[0:09] I got seven. You guys all got seven.

[0:11] Okay.

[0:13] >> Good evening everyone and uh welcome and

[0:16] thank you for coming out on such a hot

[0:18] steamy evening. I'm going to break with

[0:21] tradition here just a little bit because

[0:23] I would like to uh make an introduction.

[0:27] Uh, Chief, can you come forward? And

[0:30] Officer Fontana,

[0:32] uh, this is our police chief, as you all

[0:35] know, but this lovely little lady

[0:37] walking with her is our newest police

[0:40] officer, uh, fresh out of the academy

[0:43] and

[0:47] here to uh, serve Brandon. I had the

[0:49] opportunity to meet her and and visit

[0:51] with her the other day, and I'm very, happy to have her on board.

[0:56] Um, I'll let the chief say anything

[0:59] else, but we're This is the first step

[1:02] of our rebuild. You are

[1:04] >> it

[1:09] to us from um

[1:12] and she is presently going through field

[1:15] training right now. She's attended the

[1:16] part-time academy of the police academy

[1:18] in Pittsford. And our hope is as soon as

[1:21] she's done with field training, she'll

[1:23] be on the road in a solo capacity. Um,

[1:26] and you'll be out seeing her patrolling

[1:27] the streets.

[1:30] » Thank you.

[1:32] >> Welcome.

[1:32] >> Very excited to be here.

[1:35] >> Very excited to have you.

[1:38] >> We're very excited to have you. Welcome.

[1:40] >> You want to get a picture, Steve?

[1:44] >> No. No. Steve is our uh owner and editor

[1:48] of our Brandon newspaper, and we would

[1:51] like to feature a picture of the two of

[1:53] you as our

[1:55] Good news that we get things rolling.

[2:10] Yeah, you don't want us in the history.

[2:12] >> You want to break the camera.

[2:16] » You know what? Stand just like that. We

[2:18] can see the

[2:21] All right.

[2:24] Awesome.

[2:24] >> Thank you.

[2:28] beautiful

[2:31] » and we really are happy to have you and

[2:33] I'm sure some of the other board members

[2:35] will stop in and visit with you at the

[2:37] uh office when you're around. So great.

[2:42] U now moving on. We are going to do the

[2:45] uh we've got full list of meetings here.

[2:48] So we're going to start with cannabis

[2:50] control.

[2:52] I move that we adopt the uh agenda

[2:58] first as

[3:02] » we have a motion and a second on the

[3:03] agenda. Reoccurring matter is to approve

[3:06] the minute from the May 26 cannabis

[3:08] meeting.

[3:09] >> Make a motion we approve those minutes.

[3:12] >> I'll second that.

[3:13] >> Motion and a second to approve cannabis

[3:15] minutes. All in favor?

[3:17] >> I opposed. No one. Item three, it's

[3:22] three applications for

[3:25] uh tier 2 and tier one. Uh they're all

[3:29] renewals.

[3:31] [Music]

[3:42] » That we consider items 3, A, B, and C

[3:44] under consent agenda.

[3:46] >> Second.

[3:47] >> Okay. Motion in a second to approve all

[3:50] three under consent. All in favor,

[3:52] please say I.

[3:53] >> I.

[3:54] Opposed. No one.

[3:56] >> Public comment or participation on

[3:58] cannabis.

[4:01] There's never any hurt on that.

[4:03] >> Motion to adjurnn cannabis.

[4:05] All in

[4:07] favor?

[4:08] >> I'll second that.

[4:09] >> Motion a second. All in favor?

[4:10] >> I. Okay.

[4:13] >> And we move on to liquor. cover all the

[4:16] sins in life this evening. Um the agenda

[4:21] >> I move to adopt the agenda for the

[4:24] liquor control commissioners as warned.

[4:27] >> I'll second

[4:28] >> motion in a second on the um agenda. All

[4:31] in favor say I.

[4:32] >> I.

[4:34] >> Opposed? No one. Reoccurring matters

[4:37] would be approval of the liquor minutes

[4:41] from June 23rd.

[4:44] Make a motion we approve those minutes.

[4:46] >> Second that.

[4:48] >> Motion in a second. On the minutes, all

[4:50] in favor say I.

[4:52] >> I. Oppos? No one.

[4:54] >> I move that we uh adopt a consent agenda

[4:57] for items three and four.

[5:02] » Go ahead. I'll second. We have a motion

[5:05] and a second for item three and four.

[5:08] Any discussion? None heard. All in

[5:11] favor? I

[5:13] >> I opposed. No one public comment on

[5:16] liquor.

[5:19] None.

[5:20] >> Motion to adjurnn liquor.

[5:21] >> Motion to adjurnn. Second.

[5:23] >> Second that.

[5:23] >> All in favor of joining liquor say I.

[5:26] >> I. I.

[5:27] >> Okay.

[5:28] And

[5:31] sewer commissioners report

[5:34] agenda.

[5:36] >> Come on. Someone else.

[5:38] >> I'll make a motion to adopt the agenda.

[5:41] I'll second it.

[5:42] >> Here we go. We have a motion and a

[5:44] second to adopt the agenda. All in favor

[5:46] say I.

[5:46] >> I.

[5:48] >> Reoccurring matters is the sewer

[5:50] commissioner's minutes from June 23rd.

[5:55] >> Make a motion to approve those minutes.

[5:57] >> Second.

[5:58] >> Roman.

[5:59] >> Okay. Motion and seconds to approve the

[6:01] minutes. All in favor of the minutes,

[6:03] please say I. I.

[6:04] >> I.

[6:06] And what we are here for is to consider

[6:08] purchase order for more root x root

[6:11] killer which is above the town manager's

[6:14] uh spending option and the price is

[6:16] right so we're buying it early.

[6:20] >> And this is last time too isn't it?

[6:22] Yeah.

[6:23] >> Is this a year supply?

[6:26] >> So with what we got in the previous

[6:28] fiscal year and this he believes it will

[6:30] be about about the year.

[6:35] Pleasure of the board.

[6:37] >> I move that we approve the purchase

[6:38] order uh 12405 for Routtex in the amount

[6:42] of $12,600.

[6:44] >> Second.

[6:45] >> Motion in a second. Any additional

[6:47] discussion?

[6:49] None at all. In favor of the motion to

[6:52] purchase $12,600

[6:55] of Rudex, please say I.

[6:58] No one. Public comment on sewer.

[7:05] None heard.

[7:06] >> Motion to adjurnn. Sewer. Second.

[7:08] >> Motion to adjurnn. All in favor?

[7:10] >> I I

[7:13] now we are up to the select board the

[7:16] agenda. First

[7:20] » I move to adopt the meeting agenda as

[7:29] » any addition.

[7:31] All in favor move adopt of the agenda as

[7:33] presented say I I

[7:35] >> I oppose no one collect board remarks. I

[7:39] would just remind everyone that we are

[7:41] here to do the business of the town. Um

[7:45] when speaking we need you to come

[7:47] forward and speak into the microphone so

[7:49] it can be heard and state your name and

[7:53] treat everyone with respect please and

[7:55] we will have a very happy meeting. It's

[7:57] a lengthy agenda, but I think mostly

[8:00] fairly straightforward items.

[8:03] So,

[8:04] >> anyone else have any other select board?

[8:07] >> One one quick one for me. Um,

[8:10] >> summer school's out. I've seen a ton and

[8:13] of kids riding without helmets,

[8:15] especially on the sidewalk, but all over

[8:16] the place. I've had brain surgery. You

[8:19] don't want it. Please, if you have kids,

[8:20] or if you are a kid who happens to be

[8:22] watching this, put on a helmet. Might

[8:24] save your life.

[8:26] I'll get off my soap box now.

[8:28] >> And it really doesn't take much of a to

[8:31] cause a traumatic brain injur.

[8:36] » Very good point. Uh reoccurring m um

[8:40] matters. We have select boards from June

[8:43] 23rd, select July 7th and 11th.

[8:48] I hear the board.

[9:05] Um,

[9:07] I would ask a question. How is this new

[9:11] system working? Because I'm realizing we

[9:13] haven't identified ourselves at all this

[9:15] evening.

[9:16] >> So, it's okay. Um, I think that what

[9:19] we're going to end up with will be okay.

[9:21] I think as long as you're comfortable

[9:23] with um say the July 7th minutes, if you

[9:27] look at that, you have um at number one,

[9:30] you have who called the meeting to order

[9:32] and things of that nature. But when it

[9:34] gets into the discussion, it doesn't

[9:35] always attribute an individual statement

[9:38] to an individual speaker, but then when

[9:40] we get down to the motions, those were

[9:42] jotted down and so you know who made

[9:44] motions and seconds and the outcomes.

[9:46] So, if that's satisfactory to the board,

[9:48] I think it accomplishes what the open

[9:50] meeting law requires. Now,

[9:52] >> so you're jotting it down. We don't need

[9:53] to say should should we state our name

[9:55] when we're making a motion?

[9:56] >> No. Uh, I'm I'm jotting down who's

[9:59] making motions and seconds and vote

[10:00] outcomes and the machine is basically

[10:03] trying to capture the content of the

[10:05] discussion.

[10:06] >> Perfect.

[10:07] >> And

[10:08] excuse me. And if anyone needs further

[10:11] elaboration on the discussions, those

[10:13] are on volume.

[10:14] >> We have the recording. at the recording

[10:16] somewhat.

[10:16] >> Yep. Okay. So, we do have a motion and a

[10:19] second to approve the two select board

[10:22] um minutes.

[10:25] All in favor of those minutes, please

[10:26] say I.

[10:27] >> I.

[10:28] abstain on the seventh.

[10:30] >> You abstain on the seventh. You weren't

[10:31] there. Correct.

[10:34] >> Now, we get into the warrant. The reason

[10:36] there's two warrants is some are bills

[10:38] from the prior year, some are bills for

[10:40] this year.

[10:48] pleasure of the board.

[10:52] » So, I move to approve um warrant report

[10:56] 63873 in the amount of $168,911.88.

[11:04] » I'll second that one. Okay.

[11:08] Uh questions?

[11:15] None. We have a motion and a second to

[11:19] approve the first warrant. All in favor,

[11:22] please say I.

[11:23] >> I.

[11:25] >> Opposed? No one.

[11:27] Second warrant.

[11:30] >> I move that we approve warrant report

[11:32] number 6387.

[11:45] Check. Any questions on

[11:52] all of

[11:56] you please say I

[12:01] » item four, town manager report.

[12:04] >> Thank you, Mr. chair, members of the

[12:05] board, members of the public. Um, my

[12:07] report was part of the packet. I do want

[12:09] to add a couple of things to it. Uh,

[12:12] one, about twothirds of the way down the

[12:15] front page, I I submitted the report

[12:17] without finishing the sentence about the

[12:19] town clock. Apologies for that. So, the

[12:21] clock works themselves are still an open

[12:23] issue with a knowledgeable local person.

[12:25] That's the person um who with his family

[12:28] has been taking care of the clock for a

[12:29] number of years. and that person's

[12:31] working with um an outside contractor

[12:33] that is able to perhaps fabricate the

[12:36] new gear or identify a source for the

[12:38] new gear. There's a broken gear up

[12:40] there. Um I do want to call attention to

[12:43] the near completion of the town hall

[12:45] roof reslating. That project is going

[12:48] very well. They did elect, as many of

[12:50] you will have noticed, they elected not

[12:52] to put slate over the eaves at the edges

[12:56] uh because of the Boeing and so they've

[12:58] put copper there. It won't be an extra

[13:00] cost to the town and it will act like as

[13:02] a snow pan would act on on your house

[13:04] roof.

[13:06] And the work on the Sanderson covered

[13:09] bridge did start today. Uh that repair

[13:11] work should go this week. And so Pearl

[13:15] Street will not be a through street from

[13:17] 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for the

[13:20] rest of the week while they're working

[13:22] on the bridge. Um there are three

[13:24] announcements to make about vacancies on

[13:27] town boards. If you're interested on

[13:28] serving, please submit a cover sheet and

[13:30] letter of interest to me. There's a a

[13:33] voting position on the energy committee

[13:34] that generally meets the first Monday at

[13:36] 4:30 p.m. And then there's two alternate

[13:40] positions. Alternates sit on the boards,

[13:43] they attend the meetings, they discuss,

[13:45] they contribute, they can be on

[13:46] subcommittees and working groups. They

[13:48] just only vote if one of the voting

[13:50] members is absent. So that's the only

[13:52] difference. There is an al an alternate

[13:54] position on the planning commission that

[13:56] meets the first Monday at six o'clock

[13:59] and there's an alternate on the

[14:00] development review board that meets the

[14:02] fourth Thursday at 7:00.

[14:06] Um

[14:07] you've met with officer Fontana tonight

[14:10] which is great. And I guess the other

[14:13] thing I would call a little bit of

[14:14] attention to um is

[14:18] whether you would like to consider

[14:20] exploring um combining these four

[14:23] meetings into one meeting. So the select

[14:26] board every year at reorganization

[14:29] designates itself as the board of

[14:31] cannabis control commissioners, the

[14:32] board of liquor commissioners, and the

[14:33] board of sewer commissioners. It's

[14:35] possible to just have one meeting with

[14:38] one agenda and one batch of minutes if

[14:41] you're not um opposed to that for a

[14:44] reason.

[14:46] I can investigate it some more.

[14:49] >> I mean I don't know if there would be

[14:51] any reason

[14:53] uh administratively that we would want

[14:55] to keep them.

[14:56] >> It's largely been separate so that the

[14:58] minutes could be searched separately.

[15:00] But I think now that minutes can be

[15:01] searched by computer and not just, you

[15:03] know, by opening a binder and looking

[15:06] from date to date to date, it's it's

[15:09] potentially going to streamline your

[15:11] operation.

[15:13] You don't have to decide anything. Just

[15:15] offering it out there.

[15:17] >> It's about all we have.

[15:20] I would like to add to your report as

[15:22] you printed it and I know it will be in

[15:24] the newspaper but we did introduce

[15:26] officer uh Fontana and u the we we are

[15:31] finally getting some activity on some

[15:33] additional interviews at the police

[15:35] department and have two other

[15:38] >> yes

[15:39] >> potential candidates in the works.

[15:41] Not going to say any more than that, but

[15:44] so that's that's good that we're working

[15:46] towards getting our police department

[15:48] back in order.

[15:50] >> U questions for the town manager from

[15:53] the board.

[15:55] Questions for the town manager on his

[15:57] report from the public? Barry.

[16:02] » Um Barry Varian. Um I live up off

[16:06] seminary. So

[16:10] » so so I get an opportunity to see the

[16:13] town hall for a bird's eye view as I

[16:16] come down at least once or twice a day.

[16:19] And I remember when we we set funds

[16:21] aside ARPA money for that roof. It was

[16:23] like a staggering amount of money.

[16:25] >> But I've been watching what those guys

[16:27] are doing and it's amazing to me they

[16:29] could even get done what they got done

[16:31] for that amount of money. I mean,

[16:33] there's a tremendous amount of labor and

[16:36] equipment and and time that goes into

[16:38] that roof. They're doing a hell of a

[16:40] job. They really are. And it looks

[16:41] great. So, um, feel good about it,

[16:45] really.

[16:46] >> Thanks.

[16:48] >> They actually put some uh some

[16:50] additional plywood down for some wood

[16:52] that was rotten and whatever. So, I

[16:53] mean, this was a big job. Ken Kulage.

[16:59] >> Ken Kulage on the roof. Thank you.

[17:03] >> Um, I did have a question. So, I know in

[17:07] the quote when it was presented, there

[17:11] was the option of doing the plywood,

[17:13] which when they did that one quarter, we

[17:16] knew that it was going to be pretty

[17:18] rotten, which

[17:20] kind of turned out to be. What other

[17:23] damage was there? How bad was it up

[17:25] there? So, um I did not see it

[17:28] firsthand, but the uh

[17:30] >> pictures online fact

[17:32] >> pictures Yeah. the pictures that were

[17:34] taken by Carl Spardella, who's the owner

[17:36] of the slate company, um he indicated it

[17:39] was it was predominantly at the eaves

[17:41] where the most rot was. Um I don't think

[17:44] they had to replace any of the joists or

[17:46] anything, but there were then spots

[17:47] around chimneys and so forth where

[17:49] natural spots where water would collect.

[17:52] They they didn't end up redecking the

[17:55] whole roof, both sides. They ended up

[17:57] redecking sections of it in plywood.

[18:00] It's

[18:00] >> good. Put all that work into it. Might

[18:02] as well make sure the

[18:03] >> underllayment is

[18:05] >> right.

[18:05] >> Good. So, where does that put us

[18:07] budgetwise for the estimate?

[18:10] >> I think it's going to fully obligate all

[18:12] that was set aside. Um the amount set

[18:15] aside was the amount that the select

[18:17] board set aside from the ARPA award.

[18:19] Then there was part of the insurance um

[18:22] claim for the chimney that was blown and

[18:24] we got the new boiler down here with

[18:26] part of that and the rest was to put

[18:28] toward rebuilding that chimney. There

[18:30] was a third source uh not getting me

[18:33] right now. So we don't have the final

[18:34] bill. We've made the initial payment

[18:36] which was about a third of the quote a

[18:38] progress payment when they switched from

[18:40] the east side to the west side of the

[18:43] roof. They got another third and so at

[18:45] this point this is when he's going to

[18:47] start. He has a little bit to do I think

[18:48] on the south facing. Um there's a small

[18:52] little roof at the base of the triangle

[18:54] that I don't know whether they're going

[18:56] to do copper or slate there. And then

[18:58] once that's all done, we'll get the

[18:59] final bill and it it's likely to be a

[19:01] third plus the add-ons.

[19:04] So, I would just make a suggestion if

[19:06] you it is over and with all those funds

[19:10] you'd already set aside to take it out

[19:13] of the um the not the grand

[19:16] >> the the 1% fund.

[19:18] >> No, I would leave that alone. I would

[19:20] take it off of the reserve if you have

[19:23] anything extra because as the reserve

[19:26] goes up,

[19:28] you want to use it. We used it a couple

[19:30] years ago to offset the tax increase,

[19:34] forgot about it the next year, that that

[19:36] increase needs to be accounted for the

[19:38] following year in the budget. So, if you

[19:40] use the reserve for some an overrun,

[19:45] it doesn't affect your taxes. It doesn't

[19:48] affect you the next year. Um, it's just

[19:51] a way to use up some of those funds for

[19:54] unplanned items while you're still

[19:56] staying above your limit.

[19:59] >> That's good advice. I think, you know,

[20:00] when it's when we get the final bill,

[20:02] I'll certainly come back to the select

[20:03] board and give them the final accounting

[20:05] of what's been laid out and what they've

[20:08] already kind of set aside and we'll see

[20:10] what's left and what what might the

[20:11] options be. just to suggest.

[20:13] >> Yes,

[20:13] >> a lot of that would depend if if I

[20:15] reserve

[20:17] is above the 15% bottom threshold. So, I

[20:20] mean, we're right at it, but I don't

[20:22] know. We haven't got last year's results

[20:24] yet.

[20:25] >> Yeah, it's 569

[20:27] report.

[20:31] » Any final questions for the town manager

[20:33] on his report?

[20:37] » None seen. Moving on to

[20:42] Hey, Doug. Uh, community development

[20:44] report for today the 14th. Uh, after

[20:47] what I assume was a tremendously

[20:48] successful chamber auction with our

[20:51] Friday. The town hall upstairs is back

[20:53] open for entertainment. July 19th, the

[20:55] town hall's wildly popular silent movie

[20:57] series resumed for Jeff's

[21:00] company screening of the 1922 comedy

[21:03] Grandma's Boy. Free donations are there

[21:06] to support the 2026 series. Um, July

[21:09] 26th, LC Jazz returns with Big Van

[21:12] Sound. A 6 PM start time with a $5

[21:15] admission gains you access to swing

[21:16] dancing fun. Proceeds are to benefit

[21:19] music theater scholarship funds.

[21:22] July the 27th, we're partnering with the

[21:24] Brandy Museum to host Howard Coffin from

[21:26] 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. upstairs. This is

[21:29] a free wall offering uh renowned

[21:32] historian's presentation of the Great

[21:34] Bennington Battle in Vermont. It's a

[21:36] great way to get geared up for Vermont's

[21:37] 250th celebration, which is next year.

[21:40] Youth dance, cheer, field hockey, and

[21:43] outdoor camps have some limited

[21:44] registration space and start this week.

[21:47] Visit brandonere.com.

[21:50] I have an error in my report. The town

[21:52] has not picked up its grantfunded BWID

[21:56] buzz on Friday. It was delivered to us

[21:58] today uh by the dealership. U we have a

[22:01] phase, again, a reminder, grant funded.

[22:04] This costs us nothing. The phase plan

[22:07] will have it as a rec support vehicle

[22:09] with some volunteer scheduled ride share

[22:12] public transit connections coming online

[22:14] in the next two months be structured

[22:16] with that site. We started with the

[22:18] right-of-way easement acquisition for

[22:20] the Union Street sidewalk project. The

[22:22] next this is the next phase to be

[22:24] completed. Um these are all temporary

[22:26] easements. We're not taking any land to

[22:28] make these to um to have the sidewalk be

[22:30] reconstructed, but it does require some

[22:32] disruption in people's lives.

[22:35] We started uh let's see, Youth Works is

[22:37] back in town. Uh they were this church

[22:40] youth group that was really ramped up

[22:42] prior to COVID and then CO put a dent in

[22:46] their camping uh camping missions, but

[22:49] now they're back. Um for the next three

[22:51] weeks, we'll be working with this

[22:53] organization to complete many projects

[22:54] all over town. groups of 10 to 15 youth

[22:57] with counselors. We'll be helping to

[22:58] beautify public parks and other spaces

[23:01] three days a week. You'll see them

[23:02] around a couple projects that they're

[23:04] going to be working on

[23:06] decking to be painted at the gazebo

[23:09] park. Mother is clean up downtown.

[23:12] They'll soon be constants

[23:15] pay at the end.

[23:19] Um uh fall planning is underway. Uh next

[23:22] report will have the follow youth

[23:23] offerings. The reminder that the great

[23:25] Brandon Carnival is coming July 24th to

[23:28] 27th. This former collaboration is now

[23:30] exclusively a field rental following

[23:32] right events. Fun activities on tap with

[23:35] Miller music rides state trivia

[23:37] championship over open night and more.

[23:39] Um I just want to say we had successful

[23:41] I thought Independence Day celebration

[23:44] last weekend.

[23:47] I earned some coverage lease. Um I've

[23:51] been the chair on that committee for

[23:52] nine years. of stepping down as chair. I

[23:55] encourage any young pupils that are

[23:57] around in the audience. I guess

[24:01] anybody that would like to volunteer to

[24:03] help make 2026 celebration even better.

[24:06] Um cool thing about um volunteerism in a

[24:09] small town is you have the opportunity

[24:10] to make the changes you want to see by

[24:13] simply showing up at meetings and

[24:14] expressing your opinions and then

[24:16] working to make that happen. uh when I

[24:22] » like to add to Bill Moy's report that

[24:24] last year I was able to see some of the

[24:26] youth works doing some of their jobs and

[24:28] stopped to talk to them and thank them

[24:30] for being here. So if you run into a

[24:32] bunch of kids working in our parks or

[24:33] around town, it's great to thank them

[24:35] for what they're doing because they're

[24:37] coming here and they're saving us money.

[24:38] So it's really a that's certainly a a

[24:41] really nice thing. Questions for Mr.

[24:44] Moore from the board?

[24:46] questions of Mr. Moore from the public.

[24:51] Mr. Moore is off the hot seat.

[24:54] >> We'll get back on

[24:55] >> uh

[24:58] temporarily.

[25:00] >> Okay. Item six on our agenda is to award

[25:03] the uh bid for demolition of a femur

[25:07] buyout property. Um

[25:11] Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Moore, I don't know

[25:12] who's doing that. Me again.

[25:14] >> There you go. We're back on.

[25:15] >> So, I'll read the letter. I submitted as

[25:17] a part of the uh select word packet. Uh

[25:20] the town hosted a bid opening on June

[25:21] 27th 125 of demolition services of an F

[25:25] FRCF FEMA hazard mitigation program

[25:28] acquired property located at 317 North

[25:30] Street. Um there were results. We had

[25:33] quite a few biders. Um the low bid is

[25:36] current low bidder is Richard Reedson.

[25:38] They have performed this type of work in

[25:41] the past. most recently for properties

[25:42] located at 17 Burke Park and 301 Newton

[25:45] Road. Their work was excellent and met

[25:47] the requirements uh of FEMA FRCF. It's

[25:51] my recommendation the select board

[25:52] consider that to be a valid bid and

[25:53] award the demolition board Richard Reed

[25:56] and son I listed all the bids there

[26:02] of the board

[26:05] that

[26:08] second motion and a second

[26:12] the vid Mr. Ree and son I've known them

[26:16] for many many years and they have done

[26:18] other jobs very good so I agree but any

[26:22] other discussions I will

[26:51] second. All in favor? So morning to

[26:55] Richard Reed and son say I I

[26:58] >> I

[27:06] um item seven considering a revolving

[27:11] loan to Pit Factory Fitness LLC.

[27:17] >> Hey, it's me again

[27:19] LLC. So I have a letter that I uh

[27:22] prepared for the select board. Um on

[27:24] July the 10th, the Brandon revolving

[27:25] loan fund committee met with Andy Donor

[27:28] consider a loan request for Fit Factory

[27:30] Fitness LLC. Board was impressed by the

[27:33] presentation and his plan to establish a

[27:35] fitness gym facility in the building

[27:37] that was the former home of Upscale

[27:39] Resale. fitness craze that has emerged

[27:41] since Brandon's last gym closed around

[27:43] 15 years ago demonstrates that Brandon

[27:46] can support this type of business,

[27:48] addressing the retail leakage that

[27:49] occurs with the many people that live in

[27:51] our community that travel to either

[27:52] Rutland or Mbury to work out. Andy

[27:55] Donor's proven track record as an owner

[27:57] principal of multiple successful

[27:59] businesses along with his wife coupled

[28:01] with a comprehensive plan made for

[28:03] unanimous endorsement from the board

[28:05] members present and terms are listed in

[28:08] the letter. uh loan amount will be

[28:10] $59,989.

[28:12] Turns be 5.5% interest rate enterprise

[28:15] is a 120month loan. The balloon payment

[28:17] at 60 months and collateral will be

[28:19] security interest and business assets

[28:21] factory versus loan guarantee

[28:27] the board.

[28:31] Motion we approve that second.

[28:35] We have a motion and second.

[28:40] None heard. All in favor of approving

[28:43] the uh loan

[28:46] >> say

[28:48] >> I

[28:51] say I

[28:51] >> I

[28:57] found

[28:59] I can't wait for it.

[29:11] and it it really been the reason that

[29:15] we're able to do the thing in town that

[29:18] we do. So, um thank you for honoring

[29:21] that again. Um but I think it's an

[29:24] awesome opportunity for uh people that

[29:26] are trying to get going in town. So,

[29:29] thank you for having that.

[29:32] Can you say roughly when you might be

[29:34] opening and when memberships will

[29:38] » I was looking at him

[29:41] >> but in typical fashion my wife always

[29:43] answers for me too

[29:44] >> Andy when when might you open and

[29:47] memberships would be available. So,

[29:50] right now we're dealing with the the

[29:51] septic design um which we're going back

[29:54] and forth, but we're hoping to have the

[29:55] design completed for the end of next

[29:58] month and then submitted to the state

[30:00] for the permit to complete. So, we're

[30:03] hoping for like fall um late fall

[30:06] opening. And when we get everything

[30:09] ready to go, there's a big sign out

[30:11] front with the QR code you can scan

[30:14] before we're open, bring you to the

[30:15] website, memberships will be available

[30:18] and all that stuff. So

[30:20] >> fantastic.

[30:21] >> Look for the big banner.

[30:24] >> Okay. Thank you very much.

[30:26] >> Thank you guys.

[30:26] >> Happy to have another good business in

[30:28] town.

[30:33] » Moving on.

[30:36] Uh set terms for Bravo's door.

[30:40] >> Is that is that you?

[30:42] >> So Mr. Chair, there's a short memo in

[30:44] the packet. Uh the Bravo board uh is the

[30:47] restorative justice program in Brandon

[30:49] and the Bravo um the Bravo panelists are

[30:54] different from the Bravo board. So the

[30:55] panelists are the ones where they

[30:57] actually get a group together to meet

[30:58] with uh the victim and the offender and

[31:00] kind of sort through what the process

[31:02] would be to come to restorative justice.

[31:04] This is kind of the supervisory board,

[31:07] the advisory group. uh they're supposed

[31:09] to recruit some volunteers to sit on

[31:10] those panels, link them up with the

[31:12] police chief and the town manager, make

[31:14] sure that uh we're moving restorative

[31:16] justice along in Brandon, get them some

[31:18] training, that kind of thing. So, the

[31:19] names are of the current members are

[31:22] Mitch Pearl, he's currently the chair.

[31:25] Paula Ashley is currently the

[31:27] coordinator. Sue Gage uh has expressed

[31:30] that she will be the incoming

[31:31] coordinator. She's willing to do that.

[31:33] Paula is ready to step out of that role.

[31:36] Debbie Boyce who is a founding member.

[31:38] She started this with Art Dodie and

[31:45] can't remember right now Dick Kirby or

[31:47] somebody and then Erin Kilpek. So, uh

[31:50] they're asking for one-year terms to run

[31:52] from July 1st to June 30th. this has

[31:55] kind of been an indefinite informal

[31:57] thing and they're trying to formalize it

[31:59] just a little bit, but they don't want

[32:00] to have um what might be the customary

[32:04] rotating staggered three-year terms.

[32:06] They really all prefer to have a

[32:08] one-year appointment.

[32:11] >> Pleasure of the board.

[32:15] » Um that's what they want. Uh I will move

[32:18] that we adopt the uh term limits uh as

[32:22] set out in the memo you sent for Bravo.

[32:25] >> I'll second that.

[32:27] >> Now will they come forth with the names

[32:29] of the people on an annual basis to us

[32:32] like when we appoint everybody else or

[32:34] >> it would it would be added to the list

[32:36] um that Elaine generally calls to see if

[32:39] someone is still interested in

[32:41] continuing or not. It would be on that

[32:42] list.

[32:43] >> Okay.

[32:45] Motion and a second. Any additional

[32:47] discussion?

[32:51] None heard. All in favor of adopting the

[32:54] motion to

[32:56] uh give them one-year terms, please say

[32:58] I.

[32:59] >> I.

[33:00] >> Opposed? No one.

[33:04] Very agreeable group this evening.

[33:08] Uh board driven ordinance and repeal of

[33:13] the pool hall regulation. Okay.

[33:19] » Well, we can have a pool. It's got to

[33:21] meet these requirements.

[33:24] >> So, um I have in my in your packet, I do

[33:27] have a little letter about uh I just

[33:29] want to read a little piece of it. Um

[33:30] which is that the select board's

[33:32] influence in leading the community is

[33:34] through shaping policy, right, in this

[33:36] form of government. It's one of the

[33:38] statutory roles that the select board

[33:40] has as the elected legislative body of

[33:42] the town. So, I did bring um at Jeff's

[33:46] left hand there is the binder. So,

[33:48] that's basically about six dozen

[33:51] ordinances that the town knows that the

[33:54] select board has passed at some point

[33:56] and has been keeping track of. Many of

[33:59] them have not been reviewed in a number

[34:00] of years. Um uh Mr. Dr. Bailey as board

[34:04] chair has talked about the board's role,

[34:06] you know, kind of it would be good to

[34:07] keep refreshing these and we should make

[34:09] sure that whatever ordinances we have in

[34:12] effect actually reflect the wishes of

[34:15] the select board in terms of what

[34:16] they're trying to regulate. So, um

[34:19] there's some possibilities to have an

[34:21] outside firm do this for you. A ballpark

[34:24] figure would be like $15,000.

[34:28] it would be you'd end up with something

[34:29] like called the Brandon Municipal Code

[34:32] or something to that effect. They made

[34:34] reference uh the group that I was

[34:36] speaking with about this, they made

[34:38] reference to Rutland City. They've just

[34:39] done this for Rutland City at some point

[34:41] in the past. There's an online version

[34:43] that's kind of interactive so people can

[34:45] search around if they want it. And then

[34:47] there's a formal code book that's

[34:50] produced that can be distributed or

[34:52] whatever.

[34:53] Um, if you don't want to go that route,

[34:56] um, there's other options. I thought I

[34:58] could just bring you one or two every

[35:00] time and you could look at it, lay it

[35:02] over a meeting. If you want to consider

[35:04] altering it or whatever, you could

[35:06] appoint a working group to meet before

[35:08] the next select board meeting and report

[35:10] back to the full board. Um, others have

[35:13] thought maybe a working group could look

[35:15] at the whole thing holistically rather

[35:17] than doing it um, one at a time. So,

[35:20] there's some options before you. And I

[35:22] did pick out the pool hall ordinance

[35:24] because that for a long time has been

[35:26] kind of the the one that seems the most

[35:30] irrelevant to the way we live today.

[35:33] So if you wanted to do anything with

[35:35] that or with any of the ordinances, um

[35:38] the process is written down at the

[35:40] bottom half of my page there talks about

[35:43] um the notices that have to be posted

[35:45] and what the process is for advertising

[35:48] and entertaining public objection.

[35:51] Thank you. Um, today Cecil and I met to

[35:55] go over this whole agenda with Seth and

[35:59] I voiced my concerns that I personally

[36:01] would rather have us do this and not

[36:03] spend $15,000.

[36:06] um whether we do it peacemeal or one

[36:09] giant thing and and Cecil offered to

[36:15] kind of lead this along which I totally

[36:19] satisfied with.

[36:21] Um but what would the board what's the

[36:24] board's feelings? I mean, I I figure

[36:27] that what we could start doing, and I'm

[36:30] happy to do it, is start going through

[36:33] that binder and just looking at, oh,

[36:38] it's fairly easy to tell by looking at

[36:41] an ordinance whether, okay, there's

[36:43] something that definitely needs to be

[36:44] fixed about this or repealed or

[36:46] whatever. Um, others it may be that we

[36:49] may want to look at them in more detail

[36:52] to see whether we need to make

[36:54] amendments to them or not. But I'm, you

[36:56] know, I'm more than happy to

[36:58] make a first run through it and tag

[37:01] stuff that we can deal with in short

[37:04] order or is order and then go back to

[37:07] the stuff that may need to be dealt with

[37:10] in more depth. Um, we have no deadline.

[37:14] This isn't like the town plan where we

[37:17] have to have it done every five years or

[37:18] every years. It's it's more like, you

[37:22] know, it's better not to have

[37:24] like ordinance, which is actually pretty

[37:27] amusing. Um, you know, to just go

[37:29] through and see if there's something

[37:30] that's like really out ofd or archaic or

[37:34] um and pull those out. And so, and then

[37:39] my thought was after that, then we could

[37:41] have a working group to really kind of

[37:44] drill down into the ones that need to be

[37:46] dealt with in more detail and hopefully

[37:49] come up with something that, you know,

[37:52] may take longer than the professional

[37:55] codification would, but um I'm free and

[38:01] that's better than $15,000.

[38:05] >> Mr. hand.

[38:06] >> So, one one of my goals um with this

[38:09] even coming up is something that I had

[38:10] as a goal even when I was on the select

[38:12] board. It was basically to organize them

[38:15] that I'm not saying that they are

[38:17] disheveled in any way like they're kept,

[38:19] they're careful, but there's no theme

[38:22] like this is public safety, this is

[38:24] public works. There's there's no

[38:25] compartments or departments of the of

[38:28] Brandon's book. It's more or less

[38:29] alphabetical order, which is not how you

[38:32] store chemicals and not how you plow

[38:34] streets in the winter, right? Um, it

[38:36] should be organized in some way. So, if

[38:38] while we're organizing it, we decide

[38:41] some stuff should be kind of called out

[38:43] of it, that's probably the right time to

[38:44] do it.

[38:46] My feelings are if you know our one of

[38:50] the the major thing for a brand or for a

[38:52] Vermont select board is to set policy

[38:54] and procedure which this is right up the

[38:57] line. If we fail, we can always go back

[39:00] to hiring someone in a year from now.

[39:02] If we are successful, we save $15,000

[39:07] and

[39:09] always with our eye on the budget, I

[39:11] think it would be move us to uh give it

[39:14] a serious look and work our way through

[39:16] it slowly.

[39:19] >> Am I correct that many of these are not

[39:21] digitized? I would say the vast majority

[39:24] are not digitized

[39:25] >> because that's something else we could

[39:27] probably take a swing at or we can get

[39:28] some volunteers to take a swing at that

[39:30] would at least get a rudimentary

[39:32] >> list of them online or something.

[39:34] >> Okay.

[39:37] Yep. I saw you walking. I assumed you

[39:40] were going to raise your hand.

[39:45] Vicki Disorda,

[39:47] I think I just heard you say that it's

[39:49] the select board's responsibility to set

[39:53] policies.

[39:54] >> Yes.

[39:55] >> And uh my question tonight that I came

[39:59] here for is uh I guess now is a good

[40:02] time as any to ask about the select

[40:04] board's responsibility as far as

[40:06] following policy

[40:08] >> for which policy

[40:10] >> for following policies.

[40:15] I would think that we

[40:17] >> Is there a particular policy in mind?

[40:20] >> Yes, there is. Uh I think it was the

[40:22] June 23rd

[40:25] select board meeting.

[40:27] There were eight seats

[40:30] presented to the board all three-year

[40:33] terms for vacancies on different

[40:37] volunteer boards.

[40:39] And our town policy states that when a

[40:43] vacancy occurs in an office, board or

[40:45] commission, which the select board is

[40:48] the appointing authority, one, the board

[40:50] will announce the vacancy at the first

[40:52] regular select board meeting following

[40:54] notification of the vacancy

[40:57] and um require letters of interest from

[41:02] those wishing to serve. And that the

[41:04] town will post the vacancies in the town

[41:07] clerk's office. two bulletin boards,

[41:09] front porch forum and the newspaper, and

[41:12] that the board will make appointments no

[41:14] earlier than the second regular board

[41:16] meeting after the announcements of the

[41:18] vacancy, none of which occurred prior to

[41:22] those appointments. And as I watched

[41:25] what was happening, all I could think of

[41:28] is a nominating committee on a church in

[41:32] a church.

[41:34] And that's the way I feel those

[41:36] vacancies were handled.

[41:38] um uh equal opportunity begins with

[41:42] opportunity and so it is going to be 3

[41:45] years before anyone else in town has an

[41:48] opportunity to serve in those positions.

[41:52] So, I'm wondering if you can explain to me

[41:58] how this entire panel is not was not in

[42:02] violation of the town policy. And please

[42:05] explain to me how this failure to follow

[42:08] a documented policy is any different

[42:10] than the trouble we just had with the

[42:12] former elected board of public trustees.

[42:17] >> Okay.

[42:18] >> And this is not a new problem. I just

[42:20] want to say because in May of 2023,

[42:26] I expressed an interest on being on a

[42:28] committee in town and um to the town

[42:32] manager. I again expressed an interest

[42:34] on July 26. I emailed the entire select

[42:38] board and no one responded to me until

[42:42] April of 2024. That's 11 months later

[42:46] when it was to let me know that someone

[42:50] else was being appointed to a position

[42:52] that was never posted. And then um just

[42:57] last week on a one commission I finally

[43:01] got on to because no one else applied

[43:03] for it for months. Um a gentleman showed

[43:07] up and said that the town manager had

[43:09] asked him to be on the board. So again,

[43:12] explain to me how this municipal body is

[43:15] functioning any different than uh 501c3

[43:20] religious organization. Thank you.

[43:23] >> Um I'm happy to take a stab at answering

[43:25] that. Um I I think that um I can

[43:30] understand your concern

[43:33] but

[43:35] uh from the point of view of the board

[43:38] and this has been in the past there were

[43:40] not vacancies on any of those boards.

[43:43] All those boards had filled seats and

[43:47] the procedure has always been that they

[43:51] first look to see if the people in those

[43:53] seats want to continue on. And so the

[43:58] policy regarding vacancies is if within

[44:00] a term a seat becomes vacant because

[44:03] someone decides not to do it anymore or

[44:06] has a conflict or moves or any number of

[44:11] reasons that seats have become open. And

[44:14] for example, when I was on the planning

[44:16] commission, we had openings. One, two,

[44:19] there were three different seats that

[44:22] became vacant in the two years that I

[44:24] was on the planning committee commission

[44:27] that were filled. Um, I think the same

[44:30] has happened with a lot of others. And

[44:32] so I understand your concern. I think I

[44:36] respectfully disagree with your

[44:38] interpretation of the select board's

[44:40] actions. Can you explain to me what the

[44:43] purpose of term limits is then if

[44:45] whoever's serving on a board can stay on

[44:48] it indefinitely as long as they want to

[44:51] once they're in the position. We have a

[44:53] town of 4,000 people

[44:57] and the same individuals serve on

[45:00] multiple boards.

[45:03] How does that give any other residents,

[45:06] registered voters, taxpaying citizens an

[45:09] opportunity to do their civic duty?

[45:13] So, we don't have term limit. We have

[45:17] terms that can be reuped. And so,

[45:20] someone gets appointed for a set term,

[45:23] they can choose to re-up or they can

[45:26] resign at the end of that term. but it's

[45:28] not term limited in the sense of that

[45:31] legal term of art. Um, I would also say

[45:35] that we've had openings on some boards

[45:38] that we've been begging people to apply

[45:40] for. So, it's not so much that there is

[45:46] a ground I I would love it if we had a

[45:48] ground swell of volunteers wanting to be

[45:50] on these boards,

[45:52] but to be honest, that hasn't really

[45:54] happened. Well, what you're telling me

[45:57] may be technically and legally correct,

[46:00] but I feel like it's a spiritual

[46:03] violation of the purpose of having

[46:07] terms.

[46:16] » Yes. I do want to clarify that um just

[46:19] because somebody has been on a

[46:21] commission or a board, filled a term,

[46:24] and been asked if they want to be

[46:25] considered to continue, that doesn't

[46:27] mean that they get to stay on that

[46:28] committee as long as they want, as was

[46:30] just said, right? The select board still

[46:33] chooses whether to appoint, reappoint,

[46:36] or not every member of the commission

[46:39] when the terms come due.

[46:42] So, it's not like you get appointed once

[46:44] and you're you're in for good behavior.

[46:45] like you get appointed once and then if

[46:47] the select board determines that that

[46:49] board needs to be rebalanced or there

[46:51] needs to be other voices represented

[46:53] they they can thank you for serving and

[46:55] they can choose someone else.

[46:58] >> I could let me I want to add to that and

[47:00] then I'll let you talk again. I I know

[47:02] last year when we did the budget

[47:03] committee, we had everyone reapply and

[47:05] we did actually make changes and we did

[47:09] have

[47:11] people who had been on the budget

[47:12] committee who

[47:15] had agreed that they would stay on. We

[47:20] wanted to add a different voices and we

[47:23] added new and different people last year

[47:25] and and did not renew everyone. So, it's I guess each time it might be a

[47:30] little different, but

[47:30] >> Mr. chair, the reason you were able to

[47:34] create a more diverse board is because

[47:37] that was posted and you had a bigger

[47:39] group. But if positions are never

[47:42] posted, how can you ever see if there's

[47:44] an opportunity for more diversity,

[47:47] equity, or inclusivity?

[47:51] » Okay, good point, Jan Kulage.

[47:56] >> To me, it's like you change your mind

[47:58] depending on the board.

[48:01] One year it's this way, one year it's

[48:03] this way. Where's your consistency?

[48:06] Where some boards, like you said, you

[48:09] see if they want to continue and you

[48:10] leave them on. Like for the budget

[48:13] committee for years, every once we were

[48:15] elected, once you guys elected us, you

[48:19] know, we had to submit our letter and

[48:20] that we were on that every year we got

[48:23] asked, do you want to continue? Yes. If

[48:26] not, then they may post for one person

[48:28] because they left. They posted for a

[48:31] position. Then two years ago, just out

[48:33] of the blue, you told us, "Oh, you have

[48:36] to apply."

[48:38] So, where's your consistency? So, now

[48:40] we're hearing it on different boards.

[48:42] Then I look back to how you did the

[48:45] budget committee. So, where was your

[48:47] consistency? all of a sudden you decided

[48:49] you're going to follow the rules that policy says where it you didn't

[48:54] follow it before that then. So I'm just

[48:57] wondering what changed that we were

[49:01] asked did we want to continue and then

[49:04] the last two years we had to apply. So

[49:07] I'm just wondering

[49:09] what changed on that committee not just

[49:13] on that committee you know other

[49:15] committees you have different reasons

[49:17] but it's like consistency so everyone

[49:20] has the same expectation

[49:23] you know townwide

[49:25] >> Vicki one more time

[49:26] >> I I would just like to make a

[49:29] observation and answer to Miss Kulage's

[49:31] question um that change occurred

[49:34] following the very contentious

[49:38] budget season where the previous board

[49:41] stood up and said that the select board

[49:42] did not listen to them and then the

[49:45] positions were put on posted for people

[49:48] to apply.

[49:49] >> As part of the budget committee, I would

[49:51] say that um like Jan, I was on the

[49:55] budget committee prior and then when the

[49:58] email came out and said we all had to

[50:00] reapply, maybe like Jan, I was almost a

[50:02] little offended saying, "I've been doing

[50:04] this for a number of years. now I have

[50:05] to apply for it. And I was on vacation

[50:07] in Maine and I almost didn't want to

[50:09] apply for it, but my wife talked me down

[50:11] off the ceiling and said, "Don't be an

[50:13] idiot. Apply." And last year

[50:17] as the board chair, I wanted to open it

[50:19] up for a whole, you know, relook. And

[50:22] I'm sure that's what we're going to do

[50:23] again this year is have every, you know,

[50:26] let everyone know that's on the

[50:27] committee that uh,

[50:29] >> you know, we want to know their interest

[50:31] and we're going to look at it. On some

[50:34] boards certainly there's a learning

[50:36] curve and um, sort of we'll say start

[50:40] with a whole new board in some fields

[50:42] would be probably a very difficult

[50:44] thing. But I'd say that should be maybe

[50:46] one of the first policies that we look

[50:48] at is how we do that and and follow it.

[50:51] So I think that would be a plus as far

[50:52] as looking at what our policies.

[50:56] >> Okay.

[50:59] » Well, we will try to attack that.

[51:04] >> Okay.

[51:11] » Pardon?

[51:11] >> I think we're still in the pool.

[51:12] >> We're still in the pool. All

[51:14] >> I would just

[51:18] as uh Mr. Hopkins noted there are three

[51:22] committee

[51:23] uh seats that are open for people who

[51:27] are interested. There's the voting

[51:29] position on the energy committee and

[51:31] then there's the alternate position on

[51:34] the DRB and the planning commission. I

[51:36] know from experience that uh at least on

[51:39] the planning commission, people that

[51:41] were originally appointed as alternates

[51:45] uh ended up getting voting seats. um

[51:48] when vacancies occurred, they put in

[51:50] their names for the voting seats that

[51:52] got them. So, you know, it's a way to

[51:54] get your foot in the door. Even if you

[51:55] don't have a voting seat for every

[51:57] single meeting, you do have the

[51:59] opportunity to participate and to vote

[52:02] if they don't otherwise have a quorum.

[52:05] There's that.

[52:08] So, do we want to do anything on the

[52:10] pool hall regulation or do we want to

[52:12] have that that was just an example or do

[52:15] we want to act on it tonight and we we

[52:18] want to review it?

[52:22] >> Pleasure to the board. Well, given that

[52:24] we have no bowling alleys or footballs

[52:26] in town at the moment,

[52:30] um, and given that

[52:34] um,

[52:36] the

[52:37] reasonable requirements for the

[52:39] protection of the public morals are not

[52:42] um, in keeping with today's standards. I

[52:45] would move to repeal this particular

[52:48] policy since it's in front of us.

[52:51] >> I'll second that.

[52:53] Okay, we have a motion and a second to

[52:58] uh get rid of our pool hall and bowling

[53:01] alley policy.

[53:04] Any other dis discussion from the board?

[53:08] Motion in a second. All in favor of

[53:11] doing away with this policy say I.

[53:14] >> I.

[53:15] >> Opposed? No one.

[53:18] Bools and bowling alleys.

[53:21] And and any of you who manages to leave

[53:23] this room without the music man stuff

[53:25] like that?

[53:26] >> I played the music man in middle school.

[53:29] >> Okay.

[53:29] >> I played for

[53:32] >> uh right in line with the discussion the

[53:35] uh FY27 budget process. Uh

[53:43] » all right, Mr. Chair. I was hoping I I

[53:45] >> I just noticed a question up here that

[53:47] answer something I was

[53:49] >> Okay.

[53:50] 20 minutes ago.

[53:51] >> Zoe

[53:54] saying, "No, late, but I know I'm late

[53:56] on this, but why? Can someone comment on why they're

[53:59] demolishing a property?" Just curious

[54:04] mitigation.

[54:27] Hello. Hello.

[54:31] » We bought it because it's in the

[54:32] floodway.

[54:34] Reach out to me if you have any other

[54:36] questions.

[54:40] was a long uh mosquito district

[54:44] >> and the batteries have been completely

[54:47] recharged.

[54:52] » Did you get that question answered?

[54:56] >> LOL. Okay.

[54:57] >> Okay. Um so next on the agenda is the uh

[55:02] budget process. Um, I would like to

[55:06] say that we're going to send an email to

[55:09] the people who are on last year's budget

[55:12] um committee, ask them for their

[55:15] interest in retaining and to apply again

[55:20] and anyone in the public have Mr.

[55:23] Hopkins put an ad out or anyone else who

[55:25] would like to join the budget committee

[55:28] and then we will interview

[55:31] um those people early in August.

[55:36] >> I'm assuming only people that haven't

[55:39] served before because we we know the

[55:40] people

[55:41] >> we know the people who have served. So

[55:44] uh we will

[55:46] uh test the waters there and come up

[55:48] with it. It's our intent to start uh the

[55:52] budget process once again very early

[55:55] which would be um in the tail end of

[55:59] August and we would have budget meetings

[56:01] on opposite Monday nights of select

[56:04] board meetings. So select board is the

[56:07] second and fourth and the budget will be

[56:10] first third Mondays. I hope that our

[56:14] procedure may be a little easier now

[56:16] that we've been through it once this

[56:18] way. But um um clearly the time and the

[56:25] effort we put in last year was important

[56:28] and we want to do that again. Um

[56:32] and I think we'll be prepared for it. So

[56:34] is there more on that subject than my

[56:36] announcing that?

[56:39] So, watch for the announcement. And for

[56:41] those who were on the committee, you

[56:43] will be receiving a email from Elaine

[56:46] asking if you're still interested in

[56:48] being on. And for others, we will um be

[56:53] taking applications.

[56:57] No comments on that. Good. We are now up

[57:00] to item 11, public comment and

[57:04] participation. First, any comments from

[57:06] any board members?

[57:09] None. Any other? Yes, I see two hands.

[57:12] Uh, we're going to go with Brent first.

[57:14] Bear, you spoke once already.

[57:18] >> Yes, Brent Buler. Um, I do like the idea

[57:21] of you all combining the commission with

[57:24] the select board meetings because I came

[57:27] illprepared tonight for the sewer

[57:28] commission meeting and the uh submitt by

[57:33] the town manager Seth Hopkins for

[57:35] Rootex. I think that's a perfect thing

[57:38] once the board of trustees for the

[57:41] Shirley Far fund get up and running.

[57:43] That's a perfect expense to submit to

[57:46] them for payment. $12,600.

[57:51] So, thank you. That's it.

[57:54] >> Thank you, Mr. Beer. Now, Barry,

[57:58] >> just aformational question. I came down

[58:01] for the Fourth of July fireworks um and

[58:05] sat on the the town hall steps with a

[58:07] gang of people. Thoroughly enjoyed it as

[58:10] did everyone around me. But the the big

[58:13] question that came up from any everyone

[58:14] I had no answers for where exactly do

[58:18] they shoot up from

[58:22] » this secret location uh everyone was

[58:26] trying to guess

[58:29] uh at the end of Mill Lane uh just below

[58:33] Hannerford and above the river a high

[58:36] spot. It's an amazing spot and we have a

[58:39] couple land owners that are really cool

[58:41] about letting us set it off right there

[58:42] because it's safe. Um, and it's awesome.

[58:45] Yeah, it was awesome.

[58:49] » Any other questions or comments

[58:52] participation from the audience?

[58:59] None heard.

[59:01] Uh we will then take a 10-minute recess

[59:05] before the board goes into executive

[59:07] session.

[59:09] Thank you very much for coming everyone.

[59:24] » You guys all ready?

[59:26] >> Yep.

[59:31] Um, I move that we enter executive

[59:33] session per 1BSA section 313A2

[59:37] regarding negotiating or securing real

[59:38] estate purchase or lease options uh to

[59:40] include the town management team.

[59:42] >> Second.

[59:44] >> All in favor say I.

[59:46] >> I. I.

[59:47] >> Mike.

[59:52] » I move to exit executive session. Second

[59:56] motion

[59:57] out of executive session. All in favor?

[1:00:00] I close. No one.

[1:00:07] » Oh, I was just going to move to come

[1:00:08] out.

[1:00:10] Um,

[1:00:12] I move that we

[1:00:20] refund to Julie Delelfi the $750 that

[1:00:23] she paid to purchase swamp land from the

[1:00:28] town that appears not to have been the

[1:00:31] town's to sell.

[1:00:32] >> I'll second that.

[1:00:35] >> We have a motion in a second.

[1:00:38] refund the 750. All in favor say I.

[1:00:42] >> I

[1:00:44] unanimous.

[1:00:45] >> Maybe also a motion to accept her quick

[1:00:47] deed.

[1:00:50] >> Okay.

[1:00:52] >> And

[1:00:56] » so did she prepare this or our attorney?

[1:00:59] >> Um

[1:01:01] it hasn't been executed yet. So do we

[1:01:05] accept it until it's executed?

[1:01:09] I don't

[1:01:10] >> to authorize me to accept it.

[1:01:12] >> Yeah.

[1:01:14] >> Um I move to authorize uh Seth Hopkins,

[1:01:19] town manager, to accept a fully executed

[1:01:22] quit claim deed from Barry and Julie

[1:01:24] Delia in exchange for the payment of

[1:01:28] $750

[1:01:30] once that deed is fully executed.

[1:01:34] >> Second. We have a motion, a second to

[1:01:37] have Seth Hopkins

[1:01:39] finish this after receiving the executed

[1:01:42] deed. All in favor?

[1:01:47] » No one

[1:01:52] need a

[1:01:54] item 13, executive session.

[1:02:02] I move that we enter executive session

[1:02:04] pursuant to 1BSA section 313 sub A sub3

[1:02:08] regarding the appointment or employment

[1:02:10] of a public officer or employee. Uh and

[1:02:14] this is in regard to police department

[1:02:15] applicant status to include the town

[1:02:18] management team.

[1:02:19] >> I will second.

[1:02:21] >> All in favor of entering executive

[1:02:23] session say I. I. I.

[1:02:28] » No one but we're good.

[1:02:32] I move to exit executive session.

[1:02:38] » Second motion in a second to come out of

[1:02:39] executive session. All in favor say I.

[1:02:41] >> I.

[1:02:45] » Um we are out of executive session at

[1:02:49] 8:31. No action taken. Moving on to the

[1:02:53] last

[1:02:54] >> motion to adjurnn.

[1:02:55] >> Second. All

[1:02:56] >> in favor of adjourning say I. I.

[1:02:58] >> I.

[1:03:02] So

[1:03:04] same thing here we had

[1:03:07] when we were at the board meeting way.

July 14, 2025 Cannabis Comm/Liquor Comm/Sewer Comm/Select Board

Agenda

Transcript