[0:06] He's going to I'll text him when it's
time.
[0:08] » Okay. Wonderful.
>> Super. Thank you very much, Jody.
[0:14] » Yeah, we're ready.
[0:23] » We have a feedback issue.
[0:31] That might help. Is that better?
All right. Great.
[0:39] » Welcome to the Town of Camden Select
Board meeting. Our meeting will come to
[0:42] order for August 25th, 2026. We are also
uh broadcast at our YouTube channel
[0:51] that's noted in the agenda and packet as
well as
[0:57] people can participate via Zoom and
later in the meeting we'll have Bill
[1:02] join us as we discuss um
the action item. [clears throat]
[1:11] First item,
do we have any public comment on
[1:16] non-aggenda items?
[1:20] If you would please step to the podium
and remember to state who you are and
[1:25] where you live.
[1:31] » Wendy Andreason, 14 Cove,
>> it is loud tonight. Yes,
[1:36] » 14 Cove Road. Um,
I'd like to see the town remove the
[1:42] discordant bridge to nowhere down at the
landing and reimburse the Montgomery
[1:48] family for the money that was misused
from their gift under false pretenses.
[1:55] Clearly, it is not being used for
maintenance of the non-existent island.
[2:01] Um, and furthermore, I don't see why we
can't close the SLE gate if the work's
[2:07] not being done on the island anyway. And
if the the um dam is going to come down,
[2:14] it'd be nice if we could have the
waterfall for at least uh the rest of
[2:18] the time until that happens.
That's it. Thank you.
[2:25] » Thank you, Wendy.
[2:31] Right.
>> We only had
[2:34] » Yeah.
>> Ray and Dayson, same address. And a
[2:37] couple of things I wanted to find out at
the meeting that was in the library
[2:42] about the Montgomery Dam and uh Seaw
Walt project. Um didn't have a chance to
[2:49] ask anybody. There was really nobody
there who I think could have answered
[2:52] these. But maybe the select board can
look into this. Um I do not know and I
[2:57] don't think other members do if the
mercer
[3:01] citizens advisory committee has been
disbanded or whatever the select board
[3:07] is the one that created that committee
and is the one that if it's not going to
[3:11] function anymore you should disband it
or if it's going to be a role in the
[3:15] future let us know. Um, and this is
something I brought up previously at a
[3:22] select board meeting is how is this
select board going to make sure that
[3:27] there are no property tax revenues used
on the project of destroying Montgomery
[3:34] Dam. Um, that's what the citizens voted
for and that somehow there has to be
[3:41] some kind of analysis, maybe a report.
And the third thing is what happens and
[3:48] I think a lot of people have been asking
this. What happens if the other grant or
[3:52] grants for the rest of the river project
never come through?
[3:57] If the town doesn't receive any money to
do the rest of the project or we just
[4:01] saying, "Oh, we just destroy Montgomery
Dam and that's it." So be nice to have
[4:08] some kind of a discussion of that at a
select board meeting sometime when there
[4:12] are facts known.
>> Okay.
[4:13] » Thank you. Thank you, Ray.
[4:18] » Are there any other comments? I don't
see any online
[4:23] and the room is fairly empty tonight.
So,
[4:29] moving on then to the next item, the
approval of board minutes from our
[4:35] August 4th meeting.
[4:40] » To approve.
Move to approve. Second.
[4:48] » Any discussion?
Ken.
[4:51] » Thank you.
[4:56] » Um
all those in favor of the minutes.
[5:01] Any opposed?
[5:06] Seeing none, that goes forward for zero.
[5:13] I'm getting a message that the YouTube
sound isn't working.
[5:27] How can we validate that when it is
working? any
[5:32] » um
[5:40] » yeah I'm hearing that there's no sound
on YouTube and no
[5:48] » and I'm not getting any power to my
if you are put that into yours.
[5:55] » Yep.
[6:04] No, you know what? I'm not either.
>> Oh, are we not plugged in?
[6:11] » Well, this just looking at we don't have
power to our um
[6:16] workstations up here. I don't know how
that would make any difference with the
[6:20] audio connections, though.
>> No, I wouldn't imagine so. And I'm also
[6:24] getting the same messages.
[6:29] I guess we'll pause while we go ahead
and see if we can troubleshoot that
[6:33] quickly.
>> Is there a master plug that you know of
[6:36] Jody for the use?
>> And then I think somebody's saying I can
[6:40] hear on Zoom just fine.
[6:52] » That happened before. Remember I told
you I had a friend
[6:55] » that was youtubing it and couldn't.
>> Yep.
[7:00] » I just told my people to try Zoom.
>> Um, is there a way that you can put a
[7:04] message on the YouTube thing to go use
the uh Zoom or something to that effect
[7:09] » in the messages or something?
>> Okay. you don't have anything that you
[7:15] can do
>> but they can they can upload that Zoom
[7:21] recording later,
[7:25] » right?
[7:28] » So that updates automatically afterwards
or something you you were saying as far
[7:33] as what what can you put to YouTube so
that there is audio?
[7:37] » J upload the Zoom recording.
>> Okay. So the Zoom recording will be
[7:43] uploaded to YouTube at the probably
tomorrow. Okay.
[7:52] » Okay.
Is that's the best we can do.
[8:02] » Great. Let him know.
>> Let him know we have no power up here as
[8:07] well. So
>> I got one saying Zoom's not working as
[8:09] well.
[8:14] Okay.
[8:25] Well, it looks like we should go forward
though.
[8:30] » Yeah. Yeah.
>> Uh the consent agenda. Um, there are
[8:37] six items on the consent agenda.
Are there any issues with any of those
[8:45] items that are listed here?
[8:52] » I see none.
[8:56] » We have a motion for their approval.
>> To make a motion to approve.
[9:02] Actually,
>> do we have to Yeah, we don't have to do
[9:06] it. It passes.
>> Very good. Seeing no issues, we move on.
[9:11] » Um, public hearing for liquor license
for the new, you know, since the new
[9:15] owners are required for the first five
years and this is for Lucky Betty's at
[9:19] 56 Elm Street for renewal of on premise
beer and wine license. Um, is there
[9:27] anyone here? Do you represent Lucky
Betty's? Seeing none. Are there any
[9:32] issues that we see with the
with the license?
[9:38] » No.
>> Move to approve the application of Lucky
[9:43] Betty's for a victual lodging license.
Victor's license.
[9:47] » Yeah, I'll second that.
>> Great. All those in favor of approval?
[9:55] Any opposed? Seeing none that is
approved for zero.
[10:02] The last item
is on the agenda before adjournment is
[10:10] to act on an advisory only non-binding
referendum question to address metered
[10:16] parking for the town meeting warrant for
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. We also
[10:22] have a CIF signage approval
in our packet
[10:27] » that's we're going to sign at the end at
the end there.
[10:30] » I don't see that on the agenda that's
posted online.
[10:33] » Oh, it's in the sequence of
>> it's in your packet for us to sign off
[10:38] on it. I think
[10:44] » scroll down through on page 10 of the
packet
[10:49] » is the application from Seth. Okay. So,
that was an item that was not included
[10:56] on our
>> It's in the consent agenda B3B.
[11:00] » Very good.
>> Oh, okay.
[11:02] » Yeah. And then we'll just need your I
think your signatures on one of those.
[11:07] » Okay. It was just out of play out of
order.
[11:10] » Okay.
[11:15] » Okay.
I'm just waiting for Bill to
[11:20] » Okay.
>> He should be dialing in.
[11:23] » Oh, I see. The way this is put together
just confused me. Sorry.
[11:38] So, what we're waiting for is for Bill
Kelly to join us concerning the action
[11:44] item item number five uh concerning the
non-binding
[11:50] referendum.
the um you know discussion about
[11:56] the petition that was put forth that'll
be in a subsequent meeting uh not this
[12:01] particular one. Um so some context for
us while we're waiting for Bill um the
[12:11] three questions that are posed here as
part of our packet that was something
[12:16] that I worked on with Bill on Wednesday.
Mhm.
[12:21] » Uh and I asked Bill to provide three
questions. Um this is intended to be
[12:28] very similar to the vote that we did
with the police chief vote for the town.
[12:36] And
this was Bill and I's attempt to try to
[12:41] have questions that are um easily
understood, you know, not containing a a
[12:48] double negative um in the the questions.
So it would confuse people, but this
[12:55] would be
[12:58] something that would could be on the
ballot without question as far as its
[13:03] legal authority on a non-binding
referendum. So we get the fi, you know,
[13:10] the sense from the public on on what
they want. And I had proposed putting it
[13:17] three ways. Mhm.
>> one the So, I'm I'm I'm using my words
[13:22] because that might give context to the
intent and then we can work on it if we
[13:27] agree with the intent. Um the intent was
do we want parking, paid parking or or
[13:35] he uses the word metered parking because
I think that's how the statute reads
[13:41] metered parking on the streets.
Do we want to keep it? That's one
[13:46] question.
Another question is do we want to have
[13:50] it at the public landing because there
have been not as much negativity about
[13:56] about that and there is availability of
some revenue from that.
[14:01] » And the third item is so what about the
other lots? This is more consistent with
[14:09] the way that Rockland is doing this
where it is good to make sure that
[14:15] people have an opportunity to do
long-term parking. Um, do we want to
[14:21] have metered parking in the long-term
parking areas? Um, that's the intent of
[14:30] the questions.
>> Yeah. Now
[14:33] again, this was, you know, Bill, Bill
and I put this together, working
[14:38] together. Um,
but if it's confusing, that's what we
[14:43] don't want to do. We don't, you know, we
want to do the intent of this is to find
[14:48] out the public's Camden residents how
they really feel about the paid parking.
[14:55] Let's give them let's give them that
chance
[14:58] to express their opinion and where would
they
[15:02] » right
>> want it or not want it.
[15:03] » Yeah. The my only question to Bill is um
because I read his Hi Bill.
[15:11] » Hello. Thank you for joining us. I read
I read your opinion initially when the
[15:18] signatures were presented
and took from that that we would we
[15:24] would still be running a foul of
statute.
[15:28] And so my only
question is
[15:33] we're doing this strictly on an advisory
basis and then it would still come back
[15:37] to the board to make the decision about
where and if
[15:44] metered parking
existed in town that it would not be a
[15:49] vote by the public. we wouldn't be able
to amend the charter to reflect that
[15:56] because it would still be inconsistent
with main law. Am I understanding that
[16:00] correctly?
>> Right. So I think two questions there.
[16:04] uh the referendum that was presented
um sought to amend the charter which is
[16:11] not permitted uh in this situation
because the statute that controls
[16:17] exclusively rests um legislative
authority with the select board
[16:22] regarding muted parking. So you can't
modify you can't create an ordinance
[16:26] about that's contrary to the select
board's authority and you cannot amend
[16:31] the charter. Um both of those things are
allowed for towns to adopt by uh grace
[16:39] of the state as the sovereign. And since
the state has made it clear the select
[16:44] boards the legislative body, there's no
legal way um to change the charter uh to
[16:52] say that the um metered parking issue is
going to be controlled by the town
[16:57] meeting legislative vote of the people.
It might sound a little contrary to what
[17:00] you think democracy is, but because it's
about safety and regulation of rights of
[17:05] way. Um, these and parking uh these
categories are something that our
[17:13] legislature some a long time ago decided
should not be uh held to political
[17:17] forces one year or the next, but should
be vested in the elected officials as
[17:22] those accountable for safety. Um, and
that's maybe a longer answer to your
[17:27] question than you were looking for, but
that's the thought process.
[17:31] » Okay, great. That's that's what I wanted
to hear. Thank you.
[17:36] » So, I I would like to make it explicit.
Um, Chris, um, we have received
[17:44] the
registar certification that there is an
[17:50] adequate number of signatures. So the
petition has been certified. The
[17:55] petition is not in our packet and it's
not on the agenda. But that is what
[18:00] we're talking about. That is we have 666
valid signatures on the petition.
[18:06] And the petition um to those of you who
are listening, the petition says, "Shall
[18:12] the town of Camden Charter be amended to
add the following section 2.18
[18:17] notwithstanding 30 AMRS section 3009.
Any ordinance or policy said policy
[18:24] setting or increasing fees to park on
town of Camden Public Ways shall be null
[18:29] and void unless enacted by voters at a
referendum election. That is what's
[18:34] under discussion here. I just wanted to
make it clear that that's where we're
[18:38] that's where we're at.
>> That that's what you're talking about,
[18:41] but that is not on the agenda tonight.
Actually,
[18:43] » the petition is not
>> the petition is not on the agenda
[18:47] tonight. The first thing is to get this
onto the ballot. We have another meeting
[18:56] which we can do on September 8 to spend
more time to go through. That's what I
[19:01] want to make explicit that yes, it will
be because the people who brought us
[19:05] that petition deserve to have it
addressed by the select board.
[19:10] » That That's right. Um but given we
weren't even going to have this meeting
[19:15] initially um that this was kind of an
extra one. It wasn't really and we've
[19:21] got the time where we can we have to um
have the warrant the official warrant is
[19:29] September 8th which is next next Tuesday
or the next Tuesday meeting that I'd
[19:36] rather do one thing at a time. Let's get
make sure we get this nailed down on the
[19:42] agenda and then in the September 8th
meeting to uh be able to put that as
[19:49] part of the packet for the September 8th
meeting as an action item.
[19:54] » Thank you. I needed to make that
explicit.
[19:56] » Sure. I I still don't understand why we
would be I understand that the
[20:02] signatures were collected
and that we've got enough signatures,
[20:09] but what that petition outlined is
something that we have been advised runs
[20:14] counter to the charter and to main law.
So, I certainly won't be voting in favor
[20:20] of that petition because we've gotten
legal advice that it it's not legal.
[20:27] It's not the procedure. And if you if
that's the way you want the procedure to
[20:31] go,
lobby the legislature and change the
[20:35] law. But as far as I understand it, this
is as far as we can go. And you know, it
[20:42] appears that we are having this
discussion. So, um, you know, I I
[20:48] » Right. The petition was legally
presented to the town.
[20:51] » The petition petitioners can come up
with anything.
[20:54] » That's right.
>> And have signatures certified. That
[20:56] doesn't mean that we have to move it.
>> It does.
[21:01] » Not if it's a legislative item that is
we're not following the statute. I would
[21:08] rather I'd rather be able to get what we
need and maybe if we need a different
[21:15] legal opinion for example I'd rather be
able to prepare and have that for
[21:21] September 8 as compared to now.
>> Um can I say something? I would like to
[21:27] bring us back to this. Okay.
>> Yes.
[21:29] » Because um
>> I meaning what we're supposed to be
[21:33] talking about tonight, not the
>> the non-branding.
[21:36] » Yes. Um, question number three. I'm just
really curious, and Jody, you might know
[21:40] the answer to this, but do the um do the
wind jammers use the parking lot out
[21:46] behind the Knox mill for their like
week-long
[21:50] excursions and stuff or do they have
somewhere else that people park?
[21:54] » I can't answer that. Sorry.
>> No, I'm just curious if that is a thing
[21:57] like if they already like I'm only
saying that because I don't think
[22:01] question number three needs to really be
on here and I think it's confusing. Some
[22:05] people don't even know there are five
parking lots. Do you know what I mean?
[22:09] And I think if you're talking about off
streets, people are going to wonder,
[22:11] well, is Chestnut Street going to bill
still be it? Or what are the off
[22:14] streets? I think we just do personally
questions one and two. Keep it simple.
[22:19] And if we decide to go forward in the
future, we do it in a way that's super
[22:23] public about the
um off- streetet parking, but we need to
[22:27] see who's using those parking lots. And
honestly, I just thought about this
[22:31] because I was reading some stuff. Um, I
got an email today from one of the um
[22:38] asking who they should talk to from one
of the schooners about the new stuff and
[22:42] they're saying they're not going to have
enough space in there to park the
[22:44] schooners. So anyway, my point was he
was one of the those three schooners are
[22:48] ones that go out overnight. So I'm just
curious if they are using that. I would
[22:53] think that they would be
>> and commuting people over there because
[22:57] » I know I have no idea. But I would like
to find that out before we go saying
[23:02] we're going to turn all those parking
lots. And if they are, I think they
[23:05] should be allotted a section where they
could have those overnight people park
[23:10] still. I think that there's too much
question about question number three for
[23:13] that to even be on this is my opinion.
>> What What if we had a solution by just
[23:19] removing the word hall to give
usability?
[23:23] » I don't know. I just think the parking
lots like you say five parking lots, I
[23:27] say two. You know what I mean? like it's
I don't think that um I don't think
[23:32] honestly I've had two people say what
five parking lots
[23:36] » people don't know what you're even
talking about. Um so I just think
[23:40] there's a lot of whatifs about that
particular question. The first two I
[23:45] really like and I I think they're clear
and simple and you're going to know how
[23:52] to answer it. Do you want them? Do you
not? You know what I mean? It's a yes or
[23:55] no. But number three, I think we need to
find out more about
[24:01] what that paid parking looks like. Is it
gate like at at the um airport? Is it,
[24:07] you know, we need to figure out what
that looks like more before we
[24:12] ask people to vote on it because we
don't even know what that looks like.
[24:15] » Yeah.
>> And who's using those long-term spaces
[24:19] or the 24-hour, you know, I mean, the
all day spaces. Mhm.
[24:23] » Um, if there's a section of Camden for
town employee, not town, but downtown
[24:27] Camden employees, they shouldn't have to
pay to park in my opinion. So, if there
[24:31] are a lot of those people using that,
and I'm not against making that section
[24:35] of that an all day paid parking by any
means, but I think if we have schooners
[24:40] that are using it and we have some town
employees that are using it, that there
[24:45] maybe should be some kind of permit
parking in there for them as well.
[24:48] » Just a thought.
>> Okay. So I think Chris offered a
[24:52] possible resolution to the question
about what to do with with number three.
[24:56] Um if we just get rid of the word all
and say within other off streetet
[25:02] parking that leaves it uh it enables
to yes have them or not have paid
[25:11] parking and and it puts it off until a
committee a parking committee can can
[25:15] look at all those questions that you
have just asked rather than trying to
[25:18] decide it tonight. We have uh we have
not forced
[25:23] we have not forced there to be metered
parking in every lot but we have allowed
[25:31] » but when you're saying off- streetet
parking what's the difference what's the
[25:33] difference between off streetet parking
and parking lots thank you
[25:36] » because when you said off streetet is
chestnut street it's not a street that
[25:39] is off of the downtown it's off streetet
parking
[25:42] » right like I'm just curious what the
difference is off streetet and parking
[25:46] lots are the same thing
>> I was so you got confusing
[25:48] » I was thinking Off street and parking
lot is the same.
[25:51] » Yeah. So I would that's needlessly
confusing.
[25:53] » Oh, that's an extra extra words that are
not necessary.
[25:56] » So the the parking board Oh my god, my
glasses are terrible.
[26:01] » Metered parking within
>> parking lots
[26:05] » other Yeah. parking lots owned by the
town. take out the all other off-
[26:11] streetet parking within parking lots
owned by the town
[26:15] » and then that can be at the discretion,
you know, and we can come up with a
[26:18] scheme for a permit or a bar or a gate
or whatever, but just define what those
[26:27] are.
>> Yeah.
[26:29] » Yeah. Take out all other off street
parking language, which is just as
[26:33] extraneous. In my idea with getting the
input from the town on this, you know,
[26:40] like with the chief of police vote, it
was pretty obvious
[26:45] the difference. And, you know, if
something ends up being kind of close,
[26:50] well, then we at least know
>> where we are on it
[26:54] » and and gives people a chance to weigh
in.
[26:57] » Well, I definitely like number three
better changed with taking the off
[27:00] streetet parking out of it.
>> Yep. That's that's that's that's good.
[27:05] » Um
>> Ben Ben would like to Yeah.
[27:08] » And then one other I think has a raised
hand.
[27:11] » Um
>> do we have the ability to
[27:17] » But Ben, I know he sent us a message
earlier today, too.
[27:22] » Yeah.
>> Ben, are you in a spot where you can
[27:26] come off mute?
[27:32] Hello.
>> Hi. Yes.
[27:36] » Right. I did I did send a message. I I I
think that number three is very
[27:41] confusing because there are three
metered town lots and they don't seem to
[27:49] be covered in this referendum.
Um I don't understand that. Um, I'm a
[27:56] little surprised you're asking about
metering
[28:01] the free all day lots,
but that would be a fourth question. It
[28:08] seems to me you got three types of
metered parking. Um, and [clears throat]
[28:14] I think it makes sense to ask people
about all three because some people like
[28:19] the public landing,
um, don't like the street parking, but
[28:24] there are metered lots at Nolton Street,
um, Mechanic [clears throat]
[28:29] Street, and at the public safety
building. So, they're they're not in
[28:34] this referendum
>> on Nolton Street.
[28:38] » Those are those are those are private
lots, though. Those aren't town the
[28:41] Nolton the Mechanic Street lot is not a
town owned lot,
[28:44] » right? Yeah. And Nolton Street I mean
you can access the Knox Mill parking lot
[28:49] from Nolton Street. So I don't know if
that's what you're referring to.
[28:52] » I I mean the at the corner of Mechanic
next to the old five and that's town.
[28:58] » Oh that's Mechanic Street.
>> Mechanic Street now.
[29:01] » Yes. It's identified in the
>> parking Camden parking management plan
[29:06] as Mechanic Street and the Nolton Street
one is the one across from um the town
[29:12] the opera house. That's meter, right?
>> No.
[29:17] » That's private.
>> He's this one over here. He's talking
[29:19] about
>> Oh, this Washington Street is where the
[29:23] middle school is. H
>> Okay. I mean Washington Street.
[29:26] » Washington Street lot.
>> Yeah,
[29:28] » that is a town owned property. That one
is over there.
[29:31] » Yeah. Right.
>> But right now all the meters are
[29:33] covered. So that's what this kind of
covers.
[29:36] » Well, you have suspended
>> the enacted voted on parking management
[29:43] plan of Camden
and because you wanted a vote on that
[29:48] plan,
>> right?
[29:49] » So you got to include all the parts of
that metered plan which are those three
[29:55] lots. And if you want to add
uh the Nolton Street big lot behind the
[30:02] Knox Mill and that would be a fourth
question in my view.
[30:08] Um
I also think it's you know it's much
[30:12] simpler for voters
the way you've worded it now is
[30:18] question [clears throat] one
uh yes means no on parking. Question
[30:24] two, yes means yes on parking.
Why not just
[30:30] change the wording to so yes means yes
on parking. No means no on meter
[30:36] parking. Why not?
[30:40] » I think they're clear.
[30:44] » Okay. Thank Thank you, Ben. We'll
>> Okay.
[30:47] » Consider those points. Um Jeremy, you
had your hand up for a moment. Was that
[30:52] » Yeah. I just wanted to clarify the five
lots what they are. Um if that would be
[30:57] helpful. I think Ben got to them a
little bit, but there's the public
[31:00] safety lot, the public landing, mechanic
street which is at the next to the old
[31:04] five and dime, the Washington street lot
which I think you just pointed to and
[31:08] then Knox Mill. That's the five those
are the five lots. And then as far as
[31:11] the schooners, I can answer that
question. Um, so the schooners used to
[31:17] park in the one end kind of on the
Washington Street side um when that was
[31:24] privately owned. When the town took
ownership of that um they weren't
[31:28] allowed exclusive use of that anymore
and they worked out other arrangements
[31:32] um because it was becoming a public
public parking lot. It wasn't going to
[31:36] be used by um you know there are other
so they figured out other arrangements
[31:41] is is what's happened. I just wanted to
clarify that for you Bobby.
[31:44] » Good. Thank you.
>> Yeah.
[31:46] » And I have I have one more question for
you, Jeremy. Um, does the library
[31:51] parking lot I mean I know it's the
libraryowned parking lot, but that is
[31:56] metered, right?
>> The cover meter's covered. I know, but
[32:00] it was metered. Yes. Okay.
>> Right. That was included in in in the um
[32:04] the library was part of the parking
committee. Um, so they took part in
[32:09] that, but that was not included in what
we've called the five parking lot or
[32:12] what I think Chris and Bill have called
the five parking lots or what envision
[32:15] to be the five parking lots.
>> Okay, cool.
[32:18] » That makes sense.
>> Yeah, thank you.
[32:20] » Yeah.
Would it be better to have clarity then
[32:25] on the parking lots that we mean or is
it
[32:28] » No, I think that it's more confusing
>> to have clarity on on which parking lots
[32:35] we're talking about now.
[32:39] This was really done with the intent to
try to get the public sense on these,
[32:46] but if we're presenting a question that
really doesn't help with that process
[32:51] and we just stick with one and two,
>> that's what
[32:54] » Well, I just I just still do not
understand how we're going to reconcile
[33:01] the petition
with this because of where the petition
[33:08] will
wind us up
[33:12] in terms of what is legally allowed as a
result of that vote. So to me,
[33:19] this is
the way that we
[33:25] get the sense of the community. Quite
honestly, I think we got the sense of
[33:29] the community.
You know, I I don't think there's any
[33:33] mystery around how people feel. The fact
that we've got all those signatures is a
[33:38] pretty resounding referendum in and of
itself of how people feel about paid
[33:44] parking and
[33:50] what they what what the people who
signed that petition were asking for
[33:56] something specific.
So this is not what they were asking
[34:01] for. Mhm.
And
[34:06] I mean
I think you're it's the notion that we
[34:12] can't trust the legal opinion from our
council
[34:18] around what that document
[34:24] » would the situation that would result
from that referendum
[34:31] is ludicrous. to me. I mean, it's like,
why are we even doing this if we're not
[34:36] going to believe
what our legal counsel, who's been doing
[34:41] this for decades, is advising us around
the result of that. If we get a the
[34:50] expected outcome from putting that
petition on the warrant,
[34:56] then what do we do?
And we're in a bind.
[35:00] And that's one of the reasons why I did
not go there tonight with that
[35:04] particular petition. um instead
>> going there
[35:08] » I'm going there with this particular
referendum item and then to work through
[35:13] the details with the petition in another
another meeting that at a minimum we can
[35:18] » but you're scruting the fact of the
details of the petition are neither here
[35:21] nor there because it is what it's been
certified with that language with those
[35:27] signatures that is a document in and of
itself that you know we wouldn't mess
[35:34] with that but then you know you're
creating a scenario where we cannot act
[35:39] on that because it is against the law.
End of story, right? And I'm not
[35:44] disagreeing with you at all, Susan. I
agree. I think it is against the law
[35:48] with the whole safety thing. I just
think what people are so upset about in
[35:52] town, and I know everybody says there
were parking things, but those of us
[35:56] that are working 40 hours a week can't
go to a 10 a.m. parking meeting. You
[35:59] know what I mean? Like, I didn't even
know they were happening or whatever
[36:02] when this was all going on. like my eyes
opened up just a few years ago. So, I
[36:08] know everybody's saying that that was
going on for a long time and that these
[36:11] were the recommendations and stuff, but
seriously, I found out about it when I
[36:15] rode through town. I was like, "What's
the green and blue all about?" Like, I
[36:17] had no idea what was going on. So, I
don't think that we're out to do
[36:22] anything illegal because I agree that
that petition, there are some legality
[36:27] things in it that are going to be
against state statute. But I'm hoping
[36:32] that the advisory questions are going to
be enough for folks
[36:38] to this is one of those hot button hot
button items. But I think
[36:43] » I right I I'm not disagreeing with you
about that. But I do agree that we have
[36:47] to give it its day in front of us for
the folks that signed it. You know what
[36:52] I mean? Like we just have to we have to
let them come and speak on it. We have
[36:56] we have to.
But I'm agreeing with you that it's
[37:00] state statute that we can't change those
things. And I'm not disagreeing with
[37:04] that at all. But I just think it's still
such a hot button issue in town that um
[37:09] I totally agree with just getting rid of
question number three for right now. I
[37:13] think it's just confusing personally.
But um questions one and two are very
[37:18] straightforward. Do you want it? Do you
not want it? So, are people going to be
[37:23] satisfied that we have addressed their
concerns with this advisory vote?
[37:31] » Yes. I think I personally think that
they will.
[37:32] » This has been the message all along is
>> that it should be put out to the voters.
[37:38] » I feel like that this is going to
>> it's going to give everybody a voice
[37:43] when they check those boxes.
>> I think so, too, Jody. Totally.
[37:48] » Yep.
I think it's going to give the people
[37:51] exactly what they what they would have
liked to have had before the machines
[37:54] got ordered.
>> Yeah,
[37:55] » honestly.
>> Yep.
[37:57] » Um,
is there a way that we could
[38:03] change the questions so that it's yes
and yes and no and no if you really
[38:08] don't want it without making a double
negative in here.
[38:12] » Can board should remove metered parking
requirements from streets in town.
[38:18] I think it's so black and white. I mean,
honestly,
[38:22] » yes means remove them. No means keep
them,
[38:24] » right?
>> Maintain metered parking within the town
[38:28] public parking lot. Yes means yes. No
means no.
[38:34] And then
and then that discussion around the
[38:38] parking lots. I mean, I'm here or there
about it. Take it out.
[38:42] » Take it out. Take out.
>> It needlessly complicates it at this
[38:46] point.
>> Right. Right. It needlessly complicates
[38:49] it. That's what I think.
>> And then as you move forward with each
[38:54] meeting, you guys can certainly stress
to the public, these are the questions
[38:59] and you need to read them carefully,
>> right?
[39:01] » And name them each time and say,
>> right,
[39:05] » well, and so and and so then it would it
would mean that we as a board would vote
[39:12] against
that language. We are the ones who would
[39:17] move that referendum forward, the the
ones that got all the signatures.
[39:21] » If you're going to follow statute, then
I would say that would be
[39:24] » So that is the move would be to vote
against putting that on the
[39:29] » We've gotten a legal opinion,
>> right? We've gotten a legal opinion and
[39:32] we also are doing something,
>> right,
[39:36] » to end this whole situation once and for
all.
[39:40] » You know what I mean? To end or have it
go forward, honestly.
[39:43] » Right. And the other the other
opportunity that exists is in as it
[39:49] relates to the petition is we are in
2027 at some point going to have a
[39:56] charter commission whether or not that
can be part of
[40:02] that charter commission's discussion
whether to include that language that
[40:06] could be part of the charter commission
with
[40:08] » not if the statutes don't change
>> which is a bigger thing and if and if
[40:11] it's still a statute issued at that
point. It's still a statute issue at
[40:15] that point.
>> And maybe the folks that did this want
[40:19] to go to their legislators because
that's where it's going to have to
[40:22] change and get it changed before 27 so
that it can be changed.
[40:27] » You know what I mean? That's like up to
them if they want to do that.
[40:29] » Yeah. I would be stunned. I mean, the
you know, this this is a
[40:34] » I just don't see parking as a safety
issue personally. I just don't. No, but
[40:38] I I think the overarching
um concern
[40:44] is around public safety
and
[40:48] that's where it falls. It doesn't fall,
it's not parking per se, but it falls
[40:53] under that. Um
>> it's like under public safety
[40:56] enforcement.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
[40:59] » So to re to reiterate, Chris, question
number one stays as is. Question number
[41:06] two stays as is. Question number three
addressed a an idea that we had
[41:14] discussed that we could do
metered parking in some of the off-
[41:21] streetet lots. So, we're not addressing
the off- streetet lots at all. I think
[41:26] that leaves the door open to future
discussion on that issue
[41:30] » for sure.
>> Yes.
[41:32] » Okay.
And if there needs to be like in June,
[41:35] like if we decide we get to there and
we're like, "Okay, this is something we
[41:39] want to do." We put it on as a question
>> as its own thing.
[41:44] » As its own thing.
>> Yeah. And I think that through the
[41:47] budget process that will be examined
again
[41:51] » and made public so that people are
seeing
[41:56] the implications of you know the costs
and the revenue that we missed out on
[42:02] etc etc. So you know we have another
bite at that apple through the
[42:08] » through the budget process and and in
June could take it up again. But I mean
[42:14] just these two questions will
>> tell us what we're getting
[42:17] » satisfy the Yeah.
>> So I just want to point out the timeline
[42:22] put together by Julia Merrill says that
September 8th which is our next select
[42:26] board meeting is the date when we must
approve special town meeting warrant. So
[42:32] the final wording of what we discussed
tonight and what we discuss on the 8th
[42:37] will will be enacted then.
>> Yeah. So, I'll present a new revised um
[42:42] draft so that you guys can vote and then
it literally goes to print the next day.
[42:47] » Okay.
>> So, cool.
[42:48] » Yep. And it's going to be it's going to
cost the town about $2,000 to do this.
[42:52] Just so you know, just there is a cost
to it. So,
[42:56] » Oh, so it's an extra page on the
warrant. It's not part of the
[43:00] » Well, it's an actual ballot. So, it's
ballot and we have to have it printed by
[43:04] a special company because it has to go
through the the
[43:08] » ballot machine. So, um, I just wanted to
make you guys aware of that.
[43:11] » Thanks. That's good.
>> And I think the questions are very
[43:15] straightforward. I don't think they
could be any more
[43:18] » Yeah.
>> straightforward. Is there any way to
[43:21] just have
[43:25] to have these questions
not in the actual form of a a warrant
[43:32] item
>> that people could just check them off
[43:36] and drop them in a box with a slot on
the top of it?
[43:40] » What do you mean just in passing?
>> No. Well, on election day
[43:45] » or have it be presented?
I I don't have a confident. Maybe Bill
[43:51] has an answer for you. So, basically
just like uh
[43:54] » pick up a piece of paper. Yeah.
>> Do your regular ballot. Maybe check off
[43:59] something on a small piece of paper. I
guess I'll defer to Bill
[44:02] » and drop them into a box.
>> Can we count them manually?
[44:05] » Well, there that's going to take a lot
of time
[44:09] » and staff time. So,
>> yeah.
[44:12] » I don't know that you can actually do
that. Elections are pretty well
[44:15] regulated. You can have a referendum.
That's obviously not binding, but it
[44:19] should be in the same
um absentee ballot packet. It should be
[44:25] in the same voting packet and it would
go through the same machine.
[44:29] » You in this day and age, you just don't
want to create issues about an accurate
[44:33] count,
>> right?
[44:35] just being a frugal New England
[laughter] when you put a dollar amount
[44:40] on it, it's like Bill, do you have any
concerns with uh question one or two? Do
[44:46] those look straightforward enough to you
too to get
[44:50] » Yeah, I mean this is a this is, you
know, as you guys have discussed, it's
[44:53] really not a legal issue at all. You
guys are collecting information for
[44:57] policy
um um political purposes, which is fine.
[45:04] Uh that's part of what what you guys do.
Um so it I'm I'm fairly neutral in the
[45:11] language other than trying to make it
clear, but I thought it was clear.
[45:14] » I think it's clear. [snorts]
>> Okay. Well, do we have a motion
[45:17] concerning this item then?
>> Well, you're going to bring it back with
[45:21] the changes and we'll vote on it next.
>> Um if you Yeah, I I don't think they
[45:26] need to vote on it right now, Bill. I
I'll bring back the the polished
[45:30] version. Is that okay? And then they
will vote on it. Well, you're going to
[45:34] vote a vote on the eighth. Um, yeah. 8th
8th for the warrant, right?
[45:38] » Yeah. Yeah.
>> Right. So, and for what it's So, you'd
[45:41] vote then to put this on the warrant so
to speak as a ballot. So, that's all you
[45:46] need to do. And then as far as uh the
issue of the petition that you have uh
[45:51] the statute uh triggers the next remedy
that the petitioners have uh in when you
[45:58] refuse to put it on the ballot on the
warrant. So, by the act of adopting your
[46:04] warrant, which will not have this
petition on it, you will have refused to
[46:08] put it on, and you have the right to do
that as long as you're reasonable. And
[46:12] if somebody thinks you're not
reasonable, they can challenge that in
[46:14] court. So, the refusal act will be not
placing it on the warrant itself.
[46:19] » Okay.
[46:22] » Okay.
>> So, no need to take a motion on this,
[46:26] but you've got the guidance and our
consent.
[46:30] » Yep.
>> You okay with that? Number three.
[46:32] » Sounds good.
>> All right.
[46:35] » Motion to adjurnn.
>> That would be what we're looking for.
[46:38] » Second.
>> Thank you, Bill.
[46:40] » Thank you. Good night.
>> All those in favor of adjournment.
[46:45] » Very good. Four zero. Thank you.
>> Sign. Yep.