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Good morning everybody. It is Friday,
August 24th, 2026. This is a regular

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meeting of the commissioners of City Roa
Beach. We're live in city hall

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commissioners room, second floor of city
hall. Like to call this meeting to order

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at exactly 2 o'clock p.m. Would you
please rise and join me in the pledge of

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allegiance?

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I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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Uh in l of roll call, we'll uh let the
minutes reflect that all seven of the

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mayor and commissioners are present.
Therefore, we have a quorum and are able

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to formally conduct business today. Uh
uh the my u

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folks aren't here from uh the ovarian uh
society, so we're going to do them

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later. Uh there is no correspondence uh
relating to agenda items. Uh with that

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we're moving on to approval of minutes.
Uh we have listed in the agenda 11 sets

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of minutes. However, we are uh just
approving nine sets of minutes today. We

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are omitting two sets of minutes. Those
sets of minutes uh not being voted on

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tonight are March 15, 2024
and August 16, 2024.

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With that, there's a slate of nine uh
remaining minutes uh for approval. Are

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there any corrections to those nine sets
of minutes? [snorts] Uh if not, I'll

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take a motion to approve the nine sets
of minutes uh that I identified.

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» I would make a motion to approve the
minutes as follows. The executive

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sessions held on July 30th, 2026 and
August 12th, 2026. Regular meetings held

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on April 19th, 2022, February 16, 2024,
April 19th, 2024, and July 17, 2026.

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Special meetings held on July 30th,
2026, and August 12th, 2026.

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Workshop meeting held on October 6th,
2025.

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» Second. We have a motion and a second to
approve nine sets of minutes uh noted on

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the agenda and uh articulated by
Commissioner Good.

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» Oh, Mr. Mayor, a question because I have
received all those minutes except I'm

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worried I never received August 12th,
2026, that special meeting as that and

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that was sent. I s
>> Yes, it was.

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» Okay. I've seen all the others.
>> You can choose to vote or not. Well,

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» with that, uh, we'll call the, uh, we'll
just do a, a group call. Those in favor

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of approving the nine sets of minutes
identified tonight signify by saying I.

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I. Those opposed
>> abstain. I need to look for the August

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12th minutes, which I haven't seen.
>> So noted. Thank you very much. The, uh,

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with that, the, uh, nine sets of minutes
are approved. Uh, we move on to city

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manager report. Taylor.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and commissioners.

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Good afternoon. And I want to provide a
quick update on Grove Park. Yesterday,

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Save a Tree came out and began pruning
and they will be back next week to begin

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removing the five trees that were
identified for immediate removal.

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Insecticide treatment will also be
applied to try to kill and stop the

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spread of the bacterial leaf scorch. We
truly appreciate city arborist Mike Lily

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and parks and recreation coordinator Tim
Bamforth for their quick response and

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ability to get the work underway so that
we can reopen the park as soon as

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possible. The situation may have thrown
us all for a loop, but I do want to take

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a moment to thank everyone involved in
the relocation of the farmers market to

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the convention center parking lot. Pat
Kuzi first for her ability to quickly

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organize the setup and configuration of
the market in an entirely new space. And

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also to our parking department, police
officers, public works department for

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coverage, signage, setup, and cleanup,
and city hall staff for their

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flexibility when it came to actually
parking. It was a great event here on

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Tuesday, and we look forward to having
everyone back next week. and for the

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foreseeable future until we have a
better idea of uh what's happening with

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Grove Park. Also, speaking of Tim
Bamfor, while I was out walking the

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other day, I was excited to see him
watering the trees at Lake Gerard with

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our newly repaired water tank and pump,
uh which will make that job much easier

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and more efficient. Quick reminder that
due to Labor Day, our next mayor and

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commissioners meeting will take place on
Tuesday, September 8th at 9:00 a.m. And

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finally, we are pleased to announce that
earlier this week, the charter changes

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were approved and signed by the
governor. I'm here for any questions you

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may have.
>> Any questions of the city manager?

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» Mr. Mayor,
>> commissioner. Good.

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» Two questions. Firstly, because um we
have never been given a an accurate

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figure for the Connelly Gallagher uh
investigate investigative report that

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was done on the takeover. You said to uh
a reporter that it was more than 25,000,

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but we never got any sort of real
estimate. Um that's my first question.

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Do you have one?
>> Um I don't think we have the final bill

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from that, but I will check and I'll
send it out.

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» Okay. My second question is one I've
asked you by email repeatedly. There was

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an unusual um 12.5% raise for one of the
highest paid employees in city hall um

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under a contract from May of 2025. I'd
like to know the current how that was

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handled because I've asked you
repeatedly and you have refused to

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answer as to whether that you know you
at one point said well it would have to

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go for a vote before the board and at
that point it hadn't and it still

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hasn't. But I'd like to know the status.
>> Yeah, the status is that did not take

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place.
>> Okay. Thank you.

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» All right. Thank you. Anybody else? Uh
we're going to move right along. City uh

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solicitors report. Lisa,
>> no report, mayor.

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» All righty. With that, we'll move on to
the department report. Uh as you can see

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uh there are uh support documents
embedded electronically in the agenda

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from the alderman's court bullying and
licensing police department. Uh so we're

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going to move right on to the uh
[clears throat]

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» uh yes
>> excuse me if I may.

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» Commissioner Gossip.
>> Uh yes since we have the police chief

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here I was just curious. We've had the
installation of the new stop signs along

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Colombia and State Road. Um could you
have any comments on enforcement in that

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area or what's been going on? I
appreciate it.

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[clears throat]

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» Yes, since the um stop signs have gone
in both locations, the additional um

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there has been some enforcement. We've
had officers sitting there um trying to

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use a lot of discretion and given a lot
of warnings. There was um there's been a

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few citations um issued. Um, one was
from a crash there at stayed in Mson and

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person was at at fault and um didn't
realize there was a stop sign there and

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and went through it caused an accident
and all. Um but so they seem to be going

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well and um we are getting feedbacks
from some um residents and all some

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positive some negative but um that has
to you know that happens and we have red

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flashing lights for at night and all to
make sure um people understand that it's

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new fourways are always stop signs. So,
I think it's going well, but yes, we're

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we are monitoring that. And I know
officers were out there on both streets

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today, state and Colombia, just um
watching the stop signs.

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» I did notice uh that on the state road
there are, as you'd mentioned, the red

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red blinking [clears throat] lights at
night, but I don't see those on

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Colombia. Is there an opportunity to
install those on Colombia or is there a

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question about that? Uh that'd be up to
city manager, but I we certainly can and

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probably should get in a habit anytime
we add something new for at least for

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temporarily um you know 30 days, 60 days
to um let people know that it's it's

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kind of the trend now. I'm seeing that
the municipalities in a state, but city

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man.
>> Yeah, we would have to order them, but

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we certainly can. Yeah, thank you. Just
for consistency sake. Thank you.

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» Thank you. Uh with that, we'll move on
to the departmental briefing of building

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and licensing. uh it's going to focus on
the CDP. Corey,

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» thank you. Mayor and commissioners,
uh I wanted to give more of a process

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update today rather than a chapter to
chapter update on the CDP. Uh the

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five-year CDP work is ongoing and is
moving forward. But a major part of that

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work right now is making sure that it's
coordinated with several other planning

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efforts that are happening at the same
time.

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Uh currently we really have four
interconnected work streams underway. Uh

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we've got the 5-year CDP update. We have
the do colon partners commercial zoning

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update. We have the chapter 236
um uh subdivision of land site plan

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review change of zoning uh rewrite. And
we also have the new zoning map uh

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parcelbased GIS work that we're that
we're undertaking. Uh and those projects

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can't be treated independently.
So what that means is that a change in

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one place can ripple through several
others. Uh depending on the structure of

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the new commercial zoning code changes,
we could be changing entire zoning

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districts or how those districts are
regulated. That can affect our official

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zoning map that can affect our future
land use map portions of the CDP and

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some of the site plan review triggers in
chapter 236 among other things. So, the

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goal uh right now is um to get not to
get one document out in front of another

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one uh and then have to go back and redo
work. Um we're trying to get these

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projects operating on the same rhythm so
that as decisions are made, we can

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identify all the places affected by that
decision and then update them together.

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In the meantime, there's plenty of work
still to be done in the CDP and and

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that's what we're working on. That's
where our attention is right now. uh

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reconciling and updating demographic and
statistical information, gathering

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current data, updating existing
conditions, and continuing the

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underlying parcel and GIS work that the
later chapters and maps will rely on.

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The next major coordination point will
be the first overall and partner zoning

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draft, which we're expecting around
September 8th. Once we have that draft,

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we will have a much better understanding
of the form of the commercial zoning

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regulations are taking and we can review
that as not just the o ordinance but

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against the CDP uh and the future land
use map, the zoning map, chapter 236 and

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any other code provisions that depend on
existing commercial district structure.

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We'll have to take a full look at
everything that even references C1, C2,

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C3 and take a holistic look at that.
From there, the work should become much

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more synchronized.
Uh, instead of separately reviewing the

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CDP, the zoning map, um, and development
review procedures under 236, we can work

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across the documents at the same time
and make sure they're saying the same

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thing. So, I would characterize where
we're at right now as sequencing rather

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than as pausing any work. Uh we're
continuing the work that can be

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responsibly done now uh while avoiding
locking in portions of the plan that may

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immediately need to change once the
zoning draft arrives. Ultimately, the

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objective is pretty simple. When the
process is finished, the city's policy

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document, zoning regulations,
development procedures,

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development review procedures, and maps
should all work together as one coherent

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system rather than having conf conflicts
between them. Uh with that said, um uh

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we will be having a brief update on the
CDP at next Friday's planning commission

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meeting.
>> That's where we're at right now.

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» Any questions by the commissioners?
Thank you very much. Uh Commissioner

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Stewart,
>> um I just wanted to confirm. So after we

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get the draft, can you talk about the
where it goes then? Does it go to the

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planning commission and then come back
to us or how is that going to work?

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» So, the uh anticipated sequence right
now is we'll get the rough draft

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September 8th. That gives the city uh
city staff at least a few weeks to

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review it and make internal comments on
it. And then we plan on presenting the

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draft along with our comments uh and
sharing that draft as well ahead of time

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with the members of the planning
commission and the board of adjustment

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to be placed on their agendas at the end
of September. The hope is is is after

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we've collected all of the relevant
comments um at that point to give them

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back to do colon partners as one
consolidated set. They then per uh Joe's

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um July 17th uh excuse me June 17th uh
presentation here uh will take those

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into consideration provide us a second
draft which is the one that's

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anticipated to come before the
commissioners

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» in November
>> in if in in a perfect world it would be

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in November uh with a possible
consideration to set a resolution to

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hold the public hearing in December
which would still leave us with the

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timeline of the end of 2026. 6

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» Commissioner the
>> Thank you. So just clarification for

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public participation, public comments.
So it sounds like just walk through that

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again. Sounds like end of September
you'll be presenting back to

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commissioners. So that would be an
opportunity for the public to comment

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and then in November there would be
another presentation

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opportunity for the public to comment
and then in December the official public

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hearing is what I think I'm hearing.
Correct. Okay. All right. Great. Thank

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you.
>> Anybody else? Thank you, Corey.

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» Thank you.
>> Appreciate it.

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» Uh we have uh not not received any uh
summaries of uh recent board and

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commission reports. So, we'll move right
on. Next item of business, committee

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reports, including possible
consideration of approving future

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advisory committee agenda topics. Before
we uh turn that over to uh uh city

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streets and safety advisory committee
chair Mark Saunders, I would like to say

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that as we soon offer opportunities for
public input, uh please wait to be

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acknowledged by the chair and given the
floor and when a member of the public is

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recognized, then please come to the
center microphone here. Uh state your

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name and address or relationship to the
city. Uh, and uh, please be mindful that

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everyone gets three minutes so we can
hear from as many voices as possible.

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The countdown clock's on the wall above
the monitor. Uh, and we'll beep when uh,

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time is up. Uh, thank you very much.
And, uh, we'll turn it over to

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Commissioner Chair Mark Saunders.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um,

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good afternoon everybody. We don't have
any official business to present today,

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but I did want to give everybody a brief
update on where the advisory committee

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is right now. Um in July we participated
in the sharetses and we had a good

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number of our members that actively
participated and found them to be

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beneficial and the some of the uh
information that we gleaned from those

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uh sharetses and the future information
is going to be worked into our plans as

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we go forward with things like the bike
path and so forth. So uh just uh kudos

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to to everybody for putting those
together and I think they were

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beneficial. uh what we're currently
working on and we're in the middle of a

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couple of these items. We of course were
asked by the commissioners to look into

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the uh possibility or the concerns that
some folks had with the parking uh the

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overnight parking being prohibited over
on the east end southeast end of the

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city Prospect Queen and parts of St.
Lawrence. And we did have a really good

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public meeting at our last meeting. We
had uh I think we had somewhere around

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eight or nine speakers. We had numerous
letters. I I don't know to count them

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all, but we had quite a few uh
interested people on both sides of the

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uh the aisle uh discussing that and what
we could do to make it work for

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everybody. And interestingly, right
after the meeting, some of the pro

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people and the con people got together
right outside there. And I got some

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emails from them all later saying that
they'd like to come to a compromise that

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they uh they realized each other's
situations and that uh they would like

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to come to a compromise. I'm going to
meet with Mr. Miller before the next

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meeting where we're going to continue
those discussions and see if there might

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be something in the future that we can
look at as a compromise as we get into

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the electronic hang tags and that might
be a possible solution. So just to let

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you know that the conversation went
well. It's continuing and I think

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everybody was was uh satisfied with with
where we are on on stop signs. Patrick

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talked about fourways. We also talked
about some four-ways on First Avenue,

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particularly first in Baltimore, first
in Wilmington. You can picture those

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corners and you know why we had those
conversations. And again, we had uh

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public comment both for and against. Um
we had some good input from the chief.

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Thank you, chief. that made us
reconsider. And so rather than bring

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them to you now as a uh possibility,
we're looking at further discussions and

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making sure that we don't have any
consequences that we will regret later.

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So that will be on a future topic, but
it will be continued at the next

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meeting. Several other minor items con
uh involving oversized vehicles, we've

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decided just to hand over to Mr. etc.
And the the committee thought that was

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the best thing to do is is do it inhouse
and not uh not necessarily bring any

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changes to the commission. And lastly
today on the ballards um you know the

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longer they last the better they look
that's [laughter]

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that's sort of what we're getting from
people like all right we're used to them

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now. So, I'm not sure we have asked uh
the uh design committee at Main Street

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to look at them for us, but um the
interest in designing them has seemed to

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wne as they have become more
commonplace. So, more on that later

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00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:55,600
perhaps, but that's my report for today.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Any comments up

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00:18:53,600 --> 00:19:00,080
here? Uh with that, I'd like to go to
the members of the public. This is your

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00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:06,559
opportunity to uh comment on this
particular topic which would be uh uh

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00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:12,880
relating to topics
uh brought up by the streets and safety

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00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:18,720
committee. Anybody?
If not, good job. Thank you, Mark. Uh

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00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:24,400
with that, uh the next on the agenda is
community partner reports. Uh they are

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00:19:21,919 --> 00:19:27,440
all embedded in the agenda, so we don't
need to go over that. Mayor

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00:19:27,223 --> 00:19:30,000
[clears throat]
>> may not to go over it but just a

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00:19:28,799 --> 00:19:34,720
question gossip. Yes,
>> thank you on the uh uh chamber of

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00:19:33,039 --> 00:19:38,720
commerce report included in there. Thank
you very much that it seems that we have

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00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:42,880
an increase in occupancy from last year
to this year on the outlined dates but

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00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:46,640
also have you included the um beach band
stand performance schedule change

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00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:50,720
survey. So I'm just curious is if that
will be on a future agenda in the near

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00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:54,080
future so that can be discussed and
reviewed so we can prepare for next

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season.
The

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00:19:54,240 --> 00:20:00,960
» answer is yes. Thank you. [laughter]
>> Thank you. Thank you for bringing that

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00:19:58,559 --> 00:20:06,080
up because that uh took a lot of effort
the survey and again it is embedded

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00:20:03,679 --> 00:20:09,520
electronically in the agenda and uh
while Dan from Main Street's here and

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00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:14,960
Kate's from here I want to thank you all
because I know it's time consuming to uh

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00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:19,120
put these reports together but uh we're
uh we don't want you to think that we uh

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00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:24,880
just merely gloss over them. You know
that they are there and available to the

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00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:30,480
public. So thank you very much. Uh with
that,

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00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:36,400
the next item of business is uh actually
uh new business. A discuss and possible

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00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:41,360
consideration awarding a contract to
Mumford and Miller Concrete for the

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00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:47,120
annual street paving and water mane
replacement project. Henry,

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00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:52,159
» uh,
I was giving the people a little more

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00:20:49,679 --> 00:20:56,240
time to show up, so I'm gonna
>> Okay,

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00:20:52,559 --> 00:21:00,159
» we'll do that by by here.
>> No, it's not.

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» Afternoon. Go ahead, Mayor and Mayor and
commissioners. So, I'm here to present,

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00:21:02,559 --> 00:21:10,320
as you said, the FY27 annual street
paving and water main replacement copy

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00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:16,720
uh project. Uh, have a copy of the bid
evaluations. We'll go over the area, the

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00:21:13,679 --> 00:21:22,360
work to be done, answer any questions,
and then request uh a motion for

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00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:22,360
approval.

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00:21:23,814 --> 00:21:25,834
[clears throat]

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00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:37,840
We we had 10 contractors asked for the
bid package when it was advertised and

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00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:43,720
four uh chose to bid. We actually had
the same four as last year. And

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00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:51,440
if you take a look at the engineering
estimate, it's uh in between right in

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00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:56,960
the middle of the bids, which which is a
good thing. Uh Mumford and Miller was

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00:21:54,559 --> 00:22:04,000
the lowest responsible and responsive
bidder for the third year in a in a in a

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00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:08,320
row. Um so, you know, they've been great
to work with the last two years. their

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00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:12,559
change orders have been minimal. They've
been responsive with things. Uh,

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00:22:10,799 --> 00:22:19,600
example, Commissioner Gossa, I remember
last year you asked me to get a sidewalk

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00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:23,679
taken care of quickly and um it put them
out a bit. They obviously got paid for

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00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:30,200
it, but they did take care of that right
away for us. So,

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00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,200
um,

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00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:38,320
here's the areas to be worked on.
the it's the green shaded area. It's

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00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:41,360
[snorts] Kent Street between third and
fourth. It's going to be water main

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00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:47,760
replacement.
Um service lines as well as the paving

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00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:53,440
obviously. Kent uh Sussex between third
and fourth, it's the same with the water

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00:22:49,520 --> 00:23:00,640
mane replacement. And Sussex between
fourth and fifth, it's the service lines

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00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:05,840
and the and um the paving. And then if
you see on the bottom across Silver

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00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:10,880
Lake, Silver Lane is on that that kind
of came came as an afterthought where I

295
00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:16,720
received a couple calls from residents
about it. Went and took a look at it. It

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00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:22,000
was pretty the the the paving index
score was actually pretty low on it.

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00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:27,840
Thought we'd be under budget on it. Uh
which we were about $200,000 even with

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00:23:24,559 --> 00:23:33,240
that. So, we uh added that and that will
just be uh paving and service lines.

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00:23:34,159 --> 00:23:41,679
So, here is the I'm not going to read
all the numbers, but there's the

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00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:45,919
engineers estimate uh 922,000 and then
uh the two highest bids were George and

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00:23:43,679 --> 00:23:53,520
Lynch and HC.
Um Adel was just over 800,000 and

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00:23:49,919 --> 00:23:59,600
Mumford Miller at 724,000.
Uh this is the second year in a row HC

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00:23:57,039 --> 00:24:05,200
has bid for this and I think for the
past like five years prior four or five

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00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:09,880
years prior it was the three Adel George
and Lynch and Mford and Miller.

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00:24:10,799 --> 00:24:16,720
Are there any questions?
>> Any questions of Henry?

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00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:24,080
» Nope.
>> Okay. Uh so what I'm uh request board

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00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:28,480
action to award the FY27 street paving
and water main replacement project to

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00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:31,480
Mumford and Miller in the amount of
$724,388.

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00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:38,000
» There is a proposed motion in the agenda
item report if anybody wants to use that

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00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,600
as a template.
>> Mr. Mayor,

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00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:44,559
» any
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Commissioner Galante,

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00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:48,559
» I was just going to go ahead and make
the motion, but I'm not sure if you

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00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:53,200
wanted to take it back and open up for
comments.

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00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:57,279
» No. Do does anybody have any
>> comments before a motion's made?

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00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:59,760
» Just um to confirm, in past years when
we've been doing this, we've also

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00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:04,320
reached out to the homeowners along
those streets for additional repair of

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00:25:02,559 --> 00:25:08,320
their uh laterals and what have you.
That be the case again?

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00:25:05,679 --> 00:25:13,840
» Yes. Uh we have have letters ready to
go. uh assuming he gets approved, I'll

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00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:19,120
send him out Monday. Um there aren't
many there isn't any sidewalks in that

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00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:25,760
area. We will be doing some curb
replacement u on that and there are

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00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:30,880
several laterals. We will be also about
10 or so suspect laterals on those three

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00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:34,640
uh three streets and we we will be
sending letters to those homeowners.

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00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:39,039
Last year we actually had quite a few
take advantage of that on Mson which was

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00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:43,120
great.
Are there any other questions?

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00:25:40,799 --> 00:25:46,720
Commissioner Galante.
>> Thank [clears throat] you, Mr. Mayor. I

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00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:53,039
make a motion to award the bid for
fiscal year 2027 annual street paving

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00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:57,919
and water main replacement to the lowest
responsible and responsive bidder,

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00:25:55,760 --> 00:26:01,240
Mumford and Miller, Inc. in the amount
of $724,388.

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00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:10,240
» Second. Uh we have a motion and a second
to award the bid for uh annual street

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00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:15,559
paving fiscal year 2027 to Mumford and
Miller as noted. Is there any further

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00:26:12,559 --> 00:26:15,559
discussion?

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00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:26,480
Hold on.
>> Public comment on new business.

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00:26:25,039 --> 00:26:30,080
» Oh, I'm sorry. I'm [clears throat]
sorry. I'm sorry. Uh is there any

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00:26:28,559 --> 00:26:35,360
members of the public who would like to
comment?

335
00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:39,360
If not, we'll come back to the table.
Uh, any further discussion? We have a

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00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:44,559
motion in a second. All those in favor
signify by saying I. I. Those opposed.

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00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:47,600
And the motion carries unanimously.
Thank you very much, Henry.

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00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:52,799
» Thank you. Uh, with that, we'll move
into new business item B, discussing

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00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:58,640
possible consideration of an agreement
between the city of Rhovitz Beach and IQ

340
00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:03,760
Fiber for the installation of a fiber
optic broadband network in the city.

341
00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:07,919
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, good
afternoon. So, I wanted to provide a

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00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:13,919
little bit of background about how um,
IQ Fiber has uh, came to us. Um and then

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00:27:11,919 --> 00:27:18,880
Lisa will provide some information and
then um the folks from IQ Fiber are here

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00:27:16,559 --> 00:27:24,880
and they'll give you a presentation. Uh
so the governor's office uh reached out

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00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:32,320
to me um several months ago um because
IQ Fiber was added to by Governor Meyers

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00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:38,159
um um jobs first permitting accelerator
on June 11th, 2026. And so that was

347
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:42,720
established via executive order 18. And
the permitting accelerator coordinates

348
00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:46,799
and expedites state agency review of
high priority housing, energy,

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00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:51,919
broadband, and water, sewer projects
through a single point of contact and

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00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:58,559
parallel review. So they're part of that
um program with Governor Meyer. Um and

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00:27:55,679 --> 00:28:04,960
ultimately they are looking to increase
the high-speed and high reliability of

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00:28:01,679 --> 00:28:09,360
fiber in Sussex County, um including
Rahobit Beach. Um, so I'll go ahead and

353
00:28:07,039 --> 00:28:15,120
turn it over to Lisa.
>> Thank you. Um, yes. Um, as Taylor points

354
00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:19,120
out, um, IQ Fiber came to us through the
governor's office and we've worked with

355
00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:24,960
them to, um, negotiate the contract that
you have in front of you. The way, um,

356
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:30,240
we have approached this is that, um, IQ
Fiber is now working with about 15 to 20

357
00:28:27,279 --> 00:28:35,120
different municipalities. And so um we
took this contract and looked at it from

358
00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:38,960
the perspective of what is uh rights
away that are controlled by the city of

359
00:28:37,279 --> 00:28:43,919
Rahobit versus those that are controlled
by the state of Delaware. At present um

360
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:48,240
IQ Fiber has the authority to go into
state rights away which includes roads

361
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:51,600
in in the city of Rahobit. And so we
looked at it from the perspective of

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00:28:49,679 --> 00:28:56,159
protecting our rights of way and what we
could do um to best make sure that we

363
00:28:54,320 --> 00:29:00,240
were protecting what we could from the
city. Um, this is a contract that has

364
00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:04,000
been negotiated with both parties and
we're presenting it to you today for

365
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:06,000
your consideration.
>> Thank you very much.

366
00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,799
» Mark, would you like to continue?
>> I would. Hey,

367
00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:13,039
» could you introduce yourself if you
>> Thank Thank you. U, mayor, council, I'm

368
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:17,679
Mark Wagner. I'm vice president for new
markets for IQ Fiber. I'm joined today

369
00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:23,120
by our director of operations, David
Enley. David Enley runs the entire co uh

370
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:27,440
construction operation for what we call
the Chesapeake region, which includes

371
00:29:24,799 --> 00:29:32,320
our Delaware project. So he's he's here
to answer questions specifically towards

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00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:39,120
um construction and construction uh
methodology. Uh again we're IQ Fiber. Um

373
00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:44,960
we are a high-speed fiber optic
broadband network. We build and operate

374
00:29:41,919 --> 00:29:49,840
the network and we are currently located
in five states um Georgia, South

375
00:29:47,679 --> 00:29:54,960
Carolina, Florida, Maryland and
Delaware.

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00:29:52,159 --> 00:29:58,240
We when we look for a new market, we
look to be what we call first fiber,

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00:29:56,799 --> 00:30:02,880
which means we look for markets where
there is not currently a fiber optic

378
00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:08,720
provider in this area. Most of us would
recognize for instance like a Verizon

379
00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:12,240
FiOS uh maybe specifically to Lewis uh
Glow Fiber. These are these are

380
00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:16,720
companies that do something similar to
what we do. We don't have any interest

381
00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:22,080
in overbuilding them. What we look for
and what is illustrated in this um image

382
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:26,159
above are cable areas that have
predominantly cable infrastructure,

383
00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:31,679
predominantly cable infrastructure that
is fairly dated. And we see that through

384
00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:36,159
the use of upload speeds because that's
where cable traditionally

385
00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:41,679
um shows a big difference in performance
than with a a full fiber optic network

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00:30:39,919 --> 00:30:45,840
which gives the same speeds up and down.
We call that symmetrical speed. So, what

387
00:30:43,679 --> 00:30:53,039
that image is showing is upload speeds
from um uh from Delaware, uh a lot of

388
00:30:51,039 --> 00:30:57,520
Sussex County, and you can see the lower
sort of the the greens and the blues,

389
00:30:55,200 --> 00:31:01,120
and though that represents slower upload
speeds. So, that's that's one of the

390
00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:05,360
things that we look at when we target
new markets and that and we definitely

391
00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:12,000
see that here in Sussex County. So we're
excited to um to help um you know give

392
00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:15,919
these people an option and symmetrical
speeds.

393
00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:20,960
Uh so I think everybody understands it
but fiber optics is speed fiber it is

394
00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:25,760
broadband at the speed of light. We we
operate on lasers. Um it does provide

395
00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:29,679
symmetrical speeds. Symmetrical speeds
have become very very important in our

396
00:31:27,679 --> 00:31:33,840
lives that that those are the speeds
that give us the right reliability when

397
00:31:32,159 --> 00:31:38,159
we're doing things like teams meetings
where we're working at home. 40% of us

398
00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:42,399
now work full or part-time at home.
These are your medical devices. These

399
00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:46,240
are your connection from your your
business or your premise to the

400
00:31:43,679 --> 00:31:49,919
internet. Um so those upload speeds are
very important. They're increasing at

401
00:31:47,679 --> 00:31:55,679
least 18% last year and probably more
this year. So our our network our fully

402
00:31:52,960 --> 00:32:01,600
fiber network will will provide
symmetrical speeds. We have our research

403
00:31:59,039 --> 00:32:09,039
shows us that a fiber connection to a
premise can have a positive um increase

404
00:32:04,559 --> 00:32:15,360
in equity value maybe even up to 3.1%.
The uh our our story here in Delaware is

405
00:32:12,399 --> 00:32:22,080
uh is a good one. Um, as was mentioned,
we were the the initial uh company that

406
00:32:19,039 --> 00:32:27,360
uh made it through the priority um
priority permitting system. Governor

407
00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:31,120
Meyers uh executive order 18. We are the
initial company. We had a kickoff with

408
00:32:29,279 --> 00:32:36,720
the with the governor [snorts] two
months ago and a round table and a press

409
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:42,080
event. And we are very committed to uh
this process. We are very committed to

410
00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:47,279
Delaware. Our investment in Delaware is
between 150 and $160 million. We're

411
00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:51,440
going to be building 4,000 miles of
brand new fiber optic network, probably

412
00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:56,159
twothirds of which here right here in
Sussex County. If there is a community

413
00:32:54,159 --> 00:33:00,480
of note in Sussex County, we're having a
similar conversation with them at the

414
00:32:58,159 --> 00:33:04,240
moment from Seafford all the way here
all the way down to the Maryland border.

415
00:33:02,559 --> 00:33:07,519
So, it's a it's a big comprehensive
project. We're extremely excited to be

416
00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:11,679
aligned with the governor and his
priorities in terms of bringing this

417
00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:18,159
type of infrastructure and all of the
economic benefits that come with it.

418
00:33:15,519 --> 00:33:22,880
Um I'm going to Dave I think this is
this is I I'll just start that this is

419
00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:28,960
uh cabinet this is an active cabinet
when we build our network fiber optics

420
00:33:25,519 --> 00:33:33,039
is a pass is mostly a passive medium for
transporting internet but there is some

421
00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:38,080
electric in it. So this is a big
difference with cable which is a which

422
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:41,679
is largely a giant metal antenna with um
a lot of electric and repeaters

423
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:44,880
everywhere in it which is means when you
have a power failure anywhere in your

424
00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:51,360
cable system you have a power failure
and everything's down. Uh in our system,

425
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:57,760
we have a a cabinet like that that we're
showing right there. That'll uh service

426
00:33:54,000 --> 00:34:01,440
approximately 5,000 customers. And that
is you can see that that is powered.

427
00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:07,360
That will have a generator and battery
backup. That feeds passive cabinets,

428
00:34:04,159 --> 00:34:11,280
meaning no power. And those can handle
two to 500 customers. And then the

429
00:34:09,839 --> 00:34:18,399
equipment in the home needs to be
plugged in. Um but so from that cabinet

430
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:22,320
to your home um it's it's a passive
network.

431
00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:25,320
And Dave, do you want to talk a bit
about

432
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:31,679
Yeah. Hello everybody. Um so our
construction process typically begins

433
00:34:29,679 --> 00:34:36,079
with obtaining all the necessary uh
permits from the uh controlling

434
00:34:33,839 --> 00:34:41,040
municipality whether it's TEDOT or in
this case uh the city of Rhobith. Um

435
00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:46,240
once we obtain those permits, our
pre-construction process will begin with

436
00:34:43,839 --> 00:34:50,399
um our crews will uh deploy
pre-construction door hangers to uh

437
00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:56,480
notify the uh the residents that we're
passing of the construction process. It

438
00:34:52,639 --> 00:35:01,040
also um supplies a direct link to us for
um for direct communication for any

439
00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:04,560
questions or concerns um you know before
the construction process or during the

440
00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:09,760
construction process as well. So they
can reach us directly. We have um a

441
00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:14,160
dedicated uh construction coordinator on
site that will meet with uh anybody that

442
00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:17,839
has any questions or concerns, address
their concerns uh directly during the

443
00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:22,640
process or or in front of the process as
well. Um also a part of that pre

444
00:35:19,839 --> 00:35:28,560
pre-construction process is we will
enter all uh miss utility notifications.

445
00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:33,119
Um once those uh those tickets are
complete, we'll review them uh make sure

446
00:35:31,359 --> 00:35:37,599
that everything's set and ready for our
crews to to deploy at that point. Uh the

447
00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:41,680
next step would be the actual
construction process. So first step in

448
00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:46,560
the construction process will be uh test
pitting. Oh, I'm sorry. Here's a

449
00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:51,200
screenshot of the pre-construction door
hangers. As I just described, you can

450
00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:55,280
see it has a um Q QR code that would uh
provide that direct communication back

451
00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:58,560
to us. Um I think a lot of instances
goes straight to our construction

452
00:35:56,240 --> 00:36:02,800
coordinator that's local to the location
and then come right out and meet with

453
00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:06,560
the uh the resident in that regard.
Uh

454
00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:10,400
here's u more information on the actual
construction process as I described

455
00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:14,800
pre-construction process um door
hangers, mis utility call outs. Once

456
00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:18,480
those are complete, our um crews will
begin the process with performing test

457
00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:23,359
fitting on the existing utilities so
that they're protected during our

458
00:36:19,599 --> 00:36:27,520
installation methods. Um we try to be um
underground as much as possible because

459
00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:32,800
it protects our infrastructure um much
better than being on the on aerial pole

460
00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:36,880
lines. Um so before we can do that we
need to test pit protect the existing

461
00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:40,480
utilities. Um that way when we uh
install our conduit system which our our

462
00:36:39,359 --> 00:36:45,040
installation method is with a
directional bore or pneumatic missile

463
00:36:42,720 --> 00:36:49,599
that'll be subgrade. Um we don't open
cut we don't open trench. So the uh the

464
00:36:47,839 --> 00:36:54,560
impact to the soft surface is is
minimized as much as possible. Um

465
00:36:53,119 --> 00:36:57,760
there are certainly a lot of areas
within the city that there is no soft

466
00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:04,520
space. where we have to utilize aerial
infrastructure where where those

467
00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:04,520
locations are are necessary. Um

468
00:37:05,119 --> 00:37:11,119
so during during that process with the
crew placing uh the conduit underground

469
00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:13,839
we move it approximately a pace of a
couple hundred feet to even a couple

470
00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:16,960
thousand feet per day. Kind of depends
on uh the cleared miss utility tickets

471
00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:20,800
and the amount of utilities that are
underground that we need to protect from

472
00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:26,160
the process. Uh during that process
we'll um we'll install our conduits and

473
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:31,440
our flush grade vaults. Uh Mark
described one uh above grade uh cabinet

474
00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:36,079
that will service pretty much this
entire area. So as far as uh any above

475
00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:40,240
ground infrastructure, you really won't
see that. Everything's essentially flush

476
00:37:38,079 --> 00:37:44,800
to the ground. You'll see um a very
small, we call them handholds, but

477
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:48,480
they're um a small lid for us to access
to be able to terminate and provide

478
00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:51,680
service to uh any customer that that
requests service at that time. Um, and

479
00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:55,119
you'll see those approximately like
every other house in the in the areas

480
00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:59,839
where we can perform uh soft space
installation. Um, so within those a

481
00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:02,880
couple thousand feet a day, the crew
moves pretty fast. We'll install the

482
00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:07,040
conduit, install the the handholds,
we'll move on. So the impact from on a

483
00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:10,800
daily perspective is is moving very
quickly from street to street very

484
00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:15,440
quickly. So you won't see um you
shouldn't see repeated u disturbance on

485
00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:20,079
a specific street or specific area in
multiple days. Usually one day move on

486
00:38:17,359 --> 00:38:22,800
in in a very successive manner. Um once
that underground infrastructure is in

487
00:38:21,359 --> 00:38:26,079
place, the conduit handle instructions
in place, the next step is to pull the

488
00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:30,720
the fiber cable through those conduit
systems. Um that usually takes about a

489
00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:34,960
day or so. Um then once the cable is in
place, we test it, verify it's

490
00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:40,000
sufficient for uh for service deployment
and then we'll be able to uh release

491
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:43,680
that for for order taking and uh and
service installation for uh subscribers

492
00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:51,359
at that point.
>> Um is that it? I'll take

493
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:55,359
» um so a couple things that distinguishes
IQ Viiber and one in particular we know

494
00:38:53,359 --> 00:39:00,800
that we're the only company in our
industry at our size and scale that runs

495
00:38:58,079 --> 00:39:05,839
our very own customer contact center
that means that when you call IQ Fiber

496
00:39:03,839 --> 00:39:10,560
with an issue with construction or
question about your service um you're

497
00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:16,320
experiencing any kind of issue a human
being will answer the phone and that

498
00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:21,040
human being it exists today in our uh
headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.

499
00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:27,839
Um and our average call to answer time
is 19 seconds. You can also um contact

500
00:39:26,079 --> 00:39:32,160
by text, but same thing. It's not going
to you're not having an AI experience

501
00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:37,359
anywhere in the mix. It's your it's a
real honest to god human being. We do

502
00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:41,359
embed AI in the mix, but that only gets
involved because it'll allow the person

503
00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:47,119
that you're talking to know who they're
talking to, where you're located, and if

504
00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:51,599
our equipment has noticed any issues,
all of that will be on their pane of

505
00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:55,839
glass. So, we and we do know that's that
is an expensive way to do business um to

506
00:39:53,920 --> 00:40:01,280
run a call center. But the the thing
that we have decided from day one where

507
00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:06,240
and yesterday was our 5-year anniversary
uh was that we were going to be um the

508
00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:12,160
anti-cable company and from day one till
day now that is uh that commitment is

509
00:40:09,119 --> 00:40:16,960
held and and obviously we have proven
that with and by doing that we now have

510
00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:22,560
one of the highest uh customer service
ratings in the industry. that's done by

511
00:40:20,079 --> 00:40:28,480
um there's a net promoter score which in
our industry we have about an 80 which

512
00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:33,200
is that's very very good and for Google
we mostly we ask for reviews on Google

513
00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:37,839
and they're 4.8 to 5.0 you know, so
we're very proud of that. We work for

514
00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:43,040
that every single day. Um, again, this
is, um, back to Dave, you know, and and

515
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:47,680
and this is the I'll just emphasize
that, um, as Dave said, uh, we're in and

516
00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:53,440
out as quickly as possible. What we
disturbed, we will fix. It will be as

517
00:40:49,839 --> 00:40:57,359
good as before we came. Um, if it isn't,
then, uh, we invite you to call us and

518
00:40:55,520 --> 00:41:03,359
we will fix it. And it's an opportunity
for us again to prove that we um uh will

519
00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:06,560
listen that we do communicate. We listen
we need to earn every bit of business

520
00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:10,160
that we have. It starts with the
construction progress process. If we

521
00:41:08,720 --> 00:41:16,000
make emmonities we're not going to make
customers, right? So um we uh you have

522
00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:20,400
my commitment here. You have Dave's
commitment that this will we will work

523
00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:25,119
with the community to make sure that we
leave things as good as we found them.

524
00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:28,560
Um I I think I went through all of this.
The you know I started with the contact

525
00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:34,000
center. The last thing I'd like you guys
to know about what makes us different.

526
00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:37,599
Um we don't have any contracts. Um we
have transparent pricing. So what you

527
00:41:36,079 --> 00:41:42,160
see is what you get. It will be one
price. It does include everything. And

528
00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:46,800
that includes the Wi-Fi equipment. There
is no rental. And the Wi-Fi equipment

529
00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:52,160
that we use is state-of-the-art Wi-Fi 7.
It does match with our five speeds. what

530
00:41:50,319 --> 00:41:57,760
we will build day one to the the
residents in Rahobitth will be up to 10

531
00:41:55,200 --> 00:42:01,680
gig capacity. We only have a package up
to five gigs. That's because we can't

532
00:41:59,920 --> 00:42:06,720
Wi-Fi doesn't support anything more than
5 gigs, but when it does, we'll offer a

533
00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:12,800
10 gig pro um package as well to our
customers. So, it's it's it's um

534
00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:16,079
contract free um and you just pay for it
monthto month. If you don't like us, if

535
00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:21,200
we haven't earned your business, then
that's it.

536
00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:26,560
Um, these are our prices today. Um, from
$65 to $125 for 5 gigs of bandwidth,

537
00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:29,839
which is an enormous amount of
bandwidth, but it's it's real. That is

538
00:42:28,400 --> 00:42:35,760
the capacity that you'll have in your
house. Um,

539
00:42:33,119 --> 00:42:39,520
we do businesses. Um, these are what we
call our small business prices. These

540
00:42:37,119 --> 00:42:44,000
would be, you know, sort of your um,
what you see along here on the your mom

541
00:42:41,359 --> 00:42:48,079
and pop businesses. We also do and we we
support a much much larger businesses

542
00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:53,280
and have various products for those DIA
and others. But for purposes of your um

543
00:42:51,599 --> 00:42:57,760
typical business here in Rahobitth,
that's that's what we would we would

544
00:42:55,200 --> 00:43:04,000
charge.
Um we're uh we we've talked about the

545
00:43:01,599 --> 00:43:09,200
Delaware story. Our backing, our main
backer is SEC Capital. They are a a a an

546
00:43:07,599 --> 00:43:14,400
infrastructure fund, one of the largest
in the country. All they all they fund

547
00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:18,640
is infrastructure and um we're one of I
think three platforms and we're one of

548
00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:22,720
their largest platforms. Our banking
partners JP Morgan Chase, all of the

549
00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:26,680
money for this project and all of
Delaware has already been booked

550
00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:34,640
and that's it. Any questions?
>> Um

551
00:43:32,079 --> 00:43:40,160
I believe I heard you indicate that some
of the uh lines might be aerial and some

552
00:43:37,359 --> 00:43:41,920
underground. Is that is that what you
said?

553
00:43:40,720 --> 00:43:45,359
» Yeah, that'd be accurate. Where where
there's not sufficient uh soft surface

554
00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:50,000
space for us to install within the uh
the approved rightway. Uh we may need to

555
00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:53,200
utilize aerial infrastructure to uh to
service those customers along the

556
00:43:51,440 --> 00:44:01,839
» I I just want to share I guess with the
city manager primarily uh that uh that

557
00:43:58,160 --> 00:44:06,240
my my ideal would be that there is no
aerial uh lines that are all put

558
00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:13,359
underground.
Uh and uh also my ideal would be anou or

559
00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:20,319
some kind of clause that indicates that
if in the future

560
00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:24,560
uh we do underground any utilities uh
part particularly in the commercial area

561
00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:30,079
or something uh that they need to
relocate uh um put them underground at

562
00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:37,920
their own expense. So, I don't know if
that fits in there, but I'm trying to be

563
00:44:33,359 --> 00:44:43,760
anticipatory into the future uh and u
make sure that uh we accommodate

564
00:44:40,160 --> 00:44:48,400
ourselves in first place. Uh is there
anybody else? Commissioner Stewart,

565
00:44:46,720 --> 00:44:53,040
» I have a couple questions and a comment
and I have a question for the solicitor,

566
00:44:50,079 --> 00:44:57,119
but um thank you and you seem like nice
gentlemen. You know, we had a little

567
00:44:54,400 --> 00:45:03,200
hiccup where your crew started on a city
street. It happens to be my street and

568
00:44:59,599 --> 00:45:08,000
and a a a woman found her right ofway
being dug up. So I guess that was a

569
00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:12,720
little bit of a you know it was
something we didn't ask for we were

570
00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:17,599
getting and um
>> uh is it correct that the only digging

571
00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:21,200
will be on in the right of way?
>> Yeah, that's correct. Unless we obtain a

572
00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:25,119
road of entry from that specific
property owner. Yeah, we would only stay

573
00:45:23,280 --> 00:45:29,200
within the the permissible right ofway
>> and the handheld is only when they

574
00:45:27,359 --> 00:45:33,520
subscribe to the service.
>> Uh the the the handholds are a part of

575
00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:36,880
the the permanent infrastructure
>> in the right of way.

576
00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:41,760
» Within the rightway, correct? Um they're
set in a way that uh any specific

577
00:45:39,520 --> 00:45:46,400
resident who subscribes,
>> we would not need to traverse another uh

578
00:45:44,160 --> 00:45:54,480
neighbor's property to to access them.
>> Okay. And then um I guess lastly just

579
00:45:51,280 --> 00:45:57,839
for context, we we as a city don't have
a right to say we don't want this. Is

580
00:45:56,560 --> 00:45:59,119
that correct?
>> That is correct.

581
00:45:58,720 --> 00:46:04,359
» Thank you.
>> The only thing we can do is govern how

582
00:46:00,720 --> 00:46:04,359
it is they exist.

583
00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:12,800
» Chris, Commissioner Galani, and then
Commissioner Saunders.

584
00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:17,920
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um a couple of
questions for you guys. Um, first of

585
00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:23,520
all, um, can you tell us where the hub
cabinet location will be?

586
00:46:21,920 --> 00:46:26,880
» I I have to look at the engineering to
to pinpoint that exactly for it, but I

587
00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:31,839
can get you that information. Um,
>> it looks like it's a relatively

588
00:46:29,760 --> 00:46:35,760
large structure.
>> It's approximately Yeah,

589
00:46:33,359 --> 00:46:38,800
» like like a bit of a smaller mediumiz.
>> I'm sure most of our city residents

590
00:46:37,119 --> 00:46:42,720
wouldn't be too happy if it appeared in
front of their house. Yeah, it would be

591
00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:46,160
it would likely be within a delta out
right away location um outside of the

592
00:46:44,800 --> 00:46:50,000
the residential area. Certainly
>> that that's my point and my hope is that

593
00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:54,720
it would be in a commercial district and
somewhere that it's not going to be a

594
00:46:51,760 --> 00:46:58,720
nuisance for for neighbors.
>> Yeah, we typically place it more in like

595
00:46:56,640 --> 00:47:00,800
a hightra area. Um
>> Okay.

596
00:46:59,119 --> 00:47:03,680
» But we'll we can get that specific
information for you if you like. Uh

597
00:47:02,240 --> 00:47:06,800
» thank you. I I would like that. Um
absolutely and appreciate that. Um and

598
00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:10,079
then the second question that I have is
um how many passive cabinets are there

599
00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:13,040
going to be and what are the locations
of those?

600
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:18,560
» Uh same thing like one passive cabinet
typically uh services approximately 7 to

601
00:47:16,160 --> 00:47:23,040
800 homes. Um I think Mark was a little
bit short on on the number there. So

602
00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:27,520
once again um that's a pretty pretty
dense area. Um so you won't see them a

603
00:47:26,319 --> 00:47:31,599
lot of places and those are much
smaller. They're they're kind of like uh

604
00:47:29,599 --> 00:47:34,640
I think they're about maybe three foot
high by like two foot wide,

605
00:47:33,119 --> 00:47:36,560
» but those will be in the residential
district.

606
00:47:35,359 --> 00:47:40,800
» They they would probably be somewhere
located within those more centralized to

607
00:47:38,240 --> 00:47:43,040
to those areas within the the 700 home
groupings. Correct.

608
00:47:41,599 --> 00:47:44,880
» I'd appreciate getting the locations of
those as well.

609
00:47:43,839 --> 00:47:50,560
» Yep. We'll get you those.
>> Um great. Next question is what is the

610
00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:54,960
trench depth for the for the uh wire?
>> We we typically go between two to three

611
00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:59,760
foot deep. Um, usually it's dictated by
the uh the pering mun uh the peritting

612
00:47:57,119 --> 00:48:04,880
entity whether it's Dell DOT or um or
the city itself. A lot of public works

613
00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:07,839
uh teams like us to be just above the uh
the water and sewer infrastructure. So

614
00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:10,880
they like us to live somewhere between
that two foot range give or take

615
00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:16,640
depending on how the services are are
run to the houses at that point. So we

616
00:48:13,280 --> 00:48:23,359
recently went through um experience with
um power line cutting by uh the power

617
00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:29,760
company and the a lot of our tree canopy
was um negatively impacted. So I'm just

618
00:48:26,720 --> 00:48:36,880
concerned about the the roots in the
trees and

619
00:48:31,680 --> 00:48:41,280
» um it would be you know who who do you
contract the work out or is it is it IQ

620
00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:44,559
Fiber that's actually doing the
installation? you know, we we have

621
00:48:43,119 --> 00:48:48,480
contractors that do the work for us
under our direct supervision.

622
00:48:46,079 --> 00:48:51,760
» Yeah, it would be helpful for us to be
able to have an opportunity to

623
00:48:49,920 --> 00:48:58,240
communicate with them to make sure that
the impact to our trees as well as um

624
00:48:56,400 --> 00:49:02,480
things that are in the public right of
way. We have um you know neighbors in

625
00:49:01,040 --> 00:49:06,559
this community particularly in North
Rhobit where they've probably done quite

626
00:49:04,319 --> 00:49:10,800
a bit of landscaping that is in the
public right of way. So my point is I

627
00:49:08,800 --> 00:49:14,720
would like to minimize the impact.
>> Absolutely. Yes.

628
00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:20,720
» Um the next question that I have is
about the and this is maybe more for the

629
00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:25,520
city manager and for the city on the
communication that we are I saw the door

630
00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:30,960
door hangers part part of your
presentation but I I feel like we need

631
00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:35,119
to do something ourselves um either in
lines of the sand or something to give

632
00:49:33,280 --> 00:49:38,720
neighbors a heads up. I I'm just trying
to be proactive here because it's going

633
00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:43,599
to come back to us, right? We're going
to have to be triaging a lot of

634
00:49:40,800 --> 00:49:47,280
commentary and feedback. And if we're
proactive in making sure that our

635
00:49:45,440 --> 00:49:51,680
residents know that this is coming and
not just waiting for a door hanger, you

636
00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:56,319
know, that they may or may not see
because we have a lot of part-time

637
00:49:53,440 --> 00:50:00,079
residents. Um, I really encourage us to
be smart with our communications

638
00:49:57,839 --> 00:50:04,720
department and forwardleaning so that
people know. Yeah, I'm sure our

639
00:50:02,079 --> 00:50:09,839
communications division can definitely
um work with IQ Fibers communications

640
00:50:07,359 --> 00:50:12,319
team and get information out as you know
they're working on certain streets. For

641
00:50:11,680 --> 00:50:15,839
sure.
>> Thank you.

642
00:50:12,960 --> 00:50:19,520
» Um can I so just um because this has
come up before um and I should have

643
00:50:17,760 --> 00:50:25,280
probably mentioned that we do have a
community relations team whose job is

644
00:50:22,240 --> 00:50:28,480
specifically that um and so we we would
love to be proactive. Here's some things

645
00:50:26,559 --> 00:50:34,640
we've done in the past. We've done
kickoff events. We've hosted town halls.

646
00:50:31,520 --> 00:50:38,480
» Um we enjoy those. We we'll fund them.
We'll we'll make them an event that

647
00:50:36,319 --> 00:50:45,280
hopefully people want to come to.
>> Um all in the um with the goal of making

648
00:50:41,599 --> 00:50:48,800
sure that these inquiries come to us um
because ultimately that's where they're

649
00:50:46,880 --> 00:50:53,280
going to need to be addressed. So we do
want to have as many relationships at

650
00:50:50,640 --> 00:50:56,880
that people level. And so yes um we will
work with with this team to make sure

651
00:50:55,359 --> 00:51:02,240
that we're doing that. We will work with
a communications cadence um that makes

652
00:51:00,079 --> 00:51:06,559
sense. Dave and his team have weekly
meetings with various communities today

653
00:51:04,640 --> 00:51:11,599
to talk about this thing either at the
department uh transportation level or

654
00:51:09,760 --> 00:51:16,079
public works level or town manager
level. Whatever whatever you guys would

655
00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:22,000
prefer, we would prefer as well that we
have very open, very robust

656
00:51:18,559 --> 00:51:26,880
communication from here until whenever.
>> It's good to hear that. um you know,

657
00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:32,160
knowing our residents, I'm sure they're
going to be reaching out directly to our

658
00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:36,319
city government. So, having that cadence
of uh communication set up between our

659
00:51:34,559 --> 00:51:41,920
two teams and the coordination, I think,
is critical. And I'm seeing heads

660
00:51:38,480 --> 00:51:43,680
nodding. So, thank you for that,
>> Commissioner Saunders. And then,

661
00:51:43,280 --> 00:51:48,319
Commissioner,
>> to be clear, there will be no new polls.

662
00:51:46,640 --> 00:51:53,200
Is that correct? You'll use existing
polls in every case.

663
00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:57,040
» Yeah. Yeah. We we're not um
we we would only utilize existing pole

664
00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:59,440
line infrastructure if need be. We we
certainly prefer to be underground. Like

665
00:51:58,319 --> 00:52:02,720
I said, it's much more protected.
>> Well, that's we're aiming to going

666
00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:04,800
underground completely at some time in
the future. So,

667
00:52:03,839 --> 00:52:08,160
» yeah, you would
>> if if that happens, especially the pole

668
00:52:06,319 --> 00:52:12,000
owners, be it um I'm not sure if it's
>> Can explain to me please, and I I'm

669
00:52:10,480 --> 00:52:17,200
ignorant on this. Can you tell me how
you get from your wire in the street to

670
00:52:14,800 --> 00:52:21,280
my house? you go.
>> It would be depending on if it's

671
00:52:18,400 --> 00:52:25,440
underground or or aerial, we would um
install an underground a direct buried

672
00:52:23,119 --> 00:52:27,839
fiber optic drop cable from our
termination point, which should be in

673
00:52:26,559 --> 00:52:30,720
front of your house or between you and
your neighbor directly to the

674
00:52:29,599 --> 00:52:35,440
termination point on the side of your
house. They would place that either

675
00:52:32,160 --> 00:52:40,400
utilizing um a vibratory plow, which is
kind of like a more of a heavier unit,

676
00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:44,480
or um they would actually use a um a
spade shovel, as we kind of call it, to

677
00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:48,400
to knife it in at about 10 inches deep.
And then do I need to buy any special

678
00:52:46,559 --> 00:52:50,240
equipment for it to work inside my
house?

679
00:52:48,720 --> 00:52:52,319
» You know, we supply everything.
>> Okay. Thank you.

680
00:52:50,960 --> 00:52:56,079
» Yes, sir.
>> Commissioner, good.

681
00:52:53,599 --> 00:53:01,520
» Uh, thank you for the presentation. I I
need to understand your business model a

682
00:52:58,720 --> 00:53:07,040
little better. Just because I'm I'm
looking I'll just be honest. We we have

683
00:53:03,760 --> 00:53:13,040
been Comcast customers here for many
many years and we're long-term customers

684
00:53:10,559 --> 00:53:18,480
and um with the exception of the snow
storm of well several snowstorms and and

685
00:53:15,680 --> 00:53:23,359
then one instance when a FedEx box truck
hit a Comcast I believe aerial cable

686
00:53:21,680 --> 00:53:27,839
which knocked out internet for about
five hours. It's it's generally been

687
00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:34,319
reliable, but I'm uh we [clears throat]
are paying well our our sort of rack

688
00:53:30,240 --> 00:53:38,079
rate is $59.99 a month for extremely uh
you know fairly fast internet and we put

689
00:53:36,480 --> 00:53:44,000
a lot of demands on the internet. You
know, we work from home. Um anyway, that

690
00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:49,440
but we because we're we agreed to
autodebit some years ago, we actually

691
00:53:46,240 --> 00:53:54,559
are paying $49.99 a month. And I'm just
wondering, you you show rates beginning

692
00:53:51,680 --> 00:53:58,559
at $65 a month for a residential
customer. Um Oh, in addition, I know you

693
00:53:56,880 --> 00:54:04,400
supply all equipment, but we purchased
equipment for about $30 full stop, I

694
00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:09,119
think, five or more years ago. So, I
don't I'm I'm curious as to whether

695
00:54:06,480 --> 00:54:14,319
those, you know, launch rates um are
working for you in other markets because

696
00:54:12,079 --> 00:54:18,880
of what I see. you know, Comcast and
Verizon tends to match Comcast in areas

697
00:54:16,559 --> 00:54:22,800
where you have both Comcast and Verizon
as you've probably noticed, but you have

698
00:54:20,800 --> 00:54:27,200
a little duopoly going on there. And I
believe there's a third player, Cox

699
00:54:25,200 --> 00:54:31,680
Communication. I have friends to the
west in Millsboro who also have the

700
00:54:29,200 --> 00:54:37,119
option. So if you if you'd kindly
explain

701
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:43,280
how this pricing structure is going to
appeal to enough residents in this city

702
00:54:40,319 --> 00:54:48,160
or do you have some possibility of
lowering your rates to more like $50 a

703
00:54:45,839 --> 00:54:52,800
month for you know for the starting um
you know the the uh initial or the sort

704
00:54:51,200 --> 00:54:58,720
of basic package.
>> Yeah. So, um, so I'll start with this.

705
00:54:55,440 --> 00:55:03,200
The our our business, we have shown in
every single market we've ever been to,

706
00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:08,880
we have the situation where there's
always an incumbent cable company. Um,

707
00:55:06,079 --> 00:55:14,400
and there's always competitive pricing.
What we have found that um, within about

708
00:55:11,760 --> 00:55:21,280
24 months, we'll end up with 40% of the
customers. Here's why. Um again we we

709
00:55:18,480 --> 00:55:27,280
provide a different type of service um
symmetrical bandwidth and and what we

710
00:55:24,160 --> 00:55:33,040
provide is it's it's priced differently
because it is different um fundamentally

711
00:55:30,559 --> 00:55:38,240
to people realize that there when you
take out all the hidden fees the things

712
00:55:35,040 --> 00:55:43,040
that um you don't have to pay for with
us for instance um your equipment

713
00:55:40,640 --> 00:55:46,559
experience 5 years ago is is I think
commissioner good you would find is much

714
00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:49,760
different if you go to Best Buy day and
look at, for instance, the Wi-Fi unit

715
00:55:48,079 --> 00:55:55,599
that we'll put into your home, it's
north of $800. So, it's a it's a big

716
00:55:53,359 --> 00:56:00,319
uplift in equipment because we're doing
much more horsepower. You know, 5 gigs

717
00:55:57,920 --> 00:56:03,680
through the air. Um, and if we need a
repeater, for instance, if you have a

718
00:56:01,760 --> 00:56:06,799
larger house with many walls, we're
going to walk around our our technician

719
00:56:05,599 --> 00:56:10,400
before they leave and they're going to
make sure that that throughput is seen

720
00:56:09,040 --> 00:56:14,720
throughout your residence. And if we
need to, we'll put a repeater again at

721
00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:19,040
our expense. So we do those sorts of
things that earn us customers. We're not

722
00:56:16,880 --> 00:56:22,640
we're not looking to be the lowest cost.
I think the ultimate for your community

723
00:56:20,880 --> 00:56:26,799
and all communities really is choice
because at the end of the day um that's

724
00:56:25,040 --> 00:56:30,720
going to you know if if at the end of
the day in order to get the numbers that

725
00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:36,000
we need I we I guess we will lower our
prices. We haven't had to yet um but

726
00:56:34,160 --> 00:56:39,440
maybe we will but that will be because
of competition. That's because there'll

727
00:56:37,680 --> 00:56:44,079
be uh you know us giving it our best
effort, Comcast. And so yeah, [snorts]

728
00:56:42,319 --> 00:56:48,640
that's I mean that's our business plan.
It's it's been working. Um it's you know

729
00:56:46,720 --> 00:56:55,119
our funders like it. Our success has
been decent um to to really good and um

730
00:56:52,400 --> 00:56:59,520
we we we fully expect to do very well in
Rahobit as a potential alternative. So

731
00:56:58,000 --> 00:57:03,520
just to follow up, so your market
penetration in places like South

732
00:57:01,119 --> 00:57:06,880
Carolina, what percentage of the market
um have you captured within like five

733
00:57:06,000 --> 00:57:13,359
years?
>> We well within 24 months were expected

734
00:57:11,040 --> 00:57:16,880
to capture between 35 and 40% and we've
been tracking to that. Some of our

735
00:57:15,119 --> 00:57:19,520
initial cabinets that have been in
longer are approaching 60% penetration

736
00:57:19,040 --> 00:57:22,799
and more.
>> And you haven't been in any markets for

737
00:57:21,119 --> 00:57:27,280
24 continuous months.
>> Oh yeah, we have. All of those um

738
00:57:24,640 --> 00:57:30,960
markets are in Florida. Those were our
initial markets. We haven't been in

739
00:57:28,559 --> 00:57:33,760
South Car South Carolina is um less than
two years old, right?

740
00:57:31,760 --> 00:57:38,720
» Oh, let's worry about let's focus on
Florida then. Like what's your market

741
00:57:35,599 --> 00:57:40,799
share in Florida after say okay 24
months?

742
00:57:39,119 --> 00:57:47,440
» We we we just I was just on a board
meeting two days ago and um the average

743
00:57:44,079 --> 00:57:50,880
penetration is around 50%. So,
>> thank you Suzanne.

744
00:57:48,480 --> 00:57:54,480
» Yeah, Commissioner Stewart,
>> uh I have one quick question because

745
00:57:52,559 --> 00:57:59,200
because our street was all marked up for
this. The lines that go on my lawn, the

746
00:57:57,280 --> 00:58:05,119
big red line that's been painted on my
lawn is not in the right of way. Is that

747
00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:08,559
just telling somebody something? It's
You're not intending. You told me you're

748
00:58:07,040 --> 00:58:10,240
not going to dig on my lawn.
>> Yeah.

749
00:58:09,119 --> 00:58:14,000
» But [clears throat] I I think this would
help because people haven't had the

750
00:58:11,760 --> 00:58:18,400
experience. We We've got green lines. We
got yellow lines. We got red lines. I've

751
00:58:16,160 --> 00:58:23,920
got a manhole cover in my rightway that
you've now painted bright blue. Thank

752
00:58:20,480 --> 00:58:27,599
you. Um so to that probably saves some
time if you tell us how this what these

753
00:58:26,079 --> 00:58:31,839
all mean to us.
>> Yeah. So so if you're seeing color lines

754
00:58:30,160 --> 00:58:34,480
out there after the M those are the
existing infrastructure lines. So red

755
00:58:33,440 --> 00:58:38,480
being power. Okay.
>> Um and a lot of those uh infrastructures

756
00:58:36,559 --> 00:58:42,319
were put in place like like uh you know
your power and your Verizon typically

757
00:58:41,119 --> 00:58:45,440
usually those are the two big things
that were installed probably when your

758
00:58:43,520 --> 00:58:49,839
development was was done many many years
ago. So, they required put in in a

759
00:58:47,599 --> 00:58:53,359
public utility rightaway, which is kind
which a lot of times falls outside of

760
00:58:51,280 --> 00:58:56,079
the the municipal rightway. So, they
might be a little bit further in the

761
00:58:54,400 --> 00:58:59,760
yard at that point. Um, we'll be
installing within the the permissible

762
00:58:57,599 --> 00:59:02,640
right away at that point. Um, but if
you're seeing

763
00:59:00,559 --> 00:59:05,920
» the what I think of as the rightway, not
the utility rightway that's in my yard.

764
00:59:04,720 --> 00:59:08,240
Is that what you're saying? Okay.
>> Yeah.

765
00:59:06,559 --> 00:59:11,839
» Um, like I said, if if you're seeing
color lines, that's existing

766
00:59:09,520 --> 00:59:15,920
infrastructure. Okay. Um when we do our
preconstruction uh preparations, you

767
00:59:14,319 --> 00:59:21,040
might see us all we call it white
lining. So white paint is proposed, but

768
00:59:19,359 --> 00:59:25,040
if it's colored, that's that's existing.
So you know, your blue is your water,

769
00:59:22,880 --> 00:59:28,559
» yellow is going to be your your gas. Uh
the two big ones that we try to really

770
00:59:27,119 --> 00:59:30,079
protect obviously is the power and the
gas.

771
00:59:28,960 --> 00:59:34,240
» That' be good because those are the
dangerous ones, but you know, everything

772
00:59:31,520 --> 00:59:37,119
we we will protect and and test pit and
make sure that they don't get damaged

773
00:59:35,599 --> 00:59:40,271
during our installation process.
>> Okay. Thank you,

774
00:59:38,400 --> 00:59:43,520
» Commissioner Gossip. Yes,
[clears throat] thank you. Uh, are you

775
00:59:41,839 --> 00:59:50,799
currently operating in any other
Delaware municipalities?

776
00:59:45,839 --> 00:59:54,480
» Yes. Uh, so we are in U Millsboro,
right? We've we've begun in Mills.

777
00:59:52,880 --> 00:59:58,079
» Well, we're we're beginning construction
in Milsboro.

778
00:59:55,359 --> 01:00:02,319
» Any any active where you have customers
online?

779
00:59:58,480 --> 01:00:05,839
» Yes. So, we started in um South Do um
those are I mean they're not towns like

780
01:00:04,319 --> 01:00:11,280
Rahobitis, but they're communities like
Magnolia and Highland Acres. And so yes,

781
01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:16,079
we and we've been we've had lit
customers there since what April.

782
01:00:14,240 --> 01:00:18,960
» Yes, since April. I think we're up to
400 customers. [clears throat]

783
01:00:17,280 --> 01:00:21,280
» Less less than a year.
>> Yeah. Months. Months. And we're up to

784
01:00:20,319 --> 01:00:25,520
400.
>> And you mentioned also that installation

785
01:00:23,280 --> 01:00:30,000
will be done by subcontractors.
>> Yes. That we directly supervise.

786
01:00:27,680 --> 01:00:32,880
» Okay. Um and [clears throat]
building, you know, prices look

787
01:00:31,440 --> 01:00:36,400
interesting, whatever. But with like
Comcast, which I'm used to, there's

788
01:00:34,480 --> 01:00:40,319
additional for telephone and TV and
streaming and that. Are these all add-on

789
01:00:38,480 --> 01:00:42,799
aspects to these baseline prices?
>> We do we we only provide internet. So if

790
01:00:42,400 --> 01:00:47,280
you're going to have
>> No, there's no TV. No

791
01:00:44,559 --> 01:00:51,520
» no no. If you're gonna um if if you
choose to go with us and you have an

792
01:00:48,640 --> 01:00:54,240
existing over-the-top streaming process,
our technicians will go through before

793
01:00:53,200 --> 01:00:57,760
they leave. They'll make sure that
that's all working on the new system.

794
01:00:55,680 --> 01:01:02,000
But no, we do not have we don't have any
television projects. We don't have any

795
01:00:59,280 --> 01:01:08,640
like typical cable products. Uh we don't
do telephone. um we all we do is what we

796
01:01:05,119 --> 01:01:11,359
do. And why we do that is because
um [snorts]

797
01:01:09,680 --> 01:01:15,599
we don't want to partner with a company
that maybe doesn't have the um the

798
01:01:14,160 --> 01:01:20,400
commitment to the customer service that
we do and and if we did that and and in

799
01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:24,079
there it was suboptimal then it's going
to affect all of us. So we stick to what

800
01:01:22,480 --> 01:01:27,760
we do and what we know what we build and
what we operate.

801
01:01:26,079 --> 01:01:31,440
And I guess [clears throat] question is
this for solicitor city manager is this

802
01:01:29,920 --> 01:01:35,760
an exclusive agreement that we're
signing?

803
01:01:33,200 --> 01:01:41,280
» No. If you look at the contract it says
that um we have the right to contract

804
01:01:38,240 --> 01:01:45,920
with anyone else as well.
>> I but also [clears throat] I just

805
01:01:42,799 --> 01:01:51,440
question how we came to the terms um uh
under 2.2. That's a 15-year contract and

806
01:01:48,799 --> 01:01:55,280
then an automatic renewal of 15 years.
And is that typical for what you're

807
01:01:53,520 --> 01:01:59,119
negotiating with the rest of the
Delaware or do we know or how did we

808
01:01:56,960 --> 01:02:03,680
arrive at those 15 and 15?
>> It's my understanding that it is we are

809
01:02:00,880 --> 01:02:09,760
atypical. Um they had requested 30 years
and we felt that that was far too long.

810
01:02:05,520 --> 01:02:16,559
So we only great agreed to 15 years.
>> And commissioner just one thing on the

811
01:02:12,640 --> 01:02:23,040
phone and TV aspect. So I know a lot of
people like landlines and TV. So, there

812
01:02:21,280 --> 01:02:29,200
are products out there that residents
could get if they did decide to do this,

813
01:02:24,880 --> 01:02:32,960
like a a VIP phone. Um, and then there
are cable. Um,

814
01:02:30,799 --> 01:02:35,760
» so they would be adding add-on costs.
>> They would just have to do that

815
01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:39,920
themselves. Yeah.
>> As we are all technically acknowledged

816
01:02:37,680 --> 01:02:44,720
of how to do that.
Um with that [laughter]

817
01:02:42,400 --> 01:02:50,878
» and I'm just curious also in our code um
we have a fee for utility poles and

818
01:02:47,359 --> 01:02:56,960
cables of $5 and I know we're
[clears throat] um going to update fees

819
01:02:53,119 --> 01:03:02,400
and uh codes in the in the future but
just curious is that defined as $5 one

820
01:02:59,680 --> 01:03:05,920
time over or $5 for every cable or do we
know any details on that? Now, we

821
01:03:03,839 --> 01:03:12,640
haven't done this in many, many years,
but if it's five bucks total, I think we

822
01:03:09,680 --> 01:03:16,720
need to reinvestigate that.
That's the fee charged to the supplier.

823
01:03:15,599 --> 01:03:19,960
So,
>> fair enough.

824
01:03:21,520 --> 01:03:30,880
» All right. Uh
if we go back to the agenda item report,

825
01:03:26,880 --> 01:03:36,400
uh the action that they're trying to uh
get out of us today is uh the proposed

826
01:03:33,440 --> 01:03:40,640
motion is to approve agreement for the
installation of a fiber optic broadband

827
01:03:39,039 --> 01:03:46,480
network between the city of Rahovit
Beach and IQ Fiber. Uh let's take a

828
01:03:43,920 --> 01:03:53,440
quick break and go to the members of the
public. Does anybody have any comments

829
01:03:48,559 --> 01:03:53,440
they'd like to say? Nancy and then Deb.

830
01:03:53,520 --> 01:03:59,920
And we'll come back to this table before
we vote.

831
01:03:57,920 --> 01:04:06,559
» Thank you, Chief. Um, two things just
both on aesthetics. That bigger box that

832
01:04:02,960 --> 01:04:10,400
serves seven or 800 people, I wonder if
it has a geological

833
01:04:08,720 --> 01:04:15,119
radius because we're we're diffused.
We're spread out. We're not a dense

834
01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:19,200
population. So, if you see seven or 800,
you think, well, most we'd have two of

835
01:04:16,720 --> 01:04:25,119
those in town. But, can we check on
that? is it um I if if if they have to

836
01:04:22,960 --> 01:04:28,799
be within a certain radius, we might
need more of those boxes and we wouldn't

837
01:04:27,359 --> 01:04:33,039
want a bunch of them there because we
really care about aesthetics. So that

838
01:04:30,400 --> 01:04:38,640
would be my first point and my second
point is I do understand that the

839
01:04:34,799 --> 01:04:43,359
handhole would be flush to the ground.
For those of us who have little strips

840
01:04:40,480 --> 01:04:48,000
of land between the sidewalk and the
street that we're required to mow but

841
01:04:45,520 --> 01:04:53,839
still may be with the city, could the
handhold go there or where would the

842
01:04:49,839 --> 01:04:56,960
handhold go? Does anyone know?
>> Thank you, Nancy.

843
01:04:55,760 --> 01:05:00,480
» Yeah, once again, I mean, I'd have to
check the specific engineering for uh

844
01:04:59,039 --> 01:05:03,760
the location you're describing. Like
said, we have to install within the

845
01:05:01,680 --> 01:05:07,520
permissible rightway. If that's our
location within there, then yeah, it

846
01:05:05,839 --> 01:05:11,039
would go within I always call that the
beauty strip, which is definitely

847
01:05:08,960 --> 01:05:14,079
between the curb and the sidewalk. If uh
if that's not a sufficient spacing and

848
01:05:12,960 --> 01:05:18,160
there's right away on the back side of
the sidewalk, that's where we would

849
01:05:15,280 --> 01:05:23,200
install the uh the flush grade handhole.
And as far as for the um your your first

850
01:05:20,640 --> 01:05:27,839
uh inquiry about the uh the large uh
cabinet that was in the picture, that

851
01:05:25,520 --> 01:05:32,799
that services 5,000 customers. So
there's only one with in all of Hobbit

852
01:05:30,240 --> 01:05:36,559
that would be that the the smaller ones
that would that would service

853
01:05:34,000 --> 01:05:41,280
approximately 700 plus houses. They're
like I said about 2 by3 and they located

854
01:05:39,200 --> 01:05:44,880
usually put them like maybe like um a
corner and infrastructure somewhere

855
01:05:42,480 --> 01:05:49,920
that's as inconspicuous as possible. Um
but you would see them like I said

856
01:05:46,559 --> 01:05:53,760
geolog like you said um within a radius
of that those those customers there

857
01:05:51,920 --> 01:06:00,175
disperses accurately.
>> Thank you Deb.

858
01:05:56,400 --> 01:06:04,160
Identify yourself. Thank you.
[laughter]

859
01:06:00,880 --> 01:06:10,880
» My name is Deb Ward. I'm resident at 339
Hickman Street. I am also a former

860
01:06:06,960 --> 01:06:14,960
Verizon FiOS employee. Um, so couple
questions because I'm familiar with

861
01:06:12,960 --> 01:06:18,799
that. Um,
one thing that we always talked about at

862
01:06:16,559 --> 01:06:25,280
least at Verizon is the benefit that we
were providing with the FiOS um, fiber

863
01:06:22,319 --> 01:06:30,559
cable is that it's fiber to the home
versus sharing bandwidth. And I can

864
01:06:27,920 --> 01:06:36,799
speak glad you get great con Comcast
service because I can tell you I've had

865
01:06:32,799 --> 01:06:44,640
that's why I'm gray pretty much. Um, I
notice I notice a change in service as

866
01:06:40,160 --> 01:06:48,799
our city um, uh, population
expands during the summer. Um, because

867
01:06:47,039 --> 01:06:52,640
now you got more people that are using
that service and now you're you don't

868
01:06:50,640 --> 01:06:58,880
have as much bandwidth. So, just to
confirm, we would have fiber to the home

869
01:06:56,319 --> 01:07:01,760
and it's not shared bandwidth. Correct.
>> Yeah, confirming that. Um, yeah, thank

870
01:07:00,559 --> 01:07:05,119
you for that. So yeah, what your
experience is in an overloaded cable

871
01:07:03,359 --> 01:07:10,240
node. As you know from your experience
at FiOS, yes, it is fiber to the home.

872
01:07:07,680 --> 01:07:14,960
We we build right now our minimum
backbone speed is 100 gigabits and

873
01:07:12,799 --> 01:07:20,799
that's drilled two different directions
to Equinex and then a data center in

874
01:07:17,520 --> 01:07:26,240
Baltimore and then it's TIG gig capacity
to the home but 100 gig, you know, right

875
01:07:23,680 --> 01:07:31,039
on on the laterals. So yeah, we we build
and then we monitor that very quickly in

876
01:07:28,559 --> 01:07:35,520
the industry usually like you know they
they act as you know like if it gets

877
01:07:32,960 --> 01:07:40,880
over 60% utilization we're way below
that. So we will just add capacity to

878
01:07:38,400 --> 01:07:45,200
make sure that we always want to be able
to brag about the capacity that we're

879
01:07:42,720 --> 01:07:52,240
able to give our customers. And then if
I may follow up. So again back in those

880
01:07:49,039 --> 01:07:58,319
days when Verizon was looking to expand
FiOS this was not seen as a desirable

881
01:07:56,319 --> 01:08:03,599
area because of the influx of
population. So I just want to confirm

882
01:08:01,280 --> 01:08:09,760
but because of what the governor is
initiating that's what's really kind of

883
01:08:06,160 --> 01:08:13,200
bringing you to us to say as all of
Delaware we want to we want to make this

884
01:08:11,680 --> 01:08:17,199
available
and Rahobit is just one area that we

885
01:08:15,520 --> 01:08:22,159
also think is going to benefit.
>> Yeah. in part. Um, yes, the governor, so

886
01:08:19,759 --> 01:08:31,440
Delaware, I will say, um, in all
honesty, has been extremely good to work

887
01:08:24,960 --> 01:08:35,679
with and was a a factor in okaying this,
um, immense amount of money that we're

888
01:08:33,279 --> 01:08:38,400
spending. Yes. Um, been in the industry
long enough to know, I remember those

889
01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:43,839
days. Yes. When you were looking for
contracts and you were doing different

890
01:08:40,000 --> 01:08:48,480
things. Um it's even, you know, um our
ROI is is uh dependent on our customer

891
01:08:46,799 --> 01:08:50,799
service. We don't even have contracts.
So, yeah, we're making a big commitment

892
01:08:50,080 --> 01:08:56,159
to
>> to to Delaware. Um we understand that

893
01:08:53,759 --> 01:08:59,920
some of the the um
>> you know, the cost of doing business

894
01:08:57,440 --> 01:09:03,040
here are there are a lot of HOA
communities, there are a lot of um

895
01:09:01,759 --> 01:09:07,679
smaller communities, there are a lot of
these conversations that need to be

896
01:09:05,359 --> 01:09:11,600
have. So we had to in terms of not only
just the money but the resources to

897
01:09:09,920 --> 01:09:17,520
commit to the entire project because
that's really what it's going to take.

898
01:09:13,520 --> 01:09:22,319
» Yeah. Don't underestimate the impact of
the cost of what building this

899
01:09:19,679 --> 01:09:27,520
infrastructure is. Um two maybe two more
questions. So for the equipment um I

900
01:09:25,199 --> 01:09:31,920
know there's we had a box on the outside
of the house kind of similar a little

901
01:09:30,159 --> 01:09:36,239
bit bigger than what you may have now
with a Comcast box. Is there something

902
01:09:34,560 --> 01:09:39,040
on the outside of the house as well as
on the inside?

903
01:09:37,279 --> 01:09:43,279
» Yeah, we we'll typ typically place a net
on the exterior of the home. Um I think

904
01:09:40,640 --> 01:09:46,960
Verizon Fires a lot of times used an
active box on the exterior that they

905
01:09:44,960 --> 01:09:52,080
transition to Ethernet into the home.
>> We don't we just use a very small

906
01:09:49,279 --> 01:09:56,880
passive demark uh nid on the outside. So
it transitions from our exterior drop

907
01:09:53,679 --> 01:10:00,719
cable to the in interior uh drop line
that goes into your home to your uh to

908
01:09:58,880 --> 01:10:03,120
your router and switch
>> and then

909
01:10:01,199 --> 01:10:06,480
» but it's it's very small. It's like a
probably like that big. Like it's

910
01:10:04,719 --> 01:10:11,760
extremely small and inconspicuous.
>> And then again with the technology, you

911
01:10:08,960 --> 01:10:17,679
know, the router as as time goes on, the
technology in improves. You're you're

912
01:10:14,880 --> 01:10:21,600
offering this equipment as part of the
contract price. Correct.

913
01:10:18,960 --> 01:10:25,520
» Does that also include down the road
upgrades to equipment if necessary?

914
01:10:24,320 --> 01:10:29,199
» Yeah, it is. And there there's no
contract that just um we we own and

915
01:10:27,760 --> 01:10:33,360
maintain that. We do the firmware
upgrades remotely and then we're always

916
01:10:31,679 --> 01:10:36,480
looking for opportunities to upgrade the
speed. As I said, we want to match as

917
01:10:35,040 --> 01:10:40,880
soon as possible
>> um from 5 to 10 and and and get into

918
01:10:38,960 --> 01:10:44,080
that. So, yeah, we will we we we will
monitor that and upgrade that would we

919
01:10:43,120 --> 01:10:48,960
would just send it. That's a
plug-and-play that the customer can do

920
01:10:46,560 --> 01:10:51,280
» and and does does that equipment box
that's in the home have a battery

921
01:10:50,480 --> 01:10:56,719
backup?
>> It doesn't. It doesn't. But um it can

922
01:10:53,679 --> 01:11:00,960
live on your really your less expensive
battery backup um because it's it

923
01:10:59,040 --> 01:11:04,480
doesn't draw that much electricity. So
even a smaller battery backup would run

924
01:11:02,800 --> 01:11:05,760
at probably 24 hours,
>> right?

925
01:11:05,040 --> 01:11:10,159
» Yeah. Okay.
>> Thank you, Dev.

926
01:11:08,480 --> 01:11:14,320
» Will we get an idea of timing of when
this is happening?

927
01:11:12,320 --> 01:11:18,960
» Of course. Yes.
>> Yes. But we can't do anything until the

928
01:11:16,560 --> 01:11:24,480
contract is approved, which is why we're
waiting to see.

929
01:11:21,600 --> 01:11:29,280
» Anybody else?
>> We'll bring it back up here. Uh Taylor,

930
01:11:26,640 --> 01:11:32,280
do you want to or Lisa, do you want to
uh

931
01:11:34,080 --> 01:11:36,560
» say anything further?
>> No.

932
01:11:36,080 --> 01:11:43,120
» No.
>> Okay. So, uh again, the uh the motion

933
01:11:40,239 --> 01:11:46,159
the the agreement is a support document.
Uh, Commissioner Stewart, you had uh

934
01:11:45,360 --> 01:11:50,239
» I was going to move
>> else you wanted to say

935
01:11:47,440 --> 01:11:55,440
» I had another question,
>> Mr. Mayor.

936
01:11:53,040 --> 01:12:03,040
» Uh, Commissioner Good.
>> So, I'm worried about jumping into this

937
01:11:58,800 --> 01:12:09,520
until we have a better better idea of
comparable um options. My my issue is

938
01:12:06,719 --> 01:12:14,640
that, you know, I'm I'm I'm looking at
your pricing and it seems to be the

939
01:12:12,080 --> 01:12:19,040
older business model of Comcast and
Verizon where people would rent

940
01:12:16,480 --> 01:12:23,920
equipment through Comcast and Verizon
each month and everyone wanted to get

941
01:12:21,199 --> 01:12:28,080
away from that because the the net cost
the monthly cost kept rising because the

942
01:12:26,400 --> 01:12:32,400
rental and then you know the federal
taxes. So whereas you know you are

943
01:12:30,480 --> 01:12:36,159
giving this all-inclusive price that
includes the equipment and includes you

944
01:12:34,480 --> 01:12:41,120
know eventually you're saying you'll
state-of-the-art equipment upgrades. I'm

945
01:12:38,880 --> 01:12:46,159
nervous about that pricing model because
it's it's a little bit outdated now in

946
01:12:44,159 --> 01:12:51,679
in terms of what the you know the big
players in this market Verizon and

947
01:12:47,920 --> 01:12:57,199
Comcast are um are have been using for
probably almost a decade now. So I I

948
01:12:54,159 --> 01:13:01,760
just I I'm not you know I I think
rushing into this today [snorts] would

949
01:12:59,440 --> 01:13:03,920
be premature but you know others
obviously have you know different

950
01:13:03,280 --> 01:13:08,000
opinions.
>> Thank you Suzanne. Susan

951
01:13:05,920 --> 01:13:11,679
» mayor I'd like to make a motion to
approve the agreement for the

952
01:13:09,360 --> 01:13:16,560
installation of a fiber optic broadband
network between the city of Rahobath and

953
01:13:14,400 --> 01:13:20,320
IQ Fiber
um LLC.

954
01:13:18,239 --> 01:13:25,040
» Second it. Uh we have a motion and a
second to approve the agreement uh here

955
01:13:22,560 --> 01:13:32,400
in for the installation of a fiber optic
broadband network between city ro beach

956
01:13:27,280 --> 01:13:35,600
and IQ Fiber LLC. Um uh all those in
favor signify by saying I

957
01:13:35,199 --> 01:13:39,679
» I
>> I those opposed.

958
01:13:37,600 --> 01:13:43,280
» Mayor I abstain. I don't feel as if we
have enough information to make an

959
01:13:40,960 --> 01:13:47,199
informed decision on this. Thank you.
>> Okay.

960
01:13:44,159 --> 01:13:52,640
» I'll I'll abstain as well. But we uh and
the record will show that uh all the

961
01:13:49,920 --> 01:13:57,840
commissioners voted yes uh but for
Commissioner Gossit and Commissioner

962
01:13:54,401 --> 01:14:01,120
[snorts] Good who abstained.
>> Very good. Gentlemen, thank you for

963
01:13:59,760 --> 01:14:07,239
coming here today.
>> Uh no, I'm going to do the proclamation

964
01:14:04,239 --> 01:14:07,239
now.

965
01:14:09,679 --> 01:14:12,920
» Well, let's

966
01:14:14,560 --> 01:14:17,520
do this.

967
01:14:33,701 --> 01:14:35,721
» [clears throat]

968
01:14:36,560 --> 01:14:45,920
» You're not going to come. You're good.
>> Up here. Okay. Uh my uh

969
01:14:43,760 --> 01:14:50,560
my group was supposed to come here to
represent the uh ovarian cancer

970
01:14:48,400 --> 01:14:57,600
survivors and I don't know where they
are. They're stuck on Highway Route One.

971
01:14:53,840 --> 01:15:02,400
So uh I've asked the uh mayor elect
Susan Stewart to to join me today. This

972
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:09,520
is a proclamation for ovarian cancer
awareness month September 20 26. Whereas

973
01:15:07,120 --> 01:15:15,440
ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all
female reproductive system cancers.

974
01:15:12,800 --> 01:15:20,640
And whereas the American Cancer Society
estimates that in 2026

975
01:15:18,080 --> 01:15:27,360
over 21,10
women will be newly diagnosed with

976
01:15:22,800 --> 01:15:33,199
ovarian cancer. And whereas in 2025 it
is estimated that approximately 12,450

977
01:15:30,719 --> 01:15:37,600
women will die in the United States from
ovarian cancer.

978
01:15:35,520 --> 01:15:42,480
Many women are not diagnosed until the
disease has begun to spread. But if the

979
01:15:40,400 --> 01:15:49,600
disease is detected at its earliest
state, stage one, the 5year survival

980
01:15:46,239 --> 01:15:54,560
rate is more than 92%.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often

981
01:15:51,679 --> 01:16:00,560
subtle and easily confused with other
ailments. And whereas one in 91 women

982
01:15:58,320 --> 01:16:06,159
will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer
during their lifetime.

983
01:16:03,199 --> 01:16:11,120
Whereas during ovarian cancer awareness
month, we honor the loved ones we have

984
01:16:08,719 --> 01:16:16,400
lost to this disease and all those who
battle it today. And we continue our

985
01:16:14,080 --> 01:16:22,400
work to improve care and raise awareness
about ovarian cancer. And whereas that

986
01:16:20,320 --> 01:16:26,960
is why it is important for all women to
pay attention to their bodies and know

987
01:16:24,159 --> 01:16:32,960
what is normal for them. Women who
experience unexplained changes including

988
01:16:29,280 --> 01:16:37,360
abdominal pain, pressure and swelling
should talk with their health care

989
01:16:34,400 --> 01:16:43,040
providers. And whereas ovarian cancer
and the hardship it brings have affected

990
01:16:39,520 --> 01:16:47,120
too many lives. This September we stand
with everyone who has been touched by

991
01:16:44,719 --> 01:16:51,920
this disease and we recognize all those
committed to advancing the fight against

992
01:16:49,679 --> 01:16:58,560
the cancer through research, advocacy
and quality care. And now therefore we

993
01:16:55,199 --> 01:17:05,560
mayor Mills board vice president Patrick
>> Gosset and President-elect

994
01:17:02,560 --> 01:17:05,560
» mayor

995
01:17:05,663 --> 01:17:09,840
[laughter]
>> mayor

996
01:17:07,840 --> 01:17:16,719
Stewart
hereby proclaim September 2026 as

997
01:17:13,280 --> 01:17:22,000
ovarian cancer awareness month. Together
let us renew our commitment to reducing

998
01:17:18,800 --> 01:17:27,600
the impact of ovarian cancer and to a
future free from cancer in all form

999
01:17:24,159 --> 01:17:30,400
proclaimed as 21st day of August 2026.
Stan Mills and Patrick Gosset. So, thank

1000
01:17:30,080 --> 01:17:34,538
you.
>> Thank you, Mayor.

1001
01:17:32,518 --> 01:17:34,538
[applause]

1002
01:17:38,800 --> 01:17:43,480
» Thank you. Thank you for joining me up
here.

1003
01:18:04,239 --> 01:18:13,839
Who knows the presiding officer?
>> I think you're in charge for the

1004
01:18:09,520 --> 01:18:13,839
» president can do it. [laughter]

1005
01:18:14,719 --> 01:18:21,920
» All right, Mr. Tedar, if you'd like to
begin your report.

1006
01:18:19,040 --> 01:18:26,239
Thank you.
This item is the uh review and discuss

1007
01:18:24,080 --> 01:18:30,080
the request for information submissions
received for our potential master

1008
01:18:27,920 --> 01:18:34,640
planning initiative. As you know,
earlier this year, the city released a

1009
01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:40,239
request for information
um looking for master planning services.

1010
01:18:37,679 --> 01:18:45,040
And so the RFI really is a information
gathering session. So, for those of you

1011
01:18:42,320 --> 01:18:51,679
that have looked at the packet, um I
included the actual RFI itself that the

1012
01:18:47,679 --> 01:18:58,560
city um authored and sent out to over
two dozen uh planning firms. And then we

1013
01:18:55,520 --> 01:19:04,320
received four responses uh one from
Dover Colon Partners, one from Rossi

1014
01:19:01,679 --> 01:19:10,719
Group, Tool Design, and Wallace
Montgomery. Um, and then I also included

1015
01:19:07,679 --> 01:19:16,800
the uh zoning code update presentation
that Dover Cole did for the city um not

1016
01:19:13,520 --> 01:19:23,440
too long ago. So ultimately really what
we're looking for is to try to come up

1017
01:19:20,640 --> 01:19:27,520
with a scope of work and after the
sharet week and the work that Do Cole

1018
01:19:25,360 --> 01:19:32,880
has done so far, um staff's
recommendation is to move forward with

1019
01:19:30,239 --> 01:19:37,120
Dover Cole. What I'd like to do is have
the board of commissioners um authorize

1020
01:19:34,880 --> 01:19:43,920
me to go back to do coal and try to come
up with a scope of work um for us uh

1021
01:19:40,480 --> 01:19:48,640
with a specific price because the the
pricing really can vary depending on

1022
01:19:45,600 --> 01:19:54,640
what components are in the actual master
planning efforts. Um the city's never

1023
01:19:51,040 --> 01:20:00,320
had an economic development um analysis
performed on our commercial corridor.

1024
01:19:57,600 --> 01:20:05,360
Um, but we've had a lot of other studies
done such as parking and transportation

1025
01:20:02,800 --> 01:20:08,880
and those are already being they've
already been reviewed and used by Dover

1026
01:20:07,440 --> 01:20:14,800
Cole. So those are things that we
wouldn't need um to do again. Um, so

1027
01:20:12,560 --> 01:20:22,159
ultimately, um, in speaking with Joe
Cole, it does sound like we could land

1028
01:20:17,360 --> 01:20:28,719
in the 2 to 300 range, under 300,000,
um, which we did budget for planning

1029
01:20:25,280 --> 01:20:34,000
services, um, in the budget. But, um,
ultimately, if you do authorize me to go

1030
01:20:31,679 --> 01:20:38,159
back to do Cole and ask for a formalized
scope of work to really show all of the

1031
01:20:36,080 --> 01:20:41,199
pieces of what this would entail, I
would bring that back to you for your

1032
01:20:39,679 --> 01:20:45,040
approval.
Mr. Tedar, am I correct that

1033
01:20:43,760 --> 01:20:49,760
Commissioner Saunders,
>> I'm sorry. Am I correct that that would

1034
01:20:47,040 --> 01:20:54,560
dovetail with what do Cole is currently
doing for us?

1035
01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:57,440
» Yes. So, it would build upon that for a
greater vision of what our what our

1036
01:20:56,960 --> 01:21:00,080
downtown.
>> You would not be paying twice for the

1037
01:20:59,120 --> 01:21:01,440
same product.
>> Correct.

1038
01:21:00,960 --> 01:21:05,679
» Very good.
>> Because right now they're only focused

1039
01:21:03,040 --> 01:21:07,760
on our commercial zoning code.
>> Thank you,

1040
01:21:06,080 --> 01:21:13,040
» Mr. Mayor.
>> Commissioner Good.

1041
01:21:10,000 --> 01:21:17,760
So, um, those of you, uh, I think all of
us here did see the July 17th

1042
01:21:15,440 --> 01:21:22,400
presentation which culminated over
Kohl's, uh, spending, I think, four

1043
01:21:20,320 --> 01:21:27,679
working days in the city with the
Cherrettes. And that 150,000 in the end,

1044
01:21:26,000 --> 01:21:33,120
well, it brought four consultants up
from Florida, you know, that we had to

1045
01:21:29,679 --> 01:21:39,120
fund. Um, had exactly two
recommendations. One of which seemed um

1046
01:21:36,159 --> 01:21:44,239
which was one was to obviate the two
parking space requirement for mix for

1047
01:21:41,600 --> 01:21:49,600
new mixeduse um properties which seemed
odd because those properties typically

1048
01:21:46,560 --> 01:21:58,000
do do need off- streetet parking.
And the other one was to tweak the 42

1049
01:21:53,120 --> 01:22:04,400
foot height maximum if if they if the
um renovation or the new construction

1050
01:22:01,360 --> 01:22:11,040
had a more aesthetically aesthetically
superior way to maybe sort of have part

1051
01:22:07,440 --> 01:22:15,920
of the roof be a little above 42 feet,
but most of it comply with the 42 feet,

1052
01:22:13,600 --> 01:22:20,480
which seemed like a maybe a reasonable
thing to consider. I I felt city staff

1053
01:22:18,239 --> 01:22:26,400
and and citizens would be able to make
that decision without a a consultant.

1054
01:22:23,120 --> 01:22:30,480
What concerns me is that a lot of this
master planning, it's it's government

1055
01:22:28,800 --> 01:22:35,440
spending. government spending, which
means the taxpayers and the rateayers

1056
01:22:32,719 --> 01:22:40,960
here are funding this, which normally
the board of commissioners were tasked

1057
01:22:37,040 --> 01:22:46,800
with police, fire, and infrastructure.
And the all these consultancies end up

1058
01:22:43,840 --> 01:22:52,560
being a lot of sessions with getting
feedback from mostly amateurs in my

1059
01:22:49,520 --> 01:22:59,760
view. And it seems redundant with the
CDP, which were mandated to do every 10

1060
01:22:55,760 --> 01:23:06,320
years. So, I'm very concerned that
someone for some reason is enamored of

1061
01:23:02,400 --> 01:23:12,239
Dover Cole in spite of very minimal,
underwhelming

1062
01:23:07,840 --> 01:23:18,000
uh output from their $150,000
consultancy, which we saw, if you watch

1063
01:23:14,320 --> 01:23:23,840
the July 17th 2M meeting, see for
yourself if that is how we should be

1064
01:23:21,440 --> 01:23:27,760
spending the public's money. I think
not. So I will obviously be voting

1065
01:23:26,239 --> 01:23:32,800
against uh the STRA staff
recommendation. No surprise of the four

1066
01:23:30,159 --> 01:23:37,199
contractors is continue with do coal.
Yeah, maybe it segways better than the

1067
01:23:35,120 --> 01:23:43,440
other three being, you know, newbies on
the block for us. But um I'm very

1068
01:23:40,719 --> 01:23:50,960
concerned about this. I don't know why
we need more guidance than, you know,

1069
01:23:46,639 --> 01:23:56,239
than other 1.2 two uh square mile towns
in Delaware which you know rely on the

1070
01:23:53,440 --> 01:24:01,840
CDP for for most of this work.
>> Thank you Suzanne. Uh

1071
01:23:58,880 --> 01:24:07,199
did Commissioner Stewart?
>> Thank you mayor. Um I think we have a

1072
01:24:04,960 --> 01:24:12,719
very distinct and and narrow question
here and that is do we authorize the

1073
01:24:09,600 --> 01:24:17,920
city manager to go back and get no do
called to narrow their scope. Number

1074
01:24:14,560 --> 01:24:23,520
one, we have not seen the output yet
from the zoning code rewrite. Number

1075
01:24:20,000 --> 01:24:30,880
two. Number three, we
derived 63% of our revenue from tourism

1076
01:24:26,880 --> 01:24:38,080
related activity, 10.9 from property
taxes and yet 100% of our quality of

1077
01:24:34,880 --> 01:24:43,120
life issues are this disharmony between
the commercial existence and our

1078
01:24:40,480 --> 01:24:48,800
existence. We have to plan for the
future if we want to preserve what we

1079
01:24:45,360 --> 01:24:54,320
like about the past. And then lastly, um
I've learned this past summer in the

1080
01:24:51,520 --> 01:24:59,360
last month that the words reimagine
Rahobitth are triggering for some

1081
01:24:55,920 --> 01:25:02,639
people. So, can we never say it again
and call this something else?

1082
01:25:00,960 --> 01:25:05,760
» That's why I called it master planning
services.

1083
01:25:03,440 --> 01:25:08,639
» Okay, cool. Thanks. It's and it's off
the website. That little

1084
01:25:07,760 --> 01:25:12,320
» We'll be changing.
>> Okay. Thank you, Mayor.

1085
01:25:11,280 --> 01:25:16,400
Commissioner Saunders,
>> I just want to respond to uh

1086
01:25:13,920 --> 01:25:20,800
Commissioner Good. If you had been there
to the Cherrettes, I think you would

1087
01:25:18,080 --> 01:25:25,280
have found that we that that we got a
lot more than just two suggestions for

1088
01:25:22,960 --> 01:25:30,000
the $157,000.
First of all, the $157,000

1089
01:25:27,520 --> 01:25:34,400
is for the next two years that they will
be working on our updates with us.

1090
01:25:32,000 --> 01:25:38,320
» Mark, address Address us.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. So, at any rate, I don't

1091
01:25:36,159 --> 01:25:41,280
want the public to be misled into
Commissioner Good's comments because

1092
01:25:40,159 --> 01:25:46,400
they were false.
>> Mr. Mayor, no,

1093
01:25:43,040 --> 01:25:51,840
» I'm aware that not all the work has been
affected by Dover Cole under the 100%.

1094
01:25:49,040 --> 01:25:54,400
» You do not have I would like the floor,
please.

1095
01:25:52,080 --> 01:25:57,920
» Do not have the floor. Chris, did you
have something?

1096
01:25:55,760 --> 01:26:04,320
» Uh, sure. So, a a couple of things.
Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Um, first of all, I

1097
01:26:00,719 --> 01:26:10,159
uh thank you for putting this um report
together. Um, I really enjoyed the

1098
01:26:06,960 --> 01:26:18,000
sharetses and um I thought the RFI
responses were really helpful to to

1099
01:26:13,360 --> 01:26:27,120
have. Um, to me the um breadth of
experience um that is outlined in the

1100
01:26:22,159 --> 01:26:32,480
Dover Cole response is is notable. um it
far surpasses the um input from the

1101
01:26:31,040 --> 01:26:36,639
others. There there were interesting
ideas in in the other responses and I'm

1102
01:26:34,960 --> 01:26:43,040
grateful that those companies took the
time to to put those um responses

1103
01:26:40,080 --> 01:26:46,480
together. Um you know, a point that I
made when we had our meeting in July

1104
01:26:44,800 --> 01:26:51,280
after the Cherrettes was that I think
doing nothing is a dereliction of duty

1105
01:26:48,480 --> 01:26:55,120
and I stand by that comment. Um, I think
we have to be intentional in planning

1106
01:26:53,280 --> 01:27:03,040
for the future and I think that that's
what this work does. So, I am um excited

1107
01:26:59,360 --> 01:27:09,440
about it and I'm supportive.
>> Mr. Mayor, can clarify just

1108
01:27:05,199 --> 01:27:11,679
» Taylor, can you uh uh uh reiterate what
you're hoping to get out of this

1109
01:27:10,960 --> 01:27:16,320
conversation?
>> Mr. Mayor, can I just clarify? I No, you

1110
01:27:13,679 --> 01:27:21,520
can't. I think
I wasn't there. I was in Montana until

1111
01:27:19,360 --> 01:27:24,560
Thursday night the 16th on a vacation
that had been qualifies as not there.

1112
01:27:23,280 --> 01:27:29,679
» Yeah, but I mean you act as though
somehow I deliberately wasn't there. I

1113
01:27:27,199 --> 01:27:34,800
had a planned vacation in April and the
cheret dates were announced in May. So I

1114
01:27:32,480 --> 01:27:39,280
had no ability to be present. I was here
for the 2:00 meeting on July 17th though

1115
01:27:37,440 --> 01:27:45,679
which had was on the calendar. There's a
proposed motion question right on the

1116
01:27:41,920 --> 01:27:49,120
last page of the agenda item report um
>> directing the city manager to negotiate

1117
01:27:47,440 --> 01:27:52,960
a scope of work and fee proposal with
Dover Cole and partners for downtown

1118
01:27:51,280 --> 01:27:56,080
master planning services structured as
the next phase of the city's existing

1119
01:27:54,480 --> 01:27:58,239
engagement with the firm on the zoning
code update

1120
01:27:56,639 --> 01:28:02,639
» and and if we do that and there's a
favorable outcome what is our commitment

1121
01:28:01,040 --> 01:28:07,840
to them are we
>> there is no commitment until I bring

1122
01:28:05,120 --> 01:28:13,600
that proposal back to you for approval
So, I think we can get it done fairly

1123
01:28:10,880 --> 01:28:18,560
quickly. Um, perhaps as soon as the next
meeting. Um, but that's where you would

1124
01:28:16,880 --> 01:28:22,639
commit. Right now, you're not committing
to anything. Just directing me to go

1125
01:28:20,639 --> 01:28:28,639
back to them and get a scope of work.
>> Okay. So, what it is, what our motion

1126
01:28:25,199 --> 01:28:35,840
today would be
>> directing directing you, but but to do

1127
01:28:32,719 --> 01:28:38,800
Cole and and excluding the other three.
>> Yes, sir. And I don't know if you want

1128
01:28:37,199 --> 01:28:42,000
to do public comment.
>> That's next. Yes,

1129
01:28:40,239 --> 01:28:45,120
» Mr.
What is the rush to do the second

1130
01:28:44,000 --> 01:28:50,639
contract? Mr.
>> You do not have the floor. Contract has

1131
01:28:47,840 --> 01:28:57,679
» My name is Nancy Doyle and I live at 202
Country Club Drive. Um, I uh like the

1132
01:28:53,920 --> 01:29:01,360
comments of uh Mark Saunders and also
Commissioner Glante and uh

1133
01:29:00,276 --> 01:29:05,760
[clears throat] Commissioner Mark
Saunders and Commissioner Glanti and

1134
01:29:03,520 --> 01:29:09,280
having attended a lot of the week of
shits because it happened to be

1135
01:29:07,600 --> 01:29:14,639
convenient for my schedule. I know it
wasn't for others. There was such broad

1136
01:29:12,159 --> 01:29:18,560
community support. We really needed to
do this. The citizens the business

1137
01:29:16,239 --> 01:29:24,159
people came in skeptical. It's the
singular. It's popular thing. I can only

1138
01:29:21,280 --> 01:29:30,239
think of one person I've ever met who's
trying to throw water on this. So, it's,

1139
01:29:27,360 --> 01:29:35,040
you know, we really shouldn't because I
saw a lot of deep community consensus on

1140
01:29:32,960 --> 01:29:40,000
this and I was impressed with them and I
was willing not to be, but it's exactly

1141
01:29:37,360 --> 01:29:46,719
what Chris says. They know a lot. So, I
I'm strongly in favor of this and I like

1142
01:29:43,280 --> 01:29:50,639
the idea of saying um change not chance.
It's not that we're doing social

1143
01:29:48,320 --> 01:29:55,040
engineering or autocratically telling
people what to do. It's that we're

1144
01:29:52,880 --> 01:30:01,520
listening to our businesses and
residents who are all saying, "Yes, we

1145
01:29:57,199 --> 01:30:05,760
need this." And and and I I am certain
there is a huge amount of community

1146
01:30:03,120 --> 01:30:09,920
support behind this project and I I I
I've been in touch with people. I live

1147
01:30:07,679 --> 01:30:14,480
through that week. I know it's there.
So, it's just I stand on that certainty

1148
01:30:12,080 --> 01:30:19,719
and I convey it to you.
>> Thank you, Nancy. Susan Gay.

1149
01:30:20,560 --> 01:30:26,560
» Thanks, Susan Gay, Country Club Drive.
Um, my comments actually go back a

1150
01:30:24,880 --> 01:30:31,360
little bit in time. Um, when I was a
newly appointed planning commissioner

1151
01:30:28,320 --> 01:30:35,440
almost 10 years ago, um, I remember the
then chairman David Melon talking

1152
01:30:33,520 --> 01:30:39,360
frequently about the need for a master
plan. In fact, I realize now that there

1153
01:30:37,600 --> 01:30:44,159
are two others were with me in that
time. Joyce Lucer Barry were on the

1154
01:30:42,080 --> 01:30:51,600
planning commission then as well. And
when we started working on the 2020 CDP,

1155
01:30:47,199 --> 01:30:54,800
we had agenda items on mixed use and um
and some new projects were starting to

1156
01:30:53,360 --> 01:30:58,880
come in then. Some of the big new
development projects came to us then.

1157
01:30:56,960 --> 01:31:02,639
And of course, that process got a little
changed by the by the pandemic. This was

1158
01:31:00,800 --> 01:31:06,800
pre- pandemic. But nevertheless, I want
to just make quote a couple of things

1159
01:31:04,639 --> 01:31:12,880
that Chairman Melon said at the time
because uh they resonate very much

1160
01:31:09,440 --> 01:31:15,920
today. He said, 'We don't have mixeduse
housing in the commercial district

1161
01:31:14,320 --> 01:31:20,400
conceptually in the way most people
would think of mixeduse housing. If the

1162
01:31:18,400 --> 01:31:25,520
city were to decide that's where we want
to go, it will result in a different

1163
01:31:22,560 --> 01:31:31,440
looking downtown ultimately. Rather than
let that happen haphazardly on a one-off

1164
01:31:28,000 --> 01:31:35,920
basis, there should be a master plan.
Then when asked what's a master plan, he

1165
01:31:33,760 --> 01:31:39,760
said, this is again chairman Mill, not
me. You take a look at the whole

1166
01:31:37,840 --> 01:31:44,000
downtown area. You take a look at it
holistically. What do we want the town

1167
01:31:41,840 --> 01:31:47,679
to look like in the future? Then you
develop a master plan with a concept of

1168
01:31:46,000 --> 01:31:52,159
how people will use it and where you
want to go in the future. We have not

1169
01:31:49,920 --> 01:31:56,080
done that as a city unfortunately and it
penalizes each group that comes before

1170
01:31:54,560 --> 01:32:00,719
us.
So I could not be happier given given my

1171
01:31:59,199 --> 01:32:04,480
experience over the years with planning
commission. I could not be happier that

1172
01:32:02,239 --> 01:32:08,000
we're at that point today and I feel
very positive about it and I certainly

1173
01:32:06,080 --> 01:32:11,600
hope we move ahead with it. The other
thing I would say just as a comment

1174
01:32:09,360 --> 01:32:15,840
about because I read the do coal uh and
I expected it to be good because I had

1175
01:32:13,280 --> 01:32:19,600
been very impressed with the sheretses
um and every how all that transpired.

1176
01:32:18,239 --> 01:32:24,000
But one of the things that impressed me
the most about that was the way they

1177
01:32:22,159 --> 01:32:30,239
took out the architectural review guide
which had not been looked at in a very

1178
01:32:25,840 --> 01:32:34,080
long time and they used that as a to to
inform some of the recommendations they

1179
01:32:32,800 --> 01:32:37,199
were making and some of the questions
they asked. And I would hope there there

1180
01:32:35,840 --> 01:32:40,400
are other reports, there are parking
reports, there are transportation

1181
01:32:38,400 --> 01:32:44,000
reports, there's some good stuff there.
And I have this feeling that Do Cole

1182
01:32:42,560 --> 01:32:47,920
will be the one group that will be able
to take all of that information and use

1183
01:32:46,159 --> 01:32:54,920
it for good going forward. And it will
not have been a waste. So, thank you.

1184
01:32:49,920 --> 01:32:54,920
» Thank you, Susan. Anybody else? Michael,

1185
01:32:56,000 --> 01:33:02,480
» Mike Vanzy, Above the Dunes. Uh I would
just like to say as a business owner for

1186
01:33:00,400 --> 01:33:07,040
many many years here in this community
um that is one of the first times in the

1187
01:33:04,639 --> 01:33:12,400
shs and I'm obviously very busy in July
and August. Um still made time to be I

1188
01:33:09,600 --> 01:33:16,400
think at five sessions. Um the first
time I've noticed the business community

1189
01:33:14,560 --> 01:33:21,199
and the residential community coming
together and having discussions about

1190
01:33:18,719 --> 01:33:25,199
one topic. Uh, I think it was incredibly
beneficial and I think it's something we

1191
01:33:22,960 --> 01:33:29,280
need to continue to do because planning
based on just the business needs or

1192
01:33:27,520 --> 01:33:33,120
planning just on the residents needs
really misses the boat as to what we

1193
01:33:30,800 --> 01:33:36,089
have to do to grow and move forward. So,
it's my thought. [applause and cheering]

1194
01:33:36,719 --> 01:33:43,840
Uh, if there's nobody else, I'm going to
bring it back to the table here. Does

1195
01:33:41,360 --> 01:33:48,479
anybody have further discussion or want
to make a motion?

1196
01:33:46,719 --> 01:33:51,679
Mayor, if I make a motion to direct
[clears throat] the city manager to

1197
01:33:49,600 --> 01:33:56,159
negotiate a scope of work and fee
proposal with Dover Cole and Partners

1198
01:33:53,760 --> 01:34:00,320
for downtown master planning services
structured as the next phase of the

1199
01:33:57,920 --> 01:34:03,520
city's existing engagement with the firm
on the zoning code update.

1200
01:34:02,560 --> 01:34:08,880
» Second.
>> Uh we have a motion and a second to

1201
01:34:06,719 --> 01:34:13,360
direct city manager to negotiate a scope
of work and fee proposal with Dover Cole

1202
01:34:11,280 --> 01:34:19,920
Partners for downtown master planning
services. Uh, as noted, uh, all those in

1203
01:34:17,440 --> 01:34:22,480
favor signify by saying I. I.
>> I.

1204
01:34:20,719 --> 01:34:26,800
» Those opposed?
>> No. Especially because we're already in

1205
01:34:25,040 --> 01:34:31,600
the in the middle of their first
contract. This seems premature to me.

1206
01:34:29,199 --> 01:34:35,600
» We have your uh the record will show
that six commissioners voted yes and one

1207
01:34:34,080 --> 01:34:42,600
voted no.
>> Uh, thank you very much.

1208
01:34:38,159 --> 01:34:42,600
With that, give us a minute.

1209
01:34:43,199 --> 01:34:48,795
Is this going to set up here? Okay.
[cough and clears throat]

1210
01:34:53,325 --> 01:34:55,345
[snorts]

1211
01:35:11,520 --> 01:35:14,400
Thank you.

1212
01:35:38,719 --> 01:35:45,781
I don't know what I did, but you're
going to look at cheats or whatever.

1213
01:35:42,080 --> 01:35:45,781
whatever it is. [laughter]

1214
01:35:48,320 --> 01:35:55,679
Uh the next item on our agenda is
discuss and possible consideration of

1215
01:35:52,560 --> 01:36:00,560
action on confidential report regarding
commissioner conduct. Uh joining us for

1216
01:35:58,560 --> 01:36:06,400
this agenda topic is attorney Lisa
Hatfield of Connelly Gallagher LLP.

1217
01:36:03,280 --> 01:36:11,440
Welcome. Thank you for coming today. By
way of background, the city through our

1218
01:36:09,440 --> 01:36:15,520
director of human resources received
several complaints concerning the

1219
01:36:13,199 --> 01:36:20,080
conduct of a commissioner directed
towards city staff.

1220
01:36:17,760 --> 01:36:24,159
These complaints were exacerbated during
the month of June

1221
01:36:22,159 --> 01:36:30,159
and the city retained an independent
attorney, Miss Molly Debianca,

1222
01:36:27,199 --> 01:36:36,080
to investigate the matter.
Miss Debianca and her firm DBianca Law

1223
01:36:33,040 --> 01:36:39,760
conducted an independent investigation
and prepared a confidential report

1224
01:36:38,080 --> 01:36:44,960
containing her findings and
recommendations.

1225
01:36:41,920 --> 01:36:51,119
The personnel committee composed of
commissioners uh Gosset who is the chair

1226
01:36:48,159 --> 01:36:56,480
and commissioners the Galante received
and reviewed the report and thereafter

1227
01:36:54,000 --> 01:37:01,360
forwarded the matter for consideration
by the mayor and commissioners.

1228
01:36:59,119 --> 01:37:06,960
Before we proceed, I want to explain the
process the board will follow.

1229
01:37:04,560 --> 01:37:12,159
The independent investigative report
concerns the conduct of Commissioner

1230
01:37:08,880 --> 01:37:17,040
Suzanne Good. Because Commissioner Good
is the subject of the report, she did

1231
01:37:14,880 --> 01:37:21,119
not participate in the personnel
committee's consideration of this

1232
01:37:18,960 --> 01:37:24,639
matter.
Commissioner Good, like other

1233
01:37:22,560 --> 01:37:30,960
commissioners, however, was provided a
copy of the report before this meeting,

1234
01:37:28,320 --> 01:37:35,119
and the report was provided to her on
the same confidential basis applicable

1235
01:37:33,199 --> 01:37:39,360
to the other members of the board of
commissioners

1236
01:37:37,040 --> 01:37:44,880
and remains confidential pending action
by the board. Thus, if she or any

1237
01:37:43,040 --> 01:37:52,360
commissioner were to have shared the
report with anyone, they would be in

1238
01:37:47,119 --> 01:37:52,360
violation of breach of confidentiality.

1239
01:37:52,719 --> 01:37:58,560
I want to be clear about the nature of
today's proceeding. This is not a

1240
01:37:56,960 --> 01:38:03,679
hearing.
The board is not sitting as an

1241
01:38:00,239 --> 01:38:08,320
adjudicatory body taking testimony,
receiving evidence, determining the

1242
01:38:05,679 --> 01:38:15,639
admissibility of evidence, or conducting
a trial concerning the matters addressed

1243
01:38:12,159 --> 01:38:15,639
in the report.

1244
01:38:15,840 --> 01:38:22,320
As Commissioner Good is the subject of
the report, she will be afforded an

1245
01:38:19,600 --> 01:38:26,880
opportunity to make a statement. This
will recur after

1246
01:38:24,639 --> 01:38:32,560
the public comment period and following
commissioner discussion of the report

1247
01:38:28,960 --> 01:38:38,239
and its recommendations.
That opportunity is not a reopening of

1248
01:38:36,480 --> 01:38:45,280
the investigation
and is not an evidentiary rebuttal of

1249
01:38:42,719 --> 01:38:50,239
the investigator's findings. There will
be no presentation of witnesses,

1250
01:38:47,920 --> 01:38:53,920
cross-examination, questioning of the
investigator, or pointby-point

1251
01:38:52,239 --> 01:38:58,080
adjudication
of the report.

1252
01:38:56,239 --> 01:39:02,800
Now, the first order of business is that
the board must first determine whether

1253
01:38:59,760 --> 01:39:07,199
to wave any applicable privilege and
then to authorize public release of the

1254
01:39:05,199 --> 01:39:12,719
report.
Because the report remains confidential

1255
01:39:09,760 --> 01:39:18,400
until and unless the board acts, the
public cannot presently be provided the

1256
01:39:15,199 --> 01:39:23,840
report or its confidential comment
contents. Uh I would now entertain a

1257
01:39:21,280 --> 01:39:28,960
motion to wave the attorney client
privilege to the extent applicable with

1258
01:39:26,800 --> 01:39:35,840
respect to the independent investigative
report and authorize the report to be

1259
01:39:32,560 --> 01:39:38,400
released publicly without exhibits. Do I
have a motion?

1260
01:39:37,199 --> 01:39:40,960
» I I need to speak.
>> Do I have a motion?

1261
01:39:39,679 --> 01:39:44,239
» No. Foyer,
>> you do not have You do not have the

1262
01:39:43,280 --> 01:39:50,239
floor.
>> You can't make a motion to release a

1263
01:39:47,679 --> 01:39:54,719
report before I've had a chance to
defend myself.

1264
01:39:51,440 --> 01:40:00,480
» You do not have the floor was written by
an attorney who insulted me. I wasn't

1265
01:39:57,679 --> 01:40:04,159
given the report until yesterday.
>> All the all the We have a motion.

1266
01:40:03,280 --> 01:40:08,080
government going
>> Evan

1267
01:40:06,320 --> 01:40:11,440
» I wasn't even informed about the
existence of the court

1268
01:40:10,480 --> 01:40:15,119
days ago
>> I can't Are you silencing her phone her

1269
01:40:14,080 --> 01:40:18,919
microphone
>> it is muted [laughter]

1270
01:40:18,960 --> 01:40:26,239
» mayor just to be clear the motion is to
wave confidentiality that's that's all

1271
01:40:24,800 --> 01:40:30,000
we're talking about right now is that
correct

1272
01:40:26,719 --> 01:40:33,119
» well the specifics yes wave attorney
client privilege to the extent

1273
01:40:31,440 --> 01:40:38,560
applicable with respect to the
independent investigative report that

1274
01:40:35,760 --> 01:40:43,119
were referred to and authorize the
report to be released publicly without

1275
01:40:40,639 --> 01:40:49,679
exhibits. We have a motion and a second
in in that vein. Uh and uh we'll just do

1276
01:40:46,800 --> 01:40:51,440
a group vote. All those in favor signify
by saying I

1277
01:40:50,960 --> 01:40:56,239
» I
>> I those opposed

1278
01:40:53,119 --> 01:41:00,719
» nay. And we have one nay from
commissioner good and the rest remainder

1279
01:40:58,400 --> 01:41:07,679
of the commissioners have voted in favor
of releasing it. Uh so the board with a

1280
01:41:04,560 --> 01:41:12,400
favorable vote just now has waved
privilege to the extent applicable and

1281
01:41:09,760 --> 01:41:18,719
authorized public release of the report
without its exhibits by way of embedment

1282
01:41:15,679 --> 01:41:24,239
of the report into this meeting agenda
following adjournment of the meeting.

1283
01:41:20,800 --> 01:41:31,119
Again, after this meeting, the report
will be embedded into the agenda. Uh, I

1284
01:41:27,600 --> 01:41:35,040
will now recognize Commissioner Gossit,
chair of the personnel committee, to

1285
01:41:33,440 --> 01:41:38,960
provide an overview of the
investigation,

1286
01:41:36,639 --> 01:41:43,040
the report, its findings, and its
recommendations.

1287
01:41:41,119 --> 01:41:48,719
» Thank you, mayor. [clears throat] Um, if
I may, the report begins with a scope of

1288
01:41:45,760 --> 01:41:53,440
investigation. On or about June 29th,
2026, Debianca Law LLC was retained by

1289
01:41:51,920 --> 01:41:58,159
the city of Verhobit Beach to
investigate allegations of harassment

1290
01:41:56,320 --> 01:42:03,119
and abusive behavior by Commissioner
Suzanne Good targeting two city

1291
01:42:00,639 --> 01:42:07,360
employees. The evidence considered by
the investigator includes one,

1292
01:42:04,880 --> 01:42:13,490
approximately 90 emails sent by
Commissioner Good in June 2026 to

1293
01:42:10,400 --> 01:42:16,880
certain employees and elected officials.
[clears throat]

1294
01:42:14,159 --> 01:42:22,660
Two, certain emails sent by Commissioner
Good to employee number two during the

1295
01:42:19,600 --> 01:42:27,119
month of July 2026.
[clears throat] July emails targeted

1296
01:42:24,239 --> 01:42:32,000
with the June emails with reviewed
emails. three, interviews of the

1297
01:42:29,760 --> 01:42:36,960
targeted employees, and four,
correspondence relating to prior efforts

1298
01:42:34,159 --> 01:42:40,960
of the city to deter abusive behavior by
Commissioner Good. It is the

1299
01:42:39,119 --> 01:42:46,080
understanding of the investigator that
Commissioner Good sent nearly 2,000

1300
01:42:43,440 --> 01:42:52,320
emails to the targeted employees since
2024 and continues to send more on a

1301
01:42:49,440 --> 01:42:57,600
daily near daily basis. However, this
report is limited to to the reviewed

1302
01:42:54,880 --> 01:43:02,719
emails as a representative and current
sample of the communications.

1303
01:43:00,239 --> 01:43:06,719
The report in summary states the
questions presented to the investigator

1304
01:43:04,560 --> 01:43:10,880
include one, whether there are
reasonable grounds to conclude that

1305
01:43:08,400 --> 01:43:17,360
Commissioner Good engaged in harassment
and or abuse in violation of any city

1306
01:43:13,679 --> 01:43:23,119
policy, rule, or ordinance? and two, if
yes, what steps are available to remedy,

1307
01:43:20,400 --> 01:43:27,040
stop, and/or prevent future violations
from occurring.

1308
01:43:24,960 --> 01:43:31,760
The investigator determines that there
are reasonable grounds to conclude that

1309
01:43:29,280 --> 01:43:36,960
Commissioner Good engaged in conduct
that violates the city civil civil

1310
01:43:34,560 --> 01:43:41,760
civility code and recommends that the
city take immediate action to stop the

1311
01:43:39,600 --> 01:43:45,846
conduct and ensure it does not happen in
the future as outlined in the

1312
01:43:43,679 --> 01:43:48,639
recommendations.
>> [clears throat]

1313
01:43:45,920 --> 01:43:52,560
» Legal background outlined in the report.
There are several laws to the present

1314
01:43:50,639 --> 01:43:57,840
analysis. They [clears throat] are
described below. Anti-harassment and

1315
01:43:55,199 --> 01:44:02,800
anti-retaliation laws, the civility
code, and the ethics code.

1316
01:44:00,719 --> 01:44:07,440
The nature of the abusive behavior is
persistent despite repeated

1317
01:44:04,400 --> 01:44:12,800
interventions and continued escalations
and is calculated circumvention of

1318
01:44:09,920 --> 01:44:17,040
directives established conduct so far
outside the norms of acceptable

1319
01:44:15,119 --> 01:44:22,800
professional behavior and the
obligations set forth in the civility

1320
01:44:19,280 --> 01:44:27,920
code as to warrant serious and immediate
remedial action by the city to prevent

1321
01:44:25,280 --> 01:44:32,880
legal liability under state and federal
employment and workplace safety laws.

1322
01:44:29,840 --> 01:44:38,880
cause and to avoid the high cost and
associated negative impacts that prolong

1323
01:44:35,520 --> 01:44:44,080
abusive behavior that have an an on
employee morale, workplace productivity,

1324
01:44:41,920 --> 01:44:49,040
and the city's ability to operate
efficiently of the city.

1325
01:44:47,360 --> 01:44:51,600
The report makes the following
recommendations.

1326
01:44:50,639 --> 01:44:56,239
The [clears throat] city board of
commissioners is recommended to consider

1327
01:44:53,920 --> 01:45:01,520
the following remedial steps to address
the ongoing abuse of city employees by

1328
01:44:58,719 --> 01:45:05,440
Commissioner Good. One, prohibit
Commissioner Good from communicating

1329
01:45:03,199 --> 01:45:12,080
directly or indirectly with the city
employees electronically, in person, via

1330
01:45:08,960 --> 01:45:16,960
phone, or other channel or method. To
effectuate this, the city should create

1331
01:45:14,159 --> 01:45:20,960
and apply a system by which all emails
received from accounts associated with

1332
01:45:18,880 --> 01:45:26,239
Commissioner Good are automatically
redelected to a special purpose and

1333
01:45:23,679 --> 01:45:31,280
sequestered email account, which should
be checked at regular intervals by the

1334
01:45:28,159 --> 01:45:34,960
mayor or their design. Additionally,
city employees should be permitted to

1335
01:45:33,119 --> 01:45:39,119
block Commissioner Good's associated
phone numbers from their personal and

1336
01:45:37,040 --> 01:45:44,880
city phones to prevent them from
receiving further text messages and

1337
01:45:41,440 --> 01:45:48,560
phone calls from Commissioner Good. Two,
prohibit Commissioner Good from

1338
01:45:46,320 --> 01:45:55,520
accessing the city's administrative
offices and deactivate her key cards,

1339
01:45:51,440 --> 01:46:00,080
fobs, andor keys to ensure compliance.
Three, formerly request that

1340
01:45:57,360 --> 01:46:05,199
Commissioner Good produce to the city
all communications involving city

1341
01:46:02,239 --> 01:46:11,280
business sent and/or received via a
personal platform, including but not

1342
01:46:07,600 --> 01:46:16,639
limited to via Gmail, text messages, and
Facebook and other social media. four

1343
01:46:14,719 --> 01:46:21,119
formally requests that Commissioner Good
issue unqualified [laughter] written

1344
01:46:18,480 --> 01:46:26,239
apologies to employee number one and
employee number two within two weeks in

1345
01:46:23,440 --> 01:46:32,719
a form and which substantiates approved
by the board and that such apologies, if

1346
01:46:28,880 --> 01:46:37,199
any, be made public. Five, formally
request that Commissioner Good promptly

1347
01:46:34,719 --> 01:46:41,920
complete city approved training on the
subject of respectful workplace and

1348
01:46:39,520 --> 01:46:46,719
civility and FOYA and public records
laws and obligations.

1349
01:46:44,159 --> 01:46:52,880
Six, review compliance with a remedial
measures on a date certain between 60

1350
01:46:49,360 --> 01:46:57,119
and 90 days. Additionally, the board is
recommended to consider issuing a formal

1351
01:46:55,119 --> 01:47:02,800
censure for the conduct that has
occurred and/or if the conduct continues

1352
01:47:00,080 --> 01:47:07,280
following the adoption of some or all of
the above remedial measures.

1353
01:47:04,880 --> 01:47:10,960
Respectfully submitted, Margaret Dybanka
Esquire, Dybanka Law LLC.

1354
01:47:10,560 --> 01:47:16,080
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh next,

1355
01:47:14,800 --> 01:47:20,960
the members of the board who
participated in consideration of this

1356
01:47:18,480 --> 01:47:26,400
matter will make comments or have the
opportunity to make comments they wish

1357
01:47:23,840 --> 01:47:31,040
just concerning the report and the
actions to be taken. Commissioner Good,

1358
01:47:29,280 --> 01:47:36,400
you will be granted an opportunity to
speak following public comment on this

1359
01:47:33,440 --> 01:47:38,400
matter. Uh Commissioner Stewart, you
wanted to

1360
01:47:36,960 --> 01:47:41,040
» That's not the usual order.
>> Thank you, Mayor.

1361
01:47:39,280 --> 01:47:45,360
» Public comment comes back. You don't
have the floor.

1362
01:47:43,280 --> 01:47:49,600
» Today's report documents repeated
violations of federal and state

1363
01:47:47,119 --> 01:47:54,880
workplace safety laws as well as the
city charter. We take no satisfaction in

1364
01:47:52,400 --> 01:48:00,400
this. We want nothing more than to move
on, but we have no choice. Re releasing

1365
01:47:58,480 --> 01:48:06,719
this report and implementing its
recommendation, however inadequate to

1366
01:48:03,199 --> 01:48:12,080
the harm caused, is necessary. In most
workplaces, the documented conduct would

1367
01:48:09,119 --> 01:48:17,679
warrant ter termination. Our laws
provide no such path for an elected

1368
01:48:14,320 --> 01:48:22,000
official. To simply move on would mean
keeping this conduct secret, leaving the

1369
01:48:20,239 --> 01:48:27,600
victims to shoulder the burdens
themselves without institutional

1370
01:48:24,480 --> 01:48:33,280
support. That is unacceptable.
This report focuses on two victims,

1371
01:48:30,480 --> 01:48:38,239
employee one and employee number two,
and just two months of emails. But the

1372
01:48:35,840 --> 01:48:44,719
record is larger than that. There are
many more months of abusive emails and

1373
01:48:42,000 --> 01:48:51,679
social media posts that violates these
very same laws. And the commissioner

1374
01:48:47,280 --> 01:48:57,440
targeted other city employees as well.
That is why this report and its release

1375
01:48:53,920 --> 01:49:03,360
is necessary. These are real people with
real professional reputations and real

1376
01:49:00,159 --> 01:49:10,480
careers. And the city needed to use what
limited power it has to say, "We hear

1377
01:49:06,159 --> 01:49:17,440
you. We see you. We wish we could do
more." Does the city want to move on?

1378
01:49:13,840 --> 01:49:23,040
Absolutely. Does it have the power to?
It does not. The power lies squarely

1379
01:49:20,239 --> 01:49:26,560
with the commissioner. This behavior
must stop now.

1380
01:49:25,679 --> 01:49:29,920
» Thank you, Mayor.
>> Any other commissioners?

1381
01:49:29,040 --> 01:49:33,040
» Yes. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Gossip.

1382
01:49:31,199 --> 01:49:37,040
» Yes, Commissioner [clears throat] Good.
Your words and actions have brought us

1383
01:49:34,560 --> 01:49:42,719
to this moment. You have never denied
that you have said or done these things.

1384
01:49:39,760 --> 01:49:46,560
Words and actions have consequences. The
gridlock you have created with your

1385
01:49:44,560 --> 01:49:52,320
pattern of conduct designated to
intimidate, demean, and harass rather

1386
01:49:49,520 --> 01:49:56,639
than to advance legitimate city business
is unacceptable, inconsistent with the

1387
01:49:55,119 --> 01:50:01,280
standard expected of an elected
official, and disruptive to the

1388
01:49:58,719 --> 01:50:06,080
effective operation of city government.
The city as an employer has an

1389
01:50:03,119 --> 01:50:11,360
obligation to maintain a safe workplace
free from harassment and abuse. The

1390
01:50:09,040 --> 01:50:16,480
pattern of overt aggression targeting
employees represents a serious breach of

1391
01:50:14,000 --> 01:50:21,679
the most basic professional standards
expected in any work environment and has

1392
01:50:19,040 --> 01:50:27,280
rendered this workplace inhospitable and
potentially unsafe for all city staff.

1393
01:50:24,639 --> 01:50:31,440
It is my expectation that the city and
commissioner good will implement the

1394
01:50:29,119 --> 01:50:36,800
recommendations in the report and that
the result will be more effective and

1395
01:50:33,760 --> 01:50:41,440
civil operation of civ civic government.
Thank you. Anybody else? Any

1396
01:50:39,679 --> 01:50:47,400
commissioners?
Uh I'll reserve my statement uh to a

1397
01:50:44,080 --> 01:50:47,400
later time.

1398
01:50:47,840 --> 01:50:53,760
So as the board has now acted to wave
privilege,

1399
01:50:51,920 --> 01:50:58,239
the report has been authorized for
public release and the personnel

1400
01:50:56,239 --> 01:51:03,440
committee has explained its findings and
recommendations of the report and will

1401
01:51:01,119 --> 01:51:08,159
provide an uh we will now provide an
opportunity for public comment.

1402
01:51:06,159 --> 01:51:13,199
Now that the substance of the matter has
been publicly presented,

1403
01:51:10,719 --> 01:51:21,159
uh, is there anybody that would like to
comment on the substance

1404
01:51:15,840 --> 01:51:21,159
of the report? Nancy Doyle.

1405
01:51:22,000 --> 01:51:31,040
My name is Nancy Doyle and I live at 202
Country Club Drive and I am a resident

1406
01:51:29,040 --> 01:51:36,320
and I was well met as a federal
prosecutor because I'm from New England

1407
01:51:34,080 --> 01:51:43,360
and people from where I am in Vermont,
New England are pretty moralistic, often

1408
01:51:39,760 --> 01:51:48,080
annoyingly so and I I was built that
way. So I could speak with real

1409
01:51:45,040 --> 01:51:52,960
credibility to juries.
But one of my great honors as a

1410
01:51:50,320 --> 01:51:56,719
prosecutor was dealing with the victims
of crime

1411
01:51:54,719 --> 01:52:01,840
as a part I hadn't really experienced in
my childhood in New England was bonding

1412
01:51:59,599 --> 01:52:07,440
with them sort of really being their
helper and their theorist therapist when

1413
01:52:04,719 --> 01:52:11,119
I look back in those years be standing
tough with those victims of crime and

1414
01:52:09,360 --> 01:52:16,320
standing with them and saying this isn't
right and this has to stop to bullies

1415
01:52:13,599 --> 01:52:20,560
bullies of all sorts serial rapists
double homicides

1416
01:52:18,000 --> 01:52:26,719
and simple misdemeanors that could cause
life-changing emotional harm to victims.

1417
01:52:23,760 --> 01:52:31,520
To be there with them was in the moment,
not afterwards, not after a lawsuit, but

1418
01:52:28,960 --> 01:52:36,560
in the moment was so important to them.
And it made me so useful. It was as

1419
01:52:34,159 --> 01:52:41,040
important as anything I did in my in the
courtroom. And though I went on to do

1420
01:52:39,280 --> 01:52:46,239
international financial policy and
derivatives and other things, if you ask

1421
01:52:44,000 --> 01:52:52,080
me the most useful I ever was in my
career, it was how I took care of those

1422
01:52:48,880 --> 01:52:57,360
victims in the moment. Bullying has no
place in the workforce is not a little

1423
01:52:55,040 --> 01:53:02,960
civil thing. I have been present in this
room and I have seen the bullying. It

1424
01:53:00,080 --> 01:53:07,199
has to be
it has to be dealt with. Being quiet

1425
01:53:04,960 --> 01:53:12,000
doesn't work with bullies. And I'm not
saying anyone person is just a bully or

1426
01:53:09,599 --> 01:53:15,520
that's just one thing.
People are complex, but bullying

1427
01:53:13,920 --> 01:53:20,560
behavior, I should be saying, not
bullies. Bullying behavior has to be

1428
01:53:18,239 --> 01:53:25,840
confronted. And you guys are doing the
right thing. And I know it's hard, but

1429
01:53:23,920 --> 01:53:32,880
what has been happening and what I've
heard is very wrong. I can't help but

1430
01:53:29,679 --> 01:53:40,080
judge it morally, but I'm happy my tax
dollars are being spent to try to stop

1431
01:53:35,599 --> 01:53:43,920
it. and to protect these city employees.
>> Thank you, Nancy. Is there any other

1432
01:53:42,320 --> 01:53:49,280
member of the public that would like to
comment on the substance of the report

1433
01:53:46,400 --> 01:53:52,280
as uh articulated by uh Commissioner
Gossip?

1434
01:53:53,760 --> 01:53:57,159
Mr. Perry,

1435
01:53:58,080 --> 01:54:07,280
uh Richard Perry, resident of the city.
Uh, I can't say how

1436
01:54:04,239 --> 01:54:12,960
much I agree with what Nancy said. It
all it almost doesn't need anyone else

1437
01:54:09,840 --> 01:54:19,520
to comment, but I do want to say
that having been an owner of many

1438
01:54:16,480 --> 01:54:25,119
businesses over the years in my career,
nothing was more disturbing as as a

1439
01:54:22,320 --> 01:54:30,560
senior executive, as a general counsel,
as chief operating officer, than to

1440
01:54:28,239 --> 01:54:33,840
learn that an employee was being
harassed by anyone within the

1441
01:54:32,320 --> 01:54:39,840
organization.
That is totally inappropriate.

1442
01:54:36,560 --> 01:54:48,239
As as you have said, it damages the
efficiency of of the business and the

1443
01:54:43,280 --> 01:54:54,560
city is a business and it is not immune
from uh having to abide by the statutes

1444
01:54:52,800 --> 01:55:00,480
that apply to harassment in the
workplace. And so I commend you for what

1445
01:54:57,280 --> 01:55:05,440
you have done. And although the public
hasn't yet seen the report based on what

1446
01:55:02,960 --> 01:55:08,639
we heard here today, I believe that you
are doing exactly the right thing to

1447
01:55:07,119 --> 01:55:13,679
correct this situation.
>> Thank you, Mr. Perry. Anybody else?

1448
01:55:11,599 --> 01:55:20,199
Members of the public commenting on
substance of the report.

1449
01:55:16,480 --> 01:55:20,199
Uh if not,

1450
01:55:21,199 --> 01:55:26,960
uh I'm going to close public comment
right now, right at this moment. Uh and

1451
01:55:25,199 --> 01:55:33,920
Commissioner Good, you will now be given
the opportunity to speak to be followed

1452
01:55:30,159 --> 01:55:40,320
by a vote to by these commissioners
uh by all commissioners to uh vote to

1453
01:55:37,599 --> 01:55:44,719
accept the findings of the report and
adopt and implement the recommendations

1454
01:55:42,480 --> 01:55:49,199
contained therein. That vote would
follow your thing. You are now

1455
01:55:46,560 --> 01:55:56,800
recognized to speak. You do not have an
infinite amount of time. Uh I do uh have

1456
01:55:53,520 --> 01:56:02,320
the power to uh uh stop you at certain
point. Go ahead.

1457
01:55:58,719 --> 01:56:10,400
» Okay. Well, as per usual, I've been
blindsided by a number of things. I was

1458
01:56:05,520 --> 01:56:15,199
not informed in in late June that this
had gone under contract. Normally, that

1459
01:56:13,040 --> 01:56:20,159
would have should have gone to a vote of
the board of commissioners whether to

1460
01:56:17,119 --> 01:56:25,599
investigate one commissioner. I only
learned of the existence of this report

1461
01:56:23,199 --> 01:56:30,960
when the agenda for today's meeting was
published a week ago on August 14th.

1462
01:56:28,960 --> 01:56:36,159
Maybe one of the reasons I've sent
multiple emails is when I asked I said

1463
01:56:33,840 --> 01:56:39,760
you're not going to pub this is this
report may I may I see it? Well, I got

1464
01:56:38,159 --> 01:56:44,800
no response. And [clears throat] then
once I finally was told on Wednesday

1465
01:56:42,159 --> 01:56:50,159
afternoon, August 19th, that I could
pick up my co copy on Thursday morning

1466
01:56:48,320 --> 01:56:56,159
the 20th
um at that point when I once I saw it

1467
01:56:53,360 --> 01:57:01,599
because it's riddled with inaccuracies,
misrepresentations, and everything else.

1468
01:56:58,960 --> 01:57:07,360
Um I never got a response as to whether
it I said this can't release this to the

1469
01:57:04,960 --> 01:57:12,400
public. Well, lo and behold, behind
closed doors, they had made arrangements

1470
01:57:09,440 --> 01:57:17,199
already to do that. The overarching
problem here, and these two employees

1471
01:57:14,960 --> 01:57:23,760
are the top two administrators in the
city. Uh the there's sort of this this

1472
01:57:20,880 --> 01:57:28,159
implication that I somehow was abusing
other employees. But first of all, I

1473
01:57:25,840 --> 01:57:34,719
wasn't abusing those two employees. I
never I didn't get answers. I had one

1474
01:57:31,840 --> 01:57:39,440
refusing to reveal settlement terms.
terms of what I was trying to bring a an

1475
01:57:36,719 --> 01:57:43,679
end to the to to bring or get
negotiations going for the city manager

1476
01:57:42,239 --> 01:57:49,679
report. And then weeks later, she
finally relented when she realized it

1477
01:57:46,639 --> 01:57:53,760
was illegal to withhold those terms from
from the entire board. They just those

1478
01:57:52,080 --> 01:57:58,800
terms had only been shared with a select
number of commissioners. Foyer was meant

1479
01:57:56,480 --> 01:58:04,560
to protect citizens from government
overreach and to assure transparency.

1480
01:58:02,080 --> 01:58:10,320
FOYA which has been you weaponized here
against me was not designed to to to use

1481
01:58:08,000 --> 01:58:15,520
information against elected officials
and yet that is what the Rahobath beach

1482
01:58:12,960 --> 01:58:21,440
government has done with Foya. They have
weaponized it. Um selected officials

1483
01:58:19,679 --> 01:58:27,040
went ahead and contracted for this
investigation in June of 2026. I had no

1484
01:58:24,400 --> 01:58:32,320
idea because apparently they they
decided we're allowed to just use this.

1485
01:58:29,679 --> 01:58:37,920
It seems like a misuse of taxpayer money
not to have sought the approval of

1486
01:58:34,000 --> 01:58:42,960
people to conduct an investigation. And
when an investigation is an attorney up

1487
01:58:40,159 --> 01:58:48,400
in Wilmington looking at emails who
never dains to contact me, who never

1488
01:58:45,360 --> 01:58:52,239
contacts me, obviously it's a one-sided
investigation. Let me give you one

1489
01:58:50,719 --> 01:58:58,639
example. You're going to read this
salacious report tonight. Maybe one of

1490
01:58:55,040 --> 01:59:04,719
them, Mr. Tedar talks about a December
2024 phone conversation he and I had. I

1491
01:59:02,639 --> 01:59:09,920
happened to be in San Francisco. He I
believe was was here in Rahobit. And he

1492
01:59:07,520 --> 01:59:15,679
alleges that I said a number of things,
but he omits the fact that I said that

1493
01:59:13,040 --> 01:59:21,679
someone on next door said these things.
That is not equivalent. My words have

1494
01:59:18,560 --> 01:59:27,440
been twisted. That's just one example.
Um and so there was no due diligence to

1495
01:59:24,719 --> 01:59:33,199
a report. This seems like the
investigating attorney never never got

1496
01:59:30,480 --> 01:59:37,040
my side of anything. I was never given
the opportunity to defend myself. I'm

1497
01:59:35,119 --> 01:59:41,599
just sort of gobsmacked by this whole
thing. Some commissioners had access to

1498
01:59:39,520 --> 01:59:45,440
this report before I did. I was not
allowed. I was told on late Wednesday

1499
01:59:43,760 --> 01:59:53,920
afternoon I could pick it up Thursday
morning. So the um I can't the the the

1500
01:59:50,480 --> 01:59:59,199
the in that case the city manager claims
in the report that he's paraphrasing my

1501
01:59:56,560 --> 02:00:06,159
words but he does so so inaccurately
that he imputes uh ill intentions to me

1502
02:00:02,800 --> 02:00:08,080
or that he imputes that I'm t talking
about

1503
02:00:06,400 --> 02:00:11,679
» that's so good. Would you listen for a
minute? Would you just listen for a

1504
02:00:09,520 --> 02:00:17,119
minute? uh gave an introduction at the
beginning of this meeting that we're not

1505
02:00:13,520 --> 02:00:20,639
relitigating this. Uh we're not reoping
the best.

1506
02:00:17,679 --> 02:00:26,480
» This is my opportunity to defend myself
because you have done this behind closed

1507
02:00:23,199 --> 02:00:31,840
doors. I you hire an attorney who never
speaks to me when I can you imagine if

1508
02:00:29,760 --> 02:00:37,040
an investigator was investigating
something and never spoke to the person

1509
02:00:34,400 --> 02:00:40,159
whom they were investigating. That is a
complete

1510
02:00:37,520 --> 02:00:43,679
» You have two two more minutes. So use
wisely.

1511
02:00:40,719 --> 02:00:49,920
» Words have been attributed to me which
aren't mine. Emails are taken out of

1512
02:00:46,880 --> 02:00:56,719
context completely. And there's uh Mr.
Teder uses one particular email from

1513
02:00:52,880 --> 02:01:01,679
February 2025 repeatedly in which I
wrote to a constituent and and said in

1514
02:00:59,599 --> 02:01:08,159
the subjunctive tense that some people
would say that and he needs they need to

1515
02:01:04,560 --> 02:01:14,800
rely on one email from February 2025 as
somehow proof that I that I would speak

1516
02:01:12,080 --> 02:01:19,280
using that language and I rarely curse
or or use any vulgar words in emails.

1517
02:01:17,440 --> 02:01:25,040
So, it's sort of they're building a
narrative that is inconsistent with how

1518
02:01:22,080 --> 02:01:31,199
I behaved. Let me give you an example of
my attempts to move the news stands and

1519
02:01:27,440 --> 02:01:35,760
then just a couple days ago asking
why the pagod on the boardwalk we where

1520
02:01:34,239 --> 02:01:41,119
we were supposed to put the news stands
hasn't been returned but instead rocks

1521
02:01:37,840 --> 02:01:47,040
are being placed by the ballards and I
get no response. That was 48 or 72 hours

1522
02:01:44,400 --> 02:01:51,040
ago. So obviously my job has gotten
gotten very frustrating and when I

1523
02:01:48,960 --> 02:01:56,560
received no answers from either Mr.
Tedar or the city solicitor, I have had

1524
02:01:53,840 --> 02:02:00,880
to email them repeatedly. For them to
say that's abuse is a stretch. I'm not

1525
02:01:59,760 --> 02:02:06,480
done.
>> Um more generally by by any questions of

1526
02:02:04,880 --> 02:02:11,840
accountability
>> Commissioner Good, the mayor has called

1527
02:02:08,000 --> 02:02:17,760
time. Um I I'm I'm left uh you know
shocked and obviously um the way this

1528
02:02:15,360 --> 02:02:24,560
has been handled is
commissioners feel that I'm being forced

1529
02:02:20,000 --> 02:02:28,239
to I have spoken to a lawyer or I spoke
commissioner good

1530
02:02:25,199 --> 02:02:32,800
» the city is bringing along onto itself
by their please discontin

1531
02:02:31,679 --> 02:02:39,199
» thank you commissioner good
>> I will now entertain a motion

1532
02:02:36,320 --> 02:02:43,599
» mayor I'd like to accept the to accept
the findings of the report and adopt and

1533
02:02:41,360 --> 02:02:50,000
implement the recommendations contained
therein with a date to review compliance

1534
02:02:47,360 --> 02:02:53,760
at the board of commissioners meeting on
October 16th.

1535
02:02:51,440 --> 02:02:58,480
» So moved.
>> No. Do we have a second?

1536
02:02:55,840 --> 02:03:05,280
» Second. Uh we have a motion and a second
to uh uh accept the accept the findings

1537
02:03:02,159 --> 02:03:09,520
of the report and adopt and implement
the recommendations contained therein

1538
02:03:07,520 --> 02:03:14,639
with a date to review compliance at the
board of commissioners uh meeting on

1539
02:03:12,000 --> 02:03:21,880
October 16th
>> uh

1540
02:03:17,199 --> 02:03:21,880
no who who said that

1541
02:03:23,040 --> 02:03:31,480
» 20 October 23rd at a at a future meeting
date to be determined.

1542
02:03:32,480 --> 02:03:42,360
Is it the 23rd?
>> I believe it's the 16th. Let's see here.

1543
02:03:39,360 --> 02:03:42,360
» 16th.

1544
02:03:43,280 --> 02:03:48,159
» It's the third Friday is the 16th of
October.

1545
02:03:47,599 --> 02:03:54,480
» October.
>> October. The original motion stands. Uh

1546
02:03:51,280 --> 02:03:57,840
all those in favor signify by saying I.
I.

1547
02:03:54,800 --> 02:04:04,159
» I. Those opposed, we'll let the record
show that uh that Commissioner Good left

1548
02:04:01,280 --> 02:04:09,679
the room at uh
4:04

1549
02:04:05,679 --> 02:04:14,719
p.m. uh and did not vote. Uh with that,
the results of the vote were uh six

1550
02:04:12,480 --> 02:04:21,440
present commissioners voting yes in
favor uh and one absent.

1551
02:04:18,800 --> 02:04:24,960
» Uh state may I make a statement?
>> Yes. Thank you. May I

1552
02:04:23,440 --> 02:04:32,400
» Yeah. Are you
>> point of order, mayor? Um I we voted to

1553
02:04:29,760 --> 02:04:39,040
release this without the exhibits and
the exhibits are all redacted. I don't

1554
02:04:35,440 --> 02:04:42,800
understand since um Commissioner Good
has raised an issue that she wasn't

1555
02:04:40,800 --> 02:04:50,119
interviewed, but these are all her own
words. Why wouldn't we be releasing this

1556
02:04:46,000 --> 02:04:50,119
with a report? I'm confused.

1557
02:04:54,320 --> 02:04:59,760
I I know that was discussion between
them. That's why I'm looking at Lisa.

1558
02:04:57,599 --> 02:05:05,679
Are you okay with Okay.
>> So, I would enterain May I make make a

1559
02:05:02,639 --> 02:05:08,320
motion that we release the report.
>> We have a motion on the floor first.

1560
02:05:07,840 --> 02:05:12,480
Sorry.
>> Don't we need to do procedure? Let's

1561
02:05:10,080 --> 02:05:14,639
Let's do this.
>> Actually, we've already voted.

1562
02:05:14,246 --> 02:05:18,159
[laughter]
>> I thought we voted.

1563
02:05:16,639 --> 02:05:21,119
» We already voted.
Now,

1564
02:05:18,560 --> 02:05:24,719
» may I make a motion to release along
with the report the exhibits that came

1565
02:05:23,520 --> 02:05:28,080
with the report?
>> Seconded.

1566
02:05:25,440 --> 02:05:34,480
» We have a motion in a second to uh to
release the uh exhibits as part of the

1567
02:05:32,320 --> 02:05:38,239
uh public
uh release. What? Help me with wording.

1568
02:05:37,826 --> 02:05:42,719
[laughter]
>> Take a vote to be able to to release

1569
02:05:41,199 --> 02:05:46,400
with the exhibits. You've already
motioned to release the report. So, it's

1570
02:05:44,719 --> 02:05:49,440
a motion to include the exhibits with
the prior approved release of the

1571
02:05:48,159 --> 02:05:54,719
report.
>> You got that. Can you restate that?

1572
02:05:54,080 --> 02:05:59,599
» You [clears throat] do it.
>> I think m point of order. I think that

1573
02:05:56,960 --> 02:06:03,040
the original uh motion was, if I may
repeat it, I would like to make a motion

1574
02:06:01,199 --> 02:06:07,280
to accept the findings of the report and
adopt and implement the recommendations

1575
02:06:04,800 --> 02:06:11,840
contained therein. The new added aspects
of uh to be reflected or reviewed on

1576
02:06:09,679 --> 02:06:16,320
October 16th. So the findings of the
report generally include the exhibits.

1577
02:06:14,320 --> 02:06:20,080
So I don't think that the motion
excluded the exhibits. It spoke of

1578
02:06:18,320 --> 02:06:23,760
finding of the report.
>> The original did

1579
02:06:22,000 --> 02:06:25,599
» motion to wave attorney client
privilege.

1580
02:06:24,880 --> 02:06:31,199
» Correct.
>> Excluded the exhibits. So now we're

1581
02:06:29,119 --> 02:06:34,560
undoing that.
>> Just adding the exhibits.

1582
02:06:33,119 --> 02:06:37,040
» You don't need to undo it. Just a motion
to

1583
02:06:34,960 --> 02:06:42,400
» I think just call the question. So we
have a motion and a second to release

1584
02:06:40,159 --> 02:06:45,920
the exhibits as part of the waved
attorney client privilege.

1585
02:06:43,840 --> 02:06:48,079
» So moved.
>> Seconded again.

1586
02:06:47,040 --> 02:06:51,679
» It's all [laughter]
>> okay.

1587
02:06:48,800 --> 02:06:56,239
» Okay. All those in favor uh signify by
saying I

1588
02:06:52,639 --> 02:07:01,199
» I. Those opposed. And uh the motion
carries uh unanimously. 6 to zero.

1589
02:07:00,320 --> 02:07:04,000
» Um [clears throat]
make a statement

1590
02:07:01,840 --> 02:07:07,199
» with that. Uh I'd like to
>> Can I make a statement real quick? Yes.

1591
02:07:05,440 --> 02:07:11,040
Just just for the public, I I wanted to
make a statement. The the exhibits in

1592
02:07:08,960 --> 02:07:15,360
the report are redacted. Um the
information here today is employee one

1593
02:07:12,639 --> 02:07:20,159
and employee 2. I just want to be clear
that any statements made by uh

1594
02:07:18,000 --> 02:07:25,280
Commissioner Good or her assumptions as
to who they are. That may be able to be

1595
02:07:22,480 --> 02:07:28,960
figured out at your own. Um but uh that
was not uh anything that the

1596
02:07:27,119 --> 02:07:32,800
commissioners here included in their
report and the copies that you received

1597
02:07:30,400 --> 02:07:35,599
will be redacted. Um and so I just want
to make that announcement. I also wanted

1598
02:07:34,159 --> 02:07:42,000
to encourage everybody to look at the
civility code. Um it does say that these

1599
02:07:39,119 --> 02:07:46,800
proceedings will be public. Um and in
addition, the commissioners uh looked

1600
02:07:44,000 --> 02:07:50,800
into the foyer rules regarding this um
that mandate this sort of situation be

1601
02:07:48,960 --> 02:07:54,639
in public. Um so I just want to make
that clear for the public as to why that

1602
02:07:52,560 --> 02:07:58,320
was done here today in this manner.
Thank you all.

1603
02:07:56,000 --> 02:08:04,400
» Uh thank you. Now, I'd like to make uh
make my statement and hi Suzanne who

1604
02:08:01,119 --> 02:08:11,199
will be watching this at some point, I
hope. Uh uh I have been caught up in all

1605
02:08:08,159 --> 02:08:16,400
this nastiness for almost two years
dating back to the election of Suzanne

1606
02:08:13,679 --> 02:08:19,920
Good to a commissioner seat. I am
wrapped up in this disturbance likely

1607
02:08:18,480 --> 02:08:24,639
more than the other commissioners
because of my role as mayor and because

1608
02:08:22,719 --> 02:08:30,880
I too have been the recipient of
commissioner goods univil behaviors

1609
02:08:27,760 --> 02:08:36,800
both direct and by being copied on
emails or texts or voicemails sent to

1610
02:08:33,760 --> 02:08:41,440
the city manager or sent to the city
solicitor

1611
02:08:38,400 --> 02:08:45,920
or sent to staff commissioners even
other constituents.

1612
02:08:43,840 --> 02:08:51,599
I've been the author of multiple cease
and assist directives directed to

1613
02:08:48,560 --> 02:08:58,719
Commissioner Good which have attempted
to abate her univil uh abate her univil

1614
02:08:55,440 --> 02:09:03,840
behaviors and to suggest she seek self's
restraint and remediation but to no

1615
02:09:02,000 --> 02:09:09,520
avail.
In fact, her intensity of belligerance

1616
02:09:06,000 --> 02:09:16,000
only escalated and is at an unacceptable
level which can no longer be tolerated

1617
02:09:13,280 --> 02:09:19,920
and should never have been tolerated
from the beginning.

1618
02:09:18,000 --> 02:09:25,679
And so I believe we have come to the
point where we must take the most severe

1619
02:09:22,239 --> 02:09:31,840
action we can take at this time to end
Commissioner Good's intentional lies

1620
02:09:28,880 --> 02:09:36,000
in harassment
with the facts and recommendations

1621
02:09:33,840 --> 02:09:41,760
contained in this report before us. What
we are doing is putting up barriers to

1622
02:09:38,719 --> 02:09:48,159
protect our employees from continuing
harassment. almost two years worth of

1623
02:09:45,280 --> 02:09:54,000
verifiable, documentable,
and hurtful incivility

1624
02:09:50,560 --> 02:09:59,440
generated by Commissioner Good. Her
vitriolic actions have been directed at

1625
02:09:56,480 --> 02:10:06,159
city staff, including the multiple
people in building and licensing,

1626
02:10:02,560 --> 02:10:10,719
our HR director, our communications
specialist,

1627
02:10:08,079 --> 02:10:16,719
our city manager, our city solicitor,
our interim city solicitor, our

1628
02:10:13,119 --> 02:10:20,480
commissioners, and our mayor. All the
while, she knows her actions are

1629
02:10:18,639 --> 02:10:26,320
wrongful.
multiple adminitions and cease and

1630
02:10:23,440 --> 02:10:31,760
desist directives authored not just by
me as mayor but also by the city manager

1631
02:10:29,760 --> 02:10:37,280
and by the city solicitor have not
gotten through to her.

1632
02:10:35,199 --> 02:10:44,159
If we were an HOA board, there would
likely be a bylaw establishing commiss

1633
02:10:40,000 --> 02:10:50,079
conditions for expelling a board member.
Unfortunately for us, removal of an

1634
02:10:46,159 --> 02:10:55,920
elected official is not that easy. And
so we have to resort to hiring an

1635
02:10:52,159 --> 02:11:00,800
outside lawyer at additional expense to
examine the behaviors of commissioner

1636
02:10:58,000 --> 02:11:04,960
good and then to provide recommendations
for how to remediate such uncivil

1637
02:11:03,440 --> 02:11:11,119
behaviors.
I want to note that this has never been

1638
02:11:08,000 --> 02:11:17,440
about differences of opinion on issue,
but rather it is solely about univil

1639
02:11:13,679 --> 02:11:23,119
behaviors with much of the time can be
characterized as mean-spirited and nasty

1640
02:11:21,440 --> 02:11:27,119
and which again in the case of
Commissioner Good are well documented in

1641
02:11:25,599 --> 02:11:33,679
emails,
next door postings, videos, texts,

1642
02:11:30,880 --> 02:11:38,159
voicemails as the reference report
attests. to

1643
02:11:35,920 --> 02:11:43,280
all municipal elected officials in
Delaware take the same oath.

1644
02:11:40,960 --> 02:11:50,400
It is so important that it is embedded
in the Delaware Constitution.

1645
02:11:46,320 --> 02:11:56,000
Article 14 section one. When elected,
she stated, "I,

1646
02:11:53,119 --> 02:11:59,920
Suzanne Good, do proudly swear or affirm
to carry out the responsibilities of the

1647
02:11:58,239 --> 02:12:05,440
office of commissioner of the city of
Rahit Beach to the best of my ability,

1648
02:12:03,119 --> 02:12:11,520
freely acknowledging that the powers of
this office flow from the people I am

1649
02:12:08,239 --> 02:12:16,480
privileged to represent. I further swear
or affirm always to place the public

1650
02:12:13,920 --> 02:12:22,159
interests above any special or personal
interests and to respect the right of

1651
02:12:19,119 --> 02:12:25,920
future generations to share the rich
historic and natural heritage of

1652
02:12:24,400 --> 02:12:31,360
Delaware.
Continuing in doing so, I will always

1653
02:12:29,360 --> 02:12:38,079
uphold and defend the constitutions of
my country and my state. So help me God.

1654
02:12:35,520 --> 02:12:42,560
This oath is the basis upon which we
carry out our duties. Serving is a

1655
02:12:41,040 --> 02:12:47,440
privilege.
The public interests are paramount.

1656
02:12:45,920 --> 02:12:52,719
But most importantly, the
responsibilities of a commissioner

1657
02:12:49,360 --> 02:12:56,560
require fidelity to our own municipal
code

1658
02:12:54,400 --> 02:13:03,440
which mandates civility and courteous
behavior and prohibits harassment.

1659
02:13:00,239 --> 02:13:08,079
The perspective of the I'm sorry, the
peververate

1660
02:13:05,119 --> 02:13:13,679
univil, discourteous, and harassing
behavior must cease. By code, the city

1661
02:13:11,599 --> 02:13:17,599
mandates that applicants for business
licenses

1662
02:13:15,440 --> 02:13:24,320
have a reputation for operating their
business in an honest manner.

1663
02:13:20,320 --> 02:13:29,119
City code section 125A,
120-5A.

1664
02:13:27,280 --> 02:13:35,679
How can we demand businesses act
honestly yet tolerate mistruths

1665
02:13:32,639 --> 02:13:41,840
from a sitting commissioner
through her lies and ill treatment of

1666
02:13:37,920 --> 02:13:46,639
city staff and well most everyone that
who contradicts her.

1667
02:13:44,320 --> 02:13:53,199
Commissioner Good has violated her oath
of office and has disgraced the position

1668
02:13:48,800 --> 02:13:58,960
of commissioner and she should resign.
But as we the board of commissioners

1669
02:13:55,280 --> 02:14:03,280
lack the power to force resignation,
I support the recommendations of the

1670
02:14:01,040 --> 02:14:06,719
report in front of us. I have supported
it

1671
02:14:04,960 --> 02:14:12,000
and believe the public should witness
the report content and judge for

1672
02:14:10,079 --> 02:14:17,760
themselves.
And so I voted in favor of waving

1673
02:14:14,880 --> 02:14:23,440
attorney client privilege, releasing the
report to the public with exhibits, and

1674
02:14:21,119 --> 02:14:28,880
adopting and implementing the report
recommendations.

1675
02:14:25,520 --> 02:14:32,480
Frankly, I think tonight's behavior
should be a good demonstration to

1676
02:14:30,719 --> 02:14:40,000
everybody
of what we've had to go through and deal

1677
02:14:35,440 --> 02:14:43,639
with for the past two years.
So to conclude,

1678
02:14:43,920 --> 02:14:50,320
the board has retained an independent
investigator to review the complaints

1679
02:14:47,920 --> 02:14:54,800
that were presented to the city. The
investigation has been completed.

1680
02:14:52,960 --> 02:14:59,040
Personnel committee has reviewed the
resulting report and the mayor and

1681
02:14:56,400 --> 02:15:03,440
commissioners have now acted upon it.
the city manager will ensure that the

1682
02:15:01,119 --> 02:15:08,480
report without uh without exhibits now
with exhibits is made available to the

1683
02:15:06,560 --> 02:15:18,639
public consistent with the action taken
by the board. So again uh by

1684
02:15:13,360 --> 02:15:26,599
the next hour or so uh the
now public report will be uh embedded

1685
02:15:23,119 --> 02:15:26,599
into the agenda.

1686
02:15:27,679 --> 02:15:36,558
Um,
did you have

1687
02:15:32,239 --> 02:15:36,558
I don't read lips from 20 ft. [laughter]

1688
02:15:42,239 --> 02:15:45,239
» Um,

1689
02:15:47,440 --> 02:15:58,480
thank you all. Thank members of the for
of the public. Uh we

1690
02:15:55,920 --> 02:16:04,239
we conclude that uh section of the
agenda. We move on to future agenda

1691
02:16:00,960 --> 02:16:08,719
topics. Uh if anybody uh you know
they're embedded in the agenda if

1692
02:16:05,760 --> 02:16:14,400
anybody has any questions or wants to uh
uh add something to the agenda certainly

1693
02:16:10,480 --> 02:16:18,639
see Taylor Tedar. Uh with that uh review
future meeting dates. uh Taylor uh

1694
02:16:17,040 --> 02:16:25,119
indicated at the beginning of the
meeting uh that because of Labor Day on

1695
02:16:21,840 --> 02:16:30,400
a Monday uh our meeting will be switched
to Tuesday, September 8th. That's a

1696
02:16:28,239 --> 02:16:37,200
commissioner's m meeting. That's at 9:00
a.m. Subsequent to that, uh please note

1697
02:16:33,920 --> 02:16:42,160
that uh Friday, September 18th is our
regular meeting and that's our

1698
02:16:38,639 --> 02:16:47,359
installation of our newly elected uh uh
commissioners and mayor. Uh and that

1699
02:16:44,479 --> 02:16:52,479
meeting begins at uh two o'clock. With
that uh is there any additional citizen

1700
02:16:49,760 --> 02:16:56,319
comment uh that anybody would like to
make.

1701
02:16:55,104 --> 02:17:02,319
[laughter]
>> Nancy Doyle 202 Country Club Drive. This

1702
02:16:59,599 --> 02:17:08,639
is a yellow and chocolate cake from
Pascalini Bakery. It's not a celebratory

1703
02:17:05,519 --> 02:17:12,880
cake. I saw the agenda in advance, but I
think like food is a important bonding

1704
02:17:11,439 --> 02:17:16,960
experience. And yes, I should be
bringing vegetables, too. I'm working on

1705
02:17:14,479 --> 02:17:21,679
it. But this is a great piece of cake,
and I was hoping every commissioner

1706
02:17:19,599 --> 02:17:27,679
could be here to have a piece of it, but
it's I would have shared it with all of

1707
02:17:24,000 --> 02:17:33,920
them. Um, so a little bit of a sad day
that this had to happen, but a good

1708
02:17:30,639 --> 02:17:37,359
cake. So, a healing cake I present to
you.

1709
02:17:34,880 --> 02:17:45,920
» Thank you, Nancy. Anybody else members
of the public comment? Uh if not, uh are

1710
02:17:42,160 --> 02:17:49,679
there any commissioner announcements?
Uh very good. Uh with that, there being

1711
02:17:47,920 --> 02:17:55,559
no further business, I adjourn this
meeting at 4:17 p.m. Thank you

1712
02:17:52,559 --> 02:17:55,559
everybody.