[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.] [0:52] Hello, everyone, and welcome to the August 19 regular session of the Town Council, and we [0:57] will begin, as always, with the federal meetings. Councilor Clayson, would you lead us? [1:03] Well, I'd like the allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the [1:08] Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice [1:14] for all. [1:19] All right. Now we begin with roll call. We currently [1:25] have two counselors out with who's been excused. And everyone else is here. Next we [1:34] will move on to public forum. Public forum is limited to 15 minutes total. Each [1:39] speaker will have three minutes. Speakers must be a resident of the town and [1:42] new market, a property owner in town with new market, or a designated [1:46] representative of a recognized civic organization or business located in [1:51] town and new market. When at the podium please state your name and address for [1:55] record. This address is to address your comments to the chair and the town council as a body, [2:00] not as any individual member. And this is not your way of dialogue. The council will not respond [2:07] to your comments at this time, though if something needs to be followed up on, we will [2:11] research it and come back with an answer later. Is there anyone from the public who is invisible? [2:18] All right. [2:23] Okay. We will now consider public forum closed. Next, we move on to the public [2:30] hearing or ordinance number 1-26-2027, amended Chapter 2, Article 3, establishing of a Heritage [2:39] Commission. [2:42] And I will now open the public hearing. [2:46] Nope. So I guess we will close the [2:50] public hearing. Next, we will move on to the Town Council to consider acceptance meeting [2:57] minutes. Regular meeting minutes of July 15th. Is there a motion to accept the meeting minutes? [3:04] So what? [3:05] Is there a second? [3:08] Second. [3:09] Thank you. [3:10] Any discussion on meeting minutes of the regular session on July 15th? [3:17] Seeing none, please call the roll. [3:20] Councilor Connery? [3:21] Aye. [3:21] Council Baxter? [3:22] Aye. [3:23] Council Chair? [3:24] Aye. [3:24] Council Playsford? [3:25] Aye. [3:26] Motion passes. [3:27] Oh, good. [3:27] Council work. [3:28] Aye. [3:29] Board. [3:31] It's okay. [3:31] We talked about it. [3:34] Next, we have the acceptance of the non-public meeting in minutes of July 15. [3:41] Is there a motion to accept the minutes? [3:43] So moved. [3:44] And is there a second? [3:47] Second. [3:48] Is there any discussion on these minutes? [3:53] Seeing none, would you please call the roll? [3:55] Mr. Connolly, I abstain. [3:57] Council Blackstone? Aye. [3:59] Council Sharon? Aye. [4:01] Mr. Grisbrook? Aye. [4:02] Council Water? Aye. [4:04] I should pass this course area. [4:06] All right. Next is Town Council to consider her nominations, appointments, elections, and races of the nation. [4:13] We'll be starting with a motion to appoint Carla and Romano-Clar and avoiding to the [4:18] energy and environment advisory committee with a term expiration of April 2029. [4:23] Is there a motion? [4:26] I'll move to accept that motion. [4:28] And is there a second? [4:32] I'll second. [4:33] Second. [4:34] Is there any discussion or comment? [4:43] Yes. [4:44] So, when the person that was nominated for the arts committee last time, I was told that [4:56] there is a procedure and then someone should have spoken with that candidate beforehand. [5:06] Did someone speak from this committee, speak with Carville? [5:15] I believe that that was a misunderstanding and that it's not a requirement. [5:20] Right, it's not a requirement. Just was that the chair given the opportunity to work aware of Carla? [5:30] Not anybody. [5:31] It's not the chair of the Arts Commission's appointment. It's the council's appointment. [5:37] Right. [5:37] right. You made a change last year that said that they could write a letter of [5:42] recommendation if they wanted to but I think you may come in we may give it [5:49] a situation where the chair isn't you know may not be under the terms of the [5:53] person that's applying or whatever other reason so it's not something that is [5:58] necessary or required. So not that that's a problem with our [6:03] committees but like sometimes in town like the communities to come like all [6:06] about that one person is running it is my committee this is my group of people [6:11] and basically not happening here and we're trying to avoid people coming [6:15] with a cult of personality kind of thing. Okay thank you. Okay now getting back to [6:23] Carla and Romano Clark, Appliance Energy Environment Committees was there anything [6:30] Okay, I'm seeing none. Please call the roll. [6:34] I'll say finally. [6:35] Aye. [6:36] I'll say Blackstone. [6:37] Aye. [6:37] I'll say Sharon. [6:38] Aye. [6:39] I'll say Graysburg. [6:40] Aye. [6:40] I'll say Ward. [6:41] Aye. [6:42] Motion passes Graysburg. [6:43] Okay. [6:45] Before we move on, I just wanted to know if I will have access to the Internet. [6:48] The Wi-Fi is down right now. [6:51] Is there any other break? [6:54] Okay, we'll have you read it. [6:55] Here, we got the... [6:57] This is not a package. [7:00] I don't know if that's a package or not. [7:02] You can adjourn the recess to be... [7:04] I can print up packets. [7:06] Does anyone else... [7:07] Does anyone else have any trouble right now? [7:09] Party's already on my system. [7:11] Yeah, I'm tired of it. [7:13] Then, no need to... [7:17] You're getting back on so many things this summer? [7:20] All right. [7:22] Moving on. [7:22] Alfred Melodon, Modali, I apologize. [7:28] Complaint me to the Energy and Environment Committee [7:30] with a term exploration in April, 2029. [7:33] I will accept the motion to appoint Alfred Melodon. [7:37] So moved. [7:38] Is there a second? [7:39] Second. [7:40] Okay. [7:41] Any discussion? [7:45] Seeing none, could you please call the roll? [7:48] Councilor Conlon, Councilor Blackstone. [7:51] Aye. [7:51] Councilor Scherer, Aye. [7:53] Councilor Graesberg. [7:54] Aye. [7:54] That's all right. [7:55] That's all right. [7:55] Motion plus 5-0. [7:58] Next, we have Andrea Frey, resignation as an alternate member of the Conservation Commission. [8:04] I will accept the motion to accept the resignation of Andrea Frey as an alternate member to the [8:09] Conservation Commission. [8:11] So moved. [8:12] And do I have a second? [8:14] Second. [8:14] Can I ask what are you saying? [8:16] So moved. [8:18] So moved. [8:18] Oh. [8:20] Thank you. [8:21] So moved. [8:22] Yeah. [8:22] We'll get to that in a minute. [8:23] Yep. [8:24] Any discussion? [8:25] I believe she's just trying to go down a full number next. [8:31] Seeing no further discussion, we'll please call the roll. [8:34] Councilor Connery? [8:35] Aye. [8:36] Councilor Blackstone? [8:36] Aye. [8:37] Councilor Sharon? [8:38] Aye. [8:39] Councilor Blackstone? [8:40] Aye. [8:40] Councilor Bessler? [8:41] Aye. [8:43] Councilor Smith? [8:44] Aye. [8:45] Aye. [8:46] Councilor McDonnell? [8:48] Aye. [8:49] Councilor McDonnell? [8:52] Aye. [8:53] I'll accept the motion. [8:55] So, yeah. [8:57] And you would have eight seconds. [9:00] Second. [9:01] Alright, any discussion? [9:04] Oh, Councilor Jackson. [9:06] Andrea has been a [9:07] a strong contributor [9:09] as an, as a [9:11] alternative member. [9:13] She is a high school teacher [9:15] and she teaches this stuff in school [9:17] and is very committed to it [9:18] and is a solid candidate. [9:23] And I just take this moment and say thank you to everyone tonight who has applied for an [9:29] appointment on the committee, and thank you for everyone who is currently on the committee [9:35] who can't run without you and if you're interested, you're always looking for people. [9:40] Alright, if there's no further discussion, could you please call the roll? [9:46] That's a fine name. [9:47] That's a Blackstone. [9:49] Aye. [9:49] That's a Sharon. [9:50] Aye. [9:51] That's a Blaisburg. [9:51] Aye. [9:52] That's a Ward. [9:52] Aye. [9:53] That's a Syster. [9:55] Next we have the report of the town manager. [9:58] Thank you Mr. Chair. [9:59] The first item is I have attached to my report of the updated goal setting summary. [10:05] Yeah, I'm just going to do the work and document for my projects for facilitated sessions in [10:09] May of 2024 and 2025 as we updated a whole brand new list. [10:17] And as the council look at the full document, let me know if there's anything that needs [10:20] correcting or prior to your shift within your head. [10:24] Next, the town has the results of the Independent Operational Service Level Analysis for the [10:29] New Market Fire Rescue Department. [10:31] I was finished in July on this MRI. [10:33] We commissioned the studies here of current staffing and performance measures up against [10:37] national standards. [10:38] We had a way of service demand as heading as it being proposed. [10:41] What they found is that the short version is that MRI found that we have a highly [10:45] functional department with strong service at exceptional value. New [10:49] Market Fire Rescue runs on a budget of about $695,000, plus and half the average [10:54] of the five comparable CECOs in varying departments. An MRI estimates our staffing [11:00] model saves tax credits more than a million dollars a year. The department [11:04] operates on a hybrid of two full-time positions, one of the currently vacant, [11:07] who had 43 on-call members and roughly 30 per person out, that on-call roster is well [11:12] above what MRIs we see as the community is like ours. [11:17] In 2015, the department responded to 1,013 emergency calls, 905 medical calls and 408 [11:24] were in fire related. Emergency medical service is now what we get called for most often [11:29] and much like every other department, the city projects a call-alonging approach 2,000 [11:33] by 2030 as the town borders. The city also points to challenges shared by the [11:39] Fire Department's nationwide decline in volunteerism, difficulty covering daytime [11:42] and overnight shifts, rapidly rising apparatus costs. On performance fire [11:47] response time met the national 10 minutes of urban benchmark 75% of the time, the [11:53] 2005 just under 80% goal, while EMS response time was consistently strong [11:57] throughout the year. The report makes 32 recommendations. The central ones are [12:03] keep and strengthen the current on-call per unit career hazard model. [12:07] The study expressed the design to preserve on-call force and not replace it. [12:12] Established a 24-7 in station initial response crew of three personnel [12:18] beginning in 2027 to improve response times as tall volume arises. [12:23] Filled with 18 full-time firefighter position. [12:26] Transition of fire chief to full-time mobile at fiscal year 28. [12:29] It was used currently to help part-time and shared by the Director of Public Works. [12:35] Use the ambulance revenues to help fund the recommended staffer and review EMS ability [12:39] to reach annually, and coordinate review of major residential development proposals [12:43] for public safety capacity planning. [12:45] The Board has meant to be starting point for community conversations with the Feature [12:48] of Fire EMS and Services in Newmarket. [12:51] The Council is giving people a review of the study at its September 16 meeting with [12:56] MRI they're going to present all the findings. And the full board is also available on the [13:01] town website for the public. [13:06] Reconstruction of the upper parking lot at Town Hall has [13:08] become a work expected to take about three weeks. Last week we saw cutting the asphalt [13:14] in preparation of new curving in front of the building. There's a cut now. [13:24] That's [13:25] within a day or two, somebody is building, somebody just be ready. This week, yeah, we hope to see [13:31] the new curbing installed in the next week for the asphalt removal repayment and striping. [13:37] On repayment, the project includes, as I said, the curbing around the perimeter near the van, [13:42] the other building to help prevent the damage to Town Hall. We're also narrowing the width of [13:46] the entrance on Cheswell Street and bringing a lot of pavement markings up to current standards. [13:52] They're not currently good, correct? [13:55] No, I don't know. [13:55] If you ever notice, some vehicles are tighter than others. [13:59] But also, the reason why we're going to narrow it on Cheswell Street [14:03] is cars flying in and out of there, [14:05] because it's so wide, and the way it's set up there, [14:08] that we're trying to narrow it to make it safer. [14:12] There will be disruptions to the parking [14:14] in the town hall operations. [14:16] Well, while the work is underway, [14:18] we appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation [14:19] as we get through it. [14:20] I just do say a word around [14:28] this change. [14:30] We do intend to be open. [14:31] We're only going to have name of a, [14:32] we're supposed to be happy about what we can. [14:35] So it shouldn't be that much of a more, [14:37] more of a nuisance of noise than it is. [14:41] That'd be up to you in a minute here. [14:43] The next is, I want to hear a council update [14:46] on this could be a product that we'll be working on. [14:48] I'm not going to sell away some management [14:50] until I 24th to talk through what I move [14:53] to on-day trash and recycling collection [14:55] could look like for new market. [15:03] If you notice recently in the town of Gump has gotten rid of their in-house collection and [15:11] now is contracted with SELA and they have automated collection on the side. We are looking at how [15:17] Derham Dover conquered it by handling single changes. The main takeaway is that all three [15:21] are moving towards automation, but each is moving differently. Especially when it comes [15:25] is just pay-as-you-throw, contract structure and timing. [15:28] It also threw away the drop from the groove from any of them. [15:31] Since they're not copy-only-launched, [15:33] the summer builders will not convert until 2027. [15:36] For new market, we haven't made a decision. [15:38] We wouldn't be refining numbers and policy options [15:40] in the back during the upcoming project process. [15:43] One IM would be funding living totals. [15:46] I'm recommending that we be using the surplus [15:48] from the dissolving the solid waste fund [15:50] to fund these totals. [15:52] We're estimating, you know, $350,000 for a new toast for everybody. [15:57] I just made a table of all of the different things that we're going through. [16:03] When I say automated, what it is, is we technically sound like we're cutting. [16:07] Instead of refreshing up this, we're going to have a gin, a chocolate coffee, and I'm going to throw it in it. [16:13] One of the things that I are estimating is there will be a cost savings in the long run. [16:24] The plane board has adopted the master plan. [16:26] That wraps up the multi-year effort by the board of understaffed consultants and residents. [16:30] It turned out public sessions and sent in comments along the way on the state law and the master [16:34] plan is the planning boards to adopt not the town council, but it matters what we're on [16:39] the planning board. [16:39] It's the foundation for our zoning and nature relations, and it is what the board needs [16:44] on the new development proposals. [16:46] The old plan had gotten dated in a few places, so we have to give this guidance that reflects [16:50] what we like to do today and where prisons said what they want. [16:54] And now it's the real work now is implementation and putting action will require the zoning [16:59] regulatory amendments where the order is changed as needed, along with alignment to the capital [17:03] improvement program and plan's recommendations. Staff are using the adopted plan to develop those [17:07] items and expect Council to see related proposals for the next several budget cycles and ordinance [17:12] cycles. I just want to thank the Planning Board and Community Development Staff for their [17:16] sustained work on this effort. We do have a preliminary 2027 expense and revenue. [17:23] Just please note, it's the first month of the year of the funding out of the ordinary. [17:28] We haven't seen anything out of the ordinary. [17:30] We do have a lot of revenues that are coming from [17:35] July. [17:38] Nothing out of the ordinary expenses. [17:40] It's just the normal annual [17:44] payments that we do in July and August. [17:48] So nothing really out of the ordinary there. [17:52] Also, one more thing I want to let everybody know. [17:54] We've been talking about 27. [17:55] We are playing the fiscal year, 28 budget. [17:58] The department heads are currently preparing their budgets and their birth time. [18:01] They're presented to me within a couple weeks [18:03] and I'll present the proposed budget to the Time Council by the Charter of Mandated deadline [18:08] of October 15th. I reviewed the optical deadlines and recommended the Fallen calendar. We went [18:13] over that last week at the meeting. Most of them were established by state laws and but [18:19] I would ask the Council to reserve, second, October 31st beginning at 9 a.m. The workshop [18:26] to review the proposed budget for Council to share what we do is we try to hammer [18:31] We were helping one day. I had my old apartment heads come in and then I adopted the budget [18:37] as the next meeting. So we used the basketball for four or five hours. [18:42] Did you save the three for him? [18:46] And it was on me. [18:47] You can wear a costume. [18:48] We usually. [18:50] Yeah. [18:52] He started wanting to get that by new. [18:55] He knew we were bringing treats. Treats. [18:58] But by the way, we have. [19:01] And what's the main official job? [19:03] It's a budget workshop. [19:04] The [19:09] next item is that the Charter of Preventor [19:12] requires that I write a five-year financial forecast. [19:15] When we're finishing one covering fiscal years 28 to 32, [19:20] we have run a three-way baseline [19:22] concerning the optimistic and all three-point [19:24] in the same direction, [19:25] to plan our property tax levy increase [19:27] with a little over 2% a year. [19:29] Expenses and non-tax revenue grow [19:31] above the same rate, [19:32] so the amount we must raise to tax the levy [19:35] grows a little more in gear. [19:37] The forecast also seems to be valued between 2030, which will bring the tax rate down noticeably [19:42] without changing what the time collects. [19:44] Again, this will be plenty to hold, not a prediction, and plenty can move it. [19:48] The economy is in aid or a decision to bond a large capital project. [19:52] And I'll bring my full report to you in September. [19:56] Finally, the state primary election will be held on September 8th from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. [20:01] here at Town Hall. [20:02] The council will need to work the poll. [20:03] and literally the council must be present when the polls close to certify the election. [20:08] And if you have the schedule there and if you have not signed up, please go on the Excel spreadsheet [20:13] and sign up. And that is all I have today, Mr. Chairman. [20:17] Okay. Next we get a committee... [20:20] Oh, sorry. [20:21] Is this okay? [20:23] Yeah. [20:23] Is this okay? [20:23] Is this okay? [20:24] Yeah. [20:25] Is this okay? [20:26] Yeah. [20:26] Is this okay? [20:32] But not just now like I wasn't getting some stuff. So you said there was some updates to the town council. That was the first thing you said. [20:43] The goals. [20:43] Council goals. Is that documented? [20:46] In my report. Yeah. [20:48] Oh, okay. And, okay, I'll just look at it again. And then the, the, has it been discussed the, because you're getting it, we're proposing a new full-time fire chief. [21:01] And then the public works director will do it. [21:07] I'll never propose anything yet. [21:08] Oh, okay. All right. Okay. [21:11] And then the last thing with Kasella. [21:13] So right now the town handles the trash collection. [21:18] Yeah. Kasella does now. [21:20] Oh, okay. So they're just- [21:21] They will change the system. [21:22] One of the big issues is the pay-as-you-draw system that we currently have. [21:27] And how do you monitor that when you have it in a can? [21:32] So that's what we're looking at right now. Like I said, so you're always getting rid of the pay-to-throw system [21:38] Concord it has AI cameras [21:42] That will now check what you throw the bag goes in. I don't know how it works [21:47] and [21:49] They can find you if you do not use them [21:52] So we'll have to look at it, but remember if we remove the page and throw system [21:57] So, the collection, garbage collection is all on taxes, I think. [22:01] With the record, your time in the market debt this time is not considering AI monitoring. [22:06] We are not saying anything. [22:08] No, we're not in that still. [22:11] So, don't worry about that. That's not happening. [22:13] Thank you. [22:14] Okay. [22:15] Yeah, Councilor Blackstone. [22:19] So, we have this orange bag fund. [22:22] And we we took that money and we put it into the General Lightyear to improve our balance sheet [22:27] We write and and it was to to allow us to get loans at a lower rate [22:32] You know to improve our point. It's gonna partially. Yes, and so if we now taking money out of that [22:40] That kind of defeats that purpose [22:42] I think it'd be better to just put that in a budget just put the $400,000 in the budget or just put 200 [22:48] if I could answer. Yeah. We have enough money to do both. Okay. So now, without impacting [22:55] our balance sheet, yes. Yeah. Okay, so. And that's what that money was supposed to be going [23:01] for, the solid waste of things, not just offset the balance sheet. [23:09] But again, these are [23:10] just, we're still planning to see what we do. [23:15] Any other questions or comments? Oh, [23:21] But one of the things that looks like the study found for the fire department is [23:30] emergency medical service call volume could approach 2,000 per year by 2030 [23:37] as the new market grows. I know you've done sort of the financial projections but [23:41] is there what's the what's the projection for sort of in general the population? [23:51] What I've seen would probably be 10,000, we're right now going 9,500, 9,600, probably 10,000 [24:01] to 10,000. [24:07] So modest, okay [24:12] let's see, 1,300 to 2,000 seems to be kind of a big jump we [24:18] we would anticipate that that P- growth would result into a much larger percentage jump [24:24] in the number of calls. [24:25] So, do you think the community [24:32] reports, does anyone have any reports this evening? [24:43] For tourism, the RFP for the mural chemistry is due September 1st. We would love more [24:52] submissions for that RFP. [24:57] The committee [25:04] did not meet this month, so it sounds like it was moving forward. [25:08] Councillor Clayson? [25:09] I think we're met and adopted. [25:15] All right, [25:21] we move on to the old business. [25:24] We start with Resolution 2026-2027-1 Investment Policy. [25:30] Is there a motion? [25:34] So moved. [25:35] Is there a second? [25:37] Second. [25:39] Okay. [25:40] Now, is there any discussion? [25:43] This is just another annual adoption, but we have to adopt an investment policy every [25:47] year. [25:47] Nothing has changed in it from year before, but we have to do it annually. [25:52] As soon as we want to find this, we have to sign here. [25:54] It's just a ministerial thing that we have to do. [25:59] Any questions, comments? [26:03] Seeing none, can you please call the roll? [26:06] Councilor Cronin? [26:07] Aye. [26:07] Mr. Blackstone? [26:08] Aye. [26:09] Mr. Scherron? [26:10] Aye. [26:10] Mr. Blaisberg? [26:11] Aye. [26:12] Mr. Ward? [26:12] Aye. [26:13] Mr. Monson-Spires? [26:14] Aye. [26:15] Okay. [26:16] Next we have Ordinance Number 1, 2026-2027. [26:20] Amen. [26:20] In Chapter 2, Article 3, Reception, Harris Commission. [26:24] Is there a motion? [26:25] But I see the town manager. [26:27] Councilor Donnerwood was the one who was spearheading this. [26:31] So he was the one who was speaking to this. [26:33] It was absent. [26:33] since I would like to know about the consequences [26:36] over for a third week in action at the next meeting. [26:39] Do we have to go through anything? [26:41] You can just ask, but there's no objection. [26:43] Is there any objection to holding this over [26:45] to the next meeting? [26:47] I see none. [26:50] Now we move on to ordinances in the first meeting. [26:54] And thanks to our Spotify problems, I got it. [26:57] Oh, sorry. [27:07] Resolution number 262705, water and sewer truck three, [27:10] whereas water and sewer department part, [27:11] We need to replace and bear as the Department of Funds will attract replacement in the Capital [27:16] Reserve Fund and whereas the Department has received a good quote for the funding board [27:20] for $425,000. [27:21] You can pick up from the sum of $43,174. [27:25] Now they have 4B resolved by the New York Attack Council, and the New York Attack Council [27:28] authorizes withdrawal of $21,587 from each of the Water and Sewer Capital Reserve [27:35] Funds for a $425,000 pick up in addition to the Time Council authorizes the purchase [27:40] is a 4215 pickup for the sum of $1,174 funds by chair award by request. [27:56] Resolution 2627 creates new pump station evaluation, but I'm sorry, 262706 creates new pump station [28:03] evaluation whereas the creates new pumping station is in the pumping of electrical improvements [28:07] and whereas the station is having issues with wastewater flow velocities and screaming [28:11] whereas the creates new pumping station is critical for Star Trek. [28:14] Now therefore be resolved by the New Yorker Town Council and the New Yorker Town Council [28:18] authorizes withdrawal of $30,000, $460 from the suit capital reserves, for creating a suite [28:23] of funding stations with E-Valuation. [28:26] In addition to the Town Council authorizing the Town Manager and the Retreat Agreement, [28:29] the right payers with some $30,000, $460 will complete the created dispute funding [28:34] station evaluated for short-term to long-term improvements. [28:38] Specialized by Chair Muir by request. [28:43] New business and correspondence. [28:45] Is there any corresponds to that council? [28:47] All right, now it's time for any closing comments. [28:50] Are there any closing comments this evening? [28:56] Seeing none, our next meeting will be September 2nd, 2026, [29:01] but we'll also be meeting for the budget workshop [29:03] on August 31st. [29:06] October. [29:07] I was hoping because I was calling. [29:11] Yeah, never mind. [29:12] Never mind. [29:13] Next meeting will be September 2nd, 2026. [29:15] Thank you, everyone, and I will consider us adjourned. [29:17] Wow.