[0:00] Ready?

[0:18] » Good morning and welcome to the town of Can you hear

[0:22] me? Good morning and welcome to the Town of Townsen

[0:26] 2026 annual TOWN MEETING.

[0:34] » [applause] >> 2026. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT,

[0:38] RIGHT, you're supposed to be flying around in space cars or something in

[0:42] 2026, if I remember correctly, Popular Science magazine, right?

[0:48] First of all, I'd like to start with having everybody stand. We have a flag

[0:51] this year. I'd like to start with the pledge of allegiance. As soon as we're

[0:54] done, please remain standing FOR THE MOMENT.

[1:03] TO THE flag of the United States of America to the

[1:08] stands, [groaning] one nation under God, indivisible, with

[1:13] liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, stay standing. Sorry. Stay

[1:17] standing. I would also like everybody to just join

[1:22] me for a moment of silence and reflection and remembrance to honor

[1:26] those towns and residents and other loved ones for which we lost this past

[1:31] year. Thank you. [snorts]

[1:45] » Thank you. Please be seated.

[1:57] Warning for the town of town. Warning for the

[2:02] town of Townsen 2026 annual meeting corrected January 27, 2026.

[2:10] The legal voters of the town of Townsen are hereby notified and warned to meet

[2:14] at Dutton Dutton Gymnasium located in 2030 Vermont Group 30 on Tuesday, March

[2:21] 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. to act on the following articles.

[2:28] I am supposed to read the entire warning at this point. If there are no

[2:32] objections, I'll refrain from doing so. >> No objection. hearing. No objections.

[2:39] Before we start, I'm going to lay some rules out um on how this meeting is run.

[2:46] Um everything goes around in a circle history. Uh I was asked at one point to

[2:52] put out a sheet of paper that kind of explained this. We used to do that in

[2:56] the distant past, but it was determined uh the town did not want to spend the

[3:00] money to create such a sheet. So, it kind of goes around in a circle. If you

[3:05] would like a sheet, please talk to me later and I can more than happy. But I'm

[3:08] going to explain the rules uh verbally. Again, welcome to the 2026 Towns and

[3:14] Town Meeting. Town meeting is a special tradition

[3:19] with President Dick and I'm honored to be a part of it with

[3:23] you. I'd like to extend a special welcome to those that are new to Town

[3:28] who have never attended a town meeting before and it's going to be quite a

[3:31] ride. My name is David Lebo. It has been my pleasure to serve as town moderator

[3:36] for the last year. And let me review some information and rules for the

[3:40] meeting. The role of the moderator is to keep the

[3:44] meeting organized and explain procedural questions. Please ask any questions

[3:50] before we vote. You have the right to challenge any decisions I make. If you

[3:56] feel any of my rulings are improper, you just need to raise your hand and say, "I

[4:01] challenge the moderator decision." Everybody, please feel comfortable to

[4:05] speak up. We are family. Nobody will think poorly of you if you have a

[4:10] question. Voters should check in at the uh

[4:16] entrance. Please, if you are a town resident, state your name and you will

[4:21] get a ribbon. The ribbon signifies that you are a town resident, that you can

[4:26] speak and vote during uh articles. Non-residentidents are not allowed to

[4:33] vote or participate in any discussion unless the town votes to give uh

[4:40] permission by suspending the rules which requires a twothird vote. That's just to

[4:45] speak. They are still not allowed to vote.

[4:49] When making a motion or seconding a motion, please state your name loud and

[4:54] clear. This is for the minutes. For example,

[4:59] Limbo, I second the motion and they know how to um uh record that.

[5:08] When a motion is on the floor for discussion, I will try to call on hands

[5:12] as they are raised. When called upon, again, please state

[5:17] your name. We know what town you're from, so you don't have to state your

[5:20] town. Please [clears throat] speak loud and

[5:23] clear. And theoretically, we would like you to come up front and talk.

[5:29] If we have an extra microphone, we might be able to pass it around, but

[5:34] I don't know if we do. Oh, yes. Maybe we can take one of these from up front.

[5:37] Okay. But try to come up and talk. A motion may be amended and amendments

[5:44] amended once with voting to proceed from the last proposed amendment in reverse

[5:50] order. Sounds confusing. I'll help you. All motions and remarks should be made

[5:57] to the moderator. There will be no discussion between residents.

[6:03] Dora is the word of the day.

[6:08] There will be no personal attacks. We are here to discuss and vote on the

[6:15] warned articles. You will be ruled out of order and can be removed from the

[6:21] meeting by the constable. There can be a $200 fine by district

[6:26] court if you are deemed disruptive. [clears throat]

[6:30] After you've spoken once on a particular article that's going to be mentioned at

[6:34] the end after you've spoken once on a particular

[6:38] article unless there's a direct question. You are not allowed to speak

[6:42] twice until everybody else has spoken once and then you are only allowed to

[6:46] speak twice on any given motion or amendment unless we SUSPEND THE RULE.

[6:53] DEBATE MAY be cut off by calling the question which requires a twoth3

[6:58] majority and then no other amendments may be

[7:02] brought forward. Calling the question without having the floor will be ruled

[7:07] out of order. So you can't just scream call the question. Raise your hand and

[7:12] when I get to you then you should do it again. You have the right to challenge

[7:16] any decision I made or you just raise your hand and and that one you can call

[7:21] out because it's a privileged motion. I challenge the moderator's decision.

[7:26] During elections, if there is no objection, only the person nominated

[7:31] will be allowed to give a brief introduction and background information

[7:35] on their qualifications. visions, goals, and objectives will be

[7:40] ruled out of order. When voting by paper ballot, please come

[7:46] up through the center aisle and exit through the sides. If you cannot get to

[7:51] the ballot box, let somebody know and we'd be happy to bring the ballot box to

[7:55] you. Please silence all cell phones

[8:01] um and patrons. It's an amazing thing because this is the fact that cell

[8:06] phones work in towns.

[8:11] Um, I have some written here. I don't know

[8:15] why. Um, we will not be taking a break for lunch. There's grab and go in the

[8:20] back. Thank you to all those that have donated their money, time, and effort to

[8:26] make such a beautiful spread. If I wasn't so nervous, I'd try.

[8:32] This meeting is being recorded by Bradleboro Community Television. You can

[8:36] watch it later this week on channel 1079 and online at bradleberetv.org.

[8:42] Again, for anyone speaking at the meeting, please stand and state your

[8:45] name. Speak directly into the microphone so the viewers at home can hear you.

[8:52] Introductions. Up front. Here we have select board. In

[8:56] no particular order, we have Bob Wright, Steve Frisk, Katie Maro,

[9:05] Nick Suarez, and Ally Evans. On the other [applause]

[9:15] on the other

[9:18] I have g

[9:22] on the other paper we have justice of the pieces and um bro for town clerk

[9:30] [applause]

[9:33] that's UM

[9:39] our State Representative Emily Long and I've seen our state senator Nana Hashim.

[9:46] They are going to uh ask to take up some of our time and speak. We're going to

[9:53] allow that early on this morning. I I will ask you if you allow that um early

[9:58] on in the meeting. >> They'd like to speak earlier. Uh they've

[10:03] been caught up in the election in the past and so they'd like to do it kind of

[10:06] before the election. papers in the back. In the front,

[10:14] you have um information from the select board on uh and the town social services

[10:20] um committee was a historical view on the town social

[10:24] services. There's information about the treasurer structure which is article

[10:30] three and then there's information on the

[10:34] compactor structure which is article something like but if you like that

[10:39] information those papers are in the back the front and then up front here there's

[10:43] more information on the uh social services article

[10:49] I don't have any other announcements

[10:54] lastly restrooms. I believe we're going to use

[10:57] the ones back here. If you need to use the restroom, you can head back there

[11:02] through the door on the [clears throat] right hand side.

[11:07] I have no other information. And if there are no objections, let's get ready

[11:13] to rumble.

[11:16] Have a gabble. We'll move on to article one. Any

[11:22] questions about rules?

[11:27] Article one to choose a moderator for the ensuing year. I will now entertain

[11:32] nominations.

[11:35] » Yes, sir. >> Motion nominated.

[11:39] » Second. >> I should have said that. Correct. Thank

[11:43] you. There are no seconds needed for nominations. Okay. It's a vote of

[11:49] support and I appreciate it. But when we get the other elections, you don't

[11:52] necessarily have to second a nomination, but thank you. Um, any other

[11:57] nominations?

[12:00] Hearing no other nominations. And if there are no objections,

[12:06] I declare the nominations closed and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

[12:10] for David Lebo for the one-year term of moderator. All those in favor say I.

[12:16] » All those opposed, no. Thank you. No clapping. I'm not I'm not First of all,

[12:21] let's not let's not go there, okay? Just for me, it doesn't matter, per se, but

[12:26] let's not go there. Let's let's let's just have the meeting, [laughter] okay?

[12:31] Thank you very much. This will be my 20th year.

[12:37] Um, and nobody should be married for a job,

[12:41] but thank you for your support. Um, article two,

[12:48] to act upon the July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025

[12:54] independent auditor. Oh, auditors. Wait a second.

[12:59] Before I finish this, when I stop this, okay, the representatives are here. Do

[13:06] we want to go there now and do this? >> Okay. And so I'm going to ask if there's

[13:11] no objections before we start article two. I didn't finish reading it. Before

[13:15] we reach article two, would we like to suspend the rules and allow um we just

[13:21] have uh Emily and J just those two? Would you like them to come up and talk?

[13:26] » All those in favor, please say I. I >> oppose. No.

[13:30] » I believe that's 2/3. We've suspended the rules. Come on up front. We're going

[13:34] to give them how much time?

[13:38] » Nine. Five minutes each.

[13:41] » Okay. Five minutes each. 10 minutes. Um, you guys want to speak?

[13:54] » Testing, testing, testing.

[14:03] I'm going to leave it up here for Lee, but I don't I also don't dare to change

[14:08] it. Um, welcome. Thank you for allowing us to

[14:13] speak here. Um, boy, 20 years is a long time to be sitting in that position.

[14:19] I'll just say this is I was just reminded this is my 12th year um,

[14:24] standing in front of the residents of Townsend. Can you hear me? Okay.

[14:29] It's hard to tell. >> Yeah.

[14:31] » Um I'll I'll talk a little.

[14:35] » This is one of those I got it. This is one of those directional ones. I can

[14:39] stand back. Okay. So, um first of all, I just want to say what a what a winner

[14:46] we've had. Um I'm going to say this in new fan, too. When I hit the town, I

[14:51] said it in Marorrow. Um thank you to the road crews and our communities.

[14:56] [applause]

[14:58] because what a year it's been. And I I'm actually a little concerned about what

[15:03] mud season might look like. Frosty hasn't been this bad in a long time. Um

[15:08] so, uh make sure [clears throat] you're thanking the folks who are taking care

[15:12] of our roads. Um as you all know, transportation's a challenge in this

[15:16] state and all over the country and who are facing budget deficits and

[15:20] transportation as well. Um before I get to any of our um and before I certainly

[15:27] allowed Nutter to have the microphone, um I just wanted to say a couple things

[15:31] about um about the way we work in Mont Pillar and

[15:39] the way we operate in this state. Um you you you folks all know I grew up

[15:45] here, born at the hospital of the street. Um, and I am

[15:53] extremely grateful uh for the community that I live in and the state I live in.

[16:00] And I just wanted to share um as things shift in the country and

[16:06] become so much more political and politically divided. I have seen

[16:12] evidence non-stop almost every day in the committee I serve in and um in the

[16:19] community I live in in the state house across the board uh the collaboration

[16:24] and the manner in which we serve with each other and I just wanted to share

[16:30] that first because um the needs of Vermoners are coming first

[16:39] in the state house and I can say that across the board. Doesn't matter what

[16:43] party we're from, we sit in committee side by side and we work hard together

[16:48] every single day to try to make sure the needs of Vermonters are being met. And I

[16:53] just wanted you all to know that that is happening here in Vermont and in the

[16:58] state house. And it's really important to me. I don't think I'd keep doing this

[17:01] job if it weren't true. So, I can call all 180 legislators

[17:07] uh friends and colleagues and I'm grateful to work with them. So I just

[17:10] wanted to share that first. Um Vermont is facing challenges as you all know

[17:15] just like every other state. Uh loss of federal revenue has been a significant

[17:22] challenge for us. Um I'm not going to go into too many detail around around

[17:27] legislation. Um but I do want to speak briefly. I'm I think I told you all last

[17:33] year I stepped down from my leadership positions in the state house and I'm now

[17:36] back on the education committee which has um been sometimes I've questioned

[17:43] the wisdom of going on the education committee this year has been extremely

[17:47] challenging as it was last year. We are trying to find a path forward to lower

[17:53] the costs of education, lower our property tax rates, and at the

[17:59] same time increase opportunities for kids because that's really the core of

[18:05] what we're doing. And uh the bill passed last year, Act 73.

[18:10] Uh I I didn't share with you um last year at town meeting that I didn't vote

[18:17] for the bill, but I did not vote for the bill. Um, in the end of the session, I

[18:21] felt like it needed more time that u verers voices need to be needed to be

[18:25] heard in a much better way. Um, uh, but the bill did pass and we are struggling

[18:32] right now to find a way forward to fully implement the bill. There is a lot of,

[18:38] uh, work that still needs to be done on the legislation. So, um, stay tuned on

[18:44] that. We uh in the education committee in the house, uh N serves on the

[18:50] education committee in the Senate, so he'll have his perspective from the

[18:53] Senate. In the House, uh we have some legislation that was put on the table

[18:57] for us that um has met with quite a bit of resistance, not just in our

[19:01] committee, but across the state. The chair put it on the table and he said to

[19:04] us, uh this is incomplete, flawed work, but I want you to work on making it

[19:10] better. And when we left for town meeting break, he said, "I'm pretty sure

[19:15] if we were to vote on this bill today, it would be one, meaning him in favor

[19:20] and 10 against because there's 11 of us." And so it's pretty clear we haven't

[19:26] um come to agreement yet on what our next steps are, but it's also really

[19:29] clear that we need to do something. um we need to make sure the education of

[19:33] our kids is first and um we need to recognize the impact on our communities

[19:39] as we make those changes. So um stay tuned on that. I just want to quickly

[19:45] say housing, healthcare and education um and government accountability, those are

[19:52] all top of our um plates right now. health care remains a huge issue for us

[19:59] um for all of you. Access to it. We're focused on trying to do what we can to

[20:04] lower costs. We've made some, you know, steps. We've taken steps. We did last

[20:09] year. Um primary care is certainly um a central focus for us trying to make sure

[20:16] that we have not only uh quality primary care across the state, but affordable

[20:21] and accessible primary care. Um, so anyway, I don't want to take the the

[20:25] time away from Nter. So, I want let you have your

[20:30] » All right. So, I'm a little vertically challenged. So, I don't You all able to

[20:34] hear me? Oh, thanks.

[20:38] All right. [laughter]

[20:42] That's fine. It's fine. It's all good. Anyways, uh, good morning everybody. My

[20:47] name is Nar Hashim. one of the senators to win the county. And you in in the

[20:52] interest of keeping this short, I'm scrapping the pre-written speech and

[20:56] just uh going on the fly here. So hopefully that all works out for the

[20:59] best. But you know, I did just want to reflect on something. you know, over the

[21:03] last couple of days as I was trying to get all my thoughts together for what I

[21:07] would be sharing at town meeting, it it felt very surreal uh to be, you know, on

[21:14] the one hand looking up what the, you know, what the changes to the transfer

[21:19] tax is for second homes and then on the other hand getting all these

[21:23] notifications about all these different bombings that are happening um in

[21:26] different parts of the world and, you know, trying to balance, you know, where

[21:33] where my focus is. Um, and you know, in situations like that, I'm I just I

[21:38] remind myself that there's some things that are within my control that I can

[21:42] that I can deal with, and then there are other things that are out of my control

[21:46] that, you know, while I can still pay attention to, I there's there's not much

[21:50] that I can do. And so, and I and I think that applies really not just to anybody

[21:54] in a leadership position, but just anybody in daily life. And so I'm going

[21:59] to talk about a few of the things that I can do and that I have been doing um as

[22:04] a senator up in the state house. So in the Senate we serve on two committees. I

[22:09] serve in the morning as the chair of Senate Judiciary and in the afternoon I

[22:14] serve on the education committee. And I'll start with education. Uh you

[22:21] know we as as we just heard uh there was there was Act 73. Uh I also voted

[22:26] against it last year, but we are in the second phase of Act 73 and the bill

[22:33] originally created the school redistricting task force. And I'm

[22:38] paraphrasing in a in a big way, but the task force essentially concluded that

[22:44] forcing mergers uh between different districts is not going to yield the cost

[22:49] savings uh that we hope to see and it's also extremely disruptive. Uh despite

[22:55] that, it seems as if both chambers are moving in that direction anyway. And

[23:02] it's it's my position on on the regular that we should be following the data, we

[23:07] should be following the evidence and the evidence shows that when districts

[23:12] voluntarily merge uh because the folks in that community know what's best

[23:18] generally for their communities. when different comm when different districts

[23:22] merge voluntarily that's when you start seeing uh more efficiency and more cost

[23:26] savings and so the at least the proposal in the Senate

[23:32] right now is to uh reduce the number of unions and reduce the number of

[23:36] districts by combining them uh but having a voluntary 2-year period and

[23:42] then after that it becomes involuntary and you get merged. So that's that's the

[23:49] very broad overview of what the position is right now. Um I know that one of the

[23:53] more frustrating aspects about all of this. Uh and I heard this from a

[23:57] superintendent just two weeks ago is that this process is creating so much

[24:02] uncertainty and anxiety. And this one particular superintendent said that he's

[24:08] seen uh teachers who are in the hiring process uh you know after they get a few

[24:13] steps along they start doing more of the research of where they've applied to and

[24:18] you know they see all these articles and all this news about the different

[24:22] possibilities of what might happen to education in Vermont. and some of them

[24:26] have withdrawn their applications and and and which is very troubling to hear

[24:33] but frankly I can't blame them because if you're worried about whether or not

[24:38] you're going to have a job or uh if where you set up roots if things are

[24:42] going to be changing dramatically in the near future that's a lot of uncertainty

[24:46] for somebody who's trying to start a new profession. So that is the u the short

[24:54] summary of uh Senate education, Senate Judiciary. Uh

[25:00] one of the big tasks that I've been hearing a lot about over the last year,

[25:05] especially over the last year, is how we respond to the federal government. And

[25:09] we have recently passed S208 and S209. These are informally known as the

[25:15] masking bill and the sensitive places bill. The masking bill, as we could all

[25:21] safely assume, has to do with law enforcement wearing masks, operating

[25:25] anonymously, and arresting people. We've done a [snorts] lot of work to make sure

[25:31] that both 208 and 209 are constitutional. Uh unfortunately for

[25:35] California, fortunately for us, uh California made a few mistakes and we

[25:41] were able to learn from what they failed to do and we made sure that we did not

[25:46] make those m those same mistakes in our legislation uh with those bills. And so

[25:51] both 208 and 209 are now in the House Judiciary Committee. Um the governor has

[25:56] signaled his support for these bills and uh my hope is that they continue moving

[26:02] forward in the process. Um, other aspects of judiciary are generally

[26:07] they're they're not going to catch headlines. Um, but they are aspects that

[26:12] get to technical fixes uh for our judiciary, our court system that uh are

[26:20] meant to increase efficiency and fairness in the courtroom. So something

[26:25] as mundane as changing the word violation with the word conviction

[26:30] actually makes a big difference in certain plea agreements and the flow of

[26:34] the court. Uh obviously not something you're going to see any headlines about,

[26:39] but uh you know I I I see it as my responsibility to make sure that our

[26:43] judiciary is operating in a fair and efficient manner and it's like taking a

[26:47] pickaxe slowly uh to making these changes moving forward. So, so that's

[26:54] Senate Judiciary. And, you know, I I will say that it's uh I mean, this is

[27:01] the the first town meeting that I'm stopping at for the day today. And so,

[27:04] it's it's a good warm-up. Thanks for being my my test subject, my first

[27:08] speech of the day. Um, you know, I I I do love coming out to Townsen. I do

[27:13] often have um office hours at the library. I haven't had any this month,

[27:17] but I'm hoping to get some next month. Um, I've also left some uh legislative

[27:22] updates over on the table over there. There's more information about some of

[27:25] the bills that we're working on in other areas that I know are important like

[27:28] healthcare act 250 regulations uh and transportation. And it also has my

[27:34] contact information. So, if you want more detailed specifics about some of

[27:38] the things I talked about or just anything else in general, uh, don't

[27:41] hesitate to reach out. And and again, thank you all for having both of us.

[27:48] » [applause]

[27:51] » You want to move on to the articles of the day. Do you want to spend more time

[27:54] asking questions? >> Move on.

[27:58] » Move on. Everybody okay with that? >> Okay. Thank you very much for coming. We

[28:04] appreciate your time. Wait, wait. Please, can can you tell us how to

[28:07] contact you if we do have questions, please? How's that?

[28:11] » Uh, quickest way to say it is to check the legislative website. uh the Vermont

[28:17] House General Assembly and just search both of us. Um y'all know I live in New

[28:23] um I am going to be at the Towns and Library on the 21st at 9:00 a.m. So

[28:30] » So they are very accessible. That's just you can ask questions here, but they are

[28:34] always available to answer questions. Thank you for your time. We appreciate

[28:37] it. We'll see you around four or five maybe.

[28:44] Okay. Back to business.

[28:49] Article two. Can Can you hear me? That was sounding so loud before. You okay in

[28:54] the back? Okay. Article two. To act upon the July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025

[29:04] independent independent auditors report. I will now entertain a motion.

[29:10] » Flores moved. So moved by Torres and seconded by Mar.

[29:16] Um any discussion?

[29:20] » We have been doing some work with the >> Wait, wait, wait. There needs to be a

[29:24] microphone.

[29:28] » Hello. Yes. All right. We have been doing some work with the auditor's

[29:31] report. Some of the work um has been things that were under the program

[29:36] select board. Um so some of those changes if you want to add some here but

[29:44] um we've been working on making sure that

[29:48] we are keeping up with our uh employee performance. Um

[29:55] let's see uh we've been working with fire department and library to kind of

[30:00] firm up some formalized agreements. That was something that was highlighted in

[30:03] the audience report um under the general fund committee. Uh Christine Haye, she

[30:09] has taken a lot of work on really tracking down the solar credits um and

[30:14] what that work looks like as it was kind of confusing [snorts] and complicated

[30:19] and not well documented over the years. Um much of this work uh after we've

[30:24] consulted with BLCT um has been identified as being under the purview of

[30:29] the finance department. So, there's some things in here that maybe haven't been

[30:32] updated, but those are unfortunately not under the direct control of the board.

[30:38] Um, but that is just kind of some off the top.

[30:42] Any other questions? Any other discussion? Yes, in the back.

[30:48] » I'd like to make an an amendment. [clears throat]

[30:52] » Wait, we need to This is going to be a problem.

[30:57] » [snorts]

[31:00] » I'm not running the microphone. >> Back in the day, we had your kids

[31:04] running the microphone around. >> Okay, I I'll leave this one back here

[31:09] when people back here want to speak, please. And yes, I see your hand. We'll

[31:13] get there in a second. Hello. Hello. >> Now, is that on?

[31:18] » It was a second ago.

[31:22] » So, so, so you'd like to make an amendment to the motion? I'd like to

[31:27] make an amendment to take the orders of the day, the agenda out of order. So in

[31:32] article 4 to elect the select board officials one three-year term.

[31:38] » That's that's you missed one. We're on article two. Go back to that one.

[31:44] » I [clears throat] have an amendment to have the town select board report each

[31:48] month to at a select board meeting on the status of the auditor's report.

[31:54] Sullivan Powers and Company PC dated October 28th, 2025 on each of the

[32:00] individual findings and there were 15 findings. [clears throat]

[32:06] Okay. Is there a second to that amendment to the motion? Um, hang on.

[32:12] Let me have that piece of paper again. That way I can repeat.

[32:19] » Sorry guys.

[32:24] Okay. So, so an amendment is being made to this motion that says

[32:30] to have So, it's going to say to act upon the auditor's report and have the

[32:34] town select board report each month at select board meetings on the status of

[32:40] the auditor's report on each of the individual 15 findings.

[32:47] » Second. >> Second. Okay. So, that's been moved and

[32:49] seconded. We will now discuss only the amendment. We're not discussing the

[32:54] auditor's report. Okay. For right now, we'll get back to that. But

[32:59] » we're going to discuss tacking this on. Is there any discussion on that? It's

[33:02] been moved and seconded. >> Yes. Yes. Maker of the amendment can

[33:07] speak first. Go right ahead, sir. >> The rationale behind the amendment is so

[33:12] that we actually get action. This report is a duplicate of what we saw and heard

[33:18] last year. It's identical. Everything is exactly the same. And we heard from the

[33:23] select board chair last year that they were working on it just as we heard from

[33:28] Nick a moment ago. We need actual accountability here. That's what the

[33:33] town residents need. Some of these things are important. We're talking

[33:38] about fraud. We're talking about things that really could have an impact on

[33:42] town. So, we need accountability from the select board.

[33:46] » Any other discussion on the amendment? Yes, sir. Yeah,

[33:51] » I'm Dale West. I feel that that we're this amendment is

[33:57] pointed at the select board and the select board only has limited duties

[34:03] that are in this auditor's report. The primary portions of this auditor's

[34:08] report recommendations is the finance office which is managed by the town

[34:14] treasurer. The town treasurer is responsible for most of all these duties

[34:20] in collaboration with the select board. Yes,

[34:25] I feel that if you look at the statue on the responsibilities and duties of a

[34:31] treasurer, the managing of the financial office is there and the site board are

[34:38] only responsible to approve the warrants that are created out of the financial

[34:45] office and sign those checks and release those

[34:51] funds. any

[34:56] point. >> Hi, Shiloh. Um, this is mainly just a

[35:00] question. This amendment is pretty much just asking for the select board to give

[35:04] us an update once per month at a meeting. Nothing more, just an update.

[35:10] » Okay. >> Any other discussion on the amendment?

[35:14] Yes. Uh, Bob, you second time. This will be your last one.

[35:20] With all respect to Dale, the auditor's letter was addressed to

[35:25] the select board and the select board for a reason. They're the ones that are

[35:30] accountable.

[35:34] Any further discussion?

[35:38] » Okay. Seeing no further discussion on the amendment. Yes, sir.

[35:42] » I have a question. I is there any validity to that? I'm just curious like

[35:47] anybody on the select board want to address this. Is is this letter asking

[35:53] select board to do certain duties um or is this in the purview of the town

[35:58] treasurer? Do we have any does anybody have any other

[36:01] » thoughts on that? I'm Tyler Burns. >> Tyler,

[36:04] » thank you.

[36:09] Okay, just to answer your question, Tyler, um the select board, I believe we

[36:15] entered into the contract with the auditor. So therefore, we are kind of

[36:18] that point of contact for the auditor. Um the finance department does not do

[36:23] that. Uh so for those reasons, presumably we are being addressed. We

[36:29] have consulted with BLCT, with the auditors. Again, as Dale mentioned, a

[36:34] lot of this is directly under the purview of the finance department, not

[36:37] necessarily select. We do not control what the finance department does. Um,

[36:42] but there are some pieces in here that we do help facilitate. For example,

[36:46] working with the fire department, with the library, some mention of uh cemetery

[36:51] funds um and other things of that nature. But some things such as internal

[36:56] controls around um finances um are going to be directly under the uh

[37:05] finance department. So it is a mix.

[37:11] Did you want did you want to speak? >> Okay.

[37:16] » Oh, >> remember we're just talking about the mo

[37:18] the amendment. We're not talking about the artist report. We'll come back to

[37:21] that again. It seems as if um

[37:26] my name's Laura. >> Yeah, thank you.

[37:28] » Um it seems like because it's it's been directed at the select board, even

[37:34] though um it's the treasurer's responsibility, I don't understand why

[37:39] there couldn't be a a communication between the treasurer and the select

[37:43] board so that they could give us an update on what is going on. That's all.

[37:50] I mean certainly if somebody attended the select board meeting and questioned

[37:53] the select board meeting during the the public portion could be a question. How

[37:58] have you performed on the auditor's report? That's a that's what you're

[38:04] saying. Go ahead. More. Uh there's another hand. I saw Yep. Craig.

[38:13] I'm sorry. And uh a number of these things are on the select board's watch

[38:18] list. The fraud risk assessment, the fraud policy, the conflict of interest

[38:22] policy among others are um select board duties, not treasury duties. And many of

[38:29] these have been ignored. The procurement policy, the purchasing policy that we

[38:32] have in place um or should have in place, which has been called um

[38:39] has been called by the auditors as being out of date more or less when you're

[38:43] doing federal contracts and other state contracts. There are there are issues

[38:46] with that procurement policy. That been said, there are a number of them. the

[38:50] conflict of interest policy, the travel cost policy, uniform guidance

[38:54] procurement which has to do with um which has to do with purchasing and has

[39:00] to do with keeping the accounting for the town uh straight and proper. Some of

[39:06] these are in play and some of them are being ignored. There is a conflict of

[39:10] interest policy in the books. It's been signed by the select board. It is being

[39:14] ignored. There have been complaints. There have been misconduct complaints.

[39:18] But that's out of order. We're talking about the amendment to the meeting. You

[39:23] are speaking of other things. >> Okay. There's compensation policy,

[39:26] financial management policy is all part of select board duties to set the time

[39:31] for the time. >> Thank you, Greg. Thank Sorry.

[39:42] Any other discussion? >> Yeah. Oh, yes, sir. I'm sorry.

[39:47] uh Snelling [clears throat] the select court is the executive officer

[39:52] collectively of the town and that is why they are the recipients of the audit

[39:59] report. The audit report does not go to the treasurer. It goes to the executive

[40:04] which is the uh select board of this case. The amendment is asking that there

[40:11] be ongoing reporting on these issues so that there is some tracking that we are

[40:16] making progress on them. That may very well be identifying which items are

[40:22] going to be handled by the treasurer's office which uh or by the select board.

[40:29] And as we're getting later into our agenda, we are talking going to be

[40:33] talking about some changes in the treasurer's office which could also

[40:38] affect how this reporting might be done. So I think it's important that we get um

[40:45] ongoing reporting on these issues so that we can address them and part of

[40:50] that is identifying who's going to be uh tackling the various issues. Thank you.

[40:55] Any any other any other discussion on the

[40:58] amendment?

[41:02] Okay. Oh, in the back.

[41:07] Andy, thank you very much for running around right now. I apologize.

[41:11] » Hi, I'm Ally Noli. I wonder why this can't happen quarterly

[41:16] instead of monthly. Boards meeting twice a month. That means every other meeting

[41:22] they're going to have to report. So, why not quarterly? Why?

[41:26] You can make an amendment to the amendment.

[41:28] » Just thinking about it.

[41:36] » Any other discussion? We have an amendment in front of us that

[41:43] will add to approve

[41:47] to approve the July 1st to July 2024 to June 3025 independent artist report. And

[41:55] what we're going to be voting on is to have the town select board report each

[42:00] month at the select board meeting on the status of the auditor's report on each

[42:05] of the individual findings. A yes vote will add that to the main

[42:11] motion. A no vote will defeat that and the main

[42:16] motion remains the same. Does everybody understand? Ask any questions. Yes vote

[42:23] passes the amendment. A no vote defeats that.

[42:27] All those in favor, please say I. >> I.

[42:31] » All those against, please say no. >> No.

[42:34] » No. Paper ballot. >> I heard a paper ballot. I need seven

[42:38] people for a paper ballot. >> Paper ballot.

[42:41] » Seconded. >> One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

[42:45] I got seven people. Okay, hang on. We're going to have a paper ballot for this um

[42:51] amendment. Just for the amendment. So on the piece of paper, you're going to

[42:56] either put yes, which which is voting for the amendment,

[43:03] right? A yes vote votes to add this piece of information to the article. A

[43:08] no vote defeats it. You write no on the paper. You're going to come up in the

[43:13] middle. The ballot box will be right here. Any questions?

[43:19] I now declare the ballot box open.

[43:26] » We have the results of the election. Um,

[43:31] we were voting on an amendment to the motion. The amendment read to have the

[43:38] town select board report each month at select board meetings on the status of

[43:42] the auditor's report on each individual findings. Yes, votes were 94. No votes

[43:48] were 40. So, the amendment passes. We now have an a motion before us that

[43:55] reads to approve the July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025 independent auditor's

[44:05] report and have the select board report each month at the select board meeting

[44:10] on the status of the auditor's report on each of the individual findings.

[44:17] Further discussion.

[44:23] Okay, seeing no further discussion on the motion, are we ready to actually

[44:28] vote on the motion? And then I'd just like to put a little blurb in here. Um,

[44:34] so the for voting purposes, if it's close,

[44:38] we don't have to go to a paper ballot. I'm just letting you know there's

[44:42] there's division of the house that we could do first where we raise hands or

[44:46] have people stand. Yes, people stand and no people stand. So then we can vote

[44:50] that way as well. So we don't have to necessarily take the time for a paper

[44:54] ballot. I'm not against paper ballots. It keeps your opinion hidden a little

[44:58] bit and there's nothing wrong with that um in democracy. However, I don't your

[45:02] pleasure might be first to do a divi division of the house. That would be the

[45:07] first call if you chose and you didn't want a paper ballot next. Okay. [snorts]

[45:12] Um so any further discussion on the motion before us?

[45:18] Seeing no further discussion, everybody understands a yes vote. will pass the

[45:24] motion to approve the auditors report July 1st 2024 to June 30th 2025

[45:29] independent auditors report and to have the select board report each month at

[45:32] the select board meeting on the status of the auditor's report on each of the

[45:36] visual findings. A no vote defeats that motion. All those in favor, please say

[45:42] I. >> I oppose. No.

[45:45] I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it. Great job everybody. That was a

[45:50] little bit of a a tough one, but we made it through.

[45:55] Okay. Um, I'd like to inform you that our other state senator,

[46:03] Wendy Harris, is now here and was wondering whether or not you would like

[46:08] to suspend the rules to allow her to speak. She does have a

[46:14] umformational sheet in the back. Now, if you'd like to pick one of those up as

[46:19] well, um what's your pleasure? We would have to suspend the rules. It would be a

[46:23] twothirds vote. Anybody? Yes. Okay. So, all those in

[46:29] favor of and all those in favor of having Senator Harrison speak, please uh

[46:34] suspend the rules to allow her to speak, please say I. I

[46:38] » oppose. No. I believe you have the floor, Miss

[46:42] Harrison. Five minutes, please.

[46:47] Not direct, but no one. >> Thank you, Mr. Moderator, and thank you

[46:53] everyone. And I will take five minutes. Um, thank you all first for being here.

[46:58] Uh, I'm a democracy fan, and democracy is always it it can be messy, but um,

[47:04] thanks. Thanks for being here and, uh, uh, being part of it. Um, so, uh, I

[47:10] serve in the Senate. I serve on two committees. I'm chair of institutions

[47:15] and clerk on the, uh, transportation committee. And I just want to let you

[47:19] know, we are working on, um, revenue for towns. Uh, towns are pretty strapped,

[47:25] uh, especially with with roadways, and that can comprise half of your of your

[47:30] budget. Um, so we're we're looking at a local option tax for roadway purposes.

[47:36] uh that is not enacted yet. But I do want you to know that there are local

[47:40] option taxes that the town can implement much easier than it could previously

[47:46] because previously you had to have a charter change to implement a local

[47:50] option tax. But now it can be done with the select board and town meeting. And

[47:55] there are different types of uh local option taxes. One of them is a sales tax

[48:00] and now the sales tax includes internet sales. So, you might want to consider

[48:04] that because that's a a relatively easy way to um to get more revenue. Um and

[48:10] just wanted you to know uh about one item. There's a lot of things going on

[48:15] wi with Act 250 and [snorts] um um other zoning issues, but something

[48:21] that people don't know as much as I wish they did is that now if you have a

[48:26] single family home uh that is permitted and or you're in an area of a single

[48:30] family home, you can have a duplex. Um we have duplexes by right now in Vermont

[48:36] and that's something that Maine did a couple of years ago to increase housing

[48:39] and it worked really well. And when we were doing this, what we wanted was uh a

[48:45] way for Vermonters to have uh an additional area space for maybe their

[48:51] adult kids or be able to um uh rent it. So, so it's it's it's a way that you can

[48:58] improve your property relatively simply and I just want you to know about it

[49:02] because it's it's important. and I could talk about education and all sorts of

[49:06] other things, but you have a meeting to finish and I think I will stop there.

[49:12] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[49:15] Thank you for coming, Senator Harris. Thank you.

[49:22] » Okay, back to the business at hand. Um, and again, she she did leave she did

[49:28] leave quite a few uh uhformational sheets in the back.

[49:36] Okay, we're going to be moving on to article three.

[49:41] » Sh. Huh? >> I'm sorry. We've passed. We've passed.

[49:52] » Yes, there were. I called for any further questions. There were no

[49:55] questions and we voted on the main motion.

[50:06] Did you vote yes or did you vote no? >> I voted yes on the amendment.

[50:09] » Okay. >> Wait, wait, wait. What?

[50:14] » That was for the amendment and then we did the main motion on a voice B vote.

[50:20] Okay. However,

[50:26] Okay. Hang on. This is this is going to be something that I I got to if you give

[50:30] me a second here. Um let me look at this right here.

[50:38] Uh

[50:42] I'm sorry. Um do we want to

[50:50] » Are you sure? Because there there is a there is a mechanism to reconsider the

[50:55] previous vote >> if you do it before another motion

[51:00] before I read the next thing and you're right there if you wanted to. I didn't

[51:06] want to ignore that. Excuse me, sir.

[51:13] » No, there was not an amendment to the amendment. No, no. So, so we voted on

[51:17] the main motion. We passed it. It's over. However, there is a mechanism to

[51:23] reconsider your vote if a person on the prevailing side asks to reconsider it

[51:31] before the next article is read. >> I'll ask a select board meeting. It's

[51:36] fine. Go ahead. >> Okay. Okay. Ignore everything I just

[51:40] said.

[51:46] » Okay. Moving on. We will not if as soon as I'm done reading this there can't an

[51:50] artic a motion that's been passed or defeated cannot be reconsidered.

[51:56] Hurry. Thank you. Sorry I talk a lot. Article three. Shall the voters vote to

[52:01] restructure the finance department to create a part-time treasurer and

[52:06] part-time bookkeeper to to fulfill the duties of the treasurer and tax

[52:11] collector duties. >> Suarez. So moved.

[52:14] » It's been moved. Second by Maro. Discussion. Oh,

[52:20] discussion. The MO motion maker like to >> Yes. I would just like to open with a

[52:24] little bit of rationale for why we're presenting this to the voters. Uh this

[52:27] would give us in for example as the auditor's report recommendations

[52:32] discussion. um it would just give a little bit more direct communication

[52:36] between the board and the finance department by having a bookkeeper that

[52:40] would be hired by the town and therefore is actually um meant to report to the

[52:46] board. So, when we need certain reportings um for our bimonthly meetings

[52:51] or semionthly meetings, excuse me, uh when we need certain reports, when we're

[52:55] requesting certain things, when we're requesting certain updates to procedures

[52:58] in the finance department, um those are then things that are part of their job

[53:02] duties. Whereas, as the current elected treasurer system, um we don't really

[53:06] have any say over how the treasurer runs. Um that's not to say that anything

[53:11] about the current treasurer, but just it gives a little bit more control over uh

[53:16] how we get information from the finance department. There would still be an

[53:20] elected town treasurer that is fulfilling the statutory obligations. Um

[53:24] and then there would be a hired bookkeeper.

[53:29] Any further discussion?

[53:33] Yes, sir. Oh.

[53:37] [clears throat]

[53:41] The current bookkeeper is hired by the board.

[53:46] Currently the structure we have an elected town treasurer who has an

[53:50] assistant in the finance office that is hired by the town treasurer. Um and so

[53:55] they split some of those duties in tax collection and reconciliation.

[54:00] And the new system would be >> the new system would be having a uh

[54:04] elected town treasurer uh that is fulfilling just the statutory

[54:08] obligations. So just kind of um having oversight over the uh finances of the

[54:13] town signing checks uh and then a bookkeeper sorry

[54:16] » banking >> and banking uh and then the bookkeeper

[54:18] that is doing the reconciliation >> and the bookkeeper is still hired

[54:23] » and the bookkeeper would be hired. >> How does this employee

[54:26] » how does this change how the treasurer is paid?

[54:30] Um well, since the treasurer's duties would be substantially reduced, uh the

[54:34] pay would be a much smaller stipend of the 5,000. Um which we have included in

[54:39] that littleformational box. Um and then we would split out some of the pay

[54:46] currently to the treasurer salary to then $20,000 for the bookkeeper. There

[54:51] would also be some increased um monies allocated towards Nerk, our accounting

[54:57] uh contractor, and they would also be taking over some other responsibilities

[55:01] that they do for other towns. Sorry, I should have pointed that out.

[55:05] There is a littleformational box on the warning uh there. I'm not reading that

[55:10] because that's not part of the article per se, but that that gives you an idea

[55:14] of how much they're being paid. Yes, Craig. Sir, go right ahead.

[55:18] Um, I know that the treasurer transition team worked hard on this. This goes

[55:22] back, however, a number of years. We had a bookkeeper in the office and a

[55:28] figurehead treasurer in Joe for over 10 years. When Mickey Wong left, uh, we had

[55:35] nine bookkeepers in 10 years. Four of them got fired, four of them quit. They

[55:39] worked directly for the select board. I was one of those bookkeepers. Elaine was

[55:44] a bookkeeper. Chris Cook was a bookkeeper. Um there is massive

[55:48] turnover. There's a long learning curve. It is under the direct um

[55:54] [clears throat] under the direct the bookkeeper is under

[55:57] the direct employee of the select board and there are all kinds of opportunities

[56:02] to move accounts around because the bookkeeper works directly for the select

[56:06] board. The charter however has statutory duties and

[56:12] one of those duties is to oversee the bookkeeper. I don't think it's going to

[56:15] happen for the $5,000 a year and no benefits that this board is is

[56:19] projecting. I would have hoped that the charter transition team would have

[56:22] talked to people who were there for those 10 years. It was, as Steve may

[56:26] tell you or as Rob may tell you or as Ally who was there at the beginning may

[56:30] tell you, there were some issues and there were some problems with that

[56:33] arrangement. Going back to that arrangement, I don't see any benefit to

[56:37] the town. Um, I think that a treasurer who is

[56:41] accountable to the taxpayer and to the voters is far more important than having

[56:45] someone that's basically doing what the select board wants. Part of the problem

[56:50] that we have right now is that the treasurer has been changing things

[56:54] around on behalf of the select boards for the last six or seven years.

[56:57] Accounts were pretty straight and pretty uh clean with the independent auditors

[57:02] for those 10 years. Um subsequently with the pandemic and with um the elected

[57:08] treasurer and no bookkeeper there were a lot of changes made in the accounts. A

[57:12] lot of that was due to the select board. A lot of the confusions in trying to

[57:16] read the budgets and the budget numbers are because accounts have been changed.

[57:20] Some of it's due to network. Some of it's due to reorganization by the boards

[57:23] which happens all the time. But when you have a treasurer that's accountable for

[57:27] the accounts directly answerable to the state and the feds and the um taxpayer

[57:34] um it's different than accountable to the whims of a changing

[57:39] select board every 3 years or every 5 years or six years.

[57:44] » Um why don't you go ahead Andy? You had your hand Andy. Yeah.

[57:48] » Okay. Uh Andy Snelling. Um this is an important uh change in the way we

[57:53] operate the town and by statute there there is a reason why the treasurer is

[57:58] elected and the select board elected. The select board serves as both the

[58:04] judiciary and the executive branch of our town government. the treasurer acts

[58:10] independently um and hopefully the two are able to

[58:15] work together and uh function together as equally elected officials. But they

[58:21] each owe their duty of responsibility to us the town. And the current

[58:29] situation has been is that there's been disagreements on how to operate the

[58:34] finances. Um and that is the statutory responsibility of the treasurer and we

[58:43] heard that the reason why this is being proposed is to give the select board

[58:48] greater control and it they should we don't want the the

[58:54] it to be all in one part. It it serves the citizens well to have it divided or

[58:59] we have two individ or two groups that are looking after our interests and

[59:04] keeping each other in check. Uh Craig Hunt made mention of

[59:08] rearranging the accounts. What he's talking about is the chart of accounts.

[59:12] If you start off with a list of accounts of where things are going to be charged

[59:18] and you change that from year to year, then comparisons from one year to the

[59:22] next get to be very difficult. If you put it in pencils one year and you put

[59:26] it in office supplies the next, how do you know and track the changes? So um

[59:35] the idea really is that to have a strong treasur and we need to do that we need

[59:39] to pay this treasurer. Um we we also got into the questions earlier about the

[59:46] auditor's report and there was comments that those were responsibilities of the

[59:51] finance department which is the office of the treasurer. Um, if this were to

[59:57] pass, then those all become select board responsibilities or many of them. I

[1:00:03] shouldn't say all, many. So, um, I guess I'd urge everybody to continue with a

[1:00:08] system that we have that has worked well, um, and works well in many other

[1:00:12] small towns is to have a strong independent treasurer that is elected by

[1:00:16] the people. Thank you. >> Further discussion. Amen.

[1:00:25] moderator last name.

[1:00:27] » Oh, wait. He towns. Will the treasur's office still be open to the public to

[1:00:32] come in and do business as it is now, or will that be closed half the time?

[1:00:37] » The treasur's office would still be open to the public. It would be dependent on

[1:00:41] kind of what the hours would be, assuming this passes.

[1:00:49] » We're almost here tomorrow. >> Hello. Hello.

[1:00:54] We were almost here tomorrow. Yes. Keep going.

[1:00:55] » Are we back? Okay. Um, so office hours would still be available. Uh, I cannot

[1:01:00] promise you exactly what those times would be. That may be something for

[1:01:04] negotiation right once um this new structure if approved is taken uh

[1:01:09] effect. Um, but that would still be definitely something that is available

[1:01:13] for residents. Uh, and if I may also just

[1:01:16] » Oh, yes. Hang on one sec. So, Amy, do you get that? So, yes, the office I I

[1:01:20] saw your face. You're a little um yeah, the office would remain open as long as

[1:01:24] the town clerk was there, right? Because the town clerk can collect the

[1:01:28] information and and somebody there to answer questions.

[1:01:33] » Uh the town clerk currently sometimes takes tax payments as people come in,

[1:01:37] right? Uh you know, that is still always a thing. You know, Alena is a very

[1:01:42] wonderful um person, welcoming to people who walk in. Um so, as long as the town

[1:01:47] clerk is there, that is still always an option. But specifically for the

[1:01:50] treasurer or the bookkeeper, um they will have time in office.

[1:01:54] » They're going to be there post office hours for it.

[1:01:57] Okay. Simple answer. Sorry. Yes. And Nick, you wanted to

[1:02:01] » comment. >> Okay. Go ahead.

[1:02:04] » Yes. And I just wanted to um just clarify this is not to take control of

[1:02:09] treasurer responsibilities. We're not eliminating a treasurer. This is a

[1:02:12] structure that does exist in other towns. This is also not something that

[1:02:15] we just kind of came up with out of thin air. This is just a way to be a little

[1:02:18] bit more efficient in how we're getting um collaboration between the finance

[1:02:23] department and the select board because that has been a bit strained at times.

[1:02:27] Uh and I will just very quickly Craig as you had brought up um a mention about

[1:02:32] the uh stipen for the treasur that is a of course a very valid point and that is

[1:02:37] something that can be amended from the floor when we get to the general uh fund

[1:02:41] article. So I just wanted to point that out. That is not what is being voted on

[1:02:45] right here though. >> Right. And Oh, yep. Keep going.

[1:02:52] Part of this my concern is is a lot of people I feel there was a strain in the

[1:02:59] train uh treasur's office prior in the last few years cuz we actually a lot of

[1:03:04] people I just realized being involved in the highway budget committee that we

[1:03:10] changed systems and and went to the uh cash system versus the crude that this

[1:03:18] town ran on probably for the last 50 60 years and it created accounts, changes

[1:03:26] and stuff like that that I feel has been difficult and yeah, you probably

[1:03:34] did move money around, but I still feel that system isn't quite

[1:03:40] what we should have, but there would need to be those controls

[1:03:45] and explaining those things so we can actually see the process. us as

[1:03:51] taxpayers, we should be able to go in to the treasur's office and see the manual

[1:03:57] on how it's done and explain. So, I don't I don't have either way on this.

[1:04:07] I have just concerns that there needs to be collaboration and that this does seem

[1:04:15] to kind of fill the gap, but um I don't know. Bob, behind you. Behind you. Yeah.

[1:04:22] Yep. There you go. >> Bob D servo. I think Andy Snelling said

[1:04:28] it very well. We've got a system. It works. I've asked the treasurer for

[1:04:34] certain reports. She's provided them. No problems. Maybe not when I walked in the

[1:04:39] door, but I got it later. It's a good system, and the treasur is

[1:04:45] accountable to us. That's key. As far as what Craig said about moving

[1:04:52] the accounts around, I'm sure there are many other people in the room that like

[1:04:55] me looked at town report and tried to compare things from one year to the

[1:04:59] next. Impossible. Accounts changed so frequently you can't follow from one

[1:05:06] year to the next. And again, I think Craig said it well. Much of that is

[1:05:12] because of the select board saying we want to move the 100 account to this

[1:05:16] there and the next place. Nermeric may have suggested some things, but it's the

[1:05:23] select board that's been massaging the accounts.

[1:05:29] Okay. Um I rule that out of order. Um that is inappropriate. You are that that

[1:05:36] that that's out of order. Please refrain from attacking. This is about the

[1:05:41] articles of the day and we have a motion in front of us.

[1:05:44] » Yes. accounts.

[1:05:48] Um >> yeah uh he wants to clarify some of the

[1:05:51] movement of the accounts that that that yeah sure go right

[1:05:54] » some of the movement of accounts as you just mentioned Bob were recommended by

[1:05:58] our accounting company by the auditors themselves um so there is rationale for

[1:06:03] that there is definitely no massaging going on I appreciate ruling that out of

[1:06:07] order because that is just really mischaracterization of what we're doing

[1:06:10] here uh and a lot of it too is around the point of transparency some things

[1:06:15] sit in a certain line item that doesn't have a well- definfined

[1:06:19] name and therefore it's even harder to track what that is for. So yes, it is

[1:06:24] difficult to then track over years as we're moving things but it is also for

[1:06:28] the sake of improving transparency and making it such that over time we will be

[1:06:32] able to better understand what the budgets are accounting for. Thank you.

[1:06:37] » Okay, let's continue to let's continue to focus on

[1:06:41] the information before us. Lang um and again if you want to speak again let

[1:06:45] everybody speak first. Go right ahead, sir.

[1:06:47] » Yeah, Lucas Frell. Um, I appreciate the discussion and uh but I'm not also

[1:06:54] hearing an amendment. Um, >> no, no, there's no amendment. Why? What?

[1:06:59] What do you want? >> Well, if we

[1:07:02] I if [clears throat] so, two comments. One is that I think it

[1:07:05] would be appropriate to hear from the treasurer's office um to see

[1:07:10] what their thoughts on this because they have the experience of course of of

[1:07:15] being in the position that they're in and how important it is to their job

[1:07:19] that they have statutory obligation um and

[1:07:24] what they feel about having the bookkeeper underneath within the purview

[1:07:28] of the treasur's office versus select board. So that would be my my first ask.

[1:07:33] And then the second would be um uh to hear the proposal for a new

[1:07:39] format >> out of um

[1:07:43] if there is opposition to the amendment as it currently is

[1:07:49] » or the article as it currently is that there is a proposed amendment to it.

[1:07:56] » You just wrote it down. Right. >> Right. But then

[1:07:59] » and then it goes back to the format that it's in now, which is the treasurer with

[1:08:04] a bookkeeper underneath it. >> That's the format we have now is the

[1:08:08] treasurer with the bookkeeper underneath it. This is expanding the bookkeeper's

[1:08:12] role and decreasing the treasurer's role. If you are against it, you vote it

[1:08:18] down and it stays the way it is now. >> Gotcha.

[1:08:21] » Okay. >> Thank you for clarifying that. So the

[1:08:23] 20,000 for the bookkeeper exists now. >> No, that that would be a change. that's

[1:08:28] in the general fund right now. >> Okay,

[1:08:31] » these are good questions that Yeah, you got it.

[1:08:33] » And maybe let's just go to the treasur >> as it as it rolls out though.

[1:08:38] » Um, okay. So, what what what the what the select board is proposing is

[1:08:44] changing the way the finance system works, right? Such that the treasurer's

[1:08:49] sit the treasurer's role decreases, but the bookkeeper role increases. The tre

[1:08:55] the bookkeeper still works underneath that treasurer. There's still office

[1:08:59] hours and things like that. No. >> What?

[1:09:02] » No. >> Oh, that the bookkeeper works underneath

[1:09:04] the I'm sorry. Works underneath the new structure would be under the select

[1:09:07] board. Yes. >> Would be under the select board. But

[1:09:08] there is still a a uh a treasurer role. Um if you that's if you vote this in. If

[1:09:16] you don't vote it in, it stays the same with a bookkeeper still, but the

[1:09:22] treasurer role remains the way it is now. There was a question to the current

[1:09:29] treasurer bookkeeper to explain what they thought. Right,

[1:09:34] Lucas? What was right? Yeah. And if they if you'd like to respond, did I get that

[1:09:40] right? If I'm not making myself clear, ask in a minute.

[1:09:44] Hi, Elaine Hill, treasurer. Um, I've been with the town now for quite some

[1:09:49] time. Started as a bookkeeper, then I, um, morphed into being the treasurer.

[1:09:54] Voted in each year. No issues. Um, with regard to keeping the finance department

[1:10:01] the way it currently is, I think that you need a full-time treasurer, not a

[1:10:08] figurehead treasurer for $5,000 a year. and having somebody work under them

[1:10:15] doing the bookkeeping part of it, which is very labor intensive, very, very,

[1:10:20] very labor intensive, and paying that person $20,000 a year. Um, it, like

[1:10:27] Craig has said, in years past, we've had the figure head, um, treasurer, um,

[1:10:34] signing checks and just, you know, being the figurehead and then bookkeepers. And

[1:10:40] we went through bookkeeper after bookkeeper after bookkeeper. So we did

[1:10:44] away with that through the town saying, "Let's put a full-time treasurer in

[1:10:52] place." And fortunately or unfortunately for me, I have been that person for the

[1:10:57] last couple of years. Enjoyed it ter terrifically. Um but now we're asking

[1:11:03] the voters, should we get rid of the full-time treasurer, which I think In my

[1:11:10] heart, it needs to be in the town full-time

[1:11:13] and let the statutes and answer questions for people to come in. Like

[1:11:18] you said, we've had people come in. It might not be immediate, but I do answer

[1:11:22] their questions about the budget. So, you know, my vote is to keep a full-time

[1:11:28] treasurer in place and not two part-time people in place. That's

[1:11:34] » okay. That's her hand has been up for a while and

[1:11:39] then we'll come back to Christie. Oh, uh, right.

[1:11:47] » Hi, I'm Alicia Strappford and is there

[1:11:54] have you defined the expectations of this bookkeeper that you're you're

[1:11:58] planning on have fill this role? because it sounds like you need a controller.

[1:12:04] This would be a lot of heavy lifting for a bookkeeper.

[1:12:08] What you're expecting out of this role should be a controller.

[1:12:13] » A comproller. >> A strong controller in this role would

[1:12:19] also do a lot of the heavy lifting for um the remediation of findings in the

[1:12:25] audit. That would be their job. You want

[1:12:32] future future facing financials. You want

[1:12:36] somebody who can analyze the accounting, give you the

[1:12:41] information you need. That's not a bookkeeper.

[1:12:47] » Okay. Um Christine, you're

[1:12:53] » Chris Cook. Um, I've been involved in this for a long time. I was an auditor

[1:13:02] under Mickey and then an auditor during some of the

[1:13:08] bookkeeping. Uh, sometimes when we had a bookkeeper and a figurehead treasurer

[1:13:15] and then I was the bookkeeper for a while and then it got passed to somebody

[1:13:21] else. There's

[1:13:25] big responsibilities and it looks to me like you've taken I

[1:13:32] don't know where you're putting the responsibility. This budget is huge.

[1:13:36] There's a lot of money flowing in and out. And whenever there's money flowing

[1:13:41] in and out, somebody has to be responsible for exactly where every

[1:13:46] stupid penny winds up. And there are a million details.

[1:13:55] And it used to take three of us to figure out

[1:13:59] which detail was which back when we had um civilian auditors. We now have

[1:14:07] professional auditors. But the auditors don't actually take responsibility

[1:14:14] for every penny. They tell us after the fact if money has

[1:14:21] gone to the wrong place.

[1:14:25] The reason to have a treasurer or a controller or somebody like that is that

[1:14:31] they ultimately take responsibility for making sure the money is where it's

[1:14:35] supposed to be. It is a lot of work. It is also a

[1:14:41] tremendous amount of work for the select board and whoever is doing the money to

[1:14:47] work together. I have worn out shoes running back and

[1:14:52] forth between the two.

[1:15:00] I don't care what the title is, but I think the person with the responsibility

[1:15:06] ought to have the money. And so I would vote against this

[1:15:12] particular arrangement. >> Uh further discussion.

[1:15:27] Uh, I'm Caitlyn Maize and, uh, I'm just wondering why it seems like there are

[1:15:34] people feeling like it's a bad thing for more elected

[1:15:38] officials to have their eyes on what's going on. cuz it sounds like the

[1:15:43] proposed change is that more people that we voted for would be overseeing that as

[1:15:50] in the select board would be more involved.

[1:15:54] » Wait, wait, wait, wait.

[1:15:58] » We would still have an elected treasurer. The bookkeeper would be

[1:16:01] hired, not elected. >> Not elected. Okay. And that that person

[1:16:05] would be given more duties than they have previously that used to be under

[1:16:11] the elected >> used to be under the hired assistant

[1:16:16] finance office assistant. Okay. >> Hired by the finance office.

[1:16:19] » So none of the responsibilities that were designated under the elected

[1:16:24] official are changing. They that that is still the same. They are shifting.

[1:16:29] » They're shifting. So fewer responsibilities under the elected

[1:16:32] treasurer. Okay. >> More responsibilities under a hired

[1:16:35] bookkeeper and some additional work moved to our accounting uh contractor

[1:16:40] NMIC. >> Okay.

[1:16:42] So, it the is the third party accounting

[1:16:48] company are they assuming some of the responsibilities that were previously

[1:16:53] for the treasur? >> So, yes, some of that being payroll um

[1:17:00] » and training. Yeah, payroll, training, um technical support, increasing some of

[1:17:05] that. >> Okay, so that's part of the

[1:17:06] justification of decreasing the salary then because

[1:17:10] » yes, >> they're absorbing a lot of that.

[1:17:12] » Yes. >> Okay,

[1:17:14] » just clear. >> Thank you. No, thank you for that

[1:17:16] clarification. That was good. Uh we got a lot more. Uh I'm going to we're going

[1:17:20] to come over here. You go toward the back there, but I'll let

[1:17:22] » over here.

[1:17:27] » Uh good morning. I'm Al Hman. Um couple quick questions. I would have assumed

[1:17:31] that uh standard accounting practices are dictated or at least uh laid out in

[1:17:37] some kind of a standard format by either the state or the league of cities and

[1:17:42] towns. Is that correct? And if so, are we following that? And uh would that

[1:17:48] change under this new proposal?

[1:18:01] This is an easy one.

[1:18:06] » We we are following it. We've spoke with Nemerick and the accountants about the

[1:18:11] change and uh >> what Okay, go ahead.

[1:18:15] » I was asking specifically the way you lay out the accounts in this book,

[1:18:20] pencils or or office supplies or whatever you want to call it. I presume

[1:18:25] there is a standard for that either prescribed by the state or prescribed by

[1:18:30] general accounting practices that says a town should

[1:18:34] » A B C and D in their accounts it should be laid out that way and my question is

[1:18:40] are we following that if not why not >> um I think the treasurer can speak to

[1:18:45] this but um I we are that memor holds us accountable and the auditors hold us

[1:18:50] accountable >> yes I I think that's a good question for

[1:18:54] the auditors report because they're the ones that would keep that organized. The

[1:18:58] answer, I think, is yes. >> Yes.

[1:19:01] » All right. That's more. Yes, sir. >> In the back.

[1:19:04] » In the back. Okay. Right. Yep. >> Testing. Okay. Chris Camp 53 Brookside

[1:19:09] Drive. Uh for the $20,000 you proposed for the bookkeeper, do you know, did you

[1:19:15] guys pencil out like how many hours you're expecting to get out of that

[1:19:19] $20,000? And does that line up with the expectation of need for that position?

[1:19:24] » So the general expectation um that we're proposing or that we're thinking right,

[1:19:30] we're not proposing a certain set of hours here is around 5 hours um weekly

[1:19:34] for the treasurer for the elected treasurer under this structure and 20

[1:19:37] hours for the bookkeeper. Currently um Alain, correct me if I'm wrong, it's

[1:19:42] about 22 >> 22 hours a week from our elected

[1:19:47] treasurer. Um so it's really not terribly different from the current um

[1:19:55] time in office and we're also moving as I mentioned some of that work to Nimrich

[1:20:00] around the payroll uh processing. [clears throat]

[1:20:06] » Okay. Any further questions? >> Yes. Further discussion. Yes sir.

[1:20:11] » Hi uh David Barbie. I um I'm just unclear on what problem this is supposed

[1:20:17] to fix. Is it a sort of a a need for better

[1:20:22] communication between the treasur's office and the select board? Because it

[1:20:26] seems like maybe this isn't the answer to fix to fix that problem.

[1:20:32] Thanks.

[1:20:42] Uh we started a transition team meeting. We invited the public to come in and

[1:20:48] help us to set this situation up. We spent a lot of hours on it. We do need

[1:20:54] better communication. And when we ask taxpayers to come in and help us figure

[1:20:59] things out, it's nice when they do come in in a friendly colleial way to work on

[1:21:05] a situation. Um, we are at a point where the treasurer was retiring. We needed to

[1:21:12] think about how to go forward and with our current situation, you don't know

[1:21:16] who you'll get as a treasurer. So, we thought that if we had a figurehead

[1:21:22] treasurer to do all the statutory work and the banking and Nimrich would do the

[1:21:28] payroll, which is cumbersome, then it would leave 20 hours a week, which is

[1:21:32] more than we get now for the general bookkeeping. um and it would be a better

[1:21:37] bang for your buck. The other thing is that if we get a treasurer that needs

[1:21:42] health insurance, then that raises our budget over $20,000 a year in that in

[1:21:49] that department. So, it was cost savings as well.

[1:21:56] » Um I'm

[1:22:02] Rogeritis. Um, I work for two other towns as zoning administrator and um

[1:22:11] both of them have treasurers and

[1:22:15] it it's concerning to me that um we would be taking um responsibility away

[1:22:22] from this the the treasurer and giving it to a hired person as opposed to an

[1:22:27] elected official. And I I understand the concern that

[1:22:32] there needs to be a transition possibly to a new treasurer. Um I I might be

[1:22:39] tempted to vote for this change if there was an amendment saying for one year

[1:22:44] while they look for another treasurer, but to say that um you want to change

[1:22:49] the system because you can't find somebody um that just doesn't feel right

[1:22:53] to me. Treasur treasur is an elected position. So they wouldn't necessarily

[1:22:58] find anybody. You guys would find that person

[1:23:03] » to find somebody to fulfill the role, >> right? The town would because this is an

[1:23:07] elected position unless nobody ran for it, then the select board would be able

[1:23:12] to appoint. But but yes, I we we understand. Yes, there was some Oh, I'm

[1:23:16] sorry. It was Laura over there. >> Stand up. Sorry. There we go. Thank you.

[1:23:31] » Um, there it is. Um, I'm just curious about how much Nimmerick is costing.

[1:23:35] I've heard many, many people talk about during select board meetings about

[1:23:39] Nimrich and how exceedingly expensive they are if you go over a certain number

[1:23:43] of hours. >> Okay.

[1:23:48] » She was she was concerned about the cost of Nimrich. Nimrich is the program they

[1:23:52] use to do the books. And so she was if they're going to increase Nimrich, she

[1:23:56] was wondering about the cost of Nimrich. Correct. Yes. So, one of those things

[1:24:01] that was mentioning, Laura, is going over a certain number of hours for

[1:24:04] technical support. Um we did just um sign an agreement with Nimrich for a

[1:24:09] bulk time um purchase agreement which essentially locks us into a lower rate

[1:24:14] um so that we are getting more bang for our buck especially if we're having a

[1:24:19] new treasurer andor a new bookkeeper you know agnostic of whatever the results of

[1:24:23] this vote are having that agreement in place allows there to be a lower rate.

[1:24:28] Um, we did have to make sure that we are we're locked into a minimum I believe it

[1:24:33] was 96 hours a year. Um, but especially with a new person potentially that would

[1:24:38] be pretty easy to achieve. And so then we're getting about I think it's 110

[1:24:43] versus 150 per hour. But don't quote me on that cuz I

[1:24:47] » um 45. >> Lord, did you speak? Is that your second

[1:24:50] speak? I don't remember on this one. It's been so long. It's okay. Um, any

[1:24:54] other first speakers? First time speakers. Yes, sir. So, we got one there

[1:24:57] and one there. >> Hi, I'm Bob. Is there a way Bob Seahack?

[1:25:04] Um, is there a way the new position could be elected?

[1:25:08] » No, >> they have to be hired.

[1:25:10] » Yeah, the bookkeeper would have to be hired.

[1:25:12] » Okay. Uh,

[1:25:20] Susan Hunt. Um, Elaine, you were saying when you were speaking that it's a

[1:25:25] terrific job and you've really enjoyed doing it and thank you very much for the

[1:25:29] years you've put in. Is it true that you really do want to retire or could we

[1:25:33] prevail upon you to stay? [laughter]

[1:25:40] » Okay. Elaine Hill. >> Elaine Hill treasurer.

[1:25:45] » Okay. >> Um,

[1:25:47] » loaded question. Yeah, it is a very loaded question. Um, I am not retiring.

[1:25:53] I decided to step down and my I decided to step down and as you guys have

[1:25:59] pointed out about communication and I don't feel like I had good communication

[1:26:05] skills with the current select board. >> Enough said.

[1:26:10] » So that's why I'm stepping down. >> Okay.

[1:26:15] What what was the other part of the question? upon you to stay.

[1:26:20] » Could we prevail upon you to stay? That's that's her decision. She's not

[1:26:23] going to answer them right now. There will be an election and you can nominate

[1:26:26] and go from there. That's that's not necessary right now.

[1:26:30] » Fur further discussion. Wait, got all the way in the back before we go to the

[1:26:34] seconds. >> Still got first.

[1:26:37] » I'll see if I can do this. >> Oh, Warren B.

[1:26:40] We have to vote in the tax collector which you included in this article as

[1:26:46] being the treasurer. That's the statute. Um

[1:26:52] I'm just trying I lost my train of thought. There was so much discussion,

[1:26:55] but I feel it's going to be hard for $5,000 to get somebody to absorb the

[1:26:58] duties of the treasurer, [snorts] all the tax collection, and then still be

[1:27:02] responsible whoever the board appoints to be their bookkeeper. because in the

[1:27:07] statute it also says that the treasurer will be responsible for those duties.

[1:27:12] So, good luck. I don't think it's a wise decision.

[1:27:16] Any other firsttime speakers? Seeing no other firsttime speakers, Bob,

[1:27:21] you wanted to start your second round and then first- time speakers can

[1:27:24] continue to speak. Just wanted to ask >> Bob Dervo.

[1:27:29] There are many things that good questions that people had and I'd like

[1:27:32] to address some of them if I may. First, I apologize to the select board if they

[1:27:37] didn't like the term massage. Okay, move is

[1:27:40] » just move on. >> Okay.

[1:27:42] » Um, standard accounting practices. Someone asked that question. The answer

[1:27:46] is no. How do I know that? I retired from the planning commission last year

[1:27:51] after 18 years on the planning commission and there was a something an

[1:27:57] invoice from the Windham regional commission that was paid without us the

[1:28:03] planning commission approving it. That's standard accounting practices. It should

[1:28:07] have come to us for approval. There was no way of the people who signed that

[1:28:13] knowing whether or not that was actual work that was done for the hours that

[1:28:16] was expended and so forth. That's standard accounting practices. It's not

[1:28:20] being done. As far as transparency, Nick made the

[1:28:25] point that the attempt is to have more transparency. The answer is no. How do I

[1:28:33] know that? Recently, the select board wanted to install new cabinets in our

[1:28:40] lunchroom. What used to be our lunchroom. There was no discussion at

[1:28:44] any select board meetings. nothing at all about those cabinets until it was

[1:28:49] announced that they were going to be installed and how much money there was

[1:28:54] » that money. We have no idea where it came from.

[1:28:58] » Okay, we're we're Okay, >> I'd go on, but I'm finished.

[1:29:02] » Okay, thank you. And thank you for your apology. I didn't I didn't want to gloss

[1:29:06] over that. I just didn't want to get caught up, but yes, thank you for your

[1:29:09] apology. Um, any other discussion? We have a motion before us.

[1:29:16] Shall the uh shall the voters vote to restructure the finance department to

[1:29:20] create a part-time treasurer and part-time bookkeeper to fulfill the

[1:29:23] duties of the treasur and tax collector duties? Further discussion. [snorts]

[1:29:28] Okay. The Yes. Oh, yeah. We have another more discussion.

[1:29:34] Okay. Well, that's that's second time that I have somebody here and then we

[1:29:38] can go back to you.

[1:29:43] Eileen Rogers. I'm new to this, but somehow this doesn't seem clear to me.

[1:29:49] What I'm kind of gathering here is that because there's a communication issue,

[1:29:53] they want to shift what has been working the powers to be instead of just

[1:29:59] allowing the new position to be voted in. Am I clear on this? Because it

[1:30:04] doesn't make sense to me because bookkeepers have a certain role. you

[1:30:08] know, all financial positions take on different leadership and different areas

[1:30:12] of expertise. So, can somebody clarify that for me? It doesn't, like I said, it

[1:30:18] seems like this is kind of a whole internal

[1:30:23] um cat fight.

[1:30:28] » Meow. Um there is a cost-saving aspect to it.

[1:30:32] » Um point of order. Let's not let's not go there, please. We're not here for cat

[1:30:37] fights. over here for the articles of the day.

[1:30:40] » There is also a cost savings component to it. Um but I will say um excuse me um

[1:30:49] it some might say it has been working others in other positions may not feel

[1:30:53] that it has been working in the current structure. And so this is just a

[1:30:57] brainstorm an idea to see if we can get a system that works better. If the

[1:31:03] voters wrote it down, we keep the system. that this is just something that

[1:31:08] the treasur transition team had come up with. Understanding that the treasurer

[1:31:12] over the last year and a half has been saying that she was not going to

[1:31:16] continue running. So this was just under that assumption. Um we figured we had to

[1:31:21] plan something because this is a big change and we don't want to show up and

[1:31:25] have an entirely new person and have no idea what to do and how to go how to

[1:31:30] move forward. >> Okay. We have Wait. Uh, yes.

[1:31:38] Uh, we got Dale in the back and then Warren in the very back.

[1:31:48] I like to keep the treasurer and I like to see that we have enough financial

[1:31:54] office. I'm not saying that we don't have people

[1:31:58] in this town that are capable of doing the job,

[1:32:02] but there comes a time when you need to think about it as a town to when we

[1:32:08] think about we need a professional controller

[1:32:12] or something like that that would fill those duties.

[1:32:17] problem is we may not have them live us amongst us to vote for them to elect

[1:32:24] them into those positions. The state recently in I think it was like 2013 14

[1:32:30] had changed those of things where the treasurers the auditors and all them to

[1:32:36] be could be hired help but yes you're right the select board

[1:32:42] dictates how they run they're appointed um but there is ways out of that in the

[1:32:50] sense not out of that but there is a way if we can't find someone

[1:32:56] They would have to appoint somebody and you would hope that we'd have a process

[1:33:01] and a procedure on how that hiring would be done that took input from the

[1:33:06] taxpayer, the auditors and everyone else besides the slack board [snorts] and to

[1:33:14] collaborate that to function. I'm fortunate to be

[1:33:19] in a place where I came from. They had to do that because they're treasurer

[1:33:24] retired 45 years and they couldn't find someone to replace them. So, they hired

[1:33:31] them. Yeah, there's been bumps in the roads, but the key thing is they don't

[1:33:37] have an accounting problem. We don't have people, all of us all came here

[1:33:42] today thinking there was an issue. There might not be an issue, but it's not

[1:33:48] spelled out and spoken to very well. So, I'm just going to move on.

[1:33:55] » Yeah, that's your second voice. Oh, yes. In the back, then somebody else up

[1:33:58] front.

[1:34:02] » Yeah. Sorry. Well, Warren B, can we call this to to a vote?

[1:34:06] » Okay. He had the floor. He called the question. Um, that requires a twothirds

[1:34:12] vote to close debate. There will be no door no more debate. We would move right

[1:34:17] to the vote. >> H

[1:34:21] » Oh, okay. >> Okay. Who? Yell your name for a second.

[1:34:27] Yell your name. >> Oh, did you get it?

[1:34:31] » Dale, whatever. Okay, we got it. We got the second name. Okay, good. Sorry about

[1:34:37] that. Twothirds vote. All those in favor of closing debate and moving right to

[1:34:42] the vote, please say I. >> I.

[1:34:45] » Oppose. No. >> I believe that's twothirds. We now have

[1:34:50] a motion before us. Shall [snorts] the voters vote to restructure the finance

[1:34:55] department to create a part-time treasurer and part-time bookkeeper to

[1:34:59] fulfill the duties of the treasurer and tax collector duties. A yes. A yes vote

[1:35:06] passes that um passes that motion. A no vote defeats it. Um one person has asked

[1:35:14] for a paper ballot. Would I need six more?

[1:35:21] One, two, three, four, five, six. It is now

[1:35:27] 10:52 and we're on article three. I just got a warning on my phone that my

[1:35:33] Tesla batteries are charged for an impending storm.

[1:35:38] We have a long way to go. A yes vote will pass the motion. A no vote defeats

[1:35:47] it. Does everybody understand? >> The ballot box is now open.

[1:35:54] And thank you for that correcting me on that second. I appreciate that.

[1:36:03] I'm an angry man. Angry moderator. Attention. Attention. We have the

[1:36:08] results of the vote for article three. Um the motion before us was the voters

[1:36:15] to restructure the finance department to create a part-time treasurer and

[1:36:18] part-time bookkeeper to fulfill the duties of the treasur and tax collector.

[1:36:23] [snorts] A yes vote would pass it. A no vote would defeat it. There were 33

[1:36:28] yeses and 110 nos. The um motion is defeated.

[1:36:35] Hold on one second.

[1:36:43] Okay. Okay. Um a no vote triggered something and we'll get to that

[1:36:47] eventually. Um so that uh motion has failed.

[1:36:52] Um what did I want to say? We had a few people show up after I

[1:36:58] closed the ballot box and wanted to put their ballot in. In today's world of

[1:37:05] election integrity, we will not be accepting those ballots.

[1:37:10] Everybody hears me when I'm saying closing the ballot box. Okay? Just yell,

[1:37:16] "I still have one." And we won't close it right then and we'll get you up here.

[1:37:20] Okay? But after the ballot box is closed, your ballots will not be

[1:37:24] accepted. Okay. Hake news.

[1:37:28] » It's all fake news, right? Okay. Um, moving on to article four. This is the

[1:37:34] election section. Um, elections. Vermont law requires paper ballots for select

[1:37:39] boards, listers, and auditors. All other elections may be handled from the floor

[1:37:45] if chosen to do so. Any voter may ask for division of the House or a paper

[1:37:51] ballot. request for a paper ballot requires six

[1:37:55] other voters unless changed by a twothird majority. You just need to

[1:38:00] raise your hand and change that to a two and we'd have to vote on that to see if

[1:38:04] you wanted to increase those numbers to 2/3 ballot um 2/3 um uh vote.

[1:38:11] And remember, we can always do a division of the house first. If the vote

[1:38:16] is close by voice, we could have everybody stand and raise their hand.

[1:38:20] But paper ballot, calling a paper ballot at any point is allowed because hiding

[1:38:26] your vote in a democracy per se, that's that's totally okay. Okay. Um, if

[1:38:31] there's no objection, I will allow a nominee just to introduce them, say

[1:38:36] their name, what their occupation is, maybe where they live, but please, no

[1:38:40] objectives of why you're running or political speeches will be allowed.

[1:38:44] They'll be deemed out of order. Um, a mo a voter may move to close

[1:38:50] nominations, although generally we allow everybody to trickle in.

[1:38:55] Um, so article four, I'm going to read it

[1:38:59] and then we're going to have a couple amendments. I'm going to warn you right

[1:39:02] before they should move quickly, though. Article four, to elect all town

[1:39:07] officials for the ensuing year. Town clerk, one-year term. Town treasurer,

[1:39:11] one-year term. Select board one, three-year term. Select board two

[1:39:15] one-year terms. Listister, one three-year term. The liquid tax

[1:39:19] collector, one one-year term. First constable, one one-year term. Second

[1:39:23] constable, one one-year term. Library trustee, one five-year term.

[1:39:28] Yeah. School representative, one three-year term. Cemetery commissioner,

[1:39:33] one five-year term. Cemetery commissioner, one two-year years

[1:39:38] remaining on a 5-year term. And a cemetery commissioner, one year, one

[1:39:42] three years remaining on a 5-year term. Then it says planning commission one

[1:39:47] three-year term one three years remaining on a 5-year term and planning

[1:39:52] commission one five-year term. I will entertain

[1:39:57] a motion. >> Yes. Out of order.

[1:40:02] » Point of order. is

[1:40:07] the default of article three in regards to us as a town having a tax collector

[1:40:15] for the town. >> It's a delinquent tax collector. That's

[1:40:17] » no no to somebody to receive taxes. It has to be has to last year we we had an

[1:40:24] article to let the treasurer accept taxes. That has to be done per statute

[1:40:30] for the state. By defeating article three, do we still

[1:40:35] have last year's article to hold the treasurer's position to be that tax

[1:40:40] collector? >> Yes. When we set that up last year, that

[1:40:43] was in perpetuity until we were sitt that's that's valid right now anyway.

[1:40:49] We're on elections. That's a that's a question

[1:40:51] » if you didn't have anybody to collect the taxes. I was trying to

[1:40:54] » Well, the town treasurer always collects the

[1:40:59] last year, right? But I want to make sure that article was good.

[1:41:03] » Okay. Moving on to continuing elections. Um I will entertain a motion.

[1:41:09] » Second. >> It's moved and seconded. Um first of

[1:41:14] all, I'd like to uh would somebody like to make an amendment

[1:41:18] to drop the planning commission from this article. Planning commission is a

[1:41:24] appointed position, not an elective position. It was placed on by accident.

[1:41:28] So moved. Correct. Hunt. If there's a second

[1:41:31] » second uh Eugene um discussion. >> Okay. Yes, sir.

[1:41:39] » According to statute, it is an elected position. It would go

[1:41:43] for the >> according to statute, [clears throat]

[1:41:48] the plan of commissioners can be elected from the floor. If they are elected from

[1:41:52] the floor, the term runs for 5 years. The select board cannot remove that

[1:41:56] planning commissioner who is elected. If they are appointed, they can be removed

[1:42:01] by a unanimous vote of so we can elect the towning uh so so the amendment can

[1:42:07] be defeated and we can elect planning commission members.

[1:42:12] » Any further discussion?

[1:42:16] Seeing no further discussion, there's an amendment before us to drop the planning

[1:42:19] commission from this uh article. A yes vote will remove the planning

[1:42:25] commission. A no vote. We will be voting on planning commission members at this

[1:42:29] meeting. [snorts] Everybody understand? All those in favor, please say I. I

[1:42:35] » oppose. No. >> I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

[1:42:39] have it. Planning commission has been dropped from the article. We have

[1:42:44] another amendment that see so people come up to me before

[1:42:51] meetings and talk to me about amendments and everybody's allowed to do that. I'm

[1:42:55] here to help you guys get done what you want to do. So that's kind of why I know

[1:42:59] what's what's kind of happening here. Do we have another amendment for this?

[1:43:05] » You're good. Okay. No other amendments seeing no. Yes. Amen. You have an

[1:43:11] amendment? >> No. But I got a question. Are we voting

[1:43:14] all these off all these people in at one time?

[1:43:17] » No. We're going to have individual elections.

[1:43:19] » Okay. That's >> Yeah. Yeah. But this is an article and I

[1:43:21] need to get the article right and then we can move on to the actual elections.

[1:43:25] Unfortunately, the article was kind of messed up a little bit. Okay. Any other

[1:43:30] discussion? We will now move on to the actual elections now that we have the

[1:43:34] articles the mo the article organized. Okay. So, I will now entertain

[1:43:41] nominations for a one-year term as town clerk currently held by Alanka Wilson.

[1:43:50] Wilson. >> Okay, we have Elinko Wilson has been

[1:43:52] nominated. Are there any other nominations? It doesn't need to be

[1:43:56] seconded if that's what we're doing. It doesn't have to be seconded. Um, any

[1:44:00] other nominations?

[1:44:03] Seeing no other nominations, I am going to um and there's no objections. I

[1:44:10] declare the nominations closed and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

[1:44:14] for Elena Wilson for a one-year term as town clerk. All those in favor, please

[1:44:18] say I. >> I

[1:44:20] » oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it. I will now

[1:44:26] entertain a motion. Uh I will now entertain nominations for a one-year

[1:44:32] term as town treasurer currently held by Elaine Hill.

[1:44:37] » Nominate Ela Hill. >> Elaine Hill has been nominated.

[1:44:41] All the any other nominations

[1:44:46] hearing no other nominations. Hearing no other nominations. And if

[1:44:51] there I'm sorry, what?

[1:44:56] » Oh, I thought you shake your head. Yes. I I You got to speak up. I can't hear.

[1:45:01] Elaine Hill has been nominated.

[1:45:05] I'm going to respectfully decline the position as treasurer for

[1:45:09] » Okay, she's declined the nominations. Are there any other nominations for town

[1:45:13] treasurer? >> Nominate Alicia.

[1:45:18] » Alicia Strafford has been nominated. Okay, hang on. Hang on. Before Before

[1:45:23] any other nominations?

[1:45:27] Okay, hearing other nominations. Would you like to hear Elaine? Wait, I'm

[1:45:32] sorry. Alicia Stafford. >> Stratford.

[1:45:36] » Stratford. I'll get it right eventually. Stratford.

[1:45:38] » Apologies. I'm aware most of you have no idea who I am. Uh, I have lived here two

[1:45:42] years, though I have loved this area my whole life. Um, I went back to school

[1:45:47] for accounting later in life with the intention of being able to work from

[1:45:50] home so I could live here. Uh, I have my CPA. I have my CIA, which is certified

[1:45:56] internal auditor. Uh, I am a part-time controller and I am an advisory in risk

[1:46:02] and governance. Uh, I have the the skills. I have the

[1:46:07] tools. Um, but none of you know me. So, uh, happy to go either way. It's nice to

[1:46:13] meet you all. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Great great

[1:46:16] great introduction. That's what we're looking for. Just a little introduction.

[1:46:20] Um, are there any other nominations for a one-year term as town treasurer?

[1:46:27] Seeing no other nominations and if there are no objections, I will instruct the

[1:46:31] clerk to cast one vote for Alicia Stratford.

[1:46:36] Stratford. I'm terrible with names. Um for a one-year term

[1:46:43] as town treasurer. All those in favor, please, you can. All those in favor,

[1:46:48] please say I. >> I.

[1:46:50] » Oppose. [clears throat] No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

[1:46:54] Thank you very much for your service. [applause]

[1:47:00] Okay. Um, select board. Um, we have one three-year term and two

[1:47:07] one-year terms. Uh, we're going to take the one three-year term first, which is

[1:47:12] Katie Maro's position. Um, I will entertain nominations for one

[1:47:19] three-year term. Katie Monroe's been nominated. Any other

[1:47:24] nominations for the three-year term? >> Urban Star. I nominate Rob Wright.

[1:47:29] » Rob Wright for the three-year term. Okay.

[1:47:32] Rob and uh uh Katie. Okay. Any other nominations for the three-year term? All

[1:47:40] the way in the back. >> Sean Mara. I redundantly nominate Kat.

[1:47:44] » Okay. Redundant. We don't need redundancy. Go ahead. It's okay. Yes,

[1:47:48] Bob.

[1:47:52] I nominate a professional citizen, Laura Richardson,

[1:47:57] » for the three-year term. Laura Richardson.

[1:48:01] Okay. Any other nominations for the three-year

[1:48:05] term? Okay. Oh, another hand.

[1:48:10] » I nominate Steve Frisk. >> Steve Frisk has been nominated for the

[1:48:14] three-year term. Any

[1:48:18] other nominations?

[1:48:21] Okay, this Yep. >> Clarifying question. Select board

[1:48:24] members are are u ending their term. This

[1:48:28] » I'm sorry. What select board members will be?

[1:48:31] » Well, this is this is Katie Maro's position right now.

[1:48:34] » Oh, okay. >> Are there any other select board members

[1:48:38] that are are >> Yes, that's so there's a two one-year

[1:48:41] terms also up. Yeah, thank you. Page seven. It's on

[1:48:46] page seven there. That's okay. Huh? Yeah. I mean, I could tell tell you, but

[1:48:50] it's on page seven. That's just move on. Thank you. Thank you. Um,

[1:48:55] any other nominations?

[1:49:02] » Are you going to Are you going to withdraw your nomination?

[1:49:05] » Okay, I hear. That's right. We're going to come to the other two. Yep. Yep.

[1:49:07] Okay. Rob has withdrawn his name from the three-year term. And that doesn't

[1:49:12] mean he can't be for one of the other one-year terms, right? Everybody

[1:49:14] understand that? but he's withdrawing his name from the three-year term right

[1:49:17] now. So, now we have nominations of Katie Maro, Laura Richardson, and Steve

[1:49:23] Frisk. Right. Okay. Any other nominations?

[1:49:27] Yes, sir. >> That's Katie Maro.

[1:49:29] » Maro. Sorry. I Greg Marorrow used to live in town. You got Maro. Marorrow. I

[1:49:34] get him confused. I'm sorry. Um, >> can we hear from

[1:49:38] » Maro? Yeah. Yeah, we will. I just want to get all the nominations first. Um,

[1:49:42] and I want to explain what's going to happen. Okay. Okay. So, there's three.

[1:49:45] No more nominations. I declare a nominate. Yep. In the back.

[1:49:50] Warren Batty's been [laughter]

[1:49:56] » Yes.

[1:50:00] » H. >> Oh, who made the nomination? Because we

[1:50:04] do need to record that even though it was declined. Who was that?

[1:50:08] » State your name. >> Got it.

[1:50:13] Okay. Any other nominations?

[1:50:18] Okay, see no other nominations. I declare nominations closed. Let's Okay,

[1:50:22] now I'm going to explain. There's three people nominated. This is select board,

[1:50:27] which means it's going to be a paper ballot. If somebody doesn't get a first

[1:50:34] a majority on the first one, we do it three times before somebody gets a

[1:50:39] majority. On the third one, we drop the lowest one. So there's only two. So

[1:50:44] hopefully the next one would be a majority. Does everybody understand

[1:50:47] that? We'll get there when I count. We'll get there. We'll get there. Yeah.

[1:50:50] Somebody needs to win a majority. And if not, we keep going because there's three

[1:50:54] people until somebody gets a majority. Let's hear from the candidates before we

[1:50:59] vote. Um Katie Marorrow was nominated first. Let's hear from her first. Again,

[1:51:07] this isn't this isn't about political stuff and what you want to accomplish.

[1:51:11] This is just who you are and your background.

[1:51:18] » Okay. Uh, hi, I'm Katie Maro. I've been on the select board for the past years.

[1:51:22] Uh, my first year I got a one-year position and then my second year.

[1:51:29] » Get your finger off the button.

[1:51:33] » Try again.

[1:51:40] Okay. Sorry. Um I did a one-year term and then a

[1:51:54] » Okay. Um so I've been happy to serve the town for the past four years and I'd

[1:51:58] look forward to Oh, I live in West Townsen and I'd look forward to serving

[1:52:01] the town for three more years. Uh,

[1:52:05] next one was Steve I think was and then Laura.

[1:52:10] » My name is Stephen Frisk. I live on Actton Hill. I've been a select board

[1:52:15] member for seven years. It's been an honor to serve the town and I look

[1:52:19] forward to serving in the future.

[1:52:27] » Hi, I'm Laura Richardson. I've lived here in Townson for 15 going on 16

[1:52:31] years. Um, I've tried to do my best to help serve the town in any way that I

[1:52:36] could within my abilities and means. And I, um,

[1:52:42] what else was I gonna say? [laughter] I'm kind of caught on toward here. Oh,

[1:52:47] anyway, I just feel that, um, it might be time for a a change.

[1:52:53] » Inappropriate.

[1:52:58] » Okay. So, election is going to proceed. We're

[1:53:02] going to have a ballot uh uh a ballot vote.

[1:53:07] You're going to write three one of three names. Katie,

[1:53:11] Rob. No, sorry. Katie, Steve, or Laura?

[1:53:17] Katie, Steve, or Laura? Are there any questions?

[1:53:22] Okay. Katie, Steve, or Laura? The ballot box is now open

[1:53:27] for a one one three-year term on the select board. Katie, Steve, or Laura.

[1:53:37] » And if you need the ballot box brought to you, please yell at me.

[1:53:42] Please take your seats. We have the results of the vote.

[1:53:53] Okay.

[1:53:57] » Um, we had we were voting on a three-year

[1:54:01] term for the select board. Uh, we had three uh candidates, three nominees. Um,

[1:54:07] there was a total of 147 votes, which I believe requires 74

[1:54:14] for a majority. Katie Marorrow uh received 85. Uh Laura Richardson 34 and

[1:54:22] Steve Frisk 28. So Katie Maro has won the um three-year position on the select

[1:54:29] board. Um we will now move on to the two uh I will

[1:54:36] now entertain nominations for a one-year term on the select board. We'll start

[1:54:42] with Steve Frisk's term. That will be his term.

[1:54:46] » Nominate >> Steve Frisk have been nominated. I see a

[1:54:49] hand back here. No. Any any other nominations? Yes. In the back.

[1:54:54] » Tedro. >> Okay. Shiloh Tedro

[1:54:58] has been nominated for a one-year term. Any other nominations for one-year term?

[1:55:04] » Laura Richardson.

[1:55:10] » Okay. Thank you.

[1:55:17] Yes, in the back. >> Rob Wright.

[1:55:23] » That was uh Glenn. I mean Warren. Warren. Sorry,

[1:55:26] » Warren. Warren. I know. I do that all the time. I'm so sorry.

[1:55:30] Warren. Warren. Warren. Um, any other nominations? Yes. H Glenn.

[1:55:36] » Dale West. >> Dale West. There you go. Dale West has

[1:55:39] been nominated. Good. Any other nominations? I'll go

[1:55:45] over them in all in a second. Okay. Right now, we have nominated for a

[1:55:51] one-year term on the select board Steve Frisk,

[1:55:55] Shiloh Tedro. Right. Shiloh. Just make sure. Shiloh Tedro, Laura Richardson,

[1:56:02] Roight, and Dale West.

[1:56:08] Any other nominations? Okay, seeing no other nominations, I'll

[1:56:13] declare the nominations closed and we'll allow people to speak for a moment if

[1:56:17] they choose to. You don't have to. Okay, nominations are now closed for this one

[1:56:20] year one-year position on the select board. The first nomination was Steve.

[1:56:26] Would you like to add say microphone? You good?

[1:56:30] » Okay, Steve is fine. Shiloh, you were next nominated.

[1:56:35] Uh, do you want a microphone? Wait people want to hear you. Oh, thank you,

[1:56:38] sir. Thank you.

[1:56:43] Hello everybody. I'm Shiloh Tedro. I ran last year, running again this year, but

[1:56:47] I've devoted the entire past year to researching and sharing my civics's

[1:56:53] education with everybody else. Um, I own I founded and I'm the director of a

[1:56:59] nonprofit down the road here in Townsend. And I really can't say

[1:57:02] anything else because it'll be out of order, so I won't. But you can look on

[1:57:06] front porch forum for February 16th and see what I stand for if you want.

[1:57:10] » Thank you. Thank you for that. That was that was good. Laura, would you Laura

[1:57:13] next would you like to add? >> Right. The microphone here. Right.

[1:57:19] » Oh, shoot. What What's your name? Chris, what's

[1:57:22] your name again? >> Eric.

[1:57:23] » Eric. I was going to say Chris. Thank Eric for running the microphone. We

[1:57:27] appreciate that. Eric, >> I kind of dropped the ball last time and

[1:57:30] I just wanted to say that I've been going to a select board meetings, almost

[1:57:34] every meeting for at least four years and I really have a good feeling about

[1:57:40] what's going on with town governments and how it operates.

[1:57:44] » Thank you. Um, next would be Rob Wright. Anything else? Say, sir, right?

[1:57:50] » Wait, give it a sec. Can you press the button and then you give it a second and

[1:57:54] I'm knock it. Just knock it. No. Press it again. And then wait a sec.

[1:58:00] Don't. No. Press it.

[1:58:11] » Rob Wright. I've lived in town for almost 24 years. I've served on the

[1:58:15] board for 10 out of the last 11 years. Um, I show up every time we have a

[1:58:22] meeting. I stay available to the members of the board for questions, members of

[1:58:27] the public for questions, and I'd gladly serve a [snorts] one-year term.

[1:58:34] » Thank you. >> And then Dale, you're in the back there.

[1:58:36] You want to say something? >> Microphone.

[1:58:41] Oh, yeah. Thank you.

[1:58:46] » I'm Dale West. I live in town. I live on Grafton Road. Um, I've been here now I

[1:58:51] think it's been a good 20 no just under 20. It's like 18 years.

[1:58:59] [snorts] Um, I've been local. Um, I work for the the state of Vermont and VR. Um,

[1:59:06] I [snorts] uh been on different boards over the career. I've been on the

[1:59:10] planning commissions in both today here and in Jamaica school boards. Um, I

[1:59:17] bring reason

[1:59:21] Okay, thank you. So, we have a we're going to be voting. It has to be by

[1:59:27] ballot. Um, we're voting on a one-year term for the select board. I wish I had

[1:59:33] a white board, but names would be Steve Frisk,

[1:59:41] Shiloh, her last name is Tedro, but Shiloh, Laura Richardson, Laura,

[1:59:48] Rob Wright, Rob or Dale West, Dale. Okay, so there's one, two, three, four,

[1:59:55] five. Anybody have any questions about what we're doing? Who who we're voting

[2:00:00] for? Okay, good. I like I I like the the

[2:00:04] confidence stairs. Um so I will now declare the ballot box open.

[2:00:12] We have the results of the election. Um this is for a one-year term on the

[2:00:18] select board. There was 155 votes which will require, I believe, 79 for a

[2:00:24] majority. Uh Steve Frisk received 38.

[2:00:29] Laura Richardson received 34. Rob Wright received 34.

[2:00:35] Dale West received 28. And Shiloh Tedro received 21. There is no majority

[2:00:42] receiver. Therefore, we vote again. Okay. So, the way this works, if we got

[2:00:47] to this, if there's more than two, which means somebody is not going to receive

[2:00:52] the majority, we do this three times. At the end of the third vote, we drop the

[2:00:58] lowest vote getter and then we do it again. The next time we would then vote

[2:01:04] the next lowest vote getter and so on and so forth until somebody receives a

[2:01:09] majority. Okay, so once again, we have an election before us for a one-year

[2:01:15] term on the select board. Your choices are Steve Frisk.

[2:01:22] » Steve Frisk withdraws his nomination. We have um nominated for a one-year term

[2:01:31] Shedro uh Shiloh Tedro, Laura Richardson, Rob Wright, and Dale West.

[2:01:39] Okay. So, we're going to have another election.

[2:01:42] You're going to write down Shiloh Tedro, Laura Richardson,

[2:01:49] Rob Wright, or Dale West. Are there any questions?

[2:01:56] » You could just use the first name, please. Right. So, it would be Shiloh,

[2:02:01] Laura, Rob, or Dale. Okay. Any questions? I now declare the ballot box

[2:02:08] open. [clears throat]

[2:02:13] Uh, we have the results of the election for a one-year term on the select board.

[2:02:19] We had 147 ballots cast. Two were spoiled.

[2:02:24] So, that's 74 in order to have a majority. 74 for majority. Shiloh Tedro

[2:02:31] received 20. Laura Richardson received 41. Rob Wright received 59. and Dale

[2:02:38] West received 25. So, nobody received a majority. We will do it again. Okay.

[2:02:45] Yes, sir. >> Dale West. This would be the third one.

[2:02:52] Okay. Okay. You understand why I said that, though? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Dale

[2:02:56] West has withdrawn his name. We now have an election for select board one-year

[2:03:04] term. We have I'm sorry, what? Can you read those numbers?

[2:03:08] » Yes. Oh, the numbers again. The numbers again. We had Shiloh Tedro at 20. Make

[2:03:13] sure I'm doing this right. Can you just look at the bag? Sorry. Just make sure I

[2:03:17] copied them down right. Shiloh Tedro at 20, Laura Richardson at 41,

[2:03:24] Rob Wright at 59, and Dale West at 25

[2:03:31] with two spoiled ballots. Okay, so we're going to do it again. We

[2:03:36] have Shiloh, Laura, and Rob. Shiloh,

[2:03:44] Laura, and Rob. Any questions? Questions, questions. The ballot box is

[2:03:50] now well, it will be open.

[2:03:57] We have the results of the election for moderator for moderator

[2:04:03] for select board for one-year term. Um um so there was a total of

[2:04:11] 148 votes which means I believe 75 half plus one 75 in order to be elected.

[2:04:19] Shiloh Tedro received 19, Laura Richardson 48 and Rob Wright 81. So, Rob

[2:04:25] Wright has won that select board position.

[2:04:30] Okay, moving on. We have another one-year term

[2:04:35] that um uh I will now entertain nominations. I heard Steve Frisk here.

[2:04:42] Steve Frisk has been nominated. Any other nominations for a one-year term on

[2:04:46] the select board? Uh in the back there, >> Dale West has been nominated.

[2:04:53] Laura Richardson has been nominated.

[2:04:58] » Shiloh Tedro has been nominated. Saw a hand over there. Go up.

[2:05:06] Okay. No. Y Oh, no. Stretching. Any other nominations for a one-year term on

[2:05:11] the select board? So far, I have Steve Frisk, Dale West, Laura Richardson, and

[2:05:17] Shiloh Tedro. Any other nominations for one-year term on the select board? Okay,

[2:05:25] this is a totally new position. So, please on your little pieces of

[2:05:31] paper, it's Steve for Steve Frisk, Dale for Dale West, Laura for Laura

[2:05:39] Richardson, or Shiloh for Shiloh Tedro. They've all already spoken. I don't

[2:05:45] think we need to do that again. So, I will now declare. Any questions?

[2:05:51] Questions? I will now declare the ballot box open.

[2:05:58] We have the results of the election for a one-year term on the select board.

[2:06:05] Um, there was 142 votes.

[2:06:12] Uh, divide that by two is 71. So, you need 72 in order for a majority.

[2:06:18] Steve uh Frisk received 60, Laura received 38,

[2:06:24] Dale received 32, and Shiloh received 12. So, we will do it again. Okay, we

[2:06:32] have a uh an election for a one-year term on Select Board. We have Steve

[2:06:39] Frisk, Dale West, Laura Richardson, and Shiloh Tedro. Does anybody have any

[2:06:46] questions?

[2:06:49] I now declare the ballot box open.

[2:06:57] Okay, we got the results of the uh one-year select board position.

[2:07:03] There were 139 votes. We're tailing off here, people. Nobody's allowed to leave.

[2:07:10] [snorts] I can't. Right. So 139 uh votes which means 70 in order to have uh one.

[2:07:18] Steve Frisk received 77. Dale West received 17. Laura Richardson reserved

[2:07:24] 39 and Charlotte Tedro received six. So Steve Frisk has won the one-year select

[2:07:31] board. Okay, moving on. Um thank you for your patience with that. We appreciate

[2:07:38] it. uh democracy at its ugliest. Um we will now um entertain nominations for a

[2:07:46] one-year one three-year term as listister currently held by Eugene Ko.

[2:07:56] » Eugene Cook has been nominated. Any other nominations for a three-year

[2:08:02] term as listister?

[2:08:06] Hearing no other nominations. And if there are no objections, I declare

[2:08:10] nominations closed and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot for Eugene Cook

[2:08:15] for a three-year term as a selector. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:08:21] » Listister. What did I say? >> Selector.

[2:08:24] » Selector. You can work at CVS. C uh whatever. CNS. No. Sorry. As a

[2:08:29] listister. Sorry, I combined the two. Huh? Selector. List. As a listister. All

[2:08:34] those in favor, please say I. >> I.

[2:08:36] » Oppose. No, I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it. Eugene Cook has

[2:08:42] been elected. Uh, I will now entertain nominations for delinquent tax

[2:08:47] collector, a one-year term currently held by Becky Riley.

[2:08:53] Becky Riley has been nominated. Any other nominations

[2:08:58] for a one-year term as delinquent tax collector?

[2:09:02] Hearing no other nominations. And if there's no objections, I'll instruct the

[2:09:06] clerk to cast one ballot for Becky Riley for a one-year term as delinquent tax

[2:09:11] collector. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:09:14] » Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it. Um I we will now

[2:09:22] entertain nominations for a one-year term as first constable currently held

[2:09:28] by Warren Batty. I will now entertain nominations. Warren Batty has been

[2:09:34] nominated. Any other nominations? >> Uh Rob. Oh, Steve, sorry. Any other

[2:09:40] nominations? That's right. I should be not be moving that fast. We have to

[2:09:44] record your names. That's all. Any other nominations for a one-year term as

[2:09:49] constable? Hearing no other nominations, I will

[2:09:54] instruct the I declare the nominations closed and instruct the clerk to cast

[2:09:58] one ballot for Warren Batty as a first constable one-year term. All those in

[2:10:03] favor, please say I. I >> oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

[2:10:08] The eyes do have it. I will now entertain nominations for a one-year

[2:10:13] term as second constable currently held by Mike Cuts.

[2:10:18] Any nominations? Yes, Mike Cuts. >> Mike Cuts. Okay. I heard a lot of Mike

[2:10:24] Cuts. Any other nominations?

[2:10:29] » Oh, Andy did. You can use Andy. I did say here's somebody somewhere, but Andy

[2:10:34] Snelling. Okay. Any other nominations for a one-year term as second constable?

[2:10:40] Hearing no other. Come on. You can put people in jail. No. No. I'm only

[2:10:44] kidding. Any other any other nominations? Hearing none. I instruct

[2:10:48] the clerk to cast one ballot for Mike Cuts for a one-year term as second

[2:10:52] constable. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:10:55] » Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

[2:11:00] I will now entertain nominations for a library trustee term of five years

[2:11:06] currently held by Marley Atley. >> Okay, Marley has been nominated. Yes,

[2:11:15] » Sandy Glazer. >> That was Hang on now. I got too many

[2:11:20] names running through my head. That was Kathy Degraier. And you said Sandy

[2:11:23] Glazier with his with a Z. S. Sorry. Glazier with an S. Okay. And then we

[2:11:30] also had Marley. Okay.

[2:11:36] Is she not here? H.

[2:11:44] Okay. She said that Marley has declined the

[2:11:48] nomination. We know this for sure because you can't

[2:11:53] be elected without being here.

[2:11:58] Okay. She did decline. Okay. Okay. So, we have

[2:12:07] um Sandy Glazier nominated for a one-year term as a li

[2:12:13] one five-year term as library trustee. Any other nominations? If you're

[2:12:19] confused, please say so. Any other nominations?

[2:12:23] Okay. Hearing no other nominations, I close the nominations. If there's no

[2:12:28] objection, I close the nominations and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

[2:12:32] for a 5-year term as library trustee for Sandy Glazier.

[2:12:39] All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed? No. Believe the eyes have it.

[2:12:45] The eyes do have it. I will now entertain nominations for the WR the

[2:12:51] West River Mutual Modified Union Education District. Thank you, Joe.

[2:12:59] Okay, it's one three-year term. Is that Al's position now? Because I couldn't

[2:13:02] figure it out. It's Al Fost's position now, and he's been nominated. [snorts]

[2:13:06] Any other nominations for one three-year term as a school board representative?

[2:13:13] Hearing no other nominations, I declare, if there's no objection, I

[2:13:18] declare the nominations closed and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot

[2:13:22] for Al Clawson for a three-year term as a WR MUED representative. All those in

[2:13:29] favor, please say I. I >> oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.

[2:13:34] The eyes do have it. Um, I will now cemetery commission. We

[2:13:40] have three positions available, one five-year term, one two years

[2:13:45] remaining on a 5-year term, and one three years remaining on a five-year

[2:13:49] term. At first, we're going to vote on one five-year term that's held by Scott

[2:13:56] Nestrom. I will now Scott Nestrom has been nominated. Any other nominations

[2:14:02] for the five-year term on the cemetery commission?

[2:14:07] Hearing no other nominations, and there's no objection, I will um close

[2:14:11] the nominations and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot for Scott Nestrom for

[2:14:16] a 5-year term on the Cemetery Commission. All those in favor, please

[2:14:19] say I. >> Oppose? No. I believe the eyes have it.

[2:14:24] The eyes do have it. I will now entertain nominations for a

[2:14:30] two years remaining on a five-year term. And that is

[2:14:36] uh where'd it go? That is where'd it go? Carly Sanderson's position. I believe

[2:14:42] she's got two years remaining on a five-year term. I will now entertain

[2:14:46] nominations. >> Jay Warren.

[2:14:49] » Jay Warren. Jay Warren has been nominated. Jay here. Hi Jay. You want to

[2:14:58] just That's Jay, right? He's waving over there in the corner. Any other

[2:15:01] nominations?

[2:15:05] Hearing no other nominations. And if there's no objection, I will close the

[2:15:09] nominations and instruct the clerk to cast one ballot for Jay Warren for

[2:15:16] two years remaining on a five-year term. All those in favor, please say I. I.

[2:15:22] » Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

[2:15:27] have it. I will now entertain nominations for three years remaining on

[2:15:32] a five-year term uh previously held by Bruce Bills.

[2:15:37] Timo >> Tim, can you spell the last name?

[2:15:42] » Oh, Masuko. Thank you. Sorry. I thought Yeah, I got it. I got I hearing in Okay.

[2:15:51] Um, any other nominations for three years remaining on a 5-year term of

[2:15:56] cemetery commission? Hearing no other nominations.

[2:16:00] And seeing it's snowing outside. Hearing no other nominations. And um,

[2:16:07] no objections. I will close the nominations and instruct the clerk to

[2:16:11] cast one ballot for Tim Masuko for a three-year three years remaining

[2:16:17] on a five-year term cemetery commission. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:16:21] » Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

[2:16:26] have it. Um, I'm going to just uh suspend the rules for a moment. Charlie

[2:16:30] would like to say something about departing members on the cemetery

[2:16:34] commission.

[2:16:38] » Bills for their service. Bruce is over. >> Bruce is right over here. I don't know

[2:16:42] if Carly's here or not. Is she here? Okay. I'd like to thank them for their

[2:16:46] service on the cemetery commission. [applause]

[2:16:57] Yes, these are unpaid positions. So, we do thank you uh for serving your town.

[2:17:04] Um Oh my goodness, elections are over. Great job.

[2:17:12] Okay. And and let me before what anything any huh? Planning commission we

[2:17:18] we did away with because planning commission is an appointed position

[2:17:22] theoretically at the very beginning. [snorts]

[2:17:25] Um I'm people come up to me and say thank you. You're doing a great job.

[2:17:30] Blah. I couldn't do a good job if you guys weren't doing a good job. Right. I

[2:17:34] mean no seriously. I mean if you guys wanted to battle it out I'd be slamming

[2:17:38] my gavvel and we'd have a we'd have a fist fight. You guys are doing a great

[2:17:41] job which makes this very very good. We're doing great. Okay, moving on.

[2:17:46] Article five to see if the town will authorize the select board to set tax

[2:17:51] rate sufficient to cover all monies raised from municipal entities for the

[2:17:55] period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 to borrow money in

[2:18:00] anticipation of taxes. I will now entertain a motion. Suarez move.

[2:18:04] » So move Suarez. Who said that? I'll say second over here. Who's second? Eugene.

[2:18:09] Thank you. Got it. Discussion.

[2:18:15] Seeing no discussion. Did was that a stand up to discuss? Yes, discuss.

[2:18:20] Nothing. >> Oh. Oh, you were going to move the

[2:18:21] microphone. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Okay. I you had it in your hand. I didn't

[2:18:25] realize. Okay. Any other discussion? Seeing no discussion, there's a motion

[2:18:30] before us. um to see if the town will authorize the select board to set tax

[2:18:35] rate sufficient to cover all monies raised for remissible entities for the

[2:18:39] period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 to borrow money in

[2:18:44] anticipation of taxes. A yes vote passes that motion. A no vote defeats it.

[2:18:50] Questions? All those in favor, please say I.

[2:18:55] » Well, there was a question. Sorry. Question. Sorry. Question.

[2:18:59] » This based off the budget that's in the report. Oh, this is a this is statuto.

[2:19:03] This th this is a boilerplate

[2:19:09] article that we >> Sounds like a blank check.

[2:19:11] » No, it's not a blank check. This is a a boilerplate

[2:19:18] article that's in every year that actually I I didn't want to get into

[2:19:22] this. That's not required to even be on the warning.

[2:19:29] things that are statutoily by law given to the select board do not

[2:19:36] need to be voted on by the people. So next year this will not be there. Okay?

[2:19:43] Because they are statutoily allowed to set the

[2:19:48] tax rate and to borrow money. The state has already given them that power. So

[2:19:53] you saying no really doesn't mean anything. So, so, so that I'm trying to

[2:20:00] clean up the warrant by going to classes and school and all this stuff. And

[2:20:04] that's this is one of them. I didn't want to say it today, but that that's

[2:20:07] what this is. So, if there's any other questions, I mean, good question, but

[2:20:13] seeing no other questions, we have a yes question.

[2:20:20] » Nunis,

[2:20:24] » board fire department. Um, are the different Yeah.

[2:20:30] » Listers, bookkeepers. Yes.

[2:20:42] » This this >> see this is why I didn't want to do

[2:20:46] this.

[2:20:50] » The town approves the budget and then they have to set the they have to set

[2:20:54] the the tax rate. based upon all these things you're voting on. They have that

[2:21:00] statutory right in law anyway. So for us to be voting on it really

[2:21:08] doesn't achieve anything. Okay. Yes.

[2:21:18] » Okay. Any other discussion? >> Okay. Okay, seeing no other discussion,

[2:21:24] we have a motion before us to see if the town will authorize the select board to

[2:21:28] set tax rates sufficient to cover all monies raised for municipal entities for

[2:21:32] the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 and borrow money in

[2:21:37] anticipation of taxes. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:21:41] » Oppose? No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

[2:21:48] Okay. Article six. And if you if I'm moving fast and you do

[2:21:55] have your hand raised and I don't see you, yell. That's okay to yell. I'm not

[2:22:00] you're not yelling at me. You're just yelling to get my attention. Article

[2:22:04] six, to see if the town will authorize its property tax collector to receive

[2:22:08] its real property taxes quarterly. August 26, 2026, November 24, 2026,

[2:22:14] February 24, 2027, and May 26, 2027. Monthly interest will be charged at the

[2:22:21] rate of 1 half percent or fraction thereof. Interest of 1% or fraction

[2:22:25] thereof plus penalties will commence on May 30th, 2027. Now entertain a motion.

[2:22:33] » Suarez got it. And Katie, any discussion

[2:22:40] hearing? No discussion. Do I have to read it again?

[2:22:44] Thank you. Okay. Any other discussion? No. Hearing

[2:22:48] no discussion, we have a motion before us that I just previously read and if

[2:22:52] you're okay, I will not. If there's no objection, I won't read it again. A yes

[2:22:56] vote passes this motion. A no vote defeats it. All those in favor, please

[2:23:01] say I. >> I.

[2:23:03] » Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

[2:23:10] Okay. Article seven to see if the town will

[2:23:14] vote to appropriate $635,526 to pay for the running expenses and

[2:23:20] liabilities of the town of which $441,585

[2:23:25] will be raised in taxes. I will now entertain a motion.

[2:23:29] » All second.

[2:23:32] » It's been moved and seconded. Eugene seconded it. Okay.

[2:23:44] Wait, wait, wait, wait. Yes, you need a microphone. Yes, I was about to say. No,

[2:23:47] my bad. >> Start again.

[2:23:49] » Amendment. >> Not that one. I got more here.

[2:23:54] More here. More here. More here. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay. I'm

[2:23:57] proposing an amendment um in response to the voting down of the earlier treasure

[2:24:01] article um to make sure that the general fund is reflecting of that. So, I would

[2:24:06] like to change the line item for treasurer salary from 5,000 to

[2:24:10] $35,124.70, which represents a 2.8% increase that

[2:24:15] was applied across the board. >> Wait, wait, wait, wait. Say that number

[2:24:17] again. >> 35124.7.

[2:24:21] » Okay, thank you. >> I would also like to propose increasing

[2:24:24] the benefits line from $0 to 21,000.

[2:24:30] » Okay, so wait, somebody needs a calculator then. So, is that all going

[2:24:33] to be raised by taxes? >> That's got to be raised by taxes. So,

[2:24:38] those So, so the 35124

[2:24:44] and the 21,000 both get added to both those numbers.

[2:24:49] » Yes. >> Okay. So, I got to do that.

[2:24:52] » Okay. Does everybody understand what's occurring?

[2:24:54] » Oh, wait. because because >> and wait and

[2:24:57] » remove uh change the finance office assistant line from 20,000 to 5,000.

[2:25:05] » Okay. Are you doing the math on this? Can you

[2:25:07] » I am. >> Yeah. Okay.

[2:25:08] » Give me the final number so I can explain.

[2:25:10] » So the total change >> Okay. Go ahead.

[2:25:13] » The increase of those two items and the decrease of one is 36,124.7.

[2:25:20] And if anybody else is out there also checking my math that is welcome.

[2:25:25] » Okay. So what does Okay. So what just occurred? Go ahead.

[2:25:28] » So now the bottom line that increase of 36,000 to the 635

[2:25:34] » 526 should now be 671 650.7

[2:25:42] » for the total general fund budget. Then three

[2:25:48] and that should be to the amount raised in taxes 4779.7

[2:25:57] » 47749 >> 709

[2:26:01] » 7097 >> Does that square with you Craig?

[2:26:04] » Say it again. >> Great. 4779.7

[2:26:08] is the amount to be raising taxes everybody.

[2:26:11] » Okay. You good Nick? Good. Good. Okay. So, what just happened was because

[2:26:15] because uh you voted down and it's so it's not bad or good because you voted

[2:26:19] down article three which was having the bookkeeper

[2:26:25] increased and the treasurer decreased. You defeated that. But that's what the g

[2:26:30] that's the budget they were working off of. Because that was defeated. They need

[2:26:34] to change the the the some of the monies in the general fund so that a a a full

[2:26:41] treasurer can be um employed can be paid and the bookkeeper that they

[2:26:49] were increasing would be decreased. Does that make sense?

[2:26:54] Yes. Okay. So, the new numbers we have an amendment and we're going to discuss

[2:26:58] this in a second. an amendment to change to appropriate $671,650.70

[2:27:07] to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of the town of which

[2:27:11] $477,79.70

[2:27:16] is to be raised in taxes. That's the amend. Is there a second to that

[2:27:19] amendment? >> Second. Steve Frisk seconded it. So

[2:27:23] there's it's been moved and second amendment. We are only going to talk

[2:27:26] about the amendment right now. If you have other questions about the general

[2:27:29] fund, once this amendment is voted on, then we'll be talking more about the

[2:27:34] general fund. It's not the end of the general fund discussion, but right now

[2:27:37] we're just talking about this amendment. Any questions on the amendment? Yes,

[2:27:42] sir.

[2:27:48] » Push the button. There you go. Greg, I don't know if those numbers include the

[2:27:52] benefits for the >> They do. Okay. All right.

[2:27:56] » Yep. As long as those numbers are added up correctly, you're the ones you said.

[2:28:01] Okay. Because I did you did mention benefits in there. Yes. Okay. Any other

[2:28:06] questions on this amendment? We'll get to the g the the overall general fund in

[2:28:10] a moment. Okay. Yes. In the back. Way back.

[2:28:21] » Thank you, >> Liza Swen Martin. I just have a

[2:28:26] clarification. So the 21,000 in benefits was never paid to Elaine in the past,

[2:28:31] but we're now making it a new benefit. >> That is not correct. We had formed the

[2:28:36] budget because we had to decide how we're going to present a budget. So we

[2:28:40] went with the original article 3 assuming that would pass. This is how

[2:28:44] we're going to present the budget. Since we were reducing the amount for the

[2:28:48] treasurer, we were not going to be offering benefits to that treasurer

[2:28:51] since they would be a much uh smaller role. So now because we have a full-time

[2:28:56] treasurer again, we're going back to paying the benefits as we have been or

[2:29:00] offering to pay the benefits as we have been.

[2:29:02] » Thank you. >> Any other discussion on the amendment?

[2:29:08] Okay. Hearing no other discussion, we have an amendment before us to change uh

[2:29:16] the numbers um to do you want me to so that the

[2:29:21] amendment will change the numbers to appropriate $671,650.70

[2:29:27] to pay for the running expenses liability of the town of which

[2:29:31] $477,479.70

[2:29:35] to be raised in taxes that we're voting on the amendment That is if it passes

[2:29:41] that's going to become the main motion. If it fails we go back to the other main

[2:29:44] motion and then we can discuss that. This is not the end. Does everybody

[2:29:48] understand? Okay. A yes vote passes the amendment. A no vote defeats it.

[2:29:54] Questions. All those in favor please say I.

[2:29:58] » I. >> Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it.

[2:30:02] The eyes have it. We now have a motion in front of us that asks

[2:30:08] that the town vote to appropriate $671,650770

[2:30:14] to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of the town of which

[2:30:18] $477,79.70

[2:30:21] to be raised in taxes. I open it up to general def general

[2:30:27] general fund discussion. I'm sorry. I have a retainer in my mouth because when

[2:30:32] I was a kid, I lost my front tooth and I'd be standing up here without a front

[2:30:36] tooth, without the silly, but I can't talk with it. Sorry. Okay, discussion

[2:30:43] general fund. Yes, please.

[2:30:50] So, I've noticed in the list of um uh monies for certain things in the book um

[2:30:59] like the common uh the gazebo fund, the fountain fund, uh the the town hall

[2:31:06] fund. There's a whole list of things that uh where we're appropriating money

[2:31:10] for these things, but I'm just wondering, I haven't really seen a whole

[2:31:14] lot of that going towards where the appropriations are supposed to be going.

[2:31:18] Do they just go back into the general fund if they're not used? Where does

[2:31:23] that money go? If you >> Okay, so the general fund, wait, the

[2:31:25] general I should have said this in the beginning. The general fund are on pages

[2:31:28] 9 through 15, just so you know. Um I should

[2:31:31] » Are you asking about the general fund or the reserves?

[2:31:33] » I'm asking about the general fund. If you go through the list of monies that

[2:31:37] are being designated in the general fund.

[2:31:39] » Yeah. Could you give me a page number that you're looking at just to make sure

[2:31:42] we're looking at the same thing? >> Well, I wrote it down on a piece of

[2:31:45] paper, so hang in there.

[2:31:54] Okay. Okay. On page 15, there's um monies for tree management,

[2:32:02] for lawn uh for tree care. There's money for fountain care. There's money.

[2:32:08] » Oh, for >> 14 page 14 on the common, it says lawn

[2:32:13] care, tree care. >> So, those are new lines that we were

[2:32:18] establishing. Uh we know that there are some tree care that needs to be done. We

[2:32:20] know that there are some issues with the lawn uh at the common. So, those are

[2:32:24] proposed for this coming fiscal year, but they were not in previous fiscal

[2:32:28] years. >> Well, actually, they were they've been

[2:32:31] in fiscal years for the last four years. >> They might have been in municipal land

[2:32:37] management. I think this is another piece where we're talking about trying

[2:32:40] to make a little bit more transparent about where the monies are being spent.

[2:32:43] So things were placed in kind of this bucket municipal land management uh

[2:32:47] where there was specific Taff meadows and there was tree management and lawn

[2:32:50] care common tree care common but then we also had a separate common line item or

[2:32:54] bucket. So really just trying to say if we have things for the common let's put

[2:32:59] that under the common instead of somewhere else but still saying that

[2:33:02] it's for the common. So that's why they look a little different. If to your

[2:33:05] question if something goes unspent does it go back into the general fund? Yes.

[2:33:09] That's how it goes. um that's it becomes either a surplus or whatever it is or

[2:33:15] whatever you know however it shakes up at the end of the year. Uh but any

[2:33:18] unspent monies do go back into the general fund

[2:33:22] » because according to all of my research and all of the previous town reports

[2:33:27] these monies have been being designated for the past four years every year. And

[2:33:33] so far I'm I don't know whether any of that's actually gone to what it was

[2:33:39] designated for. That's my question. It's like so it just goes into the general

[2:33:44] fund if it doesn't get used for the gazebo or if it doesn't get used for the

[2:33:48] fountain or if it doesn't get used for the trees or however.

[2:33:50] » May I May I say something, Laura? >> Sure. If you if you look at page 14

[2:33:55] under tree management, we had budgeted $35,000 and 3500 and then in 25 we

[2:34:02] didn't spend anything because we were unsure that the fertilizing of the trees

[2:34:07] that we did was the correct approach. Then we decided we were going to budget

[2:34:13] it again. But that 3500 that was unspent in 25 went into the bottom line and

[2:34:20] helped to create a surplus. So, it's not that the the money went

[2:34:25] somewhere. It just stayed there and then the next year we decided to budget it

[2:34:29] again. And uh we have a plan for the common of which you were on the

[2:34:33] committee. So, um I hope that answers your question.

[2:34:38] » Okay. Any other questions? Yes, sir. In the back.

[2:34:43] » Whose whose mic have I got?

[2:35:07] You just Yeah. Don't press it multiple. >> Okay, there we go.

[2:35:12] » Um, we're entering into the list [clears throat] of the budgets items.

[2:35:17] We're starting off obviously with the general fund and I think this is a a

[2:35:21] good opportunity to look at it overall that if we look at all the spending

[2:35:26] that's being proposed here it is a substantial increase. It's a little

[2:35:31] under $400,000 over last year or roughly 27%.

[2:35:37] So this is going to be the start of as we go through these different items of

[2:35:42] what your tax bill is going to look like. And so this budget that we're

[2:35:46] talking about is going to substantially increase your taxes. So it's a case

[2:35:50] where we want to make sure that we're looking at all the different items as we

[2:35:54] go through them and add them up. And in response to I think what Laura was

[2:35:59] saying is that there was a surplus in the general fund of roughly 34,000

[2:36:07] um prior year and prior year being the year that ended last uh June.

[2:36:15] um that was not utilized to lower taxes. Um there's also another there was 92 in

[2:36:22] change in the highway department which we only use $17,000

[2:36:28] to reduce taxes leaving another $75,000 or so. So there's about $110,000 of

[2:36:35] surpluses that have not been used for the purpose of reducing taxes. So I want

[2:36:41] to bring that point up as we go through and vote on the different items for

[2:36:45] people to consider whether they are willing to pay that level of increase in

[2:36:48] taxation. So thank you. >> Moderator, may I respond to that?

[2:36:52] » Yes. >> Um it has been recommended by the

[2:36:55] auditors and Nimmer to keep a certain amount of surplus available um

[2:37:02] approximately 10 or so%. So to spend that down to zero just to offset taxes

[2:37:08] while sounds nice in theory still hurts us in the end. And ultimately that's

[2:37:13] kind of why there is an increase in the amount to be raised in taxes this year

[2:37:17] but actually the general fund budget did not increase be increase by that much

[2:37:21] year-over-year. The reason being is because we had spent um our fund balance

[2:37:25] our surplus last year and now we have such a small fund balance that we don't

[2:37:30] have the ability to offset the taxes. And so that's why we're trying to just

[2:37:35] make sure that we are keeping that surplus where it's being recommended,

[2:37:39] trying not to spend it down just to offset taxes when it's still just going

[2:37:43] to increase our taxes later on down the line. So I just want to clarify that

[2:37:47] point and that's the same for the highway

[2:37:50] although that is I'm going to say not the topic of this article and we can

[2:37:54] talk about that at the next article. >> Right. I want to just give an overview

[2:37:57] on that. And I would say that typically when you're creating a fund um out of

[2:38:04] surplus from a prior year, it usually is designated if you're going to keep it as

[2:38:10] a reserve fund. So, it does show up. The way it's budgeted here, it does not show

[2:38:14] up and it's not visible to people looking at the budget.

[2:38:20] » Okay. Yes, Bob. So, I'd like to call your attention to

[2:38:25] the bottom of page 11. It says planning board. It's the planning commission.

[2:38:30] Many of you will remember Irene and the damage that was done to

[2:38:36] many of our roads. The planning commission is responsible for having

[2:38:41] up-to-date flood ordinances. That ordinance needs to be updated

[2:38:50] either this year or next year. But either way, there isn't money in the

[2:38:54] budget to do it. So many of you should understand that we will not be

[2:39:00] reimbursed if there's another event like Irene tomorrow.

[2:39:06] And that's because of the way the select board decided to take that funding out

[2:39:11] of their budget. Okay. Any other discussion?

[2:39:20] Okay. Hearing no other discussion, we have Oh, sorry. Yes, sir.

[2:39:24] » We may or may not be able to answer

[2:39:29] or whatever that could be uh taken out of reserve

[2:39:35] and put into reducing taxes overall. Is there any I mean it's it's not the

[2:39:42] suggested um way according to the auditors, but is there an estimate on

[2:39:48] what $100,000 difference would save a towns and

[2:39:52] taxpayer? I couldn't give you that off the top of

[2:39:57] my head. Uh if we had $100,000 in surplus in the general fund, which we do

[2:40:01] not, that $90,000 figure is for the highway fund. Okay? uh if we had that

[2:40:06] for the general fund, it would reduce the amount to be raised in taxes from

[2:40:09] 400 down to 300,000, right? That's kind of what's offsetting the actual running

[2:40:13] expenses and what we actually need to raise in taxes is that if we had that to

[2:40:18] apply it, >> I guess I'm curious if it's a negligible

[2:40:21] amount or is it a large amount per person? I'm I'm sure it's hard to

[2:40:25] calculate, but do we have any idea of what that

[2:40:28] » It would probably be a significant decrease.

[2:40:31] » Okay. I'm curious, >> but

[2:40:35] Okay. But if you don't have an answer, that's sufficient.

[2:40:40] » Okay. Well, this is this will be it. >> Each $100,000, assuming that the grand

[2:40:46] list stays roughly the same, will be about 5 and 3/4 cents in the tax rate.

[2:40:53] So, we last year our tax rate was 828 or something like that per 100. And so

[2:41:01] each $100,000 that we do an increased spending or reduce spending will change

[2:41:06] that by about five and three/4 cents. >> Okay. So that's okay.

[2:41:12] » Of the mill. >> Okay. Discussion between members. Yes,

[2:41:16] Bob.

[2:41:20] » This goes back to something that's been said before on my copy of the town

[2:41:26] report. I've got red circles all over the place because money comes and goes

[2:41:30] and it just disappears. And it's in areas like wages, repairs, maintenance.

[2:41:36] There's no money. Suddenly there's 2500, 2,000. Down below we have repairs,

[2:41:41] maintenance. Same item apparently. 7500, 3,000, 7500, 5,000. There's no

[2:41:47] explanation. Money comes and goes. I don't know where it's going to or what

[2:41:51] it's been spent on. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Yes. Laura,

[2:41:57] have you spoken yet? Laura, you have Irv, do do I first hasn't spoken

[2:42:02] right there and then Lauri?

[2:42:06] » Oh, that this money it's in the reserve and

[2:42:11] stuff. If it's earmarked, then that's the only thing it can be

[2:42:16] spent on. It can't you can't just take it out. And they was one in there that

[2:42:21] had stipulations on it and they taken money out of it.

[2:42:25] Now that's illegal. Couldn't have brought statues. You

[2:42:30] cannot do that without a vote of the people.

[2:42:35] So you'd have to do it at the next town meeting

[2:42:39] and they've already spent it. Hey, any other discussion? That was that

[2:42:45] was Have you guys come up front to speak?

[2:42:49] Microphone. Everybody come here. Speak. Um, I just back to Bob's remark about

[2:42:55] FEMA payment. I need some clarification on why you're saying that we if we had a

[2:42:59] flood tomorrow, you're saying we are non-compliant

[2:43:03] » to to receive any funds. >> We're talking general fund. I I know

[2:43:08] we're talking general fund and that's that's a fair question, but

[2:43:12] » he just stated that the select board >> has done something to saying that we are

[2:43:17] not qualified for FEMA tomorrow if we have a flood. I'm just confused.

[2:43:20] » What? Is that true or not? Yes or no?

[2:43:24] » No, that's what Bob referring to having an up-to-date flood plane ordinance,

[2:43:28] which would be a requirement for um FEMA grants. Correct. Is that right?

[2:43:32] » We're talking about the same thing. Yes. >> So, he's talking about the flood plane

[2:43:35] ordinance, >> right?

[2:43:37] » Which was >> and and Bob said that it's not up to

[2:43:39] date and we won't get FEMA money >> if it does not get updated. They have

[2:43:43] been working on that over the last year and change, right, with Windham

[2:43:46] Regional. And then this is a bit that is carrying over into the next year that we

[2:43:52] were expecting to finish in the last year but didn't fully get finished. Am I

[2:43:56] understanding that correctly? There was a small bit

[2:44:00] » Bob I I just don't think it's totally true that I don't think that's the case

[2:44:05] and I'm just >> we're talking about the general fund and

[2:44:09] and funding. We're not I don't want to get bogged down on whether

[2:44:12] » Anyways, I just got one quick clarification if I can. Okay,

[2:44:16] » we got lawn care >> for the common $4,000.

[2:44:19] » Mhm. >> What is that for?

[2:44:23] » Lawn. That's a valid question. Lawn lawn care. $4,000. What is that for?

[2:44:30] » Chad, you want to talk?

[2:44:34] » Are we talking What are we talking >> I'm sorry that there I'm sorry. In the

[2:44:39] book, if you look in the book on page 11, it's not that hard. We're on page

[2:44:43] 11. Lawn care. Lawn care. >> Oh, but we were just talking about what

[2:44:49] [clears throat] >> we're on the lawn care right now.

[2:44:51] » If this is Connie Holt um regarding the question about the flood

[2:44:58] plane mapping, the plan is to use the planning commission's reserve to which

[2:45:04] has enough money in there to cover the cost. So, that was the plan. It's not

[2:45:08] that it's not there's that we're not going to do it. It's where the money is

[2:45:12] going to come from. Lawn care. I can address it if other

[2:45:17] people want to. the um common committee put a proposal together uh in for the

[2:45:24] budget for the select board and they approved it and it is $4,000 to um

[2:45:31] correct me if I'm not saying this uh correctly but to basically do

[2:45:37] rehabilitation or regular maintenance of the lawn of the common by um soliciting

[2:45:45] volunteers and volunteer equipment along with purchasing some feed and um

[2:45:55] fertilizer. So there's a um there's a whole plan that we would spend about

[2:46:01] $4,000 which would would be two um two fertilizations or two maintenances, one

[2:46:09] in the spring and one later in the summer.

[2:46:13] Uh and we have gotten uh other entities to volunteer to donate their equipment

[2:46:19] so that we can do that. Um so it's a it was came out of the common

[2:46:25] committee's uh plan proposal. >> Yeah. Amazing.

[2:46:29] » So when um in past years we've had a [snorts]

[2:46:34] um a contract with someone that took care of the trees on the common. They

[2:46:39] were fertilized regularly. There was a schedule for that. there was a budget

[2:46:42] for that for several years. Uh in the meantime, we had spoken with the state

[2:46:47] forester and he came out and he looked at all of the trees on the common and he

[2:46:51] told us that the trees um that maybe the fertilization wasn't exactly what we

[2:46:56] needed. We needed some scaling back of the dirt around all of the trees to

[2:47:00] actually expose the highest roots because then that helps with the tree

[2:47:04] health and its uptake of water and uh taking into account the fact that it's

[2:47:09] in sort of a heavily compacted from the kids using the common and people using

[2:47:14] the common and an urban more urban environment for those trees. So he had

[2:47:19] uh made some recommendations to us to think about how uh

[2:47:24] really like rethinking how we take care of the common and what the needs of the

[2:47:28] common were. And that had happened around the same time that that contract

[2:47:32] with the previous contractor kind of came up and we had to decide are we

[2:47:36] going to uh go back into this contract and possibly do fertilizing that it

[2:47:41] doesn't need or are we going to expand our care of the common as a whole and

[2:47:45] that's how we ended up deciding to have more conversations about how to take

[2:47:49] care of the grass. I think Dale was also part of that conversation about needing

[2:47:54] aation and different things like that for the grass and the compaction around

[2:47:57] the trees and then that helped us rework a plan for uh the best practices for

[2:48:03] taking care of that common space.

[2:48:07] » Okay. First time speakers.

[2:48:13] » No, Laura. Second time speakers. So, I'm on the common committee and I I

[2:48:21] was at a meeting where we discussed this, but I was never told about a

[2:48:26] meeting where it was actually voted on. So, I'm kind of curious about that. I

[2:48:31] think Liza Martin is also on the common committee. I don't remember I don't know

[2:48:35] whether she got notified about this meeting, but I don't remember there ever

[2:48:38] being a vote. I just only remember a discussion for one. And I mean, even if

[2:48:43] they did, even if it was decided not to do the tree care fertilizing, um the

[2:48:49] $3,000 was designated. And I don't think any of the other recommendations were

[2:48:54] done either. Uh and so I'm just it's like it's like we're voting every year

[2:48:59] because this money has been voted through every year since I've got it on

[2:49:03] a list somewhere since 2023. >> Are you Are you making a motion to

[2:49:07] remove the money? I mean, an amendment to remove the money.

[2:49:11] I I'm making an I'm just trying to find out if there's a way that we can make

[2:49:15] sure that this money is being spent for what it's being designated for.

[2:49:19] » Okay. Any other discussion?

[2:49:25] Hearing no other discussion, we have a motion before us

[2:49:30] to see if the town will vote to appropriate $671,650.70

[2:49:37] to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of the town of which

[2:49:41] $477,79.70

[2:49:46] is to be raised in taxes. A yes vote passes the motion. A no vote defeats the

[2:49:53] motion. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:49:57] » Oppose. No. >> I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

[2:50:02] have it. The motion passes. Article 8 to see if the town will vote

[2:50:07] to appropriate 1,114,215

[2:50:13] to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of maintaining the town

[2:50:16] roads, of which $736,65 is to be raised in taxes. I will now

[2:50:23] entertain a motion. >> So moved.

[2:50:27] » Second. Um that's on pages 18 through 21 just so you know. Discussion. Motion

[2:50:34] maker. Anybody discuss? Yep. Yep. Does that one work?

[2:50:40] » Okay. I just want to point out that this year is the first year that we've put

[2:50:45] the $91,000 greater payment. Um this is payment number three. There will be two

[2:50:50] more after that. and that is included in this budget. Um, we spent the the past

[2:50:59] year talking about our budget pretty much uh several times a month on the

[2:51:04] highway committee. Um we've had members of the public on that committee and um I

[2:51:10] was on the committee. Jeremy, our road foreman's on the committee. Connie is on

[2:51:14] the committee and um we really tried to think about what the needs are of the

[2:51:18] roads and um how to support that while also respecting the tax rate. So these

[2:51:24] uh these numbers were not come at very easily. We had to really watch our

[2:51:29] budget as close as we could. We did um stop some spending in the spring to make

[2:51:34] sure that we were not going over budget or anything like that. And we were um

[2:51:39] basically going over everything on a regular basis, getting our sheets from

[2:51:44] the finance office and really trying to zero in on what was really happening and

[2:51:48] what that spending looked like and what the needs were. So that's how we got

[2:51:52] here. >> Further discussion? Yes, sir. Uh yep,

[2:51:57] got it. Good. Thank you.

[2:52:01] Um, I want to call attention, Andy Snelling, want to call attention to, uh,

[2:52:06] on page 18, the Vermont Trans Grant structures. Uh, on the revenue side,

[2:52:12] there's $196,200 listed there. If one looks at the detail

[2:52:18] there, there's $180,000 that is coming in on the bridge grant for bridge 43, I

[2:52:25] believe, is for resurfacing the deck. Um, that's about a $400,000 project that

[2:52:32] we have to put the money up front. Uh, first there was $200,000 put into

[2:52:39] reserve for that last town meeting. There would have to pass um article 12

[2:52:48] at least in the amount of $200,000 to be able to fund that to get that

[2:52:53] $180,000 back. So, from a presentation perspective,

[2:53:00] um, we're counting on money here, $180,000,

[2:53:03] and we're not showing the $400,000 spending that's required to be eligible

[2:53:09] to get that grant of $180,000. So, um, keep in mind if Article 12, uh,

[2:53:17] doesn't pass, then we're going to be out of budget here by $180,000.

[2:53:23] » Okay. Other discussion?

[2:53:29] Discussion on the roads. Okay. No. Oh, yes.

[2:53:36] » Don't you speak? Yeah. >> There there was a grant raised for that

[2:53:39] project. >> Oh, great. How much was that grant

[2:53:43] awarded? How much was awarded? >> The grant award was for $200,000 and

[2:53:49] there's a $20,000 match and we don't It's a reimbursement grant. So the money

[2:53:54] gets spent and then reimbursed. >> Great. Thanks for applying for those.

[2:53:59] » Okay. Any other discussion? Yes, Bob.

[2:54:08] » I've got a few questions about [clears throat] actual in the 2025

[2:54:13] budget under vehicle repairs. Um, we spent

[2:54:18] $45,900 bucks on a truck, 39,763

[2:54:25] on another one. And then on page 18, contributions. It just says

[2:54:31] contributions. What does that mean? Did we have a town resident say here's

[2:54:36] $22,000?

[2:55:01] She's thinking. She hasn't come up. She's just thinking

[2:55:07] » because it was two years ago. She's thinking. She believes it might have

[2:55:12] been

[2:55:19] Wait, I because they're still thinking. Hang on. They're still discussing on

[2:55:22] what it might be. >> I guarantee you we'll get you the

[2:55:25] answer. >> Greater, not the back. The greater trade

[2:55:28] in. >> There is a line item for the greater.

[2:55:32] » Yeah, I can't speak to what that 22 is. Then

[2:55:36] » they're unsure what that is. And if you'd like to come to town hall, they'd

[2:55:39] be more than happy to get you that answer in the future. Any other

[2:55:43] questions?

[2:55:47] Yes. In the way back should force you to come up front.

[2:55:57] Um just wondering, we used to only crush gravel every other year and for the last

[2:56:04] couple years, three years we keep doing 60,000 every year and here we are again.

[2:56:09] Just curious, we get a big pile down there now and we're need another 50,000.

[2:56:18] » Um there was we um we did not spend uh one of the 60,000s. We rolled it over so

[2:56:26] that we used 120,000 last year to create a um a stockpile of gravel. And we

[2:56:34] believe that we will need all of that material and that we will need to have

[2:56:38] more um crushed >> for what?

[2:56:42] » Say it again. >> Could you explain why we'd need that

[2:56:45] quantity of gravel in one year >> for the Well, maybe not all in one year,

[2:56:51] but for the roads. >> That's what I'm saying. So why do we

[2:56:54] need another 50,000?

[2:56:57] » Because they felt we need the materials. >> Because they felt they needed the

[2:57:00] material. When can I make an amendment?

[2:57:05] » You want to make an amendment? >> Yeah.

[2:57:07] » Okay. >> To eliminate the 50,000 for crushing and

[2:57:11] pit maintenance. >> Is there a second to that amendment?

[2:57:15] » Second. >> I can't hear.

[2:57:17] » Second, Bob. >> Oh, Bob. Okay.

[2:57:19] » Okay. It's been moved and second to reduce the um road budget by $50,000

[2:57:25] eliminating um gravel crushing.

[2:57:32] » I just want to make sure. Is it >> We It's been moved and seconded. Let's

[2:57:35] discuss gravel crushing. Any discussion? >> Yes, sir.

[2:57:40] » Can I >> What? Yes. [clears throat]

[2:57:42] » Is it to eliminate the 50,000 or the 40,000?

[2:57:46] » 40. It says 40 here >> because 10,000 is for pit maintenance. I

[2:57:49] think that we're trying to log some of the area to create more um pit to to be

[2:57:56] able to get at gravel. So, are you eliminating the 40 for crushing or the

[2:58:00] whole 50?

[2:58:06] The plan is to uh have a logger come in and eliminate some of the trees so that

[2:58:12] we can get at more dirt which would create gravel in the future.

[2:58:20] » Okay, we're going to Yeah, we'll talk about this in other business that though

[2:58:25] I I want people up here to speak. I don't want you in your seat in the

[2:58:29] back. That's it's very difficult to hear you.

[2:58:31] Um, okay. So, you said that you just want 40 Well, there's there's amendment

[2:58:36] that's been moved in second. Would you like to amend the amendment?

[2:58:41] Okay. So, now we're going to amend the Is there a second to amend the

[2:58:44] amendment? >> Oh, wait. Well, the mover of the

[2:58:48] amendment, you want to change it because then we don't have to go through this,

[2:58:51] right? >> Leave it at 50,000. Okay. He wants to

[2:58:55] eliminate the $50,000 budget on all gravity crushing and pit maintenance.

[2:59:00] that it's been moved and seconded already. We're discussing that. Is there

[2:59:03] more discussion on eliminating that $50,000? More discussion? Yes, sir.

[2:59:09] Wait. Wait for the mic. Thank you. I'll come up front.

[2:59:15] [clears throat]

[2:59:21] » [clears throat]

[2:59:26] » I just wanted to Lucas Frell uh ask for clarification because what I heard

[2:59:32] Connie is that you spent the 120,000 at one time but that you raised 60,000

[2:59:41] over two years. So you weren't actually not spending the 60,000 that was

[2:59:46] appropriated each year and raised. Is that right?

[2:59:49] » It is correct that we raised 60 in one year and then didn't

[2:59:55] over um to have 120 to be able to spend in one year.

[3:00:01] » Correct. So, >> if we're going to go through the line

[3:00:04] items and cut out expenses, I would just say that the last thing I want cut out

[3:00:11] is gravel, making our roads less safe.

[3:00:18] And I think there's an argument that they're already

[3:00:24] and I've seen, you know, over the course of this winter roads that you could

[3:00:30] argue are not getting enough sand. So I would

[3:00:36] stop talking there. >> Other discussion? Yes, sir. On the

[3:00:40] gravel crushing. Yep. Okay. Okay. Microphone's coming. There you go.

[3:00:45] Sorry. Thank you. I appreciate you running that around.

[3:00:49] » It's on. Correct. Okay. Just to clarify, this gravel crushing is for material

[3:00:54] [clears throat] that is used to say fill soft spots or regrade roads, not for

[3:01:00] sanding for win as part of the winter ice protection. Is that correct?

[3:01:06] » Okay. Thank you. Careful, >> Hoffman.

[3:01:10] » Our road foreman does not live in town, so if we wanted him to speak, we'd have

[3:01:14] to suspend the rules, which is fine, but we haven't done that yet. Yes, Charlie.

[3:01:18] » And then in the back, >> what's the trick? Oh, okay. Charlie

[3:01:21] Marchant. Um, point of clarification. If if this amendment passes,

[3:01:28] that item is reduced by X amount of dollars, whatever the amendment is. But

[3:01:35] the select board is not obligated to deduct that money from a particular item

[3:01:41] in the budget because they have a total amount of money to work with and they

[3:01:46] can use it anywhere they want. That's my understanding

[3:01:49] » that >> so they don't have to stop getting

[3:01:52] gravel. They could use it they could deduct it someplace else. You you have

[3:01:58] » I know they're I know they hear the intent of the audience, but in the

[3:02:02] reality they're dealing with a pot of money and they can spend it wherever

[3:02:05] they want. >> Everybody that's everybody heard that

[3:02:10] that's correct. The select board has wide ability to use

[3:02:16] money where necessary but has to face the voters. If the voters don't like it,

[3:02:23] they vote them out. But they do have discretion. Yes. question. Yep.

[3:02:27] » Sarah Sheldon Fry, um I'm wondering where the uh advice to do this specific

[3:02:34] amount of gravel crushing came from. I just want to assume that our select

[3:02:39] board didn't go out and look at the gravel pile and say, "Hey, it looks like

[3:02:42] there's not enough." I assume that someone who's very knowledgeable about

[3:02:46] this has recommended that this be done to preserve our roads. So, I'd love to

[3:02:51] hear where that came from, that we didn't just make up that number,

[3:02:56] which I assume is the case. >> Got it.

[3:02:59] » I'll go ahead and answer that. So, um, my numbers may be off slightly, but

[3:03:04] generally in every budget, there is a yearly or every other year gravel

[3:03:11] crushing amount of money that is budgeted. How much gravel you actually

[3:03:17] get at the end of that dollar amount has varied uh based on uh inflation and the

[3:03:23] cost of uh the contractor's bid. Um but it is the road foreman's uh view that we

[3:03:32] need more than what we currently have in the stockpile. And so um

[3:03:39] so that's what the recommendation. It's not the select board, it's the road

[3:03:42] foreman who's working on the roads.

[3:03:47] Did that answer the question? Yes. Okay. Any other discussion on the amendment?

[3:03:54] Yeah. Amendment maker >> to point out on page 16.

[3:04:00] » You can't we nobody can hear you. >> Sorry. On page 16, just want to point

[3:04:04] out the gravel that was put down by Green Mountain Power. considerable

[3:04:08] amount on our town roads and we're still saying we need another

[3:04:14] additional to the stock pile we have down there. I just want to point that

[3:04:16] out. >> Okay. Any other discussion on the

[3:04:21] amendment? We can still talk about the budget and we're just talking about

[3:04:25] crushing. Good Dale. Wait, you're next. One more.

[3:04:29] » You can go after me. >> Um

[3:04:32] » wait one second. You're let Dale talk then you go ahead Dale.

[3:04:36] » Okay. I'm going to go. I was actually on the highway budget committee and the

[3:04:44] plan was to basically that pile you see this next summer is going to be spread

[3:04:50] out onto probably at least 10 to 12 loads roads in this town because good

[3:04:57] 65% of all the roads in this town could use some gravel.

[3:05:03] um to the to the feelings of a lot of people yelling they don't like the

[3:05:07] roads. The way we maintain roads 20, 30 years ago, the pleasure cars that are

[3:05:13] being made nowadays do not like the way they used to be and

[3:05:19] they fall apart obviously. So, we have to try to make a better

[3:05:25] surface. I know it costs money. I was on there and that's the reason why it's cut

[3:05:31] from 60 to 50 plus another 10 is because we actually need to do some maintenance

[3:05:36] with the trees and the slope work of removing trees to gain more gravel for

[3:05:44] the future. This was like an off year of grinding and hopefully next year after

[3:05:50] that we would probably be crushing again. So yes, it is a bi-weekly a

[3:05:55] by-early idea and and that was some of the thinking that we were continuing

[3:06:00] with right.

[3:06:09] I'll tell you something. It ain't going to be long before you're going to be

[3:06:13] spending a lot more money because they going through that gravel like it was no

[3:06:18] end to it. And there's a lot of ledge and you I've dug test holes in there

[3:06:23] when I was road for and there's a bunch of clay right up back there.

[3:06:29] So you're going to be costing a lot of money here pretty quick and they're

[3:06:34] putting the gravel out. If if you don't shape it up and keep it in shape,

[3:06:40] it's going to go down the ditches. Now you go out and look and see.

[3:06:47] Okay. Further discussion on the amendment. We're still coming

[3:06:54] back to the highway fund. Seeing no other discussion on the

[3:06:59] amendment. Basically, we have an amendment to see whether or not we want

[3:07:03] to reduce both the appropriation and raised in taxes by $50,000 by

[3:07:10] eliminating uh road uh gravel crushing uh the gravel crushing line items. Total

[3:07:17] a yes vote will approve that amendment and reduce the budget by $50,000. A no

[3:07:24] vote will defeat the amendment and we go back to the original numbers. Does

[3:07:29] everybody understand? Yes, sir.

[3:07:33] » He did not. >> It's $50,000.

[3:07:37] Everybody clear? Yes vote passes the amendment and a no vote defeats the

[3:07:43] amendment. We go back to original numbers. Yes. All those in favor, please

[3:07:48] say I. >> I

[3:07:49] » oppose. No. >> No.

[3:07:54] » I What? Wait. Before we do paper ballots, do you want to divide the

[3:07:58] house? What? >> Yes. What's up, Verve?

[3:08:04] » Are there se Somebody called for a paper ballot. That means we have to ask for

[3:08:07] seven other. And if there are, we go to a paper ballot. Are there seven other

[3:08:11] hands that want a paper ballot? paper ballot it is. Okay. So, you either

[3:08:17] put yes, which will

[3:08:21] lower the budget by $50,000. A yes passes the amendment, which is to lower

[3:08:27] it by 50. A no keeps it the same. Make sense?

[3:08:32] » Okay. I now declare the ballot box open. Yes. To pass amendment. No to defeat

[3:08:38] amendment.

[3:08:44] All right. I see you when you get back here.

[3:08:46] » And we're still going to be discussing the rest of it. So, this isn't the end.

[3:08:53] » We have Oh, wait. Yes, we have the results of the election as soon as I add

[3:08:56] it up. Uh, that's two. Carry the one. Ready? Attention. Attention.

[3:09:04] We have the results of the election. on the amendment. The amendment was to

[3:09:08] reduce um the uh town road expenditures by $50,000, eliminating the gravel

[3:09:15] crushing items. Um a yes vote would pass the amendment.

[3:09:19] A no vote would defeat the amendment. Uh we have 112 votes. Uh 39 were yes and 73

[3:09:28] were no. The amendment fails. We are now back to the original motion to see if

[3:09:33] the town will vote to appropriate $1,14,215

[3:09:38] [snorts] to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of the town roads of

[3:09:41] which $736,65 is to be raised by taxes. Further

[3:09:46] discussion,

[3:09:53] » are you calling the question? Okay, the question has been called.

[3:09:57] discussion will be cut off if and we will immediately move to a uh uh vote

[3:10:04] um requires a twothirds majority to cut off debate. A yes vote cuts debate off

[3:10:11] and we move right to voting. A no vote keeps discussion open. All those in

[3:10:17] favor of ending debate, please say I. >> I.

[3:10:20] » Well, what was there a second? You're right. Was there Yep.

[3:10:23] » Okay. Plenty of seconds. Okay. Any All those in favor, please say I. I

[3:10:28] » oppose. No. >> Um, all those all those in favor, please

[3:10:33] raise your hand.

[3:10:38] All those that we're stopping debate. That's a

[3:10:42] good question. We're stopping debate. So we're he doesn't the question has been

[3:10:48] called which means there will be no more discussion

[3:10:54] and we move immediately to a vote on the motion that's on the floor.

[3:11:01] Does that make sense? >> No more discussion. We immediately vote

[3:11:05] on that motion. Okay, that make sense. Did I explain it? Keep

[3:11:11] talking me. Wait, he's he's thinking. Yeah, go ahead.

[3:11:14] » We voted on something. >> That was the amendment

[3:11:17] » and the amendment failed. So now we're back to the main motion

[3:11:22] which is the numbers that were produced in the book. We didn't have to amend

[3:11:25] them. And so now somebody said they want to call the question. So there's no more

[3:11:31] debate. If we vote yes, there's no more debate and we vote on the main motion.

[3:11:37] Make sense? Okay. And it has been moved and

[3:11:41] seconded. There was a bunch of Who's second it? Somebody raise their hand. I

[3:11:45] heard a whole smattering. >> There you go.

[3:11:50] » It's been moved and seconded. It needs a two-th3 majority.

[3:11:55] All those in favor of cutting off debate and moving right to the vote, please

[3:11:59] raise your hand. Okay, if this doesn't work, we're going

[3:12:03] to and then go ahead. Hands down. All those opposed, please raise your hand.

[3:12:08] Ah, that's not going to work. Okay, I'm going to need the justice of the pieces

[3:12:12] to count. Sorry, we have to count hands. Stand up because I needed two/3 majority

[3:12:17] and that was kind of not obvious whether or not that was 2/3. So, all those in

[3:12:23] favor. Okay. Kind of Well, wait. Kind of split it up. You do this side.

[3:12:27] » I mean, I think we need to look at everyone. If I look

[3:12:30] » Okay. Well, no. >> Okay. You can do it any way you want.

[3:12:35] Okay. All those in favor of cutting off debate with twothirds majority, please

[3:12:41] raise your hand.

[3:13:07] No, no, no, no, no. We can't do about

[3:13:13] Katie, you want to just go to the vote. >> Yes, vote. Raise your hand. to go to the

[3:13:17] vote. >> Yes, raise your hand.

[3:13:45] 36 and 36. Okay. >> 36 36 272

[3:13:52] » 72. All those opposed to closing debate and want to continue discussion, please

[3:13:58] raise your hand.

[3:14:19] Huh? >> She's a math teacher, right?

[3:14:22] » 12. >> Okay. Well,

[3:14:27] » uh,

[3:14:33] okay. So, so according to my thing where there was a total votes of 84 75% of 84

[3:14:39] 2/3 right 75% in that I mean 66 6% would be

[3:14:46] uh 50 something and we have 72 yes votes so it

[3:14:52] passes okay >> I didn't get that

[3:14:54] » okay 66 * 84 equals 55 and we had 72 yeses so debate

[3:15:01] is closed we are Now voting on >> the original

[3:15:05] » the original motion. Okay. So in front of us we have a motion to see if the

[3:15:10] town will vote to appropriate 1,114,215

[3:15:14] to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of maintaining the town

[3:15:18] roads of which $7736,65

[3:15:23] is to be raised by taxes. A yes vote passes it and a no vote defeats it.

[3:15:31] All those all those. Okay. A written ballot has been requested. Are there

[3:15:36] seven other people that want a written ballot?

[3:15:41] I see two hands. A written ballot is I see three hands.

[3:15:48] 567. Thank you very much. We will now have a written ballot. Okay. A yes vote

[3:15:54] will pass this motion. A no vote will defeat the motion. Everybody understand?

[3:15:59] Okay. The ballot box is now open.

[3:16:06] We have the results of the uh election to see if the town the town roads.

[3:16:13] A yes vote would pass the motion. A no vote would defeat the motion.

[3:16:19] There were 104 votes as we dwindle away. Uh 72 yes and 32 no. The motion passes.

[3:16:32] » We now move on to article nine >> to see if the town will vote to raise

[3:16:37] $104,382 by taxation for the running expenses of

[3:16:42] the liabilities of the library. I will entertain a motion.

[3:16:49] » Eugene and Chris. >> Dean and Chris.

[3:16:52] » Uh we will now discuss. Yes. Oh, I'm ready. Okay.

[3:16:56] » Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait

[3:17:00] a second. >> All right. Elizabeth Brown, one of your

[3:17:03] library trustees, I would like to make an amendment to reduce the budget

[3:17:07] request by $10,400 for a total amount of $93,969.

[3:17:13] » 93,000. Wait, 93969. >> 969.

[3:17:19] » Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You want to do it? Reduce it. 10,000

[3:17:23] » 10,400 >> 400 and that now makes it 93969.

[3:17:27] » Yes. >> Okay.

[3:17:28] » So says my paper. >> Okay. Is there a second? And thank you

[3:17:30] for keeping me honest on the seconds. >> Yes. Okay. That's okay. Thank you. But

[3:17:34] thank you for keeping me honest on the last one on the second. Okay. Now we're

[3:17:38] going to discuss just the motion. The amendment.

[3:17:41] Okay. Just the amendment. Oh, I can move around.

[3:17:45] » Just the amendment. >> Wow. I never did it like this.

[3:17:49] » Huh? >> Explain why.

[3:17:50] » Why? Why? Oh, why? Good question. That that a question. Why I'm moving around?

[3:17:55] » Okay, I'm ready for that. I was ready. Um Karen's husband found alternate

[3:17:58] insurance so we don't have to pay for his insurance.

[3:18:01] » Thank you, Karen's husband. >> Okay. So, so, so I I that might need a

[3:18:08] little Does everybody understand? >> No. Try I I know we're going back to the

[3:18:14] main motion, but let me Right. So, so the one of the things that was added

[3:18:20] this year was uh benefits for the librarian and so

[3:18:26] the the husband of the librarian has other insurance so that doesn't need to

[3:18:31] be raised. So that's why she's reducing it. Now again I don't want to get into

[3:18:36] the library issue yet because we got to go back to that. Did that make sense?

[3:18:40] Did I answer that question? Why? >> Okay. Any other

[3:18:47] Health. Any other discussion on the amendment?

[3:18:51] The amendment is to reduce it. Yes, sir.

[3:19:00] » Uh my name is uh Jason Min. Um, so in reducing at 10,000, but I noticed the

[3:19:08] benefit health insurance added on here was 19,880 or $19,866.

[3:19:15] So are we just removing half of that for just the one individual and not for

[3:19:19] everybody?

[3:19:24] » Yes. The the money that we put in there was was for her um Karen, our wonderful

[3:19:28] librarian, and her husband, and now it's just for her.

[3:19:33] Hold for a sec. Any other discussion? >> Yeah. Should I say single single

[3:19:37] insurance health insurance?

[3:19:41] » Hey, see seeing no other discussion on the amendment.

[3:19:46] We have We're going to be voting yes or no on the amendment to reduce

[3:19:52] how much the town will raise by $10,400 to 93967

[3:19:58] 969. A yes vote passes the amendment and the

[3:20:04] new number is now what we'll be voting on. A no vote defeats the amendment.

[3:20:10] [clears throat] Make sense? Okay. All those in favor of the

[3:20:14] amendment, please say I. >> I.

[3:20:17] » Oppose. No. The eyes do have it. We now have a motion in front of us that says

[3:20:23] to see it to see if the town will vote to raise 9 $93,969

[3:20:30] by taxation for the running expenses and liabilities of the library. Discussion

[3:20:35] pages 2425. Any further discussion? Yes. Lower road.

[3:20:42] Uh, you should grab one of the other ones in case you have to answer

[3:20:45] questions.

[3:20:49] » Thank you. Um, I did some research on the Vermont Department of Libraries

[3:20:55] website and discovered that our library last year was the third most expensive

[3:21:00] library for any town of its population in the state. Um, I also asked last year

[3:21:07] if we were going to pay more, if the librarian was going to be being paid

[3:21:10] more, given more hours and more pay, then the

[3:21:15] town's people should get more hours available for them to use the library to

[3:21:21] make it to make it seem like we're getting more for our money. Um,

[3:21:28] I'm not quite I don't quite understand um what the need to have such an

[3:21:34] expensive library for such a small town is. So, I'm just putting that out there.

[3:21:46] » Other discussion?

[3:21:52] Seeing no further discussion,

[3:21:58] uh we have a motion before us to to raise $93,969

[3:22:04] by taxation for the running expenses of the library. A yes vote will pass that

[3:22:11] motion. A no vote will defeat that motion.

[3:22:15] All those in favor, please say I. >> I [clears throat]

[3:22:18] » oppose. No. >> No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes

[3:22:23] do have it. And the motion passes.

[3:22:28] » Article 10 to see if the town will raise $2,100 by taxation for the old cemetery

[3:22:35] fund which is on page 26. I will entertain.

[3:22:39] » Thank you, Craig. >> Second,

[3:22:41] » Greg. Second, >> Gabby. I mean Katie.

[3:22:45] » Okay. Discussion. Any discussion on the old temperary fund

[3:22:51] $2,100? Seeing no discussion, we have a motion before us to see if the

[3:22:59] town will raise $2,100 by taxation for the old cemetery fund. A yes vote

[3:23:04] passes. A no vote defeats. All those in favor, please say I.

[3:23:10] » I. >> Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

[3:23:14] The eyes do have it. And the motion passes.

[3:23:18] Article 11. >> Don't move.

[3:23:24] » You know, I used to do that. Whatever. To see if the town will vote to create a

[3:23:29] highway surplus fund to carry over highway surplus funds to address large

[3:23:34] highway projects and save money for future highway expenses. Connie has

[3:23:38] moved it. Is there a second? Katie is second. Connie, you got something to say

[3:23:42] as a motion maker? >> Uh, yes. I'd just like to

[3:23:46] » Huh. What?

[3:23:51] » Okay, hang on.

[3:23:58] This this this the Passover is a Vermont tradition. It's not in law

[3:24:05] and it's not in Robert's rules, but Vermont has a tradition of possibly

[3:24:09] passing over. Okay. So right now and there's different

[3:24:15] times you can pass over which mean different things. We have already made

[3:24:19] the motion and we have seconded the motion but we have not started debate.

[3:24:26] So that means this is an objection to consideration of the question. A second

[3:24:31] is not required. It is not debatable and we need a twoth3 vote.

[3:24:39] Okay. So there will be a twothird vote right

[3:24:43] now. A yes vote passes over this and we don't discuss it and we just move on. We

[3:24:50] can't even ask why. >> Huh?

[3:24:55] » Just goes away. Just goes away. Doesn't exist. A no vote

[3:25:01] will then we go back to discussing it and we do not pass over it. Does that

[3:25:06] make sense? A yes vote, we pass over this and we don't discuss it.

[3:25:11] A note >> no longer an article.

[3:25:14] » No longer an article. Gone. >> As is as it as if. Thank you, Jean. As

[3:25:19] it never existed. As if it never existed. A yes. A no vote, we go back

[3:25:25] and we discuss it. And it's got the yeses have to be twothirds.

[3:25:30] Everybody understand? A yes vote, we pass over. A no vote, we move on. I

[3:25:35] mean, we go back. Yes, we go on. I'm sorry.

[3:25:39] » [laughter] >> A yes vote will pass over. A no vote we

[3:25:46] will go back and discuss. Does that make sense?

[3:25:49] » Okay. All those in favor of passing over,

[3:25:55] please raise your hand.

[3:26:00] Okay, we're gonna uh all those Okay, hands down. That's the Passover. All

[3:26:03] those to continue discussion, please raise your hand.

[3:26:09] Well, I don't think that's 2/3. >> Two3. There was not two/3 yeses. Justice

[3:26:15] of the pieces. Would you agree? >> I mean, it's your job to vote. I mean,

[3:26:21] your job to uh count. All those in favor of passing over. There needs to be

[3:26:26] twothirds of you. Please raise your hand.

[3:26:34] Okay. Oh, you want to count? That'd be the best way. And and I'll help you.

[3:26:40] Okay. Split the room again. You got the back. Mitch, pick a side. Which side you

[3:26:45] want to go on? That's That's right. Just Just stand over there.

[3:26:49] [laughter] >> Then we're going to have to split you

[3:26:50] when you run your chainsaw. >> Okay. Just Just stand over there. OKAY.

[3:27:09] I got

[3:27:14] » 2/3. So, how many how many yes votes?

[3:27:19] » 44 yes votes. Okay. All those in favor of not passing over

[3:27:25] and discussing

[3:27:45] 37 no >> 37 no. Okay. So I don't even have to do

[3:27:48] that. There's not two two there were not there were 44 yeses and 37 nos. So no

[3:27:54] matter what 44 uh that that's not two3 that wouldn't be 2/3 right

[3:28:01] » math people right >> okay good okay so the motion to pass

[3:28:07] over has failed we will now discuss

[3:28:13] the motion >> uh so I just wanted to give you a little

[3:28:18] bit of background on where this article came from uh the highway committee made

[3:28:24] a proposal to the select board to incorporate it into the articles

[3:28:29] primarily for two reasons. One, we have uh tried to put together a 4-year plan

[3:28:37] on vehicle needs and um and have a concern about the funds to to raise in

[3:28:46] order to replace trucks and equipment that need to be replaced in the next

[3:28:50] four to five years. Um, and you'll see on page 17 that there are some

[3:28:54] challenges to that. And so we can come and continue to make uh articles to

[3:29:05] raise money for the highway reserve and we will do that as we need to. But the

[3:29:10] idea is that if there are surpluses in the highway, can we capture some of that

[3:29:18] money? not necessarily all of it depending on what the auditor's

[3:29:21] recommendations are and what the select board's uh thoughts are. But if we can

[3:29:26] capture some of that surplus money, if there is some, and put it in a reserve,

[3:29:33] it will ease the burden of the special articles that would need to be brought

[3:29:39] in front of you uh for highway equipment needs, thereby reducing the impact on

[3:29:47] the taxes. because what we heard last after last year's highway um highway

[3:29:54] special articles is that these special articles are the thing that drives up

[3:30:00] the tax rate the most. It's not necessarily the general fund, but it's

[3:30:05] the special articles that are driving up the tax rate. And so the idea was is if

[3:30:10] there are surpluses to capture in the highway department to use them to reduce

[3:30:16] what we have to ask for in special articles and thereby hopefully lessening

[3:30:22] the impact on the tax rate.

[3:30:27] » Further discussion? Uh let's go there first and then we'll

[3:30:31] go to Laura. Yeah. Uh I'm sorry. Thank you. Check.

[3:30:38] Thank you. >> Um, I'd like to make a motion to amend

[3:30:42] uh article 12 to reduce the amount to $200,000

[3:30:47] to be >> Wait, wait, wait. We're not on Wait, I'm

[3:30:50] confused. My hands We're not We're not there yet. We're on nine. We're still

[3:30:54] creating a highway surplus fund. >> I mean 11. Sorry. Dyslexia. Dyslexia.

[3:31:01] » Oops. That's okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. That's

[3:31:05] okay. He just he just jumped ahead. I'm excited, too. I want to get out of here.

[3:31:08] That's okay. We're on article 11. Thank you, Laura first and then in the back.

[3:31:14] Yep. >> So, we had this exact article last year

[3:31:18] in our in our um like uh report. So, I'm just wondering, does this have to be

[3:31:24] done every year? >> No, it's not.

[3:31:26] » And and if so, why are we repeating it? >> I mean, if it's not, why are we

[3:31:32] repeating this article again? Same number, everything.

[3:31:35] » Okay. Are you on article 11 or are you on article 12? If I couldn't clarify

[3:31:48] » I'm sorry what the article you're referring to from

[3:31:53] last year.

[3:31:57] » There you go. The article you're referring to from

[3:32:00] last year, we had split up into two articles. one to establish the highway

[3:32:04] equipment reserve and infrastructure reserve and one to fund it. So the

[3:32:08] article you're referring to was establishing the equipment and uh

[3:32:12] infrastructure reserve. What we're talking about right now is a reserve for

[3:32:16] surplus funds. It has nothing to do with the equipment and infrastructure which

[3:32:20] will be voted on in article 12.

[3:32:24] » Okay. So so I I was a little bit confused.

[3:32:26] » Article 13 was not for putting it into a surplus reserve. It was for putting it

[3:32:32] into that other reserve, the equipment reserve.

[3:32:34] » Right? So I was confused about this too because I actually wrote down did this

[3:32:38] exist already. This is a different reserve. It's very closely worded. One

[3:32:42] says surplus fund and the other one was a last year was a what was it called?

[3:32:47] A little bit different name. Herve >> reserve fund versus the surplus fund.

[3:32:54] Right. Okay. Actually it's right below us. It says the highway reserve fund on

[3:32:58] the next article. That's the one that was created last year. This is a new

[3:33:02] fund, a new reserve fund that they want to create called the surplus fund. So, I

[3:33:08] get your question, right? That answer it. Okay. Then we got uh

[3:33:13] Tammy Tammy Dam Tammy. >> I think that

[3:33:21] » do do we Okay, so that's a valid question. Do we understand the

[3:33:24] difference between the two? Did you Did they answer that again?

[3:33:28] Go ahead.

[3:33:30] The highway reserve fund is what we set up for uh infrastructure and equipment.

[3:33:37] The highway surplus fund is a spot to put surplus funds not specific for

[3:33:43] infrastructure and equipment. So this was something I believe Andy brought up

[3:33:47] earlier in discussion of surpluses and if they don't sit in a reserve then

[3:33:52] they're not really tracked. I think that was the point that you were making

[3:33:55] earlier. So this is a uh reserve fund specifically for placing surpluses.

[3:34:04] » Okay. Any other further discussion on article 11

[3:34:09] to see if we're going to create this fund. Yes, sir. Dwight

[3:34:12] » microphone. Sorry.

[3:34:17] Sorry. Just a simple question. in the uh highway department budget highway

[3:34:21] foreman's report um

[3:34:25] at the top of the page. This is page I'm sorry 16 I believe there's a $92,000

[3:34:30] surplus at the end of fiscal year 2025. Does that show in the budget somewhere

[3:34:35] that 92,000 does?

[3:34:40] I I didn't see where it was in the budget in the highway fund budget.

[3:34:44] » Believe it does show up in the budget. Uh the select board voted to uh I think

[3:34:50] it's um the select board voted to uh use $17,000

[3:34:59] of that surplus to uh offset taxes and to keep the remaining 60 and change uh

[3:35:08] in the budget.

[3:35:13] » Did that answer the question? No, because I still can't find 92,

[3:35:18] » but it should be on the revenue page as a

[3:35:22] surplus.

[3:35:25] » 18. Okay.

[3:35:31] » Is at the top called use the fund balance.

[3:35:41] » The use of fund balance.

[3:35:45] Okay. Any other further discussion? Yes, sir. Uh microphone should be right

[3:35:49] behind you. >> No, no, no. Microphone comes forward.

[3:35:52] He's the There you go. >> Easy.

[3:35:56] » Uh Peter, West Townson. Where's this money parked?

[3:36:01] » Where is this money parked? >> Where you have the surplus? It's going

[3:36:04] to go someplace. Where is it parked?

[3:36:09] » I mean, are you are you earning money with us? So, if there is the 90 I'm

[3:36:14] sorry, I didn't see who asked the question, so I'm not

[3:36:17] » Oh, sorry. Um, >> hi.

[3:36:19] » If [laughter] there's $92,000 fund balance and 17 of it has been uh

[3:36:27] has been decided to use it to spend down what we have to raise in taxes, then I'm

[3:36:32] sorry, I don't have the math off the top. 75

[3:36:35] » 75 is kept in the highway budget >> for unforeseen circumstances.

[3:36:43] So it's in the highway fund. >> So the money is exists exists, right?

[3:36:47] Yes. >> Where is it being where is it sitting?

[3:36:50] » It's sitting in the highway fund. [clears throat]

[3:36:52] It's called the 200s. >> Are you are is it in a bank account or

[3:36:55] are you making 4% on it? I guess that's my question.

[3:36:58] » The treasur would have to answer that. Are you making money on it?

[3:37:04] Making nothing. Okay. I'm I'm just curious.

[3:37:10] Well, money market funds on what was it? 70,000.

[3:37:15] That's $2500 roughly right in the town's pocket just

[3:37:21] to invest it. All I'm saying. And you get the money the next day. So that was

[3:37:27] my

[3:37:31] as to on the type of

[3:37:37] » I don't want to get into it that far. I just want to make sure we're getting the

[3:37:40] bang for our buck. That's all.

[3:37:45] » I'm not [clears throat] the treasurer. I don't know. But I don't know if we're

[3:37:48] allowed to take the 100s [clears throat] and the 200s

[3:37:53] and put it somewhere. I I mean, that's a question for Elaine with the type of

[3:37:57] accounting system. You're not going to be having CD. It's just the running

[3:38:02] expenses of town. The general fund is the 100s. The garage is the 200.

[3:38:09] » I got that. >> There's a surplus

[3:38:12] that is noted

[3:38:16] 75,000.

[3:38:23] » Gotcha. But the money is sitting somewhere, right? Where's it sitting?

[3:38:27] And are we making interest on it? >> It's sitting at Mnt Bank in the bank.

[3:38:32] That's a good question. >> Making nothing. Right.

[3:38:34] » Well, we get we get some money, you know.

[3:38:37] » Are you getting 4%? >> Are you getting 4%.

[3:38:43] That's I guess that's my question. >> Okay. The answer is no. Any other

[3:38:47] discussion?

[3:38:55] No.

[3:38:59] » Oh, your point taken. Uh, any other discussion?

[3:39:05] See? Oh, yes. >> No, it's okay.

[3:39:11] Speak up now or forever hold your be. I I just I worry about creating additional

[3:39:16] surplus funds if there is sort of general anxiety and opposition to or I

[3:39:25] should say concern about transparency um of where that money is sitting. It

[3:39:30] seems to take away from when special projects or trucks and

[3:39:36] equipment are needed. We talk about them at town meeting day. we we vote for them

[3:39:43] knowingly based on the context of the budget for that year. Uh but when we

[3:39:51] start to create surplus funds for the highway department,

[3:39:56] then you sort of remove a little bit of that

[3:40:02] um town, you know, taxpayer

[3:40:06] immediiacy of of sort of voting for what's needed at that time. So, um just

[3:40:12] given the general context and some questions that have been coming up uh as

[3:40:17] a pattern, I would vote against um this. Thank you.

[3:40:26] Further discussion? I'll get it. I'll get it.

[3:40:32] Sorry. Thank you. Oh, yeah. Damon, you want to say something?

[3:40:36] » I'm happy to run. Where where does the money going to go if we vote this down

[3:40:40] into the general fund? >> Where does the where's the money go if

[3:40:46] it's voted down? I mean the money doesn't disappear.

[3:40:52] » Chris Gro want

[3:40:56] » go first.

[3:41:00] » Us. >> Yeah.

[3:41:02] » So the question is where does the money go? If we don't establish this fund, it

[3:41:06] stays as it is in surplus. We're not doing anything with the money. This is

[3:41:10] establishing a fund, but we're not saying that we're going to move the

[3:41:13] 75,000 in there necessarily today.

[3:41:19] » This is more of a philosophical question.

[3:41:24] Is it generally established that reserve funds will be put someplace

[3:41:32] put in a um a bank somehow so that they make a whole bunch of money in interest

[3:41:39] until we um are ready to use them? and something that's just sitting in the

[3:41:46] budget is in a bank account where we can get at it quickly which means we aren't

[3:41:52] going to get as much interest. Is that the definition of a reserve fund?

[3:42:00] » Not the definition of a reserve fund. I will defer to Elaine. I don't think that

[3:42:06] means we can't do that. But a reserve fund does not necessarily mean it's an

[3:42:12] » interestbearing high yield account. >> Yeah, it could be put into a CD, right?

[3:42:19] But we don't necessarily

[3:42:23] » want a mic. >> They usually they could be put in a CD,

[3:42:26] but >> CDs

[3:42:28] and I don't like talking with the same >> everyone.

[3:42:31] » Okay. Um, we have five CDs currently with the town that get different

[3:42:36] percentages. 3.83 83 or 3.13. I don't have them all in my brain to

[3:42:42] tell you what each one gets. And every year I reach out to various banks to see

[3:42:49] in the past I've reached out to see if we could get better deals. And we the

[3:42:54] Mnt and and 802 Credit Union are the two that we're using and we do very well

[3:42:58] with them. So setting up a reserve is supposedly

[3:43:04] putting money aside for a future something. That's what to me what

[3:43:09] reserve means. So you you know every year you put 20,000 in like the fire

[3:43:14] department did for x amount and then they said okay we're going to buy a

[3:43:19] truck and then they pulled the money out, closed the CD and you know we're

[3:43:22] waiting for a truck to come now. So I I you know 100s and 200s is separate.

[3:43:30] Yes, we get a little bit of interest every month but you know you don't run

[3:43:34] around shopping or at least I don't um for different banks to get better deals.

[3:43:39] We've done very well with Mnt and 802 and that's what we have stayed with. Now

[3:43:44] maybe the new girl would like to shop around and find something better. That's

[3:43:49] that's on her if you guys choose that. So, but again, the the money that's in

[3:43:55] these accounts is for future, not put it 20,000 and then within six months after

[3:44:03] the new budget opens, take that money out. The reserve is to be set aside for

[3:44:09] future is my understanding.

[3:44:15] » Yeah. Um, >> it'll be your second time. Hang on. Any

[3:44:19] other first time stalkers? See all these people want to talk.

[3:44:31] » Thank you for coming down. >> Okay,

[3:44:34] » you can pass my bill. >> Great.

[3:44:37] » So, I think we're getting confused with surplus and savings.

[3:44:42] If we have a >> Frank McDougall,

[3:44:46] » if we have a surplus, that means we were overt taxed and we should take that

[3:44:50] money and spend it, spend down our taxes. If you have a savings account,

[3:44:54] then you save the money and you put it in for what you want later. I don't have

[3:44:59] a surplus at my house. I have a savings account. I don't overspend because I

[3:45:04] don't overt tax myself. So, I think a surplus and a savings account are two

[3:45:09] different things. So,

[3:45:13] why are we overt taxed or why is that money not going to pay down to taxes?

[3:45:18] Those are my questions. >> Answer that question.

[3:45:21] » Um, that's a good question as to why we have $92,000 surplus in the highway

[3:45:26] fund. Um, we brought in more money than we anticipated. I would say that's

[3:45:32] fundamentally the reason why we have 92,000. We did not anticipate to have

[3:45:36] 92,000. We were riding our expenses really hard because we were actually

[3:45:42] concerned we were going to end up with a deficit, but we ended up with 92 because

[3:45:47] of the grants um and FEMA money. >> Okay.

[3:45:55] » Hi. Um my name is Amy. Um I guess my question is the $400,000 is this

[3:46:01] addition to the >> We're not We're not there yet.

[3:46:04] » Oh. Oh. Oh, okay. Sorry. So, okay. So, we're just essentially talking about

[3:46:08] creating a reserve fund. >> A surplus fund.

[3:46:12] » A surplus fund. Even though Okay. And it's going to be different than the

[3:46:15] reserve fund. >> Yes.

[3:46:17] » And both are going towards the highway department. Correct. For, you know, uh

[3:46:23] keeping our roads and all of all of that good stuff. Um, however, it they're

[3:46:29] separate funds and they're going to go to different parts of the highway

[3:46:34] department essentially or are we creating a reserve even though we

[3:46:38] already have the $200,000 spoken for? >> We're not. We're not. Okay, you can

[3:46:43] answer that. >> I'm sorry if I'm confusing.

[3:46:46] » No, you're good. You're good. I shouldn't be answering it. They are

[3:46:49] separate funds because um and I'm not an expert on this, but they are separate

[3:46:53] funds because they're coming from separate sources

[3:46:56] and um maybe different purposes, but they are for the needs of the highway

[3:47:02] department and in particular we have some pretty hefty needs uh coming up in

[3:47:08] the area of uh trucks and bridges. And so uh the idea is although this is a

[3:47:16] separate fund I primarily because of how it's funded it is for the purpose of the

[3:47:23] needs of the highway department which is trucks and bridges for the foreseeable

[3:47:27] future. >> U can can I follow up with another that

[3:47:30] it begs the question what are the sources

[3:47:33] where is the funding coming from >> from the surplus versus special

[3:47:37] articles. Okay. From the surf plus fund that we

[3:47:42] are essentially going to vote to decide if we want to have that available. And

[3:47:46] then the second funding is um you had just said it. I didn't hear what you

[3:47:50] said. >> Special articles have funded that

[3:47:52] » and that's as we're coming up on all of that stuff and they'll be much more

[3:47:56] specific. >> Okay. But essentially it's just to

[3:48:00] create the reserve fund. >> Not a reserve fund.

[3:48:03] » It is a >> the surplus fund. The surplus fund. And

[3:48:06] will we talk about how it can be accessed? Is there any kind of specifics

[3:48:10] about what it should be used for other than just the general idea of

[3:48:14] transportation? >> I think that's a select I think

[3:48:17] fundamentally that's the select board's decision. I know that the highway

[3:48:21] committee [clears throat] has trying to put out a 4-year plan on

[3:48:26] bridge repair and replacements and on trucks that are going to need to be

[3:48:30] replaced. I can't say that something else won't come up, but that is what um

[3:48:36] we're looking at in the next four to five years. And there are no other

[3:48:41] reserve funds already in place like when we talked about the additional money

[3:48:45] that has to be that you know 8 to 10% that needs to be um put aside of the

[3:48:51] original budget. None of that can actually go towards any way of the

[3:48:56] highway funding. the the running I'm not going to sure I get the terminology

[3:49:00] right, but the running balance or the operating funds fund balance in the 200s

[3:49:06] of which we had a $92,000 surplus, but that um that c the that can be used for

[3:49:15] budgetary needs. Um the select board then decides if there's some major

[3:49:21] expenses whether or not to pull from the reserves if it falls within the scope of

[3:49:26] the reserves. And I think Irv said this earlier that reserves do have a purpose.

[3:49:30] They're not just a general account just sitting there.

[3:49:34] » Right. And you said it's for bridges or any type of truck or vehicle maintenance

[3:49:38] or >> I think the wording is for the needs of

[3:49:40] the highway department. I'm just saying currently the most urgent needs are two

[3:49:45] trucks and at least two bridges to start with.

[3:49:50] » Thank you for bearing with me. >> Okay. Okay. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on.

[3:49:54] Okay. We're still talking about just setting up a highway surplus fund for

[3:50:01] the surplus highway funds from last year.

[3:50:05] Just to set up the fund. Yeah. um up front first and then we'll go to the

[3:50:11] back. >> Okay. Uh where did my

[3:50:15] I put it up there?

[3:50:20] » All right. Alman, um I just have a an amendment I'd like to propose to kind of

[3:50:27] poke this money in the right pocket. Um, my concept of what you're trying to do

[3:50:31] is we've got a bunch of [clears throat] envelopes that sit in a drawer with

[3:50:36] various money assigned to various projects. Some of it is for future

[3:50:41] expenses for trucks and vehicles and whatever with the highway department

[3:50:45] needs or bridges. And then we have this other fund which is surplus money that

[3:50:50] we have and haven't spent but needs to go and be put aside hopefully in an

[3:50:56] account that makes us some interest. And my prop proposed amendment is that this

[3:51:02] money be placed in some kind of an interestbearing account.

[3:51:06] Now that can be up to the select board or the the treasurer as to how they want

[3:51:10] to do that and that it's available. The concept is that it's available if we

[3:51:15] need it for highway expenses in the future, but that it's making some money

[3:51:20] for us. >> Am I being

[3:51:23] » um No, no, I understand what you're saying. I just don't know if if that's

[3:51:27] you know, do we >> My amendment is just to add that it goes

[3:51:29] in an interest bearing account >> to put it in an interest bearing

[3:51:31] account, but that's I mean my savings account at 0.02% is an interest bearing

[3:51:36] account although it happens to be 0.02%. >> Right. The amendment is to is the same

[3:51:42] thing but to put the money in an interestbearing account.

[3:51:46] » Okay. And then the other issue is >> you have to have the money available

[3:51:51] when you need it. And if you put it in a six-mon CD, the money might not be

[3:51:56] available when you need it. >> Might not be as liquid. Correct.

[3:51:59] » But that's >> that's the treasurer and the select

[3:52:02] board to decide where they put it. >> Whatever. Whatever. Yes. Yes. Yes. What?

[3:52:05] I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. There's an amendment on the

[3:52:09] floor. Is there a second?

[3:52:13] » Is there a second? You can't discuss it yet.

[3:52:17] » Excuse me. >> You can't amend the amendment. Wait, no,

[3:52:21] we don't have a second. So, there is no amendment on the floor.

[3:52:24] » Huh? I'm sorry. What? >> Okay. What? What was that over there?

[3:52:34] » Yeah, that don't worry about the second amendment yet. We're still on the first

[3:52:37] amendment to place it in an interestbearing account to add those

[3:52:41] words. There was a second. Who seconded it?

[3:52:45] Connie seconded it. Now we're just discussing whether or not putting it in

[3:52:50] the interest bearing account. Then we'll be voting on that. [clears throat]

[3:52:54] Somebody wanted to make an amendment to the amendment. Yes, sir.

[3:52:57] » Sean amendment.

[3:53:03] » I'll accept that without >> Okay. Okay. So, now we have and and

[3:53:06] there was a friendly amendment. So, we don't necessarily need to vote on the

[3:53:10] amendment to the amendment. We now have an amend. Yes.

[3:53:14] Not yet. We're not there yet. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. We have a

[3:53:19] amendment to the amendment to change it to say and be placed in a money market

[3:53:26] account. Is there a second for that? >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded. We

[3:53:31] now have an amendment on the floor to add place in the money market account.

[3:53:36] Discussion. Yeah. Yeah. You want to say something?

[3:53:41] Not about the fund, please. About the money market.

[3:53:43] » About the money market. You The whole thing is a snake pit. Um

[3:53:49] money markets are not FDIC insured, but they hold NAV of one dollar per share.

[3:53:56] I've never seen one go below that. Um, right now you can get one probably at

[3:54:02] 3.8%. You put the money in tomorrow. You could take it out the day after. It just

[3:54:07] that' be a wire transfer. It's right there. There's no fees for it. I don't

[3:54:11] if you're aware of this stuff. Um, to keep your money locally with Mnt or

[3:54:19] or uh People's, it's like a misnomer because people's Bridgeport Connecticut

[3:54:25] MT is Ohio, I think. People's

[3:54:30] Bank, which was Mnt, was Bridgeport, Connecticut. Okay, that's what I'm

[3:54:35] saying. Um, the last bank we had, real big one, was

[3:54:41] Chittenden, which was Vermont based in Vermont National. So, I'm saying just

[3:54:46] the think about keeping it local. Are you keeping it local or are you uh

[3:54:50] trying to do that to at your uh your own detriment? quite honestly I mean 2%

[3:54:56] 2% versus 3.7 I can get you that tomorrow in a money market. So that's

[3:55:02] all I'm saying.

[3:55:06] We're discussing the amendment to add and to be placed in a money market

[3:55:11] to be placed in the money market. Any other discussion on that amendment?

[3:55:14] » Yes.

[3:55:19] Historically,

[3:55:22] there was a problem between well, there was a communication gap between the

[3:55:27] treasurer and the select board as to where the treasurer was putting the

[3:55:32] money. And

[3:55:38] I would prefer that the select board and the treasurer work together on this and

[3:55:45] communicate so that we the town makes as much money as we possibly can, but has

[3:55:54] money available when we need it, [clears throat]

[3:55:59] which might not be legislated as such.

[3:56:04] might be more a matter of we the people say to you please get along.

[3:56:12] » Okay. We're not going to discuss that. You

[3:56:16] want to speak? >> Yeah. Isn't it normally the treasurer

[3:56:19] who decides where to put money and moves moves money in and out of accounts

[3:56:26] according to among other things the interest rate they can get on it. Isn't

[3:56:31] that something that the treasurer normally does?

[3:56:38] » Oh, yep. In the >> Come on down

[3:56:43] there. >> There you go. Oh, cheater.

[3:56:48] » So, basically, you're saying we're anticipating surplus already. So, we're

[3:56:52] going to create account. So, if we're anticipating surplus, why are we aren't

[3:56:57] we reducing budgets? It's our money. Why would you Why would I give you more

[3:57:01] money to put in a savings account to make money?

[3:57:04] » Go ahead. [clears throat]

[3:57:06] » You don't have one. >> Huh?

[3:57:09] » Oh, this amendment is the money market. He said

[3:57:15] » Oh, you you have an amendment on the floor to discuss whether or not to put

[3:57:19] it in a money market account. Sorry. You you can ask that question in a minute,

[3:57:24] but I'm as as moderator. >> There's a reason. Okay. Okay. Any other

[3:57:31] discussion on the amendment? And then we'll get back to the original motion.

[3:57:34] Yes, sir.

[3:57:37] » Uh first of all, um I can only use the cemetery as an example because we have

[3:57:44] funds that we invest. You're not telling us where to invest

[3:57:49] them. It's elected officials, of which there are five of us. We vote to invest

[3:57:56] our resources in certain funds and then we instruct the treasurer to do that. I

[3:58:04] don't think this amendment in proper order because I don't think you get to

[3:58:10] tell the treasurer or the select board how to invest the money. If you want to

[3:58:15] create the fund, that's a different story. But I think it's up to the select

[3:58:20] board and ultimately the treasurer who are elected to make those decisions.

[3:58:26] You wouldn't be telling the cemetery commission what to do with its money.

[3:58:30] » Um and and I I'm Wait, wait, wait. I'm not here to make legal decisions. That's

[3:58:36] why I haven't spoken up. >> Can I pass over or vote to pass over the

[3:58:40] amendment? >> No. No. You want to pass over it or you

[3:58:43] want to call the question? >> Call the question.

[3:58:45] » Okay. Is there any You need a twothirds vote to close debate on the amendment.

[3:58:55] » No, you can still. You want to just pass Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We already

[3:58:59] did a Passover on this once, didn't we? >> Yeah. No, sorry. I mean, yeah, I guess

[3:59:04] theoretically you can try again. Want to try it again to pass over it?

[3:59:09] » Well, somebody's been asked. Hang on. Is there a second for that? Wait, wait,

[3:59:12] wait. Let me go back to my little cheat sheet. after debate is part uh started

[3:59:17] is called postponing differently. A second is required.

[3:59:21] » Okay. Second to pass over. It may go into the main motion. So now we're going

[3:59:25] to debate. We have an amendment on the floor. We have a main motion on the

[3:59:28] floor. We're not talking about those now. We are now going to debate on

[3:59:31] whether or not passing over we want to pass over this whole thing. Okay.

[3:59:41] » We I'm sorry.

[3:59:46] Okay, let's let's do you want to vote on the amendment?

[3:59:53] » No, I want a question on the amendment. >> I I'm not I'm not sure there's such a

[4:00:00] thing as passing over an amendment. These are passover warned articles.

[4:00:04] » Um, we have an amendment on the floor.

[4:00:11] » Okay. some. Okay. Are we ready for the amendment question? All those in favor,

[4:00:17] please say I. >> I.

[4:00:18] » Oppose. No. I believe twothirds majority want to

[4:00:23] vote on the amendment. Okay. The vote on the amend the the vote a yes

[4:00:29] vote. Hang on. Let me get back to where I need to be.

[4:00:32] A yes vote. A yes vote.

[4:00:38] A yes vote will say that the town will create a highway surplus fund to be

[4:00:43] placed in a money market. Hot damn, we're out of here.

[4:00:51] The so the main mo so the amendment will change the main motion which we're not

[4:00:55] voting on right now to say the the to create a surplus fund to carry to be

[4:01:03] placed in a money market to carry over highway surplus funds to address large

[4:01:08] highway projects and save money for future highway expenses. A no vote goes

[4:01:14] back and just drops the money market statement. Does that make sense? Yes

[4:01:19] vote adds the money market. No vote defeats that. All those in favor of the

[4:01:24] amendment, please say I. >> All those opposed.

[4:01:33] » We got Yeah. Louder is I I I modulate for that. Um Okay. We're going to have

[4:01:39] to divide the house. All those in This is just a majority vote. We don't need

[4:01:43] twothirds. All those in favor of adding the terms money market, please raise

[4:01:49] your hand. I'll try to do it quick.

[4:02:10] 25 25 people want to add the amendment.

[4:02:17] All those against the amendment, please raise your hand.

[4:02:39] doesn't matter. Majority and the nos have it. So, the amendment fails, but

[4:02:45] we're still back to the original motion to see if the town will vote to create a

[4:02:49] highway surplus fund to carry over highway surplus funds to address large

[4:02:53] highway projects and save money for future highway expenses. Further

[4:02:57] discussion? Yes, sir. Point of order. >> Yes.

[4:03:00] on the amendment.

[4:03:04] » That's what I just said. I just read it. No, we didn't have an amendment to

[4:03:07] amendment. >> We had an amendment on the floor to add

[4:03:10] the words money market, right?

[4:03:18] » Okay. Interesting. >> Yeah. But you you accepted it as a

[4:03:24] friendly amendment and so that became the amendment.

[4:03:28] » Okay. So, and that just failed. So, we're back to the original motion.

[4:03:31] Further discussion on the original motion.

[4:03:34] » That's up to you if you want to call the question.

[4:03:37] » Oh, wait. I know understand. But who has hand was up first? Conniey's was

[4:03:41] » I just wanted to make sure that Chad's question, if I understood it, is

[4:03:45] answered because I did have a question. >> Yeah, that that was at the appropriate

[4:03:50] time. She'll answer it now. ask your question again

[4:03:57] and then and then the question will be called.

[4:04:01] » I can't remember for sure, but I was basically saying if we're anticipating a

[4:04:05] surplus, >> why is it why isn't it put toward the

[4:04:09] reducing the taxes? >> That's what you asked, right? And has

[4:04:13] the answer. >> I have a feeling that this question was

[4:04:15] sort of asked before you may have been out of the room. Um,

[4:04:20] so we did not anticipate having $92,000 surplus. We actually were concerned that

[4:04:26] we were going to have a deficit, but we captured a lot of grant money and FEMA

[4:04:32] money came in. So now we have this surplus. So it's not that we feel that

[4:04:37] we are over budgeting or over uh or under spending like we're it's that this

[4:04:45] money we ended up with a surplus which is wonderful. The primary reason is we

[4:04:52] rode our budget really tight and made sure we were monitoring it every single

[4:04:57] week and we had some unexpected grant and FEMA money come in uh that gave us

[4:05:04] additional revenue. >> But just to be clear, so you're going to

[4:05:07] take that 90,000 whatever it is and hold on to it in case you need it later on

[4:05:13] this fiscal year, correct? Why wouldn't you just put it towards our fiscal year

[4:05:17] 27 taxes? Um, >> why would we let you guys I'm just

[4:05:22] curious. I don't understand why you think you need to put that money aside

[4:05:27] in case you need it. And maybe I'm wrong. I'm just

[4:05:30] » Well, the reason and again I if I'm repeating myself, I apologize. The the

[4:05:36] the needs over the next four or five years um in our opinion

[4:05:42] are cost more than we will be able to raise in revenue. And so if there is

[4:05:49] reserves uh or surpluses, excuse me, the auditors have said that we need to keep

[4:05:55] some in the fund balance. The select board voted to use some of that surplus

[4:06:01] to spend on taxes, but there's also this need that is staring us in the face that

[4:06:07] we don't have the funds for in terms of bridges and trucks. And so that is the

[4:06:12] reason uh if there is some surplus money to capture, where would we put it? The

[4:06:19] article is to put it in a surplus reserve fund.

[4:06:25] » Okay. >> Uh no, sorry.

[4:06:29] » I uh uh just [clears throat] and this question I'm sorry the call the question

[4:06:32] has been called. Okay. >> So

[4:06:35] » I'm sorry what the question has been called. So there should be no more

[4:06:39] discussion if we have a twothirds vote. The person had their hand raised and

[4:06:44] said called the question, but Chad's question was still on the floor per se.

[4:06:48] So we let him answer and then the question was called. So now there's a

[4:06:54] twothirds majority is needed to end debate and vote on this. If that 2/3

[4:07:01] fails, we'll continue to discuss. That's all. Okay. All those in favor of ending

[4:07:07] debate on this and voting, please raise your hand.

[4:07:13] Okay, hands down. Hopefully, I don't have to count. All those opposed and

[4:07:17] want to continue to debate, please raise their hand. I believe that's 2/3, right?

[4:07:22] Would everybody agree? I don't want to just Okay, agreed. So, the question has

[4:07:25] been called. We now have a a vote in front of us that asks whether the town

[4:07:31] will create a highway surplus fund to carry over highway surplus funds to

[4:07:36] address large highway projects and save money

[4:07:41] for future highway expenses. A yes vote passes that motion. A no vote defeats

[4:07:47] that motion. Any questions? All those in favor of the motion, please

[4:07:52] say I. >> I.

[4:07:54] » All those opposed?

[4:07:58] Okay. Not only was that confusing, somebody said I when it was supposed to

[4:08:01] be no, but that's okay. >> That's okay.

[4:08:06] » Okay. Paper ballot. Any other six other people for a paper ballot? You want to

[4:08:10] divide the house? Paper ballotage. What? One. Wait. Raise your hands again if you

[4:08:14] want paper ballot. One, two, three, four, five, six. Okay. I didn't see

[4:08:18] those up there. Paper ballot. So, a yes vote passes the motion. A no vote

[4:08:23] defeats it. Any questions? I now declare the ballot box open.

[4:08:31] Good job. Thank you for being patient with me, everybody. You're doing

[4:08:35] fabulous. Seriously, good job.

[4:08:40] Okay, we have the result of the motion that was on the floor, article 11, to

[4:08:43] see if the town will vote to create a highway surplus fund to carry highway

[4:08:46] surplus funds to address large highway projects and save money for future

[4:08:50] highway expenses. There were

[4:08:55] Got to add 79. >> People are leaving. 79. Uh 35 yes. 44

[4:09:04] no. There is no highway surplus fund. The motion fails.

[4:09:10] Moving on. Article 12 to see if the town will vote to raise by taxation and

[4:09:14] appropriation $400,000 to the highway reserve fund with the following

[4:09:20] allocation. 200,000 to be used towards funding highway infrastructure and

[4:09:25] 200,000 to be used toward funding future purchasing leasing purchases future

[4:09:31] purchases leasing and repair of highway equipment.

[4:09:35] » So moved. >> Second. We got Oh no, got Craig. Second.

[4:09:40] Uh Katie was a motion maker. Katie, you want to speak?

[4:09:43] » Yeah. >> Wait, you don't can't speak without

[4:09:46] speaking. There you go. >> Okay. Um, I want to point out the first

[4:09:51] part of this with the $200,000 to be used towards funding highway

[4:09:55] infrastructure. >> One, one, sec, page 16 and 17. I'm

[4:09:58] sorry. Go right ahead. Page 16. >> Um, last year there was a similar

[4:10:02] allocation in the article in a very similar article. Uh that's because um we

[4:10:08] received a grant award has not been paid yet because it's a reimbursement for

[4:10:14] $200,000 with a $20,000 um uh we would owe 20,000 of that and we

[4:10:21] would get $180,000 back. Um and the bridge itself after the RFP went out

[4:10:28] came back at I want to say 400 $44,000.

[4:10:33] So, we were pretty close with the understanding of how much that was going

[4:10:36] to cost. That's bridge 43. Um, so we were hoping, and I believe that we

[4:10:41] explained this last year, that last year we would raise the first part of that

[4:10:44] bridge. This year we would raise the second and then we'd be eligible for

[4:10:47] that reimbursement from that grant. Um, the second part of this allocation, you

[4:10:54] can look on page 17 to see the multi-year truck replacement plan, the

[4:10:58] different uh lifespans of our equipment. And I also want to point out that right

[4:11:03] now we also have a um a grant for a separate bridge, bridge 41, and that is

[4:11:10] for an engineering study for a much larger bridge project. That would be

[4:11:15] next on the list. The engineering study is fine. It's about $18,000, I believe.

[4:11:20] But that bridge, is it a full replacement, Jeremy, on bridge 41? that

[4:11:25] bridge 41 full replacement is going to be closer to your I don't want you to

[4:11:30] quote me on this but your million-doll range. It's a much larger project than

[4:11:34] uh this current $400,000 for bridge 43. So, in our scope of where we saw the

[4:11:40] highway going and what the absolute needs of the highway are in our

[4:11:44] infrastructure, we are trying to uh show you how we're trying to raise this money

[4:11:50] in a reasonable way over a certain amount of time. Knowing that our truck

[4:11:54] expenses are going up and up and up. Our ability to get a truck the year we can

[4:11:58] even fund a truck is getting much harder with those truck costs going through the

[4:12:03] roof and our infrastructure costs going through the roof. So that's where we

[4:12:07] were coming from when we wrote this. >> Okay. Further discussion.

[4:12:12] » Yes, sir. Do you have a microphone? I got one right here.

[4:12:20] » I think we've caught back up where I tried to make this uh before. Um, I I'd

[4:12:25] like to make an amendment to um modify the article 12 from $400,000 to $200,000

[4:12:35] to be for the infrastructure of bridge 43. And I think that's that part is

[4:12:41] important because we need to do that to be able to get the bridge completed, get

[4:12:46] the reimbursement that we've already basically budgeted for in the highway

[4:12:50] department. So, we've already really accounted for that. As far as the

[4:12:54] trucks, yes, we are going to need trucks and everybody likes to have a new

[4:12:57] vehicle. But they are heavy trucks. We don't put a lot of mileage on them. With

[4:13:03] proper maintenance, I think they can last considerably more than the 10 years

[4:13:07] that's being projected here. Um, so yes, they are expensive when they come up and

[4:13:15] yes, we do need to keep our vehicles running, but I think maintenance is a

[4:13:18] far better approach than thinking that we need to replace our trucks every 10

[4:13:22] years. So with that, I would make the motion that we reduce the amount to

[4:13:27] 200,000. >> Second.

[4:13:29] » Okay. Been moved and seconded. Bob, >> you get that?

[4:13:34] » Okay. Um, >> let's talk about the amendment to reduce

[4:13:38] the amount to $200,000. Discussion on that.

[4:13:43] » Yes.

[4:13:46] So, I went through the budget on the highway department and in one of the

[4:13:51] sections on page 20, they talk about the expenses for the

[4:13:57] trucks. And in almost every one of these trucks, there's a section that says

[4:14:01] supplies and parts, outside repairs, supplies, parts. When you add all of

[4:14:06] this up, it comes to $82,000 that's already been factored into the

[4:14:11] budget for helping to maintain these trucks.

[4:14:15] Just I mean, unless I'm reading this wrong, I mean, you all can look at it.

[4:14:21] » Okay. Further discussion. Yes. in the way back.

[4:14:33] » Caitlyn Maze. Okay. So, my understanding of our truck

[4:14:39] situation is that because of supply chain issues during

[4:14:45] COVID, etc. Being able to do even maintenance on the trucks is getting

[4:14:51] parts and doing upkeep on that has become extremely difficult. And that has

[4:14:56] pushed our truck situation into back burner, back burner, back burner.

[4:15:03] And then when something goes bad, it's going to take a lot of time and a lot of

[4:15:08] money to actually be able to do anything to fix those trucks. and we live in a

[4:15:14] rural community and um our roads are our livelihoods and I don't want my myself

[4:15:23] or my neighbors to be in danger and if we're going to nickel and dime something

[4:15:28] uh not the roads please not the trucks please like that this is silly

[4:15:36] I'm done >> okay further discussion yeah oh okay

[4:15:40] there and then Eugene and then Jean >> add Um I think part of the rationale for

[4:15:46] keeping a let's just say reasonable um schedule

[4:15:53] for when we're replacing our trucks and moving our fleet and updating is also in

[4:15:58] terms of resale value tradein value. If we are running our trucks into the

[4:16:03] ground until we can't do it anymore, until we don't feel safe driving them,

[4:16:06] which is what has happened, then we then have no leverage to recoup

[4:16:13] some of that cost too and get a new better vehicle and have some trade in

[4:16:17] there. So, I just want to also throw that into the mix.

[4:16:22] » Okay, Jean, go ahead, Jean. >> No, sorry. Is this uh 200,000 for

[4:16:28] particular vehicles that you're planning to order,

[4:16:34] let's say in this uh calendar or fiscal year?

[4:16:40] » Uh so I think if you look at the highway report on page 17, [music] it kind of

[4:16:48] outlines the next two trucks. >> If you look at page 17, it kind of

[4:16:53] outlines the next two trucks. [clears throat]

[4:16:55] Sorry, I don't know if they heard you >> count. It's sort of uh the the plan is

[4:17:01] to outline to replace trucks [snorts]

[4:17:08] and um it's the one ton and it's the

[4:17:15] uh and the international which I don't know how many wheels that is. That's six

[4:17:20] wheel.

[4:17:24] » Okay. there. Wait, before Wait, before I there

[4:17:27] was a hand. >> Yes, I'm sorry. Then the idea would be

[4:17:32] to purchase uh as soon as possible and to um

[4:17:40] and maybe Jeremy if we allow him to speak can speak a little bit more to

[4:17:43] that but the idea would be to purchase the

[4:17:47] one ton and to start uh saving for the uh it's being proposed for a 10-wheel

[4:17:55] dump truck.

[4:17:59] Okay. >> All set.

[4:18:00] » Yep. >> Yeah. So, in Nick's uh reference to the

[4:18:05] truck running on the ground, nobody dares drive and shouldn't have to drive.

[4:18:09] That particular vehicle is not one that goes out and maintains our roads. That's

[4:18:13] our trash truck. I would be extremely extremely disappointed if we had a

[4:18:19] highway piece of equipment that was running to the ground without the proper

[4:18:24] maintenance, without the proper oil changes, and all the others. I get it.

[4:18:28] They're computer driven these days. Yes. And you can't work on them in the shop,

[4:18:32] but damn it, you can do your best to use the truck appropriately for its job and

[4:18:38] maintain it. I have no idea if there's any records of maintenance on these

[4:18:42] rigs. I mean, the grater was a classic example. All of a sudden, that thing's

[4:18:47] just running to the ground. Nobody can drive it. It's junk. Get rid of it.

[4:18:50] Right? We still never got our answer for how much money it was going to cost to

[4:18:53] fix it. just so we actually knew as taxpayers. We went [snorts] and leased a

[4:18:56] new one and now we're paying for that. And I get it, they do need equipment,

[4:19:00] but I'd like to see some sort of maintenance

[4:19:04] and or these trucks maintained properly if if in fact that they're not because

[4:19:09] that's kind of what we're getting. And last piece is as you guys as a select

[4:19:12] board go forward, I'd really like you to think about a road commissioner to

[4:19:17] establish a road commissioner that would oversee some of the town's highway. Take

[4:19:22] the burden off you. Get it out there so people have an opportunity to be asked

[4:19:26] what their abilities are and being a road commissioner

[4:19:31] and help the highway department oversee some of the stuff that they're doing and

[4:19:35] need to be done. >> Okay. We're discussing an amendment

[4:19:40] to the uh motion to have $200,000 for infrastructure on bridge 43. That's the

[4:19:48] amendment we're discussing. Irv had something to say.

[4:19:53] » Equipment. I I'll give you some leeway. Irv, go

[4:19:56] ahead. All right. They've already got uh money in the highway budget for

[4:20:02] equipment, but they're not keeping a direct expense for each piece of

[4:20:07] equipment. They just lump some in fuel and all that stuff, and you got no idea

[4:20:12] what it costs for each on the truck.

[4:20:17] Okay. Yeah. Any further discussion on the amendment?

[4:20:23] Uh Bob, you want to go and then up front? Wait, one. No, Bob. And then

[4:20:27] talking about equipment maintenance,

[4:20:33] I know many of you in the room, but I don't know everyone. I'm semi-retired,

[4:20:38] and one of the jobs that I do is I work for an insurance company to visit

[4:20:44] municipalities. Most municipalities these days have

[4:20:48] something called Telmatics on their vehicles. Telmatics is a GPSbased system

[4:20:54] and it lets you know how the vehicle is being operated, what the maintenance

[4:20:59] records are. It gives you all kinds of data on what's going on with that

[4:21:03] vehicle. I've mentioned it before to the select

[4:21:07] board and didn't get anywhere, but it's a point that I'm trying to make is you

[4:21:12] can learn all kinds of information about your vehicles and how they're operated,

[4:21:17] whether or not someone is speeding, whether or not they're sitting in one

[4:21:21] place for two hours, whether or not the oil's been changed this month as it

[4:21:25] should be. You can learn a whole lot. The cost benefit, according to the

[4:21:30] people that I talked to, is there. It's something that they appreciate knowing

[4:21:36] how the vehicle is being operated.

[4:21:43] » Your hand, his hand was up first and then we'll go back to

[4:21:48] Bob Trier. Um, I have questions about the whole funding operation for future

[4:21:54] trucks. I don't know anybody that can afford to buy a new vehicle for cash.

[4:22:01] Everybody takes out a loan and they pay it out over time. The second thing is

[4:22:06] that you are asking today's taxpayers to pay for tomorrow's taxpayers for the use

[4:22:14] of all of these vehicles. I think you need to either get a bond issue to float

[4:22:19] these or take out loans on each vehicle as they need it and then have those be

[4:22:25] paid off by the taxpayers who are using it in the future years. Some of these

[4:22:30] vehicles have 10year 15year uh use. It should be paid off over those 10 or 15

[4:22:37] years not on the burden of today's taxpayers. Thank you.

[4:22:43] » Right. Right back there. I got it. Wait, call the question. Okay, she had the

[4:22:48] floor. She called the question and a question is just the amendment.

[4:22:53] Okay, we have Okay, first of all, there has to be seconded.

[4:22:58] » So, it's been sec I'm sorry, what? Moved and seconded. Uh, Jean did. Jean, you

[4:23:03] seconded. Yeah, Jean. Craig. Yes.

[4:23:08] » Your name again? >> Caitlyn made a motion to call the

[4:23:12] question. Jean. Jean. Good. Perfect. Good enough.

[4:23:17] Okay. You okay with the second gene? I don't want to overt. Okay. Um,

[4:23:24] » so right, we're on the amend. Thank you. We're on the amendment. Um, the

[4:23:27] question's been called. We needed to It's been moved and seconded. All those

[4:23:30] in favor of closing the debate on the amendment, not the main motion, but the

[4:23:35] amendment to change it from the $400,000.

[4:23:42] We're This is going to be the amendment is now going to be the main motion if it

[4:23:46] passes would be to see if the town would vote to raise by taxation and

[4:23:50] appropriate $200,000 to the highway reserve fund for infrastructure on

[4:23:55] bridge 43. That's what we're going to vote on to

[4:24:00] see whether or not that becomes the main motion. Does that

[4:24:05] make sense yet?

[4:24:09] » That's what he said. That's That's what he said. That's what he said. Bridge 43,

[4:24:15] which which Okay. So, all those a yes vote passes the amendment. A no vote and

[4:24:23] we go back to the original motion. Okay. We're not voting on the main motion yet.

[4:24:28] There'll be another vote. But do we want to change it? Does everybody understand?

[4:24:33] No. What?

[4:24:41] The main motion would be if this passes, the main motion would be the town has

[4:24:48] voted to raise the will the t the vote the the main motion would be will the

[4:24:53] town vote to raise by taxation and appropriate $200,000

[4:24:59] to the highway reserve fund for infrastructure bridge 43. If you vote

[4:25:05] yes, that's the main motion. And >> no truck.

[4:25:09] » No truck. That's the main motion. And then we'll vote again on that

[4:25:14] » after discussion. Yes, that's okay. Please keep asking.

[4:25:21] » Yes. Okay. Yes, Jean. More clarifying. Yes.

[4:25:25] » We understand that this motion, this amendment,

[4:25:29] » Yes. eliminate.

[4:25:35] » Yes. >> Yes.

[4:25:38] » Yes. It's going to eliminate the $200,000

[4:25:42] for the second part. The number two will be gone.

[4:25:46] » Two. Number two would be gone. Wait, he he had something in here.

[4:25:50] » Yeah. Can I can I continue? I was going to ask the moderator to ask the maker of

[4:25:55] the that motion if the wording of specifying bridge 43

[4:26:02] can be done.

[4:26:06] » We're voting on the amendment. >> No, we're voting to end debate so we can

[4:26:10] vote on the amendment. >> Right. We're just voting to end debate.

[4:26:15] We didn't have the two-thirds vote yet. I'm getting confused, too. Right. Okay.

[4:26:18] So, this is just to vote to end debate. Thank you. Okay.

[4:26:26] » D. So, all those in favor of ending debate and immediately voting on the

[4:26:31] amendment, please say I.

[4:26:34] » I. >> Oppose. No.

[4:26:38] » It has to be twothirds and so that's difficult. All those in favor of closing

[4:26:42] debate on the amendment, please raise your

[4:26:46] hand. Okay, it's two/3 so it's going to be

[4:26:49] really hard. Okay, hands down. Let's just see if we can do it. All those in

[4:26:52] favor of continuing the debate on the amendment, please raise your hand. Okay.

[4:26:57] So, certainly I would everybody agree that the debate is now closed. We are

[4:27:01] now going to vote. Thank you. We're now going to vote on the amendment. Okay.

[4:27:08] All those in favor of changing

[4:27:13] the main motion to say to see if the town will raise by taxation $200,000 to

[4:27:19] the Hyro Reserve Fund for infrastructure bridge 43. A yes vote passes that

[4:27:25] amendment and that becomes the main motion. Or a no vote defeats it and we

[4:27:30] go back to the original language. Yes changes it. No original language.

[4:27:38] It's been asked for a paper ballot. Does everybody understand?

[4:27:41] » Okay. It's been asked for a paper ballot. Do we have seven hands?

[4:27:48] » One, two, three, four, one, one, two,

[4:27:56] three, four, five, six. And there's the Okay, so this is not for the main

[4:28:03] motion. This is just for the amendment.

[4:28:07] A yes vote makes the amendment the main motion. And when you sit back down,

[4:28:12] we're going to discuss that main motion again. Does everybody understand? Okay.

[4:28:18] Yes vote passes the amendment. No vote defeats the amendment and then we'll go

[4:28:22] back to the and then we continue to discuss. I got I got blank stairs. Does

[4:28:28] everybody get it? Any better way I can explain it? All I

[4:28:34] now declare the ballot box open.

[4:28:40] We have the of uh we have the results of the election. On the amendment,

[4:28:48] the amendment was to see if the town will vote to raise 200,000 for

[4:28:52] infrastructure for bridge 43. There were 77 votes, 44 yes, 33 no. We now have a

[4:28:59] new motion on the floor that says to see if the town will vote to raise by tax

[4:29:04] taxation and appropriate $200,000 to the highway reserve fund for infrastructure

[4:29:10] bridge 43. Further discussion.

[4:29:19] » The amendment passed. We now The amendment passed. Yes.

[4:29:29] Yeah, should have a microphone.

[4:29:34] » I'd like to propose a new amendment for adding uh $160,000

[4:29:40] for for [snorts] uh the future down payment or payments towards highway

[4:29:46] equipment. >> You want

[4:29:48] » do you want to use that same language funding future purposes leasing or you

[4:29:52] want your own language? Sorry. I for highway future highway equipment

[4:29:56] » for future highway equipment. >> Uh what that you did you second it?

[4:30:02] Okay. Okay. We're still discussing this.

[4:30:07] » Um and can I ask a question? >> Oh, wait. So So who would like Yeah, you

[4:30:11] can ask a question. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go

[4:30:13] ahead. I'm just curious um how the select board arrived at the $200,000

[4:30:19] number and if $160,000 would be adequate for any uh future

[4:30:25] purchase of [snorts] any highway equipment.

[4:30:29] » Okay, that's that's a that's a question. Would would it be best would it be best

[4:30:33] to have the highway foreman respond to that?

[4:30:36] » Yes, everybody. Okay, so that needs a >> Yes.

[4:30:39] » Can we purpotion.

[4:30:45] » No, he made an emotion for $160,000 for future highway equipment, which is

[4:30:51] not the same as what it was before that

[4:30:56] » took it out. We just voted took that 200,000.

[4:30:59] » You took 200,000 out and then >> proposing to put 160,000

[4:31:04] » back in. I I don't know why that you don't that's allowed and it's not even

[4:31:10] the same verbiage. He's saying that for the highway future highway equipment

[4:31:14] fund. We can keep going around forever. Welcome to democracy. You guys have the

[4:31:17] floor. >> Can we suspend the rules to

[4:31:20] » Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. That's what's next. Hang on. I'm sorry.

[4:31:26] » Okay. We have an amendment on the floor to add $160,000 for future highway

[4:31:32] equipment to be added to the main motion that says $200,000 for

[4:31:39] infrastructure bridge 43. They would like the town road foreman to respond to

[4:31:45] that amendment. He is not a town resident. Is there any objection to

[4:31:50] having him speak? >> Yes, there is an objection. Therefore,

[4:31:55] we have to have a vote for twothirds majority to allow him to speak. Okay.

[4:32:02] Okay. Our own road foreman cannot speak. Okay. We So, all those in favor, it's a

[4:32:08] twothirds majority. All those in favor of allowing him to speak, please raise

[4:32:13] your hand.

[4:32:16] Okay. Again, it's going to be two-thirds, so it may be difficult. Down

[4:32:19] hand. All those in not in favor of having him speak.

[4:32:25] I think we're gonna have to count. Justice the pieces. Come on up.

[4:32:31] » Oh, you saw it.

[4:32:37] » It didn't seem left at a 33 at a 2/3. >> I don't know if they're 77. All those in

[4:32:43] favor of your hand.

[4:33:08] 35 and 23. Okay. All those against having the highway foreman speak

[4:33:24] » 10. Okay. So, it was a 68. That's why I didn't want to do it. It's not I just

[4:33:28] want to make sure. Um, so 10 was against, 58 were four. Again, 2/3 is a

[4:33:34] little bit more difficult than the majority, but I think that's more than

[4:33:37] 2/3. Yes. Okay. So he is allowed to speak. Would you like to speak to the

[4:33:42] amendment sir? >> Okay.

[4:33:48] » Okay. We want to hear it or 58.

[4:33:54] [clears throat]

[4:33:57] » All right. So just a little perspective on costs. What has come up? You know the

[4:34:02] last truck we bought was a six-wheeler. Cost us $189,000.

[4:34:07] That same truck today is $279,000. So,

[4:34:14] I'm all for whatever loans we can get, but there's still down payments that are

[4:34:19] involved. If you don't have that money, we ran into this problem with the

[4:34:22] greater. We didn't have money to when we went and applied for the municipal loan,

[4:34:26] we still needed to come up with $160,000 down payment. We didn't have that. So,

[4:34:31] we had that's why we ended up leasing. We went round and around the select

[4:34:35] board. Everybody, you know, it's it's not a matter of being able to purchase,

[4:34:41] trucks, you know, cash anymore. You need to have

[4:34:45] a huge down payment on most of this equipment cuz it's, let's face it,

[4:34:48] nothing's cheap anymore. And as far as maintenance costs go, that's the same

[4:34:52] thing. Everybody's, you know, why is your maintenance cost so high? Well, I

[4:34:57] don't know if you've been to a grocery store lately, but everything's triple,

[4:34:59] doubled. You know, it's out of my control. Well, I can only do what I can

[4:35:03] to control cost, but you know, the fact of the matter is is everything is way

[4:35:08] more expensive than it used to be. And, you know, I don't understand

[4:35:13] why people are so against, you know, trying to plan a little bit for the

[4:35:17] future. I'm not saying you got to pay for it all now. We're just trying to

[4:35:20] make it a little easier for future expenses.

[4:35:24] » Okay. There was a hand in the back. Way in the back.

[4:35:29] Another one. Thank you.

[4:35:38] » I just have a question. Liza Martin, why is it that the select board

[4:35:44] assistant addressed all the road department answers questions and now at

[4:35:49] the end of everything they finally defer to the head of the road department? Why

[4:35:53] wasn't he answering all the questions? >> No, no, no, no. First of all, we're

[4:35:56] talking about First of all, we're talking about the amendment and nobody

[4:35:59] asked for him to speak. It's not their job to ask them to speak. It's okay.

[4:36:03] It's okay. >> Food for thought.

[4:36:05] » What? Okay. Food for thought. Next. Any other discussion on the amendment?

[4:36:09] » Lucas. Yep.

[4:36:15] And I'm sorry to go back, but we have a still we voted down the $75,000 surplus

[4:36:21] or the fund surplus fund. >> Right. That was

[4:36:24] » So we that 75,000 is still >> No, no, no, no. We didn't we just we

[4:36:28] just voted down creating a surplus fund. The surplus money is still there. It's

[4:36:34] just not going to be put in a surplus fund, I assume. Right. Right.

[4:36:39] » Yes. Right. So, >> the surplus is still there,

[4:36:42] » but that money could go to >> That's that's right. That's not that's

[4:36:48] not I don't think that's appro that's not part of this discussion.

[4:36:51] » It should be in our minds when we come up with the $200,000 or the $160,000

[4:36:57] um whatever money we we are. >> Okay. Okay. No, I we got Connie will

[4:37:03] answer. Connie will answer. Go ahead. >> So, my understanding is that um the

[4:37:09] auditor has told us to keep 10 to 15% of our operating cost in a surplus for

[4:37:15] unexpected expenses. >> Okay. So to take that money out, um the

[4:37:22] board has decided uh at a couple select board meetings ago, the board decided to

[4:37:26] keep it in there for unexpected expenses. So um unless there was a

[4:37:31] decision to move it somewhere, but there's no place to move it. That's why

[4:37:35] we wanted the surplus fund. So currently that money is going to sit in the

[4:37:39] highway fund. I think it could be used for repairs as

[4:37:44] repairs come up because that's, you know, something that may happen.

[4:37:47] » Okay, we're still talking about the amendment. Yes, sir. In the back. Yeah.

[4:37:50] Microphone back there passed back. Thank you, sir.

[4:37:54] » Hi there, Danny McNamera. Uh, I just want to reflect. I've heard people share

[4:37:59] in this room a desire for the select board to adhere to the auditor's

[4:38:05] requests. And then I'm also hearing the select board saying that a major part of

[4:38:10] what they need to do to adhere to the auditor's request is not be operating on

[4:38:17] a shoestring budget. And so I'm just feeling a disconnect and I think it's a

[4:38:22] part of this amendment. The select board is telling us we're listening to the

[4:38:27] auditor. We're trying to establish more funds so that we cannot be operating

[4:38:34] right in the margin [snorts] and I just want to reflect that as a

[4:38:39] citizen. >> Thank you. Jean

[4:38:42] » quickly I that's okay. Wait wait wait who?

[4:38:44] » Me. >> Oh okay. I'm sorry.

[4:38:48] » Hi. Um I also want to talk to the the philosophy of raising this money for the

[4:38:55] trucks in particular. It's more of an attempt to spread that cost out over a

[4:39:01] couple of years instead of taking the hit all at once because obviously when

[4:39:05] we take that hit all at once of $300,000,

[4:39:09] it it hits our tax rate. If we're able to say we need to replace this truck in

[4:39:14] the next couple of years and this one in the next couple of years in order to get

[4:39:18] some trade-in value on that and also get some longevity out of our equipment. um

[4:39:23] then we can say for right now the the way that the buying of the trucks

[4:39:28] happens as we've learned with the fire truck is you order it but you don't see

[4:39:32] it for a couple of years down the line. So our philosophy was that if we started

[4:39:37] to put this money into reserve over the next few years, we would be ready to put

[4:39:43] that uh put that order in for the first truck. it comes in a few years later and

[4:39:48] by then we've spread that cost over a few years. Not hitting that tax rate so

[4:39:53] big in one year saying give us $300,000 or something like that. I won't go back

[4:39:59] into that surplus one that we already talked about. But that was also that

[4:40:05] part of that philosophy of trying to spread these costs over several years

[4:40:08] instead of gouging all in one year when we have something that [snorts] we need

[4:40:14] to replace. And that one thing that we might need to replace isn't going we're

[4:40:17] not going to get it for a few years until after that.

[4:40:22] » Well, Katie has pretty much said some about what I was going to say. You know,

[4:40:26] there's an old saying when when sorry

[4:40:29] » when work needs to be done, you can pay me now or you can pay me later. And the

[4:40:34] idea behind putting is simply to put this some money aside because these

[4:40:40] prices keep going up and a truck that's what $279,000

[4:40:46] this year is going to be $400,000 you know in what two years. So the point

[4:40:54] is to put some money aside now so that we won't have to levy that much tax when

[4:41:01] we have to actually spend the money. It's just that simple.

[4:41:06] » Okay. Uh I'm going to go there and then there

[4:41:14] [clears throat]

[4:41:20] » uh Alicia Stratford. Um, a 2026 Ram 5500 1- ton truck is 83,000.

[4:41:30] Uh, page 17. Uh, as of right now, if we were to place

[4:41:35] that truck, it's 83,000. Um, the International 7600, which is the

[4:41:42] other one that they're flagging for 27, stopped being produced in 2018.

[4:41:50] These numbers need to be revisited. >> That's all.

[4:41:54] » Okay. Uh, wait. There was first here.

[4:42:02] » No. Do you have No, because he's been recognized. At least for every article,

[4:42:06] we probably should re reassess that. But for this one, he's allowed. So, he can

[4:42:10] continue to

[4:42:18] They can breathe in around.

[4:42:28] » You understand the question? >> No, I don't.

[4:42:30] » So do I. >> Question.

[4:42:33] » No, there was no question. So you can't respond.

[4:42:36] Do you have a question for Jeremy?

[4:42:43] » Sorry. So if we were to replace the one,

[4:42:52] » she asked me how much the trucks would actually cost today. How much truck?

[4:42:55] » So, I have a Colt here from Claremont Ford on a a brand new one ton with full

[4:43:00] equipment set up like a big truck plow wing, four season body, which is more

[4:43:06] um

[4:43:09] safer and less wear and tear as far as what we're

[4:43:13] doing with these trucks. I mean, this truck brand new from the lot is $169,000

[4:43:18] setup. So, like I said earlier, the single axle dump truck, six-wheeler, the

[4:43:24] same truck that the last truck we bought was a 2022 Western Star. That truck we

[4:43:28] paidundred and

[4:43:33] Yeah. 80 Yeah. $187,000

[4:43:37] in 2022. That same [snorts] truck today is 280

[4:43:46] $286,000. So

[4:43:51] I mean those costs have gone through the roof in the last 5 years, four years,

[4:43:54] three years followup >> and a lot of that has to do with um

[4:44:00] emissions which adds about 50 grand to each truck these days. All these new

[4:44:05] emission standards are becoming more and more difficult to deal with as far as

[4:44:10] you know new trucking technology, computers, all that. It's just in my

[4:44:15] opinion it's gotten way out of hand. But there's I don't see anything that we can

[4:44:19] do to prevent it. You know, I'd love to see him go back to the old time trucks

[4:44:23] where you can do all the work yourself, but it's just not the way it is. So,

[4:44:30] » no, no, no, you don't have the floor. Um,

[4:44:34] wait, there was other hand. Okay, in the back, you have a microphone. Of course

[4:44:39] not. Is there one back there? No.

[4:44:47] So, just one quick question. You said you're putting a wing on a one ton.

[4:44:53] » Yeah. So, it's not really necessary, but anyways, um

[4:44:57] this motion is given $200,000 that we need to put towards bridge 43.

[4:45:03] Correct. We're going to get that reimbured by the state. 165 168,000

[4:45:08] whatever you said. 180. >> So why are we So you're basically going

[4:45:12] to have 180 plus this 160 for equipment. >> Well, I mean basically the the

[4:45:20] reimbursement is going to cover what you need for

[4:45:23] » reimbursement is going to cover what we spend on the bridge. So we have to spend

[4:45:27] upfront the $44,000 for the bridge. >> Yep.

[4:45:30] » Which we put 200% match 200,000 200,000 last year.

[4:45:35] » Correct. >> Another 200,000 this year. Correct. That

[4:45:38] 180 back >> 180 back. So we will have spent 220 on

[4:45:41] the bridge. 180 back is paying us back for that. It's not going back into the

[4:45:45] reserve account. >> It's paying us.

[4:45:49] » It's I'm not in the budget. If we're giving you the money, you're going to

[4:45:52] have it. >> So Chad, this is what Andy's referring

[4:45:55] to is that the 180 is in the budget. So it's not free floating 180. It was

[4:46:01] basically used to help bring down the cost of the highway budget. Um, and we

[4:46:07] had that discussion at one of the meetings, I think it was how do you how

[4:46:11] do we account for the grant funds and there there was a decision made that we

[4:46:17] can use it to help um alleviate the budget. So, it's not free floating or I

[4:46:24] shouldn't say it's not >> we're going to we're going to pay the

[4:46:27] contractor 400,000. Correct. State's going to reimburse us 180,000 of that.

[4:46:32] That's our money we're getting back. I'm confused. [clears throat] budget,

[4:46:36] » right? >> It's it's been used as revenue for the

[4:46:39] budget.

[4:46:44] » Oh, nice. >> Gotcha.

[4:46:47] » Okay. Further discussion. >> I saw other hands right there. Yeah,

[4:46:51] that's a hand. So, in the case of uh like a catastrophic catastrophic

[4:46:57] equipment failure, what does that scenario look like if we

[4:47:02] do not vote to raise this $160,000 on this amendment? Like what what does

[4:47:09] that scenario look like for us as taxpayers, for you as a select board if

[4:47:15] the what equipment fails? whatever expensive

[4:47:20] equipment. What What is the scramble? What does this look like?

[4:47:25] » If we have an unforeseen need to replace equipment and we don't have money for

[4:47:29] it, we have to deficit spend it. >> Deficit spend it.

[4:47:36] » And we might have to have a special town meeting even. Who knows, right? But we

[4:47:40] would have to come up with that money. We are able to borrow. We are able to

[4:47:44] deficit spend. That's not exactly how we want to be operating. And that's also

[4:47:49] why we do want to keep some money in a surplus if we have it in a fund balance.

[4:47:54] If unexpected things come up to speed up that cost, right, to kind of be that uh

[4:47:59] that cushion, but if we're using it on this and then something else happens, we

[4:48:03] can't use it for that. So that's just how we end up in deficits.

[4:48:06] » Has this has that ever happened before where we had an emergency spending

[4:48:10] situation? >> I'm sure.

[4:48:18] with the greater >> right the greater the hurricane Irene

[4:48:21] they're saying there's been plenty of times that they've borrowed money

[4:48:25] » Tom Martin okay good no got a question statement over here

[4:48:29] » I do want to point out we also have a spare truck as well it's an older truck

[4:48:33] but we do have a spare so if one of the frontline trucks goes down we do have an

[4:48:38] immediate backup so that that helps some and I assume that if we were to be

[4:48:44] buying new trucks We'd rotate out the spare and take one of the existing

[4:48:48] trucks and now make it the spare. Don't know if that's the way it would

[4:48:52] go, but that's my assumption. >> Okay, we have a an amend. Yes.

[4:48:57] » If we appropriate this $200,000, it can be put

[4:49:02] into an account that earns interest. If we have to borrow money because of a

[4:49:09] catastrophic failure, then we have to pay.

[4:49:13] Earning is better than paying. I think everybody will agree that might

[4:49:19] be the only >> Okay. Any other further discussion on

[4:49:24] the amendment? We still have the discussion on the amendment. Right.

[4:49:27] Wait, the microphone's coming right behind you.

[4:49:29] » There you go. Oh, I just have a question as to whether or

[4:49:33] not you looked for multiple bids on these trucks and whether or not the

[4:49:38] state has some kind of buying program that's available.

[4:49:52] Those

[4:49:56] bids were um obtained to try to give some kind of rough estimates for the

[4:50:02] type of trucks that we would be looking at. It's not the only bids and we

[4:50:07] haven't delved into um you know the state if they have any kind of programs.

[4:50:12] It was more about trying to get some idea of what we were looking at for

[4:50:17] planning >> on the state uh programs. There are

[4:50:23] municipal equipment loan fund programs. They are limited to a certain cap and

[4:50:27] it's gone up, but the last I looked was about 150, might be about $180,000. Now,

[4:50:33] that can go up in emergency circumstances. Right now, we're not in

[4:50:37] emergency circumstance, so you know, I'm not going to talk about that. But if we

[4:50:42] still need more than 180,000, whatever the cap is, that's also stuff that we

[4:50:47] have to come up with on our own. Um, so just to kind of bring that up and it

[4:50:52] would be limited. I believe it is one award per fiscal year.

[4:50:58] » Um, okay. We're still talking about the amendment. Yes, sir.

[4:51:01] » Alman, I'd like to call the question, please.

[4:51:03] » Okay. Before we do the twothirds vote, is there any other discussion?

[4:51:06] » Well, Jeremy, >> okay, wait. I know the question has been

[4:51:10] what >> Jeremy

[4:51:11] » Jeremy was a municipality.

[4:51:16] » Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Because we're in municipality. The

[4:51:21] question's been called. Because we're in a municipality, we get the best. He was

[4:51:25] just answering that last question. Then the question was called. Okay. There is

[4:51:29] a gentleman with his hands up that wants more discussion. So, we're going to have

[4:51:32] a twothirds vote on whether or not we're closing debate on just the amendment.

[4:51:37] Okay. Okay, we're going to we can continue to discuss and amend, but this

[4:51:41] amendment which will add so the the main motion will then read if passed

[4:51:48] to see if the town will vote to raise by taxation

[4:51:52] 300 300 Who's got the microphone? >> I do.

[4:51:56] » Turn that puppy off. Thank you, sir. That's okay.

[4:51:59] um to see if the town will vote to raise by taxation $360,000

[4:52:05] to the highway reserve fund with the following allocation. $200,000 for

[4:52:10] infrastructure bridge 43 and $160,000 for future highway equipment. That's

[4:52:16] what the main motion will read if the amendment passes. If the amendment

[4:52:21] fails, the motion will read to see if the town will vote to raise by taxation

[4:52:26] and appropriate $200,000 for infrastructure on Bridge 43.

[4:52:32] Yes.

[4:52:36] » No, I'm just I'm explaining what that would be. Yeah. Thank you. But we're

[4:52:40] still going to have a twothirds debate. There was there a second on the

[4:52:43] closing of debate? >> Second. Okay. But there was a gentleman

[4:52:47] I would just do it but the gentleman wanted to continue discussing. So we're

[4:52:51] No.

[4:52:54] All those in favor of closing the debate on the amendment, please say I.

[4:52:59] » I. >> Okay. Opposed.

[4:53:03] » Okay. I believe there's two/3s there to close debate.

[4:53:08] Okay. Now we'll have the vote to see whether or not the amendment passes. Do

[4:53:14] I need to repeat anything? A yes vote passes the amendment. A no vote defeats

[4:53:19] it. Do I need to repeat?

[4:53:23] Sorry. My job is to make sure you understand.

[4:53:28] Okay. Yes vote passes. No vote defeats. All those in favor of the amendment,

[4:53:34] please say I. >> I.

[4:53:37] » All those opposed.

[4:53:42] » Divide the house. >> Divide the house first. Unless somebody

[4:53:44] call the paper. As soon as somebody says paper ballot, I have to ask for seven

[4:53:48] hands. As soon as the word is we're having another paper ballot.

[4:53:53] Okay. So, this is again just on the amendment.

[4:53:59] » A yes vote passes the amendment. A no vote defeats the amendment. Any

[4:54:05] questions?

[4:54:10] » The ballot box is open. And I'd just like to make the comment.

[4:54:15] Lunch was served. Dinner will not. Okay, we have the mo the we have the

[4:54:22] results of the amendment. There were 76 votes. Yes, we're 40. No,

[4:54:30] we're 36. The amendment passes.

[4:54:37] » Was that Yes. 40? Wait, I'll tell you in a second. Was I correct in that? Um,

[4:54:43] Alena, >> it was 40. Yes.

[4:54:47] » 36. No. So, the amendment passes. >> Did you get that? Did you get I'll read

[4:54:51] it in a second. Did you get that, Connie, now? Okay.

[4:54:55] » Okay. So then so that so the the so the mo main motion we are now discussing

[4:55:02] reads will the vote will the town vote to raise by taxation and appropriate

[4:55:08] $360,000 to the highway reserve fund with the

[4:55:12] following allocation $200,000 for infrastructure bridge 43 and $160,000

[4:55:19] for future highway equipment. Period. Further discussion on the main

[4:55:26] motion.

[4:55:30] » Okay. Uh I don't have to do the twothirds vote if there's no objection.

[4:55:33] Is there any objection? >> Call the question on the main motion.

[4:55:40] » Is there any objection? Okay. Hearing no objection, we're not

[4:55:45] going to go through the vote. The the the the discussion is closed. We now

[4:55:50] have a motion in front of us to vote upon. The motion reads to see if the

[4:55:54] town will vote to see if the town will vote to raise by taxation and

[4:55:59] appropriate $360,000 to the highway reserve fund with the

[4:56:04] following allocation. $200,000 to be used fire funding highway infrastructure

[4:56:10] bridge 43 and $160,000 for future highway equipment. A yes vote passes

[4:56:17] that motion. A no vote defeats it. Any other questions?

[4:56:22] All those in favor, please say I. >> I.

[4:56:25] » Oppose. No.

[4:56:29] » All All those in favor, please raise your hand.

[4:56:35] Uh, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10.

[4:56:42] One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11.

[4:56:47] 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

[4:57:04] 38 38 yeses. Let's just start there and see what happens. All those opposed,

[4:57:09] please raise your hand.

[4:57:35] I got 38 to 30. Yes.

[4:57:43] Um, I believe the eyes have it. >> Okay, the eyes do have it. The motion

[4:57:50] passes. >> Okay. And and just so you know, I I

[4:57:54] counted 38 to 30, just so you know. So that's

[4:57:58] » Mr. Mr. B. >> Where we at?

[4:58:02] » Raise your hand. Yes, sir. >> All right. Al how many I'd like to

[4:58:05] suspend the rules and skip ahead to article 18 please and then come back and

[4:58:11] do the other ones afterwards >> and I understand we need to vote on that

[4:58:15] » which one is 18 is the transfer station >> correct

[4:58:19] » is that >> correct

[4:58:21] » okay so it's been uh to suspend the rules again it's a twothirds vote they

[4:58:27] we're just going to re we would just rearrange the order and move right to

[4:58:32] article coming back and then starting again

[4:58:35] where we left off. That would require a 2/3 vote.

[4:58:41] Um I don't believe there's Is there a

[4:58:45] second? >> There is a second. Uh I don't think

[4:58:49] we're going to discuss it. Let's have a twothirds vote on moving the compactor

[4:58:55] discussion to now. All those in favor of doing that, please uh raise your hand

[4:59:01] because there's supposed to be a division of the House. Okay. It's got to

[4:59:05] be two/3. Oh boy. And all those opposed.

[4:59:10] I don't know. I'm I'm not I'm bad with two/3.

[4:59:14] » Count it because it's hard to count. Okay. I mean, sit here. Okay. All those

[4:59:20] in favor of changing the order, please raise your hand.

[4:59:26] Changing order. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

[4:59:51] SIX. >> Did you get

[4:59:54] okay? >> I forgot.

[4:59:59] » Okay. All those opposed to changing the order.

[5:00:08] » I'm sorry. I don't I don't know. >> 11

[5:00:18] It's not a matter of benefit. It's a matter of what you want. It's It's been

[5:00:22] proposed. I'm having a hard time counting. Okay, let's do it this way.

[5:00:27] All those who want to change, stand up because that way it's much easier to

[5:00:33] count.

[5:00:47] Are you standing?

[5:00:53] I mean, I know you're standing RIGHT

[5:01:07] NOW. >> 43. YES. OKAY. PLEASE. Thank you. I

[5:01:11] appreciate all those oppos

[5:01:24] You're as strong as me.

[5:01:30] That's why people say it's a yes.

[5:01:47] » Yeah, that's not

[5:01:51] » what is it? >> That's not 2/3, right? So, there's 40.

[5:01:57] Yes. And 20 >> four. No, that's not twothirds. We

[5:02:02] continue down the path of the I'm not math.

[5:02:07] » I'm moderate. I know. Thank you for doing the math.

[5:02:10] » Okay.

[5:02:13] » Twothirds of people did not want to change the rules. So, we're now

[5:02:17] continuing down our path of what of the regular order. Okay. So, now we're going

[5:02:23] to move to article Thank you. 13 to see if the town will

[5:02:28] vote to raise $15,000 by taxation and place in the fire department reserve

[5:02:32] fund for vehicle repair as requested by the town auditor and select board.

[5:02:39] Moved, Craig, second was Lucas. Discussion.

[5:02:48] No discussion. Okay. Oh, somebody repairs that need right now.

[5:02:55] This is this is for repairs that needs right now. Question,

[5:02:59] » would you like me to answer that? >> Yeah. Yeah, he's back there. Do we have

[5:03:02] a microphone back there for him? >> Oh, thank you.

[5:03:08] » Your check will be in the mail. >> Can you hear me? Oh yeah.

[5:03:14] » So yeah, we were asked to instead of putting in the 14 $15,000 every year

[5:03:22] into our regular budget for maintenance, um they wanted it separated. So we

[5:03:29] weren't raising it by taxation every year. So the thought behind this is you

[5:03:36] raise the $15,000, it goes into this reserve fund. It only gets spent on

[5:03:42] vehicle maintenance repairs. Um, what's used out of that each year then gets

[5:03:48] replenished.

[5:03:53] » Yep. >> It's already

[5:03:56] » No, that's it's already been created. >> Play. No, no, you are creating the fund

[5:04:00] too, aren't you? Yes, you are creating the fund.

[5:04:03] » Correct. Yes, you are creating the fund and

[5:04:07] » will be replenished year after year >> depending on how much [clears throat]

[5:04:11] » depending >> if you vote to put that money back in

[5:04:14] the future. We're not talking about the future but yes

[5:04:17] » but yes we are creating the fund because it does say and placed in a fire

[5:04:22] department reserve fund not in the right so that to me means we're creating it.

[5:04:28] uh comment. >> So Glenn, I just want to clarify this is

[5:04:31] for kind of major unforeseen expenses. There is still kind of routine

[5:04:36] maintenance. There is still a smaller line item in there for smaller routine

[5:04:41] maintenance that you might expect in the regular year, but this is for kind of

[5:04:44] saving for those bigger expenses. Is that correct?

[5:04:48] » My understanding was um it can be done either way. if uh this

[5:04:56] year I think I put $5,000 in in case this doesn't pass, there's something to

[5:05:02] be able to repair the trucks. Um that's a discussion that we can certainly have

[5:05:08] um between the department and the select board on how they want to see that. If

[5:05:14] you want to keep up the 5,000 and then the 15,000 for the reserve fund is only

[5:05:19] for unexpected. Um, I'm open to any of that, but I we

[5:05:24] were just going off the recommendations made.

[5:05:29] » Further discussion? Did I see somebody had his hand up?

[5:05:32] » Yep.

[5:05:48] That's I'm not sure what numbers they're looking at, but I

[5:05:58] » that those number correct. Okay. But those numbers you're looking at in the

[5:06:03] annual report are eight or nine months old now. Those are not accurate numbers

[5:06:09] as of today. As of today, uh there's right around $4,000 left in

[5:06:17] um that particular line item. And I can tell you the top portion which is the

[5:06:23] fire department not vehicles. That one is actually

[5:06:28] uh negative numbers due to an increase by the mutual aid dues for dispatching

[5:06:34] services.

[5:06:38] Okay. [snorts] Further discussion.

[5:06:43] See. Oh yes.

[5:06:49] » Sorry. Okay. Hi, it's Amy again. Um, so the $8,800

[5:06:55] that we see here for fire vehicles, that's already for the usual

[5:06:59] maintenance. And then we're asking for an additional $15,000 to put into a

[5:07:03] reserve fund for any major issues that come up.

[5:07:07] » Please point me to some page numbers you're referring to.

[5:07:10] » Oh, sure. I'm sorry. I'm on page 14 where it's just fire vehicle totals or

[5:07:25] Kend >> Okay, now I see where you're at. So,

[5:07:27] you're uh $8,800, right? That's uh

[5:07:32] » that's already allotted for vehicle maint for any type of maintenance.

[5:07:37] » Well, they're broken down. >> You [snorts] have repair and maintenance

[5:07:41] fire trucks is $300. Okay, that's

[5:07:46] » you have the insuranceances $3,000. You have any supplies

[5:07:53] at $500. And then you have equipment for fire trucks $5,000 which totals $8,800

[5:08:02] » but only $300 for repairs

[5:08:07] » because hence we were asked to break out the uh

[5:08:15] maintenance cost instead of going it could cost us $15,000 this year. We

[5:08:21] don't know what's going to break next. Um, they wanted it separated out of the

[5:08:26] budget.

[5:08:33] » Uh, he said you're going to get a new truck. You're not going to have a lot of

[5:08:36] maintenance on that. >> Are you serious? Whatever. [laughter]

[5:08:39] Okay. >> That That was a Yes.

[5:08:44] » Warren. >> Thank you.

[5:08:46] » There's a microphone right next one person down. There you go. The article I

[5:08:51] best understood it is because the fire department brought the annual

[5:08:54] [clears throat] budget to the town the select board every year and after the

[5:08:58] auditor's reports and reports they advised the high the fire department to

[5:09:03] not carry the maintenance on an unforeseen problem

[5:09:07] and have it broken out. So we strip our budget. They strip the budget. I'm not

[5:09:12] on the budget committee for the bare bones 8,800.

[5:09:16] Our [snorts] newest truck is 24 years old.

[5:09:21] 24 years old. Okay. And we got 85s. We got 79s. I mean, we got a 53 Jeep in

[5:09:26] there, you know. So, anyway, long story short, none of our equipment is new when

[5:09:31] it comes to that. Um, [snorts] I lost my train of thought because you got me

[5:09:36] sidetracked. Where was I going?

[5:09:43] » Right. [snorts] So, I Yeah. Well, normally you would have the 15,000 would

[5:09:47] be in the budget and if it didn't get spent, it went back. So, but yeah,

[5:09:51] [snorts] there was something I was going to say.

[5:09:53] Maybe it'll come to me. We'll get a shot at it. Okay. Any other discussion? You

[5:09:58] might not get a shot. Yes. In the back, right behind you. Sorry. Right up there.

[5:10:06] I'd just like to comment. I I'm really having a hard time

[5:10:11] believing anybody would nickel and dime the fire department. Just wait till the

[5:10:16] day when you need them and you've nickel and dimed them to death and you're

[5:10:19] standing in your house with it burning down around you and your pets dying and

[5:10:24] then revisit this conversation. >> Any other discussion?

[5:10:31] » Oh, yep. Go ahead. >> I'm glad.

[5:10:35] » So, vehicle maintenance, repair, fire truck, right? Uh if we go to if we go to

[5:10:40] a fire scene, we draw water from an unknown water source, we take a stone to

[5:10:43] the pump, we blow a pump. That $15,000 is not going to make a dent in it. It's

[5:10:48] 40 to 60 $70,000 to repair the pump so that fire apparatus is in service again.

[5:10:53] So 15,000 is a small dime and it's probably not going to cover the major

[5:10:57] catastrophes, but it'll cover our basic maintenance and hopefully get us through

[5:11:01] the year to show up your houses. >> Question.

[5:11:04] » Is there any further discussion? That doesn't matter. Let me let me let

[5:11:09] me do it. >> Is there any other discussion?

[5:11:14] See, there's no further discussion. So, we don't have to call the question.

[5:11:17] That's all. I'm just trying to make this as quick as possible. Trying to follow

[5:11:20] the rules. Okay. So, there's a no further discussion to see if the town

[5:11:24] will vote to raise $15,000 by taxation and place in a fire department reserve

[5:11:29] fund for vehicle repairs requested by the town auditor and select board. A yes

[5:11:33] vote passes the motion. A no vote defeats the motion. All those in favor,

[5:11:38] please say I. >> I.

[5:11:40] » All those opposed? No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it.

[5:11:46] Article 14 to see if the town will vote to raise $20,000 by taxation to be

[5:11:52] placed in the firetruck capital fund toward a future pumper.

[5:11:57] » Craig. >> Second.

[5:11:58] » Second. Jean. Discussion.

[5:12:03] Jean. Is $20,000 enough to keep up with the increase of prices?

[5:12:09] » Is what? Um it so whatever I'm going to just So So this is kind of an every year

[5:12:16] request, right? Is am I correct about that? I know. I know. I know. I know.

[5:12:19] Hang on. I Because he's shaking his head and so I'm going to answer because

[5:12:22] you're not facing him. Um Oh, so the this is kind of a request every year,

[5:12:29] but no, it's not is what he's saying. Okay. But he's just shaking his head.

[5:12:33] No, but this is a a request every year. If you'd like to make an amendment.

[5:12:39] » No. >> Okay. Thank you.

[5:12:43] Any other discussion? Hearing no other discussion, there's a

[5:12:48] motion before us to see if the town will vote to raise $20,000 by taxation to be

[5:12:52] placed in the fire truck capital fund toward a future pumper. A yes vote

[5:12:55] passes that motion. A no vote defeats it. All those in favor, please say I.

[5:13:01] » I. >> Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

[5:13:05] The eyes do have it. Article 15 to see if the town will vote to raise $4,000

[5:13:12] through taxation to be placed into the fire pot fire pond reserve to be used

[5:13:18] for future fire future hydrant projects and repairs to existing hydrants.

[5:13:25] » Thank you. Sorry, I'm having trouble talking.

[5:13:27] » Uh Craig. >> Uh good.

[5:13:33] Okay. Discussion. Yes. Somebody have something to say? I heard the word

[5:13:37] discussion. Any discussion? Discussion on this? It's been moved and seconded.

[5:13:43] Okay. Seeing no discussion, there's a motion before us to see if the town will

[5:13:46] vote to raise $4,000 through taxation to be replaced in the fire pond reserve to

[5:13:51] be used for future hydrant projects and repairs to exist existing hydrants. A

[5:13:56] yes vote passes the motion. A no vote defeats it. All those in favor, please

[5:14:01] say I. >> I.

[5:14:03] » Oppose. No. I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it. Article 16 to see

[5:14:11] if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000 by taxation to be

[5:14:17] placed in town hall and opera house capital preservation fund to be used

[5:14:23] exclusively for ongoing structural mechanical and historical preservation

[5:14:28] work on on the town hall and opera house building. specifically excluding routine

[5:14:34] maintenance, day-to-day operational expenses, or any other costs currently

[5:14:39] funded under existing town hall budget line items with expenditures from said

[5:14:44] fund to be approved by the select board. >> Move.

[5:14:49] » It's been moved and seconded. Yes. Pass over.

[5:14:54] » Okay. It's been moved to pass over this

[5:14:58] article. Is there a second to that? Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me see

[5:15:02] where we at. It's been moved and seconded and restated. Right. I restated

[5:15:07] it. Yeah. Okay. So, wait. Wait. Okay. So, so it's been moved, seconded, and

[5:15:11] restated. Before restated after motion seconded

[5:15:16] and restated, but before debate is objection to consideration of the

[5:15:21] question, a second is not required. It is not debatable, but needs a twothirds

[5:15:26] vote. Okay. So we have to have a twothirds

[5:15:31] vote to pass over. It's been wanting to pass over this article.

[5:15:37] Uh we got to divide the house generally. So every I'm sorry.

[5:15:43] » No pass. Yeah. No paper ballot can go anywhere. I need seven hands. Oh,

[5:15:47] there's seven. It's been requested to paper ballot. Seven hands. One, two,

[5:15:53] three, four, five. Okay. I got five. Six. Seven. Okay. No, I got I got Okay.

[5:15:59] So, a paper ballot. So, we're looking to pass over this article. So, a yes vote,

[5:16:08] we pass over this and it never occurred. A no vote, we go back and we start

[5:16:14] discussing.

[5:16:22] » If you vote yes and the yes happens, it goes away. If you vote no, we go back

[5:16:28] and we discuss it. Yes to pass over, no not to pass over. Questions,

[5:16:36] ballot box is open. We have the results of the vote. Um, and

[5:16:43] I think I did make a mistake there because I don't think I restated it

[5:16:47] because I remember reading it once and I think I would have remembered reading

[5:16:51] that whole thing twice. So, it just needed a majority vote, not

[5:16:57] a twothirds vote, but it didn't matter anyway because yes was 31 and no was 40.

[5:17:04] So, Passover failed any way you want to look at it.

[5:17:08] Okay, 31 yes to pass over 40 no not to pass over. Okay, so my error on the

[5:17:17] two/3s, however, it didn't even get a majority. So, we are discussing this. We

[5:17:23] now have a motion that's been moved and seconded, but not restated by me yet.

[5:17:30] I'm not restating that whole thing. So, right now, consider it restated. Okay.

[5:17:37] Yes, ma'am. Okay. Now, there's discussion. Go ahead.

[5:17:40] » I would like to propose an amendment to

[5:17:47] remove $25,000 from this article. No, I will rule that out of order. That

[5:17:53] is a negative motion that makes the main motion invalid. And you can't do that.

[5:17:58] » You just vote no. >> You can't you can't make an amendment

[5:18:03] that takes away the motion.

[5:18:08] » Yes. Is there any funds already available for our town hall and upper

[5:18:15] house uh maintenance or a new accessibility and any grants that are

[5:18:22] have been already gotten in the near future. So on page 22 um there's a table

[5:18:29] summarizing our current certificates of deposit and reserve funds. At the bottom

[5:18:33] of the CDR reserve chunk at [snorts] the top there is the town hall reserve fund.

[5:18:38] Uh it states that at the end of fiscal year 25 there was $39,19.

[5:18:44] There has been also a reimbursement that came back that came in since that fiscal

[5:18:48] year ended of 4700. So the current number in that reserve account is

[5:18:53] 43,719. Uh so there is already a reserve account

[5:18:58] that exists uh for the town hall.

[5:19:08] I'm gonna start. Wait, this this here. Then we'll go back over there. Uh Laura,

[5:19:11] I'm gonna come around. >> Wait. Microphone. I'm gonna have to run

[5:19:15] it. Where'd it go? >> Yes, you do.

[5:19:23] » They can't hear you. They can't hear you. [laughter]

[5:19:27] » Thank you.

[5:19:35] Just >> try this one. Go ahead. No, you're good.

[5:19:39] You're good.

[5:19:44] » There you go. Go ahead. >> Okay. So since uh I I checked out the

[5:19:49] town hall monies that were voted to be used for the town hall from 23 24 and 25

[5:19:56] 10,023 5,024

[5:20:00] 7,525. Um and you're saying we have this

[5:20:05] reserve fund yet the town hall is basically falling down around our ears

[5:20:09] which is why we're all here today. >> So I'm just to just give that's okay.

[5:20:16] Go ahead. You're doing fine. >> So, basically, I mean, we're all here

[5:20:19] because we can't use the town hall because it just isn't there's a lot of

[5:20:23] stuff going on over there that needs to be addressed and it's not being

[5:20:26] addressed. And I don't know why if we have this money, but these people that

[5:20:31] asked for this money asked for it because they've been volunteering their

[5:20:34] time and energy to try to fix the town hall in any way they can. And they felt

[5:20:38] that if they had this money available that was only to be used for specific

[5:20:43] reasons, they could address things like the bell tower and the water leaking in

[5:20:49] through the foundation and um other uh rotting wood and things that just aren't

[5:20:54] being addressed and haven't been addressed for probably decades. Um

[5:20:58] personally, I don't know about all of you, but I would love to be able to have

[5:21:01] our meetings over there again. I really think that that's what it's for. It's

[5:21:05] kind of It's kind of sad that we all have to be here instead.

[5:21:10] » Okay. Thank you. We're going to go back and we're going to go back and forth

[5:21:12] because I can kind of tell who's for and who's against. And so you're going to go

[5:21:17] we're going to come over here for somebody to speak and then we'll come

[5:21:20] back over here for somebody to speak. >> Oh, wait.

[5:21:27] » To respond [snorts] to that. Um,

[5:21:31] in the last two years, uh, our grain writer has secured grants, uh, to do

[5:21:38] some work on the slate roof, um, [snorts]

[5:21:41] replace or repair there and kind of prevent any leaks that were coming in.

[5:21:45] Uh, we did just recently authorize monies to repair the clock tower. Uh, so

[5:21:51] it's not that there is no work being done on the town hall. some of these

[5:21:54] things in order to bring back uh and we did also just get the ADA doors

[5:21:59] installed. Uh that was at the behest of the planning commission. So we we also

[5:22:03] appreciate that effort there. Um to the point of having town meeting there uh

[5:22:09] upstairs that is not ADA compliant. There's no kind of ADA way to get up to

[5:22:13] the stairs uh to the second floor to do that. That is also no small task that

[5:22:19] would require some significant renovation. So, it's more than just

[5:22:23] $40,000 to do that. So, I just do want to clarify that it's not because no work

[5:22:28] is being done, but we don't yet have the capital to really tackle that huge

[5:22:33] project. >> Okay. And then we're going Wait, where

[5:22:37] we're going? Yes, ma'am. There. And then back over here.

[5:22:40] » Yeah. Helen Platkin. Um, I'd like to know what the Town Hall

[5:22:45] Opera House Capital Preservation Fund is. I see that it's capitalized and so

[5:22:51] that makes me think it's a thing and I know that somebody previously mentioned

[5:22:56] these people. So that's a question. >> So this is just this would create a new

[5:23:00] fund. There's already a fund for the town hall created. This would create a

[5:23:06] new fund called the town hall and opera house capital preservation fund. A new

[5:23:13] fund and then fund it with $25,000. And why it does there need to be why they

[5:23:19] want to have a separate fund? >> Um, who's the maker of the motion?

[5:23:25] » I think they live in Florida. >> No, no, no, it's not. Who's the maker of

[5:23:28] the motion? Yes. >> Yes. Go ahead.

[5:23:37] » Thank you. The reality is that town hall has some issues. One of which is water

[5:23:44] intrusion. I moved to Townsen more than 25 years ago and in 2007 I was on the

[5:23:51] planning commission. I've been in [snorts] the basement there for at least

[5:23:55] two dozen times and up until recently it was as dry as a bone. And when I say

[5:24:01] recently, about a year ago, there was water intrusion. It's because of

[5:24:06] drainage. Anyone who owns a house or structure

[5:24:11] knows that water intrusion is something you work on ASAP. You don't ignore it.

[5:24:16] It's being ignored. This group wants I'm I'm sorry.

[5:24:21] » Go ahead. >> This group wants that work to be done

[5:24:24] and this $25,000 will go towards that. There are also some other issues with

[5:24:30] town hall in terms of it not being handled or maintained properly. And

[5:24:36] that's what this group is all about. >> And it is a gentleman who lives in

[5:24:41] Florida. >> Don't don't go there. Okay. Don't go

[5:24:43] there. I won't I won't go there. >> Don't go there. Okay. And hang on one

[5:24:46] second. I've made a huge mistake here. We're going back to this side next. And

[5:24:49] then we'll come back over here. Um >> wait, wait one sec. [clears throat]

[5:24:58] Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. I I just made I I made a major mistake here and I'm

[5:25:02] trying to figure this out here. >> Hang on, everybody.

[5:25:07] We We had a a motion to pass over this article

[5:25:13] that we then voted on and failed, but we never made the motion to turn the

[5:25:19] article into a motion >> and have that seconded. Do you

[5:25:23] understand what I'm saying? So, we can't even be discussing it right now because

[5:25:27] I goed. Okay. My head is everywhere. >> So, move.

[5:25:34] » Oh, you're right. The first I'm so glad you're here, Nick. There was I'm wrong.

[5:25:40] The first thing we did was move and seconded it. Sorry. My bad. I apologize.

[5:25:44] Okay. So, so Bob answered. No, we're going to go to this side because Bob's

[5:25:48] was an answer to that. So, we're going to come over here to Andy first. No,

[5:25:52] Andy first.

[5:25:55] Um I I want to go back and speak to the point of that there is an existing fund.

[5:26:01] There is the town hall reserve fund which doesn't state it here but was

[5:26:06] specifically for ADA related items that was writted as being

[5:26:12] the priority and there was $39,000

[5:26:16] July 1st plus there was another $4700 that came back in for a grant back

[5:26:24] against the um engineering work. But we recently have spent approximately

[5:26:30] $18,000 on the door operators. The part of that same project is to

[5:26:37] continue with a new ramp and new railings which is going to be around

[5:26:41] 134,000 and then to do the restrooms and make

[5:26:45] those ADA is going to probably be another 10 12,000. So the

[5:26:52] money that is currently in the town hall reserve fund that was appropriated two

[5:26:58] years ago is basically going to be spent already. So back to the point of why

[5:27:05] adding a new fund is for different items. We've already basically earmarked

[5:27:11] the items that were that's covering. >> Yeah. Okay. response and then over to

[5:27:18] this side >> to the point of the reserve. I will read

[5:27:20] you the article as it was um the original article creating the reserve

[5:27:26] was to uh raise 50,000 to be held in reserve account for the repair and

[5:27:30] renovation of town hall. This includes prompt compliance with ADA. That does

[5:27:34] not mean that it was an ADA reserve. It is a reserve for repair and renovation

[5:27:39] including ADA. Now, for if there is money already planned for that reserve,

[5:27:46] we can continue funding it. It does not just get used up. As long as we choose

[5:27:52] to bring it up and vote on it and approve it, it can continue to be funded

[5:27:55] for the future and we can continue to plan additional projects to be used out

[5:28:00] of this already existing reserve account.

[5:28:03] » Okay. Yes. Right there. And then up there.

[5:28:09] No, didn't die. Hang on.

[5:28:20] Okay. So, I'll make an amendment then to suggest that this $25,000 goes into the

[5:28:27] reserve we already have. It doesn't need to be earmarked. Right.

[5:28:32] » You can't I that I'm gonna rule that out of order because that's not that's too

[5:28:35] far that's not gerine to what we have here. I understand what you're trying to

[5:28:39] do. You're trying to move that $25,000 into the And I get that. I knew this was

[5:28:44] going to come up, but that's we can't do that.

[5:28:47] » You can't do that. >> So, can I continue?

[5:28:49] » Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. >> Okay. So, I I don't feel comfortable

[5:28:54] with the idea of a volunteer organization being having earmarked

[5:28:59] funds, especially if it's headed by a non-resident and who can't vote on this

[5:29:08] and wants to raise our taxes for a redundant reserve that we already have

[5:29:14] and earmarked it for their pet project. I I don't feel

[5:29:19] » Yeah. Be careful what you say. That's not appropriate project. That's okay.

[5:29:24] » That's okay. >> My language. You're fine.

[5:29:27] » So, it's like I'm fine with the town hall

[5:29:33] being taken care of. That's great. But that is under the purview of our elected

[5:29:38] officials that we all just reelected into their positions and we have elected

[5:29:45] them to do that job to spend that money. that's already there. And we've been

[5:29:52] back and forth nickel and dimming super important things like for our highway.

[5:29:57] And you want to just like up our taxes over a beautifification volunteer

[5:30:02] committee? Like I don't think so. Like this is

[5:30:06] » okay. Okay. Over here. Uh do we do I do I Thank you, L. Thank

[5:30:12] you, Lucas. I appreciate you doing that. Here

[5:30:22] we are. Thanks. I'd like to address all of that briefly, not necessar

[5:30:27] necessarily in any order. The $25,000 was proposed for specific additional

[5:30:34] projects which have been more recently discovered with town hall. Not the

[5:30:38] things that have been ongoing, the things we've been aware of. We have been

[5:30:41] out of ADA compliance for about 35 years. goes all the way back to Tis

[5:30:46] Garfield, right? Bob Bob, I believe, was the one who spearheaded the $50,000,

[5:30:51] which everybody at that point in time until he did a wonderful presentation

[5:30:56] and explained, "No, you're not automatically voting in $50,000 every

[5:31:01] year. It would have to be brought back up or a new article, I guess, and voted

[5:31:06] upon for that particular year." Yeah, I'm on the planning commission. We've

[5:31:11] been trying to address ADA before somebody who needs ADA compliancy in

[5:31:16] this building comes down the road and sues our backsides off. So that's what

[5:31:21] the planning commission has been doing. We had spent two years just trying to

[5:31:26] get the door openers because members of the select board don't like things which

[5:31:32] don't apply. Now Sherwood told us he'd sooner see the building taken down, but

[5:31:38] he acknowledged the fact that it was probably a million-doll project. you

[5:31:42] keep dragging this out and not voting in a little 25,000 here or a little 50,000

[5:31:47] there for us to do it in order of importance, it is going to come down.

[5:31:51] Plus, we've already going to have spent the money. So, don't be unreasonable. Be

[5:31:55] broadminded. Let's take care of what needs to be taken care of now and then

[5:31:59] go on to the next step. Next step is the ramps. Right after that is the

[5:32:03] bathrooms. But the 39,000 is going to be long gone before we finish the

[5:32:07] bathrooms. So don't nickel and dime to 25,000 because if we do the other

[5:32:12] stuff's going to fall in on us while we're making new bathrooms.

[5:32:16] » Okay. Other side. Further discussion. Yes. In the blue.

[5:32:20] Right.

[5:32:23] Hi, I'm Alli Doli. When I was on the select board

[5:32:27] » [snorts] >> uh in 2020, um there were some

[5:32:32] levels of grants that came up about the ADA. I'd like to maybe consider having

[5:32:38] an article specifically for addressing that or ask our grant writer to find a

[5:32:45] grant to help with the ADA. I we have systems in place to repair things

[5:32:50] already in our town. We can find grants. It feels arbitrary this number and I'm

[5:32:56] not sure how this really is relevant. And I'd rather save that 25 for, you

[5:33:04] know, all of us to just have lower taxes.

[5:33:09] Further discussion. Wait, let me come over to the opposite side. Don't see

[5:33:13] anything there right now. Um, let let her speak and wait, you've already

[5:33:17] spoken once. Eugene, you go first. I don't have a microphone. Oh, good. Right

[5:33:20] there. And then you're you're speaking for your second time. Let him go first.

[5:33:24] The plan that was submitted that we talked about last year

[5:33:29] said that the total cost of bringing this town hall up to ADA includes an

[5:33:35] elevator and the bathrooms and a bunch of other stuff and it's over a million

[5:33:40] dollars. >> [snorts]

[5:33:41] » Given that we're probably not looking to spend that kind of money all at once,

[5:33:48] probably makes sense to just do these things that we can do,

[5:33:53] you know, one at a time. So, $25,000, you know, for some of these uh

[5:33:59] improvements that will will gradually bring us up to

[5:34:03] ADA makes makes sense. >> Okay,

[5:34:10] there. Okay. I don't want to add Charlie. Yes.

[5:34:17] » Thank you.

[5:34:21] » First of all, being the president of the historical

[5:34:25] society, I support the concept of historic preservation.

[5:34:30] There's a little bit of semantics here in that possibly there ends up being two

[5:34:34] different funds. I trust the select board could figure out how to make that

[5:34:40] into one fund. But the key to this article is

[5:34:46] the select board has to approve everything that's done. So it's not

[5:34:50] something that's being done by a particular group of people. The select

[5:34:54] board is approving the projects. This building has been let go by a

[5:35:00] number of people down the road over the years and even to the point of a

[5:35:06] proposal to build a whole new town hall. Well, I'm in favor of the preservation

[5:35:12] of the existing one and $25,000 is not going to cover it. I think we all know

[5:35:18] that. But there are plenty of projects that need to be done and I suggest that

[5:35:24] we vote in favor of this to get some of those projects done.

[5:35:29] » Okay. So, no, please, please, please, please hold your applause. That's not

[5:35:32] what this is about. Um, however, the only thing I would like to maybe correct

[5:35:36] in that statement is does the select board have the power to combine

[5:35:44] com that the select board could combine the

[5:35:48] two. No. >> Okay.

[5:35:52] » Okay. >> Okay. I I I heard him say I heard him

[5:35:55] say that that that the select board could figure out a way to combine and I

[5:35:59] don't know if that's true. That's all. Other than that, that's all right. Yeah.

[5:36:04] Okay. >> You can't combine them, but Okay. You

[5:36:07] can't combine them, but that other than that, um Laura Yeah, let's do Laura and

[5:36:10] then we'll go to the back.

[5:36:19] » [laughter] >> Yeah, he is

[5:36:21] » a long time. >> Ah, that's good.

[5:36:24] » So, um the um I think a few years ago the select someone that in town actually

[5:36:30] worked on getting a grant to get the lift fixed on the stairs in the town

[5:36:36] hall and got the grant and it was never utilized for the purpose in which it was

[5:36:41] raised. So, um there has to be follow through. You know, you can have the

[5:36:47] money, you can have the grants, but you also have to have follow-through people

[5:36:50] that really want to get this done and that are willing to go that extra step.

[5:36:57] » Okay. Wait, wait. And that was your second time speaking to this? Yes, it

[5:36:59] is. Okay. Sorry, I didn't realize that she's done. First time speaker.

[5:37:04] » Can I make an amendment to combine the existing?

[5:37:10] » No, it's already been tried. >> Yes. You can't do that. You can't. Yes.

[5:37:16] Uh, wait, your second time, too. Hang on. Any other first time speakers?

[5:37:22] » Hearing none. Go right ahead. >> I'll keep it going.

[5:37:24] » What? Oh, you're a first time speaker. >> Okay, let him speak first, and then you

[5:37:29] can go. Yep. >> On this topic, first time. Yes.

[5:37:32] » Yes. >> Um, with the article, I think there's

[5:37:35] maybe opposition to how it was written, who it was written for. Um, I can agree

[5:37:39] with the the needs for the the projects to happen and and the way the 50,000 was

[5:37:45] delegated and will go and be delegated. I think the group is worried that right

[5:37:49] now with the water coming in for the infrastructure, if you keep waiting and

[5:37:52] waiting, then you potentially have a larger larger larger problem uh before

[5:37:57] you get to even the ADA bathrooms and the other stuff. So, well, I don't

[5:38:01] really care for the way the article was written and how it was formatted.

[5:38:05] I think that's what they're trying to get that that money now so they can fix

[5:38:09] the water remedation problem so they don't keep losing structural damage and

[5:38:13] then it can continue as they've been continuing with projects that they have

[5:38:17] dictated laid out and it says in the article the expenditures from the said

[5:38:20] fund to be approved by the select board. So, as these guys were asking for that

[5:38:24] water remediation, the select board say yep, you guys can do that. So, that was

[5:38:28] it. Okay. Um, wait there. Sec. Uh, yep. Second. Right there. She's been waiting.

[5:38:35] » Hello. Um, >> I I Helen. Helen.

[5:38:39] » Yep. >> I just um have the sense that there's

[5:38:43] something This is my first town meeting and uh I have the sense that there's

[5:38:49] something going on in this that article that is not above board. People keep

[5:38:56] saying this group, these people, don't talk about that. And I I'd love to have

[5:39:02] whatever the issue is out on the table so that I know what I'm voting for.

[5:39:09] Okay. Okay. Any other discussion?

[5:39:14] Uh Andy is and then back up Chad. I don't think

[5:39:19] you've spoken yet, but go ahead Andy. This is number two.

[5:39:24] » Okay. Um, I'll try to speak to that without getting into too much detail.

[5:39:30] Um, anybody can write an article. Any group can ask that it be on the

[5:39:38] agenda for the town meeting. The particular article that you're we're

[5:39:43] referring to now was asked to be placed on the agenda by a group called the

[5:39:49] friends of the town hall and opera house who is a a local group that has done a

[5:39:55] lot of work volunteer on cosmetic type items on on the town hall um has done a

[5:40:02] lot of the decoration works. I happen to be one of the founding members of that

[5:40:05] group. Um this is not related to the that group the founders

[5:40:12] of the or the friends of the town hall. Um but they didn't in the process of

[5:40:18] doing that we saw that there were lots of things that needed work that were

[5:40:22] more structural that were beyond what volunteers could do. For instance we me

[5:40:27] mentioned um water infiltration. All of the window wells along this side of the

[5:40:32] town hall that you know that over there are all broken. Every one of them. And

[5:40:38] water is coming into the basement through those. If you go up in the bell

[5:40:42] tower, you'll see that there's water coming through there that is rotting the

[5:40:47] roof above the bell tower and the fascia areas. Um

[5:40:53] those are pretty significant expenditures to get those repaired. Um

[5:40:58] there is an entire list of things, those are two of them that need to be

[5:41:03] done structurally. They're not cosmetic issues. They are real structural issues

[5:41:08] that need to be addressed. The group called them out, presented a

[5:41:13] list of to the select board and requested this article. The select board

[5:41:18] said they would put the article up for discussion and possible vote here. any

[5:41:24] of the work that gets done, any of the approvals on getting done, as it says in

[5:41:28] the article, is all by the select board. It's just basically saying, "Okay, here

[5:41:32] are the things that need to be done. We need to set up some money and start

[5:41:36] chipping away at them if we're going to continue to have the town hall um

[5:41:41] utilized as a community space and as the, you know, the home of our local

[5:41:46] government. So, from a historic preservation, gosh, I love the town hall

[5:41:51] and I think it's a great place to be. really is part of the character of our

[5:41:55] town and it would be awful if we had to go and build a new town hall. That's,

[5:42:01] you know, we'd lose the character of the whole town in doing that. So, thank you.

[5:42:06] » Further discussion come to this side. Second speakers, you'll be up next.

[5:42:12] You've already spoken once. Okay. Go ahead.

[5:42:14] » So, I'm worried about the verbiage of the article. it does it I'm taking from

[5:42:20] it the way that that's read that it's implied that this volunteer group which

[5:42:25] you just said the work that needs to be done is not under the skill level of

[5:42:31] volunteers right does that verbiage in there indicate that they would be the

[5:42:37] ones doing the work on this >> I don't I don't see that okay

[5:42:43] » anybody else see that I don't see that >> so

[5:42:48] So they would be sourcing the like I don't understand why they're a part of

[5:42:53] this. >> So what they're so what this article

[5:42:55] would do if it's passed is create a new reserve fund place $25,000 in it that is

[5:43:02] specifically for ongoing structural mechanical and

[5:43:08] historical preservation. >> Okay. So the select the select board

[5:43:13] would be the ones determining how and when the money is spent.

[5:43:19] » Okay. So the name of the group comes in to just name the fund.

[5:43:26] » No, they they the fund I'm not worried about the name of the fund. I mean this

[5:43:31] volunteer group >> nothing.

[5:43:33] » It doesn't >> nothing. Not really. I mean

[5:43:37] » right. I mean whatever. Yeah. They they might have written the article, but that

[5:43:42] doesn't mean anything. And I don't know if they did.

[5:43:44] » No. >> Okay.

[5:43:45] » They didn't write the article. I'm being told. I don't have the faintest idea,

[5:43:48] but you you asked me how does this group come into it? I don't know.

[5:43:53] » Okay. >> Yep. That that's all.

[5:43:56] Uh Chad Chad was asking Chad, you Chad. Wait, Chad.

[5:44:00] » So, >> and then I just I don't know why we're

[5:44:02] getting hung up on what group is what for volunteers. We got a volunteer fire

[5:44:06] department. Nobody's questioning that. It's no different. this money is going

[5:44:10] to town infrastructure and approved by the select board. I think right right

[5:44:15] well I think I think some of the conundrum is there's already an existing

[5:44:18] one and so why create another one but that's that's that's that's all that's

[5:44:24] all um hang on what did you have to say because somebody was going to call the

[5:44:28] qu okay hang on one more Irv and then you one more and then Irv

[5:44:34] 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

[5:44:40] of an outsider but Danny Danny McNamera Um, I just want to try a little bit to

[5:44:47] answer your question, Helen, and I'm going to do my best to stay germanine to

[5:44:52] the topic. So, if I dwell out of it, stop me.

[5:44:57] But some of the reason that I think there's a no is that for me, it's not

[5:45:06] that we're a that I'm against funding repairs to the town hall. It's

[5:45:12] not that I am I think that long-term maintenance shouldn't be accomplished. I

[5:45:17] think that these things are extremely important and I respect a lot of the

[5:45:20] work that people have put into volunteers time that I've has happened

[5:45:25] to try and work towards the town. Respect that gratefully and want to vote

[5:45:31] for yes put money into long-term support. [snorts] In this particular

[5:45:35] instance, some of the concerns are around some of the long-term potential

[5:45:41] long-term or even next couple years consequences

[5:45:45] to the culture of how Townsen addresses these problems. And there's been some

[5:45:52] concerns about techniques, strategies, and

[5:45:59] staying in the lane of how decisions get made, how people's character gets

[5:46:03] respected who are serving our government, how certain

[5:46:10] » keep going. >> Let's [laughter] talk about the article.

[5:46:14] So the article I think what subtext of what you're picking up is that it is not

[5:46:21] that those of us are saying no don't repair the town hall. It's more [snorts]

[5:46:28] specific questions around the the implications of dedicating that

[5:46:34] money to this particular group. And >> that's not to the group.

[5:46:38] » That's not to the group just to the funds. No, no, no, no. I'm just saying

[5:46:41] it's not being dedicated to >> it's being dedicated to the town hall

[5:46:44] and opera house capital preservation fund

[5:46:47] » and the select board has control over that. So, it's a select board.

[5:46:50] » It's going to be a a town administered fund.

[5:46:56] » Correct. >> Correct.

[5:46:58] » And the select board chooses every single line.

[5:47:00] » Absolutely. >> There's no other way to do it.

[5:47:04] » No outside group has control over our monies.

[5:47:06] » Yeah. Okay. That's so does that answer stuff? [laughter]

[5:47:11] » I mean, am I am I correct in that statement, everybody?

[5:47:15] » Okay. Okay. Any other Okay. Irv wanted to make a state. Wait, wait, wait. Okay.

[5:47:20] Oh, Irv wants to call the question. But before I do that, are you done?

[5:47:23] » Yeah, I'm done. Thank you. >> Is there any state or medical historical

[5:47:29] preservation grant money that can be

[5:47:33] » pursued? Okay.

[5:47:36] Um, okay. Well, the answer is yes because we we already had to call the

[5:47:40] question. The answer is yes. And my bet is that they they're aware and they're

[5:47:43] researching. You can nod. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. They're aware. They're

[5:47:48] trying. Okay. They're again I I I I don't want to say our select board is

[5:47:53] the best. I don't want to say it's they're working. They're working. Okay.

[5:47:56] I I I assume they're working to the best of their ability to make our life as

[5:48:01] good as possible. Okay. Irv called the question.

[5:48:06] » Irv called the question. >> I had my hand up before that.

[5:48:09] » No, you didn't. He Irv had his hand up before his hand was up.

[5:48:16] » Okay, I have an argument here. Jean, go right ahead.

[5:48:21] He was asked if they would fix the lift. The answer is the lift was grandfathered

[5:48:27] in until it broke. It is no longer grandfathered in and the build the whole

[5:48:33] package of renovations has to be done before the building will again be will

[5:48:39] be ADA compliant. That includes the elevator and the bathrooms

[5:48:43] and all the rest. >> Thank you. From now on, if I say

[5:48:47] somebody's hand was up prior to yours, no matter who it is, it's the

[5:48:51] moderator's decision. Please respect the moderator. Thank you. Irv called the

[5:48:56] question. Okay. It's been moved and seconded to

[5:48:59] call the question. We can have a twothirds vote. But is there any other

[5:49:03] discussion and we don't have to do the two-thirds vote? Oh, is there any

[5:49:06] objection? Is there any objection to closing the discussion?

[5:49:12] Hearing no objection, we will now take a vote. We don't have to do the vote on

[5:49:15] the closing of the question. We will now take a vote. It's been moved and

[5:49:20] seconded to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000 by

[5:49:25] taxation to be placed in a town hall and opera house capital preservation fund to

[5:49:30] be used exclusively for ongoing structural, mechanical, and historical

[5:49:34] preservation work on town hall and opera house building specifically excluding

[5:49:39] routine maintenance, day-to-day operation expenses, or any other costs

[5:49:44] currently funded under existing town hall budget line items with expens

[5:49:48] managers from said fund to be approved by the select board.

[5:49:53] A yes vote passes that article. No. A yes vote passes that motion. A no vote

[5:50:00] defeats the motion. Any questions?

[5:50:05] No. Somebody saying something. No. No. We've already ended discussion.

[5:50:13] This is the main motion, right? Everybody understand the yes vote passes

[5:50:16] this. We're not talking about it. This is the main motion. Yes, vote passes it.

[5:50:21] No vote defeats it. All those in favor of the motion, please say I.

[5:50:26] » Oppo. Don't yell because it doesn't matter. All opposed.

[5:50:31] » Okay, I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do have it. Okay, moving on. So,

[5:50:37] that passes. No applause. Come on. Why do you want to piss off somebody else?

[5:50:42] Just move on. Okay.

[5:50:47] Article or unless you were clapping for me.

[5:50:51] Article. Oh, no. No. No. No. No. No. No. Please, please, please. I didn't say

[5:50:54] that. I didn't say that. I didn't say that. Article. I was trying to Okay.

[5:50:58] Article 17. 17. Help me out. >> 17.

[5:51:02] » 17. To see if the vote to see if the town will vote to raise 20,000

[5:51:08] $15. $20,015.

[5:51:13] $20,15 by taxation for the support of social

[5:51:17] services as recommended by the social services committee. That's on page 28

[5:51:22] and 29. Okay. Second. We got Craig and Lucas as

[5:51:28] good. Discussion. Uh Lucas discussion

[5:51:34] hearing. No discussion on the social services committee. We have a motion

[5:51:40] before us to see if the town will vote to raise $20,15

[5:51:44] by taxation for the support of social services as recommended by the social

[5:51:48] services committee. A yes vote passes that motion. A no vote defeats that

[5:51:53] motion. Understand? All those in favor, please

[5:51:58] say I. >> I.

[5:51:59] » Oppose. No. >> I believe the eyes have it. The eyes do

[5:52:05] have it. >> Thank you.

[5:52:09] HAS

[5:52:13] people want change to the format, please talk to me.

[5:52:19] » If some if so the social scre the social services screening committee is saying

[5:52:23] if you want to change the format the information is presented,

[5:52:28] please come up and talk to Chris after the meeting or contact her at some point

[5:52:32] in time before the next book is put together. Right. Okay. Okay.

[5:52:39] Article 18. This is my last page. Article 18. To see

[5:52:46] if the town will vote to raise $65,000 through taxation for the purpose of

[5:52:50] purchasing a trash compacting system for trash collecting at the transfer

[5:52:56] station. I will now entertain a motion. Nick's motion. Second. Craig will use.

[5:53:01] Sorry. Thank you. Okay. Let's discuss. Yes. Wait. Wait. Oh, wait, wait. Motion

[5:53:09] maker gets to discuss first. You're right. Go right ahead.

[5:53:11] » Uh, so, as any of you that go to the transfer

[5:53:15] station know, we have been out [snorts] of commission from our trash compacting

[5:53:20] truck. Um, it was in really poor shape. And we are currently using a dumpster

[5:53:26] that's being uh picked up by Cassella um, every so often. The dumpster is not

[5:53:31] a great solution. It is open. It's accumulating snow. it's accumulating

[5:53:36] weight which we got charged for. Uh so this would be uh the proposal that we're

[5:53:41] thinking of is for a compacting dumpster uh that would be hauled away but it

[5:53:48] would still be covered in compacting our trash. It would just be a different

[5:53:51] solution. We wouldn't be driving it. Um and

[5:53:57] yeah, we hope that this is a way forward for improving uh the way that we manage

[5:54:02] trash in town. Um, >> okay. Any you done? Good. Good. Any

[5:54:08] explanation there? Any uh further discussion?

[5:54:12] » Yes. Okay. Yep. I called on you first and Yep. Go right ahead, Laura. Your

[5:54:15] microphone's coming.

[5:54:20] » So, I've I looked at the um numbers for this and I've seen the system. I think

[5:54:27] it's the same system in Jamaica and there's one in Bellis Falls. And both

[5:54:31] systems have a roof over the electrical compo components of this setup. I think

[5:54:38] that's kind of necessary because it's electrical. Um, and it's not included in

[5:54:44] this total. So, I just wondered why. Who who could answer that? Something

[5:54:53] about covering some electrical equipment.

[5:55:05] The electrician says hang on go ahead the microphone right there so everybody

[5:55:09] can hear you. >> I said the electrical equipment in

[5:55:12] question and the controlling would be all NEMA 3 which is weatherproof

[5:55:16] control. So the electrical electric [laughter] being electrocuted is is not

[5:55:23] what you're thinking. Covering [clears throat] the attendant while he's

[5:55:26] operating it would be the benefit there. Okay, Irv's got his hand up. Why don't

[5:55:33] you head up to Irv there?

[5:55:41] I don't believe the board has looked into this all the way because if they

[5:55:47] come they so much pull, but if they come up here and pull that box, they're not

[5:55:53] going to bring it back for the same price.

[5:55:58] It's going to be a two be two charges instead of one because if you come up

[5:56:03] and back then you got to bring it back up and then it go back.

[5:56:10] Connie can answer that. >> Uh Irv brings up a very good point which

[5:56:14] is the flyer that was passed out the figure of 4,290

[5:56:22] was a one-way hauling fee. and he points out that if we only have one dumpster,

[5:56:28] they got to bring it back up, which means two hauling fees. So it, again,

[5:56:32] this is rough estimates. This is off the top of my head. That would imply that

[5:56:37] the 4,290 would be doubled to 8, let's say 500.

[5:56:45] » Oh, I'm sorry. I thought the mic was picking it up. Um, so it would imply

[5:56:49] that on this flyer that was passed out that the hauling fee for the dumpster,

[5:56:54] if we stay with just one dumpster, you have that you have to double it because

[5:56:58] it's down and back. So the 4,290 becomes basically 8,500.

[5:57:05] It's still a saving um in terms of the difference

[5:57:11] between um the difference between hauling and uh the compactor system and

[5:57:19] the um compactor truck. But he is correct that the hauling fee would

[5:57:24] probably double. >> Yeah. Also,

[5:57:28] the price is not going to stay the same next year

[5:57:34] cuz we're dealing with that same thing through the landfill

[5:57:38] and cassella's prices change up to four four or five%.

[5:57:47] But not only that, in oh since 1978

[5:57:54] we've had three trucks. We run them 14 years

[5:57:59] and we got a new one in 92. We run that another 14 years. And that this last

[5:58:06] truck was was not new, but they've had it probably 20 years or close to it.

[5:58:14] And but what what did they give you? Anybody give you a price on replacing

[5:58:19] the wiring? >> Replacing the what?

[5:58:23] » Oh, the wire the wiring on the truck. >> Yeah,

[5:58:26] » that's not the only thing that's bad. >> Well, the rats chewed it up. That's

[5:58:29] what's a hat into the truck. >> That's Well,

[5:58:32] » they don't keep If you don't keep rat poison out there, they're going to be do

[5:58:36] the same thing with the highway trucks. >> Okay.

[5:58:43] Great. Um, bring it up here and then one up here.

[5:58:49] » You can speak question. >> Yeah. I was just uh going to say that

[5:58:54] the select board is proposing this for two reasons. One, for safety to the

[5:59:01] employees to not put them in a situation where they're driving a truck that is

[5:59:07] infested with rats. Um, and two, for cost purposes.

[5:59:15] Okay. Wait. No. Oh, do you have a microphone?

[5:59:21] » Wondering if it wouldn't be most Liza Martin most economical for the town to

[5:59:25] own two dumpsters so that that delivery and pickup doesn't happen twice. And as

[5:59:32] an aside, we have a neighbor who has a small dumpster on her property from

[5:59:37] Cassella and she doesn't generate enough trash, but it's still more economical

[5:59:42] than going another route with Cassella. So, she tells us to bring us her trash

[5:59:46] and we pay her in eggs. Neighbors should think about going in on a small dumpster

[5:59:51] if all this is too overwhelming. But there again, the two dumpsters seems to

[5:59:56] be a lot better than $65,000 for a compactor.

[6:00:01] I'm just tossing my law my trash on Lucas's lawn. He'll figure it out. Um uh

[6:00:06] yes, go right ahead, sir. >> Sir, my god,

[6:00:12] you've got a lot of elements here. Is a compactor any good on the truck itself,

[6:00:18] not the compactor is shot. And the truck shot, right? Okay. How about the

[6:00:22] compactor? What what I'm getting at, you've got a

[6:00:25] spare truck down there, six-wheeler, right? What would it take to take the

[6:00:30] compactor off that, put it on the old truck, take that money, put it toward a

[6:00:35] new truck? Because switching box is not it's not a big deal. Um, what do you got

[6:00:41] the PTO and you've got the hydraulics is probably all there is to it. And you're

[6:00:45] right back where you started. I is Anybody looked into that? That's all I'm

[6:00:48] saying. >> Anybody look into it?

[6:00:50] » That's a lot of money out of the truck. So that has not

[6:00:57] been uh looked into. It still does not address the issue of safety for

[6:01:03] employees driving in a truck that would be

[6:01:07] infested. [clears throat] >> I'm saying you got to know you got to

[6:01:09] you're using the old truck which is roadw worthy, right? The town truck we

[6:01:13] have which is a spare. You're going to get rid of the old one. The old freight

[6:01:17] liner. The old it's a freight life. It's a Sterling. It's a Freight Liner. Get

[6:01:20] rid of it. take the box off it, put it on the spare truck for the town. I

[6:01:26] imagine you could probably still keep a wing and a plow on it if you needed it

[6:01:29] for that. Just >> Right. But the concern is rat

[6:01:32] infestation. >> Yeah. No, what he's saying is switch the

[6:01:35] truck. Pull the back off the dead truck that's been infested and put it on a

[6:01:39] different truck, >> right? And then how long will it take

[6:01:41] for that truck to be in? >> No. No. Right.

[6:01:43] » That's the concern. That's why it has to do with So you don't want trucks.

[6:01:48] » Hang on. That was one of the reasons that we've proposed this method is to do

[6:01:54] away with employees having to sit in and drive in ratinfested trucks.

[6:01:59] » I've done it. >> Okay. Anyway, [laughter]

[6:02:01] » okay. Good. >> Just a thought. That's all I want.

[6:02:04] » Okay. And that and what I was going to say to that is in that case, if that's

[6:02:07] what you want, you just vote down the motion because we're not we can't amend

[6:02:10] to to a different truck kind of thing. Okay. Yes. Andy's in the back.

[6:02:22] Um we have a lot of options on looking at how we do our trash removal um

[6:02:28] collectively as a town. Um the current trash compactor truck failed inspection.

[6:02:36] Reason it failed inspection was that the front fenders and the attachment on the

[6:02:41] front fenders are rusted. So that would need to be repaired. There were some

[6:02:46] electrical wiring issues where they had been chewed and it was missing some

[6:02:49] plastic knobs. The bigger issue that was brought up was

[6:02:55] that it does have rats in it cuz you're hauling garbage. Um, and we were leaving

[6:03:00] the garbage there and the rats were getting in and we didn't have an

[6:03:04] exterminator coming in or poison or whatever to keep the rats down or power

[6:03:11] washing and cleaning it on a regular basis to keep it clean. The truck still

[6:03:18] engine works, transmission works, hydraulics work. So, we still have a

[6:03:23] good usable frame of a truck and compactor. Now, if we want to decide

[6:03:28] that we can't keep it clean and keep it rat free

[6:03:34] um because we're not willing to go through the maintenance and routine to

[6:03:37] keep it clean, that's an issue and we can go to a different system, which is

[6:03:41] what is being proposed. There's no guarantee that that will not have rats

[6:03:47] in that compactor as well. you still have to make sure that you do have

[6:03:51] extermination and keeping the rats down and getting it hauled away on a more

[6:03:56] frequent basis. So, um that's a choice that we need to make here of which

[6:04:01] approach we want to take, but we have other options as well. And I just want

[6:04:06] to make clear that we can continue with the option we have for much less money.

[6:04:14] Further discussion.

[6:04:19] See. Oh, yep. Laura second second talk. Okay.

[6:04:27] » Um I don't maybe I wasn't clear about my question. Um if we are going to have to

[6:04:34] build this roof, how much is it going to cost?

[6:04:40] » I don't I don't I don't think they're planning on building a roof. I think

[6:04:44] they Warren just answered it and said that the electrical system will be

[6:04:49] waterproof when they build it. So, the electrical system does not need to be

[6:04:53] covered. The only person that needs to be covered if you wanted to is the

[6:04:56] attendant, but we don't really care. No, I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. I'm

[6:05:00] only kidding. Wait, wait. I was first and then we'll go to the back of the

[6:05:03] room. I'm sorry. And these are second talks. Irv, you're second and you're

[6:05:06] done. Is that guy or >> Well, also

[6:05:10] the the compact unless they have it covered,

[6:05:16] you're going to have rain, snow, freezing, and all that stuff.

[6:05:23] So, that's another thing. You're going to have to put a cover, do something

[6:05:28] about it. >> I think the compactor that they're

[6:05:29] purchasing is covered. It's a tube that compact. It's the same kind of green

[6:05:35] thing that's there now, but it's covered with a compactor.

[6:05:40] » While that compactor comes back to put stuff in, you're going to get rain and

[6:05:45] snow in it. >> Okay. Okay. Uh, you're second. Somebody

[6:05:50] wanted to speak first. I never saw that hand over here. And

[6:05:54] then to the back. Do you have a microphone right now?

[6:05:58] » Hello. Thank you. Hi, Alicia Stratford. This is just a a question for clarity

[6:06:03] because I am not an expert on trash removal. Um, at the beginning of this

[6:06:08] breakdown, it does specify that it's 165 to haul and then 210 to tip. Does that

[6:06:14] tipping cost go away with this other or is it just not factored in?

[6:06:20] » It's factored in. That tipping cost is essentially it's 200 per load

[6:06:26] » because at the bottom it's saying the 65 165 hauling fee and that's like if it's

[6:06:32] also 210 isn't that really 375.

[6:06:41] » Hang on. They're trying to figure out what you're saying.

[6:06:49] So, it is $165 to pick it up, bring it to the dump, and

[6:06:56] then $210 to empty it, and then what? Another 165 to bring it back.

[6:07:03] » So, I believe that I was looking at differences. We have tipping is um there

[6:07:08] for any system that we use that we're taking it to Cassella or a company like

[6:07:15] that. There's a tipping fee whether there's a current trash compacting

[6:07:20] truck, whether there's a current dumpster. So

[6:07:24] » you got you got to talk it's on. Just speak into it.

[6:07:27] » Yeah. So I my [clears throat] recollection is is that I wasn't looking

[6:07:30] at what currently already exists. It's the difference.

[6:07:35] So >> what she's saying, Alicia, is that that

[6:07:39] cost is there equivalent. >> So it would just if you bought a truck,

[6:07:45] » there would be a tipping fee. >> And if we did a dumpster, there's a

[6:07:48] tipping fee. It's equipping as in the difference.

[6:07:53] » No, [laughter] >> I picked up on that much.

[6:07:56] » It took me a second. Well, good. I'm glad you did because it took me a

[6:07:58] second. >> Yes. We'll get you a microphone.

[6:08:03] Thank you, Lucas. I'll be up to mow the grass later. Thank

[6:08:06] you for your help.

[6:08:11] » Liza Martin, I believe Nick at the beginning tried to point out that with

[6:08:15] the open dumpsters that when we get snow and there's snow

[6:08:19] in there, we're paying for that weight, too. And I think that's where all these

[6:08:23] other conversations about roofs and covers and things came in. And I think

[6:08:26] we can go simple, but perhaps there needs to be uh a canopy of some sort to

[6:08:32] keep the snow from building up and adding weight which is in trash that's

[6:08:35] being hauled away. Is wasn't that correct? You tried to point that out.

[6:08:38] » Didn't you take that into consideration? >> No, not the current the current the

[6:08:43] current one we are because it's snowing in it right now.

[6:08:46] » You're suggesting you're suggesting if we put a roof over the current system

[6:08:49] and it's still an open top. Correct. That's what you're saying.

[6:08:52] » Okay. Okay. in the way back right behind you.

[6:08:58] » Oh, wait. Connie, wait. There's still more response and then and then you can

[6:09:01] have the floor in a second. Go ahead, Connie. Now it's not on.

[6:09:07] Just >> no.

[6:09:12] Everybody thinks they can be heard. You can't be heard.

[6:09:15] » Okay, >> go ahead.

[6:09:16] » Um, the reason we are proposing a compacting uh

[6:09:19] » Hold it close. Don't be afraid. The reason we are proposing a con uh

[6:09:22] compacting dumpster is to lessen the amount of halls

[6:09:28] » and tips. >> Tips. So, so if we had a compacting

[6:09:32] system, they when that green thing right now gets filled up, it's filled. But we

[6:09:37] had a compactor and then we can continue to fill

[6:09:41] » the weight factor in. >> Yes. Well, well, the tipping the weight

[6:09:44] will be more, but the amount of trips you have to make will be less. Yes, you

[6:09:50] got it. >> Okay.

[6:09:53] » Okay, you already spoke twice. Hang on one second.

[6:09:55] » What do you want? You You already spoke twice. Go ahead. Start in the back.

[6:09:58] » Come on.

[6:10:12] So, the recycle bins over there, dumpsters have tops on them. So, it's

[6:10:18] not like you can't just put the top on it to keep the weather out. That's one

[6:10:23] thing. But that doesn't matter because it's not going to compact it. But my

[6:10:27] question is, for the $65,000 for that compactor,

[6:10:33] I'm paying $4 a bag to get rid of my garbage. How much does it cost this town

[6:10:40] to get rid of that $4 bag of garbage that I'm dropping off

[6:10:44] there? And aren't we paying enough?

[6:10:50] » Um, how much is there is there a breakdown that you could say that we pay

[6:10:54] $4 per bag? How how much does it cost to I mean there's there's maintenance

[6:11:01] involved. There's it's not just the tipping fees and the hauling fees. It's

[6:11:05] also trying to pay for the maintenance, I would think.

[6:11:18] Does $4 cover getting rid of all the trash?

[6:11:21] » No. >> There what they I I

[6:11:24] » Okay, if we look at page 13, you can see the waste recycling compactor total. So,

[6:11:29] the total expenses on that system, 98,584.

[6:11:35] If you go back a couple pages to page nine on our revenue, we can see our

[6:11:40] trash bag sales um actual for FY20 for fiscal year 25

[6:11:45] was about 40,000. We're projecting about 40,000. So 40,000 is what we anticipate

[6:11:52] getting in revenue from trash bag sales offsetting the 98,000 that it costs to

[6:11:57] run the system overall. So it does not pay for it. But that's also partially

[6:12:01] why we proposed and it passed last year to increase to try to help offset that

[6:12:05] more.

[6:12:09] » Okay. For you wanted to say so MV hang

[6:12:19] for electric and all that stuff to run that compact.

[6:12:24] » Okay. that there's nothing on the list that discusses electricity and how much

[6:12:28] it's going to talk on maintenance for that.

[6:12:31] » Nothing. >> Any other any other discuss?

[6:12:37] Any other discussion? Okay. Hearing no other discussion. We

[6:12:43] have a motion before us to see if the town will vote to raise $65,000 through

[6:12:48] taxation for the purpose of purchasing a trash compacting system for trash

[6:12:52] collection at the transfer station. A yes vote passes the motion. A no vote

[6:12:58] defeats the motion. Questions? All those in favor of the motion, please

[6:13:04] say I. >> I

[6:13:06] » oppose. No. >> All those in favor, please raise your

[6:13:10] hand. Okay, should be easier. One, two. This

[6:13:15] is in favor. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22

[6:13:31] 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 31 32 I counted correctly. All those opposed,

[6:13:39] please raise your hand. AH, YEAH. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

[6:13:49] 14 15 16 17. So I believe the eyes have it and the

[6:13:57] motion passes.

[6:14:01] Moving on to article 19 to see if the town will vote to

[6:14:06] authorize the select board to acquire land by gifts or purchase for municipal

[6:14:11] forest to promote for reforestation, water conservation, and good forestry

[6:14:15] practices. Got Nick and Craig. Toss them in

[6:14:20] discussion.

[6:14:26] » What did you want to say something? I got

[6:14:31] well the questions involved. So I'm just trying to be nice to you.

[6:14:47] » Um Jason Min here. Uh I just wanted to know if this had anything to do with Act

[6:14:51] 59 that is going along with Vermont. >> This is a this is a boilerplate. This is

[6:14:56] a boiler plate every year. one of those articles that may be disappearing

[6:15:02] depending on what the state statute is because the select board has the ability

[6:15:08] to buy purchase and report and do that anyway but I don't know I got to check

[6:15:12] into that but this is in this is in there every year

[6:15:18] and a couple years ago two or three years ago we had a long discussion about

[6:15:21] this if you don't remember right >> okay um the question's been called but

[6:15:26] any other discussion real quick seeing No other discussion so we don't have to

[6:15:30] do that two-thirds vote. Okay. All those in favor of the town authorizing the

[6:15:35] town and select board to acquire land or gift by gift or purchase for municipal

[6:15:39] forest and promote reforestation water conservation and good forestry

[6:15:42] practices. All the yes vote passes it. A no vote defeats it. All those in favor

[6:15:48] please say I. I. >> Oppose. No. Believe the eyes have it.

[6:15:52] The eyes have it. Holy cow. Article 20 to see if the town will vote to set the

[6:15:58] first Tuesday in March 2027 as a date for the 2027 town of towns and annual

[6:16:03] meeting. >> Second.

[6:16:06] » Okay, you got some people >> discussion question.

[6:16:10] » Okay, hang on. Hang on. Okay. So, just just just so we

[6:16:15] know, it was mentioned at pre-town meeting about moving town meeting to

[6:16:20] Saturday to making an amendment right now to move town meeting to Saturday. I

[6:16:26] told them that I would rule that out of order and I'm sticking to my guns and I

[6:16:31] just want to I if you want to move the town meeting, I think that's absolutely

[6:16:35] fine. But I think that's something that the whole town knows may be done. So, it

[6:16:40] should be warned. Okay. And then we can have an official discussion on whether

[6:16:45] or not we want to move town meeting. I don't think that's appropriate to be

[6:16:49] done by amendment. Um there's tradition, there's precedent

[6:16:55] and institutional forbearance. Okay. So, um that I just wanted to bring

[6:17:03] that up and I'm not against moving it. If somebody wants to present that in the

[6:17:07] uh in the warning for next year, please do. So, any other disc the questions

[6:17:13] been called? No discussion. Sorry. I wanted to just put that in there because

[6:17:16] I didn't know if the person that wanted to do that is still here. Um, all those

[6:17:19] in favor of setting the first Tuesday of March 2027 is the date for the annual

[6:17:26] town meeting, please say I. I >> oppose. No.

[6:17:31] Article 21. Any other non-binding business?

[6:17:37] Any other business that become before this group? Seeing no other business to

[6:17:44] be become before the B group. I want to thank everybody for attending the 2026

[6:17:50] towns and town meeting. There's no further business to properly become

[6:17:54] before the town meeting. I declare the 2026 town meeting adjourned. A hearty

[6:18:00] thank you to all those who participated. Thank you for putting up with me and

[6:18:04] we'll see you next year. And with all elected officials, newly elected or

[6:18:09] anybody elected, PLEASE COME UP FRONT. >> Come up front cuz you got to be voting.

[6:18:14] You got to be sworn in.

[6:18:31] » [music]

[6:18:46] » That

2026 Townshend Town Meeting 3/3/26

Transcript