 Meeting welcome everyone to the meeting. My name is Michael Dwayne. I'm the moderator Please have a seat The school directors for the new Washington Central Supervisory Union school district to present information There wasn't there was an annual meeting for the school last night But they wanted to give some information this morning. It's not on the warning It wouldn't come under other business perhaps maybe it would I'm not sure but The chair of the select board asked me that if the electorate approves of that presentation That would be limited to one half hour, which I will strictly Keep to at their request and so the question is Does the electorate wish to allow the Two school directors that represent East Montpelier on Washington Central to present information Before we begin the articles of our town meeting Alice Agnew Says motion by Alice to allow that as there a second to that motion seconded by Janice Waterman Any questions or discussions regarding that Richard? our two runners today are Amelia and Elise from our Girl Scout crew who are going to run with the microphone Can I suggest that this presentation you've done after the town meeting? The other discordant questions are discussed. This is the neighbor. I would also Prefer to have this after Town meeting or during other business. There was a meeting last night and I know Calis had their presentation from 9 to 9 30 today before town meeting, which I think is a great idea I think that if this body Wants to hear this now at 9 30 to 10 And that's what the voters decide to do that next year The school board Tries to get more people to go to their annual meeting which is held the day before It was held last night at U32 I don't know how many people went but maybe their focus should be on getting more people to that meeting and I would strongly suggest that we hear this after because Right now it's getting on 25 of 10 and it's going to be before it's all said and done in an hour and There's lots of town business to discuss so I would support your suggestion Whatever it is that we do this after town meeting or During other business. Thank you. Any other comments questions with respect to Ms. Agnes Motion to allow that to occur now and Richards I'm going to call it an amendment to do it under other business any other questions or discussions before we vote on those two matters Floor, yes Watch the slideshow that we typically done at the beginning of the meeting and just set the tone for your entire meeting And then we will be available for questions if you have questions I've printed but you know, but the kids in principle Preparated some slideshow of just show you what this is what we've been doing earlier. Okay I think that's incorporated as part of Alice Agnes motion to allow that to proceed For the half-hour time slot if necessary any other questions comments discussions We'll take it in order Richards motion, which is an amendment all those in favor of Richards motion to Have this presentation done under other business. Say aye All those opposed say nay Take time Could people in favor of Richard Richard's motion to have this under other other business, please raise their hand Thank you, and I'm gonna try to count so leave your hand up, please This is to come under other business one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen Right-hand side Under other business one two three four Five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen plus thirteen is 27 Okay, all those opposed to Richard's motion to do this under other business, please indicate by raising their hand Opposed this is this event for therefore come under other business Hands up. Thank you one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen Nineteen, okay, so Nineteen twenty seven in favor 19 opposed the amendment passes And so the presentation will happen under other business and my goal is to move this meeting along So thank you, and we go to article one Article one election of officers under state law there could be no speechifying on the floor with respect to election of Officers that's done by Australian ballot, so I'm going to read the names of people whose names are on the Australian ballot for officers Poles are open from seven to seven Tom moderator Michael Dwayne right here present Casey Northwood select board John Jewett running for select board John is there Amy Willis running for select board right there Amy. Thank you John Boucher running for First constable is John present right now No, he's out in the parking lot Auditor Carla will Costco Carla you here Carla's running for auditor Lister Rob chicory sitting right there Planning commissioners there are three, and I have a small announcement Clarice Cutler is running for planning commission as Clarice here right now. No don't see Clarice Scott Hess is running for planning commissioner in Sioux tip lounge is soon here For planning commissioner. No Julie Porter and advised me this morning And I think I saw this on front porch forum yesterday or the day before that there's a vacancy on the planning commission that came up too late to include it as an elected office on the ballot and so it's up to the select board to Appoint that planning commissioner. So there's a notice It was on punch front porch forum, but here's a notice right here probably posted at the town office I assume anyone interested in being appointed and being on the select board, please get in touch with the select board on The planning commission please get in touch with the select board of the town clerk for further information About how to do that. So that's the Australian ballot for officers that are running And the polls are open till seven That's article one Article two to hear the reports of several town officers and that and act there on the report this year is from the select board Is there a motion to hear the select board's report? Michael Dworkin makes that motion Paul Earl bomb second of it Chairman Gardner, would you like to present the select board's report, please? Oh Lallis, yes Great. Thank you Thank You girl scouts Mr. Gardner Hello, ladies and gentlemen I'm gonna go through the select board report quickly But please stop the at any time to ask questions about anything I go I've been accused of droning on and on So so I'm going to try to speak quickly and correct my past bad behavior So anyway turn to page 12 if you would that's where the select board report is written So First paragraph, I'm not going to go over. Does anybody have any questions on that? That's basically what I call blah blah, but whatever so the second paragraph actually is somewhat important We've had quite a few people step down for one reason or the other from the various town boards. I Just want to mention their names Rick rich Curtis Carol Wells Kim Swayze Sandy Conti There's a few more to this gene viscerine and this step down Gene Troyer, we're gonna be leaving a select board Phil pines left the recreation committee So those are just a few those are most of the people that stepped down I'd like to give them a little recognition for their many years of service They've all stepped down because they've got other things going on their lives Working for the town is usually done Gratis and a lot of work so That's just what I'd like to say about that Thank you So then the next paragraph just says about we've upgraded the town office for the generator in Etc. Etc. Any questions on that paragraph? And then of course, I bet people have some questions where the parking lot is finally finished and We will be working on the sidewalk project this summer Any questions on that those projects? Then the other period next paragraph deals with the road Any question on the roads stuff? I'll just address one thing on the roads. I'm sure that people have noticed the road to bumpy The old grader has been traded in for a new one We're not using the old one. It's got some issues. The new one is been delayed. It will be here soon So I see a question. He ended up Yeah those of us who live down By u32 and that intersection by town hill and racial road in gallus in her road have had concerns for many years about That intersection because this has been paved and it got really dangerous Rachel put the microphone a little closer. Sure. Thank you. And so um It might have been two years ago now Bruce got a branch and we hired some consultants and we looked at a gazillion different options to make that safer and we met several times and Nothing's happened. So i'm curious about where that might be at this time That's pretty much As you observe as you have observed it hasn't gone anywhere We tried to pick the low hanging fruit on that which was keep the bank's plow back more Get the brush trot et cetera. Et cetera. That's all that we've addressed on that We weren't really sure whether we should pursue More expensive fixes to that intersection. So that's it's still up in here So would it be worth Reopening the discussion with the select board at some point? Um, if you're concerned about The site there you could bring it to the select board and we could see what the next step would be. Okay. Yeah Thanks for that question Any other question on the roads road matters for the select board? Just wanted to know if I might um, carl at nyer took sick the other day Said he's coughing like crazy and decided to not be present. So that's why carl's not here this morning Okay, and we'll try to fill in for him as best we can. Um, I think Amy is volunteered to Hold any questions that you do as you put the carl So The next two paragraphs deal with budget issues. Um, and This is something that the select board deals with all the time because we're trying to keep the budget under control Which is, um, reflected in your tax rate So there was an increase this year 3.5 percent and That was driven by health insurance costs 21 000 and the emergency Service budget for the ambulance Went up, um A lot also So those are two factors in our In our, um Budget that it's very hard to control Yeah On page 25. We had an increase in the emergency services of 27 percent. Is there any detail behind that for me? Yeah, okay. So what's going on with the ambulance service and I can actually we had we printed off the slide because we had some questions about this on Um, uh, Saturday at the town forum and I can put that on it's right the back of me You can just see the red The red the fire department In the blue is the ambulance service Okay so the reason that the Red is higher in the beginning of the ambulance service is some of the expenses got moved from the fire department to the ambulance service So that's why the fire department actually went down in expenses In the ambulance absorbed those so moving forward to 2020 You can see if the ambulance service is starting to take off the blue line Yep, another question Kim Watson and uh scott supposed to be sustainable. Yeah and not self-sustainable So, you know, maybe you can tie that in a little bit while it's not So when I was when I was first to see the ambulance service is supposed to be more sustainable What's happened is the revenue that the ambulance service takes in they put it into the capital budget And they've bought a lot of equipment for the fire department ambulance service that the town hasn't had to buy So they've made about a million dollars worth of money And they put that into the capital budget and they've been able to buy equipment with that But what's happened is um labor costs To man the ambulance ambulances have gone up And what they're doing now is having to move to full-time staffing, which is what's driving the increases Full-time staffing at this point the way they envision it is a per diem Pay for a worker that comes to the fire department ambulance and man's the ambulance for an eight-hour shift. These are hired from neighboring uh emergency services People that want extra hours and they work down there for a certain rate per hour 18 20 dollars an hour What looks like could happen in the future is a full they may move towards full-time staff Which is still staffing the 24 hour a day But those are people that would be employees of of the ambulance service which would be even warmer But right now we're just moving to per diem Because they're telling us that volunteerism is down They don't have volunteers to do staff the ambulance And the ones that are there are exhausted from all the hours So They feel like they've got to go to full-time staff, which is a per diem worker down there So that's that's what's driving the increases 20 25 30 percent in the ambulance service So what that's where it is right now is that's about six cents on the tax rate Which on a 300 thousand dollar house Is 180 dollars a year that could double It looks like to go to nine cents quickly and it could go higher So on a 300 thousand dollar house, it'll be up to 360 dollars a year Now This is just a matter of concern We're not putting down the ambulance service because we know they do a great job Uh, but the budget what it costs the town is getting To be a lot of money We could move in a different direction What we're another ambulance service could give us service in the town and we could Rent out or they could use our Facility a bay to park an ambulance a satellite That could happen what that would do is would keep the tax rate that you pay for Emergency services at a fairly low level in the five six cents range Um about where it is now maybe even a little less So if you move towards that type of model that would be a more consistent figure that we could deal with in the years to come The way the east Montpelier emergency services appears to be is it's going to escalate the cost will escalate Over time and you will see that in your taxes Um, so that's just a thought and we haven't explored it fully because we know that Um, the townspeople do like the angle service in town and they've done a great job for the town And this is not meant to throw any stones at them. It's just that we need to point out There's hard to manage our budget with these escalated costs So any questions see Scott has had his hand and um Mr. Morey after that Seth you said that the um some of the the expenses have been shifted from the Ambulance from the fire department to the ambulance. Can you give us an idea of what the true costs? Of the fire department are Of the two costs of the fire department are what they are in the town report But the thing is that what's what what's happened originally is they had a rescue Operation vehicle whatever In the fire department originally in that they were able to shift that away into the ambulance Emergency services part not the fire department. So that's why the line on your bar graph is Tall in the beginning and it went down a bit just because that shift. That's that's just a different That's a cost that went away for the fire department And of course that may would that cost would Maybe come back under a different model, but that's still pretty incremental when you talk about the What's going on with the ambulance service? Well looking at the bar graph it went down It went down and it does not go up dramatically because it's volunteers have run the fire department There are no cage staff. The only reason the ambulance service has gone up Is because of cage staff. I mean they do a great job controlling every other cost there But when it comes to staff, that's you know, that's expensive Bob morey What percent of calls that the emergency services group goes out on actually result in transport of people to Hospital health centers wherever they take them for services. It seems to me they go out And come back empty a whole lot of times, you know, like for our car accident I think that's a fire. Yeah, I think that's in the town report. I think it's around half It's in it's in the report here somewhere But my point is what cost is there for going out when there's no services needed and how much the driving the increase of costs here Well, I'm not sure that you could say that that was driving an increase when you go out on the empty ambulance Well, you could I mean if you're going to have staff there where they go out once a day or Two times a day, it's not really going to cost you any more money It's going to cost you a little bit more money and fuel and maintenance on your ambulances But if you've got staff to sitting well, and it requires staffing too if you're going to be that proactive That's true. But if you've got the staff there anyway You see what I mean is the staff are there Another question is East callous a part of paying the expenses of the emergency services group I don't share with the fire department. They're caught. Oh, no, they share with they share with the ambulance service Also, they pay for the service and is the ambulance going beyond the borders of east callous and east montpellier Is what is the Services provided beyond the borders of east callous and east montpellier. Well playing field and marsfield They are they contributing to the cost of the operations. Yeah, if you look in the in the budget You can see the contributions. So they pay They pay a certain amount per year to have the ambulance service Based on what? Are they paying the same share we are and okay, that's that's a good question Okay, so that's something that we've discussed with the ambulance service is how do you arrive at those figures? And the way they've arrived at the figures up to now is it's um Who was who was providing the service before? What were they charging and what can we charge you can we charge you a lot more? It's not done on a per capita basis as far as we know. It's done on what What can they pay the ability to pay? So that's what that's Perhaps to be changed. We've had that discussion in the past is maybe a different system that was more equitable On a per capita based and what would be the process to request that kind of consideration Well, we we have regular meetings with the ambulance service and that can be one of the things that we bring up We have a big meeting with callus a joint meeting with callus and emergency services every year in december We have several meetings and there's some things that we could bring up. We only bring up at the meetings What appears to me were shouldering an unfair Question of the cost since we're hosting the facilities that they operate out of that And that is true and that has that has been on our radar as far as the cost goes. Good point Reuben vennett had his hand up over there. Uh, girl scouts the front right, please Reuben vennett, so we're we're talking a lot about the expense side of the ambulance service and we're really Bob sort of nudged up just a little bit against the revenue side asking the question of Both the ambulance goes out a lot and we only or the ambulance only charges for transports then There is just looking at it from a business management perspective, right? There's potential for revenue of some sort there So I guess I would encourage the select board to have that in mind as you're talking to the ambulance service and You know, it's a tricky one because this is a really valuable service. It's a service that is extra valuable for those among us who are the least Resource for lack of a better way to put it. So we don't want to Disproportionately impact folks at the bottom end of the spectrum, but But obviously this is not a sustainable graph Right so So there are some pieces in the equation that you know I think there's questions that that you guys could be asking pretty directly at the ambulance service to say look like We all have to agree that this is not okay. We we can't just shoulder this burden. No business Anywhere could have their expenses double In three years, it's just not possible So how do we align interests and Right, how do we make sure that we're getting the valuable service that we need that we're not disproportionately impacting people at the bottom end of the spectrum Acknowledging that we're graying and we've got all these other factors that go into To where these expenses go the big question for me is exactly where did that million bucks worth a year ago? and and I Think that's a question for you guys to delve into a little bit like capital expenses of a million dollars That result at least indirectly in An extreme bump in personnel costs Not saying that they're related but dollars or dollars I think that's another potentially valuable question. So I thank you I know that this is a difficult conversation and it's probably gone round and round and round about a hundred times Um, so I want to acknowledge that but but that's a concerning graph As a taxpayer and as a business owner Thank you Thank you, will be Any other questions or comments at this time regarding this particular factor of the select board's report? Ellen, can you? What would be the process for the select board to Officially or work with the ambulance service to look into the possibility of a satellite For some other group to take it over which you were referring to earlier. I mean, how does that get started? Do we Contact the people does it have to be some kind of official? Support from this body to to ask you to look into that or Is it just something you would do on your own to say? Well, this is just getting a little, you know We need to get a handle on the money with this so The just we just started a discussion with you and This has given us some grounds for pursuing it because We wanted to bring it to the voters in East Montpellier And taxpayers and just get some feedback on this concern We're getting feedback The next step would be to meet with callous and the emergency services and start to talk about it It could take us a couple of years to get Make a different plan But um, this is this is how we start the process hearing back from the voters and the consistent Yes Yes question up here in the front Just stage your name for the record. I'm new to your community. Oh pay any parham I'm a retired physician and I suggest another way to look at all of this Is that this is an aging community and that people have to take more responsibility for choices around end of life care and it's an important statistic to remember 15 percent of people who are with the best of care you fall down in front of me. I know CPR We have the electronic defibrillator 15 percent Will survive People don't know that statistic and there's a way you can impact this cost On looking at how people are requesting services in the first place as well Thank you Yes Right here Uh, so Bruce howlett, uh, so recognizing that the ambulance service provides a service that we all value Maybe not today, but someday and that The issue is to provide paid staffing and that seems I understand that seems to be necessary and the way to pay for paid staffing is to have a sufficient population Clients as it were and one way to do that is as you mentioned is to become a satellite of a regional of a regional service that exists like barrier Montpelier obviously, but has anyone looked into Creating a broader regional ambulance service in northern washington county So not just us and callus, but actually forming a union for this with marshfield and playing field who we're already working with That's um Been a thought on on the board as What we're doing right now is we're sort of serving as a regional service to facto However, you want to call my still playing field callus in this month The only thing is that that ambulance service is piggybacked on a pretty low population So you take the very town ambulance service. It's got 14 000 residents. They can afford to pay for ambulances or whatever The service is spread out among more people in these Montpelier 2500 people So it's expensive per resident. So That's where you that's where you go. Yes. It regionalization makes a lot of sense We've talked about this endlessly even on dispatch dispatch is expensive And but there's no regional system. It doesn't even make sense But because brahmanners are independent and they've always had separate communities It's a hard kill decline when you talk about regionalization Because then you're becoming independent of those small communities and that's Mattlin resistance. We see it everywhere I understand that it's just that regionalization is slow to come to brahmann. So there you go Anything else that's on your report? I'm sure there is. Oh, there's another question. Thanks. Paul Perlbaum Right there If we were to contract with some other provider of emergency services Is it a fair guess that the response time might be effective? And that's and that's our biggest concern is you don't want to get Less service even though you're saving money It's the response time is the driver So we wouldn't even do it unless we could use the existing facility as a satellite operation So that of course would be in the mix because response time is important so That's that's my answer to that and we'll see what happens Okay continuing with the report So the last thing I think we've done the budget is um and you can see what the budget's driven by and We're trying to manage it as best we can the last paragraph deals with Bill George who unfortunately passed away Untimely passing And also we lost Marty Miller who was a great contributor to town moderated for many years So two people have passed away in town that we will miss a lot So maybe a moment of silence for these two citizens would be appropriate and I know I will miss them both so I think that's what I'm going to end on a moment of silence for these two people and I can always address any questions later on if anyone's got questions So thank you Well done Jeff. Thank you Um, and I also didn't want to note since we're on town reports on our vital statistics there is a list on age 61 of Um The depths and we had births and we had marriages and in particular Just as a personal mode. I wanted to remember Marty Miller who Encouraged me to and we'll run with eddie to run for moderator Didn't a lot of arm twisting and I appreciate him doing that And under the people who passed away. There were many frequent attendees of town meeting who are listed there But we also have births and we also have marriages. So we're moving on The question now with respect to article two is shall the town accept the report of the select board? It doesn't mean you're Agreeing with everything in there 100 percent. It is basically non-binding But formality is shall we accept the report? And there's been a motion by genie callan and there's a second by don welch to accept The select board's report all those in favor Under article two of accepting the select board's report Please indicate by saying aye The ayes have it and the report is accepted Article three is an australian ballot item on the budget Unlike election of officers This australian ballot item can be discussed on the floor even though there is voting taking place in another room Touched upon the budget, but with respect to article three. Are there any questions or discussions regarding the town budget? Which shall be voted by australian ballot? Hearing none seeing none Holds a rope up Was there a question? Okay We'll take a question renais hi renais kevin keiler. Is there any way we can influence The state or even mont pelier to fix the roads. I mean the roads are just getting So out of control and I know we only have control over east mont pelier But I wonder if on the way over here as I was bouncing around if there's some way we can influence The state Thank you to give us more money. Good question. Our state rep is here and she's going to speak At the end. She's going to stay for lunch. So Kimberly is here and she could hopefully address that question. She's also on the appropriations committee So she she might have some really good answers for us, but thank you And I did gavel article three Article four. This is also australian ballot But again, unlike the elected positions may be discussed on the floor article four shall the town Raise the sum of 42,022 dollars for kellogg-hoverd library for the support of the kellogg-hoverd library Is there a motion for that? Well, pardon me Oh, no motion. That's right discussion Yes, thank you Good morning. My name is rachel sanichal. I'm a development coordinator at the kellogg-hoverd library I've worked there for almost 16 years I also Here today as a staff person is michelle singer who's the new adult program and volunteer coordinator The kellogg-hoverd libraries request is the same as last year. There's not an increase and I We have a new board representative It's jennifer mica And our board representative for several years is lindy bigs and I want to thank her For all the work that she did for the kellogg-hoverd library The library report is on page 70 and I don't know if anybody has any questions Concerning our request for the library or not, but I do want to throw in one statistic Last year there were 34 000 additional books checked out of the children's library Our circulation is going up Libraries are used a lot in montpellier. We are a reading community And so I encourage everybody to support this bill this article Rachel you take a few questions if there aren't any Anyone have any questions for rachel senichal with respect to the kellogg-hoverd library article Anyone no Well, thank you Thank you very much article five And the polls were open until seven article five shall the town authorize all property taxes for fiscal year 2021 to be paid to the treasurer without discount in two installments Received by the town treasurer at the town municipal building as follows colon the first installment will be due on a before five p.m. On monday november 16th 2020 And the second installment will be due on a before five p.m. On monday may 17th 2021 a zero motion with respect to article five Ginny Callan seconded by ruben benning any discussion with respect to article five in the payment of taxes rachel russell in installments so East montpellier has had this hard iron clad rule since i've moved here that taxes are late Whether or not they're mailed in and postmarked the day That they were due So if it's postmarked the 15th and it arrives on the 16th you still get the penalty And I just always think that's the way it was because it's always been that way here in east montpellier Even though the irs says you can Have it stay on the 15th and have it be late. That's just the way it was Well, I had occasion to be reading the callous town report the other day And learned from that that not only do they go by the postmark But they're voting on whether or not to have a seven-day grace period Which i'm not suggesting at all that we do But I would like to suggest that this left board maybe consider going by postmark As opposed to having that iron clad rule a lot of people are doing it automatically through the bank I actually ended up paying a penalty this year because the credit union was late in sending my check And when I called the town report everybody was busy and I didn't want to make them look and see if they could have arrived So for those of us who still want to be old-fashioned about it and want to walk into the post office and say Stamp this yes, it's clear. It's the 15th and mallet Um, I think the select board might want to consider that So just just to answer that we we do talk about that every year And but we will definitely take what you said into account Thank you Kim and then Well, uh, that was my question Kim. I mean, uh, you know, Reggie are you making a motion or is it for consideration? You said thank you for your consideration If somebody wants to make a motion we can certainly entertain that The article warning uses the word do and it doesn't define what do means in terms of the do at five p.m So it's up to the electorate to decide what it may or may not want to do with regard to article five So can we make a motion to change the language to read has postmarked on November 16th You can make that motion if there's a second and it passes. Yes, you can Okay, I'd like to make that motion There's a motion motion by Kim Watson And Rachel is that a second a second and let me correct me if i'm wrong, but rosie i'm hearing it as saying That um with regard to article five article five be amended Um, so that's the first installment will be has postmarked On or before will be postmarked On or before Five p.m. Monday the post offices postmarked Time I don't think so. Mr. Welch. This is november 60. Okay, mr. Welch You might have but but that's the motion to have it be postmarked that might not Work, I don't know rosie No be postmarked Honor before five p.m. Monday november 16th and the second installment will be postmarked Honor before five p.m. On monday may 17th And so with regard to the motion some discussion mr. Welch Then and stanton then ruben But mr. Welch count treasure as the person who Deals with this, uh, I think if we just added some Wording to that just saying that postmarks will be accepted That you You know That's the thing we haven't done before but if we just say that postmarks On or before The due date will be on Makes it simple postmarks on or before the due date. Okay Kim and yes, I was going to ask kim and rachel. Excuse me Yes, kim and rachel grossman whether they would accept that um Let's see we had mr. Bennett Up and then and stanton had a question and now she said ruben yarl set Floor yes Just the clarification it's a postal not postal business because the postal business is just that clear from our dunkers So postal from the post office not postal business Yes, the presiding officer People who have postal mark who use machining for their Mail in their office have the option of being able to change the date on that machine So my Suggestion would be to use official usps postmarks only for this particular item Is that a friendly amendment? Uh, kim and rachel? Okay Any other discussion allison underhill? Well at the risk of seeing naïve and being embarrassed in front of my friends I I want to ask Why this is an issue at all? I mean why i'm addressing this to you worry, um Because you've got six months to prepare so Why why the last minute? Why can't it be sent out like the week before? Yeah, but sometimes it doesn't get there the week before Uh don well chat his hand up and then wrote a chicken I would just just point out we have had men more frequently recently that you have We've had some that are postmarked Uh a week before and don't arrive until five weeks later Uh, and I so I think that with the The way the snail mail seems to work is that it is Not predictable I mean I think you can sometimes I'm not exactly sure how it happens, but you could put it in the east mile pillier Post office box outside maybe and it might go to Washington state and back wrote a shikari And then ruben and then in In life I understand there are fewer than a hundred people out of a population here of 2,500 Who do automatic debit from their checking account to pay their taxes? And I would like to encourage people to do that. I have done that for years Don Welch our treasurer sends a letter out A couple of weeks before taxes are due reminding us That there will be an automatic debit and if any moment Up to the very day the taxes are extracted you would like to Pro halt to it. You can do that And then you don't have to worry about whether or not you have the right date on your postmark and it's easy Ruben Bennett then and then mike So it seems like One of the real challenges here is that lots of us have mortgage companies who are not local in vermont And do not understand that when it says do honor before it really means do honor before And It's interesting because this conversation went from must be postmark Which means that you now can't pay in person, which I don't think was the intent at all of this conversation To must be postmarked to well now it could show up five weeks later So Interestingly, I think we're having the same conversation that callous have warned Which is that maybe what we want is to acknowledge that if it shows up a couple days late But it's postmarked honor before the due date That's okay, but I don't think we want to wait for the revenue for ever Or for five weeks. So I think we actually need to put a timer on it if we're going to do this amendment I think we want to say it's due on the 15th It must be postmarked honor before that and received within a week If we're going to make this change because otherwise I see a lot of unintended consequences that we'll all be parsing apart from a while No and standing Real scouts right here and standing in the middle And then Mike dorkin And then back to kim Somebody said why is this a big issue if you've ever Unfortunately had some kind of slip up or had an elderly parent and you were out of town I why question it's a big issue because it's a huge amount of money our taxes are already pretty You know hard to gather the money for and you miss it's a huge amount of money So I have a related question that not to this Which is how Is that how is the amount of money set? Because and is there any recourse is there any can you you know, can you grieve it? I guess that's a question the eight percent penalty probably is what she's referring to is one percent a month That's eight percent penalty So eight percent is that statutorily set, you know, I don't know. I don't know. There was some Oh, that's an axon and it was always voted by the townspeople back and Bruce Johnson is saying that the eight percent penalty is set by Maximum statute and that amount was voted upon by the town few years back And it could be changed Yes By the townspeople it would come to a town vote Yeah, it might have been worn in on the next year's warning. It could actually it could be worn next year. Yes Mike dorkin you had your hand up Girl Scouts Mike is right there in front of you on your right right there I just wanted to pick up on a rather narrow point that Ruben touched on as well To be careful that in amending this you did not make it impossible to do hand delivery There are many of us Comforting and real to walk in hand it over its stamp. I know that mission has been accomplished same So the two hand delivery should be included in the options that are available Yeah, and there are many ways that can be done But anything which makes the impossible Or just favorite probably causes more trouble than it's worth. I I don't think the amendment as Friendly the Lee amendment amended Procludes the Hand delivery of your tax installment Yeah, yes, it's a I I have So right now I have installments postmarked on a before Installments postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before the date are accepted You might want to Okay, uh kim. I think you had your hand up then donald and this gentleman right here then rick I gotta write that down kim Watson. You had a comment The word stays in there is or it will it will allow hand delivery And also just to expand upon There's a lot of younger people in this community that are using mortgage companies that are paying their taxes And this allows for that slip for not for them postmarking it Um on or before november 17th because they often do not send those checks out until that date Don welch you had a your hand up Then rip bar stove and the gentleman next to kim Don again as the person who has to Use this I think the way the language was done Doesn't change anything that works here except that we will recognize a postmark And it's very rare that we don't have all that many there's maybe one or two per season that might fall into this Uh and uh and it does affect sometimes the uh and it will affect the escrow companies who Have missed the dates and but then usually end up paying the The interest or penalty whichever it is Out of their own pocket Okay, um rick bar stove Yes, this is a just a minor question going back to what rhoda said about electronic deposits I'm just wondering if there's any financial benefit or Penalty to go into the bank in terms of charges or or maybe writing a check is more costly to be processed Than they're doing electronically. So just want to see very good. You know what the pro pluses and minuses are methods of payment Mr. Lodge can you answer that question? We we have no charge for checks cash Or this direct deposit that wrote the rhoda mentioned, uh, that one is I think the Most efficient way to do it both for me and for the taxpayer Because you can't be late as long as you've got the money in the In the account and it will be it will go on until you say don't do it But it's it's pretty efficient and it's pretty I haven't had any problems with it Okay, um Gentlemen right there for you for a new grill scouts can't hurt here. Okay. I wonder if of the The postmark and so forth could be I wonder if the um If the postmark requirement and so forth could be moved to the penalty out of move it away from the due date and move it into the penalty requirement So that the due date remains as originally stated but there's penalties allow of The penalty requirement allows you to not charge a penalty if the postmark says it should have been here by then That's a thought I don't know if anyone has the answer to that question Ellen Knaehler had your hand up right next to you grill scouts I just want to make sure that this isn't going to goof up the um people who are having electronic transfer because we're talking about a postal date official u.s. Postal date, but I just want to make sure it doesn't goof that up in case there's a snafu with The bank transferring the money to the town. I don't know how how you incorporate that or if this does incorporate this and Perhaps on a later note we could just change the date to say it's two days before but it's really the two days later Some trickery here any other questions with regard to uh the motion by kim and second and by rachel i i haven't written And then the select boards here listening to this mr. Welch is listening to this I i'm not supposed to get into any kind of role I I just don't see the town clerk not allowing somebody to walk in and pay their taxes Because I likewise I like to walk in and I I have as a as a separate sentence Installments mailed and postmarked by the united states postal service honor before the date will be accepted Period any other questions with regard to the motion to amend article five If not all those in favor of amending article five to add a sentence that reads Installments mailed and postmarked by the united states postal service Honor before the date will be accepted period All those in favor of that uh amendment, uh, please say aye All those opposed say may The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have passed article five as amended I'm not going to bang the gavel because and you might have something to add Go ahead and stand Right here girl scouts in the middle I defer to your expertise on robert's rules, but I would like to um Move that the penalty rate Be changed from eight percent to four percent I don't know how long ago it was made eight percent But my guess is seeing how the taxes have risen eight percent is a lot more than it used to be I have an answer It's not germane to the motion we just passed And since it involves finances, it's out of order So, uh, but we could petition Anyone could petition the select board on its own volition Could petition to do that and if people are interested enough They could petition the select board to put it on for next year's warning as it's something that has been voted and involved financed so Article five as amended having been passed I'm going to gavel article five done And now we're moving on to article six Um Yeah, uh, and just I've mentioned this before the gavel is not just a little nicety When you when you gavel an article done That's it. So, you know a half an hour from now Someone can't say I moved the wego back and revisit. No, the only way to change a past Warned article is to file a petition for reconsideration or go to washington superior court So article six shall the town raise the sum of four thousand dollars A four-corner schoolhouse association for operating expenses during fiscal year 2021 is there a motion to approve article six Rachel grossman seconded by paul hurlbaum any discussion with regard to article six and the four-corner schoolhouse $4,000 appropriation Rachel gross right here girl scouts miss grossman right there Thank you. And thank you for recognizing me. I had no idea that my comment last was in as far as so much discussion And hope I'm thinking this is the last time I'll get up today because everybody's getting sick of me But I wanted to just take this opportunity to thank the town for its support of the four-corner schoolhouse all these many years um I've had the privilege of serving on the board for 10 years, maybe I don't know but it's been a long time and um I just want to brag for a minute about the board not me because I just am scheduling but the rest of the board The care and love that this board puts into the building this wonderful historical building of our town Is just amazing We have people with skills on the board Who take care of the physical board the physical building from buttoning it up insulation crawling around basements Checking fuel levels. I I can't think of everything they do But every meeting we sit at and talk about the physical Issues in the building and I in evidently will say can we get a board like this for my house? um So I just want to um Thank my fellow board members for all the work that they do to put into the care and feeding of this building thank the town For its support ongoing support of the building and just remind people that it's a fabulous venue for our birthday parties and other celebrations graduation parties we've had um and Concerts and also it's a it's a great venue. So come check it out and Enjoy your building. Thank you. Thank you Any more questions comments with regard to article six in the four corners school house Seeing none hearing none all those in favor of article six, please indicate by saying aye All those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have passed article six Article seven shall the town raise the sum of nine thousand dollars for the Montpelier senior activity center for operating expenses during fiscal year 2021 is there a motion to Accept article seven Scott Hess seconded by rotor trickering any questions or discussions with regard to article seven and the nine thousand dollars For the senior activity center voted on the floor Jenny count Hi, I just wanted to say that I use both senior centers twin valley and the Montpelier senior center They both offer a lot of great programs. Some are different I love being able to drive to twin valley only a few miles away And I also do a lot of programs at the Montpelier senior center And I think they're both fantastic resources for our community. So I would urge people to support both Thank you. Any other questions or comments with regard to article seven Yes, ma'am Hi for transparency I'm not a resident of East Montpelier But I work at the Montpelier senior activity center And I see a lot of familiar faces many members participants And instructors of our center are here in this room. And what's your name? My name is jama claire Without objection miss claire will speak Thank you I want to express my gratitude for the voters of East Montpelier And all the participants who have who have come to our center and and also many recent years participating We are seeing even more of you this past year. We hope to see more to come And it's a great time to check out our offerings because next monday. We're starting registration for spring classes There's over 80 weekly classes on offer Many of them are open to people under 50 as well So Including as young as seven years old many classes for teens And of course lots and lots for folks 50 and up about half of those in movement Meals presentations tax clinic resource library Lots to offer and I welcome you all to check it out And we have financial aid for dues and fees for anything that a fee is charged for Available to everyone. So thank you again for your past support. And I'm happy to field questions for RNA Um, I know many of you here would be happy to give a testimonial to Any questions or further discussions with regard to article seven? See none hearing none all those in favor of Adopting article seven, please indicate by saying aye Although supposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have passed article seven Article eight floor vote shall the town raise the sum of six thousand dollars for central vermont home health and hospice for operating expenses during fiscal year 2021 is there a motion to adopt article eight kim watson seconded by eric esselston Any discussion or questions with regard to article eight? $6,000 for central vermont home health and hospice Seeing none hearing none all those in favor of article eight, please indicate by saying aye All those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have passed article eight Article nine By the floor vote shall the town raise the sum of eight thousand three hundred and thirty three dollars As its fiscal year 2021 share of the annual ongoing costs of providing the green mountain transit community bus service along route two Was serviced into montpelier this appropriation funds a portion of the total cost of the service Which will also be supported by appropriations from other towns state and federal funds and rider fairs Is there a motion to adopt article nine? There's a motion by paul erbaum seconded by ken Any question or discussion regarding article nine? No Seth did mention something in the report about the park and ride and That was part of the select board report seeing no discussion of questions regarding article nine All those in favor of article nine for the sum of eight thousand three hundred and thirty three dollars Please indicate by saying aye All those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have passed article nine article ten Shall the town raise the sum of five thousand dollars for twin valley seniors ink for operating expenses During fiscal year 2021 a floor vote. Is there a motion to adopt article ten? That motion by andy christensen seconded by bob morry any questions or discussion regarding our um article nine Ten excuse me Twin valley and senior center, okay article ten as I indicated any discussion regarding article ten questions comments Seeing none hearing none all those in favor of article ten. Please indicate by saying aye Those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have passed article ten article 11 Shall the town floor vote shall the town raise the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars for cross vermont trail association to be used as part of the Up quite a local match Of federal grants for the construction of a stretch of the cross vermont trail Mostly in east montelier Including a bridge across the windowsky river. Is there a motion to adopt article 11? Paul airbomb seconded by ruben benet Any question or discussion regarding article 11? Nona ester Girl scouts, uh, nona is right here in the front Dear neighbors and friends I have the privilege of Becoming 80 years old this man And most of my adult years have been spent in east montelier Many most well, yes most Working to create a trail system. He's not clear trails and With the board All of that time since the first year This bridge has been a dream We tried and didn't make it about 20 years ago With a suspension bridge that sandy wood bet designed fish and Game had some concerns about something along the river and we lost our funding because timed out Here we are again thanks to a different organization cross vermont trail And cross vermont trail has raised the two million dollars We've spent a lot of it on preliminary work that uh now is ready to go If we make this contribution, I believe it's a match for the last 50,000 dollars is an anonymous match and greg western is here and we'll be happy to answer any specific questions I can't um possibly recommend more highly any project that Is near and dear to the arts and legs and health of Our town then this bridge Uh, it'll connect. It'll bring the two pieces of our town Uh together the west side here on this side of the one you see and the east side together On a bridge. It's a pedestrian bridge. It's a bike bridge. It connects to east montpellier trail system Finally Finally, uh, greg western has this I'd like to introduce greg. Where are you greg? I know you're here Yeah Greg western has done um if you ever walked the mallory brook trail and admired the stone stairs And the beautiful rock work that makes that trail such a gorgeous thing It was a wet as a bog when I first located that trail This is the man who did all this through cross vermont trail and Also on his own raising grants because for some reason he loves our trail system greg western Thanks. Um, I'm not a east montpellier Folder without objection Greg can speak hearing none And I would also say some folks in the back who had hands up Initially, I don't know if there's other folks who want I don't know if there's other folks who wanted to Talk before me Bob morey has his hands up go ahead great Say what you The expensive bridge which will cost Plus four miles of trail It starts at gallison hill road The trail it goes up to u32 And then down to the river Where the railroad used across the river, which is right by the uh drove down Right across the river from the cubo dealership or champagne value And then the trail will go between the road and the river For a couple miles to just before of vermont country campers And it'll cross the road there onto land Where we have an easement from of private property And then uh property of the town owns Um, and then it'll connect back up to um Fairmont farm and we're working with them about a continuation of the trail that's in process So the bridge is Um, where the old railroad bridge used to be you can still see the old stone bridge above it's there right by the liniski hydrogen the reason that the suspension bridge can't be used for the cross vermont trail is because um the On the north side of the river It's and actually I want you to get through country campers on the south side of the river The snowmobile trail the vast trail goes through farm fields or ad fields So it can't be it's just for the winter. It can only be used, you know when it's frozen. So, um, We looked at that And I was reading through my files from again, like no one was saying 20 years ago People looked at all all those other possible ways We looked in the 90s at having a shared trail vast and the for in the summer trail the four-season trail Um, and for various reasons it didn't it didn't work out. So we started How to build just the cross vermont trail which would be a four-season multi-use non motorized trail and um, we've raised and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for the design and engineering and permitting and we just received our active 50 permit and um our all the uh landowners involved in this project uh up to you 32 bridge over the river across route to have donated easements or a lot of it is state land So we have permission from fishing wildlife and agency transportation for the work along route to For the construction We have in the committed over 1.2 million dollars in federal money Which needs to be matched by local money. We've raised which is a little over 300,000 We've raised 277,000 in local money including, um, 15,000 from or 18,000 from berlin The trail is partly in berlin a little tiny bit. Um, uh, a little over 15 From mont pilier for the portion of the trail in east mont pilier and obviously i'm a mont pilier taxpayer, uh, but, um Mont pilier has paid a lot more than that obviously through the trail That's actually in mont pilier. Um, and uh, so we're we're in the closing Last lap 25,000 dollars to go then we'll go the big packet is ready to go We can advertise the bid and construction will start this summer Thank you Any other questions or discussion regarding article 11 rick barster Going down the road for maintenance or something like that, but do I understand this is Request just for this year I believe so as anyone have any further insight into whether or not this is more than just a request for this year has warned Great. Can you answer that or no no And our goal is to try to raise money and bring it to towns rather than ask towns for money um, although, um East mont pilier has been very generous And you guys gave us a uh, so not for operating costs not for ongoing costs. It's not that it's just specifically for this project um And east mont pilier has donated already a couple years ago And the difference between a couple years ago and now is the cost of steel Caused the whole price to go up by hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is crazy Uh, so that that's why we're asking anything Any other questions with regard to article 11 and stan Had her hand up and had her hand up I just wanted to mention some of you noticed that the east mont pilier signpost did not have a line item this year We had enough of a surplus that we thought we would give the town a break and the break is To the extent of $6,000 So we have $6,000 less that we'll be spending on east mont pilier signpost. So $7,500 that's you know That's that's not a motion, but that's it's good information. Thank you. Nona estrin boy. That was nice to hear Um, I would just like to say i'm I think that was a great question. What about maintenance over the years? We're concerned about things like that. I can speak to that question We have worked with cross-ferment trail and redwestern for years on things that didn't cost as much as this bridge But cost $25,000 or $15,000 that we raised funds for Every time we've partnered with them or they've decided that we have a problem on our trails that needs fixing They raise the money without even asking us So I have a history With them that tells me that we aren't going to get hit up for For Whatever in the future Yeah, okay. Thank you. Um, thank you for that information. Mr. Mori had a question Bob mori Hang on. We gotta gotta run. We gotta run the microphone over bop to get the volume over to this side Over there by the door with the blue jacket Please Thank you. Okay, bob I live along route two and I travel that road daily sometimes multiple times a day My observation is that red trail coming out of east m- out of montpellier toward east montpellier I have seen a total of two people using that trail in the time that it's been open So i'm not so sure we should be spending money to connect to a trail that has so little traffic The other thing that concerns me is the comment about We aren't going to be packed for any additional expenses in the future That's the same talk I heard when the fire station in east montpellier fire department building was proposed And I just want people to think that Yeah, you could spend 7500 today, but I could almost guarantee you won't be the end of Ask request for appropriations in the future Thank you Nora duane And then in the back Against the wall, um, I am someone who uses the trails and he's not clear a lot and I think that Trails and mountain biking and mountain running and walking and being out in nature Brings a lot of people to communities And having this connection with montpellier And maybe you don't see me on the trail, but people use these trails a ton And as you know, there's a lot of talk in vermont about young people moving in and i'm not that young anymore, but younger Today today's Nora's birthday Um Things like trails are a huge draw I work at spalding as a teacher And a lot of the younger teachers that have moved to vermont move here for things like trails And that's a huge selling point. So the fact that we would be connected And we wouldn't have to leap our bodies over mallory brook because we love that trail is a huge thing So people use these trails a ton. So that's just my two cents So thank you for organizing and asking for this. Thank you Uh, I had a person up against the wall in the back. She's please state your name. Yeah, I'm clares cutler. Oh, hi And I'm a new resident of east montpellier And I moved here from brollington I grew up in vermont, but I just wanted to say that part of the reason why we bought a house in east montpellier It's because of all the trails. So thank you. Okay. Thank you Um, bob, you had your hand up. I don't know if there was somebody else who hasn't spoken gentlemen in the back corner Please on article 11. So just state your name. My name is clipp graphburn. I moved from buried specifically for the trails when we were house hunting because we I lived in buried for 10 years And the property taxes and it was ridiculous, but anyways when I was house hunting I moved this area for the trails and the community but The woods I think it's worth it raises property values and it just Makes it a greater better place than all the other places where we were house hunting Thank you Bob you had your hand up you had a comment you all said Anyone else with regard to article 11 before we vote on the floor with this appropriation mrs. Canaveral So you call the question Um, because there was that needs a second. Is there a second? No Second Richard Um, all right Shall we proceed to article 11? All those in favor say aye. Oh, but proceeding to article 11 All those in favor of proceeding to article 11 say aye Okay, we're going to proceed to article 11 article 11 7500 for cross Vermont trail associations been moved and seconded all those in favor of article 11 Please indicate by saying aye All those opposed say nay The ayes appear to have it the ayes do have it and you have passed article 11 Article 12 Is the list of the funding request study committee recommendations It goes from page 9 on your report to the halfway down page 10 And there are 37 Individual line items each is a separate one, but the total is 21,541 $21,541 is the Article 11 amount Is there a motion to adopt? Excuse me 12. Is there a motion to adopt article 12? Motion by Ginny Callan. Is there a second to that Rachel Grossman? I saw floor out of the corner of my eye So we have a motion and a second with regard to Article 12 and the 37 organizations and amounts listed there in Any questions or discussions with regard to article 12? Yes Man back there. Thank you Just state your name and the Girl Scouts can give you the mic Is it on? It's on. I am Jackie Lee Hatch and I've been in East Montpelier for over seven years now, but I grew up here Many moons ago. So my questions are individual. I'm not sure what Big heavy world is Um circle on page nine. I don't know what that means. I think there might be Funding committee that might be request page 79 if I may okay, but is there people here to represent? Yeah, probably somebody from the fund To represent it, if you're asking for money, is there somebody here to represent these? I will ask is there somebody here from Big Heavy World who can address Ms. Hatch's Question is there any from anyone from the funding committee that can address or question lindy? You have your hand up. Could you answer that question kindly? lindy johnson Hi, i'm lindy johnson and i'm on the funding committee Big Heavy World was new last year and they're an organization who is putting together a preservation of music by vermont composers and vermont musicians and They approached us last year They had documentation of several musicians from right here in east fontillier who are part of their project And last year was the first year we funded them. They asked for the same amount this year They're doing it throughout vermont to create this database of music and support vermont musicians Circle used to be called the battered women's shelter And they have a new name So that was the other one or third one you asked about circles number nine lindy. Yes, okay. Thank you While lindy's up on her feet any other in let's miss hatch has some more questions Feel please feel free anyone anyone else have any questions about the Organizations listed and the amounts there for while lindy has the floor Anyone else? Yes, sir Yep, we have a question about number 18. Here comes the girl scout with the mic if you could just state your name, please Hi, my name is matt peak. I'm right 18 green mountain transit And I think we already voted on that. I'm not sure Lindy, do you know what the distinction is between number 18 green mountain transit and the specific warning article that the gentleman's referring to Under number article nine The number nine is the commuter bus that goes through the green mountain transit is The service for people who need rides to doctor's appointments or to senior center various Individuals who need transportation? We help support that so that they can get that ride for disabled elderly People who need rides through public transportation and we don't have public transportation Thank you Any other questions? Dave connor You do But you don't I won't be centaurian then I just want to say They used to be the director of the royal family center on this day We tried to tell our people that they could go home and go to their town meeting and not have to worry about losing their pay Many of the institutions that we're on these lists right now Are not releasing their people to be here who would loud and proud Explain what they're doing and how it affects our community and all of us So I just want to both thank this community for its support for all of these organizations But also say how difficult it is for people that are serving the many parts of the population That do that on town meeting day when they're not given a day with pay to come here and explain what they do Any other questions or comments with regard to article 12 While lindy is kindly available to do go ahead In response to the people coming here when we do get a new request We ask them to come to the committee meeting to explain what the request is Not just turn in the paperwork So any new organizations come to the funding committee in november when we meet Explain what it's for and how it impacts east mump hill year before it's put on here And then the committee decides if they ask for five thousand and we say no two fifties enough You know, they give us What they think they need and tell us how many people in east mump hill year It affects or that they serve before it goes on this list And there's a group of six of us I think five or six Who are on that committee? Thank you Any other questions or comments or discussion with respect to article 12? Seeing none and hearing none. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of adopting article 12 on the floor for the total of twenty one thousand Five hundred and forty one dollars. Please indicate by saying aye All those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have the past article 12 article 13 Shall the town as authorized by 24 Bsa section 4501 create a nine-member conservation commission Commission in accordance with title 24 chapter 118 Of the breman statutes and as you probably saw When reviewing your warning and your town report on page 15 There is an explanation that goes on for a couple of pages About article 13 So the question is is there a motion to adopt article 13 for discussion purposes Motion by bruce chapel. Is there a second to bruce's motion? I see mike dworkin on the second Discussion article 13. Can anyone speak to article 13 Set you want to begin just yeah Um So this is a new concept at this point Charles johnson brought to the slack board. He's here today So he probably would be the most qualified to introduce you to this article That being said, um The slack board doesn't have any Dog in the fight so to speak We have mixed opinions about this. We've gone back and forth arguing about it When we decided to put it on the article because we thought people would be interested in the concept And charles, uh, we've done done a lot of work in bruce hallett. They're both here They've done a lot of work on it. So I think they'd be best qualified to introduce you to the article Does charles or bruce want to speak to um article 13? Thank you. Uh, good morning, uh charles johnson. Um I'm not exactly sure how I got in this position um It reminds me of when I was in the in boot camp about 45 years ago Uh, I was the only one in my group that had glasses And I noticed I was getting picked on all the time Uh until I realized if I took my glasses off I looked like everyone else. So I'm gonna take my glasses Um, this really grew out of the, um I think it was called the conservation summit we had about four years ago where There was pretty strong support for The idea of creating a conservation commission We have a lot of groups In the town working on various conservation issues and they're listed in the in the town report And we felt uh over time that perhaps there wasn't The communication that was needed between these groups That there was a redundancy uh about issues. We have an example right now of the emerald ash borer is being handled by um One of these groups and the other groups may have interest in them, but we're not really talking about it So that's one thing the other was that uh The conservation commission would um Help in terms of outside contact with the town regarding projects There are uh opportunities for uh grant money that could come to a single entity It would be easier communication with the select board and the town Administrator so there's a lot of efficiency that could be achieved Um, but uh, we heard over time as well that there this might be perceived as creating Another level of bureaucracy within the town and make it more difficult to get work done There might be a loss of identity with a certain uh project that's going on now. So You know, we are open to uh discussion about this that I'm not I'm not pushing it. I just offering it in bruce and I work pretty Long and hard on this over several months, but we're not pushing it We're just offering us an idea that might help in our conservation efforts in the town. So With that maybe boost you have something to add So I've been in town for about five years and I have to say when I first got here I wondered why we didn't have a conservation commission and I know it's a lot of historical things Which Charles has a much longer history in town than I do the But for me, I mean my for my work my job title is conservationists It's what I do and to me the main value of having a conservation commission in town Is to have a single point a single group to to discuss in Conservation issues the broad range of things. There's a wide range of things that count as conservation and to Be able to affect it for effectively bring that voice to the town So that's really it is to me. It's about a stronger voice for conservation at the town level Any questions or for the discussion Nathan Phillips back back wrote I was just wondering if someone could elaborate a little on what Bruce just touched on Say he was surprised we didn't have one in regards to how prevalent these are I mean, is this something we are kind of behind on is this something a lot of towns have and Don't or would be on the new new edge of things adopting Yeah, there are a hundred. I believe at this time there are 120 conservation commissions across the state and There is an association of conservation commissions That would have a lot of information about their projects how they work successes and failures Helen and then Helen then that's it. Uh, this is the question that came up Let me just state your name for that. Oh, Helen Leibman Uh A question that came up in the pre-time meeting form that perhaps you'll be able to answer is there were some questions about sitting up a formal commission in compliance with the vermont statute versus doing an interim process of a year of a conservation committee that wasn't as formalized and typed a specific statute just to Answer whether or not that structure added to the conservation goals of the town and then returning to it next year So you could one of you could speak a little bit to the advantages of being formally tied to the vermont state statute with the commission versus setting up a committee for a year to look at these issues Can Bruce or Charles respond to Helen's question? So far as I know There are some advantages to having a full-fledged commission under the law The two that I can think of Is first off there are various sorts of grants Not large ones, but for various kinds of projects that the conservation commission can undertake And if it was an interim thing that would be hard to do that in addition Many of these grants having dealt with some of the state grants on conservation related stuff Those things take time They take time to prepare the grant proposal time to implement a one-year time frame is really not enough To for any of these things to go forward So my I would say that an interim commission Would be limited in the kinds of things it could do relative to a full-on conservation commission Betsy Barstow So Betsy Barstow and my question is with this new conservation committee So plant or do away with the other groups that are already working on Conservation issues or is it more of a place where people can come and communicate? Can anyone answer Betsy's question? Charles or Bruce Brax? I believe in the proposal it Existing Existing funds would remain with the with the group that controls them now And that existing Committees such as the conservation fund advisor committee the trails are not the trails, but the forestry committee might be Might be kept intact That would be I guess a decision of the select board whether the the committee would stay intact Or or would be Would would be assumed by the by the commission My hunch is that the existing committees would stay intact and do their job, but would report to of the conservation commission Jimmy Cowan and then the gentleman behind Bruce Right behind you sir There was a hearing about this What a few months ago probably that a number of us in town went to at the fire station Where we really kicked around this idea quite a bit and Edie at that time Edie Miller said, you know We've got people that have specific interests and expertise On many of our committees and that is a valuable Thing for our community to benefit from so I would just urge that if we do go ahead with the conservation commission That we do keep our committees and that they play a very vital role In the direction of our town Thank you, sir right here Our principal, uh Nope right here in the second row, please And we have a new runner. What's your name? Hazel Thanks, Hazel Go ahead Larry Fitch. Um, I'm just wondering if the committees the individual committees that exist now have they been contacted Are they in favor of this and are they concerned? of Having their input to the select board deluded by having it routed through this conservation committee Can anyone speak to mr. Fitch's question Charles? Yes, we've we've talked with with all the committees, uh and with Towns folks as well, uh, and there's generally broad support for this However Recognizing that there is that voice that that jenny Talked about that says we should keep the existing committees in tact to continue the functions Where where people's interests really lie if that's if that's the case Thank you Connery had your hand up then ellen canaver and bob I just want to remind people on the way down here I've heard I think somebody from the high school Maybe jan richardson something talking about the green new climate deal We have a whole new generation of people that want the planet and the resources of the planet saved And these commissions could be things that they could join and speak to the entire community through So i'm very strongly in favor of the commission idea Ellen before you there was a fellow right here. Do you have do you have your hand up? You're you're good. Uh ellen canaver I would um like to support jenny count's um idea or request um that the existing committees Stay in place within or maybe the Conservation commission is the umbrella for which they function under I worry that they will lose their voice as was mentioned and sometimes Bigger consolidating is not always better It seems like an awful lot of work for this one commission to undertake And with it being very difficult to get people to volunteer For commissions and groups anyway that if we have people in our town who have expertise And interest and working on these separate committees, but not the whole thing I think it's really important that we keep people involved rather than disengage the community which very often some bigger commission even though it's isma pillier and it isn't going to be some huge conglomerate Commission because we're a small town it is bigger and I think it just um Makes people disconnect more gives them more of an excuse to disconnect and if we have these people Already in place. I think we need to honor their expertise And keep those committees going Bob worry and then charles and then The bob Back corner right there by the door Then charles then gene this is bob go ahead I was impressed with the display out here that a tree committee has put together with regard to the emerald ash borer We have people on that committee that have specific expertise in that area and have done a tremendous job of Inventorying what we have along our roadways with regard to the emerald ash borer If we defer to a committee or I mean to a commission How do we assure that we as individuals have Provide that expertise to this group you look at the range of committees that they talk about replacing If those individual committees meet Periodically every month How can a commission meet that often? To represent all the variety of interests that we have with the committees in town I don't know of any committees that are lacking for volunteers and or getting input Into the situations we have in town And likewise somebody said how do you pay for this? Well, if you look at page 16 item number four this committee this commission is asking for appropriations for operating expenses including clerical help And it's going to be asked through the select board to support this effort I'm not in favor of adding another wine item to the select with budget to replace the work that Volunteers are doing in this town already Charles Johnson then gene this one Charles is right here in the front Those are good points First of all, maybe this is a point of order, but the article 13 As it's worn says create would create a nine member conservation commission That's not necessarily needed The I could offer an amendment, but I won't To create a conservation commission because the nine members a maximum under under state statute could be three members So the idea that this commission would replace all the existing committees. I don't think it's accurate It the existing committees could exist could make recommendations to a smaller smaller commission They could they could be like a Working committee that would carry on some of the more detailed work that's needed So it's not that these aren't replacing. I don't think So I don't know how you what would How you would handle the way the articles were to now This would tie us into a nine seems to me would tie us into a nine member commission gene pissering I um I am strongly in favor of creating a conservation commission. I think it's something that is Really Appropriate to our town. I Um I don't think it should be an umbrella organization for all of these These committees all do important things there is A lot of other things that a conservation committion commission could do Is independently of these other organizations that make sense for coordination, obviously between all those committees but for example We have a lot of conservative land. We have a lot of land that isn't conserved That we know very little about and it's one of the things the conservation commissions do They can get grants to inventory The value of some of these lands that we have so that for example the plan commission Trying to decide which lands should we include in a more protective zone It would be helpful to know Are some lands more valuable for others provide Different values for for the town Perhaps areas around rivers whatever but This would help us make decisions when I went land conservation Opportunities become available What are some of the real conservation values of these aside from just being open open land? So I think I I think there's a lot of roles For conservation commissions that could be really helpful for us as a town to understand our town better To appreciate the town better provide educational opportunities that don't Have for example on the emerald ashore committee, which I'm still a member of um We began thinking about invasive species but and the quality of those roadside environments Now all we're doing is removing ash trees. It's unfortunate It's something that needs to be done But it's not really looking at the the the bigger picture of those roadside environments so Anyone else I want to speak with regard to um Particle 13 Yes Brian correct. Yes Yes, Brian topar. Um, just a couple of words of clarification The statute quoted on page 16 says very clearly that a conservation commission may Request funding from the select board. I think that's entirely discretionary the way this is worded Um, and then on the question of the existing committees my understanding of the Proposal here is that it would be up to the discretion of the members of the existing committees to decide How they would choose to relate to a new conservation commission and I see Bruce nodding who said yes on that one Thank you Anyone else have any comments? Oh, I'm sorry. Hang on bob. Um No someone else Erica, is that Erica? Yeah, Erica had had her hand up Before you I'm sorry Erica Zimmerman and then Bob Just the Erica Zimmerman. I just want to add that I was concerned Um, two about replacing committees and at that hearing a couple months ago was reassured that Um, that was not necessarily the case. I just want to reiterate that Um, also I brought up some issues in the past that haven't had a place to go that relate to land conservation pollution non-point source pollution all sorts of things and Some don't despite all the number of great committees We have there are some topics that cross over them and that don't have their own committee And this would give those kinds of issues a home. I believe okay Do you have any brief comments or questions with regard to it? Nona had her hand up and then Ellen Knabler Nona and then Before we move to a vote if that's what we want to do or any amendments there, too Brief comment. We've gone from just a few miles on Fairmont farms to a huge Metwork of about 18 miles and we're kind of busy with that And we don't have any time to notice the grants that are flying by and are being taken Um to various different places in the state I think a group like this would probably have their here to the ground for Grants available and there are a number of different areas Such as gene suggested that the committees could use support You know, we wonder, you know, sometimes how much we're missing that is important to us So we have been in support of this idea Ellen, I'm sorry for your trails. Thank you, Nona. Ellen Anyone else before we'll try I just wanted to ask Jean if are you seeing this as Kind of a side-by-side with these other. Yeah, that sounds like a really great idea that I mean, obviously they're they're going to work together at some point But I think if it's a side-by-side Rather than the commission being an umbrella to all of them Um, I think that's something that I would support. So thank you for bringing that up, Jean Mr. Johnson Yeah, I've changed my mind I'd like to offer an amendment To article 13 and strike Create strike a nine member and just say create a conservation commission So most of my mr. Johnson to amend article 13 to strike the words create a nine member and leave it still as Conservation commission is there a second to mr. Johnson's motion scott. Yes We are going to have any discussion on the amendment before we vote and eric you have a question or comment on the amendment Eric supports the amendment Yes, any other questions or comments on the amendment to just have conservation commission rather than nine members Betsy And then eddie Charles, how would you feel if it just said up to a nine member then it would leave up to the discretion Yeah, the statute says three to nine apparently that's he's that satisfied your concern Yep, eddie miller. This is on the amendment to go from nine down to Uh commission which has to be in accordance with the statute which says three to nine Correct. Okay Can anyone address whether Uh creating the commission under the state law This amendment as this article suggests does that create any limitations or Boundaries that we Don't want to have Anyone have any insight into eddie's question about whether or not Acting pursuant to the statute creates limitations in addition to opportunities Can anyone think of any response that they know of? No one has in-depth knowledge of title 24 Alice agonies Alice Amy and my question is a follow-up to edie's I think if we try this out and It's wonderful. Great. If you try this out and we find barriers Can we as this community To do away with I would say the answer to that is yes Based on pursuant to procedures of petition and warning, of course. Thank you. Yeah Any other questions or comments bob Bob marie backed by the door blue This proposed commission is Under the leadership or direction of the select board. I believe is that the proposal? Intergesse and the chair the select board then I would like to know what the select board has for expectations of this committee Do we have a defined set of expectations by which we can see whether or not this is working? This proposed article doesn't Present a clear outline of what's going to be done. It says it may do this. It may do that It may have committees. It may not I just think we need more information To make an informed decision Before we leap into a four-year commitment to do something Can I have the select board respond? Sure if they can mr. Gardner? As you say We do not have that clarified on The mem a number of members or the expectations. This was just a concept and from the concept we would move to Uh establishing the commission but we needed to hear of course from the town To find out if they even wanted to pursue it So that was the first step was does the town want to pursue This concept and then from these guidelines we would develop the commission Uh as I said in the beginning about this article the select board never had a clear Um mandate whether they were going to support it or not they we just put it on the morning. We want to discuss it We knew richard would be we hope richard would be here and bruce hallett Um, there is some discussion among the members of select board pro and con about the commission just like most towns people have So that is our position We want to bring it to the voters and see where it went If I may interject while that was a good point because I was going to ask before we voted or even after You know Based on what set had said earlier Does the select board have a sense of the meeting with regard to how this vote may or may not go? And I think that answered that question. So thank you for raising that and I think You could petition for that. I guess the old adage is is that This is the warning right here after 2500 people who can or cannot and there's we've had so many debates about it Arrived today and whether something can or cannot be put on a ballot So it could be petitioned to be brought to the select board to have something like this in the future brought to Australian ballot for a ballady, but right now it's on the warning and That's where we're at. That's just my comment and you had a question and then floor had a question So let's go floor and If you stand up and then go ahead Go ahead Hang on. Nathan hang on. So just I can't I can't hear on that side. Can you state your name? Tim Frazier. Tim go ahead. Thank you Disagree and I agree with what Bob is saying on a lot of things There's too many people out here And if all you do care about the land and property, why is the town selling our land that I thought was for the future in the city? Listen Quiet Go ahead Tim Go ahead. No people couldn't hear what you said. I was just making a comment on what you said about it This just came in the mail. I agree with Bob I believe some things are getting thrown under the rug No, if everybody in here cares about land cares about trails and this and that Why are we selling our land that we just bought last year? I don't have the answer to that question I brought it up to you. Why I just got it in the mail. Oh, I know The stamp was way It takes about 10 days. Yeah. Does anyone have a question with regard to Tim's? A response to that's my point. You're asking me about it. You're on a committee You have every committee for every single thing You get together nothing against it. I love you Bob. I owe you lunch I am so for every trail you ask me to maintain trails work on trails over and that common sense I didn't go to college. Why would you build a trail on the left side of the river when all the other trails and won't appear on the right? Why should we put all this money into it? It makes no sense 1425 that's my address just send all your money I mean if you want to make it I'll give my shirt off my back to anybody that it makes no sense What's something you are doing? Listen to Bob. He's fine Any other questions or comments with regard to Oracle 13 floor. I'm sorry Oh, yeah, excuse me Thank you Richard the question is shallow Oracle 13 Be amended to strike the words nine member and go to Conservation Commission And keep that language so that's the question on the amendment by mr. Johnson any other discussion on the amendment to change the language from nine member to just conservation commission This is on the amendment not on the substance of article 13 All those in favor of amending article 13 to strike the words as warned Create a nine member. Please indicate by saying I I All those opposed to the amendment please indicate by saying name The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and article 13 is amended to read shall the town as authorized Create a conservation commission, etc. Now back to the main question Shall article 13 as amended pass and person next to Nathan had her hand up Just state your name, please and in Florida. Yes, my name is gail Johnson. I just moved here from hardwick this fall Hardwick the month obviously with respect to the listing of what the Proposed conservation commission would do I don't I've reading a list Of the items and I don't see that they may do it. I see objectives You know the way it's worked. Let me get my glass Making inventory making maintain recommend receive These are objectives just like you would write on a lesson plan for a school lesson plan They're not may Okay, they are objectives. I just wanted to Clarify that Okay, um Florida had your hand up and in front Corner, please someone back there had their hand. Yes I had a similar point that I I see this commission as being advisory when we worked a One person I did before coming here. We worked in urbanism In Europe and to do master planning you have to have This type of commission to be able to coordinate and it's pretty much Is the relationship the way that they posted and I know that Montpelier Wastefield and Sorrell other stone has one They the way they do it is to get more citizens involved with their natural resources So it does create kind of an umbrella, but it's powerful because you can't do more master planning and it's advisory They can't really they don't have any powers advisory Uh person in the back then women. Can you state your name, please and then mr. Kate after Paul Kate after me Hi, my name is Gianna Petito I just wanted to voice my support for the creation of a conservation commission as someone who works professionally in natural resource Conservation work and professionally with other conservation commissions across Washington county, Asian and county in a few towns in orange county Um, I I would reiterate that there are a lot of concerns natural resources concerns that just aren't quite met There are gaps. There's a lot of opportunity for work in water quality and storm water Um that we don't quite have a house for and a home for that specialized expertise is not quite there yet So I'd like to reiterate support for that um, I also would like to say The way the language is written in here I think creates some flexibility for the commission and I don't think I would support More stringent language on specifically the tasks that would be at hand because natural resource concerns are ever evolving Um and things are always coming up that we start to see any threats changes Um, so I would support a more flexible language to what this commission can address. Thank you. Thank you Reuben Bennett And then mr. Kate Zoey Reuben right there in the front, please. Thank you Reuben Bennett, so um hearing all of this There are a bunch of committees that do a bunch of very specific work in town and It seems like the my my Fingernail deep summary of this is that this appears to be the commission or organization that the town could form That going to tins point would sort of Bridge all of the silos that are in place And give that one place for all of this information to pass through and I actually think that's a really good idea We all get a little myopic. We all get a little focus on the things that we're doing And having some little more broad scope hearing that there are things that are happening in town that there's no Place to go to that are conservation related um And and hearing this sort of idea of an umbrella that Betters the communication between these different organizations just sounds like a win to me. There's no cost There's really no risk. We can disband this If we decide that it isn't working So it sounds to me like this is something that We should give a shot Thank you Paul kate had his hand up in the back and is that zoe christensen. Yes, you'll be after paul and then julie. Thank you Mr. Kate Thank you I wonder if this Addition of more Your accuracy if you will is Going to be worth the difference in how Much we're going to gain I think there's This talk about doing things because it's going to make it more efficient But we're going to create more bodies That have to keep track of each other and I Sometimes there's trouble giving enough people on some of these committees And these committees tend to be set up To deal with a particular issue and so people who are interested in that issue Join the committees Well, we're diluting that in a way and I happen to be on a couple of these groups and I'm just wondering if I'm not Particularly interested in spending a bunch of time dealing with with Other things that don't interest me as much I'm trying to do the job for the committee that I'm on And so it makes me think Well, maybe my time has gone, but I'm not you know Not to say that there aren't some things that could be positive in this, but I'm not sure that it's a win-win all the way around when we Try and get that many more people involved I'm all in favor of more people being involved But so it sounds funny to say this, but I think we may be duplicating More In the long run and then what we're expecting to gain like this So thank you Zoe Christensen Julie Helen Zoe Christensen I know that it can feel easier to take Not strict language to figure something out like this, but I think the very vague wording of The cc may On the top of page 16 the may which refers to All of the bullet points following I think that it could be worth the while to make an amendment to make Slightly less vague language there because the may could refer to anything and it could make it potentially more difficult for the different committees to interact with the Puzzle so I would like to propose some amendment to the word may I don't know what that would be That'll be um Will or um could Or not even could because then it's kind of the same as may But perhaps, you know I think It would take some time but just specify and say the committee will Do x y z or may do x y z but to have may for everything is does seem Great You know That's um adapted by the statute and it's not the language of article 13 itself. So I think the motion Is out of no is not germane to the article Sorry, not germane. I can be challenged on that Moderator can always be challenged as long as it's not contrary to state statute. Um, thank you. Um Helen you had your hand up Oh julie I'm sorry, julie right here Julie Porter. I'm julie potter. I'm chair of the planning commission um last fall prior to the Town forum that the select board hosted the planning commission did review the proposal and met with Brutale to discuss it and we were looking at it from a very specific viewpoint, which is Are there things that having a conservation commission? That they that they could do that would Make it better or worse For the planning commission to do the planning commission's job And in discussing this we realized that there's a number of the That long list of may that comes straight out of statute that just empowers Saying a conservation commission could do those things But we looked at those and we realized that there's a number of Of those may do tests that Some of them are sort of falling through the cracks in East Montpelier And would be beneficial to the planning commission if we had some place to go to to say As we're looking at the town plan and trying to figure out what should happen where in town Are there areas that have specific environmental values that should be protected? And we should have the town plan say that and as we were trying to work through those issues um We did not have a specific entity in town to go to that had the expertise and felt authorized to be able to Answer some of the questions that we've had um so Having some body that could do inventories and had that kind of expertise would be useful Having somebody who could do environmental evaluations on an advisory basis would be useful for the planning commission Having some entity to go to To cooperate us while we're trying to figure out environmental issues in the town plan or in zoning Some group that could take on some of the educational material issues Which for example, the resilient roads committee has done an excellent job dealing with trying to get materials pulled together for addressing the animal dashboard But that's not the only area where we might benefit from having those sorts of things done The planning commission also took a look at our adopted town plan And there are over a hundred action items in the town plan 29 of them are things that would be relevant for a conservation commission to do Now some of those are being done by some of the existing committees But there are other ones where We struggled to find a home to say this is who should be taking that on And by default some of those are Tasked to the select board which has their hands full of doing all sorts of other things and really doesn't have Time to make sure that those projects advance But nevertheless, these are things that in the process of developing the town plan and taking it to the community And having the town plan and getting adopted. We said these are important actions to get done And a whole bunch of them don't have a home really right now And so having a conservation commission to provide that home and to be a resource To the other groups would be really useful at least this was the viewpoint of the planning commission And so conceptually when we discuss this the planning commission support the idea of having the conservation commission Helen you had your hand up Or over here Thanks, Helen Lehmann. Um, this is just following up on paul's point And I think it connects to this last point as well, which is that I share His concern about volunteer capacity and what we're asking for from our volunteers But I reached the opposite conclusion, which is you know, someone like me I have time and capacity to do manual labor on the trails, right? And no no should call me and I would volunteer for a community that does that I don't have the capacity to look at the bigger picture of how all these trails map together and what the implications are for conservation Those bigger picture Questions, but someone should be doing it It strikes me and someone can correct me if I'm wrong that setting up this commission allows the volunteers and those other Committees to continue to focus on what they've been focusing on While not asking them to do the additional work of environmental assessments in that long list of names. So um, I guess I'm both Noting that that should be an ongoing concern for how we use our volunteer time and that this appears to solve Part of the problem of people have different capacities different attitudes different things that they're interested in doing And it allows us to find where we fit best in the constellation of volunteer work in the town Anyone who hasn't spoken on this before I call on people have their hands up ed black deegan And then bob moray had his hand up and then jenny callan had her hand up I went right here head Ed deegan Back corner, please the people would stand up. I think it's easier for the runners to see where to bring the microphone head you already said it's not germane to the question, but the the Will and shall wording becomes a real problem for the town rather than may Because once you vote on something that says well or shall it becomes an obligation for somebody in the town To tick that box off every year that that stuff was done Which falls back on rosie bruce and the select board that those things are being dealt with The may I like the wording as far in the way it is you don't want to box yourself in On the on that type of thing in general and in specifically in this case You know, I know mike said it wasn't germane anyway to the question But I think you want to keep just your box open as much as you can with us Bob mori then jenny count. I'm sorry Bob mori genie count This woman here, which is florid I can't tell you how disappointed I am to hear a planning commissioner say that they're letting things slip through the cracks And to hand off something that's slipping through the cracks to another commission Just doesn't seem to make sense to me If things are slipping through the cracks then bring that to the attention of the select board and deal with the issue I don't understand people saying well things are slipping through the cracks I've served on a number of committees when we had issues. We dealt with them We didn't let them slip through the cracks. What's that doll about creating another commission isn't the right answer Uh, jenny count if you could stand so then the runners can see thank you to whom to bring the microphone Hi, I was going to propose we call the question maybe after the next speaker that you identify already speaks Um, well, um, you can only call the question when you have the floor So you have the floor and are you calling the question? That requires a second Seconded by this gentleman right here Oh Yes, sir Mr. Ag Mr. Ang Um Call the question means end the debate which is more harsh way of saying a call the question There's it's non debatable But it's because we are ending debate it requires as you know a two-thirds vote to end debate and go right to the language So there's a motion and a second to call the question All those in favor of ending debate need a two-thirds all those in favor of ending debate and the moderate voice Please indicate by saying aye All those opposed to amending Ending the debate. Please indicate by saying nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it in regard to two-thirds According to my hearing unless someone wants a division. I hope not Um Cust the question is now called and we move to the substance of Article 13 as amended Shall the town as authorized by title 24 create a conservation commission in accordance with title 24 chapter 118 Are you ready for the question all those in favor of adopting article 13 as amended? Please indicate by saying aye All those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have adopted article 13 Article 14 non binding business But it says shall the town shift the timing for the annual free town meeting informational forum from the saturday preceding town meeting to a regular or special select board meeting No more than 10 days prior to town meeting this question came up at last year's town meeting. I understand from meeting the select board's Going to one of the meetings that this has now been put on for consideration I think it's here for it's non binding the select board has the authority to do this But since it was created by a vote, I don't want to speak with the chair I think the select board wanted to hear from folks And so is there any discussion on this non binding question about shall we switch the informational meeting from the saturday before to a Select board meeting prior to town meeting any questions discussions. Charles johnson I think it's that's a wonderful idea Last year's minutes reflect that mr. Johnson was the one who raises But any other questions or discussions regarding this non binding item That the attendance At the saturday forum Has been going down every year. There was 15 people at this year We're hoping by moving it to a select board meeting, which is in the evening more people may come That's the thought behind it. We have to have an informational meeting. It kind of made sense to do it in the evening Maybe we'll get more attendance. So that's kind of the thought behind it We're not trying to be undemocratic. We're just trying to change it up a little bit and maybe have more participation I'm going to step out of my role if i'm allowed to I went to the select board meeting One or two of them prior to the um writing of the warning so I had a sense I was pretty impressed how much information I got going to the select board meeting prior to town meeting because a lot of this stuff was discussed In detail with various points of view. So I don't get to vote on it I don't get to try to impress anybody about it but I got a lot of information going to the select board meeting on that evening One or two meetings before the town meeting just wanted to put that out there Any other uh, yes, ken If you could stand and then they can see you Ken Hurts Is there room at the select board meeting for attendance? Yes Any other questions or discussion with regard to the non-binding article 14 before we move on We're going to vote because it says shout, but it's non-binding Anyway, there is a state law. Let me just say this. I'm not the lawyer for the town There is a state law that requires there be an informational meeting within a certain period of time before Australian ballot money issues come up. This is what This would do I'm not the town attorney Bruce hollett I just want to agree with what set just said Saturdays are hard for me to get there evenings are easier So I think that's a good idea Any other questions or discussions before we vote on article 14? Seeing none Hearing none. Now you're ready for the question. All those in favor of article 14. Please indicate by saying I Those opposed say nay The eyes appear to have it the eyes do have it and you have adopted article 14 I'm going to try to kill about three birds with one stone with respect to lunch and our Able school board members and our state representative So other business Which cannot be binding no action can be taken under other business I'm going to ask Kimberly. Are you staying for lunch? Okay, could you address the crowd for about Two or three minutes? And then hang around At lunch and people can speak with you and we're very pleased that you're here from our rep for middle sex So then we can go to lindian floor Thank you, everybody two three minutes. My name is kimberley jessup I'm in the second term estate rep for east montpellier middle sets And what I thought I would do is to give a brief Overline of the four bills that I was prepared to talk about and feel free to hit me up at lunch I also by the way posted yesterday in the front porch form and included a link to my town meeting legislative report That has further detail So the four that I want to hit are the global warming solutions act the act to 50 modernization tax and regulation of cannabis and raising of the minimum wage And I'm very mindful of the fact that others also want to claim this other space. So I don't know if you want me to try to do a sentence or two launch on each of those Um, okay. So briefly global warming solutions act in the past we've had this aspirational goals They've been in statute since 2006 what the global warming solutions act does is to give those some teeth and it does so by through the rulemaking process and creates a Right of action a cause for action for a citizen to be able to go and to sue the state of vermont And that is not let me be clear that is not for monetary damages But rather to accelerate the rulemaking and to hit the targets that were laid out Um, and I would just add that a number of other states have done that most specifically our neighbor massachusetts They had a 25 reduction in their greenhouse gases at the same time. They had economic growth along the same trajectory So plenty more to talk about at lunch if you'd like to act 250 modernization that one just hit the floor in past last week Basically, what that does is seek to add a few extra criteria on to what we do with act 250 specifically things like habitat preservation forest fragmentation Things that are largely related to climate change One of the things that might be of interest since we're at a town meeting there is going to be something that is new It's called an enhanced village designation and what that does is it allows A village center or a town or a neighborhood as I understand it to be exempt for mac 250 and They're opposing cons to that and to be clear It's not something that a village or town has to do this came to the legislature from the rural Development caucus that represents a bunch of small towns and they thought this was a good idea There are A bunch more things there are flexibility for the forest products industry given climate change. There's a lot of variability in terms of whether the ground is thawing whether it's hard enough and so there's a A greater degree of flexibility in terms of permitted hours of operation and delivery of wood heat fuels And that's from the period of october 1 to april 30th There's also some language in there about Expanding act 250 reviewed within 2000 feet of highway interchanges. That's largely because we seek to Make vermont a tourist destination where you're not bombarded by billboards and it seeks to uphold that And then the final thing I would say since we've been talking on the issue of trails there was a case where There was a question of whether act 250 jurisdiction applied to trails And so there is an amendment that was accepted on the floor to this bill That would say any trails that were created after 2020 and Disrupt more than 10 acres could be Subject to act 250, but There's going to be a working committee and they're coming back with a report in december of 2020 So there's a lot of players engaged in that and That may be something that people in this room want to engage in in some fashion as well Real quick minimum wage You'll know that we currently have a minimum wage of 10 96 And the first of january that would rise to 11 75 and on january 1st of 2022 That would rise to 12 56 in 2023 it would rise according to the consumer price index Or five percent whichever is lower That you may recall was vetoed both the house and the senate voted to override that veto And so that will become law Unlike one other piece which is the paid family and minimum wage Which also was vetoed after being passed by both the house and the senate The veto starts in the chamber that where the legislation Originated and I'm sorry to report because I happen to be a strong supporter of that that we failed in the house by one vote So that does mean that that is dead for this time, but We hope to see it again in the future and then Just very short tax and regulate cannabis. You may recall in 2018 That we allowed personal cultivation What this does is in effort to bring a lot of that into the regulated market So that those who choose to consume cannabis can do so in a way that is safe and healthy And that there is also opportunities for small group growers and others who would like to partake to engage in this state system It does allow towns By vote to choose to opt in That was a that was something that people are really worked out worked out in There was a lot of back and forth on that and in terms of the retail sales The way that it works is that it will be subject to a 14 percent cannabis excise tax 30 percent of which would be going for prevention There's also a six percent sales use the sales use tax in entirety will go to the education fund Where interestingly enough New experience for me being on appropriations We put a firewall of sorts around that where we said it must go to after school programming And I for one think that's really great because I think a lot of times youth are looking for things to do And that's the reason they may turn to things that are less healthy or desirable I think i'm Going to wrap it up right there. I'd say there's a there's many other bills that are on deck We when we go back we're going to hit crossover Four days later and one of those bills There's a bill of rights for older americans And that's really creating a statewide blueprint trying to engage philanthropic groups trying to engage community groups Trying to engage state and federal government so that folks are on the same page and to create safe guardrails and to create Financial stability all the things that you would want in a demographic that is expanding in the age group as vermont is So I personally am very excited about that and I hope it makes the crossover And then the one final piece that I will say is in rural health care There's been some good work on that and there are currently ongoing discussions about how to meet the shortage that we're facing for both primary care docs as well as for nurses And I expect that we will see something out of that Prior to crossover. So again, I'll be there at lunch and I'm happy to talk more in detail With anyone who's interested and I just want to also thank all of you Who are in touch with me throughout the session? It's super helpful to get your feedback and all the questions and issues that you flag. So thank you very much Thanks to very very much For lending could do their presentation and then when that's done if there's any other business Under other business. I don't know if there is we can then adjourn at following that. So that's the plan absent an objection and Collin is calling somebody up Give the front microphone lindy And I'll turn it over to you Thank you Oh, before I forget, Kimberly somebody did have a question about havin the roads. So you might want to stick around for that question Okay, great Okay, thank you floor So I have a quick proposal since we our Presentations between you and lunch that we show this live show and I'll read a brief statement Page 20 has the budget and we're around for questions. Does that make Yes, that does. Thank you and page 20 of what document floor That one that came up. Okay. Thank you The slideshow was put together by alicia lyford the principle to highlight the year like we've done at town meetings in the past Because of the merger the annual meeting was all five towns and it was last night But we wanted a presence at town meeting But with all the newness it wasn't warned in that sense because we were coming around and Clearing out all of this and what an annual meeting is now that we're Emerged district So there were some mistakes made that we're fixing We're hoping to get the information back in the town books like it was in the past That was something that came up at the last minute And we heard loud and clear that it's needed and wanted we do have the I have some copies of Salaries and numbers of people working in this school If people are interested in that it used to be in our book and it wasn't this year And we heard some people wanted it So I did make a few copies the salaries are actually all six well five towns Employees at the district, but alicia put together a list of the fte's of people working in this school So this like show has no music. So while it's playing just look at that and I'll tell you about the school So Since our merger last year we have been working hard to develop a shared understanding of equity issues across our schools This is the first unified budget that we're presenting in washington Central it where all the principles got together and In discuss what was best outcomes for all our kids We have come a long way and we're In how do we understand and we believe that we want what is best for all our kids across our Elementary schools our middle school and our high school This budget supports a strong. We got some questions yesterday at our meeting of what this budget Supports so this budget supports a strong multi-tier system of supports in all our schools. What is that? We're working hard across all our schools to make sure interventions are in place For getting kids up to speed on their learning before they fall behind as well as helping kids exceed the expectations We're supporting professional development for our teachers and giving them the collaboration and plan time So they can teach with intention. We're using trauma for practices across our schools We continue to be in support of the arts music and athletics plus our after school program The budget is an affirmation of our desire as a board to have better outcomes for all our kids Without sacrificing the experience that they have at school Thank you and for and let me say they would be Here during lunchtime everyone had given specific questions Article 15 in each other business to be transacted and properly comes before the morning. Yes The town thank you. Hi, my name is matt peak I just want to comment about a recent article that was in the signpost Not this one of one before that was about sandy conty that carl had written I guess I would like to say thank you for what you wrote about sandy in your in your report Seth I appreciate that Um, I don't think that it was very good what the article that carl had written in the signpost I think that there needs to be a little bit more scrutiny about what people write about other people in the town Um, sandy did a really good job more than once for our home our dog to us Um handled issues in the town and I just think that He was owed more than an article about going in the signpost like that and I would just like to say that Um shame on us for allowing an article like that to be written in the signpost and everyone to read it Thank you. Any other Matters under other business non-binding before we adjourn Seeing none, um, I would entertain a motion to adjourn Motion by mike dworkin seconded by donna welch any discussion If not all those in favor of adjourning, please indicate by saying aye Those opposed say nay the eyes. Oh one other thing under other business Rachel grossman was getting the food out wanted to thank the town for having such a nice cover on the town report absent anything else The motion is passed The meeting is hereby adjourned at 12 13