 2 minutes after 5 or 2 minutes after 2, depending on where you are, and the first item on the agenda is treasurer's report analysis of 2016 VLCT memo on municipal loans and general budget discussion action unlikely. Okay. So I'll let you talk about that. Well, first of all, the budget, I really, nothing's changed. We've got no new numbers or anything since the last meeting, so until you really want to get into a full budget discussion, there's really, I have nothing to add on that. That was just thrown in there in case you wanted to bring anything up. Really all I wanted to do was say, I thought about it a lot sitting on the beach in Mexico, and I apologize for missing that meeting. I was literally on my way, I was in the air when the meeting was going on coming back. You know, yeah, we can probably go through there and find a few thousand dollars here and there, cut the road budget a couple of thousand dollars to do this or that, if that's what we want to do. But I don't think that's what we want to do, at least I don't want to. So you know, for me, you know, I guess it really comes down to the pay raises, and how we feel about that. The pay raises, it's two percent the right number, it's one and a half percent the right number, it's two and a half percent the right number. I haven't talked to any other towns, but I've talked to a bunch of business people, and everybody seems to be in the two or three percent range from what I can tell. I didn't talk to anybody who was doing less than two. I don't think we should do less than two. No. So, you know, I think basically what we all have to think about over the holidays when we're doing all our ho-ho-ho-ho-ing is how we feel about this. I mean, we've been pretty good to the road crew in recent times, and we've made progress, I think. In terms of paying competitive wages, but whether we're quite there or not, I don't know. And I see ads, not all the time, but pretty regularly, I see ads looking for towns looking for road people. So there's definitely demand out there for what they do. So I don't- That is something to think about. Yeah. You know- Maybe Steve will have a recommendation for us, too. Okay. And there's the definitive answer. And there's the definitive answer. Well, I'll tell you right now, I'm opting for the 3%. Well, when you look at the numbers, and I don't have the numbers in front of me, I didn't bring my file. But the difference between 2% and 3% really doesn't break the bank. What breaks the bank is everything else. Yeah. It seems to me that I've recollected it was just a couple thousand dollars, pardon me, or another percent. Correct. Okay, it's 4%. I have this 3% paying increase. It says 11.45% versus 4% which is 11.79%. Right. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's truly- It's a wonderful dollar. It's truly the big ebb and flow of the peanuts. Yeah. Yeah. And what did we figure inflation was running two and a half? Well, it depends on which one you look at. You go on the internet and there are all those different inflation numbers. But, you know, it looked to me like it's about two, depending- Two. You know, if you're going out and buying a new house and buying a new car, it's more if you're just kind of cruising along, it's a little less. Security was 1.2. Yeah. Yeah, right. So- What was 1.2? Social security. Yeah. We know that. At least some of us do. Yep. Yeah. Let's see. The increase in the health insurance was 4 and the increase in the pay was 1.2. Yeah. It's about the way it's been for the past four years. It doesn't sound like much of an upgrade. So anyhow, that's really all I have to say. I think we need to- Yeah. We need to think about that. And I think we need to talk about and think about- And we've got plenty of time to do that. But how we're going to present this at 10 meeting? Because I think we need to have more than our quick, you know, if you have any questions here are the big issues type of budget presentation. And it'll also be interesting to see what the budget committee is willing to support. They seem pretty- They seem to support it in the whole thing. Yeah. Pretty good. But I mean it would be a disaster if all of a sudden they came out and said, I think the select board is getting ahead of themselves. But I don't think so. I think it's just the opposite. I agree with you. I think the budget committee was- Very supportive. Don't take anything out of the budget. Well, especially if it has to do with rudeness. Yeah. Yeah. That's where the big- No, no, no, no. So, you know, I guess just to close this out, I mean, my feeling is we present this and the voters can amend the budget from the floor. I mean, this is our recommendation. Yes. They've asked for- Everybody's asking for improvements to the road. So here it comes. Yeah. I'll send out an updated report. Sarah talked to the county clerk for what their rates- and she said just rounded up by like $800. She didn't have a firm number yet. Oh, yeah. Okay, that's a little bit. But that's no big deal. And then there was Wrightsville Beach. I don't know. I still don't have an answer on that one. But that one's not any big deal either. So that's peanuts. So everything that's left on this is peanuts. Okay. So I'll send out another before the next meeting. I'll send an updated one and hopefully, you know, there'll be more from our numbers. Yeah. Okay. And that works. I also found, which you have, I don't know. You might have gotten it. Did Sarah email this? Yeah, she did. Everyone too. I found after our last meeting I found how the select board can borrow money without voter approval. And so this is like good information, whether it was for the fire truck. That's what prompted me to do this because of the fire truck issue last meeting. So there is some good information in here that if we go to take out a loan, looking at the greater or something. If you really want to, if you think that's going to be something you're going to have to do, I think your best interest is put it out there as a special article because you can't do it for more than five years. Right. The, wait a second. I didn't find the attachments to the, to read the memo either. I got that, I got her email, but no attachments on my, on my email. So what did it say? It's more than five years we should go to the city. Yes. Yes. Generally, we do a larger road, road stuff. Well, I think it depends on the cost of the equipment you're purchasing. Yeah. Our big things, our big things, Mary, like I'm thinking of loaders and graders, basically, we've done them for 10 years. The big trucks we've done for seven years. You can't borrow for more than what exceeds the life of the vehicle. So if you expect the truck to last seven years, you can't borrow for more than seven. Yeah. That's, that's not going to be an issue. Right. But that's, that's what they base it on. Of course, if it was our luck, we have to really do short term borrowings. Yeah. 18 months might be good. Yeah. There is, in this, there's a state municipal equipment loan fund available, which I'm not sure how it works. You have to fill out an application and all of that. The caveat with that is you can only borrow 75% of the purchase price of what you're purchasing and the loan can't be more than five years. However, the rate at the last time I looked was 2%, which is a decent rate. And the other thing I found was that if two municipalities borrowed, bought a piece of equipment together, it's 0% interest. So we had, at one time, mentioned about maybe, you know, talking to another town or something and seeing if there was any interest in purchasing it together. I think we were talking about the rush cutter. Yeah, something. But I'm saying, in general, that's good information for... Yeah, it is. Yeah. So I just thought I'd throw that out there while we were looking at this. My memory is that sometime in the past, and I can't remember when, we considered borrowing money from that municipal loan fund, whatever it's called. Was it the revolving loan or the municipal loan? This is something different. We were going to do something with revolving when I thought, wait, wait, back. I thought we were going to... I don't know. I can't remember. I thought for one of our trucks we looked at this. Well, maybe we did that. And the difference in the interest rate at that time was peanuts. Yeah. And we didn't like the fact that we had to pay out the 25%. Right, exactly. So... Well, what's the interest rate now? It's just about peanuts, isn't it? The last one we did was like 4%, 3-point-something or 4-point-something. Okay, well, it's a little bit more. Yeah. I mean, it's... I mean, if we're buying a greater for a couple of hundred thousand dollars, that's what we're looking at, because then it's real money. Right, yeah. And especially about the five-year thing... But you still can't do it for more than five years. Right. Yeah, but the question is... And I just vaguely remember Dorenda getting into this before, because what we were talking about doing is borrowing all we could borrow from them. Like borrow, I think it was going to be half of it and do it over five years and put it in the 25% and then go to the bank for the rest. I don't know. I'm not familiar with that at all. Well, I don't recollect, Peter, so maybe this is where I was on the board. Or maybe it's just a figment of my imagination, Mary. Who knows? But I can promise you, somewhere along the line, we've looked at all this stuff. These rules look very familiar to me. Rating them over, I can tell you. So anyway, it's good information to have and good information to keep in mind. Yeah, but I'm not done yet. No, I know. Because you've been Mr. Martin. No, I am not. I was just curious. I'm sorry. I have one other thing. Paul Seminarer contacted me, one of the road crew members, left on his desk the voucher for the free pair of boots from not the current year, but the year that ended in June 2019. He never used it. He said it expired and he asked for it to be reissued. I told Paul that that was nothing I could do, that that was a previous closed-out budget year, but that I would bring it up to the board. So he bought the boots and forgot to put it in? No, he never bought the boots, I guess. I would suggest he buy the boots this year and put it in. Well, I asked that question. I said, well, is he buying boots this year? He says he's going to, but he hasn't yet. We'll pay for the boots. Well, on this year's, it sounded like he wanted the other ones. He wants them on me and I say no to that. We're not going back. We don't give them the money anyway. We only reimburse. Right, we only reimburse. If he hasn't bought them, I mean, when he buys them, we'll reimburse them. But he hasn't bought them yet, so he's owed nothing. No, no. I mean, probably what he's going to say is he wants to buy a pair of boots now and he wants to buy another pair of boots in the spring. Or something. That budget's closed. That budget's closed. That ship has sailed. He can buy a pair of boots this year and we'll pay for them. Maybe he wants to buy a really expensive pair of boots and use both vouchers. No. No, I don't think that's it. We'll give him enough for boots every year. What's here? $200 over a year. So he's regretting that he didn't use his $200. But you're right. That's a closed budget. Right. And a $200 pair of boots that'll last more than a year. Yes, they should. I mean, minor, just over 300, but these are two years old. Right. Okay. I'll just get back to Paul and tell him that the budget's closed. Yes. Okay, so that's the end of the treasurer report. I have minutes to sign. So it's now back in your report. Okay, so we need a motion to approve the minutes from December 1st. December 1st. Okay, thank you. You made the motion. Is there a second? Second. Okay. All in favor of approving the minutes for December 1st. Let me finish, Mary. Third. Third. Please say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. software actually set up before I set it out because I know what's going to happen is that people are going to set it up and they're not going to click that button that says leave the email on the server and we're going to lose that first set until it routes through. So anyway, it's done. We're good for at least the year and then just as far as any changes. I'm definitely behind on getting the computers ordered except for the Chromebook. It's going to replace that one which is already here. But my wife ended up having emergency gallbladder surgery. It's not been a great time since about mid-week last week and she she's still in quite a bit of pain and stuff. We had a fun time sitting in the ER for 12 hours before they decided to operate. That's where we are. So the email's done. Ready to go. We'll just be a matter. And I might roll it out in waves too. Like maybe just try it with us this office. I was going to say, let's start with a... I would say that might be a good idea. Make sure there's no hip-hop serve. Yeah. Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. Did you see that Russ Bedid and his wife Shaleen who runs Shaleen's Bridal were the people that are raising money for a home health agency. There's a big spread of supplements in the paper like right after our last meeting. Yep. Well, at least two of us thought. So the bottom line is the patches stop as of the first of the year. But all that means is we're day by day a little more insecure. It doesn't mean the world comes to them. Yeah. No. Right. And I got to think at this point that Windows 7 is not getting patched all that often anymore anyway. So I think we'll be we'll be fine. And I'll try to get those ordered as soon as I can. And I'll probably just have to have you get a purchase order for me during the Yeah. I'll tell you what number I assigned to it. Purchase order number one, four, three, six, seven. Yeah, there you go. Slash two. Usually I always use the date. That's actually pretty good. Yeah. So we can have to handle this probably in a couple ways. I don't know how long it'll be before these are ready. So if you guys want the checks and orders, we've got to get these bills out. So I don't know if there's no orders for you guys to actually even look at. It's not even the warm. Do we know how close we are? I think a ways. And I've got another meeting. So right. So I don't know if that's something you can give Peter authorization that maybe tomorrow he can. What I would prefer to do is try and get three of us to come in. I'll come in. I can come in. I can come in tomorrow. I'll come in tomorrow morning. Yeah, I can stop by tomorrow. You can stop by tomorrow. Yeah, I don't know if she's going to be able to get them done. It sounds like she's on the phone with Patty now. So what, at least the three of us? Yeah. So I will, and then we'll just have to get them out. But there's checks because there was no highway ones done the last select board meeting that there's some bills that are very good to do. Yeah. Yeah. Otherwise, I'd say we delay. Okay. No, that's fine. Did we set the date for the Christmas party yet? Just curious. When are you having it? I'll have it. I think we've all got enough Christmas parties to go to. I know I do. Yeah. And Patty's last day is going to be the last Tuesday of the month. So it looks like they hung the new, I think the, well, I don't know. I think it's either the Monday or the Tuesday. So the 31st. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So it's either going to be there. Is there any ways you can give her some kind of gift when we're all kind of spread around? Well, we decided to get her what we ended up doing. It was authorized. I think at the last meeting that I could spend $100. So we got her a, this shouldn't be on TV. But I mean, I got her a gift card for something she would use. Let's put it that way. Perfect. So where is the gift card? It's arriving. What do you mean? Arriving? It's been ordered, Mary. It's coming. No, I mean to what store? Yeah, but we can't tell you that. We're not talking about that in our meeting. Okay, gotcha. I was at the last meeting and I don't remember hearing that. I think it was the meeting before. Was it the meeting before? Okay. Whatever. I got, was authorized to spend up to a certain dollar amount for it. So, um, gotcha. So that will be though. I'm assuming would take place during the day because I don't think you're going to get Patti to come back at night to do anything. So we'll just give it to her on her last day. Okay. Well, if you remind me when that is, I would try and come down here and be part of that. Yeah. Okay. Great. Yeah, I thought about maybe we could do, you know, if I pick up something, you know, like something from Red Hand or something like croissants or something. Whatever. Yeah. Okay. So you think that date is what? I'm sorry? It's either, she said she was working through the end of the year. So it's either going to be the 30th or the 31st. Okay. Yeah, Monday or Tuesday. Yeah. It's one right on the bottom. One on the bottom. Yeah, down here. Yeah. And see our next meeting is on the 7th. Yeah. The 7th and the 21st. Yeah. I won't be present on the 21st. I don't think. Well, our plan is to approve the budget on the 7th and just the warning on the 21st. Oh, really? Yeah, that's what I recollect. The soul searching is on the 7th. The warning is for us. Yeah, what we always do. Yeah. If they can do that now, then that would be great. Okay. That's awesome. Thank you. Actually, we just got the warrant, so. Perfect. If you want to do that, she's still doing the check. Here's the warrant. So you definitely have to have the budget done for the next meeting then. Right. Well, we'll do it at the meeting. Right. I thought we had another week beyond that. What's the warrant? For the orders. So Steve, there's a bill here for 11,604 so I would say that's the same. Yeah. That sounds like the right number. Yes. Such a, I mean, there's only two signatures on there. I don't know. Yeah, they'll have to get, Mary, you'll have to sign it after the fact. Yeah. Or Rose comes in before we leave. One of my time. The minutes. The minutes for the last meeting, Mary, because I can't sign it. I want to sign my name with my authorization or with a flash. No. Rather not. I mean, in an emergency, we could, but. Well, I mean, if you guys are happy with it, I'm happy to do that. So, Steve, we're paying Charlotte boys here over 50 grand, 51 grand. Yeah. That's with the extra warranty. Yeah. That's what that second number is. Yes. And did we determine if I think we did determine that that extra warranty or that there might be an extra warranty available for the other work that they did? Yes, that is included in that. It's under warranty already. Oh, I see what you mean. Yes. As far as the extra year for the extra year, I don't think so. We want to try and do that. Let me let me call him. I mean, it's just a yes. It's just a question. I'm getting done now. For $1,000, we could add a year to that one. That would be Yeah, that's money well spent. Well, I just I'm I'm gun shy. No, our war potentially are warranty expired or would expire. So the idea is by extending the warranty for a year, we can keep the truck another year since it now has a new engine, new transmission, a new, new rear end. And with a warranty, I think that makes sense without the warranty. I think it's a question. So we have the warranty. We have the warranty on the engine. And we're looking into the warranty on the transmission. We have the two year warranty on the transmission. Yes, but can we get the extra year? So this is the extended warranty on the transmission, right? Yes. Yes. So that the so the truck would be under warranty or that all those parts of the truck would be under warranty until the day we trade it. Basically, no more scary surprises. So the biggies on here, Mary, just just so you know, the biggies on here are Charles boys 11,604 for sand and 24,577 for the first installment of our of our passive insurance. The rest of them are all the usual little stuff. Yeah. That's what I was saying. Charlie boys. Yeah. 49,000 and 1800. That's the water. That's the water. Okay, so I'm signing. Thank you. The other room is. No, no, that is gone. Patty had to leave. We have our new bookkeeper Amy and they're doing it. He's diligently working away. Okay, so I'm going to declare the meeting adjourned. So right on the dot 530 adjournment. That was.