[8:44] Um well once again uh welcome

[8:48] [clears throat] to physio for our second session of what

[8:54] hopefully will become a regular occurrence.

[8:57] I don't think we have I I am the sitting chairman of the Pittsfield Select Board

[9:05] until struck down by pitchforks and torches.

[9:11] But but for a while anyway I get to hold Gav. Uh but uh I think there are so many

[9:22] have mutual interest in our communities if we ignore the county line that the

[9:30] council committ

[9:35] » Oh yes before I too far into this we are going out via YouTube uh so folks in our

[9:44] communities can and share whatever experience it is

[9:48] we have tonight. [clears throat] >> But uh

[9:52] » and what's what's your name? Martha. >> Martha is our owl's name.

[9:57] » Martha. >> Yeah.

[9:58] » We it probably would serve a useful purpose if we went around and introduced

[10:03] ourselves again. Uh just cuz we back here. We we've had enough time since the

[10:10] last meeting to forget. Yeah. So, as I said, I'm Jim Allard, the the chair

[10:17] of board for the time being. >> The chair. I'm Paul. I'm the vice chair.

[10:23] » Dave Green >> and Jim Adams. We're all select Major

[10:29] Sylvester the Barn board chair. >> I'm Gary Madden the vice chair.

[10:36] include the rest of the room too since our folks

[10:42] had not been with us before.

[10:46] » Good evening everybody. My name is Frank. I'm a res of

[10:52] welcome.

[11:08] » You want him to know

[11:12] he's in close proximity to where I live. Okay.

[11:16] » You're beginning to sound a bit like you know the [clears throat] iron works

[11:21] doesn't talk to four corners to the north and south

[11:32] manager >> superintendent public works

[11:37] police chiefs

[11:47] building. [clears throat]

[11:55] Well, welcome home.

[12:01] [snorts]

[12:06] » [snorts] >> probably

[12:14] at least it was spam.

[12:19] Sorry [snorts] about that.

[12:23] Uh but back to what I was saying there

[12:28] there are so many areas potentially a mutual benefit to talking together

[12:36] and working together. I mean the obvious ones in the public safety arena and then

[12:43] they work together routinely anyway. We don't need we don't need to tell them

[12:48] how to do things. But some of the other things I I'm excited that you're

[12:55] standing up economic development discussions again. I wish we timing was

[13:02] a little better. We our uh economic development committee met at 4:30 in

[13:07] this room. So, uh it would have been good. We could have

[13:13] exchange phone numbers or something. But uh

[13:16] as you know I mean we're we're we're both

[13:21] in some sort of economic struggles

[13:26] is about

[13:32] your town senators are kind of like ours. They aren't what they want for

[13:38] right in terms of businesses

[13:42] and interests.

[13:50] » So there are there are certain things

[13:56] that the [snorts] folks can certainly share and

[14:00] talk and learn and grow, you know.

[14:06] The thing that always comes to my mind because uh

[14:11] instead of bringing our hands and ruining the fact that uh highway 28 came

[14:17] to the valley 65 years ago, uh you know, we need to learn to live with 28 and do

[14:24] something with it. And uh we probably need to band together to get the state

[14:32] to let go of some of their restrictions on what can happen longtermly

[14:40] because it's our understanding that actually that was not a state initiative

[14:45] to begin with. was a Pfield initiative that asked the state uh to to close off

[14:52] development thinking at the time uh that it would preserve the downtown.

[14:59] Well, that was a good guess, but not very

[15:03] accurate. And so we turn loose to that and see

[15:09] what the real possible is. But uh but there are many other and probably not so

[15:15] difficult uh things that we can do of mutual interest to

[15:21] for the benefit of our citizens

[15:26] for some ifstead were to come back to our schools

[15:33] or if we would suddenly go to mountain that might help out [clears throat]

[15:38] people but >> that's not board's perview. So, I can't

[15:43] forget I said that. >> Yep.

[15:46] » That's another board's realm to work out. But,

[15:50] » well, with the excuse me for interrupting, but with the outcome of

[15:54] the special election last week, [clears throat] we may be trying to

[15:58] pedal our kids somewhere because the teachers are going to say twice and you

[16:03] don't want us. Well, hit the road. And somebody said, "Well, they'll they'll

[16:07] have to pay $1,000 really to go somewhere else and get 12,000 more."

[16:14] » It's a tough concept anyways. I mean, Bar was facing it when we were going to

[16:19] Pittsfield. >> Sure.

[16:21] » You know, the the tuition obviously the tuition the cost per student was was

[16:27] rising all the time. It got to the point that was like, what's what's more

[16:31] feasible here, you know? And that that's how we ended up where we basically

[16:38] » it's amazing what damaged a couple of arrogant [clears throat] so

[16:44] and I'm not talking about our barks and things. talk about the idiots.

[16:49] Well, it's and certainly been a learning exper my my entire adult life because I

[16:56] married a girl from Al and

[17:01] back in the mid60s when uh Kingswood was built

[17:07] » and uh initially all were supposed to be a part of all that and then the the wise

[17:16] individuals in that town decided not to be But their partnership with New Durham

[17:21] that had been like ours with with you all that had gone on for more than 100

[17:28] years evaporated overnight and her high school class from like 65 kids

[17:37] to 15 overnight

[17:42] last year. And that managed to last all on their

[17:46] own until they needed a new building, >> I think.

[17:50] » And then they had to go hunting for you to make a new building.

[17:54] » This consolidation of the school system should have happened a long long time

[17:58] ago. Um these towns are too small um all the way around to to to fund it all by

[18:05] themselves. That's why the taxes are so high. I mean, that's twothirds of your

[18:09] tax is easy, >> you know. Um, this just should have

[18:13] happened a long time ago, but that that was the past. Now we got to work where

[18:18] we go from here. >> So, is there any particular place on 28

[18:24] you'd look for driveway access potentially or any ideas of what you

[18:29] look to try to bring into town? >> I know you're you're looking at me. I'm

[18:34] probably the wrong guy to question. >> I'm just looking at you chair.

[18:38] Usually the chair and then the question I have to confess

[18:47] the [snorts] farthest thing from a business guy.

[18:53] » Well, since I was 18 years old, I was a soldier and I I learned a great thing

[19:00] » and make a lot of noise, but I didn't learn to develop

[19:04] uh businesses. Do we have >> it seems well cases we were having art

[19:10] we were having a conversation earlier about cases like the old Pittsville

[19:14] fairgrounds which is a to my way of thinking it's a

[19:20] fairly level area of significant acreage lots like that would be the places I

[19:26] would assume businessminded people would want to

[19:30] develop uh if there are some but

[19:36] You know, there are so many businesses today that we encounter

[19:41] uh that they're focused on the Epsom traffic

[19:47] circle and they're focused on the AL traffic circle

[19:52] and those of us in part of Chai Chester and all of Pittsfield and all of

[19:58] Barnstead, they're left high and dry. Uh now I I mean that's basic geography. The

[20:04] demographics of th those traffic circles where maybe

[20:09] somewhat significant roadways cross they got lucky.

[20:16] Those of us out here in the middle have to make it happen for ourselves.

[20:20] [clears throat] >> Is that is there land that's owned by

[20:23] Pittsfield along 28? >> No no I didn't think so.

[20:27] » But if I may, Mr. Chairman sir, >> there is there's a bunch of private land

[20:33] » that would be accessible if the state would open up there. I mean

[20:39] the land across from Glo. >> Okay. that area,

[20:44] » the whole section from actually Le Road out to upper city

[20:52] that would be accessible if the state would open up or at least it

[20:57] would give the land owners an opportunity to part with their land for

[21:02] because it would increase the value of their land so they

[21:06] you know part with it things like that. Um, so there is buildable land there.

[21:13] Seems like there's more buildable land now than there ever has been. Just

[21:16] people put things everywhere now. Um, so for us, that's where we run because we

[21:24] have no more driveway accessible areas in Pittsfield for the state. We're done.

[21:32] We have no more driveway. And when RA came to put their

[21:38] um now defunct uh drugstore in Pitts, they went to the state, rumor has it,

[21:46] and they where the H property is now. They I think it was 50 feet or before

[21:54] the H driveway. The state was trying these people were trying to talk the

[22:00] state into putting in an an access road that would go from 107 all the way up to

[22:07] upper city and then do the uh I guess developing off that. But then they

[22:17] they got a I guess they got a great opportunity with the place that they

[22:22] were down low. that [clears throat] that was always one

[22:28] that people said, "Well, there's a good deal of opportunity there because that's

[22:32] a pretty good stretch from upper city to to 107 and some of it's maybe a little

[22:39] marshy and such, but [clears throat]

[22:42] » yeah, >> is a nice piece of propert."

[22:46] » Yeah. >> And is that still in limbo?

[22:51] Well, I don't know that it's in >> the conservation, but the family is

[22:57] trying to put on >> Yeah, they're they're working

[23:01] quite hard on having it conserve

[23:06] and you oldtimes,

[23:10] correct me if I'm wrong, but that there was an area there adjacent to that where

[23:16] they looked at putting what is Prospect Mountain School at one time.

[23:21] » Yes, that's the piece of land that is as you go up to the BCP right now where

[23:29] that is. It was right on the right on the corner all the way straight back to

[23:34] where the BCDP is now. >> So in theory

[23:38] » up on that big hill. >> So in theory that could be something in

[23:42] the future. And I do believe if I remember all of the access to the school

[23:47] was going to be coming off 28 by the Boston Pittsfield line. They were going

[23:52] to develop it that way instead of coming having and uh there was even a thought

[23:58] of bringing water and sewer up to that area so the school would have. Mhm.

[24:04] » So there was but that a lot of a lot of push back because of the the potential

[24:12] of hazmat because that that's been filled up at the end of that property

[24:18] for how long. So >> but [clears throat] that piece of land

[24:22] was but that doesn't mean that today it could rent something else that's

[24:27] compatible with living next to the transfer stadium.

[24:35] So there are ideas of planning for

[24:43] most of the people in the room know better than I it's been a long struggle

[24:47] to get to where we are today and

[24:52] most of us thus far on the negative side we haven't been able to contain I'm sure

[24:59] you've seen the last 12 18 months here in Bisfield. He's been writing

[25:05] [clears throat] and

[25:09] I can't name the parent company of what was Rusty Crust

[25:15] and a couple of others significant economic

[25:22] leaving too. So they he was at planning board last

[25:26] Thursday in Barnstead [clears throat] >> proposing proposing to move his whole

[25:32] operation in Baron.

[25:35] » So >> well that's his roots and it's always

[25:41] the locks came from there. >> Yeah. There's a certain logic associated

[25:47] with that and where he is now to my way of thinking

[25:54] was kind of hinched between 107

[25:58] and 28 much more than he's done.

[26:03] » I believe he rents there as well. >> Yeah, I think you're right.

[26:08] » He rents off a west garage over there. So, he's trying to consolidate

[26:12] everything. >> Yep. Makes sense. So, makes sense.

[26:15] » But where he wants to go, there's already a driveway already where he

[26:18] wants to go, so he doesn't have to get one from the state.

[26:21] » Or it makes even more sense. So, it's just [clears throat]

[26:24] » Is there something going right now? >> Uh, there's a sign on the building, I'm

[26:30] told, that says Dollar General. >> Oh, just we're going to have two of

[26:35] them. You can't beat that. [laughter]

[26:42] » Don't worry, it won't be snapped.

[26:46] I say I am not a business guy, but if it's a Dollar General, what's the impact

[26:51] on your Dollar General? >> I don't know, but if it wants to put it

[26:56] out of business, we're okay.

[27:00] Ours goes to Als.

[27:07] Well, but it's going to have an impact on the other business there, that

[27:11] dollar, whatever it is, they have a family dollar or whatever. It's going to

[27:15] have an impact on Donny's um you know, some of these smaller [snorts] smaller

[27:20] stores as well, you know, because they sell all the regular stuff they do.

[27:25] » Out of just curiosity, interest, what is going in building that popcorn place

[27:34] » commercial? It's a commercial popcorn operation. Yep. Yeah,

[27:36] » they do wholesale sales. >> Wow.

[27:39] » What's going on in there? >> Look good. [laughter]

[27:44] » Are we going to have a renaissance in corn farms?

[27:48] » I need to supply this place. >> I'm actually interested to find out, you

[27:53] know, what what job opportunities there there will be there. You know,

[27:57] » what what it takes for to run the place, you know, but

[28:01] » I mean, it's kind of an odd >> business. It's [clears throat] an

[28:05] interesting think about it. Maybe maybe there's something behind it that we

[28:10] don't know about. >> It's certainly a niche business.

[28:13] [clears throat] >> Yeah.

[28:16] » Now, uh last last time we had talked there was there was conversation about

[28:20] like a grocery store, smaller size grocery store, something with like a

[28:24] pharmacy to try to get either between two towns there.

[28:28] » Yeah, it would be interesting. >> Well, I think

[28:33] this Dollar General >> [clears throat]

[28:36] » is supposed to be different than other dollars and it's supposed to

[28:41] have more groceries, but that's

[28:46] » supposed to be a DM market. >> And that's what that's what's on

[28:53] » Google. They sell they sell produce and stuff

[28:58] like that. So theory that's coming. We'll see.

[29:05] But I mean in some ways maybe that's a good thing because competition with

[29:10] Donny's may make Donny's do something

[29:18] » to to make themselves more competitive.

[29:23] [clears throat] We'll see. It'll be interesting to see [snorts] who is going

[29:26] to be the I guess no that new in Chai Chester that it's going to it's being

[29:33] called I'm told >> Chai Chester market.

[29:36] » It's supposed to be a mini drugstore. Rumor has it it might be something from

[29:42] associated grocerers >> because they open today. the Sully

[29:47] stores. Those are >> associated

[29:54] meat market and a fish market. [clears throat]

[29:57] » What is that road? >> Yeah,

[30:01] » he's the guy from healthy buffalo. I think

[30:04] » he's got those meats in there as well. >> We had that open today. They did a soft

[30:11] opening today.

[30:15] Right.

[30:20] » The the real problem is can't have our uh chief of police and

[30:26] his his patrolman out there telling people you come into Pittsfield, we want

[30:31] you to build a business, >> right?

[30:34] » I think we're in big trouble with that. >> Yeah, I think that's probably limited

[30:39] success. So for right now then we should probably

[30:43] concentrate on purchasing, >> right?

[30:46] » I think the two of us certainly an area

[30:52] » before I I would love to start seeing your economic committee meet with our

[30:56] economic committee and see if they can't move forward on some of these things

[31:02] and start that process because I think that would be a because it's going to be

[31:06] a process. So the sooner we start it, the better we all off we are.

[31:10] » Um, now we can go to the idea of the usual purchasing and stuff like

[31:16] that. >> Were you able to uh recruit enough

[31:21] people for that committee or anybody for that?

[31:24] » We've got five.

[31:28] » So it's been ongoing and new blood to it would be fantastic. So

[31:35] » just new ideas and new and new blood is always a positive thing.

[31:39] » Yeah. >> Do you guys have a representative that

[31:43] sits on that committee? >> Me

[31:47] business guy, >> right?

[31:50] I was going to ask like what what kind of ideas are they

[31:53] » right now? >> Well, the last few years we we've been

[31:57] concentrating on kind of some ancillary like solar

[32:02] development. things that

[32:08] as you know we out there by Doug and Doris

[32:12] uh there was a solar farm on on that happens to be on private land

[32:18] but we've been working on developing solar for

[32:24] uh to be built on public or town land public land um for a couple of reasons.

[32:32] one we had to land another supplied essentially free electricity for town

[32:40] properties uh for this building for the highway department police department

[32:45] » all of that would would become free. We're sort of held up at the moment

[32:52] uh because coming right along with this, we're like

[32:58] many other towns in New Hampshire, we're we're having to seriously consider

[33:04] replacement of our wastewater treatment facility uh because it no longer meets

[33:10] federal standards. And so [clears throat] and it's beyond its

[33:16] projected lifetime when it was built and technology is significantly changed

[33:23] which is somewhat of an opportunity for us because the the newer plants do not

[33:29] employ I'm told uh the lagoon systems that we all grew up with. And if our

[33:38] lagoons were to go away, uh, we have acres available for solar farming right

[33:46] there and would not have to cut down woods to any great extent.

[33:52] Would not have to reshape. They're all It's already leveled. So,

[33:56] » uh, so we're kind of moving out on the replacement of the wastewater treatment

[34:03] facility, which hopefully might spin off into opportunities for for solar power,

[34:10] additional solar power. We in truth we somewhat get held up technologically

[34:17] because we the the current wastewater treatment plant happens to be outside of

[34:25] the present reach of three-phase power. >> Uh so that was adding to the expense.

[34:32] the idea of running lines uh in three-phase was going to add to

[34:38] the expense and so we're kind of treading water at the moment but

[34:45] still looking at at doing those sorts of things.

[34:50] We do have a just based on the meeting from a couple hours ago,

[34:55] we do have a

[35:00] a phone conversation coming up this next week with our our representative

[35:07] Maggie Goodlander to

[35:12] kind of beat her up and pick her brain on what's available federally

[35:18] uh for small towns like us from the federal level. And so I'm kind of

[35:24] looking forward to that discussion with we're bound to learn more about what is

[35:31] or is not available from her perspective. I mean, obviously,

[35:37] one Congress representative isn't speaking [clears throat] for the entire

[35:43] Congress, but uh she and her staff may may be aware of what programs or monies

[35:50] are available to play with in a small place like Newampshire.

[35:56] So, more to follow on that.

[36:04] So I guess we move to the next section. I mean we had discussed public forex and

[36:12] and the sol. So I I guess we have a new public forex director

[36:19] with Dakota. Um I don't know if we've had a chance to

[36:24] talk about cunnage of what you guys use, what we use, if we can come down to a

[36:29] mutual agreement. So we can get the buying

[36:33] power >> um to purchase the larger volumes of

[36:38] that stuff. >> I don't know if we can get a public

[36:43] works directors to talk and see if we can figure that out. Maybe come up

[36:47] because when do you guys go and bid on us?

[36:50] » I mean we haven't yet. So >> I have that written down

[36:54] » because you guys use Mortens, right? >> We what

[36:56] » use Mortens? >> Yeah,

[36:57] » for salt. Yeah. Yeah, that was my >> Yeah, we use that

[37:03] » state. >> Okay.

[37:07] [snorts]

[37:10] » What goes out though? We usually roughly estimate like 6,000 yards what we get,

[37:17] but we also get um 38 stone.

[37:23] So our winter sand piles outside

[37:28] they dump the stone on the bottom of it and then as a dump of sand on top of it

[37:32] and then as they go in the pile from the the time it mixes itself with the dirt

[37:37] roads. So, so I mean I I think it would be

[37:44] pretty important for our two road agents to get together

[37:48] directors to get together and come up with a an amount that we both and see

[37:53] what that does with our buying power. Maybe it helped maybe it doesn't I don't

[37:56] know >> something we could go down that I think

[38:00] that's an easy one. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yes.

[38:02] » Um I was going to suggest to go, you know, we [clears throat] we have a nice

[38:07] diner down the way at the friendly diner.

[38:11] Maybe the two supervisors have some coffee and a donut

[38:18] and talk about me as a mutual something else.

[38:23] » Great breakfast.

[38:27] » They do have a good breakfast. So >> I was going to try to expense with them.

[38:31] » Yeah.

[38:34] I there's a great advantage to that. >> Yeah.

[38:38] » Salt, sand, you know, gravel. >> Yep.

[38:41] » Something could be done with that. I think it' be great if they sat down and

[38:45] » Yeah, I I do too. >> And I believe we're mostly propane,

[38:48] right? Don't know if we can do anything with them. Yeah, we talked about fuel.

[38:54] » Yeah, we have old propane and heating oil,

[38:57] » but diesel, you know, diesel. Yeah, we've got the off the the diesel pump

[39:01] there. So, uh everything for us for diesel wise is all onroad diesel. Then

[39:07] town hall sub to get reimbured for what gets used on the equipment.

[39:12] [clears throat] So,

[39:14] um >> where is your diesel?

[39:16] » At our highway garage. So, um it's up there. Fire has keys to it. They'll have

[39:21] key slots. Um so, we keep track of every every vehicle what they use uh every

[39:26] month. So for that now your your hobby department for winter sand.

[39:34] Do you guys usually truck it yourself or is it all trucked in?

[39:38] » Um we mix it up if we need we don't have the time and don't need to truck it

[39:42] ourselves or get it from Earth haul it [clears throat] in for us.

[39:46] » Yep. So we we don't ever haul haul it in ourselves. We just let them haul it in.

[39:52] um it keeps our highway department on the

[39:55] roads doing what they need to do. And does it cost more? Yes. But if you look

[40:00] at the long term, you're actually save money in long term,

[40:03] » right? >> What it is. So,

[40:04] » right. >> Um but that's just something just going

[40:07] into bidwise knowing what's going to be delivered or picked up um wise.

[40:14] So,

[40:18] uh,

[40:22] » the other thing we talked about was a move station.

[40:26] » I was going to bring that up. We have Yeah.

[40:30] [clears throat] You guys had a

[40:33] » Yeah. By Nemo and actually Nemo,

[40:38] right?

[40:41] Yeah. The only it's either Tri Chester or Holland, but I don't remember. Try

[40:48] had gas. I think their was just diesel. >> Yeah.

[40:51] » You remember, >> will

[40:56] we get diesel? Yeah. Or you get >> We get

[41:05] gas too.

[41:10] all the goals, but it would be nice to have something closer.

[41:13] » So eventually, so especially if there's a financial disaster or something,

[41:19] » right? >> So

[41:21] I know I know I remember where we've had to go into conquer to try to fuel up

[41:25] cruisers before. So that's you rais an interesting

[41:30] question that here in Pittsfield not too far away now down now down now

[41:37] down now down now down now down now down now down now down now down now by where

[41:38] the old writing is the new DM is it right there the state three of the

[41:46] state's highway districts converge and it could make an awful lot of sense

[41:52] if the state were to put a fuel site somewhere in the proximity because

[41:58] they've got vehicles from three districts

[42:02] running around here all the time.

[42:07] » They have to ask our legislators to

[42:12] » Well, now used to be the patrol. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and so why did they

[42:21] » the tanks were leaking and instead of >> fixing them, they got rid of it.

[42:27] [clears throat] >> But this may be a new era. And if the

[42:31] state were running a facility that could be tapped into by the towns,

[42:38] » that might not be a bad thing.

[42:46] I didn't think it's conquered though. There's

[42:51] like seven or eight towns that go in with conquered the city of conquered to

[42:55] purchase fuel, gas, diesel, heating oil.

[43:02] It's been a while since I looked at that, but want to say I want to say

[43:04] there was like seven or eight towns I went in with conquered though that they

[43:08] all pulled together. >> Oh, that's some serious

[43:13] purchasing power. >> It doesn't. Yeah. You run the risk of

[43:17] you have a set price for the whole year potentially. [clears throat]

[43:20] So you don't have the fluctuations, >> but if it's set and the price goes high,

[43:25] then you still have it set. So if it goes low, well,

[43:31] you're bad. >> Yep.

[43:33] » So, but it may be easier budgeting wise though. and and in theory over time

[43:40] uh that that would work itself >> to be pretty stable.

[43:47] [clears throat] >> Yeah. I'm not sure how much of a deal

[43:50] we're actually getting, but some of those state ones are I use the one at

[43:54] home which is used by the state troopers >> and the state trucks and you know I use

[44:01] it for the gas but you know when I'm going to fill up it's

[44:06] like nine bucks so it's somewhere around lots of gallons

[44:10] » you know I mean >> that doesn't really sound like a

[44:15] really good savings >> for us

[44:20] going to work.

[44:26] » Yeah. To save for >> Yeah. Not

[44:31] going to have to be some >> very local, you know.

[44:35] » Yeah. I mean, our state department, they kept an eye on that. We'll just see how

[44:39] price it is versus what we use is there. And they I mean, they're not going to

[44:42] take take a vehicle to go to Walmart just to fill it up. they go to the

[44:46] highway garage, but if they're on their way back, they may

[44:52] sense and course all of our ambulance crews that are running to conquer

[44:59] » all the time. >> Well, they need to be filled all the

[45:02] time because they could be on the way back and get another call

[45:06] » back and just

[45:12] » Hey, I'm doing all the talking here, guys.

[45:25] No new blazing ideas. >> Well, next meeting cupcakes.

[45:31] » Okay.

[45:35] » Cupcakes. Um, to change the subject a little bit,

[45:40] what have you, what have you guys heard about what they the state is going to do

[45:44] with your dam. >> Although I knew I I was going to hit

[45:49] him. >> Yeah. Sorry.

[45:52] » They're going to raise it five feet. >> They are going to keep it. Raise it five

[45:56] feet. >> The one on Valley Dam. Yeah. For upper

[46:00] and lower. >> That's the one up near Valley Dam. So

[46:02] that's on. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah. So they they are going

[46:07] to allow you to keep your lake at least. Yeah.

[46:10] » But they're going to raise it which is going to remove some water frontage

[46:14] little houses that are on the lake. Is that what I think it probably have more

[46:18] impact on downstream? >> Yeah. The downstream state water.

[46:23] » Yeah. Um >> but the Sun has a lot of different

[46:26] avenues. Um the Sun River does >> on what what actually goes in there. So,

[46:32] I mean it it's probably going to be a little less

[46:37] » and they're talking about doing all the dams.

[46:39] » Yeah. Yeah. The reason why I bring that up is because the same communication

[46:44] from the damn bureau was with I am here. Um they haven't approached us per se

[46:49] with a solid plane. But the rumor is to do this to not to raise it five feet to

[46:57] remove it. So, >> well, they were they were talking about

[47:01] that one in the braid for us, >> right?

[47:03] » Yeah. >> So,

[47:07] [clears throat] >> I don't know how that's going to work.

[47:09] No, we're going to have an >> They're planning to start in all

[47:15] » removing the dam there by their DPW. Take take that out.

[47:22] » Yeah. New Durham, too. I think they're somewhere around there.

[47:27] mechs

[47:34] will be done next year. >> It's going to have a huge impact on

[47:39] pretty much all

[47:46] » opportunity to develop salmon fishing. >> We'll be all ready for the thousand year

[47:52] storm. You have to seems like maybe 100 years

[47:57] storm every 10 years, >> right?

[48:02] » We're going to we're going to deal with our stock talking Scott that way.

[48:07] » Y >> perfect.

[48:13] » Chiefs, all of our usual

[48:18] compacts are all up to date and good. what you're happy with.

[48:30] [snorts]

[48:38] » You guys are better experienced at this mutually for decades.

[48:47] » [clears throat] >> I'm sure you know all the nooks and

[48:50] crannies.

[48:55] » I mean, even just the the training [clears throat]

[48:57] that they the two of them have been doing over the years, you know, not just

[49:03] mindset, but I mean try >> going on with you too.

[49:06] » Yeah, absolutely. Everybody's got everybody's pitching [clears throat] in.

[49:10] So, >> so

[49:13] slowly but surely. >> Yep. Would

[49:16] it be you know almost like would it be good if we reached out to

[49:24] other maybe the start with the four that are working together

[49:29] every day that maybe for example purchasing

[49:34] equipment and I don't mean new fire trucks I'm talking about fire hose and

[49:38] the stuff if we were to get four communities in on that

[49:43] » the price should be reflected a little bit better for these guys.

[49:47] » All all the communities go ahead and similar stuff.

[49:51] » It is, but the big problem is to get each town to agree

[49:56] » on a certain type of >> certain um and in the past that works

[50:01] for a couple towns, but then there's always one throws in

[50:06] the small ones. Definitely regional grants.

[50:10] » Oh, that's right. Don't worry. >> No. Well, there's also a a replacement

[50:14] cycle that you guys follow, too. I mean, not everybody's [clears throat] on the

[50:17] same cycle. >> You might not even need them this year

[50:21] or next year, but that they're three years out or something, you know.

[50:26] » That may be something over time that we can shoot for

[50:30] » is that the radar cycles. >> Yeah.

[50:33] » You got to wear them out a little early. [laughter]

[50:37] » Host testing. Yeah. the host. Now that is a requirement, isn't it? That's what

[50:42] I thought. >> That's when we saw that you gave us the

[50:47] what was it? Multicolored hoses and it was a very interesting thing. But they

[50:53] if they one of those let go the fire somebody took it seriously.

[51:04] And I'm sure Pete already does it, but the scheduling maybe again like we had

[51:10] talked about making sure that we both have adequate coverage for our

[51:15] parameters and stuff like that. I think you've already started that a little bit

[51:20] making sure right that >> he might he might not

[51:27] only is his third week. >> Okay. So

[51:30] » all right. over. So that's something that has to be worked on worked out

[51:36] money side, but we certainly would help entertain that very well. But then

[51:40] there's a union, there's a whole right, there's a whole we can help each other

[51:44] out easy, but then it comes to the money,

[51:47] » right? >> Yep.

[51:48] » And with that same compact idea, not just fire hose, but every community has

[51:55] got ambulances. And I would expect like everything else, anything that says

[51:59] medical is five times more expensive than if you get it in a drugstore. Maybe

[52:04] that those purchases could be kind of because that's the stuff we use all the

[52:09] time. I believe we get a lot of it from Conquer Hospital

[52:15] right now, but certainly we do get certain needles and equipment that we go

[52:20] in with each other to purchase. They allow you to stock up before you leave.

[52:25] You drop some money off and they stock up.

[52:28] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[52:29] » That would be going to the wayside. So, [clears throat]

[52:32] » well, they're a business now. They always were a nonprofit. Now they're

[52:37] conquered hospital. >> They on deliver.

[52:49] So, that's when they need to. So,

[53:02] anything we can do, you know. >> Yeah. Police have to work with police on

[53:07] what where they might be able to purchase items [snorts] invoke or to

[53:11] gather fire with fire and you know nickel safe is a nickel

[53:16] city right that's having apartments

[53:23] unfortunately the highway park is a little different

[53:29] way more dirt roads guys

[53:33] [snorts] I But that even even again going to the

[53:37] small things. I mean fluids, I mean oils, greases, all that stuff. If there

[53:44] was a way that we could do it in a bulk. Um I I don't know. This is way off base

[53:51] probably, but I don't even know if we have the same equipment. We have the

[53:54] same trucks and we carry some parts here. You guys carry some parts there.

[53:58] And a truck breaks down in the middle of a storm. We could call on each other and

[54:01] say, "Hey, do you have this so we can get back? Either one of us can get back

[54:05] on the road." >> Anything like that would benefit both

[54:09] communities. >> Well, and like nothing against

[54:13] here. >> It is. Yeah.

[54:16] » But they're they're Napa Napa and Birming

[54:20] Napa too. But yet Napa will be half the price of

[54:25] » these guys. So like a lot of us come right from

[54:30] Yeah. They'll deliver to that. I know they'll deliver here because he he's

[54:34] gotten state for filters in general and he'll he will do Dan will do two runs

[54:40] into Conquer every day is what he'll do. And he'll go right down 28 to go into

[54:45] Conquer go back. So if it's either on his way there or way back they'll stop

[54:50] and drop stuff off. So >> that may be something that you may want

[54:55] to check into. >> Yeah, I mean I know there are local

[55:01] local that's been here for years, but dolls

[55:04] are all >> well that at the end of the day it's

[55:08] » I'm somebody that I like local businesses but you have to look at the

[55:11] financial side of it the same thing for half the price. It's nothing against

[55:15] them. It's >> you've got to be financially responsible

[55:18] on the board. >> Right. Exactly. But some of that may

[55:22] generate change, >> right?

[55:25] » Right. >> If I I would think if a business knows

[55:29] they're losing business to somebody who's undercutting the prices,

[55:33] » right? >> Then maybe something good can come out

[55:38] something for the community. >> Yeah.

[55:42] » Because all of us I mean we got to squeeze the nickel to the right.

[55:49] Yeah. I mean, and currently right now, like the majority of our maintenance up

[55:54] at Highway, they don't do it. Um, we've told them to outsource it all just

[55:59] because either that they're not qualified or they're not comfortable

[56:03] doing it and we don't want to have that liability on them. So, it makes it e

[56:08] easier and yes, it keeps them on the road. They're not in the shop. It's nice

[56:13] to finish up on a rainy day, snowing, you know, first snowtorm eventually to

[56:17] get to go through things, but we have to look at it what their

[56:21] capabilities are, too. Is it

[56:27] » maybe we ought to find a decent mechanic and split his salary. [laughter]

[56:32] » That's a great idea. That's kind that's kind of where I honestly was going with

[56:36] it because like we talked about purchasing fluids [snorts] in bulk, but

[56:39] there's no point to purchase them really in bulk potentially other than maybe

[56:43] hydraulic fluid because okay, they blow a hydraulic line in the middle of wear

[56:47] time. We have a setup to make hydraulic hoses in our shop. So we can just make

[56:51] them themselves and they just got to fill the hydraulic tank and off they go.

[56:54] » But outside of that, they don't really keep much bulk fluids there just except

[56:59] to top off. It's always been amazing to me [clears throat]

[57:03] that all these towns in New Hampshire or, you

[57:07] know, anywhere in Northern New England that that were operating these

[57:11] apartments on such as Houston mostly it's [clears throat] too small

[57:16] for 24-hour day operations, but but not having a mechanic on scene.

[57:23] » Yep. uh that is your mechanic that does well not only the highway they would

[57:28] have to you know that has to expand to the fire and you know and changing oil

[57:34] in the police cars and the air filters and all that sort of stuff. I don't know

[57:40] how any of us get by without inhouse mechanisms

[57:44] on that as well looking into that possibly

[57:48] » and I mean you know we're always breaking problems.

[57:51] » Yeah. And to [clears throat] have a guy who can, you know, bring it by and I'm

[57:55] welding it in 10 minutes rather than having to go to hooks it.

[57:59] » Yeah. >> And to have a plow welded.

[58:03] » I mean, there's typically something that breaks every day highway.

[58:06] » Y >> Yes.

[58:08] » Every day. >> It's the nature of the beast.

[58:10] » Unfortunately, you're right. It is. >> That's a wonderful idea.

[58:17] » Question whether we had enough cold time again. I think we absolutely do.

[58:23] And we go to fire east small fire vehicles and police highway itself.

[58:31] » But maybe if we were find a way to start small and be half time

[58:36] » well

[58:40] until we figure out the finances of it. >> Well, there's that and whoever

[58:46] potentially gets hired, they need to know their capabilities, what's expected

[58:49] of them. So me personally, I don't want them rebuilding rebuilding an engine in

[58:54] the shop. No, send that out, >> right?

[58:56] » Like it should literally going to be just the basics. Keep it going. So,

[59:00] » well, because many of our there are certain warranties and guarantees with

[59:05] that [clears throat] it needs to go to

[59:09] white or Mac or whatever the truck brand is in order to get it particular. Well,

[59:14] that's something that they can keep they that person can keep track of because

[59:17] we've had >> we've had vehicles that have had

[59:22] extended warranties on them and nobody knew about it until after the fact and

[59:27] we've already paid and because one because the work wasn't done at the

[59:32] dealer, we couldn't get reimbured for it. So, we've already paid an

[59:36] aftermarket shop. I'm sure we've all got that somewhere along the line.

[59:43] » As much as people casing and maintaining their own vehicles, it's still the fact

[59:48] that you have a mechanic here that has all the records and it's computerizing.

[59:53] No, that truck stays here today. I've got things to do with instead of it

[59:57] going out on the roads down and we're fixing it after the fact.

[1:00:03] [snorts] I think it's pretty responsive to do

[1:00:06] that. I think there's plenty of work for a mechanic and then like you said we did

[1:00:10] it together possibly see how it would work out split the time

[1:00:16] » something

[1:00:20] [clears throat] a mechan a trained mechanic may also be a trained operator

[1:00:26] and when he hasn't got the mechanic work to do he's operating something

[1:00:31] » I know a few years ago we uh we looked into that and I was a little Well, a

[1:00:37] good trained mechanic is going to want to do mechanics. They're not going to

[1:00:40] want to go north. Right. >> Absolutely.

[1:00:42] » And I got kind of shot down there and they put their ad out for plowing and

[1:00:47] running equipment when he's not busy with mechanics and they got zero

[1:00:51] applications. >> So, and I got a feeling they would have

[1:00:55] got applications and was strictly a mechanic.

[1:00:58] » I mean, if if they have nothing, >> they're they're looking over what's

[1:01:03] coming up next. Yeah. potentially, >> you know, what do they have for for

[1:01:07] parts, what do they need to order, you know,

[1:01:09] » or tracking those records from work. Yeah.

[1:01:13] » All that means

[1:01:17] » Oh, yeah. >> This is another rabbit hole

[1:01:23] [clears throat] to run down. It's only Allen's question because it's a it's a

[1:01:28] big question in Pittsfield right now. Uh what is your department highway

[1:01:33] department's responsibilities toward your cemeteries?

[1:01:38] » They don't touch them. >> We

[1:01:43] » they don't touch them. >> We hire them out.

[1:01:48] » A lot of a lot of them are taken care of with neighbors.

[1:01:50] » Neighbors, but there's the actual the cemetery committee.

[1:01:53] » Then the cemetery committee, >> they take care of them all. So

[1:01:58] » well and and we do have a board of trustees for the cemetery and our

[1:02:04] history is at least our recent history is that it's a contract type of

[1:02:11] situation handled by but when the voters killed the budget

[1:02:18] there was no budget for maintaining the cemeteries. Yep.

[1:02:22] » And that that lasted a relatively short time

[1:02:27] before the torches and pitchforks came out that we weren't maintaining the

[1:02:32] cemeteries. And now suddenly it's a grand idea that the highway department

[1:02:37] should maintain the cemeteries and

[1:02:42] » well don't most of these have a committee or an association established

[1:02:46] with them? like I don't really buy

[1:02:53] » board of trustees and stuff like that but

[1:02:56] » but if they don't have a budget >> I know that that's not a town maintained

[1:03:01] cemetery >> right so that's a private just like our

[1:03:04] Catholic cemetery in Northro is a private cemetery that we don't oversee

[1:03:09] we're talking about the town okay >> owned maintained cemetery which you guys

[1:03:14] only have one of those two right >> we got a

[1:03:17] We have my last there's over a hund of them in town that the cemetery committee

[1:03:24] is responsible for maintaining. >> Like I said, a lot of that's

[1:03:30] they >> a lot of them are small. You know,

[1:03:34] they're not >> there's $3,000 in the budget for them to

[1:03:37] maintain all all of them. And that's either mowing, weed whacking, trimming

[1:03:41] branches, cutting down trees. $3,000 >> and a lot of them a lot of them

[1:03:46] volunteer a lot of time too to do it. So usually the $3,000 is spent on having

[1:03:51] somebody come in and either cut a tree or tree limbs. That's usually what it

[1:03:54] gets spent on >> or a few maybe something you know. But

[1:03:58] yeah, >> well it it

[1:04:01] one I can't remember what year it was but our main cemetery was a private

[1:04:08] association until very >> 15 until very recently when

[1:04:15] » that doesn't work backwards >> essent well essentially the state that

[1:04:19] we did not have a town well we had a town cemetery which happens to be over

[1:04:23] by the old meeting house >> but nobody had been buried there. You

[1:04:27] see 60s technically closed cemetery. Well, towns

[1:04:34] can't have closed cemeteries. They have to have an operational cemetery. So, uh,

[1:04:40] when when the association's budget got low,

[1:04:45] the town had to take over the cemetery for solve their budget problem, but

[1:04:51] solve the town's political problem of not having a designated cemetery.

[1:04:59] But then [clears throat] the great question that seems to be on everybody's

[1:05:02] mind today, is it somehow part of the highway department [snorts] versus

[1:05:09] They made contract arrangement [clears throat]

[1:05:11] which could all be said solved by passing budget I mean our department

[1:05:18] they don't have a lawn mower they don't have a push mower they don't have ride

[1:05:21] on mower they don't do any other other than roadside mowing that's it

[1:05:26] » so even the the lawn mower around town all there PD fire library that all gets

[1:05:32] contracted out for [clears throat] us >> although we have had some pretty good

[1:05:37] deals that contract.

[1:05:42] » Does each department pay for that contract or is it all

[1:05:45] » It's all encompassing under >> the general buildings line item there.

[1:05:55] Yeah.

[1:05:58] Yeah. We have we have a line item that says all uh all government building

[1:06:03] maintenance and it falls under that. So, >> [snorts]

[1:06:12] » We typically budget $40,000 for all of our municipal buildings. So, we're over

[1:06:19] spent right now on it. We over spent last year on it, too. Last year was more

[1:06:26] than 100 grand. We over spent. >> We got hit with a couple of

[1:06:30] » So, >> items that were unanticipated.

[1:06:32] » Yeah. that um we're unprepared for high dollars.

[1:06:39] » Yeah. >> Heat systems, stuff like that.

[1:06:44] » Every time. >> Yeah.

[1:06:46] » Heat system, filtration systems there, water.

[1:06:51] » So, generator.

[1:06:56] » Oh, yeah. >> Generator services there and repairs.

[1:07:01] So, but we learned something. But

[1:07:06] it didn't go unnoticed. >> Premaintenance is pre-maintenance. Put a

[1:07:11] little extra here, a little extra there. >> But then we're all out of office and

[1:07:15] whoever comes after is wearing it again. >> Well, yeah, that's true.

[1:07:21] Hopefully, we can clear the path a little bit.

[1:07:26] » Yeah. So,

[1:07:31] Do you have any else that we really want to cover? We don't want to keep you here

[1:07:37] forever. >> So, do you mind if I ask the public if

[1:07:43] they have any comments because I know Steve has some ideas and I'm curious

[1:07:47] what his ideas are while we are both here.

[1:07:49] » Yeah. Wanted to back to the economic development talking about the beginning

[1:07:56] of the meeting. >> Yep. Is anybody familiar with tax

[1:07:59] increments of financing districts at all? So, they can be very dangerous.

[1:08:04] They can be very good. And I think a lot of that's how they're structured. But in

[1:08:09] a nutshell, what it involves is taxpayer dollars being expended to create site

[1:08:16] work and a site where a developer could come in without putting out hundreds of

[1:08:22] thousands of dollars perhaps on site work, but they come in and build their

[1:08:26] building. Their their taxes go toward paying the bond which the municipality

[1:08:32] takes out in order to do the site work. And as that bond is paid off, then the

[1:08:37] municipality starts generating tax revenue. So it can be dangerous. Um if

[1:08:43] you using Rochester as an example, if you go up Route 11, that entirety of the

[1:08:48] left side of Route 11 is all fixed and that involves uh there's there's

[1:08:53] Walmart. It's huge. And there's another a huge area going in. But their mistake

[1:08:59] was they used it for residential development which is terrible instead of

[1:09:04] focusing on certain commercial development. [clears throat] So they're

[1:09:07] going to end up getting hurt thing but might be something to have a

[1:09:11] conversation on. I'm typically an opponent of it. When I was on the

[1:09:16] Rochester [clears throat] City Council, I actually voted against it u when they

[1:09:20] wanted to expand it. you might want to figure um it might be a way to get some

[1:09:27] heavy tax paying commercial [clears throat] industrial into this

[1:09:30] into our towns. And you know, face it, if we don't do that, our our tax rate is

[1:09:36] going to continue to go up. We need to get more commercial industrial. It's the

[1:09:39] only answer to to the high cost and reputation that we need. [clears throat]

[1:09:44] You know, big industry or commercial doesn't put it in

[1:09:48] kids schools. So we don't have that $30 odd,000 a year education cost for every

[1:09:54] house that's sold per. So industry, you know, might pay $100,000 a year in

[1:10:01] taxes. So it's something to consider. You might want to have a conversation

[1:10:05] going forward. >> Well, that that's a great idea and it's

[1:10:08] a great conversation to have, but we have that one slight problem that we

[1:10:12] discussed earlier. We don't have access to any land to do that

[1:10:20] » because we don't have the driveway capability. We can't put a driveway in.

[1:10:24] I can't pick I can't pick the old fairgrounds and say I want to use that

[1:10:30] because we have no access off 28. >> We have a limited access highway. So,

[1:10:36] back in the 60s or so when they did it, um,

[1:10:42] yeah, it was probably 10 years after Route 28 was put in, our select board

[1:10:49] asked the state to make it a limited access highway because they didn't want

[1:10:54] it hurt the downtown. stole the preserve from downtown

[1:11:00] » and what it did is it destroyed the downtown because nobody came downtown.

[1:11:05] They stayed on the highway. They stayed on 28. So they don't come down. So our

[1:11:11] problem now is to overcome that. We have to go back and beg the state to change

[1:11:17] something that we asked for [clears throat]

[1:11:20] back then which was shortsighted. Um the the the intent is good but the results

[1:11:28] was awful. So we have to now that's why then the next

[1:11:34] step would be your idea to be looking into that. We had to overcome that first

[1:11:39] hurdle. >> I see that

[1:11:43] problem. >> Yep. Unless you were able to get

[1:11:46] industrial doesn't need the frontage on 28 but that's too much industry being

[1:11:51] built right

[1:11:54] coming out of China right >> well thank knock on wood we we do still

[1:12:01] have globe in place uh and we have we have a couple of other [snorts]

[1:12:08] operator Mike Podmore the uh fastener folks that here and if if they could

[1:12:17] attract likeminded

[1:12:22] uh individuals then I think we we go faring

[1:12:27] some ground work for that to be successful.

[1:12:30] » Now where are they across

[1:12:35] the highway from >> the

[1:12:39] weaving mill? Okay. Loud. >> Right. If you walk over Yeah.

[1:12:44] » Just pass on the left hand side. Yep. >> Okay. Yeah.

[1:12:49] » Who's it going to take if you don't mind asking to ask us

[1:12:54] like

[1:12:58] » basically

[1:13:02] for the legislators?

[1:13:08] It has to be just >> if I were doing it today, I'd go to

[1:13:14] Pearl. >> I think now's the time to do it.

[1:13:18] » Electing good reps that are willing to stand up and fight for you.

[1:13:22] » Thank you. >> Is pretty [clears throat] important

[1:13:24] because I know our reps are into some major things right now. They're really

[1:13:29] fighting about egg packaging and that's really helping us a lot, you know, with

[1:13:33] all of these issues. I mean, the state is what mandating schools all the time.

[1:13:38] We're what about a 26% difference in what we're supposed to be getting?

[1:13:42] That's a lot of money. That would help the taxpayers right there. And our reps

[1:13:46] are >> Yeah. They're supporting it and they're

[1:13:49] and they're concerned with the eggs. >> Yeah.

[1:13:51] » So, I I think electing good reps that are ready to get up there and you can

[1:13:55] see and hear what they're doing makes helps us with things. Get in there and

[1:13:59] if you're going to keep mandating, give us more money like they're supposed to

[1:14:02] be doing. And then it falls on the school. The schools, you know, their

[1:14:06] budget's crazy. There's a reason why, you know, the mandates don't stop.

[1:14:11] Sometimes for good reason and sometimes they're a little ridiculous. And I I I

[1:14:15] really think the elections and the reps is pretty important. People are willing

[1:14:19] to get out and fight. That helps all of us, helps all of them. So that's

[1:14:25] something a little interesting too. >> And we also have our executive

[1:14:28] councilman >> because sometimes if we can get him in

[1:14:34] the right direction. >> Does he cover?

[1:14:36] » I does you have Stephen you guys have >> Yeah. Stephen.

[1:14:40] » Yeah.

[1:14:44] » Are you your district? >> He was

[1:14:48] in the 90. I just stop.

[1:14:52] » Yeah, he's he's >> Yeah. So, Steven I thought that Barnsted

[1:14:56] in the last turnover and you picked them up. So, we got the same councilman

[1:15:02] » and they've got that could be advantageous because we don't have the

[1:15:06] same across the county line.

[1:15:12] » We may have the same senator. Yes,

[1:15:15] » we do have you have Steven because we we do it.

[1:15:18] » Yeah, we have John Steven is our >> uh executive.

[1:15:24] » So, remember this is an election year. >> So, I'm trying to reach out to Howard

[1:15:28] and ask him to make it an election issue.

[1:15:30] » Well, I I sat next to Howard when I was over there, so I don't mind reaching

[1:15:35] out. >> Me, too.

[1:15:42] That would be a good shot if we did if we had that.

[1:15:49] » Yeah, absolutely. >> Because one's going to feed off the

[1:15:53] other. If we could start something here, the next thing you know, it's going to

[1:15:56] feed on you guys. Or if you did the same thing down there, it's going to feed on.

[1:16:01] It's just it's an attraction thing. We just need to the light to have the flies

[1:16:06] come to it. have them in say, you know, what are you

[1:16:09] going to do? >> Tell us what you're going to do and then

[1:16:12] show us you're going to be >> to help us

[1:16:22] any other avenue that anybody wants to discuss

[1:16:26] everyone here. >> Do you know when your next assessment

[1:16:31] here is when you're doing your next update?

[1:16:35] I do not I think we just completed the meeting last year. I think we

[1:16:44] » Yeah, we finished it. It goes over multiple years. Five years. So I think

[1:16:52] we just finished. I think yeah, we just

[1:16:58] » I think you guys were on the same cycle as we

[1:17:00] » because you remember the charts that Tim had for

[1:17:04] the school. They reset it all when we reassessed everything.

[1:17:11] » Reassess last year, right? >> Right.

[1:17:15] That's I'm glad you brought that contract. And last time, the past two

[1:17:22] times, we've only been able to attract a lot of people consider bidding on

[1:17:29] there's not a [snorts] nice

[1:17:37] » Yeah. You guys use wood, right?

[1:17:45] » [snorts] >> A lot of our people who pay attention to

[1:17:49] the budget, you know, whether it's budget committee or residents, they're

[1:17:52] just they see these huge contracts go through and they wonder why you're not

[1:17:56] bidding better, but we're doing our best because people aren't bidding on our P.

[1:18:02] I was just curious as to why you how you cut down with

[1:18:10] » Yeah.

[1:18:13] Yeah, but you don't use avatar. You use a private

[1:18:17] person already, right? >> We have avatar. We have Rob as an

[1:18:21] assessor. >> But he doesn't work for

[1:18:24] » He doesn't work for a justing software. We use

[1:18:36] » Yeah, he did. He finished up the last one before Avatar came in.

[1:18:41] plus

[1:18:44] » I think it's important to keep this going as well because we can talk about

[1:18:48] it now and talk in six months and talk again

[1:18:51] » the police and fire and they all know what they're doing they're going to work

[1:18:55] together you know they don't need us telling them a thing but I mean like

[1:18:59] highway and I think there's a lot of materials let's say there that they may

[1:19:06] be able to catch a break on and work together and keep them in the loop Yeah,

[1:19:10] » we keeping the loop on this. I mean, >> just to keep it going because the way

[1:19:15] we're going to get anything out of it is to stay on it.

[1:19:18] » If Mr. Stevens is reelected [clears throat]

[1:19:22] and we have one of these meetings in November after the election, I bet if

[1:19:28] his schedule was clear, he would love to come in and because he's always looking

[1:19:33] to have >> more things.

[1:19:37] » That's a good idea. bulk buying and stuff like that. That's right.

[1:19:41] » He's a friend of the family and he I know I know he

[1:19:44] » he's good people. >> Yeah.

[1:19:48] » So that's we put that mark on the calendar.

[1:19:55] » Exactly.

[1:19:58] » Well, so we we met last time it was two two months and two days ago.

[1:20:05] Would it be advantageous to meet next month because budget season's here

[1:20:08] whether we all want these two or not? That way we can you know what are your

[1:20:12] big ticket items? What are our big ticket items?

[1:20:22] » Not running two months [clears throat]

[1:20:27] cutting that to a month, >> right?

[1:20:31] » [clears throat] >> Chair, I think the one thing that we

[1:20:35] have to be concerned about will be when do we go out to bid on broad edi?

[1:20:45] » Yeah. I mean, is that going to happen prior to the next month meeting or are

[1:20:50] we going to be able to go a month before we do that?

[1:20:57] » We usually No, we don't wait that long. September.

[1:21:00] » No, we awarded Octo

[1:21:05] usually comes in in the beginning of September.

[1:21:07] » And I'm not sure when does when's the state finalized their state bid?

[1:21:12] Is it is it the end of August? So, I think maybe if we do, we should

[1:21:20] make it try to make it around September so we can come up with a a bid process

[1:21:24] and have our own agents come up with the amounts that we need and don't need. Is

[1:21:28] that what we have an idea? And maybe make it a mutual

[1:21:32] » package bid the vendor and say this is what we've got. What can you do for us?

[1:21:36] » Exactly. >> Yeah.

[1:21:38] » So like a month. >> Okay.

[1:21:43] September.

[1:21:47] » August. >> The primary is on the primary on the 8th

[1:21:50] » and that's the second Tuesday of the month.

[1:21:54] You guys meet on Tuesdays, right? So, does Wednesdays work for you guys?

[1:21:59] Kind of. Does it work for us? You guys think?

[1:22:02] » Yeah. So, it could be on the 9th or the 16th.

[1:22:06] » That's either on the 16th would be the month of today.

[1:22:11] » Yeah. >> Yeah. And by then, we should have the

[1:22:14] information we need from both our public works and stuff like that on June the

[1:22:17] 16th. >> That's why we're

[1:22:21] so >> 5:30 again. And our

[1:22:25] » that's our our road agent is an official road

[1:22:30] agent now. So >> they they no longer are the

[1:22:36] » the highway foreman. They are the [snorts] highway department's road agent

[1:22:41] now. So as of first thing this morning

[1:22:54] » what time? 5:30 work >> 5:30 works. Yeah.

[1:22:56] » Okay. >> You're going to buy the cupcakes. Is

[1:23:00] that the deal? >> No.

[1:23:01] » Yeah. You're hostess. >> Bringing the coffee.

[1:23:10] » No. hopefully coming

[1:23:18] with cupcakes shared um fuel area that you have it might be beneficial if we

[1:23:26] bring other towns in like Chester because that's very very close to us.

[1:23:31] » Yeah. So the more power that we have, the more towns that we have might be

[1:23:37] beneficial and might move the state a little more.

[1:23:41] » It's and I and I somewhat agree with that. Um the problem that I have with

[1:23:48] Chai Chester is their system right now is somewhat broken.

[1:23:54] » Yes. Yes. >> So, I am somewhat concerned

[1:24:00] if we bring them in, we start down that path and all of a sudden for some reason

[1:24:04] they back out and all that stuff. >> Um, I have total faith with working with

[1:24:09] this, >> right? But I do agree with you. Um,

[1:24:13] maybe exom, maybe something like something

[1:24:18] like B C. >> Yep.

[1:24:21] » Um, we're already getting along. We've got a good relation. has to be close

[1:24:25] enough to make it beneficial though otherwise it's just

[1:24:28] » right

[1:24:32] here somebody might say hey

[1:24:36] » exactly >> and I think Gary hits if we go too big

[1:24:41] too quick I don't know if we can control it as easy as we can right now

[1:24:46] » um that's my concern >> I like I like your idea

[1:24:51] » so from more town act from the BTS the better off you are. Absolutely. And if

[1:24:57] we put it in, it benefits them too. >> I want to suggest it. I'll figure it out

[1:25:02] first before we try to get somebody else.

[1:25:04] » I I I thought

[1:25:08] » too big to we've done it before

[1:25:13] uh with BC. Y that that is a model that not only the rest of New Hampshire, that

[1:25:20] is a model throughout New England and people come to our facility to look at

[1:25:25] because they have our four towns working together successfully.

[1:25:31] » Right. >> Is there extra area there? Put that in

[1:25:34] there to put >> Not at the moment. [snorts]

[1:25:38] » I'd be nervous digging. >> Yeah. We're not

[1:25:49] » even there. >> There is some space out back. Um there

[1:25:54] is a um future goal maybe to reroute some stuff

[1:26:00] up there, maybe put a new scale in, uh new approaches, stuff like that. So, you

[1:26:06] know, we got to figure all that out. But, you know, there is there is some

[1:26:09] property there, but it's not going to be available for

[1:26:14] I would like to see I'm not sure the property next to the propane tanks. I'm

[1:26:19] not sure it's exactly what the status of that is, but

[1:26:22] » yeah, that's that's an ideal location. >> That's

[1:26:26] not right. It's already next to tanks and fuel tanks and so if somehow we

[1:26:35] could manipulate that. What about the land in between Blueberry and those big

[1:26:40] tanks? >> I mean, there's quite a bit there.

[1:26:42] » Yeah. I don't know the status of that. >> I know the river gets a little close.

[1:26:46] » Yep. Right in there. But I don't know what

[1:26:52] the one right next to it. >> New Hampshire. State of New Hampshire.

[1:26:56] » Yeah. So, the state already has property,

[1:26:59] » but it's steep as hell. >> Yeah. But one state

[1:27:05] » right there on the corner. >> Okay.

[1:27:12] [clears throat] >> Yeah. But I mean and it is on the river

[1:27:17] side. So

[1:27:22] » I was on I was the representative on the planning board at the time they came in

[1:27:28] to they wanted to have two I want to say they were 10,000 gallon tanks they were

[1:27:35] going to put in the ground they going to put a little motor around it and then

[1:27:38] they were next to it they were going to put the the above ground gas

[1:27:43] » and somebody along the way it may have been their own attorney's fault Because

[1:27:47] at that time Rhymes was selling >> and at that time they said no no we're

[1:27:52] just going to put the above ground because they I think it's less I I I'm

[1:27:58] not certain but I think it's less than a thousand I mean feet to the river

[1:28:04] » and that stuff gets in the river on the ground

[1:28:09] also may remember problem

[1:28:15] » with the accused next to right is >> right.

[1:28:20] » I mean that's it does it does not have to be below ground tanks. I mean the

[1:28:25] state can put it above ground tank and just as easy as being put in it whatever

[1:28:29] whatever the engineer that would be engineers is

[1:28:32] » ours highway it's a 3000gallon above ground tank

[1:28:35] » exactly the

[1:28:38] » right back

[1:28:43] » the state owns that too. >> Yeah. So if you go by 28 and you look at

[1:28:47] the back of the V salt shed that is the T line that's for the road going up back

[1:28:52] that's the L property

[1:28:58] » so highway materials and fuel is a pretty good start what are you paying

[1:29:04] right now for a gallon for diesel with 300 gall

[1:29:07] » I don't know off top ahead back

[1:29:12] » but I mean we get it from Huckleberry and it's every time they deliver their

[1:29:15] price. >> Yep.

[1:29:16] » So, that's where all of our heating fuel comes from. Propane comes from as well.

[1:29:23] » Yep. >> We did locking last year with

[1:29:26] Huckleberry. Yeah. >> Propane.

[1:29:28] » Um, we actually >> I think we made a great

[1:29:32] » and he we got a great deal actually. Um, >> you know, chances are they lost money

[1:29:38] this year, so probably won't that good of a deal next year. Um we can hope

[1:29:46] last couple of years Carol has done an alip job with dead river

[1:29:51] half of what the I mean public

[1:29:57] » that's heating

[1:30:00] » right but that doesn't include diesel fuel for our because we don't have any

[1:30:05] » room for a fuel >> we don't pay tax

[1:30:16] I believe >> until

[1:30:21] we need to stay. >> Are you guys all set over there? Anybody

[1:30:26] have any more questions? drink. Orange juice.

[1:30:37] All right.

Pittsfield Board of Selectmen Meeting with Barnstead Selectment- August 12, 2026

Agenda

Transcript