 Good evening at 6 30 will start the fiscal 22 budget preparation with us is Justin Lawrence and flow Smith. Yes, Diane. And Kim can go over the proposed highway budget. Okay, so Tom, are you going to be putting up the budget on the screen for everybody to see. I can if people would like me to do that. I would like you to do that I think it might be easier. Hold on one sec. Okay. Okay, I see we have some increases. A few small ones I believe. Yeah, good explanations with him to so. Yeah, him has a new greater showed up yet. No, I was actually going to tell you guys, he called me in the last week, it was delivered to the country on the port on the 11th. And it is due to be delivered in Richmond on the 17th. He said within, he was open two weeks after that so the end of the month should be here at town. They just got to put the wing and plow equipment on it in Richmond and then just go over some final stuff with us on how we wanted things set up as far as controls and whatnot, and then it will be ready to be delivered. Yeah. Did you email the proposed budget. I did. I did last week, and then I did again this morning because John had asked me to show percentages. So I sent that but there was a package of stuff and there's one up in the package. Okay, I'll check. Also, Tom is supposed to be putting it on the screen so we can all look at it at the same time. Perfect. And that's what he's working on right now. Yep. Treasurer position. Yep. And it's highway. I'm showing this way. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. If you'd like we could begin while Tom is working on it trying to get this on to show up. Does everybody have that highway budget proposal in front of them. Yeah. Okay, so why don't I be. Okay, why don't I begin and I'm sure that Tom will catch up and get this on here. So just to begin with some wages off of the roads. Now, that is a decrease, even though I'm saying that we're proposing a 2% increase, because that's what we have done the last four years. It is showing a decrease because we have two new people that have replaced two other people that were at a higher rate. So that's where this is slightly lower amount for that one. And then in the overtime, which is the next line over, I, you know, Tim and I talked about this, and we're saying, obviously, is we're showing a, you know, 48% increase. And the reason that we're doing that is that summer, summer overtime is becoming far more prevalent. And I'm saying that there are, there is a lot more road work that needs to be done in the summer that is going over and above the regular hours that we could work. The other issue that we had is when they are doing work on the culvert, is that going to require more time and more overtime for our highway department. That's why we're showing an increase, obviously, in all of these things can be changed, but that's our proposal and that was why we're showing that particular increase for that. Okay. And then the next one is the roadside mowing and tree trimming. Now we're increasing that by $1,000. And I, the reason for that, I'm just looking for my notes that I had on that right there. Okay, so what we're saying for the roadside mowing is normally we do one pass, and that one passes $6,000. However, we have a lot of residents that say that pass is not good enough, they need something more. So what Tim is proposing is that we can rent a machine for $3,400 for one week. A year after the first pass is done, have a second pass and just make sure that everything is cleaned up for everybody. So that way, the roads will be in better condition. And then we always have tree removal that's in that line item, and we're showing $1,600 because that is what we had last year. And Tim is telling me that he can cut trees that he has the training, and we have the chainsaw in order to do that. So possibly, we could bring that $1,600 to the lower amount, and maybe just keep it at the $10,000 level. But we're just proposing, you know, this for this, this time. Does anybody have any questions yet. Okay, so I'll move on. A chord for the summer roads, we did not make a change on that. However, for the last three years, and that's what Tim and I went through, we looked at the last three years, and we're finding that is just about that amount every year, it might be a little under $28,000, but it's just pretty much at that level so it might be 26 or 20, you know, 28 something or 27. So we felt comfortable leaving it at the $28,000 range. In culvert materials, we felt comfortable leaving that at $10,000. We don't have any big jobs anticipated. However, there always seems to be issues in the spring that people will have with their culverts. And then our road crew goes and takes care of them. So that's why we're keeping that level at $10,000 at this point in time. Summer equipment repairs, we're leaving that at $30,000. And we are saying, though, the loader has rust and it needs tires. So we're thinking that $30,000 should cover it. But it's these type of repairs that we are anticipating. We're just getting older, you know, and I don't know when we're going to replace it, but we are going to have to be putting more money into it. So that's why we left it at that level. The next one is summer equipment fuel. And for that one, we're leaving it at the $20,000 level. However, we have not spent that much in the last three years, either we spent $10,000 or $9,000. We did spend like $19,000 in FY 19. However, we're not sure our gas price is going to go up in the future. Should we leave it at $20,000? So that's where we're proposing it at $20,000 and that's why we're doing that. The next one is wages, winter roads. And once again, this is the same situation where the people, we get two new people that are replacing others that had a higher wage. So even though we're proposing a 2% increase is still going to be a decrease overall for that. And the wages over time for the winter, we're looking at the same situation, and it just has to do with people that are lower rate. Sand winter roads. And we're proposing more money on that one because it's going to have to go out to bid. The last two years, we had a proposal from like three years ago that we were able to keep it at the same rate without having to go to bid. We said that we will go out. We had up to three years for this particular contract. We just had renew it every year. And now we don't have that contract anymore because the three years are up. And if we have to put it out to bid, we're not certain that we're going to be able to get the favorable rate that we've had in the last three years. So that's why we increase that by 10,000. Once again, that is our thoughts behind that. And salt, we did the same type of thing for salt. We're having, you know, we use an average of 1300 tons per year. And we're saying that if, if we have, if we order the right amount, and we get it at a state rate, and we don't go over that amount, we're fine. However, if we end up using more salt, we have to get what they call it like an emergency rate. This is where we are going to have to pay more. We have to find it. And that's why we're afraid that if we were to go over that we would go over budget. Once again, we don't know much we're going to use. It seems like the last four or five years we've had more ice than we've had snow. And so the right, the icy road conditions have been more prevalent in the last few years, as opposed to getting more snow. So that's why we're proposing that increase. Once again, this is all subject to change. So for equipment maintenance repairs, we're keeping that a level of 40,000. I don't think that we're anticipating anything more than what we've had in the past. We did buy new tires and FY 21. So we think we're probably good on tires, but who knows what kind of breakdowns that we will have. And as our equipment starts to get older, and if we don't replace it, obviously we will have more repairs. We're keeping that fuel for the winter. We're keeping that at the same level. And we just never know where that's going to be. Then we went to asphalt marking and ceiling, and we are leaving that at the same amount as well. And what we're anticipating is that maybe that we would be paving Scott Hill that would be a project we'd like to do. While we're putting 150,000 and hopefully we'll go after grant and forget the grant, then that will be, you know, that will help us tremendously. But since we can't count on that, we're proposing 150,000 because we do feel Scott Hill does need some work. So then we're going to the resurface gravel, and we've increased that just because we think that we need to pay attention to West Hill, Darling Road, East Hill and Chase Road, all of those need some work. And that's in the opinion of Tim and Tim could elaborate more on that. Is there anything you want to elaborate on what I've said Tim so far. Really, but yeah, with the gravel it's their, their roads that were resurfaced right after Irene, and they're really starting to be thin on gravel starting to find a lot of bigger stones and whatnot. So, you know, a way to get rid of them is to cover them. I'll go on, but thank you for that. Okay, and then bridge maintenance. You were talking I'll ask you again, you were talking about Coxbrook and Guinness Road. What are your thoughts on that as far as bridge maintenance we left it at the $1500 but it's only a real bridge per se that we have, and it's, it's a wooden deck so I know this summer we've had a lot of problems with the boards kicking up. We've had been over there three or four different times now and nailing planks back down so depending on how this winter goes and plowing. The deck might be good, or it might need a deck next summer. But we lost Tim. Price number right now probably a lot so we're hoping to let it ride through and there's not a lot of traffic there so I'm anticipating that it'll be all right. Okay, this is on Glenis. Yeah. That was, that was done what 1015 years ago. Yeah, Gary was there the last. I said that the last time it was done Gary was still there. So, you know I mean it's, it's not like it's a high traffic road but yeah, there's going to be more people living up there now and they're trying to sell the farm at the end again so I know I think it's got new owners in the second place on the left and I think there's at least four different people live in the first place now. Yeah. They're getting a lot more traffic. I think when they redid that bridge I mean the deck I think they use pressure treated. Yeah, it's just it's, it's eight by eights underneath it and then it's just, they're like two by 12s for runners so it would really only just need the runners on it not a full bridge as the eight by eights are more than fine it's just, it's going to need new two by 12s to drive on. The next one is road signs. And once again, Tim, you and I talked about that and you were saying, we need to have a signage inventory and stands, because right now if we close a road your handwriting stuff. Yeah, we ran, you know, I mean we ran into the problem with Fisher road and we had to close it kind of abrupt didn't have a lot of road close signs and their plywood. We didn't have them on sign posts or whatever I ended up bowing some from the state for a short bit of time that were fold up signs on stands for road closers and so I just want to get the inventory for the actual just road signs that we use, you know, flaggers road work stuff like that, get that up a little bit better. And then guardrails were planning on leaving that at the same level, but you're talking about crosstown Tim you were saying that a lot that was in bad shape. Yeah, a lot of the hill is the guardrails are in pretty bad shape so just, it's gonna be one of those things that, you know, it'd be a lot of money to replace them all at once but you know just little by little start working their way down the hill and reset them and because a lot of them are too low for the, for the heights requirement so if it was ever a vehicle that hit him, hit them, there is a chance that they'd go over. And then on the workers comp that I have the rates from last year I will not get the new race until December for this year. Once I get the new rates, I will put that throughout the budget, but I thought at least we'd have something to look at and we'll have the rates from this past year. So that's why there's no change basically in that. And on the health insurance highway we're looking at an increase there. And that's because before with the people that we had last year, we had two people that were on family plan, one person on single plan, and Tim was not on the plan. He was getting the insurance buyout. And currently what we're looking at and I'm looking at potentially a 7% increase in insurance. The way it worked out last year is a 7% increase on two person, 5% on family and 5% on single. So it doesn't not every category has the same amount, but I'm potentially putting it at 7%. However, right now we have got three people on family plan and one on single. And that's why it looks like the rate is going so far, you know, so much higher, but that's because we picked up a person on family plan. And plus, like I say, we're not going to be paying the health insurance buyout this year so that will decrease. And if I cut that basically is going to go down a little bit because our salaries are down, and the few to suit as the same type situation, the disability insurance I looked at with the people that we have now. And I based it on maybe getting like a one or 2% increase because the disability and life insurance is not much of an increase. And you'll see that I've made the changes that are, you know, with the people that we have currently. And I think the life insurance is down a little bit because the people that we had in the highway department were older. So the life insurance more expensive for them. Okay, and then the health insurance buyback once again you're seeing that's a minus 4875 because I'm not anticipating anybody getting the health insurance buyback. The employee benefits that is Jim memberships and it's a $350 gym membership per person. So just times that by for, you know, not that any of the people right now aren't using it in the highway department. However, it is something that's an employee handbook that they could potentially use if they chose to. And then the pension I based that once again on salaries general insurance highway once again this last years a stormwater state permit is something that we have to have. And that's $3,600 and that I think we have to annually write him the stormwater permit yeah that's the new thing through the state where you have to go through every year. And I think, last year, it was like $832 but I believe this year we're going to have to pay the full amount in the entire year. And then erosion control let's see what you were now we're talking about on that. Oh that's state that stormwater and that's mandated by the state and if you could speak to that 10. It's just the state's gone through and made a new program where they've done classifications for all the roads, gone over them, measured them slope ditches for runoff. And now they're starting to require, I mean, when you do a project whether it's got to be stoned, matted, or just mulch and seeded, or if it is just left natural. There's, so there's getting to be more of the erosion control that we need to do, Matt, and then, you know, I mean the stone, we buy 12 inch minus seems to hold the best so we're using more of it. The municipal road permit that's something Dana told me that that was going to be happening every year as well. I believe it's all, it's all in the same program. So, it's just varying rates that you have to pay for varying things for the state that are requirements. Yeah. And then supplies, I think we said we wanted to go up in supplies, and the reason being that we need tools if you can speak to that you said you need to upgrade a leaf blower. Well, that was a discussion, but like for tools and whatnot, then the hand tools over to shop or very unlimited supply like wrenches and stuff like that they're older, some of them are broke, some only have a box in on one end or an open end. So it'd be nice to upgrade some of the hand tools. So if we have to work on stuff ourselves we have the capability of doing fixing it during a storm or whatnot and then as far as the leaf blower goes. I, they're called the buffalo blowers. A lot of the towns are buying them now they're, they're saying they're, they're wonderful. And town Norfield just bought one the town of Roxbury has one town Burke has one talked to a few people town Norfield and Roxbury have their own roadside mowers so they can buy them that go on a three point hitch. So they're PTO driven. We don't have a tractor so the one I looked at was it's a self propelled pole behind unit would go behind the pickup and has a wind turbine on it with an adjustable shoot that you run from the vehicle. And it blows all the leaf debris pine needles sticks off the edge of the road. So when we do fall grading and then cleans the ditches and anytime of the year you want to blow a ditch out or along the side of a road. The people from town of Burke said that they've saved more money in water damages and storm damage, then it cost them to purchase the blower. The one I got a quote for was, I think around $7500. And then Diane said that there is extra money in spots that could come up for that. So we do have a small reserve for highway equipment that has reserved that goes back like maybe three or four years so yeah we might, I think we have some money in there. Okay, the next one's just advertising, you know we'll leave that the same same rate, that would be if we had to advertise to for job to fill a position in there. So training, Thomas asked me to put an additional. You want to bring up to $5,000 because our people on the highway people need more training so if you could speak to that Tim, and I don't know if we need, you know, to bring it up to that level of 5000. But if you could just tell, talk to us about it. I'm not sure on the cost of it, all going to be, you know I mean. So for training and stuff like need to do flagger training CPR training, there's a lot of training that's out there. Soon as I've been in contact with a woman from the state. I've sat down with everybody on the computer and set them up a like a username and password so they can log in and start doing some online courses as far as training. But again, with everything that's going on with the coven and everything else there's not a lot out there right now that's available for training. There's some virtual stuff, but there's no hands on stuff. So, just going to be working on it slowly as things kind of open back up or progress and see where the virtual stuff goes for now. Okay. And on the telephone I'm leaving at the same rate for the highway that you is mostly cell phones. Maintenance utilities. I don't think we had anything on that. Oh yeah wait a second you said the walls have holes. Yeah, well that was kind of the other thing like I was wondering what everybody's opinion is on like the town garage and as far as maintenance and what the long, long term outlook. You know I mean there's siding the siding been hit with trying to remove snow there's holes in the bottom of the walls. The doors, the doors are new but the casings are old and rotted. The inside probably could really use a paint job. So it's, I mean is there, do we want to start, you know, slowly working on upgrading things or, you know, look at, you know, I mean getting an appraisal at redoing it all at once. Or how does everybody feel about that. I guess we'll go on with the, you know, with the budget at this point but then we can always get back to that. Let's see and then we're talking about the garage energy improvements which is once again based on that type of situation that you're just talking about. We need to put some money into the building. And the trash removal this year we put in at $1,500 because you have an abundance, over abundance of tires again don't you. Yeah they're starting to get another pile of tires up there they got rid of a bunch of them a couple years ago. When they were doing a cheat, then the price has kind of gone up and. And these are tires you're picking up along the road right it's not our. No, no, it's roadside treasures. It's green up day stuff like that just people that throw stuff out on the roadside random lane. Okay, and then the street lights that we're going to leave the same price. We're going to leave that the same and miscellaneous or so we'll leave that 500, you know, you never know when you need it. And the uniforms, we brought that up in price because, you know, we got $7500 for uniforms in the last three years we've had at least 10,000 we spent each year. So I know that data had a contract with who's a uniform company to use to. Yeah, yeah, and so I don't know where that contract is, but I think it's a contract he signed like maybe last year, and included in the uniforms as boots, and then we get the shirts to, you know, we get the summer shirts of the, the ones that are fluorescent. So I do think we need to bring that to the, to the amount that we're actually spending. And I guess that's it overall for our proposal this point. And overall, we're looking at an increase right now of 6.47% based on this information and obviously we're just at the, you know, talking stages so, but at least we wanted to give you, you know, our thoughts on this. The other thing that Tim and I were talking about, and I know I propose this before at least with Dana, every year is we'd like to get some kind of a committee together to go over what we have equipment when we need to replace equipment. So that way we'll know, you know, when we every year we think okay well we need to replace a loader or greater or whatever we need, but it'd be nice to have a, you know, a committee that would say well these are the proposed things that you, you know, each year that you need to to upgrade, and then we have to start saving the money for it so that we can instead of always having borrow the money that we could, you know, have use it out of our reserves, and which we do not have that we've been trying to build towards that. But every time we build towards that all of a sudden we buy in the piece of equipment. So we're just, you know, we're proposing that somewhere's down the road and hopefully soon we can get a committee together that would start looking at that and then they could do, they could help us with our proposals to when we do the budget. So that's all Tim and I have I believe are there any questions. Nicely presented thank you. Thank you. I just have an overall process question on how does this go I don't want to wait, and then, you know, you know, share my feelings at the end after you know you've done all this work Diane. But, you know, we haven't taken the first one to go but you know a six and a half percent increase is just, you know, it's just unrealistic for the times that we're in. We do that to the taxpayer, especially after 10% or whatever it was last year it was high last year. So, you know, I, I want to see, you know, the entire budget, you know, before I make too many comments but how do you guys usually do it. That's what the way we usually do it we have departments to present it. So the next department to be a police and then after that will be the office and then after that we do go through the whole thing. And that's why we're throwing out these numbers, you come back to me and say look you really need to lower this or this. Go for it. Yeah, but at least if we're being realistic, and I'm trying to explain everything to you so that way you know we are going to go less on something well, then we'll make that sacrifice or whatever it is. But at least we have, you know, we obviously we put a lot of work into it and a lot of thought into it, so that you understand that we really are looking at it we're trying to be realistic. Thank you. Comments on this. Is there any, do you said you mentioned a little bit for reserves. Is there any way you can also get us out. I mean, I'm where the result, you know where we can pull some of this from or where just for the reserves for the highway department. What those are where they're what they're allocated for towards. I think that's a good question. Diane, Diane, just to ask, just to ask where the reserves are in the highway department, and can you show them what those reserves are. Certainly, and what I'll do is I'll send them to you an email tomorrow if that's okay because obviously I'm at home so I can't look anything up. I'll definitely do that and I'll send them out tomorrow to all of you and I'll show you other different reserves. Okay, so that way you'll know what we have for reserves. Thank you. Yep. Any other comments on this. Okay, hearing none will take in convene the regular select board meet with us tonight is John Quinn. Justin Lawrence flow Smith. I'm Brad town. Also with us is Tom bodowski our town administrator and Diane Isabel. Well, the town treasurer. Ditions of changes to the agenda. Tom. We have a public hearing here for at seven o'clock for the second phase of that public hearing. Oh yes. Public hearing to hear the here input regarding the adopted water wastewater ordinance. Is there any comments on this. Who is guest one. I don't know I've asked and they haven't responded. Okay. Again, any comments on this hearing none. We will take in the start with the select board meeting. There are no additions or changes to the agenda. Okay. Public comment. Hearing none treasures report. Yes. One thing I would like to set up is another budget meeting. Normally we have them like maybe the next week. And then I would like to have chief. I would like to have a special meeting. I would like to have a special meeting here and we can talk about that. Can we schedule a one for next, like Tuesday, maybe. Like a six 30 or do you want to wait until we do the December meeting. And then I could have the rest of the. Budget. Because I would also have that would give me time to work on the police as well as the town. So I guess I'm leaving it up to you. Do you want to have a special meeting. I think that we have in December. The first meeting in December. I think probably have a, we can do another meeting on Tuesday. I think it's handy to go through it line by line and then have time to look at it. Yep. I'm fine with that. So can we do that for next Tuesday. At six 30. John. I can't tell you offhand probably. I'll do my best to make it. So. Let's see here. Justin. I believe I could probably make it. Hello. I can make it. Okay, then we'll take and do it for. What do you want Diane six. You figure about a half hour. Yeah. Yeah. Do you want to do it at six o'clock or six 30 is up to you. You tell me what time. I think six 30 will work. Okay. That's fine. Yeah. I think it'll be the same thing. It'll be a half an hour. Shouldn't be any more than that. Okay. I see James is with us now. Okay. So. You want to be available, James. I missed the first part of this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Setting up a time to go over your budget. What time are we thinking? Tuesday at six 30. Tomorrow at six 30. No, no. I saw a look of fear there. We haven't done the budget yet. Available to you guys. No. Yep. And that should work. Okay. Yeah. I think we're going to have to do that. Okay. Okay. Okay. The other thing I have is, I think I've given this to everybody is the contractors application for payment number five for paying turnpike north. If I can get an approval on that. This is for. 265,000 672. Oh, two. And I get something to approve that. And then I will need to signature from the chair. Your emotion. Yeah, I moved to approve the payment to do boys for 265,000 672 dollars and two cents. Your second. Second. Any further discussion. All those in favor. Hold on, Brad. Just one second, please. Yeah. Just remind me what the scope of work here was for this money. It's the pain turnpike. North sewer improvement project. Got it. Okay. I missed the sewer part of that. Okay. Thank you. And Brad, I did. I've given you the form. So you will sign the form tonight. Yeah. As soon as I know what I want to make sure you have the form in front of you. Yeah. All those in favor. Not signing. Hi. Hi. Brad, your, your audio is coming in and out. Motion carries. Brad, your audio is coming in and out. I'm not quite sure why. Okay. I don't know if it's your headset or what, but it's, it's fading. So you may want to try it without the headset and see what happens. Well, Let's see here. Just pull it out. Just pull your headset out. How's that? So far so good. Okay. Let's see here. Anything else Diane? Nope. That's for me. Good for me. Okay. Let's see here. Proof of licenses, permits, vouchers and applications. I think I'll. Put that off a little bit. Fisher road culvert. Tom. Yes. I got a note for you. I got a note from Robert. Clark from. Early this afternoon. They have. As you know, completed their, their topographic survey. They have. The soil boring has been done. And the, the hydro geologists. They have. The firm has not been able to complete. For tonight's meeting. The hydro geologic work. They hope that they will give that to Otter Creek. Tomorrow. And so I anticipate at the next meeting, you'll have some definitive. Drawings and cost estimates. I was hoping to have it today. It just hasn't come to fruition. So. I really don't have any much, much to report on it. Okay. Thank you. Any questions for Tom on this. Hearing none. V trans alternative transportation grant. Tom. Yeah. And I apologize. I'm just having difficulty pulling up. Documents for everybody's viewing. So I sent to the select board. In advance of this meeting, the concept plan. That was developed for this. V trans alternate. Transportation. Project. And it's, it's for the. Multi-use path. And then in the. In the time. In the time. We submitted the draft. New town center and the. Neighborhood development area applications to the department of housing and community development. We've been talking for about. Two meetings now that V trans. Offers. Grant monies. Or scoping studies. The planning commission is recommending that. The select board apply. Or a 50,000 total project. Cost. Of which 40,000. Will be paid by this V trans grant. 10,000 would be paid by the, the town of Berlin. It's, it'd be a scoping study. Connecting. The new town center. To the center for Vermont. Medical center. They have a, they have a health and wellness. Set a pass down there. And also connect. To. Through the. Berlin corners village center. The. The. The. Pass around. Berlin pond. And then, and including the, the various trails. The new town center to the center for Vermont. Medical center. They have a, they have a health and wellness. And they have a health and wellness. And they have a health and wellness. And they have a health and wellness. Including the, the various trails on Irish Hill. At the end of the day. It's looking to be about a eight or 10 mile. Trail system. That we're looking to connect. Again. It's, it's the scoping study for the lynch pin, which I think is the new town center. Connecting the, the, the. Eastern edge of that with the western edge of what we have it. Yeah. In the city of Berlin. Where we connect to, to, and connect with the city of Cage, where we're going to connect to the. Irish Hill. Again, it's a. A $50,000 estimated project. 40,000. Would be. From V trans and 10,000 would be from the town of Berlin. The 10,000 that we are. Going to supply of where's that coming from. I don't know you tell me, I don't know. on campus, the new portion that would be in the town center or the existing portion where you're talking about? Their trails are back behind Woodridge, Justin. So it's really that part is not in the new town center. I could send you guys a, I got a map today from central Vermont Medical Center what their trails consist of. Yeah, I mean, I think if we're gonna spend $10,000 as a town, even though a large portion that's funded by Grant, it would make sense to know exactly what we're spending it on prior to doing so. I agree. So yeah, that's what the drawing that I sent you guys in advance detailed that multi-use path. It's part of the, that path is part of the new town center application that was submitted for Department of Community Housing fairs review. And again, it would connect the paths at the central mall hospital to the Berlin pond and Irish Hill trail networks. This isn't for the actual work. This is just a planning phase. It's the scoping study. That's correct, John, the actual cost is, but for VTrans, will would pay for the cost of construction, but you have to have this, the planning phase first. So this is the first piece of that for that build out. Your motion. Yeah, all I'm seeing in here is just the one around the mall. Justin, we can barely hear you. Sorry, all I'm seeing on this one is the one around the mall area. I was curious about the rest of the trail networks you were talking and we haven't done a study on that. That's all we're spending this money on. Is that what that is? The, what the scoping study will be that piece that you received, but it will ultimately connect the central Vermont and the Irish Hill Berlin pond trails together. I have a, I could send you guys, I could send it to you right now. If you're near an email, I put together a quick plan for the entire, but again, this is due on the 27th. So this grant application is a work in progress, but let me send you this. Right, that's what I thought you had said you sent. I apologize. That's why I was looking through it. Do you know how many other grants or things like this we're going to have to apply for in the process for this town center? Just curious. Oh, as many grants as we possibly can, I guess. I don't know the definitive amount. So no, I don't, but as many as we possibly can get. So for $10,000 we get to take and have a scoping study to take and see what it would be to connect all our existing trails pretty much together. That's correct. And to include the new town center, it's true. That's correct. Okay, so I have a plan. Do we have a motion on this? Do we have this in a budget somewhere, Diane? We don't, but my thoughts right now is could we take that money out of the bike path reserves? Cause we'd have it in there. I hope you are not. Yeah. That sounds reasonable. We can't do anything with that bike path money unless it has something to do with a bike path. Correct. Yeah. Now I can't tell you exact amount that's in there, but I'm quite certain it was more than 10,000. I thought it was around 35. Something like that, I think so. I know that each year we've been doing more and more and we spent some, but I know we get at least 10 and when I send you all the stuff with reserves tomorrow you'll see it in there. But I think that would be a good place. Excellent. I think the last money we took out was for that bridge that's going in up above the dam going across the river to the U-32. Was it there? Okay. I knew there was something about failure. Move to approve $10,000 in spending by the town out of the bike path fund for the project, for the scope. I second that. So, I have further comment. Is that what we actually need to do or do we just need to vote to send in an application at this point? The application requires a commitment of funds. So. Okay. Okay, I was just, it sounded to me like we were applying for something. So I didn't want to get ahead of ourselves before we got anything. But, okay, that's it. All those in favor? All right. Pause. I think you couldn't hear us, Brad. This is so much fun. The Berlin Corner Cemetery Association request for $10,000, Tom. I put in your select board's packets of requests from that cemetery association. I believe they requested and it was for granted $10,000 last year. They're requesting the same amount for, I believe it's at the town meeting vote in 2021. Yeah, but I believe, Tom, they do have to go through the town clerk in order to put that, to get that onto the ballots for March, Tom meeting. I'm just, I'm making a select board aware that they've requested it. Okay. Very good. John, use of town lands for recreation. Yeah, I just wanted to give a quick update that we've been going back and forth with the conservation committee a little bit and Josh Walker and the very Snowmobile Club, the Thunder Chickens and the Berry Club did submit a letter of interest today. And I believe I forwarded it to all of you so you have a copy of it. I did hear from Bill Gentelli at the conservation committee saying that they didn't have time to fully comprehend the letter of interest. So they were gonna need some more time to mull it over before and talk to the rest of the members before going any further. So hopefully next meeting, they'll have, between now and next meeting, they'll have some time to look at it and get back to, you know, some kind of consensus. I don't know what the consensus is. I mean, we've been talking about it for a couple of weeks now on, but anyways, the letter of interest has been submitted. John, do you know how we're making out on any of the other deliverables such as the maps of the town properties, et cetera? I believe Phil said he did send some maps in an easement or some easement language to Brad, maybe. I believe the email said- And John, John, I said, yeah, he did. And I sent those to you and Mr. Walker last week sometime. So they have supplied those maps in that easement. Why didn't Tom just question, why didn't you share those with the board? Like why didn't I get a copy? I'm curious about that. Did Phil send it to me? He did, yes. I haven't looked at my email, so I'll take in, I can't do it from my phone, but when I get home, I'll take and send it up to you, Tom. You can distribute it. I didn't realize they hadn't gone to everyone. So we do have those maps now and I talked with Josh Walker tonight. He's ready to help wherever needed as far as the mapping goes to further the project. As far as any of the other deliverables, I don't believe, I don't believe I've heard anything else on any of the other ones, but if someone else has received them, please let me know. It seems like email is getting away from me. Yeah, I just like it. If any of the deliverables were sent to the entire board, so if Tom, you get them or whatever, you can forward them to all board members. Great way for clarity. Well, what was that, Justin? Well, I'm thinking I was curious. I asked Tom why I didn't get a copy of the maps when they were sent to all. I don't think, I think we probably don't need to be siloed. I think it would be great if the whole board got a copy of all of those deliverables as they came in or as they were available so that we're all on the same page. I think it's probably the most efficient way to handle this. As I understand it, they said it to me and I haven't been through my emails. Well, Tom had mentioned he sent it out to John and Josh Walker as well, something that just the two of them, so I just wanted clarification on that. Oh, I don't know if it's the same stuff. That's the thing, but I don't think I got it either. Brad, it was to you and I was copying on it, so I sent it to John and Josh as the folks that were preparing the next step. I'll send it out there, but that's not an issue. Okay. I'll set John. Yep. Okay, minutes for October 19th, 2020. Have a motion on that. I make the motion to approve the minutes of October 19th, 2020. I'll second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion carries. Use of town-owned coups trail property. Yes, I sent everybody a copy in their pack and I wish Tim was still on this call because this came through Tim. Mr. Richard Randu said he has been contracted to log some property and near the property that the town has on whose trail and he's asked that he be allowed to use that property for the landing area for his duration of his logging. And that's the note that I sent you. I followed up with him saying I believe the town would need a $2 million general liability coverage in being named the town as the additional insured before they would give it any consideration. I know select board several meetings ago wanted to that any time somebody wanted to use town property, the select board wanted to weigh in on that and make that decision. So I'm just putting this out here for you folks discussion. So down on Coas trail, they wanna use the town property down there, the off to the, what is it on the left side of the road? I think it's where the stump dump is Brad. Yeah, yeah, they wanna use that for their landing. Correct. And personally, I see no problem with it as long as they have the insurance as long as the contract states that they will return the property to the existing condition. And I would take and say probably a bond of some sort. Is, does the town have an existing contract for things like this? I don't believe so. I think we take and usually take a case by case. Okay, all right. Why wouldn't we ask them to improve that land a little bit? Like, you know, I mean, they're gonna tear it up. I mean, wouldn't we maybe plant something different like some clover, you know, actually just, I don't know, Brad, clean up trees for us while they're down there. Well, as long as they take and put the property back into its present condition. And I think it is, I think it is, I think it is a grassland right now. Been a long time since I've been down there. But what about you, John? What's your thoughts on it? Trying to find my mute button here. I don't know the property that well. I know where it is. I just don't know the property that well. I've never been down in there. That's what they were, they used to call the old dump, right? Yeah, the stump dump. Yeah. I mean, the land is pretty vacant now. So I don't, my personal feelings are, let them go at it. Like I said, there should be some safeguards for the town and having the land put back at least as good a condition as it was when they started. Now, if they're logging in the winter and they plow it and freeze it down, there's not much damage you're going to do to it. It'll just be cleaning up some brush or bark residue. I think probably as long, and I'm sure they do, as long as they have insurance and there's a memorandum of understanding on what we expect from them, such as being put back to at least grass or original condition, I don't have a major problem with it. Well. Neither do I. I think it's fine. Well, Tom, if you can take and get a contract drawn up for whatever and see what we can do. Yeah, I'll, I'll put something together, send around to you guys and you can take a look at it. Okay, thank you, Tom. Thanks, Tom. Round table flow. You're on mute flow. Round table flow. Not tonight, but thank you. John? Nothing tonight. Nothing? Nothing. No, okay. Motion to enter, to execute. Before you go into that, can you approve the... Personnel and contract. Brad, hold on. Hold a minute. Oh, yeah. Brad, you're breaking up again. I don't know why. Okay. Okay. Motion has... Brad? Brad? Ian had some other business here. Yeah, can you approve the license permits and vouchers? Yeah, I was just going back to those. Okay. I need a motion. Does anybody have the payroll warrant? I have it in front of me. I make a motion to approve the payroll warrant 21-10 for... Okay. October 21st. I need a motion for the... Yep. Okay. I make a motion for payroll warrant 21-10 for payroll from October 25th, 2020 to November 7th, 2020, paid on November 10th, 2020, in the amount of $40,891.58. Also payable warrant 21-g10 with checks 26-77 to 27-19 in the amount of $42,562.74, as well as October general journal entries and October reconciled bank statements for the general funds, sewer commission and water division. October trial balance, budget status report and delinquent tax report. Thank you. Here's second. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion carries. Motion to enter in the second session for personnel and contract. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. You expect action? You expect any action, Brad? Sub. Okay. Are you gonna like go into a breakout room or... What's that? Or say you're gonna go into a breakout room so I can hang on the whole day. I'll have that. David, I'm gonna put you into the waiting room again. Okay. All set now, Tom? No, not yet. Nope. Okay. The Berlin select board has exited executive session at 8.07 p.m. You there, Dave? Yes. Okay. As far as the request for officers from the chief who have a motion. Make a motion to hire Stephen Tiersh and Victor Hanajosa to the Berlin police department. Is that motion? Any further comments? As full-time officers. Yes, as full-time officers, excuse me. Okay. Any other comments? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion carries. All set, chief? Yep, we're good to go. Guys, no, I'm in the morning. Thank you. Thanks, chief. Motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. All in favor? Aye. All right. We're out of here. Thank you very much. Thank you, Paul. Have a good evening. Hey, Tom. Yes, David. How do you spell Victor's last name? Hold on, I gotta get it. I've got it here for you. H-H-I-N-O-J-O-S-A. And are they already through the academy or? No, they are currently part-time and we're offering them full-time positions. So will they have to go to the academy? Eventually, yes. Okay. And what does that bring the department up to? I mean, are there two vacancies? I'm going to plead ignorance here, David. We should, chief's gone. You know, there are, yes, there are, there are vacancies that they're filling. They're already budgeted positions. Right. But does this bring them to full strength or no? I don't believe so. I believe that they would still be one down. Okay. That's correct. All right. Hey, well, thanks a lot. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Carl, I'll call you in a little bit. Okay. Good night, everyone.