[2:03] Executive session.

[2:04] Everyone's on board. Everyone's here.

[2:05] Go ahead and fire it up. Okay.

[2:07] Good afternoon council and guests.

[2:11] Today is Tuesday, September 1st, 2026.

[2:14] It is very close to 5:00 PM

[2:17] and I will call this regular council meeting,

[2:19] regular meeting of the Berry City Council to order.

[2:21] First item on the agenda is any adjustments to

[2:25] and approval of the agenda?

[2:27] Yes,

[2:28] I would just like to request the IUC,

[2:30] the flood resiliency update.

[2:31] We basically consider the auditorium update

[2:34] as the flood resiliency update.

[2:35] Yep. And move it off the agenda officially.

[2:37] So noted. Thank you Mr. Acting.

[2:41] Any adjustments to the agenda? Yes sir. Counsel. Okay.

[2:46] Motion to approve would be an order. So moved. Second.

[2:48] Thank you. It's moved and seconded. Is there any discussion?

[2:52] Hearing none. All those in favor? The motion is presented.

[2:55] Please signify by saying aye. Aye. And those opposed?

[2:58] The agenda is approved.

[3:01] A motion to go into executive or for findings. Excuse me.

[3:05] For executive session, we're going

[3:07] to be talking about personnel,

[3:09] specifically the city manager search.

[3:11] It's so moved. Thank you. Second. It's moved and seconded.

[3:13] Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor?

[3:17] The motion is presented. Please signify by saying aye. Aye.

[3:21] And those opposed? Thank you.

[3:23] And a motion to enter executive session will be in order.

[3:26] So moved. Second. Moved and seconded.

[3:29] And we will be asking

[3:31] what the heck We can ask everybody here to join us.

[3:33] We can ask. Council will be joining us.

[3:35] The acting will be joining us.

[3:37] These nice folks will be joining us.

[3:39] Cheryl, you can join us. Hey it. Dude, you can join us too.

[3:44] We like you

[3:46] It, Dude.

[3:47] It's all good. We try. If we didn't trust you,

[3:48] you wouldn't be sitting in this room.

[3:50] So, but thanks any, I was like, no, I'm going home. See you.

[3:53] This is like, I'm outta here.

[3:55] God, I do have one, which is

[3:57] that Dominic Cloud will be joining us,

[3:58] but he's running a little bit late.

[4:00] He is on his way from Randolph.

[4:02] Hopefully not speeding too much.

[4:03] Okay. You, but you can let him into the Yeah,

[4:05] I told him that he should knock on the door.

[4:07] That it will be closed and Bell be an executive session and

[4:09] You can just, he Here in person.

[4:10] Do you want me to put up a sign and maybe five, 10 minutes?

[4:12] I'm sorry. Do you want me to put up the sign?

[4:14] Oh, no one ever. You know, most people don't come.

[4:18] They don't come here. I mean you can if you like.

[4:20] Well, someone, someone came in is, I don't,

[4:22] don't think they, oh thanks Brian.

[4:23] You need *****

[4:24] At home about they can't.

[4:25] Thank you Brian.

[4:27] Okay. Motion is made and seconded.

[4:30] Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor?

[4:33] The motion is presented. Please signify by saying aye. Aye.

[4:36] Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

[4:38] Counsel will be in executive session. Just a moment

[1:02:46] On one sec.

[1:02:47] Thank you. Sonya. Do you need us to wait? No. No. Okay.

[1:02:51] Okay. We are, thank you everyone. Thank you.

[1:02:54] So we are, we are unmuted and, and we are back live.

[1:02:59] So a motion to exit executive session

[1:03:01] would be appropriate. So moved.

[1:03:02] Second. Thank you. Is moved and seconded.

[1:03:05] Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor?

[1:03:09] The motion is presented. Please signify by saying aye. Aye.

[1:03:13] And those opposed counsel is in open session

[1:03:16] and so I would call for item four on the agenda, which is

[1:03:21] visitors and communications.

[1:03:22] Is there anyone wishing to address the council

[1:03:25] regarding an item that is not on the agenda?

[1:03:28] Bene rose.

[1:03:32] Okay. Thank you. Mayor, can you hear me?

[1:03:36] I'm working on it. Barely. Yeah, we're working on it.

[1:03:38] Sorry, Bern. Give a second. Give,

[1:03:43] Is it output volume?

[1:03:44] It's, sorry, it's TVs.

[1:03:49] No, don't The tv.

[1:03:54] Oh yeah, that's better. Okay. Try it again. Burn.

[1:03:58] Hi everyone. You look fantastic

[1:04:00] tonight. Did you hear that?

[1:04:04] Yes. Oh good. Especially you Mr. Mayor.

[1:04:08] You look really awesome.

[1:04:13] Can you hear her? Can I, nah,

[1:04:16] There's a lot of background noise right now. Yeah,

[1:04:20] That's why.

[1:04:21] Hey, if we can't have fun, right?

[1:04:24] Yeah, I have a couple of things

[1:04:25] and I'm just gonna read them to you

[1:04:28] and then as, as people are able to address them

[1:04:33] in their work, that would be wonderful.

[1:04:35] So could we please put out the sandwich board

[1:04:39] in front of city hall?

[1:04:41] Alerting residents to the upcoming school vote on suburb

[1:04:45] September 15th and on the e-board for the Civic Center.

[1:04:50] So many people do not realize we're having a school vote

[1:04:54] and it's important for us all.

[1:04:57] The next thing is,

[1:04:59] although larger stones have filled in the washouts on our

[1:05:03] street, they are dislodged by heavier rains

[1:05:07] and DPW has to then come and move them out of the street.

[1:05:12] And they also fill my neighbor's yard.

[1:05:15] I hope that going forward the city will repair, replace

[1:05:19] failed drains when repaving as not doing

[1:05:23] that is causing our street

[1:05:25] to also be undermined every storm.

[1:05:29] And I just wanna thank the DPW workers, the water

[1:05:32] and sewer workers because they have just all been out

[1:05:36] straight for their hard work in all kinds of weather.

[1:05:40] And lastly, there's an amazing event coming up at the Berry

[1:05:44] City Elementary Middle School.

[1:05:46] It's put on by the Flynn Theater

[1:05:49] and it's called Playing Fields.

[1:05:51] All are welcomed and it's free.

[1:05:54] It's Tuesday, September 8th from six to 8:00 PM

[1:05:59] and it's really, looks like it's gonna be quite an

[1:06:02] event out outdoors.

[1:06:03] I, I've never been to one,

[1:06:05] but they're doing them all around Vermont as a way

[1:06:08] to give back to our communities.

[1:06:10] So thank you very much for hearing these things and Ms.

[1:06:15] Cheryl, I will be happy

[1:06:18] to send you a little blurb about each

[1:06:19] of these things if you would like that.

[1:06:22] Thank you Barry. Thank you. You're

[1:06:23] Welcome.

[1:06:24] If I may briefly address Yes, I drove by

[1:06:26] and noted that the election is on the

[1:06:28] e-board for the civic center.

[1:06:30] Already got that already. So we can check that off.

[1:06:33] Great. Thank you. Okay.

[1:06:37] Anyone else Under visitors and communications?

[1:06:41] Okay, hearing and seeing no one Counsel will move on

[1:06:44] to the consent agenda will be approving the minutes

[1:06:46] of the regular meeting of 8 25 26.

[1:06:49] We will be ratifying Alan McCullough.

[1:06:52] Adam McCullough's appointment is tree warden.

[1:06:54] We'll be approving resolution 2026 dash 13, which is

[1:06:59] to apply for a tier B status with the land use review board.

[1:07:03] There was quite a bit of information. Your packet on that.

[1:07:06] Do you have any office license?

[1:07:08] The clerk has no office licenses or permits

[1:07:11] and I don't believe you have any contracts for signature.

[1:07:14] So a motion to approve would be in order. So moved.

[1:07:16] Thank you. Second. And moved and seconded.

[1:07:19] Is there any discussion or questions? Yes.

[1:07:21] Just brief discussion, which is that I'm pleased

[1:07:24] that we are about to ratify.

[1:07:26] Adam McCullough is the tree warden.

[1:07:28] We've already picked up a conversation, Carol and Adam

[1:07:31] and I, because there are some weird

[1:07:33] and conflicting pieces of ordinance about the tree warden

[1:07:36] and the activities.

[1:07:37] So we are taking a look at them to make them make sense.

[1:07:40] So you may see that in a future council meeting.

[1:07:43] Awesome. Any other questions or discussion? Yes,

[1:07:48] I have.

[1:07:50] I just have a question. Under new business under the

[1:07:54] C-D-B-G-D-R applications we talked about

[1:07:58] that says the plan includes green space

[1:08:00] and housing in the WBE park space.

[1:08:02] Was it the WBE park space or was it the front?

[1:08:05] No, it was the, the housing would be located at Wabe Park

[1:08:09] and then the other and then the green space

[1:08:11] would be in front.

[1:08:12] In the front. Yeah. Where, I apologize,

[1:08:15] I forget the addresses.

[1:08:17] Janet probably has some memorized.

[1:08:18] What are, what were Salvation RVs?

[1:08:20] What are the properties that encompass the green space

[1:08:22] and the DR applications?

[1:08:23] It's 5 5 53

[1:08:25] North Main 5 45 North Main 5 31 1.

[1:08:29] Okay, I was confused. Yep. So thank you for that.

[1:08:31] Not at all. Application. And then one more thing under the

[1:08:34] high watermark project, Danielle Ozaki,

[1:08:38] it's Jim Desler

[1:08:40] and I can get you the proper spelling of that name.

[1:08:42] Okay. I don't have it, but I just wanted to make sure

[1:08:44] that it's correct in nine minutes.

[1:08:45] And that's all. Thank you. You're

[1:08:47] Welcome.

[1:08:48] Any other questions or discussion? Hearing none.

[1:08:51] All those in favor? The motion is presented.

[1:08:53] Please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed?

[1:08:57] Thank you very much. Counsel will move on

[1:09:00] to item five A on the agenda.

[1:09:02] We'll be approving the city warrants for the week of 9 2 26.

[1:09:06] A motion would be in order.

[1:09:08] So moved. Second. Thank

[1:09:09] You.

[1:09:10] Moved and seconded. Thank you. Is there any discussion?

[1:09:13] Hearing none. All those in favor? The motion is presented.

[1:09:16] Please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

[1:09:18] And those opposed? Motion carries. Any abstentions? No.

[1:09:22] Thank you Ms. City Clerk.

[1:09:25] Yeah, how are you? I'm doing well,

[1:09:27] Thank you.

[1:09:30] We are going to start

[1:09:31] with the Berry Unified Union School District Budget.

[1:09:34] Revote is scheduled again for Tuesday, September 15th.

[1:09:39] Elections will be again at Alumni Hall from 7:00 AM

[1:09:43] to 7:00 PM All ballots must be returned

[1:09:47] by 7:00 PM on that date to count.

[1:09:51] Currently we have issued 449 absentee ballots

[1:09:56] and have received 156 back.

[1:10:00] In addition to Tuesday the 15th being election day,

[1:10:03] it is also the deadline for the first quarter

[1:10:06] of property taxes.

[1:10:08] And because we, the city no longer,

[1:10:12] no longer accepts Postmarks as a timeline

[1:10:16] for receiving them, they must be in the city clerk's hands

[1:10:20] or office by Tuesday,

[1:10:24] September 15th at 4:30 PM

[1:10:30] Next water and sewer bills were mailed out on

[1:10:32] Friday, August 28th.

[1:10:34] The due date is Wednesday, September 30th.

[1:10:36] And again, all payments must be received in the office

[1:10:40] by five, excuse me, 4:30 PM on that date

[1:10:44] to be considered timely.

[1:10:47] And last but not least, BYSA football is scheduled

[1:10:50] to hold a coin drop Saturday the fifth

[1:10:54] on Main Street in front of Domino's.

[1:10:58] Thank you. Any questions? Counsel?

[1:11:03] You you needed that right?

[1:11:05] Oh Yes. Relu resolution. Okay. And,

[1:11:09] And warrant? Yes.

[1:11:10] Yep. So no questions Counsel, we will move on to Liquor

[1:11:15] and Cannabis control board.

[1:11:16] I don't think we have nothing, anything on the agenda there.

[1:11:19] We will move on to the acting city manager's report.

[1:11:22] Alright, chief, how are you? I

[1:11:25] Am well, thank you.

[1:11:26] We had, Alberta Miller is our executive office assistant

[1:11:31] here in city Hall.

[1:11:33] She started yesterday.

[1:11:35] Carol and Jeannie

[1:11:37] and Janet have been working with her,

[1:11:40] getting her up to speed on some things.

[1:11:42] She's doing really well.

[1:11:44] Janet and her team successfully submitted the round three

[1:11:48] C-D-B-G-D-R-I can never say that.

[1:11:51] Application for 1 43 North Maine and the North end buyouts

[1:11:55] and housing nine River Street was just awarded under the

[1:11:59] FEMA bi FEMA buyouts.

[1:12:02] That leaves just two yet to be awarded three *****

[1:12:04] and eight Harrington.

[1:12:07] And the fire department Deputy chief process Phase two is

[1:12:11] underway this week with interviews.

[1:12:13] And then lastly, all things paving

[1:12:16] and construction continue.

[1:12:18] I think we're keeping the car washes in business.

[1:12:22] As you look around the city, there's,

[1:12:23] there's a lot of dust flying.

[1:12:27] SD Ireland is coming in to put a top coat on Camp Street,

[1:12:31] and then they're gonna be beginning the overlay on South

[1:12:34] Maine and Washington next week.

[1:12:37] And tell me what happens

[1:12:39] to traffic while they're doing that.

[1:12:42] So the tra the overlay, you mean? Yeah.

[1:12:45] So they're gonna be doing the overlay at night.

[1:12:48] They're gonna be working. It's all night work.

[1:12:52] One of the things that Brian had said that they wanted

[1:12:56] to do first was the

[1:12:58] 62 Maple North Maine intersection Because

[1:13:02] of the Yeah,

[1:13:05] The Roller coaster.

[1:13:06] The roller coaster. Yeah.

[1:13:09] So they're, they're gonna be doing that first, I believe.

[1:13:12] And then they're, they're doing Washington South Maine.

[1:13:15] I'm not sure which one they're doing first coming

[1:13:17] down, but that's all night work.

[1:13:19] It's night work. And they will

[1:13:21] maintain one lane of traffic.

[1:13:22] Correct. Gotcha. Yes.

[1:13:24] Okay. There is, there is some work going on up

[1:13:26] on Washington Street.

[1:13:28] There's at Highland in Washington where the washout is.

[1:13:32] There's a three day thing they're working on

[1:13:36] that may be down to one lane,

[1:13:37] but they're looking at a different way to do it.

[1:13:40] So it doesn't have to be three full days. Gotcha.

[1:13:43] 'cause that would cause some concern.

[1:13:44] Yes, it would. Any questions, counsel?

[1:13:48] So we're getting it done.

[1:13:51] Do you know when they're gonna complete the

[1:13:53] railroad crossing on Hill Street?

[1:13:54] Like the paving? I

[1:13:56] Think it's next week.

[1:13:58] Okay. But I'm not sure I can look into

[1:14:00] That.

[1:14:01] So that will probably close

[1:14:03] that street probably for the day.

[1:14:05] Yes. And that's always a bit of a challenge if they could,

[1:14:10] you know, if this any way that they could delay that even

[1:14:13] until eight 30 when the buses go

[1:14:15] through it just makes such a huge difference.

[1:14:18] Yep. You know, it, it really does.

[1:14:20] And then take a little break when the buses go back,

[1:14:24] you don't realize how much you Ms. West Patterson Street

[1:14:27] until, and no, we're gonna be talking about this winter

[1:14:30] that, that, that this winter, there are two streets in Barry

[1:14:33] that remain closed because of the 23 storm.

[1:14:36] Yep. One is West Patterson.

[1:14:38] And I think we all recognize, especially

[1:14:40] with the construction on South Maine

[1:14:42] and Hill Street, we all recognize how, how really important

[1:14:46] that that street is.

[1:14:48] And then of course, Nelson, which is much,

[1:14:50] much less important, but people still miss it.

[1:14:54] So this winter we are gonna have a contra conversation

[1:14:57] with Brian about how, how we get West Patterson open.

[1:15:00] What is the cost, how do we do it? What is the timeline?

[1:15:04] It's just, you know, one of those things where it's you,

[1:15:08] you miss it when you miss it.

[1:15:09] And then when you sit here in the council chambers,

[1:15:11] not when we're talking about other priorities and paving

[1:15:14] and infrastructure, not so much.

[1:15:16] But it, it's been quite a while. It's

[1:15:18] Like Holden Street in Berry Town.

[1:15:20] I went up it today in four years. Yeah. It's gorgeous.

[1:15:24] And people take that shortcut.

[1:15:26] Yeah. So, yeah.

[1:15:29] So we've figured it out and we'll be,

[1:15:30] and it's, you know, people deserve, you know, we haven't,

[1:15:35] we've had our challenges.

[1:15:36] We haven't revisited.

[1:15:39] So what I'd like to do this winter

[1:15:40] is well, let's make a decision.

[1:15:42] Either it's going to be permanently closed

[1:15:45] and we'll make it that way,

[1:15:48] or we're gonna work to get it open.

[1:15:50] It, it's kind of gotta be one or the other.

[1:15:54] I just would jump in briefly, Mary, to, to build on the,

[1:15:56] the road work.

[1:15:58] They've been working on Seminary Street,

[1:16:00] which is right out on the corner from my house.

[1:16:01] So I've been without water during the day

[1:16:03] for two days, which has been a bummer for me.

[1:16:04] But the communication was superb.

[1:16:07] I had a big old orange note

[1:16:08] that was briefly terrifying tapes to my door,

[1:16:12] but I brought it inside and taped it over my sink.

[1:16:15] So I would not open the faucet during those days.

[1:16:18] I pulled out the camping kit

[1:16:19] and drew water in the big bin there for

[1:16:22] during the day for the couple of days.

[1:16:24] And I saw him on all the other houses on, on my,

[1:16:26] on the streets in my neighborhood.

[1:16:28] So yeah, so just props for, for the communication

[1:16:31] and the sharing out ahead of time

[1:16:32] and it's an important project. I'm glad it's getting done.

[1:16:35] Cool. Okay.

[1:16:39] Anything else for the acting manager?

[1:16:42] Okay, counsel, then we will move on

[1:16:44] to item nine A on the agenda, we need

[1:16:46] to appoint a very representative to the VCRD

[1:16:50] Vermont Community Leadership Summit.

[1:16:53] What are your thoughts?

[1:16:56] My thoughts are that, I've dropped the ball on this a

[1:16:57] little bit, but I had a couple of that's suggestions

[1:17:01] for folks that could be great representatives of,

[1:17:04] of the berry community.

[1:17:06] Josh Jerome, who has served ably on the city manager search

[1:17:10] committee, as well as the director of the BACD Po Mattino,

[1:17:14] who is a wonderful servant on the police advisory committee

[1:17:17] and is also the executive director

[1:17:18] of the Rainbow Bridge Community Center downtown.

[1:17:23] And there are a number of members of city staff

[1:17:25] who could also tremendously benefit from this

[1:17:27] opportunity as well.

[1:17:29] Janet Shay comes, comes top of mind for me.

[1:17:32] So those are a couple of ideas I had ahead of time.

[1:17:35] I don't know if other folks wanna suggest names or

[1:17:39] Where'd Janet out? She was just here. I

[1:17:41] Know.

[1:17:42] Well, we got, we we passed, we passed the land use.

[1:17:45] No, that's okay. She's had, she's had a long day.

[1:17:47] So I imagine she wanted to get home.

[1:17:50] You know, my, my thought was,

[1:17:54] my thought was Janet,

[1:17:57] and if Janet is, if Janet is

[1:18:02] unwilling or her schedule simply,

[1:18:05] I don't think Janet would be unwilling if her schedule

[1:18:07] doesn't allow, then we, I was going to let the acting

[1:18:13] and Carol pick an alternate.

[1:18:17] No, I didn't ask you.

[1:18:20] I said pick an alternate.

[1:18:23] And, and those names that you presented council, they Yeah,

[1:18:26] both wonderful names were wonderful names.

[1:18:30] But, but again, if it's something

[1:18:32] that Janet is interested in at, in attending, I know most

[1:18:36] of the time her work schedule prevents her

[1:18:38] from attending a lot of these events.

[1:18:40] I don't want, do I really want to give her this opportunity?

[1:18:43] She worked very hard getting the DR applications in.

[1:18:46] So if, if Janet would like

[1:18:48] that opportunity, I'm fine with that.

[1:18:51] So I don't think we need a formal motion necessarily.

[1:18:54] We're all okay with that. We'll offer to Janet first

[1:18:56] and if not, we'll let Carol

[1:18:58] and the acting pick an alternate.

[1:19:02] And if you wanna work with them on

[1:19:03] that council, I'm happy to Yes.

[1:19:04] Yeah, go right ahead because I think, you know,

[1:19:06] those were all wonderful names.

[1:19:09] Okay, we'll move to item eight, nine B on the agenda.

[1:19:13] This is the update on the auditorium renovations project.

[1:19:17] Mr. Baker, how are you? I'm

[1:19:19] Good Counsel.

[1:19:22] You did have some information on the packet in this regard.

[1:19:26] Take it away.

[1:19:28] Make a long story short.

[1:19:29] We are at the mercy of USDA approving our

[1:19:35] drawings and our, the drawings for the, the plot.

[1:19:39] We are at USDA's whim on when they can approve 'em.

[1:19:45] We are now eight weeks into that process.

[1:19:49] We are eight weeks into it.

[1:19:51] And they have not approved the drawings. They,

[1:19:53] They approve, they came back with one set

[1:19:57] of questions.

[1:19:59] They, and we sent them back

[1:20:01] and we still haven't heard back from 'em.

[1:20:04] Okay. And what does that do to the schedule?

[1:20:09] It is pushing us way back right now.

[1:20:14] We did swap out the boilers that we're gonna be putting in,

[1:20:18] going from a one piece unit to a sectional unit.

[1:20:21] It cuts the lead time from 12 weeks to eight, six weeks.

[1:20:26] And we're just kind of waiting right now to,

[1:20:30] to see if we can get it in this year,

[1:20:33] If we can, If we can get the,

[1:20:35] get this renovation done in this this year

[1:20:38] before we open up again at Thanksgiving.

[1:20:40] Okay. And as a council,

[1:20:44] who could we possibly speak with?

[1:20:47] I mean, I'm, I'm sure you're doing a if great job, but

[1:20:51] Push with the, the federal government.

[1:20:54] How about a contractor? The contract?

[1:20:58] We, right now we are waiting on the federal government,

[1:21:01] But the person that we hired to do it, they,

[1:21:04] they must have some insight with them.

[1:21:06] They've gone through the process before, I would assume. No,

[1:21:10] I don't believe so.

[1:21:12] But we're still waiting on the

[1:21:15] federal government to Okay it.

[1:21:17] And

[1:21:19] So straight up, I'm little disappointed

[1:21:23] that this is the first we're hearing about this and,

[1:21:27] and honestly kind of surprised how long,

[1:21:31] so we've been waiting for how many weeks?

[1:21:33] Eight weeks. Eight weeks for simple drawing.

[1:21:38] And, and what exactly are the

[1:21:40] drawings that they need to approve

[1:21:41] The, all the work,

[1:21:43] the renovations we're doing to the auditorium,

[1:21:45] All of them.

[1:21:47] Even the, the MERP grant,

[1:21:51] we are now at the point

[1:21:53] where we probably can split that out.

[1:21:56] That's the, for the auditorium.

[1:21:59] Right. So we maybe we lumped them together to try

[1:22:04] to get as much bang for the buck as we could

[1:22:07] between the two two grants. So

[1:22:10] We're waiting Now we got the designs

[1:22:12] For them on the CDS, the congressional directed spending.

[1:22:15] Yeah. Which far

[1:22:17] and away, I mean if you look at the budget Yeah, it's,

[1:22:20] the other two grants are roughly half a million bucks.

[1:22:23] And the CDS congressionally directed spending grant is

[1:22:28] 3.5 million.

[1:22:29] 3.5. So that, I mean,

[1:22:30] essentially it's the whole project. That's the

[1:22:32] Project.

[1:22:33] Yeah. So we're kind of

[1:22:37] Waiting And plan working on plans BCD.

[1:22:42] So is this the first time that Arch has worked

[1:22:44] with a CDS grant?

[1:22:48] I believe they've had a couple. Okay.

[1:22:50] I, I'm not sure. Yeah,

[1:22:52] No.

[1:22:53] And I'm Tom, I I don't mean I,

[1:22:55] I mean I'm not sitting here blaming anyone.

[1:22:56] I'm just trying to educate myself.

[1:22:58] I mean, like no one saw this con like is this normal?

[1:23:05] I I've been told it, it is.

[1:23:08] I I can speak to this a tiny bit. Go for it.

[1:23:10] Which is that I ran a CDS grant through work last year

[1:23:15] and we had a similar experience.

[1:23:17] The CDS grants are approved by the congressional office

[1:23:21] and they're placed with an agency.

[1:23:23] And the agency may

[1:23:24] or may not have experience in I approving those

[1:23:28] specific types of projects.

[1:23:29] It may not fit the usual type of grants that they do.

[1:23:32] So in our case, we were, we got CDS money

[1:23:34] for a specific project and then we had to work with,

[1:23:36] I honestly even forget what it was like one

[1:23:38] of the subagencies in the National Archives.

[1:23:41] And it was so far like outside their normal grant process

[1:23:44] that it took, we were way less,

[1:23:46] we were way more than eight weeks in getting them

[1:23:48] to approve the, the work we were doing

[1:23:50] and getting them to give us feedback on the things

[1:23:53] that said we were in a far less urgent position than the

[1:23:56] auditorium, which has scheduling concerns

[1:23:58] and everything like that.

[1:24:00] But in my experience with another piece of the CDS program

[1:24:04] that, that also happened.

[1:24:05] Have, have you had any contact

[1:24:07] with Arch about this in the last eight weeks?

[1:24:11] Yeah, we had a meeting this mor this afternoon.

[1:24:13] I mean, what do they, they must be a little bit, they're,

[1:24:15] they're just so to speak, they're getting in the language.

[1:24:17] You know, they're get the same feeling we all do.

[1:24:20] They, let's just get this going

[1:24:22] so we can get this job started and completed.

[1:24:25] I think a call needs to be made

[1:24:26] to them. What do you think mayor?

[1:24:29] Well, I mean, I'm thinking of a lot of things.

[1:24:31] I mean, one of the No and,

[1:24:33] and not, you know, just trying to process all of this.

[1:24:36] I mean, we're talking about the heating system. Okay.

[1:24:41] So we've disabled the heating system.

[1:24:43] No, we haven't. We have not.

[1:24:45] We have not. We're okay. We we're,

[1:24:47] We are, but We can't tear that apart until

[1:24:49] We have, we could disable the heating system in October.

[1:24:53] Really can't do it. Not much past October 1st.

[1:24:57] Right. Not past,

[1:24:58] Even with that eight, eight week lead time that, you know,

[1:25:02] you're pushing it, we're,

[1:25:03] We're dangerously close to having to push Right.

[1:25:07] Some of that up until spring.

[1:25:08] That that's a sprinkler building and

[1:25:09] it's a wet system. Correct?

[1:25:11] Yes. I believe so. Yeah.

[1:25:12] So, yeah.

[1:25:14] So you, no way, no, I mean, honestly what I'm thinking is if

[1:25:20] approval is eminent, in other words, there's no,

[1:25:23] there's no issue with them saying no. Right.

[1:25:25] Not that I'm aware of. We, not that I'm aware of. Okay.

[1:25:29] So we, Like I said, we, we've got the first round

[1:25:33] of feedback, we sent those corrections to 'em.

[1:25:37] Now we're just waiting on them to come back to us

[1:25:40] And say your this Is okay.

[1:25:43] Or whoops, you didn't quite make this, this one.

[1:25:47] Okay. So we're just waiting on there. There.

[1:25:50] Do you, do you have any liaison point person?

[1:25:53] Anyone you can talk to?

[1:25:55] I can call the, our case manager I guess. Okay.

[1:26:00] Talk to her. But she's the one I've been emailing

[1:26:03] and she's the one that's saying

[1:26:05] we just have to wait.

[1:26:09] Okay. So The bottom of her email has alliances due to

[1:26:15] basically short staffing process may take longer

[1:26:18] than than normal.

[1:26:19] Okay. But we live in Vermont.

[1:26:22] So if we can't get approval

[1:26:27] for these boilers in 30 days,

[1:26:30] then we're not doing the project this year. Correct.

[1:26:33] That portion of the Project, that portion

[1:26:35] of the project, we

[1:26:36] May be, we can probably get the lights done,

[1:26:39] the kitchen remodel done.

[1:26:43] We probably won't get

[1:26:44] to the bathrooms this year if we can't get started.

[1:26:47] Right. Because of,

[1:26:49] So I get, so I guess my que when you think about the

[1:26:52] planning that went into this, the tournaments

[1:26:55] that we have in the spring, the commitments

[1:26:58] that we have over the winter.

[1:27:00] When you, when you think of all those things,

[1:27:03] what I'm wondering is,

[1:27:08] Carol, is it possible for the city we have bonding capacity,

[1:27:12] is it possible for the city?

[1:27:14] Is it permissible under a CDS?

[1:27:17] And I don't know the answer to this for the city

[1:27:20] because they're not gonna Oh,

[1:27:22] but they have to approve the work they have.

[1:27:23] I've already had, but they don't approve the work. So, okay.

[1:27:26] I just, I've already asked that question.

[1:27:27] I just answered my own question. If you, if we

[1:27:28] Could selves go ahead and The work

[1:27:30] and then they say we don't like that work,

[1:27:32] then you run the risk of them saying, okay,

[1:27:35] we're not paying for that work.

[1:27:36] We don't like it. So unfortunately we just have to, we

[1:27:40] Got that answer.

[1:27:41] The council. So

[1:27:43] We approved clerk of the works a while back.

[1:27:47] Is he working? He's he on trying to push this thing through

[1:27:50] Or on, he reviews the documents

[1:27:54] and he'll review the bids that come in

[1:27:56] and then he over, he takes note basically notes of

[1:28:00] how many people are there for which contractor

[1:28:03] and the weather and what work got done this day.

[1:28:07] And

[1:28:09] Hmm.

[1:28:10] Captain Ruth here.

[1:28:11] Steve, without putting you on the spot, have you dealt

[1:28:14] with them before with this USDA and, and No,

[1:28:18] I'm just here with the CDS grant.

[1:28:19] But I mean, the review process is always time consuming.

[1:28:26] I think if you, if you, if you have issues,

[1:28:28] I'd call the state director of USDA.

[1:28:32] This

[1:28:34] Squeaky wheel gets, It's a

[1:28:37] presidential appointee. This

[1:28:38] Was changed how, how long ago?

[1:28:40] You said back in the second set responses

[1:28:43] Last week when I got back from vacation.

[1:28:45] Okay.

[1:28:49] Yeah, the review processes even normally can be

[1:28:52] Eight weeks Ly.

[1:28:54] Long time. So.

[1:28:57] Hmm. Council Hogart Con, it's

[1:29:00] Congressional and I'll get you in a moment Amy,

[1:29:02] It's congressionally directed spending.

[1:29:04] Yes. Can our con congressional delegation

[1:29:07] advocate on our behalf and point out that this is Vermont

[1:29:10] and W heating season is coming?

[1:29:12] Might not hurt. Might not hurt.

[1:29:14] Which office is this one?

[1:29:16] I believe it came from Sanders. Sanders. Sanders?

[1:29:19] Yeah. It was Sandra Sanders. Amy.

[1:29:22] Yeah. Just this might be some relevant perspective.

[1:29:26] I work with USDA rural development sometimes on water

[1:29:28] or wastewater projects,

[1:29:30] which I think is also under the community program staff.

[1:29:33] Several years ago they had eight or 10 staff people

[1:29:36] and the New Hampshire and Vermont offices are, are joint.

[1:29:40] So they had about eight or 10 people.

[1:29:42] They now have two because there were enough people

[1:29:44] who took early retirement buyouts, some people

[1:29:48] who were recent enough pro employees

[1:29:50] that they were probationary and so they were laid off.

[1:29:52] So they have very few staff

[1:29:55] for the existing program.

[1:29:58] So not an excuse,

[1:30:00] but just some perspective for what happened

[1:30:03] for staffing over the last couple years.

[1:30:05] Thank you. Yeah. So yes, sorry,

[1:30:09] I'm just really confused and concerned with the timeline.

[1:30:13] We got the spend, we got the award in 22

[1:30:17] and we're in 26 4 years later

[1:30:21] and we're still waiting for drawings to be approved

[1:30:24] and we're potentially looking at not having

[1:30:27] the building for use.

[1:30:29] So I'm just trying to understand

[1:30:31] and figure out where in the last four years we've kind

[1:30:34] of messed up with not submitting

[1:30:37] or where the hiccup has been in those last four

[1:30:42] years of us getting the, the spending, like getting

[1:30:45] that award with BADC.

[1:30:49] And here we are September 1st

[1:30:52] and we're not even got any work started.

[1:30:57] I don't know about the first two.

[1:31:00] I've only been here for just about two years.

[1:31:02] Sure. Two years. And we started working on this

[1:31:04] project I believe about a year ago.

[1:31:08] We've been starting,

[1:31:11] we started the RFP process in the, sorry,

[1:31:16] I'm sorry.

[1:31:17] Tell Yeah, I can speak to that a little bit.

[1:31:18] Which is that the first two

[1:31:20] and a half, three years of this grant,

[1:31:22] my understanding is the city did not

[1:31:23] know it had a match component.

[1:31:24] So we couldn't actually do anything with it.

[1:31:26] It was later negotiated that we could spend the money

[1:31:30] and that's when the work began in earnest.

[1:31:32] I do remember the match conversation

[1:31:34] and how we're able to use some other funds in

[1:31:36] order to figure out the

[1:31:37] Match.

[1:31:38] Yeah. And so that was figuring that out was the first couple

[1:31:40] of years of the grant when we started in earnest,

[1:31:42] we had all those presentations about

[1:31:43] how the work would be modified and tweaked

[1:31:45] and changed to fit the new budget.

[1:31:47] And that's when it started in earnest a year.

[1:31:51] So that's, that's a good chunk of it was just

[1:31:55] the confusion about the early part of the grant.

[1:31:58] It's just So not great news. No.

[1:32:02] You know, the biggest concern is yes, there is the,

[1:32:08] you know, we could certainly do the lighting upgrade

[1:32:11] if they would approve that.

[1:32:12] So looking, you know, the kitchen

[1:32:17] building ventilation, you really can't do that

[1:32:19] until you do the furnace,

[1:32:22] until you do the entire HVAC contractor. Well there

[1:32:24] They're, yeah, they're,

[1:32:26] they're two com two separate pieces. Gotcha.

[1:32:28] Because The, the heat pumps

[1:32:31] are gonna be a separate system.

[1:32:33] Yeah. That heating and pooling, if we got those installed

[1:32:37] before October, that might carry the building Yeah.

[1:32:42] While we're doing the other one. Yeah.

[1:32:44] If it's, if it's a night, if it's a decent October,

[1:32:49] but again, that's i's all contingent

[1:32:53] on approval.

[1:32:55] Right. So at what point,

[1:32:58] I'll get you in just a second, counsel.

[1:33:00] I mean, at what point do we put things away,

[1:33:05] Kick kick it till next Year?

[1:33:07] And do we, do we postpone the project?

[1:33:10] You know, have, are we thinking about that?

[1:33:12] Because I think we need Oh

[1:33:13] Yeah, we've been thinking about it pretty hard

[1:33:15] and heavy. I'm thinking.

[1:33:17] And then does the pricing change?

[1:33:19] Yeah, of Course. And now are we adjusting the project?

[1:33:22] You know, you put anything off a year

[1:33:25] in this construction environment

[1:33:27] and you know, you're, you're guaranteed a price increase.

[1:33:32] The good news, if you can call it good news, is

[1:33:37] if we do get approval, well if we get to the point

[1:33:40] where we have to put off to next year

[1:33:43] and then we get approval, we can order the materials, the,

[1:33:48] and I've already talked with Brian

[1:33:50] and we can store them up on Morrison Road

[1:33:54] so we can order the materials, get the materials on

[1:33:58] in our hands at this year's prices instead of waiting

[1:34:02] and buying of them next year.

[1:34:05] And then when we get ready

[1:34:06] to get going in the spring, everything's here.

[1:34:11] We don't have to wait on a delivery

[1:34:13] or, you know, the delivery

[1:34:16] that says it's coming in four weeks is actually six weeks.

[1:34:18] Right. All

[1:34:20] that stuff is out of the way and we can get going.

[1:34:22] No, and I get that,

[1:34:24] but as someone who builds things regularly,

[1:34:29] we hate having materials sitting around for six months.

[1:34:34] There's all kinds of risk that comes with that. Yep.

[1:34:37] Can get damaged, can just not be

[1:34:40] there when you go to find it. It's funny

[1:34:43] How they grow legs like that.

[1:34:44] Well, you

[1:34:46] Know, I mean, it it, it's happened on different projects.

[1:34:49] So Yeah. So this was not

[1:34:53] I'm sorry, go ahead. Council Spelman,

[1:34:54] What's the absolute drop dead date that we have

[1:34:58] to have them approved so we can move forward?

[1:35:03] I'm gonna say the next like two weeks.

[1:35:06] Yeah. Two weeks. And then we,

[1:35:08] We lead time on furnace.

[1:35:10] So if you just think about

[1:35:12] If we get it and if we get approval

[1:35:17] and we can get, get the contracts in place, be here

[1:35:20] for the next meeting on the 22nd.

[1:35:22] Right. Then it's six weeks after that

[1:35:25] before the boilers would even show up.

[1:35:29] Is there anyone that puts administration

[1:35:31] we can call to help?

[1:35:33] I'll, I'm, I mean this is a pretty good

[1:35:36] Yeah, I'll, I'll ask that question.

[1:35:38] I'll, I'll reach out to a few people

[1:35:39] and ask that question tomorrow may start

[1:35:43] with Senator Sanders.

[1:35:45] I mean, first of all, I don't wanna look,

[1:35:49] look a congressional gift horse in the mouth.

[1:35:51] We, we still appreciate this project

[1:35:53] but you know, some certainty

[1:35:58] would really be appreciated.

[1:35:59] Yeah. And if they could, if they simply said

[1:36:02] you're not gonna get your approval for eight weeks.

[1:36:05] Alright. We know what to do. Yeah.

[1:36:07] And, and we know how to proceed.

[1:36:09] The problem is when you're waiting

[1:36:11] and thinking, am I gonna get it?

[1:36:12] Am I gonna get it? If we don't get it by September 15th,

[1:36:15] that's Yeah.

[1:36:17] Based on the schedule, you told me

[1:36:18] that it won't work past that date.

[1:36:22] So I mean, we're gonna know soon enough,

[1:36:23] but it would be a lot more helpful to know

[1:36:26] much sooner. Yes.

[1:36:27] Then we can rather

[1:36:29] Than later.

[1:36:31] And would you consider doing some of the other projects

[1:36:35] or, you know, would it make sense for example,

[1:36:38] like the kitchen and lighting.

[1:36:41] We, we could do that.

[1:36:42] Like the changing out the lighting, we can do

[1:36:44] that while the building's operational

[1:36:46] because that's done during the day. Is

[1:36:48] Is there anything that has been approved? Any component?

[1:36:52] The we have approval for the MERP grants.

[1:36:56] No, I mean when, when you look at the overall component

[1:36:59] As far as that Yeah.

[1:37:00] Like lighting, you know, the entire, so you have to go with,

[1:37:03] so basically the CDS grant is not,

[1:37:07] nothing is approved at at all. Nothing

[1:37:09] Is approved yet.

[1:37:10] No. Okay. So it's a, it's kind of an all

[1:37:13] or nothing thing where you send it in

[1:37:14] and they have to approve everything in for, in order

[1:37:17] for you to get anything.

[1:37:18] Yes. Okay. So yeah, the only thing,

[1:37:22] the only thing we could do under the MERP grant is this,

[1:37:26] there's, you know, a little bit

[1:37:28] of lighting there, but not much.

[1:37:30] The lion's share of it is in the CDS

[1:37:34] exterior window replacement and door weather stripping.

[1:37:36] That's, that's basically it in the and roof insulation.

[1:37:40] That's it in the ME grant.

[1:37:43] And I believe the Yeah. And everything else. Yeah.

[1:37:48] Well, yes.

[1:37:50] Just one last question.

[1:37:52] So my understanding is

[1:37:53] that we're not currently renting any space in the auditorium

[1:37:57] because of this project. Correct?

[1:37:59] Correct. So

[1:38:01] Is it Feasible to say that we could potentially

[1:38:05] reopen the auditorium for some revenue?

[1:38:08] Absolutely. So that way while this project is in limbo,

[1:38:12] we could at least be making some money Absolutely.

[1:38:16] Potentially offering that to the community. Yep.

[1:38:19] 'cause I know that's been something that's been asked

[1:38:21] a couple of times over the last few months.

[1:38:23] Not like a huge need or desire,

[1:38:26] but definitely been asked, Hey,

[1:38:27] how come we are not using the auditorium?

[1:38:30] One actually was asked about the election

[1:38:33] that we had at Alumni hall

[1:38:35] and why we weren't able to use the odd instead of,

[1:38:39] and that was actually what brought me to thinking about

[1:38:42] where we were at with this project.

[1:38:45] So Is it possible that we use the auditorium

[1:38:49] for the election still? I mean, that

[1:38:53] Actually has, I'm just asking general questions

[1:38:55] because I was under the assumption that we,

[1:38:58] when we closed the auditorium, that it was done, we were

[1:39:02] until the project was wrapped up

[1:39:04] and that we weren't able to use it whatsoever.

[1:39:06] And now I'm under the impression that

[1:39:09] we probably could have had it open for the amount, the time

[1:39:12] that we've had it closed

[1:39:14] because we haven't had the project started yet.

[1:39:16] Yeah. I, I closed it in anticipation

[1:39:21] of being able to do this project

[1:39:23] and I would rather have it empty for in missed one

[1:39:27] or two, you know, two hour rentals, then have

[1:39:31] to tell somebody, oh, your birthday party that you planned

[1:39:34] for the last two months is now canceled

[1:39:35] because we're starting work next week.

[1:39:38] Yeah. I think we need an answer from them.

[1:39:40] If they can give us a timeline, like you said there,

[1:39:43] they're gonna give us something here about eight weeks we've

[1:39:46] been banking on this project.

[1:39:47] It's part of our largest financial contributor to our city,

[1:39:52] basically in that, in the BOR?

[1:39:54] Correct.

[1:39:56] Yep. Let me see what I can do tomorrow.

[1:40:00] Like I said, wasn't, wasn't aware.

[1:40:03] So let me see what I can do,

[1:40:04] because I'm just quite, like I said,

[1:40:07] this was not necessarily the update I was

[1:40:11] anticipating this evening.

[1:40:13] So, yes, Ms. Higby, did you have a question?

[1:40:17] No, I, I had just every I Could you

[1:40:20] Come up to the table please?

[1:40:22] So the folks on Zoom can't hear you?

[1:40:24] Yeah, absolutely.

[1:40:26] So I've served on the civic center committee

[1:40:28] For about 10 years

[1:40:31] and I've been the minute taker

[1:40:33] for the last probably four years.

[1:40:35] And I would just invite everyone to take a few minutes

[1:40:38] and actually read to the minutes

[1:40:39] and follow what has been transpiring in the discussions.

[1:40:44] But my purpose in coming to the table right now is

[1:40:46] to remind everyone that we think about the space as a place

[1:40:50] for sports activities, a place to vote, a place

[1:40:54] to have birthday parties, but possibly the most important

[1:40:56] thing that the space is used for would be health emergencies

[1:41:01] or the overflow to the central Vermont Medical Center.

[1:41:05] Also, we're the flood emergency center,

[1:41:07] so we can't schedule that.

[1:41:09] We can rearrange the basketball schedule,

[1:41:12] we can rearrange birthday parties,

[1:41:15] but we've been very lucky this year we don't have

[1:41:17] to use the space for overnight stays for flood victims.

[1:41:22] And that's really one of the reasons

[1:41:23] that the cafeteria is being remodeled.

[1:41:25] It's not just because people want to buy hot dogs. Right.

[1:41:28] It's because we have to feed families.

[1:41:32] And so I I just wanted to remind people that this is,

[1:41:35] this is more than just a facility

[1:41:37] where people go and play games.

[1:41:39] It's actually one of the most important aspects

[1:41:41] of this community resource is that we save families.

[1:41:45] And so let's, let's not lose track of that.

[1:41:48] And that's what's really important.

[1:41:50] That's really what attracted Senator Sanders

[1:41:52] and his staff to support this project in the first place.

[1:41:56] So as soon as we can get this thing going, I would,

[1:42:00] I would urge us to, to move forward and also, and,

[1:42:03] and encourage you to read the minutes of the meetings.

[1:42:06] So if you understand

[1:42:08] what has happened over the last four years,

[1:42:10] Well it'd be advantageous for us to put

[1:42:13] that when we talk to them again.

[1:42:16] We should bring that up to them. Why?

[1:42:20] Whatever the, the people are holding us up. USDA.

[1:42:22] Oh, I say that to 'em, you know, that

[1:42:24] that's just one more positive thing

[1:42:26] that we could utilize. Well

[1:42:27] Of course, absolutely.

[1:42:29] But it sounds like based on the conversation

[1:42:31] that happened a few minutes ago,

[1:42:33] it sounds like they have a staffing deficit and,

[1:42:35] and you know, you can't, people

[1:42:38] Still need to be taken care

[1:42:39] Of people to, to do work that they're unable to complete.

[1:42:42] But yes, it's a very good topic.

[1:42:44] Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, We do have Amy Alford

[1:42:47] Again. Amy, I'm sorry.

[1:42:50] That's okay. I forgot to mention

[1:42:53] the remaining staff are not professional engineers.

[1:42:55] So if you're waiting on a professional engineering approval,

[1:42:58] that may be someone from New York State or another state.

[1:43:02] So I would maybe in pursuing follow

[1:43:04] up questions, just be really clear.

[1:43:06] Like, who are you waiting on?

[1:43:07] Is it that they are waiting it on?

[1:43:10] It ha it has to be signed off by a professional engineer

[1:43:12] that might be someone in another state.

[1:43:15] Great suggestion. Thank you. Yeah.

[1:43:18] So maybe we could find that out.

[1:43:21] I mean realistically, so

[1:43:26] getting through the surprise

[1:43:28] and disappointment, you know,

[1:43:30] we're gonna have some decisions to make.

[1:43:33] Yeah. If the, I mean certainly with the boiler project,

[1:43:38] so currently we have no events scheduled until

[1:43:43] the Mary Berry Festival.

[1:43:45] Yeah. Craft fair. Craft fair until the craft fair.

[1:43:48] So really the, you know, there, there's, even

[1:43:50] with the lighting Yes.

[1:43:52] The, you know, lighting can be done. Yes.

[1:43:54] The kitchen renovation can be done.

[1:43:56] But we, what we have to think about is, as

[1:44:00] Councilor Deering was suggesting, at what point

[1:44:02] do we just postpone the entire project

[1:44:06] until our slowest time, which is summer of

[1:44:10] 27 when we really don't have a lot

[1:44:15] of events going on up there at, you know, if we hit it hard

[1:44:19] after the high school basketball tournament Yeah.

[1:44:23] And hit it hard that summer. April,

[1:44:25] April next, next Year.

[1:44:26] Let's be a little, you know, a little practical about it.

[1:44:28] I mean, realistically we,

[1:44:29] we could do the kitchen over the winter.

[1:44:31] We don't have a lot of events where

[1:44:33] unless there happens to be some sort of, they,

[1:44:37] They can't use it to cook now anyways.

[1:44:40] Right. So they're basically, you know, we just need

[1:44:43] to be thinking that way.

[1:44:44] We need to be a little, little nimble

[1:44:47] and think about, well, okay, if we get it

[1:44:49] by this date, what can we do?

[1:44:51] If it doesn't happen till this date, what can we do?

[1:44:54] And obviously there's gonna be a certain point.

[1:44:56] If you don't get it until February, well

[1:45:00] not gonna be anything you can do. Okay.

[1:45:03] We're, we're getting really close to that that

[1:45:07] Time.

[1:45:08] Can we get, tell you what, I love

[1:45:09] to have you come back in at the next council

[1:45:11] meeting, should have an answer.

[1:45:13] I'll compare notes with you in, in the meanwhile I'll

[1:45:16] just look around a little bit, see if there's someone

[1:45:18] that I can speak to and maybe you

[1:45:19] and I can get together, if that's all right with you.

[1:45:22] I'll get together with Tom tomorrow

[1:45:25] and just figure out who can we call following up,

[1:45:28] using Amy's suggestion

[1:45:29] and try to figure out how we move this forward. Right.

[1:45:33] You need a answer on the Merp thing too though, right?

[1:45:36] To extend that? Is that

[1:45:39] Actually, or did you, Was that a plan

[1:45:41] that you were saying plan BD

[1:45:43] Just before it came?

[1:45:44] We just have to have the contract in place with re a

[1:45:49] for the Merck money by the end of the month.

[1:45:53] Oh. So they'll let us then we can, we have till 29 to do

[1:45:57] that one as long as we complete the city hall work

[1:46:01] before the end of December.

[1:46:03] Gotcha. Super.

[1:46:07] Tom, thank you. Thank you. Thanks Tom. Go

[1:46:09] Council, we will move on to, I'm

[1:46:12] Sorry.

[1:46:13] Sorry, this isn't a question for you.

[1:46:14] A question for the city clerk about the general election.

[1:46:19] Are we doing that in Alumni Hall?

[1:46:22] 'cause I have concerns I know about a line up the stairs.

[1:46:25] Oh, I know. I'm sure you do too.

[1:46:27] I do too. Yes. Yes. Bob and I will talk tomorrow. Okay.

[1:46:31] Or Michelle, about the general election. Just

[1:46:36] November, November, November 3rd

[1:46:40] Gymnasium One way or another. Yeah,

[1:46:46] That would be, it's a little up in the air,

[1:46:48] but it's actually, I think it's easier even to pivot

[1:46:52] the election at sort of the last minute

[1:46:55] because you're in the same general vicinity.

[1:46:57] Yeah, no, but I just think switching

[1:46:59] Alumni Hall has been fine.

[1:47:01] I think for the smaller elections. I'm just worried about

[1:47:04] The general I understand people

[1:47:06] Lining up on those stairs.

[1:47:07] Exactly. That seems like a bad

[1:47:12] Stay tuned.

[1:47:15] Okay, counselors, we'll move on

[1:47:17] to item nine D on the agenda.

[1:47:19] This is the manager search committee

[1:47:20] update, councilor Gusan. Great.

[1:47:22] As folks, no doubt saw warrant,

[1:47:24] we started this meeting this evening

[1:47:26] with an executive session

[1:47:27] with the same manager search committee

[1:47:30] and had a good robust discussion on the interviews that

[1:47:35] the committee has been conducting.

[1:47:37] So just to recap, for members of the public,

[1:47:41] we reviewed applications that came in.

[1:47:43] We selected a number of folks to interview

[1:47:47] and we have recommended finalists to city council

[1:47:50] and we will now be scheduling next steps

[1:47:53] with those finalists.

[1:47:55] We are committed, my understanding of our conversation

[1:47:57] as the council is we are committed to moving quickly

[1:47:59] and efficiently in the coming weeks

[1:48:02] and still on track for what we've been saying all along,

[1:48:05] which is a mid to third week of September.

[1:48:07] We should be in a place to extend an offer

[1:48:09] to someone if all continues to go on track.

[1:48:13] I didn't, I don't know if anyone else wants to weigh in

[1:48:16] on the conversation we had,

[1:48:17] but it was a really nice overview in the Times Argus couple

[1:48:22] of weeks ago and we, I think we are very much still on track

[1:48:26] with everything that was reported there.

[1:48:28] It's going really well. I'm, I'm excited.

[1:48:31] No, I mean I think we, we have a good process.

[1:48:34] I think we all have an understanding

[1:48:35] how the process is going to go.

[1:48:37] We know that we, we want to move quickly.

[1:48:41] I mean we, we want to be naming the next city manager

[1:48:44] and I think I I I think we've balanced

[1:48:49] our anxiety to name a new city manager

[1:48:53] with the appropriate due diligence that we all, that we have

[1:48:56] to do in order to feel good about naming a new city manager.

[1:48:59] So as far as the resumes that the committee forwarded those,

[1:49:03] the three, congratulations, they are three very,

[1:49:08] very strong candidates

[1:49:10] and I'm excited, I'm excited to meet all three of them.

[1:49:13] And all three would certainly do a great job.

[1:49:16] And Barry, so once again, to the members of the committee,

[1:49:18] folks who are teeing this up for the city council, council,

[1:49:21] Augustine, council Ruthie, or thank you for your good work.

[1:49:25] Any questions folks? Okay.

[1:49:27] Then we'll move along to upcoming business.

[1:49:30] We're gonna name a city manager.

[1:49:31] That's about it for right now.

[1:49:34] That's where we're focused like a laser getting

[1:49:38] through the, getting through the paving projects,

[1:49:42] finishing those up towards the end of the year,

[1:49:45] finally getting, you know, route 14 South Main Street

[1:49:50] and Washington Street, finally getting the mill

[1:49:54] and field zone on those projects.

[1:49:56] I think people will notice a big difference.

[1:49:59] You know, we'll keep increasing the paving budget

[1:50:01] and we'll get back to

[1:50:02] where we should have been years ago but weren't.

[1:50:05] So we're making progress. Yes.

[1:50:07] Question. When do we find out about the results from

[1:50:09] the grant applications?

[1:50:12] Not until October. Okay. Not until October I believe.

[1:50:17] Oh, I believe that committee meets, I want to say,

[1:50:21] I wanna say October 5th.

[1:50:23] That may not be the correct date, but I could, I could check

[1:50:26] and see when they will, when they will vote on that.

[1:50:30] And speaking of which, again, thank you.

[1:50:32] As the chief mentioned, those applications went in today,

[1:50:36] it was just, you know, an all hands on deck weekend.

[1:50:39] I mean, we have been, you know, from the mayor on down,

[1:50:43] we have all just been working together

[1:50:45] for the past four weeks to pull those applications together.

[1:50:48] And I am excited about both of them.

[1:50:52] I mean, I think either of them could be

[1:50:53] a home run for the city.

[1:50:55] And what I'll be talking to the treasurer about is

[1:50:58] if one is awarded the full amount,

[1:51:00] how do we somehow fund them both?

[1:51:02] Right. How do, how do, how do we get them both?

[1:51:05] No, you know, I think about that.

[1:51:07] So I don't take 20 year mortgages anymore. Okay.

[1:51:12] Because statistically speaking, I may

[1:51:16] or may not be around to pay it off.

[1:51:18] Okay. Municipalities are different.

[1:51:21] You know, municipalities go on for hundreds of years,

[1:51:24] you know, I am, I, despite our issues, America will go on

[1:51:29] for hundreds of years.

[1:51:30] So it used to be years ago, municipalities, you know,

[1:51:33] everybody's looking at Prospect Heights.

[1:51:35] Well that's what municipalities did.

[1:51:38] They built the roads, they did all of the infrastructure,

[1:51:41] they sold the lots because it made the most sense

[1:51:45] and everyone had an ownership interest.

[1:51:47] And the more I think about, you know, as a private citizen,

[1:51:51] I've done it with People's Health and Wellness clinic

[1:51:53] and we've done it with the Meals on Wheels program

[1:51:56] and figured out how to help them own their own building.

[1:51:59] Because again, they're an organization that's going

[1:52:02] to go on a very long time.

[1:52:03] And sometimes I look at these projects,

[1:52:05] I look at something like 1 43

[1:52:07] and say, well, if a private citizen can develop a building,

[1:52:10] then why can't everyone

[1:52:12] and why couldn't 10,000 people own a piece of that building?

[1:52:16] Just so yeah, it's gotten me all juiced up there, Carol.

[1:52:20] I'm, I'm all, I'm all fired up to try to figure out a way

[1:52:24] that we can, you know, I I I think the committee and,

[1:52:28] and I think the staff and committee are gonna,

[1:52:30] and board are gonna look positively at our applications.

[1:52:34] But like I said, you know,

[1:52:36] it would be like picking your favorite.

[1:52:37] I couldn't pick one right now. I like them both.

[1:52:40] So we'll see.

[1:52:42] Brown Table Council Deering, who started? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes.

[1:52:46] Did I miss it or did you skip the flood resiliency update

[1:52:50] The auditorium.

[1:52:51] Oh, the auditorium was the, we, we flipped gears

[1:52:54] and we had the auditorium project be the flood

[1:52:57] resiliency update.

[1:52:59] Did you have anything? Oh, oh, okay.

[1:53:01] So yeah, so at, you did miss it at the very beginning

[1:53:03] of the meeting I asked for an agenda adjustment

[1:53:06] because the auditorium is one of the listed goals

[1:53:09] and I've been very busy with the city manager,

[1:53:11] Councilor Dearing, started school round table,

[1:53:13] Started school baby.

[1:53:15] Lots Of lots of great stuff.

[1:53:17] Lots of good positive attitude and behaviors.

[1:53:21] Really great to see a lot of the enthusiasm, a lot

[1:53:24] of the people, just a lot of the things

[1:53:27] that we embrace here in Barry we're really just trying

[1:53:31] to just show a new story.

[1:53:34] Nice. So really that's, that's the key is just, you know,

[1:53:37] people always have a story,

[1:53:40] but you can always have a new story to tell

[1:53:42] with the things that are going on.

[1:53:44] And that's really what we're trying to do within the school.

[1:53:46] So lots of great stuff going on at Bear City School.

[1:53:49] Fantastic. Counselor,

[1:53:51] I just wanna extend a thank you to the DPW

[1:53:54] for all the work that they're doing on Camp Street.

[1:53:56] And a plea for please restore the stop sign

[1:54:01] that is on camp.

[1:54:03] I mean, because I've seen so many close calls There were Can

[1:54:08] You bring a temporary one up There?

[1:54:09] There isn't one. Okay.

[1:54:10] Brian, Brian said he, he was getting a temporary

[1:54:13] Check.

[1:54:14] I haven't seen it. Maybe I could nudge him again. I'll

[1:54:16] Nudge him again to, because he told

[1:54:17] they were bringing, they were

[1:54:18] Bringing up.

[1:54:19] Yeah. There was another real close call this afternoon.

[1:54:21] People just, you know, people

[1:54:22] who aren't from Berry don't know that they have

[1:54:24] to stop there and so they don't.

[1:54:28] And somebody's coming downhill

[1:54:29] and I just don't want anyone to get killed.

[1:54:32] Council Guston,

[1:54:34] I have two updates from the Aldrich Library.

[1:54:37] The first is that the Aldrich Library is now fine free,

[1:54:40] which means, which is a really phenomenal development.

[1:54:45] There's actually been a ton of really good study

[1:54:47] and research on this over the years.

[1:54:49] And people don't feel ashamed to bring books back.

[1:54:52] Books get back just as, just as well as if there were fines

[1:54:57] and people are able to

[1:54:58] participate more fully in the library.

[1:55:00] It's not actually a revenue generator for folks.

[1:55:02] And actually sometimes libraries do better

[1:55:04] because what their assign is, is what their assign is.

[1:55:06] Instead is you return

[1:55:07] this book late, would you like to donate?

[1:55:08] And then people like give more money than they would

[1:55:11] actually be paying in 25 cents in fines.

[1:55:14] And overall it's a really, really nice step forward

[1:55:16] to making the Aldrich even more

[1:55:17] accessible for the community.

[1:55:19] And also September is National Library Card signup month.

[1:55:24] So I put a challenge to members of council.

[1:55:25] If you do not yet have an library card with the Aldrich,

[1:55:28] please walk yourselves over and,

[1:55:30] and make sure you participate in National Library card.

[1:55:33] Sign up month.

[1:55:34] I'm going tomorrow to pick up my books for reading

[1:55:36] by the pool on Labor Day weekend.

[1:55:38] So I already have a card.

[1:55:41] I have two things. One is

[1:55:44] Front Porch Forum was ablaze about the

[1:55:47] Drain Adopt A Dream program.

[1:55:50] And thank you councilor. Hi Hillgardner for Chi.

[1:55:53] You, blaze is the right word for drain.

[1:55:54] Just they were swamped. Swamped, flooded.

[1:55:58] Much better With with,

[1:56:00] but I thought it was great that there was like,

[1:56:02] there were conversations so I think that was fantastic.

[1:56:05] But maybe we should also Yeah,

[1:56:06] after the city manager search,

[1:56:08] maybe do another little push about that.

[1:56:10] Yeah. And the second thing is, on behalf of my husband,

[1:56:13] I want to thank the kind people

[1:56:14] who picked up his poor chainsaw

[1:56:16] that fell outta the back of his truck.

[1:56:17] And all of the community members who saw his,

[1:56:21] his plea on front Porch Forum

[1:56:23] and had seen the person who posted on Facebook

[1:56:25] and reunited him with his 26-year-old chainsaws.

[1:56:28] Oh, thank you. Bounced out the truck.

[1:56:31] Well his tailgate fell open and it bounced out

[1:56:34] and he has apparently sentimental value for this chainsaw.

[1:56:38] Is it okay? I don't, yeah, I guess it's fine.

[1:56:40] He went down and helped a friend to li have gone down.

[1:56:44] Yeah, it's good. But thank you. Thank you. Good.

[1:56:47] The good work of Facebook and Front Porch Forum.

[1:56:49] We reconnected them.

[1:56:51] Ca Where's your Honor? I attended a overdose awareness

[1:56:56] remembrance, candlelight vigil last night

[1:56:59] over at Courier Park.

[1:57:00] Chief Vail spoke next year when it

[1:57:03] comes around, you should go.

[1:57:05] You'd be it.

[1:57:07] It would just open your eyes out how bad

[1:57:10] this overdose business is.

[1:57:13] And good job last night, Brad.

[1:57:16] Thank you Councilor. Worth here.

[1:57:19] With all the construction

[1:57:21] and everything in Barry it, I'm getting more positive about

[1:57:24] what it's going to be like in three to five years

[1:57:27] and I just can't help when, I love when I see a officer

[1:57:31] or a b on a bicycle, which I've seen

[1:57:34] and I just love that. That's excellent.

[1:57:37] Thank you. So being positive,

[1:57:43] not having a an official city manager

[1:57:47] certainly makes the council meeting shorter.

[1:57:50] However, I have spent more and, and I'm grateful,

[1:57:55] but I have spent more time in city hall

[1:57:59] and with department heads and lobbying

[1:58:01] and doing stuff that a manager is really supposed

[1:58:03] to be doing in the past month than,

[1:58:06] than I have probably in the past year.

[1:58:10] So can't wait to name a new city manager so I can get back

[1:58:14] to my cushy schedule.

[1:58:17] Speaking of cushy schedule,

[1:58:18] I will be traveling on the 22nd counselor,

[1:58:20] so I will likely not be at that council meeting.

[1:58:23] Don't know. So I just wanted to tee it up for you

[1:58:25] because you would be the, oh my God.

[1:58:28] We'd go from acting city manager now. Acting mayor.

[1:58:31] Everybody's just acting and not serious about it.

[1:58:34] It's like Broadway around you

[1:58:36] And, and, and with that counsel,

[1:58:38] so I don't think we need an executive session.

[1:58:40] A motion to adjourn would be in order. So, so moved.

[1:58:43] Thank you. Any discussion? Hearing none.

[1:58:46] All those in favor, the motion is presented.

[1:58:48] Please signify by saying aye. And those opposed?

[1:58:51] We are adjourned. Thank you. I'm so Brad.

[1:58:53] I'm sure you're looking forward to a

[1:58:57] And I didn't realize if and a good place.

[1:59:01] It's a number.

Barre City Council September 1 2026

Transcript