1 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,520 Good morning. 2 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:32,079 So, what we're doing right now is I'm just bringing the assembly to order. So, 3 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:35,320 we're not opening up our town meeting just yet. 4 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:40,320 » Can't hear you. >> But I do want to welcome you to come 5 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:44,879 that you're you're here today and in particular the uh the folks here, our 6 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:51,520 our principal at the High Park Elementary and the house leaders. Let's 7 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:57,640 give him another hand. Thank you. They'll be with us throughout the day 8 00:00:53,199 --> 00:00:57,640 with the microphone if we need it. 9 00:00:59,039 --> 00:01:07,200 And turn this over now to our the chair of the select board that'll lead us in 10 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:12,080 the uh pledge of allegiance. >> Actually, I'm going to pass it over to 11 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:15,799 Kaylee and she's going to lead us. Okay. Another girl. 12 00:01:20,479 --> 00:01:30,560 » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the 13 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:37,400 republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and 14 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,400 justice for all. 15 00:01:40,479 --> 00:01:49,439 I wanted the lights to be turned down. Um, I'd also 16 00:01:45,119 --> 00:01:55,040 like to take a moment um to acknowledge this wonderful person. You can't hear 17 00:01:51,759 --> 00:02:00,960 me. Is this better? Okay. Um, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge this 18 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:03,520 wonderful man on the screen behind me. I was hoping to have the lights turned 19 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:10,080 down a little bit. Can we turn them down, Rose? No, you don't know how. 20 00:02:05,759 --> 00:02:14,480 Okay, that's fine. Um, Ken Harvey um did I'm not even going to try to start to 21 00:02:12,239 --> 00:02:21,040 explain all that he did for our town, but he did a lot. Um, so I'd like to 22 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:24,040 take a moment of silence um in his honor. 23 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:52,920 Okay, back to you. >> Thank you, Chassity. 24 00:02:54,720 --> 00:03:02,280 So, I got a couple of uh housekeeping things that we need to visit with you 25 00:02:58,959 --> 00:03:02,280 about here. 26 00:03:02,319 --> 00:03:08,720 So, if you're a High Park resident that's not registered to vote yet, 27 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:13,280 please see an election official at the check-in table. 28 00:03:11,519 --> 00:03:17,760 If you did, make sure you have a stamp on your hand. If a paper ballots called 29 00:03:16,159 --> 00:03:21,560 for, you'll need to show that hand stamp to prove you're checked in. 30 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:30,319 We have local representatives here from the state government. With us today is 31 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:35,959 Dan Noise and Richard Bailey. Thank you for attending gentlemen. We 32 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,959 appreciate you being here. 33 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:43,120 This meeting is being recorded. Anyone wishing to speak must come forward to 34 00:03:41,519 --> 00:03:47,040 the microphone or microphone will be given to you by one of the house 35 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:51,280 leaders. State your full name before addressing 36 00:03:48,799 --> 00:03:54,959 the assembly. If you can't get to the center aisle, portable microphone will 37 00:03:52,720 --> 00:04:00,000 be brought. If you don't speak into it, you won't be heard and the town clerk, 38 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:05,200 Kim Molton, won't be able to hear you while she's taking minutes. It's so it's 39 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:09,280 so important to have accurate minutes, which will include those who spoke, 40 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:15,599 those who seconded motions, made motions, and so on. So, 41 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:20,239 the school would like to remind us that if you're a smoker, there's no smoking 42 00:04:18,239 --> 00:04:26,680 on the grounds or in the building. Thank you. 43 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:26,680 and our usual nemesis, the cell phone. 44 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:39,440 Silence them, please. And the the third nemesis, the bladder. 45 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:42,600 The the restrooms are down the hall on your right. 46 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:52,080 On behalf of the town of High Park, we want to thank Diane Riley, Dialin 47 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:56,479 Laflam, and the staff here at the elementary school for their assistance 48 00:04:53,759 --> 00:05:01,040 in setting up for the High Park annual town meeting. 49 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:09,039 in particular. Again, we're going to make notice for our principal and her 50 00:05:05,199 --> 00:05:14,919 staff today, the house leaders, and um we appreciate their attendance and being 51 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,919 with us today to help us out. 52 00:05:23,039 --> 00:05:28,960 Seated here with me are the select board members who are going to introduce 53 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:32,600 themselves. I'll turn it over to Chassity to start. 54 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:42,240 » Good morning again. Um, for those of you that don't know me, my name is Chassity 55 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:50,240 Fant. Um, I am the select board chair. I have served on the board since 2021. 56 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:55,600 Um, thanks to Ken Harvey actually, um, who convinced me to run. 57 00:05:53,360 --> 00:06:03,680 Not sure if I want to thank him for that or not. Um, but I grew up in Hide Park. 58 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:08,720 Um, I was a village kid. I've raised my kids here who are now grown adults 59 00:06:05,919 --> 00:06:15,120 living in Hide Park as well. I attended this school. Um, I served on the school 60 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:20,880 board. I was on the rec committee and part a big part of building the 61 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:25,199 wonderful facility in Garfield. Um, and if you haven't visited that, I highly 62 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:29,759 suggest you do so. Um, and 63 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:34,360 I that's about all I'm going to say. I guess I'm going to pass it over to 64 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,360 Savannah. 65 00:06:35,039 --> 00:06:42,880 » Hi, I'm Savannah Dron. Um, I've lived in Hide Park for 20 years. I've served on 66 00:06:40,639 --> 00:06:46,479 the select board for three. Um, I'm originally from Walit and I went to 67 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:52,720 school in Crbury. I'm part of the Hide Park community circle. Um, 68 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:57,880 I enjoy being on the select board and I think it's a lot of work. Um, that's 69 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:05,120 um, my name is Nicole Schaan. Um, born and raised in Hyde Park, raised my son 70 00:07:02,319 --> 00:07:11,199 here, went to school here. Um, I'm not running again. Um, I just don't have it 71 00:07:07,919 --> 00:07:16,400 in me. Too busy. Um, appreciated the opportunity to do it and respect the 72 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:22,319 time that it takes and the board and the town folks that work at the town and the 73 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:26,720 town itself. So, that's all I have to say. 74 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:32,479 My name is Lance Van Voglepool. I have been in Vermont for almost a decade now 75 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:38,880 and in Hyde Park for this will be our fourth year. I was nominated and voted 76 00:07:35,199 --> 00:07:42,400 in last year at the town meeting. Um over that time I've been really 77 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:46,720 appreciative to have worked with the folks that you see before you and have 78 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:52,560 gotten to learn a bunch about what it takes to run the town. Um, and moving 79 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:58,639 forward, I want to become more involved in the community. Uh, as was just said, 80 00:07:55,680 --> 00:08:03,759 the community circle and I would like to take part in more of the library 81 00:08:00,479 --> 00:08:08,759 activities, uh, and just make life and quality of life better for as many 82 00:08:05,199 --> 00:08:08,759 people as we can. 83 00:08:10,879 --> 00:08:18,400 » And we are missing one board member, Matt Morin, who is not here, but he did 84 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:22,479 do a little write up for me. Sorry I'm a unable to make our town 85 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:27,360 meeting as I am enjoying some warmer weather during my kids school break. I 86 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:31,520 was asked to describe myself and my importance to being on the select board. 87 00:08:29,599 --> 00:08:35,760 I'm a born and raised Vermoner who grew up on a local dairy farm. I graduated 88 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:40,000 from Loyal Union High School and expanded my education at VTC for civil 89 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:45,200 engineering. When not working, I find myself enjoying 90 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:51,360 sports and recreation. In early 2000, I joined the Hide Park Rec Committee. In 91 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:56,160 2022, I was influenced, this is amusing, to get involved in the town select Board 92 00:08:53,279 --> 00:09:00,080 by the well-known Ken Harvey. I will be honest, I was hesitant at 93 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:04,560 first, yet interested. It took some time to learn, and I'm open to say still 94 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:08,399 learning things of our town operations. While I am not the most educated in the 95 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:12,480 administrative side, I have found myself more valuable in the operations side. 96 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:17,120 I've been on the board the last four years. I pride myself in having an open 97 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:21,760 mind all the while having motivation for a solution to conflicts or problems. We 98 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:25,920 have a very great town community that I'm happy to be raising my two young 99 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:31,680 children in. Um, and then I also want to introduce 100 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:37,519 Miss Kim Molton sitting behind me as all of you know. We have Alex Godddard, our 101 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:42,800 town administrator, wave. And Jen, our finance director, 102 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:48,399 who are here as well. Um, and I also just want to um take a moment to talk 103 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:54,399 about the changes to town meeting. Um, I had was approached by um some town some 104 00:09:52,080 --> 00:10:00,000 town people that came to the select board meeting after town meeting last 105 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:05,440 year um in hopes to try to revitalize town meeting again. Um, and I made a 106 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:10,160 promise to them to to help and to try to make things different. Um, hence the 107 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:14,560 school presentation that I hope you all enjoyed. um moving the location back to 108 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:22,720 the school, which is where it always was in years past. Um so I think um we have 109 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:27,680 a pretty good turnout. Um it'll be interesting to see the numbers. Um and 110 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:32,800 Joan, did you want to do you want to speak now? Okay. And I'm going to pass 111 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:38,320 this over to Joan, who was one of the ones that headed up wanting to to bring 112 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:41,560 town meeting back. So I'll pass it over to her. 113 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:53,279 Uh Joan Green, I would like to take this opportunity to state for the record that 114 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:58,240 the town meeting in Vermont started in 1762. 115 00:10:55,680 --> 00:11:05,200 It is a show of direct democracy and it is 264 116 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:13,600 years old. It actually started before we were a state. And as Lincoln, President 117 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:20,800 Lincoln said in the Gettysburg address, I called for a new birth of freedom to 118 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:29,320 ensure that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not 119 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:29,320 perish from the earth. 120 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:46,480 And Maggie Stewart, are you here? Oh, there you are. She has 121 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:49,880 a poem that she would like to read. So, if you could bring 122 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,920 Don't mind. I'm going to sit 123 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:27,760 as I look out over all of you. Oh, sorry. As I look out 124 00:12:24,079 --> 00:12:33,279 over all of you people, I know I'm looking at preschoolers that I used to 125 00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:41,200 have that I used to teach. Um, I'm I'm thankful to be able to be 126 00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:46,639 here and be able to read this poem. I have to tell you that 127 00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:54,240 when I was a senior in high school, English was my favorite studying. It was 128 00:12:50,480 --> 00:13:00,639 my favorite class. And my teacher helped me to make it my favorite class. And I 129 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:07,839 wrote a poem back then that the suggestion in my in my book 130 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:14,560 said, "Write a poem about my family. Bless them." But instead, I wrote a poem 131 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:23,120 about my family. Darn them. So, I I don't even know where that poem 132 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:30,240 is today, but for some reason, I've had all of these words in my brain that get 133 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:38,519 onto paper and it's been happening for a few years here. And this so this is 134 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:38,519 called Vermont Town Meeting. 135 00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:47,680 Today is town meeting a great place to be. If you like friendly faces, ones you 136 00:13:44,959 --> 00:13:54,000 don't often see. It's a place for discussion of our town budget and plans. 137 00:13:51,200 --> 00:14:00,320 Where democracy rules while some sit and some stand. We wonder why this neighbor 138 00:13:56,959 --> 00:14:06,480 or that neighbor's not here. They've always turned out what's the matter this 139 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:12,720 year. Good coffee and goodies sustain us as we get ready to listen to the process 140 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:15,720 with glee. There are those who bring knitting. 141 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:25,440 Well, maybe not today. >> Oh, yeah. Okay, Jazelle. 142 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:32,240 There are those who bring knitting and others who spoke of their beliefs and 143 00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:39,120 opinions or an occasional joke. The town fathers are sitting, no disrespect to 144 00:14:35,279 --> 00:14:43,360 the mothers, upfront on display, to answer our questions and reject all 145 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:49,760 hearsay. We get stuck on some article, perhaps 146 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:55,600 10, five or four. It takes half an hour to settle the score. The amendment to 147 00:14:52,880 --> 00:15:01,760 the amended articles are kept track of by the clerk. The moderator keeps peace 148 00:14:58,959 --> 00:15:07,680 so we don't all go berserk. As the articles move and are voted yes 149 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:14,560 or no, we move down the page if we're lucky in a couple hours or so. 150 00:15:11,519 --> 00:15:18,600 Changes are good, but not too many will plan. Hold on. 151 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:31,240 Changes are good, but not too many will plan. For we all know it's true, things 152 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:31,240 were better back then. 153 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:43,600 When the meeting adjourns, we must then say hello and discuss winter weather, 154 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:51,040 our health, or the town meeting show. There's one thing I wish as I walk out 155 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:58,000 the door that next year they will listen when I have the floor. 156 00:15:54,000 --> 00:16:03,440 Moving on out to our cars that await. There is just one more person we haven't 157 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:09,839 talked to of late. When the silence overcomes us on the drive to our home, 158 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:16,680 we hope for some changes in next year's beastly moans. Respectively written 159 00:16:13,199 --> 00:16:16,680 Maggie Stewart. 160 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:27,360 Thank you very much. Okay, I'm gonna pass it back over to 161 00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:30,680 you, Paul. >> Thank you, Jess. 162 00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:41,959 Just to make this more official, there town meeting is now in order. 163 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:47,079 declared open at 10:20 a.m. 164 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:55,199 Alex Goddard and Jennifer Tricor are there as um as you were they were 165 00:16:52,639 --> 00:17:00,920 introduced earlier as your finance director 166 00:16:57,279 --> 00:17:00,920 and um 167 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,480 and your town administrator 168 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:12,720 if there's a necessary need for them to speak since they're not High Park 169 00:17:10,799 --> 00:17:17,079 residents. I'm going to allow them to do so if there's no objections. 170 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:25,120 Now, I'm going to turn it back over to Chassity 171 00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:29,919 who will announce the U give you an overview presentation. 172 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:34,960 You had a handout given to you when you arrived. That'll be helpful. 173 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:39,000 And of course, you may have your town report with you as well. 174 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,559 I didn't know. 175 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:29,400 The silence is deafening. 176 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:42,720 Good morning everyone. My name is Alex Godddard and I'm the town administrator. 177 00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:48,880 I was appointed last year in March. So this town meeting uh marks my first full 178 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:52,600 year with the town. >> Just hit the back button. 179 00:19:53,919 --> 00:20:00,000 » Lance, can you help her? >> Oh, there we go. 180 00:19:58,559 --> 00:20:04,880 » Okay. Okay, so we put together a presentation for you guys on the budget. 181 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:08,720 Um, you also have a handout hopefully that was passed around which uh gives us 182 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:16,160 some highlights that we're going to be talking about. Inside the town report on 183 00:20:11,919 --> 00:20:20,080 page 18 is a snapshot of the major changes in the budget. Um, so you may 184 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:23,559 want to reference that as we're moving through the presentation. 185 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:31,840 So, we're going to go over the fiscal year 27 budget, highlight the major 186 00:20:29,039 --> 00:20:36,240 changes um as it relates to the fiscal year 26 budget. We're going to talk 187 00:20:33,919 --> 00:20:42,960 about upcoming projects inside of the town, our growth growth strategies, 188 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:47,280 accomplishments of fiscal year 26, um and call out some other noteworthy 189 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:51,280 topics. So, first of all, the budget. Uh this is 190 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:55,760 the most important number that everyone's looking for today. Uh it's a 191 00:20:53,679 --> 00:21:00,240 5.13% increase as opposed to last year which 192 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:05,280 was a 7.23% increase. 193 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:12,159 A few things attribute to this. A decline in nonpropy tax revenue of 194 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:17,840 approximately $15,000. Standard uh cola increases for town 195 00:21:14,799 --> 00:21:21,840 staff of 4%. some town office staffing changes. We 196 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:27,200 had to take a hard look at the budget this year um to avoid a double-digit 197 00:21:25,039 --> 00:21:30,960 increase and we looked inside our own town office and said where can we be 198 00:21:28,799 --> 00:21:34,720 more efficient? Um so we've combined a few positions, mine being one of them. 199 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:38,320 Um I'm going to be taking over the zoning administration as well as my 200 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:43,200 responsibilities as a town administrator. We've also eliminated a 201 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:48,720 seasonal highway position uh which was responsible for roadside mowing a few 202 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:54,640 months during the summer. Some costs associated with the budget. 203 00:21:52,000 --> 00:22:01,039 We've had to uh schedule a server replacement and bolster our information 204 00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:07,039 technology. Those are both costly. Um so those are included there. We have a 205 00:22:03,919 --> 00:22:12,480 upcoming fiscal year 27 and 28 townwide reappraisal. Um, so we've had to adjust 206 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:17,919 our lines for the listers and assessors uh to increase their capacity there. 207 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:22,400 We have a few decreases in the highway department as it relates to fuel and 208 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:26,880 gravel crushing. So, we looked at 5-year averages um and projected out to next 209 00:22:25,039 --> 00:22:32,159 year and realized that we could save a little money there as well. The cemetery 210 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:36,480 associations came to us uh with an increased funding need. We want to take 211 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:40,880 care of those properties as best we can. Um so there is an increase there as 212 00:22:38,559 --> 00:22:45,200 well. This shows the increase or decrease in 213 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:51,200 the various departments based on percentage. So town administration which 214 00:22:47,919 --> 00:22:56,159 is the town office and our staff uh saw 1.8% increase. The highway department 215 00:22:53,600 --> 00:23:01,039 was a 15.31% reduction. public safety, which is the 216 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:06,080 our sheriff's department, um our contracted ambulance service through 217 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:12,559 NEMS and Johnson, as well as our local fire department saw 4.17% 218 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:17,760 increase. Health and welfare was 3.14, our cemeteries 31 219 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:25,520 uh.11%. The library 11.71, recreation 12.64, 64 220 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:31,760 memberships and dues 3.51 and then our capital outlay and reserves 81.79%. 221 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:36,320 That seems like a a very large increase. Um the majority of that is we've shifted 222 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:40,799 our allocation for paving this year into the highway road uh construction 223 00:23:38,159 --> 00:23:46,240 reserve. That allows us to do thoughtful investments um and get a return on that 224 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:49,760 money prior to doing any projects in the town. 225 00:23:48,159 --> 00:23:54,799 Speaking of projects, we do have some upcoming and ongoing projects. One of 226 00:23:52,320 --> 00:24:00,000 them is the municipal energy resilience program, also known as MERP. I see Bob 227 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:04,799 Tina in the crowd. Uh Bob has been working uh with the energy committee to 228 00:24:02,159 --> 00:24:09,039 spearhead much of this project. And that was the result of energy and uh ADA 229 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:13,840 assessments that were completed on four of the town buildings including the Gion 230 00:24:11,679 --> 00:24:19,919 Valley Hall, the Lampir Memorial Library, the Municipal Town Office, and 231 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:23,679 the Hide Park Fire Department. We're going to be doing some major 232 00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:28,080 renovations uh at the Hide Park Fire Department, which is partially funded by 233 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:33,360 MERP, um which is the Municipal Energy Resilience Program. that accounts for 234 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:39,840 about $100,000 worth of that project to upgrade ADA and and energy resilience. 235 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:46,000 Also in that project is a $650,000 bond which you, the voters approved. Those 236 00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:50,000 improvements include ADA um improvements, a new bathroom and 237 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:54,799 kitchen, HVAC improvements throughout the building, window upgrades, the 238 00:24:52,400 --> 00:25:00,720 installation of mini splits, a new meeting room, a new utility room, and 239 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:07,200 that construction is uh slated to start in the spring of 2026, so next month. 240 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:12,559 Another large project we have is the La Moyal Valley Rail Trail Pavilion at the 241 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:16,720 Depot Street trail head. The planning for this project has been ongoing over 242 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:20,799 the course of the last year. Um, and we are now ready to send that out for a 243 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:25,240 request for proposal. So, we should see that project break ground this summer. 244 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:34,559 So, looking ahead to fiscal year 27, uh the select board remains committed to 245 00:25:31,919 --> 00:25:38,880 building on the successes of fiscal year 26. We're going to be advancing approved 246 00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:43,919 capital plans and infrastructure improvements, strengthening community 247 00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:49,679 engagement and public communication, seeking funding and strategic strategic 248 00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:53,919 opportunities to support town service and resilience. 249 00:25:51,919 --> 00:25:58,159 We'll also be conducting a network level analysis of our road system. One of the 250 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:02,880 biggest things that we have to plan for and budget for is uh road construction, 251 00:26:01,279 --> 00:26:07,039 making sure that our roads are paved well, uh that they last a long time, and 252 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:11,600 that we're doing that thoughtfully. We don't just want to ask the town voters 253 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:15,279 for $500,000 for paving and then just blindly pick a few roads to pave. We 254 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:19,279 want to conduct an actual assessment, highlight the areas where we know we 255 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:24,080 need to improve the roads, whether that be the installation of culverts, um 256 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:27,919 extra grading. So, we're going to be doing that in the coming year and 257 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:31,919 hopefully we'll be able to project out five years and 10 years. So, we know the 258 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:35,360 exact figure that we need to ask the voters for. We don't want to waste your 259 00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:40,159 money. Um but we do want to make thoughtful investments. 260 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:43,919 Some challenges and ongoing initiatives. Um so we're going to be reviewing 261 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:48,720 rehabilitation and improvement needs of the municipal building uh municipal 262 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:53,520 buildings at large. Part of this is already done through the MERP program. 263 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:57,520 Uh we've uh contracted with engineering firms to conduct uh what we call 264 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:01,279 existing conditions. So they've been mapping the buildings, highlighting 265 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:06,880 areas in the infrastructure that we need to steadily improve on. 266 00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:10,720 One of the things the select board cares a lot about is engaging with the 267 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:14,799 community on prioritizing projects such as class 4 roads, speed limit signage 268 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:18,880 updates and the welcome and gateway signs uh that we installed in North Hyde 269 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:22,960 Park. So, the select board encourages every member of the town to attend 270 00:27:20,799 --> 00:27:26,799 meetings. Uh speak up if there's a project that you'd really like to see 271 00:27:24,799 --> 00:27:31,720 happen in the town or an ongoing project that you have thoughts on, please bring 272 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,720 those to us. 273 00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:40,640 So this slide highlights our growth strategies um and allows us to move 274 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:45,039 forward with confidence. And the first is capital planning. Uh the select board 275 00:27:43,039 --> 00:27:49,840 remains committed to strong financial management through capital planning for 276 00:27:47,279 --> 00:27:54,399 asset replacements, projects and budget forecasting. 277 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:59,679 One of the big investments uh that the town and the board has made in the last 278 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:04,559 few years are strategic investments. Most of this comes out of the finance 279 00:28:01,919 --> 00:28:08,080 director's office. Um, so we take a look at the money we have on hand and where 280 00:28:06,559 --> 00:28:13,200 can we apply that so that we're getting a good return on our investment. And in 281 00:28:11,279 --> 00:28:17,039 the budget in the town report that you have before you, you can see the fruits 282 00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:20,720 of that labor. We are getting tens of thousands of dollars on interest uh by 283 00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:24,960 holding on to that money a little extra longer. 284 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:30,480 And then sustained growth. The first two allow us to execute this uh this last 285 00:28:27,919 --> 00:28:34,559 bullet here. We're positioned well for scalable expansion in the coming years 286 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:40,200 based on the work that the select board and the administration has done over the 287 00:28:36,799 --> 00:28:40,200 last few years. 288 00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:47,360 Some accomplishments in fiscal year 26. Uh so we recently completed the North 289 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:52,240 Hyde Park scoping study which was a year-long study conducted by Dub Boys 290 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:58,799 and King. And the goal of that study is to uh project a project for village 291 00:28:56,320 --> 00:29:03,840 walkways um which will be completed through grant funding uh by the Vermont 292 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:07,840 Agency of Transportation. If you haven't uh had a chance to review 293 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:11,440 that, we do have some copies at the town office linked to the website. It's a 294 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:18,640 wonderful project to connect a very small community uh in North Hyde Park. 295 00:29:16,159 --> 00:29:22,159 We also purchased a new firet truck this fiscal year uh which recently entered 296 00:29:20,559 --> 00:29:30,399 service and we purchased a new uh 2024 Dodge Ram 297 00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:33,840 5500 to replace a 2017 uh version over at the highway 298 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:38,480 department. These are both the results of uh really thoughtful capital planning 299 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:42,480 making sure that we have the funds available. We have depreciation 300 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:47,399 schedules and we're forecasting out uh 10 years to know what our needs are 301 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:47,399 going to be. 302 00:29:47,919 --> 00:29:52,760 I'm gonna hand the microphone back to Chassity. 303 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:08,799 I love our little library we have in town. Um but I also love even more our 304 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:16,320 library director, Amy Olsen. Um, yep. Um, and she was awarded this 305 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:24,000 wonderful award um, this year, the Sarah C. Hagar award, I believe. Um, I won't 306 00:30:20,559 --> 00:30:28,480 read the whole thing about it. Um, but I wanted to make sure to acknowledge her 307 00:30:25,679 --> 00:30:33,520 today. Um, she lives in LOL, so I'm sure she's attending their town meeting. Um, 308 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:38,399 but she is a true Hide Park gal. I grew up with her. Um, so she I just wanted to 309 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:41,640 make sure to acknowledge her today. So, thank you. 310 00:30:43,279 --> 00:30:50,600 » And with that, we're going to open up um the floor to questions for the board. 311 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,440 Thank you, Alex. 312 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:20,159 Hi, I'm Virginia Jenkins and I want to thank you very much for making the 313 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:23,880 change to the elementary school and for the muffins and coffee. 314 00:31:32,399 --> 00:31:42,039 Did Diane make the muffins? She did, right? So, we can thank Diane for the 315 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:42,039 muffins. She made those hers for us. 316 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:50,799 » So, thank you for that good presentation. We're going to move 317 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:57,120 forward with our meeting. Um, you can read the U town report on page 318 00:31:53,919 --> 00:32:01,679 six and seven to get the copy of the warning that's been pledged to us. 319 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:07,480 If there's no objection, I'm going to wave the reading of that entire of those 320 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:07,480 entire articles. 321 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:19,200 The um article one is being done at the uh town 322 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:24,720 clerk's office downstairs for the polling place. 323 00:32:22,399 --> 00:32:32,240 The lower at the lower level at High Park Municipal Building at 344 Vermont 324 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:38,240 15 West. The ballot box was declared open at 8:30 this morning and shall 325 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:42,640 remain open until 7 o'clock tonight. As a reminder, to vote on articles, you 326 00:32:40,559 --> 00:32:46,640 must be a registered High Park voter. If you've not done so already, see an 327 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:51,440 election official at the front of the check-in, as most of you have done 328 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:55,679 already if you needed to do so. Um, if paper ballot votes are requested, 329 00:32:54,080 --> 00:33:00,000 you'll be given instructions on the procedure we'll use at that moment. 330 00:32:58,399 --> 00:33:05,080 Those in attendance that are not High Park residents, please raise your hand. 331 00:33:07,279 --> 00:33:12,720 remind those people they weren't allowed to vote during the meeting. That's the 332 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:17,440 purpose of having you raise your hand, Jen. Um, we will allow you to speak. 333 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:20,799 However, we will now move to conduct the 334 00:33:19,039 --> 00:33:25,919 traditional open session of the annual town meeting. 335 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:30,399 Before we do this, there's housekeeping in order that the state recommends that 336 00:33:27,919 --> 00:33:34,080 we share with you that we're going to be using again as 337 00:33:32,159 --> 00:33:40,440 usual. Robert's rules of order. The basic rules for this meeting except 338 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:40,440 where Vermont law takes precedence. 339 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:50,480 So, an article must be moved and seconded by the body and then restated 340 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:55,799 by myself before it is under consideration and debate on the article 341 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,799 may begin. 342 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:07,159 We restate the motion. The person who made it has the right to speak first in 343 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:07,159 any debate that would take place. 344 00:34:08,079 --> 00:34:13,639 Amendments. If we have any amendments, 345 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:18,280 there's only one amendment at a time. 346 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:27,320 Likewise, we'll only have one amendment to the amendment. 347 00:34:23,119 --> 00:34:27,320 You vote on each one separately. 348 00:34:27,359 --> 00:34:35,280 After you've spoken once on a particular article, you'll not be recognized a 349 00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:41,280 second time during the discussion on that article or any amendments until any 350 00:34:38,240 --> 00:34:47,119 other voters who wish to speak have have spoken for their first time. 351 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:51,520 Then you'll be given an opportunity to have a second talk on it if you so need 352 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:56,800 it. Robert's rules only allows 353 00:34:54,240 --> 00:35:03,280 the speaker to speak twice on any given motion and limits the duration of time 354 00:34:59,839 --> 00:35:07,119 to 10 minutes. If there's a division of the House be 355 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:12,800 requested by a voter before or after a voice vote, Vermont state law does 356 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:18,359 provide for paper balloting to vote on the request by only seven voters, 357 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:25,920 unless we've made some other arrangement, which we haven't. So again, 358 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:29,040 after a voice vote or after a division of the House, if you want to request a 359 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:34,400 paper ballot, we're going to require at least seven minimally to do so. All 360 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:38,720 motions and remarks and discussions including moving the previous question 361 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:43,920 must be addressed to the moderator. Anyone wishing to speak may ask for a 362 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:49,599 microphone before you start speaking. Introduce yourself. Your full name. 363 00:35:46,720 --> 00:35:53,680 Speak into the microphone closely like I'm doing now 364 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:57,640 so that comments can be heard by the entire assembly here. 365 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:06,160 Your speeches must be confined to the merits of the question. You'll not be 366 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:10,880 allowed to engage in any personal attacks on a member of the body or their 367 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:15,119 motives. Vermont law prohibits consideration of 368 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:19,920 articles that have not been warned. So this means you can't take up any binding 369 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:24,079 action during other business, for example, and you can't amend warned 370 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:28,359 articles such they would be dealing with a business that hasn't been warned. 371 00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:42,480 Reconsideration of an article is allowed but it must be done before we start 372 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:47,359 working on the next article. So really today at our 373 00:36:45,359 --> 00:36:53,359 before us are only two articles that we're going to be voting on and then the 374 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:58,160 fourth one to transact other business. So, but there are two major articles 375 00:36:55,200 --> 00:37:01,520 that we're going to be dealing with. Should we work on the first one and then 376 00:36:59,839 --> 00:37:08,760 you wish to reconsider what you just did, you won't be able to do so once we 377 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:08,760 start working on the second motion. 378 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:18,400 It's my role as moderators to help you accomplish the business at hand. 379 00:37:16,240 --> 00:37:23,119 If you have have any questions, don't don't be fearful of asking about them. 380 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:29,520 If you don't understand what's happening or you can't hear what's what's going 381 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:34,320 on, speak up as you have already today. If you think something's wrong or uh 382 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:39,760 some decision that I've made that you you don't think is correct, please tell 383 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:43,599 me. I've always appreciated you when you've done that for me. Keep things 384 00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:47,560 straight and the record straight. It's always nice to have some help. 385 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:12,000 If we require a counting uh of non paper ballot items, 386 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:17,119 um I ask that people uh we may ask you to 387 00:38:15,119 --> 00:38:19,440 have hands normally is the easiest way to do 388 00:38:20,079 --> 00:38:27,839 That's the the fourth issue that we face here is just getting up out of our 389 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:33,720 chairs. So you may So we'll do the hand count first uh if we need to do so. 390 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:44,160 So, we've come to that point in our meeting where it's time to start looking 391 00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:50,079 at the articles in question that we need to 392 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:56,480 to to work on and uh and approve or disapprove. We'll start with the first 393 00:38:53,359 --> 00:39:04,160 article and I would ask that the uh someone from um the slug board make the 394 00:38:59,839 --> 00:39:10,240 motion uh to instigate and start the the articles moving in a positive manner so 395 00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:16,800 that we can actively commit to them one way or the other. So what's u I'll read 396 00:39:13,599 --> 00:39:20,960 this particular motion. Shall the voters approve article two. 397 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:26,480 Shallow voters approve a total general fund expenditures amount for the period 398 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:31,760 July 126 to June 3027 in the amount of 3,700 399 00:39:29,839 --> 00:39:37,000 and $45.81 81 of which 3,183,348.36 400 00:39:39,359 --> 00:39:45,400 shall be raised by property taxes and $517,5745 401 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:53,240 by nonpropy tax revenue and your pleasure. 402 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:58,040 Chastity feon has sole moved. 403 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:04,720 Do I hear a second? >> Second. Jack Anderson's got a second for 404 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:08,119 us. Any discussion? 405 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,320 We need a microphone over here, folks. 406 00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:29,880 Hi, my name is Jazelle Miner and I am wondering where the $517,5745 407 00:40:31,599 --> 00:40:36,280 is going to be coming from. >> Thank you. 408 00:40:41,280 --> 00:40:51,400 » Jennifer Trio will answer that question for you. Did you repeat the question? 409 00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:51,400 » Yeah. The question was where the $517,57 410 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:59,920 to be u given us by nonpropy tax revenue. She wanted to know where that 411 00:40:57,680 --> 00:41:06,880 was coming from. So, it's a combination on page 11 412 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:13,599 of license and permits, fines and interest, 413 00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:18,160 grant revenue, recreation, other revenue, 414 00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:23,200 highway department revenue, and the li uh lamp memorial library 415 00:41:21,359 --> 00:41:29,920 revenue. So you can see the uh at the bottom in 416 00:41:27,359 --> 00:41:35,599 proposed FY27 there's the 3,700 417 00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:42,960 $46 and it's subtracting out the property 418 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:46,319 taxes and MUN tax adjustment figures 419 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:49,800 that's going to be raised from the property taxes. 420 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,400 Does that answer your question? 421 00:41:55,839 --> 00:41:59,400 Any other questions? 422 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:03,560 We've got one in the back 423 00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:10,440 over here. 424 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:20,160 » Uh Kevin Hudnell. This may be more of a question about the town report, but 425 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:23,040 close enough. >> There you go. 426 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:27,440 Uh, this may be more of a question about the town report than the budget, but it 427 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:35,200 has a budget impact. The even closer. Okay. How am I doing? Okay. 428 00:42:31,839 --> 00:42:40,480 Um, there's a drought position from highway department uh the seasonal 429 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:43,359 mowing and I'm curious if there's a reason for that position specific 430 00:42:42,079 --> 00:42:49,560 position being dropped or what the rationale for that was and also who's 431 00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:49,560 doing the mowing without that position. 432 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:06,079 So that uh position specifically accounts for a small time period during 433 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:12,079 the summer. Um and it was one of the positions that we could cut save $15,000 434 00:43:10,079 --> 00:43:16,720 uh without having a major impact to services. The workload will be shifted 435 00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:20,960 to our existing five employees. Uh but when we we made these thoughtful 436 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:25,720 changes, we wanted it to be the least amount of impact to operations as 437 00:43:22,720 --> 00:43:25,720 possible. 438 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:32,839 Thank you. Any other questions you may have? 439 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:40,920 You're seeing none. I'm going to call the question then. 440 00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:53,280 All those in favor of article two in its entirety signify by saying I. 441 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:57,359 » Those opposed. You've adopted 442 00:43:55,280 --> 00:44:00,520 a new budget. Thank you. 443 00:44:04,240 --> 00:44:11,040 In particular, I want to not only thank you for voting on it, but I want to 444 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:15,920 thank the the board and Alex and Jennifer for setting this all up so it's 445 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:21,079 easy to understand that picture pies and the whole thing. It's very nice. You did 446 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:21,079 a good job. Thank you. 447 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:32,000 Article three, shall of voters approve the payment of 448 00:44:29,839 --> 00:44:39,520 property taxes to the town treasur in four equal installments via 449 00:44:35,599 --> 00:44:45,680 Vermont statute annotated 32 32 Vermont statute annotated chapter 450 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:49,920 4792 as listed below with delinquent taxes 451 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:57,920 and assessments have been charged against them at 8% commission after the 452 00:44:52,720 --> 00:45:03,599 fourth installment via 32 VSA 1674 and interest charges of 1% per month or 453 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:09,040 fraction thereof for the first three months and thereafter 1 and a half% per 454 00:45:06,640 --> 00:45:13,599 month or fraction thereof the due date of such tax. Such interest shall be 455 00:45:11,920 --> 00:45:20,319 imposed on a fraction of the months as if it were an entire month via 32 VSA 456 00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:23,520 chapter 5136. Payments are due for delivery and must 457 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:31,680 be received in the hands of the treasurer by 4 pm on the below due 458 00:45:27,599 --> 00:45:39,599 dates. Postmarks will not be accepted as on time via 32VSA chapter 4773. 459 00:45:37,440 --> 00:45:44,000 The first installment will be paid on or before Monday the 31st August in the 460 00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:49,040 year 26. The second installment to be paid on or before Monday the 16th of 461 00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:56,240 November and 26. Third installment to be paid honor before Tuesday, February 16th 462 00:45:52,240 --> 00:46:01,440 in the next century 20 next year rather 2027. And the fourth installment to be 463 00:45:59,119 --> 00:46:05,000 paid honor before Monday the 17th of May in the year 2027. 464 00:46:08,560 --> 00:46:15,240 Motion's made that we do so and it's seconded. 465 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:20,280 Jack Anderson. Yep. Any 466 00:46:22,560 --> 00:46:25,560 discussion? 467 00:46:27,359 --> 00:46:34,560 Not seeing any hearing any. I'll call the question. All those in favor signify 468 00:46:32,720 --> 00:46:39,839 by saying I. >> And those opposed. 469 00:46:37,599 --> 00:46:43,000 You've adopted article three as stated. Thank you. 470 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:51,319 Article four, to transact any other business that may legally come before 471 00:46:48,079 --> 00:46:51,319 the meeting. 472 00:46:55,599 --> 00:47:02,359 We got hands all over. Let's Let's start right over here. 473 00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:19,359 I'm Elizabeth Fen. Um, I have a question about electing the moderator. So, in 474 00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:25,280 past years, that's been the first order of business at town meeting and we we 475 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:30,440 elect the moderator for that year. So, how does it work now that it's 476 00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:30,440 Australian ballot? 477 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:53,599 Kim Molton will give you an essay on it. >> Not an essay. Um, so all uh officers are 478 00:47:50,480 --> 00:48:00,160 now voted by Australian ballot as uh passed by uh the voters last year at 479 00:47:56,319 --> 00:48:07,839 town meeting. So when the moderator was voted um last year from the floor, 480 00:48:05,359 --> 00:48:15,119 that meant that person was moderator through this town meeting. So whoever 481 00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:22,880 gets elected moderator this year will be the moderator through next town meeting. 482 00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:27,480 So all officers are voted by Australian ballot. Does that make sense? 483 00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:45,960 Yeah, thank you. 484 00:48:57,440 --> 00:49:08,319 You may notice on the ballot, Australian ballot for officers, that there is no 485 00:49:04,240 --> 00:49:16,079 one listed as moderator to vote on for next year. So, we're going to have to 486 00:49:11,359 --> 00:49:21,920 write in the name of someone, if we so choose, to serve as moderator. And I 487 00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:29,200 just wanted to let the audience know, the voters know that Adam Lori, who 488 00:49:25,359 --> 00:49:34,960 lives in Hyde Park, obviously has said that he would be willing to serve as 489 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:41,359 moderator. So, we know at least we have one person who's willing to do the job. 490 00:49:39,040 --> 00:49:46,520 And I'm not endorsing him. I'm just providing this as a piece of 491 00:49:43,520 --> 00:49:46,520 information. 492 00:49:53,760 --> 00:50:02,920 Will we be having town meeting next year or will the municipal budget be voted on 493 00:49:59,040 --> 00:50:02,920 by Australian ballot? 494 00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:21,920 We will be having town meeting because you as the voters have to tell us not to 495 00:50:19,520 --> 00:50:25,079 have town meeting and we have not voted on that. 496 00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:32,680 Jack, 497 00:50:36,319 --> 00:50:45,040 I would like the uh voters of Height Park to consider 498 00:50:41,920 --> 00:50:51,880 writing in Paul Nesky's um name as the moderator for next year. 499 00:50:53,119 --> 00:51:01,119 » Thank you, Jack, for the offer. Um, since you brought it up that Adam here 500 00:50:59,200 --> 00:51:10,240 openly was going to be a write-in candidate um at your ballot, u uh Adam 501 00:51:05,920 --> 00:51:16,000 and I have uh gotten together long before this this meeting uh and we've 502 00:51:12,720 --> 00:51:20,240 agreed that uh as as he agreed with me, I was I was retiring my position and I'm 503 00:51:18,720 --> 00:51:23,200 looking for somebody to take my place and Adam's the perfect candidate and I'm 504 00:51:22,160 --> 00:51:28,480 not supposed to tell you all these things, but since it's already brought 505 00:51:25,520 --> 00:51:32,079 up. I'm not I'm not pressing for him to vote. You know, I'm not just saying, but 506 00:51:30,319 --> 00:51:37,640 I'm just telling you that I'm not on the ballot. That's why I'm not there. Thank 507 00:51:34,640 --> 00:51:37,640 you, 508 00:51:43,599 --> 00:51:51,920 Joan Green. I would like to um know if the people who are running for a select 509 00:51:49,760 --> 00:51:57,040 board are here could say a little bit about themselves so we would know who 510 00:51:53,839 --> 00:52:03,800 they are. >> They've done that already. 511 00:52:00,240 --> 00:52:03,800 » Oh, the new one. 512 00:52:12,079 --> 00:52:19,520 » Hi, I'm Russell Jones. I'm running for the two-year select board. Uh lived in 513 00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:25,760 Vermont since 88 when my dad retired from the Navy. He was born and raised 514 00:52:21,119 --> 00:52:30,240 here. I graduated from Le Moy in ' 89. I've worked for Ben and Jerry's for 36 515 00:52:27,920 --> 00:52:35,119 years. I'm a material planner for him and supply planner. 516 00:52:32,559 --> 00:52:40,319 Uh other than that, I'm looking forward for your vote. 517 00:52:37,760 --> 00:52:48,480 I'll pass it on to Megan >> Russell Jones. 518 00:52:43,359 --> 00:52:53,280 » Hi, I'm Megan Ethridge. Um, my family is from here. I grew up in Eden. I moved to 519 00:52:51,760 --> 00:52:59,119 Hyde Park when I was in the ninth grade. I graduated from Loyal. Um, I'm a Lynen 520 00:52:56,160 --> 00:53:04,000 State College graduate. Not the university, it's Lynon State College. 521 00:53:01,359 --> 00:53:08,160 Um, I graduated from Loyal. I think I said that already. Um, I moved away for 522 00:53:06,720 --> 00:53:13,359 a little bit after college and came back home to raise my kids here in Hyde Park. 523 00:53:10,720 --> 00:53:18,079 Um, my kids also go to this school and now that they're old enough, I'm able to 524 00:53:15,920 --> 00:53:24,800 get out and be more involved with my community just like my family did all 525 00:53:20,720 --> 00:53:28,359 those years ago. Um, so I guess that's that's about it. 526 00:53:28,720 --> 00:53:31,960 » Thank you. 527 00:53:39,599 --> 00:53:46,240 Okay. I was just asking if they finished. Is Beth Carrier here? Okay. 528 00:53:44,559 --> 00:53:52,040 I'll be Beth. Are you going to announce the thing? Spring. Okay. I'm waiting for 529 00:53:49,040 --> 00:53:52,040 you. 530 00:53:59,200 --> 00:54:07,040 I was a cheerleader in high school. So, 531 00:54:04,400 --> 00:54:12,319 um I'm the one that gets to say thank you so much from the Hyde Park Community 532 00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:17,920 Circle for all of you attending our events the and um supporting us. And the 533 00:54:16,079 --> 00:54:23,440 purpose of the Hide Park Community Circle is to support community and build 534 00:54:21,839 --> 00:54:29,359 community. We all feel that we are very lucky to 535 00:54:25,599 --> 00:54:35,440 live here and so um and anyone is welcome to come join. We meet once a 536 00:54:32,079 --> 00:54:42,400 month for one hour and right now it's at the library at 5:30 on Wednesdays. Um we 537 00:54:39,520 --> 00:54:50,079 have four events every year. The first one is coming up really soon March 21st 538 00:54:46,400 --> 00:54:55,280 right in this building um in this room. We have puppets and plants. Um the 539 00:54:52,960 --> 00:55:00,720 Allstrings marionets are doing the stinky cheese man. I mean who doesn't 540 00:54:57,760 --> 00:55:05,280 want to see that? And um it will be great fun. And there's um the kids get 541 00:55:03,119 --> 00:55:11,440 to plant seeds and there's crafts and there's snacks. Um but you don't have to 542 00:55:08,960 --> 00:55:16,240 have a child or borrow one to come. Everyone is welcome. It's fun for people 543 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:23,520 of every age. Our next event will be in July is um the ice cream social which we 544 00:55:20,640 --> 00:55:28,960 hold on the uh opera on the courthouse lawn um with music and free ice cream 545 00:55:26,559 --> 00:55:35,839 and and community. It's really all about community. And then we have Hide Park 546 00:55:31,280 --> 00:55:39,920 Home Day, which um we we uh showcase what Hide Park has to offer to all of 547 00:55:37,920 --> 00:55:46,240 Loyal County. And then we have the wreath lighting ceremony to honor and 548 00:55:42,720 --> 00:55:50,880 people in December. So I would like everyone who's on the Hide Park 549 00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:55,880 Committee Community Circle to please raise their hands so everyone will know 550 00:55:52,559 --> 00:55:55,880 who we are. 551 00:56:00,559 --> 00:56:09,119 All right, one more. So, also I'm sorry, two things. But, um, since I have the 552 00:56:05,680 --> 00:56:13,440 mic, I also am part of the Moy County Players. And again, I would like to 553 00:56:11,200 --> 00:56:18,400 thank all of you for being in our shows and supporting our shows and supporting 554 00:56:15,599 --> 00:56:24,160 us. So, this upcoming season, you'll get a flyer soon if you're on the mailing 555 00:56:20,160 --> 00:56:29,359 list. We have five shows instead of four. So, we're really going great guns 556 00:56:27,520 --> 00:56:34,559 and um but that would mean that the shows are at different times than they 557 00:56:31,280 --> 00:56:38,319 normally are. So, once so pay attention because if you it's a very exciting 558 00:56:36,960 --> 00:56:41,839 season. I can go through the whole thing if anyone wants, but I don't have I 559 00:56:40,160 --> 00:56:46,880 don't think you all need to hear that. But we have a great variety of shows, a 560 00:56:44,400 --> 00:56:52,960 great we have a lot of new directors, a lot of enthusiasm, 561 00:56:48,799 --> 00:56:57,599 and um we're also doing on July 11th a hot dog barbecue. Oh yeah, because 562 00:56:55,680 --> 00:57:02,400 George Woodard has always wanted one. That's why. And it's true. And then 563 00:57:00,400 --> 00:57:08,400 there will be a concert with Denny Grandstaff and also George Woodard, Jim 564 00:57:05,920 --> 00:57:12,640 Pitman, and Carrie Cook. So, it's going to be quite a good good concert and keep 565 00:57:10,960 --> 00:57:15,640 that in mind. And again, thank you very much. 566 00:57:27,520 --> 00:57:33,920 Where are we going? Thanks. Hello. My name is Annaloo 567 00:57:32,079 --> 00:57:38,640 Hathaway and I just really wanted to quickly say that I appreciate people who 568 00:57:36,160 --> 00:57:42,079 are running for positions to stand up a town meeting and introduce themselves 569 00:57:40,160 --> 00:57:45,760 and if that's something that we can continue to do at town meetings. It's 570 00:57:44,079 --> 00:57:49,599 really nice to get eyes on a person's face, know their name, know their face, 571 00:57:47,359 --> 00:57:52,640 and hear a little bit about them. So, I really appreciate all of that and I 572 00:57:51,200 --> 00:57:57,240 encourage that in the future at town meetings. I really liked it. So, that's 573 00:57:54,240 --> 00:57:57,240 it. 574 00:58:08,640 --> 00:58:17,680 Um, I'm on the Hyde Park Energy and Conservation Commission. We have two 575 00:58:13,839 --> 00:58:22,559 vacancies. Uh we'd love for more people to be on our committee. We do energy 576 00:58:19,680 --> 00:58:27,760 conservation work and as well as natural conservation. So if you're interested in 577 00:58:26,079 --> 00:58:32,119 that type of thing, we would love to have more people. Thank you. 578 00:58:43,440 --> 00:58:48,400 My name is Denise Green. I'm on the energy and conservation committee as 579 00:58:46,880 --> 00:58:52,640 well, but I'm also on the garden committee and we could use some more 580 00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:57,599 members for that. So, please put the word out to anyone you know, some young 581 00:58:55,040 --> 00:59:03,760 people who love to garden. We would enjoy having help. We do the buckets on 582 00:59:00,000 --> 00:59:07,839 Main Street and around town, and we can we really could use help with that. And 583 00:59:06,160 --> 00:59:14,040 there's other projects that we would like to do, but we don't have enough 584 00:59:09,119 --> 00:59:14,040 people. So, I hope you'll join us. 585 00:59:16,880 --> 00:59:25,040 Hi. As long as we're solicit soliciting for members, um my name is Mary Waltz 586 00:59:22,559 --> 00:59:29,920 and I'm part of the um not in hide park committee and um we are always looking 587 00:59:28,079 --> 00:59:34,319 for more people who want to join in the cause of stopping the spread of Japanese 588 00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:39,119 knotweed and other invasive plants. It's a great way to get involved in the 589 00:59:36,720 --> 00:59:42,799 community, meet new people, do something good for the land, do something good for 590 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:48,480 the community, do something good for your soul. Um, and we'll be having an 591 00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:53,920 event, a gathering of some sort on April 22nd. Um, probably uh it's a Wednesday, 592 00:59:52,160 --> 00:59:58,160 six o'clock in the evening. It's Earth Day. Um, just to talk more about 593 00:59:56,160 --> 01:00:03,040 invasive plants and why that work is important and and we'll put it on the 594 01:00:00,319 --> 01:00:07,440 calendar and front porch forum. And so um you'll you'll see that's happening 595 01:00:04,799 --> 01:00:12,000 and I hope some of you will join us. Get in in touch with us at notinhide park 596 01:00:10,079 --> 01:00:15,480 atgmail.com. Okay. Thanks. 597 01:00:21,280 --> 01:00:29,520 » Thank you everyone for uh participating. >> I have a 598 01:00:27,920 --> 01:00:32,480 you got something you want to say. Go ahead. 599 01:00:30,640 --> 01:00:37,920 I just wanted to say I know the the moderator conversation was was popular 600 01:00:35,520 --> 01:00:43,040 and if that position isn't filled the select board will appoint someone so we 601 01:00:40,799 --> 01:00:48,200 have a moderator for next town meeting. So we do have the authority to do so. 602 01:00:49,520 --> 01:00:57,680 » So before I ask for a German I have a a message for you I'd like to share. Um 603 01:00:54,960 --> 01:01:03,280 it's been a pleasure serving you and I um the story I'd like to tell you 604 01:01:00,160 --> 01:01:11,920 however is uh at our alumni gathering a few years back um since I was a graduate 605 01:01:06,400 --> 01:01:18,280 of the the High Park uh LCA school in 19 the previous century uh in 1961 606 01:01:19,680 --> 01:01:30,400 the um my first day of school here um was in uh 607 01:01:27,359 --> 01:01:35,720 September of that year and we had moved into town the night before on a Sunday 608 01:01:32,720 --> 01:01:35,720 evening 609 01:01:35,839 --> 01:01:43,799 into the old High Park restaurant. It wasn't back in those days. It was also 610 01:01:40,640 --> 01:01:43,799 an inn. 611 01:01:44,079 --> 01:01:51,200 My mother got up early in the morning and started the business of running a 612 01:01:49,280 --> 01:01:54,520 restaurant with one of her aunts and one of her sisters. 613 01:01:55,119 --> 01:02:02,720 I was left uh dressed and sent off to go to school at 9:00 about quarter of nine. 614 01:02:00,640 --> 01:02:06,240 She put me out the door, pointed at the intersection and said, "You go down the 615 01:02:04,480 --> 01:02:13,720 street, take a left and and you'll see the school building. Just go there." 616 01:02:10,240 --> 01:02:13,720 So I did. 617 01:02:14,160 --> 01:02:20,720 I had previously been in schools for several years in the prokill school 618 01:02:18,480 --> 01:02:27,200 system and we had uniforms and we went to school at 8 o'clock. 619 01:02:23,520 --> 01:02:31,200 However, we went to church first and then the school started at 9:00. So, 620 01:02:29,040 --> 01:02:35,680 mother had had it had her time mixed up a bit. So, I was obviously late for 621 01:02:33,119 --> 01:02:39,280 school. There was not a there wasn't any dust in the air around the yard and the 622 01:02:37,440 --> 01:02:44,160 kids were all in school and and there I was standing at the intersection there 623 01:02:41,200 --> 01:02:51,359 on the pavement sidewalk looking at the new gymnasium here and the brick behind 624 01:02:48,319 --> 01:02:56,799 it that obviously was the classrooms and yet this huge building in front of me 625 01:02:54,079 --> 01:03:01,880 this yellow building that was the high school and I didn't know where to go. 626 01:03:01,920 --> 01:03:09,040 Now, at our alumni gathering, I'm going to back up. And at our alumni 627 01:03:07,680 --> 01:03:13,599 gathering, the microphone was going around much like today, except uh it was 628 01:03:11,599 --> 01:03:18,880 being passed right down the row of the chairs as we were sitting right here in 629 01:03:15,119 --> 01:03:22,880 this room. And as we were all saying, each one of us had an opportunity to 630 01:03:20,799 --> 01:03:25,839 visit about our school years and and what where our memories were, if we 631 01:03:24,480 --> 01:03:29,039 wanted to say. And so, as it was coming down through, people were very quick 632 01:03:27,039 --> 01:03:34,559 sometimes at what their memory of school was and their happy moments and so 633 01:03:30,720 --> 01:03:38,760 forth. So it got to me and I went into this same story 634 01:03:38,880 --> 01:03:47,680 about my moment in time the first day here in the community of of High Park 635 01:03:44,240 --> 01:03:54,720 and at the school. And there I stood and I looked up in the big building there 636 01:03:50,079 --> 01:03:58,400 and I saw the big window on the first landing as you go up and there were some 637 01:03:56,720 --> 01:04:02,160 girls there and they were teeing and haha and I could tell and they were 638 01:03:59,760 --> 01:04:05,440 pointing towards now they came down the stairs. They truddled apparently out the 639 01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:10,400 door and with their skirts on their Bobby socks and they bounced out to the 640 01:04:07,839 --> 01:04:14,240 intersection where I stood at the making a decision where I was going to go and 641 01:04:11,920 --> 01:04:22,200 there was I recall Ruth Benson and Audrey Jones and Ruth Hail Woodside 642 01:04:17,599 --> 01:04:22,200 right lovely lasses 643 01:04:22,640 --> 01:04:30,559 and Ruth bent down and and and gave me a hug 644 01:04:28,480 --> 01:04:34,839 and I like to say that was my fondest memory of my school years. 645 01:04:40,720 --> 01:04:46,960 Um, at the time, 646 01:04:44,319 --> 01:04:51,280 that day, at that moment, never ever again where I'd wear the clothes that I 647 01:04:48,960 --> 01:04:56,160 was wearing ever. My mother had gotten several phone calls to say that don't 648 01:04:54,079 --> 01:05:01,280 dress your son in such a manner again. She dressed me in my uniform. 649 01:04:59,359 --> 01:05:07,280 So there I stood when those girls tumbled down. Huh? They saw me. I was 650 01:05:05,520 --> 01:05:13,280 there with black patent leather shoes, white knee socks, blue shorts, a white 651 01:05:10,160 --> 01:05:19,160 shirt, a bow tie, suspenders. Huh? And I had a part in my hair and I 652 01:05:15,599 --> 01:05:19,160 was squeaky clean. 653 01:05:19,839 --> 01:05:25,440 I didn't match up with the other guys in the school. 654 01:05:24,000 --> 01:05:28,559 The girls thought it was great though, the old one. Huh? 655 01:05:27,520 --> 01:05:33,520 Yeah. Anyway, it's been a pleasure to serve 656 01:05:30,480 --> 01:05:38,880 you. Um, and to be a part of what I grew up in and and what I experienced back in 657 01:05:36,240 --> 01:05:43,839 the days. This will be a favored memory for me now. This being here with you 658 01:05:41,039 --> 01:05:48,799 today, back at this school in the environment and the activity and the 659 01:05:46,160 --> 01:05:53,280 energy that's been expressed here by our principal and the students. It's a 660 01:05:50,880 --> 01:05:59,039 wonderful place and u thank you again for for the opportunity you gave me to 661 01:05:55,520 --> 01:05:59,039 do so. Thank you. 662 01:06:05,440 --> 01:06:10,799 There being no further business to come before the annual meeting of the town of 663 01:06:09,200 --> 01:06:14,880 High Park, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. 664 01:06:12,160 --> 01:06:23,000 » So moves. >> Thank you. Thank you, Jack. 665 01:06:18,079 --> 01:06:23,000 Appreciate your time. God bless.