[0:09] Sir.

[0:10] All right. This is the Tuesday, July 14th meeting

[0:15] of the Berry Town Select Board.

[0:16] It is six o'clock. I will call this meeting to order.

[0:19] You'll join me in the pledge.

[0:23] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[0:25] of the United States of America to the republic

[0:28] for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,

[0:32] with liberty and justice for all.

[0:40] We have an agenda.

[0:42] We have some changes that we need to make to the agenda,

[0:48] Suggesting that we remove number 14 as Mr.

[0:51] Susie is not with us this evening.

[0:54] Second, that Plan would be to move that

[0:57] to hopefully sometime in early August as

[1:01] as our agendas allow. Yep.

[1:05] And suggest adding like a six A,

[1:09] which would be an executive session for legal

[1:12] with no action expected.

[1:14] Second, that as well. So we have,

[1:20] And we need a motion to approve the agenda. Agenda as

[1:22] Amend agenda amended.

[1:23] I would make that motion to approve the agenda as amended.

[1:28] All those in favor? Aye. Right. Aye. Do you have an agenda?

[1:35] We need to approve the June 30th

[1:37] and June the special July 7th meeting minutes.

[1:43] Motion to approve the minutes as presented by the clerk

[1:46] with minor dramatical and spelling changes.

[1:49] Good. Motion. Second.

[1:56] All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye.

[2:00] A Sorry, folks not

[2:06] here and announce.

[2:09] Sure. Wanna take a turn?

[2:13] Have no searching for,

[2:15] Well, no.

[2:16] On the second announcement that the,

[2:20] it is not a single date at the end.

[2:23] It is a second September 15th and March 15th.

[2:27] Other than that, go ahead.

[2:31] Correct.

[2:34] February or March. Yeah. No, March. You're right. Sorry.

[2:37] Okay, sorry. Excuse me.

[2:39] For announcements this week,

[2:40] the popular ice cream socials are back.

[2:42] We invite you to join the recreation board members at

[2:44] various playgrounds each week.

[2:46] Tonight's social is at the upper Graniteville playground.

[2:49] Next week's will be at the Southbury Wilson Street

[2:51] Playground socials.

[2:53] And that's the one behind Hannaford's.

[2:55] In case you're not familiar, the socials are from six 30

[2:59] to seven 30 or until ice cream is gone.

[3:01] Since it's a select board meeting,

[3:03] you shouldn't have a problem with ice cream being available

[3:06] because we won't be there to eat it for more information,

[3:09] including dates, locations,

[3:11] and any schedule changes due to inclement weather.

[3:13] Follow the town of berry recreation on Facebook.

[3:17] Property tax rates were established

[3:19] during the select board's special meeting on July 7th, 2026.

[3:23] Property tax bills will be generated, mailed out shortly.

[3:26] First installment due on August 17th, 2026.

[3:30] It's important to note that while the select board sets the

[3:32] municipal rates, they have no control

[3:35] over the education rate.

[3:36] The state of Vermont is responsible for that.

[3:38] This year, there were, as was the case two years ago,

[3:41] an interim residential education rate is being used

[3:44] because of the lack of a school budget.

[3:47] Revised bills will be bailed later this year

[3:49] once a budget has passed.

[3:51] Also, please note that if you are served by municipal sewer,

[3:55] your property tax mailing will not include the sewer bill

[3:59] as it has in previous years.

[4:01] Instead, the sewer bill will be mailed separately,

[4:04] either towards the end of July or in early August.

[4:07] And we'll have two due dates this year.

[4:11] That two due dates this year.

[4:13] First one being September 15th, 2025.

[4:16] And the second being March 15th, 2026.

[4:21] Milling in advance of paving, sorry, seventh.

[4:25] Sorry, the 2025 messed me up. But yes.

[4:28] First it's all apparently September 15th, 2026.

[4:32] Couple sentences of that.

[4:34] Yeah. And yeah,

[4:35] so first installment due September 15th, 2026.

[4:38] The second installment

[4:39] of the sewer bill will be due March 15th, 2027.

[4:43] Milling in advance of heaving this summer has begun.

[4:46] Many of you may have noticed it may even have been

[4:50] completed, or a lot of it has been.

[4:52] It has been. So the milling portion

[4:53] of the work is done at this point.

[4:56] Paving of the roads

[4:57] and others planned for the summer will begin shortly.

[4:59] Has has already started. Yeah.

[5:02] And they are paving as we speak.

[5:04] And for a list of roads to be paved, you can refer

[5:07] to the highway departments page on berry town.org.

[5:12] And I believe the chair has an announcement as,

[5:14] Yes.

[5:15] After an executive session held

[5:16] during the June 30th, 2026 meeting,

[5:18] the select board unanimously approved

[5:21] the non-union wage schedule as proposed

[5:23] by the manager manager for fiscal year 26, 27.

[5:28] Mr. Chair, I also have an announcement. Sure, go ahead.

[5:33] Two things. This is a good day. Yes. Oh, wait a minute. Oh,

[5:38] Can I guess it? No, I'm not gonna guess

[5:40] One.

[5:41] Holden Road is officially open. I came up at tonight.

[5:46] Yes'. Number two, my standpoint, even better.

[5:51] New radio system is online.

[5:53] Yes. Bravo. Alright.

[5:57] Oh, longer than, I think it's more like seven.

[5:59] Seven. So those are,

[6:03] and my initial, the initial report that I got,

[6:06] because you know as luck would have

[6:07] or not luck, there was a flyer in Washington

[6:11] that we went to Mutual Aid.

[6:13] So reports I received said it worked well.

[6:18] So we'll have another report back from, from Mr. Danforth.

[6:22] He was headed to grab a portable radio

[6:24] and headed down to the bottom of Crosstown Road. See is the

[6:28] Official designated, can you hear me now?

[6:30] I don't know if Crosstown Road's gonna be, but Yeah.

[6:34] Yeah. That's a tough place to get into. Oh yeah.

[6:36] It's a across down

[6:37] Road right Down in a, in a hole for sure. Anyway,

[6:42] T very happy to report.

[6:43] Yeah. Hope

[6:44] It's great to hear.

[6:45] Continued

[6:47] Communication.

[6:48] It's a, a combined 10 years of projects. Right.

[6:57] Hey Steve, guests for non agenda items.

[7:02] Our loan online recipient has something. Yes.

[7:09] I believe we are ready for our executive session.

[7:14] I move to find that the premature general public knowledge

[7:17] with Clear will place a select board at a

[7:19] substantial disadvantage.

[7:23] In favor. Aye.

[7:27] I move to go into executive session for contracts

[7:31] with no action legal, I'm sorry, legal

[7:35] with no action expected

[7:37] And that as well.

[7:38] All those of paper. Aye. Aye.

[7:41] And we'll be back in approximately 15 minutes, maybe 20.

[7:47] Well I'm gonna mute the mics, turn the camera off.

[7:52] So if you're watching it now we'll see a black screen.

[7:57] But the chair's point should be back 15 minutes

[8:01] or so. 20 you said? Yep,

[8:03] That works.

[8:04] I let know that we told him already. Okay.

[28:31] I can, I can go grab them. Thank you.

[28:34] We are back and we are back folks.

[28:37] We will clerk our

[28:42] one guest the Time's Argus

[28:56] and you could

[29:00] thank you Eric and sorry about that.

[29:01] No problem.

[29:06] And so, number seven.

[29:08] We have a request to close a section of Hill

[29:13] Hillcrest Lane and all of Coble Hill Meadows

[29:17] for neighborhood parties on August 8th.

[29:21] We'll give a little background on this one

[29:23] 'cause this could sound Okay.

[29:26] Re two requests.

[29:29] Rita Isabelle's requested that a section of Hillcrest Lane

[29:31] between algin acres and metal lane be closed

[29:34] on August 8th from two to 5:00 PM

[29:38] The purpose is a meet and greet for neighbors old and new.

[29:43] We surveyed the affected neighbors,

[29:47] received no negative feedback regarding the closure

[29:50] and it, it does involve just a limited segment of Hillcrest.

[29:54] And there are ample alternative routes around

[29:58] we do not anticipate any significant impacts.

[30:02] And the second request is from Jim and Kim Canavan,

[30:07] or a full closure of Cobble Hill medals on August 8th

[30:11] from three to nine for a neighborhood block party.

[30:14] Similar closures have been approved several times in the

[30:17] past for neighborhood events, particularly this one,

[30:24] unlike the Hill Crest Lane,

[30:26] this one would close the entire section.

[30:30] Law authorized a select board to regulate traffic,

[30:32] exclude motor vehicles from highways for special occasions.

[30:38] Statutes states when it appears all traffic appears

[30:43] that traffic will be congested by reason

[30:45] of a public occasion.

[30:47] Legislative body municipality may take a special regulations

[30:50] regarding the speed or mall vehicles

[30:52] and may exclude motor vehicles from town Highways establish

[30:57] such traffic rules

[30:58] and regulations as the public good requires

[31:01] both these requests fall within

[31:03] that Ble Hill Meadows.

[31:07] This is, I don't know if this is an annual thing,

[31:09] but this is certainly not my first time seeing.

[31:11] Yeah. Not an annual, but they did it on occasion.

[31:13] But yeah, probably every other And Hillcrest is

[31:17] a very short stretch stretches of road zone.

[31:23] The flavor of the board.

[31:28] I guess I will make a motion

[31:32] authorize the closure of Hillcrest Lane between Agent Acres

[31:36] and Metal Lane on August 8th, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

[31:41] Additionally, we'll authorize the closure

[31:43] of the entire length of Coba Hill Meadows on the same date,

[31:45] August 8th, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

[31:50] Both closures are for the purpose

[31:51] of special neighborhood gatherings.

[31:52] And according with 23 VSA 10 10,

[31:57] as the congestion from public events would pose a safety

[32:00] hazard for both events, the roads will be barricaded

[32:02] with clear signage indicating that the roads are close

[32:05] to automobiles except

[32:07] for local traffic on Cobble Hill Metals.

[32:10] Second that. Okay.

[32:12] And I would like to add that Richard,

[32:16] or express that the residents

[32:20] of Caldwell Medals will st.

[32:22] Still be able to get in and out. Absolutely.

[32:24] It'll be local traffical. Yep. Conversation.

[32:32] Thanks. Those in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye.

[32:37] Unanim. So relations.

[32:41] Rita and, and the neighborhood. Neighborhood, yes. The

[32:45] Whole neighborhood share.

[32:46] I, you know, with reading the Canavans letter,

[32:50] they've lived a long time here in Berry Town

[32:52] and they're, they're moving away.

[32:54] They're very nice folks as is R to Isabel.

[33:00] But the Canavans are moving away

[33:01] and I just give them a shout out.

[33:04] Hope they have a successful priority

[33:05] and I hope their move goes smoothly.

[33:07] Yes, they've been residents of the town.

[33:11] Good luck to the, being closer

[33:13] to the aging family members.

[33:14] I hope that is for future planning, not for

[33:18] absolute necessity right now.

[33:22] And number

[33:27] eight, we have a zero turn mower.

[33:32] I was gonna be here. I talked to them earlier.

[33:34] I was gonna hand this one right over to him.

[33:37] We have $17,500 allocated

[33:40] for the replacement on an aging zero turn mower.

[33:44] A superintendent McCadden Lifford took lead in this process

[33:50] and collaborated with guy

[33:51] and together they developed a recommendation.

[33:55] And the main goal is to acquire true commercial grade

[33:57] mower creation.

[33:59] Department mows a significant amount of grass,

[34:02] about 20 acres a week.

[34:05] Grass that lighter and less capable mowers cannot

[34:07] effectively handle.

[34:10] McCadden sought quotes from five

[34:12] vendors, verified them through source.

[34:14] Well the lowest quote was from United Ag

[34:19] turf for John Deere at

[34:23] and numbers not a, not gonna mean anything to anybody.

[34:26] Yeah. 11,000 177 88.

[34:29] The highest quote came from Woodsville for equipment

[34:34] or 16 546 18.

[34:38] Some provided trade-in values.

[34:40] However, we decided to discount those trade-in offers.

[34:43] We believe we can sell it or more outright ourself.

[34:48] Guy recommends he's Toro.

[34:55] Although this is the most expensive option.

[34:57] The best overall PR hidden

[35:01] wholeheartedly agrees.

[35:04] Toro's the only machine that meets true

[35:06] commercial standards.

[35:07] The other CL classified as light commercial

[35:13] or as superior construction.

[35:15] Higher horsepower, enhanced cooling capabilities,

[35:17] commercial grade wheels, motors and pumps.

[35:20] And it provides better cutting form performance

[35:22] and heavy wet conditions, which they frequently encounter.

[35:25] Likely every morning that they start falling at six o'clock.

[35:31] Electronic fuel injection.

[35:33] It has fuel injection. So no

[35:36] ethanol buns.

[35:38] Alright. Comfort

[35:45] I and one of our recreation employees,

[35:48] Pete Wheatley inspected some of these machines.

[35:52] They agreed best overall value.

[35:56] So that being said,

[36:02] Budgeted along it Is within the budgeted amount,

[36:05] Most likely benefit from the sale

[36:07] of the existing John Deere.

[36:09] Right. Addition to the purchase price.

[36:11] So I'm comfortable making a motion towards the purchase

[36:14] of the 20 FY 27 recreation department, zero turn mower

[36:17] to Woodsville power equipment

[36:19] of Woodsville New Hampshire in the amount

[36:20] of $16,546 18 cents.

[36:25] And that conventional competiting

[36:27] competitive bidding was waived.

[36:28] Multiple coats were obtained and verified via source.

[36:31] Well purchasing and conventional bidding would not have

[36:35] provided an advantage to the town.

[36:38] Second, by conventional bidding,

[36:41] I presume we're talking about posting this somewhere

[36:44] and accepting bids, posting

[36:45] It and sending the specs out to individual dealers

[36:50] As opposed to us reaching out.

[36:52] Doesn't, doesn't

[36:53] Exactly.

[36:54] Because what we have found is

[36:55] that these dealers are not eager

[36:58] to spend the time putting a quote together, having

[37:01] to figure out how much they want to discount it.

[37:03] 'cause they don't really need our business that bad.

[37:06] Also then don't have the staff

[37:07] or the time to, to monitor that

[37:10] They're busy enough.

[37:11] And so,

[37:13] or finding is that by doing, by reaching out to them

[37:17] and doing the work ourselves, we're getting more quotes

[37:21] and able to get

[37:23] Sealed.

[37:24] So this was an argument

[37:25] that I made the last time we bought a commercial mower.

[37:29] The specs that we sent out, literally

[37:34] specs for the machine.

[37:35] So rather than spending out sending out this

[37:40] potentially be multi-page document that tops blade tip speed

[37:44] and all this stuff like that, when it, when it was almost

[37:49] verbatim from from a, from a mower spec, just pick a model

[37:54] and get a price on that model.

[37:55] Yeah, there has been some of that activity,

[37:58] not necessarily in Beartown

[37:59] but in other communities where they spec it,

[38:01] whatever you want it to be, just disqualify everyone else.

[38:04] So yeah,

[38:06] I think This's probably cleaning

[38:07] it's more transparent, at least

[38:09] I Believe so.

[38:10] Oh, I a hundred percent

[38:11] I believe. So

[38:13] It's more money but Additional

[38:17] Value is worthless zone.

[38:19] Are they gonna last us longer

[38:21] or working better at, you know, better

[38:24] sale value afterwards?

[38:26] Probably less downtime,

[38:28] Likely all of the above.

[38:29] More efficiency. Yeah.

[38:31] At the end of the day, at the end of the lifespan is going

[38:33] to more than make up for the extra cost in my opinion.

[38:36] I would agree. So

[38:41] any further discussion?

[38:45] June a second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye.

[38:49] And this is a, I'm sure that Mr.

[38:52] Susie would've as well.

[38:57] These on the golf course I say

[39:03] so I assume that will be right around the corner.

[39:05] Yep.

[39:13] And now, oh it's,

[39:19] we have a resolution finance it for financing

[39:23] for the fire department and rescue pumper.

[39:30] We pumper be completed in the next couple months.

[39:33] Chassis was paid for using FY 25 general fund

[39:38] and the select board decided finance only the truck's body.

[39:43] This approach will help reduce the overall financing cost.

[39:48] And did the, the financing is replacement plan

[39:52] and budget structure on a 10 year lease.

[39:55] Total cost of the truck. And we choked when we saw this one.

[40:00] Yeah. But it looks like a good deal compared

[40:01] And it looks like a good deal compared to the,

[40:03] the engine that we just ordered.

[40:05] $866,877 was awarded to

[40:11] Lakes Region fire apparatus, Tamworth, New Hampshire,

[40:15] and January 2nd, 2024.

[40:17] So two, almost two

[40:19] and a half years to get this truck

[40:23] for a custom rescue pumper spare chassis.

[40:27] The total amount to be financed is $472,290.

[40:33] Andrew reached out to municipal leasing consultants,

[40:36] long time leasing consultant

[40:39] and they proposed a 10 year lease with an interest rate

[40:42] of 4.984%.

[40:44] Days of 2% are gone folks.

[40:49] It's actually pretty reasonable. It is, yeah. Yeah.

[40:51] It's about a percentage point less than the

[40:55] Screen here. The screen

[40:56] Screen First payment

[41:01] will be made at closing one from FY 26 funds

[41:05] that were carried over, which it actually

[41:09] is in our warrant tonight.

[41:10] So I, we know that that has happened

[41:13] and they need to obtain a resolution from it.

[41:16] So I guess we read just the,

[41:20] I think you could read it by just the title. Title

[41:23] Only or maybe that first paragraph.

[41:29] Yes, go ahead. Just my clarity.

[41:34] So the, the cost of the chassis

[41:39] that was, that used all

[41:41] of the 25, 26 funds.

[41:46] 24 25.

[41:47] I'm sorry 24, 25. Yeah.

[41:52] Have any set aside in,

[41:54] in 25, 26. I guess that's what I'm asking.

[41:57] Yes. That was 25, 26 was the, the first principal

[42:01] and the first interest payment.

[42:04] And that's what I'm using to the two combined

[42:07] for the first year's payment.

[42:09] That was, that's the nine

[42:10] $97,000 Check.

[42:11] Yeah, three, just the year 25.

[42:13] There wasn't any money budgeted for it.

[42:18] The chassis needed to be paid for.

[42:20] And that's part of the problem we face,

[42:22] these chassis are ready much sooner than the, than the body.

[42:26] And so that had to be paid for.

[42:28] So we paid for it with thought at the time that we'd end up,

[42:33] when we got ready to do this, we'd roll that

[42:36] into the overall lease and reimburse ourselves.

[42:39] But I came to you, I don't know, a month or two ago

[42:42] and said, you know, that's over done with blah blah.

[42:46] You know, and if you didn't want to, that's, you know,

[42:51] paid for, it's came out of fund balance essentially.

[42:56] And not including it will reduce the finance costs

[43:00] Quite a bit significantly. Course

[43:01] Of 10 years.

[43:02] So, so that's how we got to that.

[43:06] And and that was also post

[43:08] purchasing a one point million dollar

[43:13] Fire truck.

[43:14] Fire truck. That one we are setting up money

[43:18] as money aside for

[43:20] Truck.

[43:21] And that's, I that's why I was, I was just,

[43:23] for some reason I thought we had some in the

[43:25] 25, 26 as well. That's

[43:26] What I was, no, okay. No for this one.

[43:28] I'm good then Mr. Sorry to drag it out.

[43:31] Nope, nope. No problem. Those good questions.

[43:35] People at home, folks at home, none

[43:37] of them understand as well.

[43:41] Let's see, who wants Tracy should go ahead and first.

[43:47] Yeah, yeah, just that first part.

[43:49] Okay. The resolution of the town of Berry Vermont

[43:52] authorizing pursuant to the 24 VSA 1789 collectively the

[43:57] authorizing law that in the incurring

[44:00] of lease obligations in any amount not

[44:02] to exceed $472,290

[44:07] to be evidenced by the execution

[44:08] and delivery of a master lease agreement.

[44:11] Escrow agreement and equipment schedule with respect

[44:14] to the acquisition purchase financing

[44:17] and leasing of a certain equipment for the public benefit,

[44:21] authorizing the executive execution

[44:23] and delivery of documents required in connection therewith

[44:27] and authorizing the taking of all other actions necessary

[44:30] to the consummation of the transactions contemplated

[44:33] by this resolution.

[44:36] Is that the paragraph you were referring to? Yep, yep.

[44:38] I think, I don't think we

[44:41] Passes is for more.

[44:43] I'll second that. Wow.

[44:48] So we need a, need a motion to approve the resolution

[44:54] Authorize. So,

[44:56] Yeah.

[44:57] So I will move to approve the resolution as recited by

[45:03] Dennis and authorize the chair. Sign

[45:06] It second It.

[45:10] Okay. And that's it for that piece.

[45:13] 'cause this part here is signed by Chris.

[45:17] Just trying to make sure we've got it all.

[45:18] Chris, I think we all

[45:21] The other documents.

[45:23] Okay. There's no further discussion.

[45:28] All those in favor? Aye. Aye.

[45:32] And I hope we get to see this thing when it shows up.

[45:38] Oh, you can bet on it.

[45:40] This is the rescue, this is the one with all the,

[45:42] the basically evidence on the side of it that has the

[45:47] tools for the ex extrication.

[45:49] Yeah. All the ex all the heavy rescue stuff, extrication,

[45:53] stabilization, the air tanks,

[45:56] they ship the bottles out there to have them installed.

[46:00] So the, the 'cause we have a cascade system on this truck.

[46:04] So you can fill air bottles with, they have big air bottles

[46:07] that will fill the small air bottles.

[46:09] Those all get shipped out

[46:10] so they could be incorporated in it.

[46:14] Yeah. And it'll be a,

[46:19] a very nice upgrade to the, to the current truck.

[46:22] And you know, it's used a lot.

[46:24] And the nice part about this one is that

[46:26] it's self-contained.

[46:27] Not that we won't still send an engine with the rescue,

[46:30] but we don't necessarily have to

[46:32] because it, well now we send the rescue in an engine.

[46:36] 'cause you have to have fire suppression release

[46:40] if you do an extrication.

[46:41] This is the one that the auxiliary

[46:44] paid for The blackout package. Yeah, the paid

[46:45] One.

[46:46] The corrosion package. Yeah,

[46:47] It was a blackout package and they made it sound like

[46:50] Was back then it was a blackout package. It

[46:51] Made it sound like an appearance package.

[46:53] Now it's a corrosion package.

[46:54] $25,000. Right.

[46:57] They've already sent that check.

[47:03] Bill does wonderful things.

[47:15] Tax sale proceeding is scheduled for Thursday.

[47:19] This is a tax sale representative appointment.

[47:22] Tax sale proceeding is scheduled for Thursday,

[47:24] July 26th, 2026 at 1:00 PM by 23rd.

[47:29] 2026 oh myself.

[47:34] July 23rd, 2026 at 1:00 PM Historically,

[47:37] when a tax sale has been scheduled to select for,

[47:40] has appointed a representative to attend the sale on behalf

[47:43] of the town and if necessary on properties for no other bid

[47:48] or appears, I will let the manager take it from there.

[47:54] So that was my original intent

[47:56] because my recollection has always been

[47:59] that's the way it had been done in the past

[48:02] that had had sales.

[48:04] If the select board has officially appointed a

[48:07] representative and if nobody bids,

[48:09] then the town would bid on it.

[48:11] However, in discussing this

[48:15] with SP NF attorneys outta Burlington, the firm

[48:18] that we are using to navigate this process for us

[48:22] has since advised that they don't typically recommend

[48:26] to their clients that they do that.

[48:28] There are a multitude of reasons why it's not a good idea

[48:33] for the municipality to become the owner

[48:35] of these properties.

[48:37] So I

[48:42] they, they did offer compelling reasons.

[48:45] I was somewhat taken back by it to begin with.

[48:49] But as I talked to them more,

[48:52] I think there are justifiable reasons why we don't wanna

[48:55] own some of these properties.

[48:57] And we can talk about that if you wanted to.

[48:59] But, so my recommendation at this point,

[49:05] well you certainly could appoint, doesn't mean they need

[49:08] to bid is to not appoint somebody.

[49:13] And you can elaborate on that if you'd like.

[49:15] There are other methods

[49:16] that a municipality can go after these.

[49:20] My intent at least to beginning would be to re

[49:27] retack sale or put these, any property that still qualifies,

[49:30] which would likely be all of them that don't have a bidder,

[49:35] successful bidder, is

[49:36] to put them right back into the process.

[49:39] And, and if there are other options,

[49:42] we could explore those as well.

[49:46] We could end up very easily in SP

[49:48] and F'S words, spending more money

[49:53] trying to navigate the process of eviction

[49:58] cleanup,

[50:04] taking dilapidated structures down.

[50:08] I guess that goes under cleanup then in dealing with

[50:13] potential contaminants on the property

[50:18] potential, how much errors

[50:21] to the property unknowns.

[50:23] There's, there's a a lot of things

[50:26] that would ultimately likely cost more

[50:31] than the money we're not receiving

[50:34] as a result of the tax sale.

[50:36] And even though we, and even if we were to buy it data,

[50:39] have some of these structures demolished

[50:41] because they're so dilapidated there's knows

[50:43] how long we'd end up sitting on the property.

[50:45] We have some history of that.

[50:47] So all in all, it's just not a good idea.

[50:51] So whether or not I did recommend one, whether

[50:53] or not you decide to do that, you could do that.

[50:56] Doesn't mean it has to be done would be

[50:59] for the Malati property, which is commonly referred to

[51:02] as the dugout property.

[51:04] And the only reason I recommended that one is

[51:08] because of its high visibility, number one

[51:11] and number two, it is adjacent to three properties

[51:14] that the town currently already owns

[51:16] that were purchased via FEMA buyout after the 2007 floods.

[51:21] This property, as I understand it was offered

[51:23] that same buyout and they chose not to.

[51:26] So I think it would kind of fit in with that

[51:30] if we were to own it.

[51:32] And then there will be an expense,

[51:35] obviously lost tax revenue,

[51:37] but also whatever expense it would be take to clean that up.

[51:41] But it would put it in our hands to do so.

[51:44] There's really nobody to evict.

[51:46] So we don't have to worry about that.

[51:49] So that, that's my recommendation.

[51:51] And certainly there are other considerations I suppose.

[51:57] So you would still have a support someone

[52:00] to bid on that property?

[52:02] I would recommend appointing Leslie Baik who is the,

[52:06] essentially the,

[52:08] is the acting town manager when I'm not available.

[52:12] She's the human resource director.

[52:13] So that doesn't have an exact correlation.

[52:16] But her and I work so closely together

[52:18] and given that she is the acting tile manager, so she kind

[52:22] of, you know, has that title, I would appoint her.

[52:24] They do not recommend it be me or Tina

[52:26] because we, I'm the delinquent tax collector

[52:29] and Tina's the clerk who do some certifications on these.

[52:33] So my recommendation would be to appoint Leslie to that one.

[52:37] It again, it just

[52:38] because the appointment is made doesn't necessarily mean we

[52:41] have to bid on it and somebody may very well bid on it.

[52:45] I would,

[52:47] I would strongly suggest

[52:48] that we appoint someone just on the chance that

[52:51] who information comes

[52:53] to light in the next week or something.

[52:55] I, I'd rather have somebody not go than not be able to go

[52:59] because we didn't appoint them.

[53:01] Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

[53:03] And as far as that, I think I have laid out the motion

[53:06] for you that how it needs to be worded so that it's legal.

[53:12] Yes. Verbatim.

[53:15] So I could make that motion to appoint Leslie Abic

[53:18] as a town's representative

[53:19] to attend the July 23rd, 2026 tax sale pursuant

[53:24] to 32 VSA 52 59 to bid on behalf of the town.

[53:28] If no bid equal to the taxes

[53:30] and costs made particular authority

[53:32] to bid on the Malati property,

[53:33] formerly the formerly dug out restaurant property,

[53:36] the representative determines that doing

[53:38] so is in the town's best interest.

[53:40] Okay. Further discussion?

[53:48] No, I don't think so. Well I hope we're,

[53:51] I hope it just gets taken care of.

[53:53] We're not that, let's hope if somebody buys it. Yeah.

[53:55] Honestly that's the, that's the cleanest way for everybody.

[53:58] Yes.

[54:00] Goal here is not to take property away from people.

[54:02] The goal here is to get taxes paid.

[54:06] So discussion, I guess.

[54:10] All those in favor, aye. Aye.

[54:14] And congratulations Leslie.

[54:18] She gets a field trip day. Better have been here.

[54:20] Oh, it's in the town offices though. Well I, in this room

[54:23] I did consult with her.

[54:26] Oh she didn't, she was willing to accept them. He was

[54:28] Willing.

[54:29] Is it in this room Chris? Yes.

[54:32] Voluntold. Well maybe a little.

[54:39] It used to be Elaine. There's a way of doing that. So,

[54:46] Well her, I'm aware technically her position

[54:48] before it was reimagined was the assistant

[54:52] to the town manager or it was before it was HR focused.

[54:57] Yeah. And she, you know, she clearly is she's,

[55:01] she's a separate title.

[55:03] She's a good sport A health officer too.

[55:07] So I guess you could look at it from that standpoint.

[55:10] You know, she's a deputy health officer

[55:14] So we need to approve the weekly accounts payable warrants

[55:17] for July 7th and July 14th for both FY 26

[55:21] and FY 27.

[55:24] And there was no Nelson slips in any of it.

[55:29] We, so we can take 'em all together then. Absolutely.

[55:31] Motion to approve the weekly accounts payable warrants

[55:34] for July 7th

[55:36] and July 14th, 2026

[55:39] for both fiscal years.

[55:41] Second. Any questions regarding any of those warrants?

[55:47] Pretty straightforward. I didn't see anything. No.

[55:51] All those in favor? Aye. Aye.

[55:55] A ask the other question.

[55:57] Miscellaneous, we do have

[56:02] a request to cater permit

[56:06] for 8 0 2 cocktails LLC.

[56:12] July 18th, seven o'clock

[56:18] 2029.

[56:20] Littlejohn Road. Is that the event barn or is that the inn?

[56:24] It is the Should be the event barn should

[56:26] Be the event.

[56:27] Yeah, the celebration barn. Yeah.

[56:30] Approximately 75 guests for a wedding.

[56:38] It looks like it's all in order.

[56:40] So I'll make a motion that we

[56:46] proof permit for 8 0 2 cocktails of South Burlington

[56:49] to cater an event at 29 Littlejohn Road,

[56:52] the Kucher farm at Millstone

[56:53] for a wedding reception on July 18th, 2026.

[56:58] Second A All those in favor?

[57:03] Aye. Aye.

[57:07] Congratulations. Yep. Good luck.

[57:15] Tina, do you have anything from the clerk's office? Senator,

[57:18] The only exciting thing I have is residents can expect

[57:21] to receive their tax bills soon

[57:23] 'cause those will be mailed out tomorrow.

[57:26] Yay. Very Good on the lookout.

[57:27] I guess if you don't receive them, I would say

[57:29] by a couple weeks.

[57:30] 'cause we know what the postage delay is

[57:32] to call the clerk's office

[57:35] and let us know. Got another copy

[57:38] And the postage delay topic. Yes.

[57:41] We are no longer accepting postmarks,

[57:44] so get your payments in on the due date

[57:47] by 4:30 PM please.

[57:51] Yes. Get 'em to your folks. Please. Please.

[57:54] Several ways to pay.

[57:56] Many ways to pay. Yes, absolutely. Yep.

[57:59] Absolutely. Do you have any questions? Call us.

[58:01] Happy to help.

[58:04] Checking on the status of mail in payment.

[58:07] That theoretical is perfectly fine, right?

[58:10] Yes, absolutely. Always There.

[58:12] First payment due August 17th

[58:14] by 4:30 PM What was the business?

[58:18] 15th, 17th? Yes, Mr.

[58:23] Manager.

[58:25] I started the meeting 'cause I couldn't contain myself.

[58:29] Mine hold the road in the radio project

[58:33] It bears repeating. Oh

[58:34] Yeah.

[58:35] So Holden Road is officially open

[58:39] and they, it was delayed a couple days just simply

[58:42] because we needed to send the road crew down there

[58:44] to clear brush on.

[58:46] They've been, you know, three years.

[58:48] And so stuff had grown in and that got delayed a little bit.

[58:52] I had really kind of, I don't know if pushed the word,

[58:56] but suggested to Josh it would be really cool

[59:00] to have opened it on Friday, July 10th, 2020 sixth.

[59:04] Three years from the,

[59:06] but the rain last, my hopes were washed out

[59:11] by the rain on.

[59:18] Yeah, yeah, yeah. So anyway, that's great. Great news.

[59:22] And the long awaited radio project that

[59:27] should enhance our RA emergency radio communications

[59:33] for our public works, our ambulance

[59:35] and our fire department is operational as

[59:38] of about three o'clock this afternoon.

[59:41] So the, the new antenna is up on the tower.

[59:46] The new antennas are up on both the tower.

[59:47] The new equipment is all installed

[59:49] and they are simulcasting and voting.

[59:53] So whichever tower the one on in Williamstown at Mount

[59:56] Pleasant or the one on taplin,

[59:58] whichever one receives the signal the strongest will receive

[1:00:02] it and then broadcast it to the other tower so

[1:00:04] that they then broadcast back out much wider net instead

[1:00:09] of just counting on the one tower.

[1:00:12] So it, it, it will greatly enhance

[1:00:15] because that tower up there has to be able

[1:00:18] to hear it put it back out.

[1:00:20] So if you're down here, I'm really hoping,

[1:00:23] and I'm really anxious to see what three,

[1:00:25] two communication's like on 3 0 2

[1:00:28] 'cause of that little bit of a gully.

[1:00:30] Very hard to reach that

[1:00:31] In Southberry And South

[1:00:32] but don't know it southberry help a lot but,

[1:00:37] 'cause this is such close proximity to that tower on tap

[1:00:42] and I think the,

[1:00:43] especially a mobile radio will have no

[1:00:45] problem getting out better.

[1:00:47] So that is a very welcome.

[1:00:51] Well is very welcome Chris.

[1:00:56] We're super excited to hear from everybody

[1:00:58] that's using it too.

[1:01:00] Initial reports are good.

[1:01:02] I already got a text message tonight.

[1:01:04] That's how I found out that it was open.

[1:01:07] Somebody texted me, they went down through it

[1:01:08] and I told them about my experience going

[1:01:10] and looking at it on

[1:01:13] July 11th, 2023.

[1:01:17] The day after I just walked up to the guardrail

[1:01:20] and didn't think anything of it and

[1:01:21] just looked right over the edge.

[1:01:24] Ooh. Made my head spin.

[1:01:27] Still pretty,

[1:01:30] pretty daunting when you look over the edge now

[1:01:32] even no vegetation.

[1:01:34] And it's basically a,

[1:01:37] but I think it it, I think by all accounts

[1:01:40] that they did a good job

[1:01:42] and did not have to worry about that anytime soon.

[1:01:49] Won't say there won't be other ones but,

[1:01:54] and the only other thing I was gonna say is

[1:01:57] that in my announcement,

[1:01:58] which I blundered the last couple sentences

[1:02:01] about the property tax rate, the sewer rate,

[1:02:03] so the sewer bills probably be a little

[1:02:06] sooner than the end of July.

[1:02:08] Talking to Tina, they may go out next week.

[1:02:11] So we're just trying to get a little separation

[1:02:13] between the property tax

[1:02:14] and sewer bill so people will get 'em.

[1:02:16] So all goes well. I think it will be,

[1:02:20] It's gonna help us with them.

[1:02:21] So whenever she returns next week I think,

[1:02:23] I think she's gonna be here on Tuesday.

[1:02:25] And kudos again once again to the crew in Tina's office

[1:02:29] and Beth and Jen

[1:02:31] and anybody who spent, I don't know how many, what,

[1:02:34] two days was it done

[1:02:36] In two days? Yeah.

[1:02:37] And two days. They had all those stuffed,

[1:02:39] all those envelopes stuffed and ready to go out in the mail.

[1:02:44] So from time you set the rate on the seventh that all

[1:02:48] that all had to be done behind the scenes

[1:02:50] and the tax bills printed and stuffed.

[1:02:53] It's a lot of work. And they did that.

[1:02:57] They'd become very good at it.

[1:03:00] Yeah. And unfortunately they'll have

[1:03:02] to do it again. So also advise tax

[1:03:07] Sew bills could go out in the very beginning

[1:03:10] of August if you wanted

[1:03:11] to give them a little bit more separation.

[1:03:12] 'cause they just got to be in the mail

[1:03:13] by August 15th, right?

[1:03:15] That's right. Yeah. August. Yes. By August 15th. Correct.

[1:03:19] First two dates September 15th.

[1:03:21] We have some time on those.

[1:03:25] Hey, everybody didn't

[1:03:29] hang you missed it folks.

[1:03:31] Holden Road is open long around the table.

[1:03:35] Let's start with Tracy.

[1:03:39] I did come up Holden Road tonight. It is really nice.

[1:03:42] I'm very excited to put my blinker on down there.

[1:03:44] It's small station food up.

[1:03:48] I attended the ice cream social in lower

[1:03:49] Graniteville last week.

[1:03:51] The weather was perfect. There was a great turnout.

[1:03:54] Got there a little bit late. There was still some ice cream.

[1:03:57] So that was a nice time.

[1:03:58] The, the flowers and everything looked really, really nice.

[1:04:01] And just to comment, I did get a couple

[1:04:03] of people reaching out on

[1:04:05] that Thursday night rainstorm saying, you know, boy,

[1:04:07] this is full, it'll be up to my waist.

[1:04:09] This, the town's gotta come clean those out.

[1:04:11] And I talked to Josh and I just reiterated that

[1:04:13] that was just more rain than they were designed to handle.

[1:04:16] And

[1:04:19] So, Yeah,

[1:04:20] Anything else had that concern.

[1:04:23] So what we faced two or you know, two

[1:04:24] and three years ago is that

[1:04:29] systems are not designed

[1:04:31] to handle a hundred year storms on a regular basis.

[1:04:35] You know, two and a half, three inches of rain,

[1:04:37] four inches rain, whatever it was on matter.

[1:04:39] Two hours. It's, there's no system.

[1:04:42] You can't build a system that's gonna,

[1:04:45] so unfortunately a reality of

[1:04:48] that we live in, it's tough.

[1:04:52] And that storm brought back a lot of, you know,

[1:04:57] folks that had had problems either one of those two years

[1:05:00] that whatever reason the,

[1:05:03] their problem couldn't be resolved.

[1:05:07] It has made our phone some emails busy

[1:05:09] again, I knew it was going to,

[1:05:16] I never spent the entire storm

[1:05:19] standing in my dining room window just waiting for it.

[1:05:23] It just kept, I had that same feeling.

[1:05:25] It just kept coming and coming and coming and coming

[1:05:28] and then it get, it'd get even more intense and then

[1:05:31] You can't think, well you don't think

[1:05:32] it can get any more the

[1:05:33] Right then it would turn up another notch and, and

[1:05:38] It was stood on our front porch hoping

[1:05:40] that one bar would allow me to find out

[1:05:43] what was happening down in the city.

[1:05:45] 'cause we lost power in our house.

[1:05:49] Yes, You suffered, Patricia that

[1:05:53] they shot Main Street down. There were

[1:05:55] Some, I they, I don't know if they shut it down

[1:05:57] but there was water.

[1:05:58] I, you know, I have tenants upstairs

[1:06:00] and they're kind enough to, to text me and call me

[1:06:04] and let me know what's going on.

[1:06:05] The water got up to the edge of the sidewalk

[1:06:08] and started to lap over the edge,

[1:06:09] but then it receded pretty quickly.

[1:06:12] But I do know there were others, you know,

[1:06:15] the north end had quite a lot of water.

[1:06:17] I know there were a few businesses that had nuisance water

[1:06:22] Actually.

[1:06:26] And did you have anything for Roundtable?

[1:06:29] Yeah, you mentioned I still,

[1:06:31] the road close signed is still up.

[1:06:35] You didn't drive through it? I did. Okay.

[1:06:41] Well sorry. As a select

[1:06:42] Board member, I had to go down and inspect

[1:06:44] and I'm like, well it's passable.

[1:06:46] I wouldn't want a 25.

[1:06:48] I think they, I think they want

[1:06:49] to go back up and clean it up.

[1:06:50] So I think they're just hoping to

[1:06:51] keep traffic off, keep graphic

[1:06:52] Off so they Back there. It's

[1:06:54] A little rough. It's not the Yeah,

[1:06:56] The, The DPW folks do.

[1:06:58] Yeah, I wasn't aware they still had the close sign up

[1:07:00] but that would, we talked about it this morning.

[1:07:04] It's close to through traffic. They need

[1:07:05] to get back up there and if Yeah,

[1:07:07] the residents are snow, they can get in.

[1:07:09] Yes. That's what's most important I think.

[1:07:12] What was the failure point this time for? So was

[1:07:15] It just water running down the edge

[1:07:17] on the opposite side of the brook?

[1:07:19] The other side. Oh wow. Yeah.

[1:07:21] It wasn't the brook. No, no, no.

[1:07:25] Coming off the hill. Yeah.

[1:07:28] Huh. But that's a mitigation project that we got.

[1:07:32] We have in the works to upsize culprits and stuff.

[1:07:35] So I, I think,

[1:07:38] I don't know if you'll ever 100% be able to

[1:07:41] that these storm happen.

[1:07:43] Our hope is to prevent it from, you know,

[1:07:45] and it worked on Sterling Hill.

[1:07:47] We did a mitigation project put in that big box culvert.

[1:07:50] Yeah. We have the edges washing out.

[1:07:53] You get the book right there.

[1:07:54] Unless you're gonna build a wall,

[1:07:56] we're never gonna prevent that.

[1:07:58] But we haven't lost that road in

[1:08:00] the last couple heavy rains.

[1:08:02] And as we've learned from further down Sterling Hill,

[1:08:05] building those walls to prevent that erosion

[1:08:08] that does is increase the velocity of the water,

[1:08:11] intensify it and send the problem further down.

[1:08:16] Yeah. Water a powerful force. Yep.

[1:08:19] And it's always gonna win.

[1:08:24] Prevent. No, I was just gonna to mention

[1:08:28] only from the standpoint that it's just

[1:08:31] slightly disappointing because I just don't like doing

[1:08:33] things over and over again.

[1:08:35] But we'll get there with the mitigation of some sort.

[1:08:37] I, I I'm sure the residents on that certainly better.

[1:08:40] And you know, it, it, it didn't wasn't grand scheme

[1:08:43] of things that big a deal, it several loads

[1:08:46] of millions I told you about

[1:08:47] because they were working in the area.

[1:08:49] So there's just diverted up there, but safe to travel.

[1:08:54] It was never closed. So I mean it never

[1:08:57] necessarily, but it was always, yeah.

[1:08:58] Not like the last time didn't have any sort stranded. Right.

[1:09:05] Just, I don't care if I ever see

[1:09:06] another, I've seen that road.

[1:09:09] I've seen, like I said, Holden Road and any others

[1:09:13] and more than one occasion seen

[1:09:15] hills too just for a water bank

[1:09:17] Than we've completely lost NOIs More than once.

[1:09:21] Yeah. Seen him 11, lost it. 23, lost it.

[1:09:26] 2024. Didn't do anything good for it.

[1:09:31] I do not have anything for cable tonight.

[1:09:37] So, I mean, our last executive session.

[1:09:42] Yeah, just This, we canceled the retreat because Mr.

[1:09:46] Susie was at the last minute unexpectedly

[1:09:50] unavailable to be with us.

[1:09:54] That's about it. We're ready for remote from due at June.

[1:09:59] So moved. Second, third. All those in favor? Aye.

[1:10:05] Here we have it. See you on July 28th.

[1:10:11] Stay outta the hot sun.

Barre Town Select July 14 2026

Transcript