 I don't know if we would have been permitted to do anything outside that special session. We thought it was a narrow scoop. Well, I heard that we could have. Really? Yeah. That's what I am. Make this jackass with a license plate. It's a tragedy. Crazy. It's, you know, 72% of Grover Ready and how we handle the flood in Central Vermont. My fault has came up today. I recognize you, but I associate you with the mayor. Senator Andy Perchlich was also here. He's here. My guest roommate, Kate McCain, she just got off cancer surgery. She got the pass tonight. She's doing well. So there's three senators from Washington County and coming was on Zoom, the first one. So she might be participating in Zoom this time as well. I haven't seen her. She might see you here. Well, thank you both for coming. Of course. Of course. I'm sorry to know you. Totally fine. No worries. All good. Good to see you. Yeah. Do you know Tom Sable? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I've seen you. I've seen you and your family in advance. Oh, yes. I know. I know. I know. You were happy. You were happy. I know. I know. I know. Yeah. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. Just on advocating for more state, federal and philanthropic funding. And so we actually, Paul is like outlined a process and I'm a big believer in like trusting the process. And so what we're going to do is for 10 minutes, we're going to talk about actually 15 minutes. What are the first steps that need to happen in order to advocate for state, federal and philanthropic funding. Right. So we're just going to kind of brainstorm the steps. Now, ordinarily, this isn't like making a list for other people to do, but I think in this case, it's maybe a little bit of both, right? So, you know, if Montpelier is going to advocate for more funding from various sources, what are the initial steps that need to happen to make that go? And then for 10 minutes after that, we're going to talk about what are the resources that are going to be needed for this specific effort? If we're going to raise more federal, state, and philanthropic funding, what are the resources that we're going to need to do that? And then we're going to do that for 10 minutes, and then we're just going to spend actually five minutes, just like kind of thinking about, like, next steps, but really, like, if you're interested in this effort, say, for example, if you're a legislator and you really want to kind of push this issue forward, you can sign up here. And you're not necessarily, like, signing up to be part of a committee or anything like that, but by signing up on this, it's saying, I'm interested in this issue. I want to be kept informed. And if there is an opportunity to engage in this work, like, I want to be called upon, right? Does anybody have any kind of questions? OK, so let's start. Yes. So it's partly on us to better communicate the structures that are there and how do we, and then how do we get people more engaged? There's central, there's Montpelier with all of its boards and commissions and everything. There's central Vermont Regional Planning Commission. There's state agencies like the EM and others who deal with this. There's agency of transportation is just putting out a resilient central plan. There's all of this. And it's sort of people ask for those things as if they don't exist. So how do we better communicate and how do we engage? OK, excellent. I'm going to push you a little bit and be like, can you, do you have a potential answer to that question? Right. Like, how do we communicate more effectively or uncover more effectively the existing resources and systems that are out there? Some of the stuff I, OK, I could be biased because I'm kind of involved in this. But often we put, we in the agencies put out things that are hard to digest. We can put out things that are shorter and more engaging and more multimedia. But we also want to make it easier for people to be involved. So some of it is on us and some of it is on everyone to read more and understand what is going on. So I think it's a two-way street. A two-way street. So agencies and different funding organizations, different funding opportunities need to do a better job of communicating to Montpelier what's available, what they're already offering in digestible ways. And then it's up to all of us to actually seek that information out and understand it. OK, great. Yes, Sarah? I'm thinking about ProPort Forum and how that is often a local source of communication, but how agencies, state agencies don't use it. Like why not find out where communities talk and move the resource conversations into those spaces like ProPort Forum? Excellent. Thank you. Yes? I just want to speak to reality of what's happening in a couple of places. So I'm Melissa. I own Positify. And a lot of the big businesses in Montpelier are really lacking funding to get back open or to stay open. Smaller businesses, I think, are having an easier time or don't need as much to reopen. So all we've been given is the $20,000 BGAP grant, which most of us haven't gotten yet. We haven't even started rebuilding because we're still waiting on funding. So we do have a group already formed. It's an advocacy group. We are meeting once a week. We're trying to put together an ask, which is what we were told to do. There's columns to the ask. There's an ask of what we need right now to rebuild and to make sure like I know three penny has said they've gotten the SBA loan. But unless they get more funding, they're not going to be able to make the payments on the loan on top of the expansion they had just finished. And we'll be bankrupt within a year. So they need more funding in order to stay open. I think that's true of a lot of the bigger businesses in downtown. There needs to be more funding. So we're putting together an ask for that. Also an ask for the financial loss that we've lost in losing our entire summer and fall, which is our busiest season, which get us through winter. We're going to, a lot of us are going to be reopening in the winter when we're slow and aren't going to be able to make it through without more funding. So these are being done already. Melissa Bounty, who spoke at the state house, is putting together this ask. She's working with our group. She's working with all the businesses, putting together an ask. But we don't know. A lot of people have told us ask, but don't count your chickens. It might not happen. So I don't know how to work to try to really get the case out there that if we don't get more funding, probably a lot of the bigger businesses won't make it. And if flooding keeps happening, they will not rebuild again. So I just wanted to say, what is happening? We do have a group that's putting out an ask. We're hoping that it gets into the right hands and the right people here and bring more funding in. But we really need more funding, both for now and for the future in flood mitigation, because most businesses have said they'll rebuild now, but if it keeps happening, they will not. And so there will not be a downtown if we don't get more funding. I really appreciate that perspective. And just really quick, I think it'll be so important that the businesses really clearly articulate what their needs are, both in the short term and the long term. And my hope, at least, would be an effort like this would really help galvanize that ask. And instead of just the businesses themselves asking, the entire community is advocating on their behalf, which I think is really important. Yes, sir? I'd like to piggyback on what you just said, because I was in your group last time and listening to you and your colleagues. And it was so clear that what you're confronting is a too little, too late set of options right now. In that if we don't do something bold, your prediction is, progressively, it sounds like going to come true. I would submit that the one thing to consider is the special session. Call the special session in the month of October. Prepare for that special session by collaborating with all of the communities in Vermont, who's all of the representatives and senators from the communities that are impacted. Start editorializing and banging on the governor's door to listen. That session should authorize the treasurer to issue debt in an amount that's going to meaningfully contribute to the collective costs in the state of Vermont for near-term recovery. But in that self-help, not wait for the feds, do something here in Vermont. In exchange, however, there should be a payback mechanism. If you issue debt, you have to have a plan for retiring that debt. So somebody needs to do the calculation as to what's the big number, what's the term on the debt, what's the annual amortization, how many beneficiaries are there, what kind of contribution could they make, potentially a combination of a special assessment district for the property owners, the incremental addition on your taxes each year over 30 years, and a local option increment on the businesses. So I get a pie at your place, I got another 1.5% or 2% that I'm paying. And I know that I'm doing it, and I still have it downtown. Are you our senator by the way? I am one of your three senators. Yes. Well, it's lovely to see you. Thank you. This is on you guys. You need to lead a charge to get your colleagues to pay attention, to do something meaningful, and the nickels and dimes that you're getting are not gonna do the job, and waiting for the feds to do it. Last time we said, well, you know, Hawaii, everybody's talking about Hawaii, they're talking about Florida. And next week they're gonna be talking about wherever Hurricane Lee hits. Sir, I'll tell. Yeah, I told, thank you. I think that is really crystal clear. Action items, special session, look for debt mechanisms to get the money that's immediately needed. Yes, sir. Yeah, and basically, thinking back on what she was saying, I was in a different session last time, and Vince from Hibiki Chippy was in my session, and he said that, you know, he said, here it is, we're struggling small businesses. We operate on very small percentages. You're asking me to take on more debt, even in a three or four percent. He says, that's more debt. He says, that's the road to our market. He says, we should be looking at grants. I like the idea of a special session, because right now, until there's actually funding in the legislature, I mean, certainly there's been some emergency funding that's been coming through, but housing came dispersed, and there was actually a really good art column in Hibiki here, and a number of business owners are saying, how all this stuff that they've done, all the teamwork, either got kicked out, rejected for whatever reason, and they said they still don't have their own money checks. They've been kicked out for one reason or another. And so it's really fresh, and if I was a business owner, I could really tear my hair out. Ken, can I ask, like, what's the action step that comes out? It's not tearing our hair out. It's like, what's the action step? I honestly think you need to have a special session. You need to start looking at grants, and where the funding's gonna be available to start re-looking this out. Okay, great, thanks. I just wanna make sure we get some, go real quick. I just wanna give a mechanism for you, great, great. Navigators, remember, Obamacare, navigators? So I live in Montilier. I come to you. You and I fill the application real time, and maybe even, I'm authorized to say, some element of it is approved. So when you have your bill, and you have the money, and the whole idea, get it out quick, don't wait for the current bureaucracy to do it. Authorize, you know, 10 grand for people to do that work. Great, thank you, sir. And did you have your meeting? I did. Yes. So, Anne Watson, one of your three senators. So I wanna put a couple of other things on board. The radar one is that the emergency board does meet throughout the off-session, apparently. And they also have the authority to move money around, which is how Efficiency Vermont got, I think it's something like $10 million for the special program to help people rebuild with more energy-efficient appliances and stuff. So that is ongoing, that is happening. It's composed of money-chairs and whatnot. Another thought that, it's getting in and out of the box. Yeah, so I went 110%. We need to get back in there. We need to get the work, you know, because I don't just trust having the administration go through the motions and do what they're doing, because it's not enough right now. Where I would push back a bit is, collectively, we need to do it. If it's myself and we're Democrats, the governor's a Republican, it gets into a partisan sort of piss-and-match, excuse the verbage, you know, if we're the ones calling for it. However, 72% of central Vermonters in the last poll last week, said Governor Scott's doing a great job right now as far as blood relief there. So Montpelier voted for us, but they also voted for Governor Scott in this administration. We need a mechanism to really bring up the heat. And what better mechanism than 500 people in the auditorium up the hill in a state house and invite the governor to stand in front of all of us and say, what are you doing, right? That's the best mechanism I could think of as far as political pressure. So I would say that is an action step. 500 people, governor, front of the room, tell them what we need, right? Okay, yep. Is it possible that we could expand that circle too to like our congressional leaders or other folks? I think so, although I would want the heat firmly on him for most of this. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. So just to build on all of this, putting heat on the governor, asking you folks to get back at it as soon as you can. I think public relations is something that is, or if somebody can tell me differently, I think it's missing. And we do a great job as a local community. We lock arms together. We show that we do that almost to the extent, almost to the exclusion, I think, almost shooing away the attraction of the outside world. I think we're, if we're not already, I think we're very much at risk of being forgotten. Joe Biden showed up in Florida. I think he got to Hawaii too. I've lost track, and no swipe on him, but just what does it take to get that level of attention here in Vermont? Yeah, we're liberal, all that stuff that gets old, but the point is part of this pie is a public relations effort that also lives beyond just the local effort and focusing on state government and local government. Can I just ask a clarifying question on that? When you say public relations effort, is it a public relations effort to tell a story or are you talking about a lobbyist, or like, what are you talking about? But I think, yeah, a loud story. A loud storytelling effort on the experience of something. I have a small business, and I can tell you from my limited experience, paying for public relations is part of how you get out there into the wider world and people become familiar with your story. Great, thank you, sir. Yes. I have a little different topic to bring up. I talked to a friend of mine who was in flood insurance. He's retired now, but he said, well, you can know about all the FEMA money you can get for hazard mitigation. I didn't really know, so I went on the website. There are these big grants you can get for hazard mitigation, flood prevention, infrastructure stuff to prevent and reduce future damages. And it turns out that in FY22, the federal government handed out $3 billion in two of these grants. My question is, who's gonna go after that money? Is it the city? Is it the state? Is this new commission? I don't want that to get lost. Great. We need to go after that money. Yeah, who's the eligible applicant for the money that's available? Yeah. Yeah, great. Yes. Well, the other thing is I don't know how much you guys have been calling in the latest about it. What's happening in Washington, but apparently FEMA is down to $4 billion after all these disasters. And FIPE has come to request the additional funds. What would the potential government check down in between to determine where that funds will come? Okay. Thanks. Action steps, folks. Action steps, yes. I remembered the other thing of today, which is that when Connor and I were involved in city government, we actually established that the city had a lobbyist. And so I appreciated that there's already, like organizing effort and moving forward. That's great. I wonder if there is still a lobbyist for next session. I assume so, but I think we should, one action step would be to ensure that there is still a lobbyist because it's important that somebody is in the room at the right moment to have those conversations. And I would also add again that that person perhaps have a list of interested, molecular residents who they could alert to say, hey, this conversation is happening right now, contact your representative, put the pressure on when is the right time. And so to create this and have the lobbyist alert folks when it's right. Perfect. Thank you, Ian. Yes. I guess if we get back up to the public relations aspect, it's like this reminds me a little bit of COVID and how we had a weekly address from the health commissioner on the status of the numbers, what was being doing and what was expected of us. And we've got, that has not happened. And this is our own emergency to hit our state and not just Montpelier. And we've had to avoid that it's not been filled. And I think that if we had a weekly address where we had like what's being done and so pressure on the governor call a special session, like y'all need money now. What it's going to cost after this. Can I ask a question? When you say have a dip, like a weekly press conference, like they do with COVID. I'm here with someone. Okay. Well, that's one of my questions. Are you talking about like state government, local government? All the leaders, all the leaders. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. Great. What other kind of. Separate actions. Which is sick. I want to go here and then I'll go. Yes. Yes. Go ahead. Well, and this is my job. This is the first meeting I've been able to join. So this may be a stupid question. So tell me if it is, but there are, especially for say philanthropic fundraising going towards a foundation, public sector, et cetera. I think I don't do we have a clear sense of the total amount that is sort of needed. Yes. I don't know. From a business, from residentials that from, because I think having some of some idea will help not so much progress, but like if we're talking to cover spot, corporations, foundations, like we need to, they need to know how much we want, right? Or I think having some sort of. So real effort. It's fine. Some sort of establishment of a baseline of how much. They're working on that. That's the ask they're working on. But it is only the one that Melissa's working on is only for businesses. It's not for residents. But everybody is being encouraged, each community is being encouraged right now to, to put together their ask what they need. They need a number. That's what they said it has to be a concrete number to ask for and they, everyone's working. Who's that? Well, I think each community. So Melissa Bounty is helping to do that for Montpelier along with our business advocacy group. But I mean, who's going to receive this information? Who is they that's asking for it? Is that the treasurer from the last meeting? I think it's for a special ask, right? Like if Melissa's. They're trying to put together something to bring to the legislature, to the governor, or maybe to the feds. Right. I don't exactly the channels, but. The bottom line is there needs to be, we need to quantify the economic loss for the city, like for Montpelier, both residences, the municipality, right? And business, like, okay. We really, we're going to wrap up in just a second. And we do have like some next steps, but if there are other voices, yes. What about wouldn't FEMA have a ballpark of the ask because everyone is being encouraged to go there to register what they needed? Yes. A business is juicer. That's the hard part. FEMA does not have the ballpark of for-profit businesses. SBA might, but SBA's system of tracking is very different. So FEMA will have the public assistance value of the infrastructure asks, and we'll have the individual assistance value, but we'll not probably have the for-profit losses. Last one. Really quickly, I'm going to survey the group, because I think when we consider money and nobody knows where that comes from or how to start or what the figure could be. Quick survey. Do you think it's under $500 million raised your hand? For the state of Vermont? Yeah. Yeah, I think it's under. No. What do you think it's under? Yeah, I think it's under to $150 million. For the state of Vermont? Yeah, for immediate near-term response to these downtowns, I think that's the, if that's the ballpark you're asking, yeah, it's under to $500 million. And not to nail that figure, but just so we start to have a working concept, it's just not an average space. But it's a smart way to think about it. Think globally, because hey, give Montpelier something. Less compelling than give Vermont something, give the quarter that was impacted something, coalitions, you're a Democrat, but I bet you the people up in some other place are Republicans, so. I'm not gonna add that together. Okay, great, last one. Yeah, based on his question, just kind of going all for that. What was the recovery amount for Irene? Because obviously we're north of Irene, and in fact we're in infrared inflation. We are, yeah. Other communities are hit harder and harder. Well, of course we're full, whatever it was. It would be interesting, thank you. Yeah. Okay, so we have, I mean already some really just great first initial action steps, right? And I think in terms of next steps, they are standing up that commission and I think that they're gonna work really quickly to like take these kind of ideas and prioritize them. The last kind of thing that we're gonna ask of you, like you need to sign up on this, right? Yeah. You. Like it means, it does not mean you're signing up to go to a weekly meeting, right? But what it means is that you're gonna be kept informed of this effort and that if you see an opportunity for you to make a difference on this, then you need to like stay informed, follow it, wait for the call, step up when needed. But that's what you're signing up for here, is to be kept informed of this effort. I think like just for sake of conversation, like the idea of having a list of people who care about Montpelier, that when that conversation is having in the state house, that can be notified immediately that you need to be in that room at two o'clock today, right? Like that's what we're talking about here, okay? So please sign up. And then the next thing we're gonna do. And can I say something on that real quick? Yeah. Committee schedules, whenever we go back in there, usually come out on Friday, right? And then we know it's going on the next week. And a lot of what happens is when we testify, it's sort of the illusion of public input, but you gotta make it uncomfortable, right? Get a cream in those rooms so they see, you know? Do you have the presence of it? So if we can divide and conquer, just like you're saying Ben, sign up on that list and say, okay, you're going to natural resources, you're going to appropriations, and we're raising our hand at the end and timing in for Montpelier, so that's gonna be really effective. Because they expect us to go through the motions. We gotta take them outside the comfort zone. Okay. And with that, I mean, sure. Yeah, you're right. Thank you, honor. All right, so we're actually gonna go, I believe, back to the auditorium for some closing remarks, but there's a pen right here. If you could just take a minute and sign up if you're available to do that. I guess I have a quick question about action steps. Do we need to get a lobbyist? Is that what you're saying? Need a lobbyist to speak for us? Well, it's helpful because that person can be in the building, is paid to be in the building and follow when those agendas come out and see when those appropriate times are, and have conversations in the building to make sure that it's, you know, that the leaf for Montpelier is on the agenda and be able to negotiate on our behalf, on our collective behalf. So we have one, we paid that 15K from the city of Montpelier and that monitor stuff. We might need to book that up to actually like, have a few people in there, right? It's very day far away. I want the lobbyists who told me they would work for downtown businesses for free. I would also just point out like, I think there are a lot of organizations that employ lobbyists at the state house right now who could be activated because this is on mission, right? Like the chamber has lobbyists, right? Like the organization I work for has lobbyists, right? It feels like the action staff. Yes. All these action steps, Jen is doing a fantastic job of taking copious notes, right? All of them are memorialized. We're going to share them with the kind of leadership group that's organizing the commission and the other things and they'll start to move this work forward and you will be kept informed through the signup sheet. Are you talking about resources or no? We ran out of time on that. You ran out of time. Okay, one more suggestion of the action staff. Yeah. Which is the commission to coordinate all of the interested potential lobbyists. Yeah. The cities and towns. Yes. Like all of the people that already have people in the building to coordinate those efforts. I think that would be very effective. It's a great idea. It's a great idea. I think, what's that? 835, dude, we'll go to 845. 840. 840. All right. We're going to take this last five minutes to decompress some more time. Okay. Thank you guys for coming to this. Yeah, I really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.