 Okay. Well, let us call this meeting to order at 633. And first thing to ask is, are there any additions to the agenda? Seeing none. Let's talk about the minutes from July 11th, 2022. The comments on those minutes. I read that they looked fine to me. Judith. Yep. No, they looked fine. So I would move for. Approval of the minutes. I second that. Okay. And there's nothing in there that diverges from my memory of that. I wasn't that. So all those in favor, please say hi. Hi. Opposed. The eyes appear to have it. The eyes have it. And public comment. This was an opportunity for members of the public who are here for something other than what appears on the agenda. To comment on that matter. Or if you're here for something that appears on the agenda, but want to comment on a different matter, that's fine too. Seeing none. We will go into discussion on the use of ARPA funds. And I'm going to start with the discussion on how to allocate ARPA funds and Gina, did you have an idea how to set this discussion up? I do not. I'm looking for the board's thoughts. I know there, this has been discussed in the past prior to my joining. So I'm really looking to see how the board. I'm not sure how anything like this may have been done in the past in the town. I am a rather new resident and certainly new to the town administrator role. So looking to the board on how you would like to start creating a discussion. Okay. Well, we have previously said that we are interested in giving some portion of the ARPA funds to CB fiber. And then we have hesitated on following through with that because we have learned that there's some questions about exactly what eyes must be dotted and teeth must be crossed in order to do that and guarantee that the funds will not be on back. So we are just beginning the discussion on the use of the ARPA funds and, and figuring out how to move forward with it. Right. Sounds good. Yeah. Yeah. We don't want to call it back. Now we did have directions, but I didn't know it's a bunch of other towns have given some money to CB fiber. We'll talk about that. That they weren't really that concerned about the callbacks. I mean, that's what it appears, you know, Bonnie hasn't come back yet with any additional information. It's something she's looking into as well, because she heard that towns had committed funds. So, you know, I. I haven't, like I said, I said to Carl earlier, I plan to reach back out to Bob after this meeting. Just wanted to see where this discussion went and then I'll follow up with her, but you know, whether there should or should not be a concern. I think right now. We're on. I think. Oh, it's okay. No, I, um, I guess I'm just still looking for, um, certainty or, you know, questions answered regarding, you know, what factors to watch out for or what language to avoid or what uses of the funds or what, for what purposes the funds are to be used. I know that we kind of, um, put a pin in the allocation. I think that we're, you know, um, in spirit behind it, but I want to make sure that we know what we're doing and we're doing it in the correct way. Um, so that's specifically regarding CB fiber regarding how, how we should approach review and consideration of requests for the town to use the ARPA funds. Um, I think we should have a process, um, whereby we announced to the town, hey, we have this money. We'd like your input. Um, and that could be either we have a, uh, select board hearing at which we invite folk to. And or, or both. We, um, ask folk to submit ideas or proposals to us through the town clerk. And we kind of set a, a deadline or an approximate timeframe when we'd be considering those. I think it's important that we kind of throw out, um, or alert the town to what the, um, the amount of money we have and the scope of uses for it. And then ask the town what they be using. And then ask the town what they'd be interested in, in us investing in. I think it's better to have kind of a process or approach rather than working on an ad hoc basis. First come first serve squeaky wheel gets the money. Um, you know, uh, uh, you know, we've, we've had good, um, folks who have come forward so far have, you know, good purposes for the funds and that's great. And there are likely others who have good uses or purposes for the fund. I just want to make sure that we're being deliberate and thoughtful. Um, and that we kind of consider, we give folks and opportunities to submit their requests and then we have a considered approach and we can even, you know, establish criteria for how we evaluate those requests. Um, so that's, that was my thinking. Okay. That's in line with what we already thought. I just wondered about the CV fiber thing is still up in the air. I guess. Do you want to talk to us about September 15th and, uh, what happens on that day? Yep. Hi. Thanks for having me today. Um, so I am the executive director of CV fiber and we're building a hundred miles of fiber to the underserved or unserved in central Vermont. And that includes East Montpelier. It's one of our 21 towns who, who signed up for to be a member of CV fibers district. So, um, what we're, what we're doing is we're building these 1200 miles using ARPA funds. Um, we had, we had, we, we expect the backbone. That's the main, uh, the main 1200 miles to be built at a cost of, in the range of $50 million. Um, somewhere in the range of 35, 40% of that is going to be paid for by ARPA funds that we're getting directly. Um, and then some other portion of it will come from the bond market or other grants as we're applying to other grants. So the where, where the towns come in is that the towns can contribute a portion of their town ARPA funds also to build out within the towns. Now the reason for this and the reason this is important is because the ARPA funds go toward building the backbone or the main 1200 miles of the network, but they don't go to drops to individual hookups. Um, the numbers I have here are there that I can just give you some numbers that I have for how many eligible addresses of unserved or underserved or in this year. Um, that is 259 underserved or unserved folks in, um, in East Montpelier. So the approximate cost and this is done on a business modeling based on, um, the, uh, a combination of overhead under, underground buried, um, as well as based on the approximate or average distance from the closest pole to the home. Um, and that is, uh, sometimes around 400 feet, sometimes a bit more or less. Um, so the cost to hook each eligible address up is about $1650. Um, so that needs to come from somewhere and this is often where towns are wanting to spend ARPA funds to fill the gap in where our ARPA funds cannot pay for it, but the towns ARPA funds can pay for individual hookups. So the town, the, the, the ARPA funds that come from the town can fill in the gap to hook up individuals within the town of East Montpelier. Um, the, the total cost to hook up the 259 addresses doing the math at 1650 and address is about $427,000 to hook up the individual addresses. Um, so the magic of September 15th is that the Vermont communications broadband board, VCBB, the state entity that oversees the broadband build out in all of the communications union districts of which CV fiber is one. This, the VCBB has committed to match every town ARPA dollar that is committed before September 15th. So, for instance, if, if Montpelier, if East Montpelier gives a dollar, VCBB gives a dollar if it's committed before September 15th. And that is money to be spent exclusively within the boundaries of East Montpelier in the way that East Montpelier wants. So I, I throw out the idea of drops because that's what a lot of folks are talking about in other towns, but it can go toward hooking up the library or the schools or community centers. Um, it can go toward hooking up places that the public wants to hook up. Okay. So it doesn't have to go to war drops. It's just oftentimes what folks think about or drops. And the second is often the public places, the, the public entities, the schools, the libraries, et cetera. So that's where the magic. That's where the magic number September 15th comes. So whereas it would cost $427,000 to connect. The 259 eligible addresses. It would cost East Montpelier $213,000. Because of that matching funds. So basically half of the cost that it would normally cost. East Montpelier to hook up those addresses. If that's what East Montpelier wanted to do with the CV, fiber allocation, if they, if they decided to allocate certain funds to the broadband. And that was the amount that was allocated to the community. And so what was that 200 was. Two, two, 13. Was the number of households or is that what you said? Money that. The money that would cost us to build it out. 27. 427. In total. No, no, no. Before the 50th. Correct. That's a good deal. I wish my family. I'm wondering if you can provide us with the sources for the September 15th, like if there's a VC, BB, if there's a reg or something that provides that if you can forward that on to Gina and she can forward it on to us. Well, in the past when we were talking with CV fiber, the contribution I think that they were looking for us to provide was to kind of fill in work that had already been done. So you're saying that if we were to approve authorization of X of our ARPA funds to you, we can specify that those funds be used for providing service within the town of before, whether it's, you know, building lines or drop. Well, I forget the name term that you use drops within the town of drops within the town of East Montpelier we can specify that and have it be used exclusively for that and not for other funds or other uses or paying off. You know, work that's already been done. So the money that comes from East Montpelier in East Montpeliers ARPA contributions must be spent within East Montpelier. Okay, so that can be spent in whatever way East Montpelier wants to spend it. I have a question about the mission of CV fiber all the time up until very recently that I have heard presentations on it I have understood that CV fiber would have to start building somewhere and would prioritize the unserved and underserved areas and then would build out to all the households and businesses in all the member towns and cities. And now I hear you saying and I see in this draft agreement. No language about that final build out but rather just saying we're going to the next three or four years get to all the unserved and underserved area so I'm wondering if you can clarify for us what you see is a current mission I have fiber right now I want to switch from consolidated to CV fiber. Well, I have an option when Um, so do you live in East Montpelier I assume. Correct. Yeah. So, of the, of the priority that is 2022 to 2023 build of the 259 addresses 147 of them are considered uns or well, they're considered to be in a priority or 2022 to 2023 bill that's 147 out of the 259. So the, but to kind of take a step back at the mission of CV fiber. So, CV fibers mission is to provide affordable high speed internet to everyone within their member district. Okay. But, and here's the but ARPA funds cannot be spent, unless it's to the unserved or underserved. Okay. Yeah, so, so absolutely our priority is the unserved and underserved. We want to be available to everybody but in order to build out the first part of the network in order to apply the ARPA funds at all. So that's going to be to the eligible addresses which are the unserved and underserved. Okay, I got a question about that. So, say the underserved address that you're going to build the line to that's going to go by a lot of other people also. Is that correct. Yeah. Well, in some cases, um, yeah, not all right. Yeah, I mean, but it happens. Yes, the, the overbilled. The question is, we gave money to CV fiber, and it was matching money and got the 400 something thousand. That money just has to go to the underserved addresses. Because it's ARPA funding. Exactly. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that. I was just trying to get it clear my mind. Before the community enters a school. Yeah, yeah, nothing wrong with that because that that lowers the bill, eventually, for the, for the drops to each house is just it'd be less. But, okay. Another hand. Yeah, somebody else Scott Scott. I'm not a slick word, but is that Chanel is that number is that a hard fat and hard fast number, or could that number potentially change the number to use my pillow. I know you said you're paying for, you know, you'll split it with us half. But is that is it a hard number that that's what he's my pillow you would have to contribute. No, no, you smoke my pillow your contribute contribute all 600 and some 1000 or zero or. 200 odd people. Could the could the cost potentially escalate depending on what the environment or the, you know, costs or materials or otherwise. Is that a fighting curve for AC fiber. Yeah, so right now, the estimated cost of hooking up each address is 1650 1650 that's the estimated cost, could it be more or less when we get in there. It could be it could. What we have right now based on business plan, looking at like what we think it's going to cost looking at the total weekly cost of build out for materials and labor and, but it could go up or down. And it a big part of that depends on whether it's overhead or underground as well because trenching and underground tends to cost more, and part of it does depend on who the takers are. So if we have a large percentage of folks who have longer runs, then that's going to be more. If they're closer to the closest poll that's going to be less so yeah it does fluctuate. So if that cost per address is likely to go up or down a bit that's the best estimate that we have it's probably very close, but it could fluctuate. Just as long as select words on, you know, understand that thank you. It's great. It's me again. That's question and the reaction or the response prompted this. So it appears that we as a select board in any agreement and what we reach with you, we can specify where and how we want you to kind of direct your focus with the ARPA funds we're contributing to. So we as a select board think okay, where are the public spots that are underserved. Do we want to hit those and then after that, you know, what the process for selecting the underserved is that do you just kind of go out to all of them anyway, or do you want folks to initiate with you. Yes, we're underserved and we would like to be provided service, or are you giving it to every, not giving but linking it linking it to every underserved. Am I making sense. Yes, I think you're making sense. Let me, let me try to answer the question and if I didn't answer the question and we can rephrase it but so the, the, the answer is we are making this internet available. Every single person on our eligible addresses list. Okay, so it will be available to everyone regardless of what the town says or doesn't say we're we're responsible for making high speed internet available to every unserved and underserved address within the small area and that's our plan, but they don't have to take it. Oh, no, absolutely not. No, no. I mean, if you don't want a high speed internet you certainly do not need to sign up for high speed internet. So you have 200 something addresses you identify as underserved, but out of that 200 something, they may not all take it or sign up. So I have a question. Okay. Would it be feasible for you to handle a condition like this put on our contributions and I'm not saying we want to do it just thinking a lot. Let's say we want to make it easy for the people who are for most people who are underserved or unserved to get a quick connection at no cost. For the connection, but if somebody has bought a place or built a place that's a quarter mile off the road, we don't want to subsidize running the the fiber all the way up there. Could we say we'll pay for the connection and the first 200 feet of run, for example, would that make sense for you guys. Yes, it would make sense you can put a condition on there like that. We could even put a condition on there like that like if we if we sign subscribers up we could say hey will will pay for the first X number of feet or our operator who's installing could do that or or you could do that yes that is a reasonable condition on subscription or cap just a dollar. Right, right. What's that. What's the definition of underserved. Under 25 three available internet by some other provider. 25.3 megabits 25 25 over three speed. 25 down three up. So again, you just have to approve that you signed up for a package that where that's available, regardless of how fast it actually is when it gets to you. And the list is the list, the list of underserved are those that are on the map that was provided. Is that correct. Right. Yes, yes, yeah, no, no, that's right that the map of underserved eligible addresses is that is the 259 that that we're counting is underserved or unserved. Okay, so I'd like to direct your attention to Neil to part six of this draft agreement. And to subsection C of that. Are you ready. Yeah, the whole, the whole, the whole harmless clause. This is a whole harmless from any claims that center against the town for recoupment of the town's ARPA funds transferred to CB fiber, where the claims are from CB fired very wrongful or unlawful expenditure of any or all the town brought bad investments. I think is touching on one of the concerns that we've had, which is that we could turn this money over to you in good faith, without asking the questions that these other towns have apparently not asked. And, and then later on find out that there's some federal technicality, which means you can't expend it legally or, or, or maybe you do something in good faith and by end up not expending it legally and we don't want to have a plot back from us. So is this to protect us from that. So if it's fun back from us, we could get it back from you. So this is. Are you are you saying does this prevent a clawback. Does this prevent. Does this make East Montpelier held harmless for any clawback from the federal government, because we're going to get the money back from CB fiber if that happens. Yeah, so it could, it could be read broadly that way. It says that it says that. That CV fiber would hold the town harmless proceedings against the town that were, but, but it specifically says it says that where the they result from CV fibers wrongful or unlawful expenditure. So, it would have to be it would have to be wrongful or unlawful. Yeah, so I quite do that. So I guess what I would like to do is so I forward that I'm very confident of this September 15 deadline and like you say that's a good deal if we double the amount of money available to get CV fiber places in town. We still have VLCT and regional planning telling us we're not quite sure about all of this so what I'd like to do is kind of proceed on two prongs. One, keep pushing the VLCT and regional planning say come on, give us some firm information. And then the other take this to Jim Barlow, as our attorney and say, is there anything that we can write into here that would prevent us from cloback if we can't get information by September 15 about what the fencing is right. So just, just, can we ask, you've you've had some towns commit some art of funds to you. I've read that. Is it quite a few is like it was eight towns or something. A handful of towns have committed funds. Yes. Right. And was that a question that they asked you at that time about the product. Yeah, there was a one town that that that there was some cloud back provision written in there if they weren't if the funds weren't expended by the deadline. They made an agreement with you. Yeah, it had to do with it had to do with the timeframe of the allocation like if the funds weren't spent by the deadline now, the funds have to be spent by the end of 2026 so it had to do with, you know, for just sitting there doing nothing then it belongs. And so the September 15th date that's the date for the commitment from the town not necessarily the fulfillment of your obligations within the agreement it's the town committing to convey their portion of their funds to you. So it's actually just the deadline for the match from BCBB the town can commit funds any time but it's strongly recommended that you get the match right I mean you will double the money to get it. Yeah. Yeah. And so you're going to send us that language or where you're pulling that deadline and requirements. Yeah. That's right. associated with the deadline to us. So, but the VCBB had written some sort of an action and sent it out saying will contribute. It's up to a certain amount by the deadline of September 15. So I will forward you that VCBB information just so you have it so that you can see that that actually is a commitment. You have that amount. You said up to a certain amount. Yeah, I think it's I think it's a total of 1.5 million. I think it's total. I believe it's total total from all that's going to go very fast. Yeah, so they're only going to they're only going to give 1.5 million out. Period. Yeah, let me double check on the total dollar amount I'm, I have to check on that total dollar amount but it's up to a certain amount by September 15 and I recall I think it's 1.5 million total but I have to double check on that total amount by September 15 and I'll assume they've already committed something. Yeah. It's sometimes I've already given you. Oh yeah but I believe it's per but I believe it's, but I believe it's per CUD but let you know what, let me not go on my memory and let me get the document. Yeah, that'll make a difference for us. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, so may have a hand up. I do a quick question. Jenelle, if, if somebody's covered like we are and Carl is under either consolidate or Comcast or whatever the cable company. If we're not satisfied with our, our service provider. Would you be pulling fiber or lines up to areas that are already covered with high speed. Yes, but not. Yes, but not first. Yes, so it's going to take three years. Okay, maybe four to get to all of the underserved and unserved in our districts. So we, we might build out some of the service addresses before that, using other funds but we need to put our ARPA funds and we need all toward unserved and underserved and we need to prioritize that just to just even as a matter, not just a funding, but of our mission, you know, we want to make sure that. That makes sense. Yeah, kind of too far. Anybody else. I think we've kind of got an action plan. The ARPA funds. We're, if you all agree with my suggestion that we check in with Jim Barlow about how to guard ourselves. Yeah, and we keep bugging regional planning. The other side of the coin is we've got all how much of ARPA funds do we want to. And then what sort of involvement do we want from the town in allocating the rest? I think we want a lot of involvement. Well, yeah, but what, what can we give them in terms of guidance and what's our timeline do we want to set up for that process of soliciting ideas. Well, I don't think that's a big priority. I do understand we're going to do it, but the ARPA funds that we want to commit to CB5 we really need to make sure we get that right now. We don't reach out to the public and say, is it okay if we spend ARPA money on CB5? For instance, I'm just talking about that deadline that's fast approaching September 15th to month and a half away. So I just want to make sure we get that in place if we're going to do that. I think we saw enough enthusiasm for, I agree, CB5, it was unanimous, unanimous, minus one meeting, voting that in. I don't think that there's a problem with that. It wouldn't hurt though to go out and say on the front porch forum and just ask people about that and what number is appropriate, whether it's a 213 or some fraction thereof. That's kind of tough. Yeah, that's too much detail. Okay, but then I would like to talk about the timeline for the rest of the commitments. Does it make sense, for example, to bring the question ultimately to town meeting in 2023, in which case, you know, that gives a clear sense of, okay, we have a fall to talk about this and put something together. Yeah, that's a good idea actually. So that's one timeline, but the timeline for the ARPA commitment is close. So we just want to make sure we have that ready to go. Judith, do you have something to say? I think when we met last, it might have even been last fall, I forget it, but when we met and talked about wanting to commit or agreeing to commit, I think we picked a dollar amount. I think we had said $100,000. So if we get the, I would be very, you know, if I received from Janelle, I'm sure I will, the references she's citing regarding the September 15th and what we need to do to fulfill that, and that it's not kind of a first serve and after a million dollars it's gone. But if this is something we can take advantage of, then I would be comfortable with agreeing to that if we can get the language we want in order to do it by September 15th. And I don't know that we need to go back to the town and say, yes, remember that you approved moving towards and investing in fiber, but we're going to do that and we recommend using our ARPA funds. I think that that's something that we as a select board can decide to do with risk. So I think that your action items, Carl's are good ones, bring it to our town attorney. You know, we'll all provide any inputs regarding the agreement or language we think should be in agreement. Janelle's going to give us that information. And by our, who knows, maybe by our next select board, we can come to a decision and be signing things. And with respect to the other, though, the remainder of the ARPA funds. I think that I think it, you know, we want to bring it to the town for town meeting that might make sense and maybe have, you know, a series maybe once a month or once every two select board meetings an opportunity for people to present their ideas and then by the end of the year or beginning of next, we begin to window that down to do kind of the top items and then we present those to the town. Okay, so just just want to get on that. Judith did mention a dollar amount thousand hundred thousand. I am. I'm for leveraging every dollar that we can get whatever that association is for the state. So I would say, don't commit to the 100,000. If we can get 213,000 free money, we should do it. That's a lot of money that we can get to put towards these drops, which is, it's just free. But we can't be sure that everybody who's underserved or uncircled. What happens if we ask you to spend the money in something such a way, and you don't have a customer update to do it. That's a good question. Can you put it towards the rest of the drops. So that can be outlined and how the town spends the funds. You can say, we can specify in the exhibit because there's an exhibit to the MOU that says how we want to spend the funds. So you can say if, if this than that right so if you if if we get this amount then it goes toward this specific drop and if we don't have any more drops it can go toward the library or whatever or you can say it can go toward the school up to a certain amount, and a certain amount to each drop. And if there's leftovers it will go and then you can have a provision that says where it goes so I would I would say it probably makes sense to put in somewhat detail. You don't want to spend it on but you also want to leave yourself open to some flexibility because you don't know what you don't know. So the way you word it in the exhibit on how to spend it within the town. You, you want to specify but you also want to leave yourself some wiggle room as well. Okay, so on the on the money that we give you, we can spend on schools. But is the school and it is an underserved area because I have consolidated and I'm on my own. I'm pretty sure I'm going to guess that fiber consolidated has around fiber lines on breaker, the school may not be in an underserved area. So that will qualify as a nonprofit, or do nonprofits qualify for. I don't know, I that's that's the only thing I don't know that we have a lot of areas that are in that would be that they if the definition of underserved is a 25 three. I know there's fiber lines on breaker so the school is or Vincent flat. Well, do do do community centers nonprofits. But this do they have to be underserved or unserved. Typically towns have chosen to connect their, their public, one of the things that towns are choosing to do is to connect their public facilities. I don't know if those towns have are underserved or unserved in those community centers but, but it is expressed. It's one of the express items in the ARPA funding is that it can go toward nonprofits so there's a really strong argument that it could go. Okay, so you go to nonprofits and underserved. Yeah. Okay. Okay, we just wanted to clear on. Yeah, so the question is though, if you connect all your nonprofits, and you're underserved that sign up, and there's still money left. Can you put that towards hooking up other people that are not underserved, or not allowed. No, no, you cannot because that's ARPA funds. You can put your own town money from other sources or maybe even from other funding sources, but ARPA funding sources. Yeah, we're just trying to flesh out. I think it was a couple of weeks ago now. She said most towns I think you said and committed anywhere from 30 to 50,000. And odds are they're hedging under a little bit because to your point, if people don't take, I think the 427 number is assuming all of those people sign up, everybody's going to cost 1650 to have to run the line. That seems like it's almost the worst case scenario. So I don't think it would probably be wise of us to commit all the way. Figuring the nonprofits in that figure. No. Community community centers, public libraries, schools, those are the other places that. That's not figured in the 427. Right, right. So, so you've done a bunch of surveys that's, you know, before your time as the organization, you know, it's central on fiber has done a bunch of surveys. Do you have any data from those surveys that might give us a clue as to what percentage of these 259 households might decide to take advantage of fiber coming by their home. Yeah, we think we think. Well, there's a few numbers. We propose that it might be somewhere in the range of 45%. But everybody we've talked to at the state thinks that's conservative so it might be more than that. We're trying to be very conservative on our business modeling. Okay, well, we get back down to 100,000. That's basically 96. If we divided it half, and if we decided to pay the whole 1650 average cost. Right. And then figure, figure whatever nonprofits. Yeah. And Janelle, if you can provide us with the citation and the source for using these funds in this go round on nonprofits that are not do not fit within the definition of underserved. That would be helpful. Okay, yeah, that's, you just want to know where you can spend where you can possibly spend it. Yes. I see your hand up in just living just down the road. Yeah. Just living just down the road from the school. I think you're going to find that there is no fiber to the school. That we're served by. That was put the ground when the school was built from the junction of cherry tree hill and town. To the school. And the internet connection along here is not very good. And there is no fiber going by on the Washington electric poles. So we can narrow it down, right? And then we'll have some answers by Nick. When's the 22nd. Oh, good. Yeah. Okay, so we probably ought to try to get it together by then. Yeah, you heard me too as a school. Yeah. Whatever other nonprofits we can figure it out. And to add that into our 50%. We have a senior center. The fiber optic line. Consolidated fiber optic line from Montpelier to St. Johnsbury. Runs on the poles, not 40 feet from where I sit from my desk. And they want $22,000 to connect us to it. That's crazy. Yeah. Well, the splice point is down where country club. And Colburn road hit root two. And they would have to run a line back to us from there. Oh, I see. But the CV fiber line will be separate from that one. I would hope so. Yeah. So that'll be going by there eventually. Okay, I think we've got the information we need and she's going to send us some more. Yeah. We probably have to move on. Yeah. I think we have to do this. Okay, I'll get you guys the information on the matching funds and on where you can spend the ARPA money. Yeah, well, thank you for. Yeah, thank you for answering all our questions. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you for having me. Oh yeah, we'll try. Thank you. All right. So is everyone satisfied with that discussion. Well, there's one more. You guys say something else beside what you've already said. Are you talking to me, Sam? Yeah, I'm just reading this thing. And I see that under your under your face there. So I'm assuming you're going to talk. I think I'll be a little less complicated than CV by. We are a local community center. We struggle for funds. We serve some 220 meals a week. That after federal reimbursement and donations for meals costs us $7 a meal to serve. The other issue is we own this fantastic facility that we have to maintain and hopefully upgrade. So what we did is we put together a list of. Capital improvements that we would like to complete. Divided the total over the six towns that we serve. We are requesting from ARPA funds. Essentially 3.6 3.55% of each town's ARPA money. The support capital improvements at the community, the senior center. The biggie for us right now is paving the parking lot. We have a parking lot that's gravel and pothold. It's really hard for walkers and wheelchairs to get through it. And if you look at the letter that's that's. The big project of our capital projects. We thought it would be fair to split. We thought it would be fair to split. We thought it would be fair to request among the six towns. Rather than. Looking at any individual town to fund these projects. Yeah. We, we, we run a deficit on meals. Essentially $5,400 a month. Which. Makes it hard to maintain the facility. And we saw the ARPA funds available. For community development. And thought it might be a good and equitable place. For the individual towns to place parts of those funds. Oh, thanks. Thank you, Jean for this comprehensive list. I was curious. How big is the parking lot? Like what would the area be? Would it be an acre or less than an acre? It's less than an acre. I don't have the exact square footage in front of me. There are five spaces out of that that are. The parking lot. The parking lot. The parking lot. The parking lot. The parking lot. The parking lot for rental apartments. That we have in the building. But most of it. I'd say it's. The parking lot is a hundred by 50. Okay. And you wouldn't be changing your access or anything like that in connection with the. Paving. We're changing our access. We're moving the handicap ramp from out in the field, so to speak. To right up against the building so it can have a roof over it. So. Is that your answers? Judith, your answer, your questions or answer. Yeah, I just wanted to make sure that there weren't any other permits that were needed associated with the paving that. Okay. So I want to move forward with that. So we're going to get a lot of requests for use of ARPA money. And we're not moving ahead. Without putting allocating money until we get. The process in place, et cetera, et cetera. So I was wondering what your timeline was for the money that you need. Are you saying right now. For twin valley seniors. Yeah. Art impression was that. Needed to come up with decisions on. Expanding these ARPA funds. Sooner rather than later. And that maybe that impression is incorrect. I. Really would like to pave the parking lot soon. Cause we're not giving out that we haven't made a decision on the project. And that's going to, it's going to take a while. We have a couple of years to make this decision. So. We can't just pass up. Hand out the money. Willy nearly. We're. We talked about this earlier. We're going to have a process. We need to vet the requests. Blah, blah, blah. We want to run by the townspeople. We talked about the town meeting next year. 2023. So we're not going to be doing that. We're going to run by the townspeople as we talked about the town meeting next year. 2023. So we're not in a position to just hand out some money right now. Is that correct? That's correct. I mean, we could help some money right now, but that goes contrary to the goals that we stated. I don't think we're going to do that. Yeah. But I'm sympathetic to your request. One of the things for us is we didn't want this opportunity to go by. Yeah. Without applying for the funding. Well, you're. You were smart to put in your request early. And we're, we're definitely going to hold on to it. But we're not in a position to start handing out the money yet. We are talking about CV fiber. And that's something and decision that we need to make right away because we have a deadline coming up for matching funds. So that part of it. We're committed to moving ahead on. We're committed to moving ahead. On the rest of the money, which is a big chunk. We have not. We have not set up a process for vetting the proposals yet. And Carl, I just, excuse me. Seth, I just wanted to add. Another reason why we're going forward with CV fiber is because the town has already made clear their desire that we pursue that. And the board had previously expressed its. Decision to go forward with that. So we've already kind of reached out to the public about its support for that. So that part of it. And that's not going to be all the money, half the money, a quarter of a month. It's a relatively small percentage of the bottom. But we're just not in a position of starting handing out the money yet for other projects. We're going to set up a process. We're going to ask the town, we're going to do this. We're going to do that. So we're not, we're not going to be able to give you money in this year. In 2022. That would be fine. As long as you keep in mind that, that we're there. We have a couple of projects we need to complete. Yes. And. You are definitely. In the running for some money. Because twin valley is a very worthy project. For us to spend our money on. So. I'm not going to speak for everybody here, but we all, most of us. Have an expectation. That we could give some money to twin valley. But we can't guarantee that right now. But I, all I can say is thank you for the request. And we're going to hold on to it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. So I think we're done with. That item. Everyone. On board with the. Okay. Okay. So we're well behind schedule. The next item is center road speeding concern. I'm looking at a ladder. In the center road to speed limit in the centers. 25. And then it moves to 35. I believe. Yeah. Okay. So. You can move on. Okay. So. Well, behind schedule. The next item is center road speeding concern. I'm looking at a ladder. And. Pack it. And also. And then it moves to 35. I believe. Yeah. Okay. So. Okay. So. You know the speed. No, there's no speed bump here. Okay. And then you're. I'm Diana Fielder. I'm the one that wrote the original memo. To the town about the speeding. But. On behalf of all the citizens that live in this congested area, we're really, really, really concerned about the speed around and the speed of the speed of the speed of the speed of the speed of our children. Animals and bikers and walkers. It's a very active area and the speed is incredible. And we'd like to see some options. Presented and enforced. And I did send an email to BSP. And I did. Yes. Correct. And I did receive a response this afternoon. And unfortunately as we all know, if you watch the news law enforcement is understaffed so they're having difficulty one and just staffing regular operations and two having any extra people to dedicate and obviously we can't have someone there all the time so I don't really know that law enforcement is a great solution for this going forward anyway but I just wanted to let you know I did receive a response that while they would love to dedicate more they're they're struggling to even cover what they have now. So, I'll say, our contact is like 20 hours a month, right? Yeah, they're well under that right now. So, can we ask them to concentrate their 20 hours? They are, that's what he's going to do, they are going to shift and so they are going to do that it's just, you know, that's not necessarily going to wait to constant. Okay. You know, police presence there per se. And I'd have to look I can't remember how many hours they've been spending but they're well under half of what we contracted for. Yeah, so it's been steadily under I think well over a year just the understaffing that's in law enforcement today. Yeah. So what suggestions do you have from the center residents for things to do with clearly concerned and we want to help you what help me help you. Thank you Carl this is Becky Reed. And I just had a couple comments. One was regarding the speed monitor that you put up in the center that did not work from day one. I just showed the speed that anyone was driving never flashed to give them a warning and was utterly ineffective. And I think a good start might be to repair that and maybe try it again. I also wanted to comment that as you understand enforcement is necessary because if you don't enforce something, people aren't going to comply. I do understand that the state police are only contracted for 20 hours, but I may have been misinformed but I understood that they didn't actually concentrate on the areas that you suggested that they were given the latitude to do those 20 hours or they chose to do within our town. So if you can get them to focus in this area that would be great. And Chris and I my husband and I would like to offer at the top of our driveway there's a wonderful cleared area that is actually town property that could be sat on by a trooper. And it's in a good location because one you're off the road but to that's where cars come down around that corner, and are increasing their speed at that point. And as well as those that are going up the hill, they increase their speed to get up the hill. So it would be a very convenient place for them to actually monitor and even if just a few people were stopped and some checked and balance about this speed limit I think it would be affected because word of mouth, as you know is great. So, we would be happy to have you use that space anytime the troopers would like to. And I guess when you ask for suggestions Carl I think another suggestion might be. Not reasonable but I think that I have seen them in very at least those speed bumps that are long and low. So this doesn't affect plowing. But it is effective in slowing vehicles down and could be put anywhere at the top of the hill or down at the bottom of the hill. But I guess that's my say and I thank you for listening. So we can put that down. Sure it's 1505 center road. And it's right below the curve and it's very obvious I think we're the only driveway that actually has parking at the top we have a steep driveway going down but there's an area at the top that's very convenient for parking. You know I did receive a contact for a sergeant that's kind of more directly, letting people know, you know, supervising the team that is working on this so I that's why I want to thank you for asking for the address I was going to go look it up. But I was going to get him that address and I was waiting for the meeting tonight to then email email that sergeant tomorrow. Yeah, the speed car has been an issue. We have a number of people that want that Guthrie. Unfortunately, it's old. I mean it was purchased at a huge yeah it was used and getting parts he was, I forget where he told me called to try to get parts he's running into a lot of issues. And maybe we need to find out what the cost is for a an actual new speed car. Yeah, I believe. Yeah, the cost is 3000 really. Yeah, I think so. We're going through, you know, we go from up here or Worcester or Putnamville, and you see these blinking signs. I think they're run with solar. I know they're expensive, but boy they catch your eye. And I think a couple of those one going one way one going the other way would be wonderful. I know they're expensive but so are kids lives and dogs lives and so on and so forth so we really need to do something about the speed here. And it's not just people passing through at some of the neighbors that go fast, the kids from U 32 come this way as a shortcut, and it is a shortcut from up here to root two. And they speed really fast that includes ups and FedExpress. They drive really fast through here. So, we've had discussions about signs here in the past. I'm not a traffic expert, but the reading that I've done on signs is that there aren't many signs that really have much of an effect on motorist behavior. That is BSPs I understand. Maybe if they say slow nudists here. But other than that, and they don't work in winter. I also think that before we look back if I could finish yes so you know one of the things that I've read does work is actually changing the physical conditions and you've already mentioned Becky desire for possible speed bumps, which I know Seth is against. Wait a minute. Another thing that apparently works is narrowing the road. So, have you guys talked about possibly narrowing the road in a few places to get people to slow down. Never thought of that. You can have a little bump out. That seems like a more permanent. I mean, it seems like speed bumps might be less expensive and less permanent solution to that. You know to have correctly placed bump outs. I mean you need engineers to design it and you know that's that seems like a pretty expensive cost, as opposed to maybe looking at the speed bumps which I agree with Seth. I would be for. I also think with our farm vehicles narrowing roads, maybe. Yeah, a bit challenging as well. Yeah, you don't narrow it down so that nobody can get through narrow it down so that people need to slow down. That's kind of good idea. Yeah, big old flower pot. Yeah. So, okay, there's also, there's a resource available through local motion to set out a temporary with just with cones and chalk, a temporary solution to test it out to see how it works. So, I saw them do that in Northfield say okay what if we redirect the traffic around depot square this way, and then they observe and see what happens and then if they like it they can go ahead and do a more engineered design. Let's make a list. I was going to say the other thing is I get a number of complaints about speeding on many roads throughout town. So I also think we, you know, as much as this one alone was brought to the select order and you know which is why this is here. I think we may also need to consider taking to town residents and maybe it's either a poll or however it may be but I can tell you we will get significant requests for additional speed zones. I think we need to just about this is a pain. Ever since I've been. This is the biggest issue. I want to have speed bumps. I agree. I like to speak. I love putting back to my other members like what not for me, not for you. We do have a we do have a covert that's sunk down. So I don't think I want that one repaired. It's an inverted speed bump. Didn't happen. Okay, so we've got a list. I love speed and they're also I don't know how they're fastened in but they're, I would call them temporary speed bumps, maybe they're not they're these little things. They're maybe drilled into something. I can tell you the road form and didn't like my idea. It's hard to prop up. Becky was mentioning that if you get the ones with the cello. Yeah, I think you can make one of them. You know where to slow down. Yeah, I have a sign bump ahead. Yes. Okay, so, well, thank you for bringing your concerns for them. We are going to do some things that hopefully. Well, we appreciate it very much. If it could be immediate. Well, we can get the state police there. The hours that they allocate these bump, they wouldn't get them over there. I think their presence would just get the hint to cross maybe. Yeah. If you understand the conversation that we had about the state police, we, we are contracted for 20 hours a month total for those special things that we request. And if we don't request anything they'll go where they think they want to go. But if we do request them to concentrate on something then they told us that is where we'll go. However, because they are so understaffed, they are doing what did you say maybe 10 hours a month. So if we tell them to spend 100% of their time on center road, it might be 10 hours a month. Yeah, yeah, that's not always true because they go through each month there and they may not be charging us, but they could take that route. Yeah, that's right. Well, and, and hopefully they'll start at 530 in the morning because there is a 531 that goes through here like a jet. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. That stops. Did you want to speak Steve, I think Steve, I didn't have a question. Is there an opportunity to photograph and ticket like they do in other states. I don't think that's legal in Vermont is it? I've never heard of it. I don't think it's legal in Vermont. I know it's Arizona because I got custody. I grew up in conversations I had with others in the neighborhood. And my observation is because it's downhill I would have been right where people are back in a lot of their driveways. It's somebody's going to, it's going to result in. You know, we should ask that question to find out, Leslie. I think we'll find it's not, but we should. That's a good question. Last year I fixed. The sign that would read the speed, but Guthrie didn't bring it back to me this year. You just set it up and I was going to go and ask him if I should get it going for him, but I didn't want to bug him. I'm going to tell you what's not illegal, and that is to stand by the side of the road and be filming yourself. You know, that has no, no legal effect, but I've noticed that it does have an effect on driver's behavior. Now I would not advise doing that alone. I would advise doing that with somebody. Well, with the hands right. This is Janice Waterman. I just want to say briefly, we really appreciate the time you've allotted to us on this issue. And certainly, we're at 1555 Center Road and noticed an increase in speeding vehicles through the center. And I just want to leave you with one anecdotal story. I was going to Doty to committal service for a neighbor and walking down the street in a car was coming from the other direction like so from Fred Strong's toward the center. He was going very fast and there were a lot of people trying to get into the cemetery and folks walking. So I just gestured to just ask him to slow down a bit. That did not go well. He let me know in a with a certain gesture that that was not appreciated and proceeded to just step on the gas in the rocks were flying and you had to get off the road and it's that level of sort of public safety that has increased greatly in the last year or so. So thanks very much for your time. That's for speed bump work. Right. Yeah, right. Yeah. Damage your car. That's great. Yeah, that's the point. Exactly. But it's still there. It's still there. Right there. Okay. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So how are we going forward on this? Genius going to call the state police. And then we're going to look into the speed car. Okay. Yeah, I'll follow up with Guthrie. Like I said, he and I spoke a few weeks about it and I know. And the other thing is, we should talk more speak. Yeah. Guthrie is going to be on board because that's why we ran into the problem last time was with the last road form. And then we stopped us. Oh, so that wasn't a discussion with, with the current words. Okay. Okay. There's enough people on board with speed bumps now that maybe we can push that concept forward. So what happened with the sunken polar is I want to make that in the speed bump. But one of the slight board members said they didn't like to look at speed bumps. And I, I'm not all about looks at speed bumps. I'm about changing behavior. Because people don't want, they don't want their cars damaged. When the head hits the ceiling, it sinks in. Okay. So that's the order of events. Okay. And the other thing we could do just, just because I'm curious myself is what, what's the science costs. Yeah. And I can check in with locomotion about the resources that they might offer. Yeah. I like the idea, but I would just put big cement blocks there. So when they hit them, it makes it. I like the electricity. Okay, so now we're half an hour behind setting up the 20, 22, 23 property tax rates. Grand list is set at 3 million for the last year. 17,000. The current form for is 3 million. So the homestead rate is down 9 cents. And the non is down. That's because the school is less. Because our expenses have gone up. Yeah. So you need a motion to approve. I'm just running through the math. So you have worked up to the budget. We have a worksheet. Correct. I just like to look at that. So 67 cents. And what was the last year? 65. 65 so it's up to sense. Yeah. And the school rate. Is 1.7 and it was 1.82. That's a big, that's a big drop. Is that because the state or more students. We just get the number. So that's all. Yeah. More students to get more state aid. So the tax rate would be 231. Or non residential residential. Yeah. Okay. Well, I mean, is that all works? That's good. People like the taxes going down. They're going to attribute to our good management, but it's not true. You know, I don't care. It's the school decrease is what it is. And that's probably attributable to more students. That's usually what it is. That's a good answer. To answer that. Do you think that goes to school? Schools have gotten there. The schools that are funding. They got COVID funding. Oh. Yeah, that's true. Whether it was, yeah. Or other parts. Yeah. It was direct. For, at least. For the nation. At food guys. That's true. motion to set the tax rate. I move to set the tax rate as proposed. Second. All those in favor, please say aye. Are there any further discussion? Nope. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Yes. The ayes appear to have it, they do have it. Okay. Where's Johnson? He's out of town, he's about to make it back on time. Oh, okay. Oh, the next one is consideration of homestead filing penalty waiver, which is what we've done for the last few years. And remember the language? It's in the middle. Because you were right here. She's a note I have, so it looks like you've done this for the past decade. Yes, we have. Yeah. So we did a motion to do the same thing that we've been doing. Correct. I would move that we waive the homestead filing penalty as we've done in the past. Yes. I'll second that. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. Perfect. County Road Project update. Looks like it's a Vomag. Yes. I don't have an incredible update other than that. And that Guthrie is gonna be meeting with our Colbert contractor on Wednesday. Yep. We expect that work to begin the week of August 15th. We don't have a specific date yet. That's what we hope to get at the meeting on Wednesday. So. I was hoping I would have a better update for you tonight, but that's where we are. So Guthrie will be reviewing that with the contractor in detail. And hopefully we will nail down specific timing. Once I know that, I will be communicating through front porch warm when a road closure can be expected. From the last I heard, we'll be starting at Morse at that Colbert. Yeah. And that will be first, open that back up before moving out north of Barnes. So. Okay. So it's gonna be closed at Morse Farm? It'll be closed at Morse, correct. This is well. We can go around. Yes. So Varnchow. Yeah. This is, I recall why we're doing it this year rather than last year after the last fall, after things were delayed because we promised Burr Morse that we wouldn't do it after a certain date last fall because that's when you get so many of us tourists. Oh yeah. But we also didn't have the structure. Yeah. I don't think we had the Colbert. We didn't have the Colbert. They didn't come through at all. I think the main reason for what I heard was that the Colbert were delayed. I mean, I just remember getting to a certain point and saying, we can't do it this year because of the agreement. Yeah. That makes me have another thing that prevented us from doing it. $300,000 in extra payment costs. Yeah. So how about when we have Guthrie and to talk about speed next meeting, that we also have them just give us an update on this. And also I'm curious to know about how the process is going with Chase and them representing us. Well, they're gonna overlook the project and also the Colbert set. Right. No, I could get as input on how the conversations are going so far and maybe it's too early. Yeah. But by then they shouldn't start. By then? Yeah. They shouldn't start. If not in the midst, if not complete in the midst of one of the Colbert replacement. Okay. Good. Okay. So we're good on that. And now we're talking about an oil tank. I guess our oil tank's no good. It's $3,000. I thought that the company is usually would just swap out for you if you're a customer. I didn't realize that they actually charge you for the tanks. Oh yeah. Wow. Okay. That's why I fill my own tanks now because they won't fill mine. I'm like, I'm not going $3,000. Yeah, I don't know. It was just in the ground. It's in the ground? Yeah. Oh. There's a program. You can get those out of the ground. You know, it's out of sight, I don't know. Okay. Okay. I'm not going to tell anybody. Maybe I should have my water tested. Yeah. You better get the water tested. I'm downstream from them. You know what? Yeah. Oh, what? Yeah, it's all mine. Oh, baby. So it sounds fine. Yeah, do it. Yeah, I don't really know what the options are. There are no options. Unless you call somebody else besides Packard. Are they going to put it in? You could look for another quote. Got another opinion. Yeah, yeah. This guy, I don't trust any of them. I mean, I want to be conservative, but not. Do you have a recommended contractor because I wouldn't know where to go with that? Well, Conti's do it. Conti oil and berry. Or Gillespie. White's might too. I get my fuel from White's. I don't know if they'll look at the tanks. I know Conti's don't go up to their customers. Call Conti's in berry. Yeah, wouldn't hurt. Then take the lowest one. Yeah. Yeah. We don't need to make a decision tonight probably. Did he say it was urgent? Well, it's not winter yet, so I would imagine. You got it. I don't know what people's lead times are. I mean, I have an idea. Is he going to pump it out and do it? Or is he going to wait till it's empty? It's just, they would have to pump it out. They would have to pump it out to replace it. So I don't know with that. It's not going to. But I would ask somebody else just for the heck of it. OK. Town office updates and maintenance. So with this, an example, but I mean, there hasn't. No one can remember when there's when the office has been painted. It was painted. It was painted about six years ago probably. Well, we're here. I was told by the previous T.A. I haven't been painted since he had been T.A., so. You know about the inside? Oh, the inside of the car. He said both when I asked. No, the outside was painted. The outside was painted. Guy from Norseville painted. Yeah. About six years ago. Well, I'm more concerned. Well, and I had some work on the outside. What's that? The inside, but trying to create a more functional workspace and than what we have now. We discussed last meeting about the people sharing office. I would like to proceed with getting some quotes from a furniture perspective. That's not a sun cost. That's cost can be moved. But anything else. I know we talked last time about evaluating the building. Obviously, that would be for a new build. But what we could do today to make things a bit more comfortable for the people in this office. But you want to do something about the size of everything? Well, I don't I don't know yet. So you're talking about possibly hiring an architect or something to see what you can do with this space? Well, I'm more immediately would like to get just new furniture. But that has opened up. That has opened up the door to everything that hasn't been done and all the concerns and things that have fallen on deaf ears for quite a while. So, you know, furniture being number one, we did have someone come in. I am working to get a quote. We do have some issues and some of the locations with just the best that are there. Just don't work. And then, you know, that to me can be moved. There could be some potential in this building for moving walls to make it better than it is today. The lobby is an incredible wasted amount of space. Whether that would make sense to do or not, I don't know. I don't know what limitations we have because it's a historical building. We don't have any limitations to that. We need fires to be modeled on those. But you do have structural walls. Well, of course. Of course. So, I mean, we're open to ideas within this space. I mean, we've long thought that we should build a new building by the six pence. And we're still paying the bond on the fire station. So we sort of held off on that. That's what that is. Which I think makes complete sense, to be honest with you. Yes, and so we kind of made you with this building. I don't think that is necessary in the immediate future to me. But we would like to make the space usable for your suggestions. And you're right. It is. I mean, you could make this a more useful space. I mean, that's kind of wasted over there, too. I mean, that's well, let's just use that. I know that. But I mean, there's a giant truck. I mean, I don't know. I mean, put a cubicle in there or something. I don't know. It's just weird. It's weird. It's not a good workspace. And something else I was thinking. This is Judith. Hi, I was thinking that the meeting space where you're all in. It's really not very big or functional as a meeting space because it slopes and it's so small. If there's a member of the public and all of the select board members are there, it's you're really packed on top of each other. Whereas, is it possible to maybe use that space as office space and have all of our meetings at the fire station? I mean, that's something to think about. Because, you know, frankly, I don't feel comfortable in that space when everyone's there and we have members of the public and Orca. And it's just too crowded. I'm with you. We've had sound issues at the fire station that I know. That was certainly a challenge at the last meeting we had there. And I was told that that's a constant issue when we're there. In terms of their alarms going off? No, the air system, there's never a good place to set the camera up. Told that people on Zoom don't hear, can't hear well. And it happened with the last meeting, but Bruce had warned me about that before, that it's always an issue when we have meetings at the fire station. Right. Is that something, Sean, do you have any opinion on technological solutions to that? Because we have pretty much taken our technology from here and presumed and gone over to the fire station with it. But if we spent some time thinking about, OK, the ventilation system and need for, I don't know, more microphones based out or something, is that something that could help us with? Probably. I just think figuring out best technologically would always potentially be better outside of our before meeting. Yeah, absolutely. At a different time where we figure it all out better. I've done meetings there twice. I don't think there's been any sound issues at times. I've done it. I know that one time I did, there was that loud alarm thing that was happening intermittently. That scared us all. Yeah, that was scary. When it happened that the first time I thought of something wrong with my stuff that was just being in the fire department. But it's definitely kind of all about whether the most are the hardest thing is probably getting the audience well, because most of the time we've done it, there's been more and more kind of things, right? And one thing, an easy fix for that is having them come talk in one stop, like to really set up a microphone as opposed to talking where they are, because once they talk where they are, we just have that one full of microphone. It's just turning up the levels to like hear them and that brings everything to the subject, too. So that's one potential thing for audience people. I think that was probably the last time that was one of Bruce's last times. And he mentioned that a good place for the camera that someone had set up before. Which ended up, unfortunately, being an issue, because then the air handler was right above that spot. That's actually why we had some of the issues. Yeah. And I will also say there's a little bit more work in setting up the meetings over there. There's reconfiguring of chairs and whatnot. That has to happen as well. Yeah, it's pretty convenient here. Yeah, it is. The coffee machine is right here. Yeah, it really is right here. All the right people have to be drugged over there. Yeah, that's a sure thing. Sometimes they buy things. Yeah. So what about the short-term date with the first? Because we've got to pick off some of these things. Well, I mean, I'm working on getting work. We have one company that came in that we've at least been pleased with their design process. Another one we were not pleased with their design process and not pleased with their... So you set that in motion. So, yeah, so this is step one. I want to get some numbers and, you know, because I honestly don't... The last office I was involved in helping with procuring furniture was significantly larger and in a completely different state and town. So I had no idea what the prices are today. That was done, it was just last year, but... Yeah. Economies of scale tend to drive prices down a little bit. So the cost per workstation there would be less than. So I honestly have no idea what... Okay, so is that a good thing to start? I mean, that sounds like the first place to start. Yes. Is it painting? I think painting. I mean, there's been some complaints, but comments about the carpet, you know, could be... The carpet has been an issue ever since that happened. Yes. So what do you mean by that? It was like, if you rip off the carpet, you got to figure out what's underneath it. Yes. And whether you sand the floors and do it out of the carpet, I mean, is it all a hybrid like this? I think that I don't know. Yeah. And I don't know. My experience, hardwood could be difficult to refinish and rather actually probably more economical to replace the carpet than... We can do that. Refinish the floors. We can, I mean, whatever works. Yeah. So if we did a serious blowout though, I mean, like if we're really thinking that that might be a possibility, not today, but... To do what? Like if we were seriously going to configure the space, like if we're going to move walls potentially, things like that. I'm not sure that's very feasible considering the age of the building and how it's structured. Yeah. I mean... You mean everything is load bearing every single morning? A lot of them are. Okay. In a building like this. There's not that many walls. So in my head, they have to be mostly load bearing. Buildings are really old. Seriously. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So I'm not sure that's that feasible. I mean, we can look into that. So we should make it look nice for the time being. So painting would, that was my question. Like, I mean, would we build a painting if we think that in a year or two we're going to blow it all up? No, I don't think we're going to blow it up. I don't. I mean, I can understand the desire to have a new building, but it's not a bad space. It's a good location. Yeah. I mean, I, you know, I don't personally think there's a whole lot wrong with this building. I just think it needs some, it has some deferred maintenance. It just has to take care of them. Well, there's a history. There's a history. Yeah. The thought of the building. Yeah. People, when they put a lot of money into this building 25 years ago, I wasn't on the site for that. They're like, well, we're going to make it last for 20 years. And then somebody came in five, you know, not too long ago. Well, we only expect this to last 20 years. What are you going to do next? Well, you know, everything's in pretty good shape. I mean, we have spent some money here and there on it, but it's still going. You know, the roof is good. The foundation is good. We've done some drainage work on it since I've been here. We've done this and that. But insulation and cellar, we've done a lot of stuff. So we've nickel and dined it along. It's okay, but there are some things that could be done. Yeah. And furniture is easy. And furniture is not a sub-cost. And furniture is what could be moved whenever we do. And furniture could be moved whenever we do. And furniture could be moved whenever we do. If we are going to have somebody come in and look at this structure, it would be really interesting just to get a sense of how we can fix this room to make it work a little better. And this slanted floor is for the birds. What would it take to get the floor flat and maybe think about the boundary between this area and the Lister's area? Because we have room for members of the public to sit there and no room really for them to sit there. Can we change that? I don't know. Maybe it's just a matter of moving the screen over a little bit and moving all of these over foot and a half. Yeah, one thing, no offense I haven't gotten pricing on is replacement furniture for this room. Though that probably is something we could look into as well, but I'm more worried about the people that sit in here and sit here for a couple of hours. Eight hours a day? Yeah, we don't, we're not in here that much. And when we have hearings, we go over there. We have a lot of people in there. Most of the time people can tell us about what we do. Because some of the staff has said, we need new conference furniture. I'm like, oh, that's fine. They're not in here all day. But we want you to be happy. So that means new furniture? Okay. We will get pricing and I will let you know. Okay, that's a good idea. Now as far as the carpet goes, that has been issued for quite a while. Well, Ann, I'm gonna be honest with you. The one thing I keep cautioning staff is there's a lot of logistics that goes on with carpet and painting. And there's a lot of stuff in this office where it's all going to go to do. So I keep kind of, let's be practical. My office alone, I'm in a shroud of filing cabinets. I need to go through all of those and clean some things out before I can even begin to attempt to see that. But the concept thing is not that difficult. It can be done. What was the work that we did in response to mold complaints a few years ago? Down the cellar, get a drive. Didn't we do some work in that part of the office? The cellar's pretty good. I don't know. We didn't really. Didn't we get some filter thing that we set up? That's what we did. We did something. Yeah, but we never did anything about the carpet. No. No. Yeah, the cellar's actually quite clean. What's that? The cellar's quite clean. Yeah, we gotta keep it clean because it floods. And so they won't cover the stuff or something. If we keep stuff down there, it won't get covered. So that's what we went with the storage unit. I don't know if we still have the storage unit. Nope, it was all brought into my office. Oh, good. No, I'm not kidding. It was. But then we did sneak a few things down there. I think Bruce told me to put a few things down there. There are some things that we have started to take some boxes of things down there, of things that are, it's up off the floor. Yeah, towels or something. And it's not, it's not anything. The important stuff is in the vault, you know? I mean, it's nothing that if it did disappear, maybe things were not really willing to go of. Nothing that would be critical if something were to happen. That's, that's the way to know you have to look. The real critical things within that vault. Yeah. So. Okay. So. Okay, so I will come back with information for you. Perfect. Discussion on town management like COVID-19. We're low. Okay. We're at 30.8 to 100,000. Which you can probably multiply by two or three or four to get the actual rate now that people are doing the home tests catch more than anything else and probably not recording positives. But. Yeah. Very tough. That gives us up to the magic hundred, which was the high for community transmission before. I just feel obligated to point that out. You're falling. He's right. Yeah. And I don't know what to do about it. None. I'm sorry. Yeah. Great. Okay. No. Hi. And then I have the warrants for you. There was a special warrant that chair gardener did sign that we had to cut a check because we had their reconciling final came at the beamers on July 13th. On August 1st on the warrant that you have, I did want to point out that there is the Colbert purchase. It is one of the culverts on County Road. That is the one north of Powderhorn Glen. The amount was $18,714.50. Right now, we're just including that in the highway budget. We will continue monitoring the budget as we get through the year to determine if, I don't know, we may need to look at Capital Reserve or some other use of that fund. But for right now, it seems like an okay place to hold it until we kind of see how things go. So that will be the third culvert that was on the part of the original County Road project that we'll be done. That's a culvert for $18,000? Yeah. Yeah, right here. Yeah. So that. That culvert cut three we'll be doing at the same time. Yes. When the culvert contractor is doing the one north of Powderhorn. Right, but there's no grant or anything attached to that. No, there's not. That's just one we're replacing because the road will conduct. Correct. Yeah. That's the one that had the metal plate. So we may need to pay for that as some other source. Yes. Besides the road. Yes. Currently, obviously that is a bust in his budget, but you know, I think it's something we can just monitor as we go through the year. Honestly, some of the fund balancing and some of this we're about to go through the audit next week. A lot of answers for the new treasurer and myself will be answered as we go through that process as it relates to balancing the funds. So we've left this where it is until we have those conversations with the auditor. See you. Okay, so that's. Oh, let's get back to us for that too. Yes. Oh, there's curve cut. Okay. So we have to do that curve cutting. Yes. I'm going to approve. The new curve cut on foster road. Number 22. That is zero by four. Second. All of the favor. All right. All right. Okay. So that does the access. The warrants. We're signing. And I've got to sign this one. All three of you. That's all this. That's the answer. Yeah. While you're signing one question I did have for all of you as the meeting schedule. If there were. Any issues and having the meetings on the regularly scheduled October time, which would be October 3rd and October 17th. I didn't know if there was. Everyone would be here. Well, not everyone's here. Well, at least enough. Three people. At least. Yeah, I don't. I don't see. Yeah. Okay. We normally juggle things around in the summer months, but then in December is a mess. But other than that. Labor days always. Right. Yeah, which we're. Yeah. We're covered. Yeah. Okay. I think lastly, we have personal matters. Is there any other business? I wasn't here for that. Okay. And for personal matters, I just wanted to update today is the last, the last day for us to receive applicants for the municipal assistant position. So we will be scheduling interviews. Well, once we identify our final candidates that we would like to meet with, we will be scheduling interviews and the hope is to bring that candidate to you on August 22nd. I think. Lastly, we have personal matters. Is there any other business? I wasn't here for that. Okay. And for personal matters, I just wanted to update today is the last, I think we have a lot of things that we would like to do. And I'm not sure that we can do that. But we do have a lot of things that we would like to do on August 22nd. One thing I did want to confirm with the select board is that we would be conducting a background check on this individual because this person will be handling money. For the town office. So I just wanted to confirm that that would be the board agrees with that, that we would conduct the background check. We do have quite a few. Yeah. Nice. Yeah. Yeah, we did not do one for the zoning administrator physician, but my understanding was that the real kind of catalyst or the need for this was the handling of money. This position does do. So I think that it is. It is prudent for us to, to, to do a background check on the, on the individual. Did you guys decide at last meeting on what the process is for the selection process? I think what we had discussed, I think it may have been even the meeting before last was that the post the position was that. Myself, Michelle and Rosie will be conducting interviews. I identifying a final candidate to them, bringing that candidate to the select board. Okay. That's a good process. For sure. Yeah. Good. That's all. Well, it was like for an interview that person. Oh, of course. Yes. Well, yeah. Yeah. Okay. We would identify our final candidate in the hopes that then you all agree with. Our final candidate, but yes. Oh, no, absolutely. Yes. Now the select board would be interviewing before any offers. It's officially made. Right. Then there is another personnel matter for which. Employee compensation approach. Should we auto go into executive session? I think continuation of the discussion that we've had in past. Meetings. For employee. Compensation. Is there. Oh, yeah. We want to wait until John is here to discuss that. That's what I want to do. Yeah. I just want the full board on. For talking about. Getting with that. Yeah. Yeah. I just want the full board on it. It just seemed like the fair enough. We didn't talk about last time because you weren't. Right. Right. The question was. Lining up questions for getting these little advice on. And I'm not for that. We've already done that. I'm personally for letting it happen. Yeah. But that's just me. Sounds like we don't need to have the board. Yes, we do. Yeah. Okay. That was what I was saying before. Have everyone together. Work on. Okay. I have some ideas about it, but we'll just talk about it. Okay. Okay. Are we going to be all together next time? I hope so. I'm going to be here. I'll be here. What day is that? It's a Monday. I'll probably be there in person because I'm going to visit family this weekend for vacation and I didn't want to. I've been safe so far and I don't want to bring COVID with me to them. So after I see them, I won't be as concerned. So. Okay. Everyone has their own. I guess that's it. Okay.