 Recordings. It's recording. Okay. I'd like to call this meeting of the Community Preservation Act Committee to order at 6.04 PM on Thursday, December 9th. We continue to meet virtually due to the pandemic. I'll take a roll call, make sure everybody can hear me and be heard. Sam McLeod. President. Tim Neil. President and taking minutes tonight. Thank you, Sarah Eisinger. President. Katie not yet. I don't think, but she will be coming on it. Devon got here. Present. Andy McGoogle. Present. Eddie startup. Present. Dave Williams. Not yet. Okay. Well, we certainly have a quorum. So let's begin, Sarah. Thank you for the minutes from last week. Are you ready to. I don't know. Take notes. If we move ahead to discuss those. Right. If you had a chance to review the minutes. Would you please raise your hand so I know we're. Okay. Could you repeat that again, please? If you, if you were able to review the minutes from last week. Yeah. Okay. So we're prepared to. To talk. I got. A lot of emails from. Several folks, maybe four of you. So. I'm happy to. Incorporate those changes. Right. So at this time. No, I'm sorry. I'm just. Forgetting to put my hand down. I'm sorry. Okay. All right. We all do it. So does anyone have. Substantive. Comment or suggestion to me regarding these minutes. Looks like Andy does. Yeah, I have a brief one under high school track project. I'm sorry. Anna and I would not support the project. If the track is reoriented. And it's the opposite. We would. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Miss that. Thank you. Thank you. Anna was that your comment also. That was mine. Yep. The only other thing is this is just because you're here. A and a not a NNA just went in. Double negatives. Sorry. Is that a comment to Sarah on the minutes? To Sarah. Yep. If I'm looking at the right. I just inherited the members present. So. Yeah, no worries. It's a NNA. No problem. Tim, you'll want to make that correction to them. If you've inherited this document. Yep. That's what keeps up. My name is spelled. My name is spelled a N a not. Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's just been a carry forward typo. All right. We're going to correct that. Someday, you know. Just, just in time. Finally corrected the zoom. We get there in the end. All right. Anything else. Okay. And I see Dave Zomek has joined us. And I should have said these are the minutes of last week's meeting. So. Is there a motion to approve as amended? Andy. And the second. Second. Anna. Okay. I have to, I have to call. If you're in favor, please say aye. Sam. Hi. Tim. Hi. Sarah. Is there. Hi. Is there anybody here yet? No, but Dave Williams is. Oh. Hi. Hi. Welcome, Dave. All right. Yes. Andy. Hi. Eddie. Hi. Dave were voting to accept the minutes of last week. Are you prepared to vote? Dave Williams. Yes. Yeah. Hi. Hi. Thank you. Okay. And I'm an eye. So that's eight in favor, none opposed and one. Absent at the moment. Okay. All right. Thank you. Great. These minutes. That's a minute. Taking question. My previous experience with minutes, I noticed that in the previous minutes and several minutes, you've listed each person's vote on the minutes. To me, that's not necessary. I would just assume say the vote was like eight in favor with one absent without identifying who's vote was what in the approval of the minutes. And I don't know if there's a standard protocol you use or what general feelings are. In regards to that, I think that's different than the substantive votes, which I'll get to projects, but just for a minute approval seems to me that that's not necessary, but. I don't think that's necessary. I don't think that's necessary. I didn't want to make that judgment. If that's not what the committee has done historically. I would say it's not our practice, but that it's fine. Okay. Fair enough. Can I speak? I'm not sure if it's something that's required because of zoom meetings where you have to have a roll call. No, he means in the minutes to list. I would say that's the minute. I would say that's the minute. December 2nd or approved eight in favor in one absent or something. That's all I'd say without identifying each vote. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I would say that's the minute take your. Thank you. Choice. Fair enough. All right. Thank you. So now we will take public comment. If there is anyone attending who wishes to speak. There is anyone attending who wishes to speak, please. There's no public comment. There's no public comment. There's no public comment. There's no public comment. Zoom hand. There's two people in attendance, but I see no hands. Another few seconds. All right. Then there is no public comment. And so now we move on to. The discussions and votes. I hope. On. Financials. For us, there's, there's no updates. No more money came in over the last week. Well, some weeks we're lucky. Yeah. Yeah. I guess I figured since we didn't have any. State age is usually the last bucket that drops. Okay. All right. So Sonia, if you can bring up this spreadsheet. That lists this year's proposals. And I think we're going to be able to do that. And our straw polls and where we will record the votes. While you're doing that, I think I would suggest. That we. Not take up the track. At this time, because we have not yet. Got any new information about costs. The estimate of doing that. I don't think we need to decide that at this point. Right. So. I can't see everyone now. Does that seem. First of all. Sonia, does that seem reasonable? Yeah. Yeah. The postpone that. Does anyone disagree and feel that we should be voting on the track. Tonight. No. Okay. So that said, I think. Can you, Sonia, can you blow this up a bit? We don't need to see the, all the. Top. Menus. Oh, okay. I do though. Oh yeah. Okay. Is that better? That's good for me. Yeah. That's fine. All right. So why don't we. Deal first with. Oh, it just, it just disappeared. I think the administration. We do have to vote on that. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So $25,000. For administrative. Costs. We did have some discussion about that. Did anyone have anything more to ask or say about. That Andy. I was just going to ask if you could give a high level refresher. I know. Some of the items. I'm not sure if I remember all of them. And then Samuel at your hand of earlier, I saw you waving. So. So the 25. We just increased the 25,000 last year because we are trying to get more signage out there saying. These are your CPA dollars at work. So signs are kind of expensive. But other than that, the only administrative we've used is to pay our coalition. And that's based on how much. So charge we generate. Each year. And any legal ads that we have to put in the paper for our public hearings. That's basically what our admin is used for. The general sense of, of how much is signs versus how much is kind of those required. Okay. And then 10,000 is kind of requirements. All right. Did you have a question on that? Go ahead. I just had a question on your prior. Comment regarding the track, which I don't disagree with, but when would you envision us? Discussing the track and other words is the suggestion that the committee will not hear it. Tending a specific inquiry from the applicant. In other words, do we need to pose a question to the applicant? I think the applicant's aware. The applicant offered to. Seek more financial information. So. Yeah. Sonya, do you disagree? Yeah, I think. When they have a more solid plan in place, they can bring it to CPAC since it's going to be a borrowing. It doesn't matter. The timing. It can happen after the tax rate is set. Okay. But I will, you know, make sure to reach out to them in January and say, we hope, we hope we'll be hearing from you and, you know, when might we, that kind of thing? Maybe Dave Zomek has something to say on that point. Sure. I was just going to add that, that Sean Mingano and I are, are working closely with Doug Slaughter over the school. So this is, this is really a collaborative town and school effort. So we are expecting those, those new, the new information on, on financial assessment of the, the various options. You know, any day now. So we will get that to you as soon as we've had a chance to analyze it with Weston and Samson. Okay. So they're on the case. The team is on the case. Absolutely. I'm very invested in this because of the years we spent developing that plan. So we'll get it to you as soon as we have it. Thank you. Thank you. I want, I see Tim's hand, but I want to ask Sonya first. Is it the case that. If not all the money, for science is spent on science that that excess is returned to. The account. Oh yes, absolutely. Yeah. It always comes back to the CPA fund. Okay. So it's a maximum. Yeah. Tim. I didn't have my hand up. Is it up? I don't see it. Oh, sorry. No, it's my, it's my cursor turned into a hand. All right. I didn't know it would do that. All right. So then. Yes. Sorry to interrupt you. I just, I know we talked about this last year when, when Sam was walking through sort of the signage options. Are we requiring. Folks who receive. Funds through CPAC to put signs up, or is it just a request? I don't remember if we discuss that or where we landed. I'm not sure if that. If a, if a specific message has gone to private applicants, I think all the town that the various parts of town know about that. And we'll be incorporating signage that certainly has already happened at the Kendrick park playground, for example. And there, there's banner up at the. I think. So, so the, the 15,000 Sonia. You think like that, that's. Anticipate. Is that anticipating covering 18 signs. Or 18 sign packages or just like the town one that just want to make sure that. Number is right. I don't know. Can you answer that? Because I really hasn't, haven't been a part of the signs. And I thought we were talking about. Signs saying your CPA dollars at work, but also plaques for. Things that say. Made possible by CPA dollars. And the price is very. Yeah. You know, this is something that Sam. And others kind of championed. Yeah, we, we, I don't know if you as a group. Voted, but I think there was strong support. For there to be both the, the temporary signs advertising, you know, this project is, is supported. You know, funded by CPA, your CPA dollars. IE the, you know, Kendrick park or the dog park, et cetera. But then I believe you, you also, and staff agreed wholeheartedly that we should put permanent signs on those, those projects that are funded, both a kiosk for a trail or, or a private project should also have recognition. And I think Angela Mills and in my office designed those and they were vetted with, with, with you all a year ago or so. And there was general agreement on those. Sam is my, is my memory right there. So. Anna's hand up first. I'd be glad to respond. No, she says it's okay. Sign language. My recollection is similar to Dave's. I know that we vetted the designs. And we vetted the concept of enabling Dave and staff to implement signage using the administrative funds. Throughout town projects. Current and previous. In particular, the thought was it would be easier to start with some of the existing trails. Certainly the new projects such as Kendrick and others, the sign that was there looks great. We never actually voted regarding private other than the concept that we thought it would be worthwhile with a few internal questions regarding. How that might work. We didn't resolve that. We left it sitting because we wanted to move forward with designs. To get the banners out. And with the town property, it's something we could talk about. As we go forward, the question related to how, how might we. Require or not require that. We never actually. Settled that. Because the owners was on the ground. Making progress with designs and getting it out there. So. That's what I understand into where we are. And just to rein in, I just want to make sure the 15,000 would cover. Signage for all of these. That's all. And like we can decide down the road. You know, if Sarah wants to bring it up, like we can, we can talk about whether we were required or not. But if we feel good that this covers it, then that's really what I wanted to have answered. Similar question. Making sure this covers what we would need. So some projects aren't left out. And then my other thing is eventually Sonya would, do you see this price kind of slowly? I know we're talking. I mean, in the grand scheme, we're not talking about a huge chunk of change, but. You know, ideally those, those signs are going to be read the temporary signs will be reused project to project. Correct. Yeah. I see nodding. So, okay. That's, I just wanted to make sure we weren't. Buying temporary things that were not able to be reused. So thank you. And. Can you hear me? Also, um, there was money allocated last year. So there's still a balance from last year. I don't have it in front of me, but. Um, this is just to make sure that we don't run out. Great. There's a lot of trails out there. There is. Tim. Yeah, I'm sorry. With the spreadsheet up. I don't know how to electronically raise a hand. So I'll just go the old fashioned way. Um, I thought that was an interesting, uh, Discussion about private versus town. And I really think we should have that. When we were talking about, when we were talking about, um, When we were talking about private versus town. And I really think we should have that. When might we have that discussion in terms of requiring. Applicants, if they're approved. I think, I think we, we can have that discussion. I would rather not happen tonight. Because it's not urgent. Whereas this is urgent. But I do think. Um, it is worth getting back to, especially because we are now proposing, um, I think is the time that we can start. Right. At least we have applications from some private entities. Um, it's also the case. However, that. You know, the projects don't even start until July at the earliest, and they may not finish for even a long time after that. So I think. No signs are going to be needed. For a while. All right? So I think it, yes, we should come back to that. Um, I think at this point, So perhaps we could dispose of this article. Would somebody please move this $25,000 for administration? So, Andy, is there a second? Second. All right, so I'll have to, or maybe Sonia can, or I'll read the names. We'll just do it the same way. Yes or no? Anna? Yes. Sarah Eisinger? Yes. Heddy? Yes. Andy? Yes. Sam? Yes. I am a yes. Tim? Yes. Dave Williams? Yes. And Katie? Yes. Welcome, by the way. I saw you coming a little while ago. Sorry, I was, I was, I was late. That's all right. Now, unless somebody thinks we should approach these in a different way, I'd say let's just go down the, down the sheet, all right? We will, at this point, have to confirm what amounts of money we, you know, we want to recommend. So on the table, yes, we have a request for $500,000 from the town for acquisition and development of transitional housing. We can either just vote on that or if somebody is at this point uncomfortable with that number, we could have a discussion of a different number first. Would anyone want to propose a number other than, I mean, other than zero, like if you don't want the project, but Andy? I don't want to propose another number. I just want to confirm that column K, that 93, does that indicate the negative 93 that with the 250 for the row five that we are under or over? Under. Okay. Meaning we would be dipping into our, we would need to pull money from reserves, right? Do we need- If we wanted to- If we wanted to fund all of these as, yeah. Yep, okay, I'm comfortable. If you're looking, I know if you're looking for a motion but if you want one, I would certainly be happy to give them for that. Okay, why don't you go ahead and do that again? Okay. Yep, 500,000 for acquisition and development of transitional housing. Sarah, second. I second it. That's Katie. Yes. Thank you. All right. So, Anna. Yes. Sarah Eisinger. Yes. Hedy. Yes. Andy. Yes. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. Tim. I, yes. Dave Williams. Yes. And Katie. Yes. All right. Thank you. All right. Next, we have the affordable housing trust. The request was $500,000 in our model here in the gold column, we have $250,000. So I guess we could try to figure out where the majority is before we take a vote or we could first move one of those numbers and if it fails, try the other number. And we, could I propose a discussion first? Yeah. Getting to a number. Yes. Just reminding us, I mean, I think we remember sort of what the, how, I feel like I'd rather have a discussion about the number. Okay. Okay. All right. Well, I'll start. I would, I frankly would propose no more than $250,000 and maybe even less because there's no urgency to this request. The trust asks for CPA funds every year. And as far as I long as I've been involved, it always gets some, I think it always gets some funds. I hope that's right. But they don't have any specific project. If they do have a specific project that is going to demand more money than they have, they can come back to us. So that's a lack of urgency. I would say is, is a rationale for reducing the number. Okay. Andy. Thanks. I was going to actually go a little different way and say, if we have that surplus of 93 that I was, I was going to recommend we up it to 350. Honestly, like an, an operated kind of a zero budget here, but I also know that there were some talk of other, maybe some other proposals coming through relative to reparations. I think on it or did I have a deficit of 93, not a surplus. Oh, did I get it back? Yeah. I'm going to, I'm going to strike what I just said. Sorry. Okay. But you are correct on potential future proposals. That part is true. Kim. I would feel comfortable with 250 unless the numbers come back on the track. I would rather spend it on housing than the track. So I'm not. So we'll go from there. I don't know if I experiment. Is that clear? I just wanted to for the record. Yeah, but, but. We can't know. We don't have the track number tonight and we're voting on this tonight. So. Yeah. I do the best. We can also if the track comes back with a higher number, we don't have to. Award them that full amount. You know, of course they might come back the following year. And ask for the balance. So I guess let me ask the question a different way perhaps is that is if the track comes back. And we're trying to stay within the allocated dollars. Can we then raise if we vote for 250 tonight on this one? Can we raise it? If the track number comes back? Yeah. Yeah. If we vote for 250 tonight on this one, can we raise it? If the track number comes back differently or. They could come back, right? Yeah, they would have to come back. Okay. And if we have a reserve, they could vote it from reserve, but if they don't, if we don't have a reserve in our tax rate is set, then they can't come back because there won't be available funds. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Dan. Just for clarity of following up with Tim's inquiry, which I think is a good one. The number that and Andy's actually the number with it. We're seeing on a total is 2,973,000. Of which there's a deficit. It looks like of. 93,000. On line 22. We have a general reserve is the trap. And if we were to go forward at some point with. A dollar amount to attract hypothetically, if we approved it. Would the bonding portion. For the, this cycle appear within this. Budgetary group or if we bonded it, would it be a future year? And it would be in the blue section down here. And it would only be the debt service. So it wouldn't be an $800,000 hit all at once. Right. Whatever that debt services for that year. So it would be the proportional amount, but it would start with the debt service. Time period one as a portion of this budget cycle. Correct. No, no. I need the money. It may be two years out. It doesn't start until they actually start using it in the future. Sam, do you remember that we saw a debt service schedule? Yeah. The track was maybe an FY 25, like we saw. Sort of their year. It might even be one of these sheets, but it did not start. It doesn't come from this allocation. So in terms of a response to Tim's question, I guess. It seems clear that the track would not impact this. Years. Dollar amounts. Whether we approve it or not. Am I correct? Correct. That's where I was getting at. It affects our. You know, future debt service. So more of the funds, future funds will go to. Paying for paying for those long-term. Those bond. Yeah. All right. Does anyone. Andy. Yeah, thanks again. I was going to ask just to then clarify your. Your idea would you suggest that we would lower this. To balance the budget so that I'm going to get the math. Right this time. So like. That this would be in the 150 range or something like that. That would. Or you going to even different number. I just. I would certainly do it if, if people. I. One might argue that there's more flexibility in this number than in. Maybe all the other numbers. I think that's a good point. Because it is, it is going into just a, their trust account and it's not for a specific project. So if you want. We could vote the other projects, which are, you know, have budgets for specific work. Maybe we're not going to approve all those. Maybe we will, but we would have a better sense of how much, how quickly we're drawing down. That's what I'm saying. I see some nodding, but Anna. Well, so then Sarah, would it make sense if this is the one that feels the most flexible to do this one last so that we. That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. All right. I didn't mean to repeat what you were saying. My question that does pertain. You know what? I'm going to wait on my question. Then if that's our plan, I will wait on my other question. Tim. That was going to be my question. I'm going to move on to. The housing trusts request for $30,000 for consulting services. Which might be used over two years, I think. They draw on the consultant as needed. Andy. Just quick clarification. Could someone remind me why some of these are shaded. Orange. Why is this one orange? I'm not sure. What do you mean? Why is it? Oh. Proposal. Some of them are formatted. Orange and blue. I wasn't sure if there's any relevance to that. If there's, if there's, I mean, it doesn't affect my opinion of the project. The only ones that should be shaded are the ones that the amounts changed. Right. So I probably hit the wrong one. Okay. All right. Thanks. Yeah. Okay. All right. Does anyone, your hands still up, Andy. Does anyone have. Want to make. Another comment before we just vote on this. Seeing no hands. Let's proceed with a vote on. Recommending $30,000 to the housing trust. For program development. That's the consulting services. All right. Anna. We didn't have a motion, but I'll make the motion. Okay. We'll move it. Who wants to second it? All right. Then let's vote. Yes. Sarah Isinger. Yes, yes. Sorry. Yeah. Patty. Yes. Andy. Yes. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. Tim. Yes. Dave Williams. Yes. And Katie. Yes. All right. Then the next is a request from the town. For $100,000 for a part-time non-benefited staff person to help in the planning department. I believe with all the various housing. We'll move it. We'll move it. We'll move it. But the town wants to get underway. Okay. Anyone have a comment or statement to make about this? All right. Who wants to move it then? Move. That's Andy. Okay. Tim. I'll give you the second. Second. All right. Let's vote then. Anna. Hi. Sarah Isinger. Hi. Patty. Hi. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yeah. I'm a yes. Tim. Yes. Dave. Yes. And Katie. Yes. All right. Next is the JC nutting building envelope preservation project. That's a property owned by the town's housing authority. And they are requesting $87,000. $87,934. And I believe they have an equivalent amount of funding from a state agency. Does anyone wish to make a comment about this project? I would move that we adopt this. All right. So head ease. Moves. Who would like to second. I second. Dave. Okay. All right. Then. Okay. Anna. Hi. Sarah Isinger. Hi. Patty. Hi. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. I'm an eye. Yes. That's all right, Dave. I. And Katie. I think we all may see. Sonya's cursor moving at different speeds. All right. I was just going to ask Sony if she could highlight the next one because that was a price change just because it does help my brain to know those. Cost change them. Yeah, maybe that's what happened. Yeah. Thank you. Sorry. All right. I have to admit, I don't know exactly what. I don't know. I don't know. Sean included in $241,915. And I don't know if Sonya knows, but I believe. I'm sorry. I believe it was the roof in chimney. And I think there was one more thing, but I don't know the third thing. You know what it was not what it was excluding that. I don't know. I don't think that. Yeah. All right. Well, I guess we have to. I could go look, but I would screw up the screenshot. Yeah. No, no, that's okay. All right. The idea of what he excluded. Sam, what do you think? Well, I was running the different numbers on it. I came up to 241 by excluding the furnace interior paint. I don't know if that's accurate or not. I did read your comments. Sonya on the spreadsheet, but I believe it. Well, I know it definitely included the roof. The masonry work. And some of the other supplementals. Portion porch repair. I think. Yeah. And maybe the resetting the steps. Okay. All right. Does anyone have. Yeah. Sam. I don't know if that's accurate or not. I did read your comments. I don't know if anyone has. Yeah, Sam. I'm assuming you're saying does anyone have any questions or discussion? Yes. I didn't mean to jump the gun. So I just, you know, I looked it over. He took out. About 110 or so, which is a good amount. The only items that comes to my attention in the current list. Since it was a pretty prudent way of removing the less important items. It's just the general budgetary, you know, bidding process. I see $3,300 per window replacement of the 13 windows in the dormers. That's a lot of money per window. They're not that big. I looked at the pictures. I got windows, you know, three times that size that were about $900. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if the heady knows that there. The historic design needs to be replicated. I think window, window bids can, can vary a lot actually, depending on the sill and mullion and the kind of treatment, treat visual treatment of. The surround. I want to put that a word. I don't know. I don't know. $900 per window. Sam is, yeah, that's kind of work today. 3,300 per window. $3,300 per window. Per window. Sorry, I'm going to backtrack a little bit. I haven't, I don't know the details about the window treatments. In terms of the proposal. That's my understanding. The windows. That's my understanding. I can't. I can't spread tree, but I believe it's included. You have a comment. Yeah, I did. I did have a comment when we approve a project. Can we put some conditions on it? For example. Pardon me. Design review. Yeah. What do you mean? Well, that's not our. No, I know it's not our purview, but can't, can't we have them report back to the historical commission? Well, let's hit. Why don't we let you. Sorry. My question is this is a private. Facility. It's a historic building in the town. I have some concern about public dollars going into the city. And I understand that one of the criteria is the history of the building. So the building is historic. And so I would like to have some condition. I just wondered whether we could put on a condition that this be open to the public. And not just used for private purposes. Now, public is if someone goes into one of the psychologist's offices that I guess that's public, but. I don't know how one does that. If we're going to approve all this money for this private entity, can we put some kind of a restriction on that? And then the second one. Is sort of related to my question regarding the signage. And that is whether or not would be helpful to have for the town of Amherst. Have some sign that the CPA monies were used for, because of historic purposes or something like that. Just so if people know it's a private entity, and question why public dollars went for a private use, there's some greater understanding. So that's sorry, but those were some of the questions I had. That's fine. I'm going to, I'm going to answer. And then heading will correct me if I'm wrong. Okay. The, the public benefit. Of. That what the public receives from giving CPA money to a private historic building privately owned is the view from the outside. It is not any access to the interior. It's because it is part of the historic landscape. So it would not be. I'm not sure it would even be allowed for us to demand that the public. Be allowed inside the building since what we are funding. We are not finding interior painting for that same reason. That's because the public doesn't benefit. From painting on the inside. Eddie. Sounds about right. So. Okay. I was also part of a historic district two of East. East Amherst. Right. So there are two ways in which it. It is. You know, legitimate. And the public view and it's part of a historic district. And the public enter the building. If they choose to for appointments. And meetings in the building. And I think when we listen to the presenters. Who worked there, they said that there were a fair number of kids from the school nearby who also have used this building inside. So I'm less concerned about, about that. I appreciate where you're coming from. Andy. Yeah, I just wanted to follow on to Sam's point. I think it's a very good one relative to the winners. And I've been like trying to find their budget worksheet here and haven't. So just, I guess as a reminder in terms of the. So. When they, when we award money. What level of. What level of money. Further documentation do they need to provide relative to how the money has been spent? Because. Yeah, I, I think the 3,000. For window, if there's 13 windows. If that's, you know, you get that's for a thousand. That's like an extra 25 grand, which covers off on some of these projects alone here. Right. So I would love to have. At least maybe clarity on, on how they. You know, how to document how the money is spent. And then, you know, in this particular case, like. I would be, I would be curious to know if we, you know, I would, I would probably be supportive of knowing what Sam has shared of reducing that number down. And reclaiming some of that for. I would remind everyone that these are. In every case, they're maximum amounts. And the projects are reimbursed and Sonya and her team, they have to be reimbursed. They have to be reimbursed. And they have to be scrutinized the invoices. More than most. They don't get the front. What's that, Sonia? More than most people like, yes, but this also gets. It goes through the liaison for the historic committee too. So he goes through them. There'll be. Restrictions of some sort that'll get put on. And then they'll have to be reimbursed. And then they'll have to be reimbursed. And then they'll have to get it to. Make sure it's kind of in. The scope of the project. And an allowable use for CPA. Those are the things we're looking at, but it gets scrutinized on many levels at town hall. Before it gets reimbursed. And there's an agreement in place before. Project started. Okay. So we're just adding a policy to make sure they don't exceed 241. Or are you actually going through and saying, Hey, they saved money here and they exceeded their budget. I'm sorry for getting into the weeds here, but this is, this is an interesting topic. I'm not sure if the, if the second floor does that. We don't, we make sure they're allowable uses. We don't track line item by line. I'm that's usually done through the. Okay. Thanks, Tonya. Yep. Katie. Sorry. I couldn't find my mute button there. I feel a little funny. And maybe I missed something that was sent out, but if we're making. Are we guessing about these things? Like I was Sam, I was thinking about. Is labor included? Or is it the trim and the sills and other things? I mean, windows themselves might cost a certain amount. So I just, I just feel like. Maybe we could put a condition on or something, but I, I feel funny making a decision about what we think might be the case. And if it's unless I miss something. Where we've seen the line items. I believe it was in last, last week's packet that Sean had though. The updated numbers. Yep. Okay. I don't think, I don't think we know enough to, to put conditions on particular aspects of. Purchasing of a construction project. I don't think that's. You know, we ask them to get the bids. And we voted total project costs. Basically. I don't think. I don't think we know enough to put conditions on particular aspects of. Purchasing of a construction project. I don't think, I don't think we have the. I know nothing about windows. Sarah. Just say, yeah. Last week I asked the question when Sean said he went through the line item budget and I said, have we vetted this? You know, we don't know if it brings down the total cost of the construction manager. Like we, we don't know. So this was Sean's best guess at like taking out. You know, we don't know if it brings down the total cost of the construction manager. We never went back to the grand, the, the. Group, you know, this owner to say, can you redo a budget that would meet this amount of money? So I think we should be careful that. If we, whatever money we vote on, we don't know if they will be able to accomplish all that they've proposed in that budget. I'm not sure what practical. I think we should be careful about what we do tonight. Are you saying. I'm just saying that 241 was. Sean's best guess. So to Katie's question, we didn't miss anything. The group, they have, we didn't go back to them and say. Rerun a budget. Right. So we could give them 241. I don't know if it's the same amount of money. I don't know if it's the same amount of money. I don't know if it's like Sean, Sam built it up to 241 too. But again, we just don't know. You can't just take things off of a construction budget and assume it's the same amount. Well, as I recall, they had bids from many different contractors. So I expect there is a fair degree of just adding it up. They don't have it. Don't seem to have a general contractor. It's also the case that. You know, I think I, I can't believe that they couldn't get an awful lot of work done for $241,000. So, you know, I think we just have to go. We have to decide based on the information in front of us. Sam. Yeah, so I was halfway through. I started with the window expense. It's actually 12 windows, not 13. And the other point I wanted to bring up was the. The door and the window. Dover replacement. Expense, which would be the trim. And it references it specifically in the items to be completed. And in their pictures, that's $80,000. So they, you know, they're allocating $120,000 for the dormers. And the inclusive of the windows. I understand. Sarah East point regarding being careful about what we're. That's exactly what we're referencing. I'm comfortable from my experience and recommendation simply making a comment on it. Having knowledge of the industry and but in terms of the committee here. My comments are just for my general posture is that we have flexibility. I think the audience can always come back. And if I see estimates that are detailed in any particular project that, you know, seemed like a lot to me. I feel an obligation to speak about it. Let's get this up in the context that we're discussing budgets with a deficit. So, if we're seeking to shave off money from our total allocation. There's a couple of projects in this total mix, where there might be some opportunities and I would suggest this is one that there could be some saving, not suggesting massive amounts. There are some of the items that I'm looking at related to the windows and dormers. I see some saving they had an estimate for the windows of between 30 or $40,000 in their own submittal from a liberty, 30,000 being the lower 40,000 being the higher so there's a $10,000 swing there. Again, for the committee, I'm raising this topic just to consider the capacity to have flexibility in their own each committee members decision making process regarding the budget. Kim. I have a compromise request I propose that we reduce the 241 915 to 240 even. And my rationale is that's the amount that the historic commission recommended. And it does reduce it a little bit to get to Sam's point, and it is a round number. And that's what I would propose. So I move that it move the number be reduced from 241 915 to 240,000 even with the rationale that that's the amount of money that the historic commission recommended and I think I would feel more comfortable with going with a number that you start. commission recommended without getting into all this weed discussion. So that's my post or move recommendation. Well I don't want to have to vote so would you raise your hand if you object to that. Just indicate you object. I don't see all right. I have a question before we vote. Okay. We're discussing the project. The question is, are we voting on the assumption that this is our response to their proposal, or are we voting on the assumption that this is a phased in portion of the proposal. I see a distinction there. I have my own posture on that but just well we're not we're not. In other words, we're voting this is our response to your proposal this is the amount will provide to you. Yes, and you will work out with the accounting department what CPA funds can be, can be applied to. Okay, I wouldn't call it a phase there's no they haven't. That's fine. Okay, so let's go ahead and just put 240 even there, please Sonia. And then let's just proceed with a vote will somebody Tim you want to move that I move to 40 even. Yeah. To the conchie Stevens house. Seconded. Okay, heady. Thank you. All right, let's vote on a hate being first every time. It's okay. Nope, Sarah, I will suck it up. Well on council they start, you know, she she promised me she would change it up every time. Yes, I'm saying yes. Okay. Sarah, I think I'm saying yes. Oh, sorry, Eddie. Yes. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. I mean yes. Tim. Yes. And Katie. Yes. All right, next time I am going to start with Sarah Isinger just so you know, really okay. I think it's good practice. Yeah, thanks for mentioning that. So Simeon strong house and grounds as requested 18,000. Amherst historical society requested $18,800 to conduct in engineering and structural assessment of that historic property and they would like to do it before the Jones library construction begins. And possibly maybe garage. I move we approve the Simeon strong house and grounds engineering study for $18,800. Second. All right. So net is there any discussion, I guess. Usually the discussion is to follow but anybody. Who's the second Katie, Katie, thank you. All right, I see no one wishing to comment so let's vote starting Sonya with Sarah Isinger. Yes. Yes. All right. Heady. Yes. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. I am a yes. Yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. And Anna. Yes. All right. Super. All right now to the Alice mod Hills house. This is the Amherst women's club requesting $135,000 for repairs. Okay. So we have two various parts of the house and some exterior painting. Now I don't know if everyone saw that Sonya sent some information on the painting question. Did anyone not get a chance to read that. Okay. Sonya, would you summarize what. What you were told here. Are you able to do that? Well, I did the rehabilitation portion of it because there are repairs being made. So when they paint after repairs being made, they consider that rehabilitation and preservation. Or the other way of painting would fall is if they were bringing the color back to period color, they could do that. Once this rehabilitation has been done and they repaint it, they couldn't come back a year or two later saying they need to put another coat of paint on, because that would be routine maintenance, but because they're doing repairs. The painting falls under CPA is allowed, except that and this was Stuart Saginaw's response right he suggested as I think others had last week that the carriage house. The carriage house would not be eligible for painting because it did not need any repairs right. So, does anyone recall the cost of that painting because we should just remove that from the total that was about 19,000 I think. Thank you. That'd be like 17500. Is that right. 19,500. No, I'm what that sorry what 1000. I'm trying to subtract that 117,500. Is that right. Well, the thing is, the full cost of the project is 166. So 30,000 they are going to pay for. So if they paid for the carriage house out of that 30,000, I just want to make that clear. It's up to the committee if they want to reduce it more but as long as we think there is an equivalent amount, an additional amount of they couldn't use CPA dollars to paint the carriage house. That's right and I'm saying if their funds go to that is there an equivalent additional cost on the main house that CPA can find. I think if we were the whole project was 166. That's 19 five from the 166. That's the, if we, if the committee deems that the carriage house is not eligible, then that would be the portion for discussion purposes. In other words 147 five if the 166 is accurate would be the amount less than 19 five to their cup but they're covering there. This is what I said one. Yeah, 117 500, but Sonya suggesting that we could award them the same amount. They just can't use that. Any part of that on the carriage house. Correct. I am fully on board with Sonya I don't think we change this number at all the money goes towards the ineligible stuff. They do their whole project and I'm comfortable with the 135 I'm happy to make a motion for Sam are you. Eddie was that emotion. If you, I don't know if you want to like invite you. Yes, if you're inviting me to I will, I will make a motion that we move forward at 135. Seconded. Eddie is second. Does that mean discussion is truncated. No, we can discuss more now. Usually you have the most you second the motion and then you discuss it so it's fine. I always want to hear what you have to say Sam. I, I've never in my life painting for 10 years and running businesses paid $120,000 to paint a house. Now, I'm not the one. It's not my house that I'm paying for personally but it is our town so I feel a lot of responsibility to raise issues that I'm cognizant of for the committee to consider. It's a lot. The painting component and regarding stewards comments, I read the letters. It seems to me his summary was two fold that it. The carriage house would not qualify. The rest of it would qualify as a part of rehabilitation but they don't provide an answer as to exactly what portion of a budget that means. In most of the definitions of the letters the discussion of painting in the two state letters from the door that were provided by Sonya. They're referring to a much lower dollar amount of painting as a component of the project and discussing whether or not that qualifies. In this case, it's the opposite. The vast majority of this project is painting and that's what I was raising before. So, I love the house. I'd like to see a rehabilitated I just, I'm not comfortable with the dollar amount, because of what I know. I would say that we don't know until they start inspecting the siding, what the extent of the repairs would be, and then necessary. They're $52,000. In the estimate, the painting specific in the estimate is 120,000. I know, but once you start, once you start scraping, scraping away or whatever, tapping on the boards. Right, they could. That's not preparing that's painting. Tim. Well, the painting for the house itself is 100. The carriage house is 20. Correct. Okay, just for the record, it's just looking at their polls or everything else is repair. Okay. Well, we have a motion seconded on it. I just have a clarifying question and I apologize this is strictly because I'm not fast enough. They had an estimate on this painting from someone who does this work, correct. One estimate. So I mean, I think for me, I get very squeamish speculating when they actually did speak to someone who does this work and that's the estimate they got and I mean Sam I say that with all due respect because I recognize you used to do this work but for me, you know, they did their due diligence of getting the quote and if they get another estimate and it comes in less, you know, great, then they'll give us back what they didn't spend but for me I think I want to trust that they did their due diligence and they got a quote on this and for me that's that's where I'm. I like to stick with instead of under undercutting just because we think right we didn't go out and do the estimates. Any other comments. Okay, then let's vote on awarding $135,000 to the Amherst women's club for exterior repairs and painting for the Alice mod Hills House exclusive of the carriage house. All right, and I believe we're starting now with. Heady. Yes. Yes. Andy. Sam. I'm staying. I mean, okay, so it's a is staying. Yes, I'm a yes, Tim. Yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. And Anna. Yes. And Sarah. Yes. All right. We already voted down the north cemetery fence and we have voted in favor of the Mill River historic interpretive trail pending confirmation of its eligibility if it is not deemed eligible. That award will be rescinded or or will will withdraw it before council votes. Sarah. Yes. Quick question. Robin was asking whether she could make some comments after deliberations. After sure. Yeah, I think so. It's not super late. She must have missed the public comment period. Yeah. So in that case, we move on to the town of Amherst's request for $50,000 to replace a fence at the west. Yes. I'm sorry to interrupt, but could you let David Zomek speak. I'm scrutinizing the spreadsheet here. Dave, go ahead. Are you not going to discuss the North Amherst trail now? Did you punt that or are you going to talk about it? We did last time. Oh, okay. And you voted it, but it was pending information from town council. Okay. I'm sorry. If I could just to report to the to the committee and oftentimes, you know, we work together, you know, Sonia, Sean, Mangano and myself. And so we did have a lengthy conversation with our town attorney, Sharon Everett, who works for Couple Minute Page. She is very experienced with CPA proposals and works with many, many other communities throughout the Commonwealth. And I actually started the conversation because I had, you know, just thought a little bit more about the trail in question, the trail that is the focus of this proposal. And, you know, really with my, from my perch here as I oversee all the conservation land, I think it's clear to everybody on the committee and the proponents that, you know, this is a trail that is already protected land. And, and there is no question that the resources that are being discussed in this proposal and proposed to be researched are historic in nature. We described the proposal to Sharon Everett. And, you know, she thought really without without hesitation that this proposal was a an eligible expense. The one thing that I think Sonia and I brought up during the conversation is that the District One Neighborhood Association is not a non-profit. It's, I don't really, I don't know its legal status. I think it's kind of an informal group. But in essence, if the committee and ultimately the council decides to fund this, it would be, it would really be staff working with representatives of that group to move this project forward. The land is the towns, right? We own the land. The conservation commission oversees the land. You know, I work with closely with the commission. So essentially the town would work with the representatives of the District One neighborhood group on this proposal. We would put out an RFP for those services. It can't be sole source to somebody. So I hope that gives you a little bit broader understanding, but there's no question that it is eligible. So just for the record, because I mentioned a different project, you were talking about the District One neighborhood associations request for $12,900. Yes, I'm sorry. That's okay. That's okay. Just so, just so anyone watching is not confused. All right. Thank you for sharing that. Can we assume that the town is willing to put in the staff work to make that happen? Yes, it really, and I covered that with Sharon, you know, the more I think about that trail and those mills along the Cushman Brook, we really, I think it's our obligation to try to protect those resources and part of that protection comes from research, education, outreach and ultimately signs and or some sort of demarcation that people should not be removing stones. They should not be digging in those areas. All those things we know about archaeological sites throughout the world. So I think we've all visited those and we really should. I think it's great that the District One folks brought this to our attention. And I think it'll be a nice addition to, you know, the Cushman and the, and the, it's the Kevin flood trail, which is north and upstream of Puffer spot. So thanks. Thank you. So comments just on this project now the mill river. Yes, Anna. So, Dave, just to confirm have you talked with the representatives from Dona about that, about the town being the folks responsible putting out RFPs, etc, etc. We just met with Sharon ever on zoom I think yesterday so I have not and I don't think Sonya has time to circle back to them. I mean, this is it's it's analogous to the Amherst baseball leagues wanting to put in new dugouts that mill river we own the land. It'll be our resource. So, so that's why the town would need to do an official process to seek a researcher to do this background research and anything moving forward. I can't imagine they would object. I agree with that. I think I just, you know, I want to make sure that they know what we are agreeing to right. And then my second question is, along that when you look at this budget. Does it still seem in line for you when you look at that the, the, what is it 12 night. Yeah. Does that still seem in line with you if this moves forward through the town. Well, it's going to have to be right I'm not an expert on archaeological research by any means so I presume that don't I I know the folks who are behind this proposal and I trust their judgment and their research and I'm quite sure they got estimates for this work and that's where the 1,900 came from. Perfect. Thank you. Tim. That actually was going to be my comment. I do not think they got estimates. I think they're using one person. And they are not getting estimates. So I guess, when reading the eligibility requirements, I don't require applicants to get multiple estimates for project costs, do we? Or is it just a recommendation, because in this case they only have one and that's that history, the gentleman who talked, they didn't have any, they didn't have multiple estimates. So I don't know if that's yeah. No, I'm not sure that's not sure that's a concern. Okay, I mean I think because it's not, you know, they're seeking expert assistance, like, they'll, they'll, they'll get as much expert assistance as they can afford, right. So whatever their budget is, they'll get that much consultation. Yeah. I don't want to put Sonia on the spot, but I wonder if, if Sonia has had a chance to consider the, I mean what Davis told us and is satisfied about the project eligibility or are there still questions to investigate because Yeah, I'm fine with it once we've talked with the attorney and I know that the attorney didn't hesitate. I'm fine with that. Okay, well the attorney that would defend us. Okay. All right, so we no longer have any concern about the eligibility of this mill river historic interpretive trail, or this phase one, Tim. Yeah, yeah, since I'm writing the minutes I just wanted to know what to reflect regarding the eligibility are we going to say that the town consulted with the attorney and the attorney and the determination that this was eligible because I think this is important enough to put in the minutes. Yes, is that a fair statement. Yes. Okay, Dave I don't know if you've got it in the form of an opinion, you know, a formal. No, this is documented. This is just a conversation or was there an email trail to Essentially the more you ask for from town attorney the more it costs the town so opinions are expensive. I think when my hope is when the comptroller the assistant town manager and the finance director all talk with Sharon Everett, our town attorney one of our town attorneys and an expert on land use and CPA. If that can be reflected in the minutes, that is enough to give Sonya confidence and hopefully all of you confidence to move forward with this project. And again, we would have a we would have a project agreement with that group, but essentially, probably Ben Breger, who is the planner and works with the historical commission would be the liaison on this project. And he would, he would oversee any kind of RFP that went out. And, you know, the gentleman who did consult with them on this project would be free to apply and put in a proposal. Then I think I would suggest that at this point, the committee assumes the project is in fact eligible. And unless somebody tells us otherwise, we need to come back to this we can Yeah, affirm, affirm it as a recommendation of us. Okay, well that's good news. All right, so back to the West Cemetery fence and sign improvements. Does anybody want to make a comment, Sam. I would just make a comment following up on your inquiry when we discussed this Sarah, you asked about the references to signage in the murals and suggested that not use funds for that aspect of it. So, whether it be a request to not reference them or to eliminate that component from the project so it might be in our interest to identify what the expenses associated with those signs that are in question. I don't know that we need to identify them I think we can say if let's say we do approve it. And with, with and tell the applicant that fun CPA funds cannot be used to promote a work of art, you know, it's just that would not to us be an eligible expense. There, there may be minimal cost, I don't know but whatever it is that Sonya's office will figure that out and I see Ben breaker in the room. Hi, thanks Sarah. I don't want to complicate things too much I guess I, in this case and the project and the, and the applicant. I guess I was imagining these signs like say there's one next to Emily Dickinson's grave with this interpretive sign about Emily Dickinson. And we include a picture of her face on the mural that's right there. As like an indication of like, you know, the mural is reflected. It reflects the history of Amherst, which is in plain sight at West Cemetery so I think that that's what I was imagining was kind of using signage to help people understand interpret West Cemetery, and how it's reflected in the mural and the kind of interplay between those two I wasn't imagining it like explicitly signage about the mural itself. If that helps there. That does help me. Yeah, I don't think a sign that that explains the mural to people and where it comes from and you know what it's. Yeah, I don't think that I would not consider that eligible. But does anyone else have a question about that for them. Right then. Why don't I move this one, the move that we award $50,000 to the town of Amherst for construction of a historically accurate fence at the West Cemetery on the eastern boundary I believe, and signage. Okay, let's begin vote then if there are no more comments, wave your hand if you had my hand was that on a second. Yeah, it was me. Okay, so thank you. Okay. All right, no comments. All right, then let's vote. Beginning with Andy. Hi. Sam. I I'm an eye. Tim. Hi, but could you come back to the last vote after we finish this vote. Okay, Dave. Hi, Katie. Yeah, hi. Anna. Hi, Sarah. Hi. Heady. Hi. Right. Okay, Tim, what is your question. The last one, the interpretive trail that vote happened last meeting. Yes. So the minutes for this meeting will confirm the vote from last week. Well, you could just say that, that Dave Zomek, you know, with respect to that project previously voted. So I'm going to explain about the eligibility. Yeah. So it's not that we affirm the vote. It wasn't that we affirm the vote. I think we affirm that that it's eligible. Okay, thank you. All right. Next request $150,000 for trail improvements at the Hickory Ridge. Recreation area, assuming we get to own it someday at long last. Katie, I see your hand is up. Sarah, thank you. I just had a question sort of process for the group. I'm okay dipping into reserves and going to the, you know, the 91. But if we need to shave because the rest of the group feels strongly not to do that, then I would vote for a different amount for this particular project or perhaps others coming up. I feel I would be fine with dipping into reserves, but I just, if others feel differently, I'd like to know that now. Would anyone like to suggest a different amount for this project. Would anyone like to make a comment about this project. But I've seen on his hand up for a moment, but I just was going to reaffirm that the conservation commission is supportive of this full allocation. All right, then. Who would like to move, make a motion. I would love to. I move that we allocate $150,000 to the town of Amherst for Hickory Ridge trail improvements. Is there a sec. Sam is the second. All right, on it and then say. All right, and we will begin the vote with Sam, the cloud. Yes. I'm a yes. Yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. Yes. Anna. Yes. Sarah. Yes. Heady. Yes. And Andy. Hi. All right. Next we have pickleball courts. And not specifically at Mill River, if we proceed. At the town's request. So the request is made by a private group. So similar to the Mill River historic trail. It, it pertains to a town assets. So it would be managed by the town and the town would own it. Would anyone first like to suggest a different amount. I don't see anyone racing to do that. All right. So is it would someone I will, I would like to move this one on behalf of the recreation commission. I would like to move that CPA award $120,000. To construct pickleball courts at a location. To be determined by the town. Seconded. Anyone want to say something about pickleball. Okay. Can I ask a question? I'm sorry. Yes. If we are determining. My question may be, may be moot. And that might be the answer you give me. And I'm fine with that. If the town needs to determine a site for this, is that going to add to the cost exponentially? And the reason I'm asking that is I looked at North Hampton CPA, they allocated 13,000 just for siting. For pickleball specifically. So that can speak to that. Sure. That's a great question on a, and I think I've, I've spoken to this at two previous meetings. Basically, I think, you know, the 120 is what it is that was an estimate based on, I believe three courts that mill river and that location. We're saying, you know, we are supportive recreation is supported. DPW is supportive planning of supportive of this, of this proposal. I think what we need to keep in mind is if the site changes, you know, we can do, we can do some of the work, our DPW or planning department, et cetera. If the site changes, we may not get three courts. It might be two, depending on what is decided. We just don't know at this point. So, and there may be some other costs associated with it. There could be surveying costs or there could be drainage costs, whatever. We don't know that yet because we haven't done the due diligence. So I think, you know, my recommendation would be you support 120,000 for the development and construction of, of, of one, one to three or, you know, or pickleball courts in, at a recreation area in Amherst, and I wouldn't even maybe designate the number because we just don't know if it's a different site, it, it might be two, you know. Thanks. Sorry to make you repeat yourself. That's okay. All good. Sam. I recall Dave Williams comment from the other week about North Amherst being on the move. Number of our attention and that maybe we add that. Referencing that, you know, that would be a great site to start with. That's just a thought in the motion, but. I appreciated his comment and perhaps we include that. Yeah. Yeah. I understand what you're getting at. I don't, I don't want to seem to be. Direct, you know, like twisting DPW's arm about finding a location. You know, they need to find what's appropriate. Yeah. Katie. Yeah. The only thing I just would add Dave said, you know, there was so much support for this. Letters, emails. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not speaking in public comment. So. You know, if it, if they want three. Courts and it costs a little bit more, I bet. There'll be some folks who'd be willing to pitch in. So. Thank you for that reminder. All right, then let's. Proceed to a vote. And. So I go first. I'm sorry. Tim, what exactly is the motion? Is it to approve 120,000. For pickle ball courts. Sight to be location of which to be termed by the talent Amherst. Yes. Okay. Yes. Katie, do you have another question? And still up. Okay. Sorry. So who voted first last time. Was it Sam? So it's my turn. So I get to vote. Yes. Lead off with the yes. Tim. Yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. Anna. Yes. Sarah. Yes. Eddie. Yes. And Andy. Yes. All right. We are making good. You've said. I'm so sorry. Okay. That would be a yes. This is a lag. This is, we're making good progress, but we didn't take any break last time. And I said we would take a break this time. So unless you really want to just keep going with no break, why didn't we come back in five minutes? Okay. Okay. I'm going to mute you. I'm going to mute you and mute yourself until you come back. All right. All right. See you shortly. I guess at. I don't have a functioning watch. 736. Yeah. Boosted today and I am not in fighting form. It's hitting me. It's hitting me. It's hitting me. It's hitting me. Two weeks ago lasted one day. The crappy feeling. That's what I'm hoping for. That's what my second shot was like. It was one, one day and then better. Not even a full day, but I, I was not. Yeah. Yeah. Not in tip top shape in this exact moment. I'm hoping it shakes by tomorrow morning. We'll see. Right. Is heady out there? Yes, I am. Great. It's Andy up there. There he is. Okay. I'm going to call our members here. Yes. Okay. Super. Let's continue then. Next is the request from the town of Amherst for. Funds. Yes. Interrupt. We also have an update on the North Amherst community farm. On the eligibility of that one. Right. That one was not eligible. I don't know if Dave's on or not. If he wants to update, but basically the. It wasn't a problem with it being an APR or the structure itself. It was the problem of deconstructing a barn. That is not eligible for CPA funding. Sorry. So this could be. Do you want to talk to me to add. I'm sorry. I would just jump back in my chair. So yeah, so again, we spoke with the town attorney about this at some length. As Sonya stated. Town attorney did not think deconstructing the barn was eligible. However. Constructing a pavilion is eligible. If the project can meet some other criteria such as. It is on an APR. So we would were a co-holder of the APR. The town would need to work with the applicant and the APR program to make sure that a structure like a pavilion can be built on the APR. And again, that may be possible. And then we'd need to also make sure that the public we'd secure access to the pavilion. In other words, there needs to be kind of a long term agreement that the public can get to the pavilion that is built by CPA dollars and that's doable. And the thought was we could do that through a memorandum of understanding with North Amherst Community Farm and the simple gifts from farmers. So bottom line is we think, you know, the pavilion is eligible to construct, but the applicant, the way they structured it to take the use the CPA dollars to deconstruct a historic barn is not an eligible use of CPA funds. So if they flip their funding sources, then the town and the town attorney thought this was a fundable project. Does that make sense? Yes. And I asked them that specific question and Bruce declined that option. I mean, he hadn't heard yet what you've just said, but they did not wish they wanted the CPA money first because that would help them raise the funds for then the construction. So I'll let others speak and then I would maybe have a more to say. Andy. Thanks, Sarah. And thanks for the extra info on that, David. David, I, you know, if they did the reversal, I would be supportive of it. You know, I think you asked the right question. Sarah was going to remind folks that you did. Hopefully they can find a way to, to make that work in the in the reverse order. Thanks. Tim. Was the question for historic purposes or for recreation because I still don't see this as a recreation. It was requested under the recreation. Okay. Was that what the attorney's opinion was? It was not eligible. As a recreation or just general CBA request. It wouldn't have been eligible under either. To start deconstructing the bar would not have been eligible under either historic or. Okay. Recreation. So I think what I would. Propose. Is that we reject it. But then communicate everything the town has learned. And invite them. I mean, to say we would be happy to receive a. Proposal in the next cycle. But I don't, I don't think we can basically completely rewrite it. I don't think we can do that. I think they had already in fact declined. This idea. So. Does anybody want to. Suggest a different approach. Sorry, Dave. I was just going to say, I, I have not had a chance to talk to Bruce. I just like to maybe have an offline conversation with him. Just, just about whether they truly have. Fully and completely explored. You know, flipping this, because I do agree with. With Andrew and other folks on the, on the call, I think the, generally the committee was supportive of the, of the idea of this pavilion and its function. For North Amherst community farm and, and the greater community that uses the farm. It's just like it's similar to him to putting up a pavilion at growth park. Although it's a private piece of property. It's a private piece of property. It's a private piece of property. It's a private piece of property. So as long as we got the access agreement secured. Then. Then that's the public investment. So if the committee would either table of vote, or maybe still keep your vote contingent upon. Contingent upon. Staff talking to the applicant and seeing if we can convince them to flip. The fundraising. I would just love that opportunity to speak with Bruce. So the, so the contingency would be. That the CPA funds only be used for. Construction. And perhaps any of the legal. Legal costs associated with. Getting the, the rights. To access or whatever. So would that be completely changing our proposal? Well, that's what. So I suggest that. You defer it until they're ready. If they want to come back with the proposal to construct the pavilion. And flip it. Then if we have a budgeted reserve, they can come back to us and do that. And it can be. It could be done at that time. The key is having a budgeted reserve. Yeah. Katie. I was just curious. I was wondering if we could have another. Possible round in the spring. You know, for invitation or something like that based on some. One of this or the track or the. You know, other things that might come up. As opposed to waiting until next year, which would then make them wait for the following year for funding. So. That's an amended amendment to your proposal. Well, I expect that we'll be meeting in January. And we'll get to when our next meeting is, but we. We are going to need to meet to talk about the track. And it's not going to be in December. So I'm guessing. January. And. Maybe if. If we agree. I think we would need to rescind this. The vote we took last week. Right. So that basically we have no position on it. We have not voted on it. And table it. And see if they can submit a new proposal. So that's different than rejecting it and tabling it. Yeah. So that we can consider it at a future meeting. Of this year. Great. I like that. If they can speak that quickly. I like that too. I feel like we've. Brought this. Organization along with us back and forth back and forth. And I. Would like us to leave some room. Sam. I think it'd be great if. Dave were able to provide any further information. And communication. With the applicants. For us. And I would be. As I am. And as I was in our prior vote, I'd be in favor of. Awarding funds were there. Away for it to qualify. And I would. Like to see that happen. Okay. Kim. I feel comfortable with that. Although when we contact them, I would like more specificity about the cost. They're requesting this request. Was it just a. An estimated 25,000 out of what they determined to be a $95,000. Total project. And I just never got the specificity of those. So if they come back with a different proposal. I would like to have more specificity regarding what actual dollar amount they're asking for. All right. Then what I. I'm going to offer emotion and we'll see if anybody seconds it. And it has two parts. One that we rescind. Our vote on the North Amherst community farm. Request. For 25,000. And that we table that. Proposal. Right. Would anyone like to. Second that. Would you repeat? Would you repeat your motion again? Sure. That we rescind. Our. Approval. Our seven to two vote in favor of the farm and trail head pavilion. And that we table that proposal. Right. Would anyone like to. Second that. Would you repeat your motion again? I would like to have more specificity. In favor of the farm and trail head pavilion. Because we voted that last week so that we rescind that. And table the project. Right. That we're just taking no action so that we will have taken no vote and we're not going to vote on it tonight. If I understand correctly, Sarah, that means that we can vote on it at any point in time in the future. If we wish and we have not rejected it. If we don't. If we don't. Exactly. Yeah. Tim. Oh, sorry. I had my. All right. And did you get that motion? Yes. Yes. The only. Concern I had was. In the motion. We'll raise. Let's see the proposal. The table. We're tabling because we're, we're actually suggesting they come back with a different proposal, right? Yes. I don't think. I don't think we need to say that in the motion. It just allows us. Yeah. It's just putting off. It's just putting off our vote. So I have the two then. Yes. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Then I'm going to start with. Sonia, I don't know where you're going to record this. Maybe you just erase people's votes as we go. All right. Okay. I'm going to start with Tim. And this is the line above your, your. Right. Yes. No, okay. I approve. I vote yes for both of your rescind and table. All right. Thank you. I guess you can't. So that's one. Was actually having two parts. Okay. Sorry, two clauses. We're going to vote in one motion. I don't think I need to. I don't think I need to record it on here. Okay. Actually voting the project. All right. Well, I just need to keep track on my fingers. So Tim is in favor. I vote in favor of your motion. Okay, Dave. I supported. Okay. Katie. Yes. Anna. Yes. Sarah. Yes. Okay. Eddie. Yes. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. And I'm a yes. All right. So that's. All right. Well, Sonya, I think your notes ambiguous. We, that we voted unanimously to rescind. And I was just recording the vote that was there just so I can put it. As long as Tim notes that the rescission. Right. That was unanimous. Okay. So that's just for me tomorrow. Okay. We leave it to Dave then to communicate with Bruce. And. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I don't know. We'll see. We'll see if they're able to revise their proposal. Okay. So now we can go to. When song is done typing. All right. To plumber up the town is requesting $38,000. Okay. Okay. So we're going to. Replace the well and make improvements to the irrigation. System for the plumber of fields. And that. The project cost was modified. Because they don't need to buy or can't, or don't need to buy water cans. They already have one. No, it's a movable piece of equipment. That isn't allowed. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Does anyone have anything to say, Sam? Yeah, I was at the board meeting yesterday for the soccer association. They're, they were very pleased to. Be aware as a board, not just the president that the town is considering this. They unanimously expressed support and. I think that's a good point. The benefits of the proposal and the fact that the towns. Representative. I'd like to move to have the committee. Recommend. That the town council award $38,000. For the. Plumber. Irrigation improvements. Relating to the water well. I will second. Any more comments on this project. Thank you. Thank you. I'll begin. Take a vote. I think beginning with Dave now. Dave Williams. Yes. Thank you. Katie. Yes. Anna. Yes. Sarah. Yes. Eddie. Yes. Andy. I. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. And Tim. Yes. All right. Now we are postponing discussion of the track. There's an attendee who has a hand up. I don't know that you wish to. Call on them or not. We already talked about it. She wants to talk at the end. It's Robin. Okay. All right. So we're not. We're tabling the high school track, pending additional information from the town. All right. So. Well, it was Sean who told us that the town slash school. Was modifying its request to be $50,000. I, and I think to allow for some design work, I think. That we'll see the rest of the request next year, but I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. Did I miss speaks on you? No, you were correct. Okay. Does anybody want to speak about. Playground project. I move that we allocate $50,000 of CPA funding to the Amherst public schools for the. Planning for the Crocker farm elementary school play grounds. Okay. Thank you. Sorry, who did. Katie's second. Thank you. All right. I, there's any more comments, wave your hand quickly. All right, then let's be, let's start voting with Katie. Hi. Who did you say that? No, no, Katie, you'll be last this time. I'm changing the order. Anna. Hi. Sarah. I'm an eye. Yes. Eddie. Hi. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. Kim. Yes. And Dave. Yes. All right. Now trail improvements. The town of Amherst is requesting $50,000. For trail improvements, generally as needed. And much work is needed. On its trail network. This is all, excuse me, this also tends to be a recurring. Request. As I recall, the trails have been very heavily used during the pandemic and many bridges and fog bridges. Other things that need to be done. I move we allocate $50,000 from CPI of CPA funding to the town of Amherst for general trail improvements. Is there a sec. I will sec. All right. Let's vote. Anna. Hi. Sarah. Hi. Eddie. Hi. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. All right. I think, because I don't want to forget. We should just vote on the debt service. We do it as a bunch. You can see down in the corner of the blue is just one vote. We just vote on the whole amount. It's a formality because the town is obligated, but we need to. We do it as a bunch. We do it as a bunch. We recommend to town council that they go ahead and. Service the debt with CPA funds. CPA funds. And. Sonia, I don't actually see what that total is. It's 488,729. Oh, I see. Okay. All right. Does anyone have any questions about the debt service? Make the motion. Oh, someone was coming in with a so moved and I respect that. So I'm going to let you have it. Well, who was that? I'm ready. I'm ready the minute. So I'll take it. I'll second. Who was the second. Me. Oh, I didn't see you on my screen. Okay. No worries. I will make myself known in some way. Any questions or comments on this? All right. Let's. Vote starting with Sarah. Is there. Yes. Eddie. Yes. Andy. Hi. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. Tim. Yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. Anna. Yes. Did I skip somebody? No. No. Okay. It's just. All right. Wonderful. So given that we are not. Voting on the track. We are not voting on North Amherst community farm. We've rejected the North cemetery. That leaves. The Amherst. Municipal housing trust request. So we're down to being. $67,000 in the hole. We're not voting on North Amherst community farm. Remember, we have, we have reserves. That can certainly cover that deficit. And more. But we may have projects coming back to us like the North Amherst community farm. We may hear yet from the reparations. Committee. Projects come up out of cycle. But I would not recommend that we. That we spend it all. Would anyone like to. Let's see. Speak to a different number at this point. A number other the grant other than $250,000. Sam. Yeah. When I originally wrote down dollar amounts for the projects, the number I had for this was 150. I'm fine with 250, although. My preference, all things being equal would be that we retain. That we not dip into the reserves. So I would advocate for an amount of 250 less than reserves and less 25,000 for the. Potential of the. Farm, which would, I believe the. I'm sorry, I didn't follow that. You're saying how much of that. Two 50 less the reserve of 67 less $25,000 for the farm. Would be. One hundred and 58,000. That's what I would consider. I'm okay either way. But my preference would be to retain the reserves. The way. Well. If we. If we vote on a number that's larger than. 66,894. We can, we don't have to, we don't have to specify the amount. We can just say to be funded. I mean, we can say to be funded from reserves or to be funded. In part from reserves, or maybe Sonya would have a recommendation. No, I understand. We can let's all right. We'll worry about. Maybe how we phrase it. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. So does anyone, so Sam would be happy with a smaller number. And I think I've said, I would be happy with a smaller number. Does anyone else. Support a smaller number. Or not. Where is there. Tim. I do not. I feel just very strongly that. If we're talking about reducing numbers, I would not approve the. The farm request. And I just don't feel comfortable with reducing it. Assuming the farm number might come back. In the future somewhere. So I just don't feel comfortable with that right now. I'd stay with the 250. Andy. 250 as well. Do we have any other fans of 250. I agree with staying with. Sorry. I agree with staying with 250 and also noting. Making sure that they know that it should they have an urgent request and need more funding. They can come back and read and convene that committee. They have done exactly that in the past. And Dave's own act is certainly well, well aware of that. If I could just throw something out there. We do have ARPA funding. We do have ARPA funding. We do have ARPA funding. We do have ARPA funding. We do have ARPA funding. We do have ARPA funding. We do have ARPA funding. And I'm pretty sure some of this is slated for. For affordable housing projects. So just throw that out there. You mean that would go directly to the trust? No, that would go towards affordable housing development projects, which is in partnership with the trust anyways. I think that's a good idea. Who would it would just go to the town? I don't understand. So you're just suggesting that maybe they would not need to ask us, ask CPA for more money, or that in fact they might not even need this much money. I guess I'm suggesting that there was a time to scale it down. This would be a good year to do it. That's what I'm saying. Okay. Dave. Sure. Just to clarify on the ARPA funds. There is. In the, in the town manager's ARPA plan, there is a million dollars for affordable housing generally. That would not be going to the trust, but the town would work collaboratively with the trust on, on opportunities. I can't recall maybe Sonya Ken, what the trust currently has in its, you know, in its available fund balance. Is it. We have about $250,000 in there now. Plus a large encumbrance where if they want to use that encumbrance, it would go back into the balance. So I'm not sure. I can say this and, and. I can say that we're staff are working on a number of potential. Projects, although John, either John nor I could speak specifically about them because they're just not ready for prime time. We have some interesting opportunities coming our way in 22. So I guess I would kind of. Just put that out there that there's going to be some things coming our way and potential land acquisitions that not unlike Belcher town road will hopefully result in, in more units being built. That RFP as people know was responded to, and we're moving forward with, with the selection process for, for developers of the street school in Belcher town road. So, so it's exciting to have that one moving forward, but we're getting ready. We want to get more in the pipeline. So I just put it out there that there are things brewing and percolating in a good way. So thanks. Thanks. What, what I don't understand. Is what is the town thinking? Does the town have any specific plan for the million dollars of our profile? Like is part of it to go towards this particular project? Well, that we already voted the acquisition and development of transitional housing. As I recall, the application said it would be combined with another million dollars. Is that the million dollars you're talking about? You mean Belcher town road in the street school? No, no. Sorry. The proceeding, the town's own request for $500,000 for transitional housing, that application said that it, that money would be combined with another million dollars. So is that the ARPA funds? Yes. That is, that is that that was referencing the ARPA funds. And as I said, I can't go into detail, but there are multiple opportunities we have for potential projects. So as you know, land values and land costs and Amherst are, are, are high and they're, they're climbing higher. So I think our acquisition over on Belcher town road, if I recall correctly was 730,000 for about five acres. So although a million or a million five sounds like a lot of money, if we have multiple projects in the pipeline, I would just put that out there that it doesn't go as far as, as I wish it did to earlier points by the committee members. Again, I would just hope the committee would remain open to perhaps coming back, you know, if, if in the future we need to come back, we certainly will come back to you with updates as well as potentially additional asks. There was one other piece of that I wanted to throw out there. And that is that once we select an applicant for to develop East street school and Belcher town road, those two, those multiple parcels, it was very clear in that process that that applicant might come back to the CPA committee for additional funding. So that wouldn't be, I don't think that would be in the spring of 22, but that might be in the fall of 22 for the next round. So I'm just putting it out there. So the good news is projects are coming. We're very active. We're collaborating with the trust, but that means we're going to need a steady stream of dollars. And so I'll just stop there. Thanks. Okay. So it sounds like in fact there is more movement at this point than there has been for some time. I'll just point out again that borrowing is also an option for specific housing projects. Just so when we can't do that at this point, because there is no specific housing, right? You can't borrow money to put into the trust fund. But if there was a specific project that the town was, was purchasing for like we do with Belcher town road, right? It could, it could be a borrowing. Right. Although at some point we're going to be doing nothing but debt service. For good cause. Yeah. That'll make meetings a lot easier. All right. Well, shall we, shall we move ahead with $250,000 then? I think I'm satisfied that there's in fact a little more urgency than I had thought. All right. Who would like to make a motion? Oh, Andy, you have a question or you? No, I'd be happy. I'd love to make the motion for that $250,000. Sonia, do we need to specify using reserves, putting reserves towards this? No, we just reduce the amount that we're going to vote for reserves. Right. Oh, I know. I see. Because it's basically, it's basically all already available. Right. The committee doesn't, doesn't I have to point out the funding source. We don't have to have a specific dollar amount. We handle the funding sources when we do the council orders. All right. Thank you. Okay. Then is there a second? Second. All right. So I think we're, I don't know where we are. Let's say we're starting with Heady. So this is $250,000 to the housing trust. Hi. Andy. Hi. Yes. I'll take care of those strikeouts. Oh yeah. I'll fix it once we get the votes in. It's like. Yeah. I'm Tim. Yes. Dave. Yes. Katie. Yes. Anna. Yes. And Sarah. Yes. Fantastic. I think we have accomplished everything we can accomplish at this point. Well done people. I'm interested to see such. Such unanimity. We had some tough discussions, I think. So interesting. But that's great so that our recommendations will be very strong. Tim. Sorry. Sorry. I did a little bothered when we have totals that end in deficits. So I would propose we reduce the reserve amount. By 66, 8, 94, 42. So we have a break even. I think what's on it just explained is that actually there was. Go ahead, son. You do need to vote this reserve. We need to vote this reserve. We need to vote. It's not saying. So yes, it needs to be voted. Do we need to vote it tonight? Or I mean, it has to be part of the package to council. Yes. Right. We have positive Tim. We're in the positive to the tune of 480,000. Previously we're in the positive to the tune of 600,000. So we're not actually in a deficit. We're in the positive to the tune of 480,000. Right. Tim. Tim, let me say my interpretation is that we are going to. Reduce the, every year we have to vote how much to reserve. We are going to reserve less. For next year. It's not like it's in a savings account and we have to pull it out. Understand. Yeah. Yeah. So we will vote a reserve that is smaller. Than last year's. So your reserve total is 133105. I need to even numbers. I don't deal with pennies for budgets. So. Okay. So that's the amount you're voting on. And if the North Amherst community farm comes back with a different proposal. When we vote that we can adjust. If, if it's after this is all been voted, then it would, then you would need to specify from budget and reserve. Okay. But if it comes before it's voted by the council, we can just adjust the vote. For the budget and reserve before it goes to council. Is that clear? Yeah. Would you, but would you tell me again, the number that we need to vote on tonight as a reserve? $533,105. Okay. Do you want to make a motion or do we want to. Yes. Okay. So I move that we budget $533,105 for general reserves. I will second that. Thank you. Tim, I don't know if you still have a question or the hands just. No, so the. Down all the way to the bottom of the spreadsheet. It brings it out that we are not overexpending what funds we have, including the reserve. 58 cents. Okay. I would do, let's get rid of the pennies. Okay. Who seconded. Sarah. Sarah. Thank you. Sarah Marshall. Yeah. Got it. All right. Where are we recording this vote? Or just, we will know. It's not here. Yes, it is. It's just orange. Oh, I see. All right. Let's start with Andy. Yes. Was a yes. That were an eye. Yeah. Sam. Yes. I'm a yes. Tim. Yes. Dave Williams. Yes. Katie. Yes. Anna. I'm. Sarah. I. And heading. Yes. Okay. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Now we're done. Actually, we have a couple more things to talk about. Sonia, will you be able to send me this page? Because I'm drafting the report or chunks of it. And I want to. Yes, I will. Yeah. Okay. I can do it tomorrow. I can't do it. No, that's not going to do anymore tonight. All right. Sure. That's all right. Okay. So we are going to need to meet again. To talk about the track. Hopefully potentially also the North Amherst community farm. So I suggest. Sonia has a different date that we shoot for mid January. And we won't have Anna with us, but. Yeah. Yeah. So. We do the meeting idea. Can, can Robin say something? Oh, sure. Sure. Yes. She's waited a long time. Sonia, can you bring in Robin Ford and. Hello, Robin. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. I just pulled off. It was good timing. So thanks for letting me in. I just wanted to say that. I wanted to say that I've been, uh, some really great deliberation, uh, around these start preservation proposals. I wanted to say that I share a lot of, uh, this concerns and questions around these issues of estimates. And, um, looking closer at the costs. And it reminded me that when I was on the committee last year, I was on the committee. I was on the committee. I was on the committee. I was on the committee. I was on the committee early for a historic preservation, which doesn't seem. Is, is I think the one category that's the least connected necessarily to the town. And therefore often doesn't have, um, Uh, people with whom to connect, uh, for expertise, um, that we opened, uh, Sort of a, an information session early. So that those applicants could come forward and, um, just trying to pull together some ideas about how to help applicants, particularly the two that we have before us today. Um, get a little bit more of a historic preservation liaison, whether that's working with preservation mass and their circuit riders, or, um, if they can afford to hire a preservation consultant so that when these proposals do come to town, um, they're more fleshed out, maybe had an opportunity to get an estimate from, um, Uh, someone who does a preservation architecture specifically since, um, you know, particularly for really big jobs like this. Um, and so that was just a reminder that the committee might want to take that up again and I can take it up again with the historical commission. Um, I know that the Hills house, um, mentioned that they were directed. I think it was by Anthony at the time that one, um, estimate was sufficient. And my public comment would be to, um, Suggest that actually, I think it's really important for, um, For applicants to bring more than one estimate forward. And if they need help identifying, um, appropriate sources, maybe the historic commission in our area can, um, Assist with that because you really don't get a sense of what the variances up those are. And then my final comment would be to ask that, um, The, I know that we can't required at this point, but to ask the town maybe to ask the applicants to continue to confer with historic commission as these very big projects go along. And is it my understanding correct that they can't start projects or spend money until July 1st. Correct. Yeah. Make sure they know that. But they could be talking. They could be talking with the historical. Right. Yes. No, they could. No, yes. They could be taught that exactly. That's exactly my point, that there's some time for us to kind of, um, you know, it wouldn't be anything that would be binding, but if we can give guidance in any way, shape or form. And certainly these are such big projects. We'd love to, um, We'd love to see how they come along and, and, and have a, have a non binding, but, um, pleasant partnership with our, with our applicants and potentially awardees. So that, that's my comment. Okay. Thank you. Good job guys. Thanks. Um, so I will have a suggestion regarding that in a moment, but let's get back to a, a next meeting date. If we could give you a solution. I think that, uh, Sonia would January 13th work for you. If, if we even have more information from about the track at that point. I don't have a sense really. I don't think that town council is going to act soon on our report. So. Maybe there's no rush, but. I know you will have other things to do. I'm sorry. I just, I know your son is looking by just, I wanted to know I'm not. You just muted yourself. I can't. I'm available on the six. Sonia is available on the six. Does that mean you're not available on the 13. I can make myself available. I rather not, but I can. How about the 20th, unless you think Sonia that, or the, you know, staff think that we need to finish up sooner. That's why I'm kind of suggesting the six. The six. Okay. Yeah. I can make. Yeah. Well, let's, let's. We'll tell folks we're going to meet on the six. Is that, is that work for everyone? Please raise your hand if you think you can be available on the six. Of January. I think it's for me, it's a very challenging week to come back, be back in school and start up again. So I, I don't know. If I can be there. Because if we can't have a quorum and we won't have Anna, we probably won't have a new member. I can make the six. I'd prefer the 13th or the 20th. So I believe you will have a new member by then. I just, I'm not sure if they can vote on these things because they will have missed the earlier. Well, we made, we need a quorum to meet. I can also do the 30th. If anybody wants to do December 30. December 30. Very funny. Realistic. I don't know. I don't know about the 20th. Does it have to be on a Thursday? Is there a way to do a special meeting for like an hour during the day? Or is that just impossible? Maybe, maybe we should have a doodle. And not try to do this. Yeah. Online. We will also, I mean, I will try to draft. I mean, I don't know. I could share as much of it as, as it's ready to share on that date, or I could just wait until we've made decisions about the. Track and the North Amherst. Community file. All right. Why don't we put out, we'll put out a dirt doodle. I will confirm with Sonya. It does not have to be Thursday on my account, but I know the planning board meets on Wednesdays. So I think we'll do this offline. Can I ask Dave. Do we think we're going to have any answers for the track by early January? I'm assuming, I was assuming they were going to come back later on in the year when they have a more. Concrete proposal. Which they can do because it's a borrowing article. So it can be off cycle. Yeah, no, it's a great question. As you all have been talking, I'm just, I was, I was part of the site visit where our consultant for the fields came out and walked in. We talked about timeline. So, so we did ask for materials by mid December. But I think with the holidays and, and time for staff to kind of. Absorb that information, consult with them a little bit, fine tune that, you know, I think. The second week of January might be more realistic. Does that not work Sonya or is that Sarah? I mean, if we're actually reporting back to you is what I'm saying. Okay. I was thinking it was, is that it would be a proposal. A different type of proposal than what was submitted already with more information on there of exactly what they were going to do with the field. Well, since, since it wasn't, I mean, we're working with the schools, but technically it was their proposal. And I don't really want to speak for Doug Slaughter and the superintendent. So I think we looked at, at the work that Weston and Samson is going to do as informing, informing the $800,000 proposal, which also cascades a little bit into the hundred and what is it 157,000? I can't remember the exact number that CPA allocated to them and the council supported a year ago. So in, in total, it's, you know, there's already 160,000 on the table. What is that money going to be used for? It was asked for for a very specific purpose. That purpose in my mind was not what the school came back and asked for for the 800,000. So I think this work that Weston and Samson is doing is, is going to inform both the use of that 157, 160, and what the school comes back to, comes back with for, for you all. Again, Sean McGanna and I are, we're, we're committed. We're, we're invested in, in this work. We've all been, been devoted a lot of time and energy and, and good thinking to the plan for the, the field. So we want to do this right and let's see if we can figure it out. But I don't know if there'd be a new proposal, Sonya or not. Then maybe what we should do is not schedule a meeting until we, until we have more material to consider, you know, and there's no point in trying to figure out a date and then not need to meet. Okay. So we could do, what we could do Sarah is we could be in touch with you. Once we get the information and then we've processed it and say, okay, Sarah, we'd like a meeting, you know, this, the week of X and then we could do a doodle and see, see if it's possible. Yes. And then we could also be hoping to hear from you about the North Amherst community farm, whether they would intend to, you know, modify their proposal or submit a new proposal. If they decide, you know, no, then we're not, then we're done with that. So we just need some feedback. I've already been emailing with them while you all were deliberating. So we've had two or three emails. We're going to talk tomorrow. Okay. Yes. I'm, I'm a little confused because I was thinking our next meeting was to finalize the report. Well, with, if these come back, they can come back after. And it would just be an addendum to it. Right. All right. Well, so what I can do is. You know, I'm going to draft the report as, you know, based on the decisions we have made as of this date and, and email it out to you and have a meeting just to go over that. It shouldn't be a very long meeting. It's really pro forma. You've seen the reports in the past. There's a lot of boilerplate. But again, we do need to figure out a time for that. And maybe it's only an hour. Maybe it's only half an hour if I get everything right the first time. All right. So we will do that. I will draft the report. And although I need Sonya's help, I'll have to confer with you tomorrow if I can, Sonya. Yeah. And then a doodle to discuss it. All right. So also on the agenda, we have discussed changes to next year's proposal form. I know Tim had, I think it was Tim had one specific suggestion, which we could just discuss now. And if anybody else has ideas, float them now. Tim, do you remember what it was you were? Yeah, I do. My request would to be to ask each applicant. To provide the address of the project for which they are requesting funds because I wanted to go. I did visit some, some projects and I did not know the address of a couple and I had a hard time finding them. So just a simple request like that. So for a physical address. Yes. Not the request or, but the project itself. Right. We can add that. Yeah. Anything else occur to anybody that they would like to see Sam. Following up on Robin's comment, which, you know, I share the thoughts. We might suggest getting the benefits of getting multiple bids for projects. We don't have to mandate it, but it certainly makes a lot of sense. And I think it's a good idea. I used to work in a purchasing department. A defense contractor and it was standard procedure. And it's a benefit to the applicants. In fact. So if there's a way for us to add. Something suggesting that the, the Hills house. Applicants were in a particular dilemma. They actually reached out seeking guidance on this. And tried to be proactive. So if we had something in the application or somewhere that referenced, you know, it's desirable to try and get a few benefits, particularly to the private. Project. But even potentially for some of the outsourced public ones. That would be my thought. I was thinking actually around the same. Part of it. I think it's a good idea. Later, not at the next meeting. Maybe insert some additional language into the CPA plan. Around just these points and maybe ask the historical commission. To supply us with a paragraph, you know, whatever they would want. Private applicants to know about. Working with them and getting help for. You know, you know, You know, You know, But whatever Robin was mentioning, I. It'd be good to have that in the plan, but I think I would ask. The historical commission to propose. What would, what would be appropriate. And maybe it's not only added to the plan. Maybe it's also on the web. Maybe it's also in the website. And maybe we can put something brief about it in. Application. Any other ideas. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe or however you would need committee members that are willing to put in the time and, and dedicate to do that. Otherwise it. It. It falls on town staff to do. So then there's a capacity issue. Sorry to do what. To help help on proposers go out to bid. Or. Get. More. Yeah. Yeah, I thought, I thought Robin's suggestion was. Advising applicants to work with the historical. Maybe I misunderstood, but. Maybe I'll pursue that with her or heady. We'll have some ideas on it. Yeah, I have a question to Tim's point. I really, I like the idea of including the address. Should we also include a box for, for projects that aren't on public land. Saying that it's okay for us to come look at them and visit. Yeah. Yeah, just before we just show up. Just. Get permission to be there or something. I don't know. I. I don't want to walk. I don't want to walk into. A bad situation where we end up. Yeah. On private property without permission. I like that a lot. Yeah. I do think it would be good. There isn't a lot of time between when the project, the applications are due and we. I don't think we should start talking about them. But perhaps the committee should make a regular practice of site visits. I think that would be great. Yeah, we did that to Hickory Ridge. I know. I can't remember any others. If tour of the Jones. Okay. Yeah. I think if, you know, we may have to notice it as a public meeting. If a quorum wants to go along and then we. Can't discuss it. You know, but we can at least all go see. We can talk about it. We can talk about it. And have a tour by the proponents. I think in, and I'm looking at Dave to tell me, as long as you are on a site visit and you weren't discussing the project, you don't have to notice it as a public meeting. You just can't discuss it on the site. Cause we navigate that with concom on site. About it. We just look at it. The students ignore each other. Yeah, that's a good point on a, um, yeah, I think you can. You can ask, um, if you have a question about the applicant be at town of Amherst, or, or applicant X. You can hear from them. You just can't discuss or deliberate about what you think. I like it. I don't like it. Um, why didn't, why wouldn't you do this? No. You just take it all in. You take notes. And then you deliberate in a public meeting. So you cannot ask questions of the. Applicant. In the, ask in like clarifiers, but you can't ask, like, what would happen if you didn't paint this, right? Like, it's more of, is this the area you're talking about painting? Right? Am I am I misinterpreting? Well, that's, I don't know. But that's why there's no would be no harm to noticing it. I mean, yeah, likely that people want to come along. Well, the other thing is that they're not public meetings because if they're public meetings, that implies the public can come along and join you at private space x or private space y and concom visits are not open to the public, even if people have concerns, even if a butters have concerns, they can't go on the site visits. So we can explore all of that. I mean, it's getting late for all you you all, but we can explore all of that. I've, I've often wanted to do suggest we do CP CPA site visits. I know Sonia would would really love it if I, you know, fire what got her out of the office. Yeah, she loves coming on these to Hickory Ridge and trails and historic sites. I do. I actually do. You do? Who wouldn't? Okay. All right. Well, I also want to say that our first meeting of CPAC is usually talking about the the proposal forum and making changes then. So write down your thoughts and bring it to that first meeting. Okay. All right. Then I have I have no topics that I did not reasonably anticipate. But Sam has a question for I don't have a question. I just have a brief comment before we depart. Last spring or perhaps early summer, Anna and I did a brief presentation with District five is just an information session about CPA with the intent of just raising awareness kind of going along with the signage and district meetings work well. And I've spoken with Sarah about this, and we're going to I'm going to reach out to the new council to try and schedule sessions sometime in the spring or perhaps even early summer. Just where CPA can briefly presented a district meeting similar to what we did in district five. We'll have to hear back from councilor the town council and the various districts if they're receptive to the idea. If they are, we have a presentation ready to go. And maybe you know, whoever on the committee has interest is would be you know, welcome to participate. Keep folks informed as it goes forward. But the hope is to just continue to get the word out on all these great opportunities for the community with CPA funding. We've gotten some private projects recently that are fantastic. Some qualify some don't. We have some bigger historic projects that come from private and it'd be great to see it continue. So I just wanted to inform the committee of that potentiality later early next year. Okay. Thank you for that. Alright, then I think we have concluded for this evening and this round. So you will be getting a draft report from me and we will figure out a date for discussing that. And then potentially, we will have another meeting to talk about the track or the farm. Okay. Alright, well then, thank you, everybody. You enjoy the holidays. And we are adjourned. Thank you. Thank you.