 All of this meeting of the city council to order for June 28th, 2023, Raj is on vacations that you guys get me tonight. All right, so the first item is any agenda additions or changes for counselors. I have a lien just coming shortly. So, um, Andrew or Marcus, do you have nothing for me? No, not for me. Thank you. Okay, I was just going to remove the minutes from June, the June 14th meeting and I'll put those on as agenda item or business item. Some couple of minor changes, I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda amended. So moved. I'll second. All in favor. Aye. All right, so we are on to the public to be heard. I don't know you're just going to have to help me if there's any public there, but this is the time of the meeting in which if anyone wishes to face something about a topic that is not on the agenda, please feel free to raise your hand, raise your hand and zoom world or raise your hand in the room and the folks in the room will let me know that you want to speak. No hands in the room. Don't see any hands on the room. So we'll move forward with the resolution of appreciation for Howard Kimball. Let me get this up on the screen. All right. So Chelsea is on with us but Howard has been with us at the wastewater treatment facility for 39 years and retiring in July. So we've got this resolution on there. Chelsea, anything you want to add? Sure. He is watching remotely on YouTube, what I was told, but he's been the second longest tenured employee at wastewater and I'm pretty sure he's up there with city employees. And he was really the caretaker of our lab. He's been in there for over 30 years and did an excellent job. We always get compliments during tours on how clean and organized our lab is and that's solely due to Howard and the private taste in our lab. And we're definitely going to miss his historical knowledge. One fun fact that wasn't in this resolution that he reminded me. What a cliffhanger. Oh shoot. Chelsea, we lost you on what the fun fact was. It was that he came up with the name for the city council, or not city council, city tv show, jumps on the city news. Yeah. You're the clerk, right? I call new guy. All right. We'll do it. Whereas Howard Kimball was hired by the city of Essex Junction as wastewater operator on December 17th, 1984. As since that time, Howard's attention to detail and in-depth knowledge in wastewater treatment has led him to be the lead operator conducting daily and weekly permit required laboratory tests for over 30 years. Whereas Howard will retire on July 7th, 2023, with 39 years of dedicated service, leadership, knowledge and experience at the wastewater treatment facility. Whereas annually, Howard conducted and passed environmental protection agency tests certifying the facility's laboratory to continue internal operations. He also served as an early member of the department of environmental conservation lab standards committee, providing important input to lab methods. Bill used at the wastewater treatment at wastewater facilities today. Whereas Howard was a founding member of the city's employee association. Participating in several rounds of contract negotiations and served as president of the association for over 10 years. Whereas Howard was an active member of several trade organizations, including the New England Water Environment Association and Green Mountain Water and Environment Association. Where he helped organize bus trips for wastewater operators to tour Deer Island, Boston's wastewater treatment facility. He was a member of the operations team called Sewer Marines representing Vermont and New England at regional and national wastewater operation challenge competitions, placing in several categories. Whereas Howard received the Andrew Fish Laboratory Excellence Award from Green Mountain Water Environment Association for exceptional performance in lab operations in 2008. Whereas Howard's dedication, tidiness, passion for process control and historical knowledge of the facilities will be tremendously missed. Now therefore be it resolved on this day, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The Essex Junction City Council expresses its appreciation to Howard for his dedicated career at the Essex Junction wastewater facility. We thank you for your time and service to our community. The things that we don't have to think about that get done. Just amaze me. Thank you, Howard. Thanks, Howard. Thank you, Howard. Amber, can I ask a quick question of Chelsea? Yeah. Uh, Chelsea, I'm curious if you could elaborate a little bit for those watching about just how important those daily and weekly tests are to the overall health of our community. That is, they're critical. That's what keeps the wastewater plant running. So we know we're doing the right job in feeding the water that's going back into the Wynoski River. So it is really the most important part of the wastewater facility. It's like the part of the facility, really. Thank you. Just wanted to make sure everybody watching knew how truly important Howard has been to our community and the function of that facility. Yeah. Thank you. Absolutely. Anybody else have anything? Thanks again, Howard. Thanks, Chelsea. All right. So we have 2 public hearings tonight. The first one is a public hearing on the large water utility rate. So I won't open the public hearing. Do we need to make them? Do we want to make a motion? Sorry, go ahead. Do you want to make the motion to approve of the resolution? Oh, yeah. Yeah, we might want to do that. We'll be back. All right. We'll let somebody else report the motion. I will go ahead and make the motion that we that the city council approve of the resolution of appreciation for Howard Kimball. You know, I'll take this opportunity to second it. All right. All in favor say aye. Aye. Thank you for that, Andrew. All right. I think now we're back to the public hearing. Regularly scheduled programming. All right. I'm going to share my screen here. So we have the FY24 water, wastewater, and sanitation rates setting tonight. So the public hearing has to do the prior review of those rates as calculated. The FY24 combined rates are an increase of about 12% over the current FY23 rates. Average cost to a user who would be about $657 per year or about $55 per month. So the next slide shows all of the rates in detail for each fund. We fix charges and usage charges for each. Total combined increase over last year's combined rates will be about $70 and 72 cents per year again for the average user on the system. So the water rates have projected, not projected, they are increasing the 18% or about $46 per year. Due primarily to the reasons that are on the screen here, we had operating budget increases. The wholesale rate that the city pays to Shipland Water District increased by 9.5%. And we also had some planned increases in additions to our budget this year for capital and the Main Street Water Fund project. Our wastewater rates are increasing by 76% or just under $9 per year per user or per user. And these are primarily, if you'll recall, back to all of our budget conversations because we can increase the wastewater treatment facility budget for operating phosphorous supplies, chemicals, and equipment. And then we also have a planned increase to capital in this fund as well. The sanitation rates are increasing just under 11% or about $15.56 per year for a user. This budget increases primarily driven by those administrative fees, as well as some technical services that are related to our compensation communications. So the large water user rate is essentially just global boundaries right now in the city that pays this rate. There's an explanation at the bottom here, I won't read through the whole thing, but this rate is calculated to increase 27.7% over the current rate this year. And again, for all the reasons that the increases we're seeking on the water fund apply here as well. The wastewater treatment wholesale rate, which was presented to the tri-town committee a month or so ago now, is increasing 16.3%. And again, these increases are all related to the general wastewater operating increases that we went over on the previous slide. And that's it. I don't know if anyone has any questions. This information also was sent to global boundaries directly. So they are aware of this and have been in communication with them regularly over the last couple months. I would like to throw out one question just for clarification, especially for the public, when we're talking about large users and what that means and how they qualify. Because to think of global boundaries, it seems obvious, but at the same time, I think of other properties similarly sized with much going on. And I wonder if wide this one is the only one. Um, they don't have a direct connection to CWD, so everything flows through the city, the city water lines, why we do this pass through billing to them. Gotcha. Thank you. Yep. Andrew. Nothing for me. Okay. I will open it up for public comment. Is there anybody in the room who has any comments? No hands up that I can see. Nobody jumping? Okay. Anybody online? Raise your hand. Okay. I'm not seeing anything, so I will close the public hearing. If we've got, we're going to do the motion at a later point in the agenda. So we'll go to the next public hearing on part four minutes and minutes. So Amber Brad's here in the room. He's making his way up. Hey, Brian. Hey, how are you? Good. So you all discussed the ordinances at your last meeting on the 14th, and they're up for consideration tonight right now as the public hearing. Basically, there are three things in the packet, the current park ordinances, which you can see are very outdated. And then a marked up version of the ones you saw last time and the changes that were made and then a clean version is the third document. All of the changes that are in the marked up version and ultimately the final reflect either feedback from you all last time or feedback from legal counsel. So that's the impetus for them. If you have questions as to why some of them changed or the wording, feel free to ask. But there you have it. I've got it up. If folks want me to share it to just do a walkthrough or we can open up to public comment. I wonder if maybe, Amber, you don't want me jumping in. Brad, would you be willing to kind of go over the high points in terms of what may be more significant changes? I don't think changing from village to city is important. But yeah, the more important changes. Yeah, sure. So just kind of working our way through Section 301 actually defines the parks and names them. I know we had some conversation last time about some of those spaces that are least spaces. And I think ultimately where we landed is it clearly says West Street Dog Park. And so it would pertain to that space. Whereas when it says Maple Street Park, it includes all the facilities and amenities. I think the clarification there is that it includes our parking lot and all those boundaries. But when we talk about the West Street Dog Park, it is literally just the dog park. And so therefore, I don't think that clarification needed to be altered. Otherwise, as we work our way through, a lot of these reflect kind of current practice in terms of groups who want to use the space and have exclusive access that they need to apply and charges may be applied. And the park hours are the same. The restriction on motor vehicles is the same. We are proposing to change to permit dogs at public parks. Obviously they need to be on leash with the exception of the fenced in dog park. And there's also a provision here to allow the parks department to put up signage in parks where dogs would not be allowed. For example, playgrounds, ball fields, the swimming pool. Otherwise, disorderly contact is the same. We've made some modifications. I know Raj isn't here to the tobacco in marijuana. This reflects a few different policies out there and tries to incorporate that language. Alcoholic beverages, I think a change that they could be permitted with permission for an outside group from the director of permission for a rec department event from the city council directly. May I ask a question on that? So in the write-up, it specifically says beer, wine, you don't acknowledge liquor. I just want clarification. Are you saying that liquor is absolutely not permitted where beer, wine is? Or is there exceptions for any alcohol? Right now it's just exceptions for beer and wine. But if that's something that you would like to include liquor, I think the intention was we were going from absolutely zero, no time ever, to an exception for at least a beer and wine kind of event. Just to clarify, I was clarifying with my own staff, it doesn't mean that beer and wine are now permitted in the park or that people can bring them in or that somebody can have a baby shower in the back room and have wine available just on their own. They need to go through a caterer that's licensed by the state of Vermont that has alcohol related insurance and all of those things. So this isn't just mean that you can go rent the pavilion and you guys can bring beers and all that. And we'd need to be hosted by somebody who has a license to do that. With that level of what I can't figure out the language that I'm trying to, with that consideration in mind, I almost think it might not matter if it's beer, wine or liquor. If you're following those particular guidelines for an event and you're approving for it, I think it shouldn't matter whether it does or not. But I think in this particular case, I trust your judgment. I don't know if that, if you believe this is sufficient language for the types of events that come across for the parks and rec, then I'm fine with it as is. I really could go either way. We're just thinking like we're having the Algato food truck come for an event, but there could be an event where you wanted the Algato food truck to come and provide tacos and burritos and also provide margaritas, which would obviously be liquor and would currently be not permitted under these guidelines. So that would be a welcome change for us. But I think that's up to you all. I think that's probably a significant, I guess I would leave it to you, Regina, if that's a significant enough change to warrant having another public hearing at a later date or not. But I think our intention was to ease through and allow this to happen by just going with beer and wine. I think you're right that there are going to be lots of protections and it's not just people coming and pouring their own liquor and obviously something like doing margaritas or some sort of event like that could be of interest. Personally, I'd be fine with it. I mean, the event that you all had pre-pandemic with the barbecue event that I know initially I had a lot of reservation for, you guys really nailed all the security and made sure that the park wasn't rampant with alcohol. Yeah, I completely trust your judgment and would see that it would go through very well. I have no problems if liquor was... Spiritist liquors were included. And I think the simplest thing to do is probably not specify at this point and just say an event with alcohol and not enumerate beer, wine, or liquor. If that works for you all. I don't even know if there's another type. I don't differentiate. And then continuing on with any other significant changes, just some updated language about drones that was not previously included, language about metal detectors that wasn't previously included. And I think that's about it. No, I'm fine. None for me. Anybody in the room? There are no hands up in the room. Anybody in Zoom world? Yes? Yeah, I just have a question for Brad. I'm sure he's probably already been talked about, but not mentioned specifically in the ordinance is the insurance requirements because I know we also, you guys have some specific requirements. Not sure if it's worth mentioning that in addition to state laws and regulations. In regards to the permits or the alcohol specifically, Jess? The alcohol specifically. I think it would fall under if you, section 305 when it talks about permits says that the permitters may be required to sign an agreement with the city that contains an indemnity provision and may need to provide an insurance that names the city as an additional insured. I think there's some flexibility in there. Just in case VLCT changes their standards that we can update those on the go. But I think that'd be related to the permit, which would include the alcohol designation. Perfect. Thank you. Yep. I didn't see any other hands online, so I will close the public hearing on the park ordinance amendments and we'll be back to that shortly. We do now have a hand waving in the back. Oh, okay. That person can come on. Sir, if I, if I could just ask you to come up to the microphone, I just want to make sure that people online. Thank you. So is this the vent that's going to be serving alcohol? Is that a private security or is that our police department going to be used for security for the, is that our police department is going to monitor that and make sure it's all safe and everything? Or is that a private security going to come in and especially, you know, keep an eye on things? We would. You're asking if there is an event in which there's alcohol served for the security to be private or the public, or will it be the police department? Right. We have insurance for it, but is that going to tie up our police or is that somebody else going to be providing security? You know, when we did that event previously, it was, it was managed between recreation staff and the staff of the caterer of the vendor, who's ultimately responsible for the safety and that alcohol stays in certain areas and that people are ID and all those things. So it's really on on them. But we also make sure that we had some boundaries as to where people couldn't, couldn't go. So for things like that, you know, or certainly if it was a small private thing that somebody was doing, we wouldn't need the police. I guess I wouldn't say never because there could be an event that ends up being really big. You know, we recently had the Pride Festival and nobody knew how many people were coming. So if we were to put on some sort of event and it drew a huge crowd, then police, yeah, maybe, maybe active and involved in the park. Just, you know, I don't think it's necessarily alcohol specific. It's more about the events and the activities that are happening at the park and whether or not police think they need to be involved. So is there like fees and charge for this to pay for the police? Or is that going to be a taxpayer funded thing? You know, I don't envision ever allowing private events that would require the police to be there. It would be more of a parks and rec related function. And so I don't think there would be any charges. We do have an agreement with the police department that if there are certain events that happen that are outside of the normal and require additional policing, that there is potentially a fee for it. So that's kind of a structure is already built into the contract with the town. Let's kind of wait and see how it goes and ends up being more than expected. We're just not sure. You know, it's one of those that we wait and see and it's possible. But I guess I wouldn't say it's likely. Okay. Thank you. Public to be heard. Has I already been gone by? Or is that a lot on the agenda? It has, Andrew. Oh, okay. Yep. Any other public comments on the park ordinance amendments before I move public hearing? No one wants? Just the two changes I've outlined, Amber, are in section 315, subsection B, part A, replacing beer and or wine with the words alcohol being served. And same in part B, replacing beer and or wine with alcohol being served. And we're going to, we're going to talk about that. We bring that back in the business items. So this is just the public hearing and then we'll talk about, take your question to Regina also because do we need to warn another public meeting? So we can public hearing so we can chat about that in a few minutes. I don't see that anybody else had any other comments. So I will close the public hearing and we'll see you again shortly. Thanks, Brad. All right. So we will move on to business item A, which is the conversation with the ethics community historical sympathy. Hello, everyone. I'm Ann Gray. I'm a member of the board of the Essex Community Historical Society. And I have two other board members here with me tonight with Jerry Fox and Scott Taylor. And the reason that we're here is we had sent an email to the council members back in the spring. And it was suggested at that time that we come to a meeting and tell us what, tell what had we said in the email and also have you guys have the opportunity to ask questions. So I'm going to briefly review the email. The Essex Community Historical Society was formed in 1991. And the founders included the word community to emphasize that we served and supported both the town and the village. And the purpose of our email was to make all of the council members aware that we can, our plan to continue to do that, that we will support and serve both the city and the town as we go forward. We have board members from both municipalities. Right now, I'm the only one from the city. We did have Tim German, but he defected. He moved the way out. Anybody that's interested from the city that wants to be on the board, let us know. We do rotate our annual meeting. It's in October. It's the first Tuesday in October. And we rotate between the town and the city. We run the Harriet Farnsworth Powell Historical Museum up in the center. It's next to the library. And we do accept things into our collection from both the village and the town. Other things that we do in case you didn't know, you probably do, but we publish a newsletter twice a year. We sponsor a tales and treasures program series from May through October every year. It usually is that Memorial Hall, but this year we did have one at the Colbert room and we probably plan on doing that again, depending on what the availability is, is the two rooms. The last two years, we have put out a calendar as a fundraiser. And both the last two years, the first year, it was sites then and now. Last year it was businesses. And again, we split up six and six between the city and the town. This year or next year, how we want to look at it, the one we're working on now, but it was a 2024 calendar. It's going to be people that shaped the community, the Essex community. So that's a little bit harder to do have it six and six because when it was being shaped back in the late 1700s, it was just a town. But that will be coming out. We hope to have it ready for people to purchase in September. The big thing that we've been doing for the last six years, and we are so pleased to announce that the tower, the 40th and Ellen Water Tower, the repairs are being done as we speak. It took a long time, but we finally got there. And they are working down there now. If you want to go down and watch them, I know I've been down at least once a day. And I think Scott's been down and Jerry's been down too. So they're getting a lot of attention. If any of you, if you would like to have us put up an exhibit here, if you have an exhibit case or a table or anything where you would like an exhibit on the history, we'd be more than glad to do that. We actually have one that we did at History Expo down in Tumbridge several years ago that was on the businesses that were down on the river. And so that's ready to go. We could bring it down tomorrow if you wanted it. So I think that's all that I have. Jerry, Scott, you want to add anything? I'm glad to answer the question, but we can't. Yeah, so we'll open it up to questions. Anybody in the room have any questions? I have a question for those who don't know, how would they be able to learn more about the Essex Community Historical Society? We have, like I said, we run the museum. It's open from June, the first Sunday in June through the Indigenous People's Sunday weekend from one to four. And we're also open on the second Saturday of the month from one to four. That would be a good start to come there. We also have a webpage and all of our past newsletters are on the webpage. So you could go out to the CHS webpage and look at the old newsletters. That would be, the people would do that too. Ann, I'd love to congratulate you and Jerry and everybody in the Historical Society for your hard work in getting the grants that you needed to fix the roof of the water tower and just the really persistent work that you did to make that come about. So congratulations and thank you. Thank you. We had some dark days. That was actually several years ago. We were even considering sending the money back to the people that donated because we didn't think we'd ever get there. But the town came through with money in their budget and we got two big grants last year which put us on the top. So they're working on it now. That's great. Marcus. I am good at the moment. Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate you coming and getting us up to speed and forward to checking out the museum. Okay. Yes, please come. Sunday from one to four or the second Saturday from one to four. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We are going to go back to the discussion and consideration of FY24 utility rates. Jess is back in the house. I'm going to share my screen again for a moment. Can you guys see that? Yeah. Okay. All right. So there's one, two things. One, I'm going to answer this question for earlier. That magic number is $2.5 million per day that qualifies someone as a large user on the models. Just a couple. Yeah, just a couple. Not me. Not my house. You're going to use a little bit more water every now and then. Grass set, yes. With a lot of running toilets for that number. And then the other thing, I just realized in the memo that I under the first sentence, I referenced FY23 utility rates. If not, there is FY24. Everything else in the memo is references FY24, so it's good. But so this just summarizes both the fixed rate charges and the usage rate charges for all three funds, water, wastewater, and sanitation, as well as the large water user rate and the wastewater treatment wholesale rate. So again, average cost to a city resident using 100.1 gallons per day will increase by about 12% or $71 per year. The larger user rate is increasing by 3 cents for 1,000 gallons, 27.7%. And wastewater treatment wholesale rate increasing just over 58 cents for 1,000 gallons or 16.3%. Great. Any questions for Jess? I know we already had public comment, but was there anybody else that wanted to weigh in on the utility rates for FY24 in the public before we talk about emotion? Please raise your hand if you do. There are no hands in the room. Thank you, Andrew. I'm not seeing any online, so I will entertain a motion. I'll move to the city council approve of the FY24 utility rates as presented. I'll second. Great. All in favor say aye. Aye. No raise. All right. We're good to go. All right. Thank you very much, everybody. Thanks, Jess. Thank you, Jess. We're back to Brad again. Our ordinance amendments. So just those two changes from the current draft in regards to section 315. What is folks' thoughts about whether we need to have another public hearing on those minor changes or if we are good to just approve it tonight? I don't think they're significant, personally. Doesn't feel significant to me. I think you're good to just approve it if you want. Virginia, I don't know if I need to catch what you said. I think you're good to go to just move it if you'd like to. Okay. Was there any other comments from anybody, counselors? No. Thank you. Again, ask if anybody in the public has any comments on our ordinance amendments or entertaining motion. There are no hands going up in the room. None online, so. Entertain that motion at any point. I'll move the approval of the updates to the Essex Junction Municipal Organs' Chapter 3, Regulation of Public Parks, as amended. And I'll second. Are you all in favor? Hi. Hi. Who is? It's like we're good, Brad. Great. Thank you, Brad. Thank you, Brad. Thank you. Great. So next, we are shifting into the introducing consider appointments. And we have a number of committees. So just in general, we generally do these in open session. If someone feels that they want to or need to do their interview in the executive session, please let us know ahead of time when you're called up to the food table. I'm not going to go into any particular order except for what was presented to me in the memo. So we'll be the white walk-in by the committee. There looks like we're... Well, Regina, did you want to say something about this? Out in the appointments or trying to take away? No, I think we're pretty good. We've got... It's all in the memo there, but we've got a... The majority of these folks are we've got one... We've got the same number of applicants as positions, but we do have, for the Capitol Review Advisory Committee, three applicants for one position. And the tree advisory committee is three applicants for two positions. And as folks know, you also have the cab, which we talked about at the last meeting, and we'll be talking about that again at the end of July. We will also be looking at the Housing Commission probably at that point too, hopefully also with a charter for the joint Housing Commission at that point. So I'll just say generally for folks, we have the Housing Commission that we could use more applicants for, and we also still have out there the Chittenden County Communications Union District position also for a municipal rep for that. Great. All right, so we'll start with a white walk advisory committee, the two open positions there. We'll start with Phillip Beaver. Apologies for not being there in person. Don't worry. So we have your application. I'm just going to start with is there anything that you want us to know that is not any application? No, I pretty much said what I needed to say in the application. I will say one more. Actually, yeah, I will. Walking and biking is good for business. Driving is bad for businesses. When I'm going at 30 miles an hour down the road, there are so many considerations if I want to stop and get a car. If I'm walking, I have a block, two blocks, three blocks, to say, oh, I really want a cup of coffee. Oh, I really wanted a cup of coffee. Oh, no, I really want a cup of coffee. Oh, it's there. I'm going to stop again. Another thing is that we moved here not too long ago from Newsy, and when we arrived here, we put up Black Lives Matter and Pride Flags. Twice, they were cut down, right? The grommets were still on the floor. We decided to paint a mural to show that we're not going to be afraid. We're not going to be scared. I firmly believe that if the people who did that knew who we were and talked to us, had seen us in line at martins and had conversations with us, that wouldn't happen. So when I say that walking and biking is good for businesses, it's also really good for people. Okay, Mark, Elaine, or Andrew, do any of you have any questions for Phillip? I do. I would like to ask you, in reading your application, let me ask you for two quick examples if you don't mind. First, an example within the city that you believe we are immediately falling short in helping bike walk. And then if you can give an example of something you've seen in another community that we don't do, that you believe we would benefit from, can you give that example? Apologies, there's a child who needs undergrad. You did that. You know, you wanted me at Noble, Noble Council meeting today. I heard, Ken, is there examples of ways that we can make as a conjunction a more walkable and bikeable place and things that I've seen in other communities? Is, was that the gist of the question or was there an additional part? Yeah, no. If you can give me one example of some of an area in the city that we're currently falling short and one example from another community where you believe we can, that we could benefit from that example. Awesome. First one is bike infrastructure. When I say the word bike infrastructure, people automatically think bike tips. As the junction has bike tips, but there's, there's more innovative ways to do this than simply drawing lines in the pavement, which could potentially cut off parking for people who may need to park closer to businesses in order to get there. When I lived in Portland, Oregon, there were these beautiful bike tips that were put down on Major Street. In order to put out these beautiful bike lanes, they had to take parking away from a church. That ended really poorly. People were, people were not consulted. What Portland also did, which was fantastic, is they put small roadways at intersections. What these small roadways did is it needed annoying for cars to drive down these streets. People knew where these small roadways were and took other streets. So naturally, with fewer cars on these streets, they were more bikeable. This was bike infrastructure, specifically on a place like Pleasant Street, where I live, a small rotary at the corner of East and Pleasant would not only make people slow down on the street, but it would have people take alternate routes and allow bikers to not bike, to not have to bike on major roads. Did that answer your question? Yes, thank you. Questions? The only question that I have, since Marcus asked such a great question that I was planning to ask, thanks man. With what you talked about in terms of immediate things that we could do in Portland, Oregon, we don't quite have the budget that Portland has. So in terms of having great ideas, are you also, would you say you're somebody who is patient and willing to provide great ideas and also being okay that it might take quite a few years before some of those things could be implemented, if they were? I will answer your question obliquely and say that I was a classroom teacher for 10 years. Good answer. I'm all set. Thank you. Elaine, do you have any questions? I don't, Amber. All right. Thank you very much. Just so everyone knows, we do have an executive session. We're planning to go into executive session later this evening to review all of the applications for all of the different committees. So I anticipate that we will come out of executive session with a motion. So you should know, you should know in the next few days about your appointment for, yeah, I would say the next few days. Thank you for joining us. Appreciate it. And thank you for applying. And then we've got Rump, Miller, Jonathan, white wall. Russ is here in the room, Amber. Hi. Hey, Russ. Thanks for joining us. Thank you. So let's start with the thing, we have your application. Is there anything that you would like us to know that is not in the application? I've commuted to work since high school on bikes and in several towns. I've always been a volunteer, either Red Cross, professional committees. Oh, sorry. Students engaged in engineering. And I'm looking to have to get forward on a bike and walk committee. At this time. So I think I bring, as an engineer, I'm not a civil engineer. I don't understand roadway regs or any of that. I'm looking to learn some of that. But I do have an understanding of costs and not backing people into a corner as you're trying to get things engineered. So. Questions for Russ. Russ, I've got the same question I asked, Phil, which is again, if you're looking at the city, is there, is there one thing that you can potentially point at that you believe that the city is falling short in order to help bike walk? And do you, can you think of an example maybe in another community that you believe that the city could benefit from? Yeah. So what the city could do, what we could do is for events, we could have secure bike parking, because a lot of people like to bike. And it's a good way to get people out the first time, second time, third time. And they just don't know what to do with their bikes or where to take them. So there could be a cadre of volunteers in a tent to do bike check, like coat check for big or small events or just a weekend or something at the park. And I think that goes a long way to getting people out. I don't know if the city has a tent or not or what the infrastructure is that's available for that, but that's one thing. And then as a frustrated former Atlanta on bike, neighborhood bike committee, just connecting them or showing connections of them. I think that's helpful as well, so that a family doesn't have to narrow down, as you go down and say to the dam here, just a little bit more continuity. And sometimes it is striping and sometimes it is a major undertaking and just a little balance in that. And then just bringing that around maybe by the river and connecting it to nature as grants or time would allow. So those two things. Thank you. I have no questions. And you're rolling. I'm good. Thanks for us to appreciate you joining us and applying. Thank you. I think you heard my field out later on tonight. Okay. Thank you. All right, let's shift to the Capitol Review Advisory Committee. Kevin Collins. Hey, Kevin. Hi. We have your application. Anything, not the application that you want us to know? Well, I'm a past member of the Capitol Committee. I did two terms, a partial term and a full term. And during that time, my employer who resides within the boundaries of Essex Junction had a concern about the appearance of maybe a conflict of interest. So those discussions went on every year during my review at work. And during my last term, I became chair of the Capitol Committee. And the conversation moved up a little bit about the perception of an employee me representing them and not myself within the community. So I understood their concern. Their concern. So at the end of that term, I stepped aside. It was during COVID. And it was when you were working on the merger and separation discussion. So the Capitol Committee had kind of slowed anyways. So I thought it was a good time just to step aside and avoid the perception of a conflict of interest with a local employer. But since then, my employment has changed. And I am interested in the Capitol Committee again. I believe there's been four meetings since I stepped aside. The first one I attended through a Zoom meeting as an audience member. I missed two in the middle. And then a few weeks ago, I came to the meeting. And I was allowed to discuss the local option tax, the possibility of a policy for the city council. So I've stayed in touch with the Capitol Committee throughout that time and interested in getting back on that committee. Nate, Marcus, Andrew, anybody have any questions for Kevin? You guys go first. I was on the Capitol Committee with Kevin. I don't have questions for Kevin as I kind of know how he operated. Then I will ask you a question. Just when you look at or when you've looked at Capitol projects, and this will help me get a better understanding to, those things that are not critical, how do you, what do you think is one of the most important factors in trying to prioritize our Capitol projects? Well, our matrix should take that all into consideration. Our scoring criteria should, the way that's been laid out, and Andrew was one of the originators of that. We've added categories over time as we saw situations change. But we really rely on the scoring of each project. I don't know if you've seen that scoring matrix yet. No, I look forward to it. But yeah, there's many categories, safety and cost of postponing things and the possibility of combining a project with another project in the same area to save money. And so there's a lot of discussion that goes into each project. One of my pet projects that I would like to see is sidewalks. And I know Andrew and I felt the same about that, is that our sidewalk funds were competing with LaMoyle Street project. And it just, it wasn't a fair scoring of a sidewalk versus, so if we continue with that same scoring criteria, the sidewalks are always going to be at the bottom of the list. So we need to talk about a possibly a separate sidewalk so that we can let Rick adjust some kind of schedule or create some kind of schedule to do so much sidewalks per year. Not sure if that answered it, but we really rely on our scoring matrix and the scores at the end and add categories over time if we think we've missed something. I appreciate that. Thank you. You answered one of my questions about sidewalks. Are there aspects of the matrix that you think need to be updated? Are we missing a category that might be informing how decisions are made? I don't think so at this time. I think those decisions are made as we score a project and maybe back to what Marcus was saying. If you have a gut feeling that this should have scored higher and it's more important than it actually showed up on the matrix, then what do we miss here? What could we add to this scoring criteria to this project really should have come out higher than it was? And that's when we look at adding categories. I think we added two categories during the time I was on there. Thank you. It's kind of an ongoing adjustment. Drive scoring of all the projects again when you change your matrix. Kevin got to be part of the scoring of all projects. Anything else Kevin wants to know? No, I think that's it. I just look forward to possibly getting back on the committee. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for coming out. Thanks for applying and I think you heard my we're going to talk about this at the end of the meeting and we'll be in touch. Okay, thank you. Thanks. All right, next we got Mike Blateman. I think I thought him in the room. Yeah. Good evening. Hey Mike. How are you? Good. Good. Thank you for this opportunity. Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for applying. So I'll start with the same question that I started with everybody, which is we have your application. Is there anything that is not on the application that you'd like us to know? Just two things real quick. I pulled the matrix and the working documents from the last meeting that you folks had, which I believe was back in July of 21. And I just reviewed those real quick. I'm impressed by the ranking system that you have in there to my untrained eye. It just, it was impressive. The other thing is I was away on vacation when you had the meeting on June 6. And I wasn't able to phone in and listen to that, but I wish I had. But other than that, basically the application said everything to you folks that I wanted to say. I just, I enjoy public service and I still have some energy and some time that I want to give. So appreciate that. Marcus, Elaine, Andrew, anybody have any questions for Mike? Mike, you are on the committee that planned the police department. That's right. And then the second committee to repair the police department when the parking lot had an issue, I think. That's right. So what kinds of experiences could inform your membership on this? I think those are two really good examples of experiences, especially working on the building at 81 Main. But I think being a general contractor for 35 years and being in my own business for 25 of those 35 years, I think the experiences of running your own business and having to buy equipment for that business and the capital that you have to invest for being able to run a general contracting business, again, not on this scale. But I believe those skills are going to be the same from that vocation to working on this committee. So I think those experiences will help me hit the ground running. Likewise. Sorry, I didn't hear that. Are you guys, you guys didn't have any more questions? We are good, yes. Thank you. Okay, thanks. All right. Thanks, Mike. You're very welcome. Thank you again for this opportunity. Thank you, Mike. It's committee application. Justin Rabbit. Hello, good evening. Everybody here? I don't know. Thanks, Justin. Which platforms can be problematic? Thank you for having me. Thanks for applying. So I'm sure you've heard the same questions that we've been asking, but I'll serve it. If we have your application, is there anything that you would like to tell us that's not on your application? So I'm going to have to ask for this. I mean, I submitted a bill so I can remember all this content. But I'll cover my background and work experience. So I'll steer clear of that. Can we, in my family, volunteer? I've done a lot of work within the St. Lawrence Ferris community. Essex Eats Out, serve your neighbor day, community days. I had served on two past Essex communities, the one I was just discussing with Mike. I close served with him on the Public Safety Committee. That result put in the sighting of the police station. And I also serve on the Public Works and Salvation Committee, which took, which was probably 2018-19 range. So we have a history of volunteering in my family, and I have some direct call to your experience with Essex, in and of itself. I don't think there are other things to add that will not be on my application. Thank you. Thank you. Counselors. Justin, it's good to see you again. We served together on the Public Works Assessment Committee a couple years ago, as you referred to. How are you doing? There's a little delay on the sound in the video. I just want to ask you to elaborate on the part about your experience. Can you share, if you're comfortable with us, you're a city engineer, where you're a city engineer, what you do there, and how that would impact what happens on this committee? So presently, so my background in education as a civil engineer, and presently employed by a local consulting company as a water research engineer, that's been for the past year or so. However, 26 years prior to that, and right out of college, I worked in three local Vermont municipalities, Burlington for 10, Stowe 4, and South Burlington for 12. At the last two stops, I was both the Public Works Director and the Minister of Engineering. So that's 16 years of kind of executive municipal experience, where every conceivable CIP, local auction tax, TIF district, it is what I live for 16 years. You folks are very familiar with how that goes, as am I. So that was in Burlington, I'm sorry, in South Burlington, and in Stowe, and then in Burlington, where I had a school, I was serving in the staff, Stowe, the best for the city of Burlington. Thank you. I am okay, thank you. I also am okay. Thanks. Thanks, Justin. I don't know if you were on, because I- I did, yeah. I'll just both say, I've known Mike a long time before, previously, and certainly Mr. Collins, Dean's like a very accomplished and experienced person in this regard. So the community is really lucky to have people that are interested with the level of freedom of background and experience, with the abilities of some. Congratulations to Essex for creating that environment that kind of fostered the spirit of folks being here to talk to you all. Thank you, when Marvin turns out. Thank you, Justin. Appreciate it. Have a good rest of your evening, please. All right. Shifting gears to the Development Review Board, Mr. Alden. Good evening. Hello. Hi. All right. So, the first question for me, anything on your application, or anything that is not on your application that you want us to know? I don't believe so. I think we've got a great committee, but they're relatively new to the DRV effort planning commission and decision making. So there's a lot going on right now. It's got a number of projects that come before us. And the staff is sort of getting up to speed too. So it's been a little bit of an interesting last year, let's say. But I think it's going well. And I feel like we've got and start to get some momentum behind this as a group and things are looking good, looking forward. Great. Counselors. I do have a question. Looking at your application, one of the things you mentioned was your desire for more joint meetings. So I'm curious about in the short term, rather than looking backward, looking forward, how can we in the short term improve upon this situation to make sure that you are feeling that the committees are working together, the council is working together with them and that everyone is being heard. Like scheduling meetings that I think that we aimed in the path that have quarterly meetings or, you know, by annual meetings together with the time we were doing some planning with the town planning commission. But really there's a lot of interaction that goes back and forth between the council and the boards that serve at its pleasure. And I think sometimes we tend to feel like there were ideas floating around that were germane to the planning effort that maybe we weren't as aware of as we should be. And I think the only way to solve that is to get us all together more often. Now that the DRB is the format is in place, it's a little bit more of a, you know, we take the rules as they exist and we apply them as we see, you know, they should be applied to the best of our ability. So if there's a little bit less about what the intent behind the rules are, it's a little bit more about what's actually on the page. So I don't, I think, you know, it's still good for the planning commission, the DRB and the council to all get together. So that that train of thought from you folks to the planning commission to the staff and to the DRB can remain intact. And as we, we're still in a period of transition, I think that's really important. Do you feel that the, you need assistance from the city council to achieve this? Or do you believe right now that the committees are empowered to be able to do that as well? So that again, the DRB and the planning commission can on their own coordinate that communication and make that happen. Or do you need the councils for, do you need further assistance from the council to make that happen? I think we need assistance from the council. We probably need the council's blessing and general direction wherever you may want to give it to us. But with staff, I'm sure we can manage to get ourselves together. Thank you. I'm good. Thank you. I am also all set. Thanks, John. Appreciate it. In touch. Thank you. Have a good night. So we have planning commission, effort shown. Good evening. Good to see you all. See you. She already wrote my question, but for anything that you want to, that's not in your application. Yeah, I was sitting there trying to think about what I put on the application. I guess I would just really add that, you know, really looking forward to staying on the planning commission and carrying forward a vision of, you know, developing the first city plan, basically, you know, now that we are our own identity and no longer part of the town, just developing that vision and carrying it forward, making it welcoming and inclusive as we can. Councilors, any questions for Patrick? I don't necessarily have a question so much as to say thank you to the planning commission as a whole for the work they did to help our staff incorporate all the changes from S 100 into our code and all the updates that you made, that was great. Absolutely. And I'm curious to know if your thoughts about S 100 and what it's done to our planning or LBC and what you think the results will be, whether we'll see the widespread adoption of all these new possibilities in the community? I thought it was interesting that as we went through the LDC changes and then S 100 came after the fact that we had already incorporated a lot of those same goals into the LDC changes revisions. You know, I do welcome more affordable housing and more affordability and some of the changes that S 100 put forward. I do feel like they unfortunately fell short in a couple of small areas, but you know, I'm excited to see how that can increase more welcoming, inclusive, diverse and affordable, not just housing, but community in general. Let me ask based off of what John just answered and what we were discussing a little bit, the communication between committees. Yeah. Can you talk a little bit about what is what is necessary or what you believe will be necessary? What do you believe will be necessary moving forward in order to make sure that you're either hearing the input from, say, the housing committee or you're communicating with the DRP to make sure that that vision is flowing through to the execution? How do you see that working? Yeah, I think John had a good point of more joint meetings together. You know, I think as we look to build a city plan and I've had some thoughts listening to the bike walk folks as they were going through their interviews and also prior even to tonight different. I've been thinking about different ways to incorporate some more walkability, some more bike paths, more connectivity. And I certainly think planning commission wouldn't be able to create that vision without having that conversation with the bike walk committee first and incorporating their ideas and making sure that we have one joint vision coming together. Similarly with the housing committee, if we're going to be, I believe the planning commission soon is going to be taking forward their inclusionary zoning that they've been working on. And we're going to start working on that after we finish our discussions around rental registry and would certainly need to continue those conversations and meetings with the housing committee in order to ensure that their vision and their thoughts as to how they presented it are carried forward into the finished product that we end up with. I don't particularly have any questions, but just frank appreciation for the fact that things like inclusionary zoning, things like the rental registry have been proactively worked upon since the planning commission and DRB have been created with our with our creation of the city. Great appreciation for that and the work we've done so far. Thank you. After I don't have any other questions. So I think you heard again, we're going to go into executive session a little while and we'll be in touch. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you for considering me again. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks. Before we shift into the trade by three committee, I'm just going to call a five minute recess. Let people get up and stretch their legs and use the restroom. So I've got 746. 750 ish. This is session year and we are the trade by three committee applications. So Celeste is the first one up. Hello again. Hello. I want you to know that I know far less about this than I did the previous time. Good to know. Let it sell it. Well, thank you. Thanks for calling. You've already heard this field, but anything on the application that you didn't work, is there anything that you didn't tell us on the application that you want us to know? I think I mentioned that the land that I owned in Sutton I had in land use in forest management and it was managed for lumber. So there was selective cutting that was done so that better trees would grow and better lumber would grow. But also my significant other was a, well, he was one of the first organic Jersey dairy farmers in Barnett, Vermont. And so it was a very different experience with the land and there the Stevens River ran through the property, the field and understanding what vegetation was needed and how trees and other things impacted maintaining the stream bank was something that was very different. I don't know as much. Can't name trees quite the same way I can offenders, but I do. I'm learning so very much. I've started getting very interested in more native plants and rather than bringing in things and I'm concerned about things like things that take over that just become you know, that don't belong there. And so I also worry a lot about as trees age in this kind of an environment they don't have the support of the environment to maintain their status and their stature. And so I'm really looking forward to asking a lot of questions and learning a great deal. I think that would be a good thing for me. And and certainly in asking folks who are in the know. I think it causes really good conversation. I only had one other question. Yes, ma'am. So obviously I know that you applied for the community advisory board as well. Yes. So if you're chosen for the tree advisory committee and we are I think you know this we're still going to have more applications and discussion at the end of July regarding the cap. Right. But if you're chosen for the tree advisory committee and you were chosen for the community advisory board, would you do both of them? Would you say I can only do one and if show it only one, which one would you prefer? I think I could manage both. You know, I've done a bunch of things, two things at a time, raising kids, working full time. You know, I certainly I if there was a conflict of timing, that would be the one issue. But I would think in a community this size, we should be able to work that out. And we'll talk about community justice as we talk about trees. But I I do both. Definitely. That's the only question that I have answers. Anybody have any questions for select? So I'm so I'm not going to be able to stay the whole time like I did the last time. But thank you for the work you do. Well, before you do go, I have a question for you. Yes. So one of the things that does make the tree advisory committee a little different than some of our other committees is that the tree advisory committee is very hands-on. One of the things they happen a lot of is in a significant amount of our planting of trees along our community. That's something that does also interest you and not just sit and talk, but also do some things. Yeah, I have this bank. They're trying to keep me away from I live at Brickyard Road. And it's the Brookside condos and you're not supposed to do anything on that bank. And so I really need you to get me out of my backyard. So I stopped looking at that bank saying, why do we have those invasives on there? Yeah, I like getting my hands dirty. Great. A whole lot. Well, thanks for coming back out and have a good rest of your evening. Thanks. And don't you guys work too hard now? Thank you. But make your decisions. Take your advice. Thank you. All right, Nick Meyer, interrupt. He'll be up in just a moment introducing himself. Thank you. Thank you for mentioning that. Hold me. Get it. Hello. I don't remember what I said on my appetite. You really know what you said on your appetite. I've been saying it for a long time, I think. Well, here's my here's one question that I have. How long have you been on the trade advisory committee? Well, I think we formed a committee in 2013. So it's been about 10 years. 10 years. I remember. Yeah. So I can answer questions. I can tell you about what I think the future looks like, what we'd like to do. I'd love to hear what you think from when it started to where you are now and where you think it's going to go. Yeah, I think we've we've made a lot of progress thanks to trustees, now council, public works, community members, and a great committee that seems to have amazing skill sets between a future harvest from Burlington. We've got a landscape architect on our committee and just generally interested people. And it's gone from seeing what are what the village own for trees, taking a pulse of that, knowing where repairs need to be done and looking for opportunities. And I was looking over, I think we planted now 260 trees in that time frame and developing to a point with partnerships in Burlington with branch out Burlington, which asked us to join them. So we're able to grow our trees there. That's part of the work aspect that we do during the summertime as we buy seedlings and raise them for two or three years. And so we have a tree that's on the streets. In fact, all the trees we put out this year, 38 of them came from the nursery. And to a cost of us of about $60 a tree as opposed to about $350 a tree. So the bang for the buck is really there. You know, we continue, we do education. There's another component of it working with the schools every year doing an Arbor Day planting with them. This year we did our first tree historic walk and we wrote Jim German back in and we had about 25 people come to do that. That was a great success. What I look forward to is having worn a planning commissioners hat for a while and always kind of leading the charge about landscape and what these buildings look like. We do have language that's in our LDC and we worked on the rewrite of it this year. And I'm hoping that because we are an advisory committee that the design review board will bring us in to look at projects a little bit more. We've always had on the LDC a requirement for spending a specific amount of money for each project. And if they are not spending on landscaping and it's benchmarks depending on the size of the project. And I don't believe we've collected any of these fees of what should have been collected over the years. And I'm really hoping that this is going to happen this year because we're seeing more buildings being built with almost 100% lot coverage. And if they're not putting an infrastructure for a green space in the urban canopy the village should get this money to improve our streets. However the streetscape is what we want to do. So I think that's really key that we look at this. I'd much rather see those developers and I think I can speak for our whole committee improving the streetscape. And it is a place where we can enforce it. I'd also like to see more amenities in these buildings rather than just bedrooms. I look at Burlington and some of the developers of outdoor space. They've got fire pits. They have bike lockers. They do lots of things. And I'm following these applications coming in and I'm not seeing that. I really think where we can do it right now we should be enforcing it. So that's kind of how I see where we're going. Continue with education. Keep planting trees around the community. I think you're really starting to see a difference. And yeah. I have a question for you and you've already given a lot of information and insight and I really appreciate the work that you've already done. I can think of all the pictures that I've seen of you putting a tree in somewhere in this particular city. We really do appreciate it. But you spoke a lot about the urban canopy. But I'm curious. I'll give you an example of a piece of land that I think about all the time because I live near it, which is Stevens Park. What are your thoughts on things like that and what we do with that type of forestation in our city? Well, I think I look at the role that the urban canopy and we, you know, in Vermont we look around and we're 80% forested. So why do we need more trees in the urban areas in the village scape, city scape, excuse me. But it makes a big difference in terms of cooling effects. I look at the development that's happened around that area. And the lack of outdoor space for many of those new residents. And I think we should improve them. And that might require, you know, removals and planting, developing some sort of infrastructure for trails. I know the access is not good, but it's a walking access that works. And we've got a lot of walkers in that area. So I know there were things floating around years ago. Well, let's turn it into affordable housing or do something like this to do. And it's always been the orphan for parks and rec of what to do with it. So I hope we could improve on it because I think it could satisfy a lot of needs or the environment or residents and others. Yeah. Thank you. I don't have to watch this for you, Nick. I appreciate all the trees that you put along in the community to help make sure that we do have the shade. We have the oxygen up to clean the air. So I greatly appreciate it. And it's great for walking. Thanks, Nick. Appreciate you coming out and you're fine. Okay. Have a good night. Thank you, Nick. All right. And then last, we have Steve or Bart. Good evening. So you've heard my question already. I have. So anything that you want us to know that is not on your application? I think my application was pretty well done. I just want to have eye contact with everybody that I have energy and passion for tree canopy in the city of Essex Junction. And I've proved that already for being a couple of years on the committee. So I hope to be approved again. The passion is what it's hard to put that on paper or on my application. I did the best I could. But hopefully maybe the vocal word will bring it forward. I've seen a lot of the trees that you've replaced along Wilkinson and Hayden and Tyler because I live in that neighborhood. Okay. I'm curious like how much further need, how much more needs to be done and have we had a lot of ash for exposure in Essex Junction? You know, I'm not sure of the geography of the village where the ash trees, where they really are other than that area. We call that it off the record ashville. But there's a lot to be done there. Yeah. So there's a lot of ash trees in the neighborhood. Also on the La Voie. Yeah. And Hayden. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Warren and Nick have it. They have it down. Well, they can tell you in their sleep where those trees are in the city. Okay. Thank you. I also am as well. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks Steve for coming out and re-applying. We greatly appreciate it. And we're going to go into executive session shortly. Thank you. Thank you. Great. So we'll come back to the executive session portion to talk about applications. So we'll go to E, which is the minutes from June 14th. So I just had a couple of minor changes to lines 112, 113, 116, and 120. And that's all to just change that. That paragraph is actually about the candidate Ms. Krasny, not Ms. Krag or, yeah. And so just to change the name should be Ms. Krasny. That's the only change that I had. I don't know if anybody else had any changes to the minutes. I'm good. Thank you. I'm good. I guess I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes that were amended. So moved. I'll second. All in favor? Say aye. Aye. Aye. And please. That is approved. All right. So we are cruising on to the consent agenda. Can I ask one question about an item on the consent agenda? Sure. The liquor, there was an, there's an item in there about the liquor commission, sorry, liquor license. I was trying to find the exact thing, but there is an item in there to approve the license for, as it's worded, the scale. The business, I know the business and I happen to know the business owner. So I know the relationship, but right now as it sits on Pearl Street, it's on. So I don't know if that matters in the document as to whether or not it refers to it as the scale. Or on some. I assume that's what the liquor license is under. That's the name it's under, regardless of what, what it's actually, the name on the side of the building, but Regina, I don't know if you know any more information. Yeah, I would assume that as well. Because, you know, the liquor licenses, they do basically everything through the state process and is through the portal. And then it basically comes to us kind of by way of that. So I, I assume that is the correct name for their license. Okay. I'd say their license is actually FRG ethics and that's probability. I mean, I'm going to put this into a student's mouth, but I would assume that that was for set being clear to everybody. Like, that's what we would know it has on the same thing with Firebird. Okay. And not necessarily that that's the, the business. Else, I just, I just wanted to make a quick comment. Amber about the Whitcomb farm agreement, just to express gratitude to the Whitcomb family officially for providing access to the public to this enormous piece of property. It's the only agricultural land in the city and it is an outstanding resource. And just want to make sure the Whitcomb family knows how important it is to all of us and what a great resource it is and thank them for sharing it with us. I walk it all the time. It's a fabulous place. Thanks, Elaine. I'll move we approve the consent agenda. No second. All right. All in favor is there aye. Aye. Aye. All right. Monet's. So we are on to the reading by our council and manager number five. Regina. Okay. Okay. So, uh, main street waterline project, um, is set to start on Monday, July 10th. So very much appreciate everybody's patience thus far with our construction projects that we have and we will be adding a third. So the plan for that project essentially is that it will go down to one lane depending on where they are in that in the journey. So just heads up on that. And again, appreciation of patients. So to Lincoln, we will be open a week from today. So doors will be unlocked. Susan will be here and we've got a new assistant clerk who will be starting next Thursday as well. So that's very excited. We also exciting. We've got some other movements going on now across the hall here. If you're looking for me, um, and, uh, Ashley's there as well. And then, um, we are still looking for an admin assistant. So any thoughts, ideas come our way. That would be great. Um, and we have successfully migrated off of the town's IT system, uh, this week as well. So very thank you. Very exciting, uh, certainly, um, issues, but open approach has been like amazing and helping people out right away. And so it's really, um, gone great. So, um, in July, we are planning on one council meeting, the last meeting, July 26th, unless anything else pops up and we need to have another meeting. But, uh, that's the plan. Um, fourth of July event is happening next Tuesday at, uh, the fairgrounds, um, that will be from 6pm to, uh, about 10, 10, 30 fireworks at 930. So, um, lots of fun stuff going on over there. And then Brownnell is doing all kinds of things as well, uh, starting with a food donation, um, uh, collection that they're doing over there from July 3rd to the 13th. They'll be bringing that to the heavenly, uh, food pantry. Um, I think I messed my, messed up my dates in here, but, uh, also recycled art lab on June 30th, writer's club starting on July 3rd. And, uh, thank you, Earth Story Walk starting at Maple Street Park on the 3rd. Yeah, so that's it. I mean, there's probably other things, but could you say again that the office is open and Susan will be here? Uh, it is Wednesday, July 5th. So a week from today. Okay. Yeah, it would have been the 3rd, but we're closed on the 4th. So just tidy it up on the 5th. Lots going on then. Yeah. Councilors, any comments? I have a comment just in recognition of the amazing work that staff have had to do up at this point in time, uh, as by the time we next meet, nearly all of our agreements for, transitional agreements from being a, forming the new city will essentially be gone. So finance, clerk, treasurer, information, technology, stormwater and delinquent tax agreements will no longer be in effect. The only ones that will still be in effect are recreation, the reappraisal and assessor, the police services agreement. And so just the amount of work that you all have had to do to get us to the point in time where we can be, uh, had the doors open in a week is just monumental and a great appreciation. Literally everything from how do we collect money when somebody walks in the door? How do we make sure that we're tracking that properly? And who's going to be there to greet them? Things that might seem fairly easy and simple. I know we're not in reopening this community. So greatly appreciate that and all the work that you've done. Thank you. Thank you. Awesome. Thanks. I will, I will share that on with the staff. Just tax delinquencies. I think we're still sorting that one. Thank you. I'm okay. Thank you. Just super excited to be able to go up and not have to hit the doorbell. I may have had a knee as well, especially because I can never remember the code. I get to look it up every time. So I think that takes us to the executive session to discuss the appointments. And so we'll entertain a motion to go into executive session. Let me see if I can find it quickly. I do have it. I move the city council enter into executive session to discuss the appointment of public officials pursuant to one VSA section 313 a three and to include the city manager. Second. All in favor say hi. Hi. All right. So we are going to go into the executive session. We are going to come out of the executive session with a decision, I believe, tonight for now meeting TVs, just so that they know. And for any and does anybody have that motion or you want me to just take a stab at it? I will bounce between the two sheets and do it. So I can do it. Okay. Thanks Marcus. No problem. I will make a motion to a point to the bike walk advisory committee. Phillip Bieber and Russ Miller Johnson. I will make a motion to a point to the capital review advisory committee. Kevin Collins, Michael Plagueman and Justin Rabbit. I also need to make a motion that we are going to increase. No, I don't need to talk about that. Okay. Never mind them. I'll make a motion to a point to the develop review board. John Alden. I will make a motion to a point to the housing. Make a motion to a point to the planning committee. Oh, yes. Sorry about that. Patrick Scheld. And I'll make a motion to a point to the tree advisory committee. Nick Meyer and Steve Revard. I will second those motions. All right. All in favor. Say aye. Aye. Aye. All right. No nays. Congratulations, everybody. And thanks for all the applications. So I think that wraps it up for us. So I will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. All right. All in favor. Say aye. All right. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. Thank you, Amber. Have a good night. Have a good night.