41:52] So, it it requires say the developer to document what they're actually hauling

[2:41:59] out. Um, now I want to be really clear. This if you want to build a house, this

[2:42:04] will not affect you. The original amount that you had to account for was 1,000

[2:42:09] cubic yards. We talked to the person who was the engineer of the town at the time

[2:42:17] and to a number of contractors to make sure that this was fair to anybody, you

[2:42:22] know, homeowners who want to build. We don't want to place burdens on them.

[2:42:26] This is for much much larger projects and it's really to keep developers

[2:42:30] accountable to the town. Okay. So

[2:42:34] contractors generally agreed that 200 cubic yards was for plenty for a good

[2:42:41] size basement. >> We put it at 300 cubic yards just to

[2:42:45] make sure that you had plenty of room for make for digging out a basement. So

[2:42:50] if that's what you're doing, it does not affect you. If you wanted to do

[2:42:55] something bigger than that, you go to the building inspector and ask for

[2:42:59] Okay. Um keeping it simple. This is really for big scale properties where

[2:43:06] someone is pulling out, you know, truckloads after truckloads after

[2:43:10] truckloads and to make sure that the town knows

[2:43:14] what they're doing and tracking the impact on things like, you know, things

[2:43:20] slide, landslide, flooding, and so on. Cuz let's say someone excavates enough

[2:43:26] and then there's landslide down to the street, you know, that's a mess. So you

[2:43:31] really want to just for safety and for preservation

[2:43:36] and accountability. This is just to make sure people are accountable.

[2:43:40] » Thanks, Linda. >> Any questions or comments on that? Go

[2:43:45] ahead.

[2:43:51] » Bonnie, 160 Albrook Road. Um, I just looked at a couple of other towns around

[2:43:56] us and I'm finding nothing but the 1,000 um, minimum. So, I was wondering how did

[2:44:04] the 300 get established >> as far as the cubic yardage?

[2:44:10] » Point of reference, the um, 300 cubic yards. You know what a construction

[2:44:14] debris container looks like? That would be about 10 of those. So, 30 that's not

[2:44:20] a lot of material. So I guess where did 300 come from?

[2:44:23] » Yeah. So so again what we did was we talked to the then town engineer

[2:44:30] to see what he recommended and then we also talked to a number of contractors

[2:44:34] as to what would be reasonable to be able to remove for a goodiz basement.

[2:44:41] They recommended 200. We bumped it up to 300. But that was sort of not that was

[2:44:47] not arbitrary. It was really after consulting with an engineer and

[2:44:51] contractors to make sure that we were factoring their experience because we

[2:44:54] didn't want to be unfair to contractors either.

[2:44:57] » Does that did that answer the question? >> Yeah, it's just unique. The amount is

[2:45:02] unique about 12 different towns that I looked at.

[2:45:05] » Yeah. >> And some of them have no minimum. So I

[2:45:09] assume anybody who does any excavation has to go again. So

[2:45:13] » that may be and ours was a thousand. Um, that certainly can be up for discussion.

[2:45:17] I think our big concern was how do we limit it so that anybody who's doing

[2:45:22] stuff bigger has to be accountable to the town.

[2:45:31] » Any other comments or questions?

[2:45:36] » Seeing none, we'll take a vote to place article 5 excavation ordinance on the

[2:45:41] warrant as written. All in favor? I >> I

[2:45:45] » all oppose. Nay. >> Again, I just want to let you know the

[2:45:50] board of selectment is having a meeting after this meeting. Um it's a very brief

[2:45:54] one, but if anyone wants to stay, they're welcome to stay.

[2:45:58] Um I will entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Oh, did you have a comment?

[2:46:03] » Yes. >> Oh, okay.

[2:46:05] » Close up. I had a comment I wanted to make on the

[2:46:09] distort society. >> Keep it brief.

[2:46:14] This is not a here or there. Uh this year as you know is the 250th

[2:46:18] anniversary of the constitution of the United States and this year the Ashlin

[2:46:25] Historic Society in cooperation working with the Fourth of July committee is

[2:46:31] planning big events for the 4th of July this year much bigger than we normally

[2:46:36] have. Uh, I personally have been working with the archives down in Carman, New

[2:46:41] Hampshire and have copies of our original constitution and would remain

[2:46:47] our US Constitution. As you may or may not know, New

[2:46:52] Hampshire was a United States ratified constitution and they would not ratify

[2:46:57] it until we had a bill of rights. I have a direct copy from the original that's

[2:47:02] going to be on display. It's autographed by Bill Gardner, the former Secretary of

[2:47:07] State with a state seal on it and it's sealed, you know, and has a beautiful

[2:47:11] frame. And I also, while I was at it, I've got the town founding documents for

[2:47:17] Ashley. So, those are all going to be displayed in in some point. I'm not sure

[2:47:23] what where we're going to do it yet. We're still in the study phases here. It

[2:47:28] could be at the Whipple House. It could be at the at the booster club. We're not

[2:47:33] sure what we're going to do and we're going to ask the board of selective if

[2:47:36] they put the founding documents of the board of selective meeting with when

[2:47:39] we're finished with this project to be there permanently.

[2:47:43] So I just want to let you know that it's a exciting year. I'm excited about it. I

[2:47:49] hope everybody else is. >> Thanks Bob.

[2:47:53] » Now entertain a motion to adjourn. Michelle

[2:47:58] Michelle and second. >> All in favor of adjourning the meeting

[2:48:02] say I. >> I.

[2:48:03] » All opposed. >> Meeting adjourned.

[2:48:07] » Nice job everybody.

2026 Ashland Deliberative Session 2/7/26

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