1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,680 Invalued on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, at the month in town offices, polls will be opened from 7am to 7pm. 2 00:00:10,620 --> 00:00:16,620 Before we roll into Article 1, some general housekeeping announcements. 3 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,520 Jonathan, you want to make about the mic? 4 00:00:27,340 --> 00:00:29,480 So, most of these mics are very directional. 5 00:00:31,060 --> 00:00:33,300 So, if you're talking to the internet like this, 6 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:35,920 I'm not going to hear you unless you point it at you. 7 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,240 This mic stand, a little wonky. 8 00:00:41,020 --> 00:00:43,820 If you try to adjust it by tipping this mic back and forth, 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:45,580 the mention of the screw will loosen up 10 00:00:45,580 --> 00:00:48,440 and the mic will just go like that all over the place. 11 00:00:48,780 --> 00:00:50,740 So, if you need to adjust it feel free, 12 00:00:50,740 --> 00:00:56,780 But better to then try to twist the stand up if it comes loose. 13 00:00:56,940 --> 00:00:58,800 I can tighten it, but kind of a pain to play. 14 00:00:59,580 --> 00:01:01,560 The other thing is, please do use the microphone. 15 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,000 A lot of people think they project well. 16 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:05,240 I think I project well. 17 00:01:05,740 --> 00:01:09,240 There are people here who are arguing and cannot hear you. 18 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:10,540 It's speakers are done. 19 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:11,580 Thank you. 20 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:12,340 Thanks, sir. 21 00:01:13,140 --> 00:01:13,560 Okay. 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,740 So that, and since we're on the topic of microphones, 23 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:26,960 People who have questions, unfortunately, because we're recording this and we want to be sure 24 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:30,420 we get the names and everything right. 25 00:01:30,620 --> 00:01:37,700 If you have a question, you need to stroll up and use the microphones so everyone can hear. 26 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,200 I'm shouting from the back plate. 27 00:01:41,740 --> 00:01:48,720 Also you need to be recognized, in other words, you know, put your hand up with the 28 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:55,980 article and I'll move back and forth till I get, you know, everyone's question is answered. 29 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:03,900 Hopefully, I sometimes miss votes, but I'll try and not do that. 30 00:02:05,980 --> 00:02:08,820 Yeah, so we'll go article to article, 31 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:15,040 keep in mind with articles that they need to be moved 32 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,660 and seconded before there could be discussions. 33 00:02:19,620 --> 00:02:21,660 Votes are one of three ways. 34 00:02:22,220 --> 00:02:24,060 We do a voice vote initially. 35 00:02:25,340 --> 00:02:29,520 And then, if I think the voice vote is too close for me to call, 36 00:02:29,940 --> 00:02:33,120 I'll ask the board of civil authority to come up 37 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,840 and we'll do what's called the Division of the House, 38 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:41,020 where we'll have people stand for their particular votes 39 00:02:41,020 --> 00:02:42,020 and they'll be counted. 40 00:02:42,020 --> 00:02:52,100 If seven among you at any time, what a written ballot, paper ballot, seven of you can 41 00:02:52,100 --> 00:02:55,160 so request, seven reward. 42 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:57,480 So that's pretty much it. 43 00:02:57,900 --> 00:02:58,980 Let's get started. 44 00:03:00,540 --> 00:03:05,160 Article 1 to elect all town officers by Australian ballot. 45 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:15,980 Article 2, shall the voters authorize payment of real and personal property taxes on November 16th, 46 00:03:16,060 --> 00:03:22,600 2026 by the delivery to town hall by that date, or postmarked on or before that date? 47 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,040 Can I have a motion, please? 48 00:03:24,860 --> 00:03:25,160 Motion? 49 00:03:29,170 --> 00:03:30,230 Is there a second? 50 00:03:31,390 --> 00:03:32,250 I have a second? 51 00:03:32,810 --> 00:03:35,090 Joeman in the Purple Sweater Name? 52 00:03:35,610 --> 00:03:35,810 Roger. 53 00:03:36,310 --> 00:03:36,590 Roger. 54 00:03:36,870 --> 00:03:37,030 Roger. 55 00:03:37,030 --> 00:03:51,870 All right. Thank you. Article two has been moved in second. This is a standard article we have every year that basically just sets the do beginning for our property taxes. Any questions or discussions. 56 00:03:52,630 --> 00:04:00,780 Ready for the vote? Article two, shall the voters authorize payment of real and personal 57 00:04:00,780 --> 00:04:08,820 property taxes on November 16th, 2026 by delivering the town hall by that date or postmark 58 00:04:08,820 --> 00:04:16,640 on our before that date? All those in favor signify by saying aye? All those opposed signify 59 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:24,000 I say no, the eyes appear to have it, the eyes do have it, article two carrots, 60 00:04:26,350 --> 00:04:26,490 article 61 00:04:26,490 --> 00:04:35,650 three, shall the voters appropriate $22,349 to the following social service agencies. 62 00:04:37,090 --> 00:04:45,630 A, Addison County Community Action Group, hope $1,250, B, Addison County Home Health 63 00:04:45,630 --> 00:04:54,870 Hospice Inc. $1946. See, Addison County Restored of Justice Services. $550. 64 00:04:55,910 --> 00:05:07,750 D. Addison County Parenthood Child Center. $1600. E. Addison County Readers. $450. F. H. Well. $1,500. 65 00:05:07,750 --> 00:05:15,950 She, Bristol Family Center, $250, $H, Bristol Rec, the Department, $2,000. 66 00:05:17,130 --> 00:05:21,330 I, Counseling Service of As in County, $1,600. 67 00:05:22,210 --> 00:05:24,430 J, elderly services, $800. 68 00:05:25,770 --> 00:05:28,430 K, green up Vermont, $1,150. 69 00:05:29,450 --> 00:05:31,910 L, have a heart food shelf, $200. 70 00:05:33,230 --> 00:05:35,430 And Heinzburg Food Shill, $500. 71 00:05:35,430 --> 00:05:39,910 And, homework bound, you've aint society, $250. 72 00:05:41,470 --> 00:05:44,650 Oh, John Graham emergency shelter, $1,000. 73 00:05:45,670 --> 00:05:48,830 Be, Lewis Creek Association, $550. 74 00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:59,560 Q, Mountain Mentors Program, $1,000. 75 00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:02,740 Our Open Door Clinic, $500. 76 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,620 S, Otter Creek Natural Resources, Conservation District, $198. 77 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:21,360 T. Red Cross $500. You retired and seen your volunteer program $460. V. Rural Fire Protection Program $100. 78 00:06:22,740 --> 00:06:26,000 Devia, Tri-Valley Transit $850. 79 00:06:27,540 --> 00:06:31,120 X, turning point center of Addison County $1,000. 80 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,920 easiest for food besecapers, why for months adult learning $700. 81 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:40,620 Z, for a month for independent living habits and $155, 82 00:06:42,860 --> 00:06:43,320 a 83 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:44,400 atria 84 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:51,580 formerly women's safe, $1,250 B, B made cobe, $1,000. 85 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,060 Is there a season? 86 00:06:59,260 --> 00:07:00,540 —Is there a second? 87 00:07:00,540 --> 00:07:11,080 second. Second. Okay, so it's been moved and seconded. We vote on this as a block that doesn't mean that 88 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:19,720 individual line items can't be amended, but that's typically how we've done things years past. 89 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:40,780 I just wanted to ask if there are any new agencies added this year, or agencies which substantially change their request. 90 00:07:40,780 --> 00:07:42,420 So, like board? 91 00:07:59,390 --> 00:08:00,310 Good morning. 92 00:08:02,570 --> 00:08:03,430 There are two such questions. 93 00:08:03,430 --> 00:08:04,310 Yes, thank you. 94 00:08:07,570 --> 00:08:08,390 All right. 95 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:12,780 Can you hear me now? 96 00:08:13,420 --> 00:08:14,760 Thank you so much. 97 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,340 Acorn BB on the very bottom is a new social service. 98 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:28,180 And the Mungton Mentors Program increased from $500 to $1,000 this year. 99 00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:29,220 Those are the two changes. 100 00:08:33,990 --> 00:08:34,510 Yes, sir. 101 00:08:39,820 --> 00:08:54,640 I have a question, but the largest item on there appears to be Bristol Recreation Department, and I wonder what the taxpayers a month didn't get in return for that. 102 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,320 like board or somebody else? 103 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,740 That good? Okay. Great question. Thank you. 104 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:10,360 Morning. I'm Stan Pish. I've been in the cycle for a year. I don't know if I know 105 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:15,440 everybody, but I'm just wanted to introduce myself. So, Bristol Rack also runs a lot of 106 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,080 programs that munked in kids and residents take part in. So, just like their, you know, 107 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:24,100 fire department, you know, we sometimes get support from them or the rescue. So, that's why 108 00:09:24,100 --> 00:09:26,000 that article is in there and why it pertains to munked. 109 00:09:29,090 --> 00:09:31,250 Other questions or comments under article 110 00:09:31,250 --> 00:09:31,770 3. 111 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:45,500 Ready for the vote? Okay. Article 3. Show the voters appropriate $22,349 to the following 112 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:52,800 social service agencies. A. Addison County Community Action Group. Hope. $1250. 113 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,000 B. Addison 114 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:02,500 County Home Health and Hospice Inc. $1946. C. Addison County Restored of Justice Services. 115 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:13,360 $550, D Addison County Parent Child Center $1,600, E Addison County Raiders $450, F-H-12, 116 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:23,440 $1,500, G. Bristol Family Center $250, H. Bristol Wreck Department $2,000, J. Counseling 117 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:31,680 Service of Addison County $1,600, J. Elderly Services $800, K. Greenup Vermont $150, 118 00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:40,880 dollars. L have a heart food shelf $200. M. Heinzburg food shelf $500. And homework bound, 119 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:48,760 you made society $250. Oh, John Graham, emergency shelter $1,000. Pete Lewis Creek Association 120 00:10:49,540 --> 00:10:59,460 $550. Killed Munton Mentor's program $1,000. R. Open door clinic $500. S. Otter Creek Natural 121 00:10:59,460 --> 00:11:10,220 resources, conservation district, $198, T, Red Cross, $500, you retired and Senior Volunteer 122 00:11:10,220 --> 00:11:18,880 Program, $460, V, rural fire protection program, $100, W, Tri-Valley Transit, $850, 123 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:27,260 X, turning point center of as the county, $1,000, Y, Vermont Adult Learning, $700, Z, Vermont 124 00:11:27,260 --> 00:11:38,200 center for independent living, $195, a tree of formerly women's safe, $1,000, $1,000, $1,000. 125 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,200 All those in favor of Article 3 signify by saying aye. 126 00:11:43,340 --> 00:11:43,980 Aye. 127 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,120 All those opposed signify by saying no. 128 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:49,720 The eyes appear to have it. 129 00:11:49,820 --> 00:11:51,220 The eyes do have it. 130 00:11:52,100 --> 00:11:52,840 Article 3 carries. 131 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,200 Before we move on to Article 4, 132 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:06,320 Senator Ruth Hardy is present and we're going to give 133 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:12,700 her five minutes to bring us up to speed on what's going on in my bidder. 134 00:12:20,420 --> 00:12:20,860 Hi everyone. 135 00:12:21,220 --> 00:12:22,540 I'm Senator Ruth Hardy. 136 00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:26,520 I'm one of your two state senators in Addison District. 137 00:12:26,940 --> 00:12:29,080 Thank you for letting me interrupt your meeting. 138 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,480 I try to get to a bunch of town meetings I just came from Stark'sboro and next I'll 139 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:42,540 fair spurs. So thank you for letting me be on the agenda. This is my eighth session in the 140 00:12:42,540 --> 00:12:48,200 Senate and I serve on the Natural Resources Committee and the Finance Committee. 141 00:12:49,740 --> 00:12:54,260 You're probably hearing a lot about this conversation about education at the State House. 142 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:59,920 You may recall that there was a major piece of legislation last year that was packed past 143 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:04,580 at 73 that would call for the consolidation of school districts, 144 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:10,200 a new funding formula, and some changes to our tax system. 145 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,140 While I thought there were some good things in that bill, 146 00:13:13,380 --> 00:13:15,500 I ultimately voted against it. 147 00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:17,980 But there are still efforts right now to implement 148 00:13:17,980 --> 00:13:20,380 many of the provisions of at 73. 149 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,500 So there's kind of a map war going on right now 150 00:13:23,500 --> 00:13:26,060 in the State House with different types of maps 151 00:13:26,060 --> 00:13:28,120 for how to redistrict school districts. 152 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:34,640 Addison County and one map would be kind of all one school district and another map. 153 00:13:34,740 --> 00:13:41,880 It would be part of a larger sort of supervisor union that would cover most of the North West 154 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:47,720 corner plus Addison County, so I don't know where things are going to end up, but that's 155 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:48,240 what's going on. 156 00:13:48,340 --> 00:13:52,000 I'm not on the committees that are working on those maps, but in the finance committee, 157 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:59,500 we are talking about how to fund schools and some of it is talking about how do we reduce costs 158 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:04,960 in schools, either by working with school districts to find reductions in costs, or to 159 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:10,100 force reductions in costs, or force reductions in expenses. 160 00:14:10,340 --> 00:14:16,060 I don't know how exactly how that's going to work, but and or to look alternative revenue 161 00:14:16,060 --> 00:14:23,040 sources, and how that could work to bring down property taxes by using alternative revenues 162 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:30,040 that are very proposal sort of under the guise of, I don't quite love this term, but they're 163 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:36,100 more or less under the guise of tax, the rich kind of provisions. But we're not, we haven't 164 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:41,460 decided on anything, and this is just where what we're discussing in terms of funding for schools. 165 00:14:41,460 --> 00:14:46,320 It's a really big issue and I'd love to hear more from you all about what you're thinking. 166 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:51,440 I know this school is very important to the community, so I'm trying my best to make sure 167 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:58,640 that we protect small rural elementary schools and don't create public school deserts in our state. 168 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:07,160 And then in the Natural Resources Committee, one of our big topics of discussion is land use and housing. 169 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:15,580 You might be familiar with the sort of monumental land use law that was passed 55, 56 years ago. 170 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:21,940 Act 250. And then there was an update to act 250, a few years ago, act 181. 171 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:27,800 And we are taking a look at both of those and trying to make revisions to them to make it easier to build housing. 172 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:34,900 that was the point of act 181 and we're trying to extend that even further. I know there 173 00:15:34,900 --> 00:15:39,820 are a couple of you, Sam, if you're here. For example, we wanted to talk to me about 174 00:15:40,380 --> 00:15:44,780 Act 250 and act 181. So if there's anybody else who wants to talk about anything, you can 175 00:15:44,780 --> 00:15:49,000 meet me in the hall after. But also in the natural resources committee, we've done 176 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:54,660 some things about energy, we've passed a bill called balcony solar, plug-in solar, which 177 00:15:54,660 --> 00:16:01,260 like many solar panels for people who can't afford or get the big ones if they live in a 178 00:16:01,260 --> 00:16:05,080 apartment or just don't have the space for it and you can get a smaller one and then take 179 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:10,260 it with you if you move. And then also I just wanted to mention two bills that are dear to my 180 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:19,060 heart that are my bills that just passed yesterday. One is a bill called the Farm Security Fund 181 00:16:19,060 --> 00:16:40,260 And this would create a fund for farmers to dip into if they've been, if they're crops or their property has been damaged during a climate, you know, natural disaster, like a flood or a drought, which we've seen happen a lot lately, and then also build to better support libraries and make them eligible for programs that already exist. 182 00:16:40,260 --> 00:16:48,840 Mungton has a beautiful library, and I love libraries, and it would also create a library, a Vermont library day, every October. 183 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:54,800 So trying to bring some joy amongst the really difficult issues at the state house. 184 00:16:55,080 --> 00:17:00,280 We're doing a lot of other things, and I'm happy to answer questions, but I don't want to take more time than I'm a lot of it. 185 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:03,520 Thank you very much, Senator. 186 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,200 Yeah, do you want me to take a couple of questions? 187 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:13,060 or not really. Okay. Okay. Fair enough. But you have questions. I will go out in the hallway 188 00:17:13,060 --> 00:17:17,860 and I'm happy to chat with any of you. So thank you very much for your time today. Appreciate 189 00:17:17,860 --> 00:17:20,200 it. Thank you. 190 00:17:25,030 --> 00:17:32,610 Okay, folks. Back to the warned meeting article four. Shall the voters 191 00:17:32,610 --> 00:17:39,750 authorize general fund expenditures for operating expenses of a general fund deficit, two 192 00:17:39,750 --> 00:17:46,830 $1,043,571, 9 cents, B, salaries, and general expenses, 193 00:17:47,050 --> 00:17:59,690 $631,122,25 cents, C, Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, $197,600, D, Russell Memorial Library, 194 00:17:59,690 --> 00:18:02,670 $4,979. 195 00:18:03,350 --> 00:18:07,330 E, month in the Museum in a historical society, $1,500. 196 00:18:08,610 --> 00:18:11,170 F, wreck fund, $10,500. 197 00:18:12,530 --> 00:18:17,150 G, agricultural and natural areas fund, $30,000. 198 00:18:18,370 --> 00:18:22,050 H, highway capital projects fund, $20,000. 199 00:18:23,350 --> 00:18:28,030 For a total of $1,176,272. 200 00:18:29,050 --> 00:18:45,130 dollars and 34 cents of which 856,478 dollars and 66 cents shall be raised by taxes and 319,793 dollars and 68 cents by non-to-exrevenous. 201 00:18:45,630 --> 00:18:46,350 Is there a motion? 202 00:18:48,850 --> 00:18:51,810 So, Mr. Pelcher, is there a second? 203 00:18:53,820 --> 00:18:54,620 John, seconds. 204 00:18:54,620 --> 00:19:04,900 Okay, Article 4 has been moved and seconded, select board, I understand you want to propose an amendment to Article 4. 205 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:05,680 Yes, please. 206 00:19:08,060 --> 00:19:14,180 For folks standing in the back, you might not have picked up the paper that's on the seats. 207 00:19:15,060 --> 00:19:20,340 There's some up here that could maybe be passed around or you could share with your neighbors. 208 00:19:21,340 --> 00:19:30,340 But this report has an amendment to Article 4 in that we want to change the general fund deficit from 209 00:19:32,140 --> 00:19:40,580 243,571 dollars in nine cents to 74,623 dollars in 64 cents. 210 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:41,960 That's one change. 211 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:58,960 The other change would be changing the non-text revenues from the 319,793 dollars in 68 cents to 139,793 dollars in 68 cents. 212 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:00,400 Do I? 213 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:07,080 Yeah, let me read the amendment proposed by the select board. 214 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:13,520 then we'll move and second it and we'll proceed to discuss Article 4 as amended. 215 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:21,060 Show the voters authorized general fund expenditures for operating expenses of A, general 216 00:20:21,060 --> 00:20:21,980 fund deficit. 217 00:20:22,860 --> 00:20:27,680 74,623 dollars and 64 cents. 218 00:20:28,100 --> 00:20:29,700 B, salaries and general expenses. 219 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:48,640 $631,122.25, see month in volunteer fire department, $197,600, D, Russell, Memorial Library, $41,979, E, 220 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:58,680 month in Museum in the Historical Society, $1,500, f-reck fund, $10,500, g, agriculture, 221 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:07,360 natural areas fund, $30,000, h, highway capital projects fund, $20,000, for a total of 222 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:18,620 1,7,324 dollars and 89 cents of which, $867,531,21 cents, she'll be 223 00:21:18,620 --> 00:21:28,940 raised by taxes and $139,793 and $68 by non-text revenues. Is there a motion? 224 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:32,240 Okay, and is 225 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:33,300 there a second? 226 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:43,900 The amendment has been moved in second. Select board. Would you care to explain 227 00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:45,200 the purpose of your amendment? 228 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:45,880 I 229 00:21:52,540 --> 00:21:53,500 want to be able to see everybody. 230 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:54,800 Can folks see me? 231 00:21:55,220 --> 00:21:55,720 Here me, okay. 232 00:21:56,500 --> 00:21:56,600 Great. 233 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:01,720 So I just want to make sure that if folks have not read, there is a sheet of paper that has, 234 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:02,800 like, kind of, info sheet. 235 00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:07,100 And if you don't have copies, please do share with your neighbors. 236 00:22:07,260 --> 00:22:11,220 Because that guy goes into more detail about what I'm going to talk about. 237 00:22:13,020 --> 00:22:14,560 And, of course, ask me any questions. 238 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:21,080 I just want to name that it's obviously not ideal that we're asking to amend tonight today. 239 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,040 So it's more complicated than I wish it was. 240 00:22:24,820 --> 00:22:26,220 But there are clear reasons for that. 241 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,600 And I want to show you that nothing untoward happened. 242 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,940 This is what took place was our treasurer resumed, and we thank Bill and many of you know Bill for his 243 00:22:34,940 --> 00:22:41,740 years of service to the town. It's the best practice when a treasurer leaves to have an outside, you know, 244 00:22:42,060 --> 00:22:48,340 nonpartisan expert look at your books. So we hired NEMRIC, so there are really 245 00:22:48,340 --> 00:22:55,540 gromants like top accounting experts, almost every single town in Vermont uses NEMRIC's software, which is kind 246 00:22:55,540 --> 00:23:01,840 remarkable, and they are especially set up to advise towns when they're going through this type of 247 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:07,500 transition. So they've been helping towns for, I think, over 50 years do this kind of thing. 248 00:23:08,740 --> 00:23:13,600 So we, we the Slack board decided to contract with them to make sure the numbers that we're proposing 249 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:20,660 for all of you are correct because we think it's very important to be transparent with all of you and that the numbers are correct. 250 00:23:20,660 --> 00:23:23,200 If I was sitting in the seats where you are, 251 00:23:23,260 --> 00:23:26,360 I would want to be assured that an outside person looked at, 252 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:28,620 we all looked at it, we have people in the town hall 253 00:23:28,620 --> 00:23:33,160 look at it and we had two experts from NEMRIC look at these numbers. 254 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,660 So I'm confident in them to the best of our ability. 255 00:23:36,580 --> 00:23:38,380 They did recommend a couple of changes, 256 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,160 which are reflected in the amendment. 257 00:23:41,740 --> 00:23:46,980 The two biggest components of that are changing how the town has 258 00:23:46,980 --> 00:23:53,220 changing how we budget for delinquencies, so in the original warning that was 259 00:23:53,220 --> 00:23:57,320 budgeted as like incoming revenue and the the best practice really is to 260 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,540 not treat that as revenue because that's money that we didn't necessarily we didn't 261 00:24:00,540 --> 00:24:04,900 receive because it was delinqued. So they recommended not treating that as 262 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:11,620 revenue, so that's why that revenue line went down by a fair amount and we 263 00:24:11,620 --> 00:24:17,300 We also, because of the way that our talent does, we're on a calendar year, not on the state 264 00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:17,960 fiscal year. 265 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:23,000 So the education, obviously, the education topic is big, as Senator Hardy said, we don't 266 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,280 know what the final rate is going to be. 267 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:30,660 So that gets true to what our final education payment happens later in the spring. 268 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:36,020 So there's a certain amount of money that we, as a town, hold back to be able to pay that 269 00:24:36,020 --> 00:24:37,860 state bill, the state education bill. 270 00:24:38,340 --> 00:24:41,940 And the amount that we thought we were going to hold back is a little bit different. 271 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,420 So NEMRK is recommending that we actually, you know, expect you to get a credit back. 272 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,520 So I have a little bit more money than we thought we were going to get. 273 00:24:49,900 --> 00:24:52,540 So that's why that number of the deficit number really came down. 274 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:57,640 And there were a couple other funds in there that really should be accounted as true revenue. 275 00:24:57,860 --> 00:25:02,100 So again, that's also another reason why that deficit line is coming down. 276 00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:04,360 So again, we wanted to be totally transparent. 277 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:06,180 I don't know if this has ever happened before, 278 00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:08,880 where we've had to amend the amendment on the floor, 279 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,380 but we really want to make sure that all of you 280 00:25:11,380 --> 00:25:13,740 as taxpayers are voting on accurate numbers 281 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:15,920 and there are a couple of changes that we requested 282 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:16,560 that we may have. 283 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,840 So happy to answer any questions, but one, 284 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:20,400 do you have that context? 285 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:22,880 OK, thank you. 286 00:25:23,580 --> 00:25:25,580 Questions or comments from the floor? 287 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:27,360 Yes, sir. 288 00:25:27,660 --> 00:25:30,020 I want to welcome the state of your name. 289 00:25:30,020 --> 00:25:38,740 Roger Wallace, and thank you for that explanation, diving right into the part you mentioned 290 00:25:38,740 --> 00:25:39,880 about Dillmanquintaxis. 291 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:47,840 If I understood you correctly, you said that NEMREC is recommending not the count that 292 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,060 has revenue because it isn't revenue. 293 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:58,440 However, we collect Dillmanquintaxis every single year, so if we collect them and they come 294 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:02,140 into the town as they're showing in the town sheet, 295 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:03,200 why aren't they revenues? 296 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:07,520 Because we've just followed with the, we've already, 297 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:11,060 we've deducted that from, you know, 298 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,420 for instance, if we budget so much for 2025, 299 00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:18,620 and we only collect 80%, then we show that 20% reduction 300 00:26:19,340 --> 00:26:24,420 in the actual, and then we collect from not 25, 301 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:25,480 but years prior. 302 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:27,940 So we have it coming in as revenue every year, 303 00:26:27,940 --> 00:26:29,780 So why isn't it being reported this revenue? 304 00:26:31,420 --> 00:26:31,780 It will be. 305 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:31,880 It will be. 306 00:26:32,300 --> 00:26:33,340 It will be. 307 00:26:33,420 --> 00:26:35,460 Yeah, just keep in mind folks. 308 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,040 All comments go through the chair. 309 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:40,820 And then I turn to whoever can answer. 310 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:43,780 Go ahead. 311 00:26:47,290 --> 00:26:47,550 Um. 312 00:26:49,530 --> 00:26:51,090 That's a really good point, Roger. 313 00:26:52,270 --> 00:26:52,790 But, um. 314 00:26:53,310 --> 00:26:56,770 What never suggests is that we don't budget for that income. 315 00:26:57,070 --> 00:26:58,310 Because it's in liquid taxes. 316 00:26:58,310 --> 00:27:07,970 we can't count on that. So putting that in our budget is not the right practice. It will 317 00:27:07,970 --> 00:27:13,690 come in and it will become revenue and it will be reported, but not to put it in the budgeting 318 00:27:13,690 --> 00:27:19,790 so that we don't artificially inflate our revenue. 319 00:27:28,180 --> 00:27:34,100 So I understand that given that advice, but historically we can show that we can always count 320 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:38,020 on dealing with taxes to some amount being collected. 321 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:43,300 And so we have this historical trend that we can count on some of it. 322 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:47,700 And at the same time, you know, based on that explanation from NEMRIC, 323 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:51,960 we always budget a certain amount of taxes to be collected. 324 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:53,740 We vote on a certain amount of tax being collected. 325 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,220 However, we never collect that full amount. 326 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,080 So you could make that exact same argument and say, 327 00:27:59,300 --> 00:28:01,480 well, we can't count on our full amount of taxes being collected. 328 00:28:01,620 --> 00:28:02,640 So we shouldn't budget for that. 329 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:04,760 So you can't have it both ways. 330 00:28:05,740 --> 00:28:08,220 So I'm trying to understand how they can say, 331 00:28:08,300 --> 00:28:09,760 even though we have an historical trend 332 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,240 of that we can collect a certain percentage 333 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,680 of outscaining delinquent taxes, 334 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:16,900 how they say we shouldn't budget that. 335 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,220 Because that's implies we're always going to, 336 00:28:19,220 --> 00:28:21,340 if we don't budget it and we always collect it, 337 00:28:22,900 --> 00:28:26,920 then basically that's going to force higher tax rate 338 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,760 and the towns can always be running a surplus year to year 339 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,020 because we are going to be collecting delinquent taxes. 340 00:28:42,750 --> 00:28:46,170 So if you want to turn to somebody, get ahead. 341 00:28:53,170 --> 00:28:56,670 I'm Joan Holloway, and so can I turn this around so I face the audience? 342 00:28:57,090 --> 00:28:57,310 Yes sure. 343 00:28:57,510 --> 00:28:58,090 Go ahead. 344 00:29:02,090 --> 00:29:06,310 Okay, so I had a total geeky accounting moment on this one. 345 00:29:06,670 --> 00:29:09,150 So I found out, I've listened about this yesterday, 346 00:29:09,910 --> 00:29:11,310 and I thought about it all day. 347 00:29:13,910 --> 00:29:14,450 Is that right? 348 00:29:15,010 --> 00:29:15,250 Okay. 349 00:29:15,470 --> 00:29:17,030 So I thought about this all day. 350 00:29:17,570 --> 00:29:20,830 So I can't draw you any pictures, but I try to explain this 351 00:29:20,830 --> 00:29:24,070 because I had an epiphany this morning about why, 352 00:29:24,390 --> 00:29:27,170 because I had the same question that Roger had, 353 00:29:27,490 --> 00:29:30,210 which is, you have a certain amount of liquid taxes, 354 00:29:30,390 --> 00:29:31,530 but you collect a certain amount, 355 00:29:31,630 --> 00:29:33,350 so why isn't it revenue, right? 356 00:29:35,790 --> 00:29:38,990 In the very first year of the universe, 357 00:29:39,750 --> 00:29:42,990 the town sets the tax rate, 358 00:29:43,230 --> 00:29:45,010 so that you have the ground waste. 359 00:29:45,570 --> 00:29:48,690 Okay, you have the ground list and a certain, 360 00:29:49,090 --> 00:29:50,370 and you set a tax rate, 361 00:29:50,370 --> 00:29:52,690 So a certain amount of revenue comes in. 362 00:29:53,010 --> 00:29:56,070 He spent all your expenses in a perfect world 363 00:29:56,070 --> 00:29:57,830 you'd come out with zero, right? 364 00:29:57,950 --> 00:29:59,970 You would have raised as much taxes as you spent. 365 00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:12,880 However, there are some delinquent taxes. So at the end of that first year, you have a gap in your, you have a deficit in your general fund, right? 366 00:30:14,220 --> 00:30:23,380 The next year, if those delinquent taxes come in, it restores the deficit that was in the general fund. 367 00:30:24,340 --> 00:30:33,950 And so it is double counting if you count them as revenue, because they already were part of, 368 00:30:34,550 --> 00:30:43,290 I agree with you, and I would be happy to sit and draw pictures with you, because it took me about 12 hours thinking about this to understand it. 369 00:30:43,550 --> 00:30:52,310 Okay, but it's because they were saying it's double counting, and I was like, but they come in the next year, but you already counted that when you set your expenses, 370 00:30:52,310 --> 00:30:58,830 you came out to come out at zero. So the next year you can't count them again towards 371 00:30:58,830 --> 00:31:05,510 the tax rate because you would never restore that hole in your general fund. Does that make 372 00:31:05,510 --> 00:31:07,710 even a dilemma? 373 00:31:10,510 --> 00:31:16,190 So anyway, and so I would be happy to draw pictures. I think I could be 374 00:31:16,190 --> 00:31:20,770 more clear, but anyway, that's the reason. And I agree, I totally agree with your 375 00:31:20,770 --> 00:31:29,770 it did not make sense to me why you wouldn't collect them when that money comes in. But you already counted it when you set your expenses in that first year. 376 00:31:33,530 --> 00:31:37,530 We storing money owed exactly. So thank you. 377 00:31:37,710 --> 00:31:42,090 Thank you very much. OK. Other questions or comments on the amendment? 378 00:31:42,550 --> 00:31:44,070 We're still on the amendment? Yes sir? 379 00:31:45,370 --> 00:31:46,710 And then I'll get to you. 380 00:31:50,370 --> 00:31:51,290 Hi, Scott's leader. 381 00:31:54,190 --> 00:31:58,610 having worked in a non-governmental company for a lot of years. 382 00:31:59,210 --> 00:32:02,170 When there are material changes to the books recommended by the auditors, 383 00:32:03,330 --> 00:32:06,410 it may serve us in the future to have the auditors here. 384 00:32:08,010 --> 00:32:11,350 Generally, annually, we would have the auditors present to our board 385 00:32:11,350 --> 00:32:13,530 if there were questions, such as that point of order. 386 00:32:15,390 --> 00:32:16,370 Thank you. Yes, sir. 387 00:32:17,450 --> 00:32:18,410 Come on up. 388 00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:26,000 Please state your name. 389 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:32,920 Jim Merett, so one question I have in here in the explanation doesn't quite 390 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:39,860 shy with me is, what a county method are you using? What has the 391 00:32:39,860 --> 00:32:45,500 auditors suggested? It sounds like you're changing your accounting method, because 392 00:32:45,500 --> 00:32:50,760 you don't double your thing. You put it in a country's sea level, that's an 393 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,960 country's sea level, it's on your books, it's money that's going to be 394 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,840 coming in. It sounds to me like you're moving from your 395 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:00,380 chiral method of accounting. You're different. Probably 396 00:33:00,380 --> 00:33:04,480 cash accounting. Is that what you were doing? Can you 397 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:06,980 explain. Selectboard? 398 00:33:11,470 --> 00:33:12,610 Or, yeah, could I call on Lisa 399 00:33:12,610 --> 00:33:14,490 Burns? Are townlister? 400 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,140 This is probably fine. So the best 401 00:33:21,140 --> 00:33:21,900 you might want to try. 402 00:33:28,260 --> 00:33:30,060 So I think that one of the things 403 00:33:30,060 --> 00:33:34,400 that. Hello. There we go. So one of the things I think 404 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:39,740 that we, those of us who aren't in financial services or dealing in, you know, these types 405 00:33:39,740 --> 00:33:44,800 of numbers all the time is that we have a tendency to get confused about all the terms 406 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:45,660 that get used. 407 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:51,820 So when you're talking about the financial statements and the auditors, those are the 408 00:33:51,820 --> 00:33:57,700 and the method in which we are accounting for this, those are things prepared by the outside 409 00:34:03,820 --> 00:34:04,380 CPAs. 410 00:34:04,380 --> 00:34:10,540 and they conform with government-accepted standards for accounting practices. 411 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:11,760 That's what's been done in the past. 412 00:34:12,180 --> 00:34:13,620 What's been done in the future? 413 00:34:14,720 --> 00:34:18,420 Those are different from what we do when we drop a budget. 414 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,560 So it's sort of like looking at your own personal checkbook. 415 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:23,980 The money that goes in and out. 416 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:24,920 Those are actual. 417 00:34:25,620 --> 00:34:28,980 Our budgets that we create perhaps for our families, 418 00:34:29,780 --> 00:34:32,580 are projecting and showing what is happening in the future. 419 00:34:34,460 --> 00:34:46,880 So, you're not using necessarily accounting practices and standards for your budget, which is projecting the future, versus what has happened on your financial statements in the past. 420 00:34:49,180 --> 00:34:52,520 And I also think we have to be careful about the term we use as auditors. 421 00:34:53,220 --> 00:35:00,160 So an auditor in my world is a certified public accountant that comes in and is performing 422 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:07,320 an actual testing of every single account on your financial statements, and they're coming back to us with 423 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:11,780 and saying this is what we see here or these are your adjustments you need to make. 424 00:35:12,340 --> 00:35:20,200 Then we also have our auditors that we elect at town meeting, or at the on our Australian ballot, 425 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:28,720 And those are the people that come in, are fellow neighbors that come in and look at our bank accounts and try to true them up on a monthly basis. 426 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:37,000 What NEMRIC is doing, NEMRIC is an outside consultant. They are not our auditors. 427 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:43,000 They are a consultant that comes in and says, hey, you know, we were experts at this. 428 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:49,820 So we'd like to be able to help you in establishing better practices going forward. 429 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:53,900 So I don't think NEMARC has come to us and said, you've done something wrong. 430 00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:57,120 They've said, this is a better way to do it. 431 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,400 And I think that the select board has accepted those recommendations. 432 00:36:01,780 --> 00:36:06,240 So hopefully that clarifies it a little bit, and I didn't just confuse everybody. 433 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:08,340 Okay. Thank you. 434 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:09,460 Thank you. 435 00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:14,360 Okay, other questions, comments on the amendment? 436 00:36:14,860 --> 00:36:15,360 Yes, sir. 437 00:36:16,420 --> 00:36:18,260 And then I'll... 438 00:36:18,260 --> 00:36:19,500 John McNerny. 439 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:26,940 With the proposed amendment, I see on page 19 you had an estimated tax rate. 440 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:31,180 .4275. 441 00:36:31,340 --> 00:36:39,060 I'm wondering if you've had a chance to figure out how the proposed amendment affects that estimated tax rate. 442 00:36:44,980 --> 00:36:48,080 Sorry, I missed a second page. 443 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:50,160 Sorry, I could never mind. 444 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:55,520 Yeah, for those who, it's on the back of the handout, 445 00:36:58,020 --> 00:37:04,440 the projected tax rate goes up a smidge. 446 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:06,600 Yes, Mr. Pilter. 447 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,480 I had a question regarding the monthly 448 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:23,780 volunteer fire department, there are $197,000 this year, I'm substantially from what it's 449 00:37:23,780 --> 00:37:29,520 been historically and a lot of it, as I can see, I think on page 72. 450 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:39,240 It seems to relate to the truck fund that they are busy accumulating, and that's as is appropriate. 451 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:48,100 I wonder if they could, currently, I think it's $90,000 or so going into the truck fund. 452 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:58,660 I wonder if they could speak to how much money they need in that truck fund, and when that truck fund, 453 00:37:58,660 --> 00:38:01,840 we won't need to be putting so much money into the track fund. 454 00:38:04,380 --> 00:38:07,280 Is there somebody here from Fire Department? 455 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:09,900 Yes, OK, he's coming up, 456 00:38:13,820 --> 00:38:14,180 Bob Howard. 457 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:23,540 Fire Department Chief, Stephen, what? 458 00:38:24,940 --> 00:38:30,900 So back even when you were on it, we had requested $80,000 a year 459 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:36,360 to, because we have signed a contract on a truck. 460 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:44,140 And that truck was figured out that the payments on that would be about $80,000 a year. 461 00:38:44,660 --> 00:38:49,080 The truck is delayed as per usual with the manufacturers. 462 00:38:50,620 --> 00:38:58,120 And then what we asked for was another $10,000 this past year to start our next truck fund. 463 00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:03,140 Because what's going to happen is when we get this truck, 464 00:39:03,140 --> 00:39:10,740 We want to take the money that we have been saving up for now because of the delay from the manufacturer. 465 00:39:11,620 --> 00:39:15,140 Whatever is there, we've most everything that is there. 466 00:39:15,420 --> 00:39:19,640 We'll go towards the payment of the truck once of receipt. 467 00:39:21,820 --> 00:39:27,040 And so the next $10,000 that you see, like I said, is a starter fund for our next truck. 468 00:39:29,740 --> 00:39:29,960 Senator. 469 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:31,660 Thank you. 470 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:36,940 Okay, other questions or comments under the amendment, yes ma'am in the back, 471 00:39:42,980 --> 00:39:43,820 come on down. 472 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:48,120 Just like a game show. 473 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:52,360 So I have to say my name. 474 00:39:52,820 --> 00:39:52,920 Name? 475 00:39:53,180 --> 00:39:54,060 Julie Palin. 476 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:54,960 Thank you. 477 00:39:55,260 --> 00:39:57,760 My question is under the highway department. 478 00:39:58,340 --> 00:40:04,440 I'm wondering how many full-time positions are funded under the full-time payroll budget. 479 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:11,620 And in the report, the Highway Department report, it talks about two employees and then 480 00:40:11,620 --> 00:40:12,080 the four minutes. 481 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:12,960 That's three people. 482 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:17,320 Is that the full, is there four funded positions? 483 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:18,540 That's what I wanted to know. 484 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:22,820 Because we used to have four people on the Highway Department. 485 00:40:22,940 --> 00:40:23,720 Thank you. 486 00:40:29,150 --> 00:40:29,630 I'm sorry. 487 00:40:30,890 --> 00:40:35,910 I didn't quite hear all the questions, but did it have to do with the Highway Department? 488 00:40:35,910 --> 00:40:44,150 Okay, we're going to save that for Article 5, because that's the article that deals with the highway department. 489 00:40:45,330 --> 00:40:47,430 Okay, that's okay, no worries. 490 00:40:48,310 --> 00:40:59,790 I mean, there is a line item in Article 4 dealing with the capital projects fund, but my sense is your question went more towards the highway department in general. 491 00:40:59,790 --> 00:41:03,790 Well, so if you can come, we'll come back to that when we get the article five. 492 00:41:04,570 --> 00:41:10,190 So article four of the amendment, any further questions or comments? 493 00:41:11,350 --> 00:41:11,850 Yes, sir. 494 00:41:15,350 --> 00:41:16,410 Again, the Rudd Wallace. 495 00:41:17,110 --> 00:41:23,230 So my previous question was based on item two on the FAQ that was passed out. 496 00:41:23,510 --> 00:41:30,290 Now looking at item one, just looking to get an explanation for the floor. 497 00:41:31,450 --> 00:41:38,770 NEMRIC recommended, based on this, that we basically reduced the deficit by tapping into 498 00:41:38,770 --> 00:41:44,310 the projected deficit by tapping into the tax stabilization fund for $30,000, it looks 499 00:41:44,310 --> 00:41:47,670 like another cash reserve for $10,500. 500 00:41:49,050 --> 00:41:56,470 Can the board just explain why NEMRIC made these specific explanations, especially for the tax 501 00:41:56,470 --> 00:42:03,650 stabilization fund which are they thinking that this is a particularly good year to tap into that or so 502 00:42:04,930 --> 00:42:13,520 So important yeah, I can't speak for them, but my sense is yes, that is a good and in particularly because we're trying to 503 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:18,180 Correct, but move to better practices about delinquent tax revenue 504 00:42:18,180 --> 00:42:19,960 So that's a big change 505 00:42:20,860 --> 00:42:28,620 It's a big change, so that's like a lot of revenue that we would have predicted to receive that we're not receiving if you all agreed to vote for that. 506 00:42:29,580 --> 00:42:31,340 So, I mean, these funds could appropriately be used. 507 00:42:31,540 --> 00:42:39,140 I mean, tax stabilization, you know, that's exactly germane to try to keep the rate as low as possible, which I imagine is all of our goal. 508 00:42:40,420 --> 00:42:47,020 So, that is what they're recommending to try to minimize the tax impact, or that's what we're recommending, I should be more clear. 509 00:42:47,020 --> 00:42:49,960 And that isn't a proper use of those funds. 510 00:42:51,380 --> 00:42:53,980 Okay, other questions or comments under the amendment? 511 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:56,660 Ready for the vote? 512 00:42:58,160 --> 00:42:58,480 Okay. 513 00:43:01,900 --> 00:43:03,760 We're voting on the amendment only. 514 00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:06,880 Article four, amendment. 515 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:12,200 Show the voter's authorized general fund expenditures for operative expenses. 516 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:21,420 up, A, General Fund deficit, 74,623 dollars and 64 cents, B, salaries and general expenses, 517 00:43:22,380 --> 00:43:32,740 631,122 dollars and 25 cents, C, month-involunteer, fire department, $197,600, D, Russell 518 00:43:32,740 --> 00:43:41,460 Memorial Library, $41,979 dollars, E, month-in Museum and Historical Society, $1500, 519 00:43:41,460 --> 00:43:50,160 F, wreck fund, $10,500, G, agricultural, and natural areas fund, $30,000, 520 00:43:50,620 --> 00:44:00,000 H, high-week capital projects fund, $20,000, for a total of $1,000,000, $324,89, 521 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:05,660 of which $867,531,21, 21 cents. 522 00:44:05,660 --> 00:44:14,960 She'll be raised by taxes and 139,793 dollars and 68 cents by non-to-exrevenous. 523 00:44:16,020 --> 00:44:20,160 All those in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye. 524 00:44:20,160 --> 00:44:20,880 Aye. 525 00:44:21,380 --> 00:44:24,580 All those opposed signified by saying no. 526 00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:24,940 No. 527 00:44:25,900 --> 00:44:27,760 The aye's agreed to have it. 528 00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:28,960 The aye's do have it. 529 00:44:29,540 --> 00:44:30,660 The amendment carries. 530 00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:41,520 Okay, we're back to article four, has amended any further discussions or questions or comments under article four? 531 00:44:44,130 --> 00:44:44,950 But don't need to. 532 00:44:44,990 --> 00:44:45,930 I don't see any hands. 533 00:44:46,170 --> 00:44:47,190 Thank you, though. 534 00:44:47,770 --> 00:44:48,070 Yes, sir. 535 00:44:48,230 --> 00:44:48,530 Go ahead. 536 00:44:48,990 --> 00:44:50,010 Come on up. 537 00:44:58,820 --> 00:44:59,160 Stay tuned. 538 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:29,940 Good. So, I've been to every slight board meeting since tell meeting last year, regular meetings, and I've been trying to get an explanation of where these monies from D on this list and article 4 down are, where the actual monies are, not on the computer, not on a paper like this. 539 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,840 but actually where the money is. 540 00:45:34,720 --> 00:45:40,060 And the reason I question that is because we keep hearing 541 00:45:40,060 --> 00:45:43,260 in the slight board meetings in different places 542 00:45:43,260 --> 00:45:45,940 that we're going to move this there and not there. 543 00:45:46,280 --> 00:45:48,860 But I'd like to know where that actual cash is, 544 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:51,880 what bank account it's in. 545 00:45:52,280 --> 00:45:55,600 Because the treasurer who's now left 546 00:45:56,260 --> 00:46:02,680 And told me and Stan Wilbur, the town minister, when we asked him about it, that there was only one account. 547 00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:11,600 Checking account attached to a savings account, plus another little account that held some money regarding the, 548 00:46:12,320 --> 00:46:14,380 some of that, the health insurance for employees. 549 00:46:15,620 --> 00:46:22,200 So we know that the town ran out of money last spring, right after town meeting, got down to just a few thousand dollars, 550 00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:30,820 And they had to borrow to keep operating until tax revenue started coming in. 551 00:46:31,180 --> 00:46:38,540 But if you look in the town of Quarant, age 39, there's some pretty significant amounts listed 552 00:46:38,540 --> 00:46:45,660 there under some of these same names there, 500 and something thousand on that age. 553 00:46:45,660 --> 00:46:52,640 And I'd like to know where that money, what account it's in, because it obviously wasn't in the 554 00:46:52,640 --> 00:46:55,240 check in account because it's a town ran out of money. 555 00:46:57,990 --> 00:46:58,390 Okay, so like, 556 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:04,020 thanks, Tom. 557 00:47:05,340 --> 00:47:08,160 And we appreciate, thank you for coming to every meeting. 558 00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:13,580 It's really, a public input is really important for us, so we appreciate it. 559 00:47:13,880 --> 00:47:18,740 Just a word on terminology, just want to be really clear, fun is different than account. 560 00:47:18,740 --> 00:47:32,140 So, in account, I think we all know what a bank account is, but in NEMRIC, which is the accounting software that we have, we have these different funds and we have a general ledger, we're all these different monies are allocated and clearly explained. 561 00:47:35,440 --> 00:47:41,040 So in our water, I know Randy you're here, and if you want to speak, feel free, ready to 562 00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:44,120 run around three town auditors, and looks at our statements. 563 00:47:45,720 --> 00:47:49,280 Just about the tax anticipation note that you're referring to about, you know, the town running 564 00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:49,820 out of money. 565 00:47:50,260 --> 00:47:55,080 As I mentioned earlier, Monkton's part of about a third of towns that doesn't run on the 566 00:47:55,080 --> 00:47:59,640 state this year, which, you know, it's not like it's a wrong thing. 567 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:04,320 What it does is it creates a bit of a challenge for, like, for cashflow really. 568 00:48:05,920 --> 00:48:12,940 So, last year, the town did have to take out a tax anticipation note, which is, you know, a regular practice, we have good credit with the bank. 569 00:48:13,380 --> 00:48:17,140 And that's really until our taxes come in in November and December. 570 00:48:18,300 --> 00:48:22,000 So, we pay a little bit of interest on that, but it's not significant. 571 00:48:23,420 --> 00:48:26,720 And as I just want to also flag, thanks for bringing this up, actually. 572 00:48:26,720 --> 00:48:28,120 This is one of my pet topics. 573 00:48:29,060 --> 00:48:32,740 You'll see a note in our town report that we have talked about. 574 00:48:32,900 --> 00:48:34,420 And we've not, there's no decision that's been made, 575 00:48:34,540 --> 00:48:37,580 but we are thinking about recommending 576 00:48:37,580 --> 00:48:41,300 to the voters considering changing to the state fiscal year. 577 00:48:42,240 --> 00:48:44,540 Again, we have not decided on that yet. 578 00:48:45,080 --> 00:48:47,960 We would love a bunch of public input to the extent 579 00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:49,820 that you're willing, so that is something 580 00:48:49,820 --> 00:48:51,420 we might be considering a future years. 581 00:48:51,940 --> 00:48:54,300 And that would get at the tax-intentioned piece. 582 00:48:54,300 --> 00:48:58,720 there's complications to doing that, which I can get into if you want to nerd out with me 583 00:48:58,720 --> 00:49:05,420 technical accounting stuff, which I imagine many of you do not, but yeah, hopefully that helps 584 00:49:05,420 --> 00:49:10,580 an happy to answer any follow-up questions you have. Okay, any other questions or comments 585 00:49:10,580 --> 00:49:14,360 under article four? Yes, ma'am, in the back. 586 00:49:26,290 --> 00:49:26,970 Good morning, everybody. 587 00:49:30,390 --> 00:49:30,850 Good morning. 588 00:49:31,270 --> 00:49:36,550 Yeah, I feel like put it like almost to my face. Yeah. Good morning. I just want to introduce 589 00:49:36,550 --> 00:49:40,570 myself, it's Christian Bjornberg-Farrow. I'm President of the Mountain Museum in the Historical 590 00:49:40,570 --> 00:49:46,690 Society and I'm happy to tell you we have a museum. So I'm thankful for your support of us 591 00:49:46,690 --> 00:49:52,070 over the years that we've created what we dreamed about back in 1976 when we were incorporated. 592 00:49:52,530 --> 00:50:00,590 We have new bylaws or bylaws or on a website and we have a lot of things going on, cemetery cleanups, 593 00:50:00,590 --> 00:50:05,530 19 events, Facebook followers of 151, so we're on Facebook too. 594 00:50:05,810 --> 00:50:10,830 I just wanted to just let you know, we are taking all of your kind support of our historical 595 00:50:10,830 --> 00:50:13,090 society and we are putting it to really good use. 596 00:50:13,190 --> 00:50:18,830 We'd love to see you at our meetings, Mondays, but I wanted to just say hello, thank you. 597 00:50:19,830 --> 00:50:22,770 Okay, Mr. Pilcher, did you have something? 598 00:50:23,690 --> 00:50:25,230 No? Okay. 599 00:50:27,670 --> 00:50:29,810 Anyone else and then I'll come back to you, sir. 600 00:50:29,810 --> 00:50:34,370 anyone else have questions or comments under order before? Okay. 601 00:50:43,020 --> 00:50:43,640 So Sam's 602 00:50:45,800 --> 00:50:56,180 explanation of that, the difference between Fungs and these numbers on page 39. I believe 603 00:50:56,180 --> 00:51:04,680 our taxes that were raised and put into a fund for that particular purpose for each one of those. 604 00:51:04,680 --> 00:51:08,120 blow D in by wrong there. 605 00:51:09,720 --> 00:51:10,480 Select board. 606 00:51:11,780 --> 00:51:13,740 Let me just make sure I understand your question. 607 00:51:14,500 --> 00:51:18,820 So you're saying, you're asking if the money that was raised was put in the accounts. 608 00:51:19,860 --> 00:51:20,900 The Russell Memorial Library. 609 00:51:21,120 --> 00:51:23,080 You're asking if they are put in the first quarter of a thousand. 610 00:51:23,220 --> 00:51:24,320 Are we going to get that from taxes? 611 00:51:24,700 --> 00:51:24,940 Yes. 612 00:51:25,260 --> 00:51:26,020 Then where's it going to go? 613 00:51:26,520 --> 00:51:27,040 To the library. 614 00:51:28,180 --> 00:51:28,940 Where's it going to go? 615 00:51:29,420 --> 00:51:31,140 What account is it going to go into? 616 00:51:31,380 --> 00:51:33,960 It'll go into the, there's a library line. 617 00:51:33,960 --> 00:51:37,400 OK, but there's there's not a library account. 618 00:51:38,260 --> 00:51:40,600 It's going to go into the general font. 619 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:42,260 Randy, Randy's raising his hand. 620 00:51:42,700 --> 00:51:43,540 But go to moderator. 621 00:51:44,780 --> 00:51:45,100 OK. 622 00:51:45,980 --> 00:51:46,580 All right. 623 00:51:50,660 --> 00:51:51,180 Yeah. 624 00:51:52,000 --> 00:51:52,900 Do you have a question? 625 00:51:53,440 --> 00:51:54,000 Yeah, yeah. 626 00:51:54,260 --> 00:51:54,720 No one. 627 00:51:54,720 --> 00:51:56,780 Oh, I'm going to try and explain it to the best. 628 00:51:56,800 --> 00:51:57,640 OK, good. 629 00:51:58,320 --> 00:52:00,440 OK, the money is all. 630 00:52:00,700 --> 00:52:02,360 My name's Randy Schravernell. 631 00:52:02,720 --> 00:52:05,720 I am an auditor, but I'm sort of here 632 00:52:05,720 --> 00:52:10,740 my own not representing the auditor, so take it as you will. 633 00:52:12,560 --> 00:52:13,960 Oh my god, I'm sorry. 634 00:52:14,940 --> 00:52:19,260 Okay, everything gets thrown into one account, the bank account. 635 00:52:19,820 --> 00:52:23,180 I have at the end of the year December 31. 636 00:52:23,980 --> 00:52:29,820 We had 1.1547-3146. 637 00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:57,020 1,154,731.46. Now, if you take that money and you subtract out was a page 39, we 638 00:52:59,420 --> 00:52:59,800 have that 639 00:52:59,800 --> 00:53:07,480 And, again, I'm not in the accountant, but I believe we have the money to cover those 640 00:53:07,480 --> 00:53:09,120 funds, if that's what you're looking for. 641 00:53:11,180 --> 00:53:11,540 Okay. 642 00:53:17,400 --> 00:53:20,520 Well, your happiness is not the issue. 643 00:53:20,680 --> 00:53:24,800 The issue is, can we answer your question? 644 00:53:25,080 --> 00:53:28,880 Being gone, if it is, is important. 645 00:53:30,520 --> 00:53:31,500 Well, what's your question? 646 00:53:31,500 --> 00:53:44,300 Okay, so the money on listed on page 39 is money that was at one point raised by taxes in some year in the past. 647 00:53:56,270 --> 00:53:57,570 Recreation fund. 648 00:54:01,170 --> 00:54:02,830 Agriculture on natural areas fund. 649 00:54:05,800 --> 00:54:10,160 So there's $200,000 in there listed on page 39. 650 00:54:10,500 --> 00:54:15,040 You're adding $30,000 in tax revenue to that. 651 00:54:15,040 --> 00:54:20,160 are you keeping it in a separate account, or is it going into the general fund? 652 00:54:21,040 --> 00:54:27,060 And if we ran out of money last spring, if those money are not in a separate account, 653 00:54:28,120 --> 00:54:34,020 because the treasure told Stan and I that there was only one account, if we ran out 654 00:54:34,020 --> 00:54:39,980 of money, the money that claimed to be in the natural resources fund was gone. 655 00:54:42,140 --> 00:54:43,180 Select board. 656 00:54:43,780 --> 00:54:44,980 I'll go ahead. 657 00:54:47,020 --> 00:54:48,400 I'll call you if you want. 658 00:54:53,430 --> 00:54:55,510 So, no longer on the select board. 659 00:54:55,710 --> 00:54:57,150 I spent 13 years there. 660 00:54:57,230 --> 00:54:58,290 I'd like to explain. 661 00:54:58,970 --> 00:55:01,190 As has been explained on numerous occasions, 662 00:55:01,910 --> 00:55:04,350 when this question was asked in select board meetings by Mr. 663 00:55:04,490 --> 00:55:05,450 Stedman and others. 664 00:55:06,590 --> 00:55:08,770 There's a difference between accounts and funds. 665 00:55:09,830 --> 00:55:12,270 We could have chosen to set up a separate account 666 00:55:12,270 --> 00:55:18,890 and put the Anac money in a totally separate bank account and kept it there until it was needed. 667 00:55:20,070 --> 00:55:27,950 Because we're on, we start our fiscal year on January 1, but we don't collect taxes until November, 668 00:55:29,830 --> 00:55:35,710 we're faced with having a bunch of expenses before we have the money to pay for them. 669 00:55:35,710 --> 00:55:42,830 So rather than put these separate funds in a separate account and then having to take out an even larger tax 670 00:55:42,830 --> 00:55:50,710 anticipation note and pay interest on that, we use those funds to reduce the amount of the need for 671 00:55:50,710 --> 00:55:56,270 a tax anticipation note and the amount if it is if we do end up getting one. 672 00:55:57,050 --> 00:56:00,030 When the taxes come in, we have enough to cover that. 673 00:56:00,030 --> 00:56:07,130 To my knowledge, we have never reneged on an act needing a project, money for a project 674 00:56:07,130 --> 00:56:09,770 when the request comes to do, we do it. 675 00:56:10,030 --> 00:56:14,110 If it comes to do before taxes are collected, that might affect how much tax anticipation 676 00:56:14,110 --> 00:56:14,670 note. 677 00:56:15,410 --> 00:56:19,850 But the question has been asked and explained at Nazium, 678 00:56:22,720 --> 00:56:25,540 and the implications that get made repeatedly 679 00:56:25,540 --> 00:56:27,940 that there's some malfeasance going on gets old. 680 00:56:27,940 --> 00:56:34,660 bit my tongue for 13 years and tried to explain it calmly. I'm not calm now. I'm sick of 681 00:56:34,660 --> 00:56:41,160 the accusations that the full moon after every every town meeting the select board gets together 682 00:56:41,160 --> 00:56:45,660 and drinks at a pint of goats blood and swars and oaths Satan and figures out how to screw 683 00:56:45,660 --> 00:56:50,800 everybody out of money. That's not what's happening. It's been explained if you don't understand it 684 00:56:50,800 --> 00:56:54,780 I can't help you with that. 685 00:56:55,100 --> 00:57:01,380 Okay. Other questions or comments under Article 4? Yes, ma'am. 686 00:57:12,440 --> 00:57:14,160 I don't know if this will help clarify. 687 00:57:15,220 --> 00:57:18,140 I do work in a fiscal office for an on-profit. 688 00:57:19,020 --> 00:57:24,840 But I think it sounds as though there is one bank account for all town expenses. 689 00:57:25,940 --> 00:57:28,520 All revenues go into that same bank account. 690 00:57:29,480 --> 00:57:35,420 And the bank account balance is never going to be the entire revenue because you're paying expenses at the same time. 691 00:57:35,740 --> 00:57:38,440 Just like, we get our paychecks and we pay our bills. 692 00:57:40,660 --> 00:57:44,100 So, different bills are due at different times. 693 00:57:46,140 --> 00:57:48,400 So, we'll get the revenue and pay the bills when they're due. 694 00:57:49,160 --> 00:57:57,300 So, these different funds might become due for whatever expenses they have at different times during the year compared to when the revenues are received. 695 00:57:58,100 --> 00:58:06,540 So, it's not that some funds are taking away from others, they just do it a different time. 696 00:58:07,480 --> 00:58:10,480 So, I don't know if that helps clarify the question at hands, 697 00:58:10,720 --> 00:58:15,660 but comparing it to your own personal finances where you get your paycheck and pay your bills. 698 00:58:15,980 --> 00:58:20,480 You don't get your entire salary for the year in one lump sum at the beginning of the year 699 00:58:20,480 --> 00:58:25,340 and you don't get your expenses for all of your groceries in one lump sum. 700 00:58:25,340 --> 00:58:27,800 The same is true of the town budget. 701 00:58:28,840 --> 00:58:29,580 Okay. 702 00:58:29,860 --> 00:58:31,160 Kim Barber. 703 00:58:31,920 --> 00:58:34,320 Other questions or comments under Article 4? 704 00:58:34,960 --> 00:58:36,360 Are you ready for the vote? 705 00:58:37,940 --> 00:58:39,720 Was that a waiver? 706 00:58:40,520 --> 00:58:41,320 I'm sorry? 707 00:58:43,280 --> 00:58:43,400 Yeah. 708 00:58:43,840 --> 00:58:43,980 Okay. 709 00:58:44,300 --> 00:58:45,100 Article 4. 710 00:58:46,080 --> 00:58:49,340 Shall the voters authorize general fund expenditures? 711 00:58:49,880 --> 00:58:51,060 Article 4 is amended. 712 00:58:51,620 --> 00:58:55,080 Shall the voters authorize general fund expenditures for operating expenses? 713 00:58:55,080 --> 00:59:03,440 up, a General Fund deficit, 74,623 dollars and 64 cents, B salaries and General expenses, 714 00:59:03,700 --> 00:59:14,120 631,122,25 cents, C, month in volunteer fire department, 197,600 dollars, D, Russell 715 00:59:14,120 --> 00:59:21,980 Memorial Library, 41,979 dollars, E, month in Museum in the Historical Society, $1,500, 716 00:59:21,980 --> 00:59:25,060 F, REC Fund, $10,500. 717 00:59:26,780 --> 00:59:29,900 G, agriculture, and natural areas fund $30,000. 718 00:59:30,620 --> 00:59:38,620 H, highway capital projects fund $20,000 for a total of $1,7,324.89. 719 00:59:39,600 --> 00:59:44,080 Of which $867,531.21. 720 00:59:44,960 --> 00:59:51,220 She'll be raised by taxes, and $139,793.68. 721 00:59:51,220 --> 00:59:58,420 by non-tax revenues. All those in favor of Article 4 is amended, signify by saying aye. 722 00:59:58,760 --> 00:59:59,120 Aye. 723 00:59:59,540 --> 00:59:59,980 All those. 724 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:11,200 Opposed, signify by saying no. The eyes do have it. Article 4 carries. Article 5, shall the voters 725 01:00:11,200 --> 01:00:14,000 authorates, highway fund expenditures, 726 01:00:19,220 --> 01:00:29,300 or operating expenses of A, highway fund surplus, $272,900, $97,000, 727 01:00:29,300 --> 01:00:50,500 B, highway expenses, 1,653,434,661 cents, for a total of 1,380,533,64 cents of which $989,33,64 cents 728 01:00:50,500 --> 01:00:58,200 raised by taxes, and $391,500 by non-tax revenue. Can I have a motion? 729 01:00:59,260 --> 01:00:59,780 So, both. 730 01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:01,240 A name? 731 01:01:01,660 --> 01:01:01,980 General. 732 01:01:02,600 --> 01:01:04,220 Okay, thank you. Is there a second? 733 01:01:06,270 --> 01:01:13,830 Thank you. Article 5 has been moved in second. I understand the select board has an amendment. 734 01:01:14,090 --> 01:01:16,910 They'd like to propose for Article 5. 735 01:01:25,300 --> 01:01:36,000 Yeah, so, as I talked about with NEMREC, there was a, I would say, very minor change, it's a little over $4,000 that we're recommending and changing the exchange. 736 01:01:36,140 --> 01:01:39,820 So, $4,253 or $22,000. 737 01:01:39,860 --> 01:01:45,000 And the reason for that is, so, as I, I don't want to bore everybody talking about NEMREC more, but, 738 01:01:45,900 --> 01:01:50,700 so our accounting system, when we develop our budget, we're taking numbers off of that, putting it into spreadsheet. 739 01:01:50,700 --> 01:01:55,440 There was a minor difference that they found when they were going through our books 740 01:01:55,440 --> 01:02:00,420 So we just want to again make sure that you all have the most accurate numbers and that's what they're recommending 741 01:02:00,420 --> 01:02:03,020 So that's what the amendment is. It's a very minor change 742 01:02:03,020 --> 01:02:08,540 But we want to make sure that you guys are not paying anymore or any less than you need to. Thanks. 743 01:02:08,900 --> 01:02:14,180 Okay, so select board is proposing an amendment article five. Let me read it 744 01:02:14,180 --> 01:02:23,600 This is on the handout, show the voters authorized highway fund expenditures for operating expenses of A, highway fund surplus. 745 01:02:24,340 --> 01:02:31,580 268,647,000 dollars and 5 cents, B highway expenses. 746 01:02:31,580 --> 01:02:45,580 1,653,434 dollars and 61 cents for a total of 1,384,787 dollars and 56 cents, of which 747 01:02:45,580 --> 01:02:56,640 993,287 dollars and 56 cents, she'll be raised by taxes and 391,500 dollars by non-tax revenue. 748 01:02:56,640 --> 01:02:59,200 Can I have a motion on the amendment? 749 01:02:59,780 --> 01:03:00,940 Yes, sir. 750 01:03:01,200 --> 01:03:01,320 Okay. 751 01:03:01,840 --> 01:03:02,740 And is there a second? 752 01:03:04,400 --> 01:03:05,460 It's been second. 753 01:03:05,960 --> 01:03:06,500 It's been second. 754 01:03:06,780 --> 01:03:06,980 Okay. 755 01:03:07,020 --> 01:03:08,860 The amendment has been moved in second. 756 01:03:09,360 --> 01:03:12,260 Are there any questions or comments on the amendment? 757 01:03:16,280 --> 01:03:17,320 I can answer the. 758 01:03:17,400 --> 01:03:17,820 What was the question? 759 01:03:18,080 --> 01:03:18,340 Good. 760 01:03:19,020 --> 01:03:19,120 Yeah. 761 01:03:19,840 --> 01:03:21,520 Ma'am, you had a question. 762 01:03:22,380 --> 01:03:24,900 If you want to say I'm the ill answer your question. 763 01:03:25,740 --> 01:03:26,260 Yeah. 764 01:03:29,040 --> 01:03:33,220 I'll just say we have board crew members now, so, yes, thank you. 765 01:03:34,080 --> 01:03:35,700 Yep, and our boardman is here, too. 766 01:03:36,400 --> 01:03:37,060 Thank you. 767 01:03:37,360 --> 01:03:38,480 Yes, sir, Mr. Piltr. 768 01:03:41,960 --> 01:03:48,000 Yes, I have a question on page 55 of the town report. 769 01:03:48,980 --> 01:03:55,320 Under hot mix, you guys have pledged it a sum of 621,000 dollars. 770 01:03:55,320 --> 01:03:59,900 I'm going to ask for some reason. 771 01:04:00,340 --> 01:04:00,580 I'm there. 772 01:04:00,840 --> 01:04:01,840 Thank you. 773 01:04:12,690 --> 01:04:13,430 Yeah, got it. 774 01:04:13,630 --> 01:04:14,690 Got it right up there. 775 01:04:14,890 --> 01:04:15,210 Got it? 776 01:04:15,730 --> 01:04:15,930 Okay. 777 01:04:18,130 --> 01:04:22,310 Last year, 2025, we budgeted $125,000. 778 01:04:23,130 --> 01:04:23,670 They didn't work. 779 01:04:23,990 --> 01:04:25,110 We're on the humics line. 780 01:04:25,410 --> 01:04:30,290 But only ended up through scheduling a weather getting to $48,292. 781 01:04:30,770 --> 01:04:31,270 Of that. 782 01:04:31,890 --> 01:04:37,090 So there's a substantial remainder that left $376,000. 783 01:04:37,090 --> 01:04:42,730 of work that we still need to do, you're all aware of the condition of the pay froze, the 784 01:04:42,730 --> 01:04:47,090 deteriorating, we need to keep up with it. So that's going to carry forward. We want to do 785 01:04:47,090 --> 01:04:52,590 that work. We don't want to just put a pause on it and skip it here essentially. And then the 786 01:04:52,590 --> 01:05:01,670 reason the number is bigger is we also have this year's work we want to do. So that is roughly 787 01:05:03,070 --> 01:05:09,690 $244,000 worth of paid-in-word for this year, and together, that's their 621. 788 01:05:14,320 --> 01:05:14,840 Okay. 789 01:05:15,280 --> 01:05:15,960 Other questions? 790 01:05:16,520 --> 01:05:22,680 I should probably, I heard of a mobile, so the surplus is, if you look at the bottom line 791 01:05:22,680 --> 01:05:26,440 on page 55, the surplus is in there. 792 01:05:26,560 --> 01:05:33,900 So it's a big number on the expense line, but it's not actually 621,000 being act for 793 01:05:33,900 --> 01:05:36,100 of this year's taxes, there's the leftover 794 01:05:36,100 --> 01:05:37,680 has come back into health care. 795 01:05:38,320 --> 01:05:42,280 So it's only 244 from this year. 796 01:05:43,940 --> 01:05:48,960 Okay, other questions or comments under the amendment 797 01:05:48,960 --> 01:05:50,500 to article five? 798 01:05:53,600 --> 01:05:56,980 I'm looking for anyone else to even then I'll come back to you. 799 01:05:57,320 --> 01:05:58,320 Okay, go ahead, Steve. 800 01:06:02,360 --> 01:06:04,700 Given that explanation and given the fact 801 01:06:04,700 --> 01:06:12,640 that we have another article, article 7 coming up regarding Pinywood's road. 802 01:06:13,620 --> 01:06:18,880 I'd like to give some headroom for the expenses that we're going to be asked for for 803 01:06:18,880 --> 01:06:26,440 Pinywood's road and would like to introduce an amendment at this time, a two article 804 01:06:26,440 --> 01:06:33,000 So far, I'd like to amend this budget of $621,000. 805 01:06:33,320 --> 01:06:40,660 I would like to lower it by some $70,000 to give us to basically cover what we will need 806 01:06:40,660 --> 01:06:43,580 when we discuss Article 7. 807 01:06:43,860 --> 01:06:51,380 So that's an amendment to move that line item from $621,000. 808 01:06:51,740 --> 01:06:54,340 I believe to $551,000. 809 01:06:55,180 --> 01:06:57,780 I would look for a second. 810 01:06:57,780 --> 01:06:58,120 Okay. 811 01:06:58,720 --> 01:07:01,280 This is a secondary amendment. 812 01:07:02,060 --> 01:07:06,080 You can only ever have two on the floor at any one time. 813 01:07:06,740 --> 01:07:11,100 Otherwise, General Robert's blows his mind. 814 01:07:12,020 --> 01:07:14,080 Robert's rules only allow us two at a time. 815 01:07:14,220 --> 01:07:15,820 So this is a secondary amendment. 816 01:07:16,260 --> 01:07:17,500 Is there a second? 817 01:07:18,160 --> 01:07:19,380 There is a second. 818 01:07:19,800 --> 01:07:20,360 Your name? 819 01:07:24,630 --> 01:07:24,870 Okay. 820 01:07:25,130 --> 01:07:25,750 Thank you. 821 01:07:26,050 --> 01:07:26,330 All right. 822 01:07:26,330 --> 01:07:29,970 So, now discussion is limited to... 823 01:07:30,000 --> 01:07:43,260 The secondary amendment. The request to reduce the line item by 60,000? Was that 70,000? I'm sorry, 70,000. 824 01:07:43,900 --> 01:07:49,300 Okay. Questions or comments? Only under the secondary amendment. Yes, sir. 825 01:07:52,180 --> 01:07:59,060 So I think the amendment that Steve just proposed is basically comes down to micromanaging the select board. 826 01:07:59,060 --> 01:08:06,720 department because what we vote on is not line-on by line-on and we vote on the bottom line. 827 01:08:07,100 --> 01:08:15,320 So basically this budget is only a recommendation and the town is in no obligation at this 828 01:08:15,320 --> 01:08:22,160 point in time to spend out the money is outlined. We're just voting on the bottom line and if the 829 01:08:22,160 --> 01:08:28,260 bottom line is approved, then the town can move it around as they see fit, as necessary going forward. 830 01:08:28,260 --> 01:08:39,120 And so we can basically have this discussion underneath the money with road discussion and not have to lock something in now for the display board to just hide our hands. 831 01:08:39,660 --> 01:08:58,240 Well, let me ask Mr. Filcher for a point of clarification with your reduction of the line item of $70,000 did you intend for that to reduce the overall amount by $70,000? 832 01:09:00,840 --> 01:09:09,880 Yes, the idea was that if the $70,000 would come off of an article five that total of 833 01:09:09,880 --> 01:09:15,300 1,381,384 dollars and said 787. 834 01:09:16,440 --> 01:09:16,680 Right. 835 01:09:17,040 --> 01:09:21,600 So one, three, ten, five, 33, 64. 836 01:09:21,980 --> 01:09:27,300 That's one, one, three, and one, four, seven, eighty, seven, and we're going to point five 837 01:09:28,200 --> 01:09:34,740 Yeah, 70,000 less than one, three, eight would be one, three, ten. 838 01:09:36,610 --> 01:09:37,510 I'll go with it. 839 01:09:38,650 --> 01:09:40,470 I mean, that's not going to ask what's happening. 840 01:09:41,410 --> 01:09:41,670 Okay. 841 01:09:42,270 --> 01:09:42,370 All right. 842 01:09:43,130 --> 01:09:46,170 So I just wanted to be clear what we're talking about here. 843 01:09:46,190 --> 01:09:49,850 He's not just talking about moving things around. 844 01:09:49,850 --> 01:09:55,950 He's talking about chopping 70,000 off of Article 5. 845 01:09:57,750 --> 01:10:04,310 And that's been second. Any further discussion or comments? Yes. Go ahead and then I'll move. 846 01:10:05,510 --> 01:10:08,690 Yeah. Remember we're only talking about the secondary amendment. 847 01:10:09,150 --> 01:10:13,830 So I guess my question is if probably question for the select board. 848 01:10:15,350 --> 01:10:16,950 I could agree with the second. 849 01:10:16,950 --> 01:10:21,730 their amendment, if that 70,000 for Piny Woods Road, 850 01:10:22,350 --> 01:10:25,990 is already in the other article, the rest of the article. 851 01:10:28,130 --> 01:10:32,850 But if it's a question of, we're going to cut out $70,000 852 01:10:32,850 --> 01:10:35,670 of other work in order to cover Piny Woods Road. 853 01:10:35,830 --> 01:10:38,630 I'm a little concerned, because we've got two years worth 854 01:10:38,630 --> 01:10:41,110 of the paving that needs to be done. 855 01:10:41,590 --> 01:10:44,130 What didn't get done to last year and what's coming up this year. 856 01:10:44,310 --> 01:10:46,770 So I'd like some clarification on, if there was a matter 857 01:10:46,770 --> 01:10:52,370 it's being double counted, sure. If it's not being double counted, I don't support cutting 858 01:10:52,370 --> 01:10:58,650 out the, the, the, the paving that is then posted. So I would have any, uh, comments. 859 01:11:01,180 --> 01:11:01,300 And 860 01:11:01,300 --> 01:11:04,080 then I'll catch everyone else's questions or comments. 861 01:11:06,530 --> 01:11:08,130 Thank you, John. Um, I just want 862 01:11:08,130 --> 01:11:10,330 to clarify it. No, it's not being double counted. 863 01:11:12,940 --> 01:11:15,400 Okay. Uh, yes, sir. And then there were some 864 01:11:15,400 --> 01:11:17,880 other hands, I'll get you all next. 865 01:11:20,710 --> 01:11:27,850 So, purple, so Robinson, I would generally appreciate the idea of what I think Stephen was 866 01:11:27,850 --> 01:11:33,590 asking for in his amendment, but I think finding words throughout definitely needs to be fixed 867 01:11:33,590 --> 01:11:39,150 if it's a separate question for Article 7, but I don't agree with actually chopping off 70,000 868 01:11:39,150 --> 01:11:43,070 from repaving more in order to accomplish that specific task. 869 01:11:43,070 --> 01:11:49,310 The reason why is we have to take patients on an ambulance through a monkden quite a bit to get them to a hospital. 870 01:11:49,710 --> 01:11:57,430 And if you have a back pain or some other kind of traumatic injury going down a really really bumpy solar street right now is really not a great idea. 871 01:11:58,090 --> 01:12:02,830 So we often end up actually opting to take 1-16 instead because it's a much better road. 872 01:12:03,350 --> 01:12:07,250 We really do need to actually do the work to refave the roads in a monkden. 873 01:12:07,890 --> 01:12:09,970 Other questions or comments in this section? 874 01:12:10,350 --> 01:12:11,530 We're talking about the amendments. 875 01:12:11,530 --> 01:12:12,650 this section. 876 01:12:15,180 --> 01:12:19,220 Yes, sir. No, it'd be. I know you. Yeah. 877 01:12:22,040 --> 01:12:24,960 There were two. Yes, sir. The one 878 01:12:24,960 --> 01:12:25,420 standing. 879 01:12:28,020 --> 01:12:32,340 Can you just tell the residents is there a plan of which roads are going to be 880 01:12:32,340 --> 01:12:34,700 paved? So we know. Yes. 881 01:12:42,900 --> 01:12:47,200 Sam, you're getting the work out. So if this is going on, we're going 882 01:12:47,200 --> 01:12:53,680 to do a section of Silver Street by the county line. Okay, we're going to also do a portion 883 01:12:53,680 --> 01:12:55,700 of Tyler Bridge Road. 884 01:12:56,460 --> 01:13:00,260 He also, there's also a file mile of paving on hardscrable road 885 01:13:00,260 --> 01:13:03,200 that we're looking to do along the Monkton Road 886 01:13:03,200 --> 01:13:05,360 over by Parker Lane. 887 01:13:05,660 --> 01:13:07,860 And that area is like two miles over there. 888 01:13:15,240 --> 01:13:18,780 Basically, I'm going to reiterate my point, which is, 889 01:13:18,900 --> 01:13:21,840 let's say, Article 7 gets voted down. 890 01:13:22,260 --> 01:13:24,620 All right, we give, under this amendment, 891 01:13:25,340 --> 01:13:27,780 we just cut out 70,000 out of the highway funds. 892 01:13:28,380 --> 01:13:33,420 And if Article 7 gets voted down, there's no place to move those 70,000. 893 01:13:33,960 --> 01:13:42,180 Again, let's discuss Article 7 and leave it up to the select board, the highway department, the side where the funds come from. 894 01:13:43,180 --> 01:13:43,280 Okay. 895 01:13:43,460 --> 01:13:45,040 Any other questions or comments? 896 01:13:45,460 --> 01:13:46,880 Under the secondary amendment. 897 01:13:47,600 --> 01:13:48,560 You ready for the vote? 898 01:13:48,820 --> 01:13:49,240 Oops. 899 01:13:49,720 --> 01:13:50,300 There is a question. 900 01:13:51,400 --> 01:13:52,200 Come on up. 901 01:13:58,300 --> 01:14:00,820 Just a question for the highway department, John. 902 01:14:00,820 --> 01:14:05,520 said that we were behind schedule from last year so maybe you can give us an idea 903 01:14:05,520 --> 01:14:09,880 worst-case scenario, best-case scenarios, how much of that missed work we make up 904 01:14:09,880 --> 01:14:13,620 this year and how far into this year's planning we get, just so we have an idea. 905 01:14:15,100 --> 01:14:19,140 We're getting a little field of the secondary amendment, but go ahead. 906 01:14:19,780 --> 01:14:23,500 All right, so last year, all we were able to pay is you could do this in 907 01:14:23,500 --> 01:14:27,180 scheduling your own issues with a monthly regio or a right in front of the account hall. 908 01:14:27,180 --> 01:14:33,420 last year, we're supposed to do that section by Parker Lain, over Smonti Road. So hopefully 909 01:14:33,420 --> 01:14:40,340 we can get on the agenda this year to get that done. So that the Monti Road is supposed 910 01:14:40,340 --> 01:14:41,260 to be done last year. 911 01:14:46,560 --> 01:14:54,000 Okay. You ready for the vote on the secondary amendment? Okay. Let me read it. 912 01:14:56,400 --> 01:14:56,700 Show the 913 01:14:56,700 --> 01:14:59,740 Butter's authorized, highway-funded expenditures. 914 01:15:00,080 --> 01:15:12,160 So, for operating expenses of highway fund surplus $272,900 dollars in 97 cents, highway expenses. 915 01:15:14,120 --> 01:15:14,960 A million, 916 01:15:17,860 --> 01:15:29,840 573,434 dollars in 61 cents for a total of 1,310,533 dollars in 64 cents. 917 01:15:29,840 --> 01:15:39,660 of which $989,000, $39,000 and $64,000 will be raised by taxes and $391,500 by non-tox revenue. 918 01:15:42,540 --> 01:15:43,580 Could I ask a question? 919 01:15:44,000 --> 01:15:44,640 You're the expert. 920 01:15:45,960 --> 01:15:47,640 Should we be voting on the amendment first? 921 01:15:48,240 --> 01:15:48,900 That's what we're doing. 922 01:15:54,240 --> 01:15:55,000 Well, Robert's rules. 923 01:15:55,400 --> 01:15:56,000 They're funny. 924 01:15:58,240 --> 01:16:04,800 So basically, you can't just vote on hack and 70,000 out and, you know, 925 01:16:04,800 --> 01:16:10,780 like that. You got to put the numbers in the context. So, I put the numbers in the context. 926 01:16:11,300 --> 01:16:18,060 We're voting on Mr. Pilcher's secondary amendment of reducing the line item of $70,000, 927 01:16:18,680 --> 01:16:24,740 which has the net effect of reducing Article 5 by $70,000, 928 01:16:24,980 --> 01:16:32,760 thus $1,310,000 instead of 1,380,000. Everybody understand what we're voting on. 929 01:16:32,760 --> 01:16:34,880 We're just putting on the secondary amendment. 930 01:16:35,340 --> 01:16:38,200 Then we're going to go back to the select boards amendment, 931 01:16:38,860 --> 01:16:41,080 which is to fix the squid news error, 932 01:16:41,700 --> 01:16:44,160 and then we're going to go back to Article 5 eventually. 933 01:16:45,180 --> 01:16:46,360 Okay, secondary amendment. 934 01:16:46,460 --> 01:16:50,060 All those in favor of Mr. Pilchure's secondary amendment, 935 01:16:50,440 --> 01:16:52,460 signify by saying aye. 936 01:16:54,670 --> 01:16:58,650 All those, Steve, you're not even going to vote for your amendment? 937 01:16:59,050 --> 01:16:59,350 Jesus. 938 01:17:04,140 --> 01:17:06,280 Okay, I'm not recognizing you again. 939 01:17:07,760 --> 01:17:18,140 All those opposed signified by saying no, that's fairly resounding, the secondary amendment fails. 940 01:17:19,780 --> 01:17:21,380 All right, back to the primary amendment. 941 01:17:22,660 --> 01:17:28,340 If there is any further discussion about the primary amendment, which is the handout article five, 942 01:17:29,560 --> 01:17:32,360 proposed by the select board. 943 01:17:33,340 --> 01:17:34,300 You ready for the vote? 944 01:17:36,660 --> 01:17:38,500 Out of the five, as amended. 945 01:17:38,880 --> 01:17:40,440 Shall the voters also rise high 946 01:17:40,440 --> 01:17:42,720 with fund expenditures for operating expenses 947 01:17:42,720 --> 01:17:47,820 of highway fund surplus 268,647, 948 01:17:48,780 --> 01:17:50,740 and five cents, highway expenses. 949 01:17:51,480 --> 01:18:00,440 1,653,434, or 61 cents for a total of 1,384,077, 950 01:18:00,440 --> 01:18:15,260 $387.56 of which 993,287,588 cents shall be raised by taxes, and $391,500 by non-tox ribbons. 951 01:18:15,660 --> 01:18:24,400 All those in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye, all those opposed signify by saying 952 01:18:24,400 --> 01:18:30,600 Now, the eyes appeared to have it, the eyes didn't have it, the amendment carries. 953 01:18:31,780 --> 01:18:37,300 Okay, now we're back to Article 5, has amended any further questions or comments under Article 954 01:18:37,300 --> 01:18:37,900 5? 955 01:18:38,760 --> 01:18:39,460 Yes. 956 01:18:43,240 --> 01:18:47,240 On page 54, onto the proposed budget. 957 01:18:48,360 --> 01:18:55,040 So the members who are voting on, or we'll be voting on, are predicated on kind of a confidence 958 01:18:55,040 --> 01:18:56,920 in the budget presented to us. 959 01:18:57,300 --> 01:19:04,900 And at the top of the revenues, the proposed revenue numbers are a lot higher than historic 960 01:19:05,700 --> 01:19:10,720 actual revenue numbers, and so can you can the sled board or someone else give us some 961 01:19:10,720 --> 01:19:16,480 confidence in these large increases in revenues, one specifically referencing our highway 962 01:19:16,480 --> 01:19:24,220 state aid, actual for this past year was 85,000, proposed is 166,000, so that's a twice 963 01:19:24,220 --> 01:19:32,560 increased highway grants actual was 74,000 proposed is 224,000 so that's almost a three times 964 01:19:32,560 --> 01:19:38,480 increase so just give us some confidence in those increases. Yeah, no great question. Egalai, that's 965 01:19:38,480 --> 01:19:46,260 good. So with all the flooding the state actually allocated grants in a different order because of 966 01:19:46,260 --> 01:19:52,180 the disasters so we actually got less money because it was how can I explain this in more clear 967 01:19:52,180 --> 01:19:59,120 Anyway, what we had those disasters, the state changed how quickly the state, like the different towns, got money. 968 01:20:00,680 --> 01:20:04,320 So we are actually budgeting more like what we actually typically expect to get. 969 01:20:04,620 --> 01:20:09,100 Last year was actually a little bit lower than we would have expected because we got a little bit more the year before. 970 01:20:09,740 --> 01:20:11,660 So it's basically kind of like coming back to an equilibrium. 971 01:20:12,360 --> 01:20:14,100 Who knows if we'll have more disasters? 972 01:20:14,980 --> 01:20:18,400 But that explains the grant revenue piece of it. 973 01:20:19,540 --> 01:20:25,520 But can you restate, Roger, sorry, the other question that you had, just so, and I have it up here. 974 01:20:25,700 --> 01:20:26,080 Do you mind? 975 01:20:26,960 --> 01:20:28,480 I want to make sure I'm answering it. 976 01:20:29,940 --> 01:20:30,940 We ready to do it, do we? 977 01:20:32,160 --> 01:20:32,520 No. 978 01:20:32,920 --> 01:20:35,020 So again, yeah, exactly. 979 01:20:35,240 --> 01:20:36,040 Not for me, sure. 980 01:20:37,500 --> 01:20:38,260 The top two lines. 981 01:20:38,620 --> 01:20:39,420 Highway State aid. 982 01:20:40,680 --> 01:20:44,500 So it's 166 budgeted versus 85 actual. 983 01:20:44,500 --> 01:20:48,380 and then how he grants 224 budgeted versus 74. 984 01:20:49,140 --> 01:20:49,360 Gratial. 985 01:20:49,780 --> 01:20:52,460 Yep, and thanks, I would ask you to clarify again and move around. 986 01:20:53,680 --> 01:20:58,120 So the way the Paving Grant works is you get a chunk of money after the Paving is done, 987 01:20:58,720 --> 01:21:02,200 but since the Paving was not done last year, that explains that. 988 01:21:02,760 --> 01:21:05,800 And again, that was a timing and kind of communication issue. 989 01:21:06,000 --> 01:21:07,800 So we're hopeful, hopefully we're correcting that this year. 990 01:21:08,660 --> 01:21:09,160 Thank you. 991 01:21:10,360 --> 01:21:13,320 Okay, any other questions or comments under our rule five? 992 01:21:13,320 --> 01:21:18,880 you ready for the vote? Okay article five is amended. Show the voters authorized. 993 01:21:19,000 --> 01:21:26,840 High will fund expenditures for operating expenses up. A, high will fund surplus, $268,647, 994 01:21:26,840 --> 01:21:43,300 and five cents. B, high will expenses, $1,653,434,617, for a total of $1,384,787,56, of which $999,99, 995 01:21:43,300 --> 01:21:53,400 $3,287.56 should be raised by taxes and $391,500 by non-tax revenues. 996 01:21:55,180 --> 01:22:00,220 All those in favor of Article 5 is amended, signify by saying aye. 997 01:22:01,100 --> 01:22:03,720 All those opposed signify by saying no. 998 01:22:04,540 --> 01:22:05,940 The eyes appear to have it. 999 01:22:05,940 --> 01:22:07,040 The eyes do have it. 1000 01:22:07,840 --> 01:22:08,600 Article 5 carries. 1001 01:22:08,600 --> 01:22:16,220 Before we move on to Article 6, we have a distinguished member of the State Legislature 1002 01:22:16,220 --> 01:22:20,180 Mr. Harib Olsen, who would like to address the body for five minutes. 1003 01:22:30,000 --> 01:22:34,140 I'm here in one of your representatives, along with Karen Leaders. 1004 01:22:36,260 --> 01:22:40,540 And I was just in charge for this. This is a day that I get to spread myself a little 1005 01:22:40,540 --> 01:22:46,360 thing. But having to be here, I wanted to give you a little update on what's going on in my 1006 01:22:46,360 --> 01:22:53,120 earlier. Last going on, I think the stuff that I think you folks might be really interested in, 1007 01:22:53,220 --> 01:22:59,560 or at least one of the things, is some of the education things. And what's on the table now, 1008 01:23:00,000 --> 01:23:03,280 is that a bunch of committees are trying to draw maps. 1009 01:23:04,340 --> 01:23:06,640 And in the process of drawing maps, 1010 01:23:08,020 --> 01:23:10,240 they're intending, we'll see what happens. 1011 01:23:10,760 --> 01:23:13,000 But they're intending to consolidate 1012 01:23:13,000 --> 01:23:17,200 the existing school districts into much larger districts. 1013 01:23:18,400 --> 01:23:20,580 And that could take two forms, either. 1014 01:23:21,960 --> 01:23:24,880 So we're in a supervisory district now. 1015 01:23:25,000 --> 01:23:28,460 So we got a school board in this responsible for all the schools 1016 01:23:28,460 --> 01:23:30,500 in Manning University. 1017 01:23:31,500 --> 01:23:34,580 If you had a larger supervisory district, say, 1018 01:23:34,660 --> 01:23:39,700 Addison County, you'd have a single board responsible 1019 01:23:40,660 --> 01:23:44,220 for all the budgets and stuff like that, 1020 01:23:44,280 --> 01:23:47,920 as well as whether schools would stay open or not. 1021 01:23:48,160 --> 01:23:50,440 So that's a big deal in some of the towns. 1022 01:23:51,260 --> 01:23:55,080 There's another option on the table that from the Senate 1023 01:23:55,500 --> 01:23:57,540 that we talk about supervisory unions 1024 01:23:57,540 --> 01:24:05,960 would give a little more flexibility, the talents in terms of education policy and keeping schools 1025 01:24:07,080 --> 01:24:13,740 open if they should be kept open. So I'm going to get my head chopped off if I go beyond five 1026 01:24:13,740 --> 01:24:21,880 minutes or I'm going to go to some things around housing. Really important, just I really feel 1027 01:24:21,880 --> 01:24:26,820 for especially some of the young kids, families that are trying to start out and trying to find 1028 01:24:26,820 --> 01:24:34,200 place and it just can't find a place. I think there's some pension these days between our need for housing 1029 01:24:34,740 --> 01:24:41,420 and not environmental standards themselves, but a lot of the process that we use around deciding, 1030 01:24:41,420 --> 01:24:50,120 you know, what should be built. And that's playing out in the state house. I personally think that 1031 01:24:50,120 --> 01:24:56,480 we need to line up a little bit on the process while keeping the standards so we can get more housing. 1032 01:24:56,820 --> 01:25:01,140 But I welcome, you know, comments about that. 1033 01:25:01,620 --> 01:25:04,040 Healthcare, primary care, I think is a real big deal. 1034 01:25:05,180 --> 01:25:09,600 And trying to support that as much as we can. 1035 01:25:10,420 --> 01:25:15,180 Specific bills, I've been working in a committee that deals with genetic data 1036 01:25:15,180 --> 01:25:15,820 privacy. 1037 01:25:15,920 --> 01:25:20,060 Privacy issues, I think, are real, real important these days. 1038 01:25:21,500 --> 01:25:26,800 A bill around course debt, so if you're in a domestic situation and you're 1039 01:25:26,800 --> 01:25:33,000 or has signed up for a loan or some sort, you know, trying to create a process to get that 1040 01:25:33,000 --> 01:25:42,900 person out of, out of, in, into financial, uh, good place, uh, again. Um, I think, uh, I think 1041 01:25:42,900 --> 01:25:49,260 about it. Um, I'm trying to organize a meeting. I hope that it will be in, uh, 1042 01:25:49,260 --> 01:25:55,080 a month and in about a week or so. Uh, it's trying to get folks, um, sense of where the coming 1043 01:25:55,080 --> 01:25:58,140 I'm on some of these education issues, you know, I have really 1044 01:25:58,140 --> 01:26:00,940 tip of the iceberg in terms of what I talked about here. 1045 01:26:01,600 --> 01:26:04,080 But instead of, you know, my talking to you about this, 1046 01:26:04,100 --> 01:26:06,900 or I'm not another, you know, I'm hoping that this kind of a meeting 1047 01:26:06,900 --> 01:26:09,960 will allow folks to bring your questions, concerns, 1048 01:26:10,220 --> 01:26:11,240 suggestions, whatever. 1049 01:26:12,140 --> 01:26:14,180 So I hope to see you then too. 1050 01:26:15,120 --> 01:26:16,080 How was that? 1051 01:26:16,380 --> 01:26:16,660 Very good. 1052 01:26:23,160 --> 01:26:23,980 Four minutes. 1053 01:26:25,200 --> 01:26:25,880 A new record. 1054 01:26:30,200 --> 01:26:38,060 Okay, folks, back to the meeting. Article six shall the voters approve the sum, not to exceed 1055 01:26:38,060 --> 01:26:49,660 311,930 dollars for the purchase of a John Deer rev grader with a total cost of 361,930 dollars, 1056 01:26:49,660 --> 01:26:53,320 less 50,000 for a trade allowance. 1057 01:26:54,800 --> 01:26:55,800 Is there a motion? 1058 01:26:56,820 --> 01:26:57,240 So moved. 1059 01:27:01,200 --> 01:27:01,320 Second? 1060 01:27:02,640 --> 01:27:03,280 Uh, yeah. 1061 01:27:03,920 --> 01:27:04,120 Okay. 1062 01:27:04,320 --> 01:27:05,200 There's the second. 1063 01:27:05,580 --> 01:27:07,560 Article sex has been moved and seconded. 1064 01:27:07,600 --> 01:27:08,220 Select board. 1065 01:27:08,540 --> 01:27:10,260 Anything you'd like to say? 1066 01:27:16,300 --> 01:27:17,740 Trevor, do you want to say anything or no? 1067 01:27:17,980 --> 01:27:19,120 It's up to you. 1068 01:27:19,260 --> 01:27:19,420 Okay. 1069 01:27:32,670 --> 01:27:36,790 This machine that we have has never actually been shipped in any way. 1070 01:27:36,790 --> 01:27:41,850 So, all the work that's being done to this machine, which is roughly $48,000 worth of repairs, 1071 01:27:42,070 --> 01:27:44,950 it's just shimming any components that move. 1072 01:27:46,010 --> 01:27:49,130 And that's just to tighten up the mobile board to try and get rid of the washboard effect 1073 01:27:49,130 --> 01:27:51,690 that that grain is currently leaving on the roads that we do. 1074 01:27:52,590 --> 01:27:57,650 And that's not including any motor repairs and transmission repairs or any hydraulic drive lines. 1075 01:27:57,870 --> 01:28:00,570 That's just solely the shimming of the machine. 1076 01:28:01,930 --> 01:28:05,850 The whole purpose of just going to a new machine is with the hydraulics, 1077 01:28:05,850 --> 01:28:07,790 and everything else that we also need with that machine. 1078 01:28:07,990 --> 01:28:09,110 I mean, it does burn a little bit of oil. 1079 01:28:09,210 --> 01:28:10,510 It does burn something for one. 1080 01:28:11,050 --> 01:28:12,930 Shimming it to me seems like a band-aid fix 1081 01:28:12,930 --> 01:28:14,810 for something that's just going to cause this more problems 1082 01:28:14,810 --> 01:28:16,070 later down the road. 1083 01:28:16,610 --> 01:28:18,590 The machine was originally new for a 15 year replacement 1084 01:28:18,590 --> 01:28:20,410 we're currently on 21 years. 1085 01:28:21,290 --> 01:28:23,530 So we're a little overdo on that as it is. 1086 01:28:23,850 --> 01:28:25,870 So we're just hoping to be able to get a newer machine 1087 01:28:25,870 --> 01:28:28,050 to be able to find a better road surface 1088 01:28:28,050 --> 01:28:30,070 for people in your town is realistically 1089 01:28:30,070 --> 01:28:30,930 what we're going for. 1090 01:28:32,190 --> 01:28:33,910 So if anybody has any other questions on that, 1091 01:28:33,910 --> 01:28:39,090 I'm more than happy to answer them, but the majority of it is just to try and get rid of all the 1092 01:28:39,090 --> 01:28:40,750 losses in the machine that we have now. 1093 01:28:41,750 --> 01:28:41,790 Okay. 1094 01:28:41,990 --> 01:28:42,890 Thank you. 1095 01:28:43,750 --> 01:28:46,310 Other questions or comments from the floor. 1096 01:28:49,710 --> 01:28:50,610 Ready for the milk? 1097 01:28:52,960 --> 01:28:53,800 Article 6. 1098 01:28:54,100 --> 01:28:58,590 Shall the voters approve of some not to exceed 300 $11,930 dollars? 1099 01:28:59,300 --> 01:29:01,460 For the pressures of the John Dea Road greater. 1100 01:29:01,960 --> 01:29:08,400 With a total cost of $361,930 less 50,000 for a trade allowance. 1101 01:29:08,400 --> 01:29:17,400 All those in favor signify by saying aye, all those opposed signify by saying no, the 1102 01:29:17,400 --> 01:29:23,440 eyes of prayer to have it, the eyes do have it, article six carries, article seven. 1103 01:29:23,920 --> 01:29:31,560 So the voters authorized no more than $1,150,000 for the repairs of Ponywood's road of 1104 01:29:31,560 --> 01:29:40,080 It's $60,700, sorry, $60,723 and $9,270. 1105 01:29:40,200 --> 01:29:47,540 She'll be raised by taxes and $89,276 in $0.8 by non-tax revenues. 1106 01:29:48,300 --> 01:29:49,000 Is there a motion? 1107 01:29:51,000 --> 01:29:54,920 There's a motion, second, it's been seconded. 1108 01:29:55,320 --> 01:29:58,760 All right, so Article 7 has been moved and seconded, 1109 01:29:58,760 --> 01:29:59,500 Select board. 1110 01:30:00,020 --> 01:30:02,260 Anything you'd like to say? 1111 01:30:04,800 --> 01:30:11,920 I guess we just go with whatever ask questions. Okay, floor, yes, sir. Go ahead and then I'll get to your ma'am. 1112 01:30:40,540 --> 01:30:47,500 me to get to Virginia. And I also rise to say, having been there for 35 years and watching 1113 01:30:47,500 --> 01:30:52,780 it blow out three or four times over that period of time, I would almost like to know 1114 01:30:52,780 --> 01:30:59,340 how much money has the town had to spend over the past 20 years to keep that road open 1115 01:30:59,340 --> 01:31:04,600 because if we're going to be doing this every 10 years, we may still just put a budget 1116 01:31:04,600 --> 01:31:06,400 to keep Pineywood's road open. 1117 01:31:07,740 --> 01:31:14,360 Also, I would love to know from the select board or from any town official, how many actual 1118 01:31:14,360 --> 01:31:22,220 complaint emails or letters from how many different town members have you actually received 1119 01:31:22,220 --> 01:31:27,540 that Warren's spending this amount of money when I am one of those ambulance drivers who 1120 01:31:27,540 --> 01:31:35,320 us this week, handed a divert of 116, we cannot use these roads and motorcycleists are going to kill 1121 01:31:35,320 --> 01:31:42,260 themselves. In my wife and I, actually, we ride motorcycles. Our roads have become dangerous in places. 1122 01:31:42,600 --> 01:31:47,480 There is a pot hole when you come up the road that's going to break somebody's axle coming up 1123 01:31:47,480 --> 01:31:54,220 at a Lewis Creek. So, yes, it would benefit me? No, I don't think it's a great use of money 1124 01:31:54,220 --> 01:31:56,420 until we fix our primary roads. 1125 01:31:57,260 --> 01:32:00,180 And I don't see how you can say it's 150,000 1126 01:32:00,180 --> 01:32:01,800 after all these years. 1127 01:32:02,240 --> 01:32:03,740 And we're setting a capital 150. 1128 01:32:03,880 --> 01:32:05,360 What happens if we find out it's 200? 1129 01:32:05,800 --> 01:32:06,840 Do we just stop? 1130 01:32:08,400 --> 01:32:09,440 I'm a little confused. 1131 01:32:10,240 --> 01:32:10,980 So, here it is for a minute. 1132 01:32:11,220 --> 01:32:11,880 So, like important. 1133 01:32:13,300 --> 01:32:15,940 So, as far as the number of complaints and emails, 1134 01:32:16,300 --> 01:32:18,220 I can tell you it's about weekly 1135 01:32:18,220 --> 01:32:20,760 that we have received complaints about the road 1136 01:32:20,760 --> 01:32:21,440 not being opened. 1137 01:32:21,680 --> 01:32:22,560 From all eight of the people. 1138 01:32:22,560 --> 01:32:26,340 There's back quite a few different people who've emailed the board phone calls. 1139 01:32:28,730 --> 01:32:37,490 So as far as the 150,000, so we've had FEMA getting involved, I'll be the weekly meetings 1140 01:32:37,490 --> 01:32:47,150 all last year, St. Majesica, and with rebuilding it to their specs, it's going to be $1.2 million 1141 01:32:47,150 --> 01:32:49,130 that they're going to put in for. 1142 01:32:49,130 --> 01:32:58,950 So, FEMA pays for 75% of the 1.2 million, the state pays for 12.5% of that. 1143 01:32:59,430 --> 01:33:06,210 Monkton's 12.5% is the 150,000 that you see in your time report. 1144 01:33:18,420 --> 01:33:22,800 So, what is the clear class designation of Pinywich Road? 1145 01:33:25,070 --> 01:33:33,070 So, if we're bringing it up to FEMA, whatever recommendations, is it staying a class 3 road or are you improving it? 1146 01:33:34,050 --> 01:33:36,970 It was still being class 3, but there would be improvements. 1147 01:33:37,830 --> 01:33:39,290 Are you going to be plowing it? 1148 01:33:39,390 --> 01:33:42,090 It will be class 1 or 5 days, a class 3 road, yes. 1149 01:33:42,450 --> 01:33:49,070 Okay, so you're going to widen it, improve it, but it's going to be a class 3, not improved further. 1150 01:33:49,070 --> 01:33:57,560 And then the culverts at the bottom will be improved and larger as well, which they did in the last month before the world. 1151 01:33:57,940 --> 01:33:58,620 It's basically bigger. 1152 01:33:59,620 --> 01:33:59,840 Okay. 1153 01:34:01,020 --> 01:34:02,240 Other questions, comment? 1154 01:34:02,560 --> 01:34:02,840 Yes, ma'am. 1155 01:34:03,600 --> 01:34:04,000 Yes, ma'am. 1156 01:34:06,360 --> 01:34:07,200 Hi, Susan testimony. 1157 01:34:07,680 --> 01:34:12,240 So I have a question about the class of the road in the minutes from the last select board meeting. 1158 01:34:12,440 --> 01:34:14,720 There was an option of turning it to a class four. 1159 01:34:15,220 --> 01:34:18,220 But I actually also wanted some clarification about class four. 1160 01:34:18,220 --> 01:34:25,480 It seemed like in those minutes it talked about that would allow them to close it and us to close it in the winter. 1161 01:34:25,820 --> 01:34:30,900 We have a class four room that we love to hike across the street for most, but you can't drive it. 1162 01:34:31,400 --> 01:34:37,320 And so I'm just unclear about what it means to designate something a class four. 1163 01:34:38,300 --> 01:34:41,960 And what that would mean for Piny Woods, and then sort of a follow-up, 1164 01:34:42,240 --> 01:34:47,960 would FEMA give us any money to make it a class four or would we forfeit any FEMA money if we did class four? 1165 01:34:52,190 --> 01:34:58,770 Great questions. I'll do my best and folks in board can add or whatever. 1166 01:35:00,750 --> 01:35:05,630 So we would not get FEMA money for making a class for and designating a road. 1167 01:35:05,870 --> 01:35:11,070 A class for is that I don't know the full details of the process but I don't think we can do that. 1168 01:35:11,390 --> 01:35:17,550 That would be done by the board. It's my understanding. So really what we're voting on is repairing it. 1169 01:35:17,550 --> 01:35:22,330 What Joe hopefully mentioned is, you know, it can look a little weird like how could it only cost 1170 01:35:22,330 --> 01:35:29,810 150,000. So there's that other FEMA component if we decide to go down that route. So FEMA and then that's that state share. 1171 01:35:39,240 --> 01:35:42,600 I don't know if if I'm correct, but 1172 01:35:42,600 --> 01:35:44,720 when FEMA awards money 1173 01:35:45,800 --> 01:35:46,280 they 1174 01:35:46,840 --> 01:35:47,320 list 1175 01:35:47,880 --> 01:35:53,760 How you're supposed to use that money. You have to follow their guidance. If you don't follow your that guidance 1176 01:35:53,760 --> 01:35:56,140 You have to report back to them what you've done. 1177 01:35:57,040 --> 01:35:59,400 You don't want to mess around with that. 1178 01:36:00,460 --> 01:36:09,140 So I think we could repair the road and not go to the full length of what they're discussing 1179 01:36:09,140 --> 01:36:17,140 the $1.2 million, but we would have to still follow the hydrology study and follow the recommendations 1180 01:36:17,140 --> 01:36:24,240 from the state regarding taking care of the strain and but we wouldn't have to go the whole 1181 01:36:24,240 --> 01:36:29,320 route and then we would have to return the money that we didn't use to FEMA. That's my understanding. 1182 01:36:31,430 --> 01:36:34,330 Thanks for that. It's more. It's a better answer than what I gave. I agree. 1183 01:36:34,830 --> 01:36:41,530 Okay. Other questions or comments under article 7. Yes, ma'am. 1184 01:36:49,430 --> 01:36:49,710 Thanks, John. 1185 01:36:49,930 --> 01:36:55,670 So from what I've heard it sounds like it wouldn't be a good idea to do this but I would like to hear 1186 01:36:55,670 --> 01:36:59,670 from somebody here who thinks it would be a good idea to pass us. 1187 01:37:03,670 --> 01:37:06,850 Select board, I didn't actually hear the question. 1188 01:37:07,790 --> 01:37:09,390 Who wants to answer it? 1189 01:37:11,950 --> 01:37:16,210 She was just asking, she's heard people say why not to prove it. 1190 01:37:16,330 --> 01:37:20,150 She wanted to hear from somebody who thinks it's a good idea to improve it. 1191 01:37:21,550 --> 01:37:21,790 Okay. 1192 01:37:22,750 --> 01:37:25,150 We're getting a little far afield from the warned article, 1193 01:37:25,150 --> 01:37:29,970 but I'll allow that. Go ahead. Anybody want to answer? 1194 01:37:30,000 --> 01:37:32,520 So a woman in the back? 1195 01:37:38,740 --> 01:38:04,180 Julie Palin. I've lived on Pinywood's road for 42 plus years. So I can tell you, I walked the road, I'd like the road, I'd write on the road. And I've seen many people use that road to get to parks for a road or the other direction. And, you know, I'm supporting it being open, because I think it does. 1196 01:38:04,180 --> 01:38:08,140 to help people get from one place to the other. 1197 01:38:09,160 --> 01:38:10,300 So I just want you all to know, 1198 01:38:11,100 --> 01:38:13,060 I've seen a lot of traffic going that way. 1199 01:38:13,480 --> 01:38:16,280 So I'm gouging for that, and that's my opinion. 1200 01:38:18,800 --> 01:38:22,660 Uh, yes, sir, in the front here, and then I'll get to you. 1201 01:38:22,720 --> 01:38:22,920 Yeah. 1202 01:38:23,660 --> 01:38:23,880 Front. 1203 01:38:24,220 --> 01:38:24,340 Yeah. 1204 01:38:25,140 --> 01:38:25,760 Thank you. 1205 01:38:26,100 --> 01:38:26,640 The other front. 1206 01:38:26,980 --> 01:38:27,300 All right. 1207 01:38:28,280 --> 01:38:30,940 So just so I understand this as well. 1208 01:38:30,940 --> 01:38:38,240 So Article 7, the 150,000 is to move forward with the FEMA project where FEMA is going 1209 01:38:38,240 --> 01:38:42,520 to do most of the money, as you said, the percentage states going to give us a percentage. 1210 01:38:43,180 --> 01:38:49,280 This is our share of that project to make those full, the bigger culverts, everything else 1211 01:38:49,280 --> 01:38:52,780 that they said needed to be done based on the hydrology studies and everything else. 1212 01:38:53,080 --> 01:39:00,720 Yes, if I have the studies right here as well, but as you'll see in here, so the 12.5% 1213 01:39:00,720 --> 01:39:03,500 of $1.2 million is $150,000. 1214 01:39:03,940 --> 01:39:08,680 That is being offset, because we have FEMA funds 1215 01:39:08,680 --> 01:39:11,280 from other rows that we did not use last year, 1216 01:39:11,880 --> 01:39:18,040 which is the $18,000 to $176, which will help offset 1217 01:39:18,040 --> 01:39:20,160 that $150,000. 1218 01:39:20,400 --> 01:39:22,220 Okay, then it sounds like it's a worthwhile investment. 1219 01:39:22,340 --> 01:39:25,100 So what we're asking for is the $60,000. 1220 01:39:25,160 --> 01:39:26,600 Yep, that's a worthwhile investment. 1221 01:39:27,140 --> 01:39:29,520 Okay, and then there was a gentleman 1222 01:39:29,520 --> 01:39:37,130 and then right behind you. Yeah. Okay. Mike Bushie again. My question is going to be too 1223 01:39:37,130 --> 01:39:44,270 part, I guess. First part is if the vote is approved, it's $150,000. But Fever doesn't give us 1224 01:39:44,270 --> 01:39:52,530 the money. What happens to the 150 grand? A. And with regard to the viability of Ponywood Road as 1225 01:39:53,910 --> 01:39:58,730 a road for the community. I think it makes a lot more sense to have that road than it does to maintain 1226 01:39:58,730 --> 01:40:01,350 in a full length of old stage road, for instance. 1227 01:40:01,950 --> 01:40:02,990 So, there you go. 1228 01:40:04,190 --> 01:40:04,750 Slypon? 1229 01:40:06,070 --> 01:40:08,070 There's been a lot of conversation this year 1230 01:40:08,070 --> 01:40:10,890 about whether towns or states will receive FEMA funding. 1231 01:40:11,210 --> 01:40:12,990 So, it's a really good question, Mike. 1232 01:40:14,590 --> 01:40:17,350 Just this morning, I've learned that we received 1233 01:40:17,350 --> 01:40:20,290 the final dollars that we would do to receive from FEMA. 1234 01:40:21,130 --> 01:40:22,650 So, we actually have 1235 01:40:24,870 --> 01:40:28,630 close to $900,000 from FEMA sitting in our bank 1236 01:40:28,630 --> 01:40:34,830 count right now to put towards this. The way the FEMA funds work is for projects of this size 1237 01:40:34,830 --> 01:40:40,150 were awarded 90% of the money. The remaining 10% is sitting with the state. So that money 1238 01:40:40,150 --> 01:40:44,630 is gone from the federal government to the state. So the likelihood that we will have all that 1239 01:40:44,630 --> 01:40:48,150 money in order to complete the work is extremely high. 1240 01:40:51,240 --> 01:40:54,840 Okay. Other questions, sir? Yes, sir. Come on up. 1241 01:41:00,400 --> 01:41:07,380 Just one real comment quick. My name is John Zekowski. With respect to the FEMA money and the 1242 01:41:07,380 --> 01:41:13,020 studies that were referenced, I don't work for FEMA, but generally my understanding is that when 1243 01:41:13,020 --> 01:41:18,540 FEMA does their hydrology studies and designs these projects, they're looking at certain size 1244 01:41:18,540 --> 01:41:23,260 storm events over time. So in other words, to get back to Mr. Richter's comment earlier is 1245 01:41:23,260 --> 01:41:27,780 he's just worth it over time. Generally they're going to design the sizes of these box 1246 01:41:27,780 --> 01:41:35,760 So these structures to withstand certain floods, you might hear the phrase 100-year flood event or 500-year flood event. 1247 01:41:36,760 --> 01:41:44,140 I don't know what specific study they did here, but my guess is that they modeled it to withstand a pretty significant size flood. 1248 01:41:44,720 --> 01:41:51,120 So that hopefully, again, this may be able to withstand floods over an extended period of time. 1249 01:41:51,140 --> 01:41:54,180 Do I know that for sure? No, but my strong suspicion is yes. 1250 01:41:54,180 --> 01:42:01,380 They wouldn't be providing this level of funding for a smaller size structure that's just going to get washed out five years from now. 1251 01:42:02,120 --> 01:42:03,280 Thank you. Yes, sir. 1252 01:42:08,510 --> 01:42:12,410 As I said, I'm going to benefit from this. I like being able to get divergence. 1253 01:42:12,530 --> 01:42:16,290 It's not that I rise against it, but my question then, and that's a great explanation. 1254 01:42:17,290 --> 01:42:24,530 Did the town receive FEMA funds the last time when we had to rebuild Pineywood's road because both the culverts had blown out. 1255 01:42:24,530 --> 01:42:29,810 one at the bottom, where the stone turns the water and the one further up. Did FEMA provide funding 1256 01:42:29,810 --> 01:42:32,770 to us to allow us, that just totally pay by the town. 1257 01:42:34,210 --> 01:42:44,990 So I recall from what the previous roadformin said was that in 2019, that road did receive FEMA funds. 1258 01:42:45,350 --> 01:42:51,970 Maybe John, you remember? So the FEMA did their studies recommended we spent the money and 1259 01:42:51,970 --> 01:43:00,530 and it blew out again. Okay. Yeah, no. Yeah, the problem is we have a hundred 1260 01:43:00,530 --> 01:43:07,310 year for every ten years now today. So, you know, John, are you talking to anyone else? 1261 01:43:07,410 --> 01:43:13,610 Have any questions or comments? Yes, ma'am. In the back. Steve, I don't see you. 1262 01:43:21,810 --> 01:43:22,410 Yes, 1263 01:43:22,410 --> 01:43:36,090 Mike, whatever. Okay. Hi, Barb Cranville. I just had a clarifying question. If we, if we don't take the FEMA money, if we choose not to do repairs, do we lose it for future years? 1264 01:43:37,630 --> 01:43:38,370 So I bet. 1265 01:43:43,670 --> 01:43:45,310 Yes, we would lose that money. 1266 01:43:47,970 --> 01:43:53,950 Yeah, why would you ever turn down money from the federal government? Especially these days. Anyway, yes, sir. 1267 01:43:53,950 --> 01:44:07,950 I have all the tools on there, opportunity costs for town employee hours or machinery for the project and does that endanger some of the planning that we just approved and 1268 01:44:08,930 --> 01:44:16,950 Can you remind me how long or how how much service time money will it's has been in operation for the last five or 10 years. 1269 01:44:18,770 --> 01:44:24,990 select board. Yeah, I can't give you an exact answer but how much service time has been down there. 1270 01:44:25,110 --> 01:44:29,170 I mean, Trevor, you can chime in. You've been here for around five years. If you want, you don't have to, of course. 1271 01:44:32,980 --> 01:44:40,400 But yeah, and you asked about opportunity cost, great question. I mean, there would be a lot of opportunity benefit going through this because I mean, 1272 01:44:41,980 --> 01:44:46,540 done, may the details of which, if we done through an outside company, which are there 1273 01:44:46,540 --> 01:44:51,500 for free, may the crew might help out, but would free up the crew for doing a number 1274 01:44:51,500 --> 01:44:54,540 of other projects that I know that they're planning. So there will be a benefit to going 1275 01:44:54,540 --> 01:44:56,400 with this route with the theme of support. 1276 01:44:57,560 --> 01:44:59,820 And if I should also say it folks one more 1277 01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:07,200 Details about the study or about the process. We have them here, and feel free to ask us any time. 1278 01:45:07,860 --> 01:45:15,160 So, I just want to add one more thing to that. So, if this is passed, we will put it out to bid for different contract and companies. 1279 01:45:16,160 --> 01:45:26,200 And at that point, they will probably walk the road and everything with us, with device and king and they will submit their bids. 1280 01:45:27,020 --> 01:45:38,900 So the local contractor, whoever gets the bit, will be the ones doing the work, and if they need a truck or something from the highway department here and there, I'm sure we can facilitate that. 1281 01:45:39,240 --> 01:45:40,920 Okay, yes sir. 1282 01:45:50,890 --> 01:45:53,410 I'm going to do show how my live up on Burl Hill. 1283 01:45:53,650 --> 01:45:57,730 And I just wonder how many wood does it get fixed, what will happen to her? 1284 01:46:02,400 --> 01:46:09,840 Yeah, I mean, not if it doesn't get fixed, I mean there's, I guess there's a couple options we have, but it's basically going to stay the way it is, you know, folks walk on it. 1285 01:46:10,300 --> 01:46:12,380 And, you know, it won't be accessible. 1286 01:46:13,620 --> 01:46:15,500 But you're going to allow the public to walk on 1287 01:46:15,500 --> 01:46:17,920 when you have put bridges in and get over the two streams. 1288 01:46:20,080 --> 01:46:22,860 And that will probably come out of the telemoney 1289 01:46:23,460 --> 01:46:25,720 and probably have to be engineered by the state. 1290 01:46:27,760 --> 01:46:30,120 Yeah, we haven't made any decision about what to do 1291 01:46:30,600 --> 01:46:32,120 if we don't repair it. 1292 01:46:32,460 --> 01:46:34,880 I mean, I think you've asked this question 1293 01:46:34,880 --> 01:46:36,580 because this is why it's really important. 1294 01:46:36,740 --> 01:46:38,720 Or we felt it was really important to have this as an article 1295 01:46:38,720 --> 01:46:43,060 a town meeting. So questions like yours and we could discuss it as a group. So there would 1296 01:46:43,060 --> 01:46:47,080 be, you know, if we decided to keep it under eminent that would be a decision for the 1297 01:46:47,080 --> 01:46:49,420 for the board to make whether or not to add bridges there. But that would obviously, 1298 01:46:49,700 --> 01:46:52,840 you know, we need permitting and all that stuff. And we need to follow the proper state 1299 01:46:52,840 --> 01:46:55,660 process. So there would be costs to that if we decided to do that. 1300 01:46:55,860 --> 01:46:59,260 I just think it's a valuable infrastructure to be ashamed of the rules of it. 1301 01:47:00,980 --> 01:47:04,020 Okay. Other questions or comments? Yes, ma'am. 1302 01:47:06,570 --> 01:47:09,590 Yeah. I'll get to the next. Thanks. 1303 01:47:09,590 --> 01:47:11,670 that make a rick near the other half. 1304 01:47:11,890 --> 01:47:15,210 That lives right, right, where Pinywood almost ends. 1305 01:47:17,550 --> 01:47:19,850 I highly recommend that we reopen the road, 1306 01:47:19,910 --> 01:47:22,330 because it is a direct route down to Virginia. 1307 01:47:22,730 --> 01:47:25,490 It's better if my husband, when he goes on first responses, 1308 01:47:25,650 --> 01:47:28,350 has to go all the way around to get the other side of town. 1309 01:47:29,290 --> 01:47:30,770 When we moved in in 1992, 1310 01:47:31,150 --> 01:47:32,650 we didn't realize it was the middle of the winter. 1311 01:47:32,750 --> 01:47:34,410 We didn't realize the road was blown out. 1312 01:47:34,890 --> 01:47:36,990 And we were like, oh, this road is so peaceful. 1313 01:47:37,190 --> 01:47:38,310 This road is so quiet. 1314 01:47:39,910 --> 01:47:54,650 And then the, they fixed the road and we realized there was a lot more traffic but it still is a very useful road and I think that it probably should be open as long as it can be guaranteed that this time it won't blow out again in five years. 1315 01:47:54,650 --> 01:48:12,750 Also, one thought if it's not fixed is, the many years ago, we talked to some of the landowners down that road and tried to recommend that the Autobahn center take over some of the land down there, 1316 01:48:12,750 --> 01:48:16,850 what down by the water and the cliffs and the it's really an amazing place 1317 01:48:16,850 --> 01:48:20,750 burning and everything and I highly recommend that the town 1318 01:48:21,450 --> 01:48:25,910 reach out to park system or or the town 1319 01:48:25,910 --> 01:48:30,930 town far as system or the Audubon Center and set the road up as a place 1320 01:48:30,930 --> 01:48:35,110 for people to go and you know birdwatch hike etc etc. 1321 01:48:43,570 --> 01:48:48,050 I'm just wondering if we had FEMA funds left over from other projects 1322 01:48:48,050 --> 01:48:54,390 Why would we lose these if we didn't use them if we still had some leftover? 1323 01:48:55,110 --> 01:49:00,350 And I was also wondering when FEMA needs to have a decision from the down. 1324 01:49:00,870 --> 01:49:01,510 Like Gordon? 1325 01:49:07,080 --> 01:49:08,220 Those are great questions, Kelly. 1326 01:49:08,520 --> 01:49:09,880 Thank you. 1327 01:49:10,960 --> 01:49:12,000 Speak right into it. 1328 01:49:14,840 --> 01:49:21,700 So, FEMA funds, FEMA projects get classified in different ways and depending on the dollar amount. 1329 01:49:21,700 --> 01:49:32,360 So, the funds that we have left over are from a dollar amount that was below a certain threshold by which we get to keep those funds. 1330 01:49:34,060 --> 01:49:41,400 With projects that are as large as the Piny Woods Rose project, we wouldn't be able to keep those funds. 1331 01:49:42,000 --> 01:49:43,200 I think Stan, right? 1332 01:49:44,500 --> 01:49:52,830 So, the reason we have money left over is because when, what is the, what does that mean? 1333 01:49:52,930 --> 01:50:00,110 Old stage, thank you. When Old stage was repaired, there were some funds left over from that. 1334 01:50:01,810 --> 01:50:03,830 And Davis wrote too. Thank you, Joe. 1335 01:50:04,470 --> 01:50:06,890 And that was one part of your question. What was the other part? 1336 01:50:06,890 --> 01:50:07,570 when is 1337 01:50:10,320 --> 01:50:16,840 right. We had already asked for an extension because these funds were supposed to be used 1338 01:50:16,840 --> 01:50:24,240 up by February or something silly like that. So stand asked for an extension and we would be able 1339 01:50:24,240 --> 01:50:27,720 to ask for another extension. So we don't really have a deadline at this point. 1340 01:50:29,990 --> 01:50:31,050 I think it was July. 1341 01:50:33,390 --> 01:50:33,910 July 1342 01:50:36,690 --> 01:50:43,650 14th. Okay. Wow. Okay. Yes, sir. And then I'll get to the person over here. We're still talking 1343 01:50:43,650 --> 01:50:44,850 about Article 7. 1344 01:50:47,580 --> 01:50:50,560 You've parented over on Silver Street, which is kind of bouncy. 1345 01:50:52,080 --> 01:50:56,060 I remember some years ago, we had a flood in Vermont. 1346 01:50:56,300 --> 01:50:57,640 It wasn't in the last several. 1347 01:50:57,880 --> 01:50:59,060 It was longer to go. 1348 01:50:59,860 --> 01:51:02,880 But I understood from a newspaper article 1349 01:51:02,880 --> 01:51:08,020 that culverts that were put in had to follow FEMA recommendations 1350 01:51:08,820 --> 01:51:11,680 and all those culverts eventually flew out. 1351 01:51:12,240 --> 01:51:14,440 But because you took the FEMA money, 1352 01:51:14,440 --> 01:51:17,180 you couldn't do anything else but what they recommended. 1353 01:51:18,040 --> 01:51:22,220 So I'm wondering, is can we all rebuild the culverse? 1354 01:51:22,700 --> 01:51:24,920 Because the storms aren't going to get less intense. 1355 01:51:25,700 --> 01:51:29,220 And if we have to put it, I'm sort of with Mark Richtner on this 1356 01:51:29,220 --> 01:51:31,260 that I think is going to blow out again. 1357 01:51:32,380 --> 01:51:35,700 And I don't know if we have the flexibility to build larger 1358 01:51:35,700 --> 01:51:37,000 stream crossings. 1359 01:51:37,640 --> 01:51:39,340 I think John wants to answer this one. 1360 01:51:44,240 --> 01:51:49,240 So there's, there's a couple kinds of theme of projects. 1361 01:51:49,720 --> 01:51:52,740 It's always a pain to deal with them and it takes forever, 1362 01:51:53,020 --> 01:51:54,820 usually takes forever to get your money back. 1363 01:51:55,500 --> 01:51:59,280 But if you're going to rebuild something as it was before, 1364 01:52:00,880 --> 01:52:03,540 it's a little more straightforward process and a little faster 1365 01:52:03,540 --> 01:52:05,440 process to get a response from FEMA. 1366 01:52:06,180 --> 01:52:09,620 So the first time was the 2020, I forget when the other blowout 1367 01:52:09,620 --> 01:52:12,680 was 2019, that blowout, 1368 01:52:12,680 --> 01:52:18,860 We got the approval more quickly, we got funds more quickly because we were basically putting it back as it was in fact 1369 01:52:18,860 --> 01:52:21,120 I think the exact same culverts 1370 01:52:21,120 --> 01:52:23,830 At least from the large ones went back in where they were before 1371 01:52:24,780 --> 01:52:27,690 So it went through pretty quickly as a much smaller number 1372 01:52:28,860 --> 01:52:29,740 What's proposed? 1373 01:52:30,000 --> 01:52:36,660 Now, well, in part of the reason that it took so long and it's been down so long is, it didn't make sense to go back. 1374 01:52:37,460 --> 01:52:41,580 And let's just replace it as it was again before and build it back again. 1375 01:52:42,840 --> 01:52:48,120 Five years later, we have another blowout. It just doesn't make sense to keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. 1376 01:52:48,920 --> 01:52:53,600 So we went through the more lengthy process of, we need to upgrade this. 1377 01:52:53,600 --> 01:52:59,680 We need to get a, they pay, I think, a lower percentage when you're doing, you know, an upgrade. 1378 01:53:00,600 --> 01:53:05,760 And it takes a lot longer to get approval. So that was a whole, and if you look at the proposals, 1379 01:53:06,980 --> 01:53:13,560 the culvert, I'm not sure the box culverts are just, yeah, they're like what went in on mountain road, 1380 01:53:13,700 --> 01:53:21,080 not long ago, and by the lanes on the Bristol road before then, 1381 01:53:21,080 --> 01:53:26,680 And there are much, much bigger, probably would have wing walls to protect them and let 1382 01:53:26,680 --> 01:53:27,180 them everything. 1383 01:53:28,200 --> 01:53:30,920 Is that going to guarantee that it doesn't pull out again? 1384 01:53:31,360 --> 01:53:32,900 I can guarantee you it's not. 1385 01:53:34,040 --> 01:53:36,000 That road is a problem road. 1386 01:53:36,460 --> 01:53:39,660 It will get damaged again when we have a big storm. 1387 01:53:40,360 --> 01:53:45,540 With these improvements, it should be a whole lot less of a mess than what happened this 1388 01:53:45,540 --> 01:53:50,840 time, because the culverts will be able to carry it and it should be more minor damage 1389 01:53:50,840 --> 01:53:52,900 like we see on other roads when we get a big storm. 1390 01:53:54,560 --> 01:53:56,320 OK, other questions or comments? 1391 01:53:56,800 --> 01:53:58,460 Yes, sir, and then I'll get to you. 1392 01:53:58,700 --> 01:53:59,640 Yes, sir, in the back. 1393 01:54:08,510 --> 01:54:10,110 And from my side of the fence, 1394 01:54:10,810 --> 01:54:12,250 it's a nice little country road. 1395 01:54:12,750 --> 01:54:14,590 It should stay a nice little country road. 1396 01:54:15,550 --> 01:54:16,910 If you've widened the way they want it, 1397 01:54:17,030 --> 01:54:18,950 it's going to be like a big interstate. 1398 01:54:19,430 --> 01:54:22,350 Guide rails to all nine yards down to the finding wood road. 1399 01:54:22,830 --> 01:54:26,370 If that's what you folks want to look at, vote for it. 1400 01:54:26,370 --> 01:54:28,550 I choose not to, but I'd rather see the road closed. 1401 01:54:29,350 --> 01:54:30,150 Thank you. 1402 01:54:37,660 --> 01:54:39,340 Yeah, my name is Michael Herbert. 1403 01:54:40,100 --> 01:54:41,020 I'm with Tom Kenyan. 1404 01:54:41,020 --> 01:54:43,900 We all in the rest of the property on the point of Woodrowed. 1405 01:54:45,020 --> 01:54:49,240 Years ago, the point of Woodrowed was designated as scenic route, 1406 01:54:49,600 --> 01:54:50,060 which it is. 1407 01:54:50,100 --> 01:54:51,580 I mean, the road's closed. 1408 01:54:51,860 --> 01:54:55,000 And all kinds of people are walking up and down the road. 1409 01:54:56,800 --> 01:54:58,620 If we're talking about the autobond society, 1410 01:54:58,720 --> 01:55:01,420 wanting to access some of our property, 1411 01:55:01,420 --> 01:55:09,590 Well, tell you the truth of their property is legally posted and we got trio came with the people walking all over our property, but that's besides the point 1412 01:55:11,760 --> 01:55:15,500 As far as I'm concerned we should leave the road 1413 01:55:16,360 --> 01:55:16,860 as 1414 01:55:17,210 --> 01:55:22,840 as it is as much as possible the problem has been the culverts were not big enough 1415 01:55:23,460 --> 01:55:27,500 I mean when you you know the culverts not big enough it washes out again 1416 01:55:28,420 --> 01:55:31,180 You don't put the same size culvert back in. 1417 01:55:31,340 --> 01:55:37,820 You put a bigger culvert in, but the thing of it is, if you put the bigger culvert in, 1418 01:55:38,060 --> 01:55:44,620 it's there, which takes a water five years out of 20, it's fine, but there was those years 1419 01:55:44,620 --> 01:55:49,560 where we have the fresh it, you know, the big floods it comes through, where that culvert's 1420 01:55:49,560 --> 01:55:50,380 not picking up. 1421 01:55:50,660 --> 01:55:57,320 So simply, you need some bigger culverts or you need to put some culverts aside with 1422 01:55:57,320 --> 01:56:02,660 bigger culverts so when the water gets up there it has a place to go and my brother 1423 01:56:02,660 --> 01:56:08,680 day was saying well the upper culvert all you need to do is have a place for the water 1424 01:56:08,680 --> 01:56:13,920 to go when it when it you know can't go through the culvert so if you make a ditch 1425 01:56:13,920 --> 01:56:19,960 between the two culverts that are already there in line it was stone when the water can't 1426 01:56:20,720 --> 01:56:25,800 culvert can't take it it goes down the ditch and avoids the other culvert and goes back into 1427 01:56:25,800 --> 01:56:33,320 the brook. And there's a lot of things that can be done without widening the road without cutting 1428 01:56:33,320 --> 01:56:37,960 all the trees down. I mean the trees that are there sure the snow plow hooks them because 1429 01:56:37,960 --> 01:56:45,600 the road is narrow. But the trees also hold a road in place. They hold a road from washing out. 1430 01:56:45,980 --> 01:56:50,960 And if you take the trees out, you're going to have to put some burglars up because there's a 1431 01:56:50,960 --> 01:56:54,600 to drop off there, and if somebody rolls off that, they're going to get killed. 1432 01:56:56,280 --> 01:57:03,240 So I'd like to just see him with bigger culverts in, maybe some more, and fix the road. 1433 01:57:03,640 --> 01:57:06,860 As it was, as much as we can, sure, to shortcut. 1434 01:57:07,220 --> 01:57:12,200 I mean, I go to my daughter's house over on the lanes over there, and I have to go all the way 1435 01:57:12,200 --> 01:57:17,460 around, or before, it was just a shortcut, and I'm sure a lot of people, I kind of like 1436 01:57:17,460 --> 01:57:22,540 have it closed because there's a lot less traffic going by my house in the morning. But I guess 1437 01:57:22,540 --> 01:57:24,680 that's all I have to say. Thank you. 1438 01:57:30,510 --> 01:57:33,190 Article 7, any other questions are caught? 1439 01:57:33,590 --> 01:57:34,810 Ments. Yes. 1440 01:57:38,680 --> 01:57:45,860 Oh, come on. Let me sit down this time. So, Pinewood has always been my favorite 1441 01:57:45,860 --> 01:57:48,080 place to bicycle in Monkton. 1442 01:57:49,660 --> 01:57:56,360 That said, $1.2 million to repair it. 1443 01:57:57,100 --> 01:57:59,280 FEMA responds to a lot of natural disasters. 1444 01:57:59,780 --> 01:58:02,020 They fund a lot of repair as natural disasters. 1445 01:58:02,280 --> 01:58:05,200 Funny what's road is relatively minor. 1446 01:58:06,240 --> 01:58:09,760 And this is money that is part of a larger society. 1447 01:58:10,420 --> 01:58:14,240 And the question comes down is, is this the best place 1448 01:58:14,240 --> 01:58:17,320 to spend $1.2 million dollars. 1449 01:58:17,920 --> 01:58:20,380 The way I finally thought about it for myself 1450 01:58:21,640 --> 01:58:23,400 is just some quick math. 1451 01:58:23,600 --> 01:58:27,840 If you assume 50 cars a day, I'm funny with this road. 1452 01:58:30,180 --> 01:58:32,760 And driving 365 days a year, and you 1453 01:58:32,760 --> 01:58:36,820 buy that into $1.2 million, that's $65 per car. 1454 01:58:38,220 --> 01:58:40,260 So now that's just over one year. 1455 01:58:40,440 --> 01:58:43,480 If you say 10 years, that's $6.50 per car. 1456 01:58:43,480 --> 01:58:47,220 travel that road. You know, think about it as a total 1457 01:58:47,220 --> 01:58:50,720 road. You're going to charge $6 a $5 a ride up and down 1458 01:58:50,720 --> 01:58:55,560 that road each year to keep it maintained. It's just in terms 1459 01:58:55,560 --> 01:58:58,800 of overall society. It seems to me that it's low-wonged 1460 01:58:58,800 --> 01:59:02,160 their practical. Maybe practical for saving time in the 1461 01:59:02,160 --> 01:59:05,940 horse and buggy age, but in cars. I think it's time to let 1462 01:59:05,940 --> 01:59:07,580 the road go to the class for it. 1463 01:59:11,210 --> 01:59:13,090 I actually wanted to let 1464 01:59:13,090 --> 01:59:16,150 you have the opportunity to respond because I don't know 1465 01:59:16,150 --> 01:59:18,190 what the engineering studies look like. 1466 01:59:18,450 --> 01:59:20,210 Things have just been put out on the table. 1467 01:59:21,710 --> 01:59:24,030 Are we really looking at retaining walls? 1468 01:59:24,190 --> 01:59:25,470 Are you widening the road? 1469 01:59:25,670 --> 01:59:27,710 So two fire trucks can pass, 1470 01:59:27,910 --> 01:59:30,830 are you making it, are we going from a 30 foot easement 1471 01:59:30,830 --> 01:59:32,130 to a 60 foot easement? 1472 01:59:32,850 --> 01:59:34,790 Are we putting up retaining walls? 1473 01:59:34,950 --> 01:59:36,130 Where the trees are gonna come down? 1474 01:59:36,190 --> 01:59:38,810 Because it is a straight drop, 40 feet at times. 1475 01:59:39,830 --> 01:59:41,190 Are they're going to be guard rails? 1476 01:59:41,750 --> 01:59:43,350 Could things were just brought up? 1477 01:59:43,350 --> 01:59:45,190 I'd love to give you the opportunity to respond. 1478 01:59:46,490 --> 01:59:47,570 So I put, 1479 01:59:55,920 --> 01:59:59,980 yes, the road would need to be wide and if we were with the theme of it. 1480 02:00:00,700 --> 02:00:09,780 And I just want to say, like, this is why we wanted to have this as an article at town meeting. Maybe folks are like, I want to get the app out of here, but this is really, this is really important. These are great questions. 1481 02:00:11,240 --> 02:00:20,820 I mean, we're really in a bind. So if that road is going to be repaired, the most inexpensive and effective option is to go with the FEMA route. 1482 02:00:20,820 --> 02:00:26,780 The challenge or that, obviously, into Mr. Kenyan's points, which I totally take in 1483 02:00:26,780 --> 02:00:30,200 sincerity, is, you know, that's going to change the character of the road. 1484 02:00:31,100 --> 02:00:35,300 And we would have to adhere to the FEMA standards and also the state permanent standards. 1485 02:00:36,160 --> 02:00:39,640 You know, so we would be limited by those constraints. 1486 02:00:40,140 --> 02:00:44,340 Now, those vessions of the law, you know, like the state law and federal law, which we have 1487 02:00:44,340 --> 02:00:46,260 to comply with. 1488 02:00:47,000 --> 02:00:48,160 Thank you, my son, out there. 1489 02:00:49,780 --> 02:00:54,300 In terms of the work that will be done, I can share the high level of what the theme 1490 02:00:54,300 --> 02:00:54,940 is recommended. 1491 02:00:55,420 --> 02:00:59,980 I don't recall anything about retaining walls, but at the end there would be three box 1492 02:00:59,980 --> 02:01:02,800 culverts, and there would also be a number of Vanessa Hobert's point. 1493 02:01:02,920 --> 02:01:08,520 There would be some ditching higher up and up-sizing some of those culverts across culverts 1494 02:01:08,520 --> 02:01:09,820 that are going across the road. 1495 02:01:11,500 --> 02:01:12,860 I've learned a lot about culverts. 1496 02:01:13,240 --> 02:01:16,180 I've walked that road about 10 times, many of the times with Joe. 1497 02:01:16,900 --> 02:01:20,800 The culverts that are there actually need to be installed at an angle. 1498 02:01:21,120 --> 02:01:25,180 So right now they're at a right angle and they need to be installed at a more like a 45 degree 1499 02:01:25,180 --> 02:01:27,000 angle to better redirect water. 1500 02:01:27,460 --> 02:01:29,160 So that's also in the theme of proposal. 1501 02:01:31,380 --> 02:01:35,120 So there are a number of changes that I mean like John said I totally agree we can't guarantee 1502 02:01:35,120 --> 02:01:40,520 that a one damage the row but this would give us the best chance to both allow that row to 1503 02:01:40,520 --> 02:01:45,120 be open and then we would do everything we possibly can to preserve the row character that 1504 02:01:45,120 --> 02:01:49,680 within the constraints that are provided to us from the Fed's federal government and from the state. 1505 02:01:50,740 --> 02:01:54,900 So, so this culverts are going to be some ditching, and then box culverts at the end. 1506 02:01:58,680 --> 02:01:59,680 Does that answer your question? 1507 02:02:01,990 --> 02:02:02,130 Yep. 1508 02:02:21,420 --> 02:02:22,360 That should only be 1509 02:02:26,200 --> 02:02:27,340 70 feet across. 1510 02:02:27,960 --> 02:02:31,860 Anyway, so, are you, I don't know the study. 1511 02:02:33,160 --> 02:02:35,920 There's no room when you go down the hill. 1512 02:02:36,680 --> 02:02:38,020 There is nothing to the right. 1513 02:02:39,740 --> 02:02:45,700 So, are you cutting into the left to make it wider, or are we filling all that to the right? 1514 02:02:47,020 --> 02:02:48,400 There's only certain of them. 1515 02:02:50,160 --> 02:02:51,440 We'd be cutting more of the left. 1516 02:02:51,560 --> 02:02:57,800 There's nothing in that space, but if I hear this concern, I know that exactly that corner you're talking about. 1517 02:02:57,880 --> 02:02:59,660 I mean, I think that would be something crust to consider. 1518 02:02:59,760 --> 02:03:01,300 I mean, the safety of that road is really important. 1519 02:03:01,800 --> 02:03:04,180 You know, I think, you know, that's probably my favorite road in town. 1520 02:03:04,180 --> 02:03:05,900 and I look very close by there. 1521 02:03:06,400 --> 02:03:08,560 There are parts of that road that need to be more safe. 1522 02:03:09,120 --> 02:03:09,460 For sure. 1523 02:03:09,580 --> 02:03:11,000 I mean, there's that blind curve that you're talking 1524 02:03:11,000 --> 02:03:12,420 about that left piece there. 1525 02:03:12,440 --> 02:03:13,560 I know exactly we're talking about that. 1526 02:03:13,560 --> 02:03:15,940 We are proposing that would be a part of the pose 1527 02:03:15,940 --> 02:03:18,500 of going to that side rather than going off into the stream, 1528 02:03:18,780 --> 02:03:19,900 which I don't think would even be permitted. 1529 02:03:20,040 --> 02:03:21,560 I'm not an engineer, but yeah. 1530 02:03:21,600 --> 02:03:24,760 And I guess my follow-up is going back to what Roger said. 1531 02:03:26,060 --> 02:03:30,900 It sounds like we're going to have an incredible, well-designed, 1532 02:03:31,140 --> 02:03:33,320 beautifully constructed to my heart. 1533 02:03:33,320 --> 02:03:40,980 one mile road at each end of which is an old country road and this is probably going to end 1534 02:03:40,980 --> 02:03:48,000 up being the best dirt road we have in the entire town or a cutthrew that used to be a 1535 02:03:48,000 --> 02:03:55,460 scenic bypass. It's just bring it up. They didn't get it. It's no benefit. Right now we cannot 1536 02:03:55,460 --> 02:03:59,900 we won't take an ambulance through there. I'm not sure we will once it's fixed. We'll have to 1537 02:03:59,900 --> 02:04:03,940 to see what it looks like. But if it looks like we could, it probably means it's lost all of 1538 02:04:03,940 --> 02:04:04,520 this character. 1539 02:04:06,840 --> 02:04:12,320 That's what I mean, our intention is certainly, I know it's not to disrupt the character 1540 02:04:12,320 --> 02:04:16,800 of the road. It's just to offer you all the information about what we need, what we would 1541 02:04:16,800 --> 02:04:22,960 need to comply with in order to repair it, and still receive the thing that we want to 1542 02:04:24,500 --> 02:04:25,880 Okay, Article 7. 1543 02:04:26,800 --> 02:04:27,900 You've got a question? 1544 02:04:28,160 --> 02:04:28,720 No, I don't know. 1545 02:04:28,940 --> 02:04:29,300 Okay. 1546 02:04:31,660 --> 02:04:31,920 Yeah. 1547 02:04:31,920 --> 02:04:32,360 Go ahead. 1548 02:04:33,000 --> 02:04:34,420 Let the slide board to make the move. 1549 02:04:34,960 --> 02:04:36,440 Just one last comment. 1550 02:04:37,640 --> 02:04:41,420 This article, according to, from outlies of cities and towns. 1551 02:04:41,840 --> 02:04:44,640 This is not a binding vote. 1552 02:04:45,340 --> 02:04:46,700 You guys can vote against it. 1553 02:04:46,760 --> 02:04:49,540 And the select board could still decide to fix the road. 1554 02:04:49,540 --> 02:04:58,860 But part of the reason for putting the article on the warning is because it's so important for us to hear from the voters what they want. 1555 02:05:05,840 --> 02:05:11,720 So there was a lot of concern about keeping the road, like as it is, is rural as possible. 1556 02:05:12,180 --> 02:05:19,060 And Sam and I, we did try to go with that route with just what campus hours in walk 1557 02:05:19,060 --> 02:05:25,440 never road, we went with contractors, the highway department, but with how we were trying 1558 02:05:25,440 --> 02:05:30,720 to do that, we were not going to get the permits approved to reopen the road that we needed 1559 02:05:30,720 --> 02:05:35,300 and we crossed the rivers, which we didn't know at the time when we started going down that route 1560 02:05:35,900 --> 02:05:40,320 of having local contractors, so we would essentially have more control over how the road is 1561 02:05:40,320 --> 02:05:45,800 me felt so I can I can tell you that was not going to be a proof so then it just comes back 1562 02:05:45,800 --> 02:05:50,900 to the old throw it up or not like we've done the multiple of the risks okay so there's 1563 02:05:50,900 --> 02:05:59,440 been a request to call the question do I need to take that to a vote sorry unfortunately 1564 02:05:59,440 --> 02:06:08,620 when when a voter requests to call the question in other words to cease to pay we've got 1565 02:06:08,620 --> 02:06:14,600 immediately move to a vote on that. So we're going to vote on the request to cease the pay. 1566 02:06:15,100 --> 02:06:20,900 Although it's going to be by two thirds majority. All those in favor of the request to cease the 1567 02:06:20,900 --> 02:06:30,460 pay under Article 7, signify by saying aye. All those opposed signify by saying no. The 1568 02:06:30,460 --> 02:06:39,480 If you guys approve of it, the eyes do have a request to cease to make carries, okay, we're going to vote on Article 7. 1569 02:06:39,740 --> 02:06:43,260 She'll the voters authorized no more than $150,000. 1570 02:06:43,980 --> 02:06:47,560 For the repairs of finding Woods Road of which $60,000. 1571 02:06:49,420 --> 02:06:50,700 $7239,000. 1572 02:06:50,900 --> 02:06:57,880 She'll be raised by taxes and $89,200, $268,000 by non-tax revenues. 1573 02:06:57,880 --> 02:07:02,900 All those in favor of Article 7, signify by saying aye. 1574 02:07:04,120 --> 02:07:06,600 All those opposed signify by saying no. 1575 02:07:12,280 --> 02:07:16,160 Yeah, we're going to go to a division of the House. 1576 02:07:16,820 --> 02:07:20,300 Are there seven among you who would like to do a paper ballad, 1577 02:07:20,340 --> 02:07:22,120 or is a division of the House sufficient? 1578 02:07:23,480 --> 02:07:24,880 I don't see seven hands. 1579 02:07:25,260 --> 02:07:27,320 One, two, three, four. 1580 02:07:30,000 --> 02:07:46,900 The Division of the House would be either hand or standing. I don't see seven members that want to pay well. Okay, now I do. All right, all right, for the civil authority, please come forward. We're going to proceed to an Australia ballot or paper ballot on this article. 1581 02:08:22,340 --> 02:08:26,940 Okay, folks, if you're going to vote, you've got to stay in the room. 1582 02:08:30,680 --> 02:08:33,500 The bear is so authority's going to pass out of ballot. 1583 02:08:33,980 --> 02:08:36,660 One ballot per person, only, 1584 02:08:39,960 --> 02:08:42,100 well, you'll have, but you'll be surprised. 1585 02:08:42,980 --> 02:08:44,540 One ballot per person. 1586 02:08:45,140 --> 02:08:47,100 And then you mark your ballot. 1587 02:08:47,720 --> 02:08:56,860 Yes, in favor of Article 7, though, a post of Article 7, the Bill of Civil Authority will ask you to 1588 02:08:56,860 --> 02:09:03,480 put your ballot into a box, and then we'll count them in rule and answer them up. 1589 02:09:03,760 --> 02:09:07,000 It's going to take 10 or 15 minutes, so just to give you an idea. 1590 02:10:24,850 --> 02:10:25,650 Come on, do it after 1591 02:10:45,580 --> 02:10:47,880 you and deposit it next to Sharon. 1592 02:10:47,880 --> 02:10:48,420 You 1593 02:11:09,380 --> 02:11:11,080 are not allowed to vote, 1594 02:11:14,530 --> 02:11:19,370 particularly in most towns, there is a non-resonant section for people to sit. 1595 02:11:20,570 --> 02:11:22,950 So if you're not a resident, please don't vote. 1596 02:13:19,900 --> 02:13:21,420 Let's go to vote in. 1597 02:13:21,660 --> 02:13:23,840 So that card you allowed to vote as well. 1598 02:13:24,000 --> 02:13:25,700 You measured downspaper 1599 02:13:33,960 --> 02:13:37,120 in these kinds of things unless to break a tie. 1600 02:13:50,620 --> 02:13:53,160 Okay, vote in is now ceased. 1601 02:13:53,720 --> 02:13:54,620 We're going to count. 1602 02:14:13,230 --> 02:14:16,630 Your results are the vote here in a couple minutes. 1603 02:18:14,770 --> 02:18:28,550 And there was also the Australian ballot under Article 7. In favor, 54, opposed, 64, Article 7 fails, 1604 02:18:32,090 --> 02:18:33,530 article, yes, man? 1605 02:18:47,440 --> 02:18:48,580 It's been voted upon 1606 02:18:51,370 --> 02:18:52,350 in the 7. We 1607 02:18:57,050 --> 02:19:06,940 can't change what's been done. Okay? So, article 8. 1608 02:19:06,940 --> 02:19:14,980 Article 8, shall the town provide notice of the availability of the annual report by postcard 1609 02:19:14,980 --> 02:19:21,720 mail to all registered voters, at least 30 days before the annual meeting, instead of 1610 02:19:21,720 --> 02:19:28,320 mailing or otherwise distributing the report to the voters of the town, pursuant to 24 1611 02:19:28,320 --> 02:19:38,920 for Mont Statutes, annotated section 1682A. Is there a motion? It's been moved second. It's been 1612 02:19:38,920 --> 02:19:46,040 seconded. All right, automatically it has been moved in second. It's like when any comments you'd 1613 02:19:46,040 --> 02:19:53,720 like to make about, this is apparently a recently enacted statute by the legislature to perhaps 1614 02:19:53,720 --> 02:19:56,080 to save the town some money. 1615 02:19:58,130 --> 02:19:58,850 Thank you, Jerry. 1616 02:20:00,690 --> 02:20:03,270 So the town spends about $10,000 a year 1617 02:20:03,270 --> 02:20:05,610 printing and mailing the town reports. 1618 02:20:06,670 --> 02:20:10,970 And we could get maybe 150, 100, 250 people 1619 02:20:10,970 --> 02:20:12,230 who show up for town meeting. 1620 02:20:12,970 --> 02:20:16,370 So the question is, are we wasting the town's money 1621 02:20:16,370 --> 02:20:17,810 and are we wasting resources 1622 02:20:17,810 --> 02:20:22,570 by printing and mailing town reports to so many people? 1623 02:20:23,310 --> 02:20:27,390 With this, we can mail at a postcard, let people know that time reports are available. 1624 02:20:27,690 --> 02:20:33,350 People can request for the time reports to be mailed to them, or they can come into the town offices and pick up a time report. 1625 02:20:39,480 --> 02:20:41,020 Any other questions? Yes sir. 1626 02:20:44,000 --> 02:20:49,880 So the postcards that comes out will come out, how far in advance of town meeting? 1627 02:20:52,070 --> 02:20:55,330 And that report will be available immediately at the upon receipt of those postcards? 1628 02:20:56,330 --> 02:20:56,710 I'm sorry. 1629 02:20:57,350 --> 02:21:01,730 that report will be available immediately upon receipt of those postcards. 1630 02:21:03,330 --> 02:21:09,530 Well, I guess my question is, are we going to benefit by getting the information 30 days earlier or not? 1631 02:21:16,850 --> 02:21:20,570 Because currently, the town report comes out about a week and a half ahead of town meeting 1632 02:21:20,570 --> 02:21:25,770 and doesn't give a lot of people all of time to digest all the information in there, 1633 02:21:25,830 --> 02:21:31,730 given the size and scope and growth of town government and bureaucracy contained there in. 1634 02:21:31,730 --> 02:21:38,850 So, earlier getting the reports would be a great benefit to the community, and that's the reason I support this. 1635 02:21:39,010 --> 02:21:45,930 I don't care about the expense. I care about getting the stuff in time to be able to digest it and act on it. 1636 02:21:50,500 --> 02:21:59,280 Other questions, yes, John, and then I'll get to use it a quick one might impression is that this would not affect the timing of the availability of the information. 1637 02:22:01,820 --> 02:22:05,960 Gentlemen in the back there, who had your hand raised yes. 1638 02:22:09,700 --> 02:22:10,420 Yeah. 1639 02:22:12,380 --> 02:22:17,940 Yeah, it's available online, probably way before the books come out. 1640 02:22:18,700 --> 02:22:21,640 Well, never mind. 1641 02:22:25,940 --> 02:22:28,080 Maybe shortly before the books come out. 1642 02:22:28,920 --> 02:22:29,060 Good. 1643 02:22:31,070 --> 02:22:42,070 So, I'd be in favor of this, too, just because with the way things go with the postal service currently, like it took forever to get this to our house. 1644 02:22:43,590 --> 02:22:50,450 So, I'd rather than I put it in the postal services hands at this point to trying it to me at a timely fashion given as he said, 1645 02:22:50,590 --> 02:22:58,630 there's a lot more to read, a lot more to consider, and so being able to say hey, hey, I can go by the town office and rather download it online. 1646 02:23:01,210 --> 02:23:01,970 You're Jenny? 1647 02:23:02,950 --> 02:23:04,170 And then I'll get to you Steve. 1648 02:23:04,530 --> 02:23:04,770 I haven't. 1649 02:23:05,410 --> 02:23:06,990 I haven't been to you forever. 1650 02:23:07,430 --> 02:23:07,530 Yeah. 1651 02:23:08,530 --> 02:23:14,710 The only thing that I'd like to have is that I think you would be important to have the town report available other places. 1652 02:23:14,970 --> 02:23:15,990 Maybe the school. 1653 02:23:16,450 --> 02:23:17,510 Maybe at recycling. 1654 02:23:18,090 --> 02:23:23,690 Because I think what this would result in this human people getting the town report would not be a good result. 1655 02:23:24,330 --> 02:23:27,330 So if we couldn't maybe there's going to be a new general store. 1656 02:23:27,330 --> 02:23:34,410 maybe in town, that could be maybe of the garage, maybe, I don't know, other places, but 1657 02:23:34,410 --> 02:23:37,730 somewhere other than just one place. 1658 02:23:39,730 --> 02:23:41,170 Jill in the back, 1659 02:23:45,220 --> 02:23:46,200 it's been spent. 1660 02:23:47,340 --> 02:23:51,000 If you think in charge of you to count on four, if you think four starts, don't be in order. 1661 02:24:06,680 --> 02:24:17,100 There's about 1850 registered voters in town, and we had about maybe 130 folks show up, so you can kind of do the math. 1662 02:24:17,100 --> 02:24:25,880 There are 17,000, there are about buckets that got mailed to folks who, you know, 1663 02:24:26,080 --> 02:24:28,100 this is the pilot who show up for town name. 1664 02:24:28,180 --> 02:24:29,100 Good, Steve. 1665 02:24:29,840 --> 02:24:34,980 So we don't, we don't send a kind of report to every registered motor. 1666 02:24:35,380 --> 02:24:36,620 We send a ton of households. 1667 02:24:37,640 --> 02:24:39,860 But the equivalent is this. 1668 02:24:39,860 --> 02:24:44,380 This used to get sent to every voter in London, 1669 02:24:45,720 --> 02:24:47,820 well, with some exceptions. 1670 02:24:48,620 --> 02:24:51,460 But this is the annual report from a USD. 1671 02:24:52,180 --> 02:24:53,520 This is what it would be like. 1672 02:24:53,660 --> 02:24:56,380 You guys would be something that you would 1673 02:24:56,380 --> 02:24:59,100 come and pick up on town meeting dates. 1674 02:24:59,420 --> 02:25:04,640 I think this sent to every voter every household in London 1675 02:25:04,640 --> 02:25:06,640 is about community engagement. 1676 02:25:06,640 --> 02:25:09,540 It's not about whether or not they come to town meeting. 1677 02:25:10,140 --> 02:25:14,340 This is a really great, great community resource. 1678 02:25:15,260 --> 02:25:18,380 I would be in favor of continuing our current policy. 1679 02:25:18,980 --> 02:25:19,640 Thank you. 1680 02:25:21,400 --> 02:25:21,640 Okay. 1681 02:25:21,900 --> 02:25:22,520 Other questions? 1682 02:25:22,660 --> 02:25:24,060 Comments under article 8. 1683 02:25:26,260 --> 02:25:27,320 Ready for the vote? 1684 02:25:27,620 --> 02:25:28,280 Can I take a comment? 1685 02:25:28,880 --> 02:25:29,040 Oh. 1686 02:25:29,480 --> 02:25:29,620 Sorry. 1687 02:25:29,960 --> 02:25:30,220 Go ahead. 1688 02:25:30,300 --> 02:25:34,340 My self-enrading truck 17 boxes from the post office of those things. 1689 02:25:36,960 --> 02:25:41,340 850 up the correct and it costs a town how much to do this every year? 1690 02:25:41,660 --> 02:25:46,100 10,000 dollars okay and everybody's environmentally concerned so we don't 1691 02:25:46,100 --> 02:25:50,200 want to waste the trees right so wouldn't it be better if we it is hung on the 1692 02:25:50,200 --> 02:25:58,200 SharePoint or the portal of the town's website correct okay so wouldn't it be 1693 02:25:58,200 --> 02:26:03,200 more efficient if we said the town reports are out you can either download it 1694 02:26:03,200 --> 02:26:08,140 yourself and bring your laptop to the meeting, you can ask for it to be printed by the town 1695 02:26:08,720 --> 02:26:14,360 or you can print it yourself or, and if you can't come to the town office to pick it up 1696 02:26:14,360 --> 02:26:15,040 will mail it to you. 1697 02:26:15,200 --> 02:26:20,640 With that great, we reduce the number of town reports we produce and it will still give us 1698 02:26:20,640 --> 02:26:24,160 a community engagement because it's still out there somewhere, but we wouldn't have the 1699 02:26:24,160 --> 02:26:30,260 print, 850 of them haven't said me and Randy up there once a year to try to mail them. 1700 02:26:30,260 --> 02:26:34,480 Right? The shower was involved in that pulpy asco, it's involved for chewing all the coats of 1701 02:26:34,480 --> 02:26:38,720 masks for a mine's fur, and I could see that it's looking out on us, and we're on 1702 02:26:38,720 --> 02:26:41,500 Sharon's side, and I got two free lunches out of Rianni out of it. 1703 02:26:44,940 --> 02:26:46,400 Okay. Just a recommendation. 1704 02:26:47,460 --> 02:26:51,380 The thought, maybe cut down the cost to here. You know, we're talking a bit of a million 1705 02:26:51,380 --> 02:26:57,220 dollars, we're building a road. Well, could we save $7,000 to put towards that road to 1706 02:26:57,220 --> 02:26:59,460 put a sign on the end of it, or something like that? 1707 02:26:59,460 --> 02:27:00,300 My thoughts. 1708 02:27:00,780 --> 02:27:01,460 Yes, sir. 1709 02:27:01,560 --> 02:27:05,240 I got a, maybe a amendment to this. 1710 02:27:05,580 --> 02:27:12,640 Maybe we should send postcards out that we will be returned to the town and the people 1711 02:27:12,640 --> 02:27:18,140 who don't want a town report can say I don't want a town report and the people who do 1712 02:27:18,140 --> 02:27:23,220 want a town report, they're postcards will say I want a town report that we only have 1713 02:27:23,220 --> 02:27:27,660 to print so many town reports rather than say you know. 1714 02:27:27,660 --> 02:27:33,420 Yeah, unfortunately, the chair cannot accept the proposed amendment because, unfortunately, 1715 02:27:33,980 --> 02:27:40,320 the article is pursuant to a state statute and the article is drafted in such a way 1716 02:27:40,320 --> 02:27:46,520 as to follow the law and what you're proposing is something that's not included in the statute. 1717 02:27:47,340 --> 02:27:53,980 That's probably something you could bring up under advisory motion as a, you know, advice 1718 02:27:53,980 --> 02:27:57,220 to the town about how to implement it, but you can't. 1719 02:27:57,220 --> 02:28:00,420 You can't change the statute, so I can't allow the amendment. 1720 02:28:01,040 --> 02:28:05,360 Okay, well, secondly, I might go on to the next article, but I'm sorry. 1721 02:28:05,700 --> 02:28:13,120 Last year, at town meeting, I asked that the town we put it in, big enough so you could 1722 02:28:13,120 --> 02:28:19,140 read it without magnifying glass, and most of it was this year, except for winning, got 1723 02:28:19,140 --> 02:28:25,100 to the dollars and cents of the budget, and it's really small, and I'd like to see that 1724 02:28:25,100 --> 02:28:30,840 We can read it next year without a magnifying glass, but thank you. 1725 02:28:31,380 --> 02:28:33,320 I think the select board heard you on that. 1726 02:28:33,360 --> 02:28:34,200 Yes, ma'am? 1727 02:28:40,380 --> 02:28:41,180 Debt gainer. 1728 02:28:41,600 --> 02:28:47,200 I would like to emphasize the fact that the town report is more than just bringing people out to town meaning. 1729 02:28:47,420 --> 02:28:51,900 It contains reports from every committee and every commission in town. 1730 02:28:52,200 --> 02:28:59,860 It contains a lot of information about what their activities are and calls for donations and volunteer activity. 1731 02:28:59,860 --> 02:29:08,240 And provides information for the progress that is being made by the committees that we're all volunteers on. 1732 02:29:09,020 --> 02:29:11,900 So it's not just about coming out to vote. 1733 02:29:12,160 --> 02:29:15,740 It's also about what the town is that we're all part of. 1734 02:29:15,960 --> 02:29:16,260 Thank you. 1735 02:29:18,610 --> 02:29:22,570 Okay. Other questions or comments under Article 8? 1736 02:29:24,390 --> 02:29:27,470 Are we going to vote? 1737 02:29:27,470 --> 02:29:32,810 notice that the availability of the interim report by postcard may have all registered voters 1738 02:29:32,810 --> 02:29:38,090 at least 30 days before the annual meeting, instead of mailing or otherwise distributing 1739 02:29:38,090 --> 02:29:46,590 the report to the voters at the town for 7 to 24 for months that you've annotated section 1682 1740 02:29:46,590 --> 02:29:51,950 sub-paragraph A. All those in favor signify by saying aye. 1741 02:29:51,950 --> 02:29:55,890 All those brothers signify by saying no 1742 02:30:00,690 --> 02:30:30,670 All right, let's do a division of the House. The division of the House is we're going to count hands or actually, it's probably easier with people, well, yeah, no people standing. Yeah, well, except we got people standing in the back. So that doesn't work. Some people don't want to sit. So we're going to raise hands. All those in favor of Article 8, please raise your hand. 1743 02:30:30,690 --> 02:30:34,730 for the civil authority, your responsibility to count. 1744 02:30:38,570 --> 02:30:41,990 Well, I don't know how many for the civil authorities are here, 1745 02:30:42,730 --> 02:30:45,570 but yeah, the select board's part a bit short. 1746 02:30:49,170 --> 02:30:51,050 Yeah, yeah, split it up. 1747 02:30:52,980 --> 02:30:55,660 Just one hand, just one hand. 1748 02:30:57,340 --> 02:30:58,660 No two hand voting. 1749 02:31:05,440 --> 02:31:07,880 Yeah, keep your hands up until I tell you to lower. 1750 02:31:13,540 --> 02:31:15,780 This is in favor of article 8. 1751 02:31:44,270 --> 02:31:45,890 Okay, you can lower your hands. 1752 02:31:49,790 --> 02:31:52,990 All those opposed, please raise one hand. 1753 02:32:03,950 --> 02:32:05,870 Keep them up if you want to count it. 1754 02:32:53,690 --> 02:32:55,330 Okay, but your hands down folks. 1755 02:32:55,990 --> 02:32:59,830 Aye. Article 8. Yes. 1756 02:33:02,180 --> 02:33:05,220 In February 16, opposed for three. 1757 02:33:06,060 --> 02:33:13,920 Article 8. Gary's. Article 9. To transact any other business property come before this meeting. 1758 02:33:13,920 --> 02:33:29,180 This is the so called advisory motion, opportunity can't take any binding town action under this article, but if you've got suggestions or thoughts for the select board or just comment you'd like to make 1759 02:33:29,180 --> 02:33:34,940 Yes, ma'am, and then I'll get to you Jessica. Yes, ma'am. Come on up. Grab a mic. 1760 02:33:38,780 --> 02:33:46,120 As some of you may know, there's been an ongoing attempt to approve the agricultural literacy of the 1761 02:33:46,120 --> 02:33:54,080 kids in Monten, also the agricultural literacy of the adults in Monten, and we have there's a writing 1762 02:33:54,080 --> 02:34:03,100 contest every year, farmers in Monten. We have noticed over the past 25 or 30 years that the contest has been running less 1763 02:34:03,100 --> 02:34:10,200 knowledge about what is going on in town. I work culturally, what's grown here, who's doing that. 1764 02:34:10,600 --> 02:34:18,820 And so we have a new project which is to record anybody farmers or former farmers or children 1765 02:34:18,820 --> 02:34:25,120 of farmers who would like to be recorded sort of a story core kind of thing and more 1766 02:34:25,120 --> 02:34:30,300 and higher than myself are getting trained to do this. We are definitely not experts. We've 1767 02:34:30,300 --> 02:34:31,940 to introduce so far. 1768 02:34:32,260 --> 02:34:35,680 The hope with this is that the interviews will be, 1769 02:34:35,680 --> 02:34:40,340 the recordings will be at the Hunting Historical Society 1770 02:34:40,340 --> 02:34:42,580 in the Library available through the school 1771 02:34:42,580 --> 02:34:43,360 and also there. 1772 02:34:43,820 --> 02:34:47,500 So anybody who would like to be interviewed, contact me 1773 02:34:47,500 --> 02:34:50,760 or Lauren, or you can volunteer your relatives, 1774 02:34:51,720 --> 02:34:52,340 if you want to. 1775 02:34:52,740 --> 02:34:55,600 Will come to your houses, or we've permitted the library, 1776 02:34:56,000 --> 02:34:56,400 whatever you'd like. 1777 02:34:56,500 --> 02:35:00,220 There's a sign-up sheet at the Historical Society table, 1778 02:35:00,220 --> 02:35:03,760 And I'm sure that I'll be giving further opportunities. 1779 02:35:04,900 --> 02:35:06,060 I'll be bugging people. 1780 02:35:06,640 --> 02:35:08,340 Thank you. 1781 02:35:08,800 --> 02:35:09,400 Jessica? 1782 02:35:12,970 --> 02:35:19,350 I wasn't able to comment on the article that we had voted on about Piney Woods Road. 1783 02:35:19,850 --> 02:35:24,110 I heard that there were questions on the floor about why the vote was advisory only. 1784 02:35:24,110 --> 02:35:33,410 And state law gives select boards the legal means to take care of the roads as they see fit. 1785 02:35:33,410 --> 02:35:36,570 We're charged with keeping the roads safe and keeping the roads open. 1786 02:35:37,950 --> 02:35:38,930 So it's not arbitrary. 1787 02:35:49,010 --> 02:35:58,030 I just wanted to sort of rise and, you know, Bill Joes was our treacherous for 13 years. 1788 02:35:58,030 --> 02:36:02,450 before that, he was the liquid, he was our assistant treacher. 1789 02:36:03,010 --> 02:36:07,310 He really got thrown into the fire when Chuck Roomis 1790 02:36:07,310 --> 02:36:15,110 had treachery left and he sort of trained himself as he went. 1791 02:36:15,430 --> 02:36:19,870 And I just wanted to recognize his years of service 1792 02:36:19,870 --> 02:36:22,370 and give my appreciation. 1793 02:36:36,910 --> 02:36:39,370 I actually look forward to the select board coming back 1794 02:36:39,370 --> 02:36:45,510 giving us more details on Piney Woods Road and keeping us all in form. I know it's not an easy decision. 1795 02:36:46,650 --> 02:36:51,790 And I hope you're able to keep the character so it's not the only major third way in our town. 1796 02:36:52,650 --> 02:37:03,450 At the same time, I'd like to say that as a recommendation, there are people in our town and as a first response that we can't get to and less we go to another town. 1797 02:37:03,450 --> 02:37:06,470 So as we're looking at roads, and I know you always do 1798 02:37:07,470 --> 02:37:15,410 Why can't we get to Jockey Lane from our own town and if we're looking at roads to open, we need more North South 1799 02:37:16,050 --> 02:37:22,110 Corridor's not less and we used to have North South Corridors, but we seem to have run a few of them up 1800 02:37:22,110 --> 02:37:28,130 I mean, I literally had to re-devert somebody who bought the nickels roads still went through when they were responding 1801 02:37:28,130 --> 02:37:29,870 New work on get anywhere 1802 02:37:30,750 --> 02:37:35,670 But, you know, as we look at roads, there's a lot about the roads that could be looked at, so. 1803 02:37:40,260 --> 02:37:41,520 But, yes, in the back. 1804 02:37:46,880 --> 02:37:49,260 I'm Laura, I'm from States Prison Hall of Rotten. 1805 02:37:50,240 --> 02:37:59,500 My name is, and I have the same sentiment, and we really like to thank the current road crew for how well they've kept our road this winter. 1806 02:37:59,500 --> 02:38:07,420 I know it's been really challenging, and I just wanted to recognize that this is a great crew. It hasn't seen this good since Wayne left. 1807 02:38:07,420 --> 02:38:09,160 Thank you. 1808 02:38:18,190 --> 02:38:19,790 Hi, Kathy Sharmino. 1809 02:38:20,650 --> 02:38:24,790 Now that the treasure is stepped down and we're looking for new one. 1810 02:38:24,890 --> 02:38:28,810 I was wondering if we're going to have an audit done of our books. 1811 02:38:29,750 --> 02:38:32,590 And how far back you will be doing that. 1812 02:38:33,030 --> 02:38:36,510 I did listen to the last select board meeting, the recording, 1813 02:38:37,890 --> 02:38:41,930 and there were issues that were brought up with our 1814 02:38:41,930 --> 02:38:50,890 account reports that were incorrect, specifically the capital projects and other funds, 1815 02:38:51,750 --> 02:38:59,650 where they were describing the end of 2023 started out with a plus 71,000, the start of 1816 02:38:59,650 --> 02:39:09,110 2024 started at a negative 69,000, the end of 2024 ended at a negative 10,000, the start 1817 02:39:09,110 --> 02:39:17,390 225 was plus 126,000 and that it was zero times lapse mean and whatever ended in the prior 1818 02:39:17,390 --> 02:39:24,530 year should be the start of the next year and this hasn't been happening since at least 2023 1819 02:39:24,530 --> 02:39:31,570 if not before. And I believe I heard the last audit was when there was a bond for the new 1820 02:39:31,570 --> 02:39:32,890 down hauling 2020. 1821 02:39:33,950 --> 02:39:39,830 So I would like to suggest that we go back at least to the last audit. 1822 02:39:40,770 --> 02:39:42,330 And wonder if that's going to be done. 1823 02:39:43,330 --> 02:39:43,950 Great questions. 1824 02:39:44,070 --> 02:39:44,550 Thank you. 1825 02:39:44,910 --> 02:39:45,270 Yes. 1826 02:39:45,550 --> 02:39:46,790 There is a budget for an audit. 1827 02:39:46,850 --> 02:39:48,170 I believe it's 35,000. 1828 02:39:48,310 --> 02:39:51,030 We've said it's 25,000 to set aside for it. 1829 02:39:51,070 --> 02:39:56,010 We're going to be getting bids from different municipal auditing firms of which they're not 1830 02:39:56,010 --> 02:39:58,410 a ton, so we'll be getting bids. 1831 02:39:58,410 --> 02:40:00,870 and then in the RFP, which is on our town website, 1832 02:40:01,410 --> 02:40:03,610 there is the option for them to bid on subsequent years, 1833 02:40:04,230 --> 02:40:05,530 but I mean, some of that it's going to be 1834 02:40:05,530 --> 02:40:06,870 seeing what the contracts come in. 1835 02:40:06,970 --> 02:40:08,550 And if we're able to do more years back 1836 02:40:08,550 --> 02:40:11,210 than the budget, then we'll do the best we can. 1837 02:40:12,010 --> 02:40:13,810 So folks are going to be betting on it. 1838 02:40:14,150 --> 02:40:14,410 My name 1839 02:40:45,770 --> 02:40:49,930 is Mark Gilmett, and I'm just wondering 1840 02:40:49,930 --> 02:40:53,830 what the town highway, if we have any maintenance procedures, 1841 02:40:54,070 --> 02:40:55,050 in effect, 1842 02:40:57,230 --> 02:40:58,850 I hear that there's a, 1843 02:40:58,850 --> 02:41:05,810 Transmission shot and one of the trucks and I don't know if that truck goes in for an inspection once in a while 1844 02:41:06,370 --> 02:41:08,070 Like a statement's faction 1845 02:41:09,010 --> 02:41:14,510 Transmission lines went hold it up but most people would advise to get the transmission lines repaired 1846 02:41:14,990 --> 02:41:16,750 Before we just blow up the transmission 1847 02:41:17,750 --> 02:41:20,940 It also sounded like we tried to tell a select board that 1848 02:41:22,190 --> 02:41:27,490 It didn't only take out the transmission, but it took out the wearing you took out the chance for a case and it took out the rear end 1849 02:41:27,490 --> 02:41:33,590 Look, I don't see how a transmission can take everything else out, and I think some stuff 1850 02:41:33,590 --> 02:41:40,630 is presented to the board that's way more serious than it actually is. 1851 02:41:41,730 --> 02:41:45,790 I don't know, it seems like if somebody had changed oil in the truck, they would have 1852 02:41:45,790 --> 02:41:50,190 noticed that the transmission lines were leaking, dripping on the floor at highly doubt that 1853 02:41:50,190 --> 02:41:51,930 it just plain sheer it off. 1854 02:41:54,630 --> 02:41:56,690 And now if we're gonna get a new grader, 1855 02:41:57,030 --> 02:41:58,950 is anybody gonna change oil in it? 1856 02:41:59,150 --> 02:42:00,850 Is anybody gonna run around with a grease gun 1857 02:42:00,850 --> 02:42:01,950 before use? 1858 02:42:02,490 --> 02:42:06,270 Do we have anybody in the town garage 1859 02:42:06,270 --> 02:42:08,450 that does any servicing or has the abilities 1860 02:42:08,450 --> 02:42:09,670 to do any servicing? 1861 02:42:10,330 --> 02:42:12,510 Do we need a mechanic one day a week? 1862 02:42:13,190 --> 02:42:14,550 Catch up on some loose ends? 1863 02:42:15,590 --> 02:42:19,370 I don't know the answer, but little disappointed. 1864 02:42:19,370 --> 02:42:24,090 And this truck wasn't even due for another four-year sounds like, 1865 02:42:26,190 --> 02:42:27,030 and buying a transmission 1866 02:42:27,030 --> 02:42:27,830 is expensive. 1867 02:42:28,050 --> 02:42:35,150 Absolutely no doubt, but rust on a truck and stuff, and I guess it was a used truck. 1868 02:42:35,310 --> 02:42:41,670 I don't really know all the details, and I also would like to know, like, I don't think 1869 02:42:41,670 --> 02:42:47,630 that the town should be allowing the road commissioner to drive around with his truck, 1870 02:42:48,490 --> 02:42:54,770 Transporting the crew around. I think it's an absolute liability. I have lived an absolute nightmare 1871 02:42:54,770 --> 02:43:01,610 I know more about law suits in the last four years and in judges and everything else 1872 02:43:01,610 --> 02:43:07,250 I don't think it's proper for him to be transported and if something happens to his truck 1873 02:43:08,070 --> 02:43:09,790 Well, that's a whole another issue 1874 02:43:10,910 --> 02:43:16,830 I'm just surprised at the town of Munkton doesn't have a backup of vehicle whether it's a vehicle for 1875 02:43:16,830 --> 02:43:26,070 the zoning administrator to go check out places, the state troop, the JOL or whoever to go out and check driveway 1876 02:43:26,070 --> 02:43:34,670 curb cuts, the town employees there for the highway to get to work on another job somewhere, 1877 02:43:35,550 --> 02:43:41,650 and just surprise we don't have a backup vehicle. And those are my thoughts and a little 1878 02:43:41,650 --> 02:43:44,230 to this point, whether the transmission and that truck 1879 02:43:46,660 --> 02:43:48,800 can answer one of those questions. 1880 02:43:56,870 --> 02:44:00,750 So to answer your questions as far as the maintenance goes on the vehicles, since I've 1881 02:44:00,750 --> 02:44:06,170 taken over, I got a whole vehicle maintenance sheet where all of our trucks have specific pre-trip 1882 02:44:06,170 --> 02:44:10,210 checks that we have to go through. When we do maintenance on the vehicle, everything's written down. 1883 02:44:10,650 --> 02:44:15,970 So I have binders that show, you know, if the trucks do it, 350 hours, this is one of the trucks 1884 02:44:15,970 --> 02:44:21,090 do, this is what we did on the service, we write all that down now. So all that's all in there, 1885 02:44:21,090 --> 02:44:26,150 have everything written down. As far as the transmission line goes that, that was the previous 1886 02:44:26,150 --> 02:44:31,350 employer that happened all of his and his yard that he had ever before. So what led up to that, 1887 02:44:31,350 --> 02:44:36,310 I'm not entirely sure, but that's just what we picked up on that from that truck coming back 1888 02:44:36,310 --> 02:44:40,910 because I had to go help him try to get the truck here and that's what we found as a transmission line 1889 02:44:40,910 --> 02:44:44,510 which just brought an off and just laying on the ground with no fluid left in the transmission. 1890 02:44:45,450 --> 02:44:50,890 The only reason we're saying on that truck going to the truck that we're thinking about the rear 1891 02:44:50,890 --> 02:44:54,450 being damaged, we're thinking about the transfer case being damaged is we hooked up a dealership 1892 02:44:54,450 --> 02:44:59,970 scanner tool and it's throwing codes for all of these components. So it could just- 1893 02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:05,140 This would be a sensor saying that, you know, the transmission slips and I was showing wheel speed sensors wrong. 1894 02:45:05,640 --> 02:45:08,580 That could just be because it shows that the rear end is going fast in the front end. 1895 02:45:08,620 --> 02:45:14,340 That could be simple like that. We don't know. That's why we're bringing it to a dealership on Tuesday morning. 1896 02:45:14,940 --> 02:45:19,860 Get their full spec on and then we're bringing it to a second shop following that to the second opinion on it. 1897 02:45:19,860 --> 02:45:26,360 See which one will give us a better price. So as far as maintenance goes, going back to that, the highway crew, we do all of our maintenance. 1898 02:45:26,360 --> 02:45:32,700 I have training procedures, I have procedures on how to do everything, everything written up on how we should be doing it. 1899 02:45:32,960 --> 02:45:38,040 And then following it to that exact line and make sure that everything does get done the way that it should be. 1900 02:45:38,280 --> 02:45:44,560 That includes the pre-trip inspections, the annual inspections, and the actual services of the vehicles. 1901 02:45:45,340 --> 02:45:51,680 Any vehicles that we have for state inspections are GMC goes to smaller shots because smaller shots can do it. 1902 02:45:51,680 --> 02:45:55,860 all of our bigger equipment has to go to bigger dealerships that the proper licensing 1903 02:45:55,860 --> 02:46:00,660 to do that. It's all of our equipment will be getting the required state inspection 1904 02:46:00,660 --> 02:46:06,220 to make sure that they're safe and legal for our roads, but we're just getting caught up on that 1905 02:46:06,220 --> 02:46:11,020 right now. Some things that weren't done in the past that are getting done now, we're playing a little 1906 02:46:11,020 --> 02:46:14,540 bit of catch up on it. So it will get better, there will be more behind it. 1907 02:46:19,470 --> 02:46:20,910 Um, you want to follow up? 1908 02:46:24,530 --> 02:46:28,850 Look, I'm not really trying to get at about the state inspection stuff. I'm just saying that when 1909 02:46:28,850 --> 02:46:34,710 the truck went to a state inspection facility or if somebody was calling underneath the truck 1910 02:46:35,270 --> 02:46:39,230 seems like the transmission lines would have been noticed for rust. 1911 02:46:41,150 --> 02:46:46,350 I'm not sure in this guy's name if it's Trevor or what but the road boardman's name 1912 02:46:47,660 --> 02:46:50,320 well they have so much work to do out on the highway. 1913 02:46:51,360 --> 02:46:52,420 They've got ditches. 1914 02:46:52,420 --> 02:46:56,960 They've got complaints from everybody that lives on a dirt road. 1915 02:46:56,960 --> 02:46:58,500 They've got complaints for snow plowing. 1916 02:46:58,700 --> 02:47:00,520 They've got so many complaints to deal with. 1917 02:47:00,620 --> 02:47:02,540 So many places to be. 1918 02:47:02,760 --> 02:47:05,020 They only got four on the cruise sounds like. 1919 02:47:05,520 --> 02:47:10,020 They don't have time to stay in the shop and loop trucks 1920 02:47:10,020 --> 02:47:13,460 and check cool it and you never 1921 02:47:13,460 --> 02:47:14,800 are going to get the road snow plowed. 1922 02:47:15,200 --> 02:47:19,180 And somehow, these trucks are going by my house every hour. 1923 02:47:19,300 --> 02:47:22,240 One to talk to a clock, three to talk, four to talk, five to talk. 1924 02:47:22,440 --> 02:47:22,940 Still plowing. 1925 02:47:25,420 --> 02:47:30,000 They need grease and they need the fluids checked and we need to be looking and see if the 1926 02:47:30,000 --> 02:47:33,280 brake line is eroded out of the transmission line is eroded out so we can prevent the 1927 02:47:35,180 --> 02:47:41,780 future accidents, incidents, or what, no, I don't know, yeah, maybe there was a previous 1928 02:47:41,780 --> 02:47:46,900 team but look at everybody on the highway department, I'm sure they're not really mechanics. 1929 02:47:47,900 --> 02:47:54,110 And I'm not saying anything about them, maybe they're, maybe they're great but, and 1930 02:47:54,110 --> 02:47:56,150 I'm not saying to him about myself being a mechanic. 1931 02:47:56,310 --> 02:48:05,950 I'm just saying that really this way is a transmission length went from this truck in the transmission going to cost so much money to fix and now we're just going to cost up 70,000 per another truck. 1932 02:48:06,310 --> 02:48:08,590 In Trevor treats money like it's cheap. 1933 02:48:09,170 --> 02:48:16,090 The public, that truck would cost 87,000, but to us because we're admitted to the quality, it's only 72,000, so it's just no big deal. 1934 02:48:17,270 --> 02:48:18,710 I think it's a big deal. 1935 02:48:19,090 --> 02:48:21,810 And that's about all I got to say on it. 1936 02:48:21,810 --> 02:48:24,410 All right, any other questions or comments? 1937 02:48:26,250 --> 02:48:27,750 Chair would entertain them. 1938 02:48:27,930 --> 02:48:28,510 Well, good. 1939 02:48:31,010 --> 02:48:34,270 At some point, the chair would entertain a motion to adjourn. 1940 02:48:35,430 --> 02:48:36,210 Yes, you go. 1941 02:48:36,670 --> 02:48:37,870 I'm quick, as well. 1942 02:48:38,170 --> 02:48:41,490 I just want to say thanks to John for passing this microphone around. 1943 02:48:42,090 --> 02:48:45,830 Versus, I haven't ever been to come up here because the aisles are narrow. 1944 02:48:46,410 --> 02:48:48,350 And I'd like to advise the select board. 1945 02:48:48,590 --> 02:48:49,930 Reach out to the Boy Scouts. 1946 02:48:49,930 --> 02:48:55,670 have a couple of voice counts and a couple of microphones here next year and that would really help a lot. 1947 02:48:55,850 --> 02:49:00,250 I know they couldn't be here this year. They're going to food drive down at the recycling center. 1948 02:49:00,930 --> 02:49:02,930 But I think thanks John and... 1949 02:49:16,980 --> 02:49:20,340 Do a adjourn, signify by saying hi. 1950 02:49:21,540 --> 02:49:24,360 All those opposed, signify by saying now? 1951 02:49:25,940 --> 02:49:27,400 Motion adjourn carries. 1952 02:49:28,620 --> 02:49:30,720 Thanks folks, see you next year.