[0:07] [music]

[0:15] everybody ready to the regular select

[0:16] board meeting of September 17th. Um

[0:19] first

[0:20] >> morning in progress.

[0:22] >> Do you want me to resay that?

[0:23] >> No. Okay.

[0:24] >> Um first is [clears throat] to set and

[0:26] adjust the agenda.

[0:29] We have we want to add uh we wanted

[0:33] right we want to add that item.

[0:35] >> Um we talked about adding a

[0:39] um uh potential

[0:42] for Ken Leslie to be filling a remainder

[0:45] of a library trustee term.

[0:49] Is there any other way?

[0:50] >> Oh yeah.

[0:51] >> I would just say appointment of the

[0:53] vacant library trustee seat.

[0:55] >> Great.

[0:57] Anything else you want to add?

[1:02] Want to take away? No.

[1:07] Okay.

[1:08] >> Motion.

[1:09] >> So moved.

[1:10] >> Second.

[1:11] >> Any discussion about that adjustment to

[1:14] the agenda?

[1:15] All those in favor, please say I.

[1:17] >> I.

[1:17] Opposed. Extensions. [laughter]

[1:20] >> Uh, great.

[1:22] >> That is now on the agenda. Next we have

[1:25] um communication [clears throat] from

[1:26] the audience. Is anyone here for

[1:29] something that is not on the agenda?

[1:32] Great. Welcome. Talk to you later.

[1:36] >> I would I would actually suggest moving

[1:38] Ken's appointment to the beginning of

[1:40] the meeting. So he doesn't have to sit

[1:42] here for the whole meeting.

[1:43] >> Oh, that is nice.

[1:44] >> Miss all the fun.

[1:47] >> Unless you want to stay here for the

[1:48] whole meeting.

[1:48] >> Very happy.

[1:49] >> Yeah.

[1:51] Um,

[1:53] we have to make a motion to do that or

[1:54] something.

[1:55] >> Can we just move him to the

[1:56] >> We can. Yeah.

[1:57] >> Yeah.

[1:58] >> Should we make that item one?

[1:59] >> Yeah.

[1:59] >> Or item half item.

[2:01] >> Okay.

[2:05] » Great. Next, we have select board to

[2:07] approve the minutes of the regular

[2:08] select board meeting of September 3rd.

[2:11] >> So moved.

[2:13] >> Second.

[2:14] >> Any discussion?

[2:17] They looked great.

[2:19] >> Okay. All those in favor, please say I.

[2:22] >> I opposed abstensions. Great. Thank you

[2:25] for writing those. All right. Now, we

[2:27] have the Hardock Police Department

[2:28] report given by Mike Henry.

[2:30] [clears throat]

[2:31] >> All right. Got moved up. Um,

[2:35] so as far as personnel, we lost Joe

[2:39] Donna. Uh, he's one of our full-time

[2:41] slots. Uh, but he is going to try and

[2:43] stay on part-time. Uh, he was looking

[2:45] for something that's uh Monday through

[2:47] Friday day shift. So, he's going to be

[2:50] working for the Calonia Sheriff's

[2:51] Department Monday through Friday. Um, we

[2:56] had uh uh this week's been kind of busy.

[3:00] Uh, Sergeant Dan Bernell finished up,

[3:03] had to go back and uh re certify for his

[3:05] firearm, so he's got that done. So, he's

[3:07] good for another two years as an

[3:08] instructor. Um, [clears throat]

[3:12] and then Steve Mitchell has been

[3:14] testifying in federal court this week

[3:16] quite a bit. pretty big case. So, um

[3:20] that's going pretty well.

[3:22] The other thing we have is uh uh right

[3:25] now, well, the school Ariana's up doing

[3:28] the uh the school, elementary school,

[3:30] the open house tonight, so that's going

[3:32] on.

[3:33] >> Does that get rowdy?

[3:34] >> It does. Yeah. No, we just have a table

[3:36] set up there with just Oh, cool.

[3:38] >> all the PD stuff.

[3:39] >> Oh, nice.

[3:40] >> Uh there. So, the kids come there and

[3:41] they were all swarmed around the table

[3:43] when I left. So, um, as far as the radio

[3:47] goes, we're still working on getting our

[3:49] radio system in. We have two repeaters

[3:52] in, and we've been, uh, I think we've got, I hate to say

[3:57] this, but, I think we've got all the

[3:58] bugs worked out of that. So, the third

[4:00] repeater will go in uh, and then we'll

[4:04] have, uh, more coverage up in East

[4:06] Harbor area uh, once that goes in. But,

[4:09] uh, seems to be finally working. It's

[4:11] been all summer that we've been trying

[4:13] and get this radio system up and running

[4:16] uh with the new repeaters. So, we have a

[4:17] repeater on West Hill, one at uh the the

[4:20] police department itself, and then the

[4:22] third one's going to be going into the

[4:23] Greensboro Fire Department. So, that'll

[4:25] give us good coverage up there up in the

[4:28] East Hardwork area. Um

[4:31] [clears throat and cough]

[4:31] biggest complaint we're getting right

[4:33] now is uh dealing with the traffic

[4:35] lights and people running the traffic

[4:37] lights. that's been uh so we got the

[4:39] guys down there uh during the uh mainly

[4:43] the commuter hours but uh trying to uh

[4:46] tackle that problem because there's

[4:48] what's happening is you know five 10

[4:50] vehicles will go through after the

[4:52] lights turn red or we even have people

[4:54] stopping at the stop light and other

[4:56] people passing that person going through

[4:57] and then when it turns green on the

[4:59] other side those folks can't go. So

[5:02] we'll try and get that uh down to a

[5:04] minimum. Other than that everything else

[5:06] is going pretty good.

[5:10] We're working on getting those traffic

[5:11] lights out of the way.

[5:12] >> Yeah.

[5:13] >> Well, then we're going to have another

[5:14] problem. People aren't going to they're

[5:16] going to be blowing through the

[5:17] >> stop. We have to re retrain.

[5:19] >> Retrain everybody.

[5:20] >> Yeah. [clears throat]

[5:22] >> Great.

[5:23] >> Mike with Joe not with us anymore. Where

[5:25] does that leave us with staffing?

[5:27] >> So, it's we're down one full-time

[5:29] position, but trying to keep him on

[5:31] part-time. We're going to see how this

[5:33] works. uh with, you know, having two

[5:37] part-time people trying to cover that.

[5:39] Where we need the coverage is at night.

[5:41] Uh nobody really wants to work the night

[5:43] shift. So, but uh we need to have two

[5:46] people on for safety reasons at night.

[5:52] So, we'll make some adjustments to try

[5:54] and make it happen.

[5:57] >> Oh, sorry.

[6:00] Any other questions for Mike?

[6:04] Thank you. Thanks.

[6:06] >> Next, we have the Heart of Electric

[6:07] Department. Oh, Heart. Did I miss your

[6:10] report? I

[6:11] >> missed your report.

[6:13] >> Sorry.

[6:13] >> It's okay.

[6:14] >> Throw me off. [cough]

[6:17] >> Let me go back to

[6:18] >> Yeah, you are. [laughter]

[6:20] >> Okay. Next, we have going backwards, the

[6:23] town manager report given by David

[6:24] Epson.

[6:25] >> Okay. Um, so starting tomorrow, uh,

[6:28] there's going to be work happening at

[6:30] the post office and that's going to be,

[6:34] um, continuing through, I think, for the

[6:36] duration of the month, um, until that

[6:39] project is done. So, there's going to be

[6:41] a little bit of a, um, construction

[6:45] project going on there. Um, we're going

[6:47] to do some sidewalk work and the

[6:49] entrance is going to be changed to the

[6:51] post office. So, uh, stay tuned for

[6:53] that. Um it's not the town isn't doing

[6:56] the work, but we're going to we're a

[6:57] partner to try to make sure that it goes

[7:00] smoothly. Um NVDA has fin finished their

[7:05] regional plan. They have two uh public

[7:08] meetings

[7:10] uh coming up, the second public meeting

[7:12] and the final public meeting that that

[7:14] happens on September 24th at 4 p.m. uh

[7:17] at the Gateway Center in Newport City.

[7:20] And then the final hearing is on October

[7:22] 15th at Grarey's Landing in Newport. And

[7:25] really it's a regional plan and it

[7:27] really just like outlines what all the

[7:29] towns have to kind of live by and it's a

[7:31] good thing to know about. Um and if you

[7:33] feel strongly about something you can go

[7:36] and voice your um opinions there for the

[7:39] final the the two final hearings.

[7:42] Um the pedestrian bridge update. Uh

[7:46] they're working on getting the lighting

[7:48] uh posts in the lighting uh basis today.

[7:52] Running the conduit in there. Uh they're

[7:56] going to start forming up the concrete

[7:59] um or the granite curbing uh and then

[8:02] the concrete sidewalks. And then they'll

[8:04] be working on doing the pavers. Um

[8:06] that's all going to happen from now

[8:08] until they're finished. Um there's a

[8:11] plan to have a um

[8:16] like a community gathering that's been

[8:17] advertised for the 9th and the 10th of

[8:20] October. U CCS is going to work with us.

[8:22] Um they're going to push to to get as

[8:26] far as they can on that um and then work

[8:28] with us to try to open parts of the the

[8:31] site um so we can have a soft opening

[8:34] for the bridge. So um we're everybody's

[8:37] excited. they want to push till the end

[8:39] of the project um so we can reopen the

[8:42] road and they can get out of there. Um

[8:46] moving forward we will have um essential

[8:51] the essential services project. We're

[8:53] going to have two public meetings. One

[8:54] of them is a is required. The first one

[8:57] they're bothformational meetings. Um the

[8:59] first one is going to be why we need the

[9:01] project to happen. The second one is

[9:04] going to be how we're going to pay for

[9:05] it. Um there's um and I'm hoping that

[9:08] we're going to have some good turnout

[9:10] and lots of good questions and good

[9:13] dialogue.

[9:14] >> You have the dates for us.

[9:15] >> What's that?

[9:16] >> Do you have the dates?

[9:17] >> Oh yeah, that's the October 8th and the

[9:19] 22nd at 6 p.m.

[9:22] >> at the library.

[9:25] 22. At 6 p.m.

[9:28] >> Yeah. [cough]

[9:31] and just the office has been working on

[9:35] audit items. Um we have a financial

[9:38] review coming up for some of the FEMA

[9:41] projects from DPS. Um so there's a lot

[9:44] going on officewise

[9:47] and

[9:49] you know keeping things rolling

[9:54] in the RFP for the wastewater plant. Um

[9:56] I'm going to issue the first addendum to

[9:59] uh with questions from potential firms

[10:03] and um that closes next week. So for the

[10:07] next meeting we'll make that decision. I

[10:09] think I think it's for October 1st.

[10:11] [clears throat] So

[10:13] and I'll be submitting the grant for um

[10:18] the wastewater the RD grant for

[10:20] wastewater tomorrow if you guys are good

[10:24] with that.

[10:30] questions or comments.

[10:36] » Thank you.

[10:36] >> Yep.

[10:38] >> Okay, [laughter]

[10:40] back on track. Next, we have the Hardock

[10:42] Electric Department report given by

[10:43] Renee De Gregorio.

[10:45] >> I'm here with her. I'm Scott Dunstone.

[10:47] So, we're going to do it together. Um,

[10:49] good to see you all again tonight. I

[10:51] want to start just by acknowledging that

[10:53] after 52, yeah, 52 years of service to

[10:56] Hardwick Electric, Brian Florent

[10:57] recently retired. Um, it's amazing. I

[10:59] don't think we're going to see the likes

[11:00] of a 52-year run again. So, uh, Jamie

[11:04] Dailyaly from Walden uh, was rehired

[11:07] back to Hardick Electric. He spent 14

[11:09] years here as a lineman um, a while ago.

[11:12] He's been with Washington Electric Co-op

[11:14] since [clears throat]

[11:15] operations manager. Just hopped into the

[11:16] role. spent a couple of weeks with Brian

[11:19] to kind of do the shakeddown, if you

[11:20] will, and now he's got responsible

[11:22] charge of that going on. So, um, our

[11:26] smart meter project will soon begin. Uh,

[11:29] pretty soon customers will be getting

[11:31] notices from us and a lot of information

[11:32] from us about what that means. There'll

[11:35] be a lot of questions with people of you

[11:37] know radio frequencies with with the

[11:39] smart meters and they have good

[11:41] comparatives for them with comparing it

[11:43] to baby monitors and cell phones and

[11:46] routers and things like that so people

[11:47] can get a sense of how much is it and

[11:50] how much isn't. Don't try and talk

[11:51] anybody into playing or not. Um there is

[11:54] an opportunity for people to opt out if

[11:55] they desire. They don't have to

[11:57] participate. You want to have access to

[11:59] your information. Um, and in the future

[12:01] there'll be initiatives that where you

[12:03] can better control your energy

[12:05] management, but that'll all be customer

[12:07] choice. Um, and I did want to make sure

[12:09] you know that we expect our audit will

[12:11] soon be complete. It got delayed because

[12:13] we had to do an add-on piece to the

[12:15] audit this year with a national group

[12:17] called Enrika where we get um some

[12:20] additional retirement, some additional

[12:22] of our benefits through and they

[12:24] required an add-on to the to the audit

[12:26] this year which slowed the process down

[12:27] but we expect that to be here soon. Last

[12:30] thing I want to update and I don't know

[12:31] if Rene will have others is you know for

[12:33] some time now it's been 14 months since

[12:36] we filed a rate case in 2025 at the

[12:38] state. Um we think we're fine in getting

[12:40] an answer. It's been clear for quite a

[12:43] while that was the answer was going to

[12:44] be about half what we filed for even

[12:46] though the state agreed um that 100% of

[12:49] what we filed for is actually what it

[12:51] took to run the department. At the time

[12:53] they were really annoyed with Hardware

[12:54] Electric. So we essentially committed to

[12:56] cut it in half and that's the way it

[12:58] will turn out. That's really why we had

[13:00] it recently filed again is to make up

[13:03] the difference and and for some

[13:05] additional things going on. So, so that

[13:07] will all get reconciled and uh the fact

[13:10] they cut it in half will then create a

[13:12] short-term very short-term cash

[13:14] challenge for us that Rene's been

[13:16] working really hard on. We have a plan

[13:17] in place. We'll be solvent. Life will be

[13:19] fine. Um our office will just be

[13:22] managing really squeaky type of cash for

[13:24] a while. So, we're miss

[13:26] >> I think you hit almost everything.

[13:27] You'll hear later on more about our cash

[13:29] solutions um and just kind of

[13:32] operational changes going forward. Um,

[13:34] as Scott mentioned, this is a short-term

[13:36] cash problem, but we do have long-term

[13:38] operation changes that we're going to

[13:40] take into consideration um, just to

[13:42] change how things have been working and

[13:44] um, particularly around cash management.

[13:46] So, but more to come for that

[13:56] » have any questions?

[13:58] >> Thank you.

[14:01] Okay, next we have item [clears throat]

[14:04] one, our new item one, which is

[14:06] appointment of a vacant library trustee

[14:08] seat uh until

[14:11] March 2027

[14:13] >> town meeting.

[14:17] and I believe we had somebody interested

[14:21] uh in filling this seat.

[14:26] >> I

[14:28] want to go. Yes, please.

[14:30] >> Okay. Um, yes. And Leslie been in

[14:33] Harvard since 1985

[14:36] and, um, uh, I was approached by people

[14:39] on the board and the librarian about

[14:42] letting me know that there's no seed. I

[14:44] had been involved with a couple of

[14:45] activities over there. I guess I

[14:50] noticed unfortunately. No, fortunately,

[14:52] it's a wonderful library. I'd love to be

[14:54] part of it. and uh there's a there's an

[14:58] empty seat on the board and so I put my

[15:02] name forward to uh fill that seat and

[15:05] then I understand that town meeting day

[15:08] uh will be the election for an actual

[15:11] term should I

[15:16] » I'll make a motion to appoint Ken Lesley

[15:18] to the uh library trustee committee

[15:22] >> board. Thank you. or as a library

[15:24] trustee.

[15:24] >> As a library trustee,

[15:26] >> however, we got to

[15:27] >> do we have to we have to specify for the

[15:29] remainder of the

[15:30] >> Sure. for the remainder of the term.

[15:33] >> Second.

[15:34] >> Any other discussion or questions?

[15:37] >> Thank you, Ken. All those in favor,

[15:39] please signify by saying I

[15:41] >> I opposed extensions.

[15:44] >> Thank you for volunteering. Okay,

[15:46] >> now you have to stay. You can't leave.

[15:48] >> You're more than welcome to stay. It's

[15:50] going to be a meaty meeting. All right.

[15:52] Next we have item two, select board to

[15:54] review the necess the necessity

[15:56] resolution and bond vote warning for the

[15:58] highway garage bond. So this is we

[16:02] discussed this at the last meeting. It's

[16:04] our first step in starting the process

[16:07] >> of a bond vote.

[16:09] >> Um do [clears throat] you or may I just

[16:12] want to recap what that process is as a

[16:14] reminder?

[16:15] >> Yep. So basically, I mean, this this

[16:18] resolution is basically stating why we

[16:20] need to do the project, why we need to

[16:22] borrow the money. Um, and if you guys

[16:25] agree to it, you know, and the and the

[16:27] community um agrees to it, it'll go to a

[16:31] vote. Um, and this is the first step in

[16:33] that. Um, after that, we have to hold um

[16:39] we have to advertise. That's what the

[16:41] warning is. we had to advertise in the

[16:42] paper um for several consecutive weeks.

[16:46] Um we hold a publicformational

[16:49] meeting. We're going to be holding two.

[16:51] We're we're required to hold one. Um

[16:54] we're going to talk about the funding.

[16:56] Uh the need for the project, kind

[16:58] [laughter] of the current state of the

[17:01] facilities. Um it's not just one

[17:03] facility. The project is not just one

[17:05] facility, but we're going to bond

[17:08] uh we're going to borrow for to build

[17:11] one facility cuz it's there's really no

[17:14] eligible grant source for town garages.

[17:18] Um so that's we're going to try to do it

[17:21] and see if we can bring the community

[17:24] along for the conversation and see how

[17:26] they feel about it.

[17:29] I can go into detail about the

[17:31] conditions of things, but um think I've

[17:34] done that, but I'm happy to talk about

[17:36] it for him. So, but this is just the

[17:39] necessary legal paperwork to move

[17:42] forward and hit the benchmarks.

[17:46] >> I have just one other process question

[17:48] because it's been a while since we've

[17:49] done a bond vote. Yep.

[17:51] >> This so in

[17:53] if this is passed tonight that amount in

[17:56] the resolution is not flexible or it is

[17:59] flexible up until we

[18:01] >> if this is what it's up to 6 million.

[18:06] So it can't be any more but it can be

[18:08] less.

[18:10] >> Right. But if we but if the voters

[18:12] decide like if we decide to do it

[18:13] tonight for for 6 million

[18:15] >> Yeah. We can't then after community

[18:18] process or more work say actually it's

[18:20] going to be a

[18:22] $5 million $800,000 project. We're we're

[18:24] basically tonight

[18:25] >> that's less than six. So that up to 6

[18:27] million.

[18:28] >> No no no I I understand but we can't

[18:30] we're basically that 6 million we're

[18:33] saying then that that is the that is

[18:37] potentially what we're going to bond

[18:39] for. Does that make sense? So we can't change the wording of that

[18:44] bond. So, we would then be going to bond

[18:47] for 6 million.

[18:49] >> I I if we don't need 6 million, we won't

[18:53] bond for 6 million.

[18:56] >> And when will we know that?

[19:00] If we do value engineering, if the price

[19:03] of diesel goes down and construction

[19:06] gets less expensive and the price of

[19:10] supplies go down, but this is the

[19:12] current cost estimate and the current

[19:14] price to do the building. So, I would

[19:17] love it if it the cost went down. We

[19:19] can't go any more than that. If I think

[19:22] if we were to correct me if I'm wrong,

[19:24] but if we were to borrow less, we

[19:27] wouldn't have to go through this process

[19:29] to borrow less. Correct.

[19:30] >> Right. I mean, it said that if my

[19:32] reading of it, it says subject to

[19:34] reduction by available grants and aid or

[19:36] other funding sources. So, we could

[19:39] >> we if we somebody gave us a million

[19:41] dollars and some

[19:43] >> we could put the bond in for 5 million.

[19:45] Yeah. when we actually get to it.

[19:47] >> But the wording on the vote,

[19:50] >> right? Is that what you're saying? The

[19:51] wording on the bond vote on November 3rd

[19:53] is what we're approving now.

[19:54] >> This is article one on the on the on

[19:57] this is like a this is what the ballot

[19:59] will say,

[19:59] >> right?

[20:00] >> Yeah.

[20:01] >> Does that make sense?

[20:02] >> Yeah. And part of the reason why I'm

[20:03] just curious is is just looking at the

[20:07] funding sources. I know that it's con a

[20:09] little bit conceptual because we don't

[20:10] have a final

[20:11] >> right

[20:12] >> design. It's a conceptual drawing of the

[20:14] estimates based on

[20:15] >> the the total project budget.

[20:16] >> The total project budget. So

[20:19] >> in the total project budget under public

[20:21] works for Williamson's funding sources,

[20:24] we have listed

[20:27] that public works is going to be 5,825.

[20:30] I understand that's close enough to 6

[20:32] million.

[20:32] >> Um

[20:34] but

[20:36] >> so anyway, I just want to I'm just

[20:37] trying to make sure that that's

[20:40] >> are we going to be covered by that? Is

[20:42] that what you're asking?

[20:43] >> Yeah,

[20:43] >> I believe so.

[20:45] >> What happens if it goes over 6 months?

[20:48] >> We have to find the money.

[20:50] >> Yeah. You Well, you mean like

[20:52] >> from somewhere else, right?

[20:53] >> Like they get halfway through it and

[20:56] >> by the way,

[20:57] >> I don't we wouldn't we would have

[21:02] risk measures in place to not have that

[21:05] happen. There's there's cont there's in

[21:08] the total project budget there's there's

[21:10] some um there's some buffer in there. We

[21:14] can always make it be less. We can

[21:16] always make the building smaller. We can

[21:18] always value engineer.

[21:23] But um

[21:26] we if we're if we're committed to the if

[21:28] we're in construction, we're not going

[21:30] to we're not going to go over what we

[21:33] have available to pay for the building.

[21:36] That's not That's my goal.

[21:38] >> Hopefully.

[21:38] >> Yeah.

[21:39] >> And this amount um is this the kind of

[21:43] the

[21:44] >> um

[21:46] the plan that that really best meets the

[21:49] needs or is this the amount is this I

[21:52] know I know we looked at a couple

[21:54] different plans at a public meeting

[21:56] um where one was kind of what we felt

[22:00] what people felt they really needed and

[22:01] the other was a little bit less than

[22:03] that. There there was something that the

[22:06] hardwork rescue part was

[22:09] >> um was

[22:12] made smaller, but then they added the

[22:15] third bay back on.

[22:16] >> Okay. We removed a shop and more uh like

[22:20] a wash bay and a shop and utilized the

[22:24] cold storage building for cold storage

[22:27] where there there was another um the

[22:30] first the first conceptual had a shop in

[22:34] between

[22:35] >> Yeah.

[22:35] >> the cold storage and and that was all

[22:37] heated.

[22:38] >> Okay.

[22:39] >> So the to there's two in that what

[22:42] you're looking at right now there's two

[22:43] tabs.

[22:44] >> Okay. There's the December value

[22:45] engineering tab and then the total

[22:47] project budget profession.

[22:49] >> Yeah.

[22:50] >> So we have kind of done through the the

[22:53] first phase of this we have kind of done

[22:55] that um that work in in the the plans

[23:01] and those those both sets of plans are

[23:04] in the

[23:07] >> Okay.

[23:08] >> The conceptual drawing.

[23:09] >> Oh yeah. Okay.

[23:11] Um, and this bleeds a little bit into

[23:15] our later conversation about the um,

[23:18] part of rescue squad because we're we're

[23:20] envisioning a complex with really three

[23:22] different components that are getting

[23:24] paid for in different ways.

[23:26] >> Mhm.

[23:26] >> Um, where does the cost of the site work

[23:30] for the whole complex come out of or is

[23:32] that a part of this or is that split? we

[23:35] would we would share that with the three entities and some of that with

[23:44] the fire station and there's still a big

[23:46] question mark on how much FEMA is going

[23:48] to give us for the fire station. We've

[23:50] provided FEMA with this cost estimate

[23:52] for the fire station and we're hopeful

[23:55] we're hoping that they're going to give

[23:56] us 90% of that.

[24:02] So sort of

[24:04] it's a little bit both for the answer to

[24:06] that question. So like we're

[24:07] >> the site work.

[24:08] >> Yeah.

[24:08] So this we're going to be

[24:10] responsible for this some of the site

[24:12] work. We're hoping that we push most of

[24:14] the site work into the fact that we have

[24:16] to do this work to put the fire station

[24:18] there.

[24:19] >> Okay.

[24:21] Got it.

[24:28] » Questions?

[24:30] a general question

[24:34] with you guys. Can you hear me?

[24:36] >> Yeah. Can you just state your name? I

[24:37] know I came.

[24:39] >> Oh, yeah.

[24:40] >> Just recovering from pneumonia. So,

[24:41] >> it's okay. We can hear you. I just

[24:42] didn't remember your name.

[24:43] >> So, my my general question to the board

[24:45] is, do you guys think we can afford a $6

[24:48] million?

[24:54] » I'm not sure we can afford not to have

[24:56] it. if we want to plow our streets and

[25:00] make new culverts and I don't know. I

[25:02] mean, I'm not, you know, I saw those

[25:05] rusty

[25:07] things that hold up the roof and

[25:09] >> eye beams,

[25:10] >> I beams, and you know, I am not an

[25:13] engineer or a constructiony guy, but

[25:15] they didn't look very good to me.

[25:18] >> So, I I don't know what the alternative

[25:20] is.

[25:21] >> We we've already started um putting

[25:23] funds aside in order to prepare for

[25:25] that. Um, and you know, based on the,

[25:30] you know, the financial calculations, we

[25:32] hope we can fit it into the budget under

[25:34] a modest, uh, increase, rate increase.

[25:37] Um, to echo Larry, I don't think that we

[25:40] can afford not to do it. I think this

[25:41] should have been done probably in the

[25:42] '90s. Um, you know, I don't know the

[25:45] exact date of when it was built, but I

[25:47] believe in the '60s '7s. And again, the

[25:51] it's undersized for what we need. it's

[25:54] uh the support structures are rotting

[25:56] out and regardless if we don't do this

[25:59] we need to um do effective measures to fix it to make it safe because it

[26:05] won't current it's not currently safe.

[26:08] Um so if we don't do this then we have

[26:10] to do something to miticate mitigate the current condition of the building.

[26:17] When Woodbury did their fire station,

[26:20] they had a initial proposal

[26:24] that very expensive and they ended up

[26:27] building was a fraction of the cost of

[26:29] what their proposal was. So I have no

[26:32] idea what the what assumptions have been

[26:35] made in the design of structure but my

[26:38] intuition two things. One is prices are

[26:41] going to go up and two usually in

[26:45] building design the questions you ask

[26:48] have a big impact on what your costs

[26:50] are. So I obviously wasn't part of the

[26:53] process but my intuition is there's some

[26:56] meaningful savings if you ask certain

[26:59] questions you find able to save some

[27:01] meaningful money.

[27:04] Can you give us an example of a

[27:06] question? Like for example,

[27:09] does the structure does the does the

[27:11] truck need what does it need? Is a roof

[27:14] enough?

[27:16] Is a roof a lot cheaper than a roof of

[27:19] four walls and a slab? You know,

[27:22] >> is is the roof enough?

[27:24] >> Meaning if you're if if for example, if

[27:27] you're trying to keep a truck for I'm

[27:29] assuming you're trying to keep some

[27:30] equipment out of the out of the weather.

[27:32] >> Sure. That's one value of a truck. And

[27:34] there are lots of different ways to

[27:36] store equipment.

[27:38] You know, you can some some towns have

[27:41] these agricultural huts to to store

[27:43] their town equipment. I'm not trying to,

[27:46] you know, word for you. I'm just saying

[27:49] a lot of times

[27:50] >> how you go into a project, the

[27:52] assumptions you make.

[27:54] >> Usually what happens is you you meet

[27:56] with your user and you say, "What do you

[27:58] guys need?" Oh, we need this. We need

[28:01] that. And no one's typically getting

[28:04] carried away or usually your list is a

[28:07] bit high and it comes back. Oh boy, we

[28:09] didn't get this. You think about things

[28:11] very differently. If you go into a

[28:13] process like, okay team, we got 3

[28:16] million. What can we do? What's the best

[28:19] we can do? How can we really optimize

[28:22] um solving as many of our problems as we

[28:25] can? and [clears throat] you just you

[28:27] just

[28:29] for example we've done projects where

[28:33] the assumption was it had to be heated

[28:36] not totally unrelated

[28:38] um project but there was an assumption

[28:42] that there had to be heat like well why

[28:44] turns out there didn't have to be heat

[28:46] in this particular instance which went

[28:48] in the boiler room these various there

[28:53] questions and assumptions have huge

[28:55] impacts as in terms of what it end up

[28:58] building or or needing. So I'm just I'm

[29:02] my my point is my intuition based on

[29:05] this kind of structure simple structures

[29:08] is you could save some serious money.

[29:11] You might not get a you know fully

[29:15] enclosed slabs everywhere needed. You

[29:17] might you might have to have some

[29:19] portions of the building that are the

[29:22] absolute basic um

[29:26] what you need for that portion of the

[29:27] building.

[29:28] >> Mhm.

[29:28] >> But my intuition is 6 million is a lot

[29:32] bigger than what you're trying to do.

[29:36] >> Thank you.

[29:38] >> Sorry.

[29:41] Is there any

[29:45] do you op do you want to

[29:46] >> I mean I got I can I can

[29:49] >> I can respond to it but I mean if you

[29:54] look there's several things here and

[29:58] there's the fact that we have a very

[30:01] aging facility that barely serves the

[30:03] need of what we're trying to do. Um, I

[30:08] don't want to be in a position where we

[30:09] have to build a town garage in short

[30:11] order. Like we had to repair the we had

[30:14] to take out a bond and borrow money

[30:16] because the roof fell in on the

[30:17] reservoir for our town water system. So,

[30:21] yes, it's a lot of money. It's not going

[30:22] to get any cheaper, but if we have a

[30:25] failure up there and we have to build a

[30:28] building in short order, it's going to

[30:29] cost a lot more than $6 million.

[30:32] And this is not the time to be doing a

[30:35] project like this. But when is the time

[30:37] to do it? Like there is a lot of

[30:40] financial

[30:42] there's a lot of financial stuff that's

[30:43] out of our control right now. And I

[30:45] don't know if it's going to get any

[30:46] better. I have a feeling diesel is going

[30:48] to be around $10 a gallon by mid winter.

[30:51] Like that's just my personal like and

[30:54] that's a scary thought.

[30:56] But how far do we not do anything?

[31:01] And I I don't know the answers to these

[31:04] questions. I need the community to join

[31:05] in the conversation. And can we afford a

[31:09] $6 million building? Probably not. But

[31:11] can we afford to pay for one? Can this

[31:14] community afford to pay for a building

[31:16] like that for the next 20 years?

[31:18] Absolutely. 100%. Because of who we are

[31:23] and the community that we live in. I

[31:26] mean, these are all questions I have.

[31:28] Like I'm asking the same questions to

[31:29] myself every day when we spend a dollar.

[31:35] Can we afford it? And right now it's

[31:37] really hard

[31:40] and I I feel the like I don't I'm just here in this position, but I'm we're trying to keep moving for keep

[31:50] the town moving forward. And can we have

[31:53] a a a cold garage for our town trucks? I

[31:59] don't think we'd have a town employee

[32:01] show up to open our roads up when it

[32:03] snows, you know, like could we start

[32:06] those trucks in in 30 below weather?

[32:08] Probably not. So, like there's certain

[32:11] things that we need to keep the town

[32:13] moving forward. and we could come

[32:16] together as a community and have a

[32:19] couple weekends of work and build a town

[32:21] garage for probably a hell of a lot

[32:23] less. Can we do that? I don't know.

[32:26] Just takes a lot of organization. Like I

[32:28] can keep going. I can go all night about

[32:30] hardwick. I love this community. And can

[32:33] we can we can we afford it? Probably

[32:36] not. But I think we can over the next 20

[32:38] years. And

[32:39] >> and I think to build on that too, it's

[32:41] like planning for 20 years, right?

[32:44] looking at longevity, looking at

[32:45] durability, maintenance ends up being

[32:47] cheaper than replacement. So if we're

[32:49] and ideally we should have replaced and

[32:52] maintained m much longer ago. Um and so

[32:55] if we do that now hopefully then we can

[32:58] actually save in the long run over the

[32:59] next 20 30 years

[33:02] especially in the maintenance of our

[33:04] equipment too.

[33:05] >> I mean that's assuming the bond passes

[33:07] which is a big

[33:08] >> well

[33:08] >> 100%.

[33:09] >> Right. Of course

[33:09] >> 100%.

[33:10] >> Um sure.

[33:11] >> Opie do you want to speak again? I know

[33:12] we we've mentioned this pretty much

[33:14] every time it's come up, but can you

[33:15] >> still asking me to talk?

[33:16] >> Yeah. Yeah. Um so just to just to remind

[33:19] everybody why we're asking why we're

[33:22] doing a bond vote now and not waiting

[33:23] for town meeting because that is a

[33:25] question that I've gotten.

[33:26] >> Right. Um

[33:29] because if we waited till town meeting

[33:32] the summer bond pool, we wouldn't be

[33:34] able to close on this until like this

[33:37] time of year. If we do it now, if we do

[33:40] it this fall, we can close on a loan at the end at the beginning of our

[33:45] fiscal year, early summer. So, at the

[33:47] time, like there's two bond pools a

[33:50] year,

[33:51] >> right? So, if we wait until town

[33:52] meeting, then we're waiting until we

[33:55] miss a whole construction season.

[33:57] >> And so, then we're effectively not

[33:59] starting the project

[34:00] >> until two years from now. And knowing

[34:03] the state of our town garage, we don't

[34:05] know if that's

[34:07] >> and the likely price prices are likely

[34:09] to go up with that

[34:10] >> be more than 6 million in two years,

[34:13] >> right?

[34:14] >> Or the world could be a better place and

[34:17] everything could be cheap.

[34:20] >> I mean, the world is a pretty good

[34:21] place, but

[34:22] >> Yeah. Yeah.

[34:23] >> cheap, though.

[34:24] >> We might have to go.

[34:25] >> Things aren't getting cheaper.

[34:26] >> Yeah,

[34:26] >> these are not.

[34:28] >> Let's hope. Yeah, these are all like I I

[34:30] don't I can answer the questions based

[34:31] on my own thoughts and opinions, but

[34:34] like I obviously the the bond pool is

[34:37] factual. That's not my opinion, but as

[34:40] far as timing like yeah, we can wait 5

[34:42] years.

[34:44] >> Well, I think the other thing

[34:45] >> unlikely we can wait because if we and

[34:47] again if we wait 5 years to push back on

[34:49] that, it's likely that there will be

[34:51] some catastrophic failure and we will

[34:52] have to bond immediately regardless.

[34:55] >> Yeah. So, it's like,

[34:57] >> have you looked at the cost to reinforce

[34:59] the system structure?

[35:01] >> It'd be about 150,000 to just to just do

[35:07] um like cut the I- beams.

[35:09] >> Yeah.

[35:10] >> And pour a concrete pillar and reinforce

[35:14] the building. That still doesn't address

[35:18] the That would that would be it would be

[35:20] tough. It would be easy to do on the

[35:22] interior columns, but it would be it

[35:24] would take some work to do on the the

[35:27] columns in the front of the building

[35:28] that are that are hidden in the the

[35:30] front uh framing. That still doesn't

[35:33] address the space, right?

[35:36] >> Seems like a pretty low cost to buy

[35:39] yourselves more time though,

[35:41] >> right?

[35:42] >> Are we trying to buy ourselves more

[35:43] time?

[35:44] >> Well, I think you are if the bond goes

[35:45] down. So, I I I I don't I don't I I I

[35:49] mean, I'm hopeful a that the bond does

[35:51] pass, but I think that we're looking at

[35:52] this as a strategic opportunity given

[35:55] the fact that we can um piggyback on

[35:57] funds from FEMA looking at the necessary

[36:01] um replacement of our uh fire

[36:03] department. So, it's not just the T.

[36:05] Yeah. Relocation. Thank you.

[36:06] >> And the rescue that serves seven t seven

[36:10] town

[36:11] is just for the town. I can't get money

[36:14] for that portion. So, right. Right.

[36:16] We're looking at that's why we're

[36:18] calling it the essential services

[36:19] project, you know, building project

[36:20] where it will be the town garage, the

[36:23] fire department, and and Hardwick

[36:25] Rescue. All of which come with their own

[36:27] funding sources. The $6 million bond

[36:29] will be for the town.

[36:32] >> Correct. They they will be funding their

[36:34] portion. They have their revenue source

[36:36] and looking at they will also support

[36:38] the the site work um as well. Again,

[36:41] hopefully that we can get enough money

[36:42] from FEMA to do a lot of the site work

[36:45] for the entire project. So again,

[36:47] looking at this, this is really the

[36:49] right time as a strategic opportunity to

[36:51] do the whole complex instead of

[36:53] peacemealing it out, which would

[36:55] ultimately cost us more in the long run.

[36:57] And so again, I don't want to bring the

[36:59] negativity saying if I hope it does

[37:01] pass. I recognize it as an if, but I

[37:03] would like to say when it passes, you

[37:05] know, so we can

[37:06] >> My point was that if you're worried that

[37:08] the thing collapsed collapses in

[37:11] November,

[37:13] you would be prudent to reinforce it

[37:15] now.

[37:18] >> Yeah, we

[37:18] >> we asked about that.

[37:19] >> Yeah. Over the last decade, I think we saved we're I think we're you have to

[37:25] look at the capital schedule, but I

[37:27] think we put like $20,000 a year for

[37:30] like the last 10 years. I think we have

[37:31] aboutund 160 180,000.

[37:34] >> We put more in the last budget, you

[37:36] know, after we after we got the report.

[37:38] >> Yeah. So, I don't know. I think it's it

[37:40] may be 200,000. So, we we have some

[37:44] >> some capital to to put into a project

[37:48] like that. If we have to, we could.

[37:52] But if we can, if we don't have to, like

[37:55] if we don't have to put $200,000 of of

[37:57] money we saved over the last decade into

[37:59] a building we're gonna potentially tear

[38:01] down in five years,

[38:03] like

[38:07] and if the bond doesn't pass, it doesn't

[38:09] pass. It goes back to the voters.

[38:11] >> Figure it out.

[38:14] [cough]

[38:15] >> Question.

[38:15] >> Can you state your name, please?

[38:17] >> Yeah. when they did Gregorio paying my

[38:19] professional cap off and as a Harvard

[38:21] resident here. So, um, have we done any

[38:25] simulations as far as what this 6

[38:27] million bond vote will do to to rate

[38:30] payers and what that impact will be over

[38:31] 20 20 years or the results of that?

[38:34] >> I don't have that right in front of me

[38:36] right now, but we plan on talking about

[38:39] that on the 22nd. We plan on presenting

[38:41] that.

[38:42] >> Um, the first year it's about a $400,000

[38:46] payment.

[38:48] which we've already started allocating

[38:49] funds for.

[38:50] >> Yeah, that was my second question, Tim.

[38:52] I heard you mention that earlier. So, do

[38:54] we have like a reserve fund that we

[38:57] could potentially use to

[39:00] >> I'm not saying not bonding out for the

[39:01] full 6 million is is not the answer. I'm

[39:04] just curious if there's any other

[39:05] funding mechanisms that are already in

[39:07] place that could minimize that shock or

[39:10] the frustration from rateayers.

[39:12] Currently, we're just living in a world

[39:15] of unafford. in the past. In the past,

[39:18] we've been able to use the fund balance,

[39:21] correct me if I'm wrong, for things like

[39:22] this. I am I don't know if that's

[39:26] something that would be available. This

[39:28] >> I mean, it's always it's always

[39:29] available. It's whether or not we want

[39:32] to let the fund balance go below our our

[39:34] policy levels.

[39:35] >> Yeah. I I think there's a a prudent

[39:37] conversation around that again because

[39:39] those funds are often used for

[39:41] emergencies or allocating and, you know,

[39:43] we don't know, you know, personal

[39:45] opinion. And I think we could take it

[39:46] from the school administration cost, but

[39:48] that's that's a conversation for a

[39:49] different uh for a different meeting.

[39:52] But um hey, you know, throwing it out

[39:54] there. Um but um

[39:56] >> you will hear me preach [clears throat]

[39:57] later on about how financing is key and

[39:59] starting the cost.

[40:00] >> I mean, sure, I mean anyway, I'm just

[40:02] saying it's like this is I think

[40:03] something that's necessary to keep our

[40:05] town [clears throat] running. Yeah.

[40:06] >> Yeah. I 100% um I do do not disagree.

[40:10] And again when we have the floor we'll

[40:12] talk about moving critical

[40:14] infrastructure and the importance of it

[40:16] and for our crew as well. So um but as a

[40:18] resident I do you know I think people

[40:20] are just living in a world right now

[40:22] where like Obie said it's it's it's hard

[40:24] to put you know fuel in their heating

[40:27] tank and so it's just I think education

[40:30] may be the key here just to have people

[40:32] understand like what is actually going

[40:34] to change in their immediate life if

[40:36] this goes through. I I I don't think the

[40:39] question is around whether or not it

[40:42] needs to happen or not because yeah,

[40:43] >> I think we all agree it does need to

[40:45] happen,

[40:45] >> right?

[40:46] >> Um but

[40:47] >> I I

[40:48] >> that's my two cents

[40:49] >> and I I think we have a very competent

[40:51] team in the town office and you know who

[40:54] are well I don't know

[40:56] >> but committed to keeping the rate as low

[40:58] as we can. I I think it's a good

[41:00] question, Renee, because I think that's

[41:04] my personal hesitation with the bond

[41:06] vote is knowing the exact tax

[41:08] implication for the next 20 years every

[41:11] year. [clears throat] And I don't know

[41:13] if we have that. I would feel a lot more

[41:14] comfortable if I knew, okay, this means

[41:16] it's only going to be a x amount of

[41:19] increase, but a $400,000 payment is a

[41:23] big percentage of our is a big

[41:24] percentage of our budget. So what I

[41:26] that's my I would like to know the

[41:28] answer to that question as well. I don't

[41:31] think we have the answer tonight.

[41:33] >> So I I I have a follow-up question to

[41:35] that. It when we vote if we vote on this

[41:39] resolution of necessity tonight. Um will

[41:43] we also at some point in the next few

[41:46] weeks vote on the specific warning for

[41:49] November 3rd or is that this?

[41:51] >> There's two of them. There's the

[41:53] necessity resolution and the warning.

[41:55] >> Oh, okay. So, we are doing that tonight

[41:57] if we get that tomorrow.

[41:58] >> Right.

[41:59] >> Okay.

[42:00] >> So, but your question is could you do

[42:01] one without the other?

[42:02] >> My my question was if the timing were

[42:05] different and maybe the timing could be

[42:07] different. I don't know. Like we vote on

[42:09] the necess resolution of necessity

[42:11] tonight. We get some more of those

[42:13] numbers and then we just vote vote on

[42:15] the warning in two weeks and maybe we

[42:17] have more information by then. We won't

[42:20] be hitting the benchmarks for

[42:23] the for the primary election day.

[42:26] >> Okay.

[42:26] >> There's timing.

[42:27] >> I know. I understand. I don't know what

[42:29] it is. So

[42:30] >> So I'm going to go ahead and actually

[42:32] make a motion to approve the resolution

[42:34] of necessity for construction of the

[42:36] town uh highway garage for town.

[42:38] >> I'll second.

[42:39] >> Okay.

[42:39] >> Any other discussion? There are

[42:41] questions.

[42:42] >> Do we know when we'll have tax

[42:44] information?

[42:47] >> At the hopefully at the October 22nd.

[42:50] >> We definitely have it on the 22nd.

[42:51] >> Um, we can pull that together.

[42:54] >> Like I have it. I just don't have it in

[42:56] front of me in my head.

[42:58] >> Okay.

[42:58] >> And to clarify, you're approving the

[43:00] resolution and the bond organ.

[43:03] >> Uh, there's two documents.

[43:05] >> Yeah.

[43:06] >> I mean,

[43:07] >> well, you're I will Yes.

[43:09] >> Thank you.

[43:14] » This isn't like this is just a

[43:18] procedural

[43:21] um the procedural path to keep going

[43:24] [clears throat] forward with this

[43:25] conversation like this doesn't make us

[43:27] borrow $6 million

[43:29] >> order of operations we have to do this

[43:30] to get

[43:31] >> so I guess that's what I was asking

[43:33] about with the timing is there an

[43:34] offramp at some point

[43:36] >> once we if we vote on this now is there

[43:38] an offering

[43:39] >> well then there's again the order of op

[43:41] as I understand it the order of

[43:42] operations then there is an there's

[43:44] twoformational meetings one of which is

[43:46] necessary and this goes to vote at

[43:50] general election day to the the taxpayer

[43:52] you know to all the so that's like and

[43:55] we have to do this now so that we can

[43:57] get the warning out so that it can go on

[43:59] the map

[43:59] >> right okay

[44:00] >> that's my understanding for the

[44:02] >> I would also add yes and that what we

[44:06] are saying

[44:08] I mean I think it's wonderful that

[44:09] multiple people tonight have said that

[44:11] it's possible that we could bond for

[44:13] less that would be great but we're

[44:15] committing to bonding to 6 million with

[44:17] this decision. We're not changing that's

[44:19] that is

[44:20] >> we're committing to bonding up to

[44:22] >> but we're

[44:23] >> not to an amount not to exceed 6 million

[44:25] correct that could be subject to

[44:27] reduction by available grants and other

[44:28] funding sources

[44:29] >> but we don't know any of the other

[44:32] particularities of other funding

[44:33] sources. So by

[44:35] >> by putting this to the voters you're

[44:37] putting six million a $6 million bond to

[44:38] the voters.

[44:40] >> Ideally it would be less but we're

[44:42] putting 6 million to the voters. So

[44:43] that's I just think it's like I think

[44:45] we're going to work our hardest to make

[44:46] it less, [clears throat] but that is the

[44:48] vote on the table.

[44:49] >> Some some of the ways that other towns

[44:52] have paid for projects like this, um St.

[44:54] Albvin's town uh adopted a local option

[44:57] tax to pay for their new town garage.

[45:00] They adopted a local option tax and

[45:02] saved their local option tax revenue for

[45:04] I think a period of 5 to seven years and

[45:08] were able to pay for their building. So

[45:11] like there's definitely other mechanisms

[45:13] for us to be able to pay for the

[45:16] building, pay for the project, pay for

[45:18] the loan payments.

[45:21] >> Is a garage critical housing

[45:23] infrastructure.

[45:26] [laughter]

[45:27] >> Throw an apartment at that.

[45:28] >> Apartments up top.

[45:31] >> Motion. We do have a motion in a second.

[45:34] Is there any other discussion or

[45:35] questions?

[45:36] >> It's been a good conversation. Thank you

[45:38] everybody for your questions and

[45:39] comments. All those in favor, please

[45:41] signify by saying I.

[45:43] >> I.

[45:44] >> Opposed?

[45:46] Abstensions.

[45:50] Okay, great. So, we're going to have

[45:52] anformational meeting on

[45:55] >> October 8th and October 22nd and then a

[45:58] bond vote on November 3rd.

[46:02] >> Okay. Next, we have item three. Yes.

[46:05] Now, three. select board to discuss and

[46:08] consider approval for community national

[46:10] bank note for HG in the amount of

[46:12] $800,000 for the purchase of the new

[46:14] facility in East Harbick. Um Scott and

[46:17] Renee are here to discuss that

[46:19] >> hopefully I'll let

[46:21] >> he stands and presents and I'm usually

[46:23] just hanging out in the back.

[46:25] >> So uh this is for 1868 uh Route 16 in

[46:29] Eastwick. Um and it for her electric it

[46:32] solves uh two two challenges. One to

[46:35] which is longstanding and one to which

[46:36] is more recent. The long-standing one is

[46:39] it's been planned. As you know our uh

[46:41] our shop has been in the flood plane and

[46:43] it's a critical infrastructure and it's

[46:45] been targeted to be relocated for quite

[46:48] a long time. Um so this this property

[46:52] solves that problem. Um gets it gets our

[46:55] crew out of the flood plane. And then

[46:57] recently, um, out of community desire

[47:00] lines of of of new uses for the building

[47:03] across the street, um, you know, we were

[47:06] asked if we could find a different way

[47:08] to have an office. Um, and so this also

[47:11] accommodates that. So the the

[47:12] propertyy's 8 acres, has all it

[47:15] infrastructure that's necessary, has a

[47:17] nice large layown yard for poles and

[47:19] transformers and all of that already

[47:20] built. Um, has it's 5,400 square ft. The

[47:24] main original part of the building is uh

[47:27] about 30 years old, so obviously needs

[47:29] some TLC, but is in very good shape.

[47:32] There's not rotting or any of the things

[47:33] you were just talking about. Um the

[47:35] newer addition to the building where the

[47:37] office is about 10 years old. It's in

[47:39] pretty good shape. Um and overall, we

[47:42] have had all of the uh necessary

[47:44] inspections done on the building since

[47:46] we entered the purchase and sales on the

[47:48] property. uh the the few things that

[47:50] weren't in operation order the the own

[47:52] the current owners have agreed to fix

[47:54] before the CO which is currently

[47:55] targeted for October 16th. So those

[47:57] things are all happening. Um and uh and

[48:01] it really is just a unique opportunity

[48:03] that a facility that was built to house

[48:06] trucks just like we happen to own came

[48:09] on the market at the moment that both of

[48:10] these critical needs were hitting us. So

[48:13] for $800,000

[48:15] uh uh before we address where you know

[48:19] where any courses from that sale go uh

[48:22] we can actually solve both of those

[48:23] problems. Um and that is not born by any

[48:25] taxpayer. It's born by the electricity

[48:27] payers in all the communities that we

[48:30] serve. So yes our customers and carpet

[48:32] pay but so does everybody else. So

[48:35] that's the tea up and then can talk

[48:38] about any particulars about the finance

[48:40] the 20ear financing.

[48:41] >> Yep. Yep. So, I'm happy um all the the

[48:44] notes, terms and conditions are in the

[48:46] memo that I had put. I think that

[48:48] they're in the packet. I believe they

[48:50] got there in time. Um so, I'm happy to

[48:52] run through those and then address any

[48:54] particular questions or concerns that

[48:55] you may have. Um I will just piggy back

[48:58] off of what Scott is saying. Um this is

[49:00] you know a solution to a dire need to

[49:03] move critical infrastructure and um

[49:06] [clears throat] with the last flood we

[49:08] had crew members straight down there

[49:10] overnight because they couldn't leave

[49:11] either direction. So moving the current

[49:14] garage out of the flood plane is been a

[49:16] goal for the department for quite some

[49:17] time and obviously from the town

[49:19] perspective as well. So, we're super

[49:21] excited to hopefully get this to go

[49:23] fully through. And um our crew, our wine

[49:26] crew is also super um enthusiastic about

[49:30] getting out of the building and going

[49:31] into new territory that certainly isn't

[49:33] goldplated as Scott has mentioned, but

[49:36] it checks a lot of the boxes that we

[49:38] need. Um and one of the other key pieces

[49:41] is that we will eventually be in the

[49:43] same complex together. So right now we

[49:45] are constantly you know moving back

[49:46] [clears throat] and forth from downtown

[49:48] up to here and then back and forth. Um

[49:50] so I think that this it will be really

[49:52] good for our department to be at one

[49:54] complex all of the time.

[49:56] >> One thing I did want to add just um we

[49:58] have I have heard from I think two

[50:00] customers who uh the only concern we've

[50:03] heard about the move is the loss of

[50:05] ability to drop off payment in the

[50:07] village um here. Uh and so we certainly

[50:11] I know Opie and I have had a first

[50:13] conversation finding a place where that

[50:15] can happen where when we're making our

[50:17] bank runs and and things that we can

[50:19] just pick up is some we haven't had a

[50:22] outcry about this but we have had a

[50:23] couple customers and if it matters to

[50:25] customers a long time we'll accommodate.

[50:26] So I I mostly wanted to share with you

[50:29] [snorts] we expected to hear a little

[50:31] more buzz about you know again at this

[50:33] time in this economy we actually have

[50:35] not heard any of that. Um uh uh this was

[50:39] the one concern that we've heard a

[50:41] little again I think I heard from two

[50:42] people which usually means there's 15 or

[50:45] 20 that are probably thinking right when

[50:47] somebody speaks out they're generally

[50:48] speaking for some other people too. So

[50:52] >> great um so the terms of this note 20

[50:56] years 5.3.8%

[50:58] fixed for the first five years and then

[51:00] it is variable for the remaining 15

[51:03] years. We can certainly talk more about

[51:04] that um approach. The yearly payments

[51:07] will start in September of 2027 um for

[51:11] just a little over 66,000 a year. Um the

[51:14] we did p we did explore other financing

[51:18] measures as Scott teed up earlier. You

[51:20] know, Harvard Electric is going through

[51:23] um the 20 trying to resolve the 2025

[51:25] break case which is particularly going

[51:27] to lead us into a little bit of a cash

[51:29] front crunch for the remainder of the

[51:31] year. Um so one of the goals that I had

[51:33] in mind for uh strategically planning to

[51:36] purchase this building was to have

[51:38] minimal um cash impact in shop to um

[51:41] move forward this year. As we talked

[51:44] about earlier, there's a need to both

[51:45] move out of our complex plus get them

[51:47] out of the flood plane. So we wanted to

[51:49] act upon this building that was put on

[51:51] the market that checked a lot of our

[51:53] boxes. Um so my approach to that was

[51:56] trying to minimize the loan

[51:58] requirements, not going um commercial

[52:01] real estate was one of those um

[52:03] requirements. So that meant no closing

[52:06] costs. Um no crazy inspection or reports

[52:10] that were required. Not uh 20% down

[52:12] wasn't required to purchase the the

[52:14] facility. That way we didn't have to

[52:16] strategically time possibly selling this

[52:19] location and then moving into the next

[52:21] location to try to mitigate that cash

[52:23] impact. So one of the solutions to that

[52:26] was to go into this note which did have

[52:28] a variable rate for 15 years. Um

[52:31] community national has no loan fees. Um

[52:34] so in four years or three years we

[52:37] decide that the risk to have a variable

[52:39] rate coming up is too high for the

[52:41] department. we can easily, you know,

[52:42] refinance and and look at what the

[52:45] principle even is because once we do

[52:47] sell the building and then um kind of

[52:49] let things iron out a little bit, we,

[52:51] you know, may not have much left to pay

[52:52] on it after the first 5 years. Anyways,

[52:55] um so that was one of the that was the

[52:58] major variables at play with um taking

[53:00] this approach. Um I did explore doing a

[53:04] longer term fixed rate. It was about

[53:08] $15,000 a year difference payment wise.

[53:11] So again,

[53:13] higher higher. Yes, let me just say it

[53:15] was about two points higher interest

[53:17] wise. So and we would have to um come up

[53:20] with an unknown cash amount to actually

[53:23] fully execute and move out of the

[53:24] building. So that was the thought um

[53:27] there. That was the approach. which I'm

[53:28] happy to go through what each document

[53:30] is um doing, but the over the overall

[53:34] gist of it is 20-year note um first 5

[53:37] years fixed, remaining 15 years

[53:39] variable, no prepayment for penalty um

[53:42] or refinancing

[53:44] and it is a revenue back electric

[53:47] revenue backed note and um it's a tax

[53:49] exempt note as well. So, we'll be filing

[53:51] all the correct documentation with the

[53:52] IRS at the tax exempt rate.

[53:56] I'm not sure if there's anything else

[53:58] that

[53:59] you guys would be particularly

[54:01] interested about. Oh, and I don't know

[54:03] if you mentioned, but there are several

[54:06] um there's a surplus of items that are

[54:08] staying in the facility. Um so, we do

[54:11] plan to eventually try to sell those and

[54:14] um remove some of the cost as well.

[54:17] I'll make a motion to approve a bank

[54:20] note for HD in the amount of 800,000

[54:22] from Community National Bank for the

[54:25] purchase of the new facility in East

[54:26] Hardwick.

[54:29] >> Second.

[54:31] >> Is there any discussion or questions?

[54:33] >> Yeah, questions.

[54:35] >> So, I've heard there's you guys are

[54:37] going to have to add on to it. Like all

[54:39] the trucks won't fit.

[54:41] >> They do fit.

[54:43] >> Fit. The pickups will not. Um, our view

[54:46] on the pickups is that, you know, we

[54:49] always have holes we take down out of

[54:50] the ground. Um, and so, you know, we we

[54:53] can build a, you know, a cover for the

[54:56] pickups to sit under to keep them out of

[54:57] the weather and for our pickups. We

[54:59] think that's fine. That won't cost us a

[55:01] lot. Um, we're not certain long-term how

[55:06] the office space will reconcile and if

[55:08] it may need a very small addition at

[55:10] some point, but our approach is to go

[55:12] live in it for a couple years and feel

[55:14] it out and move things around and and

[55:16] get used to it and see if it becomes a

[55:18] constraint. Um, but in terms of the

[55:20] trucks, yeah, only the big only our four

[55:23] large trucks will fit in the facility

[55:24] and we'll just, you know, we'll just

[55:27] build a pull um to put the uh the

[55:29] pickups on there. we can run uh power

[55:32] out to it. We know how to run power and

[55:34] um have block heaters in them and and

[55:36] they all have remotes these days so you

[55:38] can turn them on when you get in and

[55:39] warm them up. So um and our crew is at

[55:41] least okay with that and again the

[55:43] crew's happy to have a get out of a

[55:46] really terrible facility and working

[55:49] really well with us to solve this

[55:50] problem.

[55:51] >> You said there was no inspection.

[55:53] >> There was we did pay

[55:54] >> we did she

[55:58] Okay. They didn't require things like a

[56:00] level one environmental site assessment.

[56:02] Um, we did a full inspection. We hired a

[56:05] commercial inspector to come in and do a

[56:07] full full assess building inspection,

[56:10] but we did some of the stuff that often

[56:13] that loan the banks and bonds require.

[56:16] We didn't end up with those requirements

[56:18] because of the approach, but we still

[56:19] made we wanted for our own due diligence

[56:22] to know that the septic worked and the

[56:23] water was tested and the hot water

[56:25] worked and the build that everything was

[56:28] inspected. The wiring was inspected

[56:30] >> and it's up to code there. Is there a

[56:32] certain code for that must?

[56:33] >> Yep. There is codes. So, one thing we'll

[56:35] have to look at when we get in, what the only thing that came up that the

[56:39] inspector couldn't determine, mostly

[56:40] because he didn't want to punch a hole

[56:42] in the wall, is the raised that is

[56:45] possible, but he doesn't know that there

[56:48] may not be a firewall between the garage

[56:50] and the office. There's sheetrock on

[56:52] both sides. So, that would simply mean

[56:54] to add another piece of whatever it is,

[56:55] 58 of sheetrock on both sides, which we

[56:59] also know how to put up sheetrock. It

[57:01] won't be tape pretty, but it doesn't

[57:02] have to be a firewall. Um, so like I so

[57:05] it was a very to the extent we and we

[57:07] won't cut a hole in it and to the extent

[57:09] that that's a fix we need to make. We

[57:11] can do that in downtime ourselves.

[57:15] >> Um, and I will just add I should have

[57:17] let with this as well. This is something

[57:19] I just asked asked, but um, as far as

[57:21] rate shock goes for our customers, uh,

[57:24] this was a purchase that we were

[57:26] hopefully planning on when we did file

[57:28] our um, 2026 rate case. And so they did

[57:31] do the stimulation as well as our bucket

[57:34] chart purchase from last year and it was

[57:38] just a small smidge over 1% impact in

[57:41] that was filed in our rate case for

[57:43] >> both combined.

[57:44] Yes. Both combined. So

[57:46] >> that's without selling without any

[57:48] proceeds across the street.

[57:49] >> Yeah.

[57:50] >> Yep.

[57:52] Y thanks. That was my question.

[57:55] >> Yeah. I knew we were the same thing

[57:57] there.

[57:58] >> Great. So, just to um So, we do have a

[58:02] motion in a second. Are there any other

[58:04] questions about

[58:06] >> I just have one more thing.

[58:08] >> A couple people that couldn't be here

[58:09] tonight were asking and then I got

[58:11] thinking about it too.

[58:13] >> The next item, which we're not going to

[58:16] go to that one yet, but you're asking

[58:17] for essentially 600,000

[58:20] >> for cash issues,

[58:23] >> capital.

[58:24] >> Yeah, there's Yeah, there's definitely

[58:26] more substance to that,

[58:27] >> you know. So then

[58:29] >> on top now there's 800

[58:31] >> you know so

[58:33] talking for other people they're

[58:35] concerned that is this going to put us

[58:38] in an issue

[58:39] >> and I know the answer might be on the

[58:41] next item but

[58:42] >> we we'll get to that what I would say is

[58:45] uh

[58:47] Harve Electric will

[58:49] be investing probably on an annual basis

[58:52] of between two and two and a half

[58:54] million a year for the next 20 years. um

[58:57] the modernize our electric grid which in

[59:00] many places doesn't have a wire size to

[59:03] fully support the uses people are using.

[59:06] So it's updating all the substations,

[59:08] updating the sub transmission, updating

[59:10] every wire line and transformer. Um and

[59:13] if you look at that sounds like a huge

[59:17] amount and it is a huge amount and

[59:19] spread across great over numerous towns,

[59:22] it actually will be quite affordable um

[59:25] to do that. This is just a first piece.

[59:27] It gets more complicated, but

[59:29] historically we've always paid as we

[59:31] went for capital. We never borrowed

[59:33] money hardly ever. Um that's no longer

[59:36] allowed by the state of Vermont. So

[59:38] you're going to see a lot of financing

[59:40] coming from us. Um uh at least for

[59:43] electric departments. So the KGO model

[59:46] is kind of going away or they're just

[59:49] telling you they won't prove their cases

[59:50] if they don't adopt. They're actually

[59:53] they're setting not maximum but minimum

[59:55] debt to equity ratios. If you're not you

[59:57] haven't borrowed enough money, they're

[59:59] not going to approve your rate cases

[1:00:01] going forward because they they there's

[1:00:02] this concept of generational equity that

[1:00:05] they're they become involved with um in

[1:00:08] Monter.

[1:00:10] So, but we can certainly talk more about

[1:00:12] that, but you're going to see a steady

[1:00:13] stream of those year after year after

[1:00:15] year. Um and uh and it'll be affordable.

[1:00:20] We can talk more about that for sure.

[1:00:21] Yeah.

[1:00:22] >> Well, I get the concern. Absolutely.

[1:00:23] >> It is scary when you first try to digest

[1:00:25] it and it's just feels like it's

[1:00:27] constant at the moment. But, um, it took

[1:00:30] me a little bit to kind of get the

[1:00:31] concept wrapped around in my little

[1:00:33] brain. But, um, it it honestly is better

[1:00:36] for our customers if we do this do it

[1:00:39] this way cuz it minimizes rate shock,

[1:00:41] right? Like we talked about a

[1:00:42] catastrophic event happening and our

[1:00:45] substation blows up, right? like that's

[1:00:47] something that was put into a plan that

[1:00:49] we will have to invest into in the next

[1:00:52] 5 to 10 years. Well, in that situation,

[1:00:55] we don't have a choice but to do

[1:00:56] emergency borrowing and then it's much

[1:00:59] heavy. It's a larger burden on

[1:01:01] taxpayers. So, this is right here.

[1:01:03] Sorry. Yeah. Um my tax breaks my tax

[1:01:07] maybe it's a bit more relevant to the

[1:01:08] next item.

[1:01:09] >> Yeah. Yeah. Let's

[1:01:10] >> have some good all good questions but

[1:01:13] for this so we have a motion to say any

[1:01:15] other questions about this item.

[1:01:17] >> All those in favor please signify by

[1:01:18] saying I

[1:01:19] >> I

[1:01:20] >> opposed. Extensions. Okay.

[1:01:23] Congratulations on you.

[1:01:26] >> October 16th.

[1:01:27] >> Great. You will have some very happy

[1:01:30] crew members. So we really appreciate

[1:01:31] you.

[1:01:33] >> We'll add to the dynamics downtown.

[1:01:36] And I hear they are very excited.

[1:01:40] >> Absolutely.

[1:01:41] >> Okay. Next, we have items four, select

[1:01:43] board to discuss two union bank capital

[1:01:45] notes for HD, each in the amount of

[1:01:47] 300,000 for a 10-year term to finance

[1:01:49] capital work and projects planned for

[1:01:51] completion during the remainder of 2026.

[1:01:53] Rene already started this conversation,

[1:01:55] but go ahead, Scott.

[1:01:56] >> So, so again, you know, we have started

[1:01:59] this conversation and again, neither of

[1:02:00] these are for action tonight. and Rene

[1:02:02] can explain. We've we we've actually got

[1:02:05] banks kind of we're playing banks off

[1:02:07] each other right now to be blunt um to

[1:02:09] make sure we get end up in a place that

[1:02:11] we think is the deal that we ought to

[1:02:13] have for these notes. And at the time we

[1:02:15] thought they'd be ready and they just

[1:02:16] aren't ready. So we aren't forcing it.

[1:02:19] We want to get to a good decision, but

[1:02:21] we thought we would tonight at least

[1:02:22] explain what's going on since it was on

[1:02:24] their agenda. So you know we've as Renee

[1:02:27] noted well as I noted earlier and she's

[1:02:30] teed up. We do have some cash crunches

[1:02:32] right now. We could otherwise be doing

[1:02:34] this as one note. Um, but timing wise to

[1:02:37] make sure with the way this rate case is

[1:02:39] coming out. Um, uh, it turned into two

[1:02:42] notes for the capital work we've already

[1:02:45] done this year, which is around 300,000.

[1:02:47] Um, we can get a note to bring that cash

[1:02:50] back in. And again, we need to do that

[1:02:51] anyway because the state won't let us

[1:02:53] pay cash for it anymore. Um and then for

[1:02:55] the work we're doing for the balance of

[1:02:57] the year, that's another 300,000 of ne

[1:03:00] all necessary improvements. We're not

[1:03:01] doing capital just because we're trying

[1:03:03] to make cash happen. Uh these are

[1:03:05] critical infrastructure needs on our

[1:03:07] system uh going forward. We've been an

[1:03:11] underinvestment in this system and and

[1:03:14] uh and and a real need to be upgrading

[1:03:17] the system going forward. So, uh, that's

[1:03:20] really what we're trying to do is

[1:03:21] address the two capital needs that we

[1:03:23] have, um, but what we've done and what

[1:03:26] we will be doing for this year. So,

[1:03:28] that's about 600,000 between them, which

[1:03:31] will in in the future will seem like a

[1:03:34] light year for us uh, as we move this

[1:03:37] all forward. I did want to just note

[1:03:39] that uh, but I think it's worth just

[1:03:42] saying out loud because I'm sure you're

[1:03:44] all thinking about this. So I know we've

[1:03:46] sent information about this in the past

[1:03:48] but there is

[1:03:51] municipal electric departments are the

[1:03:53] rules for finance with municipal

[1:03:55] electric departments are different than

[1:03:57] any other municipal financing. I believe

[1:04:00] there you end up having the final

[1:04:02] authority in most cases about financing

[1:04:06] for projects for a municipal electric

[1:04:08] utility not meeting. Um there are ratios

[1:04:12] that we if and when we get over them

[1:04:14] there are ratios after we hit when it

[1:04:17] does go to town. So, but within within

[1:04:21] parameters in state statute, and she can

[1:04:23] probably tell you that, I can't my

[1:04:25] brain. Um, but there's latitude for the

[1:04:28] governing body to make the final

[1:04:29] decision. Um, just so you're aware that

[1:04:32] there is a difference. I'm not saying

[1:04:33] it's right or not right, but it just is.

[1:04:36] Right. So, but with that, you want to

[1:04:38] talk about the notes.

[1:04:39] >> Yeah. Um, so as I touched on briefly

[1:04:42] earlier, historically harsh electrics

[1:04:44] and I think I could probably say

[1:04:46] [clears throat] that a lot of other

[1:04:47] utilities structured their operations

[1:04:49] this way as well, but have that have

[1:04:51] since changed their models years ago and

[1:04:53] we just have not caught up to the train

[1:04:54] yet. Um, but historically we have tried

[1:04:57] to invest in our system with our

[1:05:00] operating cash. And I'm not sure how

[1:05:02] familiar you guys all are with our

[1:05:04] electric rate structure, but it makes it

[1:05:06] very difficult at the end of the year to

[1:05:09] come up with any type of surplus to do

[1:05:11] the type of investments that we have to

[1:05:12] do in our system each year. So, as you

[1:05:15] can imagine, it just kind of kicked the

[1:05:16] can down the road. It hasn't happened. I

[1:05:19] mean, we have a high number of outages.

[1:05:21] We just we have to get the investment

[1:05:23] into our infrastructure and we have to

[1:05:25] get on a maint

[1:05:28] um revolving plan. And so the way to do

[1:05:30] that to minimize rate shock is to go to

[1:05:33] this model that we will be um financing

[1:05:36] for all of our capital work. And the

[1:05:38] idea behind that, like Scott mentioned,

[1:05:40] this is a state model that will be

[1:05:42] required um will be required to follow

[1:05:45] it. It's going to get us get us the

[1:05:48] reliability that we need in our system

[1:05:51] plus um only you know have a rate impact

[1:05:54] each year each through the to 5 years

[1:05:55] that we have to go into for a rate case

[1:05:57] of 1 to 2%. Um we have to spread the

[1:06:00] cost of these large projects over its

[1:06:03] useful life so that the person

[1:06:05] benefiting it from it in 30 years is

[1:06:07] also paying their fair share of those of

[1:06:09] us doing it benefit. So each year um we

[1:06:13] will first be going to our commission um

[1:06:16] and proposing the plans as a part of our

[1:06:18] budget development and then we will be

[1:06:21] getting a capital line of credit. Um

[1:06:23] hopefully with everyone's blessing um

[1:06:25] doing those capital infrastructures and

[1:06:27] then turning it out into 20 or 30 years.

[1:06:30] Um we have large hydro projects coming

[1:06:31] up the the pipeline. Um the life the

[1:06:34] life um span of those is obviously much longer. So, it just this is going

[1:06:40] to allow us to do those critical

[1:06:42] infrastructure investments at the same

[1:06:45] time of having really minimal great

[1:06:47] impact to all of our repairs.

[1:06:50] [clears throat] And it needs to happen

[1:06:52] because as we've seen months ago, we had

[1:06:54] a regular regulator in our substation

[1:06:56] and that turned into an emergency

[1:06:58] situation that we had to quickly pivot

[1:07:00] and pay for. And that's what leads to

[1:07:02] these cash crunches. we were trying to

[1:07:04] do large projects with our operating

[1:07:07] cash and that's just not possible. Um so

[1:07:09] we have to pivot and change our

[1:07:11] mechanism and so we will be doing that.

[1:07:13] Um this is what all of our brother and

[1:07:15] sister utilities do. Um again we've it's

[1:07:18] we've been behind the train on that and

[1:07:20] so we're just trying to quickly catch up

[1:07:21] and um Jamie Dailyaly who uh Scott

[1:07:24] mentioned earlier was our new operations

[1:07:26] manager. He's already like got his brain

[1:07:29] just wheeling and planning these

[1:07:31] projects. I swear he hasn't planned for

[1:07:32] the next 20 years. Um, and it's I think

[1:07:35] it's a really exciting time at for us

[1:07:37] here, you know, in Harvick and all the

[1:07:39] repairs that we serve because this work

[1:07:41] has been long overdue and it's it's

[1:07:44] finally hopefully going to be in the

[1:07:45] ground getting completed.

[1:07:49] >> Is the goal to vote on this at the next

[1:07:50] >> No, we don't have the notes for you.

[1:07:52] >> Yes, the next meeting to tee it up since

[1:07:54] we're here anyway and

[1:07:56] >> but the goal the goal would be beginning

[1:07:58] of October to

[1:07:59] >> October 1st.

[1:08:01] We have two projects planned

[1:08:04] um to begin. I think October [snorts]

[1:08:06] 1st is like a Thursday, so the following

[1:08:09] Monday. Um and it's on our Greensboro

[1:08:12] circuit and our hardware circuit. I

[1:08:14] think did I not put those in the memo

[1:08:16] yet? They'll be in the next memo. Um

[1:08:18] exactly what those those future projects

[1:08:20] will have will hold. Um but our plan is

[1:08:22] to hopefully start them that first full

[1:08:24] week of October. So, we're hoping um

[1:08:27] well, I know the documents will be ready

[1:08:28] for the October 1st meeting and we are

[1:08:30] holding a special um commission meeting

[1:08:33] September 30th to go over all of the

[1:08:36] note proceeds. I mean, we definitely

[1:08:38] brief them Tuesday May as well. Um but

[1:08:42] we will be having a special meeting 9:30

[1:08:45] with the do the loan documents there

[1:08:47] before we come here on the first and

[1:08:50] I'll be lone loan soldier that night. So

[1:08:54] >> be nice.

[1:08:55] >> Ask all the questions you need to right

[1:08:56] now.

[1:08:56] >> No, per usual. You'll be great, right?

[1:08:59] >> Um, great. So there's no action tonight,

[1:09:02] but are there any question? It's great

[1:09:03] to have a

[1:09:04] >> The only other thing about that is we I

[1:09:06] don't know if collector how long it's

[1:09:08] been since they had a capital plan, but

[1:09:11] um within the next few months, you'll

[1:09:13] see a a 10ear capital plan from us that

[1:09:16] begins to lay this out. We actually had

[1:09:18] a full analysis of our system to look at

[1:09:20] deficiencies and tell us what's not

[1:09:22] looking right and why. And so we'll be

[1:09:24] in a position to start laying that out

[1:09:26] for you. So you won't be surprised in

[1:09:28] the future by what's coming.

[1:09:31] >> Great.

[1:09:33] >> Thank you.

[1:09:35] very much.

[1:09:36] >> I'm really passionate about this place.

[1:09:38] [laughter]

[1:09:39] >> It's kind of scary.

[1:09:41] >> I'm getting less.

[1:09:42] >> I just have one question about that

[1:09:45] note. Did you any of us to authorize

[1:09:47] anybody in that motion for other

[1:09:49] signatures?

[1:09:50] >> Um I think good with just the

[1:09:53] [clears throat]

[1:09:53] >> I think just the signatures is fine. I

[1:09:55] just noticed other places. Okay.

[1:09:57] >> Yeah. Yep. No, I think that we have

[1:10:00] >> three and then two.

[1:10:03] >> Okay. Okay. Great. Thank you.

[1:10:07] >> Next we have item five board to appoint

[1:10:09] three board members and alternates to

[1:10:12] the development review board. We had uh

[1:10:15] five

[1:10:17] letters in our folders. Um there are

[1:10:20] three three-year terms ending um well

[1:10:24] two three-year terms ending 6:3028 and

[1:10:27] one three-year term ending 6:3029

[1:10:30] and then there are two alternates for

[1:10:31] those terms. So that will leave one

[1:10:35] opening for an alternate or no we see

[1:10:37] two.

[1:10:38] >> So

[1:10:39] >> if we appoint all these people we were

[1:10:40] told

[1:10:42] >> right but I think um if you I think

[1:10:46] there's one we don't normally have

[1:10:49] alternates for DRB, so it'd be one

[1:10:52] alternate.

[1:10:53] >> Kristen asked for two in her email.

[1:10:55] >> Yeah,

[1:10:56] >> she did.

[1:10:56] >> Yeah, the email's right there.

[1:10:58] >> Yeah.

[1:10:58] >> Okay. Well,

[1:11:01] that's changed since she stopped me, but

[1:11:03] that's fine. [clears throat]

[1:11:04] Because is there another person that

[1:11:06] just

[1:11:08] >> there?

[1:11:12] » Oh yeah.

[1:11:13] >> Okay.

[1:11:14] >> So, uh, Grace Jstone said she would be

[1:11:17] an alternate and then the last person

[1:11:20] agreed to be an alternate. The other

[1:11:23] three would be

[1:11:26] um

[1:11:27] >> they want the seat, not the

[1:11:28] >> They want the seats.

[1:11:29] >> So, who's the fifth person? And I see

[1:11:33] four letters.

[1:11:34] >> The lady yesterday didn't get us a

[1:11:37] letter quite yet.

[1:11:38] >> Oh, so there's So there's currently four

[1:11:41] three openings.

[1:11:42] >> Yeah.

[1:11:43] >> Four people. One of the four is willing

[1:11:45] to be an alternate,

[1:11:46] >> right?

[1:11:47] >> So,

[1:11:48] >> can we just see their names?

[1:11:50] >> Yeah. I was going to move I was going to

[1:11:51] make two motions.

[1:11:53] >> Yeah. Go for Um, I would move that we

[1:11:55] appoint

[1:11:57] to the open seats Peter Moscowitz, Joe

[1:12:00] Nudell,

[1:12:01] and Daffhne Calmar. And that we um

[1:12:05] that's one motion.

[1:12:07] >> Can we just do it in one motion?

[1:12:09] >> And then the and and yes, the continuing

[1:12:11] that same motion and appoint Grace

[1:12:15] Jstone as an alternate to the the the

[1:12:17] DRB.

[1:12:18] >> Second.

[1:12:19] >> Any discussion?

[1:12:21] >> Great. all those

[1:12:22] >> and you guys don't care where I placed

[1:12:25] them in the terms

[1:12:27] >> because there's different

[1:12:28] >> Did any of them I don't specified?

[1:12:30] >> Nobody specified?

[1:12:31] >> Nope.

[1:12:32] >> No, I think what

[1:12:34] >> are the terms?

[1:12:36] >> It's two year. It's basically they're

[1:12:38] all threeear terms, but

[1:12:41] two of them phase out in 28 and one of

[1:12:42] them phases out in 29.

[1:12:45] >> Oh, so they're going in the middle.

[1:12:46] They're they're taking over.

[1:12:48] >> I I think give Joe the long one. Yeah,

[1:12:52] it's not part of the motion, so you'll

[1:12:54] have to figure that out. [laughter]

[1:12:57] » You're welcome, Joe.

[1:12:58] >> I just want to thank them for stepping

[1:13:00] up. I mean,

[1:13:02] >> you know, not had some good

[1:13:03] conversations with Joe. That's

[1:13:04] >> Yeah, I bet.

[1:13:05] >> I'm good.

[1:13:06] >> Okay. Do you have everything you need to

[1:13:07] for that motion? Okay. All those in

[1:13:09] favor, please signify by saying I.

[1:13:10] >> I.

[1:13:11] oppose.

[1:13:13] >> Extensions. Great. Thank you everybody

[1:13:14] for volunteering. That's really

[1:13:16] important. Yeah.

[1:13:16] >> Um, next we have select [clears throat]

[1:13:17] board to consider approving a

[1:13:19] manufacturers's tier 3 renewal for

[1:13:21] Tillia Processing LLC.

[1:13:29] » Is there any reason? Yep.

[1:13:31] >> We've had no issues.

[1:13:37] » He said we've had no issue. I said, "Is

[1:13:38] there any reason not to approve it?"

[1:13:40] >> Oh, it wasn't. I'm sorry. I was signing.

[1:13:41] I wasn't listening.

[1:13:42] >> Approving a manufacturing tier three. Is

[1:13:44] that

[1:13:46] >> Yeah. [laughter]

[1:13:47] >> What is it?

[1:13:48] >> You were someone referred to you. Sorry.

[1:13:50] >> No, this isn't alcohol or tobacco. This

[1:13:52] is cannabis.

[1:13:54] >> Tillia process can

[1:13:56] >> processing as a cannabis.

[1:13:57] >> It's all They're all cannabis

[1:13:59] manufacturers tier three.

[1:14:01] >> Sounds like you're making a motion.

[1:14:03] >> Sure. I I move to approve a

[1:14:05] manufacturers's tier three renewal for

[1:14:07] processing LLC.

[1:14:10] >> I'll second that.

[1:14:11] >> Any other discussion or questions?

[1:14:12] >> Huh? guy.

[1:14:17] » Okay.

[1:14:17] >> You're from Tillia Manufacturer. No,

[1:14:19] >> I didn't think so. You're from Queen

[1:14:20] Cannabis.

[1:14:21] >> Nope.

[1:14:22] >> No.

[1:14:22] >> The other one.

[1:14:23] >> Wrong. [laughter] I'm voting. Just keep

[1:14:25] going.

[1:14:25] >> All right. So,

[1:14:26] >> all those in favor, please signify by

[1:14:27] saying I.

[1:14:28] >> I.

[1:14:29] Opposed. [cough and clears throat]

[1:14:31] >> All right. Next, we have item seven.

[1:14:34] >> I'll make a motion to approve the

[1:14:35] cultivation tier one renewal license for

[1:14:37] DCB LLC.

[1:14:38] >> Can I just do that?

[1:14:39] >> Is it any reason not to? Is violations

[1:14:43] or anything?

[1:14:44] >> No violations, no issues.

[1:14:46] >> Okay,

[1:14:47] >> I'll second that.

[1:14:48] >> Great. Any other discussion? I want to

[1:14:49] say we appreciate you coming every

[1:14:50] single year.

[1:14:53] >> Nobody ever Nobody No, it's appreciated.

[1:14:55] So, thank you for coming.

[1:14:56] >> Any questions? I got answers.

[1:14:59] >> All those in favor? Any other

[1:15:00] discussion?

[1:15:02] >> All those in favor, please signify by

[1:15:03] saying I.

[1:15:04] >> I.

[1:15:05] Opposed extensions. Great. Next we

[1:15:08] have item eight, select four to consider

[1:15:11] approving cultivator. Oops.

[1:15:13] >> Right.

[1:15:13] >> No, because we added Oh, sorry. Okay.

[1:15:16] Item eight, SE board to consider

[1:15:17] approving a cultivation tier 3 renewal

[1:15:19] license for the Clean Cannabis Company.

[1:15:22] >> So moved.

[1:15:23] >> Second.

[1:15:24] >> Any discussion?

[1:15:25] >> Second, Larry. Larry.

[1:15:27] >> Clar to cut you off on the one before.

[1:15:30] [laughter]

[1:15:30] >> Okay. All those in favor, please say I.

[1:15:33] >> I. I.

[1:15:33] >> Opposions. Great. All eyes. Next we have

[1:15:37] item nine. Select court to review the

[1:15:38] North Main Street storm water bids,

[1:15:40] select a contractor, and authorize the

[1:15:41] town manager to execute the contract.

[1:15:44] >> Okay.

[1:15:48] >> We're back on

[1:15:49] >> Main Street Storm Water Bits. Go.

[1:15:52] >> So, anything to recap on this?

[1:15:56] >> Can you just give us like the one

[1:15:58] sentence version of what the project is?

[1:16:00] Like one sentence?

[1:16:01] >> FEMA damage.

[1:16:02] North Main Street

[1:16:06] Storm Water. Okay.

[1:16:10] » It's the outfall to the storm water

[1:16:13] system that was installed at the Judine

[1:16:14] Mansion

[1:16:16] and it's um it was damaged in uh 4810

[1:16:22] the 24 flood. So it's just the outfall

[1:16:25] to an overflow, a new valve and to

[1:16:28] rebuild the wall.

[1:16:30] >> Okay.

[1:16:33] And this is fully covered by FEMA 90%.

[1:16:41] » I like keeping it local

[1:16:44] >> also happens to be the cheapest.

[1:16:46] >> Yep.

[1:16:47] >> Where?

[1:16:48] >> Well, the second cheapest

[1:16:49] >> the the cheapest

[1:16:50] >> with references

[1:16:51] >> is the proposed um completion. They did

[1:16:54] not provide the references they did not

[1:16:55] provide. So technically their bid is

[1:16:57] incomplete,

[1:16:57] >> right? They didn't,

[1:16:58] >> right? An incomplete bid on that. I mean

[1:17:01] I'm

[1:17:03] >> Can you get a question please?

[1:17:06] The my only question is

[1:17:09] >> the completion um what does it mean

[1:17:11] substantial completion expected? Oh,

[1:17:13] okay. Earlier. So, they were basically

[1:17:15] saying like end of the year max,

[1:17:17] >> but everybody else is committing to like

[1:17:19] it's like it's like a month earlier that

[1:17:21] >> they're giving themsel they're giving

[1:17:22] themselves a little bit of a

[1:17:23] >> Yeah, I can't

[1:17:25] >> vote on this

[1:17:26] >> cuz gravel that's my wife. But, um I

[1:17:30] asked her about it last night and it's

[1:17:32] just the check valve is out. shows where

[1:17:35] we can get it done and then just go back

[1:17:37] and do that real quick. So, it's simple.

[1:17:39] >> It's a specialized check valve

[1:17:41] >> that keeps water from flowing into the

[1:17:45] uh system in high water.

[1:17:48] >> It sound like it was a quick easy once

[1:17:50] it's in type of thing. Just

[1:17:52] >> Oh, yeah.

[1:17:53] >> Like once the check valves there'll be

[1:17:55] Yeah. Like we'll be done in half a day

[1:17:57] type of thing.

[1:18:00] >> So, did you make a motion? I don't

[1:18:01] >> I didn't make a motion. No. Are you

[1:18:03] going to or should I

[1:18:05] >> do it, Larry?

[1:18:08] I mean, if you guys

[1:18:08] >> No, if he was going, I would go for it.

[1:18:11] Uh, then I will make a motion to What do

[1:18:15] I have to say? Um,

[1:18:19] » yeah.

[1:18:21] No, I want to say that. uh to

[1:18:23] select I would make a motion to select

[1:18:25] Gravel Con uh Construction Company

[1:18:28] Incorporated and authorize the town

[1:18:31] manager to execute a contract for the

[1:18:35] North Main Street storm water system

[1:18:37] repair

[1:18:38] >> in the amount of 29,17.

[1:18:43] >> Second.

[1:18:45] >> Any discussion?

[1:18:47] >> Great. All those in favor please say I.

[1:18:50] I

[1:18:50] >> I

[1:18:51] >> opposed abstensions.

[1:18:53] >> You're abstaining.

[1:18:54] >> Yeah,

[1:18:55] >> we probably should.

[1:18:57] >> Okay. Next, we have item 10. Second

[1:18:59] board to review and approve theou for

[1:19:01] the product rescue portion of the

[1:19:02] essential services project. That is also

[1:19:06] in our packet.

[1:19:10] Okay.

[1:19:18] So, as we were saying earlier, part of

[1:19:20] the goal of this project is to be moving

[1:19:23] all three of these buildings forward at

[1:19:26] the same time for efficiency in

[1:19:29] building.

[1:19:29] >> Is it?

[1:19:30] >> I think so. Right. That's the That's the

[1:19:33] ideal saying,

[1:19:35] >> which I think is why we're doing anou

[1:19:37] right now.

[1:19:38] >> Mhm.

[1:19:39] >> Right.

[1:19:39] >> Mhm.

[1:19:41] >> Is there anything you

[1:19:43] >> That's That's my goal as a selectman.

[1:19:49] Go on.

[1:19:50] >> Yeah. So, um, this NLU, do you OP, since

[1:19:54] you've worked with HRS quite a bit, I

[1:19:56] wanted to talk about their timing and

[1:20:03] » I don't.

[1:20:05] >> Okay.

[1:20:07] The only question I had was happy with

[1:20:10] this ammonia.

[1:20:24] » Okay.

[1:20:28] Uh

[1:20:30] I think that's my Okay. What?

[1:20:36] do you guys want to do?

[1:20:37] >> I don't I mean

[1:20:39] >> so construction cost is 72% town

[1:20:45] » they're 28%. What is is that on the

[1:20:48] total of everything or I don't I don't

[1:20:51] know.

[1:20:53] >> So

[1:20:55] that was my question too. Um I think my

[1:20:59] understanding is

[1:21:00] >> initial design and construction

[1:21:02] >> is that on the six million and then this

[1:21:06] 4.1

[1:21:08] which would be 10

[1:21:10] >> I

[1:21:11] >> off of that bond that we just

[1:21:12] >> No, I don't think it's related to that.

[1:21:14] Is it

[1:21:15] >> I I

[1:21:15] >> it must be regarding the construction.

[1:21:18] So this mill is only regarding the

[1:21:20] construction

[1:21:21] of a new rescue fire building. So fire

[1:21:24] and rescue not the garage. So the garage

[1:21:26] is totally is separate at the moment

[1:21:29] >> and it's I don't know it's kind of hard

[1:21:30] to

[1:21:32] >> So the um

[1:21:33] >> we don't know fire part of it

[1:21:37] >> I think unless fire rescue building

[1:21:38] doesn't mean well cuz it's going to be

[1:21:40] right the building the plan calls for

[1:21:42] kind of shared

[1:21:43] >> right

[1:21:44] >> shared building right I'm just saying

[1:21:45] >> connect the connected building

[1:21:48] >> to approve like estimated cost all like

[1:21:52] we don't know what FEMA is going to give

[1:21:54] to the

[1:21:57] So this so just to back just to

[1:22:00] backtrack this is purely um

[1:22:04] >> so the in the conceptual design we have

[1:22:08] a building that's being shared by the

[1:22:11] fire department and rescue. So in the

[1:22:13] current design, there's one side of the

[1:22:16] building is the fire department. There's

[1:22:18] a shared space

[1:22:20] >> the shared space with the

[1:22:21] >> and then there's a hardwood rescue side

[1:22:23] in the current in the current design. So

[1:22:25] that is one building.

[1:22:28] Those two pieces, those two kind of

[1:22:30] separate pieces would be paid for

[1:22:32] separately. But a part of this, there's

[1:22:35] combined site work for that building.

[1:22:37] Then there's also combined

[1:22:39] >> work for the central space. And so that

[1:22:41] central space is like there's a meeting

[1:22:43] room, there's lockers, there's that

[1:22:46] >> long wait room or something

[1:22:48] >> what whatever that is. And then the town

[1:22:49] garage building is a completely separate

[1:22:51] building also in the same and not

[1:22:54] covered at all by theou because we're

[1:22:55] not sharing that with

[1:22:56] >> correct

[1:22:57] >> fire and rescue. So can we do we know is

[1:23:01] the percentage for construction costs is

[1:23:04] that essentially the percentage of the

[1:23:06] building like we fire no fire is

[1:23:10] covering 72% and res I mean is occupying

[1:23:13] 72%.

[1:23:15] >> Yeah

[1:23:15] >> and rescue is 28 like how do we know

[1:23:17] where those numbers come from? So my

[1:23:20] understanding and

[1:23:21] >> I mean

[1:23:22] to to fully explain it to us. My

[1:23:25] understanding is that these numbers

[1:23:27] >> were put forward by the architect who

[1:23:30] put the concept together.

[1:23:32] >> Okay.

[1:23:33] >> Um we can decide to not include those

[1:23:37] percentages and

[1:23:40] reward that to say something like these

[1:23:43] percentages will be implemented.

[1:23:45] I don't

[1:23:46] >> to match the footprint of the building.

[1:23:48] >> I think this is our opportunity to ask

[1:23:51] questions and say these are things that

[1:23:53] we might want to change and then put it

[1:23:55] back on her rescue to then potentially

[1:23:58] make those changes. So if like that's a

[1:24:00] sticking point for us that percentages,

[1:24:03] >> it's not so much it's I mean I don't

[1:24:04] feel like it's a sticking point. It's

[1:24:06] just a point of understanding.

[1:24:07] >> Yeah, I'm sure

[1:24:09] >> we're paying more because it's going to

[1:24:11] be a bigger portion of it. It's going to

[1:24:12] take I mean it's this big and that big.

[1:24:15] I mean,

[1:24:16] >> but I'd just like to know that.

[1:24:18] >> Do we take

[1:24:19] >> Do we know if we if is there an urgency

[1:24:23] in in approving this tonight?

[1:24:25] >> Do we know?

[1:24:26] >> You don't know that.

[1:24:27] >> Well, I think I mean I think that's one

[1:24:30] question,

[1:24:31] you know, where do those numbers come

[1:24:33] from and why why those percentages? Not that it's a sticking point, but just

[1:24:36] that it I I just want I mean I have

[1:24:39] questions right before we Yeah. I mean,

[1:24:41] it would be great to have

[1:24:42] >> I would also like to ask about the cost

[1:24:43] for rescue would also speak to those.

[1:24:46] So,

[1:24:46] >> and I'd like to learn a little more

[1:24:48] about covering the cost of potential

[1:24:50] soil contamination.

[1:24:51] >> Do you have to move?

[1:24:52] >> That's on the town only to take no

[1:24:55] action.

[1:24:55] >> I think we just don't take action.

[1:24:57] >> I don't think so either.

[1:24:58] >> We don't move.

[1:24:59] >> So, if we're not going to take any

[1:25:00] action, I think it's important to lay

[1:25:03] out the specific questions that they

[1:25:04] that we have so that way they can be

[1:25:06] addressed. So, one of them, Larry, do

[1:25:10] you want to just restate that?

[1:25:11] >> I I would just like to know more about

[1:25:14] why just, you know, if the why is the

[1:25:17] town why would the town cover all of the

[1:25:20] costs of potential soil contamination

[1:25:25] and and there might be a good reason.

[1:25:27] You know, again, these aren't I'm not

[1:25:28] like saying no. I just want to

[1:25:29] understand what I'm approving before I

[1:25:32] approve it.

[1:25:32] >> Okay. So, that would be one question.

[1:25:34] And then Derek, your question was about

[1:25:36] the percentages. Yeah,

[1:25:40] » like

[1:25:41] >> I mean I guess it kind of explains the

[1:25:43] initial design and construction for the

[1:25:44] facility equipment will be shared.

[1:25:47] >> I'm assuming because the fire station's

[1:25:50] bigger,

[1:25:52] >> but I don't I'm not I don't want to

[1:25:53] assume

[1:25:54] >> right right on an [clears throat]

[1:25:55] assumption. So maybe maybe your ask is

[1:25:59] that the wording under [clears throat]

[1:26:02] financial arrangements under

[1:26:03] construction costs is clarified

[1:26:07] which parts of the building.

[1:26:08] >> Right. I guess yeah I don't really

[1:26:10] >> just more clarification.

[1:26:13] >> It's in my brain. I just can't

[1:26:14] >> Okay. Um, and of course we don't know

[1:26:18] I think but

[1:26:20] purpose and scope that 4.1 is estimated

[1:26:25] cost for the rescue bill.

[1:26:28] What's the fire?

[1:26:31] >> The fire is not on there.

[1:26:33] >> And the and the fire we would be I mean

[1:26:35] we're hoping to have 90% covered by FEMA

[1:26:37] but

[1:26:38] >> right what's the number like what's the

[1:26:39] estimated cost of the fire portion of

[1:26:42] the build?

[1:26:44] It's not in here,

[1:26:45] >> right?

[1:26:46] >> I think it's pretty like a little

[1:26:48] misleading. I don't know.

[1:26:53] » Well, I don't think it's misleading. I

[1:26:54] think that we It's our first time doing

[1:26:56] this.

[1:26:57] >> Is this on a timeline same thing as that

[1:26:59] bond or No,

[1:27:00] >> this is separate from the bond.

[1:27:01] >> I think it's separate. Yeah. So, I think

[1:27:03] there would be time to ask questions and

[1:27:04] then come back. [clears throat]

[1:27:06] >> Um, we can also if other questions,

[1:27:09] Sounds like the board's not going to

[1:27:10] take action tonight. So, if there are

[1:27:11] other questions, we can provide those to

[1:27:14] the rescue.

[1:27:16] >> Um, it probably does make sense to see

[1:27:20] if this can be an item on the next

[1:27:22] agenda if we're not making today.

[1:27:26] >> Okay.

[1:27:28] All right. So, we're not taking action

[1:27:30] discussion. Um some of the language and

[1:27:33] under funding under operational funding

[1:27:36] [clears throat]

[1:27:38] should probably be clarified. Um in

[1:27:42] terms of uh shared how uh a couple

[1:27:46] things it says will be shared or will

[1:27:48] equally be responsible. Does it is it is

[1:27:51] the intent that it'll be

[1:27:54] uh shared with the same ratio as the

[1:27:57] construction cost or is there some other

[1:27:59] formula? How are they deciding that? I

[1:28:02] just think that would be something to

[1:28:03] look into as we go forward.

[1:28:06] >> So, I think that's that.

[1:28:08] >> Are we still in the MOU?

[1:28:09] >> So, basically what we're discussing,

[1:28:10] Tim, is there um Larry and Derek had a

[1:28:13] bunch of questions about um like knowing

[1:28:16] more about why the town would

[1:28:21] or how much we would pay for soil

[1:28:23] contamination, what that line kind of

[1:28:25] means. Yeah.

[1:28:26] >> Um Dererick is wondering about

[1:28:27] clarifications on the percentages of

[1:28:30] construction costs if that like if the

[1:28:33] 72% is the fire department part of the

[1:28:36] building and the 38% is the Harbick

[1:28:38] rescue side. But basically just flushing

[1:28:41] out that wording so it's kind of more

[1:28:43] clear. Right.

[1:28:44] >> I think I think that more information I

[1:28:45] think we need to have

[1:28:47] >> more discussion with the town office and

[1:28:49] with Hardwick Rescue and to kind of to

[1:28:51] clarify a lot of these things and

[1:28:53] understand where you know the town

[1:28:55] office is coming from and also Hardwick

[1:28:57] Rescue. Um I think I would I or someone

[1:29:00] from the board should be more engaged in

[1:29:02] those discussions and and negotiations

[1:29:06] um because that's what it that's what it

[1:29:09] seems like. This is a negotiation with

[1:29:11] Hardwick Rescue. So, I would like more

[1:29:14] clarification on that, which I don't

[1:29:15] think we're going to get tonight. So,

[1:29:17] >> I would like to punt that and uh

[1:29:18] >> yeah, that's kind of where we are.

[1:29:21] >> We're just catching you up, but we're

[1:29:22] essentially we're essentially gave

[1:29:24] Amanda a bunch of questions and hoping

[1:29:26] to have it be an item at the next

[1:29:28] meeting. And hopefully somebody from

[1:29:29] Hard of Rescue can also be there. It'd

[1:29:30] be great if you or somebody from the

[1:29:32] board were able to also have a

[1:29:33] conversation as well.

[1:29:34] >> Uh, yep. Yep. I will

[1:29:36] >> I'll check in with the town office.

[1:29:39] >> Harvard. Is it

[1:29:42] >> Meer?

[1:29:42] >> I don't know.

[1:29:43] >> I am not sure who put the together.

[1:29:46] >> Okay. So, sounds like item 10 we're

[1:29:48] holding on

[1:29:48] >> and and in general I think this is a

[1:29:50] good approach. I mean like you know I

[1:29:53] don't I don't know what quite what's

[1:29:54] going on at the moment but like

[1:29:57] the all the questions I've got are not

[1:30:00] you know to tenigrate the entire

[1:30:01] process. It's I think it's a good idea

[1:30:03] to have an MOU and I look forward to

[1:30:06] figuring those out.

[1:30:07] >> Sure.

[1:30:07] >> Not anything more than that. It's not

[1:30:09] lack of support for a project.

[1:30:10] >> That's what I'm saying. It's not lack of

[1:30:12] support for anything. It's just

[1:30:13] questions.

[1:30:14] >> Yeah.

[1:30:15] >> Great. Okay. Okay. Next, we have item

[1:30:18] 11. S board to authorize town manager to

[1:30:20] submit the USDA rural development

[1:30:21] funding application for the wastewater

[1:30:22] treatment facility and discuss having a

[1:30:24] public hearing.

[1:30:25] >> So moved.

[1:30:26] >> Second.

[1:30:28] >> Any discussion about that?

[1:30:29] >> No, that's just for the potential

[1:30:32] rebuild of it.

[1:30:34] >> Yeah. So, this um we talked about this a

[1:30:36] little bit at the last meeting. um and

[1:30:38] has been working really hard on putting

[1:30:40] options together for the wastewater

[1:30:42] treatment facility which is a really amazing effort. Um so this is the

[1:30:47] next step in just actually submitting

[1:30:49] that application.

[1:30:50] >> Yeah.

[1:30:52] >> Do we have a motion and a second?

[1:30:53] >> Can we have a motion? Did you motion?

[1:30:55] >> Oh yeah. And I second.

[1:30:56] >> Oh yeah. I don't

[1:30:58] >> any other discussion or question. Let's

[1:30:59] do it.

[1:31:00] >> All those in favor please signify by

[1:31:01] saying I.

[1:31:02] >> I.

[1:31:02] opposed abstensions.

[1:31:05] Great. Next we have select board

[1:31:07] reports.

[1:31:08] >> Oh, I have business.

[1:31:10] No, no, it's business.

[1:31:12] >> Well, I don't know. Does it, you know,

[1:31:13] does

[1:31:14] >> the task force come under old business

[1:31:17] or from the court? I don't know which

[1:31:19] one.

[1:31:19] >> Okay.

[1:31:20] >> Wherever you want me to talk about it

[1:31:22] report, which no one's here, I guess we

[1:31:25] got one person.

[1:31:26] >> The OP mentioned it at the post office.

[1:31:29] >> That parking lot is shut down from

[1:31:31] Friday, probably 9:00 through Monday.

[1:31:34] Okay. So, just so everyone knows, it's

[1:31:37] going to be a mess, but it'll be nice

[1:31:39] when it's done.

[1:31:40] >> Yeah, I'll

[1:31:42] >> till Monday to Sunday. And then last I

[1:31:45] knew the paving was going to be when

[1:31:46] Grace was here

[1:31:47] >> doing our road. So, I I don't know when

[1:31:49] that is.

[1:31:50] >> It'll just be like a grapple surface for

[1:31:52] me for a little bit,

[1:31:53] >> but everything's getting torn up

[1:31:54] tomorrow.

[1:31:54] >> Cool. All right. [clears throat]

[1:31:56] >> Okay. New business.

[1:32:01] » Old business. Just um an update about

[1:32:04] the town meeting task, no town meeting

[1:32:07] options task force. Um

[1:32:11] first off, we have a survey that if you

[1:32:13] haven't seen, you should. It's been

[1:32:16] posted in many, many places, front

[1:32:18] porch. Uh some people put it on

[1:32:19] Facebook. You can get paper copies uh at

[1:32:22] the library, in the town offices. Um we

[1:32:25] have a large number of people responding

[1:32:28] already and we're looking for more. Um,

[1:32:32] in addition, we've scheduled um a

[1:32:37] community gathering to learn more about

[1:32:40] the options and the work we've been

[1:32:42] doing um to help inform the report that

[1:32:46] the task force is preparing for the

[1:32:49] select board. And that community

[1:32:50] gathering is October 14th at 6 p.m. in

[1:32:53] this room. And um we will kind of look

[1:32:58] at the work we've been doing, probably

[1:33:00] look at the survey, other information

[1:33:03] that's come up uh from from our

[1:33:06] research. Um and hear from people and

[1:33:09] get people's input. Um and then we plan

[1:33:14] on uh doing the work of writing the

[1:33:16] report over those next few weeks after

[1:33:18] that. And at the November

[1:33:22] 19th board meeting, the the the charge

[1:33:26] for that task force was to bring

[1:33:28] recommendations by, you know, at

[1:33:29] November 19th or by November 19th. So,

[1:33:31] we plan to have a report ready to share

[1:33:33] that night. Um, it's been an amazing

[1:33:37] process, absolutely phenomenal

[1:33:39] discussion. We've had six meetings, I

[1:33:41] think, and uh mostly I mean the only

[1:33:44] time people have been absent is for

[1:33:45] really serious illness. Um, and so it's

[1:33:48] been a great process.

[1:33:50] >> Great.

[1:33:50] >> So, yeah, that's really good. If you

[1:33:53] haven't done the survey, anybody on the

[1:33:54] board, you better do it soon.

[1:33:56] >> And that's open until the 29th.

[1:33:58] >> The survey is open till September 29th

[1:34:01] at 5:00 p.m.

[1:34:02] >> Okay. [clears throat] So, if anybody

[1:34:03] listening has not completed it,

[1:34:04] >> you have a little bit of time, but do it

[1:34:07] tonight. [laughter]

[1:34:09] >> Great. Thank you. Any other old

[1:34:10] business?

[1:34:13] >> I would move to a journ.

[1:34:15] >> Okay.

[1:34:17] There's new for at 7:95.

Hardwick Select Board—September 17, 2026

Transcript