1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:13,759 Recording in progress. You're all set, Jeff. Okay. 6:45. Call a meeting to 2 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:17,039 order. First order of business is to adopt the agenda. 3 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:22,080 » I'll make that motion. >> Motion and a second to adopt the agenda. 4 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:27,519 All in favor say I. I. I. >> Uh item two, executive session. So, we 5 00:00:25,439 --> 00:00:31,279 will need a motion to go into executive session. So, moved. 6 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:37,920 Second. >> So seconded motion and a second to go 7 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:42,480 into executive session for 1 VSA 313 appointment of a public officer to 8 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:47,360 include applicant and um or for the budget committee and the slick board. So 9 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,960 time to go into executive session. All in favor say I. 10 00:00:48,559 --> 00:00:52,200 » I. >> Thank you. 11 00:01:02,399 --> 00:01:09,920 Maybe. >> Okay. We It is 6:58 12 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:14,240 and we are coming out of executive session. No action was taken within 13 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:18,720 executive session. >> Mr. Chairman, we get a motion to end the 14 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:22,560 executive session. It's a change. I'll make that motion to exe end executive 15 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:27,360 session. Okay. >> Motion in a second to end executive 16 00:01:24,479 --> 00:01:31,600 session. I'm out of I'm not as versed as I was before when I was bored all the 17 00:01:29,439 --> 00:01:33,920 time. Right. Um all in favor of coming out of executive session say I. 18 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:40,240 » I. >> I. Okay. Item three is select board 19 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:44,640 remarks. That's where I always say we're small group in the room. We want to play 20 00:01:41,759 --> 00:01:49,200 nice and be respectful to each other's uh wishes. Even though we may not always 21 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:54,159 agree with everything that is said, but we still are a nice small community that 22 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:59,759 likes to be friendly and peaceful. So that is my select board remark. Item 23 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:05,200 four. >> I wanted to say something cool about at 24 00:02:02,159 --> 00:02:09,759 our last meeting I spoke about the cops being on duty all the time the same 25 00:02:07,119 --> 00:02:13,120 time. I've noticed over the weekend they worked over the weekend and I've had 26 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:19,000 people tell me they've seen them on different hours. So I just wanted to say 27 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,000 much appreciated. 28 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:26,959 Good. Um, 29 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:30,480 item four, possible consent for the minutes and the warrant. 30 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:35,200 Pleasure. >> Uh, I'll move that we add item well the 31 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:41,040 minutes and the warrant to a consent agenda, please. 32 00:02:38,319 --> 00:02:43,680 » We have a second for the consent for 33 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,879 » second. >> Second. Okay. All in favor of doing it 34 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:54,800 as a consent say I. I. I. Opposed. No one. So, 35 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:58,560 questions on any of the warrants or we're all good. 36 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:03,120 » One question. >> Second page. 37 00:03:00,879 --> 00:03:06,840 Uh, like halfway down. 38 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,440 » I thought that might be worth a question. I circled it. So, 39 00:03:10,607 --> 00:03:16,959 [clears throat] right. So, the town has a 60-in uh 40 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:21,040 gasoline powered zeroturn mower, which apparently is about 12 years old, and 41 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:27,440 it's having some starter problems. It's been in the shop a few times, and it's 42 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:34,799 being repaired. Um, a front porch forum post came up to uh someone in Brandon 43 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:40,159 had bought an EGO 42in zeroturn mower. and Ego is the brand that uh we use in 44 00:03:38,319 --> 00:03:44,879 the tool ships that the energy committee runs and the town has had a couple of 45 00:03:42,319 --> 00:03:51,760 hand tools with that. So, we checked out the price new um and the one that was 46 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:56,879 posted had only 28 hours of use on it. And the highway division chief and the 47 00:03:54,480 --> 00:04:02,239 highway crew member who does all of the mowing went up and checked it out with 48 00:03:59,599 --> 00:04:07,280 the Brandon person who was selling it and they decided they would like to try 49 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:11,680 it. Um, the mowing person believes it will be more suitable for the small 50 00:04:09,519 --> 00:04:15,920 parks downtown and the cemetery especially, and he was looking forward. 51 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:21,919 He says the 60-in mower is actually a little bit too big to negotiate those 52 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:28,320 areas. The concept is not that this will be able to replace the 60-in mower, um, 53 00:04:25,919 --> 00:04:33,440 but that we will, following the green fleet policy, we'll try to get the best, 54 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:36,800 um, tool for the job, so to speak. and if it's an electric one, we'll try an 55 00:04:35,199 --> 00:04:41,759 electric one. So, they've they've taken it. Um, the lady who was selling it 56 00:04:39,199 --> 00:04:45,120 allowed them to take delivery of it and try it out, and they've used it 57 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:50,080 successfully, so we want to go ahead with the purchase. Um, but at some 58 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:56,240 point, we're either going to need to replace the 60-in gasoline mower to do 59 00:04:53,520 --> 00:05:01,440 like big jobs like Estherbrook and the Nes playing fields and stuff like that 60 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:06,320 that this will not be suitable for. or um we might need to put some more money 61 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:12,360 into the 60-in mower that we have, which again is 12 years old. So, that's the 62 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,360 story with that. 63 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:18,720 » Any other questions on the warrant? 64 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:22,639 » The uh retail price on it brand new was like $5,300. So, it's considerable 65 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,639 savings to the town to buy it slightly used. 66 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,360 Oh, >> yes. 67 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:42,800 Uh Claire a stone Brandon resident uh batteries for this 68 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:46,479 » came with batteries. Yeah. >> How many does it have? 69 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:50,800 » Has four and have two more. >> And um do we know how many hours they 70 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:57,039 get? >> Enough to do a shift of mowing. 71 00:05:53,280 --> 00:06:03,440 » Okay. A shift. Eight hour shift. Okay. Sometimes that's all you do is charge. 72 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:09,680 » Yeah. I mean, he he did a little studying about the the rated range on it 73 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:15,199 is 2 acres of mowing on one charge and the Central Park, Kennedy Park, Green 74 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:20,000 Park, Crescent Park, and the cemetery together would not be two acres and he 75 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,600 would not generally be mowing them all in the same day anyway. 76 00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:24,960 » Okay. >> But it see it seems to be suitable. I 77 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:28,720 would not have encouraged them to consider it if there was concern that it 78 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:32,639 was not going to be suitable for what they want to use it for. 79 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:36,639 » And let me applaud you for for this path of um getting a deal. It's a wonderful 80 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,400 thing. >> Yes, I guess it's good savings. Thank 81 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:45,680 you. >> Okay. Motion in a second. And we've had 82 00:06:42,639 --> 00:06:52,400 discussion. All in favor of the minutes and the warrant say I 83 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:59,280 » I opposed. No one. Item five, consider appointment to the 84 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:02,639 advisory budget committee. >> Board member like to make a motion. 85 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:08,240 » I will move that we appoint Clara Stone to the FY28 budget advisory committee. 86 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:13,440 Second motion and a second. Any discussion? 87 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:18,000 None. We just had it in the closet. All in favor of uh voting for clear uh 88 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:25,199 to be on the budget advisory committee, please say I. I post. No one. 89 00:07:22,319 --> 00:07:28,199 Welcome. Um, 90 00:07:28,639 --> 00:07:35,919 item six, set the schedule for budget workshops. Seth, you want to 91 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:40,319 » Sure. So, there's a memo in the packet with a suggestion. You can go with it. 92 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:44,800 You can do something different entirely. This is sort of what happened last year. 93 00:07:43,039 --> 00:07:49,599 This is approximately the schedule we kept last year. So, uh, my suggestion 94 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:54,160 would be to kick it off on Tuesday, September 22nd with the review of the 95 00:07:52,319 --> 00:07:59,280 closed budget, the status of the open budget, the big goals for the budget 96 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:04,000 that we're about to write, and then move into a series of meetings with the 97 00:08:01,759 --> 00:08:08,240 department heads, and then consider the capital plans, and then a first draft, 98 00:08:06,479 --> 00:08:14,879 second draft, and finalize in early December. All of those dates are on the 99 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:17,919 off weeks of select board meetings and you could decide whether you want the 100 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:22,479 Mondays or the Tuesdays. Except the first week I I could not make the 101 00:08:19,599 --> 00:08:25,759 Monday. >> Was there any other thought towards 102 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,000 potential Tuesdays? Just kind of shaking it up or 103 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:31,039 » if you want it's Yeah, it's up to the board and the budget committee's 104 00:08:29,199 --> 00:08:35,200 availability and what you think. Yeah, maybe the public might like to have a 105 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:40,320 chance here and there for it to be not to Monday. I don't know. 106 00:08:38,719 --> 00:08:46,800 I always like the Mondays because it was in my head that Monday is select day or 107 00:08:42,959 --> 00:08:51,440 select person day and so I was always looking for whatever I had to do on 108 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:56,240 Mondays. So I enjoyed Mondays but I don't care. I'm available any of those 109 00:08:54,399 --> 00:08:59,279 dates with the exception of meeting number three. I'm going to be out of 110 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:03,360 state but 111 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:07,040 you can go on without me. >> I might say Tuesday, November 3rd's 112 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:12,399 election day. That might be tricky. But other than that, 113 00:09:08,399 --> 00:09:16,240 » oh that's a very good point. A bunch of you will be busy counting 114 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:21,480 votes and stuff. Probably don't want to do number four on Tuesday. Probably want 115 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,480 that on the Monday. 116 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,920 » I like the Mondays. >> Huh? 117 00:09:24,399 --> 00:09:31,480 » I kind of like the Mondays if everybody else does. I'm open to do a couple of 118 00:09:27,519 --> 00:09:31,480 them on Tuesday. Just 119 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:41,040 not too pressed one way or the other. Well, again, we're at the mercy of 120 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:44,600 somebody making a motion to what you would like to do. 121 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:55,040 I will move uh to formalize the schedule for the budget workshop series starting 122 00:09:52,160 --> 00:10:00,560 with Tuesday, September 22nd, Monday, October 5th, Monday, October 19th, 123 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:04,480 Monday, November 2nd, Monday, November 16th, Monday, November 30th, and Monday, 124 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:08,800 December 7th. And we can always add more if we need to 125 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:11,279 get down to finalizing something at a later date. 126 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,079 » And I might just say if if any members of the public feel strongly that we 127 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:19,360 should do a couple more on Tuesday, let us know. We can check them. Okay. 128 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:24,480 » Could you repeat those dates again? >> Yes. Tuesday the 22nd of September. 129 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:29,760 Monday October 5th. Monday the 19th of October. Monday November 2nd, Monday 130 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:36,079 November 16th. Monday November 30th. And Monday December 7th. 131 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,839 Yes. As of this motion has not been second. 132 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,800 » We have a motion. We have a second. We have a motion and a second. Any further 133 00:10:39,519 --> 00:10:43,920 discussion? >> We're loving that one. All in favor say 134 00:10:43,519 --> 00:10:47,279 I. >> I. 135 00:10:44,399 --> 00:10:52,800 » I. Put it on the website. 136 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:56,959 Ah, town managers report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the 137 00:10:54,320 --> 00:11:01,120 public who are here and by Zoom. Um, from my publish report, just a couple of 138 00:10:58,959 --> 00:11:06,160 highlights and two updates. One highlight is that yes, um, the paving 139 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:09,760 started and I think if you've driven McConnell Road, you'll see they did a 140 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:14,720 good job on the south end of McConnell Road. They had some equipment trouble 141 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:19,440 and they do anticipate starting up again tomorrow. 142 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:24,720 The second update is also in public works. Um, I gave you some info about 143 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:29,920 road salt. I have been able to firm up the road salt, so that's good. So, we're 144 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:35,600 on board for 1,000 tons with Cargill. The price per ton this year is $106.50, 145 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:41,040 which is very close to what we we budgeted. We budgeted essentially for 146 00:11:37,519 --> 00:11:47,680 $105. So, we're going to be about $1,500 short if we get the full loads. 147 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:51,600 Um Ralph indicated that yes, uh some weekend patrol hours were able to be uh 148 00:11:49,839 --> 00:11:56,720 done in the schedule with the existing police officers this weekend and we 149 00:11:54,320 --> 00:12:01,120 appreciate that. And then I always do highlight the local option tax receipt. 150 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:05,440 And I think that for consistency I need to highlight that uh we've received our 151 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:12,959 local option tax for the April, May, June quarter, $86,845. 152 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:17,760 And in fairness or transparency, um this is a quarter that did not exceed the 153 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:23,360 same quarter of the previous year. So last year we got $1,158 154 00:12:20,639 --> 00:12:27,920 more than we got this year. That's happened on occasion since we started 155 00:12:25,839 --> 00:12:31,200 the tax 10 years ago, but it's not the general trend. The general trend is that 156 00:12:29,519 --> 00:12:35,680 every year the same quarter is a little bit better than the quarter of the 157 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:40,800 previous year. That might be overall economic pressures going on in the 158 00:12:38,079 --> 00:12:46,720 world. And the last thing uh to update is that the 1% fund figure that's given 159 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:52,079 there at $571,63 should be augmented by that uh receipt 160 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:57,240 of 86,845. So the 1% fund really is 658448. 161 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:04,800 That's my updated report. And then you have the two pages 162 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:09,680 with last year's budget still subject to change for another few days, another 163 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:14,399 week, I guess. This year's budget to date. And then there's a project tracker 164 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:20,079 with um the completed projects dropped off. And so you see it's a much shorter 165 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:23,600 list than it has been recently. That's all I have. 166 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:28,079 Thank you very much, Miss Hopkins. Questions for Mr. Hopkins from the 167 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:34,480 board. Just make a quick comment. I I very 168 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:37,519 pleased going over the um FY26 budget that we just finished, seeing as though 169 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:44,320 we're talking about budgeting going forward. Um that we were pretty darn 170 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:51,440 close to spot on with things. We uh um took in 104% of what our we expected 171 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:58,000 our revenue. So, we beat our revenue by um a few hundred,000, which is nice. And 172 00:13:55,279 --> 00:14:05,839 our expenses, we came in about as close to perfect as you could be at 99.8% 173 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:10,399 of what was expected to be spent. So, means that the budget process worked 174 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:15,760 pretty good. At this moment, there still could be some additional um things 175 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:21,760 coming in until the end of August, but at this point, we're looking at we had a 176 00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:27,120 small surplus of around 150,000. So, that's pretty darn good budgeting um 177 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:31,279 that was that was done and pretty good managing to stay within that. 178 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:34,279 » Practically perfect in every way, but really 179 00:14:34,435 --> 00:14:41,519 [laughter] sorry. questions for the town manager on 180 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:46,399 his report. >> I've got a I've got a question. Go for 181 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:49,839 it. Uh the 159,000 that will probably transfer to the reserve fund, right? 182 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,920 » That's where it goes unless the select board directs it somewhere else. 183 00:14:51,199 --> 00:14:54,399 » Now, the reserve, >> but that's not a guarantee for another 184 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:58,000 seven days, >> but it'll be in the ball. 185 00:14:56,399 --> 00:15:00,399 » Yes, we we would think. Yep. >> And the reserve fund's in pretty good 186 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:04,720 shape, right? >> Reserve fund was at seven and a quarter. 187 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:08,880 Yep. 725. Brian has talked about playing paying 188 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:12,320 off the police station several times. Would that be enough to pay off the 189 00:15:10,399 --> 00:15:18,079 police station? >> Police station like 135 something. I 190 00:15:15,519 --> 00:15:21,920 » think we owe like 135 on it. >> Oh, you know where you know the better 191 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,920 figure. No, it's the better figures in here. 192 00:15:25,199 --> 00:15:28,839 The police station 193 00:15:29,519 --> 00:15:35,920 was 177500, but then we had two more payments. So, it should be like 130,000. 194 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:39,600 Yeah. >> I just I just think we ought to start 195 00:15:38,639 --> 00:15:41,920 thinking about that. >> What What's the 196 00:15:40,399 --> 00:15:47,680 » It's a good idea. The interest rate is super low on the police station. 197 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:52,959 That's what I need the book for is the interest rate. It was taken when it was 198 00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:56,800 like a very favorable time to borrow. 199 00:15:54,320 --> 00:16:00,880 » What are your highest loan? >> The highest one is going to be the one 200 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:06,040 that we take for the highway bond. If the voters approve that, that's going to 201 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:06,040 be a lot higher than 202 00:16:11,519 --> 00:16:18,160 » I struggling to find it. Hold on. >> Like Ralph, I I had the same 203 00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:21,680 conversation with Seth because if we're going to be doing the highway barn, it' 204 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,120 be good to be rid of another payment, but 205 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:28,240 » and the payment >> if we have time, we can make this 206 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:31,240 decision. So, the police station is 3.14%. 207 00:16:31,839 --> 00:16:38,759 The one that we're paying off for segment 6 is 4.67%. 208 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:46,800 The overflow cover is 3.3%. So, they're all very low. The number 209 00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:52,800 that was quoted us to borrow today, if we borrowed for the highway barn, would 210 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:57,680 be 4.28, I believe. I think we got to think about that 211 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:01,120 because that would that would take that bill right away. 212 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:05,360 » Yeah, it would save you know 20 to $24,000 a year in the general fund. 213 00:17:03,839 --> 00:17:06,559 » Three quarters of a percent. >> Yeah. 214 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:12,559 » Yeah. >> It's definitely feasible. 215 00:17:09,919 --> 00:17:19,280 » Yes. Uh Brent Buler, how does the like 216 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:23,199 $300,000 that was used to buy the truck from the police budget get posted at the 217 00:17:21,679 --> 00:17:26,799 end of the year? So we did >> rather than against the police. 218 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:30,480 » I asked Sue to transfer it and she agreed it should be transferred and she 219 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:35,840 transferred it. So if you look in the packet on the FY26 budget, there's a top 220 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:39,600 line on the expense side that just says transfer out and it's not assigned to 221 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:44,559 any department. >> Okay? So that's where the highway truck 222 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:48,880 is going out of the general fund now, >> which means it didn't come out of the 223 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:54,240 police, which it's more transparent and accurate to show that police spending is 224 00:17:50,799 --> 00:17:55,520 actually 649, which was only 68% of its total budget. 225 00:17:55,039 --> 00:17:58,480 » Thank you. >> Yeah, appreciate that. 226 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:01,640 » Yeah, I'm glad Sue agreed that that could happen. 227 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:08,840 » Any last questions for Mr. Hopkins on his report. 228 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,880 » Yep. 229 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:28,240 Lar Brandon, I just want to say thank you on the record for um you all paying 230 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:36,640 attention, hearing people's needs in the town and doing such a great job with the 231 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:43,679 budget and um trying new angles and being open to hearing people talk about 232 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:47,280 ideas because this is a wonderful thing as a [clears throat] person in talented 233 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:53,120 Heaper that you're able to do your budget, be on target, have some savings, 234 00:18:50,559 --> 00:19:00,400 have a pot of money that you can pay off bills with. That's just delightful. And 235 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:06,480 not everybody's in that place. So, thank you all for that. I know it takes a lot 236 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:11,240 of work and a lot of stress. And thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate 237 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,240 it. 238 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:20,720 Um, is there anything you want to touch on on the project tracker or not? We're 239 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:23,840 just information to us all. And >> so, yeah, it's information. Um, if 240 00:19:22,559 --> 00:19:29,120 there's any questions about specific projects, the Union Street sidewalk, um, 241 00:19:26,559 --> 00:19:34,080 the state has authorized engaging the engineers to assist with moving that 242 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:38,640 further along. Um, the McConnell Road culvert, I'll go quickly through all of 243 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:44,799 it, I guess. um we we either need to start from scratch or we need to get um 244 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:50,559 design uh engineering done on it and that's difficult based on the 245 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:55,520 the initial engineering firm is I guess not interested in doing the design 246 00:19:52,080 --> 00:20:00,880 engineering. Um Bill has someone coming in to quote the actual resurfacing of 247 00:19:59,039 --> 00:20:06,080 the multi-use court like with you know kind of traditional tennis court 248 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:09,679 surfacing. Um, and that can be taken care of with the ARPA that was set aside 249 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:13,840 and with some penny Esther Brookbrook estate money that was designated for 250 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:18,160 Estherbrook Ark, the North Street Bridge. Um, you did the scoping study. 251 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:22,559 It's ready and all we have to do now is get in the right spot, in the right line 252 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:28,240 for some construction money to build the replacement bridge. There's no active uh 253 00:20:25,679 --> 00:20:34,799 FEMA buyouts right at this moment. Um and there may that may be slowing down 254 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:40,000 or it or it may come back. Energy navigators are still working. The nifty 255 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:44,559 thrifty uh gift uh the police department solar is is working and uh making 256 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:49,200 electricity all the time. The Conan Square solar is not yet hooked up, but 257 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:54,640 it's it's basically getting ready to be hooked up. The new highway department um 258 00:20:52,159 --> 00:20:59,440 is an agenda item later. the hazard mitigation plan. I would just 259 00:20:57,039 --> 00:21:05,360 ask for a little bit of patience. Jackie uh believes that she has found a route 260 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:08,720 to a solution here. Uh and then there's a a recommendation that I have in here 261 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:12,480 for a project you don't know about, which is sidewalk repair on West 262 00:21:10,559 --> 00:21:17,440 Seminary Street. As many of you know, there are a number of folks who live up 263 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:22,400 um on West Seminary Street who use mobility devices and power scooters and 264 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:26,320 things like that. And um a lot of them live at the Nesabe House which is on the 265 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:30,080 west side of West Seminary. They then can get on the sidewalk but the sidewalk 266 00:21:28,159 --> 00:21:36,080 on the west side ends right kind of abruptly before it connects even to this 267 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:41,200 building. So the um concept would be to get some crosswalks laid out from west 268 00:21:39,039 --> 00:21:44,880 side of West Seminary to the east side. But we will need to do some repair on 269 00:21:43,039 --> 00:21:49,200 the sidewalk in front of the old Brandon High School. If you've walked that 270 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:53,760 stretch, that is a it's a poor sidewalk. It's um it it's really just kind of like 271 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:58,000 a hump of asphalt. So that's a suggestion. It would be something you 272 00:21:55,600 --> 00:22:02,080 could look to use 1% money for or fund balance money for that kind of thing. 273 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:08,000 Won't be a large project. Certainly would not be a project I would say would 274 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:12,480 be warranting a grant application from the state because that will make it, you 275 00:22:09,679 --> 00:22:17,280 know, very complex. And the last line is, you know, going to be a 276 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:23,520 disappointment, but um we owe a few parking spots. The town owes a few 277 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:29,440 parking spots over by the Baptist church which were pledged in writing uh during 278 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:35,120 segment six. And it's a very challenging site. There's a fire hydrant, there's a 279 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:40,720 telephone pole with an anchor wire, there's sidewalks and storm drains and 280 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:46,640 all kinds of stuff that it's it's got to be done and we don't yet have a feasible 281 00:22:44,159 --> 00:22:52,240 workable design. And I just threw in the engineers estimate which is a little bit 282 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:58,360 old and which is a little bit more involved than I think the solutions that 283 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:58,360 we're trying to get toward 284 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,159 » questions on this report. 285 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:20,159 Oh, go ahead. Please. Yeah. Brett Buer again. I I walk Union Street 286 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:26,159 almost every day and when I talk to the folks some of the folks there, they have 287 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:30,559 no idea about the sidewalk project. So maybe something needs to go out to 288 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:34,320 inform everybody on the on the street. Well, I don't know. Maybe they don't 289 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:37,120 need easements or something, but >> Well, they definitely need easements. 290 00:23:35,679 --> 00:23:40,720 And so the engineer is going to help facilitate a group meeting as well to 291 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:44,480 inform them about where we're at. >> Okay. because I I was kind of surprised 292 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:50,440 how often we talk about it and yet nobody on the street really knew about 293 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,440 what was going on. 294 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,880 » Bill, did you have a community development report? 295 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:59,679 » I do have a verbal one. Uh yeah, I didn't submit a printed report. U so 296 00:23:57,679 --> 00:24:04,000 just two items on there. One, uh around recreation, we have a new functional 297 00:24:02,159 --> 00:24:08,640 fitness class that's going to be taught downstairs here uh on Tuesdays, 298 00:24:06,799 --> 00:24:13,279 Thursdays. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This is for folks that might be 299 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:19,120 wanting to work on mobility, uh, balance. Um, it's a class that tends to 300 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:24,320 be popular with the average brain resident. Um, you know, working on 301 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:28,960 balance. Um, then they do these classes up at East View and they're insanely 302 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:34,421 popular. So, we decided to operate here downstairs offices town hall. Um, and we 303 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:37,120 also have uh an update. [gasps and sighs] 304 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:40,880 I went with folks from the chambered economic development of the Rutland 305 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:44,799 region as well as uh the community health centers of the Rutland region and 306 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:49,200 they are the folks that operate uh Brandon Medical Center on Steinberg Road 307 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:57,240 and they're in the process of securing funding to do a large expansion um in in 308 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:57,240 Brandon to offer more services. 309 00:24:58,799 --> 00:25:06,000 I guess it's G. Yes, I mean yeah sorry. Yes, Gro Street. Yes, it will still be 310 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:10,799 access from Gro Street, but they plan on doing expansion offering more services. 311 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:14,240 As a part of that, they've uh applied for a Northern Border Regional 312 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:19,919 Commission's catalyst program uh pre-application grant, and they asked 313 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:26,400 the town to step in to make their uh application look a little more um 314 00:25:24,159 --> 00:25:31,279 community oriented. Um, as a part of that, uh, if they were awarded the 315 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:35,679 grant, we would get some funding with no match to provide some more amenities at 316 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:39,279 Esesterbrook and trying to connect Estherbrook to the Park Village 317 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:43,760 residents. There's 4 to 500 people up there that would have easier access to 318 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:49,679 Estherbrook as well as some possible equipment improvements at Esesterbrook 319 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:55,760 if they get this uh, grant. That's my report. 320 00:25:51,679 --> 00:26:02,960 » Questions for Mr. Moore from the board? questions for Mr. Moore from the public. 321 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:12,320 Mr. Moore is off the hook. Um, thank you. Um, item eight, 322 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:18,240 uh, consider redesign phase proposal for replacement of the highway facility. 323 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:23,200 Uh, may include appropriation of $10,000 from local options tax or another fund. 324 00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:28,880 Mr. Hopkins. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. So, uh, in 325 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:33,919 the packet you have the letter from Co and Co. and an outline of what they 326 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:40,000 could do. Um, this constitutes a pre-esign phase, right? They came down, 327 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:46,159 um, without any cost to the town. They came down and did look at the site. Uh I 328 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:50,400 was there, Bill was there, Ralph was there, uh Jeremy Dorta, our highway 329 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:55,360 chief was there, and we kind of explored different aspects of the site as it 330 00:26:53,039 --> 00:26:59,360 exists now and challenges and just kind of a little bit of a general idea of 331 00:26:57,039 --> 00:27:08,159 what the town was looking for in terms of putting in some safe and um energy 332 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:14,400 efficient and weathertight um working conditions for our highway department. 333 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:20,000 So um there the recommendation is laid out here with first some meetings um 334 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:24,000 with folks in Brandon again like a more formal set of meetings with the highway 335 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:28,640 department. A more formal meeting with the whole select board and the public 336 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:33,679 about what priorities are and what funding might be available. Some 337 00:27:30,559 --> 00:27:39,600 alternatives and then some code and permitting um considerations. And then 338 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:44,400 um the construction cost estimate that we could use to go to the voters and ask 339 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:49,200 the voters if they would consider issuing a bond. Um we would go at town 340 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:54,799 meeting and ask if they would consider issuing a bond um to build a new highway 341 00:27:52,320 --> 00:28:00,080 department. So this is one proposal. It's not the only way to do things, but 342 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:06,559 these folks had been successful in building, I would say, um, similarly 343 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:14,559 scaled highway department buildings in Vermont in Glover, Vers, Sheffield, and 344 00:28:09,679 --> 00:28:18,000 Sharon. And we kind of were basically you get a little bit of cost 345 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:22,960 efficiency with them not reinventing the wheel, so to speak, in terms of like a 346 00:28:20,399 --> 00:28:28,159 basic design. I wouldn't say any of them were fancy fancy. Um, the plans that 347 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:32,640 they brought down that were more detailed were from Sheffield, which was 348 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:37,679 last year. And, you know, they did have some stuff that we might or might not 349 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:42,399 think was necessary in Brandon. They had a a radiant floor heating system, which 350 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:47,600 our highway department really would like to have, but they also had a second 351 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:52,480 boiler with blowing, you know, heat exchanger kind of heat. So there was two 352 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:57,840 heating systems in the same garage to de ice trucks, you know, and things like 353 00:28:54,640 --> 00:29:02,000 that. I also asked them as part of their scope of work. I gave them the site plan 354 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:06,640 that we have for what we've got up there now, which has the wetlands delineation 355 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:10,480 that Bill got from the state. Um, basically shows what's wetland we have 356 00:29:08,559 --> 00:29:15,600 to stay out of, what's buffer zone we have to stay out of, and what's 357 00:29:12,399 --> 00:29:20,080 available to work with. Um and then I also asked them to consider the salt 358 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:26,320 shed because our salt shed is not sufficient um in size or really in 359 00:29:24,399 --> 00:29:29,520 condition at this point to think about working around it. So that's going to be 360 00:29:28,399 --> 00:29:33,000 something that they're going to also take into consideration. 361 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:39,919 So if um this is one way to get the project off the ground and if you want 362 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:44,880 to get the project off the ground with them um I think you'll find them 363 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:51,360 responsive to you know what we had for concerns and the the estimate or the 364 00:29:47,919 --> 00:29:55,360 quote is for $10,000 which you could do from the local option tax or the fund 365 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:59,679 balance. My recommendation is always to spend it from the most restrictive fund 366 00:29:57,679 --> 00:30:03,440 that is eligible, which would be the local option tax, because this would 367 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:07,200 clearly be a capital project. This would be the down payment on a capital 368 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:12,200 project, and that would leave you more flexibility in the fund balance of the 369 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,200 general fund. 370 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:17,799 » Questions from board? Yeah. 371 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:28,159 Is this is is this like a normal cost to do something like this? Is this a Does 372 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:32,720 anybody have any experience? I have no clue on if this is a 373 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:36,080 » I mean we um you know we scoped out the forestale path at like what did that 374 00:30:35,279 --> 00:30:41,760 cost? >> $45,000. I mean prelimin and that also 375 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:49,039 was not like buildable construction design, right? So, this is kind of I 376 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:53,120 think a a pretty [gasps] pretty standard um or I think this is 377 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:58,000 actually a good value again because they've got this little mini This is not 378 00:30:56,320 --> 00:31:01,200 all they do is build highway barns. They build lots of things and they just 379 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:05,919 happen to have built four highway departments in Vermont in the last seven 380 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:09,200 or eight years. Um I think we're getting a little bit of cost efficiency from 381 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:14,000 that. I understand it's, you know, $10,000. It's a big number. It is a big 382 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:18,159 number, but we're not going to be able to 383 00:31:15,679 --> 00:31:22,240 build this the way that Well, I mean, you can you can consider it, right? I 384 00:31:20,559 --> 00:31:26,799 mean, we can consider building this kind of like really on on a shoestring just 385 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:31,919 on our own, but we're going to run into some pretty serious 386 00:31:29,039 --> 00:31:37,760 um environmental concerns up there because of what we have there now and 387 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:43,039 the wet ones that adjoin so closely. So, I think we've got to do this in a very 388 00:31:39,279 --> 00:31:47,440 professional way. And to me, spending this money, investing this money to make 389 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:51,760 sure that we're kind of like making the first decisions in the right direction, 390 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:55,039 um, would be money well spent. Cuz if we start making the first decisions and 391 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:58,960 we're going a little bit offkilter, by the time we get to the other end, we'll 392 00:31:56,559 --> 00:32:04,360 be far off of, you know, what would be acceptable in in modern construction 393 00:32:01,039 --> 00:32:04,360 kind of terms. 394 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:16,159 Um, can you just touch on when we're when we're planning to be ready and go 395 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:22,399 to bond vote? So, so their their time frame is um on the 396 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:28,399 third page and their schedule is about a an 8week process, right? So, it would be 397 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:32,000 taking all of September and October really. So, which is why we can't vote 398 00:32:30,159 --> 00:32:36,960 this in November at the election. We won't be ready. So then after September 399 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:41,039 and October when they're done, they'll deliver. They have that list of 400 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:46,320 deliverables. They'll deliver to you. Here's a recommendation and an alternate 401 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:52,880 uh kind of situation. And then we can spend time with them in December, even 402 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:57,039 September, Octo November and December. You can spend some time like, well, 403 00:32:55,039 --> 00:33:01,039 let's let's not have that secondary heating system or let's make the salt 404 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:04,799 shed this big and not that big or whatever we decide to do to kind of get 405 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:09,760 the construction number to where we want it to be. And that would be November, 406 00:33:07,519 --> 00:33:14,559 December. Get ready for publication in January, have some public have a public 407 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:19,039 hearing before town meeting and vote it at town meeting in March. 408 00:33:17,039 --> 00:33:21,440 That's the >> not not at town meeting that that 409 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:24,320 election day >> papers on paper Australian ballot all 410 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:28,320 the voters >> let's say yes 411 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:32,559 » but in conjunction with that election in March 412 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:37,120 you can see the last page of the little uh section in the packet is not from 413 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:42,640 them it's from the bond bank and that's the anticipated payment if it were to 414 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:46,080 cost $3 million which I think is possible 415 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:51,360 uh depending on what they come up with as an order. They tell me as an order of 416 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:56,159 magnitude, this is not um is not far off what what their ballpark guess would be. 417 00:33:54,000 --> 00:34:01,760 So $3 million if you look in that furthest right table that says annual 418 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:05,200 debt service schedule. Um the first year is high and then it goes down from 419 00:34:03,519 --> 00:34:10,399 there. But essentially you're paying $150,000 of principal every year and 420 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:17,280 then you're paying interest in in descending amounts from $125,000 down to 421 00:34:13,599 --> 00:34:22,399 $3,000 per year. What essentially it would mean to do this without raising 422 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:28,480 taxes is you'd need to take all the money that is in the town's budget now 423 00:34:25,119 --> 00:34:33,040 to pay the segment six bond and use all of that and then you'd need an equal 424 00:34:31,359 --> 00:34:37,280 amount and for the first few years a slightly greater amount than that to 425 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:41,119 come out of the 1% money to pay the total bond payment without raising 426 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:44,839 taxes. So basically 50/50. 427 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:59,280 It's a big um commitment of the 1% money on a long basis, a 20-year loan. Um but 428 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:03,680 it's it's a way to do it without raising taxes. 429 00:35:01,839 --> 00:35:10,599 And that's if it's $3 million. Maybe it will be less. I I would love it to be 430 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:10,599 less. I don't know that it less. 431 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:22,200 You're not committing to any of that. You know, we're just that's just for 432 00:35:17,359 --> 00:35:22,200 your information and pondering 433 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:27,000 » discussion from the board. 434 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:38,160 » I can tell you I met with Seth today. I looked at I was a proponent for the hoop 435 00:35:35,599 --> 00:35:44,400 building that we put up there a few years ago. Um, I used to get a a farm 436 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:48,400 tech magazine pretty regularly about farm type buildings and the hoop 437 00:35:45,839 --> 00:35:54,480 building and I see that they're used in highway departments all over the place. 438 00:35:50,880 --> 00:36:03,119 Um, and that building has worked out really well for us at a not a big amount 439 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:09,280 of money. Um, and so I went back into my repertoire of farm type stuff and 440 00:36:06,720 --> 00:36:15,280 there's a company called Clear Span and they make either hoop or metal buildings 441 00:36:12,720 --> 00:36:18,079 that can be insulated in whatever. So I passed that information on to Seth just 442 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:25,520 saying, you know, we should look at every option if we have from now until 443 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:31,119 December to make a final decision. And I don't know if Clear Span would be better 444 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:37,359 or worse or cheaper or more expensive, but I I I did go through their web page 445 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:43,599 and they had buildings in there that are being used for fire departments and um 446 00:36:41,119 --> 00:36:49,680 town highway garages, etc. So, it's just a matter of now maybe reaching out to 447 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:53,599 them or or whatever. So, I mean, I like to 448 00:36:51,359 --> 00:36:57,200 » um you gave me the information enough to get, you know, get a quote from them or 449 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:58,960 get an estimate from them or get their interest. Yeah. 450 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:03,440 » Yeah. >> I will do that. 451 00:37:00,079 --> 00:37:07,760 » Um Yeah. Yeah, cuz I I have to say when when we started discussing this a year 452 00:37:06,079 --> 00:37:12,880 and a half ago, it was hoped that, you know, oh, we're just going to pack cash 453 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:16,800 in segment six bond and have another bond to be of the equal amount. And when 454 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:22,720 we're looking at three million bucks, it's likely. So, um, you know, it's just 455 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:28,320 a matter of trying to see what numbers come in and they may come in lower than 456 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:33,280 that. So, but clearly our building is in pretty bad shape. I mean, I guess as a 457 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:38,160 very first step, like the select board kind of like being at consensus that 458 00:37:35,599 --> 00:37:42,880 yes, you want to build a new building up there is probably a great kind of 459 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:48,079 resolutionish kind of finding. Like I don't if you're all on board with that, 460 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:52,160 that's that's enough to start from. If if there's contrary opinions about that, 461 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:56,480 we probably should air those out before we start spending money. 462 00:37:55,280 --> 00:38:01,760 » I'm certainly in favor of a new building. I mean, the building there is 463 00:37:59,359 --> 00:38:06,480 It was old 20 years ago. You know, it's uh uh actively leaking. It's not big 464 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:09,680 enough for the trucks. It's just not doing a job. And as we've 465 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:14,000 talked about, there's not really anywhere else on that site that makes 466 00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:17,000 any sense for it until you start hitting wetlands. 467 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:26,960 I think we're just pouring heat right out right right out through the walls 468 00:38:23,119 --> 00:38:32,160 and roof indoors and it's an unacceptable works workspace. You know, 469 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:37,599 the questions just becomes how big do we have to have take care of our trucks? 470 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:44,119 You know, what's the what's the now need and what's the need for the next 10 or 471 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:44,119 15 years look like? So, 472 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:52,040 anyone else? I like the thought of exploring that 473 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:52,040 other option. 474 00:38:53,040 --> 00:39:00,000 » So if we're going to explore another option, do you want to move forward with 475 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:05,119 code to be doing this engineering thing? Would we need this either way? 476 00:39:03,119 --> 00:39:09,760 » You'll need a you'll need some kind of site design phase. Yes. Because they're 477 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:14,079 going to have to consider all of the components. It's like if we get in touch 478 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:18,640 with Clear Span, they're going to assume like we've got the dimensions that they 479 00:39:16,079 --> 00:39:22,240 need and it's flat and it's clean. And in our case, 480 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:25,359 » that's not the case. Like in our case, if it's the dimensions that we need, 481 00:39:23,839 --> 00:39:29,440 we've got a building sitting there that we've got to remove. And then we've got 482 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:33,839 to think about the floor drains in the building and the systems that support 483 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:40,000 that and so on and so forth. I did already kind of lob um co and co a 484 00:39:37,359 --> 00:39:44,960 thought that we had been talking about trying to connect the highway department 485 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:49,119 to the town sanitary sewer so that the bathroom could be you know taken care of 486 00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:53,920 by getting it across the road into the Champlain pump station. I would perceive 487 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:58,079 that to be probably an expensive component. And what's up there now is 488 00:39:55,839 --> 00:40:04,560 apparently a holding tank that just gets pumped on a fairly infrequent basis, but 489 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:08,960 sufficiently pumped. And I I suggested to Co and Co, maybe we just don't even 490 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:13,599 go down the road of, you know, forcing the wastewater into the pump station. We 491 00:40:11,599 --> 00:40:18,880 just plan on building a new modern holding tank system there. It should be 492 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:24,800 less money. We won't be able to build a traditional on-site um leechfield kind 493 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:28,119 of situation because of the constraints of the site 494 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:37,440 » that we go forward with the ending code and code for a initial engineering 495 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:41,079 phase. >> I'll second that. 496 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:47,839 I think it's a step we need to go through no matter what. 497 00:40:45,599 --> 00:40:54,800 Any discussion? No discussion. All in favor 498 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:57,599 of this say I. I. No. >> Thank. 499 00:40:56,079 --> 00:41:02,400 » Do you want to talk about how you want to fund that? 500 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:08,119 » How we want to fund the 10,000? >> Right. 501 00:41:05,119 --> 00:41:08,119 um 502 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:16,880 this moment I just I guess I go in your wisdom where I would say from last 503 00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:21,680 year's reserve first thing that can come out of the reserve or something 504 00:41:20,079 --> 00:41:24,319 » and I still like this idea of playing off police station but 505 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:28,240 » no that's that's valid >> you know I I 506 00:41:26,319 --> 00:41:34,240 » I guess my maybe if you think about it this way the reserve money can always be 507 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:38,480 added to 1% money for capital stuff, but the 1% money cannot ever be thrown into 508 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:43,760 the general fund reserve. Do you know what I mean? So, I I I would prefer if 509 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:48,480 you don't think it's difficult, I would prefer to spend it from the capital 510 00:41:45,359 --> 00:41:53,839 fund, which is the 1% money. >> It's fine with me. Y 511 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:55,839 » Okay. >> Could you make a motion in that 512 00:41:55,119 --> 00:41:59,440 direction? >> I move that that $10,000 comes out of 513 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:01,520 the 1% option tax. >> Thank 514 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,599 you. >> All in favor? I 515 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:06,960 » I >> thank you. 516 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:09,960 » No one. Okay. Um 517 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:16,480 knew that was going to be a long one. Number eight was going to drag us right 518 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:24,480 down. [laughter] Um number nine, uh consider intram designation ratifying 519 00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:28,240 no parking zone between the gazebo and the monument. 520 00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:33,920 And that has been flagged off this week. I looked at it today and I agree with it 521 00:42:31,599 --> 00:42:39,680 100% because it's just traffic accidents waiting to happen. Every time somebody 522 00:42:35,599 --> 00:42:44,480 tries to back up, it's too narrow. >> So if we you want to say anything about 523 00:42:43,359 --> 00:42:47,760 that because I'm ready to make >> Well, if the community, you know, 524 00:42:45,839 --> 00:42:50,720 doesn't have an awareness of what I wrote, maybe I'll just give a quick 525 00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:55,119 summary. So, we're talking about Central Park, the west end, there's parking on 526 00:42:53,520 --> 00:42:59,280 both the north and the south. And then there's a crosswalk from the fountain 527 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:04,079 and between the fountain and the dispensary. The middle section, there's 528 00:43:02,160 --> 00:43:08,160 parking only on the north side toward the Brandon Inn. And then there's 529 00:43:06,079 --> 00:43:11,760 supposed to be no parking by the gazebo, but in practice, that's been a bus stop. 530 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:16,160 And that's actually, you know, one of the designs that was allowed for. And 531 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:19,920 then there's a crosswalk from 22 Park over toward the gazebo. And then the 532 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:23,280 eastern end that goes toward Park Street, that's essentially just a 533 00:43:21,440 --> 00:43:27,520 two-way driveway, and there should be no parking in that at all. That's what uh 534 00:43:26,079 --> 00:43:33,520 we've had the police put up the temporary signage for. Um it really is 535 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:37,839 starting to become something that is a perennial kind of every weekend when 536 00:43:35,599 --> 00:43:43,920 things are busy down there. Um there's a lot of cars and it does make it unsafe 537 00:43:41,119 --> 00:43:49,760 for motorists, pedestrians. um the bus that does come through. Um I I would 538 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:55,040 recommend at least that eastern third uh be found to be no parking. And again, 539 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:59,359 this is all what the board accepted from the design engineers of segment 6, but 540 00:43:57,839 --> 00:44:04,800 it never made it into the traffic ordinance. So, what I'm asking for 541 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:11,200 tonight is for this to be done until like as a stop gap measure while the 542 00:44:07,680 --> 00:44:16,960 traffic ordinance kind of gets a full A to Z rewrite. It's a very complex 543 00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:22,560 ordinance. My preference would be that both the middle and the eastern side be 544 00:44:19,440 --> 00:44:26,079 signed for no parking along the park because that would allow you to back out 545 00:44:23,920 --> 00:44:29,359 of the Brandon in spots if you were parked in the Brand and I say the 546 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:34,400 Brandon in spots. Those are not spots spots just for Brandon in guests. Those 547 00:44:32,079 --> 00:44:38,800 are public parking spots. The Brandon in has its own parking behind the inn. Um, 548 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:42,319 anybody can use that for doing their their Brandon Commerce errands or 549 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:49,160 whatever. Um, and I think it would be safer for all if there were no parking 550 00:44:44,160 --> 00:44:49,160 there on the side opposite. 551 00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:55,599 » Okay. Now, I make a motion that we uh >> What's 552 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:58,319 Go ahead. >> What's enforcement going to be? How are 553 00:44:57,119 --> 00:45:04,079 we going to enforce that? >> Well, if you find so like if I just have 554 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:09,520 the police put out posters, they can, you know, write tickets that will not 555 00:45:06,079 --> 00:45:14,560 stand up. If you find that this is a, you know, this is your directive, then 556 00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:17,040 it's like an ordinance in a temporary way and they can write tickets that will 557 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:22,000 stand up. >> Okay. Good. Good. Cuz 558 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:26,880 this isn't the only spot that we need to look at for fire. So that's so the the 559 00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:30,319 reason that I'm bringing this and I hadn't brought other stuff before is the 560 00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:35,280 select board has always wanted not to do peace meal tinkering with the traffic 561 00:45:32,319 --> 00:45:40,720 ordinance which is smart is a good idea. Um but the traffic ordinance is not even 562 00:45:38,960 --> 00:45:44,000 two meetings three meetings away from coming back to the select board. This 563 00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:49,480 the traffic ordinance is still in in quite a state of under review. 564 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:55,920 Can they put some of those no parking signs right out here? 565 00:45:53,920 --> 00:46:00,720 » Well, that's what I'm saying. Like, really? No. Like, we we can't just like 566 00:45:57,839 --> 00:46:04,720 start willy-nilly placing no parking because those are not enforceable. They 567 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:08,640 can do it for the parade for a brief period of time, but what I'm talking 568 00:46:06,079 --> 00:46:11,760 about is a more more permanent designation. Yeah. 569 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:16,640 » So, we need to wrap up the parking in the street. we need to deal something 570 00:46:13,119 --> 00:46:20,079 with the traffic ordinance and um we can we can make an effort whether I think 571 00:46:18,240 --> 00:46:24,560 that the board had kind of determined that the traffic ordinance was going to 572 00:46:22,079 --> 00:46:28,880 be looked at separate from the other the main ordinance review right of all of 573 00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:33,359 the the book of ordinances and policies. So maybe we just need to prioritize 574 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:38,680 doing that before you get into the the sticky wickets of the the main review of 575 00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:38,680 the book. 576 00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:47,839 » Okay. Okay. So, I'll make a motion that we uh designate no parking zone between 577 00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:51,200 the gazebo and the monument. Um, actually, I think it should start at the 578 00:46:50,240 --> 00:46:55,599 crosswalk. >> Yeah. 579 00:46:52,319 --> 00:46:58,319 » Down at uh where where the parking on that side of the road ends all the way 580 00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:02,400 down. >> So, the middle section between the two 581 00:47:00,240 --> 00:47:06,960 crosswalks and eastern section that's toward Park Street. None of that is 582 00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:10,400 painted as parking spots and people are parking there and 583 00:47:08,720 --> 00:47:14,240 » it's a problem. >> That's my motion. 584 00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:17,440 » I will second that >> discussion. 585 00:47:16,160 --> 00:47:20,960 And just to be clear, we are not touching the parking spots in front of 586 00:47:18,640 --> 00:47:25,040 the brand, but everywhere else is >> correct. All in favor? 587 00:47:24,640 --> 00:47:27,119 I >> I 588 00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:32,240 » I post 589 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:37,640 no one you if the should be current once what that looks like I can give you that 590 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:37,640 okay half 591 00:47:39,920 --> 00:47:48,333 » okay well there you get to get up >> pictures of circles and arrows and 592 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:48,333 everything there um [clears throat] 593 00:47:49,119 --> 00:47:52,119 » yes 594 00:47:52,319 --> 00:47:58,079 Make your way. >> Barbrier, 595 00:47:55,040 --> 00:48:03,760 » Barb Scribner, I had a question. So those parking spots 596 00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:08,960 there, the bus that comes or buses, can we put some lined items painted that say 597 00:48:07,040 --> 00:48:12,319 loading zone for bus or >> Yes. 598 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:16,000 » something to designate so people realize that they are allowed to do that for the 599 00:48:15,440 --> 00:48:19,520 community. >> Yep. They've been they've been done in 600 00:48:17,599 --> 00:48:24,160 the past. The town crew is happy to put them down. They get ignored. they get um 601 00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:28,480 you know messed up in the winter like they have to be done every spring 602 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:32,359 » just like the crosswalks. Yeah, [gasps] we can definitely do it. 603 00:48:33,599 --> 00:48:43,520 Okay, moving on. Item 10. Uh item 10 says followup request on road 604 00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:48,079 closure Pearl Street for the harvest dance October 2nd. 605 00:48:46,960 --> 00:48:52,960 » I was looking to provide some more information to you guys. uh the last 606 00:48:49,920 --> 00:49:00,079 meeting when I brought this upation some questions asked about uh safety and the 607 00:48:56,960 --> 00:49:05,520 like um since the last meeting reached out to chief 608 00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:13,760 chief and both were had no issues with this 609 00:49:09,440 --> 00:49:19,520 being a closure spoke with uh Andy Jackson of the 610 00:49:16,400 --> 00:49:23,599 rescue squad. He had some concerns um saying the response time they 611 00:49:21,839 --> 00:49:29,520 experienced when they had during the flooding uh had about five minutes 612 00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:34,559 response time on both long swap short swap. 613 00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:41,119 some concerns about that and the possibility another road were closed 614 00:49:36,720 --> 00:49:44,119 that night that that might need to be bypassure 615 00:49:57,280 --> 00:50:00,520 things happen 616 00:50:01,119 --> 00:50:09,680 the barn out having somebody monitoring scanner make sure there was no issue the 617 00:50:07,040 --> 00:50:15,119 barn sorry the covered bridge is our guess the covered bridge um cover um 618 00:50:13,760 --> 00:50:20,800 it'll be able to clear that up fairly quickly in a safe man 619 00:50:18,880 --> 00:50:27,440 and that was that road that had be closed say champ street 620 00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:30,160 that we could end the dance early open up streets 621 00:50:31,440 --> 00:50:38,640 So many streets. Um so the uh so that was around the safety concerns. Um there 622 00:50:36,079 --> 00:50:43,760 was uh there's a question about whether or not Barn Opera was on board to 623 00:50:40,480 --> 00:50:48,160 collaborate. I provided you um all four of you uh 624 00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:52,079 here into the record if anybody wants to hear it. Um dear select board, my name 625 00:50:50,240 --> 00:50:55,359 is Josh Kier. I'm the artistic director of Opera Vermont in Barn Opera. I'm 626 00:50:54,240 --> 00:51:00,079 writing on behalf of the board of directors of our organization support 627 00:50:58,319 --> 00:51:03,760 Brandon and Connie Wright events and I'm delighted to be a part of why I have 628 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:06,480 will no doubt be an annual event. It's vitally important for our community to 629 00:51:05,040 --> 00:51:10,079 continue to find ways to innovate, create and provide cultural 630 00:51:07,839 --> 00:51:13,760 opportunities for all of us with the proximity of the Sanderson Bridge to the 631 00:51:11,760 --> 00:51:16,800 Barn Opera House. It benefits all of us to open our beloved space to our 632 00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:20,240 community to remind all of us that Barn Opera House is not just for opera but 633 00:51:18,559 --> 00:51:24,880 rather for community events providing another beautiful event space in Brandon 634 00:51:22,319 --> 00:51:27,280 area for million different purposes. We're grateful for the offer to 635 00:51:25,920 --> 00:51:30,160 collaborate on this event and hopefully others like it in the future. I know 636 00:51:28,960 --> 00:51:35,280 that we all look forward to the remarkable sess success that is 637 00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:39,680 to be sending all my best on behalf of the board of directors of Barn Opera 638 00:51:36,640 --> 00:51:42,160 Inc. Josh Kier. There's a PS. Uh, my daughters Lily and Chloe are already 639 00:51:40,880 --> 00:51:45,599 picking out their best fall dancing outfits for the event. So, how can I 640 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:51,960 possibly again be against this very fun event 641 00:51:48,400 --> 00:51:51,960 and that is 642 00:51:52,079 --> 00:51:57,680 I mean I mean I do have some covered bridge people here I think if they'd 643 00:51:55,760 --> 00:52:01,079 like to speak to their excitement about it as well. 644 00:52:02,319 --> 00:52:09,680 » Scott, 69 Park Street. Um, I'd like to say that I'm here on behalf of the board 645 00:52:08,000 --> 00:52:14,640 of the Mont Crumb Ridge Society, but I haven't received all of the votes back 646 00:52:12,640 --> 00:52:19,520 uh for full support, but I can tell you that you have my full support. I'll be 647 00:52:16,880 --> 00:52:24,960 there. I will um donate my time. I'll come and help clean up afterwards uh 648 00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:31,040 because I think it's a great, you know, great way to uh promote our bridge, our 649 00:52:28,720 --> 00:52:35,920 covered bridge here in town. So I thank all you guys for, you know, coming up 650 00:52:32,800 --> 00:52:43,359 with this opportunity to to do that. We need to keep our uh focus on our bridges 651 00:52:38,800 --> 00:52:47,280 and um so yeah, thank you very much and I will let you know as soon as I hear 652 00:52:44,800 --> 00:52:50,800 back from my board. I' I've I need to have the full boards, you know, approval 653 00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:55,760 before I can come up here and say we're going to support you 100%. But I can 654 00:52:52,480 --> 00:52:59,440 tell you that um I have submitted a uh article in our newsletter which is 655 00:52:57,520 --> 00:53:05,280 getting ready to come out um just promoting the uh event. So um I know all 656 00:53:03,119 --> 00:53:09,440 of the Coverbridge Society members are going to see that it's going on, but I'd 657 00:53:07,280 --> 00:53:13,359 like to also do uh once I get approval, I'd like to do a shout out to all our 658 00:53:11,440 --> 00:53:17,760 members and just say come to Brandon, check it out, come see our bridge 659 00:53:15,200 --> 00:53:23,280 because we're proud of it. So thank you very much. 660 00:53:20,640 --> 00:53:23,280 Yeah. 661 00:53:25,200 --> 00:53:35,040 Dan Culage. So when you talk about closing a road, 662 00:53:30,880 --> 00:53:42,400 to me it needs to be something major. It's not a small thing to close. You're 663 00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:47,440 using Barn Opera. They couldn't hold the dance in the in the building. And you 664 00:53:45,599 --> 00:53:52,400 could just maybe close the road for an hour so people could check out the 665 00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:57,680 bridge and walk around. do a shorter part that's on the bridge for road 666 00:53:54,880 --> 00:54:03,440 closure and then have everything else in the barn opera or a different location. 667 00:54:01,760 --> 00:54:07,599 To me, you know, you're setting a precedent. You keep closing roads for 668 00:54:05,280 --> 00:54:13,280 this and that the other thing. And to me, that should be your last resort to 669 00:54:11,280 --> 00:54:18,240 close a road that, you know, can't you accomplish the 670 00:54:15,920 --> 00:54:21,599 same thing having tours of the bridge, you know, have it closed for a short 671 00:54:19,599 --> 00:54:25,760 period of time, not for four or five hours? 672 00:54:23,280 --> 00:54:32,960 I'm just wondering >> if they thought that answer. 673 00:54:29,440 --> 00:54:35,920 » Um, sure. I mean, I think what the genesis of this idea is that we're 674 00:54:34,720 --> 00:54:39,839 not the first people to think about doing this. 675 00:54:37,920 --> 00:54:43,119 There's a a place New Hampshire, was it Jackson, New Hampshire? Jackson, New 676 00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:47,440 Hampshire that does this. This is would be a kind of fun, cool event. And road 677 00:54:45,839 --> 00:54:52,240 closure is a big deal, which is why the select board needs to needs to approve 678 00:54:49,839 --> 00:54:57,440 it. Um, but this is not the only time we ever vote to close roads. And since 679 00:54:54,160 --> 00:55:03,000 1976, we voted to close the road, Route 7, 680 00:54:59,200 --> 00:55:03,000 major north south thort 681 00:55:05,280 --> 00:55:11,119 opportunity for a fun event. I'm I'm just saying it's I'm just I'm just 682 00:55:09,280 --> 00:55:16,240 trying to say like like we do close roads. 683 00:55:14,079 --> 00:55:20,800 » You know, my my proposal was to clo to close the road from 5 to 10. It would be 684 00:55:18,880 --> 00:55:24,720 five hours. The event itself would be 3 hours in the middle of that time. And 685 00:55:23,200 --> 00:55:28,160 then, you know, in either side of that, you know, like as quickly as we can 686 00:55:26,480 --> 00:55:31,200 clean out the bridge, you know, the bridge could be open at 9:15 687 00:55:29,760 --> 00:55:35,520 potentially. I mean, people have gone at 8:30. I mean, it's But I wanted to make 688 00:55:33,599 --> 00:55:42,000 sure that the that we had a solid be uh beginning as 689 00:55:40,079 --> 00:55:46,720 the end would allow the opportunity to open the road more easily. And again, 690 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:51,760 that the folks on either side of the bridge um would have access to their 691 00:55:49,200 --> 00:55:56,000 homes. The sign closing the road will be at Corona Street, but anybody beyond 692 00:55:53,359 --> 00:56:00,720 Croner Street down to the last driveway before the bridge on this side of the 693 00:55:58,960 --> 00:56:04,000 bridge would have access to their homes. And conversely, everybody on the other 694 00:56:02,559 --> 00:56:07,799 side of the bridge would have access to their homes from the other side. 695 00:56:07,839 --> 00:56:13,280 » I spoke out against this at the last meeting. 696 00:56:11,680 --> 00:56:19,319 I think it's a great event. I don't think it's a good place to have it. Not 697 00:56:14,960 --> 00:56:19,319 in a bridge. And uh 698 00:56:19,760 --> 00:56:25,280 I'm not going to be in favor of it. I don't think it's great for the residents 699 00:56:22,799 --> 00:56:29,064 of Pearl Street or the people on Short or Long Schlom. [clears throat] 700 00:56:30,799 --> 00:56:38,240 » Opinion. Um, I could kind of go either way on it. Um, in the interest of 701 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:41,680 fairness, we did get I think Alma Lakeboard got an email from a Pearl 702 00:56:39,920 --> 00:56:44,480 Street resident who was pretty strongly opposed 703 00:56:43,200 --> 00:56:48,319 uh to the event. We also have this one that is very strongly in favor from a 704 00:56:45,760 --> 00:56:55,119 Pearl Street resident. organization director. Um so clearly it 705 00:56:52,319 --> 00:57:00,240 is not firmly in one direction or the other. Um I hear the argument that 706 00:56:58,400 --> 00:57:04,240 closing a bridge is and closing a road is 707 00:57:01,760 --> 00:57:07,520 a major significant thing. I also hear the argument that this could be another 708 00:57:06,079 --> 00:57:11,640 way to put Brandon on the map in the fall. Um 709 00:57:12,720 --> 00:57:17,680 I'm on the fence. We have a 710 00:57:16,880 --> 00:57:21,760 » Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh Cecil had asked at the last 711 00:57:20,319 --> 00:57:27,960 meeting about what the residents down there think of it. We've got two. Have 712 00:57:24,160 --> 00:57:27,960 we asked any others? 713 00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:36,799 » I spoke with on Long Swamp Road. 714 00:57:34,240 --> 00:57:41,880 » Oh, it was on Long Swap Road and she had no concerns, but she works in the town 715 00:57:38,319 --> 00:57:41,880 offices. Full disclosure. 716 00:57:42,960 --> 00:57:50,000 And we have we have other parks in town. We got Eststerbrook. There's plenty of 717 00:57:48,160 --> 00:57:54,400 other facilities that could have the event. I know it's not a covered bridge, 718 00:57:52,160 --> 00:58:00,559 but you are correct. We could do a dinner 719 00:57:57,599 --> 00:58:06,240 brook or any of our downtown parks. I think the idea of the the bridge has its 720 00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:12,960 own interesting 721 00:58:08,160 --> 00:58:18,240 flavor to it, which is is good. Um, I understand your your concerns and I 722 00:58:16,000 --> 00:58:22,720 talked with Seth and Bill today on on mine and said I'm in the same particular 723 00:58:20,400 --> 00:58:28,079 boat that in one hand I'd love to see it happen and another hand 724 00:58:25,440 --> 00:58:32,799 I'm on the fence. I wonder if this would be an item to table for another two 725 00:58:30,240 --> 00:58:37,760 weeks till we have our full board here, but that's up to the board. I 726 00:58:35,440 --> 00:58:42,799 » And I think in fairness, I'll make a motion we table this for two weeks. 727 00:58:41,040 --> 00:58:46,799 » I'll second that. >> Okay. And we have a motion to table it 728 00:58:44,720 --> 00:58:51,200 for two weeks. Uh any discussion on that official 729 00:58:49,440 --> 00:58:55,359 motion? >> We could put out a bulletin to street 730 00:58:53,599 --> 00:59:00,559 folks. I think that would be >> go door to door to the folks on the 731 00:58:57,440 --> 00:59:05,119 street that you want to give me give me addresses 732 00:59:02,160 --> 00:59:09,440 besides Pearl Street in addition what other street sorry I don't go out that 733 00:59:07,440 --> 00:59:16,720 much that way what other street would you be the um 734 00:59:14,240 --> 00:59:20,720 » I person would be Pearl Street the other side of 735 00:59:18,799 --> 00:59:24,559 Pearl Street a couple houses there then you get the long swap and it's kind of a 736 00:59:22,160 --> 00:59:24,559 long stretch 737 00:59:26,480 --> 00:59:31,440 No other street. >> You can take long swim. You go up over 738 00:59:29,359 --> 00:59:33,520 Marshall Phillips, end up on High Pond Road. Yeah. 739 00:59:33,040 --> 00:59:37,040 » Yeah. >> And and come in on 740 00:59:35,359 --> 00:59:41,119 » as they say, you can get there from here. There's there's a lot of different 741 00:59:38,480 --> 00:59:45,920 ways to skin that cat as far as, you know, but immediate impacts I would be 742 00:59:43,599 --> 00:59:51,280 the folks on. I would say there's only one house on that side of the bridge you 743 00:59:48,480 --> 00:59:54,799 should talk to and on this side there's everybody out the corona. That make 744 00:59:53,839 --> 00:59:55,599 sense? >> Absolutely. 745 00:59:55,359 --> 01:00:01,119 » Yeah. >> But on this side everybody that's there 746 00:59:57,680 --> 01:00:02,960 can get access in and out during the entire time of the event. 747 01:00:02,480 --> 01:00:08,079 » Yeah. >> And they can get access into town and 748 01:00:06,319 --> 01:00:10,319 back to their house any time during the event. 749 01:00:08,480 --> 01:00:15,200 » Right. I I don't think Cecil's concern was access. I think she her was 750 01:00:13,359 --> 01:00:18,079 » knowledge of it and that they were on board and that kind of stuff is what her 751 01:00:17,440 --> 01:00:22,160 concern >> you give me that not the absence of the 752 01:00:20,400 --> 01:00:25,599 houses but the streets that are the concerns. 753 01:00:23,280 --> 01:00:29,839 » I will go from house to house and and bring back that information or get a 754 01:00:27,760 --> 01:00:34,559 bill for two weeks from now so we can get an idea of the folks that it really 755 01:00:31,839 --> 01:00:40,240 is going to impact if it really impacts them. I'm not sure how many would impact 756 01:00:38,559 --> 01:00:46,079 that are that close to the bridge is what I I'm trying to visualize. 757 01:00:44,079 --> 01:00:51,760 Is there any way you can cut the time frame to 758 01:00:48,240 --> 01:00:59,440 » that's a consideration? I certainly um >> group seven for the July parade is like 759 01:00:54,960 --> 01:01:07,040 two hours and it's easy to get around that isn't. So if you cut it down 760 01:01:03,119 --> 01:01:12,480 instead of five hours, you know, that would make it a lot more doable and less 761 01:01:10,240 --> 01:01:18,400 chance of, you know, rescue had to, you know, time is a lot when you're the one 762 01:01:15,599 --> 01:01:24,160 needing rescue. So if you can cut that down, it might have a chance of having 763 01:01:22,640 --> 01:01:27,119 appreciate the suggestion. >> As the free DJ, I don't mind making it a 764 01:01:26,240 --> 01:01:32,559 shorter event. >> Yeah. And in defense of closing the 765 01:01:28,880 --> 01:01:37,920 road, I mean, we closed Park Street for numerous parades, 766 01:01:35,119 --> 01:01:40,920 um, you know, Memorial Day, Veterans Day. 767 01:01:41,440 --> 01:01:46,480 » So, >> well, if I could interject, I now live 768 01:01:44,559 --> 01:01:50,480 on the part of Park Street that nobody asks if you want it closed or not, and 769 01:01:48,880 --> 01:01:55,440 it's closed, and you can't get out of your driveway in a car on parade day. 770 01:01:52,960 --> 01:02:00,559 And it's always been that way. We get alerted by a slip of paper dropped into 771 01:01:58,079 --> 01:02:04,880 our mailboxes the night before by the volunteers who work hard to put on a 772 01:02:02,480 --> 01:02:09,359 great parade and it just says don't leave your driveway from like 8:00 in 773 01:02:07,440 --> 01:02:11,119 the morning until noon. [laughter] >> Feel like someone should talk to the 774 01:02:10,319 --> 01:02:15,680 town about that. >> Well, I don't think the select board 775 01:02:12,720 --> 01:02:19,359 votes to close Park Street Extension. I don't think that that's ever been part 776 01:02:17,119 --> 01:02:23,440 of the, you know, parade stuff. It's just street and the people on Pearl 777 01:02:22,559 --> 01:02:26,880 Street are not going to be inconvenienced at that level because 778 01:02:25,440 --> 01:02:32,079 they're always going to be able to get in and out of their driveways in a car. 779 01:02:29,359 --> 01:02:37,440 So, I feel like I don't mind that they close my road on Independence Day 780 01:02:34,799 --> 01:02:41,040 weekend and I can't get out in a car. Like, I feel like it's a very small 781 01:02:39,280 --> 01:02:44,880 inconvenience to pay for a really excellent community event. And, you 782 01:02:43,200 --> 01:02:50,000 know, we all live in community with each other. We don't have the privilege of 783 01:02:47,359 --> 01:02:53,760 living in island on islands and then just kind of going somewhere else for 784 01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:57,359 entertainment. Like to get entertained sometimes we all have to have a little 785 01:02:55,200 --> 01:03:00,640 skin in the game. And again, I really don't think the Pearl Street folks are 786 01:02:59,280 --> 01:03:06,000 going to have the same level of inconvenience as when they close Park 787 01:03:03,119 --> 01:03:11,040 Street from Marble Street out to Country Club Road for the Fourth of July parade. 788 01:03:09,440 --> 01:03:14,480 » Yeah. and worth saying that the house that is would probably be the most 789 01:03:12,799 --> 01:03:18,000 inconvenienced is strongly in favor of the event. So 790 01:03:16,720 --> 01:03:21,680 there is that. >> Okay. So we do have a motion in a second 791 01:03:19,599 --> 01:03:23,039 to table for until the next meeting. All in favor? 792 01:03:22,319 --> 01:03:29,760 » I I >> I Okay, we'll give you a final decision 793 01:03:26,640 --> 01:03:34,079 in two weeks. Um 794 01:03:31,680 --> 01:03:38,400 item 11, followup item um considering townwide 795 01:03:36,720 --> 01:03:43,520 reappraisal. You found out some more information. do have a little more 796 01:03:40,000 --> 01:03:47,680 information. Um, so I provided some to the board, but so the community knows, 797 01:03:45,520 --> 01:03:51,039 um, we have had some contacts with some of the towns, like getting some 798 01:03:49,200 --> 01:03:56,559 referrals and so forth, and that's been good. Jill Brooks at the town office is 799 01:03:53,839 --> 01:04:00,079 keeping a file of all of the information that we've got from the other towns. 800 01:03:58,559 --> 01:04:04,960 Essentially, um, it's widely the towns are satisfied 801 01:04:03,039 --> 01:04:10,880 with the assessing firms that they chose to assess their towns, right? So like in 802 01:04:07,200 --> 01:04:16,480 general um any of those four you'll find a prepoundonderance of the experience to 803 01:04:14,160 --> 01:04:21,119 have been positive uh by the towns that they've recently reappraised. The 804 01:04:19,039 --> 01:04:27,680 information that I shared with the board um that I think is worth the board 805 01:04:23,280 --> 01:04:33,280 thinking about is um is that our current professional assessor is through a 806 01:04:30,559 --> 01:04:37,520 contract with NEMRI which is the third firm listed on the chart that was in the 807 01:04:35,920 --> 01:04:42,000 summary. So she work she's an employee of 808 01:04:39,280 --> 01:04:46,640 Nerrich. The town pays Nerk to have her professional appraiser service, a 809 01:04:44,240 --> 01:04:54,640 professional assessor services in Brandon kind of on an ongoing basis. 810 01:04:50,000 --> 01:04:58,079 Nermeric has a policy that came to us um I think since the last meeting, right? 811 01:04:56,559 --> 01:05:02,640 We didn't know this at the last meeting. So, this is what I want you to think 812 01:04:59,200 --> 01:05:08,240 about. Nermeric will reappraise a town where somebody else is the assessor. 813 01:05:05,760 --> 01:05:15,119 But if Nememerch is the assessor and the town chooses someone else to reappraise, 814 01:05:10,559 --> 01:05:24,240 Nermch will not be the assessor anymore. Does that make sense? 815 01:05:17,520 --> 01:05:29,119 So if the board um were to select Nerk, we would likely maintain our current 816 01:05:26,480 --> 01:05:33,440 relationship with Nerk as our professional assessor. We don't have an 817 01:05:30,720 --> 01:05:37,440 in-house on staff assessor's clerk anymore, 818 01:05:35,039 --> 01:05:42,640 but we would be looking at a two at a at a summer of 2032 819 01:05:40,160 --> 01:05:48,000 townwide reappraisal completion date. Right? This is a long way off. 820 01:05:45,839 --> 01:05:52,720 If the town if the board were to choose one of the other three firms, we would 821 01:05:49,920 --> 01:05:57,599 then at the same time need to make a transition away from using Nerrich as 822 01:05:55,119 --> 01:06:02,000 our kind of on our our in-house assessor. we would need to find somebody 823 01:05:59,200 --> 01:06:10,359 else to do that. It's not impossible. It's just a significant uh consideration 824 01:06:04,960 --> 01:06:10,359 that I think bears thought 825 01:06:10,480 --> 01:06:17,520 » kind of boils down to is the extra weight time for NRIC worth not going 826 01:06:15,119 --> 01:06:21,240 through the hassle of it may boil down to that. Y 827 01:06:21,359 --> 01:06:26,960 » So you're not officially making a recommendation for us to make a decision 828 01:06:25,440 --> 01:06:31,920 on tonight >> here. I was I was uh looking for some 829 01:06:29,440 --> 01:06:38,079 maybe board sense or direction about what you 830 01:06:34,079 --> 01:06:43,760 preferred we we do. Yeah, >> I can say that I still was not excited 831 01:06:41,119 --> 01:06:47,039 about their completion date. Long way off. 832 01:06:45,520 --> 01:06:50,720 So you're saying that the New England 833 01:06:48,960 --> 01:06:54,000 Municipal and the Real Capital Consulting both had good references. 834 01:06:53,200 --> 01:06:56,400 » Yes. >> Yeah. 835 01:06:54,880 --> 01:06:59,960 » And so did Nerk in fairness? >> Yes. Oh yeah. 836 01:06:56,960 --> 01:06:59,960 » Yeah. 837 01:07:04,559 --> 01:07:11,839 » Clear as stone. One more time. >> Yes, please. Otherwise, Zoom can't hear 838 01:07:11,599 --> 01:07:15,599 you. >> You're going to have to learn to sit in 839 01:07:12,960 --> 01:07:21,119 the front row. >> Only the smart kids in the front. 840 01:07:18,480 --> 01:07:28,079 Claire, now I forgot what I wanted to know. So I I guess I don't like the idea 841 01:07:24,559 --> 01:07:34,400 of somebody um saying you stick with us and do it this way or we're done. So 842 01:07:30,640 --> 01:07:40,880 what is that about and why are they able to hold us on such a tight leash? Like 843 01:07:38,640 --> 01:07:43,520 what do they have so much of that we need? 844 01:07:41,440 --> 01:07:48,960 » We operate I don't want to speak for them but you know we operate in a market 845 01:07:46,240 --> 01:07:52,400 of very few providers of a specialty service. 846 01:07:50,880 --> 01:07:57,599 It is for nothing, >> right? Yeah. And and and it's to do with 847 01:07:54,480 --> 01:08:04,480 the fact that every town needs this kind of service and there's maybe well 848 01:08:00,319 --> 01:08:09,920 there's there's 14 total licensed firms in Vermont who can do this. A bunch of 849 01:08:07,280 --> 01:08:12,720 them won't even consider it because we're too far away from where they 850 01:08:11,440 --> 01:08:16,560 operate and they're a small firm, whatever, blah blah blah. So, we heard 851 01:08:14,079 --> 01:08:22,080 back from only six. Two of them declined to propose. We got the four. I mean the 852 01:08:20,000 --> 01:08:27,520 I don't want to speak for anybody for any of them. They all presented 853 01:08:23,759 --> 01:08:33,040 proposals. They all have um references that are solid. They all have track 854 01:08:29,920 --> 01:08:39,920 records in Vermont in towns our size or bigger or smaller. All of those things. 855 01:08:36,640 --> 01:08:46,159 The key drivers are dates and pricing and this other component of the 856 01:08:43,520 --> 01:08:50,080 relationship that you have. I mean, I did look around quickly after I got that 857 01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:55,120 news and I was like, well, what do the other towns do, right? And so, like, 858 01:08:51,839 --> 01:08:58,480 some of the other towns have an on staff assessor, 859 01:08:56,640 --> 01:09:01,839 part-time, full-time, whatever. It depends on the side of the town. I don't 860 01:09:00,000 --> 01:09:07,920 think that's a good option for Brandon. I really like that we pay an assessing 861 01:09:05,040 --> 01:09:13,679 firm that has professional licensed assessors and we pay them for the work 862 01:09:10,880 --> 01:09:18,960 that they do in Brandon at at a good rate. You know, like it's a it's a 863 01:09:15,920 --> 01:09:23,679 professional person's rate. It's not a a clerk's rate. Um that we used to have a 864 01:09:21,920 --> 01:09:27,440 clerk that worked in Brandon to support the assessor and we don't have that 865 01:09:25,839 --> 01:09:32,960 relationship anymore. I I think what we have is nice. 866 01:09:29,359 --> 01:09:35,920 Could we explore it with another firm? I I believe we could explore it with 867 01:09:34,319 --> 01:09:41,839 another firm. There's also the question of the software. Um many of them use 868 01:09:39,839 --> 01:09:46,239 different forms of assessing software. And that's one of the considerations is 869 01:09:44,159 --> 01:09:50,239 what's compatible with what we do now. Is it time for us to kind of refresh 870 01:09:48,239 --> 01:09:53,600 that or is it time for us to recommmit to it? Those kinds of things. It's it's 871 01:09:52,480 --> 01:09:59,199 a big decision. >> It is. Yeah. And it's a big process. 872 01:09:55,760 --> 01:10:05,920 » Yeah. So, I was just curious about why the leash with that company. 873 01:10:02,080 --> 01:10:12,080 » I mean, I I guess if you're going to kind of continue to do the support role, 874 01:10:09,920 --> 01:10:17,679 maybe this is like you do the support role expecting that when the big job 875 01:10:14,560 --> 01:10:23,120 comes, like we don't pay the assessor even $20,000 a year, right? We get our 876 01:10:20,320 --> 01:10:31,199 assessing done for in the teens of thousands of dollars a year. And when it 877 01:10:26,320 --> 01:10:36,199 comes time for the $250, $300,000 job, I maybe they believe they're owed some 878 01:10:32,480 --> 01:10:36,199 difference. I don't know. 879 01:10:37,280 --> 01:10:40,800 » Just a curios. >> Yep. 880 01:10:38,800 --> 01:10:47,360 » Thank you. >> I'd be curious to get a idea of the uh 881 01:10:44,960 --> 01:10:51,280 town office staff's opinion on whether the NMR software is worth sticking with 882 01:10:49,520 --> 01:10:55,040 or not. >> We could stick with the NRA software. 883 01:10:53,520 --> 01:11:00,320 Gotcha. that that's that's not in conversation. 884 01:10:58,880 --> 01:11:03,760 » We're to switch away from them or we might not necessarily that might not 885 01:11:02,400 --> 01:11:06,800 necessarily dovetail with whatever. >> It's a very technical question. I don't 886 01:11:05,440 --> 01:11:11,760 want to answer because I don't know the answer. Yeah, I understand what you're 887 01:11:08,800 --> 01:11:15,120 asking though and that's that's exactly what we need to consider. 888 01:11:13,520 --> 01:11:16,800 » Just trying to get an idea of the I don't need to know everything but like 889 01:11:16,159 --> 01:11:20,320 the >> leg work involved. The NEMIC grand list 890 01:11:18,960 --> 01:11:24,320 will still work, right, >> if we put values in it from some other 891 01:11:22,800 --> 01:11:29,800 software that's done a townwide reappraisal. I believe we've had that 892 01:11:25,760 --> 01:11:29,800 experience in the past actually. 893 01:11:32,320 --> 01:11:37,760 » So then I think we take this as an FYI and you're going to come back to us more 894 01:11:36,640 --> 01:11:40,400 information later. >> Yep. 895 01:11:39,440 --> 01:11:44,800 » Okay. Bingo. >> This I did I did talk with the state 896 01:11:42,719 --> 01:11:50,000 property valuation and review department like specifically about it and um our 897 01:11:48,080 --> 01:11:57,120 person who's in charge of making sure Brandon is like you know assessing 898 01:11:52,800 --> 01:12:01,440 fairly and so forth. She indicated that the completion date was less of a 899 01:11:59,679 --> 01:12:06,960 concern to them because they're aware that there's a limited number of firms 900 01:12:02,960 --> 01:12:12,320 that can do this. And what they want to um be sure is that we're in a process 901 01:12:09,120 --> 01:12:17,920 that's going to lead to a a full reappraisal in a and that that's that's 902 01:12:14,880 --> 01:12:20,800 their main concern less the time. >> Yeah, 903 01:12:19,280 --> 01:12:26,000 » we may have other we may have our own reasons to want the time to 904 01:12:22,960 --> 01:12:32,320 » say Mr. Buer. Yeah, scrap Ber. What was the software that gives us so much 905 01:12:28,800 --> 01:12:37,110 trouble? Is that the billing one for utilities or there? 906 01:12:33,920 --> 01:12:38,400 » Well, there was one that that you said [gasps] 907 01:12:37,600 --> 01:12:43,520 » budget >> is problematic 908 01:12:39,440 --> 01:12:48,560 » and budget workshops. So, NEMRI is like a big umbrella and there are little 909 01:12:46,080 --> 01:12:57,280 modules within NEMR and the town uses a lot of them and um I believe all of what 910 01:12:52,960 --> 01:13:04,640 we use for like assessing and water and sewer bills and um the grand list and 911 01:13:01,440 --> 01:13:10,400 property taxes and the general ledger. I believe these are all NEMR modules and I 912 01:13:07,840 --> 01:13:14,560 don't think we have another software that's driving anything except maybe 913 01:13:12,239 --> 01:13:19,120 your wreck stuff is like living off on its own like my wreck platform or 914 01:13:17,520 --> 01:13:25,040 something, right? Yeah. >> So, it is NERC that we spoke of in the 915 01:13:21,199 --> 01:13:30,239 past that that is kind of touchy. >> It it can be it can be hard to navigate. 916 01:13:27,840 --> 01:13:35,920 It's it's been uh used by Vermont towns for many many many many years and it's 917 01:13:33,679 --> 01:13:43,679 tailored for Vermont towns and it works for Vermont towns and um it's not really 918 01:13:41,520 --> 01:13:47,760 it's not really kind of been changed that I can understand. It's not really 919 01:13:45,360 --> 01:13:51,126 been modernized or updated or things of that nature. 920 01:13:48,400 --> 01:13:54,000 » So you're not unhappy with it. [laughter] 921 01:13:51,920 --> 01:13:57,520 » That's my question. So that mean >> it's come up before 922 01:13:55,120 --> 01:14:01,040 » as town manager I don't use much other than the general ledger right I go in 923 01:13:59,280 --> 01:14:04,159 and I make sure like this department that department I can see these things I 924 01:14:02,800 --> 01:14:08,800 can make some reports for the select board to consider the people who use 925 01:14:06,000 --> 01:14:14,000 NRIC all the day long are like Jackie who is human resources and Jill who is 926 01:14:12,080 --> 01:14:18,000 accounts payable and the town clerk and the deputy town clerk like those four 927 01:14:15,920 --> 01:14:24,480 people are in Nerrich all the day long in various parts of it and I I know that 928 01:14:22,000 --> 01:14:28,719 it does the job that they need it to do. >> Okay. Thank you. 929 01:14:26,080 --> 01:14:35,280 » And from my limited experience finding a robust data management software, 930 01:14:32,239 --> 01:14:40,040 none of them work that well. Find one that is robust and that is something. 931 01:14:41,280 --> 01:14:46,800 Okay, we'll wait for you to tell us about it another time. 932 01:14:44,719 --> 01:14:50,400 » Okay, now we're at the favorite part of the meeting. Item 12, public comment 933 01:14:48,960 --> 01:14:55,840 participation. And if you haven't commented and participated enough, you 934 01:14:53,120 --> 01:15:00,400 can come do it now. This is for items not on the budget or 935 01:14:57,920 --> 01:15:05,520 not on the agenda that you would like to have us put on a future agenda or 936 01:15:02,640 --> 01:15:10,320 something. Mr. Bill Bulock. >> Hello, Billy Bullock. Small Road. 937 01:15:08,320 --> 01:15:16,719 Apologize for not being here two weeks ago. Um I was up in Quebec City um 938 01:15:13,920 --> 01:15:22,080 enjoying some time away. Um on the way home um actually what I did was the 939 01:15:18,719 --> 01:15:26,800 other day I read in the minutes in the report from the last meeting about how 940 01:15:24,960 --> 01:15:32,239 we going to protect our covered bridge. Well coming back through Quebec um we 941 01:15:29,520 --> 01:15:35,040 decided turn off GPS and just point ourselves towards the sun and well 942 01:15:33,840 --> 01:15:39,040 that's kind of hard because you're going east and west a lot. So, but anyway, 943 01:15:36,960 --> 01:15:44,159 we're out in the country and we come across this 944 01:15:42,000 --> 01:15:49,280 probably 4in steel pipes in the ground with this big steam uh uh steel girder 945 01:15:47,120 --> 01:15:53,120 across the top of it. Of course, it's in French, but it did have height wise on 946 01:15:52,000 --> 01:15:55,520 it. And I said, "All right, well, there's got to be a bridge around here." 947 01:15:54,400 --> 01:15:59,199 You go around the corner and there's covered bridge. So, I saw that sign. I 948 01:15:57,840 --> 01:16:03,679 was like, "Yeah, that's pretty good idea." You know, you hit that steel 949 01:16:01,600 --> 01:16:07,760 light beam and you're going to stop in a hurry. 950 01:16:05,120 --> 01:16:13,199 So, we got to the other side and I looked up and I, oh, there's another 951 01:16:10,880 --> 01:16:16,960 steel girder in the air. Except that one had a big dent in it. And I looked in 952 01:16:15,440 --> 01:16:20,320 the rearview mirror and the bridge was pristine. 953 01:16:18,560 --> 01:16:25,920 So, you know, put the onus on the driver who 954 01:16:24,000 --> 01:16:31,920 wants to be the fool. Don't tear our bridges down. Put a big steel burn uh 955 01:16:28,159 --> 01:16:37,120 girder up there and let them hit that. That would be kind of fun and it's a lot 956 01:16:33,760 --> 01:16:42,280 cheaper to fix. So, a welder. So, something to think about. 957 01:16:38,719 --> 01:16:42,280 » Thank you very much. 958 01:16:43,280 --> 01:16:50,679 » Anyone else with a public comment? >> Yep. Come on, Scott. 959 01:16:50,880 --> 01:16:56,960 » That balance class myself. Um, thank you for bringing that up. 960 01:16:55,040 --> 01:17:00,159 Actually, Barbara and I saw the sign that there was a bridge and we went and 961 01:16:58,480 --> 01:17:06,400 took I've got a picture of that bridge and and the metal bar, which is very 962 01:17:02,239 --> 01:17:12,159 nice. Uh we've um approached the uh governor about helping fund the towns 963 01:17:10,320 --> 01:17:15,600 and putting the metal bars like that in front of all the bridges, but we've got 964 01:17:13,600 --> 01:17:21,760 a lot of uh push back on it. >> Um so we we actually uh approached a 965 01:17:18,400 --> 01:17:26,320 welding school and they made one for us in one of the towns. So, and it just 966 01:17:24,080 --> 01:17:29,600 recently got hit this last weekend. Saved the bridge, but it it killed the 967 01:17:28,080 --> 01:17:36,080 RV. Um, I just wanted to say again on the on 968 01:17:32,719 --> 01:17:40,640 the covered bridge. Um, that is something that the Vermont Covered 969 01:17:37,199 --> 01:17:45,840 Bridge Society is trying to do is is bring more um, 970 01:17:43,520 --> 01:17:49,840 you know, more attention to the bridges. And if we held something like that here 971 01:17:47,679 --> 01:17:54,560 in town, that would be great. I mean that's something that we are really 972 01:17:51,520 --> 01:17:59,520 focusing on and we just had a dinner at one of the covered bridges um up north. 973 01:17:57,280 --> 01:18:04,080 So uh the towns will be approached more about having more social events because 974 01:18:02,159 --> 01:18:09,440 it is a great way to bring the community together and then also you know support 975 01:18:06,960 --> 01:18:16,400 the bridges and we should you know really focus on trying to um 976 01:18:14,400 --> 01:18:21,840 have more events around the bridges. I mean, that's what the societyy's doing. 977 01:18:18,400 --> 01:18:26,000 But if we can build it up, then we could basically um, you know, bring in a lot 978 01:18:24,400 --> 01:18:30,480 of money for the town just just by having people come to tour and look at 979 01:18:28,480 --> 01:18:35,120 the bridges because it is something that there's only a handful of states that 980 01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:40,880 have them. So, we're Vermont, we're very lucky to have them. So, I just say, uh, 981 01:18:37,600 --> 01:18:44,400 when you guys do decide to vote on it, please vote yes because I think it'd be 982 01:18:42,480 --> 01:18:48,400 a great a great thing. And I'm really trying to get the Vermont Cover Bridge 983 01:18:45,920 --> 01:18:52,400 Society, you know, behind us also. So, um, if I can do that, we can promote it, 984 01:18:50,719 --> 01:18:57,120 you know, help promote it for, you know, more for you guys and then I can get 985 01:18:54,800 --> 01:19:00,560 more people down here to help out, uh, during the event. So, thank you again. 986 01:18:59,679 --> 01:19:07,480 » Thank you. >> Perhaps there's an opportunity there for 987 01:19:02,239 --> 01:19:07,480 fundraising for a steel contraption. 988 01:19:09,760 --> 01:19:16,480 » Anyone else? >> I had one thing. I I wanted I wanted to 989 01:19:13,920 --> 01:19:22,560 uh thank it's public record. I wanted to thank uh uh the scribers where they made 990 01:19:19,199 --> 01:19:28,800 a donation to help us replace uh a sign on uh on we had a missing pedestrian 991 01:19:26,480 --> 01:19:33,520 crossing crosswalk sign on Park Street. Um and they uh they reached out and made 992 01:19:31,199 --> 01:19:38,080 a donation and we now have our sign back there and we hope it stays there till 993 01:19:35,679 --> 01:19:41,880 the winter when we move them. But thank you guys for your donation. 994 01:19:44,560 --> 01:19:55,520 One last thank you from Claire. There have been hardly any um kids 995 01:19:51,760 --> 01:19:59,840 riding crazily on Park Street or I saw one kid today and I couldn't catch him. 996 01:19:57,920 --> 01:20:04,480 Went through on his scooter. I mean, I'm out there with my track shoes on now. 997 01:20:02,159 --> 01:20:10,400 Was going to chase him on my lawn mower, but I thought better. Anyway, thank you 998 01:20:07,600 --> 01:20:14,719 because the word is out. I I have heard from several people. My name was in the 999 01:20:12,320 --> 01:20:19,520 Rutland paper. I did not know the gentleman was on, which is fine, but I 1000 01:20:17,520 --> 01:20:25,440 do think that it's made a difference. I know school starting soon, but I think 1001 01:20:22,480 --> 01:20:31,440 there's a a a twinge of fear and awareness and um something is happening. 1002 01:20:29,040 --> 01:20:36,719 The rain's not keeping the kids in or the idiot adults that were doing 1003 01:20:33,120 --> 01:20:42,960 wheelies on 73. So, I'm glad that we talked about it and that people need to 1004 01:20:38,560 --> 01:20:47,520 be safe. We sure don't need stupidity to ruin lives and not following the rules, 1005 01:20:45,520 --> 01:20:51,600 but you're all about safety, not about freedom, but safe. So, thank you. 1006 01:20:50,239 --> 01:20:57,400 » Thank you. >> I have a you 1007 01:20:54,400 --> 01:20:57,400 have 1008 01:20:57,520 --> 01:21:02,640 I was trying to get to Brian here. Go ahead. [laughter] 1009 01:21:00,320 --> 01:21:07,679 So, when I was heading home from a meeting on Wednesday night last week, 1010 01:21:05,120 --> 01:21:13,679 here's somebody coming down 73 towards town all in black on one of them scooter 1011 01:21:10,960 --> 01:21:18,159 thingies. And I'm just like once he gets to the curves that the car came, he 1012 01:21:16,080 --> 01:21:22,480 wouldn't even have seen him. So then another day I'm heading home and I'm 1013 01:21:20,719 --> 01:21:26,960 going by the Forestdale post office. You know how you round in the corner? Two 1014 01:21:24,560 --> 01:21:33,760 kids were on their little scooters and the one ended up on the in he he 1015 01:21:31,520 --> 01:21:38,719 put it down. He ended up on the pavement, but if I'd been 5 seconds, 1016 01:21:37,440 --> 01:21:43,600 he wouldn't have been able to stop and I would have hit him. And the look on his 1017 01:21:40,880 --> 01:21:48,480 face when he was in the the ground, you know, it was like that was close. His 1018 01:21:46,560 --> 01:21:54,159 buddy was a hair behind him, so he was able to stop. you know, he scooted it 1019 01:21:51,040 --> 01:21:57,920 this way, but that kid wasn't able to or I would have hit him because I wouldn't 1020 01:21:55,520 --> 01:22:01,280 have had time to react. That's how they don't realize. And maybe they will now, 1021 01:22:00,880 --> 01:22:03,360 but >> they might. 1022 01:22:02,880 --> 01:22:06,960 » Yeah. >> This where Doug Bailey makes his stupid 1023 01:22:05,120 --> 01:22:09,840 remarks. He says five more seconds. Right. 1024 01:22:08,080 --> 01:22:12,000 » I have two two tiny quick things on that. 1025 01:22:10,159 --> 01:22:16,320 » Okay, go for it. Um, first off, I've said it before, 1026 01:22:14,480 --> 01:22:20,960 eventually someone's going to die, and I don't want 1027 01:22:18,800 --> 01:22:24,000 that to happen, and we should all be very vigilant to make sure that doesn't 1028 01:22:22,400 --> 01:22:28,960 happen. Um, I did have a really good conversation with a a parent of young, 1029 01:22:26,000 --> 01:22:33,360 you know, bike riding kids, um, who isn't keyed into selectboard stuff and, 1030 01:22:31,199 --> 01:22:37,199 you know, um, and really just didn't realize the extent of the problem and 1031 01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:41,520 that their children were probably participating in it. Um, and they made a 1032 01:22:40,159 --> 01:22:45,760 very clear point to me that once they were aware of it, they are going to put 1033 01:22:43,120 --> 01:22:49,760 a kibaash on their kids behavior. So, if you know folks who might not be in the 1034 01:22:48,159 --> 01:22:53,199 know of this discussion or if we can get that word out more, um, I think some of 1035 01:22:51,600 --> 01:22:57,520 it is just people not being quite aware of the the severity of it. 1036 01:22:55,840 --> 01:23:03,600 » I did I did think the Rutland Herald articles probably got the word out there 1037 01:23:00,080 --> 01:23:07,120 a little bit too, so that helped. >> Motion to adjurnn. 1038 01:23:04,880 --> 01:23:10,480 » Second. All in favor of joining say