Middleton Select Board Meeting- 1 September 2026

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[1:22] I'm Stephanie Glitch.
[1:26] I'm Todd Lee. >> I pledge allegiance
[1:28] to the United States of A
[1:31] and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with
[1:37] liberty and justice for all.
[1:41] » I'm the Roll call. I'm Andy here.
[1:44] » I'm Greg. >> Jonathan Silver here.
[1:46] » Tim Cremin here. >> Roxanne is it
[1:49] » She's on the phone. >> Yeah, Roxanne is on the phone.
[1:54] Uh, we're going going skip the approval of minutes tonight.
[1:58] John, you're up.
[2:00] » Oh, jeez. >> This is for the 319 watershed.
[2:07] » Uh thank you. I'm John Mullen. I'm chair of
[2:10] the Sunrise Lake Watershed Advisory Committee and I appreciate you allowing
[2:15] me to get on the agenda tonight. I know you're you're pretty busy,
[2:18] but we're a little under the gun and I'm apologizing for and uh Stratford
[2:23] Regional Planning. What I have here and what you have in your hands
[2:27] is a 319 proposal grant application for phase two of our Sunrise Lake Management
[2:34] Program. This phase one is almost complete. That
[2:39] included the uh Lakeshore Beach Culver project and uh we should be completed by
[2:45] the mid-October, the Hampshire Shores rain garden.
[2:49] So, phase two would be another project uh next year,
[2:55] which uh has been uh thought to take care of the town beach for the runoff
[3:01] that occurs on the town beach and the boat ramp or better known in
[3:06] here as a canoe la- uh launch. Uh there's a lot of stormwater in the
[3:11] town and the people of Middleton have supported this project
[3:15] uh with materials and labor and it's been
[3:19] a great asset to have that project
[3:22] completed. So, basically what the letter does is is say it's a letter of
[3:27] commitment uh to this 319 grant. It explains what the grant is.
[3:33] I gave you a copy of the application and and conquered. So, that's why I'm here
[3:38] to hope that uh you can approve this letter of
[3:43] commitment and I apologize again that it's uh
[3:47] so quick, but whatever they had some
[3:52] manpower issues and couldn't get to it quick enough. Any questions about the
[3:56] letter or the project or the commitment, what that means? You're not
[4:02] The project itself will go under review by the public, by the board before we
[4:08] even dig anything. Like we did before, we had meetings,
[4:12] uh got input from the public on uh what they thought the project should
[4:17] be, at least the current ones. That will be the same process here.
[4:23] Um we will have a list of materials that we would like.
[4:28] Um same contractors, probably we'll have a
[4:32] bid process. Um and um just like we did before. So,
[4:40] I hope uh you guys Yes.
[4:42] » So, we're not being asked to commit any funds right now. We're asked to review
[4:47] what we've done before. >> You just
[4:48] » Continue to support >> It says in here
[4:52] uh um where possible.
[4:55] » Where possible. >> Where possible.
[4:57] So, if you know, if you if you have labor shortages or
[5:02] you you whatever you Yeah, you're not you're not committed to
[5:06] anything, but it that where possible. >> Right.
[5:10] » That is your your outage. So.
[5:14] » I'll make a motion to
[5:18] agree to sign the RTC for this lever and to show our support by signing the
[5:23] letter of intent to get the grant.
[5:26] » I'll second.
[5:29] » Roxanne, do you have any questions?
[5:33] » No, I'm good.
[5:36] » No. >> I have two documents. I have the
[5:39] original one that was sent to me that has Roxanne's name on it. I also have
[5:44] one with your name on it. >> Oh, oh, perfect.
[5:46] » So, I will leave that. You let me sign it, if you will.
[5:52] Okay. You're going to sign yours? Here's yours.
[5:56] » All right. All in favor? >> I.
[5:58] » I'm sorry. >> I.
[6:03] » There you go. >> Just give me a copy of that and sign one
[6:07] afterwards.
[6:11] I was going to say, you can take and just make me
[6:13] » Oh, oh, yeah. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
[6:18] Thank you for your support. >> Thank you.
[6:21] » Thank you, John. Thank you very much. >> All right. Six is discussion and vote.
[6:28] » Best and there is only two suppliers
[6:32] right to two suppliers of that particular piece of equipment in this
[6:37] region, if I'm right, if I'm correct. They've done a lot of work and I mean, I
[6:41] support what they're doing. Go ahead, Dan.
[6:43] » Okay. So, I have I have two quotes here and they're they're for the Devlon
[6:49] um DX 100, which is a 100 horse machine.
[6:55] And basically, what we did was
[6:58] um we looked into these machines. We tried
[7:02] one out, demoed one and then um
[7:05] started working with Equipment East. Now, they have it's a territory.
[7:11] So, um although I did call up uh north of
[7:16] their territory to get the other pricing um for just the machine
[7:22] and I have both quotes here. Uh obviously, they didn't come down and
[7:27] take a look at the
[7:30] machine that we have right now for the trade-in. Uh so, their their trade-in
[7:37] Excuse me for a second.
[7:43] I have I have some of the other towns
[7:47] uh that have purchased these and uh they really are
[7:51] they really are set up for the municipalities. They do they do a lot of
[7:55] things. There's a lot of attachments for it.
[7:57] Um and three-part boom, which allows you to
[8:02] work closer to the machine, more compact, and with that three-part boom,
[8:08] when you extend it then you get your extended reach out of it if you do need
[8:12] it. So, that's that's a plus. It has um the push blade, which we don't use much
[8:19] of, but it has that if if you need it. It has uh
[8:23] four-wheel steer. This one's got pretty much all the bells and whistles.
[8:27] They've got them set up all the same way, and it's for towns. And some of the
[8:31] surrounding towns that have already bought them and uh are very happy with
[8:35] them. Sunapee, New Hampshire, uh
[8:39] Sutton, New Hampshire, Bethlehem, New Hampshire,
[8:42] uh Princeton, Mass., Chelsea, Mass., and they've got a they've got a a longer
[8:47] list. I just asked him to to uh send me a few, and that's what he did. Uh I
[8:53] don't know if anybody saw what we did in town, but it definitely did the job that
[8:57] was set out to do. >> I was going to ask if it was the same
[8:59] one that directed last week. That's the one.
[9:03] » Yes, it's the it's the same machine, but it will not be the same machine. We'll
[9:07] have >> Not the exact same one, but the same
[9:08] model and >> Yes, it's the same same exact machine.
[9:13] Uh so, I have the two quotes here. And um
[9:18] what I will mention is um
[9:21] a majority the lion's share of the uh cost of this machine is is going to be
[9:26] uh coming out of the block grant, uh which is a grant that the uh state gives
[9:31] us. Just so people that don't know, is a is is that the state gives us each year
[9:37] or money that they give us. It's not a grant. It's doesn't need to be paid
[9:41] back. They call it a block grant, but um this is for
[9:46] federal highway money and how they divide that up is however many miles of
[9:51] road you have in town. Uh obviously Manchester and the bigger
[9:56] bigger uh cities get more money because they
[9:59] have more mileage of road and all that. So, uh that being said, we got uh in the
[10:04] neighborhoods of uh 65,000 last year.
[10:09] We're in the neighborhoods of 65,000 this year. Uh we already received
[10:14] one check. Uh we we do have all the money in place for this machine right
[10:18] now to buy it. Um and we are using uh 26,000 of our capital reserve fund,
[10:26] which is set aside for stuff of this nature. So,
[10:32] » So, Okay, so you got 130 you got 156.
[10:36] » Yep. >> Right?
[10:37] » Yep. >> So, the other
[10:41] 30,000 is coming from trade-in? >> Uh it's actually 40,000.
[10:46] » From the trade-in? >> Yep. So, on the quote right here,
[10:50] um the invoice total would be 152,066.63.
[10:57] » That was from Equipment East? >> Equipment East, yeah.
[11:00] And and I'll give you these right um if you want to look at them.
[11:05] » So, what will this do that your current excavator will not do?
[11:09] » Uh this will handle um the
[11:13] mulching head, um which will do all of ditching. Now,
[11:17] when I scrape shoulders, I can work on the same side of the road as the truck.
[11:21] Uh and and we stay going on the one side of the road and not and not really
[11:25] interrupt the traffic going out. Uh when I have to physically ditch, I've got to
[11:29] get on the opposite side of the road because
[11:32] the boom is so big. It's [clears throat] only a two-part boom. So, you have to
[11:36] reach across and and scoop out the thing and then load the truck. Of course, you
[11:41] know, you have to watch traffic and all that, but
[11:44] uh this one here um
[11:47] where you have that three-part boom, that allows you to work you can put it
[11:51] in the in the machine the way the machine's mounted on the table
[11:55] is more cab forward. So, when you swing the machine
[12:01] the back end of the machine doesn't swing out as far. It only sticks out
[12:04] about 30 in beyond what the frame is. So, I can work right
[12:09] in one lane and not have to worry about swinging out into oncoming traffic. So,
[12:14] that it'll be safer. Uh also, the cab is a lot more uh
[12:20] operator-friendly as far as being able to see around and being able to, you
[12:25] know, >> Yeah.
[12:26] » observe everything. Um yeah, this this machine right here
[12:32] uh is going to make a big difference in town.
[12:37] All the spots where the the uh trees are grown out to the road, rubbing the
[12:41] mirrors of you know, trucks and buses and stuff
[12:45] like that, that'll take care of this. Um so, it's
[12:51] it's a uh in my opinion, it's a must-have for the town. To to get it to
[12:56] where we want it to be as far as being able to access the ditches and and
[13:01] keep the the uh
[13:04] brush at bay. >> Right.
[13:07] Yeah, I think you also mentioned that in the past that it's it's much better in
[13:12] terms of dealing with the power lines as well because of the
[13:15] » Right. Yeah, the height of the machine and everything. I mean
[13:19] » I mean, you do well with >> I've been I've been
[13:21] » Yeah. >> pretty good so far, 5 and 1/2 years
[13:25] and I don't even want to say it, but we have not interrupted any cable or power.
[13:32] Running the machine.
[13:42] No. No, cuz we've got the money right now and the machine's just going to go
[13:45] up. The machine went up $9,000 since last year.
[13:51] I'm purchasing the machine and the two digging buckets.
[13:54] We get a grading bucket and we get a digging bucket.
[14:01] No, that was never the plan.
[14:13] The mulching head is just a quick disconnect.
[14:20] No, that that mulching head goes right on that machine.
[14:23] Goes right on the machine.
[14:28] I'm not going to argue with you.
[14:36] For 30,000, no.
[14:47] No.
[15:04] No, what what ends up happening is you have 2 years, I believe, and we'd
[15:09] have to check into this, but then it would go into the general fund. We don't
[15:12] actually it doesn't end up going back to the state. It would go back It would go
[15:15] into the general fund.
[15:22] Well, um
[15:25] » the thing is is their fiscal year like we we they just started their
[15:30] fiscal year 27 in July. So,
[15:35] the 26 money actually has, I believe, and and we
[15:39] would have to look into this. I I don't know. Uh would have 2 years from July
[15:45] uh to spend 26's money.
[15:49] 27's money the will end in July [clears throat] of
[15:55] um >> 2018
[15:57] » Yeah. >> Oh, oh.
[15:58] » It It's It's ahead. >> It's like the school
[16:02] » Oh. >> Right.
[16:06] » Got you. >> Do we have any idea how many people
[16:08] currently run that machine out there? Are you the only one or
[16:11] is there other guys who operate it as well?
[16:13] » No, right now I'm the only one. >> You're the only one?
[16:15] » Yep. >> What kind of you know, what kind of
[16:19] warranty comes with this machine? >> Uh it's 3-year and uh 3,000 hours,
[16:24] whatever comes first.
[16:29] » Do they come on site to fix that thing if something goes wrong or we got to
[16:31] trailer there? >> No, they they would come on site. They
[16:34] have a mechanic and that's that's the other thing. They're based out of Bow,
[16:37] New Hampshire. >> Yep.
[16:39] » And um you know, if it was something that
[16:41] needed to go back to their shop, um they have the trailers and stuff.
[16:46] They you know >> you for it though they'll go back after
[16:48] once it's under warranty. >> Yep, as long as it's under warranty,
[16:50] yes. >> All right. Dan, just want to confirm
[16:53] basically you have the money from the CRF.
[16:56] » Yes. >> From the block grant.
[16:57] » Yes. >> To get this machine you're going to be
[16:59] using money within for your next block grant to get
[17:02] the mulching head. >> Yes.
[17:04] » And you have the two quotes necessary for our process.
[17:08] » The what now? >> The two quotes that we need.
[17:10] » Yes. Yeah, I have them right here if you want to look at them.
[17:13] » I trust >> I I well, I mean, I'll give you these. I
[17:16] have >> Oh, yeah, you're going to give them to
[17:17] the Well, the check, but yeah. >> You know what I mean?
[17:19] » Yeah. No, absolutely. >> So.
[17:22] » Someone want to make a motion? >> I'll make the motion.
[17:25] » I'll second it. >> Any discussion?
[17:28] » I've asked the questions I had to ask. I wanted to make sure we had the quotes. I
[17:32] wanted to make sure that we were doing it correctly.
[17:34] We appear to be doing everything correctly. So.
[17:37] » All in favor? >> Aye.
[17:39] » Aye.
[17:41] » Okay, I appreciate it. Thank you, Dan. >> All right.
[17:46] Any comments? We are going to go into non-public.
[17:52] » Um Bonnie, I'll make the motion that we go into
[17:54] » Well, we have a >> It's voted.
[17:56] » One minute. >> Joe's got a question.
[18:01] » A while ago, I said to you in the meeting I can't I
[18:04] asked uh >> Okay, just a minute. Uh Joe's asking a
[18:08] question. >> Oh, I get it. So, anyhow, I know that at
[18:11] one point we were talking about some pricing with the town and I tried to
[18:14] approach you guys like that goes. And I've been working on that and I know
[18:17] Roxanne has asked the fire chief to do some RFPs still.
[18:21] » Yeah. >> Um right now, I have a verbal
[18:25] commitment. Little background.
[18:29] The school uses 7,000 gallons of propane a year to heat
[18:32] the building. Whatever.
[18:35] The town the maintenance
[18:39] had over a little over 9,000 gallons. The school was getting the propane for
[18:45] $1.51 a gallon. The town was paying $1.91 a gallon. Same
[18:50] company. A tenth of a mile apart.
[18:54] Big difference. >> Mhm.
[18:55] » Okay. Knowing this, I have been talking with
[18:58] another another company. And right now, between the town and for
[19:03] the school, we can get the propane at $1.39
[19:07] locked in for 1 year.
[19:10] So. You got to you talk amongst yourself
[19:14] because I to get this deal done. Okay? If that's the price that you want, I
[19:19] don't know what kind of pricing he's gotten from anybody else, but I think
[19:22] that 139 is a pretty damn good deal. All right? So, having said that, I think
[19:28] that will save us the town and save probably 15,000 gallons and on
[19:32] average for the building, you know,
[19:36] 25 30 cents a gallon, that's that's not chump change.
[19:40] So, we save money by not having to do it.
[19:44] Um it's fuel needs propane out of they're on the main, but they have a
[19:47] branch down in Rochester, so. >> Wow.
[19:50] The town name is Suburban Oil on our tanks, so is there anybody that can fill
[19:53] them? I mean, I have I have Eastern and I can't have somebody
[19:57] else come and fill it up. I have to stay with that company.
[20:00] Do we own our tanks? >> No, we don't. And that's part of the
[20:02] deal is they need to swap out the tank. What they will do is they will contact
[20:06] the other supplier and see if they want to trade or steal. If not, they'll come
[20:09] over and they'll but they won't charge you.
[20:12] So. >> Do you know if there's a fee from
[20:15] Okay. >> They will So, because of liabilities,
[20:18] they will come in and they will have to do a pre-inspection, so to speak, make
[20:23] sure everything's up to code. That's sort of thing. Because they are assuming
[20:26] the liability once they put the tank in of the whole system. So, they'll want to
[20:30] sit there and look at that. And I can tell you the stuff is all up to code.
[20:33] So, you won't have a issue with that. So, having said that, I mean, it's just
[20:38] like I'm also trying to work on a deal for the diesel and gasoline throughout
[20:41] here for the town and school.
[20:44] And we had a business meeting last Friday morning up at the
[20:50] You have to know where it was at SU and the new super superintendent liked that.
[20:54] And they are looking at possibly if we get this deal with propane for them and
[20:59] their schools at that price as well as they're going to give you the gallons
[21:02] for the diesel and the gasoline. And I'm trying to go with the same company
[21:07] because they do do municipalities as well. And uh see if we can get a
[21:13] price. It's not going to be a lock-in price
[21:16] because with the volatile pricing is right now with the up and down and
[21:18] stuff, but if we can get it a lock-in at our that cost plus
[21:24] whatever markup they make delivered. Awesome. It could be significant. It
[21:28] could be pretty good. But I just need to get the next price sheet doing some
[21:31] price comparisons. I think it's 655. I think it's 655.
[21:35] I think it's 655. Yeah, with us.
[21:38] We have to at least prefer it. I think it's 655.
[21:42] Okay, Roxie is making a motion at 655. We have to come out of non-public.
[21:48] We come out of non-public and then we adjourn.
[21:52] We can't adjourn from non-public.
[21:56] No. No. Thank you.
[22:00] Second. Can I get a second going to non-public?
[22:03] I will. Thank you. And then you need to do the roll call
[22:07] and adjourn. Yeah. I'm not even
[22:13] sure if I'm going to roll call. Bonnie, yes. Mike, yes.
[22:17] Jonathan, yes. Tim, yes. Roxie, yes.
[22:24] And what was the time? Where did you write the time one?