 Okay, so it is one minute after five and I will call the meeting to order we have no guests We do have Eric here with us as usual welcome Eric And the first item is to approve the minutes of the October 3rd regular select board meeting Is there a motion I'll make the motion and we accept the minutes of the October 3rd 2023 meeting And I will second that okay all in favor of that motion I I any opposed Reviewing and amending and approving the agenda for October 17th Are there any amendments to the agenda Yes Well, I'm presuming that's under my Welch Park update is that all right Well, I just meant so we didn't forget so thank you for that I just that thing there with the So we'll add the MIRP And is there a motion to accept the amended agenda I'll move Second okay all in favor hi hi any opposed Why we're just buzzing right along here aren't we Highway Department report update on winter preparations and FEMA related road repairs gentlemen For those the trucks that we're going up the Brook Road today nice, you know, that is so much better for them to go up the Brook Road It's an easier run for the trucks when they're loaded that cruise right up Brook Road and plus Brook Road right now At this point in time is in better shape than center Mr. Hey, Mr. Irwin did not text me today Because I told him that they were coming Yeah, he doesn't like it when they're No, I know I know so How long is that going to be? about a week Yeah Good weather for all it's a yeah, you got off stone out. I Think so looks good. Looks like the same as last year What else is going on boys Plough frame has been fixed on the freight liner Just waiting here back on the lead time for the parts for the transfer case to determine if it's gonna be full We'll drive this year or not I haven't heard back yet and I think that's about it as far as winter preparations And in terms of the FEMA stuff I saw that they're on they're on East Hill Road Yes, they're supposed to start today. Yeah We ditched South Bear Swamp We need to put some ditch stone in but that'll be after sand is done. I think that's it Do they put in the stone when it's a certain steepness yes, yes, 5% and then otherwise it's grass seed or correct, right? And Do they like I'm and I'm curious I know we've talked about this because the chatter on our local neighborhood Facebook pages that the road is so narrow Which one culvert Hill Road? Because it's so wide I'm just curious was that is that to code that wideness or because they didn't have enough stuff to extend the road back out I Don't know the answer to that Why they didn't I kind of think that maybe why because we kind of lost half the road Because of the ditch Well, yeah, we lost the dishes The ditch looks wider. The ditch is really wide and then the road itself is narrow Okay, so I think there's more concerns about winter. Yeah, like plowing it will become like a one-way road But I'm like just everybody needs to slow down and let that side In town we're more narrow because it would slow people down our roads like an interstate. Yeah, yeah, you use more material Yeah, well, plus the stretch by my house is straight. So they whistle by there Go of anything to report. Mr. Martin just working on the Next thing for female to see categories of roads that do need to be fixed. Yeah Or to get the end of the month and What do we do about The box culvert business on lower Sonny Brooke is that a that a down-the-road issue do we need to make that issue? It's gonna have to have another Hydraulic study on that one day. Oh, they're gonna want an updated hydraulic study. Oh, yeah, I would imagine They are Yeah, they said it was What we have from 2011 is expired. So we have to get another one, but they might pay for it, right? Well, they would pay for it that would be Glorious news because that's gonna be a big expensive project and that would fall under the mitigation, right Sarah As opposed to the regular FEMA projects it would be well, it would be yeah the bill back Yeah, right. Yeah, right Anybody go ahead Victor Anybody I know Bridget said something about it, but the All of the gravel that's in front of the Bridge up there and the other side of the bridge McCullough Hill They got that address. They should have that on their list of places too. So I don't know where they've got with that We got to do that before If we can yeah Me actually only knew one winner was coming right easy to plan this stuff. Hopefully you're gonna actually do it Maybe that will be ready anything else any other news Like quiet week on the highway department. I know Okay Monthly meeting with a middle-sex volunteer fire department is T gonna come down. It's supposed to be well So why don't we why don't we pass over that for the time being and Move on to the treasurer's report There you go. You're happy to see those numbers in the big orders tonight folks so Yeah Yeah, real big so I actually tapped into the line of credit to cover Yeah Yeah, so anyways a couple things Randy did send a note that he reached out to a contact with the email And the person said absolutely you let's see quoting it here Absolutely, you should take the issue with the amount proposed So he got a recommendation of somebody and they're actually Located in Waterbury and it's a company. I guess that's been around for a while. What's the name? Butler Butler technology So I he hasn't had time to pursue it and you know, but I don't know if it's worth You know, probably somebody should have a conversation first and then maybe have them come in and talk but The email really is an issue as far as you know with for a lot of people and So I think that's something we really need to pursue Well, and I think it's the worst at the very least For 14 people to use email is ridiculous to set it up a lot to me. I mean Unless there's something in I I mean somehow there must be something involved in it, but I don't understand like It's more complicated than it should be to make sure that all the old emails are archived. I don't know I Don't either and I'm not an IT person I'm sorry. What I'm not an IT person. So neither am I but I've had a lot of experience dealing with these people over the years Well, maybe you and I should meet with them would that make sense Well, we can reach out to them I guess and tell them the situation Yeah Okay, I mean they're gonna want to they're gonna want to come in and see what we have and how it's set up now and all Well, if you recall the last time we tried to entertain doing business with somebody else We kind of had our back held against the wall Remember when this was I don't know back Having somebody install a laptop or something like that. We couldn't get passwords. We couldn't get anything like that Right, so I don't know how How we want to approach this Well, we can start with as much as it's much as it's urgent. It's not an emergency. No, it's no, I would suggest I mean, I am more than happy to have a conversation with Ruben and say we need to understand why this is so much because it seems very high to us and You know we're concerned enough that we're considering getting a quote from somebody else and see what he says Well, do you want to start there? I mean at least that's something right? And then it doesn't hurt to get a quote anyways even no matter what it came No, it doesn't but if there's gonna be some kind of hold up like Ruben won't support our server You know, you know, you know, that's the problem with all this stuff is You know, we don't want him to say well, then I'm you know, I'm done, you know But let me see what he says. I'll call them. Okay, could you email me a copy of that quote? Of the quote that he gave us. Yeah. Yeah, you already did Would you do it again? So I don't have to search on my stuff for yeah, if it's easy for you if it's not Don't I don't think I have anything else So Jeff you're right on time We've already had the treasure support Actually, we're six minutes early. I know right on time six minutes early. So you should have gotten my the calls seven for the month rip 72 about average Had lips just out on Hunger map trail Car versus deer. It is that time of year where deer are In love and don't care about cars. So watch out A paraphrase with the day of tea puts on your signs Zia Zee non-road. There was a flood-solone heart and detector Two-car accident 89 Portal road. We had a stolen car Go off the road into a tree We did call Worcester because the way the call came across it sounded like way worse than it was when we got there so We didn't actually need them but because of the tone of the call we made the decision Get them on the way It's easier to do that way We had another two-car Accent on 89 followed by a car fire further up in the traffic So we had a we're just finishing with the first scene get the car fire We had to zip up and get into all the traffic and it ended up being nothing by the time we got there For training did ventilation vertical ventilation chain saw safety and operation. So had to cut into to a building for ventilation Work night was testing out the the dry hydrogen a three mile bridge and We finally got the new valves on engine six between them getting them and them having the time to get them So now in sixes it was working. It was okay, but the valves Were damaged so we need to replace them anyway, so It's all set now. Those are water valves, right? Yeah for the for sending water out And I got a reminder from my phone the other day that we've had that truck for nine years And that's the first real major thing and it's not that's more on maintenance Major New rescue so that's the exciting part I talked to I've been talking back and forth with the assistant chief up there, and he thought you might have it available Sunday Eric's gonna be out of town till Monday evening so Text the family's gonna get back to you tonight So Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday work gives them a little bit more time to strip out there the stuff off it What had happened is they got lettered. They used the wrong letter Format so it had to be redone that got delayed so they Finally got your new truck had to get loaded right. Yeah. Yeah, they're new pickup truck versus and So there were next week is when we're we're looking at doing it So that's why I wanted to give the heads up get the check done So we don't have to have a special thing right now. I appreciate that And as far as fast God we had 17 as of yesterday had 17 total calls 11 were medical only So the EMS that's for the year or for the month. That's for the month. Yeah, right We're up one from last month on the Fast-quad calls. I think we're up one from last month on the fire department calls to you So what do we have to do to put that truck in service for us? Well, use a select board really doesn't have to do anything And Sarah it'll have to get registered That's then no, I understand that but I mean in terms of equipment and we'll have to put our radio in it Yeah, the only thing we will take the radio out of our current rescue and put that in it I Don't think the only thing that we would have to actually pay for right now is getting Middle sex on it because it already has fire department. I Don't envision that being very expensive. We just have to find the place that does it because The guy down on three mile bridge road is not open right now for obvious reasons You're talking about Peter Ainsworth partner Peter Ainsworth. Yeah. Yeah, he is open Just on the front porch for me the day said he wasn't he said he was Was okay, I misread it. Oh, he was okay because that's who we've had he said he's still rebuilding but he's open. Yeah All right, my bad. I read it to mess down there, but he's open So that's the only thing that and we don't really have to have that to make it take it out on Let's just think north or a park help us out But I mean obviously swapping stuff from our rescue under that There's not a whole lot of teaching how to drive it because it's it's a truck There are a couple little it does the You do it'll either do an automatic regeneration or you do a manual generation What they do up in North Hyde Park is every once a month, so they're working I they do a manual regeneration. So it doesn't good idea auto generation while you're on a call, right? So we'll set up that kind of thing Turn learn to turn out learn how to turn on the generator for it. It's flipping a switch where that is You know just getting everybody familiar with it Drive it forward back it up. See how it breaks Good doesn't doesn't need I mean eventually we're gonna as we start to grow We as the town starts to grow will look at adding other pieces of equipment to it But now we've got hydraulic tools Not this month last month's we we broke apart a car up at bull box So people get to learn how to use that first tool So now we now Waterbury has it we have it. I'll clear has it. So the whole stretch now is covered right which Considering some of the accidents we've been getting And the plan is to sell the old rescue right for whatever we can get out of it So how much are you wanting to pay for it to run on the track? Fifty bucks. It's got a destruction derby. It's got a big black. That's what somebody on the department was It's got a big black Chevy so Somebody want somebody want some amount of money. I mean it isn't worth a lot of money But it's it's worth something to somebody Almost new tires Mileage-wise But yeah, that's our we want to sell that as soon as possible. Yeah We don't want it sitting in the snow bank over the winter. No, right fortunately. There's no There is no water pump burning like that. So if it is outside, we don't have to worry about freezing, right? But it's just you know, then it won't start then you don't move it then, you know issues Okay, any questions anyone Yeah, the check is in the orders, but I'm not signing it until comes time that they need it Right because I don't want the sign checks it floating around. Yeah, I don't blame you. That's fine And as soon as I get the word on They should have a sale on their end they should have a sale agreement Mm-hmm Yeah, yeah, because we'll need the mileage and the odometer reading all of that to register it Yeah, and you'll put it on the insurance and then we'll put it on the insurance. Yeah Because I gave you have this I have the VIN. Yeah, but And I'm sure the mileage probably didn't change a whole heck of a lot from Yeah, no, we'll just need an updated one To register it. Yeah, the plan is for both Okay If you need somebody else to run you out there, I'm around next week. So potentially drive you up there too and What was my other question? Couldn't have been important. Thank you. Yep and our response numbers are up again They're over one and a half average per response Personal response. So people are coming out one. Good. That's good Our response number average response numbers People responding to call Her up, which is Oh I know what it was heating system at the fire department We had a scheme where maybe we were going to get that paid for Well, we're sorry we're signing that tonight and I'm and then I think she's going to schedule the walkthrough is what she's doing She's scheduling a site evaluation so so All I'm saying is yeah winter could be here anytime. I know and I'm telling you I don't know like if they're going to pay for it And you know all I'm saying is that they are doing a site visit They know that you have a broken system Well, it's functioning at the moment it is. Yeah, I just checked it yesterday. Okay, and nothing was leaking So, yeah, I mean I basically said, you know Because time is of essence if there's any way that you know, we can get them in like I think the fire department should be done first Before the town hall and then they give us an assessment and maybe before we get the grant we if we go and purchase the assessment Recommendations then we can get reimbursed for it So my question and you probably don't know the answer to this but something to the person doing the assessment is If we went to an electrical system. Yeah We're going to need to upgrade our generating system and I think all of that gets looked at Okay, I just want to make sure that gets looked at because it's going to be a huge change Well, and they also may have it be where you know, it's like a backup system The electric system is like you use the electric system when it's not super cold and you have a backup Efficiency boilers like that. Yeah, possibly but they but they have money for it. I mean, that's the That's the part of this Well the Merp the Merp Grant the 500,000 has money to upgrade all this stuff So Someone from like buildings and grounds or something like that. They are hiring some contractors to do it the grant is through I think Buildings and grounds that who it's from General service. Yeah Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services So they hire they're hiring some contractors to come and just do this for all the municipal buildings that have applied to do it I Okay, well Certainly pursue other avenues Well, we already have we already have the quote right yeah, we have a quote That was from last year though, wasn't it or the spring this spring Last What I'm what I'm concerned about is Especially with all the flood work that is getting done if we call it tomorrow and said, okay, we want this new thing They're gonna say well, we'll see at the end of February or March or whatever. So the question is I Just I just don't know how to handle that because it's not like we're gonna get somebody in then or hurry to do it now If we have to if we have to we can always get temporary heat in there I mean you can rent those things, but I hate to do that. That's just like throwing money down the rat hole See you haven't you you basically don't know I'm not trying to I don't know pin you down It's just I know I mean I've been in contact with Sam lash and she's like, you know, like they're they this is all unknown to them Right, so they're they're building the ship as it's sailing is literally what's happening And so they can't promise me anything even with the grant though that that isn't gonna happen like overnight No, which is why I said why we need to hear I guess is the question the question for me is I Think we'd be able to spend that 500,000 without any problem at all, right? I would think we would yes So as long as that's the case the question is do we care about like in our town plan we talk about like Doing things with our municipal buildings that That actually improve or go away from decarbonate. I mean that are decarbonate decarbonizing heat systems. So Regardless Do we even if we have no grant funding and no possibility that's what we want to do is put in an oil burner Probably not or gas, you know or gas or do we want to have it well That's your backup and you have that and you have something else that that heats it during all I'm all I'm saying is most of the time I think With the uncertainty of the murk we need to go ahead and to go ahead I would suggest we get somebody down there who can do an evaluation and suggest to us what would be Solution yeah, that's what this is going to happen. This is we're having that happen And if that's signed and I give it in tomorrow They might be scheduling this soon. Yes. Okay. All right. I get it And that's the whole point of this is no, no, I get it. I'm just saying I'm just saying Yeah, I'm just saying I'm worried that getting the work done is going to be a challenge no matter what we do Getting the work done anywhere like none of these flooded homes are getting work done because there's nobody to do it, right? I mean, there's no there's no workers. There's no this or that and so yes, it probably will be a waiting list And we can buy space eaters. I'll buy you a space heater caps on buying space heaters for people Lots of them. Yes Yeah, but you can get you can I mean if it push comes to shove You can get one of those things that they bring in on a trailer and put a big Tube in your window and blow heat in there like crazy. It isn't cheap, but it works It's not like we're gonna let the building freeze Well, we're those years. Yeah, right, right, right, but I'm just saying Maybe the system. I'll just keep working Some hope that that's the case Well, we just get you just don't know I mean If we're gonna make some kind of a change in terms of how we heat this building This is the time to like it take a look at it and make a decision about it So I would like to I agree with Liz I would I think it's a good thing to do that it conforms with our town plan and all that but we can't Have it be that it means We're stuck for a long time so We'll play it by ear and keep us posted it starts to drip. Let me know Anything else for the fire department? Okay Thank you gentlemen All right, and I meant what I said if I can Me drive you up there. I can do it Okay, I'm pretty good at checking trucks, too Just in case anyway, I'm I can be the backup That's fine Okay Other business consideration of a FEMA buyout for 15 lower sunny Brook Road owned by Kyle Weaver and Renee Water action likely You would you like to tell us the story sorry you want to tell us a story about it Yes, this is there from Kyle and Renee live at bottom of lower Sunnay Brook Road, and they were Severely they're in the flood plain and they're severely Depacted by the flood and so they're seeking a buyout This just is the same like all the other ones. Is it okay to go through this product as the board agree? Just take a little vote on that, and then we're done And remind me which one of these might have fallen off there is there two places to sign on there Okay, there's no one in here simple. I'll find it. Well, it doesn't it's not clear It's not clear here. I think I can always bring it back here. I'm gonna give you that Here's my move that we are the Pentagon here the grantee is there a motion is there a motion to approve? That we approve the application for the buyout there and Grantee Okay, it's been moved in seconded to approve the buyout all in favor. Hi. Please move any opposed. Yep Thank you I mean, I guess I keep saying this You know if we have 15 buyouts this is gonna be expensive For us as taxpayers because all these houses are not gonna be replaced Not that I want these people living in a flooded house But I just think that you know, we're just like yeah sure. Let's do a buyout and like, you know, look at Niagara Falls Well, you know, like there's a three mile island isn't it through my island that was by Niagara Falls? Okay, well, what's there some sort of? Chemical still Everybody sells and then your your town disappears. Well, that's why these go before the board, but you know, right Well, our number one alternative is to say to people that Whatever Grant money we get to pay for this is fine, but they're gonna have to pay for the balance We're not gonna guarantee them. We're gonna pay for the balance Yeah, losing a tax base like we've got 20 houses that if they all got approved That's thousands of dollars in taxes that we're not collecting that are gonna end up being reverted back to us and Correct, but But but but what are those houses worse now? We're gonna obey the taxes on most of them and continue to obey them because they're Not gonna be repaired No, we're not what don't we have don't we have applications for abatements? Yes, you and and that is something that we have three applications for abatements and that's for the board of abatement to decide So remember there's no guarantee that's something for the whole no, I understand I understand and those people to out of those Three abatements the people are living in those homes. So I mean, there's some things to consider there No, no, no, I I get it. We have we got to go through the we got to go through the process But I don't say I don't see how we can say to these people We won't allow them to go for it probably Right, that's all I get it. I get it We need people to few more people to build some fancy houses up on the hill Can I just go back to the treasurer's report? Sure. Can we Okay, can we just finish this first since we're talking about this and then I would be glad to have you go back to the Treasurer's report. I thought we approved it So the line where I sign here is sub-grantees authorized agent, right? Yes, okay. I'm good. Thank you. Okay. Let's This is this the pile of the FEMA No, there's it was the one there's a small pile with about five hundred thousand dollars worth That was where you gave me permission to write up to one point. Yes, okay and that was that one then in Tonight's orders with other bills is mixed in Okay, the reason that I'm asking is because this pile here That's five sixty seven two seventy nine I don't know if it matters, but the one with the Jason Merrill's where the numbers been adjusted is over here The edit list is adjusted, but the payment is not we paid two checks We may pay two invoices to Jason On that one and then tonight's we release the other two or three Okay, so I shouldn't care that some of the ones that are here Or the edit list. Well, I don't know what I'm looking at. I guess I'm looking at the edit list Okay, this is the edit list is everything that's open. Okay, so we only wrote a check For two of them if you look at the warrant, yes, I saw it. Yes, that's then that's over here But my question is why is there a difference and why doesn't it show up on the invoice itself? because on the when we got copies of all the invoices we were charged sales tax So we deducted all sales tax from his invoices okay, so I I don't know about you, but if I were FEMA I might want that somewhere written on here if I were going through this We did write it on our copies you went on your copies Okay, all right, because it just all it shows is a different amount and paid and signed Oh, she didn't cross out tax on it or something doesn't show tax. It doesn't show It was yet the bill itself doesn't because it was on the back It was the backup from the vendors it just doesn't explain that on there That's all but I if he was not looking at this note. They're looking at our backup. Okay, do you mind if I just write that on here? Just here. Okay, right it on there. So this is less sales tax Welch Park update I Finally can report real progress Carl and I went over and met with Chris at Grenier land company and He contacted the Water resources people and act 250 and they have a simple path for us to make Welch Park go away and adopt Our amended agreement or whatever it is which is going to kill Welch Park the first step in that which seems kind of strange to me is that we need to get the What it's called Yes, the wastewater permit for Welch Park, which is the road that we are going to take over Transferred to the town and I asked the question. I said why are we transferring that permit to the town? Why aren't we just adding that road when we? accept the road To our permit and they said well you want to do that away with this now The way to do this is Do this first and that's what we recommend anyway because it's cleaner and it's a better record So what they're asking us to do is sign an agreement which transfers the Welch Park? water permit To the town and they're charging us two hundred and forty dollars to do that But I would The Welch Park water you're talking about the Engineering's that must be done on the road to prevent water from going in. Yes We're not talking about wastewater permit, right? We're talking about the This is storm water So the town we have we have and correct me if I'm wrong road people We have a blanket permit for all our town roads Yeah, so What will happen is eventually that road will get added to our blanket permit But they can't do it now because we haven't accepted the road yet So temporarily for some short period of time that road is going to be a private road From the point of view of this permit Owned by the town that's the best way I can explain it Um So who pays for the cost of this term at the town We don't work or do we put it out to all the people that are trying to dissolve out of no I would say what's part should pay for this? No, this is part of the dissolution So it gets sent out to the all people. Yeah And just like Grenier's bill will be and the attorney's bill will that's what I want to know Share So the other part of this process, which was a little confusing and I may have dodged it, but they wanted Chris at Grenier's Wanted me to say that the town would accept the road and I said I can't do that There's a process. We have to go through, you know public hearing blah blah blah all the stuff. I Guess I and this is what I said to him, but I'm not going to do it unless we agree to do it I said if they need some kind of a letter I will say The town is going to engage in the process to take over the road But I can't promise you that ultimately we will take over the road till we do That makes sense to everyone I'm hoping I'm hoping I've dodged that and they've decided they don't need the letter but We've got people actively working on this talking to act 250 talking to All the other folks and it really is good. I mean they really jump right on it, which is great So how how would that be classified on our roads? Pride it's a private road that we own that we the town Would not be like a class 3 or no no no no because we haven't accepted. We haven't accepted it as a town road No, but when we do will it be a classified as one of our yes, and we'll get state a Yeah, it'll be just like any other road. Yes Sure go for it Just just what we need is a public hearing on that on that road during budget season, but yeah I'm sorry what the process is No, I've not asked I've not asked the lawyer what the process is to accept the rub But I presume we follow the state statute. The good news is it's survey All right, I mean if we need to we should ask our town attorney what the process is I got Just Yes, that's what I'm suggesting you get to it if you get to a roadblock stop So what I am proposing is that we sign this application which looks fine Okay signature of permatee or authorized representative I Would think that would probably be me so what we need to do is I think have a motion to approve submitting an application to take over the Water permit for I don't know what's that road called Wells Park Drive. I don't know what it's called That's how the fire department addresses their mail. I think let me see if it says it on your just as soon as Peter gets It's called here the name of the project is the Welch Park access road So the motion is going to say we take over the water permit for the Welch Park and service water permit. Yes for the Welch Park Yep Go for it. I just did okay, and I'll second that okay It's been moved and seconded to sign and return this application for transfer of storm water permits all those in favor I Any opposed? Okay So Sarah she said you can scan this back to her her name's right on this stuff Sarah Hannah damn Yep, lookie-dokie Brief update on rich road buyout Just off the charts and then what was like $13,000 $13,500 and the Consultant clear plate point associates that's handling this asbestos end said they won't be available to get into rich road until Thanksgiving and Mike Hopwood who has the who has a demo contract is waiting to hear from them So as soon as they're done it should take them about five days Then hopefully we'll get that demo done in December, but it is past our November deadline second extension So we're asking for another extension Okie-dokie as we as often happens if anything that is skin or related Thank you very much, and that's just let you know See you later. Huh? A pleasure You tomorrow right Liz what murph? So this is the agreement that Has the state come in and do a level-two energy assessment and Derinda's already provided the information for that what it says Municipals responsibilities for the assessment So all of this is taken care of and they have all this and if they need anything else They'll just call me and I'll call you but so basically I think once we get this signed they're gonna schedule They're gonna start schedule perfect Any any questions about this anyone? And it's just we got approved for just the two locations We tried the town the town shed too, but they didn't approve that because I just don't have the capacity Their motion I'll move that we sign it Okay The murph energy what is it called? Then MOA it's an MOA with the Vermont Department of Buildings of General Services in the town of middle sex Provision of municipal energy assessment services under the municipal energy resilience program Murph So it's a moved in second at all in favor aye any opposed Yeah, I don't think we technically had to I was about to just sign it and send it away, but I thought it'd be good to be transparent Yeah, why don't you Actually you know what I'll do I'll just scan it on my phone right now and you can have that and then I'll send it to her Yeah, do you have a scanner and you can email it to me Sarah, and then I'll just email it to her and I'll put it in my files That's probably the easiest thing Thank you for doing that What's this thing to end up for for that for Nick dash for mine something to do with Richard and Zach French. Yeah, they're check bounced They're check but their payment bounced for their taxes Well, and so that the way that works, it's through the portal So we automatically get paid, but then when they don't get their money, they take it back out We have to pay them back through the portal We have a third party that handles all of our Shake our payments that are done a CH So they automatically pay us when it's processed, but then it didn't clear so now they're tagging us back So we have to pay them back that portion Well, thank you. Nothing's ever easy And we're working away on the orders here and other than that. Is there any other there's a question for Liz Yes, sir probably If we're going to put in heat Of some sort The fire station. Yeah One one would we put solar? Should we be thinking about that? Yeah, that's why that's probably an energy Energy committee question because the IRA does have stuff coming down for Solar like there's lots of things coming down the pike That now is the time to take advantage of but that would be a question for Lowry. Okay I'm sure he'd love to talk to you about it But speaking of which and because I don't I I don't want to You You know put off for too long the conversations about next steps for the town hall So basically we need to come up with around 42,000 dollars If we and I think it's more about a process So and I wish I had more people here like Randy and so I don't want to go into too much conversation about it tonight, but But there's There's a couple ways it can it can happen it can happen that We just ask the town for a bond with what we have in front of us now, which isn't that much but it's It's Dave McGeeta's suggestion that we actually do the next phase the The Design phase this was just a you know basic design. This wasn't the real design, right? And to do a design phase of it and present that to the town But we've got to come up with 43,000 but we have to come up with 43,000 so I mean to me I'm like if we're spending another 43,000 on this we have to be serious right this isn't and We have to sort of assume that the town is going to approve this which they might not and So I'm more of the mindset is that we ask for the bond and then we use the bond money to pay for it If people approve it because if they don't approve it, that's the end I Agree with that. I think I think if we had a Little bit of a fluffed-up version of the presentation that we had that's what the town people need to say They don't need a detailed design, I Don't think now if we're not if there's the potential that they're not good that the town's not going to pass it I mean who knows well, I think I think I think they will but you know you're right I hate to I hate to flush $44,000 down the drain me too and then have the town not approve it And we're out the $44,000 in regular in regular times. That would be a huge chunk of money for us. Are we out the 28,000 do we get the grant where we we we have the grant I have to Every time I've said to Jenny I want to draw down the rest. She's like it's a little early Usually you did people don't do it this early, but I think she just doesn't quite fully understand that We Did things a little sooner than other people and so she's like you can but so I have to actually sit down with her like On a zoom or something because there are parts of this process that are not going to get covered by this because I Misunderstood and we shouldn't have done anything Until but we had already started the process. So this was we'd started the process We got the grant and we held off as much as we could and So really anything that happened March 1st and later we can count towards the grant by anything that happened in February In January, which wasn't that much can't it's like $5,000 or something like that And that's where we use the ARPA money to pay for the rest of it And we've already paid for it. It's now it's a matter of getting reimbursed. We paid all our bills We just have to get reimbursed with this grant. Yeah, so So anyway, I need to follow up with Jenny on that but she's like usually the second one doesn't come till January and the third one comes like in the spring But I'm good. I'm just gonna go ahead and do it anyway but the question is Should we should Dave and Sandy and I sit down and talk about next steps for Talking to the bond bank Because we have to talk to them before we can do anything because if we want to get this on a March ballot I know this isn't ideal, but this is the only time Well, we could have a special meeting but I hate to do that, but I but you get more voters. Oh, no, I agree Yes, I agree to has a question the question I have is and this is really a question for the for the architect is Without doing and I know this is gonna be Dave's Makeda's concern is Without doing the next step The numbers are gonna be I'm gonna use an expression that my mother always used to use Lucy goosey Everybody understands what that means. It's gonna be a vague estimate of What the cost is gonna be and it is a little dangerous to go out for a bond when We're using Estimated numbers Yes, and It's also But he did say the bond man said like you can sort of you know Ask for the bond and not actually take it out so you can get approved for a bond Up to a certain amount of money so the town can say like yes We agreed to 1.5, but we may only take out 1 million. Yeah, but the town right but the town has to approve I mean we can ultimately decide how much we take out But we can't take out any more than the voters who approved right So we've got to build a little pack in that Tendency whatever you want to call it. I mean I think Could I just yeah before we go any further? Did you do you have a rough idea of where we are with the Arba money at this point in time? Yeah, we've got about $315,000 But everybody spent that 12 ways of Sunday Well, I'm just saying I'm just saying because one of the options about this is Is to review our you know our our hit list for the Arpa money and agree that we're gonna pay for that with the Arpa money Which means we're not gonna pay for something else we wanted to do, but I also still have this like Worry that like I mean we are if we're spending 45,000 or 42,000 on a design study We're committing this you're not that's like throwing money out We're committing to this and there's a chance that the town will not vote for it Okay, all I go back to is you know when we had the same Discussion with I think I was involved in three renovations of the school right right Everything in this time. Yes. It's basically I realize that but I just think No, I don't disagree with you I hate to think yeah, whether it's whether it's Arpa money or somehow our own funds from some other place I hate to use that money and then have it be wasted now. I don't think it's really being wasted because Whether we do this proposal for the town hall or not We need to do renovations to the town hall. So the worst case would be we Do less and spend less. Yeah We have to you know and we have to have another vote and the bond people may recommend like oh, no You don't do it that way. You really do have to go out and have something more concrete and Dave may recommend that too and just be I mean because I'm not the person to be making that Decision of what is the best the next? I think one of the next steps in this is to get in touch with the bond people and say we're trying to figure out How to do this and whether we need to go ahead and have a more developed design or whether the information we have is adequate for us To go for this bond and if they say Yeah I'm confused here. Are you going to want to go out and ask for the bond for 42,000 for the whole amount? So I think you don't need a detailed project for this All you've got to do is because they're not letting you the money right there and then I think to Liz's right You ask the question of the taxpayers. Do you want to spend up to? You know Two and a half million dollars to renovate the town hall whatever number you want to put on it The other problem would be We have a big unknown here right now as to what we're going to be on the hook We might have to bond for our portion of this FEMA stuff So until we have some knowledge that says well in addition to this two and a half million here We need another half a million to cover FEMA and I think that's a little much You know, I totally agree. So We need to have all of our answers first before we even make a decision as to whether you're gonna ask the town for that money We don't have to have a concrete plan right now I don't think so either all you've got to do is say are you willing to spend this? Here's the conceptual design or whatever we're gonna And here are the funding sources that will reduce the amount that we have to borrow right? And we'll have and we'll have before we have to decide Whether we're gonna request for a FEMA bond or a town hall bond or whatever it is We're gonna have a lot more information by the time we need to make that decision So it's not like we're making it right now, right? And as far as forty thousand dollars I mean you could go out and just take a bank one-year note or whatever to pay for that if you had to or yeah, you know But I think that I think number right, but are we wasting the forty four thousand dollars if we don't ultimately go ahead and In some sense we might be but that gives us a lot of good guidance About is going to give us a lot of good guidance about the cost of different things and what we you know If we have to slice and dice and reduce the project because the voters think it's too much That'll be part of the process. I think we should see Hopefully the state will step forward in the next Wow 60 days and tell us what they're chipping in towards this flood stuff You know before we make a decision so so there's a just to clarify for myself that the towns are responsible for X percentage of Like 10% or something 25 25 right now, but they're there they are now saying That they're thinking it's going to be 10, but it's got to go through the legislative gotta go through So right and then the state may possibly pony up that money, which is really us, right? Yeah, go ahead Sorry So just to go through the election procedures for a bond, you know We have it's got to be by it's got to be a paper ballot And I think it would probably be on the exact same ballot that you would have the I gotta check this that you would have the town officers so The with the advantage it with with early voting think think when we did bonds before it was a separate ballot Well, maybe you're right on the school bonds. I think it was School vote we haven't we don't we don't know vote. Yeah, but it wasn't on the it wasn't on the overall school Right, that was actually I was in that was part of something that was in that was after town meeting They had those bond votes those were separate from town meeting So May tell us that too No, you mean you gotta it's you need a 40 not more than 30 not fewer than 45 It's got to be advertised You know three consecutive Tuesdays before the vote and you have to have a public hearing about it I mean there's a whole sorts of things with bonds But the reason why you're remembering that Peter is not being on the ballot is because those bond votes took place in April I But the point of trying to say is that if it's not going to be something that people are going to talk about a town meeting And then raise their hands or else do a paper ballot at town meeting because people vote early now Right, so they get a vote for town the Public getting participation in the public hearing so that the phone and getting the information out to the voters So they understand what it is. I know we're just looking you may you may actually want to have a special vote I'm just saying that it's going to be it's going to be fast here faster than you know, I know I know and That means I have to like by December We should be already if you're planning on doing this, you know, it would be something to start like right now Yeah Well, I mean Calling the guy that he said to call right the council right the count the bond counts But they're what all the bond cares about is exactly right They don't care about what the design is no, they're not going to make a Substantial they all they care about is did you follow the process right a bond vote was the vote legitimate? Was it held correctly? Was it deemed and then then only they care about the process if the if the town if the bond Process does follows the state statute Then and the voters agree then the bond then they'll give you a bond But they're not going to they don't care about the design when we find out for the fire station We didn't have to present them with anything that I recall other than this is Yeah, I don't remember on the sky I remember the fire station I remember the school because I screwed up that bond I was in the job all of six weeks and they screwed it up Well, the one that we asked for four million And then the people came back and gave them three and a half and then they overspent I think so. Yeah, they defeated the first time that they came back Was that a renovation that was it the addition No, I know I said that when you walk into school to the left that's the addition I know it's a whole thing they've gutted it and they added they put in the shower and they put Oh, right, you know it happened after I left, right? I think it happened after I got it was 2013 2014. Yeah Okay, so anyway, I just if this is weighing on me because I know it's time is of essence and And I don't you know want to just do things without consulting people first and We'd have to impeach you So Okay, you know both of you are up to re-election. I know He is yeah, yes, I thought I was up last year, but I'm up this year I'm thinking about it When when it came out the other day that I've been on the select board for 30 years. I thought you know That's all maybe that's long enough Yeah, what it's more than 30 years for you look. Well, I think I've been chairman for 30 years You've been chairman for 30 years. Yes, I Was planning to retire But like I feel like with this whole Merp thing and being a town person like it helps to have that Well, I'm saying that I'm just bringing this up because you know, you guys are talking about some big Items here going forward. I know I can't yeah, I don't feel like I can leave Do you want me to leave no No, no, well, I'm talking about me leave and Well, you know, I was about to say I was like for the record We have the best town clerk and the best town treasurer But I mean that because when you see what goes on in the other towns, you guys are so organized Oh my god, and so good at what you do and I'm sorry I don't mean to like say oh you guys like to so that you don't quit But you have to realize that you are you know, don't lose right now. We're looking at we're looking at Di-list that's out of control is this theme. It doesn't break us. Nothing will break it I know please let us know because I am you know town reports need to be dedicated. I know they're I know they're I know They're deadlines I'm you know ideally Ideally gonna run again what I've always planned to do is at some point in time not tomorrow I would resign Let the select board appoint somebody and then let them run for office. So you would just That's what I don't like you should not do that. I think that's a terrible idea Let's not bring this into the select board meeting. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Let's uh So so what you got I will probably I will probably I will probably run I have not adjourned the meeting up It's Liz if you've got direction what you're gonna are we just gonna table this for a bit or what? Yeah, let's put it on for next let's put it on for the next agenda And I think I will start doing so I will just get in touch with the council people to just make sure that I understand what Yeah, I think we need to do right and then and then I will talk with Dave Megida again to understand, you know Why we would necessarily want to do a study first Yeah, no no no this I mean but but you're saying we would we do have to in order to have it on the bond We would have to have some presentation There's there's another there will be I believe there will be a public hearing requirement. Yeah. Yeah, but and but the point Is that people vote early now and we're as soon as those ballots are available. It's a little different in town, right? But there's technically supposed to be available 45 days. It doesn't To us. Yeah, you can flicks with other statutes, but usually we have the ballots available Let's say the the first or second week of February So what's coming right people will be able to vote even during the advertising process even during the hearing process They'll be able to vote. Yeah, that's paper. I know I mean because alternatively, but it this this just takes like I think I think that Voting for the bond is important to do now because then you get it over with because then you know that you have the funds available And because he said it will be it's just there like there's no expiration date Which didn't make quite sense to me, but I were going to make a suggestion I would say save your presentation for town meeting then have a bond It's not school vacation like may or something have a special bond bond vote then then you can have a big discussion at Town meeting raise awareness Then we go through the process of the public of a bond vote and then you have a special Bond vote sure, but when do we have that discussion at the end of town meeting? Yeah, I have it a non-binding resolution We've had on before you might be able to get a consensus. So well, you can't you got a hundred and fifty people out of the town That's gonna make that consensus No, I I don't doubt that You know, it's important to have a good spot For all concerned to work But yeah, when do we and I think you've mentioned something about when do you or when does the town? We haven't voted on that. This is the way we're gonna go yet No, no vote the select court has moved but what about you know, I hate to bring that up But what about the town garage? I mean that is so bad Okay, so in this in this design by VIA It was just to do this was there ever any I Can't remember there kind of was I know you're saying to have like some sort of combined thing Well selling the place is sort of Understanding if you are going with the bill no, yeah, right, right, right? Just you know just for talking purposes Yeah, yeah, so that was I wasn't there Yeah, was it well, it wasn't in there. I don't believe selling It was in their calculation. What they said build new they said they added they added the Okay, all right And it also didn't yeah, they didn't put a number in there for what we could get for the town hall Yeah, but but I think that it also Building new took it away from the center, which was not in the town plan the town plan And wasn't the bigger part being that this Merck thing only applied to Upgrading so the 500 you would lose out on the 500,000 And you would put towards because that wouldn't go towards the new building a new building would require like All bond and maybe a little fundraising on the side, but there wouldn't be grants That I mean there might be like grants to get like a he might be other or something like other energy grants I think they were yeah, and they're they're like low-interest energy loans and things like that I Mean what I keep hearing is there is money coming down the pipeline all kinds of money So I don't know to what extent that's true but You know we need to be thinking about that like I think about that garage all the time it's horrible and Renovating it. I don't think is the answer needs to be bulldozed. I need to be bulldozed Well, I mean yeah, I mean that's you guys it's true I mean and this is what happens when we just I mean nobody ever wants to build you Always put things off everybody does everyone. That's just the nature of it. No one wants to You know except for the schools. They don't put anything on well. I mean but comment But they do get more funds right money from the education board and stuff from the state Not for construction. No, they probably got some grants. They did well, but they did. Oh, there used to be that match Paul has his hand up. Paul's iPhone Paul guys just wanted a gross 10 cents in about the town garage. We had done and Sarah would have to find that he had a Feasibility study done when we wanted to look at insulating the town garage So on the renovation and unfortunately adding insulation to that would mean that the snow Would not melt off I remember that just like the school That was the same at the school same as a school It's a vicious circle, but I mean that was meant to be that was meant to be like a 15 or 20 year building What it's been there 40 years. I Can't remember. I can't remember any other 35. Anyways, I know well didn't the old fire station used to be the old town garage No, the town. Yeah, no that one in front. Yes. Yeah. Yes, that was the old town garage But yeah, do you think our current garage is sad? Look at that thing, but it hasn't collapsed yet And it keeps a fire truck in a greater Knock on wood Well, and honestly the only reason not the only reason but now if there's an if there's ever a time to do the renovations On the town hall it would be now Because of the murmur. I don't doubt you know that I mean it And and if you're looking at the town garage if it's really not a renovation situation Which it sounds like it's not for multiple reasons and you put the town hall as the priority to take advantage of this funding and While we're doing this we'll meet in the town garage Well, I want to know where Sarah's gonna go when this is happening. I think you're gonna go that was a question came up I think you're gonna go in the fire department probably Okay, she's gonna move to portrait so Dorinda's gonna go to the fire That's a pretty snazzy trailer that the Northfield Bank has to have their Montpelier Bank That's what most town clerks do is you drag a trailer up and I mean the question is always the ball What do you do about the ball? What do you do about all that those records? Well, I think what you do is keep the ball sealed up and when you need to go in there and get something you go in there Sure Why not I go the ball ten times a day Twenty times a day Trailers conveniently parked right out here in the parking lot. You just try right over. I don't know I don't know those vault records got digitized not all of them, but it did a lot We're back to 2000 so if you do a 40 years you have to do a 40 year search for the most for Liant, but other people go back all the time So do you get fewer people now because that they can now just go online? Yep, but they pass. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Diana guy in here today researching a house that you know It's actually on the cusp 1976 and what happened to the digit That project it was just been put on hold because of COVID and everything Well, you know right now, I don't know what happened to it We had some bids some people put in and out of Avenue, you know, it's right now. It's actually Not that pressing. We still have since we still have to keep the paper copies by law We can't get rid of the books. They can't digitize and get rid of the books There's almost that not that much of an incentive to do it. We've now got you know It's good chunk of land records online. So those those are I guess the only incentive would be that if we are Doing a renovation and you can't get into the vault, you know, you can look it up online Right, that's that would be so in all seriousness. What have other towns done? Do you know like more town of those guys? I don't know. I'll check around. I mean, I think I do have I do have a beautiful vault We still need to be we still need access to it. I don't know I mean, it's something that it won't take me to because I have the old Vermont National Bank Building That's a hell of a vault in there. Oh, I think they're using it as a wash closet or work before the flood anyway All right, it's we we've got a we've got a figure at that. Oh, that's about probably What it's 620 Yeah What Well, there's the what is now the TD back on the corner and then the Vermont National Bank one with the clock No, no, no the clock belongs to the Chittenden Bank. Oh, that's why I was the Chittenden. Yeah But I think I have 800 safe deposit boxes if you need one Anyway, anyways, okay, we can adjourn unless there's any other business