 Meeting to order and ask somebody to make a motion to go into executive session Discuss personnel matters per the standard language I'll move that Is there a second? All right, all those in favor, please say aye. Hi. We have to do we have to do a roll call vote Because of the fact that we're using zoom. So Cliff, what is your vote? Rose I Sharon hi John I had a step away. What am I voting on? You're voting to go into executive session A change is to the open meeting law We have to do roll call and I assume that during this motion that we've invited Toby Talbot our operations manager to join us Okay, I'm not seeing him, but okay. He's got a little dog with a hat You probably won't see him until he talks Okay, Toby. Can you say hi? Yep. Hi, John Hey, got him now. My visual is different. I only have four screens here. I don't know what happened John if you go to the upper right hand corner. There we go. I'm sorry. There you go. Okay. Got it Cliff Man, you got the pretty bunch of you so Toby raised a concern and rightly so that did we Have a backup plan if Alfred Decides not to come back his due date to come back is April 6th. I have not Talked to him. I did call Rose has confirmation from somebody that he is in fact back in town Right Rose well, he was when I spoke to Ian Boyer Who actually rents a room from him or an apartment or something that's attached to his house or his barn and This goes back probably Two weeks. Yeah, okay. He was back in town at that point so here's Given the current situation Where people that had carpentry jobs lined up to have people come into their homes and do work I have heard from several that People are okay So now we just sit and look at Toby's little Dalmatian and hat Can I get a background even though I don't have a picture? No, you need your camera to be functional for the background thing to work. Oh my gosh, so John I determined that Denise's computer does have a USB port so she might be able to use that logic tech camera Okay, you just have to work out a way to hand it off to her That should be so we can do the we can do the football throw I'll get it all right a drive-by a drive-by and he can throw it in my window we could do that 24 hours on your porch Right Hey So I want to play a game with all you people who have Video are you got your pajama bottoms on or dress up clothes? I'm in my office. Oh You got your sweaties on not me Not you. No, I got my black slacks on. Oh, okay. I couldn't tell Rose you got your jammies on. Nope. Not at all. I'm all dressed, but I can't lift my legs Okay There's black pants Okay What about you Cliff you got your jammies on no, I'm just sitting here in my underwear Okay, we don't need to see that Toby. How about you? Yep sweatpants. Okay, John Not my jeans. Okay And I have Ruby on my lap who's trying to watch the screen. She's very interested And she's very clingy like the last few days. I don't know what's up If I'm not moving she wants to sit on my lap No, our animals definitely since the stress level and they're responding in kind so she's probably picking up on that Could be Could be I think Betsy is loving it. I don't think she's senses any stress at all She's just absolutely thrilled that people are home all the time Did you get did you guys see the thing I posted a thing? I'll have to send it around It's a picture of this dog up on talk up on standing on top of the kitchen cupboards and the guy says, you know The dog says no, I'm not coming down. I've been walked by every effing person in this house Let's see Barbara has joined us I will unmute Barbara you should be able to speak and we'll be able to hear you Okay, I'm not hearing you. I'm not See Does she have video? No, she's just on right now as a black screen with her name. Okay. I can see Barbara So Barbara you might need to check your microphone settings. Make sure it's turned on Okay, I see it's muted Go ahead and try toggling it again. See if you can unmute it Yeah, press the space bar Barbara. No, it's not happening Do you know if she's doing it on phone or on computer? Looks like she's trying to do it from computer From Barbara to everyone. I can hear you Okay, but can you can you talk Barbara? Can you say something or not? No, we're not hearing her she can hear us but We are not hearing her So Barbara can you use the chat function and tell us whether or not You're doing it on computer or by phone I just sent her a text and asked her the same question Yep, she's on her computer. She can hear us all But we just can't hear her So Barbara if you have something you need to jump in with I guess you'll have to do it via text Or via the or via chat Yep chat, okay Well, we're doing that. I'm gonna try and do something else here Make sure this is gonna work for everyone. Okay. I think this might be Is that Judy? Sandra, is that you? That is me Okay Let me uh I'm gonna change your name so people know it's you Do you want me to Oh, you're okay And Okay, so we can't see you Sandra, but we can hear you everybody hear Sandra. Okay Yep here There you are now you can see you Hi Hello everybody Barbara here as well, but we can't hear her but she can hear us Katie is just joined us Let me think maybe if you hold down the space bar and talk we'll be able to hear you And Judy's There's Judy And Judy if you hold down your space bar. Yep. Can you hear me? Yep. Yep Judy hold down your space bar Hello. Oh, there you are. Oh, I don't know how to stand it. Is Toby still? Oh, there's Toby. Okay Do we expect I mean I thought your room was coming back But I guess we'll just let him come back when he comes back. Yeah We've got the recording going so I will be able to provide him with that in an editable form So that he can use his third party software and actually post it much like he does the videos when we're holding regular meetings So in order to speak you have to hold down the space bar And then over on the right hand side Um, and I don't see it right now cliff, but there should be a Button you can press to to wave your to raise your hand You were going to were you going to do something cliff so that would work? Uh, I've set Denise up as a co-host so if you use the raise your hand feature She'll be able to see that you have your hand raised If that's not working for you you can simply just raise your hand in front of your camera, right? Okay Just to clarify Um Members of the select board. I do not have you automatically muted you can mute yourself Or if you need to speak you don't have to hold down the space bar Okay, good to know Are we ready to get started? We just came out of executive session and had nothing to report um So I wanted to give Toby an opportunity to give us an update since it's been a while since we've hadn't been able to have a meeting And just so folks remember With the change to the open meeting law We have to take a roll call vote on everything So toby do you want to give us an update? Um the guys are um Working well under the conditions of coronavirus I've provided them with gloves and antibacterial stuff We've had a couple of staff meetings so they all understand risk and What's going on for the most part they are an essential essential workforce For the most part they don't have any public contact They're avoiding public contact at home So I think we can operate sort of as a isolated To do what we're doing Pretty much winter although I'm looking out the window and it's snowing so right But most of the plowing I think is pretty much done. So we are really in The season of repairing the roads after and dealing with mud season So cliff I can't see everybody. I don't know what you changed now. I can't see everybody Just put the agenda up. I'll pull that off and you can see everybody again. Okay. Good. Thank you um, so the road crew isn't feeling like they're in a place of um Or they're they're concerned about the safety of their health Um for the most part not but they're cautious. Um, you know they They ask for gloves. I got them gloves. I brought antibacterial stuff if they want to spray on stuff They're trying not to share trucks. So only one guy is using one truck So they don't cross contaminate. Yep. I think they're all much on top of infection control for themselves And again, we don't really have much contact with the outside world. Um, and we'll just keep our distances And I assume when the gravel pits open or they're gonna the gravel pits will be an essential element of what is considered an essential business to be open Yeah, they're already open and they're staying open. Okay. Very good And I know anything to do with equipment like car parts and Um repair shops and stuff like that are considered essential. So if we have any of those issues That's not a worry Yeah, I don't think there's any real downside to what the stay at home Uh issue and the you know business is closed for the road crew at this point Okay, very good Anything else under operations you want to tell us about or ask us about or anything? um No, um, it seems like um dealing with the paychecks and The bills and getting orders to you guys is working out okay Even though no one even though we're not dealing with getting to the town office Now did did you did jake up get his check that was lost or replaced? Uh, yeah, I went and picked up the check from sander today and gave it to jake So he still has not received his check in the mail. The other two did the other two guys got their check So it's just a post office issue probably. Yep. Well, and we've had this several times Not with road crew checks because they were picking them up in person, but other mail that came up missing Um, so did you resolve that as are they just going to come and pick up their checks off the little table now? Well, I'm not sure how that's going to work because um, sandra doesn't come in until thursday late in the day and she would have to you know, um They would you know, if they were leaving earlier whatever they wouldn't get their check So i'm going to check with them tomorrow to see if we'll keep trying on this mailing thing and if it clears up then that would be fine If it continues to be missing missing paychecks, then we'll have to deal with it Yeah, I mean, I think it was you know a bit of a challenge And sander can speak to this if she wants To get jake up a different check Through our replacement check Well, she can speak to it. My understanding was that she just called nemrich and they told her how to do it and it was Put right out and it's not a big issue Um, the problem is is we had to wait three or four days to see if it was coming in the mail And I think that was not a mistake, but we ought to if it happens again We ought to just do a replacement check right away If the check does show up in the mail for him I told him to return it to us so we don't have to put a stop payment on the check Right Well, and this is another opportunity where if everybody was on direct deposit. This wouldn't be an issue Well, that's Neither here nor there Yeah, so something to think about when we're Redoing some different things is that you know, this is a good opportunity to point out that this Wouldn't have been such an issue and jacob wouldn't have been frantic about, you know, needing his paycheck obviously to live on Yep, you can take that up With the road crew when you talk to them. Yep, and I'm sure we will um What else so Aren't the guys still working fridays so the sander left the checks on the table they could come pick it up on friday morning No, we just we just switched over to the spring time four days a week Why did I think that that didn't happen until later? I don't know I mean, it's easier for them now to get more work done in a day and have that friday off Okay, anybody have any other questions for toby? Yeah, toby Is that not something that gets discussed with the select board? I thought it was something we did all I mean, it's what we do every year and I You know, if you guys want to have some input on it, we can change it. It's fine. That's just it's that's That's the way we've always done it. Is that is what you're saying? That's correct. Right. I think I have to go I have to go back and look I want to go back and look at the what personnel Personnel policy to see what we've said about when When things switch over I was thinking it wasn't Now I thought I was thinking it was later in april sometime. I will go back and look at the personnel policy john toby, uh, what what was is the customary? Switch date to the summer hours schedule. I don't know. I mean historically. It's changed, you know A week here a week there. I don't think there's a date in in writing So how did it happen this year the guys notified you or? Oh, no, they they we discussed it and they said, you know, as you know, this is time for us to change this You know, we're ready to you know to change the work schedule Because of what they're doing, you know, and it's it's like The plow sanding season is over. So there's no reason for them to be in on friday if they don't need to be there If they're getting the work done Right, except for mud season. We don't know what's the rain and everything For instance, I noticed that the roads are not getting quite so beat up because there's almost no traffic on the roads So that's right. Plus that's a plus then also noticed in the last two days all this rain As resulted in these roads that were like in amazing shape To degrading to the point where they're really getting pothold again as if they had a lot of traffic All due to the weather shift. I just hope that right and there's again every time The weather changes the roads change and we respond as much as we can I mean, I'd love to fix the potholes right now, but the rain is You know, you can't grade in the rain because you just create a mudslick and it's worse than ice So Essentially, you just have to live with the weather and take advantage of when you can do work on the roads Depending on a window, um, you know, if I grade one day and it rains the next day, you all know what happened. So There is, you know, There is some conditions where we just can't fix them right now I guess I'd have to go back and look at the minutes to see when They went back to the four-day work week last year Um, I'm looking at the personnel policy a hard copy of it right now. And I don't see That we have a definite time set For going off. I know usually they go on winter hours Um Right after like beginning of November, I want to say Denise is that schedule even in our personnel policy or is that I don't I don't see it I don't think so. I think I think that it's the way it's the way we've always done it And when I when I say that in case you guys don't know me well enough when I Say things like, oh, that's the way we've always done it. Um I say with great disdain That's not a reason No, we got it. Um, and I know that that is Something that has come up in our other venue About when that begins and starts. I've seen it there. I think Rose Rose, you want to talk you got a precious spacebar You got to keep your spacebar held down while you talk. It's not a spacebar person. You got to unmute yours rose down right Okay, can you hear me now? Yep, I'm on an iphone Oh Can you hear me? Yep I just want to say that um, I was surprised to hear toky say that they went to the four-day work week I think that it should have been something that um when elford returned On april 6th that should have been discussed at that point. Um, it clearly is not summer hours Weather and conditions at this point um and Even if they can't run a grader because roads are too muddy They're still covered culverts that could get clean brush that could get trimmed Um, there's lots of other work that could get done Um, and in my view, I think that they should immediately go back to five days a week um, we're we're nowhere near that time in my view of um Establishing a four-day week. I think that there's too much spring work that needs to get done Yeah, I mean I it's my recollection. They've never gone on summer hours this early in the season ever I think they're Taking advantage of the opportunity shall I say? agreed This would be something that would be good to have alfred weigh in on and let us know when What has historically occurred that there's no institutional memory other than alfred No, I think I think katie could probably look it up in the minutes Go back and look at the last couple of minutes from the last couple of years in this time period And sandra could look at the payroll the time cards. Yep, that's true too Yeah Okay Well, we'll deal with that issue any further thoughts on that issue. Are you ready to move on to shed curb cuts? I'm ready to move on okay Hang on. Are we expecting toby to dial it back john somebody requested that but I want to I want to Replay whoever that came from are we actually formally making that request? I I think that we should have a off offline Conversation in the executive sessions becomes a personnel matter. Yeah, just this is a broader audience Yep fair enough And uh, just just let me know what you decide so I can do whatever you decide Okay, well, we might want to call you back in toby Well, I'll be asleep by then No, we're we're gonna get through the agenda quick this time. We're not gonna. We're gonna only stick to agenda items Because we don't want to be on zoom all night Um, can I bring up bring up one other subject? That's not yeah So I've been working with John McCullough at the town hall and We need I think we need to get Monitoring at the fire alarm panel. So if there is anything that happens when no one's in the building It dials out and I've talked with mountain view security who does the security and fire At the town garage and they've given me a proposal to implement that service at the town hall for 30 dollars a month and 21 dollars for testing and inspection annually So it's 21 dollars annually for instance No, it's 21 a month. So it would be 51 dollars a month to include monthly, I mean monitoring all year round and an annual inspection and test And that's mountain view correct um How do folks feel about voting on that? It's not something that we have on the agenda We could agree to it and then the next agenda we could put it on for an official vote I think I would hate to see the town hall burn down John I guess I don't understand. Maybe I missed something here. Uh We have an alarm system in that building now that these folks would be connected Right, so so the electrician put in a fire alarm system, but it's only an alarm for people in the building It doesn't dial out it it can dial out, but that's not that hasn't been instituted. So the electrical Contractor put the panel in with all the alarm and pole stations But it's not connected to anything outside. So this is the next step in that process And does this alarm system the sensor did the sensors have Smoke sensors and heat sensors or what? Yeah, both I mean the reason I ask is if it's a heat sensor your minds will not dial anyone because anything's done That's all All right. So do we want to authorize this and then officially vote on it at the next meeting or what do you want to do? I had a question Yes, toby are they the only game in town or they're the most Widely used in this area um, I If you want me to get competitive pricing I can I just went to them because they're already providing service to the town garage Do we get any kind of discount if they're doing both places? No And we don't have this we don't have this function at the town office We do not Does it make sense to have it at the town office? Well at the town office all you have now is smoke detectors in the ceiling And you would have to you would have to install a whole panel and I think and all the rest in order to make it a dial out And they can put that in but I just I don't have an idea what that total cost of the installation is Well, we can put that on our list of things to check out maybe You know, I guess I guess I'd like to have a broader conversation about need at this point. I don't I don't know what the fire risk is given that the building's been upgraded. It's got a cocaine fired heating system. That's I think sitting on a concrete slab. I just don't I think if anything the level risk has been reduced um I just gotta I want to process this a little bit. I Okay, that's fine. I'm just I'm just reporting to you what I discovered and uh The building's insured not that we wanted to burn down, but I just don't So we can put it on a future agenda, john Yeah, I I think let's have a little I'm really getting worried about expenses at everything now with this This corona thing has really hit me between the eyes and I'm feeling for our residents futures here big time. Yep Now I agree. We've got to really tighten our belts Well, the only thing I could suggest you ask dlct that if they can change if if the dial out system will change the insurance rating at all Yeah, we could ask them that that's a free free question to ask. Katie's making a note, right, Katie? Okay all right So we'll we'll put this on the shelf and discuss it later get some more information um shed curb cut Toby you went and looked at it Yep, I've been to the site. Um, it's got line of sight. No problem and it's going to need a 15 inch driveway culvert Okay um Yeah, it sounds like there's good sight distances based on the application That's correct. Yep um Okay, the only thing I don't have here which I can get And I didn't think to do it today was to print off the approval form So I'll have to get that select board. Do you have any questions for toby about the curb cut? Did you look at the drawing and all that stuff or have any questions? Put it up on the screen if people need to see it Everybody is everybody got to need to see it. Are you good? I'm good Okay, Sharon Sharon yeah, I'm good. Okay, john Same here Cliff I'm good Okay, so would somebody like to make a motion to approve The shed curb cut on sand hill road With the caveat that it needs a 15 inch Culvert and authorize me to sign the form on behalf of the board So moved back in Okay roll call vote Cliff Bye Sharon I John Hi Rose Hi Okay, so it is done um Somewhere along the way the v-trans 2020 highway mileage certificate um Didn't happen and we need to do that tonight so that we can get funding from v-trans for our roads You want to explain everybody toby again what this what this means to the town? It hasn't changed from what it looks like from last year. So It's just an annual annual form that informs the v-trans whether we've added or subtracted roads in town Um, and nothing has changed. So it's just a formality to sign it and send it back to them Yeah, and this is something that we've done historically every year And I think the only time it might have changed is if we had um a road We might have discontinued a piece of or something like that that was a town road I think that happened the last time when it was, um Wayne morse I had a question. Yes um I had a question. Yes, um highway mileage certificate toby Is our is the town required to list on the bottom? Some of the major projects that they're going to use the state aid to highways, um, which projects they're going to be working on Um, I I don't see it on here rose. Okay. It's in the years ago. They did that It's in the um If you want to look at it later, it's in the google folder Okay, thanks. Yeah All right Somebody want to actually rose. I think what you're thinking of is the annual town plan for highways That has the projects and that does have a Place on the bottom for us to put that information and this is just to just to Affirm that there's been no changes in the mileage in town Got it. Thank you Okay, so this gets signed by Me and then I guess it has I guess judy has to get signed by you too So what I can do is if we approve this Is sign it and leave it in an envelope on that little table when I stop in to pick up the orders And that way I won't have to go into building Okay, would somebody like to make a motion to approve the V-trans 2020 highway mileage of certificate and authorize um me and judy to sign and submit it So move Second john second. Okay roll call vote cliff I Sharon I didn't hear you. Sorry. I john I rose I And I'm saying I All right, so it shall be All right. Hey scott. Thanks for joining us You have to press it. Yeah, thank you All right next up, um, I want to make sure that we give sandra And judy sufficient time to give us updates a lot's happened in the last few weeks with the change in working remotely Coverage in the office Those kinds of things so sandra. Would you like to go first? You got we can't hear you We can't hear you Sandra, we can't hear you. We got to press spacebar. Oh wait There you go. There you go. All right. Now we got you There was a an icon at the Left hand of my screen that I had to push as well Hi everybody, um How are you feeling? I'm okay. Okay. Good. Good. Everybody's healthy at your house At everybody is healthy. Good. Glad to hear it. Me too So, uh, what we have what I have done, uh, is move my office To my home and that is where I'm working from And I have to say that, uh, the first week it did require Uh, a lot of adjustment To figure out how to create the systems here that I had in place Uh at the office and I feel that that That process is complete I have run Orders I have run payroll and in fact today, uh As it turns out in order to Reproduce or check for Jacob Nimrick was actually able to remote in While I was promoting into our server to make some adjustments in the nimrick in three nimrick, uh soft up soft um software Modules So I wondered how that would work or if it could work and now we know it can So, um, financially getting the payroll out getting our vendors paid is rolling along Normally, there's been no delays or hiccups We will as toby said we will continue to mail paychecks However, if we see that the mail is unreliable Then we will go to a plan B um So I actually I think you know from my standpoint my work is continuing on as Always but from here the server is slower so I The work takes longer and there is a lot of information that continues to flow through Um the lists serve and even amongst ourselves over the weekend. So I am typically on the Treasurer's email and responding on saturdays and sundays, which is not Normal, but under these circumstances probably is normal is the new norm Um, do you want to go to judy to give an update on how her end of things are going Or do you want me to just go into a treasurer's report? Well, I think um We don't obviously want you to continue to have to work saturdays and sundays So we have to figure that out. I mean, it's once it's been it's been two weeks or does it seem longer than that? I think it's been two weeks, right? Well, it's it's not really it there's just a lot of information that is flowing with new Orders from the governor that impact how our municipalities work. I think that these things will slow down Over time, but yeah, it just is what is as I said, it's kind of the new norm now. I'm not the only person on um Now that in terms of municipal employees. I don't think it's odd It just happened to be that way these last couple of weeks. Oh, so the other the other piece of working from home has been this I come in on thursday afternoons At this point I was coming in at four four thirty But we have switched Office hours around and I'm coming in now. I will be coming in now around two thirty And the purpose of that is to pick up checks for deposits So that's that's the other piece of what I have been able to keep going and that is to continue to deposit checks that we're receiving And so what I want to do for the first couple of weeks Just because of the way the scheduling worked out. I had to bring the checks home. No cash I had to bring the checks home and then in the morning on friday. I would deposit them so That are you going to are you going to do that differently now? Yes, I'm going to come in at two thirty on thursdays Instead of at four thirty. Yeah, Barbara was working until four o'clock. So she's working until two o'clock now So i'll be coming in at two thirty doing my filing and so forth and then picking up the checks for deposit And depositing them on thursday night before the bank closes So that's the only that was the most That's been the final tweak to My routine in and that had most Mostly that had to do with how we were Viewing the staffing of the office to keep it safe for all of us. Yep um Judy do you want to weigh in at this point? Sure, can you hear me? Yep rose your hat you're upside down You might have to turn your phone It rose your phone turn your phone. There you are Isn't this fun I my whole connect my whole connection ended Oh Okay, um I was just reflecting that On march third was town meeting which seems like a million years ago. Um, yes it does I left for a vacation on march 6th to washington dc and virginia which I Two days in immediately realized was a big mistake and hopped into a rental car and zoomed home Um, and then at that point started setting up remote, uh Working from the office. So I have not been into the office since March 4th or 5th or since I don't you know that first week So it's a little disorienting to not have been in the office that long Although I think we've done a really good job working through the numerous emails related to statute changes and addendums and governmental, you know announcements and And all the changes that need to take place to to uh, you know Meet the needs of this crisis. Um So I think what we're doing is kind of a week by week assessment of what needs to happen And the first whatever this has been two weeks has been um, we've set it up that barba has been in the office uh The first week she was in a lot like I don't know if it was 30 hours or what? Um, and then we realized let's let's dial that back to her normal 20 hours a week So now she our agreement was to for her to be in the office from nine to two to collect the mail and answer the phone and scan things and and and I would sort of remotely ask Ask her to do things that needed to be done or vice versa so, um That's how we've done it like this past week. Um At this point, I'm I'm I'm not feeling that I'm as set up as maybe sandra is The piece that's not getting done is records recording Which if that accumulates for too long There'll be such a backlog that it will be a problem for the election in august which may take a lot of extra effort because it may be all mail um, so I'm sandra and barba and I are in conversation about how to remedy that because um I do have teenagers in the household. They're Occasionally going off and hanging out with friends and so there's not as much control over my potential exposure As other people perhaps in particularly barbara who lives alone So we're considering possibly on a week on week off for me and barbara so I could get in there and do that Um, and just sorting out how to make that really safe um Just some updates on things that I've done I've tried to add a lot to the website so that researchers and lawyers can access a lot of um Information that they need on the website. So that's as loaded as it can be um and I've With your approval purchased a large new drop box that is will can take larger packages and ballots and um You know once you put once they put it in they can't take it back out and we would have a key to access It's a You know a $500 steel drop box rather than that funky little thing we have in the Mailroom so I think that will lead to a more secure Transaction of packages and legal documents and paychecks and all that Uh Is that is that is that lock box just for drop off? So the male the male people wouldn't access our mail To drop to pick it up from that lock box No, we would still use the regular mailbox at the end of the driveway This would be just kind of a drop off pick up, you know drop off In the mailroom in the mudroom Would the would the post office drop our mail in that box or Only in the one at the end of the driveway Only at the one in the end of the driveway. So any mail going out any mail coming in would go strictly in the one that's still there Right. Okay, right There's some things on the list of non essential, you know when we look over what they've decided is absolutely essential work and For example, they say that marriage and birth certificates are not essential work But we're realizing that people need health care and once a baby's born They the parents need the certificate to enlist in health care And if somebody's married they need the marriage license to get health care. So that You know, that's obviously still an essential process And when you say they you're mean secretary of state's office, right? Right, uh, I don't know who exactly Makes the long list of what's essential and what's not essential. I imagine it's a collaboration between various governmental departments, but um but Some things you just have to decide on your own whether it's essential or not. Yeah so, um I don't know if there's questions. Um, I'll I'll just stop Okay Anybody have questions about the lockbox or the office hours? Staffing, I think it makes sense For judy to still for judy and barba to one week on one week off So that some of these other things don't get so far behind that judy can never get caught up cliff I didn't have a question person. I did have a comment. I wanted to thank sandra and judy and barba for All that extra effort and the extra stress that you're experiencing. I Really appreciate that and um, thank you for your efforts and Know that we're here if there's anything at all that we can do to help relieve some of the stress Just let us know. I know everybody who's part of this meeting will gladly jump in any way they can Well, I would I would second cliffs. Thank you because I think we've Been working as a team cliff. Thank you very much for all your efforts with all of the It stuff that's been a huge help. Um, it's it's been a real team effort. I have to say everybody's stepped up to the plate Offers for help have come in from everywhere. You can imagine it's very heartwarming Well, thank thank you for your support. I think uh Everything that we've done has been in fact a role model for other towns because we really acted quickly and We've heard a lot of feedback that Uh, we kind of set set the tone for other towns Yeah, we did. I had a lot of comments um, especially if like even from east mont pilier who used us as a Roll model for how they went forward. Woodbury did as well playing field So we we set the we set the standard and we set set the bar Any other questions for judy? Um I know sandra has more information to talk to us about regarding town finances um I imagine we're going to have to tighten our belts and Pull up our britches Is that my reins? That's your cue Um Well, I don't have a crystal ball. I don't think anyone has a crystal ball at this point in time um but what I would like to say Is uh, if we were simply going over the february treasurer's report I would say hey, we're in great shape. We have a good fund balance. We're going into the last um quarter of the year Right on target and all of that is true even with the outstanding 2019 um Taxes which were close to a hundred thousand dollars. I I still felt fairly confident that At at the end of february if we were going to be fine. So The landscape has changed somewhat, but it has changed in a way that we can't really predict And so what I would say at this point is this We do have a good fund balance and I think We will get through f y 20 and not be in a loss Where we may get tripped up is an f y 21 Um, and that does remain to be seen be and some of that Will be impacted by how the state is able to calculate the education tax rate And I don't really mean how but when when will they calculate it and download it to us? We cannot send out tax bills without it So we're on a holding pattern at this point to wait and see The lct has a survey going around to get a sense for what Um immediate needs Towns have in terms of borrowing We we do not need to take out alone in anticipation of taxes our taxes Our tax collection effort is behind us unlike some towns who are just about to collect their last and final tax payment for f y 20 So we're in good shape when it comes to that What I might ask what I will ask the select board to do Is to have some discussion And decide whether it is whether they think it prudent to Look at what we are spending and Whether or not on budgeted expenditures and look very carefully at on budgeted expenditures And I realize that's right on the heel of discussing this lock box And the security system for the town And I you know, I have to tell you that I'm in favor of the lock box. We should have had that Years ago. I don't think that is a knee jerk reaction to the Event that we find ourselves in at this point in time And then it's up to the select board, of course To decide about the security system for the town hall keep in mind that that's a 600 dollar Expenditure Annually we'll have to figure that out. So I think it's important that we look very carefully at that all departments are very carefully at what they are spending at this point in time and And I I think every town is feeling the same way So Two areas that I will affect our fiscal Position and that is receipt of the outstanding 2019 taxes at this point as of today There's uh 90,000 90 roughly 91 thousand dollars outstanding And I You know two weeks ago. I would have every reason to expect most of that to be in by the end of the fiscal year I do not know how that is going to look The other part of this revenue question is of course How long will folks be out of work? And will they be able to make their first tax payment? We will have to wait and see again. We have a pretty good fund balance to rely upon We may we may see a cash flow issue or not later in FY 21. So Um, I just we're going to have to wait and see With So can I ask you a question? Sure. So do we think that it's it could be that we'll Be delayed in sending out tax bills? That seems to be possible the extension of time for filing the income tax returns and homestead declaration Has been extended as you know to july 15th from april 15th, so My question I pose this question to carol daws who is the legislative representative for the clerks and treasurers association That if we if all the budgets are set and all the grand lists are set, which is most likely to be the case in our school district Why wouldn't we at the very least be able to get our Educational tax rate Downloaded to us. They did it piecemeal last year. Why why wouldn't we expect that to happen this year? And she said that there are other moving parts And one of which is that the base tax rate has to be set by the state and that won't be set Until they they set their budget And the covet 19 has been a great distraction from that process So There are and there are other variables. So we just don't know I am hoping if we get that tax rate by august It will only take you know, I would probably ask the select board to come in for a special meeting set our Town tax rate as quickly as possible and get those bills out. And I think we could probably do that in about eight days There's a lot of processing or processing special processing of a few hundred bills due to escrow requests and Uh multiple owners that hold us up a day or two, but We may just simply see our first tax collection date at the end of september instead of the beginning, which is not a dramatic problem um Our second tax date, of course, is set november 16th It was set at town meeting and we cannot change that The latitude we have in the tax The first tax collection date is the only date that can be responsive To this current event and the change in uh income tax filing deadline So again, um, what is the consequence of that cash flow? Obviously And um And there was one other consequence. Yes revised tax bills So we probably had a hundred revisions this year and under this process. Um, I know the carol dawg's again the representative of the clerk and treasurer's association has requested that the legislature Download a final tax rate and don't do an estimated tax rate and then download A final tax rate which would require Two bills to go out. That would be very confusing for taxpayers and difficulty in the collection process. So um, what i'm hoping is that we get one tax bill and We'll just have more revised Tax bills. So we had a hundred this year. We might have 300 will be busy but From my point of view, I I would rather see um see that then Us and then our first tax payment be delayed much beyond the end of september Again, I just we just the information is not out there So john has a question Yeah So sandra, I don't know if this is appropriate to ask you at this time, but um with regard to this year's education Sorry school tax Cala school tax How much of an increase are we seeing? On a hundred thousand dollar house. Do you know it's I I can get back to you. I cannot I don't know that off the top of my head I just don't I don't know that off the top of my head because this is the year where that 2.2 million dollar Liability kicks in on some correct. Yeah, that's true Well the uh district did estimate the tax rate It's in our town report. I I'll get back to you john. I will try and tease out those numbers it it just It would just take me More time then it would be worth. I think to do it at this point, but I'll email you with that so as way, um I'm sorry. You wanted to say something more on that so, um, this also affects our uh federal and state government and you know, we have to wonder about grant reimbursements and state aid to highway and how fluid the State government is is going to be when it too is facing a potential cash flow crunch in f y 21 and uh Yeah, there's some there's something I wanted to bring up in that regard is grants Did you guys did you speak with toby about the large grant? Not yet. We wanted to do it when you are on board um I can I'm just concerned that We don't know what's going to happen with the federal government with state government with finances Stock market all these factors that are out there flying around that we won't even know probably for six months How that's all going to land out And my concern is and I want to talk to toby about this and get his input And for the select board to think about this Does it make sense to take on the liability of say a hundred and fifty thousand dollar grant? We have to spend the money first and that get and then get reimbursed My concern is I'm not being a the sky's falling person, but What if we can't get reimbursed for that amount of money 80 percent? That doesn't put us in a really tough position I spoke to toby about that briefly. I wasn't sure a few folks were going to talk to him And I wanted to hear some of his ideas. I I don't like power phrasing or speaking for him, but The he's he's on so he can speak. Oh, hey toby. Yeah Oh, well, then good. You can answer that question. I I would just simply say toby and I were thinking that Any expenses incurred in connection with that large highway grant we would not pay until we were into f y 21 with the expectation of getting the reimbursement in f y 21 but Where would that that but that money comes from the feds through the state, correct? No, it comes from the state But doesn't the state get the money from somewhere? Um, I can't tell you if there's a tie into the structures grant It's federal or not or if it's just the state um state income Okay, like I said, I don't want to be a negative Nellie or the sky is falling but What if the state falls on some really hard times and that highway money isn't available? Winnie be quiet Yeah, I can't I can't answer that I can talk to shana and find out if you know what the guarantee is as far as reimbursement goes but or where the where the The source of funds for structure grants comes from if it's all If it's all state Tax money or if it's federal grants that come into the state. I frankly don't know the pathway Well, so we select board members. Do you want to weigh in? Oh john? Yes, one does So we enter into a contractual agreement with the state You know the whole share agreement and all that so the state is contractually obligated That said, I know there's been a discussion at the national level um For instance with the airlines the airlines union is very concerned that for instance the airlines could use uh the threat of bankruptcy as a rationale to Uh Have through the the court system have their out contractual obligations Eliminated or or a paired back And some years ago in 2009 When we were in that that that financial crisis Which may be may pale in comparison to where we're heading it seems Back then there was some discussion of of federal legislation to add a chapter to the bankruptcy laws To allow municipalities state and even federal government to uh through that process Would wriggle their way out of contractual obligations any and all under this This proposed change to the bankruptcy law. So I I just want So what does that mean john? Well, for instance, let's just use this as a scenario. We I think there's a the road projects on pecan brook We're looking at as one of them. Am I right on george road george road. That's right So let's say we enter into contract with the state And our state says we are on the brink of bankruptcy What let's just say this is of course crazy, but we're in crazy times So if that federal law were to pass or there was a like wise state law the state could Go through a process that would be in that law change that made available in that law change to Be able to escape its contractual obligations as may be determined by in by the federal bankruptcy court and So we would then have to go to court to try as one of the uh folks Parties that the state is indebted to and and try to see what we can get and we may in bankruptcy court The way it works out is they look at the financial wherewithal of the party filing to make good on their contractual obligations And the court can award a percentage of obligation to be Based on the the parties the filing party's Financial conditions, so if the state said we're really hurting that you know folks in old age homes and social services and roads and everything else and we can't Meet all our obligations. Immediately. They could the court could say well You could make payments to the town of cows over a number of years or You you only have to honor 50 percent of your originally contracted obligation, etc That's just something I I think about. It's a long ways down the road very long ways I don't know if that's a concern for this year, but it may be down the road for FY 21 So john as far as I understand 2022 Um, so just to give you My perception of this We have already signed a grant document with the state. So we are already in a contract with them to do this job And it extends until december 2020 to get it completed and then we would ask for reimbursement after that So I believe that the structure grant funds are available from Prior years not from or from whatever year that we signed the grant in not future Shortfalls so the question is is that Is that encumbered funds that no matter what happens to the state later that they just can't touch them? I that's the only issue that I would say is Something we don't have any answer about and an emergency the legislature can do anything I won't go be laborate, but there are cases in point I can provide To the tune of tens of millions of dollars where the state did not meet its obligations so My concern so that I guess my question is yeah, we agreed to Take the grant money, but if we say well, we want to rethink this They can't make us take that money. We can say we want to do it another time, right? We're not obligated you can cancel the project and say no thanks and they just In the past what they would do they take that 150 000 and put it into the next round for somebody else We don't have there's there's no commitment beyond december 2020 For us to follow through and get those funds Yeah, I just don't want to get us in a mess. Sorry john go ahead Well, I think we should if we got a critical project like the george road project is That we get that done because there may not be monies available going going forward FY 2022 Be more realistically the case well Yeah, and again, so any grant any future grants that I apply for We may not have any chance of getting because there'll be no funds for them and that but If we have one in the pipeline that literally is based on funds from existing You know existing treasury numbers then I think it makes sense to go ahead. I can talk to shana about the What can happen? But my sense is the state wants to get these infrastructure projects done because they're essential So with that If I think it makes sense to talk to shana, we don't have to decide tonight Whether to go forward with the project or not we can think about it see how things go in the next few weeks And we can change our mind Or not That makes sense clef. I I can see cliff shaking his head sharing shaking rose So it looks like we're in agreement to get some more information and Keep it out there. And if we decide to change our minds, we will All right Sandra, did you have more to talk to us about budget wise? Two things we At town meeting the voters approved two loans And the bank is putting those loan documents together So the process would be That the hard copy would go to the office And someone authorized by the board to sign on behalf of the board would sign that hard copy Wait a minute. John John's gone John are you there? Yeah, oh there you are I'm here. I'm turning the video off because I'm going to go use the men's room if that's okay Go ahead. Thank you. Denise He didn't raise his hand. No, he didn't he didn't ask permission We didn't remember the little permission slips you used to have to go down the hall. I remember Now now they just show their smartphone thing, but no, right So whoever's authorized by the board to sign on behalf of the board will sign the hard copy of the loans Leave them for me because there are things there are documents in that package That the treasurer will have to sign so I'll get my copy digitally Print off those pages that I need to sign and sign them And when I come in on Thursday, I would consolidate the paperwork and then drop it off through the tube along with the deposits friday morning and this probably will not happen This thursday, which is I believe the end of the reconsideration period but probably by next thursday So I would ask the board tonight if they would pick a person Or authorized by motion someone to sign on behalf of the board We'd need to be able to show that to the bank And that you don't need to do that. Well, I'm here But at some point at this meeting we need an author an authorized signer. We do have the first bill from Arby tech for close to 8800 dollars and I would really like to get those loan proceeds So the two so tell us the two loans are for the server and the chipper chipper So that brings the second question There was a rumor of a petition for reconsideration of that woodchipper argument article pardon me And then covet 19 Reared its ugly head and it feels like that petition died Somewhere out there in the thought in someone's thought process. I think cliff might know more about that Yeah, as far as I know the individual I spoke with is not pursuing that option I yeah, we should still we should still wait until The 30-day time period goes by which is thursday, right? Right, and we won't have those documents until thursday They need, you know, they need seven to ten days to pull them together. So it's close enough to the end that I'm getting them moving on those documents. So they'll be ready when that reconsideration period is expired So if we I'm sorry go ahead john Um, we're not looking to take out the loan in advance of buying a woodchipper We're going to take it after we find one and figure out what the price of that is, right? um That is not what you told me in the first place You said you wanted to get the loan proceeds available so that you could buy the chipper early in the season like now Because the best deals were now Right, but okay, and um Or the order events thing is this is this different than a typical Loan, I know when for instance, I if I buy a used car I I find the vehicle I want I then contact for instance the credit union and within a day or two I get my Loan is this different? Is this much more complicated? I mean we have the pop paperwork ready Um, and then file it after we find something the reason is I I don't want us to take out a loan and then us to decide based on The continued unrolling of the co vid 19 Uh scenario that we might not it might not be prudent to do this expenditure It I mean things have changed since town meeting for at least in my mind Hi, um, I will have to say I'm not sure that You're gonna I'm not sure that you it's it's an easy answer that voters voted that so now it is part of the budget and it would be part of the tax effort and I think we would need to talk with Jim about that since it is If assuming the petition for reconsideration is not presented Um, it's an expenditure authorized to be made And I imagine you don't have to make it if you don't want the question is how then does that affect The tax rate because right now it is going to be added in So what so so if I'm understanding what you're saying correctly sandra Is the board the town authorized us to borrow the money So you think that by doing that we can't not borrow the money and not by the I I don't I think that the select board has complete authority over its budget, but it by but I don't know what latitude it has in terms of articles And I I just don't know the answer to that and I I don't want to guess It's just an issue that has come up in my mind The other thing is as I said If you're not going to take that loan um Then I mean We built that that loan by virtue of that vote is built into your Tax rate so I it may still have to be built into your tax rate whether you spend it or not I just don't know the answer to that and you want to be careful with that I don't think you have to buy the wood shipper tomorrow And we can hold off on the loan, but I'm not so sure that you can Ignore that article I wanted because it's very specific. I don't know the answer So just ask jim because I think he would know that answer So john you wanted to say something so it's an authorization as sandra has said to purchase a chipper and Let's just say We couldn't find one Yes, the the taxpayers would be taxed like we again a budget is is a best guess as sandra has told us and reminded us numerous times And we didn't anticipate this state of the emergency which is really what we're in um and And also I've gotten some more information I can explore but it I I've been told actually by dug lily Who you should all expect would have called me after that chipper vote? Which he did and we finally got together on a phone and I will be calling his son brent Shortly who's like the operations manager? field operations manager at washington electric and he According to dug grain of salt um He said that brent said for a hundred bucks an hour you can get a three-man team with a chipper And they would do all the work and our highway department would not have to do the work and if you look at if that's true That is much less than we it would cost for us to have three guys at you know, say 30 an hour with benefits um and a piece of equipment Getting beat up and you know degraded um To employ that with our own crew a chipper with our own crew would be much more costly than a hundred bucks an hour So I wanted to at least explore that And if there were a cheaper alternative at least in this interim period Um until next year to see where we come out of this dilemma. I I am really concerned about Uh tim ash has said he's looking at I think a 200 million dollar shortfall in our budget and I I think there's more information out that shows that it's going to be worse than that so I don't know where this is going to leave us and and I just think it's It's it's going to compound already existing problems i.e. that that's why I asked about the the up the uptick in our our property tax taxes for everybody based on the school budget this year and the transfer of Uh east Montpelier's debt obligation to other towns including us Um, I I just the sum total this is starting to really hit me in the head and I just want us to be really Measured as we go forward in this time. That's all I would I would propose that We don't have to take out the loan right now. John could collect more information We could post the question to Jim And have that information and discuss it at our next meeting I think that's a good idea. You need to find out if a specific article such as that one demands the purchase or if the select board has the Authority to decide that it is not Prudent to make that purchase and therefore Ignore that article and we don't build that first payment into the fy 21 budget or tax rate But I and and I don't think you have authority Well, I don't know but I don't know that that gives you the authority to Buy it in the next fiscal year because it was voted on In this in this fiscal year for fiscal year 21 You see what I mean? How long does that authority last? Does it last? That's a lesser issue. I think yes So but you need to know the answer to that I I think you need to know the answer to that that because that is most definitely a legal question And if you don't have to buy the chipper and you think it's not prudent Then find out Because we wouldn't want to add that money. It's not a large payment amount But you still wouldn't want to add that money Into the tax rate if you don't have to And so it sounds like is the rest of the board an agreement on waiting and getting more information She earns a yes Yes rose Come up or down Can't hear you. Okay. Good got it The new age of communication. I love it All right, and then I think we also wanted to talk sander about tax sales Yes, we have two tax sales scheduled currently for april 28th The tax sales were precipitated by the no no payment no communication of 2018 Taxes they have nothing to do With our existing situation However, because there also was no payment on 2019 taxes and no communication The 2019 taxes were added into the lump Now I I just don't think we can have a tax sale under the current situation And I asked our lawyer if It can be moved deeper into the year. She says it can Gloria so I think that To be on the safe side, I'd ask the board to make a motion to move the tax sale to a date mutually agreeable by the Tax sale attorney and the delinquent tax collector because I have to be there in june um To give You know Because I just don't know if we can gather So so my internet's dropping in and out and I I I keep sander's lovely face on my screen But I lose her voice so you can hear me she could fill me back. My husband would love that I Husband wouldn't So sander's suggesting can you hear me john? Yeah, it's a sander suggesting we postpone the tax sales that were scheduled Um next month to a date that is mutually agreed upon by Gloria and us to sometime in june when we have a better handle on what's going on And because these have to be done mostly I guess face to face Um, it doesn't make sense to do it now in the current environment if we wait a couple of months It's not gonna it's to the taxpayers benefit for one Um, and it gives us more time to sort out some of these other issues john's thumbs up. Where'd you get that little thumb up thing? It's under the there's a reactions bar. Oh, is that what that is on the bar and the very far right reactions Oh Smiley face, but I'm only given two options That's because I can do a hand clap I don't get a smiley face for some reason. I don't know as we can see your smiling face I only get two as well. I I don't know if there is a smiley face. I've never that may be just those two Hey cliff, are you good waiting? We but we need a motion. So would somebody like to make a motion to what I just said Okay, let's make in the motion seconds I'll second it. Okay. Um, we have to do a roll call vote Okay, all those in favor cliff Karen I rose Rose I And I'm an eye Okay, um anything else sander you want to chat about with regards to Treasurer stuff don't put tax collector stuff Sandra's You got to press your button Can you hear me now again? I will have the bank not prepare loan papers for the chipper right All right, but we need to repair. We think we need the loan papers for Um, the server server. So we need a motion for that so that I can sign for On behalf of the board Yeah, and that and that's it as long if you could Make that motion to authorize a signer on behalf of the board That is that's all my business Is there a motion I'll make a motion I would move that we authorized the chair denise wheeler to sign on behalf of the board After the board votes on an item Subsequent to a board vote on on any particular item Any particular item including this loan You need to mention the loan I think for banking Including the loan that we just voted to The server loan server server loan for this now office computer system correct Is there a second I'll second I'll second that Hey, is everybody ready to vote? Oh No, no, no Are we saying so john if I understand your motion, we're authorizing denise to just Sign anything that we approve without discussion about how about it. I feel like that's overkill and I would rather Approve things with denise's signature On a case-by-case basis Well, we've already already authorized me to sign off on the warrants Right. I understand that and we have this loan. I don't really think there's really anything else I'm not sure. I wasn't clear on how how broad john's motion was it was it was as broad as our vote. I mean, uh It was it doesn't make it it really would have the same effect as as yours As what your your concern is shared concern Okay, so Uh, it would it wouldn't happen unless we voted An item through and then we voted through with the understanding that denise would do it because we're not meeting, right? So I'm not signing anything until I have board approval It would be subsequent to a board vote on any particular item. That's what I said This is just in this interim period But we can do it that way too. It doesn't matter. We can include in each vote I mean, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna go around signing any loan or anything without My motion speaks to Authorizing the chair to sign on behalf of the board after a vote a motion and a vote on any particular item But uh, if Aaron wants to change it, that's a friendly amendment. It has the same effect. That's fine with me Either way So so can you read back the motion? You got to unmute yourself She's not muted. Yep. Um, let's see John Brabant moved to authorize the chair to sign on behalf of the board subsequent to the board's vote Including the server loan for the town office computer system that My motion was broader than that but we can leave it at that if that's what Sharon would rather see it's fine with me Yeah, that's fine by me All right, so we need a second to friendly amendment second Okay, and I think we have to vote on the first motion first and then Vote to the amendment second so your first vote. No, I adopted that as my motion. Oh, okay. All right Let me read into the record is what I adopted as my motion Okay, second rose seconded that I assume Yes Okay, this is Cliff Hi Sharon Hi Rose Hi John Hi And I'm voting aye Okay, does that get you everything you need Sandra? You got to unmute Yes, it is I any Do you have any questions for me before I leave the meeting? No, are you feeling overwhelmed or overworked? Do you think if you are I hope it We can figure out a way to make it better for you I really think it was a matter of setting up systems Here that accommodated the new norm and those systems are in place RB tech has Been in my computer twice so I can create PDFs whether I'm In my laptop or in the server. I know now I can work with Nimrick as necessary We I think we have the scheduling the safe scheduling of employees at the office just about Hone to a point and I'm confident that That will actually formalize in the next 48 hours or so Money is getting deposited Our bills are being paid. I have long-term projects sitting here that were on my list to do Pre-COVID-19 in this March and April. So I'm okay. It's it's just now. I think it's I think we're all There's a lot of information flowing at this point that we're all Interested in knowing about And I think that will slow down a little bit Over the next couple of weeks in a certain respect Okay, well, I just want to make sure you will I mean there's so many unknowns And I think there will continue to be a lot of unknowns, but I think we have a great Select board a great office staff. I think we all work well together It's a team effort. We're here to support each other Yeah Judy or Barbara. Do you want to weigh in? um No, I feel very supported and I think it's more of Barbara and me and sander kind of working out the logistics of Time and space and and that that will that will be uh clarified soon Barbara, do you want to type a message? I think she's still there You still there Barbara She's on Barbara, do you want to type a message? Let us know you're Okay Okay, I'll take that as she's an okay um Ladies do you have anything else? Sander Judy no no. Oh, Barbara just type Barbara just said I'm good So good, we're all glad of everybody's good. All right. You want to move on we have the um CLG grant paperwork Um, I'll let Scott good night everyone. All right gets good a good rest. Good night ladies. Good night Scott, do you want to update to the board about the CLG grant for East Dallas? sure The original grant that we applied for Um Was for 18 000 in federal dollars. They had so many applications They could only give us part of that which turned out to be 13 for the initial grant award then because of the Virus crisis they canceled their annual Get together about historic preservation and that freed up Some money at least another 5 000 And so they offered to Restore the amount we had originally asked for um, so initially we were given 13 um We sort of adjusted the budget and decided we could live with that and they accepted that amendment Um, or that that is our original grant agreement Um, what i'm asking the board to sign now is the amendment to that original agreement Which is just giving us an extra five an additional five thousand dollars So that would mean that the um The amount available for us to spend would be 18 000 And the match and in kind would go from about 9 000 to 12 000 And it's strictly in kind correct? and again as as I've had very good luck in the past with making almost all the match um Be in kind not cost the town anything and in this special case involving the the um historic Store in east callus the group that's Trying to purchase the store has agreed to um Keep the town whole so that there so that the town won't be out anything For the match And that will apply to this extra 5 000 as well Word questions anybody have a question? All right, so Sounds good Say sounds good. Thank you rose. Thank you scott All right, so would the board like to make a motion to um Approve receiving the extra funds and letting and having beside the paperwork without moved second John seconds Okay, roll call cliff Hi John Hi Rose Rose you have to say aye. Hi And i'm saying hi I said hi hi captain Captain Kirk in the upper left hand corner My internet is going in and out Yeah, I think my internet is going in and out if you don't remember Yeah, I think we're going to have to hurry up with this meeting Because this is what happens. It seems like after a while Thank you Thank you scott Scott before you go. I wonder if you would be willing to sit in a little bit longer. So um We're going to jump into the it update shortly and I wanted to talk about the issue with town hall Good. Yeah, we can we can skip the we can move the agenda items around So scott doesn't have to stay on any longer than he has to unless he wants to talk about the quarterly meeting with fire department Sharon um I'm going to go on a completely different point I am still in my office and as it gets later and later. I would like to get home so what i'm thinking i'll do is uh get off while you have four people and then Jump back in when I get home for the end of the meeting and maybe a possible executive session. Is that okay with you guys? I'll provide if you can get home before we're done Right, if I don't then um I'll miss it. Okay All right, safe safe travels Yeah, next time I'll have to start from home and um, I will make that clear to my family that That's how it's going to be Thank you so much Okay, go ahead class Sounds good be safe Okay, um, so basically quick update for it Is number one we as you're aware we have purchased a zoom license um in the next Few days this week. I will be looking at the possibility of being able to extend Partially extend usage and availability of the license to other committees commissions within the town The next step will be to run a test with the office staff to see if they can conduct a meeting Using the tool without my presence And do a shared hosting thing without necessarily having to give full access to the zoom tool So I'll give you an update on that as we proceed Any questions on that? So so you're trying to find a least costly option to the original one. I'm confused We have uh, we have the license that's already purchased We got a good deal that allowed us to save $30 off the cost of a basic license We want to extend usage of the existing license to other Committees and commissions related to the town And we want to do it without without incurring additional costs Okay So that's just an fyi and I will keep everybody apprised as we move along Of course, if there's a need to purchase additional Functionality in the tool. I'll make everyone aware of that as well I would like to see was there a motion No, no motion at this point Okay, because I I think This doesn't work too bad But after about an hour and a half it does start to get Long and somehow connections seem to get weird I would I would I would like to be able to offer this function to other boards and committees Do you have an idea how the cost So that we can make a motion to Well, let me see if I can work out a no cost solution first. I'm pretty sure I can do that Okay, I really don't think that we'll need to it's just a question of what level of functionality the other committees and whatnot will need And at that point then we have to Get a quote from zoom Are we operating out a diminished bandwidth? Is that why we're getting noise and stuff? The bandwidth is a function of what everybody has available from wherever they're logging in from Okay, but I I didn't hear any noise previously, but it could be that I'm on DSL and people are sitting behind their TVs now and sucking it down. So Exactly It could just be a function of your connection and other activities that are going on But whatever bandwidth is available. We will have the full amount Because there's no limit in terms of the license that we have with zoom If you had a superhighway connection at maximum rates, um, you'd have full functionality You can even have high def. That's the only thing I've done is I did turn off the high def for our meetings because I knew that some people would have lesser bandwidth We really appreciate all your technology I don't know what you call it, but Well, you're welcome. Help out where I can Help out where I can So the next thing any other questions on that before I move to the next thing Thank you, Scott, do you have any thoughts on that? Are you good? Um, no, I think cliff has cliff has has it well in hand Thanks So the next thing to be aware of is that um on thursday Judy and I will be engaged in a remote zoom-based meeting with rb tech to start Laying out the process of how the server upgrade is going to unfurl It obviously will be more of a challenge under the new circumstances But they have put us into the schedule and we'll lay out a timeline Expectations on both sides and there will be opportunities to ask additional questions Should they come forward and of course I will keep the board apprised of our progress as we move along May any questions on that before we go to the next point Okay, thanks um So this next issue is one I wanted Scott to stay with us As you probably are all aware The wi-fi zone has been re-enabled at the town hall This allows uh members of the community to get into the town hall parking lot and access the internet connection at the town hall Um, I'm not sure if we're getting many people who are taking advantage of that right now But the point that Scott brought up is in doing this We should look at re-enabling our Uh firewall which will help protect us from somebody hijacking the network Using the wi-fi at the town hall. It would also prevent them from accessing websites of dubious claim and impact and content Exactly so what it is is there we were using a Cisco device as the um As Scott called it the internet nanny there at the town hall We have a license to access the service that is valid through I believe you said august of 2022 Yep and um Was that paid for as a lump sum scotter? Do you know if that's a monthly? We bought a five-year license for roughly six hundred dollars. Okay, so it was paid as a lump sum So that's a sunk cost. It's already behind us. We have the service. We just need the device that um Would allow us to access the service The low budget answer is to use the device that was already in place that device was purchased in 2014 And we could plug it in it would probably function it would probably update to whatever level of updates There are but as a six-year-old piece of it equipment It wouldn't necessarily have all the robust functionality that's available in newer systems To get the thing back up and running could be as simple as plugging it in and seeing if it's going to work But if that doesn't happen then what has to happen is we need a certified installer who's recognized by Cisco to put in a functioning device Time-wise it's about two hours of a text time and the device if we had to buy a replacement device It's probably going to be in the range of three hundred and fifty dollars All told we're probably looking in the range of six hundred dollars to have this done Scott has a quote from someone I believe you worked with before scott to do this That's right the initial We we were offered a grant from vermont council on rural development And they arranged it they had they had been installing wi-fi hot spots all around the state I think they actually did about 66 of them This one we we the grant covered the hardware in the first two years of service um and that worked out fine when we Unplugged the phone lines from the town hall so we could lift it all that We didn't have any more wi-fi at the town hall and everything sort of went on hold Toby has been able to get the Um and john baccala have been able to get the the kind of raw wi-fi going again And that's a a good service But in my opinion We this six hundred dollars or so would be a good investment Because it would protect Uh, not just the town But it would protect people Say young people using the system from inadvertently of course getting on to sites that We would not want to be responsible for them accessing Um, I guess I hope everybody knows what I mean by that. I won't have to write what you mean examples I think I think it would be this would be Kind of amortized over the next three three or four years Um, and in my opinion, it would be well worth it. All we'd have to do would be uh Call up justin mccourt tell him to do his thing and he could have it He could probably have it going by the end of this week So this would be somebody different than rb tech doing it Yes, uh, justin is an authorized Cisco miracle reseller and he's got the equipment and the experience and the licenses needed to do this on So just for clarification purposes The order of events would be to try the device that we have and see if it works And ascertain its level of functionality If it either doesn't work or its level of functionality Is too low we would hire justin and If it's not if functionality is good, he would make you'd get that device up and running Functionality is sub par we would buy a new newer Whatever newer version piece of equipment and he would install that so we'd be fun funding justin either install the existing thing If it functions if it needs his involvement to function And if equipment's adequate or we hire him to install a new piece of equipment correct Is that the order of events Yeah, I think the that is correct john what we would want to add to that is um We're not sure if the existing um device is even operational so We could conceivably just try plugging it in ourselves without bringing justin out at all And that was the first piece that works. Yeah And if it does and if it does then we don't need justin If it does we have to do some research and say okay, is that going to be adequate? because Knowing that it was purchased in 2014 Um, a lot has changed in six years and my gut can say off the top of my head It probably doesn't have the same degree of robust degree of functionality You would get in the newer unit Scott, maybe you can add to that Well, and also it has spent two years in the storage locker without power um it's a pretty Extreme temperatures So I I think the odds are about 50 50 that it wouldn't work at all Um, and I do think we would need justin here to do the install and make the connections to the service So in my opinion we would Again, we would I think we would be better off if we just went ahead and got the Asked justin to bring up the upgraded device That would cost three three hundred and fifty And then use the and get the minimum of two hours of his time Up and back and installing the device Rather than have him come up and try to get the the one that's been in storage all this time working And I'm I'm just not sure there's we have anybody available to us right now who would who could Do all the troubleshooting on the on the old device So I think Justin would be the one to do the install whether it's the new device the old device or the new one I think As long as he's here we should probably get him to bring up the new one and install that That would be my advice Your your advice then is that we just go with the new one Yeah John I don't understand it. I just want to understand scott. What What this entails so By way of example, I stored a stereo receiver in a cold attic for 20 years And brought it in in a summertime. I didn't have to warm it up plugged it in It's been working great for the last eight years So I don't think that affects electronics unless it's in a really damp place and things corrode But is it complicated? Is this more than just plugging into the phone line And plug into the wall. Is there like login stuff that would be Is that I would have to make us there would have to be some sort of secure connection to the Cisco server that mediates would would then mediate all the Wi-Fi traffic from the town hall Okay, so it's not just you couldn't just go in and plug the thing in at the town clerk's office our original device see if it works You'd have to do a lot more than that Yeah, I think so you'd have to you'd have to establish the connection and that would take all kinds of passwords and Protocols and I mean Justin would be the guy to do that. Okay Yeah, what there is is it's like a series of Testings to verify the communications are operational Verifying that the license is current registering the serial number and that's where the certified installer That's why they get paid to do what they do Rose do you have a comment? Um, yeah, can you hear me? Yep Sort of Hi Hey, go ahead um Yeah uh Yeah, I mean I understand a little bit about how electronics can be temperamental. Um, and even if You know the storage conditions and whatnot. It was okay. The technology has changed so much since 2014 Um, and I think that we just need the best firewall protection You know that we could get and you know, like you said, you're protecting You know everything of the town or whatever you don't want people to be not only on not okay websites But you don't want them to be fishing around for anything That could possibly link them that are stuff in the town. So I mean, I think I would be in favor I think it would be money well spent if we went with a new one So am I hearing a motion rose that you would are you making a motion to Go ahead and just purchase the new one and have Justin from I can't remember where he's from but Install it and just never mind trying to use the old one Yeah, I'll make that in the form of a motion There second I'll second the motion. This is john Uh with the understanding that We would still try to use the old device at the town hall Just down the road and see if that works. I just would like us to at least plug it in Inventure if not for the town office, but for the town hall Is that where we're talking about the office, right? We're talking about the town hall. Oh, I thought we were talking about the town office The town hall already has security This is John just to clarify this is for the town hall The reason it's an issue is we want to make the wi-fi that's available right now at the town hall A public wi-fi zone for people who might need internet connectivity in the current crisis I understand that Yeah, okay. I thought it was I thought you said the town office earlier. Okay If I did I apologize for that One other piece of information I'll add here um Well, actually john we recognize your second. I guess and this would all be Other discussion denise I did speak with rb tech And they confirmed that yeah typically this type of installation takes a couple of hours to perform And the price on the new unit that we're being quoted is in the correct range. It's legitimate So we have done diligence there Okay All right, are you ready to go? All right, clear I didn't I couldn't hear you. I said I I said I rose I John says I I say I Okay, anything else on it He has a question. Wait a minute. Katie has a question. Um I have written John Brabant. Can you hear me? I've written John Brabant seconded with the understanding That the town would still try to use the old device at the town hall if it works Should that stay as the sec as the um As kind of should that stay? No, that should not stay for clarification purposes. I'm sorry I thought we were going to all this. I thought we were relocating this Firewall device to the town office where people to park outside of to do their wi-fi I misunderstood Gotcha, so you can strike that second part Katie. So, okay. Thank you So the motion has been approved Anything else? That's all I got on it Okay Thank you Scott Okay, so the next thing is um The quarterly meeting with east montpelier select board and east montpelier fire department Would normally take place on thursday april 9th The east montpelier select board raised the question whether or not this meeting is necessary The fire department folks weighed in and said they don't think that it is Um at some point we are going to have to We should meet even if it's on zoom Because we need to make sure we're being updated and we're aware of what the financial situation is at the fire department how they're dealing with and if they need any assistance with Anything given the current situation, you know, do they have enough equipment? respirators or masks, you know, do they have a Do they have a plan if half the fire department or the eft folks? You know get sick. What are we going to do if there's you know, what are we going to do about staffing? So they would like to postpone it um, and I I can see maybe postponing it for a while, but I think at some point I would really like to know what their plan is john Yeah, I think it's good to do that now. Like I said, it's going to peak in the next five weeks According to dr. Fauci at al And governor scott. So I'd like to see where we are after that peak and actually then there's going to be decline So it may be as far out. So um as five weeks brings us to May's doorstep actually into may so I'm thinking probably wouldn't be till june anyway That we would be able to have a serious meeting possibly in person. I don't know how we would do a fire department meeting Uh, and a joint select board meeting by video conference. I think it would be insanity It'd be just too many people Liv, what do you think about the technology for something like that? Yeah, it's it's definitely doable. We would have to Look at doing in a slightly different venue. We might have to set up an actual meeting room Which our current license does allow um There would have to be some some testing up front You want to say that we would agree to postpone it for a couple of weeks, but we really want to know I mean we could just ask them and they could send us an email or They must have something in writing as to what their backup plan is Yeah I agree if they could at least um a prizes of their current situation financially and if they have any concerns Uh, given how things have changed Uh about where they see potential holes or areas that we might need to address Um, right, right. I think we need to know like I said, what if half the fire department and Emergency ambulance people get sick. What's the plan for being able to still continue to provide services? That's my biggest question Yep, maybe they have something like that. We just don't know it Rose I would be in favor of um You know letting them know instead of meeting on the 9th of April. We're thinking more like may 15th Um, their fiscal year ends June 30th. So we would kind of want to know If there was any financial things about them, you know, not making their budget or whatever that they saw coming six weeks Before the end of the fiscal year. Um, and then as far as um, you know, their contingency plan and whatnot They're in really tight with this thing called the district six, which is the You know medical operating district and um all those protocols and guidelines are all driven by the hospital and the district six and so um They are like a real tight-knit group and so they make sure that all their ambulance and everything is all You know, everybody is equal all the information is equal and um, you know, I I don't have any concern about That whole aspect of them dealing with this cobit. Um as Mark Levine dr. Mark Levine said today At the news conference locally here We have had a couple of cases Of cobit 19 people hospitalized and right now we have just one patient at the hospital Not on a ventilator We were just talking about the fire department meeting and Whether we would agree to postpone it for a while and I raised the concern about what is their plan if They suddenly have the fire department and half the ambulance personnel are ill or Are quarantined because they might have been exposed. What is the plan to still provide services? And rose and rose was just saying that They're in this district six, but still I understand that they're in tight with this district six, but what is the plan? And I don't think we don't we want to agree to postpone our meeting. I think that they Yeah, and I I couldn't tell us I think they could still we could request a written update as to what the plan is Folks in agreement on that and then we could agree to postpone. Yes. Yeah, that's reasonable Okay, so I can send Out an email and ask them to provide at least the callus select board With what is their contingency plan? I would think he's not clear select what we want to know as well. All right Sounds good COVID-19 update From I don't know what that somebody's got a tv or something radio going on here Darren you might want to mute. I don't know. Yeah. Um So I don't I think that we're on top of everything We've had good results from the survey we did. We've had good results from all the postings and as we talked about earlier Callus was held up as the model of What towns can do and should do with response to It suddenly got extremely quiet when you're talking. Is anyone else hearing that? Right? I think Denise has got quiet Denise Or something Yeah, Denise's mic is experiencing some interference. There's a lot of hum Um, and the volume level is inconsistent Denise. It's kind of what we experienced during the practice session But we weren't able to isolate what was causing it. I have a feeling it's uh, it's Probably the quality of our microphone. It needs better shielding. It sounds like emf interference Okay Can you hear me now? It's yeah, it's better. It's okay. Maybe we can get through this real quick um Green up day we decided to postpone it from the beginning of may. I only heard one person Request that we not do that but I the green up coordinators felt it was in the best interest of public safety, um And transmission of the disease to just wait until maybe fall to do it so I saw uh, no Oh, I saw on the news. Um, I think that the state postponed it till may 30th Um, I would be more in favor of doing it in may or june Or july or august but not waiting till fall Okay, john I agree with rose. I I think people are cooped up. We live we don't live in downtown burlington Last I checked so You know, I think people would like to get out in their neighborhood. They're not going to see many people They're going to be picking up beer cans and beer bottles. That's what I'll be doing and McDonald's rappers, unfortunately um There's somebody's tv or something that keeps coming on Not me. Um, maybe we could have uh In lieu of having a formal green up day if we could just say that There's a drop-off place available for people to drop their green up bags at Um, and maybe it's a month-long green up and it ends in into may like rose said I think people are itching. Maybe we could have the best green up ever and if we would still be isolating Um, but we get the town cleaned up and people would feel good about getting out of the house and doing something positive I know I can I can I can ask the coordinators to Um do it on the day that the state has picked what you said was may something rose Rose Yeah, I saw it on the news. Um And I don't know if it was part of um, the governor's news conference, but I saw the date may 30 May 30 Okay, well, we can ask them to do for may 30 is katie are y'all seeing the assurance commented by typing into the chat Oh She writes in the summer the grass is going to be high and we won't see the trash or find it I think that's partly why we were talking about waiting until fall because then Um, we wouldn't have that issue But we can see about whether or not they're willing to Change the date to may 30th and that would coordinate with efforts sounds like around the rest of the state Does that make sense? Hello, okay, rose's got her thumbs up. Just cliff John Oh, yeah, that's fine. Okay. Sharon. Are you okay with that? Okay The only other thing I think we need to do is if you want to go back into executive session very briefly because I think everybody's connections are getting weird Do you want to go back into executive session? Sure Okay, so is that a motion to go back into executive session discuss personnel issues per our usual Language Yes, that's my motion Okay, and rose did you second it? second Okay, all in favor second Everybody cliff are you in favor? cliff Okay, thumbs up from cliff john Yes Rose Rose you need to go Sharon Yes Okay Thank you. All right, katie will rose will get notes to you of exit and all