 Welcome everybody to the Monday, July 10th, 2023 Town of Berlin Select Board meeting. With us tonight is Flo Smith, Tor Nelson. Also our police chief, Tom Badowski. I don't think Diane or Treasurer is gonna be here. So we'll move on to additions or changes to the agenda. The only thing I had was for the signing for the appointment. We have one other addition, Mr. Chair, and that is the recognition of senior officer, Chair for his achievements. Okay. And let's see here. Excuse me. Um, let's see here. Brad, they are here. Oh, senior officer, Chair is present. We'd like to start with that. Sure thing. We know everybody's cell phone works. One warning. By the way, two figures. Surprise. Are we gonna? Sing happy birthday. Yeah. That's my chief's at the head of the table to sing soul. Thanks. Oh, you don't want to hear me sing. Officer chairs, we'd like to take and thank you for your service, for your achievement there with your training. And the cake is, I don't know if it's really gonna be all that much for you, but wish you well. Thank you. And I want to appreciate the effort. Senior officer tears is made in putting into the DRE process a recognition expert process. It's a definitely a needed position in Washington County. He's represented the department well. Top scores for him. And I appreciate his commitment to that. And I appreciate the board recognizing his commitment. Congratulations and thank you, officer, senior officer, cherish. Thank you. He's got another phase where he has to do some observation down in Florida. Yeah, Jackson, Florida. Jackson, Florida, but still all paid for by the government. So we don't have to flip the bill for that. And hopefully he has better weather down there. I don't know. I kind of think Arizona was a little bit drier. Colorado. I'm gonna keep you here any longer because I know you guys gotta head back over to North Hills and I want you to be able to make it. Yeah, thank you. Be safe and good luck in the travel. Thank you. I'd like to echo the comments. I've been familiar with the DRE program since it's very beginning here in Vermont. It's a very important program, a lot of success, a lot of good work in keeping care drivers or giving them care drivers off the road. And I'm glad to see a brilliant police department and especially you continuing with that program. I appreciate the support. Thank you. Thank you. I wanna take the cake back across the hall. Thank you. Everybody else wanted to be here, but obviously mother nature and other things. So you're saying don't go over Coxbrook Road. Last I heard at like three o'clock, the more townside was not good. How far over do you live? Yeah, common road. Make sure you take your cake home. I'm sorry, but the guys tonight have it. What if you don't let Chad get it? Excellent. I was wondering if it could be possible to kind of brief your audience. Okay. Brief the board on what's going on currently. Is Jim there? He is. Yeah, now's the time. Yeah, we both have a little report to make. We've been responding to road closures and people stranded all morning, all day, going out with the fire department and trying to help people get situated. Fortunately, the other kind of calls that we normally deal with have been minimal. So it's just kind of dealing with the weather issues. Kept in constant communication with Tor for the emergency management side. Sounds like we have a shelter at the elementary school right now. Originally the state put a shelter in Berry City, but Berry City is not successful currently. So it's a good thing we got something in place where we are. We have, by luck, I guess, Swithwater Rescue at a coal chester just happened to be stationed here by the state. So they've been extremely helpful in responding to stranded people throughout the day. Did Diane leave? Diane has left. Okay, because they just shut down 62 Invented Falls. Okay, so. All right. Yeah, multiple road closures all throughout Washington County right now. I just briefed our department having our officers stay here at the PD. We are not going out unless it's like threat of life of some kind. And even then it's probably gonna be a fire department or rescue call, but we're staying put and trying to man the phones. Some of us probably can't get home. So we'll be here for a while. Yeah. So yeah, inside an active day. I never thought I'd live this nightmare twice, but it's common drill. We've got, unfortunately, a lot of significant damage and we received a lot more on this second round about two hours ago. We're probably up to, I dare say, probably 10 roads right now that are closed off to the public that can't be traveled on. And up till the second round, we were doing on a right as far as like major damage, but this morning we had lost Byla Hill and Chase Road and we had some washes, other wares, but nothing too bad. But this second round, we've lost that I know of now. Darling Road's got washed out at the Big Culver Crosstown. Bottom across town is completely gone all the way to the Green Bridge for the most part. The State Highway is washed out by the Green Bridge. Chandler Road is now washed out down by the Norfield Town line. Marvin Road and now... Yeah, I gotta get up there and check East Road now, but we're not doing so well on this second round. So as of right now, we're kind of in the same boat that Jim is. I got everybody back here barely out of that last round. We almost got trapped down in Riverton. We helped get some people out down there and then we got everything out. And then it's becoming a safety issue for us now as far as being trapped in places where water's getting in behind us. So we're gonna stick around for a while and see if we can do some of the smaller stuff and keep an eye on things, but we're gonna have to kind of reevaluate, come morning time and see if the rain lets up and if we can get into some of these places. So unfortunately, not unfortunately, but I am gonna start looking out probably after I leave here as far as trying to find some outside help, outside organizations that are willing to start putting some of these bigger pipes back in the ground for us. And then we can go from there. We'll start doing as much as we can with what we have. I know I've been in contact with Jeff Newton. He's scheduled trucks for me tomorrow to help us haul material to try to put roads back together. So I think besides losing a bunch of stuff, I think we're in pretty good shape to go as far as when the rain stops, we can hit the ground running and be ready and get things open up and going as fast as we can. Brad and Tor, any advice that you could give us from a FEMA cost, things we should be doing or we're capturing our costs on this from Irene, from Irene, you remember? I know just really, you know, taking pictures of pictures. I've told all the guys that if I'm not there to take pictures of everything and we're getting all our material out of Northeast. So for every slip they get, they put the road name on it. So it's documented that way that it, so we know the exact tonnage and what we bring and what we go to. So I think that's as much as we can do as far as that stuff in there. Good, thank you. It's gonna turn into logistics nightmare at the end. We'll put it all back together, but. All right. Anybody got any questions? The, I think the abutment on this bridge over here is finally washed away. Yeah. Do you know if they can get in from the other side from the middle sex side? Are they getting in from the middle sex side still or no? The downtown downtown? No, there's about three to four feet of water there by barrows. Yeah. Yeah. I know it was over the road by Tate's house when I went to try and check earlier too. So once the river goes down, we'll try to see if we can at least get out there and get the bridge open up and get people out. Yeah. Of that way. So. Okay, then anything else? Any good news? No reports of injuries or loss of life. Okay. That is good. Wish you both well. Just keep us informed. If you can or keep touring for him, he can get the rest of us. Anything to add flow? No, I just wanted to also. The governor has. From the state, I was. What's that? Get home now. You're breaking up. Well, that's okay. It's no problem at all. It's a little difficult through a phone through a phone. It almost sounds like everyone's talking at the same time. I was just saying that the governor has enacted a state of emergency as well. So FEMA will also be assisting, et cetera. And I appreciate everything everyone's doing. Thank you so much. Yeah. I've also been talking with your hands, Michelle Redmond, out of the tax-oriented district. So I've met a couple of times with her down here. Well, I can briefly talk to her a little bit about what they're going to be looking for and so. Is that road washed on? Do you think route 12? I've heard rumors that it was. Route 12 from Interstreet to where Gary American used to live is probably not there at this point. Wow. It was almost half gone when we got out of there. That's how we had to get out, because the dropdown's gone. The Montpellier's gone. And Chandler Road's washed out. So we drove through the water to get up. So there was the bucket loader coming back right now. We had to go to Northfield and back around with the bucket. So we're struggling with our route 302 pump station. Yeah. I just got a phone call. That's taken on some serious water. So we'll be back at it first thing right now. Let's see where we get at it from there. So hopefully a clearer picture. Hopefully the last Watt. You guys also have a name? I think so. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Tim. Any other public comment? If not, we'll skip the review in discussion of Brown's Mill and the Public Works Board recreation update. Set the tax rate. Diane is not online. She left. Okay. Probably about a quarter till. I wonder how Vine Street's doing. I know 302 was we chased her out of here because 302 was getting questionable. Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll move on then. She comes on. Okay. And then we'll move on to the next meeting. We'll move on to the next meeting. Yeah. Thank you very much. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thanks, Tom. Did you get to hold that for next meeting, Mr. Chair? Yep. See here. Approvals of licenses permits vouchers and applications. I move to approve payroll warrant 24 dash zero one for payroll from June 18th, 2023 to July 1st, 2023 paid on July 5th, $38.03. Payable warrant 23G24 with checks 23083 to 2305 for payables in the amount of $46,830.30 for FY23 bills and payable warrant 24G01 with checks 2306 to 2304 payables in the amount of $66,676.68 for FY24 bills. Your second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Motion carries. Approval of June 19th, 2023 minutes. Can we table that for a week, Mr. Chair? Sure thing. And approval of June roundtable hearing none. Motion to adjourn. Did we have to do an appointment? That appointment was just signing on, I thought. We'd already approved the appointment. We just forgot to sign it. It should be there in my packet. That's correct. The appointment was made and approved. Just the document was not signed that evening. And then Diane had sent a, I don't know what you call it, an engagement letter for the audit. She sent it like last Thursday or Friday. Does that sound familiar to anybody? The, yes, the, I believe the engagement letter was again, the audit had already been presented. And that was just signing off on that for the auditors to make it official for the board. So there's that document should be in her package somewhere to be signed. I believe this is for the engagement for the FY23 audit. Let me see if I can find the email here. She said on Thursday, we have a three year contract with Sullivan to perform the annual audit for the town of Berlin. I've touched a copy of the form from Sullivan that the select board needs to sign at the July 10th meeting so I can schedule the annual audit. Yeah. So I move that we sign the audit scope form for the FY23 audit. Can that motion and I will stop up as soon as possible to sign that it just won't be this evening. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion carries. You'll have to tell Diane that I'll have to sign it electronically. I don't think I can do it. The, like I said, the button over here just the dirt just washed away. So I'm not getting out anytime soon. Crazy. And wash away rapidly. Third road. My road sign, just my driveway. Can I just make a comment? I know I missed public comment, but I just want this is Carla. Sorry. I know you guys probably have your resources, but I just want to let you know that we work closely with FEMA at the insurance department financial regulation during this time to help people if they have questions and issues. So if you feel like anybody needs to be referred or needs some help that you can always refer them to the insurance division that's the primary financial regulation, just just a public service announcement. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Carla. Sorry. Sorry to jump in, Mr. Chair. Is that something that we could put on our website? The information? Yeah. I mean, we mostly deal with complaints if they have some sort of flood insurance and they're having issues, but we also do have resources on our website. You can point to our website for resources. Yes, absolutely. Okay. Because there will be something up going up if it's not already. To clear that with us. Yes. Yeah. I'll share it with you. Yeah. That would be good. Chelsea's on listening, so if you could get that to Chelsea. Okay. Is this the clerk? Yep. She can help us get that on the website. Absolutely. Thank you. Okay. If there's nothing else I'll entertain to adjourn. Did you want to go into executive session tonight or wait till everybody's here? Well, there's only three of us. I'd like to have a little bit better thing. When I get a chance tomorrow, I will take in, see about, I'll call around, see if we can get another select board meeting lined up for it. Okay. Because we do have one scope for next Monday. Yeah. But I'd like to take in, one of the troubles is we didn't get the tax rate done. Correct. It's going to take and put, it's going to put it off of the 15th. You gotta have 30 days. You gotta have 30 days and if we... We can't pay our taxes. You can pay them. You can pay them, but it'll just be last year's bill probably. Breaks my heart there, Brad. We called Diane on the phone. Does she need to do something with the tax rate? Didn't she give you guys the tax rate? She gave us the preliminary numbers. The other thing is that I think the listeners are supposed to be there, aren't they? She didn't, I don't think she had them planned to be here tonight. No. I think she was just waiting to double check the final grand list today. So, I don't know if that changed from what she said or not. Correct. She needed to confirm just the final grand list to make sure and then she was ready to go and present it. I'm fine with, if you wanted to try to give her a call, I'm fine with that. We have a lot of washed out roads. Yeah. My friend Amanda, while Amanda was on the chat planning questions, sent me a picture of her road this morning, a video. It's already washed out this morning. I can't ride the smartlet hill. Yeah, that was my first one. She's supposed to go to Denver for work. Well, all the trouble is all this water is coming out of the woods. It's bringing so much debris with it. Oh, well, even just my little, you know, slope where I live, the water was coming out of the woods. It was, all of a sudden I looked up back and it was all pulled behind the fence and running that. I'd never seen this. The water's getting over to go now. No, I can't get it. No, I can't get it. They had a hole in her, Mr. Chair. Well, let's assume that she took and got the checked it over. You've got it in front of you, Tour. I don't have a copy. Just a second, Mr. Chair. Hey, Diane, are you safe? Okay. I'm going to put you on the speakerphone. They want to talk just about the tax rate. Hold on a second. You're not going to be able to hear. You folks on up there might not be able to hear much, but go ahead, Diane. Okay. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay, good. Go ahead, Diane. All the paperwork is there on that table. And nothing has changed from what you have on the table? Correct. Yes. So the 0.7574 tax rate is what you're proposing? Yes, it is. That's what was budgeted or what was accepted at the budget and time of budget. So, and because we're not going to be buying the rate down like we have in the past, then that's the number. Okay. And we don't have any reserves or access or anything that we want to put forward? We have some excess reserves. And right now, I think we're probably right around the $400,000 because however, we pledged like $450,000 last year. And I don't know what FY23 is going to end out like. So, if we, you know, we could pledge money and then not have any left in our reserves. So, that's my here. Especially after today, I don't want to get into that reserves too much. Right. Right. You know, especially until we get a better idea on any possible female reimbursement. So, with that, I'm sorry, Flo. I was just saying that I concur. Okay. Okay. So, with that, I will move Mr. Chair to approve the FY24 tax rate of 0.7574 based on the calculations provided by the treasurer. I second that. He checked it before as well. So, both of us checked it thoroughly. Okay. Here's second. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion carries. Okay. No round table or do you want to have a round table chore? I have nothing. Flo? Neither for me. Thank you. See here. Motion to adjourn so people can get home or try to. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. We're adjourned. Good luck getting home, Tom. Thank you, everyone. Be safe, Tom. Thank you all. Thanks, Diane. Thanks, Flo. Thank you, Diane.