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Uh it's called meeting order town

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meeting for 2026.

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Uh I'm Todd Davidson of select board

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here.

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Article one uh in your book is voting

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which is taking place in the back. Uh

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they'll be going on all day long. also

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agree before or after. Anything else,

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please vote.

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Article two,

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I move that we affirm the election of

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city Jerome to serve as town moderator

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today despite her no longer being a

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resident.

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Is there a motion?

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>> I move.

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>> Moved by Jody Morido.

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>> Seconded by Alex Wilson.

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It has been moved and seconded to affirm

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the election of Sydney Jerome to serve

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as town moderator today despite her no

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longer being a resident. Is there any

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discussion?

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All right, we're going to back up a

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little bit here for our two. Shall

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voters affirm their election of city

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Jerome to serve as town moderator today

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despite her no longer being a resident?

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Is there a motion?

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One motion by Judge Rondo, second by

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Alex Wilson.

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Is there any

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It has been moved and seconded to affirm

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the election of City Jerome to serve as

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moderator today despite her no longer

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being a resident. Is there any

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discussion?

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There is no discussion. It has been

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moved and seconded to affirm the

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election of Sydney Jerome to serve as

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moderator today despite her no longer

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being a resident.

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All in favor say I.

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All those opposed say no.

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>> The eyes have appear to have it. The

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eyes have

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come up. We want to take a quick moment

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to thank her for 12 12 years

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>> 15 years of being our town moderator and

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has been superb job and has been very

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helpful for all of us up here and

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certainly for the 10.

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» Thank you everybody.

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Good morning. I'm Cindy Jerome and it's

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my privilege to serve as your town

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moderator one last time and to welcome

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you to town meeting.

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Please rise if you are able for the

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salute to the flag.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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Seated to your right

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are Todd Davidson, the select board

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chair, Paul Adler, Tom Nolan, Skip

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Fletcher, and Maria Glach, your select

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board. And seated to your left is town

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clerk, Lorie Fchett, and town treasurer

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Chris Brown. I'd like to begin again

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this year with an invocation that

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originated in Danville, Vermont. We are

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gathered together in civil assembly as a

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community in a tradition that is older

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than our state itself.

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We come together to make decisions about

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our community. As we deliberate, let us

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advocate for our positions but not the

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expense of others. Let us remember that

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our neighbors with whom we disagree are

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good people with hopes and dreams as

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try, true, and as high as ours. And let

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us always remember that in the end,

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caring for each other in this community

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is of much greater importance than every

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any difference we may have.

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We've lost community members since last

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town meeting. I'd like to take the time

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to read their names and then we'll

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remember them. A brief moment of

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silence.

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Janice Mikkeles,

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John Reed,

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Peter Fluelling,

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Stuart Stman,

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Eric Kohler,

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Elizabeth Burnham,

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Steve Beas,

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Charlie Dunn,

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John Barker,

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Luke Sorenson,

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Peter Ks,

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Bernie Morris,

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Charles White,

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Derek Wisma,

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Steuart Hunt,

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Ruth Barton,

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Larry Crockett,

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Elanor Emory,

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Elanor Tol,

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Michelle Grand,

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Drew Banker,

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Robertlair,

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Meredith Hendrickson, and Connie Kimble.

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Thank you.

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Let's acknowledge and thank the scores

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of people who work to make our town as

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special as it is. On pages two and three

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of your town report, you will find all

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our elected and appointed officials. If

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your name is listed or if you serve on

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our road crew, fire department, or

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rescue squad, please stand and be

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recognized.

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Thank you.

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This meeting is being recorded by

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Bradford Community Television, BCTV. You

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can watch it later this week on Comcast

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channel 1079. And you correct me if I'm

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wrong, right? Okay. And stream it on

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demand at battleetv.org

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or on YouTube at battleboro community

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TV. For anyone speaking at the meeting

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today, please stand and state your name

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and hold the microphone right in front

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of your mouth so those in the room can

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hear and later at home can hear you as

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well. Thank you. Please put your cell

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phones on vibrate so they don't

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embarrass you. later on. Today

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we have able assistants today, our micr

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runners, and I want to introduce them,

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but we do have something new. You see a a microphone in the middle of the

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floor.

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It is there because the switch doesn't

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work anymore, but it's also great for

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anybody who wants to stand up and ask

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their question at that mic instead of

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counting on a mic runner, even though

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they do a fabulous job. But they we've

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got four people and if you can't or just

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don't want to stand up and walk over

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there, just raise your hand and they'll

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come and give you a mic. our able

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assistants today. Do you guys want to

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stand up so we can see you? And thank

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you Parker Pal, Eliza Clark Nelson, Lena

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Wampler, and Rowan Brickley. Thank you.

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And my special thanks to Dan Bailey, the

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school's facility manager, and our tech

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guy who's trying to pretend he's not

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Dan, for handling speaker microphone

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problems. Thanks a lot.

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So, we usually have our legislators come

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speak to us later on, but Mike Murwiki

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is here now, and he's got some

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obligations up in me shortly. So, he's

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going to share his thoughts and hopes

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and dreams with us and um then we'll get

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back to our regularly scheduled program.

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Right.

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» Thank you. Good morning.

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» It's quite a treat to be here to be out

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in Montpillar.

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Uh, I appreciate the opportunity to work

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and there's lots of good things to that,

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but the downside of it is I'm away five

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months of the year pretty much. So,

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getting home and seeing some familiar

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faces here is really true. So, thanks

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for the chance to come and talk. Um,

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we have been pretty busy. We try and

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cram a year's worth of work into five

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months in Monty. And for the most part

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when I come here I just talk about our

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state business. But the reality is um

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what's happening in Washington DC has

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been leaking all over the rest of the

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country and states. So I have to make

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mention of some of the things. Um before

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I get there though I just want to uh

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celebrate Vermont right now. uh

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celebrate Vermont and um all of the

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Olympians from Vermont that did amazing

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over the Winter Olympics in Italy. Um

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someone pointed out that Vermont

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won more gold medals than China

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and and the other notable thing is US

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Olympians won 12 gold medals and eight

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of them were won by women. So,

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um,

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I wish I could just focus solely, but

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uh, on on state business, but the

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reality is we are dealing with things

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that are coming down the pipe from from

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DC. For instance, the Canadian tariffs

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are hurting Vermont. They're hurting our

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business. They're hurting tourism.

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They're hurting our tax revenues because

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Canadians are staying home. Who could

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blame?

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That's just a reality we're facing right

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now. Um, another reality we're facing is

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for the last three years, northern

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Vermont saw severe flood damage.

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And this year,

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apparently,

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uh, FEMA aid is being weaponized by this

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White House. And for the first time that

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anyone can remember, Vermont was denied

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repairs for storm damage. That that

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those funds were essential for for for

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states. And and it appears we are in a

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new era now where just about everything

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is being politicized and weaponized. And

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that's why I want to talk about the

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climate super fund. The climate super

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fund is something Vermont passed several

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years ago and it's similar to what

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states did in regards to the tobacco

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companies, what they did to the opioid

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drug companies. Um they held them

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responsible for the damage they did. And

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several years ago, two years ago now,

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Vermont passed the climate super fund to

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hold fossil fuel companies liable for

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the damage they did, the damage that

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Vermont taxpayers were having to pay.

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and sometimes FEMA would or for the most

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part would come in and help. Um,

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if that's going to be the case that the

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federal government's not going to step

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up, we especially need this to go

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forward. We're in the process now of

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assessing damages,

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gathering other states together because

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the way those other suits worked was

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that we got a critical mass of states.

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the companies settled and made these big

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settlements and New York State just

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passed something similar uh and other

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states are coming on to work. So, we're

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hoping that eventually we will get funds

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coming to the states so we can address

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some of the effects of climate change.

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The other thing that I want to note and

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this is something we're going to be

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talking about in Putney. Um

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we all want secure borders.

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I think we all want water at the border,

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but what we're seeing right now, having

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hordes of masked armed men roaming our

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streets, grabbing Americans, even

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killing Americans is not something we

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can tolerate.

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in in cutting world.

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I can't think of anything that's that's

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more unamerican.

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I used to think that people with masks

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and guns were bank robbers or terrorists

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and now they're working for the White

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House. And I think it's important for

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verters to stand up and and there are

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towns I think maybe in this town

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there'll be a resolution later. But

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we're going to pass a resolution. It's

278
00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,320
important to stand up and say that is

279
00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,639
not us.

280
00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:19,279
One thing elected public officials can

281
00:14:19,279 --> 00:14:22,000
do is count.

282
00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,240
And the more of us that stand up, the

283
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,639
more of us that show up at rallies, at

284
00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:30,320
town meetings, at elections,

285
00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,000
your voices are being heard, your

286
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,160
numbers are being noticed. So, let's

287
00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,000
keep that up.

288
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:40,639
Um, I had the experience twice now uh of

289
00:14:40,639 --> 00:14:43,360
being requested as an elected official

290
00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,399
to accompany some asylum seekers to ICE

291
00:14:46,399 --> 00:14:49,600
headquarters in St. Albins.

292
00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,920
It was felt that having me there, there

293
00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:53,760
was some clergy who came with us would

294
00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,920
help have a good outcome for them. Um,

295
00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,120
and thankfully it did.

296
00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:02,639
The last time it happened though, when

297
00:15:02,639 --> 00:15:05,440
we got out of the of the ICE

298
00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,199
headquarters and and going in, it's like

299
00:15:07,199 --> 00:15:09,839
going into a prison. I've done visits to

300
00:15:09,839 --> 00:15:12,639
prisons in Burlington and Springfield

301
00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:14,639
and that's what it felt like. You go in,

302
00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:16,959
the door slams behind you and you hear

303
00:15:16,959 --> 00:15:19,279
that lock and it's like, wow, we're

304
00:15:19,279 --> 00:15:21,600
going to get out. Then you have to go

305
00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,360
through security and get wandered down.

306
00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,320
But anyway, we did that.

307
00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,720
The asylum seekers had their check-in,

308
00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,040
which took about an hour. And when we

309
00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:34,560
got out, one of them rolled up their

310
00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,880
sleeve

311
00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,600
and they had a paper

312
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,720
and on the paper taped to their arm was

313
00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,240
this person's name of their 7-year-old

314
00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,240
daughter.

315
00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,040
And that morning,

316
00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:52,639
their daughter gave it to them and said,

317
00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:54,320
"Mama,

318
00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:59,350
if they take you, don't forget me.

319
00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,160
What are we doing when sevenyear-olds

320
00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:03,920
have to worry about their mothers being

321
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:10,230
taken like that? Don't forget.

322
00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,560
Well, on to our state business and I've

323
00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,040
been working on the

324
00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:16,959
House Appropriations Committee and the

325
00:16:16,959 --> 00:16:18,639
first thing we're working to do is of

326
00:16:18,639 --> 00:16:21,920
course provide a balanced budget. just

327
00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:23,440
like you, we have to live within our

328
00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,639
means. And at the start of the year, um,

329
00:16:26,639 --> 00:16:28,800
we got an economic report that said,

330
00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,680
well, our economy is kind of flat, kind

331
00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:33,759
of like the rest of the country, except

332
00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:36,240
if you're up here, you're doing really

333
00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,079
well. And I think nationally, we've come

334
00:16:38,079 --> 00:16:39,920
to see that we have an economy that can

335
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,959
be described as have knots and have

336
00:16:42,959 --> 00:16:46,150
yachts.

337
00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,240
And it's getting harder and harder down

338
00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:49,519
here in the ground for the have not

339
00:16:49,519 --> 00:16:51,040
knots because that's most of us right

340
00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,079
now. So we want to make sure that we're

341
00:16:54,079 --> 00:16:55,920
making investments though that will help

342
00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,880
Vermont. Um

343
00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,360
housing is a really vital piece. We we

344
00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,120
started a couple years ago the VHIP

345
00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,559
program u Vermont housing improvement

346
00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:08,799
program which helps pay for people to

347
00:17:08,799 --> 00:17:11,439
add apartments into their house. We've

348
00:17:11,439 --> 00:17:13,919
created now 1,500

349
00:17:13,919 --> 00:17:16,319
of these apartments and it's a popular

350
00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:18,880
thing. We need a lot of housing though

351
00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,280
in Vermont and this is one way we can do

352
00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,079
it. We also passed a CHIP program what

353
00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:26,319
we call this is community uh

354
00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:28,400
infrastructure program which will help

355
00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:29,760
communities that want to build

356
00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:31,840
infrastructure that can support more

357
00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,840
housing. And what we're talking about is

358
00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,880
clustered smart growth housing. They're

359
00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,200
pretty much like the European models

360
00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,760
where villages are clustered and the

361
00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,880
outer areas are are kept open. And

362
00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:46,240
that's what we're trying to promote in

363
00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,120
Vermont is smart growth. So if there's

364
00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:51,280
there are towns that want to build some

365
00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,440
infrastructure to do that, we have some

366
00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,160
money to do that. Another investment we

367
00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,760
made uh was in child care. uh during

368
00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,240
COVID the need for child care was really

369
00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:05,120
amplified uh and what a vital piece of

370
00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:08,960
the workforce that is. So we passed a

371
00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,919
very small payroll tax. Now uh it's a

372
00:18:13,919 --> 00:18:16,880
smaller than 1% and rather than getting

373
00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,960
into what that entails I would tell you

374
00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,640
that out of my paycheck it cost 41 cents

375
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,559
a week.

376
00:18:24,559 --> 00:18:26,960
Now, I think our kids are worth 41 cents

377
00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,640
a week. Over the course of a month,

378
00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:30,400
that's barely a cup of coffee to Dunkin

379
00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,320
Donuts. And here's what it's done,

380
00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,039
though. In the last year, we have added

381
00:18:35,039 --> 00:18:36,559
1,300

382
00:18:36,559 --> 00:18:39,600
child care slots in Vermont. We have

383
00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,880
been able to help more parents

384
00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,840
gain subsidies to help pay for that. And

385
00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,880
we've been able to pay more of our child

386
00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,039
care workers enough so they don't leave

387
00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:53,120
to go work at a fast food restaurant

388
00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:55,679
because they get paid better there. So

389
00:18:55,679 --> 00:18:57,840
this is something that we feel investing

390
00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,080
in our children is a big piece of what

391
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:01,520
we want to do. Investing in our

392
00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,679
families. We certainly want to attract

393
00:19:03,679 --> 00:19:05,600
more young people, young families or

394
00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,600
keep them here in Vermont. And that's

395
00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,039
one of the things that we want to keep

396
00:19:09,039 --> 00:19:16,150
doing.

397
00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,160
One of the other big lifts we're doing

398
00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,400
here, and I know it's important here in

399
00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,200
Vermont City, as well as other places,

400
00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,840
is looking at school governance and

401
00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,480
funding reform.

402
00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,160
Now, last year, uh, the governor

403
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,559
made this a huge issue and it was

404
00:19:34,559 --> 00:19:36,880
amplified by the large increase we saw

405
00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,919
in property taxes.

406
00:19:39,919 --> 00:19:42,320
One of the things that the governor is

407
00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,960
keen on is that we should consolidate

408
00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,559
more than we did a few years ago with

409
00:19:46,559 --> 00:19:50,000
act 46. The governor suggested that we

410
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,080
should go from 119 school districts to

411
00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,000
five.

412
00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:00,080
Well, um we don't agree and there was a

413
00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,880
summer study group where Senator

414
00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,080
Harrison was part of that basically said

415
00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:07,919
there are not savings in that kind of

416
00:20:07,919 --> 00:20:11,760
consolidation. So why do we do this?

417
00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,520
It's important if we want to maintain

418
00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,919
quality education. It's important if we

419
00:20:15,919 --> 00:20:18,960
want to balance quality with

420
00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:20,480
affordability.

421
00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,760
And that's what I'm looking for. So this

422
00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,799
process is continuing to unfold. But I'm

423
00:20:26,799 --> 00:20:30,640
going to say right here, I will not vote

424
00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,720
for a bill that doesn't balance those

425
00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,440
two pieces. We need to maintain our

426
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,440
schools. We need to protect our schools

427
00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,080
like Dustin and we need to make sure

428
00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,720
that we do that at an affordable cost.

429
00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,640
But unless we can meet those goals, I'm

430
00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:46,080
not ready to vote for anything that

431
00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:49,039
comes down. So, please pay attention to

432
00:20:49,039 --> 00:20:52,400
this. Be in touch with me. But that's

433
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,320
the criteria that I'm bringing into

434
00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,880
this. We want to keep our quality, our

435
00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:58,960
schools quality, and we want to make

436
00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,880
sure we can afford it. And I know right

437
00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:04,080
here, uh, I see our principal back

438
00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,440
there, Julianne, somewhere. But there's

439
00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,679
a lot of great things going on in

440
00:21:09,679 --> 00:21:11,679
Dunston in our local schools here. We

441
00:21:11,679 --> 00:21:20,320
don't want to miss that. SO, if you if you if you haven't been in

442
00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:21,919
the school and you want to see what a

443
00:21:21,919 --> 00:21:24,159
little bit of what's going on, I did an

444
00:21:24,159 --> 00:21:28,960
interview uh in the in January with your

445
00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,520
principal here with John Sessions, the

446
00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,480
principal from from Putney, where they

447
00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,600
talked wonderfully

448
00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,400
in a in and articulated what's happening

449
00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,320
in our schools and that our schools are

450
00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,120
performing Well, and and our schools are

451
00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:48,000
making sure kids have the social

452
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,640
emotional learning opportunities that

453
00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,799
get them ready for the world. So, if you

454
00:21:52,799 --> 00:21:55,280
go to BCTV, you can find that interview.

455
00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,200
Uh it's there's a link to it on my

456
00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,080
website, too, which is women.net.

457
00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,000
But this I know this is important for

458
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,559
Dunston. This is important for Vermont.

459
00:22:04,559 --> 00:22:06,559
and we want to make sure before we make

460
00:22:06,559 --> 00:22:09,600
any big changes that we cover those

461
00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,960
criteria, affordability, but quality as

462
00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,840
well. Um, I just want to finish up by

463
00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,440
saying despite all we see in the news,

464
00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,480
despite how easy and hard it's been this

465
00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,480
winter, this has been a real

466
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,320
oldfashioned winter that doesn't seem to

467
00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:30,720
want to quit. Uh, I'm optimistic though.

468
00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,440
I feel there's better days ahead. I'm

469
00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,760
really encouraged how people have been

470
00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:37,840
stepping up. We saw what happened in

471
00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,400
Minnesota, in Chicago, in Los Angeles,

472
00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,559
and we see what's happening in Vermont

473
00:22:42,559 --> 00:22:44,960
with people coming together and stepping

474
00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:47,120
up and wanting to be heard. And I'm

475
00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:49,919
optimistic by that. I'm optimistic

476
00:22:49,919 --> 00:22:51,600
meeting with our school kids. I

477
00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,520
regularly meet with school kids and I

478
00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,840
was just uh meeting with a bunch of kids

479
00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,880
uh kids, young adults at our high

480
00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,840
school. um they are working hard to try

481
00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,000
and understand the world that they're

482
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,320
coming into and they're so dedicated.

483
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,240
They want to make this a better world.

484
00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,000
When I see that, it's hard not to be

485
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,200
optimistic about the future. Um please

486
00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:17,120
know that I want to hear from you. Uh I

487
00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:19,679
want to bring your voices to my billard.

488
00:23:19,679 --> 00:23:21,280
Um,

489
00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,240
you can contact me by looking on the

490
00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:28,080
legislative website or I have a town a

491
00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,400
town meeting report in the back there

492
00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,720
that has my contact information. I want

493
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,840
to hear from you and please allow me to

494
00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,120
take bring your voice to to my pillar

495
00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:41,520
for you and I'm going to keep working

496
00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,400
hard and trying to stay in touch with

497
00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,000
you and um glad to take any questions

498
00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:57,270
now.

499
00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,559
Before I I I say anything more though, I

500
00:24:00,559 --> 00:24:03,360
want to talk about your the chair of

501
00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:06,480
your select board here because we we had

502
00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,559
what some might call a small issue come

503
00:24:08,559 --> 00:24:10,159
up last year and a couple of years ago

504
00:24:10,159 --> 00:24:12,240
the small issue was let's keep the DMV

505
00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,200
open in Dston and and we did we were

506
00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,679
able to push back but we had some issues

507
00:24:17,679 --> 00:24:20,080
around Route 5 in Gston where there were

508
00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,080
cars being abandoned, trucks being

509
00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:26,640
abandoned and Todd stepped up and and

510
00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,080
we worked together. I think VR really

511
00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:31,840
stepped up as well too and were we're

512
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,000
really receptive. But you got somebody

513
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,080
here that's working hard for you. So I

514
00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,080
just want to recognize what Todd does

515
00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:46,149
and is

516
00:24:46,159 --> 00:24:52,630
Jody. You have a question for Mike.

517
00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,760
Everyone has to use a mic so that people

518
00:24:55,760 --> 00:25:00,159
who watch on BCTV can hear.

519
00:25:00,159 --> 00:25:03,279
>> Thank you. Um thank you Mike for saying

520
00:25:03,279 --> 00:25:05,600
part of what I wanted to say today. I

521
00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:13,360
I'm glad to hear that. Um cause what everybody needs to realize

522
00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:16,640
is that the state is is going to

523
00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,480
consolidate us one way or another.

524
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,240
They're not going to stop. They started

525
00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,600
with Act 46 and we fought that and um

526
00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,720
and Mike fought that with us. Um you

527
00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,400
know um if we are forced to consolidate

528
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,559
in any way, we will have no say in a

529
00:25:34,559 --> 00:25:37,279
budget school budget. We will have no

530
00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:40,640
votes on a school budget. This is not

531
00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,440
just Scott that's saying we need to do

532
00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,760
this. This is our friends, our

533
00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,640
Democratic friends up there in

534
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,039
Montpillar and they are really the ones

535
00:25:51,039 --> 00:25:53,200
who are leading this charge and it

536
00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:57,200
frustrates frustrates me tremendously

537
00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,760
because the Democrats

538
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:01,679
they're supposed to believe in democracy

539
00:26:01,679 --> 00:26:04,159
and this is not democracy.

540
00:26:04,159 --> 00:26:07,679
Um, you know, um,

541
00:26:07,679 --> 00:26:11,200
I I want, you know, we have so many

542
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,600
unfunded mandates put on the school

543
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,640
system, healthc care and social work and

544
00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:18,480
all these other things that our students

545
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,039
need. The state says, "You shall do

546
00:26:21,039 --> 00:26:24,080
this, but you will have to pay for it."

547
00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,320
They are not paying for their mandates

548
00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,480
that they're putting on us.

549
00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:32,480
We have a um a a group in Vermont called

550
00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,679
the Rural Community Alliance who has

551
00:26:35,679 --> 00:26:38,559
been working their butts off to stand up

552
00:26:38,559 --> 00:26:41,600
for us. They're testifying every day in

553
00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,600
financial committees and education

554
00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,919
committees and they're doing a fantastic

555
00:26:45,919 --> 00:26:48,320
job, but I'm not sure they can do it

556
00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,279
alone with our our voices. We need to

557
00:26:51,279 --> 00:26:53,440
write to our legislators. We need to

558
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,679
write to we need to call them. We need

559
00:26:55,679 --> 00:26:59,039
to go to meetings. So, um, what I want

560
00:26:59,039 --> 00:27:02,000
to say to Mike, and I'm glad to hear him

561
00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,120
say he wouldn't vote for anything that

562
00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:06,960
he gave two things, and I can't remember

563
00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,640
what it was, but I want you to please

564
00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,840
stand up for Putney and for Dumbston and

565
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:18,159
say no to any kind of consolidation. We

566
00:27:18,159 --> 00:27:20,880
already are consolidated. It took us a

567
00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,279
long time to get used to it. I think

568
00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:25,679
that we've kindly sort of got used to

569
00:27:25,679 --> 00:27:28,720
it, but we do miss our local schools and

570
00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,760
our local school boards. So, please, and

571
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,000
if you need a vote of your community,

572
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,559
either Putney or Dumbon, as to what you

573
00:27:36,559 --> 00:27:40,080
should do, I will call for one because I

574
00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,000
think everybody wants the best thing.

575
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,400
And the best thing right now is that we

576
00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:53,190
keep our schools. Thank you.

577
00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,399
Jody, what can I say? I agree with you.

578
00:27:56,399 --> 00:27:57,760
>> You can say we'll do it.

579
00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:00,080
>> We'll do it. So, I I want to acknowledge

580
00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,000
what Jod's doing and with the group that

581
00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,840
she mentioned and and Cheryl Charles

582
00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,919
from Westminster who has been a real

583
00:28:05,919 --> 00:28:10,080
leader and and really my go-to person.

584
00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:11,919
Cheryl lives in Westminster. She's a

585
00:28:11,919 --> 00:28:14,799
retired educator. Uh she has been

586
00:28:14,799 --> 00:28:16,559
spending a lot of time on this, a lot of

587
00:28:16,559 --> 00:28:18,640
time up in Montville. She's been a great

588
00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:22,159
advocate and um there's some good people

589
00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:26,320
who are trying that and um right now I

590
00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:27,679
don't know where it's going to go. I

591
00:28:27,679 --> 00:28:29,520
don't think there's as much support as

592
00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,000
you're as you're mentioning there Joey

593
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,559
and and there's a big rift between the

594
00:28:34,559 --> 00:28:36,320
House and Senate right now and with the

595
00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,960
governor and uh we're going to have to

596
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,919
try and figure that out. But I know

597
00:28:41,919 --> 00:28:43,840
where I'm coming from. And like I said,

598
00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,640
those are my values of our schools, of

599
00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,440
our children, uh that we want a quality

600
00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,520
education at an affordable price. We

601
00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:59,909
have to be able to do both.

602
00:28:59,919 --> 00:29:02,159
» Joyce, Joyce, you have a question.

603
00:29:02,159 --> 00:29:11,110
>> Yeah.

604
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,559
Thanks. Hi, Joyce Marcel Gmerston. Mike,

605
00:29:14,559 --> 00:29:16,880
how long have you been serving us as a

606
00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:18,159
representative now?

607
00:29:18,159 --> 00:29:19,760
>> This is my 20th year.

608
00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:24,789
>> Your what?

609
00:29:24,799 --> 00:29:28,080
My hair is a different color then, but I

610
00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:30,559
can tell you when you look out on the

611
00:29:30,559 --> 00:29:32,799
street at who's demonstrating, when you

612
00:29:32,799 --> 00:29:35,120
look at who's pushing things right now,

613
00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,720
I heard this phrase that I want to use.

614
00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:59,110
We're putting our gray hair to good use.

615
00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,230
Okay,

616
00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,039
back to the preamble.

617
00:30:05,039 --> 00:30:07,440
In order to speak at town meeting, you

618
00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:10,399
must be a registered Dmerston voter.

619
00:30:10,399 --> 00:30:12,080
It's our tradition to make an exception

620
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,159
for those who represent Dmerston at the

621
00:30:14,159 --> 00:30:16,240
state house and for our school

622
00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,640
principal. Accordingly, if there's no

623
00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,360
objective, I will give the privilege of

624
00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:22,799
speaking to our principal, our

625
00:30:22,799 --> 00:30:25,200
legislators, and any other elected state

626
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,840
officials who stop by so that they may

627
00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:29,679
present their reports and answer your

628
00:30:29,679 --> 00:30:32,799
questions. Principal Julian Egan will be

629
00:30:32,799 --> 00:30:34,720
giving an interesting presentation

630
00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,520
toward the end of our lunch break. So, I

631
00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:40,000
encourage you to pull up a chair and

632
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,919
watch that. We have much to be proud of

633
00:30:41,919 --> 00:30:43,840
in our school.

634
00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:45,919
You must be a registered Dersonson voter

635
00:30:45,919 --> 00:30:48,799
to vote on any issue today. Please raise

636
00:30:48,799 --> 00:30:52,000
your hand if you are not a registered

637
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,919
Vermont voter.

638
00:30:55,919 --> 00:30:58,480
Am I the only one?

639
00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,919
Thank you. Thank you.

640
00:31:01,919 --> 00:31:04,320
If you have difficulty standing, you

641
00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,039
have the option

642
00:31:07,039 --> 00:31:10,480
of holding up a card when a division of

643
00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:12,640
the house is called when we vote by

644
00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,440
standing up for yes or no. Please raise

645
00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,320
your hand now if you'd like a card and

646
00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,520
haven't received one yet. Could I get

647
00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,399
one of you guys to come

648
00:31:24,399 --> 00:31:26,240
and that too? There's a woman who raised

649
00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:30,000
her hand in the back. Anybody else?

650
00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,080
Okay,

651
00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:33,840
if there's no objection, we'll break for

652
00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:35,919
lunch around noon as provided by the

653
00:31:35,919 --> 00:31:38,720
good folks at the Graange by Lynch Jr.

654
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,279
and Sally May.

655
00:31:41,279 --> 00:31:43,679
Today's menu is sandwiches, soup, and

656
00:31:43,679 --> 00:31:46,720
dessert. The cost is $7 for adults. That

657
00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:51,440
is a dollar less than last year.

658
00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,919
And do you see the gas went up like 30

659
00:31:53,919 --> 00:31:56,799
cents a gallon over at the market just

660
00:31:56,799 --> 00:31:59,679
in the last two days or something?

661
00:31:59,679 --> 00:32:02,640
and $4 for children.

662
00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,960
No errors have been found on the town

663
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,519
report. Thanks to those who put the town

664
00:32:07,519 --> 00:32:09,440
report together, including auditor and

665
00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,640
editor Ruth Hoffman. Thank you. AND

666
00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:21,200
THANKS to the views of Dunston led

667
00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:28,230
by Roger Turner. They do.

668
00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,840
a great job preparing us for

669
00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:35,120
town meeting and we have a lot of

670
00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,360
talented and dedicated people creating

671
00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,480
those pieces for us and we thank them. I

672
00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:45,519
need to get my papers organized here.

673
00:32:45,519 --> 00:32:47,519
Lori Fchett, our town clerk, has

674
00:32:47,519 --> 00:32:49,600
prepared a helpful summary of the rules

675
00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,000
of town meeting. Copies are on the table

676
00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,960
in the back if you'd like to familiarize

677
00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,519
yourself with it. A few highlights.

678
00:32:57,519 --> 00:33:00,240
Robert's rules of order, our govern town

679
00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,120
meeting. To speak, raise your hand. When

680
00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:05,519
I call on you, wait for the microphone

681
00:33:05,519 --> 00:33:07,600
or you can go up to this microphone.

682
00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:10,159
That's just fine. Um, but you got to use

683
00:33:10,159 --> 00:33:12,159
the microphone so that people watching

684
00:33:12,159 --> 00:33:14,799
this later online or um will be able to

685
00:33:14,799 --> 00:33:17,840
hear you know what you're saying.

686
00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:19,519
Um, and hold it right in front of your

687
00:33:19,519 --> 00:33:21,440
mouth. It doesn't matter when it goes

688
00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:26,159
down here or over to the side. See that?

689
00:33:26,159 --> 00:33:28,799
Each voter may speak twice to each

690
00:33:28,799 --> 00:33:31,200
motion. I will not call on you a second

691
00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,120
time unless everyone else who wishes to

692
00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:36,399
speak has spoken once. Town officials

693
00:33:36,399 --> 00:33:38,000
and

694
00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,399
others with direct expertise on a

695
00:33:40,399 --> 00:33:42,640
question may impartially provide

696
00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:44,880
information without it counting as a

697
00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:47,600
term. Speeches from the floor are

698
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,519
limited to 10 minutes. Although your

699
00:33:49,519 --> 00:33:51,919
audience will grow restless after five

700
00:33:51,919 --> 00:33:53,600
minutes,

701
00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,440
I ask the members of our board of civil

702
00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,519
authority to be ready to count if a

703
00:33:57,519 --> 00:34:00,080
division of the house is requested or a

704
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,200
paper ballot is called. Please remember

705
00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,039
under Robert's rules, there are no

706
00:34:05,039 --> 00:34:07,519
questions and answers between members of

707
00:34:07,519 --> 00:34:10,399
the body. That's you, the body. All

708
00:34:10,399 --> 00:34:12,399
motions and remarks must be addressed to

709
00:34:12,399 --> 00:34:14,800
the moderator. That's me. This includes

710
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,040
when you are asking or answering a

711
00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,520
question. My job is to help you, the

712
00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,079
voters, accomplish your will. If you're

713
00:34:22,079 --> 00:34:26,000
not sure how to do it, just ask me.

714
00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:27,760
And again, please remember to state your

715
00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,599
name every time you stand as speaker. I

716
00:34:29,599 --> 00:34:31,040
will have to interrupt you to remind

717
00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,320
you, even if you've spoken before. And

718
00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:36,960
now we begin. You'll find the warning on

719
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:43,109
page 90 of your town report.

720
00:34:43,119 --> 00:34:45,679
Page 86 shows the minutes from last

721
00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:49,280
year. on page 89 has the minutes from

722
00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:53,119
our May 27th special town meeting. So

723
00:34:53,119 --> 00:34:55,359
with a bow to tradition, we'll bring

724
00:34:55,359 --> 00:35:06,950
your himnels to page 90.

725
00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:08,960
» Article two has already been voted on

726
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,280
and I thank you very much.

727
00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,760
Article three.

728
00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,320
Shall the voters accept the auditor's

729
00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:19,040
report of the town accounts? Is there a

730
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:20,720
motion?

731
00:35:20,720 --> 00:35:22,560
>> I move that we accept the auditor's

732
00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,800
report of the town accounts.

733
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:28,000
>> Is there a second?

734
00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:31,040
>> Second from Jody and

735
00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:33,520
uh it has been moved and seconded that

736
00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,440
we accept the auditor's report of the

737
00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:41,190
towns. Is there any discussion?

738
00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:43,200
Seeing none,

739
00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,040
it has been moved and seconded that we

740
00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,200
accept the auditor's report of the town

741
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,880
of accounts. All in favor say I.

742
00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:51,119
All

743
00:35:51,119 --> 00:35:54,160
>> oppose say no. The eyes appear to have

744
00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:58,000
it. The eyes do have it.

745
00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,480
Article four. Shall the voters authorize

746
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,880
the select board to appoint the receiver

747
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,920
of delinquent taxes?

748
00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:07,599
>> Is there a motion?

749
00:36:07,599 --> 00:36:09,599
I move that we authorize the select

750
00:36:09,599 --> 00:36:11,599
board to appoint a receiver of

751
00:36:11,599 --> 00:36:13,200
delinquent taxes.

752
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:16,079
>> I forgot to ask you guys to pass the mic

753
00:36:16,079 --> 00:36:19,440
down the table so you can be heard. You

754
00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:23,200
want to just say that again, Paul?

755
00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,440
>> I move that we authorize the select

756
00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:28,400
board to appoint a receiver delinquent

757
00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:29,920
taxes.

758
00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:31,760
>> You want to get a lot closer to the to

759
00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:33,599
the mic poll and just see if it works. I

760
00:36:33,599 --> 00:36:36,480
bet everybody's heard you by now, but is

761
00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:37,760
that on?

762
00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,839
>> Okay. Thanks.

763
00:36:39,839 --> 00:36:41,760
>> I move that we authorize the select

764
00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:44,000
board to appoint a receiver of

765
00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,160
delinquent taxes.

766
00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,400
>> It has been moved and seconded that we

767
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:50,240
authorize the select board to appoint a

768
00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:52,480
receiver of delinquent taxes. Is there

769
00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:57,430
any discussion?

770
00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,760
» Oh, I'm sorry.

771
00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:02,800
We have the motion series several times,

772
00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,280
but Tom will second it. Thank you. It

773
00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,200
hasn't been moved and seconded now.

774
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,240
Thank you, Lori. Um, any discussion on

775
00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:13,440
this article on a motion on the floor?

776
00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:16,480
No. Okay. It has been moved and seconded

777
00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,240
that we authorize the select board to

778
00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:20,800
account account appoint a receiver like

779
00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:24,720
accounts. All in favor say I.

780
00:37:24,720 --> 00:37:27,760
>> All oppose say nay.

781
00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:30,480
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

782
00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:33,520
have it.

783
00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,920
Article five. Sheld the voters

784
00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:39,440
authorized raising the sum of $235,000

785
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,000
through taxes and appropriate set amount

786
00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:44,720
to the capital fund for future capital

787
00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:46,800
needs.

788
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:50,160
I move that I move that uh we authorize

789
00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,800
raising the sum of $245,000

790
00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:54,800
through taxes and appropriate set amount

791
00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,119
to the capital fund for future capital

792
00:37:57,119 --> 00:37:58,079
needs.

793
00:37:58,079 --> 00:38:01,990
>> Is there a second?

794
00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:05,200
» Second, Paul. Thank you. It has been

795
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,680
moved and seconded that the voters

796
00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:12,710
authorize raising the amount of $245,000

797
00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:14,880
through taxes and appropriate set

798
00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:16,800
amounts to the capital fund for future

799
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:19,359
capital needs. You will see the capital

800
00:38:19,359 --> 00:38:22,880
fund on page 32 of your town report.

801
00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:24,800
We'll be talking in the next article

802
00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:26,720
about expending some money, but does

803
00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:29,440
anyone have any questions or is there a

804
00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:31,920
discussion around raising and setting

805
00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:36,000
aside money for capital means? Jody,

806
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:44,870
we got a mic over there.

807
00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:48,160
Um, am I missing this? I don't see what

808
00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:50,720
it's for. And so I'm just asking what

809
00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:56,390
it's for. And it's going into the

810
00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:58,960
26 27 year.

811
00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:00,560
>> Yes. You want to state your name, Jody?

812
00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:02,960
>> Oh, Jodie Normando Dmerston.

813
00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:05,359
>> Thank you.

814
00:39:05,359 --> 00:39:09,280
So, your question is what it's for.

815
00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:11,280
It's just going into the fund and our

816
00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:13,440
next article will tell us what we're

817
00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:17,520
spending money on this year.

818
00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:18,800
I mean, I don't want to steal your

819
00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:21,119
thunder, but I know that Todd has talked

820
00:39:21,119 --> 00:39:25,520
about putting a level amount into the

821
00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:27,839
capital fund every year. And you can see

822
00:39:27,839 --> 00:39:30,240
that it's 245,000

823
00:39:30,240 --> 00:39:32,400
on page 32

824
00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:34,640
um all the way across the board. And

825
00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:37,280
that will keep us a balance sufficient

826
00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,760
to buy whatever we need every year, even

827
00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:46,069
though the amount may vary quite a bit.

828
00:39:46,079 --> 00:39:47,839
You're not finding what I'm talking

829
00:39:47,839 --> 00:39:50,720
about. You're on page 32.

830
00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:52,800
And at the bottom of the table, it says

831
00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,359
estimated yearly spending. And under

832
00:39:55,359 --> 00:39:58,640
that, it says taxes raised. That's where

833
00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,280
you find the 245,000

834
00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,359
across the page.

835
00:40:03,359 --> 00:40:06,870
All right.

836
00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:13,200
Any other questions or discussion? Ruth. And it's just a point of

837
00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:15,119
information from the auditor. If you

838
00:40:15,119 --> 00:40:18,720
look at page seven shows what we have

839
00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:22,480
spent in our capital fund in this year

840
00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:28,150
and when the money is spent it it will

841
00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,359
it shows up in our summary of the

842
00:40:31,359 --> 00:40:34,800
capital fund expenses. So page seven

843
00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:38,800
shows what we have spent. Page 32 shows

844
00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:43,119
our plan for the future.

845
00:40:43,119 --> 00:40:46,079
Thank you, Ruth.

846
00:40:46,079 --> 00:40:48,400
Anyone else?

847
00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:49,760
All right. It has been moved and

848
00:40:49,760 --> 00:40:51,839
seconded that the voters authorize

849
00:40:51,839 --> 00:40:55,520
raising the amount of $245,000

850
00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:58,079
through taxes and appropriate set amount

851
00:40:58,079 --> 00:41:00,720
of the capital fund for future capital

852
00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:04,480
needs. All in favor, please say I.

853
00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:05,440
>> I.

854
00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:08,720
>> Any opposed? Say no.

855
00:41:08,720 --> 00:41:11,440
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

856
00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:13,599
have it and you have funded your capital

857
00:41:13,599 --> 00:41:16,160
budget.

858
00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,720
Article six, shall the voters authorize

859
00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:21,520
the purchase of a backhoe at a price not

860
00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:25,200
to exceed $192,000

861
00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,839
and to pay for said purchase from the

862
00:41:27,839 --> 00:41:30,960
capital fund. Is there a motion?

863
00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:32,720
>> I move that we authorize the purchase of

864
00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:35,200
a backhoe at a price not to exceed

865
00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:37,599
192,000 and to pay for said purchase

866
00:41:37,599 --> 00:41:39,280
from the capital fund.

867
00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:41,920
Is there a second?

868
00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:44,480
>> Second. Copy in the front row. It has

869
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:45,920
been moved and seconded that we

870
00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:48,079
authorize the purchase of a backhoe at a

871
00:41:48,079 --> 00:41:51,760
price not to exceed $192,000

872
00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:53,599
and to pay for said purchase from the

873
00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:56,560
capital fund. Do any of you want to

874
00:41:56,560 --> 00:41:59,200
speak to the capital fund or just wait

875
00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:02,470
for questions?

876
00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:04,960
» Is Lee here

877
00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:06,880
in choirs? He was

878
00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:10,240
>> He was He's probably busy working. Oh,

879
00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:12,480
you are here. He just didn't want us to

880
00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:15,359
know. So, do you have a question you'd

881
00:42:15,359 --> 00:42:16,640
like Lee to answer, Tom?

882
00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:18,640
>> If there's a question on the back of Lee

883
00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:19,760
to discuss that.

884
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:22,319
>> Okay. So, Lee has the best answers to

885
00:42:22,319 --> 00:42:24,319
questions about the backhoe if anybody

886
00:42:24,319 --> 00:42:26,640
has any. Are there any questions? Any

887
00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:33,510
discussion? Jody.

888
00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:36,880
Normando. Um, we do have it back

889
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:40,160
home now, right Lee?

890
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:47,910
>> And how old is it?

891
00:42:47,920 --> 00:42:50,000
» Lee Chamberlain.

892
00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:54,000
>> Yes, the back is a 2012.

893
00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:56,560
It's just uh 15 years old. That's our

894
00:42:56,560 --> 00:43:04,069
schedule.

895
00:43:04,079 --> 00:43:06,560
I it was difficult to hear you. Could

896
00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:08,640
you say that again right into the mic?

897
00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:11,359
>> All right. It was a 2012

898
00:43:11,359 --> 00:43:13,599
um and it's 15 years old and it's a

899
00:43:13,599 --> 00:43:19,829
scheduled replacement.

900
00:43:19,839 --> 00:43:22,480
» Any other questions, discussion? Guess

901
00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:27,750
up front. Molly.

902
00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:30,400
» Hi, I'm Molly Stoner. Um, I really

903
00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:33,599
support saving money for um, future

904
00:43:33,599 --> 00:43:36,000
needs and I also really support having

905
00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:38,000
that money work for us while it's in the

906
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:41,599
bank. And I just did a quick little

907
00:43:41,599 --> 00:43:44,160
number of the balance and then the

908
00:43:44,160 --> 00:43:45,599
interest and it looks like we're earning

909
00:43:45,599 --> 00:43:48,000
about 1.2% and I'm wondering if the

910
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:50,400
select board has um, thought about

911
00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,400
investing in a high yield savings

912
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,200
account so that we could get four to 5%

913
00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:58,560
on that money.

914
00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:00,319
That word is interrogated. Do you want

915
00:44:00,319 --> 00:44:11,270
to pass the mic down?

916
00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:13,119
» We have looked into that. Uh in fact it

917
00:44:13,119 --> 00:44:15,040
came up last year uh and we talked about

918
00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:18,079
it at length for both the general fund

919
00:44:18,079 --> 00:44:20,880
money. uh

920
00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:22,560
we didn't come to a conclusion there's

921
00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:26,160
some change in the interest rate that

922
00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:28,079
we're getting now than we were getting

923
00:44:28,079 --> 00:44:30,400
last year but we don't want to commit a

924
00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:32,480
lot of money to

925
00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:33,680
uh obviously anything where there's any

926
00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:36,720
risk uh but a high yield savings account

927
00:44:36,720 --> 00:44:38,160
money markets and CDs are something

928
00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:40,480
we've been not money markets but CDs is

929
00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,560
something we've been talking about uh we

930
00:44:42,560 --> 00:44:43,760
just want to make sure we have access to

931
00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:45,440
the money uh so it's a very good

932
00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:47,920
question to have it work for us uh it

933
00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:50,079
it's a little dependent on how much we

934
00:44:50,079 --> 00:44:51,440
may need in a given year. Something

935
00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:53,839
could move forward or backwards. Uh but

936
00:44:53,839 --> 00:44:55,680
we'll look into it again because it's

937
00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:57,440
definitely an idea that has been talked

938
00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:59,680
about.

939
00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:01,680
>> Chris Brown, our treasur, do you want to

940
00:45:01,680 --> 00:45:15,109
speak to this?

941
00:45:15,119 --> 00:45:26,230
» Capital fund is making 2%.

942
00:45:26,240 --> 00:45:31,280
» All right. Anything else? Yes.

943
00:45:31,280 --> 00:45:32,400
Kim

944
00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:39,670
>> Mike,

945
00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:43,119
» maybe a technical question, but please

946
00:45:43,119 --> 00:45:46,720
>> William McKim or Bill McKim. Um I I I

947
00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:49,280
see all these you know very very

948
00:45:49,280 --> 00:45:53,920
expensive uh purchases and uh we are uh

949
00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:56,400
we've been looking at funds to to

950
00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,839
purchase those things. Uh I guess my big

951
00:45:59,839 --> 00:46:02,319
question will be what happens to the

952
00:46:02,319 --> 00:46:03,920
ones that we have that are still

953
00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:06,160
functioning? Are they you are they break

954
00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:08,319
them up for parts or do we uh sell them

955
00:46:08,319 --> 00:46:11,440
to some maybe smaller town? What happens

956
00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:13,599
to those funds that have already been

957
00:46:13,599 --> 00:46:15,760
spent for the use of equipment that

958
00:46:15,760 --> 00:46:19,200
we're abandoning?

959
00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:21,839
>> I know that normally we trade things in,

960
00:46:21,839 --> 00:46:23,599
but Lee, why don't you come up to the

961
00:46:23,599 --> 00:46:26,480
microphone and give us a little more of

962
00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:27,839
an answer that

963
00:46:27,839 --> 00:46:31,280
>> Yeah, Lee Chamberlain again. Um, yes, we

964
00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:34,160
take the best offer we can get. So, it's

965
00:46:34,160 --> 00:46:38,240
either traded in or sold outright.

966
00:46:38,240 --> 00:46:43,280
Um this price of 192,000

967
00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:45,760
was just a quote. So hopefully it's a

968
00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:48,880
little less than that. And then um

969
00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:51,680
they'll offer us say 30,000 for trade in

970
00:46:51,680 --> 00:46:53,599
and we have to decide whether we want to

971
00:46:53,599 --> 00:46:55,440
try to sell it outright and get more

972
00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:58,640
money than that.

973
00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:01,119
>> Thank you.

974
00:47:01,119 --> 00:47:05,750
Sure.

975
00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:07,599
» Yeah. So I'm Tom Nolan. I I wanted to

976
00:47:07,599 --> 00:47:09,839
clarify uh with Lee because of the issue

977
00:47:09,839 --> 00:47:11,520
we had last year with the truck. Will

978
00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:15,040
the price of the vehicle be 192,000 or

979
00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:16,800
is that including what we expect to get

980
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:19,839
back as as a trade in? And so is the

981
00:47:19,839 --> 00:47:21,119
purchase price so we don't have to do

982
00:47:21,119 --> 00:47:23,680
another vote. Is the purchase price

983
00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:25,680
supposed to be 192 or less?

984
00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:26,319
>> Correct.

985
00:47:26,319 --> 00:47:30,550
>> Okay. Perfect.

986
00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:35,030
» Are you ready for the question?

987
00:47:35,040 --> 00:47:37,119
Ruth, did you have a something else to

988
00:47:37,119 --> 00:47:39,440
say?

989
00:47:39,440 --> 00:47:51,270
>> Another point of information.

990
00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:52,000
» Okay.

991
00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:52,319
>> Yes.

992
00:47:52,319 --> 00:47:55,119
>> If you look on page seven

993
00:47:55,119 --> 00:47:57,520
for the capital fund.

994
00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:00,720
>> Oh, Ruth Hoffman. I'm one of the town

995
00:48:00,720 --> 00:48:03,440
auditors. So point of information, if

996
00:48:03,440 --> 00:48:05,440
you look on page seven of the capital

997
00:48:05,440 --> 00:48:09,520
fund, it shows the answers, how much to

998
00:48:09,520 --> 00:48:11,760
all the questions, how much interest we

999
00:48:11,760 --> 00:48:14,560
earned, what taxes were voted, what we

1000
00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:16,800
made in the sale

1001
00:48:16,800 --> 00:48:19,599
of the used equipment, and what we paid

1002
00:48:19,599 --> 00:48:22,160
for the new equipment, and show you

1003
00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:25,760
what's in the fund. So we we try hard to

1004
00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:30,000
report to the town all the information

1005
00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:32,800
that they need in all these boring

1006
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:34,880
pages.

1007
00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:35,920
>> Thank you.

1008
00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:40,390
>> I find that fascinating.

1009
00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:43,280
» Are you ready for the question?

1010
00:48:43,280 --> 00:48:45,359
It has been moved and seconded that we

1011
00:48:45,359 --> 00:48:48,160
authorize the purchase of a backhoe at a

1012
00:48:48,160 --> 00:48:51,760
price not to exceed $192,000

1013
00:48:51,760 --> 00:48:54,000
and to pay for said purchase from the

1014
00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:58,480
capital fund. All in favor say I.

1015
00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:01,760
>> Any opposed say no.

1016
00:49:01,760 --> 00:49:04,640
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

1017
00:49:04,640 --> 00:49:08,390
have it.

1018
00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:11,119
Article seven.

1019
00:49:11,119 --> 00:49:13,760
Shall the voters authorize the first

1020
00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:16,960
five payments on a fire truck at a

1021
00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:20,400
payment not to exceed $18,000

1022
00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:22,720
and to make said payment from the

1023
00:49:22,720 --> 00:49:25,760
capital fund? Is there a motion?

1024
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:28,000
>> I move that we authorize the first of

1025
00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:31,040
five payments on the fire truck and a

1026
00:49:31,040 --> 00:49:33,599
payment not to exceed

1027
00:49:33,599 --> 00:49:35,920
18,000 and to make said payments from

1028
00:49:35,920 --> 00:49:38,000
the capital fund.

1029
00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:41,280
>> Is there a second?

1030
00:49:41,280 --> 00:49:43,680
from Alex Wilson. It has been

1031
00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:46,240
moved and seconded to authorize the

1032
00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:48,480
first of five payments on a firet truck

1033
00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:51,839
payment not to exceed $18,000

1034
00:49:51,839 --> 00:49:54,000
and to make make said payment from the

1035
00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:56,079
capital fund.

1036
00:49:56,079 --> 00:49:57,839
Does anybody want to say anything about

1037
00:49:57,839 --> 00:50:06,549
this? Dan.

1038
00:50:06,559 --> 00:50:08,800
Uh hello Dan Rhooper. I'm on the fire

1039
00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:10,880
department resident. Uh just some

1040
00:50:10,880 --> 00:50:12,720
context for your vote as we head that

1041
00:50:12,720 --> 00:50:14,559
way. It looks like uh sort of two two

1042
00:50:14,559 --> 00:50:16,720
primary points. Uh the first is that we

1043
00:50:16,720 --> 00:50:18,960
did receive the fire truck several weeks

1044
00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:22,319
ago. Uh it's going by nine tanker one.

1045
00:50:22,319 --> 00:50:24,640
Uh as a process of having received it,

1046
00:50:24,640 --> 00:50:27,280
we sent several members up to uh St.

1047
00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:29,040
Albins's who sort of worked with our

1048
00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:31,680
distributor for some day of delivery

1049
00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:33,920
items and you know quality control check

1050
00:50:33,920 --> 00:50:36,480
items. We then drove it down to our

1051
00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:38,800
station and as a department we've been

1052
00:50:38,800 --> 00:50:41,359
doing some of the last minute upfitting

1053
00:50:41,359 --> 00:50:43,040
uh things that sort of customize it for

1054
00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:45,280
its use for the types of plumbing and

1055
00:50:45,280 --> 00:50:47,200
fitting and adapters and tools and the

1056
00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:48,640
shelves and the drawers and things that

1057
00:50:48,640 --> 00:50:50,800
slide up. Uh we've been working on that

1058
00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:52,000
and then some of the initial

1059
00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:53,599
commissioning and training that we've

1060
00:50:53,599 --> 00:50:56,000
been doing with the truck. Um one of the

1061
00:50:56,000 --> 00:50:58,240
sort of unfortunate realities is that we

1062
00:50:58,240 --> 00:51:00,960
got it and as part of that uh onboarding

1063
00:51:00,960 --> 00:51:02,800
of the of the new truck, we found some

1064
00:51:02,800 --> 00:51:05,280
warranty items. the largest of which is

1065
00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:07,839
was a leak in the in the tank. So, you

1066
00:51:07,839 --> 00:51:11,280
know, we filled it right up and

1067
00:51:11,280 --> 00:51:12,880
>> there it comes right out the bottom. So,

1068
00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:15,440
it's u been been back with the

1069
00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:18,480
manufacturer's authorized repair center.

1070
00:51:18,480 --> 00:51:20,480
Um the tank has a lifetime warranty on

1071
00:51:20,480 --> 00:51:23,359
it. It's a polyropylene tank. So, we are

1072
00:51:23,359 --> 00:51:24,800
awaiting that and expect to have the

1073
00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:27,760
truck back in ser or back back to us uh

1074
00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:30,079
this week. and we're still sort of going

1075
00:51:30,079 --> 00:51:32,240
through getting everybody who is a

1076
00:51:32,240 --> 00:51:34,480
signed off driver of the fire apparatus

1077
00:51:34,480 --> 00:51:35,839
uh the training they need to be able to

1078
00:51:35,839 --> 00:51:37,440
safely operate it and use all the things

1079
00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:40,319
on it. So that that sort of is the

1080
00:51:40,319 --> 00:51:42,400
status of the new truck. Uh we have been

1081
00:51:42,400 --> 00:51:44,960
hoping to have sort of a public public

1082
00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:46,880
invite pushin ceremony where we're all

1083
00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:49,440
going to put the truck in reverse

1084
00:51:49,440 --> 00:51:51,040
probably maybe neutral and see if we can

1085
00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:55,200
push it back into the station call and turn it on and have the truck be

1086
00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:57,760
live and active for service. Uh the

1087
00:51:57,760 --> 00:51:59,119
second piece sort of answers the

1088
00:51:59,119 --> 00:52:00,400
question we just had about what are we

1089
00:52:00,400 --> 00:52:03,520
doing with the old truck. Um those of

1090
00:52:03,520 --> 00:52:06,079
you who came to the select board budget

1091
00:52:06,079 --> 00:52:08,160
workshop sessions in the fall which is

1092
00:52:08,160 --> 00:52:10,640
about three of you um may remember that

1093
00:52:10,640 --> 00:52:12,480
we talked about this for a little while.

1094
00:52:12,480 --> 00:52:15,920
Um we the town own the fire department's

1095
00:52:15,920 --> 00:52:17,440
fire trucks. So the fire department does

1096
00:52:17,440 --> 00:52:19,359
not own the fire trucks. The town owns

1097
00:52:19,359 --> 00:52:21,200
the fire trucks. The fire department

1098
00:52:21,200 --> 00:52:23,520
maintains the fire trucks. And when it

1099
00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:24,800
gets to the end of the life of these

1100
00:52:24,800 --> 00:52:26,079
fire trucks, because they're purchased

1101
00:52:26,079 --> 00:52:28,079
out of the capital fund, the sale and

1102
00:52:28,079 --> 00:52:30,079
the proceeds of those funds go back to

1103
00:52:30,079 --> 00:52:32,559
the town and back to the capital fund.

1104
00:52:32,559 --> 00:52:34,880
And so we had been exploring what do you

1105
00:52:34,880 --> 00:52:38,000
do with a multi-deade old firet truck?

1106
00:52:38,000 --> 00:52:39,520
What's the value of it? You know, there

1107
00:52:39,520 --> 00:52:41,599
not too many places that are in the

1108
00:52:41,599 --> 00:52:43,599
market for a 27y old truck, 30-y old

1109
00:52:43,599 --> 00:52:46,640
truck. And so we had some options about

1110
00:52:46,640 --> 00:52:48,160
what to do. And we consulted with the

1111
00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:50,319
select board on their preference for how

1112
00:52:50,319 --> 00:52:52,480
we would deal with that. Uh the first

1113
00:52:52,480 --> 00:52:54,720
was that it it to be more marketable to

1114
00:52:54,720 --> 00:52:56,240
potentially fetch a higher sale price

1115
00:52:56,240 --> 00:52:59,119
would have required um I think it was

1116
00:52:59,119 --> 00:53:00,880
seven or $8,000 worth of additional

1117
00:53:00,880 --> 00:53:04,000
repairs uh to sort of bring it up up to

1118
00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:05,440
being able to be in service and

1119
00:53:05,440 --> 00:53:08,400
salailable. Um we think that that

1120
00:53:08,400 --> 00:53:11,200
investment had an ROI and that we would

1121
00:53:11,200 --> 00:53:13,119
garner more from the sale of that by

1122
00:53:13,119 --> 00:53:15,760
having and a faster sale by doing those

1123
00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:17,680
repairs. So that was our proposition

1124
00:53:17,680 --> 00:53:19,599
which we brought to the select board.

1125
00:53:19,599 --> 00:53:21,520
They sort of nodded heads and said that

1126
00:53:21,520 --> 00:53:23,599
seems reasonable. So the fire department

1127
00:53:23,599 --> 00:53:26,559
out of its operating budget funded those

1128
00:53:26,559 --> 00:53:29,280
repairs for $78,000. So next year when

1129
00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:31,680
you see our actuals, the repairs budget

1130
00:53:31,680 --> 00:53:36,400
will be higher and it is related to the sort of refurbishing of that truck

1131
00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:40,319
for resale. Um the benefit there to us

1132
00:53:40,319 --> 00:53:42,000
as a town, those of us who all own the

1133
00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:44,079
truck together, is that we hope to

1134
00:53:44,079 --> 00:53:46,400
recoup all that money plus more. the

1135
00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:48,240
fire department paid for repairs and

1136
00:53:48,240 --> 00:53:50,240
hopefully the town uh receives a a

1137
00:53:50,240 --> 00:53:52,480
greater value than that. It's currently

1138
00:53:52,480 --> 00:53:54,960
listed on the firetruck brokerage

1139
00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:57,280
website which has a national reach for

1140
00:53:57,280 --> 00:53:59,520
$30,000. Uh if it sells for that price,

1141
00:53:59,520 --> 00:54:01,680
we'll pay a 10% commission fee to the

1142
00:54:01,680 --> 00:54:04,480
web broker for for commissioning for

1143
00:54:04,480 --> 00:54:06,800
brokering that deal and the the balance

1144
00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:11,040
will go back to back to the town.

1145
00:54:11,040 --> 00:54:11,680
>> Thank you.

1146
00:54:11,680 --> 00:54:14,960
Dan. Any questions?

1147
00:54:14,960 --> 00:54:16,000
>> Yes.

1148
00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:21,910
Chris,

1149
00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:24,720
» thank you. Uh, Chris Olsen,

1150
00:54:24,720 --> 00:54:28,480
I noticed that article,

1151
00:54:28,480 --> 00:54:33,520
pardon me, article six last year um, was

1152
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:35,680
nearly the same thing but for $5,000

1153
00:54:35,680 --> 00:54:37,839
more. My question is just, is this a

1154
00:54:37,839 --> 00:54:39,920
different firet truck or did something

1155
00:54:39,920 --> 00:54:41,599
happen last year that we did not

1156
00:54:41,599 --> 00:54:43,440
actually buy a different fire truck?

1157
00:54:43,440 --> 00:54:46,400
Thank you.

1158
00:54:46,400 --> 00:54:48,319
Dan, is that a question that you want to

1159
00:54:48,319 --> 00:54:51,599
answer or is there somebody else?

1160
00:54:51,599 --> 00:55:03,030
Mike.

1161
00:55:03,040 --> 00:55:04,960
So, several years ago, we discussed the

1162
00:55:04,960 --> 00:55:07,200
merits of reserving funds to purchase

1163
00:55:07,200 --> 00:55:09,280
fire trucks versus financing them and

1164
00:55:09,280 --> 00:55:12,480
paying them after purchase. I believe

1165
00:55:12,480 --> 00:55:14,160
I'm I'm speculating that the difference

1166
00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:17,760
is the actual interest on the loan that

1167
00:55:17,760 --> 00:55:20,559
the town has to pay that firetruck. Um

1168
00:55:20,559 --> 00:55:22,880
until we receive it, we don't pay for

1169
00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:24,720
it. So the town had been carrying some

1170
00:55:24,720 --> 00:55:26,800
placeholder interest rate for what we

1171
00:55:26,800 --> 00:55:28,400
would pay for the financing portion of

1172
00:55:28,400 --> 00:55:30,400
the payment. And now that it's actually

1173
00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:33,760
arrived, interest rates are have changed

1174
00:55:33,760 --> 00:55:35,440
from whatever the assumption was a year

1175
00:55:35,440 --> 00:55:46,549
ago.

1176
00:55:46,559 --> 00:55:49,760
Paul Newmano. Uh, I was looking at the

1177
00:55:49,760 --> 00:55:53,359
Vermont bond back bond bank this past

1178
00:55:53,359 --> 00:55:56,400
week and I noticed that there was a town

1179
00:55:56,400 --> 00:55:58,880
up in northern Vermont. I believe it was

1180
00:55:58,880 --> 00:56:02,559
Greensboro that has uh just purchased a

1181
00:56:02,559 --> 00:56:04,960
new fire truck to the tune of about a

1182
00:56:04,960 --> 00:56:07,920
half million dollars. and uh they were

1183
00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:11,839
bonding it over the course of 20 years.

1184
00:56:11,839 --> 00:56:13,839
And I was wondering whether the select

1185
00:56:13,839 --> 00:56:16,960
board has ever considered um I don't

1186
00:56:16,960 --> 00:56:18,880
know what the interest rates would was

1187
00:56:18,880 --> 00:56:20,960
on that. And I was wondering whether the

1188
00:56:20,960 --> 00:56:23,599
select board had ever considered doing a

1189
00:56:23,599 --> 00:56:26,720
longer term uh financing

1190
00:56:26,720 --> 00:56:30,319
for an asset that has a 25 or 30 year

1191
00:56:30,319 --> 00:56:31,839
lifespan

1192
00:56:31,839 --> 00:56:34,640
rather than uh

1193
00:56:34,640 --> 00:56:39,520
having the larger impact on taxes

1194
00:56:39,520 --> 00:56:43,599
uh to fund the uh payments over five

1195
00:56:43,599 --> 00:56:45,280
years. Now, I don't know what the

1196
00:56:45,280 --> 00:56:49,280
long-term uh um interest rate

1197
00:56:49,280 --> 00:56:51,359
differences are between what you're

1198
00:56:51,359 --> 00:56:55,520
paying and what the Vermont Bond Bank uh

1199
00:56:55,520 --> 00:56:58,640
would charge. I generally the Vermont

1200
00:56:58,640 --> 00:57:01,359
Bond Bank has pretty uh favorable

1201
00:57:01,359 --> 00:57:04,559
interest rates for major capital items.

1202
00:57:04,559 --> 00:57:07,119
So, I was I would urge the select board

1203
00:57:07,119 --> 00:57:09,839
to consider if this article comes up

1204
00:57:09,839 --> 00:57:11,440
again in the future. I think the tide

1205
00:57:11,440 --> 00:57:14,319
has been cast here. I could urge the

1206
00:57:14,319 --> 00:57:16,640
board to maybe investigate that

1207
00:57:16,640 --> 00:57:20,480
possibility. Thank you.

1208
00:57:20,480 --> 00:57:23,119
>> Any response? A thumbs up.

1209
00:57:23,119 --> 00:57:25,119
>> I will do the math and we'll have a

1210
00:57:25,119 --> 00:57:28,079
little worksheet and look at it.

1211
00:57:28,079 --> 00:57:31,200
>> I'll do the math and we'll compare

1212
00:57:31,200 --> 00:57:33,599
for this one and moving forward. Thank

1213
00:57:33,599 --> 00:57:34,880
you.

1214
00:57:34,880 --> 00:57:36,480
>> Everybody catch that. Paul will do the

1215
00:57:36,480 --> 00:57:38,799
math and figure out if a longer loan

1216
00:57:38,799 --> 00:57:42,160
term is going to cost more or not.

1217
00:57:42,160 --> 00:57:44,720
>> Yeah, probably more interest over a

1218
00:57:44,720 --> 00:57:49,109
longer period of time.

1219
00:57:49,119 --> 00:57:51,280
Okay,

1220
00:57:51,280 --> 00:57:54,400
seeing no further people raising their

1221
00:57:54,400 --> 00:57:58,319
hands for discussion or questions,

1222
00:57:58,319 --> 00:58:00,079
you have moved and seconded that we

1223
00:58:00,079 --> 00:58:02,319
authorize the first of five payments on

1224
00:58:02,319 --> 00:58:05,040
a fire truck at a payment not to exceed

1225
00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:06,880
$18,000

1226
00:58:06,880 --> 00:58:08,880
and to make set payment from the capital

1227
00:58:08,880 --> 00:58:13,520
fund. All in favor, please say I.

1228
00:58:13,520 --> 00:58:16,960
>> Any opposed say no.

1229
00:58:16,960 --> 00:58:19,920
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

1230
00:58:19,920 --> 00:58:21,599
have it.

1231
00:58:21,599 --> 00:58:24,000
Article 80. Shall the voters approve

1232
00:58:24,000 --> 00:58:26,960
total general fund expenditures of

1233
00:58:26,960 --> 00:58:31,190
$768,37

1234
00:58:31,200 --> 00:58:35,040
of which $600,624

1235
00:58:35,040 --> 00:58:41,510
shall be raised by taxes and $167,413

1236
00:58:41,520 --> 00:58:44,559
by non-ax revenues for the period of

1237
00:58:44,559 --> 00:58:50,319
July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

1238
00:58:50,319 --> 00:58:52,880
Is there a motion?

1239
00:58:52,880 --> 00:58:55,760
Uh, this is on page 27 to 30 in your

1240
00:58:55,760 --> 00:58:58,559
books. I move that we approve total

1241
00:58:58,559 --> 00:59:03,990
general fund expenditures of $768,37

1242
00:59:04,000 --> 00:59:06,880
of which $600,624

1243
00:59:06,880 --> 00:59:12,160
shall be raised by taxes, $167,413

1244
00:59:12,160 --> 00:59:14,160
by non-ax revenues for the period of

1245
00:59:14,160 --> 00:59:16,559
July 1st, 2026

1246
00:59:16,559 --> 00:59:19,760
to June 30th, 2027.

1247
00:59:19,760 --> 00:59:22,640
Is there a second?

1248
00:59:22,640 --> 00:59:26,240
>> Second from Paul Smith.

1249
00:59:26,240 --> 00:59:28,640
It has been moved and seconded that we

1250
00:59:28,640 --> 00:59:30,720
approve total general fund expenditures

1251
00:59:30,720 --> 00:59:34,309
of $768,47

1252
00:59:34,319 --> 00:59:37,040
of which $600,624

1253
00:59:37,040 --> 00:59:42,230
shall be raised by taxes and $167,413

1254
00:59:42,240 --> 00:59:45,280
by non- tax revenues for the period July

1255
00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:49,839
1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

1256
00:59:49,839 --> 01:00:01,910
Want to come up and present?

1257
01:00:01,920 --> 01:00:05,520
still Todd Davidson the slide board.

1258
01:00:05,520 --> 01:00:09,119
So, uh, really the breakdown of of this

1259
01:00:09,119 --> 01:00:11,040
year's budget, which was covered in

1260
01:00:11,040 --> 01:00:12,559
reviews, a few numbers are a little bit

1261
01:00:12,559 --> 01:00:13,520
different than what you saw in the

1262
01:00:13,520 --> 01:00:14,960
reviews, but for the general fund

1263
01:00:14,960 --> 01:00:16,480
specifically,

1264
01:00:16,480 --> 01:00:18,720
there's about $86,000

1265
01:00:18,720 --> 01:00:21,280
increase from last year. Those are

1266
01:00:21,280 --> 01:00:23,280
driven by about eight items, which I'll

1267
01:00:23,280 --> 01:00:25,040
just cover really quickly if you're

1268
01:00:25,040 --> 01:00:26,480
looking at line items and want to know

1269
01:00:26,480 --> 01:00:28,000
where that increase is coming from and

1270
01:00:28,000 --> 01:00:31,359
why we're doing those specific items.

1271
01:00:31,359 --> 01:00:34,160
the um actually the number is 93,000

1272
01:00:34,160 --> 01:00:36,319
increase but these ones I'm going to

1273
01:00:36,319 --> 01:00:39,920
tell you are driving 86,000 the 93,000

1274
01:00:39,920 --> 01:00:44,559
increase so we've increased um

1275
01:00:44,559 --> 01:00:47,680
pay obviously 2.7% it's not a huge

1276
01:00:47,680 --> 01:00:49,040
amount but that's the social security

1277
01:00:49,040 --> 01:00:51,200
administration's cost of living increase

1278
01:00:51,200 --> 01:00:52,559
for the year so that went to all the

1279
01:00:52,559 --> 01:00:55,280
employees uh and all the employees are

1280
01:00:55,280 --> 01:00:57,200
included in the general fund well not

1281
01:00:57,200 --> 01:00:59,119
all the taxes are included in the

1282
01:00:59,119 --> 01:01:00,319
general fund

1283
01:01:00,319 --> 01:01:02,720
But employee salaries all broken out by

1284
01:01:02,720 --> 01:01:07,440
town clerk, listers, treasurer,

1285
01:01:07,440 --> 01:01:09,760
who else? Basically, town office

1286
01:01:09,760 --> 01:01:11,760
functions. Your highway department is in

1287
01:01:11,760 --> 01:01:13,280
the highway fund, which we'll talk about

1288
01:01:13,280 --> 01:01:15,200
in a minute.

1289
01:01:15,200 --> 01:01:18,160
So, the increases to the town of the

1290
01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:20,880
treasur um if you look at it from last

1291
01:01:20,880 --> 01:01:22,319
year isn't a straight increase in

1292
01:01:22,319 --> 01:01:25,440
salary. 2.7% is, but we added total

1293
01:01:25,440 --> 01:01:27,119
hours for Lori and Chris because we have

1294
01:01:27,119 --> 01:01:28,480
elections coming up during this time

1295
01:01:28,480 --> 01:01:29,839
period. And that's going to take

1296
01:01:29,839 --> 01:01:31,280
additional time to set up the polling

1297
01:01:31,280 --> 01:01:34,480
stations, set up the machines, and we we

1298
01:01:34,480 --> 01:01:36,799
need more hours for them to do that. So

1299
01:01:36,799 --> 01:01:38,640
all of that increase is not just pay

1300
01:01:38,640 --> 01:01:40,640
increase, it's hours increase for those

1301
01:01:40,640 --> 01:01:42,640
two particular slots. And those are both

1302
01:01:42,640 --> 01:01:45,680
about a little under $7,000.

1303
01:01:45,680 --> 01:01:48,960
We increase the assistant clerk hours

1304
01:01:48,960 --> 01:01:53,920
also uh because Lori and Chris are both

1305
01:01:53,920 --> 01:01:55,200
going to be in the final year. here. So,

1306
01:01:55,200 --> 01:01:57,760
we already have a new town clerk and a

1307
01:01:57,760 --> 01:02:00,400
new treasurer a year from now. We've put

1308
01:02:00,400 --> 01:02:02,079
in some hours under the assistant clerk

1309
01:02:02,079 --> 01:02:04,400
to allow Chris and Lori to come in and

1310
01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:06,559
help the new town clerk and the new

1311
01:02:06,559 --> 01:02:08,160
treasurer learn the job. Obviously, a

1312
01:02:08,160 --> 01:02:09,359
lot of experience with leaving the

1313
01:02:09,359 --> 01:02:11,440
office. And so, we want to plan ahead

1314
01:02:11,440 --> 01:02:14,079
and have some time, some money for them

1315
01:02:14,079 --> 01:02:16,079
to come in and train their replacements.

1316
01:02:16,079 --> 01:02:18,480
So, the assistant clerk increase you see

1317
01:02:18,480 --> 01:02:21,760
on that line item is a 2.7 plus

1318
01:02:21,760 --> 01:02:23,760
additional hours for training and

1319
01:02:23,760 --> 01:02:27,030
replacements.

1320
01:02:27,040 --> 01:02:28,559
Reappraisal fund. There's additional

1321
01:02:28,559 --> 01:02:31,040
$5,000 in there. That's a new line item.

1322
01:02:31,040 --> 01:02:33,119
Uh we have to do a new reappraisal

1323
01:02:33,119 --> 01:02:35,599
directed by the state uh for the grand

1324
01:02:35,599 --> 01:02:38,240
list. Uh the listers will be doing that

1325
01:02:38,240 --> 01:02:41,760
under contract with another agency. Uh

1326
01:02:41,760 --> 01:02:43,680
that's directed by the state. It's

1327
01:02:43,680 --> 01:02:46,000
probably not going to start till 2029.

1328
01:02:46,000 --> 01:02:47,599
It's a little hard to find companies to

1329
01:02:47,599 --> 01:02:49,680
come in and do a full appraisal for the

1330
01:02:49,680 --> 01:02:51,599
grand list, but there's an amount of

1331
01:02:51,599 --> 01:02:53,280
money we're going to need in about five

1332
01:02:53,280 --> 01:02:55,359
years in order to do the appraisal. So,

1333
01:02:55,359 --> 01:02:57,200
that $5,000 is going to happen every

1334
01:02:57,200 --> 01:02:59,200
year for the next five years to build up

1335
01:02:59,200 --> 01:03:02,960
the fund to do the appraisals.

1336
01:03:02,960 --> 01:03:04,319
The sheriff's department, we've added

1337
01:03:04,319 --> 01:03:08,400
some hours uh to patrolling the roads.

1338
01:03:08,400 --> 01:03:10,079
Uh and that's the that's the increase on

1339
01:03:10,079 --> 01:03:12,319
the sheriff's line item. The fire

1340
01:03:12,319 --> 01:03:13,839
department has some increases to

1341
01:03:13,839 --> 01:03:15,440
operating expenses. Some was talked

1342
01:03:15,440 --> 01:03:18,079
about by Dan. Uh and then there's

1343
01:03:18,079 --> 01:03:19,520
increase to the capital fund. So they

1344
01:03:19,520 --> 01:03:22,079
have some uh breathing apparatus they

1345
01:03:22,079 --> 01:03:24,319
need to replace that are end of life and

1346
01:03:24,319 --> 01:03:27,200
some radios uh to keep everybody safe in

1347
01:03:27,200 --> 01:03:29,839
town. Those items that I just covered

1348
01:03:29,839 --> 01:03:32,559
make up about 86,000 of the 93,000

1349
01:03:32,559 --> 01:03:34,640
increase. Uh the rest of that is going

1350
01:03:34,640 --> 01:03:38,160
to be a little bit of a 2.7% increase in

1351
01:03:38,160 --> 01:03:39,520
salaries for everybody in the town

1352
01:03:39,520 --> 01:03:42,480
office. Any

1353
01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:49,270
qu

1354
01:03:49,280 --> 01:03:51,599
are there questions?

1355
01:03:51,599 --> 01:04:00,870
Yes, Terry.

1356
01:04:00,880 --> 01:04:04,000
Chapman. I've got a question under

1357
01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:07,839
page 27 under the health reimbursement

1358
01:04:07,839 --> 01:04:09,280
account.

1359
01:04:09,280 --> 01:04:11,680
Um, I looked through the minutes of last

1360
01:04:11,680 --> 01:04:14,640
year and I didn't see any changes. So,

1361
01:04:14,640 --> 01:04:17,599
the budget for FY25

1362
01:04:17,599 --> 01:04:22,240
was 5,000, but the actual was 10. So, is

1363
01:04:22,240 --> 01:04:26,720
that a typo or did we actually put 10 in

1364
01:04:26,720 --> 01:04:29,359
the account? And if we did so, where did

1365
01:04:29,359 --> 01:04:46,390
we get the money from?

1366
01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:48,319
I'll ponder the answer. Chris may have

1367
01:04:48,319 --> 01:04:50,799
also be able to assist. So what the h

1368
01:04:50,799 --> 01:04:55,440
are for which we cover really quick.

1369
01:04:55,440 --> 01:04:58,559
>> I had 10 in my notes. So, I'm not sure

1370
01:04:58,559 --> 01:05:01,920
where the five is,

1371
01:05:01,920 --> 01:05:05,280
but yeah, we did put 10 in the H.

1372
01:05:05,280 --> 01:05:07,039
>> I see you're talking about So, 25 is

1373
01:05:07,039 --> 01:05:08,079
5,000,

1374
01:05:08,079 --> 01:05:08,880
>> right?

1375
01:05:08,880 --> 01:05:12,319
>> And the actual is 10.

1376
01:05:12,319 --> 01:05:17,910
I'll I'll check that. Um,

1377
01:05:17,920 --> 01:05:20,559
it's a good question.

1378
01:05:20,559 --> 01:05:28,470
So, I think 10 is the number.

1379
01:05:28,480 --> 01:05:30,240
All set.

1380
01:05:30,240 --> 01:05:37,109
>> Okay. Gabby.

1381
01:05:37,119 --> 01:05:41,039
» Hello. Gabby Kesler. Um I'm right below

1382
01:05:41,039 --> 01:05:43,359
that. I'm just curious uh the the

1383
01:05:43,359 --> 01:05:45,280
payment in lu health of health insurance

1384
01:05:45,280 --> 01:05:47,680
going from 4,000 to 8,500. Is that a

1385
01:05:47,680 --> 01:05:49,599
change in price or is someone else

1386
01:05:49,599 --> 01:05:55,829
taking that option?

1387
01:05:55,839 --> 01:05:57,839
» Right. Right. We're going from one to

1388
01:05:57,839 --> 01:05:59,039
two people

1389
01:05:59,039 --> 01:06:05,750
>> who aren't taking the time.

1390
01:06:05,760 --> 01:06:08,880
» I see Dan Morando's hand

1391
01:06:08,880 --> 01:06:11,119
against the wall. Dan, can you stand so

1392
01:06:11,119 --> 01:06:19,349
they can find you? Thank you.

1393
01:06:19,359 --> 01:06:21,280
» Hi, I'm Dan Normando. A question for

1394
01:06:21,280 --> 01:06:24,000
Todd. um next year, uh when you're

1395
01:06:24,000 --> 01:06:26,559
formulating the budget, uh would it be

1396
01:06:26,559 --> 01:06:29,200
fair to assume that you will be reducing

1397
01:06:29,200 --> 01:06:31,680
it by something near 86,000? Because

1398
01:06:31,680 --> 01:06:34,480
those sound like they're not ongoing

1399
01:06:34,480 --> 01:06:37,520
costs. They're just for the issues you

1400
01:06:37,520 --> 01:06:44,230
described.

1401
01:06:44,240 --> 01:06:48,549
» I make no promises today.

1402
01:06:48,559 --> 01:06:51,359
the uh I can't say it's going to reduce

1403
01:06:51,359 --> 01:06:53,440
by 86,000. The goal over the last three

1404
01:06:53,440 --> 01:06:55,599
years which I think is to address

1405
01:06:55,599 --> 01:06:57,359
theformational meeting was to get three

1406
01:06:57,359 --> 01:06:59,440
things in order. One was the salary for

1407
01:06:59,440 --> 01:07:00,960
the town employees that had been

1408
01:07:00,960 --> 01:07:03,440
increased. That was I guess three years

1409
01:07:03,440 --> 01:07:06,160
ago, two years ago. Last year was get

1410
01:07:06,160 --> 01:07:08,640
the capital fund in order which we did

1411
01:07:08,640 --> 01:07:10,400
and this year is get structures funding

1412
01:07:10,400 --> 01:07:12,640
order. Once all those are leveled you

1413
01:07:12,640 --> 01:07:15,039
saw the 245 245,000 for the capital

1414
01:07:15,039 --> 01:07:17,520
fund. The goal of that was to not have

1415
01:07:17,520 --> 01:07:21,920
the capital fund contribution go up down every year. So we balanced it

1416
01:07:21,920 --> 01:07:24,319
out over a 10-year period. We're now

1417
01:07:24,319 --> 01:07:25,359
doing the same thing with structure

1418
01:07:25,359 --> 01:07:28,079
funds and we've got everybody's pay in

1419
01:07:28,079 --> 01:07:31,039
order. So my hope is that next year we

1420
01:07:31,039 --> 01:07:32,400
don't see any big ticket items that

1421
01:07:32,400 --> 01:07:34,799
suddenly show up that require additional

1422
01:07:34,799 --> 01:07:36,240
funding, but I can't make any

1423
01:07:36,240 --> 01:07:37,359
guarantees.

1424
01:07:37,359 --> 01:07:41,829
>> Follow.

1425
01:07:41,839 --> 01:07:44,079
Um, Dan, I'm gonna see if anybody else

1426
01:07:44,079 --> 01:07:47,440
has a question or a comment for the

1427
01:07:47,440 --> 01:07:53,430
first round. Yes, Eric.

1428
01:07:53,440 --> 01:07:55,599
Krueger. I'm noticing under health

1429
01:07:55,599 --> 01:07:59,119
and welfare on page 29, the VNA was not

1430
01:07:59,119 --> 01:08:01,920
funded for 27. And I'm curious if that's

1431
01:08:01,920 --> 01:08:04,480
because they did not submit a request or

1432
01:08:04,480 --> 01:08:06,240
if there was some conscious choice to

1433
01:08:06,240 --> 01:08:09,839
not fund them this year.

1434
01:08:09,839 --> 01:08:11,839
Is anyone here from the social services

1435
01:08:11,839 --> 01:08:16,149
advisory committee?

1436
01:08:16,159 --> 01:08:20,080
» The question was, "Why are we no longer

1437
01:08:20,080 --> 01:08:23,990
funding the VNA?"

1438
01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:26,640
» Can we get a microphone? Oh, there you

1439
01:08:26,640 --> 01:08:27,040
go.

1440
01:08:27,040 --> 01:08:28,080
>> There we go.

1441
01:08:28,080 --> 01:08:30,000
>> Sandra Campbell. Sandra Campbell. They

1442
01:08:30,000 --> 01:08:32,640
did not request any funding this year.

1443
01:08:32,640 --> 01:08:35,520
>> All right. Thank you.

1444
01:08:35,520 --> 01:08:37,199
>> Thanks for inaugurating me tonight.

1445
01:08:37,199 --> 01:08:41,829
That's very exciting.

1446
01:08:41,839 --> 01:08:43,839
Anyone else who hasn't spoken yet?

1447
01:08:43,839 --> 01:08:49,189
Otherwise, we'll go with guests.

1448
01:08:49,199 --> 01:08:50,880
Hello, I'm Jessica Everlith from

1449
01:08:50,880 --> 01:08:53,520
Dmerston. Um, I make a motion to add

1450
01:08:53,520 --> 01:08:57,040
$12,000 to the Lydia Tat Pratt Lydia

1451
01:08:57,040 --> 01:08:59,199
Taft Pratt Library budget to continue

1452
01:08:59,199 --> 01:09:00,880
the current level of staffing for the

1453
01:09:00,880 --> 01:09:04,159
children's library.

1454
01:09:04,159 --> 01:09:08,799
It has been moved to add $12,000 to the

1455
01:09:08,799 --> 01:09:11,839
budget. I'm sorry, Jessica, do you have

1456
01:09:11,839 --> 01:09:14,880
a copy of your motion that one of us

1457
01:09:14,880 --> 01:09:20,630
could use?

1458
01:09:20,640 --> 01:09:22,480
» I only have it digitally, but I can say

1459
01:09:22,480 --> 01:09:23,359
it again.

1460
01:09:23,359 --> 01:09:28,630
>> Okay, let's do it.

1461
01:09:28,640 --> 01:09:33,269
Jeez.

1462
01:09:33,279 --> 01:09:38,400
» Okay. Um, I make a motion to add $12,000

1463
01:09:38,400 --> 01:09:42,319
to the Lydia Taft Pratt Library budget

1464
01:09:42,319 --> 01:09:44,319
to continue the current level of

1465
01:09:44,319 --> 01:09:52,149
staffing for the children's library.

1466
01:09:52,159 --> 01:09:57,430
» Is there a second?

1467
01:09:57,440 --> 01:10:01,350
Did you see?

1468
01:10:01,360 --> 01:10:03,760
» Yes. Point of order.

1469
01:10:03,760 --> 01:10:05,360
>> Motion on the floor.

1470
01:10:05,360 --> 01:10:07,600
>> Yes. And this is an amendment to the

1471
01:10:07,600 --> 01:10:15,270
motion on the floor.

1472
01:10:15,280 --> 01:10:17,040
Okay.

1473
01:10:17,040 --> 01:10:19,360
We now have an amendment on the floor to

1474
01:10:19,360 --> 01:10:21,360
discuss. This is an amendment to the

1475
01:10:21,360 --> 01:10:23,520
main motion. This amendment would

1476
01:10:23,520 --> 01:10:27,440
increase by $12,000 the library budget

1477
01:10:27,440 --> 01:10:29,360
to continue the current level of

1478
01:10:29,360 --> 01:10:31,920
staffing. It has been moved and

1479
01:10:31,920 --> 01:10:33,440
seconded.

1480
01:10:33,440 --> 01:10:38,000
Any comments, questions about this? Is

1481
01:10:38,000 --> 01:10:39,840
there someone from the library who would

1482
01:10:39,840 --> 01:10:42,719
like to speak to this? The question of

1483
01:10:42,719 --> 01:10:46,950
staffing

1484
01:10:46,960 --> 01:10:50,560
in the back. Are you Lynn?

1485
01:10:50,560 --> 01:10:56,149
>> Linda. Linda. Yes.

1486
01:10:56,159 --> 01:10:58,239
» Hi, I'm Linda D. Carlo Burns, library

1487
01:10:58,239 --> 01:11:00,880
trustee. Uh when we proposed our budget

1488
01:11:00,880 --> 01:11:03,920
to the select board, um we wanted to

1489
01:11:03,920 --> 01:11:06,560
continue the um staffing for the

1490
01:11:06,560 --> 01:11:08,719
children's library, they had cut the

1491
01:11:08,719 --> 01:11:11,040
budget by exactly the dollar amount that

1492
01:11:11,040 --> 01:11:14,000
would need be needed to do. So um at

1493
01:11:14,000 --> 01:11:16,400
this point in time the uh children's

1494
01:11:16,400 --> 01:11:18,320
programming has proved to be very very

1495
01:11:18,320 --> 01:11:22,480
popular in the library and um also we're

1496
01:11:22,480 --> 01:11:25,360
in the process now of hiring a new

1497
01:11:25,360 --> 01:11:27,920
library director and the children's

1498
01:11:27,920 --> 01:11:30,000
librarian is providing the continuity

1499
01:11:30,000 --> 01:11:32,320
that we need um to keep the library

1500
01:11:32,320 --> 01:11:36,229
open.

1501
01:11:36,239 --> 01:11:49,510
Thank you Jody. You had your hand up.

1502
01:11:49,520 --> 01:11:53,520
Um, I think before you had a very expens

1503
01:11:53,520 --> 01:11:55,199
expensive librarian.

1504
01:11:55,199 --> 01:11:56,159
>> Who are you?

1505
01:11:56,159 --> 01:11:58,960
>> Oh, Jodie Normando. Chuck Fish. Thank

1506
01:11:58,960 --> 01:12:01,520
you.

1507
01:12:01,520 --> 01:12:03,040
I've known you for how many years,

1508
01:12:03,040 --> 01:12:05,199
Chuck.

1509
01:12:05,199 --> 01:12:08,320
Um, very expensive librarian. I see by

1510
01:12:08,320 --> 01:12:10,480
your advertisements that you're you're

1511
01:12:10,480 --> 01:12:12,480
looking for somebody for a lot less

1512
01:12:12,480 --> 01:12:15,600
money than what you had before. So, is

1513
01:12:15,600 --> 01:12:26,870
that included in this $12,000, Linda?

1514
01:12:26,880 --> 01:12:29,120
» Um, the previous library director was

1515
01:12:29,120 --> 01:12:32,719
making $20 an hour and the range that we

1516
01:12:32,719 --> 01:12:35,360
advertised was from

1517
01:12:35,360 --> 01:12:38,159
17 to 20. Uh the feedback that we got

1518
01:12:38,159 --> 01:12:41,920
from a lot of applicants is that our um

1519
01:12:41,920 --> 01:12:43,840
proposed salary is kind of on the low

1520
01:12:43,840 --> 01:12:46,400
side even at 20 because of the

1521
01:12:46,400 --> 01:12:49,199
credentials that are required. So

1522
01:12:49,199 --> 01:12:50,800
although we thought we were hoping that

1523
01:12:50,800 --> 01:12:52,239
we would have some kind of savings

1524
01:12:52,239 --> 01:12:54,640
opportunity with a new library director

1525
01:12:54,640 --> 01:12:57,920
um it doesn't seem to be the case.

1526
01:12:57,920 --> 01:13:00,560
So the motion on the floor is to amend

1527
01:13:00,560 --> 01:13:03,440
the general fund budget

1528
01:13:03,440 --> 01:13:06,239
and Jody you've already spoken. Let's

1529
01:13:06,239 --> 01:13:09,600
see if there's anyone else who has not

1530
01:13:09,600 --> 01:13:18,709
spoken to this. Yes.

1531
01:13:18,719 --> 01:13:21,040
» Hi, I'm Ally Wilder. Um, I just want to

1532
01:13:21,040 --> 01:13:23,040
speak in support of the children's

1533
01:13:23,040 --> 01:13:25,120
program at the library. Um, I have a

1534
01:13:25,120 --> 01:13:27,120
toddler who's been walking back and

1535
01:13:27,120 --> 01:13:28,400
forth. I don't know where she is right

1536
01:13:28,400 --> 01:13:31,199
now. Um, but it they've been really

1537
01:13:31,199 --> 01:13:32,719
helpful. It's really nice to have some

1538
01:13:32,719 --> 01:13:34,560
programs in Dmerston and I know there's

1539
01:13:34,560 --> 01:13:36,159
a lot of people who talk a lot about

1540
01:13:36,159 --> 01:13:38,719
wanting to get younger people here and

1541
01:13:38,719 --> 01:13:40,640
new families here. Um, and it's very

1542
01:13:40,640 --> 01:13:42,640
important I think to have these programs

1543
01:13:42,640 --> 01:13:45,040
already in existence so that people who

1544
01:13:45,040 --> 01:13:46,960
want to come here are looking around and

1545
01:13:46,960 --> 01:13:49,040
say, "Hey, this is a great place to have

1546
01:13:49,040 --> 01:13:57,510
kids."

1547
01:13:57,520 --> 01:14:02,790
Paul

1548
01:14:02,800 --> 01:14:07,760
Uh Paul never go. Um

1549
01:14:07,760 --> 01:14:12,800
I'm going to vote against um this uh

1550
01:14:12,800 --> 01:14:15,679
amendment because

1551
01:14:15,679 --> 01:14:18,560
the taxes are already going up close

1552
01:14:18,560 --> 01:14:20,480
over 14%.

1553
01:14:20,480 --> 01:14:23,520
Uh no, I'm sorry, going up over 13% this

1554
01:14:23,520 --> 01:14:25,920
year. Even though the book says 2.84, 4.

1555
01:14:25,920 --> 01:14:27,840
That doesn't account for another article

1556
01:14:27,840 --> 01:14:31,040
that's in the uh budget for funding the

1557
01:14:31,040 --> 01:14:35,280
Vermont food uh Vermont food bank.

1558
01:14:35,280 --> 01:14:37,520
Um

1559
01:14:37,520 --> 01:14:40,880
over the last four years,

1560
01:14:40,880 --> 01:14:45,600
our town um of impact on taxes has

1561
01:14:45,600 --> 01:14:48,800
increased or our budget has increased

1562
01:14:48,800 --> 01:14:51,440
over 55%.

1563
01:14:51,440 --> 01:14:56,950
And that is an unsustainable

1564
01:14:56,960 --> 01:14:59,199
rate of growth. We can't, you know, I

1565
01:14:59,199 --> 01:15:01,120
don't understand why people can continue

1566
01:15:01,120 --> 01:15:05,199
to do this. But necessity is the mother

1567
01:15:05,199 --> 01:15:08,159
of invention and uh I would hope that

1568
01:15:08,159 --> 01:15:09,280
somebody would come up with some

1569
01:15:09,280 --> 01:15:12,400
inventions on how we can have stabilize

1570
01:15:12,400 --> 01:15:14,640
this. inflation has been at the rate of

1571
01:15:14,640 --> 01:15:19,040
2 and 1/2 to three 3 and 1/2% tops and

1572
01:15:19,040 --> 01:15:22,080
we're increasing our budgets at at a at

1573
01:15:22,080 --> 01:15:26,080
a much higher rate. Um, as much as the

1574
01:15:26,080 --> 01:15:29,520
libraries program is very good, I'm

1575
01:15:29,520 --> 01:15:33,040
assuming that the select board and the

1576
01:15:33,040 --> 01:15:36,159
library have had a consultation in terms

1577
01:15:36,159 --> 01:15:39,280
of what they were going to budget for in

1578
01:15:39,280 --> 01:15:43,199
this budget. So, this seems like uh

1579
01:15:43,199 --> 01:15:45,920
working in the back door after you've

1580
01:15:45,920 --> 01:15:47,840
already agreed on a budget with a select

1581
01:15:47,840 --> 01:15:50,239
ward to come in and ask for another

1582
01:15:50,239 --> 01:15:51,840
$12,000,

1583
01:15:51,840 --> 01:15:54,080
particularly in light of the increases

1584
01:15:54,080 --> 01:15:55,840
that we've had to sustain in the last

1585
01:15:55,840 --> 01:15:59,920
few years. Thank you very much.

1586
01:15:59,920 --> 01:16:02,400
>> Anyone who hasn't spoken first to this

1587
01:16:02,400 --> 01:16:04,960
motion to the amendment, and that would

1588
01:16:04,960 --> 01:16:13,110
be Eric. Start with come to you.

1589
01:16:13,120 --> 01:16:15,280
Eric Krueger. I'm trying to find where

1590
01:16:15,280 --> 01:16:17,600
the general fund, the library expenses

1591
01:16:17,600 --> 01:16:19,920
are. Could somebody

1592
01:16:19,920 --> 01:16:30,470
write that out? Thank you.

1593
01:16:30,480 --> 01:16:32,560
» In the general fund budget, it's on page

1594
01:16:32,560 --> 01:16:34,800
30, but I think there's a whole separate

1595
01:16:34,800 --> 01:16:36,239
I would welcome anyone who wants to

1596
01:16:36,239 --> 01:16:39,440
shout out the page number.

1597
01:16:39,440 --> 01:16:45,669
50 51 50

1598
01:16:45,679 --> 01:16:49,910
» and Gobby

1599
01:16:49,920 --> 01:16:52,159
Gabby Kesler. Um I think my

1600
01:16:52,159 --> 01:16:53,520
understanding is that the library did

1601
01:16:53,520 --> 01:16:54,880
ask for this money. It seems like the

1602
01:16:54,880 --> 01:16:56,560
select board is trying to be

1603
01:16:56,560 --> 01:16:58,080
conservative so that we have a starting

1604
01:16:58,080 --> 01:17:00,320
point that is conservative, but that we

1605
01:17:00,320 --> 01:17:03,040
get to come here um and get amendments

1606
01:17:03,040 --> 01:17:06,320
so that um we get a direct say. Um, and

1607
01:17:06,320 --> 01:17:09,040
so we don't really view it as a backdoor

1608
01:17:09,040 --> 01:17:10,640
um, way to get this in. I think it just

1609
01:17:10,640 --> 01:17:12,719
is a moment where we get to decide um,

1610
01:17:12,719 --> 01:17:14,000
where the select board has kind of put

1611
01:17:14,000 --> 01:17:15,920
it to us instead of them making the

1612
01:17:15,920 --> 01:17:21,270
decision to fund it more.

1613
01:17:21,280 --> 01:17:23,760
» Is there anyone who hasn't spoken to

1614
01:17:23,760 --> 01:17:33,590
this for the first time yet? Bill McKim.

1615
01:17:33,600 --> 01:17:35,280
Well, this is brief. Bill William

1616
01:17:35,280 --> 01:17:40,320
McCamp. Uh, in in a a national climate

1617
01:17:40,320 --> 01:17:43,360
of literacy declining, let's keep in

1618
01:17:43,360 --> 01:17:46,880
mind that the average uh literacy rate

1619
01:17:46,880 --> 01:17:49,840
is I think third grade in this country.

1620
01:17:49,840 --> 01:17:52,159
I think we need to promote any time in

1621
01:17:52,159 --> 01:17:56,159
any way we can the uh literacy and uh in

1622
01:17:56,159 --> 01:17:59,120
our town and I think if we look at the

1623
01:17:59,120 --> 01:18:03,520
actual amount of funds out of our taxes

1624
01:18:03,520 --> 01:18:06,080
which this $12,000

1625
01:18:06,080 --> 01:18:08,880
um will mean it'll probably just be

1626
01:18:08,880 --> 01:18:12,560
several cents. I you might be able to

1627
01:18:12,560 --> 01:18:14,960
give me some feedback on that. Thank

1628
01:18:14,960 --> 01:18:20,390
you.

1629
01:18:20,400 --> 01:18:25,750
Charles Fish over here.

1630
01:18:25,760 --> 01:18:29,030
Thanks.

1631
01:18:29,040 --> 01:18:32,000
» Thank you. Uh Chuck Fish, Charles Fish.

1632
01:18:32,000 --> 01:18:34,400
Um I'm not sure I'm going to vote with

1633
01:18:34,400 --> 01:18:36,960
my good friend here on the right. Uh, I

1634
01:18:36,960 --> 01:18:39,679
may not, but I'm curious and and this

1635
01:18:39,679 --> 01:18:42,320
may be partly an old man's bad ears, but

1636
01:18:42,320 --> 01:18:45,600
it wasn't absolutely clear to me why

1637
01:18:45,600 --> 01:18:48,800
this money wasn't included u in the

1638
01:18:48,800 --> 01:18:50,719
original discussion with the select

1639
01:18:50,719 --> 01:18:52,000
board. In other words, why didn't the

1640
01:18:52,000 --> 01:18:55,920
select board include this 12,000 in the

1641
01:18:55,920 --> 01:18:59,040
uh amount proposed?

1642
01:18:59,040 --> 01:18:59,199
The

1643
01:18:59,199 --> 01:19:02,480
>> select board is interrogated.

1644
01:19:02,480 --> 01:19:04,800
>> Todd Davidson, select board again. Good

1645
01:19:04,800 --> 01:19:06,640
question. So, we talked about this and

1646
01:19:06,640 --> 01:19:08,080
went back and forth with the library on

1647
01:19:08,080 --> 01:19:10,480
this on a number of occasions.

1648
01:19:10,480 --> 01:19:12,640
A couple of things just to point out.

1649
01:19:12,640 --> 01:19:15,199
Last year, we sat here and approved

1650
01:19:15,199 --> 01:19:16,719
additional funding for the library based

1651
01:19:16,719 --> 01:19:18,159
on a grant that the library had

1652
01:19:18,159 --> 01:19:21,120
received, which is a great thing, but

1653
01:19:21,120 --> 01:19:22,719
essentially the town voted to take up

1654
01:19:22,719 --> 01:19:24,480
the last three months of the funding for

1655
01:19:24,480 --> 01:19:26,960
that grant for the rest of the year. And

1656
01:19:26,960 --> 01:19:28,159
one of the things that was discussed

1657
01:19:28,159 --> 01:19:30,239
was, are we committing ourselves to

1658
01:19:30,239 --> 01:19:32,880
future funding to support a grant that

1659
01:19:32,880 --> 01:19:35,360
expired a year ago? So that's why that's

1660
01:19:35,360 --> 01:19:37,440
one of the reasons why we went back to

1661
01:19:37,440 --> 01:19:40,640
the previous grant dollar figure.

1662
01:19:40,640 --> 01:19:43,199
Secondly, uh as it's coming up later,

1663
01:19:43,199 --> 01:19:44,320
there's another article on the community

1664
01:19:44,320 --> 01:19:45,440
center in the library that we're going

1665
01:19:45,440 --> 01:19:49,600
to talk about. Uh in the merger of those

1666
01:19:49,600 --> 01:19:52,480
two activities, the library no longer

1667
01:19:52,480 --> 01:19:54,400
has a rent dollar figure in their

1668
01:19:54,400 --> 01:19:55,760
budget. So, if you look at last year's

1669
01:19:55,760 --> 01:19:58,800
budget for them, there's $10,000 removed

1670
01:19:58,800 --> 01:20:00,400
from that because we're no longer giving

1671
01:20:00,400 --> 01:20:02,560
them rent that they are then paying to

1672
01:20:02,560 --> 01:20:04,880
the community center board to maintain

1673
01:20:04,880 --> 01:20:07,199
that building. So, you'll see a line

1674
01:20:07,199 --> 01:20:09,040
item right above library on that same

1675
01:20:09,040 --> 01:20:12,080
page. $16,000 for the community center,

1676
01:20:12,080 --> 01:20:15,360
which is new. So, that $16,000 is made

1677
01:20:15,360 --> 01:20:17,280
up of the $10,000 in rent that we were

1678
01:20:17,280 --> 01:20:19,120
giving the library that they were paying

1679
01:20:19,120 --> 01:20:21,199
the community center. And the remainder

1680
01:20:21,199 --> 01:20:23,040
of that money to get to 16,000 is what

1681
01:20:23,040 --> 01:20:25,280
the community center board used to used

1682
01:20:25,280 --> 01:20:27,040
to fund raise for in order to keep that

1683
01:20:27,040 --> 01:20:29,280
building going. So paying the bills, the

1684
01:20:29,280 --> 01:20:30,800
propane, the heat, the cleaning, the

1685
01:20:30,800 --> 01:20:32,880
lawn mowing, all those kind of things.

1686
01:20:32,880 --> 01:20:35,120
So that $16,000

1687
01:20:35,120 --> 01:20:37,360
in community center is a combo platter

1688
01:20:37,360 --> 01:20:38,880
of the rent we used to give the library,

1689
01:20:38,880 --> 01:20:41,520
which was about 10,000 a year, and the

1690
01:20:41,520 --> 01:20:43,440
additional money is going to keep the

1691
01:20:43,440 --> 01:20:46,159
community center operating for the next

1692
01:20:46,159 --> 01:20:49,600
year. So, however you want to read that,

1693
01:20:49,600 --> 01:20:52,400
I know the 42,000 to 24,000 looks like a

1694
01:20:52,400 --> 01:20:56,159
huge cut, but remember 10,000 of that used to be in the library's budget

1695
01:20:56,159 --> 01:20:57,920
is no longer in their budget, but it's

1696
01:20:57,920 --> 01:20:59,760
still in the town budget. So, we're

1697
01:20:59,760 --> 01:21:01,199
still paying to maintain the community

1698
01:21:01,199 --> 01:21:03,199
center building. We just were doing it

1699
01:21:03,199 --> 01:21:05,280
via a roundabout method with the

1700
01:21:05,280 --> 01:21:07,920
community center board. So, we decided

1701
01:21:07,920 --> 01:21:10,080
in our discussions with the library, and

1702
01:21:10,080 --> 01:21:12,000
they're aware of this, to basically

1703
01:21:12,000 --> 01:21:14,239
bring their funding back to where it

1704
01:21:14,239 --> 01:21:16,960
would be had the grant not occurred and

1705
01:21:16,960 --> 01:21:19,440
then allow, as pointed out, the town to

1706
01:21:19,440 --> 01:21:20,719
decide whether they want to commit that

1707
01:21:20,719 --> 01:21:24,000
additional funding in the budget.

1708
01:21:24,000 --> 01:21:26,560
>> Thank you,

1709
01:21:26,560 --> 01:21:29,040
Molly. you haven't spoken to this yet.

1710
01:21:29,040 --> 01:21:32,080
And just a reminder, our topic is the

1711
01:21:32,080 --> 01:21:35,360
amendment to add 12,000 to maintain

1712
01:21:35,360 --> 01:21:38,239
library staffing. I just have a question

1713
01:21:38,239 --> 01:21:40,640
for I'm always done. Um, I just have a

1714
01:21:40,640 --> 01:21:42,719
question for you, Cindy. Is there any

1715
01:21:42,719 --> 01:21:46,159
kind of mechanism to talk about the

1716
01:21:46,159 --> 01:21:48,239
article that's about the library? Now,

1717
01:21:48,239 --> 01:21:51,360
it seems a little it just seems to me

1718
01:21:51,360 --> 01:21:53,920
like it would benefit the the whole

1719
01:21:53,920 --> 01:21:57,760
discussion about the library could help

1720
01:21:57,760 --> 01:22:02,239
inform people about this motion because

1721
01:22:02,239 --> 01:22:05,520
um I see as someone who's gone to most

1722
01:22:05,520 --> 01:22:07,600
of the meetings about the library and

1723
01:22:07,600 --> 01:22:10,400
community center change, I see a lot of

1724
01:22:10,400 --> 01:22:12,400
potential for return on that investment

1725
01:22:12,400 --> 01:22:15,600
that others might not who haven't gone

1726
01:22:15,600 --> 01:22:17,840
to those meetings might not um be aware

1727
01:22:17,840 --> 01:22:20,639
right now.

1728
01:22:20,639 --> 01:22:23,840
>> There is a way to do that

1729
01:22:23,840 --> 01:22:28,639
and I believe that is called suspend the

1730
01:22:28,639 --> 01:22:36,629
rules.

1731
01:22:36,639 --> 01:22:38,719
Which is why this little guide book for

1732
01:22:38,719 --> 01:22:41,520
us moderators is called ruling the

1733
01:22:41,520 --> 01:22:44,950
unruly.

1734
01:22:44,960 --> 01:22:47,120
Suspended rules is the motion required

1735
01:22:47,120 --> 01:22:50,800
to modify Robert's rules, the order in

1736
01:22:50,800 --> 01:22:52,719
which you take up the articles of

1737
01:22:52,719 --> 01:22:55,199
warning or any other aspect of the

1738
01:22:55,199 --> 01:22:58,239
meeting. This motion requires 2/3 the

1739
01:22:58,239 --> 01:22:59,840
body

1740
01:22:59,840 --> 01:23:02,800
pass. So, we're in the middle of

1741
01:23:02,800 --> 01:23:07,360
considering an amendment

1742
01:23:07,360 --> 01:23:10,239
to the motion for the general fund.

1743
01:23:10,239 --> 01:23:12,719
Molly, is your wish to hear the

1744
01:23:12,719 --> 01:23:14,800
rationale? I mean, do you want to

1745
01:23:14,800 --> 01:23:17,679
actually have us vote on that article

1746
01:23:17,679 --> 01:23:20,239
early or do you want to hear more about

1747
01:23:20,239 --> 01:23:21,840
it now?

1748
01:23:21,840 --> 01:23:27,679
>> Um, certainly hear more about it. I'm not sure. I I don't know whether it

1749
01:23:27,679 --> 01:23:29,679
sounds like the budget has built been

1750
01:23:29,679 --> 01:23:34,239
built around that merger already having

1751
01:23:34,239 --> 01:23:35,840
been approved. And I don't know if

1752
01:23:35,840 --> 01:23:37,760
that's true or if we have to approve it

1753
01:23:37,760 --> 01:23:41,360
today. If they have to prove it today,

1754
01:23:41,360 --> 01:23:43,360
then I think we should do the actual

1755
01:23:43,360 --> 01:23:48,000
voting before we fully.

1756
01:23:48,000 --> 01:23:49,920
>> Shame on me for not making sure you had

1757
01:23:49,920 --> 01:23:51,040
a microphone.

1758
01:23:51,040 --> 01:23:52,239
>> Yeah. Sorry.

1759
01:23:52,239 --> 01:23:55,679
>> Um, do you want microphone if you stand

1760
01:23:55,679 --> 01:23:59,189
vertically alone?

1761
01:23:59,199 --> 01:24:02,080
I want to say that again.

1762
01:24:02,080 --> 01:24:04,159
>> First, I want to say it only took me 61

1763
01:24:04,159 --> 01:24:06,560
years to become a non- rule follower.

1764
01:24:06,560 --> 01:24:10,239
I'm I'm excited about this. Um

1765
01:24:10,239 --> 01:24:12,480
uh so what I was saying that I I

1766
01:24:12,480 --> 01:24:14,159
certainly think the discussion could be

1767
01:24:14,159 --> 01:24:16,480
of benefit now and what I'm unclear

1768
01:24:16,480 --> 01:24:19,280
about is whether it sounds like the

1769
01:24:19,280 --> 01:24:21,760
budget has already been built around the

1770
01:24:21,760 --> 01:24:26,080
fact that the merger is happening. And

1771
01:24:26,080 --> 01:24:28,719
if that is true, it seems like we need

1772
01:24:28,719 --> 01:24:32,560
to vote to approve that merging.

1773
01:24:32,560 --> 01:24:34,960
We I don't know. Do we do we have to

1774
01:24:34,960 --> 01:24:36,560
vote to approve that or has it already

1775
01:24:36,560 --> 01:24:38,639
been approved at a select board level? I

1776
01:24:38,639 --> 01:24:40,000
don't know the answer to that. But I do

1777
01:24:40,000 --> 01:24:43,520
think that the discussion about what the

1778
01:24:43,520 --> 01:24:45,520
community center and library together

1779
01:24:45,520 --> 01:24:48,719
the vision of that could inform this

1780
01:24:48,719 --> 01:24:51,280
body's decision making about that

1781
01:24:51,280 --> 01:24:53,679
additional money being put forth to the

1782
01:24:53,679 --> 01:24:55,760
library. Did that make it as much sense

1783
01:24:55,760 --> 01:24:57,679
as the first time?

1784
01:24:57,679 --> 01:25:00,719
>> Do you have anything to respond?

1785
01:25:00,719 --> 01:25:03,760
>> Sure. Todd Davidson select board again.

1786
01:25:03,760 --> 01:25:06,400
So we haven't approved the merger.

1787
01:25:06,400 --> 01:25:07,760
That's why it's an article. So that

1788
01:25:07,760 --> 01:25:10,000
hasn't happened. The funding is a

1789
01:25:10,000 --> 01:25:12,080
separate issue. The funding for the

1790
01:25:12,080 --> 01:25:14,159
library and what is going to exist in

1791
01:25:14,159 --> 01:25:16,880
the future has to be done. So the

1792
01:25:16,880 --> 01:25:19,440
funding portion is somewhat

1793
01:25:19,440 --> 01:25:22,800
disassociated from the merger. If we

1794
01:25:22,800 --> 01:25:24,239
agree to the merger or don't agree to

1795
01:25:24,239 --> 01:25:25,840
the merger, something else is going to

1796
01:25:25,840 --> 01:25:27,840
have to happen. But we still need the

1797
01:25:27,840 --> 01:25:29,199
money to keep the community center and

1798
01:25:29,199 --> 01:25:31,520
the library operating. So, we looked at

1799
01:25:31,520 --> 01:25:32,719
it from the point of view it's two

1800
01:25:32,719 --> 01:25:34,800
separate items, but I do appreciate the

1801
01:25:34,800 --> 01:25:38,000
idea that we're not going to talk about

1802
01:25:38,000 --> 01:25:41,199
the merger until article 14.

1803
01:25:41,199 --> 01:25:43,040
Uh, but the money still needs to be

1804
01:25:43,040 --> 01:25:45,920
there. So, we budgeted for the existence

1805
01:25:45,920 --> 01:25:47,840
of something. What that's going to be,

1806
01:25:47,840 --> 01:25:51,199
we're going to find out.

1807
01:25:51,199 --> 01:25:55,120
So, Molly, do you want to make a motion

1808
01:25:55,120 --> 01:25:58,880
that first we would need to

1809
01:25:58,880 --> 01:26:01,520
I think maybe

1810
01:26:01,520 --> 01:26:05,360
postpone to a definite time the motion

1811
01:26:05,360 --> 01:26:08,560
that's on the floor so that we could

1812
01:26:08,560 --> 01:26:12,080
then take a a new article. Is that your

1813
01:26:12,080 --> 01:26:14,320
order?

1814
01:26:14,320 --> 01:26:15,199
>> Point of order.

1815
01:26:15,199 --> 01:26:17,440
Microphone please to

1816
01:26:17,440 --> 01:26:19,679
Jody. put your hand up so she can see

1817
01:26:19,679 --> 01:26:24,870
where she's talking.

1818
01:26:24,880 --> 01:26:27,199
» I'm getting a little confused here, but

1819
01:26:27,199 --> 01:26:30,080
I'm one that's waiting to speak the

1820
01:26:30,080 --> 01:26:32,159
second time to this and I'm going to

1821
01:26:32,159 --> 01:26:34,320
forget what I was going to say by the

1822
01:26:34,320 --> 01:26:36,960
time we go to lunch and I think someone

1823
01:26:36,960 --> 01:26:39,120
else is waiting to speak to something be

1824
01:26:39,120 --> 01:26:41,840
for the first time for the second time.

1825
01:26:41,840 --> 01:26:44,239
And so how do we deal with that right

1826
01:26:44,239 --> 01:26:47,440
now? And my question doesn't really I

1827
01:26:47,440 --> 01:26:49,920
just have a question myself and I think

1828
01:26:49,920 --> 01:26:52,320
the other person had a question too but

1829
01:26:52,320 --> 01:26:53,840
>> okay

1830
01:26:53,840 --> 01:26:56,560
we have a new motion on the floor and

1831
01:26:56,560 --> 01:26:58,480
that's what we need to talk about now

1832
01:26:58,480 --> 01:27:00,480
and it looks like we may have yet

1833
01:27:00,480 --> 01:27:04,400
another motion on the floor. Um, Molly,

1834
01:27:04,400 --> 01:27:06,639
do you or does someone else want us to

1835
01:27:06,639 --> 01:27:09,600
try to go through a procedure of setting

1836
01:27:09,600 --> 01:27:12,800
aside the amendment that we're debating

1837
01:27:12,800 --> 01:27:19,360
now so that we can go to article 14

1838
01:27:19,360 --> 01:27:22,480
um and then come back to this? It's

1839
01:27:22,480 --> 01:27:24,719
convoluted, but if someone wants to make

1840
01:27:24,719 --> 01:27:27,360
that motion,

1841
01:27:27,360 --> 01:27:30,639
we have a hand behind Chuck.

1842
01:27:30,639 --> 01:27:33,440
Microphone. use that.

1843
01:27:33,440 --> 01:27:36,000
>> I'm I'm Dave Blocker.

1844
01:27:36,000 --> 01:27:39,679
We're we're referencing article 14 about

1845
01:27:39,679 --> 01:27:42,960
the the the merger, but as I read

1846
01:27:42,960 --> 01:27:45,040
article 14, all we're voting on is a

1847
01:27:45,040 --> 01:27:49,199
name change. So, the merger is complete

1848
01:27:49,199 --> 01:27:52,800
or the merger is waiting on article 14

1849
01:27:52,800 --> 01:27:55,600
and that's poorly worded.

1850
01:27:55,600 --> 01:27:58,400
if if somebody could should because

1851
01:27:58,400 --> 01:28:00,480
there's no point in going to article 14

1852
01:28:00,480 --> 01:28:02,960
if it's just if we're just voting on a

1853
01:28:02,960 --> 01:28:05,040
name change.

1854
01:28:05,040 --> 01:28:07,840
>> It's true. And it says reflecting the

1855
01:28:07,840 --> 01:28:12,880
merger of Has that already happened?

1856
01:28:12,880 --> 01:28:14,639
No.

1857
01:28:14,639 --> 01:28:21,510
And do we need to vote on the merger?

1858
01:28:21,520 --> 01:28:23,920
» I'm sure that's the article. It's

1859
01:28:23,920 --> 01:28:27,189
included in

1860
01:28:27,199 --> 01:28:28,880
The

1861
01:28:28,880 --> 01:28:32,080
wording of article 14 is shall voters

1862
01:28:32,080 --> 01:28:35,520
authorize the Liyot trustees to change

1863
01:28:35,520 --> 01:28:38,719
the name of the library to the DS

1864
01:28:38,719 --> 01:28:41,679
community center and library reflecting

1865
01:28:41,679 --> 01:28:44,159
the merger of the community center and

1866
01:28:44,159 --> 01:28:46,639
the library.

1867
01:28:46,639 --> 01:28:49,750
that

1868
01:28:49,760 --> 01:28:52,400
» yeah that language does not sound like

1869
01:28:52,400 --> 01:28:54,080
you're

1870
01:28:54,080 --> 01:28:56,159
approving the merger. It's reflecting

1871
01:28:56,159 --> 01:28:59,040
something that already

1872
01:28:59,040 --> 01:29:00,960
that that

1873
01:29:00,960 --> 01:29:03,920
and that that has already happened and

1874
01:29:03,920 --> 01:29:05,920
you're saying that's not true. So when

1875
01:29:05,920 --> 01:29:07,920
we get there we may want to change the

1876
01:29:07,920 --> 01:29:10,159
language. So if you want to look at a

1877
01:29:10,159 --> 01:29:13,760
minor language change to that if so it

1878
01:29:13,760 --> 01:29:16,239
accomplishes what you want that would be

1879
01:29:16,239 --> 01:29:19,679
great. So I'm going to ask is there

1880
01:29:19,679 --> 01:29:24,080
anyone in the body who would like to

1881
01:29:24,080 --> 01:29:27,360
lay this motion aside so that we can

1882
01:29:27,360 --> 01:29:30,000
address article 14. Is there a reason

1883
01:29:30,000 --> 01:29:32,159
for that that compels you to make a

1884
01:29:32,159 --> 01:29:34,080
motion? Paul Smith.

1885
01:29:34,080 --> 01:29:36,639
>> Point of order. I believe Paul Smith

1886
01:29:36,639 --> 01:29:39,360
Buckaroo I believe there's a an

1887
01:29:39,360 --> 01:29:41,440
amendment on the floor now. I think we

1888
01:29:41,440 --> 01:29:42,800
would either have either have to have

1889
01:29:42,800 --> 01:29:46,320
that amendment withdrawn or uh also

1890
01:29:46,320 --> 01:29:48,960
suspended to a later date before we go

1891
01:29:48,960 --> 01:29:51,920
to suspending the uh originally our

1892
01:29:51,920 --> 01:29:53,679
morning article. That's right.

1893
01:29:53,679 --> 01:29:56,400
>> The motion on the floor is the amendment

1894
01:29:56,400 --> 01:29:58,800
and that is the motion that I'm saying

1895
01:29:58,800 --> 01:30:01,280
we would set aside

1896
01:30:01,280 --> 01:30:04,159
so that we had a clear table to go to

1897
01:30:04,159 --> 01:30:07,360
article 14 if we wish to

1898
01:30:07,360 --> 01:30:09,920
what was that people all excited suspend

1899
01:30:09,920 --> 01:30:12,080
the rules.

1900
01:30:12,080 --> 01:30:15,600
I'm not seeing a hand it. So I'm getting

1901
01:30:15,600 --> 01:30:17,679
a sense from the body that it's not an

1902
01:30:17,679 --> 01:30:19,920
urgent issue.

1903
01:30:19,920 --> 01:30:22,080
So Ed, you would like to speak to this

1904
01:30:22,080 --> 01:30:24,000
microphone. You see the hand raised in

1905
01:30:24,000 --> 01:30:31,590
the back.

1906
01:30:31,600 --> 01:30:33,440
» Edardella,

1907
01:30:33,440 --> 01:30:35,040
let's

1908
01:30:35,040 --> 01:30:36,960
>> put the mic really close to your mouth

1909
01:30:36,960 --> 01:30:39,679
so we can hear you. Thank you.

1910
01:30:39,679 --> 01:30:43,040
>> Ed Spardella, West Jefferson, please

1911
01:30:43,040 --> 01:30:45,679
suspend the rules.

1912
01:30:45,679 --> 01:30:47,920
So,

1913
01:30:47,920 --> 01:30:53,910
>> you just said please suspend the rules.

1914
01:30:53,920 --> 01:30:57,510
» That was a motion.

1915
01:30:57,520 --> 01:30:59,440
» It was not a motion. I think you just

1916
01:30:59,440 --> 01:31:04,229
said

1917
01:31:04,239 --> 01:31:06,560
» I can't hear you. Okay, if you're done,

1918
01:31:06,560 --> 01:31:09,600
I'm not hearing a motion, so I'm going

1919
01:31:09,600 --> 01:31:13,280
to move on. Um Sam

1920
01:31:13,280 --> 01:31:16,320
for almost economy by your father Sam.

1921
01:31:16,320 --> 01:31:18,719
>> Sam Farwell. I'm going to vote in favor

1922
01:31:18,719 --> 01:31:21,360
of the amendment. I'm um very much in

1923
01:31:21,360 --> 01:31:23,440
favor of the activity the programs that

1924
01:31:23,440 --> 01:31:24,639
are happening at the library. I think

1925
01:31:24,639 --> 01:31:27,280
they're great and um I urge everyone

1926
01:31:27,280 --> 01:31:31,199
else to vote for it too. Let's vote.

1927
01:31:31,199 --> 01:31:33,120
By let's vote. Are you calling the

1928
01:31:33,120 --> 01:31:34,400
question?

1929
01:31:34,400 --> 01:31:38,000
>> No call the question.

1930
01:31:38,000 --> 01:31:41,669
>> Yes.

1931
01:31:41,679 --> 01:31:45,430
Mrs. Tier,

1932
01:31:45,440 --> 01:31:47,840
» Beverly Tier,

1933
01:31:47,840 --> 01:31:54,400
>> I am not liking that we've introduced a

1934
01:31:54,400 --> 01:31:57,600
completely different subject

1935
01:31:57,600 --> 01:32:01,520
to the first to the to the article that

1936
01:32:01,520 --> 01:32:04,080
we were discussing.

1937
01:32:04,080 --> 01:32:07,679
And whether you like the article or the

1938
01:32:07,679 --> 01:32:10,400
amendment, the amendment is not the

1939
01:32:10,400 --> 01:32:13,120
issue. I would like to make these

1940
01:32:13,120 --> 01:32:16,960
decisions in an orderly fashion rather

1941
01:32:16,960 --> 01:32:20,000
than we're doing this article. Well,

1942
01:32:20,000 --> 01:32:22,400
let's add this to the article, but

1943
01:32:22,400 --> 01:32:25,199
that's affected by this article.

1944
01:32:25,199 --> 01:32:26,960
>> I'd really like it if we could do one

1945
01:32:26,960 --> 01:32:29,199
thing at a time, please.

1946
01:32:29,199 --> 01:32:31,280
>> And I will make a motion to that if I

1947
01:32:31,280 --> 01:32:32,239
need to.

1948
01:32:32,239 --> 01:32:34,400
>> Second.

1949
01:32:34,400 --> 01:32:36,880
the motion that we

1950
01:32:36,880 --> 01:32:40,080
um talk about one thing at a time. My

1951
01:32:40,080 --> 01:32:41,840
understanding is that is what we are

1952
01:32:41,840 --> 01:32:44,880
doing. We must take up the amendment

1953
01:32:44,880 --> 01:32:46,800
before we can get back to the main

1954
01:32:46,800 --> 01:32:48,880
motion which is the general fund as a

1955
01:32:48,880 --> 01:32:51,040
whole.

1956
01:32:51,040 --> 01:32:52,800
So

1957
01:32:52,800 --> 01:33:09,520
second time Jody Normando D. I'm just a little

1958
01:33:09,520 --> 01:33:13,600
confused, Linda. Um, do

1959
01:33:13,600 --> 01:33:18,159
it does the state require a uh library

1960
01:33:18,159 --> 01:33:22,480
masters in library science for the

1961
01:33:22,480 --> 01:33:25,679
second room for the children or just for

1962
01:33:25,679 --> 01:33:29,990
the librarian?

1963
01:33:30,000 --> 01:33:33,679
And if so, I mean, if it doesn't, I

1964
01:33:33,679 --> 01:33:37,669
don't think we need more money.

1965
01:33:37,679 --> 01:33:39,520
» Okay. So, um,

1966
01:33:39,520 --> 01:33:40,960
>> your name,

1967
01:33:40,960 --> 01:33:41,520
>> I'm sorry,

1968
01:33:41,520 --> 01:33:41,920
>> your name.

1969
01:33:41,920 --> 01:33:45,600
>> Oh, Linda De Carlos. Um,

1970
01:33:45,600 --> 01:33:49,280
the state requires a library director to

1971
01:33:49,280 --> 01:33:51,520
have Vermont certification or a

1972
01:33:51,520 --> 01:33:54,320
master's. The library assistant is not

1973
01:33:54,320 --> 01:33:56,880
required to have that certification.

1974
01:33:56,880 --> 01:33:58,880
Um,

1975
01:33:58,880 --> 01:34:01,440
could I say anything more or

1976
01:34:01,440 --> 01:34:03,440
>> Sounds like you answered the question.

1977
01:34:03,440 --> 01:34:04,000
>> Thank you.

1978
01:34:04,000 --> 01:34:06,400
>> And Bill, you had your hand up to speak

1979
01:34:06,400 --> 01:34:08,000
a second time.

1980
01:34:08,000 --> 01:34:11,840
>> I just want to call the question.

1981
01:34:11,840 --> 01:34:14,880
>> Bill is calling a question.

1982
01:34:14,880 --> 01:34:17,440
Let me make sure

1983
01:34:17,440 --> 01:34:21,120
that I do this correctly.

1984
01:34:21,120 --> 01:34:23,120
We need a second. Is there anyone else

1985
01:34:23,120 --> 01:34:24,960
who would like to second that? in the

1986
01:34:24,960 --> 01:34:28,719
front and then

1987
01:34:28,719 --> 01:34:34,239
there's no debate and it takes 23 of you

1988
01:34:34,239 --> 01:34:36,719
to call to say yes or call the question

1989
01:34:36,719 --> 01:34:38,880
and then we will vote on the amendment

1990
01:34:38,880 --> 01:34:41,840
on the floor which is to add $12,000 to

1991
01:34:41,840 --> 01:34:44,719
the budget so as to maintain staffing as

1992
01:34:44,719 --> 01:34:48,080
it is now. twothirds requires a division

1993
01:34:48,080 --> 01:34:50,400
of the house and have the word of civil

1994
01:34:50,400 --> 01:34:53,840
authority upfront now so you can count

1995
01:34:53,840 --> 01:34:57,830
as people stand

1996
01:34:57,840 --> 01:35:01,280
» there's more than roof I'm sure so if

1997
01:35:01,280 --> 01:35:06,000
you are in favor of the article

1998
01:35:06,000 --> 01:35:08,239
not the article if you are in favor of

1999
01:35:08,239 --> 01:35:18,870
the amendment which is to add $12,000

2000
01:35:18,880 --> 01:35:21,440
Thank you.

2001
01:35:21,440 --> 01:35:22,800
What's on the floor is calling a

2002
01:35:22,800 --> 01:35:25,520
question. One thing at a time, right?

2003
01:35:25,520 --> 01:35:29,360
And so please stand if you would like to

2004
01:35:29,360 --> 01:35:31,679
call the question, which means to cease

2005
01:35:31,679 --> 01:35:34,719
debate and vote.

2006
01:35:34,719 --> 01:35:37,360
Stand, please. And if you're not a

2007
01:35:37,360 --> 01:35:39,600
registered voter and you're standing,

2008
01:35:39,600 --> 01:35:44,870
make sure you're not counted.

2009
01:35:44,880 --> 01:35:47,520
That looks like more than 2/3. Would you

2010
01:35:47,520 --> 01:35:50,560
folks be seated? And then anyone who

2011
01:35:50,560 --> 01:35:52,320
does not want to call the question, who

2012
01:35:52,320 --> 01:35:55,440
wants to further discussion and vote no

2013
01:35:55,440 --> 01:36:00,870
on calling the question, please stand.

2014
01:36:00,880 --> 01:36:05,040
All right. Looks like the 2/3 eyes have

2015
01:36:05,040 --> 01:36:07,440
2/3

2016
01:36:07,440 --> 01:36:10,880
and they do. So the question is called

2017
01:36:10,880 --> 01:36:13,840
on the floor now.

2018
01:36:13,840 --> 01:36:15,920
It has been moved and seconded to add

2019
01:36:15,920 --> 01:36:18,080
$12,000

2020
01:36:18,080 --> 01:36:21,840
to the Lydia Taft Pratt Library budget

2021
01:36:21,840 --> 01:36:24,400
to continue the current level of

2022
01:36:24,400 --> 01:36:29,440
staffing. All in favor say I.

2023
01:36:29,440 --> 01:36:31,679
>> All opposed say no.

2024
01:36:31,679 --> 01:36:33,600
>> No.

2025
01:36:33,600 --> 01:36:36,800
>> The eyes appear to have it.

2026
01:36:36,800 --> 01:36:40,800
The eyes do have it. and $12,000 has

2027
01:36:40,800 --> 01:36:49,510
been added to the library budget. Okay,

2028
01:36:49,520 --> 01:36:51,440
so now

2029
01:36:51,440 --> 01:36:56,229
the main motion has been amended.

2030
01:36:56,239 --> 01:36:59,679
It would now read, and Chris, please

2031
01:36:59,679 --> 01:37:01,199
sharpen your pencil and make sure I've

2032
01:37:01,199 --> 01:37:04,239
got it right.

2033
01:37:04,239 --> 01:37:06,880
It has been moved and seconded and

2034
01:37:06,880 --> 01:37:09,760
amended that we approve total general

2035
01:37:09,760 --> 01:37:11,679
fund expenditures

2036
01:37:11,679 --> 01:37:17,990
of 780,37

2037
01:37:18,000 --> 01:37:25,109
of which $612,624

2038
01:37:25,119 --> 01:37:30,400
shall be raised by taxes and 167,413

2039
01:37:30,400 --> 01:37:33,280
by non- tax revenues for the period July

2040
01:37:33,280 --> 01:37:38,320
1, 2026 to June 30th, 2024.

2041
01:37:38,320 --> 01:37:40,560
Is there further debate on the general

2042
01:37:40,560 --> 01:37:45,679
fund question? Yes, Michelle.

2043
01:37:45,679 --> 01:37:48,159
>> Oh, did I say 24?

2044
01:37:48,159 --> 01:37:51,520
>> Thank you, Michelle. 2027.

2045
01:37:51,520 --> 01:37:54,000
Any other questions or discussion on the

2046
01:37:54,000 --> 01:37:57,199
general fund budget?

2047
01:37:57,199 --> 01:38:01,440
Are you ready to vote? Okay,

2048
01:38:01,440 --> 01:38:03,679
it has been moved and seconded and

2049
01:38:03,679 --> 01:38:06,239
amended to read, we approve total

2050
01:38:06,239 --> 01:38:11,590
general fund expenditures of $780,37

2051
01:38:11,600 --> 01:38:16,070
of which $612,624

2052
01:38:16,080 --> 01:38:21,669
shall be raised by taxes and $167,413

2053
01:38:21,679 --> 01:38:24,400
by non- tax revenues for the period July

2054
01:38:24,400 --> 01:38:30,320
1, 2026 to June 30th, 2026. 7. All in

2055
01:38:30,320 --> 01:38:33,119
favor indicate by saying I.

2056
01:38:33,119 --> 01:38:34,239
>> I.

2057
01:38:34,239 --> 01:38:38,400
>> All opposed, please say no.

2058
01:38:38,400 --> 01:38:41,600
>> The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

2059
01:38:41,600 --> 01:38:43,679
have it. And you have a general

2060
01:38:43,679 --> 01:38:48,390
unbudget.

2061
01:38:48,400 --> 01:39:01,030
Article nine.

2062
01:39:01,040 --> 01:39:03,920
Shall the voters approve total highway

2063
01:39:03,920 --> 01:39:10,550
fund expenditures of $719,575

2064
01:39:10,560 --> 01:39:14,870
of which $5,600

2065
01:39:14,880 --> 01:39:16,880
5,6

2066
01:39:16,880 --> 01:39:20,550
567,240

2067
01:39:20,560 --> 01:39:26,310
shall be raised by taxes and 152,335

2068
01:39:26,320 --> 01:39:29,440
by non-tax revenues for the period July

2069
01:39:29,440 --> 01:39:35,679
1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

2070
01:39:35,679 --> 01:39:37,760
I move that we approve total highway

2071
01:39:37,760 --> 01:39:42,950
fund expenditures of $719,575

2072
01:39:42,960 --> 01:39:46,790
of which $567,240

2073
01:39:46,800 --> 01:39:51,750
shall be raised by taxes and $152,335

2074
01:39:51,760 --> 01:39:53,840
by non- tax revenues for the period of

2075
01:39:53,840 --> 01:39:59,199
July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

2076
01:39:59,199 --> 01:40:02,239
>> Is there a second?

2077
01:40:02,239 --> 01:40:21,590
Paul Smith seconds time will come up

2078
01:40:21,600 --> 01:40:23,440
Todd Davidson and the select board.

2079
01:40:23,440 --> 01:40:25,600
There's not a lot of increase in the

2080
01:40:25,600 --> 01:40:27,920
highway fund budget this It's 1.7% and

2081
01:40:27,920 --> 01:40:29,920
so it's under the cost of living

2082
01:40:29,920 --> 01:40:32,320
allowance allocation.

2083
01:40:32,320 --> 01:40:34,080
Um

2084
01:40:34,080 --> 01:40:36,400
outside of the 2.7% increase for the

2085
01:40:36,400 --> 01:40:37,920
employees

2086
01:40:37,920 --> 01:40:40,800
uh there's not a lot we kept it working

2087
01:40:40,800 --> 01:40:43,760
chain is he still here? He moves around.

2088
01:40:43,760 --> 01:40:48,880
Oh, there he is. Uh so uh that's the down on the highway. Not a

2089
01:40:48,880 --> 01:40:51,040
lot of changes. There is there are

2090
01:40:51,040 --> 01:40:53,920
little concerns with salt right now.

2091
01:40:53,920 --> 01:40:56,880
Salt prices have gone up 25% and

2092
01:40:56,880 --> 01:40:58,800
produced a lot of salt this winter. Uh

2093
01:40:58,800 --> 01:41:00,080
so that's something that we'll address

2094
01:41:00,080 --> 01:41:06,709
as the year goes on.

2095
01:41:06,719 --> 01:41:16,950
» You have a question.

2096
01:41:16,960 --> 01:41:20,560
» Todd, I didn't quite understand your

2097
01:41:20,560 --> 01:41:22,480
second figure. You gave the property

2098
01:41:22,480 --> 01:41:25,840
taxes of 567240,

2099
01:41:25,840 --> 01:41:27,600
but what was the second figure? The

2100
01:41:27,600 --> 01:41:29,920
state aid from highway fund

2101
01:41:29,920 --> 01:41:33,990
>> $152,335.

2102
01:41:34,000 --> 01:41:36,560
» Why do I have 149078

2103
01:41:36,560 --> 01:41:56,629
on the page 19? On page 19.

2104
01:41:56,639 --> 01:41:59,840
I wonder if the explanation is that it's

2105
01:41:59,840 --> 01:42:03,199
state aid combined with the surplus from

2106
01:42:03,199 --> 01:42:06,080
last year. Those two numbers added

2107
01:42:06,080 --> 01:42:10,000
together equal the non- tax revenue.

2108
01:42:10,000 --> 01:42:13,280
>> Where do you find the surplus?

2109
01:42:13,280 --> 01:42:15,199
>> Right above. It's the first number in

2110
01:42:15,199 --> 01:42:15,840
the column.

2111
01:42:15,840 --> 01:42:22,149
>> Okay. Yeah, thank you.

2112
01:42:22,159 --> 01:42:24,560
» Yes, I see a question in the back row on

2113
01:42:24,560 --> 01:42:31,109
the left.

2114
01:42:31,119 --> 01:42:34,719
» Hi, Sherry Bolster Dumberson. Uh my

2115
01:42:34,719 --> 01:42:37,520
question is if we approve more money to

2116
01:42:37,520 --> 01:42:41,040
the town garage, are they going to clear

2117
01:42:41,040 --> 01:42:45,360
the uh tar roads better? Um, just a

2118
01:42:45,360 --> 01:42:47,280
couple of weeks ago, three accidents.

2119
01:42:47,280 --> 01:42:49,760
Uh, two on East Road, one on Middle

2120
01:42:49,760 --> 01:42:53,679
Road. I I'd rather drive my dirt roads

2121
01:42:53,679 --> 01:42:56,800
than the tar roads in Dumb.

2122
01:42:56,800 --> 01:42:59,440
The Route 30 is clear. Route five is

2123
01:42:59,440 --> 01:43:03,360
clear. Why isn't Dumberson roads clear?

2124
01:43:03,360 --> 01:43:05,360
>> I'm guessing that that has to do with

2125
01:43:05,360 --> 01:43:07,760
salt, but I'd love Lee to tell us for

2126
01:43:07,760 --> 01:43:09,920
sure.

2127
01:43:09,920 --> 01:43:12,480
>> Lee Chamberlain. Yes, we have very

2128
01:43:12,480 --> 01:43:15,119
limited salt. We have very limited salt.

2129
01:43:15,119 --> 01:43:17,040
Um, we're trying to make it last. We

2130
01:43:17,040 --> 01:43:21,430
aren't getting any deliveries.

2131
01:43:21,440 --> 01:43:27,030
» Okay, we'll take care of that then.

2132
01:43:27,040 --> 01:43:29,760
» Salty is quite rare right now. A lot of

2133
01:43:29,760 --> 01:43:31,600
towns are having a hard time keeping the

2134
01:43:31,600 --> 01:43:33,760
roads as clear as we're used to because

2135
01:43:33,760 --> 01:43:36,639
there just isn't salt to be found or as

2136
01:43:36,639 --> 01:43:39,920
Todd mentioned, it's 25% more expensive

2137
01:43:39,920 --> 01:43:44,320
and we want to save money. Any

2138
01:43:44,320 --> 01:43:48,229
other questions?

2139
01:43:48,239 --> 01:44:01,189
Roger. In the front row, mic brothers.

2140
01:44:01,199 --> 01:44:04,400
Roger. Turn. I just have an observation

2141
01:44:04,400 --> 01:44:06,159
too about the roads this winter. We've

2142
01:44:06,159 --> 01:44:09,520
had so much snow and sitting at the

2143
01:44:09,520 --> 01:44:12,960
bottom of the east west road and

2144
01:44:12,960 --> 01:44:16,239
watching how much the town has to be out

2145
01:44:16,239 --> 01:44:18,639
clearing the roads

2146
01:44:18,639 --> 01:44:23,440
um repeatedly on weekends and multiple

2147
01:44:23,440 --> 01:44:26,320
days of the week. I'm kind of amazed

2148
01:44:26,320 --> 01:44:28,880
that they're able to do as well as they

2149
01:44:28,880 --> 01:44:40,229
do. Thank you.

2150
01:44:40,239 --> 01:44:42,080
I heard someone say earlier it was an

2151
01:44:42,080 --> 01:44:44,880
old function winter. I remember these.

2152
01:44:44,880 --> 01:44:48,400
It's nice to have them.

2153
01:44:48,400 --> 01:44:53,990
Any other concerns, questions, comments?

2154
01:44:54,000 --> 01:44:56,480
All right, seeing none, the motion on

2155
01:44:56,480 --> 01:44:59,520
the floor is that we approve total

2156
01:44:59,520 --> 01:45:06,950
highway fund expenditures of $719,575,

2157
01:45:06,960 --> 01:45:11,830
of which $567,240

2158
01:45:11,840 --> 01:45:17,510
shall be raised by taxes and $152,335

2159
01:45:17,520 --> 01:45:20,400
by non-ax revenues for the period of

2160
01:45:20,400 --> 01:45:26,560
July 1st, 2026. 6 to June 30th, 2027.

2161
01:45:26,560 --> 01:45:28,960
All in favor of the motion on the floor,

2162
01:45:28,960 --> 01:45:32,400
please indicate by saying I.

2163
01:45:32,400 --> 01:45:36,080
>> All opposed, say no.

2164
01:45:36,080 --> 01:45:39,280
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

2165
01:45:39,280 --> 01:45:42,400
have it. And you have funded your

2166
01:45:42,400 --> 01:45:44,080
highway

2167
01:45:44,080 --> 01:45:46,880
budget.

2168
01:45:46,880 --> 01:45:49,119
Any politicians in the room who need to

2169
01:45:49,119 --> 01:45:51,280
come up and speak? I wrote myself a

2170
01:45:51,280 --> 01:45:54,159
reminder note this year. Okay, seeing

2171
01:45:54,159 --> 01:45:56,880
none, I'll move on to article 10. Shall

2172
01:45:56,880 --> 01:45:59,199
the voters authorize raising the sum of

2173
01:45:59,199 --> 01:46:02,080
$30,5

2174
01:46:02,080 --> 01:46:04,239
through taxes and appropriate sentiment

2175
01:46:04,239 --> 01:46:07,119
to the highway blasting and ledge

2176
01:46:07,119 --> 01:46:10,239
crushing reserve fund for future

2177
01:46:10,239 --> 01:46:13,679
blasting and crushing?

2178
01:46:13,679 --> 01:46:16,000
>> Is there a motion? I move that we

2179
01:46:16,000 --> 01:46:18,880
authorize raising the sum of $30,05

2180
01:46:18,880 --> 01:46:21,199
through taxes and appropriate set amount

2181
01:46:21,199 --> 01:46:22,960
to the highway blasting and ledge

2182
01:46:22,960 --> 01:46:24,960
crushing reserve fund for future

2183
01:46:24,960 --> 01:46:28,480
blasting and crushing

2184
01:46:28,480 --> 01:46:29,920
to say, isn't it, Tom?

2185
01:46:29,920 --> 01:46:31,520
>> Yes.

2186
01:46:31,520 --> 01:46:35,760
>> You'll find on pages 15 and 19

2187
01:46:35,760 --> 01:46:40,310
information about this.

2188
01:46:40,320 --> 01:46:43,360
Does anyone have a question?

2189
01:46:43,360 --> 01:46:44,000
Second.

2190
01:46:44,000 --> 01:46:46,480
>> Oh, thank you. Second, Alex. Thanks for

2191
01:46:46,480 --> 01:46:49,280
seconding.

2192
01:46:49,280 --> 01:46:52,000
Um, so it has been moved and seconded

2193
01:46:52,000 --> 01:46:54,480
that we raise the sum of $30,5 through

2194
01:46:54,480 --> 01:46:56,719
taxes and appropriate set amount to the

2195
01:46:56,719 --> 01:46:58,480
highway blasting and ledge crushing

2196
01:46:58,480 --> 01:47:00,960
reserve fund for future blasting and

2197
01:47:00,960 --> 01:47:07,750
crushing. Question Jody.

2198
01:47:07,760 --> 01:47:10,080
Normau. Just a quick question for

2199
01:47:10,080 --> 01:47:13,520
Lee. When you're crushing,

2200
01:47:13,520 --> 01:47:16,000
can you crush it finer? There are some

2201
01:47:16,000 --> 01:47:18,320
big stones and that are coming out in

2202
01:47:18,320 --> 01:47:20,400
your trucks.

2203
01:47:20,400 --> 01:47:23,119
I do live on a dirt road. Can you get

2204
01:47:23,119 --> 01:47:28,070
rid of those?

2205
01:47:28,080 --> 01:47:29,199
» Do you want me to answer?

2206
01:47:29,199 --> 01:47:32,080
>> Our brood foreman is interrogated. Yes,

2207
01:47:32,080 --> 01:47:34,239
please.

2208
01:47:34,239 --> 01:47:36,480
>> Can you give an answer? I'm sure there

2209
01:47:36,480 --> 01:47:40,070
is one.

2210
01:47:40,080 --> 01:47:43,040
As far as gravel roads, the larger

2211
01:47:43,040 --> 01:47:45,920
stones help us in mud season. If the

2212
01:47:45,920 --> 01:47:48,080
finer the material, the worse the mud

2213
01:47:48,080 --> 01:47:51,040
would be. And the finer the material,

2214
01:47:51,040 --> 01:47:53,360
the more it's going to cost to um make

2215
01:47:53,360 --> 01:47:54,719
it, of course, because they have to

2216
01:47:54,719 --> 01:47:56,880
crush it further.

2217
01:47:56,880 --> 01:48:01,040
The sand we try to have it large because

2218
01:48:01,040 --> 01:48:03,840
of ice storms, the larger stones

2219
01:48:03,840 --> 01:48:06,880
actually help give traction.

2220
01:48:06,880 --> 01:48:07,600
>> Yep.

2221
01:48:07,600 --> 01:48:12,719
>> Thank you, Lee. Anyone else?

2222
01:48:12,719 --> 01:48:15,440
Oh,

2223
01:48:15,440 --> 01:48:21,830
>> Mike

2224
01:48:21,840 --> 01:48:25,360
Paul know I don't uh I just want to know

2225
01:48:25,360 --> 01:48:28,000
when uh what's the schedule for

2226
01:48:28,000 --> 01:48:30,560
crushing? Is it every 3 years, every

2227
01:48:30,560 --> 01:48:34,239
five years? uh and uh how much money do

2228
01:48:34,239 --> 01:48:37,040
we need to accumulate in this fund in

2229
01:48:37,040 --> 01:48:41,119
anticipation of that happening?

2230
01:48:41,119 --> 01:48:45,590
>> The road foreman is interrogated.

2231
01:48:45,600 --> 01:48:48,639
» So we try to do it every 5 years. Um

2232
01:48:48,639 --> 01:48:51,920
right tomorrow they're supposed to be um

2233
01:48:51,920 --> 01:48:56,159
doing the first um blasting and

2234
01:48:56,159 --> 01:48:58,480
so tomorrow they're going to do the

2235
01:48:58,480 --> 01:49:00,480
first blasting. So, it's been 5 years we

2236
01:49:00,480 --> 01:49:03,520
accumulated. They'll use up the money,

2237
01:49:03,520 --> 01:49:07,600
most of it or all of it. Um,

2238
01:49:07,600 --> 01:49:10,480
in the next month, and then for the next

2239
01:49:10,480 --> 01:49:13,600
5 years, it'll accumulate and then we'll

2240
01:49:13,600 --> 01:49:19,430
blast again or blast again.

2241
01:49:19,440 --> 01:49:22,480
Are you ready for the question?

2242
01:49:22,480 --> 01:49:24,719
It has been moved and seconded that we

2243
01:49:24,719 --> 01:49:28,480
raise the sum of $30,05

2244
01:49:28,480 --> 01:49:30,560
through taxes and appropriate set amount

2245
01:49:30,560 --> 01:49:32,960
to a blast and ledge crushing reserve

2246
01:49:32,960 --> 01:49:36,080
fund for future blasting and crushing.

2247
01:49:36,080 --> 01:49:39,440
All in favor, please say I.

2248
01:49:39,440 --> 01:49:42,800
>> All opposed say no.

2249
01:49:42,800 --> 01:49:45,920
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

2250
01:49:45,920 --> 01:49:53,030
have it.

2251
01:49:53,040 --> 01:49:55,679
Article 11.

2252
01:49:55,679 --> 01:49:57,840
Sheldon voters authorize raising the sum

2253
01:49:57,840 --> 01:50:00,080
of $74,000

2254
01:50:00,080 --> 01:50:02,639
through taxes and appropriate set amount

2255
01:50:02,639 --> 01:50:05,360
to the highway structures fund for

2256
01:50:05,360 --> 01:50:09,280
future structures needs. Is there a

2257
01:50:09,280 --> 01:50:10,639
motion?

2258
01:50:10,639 --> 01:50:13,199
>> I move that we raise the sum of $74,000

2259
01:50:13,199 --> 01:50:15,199
through taxes and appropriate said

2260
01:50:15,199 --> 01:50:16,719
amount to the highway structures fund

2261
01:50:16,719 --> 01:50:18,880
for future structures needs. And that's

2262
01:50:18,880 --> 01:50:21,920
on page 19.

2263
01:50:21,920 --> 01:50:26,070
>> Is there a second?

2264
01:50:26,080 --> 01:50:28,320
» Christy, are you seconding? Christy

2265
01:50:28,320 --> 01:50:30,800
Herbert seconds it.

2266
01:50:30,800 --> 01:50:32,639
has been moved and seconded that we

2267
01:50:32,639 --> 01:50:35,600
raise the sum of $74,000 through taxes

2268
01:50:35,600 --> 01:50:37,920
and appropriate amount to the highway

2269
01:50:37,920 --> 01:50:40,480
structures fund for future struct

2270
01:50:40,480 --> 01:50:43,119
structures needs. I think there's a

2271
01:50:43,119 --> 01:50:45,520
whole list of all the structures on page

2272
01:50:45,520 --> 01:50:48,800
26 as well if you're interested in that.

2273
01:50:48,800 --> 01:50:52,870
Any questions?

2274
01:50:52,880 --> 01:50:56,400
Give you a moment to look at that.

2275
01:50:56,400 --> 01:50:58,719
Basically talking about coverts and that

2276
01:50:58,719 --> 01:51:06,790
kind of thing. Paul

2277
01:51:06,800 --> 01:51:08,960
Newman though. Uh, this is a question

2278
01:51:08,960 --> 01:51:11,040
that probably relates to somebody who

2279
01:51:11,040 --> 01:51:13,360
brought brought it up earlier, but I'm

2280
01:51:13,360 --> 01:51:15,840
wondering there's $200,000 sitting in

2281
01:51:15,840 --> 01:51:18,560
that account. Uh, there's a there's

2282
01:51:18,560 --> 01:51:21,360
currently a over $100,000 sitting in the

2283
01:51:21,360 --> 01:51:24,239
crushing fund. And I'm wondering, do we

2284
01:51:24,239 --> 01:51:26,080
invest any of those funds other than

2285
01:51:26,080 --> 01:51:28,239
leaving them in a checking account? and

2286
01:51:28,239 --> 01:51:29,679
you know what kind of return are we

2287
01:51:29,679 --> 01:51:31,840
getting on that money if that money is

2288
01:51:31,840 --> 01:51:34,480
not going to be used o over you know

2289
01:51:34,480 --> 01:51:38,480
like uh Lee mentioned the uh 5-year uh

2290
01:51:38,480 --> 01:51:41,280
thing on the crushing fund seems to me

2291
01:51:41,280 --> 01:51:43,280
we should be making money on that while

2292
01:51:43,280 --> 01:51:44,800
it's sitting there and I don't know if

2293
01:51:44,800 --> 01:51:48,790
we are or not

2294
01:51:48,800 --> 01:51:59,350
» Chris would you like to answer that

2295
01:51:59,360 --> 01:52:01,679
A simple question doesn't have a simple

2296
01:52:01,679 --> 01:52:15,510
answer.

2297
01:52:15,520 --> 01:52:17,440
» A simple question without a simple

2298
01:52:17,440 --> 01:52:19,119
answer.

2299
01:52:19,119 --> 01:52:21,360
Um

2300
01:52:21,360 --> 01:52:23,840
I do not have cart blanch with

2301
01:52:23,840 --> 01:52:26,000
restricted funds to say you have to do

2302
01:52:26,000 --> 01:52:28,639
this, you have to do that. I have to we

2303
01:52:28,639 --> 01:52:32,719
have to work with the select board. So

2304
01:52:32,719 --> 01:52:34,960
there are some funds that that in the

2305
01:52:34,960 --> 01:52:38,000
past have had investments.

2306
01:52:38,000 --> 01:52:39,599
Um

2307
01:52:39,599 --> 01:52:41,920
but the select board has a rather

2308
01:52:41,920 --> 01:52:45,119
restrictive policy now about what can be

2309
01:52:45,119 --> 01:52:48,560
done with the funds and what can't.

2310
01:52:48,560 --> 01:52:51,679
And really CDs are our only choice. So

2311
01:52:51,679 --> 01:52:54,000
after this town meeting, after the

2312
01:52:54,000 --> 01:52:56,320
budgets are set, the select board and I

2313
01:52:56,320 --> 01:52:58,960
are going to sit down and with the

2314
01:52:58,960 --> 01:53:02,400
restricted funds figure out which what

2315
01:53:02,400 --> 01:53:06,310
we can do.

2316
01:53:06,320 --> 01:53:13,990
» Okay. Thank you.

2317
01:53:14,000 --> 01:53:16,000
» Would a select order like to add to

2318
01:53:16,000 --> 01:53:18,880
that? We we looked at it last year and

2319
01:53:18,880 --> 01:53:20,000
we'll look at it again this year with

2320
01:53:20,000 --> 01:53:21,679
Chris when we sit down after the budget

2321
01:53:21,679 --> 01:53:24,239
and figure out where we can place money

2322
01:53:24,239 --> 01:53:27,520
and what

2323
01:53:27,520 --> 01:53:30,159
position we have on that. There is a a

2324
01:53:30,159 --> 01:53:33,119
document uh that discusses what we can

2325
01:53:33,119 --> 01:53:34,560
and can't do with money, but restricted

2326
01:53:34,560 --> 01:53:36,480
funds are a little unusual, but we'll

2327
01:53:36,480 --> 01:53:40,560
look at it again and get back with you.

2328
01:53:40,560 --> 01:53:46,229
Eric

2329
01:53:46,239 --> 01:53:49,040
» Eric Krueger, not to belabor the point,

2330
01:53:49,040 --> 01:53:50,639
but if you look at the minutes from last

2331
01:53:50,639 --> 01:53:52,480
year, I brought up the same point. And

2332
01:53:52,480 --> 01:53:54,000
now I'm one of five people who's

2333
01:53:54,000 --> 01:53:56,320
bringing it up this time. I run a small

2334
01:53:56,320 --> 01:53:58,719
business. I like to keep cash for

2335
01:53:58,719 --> 01:54:01,280
reserves. I don't like loans. The town's

2336
01:54:01,280 --> 01:54:02,880
doing the same thing. We're keeping cash

2337
01:54:02,880 --> 01:54:05,040
for reserves. Let's make that money work

2338
01:54:05,040 --> 01:54:07,920
for us. We should not be making less

2339
01:54:07,920 --> 01:54:11,599
than the cost of living for our money. I

2340
01:54:11,599 --> 01:54:13,040
know out there right now there are

2341
01:54:13,040 --> 01:54:15,520
products, certificates of deposit that

2342
01:54:15,520 --> 01:54:18,239
are earning 3%. This is a lowrisk

2343
01:54:18,239 --> 01:54:20,960
investment with Vermont-based banks or

2344
01:54:20,960 --> 01:54:24,000
credit unions. And I feel like we're

2345
01:54:24,000 --> 01:54:26,719
getting an obsation from the select

2346
01:54:26,719 --> 01:54:28,480
board. I'd love to see the piece of

2347
01:54:28,480 --> 01:54:30,400
paper that says these are how we limit

2348
01:54:30,400 --> 01:54:32,560
our funds. I'd like to see some

2349
01:54:32,560 --> 01:54:35,360
transparency in that because we'll pay

2350
01:54:35,360 --> 01:54:36,719
more taxes if we're getting something

2351
01:54:36,719 --> 01:54:39,119
for it. But if we're going backwards on

2352
01:54:39,119 --> 01:54:42,320
these on this future planning on like

2353
01:54:42,320 --> 01:54:43,920
being trying to be smart by having

2354
01:54:43,920 --> 01:54:45,840
enough money that it doesn't go up and

2355
01:54:45,840 --> 01:54:48,159
down and we're losing money every year

2356
01:54:48,159 --> 01:54:50,719
or we're we're walking away from money,

2357
01:54:50,719 --> 01:54:58,550
that doesn't make any sense to me.

2358
01:54:58,560 --> 01:55:01,360
» Okay.

2359
01:55:01,360 --> 01:55:06,790
It has been moved and seconded

2360
01:55:06,800 --> 01:55:12,149
that we authorize.

2361
01:55:12,159 --> 01:55:14,560
» No, we voted on 10 or a landed number.

2362
01:55:14,560 --> 01:55:16,480
Yes, it has been moved and seconded that

2363
01:55:16,480 --> 01:55:19,199
we raise the sum of $74,000

2364
01:55:19,199 --> 01:55:21,040
through taxes and appropriate set amount

2365
01:55:21,040 --> 01:55:22,960
to the highway structures fund for

2366
01:55:22,960 --> 01:55:26,800
future structures needs. All in favor,

2367
01:55:26,800 --> 01:55:28,560
please say I.

2368
01:55:28,560 --> 01:55:32,239
>> I. All opposed? No.

2369
01:55:32,239 --> 01:55:35,280
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

2370
01:55:35,280 --> 01:55:39,030
have it.

2371
01:55:39,040 --> 01:55:43,440
» Uh, what do you think? Lunchtime.

2372
01:55:43,440 --> 01:55:51,030
>> Not try to squeeze in another

2373
01:55:51,040 --> 01:55:55,030
» um for what? What?

2374
01:55:55,040 --> 01:55:57,760
» That sounds lovely. Please step up to

2375
01:55:57,760 --> 01:55:59,599
the microphone so that everyone can hear

2376
01:55:59,599 --> 01:56:01,679
you, including those who watch us later

2377
01:56:01,679 --> 01:56:02,880
on TV.

2378
01:56:02,880 --> 01:56:04,480
>> So, thank you all. My name is Reed

2379
01:56:04,480 --> 01:56:08,480
Miller and I'm here to

2380
01:56:08,480 --> 01:56:11,520
give to you a heartfelt appreciation for

2381
01:56:11,520 --> 01:56:14,960
the greater community on my family. And

2382
01:56:14,960 --> 01:56:17,440
what you need to know is that the fire

2383
01:56:17,440 --> 01:56:21,199
service, all of you all, um, we don't

2384
01:56:21,199 --> 01:56:23,920
always understand what superpower we

2385
01:56:23,920 --> 01:56:26,480
have in our neighborhood until it comes

2386
01:56:26,480 --> 01:56:30,159
time to collect. And you all are

2387
01:56:30,159 --> 01:56:32,400
appreciated and you all are that

2388
01:56:32,400 --> 01:56:35,040
superpower. And I love being part of

2389
01:56:35,040 --> 01:56:38,239
this community and being part of Denver.

2390
01:56:38,239 --> 01:56:51,430
Thank you.

2391
01:56:51,440 --> 01:56:55,199
Reed. That was lovely. Okay,

2392
01:56:55,199 --> 01:56:58,960
let's um go in my official language. Did

2393
01:56:58,960 --> 01:57:01,520
I do this right?

2394
01:57:01,520 --> 01:57:05,030
>> Yes.

2395
01:57:05,040 --> 01:57:08,719
» Highway finish up highway before lunch.

2396
01:57:08,719 --> 01:57:10,960
Um, you're suggesting that we finish up

2397
01:57:10,960 --> 01:57:13,760
Highway before lunch by doing article

2398
01:57:13,760 --> 01:57:16,560
12. And I'm thinking that there might be

2399
01:57:16,560 --> 01:57:19,360
more conversation there than um that

2400
01:57:19,360 --> 01:57:22,239
would carry us past lunch. So, if people

2401
01:57:22,239 --> 01:57:24,480
can hold on to the highway structures in

2402
01:57:24,480 --> 01:57:26,400
line, that'd be great. So, Sally, I

2403
01:57:26,400 --> 01:57:33,750
think we're ready. And

2404
01:57:33,760 --> 01:57:36,080
if there's no objection, we will recess

2405
01:57:36,080 --> 01:57:40,880
for lunch. We'll reconvene at 12:45

2406
01:57:40,880 --> 01:57:46,639
to see Julianne's our principal, Egan's presentation for about

2407
01:57:46,639 --> 01:57:49,360
10 minutes and then we'll resume our

2408
01:57:49,360 --> 01:57:52,159
town meeting immediately following that.

2409
01:57:52,159 --> 01:57:56,950
Thank you.

2410
01:57:56,960 --> 01:58:00,239
I just wanted to take a moment and um

2411
01:58:00,239 --> 01:58:04,880
say hello and say thank you for all of

2412
01:58:04,880 --> 01:58:07,599
your support of Dumbersonson School over

2413
01:58:07,599 --> 01:58:09,920
the years, over the decades. There's

2414
01:58:09,920 --> 01:58:12,239
just so many ways that people in this

2415
01:58:12,239 --> 01:58:17,280
room um have supported us here. Um and

2416
01:58:17,280 --> 01:58:20,239
we could not do this work without you.

2417
01:58:20,239 --> 01:58:23,440
Um, I feel so honored to be an educator

2418
01:58:23,440 --> 01:58:25,760
at this school and to be an educator in

2419
01:58:25,760 --> 01:58:29,599
this district. I came to this district a

2420
01:58:29,599 --> 01:58:32,000
long time ago as an English and social

2421
01:58:32,000 --> 01:58:35,199
studies teacher. So, I may have taught

2422
01:58:35,199 --> 01:58:39,199
you or I may have taught your children.

2423
01:58:39,199 --> 01:58:43,280
Um, and it's been the greatest um, honor

2424
01:58:43,280 --> 01:58:46,080
of my life really to be an educator here

2425
01:58:46,080 --> 01:58:48,400
um, in this district and for the last

2426
01:58:48,400 --> 01:58:51,599
seven years in Dberston. Such an

2427
01:58:51,599 --> 01:58:54,159
inspiring place. Um, I have learned so

2428
01:58:54,159 --> 01:58:57,920
much. Um, and I am so proud of our

2429
01:58:57,920 --> 01:59:01,040
school and our community here. I'd like

2430
01:59:01,040 --> 01:59:03,440
to share a little bit of information

2431
01:59:03,440 --> 01:59:05,840
with you. Um, but I want to keep it

2432
01:59:05,840 --> 01:59:09,040
really short. Um, because you still have

2433
01:59:09,040 --> 01:59:11,280
business visits to do. I did want to let

2434
01:59:11,280 --> 01:59:14,000
you know though that um, one of the

2435
01:59:14,000 --> 01:59:15,520
great things about being a principal of

2436
01:59:15,520 --> 01:59:18,719
a Dmerson school is I of a small school

2437
01:59:18,719 --> 01:59:22,400
like Dmerston is I can you can reach out

2438
01:59:22,400 --> 01:59:24,320
to me, right? Like so you can give me a

2439
01:59:24,320 --> 01:59:26,880
call if you have questions or you can

2440
01:59:26,880 --> 01:59:29,840
come meet with me or take a tour. Um

2441
01:59:29,840 --> 01:59:32,560
we'll be voting on the district budget

2442
01:59:32,560 --> 01:59:38,080
later this month. March 17th se 15th

2443
01:59:38,080 --> 01:59:40,880
17th March 17th is the district school

2444
01:59:40,880 --> 01:59:43,040
budget vote. If you have any questions

2445
01:59:43,040 --> 01:59:45,280
about Dmerson school in the meantime

2446
01:59:45,280 --> 01:59:48,400
between now and then reach out. Um you

2447
01:59:48,400 --> 01:59:52,000
can find me on the website on email. You

2448
01:59:52,000 --> 01:59:53,840
can just call you can just call the

2449
01:59:53,840 --> 01:59:56,080
school and I would be happy to talk with

2450
01:59:56,080 --> 01:59:58,000
you more.

2451
01:59:58,000 --> 02:00:01,040
Um, just for those of you who are new to

2452
02:00:01,040 --> 02:00:02,639
Dmerston or maybe it's been a little

2453
02:00:02,639 --> 02:00:04,639
while since you've been in the school,

2454
02:00:04,639 --> 02:00:07,280
Dmerston has 164 students, our

2455
02:00:07,280 --> 02:00:10,239
enrollment is actually increasing, which

2456
02:00:10,239 --> 02:00:13,199
is different than the narrative you

2457
02:00:13,199 --> 02:00:14,880
might hear at the state about other

2458
02:00:14,880 --> 02:00:18,320
schools. So, know that your town school

2459
02:00:18,320 --> 02:00:21,119
enrollment is going up, which is great.

2460
02:00:21,119 --> 02:00:24,639
Um, you are sitting in between kind of

2461
02:00:24,639 --> 02:00:28,480
the age range here. We are prek to 8.

2462
02:00:28,480 --> 02:00:30,880
This way is middle school. That way is

2463
02:00:30,880 --> 02:00:32,960
elementary. Go around the corner and

2464
02:00:32,960 --> 02:00:34,800
you'll run into the early learning

2465
02:00:34,800 --> 02:00:37,840
center, which is the original um

2466
02:00:37,840 --> 02:00:40,639
schoolhouse.

2467
02:00:40,639 --> 02:00:45,360
We believe at Dston that everybody here,

2468
02:00:45,360 --> 02:00:47,520
the children, the staff, families,

2469
02:00:47,520 --> 02:00:50,080
community members learn best in an

2470
02:00:50,080 --> 02:00:51,840
environment that prioritizes

2471
02:00:51,840 --> 02:00:54,080
relationship, autonomy, play,

2472
02:00:54,080 --> 02:00:56,159
challenging opportunities for learning

2473
02:00:56,159 --> 02:00:59,040
and safety. So, we really support each

2474
02:00:59,040 --> 02:01:01,760
other in learning together. We support

2475
02:01:01,760 --> 02:01:04,000
students in learning skills in

2476
02:01:04,000 --> 02:01:05,760
communication, leadership, conflict

2477
02:01:05,760 --> 02:01:07,679
resolution, and really understanding

2478
02:01:07,679 --> 02:01:10,639
themselves and understanding others. We

2479
02:01:10,639 --> 02:01:13,440
want our students to love learning. We

2480
02:01:13,440 --> 02:01:16,880
want to learn together. We know that we

2481
02:01:16,880 --> 02:01:20,639
can actually learn better, go farther

2482
02:01:20,639 --> 02:01:22,159
together.

2483
02:01:22,159 --> 02:01:24,639
Um Jefferson School along with other

2484
02:01:24,639 --> 02:01:27,679
schools in the district um and the state

2485
02:01:27,679 --> 02:01:30,000
implements a multi-layered systems of

2486
02:01:30,000 --> 02:01:32,320
support. So what that means is that all

2487
02:01:32,320 --> 02:01:35,440
of our students receive enriching core

2488
02:01:35,440 --> 02:01:38,800
programming and then based on data

2489
02:01:38,800 --> 02:01:40,159
because we're always assessing our

2490
02:01:40,159 --> 02:01:42,320
students to see how they're doing. Some

2491
02:01:42,320 --> 02:01:45,119
students get additional layers of

2492
02:01:45,119 --> 02:01:48,080
instruction and intervention to address

2493
02:01:48,080 --> 02:01:50,960
any gaps in learning they may have or to

2494
02:01:50,960 --> 02:01:52,560
further enrich their learning so they

2495
02:01:52,560 --> 02:01:55,760
can go deeper with the material.

2496
02:01:55,760 --> 02:01:57,520
At Dummerston

2497
02:01:57,520 --> 02:02:00,320
core programming, yes, it means math,

2498
02:02:00,320 --> 02:02:02,800
reading, science, social studies, but

2499
02:02:02,800 --> 02:02:04,800
it's really important to note that we

2500
02:02:04,800 --> 02:02:07,760
consider the arts,

2501
02:02:07,760 --> 02:02:10,080
library and media studies, PE,

2502
02:02:10,080 --> 02:02:12,080
nature-based learning, personal

2503
02:02:12,080 --> 02:02:15,119
development, winter sports, and more to

2504
02:02:15,119 --> 02:02:18,560
also be core programming for all

2505
02:02:18,560 --> 02:02:22,000
students. All students deserve all of

2506
02:02:22,000 --> 02:02:24,639
these components. And so we really

2507
02:02:24,639 --> 02:02:27,360
believe in that and thank you. We

2508
02:02:27,360 --> 02:02:28,639
couldn't do that if you didn't support

2509
02:02:28,639 --> 02:02:32,480
us doing that. Um so here I just like a

2510
02:02:32,480 --> 02:02:34,880
picture is worth a thousand words. These

2511
02:02:34,880 --> 02:02:36,480
slides live on our website if you want

2512
02:02:36,480 --> 02:02:39,119
to take a look. But um here's some of

2513
02:02:39,119 --> 02:02:41,760
our current uh kindergarteners

2514
02:02:41,760 --> 02:02:45,520
working on Mr. Ferguson's project. And

2515
02:02:45,520 --> 02:02:47,679
here is Mr. Ferguson, our art teacher,

2516
02:02:47,679 --> 02:02:49,840
at the Dston Historical Society, where

2517
02:02:49,840 --> 02:02:52,000
you can see an exhibit of student

2518
02:02:52,000 --> 02:02:54,400
artwork. Um, and here's an eighth

2519
02:02:54,400 --> 02:02:57,520
graders piece that is at uh Dumbston

2520
02:02:57,520 --> 02:03:00,239
Historical Society.

2521
02:03:00,239 --> 02:03:03,119
We have a lot of opportunities for our

2522
02:03:03,119 --> 02:03:07,599
young uh and older musicians. So, Mr.

2523
02:03:07,599 --> 02:03:11,280
Evans, our music teacher here, he is,

2524
02:03:11,280 --> 02:03:13,280
you know, loving just building such a

2525
02:03:13,280 --> 02:03:17,119
love of music um in our lower grades.

2526
02:03:17,119 --> 02:03:19,440
And this leads all the way up to our

2527
02:03:19,440 --> 02:03:22,880
students as eighth graders um performing

2528
02:03:22,880 --> 02:03:28,080
really exceptional uh music for our

2529
02:03:28,080 --> 02:03:31,040
community. Um that is the gift of a prek

2530
02:03:31,040 --> 02:03:33,840
to 8 program is that you work with these

2531
02:03:33,840 --> 02:03:36,400
students from the time they are four all

2532
02:03:36,400 --> 02:03:40,080
the way till 14. It is incredible to see

2533
02:03:40,080 --> 02:03:43,760
the growth. We have students who are

2534
02:03:43,760 --> 02:03:45,440
getting to 8th grade and then going on

2535
02:03:45,440 --> 02:03:46,639
to high school with this special

2536
02:03:46,639 --> 02:03:48,800
interest in arts and the music and then

2537
02:03:48,800 --> 02:03:50,800
going on to college to study that. So

2538
02:03:50,800 --> 02:03:54,159
that comes from excellent public school

2539
02:03:54,159 --> 02:03:56,159
education.

2540
02:03:56,159 --> 02:03:58,480
Here we are. We still do winter sports.

2541
02:03:58,480 --> 02:04:01,840
So if you did winter sports at a Vermont

2542
02:04:01,840 --> 02:04:05,599
school um as a child, it is still

2543
02:04:05,599 --> 02:04:07,119
happening.

2544
02:04:07,119 --> 02:04:09,040
Takes a lot of work, but it is still

2545
02:04:09,040 --> 02:04:11,199
happening. If you have donated toward

2546
02:04:11,199 --> 02:04:13,440
our winter winter sports program, thank

2547
02:04:13,440 --> 02:04:16,000
you. We're doing it. It's incredible.

2548
02:04:16,000 --> 02:04:18,239
Here we are at Mount Snow. We have one

2549
02:04:18,239 --> 02:04:21,520
more session this week on Thursday. Here

2550
02:04:21,520 --> 02:04:24,080
are kids at the ice skating rink. This

2551
02:04:24,080 --> 02:04:27,920
is grades 3 through 8. So, so much skill

2552
02:04:27,920 --> 02:04:30,400
development going on here. Community

2553
02:04:30,400 --> 02:04:33,440
building. Here are some students um

2554
02:04:33,440 --> 02:04:35,280
working with Bonnie Veil Environmental

2555
02:04:35,280 --> 02:04:37,520
Education Center out in the woods at

2556
02:04:37,520 --> 02:04:40,159
Dummerston School, learning about our

2557
02:04:40,159 --> 02:04:44,000
habitat here. Um learning to be stewards

2558
02:04:44,000 --> 02:04:47,440
of our community in Dmerston, not just

2559
02:04:47,440 --> 02:04:49,760
the humans, but also the animals and the

2560
02:04:49,760 --> 02:04:52,800
plant life. Um this is the incredible

2561
02:04:52,800 --> 02:04:54,719
opportunity we have thanks to your

2562
02:04:54,719 --> 02:04:58,239
support. Um you may know that we have a

2563
02:04:58,239 --> 02:05:00,000
farm to school program here. So, here's

2564
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:02,639
a picture of last year boiling sap and

2565
02:05:02,639 --> 02:05:05,599
getting to try maple syrup. We do have

2566
02:05:05,599 --> 02:05:10,960
um a sap evaporator. Um students go

2567
02:05:10,960 --> 02:05:13,360
outside every day here no matter the

2568
02:05:13,360 --> 02:05:16,000
weather. We have a forest trail. We have

2569
02:05:16,000 --> 02:05:18,000
outside classrooms. We have student

2570
02:05:18,000 --> 02:05:20,320
tended gardens, soccer and baseball

2571
02:05:20,320 --> 02:05:23,280
fields, a variety of play structures, a

2572
02:05:23,280 --> 02:05:27,119
new walking trail. We love outdoor

2573
02:05:27,119 --> 02:05:30,719
exploration and investigation and it is

2574
02:05:30,719 --> 02:05:32,480
really great to see if you drive by

2575
02:05:32,480 --> 02:05:35,440
Dumbersonson school like like in the

2576
02:05:35,440 --> 02:05:37,440
middle of the day during it's really fun

2577
02:05:37,440 --> 02:05:39,760
to see like the entire school outside

2578
02:05:39,760 --> 02:05:41,840
every day. One of the things I just

2579
02:05:41,840 --> 02:05:45,040
wanted to share you know is is given

2580
02:05:45,040 --> 02:05:46,800
that it's town meeting day and we're

2581
02:05:46,800 --> 02:05:49,360
thinking so much about shared decision-m

2582
02:05:49,360 --> 02:05:52,320
and civics and how we work together as a

2583
02:05:52,320 --> 02:05:54,560
community. We spend so much time at

2584
02:05:54,560 --> 02:05:57,679
Derson School. We really value a

2585
02:05:57,679 --> 02:06:00,159
framework for learning where students

2586
02:06:00,159 --> 02:06:04,880
really understand that we can support

2587
02:06:04,880 --> 02:06:06,880
each other. We can come together in

2588
02:06:06,880 --> 02:06:09,520
community. We can work out differences,

2589
02:06:09,520 --> 02:06:12,560
we can work out conflicts, and we can

2590
02:06:12,560 --> 02:06:14,960
stand up for each other and make our

2591
02:06:14,960 --> 02:06:18,159
school a better place. So we use a f

2592
02:06:18,159 --> 02:06:20,080
framework called developmental designs

2593
02:06:20,080 --> 02:06:22,320
which brings us together a lot for all

2594
02:06:22,320 --> 02:06:24,400
school meetings daily morning meetings

2595
02:06:24,400 --> 02:06:26,320
buddy classroom time students are

2596
02:06:26,320 --> 02:06:29,119
leading our school they're mentoring

2597
02:06:29,119 --> 02:06:31,679
they are the star of the show because

2598
02:06:31,679 --> 02:06:34,320
they are the learners they go through

2599
02:06:34,320 --> 02:06:38,480
each year a process prek to 8 where they

2600
02:06:38,480 --> 02:06:41,599
set their social contract for the year

2601
02:06:41,599 --> 02:06:43,920
so we're teaching students about as

2602
02:06:43,920 --> 02:06:46,079
young as kindergarten what is consensus

2603
02:06:46,079 --> 02:06:48,079
Does this mean? What does a consensus

2604
02:06:48,079 --> 02:06:50,560
process look like? What are the values

2605
02:06:50,560 --> 02:06:54,000
that we want to uphold so that we all

2606
02:06:54,000 --> 02:06:57,119
can learn well together?

2607
02:06:57,119 --> 02:06:58,880
What are some things that as an

2608
02:06:58,880 --> 02:07:00,800
individual we might have to put our

2609
02:07:00,800 --> 02:07:03,199
personal preferences aside so that the

2610
02:07:03,199 --> 02:07:06,320
group can go farther. So up there's this

2611
02:07:06,320 --> 02:07:08,719
year's social contract. Every year it is

2612
02:07:08,719 --> 02:07:10,639
different and it is created by the

2613
02:07:10,639 --> 02:07:12,480
students.

2614
02:07:12,480 --> 02:07:14,880
All the students are leaders at Dmerston

2615
02:07:14,880 --> 02:07:17,360
um in this way. So here's our student

2616
02:07:17,360 --> 02:07:20,719
asset team. They worked with Dumbston

2617
02:07:20,719 --> 02:07:23,840
Cares um to do a food drive this fall.

2618
02:07:23,840 --> 02:07:25,119
It's just one of the many things that

2619
02:07:25,119 --> 02:07:28,239
they've done this year. Um but Putney

2620
02:07:28,239 --> 02:07:31,840
Food Shelf said that that food drive was

2621
02:07:31,840 --> 02:07:34,000
the biggest donation like pounds of food

2622
02:07:34,000 --> 02:07:36,880
they have ever received in one go. So,

2623
02:07:36,880 --> 02:07:39,679
um, thanks to Dmerson Cares and to our

2624
02:07:39,679 --> 02:07:44,079
student asset team, um, they made this

2625
02:07:44,079 --> 02:07:45,840
project possible. Thank you to all who

2626
02:07:45,840 --> 02:07:49,520
donated to this. Here are students.

2627
02:07:49,520 --> 02:07:50,320
>> Yes.

2628
02:07:50,320 --> 02:07:54,709
>> APPLAUSE.

2629
02:07:54,719 --> 02:07:57,040
UM, here are students leading their

2630
02:07:57,040 --> 02:07:58,800
families through their studentled

2631
02:07:58,800 --> 02:08:01,520
conference. So in a few weeks we will

2632
02:08:01,520 --> 02:08:03,119
have family conferences and it's the

2633
02:08:03,119 --> 02:08:05,040
students who

2634
02:08:05,040 --> 02:08:07,520
lead that. They are the learners and

2635
02:08:07,520 --> 02:08:10,320
they're the ones that um talk their

2636
02:08:10,320 --> 02:08:11,920
families through the learning that

2637
02:08:11,920 --> 02:08:13,520
they've done, the goals that they've set

2638
02:08:13,520 --> 02:08:16,159
and their current progress

2639
02:08:16,159 --> 02:08:19,520
that happens prek through 8. So even our

2640
02:08:19,520 --> 02:08:22,880
prek prek students take their families

2641
02:08:22,880 --> 02:08:25,440
by the hand and walk them around the

2642
02:08:25,440 --> 02:08:27,679
trails to show them what they've

2643
02:08:27,679 --> 02:08:30,960
learned. It's so inspiring.

2644
02:08:30,960 --> 02:08:32,400
>> These are our younger students doing

2645
02:08:32,400 --> 02:08:34,719
that. Just really lovely pictures. I

2646
02:08:34,719 --> 02:08:37,840
love those pictures of children showing

2647
02:08:37,840 --> 02:08:41,679
their their adults what they can do and

2648
02:08:41,679 --> 02:08:44,480
what they love about school.

2649
02:08:44,480 --> 02:08:47,840
We really support students taking leaps

2650
02:08:47,840 --> 02:08:50,239
at Dmerson School. Like try a hard thing

2651
02:08:50,239 --> 02:08:52,480
and see what happens, right? like maybe

2652
02:08:52,480 --> 02:08:53,520
you'll

2653
02:08:53,520 --> 02:08:55,199
>> you'll be successful, maybe you won't

2654
02:08:55,199 --> 02:08:57,280
quite get there, but that's okay because

2655
02:08:57,280 --> 02:08:59,119
we can't learn without making mistakes.

2656
02:08:59,119 --> 02:09:01,679
We had a couple of teachers, Katie Lair

2657
02:09:01,679 --> 02:09:03,679
and Carmen Coron back brought back the

2658
02:09:03,679 --> 02:09:06,800
spelling bee, for example. So, we had 45

2659
02:09:06,800 --> 02:09:08,639
students this past spring enter our

2660
02:09:08,639 --> 02:09:12,000
spelling bee. Um, and to Benjamin

2661
02:09:12,000 --> 02:09:14,239
Burimmore and Eliza Clark Nelson are

2662
02:09:14,239 --> 02:09:17,119
going on a mic runner. Woo! Going on to

2663
02:09:17,119 --> 02:09:19,760
the state competition.

2664
02:09:19,760 --> 02:09:22,560
Is that next week? It's coming up

2665
02:09:22,560 --> 02:09:25,840
>> March 11th.

2666
02:09:25,840 --> 02:09:27,840
>> We have a diversity and equity team at

2667
02:09:27,840 --> 02:09:30,239
Dmerson School and our leadership

2668
02:09:30,239 --> 02:09:33,520
council is very focused on equity. And

2669
02:09:33,520 --> 02:09:35,840
so the leadership council over the last

2670
02:09:35,840 --> 02:09:37,599
uh year and a half has been very focused

2671
02:09:37,599 --> 02:09:42,480
on how can we uh support how can we

2672
02:09:42,480 --> 02:09:44,239
increase our own proficiency and having

2673
02:09:44,239 --> 02:09:48,079
an inclusive environment for LGBTQ plus

2674
02:09:48,079 --> 02:09:50,400
families, staff and students. And so

2675
02:09:50,400 --> 02:09:51,920
students have organized a pride

2676
02:09:51,920 --> 02:09:54,719
celebration for gosh I think this is our

2677
02:09:54,719 --> 02:09:58,079
fifth year. Um we also worked with

2678
02:09:58,079 --> 02:10:00,560
theater adventure Laura Lassa Tucker who

2679
02:10:00,560 --> 02:10:04,079
many of you know um who she has come and

2680
02:10:04,079 --> 02:10:06,400
done work with us around disability

2681
02:10:06,400 --> 02:10:08,880
justice um and and supported our

2682
02:10:08,880 --> 02:10:10,400
students in becoming leaders in that

2683
02:10:10,400 --> 02:10:13,040
theme and in understanding how we can be

2684
02:10:13,040 --> 02:10:15,760
inclusive to all. At Dmerston

2685
02:10:15,760 --> 02:10:19,040
we have a thriving sports program. Um,

2686
02:10:19,040 --> 02:10:21,280
here's our girls basketball team.

2687
02:10:21,280 --> 02:10:23,760
Finished second in the league this past

2688
02:10:23,760 --> 02:10:27,440
winter. Here are soccer teams from the

2689
02:10:27,440 --> 02:10:30,159
fall. We have after school clubs for

2690
02:10:30,159 --> 02:10:32,239
grades four through eight. This is our

2691
02:10:32,239 --> 02:10:33,920
fourth fourth or fifth year of having

2692
02:10:33,920 --> 02:10:38,000
clubs. Super popular um and uh been a

2693
02:10:38,000 --> 02:10:39,520
really exciting addition to our

2694
02:10:39,520 --> 02:10:42,159
programming here. Thanks so much.

2695
02:10:42,159 --> 02:10:43,840
There's a lot of families in the

2696
02:10:43,840 --> 02:10:45,520
audience who are part of our family

2697
02:10:45,520 --> 02:10:48,960
engagement team. They're really doing

2698
02:10:48,960 --> 02:10:52,239
the work of um increasing connection

2699
02:10:52,239 --> 02:10:54,239
between the school and the community and

2700
02:10:54,239 --> 02:10:58,560
families, fundraising. Um the like they

2701
02:10:58,560 --> 02:11:00,960
have been such a champion of Dson

2702
02:11:00,960 --> 02:11:04,320
School. Thanks so much to them. Um thank

2703
02:11:04,320 --> 02:11:05,760
you so much to all the community

2704
02:11:05,760 --> 02:11:07,440
organizations. I can't name them all

2705
02:11:07,440 --> 02:11:09,280
because so many community organizations

2706
02:11:09,280 --> 02:11:12,239
come in and work with us. Um, and it is

2707
02:11:12,239 --> 02:11:14,560
just awesome for our students to get to

2708
02:11:14,560 --> 02:11:16,800
know people in the community and to see

2709
02:11:16,800 --> 02:11:19,280
people doing their work. Here we are at

2710
02:11:19,280 --> 02:11:22,960
safety day this past fall. Um, check it

2711
02:11:22,960 --> 02:11:25,520
out. This year we had a helicopter

2712
02:11:25,520 --> 02:11:29,520
on safety day. So, um, Larry from the

2713
02:11:29,520 --> 02:11:32,239
fire department arranged for UMass

2714
02:11:32,239 --> 02:11:34,079
Memorial to come. That was pretty

2715
02:11:34,079 --> 02:11:37,199
incredible. Um, and then our facilities.

2716
02:11:37,199 --> 02:11:41,920
you're in um this beautiful facility. Uh

2717
02:11:41,920 --> 02:11:46,480
it is we are so fortunate to have such a

2718
02:11:46,480 --> 02:11:48,000
beautiful

2719
02:11:48,000 --> 02:11:50,880
space conducive to learning uh both

2720
02:11:50,880 --> 02:11:53,280
inside the building and outside. You

2721
02:11:53,280 --> 02:11:56,320
might notice like you might have driven

2722
02:11:56,320 --> 02:11:57,520
by the school this summer and gone,

2723
02:11:57,520 --> 02:12:00,000
"What in the world is happening? It

2724
02:12:00,000 --> 02:12:01,440
looks like they're taking something

2725
02:12:01,440 --> 02:12:04,400
down." But actually all the windows in

2726
02:12:04,400 --> 02:12:07,040
the early learning center were replaced.

2727
02:12:07,040 --> 02:12:08,719
Um, and there's just beautiful energy

2728
02:12:08,719 --> 02:12:10,719
efficient windows in there. We regraded

2729
02:12:10,719 --> 02:12:12,480
the soccer field. We had the walking

2730
02:12:12,480 --> 02:12:15,440
trail installation. We uh installed a

2731
02:12:15,440 --> 02:12:19,520
handicap door. Um, and coming up we'll

2732
02:12:19,520 --> 02:12:21,920
be renovating restrooms and doing some

2733
02:12:21,920 --> 02:12:24,079
other security updates and replacing

2734
02:12:24,079 --> 02:12:27,440
siding and all the things. Um, just like

2735
02:12:27,440 --> 02:12:29,840
having an extra big house that you have

2736
02:12:29,840 --> 02:12:32,880
to take care of. So, if you're

2737
02:12:32,880 --> 02:12:34,560
interested to take a look at this, this

2738
02:12:34,560 --> 02:12:37,199
is slide lives on our website, but this

2739
02:12:37,199 --> 02:12:38,800
is like kind of the overview of what it

2740
02:12:38,800 --> 02:12:41,840
takes to staff Dmerson School. I'll tell

2741
02:12:41,840 --> 02:12:44,400
you, nobody

2742
02:12:44,400 --> 02:12:46,800
is bored.

2743
02:12:46,800 --> 02:12:48,960
Every single staff person here is

2744
02:12:48,960 --> 02:12:52,320
hopping all day. Um, and really busy. We

2745
02:12:52,320 --> 02:12:54,320
have an incredible staff. They are

2746
02:12:54,320 --> 02:12:57,520
inspiring, creative, constantly

2747
02:12:57,520 --> 02:13:00,800
learning, so dedicated. um and they are

2748
02:13:00,800 --> 02:13:03,360
going f they're going hard all day

2749
02:13:03,360 --> 02:13:05,440
because they are so focused on student

2750
02:13:05,440 --> 02:13:07,360
learning and we are so grateful for

2751
02:13:07,360 --> 02:13:09,199
them. But this gives you kind of an

2752
02:13:09,199 --> 02:13:11,040
overview of of kind of of what it takes

2753
02:13:11,040 --> 02:13:13,760
to get um the type of results we're

2754
02:13:13,760 --> 02:13:15,360
getting here at Dmerson School and and

2755
02:13:15,360 --> 02:13:17,920
to support all of our students. So thank

2756
02:13:17,920 --> 02:13:20,719
you everybody. Um please join us at a

2757
02:13:20,719 --> 02:13:23,280
leadership council meeting th second

2758
02:13:23,280 --> 02:13:25,119
Thursday.

2759
02:13:25,119 --> 02:13:28,320
Um you are all invited. Uh they meet we

2760
02:13:28,320 --> 02:13:30,480
meet at 5:00 p.m. and it's open to the

2761
02:13:30,480 --> 02:13:33,679
public and we'd love to see you there.

2762
02:13:33,679 --> 02:14:11,990
Thank you. Yes.

2763
02:14:12,000 --> 02:14:14,000
We want to thank Larry and Sally and

2764
02:14:14,000 --> 02:14:17,280
their crew for lunch today. Thank you.

2765
02:14:17,280 --> 02:14:21,510
>> Thank you.

2766
02:14:21,520 --> 02:14:23,760
and thank Julian for reminding us about

2767
02:14:23,760 --> 02:14:26,320
how wonderful our school is. I know my

2768
02:14:26,320 --> 02:14:31,990
kids are doing well and

2769
02:14:32,000 --> 02:14:36,560
so we are reconvening our meeting. A

2770
02:14:36,560 --> 02:14:38,159
reminder for those of you who have

2771
02:14:38,159 --> 02:14:40,400
joined us since before lunch, our

2772
02:14:40,400 --> 02:14:43,119
meeting is governed by Robert.

2773
02:14:43,119 --> 02:14:44,880
Raise your hand to be recognized. Wait

2774
02:14:44,880 --> 02:14:46,800
for the microphone

2775
02:14:46,800 --> 02:14:48,880
and hold it to your mouth. state your

2776
02:14:48,880 --> 02:14:50,800
name and address all comments and

2777
02:14:50,800 --> 02:14:54,719
questions to me, please. So, Todd

2778
02:14:54,719 --> 02:14:57,199
Davidson from the select board has a few

2779
02:14:57,199 --> 02:15:00,159
remarks he wants to make before starting

2780
02:15:00,159 --> 02:15:04,229
off.

2781
02:15:04,239 --> 02:15:05,360
So, I mentioned this a little bit

2782
02:15:05,360 --> 02:15:06,719
earlier while everybody's here, but

2783
02:15:06,719 --> 02:15:09,920
everybody's still here. So, Charlotte, I

2784
02:15:09,920 --> 02:15:11,920
had to wait to get back to her seat.

2785
02:15:11,920 --> 02:15:14,800
Charlotte and

2786
02:15:14,800 --> 02:15:18,000
not be a listister anymore. So, I

2787
02:15:18,000 --> 02:15:20,239
checked the math and it's a lot. So,

2788
02:15:20,239 --> 02:15:22,239
here's what Charles said.

2789
02:15:22,239 --> 02:15:23,840
>> The numbers may not be right, but check

2790
02:15:23,840 --> 02:15:26,320
this. So, she was only administrator for

2791
02:15:26,320 --> 02:15:28,880
six years. She was the treasurer for

2792
02:15:28,880 --> 02:15:32,239
eight years and she's been a twice to

2793
02:15:32,239 --> 02:15:35,040
set terms for six yearsish. So, I ended

2794
02:15:35,040 --> 02:15:37,679
up 20 years and we're keeping her around

2795
02:15:37,679 --> 02:15:39,679
a little bit to help train some of the

2796
02:15:39,679 --> 02:15:41,840
new listers coming up. So, she'll be

2797
02:15:41,840 --> 02:15:43,679
around the office. We want to thank her

2798
02:15:43,679 --> 02:15:58,950
for 20 years.

2799
02:15:58,960 --> 02:16:01,840
All right, we have our senator, one of

2800
02:16:01,840 --> 02:16:05,679
our two senators, Hashim is here and

2801
02:16:05,679 --> 02:16:08,719
he's going to make some remarks before

2802
02:16:08,719 --> 02:16:19,990
we get started.

2803
02:16:20,000 --> 02:16:23,119
Okay, good afternoon, Dmerson. It's good

2804
02:16:23,119 --> 02:16:25,520
to be here. Uh, for those of you I don't

2805
02:16:25,520 --> 02:16:27,440
know, my name is Nar Hashim. I'm one of

2806
02:16:27,440 --> 02:16:29,199
the senators for Windham County. I also

2807
02:16:29,199 --> 02:16:31,119
live right here in town about 5 minutes

2808
02:16:31,119 --> 02:16:33,760
up the road. So, I'm glad as I get to

2809
02:16:33,760 --> 02:16:35,679
the uh end of this tour that you I'm

2810
02:16:35,679 --> 02:16:38,319
able to stop at my hometown here before

2811
02:16:38,319 --> 02:16:41,599
a few other towns and call it a day. But

2812
02:16:41,599 --> 02:16:44,800
uh I I I was asked to keep it uh as as

2813
02:16:44,800 --> 02:16:46,880
brief as I could and so I will do my

2814
02:16:46,880 --> 02:16:48,800
best. Sometimes senators are known for

2815
02:16:48,800 --> 02:16:51,120
rambling on. I think generally I avoid

2816
02:16:51,120 --> 02:16:54,000
that but somebody just uh let me know

2817
02:16:54,000 --> 02:16:57,280
that's not working out. So I first want

2818
02:16:57,280 --> 02:16:58,880
to start by mentioning that you know

2819
02:16:58,880 --> 02:17:01,040
over the past couple of days I've been

2820
02:17:01,040 --> 02:17:04,639
trying to formulate my thoughts as to

2821
02:17:04,639 --> 02:17:06,800
what information to present, what facts

2822
02:17:06,800 --> 02:17:09,120
to share with folks. And so I've, you

2823
02:17:09,120 --> 02:17:10,800
know, got that that information on one

2824
02:17:10,800 --> 02:17:13,519
screen, information about taxes and and

2825
02:17:13,519 --> 02:17:15,359
health insurance and so on. And then,

2826
02:17:15,359 --> 02:17:17,439
you know, my phone is is constantly

2827
02:17:17,439 --> 02:17:20,080
going off of notifications about new

2828
02:17:20,080 --> 02:17:27,519
conflicts, uh, new missile attacks, and the amount of volatility

2829
02:17:27,519 --> 02:17:30,000
and uncertainty that's happening in the

2830
02:17:30,000 --> 02:17:32,880
Middle East. And so it's I don't know

2831
02:17:32,880 --> 02:17:34,719
how else to phrase it, but it it feels

2832
02:17:34,719 --> 02:17:37,040
strange to be looking at these two

2833
02:17:37,040 --> 02:17:39,200
different uh these two different worlds

2834
02:17:39,200 --> 02:17:44,800
of of issues that affect us. And and

2835
02:17:44,800 --> 02:17:47,359
when when I'm faced with that, I always

2836
02:17:47,359 --> 02:17:50,559
remind myself that there are some things

2837
02:17:50,559 --> 02:17:52,880
that I do have the ability to change and

2838
02:17:52,880 --> 02:17:54,960
to control in some way, and there are

2839
02:17:54,960 --> 02:17:57,519
other things that are beyond my control.

2840
02:17:57,519 --> 02:18:00,080
And and I think that applies really uh

2841
02:18:00,080 --> 02:18:02,479
to everybody uh in their in their daily

2842
02:18:02,479 --> 02:18:05,359
lives. And so

2843
02:18:05,359 --> 02:18:06,880
I'm going to talk about some of the

2844
02:18:06,880 --> 02:18:09,439
things that I do have control over uh

2845
02:18:09,439 --> 02:18:11,840
things that I am able to impact in a

2846
02:18:11,840 --> 02:18:13,760
positive way for our communities here in

2847
02:18:13,760 --> 02:18:18,319
Windham County. So I'm going to start by

2848
02:18:18,319 --> 02:18:20,960
describing uh the work that I've done on

2849
02:18:20,960 --> 02:18:22,639
my committees. I currently serve as the

2850
02:18:22,639 --> 02:18:24,319
chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee

2851
02:18:24,319 --> 02:18:26,319
and I serve as a member of the Education

2852
02:18:26,319 --> 02:18:28,080
Committee. So I'm going to start with

2853
02:18:28,080 --> 02:18:29,760
education.

2854
02:18:29,760 --> 02:18:33,840
So as I'm sure every everybody knows we

2855
02:18:33,840 --> 02:18:38,160
are now in the second phase of act 73

2856
02:18:38,160 --> 02:18:40,800
and we're in the phase where we are

2857
02:18:40,800 --> 02:18:44,559
expected to vote on a map and we are

2858
02:18:44,559 --> 02:18:48,240
expected that that map will have uh

2859
02:18:48,240 --> 02:18:50,559
substantially smaller a substantially

2860
02:18:50,559 --> 02:18:52,240
smaller number of districts and

2861
02:18:52,240 --> 02:18:57,040
supervisory units. Uh we have

2862
02:18:57,040 --> 02:18:59,280
we've literally been threatened by the

2863
02:18:59,280 --> 02:19:01,760
governor that if we do not consolidate

2864
02:19:01,760 --> 02:19:03,920
districts that the budget will get

2865
02:19:03,920 --> 02:19:08,000
vetoed. And with that threat hanging

2866
02:19:08,000 --> 02:19:09,920
over the heads of both the House and the

2867
02:19:09,920 --> 02:19:12,800
Senate, both chambers are uh working

2868
02:19:12,800 --> 02:19:18,000
towards a proposal that would reduce the number

2869
02:19:18,000 --> 02:19:20,880
of districts and and and merge districts

2870
02:19:20,880 --> 02:19:23,200
and supervisory meetings.

2871
02:19:23,200 --> 02:19:26,559
I initially opposed act 73 um but it

2872
02:19:26,559 --> 02:19:30,399
became law and but part of that bill was

2873
02:19:30,399 --> 02:19:33,040
to create a school redistricting task

2874
02:19:33,040 --> 02:19:36,240
force and to the benefit of that task

2875
02:19:36,240 --> 02:19:38,960
force uh there were a number of folks on

2876
02:19:38,960 --> 02:19:41,519
there who had decades of experience in

2877
02:19:41,519 --> 02:19:44,399
education and education governance and

2878
02:19:44,399 --> 02:19:48,000
they developed a number of reports that

2879
02:19:48,000 --> 02:19:49,359
uh were presented to us and they were

2880
02:19:49,359 --> 02:19:51,840
the most wellressearched and informative

2881
02:19:51,840 --> 02:19:55,120
reports that I seen when it comes to uh

2882
02:19:55,120 --> 02:19:57,520
education, education reform, governance

2883
02:19:57,520 --> 02:20:00,800
and cost savings. And and I'm

2884
02:20:00,800 --> 02:20:04,080
paraphrasing uh a lot here, but

2885
02:20:04,080 --> 02:20:06,240
basically their conclusion was that

2886
02:20:06,240 --> 02:20:09,200
forcing mergers does not lead to cost

2887
02:20:09,200 --> 02:20:12,319
savings and it is extremely disruptive

2888
02:20:12,319 --> 02:20:16,160
to students, parents and teachers.

2889
02:20:16,160 --> 02:20:19,040
And despite having that information, uh

2890
02:20:19,040 --> 02:20:22,000
there are still members of leadership in

2891
02:20:22,000 --> 02:20:23,680
both chambers that want to move forward

2892
02:20:23,680 --> 02:20:25,920
with this process.

2893
02:20:25,920 --> 02:20:29,680
So that's where we're at. Uh it creates

2894
02:20:29,680 --> 02:20:32,560
a a very frustrating amount of

2895
02:20:32,560 --> 02:20:35,520
uncertainty and

2896
02:20:35,520 --> 02:20:37,359
I I know that you know when folks are

2897
02:20:37,359 --> 02:20:39,520
watching you you're seeing a new policy

2898
02:20:39,520 --> 02:20:41,200
come out or you're seeing a new map come

2899
02:20:41,200 --> 02:20:44,399
out every other week and it it creates

2900
02:20:44,399 --> 02:20:46,640
that uncertainty of you know what is my

2901
02:20:46,640 --> 02:20:49,040
school district going to look like? What

2902
02:20:49,040 --> 02:20:50,720
you know what what is the future of

2903
02:20:50,720 --> 02:20:52,720
education in Vermont? And I and I keep

2904
02:20:52,720 --> 02:20:54,479
reminding my colleagues on the Senate

2905
02:20:54,479 --> 02:20:57,040
Education Committee that that this

2906
02:20:57,040 --> 02:21:00,880
uncertainty uh creates a lot of doubt.

2907
02:21:00,880 --> 02:21:03,760
And I heard just about two or three

2908
02:21:03,760 --> 02:21:06,479
weeks ago from a superintendent in Lynen

2909
02:21:06,479 --> 02:21:10,319
County that there were uh prospective

2910
02:21:10,319 --> 02:21:12,640
teachers who were in the hiring process

2911
02:21:12,640 --> 02:21:14,560
and one of them withdrew their

2912
02:21:14,560 --> 02:21:17,120
application a few steps in because they

2913
02:21:17,120 --> 02:21:19,280
started doing a deeper dive into what's

2914
02:21:19,280 --> 02:21:22,960
going on with education in Vermont and

2915
02:21:22,960 --> 02:21:25,120
there was too much uncertainty and they

2916
02:21:25,120 --> 02:21:26,640
did not want to move somewhere, start a

2917
02:21:26,640 --> 02:21:28,319
new job and set up roots in the place

2918
02:21:28,319 --> 02:21:30,080
where they weren't going to be sure if

2919
02:21:30,080 --> 02:21:32,720
they were going to have a job in in a

2920
02:21:32,720 --> 02:21:36,000
number of years. Now,

2921
02:21:36,000 --> 02:21:40,000
the what what I do advocate for is that

2922
02:21:40,000 --> 02:21:42,880
we need to address the underlying cost

2923
02:21:42,880 --> 02:21:50,240
drivers. Uh that's health insurance and healthcare as well as the costs from

2924
02:21:50,240 --> 02:21:53,200
private services that schools uh have to

2925
02:21:53,200 --> 02:21:55,120
use.

2926
02:21:55,120 --> 02:22:00,080
and those those are topics that are

2927
02:22:00,080 --> 02:22:02,319
getting addressed in other committees as

2928
02:22:02,319 --> 02:22:06,000
well. But that's that's where we are at

2929
02:22:06,000 --> 02:22:08,160
the moment. Uh it's I know it's not the

2930
02:22:08,160 --> 02:22:10,080
most satisfying update about education,

2931
02:22:10,080 --> 02:22:12,319
but I want to make I just want to be

2932
02:22:12,319 --> 02:22:15,520
very candid with folks about where

2933
02:22:15,520 --> 02:22:19,120
things are currently in the legislature.

2934
02:22:19,120 --> 02:22:21,520
One thing that would be great is the

2935
02:22:21,520 --> 02:22:23,760
more folks, depending on what your views

2936
02:22:23,760 --> 02:22:26,880
are on education reform, the more folks

2937
02:22:26,880 --> 02:22:29,920
reach out to members of either

2938
02:22:29,920 --> 02:22:31,600
education, actually both education

2939
02:22:31,600 --> 02:22:34,720
committees and express how you feel

2940
02:22:34,720 --> 02:22:37,120
about the proposals uh that we're

2941
02:22:37,120 --> 02:22:39,600
seeing. That is what legislators need to

2942
02:22:39,600 --> 02:22:41,840
see, but also reach out to the

2943
02:22:41,840 --> 02:22:44,640
governor's office as well.

2944
02:22:44,640 --> 02:22:47,840
So that that is Senate education in a

2945
02:22:47,840 --> 02:22:50,319
nutshell. I'm going to move on now to

2946
02:22:50,319 --> 02:22:52,000
Senate Judiciary, which is probably

2947
02:22:52,000 --> 02:22:54,720
where the higher risk is for me to

2948
02:22:54,720 --> 02:22:56,560
ramble on. I'll do my best not to do

2949
02:22:56,560 --> 02:22:59,920
that, though. So, especially over the

2950
02:22:59,920 --> 02:23:03,120
last year and a half, uh, a number of

2951
02:23:03,120 --> 02:23:07,280
people have reached out asking what is

2952
02:23:07,280 --> 02:23:09,280
Vermont going to do in response to the

2953
02:23:09,280 --> 02:23:12,800
federal government? And there are a

2954
02:23:12,800 --> 02:23:14,319
number of bills that we've been working

2955
02:23:14,319 --> 02:23:15,920
on in Senate Judiciary, but I want to

2956
02:23:15,920 --> 02:23:18,000
answer that question because it's been

2957
02:23:18,000 --> 02:23:20,640
the most frequently asked question. So,

2958
02:23:20,640 --> 02:23:22,560
we've recently passed out two bills. It

2959
02:23:22,560 --> 02:23:25,520
was a unanimous bipartisan

2960
02:23:25,520 --> 02:23:27,600
uh support for both of those bills.

2961
02:23:27,600 --> 02:23:31,760
They're S208 and S 209. They're for

2962
02:23:31,760 --> 02:23:34,640
informally known as the masking bill and

2963
02:23:34,640 --> 02:23:37,200
the sensitive places bill. And I'll I'll

2964
02:23:37,200 --> 02:23:46,160
explain both. Uh 208 refers to uh the prohibition on wearing masks or

2965
02:23:46,160 --> 02:23:48,720
personal disguises while members of law

2966
02:23:48,720 --> 02:23:50,240
enforcement are interacting with the

2967
02:23:50,240 --> 02:23:53,920
public. And in order to avoid the

2968
02:23:53,920 --> 02:23:56,319
constitutional pitfalls that California

2969
02:23:56,319 --> 02:23:59,439
encountered, we had to make it apply in

2970
02:23:59,439 --> 02:24:01,680
a non-discriminatory way to all law

2971
02:24:01,680 --> 02:24:03,920
enforcement. So it applies not just to

2972
02:24:03,920 --> 02:24:05,439
federal agents but it applies to state

2973
02:24:05,439 --> 02:24:07,680
police deputies and local police and so

2974
02:24:07,680 --> 02:24:09,280
on.

2975
02:24:09,280 --> 02:24:12,479
And there are exceptions in there and I

2976
02:24:12,479 --> 02:24:14,479
think they are 100% reasonable. So for

2977
02:24:14,479 --> 02:24:16,720
example, if an officer is scuba diving,

2978
02:24:16,720 --> 02:24:19,359
they can wear a mask. I hope everybody

2979
02:24:19,359 --> 02:24:20,880
in this room thinks that's an all right

2980
02:24:20,880 --> 02:24:25,200
exception. Um there are also uh in smoke

2981
02:24:25,200 --> 02:24:28,479
inhilation and extreme cold weather. uh

2982
02:24:28,479 --> 02:24:31,760
but also an important one regarding uh

2983
02:24:31,760 --> 02:24:34,479
undercover child sexual exploitation

2984
02:24:34,479 --> 02:24:38,240
cases in which sometimes officers will

2985
02:24:38,240 --> 02:24:40,800
wear a disguise uh to surveil an

2986
02:24:40,800 --> 02:24:42,800
individual but these are legitimate

2987
02:24:42,800 --> 02:24:45,600
investigations for things that should be

2988
02:24:45,600 --> 02:24:48,479
getting investigated by law enforcement.

2989
02:24:48,479 --> 02:24:50,800
The next piece oh and and this bill is

2990
02:24:50,800 --> 02:24:53,439
in house judiciary. the governor has

2991
02:24:53,439 --> 02:24:55,359
signaled his support on it and the house

2992
02:24:55,359 --> 02:24:57,120
committee is is doing their due

2993
02:24:57,120 --> 02:24:59,680
diligence and hopefully not changing it

2994
02:24:59,680 --> 02:25:01,840
up too much. The next bill is the

2995
02:25:01,840 --> 02:25:06,080
sensitive places bill. This refers to

2996
02:25:06,080 --> 02:25:09,359
uh a prohibition of civil arrests in

2997
02:25:09,359 --> 02:25:11,680
certain locations

2998
02:25:11,680 --> 02:25:14,000
and want to make the distinction very

2999
02:25:14,000 --> 02:25:17,520
clear just so that there's no confusion.

3000
02:25:17,520 --> 02:25:19,680
So

3001
02:25:19,680 --> 02:25:24,080
uh the so immigration detention falls

3002
02:25:24,080 --> 02:25:27,359
under the category of civil arrests. Uh

3003
02:25:27,359 --> 02:25:29,439
so it's not criminal arrests. They are

3004
02:25:29,439 --> 02:25:32,479
civil arrests. And

3005
02:25:32,479 --> 02:25:35,280
that uh protection was previously in

3006
02:25:35,280 --> 02:25:39,680
place for uh a number of different

3007
02:25:39,680 --> 02:25:42,479
locations. And this was actually in

3008
02:25:42,479 --> 02:25:44,000
federal guidance about a year and a half

3009
02:25:44,000 --> 02:25:45,920
ago and then was rescended under the

3010
02:25:45,920 --> 02:25:47,760
current administration. So we are

3011
02:25:47,760 --> 02:25:50,880
putting back into state law these

3012
02:25:50,880 --> 02:25:54,640
protections for these locations. But it

3013
02:25:54,640 --> 02:25:58,880
prohibits immigration detention in uh

3014
02:25:58,880 --> 02:26:01,280
churches or places of worship, polling

3015
02:26:01,280 --> 02:26:03,600
places, hospitals, educational

3016
02:26:03,600 --> 02:26:06,800
institutions, daycarees,

3017
02:26:06,800 --> 02:26:10,080
and there's there's one more.

3018
02:26:10,080 --> 02:26:11,439
I delivered this speech five times

3019
02:26:11,439 --> 02:26:13,680
today. Uh

3020
02:26:13,680 --> 02:26:16,960
>> daycare did I say? All right. Well, it's

3021
02:26:16,960 --> 02:26:18,720
uh there there's a lot of Oh, social

3022
02:26:18,720 --> 02:26:20,720
service facilities. That's that's been a

3023
02:26:20,720 --> 02:26:23,359
long day. Social service facilities. So,

3024
02:26:23,359 --> 02:26:26,000
um that has been also passed out of

3025
02:26:26,000 --> 02:26:28,720
committee bipartisan vote and governor

3026
02:26:28,720 --> 02:26:30,319
has also signaled his support for it and

3027
02:26:30,319 --> 02:26:31,840
that is in the House Judiciary Committee

3028
02:26:31,840 --> 02:26:34,720
right now. The other work that we do

3029
02:26:34,720 --> 02:26:36,640
that does not grab headlines in Senate

3030
02:26:36,640 --> 02:26:39,680
Judiciary is often work related to

3031
02:26:39,680 --> 02:26:43,359
technical changes that are meant to

3032
02:26:43,359 --> 02:26:46,240
ensure our courouses are operating

3033
02:26:46,240 --> 02:26:50,080
fairly and efficiently. And a simple

3034
02:26:50,080 --> 02:26:52,960
change as switching the word violation

3035
02:26:52,960 --> 02:26:54,560
with the word conviction and a certain

3036
02:26:54,560 --> 02:26:56,479
DUI statute is going to clear up a whole

3037
02:26:56,479 --> 02:26:59,040
lot of confusion and issues with plea

3038
02:26:59,040 --> 02:27:02,000
agreements in court. Uh, and not going

3039
02:27:02,000 --> 02:27:03,520
to catch any headlines, I'm sure, if

3040
02:27:03,520 --> 02:27:06,240
that's all right. But the way I see my

3041
02:27:06,240 --> 02:27:07,840
responsibility as a chair of judiciary

3042
02:27:07,840 --> 02:27:09,680
is to make sure that, you know, with

3043
02:27:09,680 --> 02:27:11,520
each bill that we're passing, our court

3044
02:27:11,520 --> 02:27:14,800
system is improving at least a little

3045
02:27:14,800 --> 02:27:18,800
bit at a time and making sure that

3046
02:27:18,800 --> 02:27:21,760
access to justice is is available and

3047
02:27:21,760 --> 02:27:25,040
that is fair and efficient.

3048
02:27:25,040 --> 02:27:28,479
So, that is the condensed version of my

3049
02:27:28,479 --> 02:27:32,399
uh town meeting speech. I I have left

3050
02:27:32,399 --> 02:27:34,960
behind a number of legislative updates

3051
02:27:34,960 --> 02:27:37,120
on that table back there. It has my

3052
02:27:37,120 --> 02:27:38,960
contact information. It also lists a

3053
02:27:38,960 --> 02:27:40,960
number of other bills we're working on

3054
02:27:40,960 --> 02:27:43,920
related to health insurance, vehicle

3055
02:27:43,920 --> 02:27:46,319
inspections, act 250. And if you want

3056
02:27:46,319 --> 02:27:47,760
more information, if you want more

3057
02:27:47,760 --> 02:27:49,760
details, which I'm happy to share,

3058
02:27:49,760 --> 02:27:52,640
please don't hesitate to reach out and I

3059
02:27:52,640 --> 02:27:55,920
am happy to share that information. So

3060
02:27:55,920 --> 02:27:59,040
that that wraps up uh everything that

3061
02:27:59,040 --> 02:28:01,120
I've got for you and thank you for

3062
02:28:01,120 --> 02:28:10,630
having me.

3063
02:28:10,640 --> 02:28:14,319
Does anyone have a question for

3064
02:28:14,319 --> 02:28:23,590
Jody?

3065
02:28:23,600 --> 02:28:24,640
Hi, Nder.

3066
02:28:24,640 --> 02:28:25,040
>> Hello.

3067
02:28:25,040 --> 02:28:27,920
>> I know you act you voted against Act 46,

3068
02:28:27,920 --> 02:28:29,439
too, and I think that was before you

3069
02:28:29,439 --> 02:28:32,319
were in the legislature, but um I hope

3070
02:28:32,319 --> 02:28:34,640
you will continue to vote against what's

3071
02:28:34,640 --> 02:28:37,520
going on up there. Now, my question is,

3072
02:28:37,520 --> 02:28:39,439
I know that the governor has threatened

3073
02:28:39,439 --> 02:28:42,240
not to um pass the budget if you guys

3074
02:28:42,240 --> 02:28:44,080
don't do something with these stupid

3075
02:28:44,080 --> 02:28:48,399
maps that are going on. Um why is nobody

3076
02:28:48,399 --> 02:28:52,319
up there and a lot of Democrats, not

3077
02:28:52,319 --> 02:28:54,399
just Republicans, a lot of Democrats are

3078
02:28:54,399 --> 02:28:57,120
leading this charge. Why is nobody

3079
02:28:57,120 --> 02:28:59,840
looking at the facts that the rural

3080
02:28:59,840 --> 02:29:02,399
alliance is giving them? And other and

3081
02:29:02,399 --> 02:29:04,560
the people that did the uh summer

3082
02:29:04,560 --> 02:29:08,080
program, the trust um you know, you just

3083
02:29:08,080 --> 02:29:10,560
mentioned it, the summer program brought

3084
02:29:10,560 --> 02:29:13,120
a lot of facts as to what's saving money

3085
02:29:13,120 --> 02:29:15,760
and what's not saving money. And why

3086
02:29:15,760 --> 02:29:19,600
isn't everybody looking at what got put

3087
02:29:19,600 --> 02:29:22,560
in as unfunded mandates and the health

3088
02:29:22,560 --> 02:29:25,520
care and doing things about that rather

3089
02:29:25,520 --> 02:29:28,240
than going and and pushing our kids

3090
02:29:28,240 --> 02:29:31,520
around and pushing the towns around? Can

3091
02:29:31,520 --> 02:29:34,000
you stand a little firmer on somebody

3092
02:29:34,000 --> 02:29:35,920
else's feet?

3093
02:29:35,920 --> 02:29:40,240
>> So yes, there are I I do bring that up.

3094
02:29:40,240 --> 02:29:41,600
You know, I I asked the question, why

3095
02:29:41,600 --> 02:29:43,280
did we spend money on a redistricting

3096
02:29:43,280 --> 02:29:47,200
task force and and the the other

3097
02:29:47,200 --> 02:29:50,640
commission the year prior to study all

3098
02:29:50,640 --> 02:29:51,920
these things and come back with

3099
02:29:51,920 --> 02:29:54,560
information only to say we're going to

3100
02:29:54,560 --> 02:29:55,920
do something different. It doesn't make

3101
02:29:55,920 --> 02:29:57,359
any sense. It's a waste of time and it's

3102
02:29:57,359 --> 02:30:00,880
a waste of money. And that that is what

3103
02:30:00,880 --> 02:30:04,160
I express to folks. Uh you know, I'm I'm

3104
02:30:04,160 --> 02:30:06,720
one out of six senators on the Senate

3105
02:30:06,720 --> 02:30:08,880
Education Committee. I express how I

3106
02:30:08,880 --> 02:30:14,000
feel to leadership and and there there are other senators

3107
02:30:14,000 --> 02:30:17,040
who also express something similar. Uh

3108
02:30:17,040 --> 02:30:19,920
you know the Yeah, I'll I'll just leave

3109
02:30:19,920 --> 02:30:25,190
it there for the sake of time.

3110
02:30:25,200 --> 02:30:32,070
Paul,

3111
02:30:32,080 --> 02:30:36,080
» you said that uh Paul Rundo uh you said

3112
02:30:36,080 --> 02:30:38,640
that uh the governor had threatened to

3113
02:30:38,640 --> 02:30:43,760
veto the budget if uh this uh the

3114
02:30:43,760 --> 02:30:46,399
redistricting task force did not come up

3115
02:30:46,399 --> 02:30:48,880
with a map.

3116
02:30:48,880 --> 02:30:51,520
So what? He seems to me he'd be shooting

3117
02:30:51,520 --> 02:30:54,880
himself in the foot if he if he votes

3118
02:30:54,880 --> 02:30:58,640
the budget down. Uh you know, it's easy

3119
02:30:58,640 --> 02:31:00,399
to say you're going to do it, but there

3120
02:31:00,399 --> 02:31:05,200
are a lot of ramifications of voting it down the budget. So uh my

3121
02:31:05,200 --> 02:31:07,359
reaction is you might be tempted to call

3122
02:31:07,359 --> 02:31:10,160
us bluff and see what happens.

3123
02:31:10,160 --> 02:31:12,000
>> Yeah.

3124
02:31:12,000 --> 02:31:16,080
I mean, every every session, uh, we get

3125
02:31:16,080 --> 02:31:18,399
threatened by the governor. Um, at this

3126
02:31:18,399 --> 02:31:20,319
point, I'm kind of desensitized to it.

3127
02:31:20,319 --> 02:31:21,520
feels like we're in a toxic

3128
02:31:21,520 --> 02:31:25,359
relationship. Uh, so

3129
02:31:25,359 --> 02:31:27,760
I I mean, yeah, that's it's it's on him

3130
02:31:27,760 --> 02:31:29,200
if that's a decision that he wants to

3131
02:31:29,200 --> 02:31:33,680
make to veto the budget over maps that

3132
02:31:33,680 --> 02:31:36,640
are not based on the evidence that the

3133
02:31:36,640 --> 02:31:38,800
evidence and the data that we have spent

3134
02:31:38,800 --> 02:31:42,399
time and money gathering. Uh,

3135
02:31:42,399 --> 02:31:47,349
yep. I mean, I I agree with it.

3136
02:31:47,359 --> 02:31:49,760
» Who's next? More questions. Kate in the

3137
02:31:49,760 --> 02:31:57,030
front row.

3138
02:31:57,040 --> 02:31:59,520
» Hi, my name is Kate Jansek. I'm brand

3139
02:31:59,520 --> 02:32:01,439
new here, so I'm going to say some

3140
02:32:01,439 --> 02:32:06,000
unpopular things. I think uh the

3141
02:32:06,000 --> 02:32:08,399
redistricting. Um, this happened in

3142
02:32:08,399 --> 02:32:10,800
South Dakota where I live. So, I'm real

3143
02:32:10,800 --> 02:32:12,720
familiar with what happened in South

3144
02:32:12,720 --> 02:32:16,319
Dakota. It's very analogous. We had 385

3145
02:32:16,319 --> 02:32:20,399
districts in South Dakota. Um, and

3146
02:32:20,399 --> 02:32:25,280
consolidating them did and does save on

3147
02:32:25,280 --> 02:32:28,319
administrative costs. So, I'm basically

3148
02:32:28,319 --> 02:32:31,200
assuming that the governor isn't an

3149
02:32:31,200 --> 02:32:36,000
idiot and that the redistricting and

3150
02:32:36,000 --> 02:32:37,520
consolidation

3151
02:32:37,520 --> 02:32:40,560
to save money came from somewhere with

3152
02:32:40,560 --> 02:32:44,479
some basis in logic. So, could you

3153
02:32:44,479 --> 02:32:46,800
articulate

3154
02:32:46,800 --> 02:32:51,680
why the task force believes that

3155
02:32:51,680 --> 02:32:54,560
redistricting is not going to save any

3156
02:32:54,560 --> 02:32:55,359
money?

3157
02:32:55,359 --> 02:32:56,560
>> Absolutely.

3158
02:32:56,560 --> 02:32:57,920
Thank you for that question. Don't

3159
02:32:57,920 --> 02:32:58,800
>> shoot me please.

3160
02:32:58,800 --> 02:33:01,040
>> This this one might be a little Sorry.

3161
02:33:01,040 --> 02:33:04,399
Um so just to clarify, I don't think the

3162
02:33:04,399 --> 02:33:06,960
governor is an idiot. I I like him as a

3163
02:33:06,960 --> 02:33:08,880
person, disagree with a number of his

3164
02:33:08,880 --> 02:33:12,399
policies. Um but you know, and this is

3165
02:33:12,399 --> 02:33:20,160
one of them that I disagree with. So the redistricting task force looked at a

3166
02:33:20,160 --> 02:33:22,000
long list of different reports and

3167
02:33:22,000 --> 02:33:23,520
studies from a number of different

3168
02:33:23,520 --> 02:33:26,479
states. uh Kansas was one of them where

3169
02:33:26,479 --> 02:33:28,880
uh redistricting and merging districts

3170
02:33:28,880 --> 02:33:31,840
uh did not help. On the other hand,

3171
02:33:31,840 --> 02:33:34,880
there was Philadelphia where there was a

3172
02:33:34,880 --> 02:33:36,640
section of the city that had six

3173
02:33:36,640 --> 02:33:38,319
schools. They consolidated down to four

3174
02:33:38,319 --> 02:33:40,080
schools and there were there were cost

3175
02:33:40,080 --> 02:33:42,240
savings there.

3176
02:33:42,240 --> 02:33:43,600
Obviously, I'm not trying to sound

3177
02:33:43,600 --> 02:33:45,359
facitious, but big difference between

3178
02:33:45,359 --> 02:33:47,359
Philly and Vermont. Uh with Philly

3179
02:33:47,359 --> 02:33:49,439
having 1.2 2 million people in Vermont

3180
02:33:49,439 --> 02:33:52,800
having somewhere around I think 642,000

3181
02:33:52,800 --> 02:33:54,720
spread out

3182
02:33:54,720 --> 02:33:58,880
over a very rural space. The and and yes

3183
02:33:58,880 --> 02:34:01,439
there there would be um cost savings

3184
02:34:01,439 --> 02:34:03,760
when it comes to administration.

3185
02:34:03,760 --> 02:34:06,160
You yes you know you're merging several

3186
02:34:06,160 --> 02:34:08,479
districts and you're getting rid of a

3187
02:34:08,479 --> 02:34:10,240
number of school boards. You're getting

3188
02:34:10,240 --> 02:34:13,120
rid of principles and superintendents,

3189
02:34:13,120 --> 02:34:16,160
but that does not nearly pace up with

3190
02:34:16,160 --> 02:34:20,080
the costs of health insurance, which is

3191
02:34:20,080 --> 02:34:22,720
one of the biggest cost driving factors

3192
02:34:22,720 --> 02:34:24,560
uh for school budgets. And it doesn't

3193
02:34:24,560 --> 02:34:26,960
keep up with the pace of how uh

3194
02:34:26,960 --> 02:34:30,000
expensive special education is as well

3195
02:34:30,000 --> 02:34:32,399
as the growing population of students

3196
02:34:32,399 --> 02:34:35,600
who uh are requiring special education

3197
02:34:35,600 --> 02:34:39,600
in Vermont. Uh we did have act 46

3198
02:34:39,600 --> 02:34:42,160
right before u I became a state

3199
02:34:42,160 --> 02:34:45,280
representative and

3200
02:34:45,280 --> 02:34:48,240
we received

3201
02:34:48,240 --> 02:34:51,920
uh the message that if we consolidate

3202
02:34:51,920 --> 02:34:54,640
districts there would be cost savings.

3203
02:34:54,640 --> 02:34:58,640
We we went through act 46. There is, as

3204
02:34:58,640 --> 02:35:00,399
far as I'm aware, there's not much to

3205
02:35:00,399 --> 02:35:04,399
show in terms of cost savings. And my

3206
02:35:04,399 --> 02:35:06,080
concern is that we're going through that

3207
02:35:06,080 --> 02:35:09,920
same process a number of years later

3208
02:35:09,920 --> 02:35:13,120
with the hopes of saving money. And then

3209
02:35:13,120 --> 02:35:15,280
we're going to my my worry is we're

3210
02:35:15,280 --> 02:35:16,399
going to find ourselves in the same

3211
02:35:16,399 --> 02:35:18,240
position six or seven years down the

3212
02:35:18,240 --> 02:35:20,880
road. Once again, trying to consolidate

3213
02:35:20,880 --> 02:35:22,960
districts, getting rid of a few school

3214
02:35:22,960 --> 02:35:24,720
boards and principles and

3215
02:35:24,720 --> 02:35:27,359
superintendent, but still dealing with

3216
02:35:27,359 --> 02:35:28,960
the rising cost of health insurance, the

3217
02:35:28,960 --> 02:35:31,680
rising cost of fuel, the rising cost of

3218
02:35:31,680 --> 02:35:34,240
services that schools use, um,

3219
02:35:34,240 --> 02:35:35,760
transportation.

3220
02:35:35,760 --> 02:35:39,840
Uh, so those those are the factors that

3221
02:35:39,840 --> 02:35:43,040
um that are the challenge there. I will

3222
02:35:43,040 --> 02:35:45,120
say there there are some districts where

3223
02:35:45,120 --> 02:35:47,280
it is a good idea to merge. But I do

3224
02:35:47,280 --> 02:35:48,880
think that it needs to be done on the

3225
02:35:48,880 --> 02:35:52,080
ground between between the districts

3226
02:35:52,080 --> 02:35:54,000
between the school boards. If they come

3227
02:35:54,000 --> 02:35:55,920
together, those are the folks who know

3228
02:35:55,920 --> 02:35:58,160
their communities better than six

3229
02:35:58,160 --> 02:36:00,399
senators sitting around the table who

3230
02:36:00,399 --> 02:36:02,399
aren't on that school board. uh you know

3231
02:36:02,399 --> 02:36:04,240
when those school boards come together

3232
02:36:04,240 --> 02:36:07,120
and actually look at the look at the

3233
02:36:07,120 --> 02:36:10,000
money look at the facts and look at what

3234
02:36:10,000 --> 02:36:11,840
they are able to provide their students

3235
02:36:11,840 --> 02:36:14,800
and they want to voluntarily merge that

3236
02:36:14,800 --> 02:36:16,800
all for it that that's you know if

3237
02:36:16,800 --> 02:36:18,080
that's what's best for that community

3238
02:36:18,080 --> 02:36:19,760
then

3239
02:36:19,760 --> 02:36:22,160
absolutely go for it but I just uh

3240
02:36:22,160 --> 02:36:25,120
generally I I take some issue with the

3241
02:36:25,120 --> 02:36:28,319
state on a higher level looking at

3242
02:36:28,319 --> 02:36:30,399
random towns that we may have never even

3243
02:36:30,399 --> 02:36:32,880
visited report and saying, "Yeah, let's,

3244
02:36:32,880 --> 02:36:34,560
you know, let's put all those towns into

3245
02:36:34,560 --> 02:36:36,240
one district or let's merge these three

3246
02:36:36,240 --> 02:36:39,680
or four districts." It it doesn't feel

3247
02:36:39,680 --> 02:36:45,590
like a good approach.

3248
02:36:45,600 --> 02:36:57,750
I see more hands.

3249
02:36:57,760 --> 02:37:00,160
Since you're on the judiciary committee,

3250
02:37:00,160 --> 02:37:02,720
Could you see me? I'm Beverly

3251
02:37:02,720 --> 02:37:04,560
>> Tier.

3252
02:37:04,560 --> 02:37:05,680
Yeah.

3253
02:37:05,680 --> 02:37:09,600
>> Um I recently in the last year was

3254
02:37:09,600 --> 02:37:12,399
called for jury duty

3255
02:37:12,399 --> 02:37:15,280
and

3256
02:37:15,280 --> 02:37:18,720
I think a lot has been taken away from

3257
02:37:18,720 --> 02:37:22,399
local courts and judges.

3258
02:37:22,399 --> 02:37:28,000
And that jury duty was an excruciating

3259
02:37:28,000 --> 02:37:30,880
experience because there was nobody to

3260
02:37:30,880 --> 02:37:33,120
contact

3261
02:37:33,120 --> 02:37:35,840
about what was going on and when you

3262
02:37:35,840 --> 02:37:39,520
needed to be there.

3263
02:37:39,520 --> 02:37:43,439
I was very sick and I had no way to

3264
02:37:43,439 --> 02:37:47,760
contact anybody to say, "Hey, I don't

3265
02:37:47,760 --> 02:37:50,240
think you want me there. I'm not well

3266
02:37:50,240 --> 02:37:54,880
enough to be there." I had to go show up

3267
02:37:54,880 --> 02:37:57,359
and be excused.

3268
02:37:57,359 --> 02:38:00,720
There was another woman who had just

3269
02:38:00,720 --> 02:38:03,200
been released from the hospital with

3270
02:38:03,200 --> 02:38:04,800
pneumonia

3271
02:38:04,800 --> 02:38:08,960
and she had to show up and be excused.

3272
02:38:08,960 --> 02:38:11,920
You know, I really think that jury duty

3273
02:38:11,920 --> 02:38:15,120
and jury selection and being able to

3274
02:38:15,120 --> 02:38:19,040
have your day in court is important,

3275
02:38:19,040 --> 02:38:22,720
but we need to support

3276
02:38:22,720 --> 02:38:27,520
the jurors and the jury and how we have

3277
02:38:27,520 --> 02:38:30,479
to function during that time. I mean,

3278
02:38:30,479 --> 02:38:33,760
it's basically a volunteer thing.

3279
02:38:33,760 --> 02:38:37,120
You might get $10 if you missed work,

3280
02:38:37,120 --> 02:38:39,920
which doesn't begin

3281
02:38:39,920 --> 02:38:42,800
to compensate for what you're missing

3282
02:38:42,800 --> 02:38:45,200
out on.

3283
02:38:45,200 --> 02:38:47,520
And you need to be able to talk to the

3284
02:38:47,520 --> 02:38:50,720
people that you have to deal with.

3285
02:38:50,720 --> 02:38:53,760
There's no phone numbers. I think the

3286
02:38:53,760 --> 02:38:55,840
phone number that was there was for

3287
02:38:55,840 --> 02:38:58,479
somebody up in Montpelier that didn't

3288
02:38:58,479 --> 02:39:01,359
know what was going on, was out of touch

3289
02:39:01,359 --> 02:39:04,160
with

3290
02:39:04,160 --> 02:39:07,840
the court cases. Um I think it's a

3291
02:39:07,840 --> 02:39:12,070
really important issue that needs

3292
02:39:12,080 --> 02:39:16,720
» Thank you. I'll I'll respond uh to that

3293
02:39:16,720 --> 02:39:20,240
generally. Um so my my job outside of

3294
02:39:20,240 --> 02:39:22,960
the legislature is as an attorney. I

3295
02:39:22,960 --> 02:39:25,920
practice down. Um hopefully your case

3296
02:39:25,920 --> 02:39:28,560
wasn't the trial that I was the part of

3297
02:39:28,560 --> 02:39:33,270
you. Okay, great. So,

3298
02:39:33,280 --> 02:39:34,960
first off, I'm sorry you had that

3299
02:39:34,960 --> 02:39:39,439
experience. U there should be

3300
02:39:39,439 --> 02:39:41,439
uh the opportunity to call the court

3301
02:39:41,439 --> 02:39:43,359
clerk. Uh there the number is supposed

3302
02:39:43,359 --> 02:39:47,040
to be available. Um but I'm getting the

3303
02:39:47,040 --> 02:39:50,479
sense that that didn't work out.

3304
02:39:50,479 --> 02:39:52,560
And

3305
02:39:52,560 --> 02:39:56,160
you know, we I I have uh strongly

3306
02:39:56,160 --> 02:39:58,479
supported providing more resources to

3307
02:39:58,479 --> 02:40:01,520
our courts. Uh not to tip the scales to

3308
02:40:01,520 --> 02:40:02,880
one side or the other, but to make sure

3309
02:40:02,880 --> 02:40:04,560
that things are running efficiently and

3310
02:40:04,560 --> 02:40:07,120
fairly. And you know, this has looked

3311
02:40:07,120 --> 02:40:10,319
like more more judge positions. We we

3312
02:40:10,319 --> 02:40:13,439
got two judge positions added let's say

3313
02:40:13,439 --> 02:40:15,359
a year ago as well as a number of

3314
02:40:15,359 --> 02:40:17,840
judicial assistant positions who are the

3315
02:40:17,840 --> 02:40:19,920
folks behind the scenes doing more of

3316
02:40:19,920 --> 02:40:22,319
the logistical and administrative work.

3317
02:40:22,319 --> 02:40:25,040
But I mean your your point is well taken

3318
02:40:25,040 --> 02:40:28,319
that there are still shortcomings and uh

3319
02:40:28,319 --> 02:40:29,680
challenges when it comes to

3320
02:40:29,680 --> 02:40:32,160
communicating with the court as a juror.

3321
02:40:32,160 --> 02:40:37,270
So thank you for sharing that.

3322
02:40:37,280 --> 02:40:45,590
» I see your hand in the back.

3323
02:40:45,600 --> 02:40:48,319
Hi, uh, Adam Palmer. Um, just back to

3324
02:40:48,319 --> 02:40:49,760
the education piece, and maybe this

3325
02:40:49,760 --> 02:40:52,399
isn't the forum, but I I had dealt with

3326
02:40:52,399 --> 02:40:54,880
consolidation up in the, um, Wilmington

3327
02:40:54,880 --> 02:40:57,280
area way back when, and I think there is

3328
02:40:57,280 --> 02:40:58,560
something to be said. I think everybody

3329
02:40:58,560 --> 02:41:00,720
focuses a lot on the budget. Um, I think

3330
02:41:00,720 --> 02:41:02,160
there's something to be said, not

3331
02:41:02,160 --> 02:41:04,080
because I'm a proponent of education,

3332
02:41:04,080 --> 02:41:05,359
but it does afford a lot more

3333
02:41:05,359 --> 02:41:06,960
opportunities to kids from smaller

3334
02:41:06,960 --> 02:41:09,120
schools. um you know higher level

3335
02:41:09,120 --> 02:41:11,280
programs when they go to schools that

3336
02:41:11,280 --> 02:41:13,520
have a lot more offerings which creates

3337
02:41:13,520 --> 02:41:16,319
a lot less discrepancy between what kids

3338
02:41:16,319 --> 02:41:17,760
are getting in larger districts versus

3339
02:41:17,760 --> 02:41:19,600
smaller districts. So something to be

3340
02:41:19,600 --> 02:41:21,760
said. Um I think there's also something

3341
02:41:21,760 --> 02:41:24,080
that and maybe this uh is something that

3342
02:41:24,080 --> 02:41:26,720
you guys are already focused on but over

3343
02:41:26,720 --> 02:41:28,880
the years you know since I got out of

3344
02:41:28,880 --> 02:41:31,280
college 20 years in the area I have seen

3345
02:41:31,280 --> 02:41:33,920
such an outflow of students and families

3346
02:41:33,920 --> 02:41:36,240
from Vermont. Um, and I think that's

3347
02:41:36,240 --> 02:41:38,479
part of what's creating the issue is

3348
02:41:38,479 --> 02:41:41,200
that people are the schools are getting

3349
02:41:41,200 --> 02:41:43,600
smaller. Um, and so we're having issues

3350
02:41:43,600 --> 02:41:44,960
with budgets because they don't have as

3351
02:41:44,960 --> 02:41:46,000
many kids. They don't have as many

3352
02:41:46,000 --> 02:41:48,960
taxpayers. And so I have customers

3353
02:41:48,960 --> 02:41:50,880
actively that say, "Hey, we want to move

3354
02:41:50,880 --> 02:41:53,040
over to Chesterfield because we're going

3355
02:41:53,040 --> 02:41:54,479
to get better education and pay less

3356
02:41:54,479 --> 02:41:56,960
taxes." I think there's something that

3357
02:41:56,960 --> 02:42:01,840
goes handinhand with um you know we we

3358
02:42:01,840 --> 02:42:04,640
are hyperfocused on the taxes and the

3359
02:42:04,640 --> 02:42:06,720
budget and all that but not not about

3360
02:42:06,720 --> 02:42:09,439
planting the tree um to see you know

3361
02:42:09,439 --> 02:42:12,319
future generations enjoy it. And at the

3362
02:42:12,319 --> 02:42:14,240
moment we're not really planting trees

3363
02:42:14,240 --> 02:42:15,920
in Vermont. We're really not business

3364
02:42:15,920 --> 02:42:17,920
friendly. We're tax heavy. We're the I

3365
02:42:17,920 --> 02:42:19,920
think the third highest tax state in the

3366
02:42:19,920 --> 02:42:22,160
nation and New Hampshire next door is

3367
02:42:22,160 --> 02:42:25,520
the second lowest. So when you've got

3368
02:42:25,520 --> 02:42:27,439
families and people looking at that and

3369
02:42:27,439 --> 02:42:28,800
saying, you know, from an affordability

3370
02:42:28,800 --> 02:42:29,840
standpoint, when you talk about

3371
02:42:29,840 --> 02:42:31,680
healthcare, hey, it doesn't make sense

3372
02:42:31,680 --> 02:42:34,000
for us to be here, we've got to kind of

3373
02:42:34,000 --> 02:42:35,600
be thinking, well, how can we get people

3374
02:42:35,600 --> 02:42:36,960
back into Vermont, make it more

3375
02:42:36,960 --> 02:42:38,880
businessfriendly, whatever it might be.

3376
02:42:38,880 --> 02:42:41,520
And also then give the options to these

3377
02:42:41,520 --> 02:42:43,200
kids so that they can improve. I think

3378
02:42:43,200 --> 02:42:45,280
the consolidation piece just there's a

3379
02:42:45,280 --> 02:42:46,800
little bit of an element there for some

3380
02:42:46,800 --> 02:42:48,240
of these smaller schools where the kids

3381
02:42:48,240 --> 02:42:50,319
just aren't getting that. So just food

3382
02:42:50,319 --> 02:42:51,680
for thought.

3383
02:42:51,680 --> 02:42:54,479
>> Yeah. No, thank you. that's uh that

3384
02:42:54,479 --> 02:42:56,800
those are important points. I'll touch

3385
02:42:56,800 --> 02:43:02,960
on the aspect of students getting, you

3386
02:43:02,960 --> 02:43:05,760
know, exposure to different programs. Um

3387
02:43:05,760 --> 02:43:08,640
and I I think maybe I should clarify

3388
02:43:08,640 --> 02:43:10,960
that, you know, I'm not standing up here

3389
02:43:10,960 --> 02:43:13,520
saying no consolidation, no mergers ever

3390
02:43:13,520 --> 02:43:16,560
under any circumstances. there there are

3391
02:43:16,560 --> 02:43:18,880
situations where it makes sense uh for

3392
02:43:18,880 --> 02:43:21,680
certain schools or districts to merge

3393
02:43:21,680 --> 02:43:24,479
and I think that is something that needs

3394
02:43:24,479 --> 02:43:29,359
to be done on a more local level with uh

3395
02:43:29,359 --> 02:43:32,960
with neighboring communities that know

3396
02:43:32,960 --> 02:43:34,880
what it's like to drive over a certain

3397
02:43:34,880 --> 02:43:37,280
mountain in the winter or know what

3398
02:43:37,280 --> 02:43:38,880
offerings are being provided at a

3399
02:43:38,880 --> 02:43:40,160
certain school and whether or not they

3400
02:43:40,160 --> 02:43:41,680
want to keep their smaller school open

3401
02:43:41,680 --> 02:43:43,760
and send their school their kids to the

3402
02:43:43,760 --> 02:43:46,479
larger school for more offerings. Um,

3403
02:43:46,479 --> 02:43:48,880
yeah, those those are absolutely valid

3404
02:43:48,880 --> 02:43:52,240
points. Um, and I think that school

3405
02:43:52,240 --> 02:43:56,160
boards and communities are more well

3406
02:43:56,160 --> 02:44:00,240
equipped to make those decisions than um

3407
02:44:00,240 --> 02:44:05,600
than six senators or 11 state reps.

3408
02:44:05,600 --> 02:44:08,399
And uh to your point about

3409
02:44:08,399 --> 02:44:15,120
affordability, uh I mean, you know, I'm 37 and you know, I I try convincing

3410
02:44:15,120 --> 02:44:17,439
my friends who are in my age range to

3411
02:44:17,439 --> 02:44:21,359
move to Vermont and they'd love to, but

3412
02:44:21,359 --> 02:44:24,720
it's extremely difficult to to find an

3413
02:44:24,720 --> 02:44:27,840
affordable house or to find

3414
02:44:27,840 --> 02:44:30,240
employment that, you know, isn't remote

3415
02:44:30,240 --> 02:44:31,840
and is in person that, you know, they

3416
02:44:31,840 --> 02:44:38,880
could go to, at least in this area. We did make a number of investments uh

3417
02:44:38,880 --> 02:44:41,040
over the last two years related to

3418
02:44:41,040 --> 02:44:45,279
housing and child care and it it does

3419
02:44:45,279 --> 02:44:47,439
take a bit of time to see that return on

3420
02:44:47,439 --> 02:44:50,960
investment but we we do need to grow our

3421
02:44:50,960 --> 02:44:53,840
grand list. We do need to increase our

3422
02:44:53,840 --> 02:44:56,560
population. We need to have uh you know

3423
02:44:56,560 --> 02:44:59,120
more more families who want to come here

3424
02:44:59,120 --> 02:45:01,680
and live here and work here uh coming to

3425
02:45:01,680 --> 02:45:03,600
Vermont.

3426
02:45:03,600 --> 02:45:06,560
So, so I guess I'm kind of extreme

3427
02:45:06,560 --> 02:45:08,880
conscious right now to uh

3428
02:45:08,880 --> 02:45:11,600
>> is it somewhat budgetary? Like when you

3429
02:45:11,600 --> 02:45:15,120
go to areas like Waterbury, do you see a

3430
02:45:15,120 --> 02:45:17,040
lot of business incentives and new

3431
02:45:17,040 --> 02:45:19,040
businesses starting up because they get

3432
02:45:19,040 --> 02:45:21,120
those incentives? That's simply because

3433
02:45:21,120 --> 02:45:23,840
they're getting money from be able to do

3434
02:45:23,840 --> 02:45:27,750
those programs.

3435
02:45:27,760 --> 02:45:31,359
» I that specific I'm I'm not I I don't

3436
02:45:31,359 --> 02:45:33,200
think I'd be I'm not sure. not able to

3437
02:45:33,200 --> 02:45:35,040
answer that. I I could look more into

3438
02:45:35,040 --> 02:45:38,000
that. Um, and if my my contact

3439
02:45:38,000 --> 02:45:40,240
information is on the flyers that I left

3440
02:45:40,240 --> 02:45:42,160
behind and if you if you want to send me

3441
02:45:42,160 --> 02:45:44,640
an email, then I'll know who to respond

3442
02:45:44,640 --> 02:45:46,720
to and I can get you more information.

3443
02:45:46,720 --> 02:45:52,070
I'm very happy to text you.

3444
02:45:52,080 --> 02:46:05,670
» So, we want to thank for stopping by.

3445
02:46:05,680 --> 02:46:08,640
And we will reconvene our meeting.

3446
02:46:08,640 --> 02:46:14,880
We are on article 12.

3447
02:46:14,880 --> 02:46:17,279
Shall the voters authorize highway

3448
02:46:17,279 --> 02:46:21,600
structures expenditures of $25,000

3449
02:46:21,600 --> 02:46:24,160
and to pay for set expenditures from the

3450
02:46:24,160 --> 02:46:27,200
highway structures fund. Is there a

3451
02:46:27,200 --> 02:46:28,960
motion?

3452
02:46:28,960 --> 02:46:31,040
I move we authorize highway structures

3453
02:46:31,040 --> 02:46:34,319
expenditures of $25,000 and pay for set

3454
02:46:34,319 --> 02:46:36,160
expenditures from the highway structures

3455
02:46:36,160 --> 02:46:40,870
fund which is on page 25.

3456
02:46:40,880 --> 02:46:45,349
» Is there a second?

3457
02:46:45,359 --> 02:46:47,600
» Second. It has been moved and seconded

3458
02:46:47,600 --> 02:46:50,080
that we authorize highway structures

3459
02:46:50,080 --> 02:46:53,920
expenditures of $25,000 and pay for set

3460
02:46:53,920 --> 02:46:56,800
expend expenditures from the highway

3461
02:46:56,800 --> 02:46:59,600
structures fund.

3462
02:46:59,600 --> 02:47:04,710
Any questions?

3463
02:47:04,720 --> 02:47:14,550
Bill.

3464
02:47:14,560 --> 02:47:16,960
» Um, Bill Conley.

3465
02:47:16,960 --> 02:47:19,279
I'm sure it's absolutely necessary. So,

3466
02:47:19,279 --> 02:47:21,680
I'm not I'm not challenging. I'm just

3467
02:47:21,680 --> 02:47:27,840
noticing the uh actual from 25 2025 to

3468
02:47:27,840 --> 02:47:32,160
today. So, just curious about zero last

3469
02:47:32,160 --> 02:47:35,279
year and 25,000. So, I'm just curious

3470
02:47:35,279 --> 02:47:37,040
about

3471
02:47:37,040 --> 02:47:42,630
uh that big of a jump. So,

3472
02:47:42,640 --> 02:47:46,080
I was looking for Lee. So, the there was

3473
02:47:46,080 --> 02:47:49,680
nothing spent this year on structures

3474
02:47:49,680 --> 02:47:52,080
from the town budget. And the next thing

3475
02:47:52,080 --> 02:47:55,520
on the list, uh page 26, which is after

3476
02:47:55,520 --> 02:47:58,319
page 25, I know you know that, has a

3477
02:47:58,319 --> 02:47:59,760
list of all the structures that the

3478
02:47:59,760 --> 02:48:02,080
town's responsible for. Alex Wilson's

3479
02:48:02,080 --> 02:48:04,960
smiling. So item number one on that list

3480
02:48:04,960 --> 02:48:07,840
is Leonard Road. And so this $25,000

3481
02:48:07,840 --> 02:48:10,240
will be added to an expected state grant

3482
02:48:10,240 --> 02:48:12,240
of $180,000

3483
02:48:12,240 --> 02:48:15,760
to replace item number one on that list.

3484
02:48:15,760 --> 02:48:17,359
So there may not be expenditures every

3485
02:48:17,359 --> 02:48:20,240
year, but like the capital fund, we

3486
02:48:20,240 --> 02:48:22,319
didn't cover this earlier. That list of

3487
02:48:22,319 --> 02:48:24,640
1 through 10, we took those amounts if

3488
02:48:24,640 --> 02:48:25,760
you look on there, which are the

3489
02:48:25,760 --> 02:48:28,399
priorities that we set. And number 11 on

3490
02:48:28,399 --> 02:48:30,720
that list is the East West Road Bridge,

3491
02:48:30,720 --> 02:48:32,160
which is going to be a million dollars,

3492
02:48:32,160 --> 02:48:34,640
if not more. So what we've done for

3493
02:48:34,640 --> 02:48:36,560
74,000, you see this number again next

3494
02:48:36,560 --> 02:48:38,720
year and in following years, is how much

3495
02:48:38,720 --> 02:48:40,720
do we need less the state grants we're

3496
02:48:40,720 --> 02:48:42,720
going to get between now and replacing

3497
02:48:42,720 --> 02:48:44,240
the East West Road Bridge, which I know

3498
02:48:44,240 --> 02:48:47,439
is 20 some years away, but it's going to

3499
02:48:47,439 --> 02:48:50,640
happen. And so all those 1 through10s

3500
02:48:50,640 --> 02:48:52,399
and number 11, which is East West Road

3501
02:48:52,399 --> 02:48:55,040
Bridge, is what the $74,000 every year

3502
02:48:55,040 --> 02:48:56,720
is adding up to so we can replace all

3503
02:48:56,720 --> 02:49:01,190
those coverts and bridges that we need.

3504
02:49:01,200 --> 02:49:08,870
» Jody,

3505
02:49:08,880 --> 02:49:11,439
I have mentioned this many times to the

3506
02:49:11,439 --> 02:49:15,520
select board and to the middle road.

3507
02:49:15,520 --> 02:49:19,359
There's those two horrible corners and

3508
02:49:19,359 --> 02:49:21,920
everything is worn down on the sides of

3509
02:49:21,920 --> 02:49:23,840
the culverts who are there that are

3510
02:49:23,840 --> 02:49:26,000
there. They're not persons there that

3511
02:49:26,000 --> 02:49:28,479
are there. Um, and there's several

3512
02:49:28,479 --> 02:49:30,560
accidents that happen on those two

3513
02:49:30,560 --> 02:49:35,359
horrible corners. And I am not one who

3514
02:49:35,359 --> 02:49:38,640
wants to get wider roads, but I would

3515
02:49:38,640 --> 02:49:42,000
like to fix those corners so somebody

3516
02:49:42,000 --> 02:49:44,960
doesn't go off on them. Uh lots of times

3517
02:49:44,960 --> 02:49:47,359
you see where they've gone off but have

3518
02:49:47,359 --> 02:49:50,319
not gone over. Um particularly on the

3519
02:49:50,319 --> 02:49:54,240
one closer to Maria's house. Um and

3520
02:49:54,240 --> 02:49:55,840
maybe it's Maria's trucks that have gone

3521
02:49:55,840 --> 02:49:58,800
over. I don't know. Um you can see the

3522
02:49:58,800 --> 02:50:00,720
tracks where they've gone down off the

3523
02:50:00,720 --> 02:50:02,880
black top but have managed to stay on

3524
02:50:02,880 --> 02:50:06,240
the road. And just recently there was a

3525
02:50:06,240 --> 02:50:08,399
logging truck that put pushed somebody

3526
02:50:08,399 --> 02:50:10,240
over on one of those corners. And I

3527
02:50:10,240 --> 02:50:12,640
don't know what it was, but I can see

3528
02:50:12,640 --> 02:50:15,359
where it can easily happen. And I really

3529
02:50:15,359 --> 02:50:18,800
wish that you could somehow just fix

3530
02:50:18,800 --> 02:50:23,510
those areas.

3531
02:50:23,520 --> 02:50:27,190
Anyone else?

3532
02:50:27,200 --> 02:50:31,750
Okay, Ruth.

3533
02:50:31,760 --> 02:50:34,479
Okay. I just want to point out on page

3534
02:50:34,479 --> 02:50:36,479
15

3535
02:50:36,479 --> 02:50:39,200
shows the highway structures fund which

3536
02:50:39,200 --> 02:50:42,560
has a balance as of June 30th of

3537
02:50:42,560 --> 02:50:46,469
$25,927.

3538
02:50:46,479 --> 02:50:50,160
So what we're talking about is spending

3539
02:50:50,160 --> 02:50:53,040
some of that money. So just want to

3540
02:50:53,040 --> 02:50:57,920
point out that's where the fund is.

3541
02:50:57,920 --> 02:51:01,670
>> Thank you.

3542
02:51:01,680 --> 02:51:03,040
Looks like you're ready for the

3543
02:51:03,040 --> 02:51:06,080
question. It has been moved and seconded

3544
02:51:06,080 --> 02:51:08,479
that we authorize highway structures

3545
02:51:08,479 --> 02:51:11,600
expenditures of $25,000

3546
02:51:11,600 --> 02:51:13,680
and pay for expenditures from the

3547
02:51:13,680 --> 02:51:17,840
highway structures fund. All in favor

3548
02:51:17,840 --> 02:51:20,880
indicate by saying I.

3549
02:51:20,880 --> 02:51:23,920
>> Any opposed say no.

3550
02:51:23,920 --> 02:51:26,880
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

3551
02:51:26,880 --> 02:51:29,120
have it. And you have funded your highly

3552
02:51:29,120 --> 02:51:32,080
structure fund.

3553
02:51:32,080 --> 02:51:34,640
Article 13.

3554
02:51:34,640 --> 02:51:37,200
Shall the town of Donstein vote to

3555
02:51:37,200 --> 02:51:40,479
raise, appropriate, and expend the sum

3556
02:51:40,479 --> 02:51:42,560
of $3,000

3557
02:51:42,560 --> 02:51:44,880
to help support the food budget of the

3558
02:51:44,880 --> 02:51:47,760
Putney food shelf, which provides

3559
02:51:47,760 --> 02:51:51,600
services to the town of Dston.

3560
02:51:51,600 --> 02:52:10,550
Is there a motion right there, Mike?

3561
02:52:10,560 --> 02:52:12,960
Meg Lions Dmerston and president of

3562
02:52:12,960 --> 02:52:17,429
Dmerston Cares.

3563
02:52:17,439 --> 02:52:19,520
I move that the town of Dmerston raise,

3564
02:52:19,520 --> 02:52:21,359
appropriate, and expend the sum of

3565
02:52:21,359 --> 02:52:24,000
$3,000 to help support the food budget

3566
02:52:24,000 --> 02:52:26,560
of the Pot Food Shelf, which provides

3567
02:52:26,560 --> 02:52:29,359
services to the town of Dmerston.

3568
02:52:29,359 --> 02:52:31,520
>> Is there a second?

3569
02:52:31,520 --> 02:52:34,479
>> Second. Thank you. Me, would you like to

3570
02:52:34,479 --> 02:52:37,920
explain this?

3571
02:52:37,920 --> 02:52:39,920
>> Thank you, Cindy. Um I'm joined today by

3572
02:52:39,920 --> 02:52:42,399
several members of in fact maybe almost

3573
02:52:42,399 --> 02:52:44,160
all of the members of the Dummerston

3574
02:52:44,160 --> 02:52:47,680
Cares board and um we're here to urge

3575
02:52:47,680 --> 02:52:50,319
you to vote yes on this uh particular

3576
02:52:50,319 --> 02:52:52,240
article and I just want I know it's been

3577
02:52:52,240 --> 02:52:54,000
a long day. I just want to offer some

3578
02:52:54,000 --> 02:52:56,960
very brief remarks about why we think

3579
02:52:56,960 --> 02:52:59,439
this is so important.

3580
02:52:59,439 --> 02:53:01,040
The first thing is that the Putty Food

3581
02:53:01,040 --> 02:53:04,319
Shelf has been uh welcoming Dmerston uh

3582
02:53:04,319 --> 02:53:06,160
residents to shop at its free food

3583
02:53:06,160 --> 02:53:10,479
pantry since about the year 2012.

3584
02:53:10,479 --> 02:53:13,520
Last year alone, there were 457

3585
02:53:13,520 --> 02:53:16,720
visits by Dmerston households

3586
02:53:16,720 --> 02:53:18,960
and that number is continuing to

3587
02:53:18,960 --> 02:53:20,479
increase.

3588
02:53:20,479 --> 02:53:24,560
In 2025, there were 20 Dmerston families

3589
02:53:24,560 --> 02:53:26,960
who made their first visits to the food

3590
02:53:26,960 --> 02:53:29,840
shelf.

3591
02:53:29,840 --> 02:53:31,920
This however is the first year that the

3592
02:53:31,920 --> 02:53:34,560
putty food shelf is asking for funds

3593
02:53:34,560 --> 02:53:37,600
from the town of Dmerston

3594
02:53:37,600 --> 02:53:39,439
and they have made application to the

3595
02:53:39,439 --> 02:53:41,359
social services committee which has been

3596
02:53:41,359 --> 02:53:43,200
approved.

3597
02:53:43,200 --> 02:53:45,920
Other surrounding uh towns our neighbors

3598
02:53:45,920 --> 02:53:48,160
um whose residents also visit the food

3599
02:53:48,160 --> 02:53:50,160
shelf

3600
02:53:50,160 --> 02:53:52,720
have been funding the organization uh

3601
02:53:52,720 --> 02:53:55,120
for many years. And to put this in some

3602
02:53:55,120 --> 02:53:57,120
perspective, uh, last year the town of

3603
02:53:57,120 --> 02:54:01,359
Putty contributed, uh, just over $7,800.

3604
02:54:01,359 --> 02:54:03,920
West Minister, whose usage is pretty

3605
02:54:03,920 --> 02:54:07,760
close to our own, contributed $5,000 and

3606
02:54:07,760 --> 02:54:10,399
Rattleboroough 7,500.

3607
02:54:10,399 --> 02:54:12,160
And we believe it's now time for

3608
02:54:12,160 --> 02:54:14,800
Dmerston to do its bit and to contribute

3609
02:54:14,800 --> 02:54:19,520
to the food shelf from the town budget.

3610
02:54:19,520 --> 02:54:21,279
And lastly, while it's true that the

3611
02:54:21,279 --> 02:54:24,080
food shelf is located in the village of

3612
02:54:24,080 --> 02:54:27,439
Putney, the staff make every effort to

3613
02:54:27,439 --> 02:54:29,600
ensure that healthy food is available

3614
02:54:29,600 --> 02:54:32,640
and easily accessible to our residents

3615
02:54:32,640 --> 02:54:37,439
as well. In addition to uh two days per

3616
02:54:37,439 --> 02:54:39,600
week where there are hours where you can

3617
02:54:39,600 --> 02:54:41,840
shop there,

3618
02:54:41,840 --> 02:54:44,080
they also make home deliveries. And I

3619
02:54:44,080 --> 02:54:48,080
will tell you that we got a call one day

3620
02:54:48,080 --> 02:54:51,439
from a woman who had no food and I

3621
02:54:51,439 --> 02:54:53,680
called the food shelf

3622
02:54:53,680 --> 02:54:55,840
and she had food by 2:00 in the

3623
02:54:55,840 --> 02:54:59,279
afternoon. She could eat that evening.

3624
02:54:59,279 --> 02:55:00,800
That's one of the reasons I love the

3625
02:55:00,800 --> 02:55:03,359
food shelf. They are really committed to

3626
02:55:03,359 --> 02:55:05,439
this mission.

3627
02:55:05,439 --> 02:55:07,359
There's also a monthly food drop in

3628
02:55:07,359 --> 02:55:10,880
Putney. It's a drive-thru.

3629
02:55:10,880 --> 02:55:13,200
and Dston residents can also shop for

3630
02:55:13,200 --> 02:55:15,600
friends and neighbors.

3631
02:55:15,600 --> 02:55:17,359
So for these and for so many other

3632
02:55:17,359 --> 02:55:20,880
reasons, we're urging you to vote yes.

3633
02:55:20,880 --> 02:55:23,040
I want to see the food shelf healthy and

3634
02:55:23,040 --> 02:55:25,840
fiscally maintained so that it can

3635
02:55:25,840 --> 02:55:29,840
continue to do this good work.

3636
02:55:29,840 --> 02:55:31,760
I just want to say that people have

3637
02:55:31,760 --> 02:55:33,120
said, why don't we have our own food

3638
02:55:33,120 --> 02:55:36,160
shelf here in Dston?

3639
02:55:36,160 --> 02:55:38,080
What I want to say is now that I know

3640
02:55:38,080 --> 02:55:39,760
more about how the Piney Food Shelf

3641
02:55:39,760 --> 02:55:41,600
operates and what it takes to get this

3642
02:55:41,600 --> 02:55:44,000
service going and to and to operate

3643
02:55:44,000 --> 02:55:46,479
efficiently and effectively,

3644
02:55:46,479 --> 02:55:49,439
that would be a heavy lift for us. And I

3645
02:55:49,439 --> 02:55:52,399
think that the $3,000 that we hopefully

3646
02:55:52,399 --> 02:55:55,200
will be giving them

3647
02:55:55,200 --> 02:55:57,120
will certainly

3648
02:55:57,120 --> 02:56:00,399
benefit us. We could not have our own

3649
02:56:00,399 --> 02:56:04,309
food shelf for $3,000.

3650
02:56:04,319 --> 02:56:09,040
Thank you. Are there any questions?

3651
02:56:09,040 --> 02:56:12,630
Comments,

3652
02:56:12,640 --> 02:56:20,070
best Richardson. Yes.

3653
02:56:20,080 --> 02:56:23,120
Thank you, Bess Richardson. Still

3654
02:56:23,120 --> 02:56:26,319
>> Yeah. Yes. I would um I would recommend

3655
02:56:26,319 --> 02:56:29,200
that we boost this to 5,000 personally

3656
02:56:29,200 --> 02:56:33,279
because I have seen so many families

3657
02:56:33,279 --> 02:56:35,760
older families, younger families who

3658
02:56:35,760 --> 02:56:40,080
need help. And it's not getting better.

3659
02:56:40,080 --> 02:56:42,720
>> So, Bess, are you making a motion for an

3660
02:56:42,720 --> 02:56:46,640
amendment to increase the $3,000 to

3661
02:56:46,640 --> 02:56:48,640
$5,000?

3662
02:56:48,640 --> 02:56:50,160
Okay. Is there a second on that

3663
02:56:50,160 --> 02:56:51,600
amendment?

3664
02:56:51,600 --> 02:56:54,630
>> Second.

3665
02:56:54,640 --> 02:56:56,800
It has been moved and seconded that we

3666
02:56:56,800 --> 02:56:58,479
amend the motion on the floor, the

3667
02:56:58,479 --> 02:57:01,760
primary motion to replace $3,000 with

3668
02:57:01,760 --> 02:57:03,840
$5,000.

3669
02:57:03,840 --> 02:57:08,630
Is there discussion?

3670
02:57:08,640 --> 02:57:18,399
» Eric, Krueger. So just as a matter of

3671
02:57:18,399 --> 02:57:20,720
process, is this one-time request from

3672
02:57:20,720 --> 02:57:23,279
the Putney food shelf something that

3673
02:57:23,279 --> 02:57:26,319
will in subsequent years go to the

3674
02:57:26,319 --> 02:57:29,520
select board for inclusion in the um

3675
02:57:29,520 --> 02:57:32,160
social services line item of the budget?

3676
02:57:32,160 --> 02:57:33,359
Understand we're only committing

3677
02:57:33,359 --> 02:57:35,279
ourselves for this year, but going

3678
02:57:35,279 --> 02:57:37,600
forward will this join the other

3679
02:57:37,600 --> 02:57:39,680
nonprofits that reach out to Dumbston

3680
02:57:39,680 --> 02:57:41,359
for support

3681
02:57:41,359 --> 02:57:44,160
>> if it's approved. Do you guys intend on

3682
02:57:44,160 --> 02:57:45,920
continuing it, putting it in the budget

3683
02:57:45,920 --> 02:57:49,680
yourselves? Okay, the answer is yes. And

3684
02:57:49,680 --> 02:57:58,240
Molly, Stoner, I was just wondering if we

3685
02:57:58,240 --> 02:58:00,000
could hear the numbers again of what the

3686
02:58:00,000 --> 02:58:01,840
other towns and I think one was a

3687
02:58:01,840 --> 02:58:04,800
similar size or usage to Dumbston. If we

3688
02:58:04,800 --> 02:58:06,319
could hear those again.

3689
02:58:06,319 --> 02:58:08,960
>> That was Westminster at 5,000. And can

3690
02:58:08,960 --> 02:58:11,040
we get the microphone over to Magg so

3691
02:58:11,040 --> 02:58:15,990
that she can answer that question?

3692
02:58:16,000 --> 02:58:20,389
Meg, we're being interrogated.

3693
02:58:20,399 --> 02:58:22,479
A review, a quick, please, a quick

3694
02:58:22,479 --> 02:58:25,040
review of the numbers, the dollars that

3695
02:58:25,040 --> 02:58:27,439
other towns are giving them.

3696
02:58:27,439 --> 02:58:31,760
>> Okay. Um, Putney did 7,830.

3697
02:58:31,760 --> 02:58:33,760
These are figures for last year, by the

3698
02:58:33,760 --> 02:58:37,520
way. West Minister did 5,000 and their

3699
02:58:37,520 --> 02:58:40,160
usage as I said is very similar to ours.

3700
02:58:40,160 --> 02:58:42,720
The number of visits and last year

3701
02:58:42,720 --> 02:58:45,120
Battle Bro did 7500.

3702
02:58:45,120 --> 02:58:48,550
Thank you.

3703
02:58:48,560 --> 02:58:50,800
Bill

3704
02:58:50,800 --> 02:58:55,030
microphone. Me.

3705
02:58:55,040 --> 02:58:57,120
There's a microphone right behind you.

3706
02:58:57,120 --> 02:58:58,880
And take the microphone and take it to

3707
02:58:58,880 --> 02:59:04,790
Bill. Thanks.

3708
02:59:04,800 --> 02:59:07,520
She's coming over.

3709
02:59:07,520 --> 02:59:11,190
There she is.

3710
02:59:11,200 --> 02:59:15,439
» Okay, Bill Schmidt. Um,

3711
02:59:15,439 --> 02:59:17,920
so I've gotten very well acquainted with

3712
02:59:17,920 --> 02:59:20,800
the food shelf over the last eight

3713
02:59:20,800 --> 02:59:23,040
months in particular.

3714
02:59:23,040 --> 02:59:26,479
Uh, last week I talked to Hannah Pek,

3715
02:59:26,479 --> 02:59:29,200
who's the executive director,

3716
02:59:29,200 --> 02:59:31,439
about Dumbston's

3717
02:59:31,439 --> 02:59:34,880
proposed share, $3,000.

3718
02:59:34,880 --> 02:59:37,520
And this was a number that was decided

3719
02:59:37,520 --> 02:59:41,359
upon last summer

3720
02:59:41,359 --> 02:59:44,160
using figures that we had then and

3721
02:59:44,160 --> 02:59:47,920
trying to forecast them into the future.

3722
02:59:47,920 --> 02:59:52,240
She told me in my conversation with her

3723
02:59:52,240 --> 02:59:55,760
last week that actually

3724
02:59:55,760 --> 02:59:59,120
the number of people served by the food

3725
02:59:59,120 --> 03:00:02,160
shelf in Dmerston

3726
03:00:02,160 --> 03:00:05,120
uh if taken literally

3727
03:00:05,120 --> 03:00:07,680
should be

3728
03:00:07,680 --> 03:00:12,560
five to 6% and not 3% against the food

3729
03:00:12,560 --> 03:00:16,160
budget of $100,000.

3730
03:00:16,160 --> 03:00:17,840
Uh

3731
03:00:17,840 --> 03:00:20,479
they're going up in Putney and Bradboro

3732
03:00:20,479 --> 03:00:23,760
this year. West Linister is staying the

3733
03:00:23,760 --> 03:00:26,319
same at 5,000.

3734
03:00:26,319 --> 03:00:30,160
Uh in Put in Dumbston, you know, from

3735
03:00:30,160 --> 03:00:33,200
this conversation I had with Tanner in

3736
03:00:33,200 --> 03:00:36,000
terms of the food being delivered to

3737
03:00:36,000 --> 03:00:38,319
Dumbston residents,

3738
03:00:38,319 --> 03:00:43,359
um could be five or $6,000. He said, you

3739
03:00:43,359 --> 03:00:46,560
know, we left it at that. And once

3740
03:00:46,560 --> 03:00:50,720
again, uh, I saw her last week to

3741
03:00:50,720 --> 03:00:52,640
confirm

3742
03:00:52,640 --> 03:00:55,279
the increasing numbers of people

3743
03:00:55,279 --> 03:00:56,880
>> Bill People can't hear

3744
03:00:56,880 --> 03:01:00,479
>> in need of food from the food shelf

3745
03:01:00,479 --> 03:01:04,080
and the decreasing federal and

3746
03:01:04,080 --> 03:01:08,720
consequently state dollars available,

3747
03:01:08,720 --> 03:01:11,359
federal and state, not in dollars so

3748
03:01:11,359 --> 03:01:14,720
much as food itself.

3749
03:01:14,720 --> 03:01:16,880
uh and

3750
03:01:16,880 --> 03:01:20,080
uh she pointed out that you know these

3751
03:01:20,080 --> 03:01:22,479
things are really happening on the

3752
03:01:22,479 --> 03:01:25,760
federal level. What's really hurting is

3753
03:01:25,760 --> 03:01:30,240
not only dollars being decreased

3754
03:01:30,240 --> 03:01:34,080
but limitations putting on the programs

3755
03:01:34,080 --> 03:01:37,920
that are existing like the SNAP program

3756
03:01:37,920 --> 03:01:41,040
is tighter to get into that strong work

3757
03:01:41,040 --> 03:01:42,880
requirements

3758
03:01:42,880 --> 03:01:45,680
uh and so on. So

3759
03:01:45,680 --> 03:01:50,080
um the last thing I'll mention is that

3760
03:01:50,080 --> 03:01:53,120
we cares ask the social services

3761
03:01:53,120 --> 03:01:57,840
committee of of the town to review uh an

3762
03:01:57,840 --> 03:02:01,920
application similar to what other

3763
03:02:01,920 --> 03:02:05,120
uh agencies and organizations who are

3764
03:02:05,120 --> 03:02:08,000
seeking who are in the town select

3765
03:02:08,000 --> 03:02:10,960
board's budget. Uh we asked the social

3766
03:02:10,960 --> 03:02:15,200
commit services committee to review the

3767
03:02:15,200 --> 03:02:17,600
an application and they came out in full

3768
03:02:17,600 --> 03:02:20,160
support. Sandy, are you still here?

3769
03:02:20,160 --> 03:02:20,720
>> Great.

3770
03:02:20,720 --> 03:02:22,560
>> The chair of the social services

3771
03:02:22,560 --> 03:02:26,240
committee, Sandy Campbell, is here and

3772
03:02:26,240 --> 03:02:28,880
it would be great if she could speak to

3773
03:02:28,880 --> 03:02:37,910
how they received it.

3774
03:02:37,920 --> 03:02:40,479
» Happy to do it. Sandy Campbell Dmerston.

3775
03:02:40,479 --> 03:02:42,880
Yes. So, the committee did review the

3776
03:02:42,880 --> 03:02:46,240
proposal and we're very much in support

3777
03:02:46,240 --> 03:02:50,720
of it. Um, it's up to you folks, but uh

3778
03:02:50,720 --> 03:02:53,920
we will continue to re you asked the

3779
03:02:53,920 --> 03:02:56,560
question, will will this continue to be

3780
03:02:56,560 --> 03:02:58,560
reviewed by the committee and yes, if

3781
03:02:58,560 --> 03:03:00,640
you approve it, we will continue to

3782
03:03:00,640 --> 03:03:03,680
review it every year as we do all of the

3783
03:03:03,680 --> 03:03:07,760
applications that come our way.

3784
03:03:07,760 --> 03:03:11,200
The motion on the floor is an amendment

3785
03:03:11,200 --> 03:03:13,680
to change the amount from $3,000 to

3786
03:03:13,680 --> 03:03:15,439
$5,000.

3787
03:03:15,439 --> 03:03:17,600
Is there anyone who wishes to speak to

3788
03:03:17,600 --> 03:03:20,080
that?

3789
03:03:20,080 --> 03:03:22,160
Okay.

3790
03:03:22,160 --> 03:03:27,910
It has been moved and seconded

3791
03:03:27,920 --> 03:03:31,439
to amend the primary motion

3792
03:03:31,439 --> 03:03:33,840
to read. I move that the town of Dston

3793
03:03:33,840 --> 03:03:36,240
raise appropriate and expend this summer

3794
03:03:36,240 --> 03:03:39,200
$5,000 to help support the food budget

3795
03:03:39,200 --> 03:03:41,359
of the Putney food shelf which provides

3796
03:03:41,359 --> 03:03:44,319
services to the town of Dston. You are

3797
03:03:44,319 --> 03:03:46,479
not voting on the money. You're voting

3798
03:03:46,479 --> 03:03:49,359
on the change in the amount.

3799
03:03:49,359 --> 03:03:51,520
All in favor of changing the amount from

3800
03:03:51,520 --> 03:03:54,960
3,000 to 5,000 for your subsequent

3801
03:03:54,960 --> 03:03:59,600
consideration signify by saying I.

3802
03:03:59,600 --> 03:04:03,359
>> All oppose say no.

3803
03:04:03,359 --> 03:04:06,240
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

3804
03:04:06,240 --> 03:04:09,520
have it. We return now to the primary

3805
03:04:09,520 --> 03:04:12,800
motion as amended. It has been moved and

3806
03:04:12,800 --> 03:04:14,560
seconded that the town of Doberston

3807
03:04:14,560 --> 03:04:17,279
raise, appropriate, and expand the sum

3808
03:04:17,279 --> 03:04:19,920
of $35,000

3809
03:04:19,920 --> 03:04:22,399
to help support the food budget of the

3810
03:04:22,399 --> 03:04:24,560
Putney food shelf, which provides

3811
03:04:24,560 --> 03:04:27,760
services to the town of Dston.

3812
03:04:27,760 --> 03:04:30,080
Any further debate?

3813
03:04:30,080 --> 03:04:41,030
Pam.

3814
03:04:41,040 --> 03:04:44,240
Hi, Pam McFadden.

3815
03:04:44,240 --> 03:04:48,720
>> Pam McFadden. I am on Dmerson Cares. Um,

3816
03:04:48,720 --> 03:04:50,880
I did some number crunching as we made

3817
03:04:50,880 --> 03:04:54,000
this brief change and

3818
03:04:54,000 --> 03:04:59,030
>> I'm sorry. I I did some numbering

3819
03:04:59,040 --> 03:05:03,359
the change up to $5,000.

3820
03:05:03,359 --> 03:05:07,920
a homeowner of a $300,000 home.

3821
03:05:07,920 --> 03:05:12,479
It will cost you $523

3822
03:05:12,479 --> 03:05:15,359
for the year

3823
03:05:15,359 --> 03:05:18,720
to help us fund the button food shelf.

3824
03:05:18,720 --> 03:05:20,479
>> And that's for $5,000.

3825
03:05:20,479 --> 03:05:22,880
>> That's for $5,000.

3826
03:05:22,880 --> 03:05:27,830
So, thank you very much. This passes.

3827
03:05:27,840 --> 03:05:31,200
Seeing no further hands,

3828
03:05:31,200 --> 03:05:33,680
we will vote on the motion on the floor.

3829
03:05:33,680 --> 03:05:35,279
It has been moved and seconded that the

3830
03:05:35,279 --> 03:05:37,279
town of Dston raise, appropriate, and

3831
03:05:37,279 --> 03:05:40,640
expend the sum of $5,000 to help support

3832
03:05:40,640 --> 03:05:43,439
the food budget of the food shop, which

3833
03:05:43,439 --> 03:05:46,319
provides services to the town of Dston.

3834
03:05:46,319 --> 03:05:50,479
All in favor signify by saying I. I.

3835
03:05:50,479 --> 03:05:53,120
>> All opposed, say no.

3836
03:05:53,120 --> 03:05:55,920
The eyes appear to have it. Your eyes do

3837
03:05:55,920 --> 03:06:05,110
have it.

3838
03:06:05,120 --> 03:06:08,560
We are on article 14. If you were here

3839
03:06:08,560 --> 03:06:10,800
earlier, you heard some concern about

3840
03:06:10,800 --> 03:06:13,760
the wording in this article. It does not

3841
03:06:13,760 --> 03:06:17,040
make clear that the intention is that we

3842
03:06:17,040 --> 03:06:19,279
are voting on not just the change in

3843
03:06:19,279 --> 03:06:22,479
name but also on the merger. However, we

3844
03:06:22,479 --> 03:06:25,120
must start with the article as a warrant

3845
03:06:25,120 --> 03:06:28,000
in your town meeting handbook in the

3846
03:06:28,000 --> 03:06:32,160
morning. Um, and so we're going to start

3847
03:06:32,160 --> 03:06:35,439
there and then as I understand where is

3848
03:06:35,439 --> 03:06:38,640
prepared to present an amendment.

3849
03:06:38,640 --> 03:06:42,080
>> You are okay this morning. Thank you.

3850
03:06:42,080 --> 03:06:44,479
The article is shelter authorized the

3851
03:06:44,479 --> 03:06:47,439
Lydia Townrat trustees to change the

3852
03:06:47,439 --> 03:06:50,160
name of the library to the Dmerston

3853
03:06:50,160 --> 03:06:53,359
Community Center and Library reflecting

3854
03:06:53,359 --> 03:06:55,760
the merger of the Dmerston Community

3855
03:06:55,760 --> 03:06:58,479
Center and the library. Is there a

3856
03:06:58,479 --> 03:07:01,359
second?

3857
03:07:01,359 --> 03:07:02,240
>> Is there a motion?

3858
03:07:02,240 --> 03:07:03,520
>> Yes.

3859
03:07:03,520 --> 03:07:05,200
>> Oh, I didn't do a motion.

3860
03:07:05,200 --> 03:07:06,080
>> Is there a motion?

3861
03:07:06,080 --> 03:07:08,479
That's why you're

3862
03:07:08,479 --> 03:07:20,070
standing up. Mic partner, please.

3863
03:07:20,080 --> 03:07:22,880
» I move that the Lydia Taff Pratt Library

3864
03:07:22,880 --> 03:07:25,520
trustees change the name of the library

3865
03:07:25,520 --> 03:07:27,600
to the Dmerston Community Center and

3866
03:07:27,600 --> 03:07:30,240
Library reflecting the merger of the

3867
03:07:30,240 --> 03:07:32,319
Dmerson Community Center and the

3868
03:07:32,319 --> 03:07:33,439
library.

3869
03:07:33,439 --> 03:07:35,359
>> Thank you, Elizabeth. and Ryan, you're

3870
03:07:35,359 --> 03:07:37,840
seconding. Thank you very much. Okay,

3871
03:07:37,840 --> 03:07:39,840
I'm going to hand it right over to Tom

3872
03:07:39,840 --> 03:07:42,880
Nolan, who is going to propose an

3873
03:07:42,880 --> 03:07:45,279
amendment. And this isn't technically

3874
03:07:45,279 --> 03:07:46,560
from the selective board. It's

3875
03:07:46,560 --> 03:07:48,080
>> right. This is just just me personally.

3876
03:07:48,080 --> 03:07:51,200
So, in order to clarify the intention of

3877
03:07:51,200 --> 03:07:54,399
what we're doing, I re I move that we

3878
03:07:54,399 --> 03:07:57,359
make this amendment um that we amend the

3879
03:07:57,359 --> 03:07:59,600
text to. Shall the voters authorize the

3880
03:07:59,600 --> 03:08:01,840
merger of the Dmerston Community Center

3881
03:08:01,840 --> 03:08:04,640
and the Lydia Taff Pratt Library naming

3882
03:08:04,640 --> 03:08:07,200
this organization the Dmerston Community

3883
03:08:07,200 --> 03:08:09,840
Center and Library?

3884
03:08:09,840 --> 03:08:12,880
>> Thank you. Is there a second to the

3885
03:08:12,880 --> 03:08:14,960
motion to amend? I saw your hand first,

3886
03:08:14,960 --> 03:08:17,120
Caroline.

3887
03:08:17,120 --> 03:08:19,920
Um, so the motion on the floor is to

3888
03:08:19,920 --> 03:08:23,120
change the wording of the article

3889
03:08:23,120 --> 03:08:25,359
from what we first read and what you see

3890
03:08:25,359 --> 03:08:29,359
in your town report. Two, I move that we

3891
03:08:29,359 --> 03:08:32,000
the voters authorize the merger of the

3892
03:08:32,000 --> 03:08:33,840
Dmerson Community Center and the

3893
03:08:33,840 --> 03:08:36,880
MediaTek Pratt Library, naming this

3894
03:08:36,880 --> 03:08:39,439
organization the Dmerson Community

3895
03:08:39,439 --> 03:08:41,840
Center and Library.

3896
03:08:41,840 --> 03:08:44,800
Is there any discussion on the amendment

3897
03:08:44,800 --> 03:08:46,720
changing the wording of the original

3898
03:08:46,720 --> 03:08:56,389
article?

3899
03:08:56,399 --> 03:09:00,800
» Jod Normado. Um, as most of you probably

3900
03:09:00,800 --> 03:09:04,080
know, I have kind of been against um the

3901
03:09:04,080 --> 03:09:06,880
growth of the library

3902
03:09:06,880 --> 03:09:09,680
um for quite a time. um part of the

3903
03:09:09,680 --> 03:09:14,640
reason has disappeared from the problem.

3904
03:09:14,640 --> 03:09:20,080
So after listening to Linda at the um

3905
03:09:20,080 --> 03:09:26,800
what do you call it at information meeting the other day. she

3906
03:09:26,800 --> 03:09:30,720
made quite a good proposal and it kind

3907
03:09:30,720 --> 03:09:34,640
of made sense to me um that this would

3908
03:09:34,640 --> 03:09:40,880
be a year coming up of um

3909
03:09:40,880 --> 03:09:43,520
uh I can't think of the name coming up

3910
03:09:43,520 --> 03:09:46,399
that would see how this arrangement

3911
03:09:46,399 --> 03:09:50,319
would work and one of my issues was the

3912
03:09:50,319 --> 03:09:52,479
fact that the select board had no feet

3913
03:09:52,479 --> 03:09:56,160
in this and I wished that the board that

3914
03:09:56,160 --> 03:09:58,560
would operate this would have the

3915
03:09:58,560 --> 03:10:01,359
library trustees on it and would have

3916
03:10:01,359 --> 03:10:03,600
some members on it that were appointed

3917
03:10:03,600 --> 03:10:06,800
by the uh select board. That has not

3918
03:10:06,800 --> 03:10:09,439
come to pass, but it may very well come

3919
03:10:09,439 --> 03:10:12,800
to pass in the future. So I am thinking

3920
03:10:12,800 --> 03:10:15,840
because of Linda's proposal that they

3921
03:10:15,840 --> 03:10:20,319
worked very hard this this year to make

3922
03:10:20,319 --> 03:10:22,720
this work because there are a lot of

3923
03:10:22,720 --> 03:10:25,359
issues involved in here. Not only money

3924
03:10:25,359 --> 03:10:28,000
but there is the money issues and there

3925
03:10:28,000 --> 03:10:31,439
is the growth issues that we probably

3926
03:10:31,439 --> 03:10:34,000
will have to deal with in the future.

3927
03:10:34,000 --> 03:10:37,120
But um I will throw my weight behind

3928
03:10:37,120 --> 03:10:40,000
Linda and hope it works out for the

3929
03:10:40,000 --> 03:10:42,240
best.

3930
03:10:42,240 --> 03:10:44,720
Jody, the motion on the floor is whether

3931
03:10:44,720 --> 03:10:47,520
to change the wording of the primary

3932
03:10:47,520 --> 03:10:48,640
motion.

3933
03:10:48,640 --> 03:10:50,560
>> And so I'm going to count what you just

3934
03:10:50,560 --> 03:10:53,840
did as your first comment.

3935
03:10:53,840 --> 03:10:56,080
>> Okay. All right.

3936
03:10:56,080 --> 03:10:58,560
And Paul, do you have something relevant

3937
03:10:58,560 --> 03:11:01,200
to changing the wording of the motion?

3938
03:11:01,200 --> 03:11:03,279
>> So to make clear that we're approving a

3939
03:11:03,279 --> 03:11:05,439
merger as well as a name change.

3940
03:11:05,439 --> 03:11:09,520
>> Correct. Paul Nomadoo my my concern

3941
03:11:09,520 --> 03:11:12,560
about merging it is that the community

3942
03:11:12,560 --> 03:11:16,319
now if we merge the community center and

3943
03:11:16,319 --> 03:11:19,840
the library together under one oasis if

3944
03:11:19,840 --> 03:11:23,439
this doesn't work out it's still the

3945
03:11:23,439 --> 03:11:24,960
responsibility

3946
03:11:24,960 --> 03:11:27,760
of the library because we brought these

3947
03:11:27,760 --> 03:11:32,399
two organizations together legally and

3948
03:11:32,399 --> 03:11:36,160
uh rather than just a trial uh to see if

3949
03:11:36,160 --> 03:11:38,720
it works. itself and it takes the select

3950
03:11:38,720 --> 03:11:41,359
board out of the picture.

3951
03:11:41,359 --> 03:11:47,359
If the select board to me that that's a community property it belongs

3952
03:11:47,359 --> 03:11:50,800
to the town of Dunston. So ultimately

3953
03:11:50,800 --> 03:11:53,680
the responsibility for that property

3954
03:11:53,680 --> 03:11:56,880
lies with the select board and I think

3955
03:11:56,880 --> 03:12:02,160
by doing this we're um shifting that

3956
03:12:02,160 --> 03:12:07,600
responsibility to the library and then if that doesn't work out the

3957
03:12:07,600 --> 03:12:11,600
library has to somehow dis disassociate

3958
03:12:11,600 --> 03:12:16,479
itself not just uh uh policy-wise

3959
03:12:16,479 --> 03:12:19,040
but uh legally it would be my

3960
03:12:19,040 --> 03:12:20,880
interpretation.

3961
03:12:20,880 --> 03:12:29,830
>> Does anyone have a response to that?

3962
03:12:29,840 --> 03:12:32,399
» It's I I heard someone say it's not your

3963
03:12:32,399 --> 03:12:33,680
name,

3964
03:12:33,680 --> 03:12:37,439
>> Sam. The question of future liability

3965
03:12:37,439 --> 03:12:39,120
and who's in charge of the property

3966
03:12:39,120 --> 03:12:40,560
isn't your name. Is that what you're

3967
03:12:40,560 --> 03:12:40,960
thinking?

3968
03:12:40,960 --> 03:12:42,319
>> To the amendment.

3969
03:12:42,319 --> 03:12:44,399
I

3970
03:12:44,399 --> 03:12:46,720
>> the amendment is around saying that it

3971
03:12:46,720 --> 03:12:48,960
is a merger that we're voting on as well

3972
03:12:48,960 --> 03:12:50,720
as the change we made.

3973
03:12:50,720 --> 03:12:52,640
>> Okay. I withdraw the complaint, but I I

3974
03:12:52,640 --> 03:12:53,840
would like to speak to the amendment.

3975
03:12:53,840 --> 03:12:56,240
And I just want to thank Tom for taking

3976
03:12:56,240 --> 03:12:58,000
the time to get the wording correct. And

3977
03:12:58,000 --> 03:12:59,760
I'd like to urge the rest of us who I'm

3978
03:12:59,760 --> 03:13:02,319
sure have things to say about the merger

3979
03:13:02,319 --> 03:13:04,240
to simply vote the amendment so we can

3980
03:13:04,240 --> 03:13:05,920
get the wording correct and move on with

3981
03:13:05,920 --> 03:13:10,630
the discussion.

3982
03:13:10,640 --> 03:13:13,760
So I don't see any other other hands. I

3983
03:13:13,760 --> 03:13:16,880
see jazz hands, not question hands.

3984
03:13:16,880 --> 03:13:20,399
So the question on the table is shall

3985
03:13:20,399 --> 03:13:23,600
the original motion

3986
03:13:23,600 --> 03:13:26,160
which was we authorized the Lydia Taft

3987
03:13:26,160 --> 03:13:28,399
Pratt trustees to change the name of the

3988
03:13:28,399 --> 03:13:31,200
library to the Dston Community Center

3989
03:13:31,200 --> 03:13:34,399
and Library reflecting the merger of the

3990
03:13:34,399 --> 03:13:37,200
Dston Community Center and the library

3991
03:13:37,200 --> 03:13:40,399
too. I move that the voters authorize

3992
03:13:40,399 --> 03:13:43,040
the merger of the Dston Community Center

3993
03:13:43,040 --> 03:13:45,920
and the Lydia Tech Pratt Library, naming

3994
03:13:45,920 --> 03:13:48,479
this organization the Dston Community

3995
03:13:48,479 --> 03:13:51,520
Center and Library. All in favor, please

3996
03:13:51,520 --> 03:13:53,760
indicate by saying I.

3997
03:13:53,760 --> 03:13:54,720
>> I.

3998
03:13:54,720 --> 03:13:56,960
>> Any opposed say no.

3999
03:13:56,960 --> 03:13:58,640
>> No.

4000
03:13:58,640 --> 03:14:02,000
>> The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

4001
03:14:02,000 --> 03:14:05,200
have it. And we have changed the main

4002
03:14:05,200 --> 03:14:07,040
motion.

4003
03:14:07,040 --> 03:14:14,630
Now discussion on the main motion.

4004
03:14:14,640 --> 03:14:25,830
Yes, Susan.

4005
03:14:25,840 --> 03:14:28,640
Dagler Dmerston. One thing I would

4006
03:14:28,640 --> 03:14:31,200
like to point out is that the Lydia

4007
03:14:31,200 --> 03:14:34,239
Pratt Library is a municipal library.

4008
03:14:34,239 --> 03:14:37,200
It's no no different than the road crew

4009
03:14:37,200 --> 03:14:42,479
as far as it's uh as a legal entity. And

4010
03:14:42,479 --> 03:14:44,880
given that it's already a municipal

4011
03:14:44,880 --> 03:14:48,160
function, uh having it essentially

4012
03:14:48,160 --> 03:14:51,439
manage the community center building, uh

4013
03:14:51,439 --> 03:14:59,030
I I don't see as being troublesome.

4014
03:14:59,040 --> 03:15:10,080
And over here it's called Lyall Holiday. I would like to point out

4015
03:15:10,080 --> 03:15:13,439
that the library trustees have agreed to

4016
03:15:13,439 --> 03:15:16,319
work in a transition and this being a

4017
03:15:16,319 --> 03:15:19,279
transition year. So that trustees are

4018
03:15:19,279 --> 03:15:22,960
taking part in different aspects of the

4019
03:15:22,960 --> 03:15:25,520
community center. Um, it is not the

4020
03:15:25,520 --> 03:15:28,319
library's intent to take over the

4021
03:15:28,319 --> 03:15:30,720
community center. We're still counting

4022
03:15:30,720 --> 03:15:33,439
on many volunteers that have been coming

4023
03:15:33,439 --> 03:15:36,000
to the community meetings that Tom Nolan

4024
03:15:36,000 --> 03:15:40,319
had held. And so, it is our hope that

4025
03:15:40,319 --> 03:15:42,319
those of you that have been volunteering

4026
03:15:42,319 --> 03:15:45,120
will continue to volunteer so that we

4027
03:15:45,120 --> 03:15:51,349
can move forward as a group.

4028
03:15:51,359 --> 03:15:54,160
» Any further comments, questions?

4029
03:15:54,160 --> 03:16:08,160
Yes, we're here. Micron, please. Beverly Cheer. Um, I'm a supporter of

4030
03:16:08,160 --> 03:16:11,439
libraries. I think they're very good.

4031
03:16:11,439 --> 03:16:16,000
However, I feel very uncomfortable with

4032
03:16:16,000 --> 03:16:18,560
the community center and the library

4033
03:16:18,560 --> 03:16:20,080
merging

4034
03:16:20,080 --> 03:16:23,040
because it's been a very very fuzzy

4035
03:16:23,040 --> 03:16:24,880
process

4036
03:16:24,880 --> 03:16:27,520
and it's been hard to get accurate

4037
03:16:27,520 --> 03:16:29,680
information.

4038
03:16:29,680 --> 03:16:33,359
Um even the way the article was written

4039
03:16:33,359 --> 03:16:37,760
to start with uh we need to have a

4040
03:16:37,760 --> 03:16:40,880
greater amount of clarity

4041
03:16:40,880 --> 03:16:43,920
and transparency

4042
03:16:43,920 --> 03:16:46,960
in what's going on and who's doing what

4043
03:16:46,960 --> 03:16:49,279
before I can feel comfortable merging

4044
03:16:49,279 --> 03:16:54,309
those two entities.

4045
03:16:54,319 --> 03:16:56,960
Anyone else

4046
03:16:56,960 --> 03:17:03,990
in the back row enough?

4047
03:17:04,000 --> 03:17:06,319
» I just wanted to say that the library

4048
03:17:06,319 --> 03:17:08,000
trustees are stepping forward to

4049
03:17:08,000 --> 03:17:09,680
volunteer

4050
03:17:09,680 --> 03:17:12,239
um with the merging process in an

4051
03:17:12,239 --> 03:17:16,000
administrative and um coordinate

4052
03:17:16,000 --> 03:17:20,080
coordination um aspect. The finances

4053
03:17:20,080 --> 03:17:22,160
will continue to be monitored by the

4054
03:17:22,160 --> 03:17:25,120
select board because um it's now a

4055
03:17:25,120 --> 03:17:28,160
separate line in the general fund. All

4056
03:17:28,160 --> 03:17:30,399
expenses and receipts will go to the

4057
03:17:30,399 --> 03:17:32,479
select board and be approved on their

4058
03:17:32,479 --> 03:17:36,000
warrant. The library trustees warrant of

4059
03:17:36,000 --> 03:17:39,520
our revenue and expenses deal only with

4060
03:17:39,520 --> 03:17:43,040
library operations which means books and

4061
03:17:43,040 --> 03:17:45,439
programming and things like that. The

4062
03:17:45,439 --> 03:17:48,880
coordination effort took several months

4063
03:17:48,880 --> 03:17:51,279
to figure out what it would look like,

4064
03:17:51,279 --> 03:17:54,000
what the vision would look like, what

4065
03:17:54,000 --> 03:17:55,920
would we be doing, how would the

4066
03:17:55,920 --> 03:17:58,800
governance work. We had a lot of open

4067
03:17:58,800 --> 03:18:02,160
public meetings to gather ideas. We had

4068
03:18:02,160 --> 03:18:05,359
a lot of people meeting in roadside

4069
03:18:05,359 --> 03:18:08,160
chats, living rooms, dining rooms,

4070
03:18:08,160 --> 03:18:10,960
really trying to figure out the ideas

4071
03:18:10,960 --> 03:18:15,200
behind what this would look like. And at

4072
03:18:15,200 --> 03:18:17,920
the core, library public libraries today

4073
03:18:17,920 --> 03:18:20,399
are community centers. And community

4074
03:18:20,399 --> 03:18:23,359
centers often have the same missions and

4075
03:18:23,359 --> 03:18:26,319
goals that public libraries do, which is

4076
03:18:26,319 --> 03:18:29,200
to have a public gathering space for all

4077
03:18:29,200 --> 03:18:33,040
people to come and enjoy um and provide

4078
03:18:33,040 --> 03:18:35,680
services and programming to all the

4079
03:18:35,680 --> 03:18:38,080
residents. As Lad said, this is a

4080
03:18:38,080 --> 03:18:40,160
transitional year. So although the

4081
03:18:40,160 --> 03:18:43,279
trustees were originally elected to

4082
03:18:43,279 --> 03:18:46,000
oversee the library, we've agreed to

4083
03:18:46,000 --> 03:18:49,359
expand our roles for this year and

4084
03:18:49,359 --> 03:18:54,800
assist in the merger um process which is

4085
03:18:54,800 --> 03:18:56,319
going to take a while for things to

4086
03:18:56,319 --> 03:18:59,840
settle and actually do its come along

4087
03:18:59,840 --> 03:19:02,160
and then future people will be able to

4088
03:19:02,160 --> 03:19:05,040
come in and have that broadened

4089
03:19:05,040 --> 03:19:08,000
experience based on what's transpired in

4090
03:19:08,000 --> 03:19:10,800
the past here.

4091
03:19:10,800 --> 03:19:13,279
>> Yeah.

4092
03:19:13,279 --> 03:19:15,520
>> Up front here

4093
03:19:15,520 --> 03:19:23,590
stand.

4094
03:19:23,600 --> 03:19:26,880
» Hi, my name's Kate. I'm talking again.

4095
03:19:26,880 --> 03:19:29,359
Uh, I've lived in Dumbrson all of two

4096
03:19:29,359 --> 03:19:32,160
months. Um, but I live close to this

4097
03:19:32,160 --> 03:19:34,319
library and I walk down there and I go

4098
03:19:34,319 --> 03:19:38,080
by there and it's a awesome little

4099
03:19:38,080 --> 03:19:39,840
facility

4100
03:19:39,840 --> 03:19:42,640
uh nestled right there. It's the library

4101
03:19:42,640 --> 03:19:44,319
and the community center in the same

4102
03:19:44,319 --> 03:19:46,000
building. They're getting a new

4103
03:19:46,000 --> 03:19:48,960
director. That that means if there is a

4104
03:19:48,960 --> 03:19:52,640
merger, the director will will be taking

4105
03:19:52,640 --> 03:19:56,960
on all these efforts to to build up

4106
03:19:56,960 --> 03:19:59,760
programming for the community center. I

4107
03:19:59,760 --> 03:20:02,399
don't see many cars there now, but that

4108
03:20:02,399 --> 03:20:06,800
could change. It seems it seems um

4109
03:20:06,800 --> 03:20:10,560
dunderheaded to have two entities

4110
03:20:10,560 --> 03:20:13,840
organizing and trying to coordinate in

4111
03:20:13,840 --> 03:20:18,080
one nice little building there in the

4112
03:20:18,080 --> 03:20:22,319
valley. And uh I I support the merger

4113
03:20:22,319 --> 03:20:25,439
and look forward to volunteering to help

4114
03:20:25,439 --> 03:20:34,790
it work.

4115
03:20:34,800 --> 03:20:37,760
Seeing no more hands,

4116
03:20:37,760 --> 03:20:40,160
motion on the floor

4117
03:20:40,160 --> 03:20:42,399
is that we the voters authorize the

4118
03:20:42,399 --> 03:20:45,040
merger of the Dmerston Community Center

4119
03:20:45,040 --> 03:20:48,880
and the Lydia Pratt Library, naming this

4120
03:20:48,880 --> 03:20:51,120
organization the Dmerston Community

4121
03:20:51,120 --> 03:20:53,359
Center and Library.

4122
03:20:53,359 --> 03:20:58,080
All those in favor indicate by saying I.

4123
03:20:58,080 --> 03:21:00,000
>> All opposed say no.

4124
03:21:00,000 --> 03:21:02,000
>> No.

4125
03:21:02,000 --> 03:21:05,120
>> The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

4126
03:21:05,120 --> 03:21:10,630
have it.

4127
03:21:10,640 --> 03:21:13,920
» We're on article 15. Shall the voters

4128
03:21:13,920 --> 03:21:16,239
grant tax exempt status to the evening

4129
03:21:16,239 --> 03:21:19,680
star range for a period of one year

4130
03:21:19,680 --> 03:21:23,200
pursuant to the provisions of title 32

4131
03:21:23,200 --> 03:21:26,790
section 3830.

4132
03:21:26,800 --> 03:21:28,960
I move that we grant tax exempt status

4133
03:21:28,960 --> 03:21:31,040
to the Evening Star Grange for a period

4134
03:21:31,040 --> 03:21:33,439
of one year pursuant to the provisions

4135
03:21:33,439 --> 03:21:37,760
of title 32 section 3840.

4136
03:21:37,760 --> 03:21:39,600
>> I'll second it.

4137
03:21:39,600 --> 03:21:46,070
>> Call has seconded. Any discussion?

4138
03:21:46,080 --> 03:21:49,120
» Call a motion.

4139
03:21:49,120 --> 03:21:52,239
>> Don't even need to. Um, all right.

4140
03:21:52,239 --> 03:21:55,120
Seeing none, the motion on the floor is

4141
03:21:55,120 --> 03:21:57,200
that we grant tax exempt status to the

4142
03:21:57,200 --> 03:21:59,200
evening start range for a period of one

4143
03:21:59,200 --> 03:22:01,680
year pursuant to the provisions of title

4144
03:22:01,680 --> 03:22:07,120
32 section 3840. All in favor say I.

4145
03:22:07,120 --> 03:22:10,319
>> All opposed say no.

4146
03:22:10,319 --> 03:22:12,319
The eyes appear to have it and the eyes

4147
03:22:12,319 --> 03:22:14,640
do have it.

4148
03:22:14,640 --> 03:22:16,960
Article 16

4149
03:22:16,960 --> 03:22:19,439
mark to make. Oh, I need to read it

4150
03:22:19,439 --> 03:22:21,920
first time. Shall the voters grant tax

4151
03:22:21,920 --> 03:22:23,920
exempt status to Green Mountain Camp for

4152
03:22:23,920 --> 03:22:25,920
a period of one year pursuant to the

4153
03:22:25,920 --> 03:22:30,319
provisions of title 42 section 3840?

4154
03:22:30,319 --> 03:22:39,750
Microphone over there.

4155
03:22:39,760 --> 03:22:45,840
» I'm Mark Brown. And I move that the voters grant tax

4156
03:22:45,840 --> 03:22:48,000
exempt status to Green Mountain Camp for

4157
03:22:48,000 --> 03:22:49,920
a period of one year pursuant to the

4158
03:22:49,920 --> 03:22:54,560
provisions of title 32 section 3840.

4159
03:22:54,560 --> 03:22:57,439
>> Is the microphone on?

4160
03:22:57,439 --> 03:23:00,160
>> It's a red light.

4161
03:23:00,160 --> 03:23:01,520
>> How's this working? That's

4162
03:23:01,520 --> 03:23:03,040
>> perfect. Say it again, please.

4163
03:23:03,040 --> 03:23:05,040
>> Again.

4164
03:23:05,040 --> 03:23:07,840
I move that the voters grant taxexempt

4165
03:23:07,840 --> 03:23:10,080
status to Green Mountain Camp for a

4166
03:23:10,080 --> 03:23:12,160
period of one year pursuant to the

4167
03:23:12,160 --> 03:23:16,960
provisions of title 32 section 3840.

4168
03:23:16,960 --> 03:23:19,120
>> Is there a second?

4169
03:23:19,120 --> 03:23:21,920
See a second there, Mrs. Edward.

4170
03:23:21,920 --> 03:23:24,239
It has been moved and seconded that we

4171
03:23:24,239 --> 03:23:26,000
grant tax exempt status to Green

4172
03:23:26,000 --> 03:23:28,160
Mountain Camp for a period of one year

4173
03:23:28,160 --> 03:23:30,560
pursuant to the provisions of title 32

4174
03:23:30,560 --> 03:23:33,760
section 3840.

4175
03:23:33,760 --> 03:23:35,760
Do you feel the need to make a report

4176
03:23:35,760 --> 03:23:36,640
mark?

4177
03:23:36,640 --> 03:23:41,680
>> Uh, not much of one. I will say quickly

4178
03:23:41,680 --> 03:23:45,520
one uh page 43. You can read that.

4179
03:23:45,520 --> 03:23:48,560
That's a report from the director who is

4180
03:23:48,560 --> 03:23:50,479
unfortunately underneath the weather.

4181
03:23:50,479 --> 03:23:54,399
So, you have to put up with me. Um, I

4182
03:23:54,399 --> 03:23:58,560
would add two things. Um, Green Mountain

4183
03:23:58,560 --> 03:24:02,080
campus had, as I see it, two main goals.

4184
03:24:02,080 --> 03:24:05,200
one to empower young girls.

4185
03:24:05,200 --> 03:24:08,160
And if you want to see how that magic

4186
03:24:08,160 --> 03:24:10,160
happens and

4187
03:24:10,160 --> 03:24:12,880
what it results in, I recommend you

4188
03:24:12,880 --> 03:24:14,800
check out a little documentary that was

4189
03:24:14,800 --> 03:24:17,200
made this past year. And you can, I

4190
03:24:17,200 --> 03:24:20,640
think, view it at green mountain.org.

4191
03:24:20,640 --> 03:24:24,239
>> And number two, the second main goal is

4192
03:24:24,239 --> 03:24:27,279
to make camp available to pretty much

4193
03:24:27,279 --> 03:24:30,880
anyone who wants to go. And in this past

4194
03:24:30,880 --> 03:24:34,000
year, uh, they spent approximately

4195
03:24:34,000 --> 03:24:37,120
$30,000 in scholarship funds, which

4196
03:24:37,120 --> 03:24:40,399
amounts to about 15% of their working,

4197
03:24:40,399 --> 03:24:43,439
um, they, um, budget.

4198
03:24:43,439 --> 03:24:46,399
>> So, that's it.

4199
03:24:46,399 --> 03:24:47,520
>> Thank you, Mark.

4200
03:24:47,520 --> 03:24:49,120
>> And any questions? I'll refer to

4201
03:24:49,120 --> 03:24:52,160
somebody else.

4202
03:24:52,160 --> 03:24:55,200
>> Are there any questions?

4203
03:24:55,200 --> 03:24:58,239
Seeing no hands, it has been moved and

4204
03:24:58,239 --> 03:25:00,399
seconded that we grant tax exempt status

4205
03:25:00,399 --> 03:25:03,040
to green camp for the period one year

4206
03:25:03,040 --> 03:25:06,319
for the provisions of title 32 section

4207
03:25:06,319 --> 03:25:09,510
3840.

4208
03:25:09,520 --> 03:25:11,760
All in favor, please indicate by saying

4209
03:25:11,760 --> 03:25:13,760
I. I.

4210
03:25:13,760 --> 03:25:16,399
>> All oppose, say no.

4211
03:25:16,399 --> 03:25:18,880
The eyes appear to have it. The eyes do

4212
03:25:18,880 --> 03:25:20,640
have it.

4213
03:25:20,640 --> 03:25:24,800
We are on to our 17 other business. Who

4214
03:25:24,800 --> 03:25:33,349
would like to bring the business? Julia.

4215
03:25:33,359 --> 03:25:36,399
» I propose a town resolution.

4216
03:25:36,399 --> 03:25:39,520
Oh, Juliet, come in. And Juliet, can I

4217
03:25:39,520 --> 03:25:41,760
interrupt you? Just so that we all

4218
03:25:41,760 --> 03:25:44,319
remember because nothing was warned

4219
03:25:44,319 --> 03:25:46,720
under other business. Anything that we

4220
03:25:46,720 --> 03:25:49,760
passed as an advisory motion is to get a

4221
03:25:49,760 --> 03:25:52,479
sense of the body and make a statement.

4222
03:25:52,479 --> 03:25:55,120
And here's one proposed statement.

4223
03:25:55,120 --> 03:25:57,840
>> Okay, so this is a town resolution

4224
03:25:57,840 --> 03:25:59,920
regarding ICE.

4225
03:25:59,920 --> 03:26:02,640
This was actually drafted for Putney by

4226
03:26:02,640 --> 03:26:05,040
Mike Muriki who spoke earlier and some

4227
03:26:05,040 --> 03:26:07,600
other folks. So I am simply reading

4228
03:26:07,600 --> 03:26:11,200
something that I did not write myself.

4229
03:26:11,200 --> 03:26:13,359
Whereas, Immigration and Customs

4230
03:26:13,359 --> 03:26:17,600
Enforcement, ICE, was created in 2003 as

4231
03:26:17,600 --> 03:26:20,000
part of a federal reorganization in

4232
03:26:20,000 --> 03:26:23,439
response to September 11th, 2001

4233
03:26:23,439 --> 03:26:25,920
and is a relatively new agency whose

4234
03:26:25,920 --> 03:26:28,080
primary function is the enforcement of

4235
03:26:28,080 --> 03:26:31,600
civil immigration law. And whereas ICE

4236
03:26:31,600 --> 03:26:33,920
has increasingly conducted armed

4237
03:26:33,920 --> 03:26:36,399
enforcement operations within cities and

4238
03:26:36,399 --> 03:26:39,840
towns far from the border, resulting in

4239
03:26:39,840 --> 03:26:42,800
fatal encounters, widespread fear, and

4240
03:26:42,800 --> 03:26:44,960
serious concerns regarding the use of

4241
03:26:44,960 --> 03:26:47,840
force, constitutional protections, and

4242
03:26:47,840 --> 03:26:51,279
public safety. And whereas these actions

4243
03:26:51,279 --> 03:26:53,920
reflect a broader national pattern in

4244
03:26:53,920 --> 03:26:56,880
which ISIS presence in local communities

4245
03:26:56,880 --> 03:26:59,920
has caused harm without demonstrable

4246
03:26:59,920 --> 03:27:03,120
public benefit. Now therefore, be it

4247
03:27:03,120 --> 03:27:05,279
resolved that the voters of the town of

4248
03:27:05,279 --> 03:27:08,160
Dmerston express their opposition to the

4249
03:27:08,160 --> 03:27:11,680
continuation of ICE in its current form

4250
03:27:11,680 --> 03:27:13,760
and call upon Vermont's members of

4251
03:27:13,760 --> 03:27:17,040
Congress to create law dismantling ICE

4252
03:27:17,040 --> 03:27:19,600
and conduct full congressional oversight

4253
03:27:19,600 --> 03:27:23,200
hearings into IC's conduct. and be it

4254
03:27:23,200 --> 03:27:25,520
further resolved, the voters urged the

4255
03:27:25,520 --> 03:27:27,600
Vermont legislature to create

4256
03:27:27,600 --> 03:27:31,279
legislation permitting civil actions in

4257
03:27:31,279 --> 03:27:34,000
Vermont courts to hold federal agents

4258
03:27:34,000 --> 03:27:37,120
accountable for violations of legal or

4259
03:27:37,120 --> 03:27:45,830
constitutional limits.

4260
03:27:45,840 --> 03:27:49,120
Is there a second?

4261
03:27:49,120 --> 03:27:52,960
Okay, it has been moved and seconded and

4262
03:27:52,960 --> 03:27:54,560
I'm not going to read this whole thing,

4263
03:27:54,560 --> 03:27:56,479
but I'll read the specific part about

4264
03:27:56,479 --> 03:27:58,399
Dmerston that the voters of the town of

4265
03:27:58,399 --> 03:28:01,200
Dmerston express their opposition to the

4266
03:28:01,200 --> 03:28:03,840
continuation of ICE in its current form

4267
03:28:03,840 --> 03:28:05,600
and call upon New Orleans members of

4268
03:28:05,600 --> 03:28:08,479
Congress to create law dismantling ICE

4269
03:28:08,479 --> 03:28:10,640
and conduct full congressional oversight

4270
03:28:10,640 --> 03:28:13,279
hearings and ISIS conduct. And be it

4271
03:28:13,279 --> 03:28:15,439
further resolved, voters urged the law

4272
03:28:15,439 --> 03:28:17,920
legislature to create legislation

4273
03:28:17,920 --> 03:28:20,239
permitting civil actions and want courts

4274
03:28:20,239 --> 03:28:22,880
to hold federal agents accountable for

4275
03:28:22,880 --> 03:28:25,279
violations of legal or constitutional

4276
03:28:25,279 --> 03:28:26,800
limits.

4277
03:28:26,800 --> 03:28:30,950
Is there any discussion?

4278
03:28:30,960 --> 03:28:34,000
Seeing no hands. Again, it has been

4279
03:28:34,000 --> 03:28:36,000
moved and seconded. Would you like me to

4280
03:28:36,000 --> 03:28:38,640
read the entire thing? I'm seeing

4281
03:28:38,640 --> 03:28:40,160
shaking hands and no people who know

4282
03:28:40,160 --> 03:28:43,040
what the weather forecast is. Okay. All

4283
03:28:43,040 --> 03:28:46,560
in favor of the motion as read by Juliet

4284
03:28:46,560 --> 03:28:49,600
signify by saying I.

4285
03:28:49,600 --> 03:28:51,600
>> All opposed? No.

4286
03:28:51,600 --> 03:28:53,120
>> No.

4287
03:28:53,120 --> 03:28:55,920
>> Okay. The eyes appear to have it. The

4288
03:28:55,920 --> 03:29:01,349
eyes do.

4289
03:29:01,359 --> 03:29:15,030
Is there any other business?

4290
03:29:15,040 --> 03:29:16,800
Thank you.

4291
03:29:16,800 --> 03:29:20,000
>> Hi, Larry Pratt Dmerston. Um, I think it

4292
03:29:20,000 --> 03:29:22,960
would be disingenuous to uh end this

4293
03:29:22,960 --> 03:29:25,279
meeting without giving the community

4294
03:29:25,279 --> 03:29:27,600
center, the former all the former

4295
03:29:27,600 --> 03:29:29,520
members a huge round of applause for

4296
03:29:29,520 --> 03:29:31,279
their blood, slammed tear over the

4297
03:29:31,279 --> 03:29:44,710
years.

4298
03:29:44,720 --> 03:29:47,520
Thank you, Larry. And in the back,

4299
03:29:47,520 --> 03:29:55,910
woman.

4300
03:29:55,920 --> 03:29:59,120
» Hi, Alexandra Barto. Is this your last

4301
03:29:59,120 --> 03:30:00,640
time being our moderator?

4302
03:30:00,640 --> 03:30:02,160
>> It is.

4303
03:30:02,160 --> 03:30:04,720
>> I want to say thank you so much. for

4304
03:30:04,720 --> 03:30:07,520
your skill and care all these years.

4305
03:30:07,520 --> 03:30:19,750
Thank you. Thank you very much.

4306
03:30:19,760 --> 03:30:22,319
» Yes, Adam in the back.

4307
03:30:22,319 --> 03:30:24,160
And Adam, if you have a follow-up

4308
03:30:24,160 --> 03:30:25,920
question, you need to go through me.

4309
03:30:25,920 --> 03:30:28,720
>> Sure. Um, I just wanted I chair the

4310
03:30:28,720 --> 03:30:32,000
wreck board. Um, so I didn't know the

4311
03:30:32,000 --> 03:30:33,840
proper process to go through just to let

4312
03:30:33,840 --> 03:30:35,200
people know what we do as the recck

4313
03:30:35,200 --> 03:30:37,359
board, but wanted to let people know.

4314
03:30:37,359 --> 03:30:38,880
We've been growing it over the last

4315
03:30:38,880 --> 03:30:40,960
couple years. Um, I think the school has

4316
03:30:40,960 --> 03:30:44,319
roughly 200 kids. Uh, and in first,

4317
03:30:44,319 --> 03:30:46,479
well, actually prek through fifth grade.

4318
03:30:46,479 --> 03:30:48,800
We had 60 kids play soccer this year.

4319
03:30:48,800 --> 03:30:50,640
Um, we have about 40 in the basketball

4320
03:30:50,640 --> 03:30:53,200
program. We're working on doing a cross

4321
03:30:53,200 --> 03:30:54,880
country thing for the spring as well as

4322
03:30:54,880 --> 03:30:57,600
spring soccer. And we are we primarily

4323
03:30:57,600 --> 03:30:59,600
funding it with donations. Um, we

4324
03:30:59,600 --> 03:31:00,880
haven't really done much with the town

4325
03:31:00,880 --> 03:31:02,960
yet. We do have some budget, but we've

4326
03:31:02,960 --> 03:31:04,720
gotten people to donate jerseys, things

4327
03:31:04,720 --> 03:31:06,479
like that. It's really exciting. We're

4328
03:31:06,479 --> 03:31:07,920
working on getting concessions up and

4329
03:31:07,920 --> 03:31:09,439
running. We would love to see people

4330
03:31:09,439 --> 03:31:11,600
come to games. It's a really kind of fun

4331
03:31:11,600 --> 03:31:13,200
exciting thing to see the kids having

4332
03:31:13,200 --> 03:31:16,160
fun. And um, and also if anyone wants to

4333
03:31:16,160 --> 03:31:18,720
volunteer, oftent times, you know, each

4334
03:31:18,720 --> 03:31:20,399
season we need some help. So, if you see

4335
03:31:20,399 --> 03:31:21,840
those emails come through, we would

4336
03:31:21,840 --> 03:31:29,030
greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

4337
03:31:29,040 --> 03:31:30,960
Priscilla, I got your name right.

4338
03:31:30,960 --> 03:31:33,279
>> You got it. Thank you. Just a real quick

4339
03:31:33,279 --> 03:31:34,080
comment.

4340
03:31:34,080 --> 03:31:36,080
>> Priscilla, can you wait for the mic and

4341
03:31:36,080 --> 03:31:39,520
use it? She's right behind you.

4342
03:31:39,520 --> 03:31:40,319
>> Is it on?

4343
03:31:40,319 --> 03:31:40,640
>> Yes.

4344
03:31:40,640 --> 03:31:42,080
Start with your name.

4345
03:31:42,080 --> 03:31:44,800
>> I'm Priscilla Adler from Dmerston. Um,

4346
03:31:44,800 --> 03:31:46,800
I'm a member of the Dmerson Cemetery

4347
03:31:46,800 --> 03:31:47,840
Committee and I just want to let

4348
03:31:47,840 --> 03:31:49,200
everybody know that we're having

4349
03:31:49,200 --> 03:31:51,520
anformational session on the cemetery

4350
03:31:51,520 --> 03:31:55,359
regulations on April 23rd at 6 p.m. at

4351
03:31:55,359 --> 03:31:57,120
the Dmerston Community Center and

4352
03:31:57,120 --> 03:32:04,870
Library.

4353
03:32:04,880 --> 03:32:12,229
» I see Molly's hand.

4354
03:32:12,239 --> 03:32:14,239
Molly stuff, it would be nice to end

4355
03:32:14,239 --> 03:32:15,439
with those thanks, but I'm going to

4356
03:32:15,439 --> 03:32:17,600
bring us back to the political realm.

4357
03:32:17,600 --> 03:32:20,000
Another um

4358
03:32:20,000 --> 03:32:22,319
piece that came from Putney and I just

4359
03:32:22,319 --> 03:32:25,680
added an initial sentence to it. Uh

4360
03:32:25,680 --> 03:32:27,920
whereas under article 1, section 8,

4361
03:32:27,920 --> 03:32:30,560
clause 11 of the US Constitution, the

4362
03:32:30,560 --> 03:32:32,960
authority to declare war is vested

4363
03:32:32,960 --> 03:32:35,439
solely in the legislative branch of the

4364
03:32:35,439 --> 03:32:38,160
United States government. We, the voters

4365
03:32:38,160 --> 03:32:40,080
of Dmerston, Vermont, condemn the

4366
03:32:40,080 --> 03:32:42,560
unprovoked attack and the beginning of

4367
03:32:42,560 --> 03:32:45,920
an illegal and immoral war against Iran.

4368
03:32:45,920 --> 03:32:48,319
We call upon Congress to invoke the War

4369
03:32:48,319 --> 03:32:50,960
Powers Act of 1973

4370
03:32:50,960 --> 03:32:52,720
and upon the president to bring our

4371
03:32:52,720 --> 03:32:56,389
troops home.

4372
03:32:56,399 --> 03:32:58,080
» Mommy, do you have a copy of that

4373
03:32:58,080 --> 03:33:06,790
complete thing that you can provide us?

4374
03:33:06,800 --> 03:33:10,710
start.

4375
03:33:10,720 --> 03:33:13,600
» Is there a second?

4376
03:33:13,600 --> 03:33:16,399
>> Here I am. It has been moved and

4377
03:33:16,399 --> 03:33:19,120
seconded that whereas under article 1,

4378
03:33:19,120 --> 03:33:23,200
section 8, clause 11,

4379
03:33:23,200 --> 03:33:27,760
Molly, is that right? Clause 11 71 11 of

4380
03:33:27,760 --> 03:33:30,080
the US Constitution. The authority to

4381
03:33:30,080 --> 03:33:32,399
declare war is vested solely in the

4382
03:33:32,399 --> 03:33:35,680
legislative branch of the US government.

4383
03:33:35,680 --> 03:33:37,760
We the voters of Dmerson Vermont condemn

4384
03:33:37,760 --> 03:33:39,439
the unprovoked attack in the beginning

4385
03:33:39,439 --> 03:33:42,160
of an illegal and immoral war against

4386
03:33:42,160 --> 03:33:45,920
Iran. We call upon Congress to invoke

4387
03:33:45,920 --> 03:33:48,960
the War Powers Act of 1973

4388
03:33:48,960 --> 03:33:50,960
and upon the president to bring our

4389
03:33:50,960 --> 03:33:53,040
troops home.

4390
03:33:53,040 --> 03:33:57,750
Any discussion?

4391
03:33:57,760 --> 03:33:59,279
All right. It has been moved and

4392
03:33:59,279 --> 03:34:00,880
seconded.

4393
03:34:00,880 --> 03:34:03,279
Whereas under article 1, section 8,

4394
03:34:03,279 --> 03:34:05,439
clause 11 of the US Constitution, the

4395
03:34:05,439 --> 03:34:07,840
authority to declare war is vested

4396
03:34:07,840 --> 03:34:09,840
solely in the legislative branch of the

4397
03:34:09,840 --> 03:34:12,800
US government. We the voters of Donald

4398
03:34:12,800 --> 03:34:14,800
condemn the unprovoked attack and the

4399
03:34:14,800 --> 03:34:17,439
beginning of an illegal and immoral war

4400
03:34:17,439 --> 03:34:20,399
against Iran. We call upon Congress to

4401
03:34:20,399 --> 03:34:23,680
invoke the War Powers Act of 1973 and

4402
03:34:23,680 --> 03:34:25,520
upon the president to bring our troops

4403
03:34:25,520 --> 03:34:29,840
home. All in favor, please say I.

4404
03:34:29,840 --> 03:34:32,560
>> All opposed? No.

4405
03:34:32,560 --> 03:34:35,120
The eyes appear to have it? The eyes do

4406
03:34:35,120 --> 03:34:37,520
have it.

4407
03:34:37,520 --> 03:34:39,920
Is there any other business to come

4408
03:34:39,920 --> 03:34:43,600
under other business? Paul,

4409
03:34:43,600 --> 03:34:45,279
>> I just wanted to give a quick reminder

4410
03:34:45,279 --> 03:34:48,479
that on the 16th at the um community

4411
03:34:48,479 --> 03:34:51,120
center, we're going to be having the

4412
03:34:51,120 --> 03:34:55,279
fire department in Windham regional to

4413
03:34:55,279 --> 03:34:57,760
talk about safety on the roads and

4414
03:34:57,760 --> 03:35:02,239
speeding and what can be done.

4415
03:35:02,239 --> 03:35:09,510
>> Thank you. Anything else? Yes or no?

4416
03:35:09,520 --> 03:35:14,070
» Oh, sure. Put it down.

4417
03:35:14,080 --> 03:35:17,760
» I need somebody that's not

4418
03:35:17,760 --> 03:35:19,120
>> to do this.

4419
03:35:19,120 --> 03:35:22,790
>> Yes.

4420
03:35:22,800 --> 03:35:25,439
» Do the honors. Just grab anyone that you

4421
03:35:25,439 --> 03:35:26,160
want.

4422
03:35:26,160 --> 03:35:28,319
>> Fish around. Close your eyes. They're

4423
03:35:28,319 --> 03:35:30,160
all sealed with staples so you can't see

4424
03:35:30,160 --> 03:35:34,070
who's who.

4425
03:35:34,080 --> 03:35:37,279
Get mine.

4426
03:35:37,279 --> 03:35:42,080
>> And the winner of the raffle is

4427
03:35:42,080 --> 03:35:52,790
>> the microphone

4428
03:35:52,800 --> 03:35:53,920
» is here.

4429
03:35:53,920 --> 03:35:57,920
>> She was here. Okay. Va not

4430
03:35:57,920 --> 03:36:00,239
sorry.

4431
03:36:00,239 --> 03:36:01,840
>> All right. Well, we have a winner. I

4432
03:36:01,840 --> 03:36:03,600
also have a secondary.

4433
03:36:03,600 --> 03:36:05,680
>> Could you use the microphone please?

4434
03:36:05,680 --> 03:36:08,399
Thanks.

4435
03:36:08,399 --> 03:36:10,880
>> We have a second prize which I will

4436
03:36:10,880 --> 03:36:14,560
find. Um it's a gift card to um Walker

4437
03:36:14,560 --> 03:36:17,200
Farm and that's we wanted to do an extra

4438
03:36:17,200 --> 03:36:19,920
consolation prize. I think it's 20 bucks

4439
03:36:19,920 --> 03:36:21,439
or something like that, but it's a nice

4440
03:36:21,439 --> 03:36:25,040
gift card. Do you want to pull that?

4441
03:36:25,040 --> 03:36:33,190
>> This is our giant bowl.

4442
03:36:33,200 --> 03:36:40,229
Who do we have?

4443
03:36:40,239 --> 03:36:41,200
» Rick Perkins.

4444
03:36:41,200 --> 03:36:44,239
Rick Perkins belongs to

4445
03:36:44,239 --> 03:36:46,080
family member of second grade teacher

4446
03:36:46,080 --> 03:36:48,640
Dunston. All right. Well, thank you all

4447
03:36:48,640 --> 03:36:51,600
so much for for helping us raise I think

4448
03:36:51,600 --> 03:36:54,479
1,500 a little bit more than $1,500

4449
03:36:54,479 --> 03:36:56,640
today. So, thank you.

4450
03:36:56,640 --> 03:36:59,439
>> Is there any other business?

4451
03:36:59,439 --> 03:37:08,070
project

4452
03:37:08,080 --> 03:37:10,800
» probably about the

4453
03:37:10,800 --> 03:37:12,880
how much we depend on public service and

4454
03:37:12,880 --> 03:37:15,520
I don't know if there was any plan but

4455
03:37:15,520 --> 03:37:19,439
to thank um Tom and Skip for serving on

4456
03:37:19,439 --> 03:37:22,479
the Dmerston Select Board and they're

4457
03:37:22,479 --> 03:37:33,510
both moving on so thanks for Anything

4458
03:37:33,520 --> 03:37:35,439
else?

4459
03:37:35,439 --> 03:37:37,200
Oh, you were just adjusting your hat. I

4460
03:37:37,200 --> 03:37:39,680
thought you were putting your hand.

4461
03:37:39,680 --> 03:37:41,120
All right. May I have a motion to

4462
03:37:41,120 --> 03:37:43,359
adjourn?

4463
03:37:43,359 --> 03:37:46,080
>> Moved. Who said that?

4464
03:37:46,080 --> 03:37:48,880
>> Thank you. And is there a second?

4465
03:37:48,880 --> 03:37:50,640
>> Second. Michelle. All in favor of

4466
03:37:50,640 --> 03:37:55,359
adjourning town meeting 2026 say I.

4467
03:37:55,359 --> 03:38:09,269
don't need

4468
03:38:09,279 --> 03:38:12,520
I don't know.