 Good evening, everyone. It is December 11th, 2023 at 615 and welcome to the select board meeting town of Rochester. We're going to start the meeting with making sure we conform to the open meeting block. And our agenda has been posted in three places around town on the website. I saw that. And it was emailed to a list of interested parties. So we're all conforming. We're going to proceed with the meeting. The first thing they're going to look at is the prior meeting minutes from November 27th 2023. I have read them over. Do you have any questions? No, I read them. I can't see the. I move to accept the meeting minutes. I second it. All in favor. Aye. Right. We are going to move on to new business now. And first thing on our list for new, new businesses, inclusion, declaration, discussion. Do we have a norming call hand and a wake field on zoom? Yes, I'm here. So we have considered this once before. Do you want to elaborate on what maybe has happened in the last couple of years? Sure. Well, thank you for having us and giving us some time. And I want to tell you that your website is the easiest one to work with and find the agenda and find the zoom that I have found in all the work we've done for the last several years. And it's much appreciated. I'm wondering if it would be helpful for me to read the declaration or if everyone has already had a chance to do so. We haven't had a lot of feedback from anyone in our town. Since the first time it was proposed and this time when it's on the agenda, but you can go ahead and read that if you'd like because I think that was a point last time. And I'd like it to be public knowledge again. Thank you very much. It's three very short paragraphs. The town of Rochester condemns racism and welcomes all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age or disability or socio economic status. And once everyone to feel safe and welcome in our community. We formally condemn discrimination in all of its forms commit to fair and equal treatment of everyone in our community. And we'll strive to ensure all our actions policies and operating procedures reflect this commitment. The town of Rochester is and will continue to be a place where individuals can live freely and express their opinions. Thank you. Go ahead. At this point. We have 131 municipalities in the state of Vermont that have adopted the declaration that amounts to 72 point those towns contain 72.5% of the population of the state of Vermont. And every town, large or small counts heavily towards this effort. By way of background, this started in Franklin, Vermont, past the declaration of inclusion. Close to three years ago. And the chair of that select board was a cousin of Bob harness of Pittsburgh, Vermont, who was actually the founder of this declaration of inclusion initiative. Bob took it to his town of Pittsburgh. It was adopted by Pittsburgh. Brandon adopted it shortly thereafter. And then Bob began to think this has some town or statewide potential contacted Al Wakefield. Alan subsequently contacted me. And we began. And in the last year, we've added two people Barbara noise pulling out of Rutland town. Who is a was employed by the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, but is helping us in her individual capacity and not her professional capacity. And Patty Lancaster of Mendon, who just joined us in the last month or so. We'll be heading up our effort to implement and help towns implement the declaration of inclusion. There are myriad reasons to adopt the declaration of inclusion. Basically, the moral and economic reasons are inseparable. Economically. CBS a couple years ago to a survey and determine if Vermont was the most desirable state in the country to live in. And it import, but it pointed out it's shortcoming shortcoming was diversity. Vermont. We've learned in our work is the second widest and the second oldest state in the country. Within the next decade. Approximately 100,000 for monitors will reach retirement age, and we have to replace those employees. Many of our children, including mine, I'm sure many others aren't staying here. And we've got to do something to do that. And I think it's proven clear that if you're lowering or trying to lower a company to relocate here. We're trying to lower individuals. A company of any size that's going to move here from out of state has a diverse. Employment. And then diverse leadership, diverse leadership. And they're going to look to see how we do. How welcome we are. I am a long path here. I ran into a woman. A woman who told me that the first thing she did when she wanted to relocate here. And began looking at jobs was to look at the companies and see what their diversity and inclusion policies are. And that really rang a bell and told me we're on the right track. And we hope you will be too. I'm going to turn it over to him and may have a comment or two after he finishes. Sure, I have something in the background. I don't know if it's in the meeting itself or in somebody else's. It's not muted, but. Does anybody else hear that? I did. Yeah. Yeah. It's here in the office. We've been trying to work on it. Okay. All right. Okay, just just briefly. Thanks, Norm. I've been involved with, with Bob right from the very beginning. And as Norm indicated, you know, we started out with zero and now we're at 131 towns that have adopted. Our hope is that they will continue to think about this and to implement what adoption implies and all that's laid out in our. We're supported in this initiative by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, which has seen it as a business position necessary business. The conclusion is important to the growth of Vermont. In fact, it sees as a vital part of any growth that Vermont sustains over the next 10 years or so. But in addition to that, the Vermont Interfaith Action Group, which is a coalition of religious institutions across Vermont. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which you, I think are part of, greatly supports this and has provided administrative services to us as well as legal services to Vermont Council, rather. Yeah, Council on rural development also. And in addition to that, and perhaps lastly, the governor has said that this is important to to Vermont has a function of growth over over time and in doing so. He supported this initiative by declaring the second week in May as an inclusion week in Vermont, and has himself signed a declaration of inclusion for the state of Vermont. I noted that a number of other towns in Windsor County, which you are part have adopted the decoration, including Randolph, Cavendish, Ludlow, Springfield, Woodstock, Western Windsor. And I see a gentleman here from from Bethel, and we work with Bethel to to get that done in in Bethel going back a year and a half ago. So, and so it's important. And as, as Norm said, Marley, spiritually, it's it's it's important structurally in terms of economic growth. We've got to get people from someplace in this state to continue to grow and prosper. And if we don't draw those people from a diverse group, we're not going to be able to compete either town against town or state against state or country against against country. And in case somebody feels, as some people have said, well, we've got, we don't have that problem here, which I think, and some of you will think is not the way to to view this. But in case you think that issue doesn't exist here, certainly everybody can go back to the three Palestinians attempted murder in Burlington a few weeks ago and just I'm on the police subcommittee here in Rutland. I had a subcommittee meeting today and one of the ladies who looks like she could be from the Middle East. She's not. In fact, just just a few days ago was shouted at and told to go home in downtown Rutland. Rutland is is certainly what Rutland is and I think it's growing and it's changing, but every town of Vermont has that potential for happening so less we think that we're immune from racism, as well as all the other it's not just about race it's about those other categories of marginalized people that you see. And I suspect everybody on this call has somebody in his or her family who's disabled, somebody who's a veteran somebody who's not quite making it economically. All those groups that are encompassed in the decoration so I urge you to think about that as you consider reconsider adoption of the decoration and join the other 131 states as towns rather that have adopted the decoration. Now I want to thank you for coming forward with your presentation this time around I don't think we had much more than paperwork the last time. Now we have something more to present around to our towns people and see if we have the sufficient support to make a declaration. I know that as a select board, we do feel as though the state of Vermont accepting the declaration is probably got all of us in Vermont covered. And at the time that we first encountered. We decided not to join in with the declaration. So as of right now, we still feel that way. But we will have a further discussion with your supporting documentation. We have a full select board and we will also have a few weeks, perhaps through the holidays to discuss it with people around town and see if if it's something that would be supported. Well, we would, if it comes before the board again, we'd appreciate notice of it so we could be available to answer any questions that may come up. Absolutely. And we thank you for the time and for your careful look at it. And as long as we're Vermonters we we are have a declaration under the state of Vermont in the meantime so just thank you very well presented. Thank you. Okay, as we move on to our number three on our agenda agenda. We are reviewing the November Treasurer's report. It's getting some meat to it now we're almost halfway through our year. And if if any and anyone in the town is also reviewing the report the Treasurer's report is a little out of whack and that's because of our West Hill Bridge project. There is a $300,000 overage on that that is responsible for the town. We are going to go for a bond on that. And when that happens, the numbers will fall back in line again. But rest assured we're taking a look at it. How do you feel about it Frank. Yeah, same here. Okay, so I move that we accept the Treasurer's report for November. Second it all in favor. Aye. Number four on our list is sign errors and emissions certificate. This is form PVR4261-E. This is showing changes to the 2023 grand list. And these are ones after it has been lodged. So, we have a list there's four different properties. And two of the four is a lot line adjustment therefore one property and the value went down the other property the value went up so it's almost a wash and the other two properties are located up in Great Hawk. And the both properties had acquired a neighboring vacant lot to join on to their property there for the property was adjusted down in value. And so there was nothing unusual there. I move that we accept the errors and emissions certificate and sign it and get those adjustments done. Second that all in favor. Quick and easy. We have a very good list. Love. Okay, we'll sign that we'll be moving on to the regional discussion team proposal to create the position of inter municipal White River Valley Energy resilience coordinator. This is, this is a long title. Jeff get part is here and he will be making a presentation along with folks on zoom. So, if you wanted to take that away, Jeff. Yes. The presentation itself is going to be present, provided by Jean Krause medical select board member and energy, many member. Unfortunately, they've wound up with a conflict and was not able to come tonight. And Nicole said Sierra who's really done a phenomenal job of leading this analysis and exploration has resigned this past week. And it's a case, really a case of burnout. That goes with the extensive volunteerism that she's been doing for so long. I also tried to attend most of the meetings, but I did not. And so my depth of knowledge in this is nowhere near as good as James. He's also been to other presentations here where we received questions that probably aren't the answers for which are probably not on the screen here. But he will know them because of being involved in those, those actual meetings. So, one last thing, Jean, we do not have it set up so we can see the screen up on the screen here, I will go follow you and advance the slides as you go. All right, except I have a different presentation. That's all right. We're going to go with the flow. People that have access to a computer there should be able to see if they're logged into zoom. But very quickly, I want to, I don't, I want to thank you for giving this task force some time on your agenda. I understand and know personally what a select board meeting is like, because I'm on the select board here in Bethel. So I won't take a whole lot of your time. Let me go through this very quickly, and then open it for questions. First of all, we all know that we know from firsthand experience now of the impact of climate change in our communities. Like, I bet you know somebody who is a farmer who had a hard time with the weather this past year. Either too much rain or not enough rain coming at the wrong times, made it really hard for our agricultural sector. And I know that the storms, as you know, and I know in that bridge or that project that you mentioned a moment ago may in fact have been part of that. I have a daughter who has asthma. She's not able to go on her daily runs at times during this summer, because of her asthma, because of the wildfires out west. The many people here right here in Vermont experienced the negative health impacts of that climate issue. And we've all known that we've had flooding. My guess is that you as select board members have dealt with more than you share of road issues and expenses and trying to find dollars when you didn't have them. In order to deal with what those storms did in response. You did. I'm sure you did. The, for the past six months, a number of White River Valley towns have been coming together with representatives to try and figure out how we can address climate change in our small towns. We have, we can do what we can do, but we can't do any more. And the possibility of doing anything requires, in our opinion, some additional help. None of us have the expertise of training or the knowledge to be able to address climate in all fullness and all of its ramifications. The towns who participated range from Brookfield to West Fairleigh and from Chelsea up to Hancock. And Rochester is one of those. You said a representative Jeff and the group was facilitated by a grant from the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Rural communities, they assisted and facilitated in in the process facilitated us. And we received a good deal of technical advice and counsel from two rivers out of Quiche. The, the proof, the energy coordinator that we are proposing will do half a dozen things. He or she will assist in prioritizing energy, resilience and climate planning for your town and for the whole region of those towns serve. That person will be established collaborative late relationships between the select boards, nonprofit organizations, residents in our towns. And that person will facilitate the tracking of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in our specific towns, so that that information can be used for the next thing that the person will do which is that person will be a grant writer. Write and prepare grants for us. Bring that kind of expertise and skill as well. And that person will work with a steering committee of those towns that you choose to participate. That steering committee and two rivers will coordinate and manage the project. It involves not just the town, but your schools and the impact that climate change is having on those facilities, as well as the town facilities, and there will be regular reporting to the citizens. So those are the things we have asked that person to do. Let me share a couple more details about the proposal. This that is, it is a shared proposal among the participating towns that cost will be distributed according to the adjusted Vermont town grand list for the towns, so that we're trying to find a way to recognize that some of our communities are larger than others. For example Randolph versus Pittsfield. The two towns you know that are of different sizes. We will also be the person will not simply be working for individual towns but will be working for the region. And we'll get into that in a little more depth in a minute. There will be a steering committee that will work with two rivers out of Quiche to rivers will be the employer, and will provide day to day supervision and accountability for our employee, although that employee will not be housed at the two rivers The reason for that is that the, if the person were to be housed at two rivers, two rivers would charge us 80% of the salary and benefits for the individual. If we house the individual in one of our towns that individual two rivers will charge us 10%. So we thought that it was a cost effective way to receive the, the, the oversight from two rivers, while at the same time having more money go into actually delivering service to our communities. And the town share. You may have in your. We did an estimate, because some of the towns were more involved with the planning committee than others. And we're here today to try to figure out who it is who really wants to participate going forward. The town's include Bethel brain tree, Brookfield Pittsfield Randolph Rochester and Royalton, and using the grand list as a as a as a tool. We estimate that the cost for the town of Rochester would be for the first year 10174 dollars. So you might want to write that down for the second 10174 dollars. The second year that cost would increase to 13,675 dollars. Now the reason for the change is that during the first year we are able to call this a pilot project. And we are able to do this. With support from Merp funds, a number of the communities have said that then participating they would contribute their $4,000 initial grant from Merp toward this project, thus reducing the cost for the pilot project. The pilot will then help us determine the future of the project and the viability of the, the piece. Once we have the interested towns clearly identified in other words, they've said, we're good, we want to be part of this. We will be able to finalize those numbers because it is based on who's actually taking part. There are a few things that we believe are really good deliverables. One, it enables us to have staff at a cost that is not born by any single town. The investor would not have to pay the $150,000 necessary for salary benefits and and all the rest that would be required instead that cost is shared, and there will be savings, although we have no idea what there's will be. I will simply share that one resident here in Bethel and lives in town is been able to with solar panels and tightening weatherization in his house and so on is right right now is looking at heating bill of about $300 a year in Bethel. And that's not a tiny house. So, the fact is that those who act on climate change, save money, whether individual or a town, the second deliverable is that this staff person will devote all of his or her time on this issue. How can we be more resilient. How can we use this energy wisely, and how can we reduce our greenhouse gases. They will be distracted the next time a storm comes and everybody's running around to figure out how to fix the roads. They will be devoted and for the town of Rochester I understand that's a, that's an addition to your staff that that is right now, mall, and my guess is out straight, stretched and perhaps overworked. I know that's the case here in Bethel, and we have more staff, probably than you do. We will have a person who has expertise in climate and energy. I'm a person who tries to understand that in those details. And I really appreciate the effort that goes into understanding all the science and all the technical kinds of stuff that goes into it what works what doesn't work, and so on and so forth. So, having somebody available. In addition to Jeff to to guide you through that maze of information will be a great asset. This person will also have knowledge about the grants and the and resources that are available, both the state of Vermont and the federal dollars are increasingly coming available. And we don't want, frankly, we don't want to leave money sitting on the shelf. When we could put it to use in our communities. And then the, the other benefit is that by reaching out over a wider area. We have as many a population as high as maybe 20,000 from which to draw volunteers. This person will help us draw volunteers to serve each individual town but to do that regionally and provide volunteer support in terms of knowledge and and expertise and all of the things that are necessary in order to make this happen. We're asking for something very simple. We're asking Rochester select board to consider becoming one of the participating towns this is not a final decision. We're asking you for a tentative approval so that we can firm up who what towns are going to be participating, and then come back to you with a final numbers distributed, according to who takes part. There are towns that have voted enthusiastically to move forward. Others that continue to ask questions and we're trying to answer them. You can, we're asking that you could consider putting this in your 2020 2425 budget. Or putting it into your town meeting as a special item that the village, the town might consider my guess is because we have gone through the summer we just did. There's a great, great deal more interest in our towns than there might have been before in taking some sort of action, such as this. Once we know what towns are participating, we'll get back to you. And once we know what towns are participating, we will be prepared to come to you either an informational meetings prior to your town meeting or to the town meeting itself to share and present more detailed proposal and answer questions. That's what I have to say. And let me open it up and say, are there questions that you have I know I've covered a lot of ground and covered it quickly. I've got a couple of things that I'd like to say, first and foremost, I'm retired and I don't want to stop. I have a plan to continue at the board's pleasure as a volunteer assisting in this whole effort. But I do not want to be paid nor have the responsibility of the whole crime job, particularly a regional job. You know, right now you do have me for free. I don't think that I'm being as effective as we could through this whole process. But the other thing we're talking about is a significant reordering of our civilization, frankly, and we have goals that run us up to 2050. I've got a few years to help volunteer on all of this but I doubt I'm going to make that 2050 goal to see 90% of our energy be renewable. So you may have the cow now, but at some point, you know, there won't be a volunteer that has the background that I understand. So I would be pleased to continue as a volunteer energy coordinator in Rochester or by some other name, whatever work if that is, you know, what the board would like. Of the things that the are the responsibility of a regional energy coordinator. Or actually of the town. There is the steering committee. I could serve on that steering committee on your behalf if you want. I could support the tracking of Rochester's energy use I'm already doing it. They're very easy to get the bird into the coordinators hand. I think that the coordinator and I have a lot of would have a lot of similar background or skills, but one of the things that I'm probably ahead of most folks on because of 20 years of work in that area is understanding the best practices for rehabbing buildings, and we have buildings to rehab. I think this could also do is help us with grant applications. That's not something I'm real good at other than providing some of the fill in the fight stuff. And it's something that I actually dislike a lot. This would enable us locally and me to out increase project outreach and education within the local community. Getting in more tabling events, developing a website, getting more weatherization on track he pumps, all house electrification transfer transportation electrification, all of those kinds of things in support of this regional So that's out there. Oh, that's good. Um, go ahead. I'd like to share some of what I thought about these slides and the presentation that I previously saw on the slide set. And I just started down a couple of notes. So bear with me. Yeah, we're fine. Oh, oh, Diane Tiesel. Sorry. Rochester is on the Vermont agency of administration pre approved list, as are a number of these other towns for municipal technical assistance, meaning that this program, the municipal technical assistance program will assist small towns assessing resources based on a town's need for investment and capacity for pursuing assistance. My vote is yes to the regional energy coordinator. Why he or she could work with this new program to assess and access these state and federal funds for multiple towns, working with these specialists to develop and coordinate projects on a larger scale and become more time efficient. No duplication of effort. Time saving communication goes through one person, bringing up time and all the participating towns select boards. And I mentioned this because I know in 2024, there'll be a vote for Rochester. About the building, the high school building and should the town decide to. If the vote is yes for the town to buy it. That's another thing that will be on your plate. So again, this would free up more time for the select board. Finally, energy costs are rising. Climate change is happening with more and frequent more intense storms coming our way. And more regulations are being made in response to climate change. All these reasons are why I think Rochester and the Rochester select board should participate. Thank you. So noted. I think the presentation was very good. I usually. Come at somebody with who, what, why, when and where the basics, and you did cover that. So I thank you for being very conclusive in covering everything. The 1 question I have. I believe embedded in, in what you were saying was that this position is costing 150,000 a year. Is that correct? Did I, did I hear that correctly? That's, yeah, that's in the ballpark. It's. Well, wait a minute, we budgeted 100 and a quarter 125. And that includes the 10% for T work. So that's salary benefits, and some administrative costs as well. We're advised by two rivers that that's, that's a doable piece. And that is a P there are people out there that are willing ready willing and able to take on that responsibility. Okay. I just wanted that to be clear. And then the following year, it would still be the same amount of money relatively speaking. It's just the funding will change. The funding would change because we would no longer be a pilot project eligible for funds. I have to be pretty accurate when I go before the budget and finance committee with this. Absolutely. And our next step would be unless we have more feedback from anyone. I think this says something that should be put before the town. Quite frankly, through an article through the town meeting, it should be addressed that way and the presentation should be made to the, to the community, not so much to them, and not leaving it on the board's hands to decide a financial place for that. And because it is a growing issue that we need to address and I agree with that. But I do think it requires a town vote on something like that. Go ahead. This is too late. No, I don't think it's too late because it is a money option and you know how our budget is this year it's going to be tested. So, I think it should be something that should be put before the town. I have a question. Yes. Many grant writers write their salary into the grants that they're writing to. We're hoping to get. And is that a consideration with this position or his person? That would be. Did you hear that? I did. And the answer is yes, that is a possibility. There are also grants to a higher grant writers that we would may be able to leverage, not just for the writing of the grant, but also for the managing and implementing of grants that may be granted may be allotted. So again, this is, this is something that has the potential of not only providing additional revenue to meet some of these needs, but also to pay for the position itself down the road. No promises. I want to be clear about that. So we would be asking the town to commit to that, that base level. Now, if we don't need it. Wonderful. If it comes in in another way, that would be great. That's a bonus. The other thing I would, I didn't say there is also room in this for reaching out to individuals in the community to assist them with weatherization heat pumps and taking action. In their position, their own lives. Relative to climate that will save your citizens money as well. Okay. Thank you. I would like to speak to both the budget committee and do something at town meeting. I think at town meeting would be a better way to go myself. I mean, I, I. The, the budgets this year are going to be tough. If you haven't heard already, but everybody is just clamoring for money this year and and costs are increasing everywhere so the budget's going to be tight. I think it's a decision that the town should make not just three people on the select board to initially go out on the limb and say, this is what we should do as, as to start spending money on, not that I'm against the project. I'm just thinking that it should be a town will not necessarily a three person board vote. That's my own personal feeling, but I don't know how Pat feels, but. I agree. I agree. I think that's the best play here I mean we're starting to build something and I totally agree that I think it's necessary and I think it's a direction we need to move in. But I think we need to have support from the community to do that, and we can support it as a board. But if the community is not supporting it. I think that's an issue that we have to address. And I think it was 2018 at the end of our town meeting. We voted to take climate change into account and every decision that we make. And I keep that close by. So, I think there's a good possibility of support from the town. I'm wondering, I mean, if, if we did the presentation to the budget committee, then they could give you their thoughts on it as well as to the town one, you know, that's where you want the final decision made. Well, I think, I think the way we presented as an article in, in the town meeting and have a voting amount to be put into a budget with that article. And we can do that. I believe we have the right to put that in as an article as a, as a board. So, yes, we can. Yes. And I think that's probably the best way to address it. And then you can present the things that you need to present then and support that and we'll go from there. I feel that that's probably the best way to address it. And the board would be willing to put that article on the agenda without a petition. Yes. Yeah, it's an article coming from the board whether or not it's a, it's a financial decision for the community moving forward so it's, it's in our best interest as a board to present it to the community and let the community make that decision. That makes a lot of sense. We can help with that in whatever way possible with, I'm hearing support from the two board members that I see. So you may want to even recommend it to the town. But that's, I'll leave that to you. That's another possibility. But we'll help with that with in whatever way we can. You're making that's the kind of sense that that I understand completely as a select board member here in in Bethel. A question about going that way with then would a meeting be called for a slide presentation then to the public so they can learn about this article. As a yes, no, and a motor or not promoted. So they can learn about the process before town meeting day. Well, we have pre town meeting. That would normally be for that. Yeah, and also some literature going forward would be a way to do that too. And we can put that out pretty much. Yeah, the articles you normally have a little paragraph or two or sometimes the whole darn page. Right. And we can add, you can add something through the, through the town report that way too. Right, because we've got a pretty depth. You write an article anyway, don't you have a presentation page in the, in the town report anyway. So we can address that and you can address it as an article in the town meeting itself. And perhaps Martha can mention it in the paper and the paper and if someone interested they could stop by and grab the presentation and paper. Are they have they been asked to submit a report to the town report with this. The energy. Yes. Not with, not with it. Prior years I would anticipate it. Julie send out something to everybody that she's looking to for reports from. Right. Did you get the department. Did you send one to Jeff. I sent one to Jeff. Yeah. So Jeff for the part of the department report. Okay, I'll check. If you can address it that way if you want. And then we'd also be come up for discussion at the meeting anyway. Yeah, we can go from there. I think that's the best way to deal with it going forward. Personally, but yeah. Well, that's why there's pre town meeting. They can come to pre town meeting. And it can be openly discussed every article gets discussed. But if it's all written in the town report to. In your report. They will have that in advance as well. Learning about it. Okay. Let's see what we can pull together. One other thing to point out. I think I have modified people, but last. Last week, we, the. Resiliency Island and the micro grid. That it's certificate of public good. Right. So we've got the energy coordinator report covered now. So that will be proceeding in the spring. Yeah. Perfect. Well, they, as soon as green mount power gets the polls all cut over. And all that. Okay. A while. Yeah, that's great. That's great. So I'm going to, I'm going to lead, but I want to say. Thank you for taking the time to give us a chance to make our pitch. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. All right. All right. Yeah. Bye-bye. Good night. Presentation. Okay. So the next order of business is. What we're going to do. Well, the office is the town office is going to be closed to the public from January, December 26th. To January 2nd reopening on January. And then we're going to have a meeting. And then we're going to have a meeting. Not open to the public for the holidays. I'll be doing inside work. Preparing for the new year. And so the next thing that we need to discuss about that. Time era is our next select board meeting is scheduled for December 25th. And we all anticipate to be a little. Hungry, fat, tired. And then we're going to have a meeting. It doesn't sound like we want to meet January 1st either. We're the second one. If you drink, it might be a little. I don't want to move it to another Monday. Open for suggestions. Do we skip that particular meeting? Do we reschedule it? I know the 26th, I believe is a fire department work. Meeting night. Is that true? We're not, we're not going to do that for this month. I don't see why we can't. I think it depends on what our schedule is. How do, how we wind up for. Our biggest thing is getting bills paid and. You know, doing that type of thing. So we just would need to get together at some point. That week before. Would it be better before. Say we did it on the 18th sometime to just. Even if we do like a special meeting just to pay bills. So what if we did like the 21st on the Thursday? Would that work for you? I mean, that gives us a little bit closer. And would you like that a special meeting at a certain time? Yeah, we can just do a special meeting and have it at a, you know, five o'clock or something like that. Just to get it going. Yeah. So. Agenda is possible. Possibly. You know, we need to make sure we've finalized that. Everything for the, the printing of the. We have, when do we have to have that done? Not going to there yet. No, no. Is there, is there some timeline here? We need to follow. So we're proposing to move the regular select board meeting from December 25th. At 615 to December 21st at 5pm. That sounds good to me. Second. Second favor. Martha is waving her little hand. I just wondered if. I'm assuming Julie that you'll send out a notice about this with a little zoom thingy for me to click on, et cetera, and for other people. Yes. Okay. So Thursday the 21st at 5 o'clock. There's a warrant meeting. It'll be a warrant meeting just like a regular. Okay, great. The week meeting. So I'll mention it in my article. Yes, that would be helpful. Thank you. Okay. Let's move on to department reports, which I think we're going to run through that pretty quick. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Is there anything on board for the library? Not on our stuff. No, no. Okay. Highway department. About the only thing I think we cleaned up with the state as far as the and probably Kristen's going to mention that through her grant updates, but with the West Hill bridge, we finalized the paperwork on that for the state. I think probably Kristen might be addressing that. Are you going to address that? Yeah, you just did. Yeah. But, you know, I didn't give any number. I don't have any. And the truck that was broken on our last meeting is back on the road. So hopefully I didn't hear anything today. So they were a little nervous about plowing roads with their. Not frozen. I don't blame them stuff. I don't blame them stuff. I don't blame them stuff. I don't blame them stuff. I heard on equipment. Sorry, I just, just a road related question because I've had several people in the, when I was in the post-hospital. It's the other day asked me this question. If I knew. When Bethel mountain road would open. Do you have any ideas? Anybody said anything to you about how. You know, that project is going. And if there's an estimated open date. I heard it was the middle of the month, but I think that's going to be moved on to January is it January, the more we know, we'll keep it posted. So, I should, I could mention that that it's estimated to be January in the article or not. It's definitely going to be January. We just don't have any idea right now of what when in January, the 1st or the 30. Okay, thank you. That's a tough one. You know, they're pouring walls. Yeah, I have a hard time. There's a tough time to be working. I was worried about that when they decided they were going to do it. We do not have Terry here for utilities. We heard from Jeff. And all we have left is grant updates. Okay. All I have is on Monday, the 4th, I sent in our reimbursement for the part tree grant. And we received that on the 8th. So we're all closed out and good with that. That was awesome and easy to work with. Also, on the 4th, as Frank mentioned, I submitted reimbursement of 175,000 for the West Hill Bridge on the structures grant that we've had. And I'm working very closely right now on the flat grant. There's a little bit of confusion. We were granted $600,000. And the $340,000 of it was dedicated for construction. And 260 was dedicated for design. So they're going to give us that money, but they're having to refinagle everything and that'll take that's a process, I guess, like a two week process and they started it today. So I've requested I've put in the invoice for the 340,000. They're hoping to release that next week. Yeah. Thank you for moving things along. Thank you. Thank you for moving things along. Yeah. Do we have anyone here that has any public comment? I don't think we have any old business. Anything to say on zoom. I don't see any hands raised in zoom. Going once twice. Hi, everyone.