[9:14] I know the food looks great back there.
[9:16] Grab some and have a seat.
[9:28] Isn't that fun? Hey everybody, I'm Susan
[9:32] Clark. Uh I am your town moderator. Uh
[9:36] you elected me in March town meeting for
[9:38] this year. So you are stuck with me for
[9:39] now or I'm stuck with you.
[9:43] Um so joining me up here is uh in front
[9:46] of the room is your select board. Um we
[9:49] you guys can wave. Liz Sharf is the
[9:51] chair. Uh Zara Vincent uh is the vice
[9:55] chair. Paul Smanara.
[9:57] Uh Stacy Scadler and Lawrence Rooney.
[10:00] This is your select board, the folks who
[10:02] oversee our town functions. Um uh town
[10:06] clerk Bridget Brownie is here back there
[10:09] waving.
[10:11] Carol Maloney is here. Thank you, Carol.
[10:15] >> Carol. Carol's taking the minutes. Thank
[10:18] you, Carol. This is this is the woman to
[10:20] watch out for when if you stand up and
[10:21] say your name. That's that's why
[10:24] we appreciate um work of media for being
[10:27] here as well to record the meeting and
[10:29] to live stream it. Um your kids are
[10:31] welcome here at town meeting. If you
[10:33] have kids with you, that's great. Um
[10:35] just stay chill so the people around you
[10:36] can hear. And for those of you who do
[10:38] have kids at the community connections
[10:40] uh connections child care um that child
[10:43] care goes until 12:15 regardless of the
[10:45] length of the meeting. So uh if we're
[10:48] still here, your kids are welcome to
[10:49] come back here and thanks to the Middle
[10:51] Sex Community Fund uh for funding the
[10:53] childare and making that free. Um
[10:57] especially if you're new to town
[10:59] meeting, I want to draw your attention
[11:00] to the blue forms. Um they're over there
[11:03] on the table back there. Um, and uh,
[11:06] these have information about Robert's
[11:07] rules. The most important rule is if you
[11:10] have a question, raise your hand and
[11:12] ask. Um, there is an evaluation form at
[11:15] the bottom. For any of you that have
[11:17] suggestions for improving the town
[11:18] meeting process, you can use those forms
[11:21] um, appropriately on a table marked the
[11:24] nut table. Um,
[11:30] sorry. any anything the uh it's it's
[11:32] from the from the Romney school I think
[11:34] has a nut policy so anyway just that was
[11:37] kind of funny
[11:39] all right so Robert's rules this is a
[11:42] special town meeting but it is still in
[11:43] fact a town meeting uh so by law it has
[11:45] to be run by a town meeting um so as
[11:48] always I'm going to offer a brief
[11:49] overview of the rules that we're going
[11:50] to be working with today I've got eight
[11:53] items and it has been a hard six weeks
[11:56] folks so emotions I think are running
[11:58] high so I'll just ask you to pay special
[12:00] attention to these reminders. Um, number
[12:03] one, uh, Robert's rules of order are the
[12:05] parliamentary rules for the meeting. Um,
[12:08] uh, except where Vermont law takes
[12:10] precedence. So, we can't change state
[12:12] law. Uh, but you can change Robert's
[12:13] rules for the twothirds vote if you
[12:15] desire.
[12:17] Uh, number two, if you would like to
[12:18] speak at the meeting, um, if you'd like
[12:21] to speak, you raise your hand and when
[12:23] you're recognized by the moderator,
[12:24] please stand up and uh, if you can and,
[12:27] uh, and you wait for the microphone to
[12:29] come to you. We've got a couple of
[12:30] microphone runners, at least one
[12:32] microphone runner. So, where's Kimberly?
[12:34] There she is. Okay. And, uh, we've got
[12:36] some more coming, I think, um, to carry
[12:39] those microphones. So, you stand up, you
[12:41] state your name. Um, and even if you did
[12:43] just state your name earlier, please
[12:45] state your name clearly. I might even
[12:47] ask you to spell it. Don't take it
[12:49] personally. It helps out with the
[12:50] minutes.
[12:52] I want to say if you've had your hand up
[12:54] for a while and you haven't been called
[12:55] on, I'm really sorry. We have a few
[12:57] options for that. feel free to wiggle
[12:59] your fingers or wave so I can't miss
[13:01] you. Um or um this time we do have a
[13:05] standing mic in the front of the room.
[13:07] Um if you if you like that idea, if you
[13:09] want to wait to be called on there, you
[13:12] can. Or you can do it from your seat,
[13:13] whatever makes you more comfortable.
[13:16] And as a as a last resort, you can um
[13:18] call out point of order um and you can
[13:21] state your complaint. For instance, hang
[13:22] on a second, madam moderator. You called
[13:25] on that person twice before you called
[13:26] on me once. That's a point of order. You
[13:28] can do that at any time.
[13:31] So, article one is a significantly yes
[13:33] or no kind of question. Um, so I'm gonna
[13:36] make a very slight change of process.
[13:39] Some moderators do this all the time,
[13:41] some don't. Um, after the motion has
[13:43] been made and explained, I'm going to
[13:45] ask specifically for a variety of
[13:46] viewpoints for someone to speak in
[13:48] favor, someone who's opposed, someone
[13:50] who's in favor, someone who's opposed.
[13:51] We'll do that for a while just to make
[13:53] sure that we get the air clear. Um, in
[13:56] between though, I'm going to ask if
[13:58] anybody has a clarifying question. I
[14:00] went back and counted um from our notes
[14:02] from uh town meeting last time and we
[14:04] had some people in favor, some people
[14:06] opposed, and the most number of people
[14:07] were the people who had questions. They
[14:09] were like, "Ah, help me out here. What
[14:12] does this mean?" So, feel free to ask
[14:13] those as well.
[14:16] when you do speak um a reminder that
[14:19] Robert's rules requires that all your
[14:21] motions and your remarks and discussions
[14:23] are addressed to the moderator and that
[14:26] just helps that we ensure on the issues
[14:29] we focus on the issues not not on the
[14:31] personalities not talking to each other
[14:33] this is the way the the procedure works
[14:36] um terms of parliamentary procedure um
[14:39] by under Robert's rules members are not
[14:41] allowed to engage in personal attacks on
[14:44] another member or question their motives
[14:46] The way they say this in Robert's rules
[14:48] is your speech must be confined to the
[14:51] merits of the question. So think really
[14:54] hard about the article that we're
[14:55] talking about and focus right in on
[14:57] that. Um I'm going to remind us all to
[14:59] talk about um positions uh rather than
[15:01] people. So for instance, please refer to
[15:04] the select board or the town clerk or
[15:06] the petitioners, not specific
[15:08] individuals names. It's important that
[15:11] we not get distracted and that we focus
[15:13] like a laser on the actual articles that
[15:16] we're here to address.
[15:19] Uh number three, in order to speak or
[15:21] vote at Middle Sex Town meeting, you
[15:22] must be a Middle Sex voter. Um the
[15:25] exception is uh if the assembly votes to
[15:28] suspend the rules for speaking, for
[15:29] example, to allow a person representing
[15:31] an out of town organization to address
[15:33] the group. So, at this time, can I
[15:35] please see a show of hands of anyone who
[15:37] is not registered to vote in Middle Sex?
[15:41] We got Okay. Yes. People waving their
[15:43] hands. Great. Oh, great. Okay. Got some
[15:47] kids here. That's great. Um, that's
[15:49] wonderful. Welcome. We're glad to have
[15:51] you. Um, just want to remind you that
[15:52] you may not vote.
[15:55] Um,
[15:56] number four, feel free again to ask
[15:59] questions. Feel raise your hand. You
[16:00] don't understand what's happening. you
[16:02] think a mistake has been made, you don't
[16:04] have to be a parliamentary expert. You
[16:05] can just raise your hand and say, "Okay,
[16:07] here's what I want to do. How should I
[16:09] turn that into a motion?" The
[16:10] moderator's job is to help.
[16:14] Um, number five, this is your meeting.
[16:18] Um, the role of the moderator is to help
[16:20] you accomplish the business that you
[16:23] intend to do. So, if you feel that the
[16:26] moderator has made an improper ruling,
[16:28] please raise your hand. Robert's rules
[16:30] allows for the group to appeal the
[16:32] moderator's decision. It's a really
[16:33] simple process to ensure that the
[16:35] moderator serves the interests of the
[16:38] group.
[16:40] Uh number six, we can only address
[16:42] foreign articles. It's against state law
[16:44] to consider articles or issues that have
[16:46] not been warned on the agenda.
[16:49] Uh number seven, you can end debate by
[16:53] calling the question. If a voter feels
[16:56] deliberation has gone on long enough,
[16:58] they can move to cut off the debate. Uh
[17:01] they do this by raising their hand and
[17:03] after they're recognized, they say, "I
[17:04] call the question."
[17:06] Twothirds of this group must vote yes on
[17:10] calling the question in order to cease
[17:11] debate. Otherwise, the discussion
[17:14] continues. In most uh cases, calling the
[17:17] question is not necessary. The moderator
[17:19] will call for a vote when she in this
[17:22] case uh feels that all points of view
[17:25] have uh been heard or that there are no
[17:27] more hands raised. And that avoids us
[17:30] having to do the whole two-thirds thing
[17:31] of of uh calling the question.
[17:36] And finally, there are different ways
[17:38] that we can vote. Once we're done
[17:40] deliberating on an article and we're
[17:42] ready to vote, the moderator calls for a
[17:44] vote, usually by uh voice at town
[17:46] meeting. Um, if you are in favor of the
[17:49] motion, you say I. Uh, if opposed, you
[17:52] say no or nay. Other forms of voting
[17:54] that you may expect to see, a show of
[17:57] hands or standing mode. You can always
[17:59] request this, by the way, uh especially
[18:02] if you disagree with the moderator after
[18:04] the the result of a voice vote is
[18:06] announced. And the third way is a paper
[18:08] ballot or secret ballot. Um, this is a
[18:11] really important option to know about if
[18:13] you feel that privacy on a vote is
[18:14] important. any voter uh may move that a
[18:18] vote be taken by paper ballot and if
[18:20] seven voters support the motion then
[18:23] pieces of paper um will be distributed
[18:25] and you can see we have tables set up
[18:26] back there because uh we won't be
[18:29] surprised if we see this method used
[18:31] today. So, um the piece of you you go
[18:33] up, you're going to say your name, um uh
[18:36] get marked off on the checklist, you'll
[18:38] be given a little tiny ballot, um to
[18:41] vote on um and our election officials
[18:44] will count those um immediately.
[18:48] » So, that's
[18:50] um okay, we are going to open our
[18:53] meeting with
[18:54] >> Oh, there's a question.
[18:56] >> Yes,
[18:56] >> student assessment. Um there are a lot
[18:59] of people here. We wind up having to
[19:01] paper ballot. Is there a good process so
[19:04] it's not just a crowd that's going to
[19:06] descend on the
[19:07] >> Yes. Susan Susman wants to know how
[19:09] we're going to have an orderly um uh
[19:12] paper ballot and um they we have a a
[19:15] board of civil authority that is all
[19:17] over this. So they have divided the
[19:20] tables by alphabet um and I so that
[19:24] we'll so there'll be three lines. Um,
[19:27] and uh, Darinda said, "Susan, you should
[19:30] make sure to remember how we divided up
[19:32] the alphabet." And I completely forgot.
[19:34] Um, c can you remind me, Dinda, what the
[19:36] what what is the alphabet back there?
[19:38] It's A through
[19:40] >> A through F as in Frank.
[19:42] >> G.
[19:45] M.
[19:49] » Yes, it's labeled on the front of the
[19:50] table. So, A through F as in Frank. G
[19:53] through M as in Mark. N through Z. So
[19:56] you'll line up in the in your by your
[19:58] last name.
[19:59] >> Susan.
[20:01] >> Yes.
[20:03] >> Could I make a suggestion that maybe we
[20:04] do it like at a buffet dinner? We go by
[20:06] line. We call the back line vote so we
[20:09] don't get too crowded back there in
[20:10] three lines. It doesn't seem to be a lot
[20:11] of rooms. Just a suggestion.
[20:13] >> Sure. People like that idea. Yeah. I
[20:16] also like the whole buffet dinner
[20:18] reference because we have some
[20:23] » Yeah. heard a wedding.
[20:24] >> So, is Brennan Swain here? Bren, come on
[20:27] up. Brennan goes to U32. Um, and I've
[20:31] asked him to read our civil invitation
[20:33] today. He enjoys skiing. He enjoys
[20:36] reading. Um, one of his favorite
[20:38] memories growing up in Middle Sex is
[20:40] attending the performances at the band
[20:42] stand. I need to tell you, Brennan is a
[20:44] soontobe Middle Sex voter. He turns 18
[20:46] in two months. So, yeah, exactly two
[20:49] months by
[20:51] His
[20:54] birthday's on July 9th, so exactly two
[20:56] months from today. Does anybody have an
[20:58] objection if this not yet voter reads
[21:00] our civil invocation?
[21:03] Okay, great. I asked him to read it. He
[21:08] memorized it.
[21:13] All right.
[21:15] Welcome to Middle Sex Town Meeting. We
[21:18] have come together in civil assembly as
[21:20] a community in a tradition that is older
[21:23] than our state itself. We have come
[21:25] together to make decisions about our
[21:28] community. As we deliberate, let us
[21:31] advocate for our positions but not at
[21:34] the expense of others. Let us remember
[21:36] that there is an immense gap between
[21:39] saying I am right and saying I believe I
[21:42] am right. and that our neighbors with
[21:45] whom we disagree are good people with
[21:48] hopes and dreams as high and as true as
[21:52] ours. And let us always remember that in
[21:56] the end caring for each other in this
[21:58] community is of far greater importance
[22:01] than any difference we may have. Welcome
[22:16] Thank you, Brennan.
[22:19] Right.
[22:21] Okay. So, we're going to get into the
[22:23] business section here. And just so that
[22:25] we are all on the same page, we are here
[22:28] to talk about the Middle Sex Town
[22:30] budget. Everybody in the right place?
[22:34] Okay, great. We passed a budget at our
[22:36] town meeting uh back on March 3rd. That
[22:39] was article six at the meeting. Um after
[22:41] that, as is allowed by law, a petition
[22:44] um was circulated to reconsider that
[22:47] vote and the petition received the
[22:48] requisite number of signatures and it
[22:50] was submitted to the select board uh in
[22:53] time for the statutory deadline. So the
[22:55] select board scheduled a special time
[22:57] meeting. So under article one at this
[23:00] meeting, we will discuss and vote on
[23:02] whether to reconsider the budget. If
[23:04] article one does not pass, then we stick
[23:08] with the budget that we passed on March
[23:10] 3rd and the meeting ends there. If
[23:13] article one does pass, then we will move
[23:15] on to article two and we will discuss
[23:17] the budget just like we did on March 3rd
[23:20] with the ability to amend.
[23:23] Everybody got it? At least for now. You
[23:26] can feel free to ask questions as we
[23:28] move along.
[23:30] Okay. Article one.
[23:33] Shall the town of Middle Sex reconsider
[23:35] the vote taken on March 3rd, 2026 on
[23:38] article 6, which read to vote a fiscal
[23:42] 202627 budget of 2,261,978.14
[23:49] to meet the expenses and liabilities of
[23:51] the town and authorize the select board
[23:54] to set a tax rate sufficient to provide
[23:57] the same. Is there a motion on article
[23:59] one? Jack Coons moves. Is there a second
[24:03] on article one? Mark Harris seconds.
[24:07] Okay. Art article one has been moved and
[24:09] seconded. I am required to read it
[24:11] again. Shall the town of Middle Sex
[24:14] reconsider the vote taken on March 3rd,
[24:15] 2026 on article 6, which read to vote a
[24:19] fiscal 202627 budget of 2,261,978.14
[24:26] to meet the expenses and liabilities of
[24:28] the town and authorize the select board
[24:30] to set a tax rate sufficient to provide
[24:33] the same. So, the floor is open for
[24:35] discussion.
[24:38] » Yes.
[24:44] Hi, my name is Shelley Desarden. I just
[24:46] want to take a few minutes explain why I
[24:49] brought forward the original petition
[24:51] and my intent, what it was at the time.
[24:53] And I'm not a speaker, so excuse
[24:55] wherever I mess up. Uh, when I first
[24:57] submitted the petition, it was because
[24:59] both the select board and the town
[25:01] office had expressed the need for three
[25:02] bodies to handle the workload, which
[25:04] they both needed. The office wanted a
[25:06] town clerk, treasurer, and assistant
[25:08] town clerk. The select board wanted a
[25:10] town administrator, town clerk, and
[25:11] treasurer and found that they cannot
[25:13] eliminate the assistant town clerk. So
[25:15] they reduced the assistant town clerk
[25:16] from 32 to 8 hours per week. That was my
[25:19] sole motivation. The first petition was
[25:21] ruled out as invalid and a second
[25:23] version was later drafted drafted with
[25:25] the help of a lawyer from another town
[25:28] resident which I helped bring around.
[25:30] That language is what brought us to
[25:32] where we are now to bring up the uh
[25:35] question to resend the entire budget and
[25:37] reopen the discussion. At that point, my
[25:39] concern was that we had valuable
[25:41] experience within the office along with
[25:43] a new town clerk who was willing to do a
[25:46] hybrid position as town clerk and town
[25:48] administrator after she was brought up
[25:49] to speed. I believe that if we tabled
[25:52] the town administrator position for one
[25:53] year, we could evaluate whether it was
[25:55] truly needed and potentially save the
[25:57] town money. With three bodies in the
[25:59] office and the office felt a hybrid
[26:01] approach could meet both the select
[26:03] board needs and the operational needs of
[26:05] the office at a lower cost. This was the
[26:07] point I was trying to raise on March 3rd
[26:09] before the discussion of the town
[26:11] administrator was closed. Since then,
[26:14] the situation has unfortunately led to
[26:16] confusion, misunderstandings, hurt
[26:17] feelings, and even threats. That was
[26:19] never my intention. Voters have a clear
[26:21] right to question decisions made by the
[26:24] town and the process to do so. Gathering
[26:27] 5% of the vote to bring back an issue back for discussion as part of
[26:31] that right. It does not mean that
[26:33] decisions can change. It simply allows
[26:35] for clarity and understanding,
[26:37] especially for those who were not
[26:38] recognized to speak or felt they had
[26:40] something to say. I recall another
[26:42] gentleman saying he was not called on
[26:44] during article 6 at that time. After the
[26:47] petition and follow-up meetings, some
[26:49] comments were made that came across as
[26:51] disrespectful to our office staff.
[26:53] Sadly, our assistant town clerk has
[26:55] since given her notice. That outcome is
[26:58] deeply troubling to me. My hope is that
[27:00] regardless how today's vote turns out,
[27:02] that we can come together as a town
[27:04] office, as a community, move forward
[27:06] with respect, learn from this
[27:08] experience, even when we disagree, we
[27:10] should still be able to be neighbors
[27:11] friends and a town that works together.
[27:13] Thank you all for listening.
[27:15] >> Thanks.
[27:18] >> All right. Is there somebody who would
[27:19] like to speak in opposition to article
[27:21] one?
[27:31] in the back.
[27:33] >> Okay. Yep. That
[27:43] » I raised my hand just because I didn't
[27:45] see anyone else doing it.
[27:46] >> We can't hear you very well. So maybe
[27:48] >> it's better.
[27:50] >> Didn't hear anyone else doing it. Uh, I
[27:52] hope I speak for more than just
[27:55] >> keep cutting out.
[28:02] » I got it right up against my mouth. Can
[28:03] you guys hear me now?
[28:05] >> To the receiver. Yeah. Okay. Um, so
[28:08] yeah, our our sound technician Bennett
[28:10] Shapiro is telling you to move a little
[28:12] closer to the front of the room if you
[28:14] don't mind.
[28:15] >> Where is the receiver? Is it that thing?
[28:18] >> Just come to this.
[28:19] >> Yes, that's great.
[28:21] You're good. You're good.
[28:25] » Are you guys able to hear me now?
[28:27] >> Yeah, but we can't have that mic next to
[28:28] that mic.
[28:30] >> And there we go.
[28:32] >> There you go. Try that.
[28:34] >> Sorry.
[28:35] >> Well, I'm glad to provide at least comic
[28:37] relief.
[28:39] Hopefully, I'm not speaking for just
[28:41] myself. Uh, but I
[28:42] >> Can you say your name?
[28:43] >> My name is Matt Ariwak. Uh, I'm live off
[28:46] of Mccau Hill Road on Merill Road. Um, I
[28:50] was involved in the budget process that
[28:52] the normal budget process that led up to
[28:54] town meeting this previous year. I I
[28:56] didn't
[28:57] >> just a little louder.
[28:59] >> I didn't see anything that I thought was
[29:01] unusual. No process is perfect. I
[29:04] wouldn't claim that this one was. I
[29:05] thought we had good discussions. Since
[29:07] the petition has been filed, I haven't
[29:10] heard a rationale or a new piece of
[29:12] evidence for why we should reconsider
[29:14] the vote as part of the budget in the
[29:16] committee. I haven't heard anything that
[29:17] would make me think that we need to
[29:18] change a line item. Um, and I'll end my
[29:22] thoughts there. I think we should just
[29:24] keep the budget as voted through and as
[29:26] the voters at town meeting approved it.
[29:30] So, somebody who'd like to ask a
[29:32] clarifying question. General Yeah. Dave
[29:35] Shepard.
[29:44] Um, it's what I was wondering is if
[29:47] someone from either the select board or
[29:48] the budget committee might be able to
[29:51] just I mean I think I would benefit from
[29:53] knowing between the last vote and the uh
[29:57] special budget meeting that I attended
[29:59] here and now what has happened and
[30:03] because my understanding is that both
[30:06] the committee budget committee and the
[30:09] select board
[30:10] >> the budget committee
[30:12] So I don't have to say my name again.
[30:14] >> Yeah, I know. I see. I shouldn't. I'm
[30:15] enabling, right? I shouldn't.
[30:19] >> So, um,
[30:21] so let's back up a little bit in terms
[30:24] of the process because it is at times
[30:28] confusing when we get into a situation
[30:31] that's as challenging as this one is.
[30:35] Um,
[30:37] so at the I think it was the April 7th
[30:40] select board meeting, we had a
[30:43] discussion on what next steps were about
[30:46] the petition
[30:48] which was submitted to the town clerk I
[30:52] think on April 2nd with a hundred little
[30:55] over 100 signatures. So clearly over 5%
[30:59] of registered voters in the town. And
[31:02] for folks who aren't familiar with that
[31:04] particular aspect, Vermont law states
[31:07] that anyone
[31:10] can question an article at a town
[31:13] meeting and ask for a revote if they get
[31:17] 5% of registered voters to sign a
[31:21] petition within 30 days and submit it to
[31:24] the town clerk. So that's what happened
[31:26] in this case.
[31:29] So again, democracy is not always clean
[31:32] and neat. Sometimes it's messy. We're
[31:34] probably in the messy portion right now.
[31:38] So, at the April 7th select board
[31:40] meeting, the decision was to hold a I'll
[31:43] call a special budget meeting that was
[31:46] to be moderated by the budget committee,
[31:49] namely myself, and to meet with
[31:52] petitioners with basically two
[31:54] objectives. one to gain common
[31:57] understanding of petitioners concerns
[32:00] because it was clear that withund and
[32:04] some odd signatures on that petition
[32:07] not every petitioner was signing it for
[32:10] the same reason. So there may well have
[32:12] been different
[32:15] people signing that petition. So that
[32:17] was the first objective of the April
[32:20] 23rd special budget meeting. The other
[32:22] was to take feedback from petitioners
[32:25] and other folks in the meeting as to
[32:27] what they wanted to see in a an
[32:30] alternate or revised budget. So we held
[32:33] the April 23rd meeting. I think we got a
[32:37] much better understanding of petitioners
[32:40] concerns. I thought the meeting went
[32:43] well. there are a lot of viewpoints
[32:44] expressed and in my mind it was quite a
[32:48] civil and open and inclusive meeting
[32:51] which was encouraging.
[32:53] Uh the second aspect is there were uh
[32:57] quite a few points of view about what to
[33:00] do about the current budget and they
[33:02] were both to increase it and some folks
[33:06] wanted to reduce it. So, we held an
[33:10] alternate budget meeting which was open
[33:12] to the public on Wednesday, April 29th
[33:16] at which the budget m committee
[33:18] discussed what should we do about an
[33:21] alternate budget.
[33:24] While the reality was we really couldn't
[33:26] come to consensus over what to do about
[33:29] the approved budget, whether to increase
[33:31] it, we had some folks who said let's
[33:34] increase it a little bit. We also had
[33:36] some feedback about
[33:38] maybe we should cut some areas in that
[33:40] budget. And we also had people who said,
[33:43] I don't know, let's just keep it the
[33:44] same and talk to the select board. So,
[33:47] we came out of that meeting with the
[33:49] recommendation to keep the budget as is
[33:52] and have the discussion at the May 5th
[33:54] select board meeting, which was this
[33:56] last Tuesday. So there was quite a bit
[34:00] of discussion over what to do, what what
[34:02] are we going to do with this budget and
[34:04] we landed on leaving the alternate
[34:08] budget the same as the approved budget
[34:10] because if we get to article two, I
[34:13] think people felt comfortable with
[34:17] voters coming up with floor amendments
[34:19] again like we did for article six at our
[34:23] town meeting on March 3rd and we just
[34:25] simply redo article six and
[34:30] let folks talk for as as long as they
[34:32] felt they needed to if we got to article
[34:35] two. So that's where we are folks. I
[34:37] hope that clarifies things.
[34:43] Okay. Is there somebody who'd like to
[34:45] speak in art in favor of article one?
[34:47] Somebody else other points you'd like to
[34:51] clarify?
[34:52] >> Yeah.
[34:54] >> My name is John Christian.
[34:56] >> Okay. Let's John. Sorry. A second John.
[34:58] Just
[35:00] >> Thank you.
[35:02] >> Is it working?
[35:07] » You hear me now?
[35:08] >> No.
[35:10] >> I'm so sorry.
[35:22] » I think the the microphones work in the
[35:24] front of the room and not the back.
[35:27] It's not on. Okay. So, Kimberly, why
[35:29] don't you go over and talk to Bennett
[35:31] about how our microphones work? These
[35:32] are
[35:33] >> Is this working now?
[35:34] >> Thank you.
[35:34] >> The last gen who just spoke
[35:38] just to clarify this.
[35:40] So, the existing budget and this new one
[35:42] that you have, they're identical
[35:44] >> microphone around
[35:47] >> because they're supposed to be talking
[35:48] to the moderator.
[35:51] >> John,
[35:51] >> so what you're saying,
[35:52] >> John, I'm sorry. I I know it's
[35:54] confusing, but please address the
[35:56] moderator. We we it can de I know it
[35:59] gets messy, but pretty soon we're like
[36:01] >> So the last gentleman we just spoke
[36:03] >> Yeah.
[36:04] >> as I understand it,
[36:06] the existing budget and the new budget
[36:08] are identical.
[36:11] >> Correct.
[36:11] >> Do you want to answer that question?
[36:14] >> The answer is yes.
[36:15] >> Yes.
[36:16] >> Oh,
[36:18] so I just like to say it's a nice to be
[36:20] treated like sheep then. You can amend
[36:23] at any time. If we move on to article
[36:25] two, it's just like at town meeting
[36:28] where we start with the number that we
[36:31] started with at town meeting and if we
[36:33] if we're on article two, the body can
[36:35] move to amend that article.
[36:37] >> Okay.
[36:40] Um are is there a clarifying
[36:43] question?
[36:47] » Okay. Yeah. Um and Green and
[36:51] Greenfelder.
[36:53] It was my understanding from town
[36:55] meeting that there was a considerable
[36:58] expense acrewed because we did not have
[37:02] a person in the town who knew how to
[37:05] deal or who had the time to deal with
[37:08] fundraising, FEMA, etc. So, I'm
[37:12] wondering if there's somebody here who
[37:14] could readress some of that expense that
[37:18] justifies having a town administrator.
[37:21] >> Okay.
[37:21] >> Thank you.
[37:22] >> So, um we have to we're it's a fine line
[37:26] here and um basically what we really
[37:28] need to focus on is whether we want to
[37:31] revisit the budget or not. So, if
[37:34] somebody who helped create the budget
[37:36] can answer Annie Greenfelder's question
[37:38] in the context of why it makes sense to
[37:41] revisit or not revisit. If we do revisit
[37:44] this, if we move on to article two, we
[37:46] can dig into the details. But at this
[37:48] point, the question is, should we
[37:50] revisit? Yeah.
[37:52] >> So, it's it's my understanding that if
[37:54] we vote no today, then we keep the town
[37:57] administrator. Um and to speak to that
[38:00] um like yeah we just
[38:05] Mike Klene uh who's a for river
[38:07] scientist the road committee we just
[38:09] applied for a $200,000 brick grant
[38:12] through FEMA which is building resilient
[38:14] infrastructure in communities and I
[38:16] believe the town administrator can take
[38:19] those things on. We have we've missed
[38:21] other grant opportunities. I don't know
[38:23] if we're going to get this one, but yes,
[38:26] if we vote no, we get our town
[38:28] administrator, which is like a higher
[38:29] kind of functioning
[38:31] um person who can take care of town
[38:35] issues that come up um versus filing and
[38:39] dog licenses and marriage licenses and
[38:42] the the administrative things that go on
[38:45] in town hall. This would be a person who
[38:48] deals with kind of the bigger problems
[38:50] that this town has been facing for far
[38:54] longer than I have been volunteering. If
[38:57] we do reconsider, then the town
[38:59] administrator position is very likely to
[39:02] go away.
[39:04] It's there's no knowing the outcome.
[39:06] >> Okay, that's my understand it it opens
[39:07] it up. Yes. Is there someone who'd like
[39:09] to speak in favor of article one? Yes.
[39:12] Mr.
[39:19] Partial knee replacement. I have to know
[39:21] >> on Wednesday.
[39:24] >> No narcotics.
[39:31] » I am Dexter Lefver, Middle Sex resident
[39:34] on Dolan Road. You may want to call me
[39:37] Dexter on Dolan.
[39:43] Uh it's unfortunate that this article is
[39:46] becoming about the town administrator
[39:49] because it really shouldn't be about the
[39:50] town administrator. It should be about
[39:52] the budget. Um the budget is framed to
[39:56] include a position of town
[39:57] administrator. But there's really no
[40:00] reason that the select board at any time
[40:02] could not create that position and hire
[40:04] a town administrator without a town
[40:08] vote. So just put keep that in mind. I'm
[40:12] also the author of a posting on front
[40:15] porch forum called the top 10 reasons to
[40:17] vote yes on one and no on two. Although
[40:22] I'm certainly going to reserve any
[40:24] comment I have on two because I am
[40:26] hoping for a yes vote on two today.
[40:30] I'm sorry. Yes, a yes on two and a yes
[40:32] on one. That's two yeses. That's pretty
[40:34] good for me.
[40:37] I was proud to be the only one that
[40:38] voted no on the budget last year.
[40:42] Uh let's see.
[40:45] The past budget total was set on how
[40:48] much of an increase the town boards and
[40:50] committees thought the voters will
[40:51] accept. It should be based on real
[40:53] historical and planned expenditures.
[40:55] Such information has been absent through
[40:57] the budget process. There's just been a
[41:00] real lack of up-to-date information
[41:03] about spending status on the FEMA
[41:06] project, the town budget, um, and things
[41:10] such as that. So, it's difficult to have
[41:12] a realistic picture on what our spending
[41:14] was in the last fiscal year.
[41:17] The FEMA audit is not done. Our prior
[41:20] budgets have included items subsequently
[41:23] covered by FEMA. Those funds have not
[41:25] been returned in the budget. We need to
[41:27] demand an accounting of these reimburse
[41:30] reimbursements in a return of those
[41:32] funds to the town
[41:34] to the operating budget.
[41:36] The town audit for FY 24 I think I might
[41:40] have meant 25 is not done. We should
[41:44] base our new budget on accurate FY25 and
[41:48] prior year actuals. actual expenditures
[41:51] to date for FY26
[41:53] have been unavailable throughout the
[41:55] budget process.
[41:59] I was I've been in too deep well I don't
[42:02] know if I've been I've been in deep with
[42:03] the budget process. I've been to uh the
[42:05] two budget committee hearings and I've
[42:08] got the spreadsheet
[42:10] on my computer that was the basis of the
[42:13] town report and I've got my own
[42:15] spreadsheet cooking
[42:17] uh but just in too deep. Anyway, our
[42:20] budget has rapidly increased and
[42:22] escalated as a result of COVID. So
[42:25] that's, you know, 2020 through
[42:28] 21 COVID impacts, 23 24 floods. We need
[42:32] to go back way back to see
[42:34] representative expenditures. Then we can
[42:37] adjust for actual inflation needs. The
[42:40] average 300 number five because I got
[42:42] 10. The average $38
[42:46] tax bill increase, which has been
[42:47] estimated by a member of the budget
[42:49] commission committee, is an average
[42:51] month's food bill for one person. Those
[42:54] without disposable income may choose to
[42:56] go without food rather than lose their
[42:58] property for tax sale. Our neighbors,
[43:01] the number six, our neighbors and other
[43:03] good people are fleeing the state due to
[43:05] high taxes. This is a step we can take
[43:08] to make Vermont more affordable.
[43:11] Not everyone. Number seven, not everyone
[43:13] can afford an increase even if you can.
[43:16] And I can afford this increase and I
[43:19] choose to live here even though it's
[43:21] very costly.
[43:24] There are redundant items in double
[43:26] counting within the budget. That's
[43:28] number eight.
[43:40] Number nine, a reworked budget proposed
[43:43] for article two could not be developed
[43:45] because it requires more than a 2-hour
[43:47] budget committee meeting and a 30 minute
[43:50] discussion by the select board. We
[43:52] really need to roll our sleeves up,
[43:54] folks, and get a real um solid budget
[43:57] together. And a lot of it goes back to
[44:00] like my first or second item where
[44:01] there's just a lack of up-to-date cost
[44:03] information.
[44:05] Number 10, accelerating budget
[44:08] increases. Widen the divide between the
[44:10] halves and the halves not. We all know
[44:11] there's a lot of division in our world
[44:13] and things we do to make uh the cost of
[44:16] living here, our tax bills higher and
[44:18] greater uh just furthers at least one of
[44:20] those divides. Thank you.
[44:26] » All right. Is there somebody who would
[44:27] like to uh has has concerns about
[44:30] passing article one as opposed to
[44:31] passing article one to reconsidering the
[44:33] budget? would like to speak.
[44:36] Uh, yeah, I saw I hit it right here in
[44:37] the middle.
[44:47] » Yes. So, uh, my name is Tracy Liboitz
[44:50] and I'm a Middle Sex resident and um I I
[44:55] I've just I just my my thoughts on this
[44:58] and I think a lot of people some people
[45:00] may feel the same is just I think that
[45:02] the biggest thing is that you know we
[45:04] already had the town meeting um and the
[45:07] budget was passed and there were a lot
[45:09] of Middle Sex residents that came here
[45:12] and participated in a very long
[45:14] discussion and considered everything
[45:16] that that came up that day and
[45:18] considered everyone's opinions. Um, you
[45:21] know, that was the meeting. That was
[45:23] everyone's chance to come up, have a
[45:25] say, um, and participate in in the
[45:29] democratic process. Um, and I just feel
[45:33] it's
[45:35] I can't I can't vote to reject that, to
[45:37] throw that out, um, because of
[45:39] everything that went into that. Um, I
[45:42] just cannot justify any type of decision
[45:46] to to throw that out. Um, and I think,
[45:49] you know, I recognize that the process
[45:52] that we everybody went through to get to
[45:54] this special meeting is legitimate um,
[45:58] and legal and nothing wrong with it, but
[46:00] it was also legal and legitimate, you
[46:03] know, that we came and passed the budget
[46:05] at the town meeting and more people were
[46:08] present for that. Um, it just, hate to
[46:11] say this, I don't want to be
[46:12] inflammatory, but it seems undemocratic
[46:15] to have a smaller group here rejecting
[46:18] uh the decision that was made by
[46:20] everybody who showed up uh at the last
[46:22] town meeting. So, I think
[46:26] I've uh I've heard it said that in
[46:30] Vermont politics to to accomplish
[46:31] something, you just need 10 friends. Um,
[46:35] and that, you know, that can be that can
[46:38] be a good thing. you don't need a big
[46:40] army of people to to get something done
[46:42] here, but it can also be a bad thing.
[46:44] Um, and I just it doesn't sit well with
[46:47] me that somebody, you know, had 10
[46:50] friends and then those individuals had
[46:52] 10 friends and that got a 100 signatures
[46:54] and then we're all back here to
[46:56] reconsider a decision that was already
[46:58] made. So, I that's why I just will not
[47:02] be supporting um rejecting the the
[47:05] budget that was already passed.
[47:12] Okay. Is there someone who'd like to
[47:14] speak in favor of article one?
[47:19] » Ask a question.
[47:20] >> Yes, you can ask a question.
[47:24] » Oh, sorry.
[47:25] >> Uh, Dave Smith, this is just a simple
[47:28] question. Is this a simple majority to
[47:30] decide article one?
[47:31] >> Simple majority. Yes, is the answer. Did
[47:34] you want to um Cheryl? Yes.
[47:42] Not a public speaker.
[47:43] >> Cheryl hates public speaking. We know.
[47:45] this about her. She hates this.
[47:48] is why I am treasurer. So we don't
[47:50] have to do this.
[47:52] >> Kiss the microphone.
[47:54] >> Can you hear me?
[47:55] >> Yes. Okay. So, there's important
[47:57] realities being left out of the entire
[47:59] conversation. There's an old saying that
[48:00] this town has a whole lot of chiefs and
[48:02] not a lot of engines. Frankly, I'm
[48:04] extremely sick of the misinformation as
[48:06] it keeps occurring. The town cannot
[48:07] simply go back to pre-COVID and pre-
[48:09] flood spending levels and pretend that
[48:11] the world did not change. Middle Sex,
[48:12] like many Vermont towns, has faced
[48:14] dramatic increases in infrastructures,
[48:16] costs, insurance, fuel, health
[48:17] insurance, emergency response, road
[48:19] repairs, state mandates, cyber security
[48:21] requirements, and administrative
[48:23] demands. We have had two historic floods
[48:25] alone permanently changing the financial
[48:27] landscape of our town. The FEMA process
[48:29] is also as nearly as simple as some make
[48:31] making it sound. and reimbursements do
[48:33] not arrive immediately. Towns often have
[48:35] to front millions of dollars while
[48:37] waiting months and sometimes years for
[48:38] approval and repayment. That creates an
[48:40] enormous cash flow pressure, borrowing
[48:42] costs and engineering requirements,
[48:44] audits and compliance obligations that never existed before. FEMA
[48:48] reimbures towns for the money that's
[48:50] already been spent. It does not hand out
[48:52] extra money. Middle Sex has to carry the
[48:53] burden of two floods while also paying
[48:55] the legal fees, engineering fees,
[48:57] interest costs, bond expenses, and other
[48:59] professional costs every time borrowing
[49:01] has been required. Suggesting that the
[49:03] town is simply holding on to FEMA money
[49:05] ignores how municipal finance and other
[49:07] disaster recoveries actually work. As
[49:09] for the audit timing, many Vermont
[49:11] municipalities are behind because of
[49:13] flood related reporting. FEMA
[49:15] documentation, grant compliance, and
[49:16] staffing shortages. That is not unique
[49:18] to Middle Sex. The FY24 budget was
[49:21] completed and posted online.
[49:24] Okay, just so you know, the FY25 regular
[49:28] audit was actually completed in February
[49:30] and the single audit required enormous
[49:31] amount of documentation and detail and
[49:33] was complete pending a meeting with the
[49:35] select board for a formal presentation
[49:36] and acceptance of that audit. We are not
[49:39] auditors. We are not this auditor's only
[49:41] client and many towns are in the same
[49:43] exact position. And while everyone feels
[49:45] rising costs differently, framing this
[49:46] as has and have nots risk dividing the
[49:49] neighbors instead of trying to solve
[49:50] problems. The people working in the
[49:52] office on committees and on the road
[49:54] crew, fire departments, lead board and
[49:55] commissions are not trying to hurt
[49:57] residents. Most are trying to keep the
[49:58] town functioning under enormous pressure
[50:00] with limited staffing and increasing
[50:02] demands. At the end of the day, nobody
[50:04] wants our taxes to increase, but nobody
[50:06] wants a failing infrastructure, delayed
[50:07] emergency response, understaffed
[50:10] offices, and compliance failures or
[50:11] losing because of workload has become
[50:14] impossible either. Those are difficult
[50:16] realities that towns across Vermont are
[50:17] facing right now. The can has been
[50:20] kicked down the road for years, and that's why we are here today.
[50:25] Budgets were repeatedly cut to suppress
[50:27] tax rates while infrastructure and
[50:28] operational needs have continued to
[50:30] grow.
[50:32] Had there been
[50:34] Okay, wait a second.
[50:37] The continued misinformation being
[50:39] spread is creating mistrust in the town
[50:41] and government and undermining the hard
[50:42] work. I've had many sleepless nights as
[50:44] many as the slate board has and
[50:46] countless hours and many people have put
[50:47] into making these difficult decisions
[50:49] under incredibly difficult
[50:51] circumstances. I live personally on both
[50:53] sides of this property tax coin. I
[50:55] understand exactly what rising taxes
[50:57] mean. Paying roughly $13,000 a year
[50:59] myself and property taxes is not an easy
[51:01] task and certainly will not be any
[51:03] easier in my retirement. But the town
[51:05] does need a town administrator. We need
[51:06] office staffing beyond an 8 hour day. We
[51:08] need our roads paved. We need our trucks
[51:10] that are safe and reliable. We need
[51:12] functioning highway garage. We need
[51:13] working town space. We need equipment
[51:15] not for that is constantly filling. We
[51:17] need to address years of the backlog.
[51:20] We need security upgrades and we need
[51:22] the building maintenance. We need
[51:23] windows replaced before it become before
[51:25] this rot has become instructional
[51:26] damage. Those are not luxuries. They are
[51:28] the realities of operating a town
[51:29] responsibility.
[51:31] And that's all I got.
[51:45] » Uh so we need to um do this by process.
[51:48] Can you raise your hand please and your
[51:51] name?
[51:51] >> Robert Edson.
[51:52] calls the question. And
[51:54] there was a second. Penny.
[51:57] >> Rob Penny. So, um the question has been
[52:00] called. Um uh moved and seconded. Um
[52:04] this is a call to um cut off debate. Um
[52:08] and uh in order to cut off debate, we
[52:11] need to have a twothirds uh vote in
[52:13] favor of cutting off debate. So, this is
[52:15] a question of whether we're going to
[52:17] stop talking about this um and and uh
[52:20] and vote. So, I need uh a couple of
[52:22] border civil authority folks up here. Um
[52:25] Chris McBay or because you need to help
[52:27] me do the hand count. Um when it's a
[52:29] twothirds, I prefer a hand count.
[52:34] Um so if you can count the folks on this
[52:37] side and Chris can count the folks on
[52:40] this side. Okay. All those in favor.
[52:45] >> Yeah. Yeah. Folks in back, pick a side.
[52:52] like the approach.
[52:55] >> I need to try file. I'm going to dump.
[52:58] >> So, to be clear, we're voting on whether
[53:02] or not to stop talking right now. Um, if
[53:04] you vote yes, you would like to stop
[53:07] talking and move on to vote on article
[53:10] one. If you vote no, you would like to
[53:12] continue the discussion on article one.
[53:15] All those in favor of ending discussion,
[53:18] please raise your hand.
[53:21] Whoa. Okay. Actually, hang on a second.
[53:24] Um, can
[53:25] >> let us down.
[53:26] >> Well, tell I'd like to do it the other
[53:28] way. All those opposed to ending
[53:30] discussion right now, please raise your
[53:32] hand. This will be a little quicker.
[53:33] >> That's fair.
[53:37] » Put your put your hand down after I get
[53:39] you, please.
[53:50] You have three.
[53:51] >> We have five. Okay. So, we have no
[53:54] eight. Okay. And I'll just ask you again
[53:56] to raise your hand if you're ready to
[53:57] end discussion. Please say I. Can
[53:59] everybody just agree that this is more
[54:01] than eight? Um more than 60 I should
[54:04] say. Yeah. Thank you. With your with
[54:07] your permission, I will not um uh do a
[54:10] further assessment on that 2/3. Okay.
[54:14] So, that means that we're done talking.
[54:15] Um, and
[54:16] >> explain what the votes mean.
[54:18] >> Uh, yes, we will. Um, do uh is there I
[54:22] understood that there was some interest
[54:23] in doing this by paper ballot. Is that
[54:25] the case?
[54:26] >> I need a motion.
[54:29] >> Okay.
[54:30] >> I Ursula Stanley, I move that we vote by
[54:32] paper ballot.
[54:33] >> Okay. And um are there seven other
[54:35] people who agree with Ursula Stanley
[54:37] that we should do this by paper ballot?
[54:39] Yes, there are. Okay. Thank you. Um, so
[54:42] we will be voting this by paper ballot.
[54:44] Um, and
[54:49] the way that's going to work is that we
[54:52] are all going to go to the Well, we're
[54:54] Okay, so we're going to divide by um
[54:57] what is the dinner party rule? You
[54:58] >> want me to do it? Larry,
[55:00] >> Larry is a former um
[55:04] crowd control officer.
[55:08] >> Sorry. Oh, hang on a second. Just a
[55:09] second. Uh, Larry, there's a question in
[55:10] the back. Yes,
[55:12] >> I had a suggestion to take advantage of
[55:14] the excellent planning that was done to
[55:17] make this efficient and have three
[55:19] tables and if we do it a first and then
[55:22] otherwise we're going to have two empty
[55:24] tables going
[55:26] right and I'm wondering whether
[55:30] » that's Larry's idea exactly yeah yeah
[55:32] and um yeah so um I just want to Is
[55:36] there a mobile mic I can use or so what we did was we actually made a flip
[55:41] chart and it says um and there's um
[55:45] there's two of those you if you take off
[55:47] the top sheet you'll see there's a
[55:49] second one they can't hear me. Hey
[55:51] Bridget
[55:52] >> there there's two of those pieces of
[55:54] paper that are identical so you can put
[55:55] the other one on the other flip chart
[55:59] um and it explains um the way it is
[56:02] written. Do I have it in front of me? Um
[56:05] article one
[56:10] Just a just a second. I need another
[56:12] mic.
[56:17] » Everybody hear me?
[56:19] >> Yes. Okay. So, this is going to be on
[56:22] the flip chart.
[56:25] Article one. That's what we're voting
[56:28] on. If you vote yes, yes means that you
[56:33] want to reconsider the budget vote for
[56:36] March 3rd and you want to move on today
[56:39] now to article 2. That's a yes vote. If
[56:42] you vote no, it means you do not want to
[56:45] reconsider the budget. It means that you
[56:48] want to keep the budget as it was passed
[56:50] on March 3rd. So, we have that on flip
[56:53] chart back there because you probably
[56:54] forget by the time you get there. Yes.
[56:57] Why are we doing it? So obvious
[57:00] why are we wasting everybody's time?
[57:02] >> It's democracy, my friend.
[57:05] This is This is how we're doing it. So
[57:07] Larry, you have a you have a microphone.
[57:09] >> I'm going to talk loud so we can hear.
[57:10] >> Okay. Really loud.
[57:13] >> You know what? Use a microphone.
[57:15] >> Not loud enough.
[57:18] >> Sorry. Let's start with the uh people
[57:21] that are standing in the back. If you
[57:22] can go first and then these two rows
[57:24] right here. right here.
[57:34] » And anyone at any time is allowed to get
[57:36] a snack.
[58:00] Is that better?
[58:21] Yeah.
[58:37] This is Yeah.
[59:01] So
[59:04] happy about that.
[59:11] like this.
[59:18] » Thank you.
[59:32] » It's going to be a half hour.
[59:39] feel over by
[59:48] now.
[1:00:03] Seriously.
[1:00:08] Nobody sure
[1:00:26] know because you're know
[1:00:31] why
[1:00:43] Yeah.
[1:01:01] Okay.
[1:01:24] the next two uh rows here, this
[1:01:26] row here and this row here.
[1:01:40] Like, are you kidding me?
[1:01:51] It's
[1:01:54] a little black
[1:01:58] America.
[1:02:10] You are now
[1:02:31] clear.
[1:02:37] Heat. Heat.
[1:03:19] Okay. Can I have the next two rows? The
[1:03:22] next two rows here and here.
[1:03:26] » Excuse me.
[1:03:39] This row right here is good.
[1:03:57] Happy
[1:04:22] miles
[1:04:28] on
[1:04:51] Yeah.
[1:04:53] Heat.
[1:05:03] Heat.
[1:05:16] Oh yeah.
[1:05:20] Heat.
[1:06:00] Okay, the next rows. Let's go. Next two
[1:06:03] rows. We can go two rows. You're
[1:06:05] welcome.
[1:06:08] You're all set. People here, you good to
[1:06:10] go?
[1:06:13] >> Yes.
[1:06:16] Heat. Heat.
[1:06:47] If you have voted already and you're up
[1:06:49] back, can you guys take a seat or move
[1:06:51] back? Go back to your seat so we have
[1:06:53] room for people.
[1:06:55] Yeah.
[1:07:03] Heat.
[1:07:14] Heat.
[1:07:34] Yeah. Okay, people. If you have voted
[1:07:36] already, can you return to your seats?
[1:07:38] We got to have room, people. Thank you.
[1:07:48] » If you have voted already, please return
[1:07:50] to your seats.
[1:08:01] Heat. Heat.
[1:08:40] If your name ends with between N and Z,
[1:08:44] that table is empty. So people up front,
[1:08:46] if your name ends between N and Z, your
[1:08:50] last name is N and Z, that line is
[1:08:52] available on the very end.
[1:08:56] >> N through Z
[1:08:58] right here. We're Dinder. Our our
[1:09:01] wonderful our wonderful
[1:09:04] assistant Dinda.
[1:09:19] No, it's the last two rows.
[1:09:26] » The last two rows can go up and get in
[1:09:28] line. N through Z especially is empty.
[1:09:31] So everybody else, if you have not
[1:09:33] voted, go up and vote.
[1:09:38] It's going to get a little crowded.
[1:09:45] » If you have voted, please return to your
[1:09:48] seats. If you have voted, please return
[1:09:50] to your seats.
[1:10:18] What?
[1:10:28] » Anybody that has not voted can get in
[1:10:30] line. Anyone who has not voted can get
[1:10:32] in line.
[1:10:58] Oh my
[1:11:03] god.
[1:11:19] Heat. Heat.
[1:12:14] Yeah.
[1:12:17] Heat.
[1:12:27] Heat.
[1:12:49] She doesn't know.
[1:13:06] Never have too many.
[1:13:17] Yeah.
[1:13:21] Heat.
[1:13:51] If you have voted, if you have already
[1:13:53] voted, please return to your seats. If
[1:13:56] you have already voted, please return to
[1:13:58] your seats. Thank you.
[1:14:00] Heat.
[1:14:22] Heat.
[1:14:47] If you have not voted, please head up
[1:14:50] and vote. If you have voted, please
[1:14:52] return to your seat. Thank you.
[1:15:23] Ken, how are you?
[1:15:27] >> Good. Have you seen like big pile of
[1:15:28] lunch?
[1:15:30] Oh my goodness. You're working on your
[1:15:31] yard and mulch.
[1:15:34] This is like what? It's not done yet
[1:15:36] like this. But if it's done in 10 weeks
[1:15:38] when you come back, then I kind of patty
[1:15:52] anybody in N through Z. The table is
[1:15:55] available N through Z. Let's
[1:16:09] do that again.
[1:16:37] Thank you.
[1:16:53] Heat.
[1:17:05] Heat.
[1:18:03] Okay, anybody else needs to vote? If you
[1:18:06] guys could recite to return to your
[1:18:08] seats, we're almost completing it.
[1:18:12] Heat. Heat.
[1:19:29] I have
[1:19:31] Yeah, I didn't know.
[1:19:41] Heat.
[1:19:57] Anybody
[1:20:14] left to vote? If anybody not voted, come
[1:20:18] up to the front, please.
[1:20:23] Yeah.
[1:20:32] Heat.
[1:20:42] Anybody
[1:20:53] left? Anybody need to vote?
[1:21:08] Heat. Heat.
[1:22:21] I believe we are done voting. Ide
[1:22:30] Could
[1:22:36] we have all BCA members, all board of
[1:22:40] civil authorities, board of civil
[1:22:42] authorities to the library, please to
[1:22:44] count these votes,
[1:22:47] please? Anybody in the BCA
[1:22:50] go to the library to count these votes?
[1:22:53] >> Voting.
[1:22:54] >> So, the polls are closing. Anybody who
[1:22:56] hasn't voted, if anybody who hasn't
[1:22:59] voted, make sure you voted. We are
[1:23:01] stopping the voting right now. Anybody?
[1:23:04] Last minute. So now the board of civil
[1:23:06] authorities is going to go to the
[1:23:07] library and count the ballots.
[1:23:17] » Okay, the voting is now closed. Voting
[1:23:19] is now closed.
[1:23:24] Heat. Heat.
[1:23:34] Hey,
[1:23:56] good t-shirt.
[1:24:02] Heat. Heat.
[1:26:43] You want to make
[1:26:44] resource
[1:26:47] computer
[1:26:52] when we
[1:26:53] 3,000
[1:27:07] But Thank you.
[1:27:36] Heat. Heat.
[1:28:15] Sorry.
[1:28:28] Good morning.
[1:28:57] Okay.
[1:29:06] Heat. Heat.
[1:30:30] Yeah. Heat.
[1:30:41] Heat.
[1:31:17] Okay, folks.
[1:31:22] » We have our results.
[1:31:28] Before I read the results, I just want
[1:31:30] to give a shout out to Annette
[1:31:32] Fitzgerald of the Story Road Bakery.
[1:31:42] And she wants you to know that she does
[1:31:46] not want to take any of this food home.
[1:31:50] >> And in fact, she said she even has a
[1:31:52] table full of seconds at home. So, if
[1:31:53] you not only want to have take some on
[1:31:55] your way out, but follow her home,
[1:31:59] could be
[1:32:01] um I I will also uh I'd just like to
[1:32:05] point out that um I know that the uh
[1:32:08] budget committee um and uh some other
[1:32:10] folks, the solutions committee are
[1:32:12] interested in um doing some lessons
[1:32:14] learned um work. Uh uh so some follow-up
[1:32:18] meetings um about this about this
[1:32:20] process, how we can make things better,
[1:32:22] clearer, more transparent for next year
[1:32:24] and make every uh thing go more
[1:32:25] smoothly. Um okay, so we have the
[1:32:28] results that I just got handed by our
[1:32:30] board of civil authority. The results
[1:32:32] are yes to reconsider 40 votes, no to
[1:32:36] not reconsider, 142 votes. So, article
[1:32:41] one does not pass and that means that
[1:32:45] you can go rake your lawn.
[1:32:48] >> Motion to dismiss.
[1:32:52] » Motion to motion to adjourn. Yes.
[1:32:55] >> Second. All those in favor of
[1:32:57] adjourning.
[1:32:59] >> Thank you.
[1:32:59] all for coming. Thank you.
[1:33:02] Thank you.
[1:33:10] guys.