[0:15] All right. Well, welcome everyone. We
[0:18] we'll start the uh call to order the
[0:21] town council meeting for Thursday,
[0:23] September 3rd, 2026. We could all stand
[0:25] for the pledge of allegiance.
[0:31] pledge to the flag of the United States
[0:34] of America and to the republic for which
[0:37] it stands. One nation under God,
[0:41] indivisible, with liberty and justice
[0:43] for all.
[0:47] » All right. So, next we have any
[0:49] additions or changes to the agenda?
[0:52] >> Don't have any.
[0:54] >> Anybody from the town council?
[0:55] >> All right. So, that'll move us into our
[0:57] first public comment. This section of
[1:00] the agenda is reserved for persons in
[1:02] attendance who wish to briefly address
[1:04] the town council. Council requests that
[1:06] a person's comments be limited to a
[1:08] single period lasting three minutes or
[1:11] less. While the council respects the
[1:13] right of the public to provide comment,
[1:15] this time is not intended for open
[1:17] discussion or council response.
[1:20] Residents who wish to request a dialogue
[1:22] should make arrangements to do so
[1:24] through the town manager's office or the
[1:26] council chair. Persons wishing to
[1:28] comment should type comment and your
[1:31] name in the chat box and you will be
[1:32] recognized. So, first of all, is there
[1:34] any public comment here tonight? Yes,
[1:37] ma'am. You step forward, just state your
[1:39] name and your address. You can stand
[1:41] right right at the end of the table.
[1:42] Yeah, that's good.
[1:43] >> Okay.
[1:44] >> Thank you.
[1:45] >> Sandy Waldo. My address is 33 Mil
[1:49] Landing Road.
[1:53] and I am I wanted to introduce myself
[1:55] and I also would like to read our our
[1:58] mission statement which is I'm on the
[2:01] commission on aging and so that that's
[2:04] why I'm here tonight. Uh the commission
[2:07] on aging promotes a and supports a
[2:10] livable caring community for hein's
[2:13] aging population focusing on their
[2:16] well-being and supports the senior
[2:19] center through active engagement.
[2:22] And that last phrase is why I'm here for
[2:27] support her.
[2:28] >> Thank you.
[2:32] >> Any other public comment?
[2:35] Any public comment online?
[2:39] Okay,
[2:40] that brings us to good to know. Special
[2:44] recognition.
[2:45] >> We don't have anything.
[2:47] >> Okay. And appointments and resignations.
[2:50] >> Nothing. Right. So, that brings us to
[2:53] the town manager report. Donna.
[2:56] >> All right. So, I think the first thing I
[2:59] would like to reach for is that we have
[3:01] an audit. The audit was issued today.
[3:05] This is a 20 324 fiscal year audit. Um I
[3:09] it has been forwarded to you all and the
[3:12] board of finance and we will have hard
[3:14] copies before too long that we'll share
[3:17] with you.
[3:18] So it's been a long time coming and it's
[3:21] good to have it done.
[3:23] Um as you know we've had the final
[3:27] interviews for the town manager. They
[3:29] went quite well. our decisions and an
[3:33] announcement will be made soon.
[3:36] Um, we're continuing to prepare the
[3:38] office for the new town manager cleaning
[3:40] and painting. Our assistant revenue
[3:43] collector
[3:45] started
[3:47] well next week and the assistant
[3:50] assessor started this week. So, it's
[3:52] good to have those people in place. We
[3:55] are continuing recruiting for finance
[3:58] director
[4:00] and public works truck driver and we are
[4:03] reviewing resumeumés now for the parks
[4:05] and recck program supervisor and the
[4:08] accounting specialist. Those interviews
[4:10] will take place within the next week or
[4:12] two.
[4:14] Um we received the um bique funding
[4:19] today for the bond anticipation note for
[4:22] Gilead Hill School.
[4:24] So that has
[4:26] finally been finalized. Um we are we
[4:30] issued the RFP for attorney services and
[4:33] that will close within the next couple
[4:35] of weeks. We're working on RFPs for on
[4:39] call architects, firet truck lease, and
[4:41] audit firms.
[4:45] We're still working on the FOI requests
[4:47] for the library um Mr. Howard and the
[4:52] dog case with from Miss Connelly.
[4:56] The CIP budget process will kick off
[4:59] next week. It's already time. Um we'll
[5:01] be holding a staff meeting, in-person
[5:04] staff meeting next week to kick off the
[5:06] CIP budget.
[5:09] Um the police department had an
[5:12] accreditation b visit from post a couple
[5:15] of weeks ago and we did pass that.
[5:18] Hebrin is in compliance with the
[5:20] reertification requirements.
[5:22] >> Right.
[5:23] >> Hebrin fair is next week
[5:25] >> the 10th through the 13th. Um we're
[5:28] going to enter into a temporary
[5:30] agreement with the town of Chester for
[5:32] police coverage. They our police
[5:35] department and the and the state police
[5:37] need some supplemental coverage. So it
[5:39] will just be a temporary agreement just
[5:42] for the fair.
[5:44] Um,
[5:45] our resident state trooper Justin
[5:47] Hagerty is back from his deployment.
[5:50] We've had a a series of fillings, but
[5:54] Justin is back. So,
[5:56] >> um, good to have him back. He had to
[5:58] have some training before he came back
[6:01] to us, but he is here and we'll get him
[6:03] in front of you before too long.
[6:05] >> Great.
[6:07] Um, and RAM, I think you may have
[6:09] received the notification, but RAM is
[6:12] holding a special meeting on September
[6:15] 10th at 6 PM in the middle school
[6:18] library to discuss capital funding and
[6:21] bonding.
[6:23] Um, the pickle ball courts repairs
[6:26] started this week and should finish up
[6:29] next week.
[6:30] >> And then under correspondence, we just
[6:33] have a couple of things. one letter from
[6:35] the center for housing opportunities
[6:38] regarding um affordable housing
[6:41] and then the state police July activity
[6:45] report
[6:47] and that's it unless you have any
[6:49] questions. I just had one followup
[6:51] question on release accreditation.
[6:54] >> Is that an annual exercise? So it's like
[6:56] good for one year.
[6:58] >> The re the um this review they were just
[7:01] looking at training files. So they came
[7:04] in and looked at two of our Hebrin
[7:07] police officer
[7:09] personnel or training files to make sure
[7:11] that everything is done. So I do think
[7:14] it's probably on a rotational basis on
[7:17] what they're looking for for
[7:18] accreditation. We have that lease up.
[7:22] Officer Rhodess who is our accreditation
[7:25] officer works very closely with Mark
[7:28] Rubber to make sure that we are up to
[7:30] speed on everything to maintain our
[7:32] accreditation and that's separate from
[7:34] anything pertaining to state trooper.
[7:38] This is this is from police. Yes.
[7:42] >> Thank you. questions.
[7:44] >> Any other questions from town council?
[7:47] >> Thank you, Don. As always, we appreciate
[7:49] all you do.
[7:50] >> Thanks so much.
[7:52] >> Um, okay. So, that brings us to old
[7:54] business. First thing on the agenda is
[7:56] department operational reviews. And we
[7:58] have senior services tonight. So, want
[8:00] to welcome Sharon Gerard Hoffman, a
[8:04] senior services director. She's going to
[8:06] provide a presentation of the
[8:07] department's operational review. and we
[8:10] have attached materials for the town
[8:12] council to review. So, thanks so much
[8:13] for coming tonight. We appreciate it.
[8:20] » So, again, there's myself, our program
[8:23] coordinator, Ruth Reinwald, and our
[8:25] social worker, Dennis Bar.
[8:29] Um, just to mention that we're separate
[8:32] from senior housing. A lot of people
[8:34] think that we're connected with senior
[8:37] housing. senior housing is through the
[8:39] housing authority and they have a
[8:41] management company merit properties um
[8:44] because often we'll get the question how
[8:46] many people live there so again we are separate um there is an arrangement
[8:52] that I just want to mention probably
[8:55] dated about 25 years ago whereby um
[8:59] public works takes care of plowing the
[9:03] uh lot at senior housing along with our
[9:07] lot. Um, and then their landscape
[9:11] contractor takes care of shoveling our
[9:14] walks. Um, so sometime sometime there's
[9:17] a bit of a disconnect there because it's
[9:19] their contractor. So sometime we come in the morning, the walks aren't
[9:23] shoveled. We know that Sean would be
[9:24] more than willing to help us, but he's
[9:27] got his own
[9:29] uh assignments of where he's shoveling.
[9:31] So sometime we're we're trying to shovel
[9:34] out. So um
[9:37] so that as I said that arrangement
[9:39] sometime works sometime doesn't uh and
[9:42] then uh parks of Rex takes care of all
[9:45] of our grass.
[9:51] Um so there is a state statute that uh
[9:55] every municipality has to have a
[9:57] municipal agent for the elderly. Uh and
[10:00] then that uh that state statute
[10:04] specifies that the person is supposed to
[10:07] be able to provide information,
[10:10] referrals,
[10:11] uh be able to um assess the needs of the
[10:17] community, etc. That's overseen by the
[10:21] state of Connecticut Department of
[10:22] Social Services. and also I am the
[10:25] liaison um to the commission on aging.
[10:30] Uh and um also too um there is a statute
[10:45] regarding uh those who are responsible
[10:47] for reporting any uh neglect, abuse,
[10:52] exploitation of seniors. And again,
[10:56] myself and our social worker are
[10:59] mandated reporters.
[11:04] Our mission um as part of a
[11:06] comprehensive community strategy to meet
[11:08] the diverse needs, interest, and
[11:10] abilities of older adults. U Senior
[11:12] Services strives to offer a responsive
[11:14] evolving broad range of services,
[11:16] activities, and supports along with
[11:18] providing information, assistance, and
[11:20] referral to link individuals with
[11:22] resources. Sandy shared with you their mission mission on aging.
[11:35] » Uh very appropriate that I'm here this
[11:39] month doing this presentation because
[11:41] September is National Senior Center
[11:43] Months. So it's when senior centers have
[11:46] an opportunity to try to explain what it is we do.
[11:53] Um, nationally, uh, 10 to 30% of a
[11:57] community's older adults attend their
[11:59] local senior center. Uh, currently we
[12:02] have 1,231 registered members, uh, with
[12:07] 686 active members, so me members who
[12:10] are repetitively coming senior center,
[12:14] uh, which represents 26.37%.
[12:18] So again, we're on target for what the
[12:22] national trend.
[12:24] Um we're a designated multi-purpose
[12:27] community focal point senior center.
[12:30] That's a designation through the area
[12:33] agency on aging. And again, it
[12:35] represents that we have services
[12:38] colllocated within our facility. uh we
[12:43] uh I'll touch upon it in a bit but we
[12:46] have the activities piece, the social
[12:49] services piece and the transportation
[12:51] piece. So those services are all
[12:52] collocated where again we can coordinate
[12:55] services and be able to assess people
[12:58] from different perspectives.
[13:05] So again we have the three primary roles
[13:07] our uh our social our uh activity piece
[13:12] social services piece and then it our
[13:16] transportation is what's called on
[13:18] demand doortodoor
[13:20] uh so again people are calling making a
[13:23] request to uh be transported somewhere
[13:27] and then our services doortodoor
[13:30] some services are door through door,
[13:33] which means they kind of can go into
[13:35] someone's home and help them. Our
[13:37] service does not provide that. It's just
[13:39] doortodoor.
[13:41] If somebody needs help um beyond that,
[13:45] then they're responsible for
[13:48] uh securing somebody to help them. We
[13:51] also too have an arrangement with uh
[13:53] Iliad helping hands whereby if we have
[13:58] someone who needs help but they do not
[14:01] have someone to help them, Iliad helping
[14:03] hands will work with us to find somebody
[14:06] who will um volunteer to assist the
[14:09] individual. The other thing I just want
[14:11] to mention with transportation is we
[14:13] don't transport someone if they've uh
[14:16] had anesthesia because again that person
[14:20] on discharge needs to um
[14:24] have somebody with them and have
[14:26] somebody with them for a certain number
[14:28] of hours later because we do get a lot
[14:29] of people who may be going for
[14:32] colonoscopy and wants us to provide
[14:34] transportation. So it's not something
[14:36] that we could do. you could get them
[14:38] there but then they need to make other
[14:41] arrangements for securing somebody to
[14:43] get them home. Um so again research
[14:47] shows that older adult adults who
[14:49] participate in senior center programs uh
[14:52] can manage uh issues that they are
[14:56] dealing with aging delay the onset of
[14:58] chronic disease and experience
[15:00] measurable improvements in physical,
[15:02] social, spiritual, emotional and mental
[15:04] and economic well-being and quality of
[15:06] life.
[15:11] um population information. So Hein's
[15:14] current 60 plus population is 2,61
[15:19] which is 29.58%
[15:21] of the town's total population. And of
[15:24] that 2,601
[15:27] 410 are 80 and up. Um so the older adult
[15:32] population here in Hebrin is expected to
[15:35] peak between [clears throat] 2030 and
[15:37] 2035
[15:39] um with approximately 2,612 individuals
[15:42] age 60 and during that time period and
[15:45] between 469 and 559 people aged 80 plus.
[15:51] Um I will touch upon it in a minute but
[15:54] 60 plus is the age set by the uh federal
[15:57] older Americans act. for older Americans
[16:01] act last year turned 60.
[16:08] So again, the size of the older adult
[16:10] population. Um,
[16:13] I began here in 2005, but kind of went
[16:17] back to
[16:20] 2004, which were the figures that we had
[16:22] when I started here, that there was a
[16:24] total of 804
[16:28] 60 plus individuals back in 2004.
[16:31] And now it is 2,6001.
[16:36] So there's been quite an increase in the
[16:38] senior population in the time that I've
[16:40] been here. Um and again with the uh 80
[16:43] plus population again 103 back in 204
[16:48] and uh in 2025 410
[16:52] and those are the individuals that often
[16:54] are needing you know more concentrated
[16:59] uh services.
[17:02] So while the population has increased as
[17:05] you can see the budgetarily there hasn't
[17:08] been an increase. I went back 15 years
[17:12] ago from 2010 to 2011 and what the size
[17:16] of the population was it was 16% of the
[17:19] total population versus now when it's
[17:21] 29.58%.
[17:25] Um so we have more seniors and again the
[17:28] budget is relatively flat. It actually
[17:31] is $456
[17:35] less than it was 15 years ago. Um, and
[17:39] as far as uh grant revenue, there is
[17:42] more grant revenue now than there was
[17:45] back in 2010 2011. Uh, so the net budget
[17:50] is less now than it was back 15 years
[17:54] ago.
[17:55] Um
[17:57] the
[18:00] bunch of the uh expenses that have uh
[18:05] taken a hit uh have been program
[18:08] development and meetings and
[18:09] conferences. Um
[18:13] that's
[18:15] helped to off those um those reductions
[18:18] have helped to offset the fact that our
[18:21] utilities have gone up, office supply
[18:24] costs have gone up. Um so those are
[18:28] increases telephone so things that we
[18:31] don't have control over and so
[18:33] consequently those other line items have
[18:36] uh suffered
[18:43] is small. We don't have a way to bring
[18:45] it make it bigger
[18:50] and then I lose I lose a little bit of
[18:52] it on the side. Sorry, I just didn't
[18:54] know if you can make it bubble screen.
[18:56] Um, so we have um in our budget, which
[18:59] you know, I know you saw uh at budget
[19:02] time, I every year prepare a budget
[19:06] descriptor
[19:08] the way I've I've done it all along. And
[19:12] so it shows
[19:16] what is contained in a particular line
[19:18] item and where there have been increases
[19:21] and where there have been decreases.
[19:23] Um so for the senior services budget and
[19:28] we have fitness instructors.
[19:32] Um
[19:35] a little bit sorry
[19:40] um and then as you can see um program
[19:43] development
[19:45] uh there was a $500 reduction
[19:49] this year in that line item. I want to
[19:52] point out that that total line item is
[19:56] now $2,000.
[19:58] Um,
[20:00] of that line item, there are licensing
[20:03] fees that we have to pay. Um, there is a
[20:06] music license. So, when we have fitness
[20:09] classes and there's music associated
[20:11] with it, we have an entertainer come um
[20:14] any we have our coral group, uh, there
[20:17] is a music license that needs to be
[20:19] retained. And also too, if we're showing
[20:21] any TED talks or a movie, we need to
[20:25] also have a U motion picture uh license.
[20:30] So those two licenses alone are $800.
[20:34] When we subtract that from the 2,000, it
[20:37] leaves us very little for uh
[20:39] programming. There is another music
[20:42] license that
[20:44] we have to retain and as a cost-saving
[20:47] measure we um parks and Rex covers that
[20:52] license. So, ours um our BMI license
[20:56] covers the town with that $459.
[21:00] And then the license that Parks and Rex
[21:03] carries um covers uh remember the the
[21:09] letters for the other music license. Um
[21:12] but that covers the town also. So, we
[21:17] have one in one budget, one in the other
[21:19] budget.
[21:21] um meetings and conferences. Uh again,
[21:25] there was a reduction in in that line
[21:28] item um with all of the changes
[21:33] uh especially to at the federal level
[21:36] with uh health insurance,
[21:39] uh SNAP benefits, um eating assistance,
[21:44] uh etc.
[21:47] It's important that we're keeping up to
[21:49] date with those conferences.
[21:57] But there's any this is pretty
[21:58] straightforward. So I don't know if you
[22:00] have any questions in regards to that.
[22:02] uh with contractual services. Again, we
[22:06] were using Comcast
[22:08] uh for our internet provider and we now
[22:12] as as just as of last week are connected
[22:15] to the uh Connecticut education network.
[22:19] So now we are able to sever with Comcast
[22:23] and and can save on that expense.
[22:34] something about the machine
[22:38] like the next page or something.
[22:46] Okay. Okay. So um
[22:51] in the bureau veritus report there was
[22:56] indicated for 2025
[22:59] repair to an exterior door. We have a
[23:02] door that is kind of corroding at the
[23:05] bottom. It's difficult to open or close.
[23:08] >> So we're not even using that as a means
[23:10] of egress at the moment because of the
[23:12] condition of that tour. So I had notated
[23:16] it as something that needed to be put in
[23:19] the maintenance budget would be
[23:22] not my budget maintenance budget. So I
[23:26] just notated that. Um,
[23:36] and then again, our copier is pretty
[23:40] much on its last leg, and so I had um
[23:44] just gotten some pricing in regards to
[23:48] uh replacement of the copier.
[23:51] We think we're going to maybe be able to
[23:54] switch with another department.
[24:00] regular size. So on our social,
[24:03] recreational, and educational uh side,
[24:07] again, we have a plethora of events. Um
[24:11] you know, your kind of routine, what you
[24:13] would think of as uh senior center fair
[24:16] with uh special events, celebrations,
[24:19] volunteers, volunteer recognition,
[24:22] musical events, discussion groups, etc., day trips, um art groups, uh tech
[24:30] assistants. Uh our new
[24:34] uh program coordinator is young and so
[24:37] very techsavvy, so she's been able to
[24:40] assist a lot of the seniors with
[24:42] technical issues that they might be
[24:44] having with their phones or laptops. Um
[24:49] we have we work with AARP for them to
[24:51] provide the AP smart driver course and
[24:54] also to the tax aid program. Um our
[24:58] fitness classes, our fitness room, we
[25:00] work with Chattam Health District and
[25:03] provide the vaccination clinic um health um presentations um file of life.
[25:10] I don't know if any of you have ever
[25:12] seen the file of life.
[25:14] So, it's a red plastic pouch that
[25:19] uh has a magnetic strip and can go on
[25:21] somebody's fridge and in that is a card
[25:25] that somebody would fill out with all of
[25:27] their pertinent information so that if
[25:29] emergency responders came to the home,
[25:32] that's right there. So, if the person
[25:34] couldn't convey the information, that's
[25:36] right there. And there's also a wallet
[25:37] version.
[25:38] >> So, uh we have those at the senior
[25:40] center. Um and also too, we work with
[25:43] RAM. their special needs program because
[25:45] they have students who are trying to uh
[25:49] have a work transition
[25:52] experiences and so we we work with them
[25:54] too.
[25:58] Um
[26:01] and just uh this reiterates what I had
[26:04] just said about the uh program line item
[26:07] and the fact that 800 of it is consumed
[26:11] by the licensing fees. Um, and we spend
[26:16] our program development
[26:18] line item on such things as
[26:21] entertainers, speakers, instructors,
[26:23] supplies,
[26:25] um, refreshments, handouts, etc.
[26:33] Um,
[26:35] we've always been very fortunate that we
[26:39] have a lot of seniors themselves making
[26:42] donations. seniors who were continuously
[26:45] bringing in coffee, bringing in um paper
[26:48] goods, um
[26:52] uh decorations uh for us to, you know,
[26:56] make the senior center look welcoming
[26:59] and and uh pleasant to to be there,
[27:02] refreshments, etc. And and staff
[27:05] routinely
[27:07] makes personal contributions uh to to
[27:10] the senior center. Um,
[27:13] we've also had different organizations
[27:17] who have sponsored some of our events.
[27:20] Uh, it's usually part of their marketing efforts. Uh, but we take
[27:25] advantage of that to again be able to
[27:28] stretch our budget. Um, this has allowed
[27:32] us for various years to not expend all
[27:35] of our program line item
[27:37] and as I mentioned, not because it's not
[27:40] needed.
[27:41] It's because we've had a fortunate year.
[27:44] Um things are getting tighter and so
[27:49] we're not seeing the donations as they
[27:52] have been in the past and I expect that
[27:55] to continue for a while now as uh things
[27:59] are things are tighter and tighter with
[28:01] people's budgets. Um, one of the things
[28:04] is I I've always been very very well
[28:07] aware of the fact that if I don't spend
[28:11] all of a line item that then that
[28:13] jeopardizes the next year that that line
[28:16] item might get get
[28:19] I've just never been able to say I'm
[28:22] going to spend it just to spend it. So,
[28:25] and I don't expect to do that in the
[28:28] future. It's just
[28:31] been a frugal person at home and I try
[28:33] to be frugal with the senior center too.
[28:36] Um, so as I said, if if money is not
[28:40] spent, it's it's not because it's not
[28:44] needed, it's because we were able to.
[28:48] Thank you. Because we were able to uh
[28:53] get donations elsewhere.
[29:01] Um we have volunteers uh we have
[29:04] volunteers who
[29:06] um share their talents to lead programs.
[29:10] We have right now we have uh two
[29:13] volunteers who one one day a week one
[29:16] two days a week in the morning the whole
[29:20] day are helping to answer the phone.
[29:24] um volunteers who deliver home delivered
[29:27] meals. Uh that is getting harder and
[29:30] harder. I think as gas prices are going
[29:32] up, it's harder for us to get uh
[29:34] volunteers who are delivering meals. And
[29:36] then when volunteers are not available,
[29:39] that means staff as the delivery
[29:41] delivered of the meals um and volunteers
[29:45] helping with special events, decorating,
[29:47] etc. Just want to mention with the with
[29:50] the delivery meals um meals are provided
[29:55] by community renewal team in Hartford.
[29:58] So the meals are then brought to us and
[30:01] then we are responsible for then
[30:03] delivering the meals.
[30:06] um social services. Um we're providing
[30:10] information and assistance regarding
[30:12] state, federal, local, private, etc.
[30:15] programs, veterans benefits. Um
[30:19] information regarding inhome assistance,
[30:22] long-term care supports. Um we we right
[30:26] now will be soon beginning Medicare open
[30:28] enrollment
[30:30] um and winter heating assistance. Right
[30:33] now we're finishing up renters rebates.
[30:36] Uh that program ends September 30th. Um
[30:42] we also work with AHM with their youth
[30:45] chore program. We're the intake site for
[30:48] uh seniors who want to partake in the
[30:50] youth chore program. As I mentioned
[30:52] before, we work with Gilead helping
[30:54] hands, not just in regards to them uh
[30:59] helping with someone who needs help with
[31:01] transportation, but um I help Helping
[31:05] Hands
[31:07] will provide somebody who might need
[31:11] assistance maybe in putting an air
[31:12] conditioner in or out or, you know, some
[31:15] something small. I mean not not a large
[31:18] although they have um been able to do a
[31:22] ramp.
[31:23] It depends on the skills of of their um
[31:28] their individuals. Just go back make
[31:30] sure I touched upon it.
[31:32] >> Sorry.
[31:35] Um
[31:39] caregiver guidance and support. I just
[31:41] want to mention that that
[31:43] with
[31:44] caregivers um
[31:47] we have you in town especially too when
[31:50] we look at 60 and up. We have a lot of
[31:53] individuals who are maybe in their 60s
[31:56] who are caring for older
[32:01] residents here in town. Um and so again
[32:04] we're providing supports for both the
[32:08] older individual and the younger older
[32:13] individual. Um and then also too we have
[32:18] caregivers who are um caring for someone
[32:24] that the caregiver lives here in town
[32:26] but they're caring for somebody who
[32:28] lives out of town. And again they're
[32:30] looking to us for supports. And then
[32:32] conversely, we have caregivers who live
[32:35] out of town caring for someone here in
[32:37] town and so they're looking for our
[32:39] support. So again, it kind of broadens
[32:42] who who we're serving. Um we also too
[32:46] have some funds that we try to make be
[32:50] the payer of last resort.
[32:53] um where we can help somebody with a
[32:55] utility expense or with um a medical
[32:59] bill or some other special needs. So, we
[33:03] have those at our disposal.
[33:07] Um and as I mentioned before, staying up
[33:10] to date is um vitally important.
[33:14] um just had an update webinar earlier
[33:19] this week about some of the changes that
[33:21] are coming to Medicare and there's going
[33:24] to be some significant uh changes. So
[33:26] again, we need to be keeping a breast of
[33:29] all of those changes.
[33:33] Uh transportation.
[33:35] So um oh
[33:39] I apologize. I just want to go back for
[33:41] a second to the social services. Um
[33:45] I had in my narrative mentioned you
[33:48] don't have to go back to the slide.
[33:50] >> In my narrative I had mentioned how our
[33:53] social services is for 18 and up. So
[33:58] Hein Interfaith Human Services their
[34:01] executive director had been a social
[34:03] worker and she retired in 2010. when she
[34:06] retired they replaced her with a very competent individual but not
[34:12] somebody with social work background and
[34:16] um as it became apparent that that was
[34:19] not the direction that [clears throat]
[34:21] uh HIS's board was going in um
[34:27] AHM takes care of the needs of families
[34:30] but there really was nobody for that 18
[34:33] plus population and so I felt uh the
[34:38] town had a responsibility to provide
[34:40] social services for those individuals
[34:43] also. And at that time our social work
[34:46] position was part-time and so
[34:49] incrementally
[34:50] uh that position was increased because
[34:54] of the increase in the senior population
[34:55] and because of the um the taking care of
[35:00] 18 plus individuals also. So that became
[35:03] a full-time position.
[35:05] I just wanted to mention that before I
[35:07] forgot.
[35:09] Um transportation again we're providing
[35:13] transportation to 60 and up and disabled
[35:15] individuals 18 and up. Um we have our
[35:19] three multi-passenger handicapped
[35:20] accessible buses six passenger the 10
[35:23] pass and the 20 passenger which we are
[35:26] in the process of again having the 20
[35:29] passenger for the auction. And we have
[35:31] our one car for medical appointments,
[35:34] grocery and we provide transportation
[35:38] for medical appointments, grocery
[35:39] shopping, our mobile food share to the
[35:42] food bank, um to and from the senior
[35:44] center, personal leads, social day
[35:47] trips, etc., etc. Um at present we're
[35:50] providing approximately 2,000 rides
[35:53] annually and surfing 78 individuals on a frequent basis about 52 I call
[36:02] regulars and then about about another
[36:05] 130 when needed. Uh
[36:08] again we have people who kind of come
[36:10] and go on the program. So, somebody
[36:12] might be needing transportation for
[36:15] physical therapy, but now their physical
[36:17] therapy is over and they're they're not
[36:20] needing our services.
[36:25] We I just will mention one other thing
[36:28] in regards to transportation. Um,
[36:32] one of our transportation positions, our
[36:34] dial right positions was a full-time uh
[36:37] individual, so full-time benefited
[36:41] um who also took care of
[36:44] um dispatch scheduling of seniors rides
[36:48] and scheduling of the uh other dial ride
[36:52] drivers.
[36:53] She retired in April of 2025
[36:57] and we filled that position with a
[37:00] part-time driver unbenefited position um
[37:04] who just drives. So again we um we lost
[37:09] that position of providing the dispatch
[37:14] and the scheduling etc.
[37:18] So staff is has taken on that
[37:21] responsibility. Also
[37:24] um transportation costs um you can see
[37:28] that transportation costs have gone down
[37:30] also. Um,
[37:34] a much of that is, and I me I mentioned
[37:38] this in the narrative, is really because
[37:41] of
[37:45] the availability of drivers. It is very
[37:48] hard to get drivers. They have to have a
[37:52] passenger endorsement, which takes
[37:54] months for them to get. It's they're
[37:57] getting fingerprinted. They're having a
[37:59] written test. they're going through a
[38:01] physical, you know, so for a driver who
[38:04] just says, "Oh, I'll drive seniors," you
[38:06] know, and then they realize all of that they have to go through. Sometime
[38:10] it discourages them. So, um it is a a
[38:14] process for us to get drivers and all of
[38:16] our drivers are retirees, so they want
[38:19] retirement time, too. So, a lot of times
[38:22] they are taking extended vacations and
[38:24] we're scrambling to coverage.
[38:28] So, a lot of why that line item went
[38:31] down was because of the fact that
[38:34] I really don't have the drivers that I
[38:38] need to have and so to have some fill-in
[38:42] drivers would be extremely helpful.
[38:47] Um, that's our service area of where we
[38:50] provide transportation.
[38:52] Um
[38:53] that's my rudimentary map that developed
[38:57] over time. Um so you can see we have a a
[39:01] 35 uh town radius that we are providing
[39:05] transportation in.
[39:10] So, transportation is supported through
[39:14] the federal older Americans act um as is
[39:19] our outreach program and as is our
[39:22] physical activity programs. But the
[39:24] Older Americans Act stipulates that
[39:28] um we can have suggested donations
[39:33] but we cannot impose charges.
[39:37] uh and that if somebody is
[39:40] not donating that we cannot deny
[39:43] services and we also too can't means
[39:46] test. So again I can't decide I'm going
[39:49] to give scholarship to somebody because
[39:52] we can't we can't means test.
[40:01] You can see that our suggested donations
[40:04] are extremely low. Those were set by the
[40:09] then commission on aging
[40:12] um back in remember when it was it was
[40:18] 20
[40:20] cut off there.
[40:21] >> Yeah. So again it's quite some time ago.
[40:25] Um
[40:29] those have have not been revised since
[40:32] then. As I said, you can see that
[40:33] they're they're quite low. We don't want
[40:37] to discourage people from using our
[40:38] service. And so, again, having them that
[40:42] load, I think it helps to encourage
[40:44] people also to um transportation is one
[40:49] of the major things that takes burden
[40:51] off of caregivers.
[40:53] Um transportation budget. I don't think
[40:56] there was any really remarkable in the
[40:58] transportation budget.
[41:01] Just again I do the descriptor so it
[41:03] shows you line by line
[41:10] vehicle replacement. So, as you know,
[41:13] the town uh plans to divest itself of
[41:17] the 2017 20 passenger bus.
[41:22] Um
[41:24] has 42,000 plus miles on it and I did
[41:28] get it appraised and it was appraised at
[41:31] uh 33,757.
[41:33] I don't know exactly
[41:35] we're at
[41:37] and that was the the value. Um, we also
[41:40] have a 2014 Ford CMX energy hybrid car.
[41:45] You can see the mileage on that is high.
[41:49] Um, the useful life of that vehicle is 8
[41:53] to 15 years and is 100,000 to 200,000
[41:57] miles. So again, it's reaching the end
[41:59] of its useful life.
[42:02] Um, my recommendation would be to
[42:04] replace this vehicle with a handicap
[42:06] accessible minivan.
[42:08] uh that would make our entire fleet
[42:11] handicapped accessible. Um and
[42:16] that would be through the utilization of
[42:18] what's called a 5310 federal grant where
[42:22] the town incurs 20% share of the cost
[42:25] and the grant 80% of the cost. Um so the turnaround time for that grant
[42:40] is about a year and a half. So I would
[42:42] recommend when the RFPs come out
[42:46] probably the beginning of 2027
[42:49] that you consider applying for a 5310
[42:53] grant or a minivan.
[42:57] My best estimate is that uh the town
[43:00] share would be approximately $15,000 for that that would be in the 2027 2028
[43:06] budget. Also wanted to remark that in
[43:10] the
[43:11] um 5-year capital improvement plan,
[43:15] there is a line for uh senior center
[43:18] replacement of that vehicle for 75,000.
[43:25] the 5310 grants were not covering the
[43:29] expense of a minivan and so we had had a
[43:33] placeholder in the CIP budget but now
[43:38] they are allowing minivans. So again I
[43:41] think we can take that out of there and look instead to utilize the 5310
[43:47] grant.
[43:50] Um, all multi-passenger handicapped
[43:53] accessible buses have a useful life
[43:55] expectancy of 5 years or 150,000 miles.
[43:59] So, we also have the the 10 passenger
[44:01] bus um with 91,000 miles plus. So, it
[44:08] would be on track uh to be replaced in
[44:11] six years.
[44:13] Um
[44:17] my recommendation would be if we are um
[44:20] divesting ourselves of the 20 passenger
[44:23] bus to replace that 10 passenger with a
[44:26] 14 passenger when the time comes.
[44:30] Um
[44:32] a 16 or up requires a CDL license. So,
[44:37] if we keep it at a 14 passenger, the
[44:40] driver would not have to have a CDL
[44:43] license in order to drive it. They would
[44:44] just have to have the passenger.
[44:51] Um, and then we have our uh 2024
[44:55] six passenger bus. Um, that was a long
[44:59] time coming. Um, I was
[45:04] writing that grant back when COVID hit.
[45:08] And so it because of all of the
[45:10] worldwide um difficulty with parts, it
[45:14] took from 2020
[45:18] uh to 2024 for us to finally get that
[45:20] bus.
[45:23] So that bus would be on track for
[45:24] replacement in 15 to 16 years.
[45:29] is the smallest
[45:32] bus that uh is covered under the uh the
[45:36] uh 5310 grant.
[45:45] So in summary regarding the vehicles
[45:48] um that my recommendation would be using
[45:51] the 5310 grant to on the replacement of those vehicles. Um,
[46:02] I think I had expounded a little bit on
[46:06] the uh origin of us getting the the
[46:11] hybrid car. So, the hybrid car uh grant
[46:16] had been written through the town
[46:17] manager's office.
[46:19] um was not a grant that we
[46:24] were
[46:26] focused on uh being a benefactor, you
[46:31] know, from uh by the senior center. Um
[46:33] and then the we were told that the car
[46:36] was going to be assigned to us. So
[46:39] again, it caused us to then have a fleet
[46:43] of four and uh
[46:47] fleet of three does meet our needs
[46:50] especially too with the difficulty with drivers.
[46:58] Um the building so the one-story ADA
[47:03] compliant 650 square foot building um
[47:08] was built in 1990 with some addition and
[47:13] renovations in 20 uh two. Um and then
[47:19] again according to the facilities
[47:22] condition assessment by bureau veritas
[47:24] the interior and exterior finishes are
[47:26] in good fair condition and will require
[47:28] only life cycle replacement.
[47:34] There's something else I want to mention
[47:35] about. Let me just refresh my memory
[47:38] here for a sec.
[47:43] Oh I know. I was just going to mention
[47:45] that the senior center serves as a
[47:49] cooling and warming center but we cannot
[47:53] uh serve as a shelter. We don't have a
[47:55] generator. Um and uh again we don't have
[47:59] uh bathing facilities
[48:04] from the bureau veratas uh study and
[48:08] there was the recommendation as I
[48:10] mentioned before about the the door and
[48:13] some exterior lighting that we're uh
[48:15] targeting for 2025.
[48:18] Um,
[48:20] building projects for the next five
[48:21] years according to them would total
[48:24] almost $280,000.
[48:26] Building pro building projects for the
[48:28] following five years would
[48:32] about $212,000.
[48:35] Again, that would be if taking into
[48:37] account and and this is way too small,
[48:40] but I had again listed all of the items
[48:44] that they had recommended
[48:47] during the during the five-year period
[48:49] and then the uh next five-year period.
[48:53] I know you have a copy of the PowerPoint
[48:55] presentation, so maybe you could see it
[48:57] there because I can't see it that far.
[49:00] um no singular project meets the CIP
[49:03] threshold uh for the next 10 fiscal
[49:06] years. Uh during the five fiscal years,
[49:09] there's eight projects that meet the
[49:12] 10,000 to 74,999
[49:15] capital outlay threshold. Um and during
[49:19] the following five fiscal years, there's
[49:20] five projects that meet that uh capital
[49:23] outlay threshold. The only project uh
[49:27] that Euro Veritas had uh recommended uh
[49:31] that does meet the CIP threshold is
[49:36] uh for 2044
[49:39] is uh replacement of the uh brick stone
[49:43] retaining wall.
[49:49] The town council can help. So, um,
[49:52] mindfulness of the, uh, demographics of
[49:54] the town, um,
[49:58] awareness, as I mentioned, that $800 of
[50:00] our program development line item bid
[50:02] budget is consumed by those licensing
[50:04] fees, and support for a
[50:07] multi-disciplinary team. So
[50:12] um
[50:15] going back 2018
[50:18] um I had been uh starting to um advocate
[50:23] for us to have a multid-disciplinary
[50:26] team and that's a team of different
[50:30] um department heads uh professionals uh
[50:37] who serve the community.
[50:39] um organizations again who serve the
[50:41] community home care agencies um uh
[50:46] medical providers etc who can get
[50:49] together together periodically
[50:52] and try to try try to troubleshoot and
[50:55] to identify
[50:58] gaps in services how we can maybe solve
[51:02] some of the uh those gaps in services be
[51:06] able to tap into one another's skills to
[51:09] avoid duplication.
[51:11] Um so I felt at that time that there
[51:15] needed to really be some um direction
[51:21] from the town manager's office to the
[51:24] other department heads in order for them
[51:27] to get buy in because if I just was
[51:30] saying please come to a meeting
[51:34] everybody's busy. Um so
[51:38] finally
[51:40] just postco
[51:42] um I'm Dr. green light to kind of go
[51:45] ahead with a M team. We convened an M
[51:49] team meeting and unfortunately there was
[51:53] very little attendance from the town's
[51:57] departments. There was good attendance
[51:58] from outside entities but not from the
[52:01] town departments. So
[52:04] it really at that point is not going
[52:08] anywhere. I really need a more hearty
[52:12] um
[52:13] buy in from administration in order for
[52:18] us to get department heads
[52:21] avidly involved in in you know this
[52:24] endeavor. Again
[52:27] you see the virtue in that I would ask
[52:29] for your support in
[52:32] helping to get a multi-disiplinary team
[52:35] off the ground.
[52:39] questions.
[52:41] >> Thanks so much for that presentation. It
[52:42] was really informative. We really
[52:45] appreciate it
[52:46] >> and we appreciate all you do with
[52:49] limited funding you have. It's obvious
[52:51] that beyond decades here with no
[52:53] increase in funding and it's a tall
[52:56] order and uh I know this this year's
[52:58] been very difficult but uh we appreciate
[53:00] all you do. Yeah, absolutely. Um anybody
[53:04] have any questions?
[53:06] I do I have a couple questions. So with
[53:09] respect to um when you talk about the
[53:12] multi-disiplinary team and other
[53:14] agencies that exist in town,
[53:16] >> I'm specifically thinking about in my
[53:19] mind ahm
[53:20] >> and their incredible resources, their
[53:22] expertise, their professionals.
[53:26] Um how do you uh cooperate with them in
[53:29] order to provide so badly needed
[53:32] supports in your department?
[53:34] So um
[53:37] AHN has in the past when we have had
[53:41] um social workers who have a bachelor's
[53:45] degree, they've been able to provide the
[53:49] um expertise with a master's social
[53:53] worker um providing some oversight and
[53:56] guidance. also too uh they house the
[54:01] youth chore program and again as I
[54:03] mentioned earlier we're the intake site
[54:05] for the youth chore program
[54:08] um they're serving they're serving
[54:11] families so again it's a different
[54:13] population that we're we're serving um
[54:16] but
[54:17] when we
[54:19] did have our first multid-disiplinary
[54:22] team meeting they were part of it and I
[54:24] would plan for them to be part of it
[54:27] moving forward So what you're saying is
[54:29] AHM's mission doesn't necessarily apply
[54:32] to the senior population in town.
[54:36] >> I don't know what their mission is.
[54:38] They're they cover, as Sharon said,
[54:41] families, youth, and now they go up to
[54:45] 26 year olds. They'll provide social
[54:48] services, counseling and support for
[54:51] individuals up to 26 years old,
[54:55] >> but not not the senior public, not
[54:59] adults,
[55:00] >> only up to 26.
[55:01] >> So, but they're they'll always come to
[55:04] the table.
[55:05] >> Yeah. And again, their service is more D
[55:08] mentioned counseling. So when we're
[55:11] seeing somebody 18 to 59,
[55:15] it's usually somebody who's experiencing
[55:18] financial insecurity
[55:21] um or uh underinsurability.
[55:25] So we're typically dealing with them in
[55:27] those respects, not counseling, so to
[55:31] speak.
[55:33] >> Gotcha. Understood. I had a question
[55:35] also on meals on wheels. You mentioned
[55:37] that uh community renewal team provides
[55:39] the actual meals, but they only drop off
[55:42] the meals to the senior center. Senior
[55:44] center staff is responsible for making
[55:46] sure that meals are distributed to
[55:48] individual residences.
[55:50] >> Yes.
[55:51] >> Um is there any way that CRT could do
[55:54] that part
[55:56] or they don't do it? Because I know they
[55:58] do it in Herford. Why don't they do it
[55:59] in Hebrin?
[56:00] >> They don't have the the staff. Um and
[56:04] also too, as you know, geographically,
[56:07] we have a broad area. Um we have
[56:11] clients, you know, kind of from one end
[56:13] of town to the other.
[56:15] >> Um and so it would be
[56:18] timeconuming for their staff and they just they just don't have the
[56:22] staff.
[56:24] >> So we so we rely on volunteers.
[56:27] >> Right. Right. Um also I mean when I say
[56:30] they don't have the staff they also too
[56:32] don't have the funds. Um in my narrative
[56:35] I had mentioned that they get federal
[56:38] funding
[56:39] and so typically home deliver meal
[56:43] clientele gets a hot lunch and a cold
[56:46] pack dinner and they can get those up to
[56:49] seven days a week. At present because of
[56:52] limited funding they're getting just
[56:55] lunch and only Monday through Friday.
[56:59] So they have a you know funding issue
[57:04] themselves.
[57:05] So that that's as a result of federal
[57:07] cuts
[57:09] that Yes. Yeah.
[57:12] >> Uh I had another question about
[57:14] transportation. So, you did mention
[57:16] that, you know, we have in-house
[57:18] transportation, actual vehicles and
[57:20] drivers, etc.
[57:22] Um, has there ever been like a pilot
[57:26] program where we you could use like an
[57:28] Uber type of service for the seniors
[57:32] here in town
[57:34] >> with us helping to fund the
[57:38] >> necessarily, but is there are there
[57:42] um I guess a dialer ride like Uber type
[57:47] service?
[57:49] >> That is not something we've looked at. I
[57:51] mean I think Uber
[57:55] and Lyft coming to Hein is relatively
[57:57] new. Um
[57:58] >> right
[57:59] >> so it isn't something that we've you
[58:01] know investigated
[58:03] um if someone is unable to be
[58:07] accommodated by our service. First of
[58:10] all we really make an effort to um allow
[58:14] them to be accommodated by our service.
[58:16] A lot of times what will happen is if if
[58:19] we can't accommodate a certain ride, we
[58:21] often will contact the provider and try
[58:25] to
[58:27] meet a mutually convenient time when we
[58:30] can transport the individual and they
[58:32] can uh they they can see the individual.
[58:35] So, you know, we kind of take that extra
[58:37] step. Um when we we can't we have a
[58:42] list. uh some of it is contingent upon
[58:46] the person's
[58:50] condition. So there might be American
[58:52] Cancer Society might have a service that
[58:55] they provide to people who might be
[58:57] going for chemotherapy or radiation
[58:59] therapy. Uh there's something for
[59:01] veterans. So So
[59:04] it doesn't fit the needs of everybody
[59:07] those those uh ancillary services.
[59:10] >> Right.
[59:11] >> Okay. That's only
[59:15] here real quick on um so the the 5310
[59:18] grant
[59:19] >> the change sounds wonderful very much
[59:22] within our needs as a town that it does
[59:24] apply toward transportation grants
[59:28] >> when
[59:30] just so we you you'll find we're very
[59:32] receptive to grant money like as a c
[59:35] whatever the makeup of this council this
[59:37] council is going to be receptive to
[59:38] grant money
[59:39] >> all of the buses have been bought in the
[59:41] pass with people.
[59:43] >> So, so when I know you said for 2027,
[59:46] but just so it's in the back of our
[59:49] minds, hopefully forefront of yours,
[59:50] when are you coming up to us with this
[59:54] grant application?
[59:55] >> So, you're not always consistent with
[59:59] when they come up come out with the RFP.
[1:00:01] It's usually at the beginning of the
[1:00:03] year. Okay? So, you know, the first
[1:00:06] couple months of the year is when I
[1:00:07] would expect the uh RFP to come out and
[1:00:13] then, you know, naturally there would be
[1:00:16] period of time the grant would need
[1:00:19] submission which I would come before you
[1:00:21] before the grant was submitted.
[1:00:23] >> Okay. I would certainly just urge you
[1:00:26] early and often is with those grants
[1:00:28] because that's
[1:00:31] >> we all remember March
[1:00:32] >> and it's 8020, right? That's how that
[1:00:34] works.
[1:00:34] >> Yeah.
[1:00:34] >> I had I had shared with Donna that my
[1:00:37] goal was to never write another 5310
[1:00:40] grant in your life.
[1:00:43] [laughter]
[1:00:43] >> They're a lot of fun, right?
[1:00:46] We appreciate we know so many uh of our
[1:00:49] departments do this and of course this
[1:00:52] is how we you know can maintain all
[1:00:55] these vehicles and services for for you
[1:00:57] know our citizens a lot through these
[1:00:59] grants. So we we appreciate the efforts
[1:01:01] you you make on that.
[1:01:02] >> Yeah. And I'm and I'm happy that now
[1:01:04] they will
[1:01:07] fund minivans.
[1:01:08] >> Yeah, for sure.
[1:01:09] >> That will be helpful.
[1:01:10] >> That's huge.
[1:01:14] » Any other questions? Okay.
[1:01:16] >> Thank you.
[1:01:16] >> All right.
[1:01:17] >> Thanks so much. We really appreciate the
[1:01:19] presentation tonight.
[1:01:20] >> Thank you.
[1:01:21] >> Appreciate the effort.
[1:01:22] >> Thank you.
[1:01:23] >> It's another extremely thorough
[1:01:25] >> Yes. Again,
[1:01:26] >> I mean, those volunteering ahead of
[1:01:28] time, it made it very difficult for the
[1:01:29] larger departments coming later. That's
[1:01:31] right. You're you're setting the
[1:01:33] standard for presentation.
[1:01:34] >> Yeah,
[1:01:35] >> it's two in a row.
[1:01:36] >> Those who volunteer.
[1:01:37] >> I just was gonna mention I know you
[1:01:38] don't have the housing authority
[1:01:41] before you. So I don't know that's
[1:01:46] they're another entities.
[1:01:50] We are right now we're doing the
[1:01:53] departments that have budget
[1:01:56] requests or budget demands of us but
[1:01:58] hopefully in the future we will be doing
[1:02:02] reviews of all the appointed and elected
[1:02:05] boards and commissions their charges
[1:02:07] their composition and just
[1:02:11] >> to get to know what some of them are
[1:02:13] doing. So,
[1:02:14] >> so it it benefits us as a town council,
[1:02:16] but all of course all Hebrin citizens as
[1:02:19] well. We want, you know, all of this
[1:02:20] information to be out there so you guys
[1:02:22] are making a case for your different
[1:02:24] needs, right? It's important that you do
[1:02:26] that. People know what you all are
[1:02:29] doing. So, we appreciate it. We
[1:02:30] appreciate the effort you made this very
[1:02:32] thorough presentation. So, thank you.
[1:02:38] » Okay. Have a good evening. Thank you.
[1:02:40] >> Thank you.
[1:02:41] >> All right. All right. That brings us to
[1:02:43] ARPA funds update. Anything there?
[1:02:48] Okay. And then that brings us to DPW
[1:02:51] action committee update.
[1:02:54] >> There's anything this second
[1:02:56] >> they're off, right? This is this is the
[1:02:59] off week. And that brings us to Mr.
[1:03:02] Pettit with his revisions to the
[1:03:04] employee handbook of personnel policies
[1:03:06] and procedures. Yeah, Tiffany was
[1:03:09] instrumental in in getting this second
[1:03:11] half done across the finish line. Um, I
[1:03:14] reviewed those um notations that she had
[1:03:18] made, made a couple of adjustments and
[1:03:21] additional notations. Those were all
[1:03:23] sent out. I know we haven't really had a
[1:03:26] chance to look over them fully as the
[1:03:28] council and um I don't know if we want
[1:03:31] to go through them necessarily tonight
[1:03:33] or wait until um Tiffany gets back. Um,
[1:03:37] maybe that'll give you a chance to kind
[1:03:39] of digest on your own before we have a
[1:03:43] full kind of run through of it. I know
[1:03:45] this is like the first time it's getting
[1:03:47] out there, especially, you know, it's
[1:03:49] the first time we're kind of seeing all
[1:03:51] the revisions from the public as well.
[1:03:54] Um, so I I leave it up to the rest of
[1:03:57] the council if you want to go through it
[1:03:59] now or wait until Tiffany's back and we
[1:04:02] all go through it together. being that
[1:04:04] she made some of the updates, uh, many
[1:04:07] of them probably be good for her to be
[1:04:09] able to add some additional
[1:04:12] justification and overview of why she
[1:04:14] made the certain changes.
[1:04:16] >> And I don't, you know, I know a lot of
[1:04:17] it was just language and gender specific
[1:04:20] language.
[1:04:21] >> Some was and and the other thing is is
[1:04:23] like, you know, again,
[1:04:25] >> we're not HR professionals per se. Um, I
[1:04:28] know I'm definitely not and there are
[1:04:30] some sections of the the policies and
[1:04:33] procedures that, you know, we're not
[1:04:34] necessarily experts in. So, it gives the other counselors a chance to
[1:04:38] take a look at it. Great.
[1:04:39] >> Um, because I know one of the important
[1:04:42] parts in this last section is related to
[1:04:45] it.
[1:04:46] >> So, you're definitely much more Okay.
[1:04:49] >> You know, wellversed in that subject
[1:04:51] matter than we are.
[1:04:52] >> Sure.
[1:04:52] >> U,
[1:04:54] >> especially because it it looks like that
[1:04:56] portion was written
[1:04:58] you know, 10 plus years ago and yeah,
[1:05:01] technology is is changing very quickly.
[1:05:05] So,
[1:05:05] >> okay. So, I'll make sure I make a good
[1:05:07] effort there to review that section. I
[1:05:09] appreciate pointing that out. I did
[1:05:11] briefly go through it, but again, it's
[1:05:13] been crazy week. So, I I think it's good
[1:05:16] for us to take some time to to review
[1:05:18] this, give it the due
[1:05:20] >> attention it should have. So, no, I
[1:05:23] appreciate what you've done, what uh
[1:05:25] chair um has done as well. So, that's my
[1:05:30] >> suggestion, but I'm open to your guys
[1:05:34] >> opinions as well.
[1:05:36] The only change this month is we lost
[1:05:38] the three stars.
[1:05:40] Yeah, I fall for those three stars.
[1:05:44] meaning no update at this
[1:05:45] time. So, yeah, a future meeting.
[1:05:47] >> Okay, very good. So, we'll we'll shove
[1:05:49] this for the the next meeting. keeping
[1:05:51] this in our hand is definitely
[1:05:53] >> that's a huge accomplishment. So, thank
[1:05:55] you. Thank you to you and Tiffany and
[1:05:57] Absent for doing that
[1:05:59] >> agenda.
[1:05:59] >> That's huge and I know it's been a huge gargantuan task for you both. So,
[1:06:04] thank you both for doing it and we'll
[1:06:06] give it the proper attention it deserves
[1:06:08] because of all the attention you guys
[1:06:10] gave it. So, that's the least we can do.
[1:06:12] >> Sounds good.
[1:06:12] >> All right. Thank you, sir. All right.
[1:06:14] That brings us to the Homestead
[1:06:16] Exemption Ordinance. That's really I
[1:06:18] believe Tiffany's
[1:06:20] uh kind of area. So, we'll we'll table
[1:06:23] that one when she comes back. And then
[1:06:26] that brings us to the Town Center
[1:06:27] Project America 250 update.
[1:06:30] >> I think that's me because Holly was had
[1:06:32] a conflict tonight. Just a couple quick
[1:06:35] things.
[1:06:35] >> Great.
[1:06:36] >> Um the next 250 meeting is on the 19th
[1:06:40] here in this room on um 9:00 in the
[1:06:44] morning if anybody wants to join. And
[1:06:46] then the next big event is the night at
[1:06:50] Black Ledge Tavern, September 25th, 6
[1:06:53] PM. It's a dinner theater. The Hein
[1:06:56] Community Theater will be performing.
[1:06:59] Um there will be a buffet dinner and the
[1:07:02] tickets are on sale. It should be a very
[1:07:06] enjoyable evening.
[1:07:09] >> I plan on going. Good. Um
[1:07:11] >> should be a good time.
[1:07:12] >> You know, one of our counselors is going
[1:07:14] to be acting in it.
[1:07:14] >> Definitely. someone who's not here at
[1:07:16] the moment.
[1:07:17] >> They had a preview of the script and
[1:07:18] it's it's gonna be good.
[1:07:20] >> Awesome. Okay.
[1:07:22] >> So, buy your tickets now.
[1:07:24] I think they they said uh they can run
[1:07:26] out of tickets, so make sure you buy
[1:07:28] early, right? Okay. Excellent. Anything
[1:07:31] else?
[1:07:32] >> That's it.
[1:07:33] >> Okay. Thank you, Donna. All right. That
[1:07:36] brings us to that Hein Cell phone towers
[1:07:39] advisory group.
[1:07:41] >> I could report out on that. Did Craig
[1:07:44] give you you all a record?
[1:07:46] >> He gave me a little update. Okay. But if
[1:07:48] you want to do yours and then I'll add
[1:07:50] if Yep.
[1:07:51] >> Um, as part of the committee, we we met
[1:07:54] last week. Um, we talked about the
[1:07:57] continued contract negotiations, if you
[1:08:00] will, with SGA
[1:08:04] SBA Communications. Um, they came back
[1:08:07] with another offer. Um,
[1:08:11] and
[1:08:13] It looks good, but the devil is in the
[1:08:16] details. So, we did review the contract.
[1:08:20] We had some hesitations about it. Um,
[1:08:25] and so we're going back to them and
[1:08:26] asking them to provide sort of like u
[1:08:31] the little Miss Muffet or whoever the
[1:08:34] that you know the nursery rhyme where
[1:08:35] it's too hot, too cold, and just right.
[1:08:38] So, we're going to ask them to go back
[1:08:39] one more time and we're going to look at
[1:08:41] three versions that are going to be
[1:08:44] presented to us, which we would like the
[1:08:46] three versions to be presented to town
[1:08:48] council that we can show that we really
[1:08:51] did all our due diligence, that we
[1:08:53] vetted, that we asked questions, that we
[1:08:55] can make the best decision for the town,
[1:08:58] particularly from a financial
[1:09:00] perspective and also just protecting our
[1:09:02] assets um as well. Uh, also Chief
[1:09:07] Starkell has also spoken to the folks
[1:09:11] that provide communication towers for
[1:09:13] emergency services. And so there's going
[1:09:15] to be um some more conversations about
[1:09:18] actual locations for these either actual
[1:09:22] towers or um apparatus that amplify
[1:09:26] signals in areas that are considered
[1:09:29] dead or low signals. So progress is
[1:09:32] being made and so more to come on those
[1:09:35] on that the larger contract for sure in
[1:09:38] the in the coming weeks. And was there
[1:09:41] anything I missed?
[1:09:42] >> I think we got it. Okay.
[1:09:43] >> Yeah, we're waiting for the third option
[1:09:45] which Craig said is going to be tailored
[1:09:48] more as the one that Marboro. So there
[1:09:52] will be
[1:09:55] » and I know there was a misspelit who was
[1:09:58] the who was the uh goldilocks
[1:10:02] >> yes call us goldilocks we're looking for
[1:10:04] that
[1:10:04] >> and then there would
[1:10:05] >> happy medium
[1:10:06] >> you know alongside of doing something
[1:10:08] you know a new contract for the existing
[1:10:12] tower there would probably be an RFP
[1:10:16] done for an additional tower
[1:10:21] to be continued.
[1:10:22] >> All right. Very good. That's good
[1:10:24] development there. I appreciate all the
[1:10:25] efforts there.
[1:10:26] >> I think that's going to bring some
[1:10:28] needed cell service to town and some
[1:10:30] additional income that we could use
[1:10:32] additional revenues, right?
[1:10:33] >> It's a it's a multiaceted challenge to
[1:10:36] bring more revenue to town. That's one
[1:10:38] of it.
[1:10:39] >> Great. So, that brings us to the town
[1:10:41] website project update. Um, so I
[1:10:44] understand, Donna, the town manager's
[1:10:47] office has reviewed the computer
[1:10:48] services account and has determined that
[1:10:51] there is a shortfall of about 5 to8,000
[1:10:54] in the 2026 2027 budget to accommodate
[1:10:58] the full amount of this project and
[1:11:01] we're going to provide some details on
[1:11:02] that.
[1:11:03] >> Sure. So the amount we need to get this
[1:11:06] project started in this fiscal year is
[1:11:09] $14,750.
[1:11:12] So within the existing IT budget, we
[1:11:15] have a little bit of funding that we can
[1:11:18] assign to that project, but we are going
[1:11:20] to be short and that's a range because
[1:11:22] we don't know exactly how much we'll be
[1:11:25] paying to revise during the course of
[1:11:28] the rest of the year. And we have a few
[1:11:31] projects that we are hoping to do
[1:11:35] that we had planned to do this year for
[1:11:37] it. um mostly securitybased projects. Um
[1:11:43] and those are also we don't know what
[1:11:46] the final amount of those projects will
[1:11:48] be, but we anticipate we'll need 5 to
[1:11:51] $8,000. That number we can't tell you
[1:11:53] what it is today. So what we would like
[1:11:56] to do is move ahead with the contract
[1:11:59] with revis
[1:12:05] with the firm number of what we need.
[1:12:07] And our proposal would be to use or
[1:12:11] whatever the amount is that we need
[1:12:13] additional in our IT budget would be to
[1:12:16] use um existing
[1:12:20] ARPA interest. So there is interest in
[1:12:24] ARPA that acrewed that we have not
[1:12:26] allocated right now. We believe it's
[1:12:29] about $15,000.
[1:12:32] Um but there it may be a little bit more
[1:12:34] than that because we haven't updated
[1:12:36] that number since the last time we
[1:12:38] looked at ARPA really. Um and we can use
[1:12:41] ARP but interest
[1:12:44] for anything.
[1:12:46] So that's where we're proposing because
[1:12:49] that way we don't have to do a transfer
[1:12:52] from another line item. We don't have to
[1:12:54] seek a special or supplemental
[1:12:56] appropriation.
[1:12:58] Um it would still leave a little bit of
[1:13:01] a cushion in ARPA
[1:13:04] if we needed it for the you know last
[1:13:06] couple of projects that we're doing. So,
[1:13:08] we'd like to move ahead so we can get
[1:13:10] this project started knowing that we do
[1:13:13] have a source for the funding.
[1:13:18] >> Very good.
[1:13:18] >> Love that idea.
[1:13:21] >> So, is this like a one time? Is this
[1:13:24] going to be like a higher amount the
[1:13:26] first year? Is there implement?
[1:13:28] >> No. So, next year, so for the first
[1:13:31] three years, they're spreading the
[1:13:33] implementation or the new website.
[1:13:35] They're spreading that over the first
[1:13:37] three years. In the fourth year, the
[1:13:40] amount, and I think this is in your
[1:13:42] package,
[1:13:43] >> it is
[1:13:43] >> the fourth year, it is going to be a
[1:13:45] $9500 a year fee going forward. So, in
[1:13:50] next year's budget, there will be an
[1:13:52] increase in the IT budget of probably
[1:13:56] around $8,000
[1:13:58] to cover the the second year of the
[1:14:03] three-year
[1:14:05] basin.
[1:14:07] >> And so, it's covering the migration of
[1:14:09] all the content to and establishing
[1:14:11] these sites. So, that what they're
[1:14:13] taking is that about 25 grand I think it
[1:14:15] was.
[1:14:16] >> Yeah. instead of us having to up the
[1:14:19] full amount spreading it out over three
[1:14:20] years and then the fourth year then
[1:14:22] we're down to what the normal yearly fee
[1:14:25] >> the annual.
[1:14:27] >> Yeah.
[1:14:28] >> I mean but on on the other hand and I
[1:14:31] know I'm glad that the audit is done and
[1:14:34] I know we still have two more ahead of
[1:14:35] us.
[1:14:36] >> Yes, we do. But um you know as we as we
[1:14:40] start to look at our unassigned fund
[1:14:42] balance numbers like these these are the
[1:14:45] kind of things you know we we've had
[1:14:48] these budget conversations in the past
[1:14:50] and I don't want to get into that
[1:14:54] situation during budget season like we
[1:14:57] have in the past where we're trying to
[1:14:59] use it to supplement operations because
[1:15:03] that's going to get us into an issue
[1:15:05] with the accountants.
[1:15:06] But this kind of of you know
[1:15:10] implementation
[1:15:11] expense is the perfect way to use a
[1:15:15] small amount of unassigned fund balance
[1:15:17] so we can you know slowly tweak that
[1:15:21] number into what our target value is
[1:15:26] and also not have these you know higher
[1:15:31] taxes for two years and then we drop
[1:15:33] back down to normal. I mean, don't get
[1:15:35] me wrong, I appreciate them being open
[1:15:37] to being able to spread that out,
[1:15:39] >> but on the other hand, like these these
[1:15:43] kinds of one-time fixed spikes
[1:15:46] >> is what that unassigned fund balance is
[1:15:49] designed to smooth out. Okay? And so
[1:15:51] like from an accounting perspective,
[1:15:54] this is the perfect opportunity to use
[1:15:56] as a as a minor tweak
[1:15:59] >> if we see that this dollar amount is is
[1:16:03] what we want to use.
[1:16:04] >> Yeah.
[1:16:04] >> Well, that
[1:16:07] >> if if we say, okay, we our target is
[1:16:10] $100,000 less. you know, if there's 24
[1:16:13] of it is this, that helps us get close
[1:16:15] without having a gigantic swing where
[1:16:18] we're above our target, below our
[1:16:20] target, all over the place. You know, I
[1:16:23] kind of like these little increments
[1:16:26] because then we're not we're not making
[1:16:28] huge adjustments that might put us in
[1:16:30] danger of anything. So, just something
[1:16:32] to keep in mind for when [clears throat]
[1:16:34] we when as we get closer to budget
[1:16:36] season.
[1:16:36] >> Um because these kinds of implementation
[1:16:40] >> um expenses are perfect for that
[1:16:44] >> because that's really I mean that's
[1:16:45] really what it's designed for is it's
[1:16:47] you know one-time capital injections or
[1:16:51] you know implementation costs that we're smoothing out but not
[1:16:55] supplementing operations.
[1:17:00] I appreciate that background.
[1:17:01] >> Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for that,
[1:17:03] Keith.
[1:17:03] >> Something I would have never thought of,
[1:17:05] >> right?
[1:17:05] >> Thank you.
[1:17:06] >> Count of the group.
[1:17:09] >> Good. Um, so any any other comments?
[1:17:14] » Okay. Um, so we do have a proposed
[1:17:16] motion.
[1:17:18] >> Uh, Claudia, sure. You like to read
[1:17:19] that? Move that the Hebrin Town Council
[1:17:22] approve moving forward with the attached
[1:17:24] web services sales agreement with Revise
[1:17:26] LLC to implement a new website the town
[1:17:29] of Hebrin and authorized Donna Lanza
[1:17:31] interim town manager to sign the
[1:17:33] agreement and to effectuate the project.
[1:17:36] >> Okay. So all those in favor indicate by
[1:17:38] saying I oppose. Nay or abstain. Lia
[1:17:41] Riley.
[1:17:42] >> Claudia Riley I.
[1:17:43] >> Keith Pettit.
[1:17:44] I.
[1:17:45] >> Sean Fitzgerald.
[1:17:46] I.
[1:17:47] >> Dan Lawrence I. Motion passes. Thank
[1:17:49] you. Fantastic.
[1:17:51] >> That's a long time coming. Thanks so
[1:17:53] much. Appreciate all your work, Jory,
[1:17:55] Donna,
[1:17:56] >> Mallerie, and Absentia. You guys all
[1:17:58] spent a lot of time in, you know,
[1:18:00] different uh interviews with these
[1:18:02] different companies. So glad to finally
[1:18:05] settle on this company. I think they're
[1:18:06] going to be great. So looking forward to
[1:18:08] this, guys. Thank you all.
[1:18:10] >> Thank you.
[1:18:12] >> All right, there's the whole agreement.
[1:18:14] You scroll through if you haven't
[1:18:15] already. Um, okay. And so that brings us
[1:18:18] to town manager executive search update.
[1:18:24] So
[1:18:24] >> you want to do it?
[1:18:25] >> I can I can. So um we had our final
[1:18:31] interviews
[1:18:33] um and we've settled on a a candidate,
[1:18:36] but we're not in a position to announce
[1:18:38] that person yet. Uh we're very close to
[1:18:41] signing the agreement. Um, but we are
[1:18:44] looking forward to doing a press release
[1:18:46] hopefully next week. Um, we're really
[1:18:49] excited about our choice. I think that
[1:18:51] person is going to bring a tremendous
[1:18:53] amount of experience
[1:18:55] >> and know how um and um just just
[1:19:00] background in running a town uh and uh
[1:19:05] developing a town and supporting
[1:19:08] businesses in town. Um, so yeah, I'm I'm
[1:19:12] super excited about our decision and and
[1:19:15] the whole team uh came, you know, to
[1:19:17] this to this point and we're in
[1:19:19] agreement with our choice. So, um, I
[1:19:22] think it was a a tre gargantuan effort
[1:19:25] for everyone here. There was a lot of
[1:19:27] meetings on it, a lot of interviews, a
[1:19:30] lot of pouring through resumes,
[1:19:31] researching about these candidates. Uh,
[1:19:34] all of I just want the town to know all
[1:19:36] of the town council people here tonight
[1:19:39] spent an enormous amount of their time
[1:19:41] to find the best person to help run our
[1:19:45] town. And I want to thank Donna again.
[1:19:47] You were instrumental as well helping us
[1:19:49] work with SGR. SG and Bill were
[1:19:53] tremendous uh partners in this. uh they
[1:19:56] were extremely professional and um you
[1:19:59] know they really gave us a tremendous
[1:20:01] amount of candidates to choose from uh
[1:20:04] and they did a tremendous amount of
[1:20:06] their own research and assessment to
[1:20:08] help us make informed decisions as well.
[1:20:11] So I just want to open it up to the team
[1:20:13] if there's anything else you guys want
[1:20:14] to say about the process or candidate at
[1:20:17] this time. Okay. The only other thing is
[1:20:22] that the formal appointment will be made
[1:20:25] at the next meeting on September
[1:20:26] >> 7. Thank you. Thanks, K. Yeah, that's
[1:20:28] right. So, we'll have the chair back and
[1:20:30] so uh looking forward to making that uh
[1:20:33] official appointment then the next
[1:20:35] meeting in two weeks.
[1:20:37] Very good. Okay, that's that big one. Um
[1:20:41] so, well, in the meantime,
[1:20:44] [laughter]
[1:20:45] we have to reappoint the interim town
[1:20:47] manager. So we uh by charter would do
[1:20:49] that for another month. Um so I think we
[1:20:53] would need a motion on that. So Keith
[1:20:55] Pocket, could you read that motion?
[1:20:58] >> Be it resolved, pursuant to section 601B
[1:21:01] of the town charter, the Heintown
[1:21:03] Council reappoints Donna Lanza to
[1:21:06] continue as interim town manager for an
[1:21:08] additional 30 days from September 5th,
[1:21:11] 2026 through October 5th, 2026.
[1:21:17] All right. Any discussion?
[1:21:20] Hearing none. All those in favor say I.
[1:21:22] Oppose. Nay or abstain.
[1:21:25] >> Vlatty Riley.
[1:21:26] >> Vlad Riley. I.
[1:21:27] >> Keith Pettit.
[1:21:27] I.
[1:21:28] >> Sean Fitzgerald.
[1:21:29] I
[1:21:30] >> Jam Lawrence I. Motion passes.
[1:21:35] All right. Thank you. So that brings us
[1:21:36] then to the Hein Solar One project
[1:21:40] discussion. Um so um at a special
[1:21:44] meeting on August 27th, 2026, the
[1:21:47] Heintown Council voted to request party
[1:21:49] status and the Hein Solar One project.
[1:21:52] The town attorney will be filing the
[1:21:54] request on behalf of the town and an
[1:21:57] update is to be provided.
[1:22:00] So, we distributed for you tonight um
[1:22:04] the draft of the attorney's submission
[1:22:08] that will be sent tomorrow. Um and then
[1:22:12] attached to that is the summary that we
[1:22:16] gave him to to work from the items that
[1:22:20] the council pointed out at the last
[1:22:22] meeting. Um, I think the only decision
[1:22:27] tonight would be whether or not the
[1:22:30] council wants to request as part of this
[1:22:34] submission
[1:22:35] a public hearing.
[1:22:39] It's not necessary. The town attorney
[1:22:42] said at this point there is no public
[1:22:44] hearing scheduled. Um, they do not have
[1:22:47] to hold a public hearing. If we request
[1:22:50] one, they still don't have to hold it.
[1:22:53] They can if if they want to. On the
[1:22:56] public hearing would allow us to
[1:23:00] um submit evidence, ask um questions,
[1:23:07] interview
[1:23:09] if there is, you know, any
[1:23:12] public hearing. So, it's not necessary
[1:23:15] and it's not something that you were
[1:23:17] requesting. But he just wanted you to
[1:23:20] know it is an option. So tomorrow we can
[1:23:25] um ask him to submit it as it is or we
[1:23:28] can remove the public hearing request
[1:23:30] and submit it just for the party status
[1:23:34] request.
[1:23:36] >> The planning and zoning commission has
[1:23:38] already submitted their letter that is
[1:23:41] already on the sighting council website.
[1:23:45] I mean, I would say personally as as one
[1:23:47] of the ones who voted I to the narrowly
[1:23:50] passing of becoming party status, I
[1:23:54] would say the public hearing would
[1:23:56] overstep what I was voting I for. This
[1:23:59] is purelyformational. We want to remain
[1:24:02] a businessfriendly town.
[1:24:03] >> Yeah.
[1:24:04] >> And
[1:24:06] a public hearing tips into business
[1:24:09] unfriendly.
[1:24:10] >> I concur.
[1:24:11] >> So, yeah. So, no.
[1:24:13] >> Yeah. I I already had talked uh to Don
[1:24:17] about it and felt the same way. That was
[1:24:19] not the spirit of our original request.
[1:24:21] I know it was a tight vote. I I do
[1:24:24] think, you know, the spirit of it was to
[1:24:26] be informed and and we want to inform uh
[1:24:30] the Hein citizens as much as we possibly
[1:24:32] can about the project uh so that they
[1:24:35] understand what is being done and that
[1:24:37] was the intent
[1:24:39] and the other two council members voted
[1:24:41] against doing it in the first place.
[1:24:42] >> Right. That's all right. So, so no
[1:24:44] additions.
[1:24:44] >> Okay, that is
[1:24:46] >> you that. Okay. Okay. Very good. So,
[1:24:49] we'll just take that out.
[1:24:51] >> Thank you. Thank you, Don. Appreciate
[1:24:52] that. Thanks, everybody.
[1:24:54] >> Any other old business before the
[1:24:56] council?
[1:24:58] >> Any other old business?
[1:25:00] >> Hearing none, that brings us to new
[1:25:02] business. Um, first item is a requested
[1:25:06] waiver for winter.
[1:25:07] >> Are you still supply? Are you still
[1:25:09] awake over there, Paul? All
[1:25:11] right.
[1:25:13] >> You you absorbing all this today?
[1:25:14] >> Exactly. [laughter]
[1:25:18] » Um,
[1:25:19] >> good evening.
[1:25:21] >> Um, yeah, I'm mentioning the word salt.
[1:25:23] You guys are about to have some burgers
[1:25:25] on the grill this weekend. So,
[1:25:27] >> salt burgers are good.
[1:25:28] >> Yeah, a little add a little extra salt.
[1:25:30] Good for blood pressure. [laughter]
[1:25:32] Basically what I'm coming here to you
[1:25:34] guys to say to get is a bid waiver
[1:25:37] because of the prod is a Morton salt
[1:25:40] which I had lead last year and I had
[1:25:44] supply of salt for almost the whole
[1:25:46] winter and Morton
[1:25:48] um from the communities I talked to
[1:25:50] other public work directors they had run
[1:25:52] out and the quality of the salt was just
[1:25:55] they're scraping basically the bottom of
[1:25:57] the barrel to give them some salt to
[1:25:59] give them the storms And when lead ran
[1:26:03] out of uh treated salt, they offered me
[1:26:05] regular salt if I needed it in place of
[1:26:08] uh the treated salt so they can keep me
[1:26:11] sort of afloat and which was a great
[1:26:13] thing. So then also this year Morton
[1:26:15] salt I believe is a little better for
[1:26:17] the state of Connecticut also. So a lot
[1:26:19] more uh communities are going to be
[1:26:22] getting out going with Morton this year.
[1:26:24] So, I just want to step aside so we
[1:26:27] speak and go with the next bit up. And
[1:26:29] uh it's a dollar more a ton. And you can
[1:26:31] see on the sheet here, last year we went
[1:26:33] to 1,475 tons and the year before that
[1:26:37] we did like 600. So around,000
[1:26:40] more than it cost us this year if we
[1:26:43] were to go this route if on average. So,
[1:26:47] >> and you repented trying to run uh avoid
[1:26:50] the situation of maybe running out or
[1:26:51] running into supply issues.
[1:26:53] >> I mean, you need for basic snow for
[1:26:55] media obviously employees, you need
[1:26:57] equipment, you need salt and then, you
[1:26:59] know, so if we don't have materials and obviously fuel you need too. So,
[1:27:05] >> right.
[1:27:06] >> So, I don't want to run I don't run
[1:27:07] around salt and I do something different
[1:27:10] than other municipalities. I don't wait
[1:27:12] to get down low in salt. I order every
[1:27:14] storm. So every storm if we use up 75
[1:27:16] pound tons, boom, ordered next day. So
[1:27:19] >> well, you guys always do a fantastic
[1:27:20] job. I really appreciate it. Absolutely.
[1:27:23] Back at my my guys, my team.
[1:27:25] >> Always. I mean, uh I I that was one of
[1:27:27] the first things I noticed moving to
[1:27:28] town was my god, these guys, they clean
[1:27:30] the road so quick. It's it's amazing,
[1:27:32] right? So just kudos to your whole team.
[1:27:34] >> We try we try hard, you know.
[1:27:36] >> Yeah, we appreciate it. It's it's it's
[1:27:37] obvious. Yeah, we appreciate it.
[1:27:39] >> Thank you.
[1:27:40] >> Any
[1:27:42] questions? I just hope that the bridge
[1:27:44] gets done before winter because I I like
[1:27:47] being on old Colchester because it
[1:27:48] always gets plowed first.
[1:27:50] >> Yes, it will. Right.
[1:27:52] >> They're actually supposed to be pouring
[1:27:53] concrete tomorrow that one of the things
[1:27:55] came in late today. So, they're going to
[1:27:56] wait till Tuesday to pour more concrete,
[1:27:58] but it should be done by uh Turkey Day.
[1:28:01] >> Perfect.
[1:28:01] >> They're on schedule.
[1:28:02] >> Okay.
[1:28:03] >> And right, you know, all the all the
[1:28:04] money. They're right on right on
[1:28:06] schedule of everything. So,
[1:28:07] >> fastest bridge in history. My goodness.
[1:28:09] Right. before you know it.
[1:28:10] >> Producing Colchester took 10 years.
[1:28:13] >> Nice work.
[1:28:15] >> Fantastic. All right. So, thanks for
[1:28:18] that, Paul. All right. And I think
[1:28:19] you're gonna have another one, but we'll
[1:28:20] vote on this one first. So, I think that
[1:28:23] >> uh I'll ask Sean to leave this one.
[1:28:27] Sure.
[1:28:28] >> You're next.
[1:28:29] >> I can next on the
[1:28:32] >> Thank you for the zoom. I'm not that
[1:28:34] old.
[1:28:35] >> [laughter]
[1:28:36] >> I move that the Hebrin Town Council in
[1:28:38] accordance with the town of Hebrin
[1:28:40] purchasing policies and procedures
[1:28:42] approve a bid waiver and award the
[1:28:43] contract for winter salt supply to lead
[1:28:46] salt.
[1:28:46] >> All right. Have any I have to say that
[1:28:49] correctly or else I would have
[1:28:51] >> All right. Any other discussion on the
[1:28:53] salt hearing? None. All those in favor
[1:28:57] say I. Oppose. Nay or abstain. Claudia
[1:29:00] Riley.
[1:29:00] >> Claudia Riley. I
[1:29:01] >> Keith Pettit.
[1:29:02] >> Keith Pett. I
[1:29:03] >> Sean Fitzgerald.
[1:29:04] Jan Lawrence I motion
[1:29:06] passes. You got your salt.
[1:29:09] >> Thank you.
[1:29:09] >> All right.
[1:29:10] >> We didn't want salt.
[1:29:13] [laughter]
[1:29:14] >> That's right. That's right. It's going
[1:29:16] to get a little punchy now. It's getting
[1:29:17] late in there meeting.
[1:29:19] >> All right. So now we also have a
[1:29:21] requested waiver for street markings. So
[1:29:24] apology you
[1:29:25] >> Yeah, we've been using the Atlantic
[1:29:27] pavement marking for the last little
[1:29:29] since I've been here three years. And uh
[1:29:31] I use them in my prior job also and they
[1:29:35] do an overall decent job, but they they
[1:29:38] just to me they don't seem to be up to
[1:29:40] my where I want to see it. I drive
[1:29:42] around, I notice I put like 12,000 miles
[1:29:45] just in this town blowing my vehicle
[1:29:48] every year. So I notice every little
[1:29:50] thing and I notice every year that they
[1:29:52] vary left and right of the lines and
[1:29:53] stuff like I'm not sure if it's because
[1:29:55] of a car coming at them. I I don't
[1:29:56] really know. So the other company that
[1:29:59] we're looking at going through, they
[1:30:01] safety markings, they actually mark at
[1:30:02] night time. They'll actually come in
[1:30:04] here at like 10 o'clock at night and
[1:30:05] mark it off. So when you wake up in the
[1:30:06] morning, your lines are fresh.
[1:30:08] >> So we spend about $20,000 a year on line
[1:30:12] street markings, some in the fall
[1:30:14] because like Burrows Hill, we like to
[1:30:15] get it before the snow flies here
[1:30:18] because it tends to be darker out. Those
[1:30:20] are the windy roads and stuff like that.
[1:30:22] Then in the springtime, we just hit the
[1:30:24] rest of the road so it's nice and fresh
[1:30:25] all summer long. So, but I'd like to go
[1:30:28] with the next uh on the next on the
[1:30:31] prime bid uh the safety markings.
[1:30:33] >> Okay. Any any questions on that one?
[1:30:36] >> It's not the same. It's a quality issue.
[1:30:39] >> Yeah. I mean, when you have the squirrel
[1:30:41] carcass in the middle of the road and
[1:30:42] the two live, [laughter]
[1:30:46] >> we got a few of those, I'm afraid. All
[1:30:49] right. Very good. Uh any other
[1:30:51] questions, comments? All right. So,
[1:30:54] let's see it real quick, please. So,
[1:30:57] you've already done the math. What would
[1:30:59] be the difference?
[1:31:01] >> I see the the 1.4 cents per foot.
[1:31:04] >> I'm going to be putting some of the line
[1:31:06] marking like uh the ones we the roads we
[1:31:08] do this year. They're going to be coming
[1:31:09] out of our road improvement budget. So,
[1:31:12] I don't have the exact cost, but you can
[1:31:14] see the breakdown um in the write up of
[1:31:17] what what's the difference is
[1:31:19] >> 30. You have to add the two together. So
[1:31:21] it's 30 cents or something like that per
[1:31:24] mile. And then he gives you the
[1:31:27] estimated the estimated miles.
[1:31:29] >> So the difference would be three cents a
[1:31:30] mile. Just again just just because I've
[1:31:32] got a calculator here. Let me just
[1:31:35] >> Yeah. Thanks. So that I know what I'm
[1:31:37] getting myself into here
[1:31:39] times.
[1:31:40] >> And not every road gets painted every
[1:31:41] year. Some of the side streets will hold
[1:31:43] off and when it starts to fade we'll hit
[1:31:44] it then.
[1:31:47] >> And perfect road. All the roads get paid
[1:31:49] painted every year.
[1:31:51] I don't think we need to do that.
[1:31:52] >> We have a four low forest here.
[1:31:54] >> Okay.
[1:31:55] >> Yeah. Thanks for the question, Sean.
[1:31:57] >> Which would be Yeah. I mean, so less
[1:31:59] than less than a 10% increase for
[1:32:01] significant quality.
[1:32:02] >> Mhm.
[1:32:05] >> The contractor did tell me it may take
[1:32:06] two years for it to get up to his liking
[1:32:09] also. But I said, "Listen, we we'll try
[1:32:11] it out one year, and if it's the same
[1:32:13] sort of quality, then I'm just gonna go
[1:32:15] back to the the other company." But I
[1:32:18] got a big favor in this company. Okay.
[1:32:21] >> Very good. Buddy, you want to read this
[1:32:22] one?
[1:32:23] >> Sure. Move that the Hein Town Council in
[1:32:25] accordance with town of Hebrin
[1:32:27] purchasing policies and procedures
[1:32:29] approve a bid waiver and award the
[1:32:31] contract for street markings to safety
[1:32:33] markings.
[1:32:34] >> Very good. All right. So, all those in
[1:32:36] favor say I. Oppose. Nay or abstain. Ly
[1:32:39] Riley.
[1:32:40] >> Ly Riley. I
[1:32:41] >> Keith Pett.
[1:32:42] >> Keith Pettit. I.
[1:32:42] >> Sean Fitzgerald.
[1:32:43] I
[1:32:44] >> Jan Lawrence I. Motion passes.
[1:32:48] >> You got your lines.
[1:32:50] your soul
[1:32:52] priority. That's all I got to say.
[1:32:54] >> That's it.
[1:32:55] >> Thanks for spending time with us. Thanks
[1:32:57] for waiting for us. I appreciate it.
[1:32:59] >> See you guys.
[1:33:00] >> Good night.
[1:33:00] >> Less than a month from now. My
[1:33:02] presentation.
[1:33:02] >> That's right. That's right. Looking
[1:33:03] forward to it.
[1:33:04] >> Sharon put a good presentation up
[1:33:05] tonight. So
[1:33:06] >> she did.
[1:33:06] >> I got to kick it up.
[1:33:08] >> I'm telling you, these guys are setting
[1:33:09] the bar high.
[1:33:11] >> All right. Take care. Thanks, Paul.
[1:33:14] >> All right. So, let's see. That brings us
[1:33:16] to discussion of a potential noise noise
[1:33:20] ordinance.
[1:33:22] >> I'm going to hand it over to Keith
[1:33:24] Pettit.
[1:33:26] >> I mean, I just
[1:33:27] >> I didn't know what this was about. I'm
[1:33:28] sorry. I forget.
[1:33:29] >> Well, this is something that we're going
[1:33:31] to have to do some some research on.
[1:33:33] Okay. Um because you know one of the one
[1:33:36] of the major things with
[1:33:39] the potential issue from the solar one
[1:33:43] >> is that um
[1:33:45] >> you know obviously it's private land. We
[1:33:47] can't
[1:33:48] >> get involved. The sighting council is
[1:33:50] going to
[1:33:52] >> you know make the decision on what can
[1:33:54] and can't go in. However, as a
[1:33:56] community, we can um enforce certain
[1:34:00] ordinances related to the the number one
[1:34:04] issue with facilities like this is the
[1:34:08] you know abundance of noise that's
[1:34:10] caused by the large power inverters. And
[1:34:13] so what we can look into is having some
[1:34:17] sort of townwide ordinance that is not
[1:34:19] specific to any one company or land
[1:34:22] owner, but that addresses the problem
[1:34:25] imposed by, you know, large inverters or
[1:34:29] other large electrical equipment that
[1:34:31] have a continuous high decibel hum and
[1:34:35] how that affects, you know,
[1:34:39] >> abuing land owners, right?
[1:34:41] >> Yeah. So, um, it's just something that I
[1:34:43] wanted to kind of bring to our
[1:34:44] attention. We can look around to see if
[1:34:47] there's other communities that have, you
[1:34:49] know, similar ordinances. I know a lot
[1:34:52] of communities have noise ordinances
[1:34:54] pertaining to before a certain hour,
[1:34:56] after a certain hour, but I think this
[1:34:59] should be more tailored specifically to,
[1:35:03] you know, because it's a it's the
[1:35:06] persistent loud humming of electrical
[1:35:08] equipment
[1:35:10] >> that yeah, you might not notice it if
[1:35:12] you're driving by it because it hums and
[1:35:14] then it goes away. But if you're an
[1:35:16] abuing land owner and every time you
[1:35:18] walk out your front door, it sounds like
[1:35:20] there's this like swarm of bees five
[1:35:23] feet behind you, that can get annoying
[1:35:26] after six months. No doubt. you know, so
[1:35:29] um I think that that's something, you
[1:35:31] know, a simple good neighbor ordinance,
[1:35:35] um having some sort of soundproofing or
[1:35:37] other things that prevent that kind of
[1:35:40] persistent noise from crossing um you
[1:35:44] know, landlines.
[1:35:45] >> Yeah. No, I think it's a great idea. Um,
[1:35:48] you know, we we were researching uh
[1:35:51] these other projects this company
[1:35:53] carried out and that was one of the
[1:35:55] issues
[1:35:56] >> that was brought up in one of the towns.
[1:35:58] And um and you know, again, it's better
[1:36:01] to preempt this and and have them, you
[1:36:03] know, require them to have the proper
[1:36:05] sound deadening equipment uh to prevent
[1:36:09] that from happening because now these
[1:36:11] towns is is having an issue with trying
[1:36:13] to get them to put up some kind of sound
[1:36:15] barrier.
[1:36:17] So, we want to avoid that.
[1:36:19] >> Yeah. And it's and and I, you know, I
[1:36:21] don't want to be seen, again, you know,
[1:36:24] we talked about the business friendly
[1:36:25] environment. Sure. Um, I don't want to
[1:36:27] be seen as like picking on one
[1:36:30] particular property owner or business.
[1:36:32] This would be something that would be
[1:36:34] townwide. Sure.
[1:36:35] >> It would be something known that before
[1:36:38] a company even comes in, they know,
[1:36:40] look, I have to be a good neighbor. I
[1:36:42] have to abide by these rules. And it's
[1:36:44] not something where we're picking and
[1:36:47] choosing who we're going to be
[1:36:50] >> allowing. It's it's a more standard
[1:36:53] businessfriendly environment because,
[1:36:55] you know, a lot of people think that
[1:36:57] businesses, you know, hate towns that
[1:37:00] have these inordinate expectations or
[1:37:02] whatever. It's it's not that. If a
[1:37:04] business knows what it's going what it's
[1:37:07] getting into from the beginning, they
[1:37:09] can plan and either say that's for me or
[1:37:11] that's not for me. Um, but it's when
[1:37:13] businesses come in and they are abiding
[1:37:17] by the rules and then as soon as they
[1:37:20] show interest, they start getting above
[1:37:22] and beyond push back, right?
[1:37:24] >> That's when we become a business
[1:37:25] unfriendly environment.
[1:37:27] >> You don't want to make it be a moving
[1:37:28] target, right? You don't want them to
[1:37:30] have to, oh, well, we did that now, but
[1:37:32] we want that. Oh, no, but now we want
[1:37:34] this. Yeah, we want to avoid that. We
[1:37:36] want to be upfront. Hey, this is what
[1:37:38] we're expecting. We don't think it it's overreaching
[1:37:42] >> and this is what we expect of everybody
[1:37:44] just you.
[1:37:44] >> Yes. Exactly. Exactly. Right. Um because
[1:37:48] you know again we will see in the future
[1:37:50] what other businesses come to town but
[1:37:52] again we want to protect u residents as
[1:37:55] well and but at the same time be
[1:37:58] business friendly. So I think it's it
[1:37:59] makes a lot of sense.
[1:38:01] >> Yeah. I do think just with noise
[1:38:04] ordinances we would have to understand
[1:38:08] how that would be enforced
[1:38:10] >> and that has been the you know one of
[1:38:12] the main issues when noise ordinance has
[1:38:16] that issue has come up a few times over
[1:38:18] the last many years
[1:38:20] >> is how how you enforce it. Do you have
[1:38:22] someone who can enforce it
[1:38:25] >> and you need a decibel meter it has to
[1:38:28] be calibrated you have to be able to
[1:38:30] respond. So we would have to understand
[1:38:33] how all of that works.
[1:38:34] >> That's right.
[1:38:35] >> And I I understand that this would be
[1:38:38] specific to the electronic noise. It not
[1:38:42] just a in general noise ordinance
[1:38:45] because the couple of times that that
[1:38:47] has come up over the years. It has been
[1:38:52] um not well received.
[1:38:54] Let's just put it that way. We've had
[1:38:56] it. We've had um the most recent time we
[1:39:00] went as far as public hearing because we
[1:39:02] had a proposed ordinance. We were moving
[1:39:04] ahead with it.
[1:39:06] >> Public hearing. There was a huge
[1:39:08] outpouring against
[1:39:11] implementing a noise ordinance. So,
[1:39:13] >> do you remember what they were uh what
[1:39:15] were the issues? Um it was back in 2006
[1:39:20] 2007
[1:39:22] and I think the reason we were pursuing
[1:39:24] a noise ordinance at that time was a lot
[1:39:27] of um ATVs and motor bikes and you know
[1:39:31] very disruptive in certain
[1:39:33] neighborhoods. We did the public hearing
[1:39:37] um but
[1:39:39] too many people came out against it just
[1:39:43] you know
[1:39:44] taking away their their right to enjoy
[1:39:47] their own property and at that time it was determined that
[1:39:53] we backed off a little bit with the
[1:39:55] understanding that we would just fall
[1:39:57] back on the state statutes that do cover
[1:40:01] noise.
[1:40:02] >> I see.
[1:40:04] and the time before that it was pretty
[1:40:06] much the same. It didn't get that far.
[1:40:09] Um but when they started talking about
[1:40:11] it was more with construction noise they
[1:40:14] decided, you know, let's just deal with
[1:40:16] it administratively. So
[1:40:19] >> yeah, and I think that is something that
[1:40:21] we're going to have to address because
[1:40:22] again, this is not this is not meant
[1:40:24] for, you know,
[1:40:27] residential use as far as like a
[1:40:29] homeowner with an outside generator.
[1:40:32] like that's this is meant for ongoing
[1:40:34] persistent operations. I I think that
[1:40:37] when we do start looking at the specific
[1:40:39] language, it's going to have to be
[1:40:41] specific to either commercial or
[1:40:43] industrial continue
[1:40:46] or right, you know, like persistent use of equipment.
[1:40:51] >> Um,
[1:40:53] >> and you know, that's that's something
[1:40:54] that we can get into with that. But
[1:40:57] yeah, I I agree with Donna. Like
[1:40:58] especially the enforcement side of it
[1:41:00] when you're dealing with what we might
[1:41:03] consider the normal nuisance reporting.
[1:41:06] Oh, this person was doing something.
[1:41:08] Yeah. For a couple of hours, but that's very different from I don't think
[1:41:13] anybody would have an issue with an
[1:41:14] electrical transformer that only hummed
[1:41:16] for an hour a day.
[1:41:18] >> They probably wouldn't even notice. But
[1:41:21] when you're talking, you know, 247
[1:41:24] >> uh persistent like then that that starts
[1:41:27] to become an issue.
[1:41:29] >> Um so, you know, that's
[1:41:31] >> that's something that again it has to
[1:41:33] we'll have to look at how the language
[1:41:35] looks as we get further down the road.
[1:41:37] >> Sure. But um it'll be very much tailored
[1:41:40] so that we're not kind of chasing this,
[1:41:43] you know,
[1:41:44] >> the normal residential
[1:41:46] spikes in things related to, you know,
[1:41:50] an outside generator or
[1:41:53] >> enjoying, you know, a gasoline motor
[1:41:56] vehicle or whatever it happens to be,
[1:41:58] lawn mower, you know, that's that's not
[1:42:00] what this is, right?
[1:42:01] >> This is for persistent
[1:42:03] >> noises. Leave blowing's coming.
[1:42:06] >> Yeah. So, yeah, I'm afraid that's
[1:42:08] coming. Uh, very good. No, I appreciate
[1:42:11] you bringing that up. I think it's
[1:42:13] definitely worthwhile looking into. I'm
[1:42:16] curious what state statutes are out
[1:42:18] there, too, you know, but probably no
[1:42:21] probably nothing specific to that type
[1:42:24] of industrial
[1:42:26] noise because um of the experience that
[1:42:29] has happened in the past. But yeah, no,
[1:42:32] I think it's it's important uh that we
[1:42:34] look into that for sure. Yeah.
[1:42:37] Good.
[1:42:38] >> Put out a new town manager's list.
[1:42:42] >> Perfect. Well,
[1:42:42] >> we'll build a list for that person. I'm
[1:42:45] sure we'll have some ideas. Um, very
[1:42:47] good. Um, excellent. Thanks for that.
[1:42:50] All right. Um, so that brings us to the
[1:42:53] draft agenda for the September 17th
[1:42:57] regular meeting. I can scroll down to
[1:43:00] that. Um
[1:43:05] and
[1:43:06] looks at that. Um yeah, I think we're seeing an appointment there.
[1:43:12] Number six.
[1:43:16] Any comments, additions to that right
[1:43:19] now?
[1:43:21] >> If anybody has anything they'd like us
[1:43:23] to add just right, we got
[1:43:25] >> next week. You just need to know what is
[1:43:27] it the Friday by the Friday before
[1:43:30] >> earlier as
[1:43:33] early as possible. Friday we're sending
[1:43:35] out the agenda so before Friday.
[1:43:38] >> Got it. Very good.
[1:43:40] >> All right.
[1:43:41] >> Thank you.
[1:43:42] >> Thanks for that. Any other new business
[1:43:44] before the council?
[1:43:46] We have new business.
[1:43:50] >> All right. Hearing none, we come to the
[1:43:52] consent agenda. Consent agenda items are
[1:43:54] considered to be routine in nature which
[1:43:57] the council may not need to discuss
[1:43:59] individually and may be voted on as a
[1:44:01] group. Any council member who wishes to
[1:44:04] discuss a particular item in this
[1:44:06] section may request the chair to remove
[1:44:08] it for later discussion and a separate
[1:44:11] vote if necessary. So first of all we
[1:44:14] had the we need we have the approval of
[1:44:16] minutes for the August 20th 2026 regular
[1:44:19] meeting. Um, were there any issues with
[1:44:23] the minutes of the last meeting?
[1:44:29] » We're hearing none. Do we just approve
[1:44:31] those by consensus or do we have to vote
[1:44:32] on those individually?
[1:44:34] >> You can vote on the whole thing. So,
[1:44:36] that motion
[1:44:38] >> proposed motion. Does the minutes handle
[1:44:40] all the tax refund?
[1:44:41] >> Very good. And so, I signed all those
[1:44:43] tax refunds. So, um, if we can just, uh,
[1:44:47] I'll make a motion to approve the
[1:44:49] minutes for the August 2026 regular
[1:44:52] meeting and the tax refunds.
[1:44:55] Um,
[1:44:57] so I'll put that to a vote. Uh, Claudia
[1:45:01] Riley,
[1:45:02] >> Riley, I,
[1:45:03] >> Keith Pett, I,
[1:45:05] >> John Fitzgerald,
[1:45:06] >> Sean Fitzgerald, I,
[1:45:07] >> and Jan Lawrence, I
[1:45:09] that passes. That takes us to liaison
[1:45:12] reports. John Fitzgerald of AHM Youth
[1:45:16] Services.
[1:45:17] >> I do I do this meeting. It'll be quick.
[1:45:19] Kim uh HM has their well it's it's not
[1:45:22] annual. It's new. Hopefully annual
[1:45:24] Dancing with the Stars fundraiser. Oh,
[1:45:26] cool.
[1:45:27] >> held at RAM on September 19th 6 PM. Uh
[1:45:31] working with a number of local dance
[1:45:32] studios. So, should be a lot of fun. Um
[1:45:35] tickets are $12 in advance, 15 at the
[1:45:38] door. And you can learn more at ahm
[1:45:40] youth.org.
[1:45:42] >> Fantastic. All
[1:45:44] right, thanks Sean. Um, we have Hein
[1:45:47] board of ed, but of course Tiffany is
[1:45:49] not here.
[1:45:50] >> Um, I don't know of any updates on board
[1:45:53] event, so we'll just move on.
[1:45:56] >> Keith start to the school year.
[1:45:58] >> That Okay, there you go. It's like they
[1:46:00] got they got new roofs.
[1:46:02] >> They got new roofs, right? They got new
[1:46:04] roofs. So, we know that's definite.
[1:46:06] >> And they got a new fire panel, too, that
[1:46:08] he would help, right? That's good stuff.
[1:46:11] >> Excellent. All right. Uh, Board of
[1:46:12] Finance, Keith Pett,
[1:46:14] >> they have not met.
[1:46:15] >> Okay. Uh, open space has not met. WPCA
[1:46:19] is meeting next week. So, I'll be at
[1:46:21] that meeting next week. So, I'll have
[1:46:23] something to report at the next meeting
[1:46:24] for the town council. So, that takes us
[1:46:26] to RAM board of ed for Claudia.
[1:46:29] >> Yes. So, I do have something to report.
[1:46:31] Uh, the RAM board of education met uh
[1:46:34] for their first meeting. Welcome back,
[1:46:37] school year, etc. Um, as you all know,
[1:46:40] um, Donna did mention that there is a
[1:46:42] special meeting on September 10th, uh,
[1:46:46] that the superintendent did send out a
[1:46:48] letter, uh, explaining the reason for
[1:46:51] the meeting and all of the various, um,
[1:46:55] where, when, etc. So, the public
[1:46:57] obviously is invited to listen to that
[1:46:59] important announcement. on September
[1:47:01] 10th uh at the policy and programming
[1:47:04] subcommittee meeting uh the there was a
[1:47:08] approved policy passed around AI
[1:47:12] artificial intelligence
[1:47:14] >> which is a hot topic clearly
[1:47:17] >> it needs to be for staff and students
[1:47:20] and approving so that was one policy uh
[1:47:23] also they approved granting the Colombia
[1:47:26] students credits for art foundation and
[1:47:29] algebra 1 if they pass the course and
[1:47:30] choose to attend RAMP. Um the credit
[1:47:34] would not go to other schools of choice
[1:47:36] but they will at RAM. Hopefully it makes
[1:47:39] RAM more enticing choice for the open
[1:47:42] choice program or the surrounding towns
[1:47:44] that participate.
[1:47:46] Uh they also approved reducing nonprofit
[1:47:49] costs to rent space at RAM for
[1:47:53] um approved Hebrin Andover and Marbor
[1:47:55] nonprofits. So, they're going to reduce
[1:47:56] the rate from 175 to $100 an hour with a
[1:48:00] minimum of a 4hour minimum. This came up
[1:48:03] at the pre-me
[1:48:05] um with the chair and the superintendent
[1:48:09] with three people attending before the
[1:48:10] last board of education meeting. So,
[1:48:12] they were responsive to those requests
[1:48:14] for assistance there. $100 an hour fee
[1:48:18] will cover the cost of custodians,
[1:48:20] water, electricity, etc. So they're not
[1:48:22] paying for them
[1:48:24] uh to use the space and the subcommittee
[1:48:26] felt it makes us a good partner with the
[1:48:29] regional communities to reduce the price
[1:48:31] and lessen the burden on the nonprofits.
[1:48:35] Um and so those subcommittee
[1:48:37] recommendations will be brought to the
[1:48:39] full board of ed
[1:48:41] on for a vote a final vote and final
[1:48:44] approval on the next general meeting on
[1:48:46] September 14th. And that's it.
[1:48:50] >> Very good. a lot going on.
[1:48:51] >> I know.
[1:48:52] >> And I'm sorry, I misspoke earlier. They
[1:48:55] have met. It's just we have met three
[1:48:58] times since then.
[1:48:59] >> Oh, so
[1:49:00] >> it's all I was thinking to myself. I'm
[1:49:03] like, no, they they have met since our
[1:49:06] last business meeting. Um, so the last
[1:49:10] time they met, it was early last week.
[1:49:13] >> Okay. And um
[1:49:14] >> That's right.
[1:49:16] >> Or the It was since our last visit.
[1:49:18] >> Yeah. because we had a meeting
[1:49:20] >> when we were here and I saw them coming
[1:49:22] in. That's right.
[1:49:24] >> We had all of the con the contract
[1:49:26] meetings in between. So, yes,
[1:49:28] >> we met several times which is throwing
[1:49:30] me off.
[1:49:30] >> Understood.
[1:49:30] >> We're meeting all the time.
[1:49:31] >> That's understood. Um so the two the two
[1:49:35] things from their last meeting um they
[1:49:39] went over um some of the items coming up
[1:49:44] and as far as like projects and
[1:49:46] everything. And so they wanted to have a
[1:49:49] representative from our bond council
[1:49:51] come in to speak to them about
[1:49:54] things that they can do to make sure
[1:49:57] that when we get our audits done that we
[1:50:00] land in a good spot to have a good bond
[1:50:02] rating. And they wanted to understand
[1:50:05] some of the the intricacies of what goes
[1:50:08] into the bond rating process.
[1:50:10] >> Okay.
[1:50:10] >> So they're going to go ahead and
[1:50:12] schedule a meeting with our bond council
[1:50:14] at one of their future meetings.
[1:50:16] >> Okay. And they also um elected to create
[1:50:20] a working group. So um
[1:50:25] Brian O'Reilly and Adam Oman will be
[1:50:30] working on the side updating some of the
[1:50:33] policies to bring that language back to
[1:50:36] the full board um for updating some of
[1:50:39] the the financial policies. I believe
[1:50:41] the first one they're going to work on
[1:50:43] is the um
[1:50:46] the financial fund uh policy or the fund
[1:50:49] balance policy. So, they're going to
[1:50:52] have a working group. They're going to
[1:50:53] meet with bond commission. They're also
[1:50:55] going to call in some other, you know,
[1:50:57] experts to help them make some of these
[1:50:58] decisions
[1:51:00] >> and um hopefully we'll we'll see some
[1:51:02] improvement. And hopefully soon we will
[1:51:05] have a fully staffed finance department.
[1:51:09] >> That would be nice. They're all looking
[1:51:10] forward to that.
[1:51:11] >> Fantastic initiatives.
[1:51:13] >> Absolutely. Lot lot of opportunity
[1:51:16] there.
[1:51:17] >> Thanks, Keith.
[1:51:18] >> All right. So, that brings us to our
[1:51:19] second public comment. There's nobody
[1:51:21] here. Uh, so is there anybody online?
[1:51:26] >> We cleared the house.
[1:51:27] >> Yes.
[1:51:28] >> Yeah.
[1:51:30] >> All right.
[1:51:32] >> So, I think that will take us to an
[1:51:35] executive session. So, we'll have to log
[1:51:38] out of here and come back into adjourn.
[1:51:42] >> Yeah.
[1:51:42] >> All right. So, if we can get
[1:51:47] >> We can.
[1:51:51] » So, uh I move that the town council
[1:51:54] enter executive session at 8:51
[1:51:58] and invite in Donna Lanza, town manager
[1:52:01] and