 Also good evening. I'd like to call to order the Monday, March 4th 2024 Berlin's regularly scheduled select board meeting to order With us tonight to my far left is Joe Stobb to my left is Flo Smith To my right is Tor Nelson. Carla. Newiesel is joining us by zoom. I'm Brad Town and Any additions or changes the agenda? I do I would like to on the Discussion about the FEMA or the VEM flood buyout. I'd like to add a Another item for previously approved buyout 4509 route 12 Moyer an update on them And then also add Executive session for personnel at the end of the meeting. Okay, and he Won't expect it after that. No, okay Any public comment hearing no all looking at you hearing none unless you have something you'd like to say As we approach construction season, and I know we're going to have a sewer line. We're going to have a waterline I'm as that I'm doing my nimby duties as the neighbor over here Curious about if we have a policy or can come up with a policy for non town Berlin usage of our property Right now. We've got Lucas tree service out there and somebody else sometimes in the summer. There's so much traffic I'd like to be outdoors in the summer. We all do. I'm just trying to reduce the Commercial usage of that land the last group the winter set group that was out here for three years They had the field office They were paid over thirty four thousand dollars by the state of Vermont to maintain that field office So why couldn't they rent space in the industrial park? That's always my point is these non town of Berlin equipment should be in the industrial park not a Historic residential neighborhood. Thank you. Any other public comment Hearing none Fiscal 25 budget presentation so I would like to just go over a repeat of the Budget presentation we did Saturday at the town meeting For anybody who wasn't here so Our proposed Budget expenditures for next year is four point five million dollars Which is an increase of four hundred seventy one thousand or eleven point five percent over the current year budget of Just under four point one million dollars Without figuring in the Unreimbursed flood expenses our budget would only be four point one five eight million dollars Which is only increased by seventy one thousand dollars over the current year budget or one point seven percent So the you know the biggest increase in our budget for This year is due to the floods now. I've got a Carla can't hear we are blue Can you hear us better now Carla push that button does it go red? Can you hear us Carla? Apparently not. Can you hear me now Carla? Wonderful, okay Go back so like I said the four hundred thousand is For flood repairs that will not be reimbursed by FEMA or the Federal Highway Administration they were required a certain percentage as a local match and These projects include the pain turn pike north claps the Richardson Road Covert Which currently has a temporary logging bridge across it Junction Road culvert and the Darling Hill Road culvert And then as there would be a separate article on the town meeting warning for tomorrow Be an authorization for the town to borrow funds to cover these expenses for you know over a period of five years This will reduce our immediate tax rate But increase the cost of the projects overall Currently the Finance charges are ranging from five to five point eight percent You know of course we won't If we do go the route of Borrowing for these projects, you know, we won't execute, you know paperwork until July or even later So who knows what the interest rates of that time might be but as of today, it's you know five percent, which is a significant Cost increase for these projects Question So if it happens to pass Can we lock in before July? I Don't know that we can and I don't know that we would want to okay is everything I'm seeing Kind of pointing towards there might be some easing of rates Okay by this summer, but but that's all funny money Hocus-pocus stuff As far as wages We have figured in a three percent to wage increase for non-union employees This is based on the Year end twenty twenty three consumer price index of three point four percent So we're right in line with that just a just a little bit below that For our union employees, which is just the police department We have a negotiated rate of four point five percent Baked into the to the budget And that contract runs through June 30th twenty twenty five So overall we're looking at an increase of fifty thousand dollars in wages for next year over the current year Another big area of increase is with our insurance premiums Figuring in and all the different types of insurance the health insurance, which we're you know Figured in a ten percent increase which you know, everybody is facing that year after year in the premiums our vehicles and liability insurance and on the buildings and Everything else We're looking at a pretty good increase there of $87,000 for all types over next year going from six hundred fifty nine thousand to almost seven hundred forty seven thousand Some individual premiums increased close to fifty percent Especially on the police department side As far as capital budget, which is our large ticket items We've put forward two hundred fifty three thousand dollars towards a new highway loader And this is going to be paid for with Reserve funds and it's not going to come out of property taxes So that will improve the tax rate there also fifty five thousand dollars for a new police cruiser This will be paid for with ARPA funds and also will not increase our tax rate And lastly fifteen thousand for possible replacement of the town hall furnace also coming out of ARPA funds And while not part of the Vote tomorrow Looking at where the town revenues come from We receive a variety of different types of payments From sources other than the property tax and this includes state payments for the roads We receive pilot which is payment allure of taxes payments from the state for You know the central garage on 302 the airport Buildings like that. We also receive pilot projects from non-profits for instance like the Blue Cross Blue Shield and other Properties exempt from property taxes. They still make a payment to us also town clerk revenue birth certificates marriage licenses dog licenses Recording property transfers with this with this town clerk. There's charges for that which go into the fund as well So we're looking about $520,000 for all those sources The use of reserve funds like I mentioned before is another through hundred thirteen thousand and the use of ARPA funds is 115,000 So conservatively we're looking at about 900 just under nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars We'll be raising from non property tax revenues. Now the final use of these funds will come In June when we set the tax rate You know the course at that point to be you know, I have a little better idea. There may even be additional funds We can use in these areas You know if there's you know if this year's if the audit comes in with undesignated Reserves we could use that could even possibly bring it down But does not have 47 is is very encouraging for bringing down the the tax rate Some people like looking at graphs, you know, this is kind of this some of the Major budget areas, you know or again the Unreimbursed flood damages is a huge part so almost 10% of our whole total budget for the year for these flood damages and Breaking it down by department You know police is about 36 percent Highways just a little bit more at 40 percent and general operations comes in at a quarter So, you know the highway and police are very very close And and very Equal for the two amount. So putting this all together And basically how we figure out the tax rate in June. So we look at our town budget 4.5 million dollars Look at the special appropriations Articles on the town meeting warning if all of those are approved tomorrow Including the fire department. That's another 517,000 which would come out to five million 76 thousand dollars we would need to raise Subtracting out our anticipated revenues of just about nine hundred fifty thousand dollars Comes up with four point one million dollars. We would need to raise with property taxes With our current grand list of 5.3 million dollars and here again the grand list will change it's based on the April 1st Date So this number will change as well. It gives us an expected tax rate at this point of point seven seven two one What this means is our current tax rate is point seven five seven four which comes out to $1893 on a two hundred fifty thousand dollar house Our estimated tax rate of next year is point seven seven two one Which is nineteen hundred thirty dollars on a two hundred fifty thousand dollar house Which is an increase of thirty seven dollars for the year in municipal taxes now? Keep in mind. This is totally independent of the school taxes, which you know, we're hearing just Scary it's not the word I want to say You know numbers coming out of there So that's basically it, you know the valid the voting tomorrow is all straightened out here at the town office from 10 a.m. To 7 p.m. 7 p.m. any questions and I will say that You know, this is a Say very rough presentation You know, but it's a framework we can use for future years and add to it and do better next year now. There's also a Narrated version on YouTube that we linked them. It's just my same old boring voice, but basically saying the same thing You know over the slides So maybe we can do you know how often we can do better on that next year as well And I think definitely get these presentations out earlier, you know as soon as we adopt the budget I would like to have these presentations out next year The grand list you showed up here at five million that's it's actually a hundred times more than crap I hope so it's a hundred times just just like just like on your your property tax assessment But I'm a 250 thousand dollars house. You're not your your actually right the based on the rate of 2500 Not the 250,000 so it's so so you're correct They're just trying to trick me with more math Any other questions And last thing that number the grand list number does not include am I right blue cross blue shield the value of that property the Value of the hospital that's the pilot stuff correct But the grand list would be greater if we include it all that in there great greatly improved. Yes Any other question Okay Northern Border Regional Commission grant application resolution So you all have a copy of this in your Packet this is a grant that Tom is looking to apply for the Northern Border Regional Commission For funding for the Scott Hill Loop project as part of this they need authorization You know who on the town is going to act as the official point of contact for this basically I make the motion to move the resolution authorizing Tor Nelson was the interim town Berlin town administrator as authorized act on behalf of the town in regards to the Board of Regional Commission grant application Here a second I'll second Any further discussion? All those in favor? Hi. Hi Now a motion for me to sign on it and in Conjunction with that also a motion to allow Brad tour chair to sign this evening You said Brad tour I Didn't realize I said it that way Here a second second any further discussion all those in favor Motion carried Anything else on that tour? No Okay, natural resource conservation service emergency watershed protection program project So we do have three properties That have been approved by the US Department of Agriculture Natural resource conservation service Into their emergency watershed protection program use all those acronyms together and I think you've got your word for the month the first project That we're that we've been approved for is with Joel Hartman for 963 Jones Brook Road We have a bid here Fitzgerald environmental associates, which is the only bid we've received for this project Including after reaching out To several other firms DeWolf SLR consulting Bear Creek environmental VHB and Du Bois and King All of them have Declined to put in a bid ripple natural resources Expressed an interest in putting in a bid on this project But ultimately they did not and we gave them plenty of notice You know to have it in by Thursday. They ended up not submitting a bid So the only bid we received was from Fitzgerald for a total of $12,500 which is in line I guess ordinarily The NRCS would provide the engineering services for these projects, but they are swamped I guess that was about a pun but With all the projects they have they do not have the engineering capacity So they are allowing you know They're actually putting it on the towns to go out for this and they'll be a part of the grant program Package they have with us to reimburse us for these costs So I recommend a proof and how much of it is reimbursable 100% of the of the engineering portion in there. That's good news the actual project itself is 75% covered by the NRCS and the property owner It's responsible for the remaining 25% Motion on this I make the motion to approve the bid from Fitzgerald environmental associates See as Tours said that it was the only bid and it came in at 12,500 and that's in regards to the natural resource conservation service Emergency watershed protection program project I'll second that Any further discussion? All those in favor? Those opposed motion carries hearing contract award That's the term pain term like north repairs municipal project management award process so Try to be nice tonight We do have a signed grant agreement with the state regarding the paint turn pike north repairs And I hand it out separately from your packet a Diagram like this There So Out of all these steps We are currently on number three And which means we have to select a municipal project manager And I show this I'm sure Flo and Joe this is probably much more familiar to you two And there's three ways that we can Proceed we can do a You know competitive RFP Throw it off for everybody We can contract with the Regional Planning Commission or using a municipal employee Which you know, we don't have the expertise on staff or We can use at the ready procurement process, which is Engineering firms that have already been vetted By v-trans and are basically on an approved list That that we can select from I am recommending that we proceed with that the ready process and then In the other packet there is a Big detail process how you go about Selecting those engineers Including a big flow chart So like so like I said, I recommend using the at the ready The problem is You know, this is just one step of all these steps and you know, we have to go through Local concerns meeting I can tell you right now the local concerns is why isn't the road open alternative alternatives presentations and all sorts of things like that just like we you know, we did with the 302 bike lane Road diet was at about ten years ago now and the and the Fisher Road Diet was about a year ago or so. I think right about but well, you know, so This is not gonna be nearly as quick of a process as we were hoping and it's already dragged on you know six plus months at this point and You know, it looks like it's gonna be much longer much more involved in this But we you know, if we are gonna move with the at the ready I would like, you know, I will sit on this Committee I'm sure Tom and Tim. Is there another select board member that would like to be on there? Well, so I'd be glad That okay with everybody What I would what I hope to do is Like I think maybe I can bring this up is to put on our town website This page I Think that would be beneficial. I know I had residents that approached me at the pre-town meeting and I don't know if you see and you know, so just kind of mark off, you know They didn't show but I'll have Chelsea work on it But the little green checkmarks that we update as we go through the process so we can You know along with other things we put on that page We can show everybody where the Where the process is and what the next step is that would be wonderful like that So that's all I had on there unless there was any questions Resident asked if a Bailey bridge could be put in In the interim of the work being done, and I don't think that that's possible But I just wanted to bring it forward where it was on the pain turnpike north the closure They wondered if a Bailey bridge could be put in Temporarily this so that people could get through until the work is done to open it up for That's the way they described it to me and I explained that I wasn't certain but that I would Very similar to what you have on Richard's temporary logging bridge Once you start working on it, you're gonna have to tear it out anyway, so well until that work it's you know How long is it gonna be until we can start work? And right so leading up to that You know even if it's a single lane bridge with with traffic lights on both sides I don't really you know we could do something and that's what the residents were Approaching me about is that if we could do something such as that that was just a description they had Well, I know the state has them to rent I'm just trying to think You'd have to take and figure a way or to get it up off the pavement and then it had to be a ramp to it Because you couldn't have it Just on the pavement because of the pressures wouldn't be the black top wouldn't hold it Have something underneath it No, but you would be spanning it in such a way that you'd be supporting it on either end. Yeah, yeah the I think how the Bailey Bridge is what the army uses they just pinned together and then put down a deck and a way you go And if you needed to hold one tank, it's so many layers or so many heights and if you needed to hold two it's More so the but I think that's an option if we're looking at an extended period of time That's something we should really be thinking about And I think it would make a lot of town residents happy I think it would give access from emergency services go back and forth that is a Major artery for the town and and so we have all these conversations about the town center and then want to promote growth But yeah, we just you know, we cut a limb right off by not doing anything. I Think we should really investigate that You know, I mean the first thing to do is find out if the state has one they can rent Or the pieces to rent and then find out how much it's going to be Because those Bailey bridges. I mean they can be one two or three late. I mean, they're really quite. Yes They can be as expensive as you want them to be and with that comes the cost But it would be great and it wouldn't be reimbursed by Few more federal highways not part of the grant agreement be totally on our own. Yeah, so you'd have to take and get a hold of the state and DOT and find out just what the expense is and they may not even have well, I mean depending on how many are out already They may not have one to rent or how many pieces But I'm trying to think when they redid the bridge there and There by Curly's Fuel that Bailey's Well, it was actually for because they're too wide and too high true Good point But you just keep pinning them together to get the length you want. Mm-hmm. Where you go But I would take in if you could tour get a hold of the DOT and see what they have to rent and How much would be for Year or two Yeah, I do believe that this will carry on into the two-year mark Then of course on all of these stops the other thing is you have to somebody go down there from the state That is familiar with the bridges and see which side to go on because you got to sewer and water on one side And if you're going to take and put it on the other side Then you'll have to think they'll have to figure out what they can do to support the bridge off the black top on Richeson roadside So I Mean I'm sure you can put those Bailey bridges on concrete block footings, but But you have to find out and get somebody more knowledgeable look at it Okay, anything else on the turnpike there? Thank you, and thank you. Are you getting any pressure from the state police to get that open? I'm not that I know Usually state police if they leave there, they're going to the throughway. Anyway, they're not Big Berlin takes care of in Montpelier down through there. That's all municipal and state police they patrol the throughway Some of the backwaters They got to get to a plane Okay, I know fire department And that state police barracks is nicknamed NASCAR barracks they can only go left. Yeah Okay, so anything else on turnpike turnpike north? No, okay Let's scratch this one. I have not prepared anything for Reamers Especially event permit capital city stampede, so there's a copy in your packet central Vermont runners is looking for June 8th 2024 Sir 46th annual 10k race sponsored in part by Onion River Outdoors, which is part of the Vermont senior games And it's the same route they've used For the last several years They will have Marshalls throughout the Race course to assist with the traffic control map is attached and starting with the My people high school going on junction road back to the Department of Labor parking lot in the high school track and then down Court Street In Montpelier And I would say so moved. It's 46th annual There's never been any problems in the past and I don't anticipate any of this time too And I like that the marshals will be in place to assist Here a second a second Okay, and then that they that you're waving the feet Are they going to post it a couple days before the race so people I Hope some idea what's going on Yes, okay So they do this with marshals in place throughout the course to assist with traffic control, but are we not making them put up signage? Well, that's a lot. I was just asked in this company's well Out on the road out on the course. Yeah Okay Yeah, I mean the only places usually it's They have them at Jones Brook Road corner and at three mile bridge They're by Rachel's or junction road turns into three mile bridge road Usually have people there Okay, any other discussion on this? Hearing none those in favor hi motion carries Cross-town road mud season Basically the closure did go into effect today I Will be an effect until further notice unless we get a good stretch of low freezing Weather In which case, you know firms that they would be able to open it again, but As of right now Tim is anticipating about a four-week closure Hopefully by the end of the month Things so try out enough that that it can be reopened and that's really the only thing I had on that looking at the To revisit the Special event permit Need a motion to sign the paperwork And I'll amend my motion to as stated before and also include that we seek the signage And that we do waive the fee and give Bradtown permission to sign application second Any other discussion those in favor? Okay, so the road is the cross-town is closed Correct Okay, what point does it close may ask over toward? Yes How about a quarter mile up from the bottom isn't it? Yeah, that's for the ones coming up the hill So it's in two places one way up by the lecasses and one down before you slope down Okay, April 8th eclipse planning update tour So really the only update to that is We have received about 200 of the Stylish Eclipse protection glasses And Rachel have them out tomorrow for people to pick up at town meeting First come first serve so on the update on the eclipse. That's it Okay, uh from our Vermont emergency management flood buyouts agreements 50 Junction Road So this is a new property That has Express an interest in the buyout program at 50 Junction Road Margaret Lissard They were flooded in 2011 both in the May right before the Memorial Day storm and then again by a hurricane and rain in August of that year Damaged again in the July flooding They have lived at that property for 46 years Their damage has been assessed at close to a hundred thousand dollars in damage Which they did have Some flood insurance on the property, but this amount was far exceeded their their Policy limits So they are interested in pursuing the VEM buyout be the same processes with The other two properties were currently looking at the other one on junction road and I'm route 12 and as part of that we need to Sign in the maintenance agreement that you know, we will take over the property and I'm not putting anything else in the flip plane and anything like that. So I Look for authorization to sign that maintenance agreement just like we did for the new two properties They're a last meeting I make the motion to Provide the authorization for Tor Nelson to sign the maintenance agreement as described just now second second Need for the discussion All those in favor I Motion carries Then the other Probably at least two years off not longer you entered into an agreement For the Moyer property at 4509 Vermont route 12 And even and it's even gone so far as Putting out an RFP for the building deconstruction There's been no movement The purchase of that property for close to a year now It's tied up with the mortgage holder not apparently want not Wanting to Let that property go for the price that they were offered. So there's been no movement in the state is You know looking to move ahead with that project or to close it out So I'm gonna be talking to the town attorney later on this week to see if we can get something moving on that Otherwise just like I said, you know, I didn't say at this time But we said the other ones both parties either party can back out at any time to write a closing We as the town may have to take exercise that option and pull out of this Program if we can't get any movement from the from the mortgage company How are the taxes on that property of the current they are not current fact that town That property has been removed from the tax rolls So you've not been charging property taxes on that for several years, but the previous Taxes before that are still delinquent still outstanding still delinquent Cinema bill well, I had some ideas But I mean why the only thing is gonna hate their attention is if you start taking money Well, I I I'd have to talk to the attorney, you know, if can we put him back on the tax throw and start Start charging them again. Well, you certainly should be able to which certain should be able to take and charge them for anything that that previously but then but the other than option is Can we have baited down to a dollar then just put it off for tax? I don't have the town bid a dollar on it Well, if you put it out to taxi, that's a bid anybody can bid it up right, right? The purpose of the tax sales for the town to recoup this money So you'd have to have it whatever the the old taxes there So the current but I don't think we're gonna get No, I don't think we're gonna get any money from that property. Okay, so the current owed taxes. It's not There's no interest or penalties being applied to that right now not currently. Okay, that's why to her what it's stopped when they moved from the tax roll they stopped accruing Interest and penalties on that property what was there before and I think it's from like six two thousand sixteen two thousand fifteen It's still there, you know and do but since then It's not been accruing I would take Dr. Steve and see what he says on that Okay Anything else other than the lawyer property? No Okay, local campus control commission application Outdoor cold reader so a couple weeks ago uh we had a Couple come to one of our meetings and Described their proposed facility Then nothing at that time they had applied to the state cannabis control board for their cultivator license And you know, we said we would defer any Action until we receive notification Oh, we should probably go enter into a cannabis control commission Yeah, a motion I make the motion to enter into the local cannabis control commission to Provide opportunity to discuss a second A little favor all right Okay, so now we're in the local cannabis control commission um So they have filed the you know their application with the cannabis control board And They are okay with the Application as presented and look to the town As the cannabis control commission To approve this application as well and I recommend that Approval Yes, well, I guess maybe a second first your second I'll second for conversation Okay, and In for the discussion sure So I guess when they came and they addressed the the board and there was a few questions that they was asked and one of them was Have they reached out and talked to the neighbors? You know since then I had one of the neighbors asked me I said something Uh to one of the neighbors and they were not for it And so when you talk about the talking about the neighborhood um Walker road is there's a row of trees between my house and Walker road Am I part of the neighborhood because I know they never came to talk to me I'm just wondering If We don't necessarily have it have it warned on a location But giving opportunity the location is confidential. Okay As a cultivator it is confidential. So, okay um How do we give opportunity to the the people in the area? To come in and talk What my recommendation in that case is A table look for tonight and have the applicant come in and Uh talk about what their outreach efforts have been and what they've Received back and I also have had a neighbor approach me and that's why I posed the question When we first met with them And so You know, I was in hopes that maybe that had been alleviated and it may have been with the neighbor that contacted me It could be a totally different neighbor that joe spoke to but I think it is wise going forward to open it to allow neighbors to express Their views and so that we really are clear Dependent on the confidentiality of course Well, um as far as the notice I mean You can look at the you can look at the land map and see who the neighbors are and just require that the applicant have the signatures That way there you have You know, you know the neighbors have been contacted at least spoken to and they have signed off on it The other thing is is that You have somebody who was trying to start a business And Yet it's you're turning it into a More of a problem But then to start the business granted the business is It's somewhat controversial to some people But it's all something you need to think about when you do your What you want to put it whatever you do for proof of notification And you know It's like it's like when we put up the the cell tower people came to us They contacted all the all the budding landowners But it wasn't really a fair deal because I owned land in the next town. I was a budding landowner and then 100 yards up the 100 yards across that pasture. It was another Person another neighbor much like what happened at Well, same thing like with my neighborhood. Yeah, there's you know, that's all in that's a 20 foot stretch of land between me and the Property that the cell tower is on so I was not in a butter Well, that's just something to keep in mind. I mean you can look at it On a on a case by case basis too and You know, well, I think that's what the purpose of the commission is. It's not just for us to be a rubber stamp But to make sure the towns concerns are addressed We can't so I would recommend tabling this at this time. Yep. I concur and I guess I'll make that a motion And I'll second Need for the discussion Oh, yeah, go ahead. May I ask? Um, obviously there's confidentiality stuff. I'm not familiar with but that's cool As far as like when they were here and maybe they're going to come back I mean, are we talking about a greenhouse the size of this room? Are we talking about like acres and acres and are we talking about 24 hour lighting? I can see where that might your say some neighbors. So I'm curious. Maybe I'll come back when they come to see, you know, what are we talking about here size-wise And is it zoned in the right area? Is it in the right zoning area? They do have their proper zoning permit for that um This is going to be an outside Field, it's not going to be a good one Organic well, there there is a building involved Well, um, there's a shed for the Stuff, but it's it's not primarily going to be, you know hydroponics. Right? type of thing Not that I really know much about it, but usually in a factory with plants in a greenhouse when it comes to When it comes to CBD oil, I dealt with the people over in marshal Plainfield Uh motion to come out of the cannabis Are any other discussion on this? Yes, uh motion to come out of the cannabis commission. I make the motion to move out of the cannabis commission second We'd like to reconvene the select board meeting and reconvene this select board. Yeah, we'll do it all as one Dwarf Yeah All those in favor The thing that was carl. Yep Okay, um licenses permits vouchers applications warrants approval I make the motion to move the payroll warrant 24-19 for payroll from february 11 2024 The february 26 2024 to be paid on february 28 this year in the amount of 65,958 dollars and 46 cents And the payable warrant 24 g 20 with check number 23 742 to 23 778 in the amount of 115 891 dollars and 19 cents I'll second Okay, any further discussion All those in favor hi Any motion carries Approval of minutes Quite a few of them today The first is from tuesday january 2nd 2024 And that was the evening that the corporation president of the fire department came and spoke to us And also the chair of the school board. Yes. Yes, smith I make the motion to approve the minutes as presented to us this evening for tuesday january 2nd 2024 Second Any discussion Those in favor I Motion carries And the minutes for Monday january 15 And this was the first meeting that the um Cannabis license came to us I make the motion to approve the minutes of monday january 15 2024 as well And just one thing is moving the heading at the bottom of the first page to go Right above the top of the second page I'll second Any further discussion all those in favor hi Hi motion carries um Monday january 22nd 2024 primarily a budget session And I make the motion to also approve the minutes of monday january 22nd 2024 I second Any further discussion all those in favor hi Looks and carries Minutes also we got we have monday january 29th 2024. This was the first public hearing on the Charter change local options tax as well as um Approving the town budget and time we do Here motion. I make a motion to also approve the monday january 29 and 2024 minutes as presented this evening a second Any further discussion All those in favor hi Hi motion carries Um Then one the last set is for monday february 5th 2024, which is the second uh public hearing on the charter change And That was really the big item for that night motion and I'll set I'll Make a motion to approve the monday february 5th 2024 minutes as well One second any further discussion Hearing none all those in favor hi Motion carries old joe. Oh, I think uh Saturday march 23rd rolling fire department's going to be having a five breakfast It's a fundraiser of which Open to the public and it's a great community event. I'd love to see each and every one of you there Great opportunity to talk to the town folks And the one that was held last year was amazing. It was well well received and uh, really Very very well put together. No, I was just going to say it was very well put together Is there nine nine nine eight. Okay. My ears are stuffed Anything else joe Yeah, you sure uh Was there something in front porch forum you wanted to mention tonight? Oh Well, I don't know if it's going to this isn't going to be out for a quite a while It'll be old news Oh, then I'm going to be running for right now. Yes. Yeah, that's gonna be old news By the time anyone hears this Well, carl is sharing that carl is hearing it and I read it Okay, anything else I'll have to ask a question. Sure I didn't know if possibly with the heater. I know it's small budget item 15 grand. Well, it's 15 Would we maybe get A lot of help maybe for a efficiency remodeling uh, we are actually Exploring that um and also with dream on power to see what the options are so you're taking care Okay, uh flow. I just wanted to add that I do hope folks will come out for the pie breakfast. It's wonderful I myself cannot be there this year. I'm on a trip that day. So Um, otherwise I would but it's something I had pre arranged But I will be sending good vibes and I wanted to add that I think Saturday went really really well with the pre-town meeting And I want to thank everyone as part of the involvement that day And uh tour you did a tremendous job in presenting as well Very much appreciated and also thanks to the berlin volunteer fire department lunch was amazing again And uh, all presentations were very thorough and I still have girls called cookies left Not many They smell Uh It was a nice day and that was nice. They were there selling them. It's great. I missed them lester. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um carla anything Oh, sorry to hear We'll bring you a suit. Yeah. Okay. Uh dork. I have two things. Um, currently in our personnel pile, so we allow A boot allowance of 150 dollars um, and you saw the checking there for one of the uh Highway employees Put it forth that maybe in a future meeting we consider increasing that Because that doesn't look like it's Covering the cost the cost nowadays More on that coming. The other thing I wanted to address was a front porch forum posting this evening Two concerns with misinformation on that post The first Inquiring if there needed to be a bidding process for the sale of the townland There does not there's no requirement In state statute or our charter to have a bidding process. So we are totally in compliance with that The other thing is she had mentioned increased traffic on cross tongue road and Um Navigating that lot through the town highway garage store yard That is not how that work if she had been at the pre-town meeting She would have seen the presentation where the access to that lot would be through the Property out for the comfort end. So two pieces of misinformation from that Posting which you're going to be in this close to the meeting won't be able to you know get out before them Mm-hmm Anything else? No Entertain the motion to adjourn I make the motion to adjourn tonight. It's regularly scheduled select board meeting, but didn't we want to go into Oh, we do need to go into before we Didn't write that down I move that we enter into executive session for personnel and according to the one dsa 313 a Second Any discussion all those in favor All right This is the point of meeting where I leave, right?