[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:02] Just wait, you hit the screen. Yes, sir. It's a short agenda. How do you say?
[0:09] I'll say.
[0:09] All right, here we go. You got a light? Yes, sir. All right. Call to meeting in order for now. The
[0:16] drumming is the place for reasons. The place for reasons is to the flag of the United States of America,
[0:22] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, liberty, and justice for all.
[0:29] We
[0:32] will start off with some housekeeping and improvements of Tuesday, August 4th, 2026.
[0:39] Move and seconded questions, comments on the minutes at the Senate.
[0:46] Nothing?
[0:47] All in favor of the meds?
[0:50] Okay.
[0:50] We've on the warrants.
[0:52] We have two treasury warrants.
[0:54] Oh.
[0:55] Two different sets.
[0:57] We have a 26.
[0:58] Yeah.
[0:58] 27.
[0:59] When we started the payroll, the August 13th and the 20th.
[1:02] Okay.
[1:03] Okay, move seconded. I heard Martha first on that. Any questions on payroll?
[1:09] All in favor? Okay, then we'll go to AP warrant for August 18th for the fiscal year 2026.
[1:18] So, seconded.
[1:21] Move seconded. Questions on the 2026 for $8.33.
[1:29] That was more because that was in our packet.
[1:33] I'm just looking, yeah, this is the change page.
[1:37] The white grub laid view cemetery.
[1:41] You said that was Grub Control.
[1:42] So was it Grub Control's second year of the application
[1:44] at Lakeview, Cemetery?
[1:47] Embrushing.
[1:48] Oh, just a category.
[1:50] I'm going to improvise and order June.
[1:53] So, yep.
[1:54] Yeah, no question on that.
[1:56] And then the question is anyone?
[1:58] All in favor?
[2:00] Okay.
[2:01] Okay, and then we'll go to the August 18th fiscal year 27th.
[2:07] Moving and seconding, questions and comments on the fiscal year 27th warrant.
[2:20] Do we have all of our ambulance vehicles worked on as well?
[2:25] The annual ES.
[2:28] Well, the 1-1 in front of being transparent, I don't know what the, I know one of them we
[2:34] have the breakdown that got fixed and I know that there are annual services. I don't
[2:40] know what the big one is. Okay, can I ask the charge on the change sheet from Mid-Made
[2:47] Generator? Is that just the annual service? Yes.
[2:52] And they come and do that here, right?
[2:54] Yes. They build right away. We get that bill the same day. I don't think he's out of the
[2:59] parking lot in the email in a bill.
[3:01] We get some sort of remote that they do remote now.
[3:07] Yeah, well, these guys come change filters and run everything.
[3:10] So they wouldn't need to do that.
[3:11] I got to do that.
[3:12] I got to
[3:15] do that.
[3:15] Any other questions?
[3:16] I see the school assessment is in there.
[3:19] Yeah.
[3:21] What's your next question?
[3:30] Any other questions, comments?
[3:32] All in favor of the warrant as presented?
[3:35] Counties in there, too.
[3:42] Okay, when we move on to the fiscal year 2025 audit, so I'll put that in your packet.
[3:49] There is a physical copy there.
[3:51] I was thankful for doing it, but I have to admit it was a mistake this morning.
[3:56] I was on vacation last week.
[3:57] I put the packet together.
[3:59] Stacy had to make an ad for me doing this quick clean evening rate.
[4:02] So this morning I went to click the memo on it for the agenda to look at it and hit 15 copies
[4:08] is what I usually make for our privilege.
[4:09] Tent for the audience, really nine for John
[4:11] and one in case someone else goes.
[4:14] So if anybody wants to see it, we'll have a copy of kicking.
[4:16] Yes.
[4:17] Well, I caught it about halfway through it,
[4:19] so you have full copies there for you.
[4:23] Again, if you read the summary page
[4:25] and the management letters, again, everything
[4:29] bounds out.
[4:31] Stacey worked really hard to correct a couple issues
[4:33] the last couple years, which those are finally settled out.
[4:36] and really on page 19 is the one page that does kind of the best easiest summary of
[4:43] fall for you as far as revenue expenses and fund balance. So CC and I do have a plan
[4:53] for the end of the summer, early fall to me with one of our auditing teams to discuss
[4:59] our fund balance, kind of where we've been trending and if we're at a good spot
[5:04] with projections that are coming down the road, so to make sure we're in good shape.
[5:09] We look like we are, but again, there's designated, undesognated, committed, there's like
[5:13] four different types of fun balance, and so we want to sit down and work through that
[5:19] with them just to make sure.
[5:20] And if we have to plan something and apply 28 budget to fill any gaps in your area, we can
[5:25] do that.
[5:28] That's all right.
[5:30] And I'm assuming this will be on the website or is on the website?
[5:38] I know we have a handful of people that wait for this every year.
[5:48] Any other questions?
[5:51] Late night reading?
[5:53] We'll go through this and have the questions.
[5:55] Do you want us to come in and see you?
[5:57] Do you want us to bring it up at the meeting?
[5:59] You know what, if you email me or come email will be best,
[6:02] because then what I can do is get the answer and share with all five of you.
[6:05] Yeah, and I can see tonight can get that answer and then push it back out to the group so you all have the same answer
[6:10] If we have any questions, do you want to sell loop stays in that email or just email?
[6:13] Okay, no, please give it a little print
[6:16] Up between the two of us, we'll get you an answer, so
[6:19] Thank you
[6:20] Yep
[6:23] Any other questions for Tom over at this company?
[6:26] For now, let's go check it out
[6:29] We want to say that we'll have a physical copy upstairs
[6:31] Someone wants to come and look at a physical copy
[6:33] And say that we're going to have a look upstairs
[6:35] Yeah, yeah, okay. We don't do there. I made it's not going out of the office, but anybody doesn't want to read on a laptop. Yeah, okay
[6:45] So move on to 2027 MMA executive committee vote. Yep. This is your annual chance to vote
[6:53] Again, I put this in your packet, but I'll pass it over to Adam, but again
[6:58] With some changes in the board with the passing of a member
[7:01] Our shy
[7:06] little friend here, the town manager, Jay, is the only nomination for one year
[7:10] term advice president, and then there are three executive committee members for three
[7:15] open positions.
[7:17] Chris Kamari from Lisbon Council chair, Michelle, the Breed Daniels from Brewer City Council
[7:22] and then our Richard Petri, Jackman town manager.
[7:27] So those are your 4 candidates for 4 positions for your vote and choice.
[7:35] Does anyone want to make a motion as a board that we vote for the existing candidates?
[7:42] Are there alternatives?
[7:43] There is not.
[7:44] There is nothing.
[7:46] I make a motion and we vote for the candidates on paper.
[7:50] Second.
[7:51] Does anybody motion second in any thoughts if I haven't right in and want to put on any of these?
[7:58] Because otherwise I think we just won't be people who are running. There's no other options.
[8:03] I'm missing. I was just trying to find out here.
[8:07] You want to look at this?
[8:09] I'm not sure if this is correct.
[8:12] I mean, I'll take that.
[8:13] Bring that with you.
[8:14] Oh, that's not correct.
[8:16] Oh, that's not correct.
[8:17] Yeah.
[8:21] are they sure?
[8:31] No, I'm not sure.
[8:32] You have any other thoughts?
[8:33] No.
[8:33] Motion is just about the people that are running.
[8:36] Oh, they all look up looking smart, but...
[8:39] No, that I know...
[8:41] I know it doesn't put party affiliations.
[8:44] Yeah, that's right.
[8:44] No.
[8:45] That should be anyway.
[8:47] Any of your own favor of the motion?
[8:50] About the existing use?
[8:51] Okay.
[8:51] So that will be a sign later and we'll move on to Public Works vehicle purchase authorization.
[8:58] So I created a one page head sheet for you.
[9:02] Both of these items were discussed during the budget process, during the budget process.
[9:06] We indicated we were going away from our Chevy 5500s.
[9:10] Public Works has selected a replacement F750, which are trending to be better vehicles.
[9:17] they have a heavier capacity of sand carrying but still stay within that class
[9:24] seed threshold for weight operation. It just seems to be a much better truck so
[9:31] we have a quote for $195,277. We put that in our debt service payment plan for
[9:39] this budget. We had budgeted $50,000 a year for the payments. We've been doing
[9:46] in five-year lease purchases.
[9:49] As of today, Inter-Skrog and Brain came at the lowest is 5.79, which is roughly just
[9:57] $43,000 a year for that five-year lease.
[10:03] The one snafu in our plan is that so many people have bought trucks and a lot of them are
[10:10] a year ahead of cycle.
[10:12] The truck can be entered about three months but HP Fairfield outfitted with our stainless
[10:16] spotty in the side spurters which takes some time we may not see this truck until April so because
[10:25] again I don't want to guarantee you know earlier than later so how's that how's that
[10:31] leave us with the 55 do we just add in the meantime we're still going to so the challenge is we
[10:36] were going to trade in the 55 directly with an estimated $50,000 trade in and so we can do that but
[10:45] they'll reevaluate that value at the end or the other option is we do a full
[10:51] finance and then sell out right the 5,500 like we've done in past vehicles
[10:57] and so Stacy and I got to give this a little more thought how we're gonna go
[11:01] about some years you get the trucks right away and then others are you know so
[11:05] far out so you guys got a little more homework than before you're looking for
[11:10] approval on the truck yeah forward the 750 at that price you will come back
[11:15] back because, and what I, when Stacey Chad with the underwriter today, we have until September
[11:24] to lock in this rate or if the rate goes lower, they can lock it in.
[11:28] And so she and I will kind of do the math and kind of figure out where we need to be in
[11:34] the sense of, we could still lock in our rate the first week of September.
[11:38] We wouldn't get a check, it wouldn't be cut to us, you know, but we'd be ready when the
[11:42] truck was finished and would be all pre-authorized. If we chose to go that path, then we'd be choosing
[11:48] to do a cell that sell the $5,500 on our own. Or we would have to wait until we get a firm
[11:56] or timeline, go back and just go again or another, you know, somebody would say, okay, re-issue
[12:03] terms and take the right off on the truck with the debt service. So either way, but so like
[12:10] that that trading value of 50,000 yeah that's where we're at today so what we're
[12:15] talking about is running this thing through another winner right either way we
[12:19] have to run it yeah unfortunately and that's what I'm saying we may let's just say
[12:22] it's April when the truck comes in and we have a casco forward come back up to
[12:27] evaluate it and say okay it's worth 40 yeah yeah or and so the same can I ask that
[12:34] 43,000 annual for the least purchase right that is not taking into account for the trade-in right that's
[12:43] full value five years okay so we're still within our debt service payment up under 50 correct
[12:50] yep and then did we plan on that much yes we have but this big old part this is a three-quarter
[13:01] It's not the western star. It's it's it's still enough to be class C license, but it's a big truck. It's a single wheel.
[13:10] Yeah. Seven yards. Yeah. Pick up trucks are going. Yeah. I know. Yeah. Yeah. You'll see in the next conversation here. That's a pretty amazing
[13:24] right now. Yeah and so that's what we consider 5.7 that seems like you can see
[13:31] we're for financing and then that's what we started with at 839 directly from
[13:37] the vendor and then they recommended someone else they use a lines capital which
[13:41] came in that 699 and then Stacy reached out to Andrew and they came back at that
[13:46] rate so I want to make a motion to accept the 750 price and using the
[13:51] and just bargain bank at the 5.79 and keeping the 5500 and selling it outright when the time comes.
[13:59] Second.
[14:01] Yeah, I think that makes a lot more sense.
[14:03] We don't know.
[14:04] It's, yeah, I'm framer when we can see this thing.
[14:06] Yeah.
[14:07] The only thing that I don't want to change your motion but the only thing you could add in there to give us a little more weight or trade in the truck
[14:14] which ever makes most financial value sense at that time.
[14:17] I'll re-amend my motion to say hand the core, trade in the truck.
[14:22] That's the same thing.
[14:23] Because if all of a sudden you get holes the same money and we can get it in,
[14:25] and why not shorten the loan?
[14:27] Because either way, whether we trade it in to them,
[14:31] or if we sell it outright, we have to do that.
[14:35] And then that money's just going to go back into reserve.
[14:37] So either way, where the money's coming back into,
[14:40] but that gives us a little flexibility.
[14:41] ability. I'll second the amended motion. Any other questions, comments?
[14:50] We're talking
[14:51] about this F-350 next. Yes. Okay. All in favor of the motion then, to...
[15:00] Second pickup truck into the fleet for public works. I had it in the debt service budget, but through the budget process both groups agreed to pull it out of the budget process and just do it through the reserves as we knew we had funds to cover it. Again for people watching and just to freshen up for you guys. Having a set right now if anybody needs a pickup truck, Tom doesn't have a truck and has to run his own vehicle.
[15:27] or, and it's not a crew cab, so there are only two people who are taking a truck.
[15:32] So, presently right now, we're taking usually multiple trucks to do anything in town,
[15:37] and we could be running a 5,500 to grab parts for something.
[15:41] And so, when Tom and I chatted about this, again, budget process,
[15:46] Tom and his team crew went through the, so this is a 350 crew cab pickup truck
[15:53] that we get credit for deleting the bed and they're going to be adding an aluminum flat bed to it,
[16:00] which will be a lot more flexible for them. It'll allow them to load stuff in the back
[16:05] presently, and then this would become the vehicle that tows the mow trailer. You know when you see
[16:11] these guys standing on the back of tow hitches or tire wheels that get stuff out of the back of the truck.
[16:18] And just clear, we're looking at paying for this out of their equipment reserves.
[16:22] right and so that's why I have the total number that's available to us is 114,000 in that account.
[16:30] Can I ask do you know I mean this is a hard question no sort of because that equipment
[16:39] observed you know that's several years worse than here do you know of any other equipment they've
[16:44] talked about that they see in the near term I mean I know we've replaced quite a bit over the last
[16:48] years. Yeah so we have to go through and look at our truck replacement cycle because when we started
[16:55] putting it down in the capital plan we have a year that there's a gap and we've got to figure out
[16:59] how to push some of these out. The nice thing about adding another reason why adding the pickup into
[17:04] a second pickup into the fleet is that hopefully we'll turn these trucks from nine 10-year trucks to
[17:10] 11 12-year trucks because they'll be going to run in cheaper pickup trucks most of the time especially
[17:17] of the crew cap where you can stick three guys in it and go to Mojo versus taking a pick
[17:23] up Anna 5,500 or 255 hundreds to run around.
[17:26] Well, spring clean up, they have to take dump trucks around just to run rakes.
[17:31] Right on.
[17:32] Can I jump?
[17:33] Is it a gas job?
[17:34] It's gas.
[17:35] It's gas.
[17:35] Seven, three gas?
[17:37] Seven, three, three.
[17:38] Yeah.
[17:38] Way to go.
[17:38] Yeah.
[17:40] It's actually cheaper than the 26 model.
[17:43] It'll take less wear and tear on the big trucks as much as you're saying.
[17:46] and be cheaper on gas. We're going to be getting, you know, 14, 15 miles a gallon versus six or seven.
[17:53] No, I understand it. I just, I see this two new trucks you're getting.
[17:57] Yeah, make a motion. Yeah, make a motion. I just done it.
[18:01] Yeah, make a motion that we, uh, go ahead with the 2027 crew cab XL with a 7-3, with a low-end flat bed,
[18:08] and the 8-foot six stainless V-plow for your total amount.
[18:15] Can you make that motion to be taken out of public works to be taken out of public works,
[18:22] equipment, reserves, and I just see this as a tough one to explain to the taxpayers
[18:36] fairs getting tune in tracks one year,
[18:41] and the reserves, I mean, the
[18:47] reserves could have
[18:49] gone toward the new truck, too, I mean, it's-
[18:54] So the other part of the two to consider when you're thinking about your decision is that
[18:59] we have two trucks up there that are going to be going back to the reserve, so that we have
[19:06] the 5,500 when it gets traded in or sold, so that'll go back, as well as we have the
[19:12] the 2016 western star that we kept at the reserve truck last year that we tried to get
[19:19] them to take in on one of these but because it's not really their market and talking to
[19:25] people in the industry they said we're better off hanging on to that and selling that truck
[19:30] outright as we get closer to winter because people can't get it like in our situation if
[19:36] you were expecting to pick up a truck in November it's much easier to write for a big company
[19:41] me a check for $75,000 for a western star fully outfitted.
[19:47] And so we should be having, and don't quote me on this,
[19:53] at least 50 for each truck coming back into the reserves to offset the pickup.
[19:57] And that was the ultimate goal when we made this pitch during the budget process,
[20:01] is that the pickup really should be net neutral with the trade-ins of the other vehicles.
[20:06] Or net plus.
[20:07] And so once we trade both of the vehicle or sell them outright, I'm confident that's what we're going to be.
[20:13] It won't be better off.
[20:14] We'll be same financially, but better off operationally.
[20:20] Can I ask that?
[20:22] So we're looking at a five-year lease purchase, right, with the new truck.
[20:28] Yes.
[20:28] And I'm right.
[20:32] We just finished a five-year.
[20:34] Correct?
[20:34] Did we just eventually last year?
[20:36] We finished one and we're like year three.
[20:38] Yeah, we have two, this one, we all have two billing.
[20:40] Okay.
[20:40] Yeah.
[20:41] But one just finished?
[20:43] Yes.
[20:44] The previous.
[20:45] Yeah.
[20:46] Yeah.
[20:47] And as we, as I explained and went through the budget process
[20:50] to the goal, my first year, and then really trying
[20:54] to stabilize it this year, is our goal is looking at a five
[20:57] or a 10 year replacement plan, and even further out
[21:00] where, you know, we had what 1.4 million in capital this year.
[21:04] the goal is to keep that at that level so then you just keep moving pieces around
[21:10] the chess board so you don't have that big tax spike up and down on the mill
[21:15] rate for your capital equipment because there's nothing even worse on a budget
[21:20] is or the tax rate to me is when trucks fail and where I mean you look at some of
[21:26] these things we're spending you know we might have to spend another four or five
[21:29] grand in that $5,500. Keep that thing going. You know, just would think so.
[21:35] I know I know it makes sense. I was looking at how that debt service on that will compare to
[21:41] like a couple of years ago, you know, on our on our lend lease. That's all I bet
[21:46] the back of look. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if I have that. I mean, this is all this is a this is money we budgeted and approved.
[21:54] Yeah. Any other parts that are quivered there. I think it's the right thing to do. I was just curious on
[21:59] You know, how that compares just for maintaining, you know, essentially the fleet, the operational
[22:05] fleet that we have, how much that's caused here over here and changing, because I know
[22:09] it is, but.
[22:11] You have to, like I said, I think the thing for us is to figure out how to push out the next
[22:16] vehicle a little longer, and again, if that money, let's just say we had to put, set a
[22:28] Let's say that money could go to another project, you know, and again in that scheme of trying
[22:33] to keep your reserves in your debt service payment level.
[22:39] When you don't purchase a truck you can reinvest in something else, that may be another
[22:42] culvert, that may be maybe other equipment when it's time and cycles so you're not, you
[22:48] know, you're trying to keep that debt payment the same every year and work it through that
[22:53] way.
[22:53] So yeah, I don't know. I hear just saying the optics aren't great, but it also that's just where things landed for the most part.
[23:03] Well, as it's not, you know, we're not just coming up with new money to pay for it. I guess it's a little less daunting.
[23:14] Any other comments?
[23:16] Motion on the floor.
[23:18] All in favor?
[23:20] Okay.
[23:22] Mr. Authorization.
[23:24] Work through that.
[23:25] Again, if we can bring that down, we'll do that.
[23:29] Do we know, so they won't give us a hard time frame, probably, until we actually make the purchase deal then?
[23:36] So all I need to do tomorrow with both exhaust lirisations is write down two letters of intent.
[23:41] purchase the vehicles and then they will submit those orders and start that
[23:46] timeline when we know but the challenge with the F750 it's got to go from
[23:52] Casco Bay once it's arrived and it's really HB Fairfield right now that's
[23:56] giving us the what about the pickup is that something we can get quicker that we
[24:00] should see that pickup within three months so hopefully before we get doing a lot
[24:04] of plumbing yeah and that's the nice thing about the pickup too is it once we
[24:08] trade in or sell the, when I trade in, once we sell the western star, you know, that pick
[24:14] up will be a spare if we need it. Or even just like Tom and I were talking about today,
[24:19] even if it's a bad star, and we can have it parked here, and Chris or I can hop in to do maintenance
[24:25] plan around here and start on the common area to try to lighten that little too. So it's going
[24:30] Maybe it was a lot of operation.
[24:31] It's got a big blob.
[24:33] Yeah.
[24:33] Yeah.
[24:34] So that's where we're out there.
[24:38] All right, no more than that.
[24:42] Let's move on to signature.
[24:44] Quick plane deed discharge not done in 2017.
[24:48] What did I just do with that?
[24:50] Don't we need a motion on that?
[24:52] Yeah, I'll get a file on.
[24:54] Which property is this?
[24:56] So what's the name of that?
[25:06] Yeah, so I do know it was a lane that was paid back in 2017 and it was never released
[25:21] from the
[25:29] Refinance it and discovered it and discovered it, you know, I would make a motion that we sign the quickline D
[25:39] End or just charge. Yes, please
[25:43] I just had to take it my hand. Can we have a second for that? I'll second. Okay. Any other questions or comments?
[25:50] We're clear from all in favor?
[25:53] We'll sign that. We can sign that after trying to do on that.
[25:57] What do we got for other business?
[25:59] The only other business?
[26:01] I had no other business.
[26:02] No other business?
[26:03] I missed a week and it has been a week.
[26:06] Yep.
[26:06] Town manager's a port.
[26:07] What do you got?
[26:08] Somehow my whole packet disappeared.
[26:11] Losing my mind.
[26:13] Can you hear me?
[26:15] I don't know where I went.
[26:16] I'll pull it up digitally here in six.
[26:18] Just over here.
[26:22] The second part of my packet.
[26:38] here we go.
[26:39] Here we go.
[26:39] There we go.
[26:40] Two-and-a-folders.
[26:42] You want to start with a report?
[26:44] Yes.
[26:45] So just reminder, bump hill will be closed tomorrow 9-11.
[26:49] Hopefully not the piece but again we didn't mail up those letters.
[26:52] I got a text to gov on that.
[26:53] They may else get that.
[26:54] Yep.
[26:55] And we are up to 98 people on text gov and we'll continue to push that so.
[26:59] So that's, that's, you want to John?
[27:03] Yeah.
[27:03] Yeah.
[27:04] So that happened.
[27:06] I will let you guys know, I'll pass this down to you, but I'll say it out loud.
[27:13] Main DEP is hosting two listening sessions, one August 27th and one September 1st.
[27:19] But main data, they've put in advisory committee together for data centers.
[27:24] So they're starting listening sessions on those.
[27:26] just thought I'd share that since we had the conversation again town
[27:31] committees next Tuesday here the 25th at 10 a.m. or eight friendly committee
[27:36] meets and that is a workshop and opened everybody I think I had two or three more
[27:40] people reach out regarding coming to join that up until August 20th at four
[27:46] o'clock we are still receiving accepting statements of interest for the
[27:49] budget committee vacancy we presently have one green space tri-counting
[27:54] on the board's appeal is continuing to have openings.
[27:59] Stacey and I are meeting with our assessor's agent on Thursday,
[28:02] discuss the tax rate.
[28:04] We'll bring in that before you on the first to set that rate.
[28:08] So we're going to review all the calculations
[28:10] and finalize that worksheet that Jim explained to you last year
[28:14] and then give you your range to decide where you want
[28:17] to be able to act.
[28:18] Can I just add for you to the next thing?
[28:20] If this, this main data center advisory council, it's as there's zoom meetings and it looks like they're open to the public.
[28:29] Anybody, anybody wants to attend this?
[28:31] First ones in the late August.
[28:32] 27.
[28:34] Yep.
[28:35] I'm afraid they're website and all information is there, but that's the main department of environmental protection.
[28:41] Yep.
[28:42] All right, go ahead.
[28:43] Yep.
[28:43] So you get text rate. We're going to finalize that formula and worksheet to have for you
[28:48] to review for setting the mill rate on the camera first.
[28:56] Again, I think Stacy last meeting but
[29:00] One of our firefighters was doing a class and she submitted that
[29:04] The class to the alpha on grants and we're getting reimbursed for a six hundred five bucks of that
[29:10] So that'll be money that stays in the training budget for the fire department. I
[29:14] I think that grant's going to pay off.
[29:17] She's putting together an update for our safety committee meeting so we can run through
[29:21] and learn about all that that has to offer.
[29:24] So that is excellent news.
[29:29] I had mentioned we are going to do some multiple stages in trying to get air park finished renovated
[29:35] for the fall.
[29:37] So we just got permission from MDOT Public Works Crew is going to open that driveway going
[29:43] into air park.
[30:00] to the permit process. So now we're talking taken at more turns of the bridge, more towards
[30:06] bathhouse in the bridge area, because if you've ever been down there, we're going to pull out
[30:11] all the rocks, the fencing is gone there, we're going to put some ballers in, but the goal
[30:16] is to stack cars, front and back along, 235 along the lake, and so we should be able to get
[30:26] at least two more vehicle parking spots once we finish laying that out and then we would
[30:32] take the what I call one troubled boat parking spot that's in the lot that would be able
[30:39] to add it on I think we're going to be able to get two boat spots so bring the two that
[30:44] are out the one that's in plus one more to the edge of the parking lot and so how that
[30:50] change with the entrance you're talking they're talking about widening them so to make
[30:53] that happen in these things like a lot. Yeah, it's, um, it needs you to make the
[30:58] radius. It won't be a full 50 at the top, but it's really at that bottom space
[31:02] because when people come in, if they're coming from Wall the Burrow, you know, they
[31:07] can't make that turn. When you come there, they have to go and turn around and come
[31:11] back the other way or they run into that first rock. And so, okay, part of that is
[31:15] we chatted with a couple different folks at, um, I have a W in those trailer
[31:20] spots. We're going to take the rocks at the end of the pavement or rocks. Those
[31:24] four spots we're going to take the rocks and move them back another 10 feet
[31:28] out of the grass. So we'll still leave a walkway so somebody can walk behind
[31:32] the rocks to the boat launch but it'll allow those trailers because those boat
[31:36] launch spots are like 45 feet. A new boat launch is 50 for truck and trailer. The
[31:42] size of vehicles and how big the boats are and so if you've ever been down there
[31:46] So when those are full and they part them in those rocks, their tires are at the end
[31:51] of the stripe line.
[31:52] So there's very little turning radius.
[31:55] So by bringing that driveway entrance towards the bathhouse and the boats back to the
[32:01] rocks further, you'll create a wider.
[32:03] So somebody should be able to come in from coming from all the bro, make that turn and then
[32:07] be able to back down without having to jig it back and forth or go around and come back
[32:13] the other way.
[32:13] or go up air hill a lot of guys will take a left on air hill coming around and back down across and back in
[32:20] but then
[32:22] Once they put the boat in the water they pull forward and then you got
[32:26] Back that trailer in there. So this is going to be it was funny when
[32:30] Are we looking at any costs on them or do we look at ever cost the material costs and
[32:35] Well probably it's like $1400 in paving to open that mouth up and then
[32:41] And that parking lot was due for a seal.
[32:47] Yes, thank you, seal code.
[32:49] Some of the one repainted so.
[32:52] That'll solidify that parking lot.
[32:54] We've gripped that up, replaced that full culvert last summer.
[32:58] Gosh, and that was sinking, so you saw that.
[33:01] The evidence started to sink.
[33:02] And then the good part of that was,
[33:04] will be as it will have the handicapped spots up front
[33:09] and then the town voted a combustion.
[33:13] In the budget, we budgeted $20,000 a year
[33:16] to renovate and fix air park bathhouse.
[33:20] So we'll be putting that on our p together to get that fixed.
[33:24] So hopefully, if we can't finish this fall next spring
[33:27] before Memorial Day, we'll get everything finished up down there.
[33:30] So knock on wood.
[33:32] You think the bathhouse working too by that time frame?
[33:35] By spring of next year?
[33:37] Yeah.
[33:37] Yeah that's the goal and last winter we didn't log, we took the gate out and
[33:48] then lock it and knock on the wood and we had some zero issues. I think we had
[33:52] less concerns of people parking in the road and trying to ice fish and go down
[33:57] and again I fully believe if something is taking care of people take care of it
[34:01] you know let's have to do something negative so and public works has done a good
[34:06] job, they've added the trash run to it and put the barrel there so that's helped out a lot.
[34:11] First of all, I'm going there to empty it.
[34:13] Yeah.
[34:14] Barbecue pits with diapers and everything else.
[34:16] Yeah.
[34:16] They're going to leave it in a lot of water.
[34:18] It's going to be my barrel.
[34:18] You've got to have to pick it up.
[34:20] So, that is that, and then just thank you.
[34:27] Again, I say that there's as much as I can, but just the chief chops and with everything
[34:33] coming down between work and full time and then pulling all the narcotics changes and everything
[34:40] going on. I just want to say thank you to him and his team upstairs. They've been busy and then
[34:45] I say it a lot but I've never put it out of paper. Just thank you to Stacy, our finance director.
[34:51] She's always looking for ways to do things better and you know how to improve things and
[34:57] she thinks the things I don't so it's a nice pairing to kind of keep all eyes on things so
[35:03] Well, thank you to her.
[35:04] I can tell you when we get the audits every year,
[35:06] they typically mention, you know, her work.
[35:09] Yep, exceptional.
[35:10] So, yeah, she's detailed and she's not going to let them,
[35:14] I mean, she sends it back for correction.
[35:15] She won't let them send something that's not right.
[35:18] You know, chasing down a dollar.
[35:20] So, yeah, thank you to Steve.
[35:23] Absolutely.
[35:24] That's what I got for you.
[35:25] Okay.
[35:25] Probably a comment.
[35:26] Anybody get anything?
[35:28] Oh, I did.
[35:29] I should have brought it.
[35:30] I'll bring it next time.
[35:31] I did get a nice thank you from Mr. Wider about these signs, from pedestrian signs at
[35:37] the state, but I think that thank you is all yours, but yes, I'll take it.
[35:42] There you go.
[35:43] Yeah, I got this morning, and I hadn't had a chance to look at it yet, but it's a link
[35:51] to a petition, protect our seniors a long time residents from being taxed out of their homes.
[36:00] It says town of Union, but it looks like it may be statewide, I don't know, I really
[36:07] haven't looked anymore, protect Union main seniors from being taxed out of their homes.
[36:11] But state initiative?
[36:13] I don't know.
[36:17] Lincoln told me he started baseball, it's directed toward Union, but I think it's a state
[36:25] It would have to be the note that I got with it is the petition is asking the town
[36:32] of union to explore property tax relief options for seniors, retirees, and long-time
[36:38] homeowners on fixed incomes who may be significantly impacted by the recent property re-appraisal.
[36:50] I'll skip down here.
[36:54] Other main communities, including Portland,
[36:56] ever created local programs to help qualifying seniors
[37:00] with rising property taxes.
[37:02] We're asking union to explore what similar protections could
[37:06] work for our community and then as the link.
[37:10] So just to inform you, we'll be hearing more about that.
[37:16] I'm sure.
[37:17] And I will share with you on that same, I attended my first policy committee and we set up there was like a hundred initiatives and we narrowed them down to like eight as far as our goals.
[37:30] And four of them were all about either local control unfunded mandates from the state school relief, which all would directly affect that initiative, which is probably the largest part to a lot of that.
[37:44] And so in the room, it was very interesting, was an eclectic group of representatives from
[37:50] state government all over, and so it was nice to hear the different opinions of what their
[37:54] conversations are.
[37:55] It was another meeting in a couple of weeks to continue on that work, but once we have something
[38:01] formally written, I'll make sure I share updates with you, but that's a concern statewide
[38:05] from managers right down to assessors and buyer police chiefs over in the room, just getting
[38:13] What's getting what people need to do the job that's expected yet with all these other choices and trying to get some of that state control back
[38:20] Local control if you will back to make choices
[38:23] Truck no truck versus funding something you have no control over
[38:27] I think you know I did get a phone call this afternoon
[38:31] I didn't see anything, I think we'll see if anything comes in
[38:36] before I make too much about it, but, you know, I mean, the state did essentially exactly
[38:43] that for one year that they kind of funded it and then realized that's not a viable option.
[38:50] I mean, the problem is, you know, if you want to do it with the state to lock seniors at
[38:55] a fixed point right now, then just normal inflation, all the extra spending goes on non-seniors
[39:03] And why, how is that fair if the seniors are getting the same services that I would have
[39:10] paid?
[39:11] And how do you break that?
[39:12] You know, is it, well, anyone over 65, but what if I've lived here my whole life and
[39:16] I'm paying extra taxes to support seniors, and someone moves here from away, but there's
[39:21] 66, and they get to cash in on my dime.
[39:24] I know this.
[39:24] Maybe we should do it with the other way.
[39:25] Maybe seniors should pay all us younger people extra.
[39:28] I like that idea.
[39:32] They don't have a lot of equity in those houses.
[39:35] They don't want to sell it.
[39:36] You know, I can appreciate that.
[39:38] I have family members in this same boat.
[39:40] But I don't think if you really want to cut tax burden, cut services.
[39:45] It's not rocket science.
[39:46] If people want to say, hey, we want to spend less money, then what are we getting rid of?
[39:50] But you don't get to say, I want all the same stuff, I just want to pay less for it.
[39:58] It's not though and that's the thing, it's very simple we can cut spending which means
[40:05] cutting services while we keep the services and we all pay for it.
[40:10] It's horrible.
[40:13] I look forward to the petition if it comes in.
[40:18] Let's move on.
[40:19] Anybody else have any public comment?
[40:24] Move on to committee reports.
[40:26] Do we have anything?
[40:26] Only a couple things that I haven't won, I actually both just came in, so I just received
[40:32] actually three of the members are sitting here, but SME engineers will be doing, they just
[40:41] got approval from main DEP to conduct the second phase of the brown field, so they're waiting
[40:46] for that before they did, so they will be on sites on August 21st to do interior
[40:53] Here are spastic analysis, and then Friday, I'm sorry, there'll be on site Friday, the
[40:58] 21st, to do exterior geoproving, just to see if anything leaks out of each fields
[41:03] or out of any space, there was oil containers or fuel or time, so they'll do those outside
[41:10] spots.
[41:11] And then on the 26th, they'll be here to do spastic sampling to find a stat piece, and so then
[41:17] we can start the conversation with McCogg on different funding options to do the remediation
[41:24] remediation.
[41:27] They give us any kind of time for any of the takes to get those results?
[41:31] It shouldn't be very long.
[41:33] They said, once they got permission from DAP, we think we should see something within four
[41:37] weeks back from them.
[41:38] Oh, right.
[41:39] That's a forward of some sort.
[41:40] Yeah.
[41:40] That's a forward of it.
[41:41] It may not be a final, and the last time I saw Max from McCogg who takes on the Brownfield
[41:48] He's like, once we have a day here, we can start conversations around what our funding
[41:52] options are.
[41:53] So, Michael, I'll reach out to him now that I have this to start that conversation.
[41:58] And who's doing this assessment?
[41:59] This is SME, SEVY and Mayheart Engineers.
[42:03] They're out of Cumberland.
[42:04] That's the person at the first phase.
[42:07] So, they're doing that second part and then we'll look at funding options.
[42:12] And the only other same thing on the TCC removing barriers with the infrastructure, I did
[42:18] meet with main water and right pierce and the well digging company and reviewed the two
[42:25] sites out there.
[42:28] He said within two or three weeks and that was the week before one of occasion so we should
[42:32] have a date here in the next week or two when they're going to do those test wells.
[42:37] So that's
[42:42] where those are at.
[42:44] Any other committee reports?
[42:49] Has the green space met since you guys did the...
[42:52] No, we're going to set a September date.
[42:54] Oh, that's on the...
[42:56] To do lists at that date for them.
[42:58] And then we'll review those properties.
[43:01] Okay.
[43:02] Resilience committee is meeting Monday.
[43:05] Monday at 5.30.
[43:07] The Hayley Ward is preparing as it's going to send us.
[43:11] I think we're going to get it either tonight or tomorrow.
[43:13] I think it's crossed the draft report of, you know, their project.
[43:22] They've got to send us the draft report for us to review when there were meeting Monday
[43:26] to discuss any concerns or changes.
[43:31] And so then that, once that feedback goes back to you, then we'll finalize those next steps.
[43:38] Yeah, so that's starting to wrap up that is starting to wrap up
[43:43] So I think they're expecting to have a final report to us in fall. Yeah
[43:49] That's pretty quick. Yeah, and then we did push out that RFP for the multimodal
[43:54] I told you that last meeting and so yeah, I've sent it to
[43:59] A few firms that would post it and so we've had two responses. They will be submitting. So two responses here
[44:05] Yeah, it's pretty good. Yeah, I expect the third one to
[44:10] We probably get it maybe one more once they start buzzing that around but
[44:15] What was the due date on that
[44:19] It's September yeah, I want to say it's like we pushed it back
[44:22] We can I want to say it's like the 18th and then we have the we have the next week to bring somebody in if there's two
[44:27] We like that questions and come back to you. I think it was for the October 1st meet your first October meeting to award
[44:34] Right.
[44:34] Oh, that's right.
[44:35] Yeah.
[44:36] And Michael is not off committee, but Michael has drafted a kind of timeline for the
[44:41] compliment.
[44:42] You know, I mean, next Tuesday to kind of wrap that up and bring a framework to you for
[44:47] the first meeting of September to kind of just give you a ballpark of what that looked
[44:50] like.
[44:51] He and I, I want to judge it today, the one goal there will be kind of to shape up.
[45:00] What we think a committee should be made of for you then to approve that so we can start soliciting applicants for that statements and interest for that committee. So, again, shooting for nine community members, and then it's myself and Michael Blueley-Azons as well as I think Martha and Steve are appointed last meeting as Board of the Azons to that.
[45:22] Well, we expressed, I think he expressed interest in the work.
[45:25] We expressed interest in the work.
[45:28] But either way, we'll get through that process
[45:30] and get the committees shaped up so we can save in the ventures
[45:33] so we can try to get that rolling midfall.
[45:39] So we won't appoint you guys after we formed out there essentially?
[45:44] Yep.
[45:44] Yep.
[45:45] That makes sense, too.
[45:47] And we would be non-voting.
[45:49] That would be the...
[45:52] liaisons. Yes.
[45:55] Very influential liaisons. That's how we set it up, that's barring.
[45:59] Right. Yeah. Open to change if it needs to. Yeah. Anything else anyone wants to have?
[46:07] We're going to look for the ports. Landing. Landing. Steve? I do not. Martha? Yeah, just a couple of quick things.
[46:18] in place. I couldn't make last meeting.
[46:22] I am able to make next week's meeting.
[46:28] Do you
[46:28] have notes from last meeting?
[46:32] No, but we recorded it. We didn't take, we don't take
[46:36] minutes. Is it? From the age you can place yourself. Yeah, yeah. Because it's just a workshop.
[46:41] So we just recorded it. Yeah.
[46:46] The only assignment coming out of there was to start
[46:49] discussing a mission statement was really the homework that I can recall
[46:54] for that group. Okay. And then the second homework was we talked about types of
[47:01] resources as far as services and activities but if people had names and contact
[47:08] information to bring it so we can start cataloging those two things as far as I
[47:16] Okay, and the other thing is the Founders Day weekend, the Country Club had free
[47:25] off basically for donations and we received donations of $180 which I dropped
[47:33] off to the food pantry today. So it was very nice. Yeah, we were pleased to be able
[47:45] Yeah.
[47:48] I don't have anything other than, I know I was playing
[47:50] devil's advocate with petition discussion, not very aware of our
[47:55] face income residents and not just face income residents. But I
[48:01] think I think I just get frustrated when we come, we do get a lot
[48:06] of feedback with this notion that it's like there's some gimmicky
[48:10] solution to the tax bill. And there isn't, it's pure input and output. The problem is,
[48:18] and I think you guys, Neil, when you're talking about the legislature liaison, is education
[48:26] is a big one. And the state, I think, personally, and I've said this to everyone who wants to
[48:32] run for a state office needs to kick in more on education because it's beyond what the
[48:40] But wait, does that money come from?
[48:42] Well, they've had a surplus, like the last four or five years most of the time, and they do pet projects like the stabilization that they fund for one year.
[48:51] Maybe they should start looking at further funding the state education districts, and maybe that could come a little more oversight to look at some of the infrastructure process.
[49:00] But I definitely think that, you know, the reality is when you look at our budget process, it hardly matters what we do in this room,
[49:07] because the school budget is going to go up more than anything we could ever got in one year
[49:11] unless we get rid of a department. It is astronomical how much it's eaten us alive and we've
[49:17] got to find a better way to do it. And I think the state doesn't just go, well, we paid our bill,
[49:22] wiped their hands and go spend $150 million on passion projects. Well, I have to have Jim run the
[49:27] exercise, but when he and I did the second budget meeting and nobody showed up at the workshop,
[49:33] We were playing with a tax spreadsheet and he's like, Todd, you can change this, and you can change this by a hundred grand, and that mill rate doesn't move.
[49:41] Yeah, docked.
[49:42] You can put stuff on a sliding scale.
[49:45] When you look at just our municipal budget, you would have to literally get rid of fire and ambulance completely to make a dent more than the school is going to make in a year.
[49:56] We can't, it's hardly worth having a discussion.
[50:01] That's where the discussion comes is, how do we fix it on the talent?
[50:04] We don't.
[50:04] It's a systemic problem, and education is our biggest cost by a long shot.
[50:10] So you don't get to not have that being the start of the conversation.
[50:14] The state needs to step up, because we're not the only municipality.
[50:19] Every municipality around us is dealing with the same issue.
[50:22] Same problem.
[50:22] You don't even have to be this school district.
[50:24] It's state wide, and we can't, it's the infrastructure costs, you know, these buildings are expensive, the towns just can't float it.
[50:34] Anyway, that's my brand, but not that I don't get the point.
[50:38] I was just playing tables advocate on that.
[50:40] And normally because we saw that with the senior rent state, or senior tax stabilization, a couple years ago through the state, and it went nowhere, you know, vaporized any gear, which was even worse in a lot of ways,
[50:52] because like I know I have family members that were like oh great we can count on this next year
[50:57] and our taxes are going to be set and then oh but they're not you know it was poorly
[51:03] well it was an election year and it looked great on paper for an election year you know you know
[51:09] anyway that's it I'm done I'm getting off the way it's a quiet night otherwise I keep my mom
[51:15] What do you got?
[51:17] I'm
[51:22] going to be a school bus right over here.
[51:26] We're talking to you.
[51:27] We'll go on.
[51:28] We'll go on.
[51:28] Yep.
[51:29] You're not even vetting about school budgets.
[51:31] Right.
[51:33] My turn, so.
[51:35] Yeah.
[51:36] You got anything to tell you?
[51:37] Yeah, I was just thinking Martha's comments,
[51:38] a question regarding the minutes.
[51:40] So we did add to this town hall stream
[51:45] at the bottom of the link you'll see the agenda.
[51:47] And then in the background, we added the agenda into the software.
[51:52] So when I check the AI minutes in the morning, it should be broken out by the agenda.
[52:00] And so now it'll start picking on that, it'll get smarter.
[52:03] And again, we'll be paying one monthly cost, but all committees now will get AI minutes
[52:11] available.
[52:11] And so once I see in how it works, I will draft a memo to all the committee chairs.
[52:17] and the officially designated recording clerks
[52:22] that haven't had the opportunity to do it
[52:25] because Sherry's been so wonderful.
[52:27] So now we'll have to figure out some process internally
[52:30] but we should be able to email them
[52:33] aging place, the recording clerk once we select one,
[52:37] the AI minutes that they can just prove out.
[52:40] You know, so it shouldn't take a lot of work
[52:42] because they don't know, okay?
[52:46] they are working on the background. He shared with me the ability to go in and name
[52:55] tack voices. And they're working on that right now. So if you've got frequent flyers
[53:02] like the five of you, John or I or any but we can go in and I can tag you in the video
[53:08] click theoretically John moment and they'll pick up that voice every time you know it's
[53:13] It's John and so that will help a lot of the
[53:18] Interesting when it makes a mistake that it's
[53:21] Yes, yeah, who what where but it's still gonna need a human to go back and verify and check it, but it's
[53:29] The best we have at this option. Oh basically. I have one other thing. Yeah, I think in the next 45 days
[53:35] I'll be a permanent resident of union with my business. Oh, yeah
[53:40] Congratulations
[53:41] Congratulations.
[53:41] Congratulations.
[53:42] Just you and him.
[53:43] Just you and him.
[53:45] Yep.
[53:46] Did you sell you on the building?
[53:48] It's under contract.
[53:50] Knock on wood.
[53:51] Knock on wood.
[53:52] Yeah, and up and until you're after this.
[53:54] The table's not finished with your.
[53:56] Yes please.
[53:57] Please.
[53:57] Do you have a second?
[53:58] Second.
[53:58] On favor.
[54:00] Thank you.
[54:01] All right, thanks everybody.
[54:01] Are you getting that switch on?
[54:03] Yeah.
[54:03] Thank you.
[54:07] Step payroll.