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Ready?

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» Good morning
and welcome to the town of Can you hear

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me? Good morning and welcome to the Town
of Townsen

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2026 annual TOWN MEETING.

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» [applause]
>> 2026. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT,

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RIGHT, you're supposed to be flying
around in space cars or something in

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2026, if I remember correctly, Popular
Science magazine, right?

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First of all, I'd like to start with
having everybody stand. We have a flag

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this year. I'd like to start with the
pledge of allegiance. As soon as we're

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done, please remain standing FOR THE
MOMENT.

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TO THE flag of the United States of
America to the

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stands, [groaning]
one nation under God, indivisible, with

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liberty and justice for all.
>> Okay, stay standing. Sorry. Stay

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standing.
I would also like everybody to just join

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me for a moment of silence and
reflection and remembrance to honor

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those towns and residents and other
loved ones for which we lost this past

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year. Thank you. [snorts]

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» Thank you. Please be seated.

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Warning
for the town of town. Warning for the

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town of Townsen 2026 annual meeting
corrected January 27, 2026.

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The legal voters of the town of Townsen
are hereby notified and warned to meet

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at Dutton Dutton Gymnasium located in
2030 Vermont Group 30 on Tuesday, March

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3rd, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. to act on the
following articles.

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I am supposed to read the entire warning
at this point. If there are no

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objections, I'll refrain from doing so.
>> No objection. hearing. No objections.

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Before we start, I'm going to lay some
rules out um on how this meeting is run.

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Um everything goes around in a circle
history. Uh I was asked at one point to

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put out a sheet of paper that kind of
explained this. We used to do that in

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the distant past, but it was determined
uh the town did not want to spend the

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money to create such a sheet. So, it
kind of goes around in a circle. If you

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would like a sheet, please talk to me
later and I can more than happy. But I'm

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going to explain the rules uh verbally.
Again, welcome to the 2026 Towns and

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Town Meeting. Town meeting is a special
tradition

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with President Dick
and I'm honored to be a part of it with

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you. I'd like to extend a special
welcome to those that are new to Town

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who have never attended a town meeting
before and it's going to be quite a

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ride. My name is David Lebo. It has been
my pleasure to serve as town moderator

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for the last year. And let me review
some information and rules for the

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meeting.
The role of the moderator is to keep the

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meeting organized and explain procedural
questions. Please ask any questions

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before we vote. You have the right to
challenge any decisions I make. If you

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feel any of my rulings are improper, you
just need to raise your hand and say, "I

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challenge the moderator decision."
Everybody, please feel comfortable to

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speak up. We are family. Nobody will
think poorly of you if you have a

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question.
Voters should check in at the uh

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entrance. Please, if you are a town
resident, state your name and you will

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get a ribbon. The ribbon signifies that
you are a town resident, that you can

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speak and vote during uh articles.
Non-residentidents are not allowed to

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vote or participate in any discussion
unless the town votes to give uh

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permission by suspending the rules which
requires a twothird vote. That's just to

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speak. They are still not allowed to
vote.

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When making a motion or seconding a
motion, please state your name loud and

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clear. This is for the minutes. For
example,

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Limbo, I second the motion and they know
how to um uh record that.

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When a motion is on the floor for
discussion, I will try to call on hands

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as they are raised.
When called upon, again, please state

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your name. We know what town you're
from, so you don't have to state your

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town.
Please [clears throat] speak loud and

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clear. And theoretically, we would like
you to come up front and talk.

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If we have an extra microphone,
we might be able to pass it around, but

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I don't know if we do. Oh, yes. Maybe we
can take one of these from up front.

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Okay. But try to come up and talk.
A motion may be amended and amendments

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amended once with voting to proceed from
the last proposed amendment in reverse

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order. Sounds confusing. I'll help you.
All motions and remarks should be made

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to the moderator. There will be no
discussion between residents.

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Dora
is the word of the day.

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There will be no personal attacks. We
are here to discuss and vote on the

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warned articles. You will be ruled out
of order and can be removed from the

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meeting by the constable.
There can be a $200 fine by district

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court if you are deemed disruptive.
[clears throat]

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After you've spoken once on a particular
article that's going to be mentioned at

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the end
after you've spoken once on a particular

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article unless there's a direct
question. You are not allowed to speak

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twice until everybody else has spoken
once and then you are only allowed to

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speak twice on any given motion or
amendment unless we SUSPEND THE RULE.

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DEBATE MAY be cut off by calling the
question which requires a twoth3

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majority
and then no other amendments may be

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brought forward. Calling the question
without having the floor will be ruled

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out of order. So you can't just scream
call the question. Raise your hand and

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when I get to you then you should do it
again. You have the right to challenge

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any decision I made or you just raise
your hand and and that one you can call

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out because it's a privileged motion. I
challenge the moderator's decision.

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During elections, if there is no
objection, only the person nominated

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will be allowed to give a brief
introduction and background information

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on their qualifications.
visions, goals, and objectives will be

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ruled out of order.
When voting by paper ballot, please come

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up through the center aisle and exit
through the sides. If you cannot get to

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the ballot box, let somebody know and
we'd be happy to bring the ballot box to

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you.
Please silence all cell phones

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um and patrons. It's an amazing thing
because this is the fact that cell

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phones work in towns.

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Um,
I have some written here. I don't know

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why. Um, we will not be taking a break
for lunch. There's grab and go in the

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back. Thank you to all those that have
donated their money, time, and effort to

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make such a beautiful spread. If I
wasn't so nervous, I'd try.

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This meeting is being recorded by
Bradleboro Community Television. You can

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watch it later this week on channel 1079
and online at bradleberetv.org.

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Again, for anyone speaking at the
meeting, please stand and state your

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name. Speak directly into the microphone
so the viewers at home can hear you.

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Introductions.
Up front. Here we have select board. In

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no particular order, we have Bob Wright,
Steve Frisk, Katie Maro,

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Nick Suarez, and Ally Evans.
On the other [applause]

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on the other

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I have g

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on the other paper we have justice of
the pieces and um bro for town clerk

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[applause]

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that's
UM

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our State Representative Emily Long and
I've seen our state senator Nana Hashim.

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They are going to uh ask to take up some
of our time and speak. We're going to

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allow that early on this morning. I I
will ask you if you allow that um early

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on in the meeting.
>> They'd like to speak earlier. Uh they've

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been caught up in the election in the
past and so they'd like to do it kind of

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before the election.
papers in the back. In the front,

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you have um information from the select
board on uh and the town social services

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um committee
was a historical view on the town social

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services. There's information about the
treasurer structure which is article

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three
and then there's information on the

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compactor structure which is article
something like but if you like that

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information those papers are in the back
the front and then up front here there's

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more information on the uh social
services article

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I don't have any other announcements

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lastly
restrooms. I believe we're going to use

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the ones back here. If you need to use
the restroom, you can head back there

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through the door on the [clears throat]
right hand side.

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I have no other information. And if
there are no objections, let's get ready

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to rumble.

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Have a gabble.
We'll move on to article one. Any

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questions about rules?

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Article one to choose a moderator for
the ensuing year. I will now entertain

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nominations.

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» Yes, sir.
>> Motion nominated.

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» Second.
>> I should have said that. Correct. Thank

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you. There are no seconds needed for
nominations. Okay. It's a vote of

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support and I appreciate it. But when we
get the other elections, you don't

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necessarily have to second a nomination,
but thank you. Um, any other

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nominations?

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Hearing no other nominations.
And if there are no objections,

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I declare the nominations closed and
instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

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for David Lebo for the one-year term of
moderator. All those in favor say I.

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» All those opposed, no. Thank you. No
clapping. I'm not I'm not First of all,

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let's not let's not go there, okay? Just
for me, it doesn't matter, per se, but

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let's not go there. Let's let's let's
just have the meeting, [laughter] okay?

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Thank you very much.
This will be my 20th year.

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Um,
and nobody should be married for a job,

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but thank you for your support.
Um, article two,

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to act upon the July 1st, 2024 to June
30th, 2025

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independent auditor. Oh, auditors. Wait
a second.

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Before I finish this, when I stop this,
okay, the representatives are here. Do

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we want to go there now and do this?
>> Okay. And so I'm going to ask if there's

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no objections before we start article
two. I didn't finish reading it. Before

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we reach article two, would we like to
suspend the rules and allow um we just

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have uh Emily and J just those two?
Would you like them to come up and talk?

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» All those in favor, please say I. I
>> oppose. No.

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» I believe that's 2/3. We've suspended
the rules. Come on up front. We're going

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to give them
how much time?

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» Nine.
Five minutes each.

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» Okay. Five minutes each. 10 minutes. Um,
you guys want to speak?

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» Testing, testing, testing.

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I'm going to leave it up here for Lee,
but I don't I also don't dare to change

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it. Um,
welcome. Thank you for allowing us to

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speak here. Um, boy, 20 years is a long
time to be sitting in that position.

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I'll just say this is I was just
reminded this is my 12th year um,

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standing in front of the residents of
Townsend. Can you hear me? Okay.

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It's hard to tell.
>> Yeah.

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» Um I'll I'll talk
a little.

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» This is one of those I got it. This is
one of those directional ones. I can

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stand back. Okay. So, um first of all, I
just want to say what a what a winner

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we've had. Um I'm going to say this in
new fan, too. When I hit the town, I

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said it in Marorrow. Um thank you to the
road crews and our communities.

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[applause]

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because what a year it's been. And I I'm
actually a little concerned about what

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mud season might look like. Frosty
hasn't been this bad in a long time. Um

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so, uh make sure [clears throat] you're
thanking the folks who are taking care

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of our roads. Um as you all know,
transportation's a challenge in this

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state and all over the country and who
are facing budget deficits and

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transportation as well. Um before I get
to any of our um and before I certainly

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allowed Nutter to have the microphone,
um I just wanted to say a couple things

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about um
about the way we work in Mont Pillar and

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the way we operate in this state. Um
you you you folks all know I grew up

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here, born at the hospital of the
street. Um, and I am

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extremely grateful uh for the community
that I live in and the state I live in.

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And I just wanted to share um
as things shift in the country and

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become so much more political and
politically divided. I have seen

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evidence non-stop almost every day in
the committee I serve in and um in the

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community I live in in the state house
across the board uh the collaboration

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and the manner in which we serve with
each other and I just wanted to share

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that first because um
the needs of Vermoners are coming first

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in the state house and I can say that
across the board. Doesn't matter what

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party we're from, we sit in committee
side by side and we work hard together

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every single day to try to make sure the
needs of Vermonters are being met. And I

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just wanted you all to know that that is
happening here in Vermont and in the

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state house. And it's really important
to me. I don't think I'd keep doing this

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job if it weren't true. So, I can call
all 180 legislators

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uh friends and colleagues and I'm
grateful to work with them. So I just

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wanted to share that first. Um Vermont
is facing challenges as you all know

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just like every other state. Uh loss of
federal revenue has been a significant

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challenge for us. Um I'm not going to go
into too many detail around around

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legislation. Um but I do want to speak
briefly. I'm I think I told you all last

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year I stepped down from my leadership
positions in the state house and I'm now

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back on the education committee which
has um been sometimes I've questioned

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the wisdom of going on the education
committee this year has been extremely

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challenging as it was last year. We are
trying to find a path forward to lower

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the costs of education,
lower our property tax rates, and at the

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same time increase opportunities for
kids because that's really the core of

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what we're doing. And uh the bill passed
last year, Act 73.

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Uh I I didn't share with you um last
year at town meeting that I didn't vote

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00:18:17,039 --> 00:18:23,919
for the bill, but I did not vote for the
bill. Um, in the end of the session, I

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felt like it needed more time that u
verers voices need to be needed to be

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00:18:25,919 --> 00:18:35,200
heard in a much better way. Um, uh, but
the bill did pass and we are struggling

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right now to find a way forward to fully
implement the bill. There is a lot of,

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uh, work that still needs to be done on
the legislation. So, um, stay tuned on

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that. We uh in the education committee
in the house, uh N serves on the

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education committee in the Senate, so
he'll have his perspective from the

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Senate. In the House, uh we have some
legislation that was put on the table

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for us that um has met with quite a bit
of resistance, not just in our

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committee, but across the state. The
chair put it on the table and he said to

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us, uh this is incomplete, flawed work,
but I want you to work on making it

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better. And when we left for town
meeting break, he said, "I'm pretty sure

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if we were to vote on this bill today,
it would be one, meaning him in favor

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and 10 against because there's 11 of
us." And so it's pretty clear we haven't

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um come to agreement yet on what our
next steps are, but it's also really

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clear that we need to do something. um
we need to make sure the education of

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our kids is first and um we need to
recognize the impact on our communities

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as we make those changes. So um stay
tuned on that. I just want to quickly

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say housing, healthcare and education um
and government accountability, those are

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all top of our um plates right now.
health care remains a huge issue for us

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um for all of you. Access to it. We're
focused on trying to do what we can to

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lower costs. We've made some, you know,
steps. We've taken steps. We did last

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year. Um primary care is certainly um a
central focus for us trying to make sure

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that we have not only uh quality primary
care across the state, but affordable

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and accessible primary care. Um, so
anyway, I don't want to take the the

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time away from Nter. So, I want let you
have your

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» All right. So, I'm a little vertically
challenged. So, I don't You all able to

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hear me? Oh, thanks.

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00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:45,039
All right.
[laughter]

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That's fine. It's fine. It's all good.
Anyways, uh, good morning everybody. My

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00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:54,559
name is Nar Hashim. one of the senators
to win the county. And you in in the

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00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:58,320
interest of keeping this short, I'm
scrapping the pre-written speech and

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just uh going on the fly here. So
hopefully that all works out for the

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best. But you know, I did just want to
reflect on something. you know, over the

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last couple of days as I was trying to
get all my thoughts together for what I

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would be sharing at town meeting, it it
felt very surreal uh to be, you know, on

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the one hand looking up what the, you
know, what the changes to the transfer

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tax is for second homes and then on the
other hand getting all these

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00:21:23,039 --> 00:21:29,440
notifications about all these different
bombings that are happening um in

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00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:36,480
different parts of the world and, you
know, trying to balance, you know, where

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where my focus is. Um, and you know, in
situations like that, I'm I just I

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remind myself that there's some things
that are within my control that I can

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that I can deal with, and then there are
other things that are out of my control

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00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:52,480
that, you know, while I can still pay
attention to, I there's there's not much

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that I can do. And so, and I and I think
that applies really not just to anybody

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in a leadership position, but just
anybody in daily life. And so I'm going

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to talk about a few of the things that I
can do and that I have been doing um as

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a senator up in the state house. So in
the Senate we serve on two committees. I

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00:22:09,919 --> 00:22:18,320
serve in the morning as the chair of
Senate Judiciary and in the afternoon I

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serve on the education committee.
And I'll start with education. Uh you

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know we as as we just heard uh there was
there was Act 73. Uh I also voted

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against it last year, but we are in the
second phase of Act 73 and the bill

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originally created the school
redistricting task force. And I'm

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00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:47,200
paraphrasing in a in a big way, but the
task force essentially concluded that

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00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:52,000
forcing mergers uh between different
districts is not going to yield the cost

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00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:58,880
savings uh that we hope to see and it's
also extremely disruptive. Uh despite

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that, it seems as if both chambers are
moving in that direction anyway. And

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it's it's my position on on the regular
that we should be following the data, we

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should be following the evidence and the
evidence shows that when districts

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voluntarily merge uh because the folks
in that community know what's best

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generally for their communities. when
different comm when different districts

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00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:29,840
merge voluntarily that's when you start
seeing uh more efficiency and more cost

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00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:35,039
savings and so
the at least the proposal in the Senate

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00:23:32,159 --> 00:23:39,280
right now is to uh reduce the number of
unions and reduce the number of

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districts by combining them uh but
having a voluntary 2-year period and

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then after that it becomes involuntary
and you get merged. So that's that's the

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00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:55,600
very broad overview of what the position
is right now. Um I know that one of the

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00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:59,280
more frustrating aspects about all of
this. Uh and I heard this from a

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superintendent just two weeks ago is
that this process is creating so much

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00:24:02,559 --> 00:24:11,200
uncertainty and anxiety. And this one
particular superintendent said that he's

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seen uh teachers who are in the hiring
process uh you know after they get a few

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00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:20,320
steps along they start doing more of the
research of where they've applied to and

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you know they see all these articles and
all this news about the different

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possibilities of what might happen to
education in Vermont. and some of them

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have withdrawn their applications and
and and which is very troubling to hear

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but frankly I can't blame them because
if you're worried about whether or not

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you're going to have a job or uh if
where you set up roots if things are

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00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:48,799
going to be changing dramatically in the
near future that's a lot of uncertainty

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00:24:46,559 --> 00:24:57,600
for somebody who's trying to start a new
profession. So that is the u the short

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00:24:54,960 --> 00:25:03,600
summary of uh Senate education, Senate
Judiciary. Uh

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00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:07,520
one of the big tasks that I've been
hearing a lot about over the last year,

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00:25:05,919 --> 00:25:13,760
especially over the last year, is how we
respond to the federal government. And

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00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:18,240
we have recently passed S208 and S209.
These are informally known as the

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00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:22,960
masking bill and the sensitive places
bill. The masking bill, as we could all

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00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:29,840
safely assume, has to do with law
enforcement wearing masks, operating

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00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:33,360
anonymously, and arresting people. We've
done a [snorts] lot of work to make sure

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00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:38,400
that both 208 and 209 are
constitutional. Uh unfortunately for

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00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:44,000
California, fortunately for us, uh
California made a few mistakes and we

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00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:48,480
were able to learn from what they failed
to do and we made sure that we did not

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00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:54,320
make those m those same mistakes in our
legislation uh with those bills. And so

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00:25:51,679 --> 00:26:00,559
both 208 and 209 are now in the House
Judiciary Committee. Um the governor has

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signaled his support for these bills and
uh my hope is that they continue moving

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00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:08,880
forward in the process. Um, other
aspects of judiciary are generally

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00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:16,400
they're they're not going to catch
headlines. Um, but they are aspects that

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00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:22,799
get to technical fixes uh for our
judiciary, our court system that uh are

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00:26:20,159 --> 00:26:27,840
meant to increase efficiency and
fairness in the courtroom. So something

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00:26:25,039 --> 00:26:31,919
as mundane as changing the word
violation with the word conviction

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00:26:30,159 --> 00:26:37,600
actually makes a big difference in
certain plea agreements and the flow of

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00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:41,919
the court. Uh obviously not something
you're going to see any headlines about,

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00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:45,840
but uh you know I I I see it as my
responsibility to make sure that our

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00:26:43,679 --> 00:26:50,960
judiciary is operating in a fair and
efficient manner and it's like taking a

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00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:57,360
pickaxe slowly uh to making these
changes moving forward. So, so that's

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00:26:54,640 --> 00:27:02,799
Senate Judiciary. And, you know, I I
will say that it's uh I mean, this is

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00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:06,480
the the first town meeting that I'm
stopping at for the day today. And so,

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00:27:04,559 --> 00:27:11,840
it's it's a good warm-up. Thanks for
being my my test subject, my first

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00:27:08,559 --> 00:27:15,760
speech of the day. Um, you know, I I I
do love coming out to Townsen. I do

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00:27:13,679 --> 00:27:19,120
often have um office hours at the
library. I haven't had any this month,

314
00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:23,919
but I'm hoping to get some next month.
Um, I've also left some uh legislative

315
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,720
updates over on the table over there.
There's more information about some of

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00:27:25,279 --> 00:27:32,320
the bills that we're working on in other
areas that I know are important like

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00:27:28,799 --> 00:27:35,760
healthcare act 250 regulations uh and
transportation. And it also has my

318
00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:39,919
contact information. So, if you want
more detailed specifics about some of

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00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:44,960
the things I talked about or just
anything else in general, uh, don't

320
00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:50,979
hesitate to reach out. And and again,
thank you all for having both of us.

321
00:27:48,959 --> 00:27:50,979
» [applause]

322
00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:56,960
» You want to move on to the articles of
the day. Do you want to spend more time

323
00:27:54,399 --> 00:28:02,320
asking questions?
>> Move on.

324
00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:06,000
» Move on. Everybody okay with that?
>> Okay. Thank you very much for coming. We

325
00:28:04,159 --> 00:28:09,919
appreciate your time. Wait, wait.
Please, can can you tell us how to

326
00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:13,840
contact you if we do have questions,
please? How's that?

327
00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:19,279
» Uh, quickest way to say it is to check
the legislative website. uh the Vermont

328
00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:24,960
House General Assembly and just search
both of us. Um y'all know I live in New

329
00:28:23,039 --> 00:28:32,960
um I am going to be at the Towns and
Library on the 21st at 9:00 a.m. So

330
00:28:30,399 --> 00:28:36,000
» So they are very accessible. That's just
you can ask questions here, but they are

331
00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:39,039
always available to answer questions.
Thank you for your time. We appreciate

332
00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:43,720
it.
We'll see you around four or five maybe.

333
00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:52,159
Okay.
Back to business.

334
00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:59,679
Article two. Can Can you hear me? That
was sounding so loud before. You okay in

335
00:28:54,799 --> 00:29:07,440
the back? Okay. Article two. To act upon
the July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025

336
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:13,520
independent independent auditors report.
I will now entertain a motion.

337
00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:20,679
» Flores moved. So moved by Torres and
seconded by Mar.

338
00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:20,679
Um any discussion?

339
00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:27,080
» We have been doing some work with the
>> Wait, wait, wait. There needs to be a

340
00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,080
microphone.

341
00:29:28,559 --> 00:29:35,360
» Hello. Yes. All right. We have been
doing some work with the auditor's

342
00:29:31,679 --> 00:29:39,039
report. Some of the work um has been
things that were under the program

343
00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:45,679
select board. Um so some of those
changes if you want to add some here but

344
00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:51,360
um
we've been working on making sure that

345
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:57,840
we are keeping up with our
uh employee performance. Um

346
00:29:55,039 --> 00:30:02,399
let's see uh we've been working with
fire department and library to kind of

347
00:30:00,159 --> 00:30:06,640
firm up some formalized agreements. That
was something that was highlighted in

348
00:30:03,919 --> 00:30:12,320
the audience report um under the general
fund committee. Uh Christine Haye, she

349
00:30:09,679 --> 00:30:17,600
has taken a lot of work on really
tracking down the solar credits um and

350
00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:21,679
what that work looks like as it was kind
of confusing [snorts] and complicated

351
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:27,360
and not well documented over the years.
Um much of this work uh after we've

352
00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:30,960
consulted with BLCT um has been
identified as being under the purview of

353
00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:35,360
the finance department. So, there's some
things in here that maybe haven't been

354
00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:40,720
updated, but those are unfortunately not
under the direct control of the board.

355
00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:45,600
Um, but that is just kind of some off
the top.

356
00:30:42,399 --> 00:30:50,396
Any other questions?
Any other discussion? Yes, in the back.

357
00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:54,559
» I'd like to make an an amendment.
[clears throat]

358
00:30:52,399 --> 00:30:57,559
» Wait, we need to This is going to be a
problem.

359
00:30:57,601 --> 00:30:59,621
» [snorts]

360
00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:06,960
» I'm not running the microphone.
>> Back in the day, we had your kids

361
00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:11,200
running the microphone around.
>> Okay, I I'll leave this one back here

362
00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:16,159
when people back here want to speak,
please. And yes, I see your hand. We'll

363
00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:21,960
get there in a second. Hello. Hello.
>> Now, is that on?

364
00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,960
» It was a second ago.

365
00:31:22,399 --> 00:31:29,279
» So, so, so you'd like to make an
amendment to the motion? I'd like to

366
00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:35,600
make an amendment to take the orders of
the day, the agenda out of order. So in

367
00:31:32,799 --> 00:31:40,640
article 4 to elect the select board
officials one three-year term.

368
00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:46,480
» That's that's you missed one. We're on
article two. Go back to that one.

369
00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:51,600
» I [clears throat] have an amendment to
have the town select board report each

370
00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:56,799
month to at a select board meeting on
the status of the auditor's report.

371
00:31:54,240 --> 00:32:03,120
Sullivan Powers and Company PC dated
October 28th, 2025 on each of the

372
00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:05,777
individual findings and there were 15
findings. [clears throat]

373
00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:14,640
Okay. Is there a second to that
amendment to the motion? Um, hang on.

374
00:32:12,559 --> 00:32:18,360
Let me have that piece of paper again.
That way I can repeat.

375
00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,519
» Sorry guys.

376
00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:32,720
Okay. So, so an amendment is being made
to this motion that says

377
00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:38,080
to have So, it's going to say to act
upon the auditor's report and have the

378
00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:43,760
town select board report each month at
select board meetings on the status of

379
00:32:40,799 --> 00:32:47,679
the auditor's report on each of the
individual 15 findings.

380
00:32:47,039 --> 00:32:52,880
» Second.
>> Second. Okay. So, that's been moved and

381
00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:57,039
seconded. We will now discuss only the
amendment. We're not discussing the

382
00:32:54,240 --> 00:33:00,960
auditor's report. Okay. For right now,
we'll get back to that. But

383
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:05,519
» we're going to discuss tacking this on.
Is there any discussion on that? It's

384
00:33:02,559 --> 00:33:09,039
been moved and seconded.
>> Yes. Yes. Maker of the amendment can

385
00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:16,080
speak first. Go right ahead, sir.
>> The rationale behind the amendment is so

386
00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:21,120
that we actually get action. This report
is a duplicate of what we saw and heard

387
00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:26,399
last year. It's identical. Everything is
exactly the same. And we heard from the

388
00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:31,679
select board chair last year that they
were working on it just as we heard from

389
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:36,240
Nick a moment ago. We need actual
accountability here. That's what the

390
00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:40,320
town residents need. Some of these
things are important. We're talking

391
00:33:38,159 --> 00:33:45,039
about fraud. We're talking about things
that really could have an impact on

392
00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:48,320
town. So, we need accountability from
the select board.

393
00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:51,880
» Any other discussion on the amendment?
Yes, sir. Yeah,

394
00:33:51,919 --> 00:34:00,080
» I'm Dale West.
I feel that that we're this amendment is

395
00:33:57,679 --> 00:34:06,159
pointed at the select board and the
select board only has limited duties

396
00:34:03,039 --> 00:34:12,240
that are in this auditor's report.
The primary portions of this auditor's

397
00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:17,359
report recommendations is the finance
office which is managed by the town

398
00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:23,760
treasurer. The town treasurer is
responsible for most of all these duties

399
00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:28,960
in collaboration with the select board.
Yes,

400
00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:34,240
I feel that if you look at the statue on
the responsibilities and duties of a

401
00:34:31,119 --> 00:34:43,599
treasurer, the managing of the financial
office is there and the site board are

402
00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:47,760
only responsible to approve the warrants
that are created out of the financial

403
00:34:45,839 --> 00:34:52,639
office
and sign those checks and release those

404
00:34:51,119 --> 00:34:55,639
funds.
any

405
00:34:56,240 --> 00:35:02,160
point.
>> Hi, Shiloh. Um, this is mainly just a

406
00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:07,119
question. This amendment is pretty much
just asking for the select board to give

407
00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:13,200
us an update once per month at a
meeting. Nothing more, just an update.

408
00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:17,040
» Okay.
>> Any other discussion on the amendment?

409
00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:23,119
Yes. Uh, Bob, you second time. This will
be your last one.

410
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:28,240
With all respect to Dale,
the auditor's letter was addressed to

411
00:35:25,839 --> 00:35:33,480
the select board and the select board
for a reason. They're the ones that are

412
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,480
accountable.

413
00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:38,200
Any further discussion?

414
00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:44,000
» Okay. Seeing no further discussion on
the amendment. Yes, sir.

415
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:50,160
» I have a question. I is there any
validity to that? I'm just curious like

416
00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:56,800
anybody on the select board want to
address this. Is is this letter asking

417
00:35:53,280 --> 00:36:00,240
select board to do certain duties um or
is this in the purview of the town

418
00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:03,280
treasurer? Do we have any does anybody
have any other

419
00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:06,560
» thoughts on that? I'm Tyler Burns.
>> Tyler,

420
00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,560
» thank you.

421
00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:16,880
Okay, just to answer your question,
Tyler, um the select board, I believe we

422
00:36:15,599 --> 00:36:20,720
entered into the contract with the
auditor. So therefore, we are kind of

423
00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:26,800
that point of contact for the auditor.
Um the finance department does not do

424
00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:31,119
that. Uh so for those reasons,
presumably we are being addressed. We

425
00:36:29,119 --> 00:36:36,160
have consulted with BLCT, with the
auditors. Again, as Dale mentioned, a

426
00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:39,839
lot of this is directly under the
purview of the finance department, not

427
00:36:37,839 --> 00:36:44,640
necessarily select. We do not control
what the finance department does. Um,

428
00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:48,000
but there are some pieces in here that
we do help facilitate. For example,

429
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:53,680
working with the fire department, with
the library, some mention of uh cemetery

430
00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:59,680
funds um and other things of that
nature. But some things such as internal

431
00:36:56,240 --> 00:37:10,520
controls around um finances
um are going to be directly under the uh

432
00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:10,520
finance department. So it is a mix.

433
00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:16,960
Did you want did you want to speak?
>> Okay.

434
00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:20,160
» Oh,
>> remember we're just talking about the mo

435
00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:23,520
the amendment. We're not talking about
the artist report. We'll come back to

436
00:37:21,839 --> 00:37:27,599
that again.
It seems as if um

437
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:32,160
my name's Laura.
>> Yeah, thank you.

438
00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:36,720
» Um it seems like because it's it's been
directed at the select board, even

439
00:37:34,240 --> 00:37:42,000
though um it's the treasurer's
responsibility, I don't understand why

440
00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:46,560
there couldn't be a a communication
between the treasurer and the select

441
00:37:43,839 --> 00:37:51,760
board so that they could give us an
update on what is going on. That's all.

442
00:37:50,079 --> 00:37:55,599
I mean certainly if somebody attended
the select board meeting and questioned

443
00:37:53,440 --> 00:38:01,599
the select board meeting during the the
public portion could be a question. How

444
00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:06,320
have you performed on the auditor's
report? That's a that's what you're

445
00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:10,760
saying. Go ahead. More. Uh there's
another hand. I saw Yep. Craig.

446
00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:20,400
I'm sorry. And uh a number of these
things are on the select board's watch

447
00:38:18,079 --> 00:38:26,160
list. The fraud risk assessment, the
fraud policy, the conflict of interest

448
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:30,640
policy among others are um select board
duties, not treasury duties. And many of

449
00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:34,640
these have been ignored. The procurement
policy, the purchasing policy that we

450
00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:42,000
have in place um or should have in
place, which has been called um

451
00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:45,599
has been called by the auditors as being
out of date more or less when you're

452
00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:49,440
doing federal contracts and other state
contracts. There are there are issues

453
00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:52,000
with that procurement policy. That been
said, there are a number of them. the

454
00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:58,240
conflict of interest policy, the travel
cost policy, uniform guidance

455
00:38:54,000 --> 00:39:03,280
procurement which has to do with um
which has to do with purchasing and has

456
00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:08,640
to do with keeping the accounting for
the town uh straight and proper. Some of

457
00:39:06,720 --> 00:39:12,320
these are in play and some of them are
being ignored. There is a conflict of

458
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:16,320
interest policy in the books. It's been
signed by the select board. It is being

459
00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:20,640
ignored. There have been complaints.
There have been misconduct complaints.

460
00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:24,640
But that's out of order. We're talking
about the amendment to the meeting. You

461
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:29,280
are speaking of other things.
>> Okay. There's compensation policy,

462
00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:33,760
financial management policy is all part
of select board duties to set the time

463
00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:38,040
for the time.
>> Thank you, Greg. Thank Sorry.

464
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:50,000
Any other discussion?
>> Yeah. Oh, yes, sir. I'm sorry.

465
00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:56,079
uh Snelling [clears throat] the select
court is the executive officer

466
00:39:52,400 --> 00:40:02,079
collectively of the town and that is why
they are the recipients of the audit

467
00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:07,119
report. The audit report does not go to
the treasurer. It goes to the executive

468
00:40:04,240 --> 00:40:14,880
which is the uh select board of this
case. The amendment is asking that there

469
00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:19,359
be ongoing reporting on these issues so
that there is some tracking that we are

470
00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:24,880
making progress on them. That may very
well be identifying which items are

471
00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:31,760
going to be handled by the treasurer's
office which uh or by the select board.

472
00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:36,000
And as we're getting later into our
agenda, we are talking going to be

473
00:40:33,359 --> 00:40:42,160
talking about some changes in the
treasurer's office which could also

474
00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:47,680
affect how this reporting might be done.
So I think it's important that we get um

475
00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:52,320
ongoing reporting on these issues so
that we can address them and part of

476
00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:56,720
that is identifying who's going to be uh
tackling the various issues. Thank you.

477
00:40:55,119 --> 00:41:01,800
Any
any other any other discussion on the

478
00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,800
amendment?

479
00:41:02,079 --> 00:41:06,280
Okay. Oh, in the back.

480
00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:14,000
Andy, thank you very much for running
around right now. I apologize.

481
00:41:11,359 --> 00:41:19,520
» Hi, I'm Ally Noli. I wonder why this
can't happen quarterly

482
00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:23,599
instead of monthly. Boards meeting twice
a month. That means every other meeting

483
00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:27,680
they're going to have to report. So, why
not quarterly? Why?

484
00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:32,119
You can make an amendment to the
amendment.

485
00:41:28,240 --> 00:41:32,119
» Just thinking about it.

486
00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:44,800
» Any other discussion?
We have an amendment in front of us that

487
00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:51,280
will
add to approve

488
00:41:47,839 --> 00:41:57,680
to approve the July 1st to July 2024 to
June 3025 independent artist report. And

489
00:41:55,520 --> 00:42:02,960
what we're going to be voting on is to
have the town select board report each

490
00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:08,079
month at the select board meeting on the
status of the auditor's report on each

491
00:42:05,119 --> 00:42:14,400
of the individual findings.
A yes vote will add that to the main

492
00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:19,680
motion.
A no vote will defeat that and the main

493
00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:26,079
motion remains the same. Does everybody
understand? Ask any questions. Yes vote

494
00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:30,079
passes the amendment. A no vote defeats
that.

495
00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:33,440
All those in favor, please say I.
>> I.

496
00:42:31,119 --> 00:42:36,800
» All those against, please say no.
>> No.

497
00:42:34,079 --> 00:42:40,000
» No. Paper ballot.
>> I heard a paper ballot. I need seven

498
00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:42,640
people for a paper ballot.
>> Paper ballot.

499
00:42:41,680 --> 00:42:48,480
» Seconded.
>> One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

500
00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:55,119
I got seven people. Okay, hang on. We're
going to have a paper ballot for this um

501
00:42:51,520 --> 00:43:00,640
amendment. Just for the amendment. So on
the piece of paper, you're going to

502
00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:06,000
either put yes, which
which is voting for the amendment,

503
00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:11,680
right? A yes vote votes to add this
piece of information to the article. A

504
00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:15,200
no vote defeats it. You write no on the
paper. You're going to come up in the

505
00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:19,400
middle. The ballot box will be right
here. Any questions?

506
00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:24,680
I now declare the ballot box open.

507
00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:34,800
» We have the results of the election.
Um,

508
00:43:31,760 --> 00:43:41,280
we were voting on an amendment to the
motion. The amendment read to have the

509
00:43:38,960 --> 00:43:44,880
town select board report each month at
select board meetings on the status of

510
00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:52,160
the auditor's report on each individual
findings. Yes, votes were 94. No votes

511
00:43:48,480 --> 00:44:01,920
were 40. So, the amendment passes. We
now have an a motion before us that

512
00:43:55,839 --> 00:44:08,480
reads to approve the July 1st, 2024
to June 30th, 2025 independent auditor's

513
00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:12,880
report and have the select board report
each month at the select board meeting

514
00:44:10,319 --> 00:44:20,520
on the status of the auditor's report on
each of the individual findings.

515
00:44:17,119 --> 00:44:20,520
Further discussion.

516
00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:30,720
Okay, seeing no further discussion on
the motion, are we ready to actually

517
00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:37,040
vote on the motion? And then I'd just
like to put a little blurb in here. Um,

518
00:44:34,079 --> 00:44:40,640
so the for voting purposes, if it's
close,

519
00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:43,760
we don't have to go to a paper ballot.
I'm just letting you know there's

520
00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:48,880
there's division of the house that we
could do first where we raise hands or

521
00:44:46,480 --> 00:44:52,800
have people stand. Yes, people stand and
no people stand. So then we can vote

522
00:44:50,720 --> 00:44:56,319
that way as well. So we don't have to
necessarily take the time for a paper

523
00:44:54,480 --> 00:45:00,000
ballot. I'm not against paper ballots.
It keeps your opinion hidden a little

524
00:44:58,319 --> 00:45:05,280
bit and there's nothing wrong with that
um in democracy. However, I don't your

525
00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:09,680
pleasure might be first to do a divi
division of the house. That would be the

526
00:45:07,359 --> 00:45:15,200
first call if you chose and you didn't
want a paper ballot next. Okay. [snorts]

527
00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:20,720
Um so any further discussion on the
motion before us?

528
00:45:18,079 --> 00:45:26,240
Seeing no further discussion, everybody
understands a yes vote. will pass the

529
00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:31,440
motion to approve the auditors report
July 1st 2024 to June 30th 2025

530
00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:34,560
independent auditors report and to have
the select board report each month at

531
00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:39,119
the select board meeting on the status
of the auditor's report on each of the

532
00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:42,960
visual findings. A no vote defeats that
motion. All those in favor, please say

533
00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:48,480
I.
>> I oppose. No.

534
00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:52,400
I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do
have it. Great job everybody. That was a

535
00:45:50,480 --> 00:46:00,240
little bit of a
a tough one, but we made it through.

536
00:45:55,280 --> 00:46:07,440
Okay. Um, I'd like to
inform you that our other state senator,

537
00:46:03,839 --> 00:46:10,480
Wendy Harris, is now here and was
wondering whether or not you would like

538
00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:17,839
to suspend the rules to allow her to
speak. She does have a

539
00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:21,920
umformational sheet in the back. Now, if
you'd like to pick one of those up as

540
00:46:19,359 --> 00:46:26,400
well, um what's your pleasure? We would
have to suspend the rules. It would be a

541
00:46:23,359 --> 00:46:32,640
twothirds vote.
Anybody? Yes. Okay. So, all those in

542
00:46:29,599 --> 00:46:36,640
favor of and all those in favor of
having Senator Harrison speak, please uh

543
00:46:34,640 --> 00:46:40,880
suspend the rules to allow her to speak,
please say I. I

544
00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:45,040
» oppose. No.
I believe you have the floor, Miss

545
00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:51,839
Harrison.
Five minutes, please.

546
00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:56,240
Not direct, but no one.
>> Thank you, Mr. Moderator, and thank you

547
00:46:53,599 --> 00:47:01,280
everyone. And I will take five minutes.
Um, thank you all first for being here.

548
00:46:58,400 --> 00:47:07,280
Uh, I'm a democracy fan, and democracy
is always it it can be messy, but um,

549
00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:12,720
thanks. Thanks for being here and, uh,
uh, being part of it. Um, so, uh, I

550
00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:17,760
serve in the Senate. I serve on two
committees. I'm chair of institutions

551
00:47:15,359 --> 00:47:22,480
and clerk on the, uh, transportation
committee. And I just want to let you

552
00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:27,280
know, we are working on, um, revenue for
towns. Uh, towns are pretty strapped,

553
00:47:25,280 --> 00:47:32,960
uh, especially with with roadways, and
that can comprise half of your of your

554
00:47:30,319 --> 00:47:38,800
budget. Um, so we're we're looking at a
local option tax for roadway purposes.

555
00:47:36,160 --> 00:47:44,880
uh that is not enacted yet. But I do
want you to know that there are local

556
00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:48,000
option taxes that the town can implement
much easier than it could previously

557
00:47:46,240 --> 00:47:53,280
because previously you had to have a
charter change to implement a local

558
00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:58,160
option tax. But now it can be done with
the select board and town meeting. And

559
00:47:55,599 --> 00:48:02,720
there are different types of uh local
option taxes. One of them is a sales tax

560
00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:06,079
and now the sales tax includes internet
sales. So, you might want to consider

561
00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:13,520
that because that's a a relatively easy
way to um to get more revenue. Um and

562
00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:17,760
just wanted you to know uh about one
item. There's a lot of things going on

563
00:48:15,200 --> 00:48:24,000
wi with Act 250 and [snorts]
um um other zoning issues, but something

564
00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:29,280
that people don't know as much as I wish
they did is that now if you have a

565
00:48:26,480 --> 00:48:33,440
single family home uh that is permitted
and or you're in an area of a single

566
00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:38,000
family home, you can have a duplex. Um
we have duplexes by right now in Vermont

567
00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:42,400
and that's something that Maine did a
couple of years ago to increase housing

568
00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:48,640
and it worked really well. And when we
were doing this, what we wanted was uh a

569
00:48:45,359 --> 00:48:55,520
way for Vermonters to have uh an
additional area space for maybe their

570
00:48:51,440 --> 00:49:00,800
adult kids or be able to um uh rent it.
So, so it's it's it's a way that you can

571
00:48:58,160 --> 00:49:05,040
improve your property relatively simply
and I just want you to know about it

572
00:49:02,480 --> 00:49:10,079
because it's it's important. and I could
talk about education and all sorts of

573
00:49:06,480 --> 00:49:13,599
other things, but you have a meeting to
finish and I think I will stop there.

574
00:49:12,720 --> 00:49:17,440
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

575
00:49:15,520 --> 00:49:20,599
Thank you for coming, Senator Harris.
Thank you.

576
00:49:22,160 --> 00:49:31,359
» Okay, back to the business at hand.
Um, and again, she she did leave she did

577
00:49:28,160 --> 00:49:35,000
leave quite a few uh uhformational
sheets in the back.

578
00:49:36,079 --> 00:49:44,960
Okay, we're going to be moving on to
article three.

579
00:49:41,599 --> 00:49:50,200
» Sh. Huh?
>> I'm sorry. We've passed. We've passed.

580
00:49:52,240 --> 00:49:56,400
» Yes, there were. I called for any
further questions. There were no

581
00:49:55,119 --> 00:49:59,400
questions and we voted on the main
motion.

582
00:50:06,000 --> 00:50:12,559
Did you vote yes or did you vote no?
>> I voted yes on the amendment.

583
00:50:09,839 --> 00:50:16,559
» Okay.
>> Wait, wait, wait. What?

584
00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:24,920
» That was for the amendment and then we
did the main motion on a voice B vote.

585
00:50:20,559 --> 00:50:24,920
Okay. However,

586
00:50:26,160 --> 00:50:34,160
Okay. Hang on. This is this is going to
be something that I I got to if you give

587
00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:38,280
me a second here. Um
let me look at this right here.

588
00:50:38,640 --> 00:50:41,640
Uh

589
00:50:42,559 --> 00:50:48,119
I'm sorry. Um do we want to

590
00:50:50,720 --> 00:50:57,839
» Are you sure? Because there there is a
there is a mechanism to reconsider the

591
00:50:55,760 --> 00:51:03,680
previous vote
>> if you do it before another motion

592
00:51:00,559 --> 00:51:09,040
before I read the next thing and you're
right there if you wanted to. I didn't

593
00:51:06,240 --> 00:51:13,240
want to
ignore that. Excuse me, sir.

594
00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:19,680
» No, there was not an amendment to the
amendment. No, no. So, so we voted on

595
00:51:17,440 --> 00:51:27,280
the main motion. We passed it. It's
over. However, there is a mechanism to

596
00:51:23,440 --> 00:51:35,040
reconsider your vote if a person on the
prevailing side asks to reconsider it

597
00:51:31,599 --> 00:51:37,760
before the next article is read.
>> I'll ask a select board meeting. It's

598
00:51:36,880 --> 00:51:43,480
fine. Go ahead.
>> Okay. Okay. Ignore everything I just

599
00:51:40,480 --> 00:51:43,480
said.

600
00:51:46,240 --> 00:51:53,200
» Okay. Moving on. We will not if as soon
as I'm done reading this there can't an

601
00:51:50,559 --> 00:51:59,839
artic a motion that's been passed or
defeated cannot be reconsidered.

602
00:51:56,319 --> 00:52:03,839
Hurry. Thank you. Sorry I talk a lot.
Article three. Shall the voters vote to

603
00:52:01,839 --> 00:52:09,280
restructure the finance department to
create a part-time treasurer and

604
00:52:06,000 --> 00:52:12,880
part-time bookkeeper to to fulfill the
duties of the treasurer and tax

605
00:52:11,520 --> 00:52:16,800
collector duties.
>> Suarez. So moved.

606
00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:22,480
» It's been moved.
Second by Maro. Discussion. Oh,

607
00:52:20,160 --> 00:52:25,440
discussion. The MO motion maker like to
>> Yes. I would just like to open with a

608
00:52:24,079 --> 00:52:30,000
little bit of rationale for why we're
presenting this to the voters. Uh this

609
00:52:27,920 --> 00:52:34,480
would give us in for example as the
auditor's report recommendations

610
00:52:32,079 --> 00:52:38,720
discussion. um it would just give a
little bit more direct communication

611
00:52:36,800 --> 00:52:42,640
between the board and the finance
department by having a bookkeeper that

612
00:52:40,240 --> 00:52:47,760
would be hired by the town and therefore
is actually um meant to report to the

613
00:52:46,160 --> 00:52:53,520
board. So, when we need certain
reportings um for our bimonthly meetings

614
00:52:51,760 --> 00:52:56,559
or semionthly meetings, excuse me, uh
when we need certain reports, when we're

615
00:52:55,040 --> 00:53:01,040
requesting certain things, when we're
requesting certain updates to procedures

616
00:52:58,640 --> 00:53:04,559
in the finance department, um those are
then things that are part of their job

617
00:53:02,559 --> 00:53:08,720
duties. Whereas, as the current elected
treasurer system, um we don't really

618
00:53:06,880 --> 00:53:13,760
have any say over how the treasurer
runs. Um that's not to say that anything

619
00:53:11,680 --> 00:53:18,640
about the current treasurer, but just it
gives a little bit more control over uh

620
00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:21,760
how we get information from the finance
department. There would still be an

621
00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:25,839
elected town treasurer that is
fulfilling the statutory obligations. Um

622
00:53:24,480 --> 00:53:28,839
and then there would be a hired
bookkeeper.

623
00:53:29,599 --> 00:53:33,400
Any further discussion?

624
00:53:33,839 --> 00:53:39,417
Yes, sir.
Oh.

625
00:53:37,397 --> 00:53:39,417
[clears throat]

626
00:53:41,359 --> 00:53:48,160
The current bookkeeper is hired by the
board.

627
00:53:46,640 --> 00:53:52,480
Currently the structure we have an
elected town treasurer who has an

628
00:53:50,559 --> 00:53:56,960
assistant in the finance office that is
hired by the town treasurer. Um and so

629
00:53:55,040 --> 00:54:02,160
they split some of those duties in tax
collection and reconciliation.

630
00:54:00,079 --> 00:54:06,880
And the new system would be
>> the new system would be having a uh

631
00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:10,240
elected town treasurer uh that is
fulfilling just the statutory

632
00:54:08,079 --> 00:54:15,280
obligations. So just kind of um having
oversight over the uh finances of the

633
00:54:13,040 --> 00:54:16,960
town signing checks uh and then a
bookkeeper sorry

634
00:54:16,559 --> 00:54:21,280
» banking
>> and banking uh and then the bookkeeper

635
00:54:18,960 --> 00:54:24,480
that is doing the reconciliation
>> and the bookkeeper is still hired

636
00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:28,400
» and the bookkeeper would be hired.
>> How does this employee

637
00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:32,400
» how does this change how the treasurer
is paid?

638
00:54:30,319 --> 00:54:37,280
Um well, since the treasurer's duties
would be substantially reduced, uh the

639
00:54:34,880 --> 00:54:43,520
pay would be a much smaller stipend of
the 5,000. Um which we have included in

640
00:54:39,920 --> 00:54:48,800
that littleformational box. Um and then
we would split out some of the pay

641
00:54:46,720 --> 00:54:54,640
currently to the treasurer salary to
then $20,000 for the bookkeeper. There

642
00:54:51,440 --> 00:54:59,280
would also be some increased um monies
allocated towards Nerk, our accounting

643
00:54:57,520 --> 00:55:04,160
uh contractor, and they would also be
taking over some other responsibilities

644
00:55:01,440 --> 00:55:07,359
that they do for other towns.
Sorry, I should have pointed that out.

645
00:55:05,359 --> 00:55:12,800
There is a littleformational box on the
warning uh there. I'm not reading that

646
00:55:10,240 --> 00:55:16,240
because that's not part of the article
per se, but that that gives you an idea

647
00:55:14,720 --> 00:55:20,800
of how much they're being paid. Yes,
Craig. Sir, go right ahead.

648
00:55:18,880 --> 00:55:25,359
Um, I know that the treasurer transition
team worked hard on this. This goes

649
00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:31,599
back, however, a number of years. We had
a bookkeeper in the office and a

650
00:55:28,800 --> 00:55:37,760
figurehead treasurer in Joe for over 10
years. When Mickey Wong left, uh, we had

651
00:55:35,359 --> 00:55:42,079
nine bookkeepers in 10 years. Four of
them got fired, four of them quit. They

652
00:55:39,839 --> 00:55:45,599
worked directly for the select board. I
was one of those bookkeepers. Elaine was

653
00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:50,799
a bookkeeper. Chris Cook was a
bookkeeper. Um there is massive

654
00:55:48,720 --> 00:55:55,680
turnover. There's a long learning curve.
It is under the direct um

655
00:55:54,293 --> 00:56:00,079
[clears throat]
under the direct the bookkeeper is under

656
00:55:57,200 --> 00:56:04,640
the direct employee of the select board
and there are all kinds of opportunities

657
00:56:02,319 --> 00:56:09,280
to move accounts around because the
bookkeeper works directly for the select

658
00:56:06,960 --> 00:56:14,160
board. The charter however has statutory
duties and

659
00:56:12,319 --> 00:56:17,760
one of those duties is to oversee the
bookkeeper. I don't think it's going to

660
00:56:15,440 --> 00:56:21,599
happen for the $5,000 a year and no
benefits that this board is is

661
00:56:19,760 --> 00:56:24,319
projecting. I would have hoped that the
charter transition team would have

662
00:56:22,960 --> 00:56:28,720
talked to people who were there for
those 10 years. It was, as Steve may

663
00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:32,079
tell you or as Rob may tell you or as
Ally who was there at the beginning may

664
00:56:30,559 --> 00:56:35,200
tell you, there were some issues and
there were some problems with that

665
00:56:33,440 --> 00:56:40,079
arrangement. Going back to that
arrangement, I don't see any benefit to

666
00:56:37,520 --> 00:56:43,200
the town. Um,
I think that a treasurer who is

667
00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:48,319
accountable to the taxpayer and to the
voters is far more important than having

668
00:56:45,599 --> 00:56:51,680
someone that's basically doing what the
select board wants. Part of the problem

669
00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:56,240
that we have right now is that the
treasurer has been changing things

670
00:56:54,000 --> 00:57:00,319
around on behalf of the select boards
for the last six or seven years.

671
00:56:57,920 --> 00:57:05,520
Accounts were pretty straight and pretty
uh clean with the independent auditors

672
00:57:02,240 --> 00:57:11,040
for those 10 years. Um subsequently with
the pandemic and with um the elected

673
00:57:08,480 --> 00:57:14,799
treasurer and no bookkeeper there were a
lot of changes made in the accounts. A

674
00:57:12,960 --> 00:57:18,240
lot of that was due to the select board.
A lot of the confusions in trying to

675
00:57:16,240 --> 00:57:21,280
read the budgets and the budget numbers
are because accounts have been changed.

676
00:57:20,000 --> 00:57:25,680
Some of it's due to network. Some of
it's due to reorganization by the boards

677
00:57:23,760 --> 00:57:30,559
which happens all the time. But when you
have a treasurer that's accountable for

678
00:57:27,760 --> 00:57:37,920
the accounts directly answerable to the
state and the feds and the um taxpayer

679
00:57:34,319 --> 00:57:41,440
um it's different than
accountable to the whims of a changing

680
00:57:39,680 --> 00:57:47,359
select board every 3 years or every 5
years or six years.

681
00:57:44,240 --> 00:57:51,680
» Um why don't you go ahead Andy? You had
your hand Andy. Yeah.

682
00:57:48,640 --> 00:57:56,880
» Okay. Uh Andy Snelling. Um this is an
important uh change in the way we

683
00:57:53,920 --> 00:58:01,280
operate the town and by statute there
there is a reason why the treasurer is

684
00:57:58,960 --> 00:58:06,720
elected and the select board elected.
The select board serves as both the

685
00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:11,680
judiciary and the executive branch of
our town government. the treasurer acts

686
00:58:10,079 --> 00:58:18,799
independently
um and hopefully the two are able to

687
00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:25,520
work together and uh function together
as equally elected officials. But they

688
00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:31,680
each owe their duty of responsibility
to us the town. And the current

689
00:58:29,920 --> 00:58:39,440
situation has been is that there's been
disagreements on how to operate the

690
00:58:34,880 --> 00:58:45,680
finances. Um and that is the statutory
responsibility of the treasurer and we

691
00:58:43,200 --> 00:58:50,319
heard that the reason why this is being
proposed is to give the select board

692
00:58:48,400 --> 00:58:57,440
greater control
and it they should we don't want the the

693
00:58:54,319 --> 00:59:02,640
it to be all in one part. It it serves
the citizens well to have it divided or

694
00:58:59,920 --> 00:59:06,240
we have two individ or two groups that
are looking after our interests and

695
00:59:04,079 --> 00:59:10,079
keeping each other in check.
Uh Craig Hunt made mention of

696
00:59:08,240 --> 00:59:15,760
rearranging the accounts. What he's
talking about is the chart of accounts.

697
00:59:12,480 --> 00:59:20,480
If you start off with a list of accounts
of where things are going to be charged

698
00:59:18,079 --> 00:59:24,799
and you change that from year to year,
then comparisons from one year to the

699
00:59:22,720 --> 00:59:28,960
next get to be very difficult. If you
put it in pencils one year and you put

700
00:59:26,559 --> 00:59:37,680
it in office supplies the next, how do
you know and track the changes? So um

701
00:59:35,280 --> 00:59:42,799
the idea really is that to have a strong
treasur and we need to do that we need

702
00:59:39,839 --> 00:59:48,640
to pay this treasurer. Um we we also got
into the questions earlier about the

703
00:59:46,480 --> 00:59:53,920
auditor's report and there was comments
that those were responsibilities of the

704
00:59:51,839 --> 01:00:00,720
finance department which is the office
of the treasurer. Um, if this were to

705
00:59:57,599 --> 01:00:05,680
pass, then those all become select board
responsibilities or many of them. I

706
01:00:03,119 --> 01:00:09,839
shouldn't say all, many. So, um, I guess
I'd urge everybody to continue with a

707
01:00:08,400 --> 01:00:14,960
system that we have that has worked
well, um, and works well in many other

708
01:00:12,400 --> 01:00:19,839
small towns is to have a strong
independent treasurer that is elected by

709
01:00:16,799 --> 01:00:24,200
the people. Thank you.
>> Further discussion. Amen.

710
01:00:25,520 --> 01:00:30,880
moderator
last name.

711
01:00:27,680 --> 01:00:34,720
» Oh, wait. He towns. Will the treasur's
office still be open to the public to

712
01:00:32,799 --> 01:00:39,520
come in and do business as it is now, or
will that be closed half the time?

713
01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:43,440
» The treasur's office would still be open
to the public. It would be dependent on

714
01:00:41,599 --> 01:00:47,079
kind of what the hours would be,
assuming this passes.

715
01:00:49,520 --> 01:00:55,520
» We're almost here tomorrow.
>> Hello. Hello.

716
01:00:54,079 --> 01:00:58,960
We were almost here tomorrow. Yes. Keep
going.

717
01:00:55,760 --> 01:01:02,480
» Are we back? Okay. Um, so office hours
would still be available. Uh, I cannot

718
01:01:00,880 --> 01:01:06,720
promise you exactly what those times
would be. That may be something for

719
01:01:04,720 --> 01:01:11,920
negotiation right once um this new
structure if approved is taken uh

720
01:01:09,920 --> 01:01:16,079
effect. Um, but that would still be
definitely something that is available

721
01:01:13,760 --> 01:01:18,160
for residents. Uh, and if I may also
just

722
01:01:16,480 --> 01:01:22,079
» Oh, yes. Hang on one sec. So, Amy, do
you get that? So, yes, the office I I

723
01:01:20,160 --> 01:01:26,640
saw your face. You're a little um yeah,
the office would remain open as long as

724
01:01:24,000 --> 01:01:31,680
the town clerk was there, right? Because
the town clerk can collect the

725
01:01:28,720 --> 01:01:35,200
information and and somebody there to
answer questions.

726
01:01:33,280 --> 01:01:40,000
» Uh the town clerk currently sometimes
takes tax payments as people come in,

727
01:01:37,599 --> 01:01:44,400
right? Uh you know, that is still always
a thing. You know, Alena is a very

728
01:01:42,319 --> 01:01:48,559
wonderful um person, welcoming to people
who walk in. Um so, as long as the town

729
01:01:47,040 --> 01:01:52,559
clerk is there, that is still always an
option. But specifically for the

730
01:01:50,400 --> 01:01:55,839
treasurer or the bookkeeper, um they
will have time in office.

731
01:01:54,559 --> 01:01:59,839
» They're going to be there post office
hours for it.

732
01:01:57,920 --> 01:02:03,599
Okay. Simple answer. Sorry. Yes. And
Nick, you wanted to

733
01:02:01,280 --> 01:02:07,520
» comment.
>> Okay. Go ahead.

734
01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:11,359
» Yes. And I just wanted to um just
clarify this is not to take control of

735
01:02:09,680 --> 01:02:14,160
treasurer responsibilities. We're not
eliminating a treasurer. This is a

736
01:02:12,960 --> 01:02:17,040
structure that does exist in other
towns. This is also not something that

737
01:02:15,440 --> 01:02:21,440
we just kind of came up with out of thin
air. This is just a way to be a little

738
01:02:18,640 --> 01:02:25,200
bit more efficient in how we're getting
um collaboration between the finance

739
01:02:23,760 --> 01:02:30,240
department and the select board because
that has been a bit strained at times.

740
01:02:27,520 --> 01:02:35,760
Uh and I will just very quickly Craig as
you had brought up um a mention about

741
01:02:32,319 --> 01:02:39,040
the uh stipen for the treasur that is a
of course a very valid point and that is

742
01:02:37,760 --> 01:02:43,440
something that can be amended from the
floor when we get to the general uh fund

743
01:02:41,680 --> 01:02:48,160
article. So I just wanted to point that
out. That is not what is being voted on

744
01:02:45,920 --> 01:02:56,160
right here though.
>> Right. And Oh, yep. Keep going.

745
01:02:52,880 --> 01:03:02,160
Part of this my concern is is a lot of
people I feel there was a strain in the

746
01:02:59,040 --> 01:03:07,200
train uh treasur's office prior in the
last few years cuz we actually a lot of

747
01:03:04,559 --> 01:03:14,720
people I just realized being involved in
the highway budget committee that we

748
01:03:10,079 --> 01:03:20,960
changed systems and and went to the uh
cash system versus the crude that this

749
01:03:18,079 --> 01:03:30,960
town ran on probably for the last 50 60
years and it created accounts, changes

750
01:03:26,079 --> 01:03:38,480
and stuff like that that I feel has
been difficult and yeah, you probably

751
01:03:34,880 --> 01:03:43,680
did move money around, but
I still feel that system isn't quite

752
01:03:40,880 --> 01:03:48,799
what we should have, but
there would need to be those controls

753
01:03:45,760 --> 01:03:54,240
and explaining those things so we can
actually see the process. us as

754
01:03:51,760 --> 01:04:04,160
taxpayers, we should be able to go in to
the treasur's office and see the manual

755
01:03:57,359 --> 01:04:11,200
on how it's done and explain. So,
I don't I don't have either way on this.

756
01:04:07,039 --> 01:04:19,119
I have just concerns that there needs to
be collaboration and that this does seem

757
01:04:15,200 --> 01:04:24,559
to kind of fill the gap, but um I don't
know. Bob, behind you. Behind you. Yeah.

758
01:04:22,160 --> 01:04:31,200
Yep. There you go.
>> Bob D servo. I think Andy Snelling said

759
01:04:28,079 --> 01:04:36,880
it very well. We've got a system. It
works. I've asked the treasurer for

760
01:04:34,000 --> 01:04:42,079
certain reports. She's provided them. No
problems. Maybe not when I walked in the

761
01:04:39,200 --> 01:04:49,520
door, but I got it later.
It's a good system, and the treasur is

762
01:04:45,200 --> 01:04:54,079
accountable to us. That's key.
As far as what Craig said about moving

763
01:04:52,000 --> 01:04:58,240
the accounts around, I'm sure there are
many other people in the room that like

764
01:04:55,839 --> 01:05:03,920
me looked at town report and tried to
compare things from one year to the

765
01:04:59,839 --> 01:05:09,920
next. Impossible. Accounts changed so
frequently you can't follow from one

766
01:05:06,640 --> 01:05:14,559
year to the next. And again, I think
Craig said it well. Much of that is

767
01:05:12,559 --> 01:05:18,799
because of the select board saying we
want to move the 100 account to this

768
01:05:16,400 --> 01:05:26,559
there and the next place. Nermeric may
have suggested some things, but it's the

769
01:05:23,359 --> 01:05:34,079
select board that's been massaging the
accounts.

770
01:05:29,200 --> 01:05:39,599
Okay. Um I rule that out of order. Um
that is inappropriate. You are that that

771
01:05:36,960 --> 01:05:43,520
that that's out of order. Please refrain
from attacking. This is about the

772
01:05:41,839 --> 01:05:46,480
articles of the day and we have a motion
in front of us.

773
01:05:44,960 --> 01:05:49,520
» Yes.
accounts.

774
01:05:48,079 --> 01:05:53,920
Um
>> yeah uh he wants to clarify some of the

775
01:05:51,520 --> 01:05:56,559
movement of the accounts that that that
yeah sure go right

776
01:05:54,880 --> 01:06:00,640
» some of the movement of accounts as you
just mentioned Bob were recommended by

777
01:05:58,319 --> 01:06:06,000
our accounting company by the auditors
themselves um so there is rationale for

778
01:06:03,920 --> 01:06:09,200
that there is definitely no massaging
going on I appreciate ruling that out of

779
01:06:07,760 --> 01:06:13,359
order because that is just really
mischaracterization of what we're doing

780
01:06:10,960 --> 01:06:17,280
here uh and a lot of it too is around
the point of transparency some things

781
01:06:15,359 --> 01:06:21,920
sit in a certain line item that doesn't
have a well- definfined

782
01:06:19,520 --> 01:06:26,640
name and therefore it's even harder to
track what that is for. So yes, it is

783
01:06:24,079 --> 01:06:30,559
difficult to then track over years as
we're moving things but it is also for

784
01:06:28,559 --> 01:06:34,720
the sake of improving transparency and
making it such that over time we will be

785
01:06:32,960 --> 01:06:38,880
able to better understand what the
budgets are accounting for. Thank you.

786
01:06:37,039 --> 01:06:43,599
» Okay, let's continue to let's continue
to focus on

787
01:06:41,119 --> 01:06:47,200
the information before us. Lang um and
again if you want to speak again let

788
01:06:45,119 --> 01:06:50,960
everybody speak first. Go right ahead,
sir.

789
01:06:47,680 --> 01:06:57,280
» Yeah, Lucas Frell. Um, I appreciate the
discussion and uh but I'm not also

790
01:06:54,400 --> 01:06:59,760
hearing an amendment. Um,
>> no, no, there's no amendment. Why? What?

791
01:06:59,039 --> 01:07:03,520
What do you want?
>> Well, if we

792
01:07:02,000 --> 01:07:06,880
I if [clears throat]
so, two comments. One is that I think it

793
01:07:05,680 --> 01:07:12,799
would be appropriate to hear from the
treasurer's office um to see

794
01:07:10,480 --> 01:07:17,119
what their thoughts on this because they
have the experience of course of of

795
01:07:15,599 --> 01:07:22,160
being in the position that they're in
and how important it is to their job

796
01:07:19,280 --> 01:07:26,240
that they have statutory obligation
um and

797
01:07:24,559 --> 01:07:29,920
what they feel about having the
bookkeeper underneath within the purview

798
01:07:28,240 --> 01:07:36,079
of the treasur's office versus select
board. So that would be my my first ask.

799
01:07:33,359 --> 01:07:40,559
And then the second would be
um uh to hear the proposal for a new

800
01:07:39,359 --> 01:07:46,799
format
>> out of um

801
01:07:43,440 --> 01:07:51,440
if there is opposition to the amendment
as it currently is

802
01:07:49,359 --> 01:07:58,480
» or the article as it currently is that
there is a proposed amendment to it.

803
01:07:56,799 --> 01:08:01,440
» You just wrote it down. Right.
>> Right. But then

804
01:07:59,440 --> 01:08:06,400
» and then it goes back to the format that
it's in now, which is the treasurer with

805
01:08:04,559 --> 01:08:09,359
a bookkeeper underneath it.
>> That's the format we have now is the

806
01:08:08,079 --> 01:08:15,760
treasurer with the bookkeeper underneath
it. This is expanding the bookkeeper's

807
01:08:12,559 --> 01:08:20,960
role and decreasing the treasurer's
role. If you are against it, you vote it

808
01:08:18,640 --> 01:08:22,000
down and it stays the way it is now.
>> Gotcha.

809
01:08:21,600 --> 01:08:26,239
» Okay.
>> Thank you for clarifying that. So the

810
01:08:23,600 --> 01:08:30,719
20,000 for the bookkeeper exists now.
>> No, that that would be a change. that's

811
01:08:28,080 --> 01:08:33,120
in the general fund right now.
>> Okay,

812
01:08:31,600 --> 01:08:36,319
» these are good questions that Yeah, you
got it.

813
01:08:33,679 --> 01:08:41,679
» And maybe let's just go to the treasur
>> as it as it rolls out though.

814
01:08:38,480 --> 01:08:46,799
» Um, okay. So, what what what the what
the select board is proposing is

815
01:08:44,719 --> 01:08:52,239
changing the way the finance system
works, right? Such that the treasurer's

816
01:08:49,120 --> 01:08:57,199
sit the treasurer's role decreases, but
the bookkeeper role increases. The tre

817
01:08:55,040 --> 01:09:01,679
the bookkeeper still works underneath
that treasurer. There's still office

818
01:08:59,839 --> 01:09:02,560
hours and things like that. No.
>> What?

819
01:09:02,080 --> 01:09:05,920
» No.
>> Oh, that the bookkeeper works underneath

820
01:09:04,239 --> 01:09:07,520
the I'm sorry. Works underneath the new
structure would be under the select

821
01:09:07,120 --> 01:09:12,799
board. Yes.
>> Would be under the select board. But

822
01:09:08,880 --> 01:09:18,960
there is still a a uh a treasurer role.
Um if you that's if you vote this in. If

823
01:09:16,319 --> 01:09:24,880
you don't vote it in, it stays the same
with a bookkeeper still, but the

824
01:09:22,239 --> 01:09:31,520
treasurer role remains the way it is
now. There was a question to the current

825
01:09:29,440 --> 01:09:38,000
treasurer bookkeeper
to explain what they thought. Right,

826
01:09:34,719 --> 01:09:42,640
Lucas? What was right? Yeah. And if they
if you'd like to respond, did I get that

827
01:09:40,640 --> 01:09:47,279
right? If I'm not making myself clear,
ask in a minute.

828
01:09:44,799 --> 01:09:52,080
Hi, Elaine Hill, treasurer. Um, I've
been with the town now for quite some

829
01:09:49,279 --> 01:09:58,640
time. Started as a bookkeeper, then I,
um, morphed into being the treasurer.

830
01:09:54,560 --> 01:10:04,480
Voted in each year. No issues. Um, with
regard to keeping the finance department

831
01:10:01,840 --> 01:10:12,000
the way it currently is, I think that
you need a full-time treasurer, not a

832
01:10:08,320 --> 01:10:18,000
figurehead treasurer for $5,000 a year.
and having somebody work under them

833
01:10:15,120 --> 01:10:23,360
doing the bookkeeping part of it, which
is very labor intensive, very, very,

834
01:10:20,880 --> 01:10:30,640
very labor intensive, and paying that
person $20,000 a year. Um, it, like

835
01:10:27,040 --> 01:10:37,520
Craig has said, in years past, we've had
the figure head, um, treasurer, um,

836
01:10:34,800 --> 01:10:41,600
signing checks and just, you know, being
the figurehead and then bookkeepers. And

837
01:10:40,080 --> 01:10:48,400
we went through bookkeeper after
bookkeeper after bookkeeper. So we did

838
01:10:44,480 --> 01:10:55,440
away with that through the town saying,
"Let's put a full-time treasurer in

839
01:10:52,080 --> 01:11:00,320
place." And fortunately or unfortunately
for me, I have been that person for the

840
01:10:57,360 --> 01:11:06,960
last couple of years. Enjoyed it ter
terrifically. Um but now we're asking

841
01:11:03,840 --> 01:11:12,000
the voters, should we get rid of the
full-time treasurer, which I think In my

842
01:11:10,000 --> 01:11:16,880
heart, it needs to be in the town
full-time

843
01:11:13,520 --> 01:11:20,560
and let the statutes and answer
questions for people to come in. Like

844
01:11:18,400 --> 01:11:26,080
you said, we've had people come in. It
might not be immediate, but I do answer

845
01:11:22,560 --> 01:11:31,520
their questions about the budget. So,
you know, my vote is to keep a full-time

846
01:11:28,640 --> 01:11:37,679
treasurer in place and not two part-time
people in place. That's

847
01:11:34,000 --> 01:11:41,280
» okay. That's
her hand has been up for a while and

848
01:11:39,520 --> 01:11:44,679
then we'll come back to Christie. Oh,
uh, right.

849
01:11:47,120 --> 01:11:56,239
» Hi, I'm Alicia Strappford and
is there

850
01:11:54,239 --> 01:12:00,400
have you defined the expectations of
this bookkeeper that you're you're

851
01:11:58,080 --> 01:12:06,400
planning on have fill this role? because
it sounds like you need a controller.

852
01:12:04,159 --> 01:12:10,320
This would be a lot of heavy lifting for
a bookkeeper.

853
01:12:08,320 --> 01:12:16,640
What you're expecting out of this role
should be a controller.

854
01:12:13,679 --> 01:12:22,719
» A comproller.
>> A strong controller in this role would

855
01:12:19,520 --> 01:12:29,760
also do a lot of the heavy lifting for
um the remediation of findings in the

856
01:12:25,520 --> 01:12:34,560
audit. That would be their job.
You want

857
01:12:32,480 --> 01:12:39,280
future
future facing financials. You want

858
01:12:36,560 --> 01:12:42,239
somebody who can
analyze the accounting, give you the

859
01:12:41,120 --> 01:12:45,239
information you need. That's not a
bookkeeper.

860
01:12:47,760 --> 01:12:52,199
» Okay. Um Christine, you're

861
01:12:53,920 --> 01:13:04,719
» Chris Cook. Um, I've been involved in
this for a long time. I was an auditor

862
01:13:02,480 --> 01:13:12,159
under Mickey
and then an auditor during some of the

863
01:13:08,320 --> 01:13:17,520
bookkeeping. Uh, sometimes when we had a
bookkeeper and a figurehead treasurer

864
01:13:15,040 --> 01:13:23,600
and then I was the bookkeeper for a
while and then it got passed to somebody

865
01:13:21,360 --> 01:13:28,880
else.
There's

866
01:13:25,600 --> 01:13:33,120
big responsibilities
and it looks to me like you've taken I

867
01:13:32,000 --> 01:13:38,800
don't know where you're putting the
responsibility. This budget is huge.

868
01:13:36,400 --> 01:13:43,600
There's a lot of money flowing in and
out. And whenever there's money flowing

869
01:13:41,440 --> 01:13:51,440
in and out, somebody has to be
responsible for exactly where every

870
01:13:46,800 --> 01:13:57,600
stupid penny winds up. And there are a
million details.

871
01:13:55,040 --> 01:14:04,400
And it used to take three of us to
figure out

872
01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:11,199
which detail was which back when we had
um civilian auditors. We now have

873
01:14:07,440 --> 01:14:18,000
professional auditors. But the auditors
don't actually take responsibility

874
01:14:14,080 --> 01:14:25,400
for every penny.
They tell us after the fact if money has

875
01:14:21,360 --> 01:14:25,400
gone to the wrong place.

876
01:14:25,520 --> 01:14:34,400
The reason to have a treasurer or a
controller or somebody like that is that

877
01:14:31,600 --> 01:14:38,239
they ultimately take responsibility for
making sure the money is where it's

878
01:14:35,920 --> 01:14:44,480
supposed to be.
It is a lot of work. It is also a

879
01:14:41,440 --> 01:14:49,920
tremendous amount of work for the select
board and whoever is doing the money to

880
01:14:47,120 --> 01:14:57,000
work together.
I have worn out shoes running back and

881
01:14:52,800 --> 01:14:57,000
forth between the two.

882
01:15:00,800 --> 01:15:10,480
I don't care what the title is, but I
think the person with the responsibility

883
01:15:06,880 --> 01:15:16,480
ought to have the money.
And so I would vote against this

884
01:15:12,640 --> 01:15:20,199
particular arrangement.
>> Uh further discussion.

885
01:15:27,520 --> 01:15:36,719
Uh, I'm Caitlyn Maize and, uh, I'm just
wondering why it seems like there are

886
01:15:34,320 --> 01:15:41,280
people feeling like
it's a bad thing for more elected

887
01:15:38,960 --> 01:15:46,560
officials to have their eyes on what's
going on. cuz it sounds like the

888
01:15:43,120 --> 01:15:51,840
proposed change is that more people that
we voted for would be overseeing that as

889
01:15:50,480 --> 01:15:58,199
in the select board would be more
involved.

890
01:15:54,640 --> 01:15:58,199
» Wait, wait, wait, wait.

891
01:15:58,880 --> 01:16:02,800
» We would still have an elected
treasurer. The bookkeeper would be

892
01:16:01,440 --> 01:16:09,520
hired, not elected.
>> Not elected. Okay. And that that person

893
01:16:05,360 --> 01:16:13,920
would be given more duties than they
have previously that used to be under

894
01:16:11,760 --> 01:16:18,080
the elected
>> used to be under the hired assistant

895
01:16:16,320 --> 01:16:21,920
finance office assistant. Okay.
>> Hired by the finance office.

896
01:16:19,199 --> 01:16:27,600
» So none of the responsibilities that
were designated under the elected

897
01:16:24,640 --> 01:16:31,120
official are changing. They that that is
still the same. They are shifting.

898
01:16:29,760 --> 01:16:33,840
» They're shifting. So fewer
responsibilities under the elected

899
01:16:32,719 --> 01:16:37,679
treasurer. Okay.
>> More responsibilities under a hired

900
01:16:35,440 --> 01:16:41,199
bookkeeper and some additional work
moved to our accounting uh contractor

901
01:16:40,320 --> 01:16:46,960
NMIC.
>> Okay.

902
01:16:42,960 --> 01:16:51,600
So, it the is the third party
accounting

903
01:16:48,480 --> 01:16:54,800
company are they assuming some of the
responsibilities that were previously

904
01:16:53,280 --> 01:17:02,960
for the treasur?
>> So, yes, some of that being payroll um

905
01:17:00,560 --> 01:17:05,600
» and training. Yeah, payroll, training,
um technical support, increasing some of

906
01:17:05,040 --> 01:17:09,199
that.
>> Okay, so that's part of the

907
01:17:06,719 --> 01:17:11,040
justification of decreasing the salary
then because

908
01:17:10,640 --> 01:17:12,960
» yes,
>> they're absorbing a lot of that.

909
01:17:12,560 --> 01:17:14,960
» Yes.
>> Okay,

910
01:17:14,400 --> 01:17:17,760
» just clear.
>> Thank you. No, thank you for that

911
01:17:16,080 --> 01:17:21,120
clarification. That was good. Uh we got
a lot more. Uh I'm going to we're going

912
01:17:20,000 --> 01:17:25,400
to come over here. You go toward the
back there, but I'll let

913
01:17:22,159 --> 01:17:25,400
» over here.

914
01:17:27,040 --> 01:17:34,320
» Uh good morning. I'm Al Hman. Um couple
quick questions. I would have assumed

915
01:17:31,440 --> 01:17:39,600
that uh standard accounting practices
are dictated or at least uh laid out in

916
01:17:37,360 --> 01:17:44,880
some kind of a standard format by either
the state or the league of cities and

917
01:17:42,159 --> 01:17:53,560
towns. Is that correct? And if so, are
we following that? And uh would that

918
01:17:48,960 --> 01:17:53,560
change under this new proposal?

919
01:18:01,679 --> 01:18:05,560
This is an easy one.

920
01:18:06,640 --> 01:18:14,640
» We we are following it. We've spoke with
Nemerick and the accountants about the

921
01:18:11,120 --> 01:18:18,239
change and uh
>> what Okay, go ahead.

922
01:18:15,760 --> 01:18:23,600
» I was asking specifically the way you
lay out the accounts in this book,

923
01:18:20,880 --> 01:18:28,159
pencils or or office supplies or
whatever you want to call it. I presume

924
01:18:25,600 --> 01:18:33,360
there is a standard for that either
prescribed by the state or prescribed by

925
01:18:30,960 --> 01:18:38,000
general accounting practices that says a
town should

926
01:18:34,800 --> 01:18:43,520
» A B C and D in their accounts it should
be laid out that way and my question is

927
01:18:40,640 --> 01:18:48,640
are we following that if not why not
>> um I think the treasurer can speak to

928
01:18:45,199 --> 01:18:52,320
this but um I we are that memor holds us
accountable and the auditors hold us

929
01:18:50,080 --> 01:18:56,000
accountable
>> yes I I think that's a good question for

930
01:18:54,080 --> 01:19:00,159
the auditors report because they're the
ones that would keep that organized. The

931
01:18:58,719 --> 01:19:03,760
answer, I think, is yes.
>> Yes.

932
01:19:01,840 --> 01:19:06,000
» All right. That's more. Yes, sir.
>> In the back.

933
01:19:04,800 --> 01:19:12,480
» In the back. Okay. Right. Yep.
>> Testing. Okay. Chris Camp 53 Brookside

934
01:19:09,199 --> 01:19:17,199
Drive. Uh for the $20,000 you proposed
for the bookkeeper, do you know, did you

935
01:19:15,600 --> 01:19:21,679
guys pencil out like how many hours
you're expecting to get out of that

936
01:19:19,040 --> 01:19:28,239
$20,000? And does that line up with the
expectation of need for that position?

937
01:19:24,239 --> 01:19:31,600
» So the general expectation um that we're
proposing or that we're thinking right,

938
01:19:30,080 --> 01:19:36,000
we're not proposing a certain set of
hours here is around 5 hours um weekly

939
01:19:34,640 --> 01:19:40,640
for the treasurer for the elected
treasurer under this structure and 20

940
01:19:37,280 --> 01:19:45,440
hours for the bookkeeper. Currently um
Alain, correct me if I'm wrong, it's

941
01:19:42,159 --> 01:19:51,360
about 22
>> 22 hours a week from our elected

942
01:19:47,120 --> 01:19:58,239
treasurer. Um so it's really not
terribly different from the current um

943
01:19:55,040 --> 01:20:04,480
time in office and we're also moving as
I mentioned some of that work to Nimrich

944
01:20:00,640 --> 01:20:09,199
around the payroll uh processing.
[clears throat]

945
01:20:06,320 --> 01:20:14,480
» Okay. Any further questions?
>> Yes. Further discussion. Yes sir.

946
01:20:11,280 --> 01:20:20,239
» Hi uh David Barbie. I um I'm just
unclear on what problem this is supposed

947
01:20:17,199 --> 01:20:24,239
to fix. Is it
a sort of a a need for better

948
01:20:22,480 --> 01:20:29,280
communication between the treasur's
office and the select board? Because it

949
01:20:26,320 --> 01:20:35,719
seems like maybe this isn't the answer
to fix to fix that problem.

950
01:20:32,719 --> 01:20:35,719
Thanks.

951
01:20:42,080 --> 01:20:52,000
Uh we started a transition team meeting.
We invited the public to come in and

952
01:20:48,080 --> 01:20:57,360
help us to set this situation up. We
spent a lot of hours on it. We do need

953
01:20:54,400 --> 01:21:01,679
better communication. And when we ask
taxpayers to come in and help us figure

954
01:20:59,760 --> 01:21:09,440
things out, it's nice when they do come
in in a friendly colleial way to work on

955
01:21:05,520 --> 01:21:14,480
a situation. Um, we are at a point where
the treasurer was retiring. We needed to

956
01:21:12,000 --> 01:21:19,679
think about how to go forward and with
our current situation, you don't know

957
01:21:16,640 --> 01:21:25,440
who you'll get as a treasurer. So, we
thought that if we had a figurehead

958
01:21:22,400 --> 01:21:30,880
treasurer to do all the statutory work
and the banking and Nimrich would do the

959
01:21:28,640 --> 01:21:34,800
payroll, which is cumbersome, then it
would leave 20 hours a week, which is

960
01:21:32,880 --> 01:21:39,679
more than we get now for the general
bookkeeping. um and it would be a better

961
01:21:37,679 --> 01:21:46,000
bang for your buck. The other thing is
that if we get a treasurer that needs

962
01:21:42,320 --> 01:21:52,159
health insurance, then that raises our
budget over $20,000 a year in that in

963
01:21:49,440 --> 01:21:55,400
that department. So, it was cost savings
as well.

964
01:21:56,719 --> 01:22:00,199
» Um I'm

965
01:22:02,639 --> 01:22:13,600
Rogeritis. Um, I work for two other
towns as zoning administrator and um

966
01:22:11,280 --> 01:22:18,719
both of them have treasurers
and

967
01:22:15,760 --> 01:22:24,960
it it's concerning to me that um we
would be taking um responsibility away

968
01:22:22,000 --> 01:22:29,600
from this the the treasurer and giving
it to a hired person as opposed to an

969
01:22:27,600 --> 01:22:35,120
elected official.
And I I understand the concern that

970
01:22:32,880 --> 01:22:41,120
there needs to be a transition possibly
to a new treasurer. Um I I might be

971
01:22:39,120 --> 01:22:47,120
tempted to vote for this change if there
was an amendment saying for one year

972
01:22:44,400 --> 01:22:51,199
while they look for another treasurer,
but to say that um you want to change

973
01:22:49,600 --> 01:22:55,760
the system because you can't find
somebody um that just doesn't feel right

974
01:22:53,679 --> 01:23:01,920
to me. Treasur treasur is an elected
position. So they wouldn't necessarily

975
01:22:58,560 --> 01:23:05,920
find anybody. You guys would
find that person

976
01:23:03,199 --> 01:23:10,080
» to find somebody to fulfill the role,
>> right? The town would because this is an

977
01:23:07,760 --> 01:23:15,760
elected position unless nobody ran for
it, then the select board would be able

978
01:23:12,080 --> 01:23:20,719
to appoint. But but yes, I we we
understand. Yes, there was some Oh, I'm

979
01:23:16,960 --> 01:23:26,280
sorry. It was Laura over there.
>> Stand up. Sorry. There we go. Thank you.

980
01:23:31,199 --> 01:23:37,679
» Um, there it is. Um, I'm just curious
about how much Nimmerick is costing.

981
01:23:35,520 --> 01:23:42,000
I've heard many, many people talk about
during select board meetings about

982
01:23:39,360 --> 01:23:45,679
Nimrich and how exceedingly expensive
they are if you go over a certain number

983
01:23:43,760 --> 01:23:50,159
of hours.
>> Okay.

984
01:23:48,320 --> 01:23:55,280
» She was she was concerned about the cost
of Nimrich. Nimrich is the program they

985
01:23:52,239 --> 01:23:58,320
use to do the books. And so she was if
they're going to increase Nimrich, she

986
01:23:56,800 --> 01:24:02,719
was wondering about the cost of Nimrich.
Correct. Yes. So, one of those things

987
01:24:01,120 --> 01:24:08,080
that was mentioning, Laura, is going
over a certain number of hours for

988
01:24:04,320 --> 01:24:12,400
technical support. Um we did just um
sign an agreement with Nimrich for a

989
01:24:09,600 --> 01:24:17,360
bulk time um purchase agreement which
essentially locks us into a lower rate

990
01:24:14,960 --> 01:24:21,520
um so that we are getting more bang for
our buck especially if we're having a

991
01:24:19,280 --> 01:24:26,080
new treasurer andor a new bookkeeper you
know agnostic of whatever the results of

992
01:24:23,360 --> 01:24:31,280
this vote are having that agreement in
place allows there to be a lower rate.

993
01:24:28,719 --> 01:24:36,480
Um, we did have to make sure that we are
we're locked into a minimum I believe it

994
01:24:33,040 --> 01:24:41,120
was 96 hours a year. Um, but especially
with a new person potentially that would

995
01:24:38,560 --> 01:24:45,520
be pretty easy to achieve. And so then
we're getting about I think it's 110

996
01:24:43,199 --> 01:24:48,719
versus 150 per hour. But don't quote me
on that cuz I

997
01:24:47,040 --> 01:24:52,480
» um 45.
>> Lord, did you speak? Is that your second

998
01:24:50,320 --> 01:24:55,679
speak? I don't remember on this one.
It's been so long. It's okay. Um, any

999
01:24:54,320 --> 01:24:58,560
other first speakers? First time
speakers. Yes, sir. So, we got one there

1000
01:24:57,520 --> 01:25:06,880
and one there.
>> Hi, I'm Bob. Is there a way Bob Seahack?

1001
01:25:04,320 --> 01:25:09,280
Um, is there a way the new position
could be elected?

1002
01:25:08,880 --> 01:25:11,679
» No,
>> they have to be hired.

1003
01:25:10,320 --> 01:25:16,280
» Yeah, the bookkeeper would have to be
hired.

1004
01:25:12,480 --> 01:25:16,280
» Okay. Uh,

1005
01:25:20,080 --> 01:25:27,199
Susan Hunt. Um, Elaine, you were saying
when you were speaking that it's a

1006
01:25:25,520 --> 01:25:31,440
terrific job and you've really enjoyed
doing it and thank you very much for the

1007
01:25:29,280 --> 01:25:36,569
years you've put in. Is it true that you
really do want to retire or could we

1008
01:25:33,840 --> 01:25:38,589
prevail upon you to stay?
[laughter]

1009
01:25:40,800 --> 01:25:47,280
» Okay. Elaine Hill.
>> Elaine Hill treasurer.

1010
01:25:45,199 --> 01:25:49,760
» Okay.
>> Um,

1011
01:25:47,760 --> 01:25:57,440
» loaded question. Yeah, it is a very
loaded question. Um, I am not retiring.

1012
01:25:53,920 --> 01:26:02,639
I decided to step down and my I decided
to step down and as you guys have

1013
01:25:59,679 --> 01:26:08,800
pointed out about communication and I
don't feel like I had good communication

1014
01:26:05,840 --> 01:26:13,440
skills with the current select board.
>> Enough said.

1015
01:26:10,320 --> 01:26:16,880
» So that's why I'm stepping down.
>> Okay.

1016
01:26:15,679 --> 01:26:21,520
What what was the other part of the
question? upon you to stay.

1017
01:26:20,080 --> 01:26:24,320
» Could we prevail upon you to stay?
That's that's her decision. She's not

1018
01:26:23,120 --> 01:26:28,480
going to answer them right now. There
will be an election and you can nominate

1019
01:26:26,560 --> 01:26:32,960
and go from there. That's that's not
necessary right now.

1020
01:26:30,800 --> 01:26:35,520
» Fur further discussion. Wait, got all
the way in the back before we go to the

1021
01:26:34,639 --> 01:26:38,320
seconds.
>> Still got first.

1022
01:26:37,199 --> 01:26:44,560
» I'll see if I can do this.
>> Oh, Warren B.

1023
01:26:40,800 --> 01:26:49,760
We have to vote in the tax collector
which you included in this article as

1024
01:26:46,480 --> 01:26:53,760
being the treasurer. That's the statute.
Um

1025
01:26:52,480 --> 01:26:56,800
I'm just trying I lost my train of
thought. There was so much discussion,

1026
01:26:55,120 --> 01:27:01,040
but I feel it's going to be hard for
$5,000 to get somebody to absorb the

1027
01:26:58,719 --> 01:27:05,440
duties of the treasurer, [snorts] all
the tax collection, and then still be

1028
01:27:02,639 --> 01:27:09,520
responsible whoever the board appoints
to be their bookkeeper. because in the

1029
01:27:07,600 --> 01:27:14,159
statute it also says that the treasurer
will be responsible for those duties.

1030
01:27:12,080 --> 01:27:19,120
So, good luck. I don't think it's a wise
decision.

1031
01:27:16,080 --> 01:27:23,280
Any other firsttime speakers?
Seeing no other firsttime speakers, Bob,

1032
01:27:21,120 --> 01:27:27,280
you wanted to start your second round
and then first- time speakers can

1033
01:27:24,719 --> 01:27:31,120
continue to speak. Just wanted to ask
>> Bob Dervo.

1034
01:27:29,040 --> 01:27:35,440
There are many things that good
questions that people had and I'd like

1035
01:27:32,800 --> 01:27:40,239
to address some of them if I may. First,
I apologize to the select board if they

1036
01:27:37,840 --> 01:27:41,679
didn't like the term massage. Okay, move
is

1037
01:27:40,639 --> 01:27:44,719
» just move on.
>> Okay.

1038
01:27:42,560 --> 01:27:50,080
» Um, standard accounting practices.
Someone asked that question. The answer

1039
01:27:46,719 --> 01:27:53,520
is no. How do I know that? I retired
from the planning commission last year

1040
01:27:51,840 --> 01:27:59,679
after 18 years on the planning
commission and there was a something an

1041
01:27:57,920 --> 01:28:05,760
invoice from the Windham regional
commission that was paid without us the

1042
01:28:03,760 --> 01:28:09,840
planning commission approving it. That's
standard accounting practices. It should

1043
01:28:07,679 --> 01:28:15,040
have come to us for approval. There was
no way of the people who signed that

1044
01:28:13,280 --> 01:28:18,880
knowing whether or not that was actual
work that was done for the hours that

1045
01:28:16,719 --> 01:28:23,360
was expended and so forth. That's
standard accounting practices. It's not

1046
01:28:20,639 --> 01:28:29,520
being done.
As far as transparency, Nick made the

1047
01:28:25,520 --> 01:28:37,840
point that the attempt is to have more
transparency. The answer is no. How do I

1048
01:28:33,679 --> 01:28:42,000
know that? Recently, the select board
wanted to install new cabinets in our

1049
01:28:40,560 --> 01:28:47,440
lunchroom. What used to be our
lunchroom. There was no discussion at

1050
01:28:44,960 --> 01:28:51,760
any select board meetings. nothing at
all about those cabinets until it was

1051
01:28:49,920 --> 01:28:56,400
announced that they were going to be
installed and how much money there was

1052
01:28:54,639 --> 01:29:00,800
» that money. We have no idea where it
came from.

1053
01:28:58,000 --> 01:29:04,639
» Okay, we're we're Okay,
>> I'd go on, but I'm finished.

1054
01:29:02,480 --> 01:29:08,320
» Okay, thank you. And thank you for your
apology. I didn't I didn't want to gloss

1055
01:29:06,800 --> 01:29:14,000
over that. I just didn't want to get
caught up, but yes, thank you for your

1056
01:29:09,600 --> 01:29:18,880
apology. Um, any other discussion? We
have a motion before us.

1057
01:29:16,560 --> 01:29:21,679
Shall the uh shall the voters vote to
restructure the finance department to

1058
01:29:20,400 --> 01:29:25,199
create a part-time treasurer and
part-time bookkeeper to fulfill the

1059
01:29:23,280 --> 01:29:30,800
duties of the treasur and tax collector
duties? Further discussion. [snorts]

1060
01:29:28,960 --> 01:29:34,120
Okay. The Yes. Oh, yeah. We have another
more discussion.

1061
01:29:34,960 --> 01:29:42,040
Okay. Well, that's that's second time
that I have somebody here and then we

1062
01:29:38,480 --> 01:29:42,040
can go back to you.

1063
01:29:43,600 --> 01:29:51,199
Eileen Rogers. I'm new to this, but
somehow this doesn't seem clear to me.

1064
01:29:49,040 --> 01:29:57,280
What I'm kind of gathering here is that
because there's a communication issue,

1065
01:29:53,920 --> 01:30:02,480
they want to shift what has been working
the powers to be instead of just

1066
01:29:59,760 --> 01:30:06,560
allowing the new position to be voted
in. Am I clear on this? Because it

1067
01:30:04,320 --> 01:30:10,800
doesn't make sense to me because
bookkeepers have a certain role. you

1068
01:30:08,719 --> 01:30:15,920
know, all financial positions take on
different leadership and different areas

1069
01:30:12,719 --> 01:30:20,480
of expertise. So, can somebody clarify
that for me? It doesn't, like I said, it

1070
01:30:18,000 --> 01:30:23,480
seems like this is kind of a whole
internal

1071
01:30:23,760 --> 01:30:28,199
um cat fight.

1072
01:30:28,800 --> 01:30:34,320
» Meow. Um there is a cost-saving aspect
to it.

1073
01:30:32,159 --> 01:30:39,520
» Um point of order. Let's not let's not
go there, please. We're not here for cat

1074
01:30:37,120 --> 01:30:42,400
fights. over here for the articles of
the day.

1075
01:30:40,719 --> 01:30:51,600
» There is also a cost savings component
to it. Um but I will say um excuse me um

1076
01:30:49,520 --> 01:30:54,480
it some might say it has been working
others in other positions may not feel

1077
01:30:53,199 --> 01:31:00,320
that it has been working in the current
structure. And so this is just a

1078
01:30:57,600 --> 01:31:05,360
brainstorm an idea to see if we can get
a system that works better. If the

1079
01:31:03,600 --> 01:31:10,000
voters wrote it down, we keep the
system. that this is just something that

1080
01:31:08,080 --> 01:31:15,280
the treasur transition team had come up
with. Understanding that the treasurer

1081
01:31:12,800 --> 01:31:18,639
over the last year and a half has been
saying that she was not going to

1082
01:31:16,560 --> 01:31:23,120
continue running. So this was just under
that assumption. Um we figured we had to

1083
01:31:21,600 --> 01:31:28,800
plan something because this is a big
change and we don't want to show up and

1084
01:31:25,600 --> 01:31:33,360
have an entirely new person and have no
idea what to do and how to go how to

1085
01:31:30,560 --> 01:31:40,960
move forward.
>> Okay. We have Wait. Uh, yes.

1086
01:31:38,639 --> 01:31:44,920
Uh, we got Dale in the back and then
Warren in the very back.

1087
01:31:48,159 --> 01:31:56,639
I like to keep the treasurer and I like
to see that we have enough financial

1088
01:31:54,000 --> 01:32:01,040
office.
I'm not saying that we don't have people

1089
01:31:58,880 --> 01:32:05,280
in this town that are capable of doing
the job,

1090
01:32:02,960 --> 01:32:10,560
but there comes a time when you need to
think about it as a town to when we

1091
01:32:08,239 --> 01:32:15,760
think about we need a professional
controller

1092
01:32:12,880 --> 01:32:20,400
or something like that that would fill
those duties.

1093
01:32:17,760 --> 01:32:26,960
problem is we may not have them live us
amongst us to vote for them to elect

1094
01:32:24,000 --> 01:32:33,280
them into those positions. The state
recently in I think it was like 2013 14

1095
01:32:30,960 --> 01:32:39,920
had changed those of things where the
treasurers the auditors and all them to

1096
01:32:36,480 --> 01:32:46,719
be could be hired help
but yes you're right the select board

1097
01:32:42,239 --> 01:32:54,159
dictates how they run they're appointed
um but there is ways out of that in the

1098
01:32:50,960 --> 01:32:59,280
sense not out of that but there is a way
if we can't find someone

1099
01:32:56,880 --> 01:33:04,239
They would have to appoint somebody and
you would hope that we'd have a process

1100
01:33:01,440 --> 01:33:10,320
and a procedure on how that hiring would
be done that took input from the

1101
01:33:06,960 --> 01:33:17,760
taxpayer, the auditors and everyone else
besides the slack board [snorts] and to

1102
01:33:14,159 --> 01:33:22,080
collaborate that to function. I'm
fortunate to be

1103
01:33:19,920 --> 01:33:27,760
in a place where I came from. They had
to do that because they're treasurer

1104
01:33:24,000 --> 01:33:34,000
retired 45 years and they couldn't find
someone to replace them. So, they hired

1105
01:33:31,360 --> 01:33:39,520
them. Yeah, there's been bumps in the
roads, but the key thing is they don't

1106
01:33:37,040 --> 01:33:44,960
have an accounting problem. We don't
have people, all of us all came here

1107
01:33:42,800 --> 01:33:53,120
today thinking there was an issue. There
might not be an issue, but it's not

1108
01:33:48,719 --> 01:33:57,600
spelled out and spoken to very well. So,
I'm just going to move on.

1109
01:33:55,360 --> 01:34:01,880
» Yeah, that's your second voice. Oh, yes.
In the back, then somebody else up

1110
01:33:58,880 --> 01:34:01,880
front.

1111
01:34:02,960 --> 01:34:08,560
» Yeah. Sorry. Well, Warren B, can we call
this to to a vote?

1112
01:34:06,719 --> 01:34:14,560
» Okay. He had the floor. He called the
question. Um, that requires a twothirds

1113
01:34:12,560 --> 01:34:20,239
vote to close debate. There will be no
door no more debate. We would move right

1114
01:34:17,040 --> 01:34:23,440
to the vote.
>> H

1115
01:34:21,040 --> 01:34:28,719
» Oh, okay.
>> Okay. Who? Yell your name for a second.

1116
01:34:27,040 --> 01:34:34,239
Yell your name.
>> Oh, did you get it?

1117
01:34:31,760 --> 01:34:40,320
» Dale, whatever. Okay, we got it. We got
the second name. Okay, good. Sorry about

1118
01:34:37,120 --> 01:34:44,880
that. Twothirds vote. All those in favor
of closing debate and moving right to

1119
01:34:42,880 --> 01:34:47,520
the vote, please say I.
>> I.

1120
01:34:45,600 --> 01:34:53,040
» Oppose. No.
>> I believe that's twothirds. We now have

1121
01:34:50,400 --> 01:34:57,440
a motion before us. Shall [snorts] the
voters vote to restructure the finance

1122
01:34:55,760 --> 01:35:01,760
department to create a part-time
treasurer and part-time bookkeeper to

1123
01:34:59,920 --> 01:35:11,040
fulfill the duties of the treasurer and
tax collector duties. A yes. A yes vote

1124
01:35:06,000 --> 01:35:17,440
passes that um passes that motion. A no
vote defeats it. Um one person has asked

1125
01:35:14,560 --> 01:35:25,360
for a paper ballot.
Would I need six more?

1126
01:35:21,120 --> 01:35:30,719
One, two, three, four, five, six. It is
now

1127
01:35:27,280 --> 01:35:35,120
10:52 and we're on article three.
I just got a warning on my phone that my

1128
01:35:33,120 --> 01:35:42,719
Tesla batteries are charged for an
impending storm.

1129
01:35:38,560 --> 01:35:50,880
We have a long way to go. A yes vote
will pass the motion. A no vote defeats

1130
01:35:47,120 --> 01:35:55,600
it. Does everybody understand?
>> The ballot box is now open.

1131
01:35:54,000 --> 01:35:59,800
And thank you for that correcting me on
that second. I appreciate that.

1132
01:36:03,199 --> 01:36:12,560
I'm an angry man. Angry moderator.
Attention. Attention. We have the

1133
01:36:08,639 --> 01:36:17,520
results of the vote for article three.
Um the motion before us was the voters

1134
01:36:15,760 --> 01:36:20,560
to restructure the finance department to
create a part-time treasurer and

1135
01:36:18,880 --> 01:36:26,080
part-time bookkeeper to fulfill the
duties of the treasur and tax collector.

1136
01:36:23,061 --> 01:36:33,840
[snorts] A yes vote would pass it. A no
vote would defeat it. There were 33

1137
01:36:28,800 --> 01:36:39,080
yeses and 110 nos. The um motion is
defeated.

1138
01:36:35,440 --> 01:36:39,080
Hold on one second.

1139
01:36:43,199 --> 01:36:50,560
Okay. Okay. Um a no vote triggered
something and we'll get to that

1140
01:36:47,760 --> 01:36:55,679
eventually. Um so that uh motion has
failed.

1141
01:36:52,400 --> 01:37:01,600
Um what did I want to say?
We had a few people show up after I

1142
01:36:58,639 --> 01:37:08,080
closed the ballot box and wanted to put
their ballot in. In today's world of

1143
01:37:05,600 --> 01:37:12,719
election integrity,
we will not be accepting those ballots.

1144
01:37:10,400 --> 01:37:18,400
Everybody hears me when I'm saying
closing the ballot box. Okay? Just yell,

1145
01:37:16,560 --> 01:37:22,639
"I still have one." And we won't close
it right then and we'll get you up here.

1146
01:37:20,000 --> 01:37:25,520
Okay? But after the ballot box is
closed, your ballots will not be

1147
01:37:24,000 --> 01:37:32,960
accepted.
Okay. Hake news.

1148
01:37:28,320 --> 01:37:37,520
» It's all fake news, right? Okay. Um,
moving on to article four. This is the

1149
01:37:34,719 --> 01:37:43,520
election section. Um, elections. Vermont
law requires paper ballots for select

1150
01:37:39,840 --> 01:37:48,800
boards, listers, and auditors. All other
elections may be handled from the floor

1151
01:37:45,280 --> 01:37:53,520
if chosen to do so. Any voter may ask
for division of the House or a paper

1152
01:37:51,920 --> 01:37:57,760
ballot.
request for a paper ballot requires six

1153
01:37:55,520 --> 01:38:02,239
other voters unless changed by a
twothird majority. You just need to

1154
01:38:00,159 --> 01:38:06,239
raise your hand and change that to a two
and we'd have to vote on that to see if

1155
01:38:04,480 --> 01:38:13,520
you wanted to increase those numbers to
2/3 ballot um 2/3 um uh vote.

1156
01:38:11,920 --> 01:38:17,920
And remember, we can always do a
division of the house first. If the vote

1157
01:38:16,320 --> 01:38:22,480
is close by voice, we could have
everybody stand and raise their hand.

1158
01:38:20,080 --> 01:38:28,080
But paper ballot, calling a paper ballot
at any point is allowed because hiding

1159
01:38:26,000 --> 01:38:34,639
your vote in a democracy per se, that's
that's totally okay. Okay. Um, if

1160
01:38:31,920 --> 01:38:38,320
there's no objection, I will allow a
nominee just to introduce them, say

1161
01:38:36,239 --> 01:38:43,040
their name, what their occupation is,
maybe where they live, but please, no

1162
01:38:40,960 --> 01:38:47,600
objectives of why you're running or
political speeches will be allowed.

1163
01:38:44,480 --> 01:38:52,480
They'll be deemed out of order.
Um, a mo a voter may move to close

1164
01:38:50,560 --> 01:38:57,679
nominations, although generally we allow
everybody to trickle in.

1165
01:38:55,199 --> 01:39:01,040
Um,
so article four, I'm going to read it

1166
01:38:59,840 --> 01:39:04,719
and then we're going to have a couple
amendments. I'm going to warn you right

1167
01:39:02,480 --> 01:39:09,280
before they should move quickly, though.
Article four, to elect all town

1168
01:39:07,199 --> 01:39:13,040
officials for the ensuing year. Town
clerk, one-year term. Town treasurer,

1169
01:39:11,280 --> 01:39:17,440
one-year term. Select board one,
three-year term. Select board two

1170
01:39:15,840 --> 01:39:21,280
one-year terms. Listister, one
three-year term. The liquid tax

1171
01:39:19,040 --> 01:39:25,520
collector, one one-year term. First
constable, one one-year term. Second

1172
01:39:23,119 --> 01:39:30,480
constable, one one-year term. Library
trustee, one five-year term.

1173
01:39:28,480 --> 01:39:35,679
Yeah. School representative, one
three-year term. Cemetery commissioner,

1174
01:39:33,760 --> 01:39:40,320
one five-year term. Cemetery
commissioner, one two-year years

1175
01:39:38,000 --> 01:39:45,440
remaining on a 5-year term. And a
cemetery commissioner, one year, one

1176
01:39:42,960 --> 01:39:50,239
three years remaining on a 5-year term.
Then it says planning commission one

1177
01:39:47,360 --> 01:39:55,520
three-year term one three years
remaining on a 5-year term and planning

1178
01:39:52,239 --> 01:40:00,080
commission one five-year term.
I will entertain

1179
01:39:57,760 --> 01:40:05,520
a motion.
>> Yes. Out of order.

1180
01:40:02,719 --> 01:40:10,719
» Point of order.
is

1181
01:40:07,520 --> 01:40:16,080
the default of article three in regards
to us as a town having a tax collector

1182
01:40:15,199 --> 01:40:20,800
for the town.
>> It's a delinquent tax collector. That's

1183
01:40:17,840 --> 01:40:26,960
» no no to somebody to receive taxes. It
has to be has to last year we we had an

1184
01:40:24,080 --> 01:40:32,159
article to let the treasurer accept
taxes. That has to be done per statute

1185
01:40:30,159 --> 01:40:38,400
for the state.
By defeating article three, do we still

1186
01:40:35,679 --> 01:40:41,360
have last year's article to hold the
treasurer's position to be that tax

1187
01:40:40,639 --> 01:40:47,040
collector?
>> Yes. When we set that up last year, that

1188
01:40:43,440 --> 01:40:51,280
was in perpetuity until we were sitt
that's that's valid right now anyway.

1189
01:40:49,440 --> 01:40:52,960
We're on elections. That's a that's a
question

1190
01:40:51,679 --> 01:40:56,400
» if you didn't have anybody to collect
the taxes. I was trying to

1191
01:40:54,560 --> 01:40:59,400
» Well, the town treasurer always collects
the

1192
01:40:59,920 --> 01:41:06,000
last year, right? But I want to make
sure that article was good.

1193
01:41:03,199 --> 01:41:11,040
» Okay. Moving on to continuing elections.
Um I will entertain a motion.

1194
01:41:09,760 --> 01:41:16,320
» Second.
>> It's moved and seconded. Um first of

1195
01:41:14,159 --> 01:41:20,480
all, I'd like to uh would somebody like
to make an amendment

1196
01:41:18,320 --> 01:41:26,000
to drop the planning commission from
this article. Planning commission is a

1197
01:41:24,080 --> 01:41:30,400
appointed position, not an elective
position. It was placed on by accident.

1198
01:41:28,800 --> 01:41:37,840
So moved. Correct. Hunt. If there's a
second

1199
01:41:31,600 --> 01:41:41,920
» second uh Eugene um discussion.
>> Okay. Yes, sir.

1200
01:41:39,119 --> 01:41:46,320
» According to statute,
it is an elected position. It would go

1201
01:41:43,920 --> 01:41:50,239
for the
>> according to statute, [clears throat]

1202
01:41:48,000 --> 01:41:54,960
the plan of commissioners can be elected
from the floor. If they are elected from

1203
01:41:52,400 --> 01:41:59,760
the floor, the term runs for 5 years.
The select board cannot remove that

1204
01:41:56,880 --> 01:42:05,040
planning commissioner who is elected. If
they are appointed, they can be removed

1205
01:42:01,360 --> 01:42:09,119
by a unanimous vote of so we can elect
the towning uh so so the amendment can

1206
01:42:07,360 --> 01:42:15,880
be defeated and we can elect planning
commission members.

1207
01:42:12,320 --> 01:42:15,880
» Any further discussion?

1208
01:42:16,000 --> 01:42:22,880
Seeing no further discussion, there's an
amendment before us to drop the planning

1209
01:42:19,600 --> 01:42:28,000
commission from this uh article.
A yes vote will remove the planning

1210
01:42:25,600 --> 01:42:32,560
commission. A no vote. We will be voting
on planning commission members at this

1211
01:42:29,760 --> 01:42:37,760
meeting. [snorts] Everybody understand?
All those in favor, please say I. I

1212
01:42:35,600 --> 01:42:42,320
» oppose. No.
>> I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

1213
01:42:39,840 --> 01:42:47,920
have it. Planning commission has been
dropped from the article. We have

1214
01:42:44,800 --> 01:42:53,199
another amendment
that see so people come up to me before

1215
01:42:51,280 --> 01:42:57,520
meetings and talk to me about amendments
and everybody's allowed to do that. I'm

1216
01:42:55,119 --> 01:43:01,520
here to help you guys get done what you
want to do. So that's kind of why I know

1217
01:42:59,520 --> 01:43:09,360
what's what's kind of happening here. Do
we have another amendment for this?

1218
01:43:05,119 --> 01:43:12,400
» You're good. Okay. No other amendments
seeing no. Yes. Amen. You have an

1219
01:43:11,520 --> 01:43:16,880
amendment?
>> No. But I got a question. Are we voting

1220
01:43:14,560 --> 01:43:18,639
all these off all these people in at one
time?

1221
01:43:17,360 --> 01:43:19,760
» No. We're going to have individual
elections.

1222
01:43:19,280 --> 01:43:22,960
» Okay. That's
>> Yeah. Yeah. But this is an article and I

1223
01:43:21,520 --> 01:43:27,199
need to get the article right and then
we can move on to the actual elections.

1224
01:43:25,199 --> 01:43:32,400
Unfortunately, the article was kind of
messed up a little bit. Okay. Any other

1225
01:43:30,159 --> 01:43:38,239
discussion? We will now move on to the
actual elections now that we have the

1226
01:43:34,000 --> 01:43:45,360
articles the mo the article organized.
Okay. So, I will now entertain

1227
01:43:41,040 --> 01:43:50,800
nominations for a one-year term as town
clerk currently held by Alanka Wilson.

1228
01:43:50,159 --> 01:43:53,920
Wilson.
>> Okay, we have Elinko Wilson has been

1229
01:43:52,639 --> 01:43:57,840
nominated. Are there any other
nominations? It doesn't need to be

1230
01:43:56,000 --> 01:44:03,480
seconded if that's what we're doing. It
doesn't have to be seconded. Um, any

1231
01:44:00,320 --> 01:44:03,480
other nominations?

1232
01:44:03,760 --> 01:44:12,320
Seeing no other nominations, I am going
to um and there's no objections. I

1233
01:44:10,400 --> 01:44:16,639
declare the nominations closed and
instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

1234
01:44:14,080 --> 01:44:19,760
for Elena Wilson for a one-year term as
town clerk. All those in favor, please

1235
01:44:18,719 --> 01:44:23,760
say I.
>> I

1236
01:44:20,320 --> 01:44:29,600
» oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it. I will now

1237
01:44:26,800 --> 01:44:35,199
entertain a motion. Uh I will now
entertain nominations for a one-year

1238
01:44:32,400 --> 01:44:38,960
term as town treasurer currently held by
Elaine Hill.

1239
01:44:37,760 --> 01:44:45,639
» Nominate Ela Hill.
>> Elaine Hill has been nominated.

1240
01:44:41,600 --> 01:44:45,639
All the any other nominations

1241
01:44:46,880 --> 01:44:56,199
hearing no other nominations.
Hearing no other nominations. And if

1242
01:44:51,760 --> 01:44:56,199
there I'm sorry, what?

1243
01:44:56,880 --> 01:45:05,239
» Oh, I thought you shake your head. Yes.
I I You got to speak up. I can't hear.

1244
01:45:01,360 --> 01:45:05,239
Elaine Hill has been nominated.

1245
01:45:05,360 --> 01:45:11,520
I'm going to respectfully decline the
position as treasurer for

1246
01:45:09,920 --> 01:45:14,239
» Okay, she's declined the nominations.
Are there any other nominations for town

1247
01:45:13,360 --> 01:45:17,800
treasurer?
>> Nominate Alicia.

1248
01:45:18,560 --> 01:45:27,080
» Alicia Strafford has been nominated.
Okay, hang on. Hang on. Before Before

1249
01:45:23,600 --> 01:45:27,080
any other nominations?

1250
01:45:27,600 --> 01:45:35,199
Okay, hearing other nominations. Would
you like to hear Elaine? Wait, I'm

1251
01:45:32,159 --> 01:45:37,760
sorry. Alicia Stafford.
>> Stratford.

1252
01:45:36,000 --> 01:45:40,560
» Stratford. I'll get it right eventually.
Stratford.

1253
01:45:38,960 --> 01:45:44,320
» Apologies. I'm aware most of you have no
idea who I am. Uh, I have lived here two

1254
01:45:42,480 --> 01:45:49,280
years, though I have loved this area my
whole life. Um, I went back to school

1255
01:45:47,520 --> 01:45:53,600
for accounting later in life with the
intention of being able to work from

1256
01:45:50,400 --> 01:45:58,960
home so I could live here. Uh, I have my
CPA. I have my CIA, which is certified

1257
01:45:56,159 --> 01:46:04,560
internal auditor. Uh, I am a part-time
controller and I am an advisory in risk

1258
01:46:02,320 --> 01:46:10,960
and governance.
Uh, I have the the skills. I have the

1259
01:46:07,360 --> 01:46:15,040
tools. Um, but none of you know me. So,
uh, happy to go either way. It's nice to

1260
01:46:13,600 --> 01:46:18,239
meet you all.
>> Okay. Thank you for that. Great great

1261
01:46:16,480 --> 01:46:22,400
great introduction. That's what we're
looking for. Just a little introduction.

1262
01:46:20,239 --> 01:46:26,760
Um, are there any other nominations for
a one-year term as town treasurer?

1263
01:46:27,360 --> 01:46:34,320
Seeing no other nominations and if there
are no objections, I will instruct the

1264
01:46:31,440 --> 01:46:40,880
clerk to cast one vote for Alicia
Stratford.

1265
01:46:36,960 --> 01:46:46,560
Stratford. I'm terrible with names. Um
for a one-year term

1266
01:46:43,360 --> 01:46:49,600
as town treasurer. All those in favor,
please, you can. All those in favor,

1267
01:46:48,320 --> 01:46:52,159
please say I.
>> I.

1268
01:46:50,239 --> 01:46:57,763
» Oppose. [clears throat] No. I believe
the eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

1269
01:46:54,000 --> 01:46:59,783
Thank you very much for your service.
[applause]

1270
01:47:00,880 --> 01:47:09,440
Okay. Um, select board.
Um, we have one three-year term and two

1271
01:47:07,360 --> 01:47:17,040
one-year terms. Uh, we're going to take
the one three-year term first, which is

1272
01:47:12,000 --> 01:47:21,679
Katie Maro's position. Um,
I will entertain nominations for one

1273
01:47:19,280 --> 01:47:25,760
three-year term.
Katie Monroe's been nominated. Any other

1274
01:47:24,000 --> 01:47:30,960
nominations for the three-year term?
>> Urban Star. I nominate Rob Wright.

1275
01:47:29,199 --> 01:47:37,440
» Rob Wright for the three-year term.
Okay.

1276
01:47:32,639 --> 01:47:41,440
Rob and uh uh Katie. Okay. Any other
nominations for the three-year term? All

1277
01:47:40,159 --> 01:47:45,440
the way in the back.
>> Sean Mara. I redundantly nominate Kat.

1278
01:47:44,239 --> 01:47:51,000
» Okay. Redundant. We don't need
redundancy. Go ahead. It's okay. Yes,

1279
01:47:48,000 --> 01:47:51,000
Bob.

1280
01:47:52,400 --> 01:47:58,639
I nominate a professional citizen, Laura
Richardson,

1281
01:47:57,280 --> 01:48:04,080
» for the three-year term. Laura
Richardson.

1282
01:48:01,199 --> 01:48:08,159
Okay.
Any other nominations for the three-year

1283
01:48:05,920 --> 01:48:12,880
term?
Okay. Oh, another hand.

1284
01:48:10,080 --> 01:48:16,560
» I nominate Steve Frisk.
>> Steve Frisk has been nominated for the

1285
01:48:14,480 --> 01:48:21,400
three-year term.
Any

1286
01:48:18,159 --> 01:48:21,400
other nominations?

1287
01:48:21,760 --> 01:48:28,560
Okay, this Yep.
>> Clarifying question. Select board

1288
01:48:24,639 --> 01:48:31,440
members are are u ending their term.
This

1289
01:48:28,880 --> 01:48:33,760
» I'm sorry. What select board members
will be?

1290
01:48:31,920 --> 01:48:36,320
» Well, this is this is Katie Maro's
position right now.

1291
01:48:34,880 --> 01:48:39,280
» Oh, okay.
>> Are there any other select board members

1292
01:48:38,000 --> 01:48:44,880
that are are
>> Yes, that's so there's a two one-year

1293
01:48:41,280 --> 01:48:48,800
terms also up.
Yeah, thank you. Page seven. It's on

1294
01:48:46,560 --> 01:48:52,480
page seven there. That's okay. Huh?
Yeah. I mean, I could tell tell you, but

1295
01:48:50,400 --> 01:48:59,239
it's on page seven. That's just move on.
Thank you. Thank you. Um,

1296
01:48:55,760 --> 01:48:59,239
any other nominations?

1297
01:49:02,080 --> 01:49:06,400
» Are you going to Are you going to
withdraw your nomination?

1298
01:49:05,280 --> 01:49:10,159
» Okay, I hear. That's right. We're going
to come to the other two. Yep. Yep.

1299
01:49:07,920 --> 01:49:13,679
Okay. Rob has withdrawn his name from
the three-year term. And that doesn't

1300
01:49:12,080 --> 01:49:16,159
mean he can't be for one of the other
one-year terms, right? Everybody

1301
01:49:14,800 --> 01:49:20,480
understand that? but he's withdrawing
his name from the three-year term right

1302
01:49:17,840 --> 01:49:26,239
now. So, now we have nominations of
Katie Maro, Laura Richardson, and Steve

1303
01:49:23,520 --> 01:49:28,560
Frisk. Right. Okay. Any other
nominations?

1304
01:49:27,840 --> 01:49:32,320
Yes, sir.
>> That's Katie Maro.

1305
01:49:29,679 --> 01:49:37,199
» Maro. Sorry. I Greg Marorrow used to
live in town. You got Maro. Marorrow. I

1306
01:49:34,800 --> 01:49:39,760
get him confused. I'm sorry. Um,
>> can we hear from

1307
01:49:38,080 --> 01:49:43,520
» Maro? Yeah. Yeah, we will. I just want
to get all the nominations first. Um,

1308
01:49:42,080 --> 01:49:47,280
and I want to explain what's going to
happen. Okay. Okay. So, there's three.

1309
01:49:45,520 --> 01:49:53,305
No more nominations. I declare a
nominate. Yep. In the back.

1310
01:49:50,320 --> 01:49:55,325
Warren Batty's been
[laughter]

1311
01:49:56,960 --> 01:49:59,960
» Yes.

1312
01:50:00,239 --> 01:50:05,360
» H.
>> Oh, who made the nomination? Because we

1313
01:50:04,080 --> 01:50:11,040
do need to record that even though it
was declined. Who was that?

1314
01:50:08,320 --> 01:50:17,239
» State your name.
>> Got it.

1315
01:50:13,360 --> 01:50:17,239
Okay. Any other nominations?

1316
01:50:18,239 --> 01:50:24,400
Okay, see no other nominations. I
declare nominations closed. Let's Okay,

1317
01:50:22,400 --> 01:50:28,480
now I'm going to explain. There's three
people nominated. This is select board,

1318
01:50:27,199 --> 01:50:36,960
which means it's going to be a paper
ballot. If somebody doesn't get a first

1319
01:50:34,159 --> 01:50:41,840
a majority on the first one, we do it
three times before somebody gets a

1320
01:50:39,440 --> 01:50:45,840
majority. On the third one, we drop the
lowest one. So there's only two. So

1321
01:50:44,320 --> 01:50:48,639
hopefully the next one would be a
majority. Does everybody understand

1322
01:50:47,119 --> 01:50:52,480
that? We'll get there when I count.
We'll get there. We'll get there. Yeah.

1323
01:50:50,560 --> 01:50:57,360
Somebody needs to win a majority. And if
not, we keep going because there's three

1324
01:50:54,159 --> 01:51:04,000
people until somebody gets a majority.
Let's hear from the candidates before we

1325
01:50:59,840 --> 01:51:09,679
vote. Um Katie Marorrow was nominated
first. Let's hear from her first. Again,

1326
01:51:07,119 --> 01:51:13,600
this isn't this isn't about political
stuff and what you want to accomplish.

1327
01:51:11,679 --> 01:51:16,600
This is just who you are and your
background.

1328
01:51:18,080 --> 01:51:25,679
» Okay. Uh, hi, I'm Katie Maro. I've been
on the select board for the past years.

1329
01:51:22,560 --> 01:51:32,920
Uh, my first year I got a one-year
position and then my second year.

1330
01:51:29,119 --> 01:51:32,920
» Get your finger off the button.

1331
01:51:33,920 --> 01:51:37,159
» Try again.

1332
01:51:40,960 --> 01:51:47,800
Okay. Sorry. Um I did a one-year term
and then a

1333
01:51:54,320 --> 01:51:59,920
» Okay. Um so I've been happy to serve the
town for the past four years and I'd

1334
01:51:58,480 --> 01:52:04,159
look forward to Oh, I live in West
Townsen and I'd look forward to serving

1335
01:52:01,679 --> 01:52:09,679
the town for three more years.
Uh,

1336
01:52:05,760 --> 01:52:12,800
next one was Steve I think was and then
Laura.

1337
01:52:10,480 --> 01:52:17,360
» My name is Stephen Frisk. I live on
Actton Hill. I've been a select board

1338
01:52:15,119 --> 01:52:23,880
member for seven years. It's been an
honor to serve the town and I look

1339
01:52:19,679 --> 01:52:23,880
forward to serving in the future.

1340
01:52:27,199 --> 01:52:35,040
» Hi, I'm Laura Richardson. I've lived
here in Townson for 15 going on 16

1341
01:52:31,840 --> 01:52:39,840
years. Um, I've tried to do my best to
help serve the town in any way that I

1342
01:52:36,560 --> 01:52:44,560
could within my abilities and means. And
I, um,

1343
01:52:42,080 --> 01:52:49,920
what else was I gonna say? [laughter]
I'm kind of caught on toward here. Oh,

1344
01:52:47,520 --> 01:52:56,280
anyway, I just feel that, um, it might
be time for a a change.

1345
01:52:53,280 --> 01:52:56,280
» Inappropriate.

1346
01:52:58,320 --> 01:53:04,880
» Okay. So,
election is going to proceed. We're

1347
01:53:02,560 --> 01:53:08,639
going to have a ballot uh uh a ballot
vote.

1348
01:53:07,040 --> 01:53:12,800
You're going to write three one of three
names. Katie,

1349
01:53:11,040 --> 01:53:20,239
Rob.
No, sorry. Katie, Steve, or Laura?

1350
01:53:17,199 --> 01:53:24,560
Katie, Steve, or Laura? Are there any
questions?

1351
01:53:22,080 --> 01:53:30,320
Okay. Katie, Steve, or Laura? The ballot
box is now open

1352
01:53:27,840 --> 01:53:36,679
for a one one three-year term on the
select board. Katie, Steve, or Laura.

1353
01:53:37,040 --> 01:53:44,000
» And if you need the ballot box brought
to you, please yell at me.

1354
01:53:42,719 --> 01:53:47,480
Please take your seats. We have the
results of the vote.

1355
01:53:53,679 --> 01:53:56,679
Okay.

1356
01:53:57,040 --> 01:54:03,920
» Um,
we had we were voting on a three-year

1357
01:54:01,199 --> 01:54:11,440
term for the select board. Uh, we had
three uh candidates, three nominees. Um,

1358
01:54:07,599 --> 01:54:17,840
there was a total of 147 votes, which I
believe requires 74

1359
01:54:14,480 --> 01:54:26,239
for a majority. Katie Marorrow uh
received 85. Uh Laura Richardson 34 and

1360
01:54:22,320 --> 01:54:32,800
Steve Frisk 28. So Katie Maro has won
the um three-year position on the select

1361
01:54:29,280 --> 01:54:40,800
board. Um
we will now move on to the two uh I will

1362
01:54:36,320 --> 01:54:45,440
now entertain nominations for a one-year
term on the select board. We'll start

1363
01:54:42,560 --> 01:54:48,000
with Steve Frisk's term. That will be
his term.

1364
01:54:46,560 --> 01:54:51,280
» Nominate
>> Steve Frisk have been nominated. I see a

1365
01:54:49,679 --> 01:54:55,040
hand back here. No. Any any other
nominations? Yes. In the back.

1366
01:54:54,080 --> 01:55:00,560
» Tedro.
>> Okay. Shiloh Tedro

1367
01:54:58,639 --> 01:55:07,719
has been nominated for a one-year term.
Any other nominations for one-year term?

1368
01:55:04,239 --> 01:55:07,719
» Laura Richardson.

1369
01:55:10,000 --> 01:55:13,800
» Okay. Thank you.

1370
01:55:17,840 --> 01:55:23,239
Yes, in the back.
>> Rob Wright.

1371
01:55:23,840 --> 01:55:27,840
» That was uh Glenn. I mean Warren.
Warren. Sorry,

1372
01:55:26,480 --> 01:55:32,800
» Warren. Warren. I know. I do that all
the time. I'm so sorry.

1373
01:55:30,639 --> 01:55:37,679
Warren. Warren. Warren. Um, any other
nominations? Yes. H Glenn.

1374
01:55:36,480 --> 01:55:42,719
» Dale West.
>> Dale West. There you go. Dale West has

1375
01:55:39,679 --> 01:55:48,719
been nominated.
Good. Any other nominations? I'll go

1376
01:55:45,599 --> 01:55:54,239
over them in all in a second.
Okay. Right now, we have nominated for a

1377
01:55:51,119 --> 01:55:58,960
one-year term on the select board Steve
Frisk,

1378
01:55:55,920 --> 01:56:05,760
Shiloh Tedro. Right. Shiloh. Just make
sure. Shiloh Tedro, Laura Richardson,

1379
01:56:02,800 --> 01:56:11,280
Roight,
and Dale West.

1380
01:56:08,159 --> 01:56:14,800
Any other nominations?
Okay, seeing no other nominations, I'll

1381
01:56:13,199 --> 01:56:19,119
declare the nominations closed and we'll
allow people to speak for a moment if

1382
01:56:17,280 --> 01:56:23,040
they choose to. You don't have to. Okay,
nominations are now closed for this one

1383
01:56:20,960 --> 01:56:29,360
year one-year position on the select
board. The first nomination was Steve.

1384
01:56:26,080 --> 01:56:32,719
Would you like to add say microphone?
You good?

1385
01:56:30,080 --> 01:56:37,440
» Okay, Steve is fine. Shiloh, you were
next nominated.

1386
01:56:35,119 --> 01:56:41,280
Uh, do you want a microphone? Wait
people want to hear you. Oh, thank you,

1387
01:56:38,719 --> 01:56:45,440
sir.
Thank you.

1388
01:56:43,199 --> 01:56:50,480
Hello everybody. I'm Shiloh Tedro. I ran
last year, running again this year, but

1389
01:56:47,360 --> 01:56:57,280
I've devoted the entire past year to
researching and sharing my civics's

1390
01:56:53,520 --> 01:57:01,040
education with everybody else. Um, I own
I founded and I'm the director of a

1391
01:56:59,280 --> 01:57:04,480
nonprofit down the road here in
Townsend. And I really can't say

1392
01:57:02,960 --> 01:57:08,239
anything else because it'll be out of
order, so I won't. But you can look on

1393
01:57:06,320 --> 01:57:12,239
front porch forum for February 16th and
see what I stand for if you want.

1394
01:57:10,080 --> 01:57:15,920
» Thank you. Thank you for that. That was
that was good. Laura, would you Laura

1395
01:57:13,760 --> 01:57:21,040
next would you like to add?
>> Right. The microphone here. Right.

1396
01:57:19,040 --> 01:57:23,280
» Oh, shoot.
What What's your name? Chris, what's

1397
01:57:22,320 --> 01:57:25,360
your name again?
>> Eric.

1398
01:57:23,679 --> 01:57:28,960
» Eric. I was going to say Chris. Thank
Eric for running the microphone. We

1399
01:57:27,199 --> 01:57:32,080
appreciate that. Eric,
>> I kind of dropped the ball last time and

1400
01:57:30,800 --> 01:57:37,920
I just wanted to say that I've been
going to a select board meetings, almost

1401
01:57:34,400 --> 01:57:42,480
every meeting for at least four years
and I really have a good feeling about

1402
01:57:40,320 --> 01:57:48,400
what's going on with town governments
and how it operates.

1403
01:57:44,880 --> 01:57:52,080
» Thank you. Um, next would be Rob Wright.
Anything else? Say, sir, right?

1404
01:57:50,400 --> 01:57:57,599
» Wait, give it a sec. Can you press the
button and then you give it a second and

1405
01:57:54,719 --> 01:58:04,920
I'm knock it. Just knock it. No. Press
it again. And then wait a sec.

1406
01:58:00,560 --> 01:58:04,920
Don't. No. Press it.

1407
01:58:11,119 --> 01:58:18,800
» Rob Wright. I've lived in town for
almost 24 years. I've served on the

1408
01:58:15,360 --> 01:58:25,199
board for 10 out of the last 11 years.
Um, I show up every time we have a

1409
01:58:22,400 --> 01:58:31,119
meeting. I stay available to the members
of the board for questions, members of

1410
01:58:27,360 --> 01:58:35,360
the public for questions, and I'd gladly
serve a [snorts] one-year term.

1411
01:58:34,480 --> 01:58:38,960
» Thank you.
>> And then Dale, you're in the back there.

1412
01:58:36,800 --> 01:58:45,320
You want to say something?
>> Microphone.

1413
01:58:41,360 --> 01:58:45,320
Oh, yeah. Thank you.

1414
01:58:46,080 --> 01:58:55,360
» I'm Dale West. I live in town. I live on
Grafton Road. Um, I've been here now I

1415
01:58:51,920 --> 01:59:02,719
think it's been a good
20 no just under 20. It's like 18 years.

1416
01:58:59,582 --> 01:59:09,599
[snorts] Um, I've been local. Um, I work
for the the state of Vermont and VR. Um,

1417
01:59:06,639 --> 01:59:13,199
I [snorts] uh been on different boards
over the career. I've been on the

1418
01:59:10,880 --> 01:59:20,440
planning commissions in both today here
and in Jamaica school boards. Um, I

1419
01:59:17,119 --> 01:59:20,440
bring reason

1420
01:59:21,599 --> 01:59:30,480
Okay, thank you. So, we have a we're
going to be voting. It has to be by

1421
01:59:27,119 --> 01:59:39,360
ballot. Um, we're voting on a one-year
term for the select board. I wish I had

1422
01:59:33,599 --> 01:59:44,080
a white board, but names would be Steve
Frisk,

1423
01:59:41,199 --> 01:59:53,280
Shiloh, her last name is Tedro, but
Shiloh, Laura Richardson, Laura,

1424
01:59:48,080 --> 01:59:58,239
Rob Wright, Rob or Dale West, Dale.
Okay, so there's one, two, three, four,

1425
01:59:55,440 --> 02:00:01,760
five. Anybody have any questions about
what we're doing? Who who we're voting

1426
02:00:00,400 --> 02:00:07,040
for?
Okay, good. I like I I like the the

1427
02:00:04,239 --> 02:00:11,719
confidence stairs. Um so I will now
declare the ballot box open.

1428
02:00:12,000 --> 02:00:21,840
We have the results of the election.
Um this is for a one-year term on the

1429
02:00:18,159 --> 02:00:26,159
select board. There was 155 votes which
will require, I believe, 79 for a

1430
02:00:24,400 --> 02:00:33,360
majority.
Uh Steve Frisk received 38.

1431
02:00:29,599 --> 02:00:39,360
Laura Richardson received 34. Rob Wright
received 34.

1432
02:00:35,599 --> 02:00:46,000
Dale West received 28. And Shiloh Tedro
received 21. There is no majority

1433
02:00:42,719 --> 02:00:50,480
receiver. Therefore, we vote again.
Okay. So, the way this works, if we got

1434
02:00:47,920 --> 02:00:56,400
to this, if there's more than two, which
means somebody is not going to receive

1435
02:00:52,239 --> 02:01:02,000
the majority, we do this three times. At
the end of the third vote, we drop the

1436
02:00:58,880 --> 02:01:06,800
lowest vote getter and then we do it
again. The next time we would then vote

1437
02:01:04,719 --> 02:01:12,320
the next lowest vote getter and so on
and so forth until somebody receives a

1438
02:01:09,280 --> 02:01:18,320
majority. Okay, so once again, we have
an election before us for a one-year

1439
02:01:15,119 --> 02:01:26,880
term on the select board. Your choices
are Steve Frisk.

1440
02:01:22,400 --> 02:01:34,800
» Steve Frisk withdraws his nomination.
We have um nominated for a one-year term

1441
02:01:31,599 --> 02:01:40,960
Shedro uh Shiloh Tedro, Laura
Richardson, Rob Wright, and Dale West.

1442
02:01:39,280 --> 02:01:46,800
Okay. So, we're going to have another
election.

1443
02:01:42,480 --> 02:01:53,679
You're going to write down Shiloh Tedro,
Laura Richardson,

1444
02:01:49,040 --> 02:01:56,679
Rob Wright, or Dale West. Are there any
questions?

1445
02:01:56,960 --> 02:02:04,080
» You could just use the first name,
please. Right. So, it would be Shiloh,

1446
02:02:01,040 --> 02:02:11,554
Laura, Rob, or Dale. Okay. Any
questions? I now declare the ballot box

1447
02:02:08,080 --> 02:02:11,554
open. [clears throat]

1448
02:02:13,920 --> 02:02:23,199
Uh, we have the results of the election
for a one-year term on the select board.

1449
02:02:19,360 --> 02:02:27,760
We had 147 ballots cast. Two were
spoiled.

1450
02:02:24,800 --> 02:02:34,480
So, that's 74 in order to have a
majority. 74 for majority. Shiloh Tedro

1451
02:02:31,520 --> 02:02:42,480
received 20. Laura Richardson received
41. Rob Wright received 59. and Dale

1452
02:02:38,960 --> 02:02:47,679
West received 25. So, nobody received a
majority. We will do it again. Okay.

1453
02:02:45,360 --> 02:02:54,800
Yes, sir.
>> Dale West. This would be the third one.

1454
02:02:52,880 --> 02:03:00,719
Okay. Okay. You understand why I said
that, though? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Dale

1455
02:02:56,639 --> 02:03:07,440
West has withdrawn his name. We now have
an election for select board one-year

1456
02:03:04,239 --> 02:03:10,560
term. We have I'm sorry, what? Can you
read those numbers?

1457
02:03:08,159 --> 02:03:15,360
» Yes. Oh, the numbers again. The numbers
again. We had Shiloh Tedro at 20. Make

1458
02:03:13,760 --> 02:03:20,159
sure I'm doing this right. Can you just
look at the bag? Sorry. Just make sure I

1459
02:03:17,920 --> 02:03:31,400
copied them down right. Shiloh Tedro at
20, Laura Richardson at 41,

1460
02:03:24,880 --> 02:03:31,400
Rob Wright at 59, and Dale West at 25

1461
02:03:31,679 --> 02:03:39,599
with two spoiled ballots.
Okay, so we're going to do it again. We

1462
02:03:36,880 --> 02:03:47,840
have Shiloh,
Laura, and Rob. Shiloh,

1463
02:03:44,159 --> 02:03:55,800
Laura, and Rob. Any questions?
Questions, questions. The ballot box is

1464
02:03:50,639 --> 02:03:55,800
now well, it will be open.

1465
02:03:57,040 --> 02:04:03,719
We have the results of the election for
moderator for moderator

1466
02:04:03,920 --> 02:04:15,520
for select board for one-year term. Um
um so there was a total of

1467
02:04:11,760 --> 02:04:21,599
148 votes which means I believe 75 half
plus one 75 in order to be elected.

1468
02:04:19,119 --> 02:04:27,840
Shiloh Tedro received 19, Laura
Richardson 48 and Rob Wright 81. So, Rob

1469
02:04:25,520 --> 02:04:33,280
Wright has won that select board
position.

1470
02:04:30,400 --> 02:04:38,560
Okay, moving on. We have another
one-year term

1471
02:04:35,679 --> 02:04:44,000
that um uh I will now entertain
nominations. I heard Steve Frisk here.

1472
02:04:42,000 --> 02:04:50,719
Steve Frisk has been nominated. Any
other nominations for a one-year term on

1473
02:04:46,800 --> 02:04:58,119
the select board? Uh in the back there,
>> Dale West has been nominated.

1474
02:04:53,760 --> 02:04:58,119
Laura Richardson has been nominated.

1475
02:04:58,960 --> 02:05:05,960
» Shiloh Tedro has been nominated.
Saw a hand over there. Go up.

1476
02:05:06,080 --> 02:05:13,119
Okay. No. Y Oh, no. Stretching. Any
other nominations for a one-year term on

1477
02:05:11,280 --> 02:05:22,159
the select board? So far, I have Steve
Frisk, Dale West, Laura Richardson, and

1478
02:05:17,599 --> 02:05:30,080
Shiloh Tedro. Any other nominations for
one-year term on the select board? Okay,

1479
02:05:25,040 --> 02:05:36,480
this is a totally new position.
So, please on your little pieces of

1480
02:05:31,840 --> 02:05:42,800
paper, it's Steve for Steve Frisk, Dale
for Dale West, Laura for Laura

1481
02:05:39,520 --> 02:05:48,960
Richardson, or Shiloh for Shiloh Tedro.
They've all already spoken. I don't

1482
02:05:45,199 --> 02:05:53,760
think we need to do that again. So, I
will now declare. Any questions?

1483
02:05:51,520 --> 02:05:57,159
Questions? I will now declare the ballot
box open.

1484
02:05:58,400 --> 02:06:10,920
We have the results of the election for
a one-year term on the select board.

1485
02:06:05,199 --> 02:06:10,920
Um, there was 142 votes.

1486
02:06:12,480 --> 02:06:22,480
Uh, divide that by two is 71. So, you
need 72 in order for a majority.

1487
02:06:18,400 --> 02:06:28,159
Steve uh Frisk received 60, Laura
received 38,

1488
02:06:24,639 --> 02:06:36,400
Dale received 32, and Shiloh received
12. So, we will do it again. Okay, we

1489
02:06:32,639 --> 02:06:43,840
have a uh an election for a one-year
term on Select Board. We have Steve

1490
02:06:39,440 --> 02:06:49,480
Frisk, Dale West, Laura Richardson, and
Shiloh Tedro. Does anybody have any

1491
02:06:46,480 --> 02:06:49,480
questions?

1492
02:06:49,599 --> 02:06:55,000
I now declare the ballot box open.

1493
02:06:57,119 --> 02:07:06,880
Okay, we got the results of the uh
one-year select board position.

1494
02:07:03,440 --> 02:07:14,159
There were 139 votes. We're tailing off
here, people. Nobody's allowed to leave.

1495
02:07:10,182 --> 02:07:21,119
[snorts] I can't. Right. So 139 uh votes
which means 70 in order to have uh one.

1496
02:07:18,000 --> 02:07:27,440
Steve Frisk received 77. Dale West
received 17. Laura Richardson reserved

1497
02:07:24,239 --> 02:07:36,800
39 and Charlotte Tedro received six. So
Steve Frisk has won the one-year select

1498
02:07:31,360 --> 02:07:43,360
board. Okay, moving on. Um thank you for
your patience with that. We appreciate

1499
02:07:38,639 --> 02:07:50,639
it. uh democracy at its ugliest. Um we
will now um entertain nominations for a

1500
02:07:46,560 --> 02:07:56,119
one-year one three-year term as
listister currently held by Eugene Ko.

1501
02:07:56,480 --> 02:08:05,719
» Eugene Cook has been nominated.
Any other nominations for a three-year

1502
02:08:02,159 --> 02:08:05,719
term as listister?

1503
02:08:06,079 --> 02:08:13,040
Hearing no other nominations. And if
there are no objections, I declare

1504
02:08:10,320 --> 02:08:19,599
nominations closed and instruct the
clerk to cast one ballot for Eugene Cook

1505
02:08:15,840 --> 02:08:23,760
for a three-year term as a selector. All
those in favor, please say I.

1506
02:08:21,840 --> 02:08:27,199
» Listister. What did I say?
>> Selector.

1507
02:08:24,560 --> 02:08:31,360
» Selector. You can work at CVS. C uh
whatever. CNS. No. Sorry. As a

1508
02:08:29,280 --> 02:08:36,400
listister. Sorry, I combined the two.
Huh? Selector. List. As a listister. All

1509
02:08:34,480 --> 02:08:39,840
those in favor, please say I.
>> I.

1510
02:08:36,880 --> 02:08:45,440
» Oppose. No, I believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it. Eugene Cook has

1511
02:08:42,480 --> 02:08:50,239
been elected. Uh, I will now entertain
nominations for delinquent tax

1512
02:08:47,760 --> 02:08:56,239
collector, a one-year term currently
held by Becky Riley.

1513
02:08:53,840 --> 02:09:00,560
Becky Riley has been nominated. Any
other nominations

1514
02:08:58,560 --> 02:09:05,280
for a one-year term as delinquent tax
collector?

1515
02:09:02,239 --> 02:09:09,760
Hearing no other nominations. And if
there's no objections, I'll instruct the

1516
02:09:06,960 --> 02:09:13,360
clerk to cast one ballot for Becky Riley
for a one-year term as delinquent tax

1517
02:09:11,760 --> 02:09:18,400
collector. All those in favor, please
say I.

1518
02:09:14,960 --> 02:09:25,679
» Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it. Um I we will now

1519
02:09:22,880 --> 02:09:32,960
entertain nominations for a one-year
term as first constable currently held

1520
02:09:28,960 --> 02:09:37,920
by Warren Batty. I will now entertain
nominations. Warren Batty has been

1521
02:09:34,560 --> 02:09:43,360
nominated. Any other nominations?
>> Uh Rob. Oh, Steve, sorry. Any other

1522
02:09:40,960 --> 02:09:47,760
nominations? That's right. I should be
not be moving that fast. We have to

1523
02:09:44,960 --> 02:09:51,760
record your names. That's all. Any other
nominations for a one-year term as

1524
02:09:49,520 --> 02:09:56,480
constable?
Hearing no other nominations, I will

1525
02:09:54,079 --> 02:10:01,599
instruct the I declare the nominations
closed and instruct the clerk to cast

1526
02:09:58,480 --> 02:10:05,520
one ballot for Warren Batty as a first
constable one-year term. All those in

1527
02:10:03,280 --> 02:10:10,960
favor, please say I. I
>> oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

1528
02:10:08,560 --> 02:10:15,440
The eyes do have it. I will now
entertain nominations for a one-year

1529
02:10:13,440 --> 02:10:22,880
term as second constable currently held
by Mike Cuts.

1530
02:10:18,400 --> 02:10:28,440
Any nominations? Yes, Mike Cuts.
>> Mike Cuts. Okay. I heard a lot of Mike

1531
02:10:24,719 --> 02:10:28,440
Cuts. Any other nominations?

1532
02:10:29,040 --> 02:10:36,800
» Oh, Andy did. You can use Andy. I did
say here's somebody somewhere, but Andy

1533
02:10:34,400 --> 02:10:42,719
Snelling. Okay. Any other nominations
for a one-year term as second constable?

1534
02:10:40,079 --> 02:10:46,880
Hearing no other. Come on. You can put
people in jail. No. No. I'm only

1535
02:10:44,960 --> 02:10:50,320
kidding. Any other any other
nominations? Hearing none. I instruct

1536
02:10:48,480 --> 02:10:53,920
the clerk to cast one ballot for Mike
Cuts for a one-year term as second

1537
02:10:52,320 --> 02:10:58,079
constable. All those in favor, please
say I.

1538
02:10:55,199 --> 02:11:03,920
» Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it.

1539
02:11:00,560 --> 02:11:10,400
I will now entertain nominations for a
library trustee term of five years

1540
02:11:06,719 --> 02:11:17,760
currently held by Marley Atley.
>> Okay, Marley has been nominated. Yes,

1541
02:11:15,679 --> 02:11:21,599
» Sandy Glazer.
>> That was Hang on now. I got too many

1542
02:11:20,159 --> 02:11:27,840
names running through my head. That was
Kathy Degraier. And you said Sandy

1543
02:11:23,599 --> 02:11:34,679
Glazier with his with a Z. S. Sorry.
Glazier with an S. Okay. And then we

1544
02:11:30,239 --> 02:11:34,679
also had Marley. Okay.

1545
02:11:36,560 --> 02:11:42,280
Is she not here?
H.

1546
02:11:44,960 --> 02:11:51,920
Okay.
She said that Marley has declined the

1547
02:11:48,960 --> 02:11:55,760
nomination.
We know this for sure because you can't

1548
02:11:53,679 --> 02:12:02,320
be elected without
being here.

1549
02:11:58,560 --> 02:12:10,719
Okay. She did decline.
Okay. Okay. So, we have

1550
02:12:07,280 --> 02:12:17,760
um Sandy Glazier
nominated for a one-year term as a li

1551
02:12:13,840 --> 02:12:21,840
one five-year term as library trustee.
Any other nominations? If you're

1552
02:12:19,679 --> 02:12:26,239
confused, please say so. Any other
nominations?

1553
02:12:23,599 --> 02:12:29,599
Okay. Hearing no other nominations, I
close the nominations. If there's no

1554
02:12:28,079 --> 02:12:36,239
objection, I close the nominations and
instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

1555
02:12:32,639 --> 02:12:42,079
for a 5-year term as library trustee for
Sandy Glazier.

1556
02:12:39,040 --> 02:12:48,320
All those in favor, please say I. I.
>> Opposed? No. Believe the eyes have it.

1557
02:12:45,599 --> 02:12:55,840
The eyes do have it. I will now
entertain nominations for the WR the

1558
02:12:51,840 --> 02:13:00,880
West River Mutual Modified Union
Education District. Thank you, Joe.

1559
02:12:59,360 --> 02:13:04,159
Okay, it's one three-year term. Is that
Al's position now? Because I couldn't

1560
02:13:02,159 --> 02:13:09,360
figure it out. It's Al Fost's position
now, and he's been nominated. [snorts]

1561
02:13:06,079 --> 02:13:16,639
Any other nominations for one three-year
term as a school board representative?

1562
02:13:13,679 --> 02:13:20,639
Hearing no other nominations,
I declare, if there's no objection, I

1563
02:13:18,800 --> 02:13:25,599
declare the nominations closed and
instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

1564
02:13:22,560 --> 02:13:31,440
for Al Clawson for a three-year term as
a WR MUED representative. All those in

1565
02:13:29,199 --> 02:13:36,880
favor, please say I. I
>> oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.

1566
02:13:34,400 --> 02:13:43,040
The eyes do have it.
Um, I will now cemetery commission. We

1567
02:13:40,560 --> 02:13:48,159
have three positions available,
one five-year term, one two years

1568
02:13:45,840 --> 02:13:53,599
remaining on a 5-year term, and one
three years remaining on a five-year

1569
02:13:49,920 --> 02:14:00,560
term. At first, we're going to vote on
one five-year term that's held by Scott

1570
02:13:56,800 --> 02:14:05,280
Nestrom. I will now Scott Nestrom has
been nominated. Any other nominations

1571
02:14:02,639 --> 02:14:09,440
for the five-year term on the cemetery
commission?

1572
02:14:07,360 --> 02:14:13,679
Hearing no other nominations, and
there's no objection, I will um close

1573
02:14:11,679 --> 02:14:17,840
the nominations and instruct the clerk
to cast one ballot for Scott Nestrom for

1574
02:14:16,159 --> 02:14:21,280
a 5-year term on the Cemetery
Commission. All those in favor, please

1575
02:14:19,840 --> 02:14:27,520
say I.
>> Oppose? No. I believe the eyes have it.

1576
02:14:24,560 --> 02:14:33,840
The eyes do have it.
I will now entertain nominations for a

1577
02:14:30,480 --> 02:14:40,320
two years remaining on a five-year term.
And that is

1578
02:14:36,480 --> 02:14:45,280
uh where'd it go? That is where'd it go?
Carly Sanderson's position. I believe

1579
02:14:42,639 --> 02:14:48,880
she's got two years remaining on a
five-year term. I will now entertain

1580
02:14:46,880 --> 02:14:53,840
nominations.
>> Jay Warren.

1581
02:14:49,920 --> 02:15:00,639
» Jay Warren. Jay Warren has been
nominated. Jay here. Hi Jay. You want to

1582
02:14:58,560 --> 02:15:04,920
just That's Jay, right? He's waving over
there in the corner. Any other

1583
02:15:01,920 --> 02:15:04,920
nominations?

1584
02:15:05,119 --> 02:15:11,119
Hearing no other nominations. And if
there's no objection, I will close the

1585
02:15:09,360 --> 02:15:19,119
nominations and instruct the clerk to
cast one ballot for Jay Warren for

1586
02:15:16,000 --> 02:15:24,800
two years remaining on a five-year term.
All those in favor, please say I. I.

1587
02:15:22,000 --> 02:15:29,760
» Oppose. No.
I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

1588
02:15:27,760 --> 02:15:35,119
have it. I will now entertain
nominations for three years remaining on

1589
02:15:32,320 --> 02:15:39,440
a five-year term uh previously held by
Bruce Bills.

1590
02:15:37,679 --> 02:15:46,880
Timo
>> Tim, can you spell the last name?

1591
02:15:42,880 --> 02:15:54,320
» Oh, Masuko. Thank you. Sorry. I thought
Yeah, I got it. I got I hearing in Okay.

1592
02:15:51,679 --> 02:15:58,960
Um, any other nominations for three
years remaining on a 5-year term of

1593
02:15:56,239 --> 02:16:03,119
cemetery commission? Hearing no other
nominations.

1594
02:16:00,719 --> 02:16:10,239
And seeing it's snowing outside. Hearing
no other nominations. And um,

1595
02:16:07,599 --> 02:16:15,520
no objections. I will close the
nominations and instruct the clerk to

1596
02:16:11,920 --> 02:16:19,440
cast one ballot for Tim Masuko
for a three-year three years remaining

1597
02:16:17,599 --> 02:16:23,840
on a five-year term cemetery commission.
All those in favor, please say I.

1598
02:16:21,840 --> 02:16:29,280
» Oppose. No.
I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

1599
02:16:26,239 --> 02:16:32,479
have it. Um, I'm going to just uh
suspend the rules for a moment. Charlie

1600
02:16:30,800 --> 02:16:37,000
would like to say something about
departing members on the cemetery

1601
02:16:34,000 --> 02:16:37,000
commission.

1602
02:16:38,160 --> 02:16:45,439
» Bills for their service. Bruce is over.
>> Bruce is right over here. I don't know

1603
02:16:42,719 --> 02:16:50,519
if Carly's here or not. Is she here?
Okay. I'd like to thank them for their

1604
02:16:46,960 --> 02:16:52,539
service on the cemetery commission.
[applause]

1605
02:16:57,920 --> 02:17:09,679
Yes, these are unpaid positions. So, we
do thank you uh for serving your town.

1606
02:17:04,880 --> 02:17:14,960
Um Oh my goodness, elections are over.
Great job.

1607
02:17:12,240 --> 02:17:20,559
Okay. And and let me before what
anything any huh? Planning commission we

1608
02:17:18,240 --> 02:17:25,234
we did away with because planning
commission is an appointed position

1609
02:17:22,559 --> 02:17:28,960
theoretically at the very beginning.
[snorts]

1610
02:17:25,840 --> 02:17:32,319
Um I'm people come up to me and say
thank you. You're doing a great job.

1611
02:17:30,080 --> 02:17:36,479
Blah. I couldn't do a good job if you
guys weren't doing a good job. Right. I

1612
02:17:34,719 --> 02:17:39,840
mean no seriously. I mean if you guys
wanted to battle it out I'd be slamming

1613
02:17:38,160 --> 02:17:43,920
my gavvel and we'd have a we'd have a
fist fight. You guys are doing a great

1614
02:17:41,679 --> 02:17:49,200
job which makes this very very good.
We're doing great. Okay, moving on.

1615
02:17:46,639 --> 02:17:53,519
Article five to see if the town will
authorize the select board to set tax

1616
02:17:51,840 --> 02:17:58,160
rate sufficient to cover all monies
raised from municipal entities for the

1617
02:17:55,439 --> 02:18:02,479
period of July 1st, 2026 through June
30th, 2027 to borrow money in

1618
02:18:00,479 --> 02:18:06,639
anticipation of taxes. I will now
entertain a motion. Suarez move.

1619
02:18:04,800 --> 02:18:14,280
» So move Suarez. Who said that? I'll say
second over here. Who's second? Eugene.

1620
02:18:09,599 --> 02:18:14,280
Thank you. Got it. Discussion.

1621
02:18:15,280 --> 02:18:20,639
Seeing no discussion. Did was that a
stand up to discuss? Yes, discuss.

1622
02:18:20,000 --> 02:18:24,719
Nothing.
>> Oh. Oh, you were going to move the

1623
02:18:21,679 --> 02:18:28,240
microphone. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Okay. I
you had it in your hand. I didn't

1624
02:18:25,840 --> 02:18:33,200
realize. Okay. Any other discussion?
Seeing no discussion, there's a motion

1625
02:18:30,240 --> 02:18:37,280
before us. um to see if the town will
authorize the select board to set tax

1626
02:18:35,280 --> 02:18:42,399
rate sufficient to cover all monies
raised for remissible entities for the

1627
02:18:39,519 --> 02:18:47,599
period of July 1st, 2026 through June
30th, 2027 to borrow money in

1628
02:18:44,960 --> 02:18:52,160
anticipation of taxes. A yes vote passes
that motion. A no vote defeats it.

1629
02:18:50,160 --> 02:18:56,319
Questions?
All those in favor, please say I.

1630
02:18:55,120 --> 02:19:00,800
» Well, there was a question. Sorry.
Question. Sorry. Question.

1631
02:18:59,200 --> 02:19:09,080
» This based off the budget that's in the
report. Oh, this is a this is statuto.

1632
02:19:03,519 --> 02:19:09,080
This th this is a boilerplate

1633
02:19:09,120 --> 02:19:14,880
article that we
>> Sounds like a blank check.

1634
02:19:11,840 --> 02:19:17,880
» No, it's not a blank check. This is a a
boilerplate

1635
02:19:18,000 --> 02:19:25,040
article that's in every year that
actually I I didn't want to get into

1636
02:19:22,559 --> 02:19:28,200
this. That's not required to even be on
the warning.

1637
02:19:29,040 --> 02:19:40,559
things that are statutoily
by law given to the select board do not

1638
02:19:36,719 --> 02:19:44,880
need to be voted on by the people. So
next year this will not be there. Okay?

1639
02:19:43,280 --> 02:19:51,120
Because
they are statutoily allowed to set the

1640
02:19:48,479 --> 02:19:56,800
tax rate and to borrow money. The state
has already given them that power. So

1641
02:19:53,280 --> 02:20:03,040
you saying no really doesn't mean
anything. So, so, so that I'm trying to

1642
02:20:00,560 --> 02:20:05,520
clean up the warrant by going to classes
and school and all this stuff. And

1643
02:20:04,240 --> 02:20:10,000
that's this is one of them. I didn't
want to say it today, but that that's

1644
02:20:07,920 --> 02:20:15,920
what this is. So, if there's any other
questions, I mean, good question, but

1645
02:20:13,600 --> 02:20:18,920
seeing no other questions, we have a yes
question.

1646
02:20:20,560 --> 02:20:23,560
» Nunis,

1647
02:20:24,640 --> 02:20:35,160
» board fire department. Um,
are the different Yeah.

1648
02:20:30,399 --> 02:20:35,160
» Listers, bookkeepers. Yes.

1649
02:20:42,240 --> 02:20:49,640
» This this
>> see this is why I didn't want to do

1650
02:20:46,640 --> 02:20:49,640
this.

1651
02:20:50,880 --> 02:20:58,479
» The town approves the budget and then
they have to set the they have to set

1652
02:20:54,960 --> 02:21:04,160
the the tax rate. based upon all these
things you're voting on. They have that

1653
02:21:00,880 --> 02:21:11,280
statutory right in law anyway.
So for us to be voting on it really

1654
02:21:08,319 --> 02:21:14,920
doesn't achieve anything.
Okay. Yes.

1655
02:21:18,880 --> 02:21:26,240
» Okay. Any other discussion?
>> Okay. Okay, seeing no other discussion,

1656
02:21:24,399 --> 02:21:30,000
we have a motion before us to see if the
town will authorize the select board to

1657
02:21:28,160 --> 02:21:34,720
set tax rates sufficient to cover all
monies raised for municipal entities for

1658
02:21:32,319 --> 02:21:39,760
the period of July 1st, 2026 through
June 30th, 2027 and borrow money in

1659
02:21:37,439 --> 02:21:45,439
anticipation of taxes. All those in
favor, please say I.

1660
02:21:41,920 --> 02:21:52,399
» Oppose? No. I believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it.

1661
02:21:48,720 --> 02:21:57,120
Okay. Article six.
And if you if I'm moving fast and you do

1662
02:21:55,439 --> 02:22:01,920
have your hand raised and I don't see
you, yell. That's okay to yell. I'm not

1663
02:22:00,640 --> 02:22:06,160
you're not yelling at me. You're just
yelling to get my attention. Article

1664
02:22:04,000 --> 02:22:10,800
six, to see if the town will authorize
its property tax collector to receive

1665
02:22:08,479 --> 02:22:19,359
its real property taxes quarterly.
August 26, 2026, November 24, 2026,

1666
02:22:14,800 --> 02:22:23,200
February 24, 2027, and May 26, 2027.
Monthly interest will be charged at the

1667
02:22:21,359 --> 02:22:28,080
rate of 1 half percent or fraction
thereof. Interest of 1% or fraction

1668
02:22:25,680 --> 02:22:35,760
thereof plus penalties will commence on
May 30th, 2027. Now entertain a motion.

1669
02:22:33,040 --> 02:22:39,960
» Suarez got it.
And Katie, any discussion

1670
02:22:40,399 --> 02:22:46,399
hearing? No discussion. Do I have to
read it again?

1671
02:22:44,640 --> 02:22:50,399
Thank you.
Okay. Any other discussion? No. Hearing

1672
02:22:48,800 --> 02:22:53,760
no discussion, we have a motion before
us that I just previously read and if

1673
02:22:52,479 --> 02:22:59,439
you're okay, I will not. If there's no
objection, I won't read it again. A yes

1674
02:22:56,720 --> 02:23:02,960
vote passes this motion. A no vote
defeats it. All those in favor, please

1675
02:23:01,840 --> 02:23:06,800
say I.
>> I.

1676
02:23:03,760 --> 02:23:12,720
» Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it.

1677
02:23:10,000 --> 02:23:18,880
Okay.
Article seven to see if the town will

1678
02:23:14,720 --> 02:23:22,960
vote to appropriate $635,526
to pay for the running expenses and

1679
02:23:20,640 --> 02:23:28,240
liabilities of the town of which
$441,585

1680
02:23:25,840 --> 02:23:30,960
will be raised in taxes. I will now
entertain a motion.

1681
02:23:29,439 --> 02:23:33,760
» All
second.

1682
02:23:32,000 --> 02:23:37,560
» It's been moved and seconded. Eugene
seconded it. Okay.

1683
02:23:44,560 --> 02:23:48,880
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Yes, you need a
microphone. Yes, I was about to say. No,

1684
02:23:47,840 --> 02:23:50,560
my bad.
>> Start again.

1685
02:23:49,840 --> 02:23:55,680
» Amendment.
>> Not that one. I got more here.

1686
02:23:54,319 --> 02:23:59,520
More here. More here. More here.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Okay. I'm

1687
02:23:57,280 --> 02:24:03,920
proposing an amendment um in response to
the voting down of the earlier treasure

1688
02:24:01,680 --> 02:24:07,920
article um to make sure that the general
fund is reflecting of that. So, I would

1689
02:24:06,479 --> 02:24:13,280
like to change the line item for
treasurer salary from 5,000 to

1690
02:24:10,479 --> 02:24:16,720
$35,124.70,
which represents a 2.8% increase that

1691
02:24:15,439 --> 02:24:18,560
was applied across the board.
>> Wait, wait, wait, wait. Say that number

1692
02:24:17,920 --> 02:24:22,640
again.
>> 35124.7.

1693
02:24:21,439 --> 02:24:29,880
» Okay, thank you.
>> I would also like to propose increasing

1694
02:24:24,800 --> 02:24:29,880
the benefits line from $0 to 21,000.

1695
02:24:30,240 --> 02:24:37,280
» Okay, so wait, somebody needs a
calculator then. So, is that all going

1696
02:24:33,840 --> 02:24:43,160
to be raised by taxes?
>> That's got to be raised by taxes. So,

1697
02:24:38,800 --> 02:24:43,160
those So, so the 35124

1698
02:24:44,640 --> 02:24:50,399
and the 21,000
both get added to both those numbers.

1699
02:24:49,840 --> 02:24:53,680
» Yes.
>> Okay. So, I got to do that.

1700
02:24:52,319 --> 02:24:56,160
» Okay. Does everybody understand what's
occurring?

1701
02:24:54,479 --> 02:25:00,960
» Oh, wait. because because
>> and wait and

1702
02:24:57,520 --> 02:25:06,960
» remove uh change the finance office
assistant line from 20,000 to 5,000.

1703
02:25:05,120 --> 02:25:08,000
» Okay. Are you doing the math on this?
Can you

1704
02:25:07,520 --> 02:25:10,240
» I am.
>> Yeah. Okay.

1705
02:25:08,880 --> 02:25:12,080
» Give me the final number so I can
explain.

1706
02:25:10,720 --> 02:25:16,319
» So the total change
>> Okay. Go ahead.

1707
02:25:13,520 --> 02:25:20,680
» The increase of those two items and the
decrease of one is 36,124.7.

1708
02:25:20,720 --> 02:25:27,520
And if anybody else is out there also
checking my math that is welcome.

1709
02:25:25,680 --> 02:25:31,040
» Okay. So what does Okay. So what just
occurred? Go ahead.

1710
02:25:28,640 --> 02:25:36,240
» So now the bottom line that increase of
36,000 to the 635

1711
02:25:34,479 --> 02:25:41,560
» 526
should now be 671 650.7

1712
02:25:42,240 --> 02:25:52,560
» for the total general fund budget. Then
three

1713
02:25:48,560 --> 02:26:00,160
and that should be
to the amount raised in taxes 4779.7

1714
02:25:57,439 --> 02:26:02,399
» 47749
>> 709

1715
02:26:01,200 --> 02:26:04,880
» 7097
>> Does that square with you Craig?

1716
02:26:04,160 --> 02:26:09,840
» Say it again.
>> Great. 4779.7

1717
02:26:08,160 --> 02:26:13,280
is the amount to be raising taxes
everybody.

1718
02:26:11,040 --> 02:26:17,680
» Okay. You good Nick? Good. Good. Okay.
So, what just happened was because

1719
02:26:15,040 --> 02:26:24,000
because uh you voted down and it's so
it's not bad or good because you voted

1720
02:26:19,680 --> 02:26:27,840
down article three which was having the
bookkeeper

1721
02:26:25,600 --> 02:26:32,080
increased and the treasurer decreased.
You defeated that. But that's what the g

1722
02:26:30,319 --> 02:26:38,160
that's the budget they were working off
of. Because that was defeated. They need

1723
02:26:34,960 --> 02:26:46,160
to change the the the some of the monies
in the general fund so that a a a full

1724
02:26:41,200 --> 02:26:52,000
treasurer can be um employed
can be paid and the bookkeeper that they

1725
02:26:49,600 --> 02:26:56,720
were increasing would be decreased. Does
that make sense?

1726
02:26:54,080 --> 02:27:02,479
Yes. Okay. So, the new numbers we have
an amendment and we're going to discuss

1727
02:26:58,160 --> 02:27:06,600
this in a second. an amendment to change
to appropriate $671,650.70

1728
02:27:07,920 --> 02:27:14,920
to pay for the running expenses and
liabilities of the town of which

1729
02:27:11,920 --> 02:27:14,920
$477,79.70

1730
02:27:16,080 --> 02:27:21,200
is to be raised in taxes. That's the
amend. Is there a second to that

1731
02:27:19,840 --> 02:27:24,479
amendment?
>> Second. Steve Frisk seconded it. So

1732
02:27:23,120 --> 02:27:28,080
there's it's been moved and second
amendment. We are only going to talk

1733
02:27:26,240 --> 02:27:32,640
about the amendment right now. If you
have other questions about the general

1734
02:27:29,840 --> 02:27:36,080
fund, once this amendment is voted on,
then we'll be talking more about the

1735
02:27:34,160 --> 02:27:39,840
general fund. It's not the end of the
general fund discussion, but right now

1736
02:27:37,920 --> 02:27:45,319
we're just talking about this amendment.
Any questions on the amendment? Yes,

1737
02:27:42,319 --> 02:27:45,319
sir.

1738
02:27:48,640 --> 02:27:54,399
» Push the button. There you go. Greg, I
don't know if those numbers include the

1739
02:27:52,000 --> 02:27:58,640
benefits for the
>> They do. Okay. All right.

1740
02:27:56,560 --> 02:28:04,080
» Yep. As long as those numbers are added
up correctly, you're the ones you said.

1741
02:28:01,359 --> 02:28:08,800
Okay. Because I did you did mention
benefits in there. Yes. Okay. Any other

1742
02:28:06,399 --> 02:28:13,040
questions on this amendment? We'll get
to the g the the overall general fund in

1743
02:28:10,960 --> 02:28:17,800
a moment.
Okay. Yes. In the back. Way back.

1744
02:28:21,840 --> 02:28:29,280
» Thank you,
>> Liza Swen Martin. I just have a

1745
02:28:26,000 --> 02:28:34,479
clarification. So the 21,000 in benefits
was never paid to Elaine in the past,

1746
02:28:31,280 --> 02:28:39,040
but we're now making it a new benefit.
>> That is not correct. We had formed the

1747
02:28:36,640 --> 02:28:42,479
budget because we had to decide how
we're going to present a budget. So we

1748
02:28:40,479 --> 02:28:46,240
went with the original article 3
assuming that would pass. This is how

1749
02:28:44,000 --> 02:28:49,840
we're going to present the budget. Since
we were reducing the amount for the

1750
02:28:48,000 --> 02:28:53,280
treasurer, we were not going to be
offering benefits to that treasurer

1751
02:28:51,280 --> 02:28:58,560
since they would be a much uh smaller
role. So now because we have a full-time

1752
02:28:56,240 --> 02:29:01,920
treasurer again, we're going back to
paying the benefits as we have been or

1753
02:29:00,479 --> 02:29:03,439
offering to pay the benefits as we have
been.

1754
02:29:02,240 --> 02:29:12,640
» Thank you.
>> Any other discussion on the amendment?

1755
02:29:08,319 --> 02:29:18,479
Okay. Hearing no other discussion, we
have an amendment before us to change uh

1756
02:29:16,479 --> 02:29:23,600
the numbers
um to do you want me to so that the

1757
02:29:21,359 --> 02:29:27,479
amendment will change the numbers to
appropriate $671,650.70

1758
02:29:27,920 --> 02:29:34,680
to pay for the running expenses
liability of the town of which

1759
02:29:31,680 --> 02:29:34,680
$477,479.70

1760
02:29:35,120 --> 02:29:42,640
to be raised in taxes that we're voting
on the amendment That is if it passes

1761
02:29:41,040 --> 02:29:46,640
that's going to become the main motion.
If it fails we go back to the other main

1762
02:29:44,800 --> 02:29:51,680
motion and then we can discuss that.
This is not the end. Does everybody

1763
02:29:48,399 --> 02:29:57,439
understand? Okay. A yes vote passes the
amendment. A no vote defeats it.

1764
02:29:54,479 --> 02:29:59,040
Questions. All those in favor please say
I.

1765
02:29:58,240 --> 02:30:04,720
» I.
>> Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.

1766
02:30:02,319 --> 02:30:11,120
The eyes have it. We now have a motion
in front of us that asks

1767
02:30:08,640 --> 02:30:14,120
that the town vote to appropriate
$671,650770

1768
02:30:14,560 --> 02:30:21,080
to pay for the running expenses and
liabilities of the town of which

1769
02:30:18,080 --> 02:30:21,080
$477,79.70

1770
02:30:21,920 --> 02:30:30,560
to be raised in taxes. I open it up to
general def general

1771
02:30:27,600 --> 02:30:34,720
general fund discussion. I'm sorry. I
have a retainer in my mouth because when

1772
02:30:32,319 --> 02:30:38,319
I was a kid, I lost my front tooth and
I'd be standing up here without a front

1773
02:30:36,399 --> 02:30:47,560
tooth, without the silly, but I can't
talk with it. Sorry. Okay, discussion

1774
02:30:43,120 --> 02:30:47,560
general fund. Yes, please.

1775
02:30:50,640 --> 02:31:02,960
So, I've noticed in the list of um uh
monies for certain things in the book um

1776
02:30:59,680 --> 02:31:08,640
like the common uh the gazebo fund, the
fountain fund, uh the the town hall

1777
02:31:06,640 --> 02:31:12,800
fund. There's a whole list of things
that uh where we're appropriating money

1778
02:31:10,720 --> 02:31:16,240
for these things, but I'm just
wondering, I haven't really seen a whole

1779
02:31:14,720 --> 02:31:20,160
lot of that going towards where the
appropriations are supposed to be going.

1780
02:31:18,240 --> 02:31:24,399
Do they just go back into the general
fund if they're not used? Where does

1781
02:31:23,520 --> 02:31:26,880
that money go? If you
>> Okay, so the general fund, wait, the

1782
02:31:25,760 --> 02:31:31,040
general I should have said this in the
beginning. The general fund are on pages

1783
02:31:28,479 --> 02:31:32,720
9 through 15, just so you know. Um I
should

1784
02:31:31,200 --> 02:31:35,920
» Are you asking about the general fund or
the reserves?

1785
02:31:33,840 --> 02:31:39,439
» I'm asking about the general fund. If
you go through the list of monies that

1786
02:31:37,840 --> 02:31:41,280
are being designated in the general
fund.

1787
02:31:39,840 --> 02:31:43,520
» Yeah. Could you give me a page number
that you're looking at just to make sure

1788
02:31:42,240 --> 02:31:49,720
we're looking at the same thing?
>> Well, I wrote it down on a piece of

1789
02:31:45,200 --> 02:31:49,720
paper, so hang in there.

1790
02:31:54,399 --> 02:32:05,840
Okay. Okay. On page 15,
there's um monies for tree management,

1791
02:32:02,080 --> 02:32:11,120
for lawn uh for tree care. There's money
for fountain care. There's money.

1792
02:32:08,800 --> 02:32:15,840
» Oh, for
>> 14 page 14 on the common, it says lawn

1793
02:32:13,920 --> 02:32:19,680
care, tree care.
>> So, those are new lines that we were

1794
02:32:18,000 --> 02:32:22,080
establishing. Uh we know that there are
some tree care that needs to be done. We

1795
02:32:20,960 --> 02:32:26,479
know that there are some issues with the
lawn uh at the common. So, those are

1796
02:32:24,720 --> 02:32:28,800
proposed for this coming fiscal year,
but they were not in previous fiscal

1797
02:32:28,160 --> 02:32:35,439
years.
>> Well, actually, they were they've been

1798
02:32:31,439 --> 02:32:38,720
in fiscal years for the last four years.
>> They might have been in municipal land

1799
02:32:37,359 --> 02:32:41,600
management. I think this is another
piece where we're talking about trying

1800
02:32:40,240 --> 02:32:45,439
to make a little bit more transparent
about where the monies are being spent.

1801
02:32:43,600 --> 02:32:49,200
So things were placed in kind of this
bucket municipal land management uh

1802
02:32:47,680 --> 02:32:52,000
where there was specific Taff meadows
and there was tree management and lawn

1803
02:32:50,479 --> 02:32:57,439
care common tree care common but then we
also had a separate common line item or

1804
02:32:54,720 --> 02:33:00,720
bucket. So really just trying to say if
we have things for the common let's put

1805
02:32:59,359 --> 02:33:04,319
that under the common instead of
somewhere else but still saying that

1806
02:33:02,240 --> 02:33:07,680
it's for the common. So that's why they
look a little different. If to your

1807
02:33:05,920 --> 02:33:12,319
question if something goes unspent does
it go back into the general fund? Yes.

1808
02:33:09,600 --> 02:33:17,040
That's how it goes. um that's it becomes
either a surplus or whatever it is or

1809
02:33:15,200 --> 02:33:21,200
whatever you know however it shakes up
at the end of the year. Uh but any

1810
02:33:18,880 --> 02:33:24,240
unspent monies do go back into the
general fund

1811
02:33:22,160 --> 02:33:29,120
» because according to all of my research
and all of the previous town reports

1812
02:33:27,359 --> 02:33:37,359
these monies have been being designated
for the past four years every year. And

1813
02:33:33,200 --> 02:33:42,080
so far I'm I don't know whether any of
that's actually gone to what it was

1814
02:33:39,280 --> 02:33:45,920
designated for. That's my question. It's
like so it just goes into the general

1815
02:33:44,479 --> 02:33:49,920
fund if it doesn't get used for the
gazebo or if it doesn't get used for the

1816
02:33:48,240 --> 02:33:52,800
fountain or if it doesn't get used for
the trees or however.

1817
02:33:50,880 --> 02:33:57,920
» May I May I say something, Laura?
>> Sure. If you if you look at page 14

1818
02:33:55,040 --> 02:34:04,720
under tree management, we had budgeted
$35,000 and 3500 and then in 25 we

1819
02:34:02,960 --> 02:34:11,040
didn't spend anything because we were
unsure that the fertilizing of the trees

1820
02:34:07,920 --> 02:34:16,319
that we did was the correct approach.
Then we decided we were going to budget

1821
02:34:13,439 --> 02:34:22,800
it again. But that 3500 that was unspent
in 25 went into the bottom line and

1822
02:34:20,080 --> 02:34:27,120
helped to create a surplus.
So, it's not that the the money went

1823
02:34:25,040 --> 02:34:31,840
somewhere. It just stayed there and then
the next year we decided to budget it

1824
02:34:29,120 --> 02:34:36,080
again. And uh we have a plan for the
common of which you were on the

1825
02:34:33,359 --> 02:34:41,200
committee. So, um I hope that answers
your question.

1826
02:34:38,560 --> 02:34:48,040
» Okay. Any other questions? Yes, sir. In
the back.

1827
02:34:43,680 --> 02:34:48,040
» Whose whose mic have I got?

1828
02:35:07,760 --> 02:35:15,517
You just Yeah. Don't press it multiple.
>> Okay, there we go.

1829
02:35:12,640 --> 02:35:18,720
» Um, we're entering into the list
[clears throat] of the budgets items.

1830
02:35:17,280 --> 02:35:24,880
We're starting off obviously with the
general fund and I think this is a a

1831
02:35:21,760 --> 02:35:29,120
good opportunity to look at it overall
that if we look at all the spending

1832
02:35:26,720 --> 02:35:35,760
that's being proposed here it is a
substantial increase. It's a little

1833
02:35:31,040 --> 02:35:39,920
under $400,000 over last year or roughly
27%.

1834
02:35:37,439 --> 02:35:44,479
So this is going to be the start of as
we go through these different items of

1835
02:35:42,880 --> 02:35:48,240
what your tax bill is going to look
like. And so this budget that we're

1836
02:35:46,560 --> 02:35:52,000
talking about is going to substantially
increase your taxes. So it's a case

1837
02:35:50,800 --> 02:35:56,880
where we want to make sure that we're
looking at all the different items as we

1838
02:35:54,080 --> 02:36:03,760
go through them and add them up. And in
response to I think what Laura was

1839
02:35:59,840 --> 02:36:11,359
saying is that there was a surplus in
the general fund of roughly 34,000

1840
02:36:07,359 --> 02:36:19,040
um prior year and prior year being the
year that ended last uh June.

1841
02:36:15,120 --> 02:36:25,680
um that was not utilized to lower taxes.
Um there's also another there was 92 in

1842
02:36:22,880 --> 02:36:32,479
change in the highway department which
we only use $17,000

1843
02:36:28,240 --> 02:36:37,920
to reduce taxes leaving another $75,000
or so. So there's about $110,000 of

1844
02:36:35,439 --> 02:36:42,800
surpluses that have not been used for
the purpose of reducing taxes. So I want

1845
02:36:41,280 --> 02:36:46,479
to bring that point up as we go through
and vote on the different items for

1846
02:36:45,120 --> 02:36:51,040
people to consider whether they are
willing to pay that level of increase in

1847
02:36:48,640 --> 02:36:53,120
taxation. So thank you.
>> Moderator, may I respond to that?

1848
02:36:52,640 --> 02:36:58,880
» Yes.
>> Um it has been recommended by the

1849
02:36:55,840 --> 02:37:05,280
auditors and Nimmer to keep a certain
amount of surplus available um

1850
02:37:02,160 --> 02:37:11,280
approximately 10 or so%. So to spend
that down to zero just to offset taxes

1851
02:37:08,720 --> 02:37:15,920
while sounds nice in theory still hurts
us in the end. And ultimately that's

1852
02:37:13,439 --> 02:37:19,120
kind of why there is an increase in the
amount to be raised in taxes this year

1853
02:37:17,359 --> 02:37:23,120
but actually the general fund budget did
not increase be increase by that much

1854
02:37:21,120 --> 02:37:28,960
year-over-year. The reason being is
because we had spent um our fund balance

1855
02:37:25,840 --> 02:37:33,439
our surplus last year and now we have
such a small fund balance that we don't

1856
02:37:30,800 --> 02:37:36,880
have the ability to offset the taxes.
And so that's why we're trying to just

1857
02:37:35,359 --> 02:37:41,439
make sure that we are keeping that
surplus where it's being recommended,

1858
02:37:39,280 --> 02:37:45,200
trying not to spend it down just to
offset taxes when it's still just going

1859
02:37:43,040 --> 02:37:48,960
to increase our taxes later on down the
line. So I just want to clarify that

1860
02:37:47,200 --> 02:37:52,960
point
and that's the same for the highway

1861
02:37:50,399 --> 02:37:56,479
although that is I'm going to say not
the topic of this article and we can

1862
02:37:54,720 --> 02:38:00,479
talk about that at the next article.
>> Right. I want to just give an overview

1863
02:37:57,920 --> 02:38:07,280
on that. And I would say that typically
when you're creating a fund um out of

1864
02:38:04,560 --> 02:38:12,880
surplus from a prior year, it usually is
designated if you're going to keep it as

1865
02:38:10,160 --> 02:38:17,120
a reserve fund. So, it does show up. The
way it's budgeted here, it does not show

1866
02:38:14,880 --> 02:38:23,920
up and it's not visible to people
looking at the budget.

1867
02:38:20,479 --> 02:38:28,640
» Okay. Yes, Bob.
So, I'd like to call your attention to

1868
02:38:25,840 --> 02:38:34,080
the bottom of page 11. It says planning
board. It's the planning commission.

1869
02:38:30,880 --> 02:38:39,680
Many of you will remember
Irene and the damage that was done to

1870
02:38:36,880 --> 02:38:45,600
many of our roads. The planning
commission is responsible for having

1871
02:38:41,840 --> 02:38:52,560
up-to-date flood ordinances.
That ordinance needs to be updated

1872
02:38:50,000 --> 02:38:58,399
either this year or next year. But
either way, there isn't money in the

1873
02:38:54,880 --> 02:39:02,880
budget to do it. So many of you should
understand that we will not be

1874
02:39:00,479 --> 02:39:08,560
reimbursed if there's another event like
Irene tomorrow.

1875
02:39:06,240 --> 02:39:14,880
And that's because of the way the select
board decided to take that funding out

1876
02:39:11,520 --> 02:39:18,680
of their budget.
Okay. Any other discussion?

1877
02:39:20,640 --> 02:39:28,359
Okay. Hearing no other discussion, we
have Oh, sorry. Yes, sir.

1878
02:39:24,240 --> 02:39:28,359
» We may or may not be able to answer

1879
02:39:29,760 --> 02:39:40,000
or whatever
that could be uh taken out of reserve

1880
02:39:35,840 --> 02:39:45,280
and put into reducing taxes overall. Is
there any I mean it's it's not the

1881
02:39:42,000 --> 02:39:50,319
suggested um way according to the
auditors, but is there an estimate on

1882
02:39:48,160 --> 02:39:54,960
what $100,000
difference would save a towns and

1883
02:39:52,319 --> 02:39:59,920
taxpayer?
I couldn't give you that off the top of

1884
02:39:57,120 --> 02:40:04,000
my head. Uh if we had $100,000 in
surplus in the general fund, which we do

1885
02:40:01,600 --> 02:40:07,600
not, that $90,000 figure is for the
highway fund. Okay? uh if we had that

1886
02:40:06,240 --> 02:40:11,520
for the general fund, it would reduce
the amount to be raised in taxes from

1887
02:40:09,040 --> 02:40:15,280
400 down to 300,000, right? That's kind
of what's offsetting the actual running

1888
02:40:13,760 --> 02:40:19,200
expenses and what we actually need to
raise in taxes is that if we had that to

1889
02:40:18,240 --> 02:40:23,760
apply it,
>> I guess I'm curious if it's a negligible

1890
02:40:21,040 --> 02:40:27,840
amount or is it a large amount per
person? I'm I'm sure it's hard to

1891
02:40:25,520 --> 02:40:30,560
calculate, but do we have any idea of
what that

1892
02:40:28,560 --> 02:40:33,520
» It would probably be a significant
decrease.

1893
02:40:31,920 --> 02:40:37,040
» Okay. I'm curious,
>> but

1894
02:40:35,200 --> 02:40:40,359
Okay. But if you don't have an answer,
that's sufficient.

1895
02:40:40,640 --> 02:40:49,520
» Okay. Well, this is this will be it.
>> Each $100,000, assuming that the grand

1896
02:40:46,960 --> 02:40:58,240
list stays roughly the same, will be
about 5 and 3/4 cents in the tax rate.

1897
02:40:53,920 --> 02:41:04,000
So, we last year our tax rate was 828
or something like that per 100. And so

1898
02:41:01,120 --> 02:41:09,840
each $100,000 that we do an increased
spending or reduce spending will change

1899
02:41:06,800 --> 02:41:14,399
that by about five and three/4 cents.
>> Okay. So that's okay.

1900
02:41:12,000 --> 02:41:19,479
» Of the mill.
>> Okay. Discussion between members. Yes,

1901
02:41:16,479 --> 02:41:19,479
Bob.

1902
02:41:20,960 --> 02:41:28,080
» This goes back to something that's been
said before on my copy of the town

1903
02:41:26,319 --> 02:41:33,280
report. I've got red circles all over
the place because money comes and goes

1904
02:41:30,399 --> 02:41:38,800
and it just disappears. And it's in
areas like wages, repairs, maintenance.

1905
02:41:36,319 --> 02:41:45,120
There's no money. Suddenly there's 2500,
2,000. Down below we have repairs,

1906
02:41:41,520 --> 02:41:49,760
maintenance. Same item apparently. 7500,
3,000, 7500, 5,000. There's no

1907
02:41:47,840 --> 02:41:53,760
explanation. Money comes and goes. I
don't know where it's going to or what

1908
02:41:51,359 --> 02:41:59,280
it's been spent on.
>> Okay. Any other discussion? Yes. Laura,

1909
02:41:57,200 --> 02:42:06,600
have you spoken yet? Laura, you have
Irv, do do I first hasn't spoken

1910
02:42:02,720 --> 02:42:06,600
right there and then Lauri?

1911
02:42:06,640 --> 02:42:14,560
» Oh,
that this money it's in the reserve and

1912
02:42:11,040 --> 02:42:18,720
stuff. If it's earmarked,
then that's the only thing it can be

1913
02:42:16,319 --> 02:42:23,920
spent on. It can't you can't just take
it out. And they was one in there that

1914
02:42:21,600 --> 02:42:28,560
had stipulations on it and they taken
money out of it.

1915
02:42:25,680 --> 02:42:32,240
Now that's illegal.
Couldn't have brought statues. You

1916
02:42:30,160 --> 02:42:37,120
cannot do that
without a vote of the people.

1917
02:42:35,120 --> 02:42:42,800
So you'd have to do it at the next town
meeting

1918
02:42:39,200 --> 02:42:47,920
and they've already spent it.
Hey, any other discussion? That was that

1919
02:42:45,600 --> 02:42:52,240
was Have you guys come up front to
speak?

1920
02:42:49,439 --> 02:42:57,680
Microphone. Everybody come here. Speak.
Um, I just back to Bob's remark about

1921
02:42:55,359 --> 02:43:01,520
FEMA payment. I need some clarification
on why you're saying that we if we had a

1922
02:42:59,680 --> 02:43:06,240
flood tomorrow, you're saying we are
non-compliant

1923
02:43:03,760 --> 02:43:09,680
» to to receive any funds.
>> We're talking general fund. I I know

1924
02:43:08,560 --> 02:43:15,439
we're talking general fund and that's
that's a fair question, but

1925
02:43:12,319 --> 02:43:19,200
» he just stated that the select board
>> has done something to saying that we are

1926
02:43:17,280 --> 02:43:22,000
not qualified for FEMA tomorrow if we
have a flood. I'm just confused.

1927
02:43:20,800 --> 02:43:26,560
» What?
Is that true or not? Yes or no?

1928
02:43:24,160 --> 02:43:31,120
» No, that's what Bob referring to having
an up-to-date flood plane ordinance,

1929
02:43:28,399 --> 02:43:34,240
which would be a requirement for um FEMA
grants. Correct. Is that right?

1930
02:43:32,720 --> 02:43:36,240
» We're talking about the same thing. Yes.
>> So, he's talking about the flood plane

1931
02:43:35,520 --> 02:43:38,160
ordinance,
>> right?

1932
02:43:37,200 --> 02:43:41,680
» Which was
>> and and Bob said that it's not up to

1933
02:43:39,760 --> 02:43:45,359
date and we won't get FEMA money
>> if it does not get updated. They have

1934
02:43:43,279 --> 02:43:50,560
been working on that over the last year
and change, right, with Windham

1935
02:43:46,960 --> 02:43:54,080
Regional. And then this is a bit that is
carrying over into the next year that we

1936
02:43:52,800 --> 02:43:59,120
were expecting to finish in the last
year but didn't fully get finished. Am I

1937
02:43:56,880 --> 02:44:03,680
understanding that correctly? There was
a small bit

1938
02:44:00,319 --> 02:44:07,600
» Bob I I just don't think it's totally
true that I don't think that's the case

1939
02:44:05,600 --> 02:44:10,880
and I'm just
>> we're talking about the general fund and

1940
02:44:09,120 --> 02:44:13,439
and funding. We're not I don't want to
get bogged down on whether

1941
02:44:12,160 --> 02:44:17,760
» Anyways, I just got one quick
clarification if I can. Okay,

1942
02:44:16,000 --> 02:44:20,800
» we got lawn care
>> for the common $4,000.

1943
02:44:19,760 --> 02:44:25,840
» Mhm.
>> What is that for?

1944
02:44:23,040 --> 02:44:34,279
» Lawn. That's a valid question. Lawn lawn
care. $4,000. What is that for?

1945
02:44:30,640 --> 02:44:34,279
» Chad, you want to talk?

1946
02:44:34,960 --> 02:44:40,560
» Are we talking What are we talking
>> I'm sorry that there I'm sorry. In the

1947
02:44:39,040 --> 02:44:45,680
book, if you look in the book on page
11, it's not that hard. We're on page

1948
02:44:43,279 --> 02:44:50,080
11. Lawn care. Lawn care.
>> Oh, but we were just talking about what

1949
02:44:49,959 --> 02:44:56,000
[clears throat]
>> we're on the lawn care right now.

1950
02:44:51,840 --> 02:45:01,680
» If this is Connie Holt um
regarding the question about the flood

1951
02:44:58,800 --> 02:45:06,080
plane mapping, the plan is to use the
planning commission's reserve to which

1952
02:45:04,240 --> 02:45:11,200
has enough money in there to cover the
cost. So, that was the plan. It's not

1953
02:45:08,720 --> 02:45:14,800
that it's not there's that we're not
going to do it. It's where the money is

1954
02:45:12,800 --> 02:45:20,560
going to come from.
Lawn care. I can address it if other

1955
02:45:17,439 --> 02:45:25,920
people want to. the um common committee
put a proposal together uh in for the

1956
02:45:24,240 --> 02:45:33,920
budget for the select board and they
approved it and it is $4,000 to um

1957
02:45:31,600 --> 02:45:40,880
correct me if I'm not saying this uh
correctly but to basically do

1958
02:45:37,920 --> 02:45:50,399
rehabilitation or regular maintenance of
the lawn of the common by um soliciting

1959
02:45:45,840 --> 02:45:58,560
volunteers and volunteer equipment along
with purchasing some feed and um

1960
02:45:55,200 --> 02:46:07,200
fertilizer. So there's a um there's a
whole plan that we would spend about

1961
02:46:01,600 --> 02:46:11,760
$4,000 which would would be two um two
fertilizations or two maintenances, one

1962
02:46:09,760 --> 02:46:16,880
in the spring and one later in the
summer.

1963
02:46:13,279 --> 02:46:23,600
Uh and we have gotten uh other entities
to volunteer to donate their equipment

1964
02:46:19,680 --> 02:46:27,840
so that we can do that. Um
so it's a it was came out of the common

1965
02:46:25,600 --> 02:46:34,104
committee's uh plan proposal.
>> Yeah. Amazing.

1966
02:46:29,520 --> 02:46:38,000
» So when um in past years we've had a
[snorts]

1967
02:46:34,640 --> 02:46:41,200
um a contract with someone that took
care of the trees on the common. They

1968
02:46:39,600 --> 02:46:44,720
were fertilized regularly. There was a
schedule for that. there was a budget

1969
02:46:42,479 --> 02:46:49,439
for that for several years. Uh in the
meantime, we had spoken with the state

1970
02:46:47,359 --> 02:46:55,040
forester and he came out and he looked
at all of the trees on the common and he

1971
02:46:51,439 --> 02:46:58,960
told us that the trees um that maybe the
fertilization wasn't exactly what we

1972
02:46:56,800 --> 02:47:03,200
needed. We needed some scaling back of
the dirt around all of the trees to

1973
02:47:00,800 --> 02:47:07,600
actually expose the highest roots
because then that helps with the tree

1974
02:47:04,880 --> 02:47:12,399
health and its uptake of water and uh
taking into account the fact that it's

1975
02:47:09,040 --> 02:47:16,960
in sort of a heavily compacted from the
kids using the common and people using

1976
02:47:14,080 --> 02:47:21,760
the common and an urban more urban
environment for those trees. So he had

1977
02:47:19,680 --> 02:47:26,640
uh made some recommendations to us to
think about how uh

1978
02:47:24,720 --> 02:47:30,800
really like rethinking how we take care
of the common and what the needs of the

1979
02:47:28,560 --> 02:47:34,800
common were. And that had happened
around the same time that that contract

1980
02:47:32,880 --> 02:47:39,279
with the previous contractor kind of
came up and we had to decide are we

1981
02:47:36,640 --> 02:47:42,960
going to uh go back into this contract
and possibly do fertilizing that it

1982
02:47:41,040 --> 02:47:48,240
doesn't need or are we going to expand
our care of the common as a whole and

1983
02:47:45,200 --> 02:47:51,680
that's how we ended up deciding to have
more conversations about how to take

1984
02:47:49,920 --> 02:47:55,600
care of the grass. I think Dale was also
part of that conversation about needing

1985
02:47:54,000 --> 02:48:00,640
aation and different things like that
for the grass and the compaction around

1986
02:47:57,840 --> 02:48:07,399
the trees and then that helped us rework
a plan for uh the best practices for

1987
02:48:03,359 --> 02:48:07,399
taking care of that common space.

1988
02:48:07,439 --> 02:48:18,240
» Okay.
First time speakers.

1989
02:48:13,439 --> 02:48:24,240
» No, Laura. Second time speakers.
So, I'm on the common committee and I I

1990
02:48:21,680 --> 02:48:28,960
was at a meeting where we discussed
this, but I was never told about a

1991
02:48:26,800 --> 02:48:33,439
meeting where it was actually voted on.
So, I'm kind of curious about that. I

1992
02:48:31,040 --> 02:48:37,040
think Liza Martin is also on the common
committee. I don't remember I don't know

1993
02:48:35,439 --> 02:48:40,560
whether she got notified about this
meeting, but I don't remember there ever

1994
02:48:38,720 --> 02:48:46,160
being a vote. I just only remember a
discussion for one. And I mean, even if

1995
02:48:43,680 --> 02:48:52,640
they did, even if it was decided not to
do the tree care fertilizing, um the

1996
02:48:49,439 --> 02:48:57,840
$3,000 was designated. And I don't think
any of the other recommendations were

1997
02:48:54,319 --> 02:49:01,279
done either. Uh and so I'm just it's
like it's like we're voting every year

1998
02:48:59,600 --> 02:49:06,240
because this money has been voted
through every year since I've got it on

1999
02:49:03,600 --> 02:49:09,279
a list somewhere since 2023.
>> Are you Are you making a motion to

2000
02:49:07,760 --> 02:49:13,439
remove the money? I mean, an amendment
to remove the money.

2001
02:49:11,120 --> 02:49:16,640
I I'm making an I'm just trying to find
out if there's a way that we can make

2002
02:49:15,040 --> 02:49:23,479
sure that this money is being spent for
what it's being designated for.

2003
02:49:19,200 --> 02:49:23,479
» Okay. Any other discussion?

2004
02:49:25,040 --> 02:49:32,720
Hearing no other discussion, we have a
motion before us

2005
02:49:30,800 --> 02:49:36,520
to see if the town will vote to
appropriate $671,650.70

2006
02:49:37,680 --> 02:49:44,920
to pay for the running expenses and
liabilities of the town of which

2007
02:49:41,920 --> 02:49:44,920
$477,79.70

2008
02:49:46,479 --> 02:49:55,520
is to be raised in taxes. A yes vote
passes the motion. A no vote defeats the

2009
02:49:53,040 --> 02:49:59,520
motion. All those in favor, please say
I.

2010
02:49:57,200 --> 02:50:05,279
» Oppose. No.
>> I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

2011
02:50:02,479 --> 02:50:11,720
have it. The motion passes.
Article 8 to see if the town will vote

2012
02:50:07,680 --> 02:50:11,720
to appropriate 1,114,215

2013
02:50:13,040 --> 02:50:21,120
to pay for the running expenses and
liabilities of maintaining the town

2014
02:50:16,800 --> 02:50:25,680
roads, of which $736,65
is to be raised in taxes. I will now

2015
02:50:23,840 --> 02:50:31,520
entertain a motion.
>> So moved.

2016
02:50:27,439 --> 02:50:37,760
» Second. Um that's on pages 18 through 21
just so you know. Discussion. Motion

2017
02:50:34,720 --> 02:50:43,120
maker. Anybody discuss? Yep. Yep. Does
that one work?

2018
02:50:40,319 --> 02:50:48,800
» Okay. I just want to point out that this
year is the first year that we've put

2019
02:50:45,279 --> 02:50:53,840
the $91,000 greater payment. Um this is
payment number three. There will be two

2020
02:50:50,720 --> 02:51:02,720
more after that. and that is included in
this budget. Um, we spent the the past

2021
02:50:59,200 --> 02:51:07,279
year talking about our budget pretty
much uh several times a month on the

2022
02:51:04,880 --> 02:51:12,080
highway committee. Um we've had members
of the public on that committee and um I

2023
02:51:10,319 --> 02:51:16,960
was on the committee. Jeremy, our road
foreman's on the committee. Connie is on

2024
02:51:14,399 --> 02:51:21,920
the committee and um we really tried to
think about what the needs are of the

2025
02:51:18,640 --> 02:51:27,120
roads and um how to support that while
also respecting the tax rate. So these

2026
02:51:24,960 --> 02:51:32,000
uh these numbers were not come at very
easily. We had to really watch our

2027
02:51:29,359 --> 02:51:36,800
budget as close as we could. We did um
stop some spending in the spring to make

2028
02:51:34,800 --> 02:51:41,600
sure that we were not going over budget
or anything like that. And we were um

2029
02:51:39,359 --> 02:51:46,160
basically going over everything on a
regular basis, getting our sheets from

2030
02:51:44,080 --> 02:51:50,080
the finance office and really trying to
zero in on what was really happening and

2031
02:51:48,479 --> 02:51:54,800
what that spending looked like and what
the needs were. So that's how we got

2032
02:51:52,080 --> 02:52:01,319
here.
>> Further discussion? Yes, sir. Uh yep,

2033
02:51:57,279 --> 02:52:01,319
got it. Good. Thank you.

2034
02:52:01,760 --> 02:52:09,279
Um, I want to call attention, Andy
Snelling, want to call attention to, uh,

2035
02:52:06,720 --> 02:52:15,520
on page 18, the Vermont Trans Grant
structures. Uh, on the revenue side,

2036
02:52:12,720 --> 02:52:22,240
there's $196,200
listed there. If one looks at the detail

2037
02:52:18,640 --> 02:52:28,399
there, there's $180,000 that is coming
in on the bridge grant for bridge 43, I

2038
02:52:25,520 --> 02:52:36,000
believe, is for resurfacing the deck.
Um, that's about a $400,000 project that

2039
02:52:32,160 --> 02:52:42,960
we have to put the money up front. Uh,
first there was $200,000 put into

2040
02:52:39,279 --> 02:52:50,960
reserve for that last town meeting.
There would have to pass um article 12

2041
02:52:48,000 --> 02:52:58,160
at least in the amount of $200,000
to be able to fund that to get that

2042
02:52:53,040 --> 02:53:01,920
$180,000 back. So, from a presentation
perspective,

2043
02:53:00,000 --> 02:53:06,000
um, we're counting on money here,
$180,000,

2044
02:53:03,760 --> 02:53:12,720
and we're not showing the $400,000
spending that's required to be eligible

2045
02:53:09,600 --> 02:53:20,080
to get that grant of $180,000.
So, um, keep in mind if Article 12, uh,

2046
02:53:17,760 --> 02:53:27,479
doesn't pass, then we're going to be out
of budget here by $180,000.

2047
02:53:23,600 --> 02:53:27,479
» Okay. Other discussion?

2048
02:53:29,840 --> 02:53:37,600
Discussion on the roads. Okay. No. Oh,
yes.

2049
02:53:36,160 --> 02:53:41,600
» Don't you speak? Yeah.
>> There there was a grant raised for that

2050
02:53:39,920 --> 02:53:46,640
project.
>> Oh, great. How much was that grant

2051
02:53:43,600 --> 02:53:52,319
awarded? How much was awarded?
>> The grant award was for $200,000 and

2052
02:53:49,680 --> 02:53:58,000
there's a $20,000 match and we don't
It's a reimbursement grant. So the money

2053
02:53:54,160 --> 02:54:05,160
gets spent and then reimbursed.
>> Great. Thanks for applying for those.

2054
02:53:59,920 --> 02:54:05,160
» Okay. Any other discussion? Yes, Bob.

2055
02:54:08,319 --> 02:54:15,040
» I've got a few questions about
[clears throat] actual in the 2025

2056
02:54:13,120 --> 02:54:25,080
budget
under vehicle repairs. Um, we spent

2057
02:54:18,479 --> 02:54:25,080
$45,900 bucks on a truck, 39,763

2058
02:54:25,600 --> 02:54:34,560
on another one. And then on page 18,
contributions. It just says

2059
02:54:31,920 --> 02:54:39,880
contributions. What does that mean? Did
we have a town resident say here's

2060
02:54:36,880 --> 02:54:39,880
$22,000?

2061
02:55:01,040 --> 02:55:06,200
She's thinking. She hasn't come up.
She's just thinking

2062
02:55:07,600 --> 02:55:15,479
» because it was two years ago. She's
thinking. She believes it might have

2063
02:55:12,479 --> 02:55:15,479
been

2064
02:55:19,600 --> 02:55:24,240
Wait, I because they're still thinking.
Hang on. They're still discussing on

2065
02:55:22,880 --> 02:55:25,760
what it might be.
>> I guarantee you we'll get you the

2066
02:55:25,439 --> 02:55:30,479
answer.
>> Greater, not the back. The greater trade

2067
02:55:28,080 --> 02:55:34,960
in.
>> There is a line item for the greater.

2068
02:55:32,640 --> 02:55:38,560
» Yeah, I can't speak to what that 22 is.
Then

2069
02:55:36,880 --> 02:55:41,040
» they're unsure what that is. And if
you'd like to come to town hall, they'd

2070
02:55:39,840 --> 02:55:46,359
be more than happy to get you that
answer in the future. Any other

2071
02:55:43,359 --> 02:55:46,359
questions?

2072
02:55:47,279 --> 02:55:53,240
Yes. In the way back should force you to
come up front.

2073
02:55:57,920 --> 02:56:06,560
Um just wondering, we used to only crush
gravel every other year and for the last

2074
02:56:04,240 --> 02:56:11,120
couple years, three years we keep doing
60,000 every year and here we are again.

2075
02:56:09,040 --> 02:56:16,279
Just curious, we get a big pile down
there now and we're need another 50,000.

2076
02:56:18,560 --> 02:56:30,080
» Um there was we um we did not spend uh
one of the 60,000s. We rolled it over so

2077
02:56:26,319 --> 02:56:36,319
that we used 120,000 last year to create
a um a stockpile of gravel. And we

2078
02:56:34,720 --> 02:56:41,359
believe that we will need all of that
material and that we will need to have

2079
02:56:38,319 --> 02:56:43,760
more um crushed
>> for what?

2080
02:56:42,720 --> 02:56:48,800
» Say it again.
>> Could you explain why we'd need that

2081
02:56:45,760 --> 02:56:52,720
quantity of gravel in one year
>> for the Well, maybe not all in one year,

2082
02:56:51,040 --> 02:56:57,479
but for the roads.
>> That's what I'm saying. So why do we

2083
02:56:54,000 --> 02:56:57,479
need another 50,000?

2084
02:56:57,760 --> 02:57:02,319
» Because they felt we need the materials.
>> Because they felt they needed the

2085
02:57:00,640 --> 02:57:06,800
material.
When can I make an amendment?

2086
02:57:05,520 --> 02:57:07,760
» You want to make an amendment?
>> Yeah.

2087
02:57:07,279 --> 02:57:12,800
» Okay.
>> To eliminate the 50,000 for crushing and

2088
02:57:11,439 --> 02:57:16,160
pit maintenance.
>> Is there a second to that amendment?

2089
02:57:15,760 --> 02:57:18,319
» Second.
>> I can't hear.

2090
02:57:17,680 --> 02:57:20,560
» Second, Bob.
>> Oh, Bob. Okay.

2091
02:57:19,040 --> 02:57:27,439
» Okay. It's been moved and second to
reduce the um road budget by $50,000

2092
02:57:25,840 --> 02:57:31,800
eliminating
um gravel crushing.

2093
02:57:32,479 --> 02:57:39,200
» I just want to make sure. Is it
>> We It's been moved and seconded. Let's

2094
02:57:35,520 --> 02:57:41,279
discuss gravel crushing. Any discussion?
>> Yes, sir.

2095
02:57:40,640 --> 02:57:45,359
» Can I
>> What? Yes. [clears throat]

2096
02:57:42,479 --> 02:57:47,120
» Is it to eliminate the 50,000 or the
40,000?

2097
02:57:46,080 --> 02:57:52,080
» 40. It says 40 here
>> because 10,000 is for pit maintenance. I

2098
02:57:49,600 --> 02:57:58,319
think that we're trying to log some of
the area to create more um pit to to be

2099
02:57:56,160 --> 02:58:03,920
able to get at gravel. So, are you
eliminating the 40 for crushing or the

2100
02:58:00,720 --> 02:58:03,920
whole 50?

2101
02:58:06,240 --> 02:58:15,439
The plan is to uh have a logger come in
and eliminate some of the trees so that

2102
02:58:12,319 --> 02:58:19,880
we can get at more dirt
which would create gravel in the future.

2103
02:58:20,319 --> 02:58:28,080
» Okay, we're going to Yeah, we'll talk
about this in other business that though

2104
02:58:25,040 --> 02:58:30,800
I I want people up here to speak.
I don't want you in your seat in the

2105
02:58:29,359 --> 02:58:34,160
back. That's it's very difficult to hear
you.

2106
02:58:31,840 --> 02:58:37,840
Um, okay. So, you said that you just
want 40 Well, there's there's amendment

2107
02:58:36,479 --> 02:58:42,880
that's been moved in second. Would you
like to amend the amendment?

2108
02:58:41,439 --> 02:58:46,640
Okay. So, now we're going to amend the
Is there a second to amend the

2109
02:58:44,080 --> 02:58:49,439
amendment?
>> Oh, wait. Well, the mover of the

2110
02:58:48,080 --> 02:58:53,120
amendment, you want to change it because
then we don't have to go through this,

2111
02:58:51,200 --> 02:58:57,760
right?
>> Leave it at 50,000. Okay. He wants to

2112
02:58:55,120 --> 02:59:02,160
eliminate the $50,000 budget on all
gravity crushing and pit maintenance.

2113
02:59:00,640 --> 02:59:06,160
that it's been moved and seconded
already. We're discussing that. Is there

2114
02:59:03,840 --> 02:59:11,359
more discussion on eliminating that
$50,000? More discussion? Yes, sir.

2115
02:59:09,120 --> 02:59:14,680
Wait. Wait for the mic. Thank you. I'll
come up front.

2116
02:59:15,879 --> 02:59:17,898
[clears throat]

2117
02:59:21,119 --> 02:59:23,139
» [clears throat]

2118
02:59:26,880 --> 02:59:39,120
» I just wanted to Lucas Frell uh ask for
clarification because what I heard

2119
02:59:32,800 --> 02:59:44,560
Connie is that you spent the 120,000
at one time but that you raised 60,000

2120
02:59:41,600 --> 02:59:49,279
over two years. So you weren't actually
not spending the 60,000 that was

2121
02:59:46,640 --> 02:59:52,240
appropriated each year and raised. Is
that right?

2122
02:59:49,920 --> 02:59:59,520
» It is correct that we raised 60 in one
year and then didn't

2123
02:59:55,200 --> 03:00:03,200
over um to have 120 to be able to spend
in one year.

2124
03:00:01,200 --> 03:00:08,720
» Correct. So,
>> if we're going to go through the line

2125
03:00:04,560 --> 03:00:12,960
items and cut out expenses, I would just
say that the last thing I want cut out

2126
03:00:11,439 --> 03:00:21,200
is
gravel, making our roads less safe.

2127
03:00:18,720 --> 03:00:24,600
And I think there's an argument that
they're already

2128
03:00:24,880 --> 03:00:33,760
and I've seen, you know, over the course
of this winter roads that you could

2129
03:00:30,720 --> 03:00:38,080
argue are not getting enough sand. So I
would

2130
03:00:36,160 --> 03:00:43,840
stop talking there.
>> Other discussion? Yes, sir. On the

2131
03:00:40,960 --> 03:00:47,279
gravel crushing. Yep. Okay. Okay.
Microphone's coming. There you go.

2132
03:00:45,680 --> 03:00:51,760
Sorry. Thank you. I appreciate you
running that around.

2133
03:00:49,200 --> 03:00:57,600
» It's on. Correct. Okay. Just to clarify,
this gravel crushing is for material

2134
03:00:54,785 --> 03:01:03,600
[clears throat] that is used to say fill
soft spots or regrade roads, not for

2135
03:01:00,720 --> 03:01:10,000
sanding for win as part of the winter
ice protection. Is that correct?

2136
03:01:06,560 --> 03:01:12,640
» Okay. Thank you. Careful,
>> Hoffman.

2137
03:01:10,960 --> 03:01:15,920
» Our road foreman does not live in town,
so if we wanted him to speak, we'd have

2138
03:01:14,240 --> 03:01:19,840
to suspend the rules, which is fine, but
we haven't done that yet. Yes, Charlie.

2139
03:01:18,960 --> 03:01:25,600
» And then in the back,
>> what's the trick? Oh, okay. Charlie

2140
03:01:21,439 --> 03:01:31,920
Marchant. Um, point of clarification. If
if this amendment passes,

2141
03:01:28,720 --> 03:01:38,640
that item is reduced by X amount of
dollars, whatever the amendment is. But

2142
03:01:35,359 --> 03:01:44,640
the select board is not obligated to
deduct that money from a particular item

2143
03:01:41,840 --> 03:01:48,720
in the budget because they have a total
amount of money to work with and they

2144
03:01:46,160 --> 03:01:50,399
can use it anywhere they want. That's my
understanding

2145
03:01:49,840 --> 03:01:54,880
» that
>> so they don't have to stop getting

2146
03:01:52,640 --> 03:02:00,160
gravel. They could use it they could
deduct it someplace else. You you have

2147
03:01:58,160 --> 03:02:04,479
» I know they're I know they hear the
intent of the audience, but in the

2148
03:02:02,479 --> 03:02:08,080
reality they're dealing with a pot of
money and they can spend it wherever

2149
03:02:05,920 --> 03:02:12,640
they want.
>> Everybody that's everybody heard that

2150
03:02:10,240 --> 03:02:20,479
that's correct.
The select board has wide ability to use

2151
03:02:16,240 --> 03:02:25,120
money where necessary but has to face
the voters. If the voters don't like it,

2152
03:02:23,120 --> 03:02:31,520
they vote them out. But they do have
discretion. Yes. question. Yep.

2153
03:02:27,680 --> 03:02:37,279
» Sarah Sheldon Fry, um I'm wondering
where the uh advice to do this specific

2154
03:02:34,960 --> 03:02:40,880
amount of gravel crushing came from. I
just want to assume that our select

2155
03:02:39,600 --> 03:02:44,399
board didn't go out and look at the
gravel pile and say, "Hey, it looks like

2156
03:02:42,399 --> 03:02:49,600
there's not enough." I assume that
someone who's very knowledgeable about

2157
03:02:46,000 --> 03:02:54,560
this has recommended that this be done
to preserve our roads. So, I'd love to

2158
03:02:51,840 --> 03:02:58,000
hear where that came from,
that we didn't just make up that number,

2159
03:02:56,240 --> 03:03:02,479
which I assume is the case.
>> Got it.

2160
03:02:59,359 --> 03:03:07,680
» I'll go ahead and answer that. So, um,
my numbers may be off slightly, but

2161
03:03:04,560 --> 03:03:14,080
generally in every budget, there is a
yearly or every other year gravel

2162
03:03:11,359 --> 03:03:20,160
crushing amount of money that is
budgeted. How much gravel you actually

2163
03:03:17,040 --> 03:03:28,960
get at the end of that dollar amount has
varied uh based on uh inflation and the

2164
03:03:23,840 --> 03:03:35,680
cost of uh the contractor's bid. Um but
it is the road foreman's uh view that we

2165
03:03:32,399 --> 03:03:41,359
need more than what we currently have in
the stockpile. And so um

2166
03:03:39,680 --> 03:03:46,479
so that's what the recommendation. It's
not the select board, it's the road

2167
03:03:42,800 --> 03:03:46,479
foreman who's working on the roads.

2168
03:03:47,279 --> 03:03:58,240
Did that answer the question? Yes. Okay.
Any other discussion on the amendment?

2169
03:03:54,479 --> 03:04:02,399
Yeah. Amendment maker
>> to point out on page 16.

2170
03:04:00,560 --> 03:04:06,399
» You can't we nobody can hear you.
>> Sorry. On page 16, just want to point

2171
03:04:04,399 --> 03:04:11,600
out the gravel that was put down by
Green Mountain Power. considerable

2172
03:04:08,960 --> 03:04:15,600
amount on our town roads and we're still
saying we need another

2173
03:04:14,000 --> 03:04:18,800
additional to the stock pile we have
down there. I just want to point that

2174
03:04:16,800 --> 03:04:23,359
out.
>> Okay. Any other discussion on the

2175
03:04:21,120 --> 03:04:28,479
amendment? We can still talk about the
budget and we're just talking about

2176
03:04:25,200 --> 03:04:31,760
crushing. Good Dale. Wait, you're next.
One more.

2177
03:04:29,600 --> 03:04:34,319
» You can go after me.
>> Um

2178
03:04:32,160 --> 03:04:40,399
» wait one second. You're let Dale talk
then you go ahead Dale.

2179
03:04:36,960 --> 03:04:48,080
» Okay. I'm going to go. I was actually on
the highway budget committee and the

2180
03:04:44,240 --> 03:04:52,640
plan was to basically that pile you see
this next summer is going to be spread

2181
03:04:50,000 --> 03:05:00,479
out onto probably at least 10 to 12
loads roads in this town because good

2182
03:04:57,120 --> 03:05:06,399
65% of all the roads in this town could
use some gravel.

2183
03:05:03,120 --> 03:05:10,880
um to the to the feelings of a lot of
people yelling they don't like the

2184
03:05:07,920 --> 03:05:15,760
roads. The way we maintain roads 20, 30
years ago, the pleasure cars that are

2185
03:05:13,600 --> 03:05:23,040
being made nowadays
do not like the way they used to be and

2186
03:05:19,840 --> 03:05:28,880
they fall apart obviously.
So, we have to try to make a better

2187
03:05:25,040 --> 03:05:34,880
surface. I know it costs money. I was on
there and that's the reason why it's cut

2188
03:05:31,040 --> 03:05:41,040
from 60 to 50 plus another 10 is because
we actually need to do some maintenance

2189
03:05:36,800 --> 03:05:47,439
with the trees and the slope work of
removing trees to gain more gravel for

2190
03:05:44,479 --> 03:05:53,040
the future. This was like an off year of
grinding and hopefully next year after

2191
03:05:50,640 --> 03:05:59,120
that we would probably be crushing
again. So yes, it is a bi-weekly a

2192
03:05:55,600 --> 03:06:03,439
by-early idea and and that was some of
the thinking that we were continuing

2193
03:06:00,800 --> 03:06:06,439
with
right.

2194
03:06:09,520 --> 03:06:15,600
I'll tell you something. It ain't going
to be long before you're going to be

2195
03:06:13,359 --> 03:06:21,439
spending a lot more money because they
going through that gravel like it was no

2196
03:06:18,080 --> 03:06:26,319
end to it. And there's a lot of ledge
and you I've dug test holes in there

2197
03:06:23,760 --> 03:06:32,560
when I was road for and there's a bunch
of clay right up back there.

2198
03:06:29,279 --> 03:06:37,200
So you're going to be costing a lot of
money here pretty quick and they're

2199
03:06:34,800 --> 03:06:42,479
putting the gravel out. If if you don't
shape it up and keep it in shape,

2200
03:06:40,720 --> 03:06:46,439
it's going to go down the ditches. Now
you go out and look and see.

2201
03:06:47,520 --> 03:06:56,960
Okay. Further discussion
on the amendment. We're still coming

2202
03:06:54,080 --> 03:07:01,359
back to the highway fund.
Seeing no other discussion on the

2203
03:06:59,120 --> 03:07:06,800
amendment. Basically, we have an
amendment to see whether or not we want

2204
03:07:03,279 --> 03:07:14,160
to reduce both the appropriation and
raised in taxes by $50,000 by

2205
03:07:10,000 --> 03:07:21,439
eliminating uh road uh gravel crushing
uh the gravel crushing line items. Total

2206
03:07:17,760 --> 03:07:26,960
a yes vote will approve that amendment
and reduce the budget by $50,000. A no

2207
03:07:24,720 --> 03:07:33,479
vote will defeat the amendment and we go
back to the original numbers. Does

2208
03:07:29,279 --> 03:07:33,479
everybody understand? Yes, sir.

2209
03:07:33,520 --> 03:07:40,479
» He did not.
>> It's $50,000.

2210
03:07:37,439 --> 03:07:44,479
Everybody clear? Yes vote passes the
amendment and a no vote defeats the

2211
03:07:43,040 --> 03:07:49,200
amendment. We go back to original
numbers. Yes. All those in favor, please

2212
03:07:48,080 --> 03:07:51,120
say I.
>> I

2213
03:07:49,840 --> 03:07:54,120
» oppose. No.
>> No.

2214
03:07:54,479 --> 03:07:59,840
» I What? Wait. Before we do paper
ballots, do you want to divide the

2215
03:07:58,160 --> 03:08:05,840
house? What?
>> Yes. What's up, Verve?

2216
03:08:04,000 --> 03:08:09,680
» Are there se Somebody called for a paper
ballot. That means we have to ask for

2217
03:08:07,680 --> 03:08:14,319
seven other. And if there are, we go to
a paper ballot. Are there seven other

2218
03:08:11,439 --> 03:08:19,760
hands that want a paper ballot?
paper ballot it is. Okay. So, you either

2219
03:08:17,840 --> 03:08:24,880
put yes,
which will

2220
03:08:21,520 --> 03:08:31,279
lower the budget by $50,000. A yes
passes the amendment, which is to lower

2221
03:08:27,120 --> 03:08:36,479
it by 50. A no keeps it the same. Make
sense?

2222
03:08:32,319 --> 03:08:41,800
» Okay. I now declare the ballot box open.
Yes. To pass amendment. No to defeat

2223
03:08:38,800 --> 03:08:41,800
amendment.

2224
03:08:44,560 --> 03:08:47,840
All right. I see you when you get back
here.

2225
03:08:46,399 --> 03:08:53,240
» And we're still going to be discussing
the rest of it. So, this isn't the end.

2226
03:08:53,439 --> 03:09:01,279
» We have Oh, wait. Yes, we have the
results of the election as soon as I add

2227
03:08:56,880 --> 03:09:06,080
it up. Uh, that's two. Carry the one.
Ready? Attention. Attention.

2228
03:09:04,080 --> 03:09:12,720
We have the results of the election. on
the amendment. The amendment was to

2229
03:09:08,880 --> 03:09:17,520
reduce um the uh town road expenditures
by $50,000, eliminating the gravel

2230
03:09:15,200 --> 03:09:22,800
crushing items.
Um a yes vote would pass the amendment.

2231
03:09:19,920 --> 03:09:31,359
A no vote would defeat the amendment. Uh
we have 112 votes. Uh 39 were yes and 73

2232
03:09:28,080 --> 03:09:34,960
were no. The amendment fails. We are now
back to the original motion to see if

2233
03:09:33,359 --> 03:09:37,960
the town will vote to appropriate
$1,14,215

2234
03:09:38,136 --> 03:09:44,080
[snorts] to pay for the running expenses
and liabilities of the town roads of

2235
03:09:41,439 --> 03:09:49,479
which $736,65
is to be raised by taxes. Further

2236
03:09:46,479 --> 03:09:49,479
discussion,

2237
03:09:53,359 --> 03:10:00,399
» are you calling the question?
Okay, the question has been called.

2238
03:09:57,680 --> 03:10:07,840
discussion will be cut off if and we
will immediately move to a uh uh vote

2239
03:10:04,640 --> 03:10:14,560
um requires a twothirds majority to cut
off debate. A yes vote cuts debate off

2240
03:10:11,040 --> 03:10:19,760
and we move right to voting. A no vote
keeps discussion open. All those in

2241
03:10:17,120 --> 03:10:21,520
favor of ending debate, please say I.
>> I.

2242
03:10:20,240 --> 03:10:25,439
» Well, what was there a second? You're
right. Was there Yep.

2243
03:10:23,200 --> 03:10:30,560
» Okay. Plenty of seconds. Okay. Any All
those in favor, please say I. I

2244
03:10:28,000 --> 03:10:36,920
» oppose. No.
>> Um, all those all those in favor, please

2245
03:10:33,520 --> 03:10:36,920
raise your hand.

2246
03:10:38,319 --> 03:10:45,680
All those
that we're stopping debate. That's a

2247
03:10:42,960 --> 03:10:53,040
good question. We're stopping debate. So
we're he doesn't the question has been

2248
03:10:48,640 --> 03:10:57,840
called which means there will be no more
discussion

2249
03:10:54,560 --> 03:11:02,880
and we move immediately to a vote on the
motion that's on the floor.

2250
03:11:01,279 --> 03:11:08,960
Does that make sense?
>> No more discussion. We immediately vote

2251
03:11:05,439 --> 03:11:13,600
on that motion. Okay,
that make sense. Did I explain it? Keep

2252
03:11:11,359 --> 03:11:15,840
talking me. Wait, he's he's thinking.
Yeah, go ahead.

2253
03:11:14,319 --> 03:11:20,160
» We voted on something.
>> That was the amendment

2254
03:11:17,680 --> 03:11:23,760
» and the amendment failed. So now we're
back to the main motion

2255
03:11:22,399 --> 03:11:28,479
which is the numbers that were produced
in the book. We didn't have to amend

2256
03:11:25,200 --> 03:11:34,160
them. And so now somebody said they want
to call the question. So there's no more

2257
03:11:31,040 --> 03:11:39,600
debate. If we vote yes, there's no more
debate and we vote on the main motion.

2258
03:11:37,120 --> 03:11:43,680
Make sense?
Okay. And it has been moved and

2259
03:11:41,120 --> 03:11:47,120
seconded. There was a bunch of Who's
second it? Somebody raise their hand. I

2260
03:11:45,040 --> 03:11:50,359
heard a whole smattering.
>> There you go.

2261
03:11:50,399 --> 03:11:57,120
» It's been moved and seconded. It needs a
two-th3 majority.

2262
03:11:55,120 --> 03:12:02,240
All those in favor of cutting off debate
and moving right to the vote, please

2263
03:11:59,040 --> 03:12:05,359
raise your hand.
Okay, if this doesn't work, we're going

2264
03:12:03,680 --> 03:12:10,720
to and then go ahead. Hands down. All
those opposed, please raise your hand.

2265
03:12:08,399 --> 03:12:14,720
Ah, that's not going to work. Okay, I'm
going to need the justice of the pieces

2266
03:12:12,000 --> 03:12:21,200
to count. Sorry, we have to count hands.
Stand up because I needed two/3 majority

2267
03:12:17,840 --> 03:12:25,920
and that was kind of not obvious whether
or not that was 2/3. So, all those in

2268
03:12:23,359 --> 03:12:29,200
favor. Okay. Kind of Well, wait. Kind of
split it up. You do this side.

2269
03:12:27,920 --> 03:12:33,520
» I mean, I think we need to look at
everyone. If I look

2270
03:12:30,720 --> 03:12:38,160
» Okay. Well, no.
>> Okay. You can do it any way you want.

2271
03:12:35,520 --> 03:12:45,160
Okay. All those in favor of cutting off
debate with twothirds majority, please

2272
03:12:41,680 --> 03:12:45,160
raise your hand.

2273
03:13:07,279 --> 03:13:11,640
No, no, no, no, no. We can't do about

2274
03:13:13,120 --> 03:13:19,279
Katie, you want to just go to the vote.
>> Yes, vote. Raise your hand. to go to the

2275
03:13:17,760 --> 03:13:23,319
vote.
>> Yes, raise your hand.

2276
03:13:45,359 --> 03:13:56,319
36 and 36. Okay.
>> 36 36 272

2277
03:13:52,800 --> 03:14:02,200
» 72. All those opposed to closing debate
and want to continue discussion, please

2278
03:13:58,720 --> 03:14:02,200
raise your hand.

2279
03:14:19,120 --> 03:14:24,080
Huh?
>> She's a math teacher, right?

2280
03:14:22,160 --> 03:14:27,479
» 12.
>> Okay. Well,

2281
03:14:27,920 --> 03:14:30,920
» uh,

2282
03:14:33,120 --> 03:14:44,479
okay. So, so according to my thing where
there was a total votes of 84 75% of 84

2283
03:14:39,760 --> 03:14:48,960
2/3 right 75% in that I mean 66 6% would
be

2284
03:14:46,720 --> 03:14:53,840
uh 50
something and we have 72 yes votes so it

2285
03:14:52,399 --> 03:14:58,720
passes okay
>> I didn't get that

2286
03:14:54,960 --> 03:15:04,720
» okay 66 * 84
equals 55 and we had 72 yeses so debate

2287
03:15:01,760 --> 03:15:08,000
is closed we are Now voting on
>> the original

2288
03:15:05,520 --> 03:15:14,600
» the original motion. Okay. So in front
of us we have a motion to see if the

2289
03:15:10,080 --> 03:15:14,600
town will vote to appropriate 1,114,215

2290
03:15:14,960 --> 03:15:22,600
to pay for the running expenses and
liabilities of maintaining the town

2291
03:15:18,640 --> 03:15:22,600
roads of which $7736,65

2292
03:15:23,920 --> 03:15:34,239
is to be raised by taxes. A yes vote
passes it and a no vote defeats it.

2293
03:15:31,840 --> 03:15:37,920
All those all those. Okay. A written
ballot has been requested. Are there

2294
03:15:36,479 --> 03:15:40,920
seven other people that want a written
ballot?

2295
03:15:41,439 --> 03:15:50,319
I see two hands.
A written ballot is I see three hands.

2296
03:15:48,239 --> 03:15:56,399
567. Thank you very much. We will now
have a written ballot. Okay. A yes vote

2297
03:15:54,000 --> 03:16:04,600
will pass this motion. A no vote will
defeat the motion. Everybody understand?

2298
03:15:59,680 --> 03:16:04,600
Okay. The ballot box is now open.

2299
03:16:06,080 --> 03:16:16,399
We have the results of the uh election
to see if the town the town roads.

2300
03:16:13,520 --> 03:16:24,640
A yes vote would pass the motion. A no
vote would defeat the motion.

2301
03:16:19,439 --> 03:16:35,279
There were 104 votes as we dwindle away.
Uh 72 yes and 32 no. The motion passes.

2302
03:16:32,000 --> 03:16:39,920
» We now move on to article nine
>> to see if the town will vote to raise

2303
03:16:37,359 --> 03:16:45,840
$104,382
by taxation for the running expenses of

2304
03:16:42,080 --> 03:16:50,560
the liabilities of the library. I will
entertain a motion.

2305
03:16:49,040 --> 03:16:54,720
» Eugene and Chris.
>> Dean and Chris.

2306
03:16:52,000 --> 03:16:57,439
» Uh we will now discuss. Yes. Oh, I'm
ready. Okay.

2307
03:16:56,160 --> 03:17:02,160
» Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait

2308
03:17:00,479 --> 03:17:06,000
a second.
>> All right. Elizabeth Brown, one of your

2309
03:17:03,840 --> 03:17:11,359
library trustees, I would like to make
an amendment to reduce the budget

2310
03:17:07,680 --> 03:17:17,279
request by $10,400 for a total amount of
$93,969.

2311
03:17:13,840 --> 03:17:21,359
» 93,000. Wait, 93969.
>> 969.

2312
03:17:19,120 --> 03:17:24,160
» Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You want
to do it? Reduce it. 10,000

2313
03:17:23,279 --> 03:17:27,920
» 10,400
>> 400 and that now makes it 93969.

2314
03:17:27,520 --> 03:17:29,120
» Yes.
>> Okay.

2315
03:17:28,239 --> 03:17:32,960
» So says my paper.
>> Okay. Is there a second? And thank you

2316
03:17:30,880 --> 03:17:36,080
for keeping me honest on the seconds.
>> Yes. Okay. That's okay. Thank you. But

2317
03:17:34,800 --> 03:17:40,080
thank you for keeping me honest on the
last one on the second. Okay. Now we're

2318
03:17:38,080 --> 03:17:44,080
going to discuss just the motion. The
amendment.

2319
03:17:41,840 --> 03:17:47,200
Okay. Just the amendment. Oh, I can move
around.

2320
03:17:45,600 --> 03:17:49,840
» Just the amendment.
>> Wow. I never did it like this.

2321
03:17:49,520 --> 03:17:52,960
» Huh?
>> Explain why.

2322
03:17:50,880 --> 03:17:57,040
» Why? Why? Oh, why? Good question. That
that a question. Why I'm moving around?

2323
03:17:55,520 --> 03:18:00,479
» Okay, I'm ready for that. I was ready.
Um Karen's husband found alternate

2324
03:17:58,960 --> 03:18:04,160
insurance so we don't have to pay for
his insurance.

2325
03:18:01,600 --> 03:18:10,880
» Thank you, Karen's husband.
>> Okay. So, so, so I I that might need a

2326
03:18:08,160 --> 03:18:17,120
little Does everybody understand?
>> No. Try I I know we're going back to the

2327
03:18:14,000 --> 03:18:23,040
main motion, but let me Right. So, so
the one of the things that was added

2328
03:18:20,160 --> 03:18:29,680
this year was uh benefits for the
librarian and so

2329
03:18:26,720 --> 03:18:34,160
the the husband of the librarian has
other insurance so that doesn't need to

2330
03:18:31,920 --> 03:18:38,880
be raised. So that's why she's reducing
it. Now again I don't want to get into

2331
03:18:36,399 --> 03:18:43,520
the library issue yet because we got to
go back to that. Did that make sense?

2332
03:18:40,880 --> 03:18:49,439
Did I answer that question? Why?
>> Okay. Any other

2333
03:18:47,279 --> 03:18:56,439
Health. Any other discussion on the
amendment?

2334
03:18:51,520 --> 03:18:56,439
The amendment is to reduce it. Yes, sir.

2335
03:19:00,239 --> 03:19:10,479
» Uh my name is uh Jason Min. Um, so in
reducing at 10,000, but I noticed the

2336
03:19:08,239 --> 03:19:18,319
benefit health insurance added on here
was 19,880 or $19,866.

2337
03:19:15,680 --> 03:19:22,920
So are we just removing half of that for
just the one individual and not for

2338
03:19:19,920 --> 03:19:22,920
everybody?

2339
03:19:24,319 --> 03:19:29,920
» Yes. The the money that we put in there
was was for her um Karen, our wonderful

2340
03:19:28,399 --> 03:19:33,279
librarian, and her husband, and now it's
just for her.

2341
03:19:33,920 --> 03:19:41,640
Hold for a sec. Any other discussion?
>> Yeah. Should I say single single

2342
03:19:37,920 --> 03:19:41,640
insurance health insurance?

2343
03:19:41,920 --> 03:19:48,080
» Hey, see seeing no other discussion on
the amendment.

2344
03:19:46,239 --> 03:19:56,560
We have We're going to be voting yes or
no on the amendment to reduce

2345
03:19:52,560 --> 03:20:01,760
how much the town will raise by $10,400
to 93967

2346
03:19:58,960 --> 03:20:07,279
969.
A yes vote passes the amendment and the

2347
03:20:04,800 --> 03:20:12,640
new number is now what we'll be voting
on. A no vote defeats the amendment.

2348
03:20:10,218 --> 03:20:16,399
[clears throat] Make sense?
Okay. All those in favor of the

2349
03:20:14,479 --> 03:20:20,720
amendment, please say I.
>> I.

2350
03:20:17,040 --> 03:20:25,439
» Oppose. No. The eyes do have it. We now
have a motion in front of us that says

2351
03:20:23,120 --> 03:20:30,359
to see it to see if the town will vote
to raise 9 $93,969

2352
03:20:30,720 --> 03:20:38,960
by taxation for the running expenses and
liabilities of the library. Discussion

2353
03:20:35,920 --> 03:20:44,080
pages 2425.
Any further discussion? Yes. Lower road.

2354
03:20:42,640 --> 03:20:48,200
Uh, you should grab one of the other
ones in case you have to answer

2355
03:20:45,200 --> 03:20:48,200
questions.

2356
03:20:49,439 --> 03:20:58,239
» Thank you. Um, I did some research on
the Vermont Department of Libraries

2357
03:20:55,520 --> 03:21:03,520
website and discovered that our library
last year was the third most expensive

2358
03:21:00,960 --> 03:21:09,120
library for any town of its population
in the state. Um, I also asked last year

2359
03:21:07,040 --> 03:21:12,239
if we were going to pay more, if the
librarian was going to be being paid

2360
03:21:10,560 --> 03:21:18,399
more,
given more hours and more pay, then the

2361
03:21:15,520 --> 03:21:23,680
town's people should get more hours
available for them to use the library to

2362
03:21:21,200 --> 03:21:30,560
make it to make it seem like we're
getting more for our money. Um,

2363
03:21:28,160 --> 03:21:36,960
I'm not quite I don't quite understand
um what the need to have such an

2364
03:21:34,319 --> 03:21:43,080
expensive library for such a small town
is. So, I'm just putting that out there.

2365
03:21:46,800 --> 03:21:50,120
» Other discussion?

2366
03:21:52,239 --> 03:21:57,720
Seeing no further discussion,

2367
03:21:58,479 --> 03:22:04,760
uh we have a motion before us to to
raise $93,969

2368
03:22:04,800 --> 03:22:13,359
by taxation for the running expenses of
the library. A yes vote will pass that

2369
03:22:11,359 --> 03:22:17,840
motion. A no vote will defeat that
motion.

2370
03:22:15,120 --> 03:22:20,080
All those in favor, please say I.
>> I [clears throat]

2371
03:22:18,640 --> 03:22:27,720
» oppose. No.
>> No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes

2372
03:22:23,439 --> 03:22:27,720
do have it. And the motion passes.

2373
03:22:28,880 --> 03:22:38,239
» Article 10 to see if the town will raise
$2,100 by taxation for the old cemetery

2374
03:22:35,600 --> 03:22:40,720
fund which is on page 26. I will
entertain.

2375
03:22:39,760 --> 03:22:42,479
» Thank you, Craig.
>> Second,

2376
03:22:41,439 --> 03:22:47,920
» Greg. Second,
>> Gabby. I mean Katie.

2377
03:22:45,359 --> 03:22:56,640
» Okay. Discussion.
Any discussion on the old temperary fund

2378
03:22:51,920 --> 03:23:01,680
$2,100? Seeing no discussion,
we have a motion before us to see if the

2379
03:22:59,520 --> 03:23:07,279
town will raise $2,100 by taxation for
the old cemetery fund. A yes vote

2380
03:23:04,000 --> 03:23:11,120
passes. A no vote defeats.
All those in favor, please say I.

2381
03:23:10,399 --> 03:23:16,080
» I.
>> Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

2382
03:23:14,399 --> 03:23:20,880
The eyes do have it. And the motion
passes.

2383
03:23:18,560 --> 03:23:24,120
Article 11.
>> Don't move.

2384
03:23:24,800 --> 03:23:32,160
» You know, I used to do that. Whatever.
To see if the town will vote to create a

2385
03:23:29,760 --> 03:23:36,160
highway surplus fund to carry over
highway surplus funds to address large

2386
03:23:34,319 --> 03:23:40,720
highway projects and save money for
future highway expenses. Connie has

2387
03:23:38,560 --> 03:23:44,160
moved it. Is there a second? Katie is
second. Connie, you got something to say

2388
03:23:42,560 --> 03:23:47,680
as a motion maker?
>> Uh, yes. I'd just like to

2389
03:23:46,160 --> 03:23:50,680
» Huh.
What?

2390
03:23:51,680 --> 03:23:55,640
» Okay, hang on.

2391
03:23:58,560 --> 03:24:08,160
This this this the Passover is a Vermont
tradition. It's not in law

2392
03:24:05,120 --> 03:24:12,399
and it's not in Robert's rules, but
Vermont has a tradition of possibly

2393
03:24:09,920 --> 03:24:17,680
passing over.
Okay. So right now and there's different

2394
03:24:15,439 --> 03:24:22,080
times you can pass over which mean
different things. We have already made

2395
03:24:19,840 --> 03:24:28,800
the motion and we have seconded the
motion but we have not started debate.

2396
03:24:26,319 --> 03:24:36,000
So that means this is an objection to
consideration of the question. A second

2397
03:24:31,680 --> 03:24:41,279
is not required. It is not debatable and
we need a twoth3 vote.

2398
03:24:39,520 --> 03:24:47,359
Okay.
So there will be a twothird vote right

2399
03:24:43,359 --> 03:24:53,760
now. A yes vote passes over this and we
don't discuss it and we just move on. We

2400
03:24:50,239 --> 03:24:57,600
can't even ask why.
>> Huh?

2401
03:24:55,200 --> 03:25:04,000
» Just goes away. Just goes away. Doesn't
exist. A no vote

2402
03:25:01,439 --> 03:25:08,960
will then we go back to discussing it
and we do not pass over it. Does that

2403
03:25:06,399 --> 03:25:13,120
make sense? A yes vote, we pass over
this and we don't discuss it.

2404
03:25:11,840 --> 03:25:16,880
A note
>> no longer an article.

2405
03:25:14,160 --> 03:25:22,160
» No longer an article. Gone.
>> As is as it as if. Thank you, Jean. As

2406
03:25:19,840 --> 03:25:27,520
it never existed. As if it never
existed. A yes. A no vote, we go back

2407
03:25:25,359 --> 03:25:32,560
and we discuss it. And it's got the
yeses have to be twothirds.

2408
03:25:30,160 --> 03:25:38,319
Everybody understand? A yes vote, we
pass over. A no vote, we move on. I

2409
03:25:35,279 --> 03:25:40,960
mean, we go back. Yes, we go on. I'm
sorry.

2410
03:25:39,687 --> 03:25:48,399
» [laughter]
>> A yes vote will pass over. A no vote we

2411
03:25:46,000 --> 03:25:53,359
will go back and discuss. Does that make
sense?

2412
03:25:49,600 --> 03:25:59,000
» Okay. All those in favor of passing
over,

2413
03:25:55,040 --> 03:25:59,000
please raise your hand.

2414
03:26:00,239 --> 03:26:06,720
Okay, we're gonna uh all those Okay,
hands down. That's the Passover. All

2415
03:26:03,920 --> 03:26:13,279
those to continue discussion, please
raise your hand.

2416
03:26:09,840 --> 03:26:19,200
Well, I don't think that's 2/3.
>> Two3. There was not two/3 yeses. Justice

2417
03:26:15,600 --> 03:26:24,160
of the pieces. Would you agree?
>> I mean, it's your job to vote. I mean,

2418
03:26:21,040 --> 03:26:29,840
your job to uh count. All those in favor
of passing over. There needs to be

2419
03:26:26,880 --> 03:26:32,840
twothirds of you. Please raise your
hand.

2420
03:26:34,080 --> 03:26:42,399
Okay. Oh, you want to count? That'd be
the best way. And and I'll help you.

2421
03:26:40,080 --> 03:26:46,800
Okay. Split the room again. You got the
back. Mitch, pick a side. Which side you

2422
03:26:45,439 --> 03:26:49,840
want to go on? That's That's right. Just
Just stand over there.

2423
03:26:49,117 --> 03:26:52,960
[laughter]
>> Then we're going to have to split you

2424
03:26:50,960 --> 03:26:57,319
when you run your chainsaw.
>> Okay. Just Just stand over there. OKAY.

2425
03:27:09,760 --> 03:27:12,840
I got

2426
03:27:14,160 --> 03:27:19,080
» 2/3. So, how many how many yes votes?

2427
03:27:19,279 --> 03:27:28,760
» 44 yes votes. Okay. All those in favor
of not passing over

2428
03:27:25,439 --> 03:27:28,760
and discussing

2429
03:27:45,279 --> 03:27:50,560
37 no
>> 37 no. Okay. So I don't even have to do

2430
03:27:48,800 --> 03:27:58,160
that. There's not two two there were not
there were 44 yeses and 37 nos. So no

2431
03:27:54,720 --> 03:28:03,680
matter what 44 uh that that's not two3
that wouldn't be 2/3 right

2432
03:28:01,600 --> 03:28:09,439
» math people right
>> okay good okay so the motion to pass

2433
03:28:07,120 --> 03:28:16,479
over has failed
we will now discuss

2434
03:28:13,840 --> 03:28:20,880
the motion
>> uh so I just wanted to give you a little

2435
03:28:18,080 --> 03:28:26,560
bit of background on where this article
came from uh the highway committee made

2436
03:28:24,000 --> 03:28:33,760
a proposal to the select board to
incorporate it into the articles

2437
03:28:29,600 --> 03:28:42,160
primarily for two reasons. One, we have
uh tried to put together a 4-year plan

2438
03:28:37,200 --> 03:28:48,800
on vehicle needs and um and have a
concern about the funds to to raise in

2439
03:28:46,560 --> 03:28:53,040
order to replace trucks and equipment
that need to be replaced in the next

2440
03:28:50,479 --> 03:28:59,680
four to five years. Um, and you'll see
on page 17 that there are some

2441
03:28:54,960 --> 03:29:07,760
challenges to that. And so we can come
and continue to make uh articles to

2442
03:29:05,359 --> 03:29:14,399
raise money for the highway reserve and
we will do that as we need to. But the

2443
03:29:10,640 --> 03:29:19,920
idea is that if there are surpluses in
the highway, can we capture some of that

2444
03:29:18,080 --> 03:29:23,920
money? not necessarily all of it
depending on what the auditor's

2445
03:29:21,439 --> 03:29:29,760
recommendations are and what the select
board's uh thoughts are. But if we can

2446
03:29:26,800 --> 03:29:37,040
capture some of that surplus money, if
there is some, and put it in a reserve,

2447
03:29:33,920 --> 03:29:43,120
it will ease the burden of the special
articles that would need to be brought

2448
03:29:39,760 --> 03:29:50,080
in front of you uh for highway equipment
needs, thereby reducing the impact on

2449
03:29:47,120 --> 03:29:57,200
the taxes. because what we heard last
after last year's highway um highway

2450
03:29:54,640 --> 03:30:03,040
special articles is that these special
articles are the thing that drives up

2451
03:30:00,479 --> 03:30:07,920
the tax rate the most. It's not
necessarily the general fund, but it's

2452
03:30:05,680 --> 03:30:12,479
the special articles that are driving up
the tax rate. And so the idea was is if

2453
03:30:10,399 --> 03:30:19,200
there are surpluses to capture in the
highway department to use them to reduce

2454
03:30:16,720 --> 03:30:26,279
what we have to ask for in special
articles and thereby hopefully lessening

2455
03:30:22,080 --> 03:30:26,279
the impact on the tax rate.

2456
03:30:27,680 --> 03:30:36,080
» Further discussion?
Uh let's go there first and then we'll

2457
03:30:31,439 --> 03:30:39,760
go to Laura. Yeah. Uh I'm sorry.
Thank you. Check.

2458
03:30:38,960 --> 03:30:45,760
Thank you.
>> Um, I'd like to make a motion to amend

2459
03:30:42,960 --> 03:30:48,720
uh article 12 to reduce the amount to
$200,000

2460
03:30:47,680 --> 03:30:52,479
to be
>> Wait, wait, wait. We're not on Wait, I'm

2461
03:30:50,319 --> 03:30:57,359
confused. My hands We're not We're not
there yet. We're on nine. We're still

2462
03:30:54,880 --> 03:31:04,239
creating a highway surplus fund.
>> I mean 11. Sorry. Dyslexia. Dyslexia.

2463
03:31:01,760 --> 03:31:07,359
» Oops. That's okay.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. That's

2464
03:31:05,600 --> 03:31:12,239
okay. He just he just jumped ahead. I'm
excited, too. I want to get out of here.

2465
03:31:08,800 --> 03:31:14,960
That's okay. We're on article 11. Thank
you, Laura first and then in the back.

2466
03:31:14,319 --> 03:31:23,040
Yep.
>> So, we had this exact article last year

2467
03:31:18,080 --> 03:31:25,840
in our in our um like uh report. So, I'm
just wondering, does this have to be

2468
03:31:24,399 --> 03:31:30,640
done every year?
>> No, it's not.

2469
03:31:26,960 --> 03:31:34,080
» And and if so, why are we repeating it?
>> I mean, if it's not, why are we

2470
03:31:32,080 --> 03:31:37,840
repeating this article again? Same
number, everything.

2471
03:31:35,600 --> 03:31:42,680
» Okay. Are you on article 11 or are you
on article 12? If I couldn't clarify

2472
03:31:48,720 --> 03:31:56,840
» I'm sorry what
the article you're referring to from

2473
03:31:53,600 --> 03:31:56,840
last year.

2474
03:31:57,279 --> 03:32:02,640
» There you go.
The article you're referring to from

2475
03:32:00,479 --> 03:32:06,319
last year, we had split up into two
articles. one to establish the highway

2476
03:32:04,880 --> 03:32:09,680
equipment reserve and infrastructure
reserve and one to fund it. So the

2477
03:32:08,399 --> 03:32:13,439
article you're referring to was
establishing the equipment and uh

2478
03:32:12,000 --> 03:32:18,640
infrastructure reserve. What we're
talking about right now is a reserve for

2479
03:32:16,800 --> 03:32:24,279
surplus funds. It has nothing to do with
the equipment and infrastructure which

2480
03:32:20,080 --> 03:32:24,279
will be voted on in article 12.

2481
03:32:24,720 --> 03:32:30,640
» Okay. So so I I was a little bit
confused.

2482
03:32:26,960 --> 03:32:34,479
» Article 13 was not for putting it into a
surplus reserve. It was for putting it

2483
03:32:32,319 --> 03:32:36,479
into that other reserve, the equipment
reserve.

2484
03:32:34,960 --> 03:32:39,680
» Right? So I was confused about this too
because I actually wrote down did this

2485
03:32:38,000 --> 03:32:44,080
exist already. This is a different
reserve. It's very closely worded. One

2486
03:32:42,160 --> 03:32:51,279
says surplus fund and the other one was
a last year was a what was it called?

2487
03:32:47,920 --> 03:32:56,000
A little bit different name. Herve
>> reserve fund versus the surplus fund.

2488
03:32:54,160 --> 03:33:00,160
Right. Okay. Actually it's right below
us. It says the highway reserve fund on

2489
03:32:58,640 --> 03:33:05,359
the next article. That's the one that
was created last year. This is a new

2490
03:33:02,720 --> 03:33:09,680
fund, a new reserve fund that they want
to create called the surplus fund. So, I

2491
03:33:08,000 --> 03:33:17,040
get your question, right? That answer
it. Okay. Then we got uh

2492
03:33:13,439 --> 03:33:20,520
Tammy Tammy Dam Tammy.
>> I think that

2493
03:33:21,040 --> 03:33:25,600
» do do we Okay, so that's a valid
question. Do we understand the

2494
03:33:24,000 --> 03:33:30,720
difference between the two? Did you Did
they answer that again?

2495
03:33:28,000 --> 03:33:30,720
Go ahead.

2496
03:33:30,800 --> 03:33:41,520
The highway reserve fund is what we set
up for uh infrastructure and equipment.

2497
03:33:37,439 --> 03:33:46,239
The highway surplus fund is a spot to
put surplus funds not specific for

2498
03:33:43,920 --> 03:33:50,399
infrastructure and equipment. So this
was something I believe Andy brought up

2499
03:33:47,840 --> 03:33:54,319
earlier in discussion of surpluses and
if they don't sit in a reserve then

2500
03:33:52,319 --> 03:33:59,040
they're not really tracked. I think that
was the point that you were making

2501
03:33:55,439 --> 03:34:03,960
earlier. So this is a uh reserve fund
specifically for placing surpluses.

2502
03:34:04,560 --> 03:34:10,960
» Okay. Any other further discussion on
article 11

2503
03:34:09,760 --> 03:34:17,160
to see if we're going to create this
fund. Yes, sir. Dwight

2504
03:34:12,720 --> 03:34:17,160
» microphone. Sorry.

2505
03:34:17,680 --> 03:34:23,600
Sorry. Just a simple question. in the uh
highway department budget highway

2506
03:34:21,439 --> 03:34:27,840
foreman's report
um

2507
03:34:25,840 --> 03:34:33,600
at the top of the page. This is page I'm
sorry 16 I believe there's a $92,000

2508
03:34:30,960 --> 03:34:40,120
surplus at the end of fiscal year 2025.
Does that show in the budget somewhere

2509
03:34:35,840 --> 03:34:40,120
that 92,000 does?

2510
03:34:40,800 --> 03:34:46,880
I I didn't see where it was in the
budget in the highway fund budget.

2511
03:34:44,239 --> 03:34:53,680
» Believe it does show up in the budget.
Uh the select board voted to uh I think

2512
03:34:50,640 --> 03:35:05,359
it's um
the select board voted to uh use $17,000

2513
03:34:59,600 --> 03:35:12,200
of that surplus to uh offset taxes and
to keep the remaining 60 and change uh

2514
03:35:08,800 --> 03:35:12,200
in the budget.

2515
03:35:13,439 --> 03:35:20,239
» Did that answer the question? No,
because I still can't find 92,

2516
03:35:18,640 --> 03:35:25,080
» but
it should be on the revenue page as a

2517
03:35:22,080 --> 03:35:25,080
surplus.

2518
03:35:25,120 --> 03:35:28,920
» 18. Okay.

2519
03:35:31,279 --> 03:35:35,880
» Is at the top called use the fund
balance.

2520
03:35:41,680 --> 03:35:45,479
» The use of fund balance.

2521
03:35:45,520 --> 03:35:50,399
Okay. Any other further discussion? Yes,
sir. Uh microphone should be right

2522
03:35:49,040 --> 03:35:54,880
behind you.
>> No, no, no. Microphone comes forward.

2523
03:35:52,800 --> 03:35:59,200
He's the There you go.
>> Easy.

2524
03:35:56,880 --> 03:36:02,560
» Uh Peter, West Townson. Where's this
money parked?

2525
03:36:01,520 --> 03:36:08,359
» Where is this money parked?
>> Where you have the surplus? It's going

2526
03:36:04,239 --> 03:36:08,359
to go someplace. Where is it parked?

2527
03:36:09,520 --> 03:36:16,239
» I mean, are you are you earning money
with us? So, if there is the 90 I'm

2528
03:36:14,720 --> 03:36:18,960
sorry, I didn't see who asked the
question, so I'm not

2529
03:36:17,520 --> 03:36:21,920
» Oh, sorry. Um,
>> hi.

2530
03:36:19,600 --> 03:36:30,239
» If [laughter] there's $92,000 fund
balance and 17 of it has been uh

2531
03:36:27,520 --> 03:36:33,840
has been decided to use it to spend down
what we have to raise in taxes, then I'm

2532
03:36:32,720 --> 03:36:39,279
sorry, I don't have the math off the
top. 75

2533
03:36:35,200 --> 03:36:45,600
» 75 is kept in the highway budget
>> for unforeseen circumstances.

2534
03:36:43,120 --> 03:36:48,080
So it's in the highway fund.
>> So the money is exists exists, right?

2535
03:36:47,760 --> 03:36:51,725
Yes.
>> Where is it being where is it sitting?

2536
03:36:50,239 --> 03:36:53,840
» It's sitting in the highway fund.
[clears throat]

2537
03:36:52,399 --> 03:36:57,600
It's called the 200s.
>> Are you are is it in a bank account or

2538
03:36:55,600 --> 03:37:02,080
are you making 4% on it? I guess that's
my question.

2539
03:36:58,160 --> 03:37:07,040
» The treasur would have to answer that.
Are you making money on it?

2540
03:37:04,880 --> 03:37:13,439
Making nothing.
Okay. I'm I'm just curious.

2541
03:37:10,319 --> 03:37:18,000
Well, money market funds on
what was it? 70,000.

2542
03:37:15,439 --> 03:37:23,760
That's $2500
roughly right in the town's pocket just

2543
03:37:21,040 --> 03:37:30,040
to invest it. All I'm saying. And you
get the money the next day. So that was

2544
03:37:27,040 --> 03:37:30,040
my

2545
03:37:31,439 --> 03:37:36,359
as to on the type of

2546
03:37:37,600 --> 03:37:45,000
» I don't want to get into it that far. I
just want to make sure we're getting the

2547
03:37:40,960 --> 03:37:45,000
bang for our buck. That's all.

2548
03:37:45,040 --> 03:37:51,279
» I'm not [clears throat] the treasurer. I
don't know. But I don't know if we're

2549
03:37:48,560 --> 03:37:55,680
allowed to take
the 100s [clears throat] and the 200s

2550
03:37:53,120 --> 03:37:59,840
and put it somewhere. I I mean, that's a
question for Elaine with the type of

2551
03:37:57,920 --> 03:38:05,439
accounting system. You're not going to
be having CD. It's just the running

2552
03:38:02,560 --> 03:38:10,000
expenses of town. The general fund is
the 100s. The garage is the 200.

2553
03:38:09,040 --> 03:38:16,120
» I got that.
>> There's a surplus

2554
03:38:12,479 --> 03:38:16,120
that is noted

2555
03:38:16,239 --> 03:38:19,239
75,000.

2556
03:38:23,279 --> 03:38:28,960
» Gotcha. But the money is sitting
somewhere, right? Where's it sitting?

2557
03:38:27,200 --> 03:38:33,040
And are we making interest on it?
>> It's sitting at Mnt Bank in the bank.

2558
03:38:32,080 --> 03:38:37,200
That's a good question.
>> Making nothing. Right.

2559
03:38:34,479 --> 03:38:41,200
» Well, we get we get some money, you
know.

2560
03:38:37,760 --> 03:38:45,120
» Are you getting 4%?
>> Are you getting 4%.

2561
03:38:43,279 --> 03:38:50,200
That's I guess that's my question.
>> Okay. The answer is no. Any other

2562
03:38:47,200 --> 03:38:50,200
discussion?

2563
03:38:55,520 --> 03:38:58,520
No.

2564
03:38:59,200 --> 03:39:08,319
» Oh, your point taken.
Uh, any other discussion?

2565
03:39:05,200 --> 03:39:13,920
See? Oh, yes.
>> No, it's okay.

2566
03:39:11,120 --> 03:39:19,760
Speak up now or forever hold your be. I
I just I worry about creating additional

2567
03:39:16,960 --> 03:39:28,399
surplus funds if there is sort of
general anxiety and opposition to or I

2568
03:39:25,200 --> 03:39:33,600
should say concern about transparency
um of where that money is sitting. It

2569
03:39:30,880 --> 03:39:38,880
seems to take away from
when special projects or trucks and

2570
03:39:36,399 --> 03:39:47,279
equipment are needed. We talk about them
at town meeting day. we we vote for them

2571
03:39:43,920 --> 03:39:54,319
knowingly based on the context of the
budget for that year. Uh but when we

2572
03:39:51,279 --> 03:39:58,880
start to create surplus funds for the
highway department,

2573
03:39:56,720 --> 03:40:03,920
then
you sort of remove a little bit of that

2574
03:40:02,239 --> 03:40:09,200
um
town, you know, taxpayer

2575
03:40:06,319 --> 03:40:14,319
immediiacy of of sort of voting for
what's needed at that time. So, um just

2576
03:40:12,479 --> 03:40:24,000
given the general context and some
questions that have been coming up uh as

2577
03:40:17,120 --> 03:40:29,359
a pattern, I would vote against um this.
Thank you.

2578
03:40:26,000 --> 03:40:34,479
Further discussion?
I'll get it. I'll get it.

2579
03:40:32,479 --> 03:40:38,720
Sorry. Thank you. Oh, yeah. Damon, you
want to say something?

2580
03:40:36,560 --> 03:40:44,560
» I'm happy to run. Where where does the
money going to go if we vote this down

2581
03:40:40,720 --> 03:40:47,600
into the general fund?
>> Where does the where's the money go if

2582
03:40:46,000 --> 03:40:50,840
it's voted down? I mean the money
doesn't disappear.

2583
03:40:52,160 --> 03:40:59,880
» Chris Gro
want

2584
03:40:56,640 --> 03:40:59,880
» go first.

2585
03:41:00,319 --> 03:41:03,920
» Us.
>> Yeah.

2586
03:41:02,560 --> 03:41:08,800
» So the question is where does the money
go? If we don't establish this fund, it

2587
03:41:06,000 --> 03:41:12,160
stays as it is in surplus. We're not
doing anything with the money. This is

2588
03:41:10,160 --> 03:41:17,880
establishing a fund, but we're not
saying that we're going to move the

2589
03:41:13,359 --> 03:41:17,880
75,000 in there necessarily today.

2590
03:41:19,359 --> 03:41:24,680
» This is more of a philosophical
question.

2591
03:41:24,960 --> 03:41:35,840
Is it generally established that reserve
funds will be put someplace

2592
03:41:32,319 --> 03:41:43,760
put in a um a bank somehow so that they
make a whole bunch of money in interest

2593
03:41:39,040 --> 03:41:50,560
until we um are ready to use them?
and something that's just sitting in the

2594
03:41:46,880 --> 03:41:54,960
budget is in a bank account where we can
get at it quickly which means we aren't

2595
03:41:52,640 --> 03:41:59,960
going to get as much interest. Is that
the definition of a reserve fund?

2596
03:42:00,640 --> 03:42:09,760
» Not the definition of a reserve fund. I
will defer to Elaine. I don't think that

2597
03:42:06,880 --> 03:42:15,920
means we can't do that. But a reserve
fund does not necessarily mean it's an

2598
03:42:12,640 --> 03:42:23,560
» interestbearing high yield account.
>> Yeah, it could be put into a CD, right?

2599
03:42:19,359 --> 03:42:23,560
But we don't necessarily

2600
03:42:23,920 --> 03:42:27,200
» want a mic.
>> They usually they could be put in a CD,

2601
03:42:26,319 --> 03:42:30,399
but
>> CDs

2602
03:42:28,800 --> 03:42:34,000
and I don't like talking with the same
>> everyone.

2603
03:42:31,520 --> 03:42:40,399
» Okay. Um, we have five CDs currently
with the town that get different

2604
03:42:36,319 --> 03:42:45,359
percentages. 3.83 83 or 3.13.
I don't have them all in my brain to

2605
03:42:42,319 --> 03:42:51,279
tell you what each one gets. And every
year I reach out to various banks to see

2606
03:42:49,200 --> 03:42:56,720
in the past I've reached out to see if
we could get better deals. And we the

2607
03:42:54,000 --> 03:43:02,000
Mnt and and 802 Credit Union are the two
that we're using and we do very well

2608
03:42:58,960 --> 03:43:07,040
with them. So
setting up a reserve is supposedly

2609
03:43:04,720 --> 03:43:12,319
putting money aside for a future
something. That's what to me what

2610
03:43:09,920 --> 03:43:17,760
reserve means. So you you know every
year you put 20,000 in like the fire

2611
03:43:14,479 --> 03:43:20,399
department did for x amount and then
they said okay we're going to buy a

2612
03:43:19,040 --> 03:43:26,239
truck and then they pulled the money
out, closed the CD and you know we're

2613
03:43:22,960 --> 03:43:31,840
waiting for a truck to come now. So
I I you know 100s and 200s is separate.

2614
03:43:30,080 --> 03:43:37,520
Yes, we get a little bit of interest
every month but you know you don't run

2615
03:43:34,800 --> 03:43:42,319
around shopping or at least I don't um
for different banks to get better deals.

2616
03:43:39,920 --> 03:43:47,600
We've done very well with Mnt and 802
and that's what we have stayed with. Now

2617
03:43:44,479 --> 03:43:52,560
maybe the new girl would like to shop
around and find something better. That's

2618
03:43:49,439 --> 03:44:00,720
that's on her if you guys choose that.
So, but again, the the money that's in

2619
03:43:55,920 --> 03:44:06,399
these accounts is for future, not put it
20,000 and then within six months after

2620
03:44:03,760 --> 03:44:13,960
the new budget opens, take that money
out. The reserve is to be set aside for

2621
03:44:09,439 --> 03:44:13,960
future is my understanding.

2622
03:44:15,040 --> 03:44:21,920
» Yeah. Um,
>> it'll be your second time. Hang on. Any

2623
03:44:19,040 --> 03:44:25,800
other first time stalkers?
See all these people want to talk.

2624
03:44:31,520 --> 03:44:36,160
» Thank you for coming down.
>> Okay,

2625
03:44:34,960 --> 03:44:39,680
» you can pass my bill.
>> Great.

2626
03:44:37,520 --> 03:44:43,920
» So, I think we're getting confused with
surplus and savings.

2627
03:44:42,399 --> 03:44:48,560
If we have a
>> Frank McDougall,

2628
03:44:46,319 --> 03:44:52,560
» if we have a surplus, that means we were
overt taxed and we should take that

2629
03:44:50,880 --> 03:44:56,640
money and spend it, spend down our
taxes. If you have a savings account,

2630
03:44:54,880 --> 03:45:01,120
then you save the money and you put it
in for what you want later. I don't have

2631
03:44:59,120 --> 03:45:06,880
a surplus at my house. I have a savings
account. I don't overspend because I

2632
03:45:04,080 --> 03:45:11,600
don't overt tax myself. So, I think a
surplus and a savings account are two

2633
03:45:09,680 --> 03:45:15,279
different things.
So,

2634
03:45:13,120 --> 03:45:19,840
why are we overt taxed or why is that
money not going to pay down to taxes?

2635
03:45:18,479 --> 03:45:23,760
Those are my questions.
>> Answer that question.

2636
03:45:21,439 --> 03:45:30,640
» Um, that's a good question as to why we
have $92,000 surplus in the highway

2637
03:45:26,640 --> 03:45:34,399
fund. Um, we brought in more money than
we anticipated. I would say that's

2638
03:45:32,399 --> 03:45:41,120
fundamentally the reason why we have
92,000. We did not anticipate to have

2639
03:45:36,880 --> 03:45:44,239
92,000. We were riding our expenses
really hard because we were actually

2640
03:45:42,880 --> 03:45:53,120
concerned we were going to end up with a
deficit, but we ended up with 92 because

2641
03:45:47,600 --> 03:45:59,359
of the grants um and FEMA money.
>> Okay.

2642
03:45:55,120 --> 03:46:02,960
» Hi. Um my name is Amy. Um I guess my
question is the $400,000 is this

2643
03:46:01,760 --> 03:46:07,120
addition to the
>> We're not We're not there yet.

2644
03:46:04,479 --> 03:46:11,199
» Oh. Oh. Oh, okay. Sorry. So, okay. So,
we're just essentially talking about

2645
03:46:08,960 --> 03:46:14,399
creating a reserve fund.
>> A surplus fund.

2646
03:46:12,080 --> 03:46:16,720
» A surplus fund. Even though Okay. And
it's going to be different than the

2647
03:46:15,520 --> 03:46:19,920
reserve fund.
>> Yes.

2648
03:46:17,120 --> 03:46:26,160
» And both are going towards the highway
department. Correct. For, you know, uh

2649
03:46:23,600 --> 03:46:31,840
keeping our roads and all of all of that
good stuff. Um, however, it they're

2650
03:46:29,120 --> 03:46:36,560
separate funds and they're going to go
to different parts of the highway

2651
03:46:34,640 --> 03:46:42,319
department essentially or are we
creating a reserve even though we

2652
03:46:38,239 --> 03:46:44,399
already have the $200,000 spoken for?
>> We're not. We're not. Okay, you can

2653
03:46:43,680 --> 03:46:47,760
answer that.
>> I'm sorry if I'm confusing.

2654
03:46:46,160 --> 03:46:52,000
» No, you're good. You're good. I
shouldn't be answering it. They are

2655
03:46:49,040 --> 03:46:54,800
separate funds because um and I'm not an
expert on this, but they are separate

2656
03:46:53,439 --> 03:47:00,080
funds because they're coming from
separate sources

2657
03:46:56,800 --> 03:47:05,120
and um maybe different purposes, but
they are for the needs of the highway

2658
03:47:02,160 --> 03:47:14,000
department and in particular we have
some pretty hefty needs uh coming up in

2659
03:47:08,720 --> 03:47:19,680
the area of uh trucks and bridges. And
so uh the idea is although this is a

2660
03:47:16,960 --> 03:47:25,680
separate fund I primarily because of how
it's funded it is for the purpose of the

2661
03:47:23,040 --> 03:47:28,800
needs of the highway department which is
trucks and bridges for the foreseeable

2662
03:47:27,680 --> 03:47:32,239
future.
>> U can can I follow up with another that

2663
03:47:30,960 --> 03:47:35,840
it begs the question what are the
sources

2664
03:47:33,760 --> 03:47:40,319
where is the funding coming from
>> from the surplus versus special

2665
03:47:37,840 --> 03:47:44,479
articles.
Okay. From the surf plus fund that we

2666
03:47:42,560 --> 03:47:49,439
are essentially going to vote to decide
if we want to have that available. And

2667
03:47:46,800 --> 03:47:50,720
then the second funding is um you had
just said it. I didn't hear what you

2668
03:47:50,479 --> 03:47:55,359
said.
>> Special articles have funded that

2669
03:47:52,319 --> 03:47:57,840
» and that's as we're coming up on all of
that stuff and they'll be much more

2670
03:47:56,560 --> 03:48:02,080
specific.
>> Okay. But essentially it's just to

2671
03:48:00,560 --> 03:48:04,239
create the reserve fund.
>> Not a reserve fund.

2672
03:48:03,439 --> 03:48:08,080
» It is a
>> the surplus fund. The surplus fund. And

2673
03:48:06,479 --> 03:48:12,640
will we talk about how it can be
accessed? Is there any kind of specifics

2674
03:48:10,800 --> 03:48:15,680
about what it should be used for other
than just the general idea of

2675
03:48:14,880 --> 03:48:19,279
transportation?
>> I think that's a select I think

2676
03:48:17,279 --> 03:48:22,160
fundamentally that's the select board's
decision. I know that the highway

2677
03:48:21,439 --> 03:48:29,359
committee [clears throat]
has trying to put out a 4-year plan on

2678
03:48:26,000 --> 03:48:33,120
bridge repair and replacements and on
trucks that are going to need to be

2679
03:48:30,800 --> 03:48:38,720
replaced. I can't say that something
else won't come up, but that is what um

2680
03:48:36,479 --> 03:48:44,000
we're looking at in the next four to
five years. And there are no other

2681
03:48:41,439 --> 03:48:48,479
reserve funds already in place like when
we talked about the additional money

2682
03:48:45,600 --> 03:48:53,040
that has to be that you know 8 to 10%
that needs to be um put aside of the

2683
03:48:51,199 --> 03:48:59,040
original budget. None of that can
actually go towards any way of the

2684
03:48:56,000 --> 03:49:02,160
highway funding. the the running I'm not
going to sure I get the terminology

2685
03:49:00,479 --> 03:49:10,479
right, but the running balance or the
operating funds fund balance in the 200s

2686
03:49:06,880 --> 03:49:18,880
of which we had a $92,000 surplus, but
that um that c the that can be used for

2687
03:49:15,840 --> 03:49:24,560
budgetary needs. Um the select board
then decides if there's some major

2688
03:49:21,040 --> 03:49:28,479
expenses whether or not to pull from the
reserves if it falls within the scope of

2689
03:49:26,800 --> 03:49:32,640
the reserves. And I think Irv said this
earlier that reserves do have a purpose.

2690
03:49:30,800 --> 03:49:35,840
They're not just a general account just
sitting there.

2691
03:49:34,239 --> 03:49:38,720
» Right. And you said it's for bridges or
any type of truck or vehicle maintenance

2692
03:49:38,479 --> 03:49:42,720
or
>> I think the wording is for the needs of

2693
03:49:40,479 --> 03:49:48,960
the highway department. I'm just saying
currently the most urgent needs are two

2694
03:49:45,600 --> 03:49:52,000
trucks and at least two bridges to start
with.

2695
03:49:50,479 --> 03:49:57,920
» Thank you for bearing with me.
>> Okay. Okay. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on.

2696
03:49:54,960 --> 03:50:04,000
Okay. We're still talking about just
setting up a highway surplus fund for

2697
03:50:01,760 --> 03:50:09,920
the surplus highway funds from last
year.

2698
03:50:05,680 --> 03:50:12,080
Just to set up the fund. Yeah. um up
front first and then we'll go to the

2699
03:50:11,120 --> 03:50:19,080
back.
>> Okay. Uh where did my

2700
03:50:15,439 --> 03:50:19,080
I put it up there?

2701
03:50:20,880 --> 03:50:29,760
» All right. Alman, um I just have a an
amendment I'd like to propose to kind of

2702
03:50:27,040 --> 03:50:33,840
poke this money in the right pocket. Um,
my concept of what you're trying to do

2703
03:50:31,279 --> 03:50:38,720
is we've got a bunch of [clears throat]
envelopes that sit in a drawer with

2704
03:50:36,640 --> 03:50:43,920
various money assigned to various
projects. Some of it is for future

2705
03:50:41,600 --> 03:50:47,680
expenses for trucks and vehicles and
whatever with the highway department

2706
03:50:45,279 --> 03:50:53,279
needs or bridges. And then we have this
other fund which is surplus money that

2707
03:50:50,319 --> 03:50:59,520
we have and haven't spent but needs to
go and be put aside hopefully in an

2708
03:50:56,800 --> 03:51:03,840
account that makes us some interest. And
my prop proposed amendment is that this

2709
03:51:02,239 --> 03:51:08,479
money be placed in some kind of an
interestbearing account.

2710
03:51:06,640 --> 03:51:14,160
Now that can be up to the select board
or the the treasurer as to how they want

2711
03:51:10,239 --> 03:51:18,399
to do that and that it's available. The
concept is that it's available if we

2712
03:51:15,840 --> 03:51:22,239
need it for highway expenses in the
future, but that it's making some money

2713
03:51:20,479 --> 03:51:24,399
for us.
>> Am I being

2714
03:51:23,120 --> 03:51:27,760
» um No, no, I understand what you're
saying. I just don't know if if that's

2715
03:51:27,120 --> 03:51:30,479
you know, do we
>> My amendment is just to add that it goes

2716
03:51:29,199 --> 03:51:34,399
in an interest bearing account
>> to put it in an interest bearing

2717
03:51:31,680 --> 03:51:40,160
account, but that's I mean my savings
account at 0.02% is an interest bearing

2718
03:51:36,640 --> 03:51:44,880
account although it happens to be 0.02%.
>> Right. The amendment is to is the same

2719
03:51:42,399 --> 03:51:49,279
thing but to put the money in an
interestbearing account.

2720
03:51:46,800 --> 03:51:53,359
» Okay. And then the other issue is
>> you have to have the money available

2721
03:51:51,359 --> 03:51:58,080
when you need it. And if you put it in a
six-mon CD, the money might not be

2722
03:51:56,880 --> 03:52:00,239
available when you need it.
>> Might not be as liquid. Correct.

2723
03:51:59,439 --> 03:52:04,160
» But that's
>> that's the treasurer and the select

2724
03:52:02,080 --> 03:52:07,920
board to decide where they put it.
>> Whatever. Whatever. Yes. Yes. Yes. What?

2725
03:52:05,920 --> 03:52:13,080
I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry. There's an amendment on the

2726
03:52:09,359 --> 03:52:13,080
floor. Is there a second?

2727
03:52:13,760 --> 03:52:19,600
» Is there a second? You can't discuss it
yet.

2728
03:52:17,279 --> 03:52:22,640
» Excuse me.
>> You can't amend the amendment. Wait, no,

2729
03:52:21,199 --> 03:52:27,120
we don't have a second. So, there is no
amendment on the floor.

2730
03:52:24,960 --> 03:52:31,319
» Huh? I'm sorry. What?
>> Okay. What? What was that over there?

2731
03:52:34,319 --> 03:52:39,199
» Yeah, that don't worry about the second
amendment yet. We're still on the first

2732
03:52:37,439 --> 03:52:43,199
amendment to place it in an
interestbearing account to add those

2733
03:52:41,199 --> 03:52:47,600
words.
There was a second. Who seconded it?

2734
03:52:45,359 --> 03:52:52,160
Connie seconded it. Now we're just
discussing whether or not putting it in

2735
03:52:50,720 --> 03:52:55,920
the interest bearing account. Then we'll
be voting on that. [clears throat]

2736
03:52:54,000 --> 03:53:01,640
Somebody wanted to make an amendment to
the amendment. Yes, sir.

2737
03:52:57,520 --> 03:53:01,640
» Sean amendment.

2738
03:53:03,279 --> 03:53:09,439
» I'll accept that without
>> Okay. Okay. So, now we have and and

2739
03:53:06,880 --> 03:53:12,239
there was a friendly amendment. So, we
don't necessarily need to vote on the

2740
03:53:10,640 --> 03:53:15,920
amendment to the amendment. We now have
an amend. Yes.

2741
03:53:14,399 --> 03:53:23,040
Not yet. We're not there yet. Hang on.
Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. We have a

2742
03:53:19,199 --> 03:53:28,560
amendment to the amendment to change it
to say and be placed in a money market

2743
03:53:26,160 --> 03:53:33,439
account. Is there a second for that?
>> Okay. It's been moved and seconded. We

2744
03:53:31,199 --> 03:53:38,560
now have an amendment on the floor to
add place in the money market account.

2745
03:53:36,000 --> 03:53:42,800
Discussion.
Yeah. Yeah. You want to say something?

2746
03:53:41,279 --> 03:53:46,080
Not about the fund, please. About the
money market.

2747
03:53:43,840 --> 03:53:52,640
» About the money market. You The whole
thing is a snake pit. Um

2748
03:53:49,359 --> 03:54:00,160
money markets are not FDIC insured, but
they hold NAV of one dollar per share.

2749
03:53:56,160 --> 03:54:05,439
I've never seen one go below that. Um,
right now you can get one probably at

2750
03:54:02,479 --> 03:54:09,439
3.8%. You put the money in tomorrow. You
could take it out the day after. It just

2751
03:54:07,760 --> 03:54:15,600
that' be a wire transfer. It's right
there. There's no fees for it. I don't

2752
03:54:11,120 --> 03:54:22,960
if you're aware of this stuff. Um,
to keep your money locally with Mnt or

2753
03:54:19,760 --> 03:54:30,520
or uh People's, it's like a misnomer
because people's Bridgeport Connecticut

2754
03:54:25,359 --> 03:54:30,520
MT is Ohio, I think. People's

2755
03:54:30,560 --> 03:54:38,560
Bank, which was Mnt, was Bridgeport,
Connecticut. Okay, that's what I'm

2756
03:54:35,279 --> 03:54:43,439
saying. Um,
the last bank we had, real big one, was

2757
03:54:41,040 --> 03:54:48,319
Chittenden, which was Vermont based in
Vermont National. So, I'm saying just

2758
03:54:46,640 --> 03:54:52,880
the think about keeping it local. Are
you keeping it local or are you uh

2759
03:54:50,399 --> 03:55:00,080
trying to do that to at your uh your own
detriment? quite honestly I mean 2%

2760
03:54:56,960 --> 03:55:05,880
2% versus 3.7 I can get you that
tomorrow in a money market. So that's

2761
03:55:02,479 --> 03:55:05,880
all I'm saying.

2762
03:55:06,080 --> 03:55:13,040
We're discussing the amendment to add
and to be placed in a money market

2763
03:55:11,680 --> 03:55:17,880
to be placed in the money market. Any
other discussion on that amendment?

2764
03:55:14,880 --> 03:55:17,880
» Yes.

2765
03:55:19,520 --> 03:55:22,520
Historically,

2766
03:55:22,960 --> 03:55:30,399
there was a problem between well, there
was a communication gap between the

2767
03:55:27,359 --> 03:55:35,279
treasurer and the select board as to
where the treasurer was putting the

2768
03:55:32,560 --> 03:55:38,279
money.
And

2769
03:55:38,640 --> 03:55:50,319
I would prefer that the select board and
the treasurer work together on this and

2770
03:55:45,600 --> 03:55:58,643
communicate so that we the town makes as
much money as we possibly can, but has

2771
03:55:54,479 --> 03:56:01,439
money available when we need it,
[clears throat]

2772
03:55:59,840 --> 03:56:08,239
which
might not be legislated as such.

2773
03:56:04,960 --> 03:56:14,560
might be more a matter of we the people
say to you please get along.

2774
03:56:12,960 --> 03:56:17,120
» Okay.
We're not going to discuss that. You

2775
03:56:16,000 --> 03:56:23,520
want to speak?
>> Yeah. Isn't it normally the treasurer

2776
03:56:19,920 --> 03:56:29,359
who decides where to put money and moves
moves money in and out of accounts

2777
03:56:26,239 --> 03:56:33,520
according to among other things the
interest rate they can get on it. Isn't

2778
03:56:31,520 --> 03:56:36,920
that something that the treasurer
normally does?

2779
03:56:38,399 --> 03:56:44,399
» Oh, yep. In the
>> Come on down

2780
03:56:43,680 --> 03:56:50,560
there.
>> There you go. Oh, cheater.

2781
03:56:48,160 --> 03:56:54,479
» So, basically, you're saying we're
anticipating surplus already. So, we're

2782
03:56:52,880 --> 03:57:00,479
going to create account. So, if we're
anticipating surplus, why are we aren't

2783
03:56:57,040 --> 03:57:03,680
we reducing budgets? It's our money. Why
would you Why would I give you more

2784
03:57:01,920 --> 03:57:06,818
money to put in a savings account to
make money?

2785
03:57:04,399 --> 03:57:06,818
» Go ahead. [clears throat]

2786
03:57:06,880 --> 03:57:11,439
» You don't have one.
>> Huh?

2787
03:57:09,279 --> 03:57:14,600
» Oh, this amendment is the money market.
He said

2788
03:57:15,840 --> 03:57:22,399
» Oh, you you have an amendment on the
floor to discuss whether or not to put

2789
03:57:19,520 --> 03:57:27,040
it in a money market account. Sorry. You
you can ask that question in a minute,

2790
03:57:24,080 --> 03:57:32,560
but I'm as as moderator.
>> There's a reason. Okay. Okay. Any other

2791
03:57:31,279 --> 03:57:37,479
discussion on the amendment? And then
we'll get back to the original motion.

2792
03:57:34,239 --> 03:57:37,479
Yes, sir.

2793
03:57:37,840 --> 03:57:47,680
» Uh first of all, um I can only use the
cemetery as an example because we have

2794
03:57:44,560 --> 03:57:52,399
funds that we invest.
You're not telling us where to invest

2795
03:57:49,520 --> 03:58:01,120
them. It's elected officials, of which
there are five of us. We vote to invest

2796
03:57:56,880 --> 03:58:07,520
our resources in certain funds and then
we instruct the treasurer to do that. I

2797
03:58:04,720 --> 03:58:13,199
don't think this amendment in proper
order because I don't think you get to

2798
03:58:10,560 --> 03:58:17,199
tell the treasurer or the select board
how to invest the money. If you want to

2799
03:58:15,520 --> 03:58:22,560
create the fund, that's a different
story. But I think it's up to the select

2800
03:58:20,000 --> 03:58:27,760
board and ultimately the treasurer who
are elected to make those decisions.

2801
03:58:26,239 --> 03:58:33,600
You wouldn't be telling the cemetery
commission what to do with its money.

2802
03:58:30,479 --> 03:58:37,760
» Um and and I I'm Wait, wait, wait. I'm
not here to make legal decisions. That's

2803
03:58:36,319 --> 03:58:41,040
why I haven't spoken up.
>> Can I pass over or vote to pass over the

2804
03:58:40,239 --> 03:58:44,239
amendment?
>> No. No. You want to pass over it or you

2805
03:58:43,120 --> 03:58:48,239
want to call the question?
>> Call the question.

2806
03:58:45,279 --> 03:58:52,680
» Okay. Is there any You need a twothirds
vote to close debate on the amendment.

2807
03:58:55,199 --> 03:59:02,080
» No, you can still. You want to just pass
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We already

2808
03:58:59,520 --> 03:59:07,120
did a Passover on this once, didn't we?
>> Yeah. No, sorry. I mean, yeah, I guess

2809
03:59:04,800 --> 03:59:11,520
theoretically you can try again. Want to
try it again to pass over it?

2810
03:59:09,760 --> 03:59:14,080
» Well, somebody's been asked. Hang on. Is
there a second for that? Wait, wait,

2811
03:59:12,880 --> 03:59:18,960
wait. Let me go back to my little cheat
sheet. after debate is part uh started

2812
03:59:17,199 --> 03:59:23,680
is called postponing differently. A
second is required.

2813
03:59:21,359 --> 03:59:27,040
» Okay. Second to pass over. It may go
into the main motion. So now we're going

2814
03:59:25,120 --> 03:59:30,160
to debate. We have an amendment on the
floor. We have a main motion on the

2815
03:59:28,479 --> 03:59:33,920
floor. We're not talking about those
now. We are now going to debate on

2816
03:59:31,920 --> 03:59:38,920
whether or not passing over we want to
pass over this whole thing. Okay.

2817
03:59:41,760 --> 03:59:49,920
» We
I'm sorry.

2818
03:59:46,080 --> 03:59:53,080
Okay, let's let's do you want to vote on
the amendment?

2819
03:59:53,920 --> 04:00:01,760
» No, I want a question on the amendment.
>> I I'm not I'm not sure there's such a

2820
04:00:00,319 --> 04:00:09,960
thing as passing over an amendment.
These are passover warned articles.

2821
04:00:04,800 --> 04:00:09,960
» Um, we have an amendment on the floor.

2822
04:00:11,040 --> 04:00:18,399
» Okay. some. Okay. Are we ready for the
amendment question? All those in favor,

2823
04:00:17,279 --> 04:00:21,120
please say I.
>> I.

2824
04:00:18,960 --> 04:00:26,479
» Oppose. No.
I believe twothirds majority want to

2825
04:00:23,359 --> 04:00:30,640
vote on the amendment. Okay.
The vote on the amend the the vote a yes

2826
04:00:29,120 --> 04:00:36,160
vote. Hang on. Let me get back to where
I need to be.

2827
04:00:32,640 --> 04:00:40,560
A yes vote.
A yes vote.

2828
04:00:38,399 --> 04:00:45,760
A yes vote will say that the town will
create a highway surplus fund to be

2829
04:00:43,040 --> 04:00:50,120
placed in a money market.
Hot damn, we're out of here.

2830
04:00:51,279 --> 04:00:59,600
The so the main mo so the amendment will
change the main motion which we're not

2831
04:00:55,600 --> 04:01:05,920
voting on right now to say the the to
create a surplus fund to carry to be

2832
04:01:03,439 --> 04:01:10,880
placed in a money market to carry over
highway surplus funds to address large

2833
04:01:08,560 --> 04:01:16,720
highway projects and save money for
future highway expenses. A no vote goes

2834
04:01:14,080 --> 04:01:21,600
back and just drops the money market
statement. Does that make sense? Yes

2835
04:01:19,279 --> 04:01:27,680
vote adds the money market. No vote
defeats that. All those in favor of the

2836
04:01:24,479 --> 04:01:31,160
amendment, please say I.
>> All those opposed.

2837
04:01:33,199 --> 04:01:42,160
» We got Yeah. Louder is I I I modulate
for that. Um Okay. We're going to have

2838
04:01:39,520 --> 04:01:46,720
to divide the house. All those in This
is just a majority vote. We don't need

2839
04:01:43,840 --> 04:01:51,279
twothirds. All those in favor of adding
the terms money market, please raise

2840
04:01:49,439 --> 04:01:55,160
your hand.
I'll try to do it quick.

2841
04:02:10,880 --> 04:02:19,359
25
25 people want to add the amendment.

2842
04:02:17,680 --> 04:02:22,760
All those against the amendment, please
raise your hand.

2843
04:02:39,520 --> 04:02:47,920
doesn't matter. Majority and the nos
have it. So, the amendment fails, but

2844
04:02:45,279 --> 04:02:51,199
we're still back to the original motion
to see if the town will vote to create a

2845
04:02:49,680 --> 04:02:55,279
highway surplus fund to carry over
highway surplus funds to address large

2846
04:02:53,359 --> 04:02:59,279
highway projects and save money for
future highway expenses. Further

2847
04:02:57,359 --> 04:03:03,520
discussion? Yes, sir. Point of order.
>> Yes.

2848
04:03:00,960 --> 04:03:05,840
on the
amendment.

2849
04:03:04,000 --> 04:03:08,479
» That's what I just said. I just read it.
No, we didn't have an amendment to

2850
04:03:07,040 --> 04:03:14,680
amendment.
>> We had an amendment on the floor to add

2851
04:03:10,319 --> 04:03:14,680
the words money market, right?

2852
04:03:18,800 --> 04:03:26,239
» Okay. Interesting.
>> Yeah. But you you accepted it as a

2853
04:03:24,080 --> 04:03:30,160
friendly amendment and so that became
the amendment.

2854
04:03:28,479 --> 04:03:33,120
» Okay. So, and that just failed. So,
we're back to the original motion.

2855
04:03:31,680 --> 04:03:36,479
Further discussion on the original
motion.

2856
04:03:34,960 --> 04:03:39,359
» That's up to you if you want to call the
question.

2857
04:03:37,760 --> 04:03:43,040
» Oh, wait. I know understand. But who has
hand was up first? Conniey's was

2858
04:03:41,199 --> 04:03:48,080
» I just wanted to make sure that Chad's
question, if I understood it, is

2859
04:03:45,120 --> 04:03:54,720
answered because I did have a question.
>> Yeah, that that was at the appropriate

2860
04:03:50,479 --> 04:03:59,520
time. She'll answer it now.
ask your question again

2861
04:03:57,600 --> 04:04:03,199
and then and then the question will be
called.

2862
04:04:01,199 --> 04:04:07,920
» I can't remember for sure, but I was
basically saying if we're anticipating a

2863
04:04:05,120 --> 04:04:11,439
surplus,
>> why is it why isn't it put toward the

2864
04:04:09,760 --> 04:04:13,920
reducing the taxes?
>> That's what you asked, right? And has

2865
04:04:13,520 --> 04:04:17,520
the answer.
>> I have a feeling that this question was

2866
04:04:15,840 --> 04:04:24,239
sort of asked before you may have been
out of the room. Um,

2867
04:04:20,560 --> 04:04:29,359
so we did not anticipate having $92,000
surplus. We actually were concerned that

2868
04:04:26,239 --> 04:04:34,239
we were going to have a deficit, but we
captured a lot of grant money and FEMA

2869
04:04:32,160 --> 04:04:42,880
money came in. So now we have this
surplus. So it's not that we feel that

2870
04:04:37,920 --> 04:04:48,800
we are over budgeting or over uh or
under spending like we're it's that this

2871
04:04:45,840 --> 04:04:55,199
money we ended up with a surplus which
is wonderful. The primary reason is we

2872
04:04:52,560 --> 04:05:01,359
rode our budget really tight and made
sure we were monitoring it every single

2873
04:04:57,760 --> 04:05:06,000
week and we had some unexpected grant
and FEMA money come in uh that gave us

2874
04:05:04,319 --> 04:05:10,720
additional revenue.
>> But just to be clear, so you're going to

2875
04:05:07,760 --> 04:05:15,120
take that 90,000 whatever it is and hold
on to it in case you need it later on

2876
04:05:13,359 --> 04:05:20,960
this fiscal year, correct? Why wouldn't
you just put it towards our fiscal year

2877
04:05:17,680 --> 04:05:24,239
27 taxes? Um,
>> why would we let you guys I'm just

2878
04:05:22,720 --> 04:05:29,680
curious. I don't understand why you
think you need to put that money aside

2879
04:05:27,359 --> 04:05:32,880
in case you need it. And maybe I'm
wrong. I'm just

2880
04:05:30,239 --> 04:05:38,960
» Well, the reason and again I if I'm
repeating myself, I apologize. The the

2881
04:05:36,080 --> 04:05:45,680
the needs over the next four or five
years um in our opinion

2882
04:05:42,720 --> 04:05:53,600
are cost more than we will be able to
raise in revenue. And so if there is

2883
04:05:49,439 --> 04:05:58,640
reserves uh or surpluses, excuse me, the
auditors have said that we need to keep

2884
04:05:55,840 --> 04:06:05,120
some in the fund balance. The select
board voted to use some of that surplus

2885
04:06:01,600 --> 04:06:09,760
to spend on taxes, but there's also this
need that is staring us in the face that

2886
04:06:07,600 --> 04:06:16,000
we don't have the funds for in terms of
bridges and trucks. And so that is the

2887
04:06:12,560 --> 04:06:21,680
reason uh if there is some surplus money
to capture, where would we put it? The

2888
04:06:19,920 --> 04:06:25,080
article is to put it in a surplus
reserve fund.

2889
04:06:25,600 --> 04:06:31,439
» Okay.
>> Uh no, sorry.

2890
04:06:29,040 --> 04:06:33,920
» I uh uh just [clears throat] and this
question I'm sorry the call the question

2891
04:06:32,720 --> 04:06:38,319
has been called. Okay.
>> So

2892
04:06:35,760 --> 04:06:42,720
» I'm sorry what the question has been
called. So there should be no more

2893
04:06:39,760 --> 04:06:46,399
discussion if we have a twothirds vote.
The person had their hand raised and

2894
04:06:44,160 --> 04:06:50,160
said called the question, but Chad's
question was still on the floor per se.

2895
04:06:48,319 --> 04:06:56,640
So we let him answer and then the
question was called. So now there's a

2896
04:06:54,239 --> 04:07:04,399
twothirds majority is needed to end
debate and vote on this. If that 2/3

2897
04:07:01,040 --> 04:07:10,800
fails, we'll continue to discuss. That's
all. Okay. All those in favor of ending

2898
04:07:07,920 --> 04:07:14,960
debate on this and voting, please raise
your hand.

2899
04:07:13,279 --> 04:07:18,960
Okay, hands down. Hopefully, I don't
have to count. All those opposed and

2900
04:07:17,439 --> 04:07:23,520
want to continue to debate, please raise
their hand. I believe that's 2/3, right?

2901
04:07:22,080 --> 04:07:28,640
Would everybody agree? I don't want to
just Okay, agreed. So, the question has

2902
04:07:25,840 --> 04:07:34,479
been called. We now have a a vote in
front of us that asks whether the town

2903
04:07:31,600 --> 04:07:38,479
will create a highway surplus fund to
carry over highway surplus funds to

2904
04:07:36,880 --> 04:07:44,560
address
large highway projects and save money

2905
04:07:41,279 --> 04:07:50,720
for future highway expenses. A yes vote
passes that motion. A no vote defeats

2906
04:07:47,439 --> 04:07:54,000
that motion. Any questions?
All those in favor of the motion, please

2907
04:07:52,720 --> 04:07:58,160
say I.
>> I.

2908
04:07:54,800 --> 04:07:58,160
» All those opposed?

2909
04:07:58,479 --> 04:08:04,560
Okay. Not only was that confusing,
somebody said I when it was supposed to

2910
04:08:01,760 --> 04:08:08,800
be no, but that's okay.
>> That's okay.

2911
04:08:06,640 --> 04:08:13,199
» Okay. Paper ballot. Any other six other
people for a paper ballot? You want to

2912
04:08:10,160 --> 04:08:16,880
divide the house? Paper ballotage. What?
One. Wait. Raise your hands again if you

2913
04:08:14,479 --> 04:08:21,040
want paper ballot. One, two, three,
four, five, six. Okay. I didn't see

2914
04:08:18,479 --> 04:08:27,279
those up there. Paper ballot. So, a yes
vote passes the motion. A no vote

2915
04:08:23,920 --> 04:08:34,000
defeats it. Any questions?
I now declare the ballot box open.

2916
04:08:31,359 --> 04:08:38,080
Good job. Thank you for being patient
with me, everybody. You're doing

2917
04:08:35,520 --> 04:08:41,680
fabulous. Seriously,
good job.

2918
04:08:40,000 --> 04:08:44,960
Okay, we have the result of the motion
that was on the floor, article 11, to

2919
04:08:43,680 --> 04:08:48,880
see if the town will vote to create a
highway surplus fund to carry highway

2920
04:08:46,479 --> 04:08:55,160
surplus funds to address large highway
projects and save money for future

2921
04:08:50,319 --> 04:08:55,160
highway expenses. There were

2922
04:08:55,359 --> 04:09:07,840
Got to add 79.
>> People are leaving. 79. Uh 35 yes. 44

2923
04:09:04,160 --> 04:09:13,199
no. There is no highway surplus fund.
The motion fails.

2924
04:09:10,239 --> 04:09:18,000
Moving on. Article 12 to see if the town
will vote to raise by taxation and

2925
04:09:14,960 --> 04:09:23,040
appropriation $400,000 to the highway
reserve fund with the following

2926
04:09:20,800 --> 04:09:28,000
allocation. 200,000 to be used towards
funding highway infrastructure and

2927
04:09:25,120 --> 04:09:33,840
200,000 to be used toward funding future
purchasing leasing purchases future

2928
04:09:31,199 --> 04:09:36,800
purchases leasing and repair of highway
equipment.

2929
04:09:35,359 --> 04:09:42,800
» So moved.
>> Second. We got Oh no, got Craig. Second.

2930
04:09:40,640 --> 04:09:44,239
Uh Katie was a motion maker. Katie, you
want to speak?

2931
04:09:43,439 --> 04:09:48,239
» Yeah.
>> Wait, you don't can't speak without

2932
04:09:46,960 --> 04:09:54,160
speaking. There you go.
>> Okay. Um, I want to point out the first

2933
04:09:51,600 --> 04:09:56,239
part of this with the $200,000 to be
used towards funding highway

2934
04:09:55,439 --> 04:10:00,080
infrastructure.
>> One, one, sec, page 16 and 17. I'm

2935
04:09:58,560 --> 04:10:05,040
sorry. Go right ahead. Page 16.
>> Um, last year there was a similar

2936
04:10:02,080 --> 04:10:11,520
allocation in the article in a very
similar article. Uh that's because um we

2937
04:10:08,880 --> 04:10:17,520
received a grant award has not been paid
yet because it's a reimbursement for

2938
04:10:14,000 --> 04:10:25,680
$200,000 with a $20,000
um uh we would owe 20,000 of that and we

2939
04:10:21,040 --> 04:10:31,520
would get $180,000 back. Um and the
bridge itself after the RFP went out

2940
04:10:28,160 --> 04:10:34,800
came back at I want to say 400
$44,000.

2941
04:10:33,040 --> 04:10:39,199
So, we were pretty close with the
understanding of how much that was going

2942
04:10:36,239 --> 04:10:43,279
to cost. That's bridge 43. Um, so we
were hoping, and I believe that we

2943
04:10:41,600 --> 04:10:46,160
explained this last year, that last year
we would raise the first part of that

2944
04:10:44,720 --> 04:10:50,560
bridge. This year we would raise the
second and then we'd be eligible for

2945
04:10:47,680 --> 04:10:56,560
that reimbursement from that grant. Um,
the second part of this allocation, you

2946
04:10:54,000 --> 04:11:01,120
can look on page 17 to see the
multi-year truck replacement plan, the

2947
04:10:58,640 --> 04:11:08,080
different uh lifespans of our equipment.
And I also want to point out that right

2948
04:11:03,520 --> 04:11:13,199
now we also have a um a grant for a
separate bridge, bridge 41, and that is

2949
04:11:10,800 --> 04:11:17,120
for an engineering study for a much
larger bridge project. That would be

2950
04:11:15,199 --> 04:11:22,880
next on the list. The engineering study
is fine. It's about $18,000, I believe.

2951
04:11:20,720 --> 04:11:27,439
But that bridge, is it a full
replacement, Jeremy, on bridge 41? that

2952
04:11:25,199 --> 04:11:31,760
bridge 41 full replacement is going to
be closer to your I don't want you to

2953
04:11:30,080 --> 04:11:38,160
quote me on this but your million-doll
range. It's a much larger project than

2954
04:11:34,960 --> 04:11:42,479
uh this current $400,000 for bridge 43.
So, in our scope of where we saw the

2955
04:11:40,720 --> 04:11:47,920
highway going and what the absolute
needs of the highway are in our

2956
04:11:44,239 --> 04:11:52,239
infrastructure, we are trying to uh show
you how we're trying to raise this money

2957
04:11:50,399 --> 04:11:56,960
in a reasonable way over a certain
amount of time. Knowing that our truck

2958
04:11:54,560 --> 04:12:01,760
expenses are going up and up and up. Our
ability to get a truck the year we can

2959
04:11:58,960 --> 04:12:05,760
even fund a truck is getting much harder
with those truck costs going through the

2960
04:12:03,680 --> 04:12:10,640
roof and our infrastructure costs going
through the roof. So that's where we

2961
04:12:07,439 --> 04:12:14,479
were coming from when we wrote this.
>> Okay. Further discussion.

2962
04:12:12,880 --> 04:12:17,960
» Yes, sir. Do you have a microphone? I
got one right here.

2963
04:12:20,560 --> 04:12:29,439
» I think we've caught back up where I
tried to make this uh before. Um, I I'd

2964
04:12:25,760 --> 04:12:38,239
like to make an amendment to um modify
the article 12 from $400,000 to $200,000

2965
04:12:35,040 --> 04:12:42,800
to be for the infrastructure of bridge
43. And I think that's that part is

2966
04:12:41,040 --> 04:12:48,319
important because we need to do that to
be able to get the bridge completed, get

2967
04:12:46,239 --> 04:12:52,160
the reimbursement that we've already
basically budgeted for in the highway

2968
04:12:50,319 --> 04:12:56,239
department. So, we've already really
accounted for that. As far as the

2969
04:12:54,560 --> 04:13:00,960
trucks, yes, we are going to need trucks
and everybody likes to have a new

2970
04:12:57,840 --> 04:13:05,199
vehicle. But they are heavy trucks. We
don't put a lot of mileage on them. With

2971
04:13:03,120 --> 04:13:12,479
proper maintenance, I think they can
last considerably more than the 10 years

2972
04:13:07,920 --> 04:13:17,040
that's being projected here. Um, so yes,
they are expensive when they come up and

2973
04:13:15,359 --> 04:13:20,800
yes, we do need to keep our vehicles
running, but I think maintenance is a

2974
04:13:18,720 --> 04:13:24,880
far better approach than thinking that
we need to replace our trucks every 10

2975
04:13:22,720 --> 04:13:28,399
years. So with that, I would make the
motion that we reduce the amount to

2976
04:13:27,359 --> 04:13:32,319
200,000.
>> Second.

2977
04:13:29,199 --> 04:13:36,000
» Okay. Been moved and seconded. Bob,
>> you get that?

2978
04:13:34,239 --> 04:13:41,760
» Okay. Um,
>> let's talk about the amendment to reduce

2979
04:13:38,880 --> 04:13:46,439
the amount to $200,000. Discussion on
that.

2980
04:13:43,439 --> 04:13:46,439
» Yes.

2981
04:13:46,720 --> 04:13:55,279
So, I went through the budget on the
highway department and in one of the

2982
04:13:51,359 --> 04:13:59,920
sections on page 20,
they talk about the expenses for the

2983
04:13:57,120 --> 04:14:04,479
trucks. And in almost every one of these
trucks, there's a section that says

2984
04:14:01,520 --> 04:14:09,840
supplies and parts, outside repairs,
supplies, parts. When you add all of

2985
04:14:06,880 --> 04:14:14,000
this up, it comes to $82,000
that's already been factored into the

2986
04:14:11,680 --> 04:14:18,080
budget for helping to maintain these
trucks.

2987
04:14:15,760 --> 04:14:24,880
Just I mean, unless I'm reading this
wrong, I mean, you all can look at it.

2988
04:14:21,439 --> 04:14:28,520
» Okay. Further discussion. Yes.
in the way back.

2989
04:14:33,199 --> 04:14:42,560
» Caitlyn Maze.
Okay. So, my understanding of our truck

2990
04:14:39,120 --> 04:14:48,800
situation is that
because of supply chain issues during

2991
04:14:45,439 --> 04:14:54,399
COVID, etc. Being able to do even
maintenance on the trucks is getting

2992
04:14:51,520 --> 04:15:01,520
parts and doing upkeep on that has
become extremely difficult. And that has

2993
04:14:56,560 --> 04:15:05,279
pushed our truck situation into
back burner, back burner, back burner.

2994
04:15:03,439 --> 04:15:12,159
And then when something goes bad, it's
going to take a lot of time and a lot of

2995
04:15:08,239 --> 04:15:19,680
money to actually be able to do anything
to fix those trucks. and we live in a

2996
04:15:14,880 --> 04:15:25,199
rural community and um our roads are our
livelihoods and I don't want my myself

2997
04:15:23,359 --> 04:15:31,120
or my neighbors to be in danger and if
we're going to nickel and dime something

2998
04:15:28,239 --> 04:15:36,960
uh not the roads please not the trucks
please like that this is silly

2999
04:15:36,319 --> 04:15:42,319
I'm done
>> okay further discussion yeah oh okay

3000
04:15:40,080 --> 04:15:49,120
there and then Eugene and then Jean
>> add Um I think part of the rationale for

3001
04:15:46,159 --> 04:15:55,920
keeping a
let's just say reasonable um schedule

3002
04:15:53,840 --> 04:16:01,600
for when we're replacing our trucks and
moving our fleet and updating is also in

3003
04:15:58,960 --> 04:16:04,960
terms of resale value tradein value. If
we are running our trucks into the

3004
04:16:03,359 --> 04:16:09,359
ground until we can't do it anymore,
until we don't feel safe driving them,

3005
04:16:06,880 --> 04:16:15,680
which is what has happened,
then we then have no leverage to recoup

3006
04:16:13,600 --> 04:16:20,080
some of that cost too and get a new
better vehicle and have some trade in

3007
04:16:17,920 --> 04:16:25,520
there. So, I just want to also throw
that into the mix.

3008
04:16:22,720 --> 04:16:31,359
» Okay, Jean, go ahead, Jean.
>> No, sorry. Is this uh 200,000 for

3009
04:16:28,720 --> 04:16:37,279
particular vehicles that you're planning
to order,

3010
04:16:34,080 --> 04:16:44,080
let's say in this uh calendar or fiscal
year?

3011
04:16:40,239 --> 04:16:51,359
» Uh so I think if you look at the highway
report on page 17, [music] it kind of

3012
04:16:48,159 --> 04:16:54,947
outlines the next two trucks.
>> If you look at page 17, it kind of

3013
04:16:53,040 --> 04:16:57,520
outlines the next two trucks.
[clears throat]

3014
04:16:55,680 --> 04:17:06,792
Sorry, I don't know if they heard you
>> count. It's sort of uh the the plan is

3015
04:17:01,120 --> 04:17:06,792
to outline to replace trucks [snorts]

3016
04:17:08,720 --> 04:17:18,560
and um
it's the one ton and it's the

3017
04:17:15,680 --> 04:17:23,880
uh and the international which I don't
know how many wheels that is. That's six

3018
04:17:20,880 --> 04:17:23,880
wheel.

3019
04:17:24,000 --> 04:17:29,279
» Okay.
there. Wait, before Wait, before I there

3020
04:17:27,439 --> 04:17:34,640
was a hand.
>> Yes, I'm sorry. Then the idea would be

3021
04:17:32,000 --> 04:17:41,920
to purchase
uh as soon as possible and to um

3022
04:17:40,159 --> 04:17:45,279
and maybe Jeremy if we allow him to
speak can speak a little bit more to

3023
04:17:43,279 --> 04:17:53,359
that
but the idea would be to purchase the

3024
04:17:47,120 --> 04:17:58,600
one ton and to start uh saving for the
uh it's being proposed for a 10-wheel

3025
04:17:55,359 --> 04:17:58,600
dump truck.

3026
04:17:59,359 --> 04:18:00,960
Okay.
>> All set.

3027
04:18:00,479 --> 04:18:07,520
» Yep.
>> Yeah. So, in Nick's uh reference to the

3028
04:18:05,600 --> 04:18:11,600
truck running on the ground, nobody
dares drive and shouldn't have to drive.

3029
04:18:09,840 --> 04:18:17,040
That particular vehicle is not one that
goes out and maintains our roads. That's

3030
04:18:13,199 --> 04:18:21,359
our trash truck. I would be extremely
extremely disappointed if we had a

3031
04:18:19,520 --> 04:18:26,720
highway piece of equipment that was
running to the ground without the proper

3032
04:18:24,159 --> 04:18:30,399
maintenance, without the proper oil
changes, and all the others. I get it.

3033
04:18:28,640 --> 04:18:35,120
They're computer driven these days. Yes.
And you can't work on them in the shop,

3034
04:18:32,239 --> 04:18:41,040
but damn it, you can do your best to use
the truck appropriately for its job and

3035
04:18:38,399 --> 04:18:44,640
maintain it. I have no idea if there's
any records of maintenance on these

3036
04:18:42,479 --> 04:18:48,560
rigs. I mean, the grater was a classic
example. All of a sudden, that thing's

3037
04:18:47,199 --> 04:18:52,000
just running to the ground. Nobody can
drive it. It's junk. Get rid of it.

3038
04:18:50,399 --> 04:18:55,040
Right? We still never got our answer for
how much money it was going to cost to

3039
04:18:53,279 --> 04:18:58,880
fix it. just so we actually knew as
taxpayers. We went [snorts] and leased a

3040
04:18:56,800 --> 04:19:02,319
new one and now we're paying for that.
And I get it, they do need equipment,

3041
04:19:00,800 --> 04:19:07,359
but
I'd like to see some sort of maintenance

3042
04:19:04,640 --> 04:19:11,040
and or these trucks maintained properly
if if in fact that they're not because

3043
04:19:09,120 --> 04:19:15,199
that's kind of what we're getting. And
last piece is as you guys as a select

3044
04:19:12,960 --> 04:19:20,479
board go forward, I'd really like you to
think about a road commissioner to

3045
04:19:17,680 --> 04:19:24,800
establish a road commissioner that would
oversee some of the town's highway. Take

3046
04:19:22,239 --> 04:19:29,920
the burden off you. Get it out there so
people have an opportunity to be asked

3047
04:19:26,960 --> 04:19:34,399
what their abilities are and being a
road commissioner

3048
04:19:31,760 --> 04:19:36,720
and help the highway department oversee
some of the stuff that they're doing and

3049
04:19:35,680 --> 04:19:45,199
need to be done.
>> Okay. We're discussing an amendment

3050
04:19:40,239 --> 04:19:49,840
to the uh motion to have $200,000 for
infrastructure on bridge 43. That's the

3051
04:19:48,159 --> 04:19:54,800
amendment we're discussing. Irv had
something to say.

3052
04:19:53,120 --> 04:20:00,960
» Equipment.
I I'll give you some leeway. Irv, go

3053
04:19:56,239 --> 04:20:05,199
ahead. All right. They've already got uh
money in the highway budget for

3054
04:20:02,960 --> 04:20:10,720
equipment, but they're not keeping a
direct expense for each piece of

3055
04:20:07,520 --> 04:20:17,399
equipment. They just lump some in fuel
and all that stuff, and you got no idea

3056
04:20:12,880 --> 04:20:17,399
what it costs for each on the truck.

3057
04:20:17,920 --> 04:20:25,040
Okay. Yeah.
Any further discussion on the amendment?

3058
04:20:23,120 --> 04:20:32,600
Uh Bob, you want to go and then up
front? Wait, one. No, Bob. And then

3059
04:20:27,279 --> 04:20:32,600
talking about equipment maintenance,

3060
04:20:33,120 --> 04:20:41,920
I know many of you in the room, but I
don't know everyone. I'm semi-retired,

3061
04:20:38,159 --> 04:20:46,640
and one of the jobs that I do is I work
for an insurance company to visit

3062
04:20:44,239 --> 04:20:50,640
municipalities.
Most municipalities these days have

3063
04:20:48,880 --> 04:20:56,960
something called Telmatics on their
vehicles. Telmatics is a GPSbased system

3064
04:20:54,640 --> 04:21:01,520
and it lets you know how the vehicle is
being operated, what the maintenance

3065
04:20:59,120 --> 04:21:05,279
records are. It gives you all kinds of
data on what's going on with that

3066
04:21:03,680 --> 04:21:10,479
vehicle.
I've mentioned it before to the select

3067
04:21:07,040 --> 04:21:14,960
board and didn't get anywhere, but it's
a point that I'm trying to make is you

3068
04:21:12,720 --> 04:21:19,520
can learn all kinds of information about
your vehicles and how they're operated,

3069
04:21:17,199 --> 04:21:23,760
whether or not someone is speeding,
whether or not they're sitting in one

3070
04:21:21,040 --> 04:21:28,880
place for two hours, whether or not the
oil's been changed this month as it

3071
04:21:25,760 --> 04:21:34,000
should be. You can learn a whole lot.
The cost benefit, according to the

3072
04:21:30,720 --> 04:21:40,760
people that I talked to, is there. It's
something that they appreciate knowing

3073
04:21:36,560 --> 04:21:40,760
how the vehicle is being operated.

3074
04:21:43,680 --> 04:21:52,159
» Your hand, his hand was up first and
then we'll go back to

3075
04:21:48,880 --> 04:21:57,600
Bob Trier. Um, I have questions about
the whole funding operation for future

3076
04:21:54,479 --> 04:22:03,840
trucks. I don't know anybody that can
afford to buy a new vehicle for cash.

3077
04:22:01,199 --> 04:22:10,960
Everybody takes out a loan and they pay
it out over time. The second thing is

3078
04:22:06,880 --> 04:22:17,520
that you are asking today's taxpayers to
pay for tomorrow's taxpayers for the use

3079
04:22:14,479 --> 04:22:22,479
of all of these vehicles. I think you
need to either get a bond issue to float

3080
04:22:19,760 --> 04:22:28,399
these or take out loans on each vehicle
as they need it and then have those be

3081
04:22:25,279 --> 04:22:35,199
paid off by the taxpayers who are using
it in the future years. Some of these

3082
04:22:30,960 --> 04:22:40,080
vehicles have 10year 15year uh use. It
should be paid off over those 10 or 15

3083
04:22:37,680 --> 04:22:46,479
years not on the burden of today's
taxpayers. Thank you.

3084
04:22:43,920 --> 04:22:51,439
» Right. Right back there. I got it. Wait,
call the question. Okay, she had the

3085
04:22:48,960 --> 04:22:56,479
floor. She called the question and a
question is just the amendment.

3086
04:22:53,840 --> 04:23:01,359
Okay, we have Okay, first of all, there
has to be seconded.

3087
04:22:58,399 --> 04:23:08,120
» So, it's been sec I'm sorry, what? Moved
and seconded. Uh, Jean did. Jean, you

3088
04:23:03,439 --> 04:23:08,120
seconded. Yeah, Jean. Craig. Yes.

3089
04:23:08,800 --> 04:23:14,640
» Your name again?
>> Caitlyn made a motion to call the

3090
04:23:12,640 --> 04:23:19,600
question.
Jean. Jean. Good. Perfect. Good enough.

3091
04:23:17,760 --> 04:23:25,600
Okay. You okay with the second gene? I
don't want to overt. Okay. Um,

3092
04:23:24,239 --> 04:23:28,880
» so right, we're on the amend. Thank you.
We're on the amendment. Um, the

3093
04:23:27,680 --> 04:23:32,640
question's been called. We needed to
It's been moved and seconded. All those

3094
04:23:30,640 --> 04:23:40,159
in favor of closing the debate on the
amendment, not the main motion, but the

3095
04:23:35,199 --> 04:23:43,840
amendment to change it from the
$400,000.

3096
04:23:42,080 --> 04:23:48,080
We're This is going to be the amendment
is now going to be the main motion if it

3097
04:23:46,159 --> 04:23:53,199
passes would be to see if the town would
vote to raise by taxation and

3098
04:23:50,319 --> 04:23:58,239
appropriate $200,000 to the highway
reserve fund for infrastructure on

3099
04:23:55,600 --> 04:24:02,560
bridge 43.
That's what we're going to vote on to

3100
04:24:00,319 --> 04:24:09,640
see whether or not
that becomes the main motion. Does that

3101
04:24:05,199 --> 04:24:09,640
make sense yet?

3102
04:24:09,680 --> 04:24:20,080
» That's what he said. That's That's what
he said. That's what he said. Bridge 43,

3103
04:24:15,520 --> 04:24:26,399
which which Okay. So, all those a yes
vote passes the amendment. A no vote and

3104
04:24:23,359 --> 04:24:30,560
we go back to the original motion. Okay.
We're not voting on the main motion yet.

3105
04:24:28,159 --> 04:24:37,000
There'll be another vote. But do we want
to change it? Does everybody understand?

3106
04:24:33,040 --> 04:24:37,000
No. What?

3107
04:24:41,760 --> 04:24:50,800
The main motion would be if this passes,
the main motion would be the town has

3108
04:24:48,080 --> 04:24:56,640
voted to raise the will the t the vote
the the main motion would be will the

3109
04:24:53,520 --> 04:25:01,920
town vote to raise by taxation and
appropriate $200,000

3110
04:24:59,199 --> 04:25:08,640
to the highway reserve fund for
infrastructure bridge 43. If you vote

3111
04:25:05,279 --> 04:25:12,000
yes, that's the main motion. And
>> no truck.

3112
04:25:09,680 --> 04:25:17,520
» No truck. That's the main motion. And
then we'll vote again on that

3113
04:25:14,880 --> 04:25:21,080
» after discussion. Yes, that's okay.
Please keep asking.

3114
04:25:21,760 --> 04:25:28,800
» Yes. Okay. Yes, Jean. More clarifying.
Yes.

3115
04:25:25,840 --> 04:25:30,880
» We understand that this motion, this
amendment,

3116
04:25:29,600 --> 04:25:33,880
» Yes.
eliminate.

3117
04:25:35,120 --> 04:25:40,479
» Yes.
>> Yes.

3118
04:25:38,960 --> 04:25:44,640
» Yes. It's going to eliminate the
$200,000

3119
04:25:42,239 --> 04:25:49,199
for the second part. The number two will
be gone.

3120
04:25:46,239 --> 04:25:53,199
» Two. Number two would be gone. Wait, he
he had something in here.

3121
04:25:50,720 --> 04:25:58,000
» Yeah. Can I can I continue? I was going
to ask the moderator to ask the maker of

3122
04:25:55,680 --> 04:26:05,800
the that motion
if the wording of specifying bridge 43

3123
04:26:02,479 --> 04:26:05,800
can be done.

3124
04:26:06,479 --> 04:26:13,040
» We're voting on the amendment.
>> No, we're voting to end debate so we can

3125
04:26:10,880 --> 04:26:16,800
vote on the amendment.
>> Right. We're just voting to end debate.

3126
04:26:15,520 --> 04:26:21,279
We didn't have the two-thirds vote yet.
I'm getting confused, too. Right. Okay.

3127
04:26:18,960 --> 04:26:25,800
So, this is just to vote to end debate.
Thank you. Okay.

3128
04:26:26,800 --> 04:26:33,120
» D. So, all those in favor of ending
debate and immediately voting on the

3129
04:26:31,359 --> 04:26:35,439
amendment,
please say I.

3130
04:26:34,720 --> 04:26:40,239
» I.
>> Oppose. No.

3131
04:26:38,479 --> 04:26:44,479
» It has to be twothirds and so that's
difficult. All those in favor of closing

3132
04:26:42,880 --> 04:26:47,680
debate
on the amendment, please raise your

3133
04:26:46,159 --> 04:26:50,880
hand.
Okay, it's two/3 so it's going to be

3134
04:26:49,199 --> 04:26:55,199
really hard. Okay, hands down. Let's
just see if we can do it. All those in

3135
04:26:52,479 --> 04:26:59,600
favor of continuing the debate on the
amendment, please raise your hand. Okay.

3136
04:26:57,520 --> 04:27:04,479
So, certainly I would everybody agree
that the debate is now closed. We are

3137
04:27:01,840 --> 04:27:10,560
now going to vote. Thank you. We're now
going to vote on the amendment. Okay.

3138
04:27:08,080 --> 04:27:16,640
All those in favor
of changing

3139
04:27:13,439 --> 04:27:22,159
the main motion to say to see if the
town will raise by taxation $200,000 to

3140
04:27:19,439 --> 04:27:27,279
the Hyro Reserve Fund for infrastructure
bridge 43. A yes vote passes that

3141
04:27:25,520 --> 04:27:32,960
amendment and that becomes the main
motion. Or a no vote defeats it and we

3142
04:27:30,159 --> 04:27:37,800
go back to the original language. Yes
changes it. No original language.

3143
04:27:38,080 --> 04:27:43,840
It's been asked for a paper ballot. Does
everybody understand?

3144
04:27:41,920 --> 04:27:48,040
» Okay. It's been asked for a paper
ballot. Do we have seven hands?

3145
04:27:48,080 --> 04:28:00,720
» One, two, three, four,
one, one, two,

3146
04:27:56,720 --> 04:28:04,960
three, four, five, six. And there's the
Okay, so this is not for the main

3147
04:28:03,120 --> 04:28:10,720
motion.
This is just for the amendment.

3148
04:28:07,760 --> 04:28:14,239
A yes vote makes the amendment the main
motion. And when you sit back down,

3149
04:28:12,399 --> 04:28:20,800
we're going to discuss that main motion
again. Does everybody understand? Okay.

3150
04:28:18,080 --> 04:28:24,720
Yes vote passes the amendment. No vote
defeats the amendment and then we'll go

3151
04:28:22,800 --> 04:28:31,600
back to the and then we continue to
discuss. I got I got blank stairs. Does

3152
04:28:28,319 --> 04:28:39,000
everybody get it?
Any better way I can explain it? All I

3153
04:28:34,800 --> 04:28:39,000
now declare the ballot box open.

3154
04:28:40,960 --> 04:28:48,199
We have the of uh we have the results of
the election. On the amendment,

3155
04:28:48,239 --> 04:28:54,880
the amendment was to see if the town
will vote to raise 200,000 for

3156
04:28:52,000 --> 04:29:02,319
infrastructure for bridge 43. There were
77 votes, 44 yes, 33 no. We now have a

3157
04:28:59,600 --> 04:29:07,760
new motion on the floor that says to see
if the town will vote to raise by tax

3158
04:29:04,239 --> 04:29:12,319
taxation and appropriate $200,000 to the
highway reserve fund for infrastructure

3159
04:29:10,399 --> 04:29:15,720
bridge 43.
Further discussion.

3160
04:29:19,120 --> 04:29:25,640
» The amendment passed. We now The
amendment passed. Yes.

3161
04:29:29,040 --> 04:29:32,760
Yeah, should have a microphone.

3162
04:29:34,399 --> 04:29:44,239
» I'd like to propose a new amendment for
adding uh $160,000

3163
04:29:40,800 --> 04:29:47,600
for for [snorts] uh the future down
payment or payments towards highway

3164
04:29:46,399 --> 04:29:50,479
equipment.
>> You want

3165
04:29:48,960 --> 04:29:55,040
» do you want to use that same language
funding future purposes leasing or you

3166
04:29:52,479 --> 04:30:00,640
want your own language? Sorry. I for
highway future highway equipment

3167
04:29:56,720 --> 04:30:04,720
» for future highway equipment.
>> Uh what that you did you second it?

3168
04:30:02,960 --> 04:30:08,960
Okay.
Okay. We're still discussing this.

3169
04:30:07,120 --> 04:30:12,080
» Um and can I ask a question?
>> Oh, wait. So So who would like Yeah, you

3170
04:30:11,120 --> 04:30:16,560
can ask a question.
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go

3171
04:30:13,279 --> 04:30:22,399
ahead. I'm just curious um how the
select board arrived at the $200,000

3172
04:30:19,439 --> 04:30:28,080
number and if $160,000
would be adequate for any uh future

3173
04:30:25,680 --> 04:30:31,760
purchase of [snorts] any highway
equipment.

3174
04:30:29,920 --> 04:30:35,439
» Okay, that's that's a that's a question.
Would would it be best would it be best

3175
04:30:33,520 --> 04:30:38,640
to have the highway foreman respond to
that?

3176
04:30:36,479 --> 04:30:41,439
» Yes, everybody. Okay, so that needs a
>> Yes.

3177
04:30:39,040 --> 04:30:44,439
» Can we
purpotion.

3178
04:30:45,840 --> 04:30:55,760
» No, he made an emotion for $160,000
for future highway equipment, which is

3179
04:30:51,760 --> 04:30:59,279
not the same as what it was before
that

3180
04:30:56,159 --> 04:31:01,760
» took it out. We just voted took that
200,000.

3181
04:30:59,920 --> 04:31:08,000
» You took 200,000 out and then
>> proposing to put 160,000

3182
04:31:04,960 --> 04:31:12,399
» back in. I I don't know why that you
don't that's allowed and it's not even

3183
04:31:10,000 --> 04:31:16,000
the same verbiage. He's saying that for
the highway future highway equipment

3184
04:31:14,239 --> 04:31:18,399
fund. We can keep going around forever.
Welcome to democracy. You guys have the

3185
04:31:17,600 --> 04:31:21,520
floor.
>> Can we suspend the rules to

3186
04:31:20,000 --> 04:31:25,080
» Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. That's what's next.
Hang on. I'm sorry.

3187
04:31:26,720 --> 04:31:36,399
» Okay. We have an amendment on the floor
to add $160,000 for future highway

3188
04:31:32,880 --> 04:31:42,239
equipment to be added to the
main motion that says $200,000 for

3189
04:31:39,439 --> 04:31:47,520
infrastructure bridge 43. They would
like the town road foreman to respond to

3190
04:31:45,120 --> 04:31:53,040
that amendment. He is not a town
resident. Is there any objection to

3191
04:31:50,000 --> 04:31:57,359
having him speak?
>> Yes, there is an objection. Therefore,

3192
04:31:55,359 --> 04:32:05,120
we have to have a vote for twothirds
majority to allow him to speak. Okay.

3193
04:32:02,080 --> 04:32:11,040
Okay. Our own road foreman cannot speak.
Okay. We So, all those in favor, it's a

3194
04:32:08,560 --> 04:32:16,359
twothirds majority. All those in favor
of allowing him to speak, please raise

3195
04:32:13,120 --> 04:32:16,359
your hand.

3196
04:32:16,560 --> 04:32:22,479
Okay. Again, it's going to be
two-thirds, so it may be difficult. Down

3197
04:32:19,840 --> 04:32:26,319
hand. All those in not in favor of
having him speak.

3198
04:32:25,120 --> 04:32:30,600
I think we're gonna have to count.
Justice the pieces. Come on up.

3199
04:32:31,040 --> 04:32:34,680
» Oh, you saw it.

3200
04:32:37,199 --> 04:32:47,040
» It didn't seem left at a 33 at a 2/3.
>> I don't know if they're 77. All those in

3201
04:32:43,760 --> 04:32:50,199
favor of
your hand.

3202
04:33:08,480 --> 04:33:16,439
35 and 23. Okay. All those against
having the highway foreman speak

3203
04:33:24,400 --> 04:33:31,840
» 10. Okay. So, it was a 68. That's why I
didn't want to do it. It's not I just

3204
04:33:28,719 --> 04:33:35,920
want to make sure. Um, so 10 was
against, 58 were four. Again, 2/3 is a

3205
04:33:34,959 --> 04:33:40,080
little bit more difficult than the
majority, but I think that's more than

3206
04:33:37,199 --> 04:33:45,439
2/3. Yes. Okay. So he is allowed to
speak. Would you like to speak to the

3207
04:33:42,160 --> 04:33:48,439
amendment sir?
>> Okay.

3208
04:33:48,959 --> 04:33:54,680
» Okay. We want to hear it or 58.

3209
04:33:54,793 --> 04:33:56,812
[clears throat]

3210
04:33:57,119 --> 04:34:04,799
» All right. So just a little perspective
on costs. What has come up? You know the

3211
04:34:02,719 --> 04:34:12,639
last truck we bought was a six-wheeler.
Cost us $189,000.

3212
04:34:07,119 --> 04:34:17,600
That same truck today is $279,000.
So,

3213
04:34:14,160 --> 04:34:20,959
I'm all for whatever loans we can get,
but there's still down payments that are

3214
04:34:19,359 --> 04:34:24,959
involved. If you don't have that money,
we ran into this problem with the

3215
04:34:22,240 --> 04:34:30,080
greater. We didn't have money to when we
went and applied for the municipal loan,

3216
04:34:26,879 --> 04:34:33,840
we still needed to come up with $160,000
down payment. We didn't have that. So,

3217
04:34:31,600 --> 04:34:38,320
we had that's why we ended up leasing.
We went round and around the select

3218
04:34:35,680 --> 04:34:43,039
board. Everybody, you know, it's it's
not a matter of being able to purchase,

3219
04:34:41,359 --> 04:34:47,039
trucks,
you know, cash anymore. You need to have

3220
04:34:45,359 --> 04:34:50,959
a huge down payment on most of this
equipment cuz it's, let's face it,

3221
04:34:48,561 --> 04:34:54,400
nothing's cheap anymore. And as far as
maintenance costs go, that's the same

3222
04:34:52,639 --> 04:34:58,400
thing. Everybody's, you know, why is
your maintenance cost so high? Well, I

3223
04:34:57,039 --> 04:35:01,279
don't know if you've been to a grocery
store lately, but everything's triple,

3224
04:34:59,840 --> 04:35:06,160
doubled. You know, it's out of my
control. Well, I can only do what I can

3225
04:35:03,600 --> 04:35:10,561
to control cost, but you know, the fact
of the matter is is everything is way

3226
04:35:08,080 --> 04:35:15,840
more expensive than it used to be. And,
you know, I don't understand

3227
04:35:13,920 --> 04:35:18,400
why people are so against, you know,
trying to plan a little bit for the

3228
04:35:17,119 --> 04:35:22,000
future. I'm not saying you got to pay
for it all now. We're just trying to

3229
04:35:20,320 --> 04:35:26,000
make it a little easier for future
expenses.

3230
04:35:24,000 --> 04:35:32,719
» Okay. There was a hand in the back. Way
in the back.

3231
04:35:29,039 --> 04:35:35,879
Another one.
Thank you.

3232
04:35:38,320 --> 04:35:46,400
» I just have a question. Liza Martin,
why is it that the select board

3233
04:35:44,480 --> 04:35:51,760
assistant addressed all the road
department answers questions and now at

3234
04:35:49,520 --> 04:35:55,199
the end of everything they finally defer
to the head of the road department? Why

3235
04:35:53,600 --> 04:35:57,680
wasn't he answering all the questions?
>> No, no, no, no. First of all, we're

3236
04:35:56,480 --> 04:36:00,639
talking about First of all, we're
talking about the amendment and nobody

3237
04:35:59,119 --> 04:36:04,320
asked for him to speak. It's not their
job to ask them to speak. It's okay.

3238
04:36:03,359 --> 04:36:06,959
It's okay.
>> Food for thought.

3239
04:36:05,119 --> 04:36:10,959
» What? Okay. Food for thought. Next. Any
other discussion on the amendment?

3240
04:36:09,279 --> 04:36:13,959
» Lucas.
Yep.

3241
04:36:15,600 --> 04:36:24,080
And I'm sorry to go back, but we have a
still we voted down the $75,000 surplus

3242
04:36:21,840 --> 04:36:26,480
or the fund surplus fund.
>> Right. That was

3243
04:36:24,719 --> 04:36:32,719
» So we that 75,000 is still
>> No, no, no, no. We didn't we just we

3244
04:36:28,160 --> 04:36:36,080
just voted down creating a surplus fund.
The surplus money is still there. It's

3245
04:36:34,561 --> 04:36:40,959
just not going to be put in a surplus
fund, I assume. Right. Right.

3246
04:36:39,760 --> 04:36:45,600
» Yes. Right. So,
>> the surplus is still there,

3247
04:36:42,400 --> 04:36:49,920
» but that money could go to
>> That's that's right. That's not that's

3248
04:36:48,480 --> 04:36:53,680
not I don't think that's appro that's
not part of this discussion.

3249
04:36:51,520 --> 04:37:01,680
» It should be in our minds when we come
up with the $200,000 or the $160,000

3250
04:36:57,840 --> 04:37:05,039
um whatever money we we are.
>> Okay. Okay. No, I we got Connie will

3251
04:37:03,760 --> 04:37:13,279
answer. Connie will answer. Go ahead.
>> So, my understanding is that um the

3252
04:37:09,119 --> 04:37:17,199
auditor has told us to keep 10 to 15% of
our operating cost in a surplus for

3253
04:37:15,359 --> 04:37:25,279
unexpected expenses.
>> Okay. So to take that money out, um the

3254
04:37:22,320 --> 04:37:28,879
board has decided uh at a couple select
board meetings ago, the board decided to

3255
04:37:26,959 --> 04:37:33,439
keep it in there for unexpected
expenses. So um unless there was a

3256
04:37:31,920 --> 04:37:37,600
decision to move it somewhere, but
there's no place to move it. That's why

3257
04:37:35,119 --> 04:37:42,400
we wanted the surplus fund. So currently
that money is going to sit in the

3258
04:37:39,359 --> 04:37:46,320
highway fund.
I think it could be used for repairs as

3259
04:37:44,240 --> 04:37:49,039
repairs come up because that's, you
know, something that may happen.

3260
04:37:47,920 --> 04:37:52,080
» Okay, we're still talking about the
amendment. Yes, sir. In the back. Yeah.

3261
04:37:50,561 --> 04:37:58,320
Microphone back there passed back. Thank
you, sir.

3262
04:37:54,080 --> 04:38:02,639
» Hi there, Danny McNamera. Uh, I just
want to reflect. I've heard people share

3263
04:37:59,840 --> 04:38:08,000
in this room a desire for the select
board to adhere to the auditor's

3264
04:38:05,520 --> 04:38:14,639
requests. And then I'm also hearing the
select board saying that a major part of

3265
04:38:10,879 --> 04:38:20,320
what they need to do to adhere to the
auditor's request is not be operating on

3266
04:38:17,600 --> 04:38:25,359
a shoestring budget. And so I'm just
feeling a disconnect and I think it's a

3267
04:38:22,879 --> 04:38:30,400
part of this amendment. The select board
is telling us we're listening to the

3268
04:38:27,359 --> 04:38:37,039
auditor. We're trying to establish more
funds so that we cannot be operating

3269
04:38:34,400 --> 04:38:40,160
right in the margin [snorts]
and I just want to reflect that as a

3270
04:38:39,359 --> 04:38:44,400
citizen.
>> Thank you. Jean

3271
04:38:42,719 --> 04:38:47,760
» quickly I that's okay. Wait wait wait
who?

3272
04:38:44,879 --> 04:38:52,561
» Me.
>> Oh okay. I'm sorry.

3273
04:38:48,879 --> 04:38:57,600
» Hi. Um I also want to talk to the the
philosophy of raising this money for the

3274
04:38:55,359 --> 04:39:02,799
trucks in particular. It's more of an
attempt to spread that cost out over a

3275
04:39:01,039 --> 04:39:07,359
couple of years instead of taking the
hit all at once because obviously when

3276
04:39:05,279 --> 04:39:12,240
we take that hit all at once of
$300,000,

3277
04:39:09,199 --> 04:39:16,799
it it hits our tax rate. If we're able
to say we need to replace this truck in

3278
04:39:14,959 --> 04:39:21,199
the next couple of years and this one in
the next couple of years in order to get

3279
04:39:18,719 --> 04:39:27,119
some trade-in value on that and also get
some longevity out of our equipment. um

3280
04:39:23,920 --> 04:39:30,480
then we can say for right now the the
way that the buying of the trucks

3281
04:39:28,959 --> 04:39:34,879
happens as we've learned with the fire
truck is you order it but you don't see

3282
04:39:32,639 --> 04:39:40,638
it for a couple of years down the line.
So our philosophy was that if we started

3283
04:39:37,600 --> 04:39:46,240
to put this money into reserve over the
next few years, we would be ready to put

3284
04:39:43,760 --> 04:39:50,638
that uh put that order in for the first
truck. it comes in a few years later and

3285
04:39:48,480 --> 04:39:57,280
by then we've spread that cost over a
few years. Not hitting that tax rate so

3286
04:39:53,840 --> 04:40:02,080
big in one year saying give us $300,000
or something like that. I won't go back

3287
04:39:59,200 --> 04:40:06,878
into that surplus one that we already
talked about. But that was also that

3288
04:40:05,040 --> 04:40:12,160
part of that philosophy of trying to
spread these costs over several years

3289
04:40:08,718 --> 04:40:15,840
instead of gouging all in one year when
we have something that [snorts] we need

3290
04:40:14,000 --> 04:40:19,600
to replace. And that one thing that we
might need to replace isn't going we're

3291
04:40:17,840 --> 04:40:25,360
not going to get it for a few years
until after that.

3292
04:40:22,320 --> 04:40:29,280
» Well, Katie has pretty much said some
about what I was going to say. You know,

3293
04:40:26,638 --> 04:40:31,280
there's an old saying when when
sorry

3294
04:40:29,520 --> 04:40:36,878
» when work needs to be done, you can pay
me now or you can pay me later. And the

3295
04:40:34,560 --> 04:40:44,320
idea behind putting is simply to put
this some money aside because these

3296
04:40:40,718 --> 04:40:50,160
prices keep going up and a truck that's
what $279,000

3297
04:40:46,560 --> 04:40:57,760
this year is going to be $400,000
you know in what two years. So the point

3298
04:40:54,240 --> 04:41:04,480
is to put some money aside now so that
we won't have to levy that much tax when

3299
04:41:01,200 --> 04:41:08,560
we have to actually spend the money.
It's just that simple.

3300
04:41:06,798 --> 04:41:13,000
» Okay.
Uh I'm going to go there and then there

3301
04:41:14,958 --> 04:41:16,978
[clears throat]

3302
04:41:20,240 --> 04:41:33,280
» uh Alicia Stratford. Um, a 2026
Ram 5500 1- ton truck is 83,000.

3303
04:41:30,320 --> 04:41:39,680
Uh, page 17.
Uh, as of right now, if we were to place

3304
04:41:35,440 --> 04:41:44,480
that truck, it's 83,000. Um,
the International 7600, which is the

3305
04:41:42,160 --> 04:41:48,840
other one that they're flagging for 27,
stopped being produced in 2018.

3306
04:41:50,240 --> 04:42:00,360
These numbers need to be revisited.
>> That's all.

3307
04:41:54,240 --> 04:42:00,360
» Okay. Uh, wait. There was first here.

3308
04:42:02,638 --> 04:42:08,480
» No. Do you have No, because he's been
recognized. At least for every article,

3309
04:42:06,320 --> 04:42:13,798
we probably should re reassess that. But
for this one, he's allowed. So, he can

3310
04:42:10,480 --> 04:42:13,798
continue to

3311
04:42:18,080 --> 04:42:21,878
They can breathe in around.

3312
04:42:28,320 --> 04:42:32,240
» You understand the question?
>> No, I don't.

3313
04:42:30,240 --> 04:42:34,798
» So do I.
>> Question.

3314
04:42:33,040 --> 04:42:40,440
» No, there was no question. So you can't
respond.

3315
04:42:36,480 --> 04:42:40,440
Do you have a question for Jeremy?

3316
04:42:43,120 --> 04:42:49,958
» Sorry.
So if we were to replace the one,

3317
04:42:52,000 --> 04:42:57,440
» she asked me how much the trucks would
actually cost today. How much truck?

3318
04:42:55,920 --> 04:43:02,320
» So, I have a Colt here from Claremont
Ford on a a brand new one ton with full

3319
04:43:00,320 --> 04:43:09,638
equipment set up like a big truck plow
wing, four season body, which is more

3320
04:43:06,638 --> 04:43:09,638
um

3321
04:43:09,680 --> 04:43:15,360
safer and
less wear and tear as far as what we're

3322
04:43:13,680 --> 04:43:21,360
doing with these trucks. I mean, this
truck brand new from the lot is $169,000

3323
04:43:18,240 --> 04:43:26,240
setup. So, like I said earlier, the
single axle dump truck, six-wheeler, the

3324
04:43:24,878 --> 04:43:32,840
same truck that the last truck we bought
was a 2022 Western Star. That truck we

3325
04:43:28,958 --> 04:43:32,840
paidundred and

3326
04:43:33,360 --> 04:43:40,240
Yeah. 80
Yeah. $187,000

3327
04:43:37,200 --> 04:43:44,040
in 2022. That same [snorts] truck today
is 280

3328
04:43:46,560 --> 04:43:52,958
$286,000.
So

3329
04:43:51,200 --> 04:43:56,958
I mean those costs have gone through the
roof in the last 5 years, four years,

3330
04:43:54,958 --> 04:44:03,920
three years followup
>> and a lot of that has to do with um

3331
04:44:00,080 --> 04:44:08,240
emissions which adds about 50 grand to
each truck these days. All these new

3332
04:44:05,680 --> 04:44:12,878
emission standards are becoming more and
more difficult to deal with as far as

3333
04:44:10,560 --> 04:44:17,600
you know new trucking technology,
computers, all that. It's just in my

3334
04:44:15,760 --> 04:44:21,920
opinion it's gotten way out of hand. But
there's I don't see anything that we can

3335
04:44:19,440 --> 04:44:24,798
do to prevent it. You know, I'd love to
see him go back to the old time trucks

3336
04:44:23,360 --> 04:44:32,000
where you can do all the work yourself,
but it's just not the way it is. So,

3337
04:44:30,000 --> 04:44:37,840
» no,
no, no, you don't have the floor. Um,

3338
04:44:34,798 --> 04:44:45,160
wait, there was other hand. Okay, in the
back, you have a microphone. Of course

3339
04:44:39,920 --> 04:44:45,160
not. Is there one back there? No.

3340
04:44:47,200 --> 04:44:55,280
So, just one quick question. You said
you're putting a wing on a one ton.

3341
04:44:53,120 --> 04:45:00,878
» Yeah. So, it's not really necessary, but
anyways, um

3342
04:44:57,840 --> 04:45:04,798
this motion is given $200,000
that we need to put towards bridge 43.

3343
04:45:03,280 --> 04:45:10,958
Correct. We're going to get that
reimbured by the state. 165 168,000

3344
04:45:08,560 --> 04:45:19,280
whatever you said. 180.
>> So why are we So you're basically going

3345
04:45:12,958 --> 04:45:22,000
to have 180 plus this 160 for equipment.
>> Well, I mean basically the the

3346
04:45:20,480 --> 04:45:24,798
reimbursement is going to cover what you
need for

3347
04:45:23,120 --> 04:45:30,080
» reimbursement is going to cover what we
spend on the bridge. So we have to spend

3348
04:45:27,200 --> 04:45:34,638
upfront the $44,000 for the bridge.
>> Yep.

3349
04:45:30,958 --> 04:45:36,000
» Which we put 200% match 200,000 200,000
last year.

3350
04:45:35,680 --> 04:45:39,520
» Correct.
>> Another 200,000 this year. Correct. That

3351
04:45:38,320 --> 04:45:44,000
180 back
>> 180 back. So we will have spent 220 on

3352
04:45:41,600 --> 04:45:47,280
the bridge. 180 back is paying us back
for that. It's not going back into the

3353
04:45:45,440 --> 04:45:51,200
reserve account.
>> It's paying us.

3354
04:45:49,120 --> 04:45:53,120
» It's I'm not in the budget. If we're
giving you the money, you're going to

3355
04:45:52,320 --> 04:45:57,840
have it.
>> So Chad, this is what Andy's referring

3356
04:45:55,440 --> 04:46:04,080
to is that the 180 is in the budget. So
it's not free floating 180. It was

3357
04:46:01,200 --> 04:46:09,200
basically used to help bring down the
cost of the highway budget. Um, and we

3358
04:46:07,680 --> 04:46:14,798
had that discussion at one of the
meetings, I think it was how do you how

3359
04:46:11,200 --> 04:46:20,320
do we account for the grant funds and
there there was a decision made that we

3360
04:46:17,120 --> 04:46:25,520
can use it to help um alleviate the
budget. So, it's not free floating or I

3361
04:46:24,160 --> 04:46:30,080
shouldn't say it's not
>> we're going to we're going to pay the

3362
04:46:27,360 --> 04:46:34,638
contractor 400,000. Correct. State's
going to reimburse us 180,000 of that.

3363
04:46:32,400 --> 04:46:36,638
That's our money we're getting back. I'm
confused. [clears throat] budget,

3364
04:46:36,240 --> 04:46:42,600
» right?
>> It's it's been used as revenue for the

3365
04:46:39,600 --> 04:46:42,600
budget.

3366
04:46:44,080 --> 04:46:49,840
» Oh, nice.
>> Gotcha.

3367
04:46:47,520 --> 04:46:55,520
» Okay. Further discussion.
>> I saw other hands right there. Yeah,

3368
04:46:51,440 --> 04:47:00,560
that's a hand. So, in the case of uh
like a catastrophic catastrophic

3369
04:46:57,840 --> 04:47:06,878
equipment failure,
what does that scenario look like if we

3370
04:47:02,718 --> 04:47:12,320
do not vote to raise this $160,000
on this amendment? Like what what does

3371
04:47:09,360 --> 04:47:17,120
that scenario look like for us as
taxpayers, for you as a select board if

3372
04:47:15,360 --> 04:47:22,160
the
what equipment fails? whatever expensive

3373
04:47:20,000 --> 04:47:25,878
equipment. What What is the scramble?
What does this look like?

3374
04:47:25,920 --> 04:47:32,320
» If we have an unforeseen need to replace
equipment and we don't have money for

3375
04:47:29,840 --> 04:47:36,040
it, we have to deficit spend it.
>> Deficit spend it.

3376
04:47:36,240 --> 04:47:42,240
» And we might have to have a special town
meeting even. Who knows, right? But we

3377
04:47:40,000 --> 04:47:47,520
would have to come up with that money.
We are able to borrow. We are able to

3378
04:47:44,958 --> 04:47:51,520
deficit spend. That's not exactly how we
want to be operating. And that's also

3379
04:47:49,280 --> 04:47:56,480
why we do want to keep some money in a
surplus if we have it in a fund balance.

3380
04:47:54,240 --> 04:48:01,760
If unexpected things come up to speed up
that cost, right, to kind of be that uh

3381
04:47:59,280 --> 04:48:04,878
that cushion, but if we're using it on
this and then something else happens, we

3382
04:48:03,280 --> 04:48:08,560
can't use it for that. So that's just
how we end up in deficits.

3383
04:48:06,320 --> 04:48:13,120
» Has this has that ever happened before
where we had an emergency spending

3384
04:48:10,718 --> 04:48:16,360
situation?
>> I'm sure.

3385
04:48:18,480 --> 04:48:23,040
with the greater
>> right the greater the hurricane Irene

3386
04:48:21,280 --> 04:48:29,280
they're saying there's been plenty of
times that they've borrowed money

3387
04:48:25,280 --> 04:48:31,200
» Tom Martin okay good no got a question
statement over here

3388
04:48:29,920 --> 04:48:36,320
» I do want to point out we also have a
spare truck as well it's an older truck

3389
04:48:33,840 --> 04:48:42,400
but we do have a spare so if one of the
frontline trucks goes down we do have an

3390
04:48:38,320 --> 04:48:46,000
immediate backup so that that helps some
and I assume that if we were to be

3391
04:48:44,320 --> 04:48:51,680
buying new trucks We'd rotate out the
spare and take one of the existing

3392
04:48:48,560 --> 04:48:55,040
trucks and now make it the spare.
Don't know if that's the way it would

3393
04:48:52,798 --> 04:48:59,600
go, but that's my assumption.
>> Okay, we have a an amend. Yes.

3394
04:48:57,360 --> 04:49:06,000
» If we
appropriate this $200,000, it can be put

3395
04:49:02,638 --> 04:49:11,760
into an account that earns interest.
If we have to borrow money because of a

3396
04:49:09,200 --> 04:49:16,958
catastrophic failure, then we have to
pay.

3397
04:49:13,440 --> 04:49:22,480
Earning is better than paying.
I think everybody will agree that might

3398
04:49:19,600 --> 04:49:25,680
be the only
>> Okay. Any other further discussion on

3399
04:49:24,320 --> 04:49:28,718
the amendment? We still have the
discussion on the amendment. Right.

3400
04:49:27,520 --> 04:49:31,840
Wait, the microphone's coming right
behind you.

3401
04:49:29,520 --> 04:49:36,400
» There you go. Oh,
I just have a question as to whether or

3402
04:49:33,920 --> 04:49:41,680
not you looked for multiple bids on
these trucks and whether or not the

3403
04:49:38,718 --> 04:49:45,000
state has some kind of buying program
that's available.

3404
04:49:52,560 --> 04:49:55,560
Those

3405
04:49:56,400 --> 04:50:04,560
bids were um obtained to try to give
some kind of rough estimates for the

3406
04:50:02,160 --> 04:50:10,878
type of trucks that we would be looking
at. It's not the only bids and we

3407
04:50:07,200 --> 04:50:15,120
haven't delved into um you know the
state if they have any kind of programs.

3408
04:50:12,718 --> 04:50:20,400
It was more about trying to get some
idea of what we were looking at for

3409
04:50:17,680 --> 04:50:25,520
planning
>> on the state uh programs. There are

3410
04:50:23,120 --> 04:50:29,600
municipal equipment loan fund programs.
They are limited to a certain cap and

3411
04:50:27,360 --> 04:50:34,878
it's gone up, but the last I looked was
about 150, might be about $180,000. Now,

3412
04:50:33,440 --> 04:50:39,280
that can go up in emergency
circumstances. Right now, we're not in

3413
04:50:37,280 --> 04:50:45,280
emergency circumstance, so you know, I'm
not going to talk about that. But if we

3414
04:50:42,000 --> 04:50:49,840
still need more than 180,000, whatever
the cap is, that's also stuff that we

3415
04:50:47,520 --> 04:50:54,160
have to come up with on our own. Um, so
just to kind of bring that up and it

3416
04:50:52,400 --> 04:51:00,240
would be limited. I believe it is one
award per fiscal year.

3417
04:50:58,160 --> 04:51:03,040
» Um, okay. We're still talking about the
amendment. Yes, sir.

3418
04:51:01,200 --> 04:51:05,600
» Alman, I'd like to call the question,
please.

3419
04:51:03,920 --> 04:51:08,560
» Okay. Before we do the twothirds vote,
is there any other discussion?

3420
04:51:06,878 --> 04:51:10,638
» Well, Jeremy,
>> okay, wait. I know the question has been

3421
04:51:10,240 --> 04:51:14,320
what
>> Jeremy

3422
04:51:11,120 --> 04:51:20,080
» Jeremy was
a municipality.

3423
04:51:16,878 --> 04:51:23,200
» Go ahead. Go ahead.
>> Because we're in municipality. The

3424
04:51:21,680 --> 04:51:27,360
question's been called. Because we're in
a municipality, we get the best. He was

3425
04:51:25,520 --> 04:51:30,958
just answering that last question. Then
the question was called. Okay. There is

3426
04:51:29,520 --> 04:51:34,560
a gentleman with his hands up that wants
more discussion. So, we're going to have

3427
04:51:32,080 --> 04:51:38,878
a twothirds vote on whether or not we're
closing debate on just the amendment.

3428
04:51:37,600 --> 04:51:44,958
Okay. Okay, we're going to we can
continue to discuss and amend, but this

3429
04:51:41,680 --> 04:51:50,480
amendment which will add so the the main
motion will then read if passed

3430
04:51:48,480 --> 04:51:55,600
to see if the town will vote to raise by
taxation

3431
04:51:52,320 --> 04:51:58,320
300 300 Who's got the microphone?
>> I do.

3432
04:51:56,718 --> 04:52:02,160
» Turn that puppy off. Thank you, sir.
That's okay.

3433
04:51:59,840 --> 04:52:07,920
um to see if the town will vote to raise
by taxation $360,000

3434
04:52:05,600 --> 04:52:14,240
to the highway reserve fund with the
following allocation. $200,000 for

3435
04:52:10,718 --> 04:52:18,878
infrastructure bridge 43 and $160,000
for future highway equipment. That's

3436
04:52:16,878 --> 04:52:24,240
what the main motion will read if the
amendment passes. If the amendment

3437
04:52:21,440 --> 04:52:29,200
fails, the motion will read to see if
the town will vote to raise by taxation

3438
04:52:26,638 --> 04:52:35,080
and appropriate $200,000 for
infrastructure on Bridge 43.

3439
04:52:32,080 --> 04:52:35,080
Yes.

3440
04:52:36,160 --> 04:52:42,160
» No, I'm just I'm explaining what that
would be. Yeah. Thank you. But we're

3441
04:52:40,000 --> 04:52:45,600
still going to have a twothirds
debate. There was there a second on the

3442
04:52:43,920 --> 04:52:49,040
closing of debate?
>> Second. Okay. But there was a gentleman

3443
04:52:47,520 --> 04:52:54,520
I would just do it but the gentleman
wanted to continue discussing. So we're

3444
04:52:51,520 --> 04:52:54,520
No.

3445
04:52:54,798 --> 04:53:00,718
All those in favor of closing the debate
on the amendment, please say I.

3446
04:52:59,440 --> 04:53:05,440
» I.
>> Okay. Opposed.

3447
04:53:03,040 --> 04:53:11,840
» Okay. I believe there's two/3s there to
close debate.

3448
04:53:08,638 --> 04:53:16,798
Okay. Now we'll have the vote to see
whether or not the amendment passes. Do

3449
04:53:14,878 --> 04:53:23,080
I need to repeat anything? A yes vote
passes the amendment. A no vote defeats

3450
04:53:19,200 --> 04:53:23,080
it. Do I need to repeat?

3451
04:53:23,840 --> 04:53:31,520
Sorry. My job is to make sure you
understand.

3452
04:53:28,320 --> 04:53:36,240
Okay. Yes vote passes. No vote defeats.
All those in favor of the amendment,

3453
04:53:34,798 --> 04:53:40,440
please say I.
>> I.

3454
04:53:37,040 --> 04:53:40,440
» All those opposed.

3455
04:53:42,080 --> 04:53:46,160
» Divide the house.
>> Divide the house first. Unless somebody

3456
04:53:44,560 --> 04:53:51,040
call the paper. As soon as somebody says
paper ballot, I have to ask for seven

3457
04:53:48,480 --> 04:53:55,680
hands. As soon as the word is we're
having another paper ballot.

3458
04:53:53,520 --> 04:53:58,680
Okay. So, this is again just on the
amendment.

3459
04:53:59,840 --> 04:54:08,520
» A yes vote passes the amendment. A no
vote defeats the amendment. Any

3460
04:54:05,520 --> 04:54:08,520
questions?

3461
04:54:10,000 --> 04:54:20,000
» The ballot box is open.
And I'd just like to make the comment.

3462
04:54:15,840 --> 04:54:24,480
Lunch was served. Dinner will not.
Okay, we have the mo the we have the

3463
04:54:22,000 --> 04:54:32,240
results of the amendment.
There were 76 votes. Yes, we're 40. No,

3464
04:54:30,320 --> 04:54:36,120
we're 36.
The amendment passes.

3465
04:54:37,920 --> 04:54:45,040
» Was that Yes. 40? Wait, I'll tell you in
a second. Was I correct in that? Um,

3466
04:54:43,600 --> 04:54:50,320
Alena,
>> it was 40. Yes.

3467
04:54:47,280 --> 04:54:53,200
» 36. No. So, the amendment passes.
>> Did you get that? Did you get I'll read

3468
04:54:51,760 --> 04:54:59,280
it in a second. Did you get that,
Connie, now? Okay.

3469
04:54:55,840 --> 04:55:05,600
» Okay. So then so that so the the so the
mo main motion we are now discussing

3470
04:55:02,798 --> 04:55:10,400
reads will the vote will the town vote
to raise by taxation and appropriate

3471
04:55:08,638 --> 04:55:15,840
$360,000
to the highway reserve fund with the

3472
04:55:12,638 --> 04:55:23,360
following allocation $200,000 for
infrastructure bridge 43 and $160,000

3473
04:55:19,920 --> 04:55:29,000
for future highway equipment.
Period. Further discussion on the main

3474
04:55:26,000 --> 04:55:29,000
motion.

3475
04:55:30,560 --> 04:55:37,360
» Okay. Uh I don't have to do the
twothirds vote if there's no objection.

3476
04:55:33,920 --> 04:55:43,440
Is there any objection?
>> Call the question on the main motion.

3477
04:55:40,320 --> 04:55:47,120
» Is there any objection?
Okay. Hearing no objection, we're not

3478
04:55:45,120 --> 04:55:52,240
going to go through the vote. The the
the the discussion is closed. We now

3479
04:55:50,560 --> 04:55:57,520
have a motion in front of us to vote
upon. The motion reads to see if the

3480
04:55:54,878 --> 04:56:02,400
town will vote to see if the town will
vote to raise by taxation and

3481
04:55:59,600 --> 04:56:07,200
appropriate $360,000
to the highway reserve fund with the

3482
04:56:04,400 --> 04:56:14,480
following allocation. $200,000 to be
used fire funding highway infrastructure

3483
04:56:10,560 --> 04:56:20,080
bridge 43 and $160,000 for future
highway equipment. A yes vote passes

3484
04:56:17,120 --> 04:56:25,040
that motion. A no vote defeats it. Any
other questions?

3485
04:56:22,718 --> 04:56:29,160
All those in favor, please say I.
>> I.

3486
04:56:25,680 --> 04:56:29,160
» Oppose. No.

3487
04:56:29,440 --> 04:56:34,280
» All All those in favor, please raise
your hand.

3488
04:56:35,200 --> 04:56:45,120
Uh, one, two, three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, 10.

3489
04:56:42,080 --> 04:56:56,560
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, 10, 11.

3490
04:56:47,920 --> 04:57:06,718
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 67
28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 67 38 38 I see

3491
04:57:04,000 --> 04:57:13,080
38 38 yeses. Let's just start there and
see what happens. All those opposed,

3492
04:57:09,440 --> 04:57:13,080
please raise your hand.

3493
04:57:35,760 --> 04:57:40,360
I got 38 to 30. Yes.

3494
04:57:43,440 --> 04:57:52,878
Um, I believe the eyes have it.
>> Okay, the eyes do have it. The motion

3495
04:57:50,160 --> 04:57:57,360
passes.
>> Okay. And and just so you know, I I

3496
04:57:54,718 --> 04:58:01,440
counted 38 to 30, just so you know. So
that's

3497
04:57:58,240 --> 04:58:03,760
» Mr. Mr. B.
>> Where we at?

3498
04:58:02,718 --> 04:58:08,000
» Raise your hand. Yes, sir.
>> All right. Al how many I'd like to

3499
04:58:05,680 --> 04:58:13,680
suspend the rules and skip ahead to
article 18 please and then come back and

3500
04:58:11,360 --> 04:58:19,040
do the other ones afterwards
>> and I understand we need to vote on that

3501
04:58:15,920 --> 04:58:20,000
» which one is 18 is the transfer station
>> correct

3502
04:58:19,360 --> 04:58:25,200
» is that
>> correct

3503
04:58:21,840 --> 04:58:29,360
» okay so it's been uh to suspend the
rules again it's a twothirds vote they

3504
04:58:27,440 --> 04:58:33,840
we're just going to re we would just
rearrange the order and move right to

3505
04:58:32,320 --> 04:58:38,080
article
coming back and then starting again

3506
04:58:35,680 --> 04:58:43,920
where we left off. That would require a
2/3 vote.

3507
04:58:41,280 --> 04:58:47,040
Um
I don't believe there's Is there a

3508
04:58:45,520 --> 04:58:52,000
second?
>> There is a second. Uh I don't think

3509
04:58:49,280 --> 04:58:58,798
we're going to discuss it. Let's have a
twothirds vote on moving the compactor

3510
04:58:55,520 --> 04:59:02,560
discussion to now. All those in favor of
doing that, please uh raise your hand

3511
04:59:01,840 --> 04:59:09,958
because there's supposed to be a
division of the House. Okay. It's got to

3512
04:59:05,120 --> 04:59:09,958
be two/3. Oh boy. And all those opposed.

3513
04:59:10,240 --> 04:59:17,200
I don't know. I'm I'm not I'm bad with
two/3.

3514
04:59:14,958 --> 04:59:22,560
» Count it because it's hard to count.
Okay. I mean, sit here. Okay. All those

3515
04:59:20,160 --> 04:59:25,878
in favor of changing the order, please
raise your hand.

3516
04:59:26,480 --> 04:59:33,400
Changing order. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3517
04:59:51,680 --> 04:59:57,280
SIX.
>> Did you get

3518
04:59:54,798 --> 05:00:01,920
okay?
>> I forgot.

3519
04:59:59,360 --> 05:00:04,920
» Okay. All those opposed to changing the
order.

3520
05:00:08,320 --> 05:00:12,718
» I'm sorry. I don't I don't know.
>> 11

3521
05:00:18,718 --> 05:00:24,878
It's not a matter of benefit. It's a
matter of what you want. It's It's been

3522
05:00:22,878 --> 05:00:31,440
proposed. I'm having a hard time
counting. Okay, let's do it this way.

3523
05:00:27,520 --> 05:00:36,840
All those who want to change, stand up
because that way it's much easier to

3524
05:00:33,840 --> 05:00:36,840
count.

3525
05:00:47,040 --> 05:00:50,520
Are you standing?

3526
05:00:53,280 --> 05:00:57,638
I mean, I know you're standing RIGHT

3527
05:01:07,280 --> 05:01:14,718
NOW.
>> 43. YES. OKAY. PLEASE. Thank you. I

3528
05:01:11,600 --> 05:01:14,718
appreciate all those oppos

3529
05:01:24,320 --> 05:01:28,120
You're as strong as me.

3530
05:01:30,718 --> 05:01:37,878
That's why people say
it's a yes.

3531
05:01:47,360 --> 05:01:51,240
» Yeah, that's not

3532
05:01:51,520 --> 05:01:59,920
» what is it?
>> That's not 2/3, right? So, there's 40.

3533
05:01:57,280 --> 05:02:05,280
Yes. And 20
>> four. No, that's not twothirds. We

3534
05:02:02,638 --> 05:02:08,958
continue down the path of
the I'm not math.

3535
05:02:07,680 --> 05:02:13,080
» I'm moderate. I know. Thank you for
doing the math.

3536
05:02:10,080 --> 05:02:13,080
» Okay.

3537
05:02:13,200 --> 05:02:20,320
» Twothirds of people did not want to
change the rules. So, we're now

3538
05:02:17,280 --> 05:02:26,320
continuing down our path of what of the
regular order. Okay. So, now we're going

3539
05:02:23,280 --> 05:02:31,280
to move to article
Thank you. 13 to see if the town will

3540
05:02:28,400 --> 05:02:35,280
vote to raise $15,000 by taxation and
place in the fire department reserve

3541
05:02:32,798 --> 05:02:42,958
fund for vehicle repair as requested by
the town auditor and select board.

3542
05:02:39,440 --> 05:02:45,958
Moved, Craig, second was Lucas.
Discussion.

3543
05:02:48,000 --> 05:02:55,160
No discussion. Okay. Oh, somebody
repairs that need right now.

3544
05:02:55,360 --> 05:03:00,718
This is this is for repairs that needs
right now. Question,

3545
05:02:59,520 --> 05:03:05,280
» would you like me to answer that?
>> Yeah. Yeah, he's back there. Do we have

3546
05:03:02,958 --> 05:03:08,840
a microphone back there for him?
>> Oh, thank you.

3547
05:03:08,958 --> 05:03:17,440
» Your check will be in the mail.
>> Can you hear me? Oh yeah.

3548
05:03:14,798 --> 05:03:26,878
» So yeah, we were asked to instead of
putting in the 14 $15,000 every year

3549
05:03:22,718 --> 05:03:31,760
into our regular budget for maintenance,
um they wanted it separated. So we

3550
05:03:29,520 --> 05:03:39,280
weren't raising it by taxation every
year. So the thought behind this is you

3551
05:03:36,160 --> 05:03:46,480
raise the $15,000, it goes into this
reserve fund. It only gets spent on

3552
05:03:42,798 --> 05:03:51,798
vehicle maintenance repairs. Um, what's
used out of that each year then gets

3553
05:03:48,798 --> 05:03:51,798
replenished.

3554
05:03:53,200 --> 05:03:58,560
» Yep.
>> It's already

3555
05:03:56,320 --> 05:04:02,320
» No, that's it's already been created.
>> Play. No, no, you are creating the fund

3556
05:04:00,400 --> 05:04:05,040
too, aren't you? Yes, you are creating
the fund.

3557
05:04:03,600 --> 05:04:09,920
» Correct.
Yes, you are creating the fund and

3558
05:04:07,520 --> 05:04:12,080
» will be replenished year after year
>> depending on how much [clears throat]

3559
05:04:11,520 --> 05:04:16,000
» depending
>> if you vote to put that money back in

3560
05:04:14,638 --> 05:04:19,360
the future. We're not talking about the
future but yes

3561
05:04:17,280 --> 05:04:25,680
» but yes we are creating the fund because
it does say and placed in a fire

3562
05:04:22,320 --> 05:04:29,120
department reserve fund not in the right
so that to me means we're creating it.

3563
05:04:28,000 --> 05:04:34,160
uh comment.
>> So Glenn, I just want to clarify this is

3564
05:04:31,520 --> 05:04:38,638
for kind of major unforeseen expenses.
There is still kind of routine

3565
05:04:36,240 --> 05:04:42,320
maintenance. There is still a smaller
line item in there for smaller routine

3566
05:04:41,040 --> 05:04:45,920
maintenance that you might expect in the
regular year, but this is for kind of

3567
05:04:44,160 --> 05:04:50,798
saving for those bigger expenses. Is
that correct?

3568
05:04:48,080 --> 05:05:00,160
» My understanding was
um it can be done either way. if uh this

3569
05:04:56,320 --> 05:05:05,600
year I think I put $5,000 in in case
this doesn't pass, there's something to

3570
05:05:02,560 --> 05:05:12,160
be able to repair the trucks. Um that's
a discussion that we can certainly have

3571
05:05:08,958 --> 05:05:17,200
um between the department and the select
board on how they want to see that. If

3572
05:05:14,320 --> 05:05:21,520
you want to keep up the 5,000 and then
the 15,000 for the reserve fund is only

3573
05:05:19,680 --> 05:05:26,560
for unexpected.
Um, I'm open to any of that, but I we

3574
05:05:24,878 --> 05:05:29,560
were just going off the recommendations
made.

3575
05:05:29,840 --> 05:05:35,520
» Further discussion? Did I see somebody
had his hand up?

3576
05:05:32,560 --> 05:05:35,520
» Yep.

3577
05:05:48,080 --> 05:05:57,958
That's I'm not sure what numbers
they're looking at, but I

3578
05:05:58,798 --> 05:06:06,080
» that those number correct. Okay. But
those numbers you're looking at in the

3579
05:06:03,440 --> 05:06:13,440
annual report are eight or nine months
old now. Those are not accurate numbers

3580
05:06:09,280 --> 05:06:21,200
as of today. As of today, uh there's
right around $4,000 left in

3581
05:06:17,280 --> 05:06:26,560
um that particular line item. And I can
tell you the top portion which is the

3582
05:06:23,440 --> 05:06:31,600
fire department not vehicles. That one
is actually

3583
05:06:28,400 --> 05:06:37,400
uh negative numbers due to an increase
by the mutual aid dues for dispatching

3584
05:06:34,400 --> 05:06:37,400
services.

3585
05:06:38,638 --> 05:06:42,760
Okay. [snorts] Further discussion.

3586
05:06:43,200 --> 05:06:46,840
See. Oh yes.

3587
05:06:49,200 --> 05:06:57,600
» Sorry. Okay.
Hi, it's Amy again. Um, so the $8,800

3588
05:06:55,600 --> 05:07:01,360
that we see here for fire vehicles,
that's already for the usual

3589
05:06:59,200 --> 05:07:05,440
maintenance. And then we're asking for
an additional $15,000 to put into a

3590
05:07:03,200 --> 05:07:09,520
reserve fund for any major issues that
come up.

3591
05:07:07,360 --> 05:07:13,200
» Please point me to some page numbers
you're referring to.

3592
05:07:10,400 --> 05:07:18,760
» Oh, sure. I'm sorry. I'm on page 14
where it's just fire vehicle totals or

3593
05:07:25,200 --> 05:07:30,560
Kend
>> Okay, now I see where you're at. So,

3594
05:07:27,840 --> 05:07:34,400
you're uh $8,800,
right? That's uh

3595
05:07:32,400 --> 05:07:39,760
» that's already allotted for vehicle
maint for any type of maintenance.

3596
05:07:37,280 --> 05:07:45,360
» Well, they're broken down.
>> You [snorts] have repair and maintenance

3597
05:07:41,520 --> 05:07:50,718
fire trucks is $300.
Okay, that's

3598
05:07:46,560 --> 05:07:57,200
» you have the insuranceances $3,000.
You have any supplies

3599
05:07:53,200 --> 05:08:07,160
at $500. And then you have equipment for
fire trucks $5,000 which totals $8,800

3600
05:08:02,638 --> 05:08:07,160
» but only $300 for repairs

3601
05:08:07,360 --> 05:08:18,718
» because hence we were asked to break out
the uh

3602
05:08:15,360 --> 05:08:23,280
maintenance cost instead of going it
could cost us $15,000 this year. We

3603
05:08:21,280 --> 05:08:29,400
don't know what's going to break next.
Um, they wanted it separated out of the

3604
05:08:26,400 --> 05:08:29,400
budget.

3605
05:08:33,520 --> 05:08:37,760
» Uh, he said you're going to get a new
truck. You're not going to have a lot of

3606
05:08:36,000 --> 05:08:40,798
maintenance on that.
>> Are you serious? Whatever. [laughter]

3607
05:08:39,600 --> 05:08:45,280
Okay.
>> That That was a Yes.

3608
05:08:44,718 --> 05:08:48,560
» Warren.
>> Thank you.

3609
05:08:46,638 --> 05:08:53,600
» There's a microphone right next one
person down. There you go. The article I

3610
05:08:51,120 --> 05:08:56,000
best understood it is because the fire
department brought the annual

3611
05:08:54,748 --> 05:09:01,120
[clears throat] budget to the town the
select board every year and after the

3612
05:08:58,000 --> 05:09:05,120
auditor's reports and reports they
advised the high the fire department to

3613
05:09:03,440 --> 05:09:10,798
not carry the maintenance on an
unforeseen problem

3614
05:09:07,840 --> 05:09:14,718
and have it broken out. So we strip our
budget. They strip the budget. I'm not

3615
05:09:12,160 --> 05:09:19,280
on the budget committee for the bare
bones 8,800.

3616
05:09:16,878 --> 05:09:23,920
Our [snorts] newest truck is 24 years
old.

3617
05:09:21,360 --> 05:09:29,520
24 years old. Okay. And we got 85s. We
got 79s. I mean, we got a 53 Jeep in

3618
05:09:26,400 --> 05:09:34,958
there, you know. So, anyway, long story
short, none of our equipment is new when

3619
05:09:31,360 --> 05:09:38,798
it comes to that. Um, [snorts] I lost my
train of thought because you got me

3620
05:09:36,240 --> 05:09:42,280
sidetracked.
Where was I going?

3621
05:09:43,840 --> 05:09:48,638
» Right. [snorts] So, I Yeah. Well,
normally you would have the 15,000 would

3622
05:09:47,360 --> 05:09:52,878
be in the budget and if it didn't get
spent, it went back. So, but yeah,

3623
05:09:51,734 --> 05:09:55,200
[snorts]
there was something I was going to say.

3624
05:09:53,920 --> 05:10:00,638
Maybe it'll come to me. We'll get a shot
at it. Okay. Any other discussion? You

3625
05:09:58,958 --> 05:10:04,920
might not get a shot. Yes. In the back,
right behind you. Sorry. Right up there.

3626
05:10:06,798 --> 05:10:13,600
I'd just like to comment.
I I'm really having a hard time

3627
05:10:11,360 --> 05:10:18,560
believing anybody would nickel and dime
the fire department. Just wait till the

3628
05:10:16,480 --> 05:10:21,280
day when you need them and you've nickel
and dimed them to death and you're

3629
05:10:19,920 --> 05:10:28,718
standing in your house with it burning
down around you and your pets dying and

3630
05:10:24,560 --> 05:10:34,878
then revisit this conversation.
>> Any other discussion?

3631
05:10:31,360 --> 05:10:37,120
» Oh, yep. Go ahead.
>> I'm glad.

3632
05:10:35,440 --> 05:10:41,840
» So, vehicle maintenance, repair, fire
truck, right? Uh if we go to if we go to

3633
05:10:40,320 --> 05:10:46,798
a fire scene, we draw water from an
unknown water source, we take a stone to

3634
05:10:43,840 --> 05:10:51,200
the pump, we blow a pump. That $15,000
is not going to make a dent in it. It's

3635
05:10:48,240 --> 05:10:56,320
40 to 60 $70,000 to repair the pump so
that fire apparatus is in service again.

3636
05:10:53,360 --> 05:10:59,760
So 15,000 is a small dime and it's
probably not going to cover the major

3637
05:10:57,520 --> 05:11:03,440
catastrophes, but it'll cover our basic
maintenance and hopefully get us through

3638
05:11:01,040 --> 05:11:07,920
the year to show up your houses.
>> Question.

3639
05:11:04,480 --> 05:11:11,280
» Is there any further discussion?
That doesn't matter. Let me let me let

3640
05:11:09,760 --> 05:11:15,600
me do it.
>> Is there any other discussion?

3641
05:11:14,000 --> 05:11:18,638
See, there's no further discussion. So,
we don't have to call the question.

3642
05:11:17,040 --> 05:11:22,638
That's all. I'm just trying to make this
as quick as possible. Trying to follow

3643
05:11:20,160 --> 05:11:27,600
the rules. Okay. So, there's a no
further discussion to see if the town

3644
05:11:24,958 --> 05:11:30,958
will vote to raise $15,000 by taxation
and place in a fire department reserve

3645
05:11:29,280 --> 05:11:35,360
fund for vehicle repairs requested by
the town auditor and select board. A yes

3646
05:11:33,200 --> 05:11:39,360
vote passes the motion. A no vote
defeats the motion. All those in favor,

3647
05:11:38,000 --> 05:11:43,120
please say I.
>> I.

3648
05:11:40,240 --> 05:11:50,080
» All those opposed? No. I believe the
eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

3649
05:11:46,718 --> 05:11:54,240
Article 14 to see if the town will vote
to raise $20,000 by taxation to be

3650
05:11:52,480 --> 05:11:57,840
placed in the firetruck capital fund
toward a future pumper.

3651
05:11:57,040 --> 05:12:02,520
» Craig.
>> Second.

3652
05:11:58,480 --> 05:12:02,520
» Second. Jean. Discussion.

3653
05:12:03,040 --> 05:12:13,600
Jean. Is $20,000 enough to keep up with
the increase of prices?

3654
05:12:09,840 --> 05:12:18,160
» Is what? Um it so whatever I'm going to
just So So this is kind of an every year

3655
05:12:16,160 --> 05:12:21,840
request, right? Is am I correct about
that? I know. I know. I know. I know.

3656
05:12:19,760 --> 05:12:27,120
Hang on. I Because he's shaking his head
and so I'm going to answer because

3657
05:12:22,958 --> 05:12:31,920
you're not facing him. Um Oh, so the
this is kind of a request every year,

3658
05:12:29,280 --> 05:12:37,120
but no, it's not is what he's saying.
Okay. But he's just shaking his head.

3659
05:12:33,680 --> 05:12:39,920
No, but this is a a request every year.
If you'd like to make an amendment.

3660
05:12:39,200 --> 05:12:43,480
» No.
>> Okay. Thank you.

3661
05:12:43,520 --> 05:12:49,600
Any other discussion?
Hearing no other discussion, there's a

3662
05:12:48,160 --> 05:12:53,840
motion before us to see if the town will
vote to raise $20,000 by taxation to be

3663
05:12:52,320 --> 05:12:58,240
placed in the fire truck capital fund
toward a future pumper. A yes vote

3664
05:12:55,920 --> 05:13:02,320
passes that motion. A no vote defeats
it. All those in favor, please say I.

3665
05:13:01,280 --> 05:13:10,080
» I.
>> Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

3666
05:13:05,760 --> 05:13:15,440
The eyes do have it. Article 15 to see
if the town will vote to raise $4,000

3667
05:13:12,240 --> 05:13:21,280
through taxation to be placed into the
fire pot fire pond reserve to be used

3668
05:13:18,400 --> 05:13:26,400
for future fire future hydrant projects
and repairs to existing hydrants.

3669
05:13:25,200 --> 05:13:29,040
» Thank you. Sorry, I'm having trouble
talking.

3670
05:13:27,360 --> 05:13:32,680
» Uh Craig.
>> Uh good.

3671
05:13:33,200 --> 05:13:40,480
Okay. Discussion. Yes. Somebody have
something to say? I heard the word

3672
05:13:37,520 --> 05:13:44,798
discussion. Any discussion? Discussion
on this? It's been moved and seconded.

3673
05:13:43,200 --> 05:13:48,638
Okay. Seeing no discussion, there's a
motion before us to see if the town will

3674
05:13:46,160 --> 05:13:53,920
vote to raise $4,000 through taxation to
be replaced in the fire pond reserve to

3675
05:13:51,360 --> 05:13:59,440
be used for future hydrant projects and
repairs to exist existing hydrants. A

3676
05:13:56,798 --> 05:14:02,958
yes vote passes the motion. A no vote
defeats it. All those in favor, please

3677
05:14:01,760 --> 05:14:06,638
say I.
>> I.

3678
05:14:03,520 --> 05:14:13,440
» Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.
The eyes do have it. Article 16 to see

3679
05:14:11,760 --> 05:14:20,000
if the town will vote to raise and
appropriate $25,000 by taxation to be

3680
05:14:17,200 --> 05:14:25,920
placed in town hall and opera house
capital preservation fund to be used

3681
05:14:23,040 --> 05:14:32,080
exclusively for ongoing structural
mechanical and historical preservation

3682
05:14:28,080 --> 05:14:36,958
work on on the town hall and opera house
building. specifically excluding routine

3683
05:14:34,958 --> 05:14:42,160
maintenance, day-to-day operational
expenses, or any other costs currently

3684
05:14:39,600 --> 05:14:48,480
funded under existing town hall budget
line items with expenditures from said

3685
05:14:44,798 --> 05:14:52,638
fund to be approved by the select board.
>> Move.

3686
05:14:49,920 --> 05:14:55,840
» It's been moved and seconded. Yes. Pass
over.

3687
05:14:54,320 --> 05:15:00,798
» Okay.
It's been moved to pass over this

3688
05:14:58,480 --> 05:15:04,798
article. Is there a second to that? Oh,
wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me see

3689
05:15:02,240 --> 05:15:09,760
where we at. It's been moved and
seconded and restated. Right. I restated

3690
05:15:07,680 --> 05:15:14,240
it. Yeah. Okay. So, wait. Wait. Okay.
So, so it's been moved, seconded, and

3691
05:15:11,760 --> 05:15:19,440
restated.
Before restated after motion seconded

3692
05:15:16,878 --> 05:15:24,080
and restated, but before debate is
objection to consideration of the

3693
05:15:21,200 --> 05:15:29,120
question, a second is not required. It
is not debatable, but needs a twothirds

3694
05:15:26,718 --> 05:15:33,760
vote.
Okay. So we have to have a twothirds

3695
05:15:31,520 --> 05:15:39,280
vote to pass over. It's been wanting to
pass over this article.

3696
05:15:37,200 --> 05:15:43,240
Uh we got to divide the house generally.
So every I'm sorry.

3697
05:15:43,760 --> 05:15:49,120
» No pass. Yeah. No paper ballot can go
anywhere. I need seven hands. Oh,

3698
05:15:47,680 --> 05:15:57,040
there's seven. It's been requested to
paper ballot. Seven hands. One, two,

3699
05:15:53,280 --> 05:16:02,480
three, four, five. Okay. I got five.
Six. Seven. Okay. No, I got I got Okay.

3700
05:15:59,920 --> 05:16:12,080
So, a paper ballot. So, we're looking to
pass over this article. So, a yes vote,

3701
05:16:08,080 --> 05:16:17,560
we pass over this and it never occurred.
A no vote, we go back and we start

3702
05:16:14,560 --> 05:16:17,560
discussing.

3703
05:16:22,320 --> 05:16:32,638
» If you vote yes and the yes happens, it
goes away. If you vote no, we go back

3704
05:16:28,798 --> 05:16:40,320
and we discuss it. Yes to pass over, no
not to pass over. Questions,

3705
05:16:36,718 --> 05:16:44,958
ballot box is open.
We have the results of the vote. Um, and

3706
05:16:43,040 --> 05:16:49,920
I think I did make a mistake there
because I don't think I restated it

3707
05:16:47,680 --> 05:16:54,480
because I remember reading it once and I
think I would have remembered reading

3708
05:16:51,440 --> 05:16:59,280
that whole thing twice.
So, it just needed a majority vote, not

3709
05:16:57,280 --> 05:17:06,480
a twothirds vote, but it didn't matter
anyway because yes was 31 and no was 40.

3710
05:17:04,080 --> 05:17:13,360
So, Passover failed any way you want to
look at it.

3711
05:17:08,480 --> 05:17:20,000
Okay, 31 yes to pass over 40 no not to
pass over. Okay, so my error on the

3712
05:17:17,520 --> 05:17:26,320
two/3s, however, it didn't even get a
majority. So, we are discussing this. We

3713
05:17:23,280 --> 05:17:32,878
now have a motion that's been moved and
seconded, but not restated by me yet.

3714
05:17:30,160 --> 05:17:39,280
I'm not restating that whole thing. So,
right now, consider it restated. Okay.

3715
05:17:37,600 --> 05:17:45,638
Yes, ma'am. Okay. Now, there's
discussion. Go ahead.

3716
05:17:40,798 --> 05:17:45,638
» I would like to propose an amendment to

3717
05:17:47,200 --> 05:17:55,920
remove $25,000 from this article.
No, I will rule that out of order. That

3718
05:17:53,920 --> 05:18:01,760
is a negative motion that makes the main
motion invalid. And you can't do that.

3719
05:17:58,958 --> 05:18:06,718
» You just vote no.
>> You can't you can't make an amendment

3720
05:18:03,440 --> 05:18:11,360
that takes away
the motion.

3721
05:18:08,638 --> 05:18:18,878
» Yes. Is there any funds already
available for our town hall and upper

3722
05:18:15,360 --> 05:18:25,760
house uh maintenance or a new
accessibility and any grants that are

3723
05:18:22,160 --> 05:18:31,600
have been already gotten in the near
future. So on page 22 um there's a table

3724
05:18:29,600 --> 05:18:36,000
summarizing our current certificates of
deposit and reserve funds. At the bottom

3725
05:18:33,680 --> 05:18:40,560
of the CDR reserve chunk at [snorts] the
top there is the town hall reserve fund.

3726
05:18:38,638 --> 05:18:46,000
Uh it states that at the end of fiscal
year 25 there was $39,19.

3727
05:18:44,320 --> 05:18:51,840
There has been also a reimbursement that
came back that came in since that fiscal

3728
05:18:48,798 --> 05:18:56,080
year ended of 4700. So the current
number in that reserve account is

3729
05:18:53,440 --> 05:19:03,638
43,719.
Uh so there is already a reserve account

3730
05:18:58,320 --> 05:19:03,638
that exists uh for the town hall.

3731
05:19:08,000 --> 05:19:14,000
I'm gonna start. Wait, this this here.
Then we'll go back over there. Uh Laura,

3732
05:19:11,920 --> 05:19:16,878
I'm gonna come around.
>> Wait. Microphone. I'm gonna have to run

3733
05:19:15,360 --> 05:19:20,280
it. Where'd it go?
>> Yes, you do.

3734
05:19:23,040 --> 05:19:30,520
» They can't hear you.
They can't hear you. [laughter]

3735
05:19:27,280 --> 05:19:30,520
» Thank you.

3736
05:19:35,120 --> 05:19:42,600
Just
>> try this one. Go ahead. No, you're good.

3737
05:19:39,440 --> 05:19:42,600
You're good.

3738
05:19:44,080 --> 05:19:52,560
» There you go. Go ahead.
>> Okay. So since uh I I checked out the

3739
05:19:49,600 --> 05:19:58,878
town hall monies that were voted to be
used for the town hall from 23 24 and 25

3740
05:19:56,718 --> 05:20:03,360
10,023
5,024

3741
05:20:00,798 --> 05:20:08,160
7,525.
Um and you're saying we have this

3742
05:20:05,840 --> 05:20:12,638
reserve fund yet the town hall is
basically falling down around our ears

3743
05:20:09,840 --> 05:20:18,320
which is why we're all here today.
>> So I'm just to just give that's okay.

3744
05:20:16,878 --> 05:20:21,680
Go ahead. You're doing fine.
>> So, basically, I mean, we're all here

3745
05:20:19,840 --> 05:20:25,120
because we can't use the town hall
because it just isn't there's a lot of

3746
05:20:23,760 --> 05:20:29,200
stuff going on over there that needs to
be addressed and it's not being

3747
05:20:26,798 --> 05:20:33,440
addressed. And I don't know why if we
have this money, but these people that

3748
05:20:31,520 --> 05:20:36,958
asked for this money asked for it
because they've been volunteering their

3749
05:20:34,798 --> 05:20:41,360
time and energy to try to fix the town
hall in any way they can. And they felt

3750
05:20:38,958 --> 05:20:46,320
that if they had this money available
that was only to be used for specific

3751
05:20:43,680 --> 05:20:52,160
reasons, they could address things like
the bell tower and the water leaking in

3752
05:20:49,040 --> 05:20:55,520
through the foundation and um other uh
rotting wood and things that just aren't

3753
05:20:54,240 --> 05:20:59,920
being addressed and haven't been
addressed for probably decades. Um

3754
05:20:58,480 --> 05:21:03,920
personally, I don't know about all of
you, but I would love to be able to have

3755
05:21:01,600 --> 05:21:07,920
our meetings over there again. I really
think that that's what it's for. It's

3756
05:21:05,760 --> 05:21:11,520
kind of It's kind of sad that we all
have to be here instead.

3757
05:21:10,400 --> 05:21:15,280
» Okay. Thank you. We're going to go back
and we're going to go back and forth

3758
05:21:12,958 --> 05:21:19,600
because I can kind of tell who's for and
who's against. And so you're going to go

3759
05:21:17,760 --> 05:21:24,080
we're going to come over here for
somebody to speak and then we'll come

3760
05:21:20,958 --> 05:21:29,360
back over here for somebody to speak.
>> Oh, wait.

3761
05:21:27,040 --> 05:21:34,878
» To respond [snorts] to that.
Um,

3762
05:21:31,280 --> 05:21:40,452
in the last two years, uh, our grain
writer has secured grants, uh, to do

3763
05:21:38,560 --> 05:21:43,680
some work on the slate roof, um,
[snorts]

3764
05:21:41,200 --> 05:21:47,680
replace or repair there and kind of
prevent any leaks that were coming in.

3765
05:21:45,920 --> 05:21:52,798
Uh, we did just recently authorize
monies to repair the clock tower. Uh, so

3766
05:21:51,120 --> 05:21:57,600
it's not that there is no work being
done on the town hall. some of these

3767
05:21:54,718 --> 05:22:01,760
things in order to bring back uh and we
did also just get the ADA doors

3768
05:21:59,920 --> 05:22:07,280
installed. Uh that was at the behest of
the planning commission. So we we also

3769
05:22:03,600 --> 05:22:11,680
appreciate that effort there. Um to the
point of having town meeting there uh

3770
05:22:09,680 --> 05:22:15,920
upstairs that is not ADA compliant.
There's no kind of ADA way to get up to

3771
05:22:13,520 --> 05:22:20,878
the stairs uh to the second floor to do
that. That is also no small task that

3772
05:22:19,360 --> 05:22:26,400
would require some significant
renovation. So, it's more than just

3773
05:22:23,760 --> 05:22:30,798
$40,000 to do that. So, I just do want
to clarify that it's not because no work

3774
05:22:28,080 --> 05:22:35,680
is being done, but we don't yet have the
capital to really tackle that huge

3775
05:22:33,440 --> 05:22:39,200
project.
>> Okay. And then we're going Wait, where

3776
05:22:37,520 --> 05:22:43,360
we're going? Yes, ma'am. There. And then
back over here.

3777
05:22:40,240 --> 05:22:48,480
» Yeah. Helen Platkin. Um,
I'd like to know what the Town Hall

3778
05:22:45,920 --> 05:22:53,760
Opera House Capital Preservation Fund
is. I see that it's capitalized and so

3779
05:22:51,520 --> 05:22:58,240
that makes me think it's a thing and I
know that somebody previously mentioned

3780
05:22:56,080 --> 05:23:02,958
these people. So that's a question.
>> So this is just this would create a new

3781
05:23:00,560 --> 05:23:10,080
fund. There's already a fund for the
town hall created. This would create a

3782
05:23:06,240 --> 05:23:16,798
new fund called the town hall and opera
house capital preservation fund. A new

3783
05:23:13,040 --> 05:23:21,600
fund and then fund it with $25,000. And
why it does there need to be why they

3784
05:23:19,040 --> 05:23:27,280
want to have a separate fund?
>> Um, who's the maker of the motion?

3785
05:23:25,360 --> 05:23:31,840
» I think they live in Florida.
>> No, no, no, it's not. Who's the maker of

3786
05:23:28,878 --> 05:23:35,560
the motion? Yes.
>> Yes. Go ahead.

3787
05:23:37,200 --> 05:23:46,958
» Thank you. The reality is that town hall
has some issues. One of which is water

3788
05:23:44,160 --> 05:23:53,418
intrusion. I moved to Townsen more than
25 years ago and in 2007 I was on the

3789
05:23:51,280 --> 05:23:59,280
planning commission. I've been in
[snorts] the basement there for at least

3790
05:23:55,760 --> 05:24:04,000
two dozen times and up until recently it
was as dry as a bone. And when I say

3791
05:24:01,840 --> 05:24:08,000
recently, about a year ago, there was
water intrusion. It's because of

3792
05:24:06,240 --> 05:24:13,120
drainage.
Anyone who owns a house or structure

3793
05:24:11,040 --> 05:24:21,040
knows that water intrusion is something
you work on ASAP. You don't ignore it.

3794
05:24:16,718 --> 05:24:22,320
It's being ignored. This group wants I'm
I'm sorry.

3795
05:24:21,520 --> 05:24:27,680
» Go ahead.
>> This group wants that work to be done

3796
05:24:24,480 --> 05:24:34,480
and this $25,000 will go towards that.
There are also some other issues with

3797
05:24:30,160 --> 05:24:39,280
town hall in terms of it not being
handled or maintained properly. And

3798
05:24:36,718 --> 05:24:42,480
that's what this group is all about.
>> And it is a gentleman who lives in

3799
05:24:41,840 --> 05:24:44,798
Florida.
>> Don't don't go there. Okay. Don't go

3800
05:24:43,760 --> 05:24:47,600
there. I won't I won't go there.
>> Don't go there. Okay. And hang on one

3801
05:24:46,000 --> 05:24:52,400
second. I've made a huge mistake here.
We're going back to this side next. And

3802
05:24:49,280 --> 05:24:56,354
then we'll come back over here. Um
>> wait, wait one sec. [clears throat]

3803
05:24:58,240 --> 05:25:04,320
Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. I I just made
I I made a major mistake here and I'm

3804
05:25:02,080 --> 05:25:11,520
trying to figure this out here.
>> Hang on, everybody.

3805
05:25:07,840 --> 05:25:16,400
We We had a a motion to pass over this
article

3806
05:25:13,120 --> 05:25:22,160
that we then voted on and failed,
but we never made the motion to turn the

3807
05:25:19,600 --> 05:25:25,520
article into a motion
>> and have that seconded. Do you

3808
05:25:23,520 --> 05:25:32,560
understand what I'm saying? So, we can't
even be discussing it right now because

3809
05:25:27,440 --> 05:25:36,480
I goed. Okay. My head is everywhere.
>> So, move.

3810
05:25:34,000 --> 05:25:41,600
» Oh, you're right. The first I'm so glad
you're here, Nick. There was I'm wrong.

3811
05:25:40,000 --> 05:25:47,440
The first thing we did was move and
seconded it. Sorry. My bad. I apologize.

3812
05:25:44,718 --> 05:25:50,480
Okay. So, so Bob answered. No, we're
going to go to this side because Bob's

3813
05:25:48,878 --> 05:25:55,400
was an answer to that. So, we're going
to come over here to Andy first. No,

3814
05:25:52,080 --> 05:25:55,400
Andy first.

3815
05:25:55,600 --> 05:26:03,440
Um I I want to go back and speak to the
point of that there is an existing fund.

3816
05:26:01,360 --> 05:26:08,480
There is the town hall reserve fund
which doesn't state it here but was

3817
05:26:06,080 --> 05:26:14,320
specifically for ADA
related items that was writted as being

3818
05:26:12,240 --> 05:26:21,920
the priority
and there was $39,000

3819
05:26:16,878 --> 05:26:28,160
July 1st plus there was another $4700
that came back in for a grant back

3820
05:26:24,560 --> 05:26:35,360
against the um engineering work.
But we recently have spent approximately

3821
05:26:30,638 --> 05:26:39,680
$18,000 on the door operators.
The part of that same project is to

3822
05:26:37,440 --> 05:26:43,280
continue with a new ramp and new
railings which is going to be around

3823
05:26:41,280 --> 05:26:48,000
134,000
and then to do the restrooms and make

3824
05:26:45,520 --> 05:26:54,560
those ADA is going to probably be
another 10 12,000. So the

3825
05:26:52,718 --> 05:27:01,520
money that is currently in the town hall
reserve fund that was appropriated two

3826
05:26:58,638 --> 05:27:08,160
years ago is basically going to be spent
already. So back to the point of why

3827
05:27:05,680 --> 05:27:16,000
adding a new fund is for different
items. We've already basically earmarked

3828
05:27:11,840 --> 05:27:18,638
the items that were that's covering.
>> Yeah. Okay. response and then over to

3829
05:27:18,080 --> 05:27:24,480
this side
>> to the point of the reserve. I will read

3830
05:27:20,718 --> 05:27:29,360
you the article as it was um the
original article creating the reserve

3831
05:27:26,080 --> 05:27:32,558
was to uh raise 50,000 to be held in
reserve account for the repair and

3832
05:27:30,480 --> 05:27:37,040
renovation of town hall. This includes
prompt compliance with ADA. That does

3833
05:27:34,878 --> 05:27:44,638
not mean that it was an ADA reserve. It
is a reserve for repair and renovation

3834
05:27:39,600 --> 05:27:49,680
including ADA. Now, for if there is
money already planned for that reserve,

3835
05:27:46,878 --> 05:27:54,080
we can continue funding it. It does not
just get used up. As long as we choose

3836
05:27:52,240 --> 05:27:57,600
to bring it up and vote on it and
approve it, it can continue to be funded

3837
05:27:55,840 --> 05:28:01,680
for the future and we can continue to
plan additional projects to be used out

3838
05:28:00,160 --> 05:28:05,920
of this already existing reserve
account.

3839
05:28:03,600 --> 05:28:08,920
» Okay. Yes. Right there. And then up
there.

3840
05:28:09,200 --> 05:28:12,558
No, didn't die. Hang on.

3841
05:28:20,080 --> 05:28:29,440
Okay. So, I'll make an amendment then to
suggest that this $25,000 goes into the

3842
05:28:27,120 --> 05:28:34,080
reserve we already have. It doesn't need
to be earmarked. Right.

3843
05:28:32,240 --> 05:28:38,160
» You can't I that I'm gonna rule that out
of order because that's not that's too

3844
05:28:35,840 --> 05:28:42,160
far that's not gerine to what we have
here. I understand what you're trying to

3845
05:28:39,600 --> 05:28:46,718
do. You're trying to move that $25,000
into the And I get that. I knew this was

3846
05:28:44,638 --> 05:28:48,558
going to come up, but that's we can't do
that.

3847
05:28:47,120 --> 05:28:50,638
» You can't do that.
>> So, can I continue?

3848
05:28:49,840 --> 05:28:56,558
» Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
>> Okay. So, I I don't feel comfortable

3849
05:28:54,160 --> 05:29:03,520
with the idea of a volunteer
organization being having earmarked

3850
05:28:59,600 --> 05:29:11,600
funds, especially if it's headed by a
non-resident and who can't vote on this

3851
05:29:08,160 --> 05:29:17,440
and wants to raise our taxes for a
redundant reserve that we already have

3852
05:29:14,240 --> 05:29:21,440
and earmarked it for their pet project.
I I don't feel

3853
05:29:19,840 --> 05:29:25,600
» Yeah. Be careful what you say. That's
not appropriate project. That's okay.

3854
05:29:24,480 --> 05:29:29,520
» That's okay.
>> My language. You're fine.

3855
05:29:27,920 --> 05:29:35,920
» So,
it's like I'm fine with the town hall

3856
05:29:33,520 --> 05:29:41,280
being taken care of. That's great. But
that is under the purview of our elected

3857
05:29:38,480 --> 05:29:48,958
officials that we all just reelected
into their positions and we have elected

3858
05:29:45,120 --> 05:29:55,040
them to do that job to spend that money.
that's already there. And we've been

3859
05:29:52,400 --> 05:30:00,320
back and forth nickel and dimming super
important things like for our highway.

3860
05:29:57,200 --> 05:30:05,360
And you want to just like up our taxes
over a beautifification volunteer

3861
05:30:02,718 --> 05:30:09,680
committee? Like I don't think so. Like
this is

3862
05:30:06,558 --> 05:30:16,400
» okay. Okay. Over here.
Uh do we do I do I Thank you, L. Thank

3863
05:30:12,320 --> 05:30:19,400
you, Lucas. I appreciate you doing that.
Here

3864
05:30:22,718 --> 05:30:31,120
we are. Thanks. I'd like to address all
of that briefly, not necessar

3865
05:30:27,920 --> 05:30:36,400
necessarily in any order. The $25,000
was proposed for specific additional

3866
05:30:34,558 --> 05:30:39,760
projects which have been more recently
discovered with town hall. Not the

3867
05:30:38,480 --> 05:30:44,558
things that have been ongoing, the
things we've been aware of. We have been

3868
05:30:41,680 --> 05:30:49,520
out of ADA compliance for about 35
years. goes all the way back to Tis

3869
05:30:46,958 --> 05:30:54,480
Garfield, right? Bob Bob, I believe, was
the one who spearheaded the $50,000,

3870
05:30:51,840 --> 05:30:58,798
which everybody at that point in time
until he did a wonderful presentation

3871
05:30:56,638 --> 05:31:03,840
and explained, "No, you're not
automatically voting in $50,000 every

3872
05:31:01,600 --> 05:31:09,120
year. It would have to be brought back
up or a new article, I guess, and voted

3873
05:31:06,480 --> 05:31:13,040
upon for that particular year." Yeah,
I'm on the planning commission. We've

3874
05:31:11,040 --> 05:31:18,320
been trying to address ADA before
somebody who needs ADA compliancy in

3875
05:31:16,240 --> 05:31:23,120
this building comes down the road and
sues our backsides off. So that's what

3876
05:31:21,360 --> 05:31:28,718
the planning commission has been doing.
We had spent two years just trying to

3877
05:31:26,080 --> 05:31:36,160
get the door openers because members of
the select board don't like things which

3878
05:31:32,080 --> 05:31:40,160
don't apply. Now Sherwood told us he'd
sooner see the building taken down, but

3879
05:31:38,558 --> 05:31:44,638
he acknowledged the fact that it was
probably a million-doll project. you

3880
05:31:42,240 --> 05:31:49,360
keep dragging this out and not voting in
a little 25,000 here or a little 50,000

3881
05:31:47,360 --> 05:31:52,718
there for us to do it in order of
importance, it is going to come down.

3882
05:31:51,360 --> 05:31:57,680
Plus, we've already going to have spent
the money. So, don't be unreasonable. Be

3883
05:31:55,520 --> 05:32:01,920
broadminded. Let's take care of what
needs to be taken care of now and then

3884
05:31:59,760 --> 05:32:05,920
go on to the next step. Next step is the
ramps. Right after that is the

3885
05:32:03,600 --> 05:32:10,000
bathrooms. But the 39,000 is going to be
long gone before we finish the

3886
05:32:07,600 --> 05:32:13,840
bathrooms. So don't nickel and dime to
25,000 because if we do the other

3887
05:32:12,160 --> 05:32:18,160
stuff's going to fall in on us while
we're making new bathrooms.

3888
05:32:16,320 --> 05:32:23,320
» Okay. Other side. Further discussion.
Yes. In the blue.

3889
05:32:20,320 --> 05:32:23,320
Right.

3890
05:32:23,360 --> 05:32:27,760
Hi, I'm Alli Doli. When I was on the
select board

3891
05:32:27,600 --> 05:32:35,040
» [snorts]
>> uh in 2020, um there were some

3892
05:32:32,000 --> 05:32:41,280
levels of grants that came up about the
ADA. I'd like to maybe consider having

3893
05:32:38,958 --> 05:32:47,760
an article specifically for addressing
that or ask our grant writer to find a

3894
05:32:45,120 --> 05:32:53,680
grant to help with the ADA. I we have
systems in place to repair things

3895
05:32:50,240 --> 05:33:00,400
already in our town. We can find grants.
It feels arbitrary this number and I'm

3896
05:32:56,798 --> 05:33:05,680
not sure how this really is relevant.
And I'd rather save that 25 for, you

3897
05:33:04,080 --> 05:33:08,680
know, all of us to just have lower
taxes.

3898
05:33:09,200 --> 05:33:16,400
Further discussion. Wait, let me come
over to the opposite side. Don't see

3899
05:33:13,520 --> 05:33:19,360
anything there right now. Um, let let
her speak and wait, you've already

3900
05:33:17,600 --> 05:33:22,240
spoken once. Eugene, you go first. I
don't have a microphone. Oh, good. Right

3901
05:33:20,798 --> 05:33:26,718
there. And then you're you're speaking
for your second time. Let him go first.

3902
05:33:24,798 --> 05:33:32,000
The plan that was submitted that we
talked about last year

3903
05:33:29,120 --> 05:33:38,080
said that the total cost of bringing
this town hall up to ADA includes an

3904
05:33:35,840 --> 05:33:41,616
elevator and the bathrooms and a bunch
of other stuff and it's over a million

3905
05:33:40,080 --> 05:33:44,718
dollars.
>> [snorts]

3906
05:33:41,760 --> 05:33:51,200
» Given that we're probably not looking to
spend that kind of money all at once,

3907
05:33:48,000 --> 05:33:57,680
probably makes sense to just do these
things that we can do,

3908
05:33:53,840 --> 05:34:00,958
you know, one at a time. So, $25,000,
you know, for some of these uh

3909
05:33:59,200 --> 05:34:08,638
improvements
that will will gradually bring us up to

3910
05:34:03,760 --> 05:34:13,600
ADA makes makes sense.
>> Okay,

3911
05:34:10,718 --> 05:34:20,920
there. Okay. I don't want to
add Charlie. Yes.

3912
05:34:17,680 --> 05:34:20,920
» Thank you.

3913
05:34:21,680 --> 05:34:27,680
» First of all,
being the president of the historical

3914
05:34:25,440 --> 05:34:31,840
society, I support the concept of
historic preservation.

3915
05:34:30,160 --> 05:34:37,840
There's a little bit of semantics here
in that possibly there ends up being two

3916
05:34:34,480 --> 05:34:43,600
different funds. I trust the select
board could figure out how to make that

3917
05:34:40,878 --> 05:34:48,080
into one fund. But the key to this
article is

3918
05:34:46,400 --> 05:34:52,638
the select board has to approve
everything that's done. So it's not

3919
05:34:50,878 --> 05:34:58,160
something that's being done by a
particular group of people. The select

3920
05:34:54,878 --> 05:35:03,520
board is approving the projects.
This building has been let go by a

3921
05:35:00,558 --> 05:35:10,320
number of people down the road over the
years and even to the point of a

3922
05:35:06,958 --> 05:35:16,320
proposal to build a whole new town hall.
Well, I'm in favor of the preservation

3923
05:35:12,080 --> 05:35:21,200
of the existing one and $25,000 is not
going to cover it. I think we all know

3924
05:35:18,878 --> 05:35:26,798
that. But there are plenty of projects
that need to be done and I suggest that

3925
05:35:24,400 --> 05:35:31,440
we vote in favor of this to get some of
those projects done.

3926
05:35:29,440 --> 05:35:35,040
» Okay. So, no, please, please, please,
please hold your applause. That's not

3927
05:35:32,798 --> 05:35:39,280
what this is about. Um, however, the
only thing I would like to maybe correct

3928
05:35:36,958 --> 05:35:44,040
in that statement is does the select
board have the power to combine

3929
05:35:44,320 --> 05:35:49,920
com
that the select board could combine the

3930
05:35:48,240 --> 05:35:53,360
two. No.
>> Okay.

3931
05:35:52,160 --> 05:35:57,760
» Okay.
>> Okay. I I I heard him say I heard him

3932
05:35:55,920 --> 05:36:01,280
say that that that the select board
could figure out a way to combine and I

3933
05:35:59,840 --> 05:36:05,600
don't know if that's true. That's all.
Other than that, that's all right. Yeah.

3934
05:36:04,400 --> 05:36:08,958
Okay.
>> You can't combine them, but Okay. You

3935
05:36:07,760 --> 05:36:14,600
can't combine them, but that other than
that, um Laura Yeah, let's do Laura and

3936
05:36:10,958 --> 05:36:14,600
then we'll go to the back.

3937
05:36:19,472 --> 05:36:22,080
» [laughter]
>> Yeah, he is

3938
05:36:21,040 --> 05:36:28,320
» a long time.
>> Ah, that's good.

3939
05:36:24,160 --> 05:36:33,200
» So, um the um I think a few years ago
the select someone that in town actually

3940
05:36:30,798 --> 05:36:39,440
worked on getting a grant to get the
lift fixed on the stairs in the town

3941
05:36:36,240 --> 05:36:45,920
hall and got the grant and it was never
utilized for the purpose in which it was

3942
05:36:41,600 --> 05:36:49,360
raised. So, um there has to be follow
through. You know, you can have the

3943
05:36:47,280 --> 05:36:52,558
money, you can have the grants, but you
also have to have follow-through people

3944
05:36:50,958 --> 05:36:58,400
that really want to get this done and
that are willing to go that extra step.

3945
05:36:57,040 --> 05:37:01,200
» Okay. Wait, wait. And that was your
second time speaking to this? Yes, it

3946
05:36:59,600 --> 05:37:09,280
is. Okay. Sorry, I didn't realize that
she's done. First time speaker.

3947
05:37:04,240 --> 05:37:13,200
» Can I make an amendment to combine the
existing?

3948
05:37:10,080 --> 05:37:18,160
» No, it's already been tried.
>> Yes. You can't do that. You can't. Yes.

3949
05:37:16,320 --> 05:37:24,000
Uh, wait, your second time, too. Hang
on. Any other first time speakers?

3950
05:37:22,000 --> 05:37:27,120
» Hearing none. Go right ahead.
>> I'll keep it going.

3951
05:37:24,798 --> 05:37:30,558
» What? Oh, you're a first time speaker.
>> Okay, let him speak first, and then you

3952
05:37:29,200 --> 05:37:32,718
can go. Yep.
>> On this topic, first time. Yes.

3953
05:37:32,240 --> 05:37:37,200
» Yes.
>> Um, with the article, I think there's

3954
05:37:35,680 --> 05:37:42,638
maybe opposition to how it was written,
who it was written for. Um, I can agree

3955
05:37:39,760 --> 05:37:48,080
with the the needs for the the projects
to happen and and the way the 50,000 was

3956
05:37:45,120 --> 05:37:51,200
delegated and will go and be delegated.
I think the group is worried that right

3957
05:37:49,840 --> 05:37:55,120
now with the water coming in for the
infrastructure, if you keep waiting and

3958
05:37:52,798 --> 05:37:59,520
waiting, then you potentially have a
larger larger larger problem uh before

3959
05:37:57,440 --> 05:38:02,958
you get to even the ADA bathrooms and
the other stuff. So, well, I don't

3960
05:38:01,520 --> 05:38:07,040
really care for the way the article was
written and how it was formatted.

3961
05:38:05,600 --> 05:38:11,360
I think that's what they're trying to
get that that money now so they can fix

3962
05:38:09,520 --> 05:38:15,280
the water remedation problem so they
don't keep losing structural damage and

3963
05:38:13,840 --> 05:38:19,280
then it can continue as they've been
continuing with projects that they have

3964
05:38:17,120 --> 05:38:22,878
dictated laid out and it says in the
article the expenditures from the said

3965
05:38:20,958 --> 05:38:26,000
fund to be approved by the select board.
So, as these guys were asking for that

3966
05:38:24,400 --> 05:38:31,920
water remediation, the select board say
yep, you guys can do that. So, that was

3967
05:38:28,160 --> 05:38:37,600
it. Okay. Um, wait there. Sec. Uh, yep.
Second. Right there. She's been waiting.

3968
05:38:35,680 --> 05:38:40,558
» Hello. Um,
>> I I Helen. Helen.

3969
05:38:39,520 --> 05:38:47,200
» Yep.
>> I just um have the sense that there's

3970
05:38:43,920 --> 05:38:52,718
something This is my first town meeting
and uh I have the sense that there's

3971
05:38:49,440 --> 05:38:59,760
something going on in this that article
that is not above board. People keep

3972
05:38:56,080 --> 05:39:06,320
saying this group, these people, don't
talk about that. And I I'd love to have

3973
05:39:02,400 --> 05:39:14,520
whatever the issue is out on the table
so that I know what I'm voting for.

3974
05:39:09,920 --> 05:39:14,520
Okay. Okay. Any other discussion?

3975
05:39:14,558 --> 05:39:21,600
Uh Andy is
and then back up Chad. I don't think

3976
05:39:19,600 --> 05:39:27,760
you've spoken yet, but go ahead Andy.
This is number two.

3977
05:39:24,400 --> 05:39:34,558
» Okay. Um, I'll try to speak to that
without getting into too much detail.

3978
05:39:30,558 --> 05:39:41,840
Um, anybody can write an article. Any
group can ask that it be on the

3979
05:39:38,400 --> 05:39:46,718
agenda for the town meeting. The
particular article that you're we're

3980
05:39:43,520 --> 05:39:52,878
referring to now was asked to be placed
on the agenda by a group called the

3981
05:39:49,840 --> 05:39:58,320
friends of the town hall and opera house
who is a a local group that has done a

3982
05:39:55,600 --> 05:40:03,920
lot of work volunteer on cosmetic type
items on on the town hall um has done a

3983
05:40:02,480 --> 05:40:09,760
lot of the decoration works. I happen to
be one of the founding members of that

3984
05:40:05,360 --> 05:40:16,240
group. Um this is not
related to the that group the founders

3985
05:40:12,480 --> 05:40:20,160
of the or the friends of the town hall.
Um but they didn't in the process of

3986
05:40:18,798 --> 05:40:24,000
doing that we saw that there were lots
of things that needed work that were

3987
05:40:22,160 --> 05:40:30,718
more structural that were beyond what
volunteers could do. For instance we me

3988
05:40:27,040 --> 05:40:35,760
mentioned um water infiltration. All of
the window wells along this side of the

3989
05:40:32,878 --> 05:40:39,760
town hall that you know that over there
are all broken. Every one of them. And

3990
05:40:38,240 --> 05:40:44,558
water is coming into the basement
through those. If you go up in the bell

3991
05:40:42,080 --> 05:40:50,000
tower, you'll see that there's water
coming through there that is rotting the

3992
05:40:47,600 --> 05:40:55,280
roof above the bell tower and the fascia
areas. Um

3993
05:40:53,600 --> 05:41:01,600
those are pretty significant
expenditures to get those repaired. Um

3994
05:40:58,558 --> 05:41:05,440
there is an entire list of things,
those are two of them that need to be

3995
05:41:03,600 --> 05:41:11,200
done structurally. They're not cosmetic
issues. They are real structural issues

3996
05:41:08,400 --> 05:41:15,760
that need to be addressed.
The group called them out, presented a

3997
05:41:13,760 --> 05:41:20,480
list of to the select board and
requested this article. The select board

3998
05:41:18,480 --> 05:41:26,240
said they would put the article up for
discussion and possible vote here. any

3999
05:41:24,320 --> 05:41:31,040
of the work that gets done, any of the
approvals on getting done, as it says in

4000
05:41:28,718 --> 05:41:34,958
the article, is all by the select board.
It's just basically saying, "Okay, here

4001
05:41:32,958 --> 05:41:38,240
are the things that need to be done. We
need to set up some money and start

4002
05:41:36,160 --> 05:41:44,160
chipping away at them if we're going to
continue to have the town hall um

4003
05:41:41,280 --> 05:41:48,958
utilized as a community space and as
the, you know, the home of our local

4004
05:41:46,638 --> 05:41:53,120
government. So, from a historic
preservation, gosh, I love the town hall

4005
05:41:51,440 --> 05:41:58,320
and I think it's a great place to be.
really is part of the character of our

4006
05:41:55,280 --> 05:42:02,638
town and it would be awful if we had to
go and build a new town hall. That's,

4007
05:42:01,120 --> 05:42:10,240
you know, we'd lose the character of the
whole town in doing that. So, thank you.

4008
05:42:06,878 --> 05:42:13,840
» Further discussion come to this side.
Second speakers, you'll be up next.

4009
05:42:12,558 --> 05:42:17,040
You've already spoken once. Okay. Go
ahead.

4010
05:42:14,400 --> 05:42:22,638
» So, I'm worried about the verbiage of
the article. it does it I'm taking from

4011
05:42:20,558 --> 05:42:28,080
it the way that that's read that it's
implied that this volunteer group which

4012
05:42:25,040 --> 05:42:35,040
you just said the work that needs to be
done is not under the skill level of

4013
05:42:31,840 --> 05:42:41,200
volunteers right does that verbiage in
there indicate that they would be the

4014
05:42:37,840 --> 05:42:44,958
ones doing the work on this
>> I don't I don't see that okay

4015
05:42:43,120 --> 05:42:47,958
» anybody else see that I don't see that
>> so

4016
05:42:48,480 --> 05:42:53,840
So they would be sourcing the like I
don't understand why they're a part of

4017
05:42:53,280 --> 05:42:58,320
this.
>> So what they're so what this article

4018
05:42:55,200 --> 05:43:06,080
would do if it's passed is create a new
reserve fund place $25,000 in it that is

4019
05:43:02,798 --> 05:43:11,120
specifically for
ongoing structural mechanical and

4020
05:43:08,480 --> 05:43:16,558
historical preservation.
>> Okay. So the select the select board

4021
05:43:13,760 --> 05:43:23,120
would be the ones determining how and
when the money is spent.

4022
05:43:19,280 --> 05:43:28,558
» Okay. So the name of the group comes in
to just name the fund.

4023
05:43:26,160 --> 05:43:33,120
» No, they they the fund I'm not worried
about the name of the fund. I mean this

4024
05:43:31,120 --> 05:43:34,718
volunteer group
>> nothing.

4025
05:43:33,920 --> 05:43:39,920
» It doesn't
>> nothing. Not really. I mean

4026
05:43:37,680 --> 05:43:43,680
» right. I mean whatever. Yeah. They they
might have written the article, but that

4027
05:43:42,480 --> 05:43:44,958
doesn't mean anything. And I don't know
if they did.

4028
05:43:44,558 --> 05:43:47,040
» No.
>> Okay.

4029
05:43:45,600 --> 05:43:51,200
» They didn't write the article. I'm being
told. I don't have the faintest idea,

4030
05:43:48,400 --> 05:43:54,160
but you you asked me how does this group
come into it? I don't know.

4031
05:43:53,600 --> 05:43:58,958
» Okay.
>> Yep. That that's all.

4032
05:43:56,798 --> 05:44:00,400
Uh Chad Chad was asking Chad, you Chad.
Wait, Chad.

4033
05:44:00,000 --> 05:44:04,718
» So,
>> and then I just I don't know why we're

4034
05:44:02,718 --> 05:44:07,920
getting hung up on what group is what
for volunteers. We got a volunteer fire

4035
05:44:06,638 --> 05:44:12,558
department. Nobody's questioning that.
It's no different. this money is going

4036
05:44:10,000 --> 05:44:16,320
to town infrastructure and approved by
the select board. I think right right

4037
05:44:15,120 --> 05:44:21,280
well I think I think some of the
conundrum is there's already an existing

4038
05:44:18,320 --> 05:44:26,798
one and so why create another one but
that's that's that's that's all that's

4039
05:44:24,320 --> 05:44:30,718
all um hang on what did you have to say
because somebody was going to call the

4040
05:44:28,000 --> 05:44:38,400
qu okay hang on one more Irv and then
you one more and then Irv

4041
05:44:34,558 --> 05:44:44,240
uh I'll try to I guess I feel um I know
I'm I'm new to the town too so I'm a bit

4042
05:44:40,878 --> 05:44:50,480
of an outsider but Danny Danny McNamera
Um, I just want to try a little bit to

4043
05:44:47,760 --> 05:44:55,600
answer your question, Helen, and I'm
going to do my best to stay germanine to

4044
05:44:52,718 --> 05:45:02,320
the topic. So, if I dwell out of it,
stop me.

4045
05:44:57,440 --> 05:45:09,520
But some of the reason that I think
there's a no is that for me, it's not

4046
05:45:06,320 --> 05:45:15,440
that we're a that I'm against
funding repairs to the town hall. It's

4047
05:45:12,958 --> 05:45:18,558
not that I am I think that long-term
maintenance shouldn't be accomplished. I

4048
05:45:17,360 --> 05:45:22,320
think that these things are extremely
important and I respect a lot of the

4049
05:45:20,558 --> 05:45:27,600
work that people have put into
volunteers time that I've has happened

4050
05:45:25,120 --> 05:45:33,840
to try and work towards the town.
Respect that gratefully and want to vote

4051
05:45:31,760 --> 05:45:38,320
for yes put money into long-term
support. [snorts] In this particular

4052
05:45:35,920 --> 05:45:44,320
instance, some of the concerns are
around some of the long-term potential

4053
05:45:41,920 --> 05:45:49,760
long-term or even next couple years
consequences

4054
05:45:45,920 --> 05:45:57,440
to the culture of how Townsen addresses
these problems. And there's been some

4055
05:45:52,718 --> 05:46:02,080
concerns about techniques, strategies,
and

4056
05:45:59,520 --> 05:46:06,000
staying in the lane of how decisions get
made, how people's character gets

4057
05:46:03,760 --> 05:46:09,878
respected who are serving our
government, how certain

4058
05:46:10,080 --> 05:46:18,160
» keep going.
>> Let's [laughter] talk about the article.

4059
05:46:14,320 --> 05:46:24,480
So the article I think what subtext of
what you're picking up is that it is not

4060
05:46:21,440 --> 05:46:31,040
that those of us are saying no don't
repair the town hall. It's more [snorts]

4061
05:46:28,000 --> 05:46:37,120
specific questions around
the the implications of dedicating that

4062
05:46:34,558 --> 05:46:39,600
money to this particular group. And
>> that's not to the group.

4063
05:46:38,558 --> 05:46:42,718
» That's not to the group just to the
funds. No, no, no, no. I'm just saying

4064
05:46:41,280 --> 05:46:46,558
it's not being dedicated to
>> it's being dedicated to the town hall

4065
05:46:44,718 --> 05:46:49,040
and opera house capital preservation
fund

4066
05:46:47,040 --> 05:46:55,200
» and the select board has control over
that. So, it's a select board.

4067
05:46:50,718 --> 05:46:57,840
» It's going to be a a town
administered fund.

4068
05:46:56,558 --> 05:46:59,840
» Correct.
>> Correct.

4069
05:46:58,558 --> 05:47:02,320
» And the select board chooses every
single line.

4070
05:47:00,638 --> 05:47:06,240
» Absolutely.
>> There's no other way to do it.

4071
05:47:04,080 --> 05:47:09,760
» No outside group has control over our
monies.

4072
05:47:06,718 --> 05:47:13,520
» Yeah. Okay. That's so does that answer
stuff? [laughter]

4073
05:47:11,920 --> 05:47:17,520
» I mean, am I am I correct in that
statement, everybody?

4074
05:47:15,040 --> 05:47:22,400
» Okay. Okay. Any other Okay. Irv wanted
to make a state. Wait, wait, wait. Okay.

4075
05:47:20,558 --> 05:47:26,080
Oh, Irv wants to call the question. But
before I do that, are you done?

4076
05:47:23,840 --> 05:47:30,878
» Yeah, I'm done. Thank you.
>> Is there any state or medical historical

4077
05:47:29,120 --> 05:47:35,360
preservation
grant money that can be

4078
05:47:33,280 --> 05:47:38,798
» pursued?
Okay.

4079
05:47:36,638 --> 05:47:41,920
Um, okay. Well, the answer is yes
because we we already had to call the

4080
05:47:40,240 --> 05:47:46,718
question. The answer is yes. And my bet
is that they they're aware and they're

4081
05:47:43,920 --> 05:47:50,878
researching. You can nod. Yes. Yeah.
Yeah. Okay. They're aware. They're

4082
05:47:48,160 --> 05:47:54,878
trying. Okay. They're again I I I I
don't want to say our select board is

4083
05:47:53,280 --> 05:47:59,200
the best. I don't want to say it's
they're working. They're working. Okay.

4084
05:47:56,958 --> 05:48:03,600
I I I assume they're working to the best
of their ability to make our life as

4085
05:48:01,360 --> 05:48:08,320
good as possible.
Okay. Irv called the question.

4086
05:48:06,878 --> 05:48:13,040
» Irv called the question.
>> I had my hand up before that.

4087
05:48:09,760 --> 05:48:18,878
» No, you didn't. He Irv had his hand up
before his hand was up.

4088
05:48:16,638 --> 05:48:25,280
» Okay, I have an argument here. Jean, go
right ahead.

4089
05:48:21,680 --> 05:48:30,400
He was asked if they would fix the lift.
The answer is the lift was grandfathered

4090
05:48:27,360 --> 05:48:36,638
in until it broke. It is no longer
grandfathered in and the build the whole

4091
05:48:33,360 --> 05:48:41,280
package of renovations has to be done
before the building will again be will

4092
05:48:39,360 --> 05:48:45,200
be ADA compliant. That includes the
elevator and the bathrooms

4093
05:48:43,840 --> 05:48:49,360
and all the rest.
>> Thank you. From now on, if I say

4094
05:48:47,280 --> 05:48:54,000
somebody's hand was up prior to yours,
no matter who it is, it's the

4095
05:48:51,600 --> 05:48:57,920
moderator's decision. Please respect the
moderator. Thank you. Irv called the

4096
05:48:56,240 --> 05:49:01,040
question.
Okay. It's been moved and seconded to

4097
05:48:59,920 --> 05:49:04,958
call the question. We can have a
twothirds vote. But is there any other

4098
05:49:03,360 --> 05:49:08,718
discussion and we don't have to do the
two-thirds vote? Oh, is there any

4099
05:49:06,400 --> 05:49:14,400
objection? Is there any objection to
closing the discussion?

4100
05:49:12,240 --> 05:49:17,840
Hearing no objection, we will now take a
vote. We don't have to do the vote on

4101
05:49:15,680 --> 05:49:22,400
the closing of the question. We will now
take a vote. It's been moved and

4102
05:49:20,080 --> 05:49:27,920
seconded to see if the town will vote to
raise and appropriate $25,000 by

4103
05:49:25,360 --> 05:49:32,958
taxation to be placed in a town hall and
opera house capital preservation fund to

4104
05:49:30,798 --> 05:49:37,520
be used exclusively for ongoing
structural, mechanical, and historical

4105
05:49:34,718 --> 05:49:41,440
preservation work on town hall and opera
house building specifically excluding

4106
05:49:39,840 --> 05:49:46,638
routine maintenance, day-to-day
operation expenses, or any other costs

4107
05:49:44,638 --> 05:49:50,798
currently funded under existing town
hall budget line items with expens

4108
05:49:48,718 --> 05:49:56,798
managers from said fund to be approved
by the select board.

4109
05:49:53,280 --> 05:50:05,718
A yes vote passes that article. No. A
yes vote passes that motion. A no vote

4110
05:50:00,558 --> 05:50:05,718
defeats the motion. Any questions?

4111
05:50:05,840 --> 05:50:14,878
No. Somebody saying something. No.
No. We've already ended discussion.

4112
05:50:13,280 --> 05:50:18,320
This is the main motion, right?
Everybody understand the yes vote passes

4113
05:50:16,798 --> 05:50:23,760
this. We're not talking about it. This
is the main motion. Yes, vote passes it.

4114
05:50:21,040 --> 05:50:28,240
No vote defeats it. All those in favor
of the motion, please say I.

4115
05:50:26,718 --> 05:50:31,718
» Oppo. Don't yell because it doesn't
matter. All opposed.

4116
05:50:31,840 --> 05:50:41,120
» Okay, I believe the eyes have it. The
eyes do have it. Okay, moving on. So,

4117
05:50:37,920 --> 05:50:45,360
that passes. No applause. Come on. Why
do you want to piss off somebody else?

4118
05:50:42,878 --> 05:50:49,040
Just move on.
Okay.

4119
05:50:47,280 --> 05:50:53,840
Article or unless you were clapping for
me.

4120
05:50:51,440 --> 05:50:56,240
Article. Oh, no. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Please, please, please. I didn't say

4121
05:50:54,878 --> 05:51:02,160
that. I didn't say that. I didn't say
that. Article. I was trying to Okay.

4122
05:50:58,638 --> 05:51:05,520
Article 17. 17. Help me out.
>> 17.

4123
05:51:02,798 --> 05:51:10,000
» 17. To see if the vote to see if the
town will vote to raise 20,000

4124
05:51:08,400 --> 05:51:13,000
$15.
$20,015.

4125
05:51:13,200 --> 05:51:19,680
$20,15
by taxation for the support of social

4126
05:51:17,200 --> 05:51:24,320
services as recommended by the social
services committee. That's on page 28

4127
05:51:22,160 --> 05:51:33,718
and 29.
Okay. Second. We got Craig and Lucas as

4128
05:51:28,000 --> 05:51:33,718
good. Discussion. Uh Lucas discussion

4129
05:51:34,480 --> 05:51:41,840
hearing. No discussion on the social
services committee. We have a motion

4130
05:51:40,400 --> 05:51:46,480
before us to see if the town will vote
to raise $20,15

4131
05:51:44,160 --> 05:51:51,040
by taxation for the support of social
services as recommended by the social

4132
05:51:48,558 --> 05:51:55,680
services committee. A yes vote passes
that motion. A no vote defeats that

4133
05:51:53,760 --> 05:51:59,200
motion.
Understand? All those in favor, please

4134
05:51:58,160 --> 05:52:02,480
say I.
>> I.

4135
05:51:59,840 --> 05:52:07,360
» Oppose. No.
>> I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

4136
05:52:05,440 --> 05:52:12,360
have it.
>> Thank you.

4137
05:52:09,360 --> 05:52:12,360
HAS

4138
05:52:13,360 --> 05:52:22,080
people want change to the format, please
talk to me.

4139
05:52:19,120 --> 05:52:26,080
» If some if so the social scre the social
services screening committee is saying

4140
05:52:23,680 --> 05:52:30,638
if you want to change the format the
information is presented,

4141
05:52:28,878 --> 05:52:35,200
please come up and talk to Chris after
the meeting or contact her at some point

4142
05:52:32,798 --> 05:52:43,600
in time before the next book is put
together. Right. Okay. Okay.

4143
05:52:39,840 --> 05:52:49,360
Article 18.
This is my last page. Article 18. To see

4144
05:52:46,958 --> 05:52:54,558
if the town will vote to raise $65,000
through taxation for the purpose of

4145
05:52:50,958 --> 05:52:58,958
purchasing a trash compacting system for
trash collecting at the transfer

4146
05:52:56,240 --> 05:53:05,760
station. I will now entertain a motion.
Nick's motion. Second. Craig will use.

4147
05:53:01,440 --> 05:53:10,480
Sorry. Thank you. Okay. Let's discuss.
Yes. Wait. Wait. Oh, wait, wait. Motion

4148
05:53:09,120 --> 05:53:13,600
maker gets to discuss first. You're
right. Go right ahead.

4149
05:53:11,520 --> 05:53:18,080
» Uh, so, as
any of you that go to the transfer

4150
05:53:15,280 --> 05:53:24,798
station know, we have been out [snorts]
of commission from our trash compacting

4151
05:53:20,480 --> 05:53:29,360
truck. Um, it was in really poor shape.
And we are currently using a dumpster

4152
05:53:26,958 --> 05:53:34,320
that's being uh picked up by Cassella
um, every so often. The dumpster is not

4153
05:53:31,760 --> 05:53:39,040
a great solution. It is open. It's
accumulating snow. it's accumulating

4154
05:53:36,798 --> 05:53:46,160
weight which we got charged for. Uh so
this would be uh the proposal that we're

4155
05:53:41,680 --> 05:53:49,920
thinking of is for a compacting dumpster
uh that would be hauled away but it

4156
05:53:48,000 --> 05:53:55,120
would still be covered in compacting our
trash. It would just be a different

4157
05:53:51,760 --> 05:54:00,320
solution. We wouldn't be driving it. Um
and

4158
05:53:57,280 --> 05:54:06,320
yeah, we hope that this is a way forward
for improving uh the way that we manage

4159
05:54:02,558 --> 05:54:10,400
trash in town. Um,
>> okay. Any you done? Good. Good. Any

4160
05:54:08,958 --> 05:54:13,440
explanation there? Any uh further
discussion?

4161
05:54:12,080 --> 05:54:18,920
» Yes. Okay. Yep. I called on you first
and Yep. Go right ahead, Laura. Your

4162
05:54:15,440 --> 05:54:18,920
microphone's coming.

4163
05:54:20,160 --> 05:54:28,878
» So, I've I looked at the um numbers for
this and I've seen the system. I think

4164
05:54:27,120 --> 05:54:35,040
it's the same system in Jamaica and
there's one in Bellis Falls. And both

4165
05:54:31,440 --> 05:54:42,160
systems have a roof over the electrical
compo components of this setup. I think

4166
05:54:38,638 --> 05:54:50,798
that's kind of necessary because it's
electrical. Um, and it's not included in

4167
05:54:44,958 --> 05:54:54,718
this total. So, I just wondered why.
Who who could answer that? Something

4168
05:54:53,280 --> 05:54:57,718
about covering some electrical
equipment.

4169
05:55:05,760 --> 05:55:11,280
The electrician says hang on go ahead
the microphone right there so everybody

4170
05:55:09,280 --> 05:55:14,638
can hear you.
>> I said the electrical equipment in

4171
05:55:12,878 --> 05:55:20,494
question and the controlling would be
all NEMA 3 which is weatherproof

4172
05:55:16,958 --> 05:55:25,080
control. So the electrical electric
[laughter] being electrocuted is is not

4173
05:55:23,200 --> 05:55:30,878
what you're thinking. Covering
[clears throat] the attendant while he's

4174
05:55:26,400 --> 05:55:37,160
operating it would be the benefit there.
Okay, Irv's got his hand up. Why don't

4175
05:55:33,120 --> 05:55:37,160
you head up to Irv there?

4176
05:55:41,760 --> 05:55:50,958
I don't believe the board has looked
into this all the way because if they

4177
05:55:47,680 --> 05:55:54,958
come they so much pull, but if they come
up here and pull that box, they're not

4178
05:55:53,440 --> 05:55:57,958
going to bring it back for the same
price.

4179
05:55:58,000 --> 05:56:05,760
It's going to be a two be two charges
instead of one because if you come up

4180
05:56:03,440 --> 05:56:10,520
and back then you got to bring it back
up and then it go back.

4181
05:56:10,558 --> 05:56:18,718
Connie can answer that.
>> Uh Irv brings up a very good point which

4182
05:56:14,878 --> 05:56:25,920
is the flyer that was passed out the
figure of 4,290

4183
05:56:22,320 --> 05:56:30,080
was a one-way hauling fee. and he points
out that if we only have one dumpster,

4184
05:56:28,558 --> 05:56:34,958
they got to bring it back up, which
means two hauling fees. So it, again,

4185
05:56:32,958 --> 05:56:39,680
this is rough estimates. This is off the
top of my head. That would imply that

4186
05:56:37,600 --> 05:56:46,718
the 4,290
would be doubled to 8, let's say 500.

4187
05:56:45,280 --> 05:56:51,600
» Oh, I'm sorry. I thought the mic was
picking it up. Um, so it would imply

4188
05:56:49,600 --> 05:56:56,958
that on this flyer that was passed out
that the hauling fee for the dumpster,

4189
05:56:54,320 --> 05:57:02,558
if we stay with just one dumpster, you
have that you have to double it because

4190
05:56:58,798 --> 05:57:07,520
it's down and back. So the 4,290
becomes basically 8,500.

4191
05:57:05,600 --> 05:57:15,360
It's still
a saving um in terms of the difference

4192
05:57:11,520 --> 05:57:22,320
between um the difference between
hauling and uh the compactor system and

4193
05:57:19,360 --> 05:57:26,320
the um compactor truck. But he is
correct that the hauling fee would

4194
05:57:24,000 --> 05:57:30,480
probably double.
>> Yeah. Also,

4195
05:57:28,480 --> 05:57:33,798
the price is not going to stay the same
next year

4196
05:57:34,000 --> 05:57:42,718
cuz we're dealing with that same thing
through the landfill

4197
05:57:38,480 --> 05:57:46,200
and cassella's prices change up to four
four or five%.

4198
05:57:47,040 --> 05:57:56,638
But not only that, in
oh since 1978

4199
05:57:54,160 --> 05:58:02,878
we've had three trucks.
We run them 14 years

4200
05:57:59,520 --> 05:58:09,840
and we got a new one in 92. We run that
another 14 years. And that this last

4201
05:58:06,400 --> 05:58:17,360
truck was was not new, but they've had
it probably 20 years or close to it.

4202
05:58:14,718 --> 05:58:21,680
And but what what did they give you?
Anybody give you a price on replacing

4203
05:58:19,680 --> 05:58:25,680
the wiring?
>> Replacing the what?

4204
05:58:23,520 --> 05:58:27,680
» Oh, the wire the wiring on the truck.
>> Yeah,

4205
05:58:26,080 --> 05:58:30,958
» that's not the only thing that's bad.
>> Well, the rats chewed it up. That's

4206
05:58:29,520 --> 05:58:34,480
what's a hat into the truck.
>> That's Well,

4207
05:58:32,558 --> 05:58:40,000
» they don't keep If you don't keep rat
poison out there, they're going to be do

4208
05:58:36,638 --> 05:58:43,000
the same thing with the highway trucks.
>> Okay.

4209
05:58:43,120 --> 05:58:49,798
Great. Um, bring it up here and then one
up here.

4210
05:58:49,920 --> 05:58:58,638
» You can speak question.
>> Yeah. I was just uh going to say that

4211
05:58:54,958 --> 05:59:05,280
the select board is proposing this for
two reasons. One, for safety to the

4212
05:59:01,840 --> 05:59:11,520
employees to not put them in a situation
where they're driving a truck that is

4213
05:59:07,760 --> 05:59:15,040
infested with rats. Um, and two, for
cost purposes.

4214
05:59:15,280 --> 05:59:19,718
Okay. Wait. No. Oh, do you have a
microphone?

4215
05:59:21,440 --> 05:59:29,680
» Wondering if it wouldn't be most Liza
Martin most economical for the town to

4216
05:59:25,680 --> 05:59:35,360
own two dumpsters so that that delivery
and pickup doesn't happen twice. And as

4217
05:59:32,320 --> 05:59:40,240
an aside, we have a neighbor who has a
small dumpster on her property from

4218
05:59:37,760 --> 05:59:44,558
Cassella and she doesn't generate enough
trash, but it's still more economical

4219
05:59:42,000 --> 05:59:49,600
than going another route with Cassella.
So, she tells us to bring us her trash

4220
05:59:46,878 --> 05:59:54,320
and we pay her in eggs. Neighbors should
think about going in on a small dumpster

4221
05:59:51,520 --> 05:59:59,600
if all this is too overwhelming. But
there again, the two dumpsters seems to

4222
05:59:56,240 --> 06:00:03,360
be a lot better than $65,000 for a
compactor.

4223
06:00:01,440 --> 06:00:08,718
I'm just tossing my law my trash on
Lucas's lawn. He'll figure it out. Um uh

4224
06:00:06,878 --> 06:00:14,400
yes, go right ahead, sir.
>> Sir, my god,

4225
06:00:12,240 --> 06:00:20,320
you've got a lot of elements here. Is a
compactor any good on the truck itself,

4226
06:00:18,558 --> 06:00:23,840
not the compactor is shot. And the truck
shot, right? Okay. How about the

4227
06:00:22,160 --> 06:00:28,558
compactor?
What what I'm getting at, you've got a

4228
06:00:25,440 --> 06:00:33,200
spare truck down there, six-wheeler,
right? What would it take to take the

4229
06:00:30,798 --> 06:00:38,000
compactor off that, put it on the old
truck, take that money, put it toward a

4230
06:00:35,600 --> 06:00:43,280
new truck? Because switching box is not
it's not a big deal. Um, what do you got

4231
06:00:41,200 --> 06:00:47,280
the PTO and you've got the hydraulics is
probably all there is to it. And you're

4232
06:00:45,600 --> 06:00:49,680
right back where you started. I is
Anybody looked into that? That's all I'm

4233
06:00:48,958 --> 06:00:52,718
saying.
>> Anybody look into it?

4234
06:00:50,718 --> 06:00:56,360
» That's a lot of money out of the truck.
So that has not

4235
06:00:57,360 --> 06:01:04,718
been uh looked into. It still does not
address the issue of safety for

4236
06:01:03,200 --> 06:01:08,080
employees
driving in a truck that would be

4237
06:01:07,120 --> 06:01:11,280
infested. [clears throat]
>> I'm saying you got to know you got to

4238
06:01:09,760 --> 06:01:15,760
you're using the old truck which is
roadw worthy, right? The town truck we

4239
06:01:13,680 --> 06:01:18,878
have which is a spare. You're going to
get rid of the old one. The old freight

4240
06:01:17,040 --> 06:01:23,520
liner. The old it's a freight life. It's
a Sterling. It's a Freight Liner. Get

4241
06:01:20,878 --> 06:01:27,520
rid of it. take the box off it, put it
on the spare truck for the town. I

4242
06:01:26,080 --> 06:01:30,000
imagine you could probably still keep a
wing and a plow on it if you needed it

4243
06:01:29,440 --> 06:01:33,760
for that. Just
>> Right. But the concern is rat

4244
06:01:32,320 --> 06:01:37,360
infestation.
>> Yeah. No, what he's saying is switch the

4245
06:01:35,520 --> 06:01:40,160
truck. Pull the back off the dead truck
that's been infested and put it on a

4246
06:01:39,520 --> 06:01:42,798
different truck,
>> right? And then how long will it take

4247
06:01:41,680 --> 06:01:46,160
for that truck to be in?
>> No. No. Right.

4248
06:01:43,840 --> 06:01:51,040
» That's the concern. That's why it has to
do with So you don't want trucks.

4249
06:01:48,160 --> 06:01:57,200
» Hang on. That was one of the reasons
that we've proposed this method is to do

4250
06:01:54,320 --> 06:02:00,878
away with employees having to sit in and
drive in ratinfested trucks.

4251
06:01:59,920 --> 06:02:02,878
» I've done it.
>> Okay. Anyway, [laughter]

4252
06:02:01,760 --> 06:02:05,360
» okay. Good.
>> Just a thought. That's all I want.

4253
06:02:04,080 --> 06:02:08,878
» Okay. And that and what I was going to
say to that is in that case, if that's

4254
06:02:07,120 --> 06:02:14,160
what you want, you just vote down the
motion because we're not we can't amend

4255
06:02:10,798 --> 06:02:18,600
to to a different truck kind of thing.
Okay. Yes. Andy's in the back.

4256
06:02:22,160 --> 06:02:32,958
Um we have a lot of options on looking
at how we do our trash removal um

4257
06:02:28,080 --> 06:02:39,600
collectively as a town. Um the current
trash compactor truck failed inspection.

4258
06:02:36,798 --> 06:02:43,920
Reason it failed inspection was that the
front fenders and the attachment on the

4259
06:02:41,600 --> 06:02:48,160
front fenders are rusted. So that would
need to be repaired. There were some

4260
06:02:46,160 --> 06:02:52,400
electrical wiring issues where they had
been chewed and it was missing some

4261
06:02:49,920 --> 06:02:57,680
plastic knobs.
The bigger issue that was brought up was

4262
06:02:55,440 --> 06:03:02,240
that it does have rats in it cuz you're
hauling garbage. Um, and we were leaving

4263
06:03:00,240 --> 06:03:08,000
the garbage there and the rats were
getting in and we didn't have an

4264
06:03:04,558 --> 06:03:13,440
exterminator coming in or poison or
whatever to keep the rats down or power

4265
06:03:11,280 --> 06:03:20,638
washing and cleaning it on a regular
basis to keep it clean. The truck still

4266
06:03:18,240 --> 06:03:26,400
engine works, transmission works,
hydraulics work. So, we still have a

4267
06:03:23,600 --> 06:03:31,840
good usable frame of a truck and
compactor. Now, if we want to decide

4268
06:03:28,878 --> 06:03:35,840
that we can't keep it clean and keep it
rat free

4269
06:03:34,000 --> 06:03:39,520
um because we're not willing to go
through the maintenance and routine to

4270
06:03:37,520 --> 06:03:45,040
keep it clean, that's an issue and we
can go to a different system, which is

4271
06:03:41,520 --> 06:03:49,600
what is being proposed. There's no
guarantee that that will not have rats

4272
06:03:47,120 --> 06:03:53,440
in that compactor as well. you still
have to make sure that you do have

4273
06:03:51,040 --> 06:03:59,520
extermination and keeping the rats down
and getting it hauled away on a more

4274
06:03:56,320 --> 06:04:04,320
frequent basis. So, um that's a choice
that we need to make here of which

4275
06:04:01,120 --> 06:04:08,160
approach we want to take, but we have
other options as well. And I just want

4276
06:04:06,000 --> 06:04:13,400
to make clear that we can continue with
the option we have for much less money.

4277
06:04:14,240 --> 06:04:17,638
Further discussion.

4278
06:04:19,040 --> 06:04:25,400
See. Oh, yep. Laura second second talk.
Okay.

4279
06:04:27,840 --> 06:04:37,200
» Um I don't maybe I wasn't clear about my
question. Um if we are going to have to

4280
06:04:34,558 --> 06:04:40,200
build this roof, how much is it going to
cost?

4281
06:04:40,878 --> 06:04:47,200
» I don't I don't I don't think they're
planning on building a roof. I think

4282
06:04:44,080 --> 06:04:52,240
they Warren just answered it and said
that the electrical system will be

4283
06:04:49,040 --> 06:04:55,120
waterproof when they build it. So, the
electrical system does not need to be

4284
06:04:53,680 --> 06:04:58,320
covered. The only person that needs to
be covered if you wanted to is the

4285
06:04:56,400 --> 06:05:02,480
attendant, but we don't really care. No,
I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. I'm

4286
06:05:00,798 --> 06:05:05,520
only kidding. Wait, wait. I was first
and then we'll go to the back of the

4287
06:05:03,600 --> 06:05:08,558
room. I'm sorry. And these are second
talks. Irv, you're second and you're

4288
06:05:06,958 --> 06:05:14,000
done. Is that guy or
>> Well, also

4289
06:05:10,638 --> 06:05:20,080
the the compact unless they have it
covered,

4290
06:05:16,798 --> 06:05:25,840
you're going to have rain, snow,
freezing, and all that stuff.

4291
06:05:23,840 --> 06:05:28,638
So, that's another thing. You're going
to have to put a cover, do something

4292
06:05:28,080 --> 06:05:33,680
about it.
>> I think the compactor that they're

4293
06:05:29,920 --> 06:05:38,160
purchasing is covered. It's a tube that
compact. It's the same kind of green

4294
06:05:35,680 --> 06:05:42,958
thing that's there now, but it's covered
with a compactor.

4295
06:05:40,798 --> 06:05:47,440
» While that compactor comes back to put
stuff in, you're going to get rain and

4296
06:05:45,200 --> 06:05:53,120
snow in it.
>> Okay. Okay. Uh, you're second. Somebody

4297
06:05:50,878 --> 06:05:57,040
wanted to speak first.
I never saw that hand over here. And

4298
06:05:54,878 --> 06:06:01,360
then to the back. Do you have a
microphone right now?

4299
06:05:58,798 --> 06:06:05,840
» Hello. Thank you. Hi, Alicia Stratford.
This is just a a question for clarity

4300
06:06:03,280 --> 06:06:11,520
because I am not an expert on trash
removal. Um, at the beginning of this

4301
06:06:08,638 --> 06:06:17,040
breakdown, it does specify that it's 165
to haul and then 210 to tip. Does that

4302
06:06:14,080 --> 06:06:22,638
tipping cost go away with this other or
is it just not factored in?

4303
06:06:20,080 --> 06:06:29,440
» It's factored in. That tipping cost is
essentially it's 200 per load

4304
06:06:26,400 --> 06:06:38,200
» because at the bottom it's saying the 65
165 hauling fee and that's like if it's

4305
06:06:32,558 --> 06:06:38,200
also 210 isn't that really 375.

4306
06:06:41,920 --> 06:06:46,200
» Hang on. They're trying to figure out
what you're saying.

4307
06:06:49,520 --> 06:07:00,000
So, it is $165
to pick it up, bring it to the dump, and

4308
06:06:56,000 --> 06:07:05,040
then $210 to empty it, and then what?
Another 165 to bring it back.

4309
06:07:03,200 --> 06:07:11,520
» So, I believe that I was looking at
differences. We have tipping is um there

4310
06:07:08,878 --> 06:07:17,680
for any system that we use that we're
taking it to Cassella or a company like

4311
06:07:15,280 --> 06:07:22,160
that. There's a tipping fee whether
there's a current trash compacting

4312
06:07:20,320 --> 06:07:26,558
truck, whether there's a current
dumpster. So

4313
06:07:24,320 --> 06:07:28,878
» you got you got to talk it's on. Just
speak into it.

4314
06:07:27,280 --> 06:07:33,200
» Yeah. So I my [clears throat]
recollection is is that I wasn't looking

4315
06:07:30,638 --> 06:07:36,958
at what currently already exists. It's
the difference.

4316
06:07:35,520 --> 06:07:42,558
So
>> what she's saying, Alicia, is that that

4317
06:07:39,840 --> 06:07:46,958
cost is there equivalent.
>> So it would just if you bought a truck,

4318
06:07:45,280 --> 06:07:52,000
» there would be a tipping fee.
>> And if we did a dumpster, there's a

4319
06:07:48,798 --> 06:07:55,040
tipping fee. It's equipping
as in the difference.

4320
06:07:53,600 --> 06:07:57,600
» No, [laughter]
>> I picked up on that much.

4321
06:07:56,240 --> 06:08:00,240
» It took me a second. Well, good. I'm
glad you did because it took me a

4322
06:07:58,878 --> 06:08:05,280
second.
>> Yes. We'll get you a microphone.

4323
06:08:03,040 --> 06:08:10,440
Thank you, Lucas.
I'll be up to mow the grass later. Thank

4324
06:08:06,958 --> 06:08:10,440
you for your help.

4325
06:08:11,360 --> 06:08:17,440
» Liza Martin, I believe Nick at the
beginning tried to point out that with

4326
06:08:15,440 --> 06:08:21,760
the open dumpsters
that when we get snow and there's snow

4327
06:08:19,760 --> 06:08:25,120
in there, we're paying for that weight,
too. And I think that's where all these

4328
06:08:23,280 --> 06:08:28,958
other conversations about roofs and
covers and things came in. And I think

4329
06:08:26,558 --> 06:08:34,000
we can go simple, but perhaps there
needs to be uh a canopy of some sort to

4330
06:08:32,080 --> 06:08:37,280
keep the snow from building up and
adding weight which is in trash that's

4331
06:08:35,760 --> 06:08:41,520
being hauled away. Is wasn't that
correct? You tried to point that out.

4332
06:08:38,878 --> 06:08:44,718
» Didn't you take that into consideration?
>> No, not the current the current the

4333
06:08:43,040 --> 06:08:48,480
current one we are because it's snowing
in it right now.

4334
06:08:46,240 --> 06:08:51,840
» You're suggesting you're suggesting if
we put a roof over the current system

4335
06:08:49,840 --> 06:08:55,280
and it's still an open top. Correct.
That's what you're saying.

4336
06:08:52,958 --> 06:09:00,080
» Okay.
Okay. in the way back right behind you.

4337
06:08:58,798 --> 06:09:02,638
» Oh, wait. Connie, wait. There's still
more response and then and then you can

4338
06:09:01,520 --> 06:09:07,320
have the floor in a second. Go ahead,
Connie. Now it's not on.

4339
06:09:07,680 --> 06:09:14,480
Just
>> no.

4340
06:09:12,878 --> 06:09:15,520
Everybody thinks they can be heard. You
can't be heard.

4341
06:09:15,200 --> 06:09:18,000
» Okay,
>> go ahead.

4342
06:09:16,080 --> 06:09:20,878
» Um, the reason we are proposing a
compacting uh

4343
06:09:19,120 --> 06:09:26,160
» Hold it close. Don't be afraid. The
reason we are proposing a con uh

4344
06:09:22,798 --> 06:09:30,080
compacting dumpster is to lessen the
amount of halls

4345
06:09:28,878 --> 06:09:34,638
» and tips.
>> Tips. So, so if we had a compacting

4346
06:09:32,080 --> 06:09:39,440
system, they when that green thing right
now gets filled up, it's filled. But we

4347
06:09:37,040 --> 06:09:42,958
had a compactor
and then we can continue to fill

4348
06:09:41,680 --> 06:09:47,600
» the weight factor in.
>> Yes. Well, well, the tipping the weight

4349
06:09:44,878 --> 06:09:51,440
will be more, but the amount of trips
you have to make will be less. Yes, you

4350
06:09:50,878 --> 06:09:54,798
got it.
>> Okay.

4351
06:09:53,040 --> 06:09:56,878
» Okay, you already spoke twice. Hang on
one second.

4352
06:09:55,920 --> 06:10:01,878
» What do you want? You You already spoke
twice. Go ahead. Start in the back.

4353
06:09:58,718 --> 06:10:01,878
» Come on.

4354
06:10:12,638 --> 06:10:20,480
So, the recycle bins over there,
dumpsters have tops on them. So, it's

4355
06:10:18,320 --> 06:10:24,798
not like you can't just put the top on
it to keep the weather out. That's one

4356
06:10:23,040 --> 06:10:31,440
thing. But that doesn't matter because
it's not going to compact it. But my

4357
06:10:27,440 --> 06:10:36,798
question is, for the $65,000
for that compactor,

4358
06:10:33,600 --> 06:10:42,480
I'm paying $4 a bag to get rid of my
garbage. How much does it cost this town

4359
06:10:40,000 --> 06:10:46,480
to get rid of that
$4 bag of garbage that I'm dropping off

4360
06:10:44,958 --> 06:10:52,400
there?
And aren't we paying enough?

4361
06:10:50,400 --> 06:10:59,440
» Um, how much is there is there a
breakdown that you could say that we pay

4362
06:10:54,718 --> 06:11:03,200
$4 per bag? How how much does it cost
to I mean there's there's maintenance

4363
06:11:01,040 --> 06:11:09,680
involved. There's it's not just the
tipping fees and the hauling fees. It's

4364
06:11:05,680 --> 06:11:14,520
also trying to pay for
the maintenance, I would think.

4365
06:11:18,000 --> 06:11:22,240
Does $4 cover getting rid of all the
trash?

4366
06:11:21,280 --> 06:11:27,120
» No.
>> There what they I I

4367
06:11:24,080 --> 06:11:33,280
» Okay, if we look at page 13, you can see
the waste recycling compactor total. So,

4368
06:11:29,760 --> 06:11:38,240
the total expenses on that system,
98,584.

4369
06:11:35,440 --> 06:11:42,798
If you go back a couple pages to page
nine on our revenue, we can see our

4370
06:11:40,480 --> 06:11:48,320
trash bag sales
um actual for FY20 for fiscal year 25

4371
06:11:45,920 --> 06:11:54,558
was about 40,000. We're projecting about
40,000. So 40,000 is what we anticipate

4372
06:11:52,080 --> 06:11:58,958
getting in revenue from trash bag sales
offsetting the 98,000 that it costs to

4373
06:11:57,040 --> 06:12:03,520
run the system overall. So it does not
pay for it. But that's also partially

4374
06:12:01,200 --> 06:12:08,840
why we proposed and it passed last year
to increase to try to help offset that

4375
06:12:05,840 --> 06:12:08,840
more.

4376
06:12:09,120 --> 06:12:15,320
» Okay. For you wanted to say so MV hang

4377
06:12:19,040 --> 06:12:26,878
for electric and all that stuff to run
that compact.

4378
06:12:24,718 --> 06:12:30,080
» Okay. that there's nothing on the list
that discusses electricity and how much

4379
06:12:28,638 --> 06:12:33,760
it's going to talk on maintenance for
that.

4380
06:12:31,680 --> 06:12:40,958
» Nothing.
>> Any other any other discuss?

4381
06:12:37,520 --> 06:12:46,000
Any other discussion?
Okay. Hearing no other discussion. We

4382
06:12:43,360 --> 06:12:50,638
have a motion before us to see if the
town will vote to raise $65,000 through

4383
06:12:48,320 --> 06:12:55,360
taxation for the purpose of purchasing a
trash compacting system for trash

4384
06:12:52,638 --> 06:13:02,638
collection at the transfer station. A
yes vote passes the motion. A no vote

4385
06:12:58,400 --> 06:13:05,920
defeats the motion. Questions?
All those in favor of the motion, please

4386
06:13:04,558 --> 06:13:09,120
say I.
>> I

4387
06:13:06,558 --> 06:13:13,920
» oppose. No.
>> All those in favor, please raise your

4388
06:13:10,958 --> 06:13:22,878
hand.
Okay, should be easier. One, two. This

4389
06:13:15,920 --> 06:13:36,638
is in favor. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22

4390
06:13:31,280 --> 06:13:41,920
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 31 32
I counted correctly. All those opposed,

4391
06:13:39,600 --> 06:13:54,000
please raise your hand.
AH, YEAH. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

4392
06:13:49,600 --> 06:14:00,600
14 15 16 17.
So I believe the eyes have it and the

4393
06:13:57,200 --> 06:14:00,600
motion passes.

4394
06:14:01,120 --> 06:14:08,878
Moving on to article
19 to see if the town will vote to

4395
06:14:06,400 --> 06:14:13,360
authorize the select board to acquire
land by gifts or purchase for municipal

4396
06:14:11,360 --> 06:14:17,600
forest to promote for reforestation,
water conservation, and good forestry

4397
06:14:15,200 --> 06:14:23,878
practices.
Got Nick and Craig. Toss them in

4398
06:14:20,878 --> 06:14:23,878
discussion.

4399
06:14:26,000 --> 06:14:32,558
» What
did you want to say something? I got

4400
06:14:31,040 --> 06:14:36,120
well the questions involved. So I'm just
trying to be nice to you.

4401
06:14:47,120 --> 06:14:54,480
» Um Jason Min here. Uh I just wanted to
know if this had anything to do with Act

4402
06:14:51,840 --> 06:15:00,080
59 that is going along with Vermont.
>> This is a this is a boilerplate. This is

4403
06:14:56,480 --> 06:15:04,718
a boiler plate every year. one of those
articles that may be disappearing

4404
06:15:02,000 --> 06:15:11,040
depending on what the state statute is
because the select board has the ability

4405
06:15:08,240 --> 06:15:16,480
to buy purchase and report and do that
anyway but I don't know I got to check

4406
06:15:12,958 --> 06:15:19,680
into that but
this is in this is in there every year

4407
06:15:18,160 --> 06:15:24,320
and a couple years ago two or three
years ago we had a long discussion about

4408
06:15:21,840 --> 06:15:29,280
this if you don't remember right
>> okay um the question's been called but

4409
06:15:26,878 --> 06:15:32,958
any other discussion real quick seeing
No other discussion so we don't have to

4410
06:15:30,638 --> 06:15:36,958
do that two-thirds vote. Okay. All those
in favor of the town authorizing the

4411
06:15:35,280 --> 06:15:41,200
town and select board to acquire land or
gift by gift or purchase for municipal

4412
06:15:39,360 --> 06:15:45,840
forest and promote reforestation water
conservation and good forestry

4413
06:15:42,958 --> 06:15:49,840
practices. All the yes vote passes it. A
no vote defeats it. All those in favor

4414
06:15:48,160 --> 06:15:56,958
please say I. I.
>> Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

4415
06:15:52,480 --> 06:16:01,280
The eyes have it. Holy cow. Article 20
to see if the town will vote to set the

4416
06:15:58,718 --> 06:16:05,280
first Tuesday in March 2027 as a date
for the 2027 town of towns and annual

4417
06:16:03,920 --> 06:16:08,160
meeting.
>> Second.

4418
06:16:06,000 --> 06:16:12,798
» Okay, you got some people
>> discussion question.

4419
06:16:10,240 --> 06:16:18,160
» Okay, hang on.
Hang on. Okay. So, just just just so we

4420
06:16:15,760 --> 06:16:23,600
know, it was mentioned at pre-town
meeting about moving town meeting to

4421
06:16:20,798 --> 06:16:28,798
Saturday to making an amendment right
now to move town meeting to Saturday. I

4422
06:16:26,638 --> 06:16:33,840
told them that I would rule that out of
order and I'm sticking to my guns and I

4423
06:16:31,520 --> 06:16:37,840
just want to I if you want to move the
town meeting, I think that's absolutely

4424
06:16:35,760 --> 06:16:43,520
fine. But I think that's something that
the whole town knows may be done. So, it

4425
06:16:40,958 --> 06:16:47,520
should be warned. Okay. And then we can
have an official discussion on whether

4426
06:16:45,520 --> 06:16:51,760
or not we want to move town meeting. I
don't think that's appropriate to be

4427
06:16:49,120 --> 06:17:00,240
done by amendment.
Um there's tradition, there's precedent

4428
06:16:55,920 --> 06:17:05,760
and institutional forbearance.
Okay. So, um that I just wanted to bring

4429
06:17:03,680 --> 06:17:10,000
that up and I'm not against moving it.
If somebody wants to present that in the

4430
06:17:07,920 --> 06:17:14,878
uh in the warning for next year, please
do. So, any other disc the questions

4431
06:17:13,040 --> 06:17:17,840
been called? No discussion. Sorry. I
wanted to just put that in there because

4432
06:17:16,480 --> 06:17:23,040
I didn't know if the person that wanted
to do that is still here. Um, all those

4433
06:17:19,840 --> 06:17:29,200
in favor of setting the first Tuesday of
March 2027 is the date for the annual

4434
06:17:26,240 --> 06:17:33,840
town meeting, please say I. I
>> oppose. No.

4435
06:17:31,440 --> 06:17:40,798
Article 21.
Any other non-binding business?

4436
06:17:37,840 --> 06:17:46,638
Any other business that become before
this group? Seeing no other business to

4437
06:17:44,000 --> 06:17:52,878
be become before the B group. I want to
thank everybody for attending the 2026

4438
06:17:50,240 --> 06:17:56,718
towns and town meeting. There's no
further business to properly become

4439
06:17:54,558 --> 06:18:02,400
before the town meeting. I declare the
2026 town meeting adjourned. A hearty

4440
06:18:00,000 --> 06:18:07,280
thank you to all those who participated.
Thank you for putting up with me and

4441
06:18:04,958 --> 06:18:12,798
we'll see you next year. And with all
elected officials, newly elected or

4442
06:18:09,600 --> 06:18:18,120
anybody elected, PLEASE COME UP FRONT.
>> Come up front cuz you got to be voting.

4443
06:18:14,480 --> 06:18:18,120
You got to be sworn in.

4444
06:18:31,076 --> 06:18:33,096
» [music]

4445
06:18:46,400 --> 06:18:48,480
» That