[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] All right, it is 6 o'clock. We're going to start the meeting by a pledge to the party.
[0:15] All right.
[0:23] Public announcements, please check out the new website, www.hantstatnh.us and sign up for notifications, and please silence your cell phone during the meeting. First up, we have Laura Jones.
[0:35] and such representative for CARP, the Cooperative Alliance for Regional Transportation.
[0:41] Nice to meet you.
[0:42] Yeah, come on up.
[0:43] Nice to meet you all.
[0:47] All right, Mike.
[0:48] Did you want to tee this part off?
[0:50] Well, the only thing I can add to it is that this is a follow-up from your previous meeting,
[0:55] and it's trips versus riders.
[0:58] How many people are within 500 and so many trips?
[1:02] Which is the spreadsheet that you provided aboard?
[1:04] Correct.
[1:06] So, just to recap, when we talked with this last time,
[1:14] carte advised us that there was going to be a fairly significant increase in the cost
[1:19] of service.
[1:20] Right?
[1:21] I believe, looking at our notes from previously, the cost originally, this past year was $17,142
[1:29] dollars and the increase is proposed at $45,000, $6.
[1:34] So a pretty substantial increase and what we had asked was to get kind of drilled down
[1:40] on the numbers to see what we saw in the way of ridership in our area and just talk about
[1:49] what other options might be available.
[1:51] So I appreciate you bringing these numbers in for us.
[1:55] Can you talk a little bit about ridership and how it's changing over time or what you're
[2:00] seeing in the way of who's using it, how often they're using it?
[2:07] I don't want to get specific, I know the numbers can be relatively small so we want to protect
[2:11] someone's privacy but it looks like you've given us a pretty good breakdown of what types
[2:20] of services you're providing.
[2:21] So, as we look at this, it's easy to see that the majority are medical-related, which
[2:29] obviously is, well, all of it is about most importance to us.
[2:37] I did get a little bit more information, I did get that in the past three months, we basically
[2:44] have, Hampstead has eight repeat writers.
[2:49] And again, the majority of them, I think seven of them, were medical.
[2:55] They certainly can't tell us who they are, but that's what they are.
[3:06] So you can probably understand that, you know, we talk about 574 total rides, but when
[3:13] we sort of drill down on those numbers, those are one way trips.
[3:18] So we're really talking closer to 280 round trip and drilling down further that we average
[3:29] about eight repeat riders.
[3:32] While we want to accommodate those people who clearly need transportation services, especially
[3:39] working under the budget circumstances that we are $47,000 for the benefit of eight residents
[3:46] is a challenging figure.
[3:49] Well, it's eight residents,
[3:50] and again, that was eight repeat riders
[3:53] over a three-month period.
[3:55] That doesn't mean that every four, five months,
[3:59] one or two or six other people need.
[4:02] Sure.
[4:03] For a single visit.
[4:05] Absolutely.
[4:06] And that's a real need, too.
[4:07] Absolutely.
[4:08] And the shopping, transportation is a vital service,
[4:12] especially for our older adults and our veterans
[4:14] because it doesn't matter to have health insurance if you can't get to the doctor.
[4:18] And it also helps with isolation, it helps them say independent in their homes,
[4:22] so I get that it's a vital service.
[4:25] Right after you originally got the presentation from CART
[4:31] that report came out, the larger sort of New Hampshire's community transportation action plan,
[4:38] which you've seen.
[4:42] And it talks about the challenges of transportation in general in the state of New Hampshire.
[4:50] And we have very limited public transportation.
[4:53] But it also mentions that the legislation is there to enable a network that the funding,
[5:00] especially with the new GO North funding, is there.
[5:04] And from things like Medicaid, etc.
[5:07] there is, and other insurance sources that there is funding available, but what
[5:13] seems to be lacking is a coordinating function at the state level. And as
[5:19] somebody who complains a lot about overreach by the state, this is one of
[5:26] those opportunities where coordination at the state level would be a benefit to
[5:31] Hampson residents because, and to other residents in the state, especially in the
[5:36] north country where transportation is even more limited. Have you had any role in this
[5:43] working group that's been working on the action plan and the needs assessment for the
[5:49] larger transportation plan? Has CART been involved in that at all? I personally have not.
[5:56] And I don't know. Well, I guess that means that CART has not, but CART is under the umbrella
[6:10] I don't know. I don't know the other agencies that get involved and the planning commission
[6:16] or anything like that. I just don't know. I did look up. I attended a webinar on this
[6:21] to explain sort of this 100 and God knows how many pages report that came out. 180's and
[6:27] it was a long report. It was great. It was very thorough. But and during the webinar
[6:33] They said, oh, you should go to your RCC, which is your regional coordinating center.
[6:39] And it turns out we're part of Region 8, and I went and I went to the website and looked
[6:46] up what kind of medical transport was available in our area, and except for CART, there was
[6:50] nothing else.
[6:51] Yeah.
[6:52] So that was sort of distressing.
[6:54] And while we do have a regional coordinator listed, the supervising role over all of
[7:00] those regional coordinators is vacant.
[7:03] So I think that probably makes it quite a challenge too.
[7:06] But I'm looking forward to seeing how this report evolves
[7:11] if at all to assist you in tying together
[7:15] all of those financial resources that
[7:19] might be available to you besides coming to the town
[7:22] and asking for more funding.
[7:24] What I don't understand from sitting here
[7:27] is who is supposed to be chasing after this?
[7:32] Who's the one that's going to initiate,
[7:35] that's going to look for this,
[7:36] who's going to spearhead, pet it?
[7:40] I hope it's a call to action to our legislators.
[7:42] I would think that's where this has got to go
[7:44] because the enable and legislation,
[7:46] and am I supposed to go to the legislator?
[7:48] Well, it's in your financial interest as well as ours.
[7:53] I think as a region we need to do that,
[7:55] But I also think, yeah, I mean, I don't know why MTA is
[8:00] in going after the medical entities that are benefiting
[8:04] from getting these customers.
[8:06] And it's one of the reasons that agencies up north,
[8:08] hospital facilities are cutting their programs
[8:10] because they can't get customers there,
[8:12] so they can't do billing, and so they cut programs.
[8:15] Dialysis closes down in the north country,
[8:17] and then whoever needed it up there has got to come down here.
[8:20] And they have even fewer resources.
[8:21] So, I understand the problem, but I just, you know, looking at the numbers, we got to find some way to support these riders.
[8:31] I totally agree. I just, it's a huge jump in our line item for that service.
[8:39] Well, it is. It is, but as you point out, what are the other options?
[8:44] Yeah.
[8:44] In the unfortunate pieces, it comes outside of our fiscal calendar.
[8:47] So we don't need our budget vote in until March.
[8:50] But this is something that didn't pop up last minute.
[8:54] This is something that Carter's been saying for a while.
[8:58] Well, when we talked to Carter last time,
[8:59] one of the things we said was,
[9:01] what are the money are you going after?
[9:04] Have you gone to the medical facilities?
[9:06] Part MTA gone after the medical facilities.
[9:08] You belong to a larger agency.
[9:10] MTA is a pretty good size option.
[9:13] But that's not how MTA operates.
[9:16] That's not their business.
[9:18] They're a transportation company.
[9:21] They're doing a service for Hampson, okay, at a fee,
[9:27] but they are a transportation company.
[9:30] And I think that's their distinction.
[9:33] That's what we do.
[9:34] You're a transportation company too, though, right?
[9:38] Me?
[9:39] Car?
[9:40] It is a service that MTA provides, yes.
[9:45] And only the five communities.
[9:49] What drove the class to, I'm sorry.
[9:54] No, just a door.
[9:55] What drove the class over a sharp period of time
[9:59] that accelerates so much?
[10:01] Well, I think that's one of our biggest problems
[10:04] is with, you know, if it went up 10%,
[10:08] if we could understand that,
[10:10] even maybe more than that with the gas situation,
[10:12] situation, whatever, what I mean, I mean, double the cost.
[10:17] Well, what happened is that for many years, and I can't tell you how many years it goes
[10:24] back before I was with CART, we were level-funded, okay, and all the towns were level-funded, and
[10:33] maybe we should have, the CART should have increased at that point, and there was some
[10:38] talk about it from what I understand. Again, it was before I joined the advisory board.
[10:44] But for whatever reasons like the dynamics within the town, they decided not to ask for
[10:50] the increase for a couple years. And then when COVID hit, the federal government gave a
[10:56] large amount of money. And all the sending towns still sent in the appropriations. So that's
[11:04] what created a surplus in the budget.
[11:10] And we worked off of that for a while.
[11:13] But now that's gone and the expenses have gone up.
[11:16] And what they say, and I have to take it at face value,
[11:21] it was, again, before I was there.
[11:23] But the increase would have been more than five years ago.
[11:29] And it just didn't happen.
[11:30] And then COVID happened.
[11:31] And then the extra money came in.
[11:32] And when the money came in, we didn't know how long it would be provided,
[11:38] how long the government would be doing this, giving the carous money.
[11:43] So that's where we are now.
[11:49] It sounds like an explanation, but it grant me that an
[11:56] increase would be expected
[11:57] under those circumstances, but we're still talking about doubling the cost.
[12:02] I mean, it's a very large increase, it's a very large increase absolutely.
[12:08] Do you say, will this give you a surplus that you have a amount that you like to carry
[12:16] on the books as surplus, and this will, are you building up the surplus, or is it a cost?
[12:24] No, at this point, we're using the surplus.
[12:28] plus. The interest in seeing the budget. You're all budget, but I was. Yeah. I was. We know about it. Yeah. Right.
[12:36] If I may, Mr. Chairman, I think the big answer to that is federal funding went away. And therefore, the cost is now downshifted to the local agencies again.
[12:50] Has card applied for any grants, for any services? I'm not that I'm aware of. No.
[12:58] I mean, I was thinking of the Alexander Eastman Foundation, which I think was one of the original
[13:03] grantors when the program began.
[13:05] I think they talked, I can't remember who, they did pursue, they inquired about a grant,
[13:15] and I can't remember who it was for, but it was, yes, we know you're important, but everybody
[13:22] else is asking for our money now, too.
[13:23] So, is Acconson not involved in this because they have their own program?
[13:32] Is that?
[13:33] I think Acconson might have been one of the original towns in Carc, and they have their own
[13:40] service and the volunteers.
[13:42] For that one, the money we've got almost by a tyrant.
[13:46] Yeah, but then you've got to have someone drive it.
[13:48] You've got to have someone coordinate all the volunteers.
[13:50] I actually looked into the cost of that, you'll look in probably 80,000 plus dollars because it needs to be ADA compliant.
[13:59] You need someone to schedule and you need volunteers to pick up and drop off.
[14:03] It's a logistical time-consuming project for someone to get into even as volunteers.
[14:11] and I know and put it all from the other communities with the increase because pretty much
[14:17] all there everybody got the pretty much. Everybody got the same proportional increase while the
[14:23] town stood. So you've been getting this from five different boards of select men no doubt. Pardon?
[14:29] You've been getting a brow bee that she's all here. I'll tell you what I know. I know that dairy and
[14:37] and London Dairy have agreed to the increase and Salem,
[14:41] so right now it's dairy,
[14:43] London Dairy, Salem and Hampstead, those are the four towns.
[14:46] And Salem is in a similar position
[14:48] where they're not sure,
[14:50] but also they're on a different fiscal bank artist.
[14:54] So this is their decision-making time too.
[14:57] So if we, because I was just,
[15:00] If we decide to move this forward, it's going to go on the ballot or into the budget and then they'll decide the budget committee will decide whether to try to cut it again or whatever we're going to do. So if we here say, yes, let's push this forward because we need to keep it because we really don't have any other alternatives because it doesn't sound like we can't replicate what they're doing for any sort of, there's no benefit to us to do that because it would just cost even more money. There's no other options.
[15:31] So, yes, while I kind of think of it as, yes, it only benefits eight people, but at the
[15:39] end of the day, when the majority of these are medical appointments and shopping, whether
[15:48] it's eight exactly, you know what I mean?
[15:50] It's eight repeats, right, and what I'd like to find out and I haven't yet, or the eight
[15:58] repeats meaning every week they go once or is a two or three times within a week. And part of the
[16:04] reason why I asked that question is because one thing that we talked about is we could consolidate
[16:10] our hours with car. We could ask them can you give us Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons
[16:17] And can we see if we can get out of the 8th repeat,
[16:24] 7 of those addresses were to Derrick or London Derrick.
[16:29] So theoretically, we could consolidate that and use those hours more efficiently.
[16:35] Okay.
[16:36] Sure.
[16:37] Part did say that they would be willing to call our riders, those repeat riders, and
[16:44] see if they're willing to do that.
[16:45] I didn't want to tell them, yes, go ahead and do it.
[16:47] I wanted to make sure that that was something that could move forward.
[16:51] Well, I was, I mean, again, I guess to finish my thought from before was, if we, in the budget,
[16:58] if we decide, yes, we want to do this, but then it doesn't get approved in the budget or
[17:03] we don't.
[17:03] The funding is $20,000, and what we agree to, that just means you're going to, or it's car will reduce the amount of trips.
[17:12] Is it that cost? Or I just, what was stated if we continue with the $17,142, that would limit Hampstead to 1.26 hours per day.
[17:28] So, which is to one point six to one travel time problem?
[17:32] Per-per-one point six to two hours per day.
[17:36] Per day, right.
[17:36] And so, one of the things we said was similar to what you suggested.
[17:40] Okay, can we narrow that down to two days a week and we try to ask the writers that are regulars
[17:47] if they can, you know, narrow it down to using those, which is going to be hard for people
[17:51] doing medical schedules, I get, you know, to sort of demand a schedule.
[17:55] If you tell them that you're going to do that's the only day we can give you a ride right that maybe it either forces them to find them the transportation
[18:05] Such as
[18:07] Yeah, you know, I mean any other ride service or whatever or you know, we make it work
[18:13] Yeah as a reminder this is one of the few agencies that we continue to fund
[18:20] When we made the, across the board, budget cuts and cut all of the other social services.
[18:26] This was one of the few that we continued to fund because we do recognize how an important service is,
[18:32] what a valuable service it is, and that it's unduplicated anywhere else.
[18:36] But I guess just when we go through, because again, I don't see, for me personally, I don't see a way out of providing this.
[18:44] and if that's the number, right, it's the number,
[18:49] and I understand that I understand the rationale
[18:52] like everything else, right, that you've been able
[18:54] to hold, unfortunately, the grant money,
[18:56] while we all benefited from it,
[18:58] it held a lot of people's, they didn't plan for it
[19:02] as much as they should have down the road, right?
[19:04] I mean, that's every business community, whatever.
[19:07] So I would just say that as we move through the budget process,
[19:10] that you just have to make sure that people know that,
[19:12] But if we keep it at the same number, we might as well just get rid of it completely, because, you know.
[19:19] Okay, so I think, probably, if not definitely, our writers do not know, our Hampstead writers
[19:29] do not know that we're at this point, and they deserve to know.
[19:36] I can't call them, I don't know who they are, but I think we need to let people know somehow
[19:47] that this is a decision that has to be made and it affects them in a large way.
[19:53] If the 17,000 is what we keep it up, then it's the 1.62 hours.
[19:59] If the budget can handle more, they will increase the hours proportionally.
[20:04] A ride, the number of hours, it's where the ride originates from Manchester.
[20:12] It comes into Hampstead, picks up the Hampstead resident, drives to Derry, and that's half
[20:19] of the 1.62 hours.
[20:21] More than half, yeah.
[20:22] Sure.
[20:23] And that is December 31st.
[20:25] Yeah,
[20:27] so I mean, car MTA is saying we will take care of Hampstead
[20:34] until December 31st. Whatever requests are made, they will do the best to pick up hamps
[20:40] the residents. The problem months are January, February, and probably March. If I break
[20:48] down the $45,000, $6 into a 12-month payment schedule, you're looking at there's a discrepancy
[20:56] of about $11,251. That's what we would need to find between July 4th, January, February,
[21:03] much in order to keep the service at its current level. And if the vote is decided to do that
[21:10] through their vote in March, then the funds we would maintain whatever the current
[21:16] service will provide it right now. I think the residents need the riders need to know that
[21:22] immediately then. Yeah, right. Because that's not. So, if I may, when we were talking, was
[21:29] Is Manchester Transit going to notify their riders that there was going to be an impact in service?
[21:38] They haven't done anything like that yet, they haven't been asked to.
[21:43] What they were asking if we wanted them to do is to contact our riders and see about the ride sharing and that would open up that conversation.
[21:54] I don't I mean I guess it is we couldn't do it because we don't know who they are that's right that's right so
[22:04] I would say we need to make that request to me yes I make a motion that we request
[22:12] cart notify hamstered residents who use the service of the possibility of how we're
[22:24] Interrupted service.
[22:26] It's essential for interrupted service based on budgetary constraints after, as of January 1st.
[22:35] Second.
[22:36] All those in favour?
[22:37] All right.
[22:38] What have they currently charged the riders?
[22:42] $2 each way.
[22:45] Okay.
[22:46] Has there been any consideration of increasing that and taking some of the costs to the riders?
[22:52] $2 each way.
[22:54] It's the best deal around.
[22:57] Yes.
[22:57] It's an absolute fabulous day.
[22:59] Brans down to $78 per trip is what it costs.
[23:02] Right.
[23:02] And they're paying two bucks.
[23:03] Right.
[23:04] So, I mean, it's been discussed and it's been decided not to.
[23:11] Well, is there...
[23:12] I mean, doubling it, again, it would...
[23:17] Even doubling it causes a hardship for those people that can't afford it.
[23:23] the people that need the service, that's a hardship.
[23:30] In this need obviously there's no bending in need right?
[23:34] It's just that they call you, you go to them.
[23:36] Right, there's no need.
[23:39] There's no determination of having a way or
[23:43] do you have somebody else that can drive you.
[23:46] That's it.
[23:47] You call up.
[23:48] There's a space, and you can't call lasty.
[23:53] See, that's just thing too.
[23:53] You can't call the night before and expect there to be, right?
[23:56] They're not home to hold service hours for
[23:59] Hamstead open until the night before, they would much rather give another town that time.
[24:06] So that's an issue, too, you have to call up enough ahead of time.
[24:11] And that's where those denials come in.
[24:13] They don't have a car, they don't have, I don't have a car.
[24:16] But they do, they do track denials and the time for denials.
[24:20] Now, what they are working towards and they haven't done this yet,
[24:23] is to make all these numbers including the rides and the denials to make them in a format that we can drill down and we can really look at it more.
[24:33] It's a matter of getting it out of their system which they can't let us look at for privacy reasons.
[24:40] But to get the numbers that we can look at the parts that we can look at and drill down the way we need to look at it.
[24:46] And I'm sure that most of your writers are not just going on their mobile phones and scheduling things through a scheduling format.
[24:54] So they call in and they talk to each other.
[24:58] So even collating the information and documenting it is a laborious front.
[25:04] Yeah, we haven't discussed the fact that the card is completely ADA.
[25:10] And Uber is not ADA.
[25:12] Right.
[25:12] Right. Right. So, and I don't know how many of those eight repeat riders require the
[25:18] ADA, but that, too, is a consideration. The names of the customers, if you will, people
[25:26] at your service, are they available not to us? It's pepper. No, they could tell us that
[25:33] a rider from Hampstead ended up at this destination. And that's it. And we don't know who they
[25:41] We don't, but CART can notify them.
[25:46] So if we would ask anybody who was serviced by CART to notify us, would that-
[25:55] That would be their destruction?
[25:58] Because I think you're going to find out that the number of customers, if you will,
[26:02] from Hamstead are not excessive that you're talking about one or two people who
[26:11] are getting medical. I know there's other services you've provided but the
[26:17] medical is the most critical. The others they probably can get
[26:21] service by family members or whatever. She said that there was eight that was eight
[26:27] medical repeat customers? I just wonder if it's worthwhile looking at just what kind of
[26:35] services were provided and to who we are providing them to. Well, we know a majority
[26:41] is for medical reasons. Then you have employment reasons and then you have shopping reasons.
[26:47] I don't know if I'm missing one. I feel like that. I mean, personally, there actually
[26:52] They could be personal also, but medical out of those eight riders, I received seven
[27:03] addresses and six of them were to medical facilities.
[27:07] So I understand the hip of the medical aspect, but why are they not able to tell us the
[27:12] other ones?
[27:14] Well, they can tell you is the location, I tell you.
[27:18] So I can understand not being able to tell us the riders information because they're going from battle appointments.
[27:26] But why can't we know the riders information for other ones?
[27:28] It's public transport.
[27:31] Oh, I don't know.
[27:32] In other words, it's like shopping.
[27:34] Go shopping.
[27:35] You would say like, I don't know that answer.
[27:37] Right.
[27:38] I don't know that answer.
[27:38] I don't know that answer.
[27:39] I don't know that answer.
[27:39] I don't know that answer.
[27:48] So you know what the kind of totality of how many residents were shot in the year.
[27:51] So this is, this is how I think about it.
[27:55] I think that probably the majority of those eight repeat riders need the service because they maybe they need the transportation during the day when they can't have another form of transportation.
[28:12] but maybe on the weekends or in the afternoon, you know, in the evenings they have other family members around that could help provide those services.
[28:20] That's just a guess I have. I don't know that, but I think that's pretty plausible.
[28:29] That's what makes it work that they can stay in that home and get the medical need they need
[28:38] and be with their family members who may be, you know, both, or the other adult in the
[28:44] house, both, whatever, work.
[28:46] And they can't provide that transportation.
[28:48] Or they have a notification.
[28:50] But it certainly is-
[28:51] Right.
[28:51] Or they have mobility issues that require the ADA compliant view.
[28:55] You would think- but you would think that if the rider needed ADA, there had to be another
[29:02] other form of transportation that can accommodate the ADA
[29:06] in that household.
[29:08] Those people are using that transportation
[29:11] for medical reasons.
[29:12] They still need food, okay?
[29:15] So, I mean, yes, maybe they don't go out other than,
[29:21] I mean, that's possible, too.
[29:24] It was a major jump in numbers between 25 and 26, too.
[29:29] 22 hasn't been complete yet.
[29:31] Yeah, 26 is only year two.
[29:33] I guess yeah, you're right.
[29:35] Well, it's, but it's the same period.
[29:38] But it's the same period.
[29:38] Yeah, we're talking July to June.
[29:40] So yeah.
[29:41] Right.
[29:42] So it's a six to five, seven people.
[29:44] Yeah.
[29:45] So the.
[29:46] But I'm assuming like that could probably be two people
[29:50] that probably accounted for that.
[29:52] Then I probably eat a move or no longer with us.
[29:55] Good assumption.
[29:57] And that's the thing.
[29:58] I think we have to work on a lot of...
[30:04] There's a couple of things that we also need to do. And that means we need to reach out to some of our senior and veteran population, if that means going to Jay Demando, who has a good network there, and giving some information to her, for her to share with her crowd. And maybe even going to the colonel and seeing if he can share some information with the veterans who may be using the service that may not be available.
[30:29] elderly, those may be another way of getting that kind of outreach, and it's to see if there's
[30:38] other things that we can connect them with. You know, other services that we can connect
[30:41] them with as well, in case we cannot get this funding approved. But I think you're right.
[30:50] I don't think we have a lot of choice here without cutting off what is clearly a vital service.
[31:01] I believe Medicare Advantage supplies rides as long as you call your insurance company ahead
[31:10] of time.
[31:11] I know my policy has rides if needed as long as we call ahead of time.
[31:19] And maybe some education, you know, looking into some other resources.
[31:23] I think community caregivers does some rides as well.
[31:27] But again, you have to kind of cobble that together for people.
[31:31] I think, you know, unless you're savvy about using your Medicare resources, I think that's a great insight.
[31:37] We could probably take a look into that.
[31:40] Yeah?
[31:41] Community caregivers, if they do, those are one of the organizations that did not get funded.
[31:48] And I had conversations with them probably in April and they do provide rideshare.
[31:53] The problem with it with that group it
[31:58] Private citizens volunteering in the time using their own vehicle in the non-ADD
[32:04] So wouldn't this be something where jade amount of is our senior coordinator, if you will
[32:13] Figure out what the other options would be
[32:28] That's why that was looking at some organization changes.
[32:32] These are all the services that we cook and again, that's what happens when you decide
[32:36] that those things are not necessary when someone's in need.
[32:40] We don't have so rock.
[32:42] We don't have meals on wheels.
[32:45] We don't have community care.
[32:46] But so let me just go back to that then because the senior coordinator's job is other
[32:53] than trips to do what?
[32:55] It's not social services.
[32:57] I'm not saying it's social services.
[32:58] No, it's a function of the recta part.
[33:01] Right, so it's to do the trips.
[33:03] And she does the coffees on one Thursday of the month,
[33:06] they do it.
[33:06] It's social services, it's like social evasion services,
[33:10] not social services.
[33:11] It was a presentation given to the Board many years ago
[33:15] that asked for a 20-hour week on employee
[33:19] to be here in the town, you should have all the social services that people have asked for.
[33:26] And that particular time, the select women said no, and they went ahead and just said,
[33:32] we used a company as a dairy, whatever that company is.
[33:35] We, they, where now is Latino, but they would call and give them the knowledge and they would go ahead and call that group.
[33:44] Yeah, it's basically a welfare office, a welfare service coordinator care management
[33:51] And that's the same thing when someone has a fire and you know Tina would contact the Red Cross
[33:55] But they would also contact for other services
[33:58] Through that welfare office that we just don't have the capacity to provide
[34:14] is a big rendition of what we're talking about today,
[34:16] and we need to have a some kind of a study that shows
[34:19] what it is that now people need,
[34:21] and can we help them?
[34:23] Is it really only eight people and is there an option
[34:25] to help get people to do that much more?
[34:28] We don't, I do not need in this town right now,
[34:30] we don't have a bridge to stay in that,
[34:33] how many people are moving?
[34:35] Well, what we do now, and your point is well taken,
[34:39] what we do know is that over the past three years,
[34:41] if they have been 26 people who raised the service.
[34:45] Currently there are eight with P,
[34:47] by 26 over Britain, or right, right.
[34:50] And I'm not talking just part,
[34:51] I think that there's other services
[34:52] that you might not be talking just when I'm aware of.
[34:55] I just don't think that's enough.
[34:56] Right.
[34:58] But I don't really need to help through the study,
[35:00] like I'm sure, Jake, if I'll be doing this study,
[35:02] I'm gonna be getting some better information for you
[35:04] and I'll make you do for that before I get to see that.
[35:07] Yeah, I mean, I just think that, you know,
[35:09] let's just let them warn off the point is that Jay is the person that while I understand
[35:13] it's not under her purview to be the welfare person or the senior, you know, the senior
[35:19] coordinate only does like two functions, I think that she does have the contacts to people
[35:25] who see, because I'm guessing that these people also are not going on the senior trips, but
[35:30] networking-wise they would probably all know what that means and they make sure but at the
[35:53] I don't know if we had any questions in the master plan survey on this but and the other
[35:58] place is the food pantry and heaven's kitchen because again they're working with the populations
[36:03] that are most at need.
[36:05] So I think we have a couple different groups
[36:09] that we can reach out to.
[36:11] I'm willing to shepherd that effort.
[36:17] So I'll put together something
[36:19] and run it past the select board and talk with Jay
[36:22] and with Kim and see what we can come up with in a way
[36:26] of getting some information out.
[36:28] Because I think you're right.
[36:29] I think there are probably larger needs
[36:31] than we have identified, and it's part of what, when we put the budget together and we
[36:40] say these are the services that we feel we should contribute to, that's why.
[36:45] And I think maybe if more people understood what services are provided by those agencies,
[36:51] then they would understand why it's important for us to fund them.
[36:57] All right, does anybody else have any questions from Mr. Jones?
[37:02] So we've made that one motion to go forward to have a cart.
[37:07] Will you send that to me, Mike?
[37:09] I will.
[37:09] Okay.
[37:10] Okay.
[37:11] And as far as the financial decision, I don't know that we're in a position to do anything
[37:15] right now.
[37:16] So budget budget and we'll go over the budget schedule later on
[37:25] If I get any more information further
[37:29] You know clarification I will forward it wonderful. Thank you. Thanks for the information. You can get us to help us in form this situation
[37:36] Okay, so thank you guys. Thank you. It
[37:42] looks like next up. We have police chief Kelly under department heads
[37:56] Good evening again. Good evening
[37:58] Okay, thank you for your meeting with me, a couple items I wanted to go through.
[38:05] The first item I wanted to bring up to the board, our current custodian can no longer
[38:13] continue to work for us.
[38:15] It's a part-time position, up to nine hours a week doing custodial responsibilities around
[38:21] the police station.
[38:22] I would ask the board to go ahead and allow me to hire a replacement.
[38:31] His name is Sean Randlett in pending successful background check.
[38:37] Let me take that motion.
[38:38] I have a second.
[38:40] All those in favour?
[38:41] All right.
[38:42] All right.
[38:42] Thank you very much.
[38:44] The second issue I wanted to bring up to the board is I'd like to do a minor department
[38:49] and read a structure at this point, I would like to reclassify Sergeant Randall to more
[38:57] of an administrative sergeant with the title of detective sergeant and I would like to
[39:01] promote Chris Rothwell to the rank of sergeant and utilize him as a patrol supervisor.
[39:10] I'd like to do that for both of them with an effective date of Sunday, August 30th.
[39:17] I make that motion.
[39:19] We have a second.
[39:21] Second.
[39:22] All those in favor.
[39:23] All right.
[39:24] Thank you very much.
[39:25] I appreciate that.
[39:27] Moving on, I will honor to discuss with the board going
[39:36] in line with the administrative function.
[39:38] I'd like to give credit what credit is due.
[39:41] In my hand, I have a grant that was completed by Sergeant Randall.
[39:46] It is a grant for $8500 from the Office of Highway Safety
[39:51] to conduct speed enforcement, cell phone use, and DWI enforcement.
[40:02] Per we do these annually, per the procedure outlined, I need the board to take a vote to accept the grant for $8,500 and then I will just need a member of the board to sign it and the board minutes to reflect that you voted to accept the $8,500.
[40:19] Some moved with the addition that we allow the chairman to sign for it.
[40:26] Second, Paul was able to have a foul second, only because if you're going to sign it, that's complicated.
[40:32] Quick question, what does that, those funds actually go to chief?
[40:37] They, four hour blocks of traffic enforcement, whether it be, they have a couple different national campaigns that they do.
[40:45] But ultimately, it'll put officers out on the road.
[40:49] to do driving while impaired, speeding, cell phone use, distracted driving, stuff like that.
[40:56] But what is the grant, the money go to into your budget, not into the general fund,
[41:02] goes into a special account?
[41:04] So it will come back to the general fund.
[41:07] I will, out of my budget, we will pay the offices to do the patrol, then we submit for
[41:12] reimbursement and eventually the money comes back to the town.
[41:16] So the grant actually goes into the general fund.
[41:21] Yes, when we get reimbursed, correct?
[41:24] Thank you.
[41:24] All those of them.
[41:25] All right.
[41:27] Thank you.
[41:28] I'll leave this.
[41:28] Thank you, Chief.
[41:33] It's outlined in there.
[41:34] If you go through it.
[41:36] Why would one person from the chair?
[41:41] I don't need it tonight.
[41:42] I can get it at an up later date.
[41:44] And I just two additional items I wanted to update the board on is pain-sakingly I still
[41:52] do not have a counter-proposal from the Attorney General's Office on a potential mutual aid
[41:59] agreement between the town or the police department and state police.
[42:04] This is going back a couple meetings, multiple meetings, but more specifically a meeting a couple
[42:10] weeks ago and I am still eagerly waiting their counter proposal to my initial proposal.
[42:16] I have no explanation as to what's taking so long.
[42:20] I think we've made the town as a whole, made our expectations on what we will and will
[42:25] not do up there, and for some reason this continues to be a process.
[42:29] This is with respect to Hampstead Hospital and the YDC.
[42:33] Correct.
[42:34] And then, on the tail end of that, I have a meeting on Wednesday with the Attorney General's Office Department of Safety, Colonel Hall from State Police, multiple members from Department of Health and Human Services.
[42:50] They kind of sprung on me last minute.
[42:53] They are looking to do a meeting to discuss overall campus safety.
[42:59] I'll keep the board up to date on that.
[43:01] I don't know how we can discuss all of that with all the same people that I've been meeting
[43:04] and trying to get this mutual aid agreement wrapped up, but now they're calling for a separate
[43:10] meeting, so I just want the board to be aware of it and I will keep you up to date on the outcome
[43:15] of that as well.
[43:16] This is the fourth meeting with the same group of people and the same message.
[43:25] Yes, and then apparently we need to do it in sign language hyroglyphics and
[43:32] The only way to help from some of our state reps and so on
[43:38] Senator Burzel sat in on the last meeting in fact she sat in in two of the three meetings that we've had so far
[43:43] It's not moving the needle but she wasn't invited to sit in on this thing. Oh, and either was I
[43:50] Yes, that's it
[43:53] That's all I have for you. Thank you very much for your time. Have a great evening. I'll sign for you.
[43:58] Thank you, sir.
[43:59] Thank you.
[44:00] Appreciate it.
[44:02] Looks like Kate's getting ready to jump.
[44:05] Wow.
[44:07] All right.
[44:08] Oh, back on you.
[44:09] See you now.
[44:10] Oh, wow.
[44:11] I'm going to watch you stumble a little bit.
[44:12] Thank you, Leah.
[44:14] Thank you.
[44:16] Thank you, Leah.
[44:17] I saw the reports now.
[44:19] So the cake can...
[44:21] Well, we've got Mr. Dowd over here sitting waiting too, so it won't take long.
[44:26] Kim, did you have anything under department heads or are you good?
[44:29] Yeah.
[44:29] All right.
[44:30] So that brings us to a new business.
[44:33] First thing on new business is open heat and fuel bits.
[44:36] All right.
[44:39] Good news only.
[44:40] Good news only.
[44:42] I don't know.
[44:42] Have you looked at the, well, mutant fuel prices right now?
[44:46] As long as we're still under department heads, I didn't know if Matt would be here.
[44:50] But I'm going to ask him to find the signs, the trifold signs that we had that say vote.
[45:10] Okay.
[45:13] Okay. Okay. Okay.
[45:18] Okay.
[45:22] Okay.
[45:22] All right, I'll leave you on the map, so I'll have a message.
[45:25] Yeah, they're in the shed, but we've got to get them out and clean it up.
[45:28] The sandwich boards?
[45:29] Yeah, the big ones, we paid big money for them.
[45:31] And there's handwritten signs that should still be there, that say, vote Tuesday, that was
[45:36] the generic, vote Tuesday 8 to 8 at HMS, so.
[45:40] All right, I'll have them get those out.
[45:42] I was going to have new ones printed up, but it costs us like $600 to get those inserts.
[45:47] So we don't have it in the budget.
[45:48] All right, exactly, so we're going to have the handwritten ones.
[45:51] All right, so the first one I'm opening here is palm of gas and oil RFP for heating oil, okay
[45:59] You ready Mr. Dowd?
[46:03] All right, so their propane price is going to be a fixed price of $1.89
[46:08] nine cents per gallon
[46:13] Outside bid terms will be at a variable rate of 50 cents per gallon
[46:18] Above their Ackinson Landed cost
[46:21] First, number two heating oil price is 3.599 per gallon and variable rate of 20 cents per
[46:31] gallon below the regular market price.
[46:35] Off-road died diesel, we got that in there too, it's 30 cents off regular daily market
[46:40] price.
[46:41] So today I started at $5.24, so yeah, enjoy.
[46:47] All right, so there's that one, then they got some accolades on there, how they were the
[46:54] business, the ancient magazines, business of the decade.
[47:01] This next one is for a Hilton oil company.
[47:07] Who's it from?
[47:09] Hilton?
[47:10] Like the hotel?
[47:12] But not.
[47:13] But not.
[47:15] Okay.
[47:16] So,
[47:19] this is heating oil first, so town of Hampstead and the school, obviously, $4.549 per
[47:31] gallon for number two oil. That is for approximate $7,844 gallons. That is the town of Hampstead.
[47:40] Hinch said school district, same price, $4.549, approximately 50,000 gallons of number
[47:49] two oil, dyed diesel, $4.749 for that, no, nothing for LP, they must not deal in liquid
[48:01] propane.
[48:05] Do you have that?
[48:07] Excellent.
[48:07] So, we will take these and defer them to Mr. Dowd.
[48:24] Make sure I get them to the right down below with return addresses.
[48:36] I'm more than happy to take a look at those right now, and I'll take a look on the before final approval, but right now it looks like Palmer would be more favorable, still $50,000 more than the school and 16, 17,000 more for the town.
[48:56] Now both propane and so that's an aggregate over current your price now currently propane
[49:04] is at $179.99 so this came in at $189.99. Our current rate for oil is $256.9. So pommers
[49:16] rate of $359.99 is quite a bit higher. Not good news but not as bad as I was thinking
[49:25] it might have been. So does that mean we won last year and lost this year? Or do you just
[49:29] do on demand calling this year? Yeah. I don't know what the fluctuation of price is right now.
[49:35] And actually that's the problem. So 24-25 our oil price was 287-9 and propane was 169-9. So that's been
[49:43] going up a dime a year. But from 24 to 25 we went down and now we're going, so we went from 289.
[49:51] Sorry, $287.9 to $256.9. Now we're going at $359.9.
[49:56] It's probably not related to a conference one or anything.
[49:59] Yeah. I expected that.
[50:02] I expected that.
[50:02] But in this is probably a stupid question, but it doesn't make sense to
[50:07] that we should lock in with a company or, I mean again, like,
[50:14] are there times where we go, okay, we need to, we need to fill.
[50:19] So we know it's whatever you tend to sense approximately or whatever lower than what we're
[50:24] getting quotes for.
[50:25] If you watch the news, the conflict's going to get resolved every other day.
[50:29] So that's the thing, right?
[50:31] So the price that I pay out of contract for liquid propane currently is $241, not.
[50:43] And so their bid price is $189.99.
[50:45] I think it's just they can look in the futures now.
[50:47] Sure.
[50:47] Yeah, we're kind of have to right yeah
[50:50] Yeah, so 241-9 is what word is what I've paid off. We had to do a small fill-up. How to off-contract
[50:57] 189 is good. Yeah, I didn't think I'd say it's good. It seems pretty good
[51:01] Yeah, you know, so so we need a motion to take Mr. Doubts recommendation. Well, yes
[51:08] Yeah, you know what the bid to Palmer. Okay, make a motion to award the fuel bid to Palmer gas
[51:17] Second all those in favor hi, thank you very much. I mean, thank you just an FYI one of the cash oil companies is charge in
[51:26] $459.9, but eat oil for cash, okay. Wow. So you're all getting ready to deal with that.
[51:36] She's since when is that a deal? We'll take it I guess.
[51:48] All right. Thank you for coming on, Mr. Douda. Appreciate it.
[51:51] Thank you very much.
[51:55] So I didn't see the correspondence on the next item on there, but I do remember it did
[52:01] get sent to me.
[52:03] I voted it.
[52:04] I didn't have any correspondence with that.
[52:06] I just took your lead on it and put it on the agenda.
[52:09] So the Vigiri Center is drop-in center is they have an open board director C and they reached out to us
[52:17] To see if anybody may be interested so we figured we put it out there could probably could have been in public announcements as well, but
[52:26] So if anybody is interested
[52:27] I don't know who that is I can find that out though
[52:42] Let me open up the e-mail real quick.
[52:45] They'd actually be a good group for me to talk to as well about senior needs because
[52:50] a lot of our seniors go to the program.
[52:52] I assume if there's an open seat, the person who currently is sitting is not a candidate.
[52:59] I have no information regarding this Board of Director, I didn't realize.
[53:06] So it's a three-year term.
[53:09] The meeting schedule is the third Tuesday of each month.
[53:13] The board member responsibilities would be general board members provide governance
[53:18] oversight and community representation for the respective town, also active contributors
[53:23] to the center such as helping with activities and specials and supporting our staff and volunteers.
[53:28] They're also need a treasurer, so that could be one of the board positions as well.
[53:35] To apply, interested candidates are encouraged to submit their interests and inquiries to
[53:40] Vick Geary at gmail.com and that's bi-c-g-e-a-r-y at gmail.com.
[53:50] Can you forward that to me?
[53:51] I can, yeah.
[53:52] Thank you.
[53:55] So it sounds like something possibly for someone that may be retired, if
[54:06] that thing is just
[54:07] the wrong thing.
[54:08] That's all right.
[54:08] They do some great parties over there.
[54:12] So I don't know if they shake their trees themselves, it looks like an application goes
[54:18] to victory, not to this wood, just a matter of information for us.
[54:24] I assumed it was somebody from this board and I believe they do some services as well
[54:30] as far as like the community, but I think it's all in class-out.
[54:46] And they do a weekly, they do meals, they do all kinds of activities.
[54:53] All kinds of activities, yep.
[54:56] Face and poison has been there a couple times.
[55:07] So as the information on that, we promised that we would announce it.
[55:13] The 2026, 2027 budget schedule has been provided by the kind of administrator in my carrier.
[55:21] It should be sitting right in front of you there.
[55:23] All those lovely dates.
[55:25] It seems like we just ended budget season.
[55:27] But here we go again.
[55:28] one. First one is scheduled October 7th. These ones go all the way till March 1st.
[55:37] Yeah, that Wednesday October 7th meeting is an off week for the board meetings.
[55:43] That's is that Columbus Day? No, the week after is Columbus Day on that Monday. So I'm proposing
[55:50] to move your regularly scheduled meeting from Monday to the 14th at Wednesday.
[55:59] I just have a question. We got the information from our TA to our TA. I know it took a lot
[56:09] of work on our insurance. I know we all received a couple of meetings ago, the breakdown of
[56:19] the possible changes in the cost to both the town employees and the town.
[56:30] And I just wanted to say that in looking at the proposal, because it is in debt and
[56:40] it is a significant cost to the town, that I, in my estimation at least, the number
[56:48] I'm going to show that the town's employees are going to have a problem with the new schedule as submitted.
[57:00] And that we might be asking the administration to come up with a plan that does not impact on the town employees.
[57:09] Are we talking about the budget schedule?
[57:14] No, we're talking about items that come up in the budget and September.
[57:18] Is this so you're bringing something?
[57:19] By me?
[57:20] So you want to talk about budget items right now.
[57:23] Is that what you're saying?
[57:25] Yeah, I'm saying that the budget is coming up in September.
[57:28] This is one item and it seems it's a significant item on the budget.
[57:36] and I wondered if we wanted to either talk about it at when is the first item on the budget?
[57:47] October 7th.
[57:49] Yeah, I, if I may, Mr. Chairman.
[57:52] As far as the changes to health insurance, I plan on bringing those options to the board in September.
[58:00] And then those adjustments, whatever the board decides, will be made in the first draft of the budget.
[58:07] And my comment is, although it might be premature, is that it is a proposal that saves the town money at the expense of the town employees, and I would not consider it at all.
[58:26] If the TA wants to, we, this was a direction from the board to evaluate the health insurance.
[58:38] He didn't do this on his own, I mean, we've, the board said multiple conversations
[58:43] where we can, first where we can find more money, right, and kind of evaluating, we told him
[58:51] to evaluate.
[58:52] Oh yeah.
[58:53] No, I'm just making sure that that's still clear and the proposal it's not as far as I know again
[59:01] We're going to bring it up, but it's more of a
[59:04] Feased-in approach is an option, right? It's not kind of all or nothing. There's there's the employees would have
[59:13] Some options of what plan to choose and also it's like they have now sure, but also
[59:20] So the cost sharing will depend on the plan you pick and also whatever it is would be phased
[59:26] in.
[59:28] Like we don't have to do, you can do it a half a percent a year if we want to do it.
[59:33] But I think we did a really good job over the past, or we've done over the past few years,
[59:41] a really good job on the wages end of things to kind of keep up with colas and, you know,
[59:48] trying to keep some movement going, to keep wages up, to try to be competitive.
[59:54] But I think on the health insurance portion, it is something.
[1:00:00] I think we've never fully evaluated, and that's what we're going to get is a full evaluation of it. So, I understand to be against any changes. But,
[1:00:12] again, we're also looking at a possible third year of being in the fall budget. And the only other thing that I would say, in my opinion, would be you start cutting positions. I don't want to be the person to start making those decisions, right? So, if it's...
[1:00:28] No, my point is bringing it up now instead of waiting is just to make the comment that it is a
[1:00:38] the report is very comprehensive I thought but it looked like that it was
[1:00:46] saving the towns about $50,000 at the expense of the town employees and it's also my understanding
[1:00:55] Even at the department head meeting that was made clear that the employees were not receptive
[1:01:05] to sacrificing a significant amount of money so that the town could save the $50,000
[1:01:15] that we were looking to save.
[1:01:17] Well, I wouldn't think that they would want to do that.
[1:01:20] I mean, I wouldn't want to do that either, but that's why we're evaluating it as a board and
[1:01:26] I would say that that statement is not accurate and I think if we continue this conversation in the direction it's going in
[1:01:36] We should probably do it in non-public. Yeah, and the other part of that is if you just want to use that as a base
[1:01:43] Whatever, but I'm just trying to save some some time. That's very
[1:01:48] detailed and a real impact on the budget, that line, at least, which is a significant
[1:01:55] line.
[1:01:56] We have another month to look it over, so let's-
[1:01:58] Well, I thought we had it for the last couple of weeks.
[1:02:01] But we need plenty of time to really look it over and then discuss it in public.
[1:02:05] And the other part of that is that the municipal employees is a very small pool, so changes
[1:02:11] in their health insurance is going to have a relatively small impact on the budget versus
[1:02:17] the school employees, where I think they are also looking at potential changes to their
[1:02:23] health insurance policies. And again, because of the sheer volume of employees, that's going
[1:02:30] to have a very different impact on the budget. So I think it's a matter of perspective.
[1:02:34] I'm not in favor of cutting anything from the town employees to health insurance either
[1:02:40] or modifying but I think we have to look at it. I think we have a responsibility in year
[1:02:45] two of default budget. I think we have a responsibility to look at all of our expenses.
[1:02:52] I agree. It's just that they have no power of negotiations. They could.
[1:03:01] Well, I think it's up to us to have open conversations and transparency in our conversations.
[1:03:05] So all right, let's move on to old business, please.
[1:03:10] All right, do you have anything for old business?
[1:03:14] Can we back out? Are we okay with the schedule?
[1:03:17] I think we're perfectly fine with the schedule
[1:03:19] and I'd like your recommendation of moving that Monday to the Wednesday
[1:03:23] if everybody else is in favor with that one.
[1:03:25] Sure.
[1:03:25] I don't think we need a formal vote on that.
[1:03:27] No, you know, I'll make that notation.
[1:03:29] Did you get that one, Joe?
[1:03:31] Yeah, yeah, it'll, we'll get a,
[1:03:33] So instead of meeting twice, we're going to meet once in that week on the Wednesday and
[1:03:36] Saturday Monday.
[1:03:37] Yeah.
[1:03:38] All right.
[1:03:39] We'll get the email to that effect anyway, right?
[1:03:43] And be on the agenda.
[1:03:44] It's actually in your, it's in the agenda, on the back, it says, upcoming Slack board meetings
[1:03:53] and events.
[1:03:53] Sorry.
[1:03:55] I have to turn the page.
[1:03:57] Yeah.
[1:03:58] We can't print two pages of it, but you have to do front and back for a bunch of reasons.
[1:04:01] All right.
[1:04:06] So TA report and for information. Okay, so we are there. I just want to give the board some general information that the steeple in this building as well as in the meeting house.
[1:04:22] The work will be starting mid-September.
[1:04:25] Yeah.
[1:04:26] The coupon.
[1:04:29] We have a coupon.
[1:04:31] Yeah, the coupon.
[1:04:31] Yeah.
[1:04:32] People and the meeting house.
[1:04:34] People who are on top of the coupon.
[1:04:35] Okay, sorry.
[1:04:36] Is there ever any...
[1:04:38] I don't know if this would be a historic commission.
[1:04:41] I'm guessing it would be under their purview, but also,
[1:04:44] it's a general information question, which is,
[1:04:47] there's a grant money for those types of buildings, right?
[1:04:51] For example, in Acids, and they've been working on their little,
[1:04:53] So whatever the heck it is across Mac, it's an academy under a grant to restore that.
[1:05:00] Would this building and or the meeting house, I'm not sure about this meeting, but I can
[1:05:06] check with Rob Morris, I know they have submitted for a grant for the window replacements in
[1:05:15] that building.
[1:05:15] Just downstairs.
[1:05:17] Just downstairs, right at this time because they were matching funds grant.
[1:05:21] So, but who, I guess the question more of my general information is who goes for those
[1:05:26] grants.
[1:05:27] So, shouldn't that be something that the town, maybe with a dedicated town employee that
[1:05:35] knows how to write grants, goes for, Rob, Rob pretty much works with Tina by hands in the
[1:05:45] past.
[1:05:46] Well, right, but if we have somebody that has got the town millions of dollars in grants, I
[1:05:51] I would also like them looped in on grant writing as well.
[1:05:55] You see it have Mike raping, look for grants.
[1:05:58] I would look into it.
[1:06:00] Oh, thank you.
[1:06:01] I'll read between both of them.
[1:06:03] But I thought that was one of his high points.
[1:06:06] I think the Congregational Church got a grant
[1:06:10] as well for their steeple repairs.
[1:06:14] Yeah, I'm not familiar with those types of grants,
[1:06:16] but I will look in and when I'll talk to Rob.
[1:06:18] Thank you.
[1:06:18] and see if any.
[1:06:19] Rob is pretty much up on what's going on.
[1:06:22] That's why he's what he is.
[1:06:24] And there's only people like that on around forever either, right?
[1:06:29] So I just want to make sure that we have succession planning for the building
[1:06:33] that's going to remain here for centuries.
[1:06:37] I'll put that on the TAs list of items.
[1:06:40] Thank you for your time.
[1:06:40] You're welcome.
[1:06:41] So the other information I have is that we are now beginning to evaluate financial
[1:06:47] social software to kind of replace the outdated systems that we have in place, they don't even support our financial software anymore.
[1:06:57] So, the first vendor that we're evaluating is on September 3rd at 9 a.m. and any board member is welcome to attend.
[1:07:08] What is that? September 3rd?
[1:07:12] Does that, will that include payroll?
[1:07:16] Correct.
[1:07:16] Okay.
[1:07:17] It should include everything financially that we need to support the town.
[1:07:23] And that is also like so every department will go into this.
[1:07:29] They should pay all for the library, payroll for, okay.
[1:07:33] That's the plan, and invoicing and all of that, yeah?
[1:07:36] Right.
[1:07:37] That's the plan is to put together an electronic system where all departments can get real-time
[1:07:45] information.
[1:07:46] Of course your real-time information is only as good as the information that is actually
[1:07:50] available.
[1:07:52] So that's the plan and then Payroll will look in for department heads to put that information.
[1:07:57] Again, Gloria is kind of the front person to this and she's starting the evaluation process
[1:08:04] and we're all part of it.
[1:08:05] Is this one of the vendors that earned the interview process?
[1:08:08] She made your own effort.
[1:08:11] They're called MTB.
[1:08:14] This is what they do.
[1:08:16] Financial software from municipalities.
[1:08:18] And then I'm pretty sure she'll have MTS in,
[1:08:21] which is a subsidiary of MRI.
[1:08:24] This is something that she had actually
[1:08:26] done some research on, this process.
[1:08:29] Yes, so that was one of the.
[1:08:30] And she made phone calls and said,
[1:08:32] Can you come in and show us what your software can do great so you're all
[1:08:37] more than welcome to attend all the common heads were invited as well as the
[1:08:41] library so everybody's going to have some input into the process great so
[1:08:48] September 3rd it's going to be a meeting nine o'clock here well it may end up
[1:08:53] being at the fire station upstairs because that room is bigger and there's a there's
[1:08:58] better technology relative to putting stuff up on a business.
[1:09:02] There's a change, you'll send emails.
[1:09:03] I'll let everybody know once I have that information.
[1:09:06] I guess it depends on how many people are going to show up.
[1:09:09] Kate will be there.
[1:09:14] I think that's all I have at this point.
[1:09:18] All right, that brings us to liaison's report.
[1:09:21] I don't have any.
[1:09:23] Oh, CK. Look at that.
[1:09:25] The five bucks didn't get it this time, huh?
[1:09:29] My ex-girlfriend, you usually don't have anything, I do you?
[1:09:33] No, I don't have anything.
[1:09:34] Yeah, it wasn't that last week.
[1:09:35] One of the things was the changes that just didn't take place in the payroll on that,
[1:09:42] and that you're overlapping in through our show where we're all set for that.
[1:09:46] How's the tank?
[1:09:48] The tank is empty, and it's going to take it out.
[1:09:51] We believe in the better.
[1:09:53] Okay.
[1:09:54] It's good to know.
[1:09:55] He did, like a welder or like a welder, just a company that can...
[1:10:00] Sauza.
[1:10:01] All right.
[1:10:01] And he's enough.
[1:10:03] It's plastic.
[1:10:04] Oh, it is plastic.
[1:10:04] I thought it was metal.
[1:10:05] No, it isn't.
[1:10:06] It's cord and control seal.
[1:10:08] Is that Sauza all blades in as like the deputy chief's going to go do it?
[1:10:12] No.
[1:10:13] No, I don't see it here.
[1:10:15] I might be a lot of noise though, right?
[1:10:18] Yes.
[1:10:19] You go by the library and it's closed.
[1:10:22] It's going to be closed.
[1:10:22] We are potentially closing the library for the week that it's happening because of fumes and noise and
[1:10:30] We'll be doing different things. You'll be here at your bus. Okay. Yeah, so I was also gonna make a hell of a wrap-in
[1:10:41] Thank you
[1:10:43] So thank you. I'm lucky my chief already did the updates. I'm kind of like Joe. I had somebody else
[1:10:49] So someone has my printed version of my liaisons report.
[1:10:53] I think I passed it over with other things.
[1:10:57] There it is.
[1:10:58] There it is.
[1:10:58] I got it.
[1:10:59] Thank you.
[1:11:00] Is it nine pages?
[1:11:01] I was going to do it on my copy.
[1:11:03] I'm sure I'd speed it on.
[1:11:04] Right.
[1:11:05] No, no.
[1:11:06] It's literally like two things.
[1:11:08] So the CIP, while I was hoping that Kim would have reported on this, and then I would have
[1:11:13] almost been off the hook like, select my gothry over there.
[1:11:17] So the CIP committee met on the 20th at the fire station.
[1:11:21] Historic committee presented plans for improvements at the meeting house.
[1:11:26] Second story, windows, a new chimney ductwork and new furnaces were discussed for a part of capital improvement projects.
[1:11:33] Only a quote for the furnace itself was available, which was just for the standalone furnace, not the ductwork, not the chimney.
[1:11:40] The $26,800 on the historic committee is working on a 20-year plan for the buildings it manages and is seeking a historic building expert to help with the plan.
[1:11:52] Updated CIP committee bylaws were distributed to the committee members, voting took place on 2026, 2027 capital projects and we brought to the Board of Selectment in September.
[1:12:06] Also mentioned which we just kind of talked about, it's not part of the capital project
[1:12:14] but it was grant funded so he brought it to the attention of the committee.
[1:12:18] They got a grant, I believe it was for $30,000.
[1:12:21] It was grant funding matched so they had to come up with $15,000.
[1:12:26] The grant was for $15,000 to do the downstairs windows.
[1:12:31] But obviously that building needs an awful lot of work to keep in another 300 years or whatever.
[1:12:39] Town elections, state primary election will be held on Tuesday, September 8th, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
[1:12:46] Two board of selectman members need to be present at all times.
[1:12:49] There's only one person that is actually being primary.
[1:12:52] It is also on the board of selectman and that is Selectming Guthrie.
[1:12:57] Well, we appear on the board.
[1:12:59] You're both on the ballot.
[1:13:00] We just don't have it all.
[1:13:01] You don't have it all.
[1:13:01] We don't have it all.
[1:13:02] Yeah, I mean it.
[1:13:04] Which was like that with me at the last election.
[1:13:06] And that's why I could be there as an election official
[1:13:10] because it was an uncontested case.
[1:13:11] Okay.
[1:13:12] So I clarified that with.
[1:13:15] Oh, good.
[1:13:15] Good, okay.
[1:13:17] So you're not off the hook.
[1:13:18] I guess not.
[1:13:19] I guess not.
[1:13:20] We get to wave at Joe from outside.
[1:13:21] Well, I was either going to be standing outside or standing
[1:13:24] inside. So now it's not, you know, March. No, it might be nice. Oh, yeah, it's not November.
[1:13:30] It's the best. Oh, yeah. November we've had cold days. The first year I ran, I remember standing
[1:13:36] in a foot of snow out there with ice driven. Oh, there in the national election during COVID.
[1:13:42] Oh, yeah. We had flores, the squalls come through. Yeah. And everybody was lined up outside.
[1:13:48] I got in because everybody felt bad for me, apparently. Oh, yeah, that was it.
[1:13:53] No, we talked about some personnel things that are cooking or that we've voted on so that's was it for me?
[1:13:59] Excellent.
[1:14:00] It's slightly more than.
[1:14:04] First thing I want to bring out is we can save $1,000 on the cost of the new ambulance.
[1:14:11] If we can make a payment of $70,
[1:14:16] $77, $78.
[1:14:24] We can make a payment of $77,694. By the end of the month, we can save $1,000.
[1:14:34] Will it be here any sooner? No. Now, that is money we already had allocated, correct?
[1:14:39] Yes. There's money in the revolving fund for this expenditure.
[1:14:46] $1,000, $1,000. What was that figure again? How much?
[1:14:51] if we pay it now we can save a thousand dollars the chassis payment right now is
[1:14:59] 178,000.
[1:15:01] By the end of the month, we can save $1,000. I make a motion to pay the $78,694 to the, it actually will be $77,000, so you think it's a track for $1,000. All right, 694. By the end of August. All right, so we'll amend that motion. $77,694 by the end of August to the end of its payment.
[1:15:25] and it's sugar-low families.
[1:15:29] Second.
[1:15:30] All those in favor.
[1:15:31] All right.
[1:15:32] Here, we just saved a thousand
[1:15:34] we can put towards Karen.
[1:15:38] Also, they've completed interviews
[1:15:40] for eight paramedics that applied.
[1:15:44] And they've found three of them are assessed,
[1:15:47] should be qualified.
[1:15:49] He's going to have some follow-up communication.
[1:15:52] It doesn't work to determine if they would
[1:15:54] I would like the position of the podium paramedic question.
[1:16:03] Do they, I should probably know this, but the podiums still have the background checks,
[1:16:08] right?
[1:16:12] Yes, they should.
[1:16:13] And or the tertiary checks of reference, generally it's tertiary checks because they're coming
[1:16:20] from other places that they've already received background checks on.
[1:16:24] which is fine. However, I have, again, we may be some of us have seen out there, the
[1:16:30] metaglass.
[1:16:31] Even other places aren't doing due diligence, too, so I would maybe just...
[1:16:38] They still will get a background check.
[1:16:41] Not rely on other agencies having done the background check.
[1:16:44] Yeah, I think it's, unfortunately, you know, with the sign of the times, it's like we just
[1:16:47] need to get people in the door, but...
[1:16:49] They do driving and background check.
[1:16:52] That's great.
[1:16:53] That's great.
[1:16:55] That's great.
[1:16:55] A month of September, this 17-unfilled per-dian firefighter shifts and a five-unfilled
[1:17:03] paramedic.
[1:17:05] He believes he can manage the unfilled per-dian paramedic openings, but they're kind of tied
[1:17:12] on filling the unfilled per-dian firefighter shifts.
[1:17:16] So there may be about 14 days or more in September when staffing is down to four instead of the five that they have no.
[1:17:31] And this was part of the conversation that your last meeting of adjusting the hourly rate for the protein and firefighters to compete with surrounding communities
[1:17:43] We're just not getting the fight upon us, just not getting the applicants that they need to fill all hours.
[1:17:50] Can you just refresh where we were at on that from the last meeting?
[1:17:53] Was he going to bring us more information or we just didn't want to vote on it?
[1:17:58] At this point, he was holding off on it for budgetary reasons.
[1:18:02] There are just no funds unless he makes other changes within his budget.
[1:18:07] I've got some preliminary numbers that I can give you.
[1:18:13] Our PDN firefighter rate is lowest in the region by $4 to $7, depending on qualifications.
[1:18:22] To create a competitive wage scale and potentially attract new PDN firefighters, he would need
[1:18:31] approximately $15,000 as required for the remainder of physical year, $26, and a budget
[1:18:37] an increase of approximately 47,000 for physically year 27.
[1:18:42] 47 is a big number today.
[1:18:45] It is.
[1:18:47] Okay.
[1:18:49] What's all I got?
[1:18:51] Thank you, Maureen.
[1:18:52] Just so everybody's aware that because of the limited funds in all of the budgets, this is
[1:19:00] now having an impact on services.
[1:19:03] So yeah, I mean, you're looking at almost half of September
[1:19:06] where you're going to have four people instead of the five
[1:19:10] that we've had and unfortunately,
[1:19:13] that's even with the revenue coming in and all that.
[1:19:17] We just, we can't, as good as it is to have that,
[1:19:20] we can't count it towards the operation count.
[1:19:23] It's just, and some of the per-dem people
[1:19:25] because they've been working so many shifts
[1:19:27] are reaching their max and can't be utilized.
[1:19:31] which we have no control over because it's labor laws.
[1:19:35] Well, it's not that it's an hampton retirement system and it's a state issue,
[1:19:40] not necessarily a federal one.
[1:19:46] All right.
[1:19:46] That concludes the liaison's reports.
[1:19:49] Call for candidates.
[1:19:51] Energy committee slash community choice, energy aggregation is looking for two.
[1:19:55] Ethics commission.
[1:19:56] They are looking for one.
[1:19:58] They meet as needed.
[1:19:59] planning board is looking for one and they will need to run again in March of
[1:20:04] 2027 that's one of the term expires is planning board alternates they meet
[1:20:12] twice a month doesn't say how many they need I guess they'll take as much as
[1:20:17] they can get appointments I do not see any can we just call it the ecccca
[1:20:24] I wouldn't have the easier to call the Energy Committee, you know.
[1:20:28] That might be a time twister as well.
[1:20:31] I'm waiting for Select from Worth and to come up with a fan's
[1:20:34] your name instead, you know.
[1:20:35] Energy committee.
[1:20:37] Power team, like power rangers.
[1:20:40] I need a motion to accept the consent documents as listed on your agenda.
[1:20:45] So moved.
[1:20:46] Do I have a second?
[1:20:47] Second.
[1:20:48] All those in favor?
[1:20:49] Aye.
[1:20:51] Correspondence.
[1:20:52] We had a pile of stuff, the abatement, we've already taken care of that.
[1:20:58] Yeah, that was on the consent of wetlands permit notification, a lot of vision land resources,
[1:21:03] which is more information only, and then the Rockhamham County fiscal year budget is also
[1:21:12] on here, and that is just an information only thing as well if anybody wants to take a look
[1:21:16] at it.
[1:21:17] In this folder, visit our comments.
[1:21:23] Okay.
[1:21:24] I got a question.
[1:21:26] Are you a visitor?
[1:21:28] No.
[1:21:28] Okay.
[1:21:30] From another planet.
[1:21:31] Right.
[1:21:33] This recommendation.
[1:21:34] Recommendation.
[1:21:35] Recommendation.
[1:21:36] Last item on the agenda.
[1:21:38] Is that the way I have the solar?
[1:21:41] Correct.
[1:21:41] Yes.
[1:21:43] It's a board.
[1:21:44] Need to know.
[1:21:44] So, you're approving that by the extension agenda, it's already signed, yeah, it's all
[1:21:50] set.
[1:21:51] It was in the stack of things.
[1:21:52] It's in the stack, it's this one right here.
[1:21:54] Yeah, but is there anybody have any question about that?
[1:21:57] That was a constituent's referral to me came to me, and I spoke to the TA and the assessor,
[1:22:09] And it was a oversight, if you will.
[1:22:13] The abatement was on, he had an abatement.
[1:22:19] It was taken off for some reason.
[1:22:22] We couldn't, I still don't know.
[1:22:24] The exemption went away mysteriously,
[1:22:27] then it reared back, and we did it back in a minute.
[1:22:29] Yeah, so just an oversight, they got 286 bucks back in their pocket.
[1:22:34] Yeah, just so you, I didn't know if there were any questions.
[1:22:37] It's not the normal abate.
[1:22:41] Thank you.
[1:22:42] I'm sure you constituent appreciate it as well.
[1:22:46] What is a form of select when I won't name them, of course.
[1:22:50] Long, long time ago.
[1:22:53] Yeah, right.
[1:22:55] No visitor comments?
[1:22:56] I'm assuming we don't need the non-polic that's listed there
[1:22:59] as well because we took care of that earlier.
[1:23:02] Upcoming select board meetings and events, Monday,
[1:23:05] September 14th is the next one my day September 28th after that and Wednesday October 7th plus I also
[1:23:14] mentioned that Tuesday September 8th is the primary 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the polls will be open and with
[1:23:24] that everybody's favorite motion to adjourn would you like to make that all those in favor hi
[1:23:33] All right. Thank you. Good.