 Roger we scheduled Berlin Select Board meetings to order to my left is Pete Kelly Wayne Lamberton to my right is Jeremy Hansen and Angelina Kefrom and Also with us is Dana Hadley our town administrator and Diane Isabel the town treasurer Any additions or changes to the agenda Dana? I do have a few changes I would like to remove from your schedule from the schedule the transitional return to work program policies I thought that would be ready. It's not quite, but I will be talking to you about it in my report I would like to remove the bid opening for bids on the trail blazer because I did not receive any And I would like the liquor board to meet at the end of the meeting to approve a catering license application Public comment hearing none treasurer's report by him. Yeah, okay. I went to a class called asset management I talked to you about that it was in April and actually it was it was very good class It was talking about I was looking I was looking more at the water system But it's talking about looking at all your asses individually for instance We have like 38 hydrants. Where are they should start tagging them? So they gave us different templates to work with and worked in groups It was very very helpful and I've already put together some of the information and it's just a way of tracking your stuff When it you know if it were to fail Keeping track of when things fail and and ways to different ways of keeping track of things and reporting things and also As far as breakdowns, you know learning to work with that Like who is going to be responsible for fixing certain things and make sure that everybody that's involved needs to be These communicate with each other. So all these things were very very helpful to me They do another class can be in June and that will be mostly on repairs, but I did feel it was quite helpful And they're talking maybe this fall that they might have one on finance This is by the week, I know that's from the state. It was really good That's all that I have for this one's going with you to the next one. It's correct. Yeah On the waters just gonna do that. Are there are the hybrids GPS? I'm I don't know the answer to that They're obviously there right now Because it's a new system. We have very good records of where they are. Yeah, I could speak to Tom and see about I think we have the culverts have already been They have been by the we just had a study done last year Last year the year before that they were done by the regional planning Mission I'll speak with Tom about it. Maybe he knows more about than I do. I mean one thing that Diane was really lucky because all of our things are known. You know a lot of these places are existing systems that they've built on over a number of years and people are realizing that you lose history once people start retiring or Leaving things like that. So and Diane has really taken the bull by the horns and it's starting to maintain a spreadsheet that pretty I think the only thing that I really need to do is to Assign numbers to them and if we can tag everything Yeah, yeah, and that's that would be the next step But I have everything else is on the spreadsheet that I know where the locations are I've been taking a map and I pinpointed where the hydrants are and where the gate belts and the valves Okay, then approvals of licenses permits vouchers and applications I think I think Angelin still looking okay No, okay, thank you. It's on the agenda with the 2018 swim program Yeah, if I could speak to that. Of course, we do we tend to do that every year Last year we spent $75 we paid $25 per child we have 31 children There I've talked with Sonya part and she's thinking maybe we could go to a thousand this year We're hoping to get more children involved the lessons her child and they are being held. They're not failure are 52 50 The parent pays 2750 and the towns are paying $25. So I think that's and this is for a week or two weeks I think it's a week. I think it's a week Yeah, we sent our kids was up here at Wedgewood, yeah, they don't offer that anymore. I'm not clear offered it last year They're offering it this year from what I understand the same price for child So I guess what we're looking at is maybe a thousand dollars We'd like to just put that as a number to you know We don't want to exceed that if we can but I think that we'd like to think we'll get more than 31 kids If you get 40 kids that would be a thousand dollars I think we brought it to you because the rec committee Isn't that accurate at the moment? But there's no charge for child correct. Yeah, well, yeah I made that notice on your son and I talked about that And I've worked that out with Montalier last year that we would pay them directly So we're not making a whole bunch of check I told Sonya that's gonna be the way it is And she's a volunteer and has really done a nice job with it. Yeah We would like a motion just We wanted you to be aware of it and if you want to do a motion that would be great I'll live to approve an expenditure up to a thousand dollars, which would be charged for a child to this program Okay Any other discussion do we want to say 25 per child? Yeah, 25 per child up to the total of thousand You know the discussion all over the favor Abandoned properties by now, okay I know we talked about this before but I am going to bring it up again because I am having a hard time with some of the properties because they don't sell a tax sale and I've got one I've got actually quite a few of them here but I've got one was just land only that was on Bartlett Hill and I haven't brought it back to tax sale because it didn't sell the first tax sale I don't know if it will if nobody bid on it first time. Why would they bid on it now? And there's even more money involved And also we had the ones on Muzzy Road and that was really climbing up there We're not charging any taxes in 2017 because it's something we agreed on however They're still interest on the back taxes and I just don't know where else to go with these I've also got three abandoned mobile homes That are still on our books. They've been pulled off the lot. They were all of you He's pulled them off the lot and he's got them in a field somewhere's I Just don't know what else to do with these. I can't really go after them You know, they're not selling you know, what is the next step here? We had talked last I guess it was last year About maybe the town might be interested in bidding on them What brought this delight this time was I had a gentleman who was talking about that property that we're familiar with out on route 12 That was damaged by the flood and has been abandoned He asked if I could send highway over and get rid of the old stuff on the lawn I'm not comfortable doing that because it doesn't belong to us But in other communities and again It's a money. It's a money issue But they might bid on these properties and then either tear them down or Do something to get them so they're not a blight anymore But you at least have the ability to go in then and do something and we certainly could you know in that case And again, it's a process a legal process again, but I Can't really send the crew over they had to do anything because it's not ours But I understand since I've been here anyway, it's not gotten any better But can't can it be condemned as a safety hazard so therefore then you go or is it just is that just as much trouble? well, the and Usually you'd work with an owner, but we don't have that cooperation We think we know where the owner is But we aren't able to Who would be if he does get condemned who is actually very responsible the time we're taking at any rate I know it's going to boil down to it's going to cost this money to do something whether we buy it and tear it down Wouldn't even think you could have the fire department burn it anymore. It's not Some of the things that you don't want to happen, but it is a blight. I agree with the gentleman who was concerned about it But I can't send anyone any of the crew over to do anything Yeah, I think the owner is Financially Interesting Do we know if there's Well, no bank has stepped forward. I know that yeah TV bank has a mortgage on it and I talked to them as taxes, no so if An individual went to tax sale and purchased that they got to clear the type No, okay, if we sell it tax sale then the mortgage company too bad They have to work it off it goes to the tax sale We have the firm as they do not come forward to take care of their interest if they choose and this happens If they choose that it's not worth their Finances or of course If they choose not to yeah Either that or they during the redemption period from going believe it comes. Yeah And I've seen word during the redemption period I don't think that's me the case and I can understand why they're not going to pay the taxes right now So the process will be to have another tax though, but the town it is another yeah Well, I've talked to the our turn town attorney about it, too And he's saying the first thing you probably do is go to the board of abatement Get the taxes abated to a level that maybe it might sell a tax sale, but if it doesn't then you bite the bullet Well, we have gone and not we're not accruing any more taxes on it No, but we're still have interest on the past exactly. Yeah, I can't write that. I have to get that exact But that's just a matter of going to the board of abatement. Yeah So I guess I'm not looking for decision now, but I guess I'm looking for thoughts If you think about it, maybe I can bring it up in another couple of meetings or something How many abandoned properties are there I've got a lot of homes, but just there's two There's one that's land only and there's one of them So that's really all there's some that I will be bringing up to tax sale And one of them is a piece of property, but I think that makes it be able to sell the tax sale Then I have a home that You know, I don't know if that's gonna what's gonna happen with that because I know there's a mortgage on it Yes, I have a comment Green Lantern solar is actively looking for small parcels of land to in to build projects on between two and six acres and We are rehabilitating brownfields garbage dumps Toxic waste areas quarries fits. Can it be a hill a lot of trees? We can look at it And I would like to look at it because we pay taxes on the lots But that's good to know There's So if you have any direction that you want us to go in I don't think we have the luxury of just sitting around and we're hoping for it to resolve Right, it's not I mean, it's not it's not So I think we have to proceed with the tax sale and try to again just do something with it and then can we To the process if we hadn't if we went to the war of the baby got the taxes reduced For their taxes didn't sell Can we as a town then? Decide well, I think that you have to decide at the tax sale if you're gonna buy it or not I don't think you can wait till after right so before the tax sale. We need to make a decision If you are yeah That's why we always I was bringing it up before there's tax sales show you all the different properties. It'd be nice to get a Cost as to what it would cost to take I Think that's a great idea. Well, it'd be nice to know what it's gonna cost And by the time I mean we're gonna have time to figure that out because this is a process for the tax Yeah, yeah, cuz I've already got a batch going but that might be in July so my next batch will probably end up being Yeah, if you did if you did Test the paint in the asbestos and take the shingles off the roof. You could have the fire department do a test burn But the concern that I have As I remember is there's a broken one right now. I'd be kind of afraid those other houses pretty cool Yeah, in some ways even have someone work on it. It doesn't look safe I can't tell you the couch in the front of the house is kind of gone All right, I'll get a price It's a great place for solar panels Well, how big is the law it's not even an acre. Yeah, it's point three three One big solar panel They'd be great 333 Yeah, thank you Him was going to be here, but I have not heard from him. I know he was I have a few issues today So I your stuff with me As you know Meryl Lake I'm happy to tell you that we received a Structure grant for Meryl Lake road that we will be getting the structure grant of that So we'll have to it was a two hundred eight thousand dollar cost to fix Meryl Lake Road We'll have to pay 20% of that and the grant will pay the remaining aid And obviously Most of the cost of this is the permits etc that you need to work over there What I wanted him to tell you because he's more familiar with that that we did look into buying A piece of steel that we could put over the And he would have to buy two pieces of steel And it would be about five thousand dollars and Tim has concerns that even at that the erosion keeps moving back and it's You know it doesn't seem to be a viable option Supposed to be short term. Yeah fix it with that I mean, you know, I'm afraid that it would he rode and end up in the pond Well, nobody's going through there now you saw right so yeah, I and so I it's not going to be a fast thing but He was just going to mention it you about the ladies the grant. What is that one with that? It's a it's for FY their year 19 and so if We started to we can do it anytime, but we're not going to get the money until between July of this year and June of next So we did the job this fall. So if we if we do the job all I mean once we get all the paperwork that has to be done and go back and forth We probably end up getting the money in the spring With him saying this could that's the goal anyway Obviously we have to fold we have to front the money So the piles they are now more for a blockade or set for temporary repair purposes That's so people don't drive. It's just a blockade, right? Oh, yeah so after the 80% from the state are shared be about 40 grand something like that That's good So what is the permanent solution? That's the permanent solution to replace replace the culvert needs to be replaced It's a culvert that is on the south end of Berlin pond on Merrill Lake Road. The culvert is disintegrated. Yeah, and At one point in time we put it going over dug a hole and put it in a culvert end But you can't do that with the pond and you have to get permits and there's a process you go through And and it's an expensive process So are you suggesting they're not going to do the temporary? I would say not to do the temporary You I mean you would pay five thousand bucks and five thousand dollars Maybe you could sell it when you were done, but Tim didn't think it was safe to even do that So it's closed for a while. Yeah The next year yeah So if the engineering's done on the permanent comes to do the job this fall, yes I would want to do it in the second half of the fiscal year anyway To so we get the funding before Well, that's yeah Because we've been in that situation before that we haven't got the funding the same And it makes a little so I'm thinking What is where are we with our engineers at this point? I Sent them an email said that we have a grant and go forward. He's he's moving forward So be interested to hear whether they think that we could have all permits in place so that we can start I can certainly ask John to come in It'd be nice to know if we could start in September Right, I would love for it. I mean the sooner the better Just knowing that the box over it's going to take Six months if you wanted the box over and how you probably haven't August Well, the thing that is of course is the overall timing over the Engineering and everything else hello and what they get permits, right? I'm just wondering if this is another case where the town will need to buy the box for Because if we wait and put this out to bid when we have the permits we won't get a box over for this year To just get it in motion because they know permits are gonna take a while So the thing would be to take and get the engineering report done so we know what kind of a cohort we need Know from there. Yeah, and to apply for all the permitting Because that is what's correct take the time But it's not uncommon these days for a town or a municipality to pre-purchase the box for Sometimes the contractor then takes over that first server buys the culvert But sometimes the town just supplies the culverts of this is where it would be a fact But they just take so long in a course in Vermont. There's six months to them all and so It's get one and yes, and we are gonna have to put the money out front and then get pre-inferred Right, so we'll have to give ourselves the wall Green Lantern Group also for solar Robert is here. Come on up Robert Last at last meeting you had I guess you meant to be to me And we had I Think we needed some more time to look at the agreement and so forth. I did receive some comments from the attorney that I'd like to share with you and And I think nothing was very surprising I think the one of the comments that has come to light is we have a potential project of eliminating a lift station as you know The Shah's lift station right you had given you had updated the figures for me not using that lift station However, we have the lift station at the moment One of the comments was if we start the agreement with that lift station And then we take it offline What are the ramifications of that because in the contract? I think he says we could designate another meter within the utility service area With the same level of uses as a replacement, but we probably wouldn't have another the only one you've got that I would Suggest would be the fire department The volunteer fire department which has there they've got like a small bill of it runs 2000 and they've expressed interest in being part of this right yeah, yeah, and but at this point I think they've got there they're not ready to move. So, you know That's a possibility I Can't I mean to go to an investor an investor wants to participate in this and the investor makes it all possible Knowing that he has customers for what has been contracted and therefore deletions are a Little dicey I think it would probably I think Talking with the fire department to see if they intend to get involved or not And deleting the meter Would be the better course Then making trying to make an adjustment in the future it becomes problematic We would need to find an off-take or somebody to use the right For a relatively small amount Today I was in the position. I'm trying to find An off-take or for about two hundred dollars a month in that meter credits. I went to the good Samaritan head Nice thing, but there you're giving it away. You know, so he's paying Paying for it and making a charitable donation. You don't want to be in that circumstance So are you suggesting that if the town were to go forward not to include the shots pump meter that would be perhaps the fire department join in it use theirs We wouldn't be the same use but right the fire department is gonna make its own Decisions and it's under its own manager right and I don't think you know, you should affect your agreement For what they may or may not do If you chose to include shaws and shaws subsequently closed the first place I would go Would be the volunteer fire department because they wouldn't have another net meter agreement effect You can only have one Agreement you can't you can't you know collect these things and have multiple sources So the fact that they didn't do it now means that they would probably be available later But it's more complicated than it's worth What's the the shaws pump usage? 7400 you know 7400 that's you know 740 bucks roughly We're We're going in savings 7400, you know, it's likely that we would find another off taker But that's not what the contract says there have been situations where people go out of business And we've worked with them to find a new off taker But whoever is the off taker has to be acceptable to the people that invested the money, right? Okay, well that was a concern. So, I mean that was a I would say let it go certainly up, you know Depending depending on how things go we and do you think you're going to lose the shaws pump? Yes, I would say yes That's the answer Yeah, another concern that was brought up Is green light green lantern Development going to own the property where the project is depends we lease it typically Well, we typically don't buy it It's going to depend on the economics The one that I'm just talking lawyers here That the town ensures that the lease covers the same length that our agreement Yeah, it does. Yeah, actually it probably covers longer. Okay. Yeah, because even there was two five-year Extensions at the back end that might be accommodated. I've seen It's interesting. I mean this is a good time to talk about, you know, what we might be able to do Or some of these taxing properties in the future The property that this is going to be sitting on is about two acres and we're paying $2,000 a year with an escalator I've seen other properties that that would go well. It's about $1,000 an acre per year I saw one recently that was Five acres and there was a $50,000 payment up front to cover the entire lease So, you know, lump sums are possible as well, but the lease would definitely cover We've actually matched up these two. All right, you know, I apologize to the board. I just got this today from Ron So it's I didn't have it had it The other Item that has come up in the past. It's a 20-year lease. We know what's happening in the first 10 the second 10 We know So what you do, I mean get to where we're we have a contract And we we've got a reputation in the community We've got something in the order of 70 million dollars invested in Vermont now but the And I've shared actually with Wayne the economics of These projects from the investor's perspective And they continue to maintain profitability throughout the entire term The attorney had no issue with your company. I mean, you know, in fact, it's it's a well-respected company and so forth It's just these are items that he wanted me to yeah I mean you're working on our full faith and credit and our ability to adhere to the terms of the contract, but That's what we have is that reputation a profitable project He mentions termination termination Provision should be clear and based on definite frames of the standard Well, I mean the termination of the contract. Yeah Termination termination provisions that should be clear and based on definite time frames and standards There's a clause that they really termination. Yeah, right Should be right into the town if GLD is unable to divide Yeah, that's in there continue, right? Okay. Yeah, so those were his comments Can you tell me how this is going to be affected under that when you're great going down the urgent sense It's not because we have the permitting Process on these projects has been completed. We had the certificate of public good I had a status meeting this morning on projects went for two and a half hours project after project after project We're pumping them up trying to get the CPG is all done before, you know, the new rules kick in the new rules They're not the end of the world It reflects basically the reality of the solar world and basically what they're telling us This is that solar is competitive with any other form of energy And that you know, you shouldn't need to be Incentive to that to the degree that you're not already accepted by the taxes and everything else With that, but you know this project will not be affected in any way so Back to Rob's comments. I think his reference is After ten years What is your solar credit? It's based on the same point off It's the same form. It's the same formula between us. Yeah What is what is the what is the what is GMP provide as a solar adder after ten years nothing Yes, the solar others are If they're positive, of course, there's a solar Adder, which is negative the solar adders which are positive and after ten years the negative ones are forever But yeah, the project the project will continue according to the formula that we've established So we're going to get a solar credit We're gonna get to buy power At the rate Green Mountain power Chargers in year 11 less of this less of this kind of temperature And I think that's what Rob's asking. Yeah, I mean face. I think what he's saying is The first ten years is a bit known After the first ten years We're we're obligated to stay in this contract for another ten years what were happening another The town would not be able to take advantage of another opportunity whether it's there not probably but right just You know, well if we didn't pay we'd be in breach Right. I think we're just talking. Oh, yeah If we get into it into year 11 and things change all right Yeah, I mean, we would we would be willing to entertain letting you buy the contracts after some period of time Most people Credit Union has a lot of money to invest and these are good deals after ten years. So why not? We're obligated we have to operate a little different. All right, of course but no, you know, I I Think the fact and I wouldn't be happy to share with you the performance. So you just see why you're not buying this for cash As opposed to the sad I got rid of a lot. I don't get with this but the back end the back end It's basically the all of the profit is given by taxes in the first several years and Thereafter, you know, it's a Modest rate of return. It's it's like a bond But it is profitable. I think we're just concerned is what is the power going to cost us Yeah, well, whatever Green Mountain charges either discount No for 20 years for 20 years It doesn't apply here if you if you've got If you if you put a solar project on a beautiful field someplace, they will in you They'll do you for what they and yeah, that would be a negative but the supplier. So those were what brought it said And I think we had talked about I mean progress progress is going to cost you risk or money, right? Somebody invented a car Well, you're in with good company Because you know, it would be the city of noctilio in the city of Barry and everybody else Do you have the actual thing that we're that we're saying that is um, I have a contract is that what we're It's called a net meter agreement and it will need to be altered slightly Once we've got a once we have a commitment to proceed we'll change it put the name of the actual way in there It's you know There's a whole bunch of arrays which are pretty much identical But that one is like a placeholder because because they sell okay, so if you're saying that if the board decides To vote in the affirmative tonight you would you would type up a new yes agreement Yeah, and we the same agreement with a couple of small filling in the blank. Yes. Yes, so I move that we declare our intent to proceed I'll second it and discussion that We prepare the document you're looking for us to sign and let raw voices opinion one more time on his Any concerns that he has with the opt-out portion of the agreement I Want our attorney to be in sync with us, but I think that Minus Yeah, right any other discussion on this Can you clarify for me what you mean by opt-out our attorney has a head of concerns about Specific how the termination of the contract Goes that I want our attorney. We're not going to overrule our attorney We want you guys to work out a contract Sure, I'm happy to talk with Rob. You know we used to used to work with them That's all I want I want him to be happy with our contract and I think that's important. Yeah, I mean we pay him to Pretend this yeah Any further discussion You know those in favor Look those bowls eyes have it So you'll go and get that They work me and I will focus on yes. Yes. I'll I'll I'll send you a clean With the revised app and 17 by in a PDF or We'll go for Thank you very much. Yeah, I will talk with Diana about those thoughts If we could find lots even if they're a little hilly What do you think about mobile homes Robert? I think you could use them for your Single-phase well, I can do 150 there, right? Yeah All right, thank you Okay, Austin Prepare a short presentation So first I want to say thank you for letting me come and speak. Thank you. Dr. Hansen for inviting me So I am a About to graduate senior at Norwich University and they have given me the opportunity to conduct Research on my own this year and so for that research I decided to look at Berlin pond and the water quality and For one person looking at the overall water quality is a bit of a large project Especially given the time and strengths that I was given so I wanted to focus my search Something more specific and I chose salt because you all know we get a lot of snow up here. So um and With that snow comes salting the roads make sure that they're safe and But the salt poses risk to drinking water and Berlin pond being drinking water reservoir I know that it supplies my pillier, but it's still water nonetheless So I just wanted to kind of conduct some sort of study into how that salt might affect the drinking water quality So I worked with Dr. Lori Gray who's a professor of environmental science at Norwich University And she kind of advised me and meant to be through this project that I conducted this year so Part of the problem is I've already kind of sort of talked about it comes from the roadway sulfur and Berlin pond being such close proximity to interstate 89, which is major roadway receives a lot of salt over the years It's within a hundred and fifty feet of the pond so All that salt that's applied over over the winter. It keeps getting added and it gets plowed to the side in huge snow Collection on the side and in springtime when it comes time to melt all that salt runs off with the water Down the hill and it's the pond and it can affect the salt concentrations in the water So that was kind of the focus of my study here so what I did was in the I would have liked to have collected more samples, but My it had to be finished by late March So there wasn't too many warm days, but on three specific days I went down to the pond and collected water samples in close proximity to the highway almost where that Concrete structure is with the intake where it goes in So I collected water samples and I brought it back to the University and we use this device called an ICP which takes the waters or takes the water and it Uses plasma and argon and to almost read small quantities of different contaminants and different elements within the water And then it gives back the concentrations and so With those numbers Fortunately the the device gives us lots and lots of stuff not just salt now is studying salt as sodium Because there's salt as sodium salt as chlorine once it dissolves into the water, but um So salt is known to the EPA as a secondary water standard Meaning that it is not toxic if consumed if there's high levels of the water But at certain points there can start to be health effects, but for the most part It's more of a quality of life taste and appearance of the water There is also primary drinking water standards and the key word for that for what qualifies is its toxic to health and so This whole list of different elements and metals That were tested for salt is the only secondary one But what was found was that the salt was within the EPA standards for what's considered safe for salt concentrations That concentration is 250 milligrams per liter, which is also known as parts per million The average concentration was found to be 13 parts per million but salt It has many health effects anything over 20 parts per million. It's required that there's an advisory Made to the public which this is still not at that point But speaking with Professor Grig who has done extensive study in other drinking water reservoirs in the area She says that this is significantly higher than other bodies of water In the area, which it typically is around two parts per million So it's not so much something that's an immediate cause of concern, but it is noticeably higher than other water sources in the area One other thing that was found were three containers in particular arsenic lead and thallium Those let those are primary drinking water standards, which means that they are toxic to health They were found to be above the EPA's allowable standards, which is required to the water provided has to be below and the issue is that There's a difference between a wastewater treatment facility and a water treatment facility Being a drinking water reservoir it goes through a water treatment facility Which does not treat for a lot of these contaminants where wastewater typically takes in sewage It's a lot more in an extensive treatment process But if this the water from Berlin pond has not gone through a treatment process quite as extensive as that so these contaminants are not treated for in though in in this case and I'll talk a little bit more about it. My goal here is not to cause like alarm or Worry people but just bring to the attention that this is what I found And it is a little bit cause for concern So talking about the sodium levels Sort of like like I discussed anything above 20 parts million It's required to be an advisory and the salt levels are significantly higher than other area reservoirs So that is something to consider Kind of looking at the other three contaminants I did a little research and further digging with Professor Grady and several other professors at the University and Now I used the term theoretical very loosely, but we came up with some theoretical sources of Where these contaminants are coming from that's kind of identify what can be done to prevent this and lead the only thing that we can come up with is the samples are collected near that outflow structure and I'm not too sure exactly what it's made of inside, but typically those types are metal and sometimes off the metal comes lead and The flow is going the wrong way to suggest that but that was what we were able to find as far as the arsenic goes That's very typical among In bedrock and so if there's bedrock close at the surface, especially near a water source Typically there's some trace amounts of arsenic detected in the water and as far as the allium That was one that we were kind of thrown a bit about it's typically more common in the Midwest Like Texas or Kansas where there's a lot of oil and metal production because it's a high product It's it's a it's an exhaust of metal production mineral production oil refining and Cement making not not the physical mixing of the concrete but making the actual cement powder itself Which to my knowledge is not very common in this area but So further research that I did I looked a little bit into Methods that could be used to kind of act as a buffer specifically for assault And a couple studies were done at different parts of the country and in other countries where they used something called a drive Detention pond which is almost just like a cut-out pond or culvert that It's empty in normal time But when there's a lot of runoff the water gets caught in there and then infiltrates into the ground naturally instead of going directly Into the water so it almost acts as a bit of a buffer and there have been cases where it's been found That it does help stop a lot of assault specifically for getting into the water but Given my time constraints here my study wasn't as developed as I would have liked it to be and so One big thing I've always been taught is that we conduct a research come up with ideas to continue the research and further develop it so that if someone else has opportunity they can kind of expand off it and So I think that a more in-depth study would definitely be necessary by who is And I know there's several environmental organizations out there that are very passionate about drinking water I also know that the University Every year they always look for especially the civil engineering department to my part of they look for different projects So to kind of propose for senior capstones So often if outside sources come to the civil engineering department in the University with ideas or proposals for research or product projects, they're very receptive to putting a larger group of students on and Having them conduct this study, but I think that it's definitely worthwhile to look more into it and Recognizing that it's the drinking water source from a pillier It would also be worth getting in touch with them seeing what resources and What they'd be looking to offer to help with this because it's It's the drinking water. It's everyone's quality of life. And so I'm sure you guys want the best so These are my references now. I can answer any questions Kind of with that a little quickly sometimes we go excited, but Well, one thing I wondered about the high life Most of my life and I was told way back in the day that road film is Magnetically charged heavy metals, which are toxic and aren't good. Yeah, and road film is some rugged stuff And it comes from the highway Yeah, a little of it sticks to cars, but most of it just It goes So I don't know and I'm not saying this because of the word heavy But do they settle in the mud to those or do they stay suspended in the water? Let's these heavy now that's a case-by-case basis because heavy metals It's named that because they they tend to be On a molecular a lot heavier than other things, but certain ones are more soluble. So I think that that's What has more of a factor the solubility in water rather than the actual physical weight because A lot of things like for salt for example, it's very highly soluble once it's in the water. It's very difficult to get it out Where other things if you just run it through a simple like Coffee filter a lot of these things will get filtered out of the water And so that's that's mostly what it comes down to because as the water runs off it can go into the ground It can continue to run awful to the land If it's what highly soluble it's going to stay in the water and it's going to make its way into the pond Where if it's something that's not really as Soluble it as it's running off. It could just fall off and filter into the ground so but kind of Salted a use the trenches just sodium chloride and then use potassium other things too well the brine that they were using was a mixture to I don't know if they're using that anymore The other reason I asked is that and I'm doing my like quick like wikipedia research years There's a lot of compounds a lot of potassium and thallium compounds and I wonder if There's something something there where it's binding To these pits that are on the road And then as it's being went stop It's just going doing that. I mean that's it's my This is more of your field in mine. Yes Also going off that the like you mentioned chloride is typically in that as well That's something I would have liked to have tested but I just didn't have the means to but it's just as much concern as sodium by um In in burlington Something that I want to speak about before I forgot but they conducted a study of three specific Brooks that contributed to drinking water and they in one of them in particular We found that over 65 percent of the time that they were monitoring it was above accepted limits for salt and other contaminants as A result of roadway runoff I'm sure by way I mean if you look at the topography of that pond it's at the bottom of all this there's just on every side there's You know natural Stuff running into it and man made and all that sort of thing So we're at half the allowable limit but higher than the higher than a normal limit in this area Uh, you're you're over you're you're closer at five times the typical concentration of other Drinking water sources in the area the allowable limit is 250 parts per million and you're at 13 Which is significantly lower But the epa after doing some research you have to determine that anything over 20 parts per million You have to issue an advisory because if there's increased risk for things like high blood pressure And kidney issues and stuff like that because of the higher salt intake Especially people are predisposed to conditions like that. So you have to warn at 20, but 250 is the yes That's quite a stretch. Yeah It's a bit of a spread. Yeah, so if you I imagine if you tasted something at 250 milligrams per liter You would know it would be better So when we had the the contamination of the groundwater here, I think that's I think all of the tests here Like on the original water thank you from the groundwater here. I think it was all above that Interesting so we got that great water system The interior of the toilet tanks used to have this hope of salt You could Run fries Chloride And that that's uh Na sodium in cl fluoride that that's what salt is and then when it dissolves it breaks apart And so they they both equally kind of Get into the water, but uh the equipment I had available only contest for the sodium But it's it's safe to assume that the chloride levels are about just as Comfortable because they they come together. You can't get one without the other typically from this source at least Did you get a good grade on that? Yes good Well, thank you very much very well. Well, thanks for having you if um If you have any questions for me, uh, dr. Hanson, you have my email and everybody too Just bottle of water on you so you hold this for me Thank you. Thank you so much The last state we're all in long front for weather for That was the we had spoken about this at the last meeting. Um, and I have talked to the revolving long fund People in charge and basically just they need a commitment Um, but it's more of a placeholder as they get their bond sales ready for this this um Session this session and so I would ask if the board would authorize the chairman to sign on behalf of the town that yes We are interested in financing through the bond bank. That's what with that zero interest rate loan. Yeah. Yeah I move that we Offer us the chairman to sign the application for the zero interest rate bond through the not public And what I didn't what I didn't say But I think you want to stand it. This is the um exploratory money For our exploratory. Yeah, okay I say All those in favor Motion carries something with sandwiches borrower Hmm Go ahead. It's only money. It's only $90,000. Okay. No pressure. We're all right behind Way behind I think I started by lightning when I came here today. I can't see the words There's worse things I could have started. I guess so We're ready to go on this if you want. Okay Thank you I didn't date that. I'll I'll take care of it Um Okay, uh Approval licenses permits vouchers and applications Move to approve general fund accounts payable warrant number 18 g 21 with check 18040 and the amount of $398 In zero cents also general fund accounts payable warrant number 18 g 22 with checks 18041 318090 and the amount of 77,974 dollars in zero cents Also payroll warrant number 18 dash 22 for payroll from April 15th 2018 through April 28th 2018 and the amount of 38,801 dollars and 27 cents Exactly any other discussion All those in favor Those opposed motion carries Memo received by the from the attorney We had talked about the um error from the assessing department regarding the taxation of solar fields um and Last we checked with the attorney to see if the question was can we was an easy way for us to refund the person money The answer is no They have to go to the board of abatement Certainly the board could help them with that process to do that it's I think we all realize that We have to go by the law and we would refund that money or give them a credit on their next bill Can the board of abatement initiate that? I think that they have to have a request Yeah, okay But um that was what we had last time decided to find out if we had an easy way to resolve it And I guess it's easy now You've had things that you've had to do this is a little and we gave you know We just felt this was a clerical thing more of a clerical thing and and it would be great if we could fix the clerical thing If we were in the same tax year that wouldn't be an issue right You know, so should we reach out to the affected taxpayers and ask them to Make such a request. I think that would be a great idea. Okay Um, if you would like me to do that, I think that makes the most sense. I can look it forward Okay, you also this name. No Special event permit for central amount medical center. This is a event that the medical center has every year it's a Walk around the file my five mile loop and Merlin pond that they've done a number of years Um, I have to figure out how they're going to get over that culprit, but Be that as it may what on the side, you know, you can't go on the side Um, they do have insurance The board has granted it to them in the past and the board has waived They have um, excuse me The hospital has paid for the fee Should we should we make them aware of that? I it's printed on the form. No, but I mean the uh, the road And I'm just wondering. I don't know. It's kind of okay, but it's worse than it used to be I I walked through there on saturday You know day You know, I mean single file you can make it through. It's not that big of a deal I mean if you want to go over you can go over to I kind of creeped over the edge so I Yeah I just didn't want people unknowing that you go down here and fall on a damaged road. It said you knew Right and didn't tell me Don't know a thing Well, we could rip it off with a couple horses Well, then you couldn't go around Right, I could I could have to make it so people can get through safely What I'm saying is the area where the hole is yeah, we could rip it off and put some horses in so there'd be a walkway It's really obvious. There's like gigantic piles of gravel So I mean if they wanted to try to like shimmy up the thing then they're going to be able to see the hole I mean it's it's pretty But that hole is getting it's getting bigger At first that's just a hole and how it's I could certainly have Tim go over and do something Yes, it is obvious. Um, however However, and I hate to say it. I watched some lady drive into a telephone pole at the mall today Enough said I moved I moved that we approved the Special improvement application for the sense for not medical center sorry Any other discussion Okay, all those hearing none all those in favor saying uh, say aye. Aye those opposed motion carries I could have you sign it Brad On the right on the bottom right above the Thank you Okay appointments DMTD's Here at DMTD's as an alternate representative to central blot internet I was told that he would be willing to serve as an alternate to the central vermont internet on the central vermont internet committee And so if you would like to appoint him as an alternate I have prepared paperwork for the chairman to sign So yeah, so this was just uh, that's something I overlooked in my excitement With my with my own appointments that most of the other towns also appointed alternates just in the event that You know, I get it by a bus somebody else is there to take my place I'll move that we appoint jerry DMTD's Close up, uh, that's the alternate to the internet And would you further authorize the chairman to sign that their form is a little different, please And I second that too Any further discussion Very none those in favor. All right Those opposed motion carries It's required by statute that says specifically the head of the municipal legislative body I've read that and that's why I I banned them change the form As you suggest And now we move on to the reappointment of jeremy hanson and jerry demakides as liaisons to the brolin party department and so Any any further uh, discussion all those in favor signify by saying I This is an every party sign So it's let me and I call you when I want to No, you have to While that's being signed there is a new um Jeremy Dufresne is the new chief of the berlin don't you part of it as a last V trans has another grand opportunity the dead lives june 22nd and this is I think it was two or three years ago that we completed the study down on route 302 um Regarding and that's when the road diet came into be and the road was upgraded And at that time the end of that study was With the looking forward to adding sidewalks and doing some more improvements. Um, and I don't think the board is at that point, but I could apply for the grant and get that paperwork done in the event you decided to go forward Um It's going to require um for the sidewalk it's going to require Cooperation from owners either by easemen or other um For a place to build the sidewalks engineering for the sidewalks And this is the complimentary grant that went with the first one by the town Had a few years ago And since the time Time goes fast and I wanted to get your opinion and get started on preparing it Also, if you I mean, I know that there's been concerns with who's going to maintain this maybe to it and Frankly, I think it's the town That you would have to Consider that if you were to go forward if If we were to go forward this Sidewalks have to be plowed in the winter I believe that's true. I could be I could get some Confirmation of that, but I believe that they gave you the grant they would expect you to maintain 365 day a year So those far we've gotten away with a fair amount of wide shoulder so that town can just drop the wing and plow That state does Unless you consider And ordinance, you know, some cities people are responsible for the sidewalk in front of the property Even easier Make it easier to come easily, but it wouldn't help with your easing You need to give me anything else by the way. You have to shovel it too. Yeah You know the thing about that sidewalk, it's a real like the bridge to nowhere. There's nothing at either end You've got a walk four miles to get to the sidewalk that's going to be two miles long But it would connect something that will be eventually that uh, I don't remember what they call it the Cross Vermont trail something else from our trailer. There's something else that that very much feel your connection That was started a number of years. So that was a bike path. No, no, not a walking trail Well, now we're there's a progress graph. What's that progress? But can you can you walk? Yeah So there you go. What do we need to just watch out for bikes? I guess I do see people Not on the bike lane though on the peep road. I don't think you even want to do that You can't do it on three of two. I'm on the three of stripe Because it's worn away from all the cars But the bike pass off the road definitely All right, but on three or two you're facing the wrong. I'm just supposed to face traffic when you're walking But I was just saying And I wasn't thinking about what Jeremy said Just seems you drive all the way from my failure and then you hit that section Our car you can walk back and forth. You'd have to do the same from every But if it eventually gets rich development, right going to go all the way The very most clear was pretty well developed You know a lot more than do that up there There is a lot of I mean There are a lot of people going back and forth in that bike Surprising since I live there. I see it all the time So we are talking we are just for clarification. We're talking about a sidewalk on a very long failure road. Yes So as somebody who in my young years Didn't have a car and worked at Kentucky fried chicken when I was 18 years old I walked the very long failure road Every day and it is dangerous and for folks who don't have a car You know a sidewalk would have been nice for me when I was walking In the dark I guess my question the maintenance is a question because we don't have the means to take care of the sidewalk right now Now even like additional equipment. Yeah and secondly This grant is for the planning Yes That's not for the construction. No, that's and we learned from the last They were estimates given on the cost of the construction at the last a few different scenarios From our last study and I don't have that in front of me, but it was significant Yeah, but I mean even if we got the maximum grant for the construction, we were still can't what 200,000 That's what I'm saying, you know Without you might be able to access you do have that fight Is it a bike path? But so that was some of that was dedicated to that bridge across the We we did you donated A sum of money from that fund to the the I think that was Vermont across Vermont trail. Yeah And that has happened So that's what you're about with the We're above 50,000 So 150,000 short You know Well, I mean the other the other argument there is I mean, I mean you need a machine to clean it You need an operator to run it and You know with the with even now I mean in the winter with plowing every snowstorm the road crew is already tied up Yeah, I'm just thinking Northfield they've got 12 there We got sidewalks downtown and they've got and they have the equipment to do it, but it it does require a Careful maintenance because when they plow it goes up in the sidewalks and then they have to go and they have to Do something with it from there You know, I can't help but think you know FEMA's putting out new elevation levels There's all kinds of problems about developing areas in the flood plain So why are we spending much more money to attract people to try and develop the flood plain? It's a little like a bay area in San Francisco You know, there's going to be an earthquake that destroys it and everyone's running to live there So here we are in a problematic area We're developing the upper echelons of Berlin with the mall the city center and all that stuff And we're throwing millions down there watching go underwater one day Well, I think the the the Planting I saw for the sidewalk. It was going to be on the opposite west side Offside side of the road is the the malls and one of the shopping centers in london Right, but it's still attracting people Panera bread where they ended up because they could They're down there. I mean I'm just thinking if we were developing Berlin For economical purposes. Is there a better place to start spending it? Well, we already have You know, is it better to keep spending our money in a safer area? As and I don't mean traffic-wise or darkness, but from the natural elements And all that may be coming our way scientists say in the next decade or two You know Well at the same time that you can't very well forsake What's there? Yeah, there's a difference. I think between forsaking and encouraging Yeah, you know Come back to the fact we don't have a sideboard platter anybody I mean just on my perspective is um, you know The workforce and people who who can't get back in the first It makes sense to me and we're putting a sidewalk on the bridge Goes to no sidewalk again. That's sort of I'm just doing that on a bigger scale But then again, I mean in today's age Um, we have a lot more bus service than we did years ago, right? and You know the the bus route along the brand mount play road is fairly well used I think it is So It's great that we get a study, but I don't think there's any reason to use the study if we know that we can't afford to build the sidewalk So, I mean we we have to study of where these things are going to go I think this is more the actual like no-joke engineering, right? Yeah, and I just I guess what I'm looking for if if you don't think it's something we're going to ever pursue Why would you put time so I think that The best way that I and I'm going by memory But I think that that to build the sidewalk on the brand mount play road Was going to cost something like four million dollars And we were going to have to pay 250,000 of the four million if we got a grant after it was engineering, right? Okay, so that's a year's budget a whole year. Yeah. Yeah So and that's before we figure out how we're going to maintain it And we know we don't have the equipment to maintain it We know we're going to have a person to run the equipment if we had the So I'm just saying as as a general rule would we spend this kind of money? So I have it here. Um, they said it was going to be one Then a couple scenarios one point four million for all five segments And the other thing too is we could do just one of the five segments. They've identified. There's the one down by the, um Ames Plaza, which would that would cover the bridge and take it down to Midway Ave. I think that's the one that goes past the bowling alley There's another segment that goes I can't really tell where Where it is, but it goes up to the Other bus stop Yeah, so there's there's five segments and then there's one that goes from Berlin State Highway The first one goes from Berlin State Highway to the town line So there's five five different segments that That could be down there and they each have their own individual costs So I have a question Would the state be willing to allocate money toward that And they this is part of what we're talking about is us applying for the state to help us pay to do this, right? It's a little background on me. Um, I I have a degree in prevention Development and I worked um several years with folks on reach up and community Developing jobs for them work placements and helping them create resumes Transportation was a huge issue for For folks who are on reach up And people who are working minimum wage jobs because they have families and they can't afford registration insurance Maintaining a vehicle that sort of thing and so So that's where my thinking is coming from Working with these folks for a long time and and problem-solving issues And I told you support that yeah, it's just whether we can afford it, right exactly. So that's why I was wondering to see Funding would be would be helpful. I think when we bet 250 that we were going to have to spend I believe was after 80% state funding. That's what I'm saying So and that's before we buy equipment or have anybody to maintain the sign because it would probably be at least a halftime employee in the winter managing that any time we have a SNF storm so We apply every year for state funding We're trying to get money to fix Fisher Road in front of the mental hospital to the hospital the Berlin mall Uh, you know, we don't have any money to fix that road So all I'm saying is would we be able to allocate this funding? and If we could that'd be great, but I don't see that we could so I'm asking do we go forward With the engineering if we don't think that we can afford to the project That's all I asked Do we want to take a smaller bite on it? Well, again, you if you do that Jeremy still have a shorter side of our turnover Oh, we're still gonna have we're still gonna have a we're gonna have a longer sidewalk to nowhere Because it's not doesn't connect to a Montpelier sidewalk in there. Well, no I guess they do have a walk place to walk on the Montpelier side one thing. Yeah Well, the I think Montpelier their sidewalks stop at the uh formula for new But they that might convince them to extend it then Right. I wonder if we worked in collaboration with Barry and Montpelier Or is this something we need to look at as more of a strategic like my next five years thing Maybe look at doing one Every two every one of these segments every two years And then we can see, you know, what is the actual workload look like for clearing just the segment between The the town line past the wayside to Walker So how long are engineering studies good for? Before they go I mean they're gonna I would assume if we did this engineering that we get a new budget Yeah, yeah, I would I would say and I think probably what I would suggest I don't think you're ready to make a decision tonight, but um Maybe why don't you let me look at some of the sections and come up with a few scenarios of how it might And then go forward and have like a brief look at that original to see if they have Money allocated to buy the easements That was I mean it was I believe I did but I'm not sure how accurate they are Yeah Now the easements will widen out the right of way for 302 right and because of the size of the road we're talking about we're talking about easements in the Car dealerships and Yeah, the hospital Properties and so on and There goes parking Mid-state dog. Yeah, this isn't gonna happen that easily is obviously well, I think even Even the road diet was pretty much cool, right? I think it just got sucked through The state was here and they said 70 percent of Berlin 10 watt wasn't happy. So we're going to have so we're doing I believe with the lights up Funding of segments one through four was um 1,218,000 And then that's the the fifth one was another um 165 So that was total construction cost. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So total project cost was was indeed um So can we straight straight through it? I'm just gonna put this in excel so I can Sorry Well, it's coming down to whether or not the we as the town feel that Sidewalk is affordable and Realistically what the usage would be for the amount of money that was expended I'm not I mean personally Even if you had a sidewalk that went from from the Montpelier line all the way to The berry line and they had extended their sidewalks to meet it. How many people are actually going to use it Total project cost all five segments 1,487,000 and that includes right away management inspection design and contingency So to any or 20 percent of that So and the what they're saying the the funding mechanism. There is something called the Bicycle pedestrian grant is that what we're looking at the one 10 percent minimal local match And their recommendation here if a partial award is received the town can reduce the length of the project accordingly So you'd apply for percent of all big big chunk and then if they say you know what we're only going to give you half that Is there is there a deadline for that give 20 second Okay, I mean, I I I I like the idea, but I just I'm I'm torn because the maintenance is going to be a problem. I totally I totally see what you're saying About people will use it They'll definitely use it on the other hand Pete. I'm when you said that's You just I just think about yeah the floodplain down there. Is that is that where we ought to focus? 25 My only buzz let's say that let's say we get an average out of all the money So we spent 150,000 we spent 70 on a sidewalk plow and salter We hire somebody to do it But we can't fix our roads Because we've got a culture in a road that's broken another culvert We have fisher road with a hospital in the mall in the city center applying the high drive And we've got a paving budget annually, you know 12 dollars No, I don't have the 13 No, that's that's that's how I'm trying to balance in my mind. That's right Well, I'll go through a couple scenarios here Okay, can I have a motion to table? Motion to table second All in favor Okay But do you do that then and have it for the committee? Yes. Okay. Thank you very much Um Approval of select board minutes 0 4 2 2018 and 0 4 16 2018 We have to approve the minutes for the monday of our second 2018 meeting as presented So All in favor Well, you weren't you weren't there sir. I'm staying Motion carries and Motion on the 4 16 2018 meeting Little to approve the 8 plus 6 8 meetings minutes as printed So all those in favor I Stayed Were you not there? No. Oh, yes. I was. Yeah, I think that one was one of four. Yeah I think you're sure we'll know whether we were here We're going to start that yeah Talent administrative reporting Yes, um Well, first of all pretty good week Um We did receive the fish a row grant So we did That was pretty pretty exciting. So we are going to go ahead and put out paving bids for fish a row and Obviously fish a road is we need traffic control and we need a lot of special considerations there Does that include our significance? Does that include our significance? No, it doesn't I'd like the signals we had that in the budget And I'd like them to be done. Tim's that's the signal man giving us estimates on the signals um I had a visit from jim carrion from the league and you remember Oh, I think it was last summer. I brought you a suggestion of a policy for transitional work for workers And at that time You thought it was a little too it painted us in the corner I've Loosened it up a little and I've worked with jim on it and I'll be bringing into your your next meeting Um Because he's suggesting that it would really help us as far as the workers comp expense if we have a transitional program obviously You can't offer someone we don't have 40 hours of work each week or certain Things but there are some things that people can do Um, also, uh jim is encouraging us to get a safety committee And we really need to do this pull together and have staff on it and management on it And that is going to be happening again, and that's Will be To help us with our workers comp It's optimization as well as to you know keep employees safe and so forth And the other grant as I mentioned earlier was the maryleigh Grant for the structure. We did not receive one for richison road And I can't complain because I've gotten Almost $500,000 out of them in the last week, so I guess What if the road doesn't have the Issues the maryleigh has That's right. That's right, and we may find that It's got I think that was us to man enough to get the exact thing number 200 something thousand To do that and but so we are having the engineering done on that as well but So we got two out of three grants So that's really all I had to share with you on that Okay, thank you Dana round table beat. I'm sad You want to discuss with the board right now, it's off the record one off the record, but it's not going to be voted on or anything out of the agenda Anything else, yeah, um The liquor board where you're going to be moved to recess the select board and can you With All those in favor We have one application from bombastic industries Doing business as the blue donkey. They're located in stow. They are catering a party at the fitness Competition at 654 ranger broke at the fitness center in second And I have no reason to suggest that you're not Move to approve the catering license for the first and fitness event All those in favor Those opposed motion carries We adjourn the control board. We can meet the select board anything with executive session today. I have no executive session to adjourn All in favor Come on