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for

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e

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for

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e

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for

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e

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for for

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like milk cows then I'd like to welcome

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you all to the annual meeting the town

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of Pell to begin our evening this

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evening I'd like to recognize as the

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town report has dedicated the the the

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program to Jim and now Winchester Jim we

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certainly thank you

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for you've been a great asset to the

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town and I know you will continue to be

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and we all appreciate it you make us all

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proud thank you

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to begin with I'd just like to make the

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usual announcement about if anybody

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would like to speak who is not a

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resident of pel Simply Express that you

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are not a resident and the laws say that

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we have to get the approval of the group

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for that you can speak so if you would

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like to speak at some point and you're

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not a member of the community not a

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member of P let please let us know

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we can begin with the Articles as most

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of you remember the first three articles

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are simply paperwork that need to be

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done here at this meeting after those

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first three articles we'll read the

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remaining articles and those people that

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wish to speak to them certainly have an

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opper to do so so as I read the first

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three articles I just need a motion in a

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second to work them through the first

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one to hear reports of town officials

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and take action there are ran grab me

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one grab a you one can you get that

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Julie do you want I didn't hear the

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second do you have a

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second Jim Winchester very

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good okay let's see number two to see if

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the voters will authorize the treasurer

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to receive taxes until they become

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delinquent

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thank you have a second yep I got it

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okay well I think we're all set three

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shall the voters authorize payment of

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real and property taxes on November 10th

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2025 before 5:00 p.m. by delivery to the

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town office postmarked on or before that

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date online payment must be made before

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that date and time the time is 5:00 p.m.

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have a

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motion thank you have a

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second very good we can move on then

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article four has to do with the

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elections of town officer moderator

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select board select board Constable

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Trustee of public money any questions

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there

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Mo shall the Town Place its public

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burial grounds under the charge of a

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cemetery commission pursuant to 18 VSA

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5373 considering of three consisting of

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three ministers to be elected

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separately just back the first three

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we didn't the motion in the second but

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we didn't take a vote on yeah we did

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take a vote

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on okay Julie has reminded me that and I

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should have rested this that we need a

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motion on each of these articles so I'll

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take a motion on the first article no we

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already have the Motions we just didn't

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take we yes or

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no okay um now all in favor signify by

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saying

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yes those oppos saying

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no shall number article six shall the

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town no we have to do each one of them

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separately so you did the first one now

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we got

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go we have a second we have to

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vote vote know we had

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where's well let's see

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here article one we voted on it we

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didn't vote we had a motion in a second

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but we didn't take a vote we have a

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motion in a second motion we have to

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vote go

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back we just

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one let do one again okay just to be

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sure that we all the regulations and I

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apologize for not being up on that we

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need to have once we have with have

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motion and it's been seconded we need to

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vote so we'll go back to article one and

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all those in favor signify by saying I I

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opposed article

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two all those in favor signify by saying

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I I

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opposed article three signify by saying

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I I

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closed okay we can go down now to

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article four and we've had that all

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those in favor we don't have to do that

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we go

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through okay so now we're at

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five and we just did five article six

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shall the town provide notice of the

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availability of the annual report by

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positioning notices on the town website

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Town Clerks office and at least two

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other places at least 30 days before the

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annual meeting instead of mailing

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postcards or otherwise Distributing the

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report to the voters of the town

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pursuant to 24

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VSA

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1682 any

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comments article three anybody would

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like to speak to this the fire

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department or the rescue squad certainly

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feel free to do so shall the voters

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appropriate 1, 670,000

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[Music]

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6377243

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and 32 to be raised by taxes and

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1,500

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1,59

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49740 from a prior years negated surplus

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funds number eight shall the

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voters wait one second they want to talk I didn't see a hand

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thank you pal rescue's

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first beine pal rescue I'd like to take

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a moment to express our heartfelt

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gratitude for the continued support of

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our community your trust allows us to

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provide essential care when it's needed

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most in 2024 we responded to 837 calls

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and I'm proud to say that we answered

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100% of the calls within our response

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area this is only possible because of

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the dedication of our team and the

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support of our community right now we're

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seeing about a 44% increase in call

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volume compared to where we at this time

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last year and our crews continued to

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work tirelessly and train to ensure that

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we are prepared to provide the best

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possible care we can in 2016 our budget has been $50,000

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uh since 2016 which was sufficient when

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we were a fully volunteer service

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volunteering in EMS in the EMS industry

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has become increasingly rare in the

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demands of not only the job we do but on

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our service have grown

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exponentially we moved to paid staff

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which has better allowed us to meet the

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needs of our community and surrounding

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areas as there are rising costs

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everywhere these costs also affects

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affect us which have been significant

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increases across the board including

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medical supplies Insurance Fuel and

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ambulance prices uh just to put some

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things into perspective in 2016 we

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received a cardiac uh two cardiac

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monitors each priced out at the price of

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$24,000 a piece which are required to be

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on our ambulance today that same monitor

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cost $55,000 which is a more than 50%

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increase in price in 2018 when we

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purchased our one of our ambulances

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$150,000 the price of that ambulance is

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now over

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$250,000 in order to keep up with these

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Rising costs and continue providing the

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level of service to our community in the

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care that it deserves we've made the

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difficult but necessary decision to

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increase our budget to

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$150,000 this adjustment will ensure

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that we continue to provide the meeting

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or continue meeting the growing demands

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of our community while maintaining the

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high quality service that you expect

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from us we will continue to apply for

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Grants to offset larger costs thank you

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for your unwavering support so we can

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continue to provide care to our

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community thank you thanks anybody else

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evening Jeff Miller with the p Valley

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Fire Department second assistant chief

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just going to read what we wrote Into

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the town report here quick um Pon Valley

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Fire Department would like to

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acknowledge and thank the residents of

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the town of ponel as well as the select

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board for their continued support the

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funds received each year are used for

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fire department operations building and

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apparatus maintenance insurance and

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general upkeep of our three stations

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we have asked the select board to raise

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our yearly budget this year to include

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funds for payments for a new fire truck

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also to raise the amount of refunding

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for a building fund from 20,000 to

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40,000 all very much necessary increases

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to continue to provide the best possible

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protection to the residents of the town

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as well as the members of our

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department this year this year yeah this

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past year we once again hosted a cash

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calendar fundraiser we were able to give

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away over 3,000 to those who purchase

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calendars all raised from generous

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donations from local businesses and

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residents proceeds from the sales of the

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calendars once again went directly to

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our new building fund for the

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replacement of our Center

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Station this past year we also received

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money from the select board from arpa

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funds from which we were able to

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purchase a set of turnout gear a new

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boiler for our e station a side by side

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that will be used for brush fires and

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search and rescue operations we also use

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some of the funds to modify our brush

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and utility truck to accommodate a skid

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unit which we received from Williamstown

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fire department which has a water tank

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pump and holes re to combat

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wildfires the last few years we've tried

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to focus more on community outreach by

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being more visible and involved in many

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Town activities including teaching fire

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prevention here at the elementary school

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I'm

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losing

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um our annual Santa parade the community

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tree lighting and and the pel Day

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festivities you can also follow our

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Facebook page under Pono Valley Fire

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Department to stay

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informed on most everything we're doing

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from training

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calls and active emergency events in

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town to fundraisers and special events

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please continue to support our Emergency

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Services here in town as one day it

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could save your life respectfully the

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membership of the P Valley Fire

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Department thank you

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I'm Jamie ell president of the P Fire

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protective Association I would like to

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thank the residents and the P residents

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of the community for the continued

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support each year this year we have

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increased our our

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budget after 20 plus years we can no

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longer support fire to support Fire

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Equipment purchases along with yearly

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increases such as fuel Insurance

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utilities we have seen an increase in

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volunteers over the past 2 years which

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is a good thing for the community but we

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also need to provide them with gear for

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training before they fight

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fires many of our firefighters are

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attending out of state forces to receive

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training Vermont fire academy has less

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instructors and that are and less

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instructors that are likely to travel

281
00:18:52,559 --> 00:18:54,600
the southern Vermont we also took

282
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,919
delivery of a new pumper tanker in

283
00:18:56,919 --> 00:18:59,880
February this truck will race re replace

284
00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,000
our 1992 engine tanker the truck was

285
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,159
purchased without asking for f funding

286
00:19:05,159 --> 00:19:07,840
from the town this truck will hopefully

287
00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,240
be in service within the next 2 weeks we

288
00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,640
also took delivery of a new sidebyside

289
00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:14,400
utility off-road

290
00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,120
vehicle since we've seen an increase

291
00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:19,039
over the past few years in wildfires and

292
00:19:19,039 --> 00:19:21,480
off-road rescue this vehicle was P

293
00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:23,720
purchased from arpa money from the

294
00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,120
town with which we we thank the select

295
00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:30,120
board we we have have ordered a skid

296
00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:32,440
unit that will be delivered in the

297
00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,679
spring each each year we apply for both

298
00:19:35,679 --> 00:19:38,679
state and fun Federal granting grants

299
00:19:38,679 --> 00:19:42,240
for equipment replacement and upgrades

300
00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:43,760
these grants are harder and harder to

301
00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:47,919
obtain each year as always we will stay

302
00:19:47,919 --> 00:19:50,919
we we stay involved with local community

303
00:19:50,919 --> 00:19:53,120
events such as Community Day the block

304
00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:55,280
party on Main Street The Polar

305
00:19:55,280 --> 00:20:01,760
Express plus we also assist our fellow fire fellow fire department

306
00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,120
Palo Valley with prevention with local

307
00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:05,919
schools we are one of the only

308
00:20:05,919 --> 00:20:08,880
communities in the area that has that

309
00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,919
has completely volunteer fire

310
00:20:11,919 --> 00:20:13,840
departments and we are proud to serve

311
00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,520
the community and volunteers and hope to

312
00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,200
continue that for years to come thank

313
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:24,149
you thank you

314
00:20:24,159 --> 00:20:26,520
Jamie is there anybody else who like to

315
00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:30,440
speak to that article

316
00:20:30,450 --> 00:20:44,430
[Music]

317
00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,960
Jim my name is Jim Winchester and I live

318
00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,640
at 6:30 skyro Road

319
00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,799
East uh I just wanted to bring a couple

320
00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:54,320
of things

321
00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,640
up the uh fireworks are going to not be

322
00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,630
this year

323
00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,280
uh it's going to be the last year for

324
00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:05,720
fireworks and I think nationally with

325
00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:07,400
the fires and stuff they're going to be

326
00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,039
outb in a lot of places but that's not

327
00:21:10,039 --> 00:21:14,240
the real reason I guess the real reason

328
00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,880
is the the fire department needs money

329
00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,240
and I want to give the remaining money

330
00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,200
$9,700 to the p resc i mean to

331
00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:29,080
the for the new high to down office

332
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:41,190
so that's what I want to say

333
00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,840
tonight do you want to speak now

334
00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,760
yes um Mike Gardener chairman of the

335
00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:48,600
select

336
00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,919
board this year is um in the general

337
00:21:52,919 --> 00:21:55,919
budget this is the first year that we've

338
00:21:55,919 --> 00:21:57,720
had our emergency services in the

339
00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,559
general budget as as most of you know in

340
00:22:00,559 --> 00:22:03,600
the past it's always been a ballot

341
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,440
article and in those ballot

342
00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,840
articles I I want to be I want to be

343
00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,159
perfectly clear that if it were to be a

344
00:22:12,159 --> 00:22:15,279
ballot article this year for each one of

345
00:22:15,279 --> 00:22:17,120
those three organizations that have just

346
00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:20,679
spoken here it would be the exact same

347
00:22:20,679 --> 00:22:22,679
amount that we're putting into the

348
00:22:22,679 --> 00:22:25,480
general budget they came the the three

349
00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:27,320
organizations our Emergency Services

350
00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,159
came to the select board with their

351
00:22:30,159 --> 00:22:33,320
worksheet which we ask everybody to do

352
00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:37,600
whether it's the zoning administrator or the drb or

353
00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,760
whoever um and that's what those are the

354
00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:42,400
figures that they came up with that they

355
00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,960
were going to be putting on for ballot

356
00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:46,880
articles

357
00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,000
so it's it's kind of Cutting Edge I've

358
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,120
been I've been on that side with the

359
00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:55,840
Emergency Services doing exactly what

360
00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,120
they've been doing I've been that fire

361
00:22:58,120 --> 00:22:59,039
chief

362
00:22:59,039 --> 00:23:01,320
in this town the same as they're what

363
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,360
they're looking for I can't tell you

364
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:05,919
Craig and I were talking about this

365
00:23:05,919 --> 00:23:08,520
yesterday um in Jimmy's when we were

366
00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,919
getting a sandwich I can't tell you how

367
00:23:10,919 --> 00:23:13,120
nerve-wracking it is and it's never

368
00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:15,840
failed in my life the ballot articles

369
00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:19,279
never fail but when you're but when

370
00:23:19,279 --> 00:23:23,159
you're one of the administrators I'm not

371
00:23:23,159 --> 00:23:24,720
going to say just Chief cuz it's it's

372
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:26,919
not just the Chiefs that run those

373
00:23:26,919 --> 00:23:28,720
organizations right but when you're one

374
00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:30,880
of the administrators that run those

375
00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:35,159
Emergency Services programs in in our

376
00:23:35,159 --> 00:23:37,200
department there's there's been a lot of

377
00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:38,080
late

378
00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,559
nights waiting at the firehouse when the

379
00:23:41,559 --> 00:23:43,480
voting used to be there to see if your

380
00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:45,600
ballot article passed for the funding

381
00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:51,000
for the next year and it's been

382
00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,039
um I I've been I've been that person

383
00:23:54,039 --> 00:23:56,240
who's gone home come back down to the

384
00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:57,919
Firehouse at 10:00 to see if we got

385
00:23:57,919 --> 00:24:00,720
money after after everything was counted

386
00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,159
I've been on that end Craig and I were

387
00:24:03,159 --> 00:24:06,000
talking about it this year um it's it's

388
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,840
definitely different um we worked hard

389
00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:11,799
the the five select board

390
00:24:11,799 --> 00:24:14,840
members um and the Emergency Services

391
00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,480
departments we worked really hard

392
00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,600
together to get this onto our general

393
00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,720
budget where we feel that it

394
00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:28,120
belongs and I just wanted to say that I know there's been there's been

395
00:24:28,120 --> 00:24:30,120
some questions about the amounts and how

396
00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:32,760
come it's so much it was going to be the

397
00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,960
same they were coming for the same money

398
00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:39,240
whether it was ballot article number 27

399
00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,240
or whatever on on our on our when when

400
00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,360
you go to vote tomorrow there was going

401
00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:46,880
to be the same exact numbers there's

402
00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,399
they're not inflated because they're in

403
00:24:48,399 --> 00:24:50,880
the general budget this is what they

404
00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,559
need um to operate for the next year for

405
00:24:55,559 --> 00:24:57,000
the next fiscal

406
00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,640
year all right good any questions on

407
00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:07,430
that

408
00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:11,880
yes hi Jenny deer um yeah the fire I

409
00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,000
think that I support all of that um I

410
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,320
have a question though about the

411
00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:20,039
um the numbers here if I'm missing

412
00:25:20,039 --> 00:25:23,720
something for article 7 says the voters

413
00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:26,399
should appropriate 16 1,

414
00:25:26,399 --> 00:25:29,279
67637 above of of which these two

415
00:25:29,279 --> 00:25:32,080
numbers but they don't add up to that so

416
00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:34,760
where where's the other chunk if you

417
00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,120
look at the general fund budget there's

418
00:25:37,120 --> 00:25:40,120
other numbers that play into that so so

419
00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:43,039
it says excuse me excuse me a couple

420
00:25:43,039 --> 00:25:44,880
people are having difficulty hearing

421
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,640
would you just clar clarify your

422
00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,600
questions and then on article 7 yeah it

423
00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,360
says shall the voters appropriate

424
00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:56,039
1,676 3772 for the general expenses of

425
00:25:56,039 --> 00:25:57,960
the town and then it gives two numbers

426
00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,880
of which 905 350 is to be raised by

427
00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,120
taxes and

428
00:26:02,120 --> 00:26:05,200
9497 from prior year un prior year

429
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,000
undesignated surplus

430
00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:11,919
funds where's the difference of those two don't add up to

431
00:26:11,919 --> 00:26:14,440
1671 so I just I'm just not

432
00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,840
understanding because the other Revenue

433
00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:18,399
wait

434
00:26:18,399 --> 00:26:21,559
you at the top of the budget report list

435
00:26:21,559 --> 00:26:23,799
revenues first the other revenues are

436
00:26:23,799 --> 00:26:26,000
listed in the top of the budget report

437
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,960
so all of those numbers plus those two

438
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:34,480
total so I just wanted to make sure that was clear to everybody that there

439
00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,399
is another number that gets added to

440
00:26:36,399 --> 00:26:40,039
these two numbers to make that total yes

441
00:26:40,039 --> 00:26:43,440
okay thank you are there any other

442
00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,399
questions if not we'll move on article 8

443
00:26:47,399 --> 00:26:50,520
shall the voters appropriate

444
00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,870
1,292

445
00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,480
33743 for the maintenance and

446
00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,320
construction of highways of the town of

447
00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,880
which 1,

448
00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,279
26,1

449
00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:10,240
1481 is to be raised by taxes and

450
00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,399
$71,400

451
00:27:12,399 --> 00:27:18,640
62 from prior years UND undated surplus

452
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,279
funds number nine shall the rose

453
00:27:21,279 --> 00:27:22,919
appropriate

454
00:27:22,919 --> 00:27:25,679
$1,000 to the benington area Visiting

455
00:27:25,679 --> 00:27:33,669
Nurses Association

456
00:27:33,679 --> 00:27:37,159
10 shall the voters appropriate $500 to

457
00:27:37,159 --> 00:27:41,440
the benington County Conservation

458
00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,000
District 11 shall the voters appropriate

459
00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,279
$500 to the benefit County Associated

460
00:27:48,279 --> 00:27:52,360
against children's abuse a nonprofit

461
00:27:52,360 --> 00:28:01,590
agency yes I sure come on up

462
00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:04,440
my name is Bob kenowski um and I'm going

463
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,000
to give you my background because I

464
00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,240
think it's important for this one I am a

465
00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,120
retired lieutenant from Vermont State

466
00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:14,600
Police part of my duties way back then I

467
00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:17,559
investigated a lot of child abuse cases

468
00:28:17,559 --> 00:28:19,960
so I volunteered today to come and speak

469
00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:21,720
about the Bennington County

470
00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,399
Association Against Child Abuse

471
00:28:24,399 --> 00:28:27,720
otherwise known as the CAC or the child

472
00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:31,120
advocate Center uh Jenna caslin is the

473
00:28:31,120 --> 00:28:33,840
director she only has another it's her

474
00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,440
and another full Tim that worked there

475
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,919
she's spread thin she feels bad that she

476
00:28:38,919 --> 00:28:40,679
couldn't be here or another

477
00:28:40,679 --> 00:28:42,600
representative I said I'll do it if you

478
00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:47,279
want so they help with children and

479
00:28:47,279 --> 00:28:49,919
families affected by abuse they help

480
00:28:49,919 --> 00:28:52,799
with interviews advocacy support and

481
00:28:52,799 --> 00:28:56,080
referrals to other Professional

482
00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,279
Services um the center staff by two

483
00:28:59,279 --> 00:29:03,960
full-time professionals including Jenna

484
00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,240
they have two special investigative unit

485
00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,799
people to do law enforcement duties they

486
00:29:09,799 --> 00:29:11,360
have a representative from the state

487
00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,960
police they have a representative from

488
00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:15,760
Bennington Police

489
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,679
Department last year they had a total of

490
00:29:18,679 --> 00:29:23,840
113 new cases in over 3,000 encounters

491
00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,480
what they count as an encounter is it

492
00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:28,799
could be them going to a school working

493
00:29:28,799 --> 00:29:31,080
with a family and they

494
00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:36,120
do um Abuse Prevention programs so they

495
00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,640
keep busy I know Jenna I know she works

496
00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,600
hard the other person next works there

497
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,840
works really hard they're always trying

498
00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:48,559
to do fundraisers to raise money for the

499
00:29:48,559 --> 00:29:51,480
office it's it's really an important

500
00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,279
Place uh it serves as a hub for child

501
00:29:54,279 --> 00:29:56,960
abuse and sexual assault investigations

502
00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,519
they also act as a lays on for families

503
00:30:00,519 --> 00:30:03,080
with agencies such as DCF law

504
00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,159
enforcement the State's Attorney's

505
00:30:05,159 --> 00:30:07,880
office and Department of Corrections

506
00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:09,720
their main mission is protecting and

507
00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:11,960
supporting the children and families of

508
00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,640
Bennington County and she says thank you

509
00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:22,470
very much for your support thank

510
00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,080
you are there any other people like to

511
00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:28,559
speak to that article 12 shall V shall

512
00:30:28,559 --> 00:30:30,360
the voters appropriate

513
00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:35,630
$2,000 for the Bennington free

514
00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:39,919
clinic 13 shall ofs appropriate $2,000

515
00:30:39,919 --> 00:30:42,279
to the de Bennington project

516
00:30:42,279 --> 00:30:45,799
Independence for comprehens of pre-out

517
00:30:45,799 --> 00:30:52,470
inperson adult Adult Day services to pel

518
00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:55,360
Residents 14 shall the voters

519
00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,320
appropriate $1,800

520
00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:02,960
to B Community Action in Southwestern

521
00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:09,519
Vermont for crisis Fuel and food self

522
00:31:09,519 --> 00:31:12,080
assistance 15 shall the voters

523
00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:13,159
appropriate

524
00:31:13,159 --> 00:31:17,840
$600 to Green Mountain retired senior

525
00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,480
volunteer program and volunteer program

526
00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,200
for the support of the services rendered

527
00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:28,320
to the residents of the town

528
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,880
16 shall the voters appropriate

529
00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:35,320
$200 to Vermont Greenup for the support

530
00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,639
of services rendered to the residents of

531
00:31:38,639 --> 00:31:40,039
the

532
00:31:40,039 --> 00:31:44,600
Town 17 shall the voters appropriate

533
00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:50,350
$6,000 to oakill Children's

534
00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:54,360
Center 18 shall the voters appropriate

535
00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:58,440
$33,000 to the P youth baseball for the

536
00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:08,149
support of the baseball and soccer

537
00:32:08,159 --> 00:32:11,480
programs some of you may know me Colby

538
00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,720
Harwood I live up on Crossing I'm the

539
00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,919
president of the league um this year

540
00:32:17,919 --> 00:32:20,840
with the $3,000 that has been allocated

541
00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:25,039
to us we have replaced the roofs on

542
00:32:25,039 --> 00:32:28,639
dugouts that are in disarray

543
00:32:28,639 --> 00:32:32,679
um for safety of the kids um that was a

544
00:32:32,679 --> 00:32:36,039
huge donation by RK miles in Manchester

545
00:32:36,039 --> 00:32:39,000
also parks and recs donated towards that

546
00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,559
um we donated some money you put money

547
00:32:41,559 --> 00:32:42,279
in

548
00:32:42,279 --> 00:32:44,360
ourselves

549
00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,200
um the program is doing great things for

550
00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:52,240
the kids in pel um it's free the kids

551
00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,039
don't have to pay the kids the parents

552
00:32:54,039 --> 00:32:58,720
want to pay and last year was the first

553
00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:03,320
time in 9 years that the miners League

554
00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:04,399
went to

555
00:33:04,399 --> 00:33:11,789
playoffs that was

556
00:33:11,799 --> 00:33:14,159
St it was you

557
00:33:14,159 --> 00:33:16,840
know all the coaches are all volunteers

558
00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:19,200
all the board members are all volunteers

559
00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,519
and very you we have a couple of days

560
00:33:21,519 --> 00:33:23,880
coming up that we need some help with

561
00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:26,440
field work um we're going to be adding

562
00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,279
sand into the clay to make it a little

563
00:33:29,279 --> 00:33:31,039
easier for the kids to you know learn

564
00:33:31,039 --> 00:33:33,000
sliding and stealing and everything like

565
00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:37,679
that we sure appreciate some help um so

566
00:33:37,679 --> 00:33:40,039
keep an eye on our Facebook

567
00:33:40,039 --> 00:33:49,470
page Youth Baseball on Facebook thank

568
00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:54,240
you 19 shall those appropriate $500 to

569
00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,080
project against violent encounters for

570
00:33:57,080 --> 00:33:59,919
the support of services rendered to the

571
00:33:59,919 --> 00:34:01,840
residents of the

572
00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:05,440
Town 20 shall the voters appropriate

573
00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:08,639
$15,000 to the Solomon Wright library

574
00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:16,589
for operations and

575
00:34:16,599 --> 00:34:19,520
maintenance hi I'm Emily gold and I'm

576
00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,040
the director of the library I am going

577
00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:23,919
into my second year now and I just

578
00:34:23,919 --> 00:34:25,919
wanted to highlight some of the points

579
00:34:25,919 --> 00:34:28,399
that I made in the town report but I

580
00:34:28,399 --> 00:34:29,440
thought that I would make it a little

581
00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,280
bit more relevant to where we are right

582
00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:34,320
now um it turned out last year we had

583
00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:37,200
83% more Patron visits than we did in

584
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:41,829
2023 which is

585
00:34:41,839 --> 00:34:45,760
huge 26 free events including our block

586
00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,200
parties um and the 30th anniversary

587
00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:50,960
party for the P Historical Society we

588
00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,000
have a bus stop now for the neighborhood

589
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:54,679
and the bus does stop Monday through

590
00:34:54,679 --> 00:34:56,440
Friday even though we're not open every

591
00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:59,200
single day we received four grants

592
00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:01,240
including one grant that provided better

593
00:35:01,240 --> 00:35:03,920
highspeed uh Wi-Fi to our patrons and

594
00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:06,000
one for accessibility so we can make our

595
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,000
entrances easier for people to get in

596
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,040
and out of um we have kids programming

597
00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:13,320
in collaboration with Town Elementary

598
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,520
School Head Start and oill we have an

599
00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:18,520
ongoing puzzle swap now so you can walk

600
00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:20,480
into the library grab a puzzle if you

601
00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:22,560
have one to leave you can but we have so

602
00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:25,680
many to take one with you um we have the

603
00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:27,240
library of things where you can check

604
00:35:27,240 --> 00:35:30,320
out shoes camping equipment and all

605
00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,560
sorts of stuff Museum passes and we have

606
00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:34,960
a pass to prospect right now and the

607
00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,560
Vermont state parks we always have new

608
00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:40,000
books for adults and kids uh we have

609
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:41,800
inter Library loan which extends our

610
00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:43,240
offerings we don't have to purchase

611
00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:45,640
everything ourselves we have an upgraded

612
00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,960
computer now for patrons to use we're

613
00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:49,760
doing community conversations in

614
00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:51,560
partnership with friends of town so

615
00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:53,400
that's going to bring a lot of different

616
00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:55,280
of our local organizations into the

617
00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,119
library and be able to Showcase what

618
00:35:57,119 --> 00:35:58,599
they're doing

619
00:35:58,599 --> 00:35:59,920
um we have a partnership with the

620
00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,079
southwestern Vermont Council on Aging

621
00:36:02,079 --> 00:36:04,119
with a health fair and have monthly

622
00:36:04,119 --> 00:36:07,400
mindful moments Cafe um for any vermonts

623
00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:09,599
who would like to come we have free

624
00:36:09,599 --> 00:36:11,760
meeting space for local organizations

625
00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,480
and we've posted the select board the 4

626
00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:16,920
the quiet Val quiet Valley cters the

627
00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:19,040
book club and the parks and rep

628
00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,599
committee our momentum going into this

629
00:36:21,599 --> 00:36:24,400
year is really great even in January and

630
00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:27,040
February which probably really cold and

631
00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:28,560
really miserable

632
00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:32,079
um we're up 47% even from last year with

633
00:36:32,079 --> 00:36:35,079
our Patron visits um and our goal is to

634
00:36:35,079 --> 00:36:36,480
just keep doing this we're going to keep

635
00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,640
offering programs resources and books

636
00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:42,200
for all of um we are asking for the same

637
00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,240
amount as we did last year on our ballot

638
00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:47,720
articles and I think the thing that I'm

639
00:36:47,720 --> 00:36:50,359
the most proud of is that while we're

640
00:36:50,359 --> 00:36:52,040
doing all these things we're really

641
00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,400
trying to welcome the community in and

642
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,400
we just want the library to be a common

643
00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,520
welcoming space to bring your kids for

644
00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:00,839
the afternoon or to sit and wait for the

645
00:37:00,839 --> 00:37:03,839
bus or connect to others or even just

646
00:37:03,839 --> 00:37:05,920
get help scanning and printing documents

647
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,000
we're happy to do that um and so I

648
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:10,480
really just want everyone to know that

649
00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:11,920
the library is really a place for

650
00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:21,030
everyone in

651
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:24,880
town thank you article 21 shall the

652
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:26,520
voters appropriate

653
00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:29,640
$330,000 to the Solomon Wright library

654
00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:32,000
for the support of the

655
00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:37,790
director

656
00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:41,200
yes my name is W Clinger I've

657
00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:46,000
been over 20 years and I want to

658
00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:47,800
thank

659
00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,319
librar and all volunteers spous time to

660
00:37:52,319 --> 00:37:56,040
create programs that provide cultural

661
00:37:56,040 --> 00:38:00,200
interest uh information and tie us into

662
00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:04,240
resources we need and knit the community

663
00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:08,720
together and it really uh works and

664
00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:11,480
creates a place for people to go and get

665
00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,079
together around issues and interest they

666
00:38:14,079 --> 00:38:19,319
had and I I thank her and all all that I

667
00:38:19,319 --> 00:38:21,800
also wanted to put it

668
00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:26,960
in for my my my favorite charity uh as

669
00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,720
you may may not know the state of

670
00:38:29,720 --> 00:38:31,599
Massachusetts is looking at bringing

671
00:38:31,599 --> 00:38:35,599
passenger rail service out to North and

672
00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:37,800
I have been working with different

673
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:40,000
groups and

674
00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:43,560
ask and we'll continue to do so to look

675
00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:46,480
at how to get that train to come through

676
00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:50,119
pel and go all the way to R conect New

677
00:38:50,119 --> 00:38:53,160
York City and going to be working with

678
00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,520
different people to provide the

679
00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:58,839
political cloud and organiz ation to

680
00:38:58,839 --> 00:39:01,480
advocate for passenger rail here in

681
00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:04,520
Vermont which we desperately need we had

682
00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:07,599
a station here in pel it' be 3 and 1/2

683
00:39:07,599 --> 00:39:10,040
hours to Boston and 4 and 1/2 to New

684
00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:22,750
York City with a change in Rin

685
00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:26,839
Del no that was just anybody else on the

686
00:39:26,839 --> 00:39:28,480
library

687
00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,200
we can move on then to article 22 shall

688
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,560
the raders appropriate

689
00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:37,280
$1,200 for the southwestern Vermont area

690
00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,880
Council on Aging for the suppor of

691
00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:42,640
services rendered to the residents of

692
00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:45,230
the

693
00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:50,440
Town 23 shall the BS appropriate $5,000

694
00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:54,960
to Sunrise Family Resource Center a not

695
00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:58,040
for-profit Agency for the report of

696
00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:04,550
services rendered to the

697
00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:07,040
town good evening to the board and to

698
00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:08,200
all of you here my name is Jonathan

699
00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:09,880
Cooper and for a number of years now

700
00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:11,920
I've been uh the board chair at the

701
00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:14,280
Sunrise Family Resource Center um we

702
00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:16,119
provide services all across Bennington

703
00:40:16,119 --> 00:40:20,000
County uh to families to children and

704
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,839
because we know that assisting families

705
00:40:22,839 --> 00:40:25,079
allows us to be the parents that our

706
00:40:25,079 --> 00:40:27,400
kids know that we are and that's the

707
00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:29,079
most important part of our mission and

708
00:40:29,079 --> 00:40:31,880
it always has been um pel is our second

709
00:40:31,880 --> 00:40:34,680
largest user group and so for a number

710
00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:35,920
of years now we've enjoyed the support

711
00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:37,760
of the Town each year through the ballot

712
00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,319
article process we're excited to have

713
00:40:40,319 --> 00:40:42,880
over 50 children in panel uh benefiting

714
00:40:42,880 --> 00:40:44,200
from the dolly part and Imagination

715
00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:46,480
Library which is a new partnership for

716
00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:48,280
us at Sunrise we know that number is

717
00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:50,200
going to go up this year and it's some

718
00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:52,079
of the best funding that we can use uh

719
00:40:52,079 --> 00:40:53,319
to provide children the books that they

720
00:40:53,319 --> 00:40:55,560
receive at home and the way that's is a

721
00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:58,280
fun for the entire family uh to to

722
00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:00,960
become a part of we've had automotive

723
00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:03,400
repair programs that panel families nine

724
00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:05,480
panel families have participated in to

725
00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:07,079
keep them on the move and to expand

726
00:41:07,079 --> 00:41:11,040
their choices um for work for play and

727
00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:14,359
for living um Sunrise is an organization

728
00:41:14,359 --> 00:41:17,960
about family and about living and so

729
00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:25,710
thank you for your support thank

730
00:41:25,720 --> 00:41:28,319
you all

731
00:41:28,319 --> 00:41:31,640
24 shall the voters appropriate

732
00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:34,800
$2,500 to the Toral center for the

733
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:37,760
support of adult education and literacy

734
00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:40,440
to the residents of the

735
00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:42,640
Town article

736
00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:44,680
25 is there somebody that wanted to

737
00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:49,160
speak to that sorry article 25 shall the

738
00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:51,119
those appropriate

739
00:41:51,119 --> 00:41:53,839
$440 to the Vermont Center for

740
00:41:53,839 --> 00:41:56,480
Independent Living for the support of

741
00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:59,760
people who disabilities in the

742
00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:02,160
town article

743
00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:06,000
26 shall the voters appropriate $2,000

744
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:09,200
to the F pel Valley seniors for services

745
00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:13,430
rendered to the residents of the

746
00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:16,280
Town that's the final article as most of

747
00:42:16,280 --> 00:42:18,400
you know the polls will be open from 10:

748
00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:21,839
to 7: I think it is at the firehouse at

749
00:42:21,839 --> 00:42:24,160
the office at where the town office at

750
00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:26,319
the town office I'm good glad you

751
00:42:26,319 --> 00:42:28,680
collected that the town office so

752
00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:30,680
between 10 and 7 don't want people

753
00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:33,000
showing up with the fire

754
00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:35,319
department all right are there any AR

755
00:42:35,319 --> 00:42:37,559
any other uh issues that should be

756
00:42:37,559 --> 00:42:40,000
brought before this committee yes just a

757
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:42,000
point of information

758
00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,800
question da well I remember a year ago

759
00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:46,280
Mike there was some contentiousness

760
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:49,040
about the question of how to get on to

761
00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:51,720
the ballot could you just remind us what

762
00:42:51,720 --> 00:42:55,079
was resolved in terms of that process

763
00:42:55,079 --> 00:42:58,430
for

764
00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:00,400
signatur the whole process of having to

765
00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:02,720
get signatures or

766
00:43:02,720 --> 00:43:05,240
not

767
00:43:05,240 --> 00:43:07,200
um Julie's

768
00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,640
get I can answer that's where Julie

769
00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:12,720
comes in that's her that's her um

770
00:43:12,720 --> 00:43:15,440
expertise so to speak just to be sure I

771
00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:17,160
know what you're asking are you are you

772
00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:18,599
asking about the social service

773
00:43:18,599 --> 00:43:21,599
appropriation policy no I'm asking about

774
00:43:21,599 --> 00:43:24,960
remembering last year at this time CLE

775
00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:27,240
he didn't give and take because if if I

776
00:43:27,240 --> 00:43:29,680
recall correctly suddenly in order to

777
00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:32,400
get the organization on the ballot every

778
00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:34,599
each year they were going to have to get

779
00:43:34,599 --> 00:43:36,400
X number of signat so I think he's

780
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,640
talking about about the ballot

781
00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:41,040
articles it's really highlighted on this

782
00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:44,200
timeline if you have this it shows where

783
00:43:44,200 --> 00:43:46,400
the board did change the policy but then

784
00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:48,000
at last year's town meeting there was a

785
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:50,680
lot of feedback that it wasn't going to

786
00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:52,880
be feasible for many agencies so the

787
00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:55,200
board went back to the old policy you do

788
00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:56,720
not need to collect signatures unless

789
00:43:56,720 --> 00:43:59,160
you're raing the amount um essential

790
00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:00,720
services do not need to collect

791
00:44:00,720 --> 00:44:02,359
signatures at all obviously they're in

792
00:44:02,359 --> 00:44:04,160
the general fund but that decision was

793
00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:06,160
made sort of before they put them in the

794
00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:09,400
general amounts requested are elevated

795
00:44:09,400 --> 00:44:12,079
that we do need to yes that's

796
00:44:12,079 --> 00:44:14,200
correct are there any other questions

797
00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,520
that would be like directed to the TR to

798
00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:17,880
the select

799
00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:20,640
board if not I'd entertain a motion to

800
00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,359
adjourn oh you

801
00:44:22,359 --> 00:44:25,880
can't Jim and somebody else all in favor

802
00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:28,359
signify by saying I

803
00:44:28,359 --> 00:44:30,240
you can't adjourn we have to conclude

804
00:44:30,240 --> 00:44:34,910
tomorrow you have to vote so we don't

805
00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:38,200
adj so who was the first one who was the

806
00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:42,760
first one was Jim Jim was

807
00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:45,800
did can I don't know who was the second

808
00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:49,960
what you got wait I have a question wait

809
00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:51,680
a minute one minute one minute please

810
00:44:51,680 --> 00:44:53,520
Julie has a question who was the one

811
00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:56,850
that seconded who was the seconded

812
00:44:56,850 --> 00:44:58,079
[Music]

813
00:44:58,079 --> 00:45:01,119
thank you oh she wanted to know

814
00:45:01,119 --> 00:45:04,079
second

815
00:45:04,079 --> 00:45:08,240
D for Christmas