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I have two.
>> I'm going to get another one.

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» It's all on the wrist.

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7:00. Here we go.

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Thank you, D.
>> There, that worked. I won't shut it off.

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Um, want to welcome you all here
tonight. It's good to see a large crowd

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out to discuss what what we're going to
be voting on in March. Um,

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those of you who don't know, I'm I'm
Bruce Tro. I've been moderator

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here for long time.
Um,

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I just want to welcome you all to the
deliberative session

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and thank you all for taking the time to
uh come come here and I'll be the

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moderator. Assistant moderator is
Francis Faulner.

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Uh
we are broadcasting tonight's meeting

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live and is being recorded. Although to
participate,

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vote or make motions, people must be
physically present.

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This evening's meeting is the first
session

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of this year's annual town meeting. The
purpose of this session is to determine

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the form of warrant articles that will
be presented to voters

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at the polls on March 10th
at the Manok Regional School District

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gymnasium.

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And be before we begin, I'd like to
recognize

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if I have the sheet
Um,

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» the town officials that are here,

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» do I have the list?

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» Do you just want us to stand up and
introduce ourselves? Go down the line.

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» Oh, there we there it is. Thank you.
Thank you.

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Um, we start with the town
administrator,

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Lori, and I'm not going to pronounce
your last name.

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» Rodeiola.
>> Yeah.

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Town council is Cordell Johnston.

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Town clerk is Heather Estrella.
Deputy town clerk is Amanda Norcross.

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Here's
one I never pronounce right. Police

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chief
is Joe

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Gonalva.
>> Close enough.

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» Close enough. Good. Uh the fire chief
Eric Matson.

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Public works director Joe Duso.

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Solid waste manager Josh Whipple. Is he
here?

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He's at home watching.
>> Um, finance director Teresa Lounder,

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tax collector and emergency management
director Kevin Wescott,

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town planner. Adam Pette,

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assistant town planner
Stefan

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May Mayhew.
>> He's right up there.

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» There he is. Did I pronounce it right?
>> Sure. What the heck? Call me anything

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except late for supper. Right. Uh, let's
see.

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The recreation director is Ashley
Crosby.

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Yes, she is.
And

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I would ask for everyone to rise and
we'll have the pledge of allegiance.

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» Chief Chief of Police will lead us.
>> I aliance to the flag of the United

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States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under

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God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.

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Thank you, Chief.

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I'm going to go through a few of the
basic basic rules for the first

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first session meeting.
Uh handouts which include the warrant

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articles
to be considered at this evening's

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meetings are available in the back of
the hall if you don't have them.

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Um,

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and everyone should treat each other
with respect and kindness would be nice.

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Um,
and before making before asking a

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question or making a statement, please
make your way to a microphone and

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00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:29,440
identify yourself for the record.
If you would like to speak

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speak next, please make your way up to
and line up behind the mic. Don't wait

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for the person that's at the mic to uh
finish before you're you come up.

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00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,400
Uh,

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as a general rule, we have uh I don't
know if we have any people here that are

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non- voters, but um
non- voters cannot speak without

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permission of the meeting. And that's up
to you folks whether you vote to let

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someone speak or not that's not a
registered voter in the town.

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As at past meetings, the moderator will
allow town staff to provide information

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or address questions which may arise
during the course of the meeting. A

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running debate will not be allowed.
Remarks and questions should go through

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the moderator.
If during the meeting you disagree with

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the ruling of the moderator, you may
request that the House be pulled.

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This is the voters's meeting. It's your
meeting

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and the voters may overrule the
moderator.

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With respect to motions for
reconsideration,

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a motion to reconsider will be con

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00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:09,599
I don't know what that word in order to
make

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uh
a reconsideration motion. It needs needs

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to be made within 10 minutes of
declaring the result of the original

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vote.
We will be projecting the wording of

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each article
and we'll forgo reading them.

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When we get to an article, it will be
projected on the screen and I will ask

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for a motion and a second
and I will then open the floor for

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discussion or amendments.
Any amendments to an article

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00:08:47,279 --> 00:08:55,680
will need to be submitted to the
moderator in writing

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and amendments will be voted on one at a
time. The amended article will be put on

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00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:08,240
the projector
and then will be debated and voted on.

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00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:13,839
Additional discussion and amendments
will then be allowed.

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When the voters are done with amendments
and discussion,

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I will call for the vote and I will
declare the results of the vote and we

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will move forward to the next item of
business.

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00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:39,040
State law requires all on articles on
the warrant to be voted by official

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ballot. So motions to pass over or
postpone indefinitely

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00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:50,600
are beyond the authority of the first
session

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00:09:45,519 --> 00:09:50,600
and will be ruled out of order.

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00:09:51,279 --> 00:10:00,080
Article one is the election of officers.
Article two and three are zoning

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00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:06,080
amendments which do not need to be
discussed tonight.

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00:10:02,560 --> 00:10:11,760
But the board would like to offer time
now to direct any questions they have

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00:10:08,399 --> 00:10:16,959
about them to the planning board or
planning director.

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00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:23,040
» Would anyone like to question
>> Mr. Moderator just the select board

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00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:25,839
would like to present certificates to a
couple of

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» I'm sorry if we have a moment.
>> Skipped right over that.

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00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:35,920
» No worries. All right. May we do so?
>> All right. recognize the sleen below

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who has some annoy announcements to
make.

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» All right, boys.

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00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:57,519
Before we do this, there's several
people here who are on various boards

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00:10:54,480 --> 00:11:02,720
and committees either elected or
volunteer. You mind just standing up so

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everyone could recognize you. We greatly
appreciate all your support.

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00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,817
» Thank you.
[applause]

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00:11:15,279 --> 00:11:22,240
» One of our standing committees is the
capital improvement committee. It's been

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00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:26,000
in in action for over 12 years, but
we've never had the opportunity or or

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00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:29,760
given them the opportunity to be
recognized. So tonight we would like to

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00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:36,000
do that. Uh we know that there are
several members here and a few that were

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00:11:32,079 --> 00:11:40,079
not able to attend. So it's only fitting
that the first certificate we give is to

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00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:43,533
selectman Jimmy Tempesta.
>> Thank you. [applause]

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00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,240
» Did you put that on top? [cheering]
>> How did you know?

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00:11:46,399 --> 00:11:53,920
» Good job. Got rid of me fast.
>> I did. Not yet. Um a second is the

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00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:57,760
chairman longterm longtime chairman
Stephen Bidd. I don't think Stephen is

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00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:02,240
here tonight, but uh for those of you
who have served with him, you you're in

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00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:05,748
awe as much as I am and my colleagues
with the work and effort that Steve puts

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00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,768
in.
[applause]

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00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:15,920
And then our newest member to the CIP
committee, a new resident of Swansea,

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00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:20,213
moved here a few years ago, Pat
Ambrosio.

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00:12:18,193 --> 00:12:20,213
[applause]

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00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:35,279
vice chairman of the of the CIP
committee as well as a member of several

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00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:39,863
others and longtime volunteer for the
town is Bruce Bohannan.

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00:12:37,843 --> 00:12:39,863
[applause]

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00:12:42,428 --> 00:12:44,448
[applause]

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00:12:50,639 --> 00:12:54,040
Where am I?

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00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:03,200
This next gentleman uh he and his wife
are new members of Swansea, have lived

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00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:07,040
here for a few years on Wilson Pond and
have been very instrumental in

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encouraging the board and members of the
public to be respectful of Wilson Pond.

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uh been very uh energetic with regard to
that and and our expectation is that

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we'll have an opportunity in 2026 to
honor some of the requests that Mark

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00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:26,369
Scalera has. I know Mark's not here
tonight, but he deserves to be

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00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,369
recognized. [applause]

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00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:35,519
Another gentleman who has served on
various committees and is currently a

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00:13:33,519 --> 00:13:40,779
member of the planning board, vice
chairman of that board is Michael York.

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00:13:38,759 --> 00:13:40,779
» [applause]

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00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,680
» Thank you.

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00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:52,880
Uh our next our last uh member of the
CIP committee is Larry Crowder. I'm not

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00:13:51,279 --> 00:13:57,440
sure I don't see Larry here tonight. I
know evenings are difficult for him. Uh

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00:13:55,120 --> 00:14:02,240
he's also been very instrumental in the
work that DPW does under the direction

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00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:06,979
of Joe Duso with regard to our road
system. So let's recognize Larry.

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00:14:04,959 --> 00:14:06,979
[applause]

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00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:18,320
Last year, we appointed an ad hoc
committee, a fire station committee

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00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:22,000
under the chairmanship of of Jay Ward.
And you all know how successful that

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00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:27,360
committee was because the building's
almost done. And this year, uh, in

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00:14:25,199 --> 00:14:31,839
response to the, uh, petition warrant
article last year asking the town to

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00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:36,560
vote to support increasing the board of
selectmen from three members to five, we

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00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:40,800
thought it was prudent if we appointed a
governance committee to take a look at

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00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:44,959
how Swansea has governed itself, is
governing itself, and plans for the

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00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:50,959
future. And so tonight, we'd like to
recognize that committee. Uh just as we

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00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:54,959
were fortunate to have a strong chair
and Jay Ward with the fire station

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00:14:53,040 --> 00:15:00,035
committee, we were blessed to have Annne
Hefernan as the chair for the governance

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00:14:56,959 --> 00:15:00,035
committee. [applause]

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00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,620
[applause]

157
00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:20,480
This gentleman I've been after for
years. Uh I met him when my wife and I

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00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:25,199
owned a business called Lady of America
and his wife was one of our employees.

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00:15:22,959 --> 00:15:29,440
Uh always very impressed by Eric and
this time Eric took us up and Eric May

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00:15:27,839 --> 00:15:34,750
became a member of the governance
committee. Eric, I believe you're here.

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00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,750
Welcome. [applause]

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00:15:44,959 --> 00:15:51,920
This gentleman is an outstanding citizen
and resident of Swansea, one that we all

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00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:56,310
look up to uh for his service not only
to the town but to our country. Admiral

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00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,330
David Stinson.
[applause]

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00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:10,399
And this gentleman, you all know, this
this gentleman uh may as well have been

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00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:14,560
born here, and he probably was, but he's
been involved with the town for decades.

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00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:20,079
Uh was on the fire department, a fire
chief at one time, was our DPW director,

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00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:24,531
is currently our cemetery seon, and our
resident historian, Lee Dunham.

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00:16:22,511 --> 00:16:24,531
[applause]

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00:16:27,096 --> 00:16:29,116
[applause]

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00:16:39,839 --> 00:16:46,880
I I don't see this next gentleman here,
but he became a good friend. He uh he

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00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:53,519
was a one of our state reps back in the
last decade. Uh represented Swansea very

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00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:58,320
well. uh Ben Tilton uh worked on behalf
of the town along with Jim McConnell and

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00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:02,720
and brought a voice to conquer that we
had not had uh previously. Not that our

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00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:06,480
other representatives didn't try, but
both of these guys were like pit bulls

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00:17:04,559 --> 00:17:11,120
and and they seriously did great work
for us. Ben, are you here tonight? Well,

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00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:14,640
if you get a chance to see him, Ben's
done tremendous work for the town and we

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00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,931
hope hope he'll do more for us in the
future. [applause]

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00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:26,640
This next gentleman is a well-known
contractor in Swansea and Cheshire

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00:17:24,319 --> 00:17:30,880
County. Uh he's served the town and in
many functions. He's run for office at

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00:17:28,559 --> 00:17:35,272
the state level and we look forward to
continued work with Danlair. [applause]

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00:17:39,919 --> 00:17:46,960
I think I'm going to save this one for
last. This next gentleman is is also a

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00:17:44,559 --> 00:17:50,799
lifer in Swansea. A very well-known
family that's been very instrumental in

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00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:54,799
the in the history of Swansea and the
development of Swansea. And he's

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00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:58,142
continued the legacy of his forebears as
a member of the planning board. Richard

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00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:00,162
Lane.
[applause]

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00:18:08,559 --> 00:18:14,400
Someone else gets to stand up a second
time. Uh this gentleman is a vice chair

188
00:18:12,559 --> 00:18:18,320
of the planning board. As mentioned,
he's he's been a member of the CIP

189
00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:22,480
committee uh as well as other committees
and has been to almost all of our our

190
00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:26,962
select board meetings. He's been a very
astute contributor. We appreciate his

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00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,982
efforts. Michael York.
[applause]

192
00:18:29,679 --> 00:18:33,000
Thank you, Michael.

193
00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:40,160
Uh this gentleman, as I mentioned
earlier, uh is a new resident of

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00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:44,000
Swansea, very instrumental in in trying
to improve the water quality at Wilson

195
00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:48,632
Pond. We know he's not here, but we'd
like him recognized Mark Scalera.

196
00:18:46,612 --> 00:18:48,632
[applause]

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00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:58,559
And this young lady is is someone that I
take great pride in. Uh she's someone

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00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:02,400
that I I met with along with one of her
colleagues a few years ago. they had

199
00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:06,960
some issues to discuss that they felt
and I believe at then and believe even

200
00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:10,720
more so now were very instrumental and
significant to the town of Swansea. Uh

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00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:15,120
she's somebody who's become a good
friend. I greatly appreciate her

202
00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:22,038
efforts. She's speaking out on behalf of
the town on Facebook. You all know her.

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00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:22,038
Jessica Ramsey Sanchez. [applause]

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00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:42,799
This year, Swansea elected a new
selectman uh a resident of Swansea,

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00:19:40,799 --> 00:19:46,320
lifelong resident of Swansea, been
involved in our police department and

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00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:51,039
fire department. He stepped in and did a
phenomenal job as a selectman. We all

207
00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:56,698
appreciate his efforts. He was very uh
supportive and helpful to an with regard

208
00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:58,718
to the governance committee. Mark Leel,
[applause]

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00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:12,320
this gentleman is worldrenowned
certainly in Cheshire County. Uh he is

210
00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:18,559
the Macgyver of Swansea. Uh people have
no idea, I certainly don't of of all the

211
00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:22,954
contributions that Scott has made to
this town. truly an outstanding citizen.

212
00:20:20,934 --> 00:20:22,954
[applause]

213
00:20:27,484 --> 00:20:29,504
[applause]

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00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:39,200
Be
>> before we turn the meeting over to the

215
00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:44,320
moderator, I just want to we we all want
to thank you for your support uh for the

216
00:20:41,679 --> 00:20:48,960
town in in 2025. It it's going to go
down as one of the most historic years

217
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:54,320
in the history of our town. It started
with the the vote last year for the fire

218
00:20:51,679 --> 00:20:59,280
station. After almost 10 years, we
finally got it passed. It's on time.

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00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:03,280
It's under budget. And it will be a a
tribute to all the work that and the

220
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support that you all gave us. So, thank
you very much. This is long, long

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00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:10,114
overdue.
[applause]

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00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:20,000
2025 also marked a significant change in
town. Uh Michael Branley had been our

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00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:24,159
town administrator for almost 10 years.
Uh he came in on the heels of Shane

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00:21:21,919 --> 00:21:29,039
O'Keefe who came in on the heels of of
Beth Fox and and Michael did an

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00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:32,480
incredible job. I think you all know
department heads certainly know the

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00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:37,440
effort that he made and and we wished
him well as he went off to greener

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00:21:35,039 --> 00:21:41,919
pastures in Windham. But as one door
closes, another one opens. And we were

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00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:46,794
so blessed to have the opportunity to
bring in Lori Radiola.

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00:21:44,774 --> 00:21:46,794
[applause]

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00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:51,380
[applause]

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00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:59,600
» Oh, come on up there. I didn't I didn't
know.

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00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:03,000
» Give a little shake or hug or something?
>> Come on. Come on.

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00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:10,400
» You don't want to You want to say a few
words? Lori's just just done an amazing

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00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:14,159
job. She she's brought a a tenor to the
position that we haven't haven't had

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00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:18,880
before. A level of experience I mean I'm
sorry a level of enthusiasm that goes

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00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:23,120
well beyond uh anything that most of us
could have expected. Her experience and

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00:22:21,039 --> 00:22:27,760
her growth and her knowledge is going to
be a tremendous asset for the town of

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Swansea. Lori, come on up. We'll do
we'll do a redo. [applause]

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00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,540
» [applause]

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00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:46,240
» So I and the during the course of 2025,
we had several other projects that came

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00:22:44,159 --> 00:22:50,080
to fruition, not the least of which is
the Great Wall over, for those of you

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00:22:48,559 --> 00:22:54,799
that know it, on South Road at the
intersection of Flat Roof Milroad. It

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00:22:52,159 --> 00:22:58,799
was a long, long overdue project. It was
one that brought in some experimental

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00:22:56,559 --> 00:23:04,320
technology and it seems like it's
working well. Uh we're pretty much done.

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00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:08,480
Uh through the leadership of Joe Duso
and the work of Gordon Services, uh we

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00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:13,600
brought that project in on time and
under budget. The last item that we have

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00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:17,440
is to put in some additional guard rails
that the state had not originally

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00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:20,880
required. It was a suggestion by Joe and
Gordon Services that we put them in and

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00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:26,640
now that they're there, the state would
like us to extend them. So that was a a

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00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:30,480
tremendously uh tremendous project. As
we go through the departments, one of

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00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:34,159
the ones that has been under the most
level of stress is the police

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00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:38,000
department. And we all, including the
the members of the department, owe a

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00:23:35,919 --> 00:23:42,559
debt of gratitude to Chief Gonza. I'm
sorry, Chief Gonzalez. His ability to

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00:23:40,799 --> 00:23:47,360
hold his team together and provide the
level of service that we have in Swansea

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00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:52,556
is truly incredible. I appreciate an
opportunity to give him a round of

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00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:52,556
applause. [applause]

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00:23:53,679 --> 00:23:57,240
Good job, Chief.

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00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:02,799
Not to be outdone was our fire
department. We had uh under the

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00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:07,600
direction I'm sorry under the suggestion
of Sai Kerazinski two three years ago.

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00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:12,000
I'm sorry it was two years ago. It was
Jim's first meeting uh we brought

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00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:19,520
together a team of leadership with Eric
Matson as our fire chief uh Norm Scansy,

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00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:24,480
Michael Burke as assist deputy chiefs
and Mick Sanchez as assistant chief.

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00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:28,880
That team worked very well. and and then
this year uh Norm Scants decided to

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00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:33,360
leave Swansea and and take a chief's
position elsewhere. So the team I'm

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00:24:31,360 --> 00:24:38,320
sorry so the chief reassembled his
committee uh re reassigned duties and

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00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:42,640
they continue to provide tremendous
service to the town. They've almost

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00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:47,200
doubled the participation uh and
volunteers that we have which is a

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00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:51,279
tremendous accomplishment. Uh, as you
all know, bringing in firefighters and

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00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:55,440
police is a is a very challenging
opportunity for communities, not just

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00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:59,967
Swansea, not just Keen, not just Chester
County, but the state and the country.

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So, Chief, congratulations.
[applause]

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00:25:04,552 --> 00:25:09,919
» [applause]
>> Josh Whipple, who unfortunately is not

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00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:14,240
able to be here, but is watching us uh
this year with his team, completed the

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00:25:11,919 --> 00:25:18,640
project that you all supported for the
renovation of the recycling center. Uh

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00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:22,720
they've added additional recycling
opportunities. He's always looking for

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00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:32,062
new opportunities. this year. He's
looking for uh an a shed to house waste

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00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:36,320
oil and use as a as a protective measure
[clears throat] in order to be able to

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00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:41,360
utilize the oil on their inside heaters.
He's also interested in putting a cover

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00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:45,840
over the glass bins that we have, which
will allow us to collect more glass.

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00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:50,080
It'll be cleaner and we'll we'll gain a
better return from that. So, I know Josh

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00:25:47,919 --> 00:25:54,387
isn't here, but he deserves he and his
team deserve a round of applause.

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00:25:52,367 --> 00:25:54,387
[applause]

283
00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:06,320
Yes. Our recreation director, Ashley
Crosby, uh she and her cohort, Ashley

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00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:10,559
Nash, have continued to grow the
programs that many of our children have

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00:26:08,559 --> 00:26:14,559
had the opportunity to participate in,
and through their efforts, those

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00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:19,679
programs are growing and expanding. In
addition, she and her team have added uh

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00:26:17,679 --> 00:26:22,240
special events. We have a Valentine's
dance coming up

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00:26:21,279 --> 00:26:26,240
» next Friday night.
>> Next Friday. And we have a a winter fest

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00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:28,960
» on March 1st
>> at at the Lane Fields

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00:26:27,919 --> 00:26:32,080
» February 22nd.
>> Right. And we will have an ice fishing

291
00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:37,679
derby this year.
>> Yeah. So again, she's she's done

292
00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:40,893
tremendous work and and deserves our
recognition. [applause]

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00:26:41,039 --> 00:26:45,478
Another
[applause]

294
00:26:47,679 --> 00:26:54,159
area of recreation that is often
underutilized and unrecognized, but for

295
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:58,640
those people who take advantage of it,
it's greatly appreciated. And that's our

296
00:26:56,320 --> 00:27:03,279
rail trail. And the under the leadership
of Mike Kowals and Bruce Bohannan,

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00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:07,039
they've done a fabulous job, as you
know, if you've used them, and they

298
00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:10,968
continue to do a great job and making us
the pride of Cheshire County for our

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00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:12,988
rail trails. Congratulation, boys.
>> [applause]

300
00:27:15,553 --> 00:27:17,573
[applause]

301
00:27:18,559 --> 00:27:26,720
» Oh, code enforcement. We had Mike
Jasmine as our code enforcement officer

302
00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:31,919
for almost 10 years. uh Mike decided to
leave us at the end of 2024 and we were

303
00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:36,159
fortunate to bring in Chris Levy who
came with a wealth of experience from

304
00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:39,760
Texas and from all I've heard and all
the board has heard and our town

305
00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:43,440
administrator he's been wellreceived by
residents and and well received by

306
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:47,440
developers and builders. We're very
fortunate to have him and I don't think

307
00:27:45,279 --> 00:27:50,979
Chris is here but like to recognize
Chris

308
00:27:48,959 --> 00:27:50,979
[applause]

309
00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:59,520
and then we'll we'll yield the floor to
the moderator. One of the events that

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00:27:57,120 --> 00:28:05,200
we're very excited about tonight is the
opportunity for everyone to review and

311
00:28:02,159 --> 00:28:09,120
discuss the zoning amendments. Uh all
too often as planning board members and

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00:28:07,039 --> 00:28:13,840
and zoning board members, we've heard
the term you people. In other words, you

313
00:28:11,679 --> 00:28:17,360
people have made this decision and
realistically, we all have made the

314
00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:21,200
decision because we all vote on the
amendments. And so tonight, you'll have

315
00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:25,440
the opportunity to discuss those
amendments with with Scott and other

316
00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:31,360
members of of the different committees,
the conservation committee, uh, as well

317
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:37,039
as his own I'm sorry, the planner, Adam
Pocket. So, with that, we turn it over

318
00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:40,960
to you, Mr. Moderator. Thank you.
>> Now, does this count as your time?

319
00:28:40,049 --> 00:28:46,320
» [laughter]
>> I did have one other thing.

320
00:28:44,799 --> 00:28:50,559
» This is a good This is a good one,
George. This is a good one. Bruce

321
00:28:48,559 --> 00:28:55,120
mentioned at the at the beginning that
he's been a longtime moderator for the

322
00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:59,600
town. Bruce has been our moderator. He
took over from Pat Hazelton 12 years

323
00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:03,279
ago, and Bruce has decided that this
would be his last year. He's been a

324
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:08,880
tremendous guide for us, a wonderful
moderator, brings a good a good sense of

325
00:29:06,399 --> 00:29:13,919
humor and and a calm demeanor to the
meetings. So, Bruce, we wish you well in

326
00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:18,720
your last meeting. But before that,
there was a typo in in the handout that

327
00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:22,720
you received. Uh the handout that you
received received had a list of

328
00:29:20,399 --> 00:29:27,039
candidates for all of the positions, and
one of the positions is a three-year

329
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:31,200
seat for selectman. Bruce's name was
left off inadvertently. He is on the

330
00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:34,640
ballot and he is on everything else
official, but we wanted to make you

331
00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:39,000
aware that Bruce is running for
selectman for a three-year term. So

332
00:29:36,399 --> 00:29:42,039
again, 12 years. Great job, Bruce. Thank
[applause] you.

333
00:29:43,585 --> 00:29:52,440
[applause]
>> This doesn't this doesn't count the time

334
00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,440
for shortest.

335
00:29:53,279 --> 00:29:56,679
» There you go.

336
00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:04,080
All right.
So, we

337
00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:11,559
call the the
deliberative session to order

338
00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:11,559
and uh article

339
00:30:12,159 --> 00:30:18,279
article two of the zoning amendments.

340
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:24,360
Does anybody have any questions on the
zoning amendments?

341
00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:46,320
Seeing no uh discussion on the zoning
amendments

342
00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:52,799
that we will be voting as they're
written on the ballot in March.

343
00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:55,799
Um,
okay.

344
00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:03,960
Which one's this one? Four,
six. Try four.

345
00:31:05,039 --> 00:31:08,520
» We'll get there.

346
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:13,799
Three.
>> Ah,

347
00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:17,480
what's up?

348
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:32,640
Okay. Three is uh going to be
moved by

349
00:31:30,399 --> 00:31:36,559
Lori.
>> I can start with that one. Y

350
00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:42,240
» make a motion that we move the article.
Second.

351
00:31:38,399 --> 00:31:47,760
» Motion made and seconded.
Uh discussion on article three.

352
00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:53,039
So, if we could just uh say a few things
about that and then Yeah. Okay. Um, so

353
00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:59,200
article three uh proposes raising an
appropriating a total of $1.2 million to

354
00:31:56,320 --> 00:32:04,080
design and construct, equip, and furnish
a new public works facility on town

355
00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:09,279
owned property uh located at 98 Pine
Street. Uh, of this amount 150 would

356
00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:13,840
come from the public works facility
expendable trust fund and the remaining

357
00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:19,440
uh 1,50,000
would be funded through uh bond issue.

358
00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:25,279
The article authorizes the selectman to
manage the financing, seek federal and

359
00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:30,159
state aid and all actions necessary to
complete the project. A three-fifths

360
00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:35,519
ballot vote is required and the
selectmen do recommend this warrant

361
00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:39,279
article. We have a few um slides up
here. If we can just kind of go through

362
00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:46,720
them, I think that would be we could be
able to explain it a little bit. Um

363
00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:51,200
so this, let's see here.
This is a fastmill of the proposed

364
00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:56,480
public works facility. It's a
manufactured steel building and is

365
00:32:53,600 --> 00:33:02,039
approximately 12,000 square feet. Um
we'll discuss more details in the

366
00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:02,039
following slides.

367
00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:10,640
This is a site plan of the location of
the proposed

368
00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:15,760
uh public works facility in proximity to
the current location.

369
00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:20,159
You can see it up there. The building uh
would be built on the same property as

370
00:33:17,919 --> 00:33:26,600
the current public works building at 98
Pine Street and the site plan was done

371
00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:26,600
by Fieldstone Land Consultants.

372
00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:35,760
Um, so some of the challenges with the
current facility, um, the plow trucks do

373
00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:42,559
not fit inside the current building with
the plows on, um, requiring our DPW DPW

374
00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:46,799
crew to install the plows oftentimes,
um, in the middle of a snowstorm, which

375
00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:52,240
can take up to an hour, delaying the
response time to the roads. Um, as you

376
00:33:49,919 --> 00:34:00,240
can see, equipment is stored outside in
the elements. Um so it's exposure to um

377
00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:06,799
snow, ice and moisture and it reduces
the equipment lifespan and increases the

378
00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:10,879
maintenance needs for the department. Um
as I mentioned the increased staff time

379
00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:16,159
clearing the snow and ice. Um crews must
spend time clearing off vehicles before

380
00:34:12,879 --> 00:34:21,040
they can even begin plowing and and or
responding to storms. Um weather related

381
00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:25,760
delays slow down the department's
ability to clear the roads quickly and

382
00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:30,320
safely. The current works uh the current
public works facility is aging and

383
00:34:27,839 --> 00:34:34,480
deteriorating and no longer meets the
department's operational needs. The

384
00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:40,000
department has outgrown the building
resulting in equipment being stored

385
00:34:36,879 --> 00:34:45,679
outdoors and exposed to the elements of
weather which again increased staff time

386
00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:50,960
clearing snow and and most importantly
responding to um the road conditions.

387
00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:55,359
Portions of the facility including the
restroom are non-compliant. Um and the

388
00:34:53,679 --> 00:35:00,560
board of selectman capital improvement
committee do recommend addressing this

389
00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:05,440
critical infrastructure need now um to
improve the efficiency, safety and

390
00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:13,240
compliance while um helping to stabilize
the tax rate by avoiding more costly

391
00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:13,240
emergency solutions in the future.

392
00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:24,640
So here um so this image highlights the
ongoing safety concerns our public works

393
00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:29,280
staff face when working in a building
that is no longer adequate for the size

394
00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:35,760
of today's equipment or the demands of
modern operations. Uh limited space and

395
00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:41,599
aging infrastructure increase the risk
of accidents and injuries. The current

396
00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:45,760
facility is inefficient and outdated,
creating daily challenges for staff who

397
00:35:43,839 --> 00:35:51,599
must maneuver large vehicles and
equipment in an environment not designed

398
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:58,079
for them. Th this slows operations and
reduces our ability to respond again to

399
00:35:54,320 --> 00:36:02,240
those um to the roads and emergencies.
Um I think we mentioned prior the um

400
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:06,800
exposure you know to the temperature
swings um and the structural limitations

401
00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:11,680
which results in increased maintenance
costs and accelerated wear and tear. A

402
00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:17,200
modern facility would protect the town's
investment and extend

403
00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:22,079
um extend the equipment lifespan.
So, upgrading a new public works

404
00:36:20,079 --> 00:36:27,200
building addresses the long-term
operational needs. Um, helping the

405
00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:35,320
department work more efficiently and
maintain vehicles properly and provide

406
00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:35,320
re reliable services to our residents.

407
00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:46,640
Okay. So, here we have the um the some
non-compliance issues. The current uh

408
00:36:45,119 --> 00:36:51,200
public works facility has several
non-compliance issues that need to be

409
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:57,359
addressed. The building no longer meets
uh modern standards for workplace safety

410
00:36:54,800 --> 00:37:02,880
uh equipment storage, operational
requirements areas such as ventilation.

411
00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:09,680
Um you can see in the picture here that
break room is basically the door to that

412
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:15,520
break room. Right on the other side were
the um equipment that you see here. So

413
00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:19,680
that's right on the other side of of
that.

414
00:37:17,839 --> 00:37:24,720
Um
so we have ADA um accessibility and

415
00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:30,240
proper separation of staff and equipment
that are inadequate and or outdated. In

416
00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:34,720
addition, the facility does not comply
with the recommended best practices for

417
00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:40,000
maintaining large municipal municipal
vehicles which increases the risk both

418
00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:45,920
to staff and our equipment. These
deficiencies highlight why replacement,

419
00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:51,400
not repair, is the most long-term
um is the most responsible long-term

420
00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:51,400
solution.

421
00:37:52,240 --> 00:37:58,000
We have maybe one more and then I'm
going to turn it over to Joe and and

422
00:37:56,320 --> 00:38:05,040
Jimmy here. But I think that the key
takeaways here on this article, um the

423
00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:10,640
the current facility is unsafe and
non-compliant. the aging infrastructure,

424
00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:14,880
inadequate space, outdated systems
create safety risks for our staff and

425
00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:20,720
equipment.
Uh the equipment stored outdoors leads

426
00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:26,880
to delays and higher costs. Exposure to
weather reduc reduces equipment lifespan

427
00:38:23,599 --> 00:38:32,320
and increases prep time during storms.
Um the operational in inefficiencies

428
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:39,200
limit our response times. the layout and
structural um constraints, slow down

429
00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:44,720
maintenance, repairs and treatment for
uh road road treatment operations.

430
00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:51,119
A new facility addresses long-term
infrastructure needs, uh modern design,

431
00:38:47,359 --> 00:38:58,480
improved safety, efficiency, and proper
equipment care. The total project cost

432
00:38:54,320 --> 00:39:03,920
is 1.2 2 million with 150 would be
proposed to come out of the existing

433
00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:08,960
expendable trust fund and 1
million50,000

434
00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:13,040
through bond and notes. And again, the
selectman um

435
00:39:11,359 --> 00:39:18,960
uh would be authorized to issue
financing and seek other um areas of

436
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:24,079
funding through grants um whether that
be federal or state. Um, and this does

437
00:39:21,599 --> 00:39:29,040
require a three-fifths ballot and it is
recommended by the board and the capital

438
00:39:26,079 --> 00:39:33,680
improvements committee as well. And I
would just like to turn it over to Jimmy

439
00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:35,920
if you have anything or or Joe or
anybody wants to start asking questions.

440
00:39:35,599 --> 00:39:40,880
Joe,
>> I just need to say a few words about it.

441
00:39:37,599 --> 00:39:46,800
» Yes. I um I've been selectman for two
years now and we all know we all know

442
00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:51,440
all these departments are very important
to our town and sometimes I'm looking

443
00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:56,480
now at how our town is growing. Our
town's growing it feels like strength

444
00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:59,440
over here and weakness over here.
Meaning we're having a lot of

445
00:39:57,839 --> 00:40:03,920
population, a lot of people coming to
our town, but I I feel that we're

446
00:40:01,839 --> 00:40:08,320
getting weaker on the other side. We
need to strengthen the foundation of our

447
00:40:05,839 --> 00:40:13,440
town and I think these are steps to f to
strengthen the foundation of our town.

448
00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:19,839
We did the fire station and you know
I've never thought I've seen that there

449
00:40:17,359 --> 00:40:24,400
was so much to this public works till
I've hung around with Joe and I spent

450
00:40:22,079 --> 00:40:29,680
quite a bit of time with Joe going to
this and meeting these guys and these

451
00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:35,040
guys this crew that we have we are so
fortunate. I can't praise them enough

452
00:40:33,359 --> 00:40:39,040
what they do in this town. They just
don't plow the roads. They just don't

453
00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:44,320
mold on anything that we need in this
town. They come to our rescue. They go

454
00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:49,200
over and above. And I feel that they're
a great group of guys like a great

455
00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:53,760
carpenter but with a small toolbox. If
we don't allow Joe and his crew to have

456
00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:58,319
the right equipment and the right tools
to do his job, that's on us. And I

457
00:40:56,640 --> 00:41:02,400
really feel strongly that everybody
should think about this and the growth

458
00:41:00,079 --> 00:41:06,400
of our town, how important this
building's going to be. We have

459
00:41:04,319 --> 00:41:10,880
equipment, like Lori said, that we
bought brand new. We're going to get

460
00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:15,280
more years out of it. Safety is the
hugest thing. This last storm, I could

461
00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:20,720
not believe that the guys are out there
in the wind and the darkness hooking on

462
00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:24,400
plows outside in the wind and they had
to connect these plows cuz we can't put

463
00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:29,680
them. Joe can't put them on the night
before. that they done outside. I mean,

464
00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:33,760
somebody could lose a finger. It's cold.
They're hooking up cold hoses. You have

465
00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:38,240
a building like this. The storm is
coming. Joe can be ready for it. He can

466
00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:43,280
have all his trucks lined up. Safety is
huge. But we just got to I I feel this

467
00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:47,680
town, we have to pull back the reinss
and we have to look at the foundation.

468
00:41:45,119 --> 00:41:52,000
These departments where we're weak, we
have a a police department that we need

469
00:41:50,160 --> 00:41:56,560
strength. We have every department we
need strength in. I really think we got

470
00:41:54,160 --> 00:42:01,520
to concentrate on the town. Even the
town hall, all you town hall people in

471
00:41:58,720 --> 00:42:04,319
the town, they're they're straight out.
But I'm not going to get into all that

472
00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:09,920
because I want to stay in the building.
But this building vote is really really

473
00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:14,880
important. I put this in the category of
of the water system that we passed up

474
00:42:12,319 --> 00:42:18,800
last year because that to me was a
disaster. We needed that and we didn't

475
00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:23,200
do it. And I think because people
weren't educated enough on that and I

476
00:42:21,119 --> 00:42:27,119
don't want to let this slip through. So
I'm going to push it strongly. I feel

477
00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:31,119
strongly about this is money that's
going to come back to us. It's going to

478
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:36,640
come back to us in a strong way. It's
going to give the crew the right tools

479
00:42:34,079 --> 00:42:41,040
to work with. And I just hope you guys
leave here tonight. And if you believe

480
00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:46,000
what I just said, spread the word and
let's see if we can get this pass for

481
00:42:42,720 --> 00:42:50,720
the for the future of our town because
the roads and all this is so important

482
00:42:48,079 --> 00:42:55,760
to this town, the strength. So I want
you to all to understand what these guys

483
00:42:52,960 --> 00:43:00,760
do and they need a new toolbox. So thank
you for that.

484
00:42:57,359 --> 00:43:00,760
» Thank you, Jory.

485
00:43:02,160 --> 00:43:06,960
» Any further discussion?
>> I'd like to speak to it. I'd like to

486
00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:10,319
speak to it a little bit too, moderator.
uh just educate the people a little bit.

487
00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:13,440
So when Mike Branley was here, we
started looking at this. It was brought

488
00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:17,040
to my attention that CIP wanted to do
something with the facility. Uh we've

489
00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:20,400
done we did research and worked with a
contractor that actually did the

490
00:43:18,319 --> 00:43:23,760
recycling center and it just wasn't
going to be cost effective to put an

491
00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:27,680
addition on and make upgrades to this
building. And uh what I learned from

492
00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:31,359
talking with other contractors and then
a local Swansea contractor that just

493
00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:35,280
built the steel building that this was
the most cost-effective way to go. It's

494
00:43:33,599 --> 00:43:40,079
not an elaborate building. It's a large
It's a large uh steel building. It's

495
00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:43,599
going to we have um adequate office
space. And then the big thing like Jimmy

496
00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:48,480
was talking about with the crew. This
last snowstorm, guys worked extensive

497
00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:51,839
hours with minimal breaks. And there's
really there's there's not even adequate

498
00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:55,839
room in there for everybody to eat lunch
at the same time in the break room. The

499
00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:58,960
bathroom is deplorable. We put a new
toilet bowl on recently trying to make

500
00:43:57,359 --> 00:44:04,000
it a little more livable, but there's
just no space. Uh and then the big thing

501
00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:07,200
is keeping the equipment inside. Uh
we're very thankful with support of the

502
00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:10,079
select board and the CIP committee and
the residents that we we have some

503
00:44:08,720 --> 00:44:12,720
state-of-the-art equipment. We have
great equipment at the highway

504
00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:16,400
department. We recently just took
delivery of a new plow truck with a with

505
00:44:14,640 --> 00:44:20,400
a spreader. That's approximately
$250,000.

506
00:44:18,079 --> 00:44:25,040
Uh two years before and this year as
well, we we uh we took delivery of a new

507
00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:28,720
grater which has to stay parked outside
and it's re they really wear in the

508
00:44:26,880 --> 00:44:32,640
environment, the rubber, the hydraulic
hoses. So unfortunately that machine has

509
00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:37,520
to stay parked outside with this new
building. Everything would be inside. Uh

510
00:44:35,359 --> 00:44:41,359
and then the big takeaway too is is the
plow trucks. They need to we when we

511
00:44:40,079 --> 00:44:45,760
have a storm, we can't be dealing with
trying to get them started or frozen up

512
00:44:43,440 --> 00:44:50,240
airlines. The trucks need to stay inside
and unfortunately they cannot fit inside

513
00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:54,560
with the plows on them. So it's it's an
approximate hour prep from the start of

514
00:44:52,720 --> 00:44:59,119
the storm which often takes place in the
snow. And then the example of this last

515
00:44:56,960 --> 00:45:03,760
storm we ran into, we're plowing where
it was so cold, windows on trucks are

516
00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:06,880
freezing up, airlines are freezing up.
So in order for us to get the trucks

517
00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:11,119
inside, we have to take the plows back
off again and put these these trucks

518
00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:15,839
back in. And you can see in the picture
um all the plows lined up out back and

519
00:45:14,560 --> 00:45:20,640
often times you're dealing with them
being frozen in the ground. Um so there

520
00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:23,440
there's a lot of thought going into
this. And one of the other things we're

521
00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:27,119
going to be doing is going to be holding
an open house. So, if anybody has any

522
00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:31,280
questions or questions the need for
this, they can see firsthand what we're

523
00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:34,480
dealing with. Uh, and and like I said, I
just want to be clear, this is not an

524
00:45:32,720 --> 00:45:38,319
elaborate building. It it's pretty
basic. It's basically to get all the

525
00:45:36,240 --> 00:45:42,560
equipment inside, give the crew a clean
place to have a break room, adequate

526
00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:46,480
bathrooms, adequate office that are
temperature controlled, and are not

527
00:45:44,240 --> 00:45:50,800
relying on the heating for the garage.
the the current heating system there's

528
00:45:49,119 --> 00:45:53,520
whatever temperature the garage is at is
what you're getting in the office, what

529
00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:56,560
you're getting in the bathroom, and what
you're getting in the break room. And

530
00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:00,760
I'd be glad to answer any other
questions that anybody has about it.

531
00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:09,200
» That's okay. I'll forgive you this time.
>> I think it comes out too, Dan, if you

532
00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:12,800
need.
>> Okay. I'm usually pretty loud, so

533
00:46:11,680 --> 00:46:17,040
» I don't think people are going to have a
hard time hearing me. Uh ju just a few

534
00:46:15,119 --> 00:46:18,240
uh um question statements.
>> Excuse me.

535
00:46:17,599 --> 00:46:20,960
» Yes.
>> Can you state your name for the group?

536
00:46:20,560 --> 00:46:24,640
And
>> I suppose that

537
00:46:22,079 --> 00:46:28,720
» uh Danlair I live over on Warmarmac Road
if anybody want to come over and visit.

538
00:46:27,040 --> 00:46:35,440
Um
so um $1.2 million uh just passing the

539
00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:40,400
fire station is a lot of money. And as
Jimmy stated, Yep. Uh there's a lot of

540
00:46:38,880 --> 00:46:45,359
um
um

541
00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:48,960
what's the word I'm looking for?
>> Yeah. Well, yeah, there's a lot there

542
00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:52,400
there's a lot of needs in Swansea and
you know, a lot of the people that work

543
00:46:50,560 --> 00:46:56,880
for Swansea, you know, are the
foundation, but unfortunately the

544
00:46:53,680 --> 00:47:01,280
foundation of uh the money Swansea gets
comes from the property owners. Um we've

545
00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:05,920
all seen our taxes go up quite a bit in
the last year. Uh we've seen house

546
00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:09,119
assessments go up with currently and
Bill can probably attest to this, the

547
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:16,240
housing prices are starting to come
down. Um so uh my first question is um

548
00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:20,960
with these vehicles that you're plowing
with that get covered in snow and salt

549
00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:28,319
when you put them in a warm building,
won't the water melting the salt cause

550
00:47:24,560 --> 00:47:33,440
the vehicles to corrode faster?
No, because we wash them on a regular

551
00:47:30,960 --> 00:47:37,359
basis when the weather's weather allows.
We have a current wash bay right now

552
00:47:35,359 --> 00:47:41,040
that is not functional because it's
being used as storage, but it's not like

553
00:47:39,680 --> 00:47:44,800
we just put a plow truck covered with
salt and leave it there. After almost

554
00:47:43,040 --> 00:47:47,599
every storm when the weather allows, for
example, today we were doing

555
00:47:46,319 --> 00:47:50,960
maintenance. All the spreaders were
being pulled out of the plow trucks and

556
00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:55,200
they were all being washed away with a
saw.

557
00:47:52,079 --> 00:47:59,920
» Um, and with this $1.2 $2 million
facility. Uh h have you put this out to

558
00:47:58,079 --> 00:48:04,000
bid yet? Have you looked at different
costs associated where you could you can

559
00:48:02,960 --> 00:48:08,480
bring it down?
>> Yeah, it did not go out to bid. Um we've

560
00:48:06,319 --> 00:48:13,040
looked at a lot of different resources
and the cost of it not using a general

561
00:48:10,720 --> 00:48:18,960
contractor using a manufactured steel
building that comes with a uh engineered

562
00:48:16,720 --> 00:48:23,040
design for snow loads, an engineered
design for the foundation. If this

563
00:48:21,119 --> 00:48:26,800
project was to move forward, there'd be
a bidding process for the concrete work.

564
00:48:25,359 --> 00:48:31,359
There'd be a bidding process for the
installation of the building. Uh myself

565
00:48:29,119 --> 00:48:34,319
and DPW would do the majority of the
site work. So, that stuff would go

566
00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:38,160
through a bidding process, but it was
too premature to put that out. We got

567
00:48:36,240 --> 00:48:41,920
some ear marks from different
contractors to have an idea what certain

568
00:48:40,160 --> 00:48:47,079
segments were going to cost, and that's
how we came up with the budget.

569
00:48:43,359 --> 00:48:47,079
» Okay. Um,

570
00:48:49,920 --> 00:48:59,280
now I know you said you've looked into
um upgrades to the current building. Is

571
00:48:56,800 --> 00:49:01,920
that something and I know usually
upgrades I I I don't know how much you

572
00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:05,040
can upgrade the current building you
have is basically what I'm saying. But

573
00:49:03,440 --> 00:49:08,079
is this something where there's some
equipment that can be stored, what I

574
00:49:06,559 --> 00:49:12,400
call a pole barn, but you know, you put
up a building that has no walls that you

575
00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:17,760
can store equipment under that's out of
the elements and try to save cost. I'm

576
00:49:15,280 --> 00:49:22,559
just looking ways to save to save money
because unfortunately looking at a lot

577
00:49:20,720 --> 00:49:27,680
of the stuff in here, I haven't seen
anywhere where the town has tried to cut

578
00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:31,920
costs after our increase in taxes last
year. Um, and pre previously being on

579
00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:37,200
the school board, we had an issue last
year where they tried to cut $3 million

580
00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:39,920
out of the budget. Luckily, that didn't
happen, but the school board was smart

581
00:49:38,480 --> 00:49:43,760
enough to know this year that their
operating budget is below the default

582
00:49:41,599 --> 00:49:50,640
budget. And unfortunately, I just don't
see that with the town um seeing the

583
00:49:47,359 --> 00:49:54,400
rate of our taxes going up. So,
>> can we I'm I'm just I'm just wondering

584
00:49:52,480 --> 00:49:57,839
if this is something I know we need it,
but is this something we need right now

585
00:49:56,000 --> 00:50:01,920
or is this something we can need in a
year or two uh so we can level out our

586
00:50:00,400 --> 00:50:06,480
tax base and try to bring in more
businesses?

587
00:50:04,480 --> 00:50:09,599
» Well, I I say we need it. We're going to
be able to if it's not passed, we'll

588
00:50:08,160 --> 00:50:12,960
still be able to operate, but I still
think that leaves us in the current

589
00:50:11,200 --> 00:50:16,800
position the building it is. And we,
like I said, we have looked at cost cuts

590
00:50:14,559 --> 00:50:20,880
because the steel building's a lot less
money than paying for an addition and an

591
00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:25,280
add-on to it. And like I said, I I just
need to stress this is a barebone heated

592
00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:29,119
steel building for storage and the and
the big focus on on getting the break

593
00:50:27,440 --> 00:50:32,559
room and the in the offices. And like I
said, I invite anybody to stop by to

594
00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:38,920
take a look at it for themselves.
>> All right. Thank you,

595
00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:38,920
» Steve.

596
00:50:39,520 --> 00:50:48,319
Steve Russell U. Katie Lane. Some of you
may know my background and that is I

597
00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:52,720
spent 12 years running the city of Keen
fleet

598
00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:58,400
maintained all Bruce's equipment for 12
years. And if you know anything about

599
00:50:55,839 --> 00:51:02,640
diesel engines, they don't like cold
weather at all and they're very

600
00:51:00,400 --> 00:51:08,319
difficult to start and they get a lot of
no starts and it just goes on and on. So

601
00:51:06,240 --> 00:51:13,520
getting that equipment indoors where it
belongs, we've got probably

602
00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:17,920
probably a couple of million dollars
worth of equipment in the public works

603
00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:22,400
department. And I think it's very
important that we build a building that

604
00:51:19,760 --> 00:51:27,119
adequately houses that equipment.
Changing the cutting edges, doing all

605
00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:32,800
that maintenance really needs to happen
indoors. We were very fortunate and keen

606
00:51:30,720 --> 00:51:36,880
where we moved from South Main Street
and put all our equipment in the

607
00:51:34,559 --> 00:51:41,440
building at the Wetall building. It was
wonderful. We had everything there. The

608
00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:45,920
plows went on easily. They were able to
change the cutting edges indoors. If

609
00:51:44,079 --> 00:51:50,079
you've ever tried to change a cutting
edge, it's a lot of work. It's a lot of

610
00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:56,000
bolts and when they're cold, they don't
do very well to get off the the plows.

611
00:51:52,640 --> 00:51:59,599
So, I strongly urge the town to support
this building. I think it's very

612
00:51:57,520 --> 00:52:02,640
important to protect our equipment here
in the public works department.

613
00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:05,800
» I agree.
>> Thank you.

614
00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:14,240
» George, Swansea Lake Road. Hey Joe, I
was just curious um what would happen

615
00:52:11,839 --> 00:52:19,280
with the if this went through, what
would happen with the old building? Are

616
00:52:17,440 --> 00:52:21,839
are we going to maintain that and
utilize that or are we going to

617
00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:25,200
dismantle that?
>> Yeah. No, that would be part of the

618
00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:29,520
still would store vehicles. There would
still be a workshop. The new building

619
00:52:27,359 --> 00:52:32,880
would be just grim space to put
everything in.

620
00:52:30,480 --> 00:52:35,839
» And
I'm almost worried, you know, it's like

621
00:52:34,400 --> 00:52:41,119
initially, you know, I don't think the
cost, you know, in today's is but the

622
00:52:38,319 --> 00:52:46,559
operation, the ongoing operational cost.
Uh how are we going to heat this? Are we

623
00:52:43,680 --> 00:52:50,640
insulating it? Um and and how are we
going to heat this? Are we using oil or

624
00:52:49,119 --> 00:52:54,480
» It'll be oil. Then one of the things
we're looking at, not with this, but in

625
00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:58,559
the future, it's going to be set up for
a solar array. So there's potential that

626
00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:02,160
that some of the energy is going to come
from solar, but as it stands right now,

627
00:53:00,160 --> 00:53:06,160
it'll be heated with oil like we are
like we have right now. Uh but this

628
00:53:04,720 --> 00:53:10,880
building will allow us to keep the
temperature in the current building a

629
00:53:07,520 --> 00:53:14,160
lot lower than we do now. Um but it
still would be a cost to operate.

630
00:53:12,400 --> 00:53:18,000
» Do we have a projection of what it would
cost to heat that that size building? I

631
00:53:16,640 --> 00:53:21,920
mean, it's it's going to
>> I don't off hand. It' be much it'd be

632
00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:26,480
much more modern and part of this would
be a uh a significant insulation

633
00:53:24,319 --> 00:53:29,119
package, not just a standard one for a
steel building. That's one of the things

634
00:53:27,680 --> 00:53:32,880
we opted with because it'll pay for
itself in the future with the with the

635
00:53:32,160 --> 00:53:36,280
building.
>> Thank you. Yakman,

636
00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:43,200
» I just I I just want to say one thing,
you know, Danny did come up with some I

637
00:53:41,119 --> 00:53:47,200
understand about the tax. I understand
we're all hurting with the tax thing and

638
00:53:45,599 --> 00:53:50,880
we're going to get five selectmen on
this board next year and we're going to

639
00:53:49,040 --> 00:53:55,280
put together a team on how we can do
this. But my idea is like you said, you

640
00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:59,280
mentioned it slightly that we need to
bring some business to this town. Okay.

641
00:53:57,839 --> 00:54:02,960
But what I don't want to see happen,
Danny, is what happened with the fire

642
00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:07,760
station. I don't want to see us four or
five years from now trying to get a

643
00:54:05,359 --> 00:54:11,040
public works department a building and
it's going to cost us more and more and

644
00:54:09,599 --> 00:54:15,920
more and the building's going to get
smaller smaller smaller. We know that

645
00:54:13,599 --> 00:54:20,400
this is inevitable that we have to get a
building for all our equipment. Now

646
00:54:17,920 --> 00:54:26,400
whether we do it now or we cost more in
four years or we hold off somebody gets

647
00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:30,640
hurt the the trucks don't last longer
all I'm saying is I get what you're

648
00:54:28,240 --> 00:54:34,079
saying. You you have a great point. We
got to try to figure out how we're going

649
00:54:32,240 --> 00:54:38,160
to lower the taxes and have a strong
town. And I'm thinking next year with

650
00:54:36,480 --> 00:54:42,400
five select on this board, if we put
together a good solid team, Danny, we're

651
00:54:40,480 --> 00:54:46,880
going to figure out how to get
everybody's taxes down and have some big

652
00:54:44,800 --> 00:54:52,640
businesses come in, low impact on our
town. I get it. This is a tough time to

653
00:54:49,760 --> 00:54:57,119
try to pull this off. But I'm looking at
the future, Danny. I'm looking at trying

654
00:54:54,559 --> 00:55:01,200
to get this behind us. This is behind us
now. Now we have that strength. We have

655
00:54:59,119 --> 00:55:05,599
a good public works. We have a fire
station. You know, all of this. So, I

656
00:55:04,079 --> 00:55:09,920
did listen to what you have say. You
have some fantastic ideas. And it is

657
00:55:07,599 --> 00:55:14,720
tough for me to sit here as a selectman
and say, "Let's spend a million, too."

658
00:55:12,720 --> 00:55:19,119
But I'm not thinking of tomorrow. I'm
thinking of years down the line. I just

659
00:55:17,119 --> 00:55:23,839
don't want to see us bringing this up
every year like we did the fire station

660
00:55:20,880 --> 00:55:28,079
and costing us more just like we had.
And this could be the same scenario.

661
00:55:25,839 --> 00:55:32,960
Let's stop that. Let's just get it done.
And that's how I feel. Thank you.

662
00:55:32,079 --> 00:55:36,400
» Go ahead.
>> I've had occasion to be down that public

663
00:55:34,720 --> 00:55:41,119
works department several times
throughout the years. Oh, sorry if I did

664
00:55:38,240 --> 00:55:44,400
see you back there. And uh anytime I'm
down there, those trucks are packed in

665
00:55:42,800 --> 00:55:47,599
there like sardines. They're bumper to
bumper. I was just down there a couple

666
00:55:46,000 --> 00:55:50,720
of weeks ago and they're trying to do a
break job down there and you're walking

667
00:55:49,119 --> 00:55:54,480
like this between the plow and the other
truck there. It's got the brake parts

668
00:55:52,799 --> 00:55:58,720
sat on one of the plows there. There's
not enough room down that department and

669
00:55:56,319 --> 00:56:02,200
they definitely could use this building.
It's good investment.

670
00:56:02,319 --> 00:56:09,440
» Alan Gross, 209 South Road. And I hear
those trucks going by uh in the morning

671
00:56:07,680 --> 00:56:13,119
on a snowy day and I said to myself,
"Thank heavens you're doing that because

672
00:56:11,119 --> 00:56:17,760
if I have to travel in knowing I'm on a
safe, well plowed road is going to make

673
00:56:15,280 --> 00:56:20,960
a is invaluable to me." So I just want
to say if this is going to help you be

674
00:56:19,119 --> 00:56:26,079
more efficient, more effective, and more
safe, I'm all for it. Thank you.

675
00:56:23,359 --> 00:56:31,240
Anything
further?

676
00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:31,240
Yes sir.

677
00:56:31,359 --> 00:56:41,280
» Good evening everybody. My name is uh
Rick Donovan. I moved to town in 2021. I

678
00:56:38,079 --> 00:56:48,880
am recently retired from a neighboring
town here in Southwest New Hampshire. Um

679
00:56:45,920 --> 00:56:55,040
we've had our struggles with our DPW,
our fire, our police, and I'm here to

680
00:56:51,839 --> 00:57:02,160
stand up. These guys do an awesome job
and trust me, we've all worked together

681
00:56:58,640 --> 00:57:07,359
trying to get through the storms,
pulling DBW trucks back, police

682
00:57:04,720 --> 00:57:13,040
cruisers, fire trucks, trying to get
through when we all need them in an

683
00:57:10,079 --> 00:57:19,040
emergency. I support all three of these
departments as well as other public

684
00:57:15,119 --> 00:57:24,720
safety departments. And I feel that we
keep pushing things off as the town I

685
00:57:22,079 --> 00:57:30,400
come from did. And right now they are
feeling the struggles right now of

686
00:57:27,520 --> 00:57:38,160
trying to put these facilities in place
and give our guys a place to work. And

687
00:57:35,200 --> 00:57:44,000
the town I'm from, I watched the DBW
guys putting plows on trying to fix

688
00:57:40,559 --> 00:57:51,119
these trucks in inadequate places of
storage to do it. So Joe, I support you

689
00:57:47,520 --> 00:57:56,079
and your crew, Chief Matson. And I'm
sorry, I don't know the last name of the

690
00:57:53,920 --> 00:58:01,839
police chief, but I'll be here to
support these guys. I come from 25 years

691
00:57:58,799 --> 00:58:06,640
of experience as a director of publican
life safety. So it's I'm not just up

692
00:58:04,799 --> 00:58:12,319
here just trying to fill you with a
bunch of stuff. Yes, we're all concerned

693
00:58:08,799 --> 00:58:17,520
with taxes, but we keep pushing this off
in a fast growing area that we all are

694
00:58:15,280 --> 00:58:22,079
in southwest New Hampshire, it's just
going to escalate the cost.

695
00:58:20,160 --> 00:58:25,480
» Thank you.
I think further

696
00:58:29,040 --> 00:58:41,440
we should uh I guess we're ready for
a vote. No amendments to this that I've

697
00:58:38,400 --> 00:58:45,520
seen hasn't been presented.
So

698
00:58:43,680 --> 00:58:49,680
all those in favor of having this
article go forward,

699
00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:54,119
please say I.
>> I.

700
00:58:50,799 --> 00:58:54,119
» Those opposed.

701
00:58:54,480 --> 00:59:04,960
Thank you. Moderator, I make a motion to
not reconsider the article.

702
00:59:01,920 --> 00:59:11,359
Make a use your mic.
make a motion to not to

703
00:59:07,440 --> 00:59:18,400
restrict non-consideration.
>> We have a motion to um restrict

704
00:59:16,160 --> 00:59:24,079
further discussion or moderation of of
this article which is

705
00:59:21,040 --> 00:59:27,280
in line. Um
>> I have a second to the motion.

706
00:59:25,760 --> 00:59:34,400
» You have a second.
>> Okay. Motion's been made and seconded to

707
00:59:31,119 --> 00:59:38,280
eliminate any further discussion
um on this article.

708
00:59:38,720 --> 00:59:47,640
Anybody object to that? All those in
favor?

709
00:59:43,359 --> 00:59:47,640
» I All right. Opposed.

710
00:59:48,160 --> 00:59:57,200
Um thank you.
Okay.

711
00:59:53,839 --> 01:00:04,079
Let's see. We can go
article four slman halter would make a

712
01:00:01,359 --> 01:00:07,079
motion to move the article 4
second.

713
01:00:08,160 --> 01:00:17,920
» Thank you Mr. moderator.
This article would give the board of

714
01:00:14,319 --> 01:00:24,720
sele or the town the opportunity to
terminate the the revenue district that

715
01:00:21,040 --> 01:00:29,119
we have on Safford Drive in 1999.
Back in the days when Bill Omera was

716
01:00:26,559 --> 01:00:34,960
around uh there was a committee formed
and they brought to then town meeting

717
01:00:32,880 --> 01:00:38,240
the opportunity for a tax increment
finance district. We were one of the

718
01:00:36,960 --> 01:00:43,760
first towns in the state of New
Hampshire to utilize that tool. And the

719
01:00:40,880 --> 01:00:49,520
way that tool worked was that at the
time of the inception of the district

720
01:00:46,400 --> 01:00:54,559
the property values were listed at that
point in the district as it was current

721
01:00:52,000 --> 01:01:00,319
currently configured. any increase in
value for those properties, the tax

722
01:00:57,520 --> 01:01:06,559
revenues went into the tax revenues for
the increased value went into pay off a

723
01:01:04,880 --> 01:01:12,960
bond which had been taken out at the
same time. It was a $3.3 million bond.

724
01:01:10,000 --> 01:01:17,920
So those revenues uh from the excess
valuation did not come into the general

725
01:01:14,960 --> 01:01:22,079
fund. Those those funds stayed within
the district.

726
01:01:19,680 --> 01:01:27,680
Over the years, you've seen Saffford
Drive come to fruition. We have water,

727
01:01:24,880 --> 01:01:34,079
sewer, and three-phase power in in our
industrial park district. The bond, the

728
01:01:30,480 --> 01:01:39,119
$3.3 million bond is due to be paid off
in September of this year. When that

729
01:01:36,720 --> 01:01:44,640
bond is paid off, there's no reason for
the TIFF district to continue to exist.

730
01:01:41,920 --> 01:01:49,359
So what that means is that that excess
revenue that was going to pay off the

731
01:01:46,640 --> 01:01:54,480
bond will now be made available to the
general fund in December. So Dan, it may

732
01:01:52,720 --> 01:01:56,000
help us just a little bit
>> as long as you send it back to the

733
01:01:55,520 --> 01:02:00,000
taxpayers.
>> It's it would it would be a part of the

734
01:01:57,760 --> 01:02:04,880
general fund which would would be a
benefit to the taxpayers

735
01:02:02,640 --> 01:02:09,119
» without without the opportunity to
terminate the district. then the

736
01:02:06,799 --> 01:02:14,799
district would continue to compile those
excess revenues until such time as the

737
01:02:12,079 --> 01:02:19,440
district was terminated. So the board
felt that it was important to terminate

738
01:02:16,880 --> 01:02:24,480
the district uh the tiff district as
soon as possible which would be at the

739
01:02:22,079 --> 01:02:29,119
completion of all debts or payment of
all debts which would be in September of

740
01:02:26,640 --> 01:02:34,040
this year.
>> Thank you. Any discussion?

741
01:02:35,920 --> 01:02:42,079
Seeing none, all those in favor of
article 4 signify by saying I.

742
01:02:40,960 --> 01:02:47,440
» I.
>> Opposed?

743
01:02:44,160 --> 01:02:50,720
Article four will move as written onto
the ballot.

744
01:02:48,640 --> 01:02:56,160
» Moderator, I make a motion to restrict
reconsideration on artic four. Article

745
01:02:54,079 --> 01:03:01,440
four.
>> You can't restrict on articles we

746
01:02:59,119 --> 01:03:08,559
haven't had yet.
Um, the motion has been made to restrict

747
01:03:04,799 --> 01:03:12,079
again the further amending or discussion
on article 4. Do I have a second for

748
01:03:11,599 --> 01:03:17,200
that?
>> Second.

749
01:03:13,119 --> 01:03:21,760
» Thank you. All those in favor?
>> Opposed?

750
01:03:19,359 --> 01:03:27,440
Good.
Okay. Article five.

751
01:03:24,240 --> 01:03:35,359
» Make a motion to move article five.
>> Second. moved and seconded to article

752
01:03:31,839 --> 01:03:36,960
five. Uh any discussion on this,
>> Mr. Moderator?

753
01:03:36,559 --> 01:03:43,920
» Yes.
>> Uh the original bond that was taken uh

754
01:03:40,240 --> 01:03:48,960
of that 3.3 million 2.4 million were
expended leaving a balance of 900,000

755
01:03:47,119 --> 01:03:54,880
that's available to be spent in the
district. the the district committee uh

756
01:03:52,960 --> 01:04:00,319
informed the board that there were no
further improvements contemplated for

757
01:03:57,359 --> 01:04:04,079
the district uh as the bond is is
currently configured to be paid off in

758
01:04:02,559 --> 01:04:10,559
September.
What the board is asking is that the

759
01:04:06,559 --> 01:04:16,079
town authorized the board to resend the
bond authority that we have. So this is

760
01:04:13,039 --> 01:04:20,079
giving money back to the taxpayers. It
does require a three-fifths vote just as

761
01:04:18,640 --> 01:04:23,640
the original bond required a
three-fifths vote.

762
01:04:25,359 --> 01:04:32,079
» Further discussion.
>> I just question. What happens if it's

763
01:04:30,319 --> 01:04:35,440
not rescended?
>> I'm sorry. What was that?

764
01:04:33,280 --> 01:04:39,200
» What happens if it's not rescended? What
happens if that fails? That might be a

765
01:04:37,440 --> 01:04:44,240
Cordell question because our our
understanding is that the the TIF

766
01:04:41,599 --> 01:04:48,079
district would be terminated if
>> if the first one passed. Yeah. If the

767
01:04:46,160 --> 01:04:52,480
article 4 passed and this one did not
pass, what would happen?

768
01:04:50,079 --> 01:04:54,480
» Well, the bond would be paid off in in
September.

769
01:04:53,200 --> 01:04:57,839
» Yeah.
>> Just go ongoing authorization without

770
01:04:56,880 --> 01:05:03,440
utilizing it. I guess
>> I could I could speak to that if that's

771
01:04:59,839 --> 01:05:07,839
okay. Um if we don't resend the bond
authority, it stays on the book as we

772
01:05:05,680 --> 01:05:11,599
could borrow this money in the future.
Um

773
01:05:09,839 --> 01:05:16,119
» but only to be used for the tiff.
Correct. At that at whatever rate.

774
01:05:16,559 --> 01:05:20,039
» Further discussion.

775
01:05:20,720 --> 01:05:30,160
Seeing none, all those in favor of
article five signify by saying I. I.

776
01:05:27,200 --> 01:05:33,760
Those opposed.
Unanimous for those voting.

777
01:05:32,319 --> 01:05:35,440
» Mr. moderator.
>> Sir,

778
01:05:34,079 --> 01:05:40,319
» I make a motion to restrict
reconsideration on article five.

779
01:05:37,839 --> 01:05:45,839
» Really?
>> Second.

780
01:05:42,400 --> 01:05:53,839
» Motion made to res restrict further
action on article 5

781
01:05:49,440 --> 01:05:59,359
has been seconded. All those in favor?
>> Opposed.

782
01:05:55,520 --> 01:06:05,440
Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. Article six. Lori,

783
01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:10,000
» I make a motion to move article six.
>> Second.

784
01:06:06,640 --> 01:06:15,039
» Motion's made and seconded to move
article six. Any discussion on it? Lori,

785
01:06:13,440 --> 01:06:19,200
did you have something?
>> All right. Yep. I can speak to that. So,

786
01:06:17,599 --> 01:06:23,359
um, I just wanted to put a slide up
here, uh, before we move to the actual

787
01:06:21,119 --> 01:06:28,160
article, uh, just so you have an
understanding of where, um, your

788
01:06:25,680 --> 01:06:31,520
property taxes are going. So, the blue
portion there up on the screen, um,

789
01:06:30,160 --> 01:06:37,039
every time you're making your tax
payments, uh, that's the portion that is

790
01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:42,400
going to the town for um, all of the
essential uh, town services. So, it's

791
01:06:39,680 --> 01:06:47,680
important to remember um that portion of
the tax rate uh supports everything from

792
01:06:44,960 --> 01:06:52,000
public safety to public works um
administration, parks, facilities,

793
01:06:49,760 --> 01:06:56,640
community services. Um and that
encompasses about 28% of your tax bill.

794
01:06:54,799 --> 01:07:02,640
Um I think understanding the breakdown
helps explain why the operating budget

795
01:06:59,440 --> 01:07:07,119
matters. uh because even small changes
in the service needs um staffing

796
01:07:05,200 --> 01:07:12,000
infrastructure can affect how we
allocate these funds. So our goal is

797
01:07:09,839 --> 01:07:15,839
always to balance maintaining
highquality services with being

798
01:07:13,839 --> 01:07:19,760
responsible stewards of taxpayer
dollars.

799
01:07:17,359 --> 01:07:25,240
Um and again the blue portion is
representing the budget that we're going

800
01:07:21,359 --> 01:07:25,240
to speak to right now.

801
01:07:26,160 --> 01:07:35,760
» Further discussion. Oh, I I have a
little bit more to go through. So,

802
01:07:32,400 --> 01:07:43,319
um, so this article covers the town's
proposed operating budget for 2026. The

803
01:07:38,880 --> 01:07:43,319
amount shown here is 8,939,36,

804
01:07:44,240 --> 01:07:51,280
represents the funding needed to
maintain all dayto-day municipal

805
01:07:48,240 --> 01:07:56,079
services, excluding any warrant articles
that we'll be speaking to tonight. If

806
01:07:53,839 --> 01:08:02,319
the proposed budget is not approved, the
town would fall back uh to the default

807
01:07:58,480 --> 01:08:07,920
budget, which is 8,891
and $785, which is slightly lower, but

808
01:08:06,240 --> 01:08:13,119
still reflects legally required
adjustments based on prior commitments.

809
01:08:10,960 --> 01:08:17,279
The operating budget supports every
essential function of local government,

810
01:08:15,599 --> 01:08:22,400
um public safety, public works,
administration, um all of the services.

811
01:08:20,319 --> 01:08:27,199
Uh this article ensures that we can
continue providing that level of service

812
01:08:24,480 --> 01:08:33,120
to the residents um that they expect
from us while staying within responsible

813
01:08:29,920 --> 01:08:36,880
financial parameters. Uh the selectmen
and department heads have worked

814
01:08:34,400 --> 01:08:41,120
diligently and collaboratively
and recommend this budget recognizing it

815
01:08:39,279 --> 01:08:46,480
is a balanced approach that meets
service needs while minimizing impact on

816
01:08:43,679 --> 01:08:52,480
the taxpayers.
I'm just going to go through here. Um,

817
01:08:48,719 --> 01:08:57,839
so in comparing the proposed 2026
budget to last year and the default

818
01:08:55,199 --> 01:09:02,560
budget for 2026, the narrow gap between
the proposed and default budgets

819
01:09:00,400 --> 01:09:09,120
highlights that more increases were
driven by fixed or unavoidable costs.

820
01:09:06,159 --> 01:09:12,120
Um, the fiscal year 2026 budget is
8,939,36

821
01:09:12,960 --> 01:09:24,400
which is about 47,000 over the default.
Um the 2026 proposed budget is or the

822
01:09:20,400 --> 01:09:31,679
that total amount is $569,36
over 2025 which is a 6.8% increase. Um

823
01:09:29,600 --> 01:09:37,839
however it is important to note that the
default is already at a 6.23 increase.

824
01:09:35,759 --> 01:09:42,640
So in order to mitigate the impact on
taxpayers, the proposed budget

825
01:09:39,600 --> 01:09:48,000
intentionally includes partial year
funding or halfyear appropriations for

826
01:09:45,520 --> 01:09:52,880
certain vacant positions. This approach
reflects the realistic expectation that

827
01:09:50,319 --> 01:09:58,080
these positions cannot be filled midyear
while still preserving the necessary

828
01:09:55,280 --> 01:10:01,080
salary and benefit required by law or
contract.

829
01:10:03,520 --> 01:10:15,199
So, some of the key factors influencing
the um 2026 operating budget.

830
01:10:11,679 --> 01:10:21,040
Um whoops, hold on a sec.
Um the budget reflects several cost

831
01:10:17,920 --> 01:10:26,159
increases driven by economic conditions,
contractual obligations, service

832
01:10:23,600 --> 01:10:31,440
demands. Uh major drivers include
personnel costs. Adjustments to wages

833
01:10:28,960 --> 01:10:38,480
and staffing levels continue to be a
significant component for the overall

834
01:10:33,280 --> 01:10:44,960
budget. The rising um employee benefit
costs. Health care increased by 6.7%.

835
01:10:41,520 --> 01:10:50,960
Dental is up by four. Um reflecting
statewide upward trends. It's that seems

836
01:10:47,679 --> 01:10:55,440
to be the trend for the whole state. um
insurance premiums, property and

837
01:10:52,800 --> 01:11:03,280
liabilities up 26.32%
impacting general operating costs as

838
01:10:58,000 --> 01:11:10,320
well. Um and the ambulance service
contract, the town's ambulance service

839
01:11:05,679 --> 01:11:16,159
uh contract um increased $89,600
over last year uh due to a dramatic cost

840
01:11:13,360 --> 01:11:25,719
increase at the county level. Um the
cost went from 75,000 in the 2025 budget

841
01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:25,719
um to 211618

842
01:11:25,920 --> 01:11:37,199
in 2026. So to offset this um the town
is applying 47,000 from the ambulance

843
01:11:34,800 --> 01:11:43,040
expendable trust fund. Um I believe the
voters put money in there last year. So

844
01:11:39,760 --> 01:11:50,719
the 47,000 will come from the ambulance
expendable trust fund reducing the

845
01:11:45,120 --> 01:11:55,960
direct um budget impact there. Um so
that is pretty much what the key drivers

846
01:11:52,960 --> 01:11:55,960
are

847
01:11:56,800 --> 01:12:05,360
on. So
>> um one more slide. Sorry, Rose. Um, so

848
01:12:02,800 --> 01:12:09,360
from a uh fiscal management perspective,
the 2026 proposed budget reflects a

849
01:12:07,600 --> 01:12:14,159
disciplined and deliberate approach to
balancing service delivery delivery with

850
01:12:11,760 --> 01:12:20,159
taxpayer impact. Um, some of the key
observations are meaningful reductions

851
01:12:16,719 --> 01:12:25,120
from initial initial requests. Um, the
reduction so at the beginning of um the

852
01:12:22,880 --> 01:12:29,679
budget season, you know, the department
heads put their budgets together and

853
01:12:27,120 --> 01:12:35,199
everything comes in. um it came in at an
11% increase over last year. Um so

854
01:12:33,040 --> 01:12:40,960
again, collaboratively and diligently,
the board and department heads worked

855
01:12:36,800 --> 01:12:46,080
together to bring that down. Um and
brought us to, you know, 47,000 over the

856
01:12:44,080 --> 01:12:50,560
default. Uh which reflects prudent
planning and a clear intent to minimize

857
01:12:48,159 --> 01:12:56,000
the tax burden while remaining compliant
with all of our statutory and

858
01:12:52,320 --> 01:13:01,199
contractual um requirements. Um and the
use of strategic staffing assumptions.

859
01:12:58,560 --> 01:13:05,360
Um this is where I was mentioning you
know half your funding on some of the

860
01:13:02,880 --> 01:13:10,239
vacant positions. Um it's a reasonable
and transparent budgeting strategy

861
01:13:07,600 --> 01:13:15,600
strategy that acknowledges the current
labor market um constraints while

862
01:13:12,960 --> 01:13:19,679
preserving the long-term staffing
capacity.

863
01:13:17,120 --> 01:13:24,880
Um, and re the remaining increases are
largely driven by costs outside of the

864
01:13:22,239 --> 01:13:30,560
board's direct control, including wages,
benefits, and other mandated expenses.

865
01:13:28,080 --> 01:13:35,360
Um, so overall, the fiscical year 26
budget represents a responsible

866
01:13:32,800 --> 01:13:40,320
compromise. Um, maintaining essential
municipal operations, meeting our legal

867
01:13:38,000 --> 01:13:44,880
and contractual obligations, and
reducing the overall increase to

868
01:13:41,920 --> 01:13:48,159
taxpayers as much as practical under the
current conditions.

869
01:13:50,480 --> 01:13:57,679
Thank you.
Um, any further discussion? Yes,

870
01:13:55,920 --> 01:14:03,840
» I've got a question, a couple questions,
Danlair. Um, just because out of some of

871
01:14:01,280 --> 01:14:09,679
it might be ignorance of me just not
knowing. Um, so our county rate of 11%,

872
01:14:06,960 --> 01:14:15,280
none of the EMT services from Cheshire
Ambulance, our taxes don't go to any of

873
01:14:12,239 --> 01:14:19,920
that. The town pays for all of the EMT
services from Cheshire Ambulance.

874
01:14:17,199 --> 01:14:24,560
» No, no. We're contracted with Cheshire
Ambulance to provide service, but but

875
01:14:22,320 --> 01:14:29,760
individuals who are using the service,
they have charge as well. This gives us

876
01:14:27,199 --> 01:14:33,520
service with Cheshure EMS,
>> right? Yeah. They charge us the

877
01:14:30,960 --> 01:14:36,560
$211,618.
>> Actually, it's it's a little more

878
01:14:34,960 --> 01:14:42,640
complicated than that. We work on a
fiscal year January through December

879
01:14:39,440 --> 01:14:45,600
budget. the the contract with Cheshire
EMS is a July through June.

880
01:14:45,120 --> 01:14:52,560
» All right.
>> So the the full impact is 300 going from

881
01:14:48,960 --> 01:14:55,840
70 75,000 to 340,000.
>> Okay.

882
01:14:52,960 --> 01:15:00,320
» On an annual basis, but for 2026 it's
211,000.

883
01:14:57,440 --> 01:15:04,800
Two, three years ago, uh, Sly Kerazinski
made a recommendation that the board

884
01:15:02,239 --> 01:15:09,440
followed and we put, we knew that this
increase was coming based on the

885
01:15:06,880 --> 01:15:12,719
experience we had when we first engaged
EMS

886
01:15:10,239 --> 01:15:17,760
» because Cheshire EMS kept us at a rate
very similar to Delusio for the first

887
01:15:14,880 --> 01:15:24,320
year and then the second year went from
roughly 38,000 to 54ish,000 and then the

888
01:15:21,280 --> 01:15:30,159
last year was 75. But we knew from the
the the process their competitors were

889
01:15:27,120 --> 01:15:34,080
coming in at 350 or better. So we knew
that this year was going to come in at

890
01:15:31,920 --> 01:15:38,800
at 340 350.
>> So what his recommendation was was that

891
01:15:36,000 --> 01:15:42,400
we create this expendable trust and put
money in there which we've done for the

892
01:15:40,480 --> 01:15:46,719
last few years and use some of that
money to offset the cost so it's not a

893
01:15:44,800 --> 01:15:50,480
direct as impactful as it might
otherwise be.

894
01:15:47,600 --> 01:15:55,440
» And now is this uh we renegotiate this
contract every year. or or every fiscal

895
01:15:53,520 --> 01:15:58,159
year or however whatever year you're on.
>> We don't really get to negotiate.

896
01:15:56,960 --> 01:16:02,880
» They just tell you what it is
>> pretty much. Um so there would be a

897
01:16:00,800 --> 01:16:06,239
competitive process. So there would be
other opportunities there would be

898
01:16:04,719 --> 01:16:09,600
opportunities for other vendors.
>> So I I I guess my next question would be

899
01:16:08,239 --> 01:16:14,800
since we're building a brand new fire
station, what is the cost to have EMT

900
01:16:12,480 --> 01:16:19,600
services where we can actually charge
insuranceances and stuff and actually

901
01:16:16,080 --> 01:16:23,679
get money back? So, we're keeping people
in Swansea employed, having our own

902
01:16:21,679 --> 01:16:29,280
services, but also providing a service
that might uh create revenue. Well, the

903
01:16:27,280 --> 01:16:35,199
quote I was given uh by the county
administrator u in a conversation was

904
01:16:32,880 --> 01:16:39,679
that for every ambulance you can
consider it being a million dollars. So,

905
01:16:37,199 --> 01:16:45,040
I said, "Oh, that's keen." So, Swansea's
probably 500 to 600,000, right? we would

906
01:16:42,640 --> 01:16:49,760
need at least two ambulances and
potentially a third uh as backup in case

907
01:16:47,760 --> 01:16:53,600
one of the ambulances went down. So,
we'd be looking at substantially more

908
01:16:51,440 --> 01:16:56,800
money. So, the big question is how much
do you collect, right?

909
01:16:54,880 --> 01:17:00,719
» And and those numbers when you look at
them, you you need only look at other

910
01:16:59,120 --> 01:17:05,600
communities, Troy, Fitz, William,
Winchester, which which are struggling

911
01:17:03,040 --> 01:17:09,199
to maintain their services because being
reimbursed is a is a challenge, whether

912
01:17:07,520 --> 01:17:13,600
it be from insurance or directly from
the the patient themselves.

913
01:17:11,360 --> 01:17:17,600
» Yeah. And my next question, because I
was unfortunately I was part of had to

914
01:17:15,600 --> 01:17:22,000
call an ambulance for a friend of mine a
number of months back and it seems like

915
01:17:19,520 --> 01:17:26,000
the Swansea Fire Department showed up
first. Is that normal that a firefighter

916
01:17:24,560 --> 01:17:28,239
EMT shows up first?
>> Yes, we first respond.

917
01:17:27,600 --> 01:17:31,520
» Okay.
>> So, so we're going to the we're going

918
01:17:29,840 --> 01:17:36,239
there anyway, right? So, that's still
costing us money regard. I'm just trying

919
01:17:33,280 --> 01:17:38,880
to put this all together and think of
ways to

920
01:17:37,840 --> 01:17:44,880
» cut costs. That's all
>> dilemas that we faced in 2020 was the

921
01:17:42,239 --> 01:17:49,360
prospect of of actually purchasing an
ambulance for the town because prior to

922
01:17:46,480 --> 01:17:53,360
that we didn't have one and and I
remember Sly and I discussing it and th

923
01:17:51,840 --> 01:17:58,719
those were the days when the governor
was bringing CS into uh the the

924
01:17:55,920 --> 01:18:02,880
gymnasium at Keen State College and Keen
Keen the city of Keen told Duzio they

925
01:18:00,880 --> 01:18:07,600
wouldn't back up Delusio and Delusio
told Keen they wouldn't back up Keen.

926
01:18:05,040 --> 01:18:10,800
Everybody was in just a state of of of
emergency.

927
01:18:08,640 --> 01:18:16,239
» We had the opportunity to purchase an
ambulance for 54,000 at that point. Uh

928
01:18:14,159 --> 01:18:21,199
Michael Branley, the then administrator,
indicated that he would be uh be

929
01:18:18,400 --> 01:18:25,360
applying for COVID funds with the
expectation that that money would be

930
01:18:22,960 --> 01:18:29,679
reimbured, which it was in September of
that year. So that that ambulance

931
01:18:27,920 --> 01:18:34,480
essentially came to us at no cost, but
it did provide a service should there be

932
01:18:31,679 --> 01:18:37,280
an opportunity for Duzio to be be
somewhere else.

933
01:18:35,760 --> 01:18:43,199
» Over the years, there's been discussion
of whether we should keep that ambulance

934
01:18:39,360 --> 01:18:47,520
or or sell it and there has been uh
opportunities where previous fire chiefs

935
01:18:45,920 --> 01:18:53,120
have recommended the purchase of an
additional ambulance with the which the

936
01:18:49,520 --> 01:18:57,920
board has denied because we have service
with Cheshire EMS. So that is something

937
01:18:55,360 --> 01:19:02,159
that That concept is is being discussed
with the fire fire department leadership

938
01:19:00,080 --> 01:19:05,199
team whether we stay with that ambulance
or not. One ambulance can't service all

939
01:19:04,400 --> 01:19:08,080
of
>> Yeah. Yeah. Understand. I I was just

940
01:19:06,880 --> 01:19:12,960
hoping I didn't know if this is
something that you guys thought of

941
01:19:09,360 --> 01:19:21,040
putting together some type of um um
study team or another committee um to to

942
01:19:16,800 --> 01:19:24,560
to to study the year over year off.
>> Oh, it's not topic. It's right on here.

943
01:19:23,120 --> 01:19:31,440
It's part of the budget
>> back in 2015 2016 when when Chief Scance

944
01:19:28,800 --> 01:19:35,679
was the the fire chief he was sounding
the alarm then and I remember a

945
01:19:33,520 --> 01:19:39,679
conversation with the chief Mark Howard
from Keen saying that Swansea really

946
01:19:37,600 --> 01:19:44,159
needed to pay attention to the chief.
>> So since then the the board has asked

947
01:19:42,159 --> 01:19:49,920
subsequent chiefs to put that type of a
study together. uh we we haven't had a

948
01:19:47,120 --> 01:19:54,480
fully complete study and I I think in
many ways it's because it's not it's not

949
01:19:52,400 --> 01:19:58,400
doesn't show a cost-effective approach
for the town to take that on. It would

950
01:19:56,159 --> 01:20:02,239
be a substantial budget hit the first
year you'd be looking at full-time

951
01:20:00,239 --> 01:20:05,199
employees as well as the the vehicles
themselves and the supplies that go with

952
01:20:03,840 --> 01:20:09,120
it. So it would be a
>> but if I would just hate year over year

953
01:20:07,760 --> 01:20:12,560
I mean eventually I'd hate to be held
hostage by someone where they come in

954
01:20:11,520 --> 01:20:16,400
and say well now we're going to charge
you 600,000 and then next year or

955
01:20:14,800 --> 01:20:21,520
whatever it may be and it's just like
okay over the course of 10 years if

956
01:20:18,480 --> 01:20:27,360
we're spending you know whatever that
adds up to be 3.5 million or $4 million.

957
01:20:25,040 --> 01:20:32,480
Okay, what what is the cost going to be
if if we enacted that ourselves

958
01:20:29,440 --> 01:20:37,199
year-over-year, which the initial impact
kind of like the school bond uh was

959
01:20:35,199 --> 01:20:40,080
high, but over the course of 10 years,
it actually saved the taxpayers money.

960
01:20:38,800 --> 01:20:43,920
That's all I'm looking for. That's
>> some of that's evolving with regard to

961
01:20:41,600 --> 01:20:48,159
the expansion of Cheshire EMS to to
other communities. But it but the

962
01:20:45,840 --> 01:20:54,800
approach that they take is that we we
pay a a a value or a total based on our

963
01:20:52,320 --> 01:21:00,159
population and the factor. This year I
believe it's 46 thou $46 per person that

964
01:20:58,159 --> 01:21:06,239
we're paying trees EMS just as other
communities are. So uh and there is

965
01:21:02,640 --> 01:21:10,719
competition KE has its own u there there
are other companies that we we had three

966
01:21:08,480 --> 01:21:14,800
companies that competed in in the last
round. So there are other opportunities

967
01:21:12,400 --> 01:21:16,560
for companies to come in to offer
services.

968
01:21:15,520 --> 01:21:19,719
» Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.

969
01:21:22,880 --> 01:21:30,000
Jay Ward 16 H Hotton Point. Um Dan makes
some good points and I think that the

970
01:21:27,120 --> 01:21:34,480
select board will want to u look at the
ambulance situation in great detail over

971
01:21:32,080 --> 01:21:39,040
the next few years and we do need to do
that. But I wanted to point out of

972
01:21:36,159 --> 01:21:43,520
course that we need to prove this part
of the budget because there is no

973
01:21:40,719 --> 01:21:47,280
alternative for this year. So u there
may be something we do in the future but

974
01:21:45,280 --> 01:21:51,960
we can't do anything now. We have to pay
for ambulance for the coming year.

975
01:21:54,639 --> 01:22:02,880
George from Swansea Lake Road. Uh, you
know, with that said, you know, my

976
01:22:00,800 --> 01:22:08,239
concerns is Cheshure is not going to
adequately be able to supply service to

977
01:22:06,320 --> 01:22:14,960
they're providing a lot of services to a
lot of towns and they're going to, you

978
01:22:12,080 --> 01:22:21,920
know, they're going to have um
staffing issues as well and our safety

979
01:22:17,600 --> 01:22:27,760
is based on what they can provide.
I would suggest maybe have a have a an

980
01:22:25,440 --> 01:22:32,880
ambulance service away from the fire
department and come up with a committee

981
01:22:30,239 --> 01:22:36,000
and uh we already have one ambulance. I
don't think it'd be advisable to get rid

982
01:22:34,480 --> 01:22:42,400
of that because I think that was a great
deal and maybe look at uh a committee

983
01:22:40,400 --> 01:22:48,000
and uh let the chief deal with the fire
and what he does. I know EMS is part of

984
01:22:45,920 --> 01:22:54,320
that, but maybe if we can put concerted
effort into uh don't have to have a big

985
01:22:52,159 --> 01:23:01,120
ambulance. There's other ambulances out
there that would uh suffice. Uh but that

986
01:22:58,719 --> 01:23:04,719
is a concern of mine. Are can we talk
about other parts of the budget or is

987
01:23:02,639 --> 01:23:11,600
this just
>> Okay, copy that. So, I I just had a u a

988
01:23:07,280 --> 01:23:14,719
question about um the 200,000
uh for the town hall repair and

989
01:23:13,120 --> 01:23:20,199
maintenance improvement.
>> That isn't a separate that's a separate

990
01:23:17,199 --> 01:23:20,199
Sorry.

991
01:23:23,440 --> 01:23:31,040
» Anyone else?
>> Just Just in closing, Mr. Moderator, we

992
01:23:28,480 --> 01:23:35,280
haven't signed a contract. So, this is
based on a contract proposal that we

993
01:23:33,040 --> 01:23:40,560
were given. the the town will go through
an RFP process as it moves forward. So,

994
01:23:38,560 --> 01:23:45,199
we know that at base if we go with
Cheshire EMS, this is what we'll be

995
01:23:42,639 --> 01:23:50,800
paying. If someone comes in with with a
better service and lower cost, then they

996
01:23:48,080 --> 01:23:54,080
they would have the opportunity to uh to
present to the town and that would be a

997
01:23:52,560 --> 01:23:59,080
decision for the board to make at that
point.

998
01:23:56,080 --> 01:23:59,080
Okay,

999
01:23:59,840 --> 01:24:09,120
» this sounds article six. Still,
>> if I could make one comment on the

1000
01:24:06,560 --> 01:24:14,560
ambulance part, uh the town I just
retired from, as you know, was uh in the

1001
01:24:12,400 --> 01:24:20,639
media pretty strong about the ambulance
service. Um for the town to take it over

1002
01:24:18,320 --> 01:24:26,159
themselves, there's a lot of expenses.
One of my biggest recommendations was to

1003
01:24:24,000 --> 01:24:32,880
have a feasibility study just to look at
the different options of the town based

1004
01:24:30,960 --> 01:24:40,960
ambulance service as well as a
contracted service. Um there's a lot

1005
01:24:36,159 --> 01:24:46,719
that we all need to understand as far as
the town budget, as far as the service

1006
01:24:44,239 --> 01:24:53,040
itself, as you bring up, sir. And the
thing is is how much Chief Matson would

1007
01:24:50,239 --> 01:24:57,040
need to have personnel on staff, the
places to house these people as well as

1008
01:24:55,280 --> 01:25:01,280
the ambulance, the second ambulance and
things like that. So I would always

1009
01:24:59,520 --> 01:25:08,320
recommend that we have some type of
committee or some oversight on what how

1010
01:25:05,280 --> 01:25:11,840
the service is being provided, but as we
all know, we're all elderly. We're

1011
01:25:10,000 --> 01:25:18,800
getting there and we do need the
service. However, the bottom line comes

1012
01:25:15,280 --> 01:25:25,520
down to, can we afford to do it in town
or do we reach out to another agency

1013
01:25:22,320 --> 01:25:28,639
that can provide that service? And you
all know what I'm talking about. The

1014
01:25:26,800 --> 01:25:34,960
town of Rin just went through this
struggle and they we're not in any

1015
01:25:32,639 --> 01:25:40,000
position to provide that service
ourselves. So, it would it would take

1016
01:25:36,719 --> 01:25:45,040
Chief Matson a lot of work and a good
year to even establish to even come

1017
01:25:42,480 --> 01:25:49,600
close to what a proposal would look like
for an ambulance service. Again,

1018
01:25:47,280 --> 01:25:54,000
speaking from experience, not just
shooting from the heaven. Okay. So,

1019
01:25:51,840 --> 01:25:57,280
» are you volunteering for the feasibility
study committ if that's what it would

1020
01:25:55,840 --> 01:26:00,080
take, sir? Yes. Yes.
>> Sounds like there are people that would

1021
01:25:58,480 --> 01:26:06,400
like to have that happen.
>> And and I always think it's important to

1022
01:26:03,120 --> 01:26:10,960
look at your options. However, I do feel
that the at the end of the day,

1023
01:26:09,040 --> 01:26:16,400
depending on what the new station has in
it, what Chief Matson's capabilities are

1024
01:26:13,600 --> 01:26:22,239
with his staff and what you have as
staff because we're all struggling for

1025
01:26:18,960 --> 01:26:27,120
personnel. There's no I don't have I
didn't have a line in range and I'm sure

1026
01:26:24,800 --> 01:26:32,480
I'm not sure he did very well bringing
up his staff now but there's not a whole

1027
01:26:30,320 --> 01:26:40,480
lot of people out there volunteering or
jumping up to to provide that service.

1028
01:26:35,679 --> 01:26:47,280
So I caution that we move into it slowly
but u we looked at Cheshire EMS over

1029
01:26:43,440 --> 01:26:52,880
there as well. Uh we luckily saved the
contract that we had with the Jaffrey

1030
01:26:49,520 --> 01:26:57,920
Ring Ambblelet Service which was a a
huge bargain. They're not going to come

1031
01:26:54,880 --> 01:27:02,719
over here of course. However, you look
around and you see what the prices of

1032
01:27:00,560 --> 01:27:08,400
some of the services, it's it's up
there. It's very astronomical. So, thank

1033
01:27:06,320 --> 01:27:15,760
you.
>> I'd like to make a comment if I may. Um,

1034
01:27:11,760 --> 01:27:20,320
Bill mentioned that we
>> Bill mentioned that Norm Scansy put

1035
01:27:18,400 --> 01:27:25,840
together a proposal for an ambulance
service. I worked with him on that

1036
01:27:22,159 --> 01:27:33,679
proposal. We looked solely at personnel
costs for a three member ambulance crew

1037
01:27:30,639 --> 01:27:41,600
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their
wages alone were over 1.2 million. And

1038
01:27:37,600 --> 01:27:41,600
that was over 10 years ago.

1039
01:27:46,239 --> 01:27:54,080
I just want to make sure everybody
understands this that we the select

1040
01:27:50,880 --> 01:27:58,320
board we we we really looked at this
hard. I mean we sat with every

1041
01:27:56,159 --> 01:28:04,080
department head countless times and they
all can see that we looked for every cut

1042
01:28:02,159 --> 01:28:09,120
that we possibly could do.
Unfortunately, when you really look at

1043
01:28:06,159 --> 01:28:13,040
this, there is no room. And I might
sound kind of funny because I'm pushing

1044
01:28:10,800 --> 01:28:18,800
a million to building and on the other
hand I'm saying we're trying to cut but

1045
01:28:15,920 --> 01:28:23,040
again Lori showed you as an example some
of these big expenses and unfortunately

1046
01:28:20,960 --> 01:28:26,719
our budget is just going to keep
increasing with inflation and everything

1047
01:28:24,719 --> 01:28:31,600
that's going on. I don't think there's
no way to stop this. How we got to stop

1048
01:28:29,120 --> 01:28:35,120
it is we got to look at the other end of
it. We got to bring more revenue in. We

1049
01:28:33,520 --> 01:28:39,120
got to bring more money so we don't have
to so we have a strong budget. That's

1050
01:28:37,120 --> 01:28:44,400
how I'm looking at it. I understand the
frustration out here on cutting the

1051
01:28:41,440 --> 01:28:49,360
budget and we're spending money, but I
don't see anywhere where we can steal

1052
01:28:46,880 --> 01:28:53,040
any money from or cut any money. We
looked at this very deeply. Am I right,

1053
01:28:51,280 --> 01:28:58,480
Bill and Mark? I mean, we spent
countless hours and it's just there's

1054
01:28:56,480 --> 01:29:03,600
reasons behind it. Li put it right out
there. There's the the health insurance,

1055
01:29:01,280 --> 01:29:07,760
everything got us, right?
>> And we have to look at this differently.

1056
01:29:06,000 --> 01:29:12,320
When we get five people on this select
board, we have to try to go from the

1057
01:29:10,639 --> 01:29:16,960
other direction. We need to bring more
revenue in this to cover this because

1058
01:29:14,719 --> 01:29:21,199
the way this going two years, we could
be well over two 10 million on a budget

1059
01:29:19,199 --> 01:29:27,040
with the population that we got growing
in this town. We we got to grow this

1060
01:29:24,080 --> 01:29:31,360
town evenly. We got to build on this
side to even out the boat or we're going

1061
01:29:28,880 --> 01:29:34,719
to flip over because it feels like the
population's growing, but we're not

1062
01:29:32,639 --> 01:29:38,960
growing with it on this side. And I know
it sounds crazy about getting a

1063
01:29:36,320 --> 01:29:43,600
building, but we have to level this boat
somehow. And the way we got to do it, we

1064
01:29:41,280 --> 01:29:46,639
got to attract businesses to this town.
And that's how we're going to try to

1065
01:29:44,960 --> 01:29:50,719
solve this budget. That's how I feel.
That's just my personal thing. But I'm

1066
01:29:48,719 --> 01:29:56,320
just letting you know, we tried every
avenue to cut. We just didn't sit here

1067
01:29:53,120 --> 01:30:01,440
and say this and that. It's this is
happening to every town, not just

1068
01:29:58,239 --> 01:30:05,360
Swansea. So, we have to buckle down. We
have to put a good team together this

1069
01:30:03,120 --> 01:30:08,639
year. and we have to go after it to keep
our taxes down and I'm going to try to

1070
01:30:07,040 --> 01:30:14,159
do that. Go ahead,
>> Mr. Can we call a question?

1071
01:30:12,000 --> 01:30:22,679
» Motion has been made to call the
question. Is there a second to that?

1072
01:30:17,280 --> 01:30:22,679
» He's already been up once on this.

1073
01:30:23,120 --> 01:30:28,440
Is there a second to the motion to call
a question?

1074
01:30:31,280 --> 01:30:40,440
» Who who seconded that? Just so
>> who called the question?

1075
01:30:41,040 --> 01:30:45,679
» Okay.
>> And who seconded?

1076
01:30:43,920 --> 01:30:47,600
» What's your name?
>> Bob.

1077
01:30:46,560 --> 01:30:51,199
» Bob.
>> Last name.

1078
01:30:49,440 --> 01:30:54,080
» Wait.
>> Heather just needs it for the minutes.

1079
01:30:52,960 --> 01:30:59,960
That's all. Thank you.
>> He said Bob New.

1080
01:30:56,960 --> 01:30:59,960
» Okay.

1081
01:31:00,000 --> 01:31:08,239
So we've got it the to move the
question. All those in favor?

1082
01:31:05,840 --> 01:31:13,520
» Opposed?
Thank you.

1083
01:31:09,520 --> 01:31:20,760
» All right. So now we got a vote on the
>> article make a motion to not yet.

1084
01:31:21,360 --> 01:31:33,360
» So we're back to article six.
Um

1085
01:31:28,560 --> 01:31:38,239
the call the questions been called. So
uh all those in favor of article six

1086
01:31:36,320 --> 01:31:42,480
signify by saying I.
>> I.

1087
01:31:39,280 --> 01:31:45,920
» Those opposed.
Thank you.

1088
01:31:44,000 --> 01:31:51,560
» Mr. moderator, I make a motion to
restrict reconsideration on article six.

1089
01:31:53,120 --> 01:32:04,239
» Second. Thank you.
Article six, it's the same uh article is

1090
01:32:01,199 --> 01:32:10,199
to limit the further discussion or
changes

1091
01:32:06,400 --> 01:32:10,199
to that article.

1092
01:32:14,159 --> 01:32:24,960
» All those in favor
>> opposed.

1093
01:32:20,000 --> 01:32:30,080
Okay, you can vote before the
Where are we? Article seven.

1094
01:32:26,719 --> 01:32:34,320
» Make a motion to move article seven.
>> Lori, you're doing seven.

1095
01:32:31,679 --> 01:32:40,800
» Sure. Yep.
>> Second.

1096
01:32:37,199 --> 01:32:45,440
» All right. So, the um article seven is
the capital reserve and expendable trust

1097
01:32:43,040 --> 01:32:49,520
funds article. Uh the town's capital
improvement committee met extensively

1098
01:32:47,520 --> 01:32:54,320
throughout uh the fall and winter and
unanimously recommended the proposed uh

1099
01:32:52,080 --> 01:32:58,719
funding levels ex for the expendable
trust and capital reserve accounts to be

1100
01:32:56,239 --> 01:33:03,840
placed on the 2026 ballot. These
accounts allow the town to plan ahead

1101
01:33:00,880 --> 01:33:08,800
and set aside funds for known and
anticipated capital needs, reducing the

1102
01:33:06,080 --> 01:33:13,679
risk of large unexpected expenses and
helping to stabilize the tax rate over

1103
01:33:10,800 --> 01:33:18,400
time. Historically, Swansea voters have
supported this proactive approach to

1104
01:33:15,520 --> 01:33:23,600
long-term financial planning. Um, key
items including funding for uh property

1105
01:33:21,120 --> 01:33:28,719
revaluations, which are required by the
state every 5 years to ensure fair and

1106
01:33:25,760 --> 01:33:34,880
equitable assessments. The next reval is
projected to cost um about 120,000 or

1107
01:33:32,320 --> 01:33:40,239
more in 2029.
This appropriation continues to build

1108
01:33:37,120 --> 01:33:46,239
towards that obligation. Uh funding also
is requested for town hall repairs and

1109
01:33:42,719 --> 01:33:52,320
maintenance with a $200,000 allocation
there representing phase one of a

1110
01:33:49,600 --> 01:33:57,199
planned improvements to town hall. These
improvements include um upgrades to the

1111
01:33:55,120 --> 01:34:02,800
town hall building and the former fire
station below town hall once the fire

1112
01:33:59,360 --> 01:34:07,920
trucks are moved to their new facility.
Um, and with the goal of expanding the

1113
01:34:06,080 --> 01:34:13,280
office space and constructing an
interior staircase uh to allow safe

1114
01:34:10,560 --> 01:34:17,960
access um to the lower level without
having to go outside of the building.

1115
01:34:19,040 --> 01:34:27,360
» Thank you. Any further discussion?
>> Mr. Moderator, I'd like to make a motion

1116
01:34:24,560 --> 01:34:30,360
for an amendment to this article.
>> Yes.

1117
01:34:39,120 --> 01:34:46,239
This is simply a housekeeping issue. We
realized after the warrant was posted

1118
01:34:43,600 --> 01:34:51,040
that the Mount Caesar Union Library is
an expendable trust fund and not a

1119
01:34:48,880 --> 01:34:53,840
capital reserve fund. So my motion to
make the amendment is to move Mount

1120
01:34:52,800 --> 01:34:56,840
Caesar to the correct
>> column.

1121
01:34:57,840 --> 01:35:00,840
Sure.

1122
01:35:03,280 --> 01:35:08,159
» The uh
>> we we realize that Mount Caesar got put

1123
01:35:06,800 --> 01:35:12,560
into the wrong column. It's an
expendable trust fund. So I made a

1124
01:35:10,639 --> 01:35:17,440
motion for it to move to the correct
column.

1125
01:35:15,120 --> 01:35:21,920
» We're just moving
Mount Caesar Library

1126
01:35:19,760 --> 01:35:30,199
to the expendable trust side instead of
the capital reserve side.

1127
01:35:23,679 --> 01:35:30,199
» Correct. Any further discussion on this?

1128
01:35:31,920 --> 01:35:39,760
» Uh Danlair. Um I'm just warning this
$200,000 for the town hall. Uh we've

1129
01:35:37,840 --> 01:35:46,440
done extensive work to the town hall.
>> Dan, this is on the amendment.

1130
01:35:42,080 --> 01:35:46,440
» Oh, is it? Oh, sorry.

1131
01:35:48,239 --> 01:35:53,159
Okay. Further discussion.

1132
01:35:54,239 --> 01:36:03,520
Is it on your hands?
>> Seeing none,

1133
01:36:00,800 --> 01:36:08,880
all all those in favor of the amendment
to

1134
01:36:05,600 --> 01:36:15,199
just move Mount Caesar Union Library to
expendable trust from Capital Reserve. U

1135
01:36:12,960 --> 01:36:24,760
I
>> any opposed?

1136
01:36:17,679 --> 01:36:24,760
No. Okay, back to the original article.

1137
01:36:29,520 --> 01:36:33,719
You haven't run out of words yet.

1138
01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:38,920
» Let's see. Where am I?

1139
01:36:41,679 --> 01:36:48,080
» Sue is just going to make the change
real quick to the um to the to the

1140
01:36:46,480 --> 01:36:51,080
warrant that will go on the ballot.
>> Yeah.

1141
01:36:56,639 --> 01:37:00,520
Are
>> we any

1142
01:37:00,800 --> 01:37:09,679
talk again?
>> Sorry, I tend to talk a lot. Um,

1143
01:37:06,000 --> 01:37:14,639
so the repairs to the town hall. Uh, I
know there's been extensive repairs. We

1144
01:37:11,360 --> 01:37:20,480
just redid the roof, the walkways, we
put that wall inside. Um, I don't know

1145
01:37:17,520 --> 01:37:26,960
what else. Once again, I'm asking, is
this $200,000 necessary? I mean, is this

1146
01:37:23,840 --> 01:37:30,239
something that we need right away
considering the fire department hasn't

1147
01:37:28,639 --> 01:37:33,239
moved yet? I mean, is this something
that

1148
01:37:43,520 --> 01:37:50,080
would
>> I can speak to the the project itself,

1149
01:37:47,840 --> 01:37:53,440
but As far as the plan for town hall in
the future, I think that should come

1150
01:37:51,920 --> 01:37:58,400
from either the flood board or the town
administrator. I can speak to what this

1151
01:37:55,360 --> 01:38:03,600
money was proposed to get access
downstairs and start phase one of making

1152
01:38:01,840 --> 01:38:08,719
offices down there, but as far as I
don't have the full vision of what the

1153
01:38:04,880 --> 01:38:12,719
plan is down there for the future.
I I I honestly think that came up and

1154
01:38:11,040 --> 01:38:17,920
came about because I did sit in there
and and I think it came on the CP just

1155
01:38:15,040 --> 01:38:22,239
so we can we don't even I don't think
we're even planning to attack this right

1156
01:38:20,239 --> 01:38:27,199
away, but we didn't want to get hit with
a big cost at the end when we do it. So

1157
01:38:25,360 --> 01:38:31,280
I think it was we wanted to start
somewhere and put some money in there

1158
01:38:28,560 --> 01:38:37,199
for the future of our town hall. I mean
we are running out of space upstairs

1159
01:38:33,760 --> 01:38:41,679
where Am I right on that? I I think um
when I came over there was a plan

1160
01:38:38,960 --> 01:38:46,719
floating around um I believe it was from
2017

1161
01:38:43,199 --> 01:38:53,840
and 20 2015 there was a plan floating
around um for a redesign of the um just

1162
01:38:50,080 --> 01:38:58,800
the upstairs of town hall. Um so nothing
has been decided there as far as a

1163
01:38:55,520 --> 01:39:03,600
layout goes. What we looked into um over
the summer was, you know, planning ahead

1164
01:39:01,600 --> 01:39:08,080
and once the fire department is out of
the building, um how can we utilize that

1165
01:39:06,239 --> 01:39:13,920
space down below? There are some issues
that we need to take care of um with,

1166
01:39:11,920 --> 01:39:17,840
you know, some there can be water that
can come into the building. So, we

1167
01:39:15,199 --> 01:39:22,239
would, you know, need some money to ex,
you know, get in there and find out what

1168
01:39:20,000 --> 01:39:28,400
the issue is there. Uh but the the
200,000 came from a quote um just a

1169
01:39:25,520 --> 01:39:33,679
proposal that we had to um put in a
staircase on the inside of the building.

1170
01:39:31,119 --> 01:39:37,920
The plan from 2015, I believe, called
for the staircase on the outside of the

1171
01:39:36,080 --> 01:39:43,679
building, but that would cost us
substantially a lot more money. Um, so

1172
01:39:41,360 --> 01:39:48,639
we we, you know, wanted to put in and
the CIP committee again wanted to, you

1173
01:39:46,320 --> 01:39:51,600
know, put that money there so that we
can have it for we know we're going to

1174
01:39:50,159 --> 01:39:58,159
need to make improvements to the
building. Um, and this has been planned

1175
01:39:54,239 --> 01:40:03,040
for since 2015 anyway. So, it's it's
more of a a a placeholder, but the quote

1176
01:40:00,880 --> 01:40:08,080
came from that amount of putting the
staircase in and getting it um cleaned

1177
01:40:05,920 --> 01:40:13,679
up downstairs and ready for some
offices. I was hoping for some temporary

1178
01:40:11,280 --> 01:40:18,800
offices for the recck department um who
doesn't have an office right now. Um

1179
01:40:16,320 --> 01:40:21,119
that was my goal, but um I don't know if
there would be enough money to even do

1180
01:40:20,400 --> 01:40:24,080
that.
>> All right. And and sorry if this comes

1181
01:40:22,719 --> 01:40:28,639
off as rude. I'm not trying to be
sometimes just the way I say things. Um

1182
01:40:27,199 --> 01:40:34,080
so basically you're just throwing a
$200,000 placeholder just in case.

1183
01:40:31,199 --> 01:40:38,320
» No, it was for a quote to put stairs in.
Well, yeah, but it was said that this

1184
01:40:35,760 --> 01:40:43,119
might not even happen this year.
>> If we don't get the funding, it's not

1185
01:40:40,159 --> 01:40:45,119
going to happen.
>> Okay.

1186
01:40:43,600 --> 01:40:49,280
» I think what I was trying to relay to
you is we're a long way away from that.

1187
01:40:47,280 --> 01:40:52,719
I I feel that, you know, there's a lot
of planning to go involved in that, a

1188
01:40:50,960 --> 01:40:56,480
lot of research to go involved in that,
and we just didn't want the year to pass

1189
01:40:54,480 --> 01:41:00,239
up or we had no funding in case we
wanted to do something. You you are

1190
01:40:58,960 --> 01:41:03,520
right in what you're saying. To me,
that's how I felt. I'm not I'm not

1191
01:41:01,760 --> 01:41:07,280
speaking for everybody, but yeah, I just
thought this might take some time.

1192
01:41:05,280 --> 01:41:10,480
There's a lot going into where we're
going to go with time.

1193
01:41:08,560 --> 01:41:14,320
» Okay. And that 200,000 is just from
>> it would it was a quote

1194
01:41:11,760 --> 01:41:17,360
» a quote from a contractor to use that
number as a base.

1195
01:41:15,600 --> 01:41:19,920
» I believe it was for the staircase, but
there was something with the roof out

1196
01:41:18,719 --> 01:41:25,520
back as well.
>> I can speak to that as far as my

1197
01:41:22,320 --> 01:41:29,679
involvement. So there was
>> there was a full plan that's been worked

1198
01:41:27,920 --> 01:41:34,000
on for years through CIP and through
Mike Branley and and the ultimate goal

1199
01:41:31,520 --> 01:41:38,400
is once the fire station is gone to have
office space down there and there was an

1200
01:41:36,159 --> 01:41:42,880
architectural plan that was actually had
an estimate with an elevator that was

1201
01:41:40,239 --> 01:41:47,600
substantially more than the $200,000. So
we had contractors look at it just for a

1202
01:41:44,639 --> 01:41:52,400
placeholder. This would be a stairwell
that would be outside

1203
01:41:50,480 --> 01:41:56,320
the building conc basically a concrete
chamber. There would not be an elevator

1204
01:41:54,480 --> 01:42:01,119
at this point in time. Alola is
approximately $100,000 for Alola in

1205
01:41:59,119 --> 01:42:04,639
discussed it with town staff and they
really don't know if there's a need for

1206
01:42:02,560 --> 01:42:08,480
it. This stair would be designed and in
the future it could be added if it was

1207
01:42:06,239 --> 01:42:12,560
needed. But it's my understanding that
this would be the first phase of

1208
01:42:10,400 --> 01:42:17,760
creating office space downstairs,
potential co conference room. But the

1209
01:42:14,639 --> 01:42:22,880
$200,000 would cover putting in uh those
stairs and have they being closed

1210
01:42:20,159 --> 01:42:26,159
outside and making it match up with the
existing roof line out back.

1211
01:42:24,719 --> 01:42:31,040
» Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> Yeah, it would provide um access to

1212
01:42:28,400 --> 01:42:36,320
there's a lot of our property files are
kind of located everywhere throughout

1213
01:42:33,040 --> 01:42:40,719
the building instead of one area. So, we
got assessing files in the building

1214
01:42:38,719 --> 01:42:44,880
office and the in the tax collector's
office. are kind of located everywhere

1215
01:42:42,239 --> 01:42:48,320
and we would like to just at least if we
got the staircase in, we'd be able to

1216
01:42:46,560 --> 01:42:52,960
access those files, you know, on our
day-to-day jobs um without having to go

1217
01:42:50,960 --> 01:43:00,560
outside and it would create space um
upstairs as well for um a new floor plan

1218
01:42:57,040 --> 01:43:06,360
um for the office.
>> Thank you.

1219
01:43:02,880 --> 01:43:06,360
Further discussion?

1220
01:43:09,280 --> 01:43:16,400
Seeing none, all those in favor of
article 7 as amended.

1221
01:43:15,520 --> 01:43:19,960
» Oh, what
>> may I jump in?

1222
01:43:20,560 --> 01:43:27,119
» Someone over here said yes. So, I guess
you can.

1223
01:43:24,480 --> 01:43:34,320
» Thank you. Uh, Jennifer Carol, Summer
Street. Um, I would like to suggest that

1224
01:43:30,960 --> 01:43:40,000
we consider um amending the Graange Hall
amount um increasing it at 2500 which

1225
01:43:37,760 --> 01:43:45,520
would make it $10,000.
Um I say that because uh it is a

1226
01:43:43,280 --> 01:43:52,000
historic structure that is has deferred
maintenance in need. Um but also um the

1227
01:43:49,679 --> 01:43:56,080
Graangeaw was recently
um recognized by the New Hampshire

1228
01:43:53,840 --> 01:44:00,800
Preservation Alliance as one of the
seven most important historic structures

1229
01:43:58,080 --> 01:44:06,159
in our state to save. Um and I think
while we have that recognition and while

1230
01:44:03,600 --> 01:44:10,560
the preservation society and the town
may be looking at grants to get that

1231
01:44:07,920 --> 01:44:15,520
work done, bumping it to $10,000 will
make those grant applications

1232
01:44:12,719 --> 01:44:18,880
um a little more advantageous. we we
have an advantage over other towns that

1233
01:44:17,360 --> 01:44:23,920
are trying to do historic preservation
work as well. Um, and most of the time

1234
01:44:21,679 --> 01:44:28,320
those grants are going to require a
match from the community. So,

1235
01:44:26,159 --> 01:44:31,840
» can I can I ask you a question, please?
>> Yes.

1236
01:44:29,600 --> 01:44:34,320
» Are you recommending an amendment to
this?

1237
01:44:32,320 --> 01:44:40,239
» Yes. Yes. I'd like to see that.
>> Four signatures in writing and to me.

1238
01:44:37,679 --> 01:44:45,480
» Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you.

1239
01:44:42,480 --> 01:44:45,480
Anything

1240
01:44:50,320 --> 01:44:56,760
else on this amendment for this article?

1241
01:45:01,199 --> 01:45:05,400
» Are we voting on the

1242
01:45:09,920 --> 01:45:13,600
» We already voted on that.

1243
01:45:14,719 --> 01:45:17,719
Oh,

1244
01:45:27,119 --> 01:45:31,360
» Mr. Moderator.
Mr. Moderator.

1245
01:45:30,719 --> 01:45:36,239
» Sir,
>> Mr. Moderator, just with regard to the

1246
01:45:34,320 --> 01:45:43,119
proposed amendment, uh people should
know that we currently have 21,000,

1247
01:45:39,760 --> 01:45:49,320
» I'm sorry, 41,000 in the Graange Capital
Reserve. So, this 2500 would increase

1248
01:45:46,000 --> 01:45:49,320
the 41,000.

1249
01:45:50,239 --> 01:45:55,040
» Yeah, I haven't seen the any amendment
yet. So,

1250
01:45:53,920 --> 01:45:59,280
» okay.
>> I just had a question. I saw the chief

1251
01:45:57,040 --> 01:46:05,600
had to leave, but uh in regards to the
new cruiser, uh can anyone speak to

1252
01:46:02,159 --> 01:46:10,800
that? Uh you know, it seems like we're
having personnel issues. It seems like

1253
01:46:07,199 --> 01:46:17,080
we I I just don't know uh what the need
is for a cruise right now. If anyone

1254
01:46:12,719 --> 01:46:17,080
could just help me understand that

1255
01:46:18,320 --> 01:46:24,960
» the the money allocated in here is going
towards the purchase for future

1256
01:46:23,119 --> 01:46:29,760
cruisers.
It's it's basically a savings, you know,

1257
01:46:27,280 --> 01:46:36,000
so when they need the cruiser, they can
um have the money available. I can Is

1258
01:46:33,199 --> 01:46:41,040
Chief Gone? He left. Okay, shoot. Yeah.
Um I know he does have a a schedule, a

1259
01:46:38,480 --> 01:46:46,760
rotation schedule for all the cruisers
um going through that. Um

1260
01:46:46,800 --> 01:46:51,280
Mark, do you want to add anything to
that? I know

1261
01:46:48,880 --> 01:46:55,280
» because it's a a yearly thing that they
raise the money to appropriate the fund

1262
01:46:53,600 --> 01:46:58,960
and it's usually it's probably a pretty
close accurate price for the cruiser to

1263
01:46:57,520 --> 01:47:03,040
outfit it and everything with the
lettering and cages and stuff depending

1264
01:47:01,440 --> 01:47:06,880
on the new model of cruisers depending
on whether the current cage will be able

1265
01:47:04,880 --> 01:47:10,320
to fit into it or not. So if that's not
the case then they have to to do and

1266
01:47:08,639 --> 01:47:14,000
they're switching all from Fords to
Chevys now. So they have to buy new

1267
01:47:12,480 --> 01:47:18,320
because there's usually not ones to
replace it. I guess

1268
01:47:17,840 --> 01:47:21,600
» correct.
>> It It is.

1269
01:47:19,440 --> 01:47:26,320
» Yep. It is. There's 20 There's about
28,000 in that account right now. Um and

1270
01:47:25,920 --> 01:47:31,920
I
>> Excuse me. What's

1271
01:47:29,360 --> 01:47:37,159
Oh, you want to change?
I just want to be clear what you're

1272
01:47:34,159 --> 01:47:37,159
amending.

1273
01:47:44,239 --> 01:47:51,719
So, I have an amendment
to article 7

1274
01:47:51,760 --> 01:48:02,239
that um the Golden Rod Grainh Hall
funding

1275
01:47:58,719 --> 01:48:11,280
or expendable trust
uh capital reserve fund actually

1276
01:48:05,760 --> 01:48:14,679
to go from 7,500 $100
to $19,000.

1277
01:48:17,119 --> 01:48:20,440
» What's that?

1278
01:48:22,960 --> 01:48:27,639
» 9 to zero.
>> Oh, it's 19.

1279
01:48:28,000 --> 01:48:35,800
» I can't read some writing sometimes.
So, 7 to 195.

1280
01:48:38,800 --> 01:48:46,520
No, no, no. That isn't what this says.
Let's go from 7500

1281
01:48:50,880 --> 01:49:00,280
» I have a
>> a 1 n0000

1282
01:48:55,760 --> 01:49:00,280
figure that's on this

1283
01:49:08,239 --> 01:49:13,119
So, ma'am, do you just want to come up
and read it? So, on your paper it Well,

1284
01:49:11,440 --> 01:49:20,119
no, it does look like a nine on your
paper. So,

1285
01:49:16,480 --> 01:49:20,119
» that's why I asked

1286
01:49:20,800 --> 01:49:24,520
» you don't want $190,000.

1287
01:49:24,719 --> 01:49:28,119
» Oh, that's a

1288
01:49:28,415 --> 01:49:32,840
[laughter]
>> So, that's supposed to be 10,000.

1289
01:49:34,320 --> 01:49:41,760
» So,
All right. The clarification

1290
01:49:38,719 --> 01:49:51,920
is that they're looking to amend the
Golden Rod Grange capital reserve fund

1291
01:49:46,880 --> 01:49:59,320
from 7500 to $10,000.
Is that right?

1292
01:49:55,119 --> 01:49:59,320
» Any discussion on this?

1293
01:50:00,320 --> 01:50:06,880
Seeing none, all those in favor of this
amendment

1294
01:50:04,800 --> 01:50:11,400
signify by saying I.
>> I.

1295
01:50:08,080 --> 01:50:11,400
» Those opposed.

1296
01:50:12,000 --> 01:50:17,600
» The
show.

1297
01:50:15,280 --> 01:50:22,480
» No, I don't think we need a show of
hands.

1298
01:50:19,119 --> 01:50:30,119
Um, that's only when the when the
moderator has a question whether it

1299
01:50:25,360 --> 01:50:30,119
passed or not. And it did not pass.

1300
01:50:31,760 --> 01:50:35,080
Show hands.

1301
01:50:36,560 --> 01:50:40,040
» Oh, come on.

1302
01:50:51,440 --> 01:50:56,280
Okay, get out your cards.

1303
01:51:02,719 --> 01:51:06,440
» We'll do this again.

1304
01:51:06,719 --> 01:51:19,040
So, all those in favor
of changing the capital reserve fund

1305
01:51:14,159 --> 01:51:22,679
number from $7500 to $10,000.
Raise your cards.

1306
01:51:23,440 --> 01:51:27,320
» Who doesn't have a card?

1307
01:51:31,360 --> 01:51:36,880
» If you don't have a card, you didn't
register to vote.

1308
01:51:36,000 --> 01:51:43,239
Did you check?
>> Well, I know, but you have to check in

1309
01:51:39,360 --> 01:51:43,239
in order to get a card.

1310
01:51:44,400 --> 01:51:47,880
» No, no, no.

1311
01:51:48,960 --> 01:51:57,960
» Your card is your card. Don't shift them
around because that would negate the

1312
01:51:54,719 --> 01:51:57,960
whole purpose.

1313
01:52:03,599 --> 01:52:09,239
» Thank you. I'm glad I won't have to do
it again

1314
01:52:10,080 --> 01:52:15,000
» from people from anyway Francis.

1315
01:52:15,040 --> 01:52:19,400
» These are people that are in favor.

1316
01:52:46,159 --> 01:52:53,320
If you got your hand up, please leave it
up. Don't

1317
01:52:50,000 --> 01:52:53,320
up and down.

1318
01:53:16,080 --> 01:53:19,320
What's that?

1319
01:53:21,440 --> 01:53:30,119
» All right. Those those who are opposed
to this amendment, raise your cards.

1320
01:53:48,159 --> 01:53:51,159
Did

1321
01:54:05,040 --> 01:54:08,920
» you get you get?

1322
01:54:13,280 --> 01:54:24,880
» Okay. So the card count
um was 31 in favor, 37 against. So I'd

1323
01:54:21,920 --> 01:54:27,880
say the article fails or the amendment
fails.

1324
01:54:29,040 --> 01:54:36,599
» So we're back to the
main article 7.

1325
01:54:36,800 --> 01:54:46,560
Have we talked that one enough? So all
those in favor of article 7 as written

1326
01:54:44,800 --> 01:54:51,920
please signify by saying I
>> amended.

1327
01:54:48,960 --> 01:54:54,480
» Those opposed
>> as amended.

1328
01:54:53,520 --> 01:54:58,760
» It's not amended.
>> No the part was

1329
01:54:58,960 --> 01:55:04,320
over the other side. That was an
amendment.

1330
01:55:02,159 --> 01:55:10,960
» Yes. I thought we voted on
>> we did but now we're voting on the new.

1331
01:55:07,119 --> 01:55:15,719
Let's just vote and not decide.
Okay. So, I stand corrected.

1332
01:55:17,760 --> 01:55:28,880
So, I guess as amended
to move whatever it was the [laughter]

1333
01:55:26,000 --> 01:55:35,360
mount is the union of library from one
side of the chart to the other.

1334
01:55:32,719 --> 01:55:41,599
Uh let's see. go from the capital
reserve funds to the expendable trust

1335
01:55:37,360 --> 01:55:50,080
funds. That is included and passed as an
amendment and it's included in article

1336
01:55:44,960 --> 01:55:54,400
7. So any further questions on that? I
didn't think so. All those in favor

1337
01:55:52,719 --> 01:55:57,520
signify by saying I.
>> I.

1338
01:55:55,599 --> 01:56:02,560
» Opposed?
Thank you.

1339
01:56:00,639 --> 01:56:08,280
Make a motion.
>> Yeah. to restrict reconsideration on

1340
01:56:04,800 --> 01:56:08,280
article 7.

1341
01:56:08,400 --> 01:56:16,159
» Motion has been made to restrict.
>> Second

1342
01:56:13,199 --> 01:56:20,320
and seconded.
Uh

1343
01:56:18,159 --> 01:56:25,199
any discussion on restricting it? I
don't think so. All those in favor of

1344
01:56:22,159 --> 01:56:28,840
restriction say I.
>> Oppose. No.

1345
01:56:29,760 --> 01:56:32,760
» Okay.

1346
01:56:33,760 --> 01:56:38,520
Article
>> 8

1347
01:56:46,159 --> 01:56:55,280
make a motion to move article 8.
>> Second.

1348
01:56:52,880 --> 01:57:00,159
» All right. So this is our other um
capital reserve and expendable trust

1349
01:56:57,360 --> 01:57:03,280
funds for the public works department.
So [clears throat] again, the the town's

1350
01:57:01,679 --> 01:57:07,280
capital improvement committee um
evaluated the public works capital needs

1351
01:57:05,360 --> 01:57:11,679
as part of the long range planning
process and recommended the following

1352
01:57:09,040 --> 01:57:16,639
levels uh for the expendable trust and
capital reserve accounts. The largest

1353
01:57:14,239 --> 01:57:21,920
portion of this request is for the road
rehabilitation and reconstruction which

1354
01:57:19,520 --> 01:57:26,719
which supports ongoing maintenance and
improvements of the town's road network.

1355
01:57:24,639 --> 01:57:31,360
Regular investment in roadways helps
extend pavement life, improves safety,

1356
01:57:29,199 --> 01:57:36,800
and reduces the need for more costly
reconstruction in the future.

1357
01:57:33,920 --> 01:57:41,119
Funding is also proposed for the highway
and cemetery equipment, allowing the

1358
01:57:39,119 --> 01:57:45,119
town to plan for the replacement of
public works equipment that is critical

1359
01:57:43,520 --> 01:57:51,360
for the road maintenance, winter
operations, and cemetery services.

1360
01:57:48,960 --> 01:57:56,320
Additional requests support public works
facilities, sidewalk improvements, town

1361
01:57:53,520 --> 01:58:00,800
bridges, covered bridges, and town dams,
all of which require periodic

1362
01:57:58,159 --> 01:58:05,679
maintenance and long-term planning to
ensure public safety and preserve

1363
01:58:02,800 --> 01:58:10,159
important infrastructure assets. Funding
for rail trails and the cemetery

1364
01:58:07,520 --> 01:58:15,440
expansion fund uh supports continued
access, recreation, and future burial

1365
01:58:12,800 --> 01:58:19,599
capacity. By setting aside funds
incremental incrementally through these

1366
01:58:17,679 --> 01:58:24,159
trust and reserve accounts, the town can
proactively manage public works

1367
01:58:21,599 --> 01:58:29,280
infrastructure needs and reduce the risk
of emergency repairs and help stabilize

1368
01:58:27,119 --> 01:58:33,560
the tax rate by avoiding large
unexpected capital expenditures.

1369
01:58:34,400 --> 01:58:39,400
Any further discussion on article 8?

1370
01:58:42,960 --> 01:58:51,040
Seeing none, we'll call a question. Uh,
all those in favor of article 8 signify

1371
01:58:49,440 --> 01:58:55,159
by saying I.
>> I.

1372
01:58:51,840 --> 01:58:55,159
» Those opposed.

1373
01:58:56,960 --> 01:59:02,560
» Moving on to article nine.
>> Mr. Mo, I make a motion to restrict

1374
01:59:01,520 --> 01:59:08,800
reconsideration.
>> Oh jeez. Okay.

1375
01:59:06,320 --> 01:59:11,440
All those in favor of
>> second.

1376
01:59:09,520 --> 01:59:17,280
» Thank you.
In favor of restricted restricting

1377
01:59:14,400 --> 01:59:20,760
further amendments or discussion on
article 8

1378
01:59:21,360 --> 01:59:31,760
opposed
I think so. Okay. Bill article nine.

1379
01:59:28,719 --> 01:59:37,920
» Take a motion to move article nine.
>> Second.

1380
01:59:34,320 --> 01:59:41,719
Article 9 has been moved and seconded.
Discussion. Bill.

1381
01:59:43,360 --> 01:59:50,400
» This this has come about as as we've
come to recognize that we have

1382
01:59:48,080 --> 01:59:54,639
significant infrastructure challenges
throughout the town. Uh not the least of

1383
01:59:52,560 --> 02:00:00,800
which are water and sewer in the West
Swansea village. uh our intent is to

1384
01:59:57,840 --> 02:00:05,599
have the opportunity to create this fund
should any any needs come about that are

1385
02:00:03,599 --> 02:00:10,119
not available uh that we don't have
recourse for in the general budget.

1386
02:00:10,960 --> 02:00:14,440
Further discussion

1387
02:00:15,920 --> 02:00:23,840
seeing none those in favor of article 9
respond by saying I

1388
02:00:21,599 --> 02:00:28,080
» opposed.
Okay. Article 9 passes.

1389
02:00:26,480 --> 02:00:33,280
» Mr. Moderator, I make a motion to
restrict reconsideration on article 9.

1390
02:00:31,280 --> 02:00:37,199
» Motion's been made and seconded.
>> Second.

1391
02:00:34,000 --> 02:00:42,480
» Thank you. To restrict further
amendments to article 9. All those in

1392
02:00:40,480 --> 02:00:48,239
favor? I
>> those opposed.

1393
02:00:44,880 --> 02:00:55,080
Thank you.
Okay, moving on. Where are we? Article

1394
02:00:52,080 --> 02:00:55,080
10.

1395
02:00:55,119 --> 02:01:00,400
Um
>> make a motion

1396
02:00:57,440 --> 02:01:06,159
» to move the article 10.
>> Second. Articles been moved and

1397
02:01:03,119 --> 02:01:11,920
seconded. Uh discussion.
>> So article 10 has to do with uh moving

1398
02:01:09,119 --> 02:01:16,880
SB2 from SB2 to the traditional town
meeting. Uh after the last election, we

1399
02:01:15,040 --> 02:01:21,119
were concerned because we didn't think
that town people had enough information

1400
02:01:18,960 --> 02:01:25,119
based on
being the the fault of the town as far

1401
02:01:22,880 --> 02:01:29,520
as like the water because we we felt
that if we could have discussed it in a

1402
02:01:26,960 --> 02:01:33,920
setting like this, it would have more
likely than passed. I mean, the article

1403
02:01:31,440 --> 02:01:37,280
was for $6 something million, but I
don't think people realize that 40% of

1404
02:01:35,679 --> 02:01:41,280
that would have been forgiven. So, it
would have been like a $4 something

1405
02:01:39,199 --> 02:01:46,239
million that we passed up on that we
can't go back for for another two years.

1406
02:01:43,920 --> 02:01:50,719
So, the feeling was how do we get the
town's people more informed? So we came

1407
02:01:48,320 --> 02:01:55,360
up with a governance committee and after
discussion uh it was the best proposal

1408
02:01:53,920 --> 02:01:59,760
that we could come up with as a town
meeting so that people are more informed

1409
02:01:57,199 --> 02:02:02,560
of what's going on along with having
meetings throughout the year just to

1410
02:02:01,119 --> 02:02:07,119
discuss what's going on without
throughout the town. So I I certainly

1411
02:02:05,199 --> 02:02:14,960
urge that we uh pass this. It's going to
take a three-fifth vote to do so.

1412
02:02:10,400 --> 02:02:17,760
» Further discussion on article 10.
>> Seeing none of this

1413
02:02:16,719 --> 02:02:21,679
» Oh.
Sorry, I didn't see you.

1414
02:02:18,960 --> 02:02:27,280
» That's all right. Scott Self and I was
on that committee, that governance

1415
02:02:23,040 --> 02:02:32,880
committee discussing all of this and uh
it was a lot of discussion about it and

1416
02:02:30,560 --> 02:02:37,040
it pretty much boils down to what we're
doing right now. We're we're listening

1417
02:02:35,040 --> 02:02:41,440
to the articles. We're debating them and
we're amending them sometimes and then

1418
02:02:39,679 --> 02:02:45,679
we're voting on them and we know exactly
what we're voting on just what we

1419
02:02:42,800 --> 02:02:48,719
amended or didn't amend. And there'll
probably be more people than this at the

1420
02:02:47,119 --> 02:02:52,719
town meeting to do it. Some of you may
have never been to a town meeting, but

1421
02:02:50,560 --> 02:02:58,400
that was the the whole idea behind it
was really it' be done once and for all

1422
02:02:55,840 --> 02:03:02,440
by people who actually knew exactly what
it was rather than hearsay.

1423
02:03:05,119 --> 02:03:09,599
» I'll just make one point. Um, and we did
discuss every type.

1424
02:03:08,239 --> 02:03:15,280
» Who are you?
>> I'm sorry. My name is Annne Hfernon.

1425
02:03:12,960 --> 02:03:18,800
And please, please get closer to the
mic. We can't hear.

1426
02:03:17,920 --> 02:03:23,440
» Okay.
>> Thank Thank you.

1427
02:03:20,560 --> 02:03:28,000
» We discussed every form of governance
that we could possibly apply to the town

1428
02:03:26,159 --> 02:03:33,679
and the town meeting seems to be the
most pure form of governance that we

1429
02:03:30,880 --> 02:03:40,400
could come up with or that was available
to us. And just to give you an example,

1430
02:03:37,040 --> 02:03:49,199
last year 80 pe 70 people came to this
meeting and probably 15 of them were

1431
02:03:43,360 --> 02:03:54,320
town employees or committee chairs. So
60 people, 55 people made all the

1432
02:03:51,760 --> 02:03:59,199
decisions on all the warrants for
everything that the town is voting for.

1433
02:03:56,480 --> 02:04:03,440
And we need to have more people involved
and engaged. and by having a town

1434
02:04:01,360 --> 02:04:08,719
meeting and we would have it on a
Saturday so that more people could come,

1435
02:04:05,840 --> 02:04:13,360
people with child care needs could
participate.

1436
02:04:10,400 --> 02:04:18,159
And hopefully by doing that, we would
have more than the less than 2% of our

1437
02:04:16,159 --> 02:04:23,000
town people
voting on what affects all of us.

1438
02:04:26,560 --> 02:04:34,280
» Mr. Chairman,
>> sir, Bruce, I'm sure you can hear me.

1439
02:04:35,440 --> 02:04:40,679
» Now, Bruce, excuse me,

1440
02:04:43,599 --> 02:04:52,440
» come up to the mic, please. You're not
recording for the

1441
02:04:48,480 --> 02:04:52,440
» the tape and stuff.

1442
02:04:55,040 --> 02:04:59,840
» Over. You hear me now?
>> Yep.

1443
02:04:57,360 --> 02:05:04,400
» All right. What do we got? How many?
>> 89.

1444
02:05:01,360 --> 02:05:09,840
» So you want 89 people basically to do
your decision. What was our vote count

1445
02:05:07,040 --> 02:05:15,040
last year in our election for the
ballot?

1446
02:05:12,719 --> 02:05:19,280
» There's a lot more people voting that
way for RS2B, I think it's called

1447
02:05:18,719 --> 02:05:23,520
» SP2.
>> SP2

1448
02:05:20,320 --> 02:05:29,679
» than there is right here now. And you
want I've been through town meetings

1449
02:05:25,280 --> 02:05:36,239
before and we've been here like midnight
discussing this stuff. So you guys are a

1450
02:05:33,119 --> 02:05:40,000
lot of you are pretty aged here. I don't
believe you're going to be wanting to

1451
02:05:37,840 --> 02:05:43,760
stay up until midnight. Even though you
think you want to do it on a Saturday, I

1452
02:05:41,920 --> 02:05:47,000
don't think that's going to happen.
Thank you.

1453
02:05:49,920 --> 02:05:52,920
» Wait.

1454
02:05:53,520 --> 02:05:59,679
Uh, I'm Ashley Crosby. I live over on
Fox Run Road. I would like to just speak

1455
02:05:57,280 --> 02:06:03,280
as a resident for this. As a parent who
has small children, I could probably

1456
02:06:01,520 --> 02:06:06,239
easily say I think I'm the youngest
person in the room tonight. And I'm here

1457
02:06:05,119 --> 02:06:09,840
because I have to be here as a
department head. If I didn't be, I

1458
02:06:08,400 --> 02:06:14,560
wouldn't be. I'd be at home tucking
children into bed and things like that.

1459
02:06:12,159 --> 02:06:18,320
My concern with moving away from SB2 is
how are we accommodating those families?

1460
02:06:16,480 --> 02:06:21,360
Who's providing child care? Is that now
going to be something you're going to

1461
02:06:19,280 --> 02:06:25,280
look for the recreation? How do me and
my staff then get to be able to

1462
02:06:22,719 --> 02:06:28,719
participate and vote in that as well?
Because there are a lot of families who

1463
02:06:26,719 --> 02:06:33,280
really are active in town but have very
very small time frames. They're able to

1464
02:06:31,199 --> 02:06:36,560
get in and out of things. So a longer
period of time could really condense the

1465
02:06:35,119 --> 02:06:40,639
availability of a lot of these other
people that are going to be here and are

1466
02:06:38,719 --> 02:06:43,639
going to be building us for the next 30
years.

1467
02:06:47,280 --> 02:06:54,400
So, we would we hopefully would be able
to have a form of child care. It's one

1468
02:06:52,560 --> 02:06:59,840
of the things that is in our notes that
we would do that, but Saturday seemed

1469
02:06:57,199 --> 02:07:03,760
far better just because you wouldn't
have to be here late at night. And if it

1470
02:07:02,159 --> 02:07:08,000
were on a Saturday, we wouldn't be here
late at night presumably. But to address

1471
02:07:05,520 --> 02:07:12,639
one other question that came up, in
March of 2025, there were a total of,

1472
02:07:10,880 --> 02:07:18,639
and you can correct me back there if I'm
wrong, 2,978

1473
02:07:15,440 --> 02:07:24,480
ballots. And of that, of the questions,
the warrants, only 1,53

1474
02:07:22,320 --> 02:07:30,400
were all voted on, which means that
people didn't understand a lot of what

1475
02:07:26,880 --> 02:07:36,159
the warrant amendments were. So in this
kind of format we can discuss it until

1476
02:07:33,760 --> 02:07:39,480
everyone is comfortable with the right
or the wrong.

1477
02:07:45,520 --> 02:07:54,400
» State your name please.
>> Hi [clears throat] Kristen Reynolds. Um,

1478
02:07:52,480 --> 02:08:01,440
last year
we had an opportunity to get our own

1479
02:07:58,239 --> 02:08:07,360
water department to make it public
instead of private.

1480
02:08:04,800 --> 02:08:13,360
Everybody in the room here who heard
that argument

1481
02:08:10,000 --> 02:08:18,719
voted for that water. We we all saw the
need and we've just been told over and

1482
02:08:15,679 --> 02:08:24,159
over again by Jimmy here how much we
need to get businesses in here to help

1483
02:08:20,880 --> 02:08:32,079
us pay for what's happening.
And water is paramount. We must have it.

1484
02:08:28,320 --> 02:08:37,679
But when we went in March to vote, most
of the people voted against it. And why?

1485
02:08:34,560 --> 02:08:42,560
Because they didn't understand it.
>> They didn't read it well. They saw the

1486
02:08:40,960 --> 02:08:46,400
amount of money that it was and they
didn't understand about the loan and how

1487
02:08:44,560 --> 02:08:54,159
that worked. They didn't know what we
knew here. It really bummed me out.

1488
02:08:50,960 --> 02:08:58,400
The people here, we learn what needs to
we need to know

1489
02:08:56,480 --> 02:09:04,000
and then we vote on it. That makes sense
to me.

1490
02:09:01,440 --> 02:09:08,079
» Thank you, Dan.
Um I I'll just be real quick because I

1491
02:09:06,639 --> 02:09:13,840
was on the Swansea governance committee
also. Um and the biggest point of uh

1492
02:09:11,920 --> 02:09:17,280
going back to town meeting is just to
make sure that people are informed. Uh

1493
02:09:16,000 --> 02:09:21,199
like everybody else that just came up
here said, the majority of voters are

1494
02:09:19,280 --> 02:09:24,880
not informed. Uh the people that are
here tonight, you guys are you're you're

1495
02:09:23,040 --> 02:09:29,360
active. You're engaged in our town.
Unfortunately, there are restrictions

1496
02:09:26,719 --> 02:09:33,040
where pe there's young families and some
people can't get out and do this. That's

1497
02:09:31,040 --> 02:09:36,400
why we want to do it on a Saturday. Uh,
but we want to see our town moving in

1498
02:09:34,480 --> 02:09:40,480
the right direction. I mean, I know I
was up here, you know, kind of

1499
02:09:37,520 --> 02:09:44,400
criticizing the town tonight just I want
to hold them accountable to where our

1500
02:09:41,760 --> 02:09:49,199
taxpayers money is going. And I think uh
the town meeting format uh not only

1501
02:09:47,440 --> 02:09:55,360
holds them more accountable, but also
helps keep our taxes a lot lower. Um,

1502
02:09:53,040 --> 02:09:59,760
so, uh, for the gentleman that argued
that there's only 89 people that would

1503
02:09:57,040 --> 02:10:03,040
be making the decisions on our town, I
would rather have 89 informed people

1504
02:10:01,440 --> 02:10:07,199
that know exactly what's going on in our
town to make that decision than,400

1505
02:10:05,440 --> 02:10:12,679
people that don't have an idea and only
vote on things that they think they

1506
02:10:08,639 --> 02:10:12,679
understand. Thank you.

1507
02:10:13,360 --> 02:10:25,360
Uh, I want to take my my moderator hat
off for a minute and address my feelings

1508
02:10:21,440 --> 02:10:32,560
on this or question that I have.
Has there been any

1509
02:10:28,400 --> 02:10:39,840
uh I haven't seen any estimate as to
what extra this is going to cost. We've

1510
02:10:36,239 --> 02:10:46,079
had a lot of talk about our our budget.
Um,

1511
02:10:41,840 --> 02:10:51,079
and I don't believe there's been any any
proposal as to how much this is going to

1512
02:10:48,079 --> 02:10:51,079
cost.

1513
02:10:53,040 --> 02:10:56,679
» Ann, you want to answer?

1514
02:10:57,119 --> 02:11:03,679
» We don't we don't have that estimate
because we don't know if we can move

1515
02:11:01,840 --> 02:11:06,719
forward with it, but it would be
basically what's happened in the past.

1516
02:11:05,119 --> 02:11:11,920
And hopefully we can do this at the high
school. Hopefully, we can do this at the

1517
02:11:08,960 --> 02:11:17,199
high school. So, it shouldn't be an
enormous expense to the town. And for

1518
02:11:15,280 --> 02:11:22,719
things like child care, we would hope to
engage some of some of the youth like

1519
02:11:20,719 --> 02:11:26,880
interact or we don't know. I mean,
there's a lot of unknowns that are

1520
02:11:24,159 --> 02:11:31,040
involved in it, but it's a step in the
right direction to engage more people

1521
02:11:28,719 --> 02:11:34,760
and have more people involved in the
town that they live in.

1522
02:11:39,280 --> 02:11:45,599
I just want to say that Danny made the
most important point of it all. You I

1523
02:11:44,239 --> 02:11:51,920
first think we're going to get a lot
more people than this and also I would

1524
02:11:48,719 --> 02:11:56,159
rather have the result come out in the
favor of Swansea and that's how the

1525
02:11:53,840 --> 02:12:02,239
result will come out because everybody
is informed. So the results of the vote

1526
02:11:59,440 --> 02:12:06,719
will will benefit the town of Swansea.
That's how I feel and I think Danny

1527
02:12:04,000 --> 02:12:11,679
Danny made a fantastic point here. You
versus 2000 I've watched people go to

1528
02:12:09,360 --> 02:12:16,560
those voting booths and it was very
confusing to the majority of the people

1529
02:12:14,239 --> 02:12:21,520
and they were just people were just
putting down what they want. I I I agree

1530
02:12:19,040 --> 02:12:26,040
100% with what Danny said and I think
it's we really need to do this.

1531
02:12:28,000 --> 02:12:36,079
» Kyle Croto Eaten Road. Um, I think being
judged that you're not in this room,

1532
02:12:34,639 --> 02:12:41,520
that you don't understand what's going
on is unfair. Um, personally, I can't be

1533
02:12:39,360 --> 02:12:45,760
at all these meetings, but I do take
advantage of YouTube and I watch them

1534
02:12:43,119 --> 02:12:49,199
all. I think the town does a great job
providing that information. If people

1535
02:12:48,000 --> 02:12:54,000
want to be informed, they're going to
be. If they don't, they're not going to

1536
02:12:50,880 --> 02:13:01,800
be. But I think to make one group of
people in a room one day make all the

1537
02:12:56,639 --> 02:13:01,800
decisions isn't the proper way to do it.

1538
02:13:06,079 --> 02:13:15,280
» Dave Jones Causeway Road. If you want
participation, you want information, why

1539
02:13:13,760 --> 02:13:18,280
don't you hold these meetings on
Saturday?

1540
02:13:23,040 --> 02:13:31,360
Could I just have some clarification?
Are are the town meetings going to be a

1541
02:13:28,239 --> 02:13:36,480
vote at that time or are they just open
for discussion?

1542
02:13:34,079 --> 02:13:41,360
So the people at home would not have the
benefit of a vote. I mean these meetings

1543
02:13:38,639 --> 02:13:44,960
are great because of the questions. If
we could have questions like this, open

1544
02:13:43,119 --> 02:13:50,960
debate and discussion and be polite
about it and then people come and vote

1545
02:13:48,639 --> 02:13:56,800
that that would move us. But we we do
need to have these discussions. Good.

1546
02:13:52,719 --> 02:14:00,800
There is no bad question. So um that's
unfortunate because of the media. I

1547
02:13:59,280 --> 02:14:04,400
thought maybe you know people could hear
the questions at home and get

1548
02:14:02,079 --> 02:14:07,639
clarification.
>> Thank you.

1549
02:14:10,560 --> 02:14:18,639
There are other things that we would
like to do moving forward. One of them

1550
02:14:16,159 --> 02:14:23,360
which was mentioned earlier was to have
possibly quarterly meetings throughout

1551
02:14:20,880 --> 02:14:30,239
the different villages within the town
to cover specific topics like the water

1552
02:14:26,560 --> 02:14:37,119
issue. Um which would also help engage
more people to have more information

1553
02:14:34,800 --> 02:14:41,520
getting out to the town more process in
a better way. like

1554
02:14:39,280 --> 02:14:46,159
Scott got lots of hits on the videos he
did for us. Um, so having more

1555
02:14:44,560 --> 02:14:49,199
information that's readily available so
that people some people just aren't

1556
02:14:47,840 --> 02:14:53,760
engaged because they don't have the time
or the wherewithal or even know how to

1557
02:14:51,360 --> 02:14:58,800
do it. So if we can at least supply that
kind of information to people and just

1558
02:14:55,520 --> 02:15:04,360
disseminate more information,
people would be more engaged, which is

1559
02:15:00,560 --> 02:15:04,360
really the bottom line.

1560
02:15:08,000 --> 02:15:15,440
And a clear example of probably the not
so well informed would be tonight's

1561
02:15:14,079 --> 02:15:19,599
meeting here with the beginning of it
with the zoning proposals. I don't know

1562
02:15:17,520 --> 02:15:23,520
how many out here actually understand
those zoning proposals.

1563
02:15:22,000 --> 02:15:27,040
Sometimes we don't understand them here.
I'm on planning board, but we have a lot

1564
02:15:25,520 --> 02:15:32,079
of discussion and a lot of back and
forth on it to understand those

1565
02:15:28,719 --> 02:15:36,480
proposals before we vote on them. and
everyone here and everyone who votes in

1566
02:15:34,400 --> 02:15:40,000
March, they're just going to look
underneath there and say, "Oh, planning

1567
02:15:38,400 --> 02:15:43,280
board recommends it. Guess that's okay
for me." Without even knowing what

1568
02:15:41,199 --> 02:15:47,880
you're voting on. And that's the same
thing with town meeting. We got to know

1569
02:15:44,400 --> 02:15:47,880
what we're voting on.

1570
02:15:53,040 --> 02:15:58,199
Seeing no other people lined up to
speak,

1571
02:15:58,320 --> 02:16:02,840
um we'll call the question.

1572
02:16:03,360 --> 02:16:12,639
All those in favor of
article 10

1573
02:16:09,119 --> 02:16:17,119
as written, signify by saying I.
>> I.

1574
02:16:13,599 --> 02:16:20,119
» Opposed. I
>> I

1575
02:16:21,599 --> 02:16:28,800
» I'd say that the
eyes had it.

1576
02:16:28,000 --> 02:16:34,599
» Okay.
>> I make a motion to restrict

1577
02:16:30,239 --> 02:16:34,599
reconsideration on article 10.

1578
02:16:35,120 --> 02:16:44,800
» Second
motion to restrict reconstruction.

1579
02:16:42,240 --> 02:16:50,639
Reconstruction. Whatever.
um amending of the article

1580
02:16:49,040 --> 02:16:55,359
nine which I
>> 10

1581
02:16:51,120 --> 02:16:58,359
» 10 I'm sorry it's been a long night
um

1582
02:17:03,920 --> 02:17:12,399
» it'll it'll go on the ballot as written
>> so

1583
02:17:11,040 --> 02:17:19,359
» I think that
>> the wording pass.

1584
02:17:15,280 --> 02:17:23,760
No money was represented. So, uh, we'll
move on. Article 11.

1585
02:17:23,200 --> 02:17:29,120
Bill.
>> Make a motion to move article 11.

1586
02:17:26,240 --> 02:17:35,719
» Second.
>> Thank you, Bruce.

1587
02:17:31,760 --> 02:17:35,719
One of the first items

1588
02:17:36,319 --> 02:17:44,719
that new town administrator Lori Radiota
Radiola brought to our attention was

1589
02:17:41,760 --> 02:17:50,399
that we we as a town had not considered
the elderly tax exemption since 2009.

1590
02:17:48,639 --> 02:17:55,120
And I think we can all recognize that
that home values and inflation have

1591
02:17:53,040 --> 02:18:02,080
significantly increased the cost of
living since 2009. So what we're Could

1592
02:17:59,040 --> 02:18:06,080
you bring up the next slide, please?
>> Oh,

1593
02:18:03,040 --> 02:18:11,599
» the the one with the Okay. On this
slide, you can see [clears throat] the

1594
02:18:08,880 --> 02:18:20,719
the changes that we're recommending uh
for people 65 and older, 75, 65, 74, 75,

1595
02:18:17,439 --> 02:18:27,439
79, and 80 and over increases from the
the current uh income exempt, I'm sorry,

1596
02:18:24,399 --> 02:18:32,559
property value valuation to what we're
proposing in assessed value moving

1597
02:18:29,519 --> 02:18:38,399
forward. Uh we've also increased or
recommending an increase in income

1598
02:18:34,960 --> 02:18:43,040
limits u and then their total asset the
total asset limits that that they have.

1599
02:18:40,880 --> 02:18:47,679
We we all recognize that there are many
of us who are less fortunate and have

1600
02:18:45,439 --> 02:18:53,760
challenges paying the property taxes. It
is our form of I mean it is our form of

1601
02:18:49,519 --> 02:18:58,080
taxation and revenue generation. Um,
depending upon what your view is, uh,

1602
02:18:55,760 --> 02:19:01,920
back in the day when I chaired the vice
chaired and chaired the Republican

1603
02:18:59,840 --> 02:19:07,519
committee in in Cheshire County and
along with my cohorts on the the

1604
02:19:04,160 --> 02:19:12,719
Democrat Democratic party, we we all
almost in mass supported a more

1605
02:19:09,920 --> 02:19:16,559
diversified tax structure,
but that was in Cheshire County. Once we

1606
02:19:15,280 --> 02:19:19,840
get to the middle part of the state and
the eastern part of the state, it

1607
02:19:17,760 --> 02:19:24,000
doesn't matter what party you're in, it
uh it doesn't go away. So, property

1608
02:19:22,160 --> 02:19:29,120
taxes are the way that we generate
revenue. And we feel that it's important

1609
02:19:26,800 --> 02:19:35,800
to consider those who are less fortunate
and give them an opportunity, more of an

1610
02:19:31,679 --> 02:19:35,800
opportunity to stay in their homes.

1611
02:19:39,920 --> 02:19:50,000
» What's up?
and Kerosinski, Park Street, Swazi. Um,

1612
02:19:46,639 --> 02:19:54,160
this slide is much better at this slide,
the second one is much better at

1613
02:19:51,520 --> 02:19:59,520
expressing where you're going from and
where you're going to. So, I don't know

1614
02:19:57,040 --> 02:20:04,800
if we need an amendment about the way
this is written, but I found this

1615
02:20:01,920 --> 02:20:08,560
confusing. And if we are going to
educate people in the voting booth, so

1616
02:20:07,120 --> 02:20:14,160
that's the first time they're seeing
this. I would if there's a way to

1617
02:20:11,280 --> 02:20:20,240
recommend that these numbers have not
been updated since 2009 to reflect

1618
02:20:17,040 --> 02:20:24,800
current economic conditions. And I would
almost I would consider doing a chart

1619
02:20:22,479 --> 02:20:31,359
similar to what you have on that slide
to explain what we're going from and

1620
02:20:28,000 --> 02:20:36,080
what we're going to because having done
some research and seen now that the

1621
02:20:33,760 --> 02:20:43,280
different towns and cities in New
Hampshire have an opportunity to to have

1622
02:20:39,120 --> 02:20:48,319
this um in their own town that I think
that we it it would get us an

1623
02:20:46,240 --> 02:20:52,560
opportunity and particularly if you were
recommending ing this when you go to the

1624
02:20:50,800 --> 02:20:58,800
ballot and you're trying to understand
what this actually means. I I just think

1625
02:20:55,359 --> 02:21:02,760
we could express it better.
So, for your consideration,

1626
02:21:07,938 --> 02:21:14,640
[clears throat]
>> um, I'd like to

1627
02:21:11,760 --> 02:21:21,040
take a moment and
put our our town council on the spot

1628
02:21:18,720 --> 02:21:28,160
here.
We There's no money involved. What what

1629
02:21:25,760 --> 02:21:32,640
can we change in wooding wording and
what can't we change in wording if it

1630
02:21:30,960 --> 02:21:36,960
changes their
>> Well, she's

1631
02:21:34,399 --> 02:21:43,280
» she's suggesting
>> doing some kind of a something like

1632
02:21:39,600 --> 02:21:47,040
that. Um
that

1633
02:21:45,280 --> 02:21:49,359
that's not going to work unfortunately.
There's there's statutory

1634
02:21:47,893 --> 02:21:50,640
[clears throat] language that needs to
be in there,

1635
02:21:50,240 --> 02:21:58,720
» right?
>> Um I mean you could add that to it. Uh,

1636
02:21:55,439 --> 02:22:05,920
but someone would need to make a motion
for a specific amendment and I suppose

1637
02:22:01,520 --> 02:22:09,840
if the if the amendment is to add that
to it, you could do that.

1638
02:22:09,280 --> 02:22:15,720
» Okay.
>> If that's

1639
02:22:10,880 --> 02:22:15,720
» if somebody wants to make that motion.

1640
02:22:16,160 --> 02:22:22,600
» A clear example of town meeting and the
benefit that it would bring.

1641
02:22:23,439 --> 02:22:31,840
Jessica Sanchez. Um, do you need my
address? Okay. Um, so it's almost like I

1642
02:22:30,319 --> 02:22:35,439
honestly when I first looked at it, it
was a little confusing to me. I

1643
02:22:34,240 --> 02:22:42,800
understand you're probably trying to
keep the wording down, but if you said

1644
02:22:38,880 --> 02:22:48,000
exemption increase from 25 to 50,
exemption increase from 35 to 75,

1645
02:22:45,760 --> 02:22:51,920
because it you see exemption at the top,
but then you see increase. Is that what

1646
02:22:50,240 --> 02:22:54,080
you were saying?
Yeah,

1647
02:22:52,479 --> 02:22:58,720
» the exemption is increasing.
>> So, it's

1648
02:22:56,399 --> 02:23:02,720
the title says exemption amounts and
then it says you're increasing, but when

1649
02:23:00,720 --> 02:23:07,760
you just look at it at first glance,
it's almost like people might see

1650
02:23:05,359 --> 02:23:14,000
increasing taxes, not increasing the
exemption. Do you see what I'm saying?

1651
02:23:11,120 --> 02:23:19,600
So, it might just need increase the
exemption from increase the exemption

1652
02:23:16,399 --> 02:23:24,439
from just to make it more clear.
I think that might have been what Ann

1653
02:23:21,040 --> 02:23:24,439
was trying to say.

1654
02:23:28,479 --> 02:23:35,439
» Scott self again. Uh it it says that in
the article. It states that exactly in

1655
02:23:33,200 --> 02:23:39,880
the article 11 about the increase. Y
>> not on not on that but in the article

1656
02:23:43,520 --> 02:23:49,920
» most of you have received and everyone
that has a post box will receive the

1657
02:23:47,840 --> 02:23:55,120
voter guide that that will come out
shortly after this meeting and we can

1658
02:23:52,960 --> 02:23:59,840
explain it there but I think as Cordell
mentioned someone would need to craft an

1659
02:23:57,280 --> 02:24:05,600
amendment so that we could we could
amend this article and whether it's

1660
02:24:02,000 --> 02:24:09,399
language or adding a graph or both would
need to come from the body.

1661
02:24:11,120 --> 02:24:17,399
» Is anyone interested in constructing an
amendment to this?

1662
02:24:35,840 --> 02:24:44,520
Does anyone have written and signatures
for an amendment on this article?

1663
02:24:50,319 --> 02:24:53,720
Seeing none,

1664
02:24:55,439 --> 02:25:02,640
» call the question on article.
>> Mr. Moderator,

1665
02:24:59,439 --> 02:25:09,920
» I'd like to make a motion that we table
this article 11

1666
02:25:06,319 --> 02:25:16,160
and move on to article 12 and then come
back to article 11

1667
02:25:12,240 --> 02:25:24,399
as there seems to be interest.
There seems to be interest from the body

1668
02:25:20,080 --> 02:25:27,399
» if we come back to it at the end of the
>> Okay,

1669
02:25:30,880 --> 02:25:36,720
» Mr. Moderator,
>> we have we do have a motion. Did we get

1670
02:25:35,920 --> 02:25:37,439
a second?
>> Second.

1671
02:25:37,200 --> 02:25:44,600
» Okay,
>> I just have a question.

1672
02:25:38,720 --> 02:25:44,600
» Sorry. Okay, we have a motion to

1673
02:25:44,720 --> 02:25:50,479
We we'd like the motion is to table
article 11.

1674
02:25:48,319 --> 02:25:53,600
» table article 11 and
>> and come back to our

1675
02:25:51,760 --> 02:25:56,160
» come back to it at the end of the
>> correct

1676
02:25:54,160 --> 02:26:01,600
» end of tonight.
>> So move it from article 11.

1677
02:25:59,200 --> 02:26:05,720
» It will remain as article 11. It would
just be tabled for now.

1678
02:26:10,800 --> 02:26:17,439
I just have a quick question about
article 11.

1679
02:26:14,640 --> 02:26:19,920
» Is the Linda Falner, sorry,
>> we've already we've got another motion

1680
02:26:19,040 --> 02:26:23,600
on the floor.
>> It's not a motion.

1681
02:26:20,960 --> 02:26:27,840
» You can bring it up at the end
because this this isn't going away.

1682
02:26:25,840 --> 02:26:32,880
We're going to have discussion on it,
but he's postponing discussion so that

1683
02:26:30,240 --> 02:26:38,319
people would have chance to write an
amendment or

1684
02:26:35,760 --> 02:26:38,319
until

1685
02:26:44,000 --> 02:26:57,600
Okay, we got a vote on tableabling
article 11 and

1686
02:26:54,560 --> 02:27:03,000
it will be discussed at the after the
last article

1687
02:26:59,680 --> 02:27:03,000
is handled.

1688
02:27:03,200 --> 02:27:12,880
Anything further?
All those in favor say I. I

1689
02:27:09,359 --> 02:27:18,880
» oppose. No.
Thank you. So, article 11 will move to

1690
02:27:15,680 --> 02:27:24,560
the end end of the meeting.
>> Article 12.

1691
02:27:21,040 --> 02:27:27,560
Make a motion to move article 12.
>> Second.

1692
02:27:28,479 --> 02:27:31,479
Discussion

1693
02:27:37,680 --> 02:27:41,479
» 12. You muted

1694
02:27:49,840 --> 02:27:55,920
» Bruce Bohannan. Is that uh can you
explain service connection? Is that

1695
02:27:54,720 --> 02:27:58,800
military service?
>> Yep. So I can

1696
02:27:57,040 --> 02:28:03,439
» only or
>> um that one's the um it's called the

1697
02:28:01,200 --> 02:28:08,479
optional tax credit for service
connected total disability.

1698
02:28:05,600 --> 02:28:11,520
» But is it military service
>> um

1699
02:28:09,120 --> 02:28:14,319
» or how are they how do they get this
>> service connected?

1700
02:28:12,560 --> 02:28:18,160
» Service connected to what? Yes,
military.

1701
02:28:14,960 --> 02:28:22,000
» All right. Can we add service military
in there so it's

1702
02:28:20,000 --> 02:28:27,000
» clearer?
>> Yeah.

1703
02:28:23,359 --> 02:28:27,000
» Cordell saying we

1704
02:28:28,960 --> 02:28:32,742
We would need an amendment. [laughter]

1705
02:28:33,920 --> 02:28:39,080
» I I can I can speak to
>> further discussion.

1706
02:28:39,520 --> 02:28:45,960
» There's a motion. There's a question
with regard to adding the word military.

1707
02:28:46,000 --> 02:28:51,040
» Do Do you want that in writing or could
we make it we make a motion? We make an

1708
02:28:50,399 --> 02:28:56,200
amendment.
>> In order to be an amendment, you have to

1709
02:28:52,880 --> 02:28:56,200
be in writing.

1710
02:28:56,479 --> 02:29:00,359
Bruce, you want to write it?

1711
02:29:04,720 --> 02:29:08,200
» We can't interject.

1712
02:29:08,640 --> 02:29:12,920
» We've taken care of it up here.

1713
02:29:13,840 --> 02:29:22,240
» Oh, now. Do you have a conflict of
interest on this one?

1714
02:29:19,760 --> 02:29:22,240
» Yes, sir.

1715
02:29:22,720 --> 02:29:27,920
You get any signatures on that?
>> No, there's no for I don't have

1716
02:29:26,960 --> 02:29:28,800
signatures.
>> Bruce,

1717
02:29:28,240 --> 02:29:30,399
» bring it here.
>> Bruce.

1718
02:29:29,200 --> 02:29:35,120
» Bruce.
>> Bruce.

1719
02:29:32,479 --> 02:29:40,160
» Bruce, you
>> Bruce, you don't need four signatures.

1720
02:29:38,160 --> 02:29:42,880
It's just a motion to amend. Anyone can
make that motion.

1721
02:29:41,520 --> 02:29:45,680
» Thank you.
>> Bruce,

1722
02:29:43,520 --> 02:29:48,080
» if someone just
>> What's that?

1723
02:29:48,479 --> 02:29:57,520
uh the state book
>> you have to have four minimum of four.

1724
02:29:55,520 --> 02:30:02,560
» No, any anyone can make a motion to
amend as long as

1725
02:29:58,640 --> 02:30:05,040
» we can make the motion but you can't
>> you have to have four person

1726
02:30:03,760 --> 02:30:07,520
» if that's the way you want to do it.
Okay.

1727
02:30:06,399 --> 02:30:12,319
» All right.
>> I would rather go with a lawyer than the

1728
02:30:10,479 --> 02:30:16,880
moderator.
>> The moderator is in charge. So,

1729
02:30:14,080 --> 02:30:23,960
» well, we can take a 15minute and I'll
look it up. [sighs]

1730
02:30:19,840 --> 02:30:23,960
» Either way, we have the signatures.

1731
02:30:24,039 --> 02:30:31,640
[snorts]
So, the amendment is

1732
02:30:28,640 --> 02:30:31,640
to

1733
02:30:32,240 --> 02:30:39,319
add the word military service connected.

1734
02:30:41,280 --> 02:30:46,840
» Any discussion on that?
Yeah,

1735
02:30:47,920 --> 02:30:57,120
» Barbara Scully, my question is if the
title of the optional tax credit for

1736
02:30:54,000 --> 02:31:02,640
service connected total disability is
related to the RSA and if we change it,

1737
02:31:00,479 --> 02:31:09,280
does that alter
the

1738
02:31:04,720 --> 02:31:13,600
the meaning of that fund or that tax
credit? That's a good point and that's

1739
02:31:11,200 --> 02:31:18,240
why I'm looking to Cordell to make sure
we can do that.

1740
02:31:15,040 --> 02:31:22,960
» It's it's not a problem as long as you
are you are referring to the correct

1741
02:31:20,479 --> 02:31:27,760
statute here. I don't see a problem with
inserting the word military in there.

1742
02:31:25,200 --> 02:31:33,200
It's just a matter of clarification. So,
I don't see any problem with that.

1743
02:31:30,880 --> 02:31:41,040
» Yes, I can explain how it came about,
Bruce, if that's okay.

1744
02:31:36,160 --> 02:31:45,280
Um, I'm curious if someone has the uh
the RSA

1745
02:31:43,120 --> 02:31:48,399
to refer so we could refer to it.
>> Yep. I I could just give a little

1746
02:31:46,720 --> 02:31:52,399
background on it if that will be
helpful. Um, so this warrant article

1747
02:31:50,479 --> 02:31:56,720
proposes increasing the existing
optional property tax credit for the for

1748
02:31:54,880 --> 02:32:02,720
veterans with a service connected
disability. If approved, the credit

1749
02:31:59,040 --> 02:32:09,280
would increase from 4,000 to 4500
um effective for the 2026 tax year. The

1750
02:32:05,760 --> 02:32:13,760
credit is authorized under RSA 72 colon
35 and is intended to provide additional

1751
02:32:11,920 --> 02:32:19,359
property tax relief to qualifying
residents. And just a little background

1752
02:32:16,160 --> 02:32:24,479
on this. Um, prior to this year, a
municipality could stack they could

1753
02:32:22,000 --> 02:32:30,240
stack the optional, it's called service
connected disability credit on top of

1754
02:32:27,439 --> 02:32:35,359
the general non-disability veterans tax
credit. So before you could stack them,

1755
02:32:32,880 --> 02:32:41,280
now do due to the change in the law, you
can no longer stack those two credits.

1756
02:32:38,000 --> 02:32:50,319
Um so Swansea has adopted the optional
veterans credit under um RSA72 col28 and

1757
02:32:47,359 --> 02:32:54,960
that amount is $500. So before the
change in law you you could have a town

1758
02:32:53,280 --> 02:33:01,439
could have done it and Swansea does do
this. you could have granted the

1759
02:32:57,200 --> 02:33:07,840
optional credit of 500 and in addition
granted the service connected disability

1760
02:33:04,160 --> 02:33:13,760
credit of $4,000 for a total of $4,500.
Uh the town of Swansea did allow this um

1761
02:33:10,960 --> 02:33:19,920
to stack the credits. So So those folks
would would be PE folks out there now

1762
02:33:16,800 --> 02:33:26,080
would be receiving a total of $4,500.
So, this this warrant article basically

1763
02:33:23,200 --> 02:33:30,560
um if approved, the veterans who would
who qualify for the service connected

1764
02:33:28,319 --> 02:33:34,720
disability would still be able to see
would still be able to receive that $500

1765
02:33:33,200 --> 02:33:42,000
that they would be getting for the
veterans credit. Um but prior to that

1766
02:33:38,240 --> 02:33:46,160
change in statute, um and Cordell, do
you have anything to add to that? I know

1767
02:33:43,520 --> 02:33:49,520
we we talked a little bit about this
this one, but I think that covers most

1768
02:33:48,720 --> 02:33:54,240
of it.
>> That That's exactly right. I mean,

1769
02:33:51,120 --> 02:33:59,280
basically, if I'm a right now, if I'm a
veteran with a service connected

1770
02:33:55,680 --> 02:34:04,000
disability, I get the 4,000
plus the 500.

1771
02:34:01,280 --> 02:34:09,200
» The law now says you can't stack them.
So, what you're voting to do is give me

1772
02:34:06,479 --> 02:34:14,240
4500. No stacking.
>> So, the the result is the same. there's

1773
02:34:11,120 --> 02:34:20,760
no no change in what in in what the
person can get. It's just making sure

1774
02:34:16,720 --> 02:34:20,760
that they're not getting less.

1775
02:34:20,960 --> 02:34:26,240
Can
>> I just have a clarification? Uh will

1776
02:34:23,120 --> 02:34:30,399
that affect the uh US vets that are
already it's not going to affect us that

1777
02:34:27,920 --> 02:34:35,359
is already getting
uh the the $500 rebate, right? This is

1778
02:34:34,399 --> 02:34:40,399
not going to affect us.
>> The veterans tax credit will remain the

1779
02:34:37,200 --> 02:34:46,160
same. Yep. If this passes,
if this passes,

1780
02:34:43,439 --> 02:34:50,720
» and and if it doesn't, it would still
the veterans would still nothing is

1781
02:34:48,160 --> 02:34:57,280
changing with the veterans.
>> I guess it' be my question. It's pretty

1782
02:34:54,640 --> 02:35:01,760
much to Cordell.
Um,

1783
02:34:59,920 --> 02:35:07,000
do we have the right to change the
wording of a state approved RSA?

1784
02:35:07,520 --> 02:35:16,800
the uh
there's a there is a section in in the

1785
02:35:12,560 --> 02:35:20,240
RSAs that tells you how to how to change
the amount of credit the amount of the

1786
02:35:18,560 --> 02:35:27,120
credit. It doesn't prescribe the
specific language. So you're not you're

1787
02:35:24,000 --> 02:35:30,120
not changing uh statemandated language
here.

1788
02:35:30,319 --> 02:35:35,160
The the short answer is yes, you can do
this.

1789
02:35:35,520 --> 02:35:38,520
Okay.

1790
02:35:39,120 --> 02:35:45,120
So,
have we voted on the amendment?

1791
02:35:43,600 --> 02:35:49,439
» No.
All those in favor of the adding the

1792
02:35:47,040 --> 02:35:56,399
word military in front of service
connected on article 12

1793
02:35:53,760 --> 02:36:00,439
uh signify by saying I.
>> I.

1794
02:35:57,439 --> 02:36:00,439
» Opposed.

1795
02:36:00,479 --> 02:36:11,520
Okay. The eyes have it now.
We're back to the modified

1796
02:36:07,680 --> 02:36:18,080
article 12 which includes
the track they adding the word military.

1797
02:36:14,880 --> 02:36:21,399
Any further discussion?
Seeing none.

1798
02:36:21,600 --> 02:36:27,319
» All those in favor say I.
>> Opposed.

1799
02:36:27,680 --> 02:36:35,439
» Okay. Done.
>> Mr. Mr. Moderator, make a motion to

1800
02:36:31,760 --> 02:36:39,359
restrict reconsideration on article 12.
>> Second.

1801
02:36:37,439 --> 02:36:44,880
» Okay, we have a motion on the floor to
restrict

1802
02:36:41,200 --> 02:36:48,880
further discussion on article
one.

1803
02:36:46,640 --> 02:36:56,000
» Article 12.
Um, all those in favor of restricting

1804
02:36:53,600 --> 02:37:00,640
discussion further on this article
signify by saying I. I

1805
02:36:58,560 --> 02:37:04,359
» opposed.
Okay. Restricted.

1806
02:37:19,439 --> 02:37:29,120
That's that's proper form. But article
11, we voted

1807
02:37:35,840 --> 02:37:39,080
Thank you.

1808
02:37:41,520 --> 02:37:44,520
» Okay,

1809
02:37:44,640 --> 02:37:48,359
where are we?

1810
02:37:54,080 --> 02:38:02,560
» 13.
Make a motion to move article 13.

1811
02:37:59,040 --> 02:38:04,960
» I move article 13 has moved.
>> Second.

1812
02:38:03,200 --> 02:38:12,160
» Second.
>> Okay. Article 13 is moved and seconded.

1813
02:38:09,280 --> 02:38:17,439
Uh discussion or
>> Okay. So I can speak to this one. Um the

1814
02:38:14,960 --> 02:38:22,560
town has updated the project timeline
and costs for the Ashwal lot rail trail

1815
02:38:19,760 --> 02:38:27,439
transportation alternatives program. Um,
this project was originate was

1816
02:38:24,479 --> 02:38:32,080
originally approved on the 2020 warrant
article number nine. The town received

1817
02:38:30,240 --> 02:38:36,240
notification in December that the
Federal Highway Administration has

1818
02:38:33,760 --> 02:38:42,800
obligated additional funding for fiscal
year 2026 preliminary engineering

1819
02:38:39,120 --> 02:38:47,200
efforts. Um, and just to offer a little
bit of background on this article, this

1820
02:38:45,120 --> 02:38:53,359
project was added to the 10-year plan
through the town's transportation

1821
02:38:48,960 --> 02:38:59,040
alternatives program application in um
2018. Original documents um are

1822
02:38:56,640 --> 02:39:04,960
available at town hall. The project
scoped was then updated in 2023 to focus

1823
02:39:02,640 --> 02:39:10,800
on a portion of the Ashwal lot rail
trail with multiple washouts um which

1824
02:39:07,760 --> 02:39:15,520
are documented in the engineering study.
This article if passed gives the town um

1825
02:39:13,200 --> 02:39:20,880
more money and more funding to finish um
a muchneeded project.

1826
02:39:18,080 --> 02:39:24,560
Um, and just I just wanted to include in
here um an important note because it

1827
02:39:22,960 --> 02:39:29,040
came up at our budget hearing several
times, but this project is not related

1828
02:39:26,479 --> 02:39:33,120
to the Christian Hill um road bridge
project. I just wanted to put that out

1829
02:39:30,560 --> 02:39:39,840
there now before we get to anything um
further in the warrant, but it's not

1830
02:39:34,800 --> 02:39:44,200
related to that um project
>> and further discussion on it.

1831
02:39:47,680 --> 02:39:54,560
» Mike. Hello, my name is Mike Kowalsik.
Um I chair the Swansea Rail Trail

1832
02:39:52,080 --> 02:39:59,439
Advisory Committee and the committee is
in favor of article 13. Uh the passing

1833
02:39:57,200 --> 02:40:03,600
of this article covers the tap grant
which Lori talked about and the matching

1834
02:40:01,760 --> 02:40:08,720
costs therefore allowing the four wash
outs along the Ashwa rail trail which

1835
02:40:06,720 --> 02:40:14,720
are located between the two Ashbook
Avenue crossings uh to be fixed. The

1836
02:40:12,479 --> 02:40:19,680
current plan is uh I understand it is
construction is to start in 2027.

1837
02:40:17,680 --> 02:40:23,520
If the article does not pass, the
funding could be lost and there's no

1838
02:40:21,840 --> 02:40:28,000
timeline to getting the wash outs fixed
and the trail in this section would not

1839
02:40:25,840 --> 02:40:31,920
be reopened.
The trail has been closed since July of

1840
02:40:29,840 --> 02:40:36,560
23 when the washouts occurred. The
Ashlet Rail Trail is a main corridor in

1841
02:40:34,000 --> 02:40:41,359
Swansea and Southwest New Hampshire. It
is heavily used by snowmoilers, bikers,

1842
02:40:38,800 --> 02:40:45,760
hikers, etc. The trail actually starts
at Emerald Street in Keen and it ends at

1843
02:40:43,520 --> 02:40:50,000
the Connecticut River in Hinsdale. And
finally, I just want to mention that the

1844
02:40:47,520 --> 02:40:55,120
railroad advisor railroad advisory
committee through the work work of Bruce

1845
02:40:52,399 --> 02:40:59,479
Bohannan did raise $25,000 to help cover
the match. Thank you.

1846
02:40:59,680 --> 02:41:09,840
» Nothing further on article 13.
>> Bruce, if I can just expand on that a

1847
02:41:06,880 --> 02:41:13,920
little bit more, Bruce. Um um so up here
is just a snippet of the December 4th

1848
02:41:12,000 --> 02:41:18,560
letter to the town from New Hampshire
DOT showing the updated budget. Um and

1849
02:41:16,640 --> 02:41:22,840
it's broken down as follows with the
total cost of1 1,822,712.

1850
02:41:23,040 --> 02:41:28,200
Uh the town's match totals 364,542.

1851
02:41:32,399 --> 02:41:35,720
» Anything else?

1852
02:41:36,399 --> 02:41:45,120
Seeing nothing.
All those in favor of article 13 signify

1853
02:41:42,800 --> 02:41:50,399
by saying I.
>> Oppose. Nay.

1854
02:41:48,240 --> 02:41:55,920
» Thank you.
>> Mr. Make a motion to restrict

1855
02:41:52,720 --> 02:41:58,920
reconsideration on an article 13.
Second.

1856
02:42:00,479 --> 02:42:08,000
Motions have been made and seconded to
restrict

1857
02:42:04,720 --> 02:42:15,000
changes to article 13.
Um, all those in favor?

1858
02:42:11,600 --> 02:42:15,000
» All those opposed.

1859
02:42:16,080 --> 02:42:23,280
Okay.
Article 14.

1860
02:42:19,600 --> 02:42:30,479
» Make a motion to move article 14.
>> Second.

1861
02:42:25,840 --> 02:42:35,120
» Okay. Article 14 has been moved and
seconded.

1862
02:42:32,080 --> 02:42:40,800
We move to discussion with lowering.
>> Okay. Um so article 14 this is regarding

1863
02:42:38,880 --> 02:42:47,520
the lower Winchester street route 10
improvements. Um Swansea's share of this

1864
02:42:44,960 --> 02:42:52,319
project cost. Uh
it requires a total um local

1865
02:42:49,680 --> 02:42:58,479
contribution of 145,000.
This entire amount will come from the

1866
02:42:54,399 --> 02:43:04,240
town's um fund unassigned fund balance.
Um meaning no new no new taxes are

1867
02:43:01,359 --> 02:43:11,040
required to fund this project. Um the
145 represents 100% of Swansea's portion

1868
02:43:08,080 --> 02:43:15,200
of the project costs. The funding is a
one-time appropriation and this article

1869
02:43:13,200 --> 02:43:19,760
is non-lap is a non-lapsing
appropriation remaining available until

1870
02:43:17,840 --> 02:43:25,600
the project is completed or until
December 31st, 2031, whichever comes

1871
02:43:23,120 --> 02:43:30,399
first. Um, this investment supports
needed transportation and infrastructure

1872
02:43:27,840 --> 02:43:36,680
approvement infr infrastructure
improvements while minimizing the impact

1873
02:43:32,960 --> 02:43:36,680
on the tax rate.

1874
02:43:39,760 --> 02:43:49,439
Um the improvement on uh Route 10,
are they taking out the turn lane that's

1875
02:43:47,359 --> 02:43:54,080
in the middle of that road because
people use it as a passing lane? I've

1876
02:43:51,359 --> 02:43:57,920
almost been crushed like three times.
>> So, it's my understanding that that

1877
02:43:56,000 --> 02:43:59,920
section of of Lower Winchester Route 10
is all going to be divided with an

1878
02:43:59,279 --> 02:44:04,160
island.
>> Okay. Um, so for example, if you had to

1879
02:44:02,399 --> 02:44:08,479
go to Service Credit Union, you'd go up
to the Rotary, um, use Service Credit

1880
02:44:07,200 --> 02:44:12,319
Union, when you come out, you wouldn't
be able to turn to Keen. You'd come back

1881
02:44:09,920 --> 02:44:15,760
down. There'll be another Rotary. I
think it's Road, the one that

1882
02:44:14,160 --> 02:44:17,208
goes in by the college.
>> Okay.

1883
02:44:16,160 --> 02:44:20,160
» And there will be a center
[clears throat] divider and uh, and a

1884
02:44:19,200 --> 02:44:23,359
sidewalk.
>> Am I on the wrong end of Route 10 now?

1885
02:44:21,920 --> 02:44:24,720
I'm talking. Okay.
>> Yeah.

1886
02:44:23,600 --> 02:44:28,560
» All right. So, there's no plan on
getting rid of that middle turn lane.

1887
02:44:26,960 --> 02:44:31,520
» There should be a plan. It it No,
that'll be part of what Joe just

1888
02:44:30,000 --> 02:44:33,439
mentioned.
The medium will go right down the

1889
02:44:32,960 --> 02:44:36,640
middle.
>> All right. All the way down because like

1890
02:44:34,560 --> 02:44:40,319
my my store, Captain Brady's right
there. All that.

1891
02:44:38,160 --> 02:44:43,120
» No, not down that far. This This is up
by Market Basket.

1892
02:44:41,359 --> 02:44:46,160
» Oh, okay. All right. All right. That's
too bad. All right. No, that's my

1893
02:44:44,880 --> 02:44:49,680
» You talking about the turning lane by
California Street?

1894
02:44:47,359 --> 02:44:52,319
» Yeah, it goes for like a half a mile or
whatever. Yeah, it's very dangerous.

1895
02:44:51,120 --> 02:44:56,560
» That would be something to bring up the
District 4 DOT.

1896
02:44:54,560 --> 02:44:59,760
» Okay. because there is a planning study
going on but there's definitely nothing

1897
02:44:58,560 --> 02:45:04,240
been done there yet.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you.

1898
02:45:02,800 --> 02:45:09,920
» Scott, you might remember that might
have been brought in by

1899
02:45:06,000 --> 02:45:13,760
» California Owens Drive was approved. The
turn lanes.

1900
02:45:11,840 --> 02:45:16,560
» Any further discussion on article
>> turn lanes on route 10 we're talking

1901
02:45:15,040 --> 02:45:19,600
about, right? Yeah. The the slip lanes
there.

1902
02:45:16,960 --> 02:45:21,600
» Yeah, those were those were town
>> really.

1903
02:45:19,920 --> 02:45:26,800
» Yeah, they were. The town wanted those
in there and I think they helped. I I

1904
02:45:24,640 --> 02:45:31,040
haven't been I don't Maybe you have been
partially uh smashed maybe there but I

1905
02:45:29,359 --> 02:45:34,840
like the route the slip lanes there.
They work quite well.

1906
02:45:35,920 --> 02:45:44,080
» Yeah. Mike York. Uh we had through the
planning board we had a um program where

1907
02:45:42,560 --> 02:45:50,640
they're going to do safety all the way
down through from uh forest all the way

1908
02:45:47,920 --> 02:45:55,920
down through the uh the park by Jimmy's
Park. But that funding has from my

1909
02:45:53,520 --> 02:46:00,399
knowledge has fallen through. So there's
nothing going to be done through that

1910
02:45:57,120 --> 02:46:04,479
section unless we can uh get another
committee together and petition the uh

1911
02:46:02,800 --> 02:46:09,960
state to do it. But they've diverted
those funds over to the coast.

1912
02:46:15,120 --> 02:46:25,040
Seeing no more discussion,
we'll call for a vote. All those in

1913
02:46:21,600 --> 02:46:31,560
favor for article 14 as written, please
signify by saying I.

1914
02:46:28,240 --> 02:46:31,560
» Those opposed.

1915
02:46:32,880 --> 02:46:38,560
Now
>> Mr. M, I make a motion to restrict

1916
02:46:35,279 --> 02:46:41,200
reconsideration on article 14.
Second.

1917
02:46:39,680 --> 02:46:44,720
» Really?
>> Really?

1918
02:46:43,200 --> 02:46:51,040
» Okay.
Motion's been made to restrict

1919
02:46:47,840 --> 02:46:56,600
discussion or changing article 14. All
those in favor?

1920
02:46:53,600 --> 02:46:56,600
» Opposed?

1921
02:46:58,080 --> 02:47:08,880
Now, at the end of this, I know we're
going back to 11, but

1922
02:47:04,080 --> 02:47:16,000
my page says says Lori, article 15,
Lori, to offer background on this before

1923
02:47:12,399 --> 02:47:18,960
turning over the to petitioner. I don't
understand that. And why is it an

1924
02:47:18,080 --> 02:47:23,520
article?
>> Nope. It's

1925
02:47:20,240 --> 02:47:26,880
» motion to move article 15.
>> Second,

1926
02:47:24,560 --> 02:47:31,439
» what is it? If I could just give a
little background now that they had the

1927
02:47:28,399 --> 02:47:36,160
motion in the second
before we opened it to the floor. That's

1928
02:47:34,479 --> 02:47:39,279
all right. So, uh, in I just want to
give a little bit of background. There

1929
02:47:37,279 --> 02:47:43,760
was quite a few questions at the budget
hearing um and we just didn't have the

1930
02:47:41,200 --> 02:47:47,359
answers to provide for everybody. So,
um, we had some time to do a little bit

1931
02:47:45,439 --> 02:47:53,040
u more digging on this and um, just
wanted to share um, what I found with

1932
02:47:49,279 --> 02:47:58,560
you. So in 2022, the federal bridge
funds were added to this project for the

1933
02:47:55,600 --> 02:48:06,240
Christian Hill Bridge. Um the this slide
gives a summary of a March 18 um 2022

1934
02:48:02,640 --> 02:48:12,960
letter detailing the project change. Um,
as part of the federal environmental

1935
02:48:08,479 --> 02:48:19,359
process, the town um proposed a a
proposed adaptive reuse of timber and

1936
02:48:16,160 --> 02:48:24,319
stone from the existing bridge to span
the wash out portion of the Ashwal lot

1937
02:48:21,920 --> 02:48:30,240
rail trail. Um, so as part of the
historic mitigation for the removal of

1938
02:48:27,040 --> 02:48:34,479
this historic bridge, um, but I just
wanted everybody to be clear that that

1939
02:48:31,840 --> 02:48:39,760
was not part of the TAP funding. um that
this this was part of the historical um

1940
02:48:37,520 --> 02:48:44,160
process. So this proposal was accepted
by the New Hampshire Division of

1941
02:48:41,279 --> 02:48:48,880
Historical Resources and by the Federal
Highway Administration through an

1942
02:48:46,240 --> 02:48:54,800
exhaustive um national environmental
policy act or the NEPA process uh which

1943
02:48:52,000 --> 02:49:00,960
is currently nearing conclusion. The
Christian Hill Road Bridge over New

1944
02:48:57,439 --> 02:49:08,319
Hampshire Railroad project is 100% f
federally funded um for construction. Um

1945
02:49:05,439 --> 02:49:13,200
while federal bridge um funding is
welcome and is a welcome source of

1946
02:49:11,120 --> 02:49:17,439
additional bridge funding uh for the
state and municipalities, it does um

1947
02:49:15,520 --> 02:49:21,840
come with additional compliance and
oversight requirements on the project.

1948
02:49:20,240 --> 02:49:25,279
Um
and I think that was all I wanted to

1949
02:49:23,840 --> 02:49:30,800
share. I just wanted to make it clear
that they're they're two separate

1950
02:49:26,640 --> 02:49:34,399
projects. The TAP and this project, two
two completely different

1951
02:49:33,200 --> 02:49:42,240
funding sources.
>> But is it appropriate to call them

1952
02:49:36,800 --> 02:49:47,760
article 15 and 16 without any
data to go with it and no description

1953
02:49:45,040 --> 02:49:51,600
other than what you're telling us?
I just that's just background

1954
02:49:49,279 --> 02:49:57,200
information before we open it to the
floor for for comment.

1955
02:49:55,040 --> 02:50:02,880
» I I guess I'm unclear of what we're
discussing. If it's just something that

1956
02:50:00,479 --> 02:50:07,200
turning over to the petitioner, I don't
I don't I don't understand.

1957
02:50:04,960 --> 02:50:10,520
» We can just discuss um article 15, that
would be great.

1958
02:50:17,359 --> 02:50:21,000
Why wasn't this?

1959
02:50:24,560 --> 02:50:35,240
Is there any of one of the petitioners?
>> Would you like to speak to it?

1960
02:50:32,000 --> 02:50:35,240
» Thank you.

1961
02:50:36,800 --> 02:50:45,640
» Hi, I'm John Trainer from uh Railroad
Street.

1962
02:50:42,640 --> 02:50:45,640
Um,

1963
02:50:46,240 --> 02:50:55,760
I moved to Swansea about 40 years ago
because of the character of the town,

1964
02:50:52,479 --> 02:51:04,000
the historic aspects, the beauty, and
um, I've been loving it ever since. Um,

1965
02:51:00,640 --> 02:51:11,200
and I I believe we should keep our
historic landmarks here in town and not

1966
02:51:07,520 --> 02:51:15,920
destroy them. In 2014,
the Christian Hill Road bridge was

1967
02:51:14,160 --> 02:51:20,399
closed
uh by the state.

1968
02:51:18,399 --> 02:51:24,560
It wasn't
required to tear it down. They just

1969
02:51:22,160 --> 02:51:30,000
needed to be fixed. There's not a lot
wrong with the bridge that it needs to

1970
02:51:27,920 --> 02:51:36,080
be destroyed and and replaced with a
concrete cover. there in 2016 a

1971
02:51:33,600 --> 02:51:43,040
committee was put together
um by the town and the committee made a

1972
02:51:39,920 --> 02:51:49,760
suggestion to the selectman
um but the committee didn't have all the

1973
02:51:45,200 --> 02:51:54,960
facts. The facts weren't available until
2018.

1974
02:51:51,520 --> 02:52:02,560
A very important fact is that the bridge
became in 2018

1975
02:51:57,680 --> 02:52:07,200
eligible for listing in the U. National
Registry of Historic Places.

1976
02:52:05,439 --> 02:52:12,160
So
I don't think that the committee if they

1977
02:52:09,760 --> 02:52:17,840
knew that would have recommended to the
selectmen to tear it down and replace it

1978
02:52:14,560 --> 02:52:23,920
with a concrete covert. Um, one of the
people on that committee was Lee Dunham

1979
02:52:20,560 --> 02:52:28,240
who's here tonight. And I spoke with Lee
about a month and a half ago at the

1980
02:52:25,520 --> 02:52:34,960
Swansea Christmas. And a month and a
half ago, he was not aware that the

1981
02:52:32,000 --> 02:52:41,680
Christian Hill Bridge
and its historic as it historic aspects.

1982
02:52:38,640 --> 02:52:47,040
I wasn't aware until this fall when I
started digging into this whole thing.

1983
02:52:45,200 --> 02:52:53,120
Um
in 2000 um

1984
02:52:50,640 --> 02:53:01,840
2020 there was a vote by the town to
accept money from the state to rebuild

1985
02:52:57,200 --> 02:53:06,800
the bridge with a concrete covert. Um in
this article in 2020 there was no

1986
02:53:04,560 --> 02:53:12,720
mention of the historic aspects of the
bridge. The voters did not know anything

1987
02:53:10,240 --> 02:53:17,680
about the bridge. All they were required
to do in the voting was to accept the

1988
02:53:16,319 --> 02:53:21,120
money from the state. So, a lot of
people were like, "Yay, money from the

1989
02:53:19,040 --> 02:53:27,920
state." And they accepted the money and
won. Um

1990
02:53:24,560 --> 02:53:34,000
the the biggest secret I've ever heard
kept is the fact the historic aspects of

1991
02:53:31,040 --> 02:53:43,600
that bridge. There's no mention of it in
the u election in the um the vote in

1992
02:53:38,399 --> 02:53:50,640
2020. In um [clears throat] 2024,
u federal funds became available

1993
02:53:47,680 --> 02:53:57,680
and in order to receive those federal
funds,

1994
02:53:52,800 --> 02:54:02,800
they couldn't tear down the bridge. So,
Michael Branley from the town and the

1995
02:54:00,880 --> 02:54:07,439
representative from the engineering
company came up with a plan and the plan

1996
02:54:05,359 --> 02:54:12,080
was to
take part of the bridge and move it down

1997
02:54:09,760 --> 02:54:17,920
to the washed out part of the rail trail
and that way they can say they were

1998
02:54:13,840 --> 02:54:23,520
saving a historic landmark in town.
Um this meeting was done where the where

1999
02:54:21,600 --> 02:54:30,560
this idea was formed and then presented
to the state was done in private. There

2000
02:54:27,120 --> 02:54:35,439
was no town voters involved.
Um there were no elected officials

2001
02:54:32,560 --> 02:54:42,720
involved. This was all done behind
closed doors. So I feel that with this

2002
02:54:40,000 --> 02:54:48,000
knowledge of the historic aspects I
believe we can save the bridge. I don't

2003
02:54:45,279 --> 02:54:53,200
think we have to tear it down just to
take money from the state or the federal

2004
02:54:50,479 --> 02:54:57,600
government. There are other um funds
available that would have been available

2005
02:54:55,439 --> 02:55:02,080
in 2016
if they had could s have seen into the

2006
02:55:00,080 --> 02:55:12,479
future and saw two years down the low
road that there was um there will be

2007
02:55:06,479 --> 02:55:17,439
historic. Um so I think in 2016
if they had known this they wouldn't

2008
02:55:14,399 --> 02:55:22,000
have recommended it to the selectman. Um
I think we can save the bridge and I

2009
02:55:19,840 --> 02:55:27,240
hope that this the selectman will will
support the uh petition. Thank you.

2010
02:55:30,556 --> 02:55:32,575
» [applause]

2011
02:55:34,960 --> 02:55:41,680
» This whole district here is a historical
district. Not a zoning historical

2012
02:55:39,439 --> 02:55:45,680
district for Swansea, but it is a
historical district. This building is in

2013
02:55:43,520 --> 02:55:49,359
it. Lots of these old houses on Main
Street here are in it. And that bridge

2014
02:55:47,520 --> 02:55:53,680
up there we're talking about is is in
it. That bridge,

2015
02:55:51,840 --> 02:55:57,600
it's it'll in four years it'll be a
hundred years old. That's pretty old

2016
02:55:55,279 --> 02:56:00,080
bridge built by the railroad. And they
built things to last. They didn't build

2017
02:55:58,960 --> 02:56:03,760
things to fall down. They didn't want
anything falling across their tracks. We

2018
02:56:02,160 --> 02:56:08,240
support all our other bridges in town,
which are historic bridges. If we take

2019
02:56:06,640 --> 02:56:11,200
that down, we're never getting it back
again. Never going to be able to replace

2020
02:56:09,680 --> 02:56:15,279
it again. There might be a cement
culvert in there, but it's nothing like

2021
02:56:13,120 --> 02:56:18,319
that historic bridge over there. Lots of
people haven't seen it. I've seen it.

2022
02:56:16,560 --> 02:56:23,439
I've looked at that bridge. I've looked
underneath the bridge. And when this

2023
02:56:21,040 --> 02:56:27,600
whole thing started several years ago, I
pretty much took the engineers report

2024
02:56:25,200 --> 02:56:32,640
and face value as to it was falling down
and had to be torn down. Uh, in my

2025
02:56:30,800 --> 02:56:35,760
opinion, that's not the case. Underneath
it there, you can see they've got

2026
02:56:34,080 --> 02:56:43,040
stringers on that bridge. They're built
by they're 14 by 8 in stringers about 30

2027
02:56:39,359 --> 02:56:47,200
inches in and spaced out. And the part
of the bridge that is rotten are what's

2028
02:56:45,040 --> 02:56:51,520
called the bedding timbers. And those
timbers are the same thing as the sill

2029
02:56:49,279 --> 02:56:54,319
in your house. So, you know, if the sill
rots out in your house, you don't tear

2030
02:56:52,640 --> 02:56:57,840
it down and put a cement one up. You
just replace a sill. And those bending

2031
02:56:56,319 --> 02:57:02,319
timbers were made to be replaced
anyways. It's how it works. So, I would

2032
02:57:00,479 --> 02:57:06,000
be in favor of just studying it at least
for another year just to see if it's

2033
02:57:04,080 --> 02:57:10,080
worthwhile saving it. We don't have a
train station down there anymore. Other

2034
02:57:07,920 --> 02:57:15,200
towns do, but we don't have one burnt
down. That and that small little brick

2035
02:57:13,120 --> 02:57:19,120
way station behind the cemetery are the
only things we have left for for the

2036
02:57:17,439 --> 02:57:23,279
train station here or for what the train
was in town. So I think we ought to

2037
02:57:21,600 --> 02:57:28,120
really look into it before we do
something that we can't you know can't

2038
02:57:25,120 --> 02:57:28,120
replace.

2039
02:57:33,920 --> 02:57:40,160
Hello, Michael Walls again, uh, chair of
the, uh, Swansea Railrotor Advisory

2040
02:57:37,840 --> 02:57:45,040
Committee and the committee is in
opposition of article 15. And before I

2041
02:57:43,200 --> 02:57:48,880
give reasons why, I'd like to provide a
little bit of background information so

2042
02:57:46,640 --> 02:57:53,200
that the residents are well informed,
which is one of the purposes of this.

2043
02:57:51,359 --> 02:57:56,640
So, the Ashwillot rail trail, like most
of the rail corridors in Manadnok

2044
02:57:54,720 --> 02:58:01,040
region, is owned by the New Hampshire
DOT rail and transit. Since the

2045
02:57:59,279 --> 02:58:05,279
conversion to rail trail, the New
Hampshire Bureau of Trails has been

2046
02:58:02,560 --> 02:58:08,479
responsible for the regular maintenance.
The Bureau of Trails has little

2047
02:58:06,720 --> 02:58:13,359
resource. Therefore, they rely heavily
on counties, snowmobile clubs,

2048
02:58:11,359 --> 02:58:17,439
conservation groups, and local
municipalities like the town of Swansea

2049
02:58:15,120 --> 02:58:22,800
to define projects, raise the funding,
and perform the work all over all

2050
02:58:19,680 --> 02:58:28,399
overseen by the Bureau of Trails. Severe
washouts like those experienced on the

2051
02:58:25,359 --> 02:58:32,720
Ashwa trail in 23
are not considered regular means.

2052
02:58:30,640 --> 02:58:37,760
Therefore, they're sent to the DOT to be
fixed. The DOT 10-year plan is the

2053
02:58:35,439 --> 02:58:41,359
typical means to get such projects
funded and worked on via the

2054
02:58:39,760 --> 02:58:44,960
transportation alternative program
grant, which is the one we have fixing

2055
02:58:43,200 --> 02:58:50,000
the other ones.
In 2018, as we talked about, uh, the

2056
02:58:48,399 --> 02:58:54,800
rail trail advisory committee along with
Matthew Bachler, the town planner at the

2057
02:58:52,479 --> 02:58:59,840
time, uh, began the effort to submit a
TAP grant to fix both the Cheshire Trail

2058
02:58:57,760 --> 02:59:05,520
and the southern portion portion of the
Ashriat Rail Trail. In 2019, the town

2059
02:59:03,279 --> 02:59:11,200
was awarded the grant, which effectively
put the project at the bottom of the new

2060
02:59:07,920 --> 02:59:15,920
H of the bottom of the DOT 10-year plan.
When the washouts occurred in 23 causing

2061
02:59:13,439 --> 02:59:21,680
five wash outs in two rail bed
compromised areas with very significant

2062
02:59:18,880 --> 02:59:26,800
cost repair, the railroad advisory
committee proposed to redirect the TAP

2063
02:59:23,840 --> 02:59:32,160
grant funds to fix the washouts.
Because of the high repair costs,

2064
02:59:29,680 --> 02:59:36,399
the state the TAP grant could not cover
the cost of all the repairs. The two

2065
02:59:34,640 --> 02:59:43,760
compromised areas which are farther
north were fixed by the state funded GIA

2066
02:59:40,560 --> 02:59:49,680
grant grant aid with the keen snow
riders snowmobile club securing the

2067
02:59:45,920 --> 02:59:53,279
funding and managing the project.
The TAP grant would fix the four wash

2068
02:59:51,520 --> 02:59:57,760
outs that we talked about earlier
located between the two Hullbrook Avenue

2069
02:59:55,200 --> 03:00:02,160
crossings, leaving no plan for the wash
out near the Eversource substation.

2070
03:00:00,880 --> 03:00:06,960
Because the Christian Hill Bridge
project was also happening, managed by

2071
03:00:04,319 --> 03:00:13,600
the DOT, the current bridge being deemed
unsuitable for Christian Hill Road, uh

2072
03:00:11,200 --> 03:00:18,800
it was suggested to move it to fix the
rail trail

2073
03:00:16,160 --> 03:00:22,560
um wash out with the work being included
as part of the installation of new

2074
03:00:20,319 --> 03:00:26,000
Christian Hill Bridge.
It was the rail trail advisory

2075
03:00:23,840 --> 03:00:31,120
committee's understanding that DOT
division of historical resources the

2076
03:00:28,399 --> 03:00:35,040
bureau trail the town of Swansea and Hoy
and Tanner the construction engineering

2077
03:00:32,960 --> 03:00:38,880
company were all agreement with this
plan with all proper procedures

2078
03:00:37,120 --> 03:00:41,760
followed.
Therefore, it's the rail trail advisory

2079
03:00:40,560 --> 03:00:45,040
committee's understand the Christian
Hill Bridge replacement project,

2080
03:00:43,680 --> 03:00:51,040
including the moving of the current
bridge to the Ashria rail trail is to

2081
03:00:47,359 --> 03:00:54,640
plan to begin in this year 2026.
And for the remaining four wash outs

2082
03:00:53,120 --> 03:00:58,240
funded by the tap grant we talked about
earlier, that's supposed to start next

2083
03:00:56,479 --> 03:01:04,080
year. So, if all goes as planned, the
trail will be reopened in 2027.

2084
03:01:02,479 --> 03:01:09,359
Okay, that's the background information.
Now why for the opposition

2085
03:01:07,040 --> 03:01:11,760
is the rail trail advisory committee's
understanding that delaying the

2086
03:01:10,319 --> 03:01:16,080
Christian Hill Bridge project by one
year could mean the loss of the current

2087
03:01:13,520 --> 03:01:21,680
funding which is $2.5 million no match
required by the town. If article 15 does

2088
03:01:19,120 --> 03:01:26,080
pass there is no funding for the
historical study as requested in the

2089
03:01:24,000 --> 03:01:30,720
article. There's no plan or funding for
the restoration of the current bridge.

2090
03:01:28,800 --> 03:01:33,680
It has been suggested in the past that
one of the funding sources could be the

2091
03:01:32,240 --> 03:01:38,399
Northern Border's Regional Planning
Commission timber for transit grant to

2092
03:01:36,319 --> 03:01:43,840
fund the bridge study and restoration.
This grant requires a 20% match. So if

2093
03:01:41,439 --> 03:01:48,240
Swansea is the grantee, Swansea would be
responsible for that 20% match. And also

2094
03:01:46,880 --> 03:01:53,439
keep in mind there's no funding to fix
the Ashwa rail trail wash out at the

2095
03:01:50,560 --> 03:01:57,600
Eversource substation. And this means
for walkers, bikers, equestrians, and

2096
03:01:55,520 --> 03:02:02,319
all the other users, they will need to
continue use the detour around the wash

2097
03:02:00,000 --> 03:02:08,160
out. That current detour puts people on
Eaton Road, which is a potential safety

2098
03:02:04,880 --> 03:02:12,479
safety issue. A more significant impact
is the snowmobile community will

2099
03:02:10,080 --> 03:02:17,600
continue to not be able to use the Aweot
rail trail. Not only is this a form of

2100
03:02:15,120 --> 03:02:22,720
recreational loss, but also economic
loss. I have learned recently working

2101
03:02:20,560 --> 03:02:28,640
with snowmobile clubs that they provide
a significant economic value to the

2102
03:02:25,439 --> 03:02:32,560
state and our local community.
Because funding will be lost for the

2103
03:02:30,399 --> 03:02:36,800
fixing of the wash out, funding will
need to be found. The most likely

2104
03:02:34,640 --> 03:02:40,640
solution is the TAP grant. And if it's
awarded, which is not guaranteed, the

2105
03:02:39,200 --> 03:02:44,800
project will be put at the bottom of the
New Hampshire DOT 10-year plan, meaning

2106
03:02:43,040 --> 03:02:52,000
it is highly likely the wash out will
not be fixed until 2036, with the town

2107
03:02:47,680 --> 03:02:57,439
being responsible 20% of the 2036 cost.
Historically, there the DOT has $5.5

2108
03:02:55,439 --> 03:03:03,279
million per round of available TAP
funding and $25 million in projects are

2109
03:03:00,399 --> 03:03:08,640
submitted. So, the pro the probability
of getting funded is low.

2110
03:03:07,120 --> 03:03:11,840
In my opinion, with the work I've done
on rail trails over the last seven,

2111
03:03:10,080 --> 03:03:16,000
eight years,
uh, with other culverts and things like

2112
03:03:13,760 --> 03:03:19,520
that, and the fact that it cost 1.8
million to fix the four wash outs here

2113
03:03:17,680 --> 03:03:24,240
in Swansea, I would estimate it's going
to cost probably a million dollars to

2114
03:03:20,960 --> 03:03:30,680
fix that wash out in 2026.
20% had to be covered by Swansea, and it

2115
03:03:26,800 --> 03:03:30,680
would be even higher in 2036.

2116
03:03:30,880 --> 03:03:38,640
So, the next reason for opposing article
15 is more broad scope. So, as I said, I

2117
03:03:35,600 --> 03:03:41,520
I chair the Swansea Railroad Advisory
Committee. I'm also president of the

2118
03:03:40,080 --> 03:03:45,200
Manandan Region Rail Trail
Collaborative. The collaborator's

2119
03:03:43,359 --> 03:03:50,399
mission is to rehabilitate the region's
100 miles of rail trails so they are

2120
03:03:47,520 --> 03:03:55,120
available for all users year round.
These trails run through 15 local towns

2121
03:03:53,040 --> 03:04:00,560
from Walpole to Fitz William, Kane to
Hinsdale, Ren to Hillsboro and also have

2122
03:03:58,800 --> 03:04:05,600
means to connect the rail trails to
Bellisols, Bradboro and Winon vastly

2123
03:04:03,279 --> 03:04:10,000
expanding the network. The collaborative
is working with Cheshire County, many of

2124
03:04:07,200 --> 03:04:15,040
the local towns, snowmobile clubs, DOT,
Bureau Trails, Rails to Tra, Rails to

2125
03:04:13,040 --> 03:04:18,720
Trails Conservancy, Manadano
Conservancy, Southwest Regional Planning

2126
03:04:17,200 --> 03:04:23,200
Commission, the Greater Mano
Collaborative, and others to make this a

2127
03:04:20,479 --> 03:04:27,040
reality. When complete, not only will
local citizens have access to a vast

2128
03:04:25,040 --> 03:04:33,160
rail trail network for their enjoyment,
they can help the local economy by

2129
03:04:28,960 --> 03:04:33,160
providing week-long bike tours.

2130
03:04:34,080 --> 03:04:37,560
Sorry about that.

2131
03:04:39,600 --> 03:04:44,160
So, I have started such a discussion
with the owner of the Greater American

2132
03:04:42,399 --> 03:04:47,520
Bike Tours headquartered in Raymond, New
Hampshire, with plans for me to do a

2133
03:04:46,000 --> 03:04:51,600
test tour this summer across New
Hampshire, including two days in the

2134
03:04:49,279 --> 03:04:55,840
Mananak region. The current watch outs
on the Ashwa rail trail severs the

2135
03:04:53,840 --> 03:04:59,520
network, making it less attractive for
these bike tours enthusiasts, therefore

2136
03:04:57,920 --> 03:05:04,560
losing this recreational economic
income. And as all of you know here,

2137
03:05:01,680 --> 03:05:12,080
with no state income tax and no sales
tax, we all rely heavily on recreational

2138
03:05:06,800 --> 03:05:16,160
income um to come in from out of state.
Finally, it's our understanding, as was

2139
03:05:14,399 --> 03:05:22,000
mentioned here, that the replacement
bridge would be a concrete clamshell

2140
03:05:18,720 --> 03:05:26,399
design, including decorative stone
facade to have it appear like a stone

2141
03:05:24,240 --> 03:05:31,439
bridge and decorative railings, which is
a nice touch to make it even more

2142
03:05:27,840 --> 03:05:31,439
appealing. Thank you.

2143
03:05:31,760 --> 03:05:38,000
I I didn't have a lot of planning to do
with this project, but one thing the

2144
03:05:35,359 --> 03:05:43,200
voters need to be aware of, this project
is almost complete as far as all the

2145
03:05:39,920 --> 03:05:47,120
engineering and the design. And if this
goes away, there is a strong possibility

2146
03:05:45,279 --> 03:05:51,279
that the town is going to be responsible
for all the engineering and the planning

2147
03:05:49,600 --> 03:05:55,200
that's been done up until this point,
which is being funded right now

2148
03:05:52,720 --> 03:05:59,040
currently by the grant. Uh there is a
strong likelihood if this project goes

2149
03:05:57,760 --> 03:06:02,840
away that the town is going to be
responsible for that.

2150
03:06:07,920 --> 03:06:16,800
» Bruce Bohannan. Uh my understanding is
that's not the original bridge. That

2151
03:06:13,120 --> 03:06:20,040
bridge was rebuilt uh several years ago
to accom

2152
03:06:20,319 --> 03:06:26,960
uh rebuilt to accommodate the higher
railroad cars that were going through

2153
03:06:25,040 --> 03:06:34,200
there. So that's not the original
bridge. So I I would dare say that's not

2154
03:06:30,640 --> 03:06:34,200
100 years old.

2155
03:06:38,160 --> 03:06:48,720
Uh one more thing is that uh bridge had
to go through the cultural natural

2156
03:06:44,080 --> 03:06:54,640
resources up in conquered for approval.
And so uh the historical part of that

2157
03:06:52,640 --> 03:06:59,000
would have been included in that study
for that committee up there too.

2158
03:07:01,760 --> 03:07:09,520
Barbara Scully. Um, I have a question as
to whether or not the rebuilding of that

2159
03:07:06,720 --> 03:07:14,640
bridge will have any implication for the
fire department in terms of response

2160
03:07:11,359 --> 03:07:19,080
time or is this simply going to restore,
you know, regular car traffic?

2161
03:07:23,120 --> 03:07:28,560
» That would it would have no impact while
it was being constructed. The fire

2162
03:07:26,800 --> 03:07:32,479
department would be able to access it.
uh after it was constructed, a wall was

2163
03:07:30,560 --> 03:07:36,720
constructed, have no impact.
>> So, right now, they can't use that

2164
03:07:34,479 --> 03:07:41,200
access to get up, but once that new
bridge is put in, the fire trucks will

2165
03:07:39,040 --> 03:07:45,120
have a straight shot up Christian Hill
rather than having to turn the trucks

2166
03:07:42,960 --> 03:07:48,120
around at either end.
>> Okay.

2167
03:07:51,760 --> 03:07:58,160
» The rebuild that Mr. Bohannan was
referring to I believe is the red

2168
03:07:56,080 --> 03:08:03,760
decking that that bridge got in the
1960s. The rest of the undertone the

2169
03:08:01,840 --> 03:08:08,479
unstructure of it is the same. They
redecked it then and it also has

2170
03:08:06,560 --> 03:08:13,120
probably I'm guessing about two inches
of asphalt on top of it. It's paved and

2171
03:08:11,279 --> 03:08:17,920
I did a quick calculation of what that
is and that weighs about 25 tons. So

2172
03:08:16,160 --> 03:08:22,080
that's been carrying 25 tons for the
last 14 years just sitting there

2173
03:08:19,920 --> 03:08:25,439
perfectly straight. And we're just
considering putting three more tons over

2174
03:08:23,760 --> 03:08:30,120
it if you post it as a three-tonon
bridge and leave it as it used to be.

2175
03:08:31,920 --> 03:08:41,439
» Yeah. I I timed how long it takes to go
around John Trainer. I timed how long it

2176
03:08:39,680 --> 03:08:48,200
takes to drive around and it's about 30
seconds. So there would be a 30 second

2177
03:08:43,200 --> 03:08:48,200
delay in fire engine.

2178
03:08:51,680 --> 03:09:00,960
Kristen Reynolds, Christian Hill.
Um,

2179
03:08:57,680 --> 03:09:07,760
I was at the meeting that showed me what
the new bridge is going to look like.

2180
03:09:04,000 --> 03:09:12,960
And just so you know, it's not pretty.
It's not a pretty bridge. The new one

2181
03:09:10,640 --> 03:09:19,200
that they have planned.
seems reasonable to delay for a little

2182
03:09:16,160 --> 03:09:22,760
while and look into this.
Just my thought

2183
03:09:33,520 --> 03:09:39,120
Jeremy Evans, uh, CL Lane. So, I'm the
president of the Keen Snow Riders. I've

2184
03:09:37,760 --> 03:09:44,240
been working on these rail trails now
for a little over 20 years. Um, and I

2185
03:09:41,760 --> 03:09:48,880
can tell you this is a primary corridor.
Traffic comes through Pisga Park,

2186
03:09:45,840 --> 03:09:52,720
Hinsdale, Winchester, and and we're
getting a lot of questions, a lot of

2187
03:09:50,640 --> 03:09:59,040
issues with people no longer being able
to access um Keen or to go uh through

2188
03:09:56,720 --> 03:10:03,040
this corridor. It's it is one of the
major corridor trails in the state of

2189
03:10:00,479 --> 03:10:06,720
New Hampshire. Um to me, this is a
pretty easy issue beyond just

2190
03:10:04,720 --> 03:10:11,200
snowmoiling. You know, we're looking at,
and I just took a couple of notes here,

2191
03:10:08,560 --> 03:10:15,359
a loss of about $2.5 million in funding
that's already been approved. Um, there

2192
03:10:13,600 --> 03:10:19,359
is no money to repair the existing
bridge. There's no plan to ex to repair

2193
03:10:17,200 --> 03:10:23,439
the existing bridge. Um, it's been
called into question whether or not, in

2194
03:10:20,720 --> 03:10:28,880
fact, this is a historic bridge. There
is uh at least $200,000 that Swansea

2195
03:10:26,800 --> 03:10:35,359
will be responsible for coming up with
if um this bridge is going to have to be

2196
03:10:32,560 --> 03:10:42,080
repaired. and there will be no use of
this trail for uh users until 2036.

2197
03:10:40,160 --> 03:10:47,000
That's what we're talking about today.
So, I I'm obviously opposed to it.

2198
03:10:52,399 --> 03:10:59,279
» I'll say my piece. I don't care about
the bicyclist. They're annoying. I don't

2199
03:10:57,439 --> 03:11:04,479
care about the snowmoilers. I do care
about the historic value. So, I'd like

2200
03:11:02,000 --> 03:11:08,120
to use a little patience on this. That's
my personal feeling.

2201
03:11:16,640 --> 03:11:23,600
» Hello. Uh, I'm Dan Lane. I was on the
committee with Lee and, uh, Mike and

2202
03:11:21,920 --> 03:11:28,160
Norm.
Um, I'd like to say that the uh the

2203
03:11:26,160 --> 03:11:34,319
abutments for the bridge are made out of
concrete blocks uh similar to Jersey

2204
03:11:30,960 --> 03:11:39,279
barriers, but just a big square blocks.
The uh posts are telephone posts.

2205
03:11:37,680 --> 03:11:43,680
They're either pressuret treated or
coated with creassote.

2206
03:11:41,680 --> 03:11:49,040
Um, you know, you can make your own
determination if if that's a historic uh

2207
03:11:47,439 --> 03:11:54,880
structure.
Um, all our meetings were open. I think

2208
03:11:52,399 --> 03:12:01,520
you attended one one or more I believe
John. So and I think yeah and I think

2209
03:11:58,000 --> 03:12:06,479
the all the me meeting minutes were uh
published in the sent in the uh town's

2210
03:12:04,479 --> 03:12:11,840
uh site.
Um,

2211
03:12:08,399 --> 03:12:15,840
this apparently now there's 100% state
funding for the bridge replacement and I

2212
03:12:14,080 --> 03:12:18,840
think it would be a mistake to pass that
up.

2213
03:12:21,359 --> 03:12:24,840
Anyone else?

2214
03:12:29,279 --> 03:12:33,000
» Is this just automatic?

2215
03:12:33,920 --> 03:12:40,640
So this just as written we're on that we
go on.

2216
03:12:38,319 --> 03:12:44,120
» Okay. So we we don't have to vote on
this at all.

2217
03:12:45,200 --> 03:12:52,240
» You don't you don't didn't actually have
to vote on any of the articles.

2218
03:12:50,399 --> 03:12:55,040
I I didn't say anything about it, but
every article automatically goes on the

2219
03:12:54,240 --> 03:12:59,600
ballot,
>> right? So, I mean, you can ask people to

2220
03:12:58,000 --> 03:13:03,120
vote on whether they support this or
oppose it, but whether it whether they

2221
03:13:01,279 --> 03:13:08,600
support it or oppose it, it still goes
on the ballot.

2222
03:13:05,279 --> 03:13:08,600
» Yeah. So,

2223
03:13:09,200 --> 03:13:12,439
» what's that?

2224
03:13:12,640 --> 03:13:20,080
» So, this this petition article will
automatically appear on the on the

2225
03:13:18,800 --> 03:13:25,040
ballot
>> for your

2226
03:13:22,160 --> 03:13:31,399
see what you want to do with it.
Okay,

2227
03:13:27,120 --> 03:13:31,399
we got to come back to number 11.

2228
03:13:31,680 --> 03:13:34,680
» Um,

2229
03:13:37,439 --> 03:13:43,000
hold on. We still got to come back to
article 11.

2230
03:14:00,880 --> 03:14:03,880
16

2231
03:14:18,560 --> 03:14:27,439
I guess we actually have another
petition article

2232
03:14:23,680 --> 03:14:33,359
» that stated, "Sall the town vote to
preserve the historic town-owned

2233
03:14:30,800 --> 03:14:37,279
Christian Hill Road Bridge over the
Ashullet

2234
03:14:35,200 --> 03:14:42,600
Rail Trail.
uh in its current location.

2235
03:14:43,359 --> 03:14:56,399
I think this is probably similar to
what we've what we did on

2236
03:14:50,560 --> 03:14:59,399
15. Is there any discussion on that one
>> briefly?

2237
03:15:01,600 --> 03:15:11,840
John Trainer, Railroad Street. Um
couple years ago we had a a big storm

2238
03:15:10,000 --> 03:15:17,040
and there were wash outs along the rail
trail and um that was a few years ago

2239
03:15:14,960 --> 03:15:20,880
and we didn't know where the money was
going to come from for any of it. And a

2240
03:15:18,960 --> 03:15:26,160
couple years later all of a sudden
there's money from here and there and

2241
03:15:22,479 --> 03:15:30,960
everywhere to fix those wash outs. And
um sounds like there's a lot of

2242
03:15:28,080 --> 03:15:36,560
snowmoilers who use use the trail and
they're still using it now. I noticed I

2243
03:15:33,600 --> 03:15:41,680
I use it for jogging and the the
snowmobiles are still still on it and

2244
03:15:38,479 --> 03:15:49,200
still going. Um, but what I'd like to
say is I don't think it's a good reason

2245
03:15:45,760 --> 03:15:52,960
for fixing the wash out that could be
fixed in other ways and money come from

2246
03:15:51,359 --> 03:16:02,319
other ways. It's not a good reason to
tear down part of our history of Swansea

2247
03:15:57,200 --> 03:16:09,520
to do that. They're two separate issues.
We want to save our history. We don't

2248
03:16:05,920 --> 03:16:16,239
want a concrete covert
with a steel guard rail going down the

2249
03:16:14,000 --> 03:16:21,359
street in the middle of an historic
area. It's going to look really ugly.

2250
03:16:18,880 --> 03:16:26,160
Engineers, they don't care about that.
They don't really care how things look.

2251
03:16:23,200 --> 03:16:30,640
They care about function. So, that's
what's important to them. There's uh we

2252
03:16:29,040 --> 03:16:36,720
have a bunch of other bridges in town
here that um you know uh fire engines

2253
03:16:34,560 --> 03:16:41,520
can't go over
and we're not ripping them down because

2254
03:16:38,479 --> 03:16:49,200
they're covered and they uh bring in
tourism and money and uh they're part of

2255
03:16:44,399 --> 03:16:56,000
our the heart of Swansea are our bridges
and the Christian Hill Bridge is just as

2256
03:16:52,960 --> 03:17:01,200
much of uh our of the heart of town as
the covered bridges.

2257
03:16:57,840 --> 03:17:07,279
And um I I'm
still in think that we should we should

2258
03:17:04,479 --> 03:17:11,600
save it. Um
I as an artist I've done about a

2259
03:17:09,200 --> 03:17:18,399
thousand paintings in Swansea that have
gone all over the world and I paint

2260
03:17:15,359 --> 03:17:24,080
Swansea because it's beautiful.
If there's a concrete culvert bridge

2261
03:17:20,960 --> 03:17:31,920
with a steel guard rail, it's it's it is
uh affecting our town and the way it

2262
03:17:27,359 --> 03:17:40,560
feels and you might not have as easy a
time selling houses if our historic

2263
03:17:36,160 --> 03:17:43,920
landmarks go away. The uh West Swansea
Community Church is hanging on by a

2264
03:17:42,399 --> 03:17:48,319
thread.
That's the center of this village. So,

2265
03:17:46,800 --> 03:17:52,960
what's going to happen when that's gone?
Are we going to just tear it down and

2266
03:17:50,239 --> 03:17:57,359
replace it with, you know, some sort of
a dot building? No. We We want to keep

2267
03:17:55,600 --> 03:18:00,680
our history. We want to We want to
preserve it.

2268
03:18:09,439 --> 03:18:19,000
My Kowals again. Should I read my
three-page testimony? No. Right. So we

2269
03:18:14,319 --> 03:18:19,000
oppose article 16 for the same reasons.

2270
03:18:22,239 --> 03:18:28,040
» Okay. Being in petition article Oh, I'm
sorry.

2271
03:18:29,040 --> 03:18:34,640
» Jeremy Evans again. Just a couple other
thoughts. Um first of all, snowmobile

2272
03:18:32,800 --> 03:18:38,160
traffic you're seeing out here is local.
There is no way people are going through

2273
03:18:36,319 --> 03:18:42,720
the wash outs that are south of here. So
that traffic is not coming from south of

2274
03:18:40,000 --> 03:18:46,880
here. Um
there was a discussion about money. So a

2275
03:18:44,960 --> 03:18:50,560
couple things you money is very limited.
What this money that's allocated these

2276
03:18:48,640 --> 03:18:55,520
projects goes away. It doesn't
necessarily come back and it's not going

2277
03:18:52,160 --> 03:18:59,760
to be available. Also it takes a lot of
time and effort to get that money that

2278
03:18:57,680 --> 03:19:03,680
you're seeing. That wasn't the result of
oh it just appeared. That was years of

2279
03:19:02,080 --> 03:19:08,399
work by a number of people sitting
behind me and around the state and

2280
03:19:05,760 --> 03:19:12,239
including FEMA. A lot of work went into
that. That does not come easily. you

2281
03:19:10,720 --> 03:19:15,600
don't snap your fingers and oh, we got
$2 million.

2282
03:19:13,920 --> 03:19:20,720
Um,
the other thing I'd say is I don't think

2283
03:19:18,399 --> 03:19:24,479
that existing bridge is an attractive
bridge at all. Some people may disagree

2284
03:19:22,720 --> 03:19:29,359
with me, but I've sought for years that
thing is an eyesore. If you like it,

2285
03:19:26,720 --> 03:19:31,760
that's great. That's your opinion. But
if you want to make that bridge an

2286
03:19:30,640 --> 03:19:35,319
attractive bridge, it's going to take an
awful lot of work.

2287
03:19:40,399 --> 03:19:48,880
So, I I saw a movie I saw a movie on
Turner Movie Classics about 10 years

2288
03:19:47,040 --> 03:19:53,680
ago. and I didn't watch the whole movie
and I don't know what the name of it is,

2289
03:19:50,160 --> 03:19:58,720
but the opening shot is that exact same
bridge, but it's all painted white and

2290
03:19:56,800 --> 03:20:03,920
it's got a beautiful railing on it and
it has lights and it was so you see you

2291
03:20:02,000 --> 03:20:08,960
see in the opening shot of the movie
that bridge and the train goes

2292
03:20:06,880 --> 03:20:14,880
underneath the bridge and then the movie
starts

2293
03:20:10,880 --> 03:20:21,319
that town wherever that bridge is is u
that's important to that town and This

2294
03:20:17,200 --> 03:20:21,319
bridge is important to our town.

2295
03:20:23,279 --> 03:20:31,520
» I'm just going to appeal to the town. We
invested a lot in this building. People

2296
03:20:29,359 --> 03:20:35,760
fought over this. This is a beautiful
building. It represents this community.

2297
03:20:34,319 --> 03:20:41,120
And I don't think we should just take
that lightly.

2298
03:20:37,520 --> 03:20:45,680
I think um John makes a very good point.
This is a historical area and we should

2299
03:20:43,120 --> 03:20:50,239
take pride in it.
I'm not a snowmoiler. I guess it's a

2300
03:20:48,080 --> 03:20:55,040
great sport. People come and they just
fly by these things. We live here. We're

2301
03:20:52,960 --> 03:21:00,640
invested in this. So, I just I'm
appealing to everyone to please

2302
03:20:58,000 --> 03:21:06,760
uh consider that and
let's make this a historic bridge and

2303
03:21:02,800 --> 03:21:06,760
hold on to what we have.

2304
03:21:21,760 --> 03:21:28,399
It's
>> been moved to call call the vote on

2305
03:21:24,880 --> 03:21:34,000
this, but again, it's a it's a petition
article, so we can't we can't change the

2306
03:21:31,600 --> 03:21:41,439
petition article anyway, but we can we
can take a vote on it if you wish.

2307
03:21:37,840 --> 03:21:47,680
All those in favor of doing petition
article 16

2308
03:21:44,160 --> 03:21:50,680
signify by saying I.
>> Opposed.

2309
03:21:52,080 --> 03:21:55,080
» Okay.

2310
03:21:55,680 --> 03:22:01,080
» So this would just say that not

2311
03:22:02,160 --> 03:22:14,680
» Yeah. Yeah. still go on the ballot, but
do we add the note on the bottom about

2312
03:22:08,880 --> 03:22:14,680
the vote? Okay, thank you.

2313
03:22:15,439 --> 03:22:21,319
» Now, we're going back to article 11.

2314
03:22:33,359 --> 03:22:41,520
and Kerosinski, Park Street, Swansea.
Um, just wanted to we're not going to

2315
03:22:39,040 --> 03:22:47,760
amend article 11. It's going to stay as
it as it's stated because that can't be

2316
03:22:44,080 --> 03:22:54,720
changed. But below it, I'd like to add
um a little chart to explain u easier to

2317
03:22:52,239 --> 03:23:00,640
the voter that what the current
exemption is and what the proposed ex

2318
03:22:57,040 --> 03:23:05,600
exemption is. Uh just to get provide
clarity when someone's reading that um

2319
03:23:03,760 --> 03:23:09,920
that article and they're intending to
vote on it, it's a little difficult to

2320
03:23:07,520 --> 03:23:15,359
keep track of what's going on in that
long paragraph. So, I thought this might

2321
03:23:12,239 --> 03:23:20,319
add some clarity and um since the
selectmen have recommended this and and

2322
03:23:18,160 --> 03:23:25,640
I also support it, I thought it might
assist the voter in understanding it.

2323
03:23:22,640 --> 03:23:25,640
So,

2324
03:23:32,319 --> 03:23:39,279
» um Heather Estrella, so I would like to
just briefly talk about putting a chart

2325
03:23:37,359 --> 03:23:44,720
on the ballot. So, there's a lot that
goes into making the ballots and adding

2326
03:23:41,760 --> 03:23:50,160
a graph or chart is also going to add
cost to the town's ballots just because

2327
03:23:47,040 --> 03:23:55,680
of we make them and they have to we
roughly chart cost $5,000 right now for

2328
03:23:52,880 --> 03:24:00,239
town ballots. Um, but we also send out
voter guides for that same reason that

2329
03:23:58,000 --> 03:24:05,040
it has articles. People can read them
prior to coming to the polls, mark their

2330
03:24:02,160 --> 03:24:11,520
yes or no. We could put your chart
suggestion in that

2331
03:24:08,080 --> 03:24:16,000
the um thank you that gets mailed out
and people could have the information

2332
03:24:13,439 --> 03:24:21,279
there and be educated prior to coming to
vote

2333
03:24:17,600 --> 03:24:27,080
» it suggestion I mean it's
>> not many ballots charts on that

2334
03:24:23,680 --> 03:24:27,080
» space what

2335
03:24:30,960 --> 03:24:37,600
» well we just we'll just disregard it all
>> she

2336
03:24:38,000 --> 03:24:41,000
disregard.

2337
03:24:43,439 --> 03:24:53,680
» All right. So, we didn't have a proposal
to amend this even though we've got the

2338
03:24:50,720 --> 03:24:58,760
signatures.
No, thank you. Go like this.

2339
03:24:59,120 --> 03:25:02,120
» Okay.

2340
03:25:02,960 --> 03:25:11,040
Yeah, we we can put it in the voter
guide or

2341
03:25:08,399 --> 03:25:17,720
» Okay, we'll we'll add that chart to the
the voter guide that goes out to help

2342
03:25:13,840 --> 03:25:17,720
people understand it.

2343
03:25:17,760 --> 03:25:26,239
» Okay. Did we have any vote?
>> You're you're back to the main You're

2344
03:25:23,439 --> 03:25:31,880
back to the main article 11.
>> You didn't didn't vote on article 11.

2345
03:25:28,880 --> 03:25:31,880
» No.

2346
03:25:32,239 --> 03:25:38,840
Hi, we're back to the vote on article
11.

2347
03:25:39,040 --> 03:25:47,960
» All those in favor of article 11 signify
by saying I

2348
03:25:44,960 --> 03:25:47,960
» opposed.

2349
03:25:48,880 --> 03:25:53,680
Who said who said that?
>> Mr. moderator.

2350
03:25:52,399 --> 03:25:57,760
» All right. Thank you.
>> We have a bookkeeping.

2351
03:25:55,520 --> 03:26:01,840
» What's that? Hold on a minute. Please,
please

2352
03:25:59,600 --> 03:26:09,200
keep it down.
The selectman had something to say.

2353
03:26:04,399 --> 03:26:14,640
» We We have a We have a bookkeeping item.
We have a bookkeeping item pertaining to

2354
03:26:11,600 --> 03:26:21,160
article one, which was not on the within
the deliberative, but it's an

2355
03:26:16,479 --> 03:26:21,160
opportunity for us to correct an error.

2356
03:26:22,160 --> 03:26:28,560
» It doesn't require a vote.
>> No. Um, Cordell, this was about the um

2357
03:26:26,479 --> 03:26:32,080
the trustees of the trust fund that got
put on the warrant that needs to come

2358
03:26:30,399 --> 03:26:38,040
off.
We need to take it off. So, do we need a

2359
03:26:34,399 --> 03:26:38,040
motion to do that?

2360
03:26:39,920 --> 03:26:44,359
» Okay.
>> Okay.

2361
03:26:50,160 --> 03:26:54,520
» Do we have a motion to adjourn?

2362
03:26:55,359 --> 03:26:58,359
seconded.

2363
03:26:58,399 --> 03:27:01,800
» Any discussion?

2364
03:27:02,960 --> 03:27:05,960
» Okay.

2365
03:27:14,080 --> 03:27:23,120
» All those in favor say I.
>> Opposed.

2366
03:27:19,439 --> 03:27:23,120
I I better not hear