 town school district meeting this is not as we would normally have a free town meeting this is a town meeting but our votes will will matter tonight and the agenda is has three articles but we should begin with our salute to the flag I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands nomination under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. As usual I will read the article and then someone would move it and second it we can discuss it and then we can vote on it and article one says shelled the voters. Do I need to make a motion to elect you for moderator? No my term is for the year. That's correct, that's right. But if you wanted to replace me. I forgot it was for a year, perfect. All right article one shelled the voters of the Berlin school district approved the grant of an option agreement from the Berlin school district to the town of Berlin which gives the town of Berlin the right to purchase the real estate upon which the Berlin elementary school is currently located from the Berlin school district or its successors in interest for the purchase price of one dollar in the event the property is no longer used for educational purposes. Move the question. So thank you all for being here. So when we met with the select board there were a few options out there on how to best to protect our land in our building here in Berlin with a new forest merger that's happening. And there are many pieces of these easements that are already protected in Act 46 but with the articles of agreement they can be changed in future years by the new merged board of which there's only two members from Berlin on that board. So we felt it best to have another layer of protection in the best way that the state would allow us which was not many options. So we took advantage of the options that we did have with the easements to have another layer of security that we could possibly have for our building and our land here in Berlin. So we wanted to protect that the town would have the first right to use this little dollar to buy back the land from the WCUUSD board in the event that there's not a school here in the future. Questions for Vera or comments? Yes. You feel that you have been assured by the state that this layer of protection that we're about to hold on is acceptable and not in conflict with the letters of agreement or the articles of agreement that they are dictated. So what I can say I'm assured of is that our legal counsel which is Scott Cameron is comfortable with these documents the way they are. As far as the state I can't say what they will do or in future years I'm sure some of you read the article that was in the Times Argus which the state is saying that they own all the schools in the state. So with that being said I can't say what the state will do in future years. All I can do is what is best for us here now with having this easement. So that's two things to clarify. So your conversation with Scott Cameron as opposed to any representative of the state. Correct. And you really had no other option. Others feel the same way. But you're not aware of anybody challenging that state? I have not. What this apparently would give us the opportunity to challenge it if the occasion arose. Correct and just for note I do think Berlin is in a little bit of a different situation than some of our other schools in our district. Because the land was donated from a private resident. Clarence Pike. Correct. So being that the land was donated to the school district I do think we are definitely in a different situation than some of the other public school properties in our district. Not to take a lot of time because I'm sure I have a few questions but are you aware of a deed for the school property? The actual original deed we had a copy of that at our May 8th meeting when we met with the select board. Yes it is. So it seems to be conflict with the statement that it's owned by the state? Exactly. Which we all had a copy of that deed at our May 8th meeting. It's clearly on there. It's to the Berlin town school district that he donated the land to. Thank you. How about giving the school board credit for pursuing this and trying to protect the interests of the town. The select board did meet with the school district and as I recall it was supportive of this effort as well. So we'll be voting yes on this article. Other questions or comments? Yes ma'am. Any additional restrictions listed on the deed? Like you know any forecasting how potentially in the future? It just states don't donate it for the purpose of school. What that means if it's no longer school? I don't know. They're a lawyer to decide I guess. Further? Yes. Which is why my hope would be that regardless of my hope would be it would always be a school. An education case. In the event in the future year something happens. My hope with you would always come back to the Berlin residents to make that decision and have a vote on what happens to this building and land that went on. Which is why I strongly feel like what we have done can only help in that process. Any other questions? Are you ready for the question itself? Let me read it again. Shall the voters of the Berlin school district approve the grant of an option agreement from the Berlin school district to the town of Berlin, which gives the town of Berlin the right to purchase the real estate upon which the Berlin elementary school is currently located from the Berlin school district or its successors and interests for the purchase price of one dollar in the event the property is no longer used for educational purposes. All in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed no. Passes article two. Shall the voters of the Berlin school district approve the grant of an easement from the Berlin school district to the town of Berlin, which gives the town of Berlin the right to in perpetuity to use the real estate and buildings owned by the Berlin school district or its successors and interests for certain public purposes as specified in the easement deed. Comments? So that was created to make sure that we could still host the town meeting days here, other special events that the town has the emergency management for this to be a shelter. So those are some of the pieces that were included in that. I neglected to ask that someone would move it. Thank you. It's a second. All right. Forgive me. I'd like to also point out that some time ago the school board, the then school board opened up the facilities for public use by Berlin residents recognizing that it was an asset of the town and that use has been maintained. I think that's what's represented in this. Correct. Article. Good. Any questions? Any comments? Yes. Good evening. On behalf of the emergency management committee, I hope you don't mind me saying, I appreciate the school board recognizing the importance of school as a possible shelter and considering that forward. Hopefully it won't be needed, but it's nice to know that we have it at this need. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Are you ready for the question? I'll read it again. Shall the voters of the Berlin school district approve the grant of an easement from the Berlin school district to the town of Berlin, which gives the town of Berlin the right and perpetuity to use the real estate and buildings owned by the Berlin school district for its successors in interest for certain public purposes as specified in the easement deed? All in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. The motion passes. Article 3. Shall the voters of the Berlin school district approve an amendment to the current lease between the Berlin school district and the Berlin volunteer fire department, which extends the term of the lease from 50 years ending August 31st, 2039 to 99 years ending August 31st, 2088? Who will move it? Jeremy, hand second. Discussion? Does anybody have any questions? Any questions? Maybe it's self-evident. That little history, that lease was created by the then school board of that lot for the purpose of locating the fire department and police department close to the school. And unfortunately it didn't work out that way, but the fire department is an important asset to have near a school building. And at the time, 50 years seemed like a long time. Not so much now, so I certainly support the extension of that lease. Any other comments or questions? Ready? Yes, Bob. Was consideration given to transferring the property? Not just leasing it, but transferring it to the town so the town could then own it and lease it to the fire department? Yes. And that conversation is actually still happening. But being that we were here tonight voting on these other things, we wanted to extend the lease simultaneously as we are still working on the town of Berlin dating that 1.28 acres. So dividing it and beating it? Correct. So that is still ongoing, still moving forward in the path that that portion of that land would still be deeded over to the town of Berlin. Unfortunately it didn't happen before our June 30th deadline before the new board starts on July 1. So it will be something the new board will handle, which I am a representative on the new board along with George Gross. They're well aware that this is still happening for that land to be deeded over. It just didn't get done prior to the transition of the boards. But at least what we could do from this point is extend the lease for the 99 years. Great. It's mentioned in the option agreement number four. By the way, I have an extra copy of the option agreement if somebody wants to take it home. Number four is the option agreement number four. Any other comments or questions? Yes. Chris Winters, I just want to echo something that George said earlier on the bank. This school board board continuing to work in the face of your ultimate extinctions and pending hearings and doing much best for the town and for stepping up when people really need to do too. So thank you for that. I'm just curious if anyone from the agency of education or state of Vermont attorney general's office have any input on any of these three articles. Did you ask for it and did they give you any feedback or did you work just with the attorney, our own attorney representing the board and the town and doing this? So we worked directly with Scott Cameron. However, I do believe because Callis in Berlin were simultaneously working on these documents of which Callis has continued to move forward as we did with these easements. I'm not sure if their board spoke to anybody at the AOE. I do know that they ended up using a different lawyer for their easement documents. They chose not to use Scott for them. Scott did not mention if he actually reached out to either one of them. So I really don't have an answer for that question, Chris. I'm sorry. Other questions, comments? Are you ready for the question? Here we go. Shell voters of the Berlin school district approve an amendment to the current lease between the Berlin school district and the Berlin volunteer fire department, which extends the term of the lease from 50 years ending August 31st, 2039 to 99 years ending August 31st, 2088. All in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. And the motion passes. We don't have any other business article here, so I'm afraid that the only motion I can accept is one to adjourn. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. Have a good evening. Thank you all for coming.