Board of Selectmen - Regular Meeting

No, I know. I was going to try to wedge some piece of paper, but I tried it earlier. I was like, man, it's not working. All right. I'd like to call to order the board of Suckman uh meeting for Tuesday, December 9th. Um Squan Nicolopoulos is unable to join us as he is away on business. Um is anyone here from the public who would like to speak to something not on the agenda? Seeing none, we have no public hearings. We're going to move on to meetings and invite uh Melanie Clunk to come to the table here. Melanie. Um and but this is a proposed committee to improve walkability, bikeability in bow. So, if you could just turn that microphone on, say your name and address, and let us know what you're thinking. Hey, Melanie. Hello, my name is Melanie Clunk. I live at 16 Brierwood Drive. Um, so I'm going to first hand out things.

Thank you. You're welcome. How are you? I love that scarf. So cute.

Thank you. So um so I'm here um to talk about an opportunity that I feel that our town has um to impact possibly every person in our town. Now, one thing that um when you think walkability, bikeability, and and this might be like, oh yeah, Melany's on to this right now, but I want to point out that on the um last when we did the last master plan for the town, there was a survey that was sent out. So, that was over 10 years ago. One of the top things that our community said they wanted was to make our town more walkable. So, this is not new, but I think that that's becoming more and more because we have more cars that are coming in and out. People are driving faster. People are driving distracted and people are feeling a little bit nervous about going out on the roads um about walking, running, letting their kids ride their schools or walk to school. So this is an opportunity that we have right now that if we can make this advisory committee, we could um allow us to respond to this long-standing need in a very structured and thoughtful way. Um our initial focus would be staged around our schools. So this would not be just around our schools, it would be the entire town. So at first the focus would be the first mile around our schools to see what we can do, what our options are. Then we move out the second mile and we look at what all the options are to make

neighborhoods more accessible to other neighborhoods. Kids can go and see each other. They can play. There doesn't always have to be a car or a parent involved. Um so we would first start within that one mile um radius surrounding the school. If you look on the map I provided it starts with bees actually in the very center. Um but it would affect all of our schools and even like the downtown area. Um then it expands to the second mile and then it continues outward from there. This phased approach keeps the work manageable, data-driven, and centered on the areas where improvements will have the greatest daily impact on our community. So, I gave you a little pamphlet thing. Now, this is just when we start if if you guys are up for doing this, this is just an idea. I wanted to give you a vision of what this could be, what this could mean. But we would be starting from the beginning. I would want input from everybody. What is what are the goals of this committee? What are we going to do? No, I mean, we know the biggest goals, but then we choose like is this the name we want or we want something that that really speaks to the direction we're going or whatever. But I felt that by giving you this map that Sandy very graciously made and we do have people that are in the town already. So the um Sandy is one of them that wants to help with bow open spaces, the conservation um committee and then we have other people that are very familiar um with writing up these grants for towns to get help. Now, that might

not be an option, but it doesn't hurt to have somebody like that on your committee and see what options we have. So, we have a lot of those. I think there's still a couple other spots on the committee where I'd want to first figure out like what what our what our needs are for everybody's role to be and then kind of plug in those last couple of people. How do you see this intersecting with the master plan which is happening right the we're redoing it right now? I know I'm on that committee too. How do you late I know we're going to let you out of here as quick as possible.

So I think I would be surprised. We're about to get back our our most our survey that we just put out.

Yeah. And I am expecting now I don't know for sure but I am expecting that walkability and bikeability is going to be at the top of the list again. Um and I think that this is going to be more of an advisory committee. So that's kind of deciding what are the focuses of our town for this um for this next 10 years. And if we wait until all of that's done and then start an advisory committee, we're kind of behind. I think that there are things that we could even start maybe within 6 months.

Um so, you know, Sandy, Crystal, and I were talking about like there needs to be um a view. They need to go through and look at what um uh trails we have right now and what we don't, what needs upkeep. So things like this are already going to be it's not going to be redundant. I think that we're going to work with the people in the town so that we can then get information and then when you when we all look at the master plan and we can come to you and we actually have some actionable steps to move. What does the board feel? I think if we wanted to proceed, we'd have to have this group drop a formal charge so we have a sort of very defined scope and we could vote at that on our next sort of non-financial meeting probably in the new year.

Well, and I felt like I was coming to you. Yeah. Um to give you the opportunity to say before like coming to you with something like that. I felt that was a little bit aggressive. So to first just broach the conversation in a very informal way. I mean, I know I have papers, but it's just for you to visualize. Um, and just to see if this is something that each of you would be interested in having for our town and then I would be more than happy to go about the formalities of of creating that.

My view is that I've spoken to people about this and there are people on either side. You know, I know where I stand on this issue, but there are people who are against certain sort of uh changes in the town, but I don't think there's any problem at all having an advisory committee that would say if you want to do X, here is how we go about doing it. This is where we'd start. This is where we'd look for money to support this. This is what we'd have to do on a town level to get this done. A lot of, you know, this the a lot of people don't understand a lot of these roads are state roads.

Um, right. I think I think if you looked at this though like just I mean and you don't have much time. I didn't give it to you ahead of time.

Um but there um on the very back right there's just a little sign there. That's using our trails. So this is one thing that we have that's a huge advantage. We have a lot of trails connecting different different like um neighborhoods and even getting to our schools with simple signage and making it make sure that it's more walkable. We could have kids walking to school in the spring. I'm not saying that it has to be just I know you're thinking the sidewalk thing. I mean, of course, but I think that there are a lot of other things that we can take advantage of in our town. Could that be something that we do? Maybe, possibly. Maybe it's not even possible. But there are some things that we could find that are possible that's already here and existing. It just needs maybe a little bit more thought to how to make it so that kids can use it without their parents or making it so that um older people who might have balance issues can also take advantage of these things and get out and be physically active. Mhm.

I think this is a really really great idea benefit for the community as an especially just to be able to have more of an indepth look at how we can utilize our current assets um and perhaps incorporate them in the future um into other initiatives. I would love to see you know at least a start of a charge. That would be fantastic. I could absolutely come here and come here. I just wanted to make sure that everybody would like doing this. Yeah, I agree. I actually thought that's kind of way you were going because I was thinking pathways and I was thinking you didn't say sidewalk, you're saying paths, right? So, well, so I kind of was thinking that was where where you're going, but it

Yeah, like I use a trail system all the time and it's fantastic to have and to to be able to then to maybe have it more accessible to the schools and to figure that out. Like it's it's really a great idea to to do that. So, well, and we might already have a lot of trails that are going right to our schools. They're not signed. we could like and there's also opportunities with that with fundraising for these signs where families can um adopt a sign

and their name could be on it or whatever they want. So, I think that there's a lot that we can do and if we decide to do sidewalks down the road, I mean, we're obviously going to look into it and see if we can even take advantage of some of I know some of the most like the the grants that most people think of we're not um able to take advantage of, but there are a lot. And so I've been assured that there that there might be some grants that we do qualify for. Yeah.

A lot of kids are utilizing um maybe not so much now that we're getting really cold, but daily uh picking up from the middle school. There are kids riding their bikes uh and walking way more than ever. It does stress you out. Yeah. Every day. No, me too. And that's why that's why this I I became so um determined um to see if we can do something because I always feel like we can always do something better. We can always try.

I really like this idea of gathering more information um in a committee format. And my suggestion would be because it sounds like you have spoken to people who are interested in doing this work. My suggestion right now would be to informally meet um until there is a charge that maybe you develop with those folks uh and then come back to the select board with a charge that we can vote on to potentially establish a committee. Um, but there's certainly nothing stopping a group of BO citizens from getting together and generating ideas and looking at the scope of our trail systems and the potential that might be there. And so I would encourage you to keep moving forward with that. Um, and then, you know, develop a charge, bring it back to us. We can vote on it if we want to establish it as a formal committee. Um, and then go from there. I no I know I could form like just a community committee. Um I think that this would be a lot easier to move forward on getting information from the state or getting whatever else if I say that this is a town committee.

It sounds like it sounds like everyone here is really supportive of the idea. So yeah. No, so I would just encourage you to do that to start bringing those people together, develop that charge, bring it back to us and then we can formalize something and move forward that way. That sounds great. Thank you. Thank you so much, Melanie. Thanks, Melanie. We're gonna take something a little out of order since there's another meeting going on in the in the hall that Sandy needs to be at. So, we're going to go to discussion item number seven, acceptance of Marac Conservation Partnership Grant, Ferry Road Conservation Area. So, Sandy, yes. Good evening.

Um, uh, Sandy Crystal, I'm chair of the Conservation Commission. um in uh the conservation commission has uh been working to acquire uh a piece of property that has 1500 uh linear feet of frontage on the Marramac River. It's 10.3 acres and um would be conservation protected conservation land in our um we're using the land use change tax funds to purchase it. Um, and we also sought um grant funds for the transactions. Um, and so we were able to get um uh $4,47 from the Marramac Conservation Partnership um toward um the transaction costs.

Um so um after I received it and sent it back, I kind of went, "Oh yeah, I need to go to the SLboard." I got so excited about the money. So, so we need to have a motion to accept the grant. I'll make a motion to accept uh the Marramac Conservation uh Partnership Grant uh in the amount of $4,47 to be used towards the purchase of the Ferry Road Conservation Area. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I

they eyes have it for nothing, Tanya. All right, Sandy, have fun at the master plan. We're going to jump back to meeting of number two, financial report with financial director Cheryl Lindner. Well, that's easy then. Okay. Um All right. The consent agenda. See anything? Do we not have a consent agenda tonight? We don't have a consent agenda, but there is an item the board needs to sign, but it's not a part of the consent agenda. We will have lock the doors until we sign it. Okay. Town manager report. Uh budget. No, that'll be the budget. Okay.

I'll send something out. I haven't um just looking at this. Just trying to read who's in the room and if we want to move stuff around. Is there anyone here who wants to speak to item number 11, which is the discussion on ordinance 25, the no parking zone on Stack Drive? So, we're going to move that up um to the front of the line. So, David, can you gave us a proposed ordinance? Yes. Do you want to explain it to us and the group and then if people want to comment on that, they can step forward into the microphone? Yes.

Yes. I I had uh Tim Sweeney go out and kind of take a measurement. I think what I sent out to the board was 300 feet. He went out an additional time to do 26 265. What this would create is a no parking zone from the easterly property line of of the new uh facility there, the new building or the new house and then all the way up to the corner. So it would be on that side of the street where the where it's located where it turns it that road kind of L's. Yeah. Where it T's and L's. Yeah.

Okay. And then so where if we adopted this ordinance, we would put up no parking signs um on 150 ft of either side of that. Okay. Well, actually it's it's from the property bound up to the intersection is it's actually 265 ft and it's both sides of the road. No, just the one side and that's my concern. So, are we just pushing the problem onto the other side of the road potentially causing a more significant problem with neighbors?

Sorry. No, no, I get I get what you're saying. I'm thinking of a logical extension of it. If we put on both sides of the road, is someone going to say, "Well, someone's just going to park further down." And the problem is we just don't want parking on the roads because like for plowing purposes and other purposes it's not safe. I don't think we're I would say we can discuss it on both sides of the road. Um but there's no perfect solution. This is a proxy to a perfect solution.

Right. We're just I I just see and I'm not saying this is not the answer. Um but I feel like we're just going to no matter what we do, we're not The issue at hand is that um this particular home um is requiring being a pseudo business is requiring a certain amount clearly of parking spots that they do not have the capacity for. So, if we say no parking on the north side of the road, they would move to the south side. If we say no parking north or south, then we're further down the road. Um, I just don't want I don't want to make a compound a problem. Um, trying to address a problem.

I I I agree with that. And the other part that kind of bothers me is that there are other neighbors there. And if let's say they have some people over and they need to park in the street, where are they supposed to tell their people or their friends to park if there's no parking, right? And so there there is that problem. And I I I can't think of a workound. And I I think we need to have suggestions from from people as to what they may think is a workound. Um both chiefs and neighbors and see what what what is that what is that solution? Yeah, this is a situation where um that neighborhood was not invited to the table already once um you know that process did not take place prior to opening because it um

well none of us were invited to

right no one no one was invited to the table. Um, you know, this is according to the state, this is something that they can do by right. Um, so I want to make sure that we're being really thoughtful about the fix um or anything we do to make things actually make sure they're making them better and and not worse. I would like to hear from people that live on that road. Um, I understand the reason for this ordinance. Um, I do wonder if establishing an ordinance like this and where we're talking about no parking on the street, who's to say that we wouldn't start getting calls from people in other neighborhoods on other roads saying we want no parking signs on the street, too? And if the reason is because of plowing or safety, then how do we say, well, no, like it doesn't count for your neighborhood. it doesn't count for your street to have, you know, some no parking on the street due to safety or plowing or whatever. So, are we establishing um something that comes back to bite us?

I don't think so because unless there another business goes like this in another neighborhood maybe. So, but this is a this is a very unique situation. Very unique. It is a very unique situation. I don't think it's not a precedent like the president and do we other I'm just going to raise other concerns because let's just get it all out there. If we're doing this to specifically address a unique situation, do we run into a situation where the state comes to the town of Bow and says you can't have this ordinance. This is a state uh facility and we need we are going to be overriding you overriding your ordinance. Have at it. just like zoning issue. So,

I want to be really careful about what we're doing. I'm totally fine with establishing some kind of solution uh or at least trying to establish a solution, even if it's not a perfect one, but I'm putting these things out there for the board's consideration. Is it something that we're going to see come back to us in a variety of ways with other people in other neighborhoods, streets wanting no parking signs? Are we going to get uh blowback from the state? You know, are they going to try to override us, which I think all of us will stand on our ten toes and defend the town against the state. But the point is things to consider.

I mean, we've seen photos. I I can't I'm not the only one that's seen the photos, right? Right. That have been emailed. It is an excessive amount of cars. Doing nothing maintains the status quo. Right. Right. Right. The best solution is that all the cars that are needed to uh get people there are housed appropriately. They're not being housed appropriately. We've seen this the

the the street and so well the perfect fix is is beyond our grasp. To me, this is better than nothing. And look, we we can change ordinances if we do follow the right process. If the state comes in and says that's not allowed, well, we have that discussion when the state comes in and says that's not allowed. If there is something that is unforeseen in six months someone says you know one of the the chiefs comes or someone says this isn't working I'm fine saying you know what we tried it it didn't work but to sit here and do nothing when

it's been a repeated problem because I think my understanding is there have been a discussion that it wasn't going to happen and then I think we all got emails from local residents who pointing out that it was very much happening still. So, is there someone from the public who'd like to speak to this? If you do, you can just come up and say your uh address, name, and turn on the microphone.

Just want to turn on the mic there. Just press it'll turn green. Thanks. Um I don't have a lot to say. My name is Matthew Sans. I live up the road. Um, speaking to the parking, um, it is a problem. Um, I've spoken to the business, the people that are running it. Um, they started off real nice and said they'll be good neighbors and listen to us. Um, I've tried to follow up a few times about this and no calls back. U, so they I think they kind of got in there and they really don't care anymore.

Yeah. Um, I just don't want our street to be employee parking. It's It's not a barbecue. It's not somebody having a dinner party and then people are leaving. Not people, you know, kids aren't sleeping over and then their friends are leaving in the morning. It's there every day, all day, overnight. Um, as far as I know, the the home is only half full. So, we're going to look at an increase in cars if anything. Um, and uh, yeah, not much else to say. It's just it's it's

not good for the neighborhood. It's it's not good to have to drive around that. Um, right on the corner constantly. Um, and really there's no there's no courtesy with it either. I mean, we just came here tonight. There's a car parked in the middle of their side of the street and there's only two cars in a sixcar driveway. So, they're not even using the driveway. They're just parking in the road to park in the road and it'll sit there all night long. Now, it's just a little further, right? I mean, I could park on the opposite side of the road. I think I asked that. I'm like, can I park on the opposite side and not have any repercussions? Is that okay? Then no cars can get by, right? is

are you would you as a local resident and this is in your very much backyard. Would you right now the ordinance has written that it would only be on the north side. Would you be fine if we said north and south side on both sides of the road? Yeah. If you put it on one side, they're going to park in this. Okay. There's no doubt. I just want to and and again like like you guys said, they're going to if you put it, you know, out to x amount of feet, they're going to park be on that side. And then the people's house they're parking in front of and half on their lawn. They're going to be calling you and saying, "Why are these employees parking on my lawn? Why why my employee parking now?" Yep. Doing something is doing something. Yeah, you come on. Come on in.

Join the party.

Sorry. I mean, I figured um Jen Saint here. I so I just wanted to add that the concern I think doing something I would love to see something done. I don't know what the answer is about what that something should be. Um the significant concern with them on parking on the road is for plowing concerns as well as people who are trying to be who are outside getting in their walk for their own health. uh they're walking their kids, they're walking their dogs. In particular, where they're located, to have cars on one side or the other moves and shifts the lane of traffic over to the other side

and they're in a location where there is a a significant turn in the road on leading to and and after. No matter which side you're there's no stop sign either. So it's a part n come around it

at that L part in particular. Everyone should slow down anyways and everyone should slow down and be aware that they can't see the other side of the road of course. But if they do need if the cars are on the opposite side of the road than the house, then if they do need to move over because they're definitely parking in the road. And if they're on the opposite side, there's less of a shoulder. Then they're going to be further more into the oncoming lane of traffic, which again, there could be other cars, but there could also be walkers. bike riders. Our neighborhood should be safe for people of all ages, for kids on bikes, for there's a lot of kids,

people on well, you know, and they should be outside. They should be on their bikes or walking. Same with anyone who's all ages. So either way, coming from either direction with their cars in the road, it's shifting the lane of traffic and it's reducing the visibility. It's reducing safe passage for other cars and people who are walking, bike riding, etc. So do you feel that no parking on both sides of the road would be more prudent?

I think that would be ideal. At the very least, something to consider would be no parking within x many feet or whatever from from corners, which would leave them I don't want them on the road at all. But if we're concerned about making it so that no one on the road can park anywhere on the side of the road, it would at least reduce the number of vehicles on the road to a very small section and potentially make it less dangerous. Yeah. You go you go too far then you're on the corners on the hills too butove. Yeah.

So the number of feet that we have here in this ordinance is 300 ft. Um does that sufficiently cover the area of concern that is that nar the area where the road narrows and turns and is can we get info from the chiefs? Um, as we're talking about this, I'm imagining how a fire truck is going to navigate uh that corner if there are there's parking on the road and snow banks and all of that. And that has me concerned.

Um, so I hear what you're saying about maybe both sides of the road for a period section of it. um might be a good way to address the safety concerns, but I wonder if maybe the fire chief or police chief might be able to chime in if they have any. Is there a way to pull up like a Google maps or GIS on onto that screen? So, we do

Yeah, that's fine. It's fine. Yeah, we can but we just need to be this the location here is very clear that we need to make sure we know what we're putting in place if we decide to put these signs together. Right. And I'm not clear on from the easterly bound without having a map. I think we need a map. Yeah. Before we actually see um it has and I I realize we have two wonderful chiefs in the room. Um, has had they weighed in at all with David? David. Oh, sorry. I'm making a drawing of

I know you I know you you the you took a look at it, but we it was with the measuring, but I don't know if you Thank you guys for coming in.

Yeah, I think it might be prudent. Yeah, I think we should have um both the fire chief and police chief take a look at this. Let's get a map uh so that we can clearly see where we would be establishing this ordinance and where the signs would go and how it would be enforced. And I would also like to maybe if the board would consider a better invitations to public discussion if you have a public discussion or even just letting them know that we're exploring this being more forward

with you know and saying hey we're having this discussion if you would like to send your thoughts you can email them or come into the next meeting. I mean I think we should do that but I actually want I don't want this to drag on forever. like I want this to like I want a quick resolution, right? This has been going on since October or something, right? So like I want a quick resolution. I don't I agree we should have a little bit more input. However, currently as it stands, it's a not a good situation. So it needs to be resolved sooner than later. Right. Right now the effective date was the 14th, which is this weekend, right? So,

I mean, couldn't we before establishing a formal ordinance, couldn't we do a temporary no parking on the road both sides for the entire length of the road, unless someone got an an exemption for Yeah. Hey, you know, an event. Yeah, I am having an event. Yeah. I mean, I would like to do something,

you know, until we could get the information that we're looking for, a map, input from the chiefs, um, make sure that we have things mapped out, where's the best place to put the signs, how we're going to enforce it. What are your thoughts on that? Does that help resolve the issue immediately? I would yeah I mean I would more than like if you wanted to propose a pilot almost um I would I would venture to say let's if we put the no parking on the north side only do they move to the south side and does it cause a problem? I don't know. Are we meeting next week about the budget for budget?

Yeah. So we could potentially add this to next week. I mean we don't have to drag it on I guess is where I'm going with this. No, I I would like try to come with a res or figure out a resolution right now. And I would just like the pilot idea. Yeah. Just for a short. Yeah. And well, I wonder if it's something that we establish, especially in the winter season being winter, snow, holidays coming up. If we said for the next 60 days, there's no parking on stack drive. Period. So, just to be clear, it's it's 14. I don't think it's going to go over well either, but I think that it will also generate people to respond and give their opinions about

um whatever solution is a more permanent solution. Um so just to be clear, it's 14 stack, right, is the is the house. Yes. So I'm looking at the map here. So that leads into the leads into the dead end and you got the hard left right there. I I would propose we're all going to have to get the side that it's on. No parking all the way to the end all the way up and then across the street from it up. Are you I'm trying to understand what you're saying. Yeah. Code to do an emergency. No. Yeah. Wouldn't be able to be That's what I mean.

I'm thinking of a block, right? a a square of sorts, you know, not just not just one side like one side's not going to be effective. It's just whack-a-ole. Folks, you're talking about what 300 ft that 50 on either side of that lot. 350 on the westerly. Says from the eastern property boundary of 14 Stock Drive, westerly for a distance of 300 ft. That doesn't work because then they're just going to park on the first foot, right? And that's the concern. I would say just do it to the intersection and do it 150 ft in the other direction on both sides of the road. Yeah. Saying all the way to the end. Like if you're talking

you're saying that side, but think about they'll just park on the other side. Oh, and then same both sides. I'm saying both sides. This is the ordinance does not No, it doesn't say that. The ordinance. So, we've established that the ordinance that we have before us that's been proposed is not a sufficient solution. Right. Correct.

And we need to have something drafted or establish something now with the kind of language that would address the problem. Um when I'm looking at the map, uh just for public's awareness, we've each pulled out our phones to look at a map. Um I'm looking at it here. I see where the address is on 14 Stack Drive, which is pretty much right on the corner um that sharp corner and I wonder if we said the corner of Stack Drive like what Mr. Chair is saying here 150 ft in

No 150 ft on either side of 14 Stack Drive. Yeah, but which is essentially that's there that's the corner and you get 150. Yeah, but I'm saying just don't define the corner. or just say 150 ft on either side if it gets to the corner right on both sides of the road. That's the logical thing to do because then it's then it is people are not less likely to park on the the road. Yeah. 300 ft. I don't 150 ft is not really significant. Well, that's why we need I would s I would suggest we get out there and again measure it to the intersection trip

and then measure it the other way and then next week decide on this because I'm with Ian. I do not want this to drag past January. I don't think any of us that is not appropriate. No, we want to come up with a solution like All right. So, David, we need to amend this unless I'm going to try and summarize what I'm hearing from the board.

We need to amend this ordinance and we'll deal with it next Tuesday at our our budget meeting before we get into the budget. What we're looking for is to put on both sides of the road and not have it go only one direction for 14 stack drive, but have it be substantial on either side of 14 stack drive so that the cars are not able to park near that facility on the road. They have to park in the facility. As it's written right now, they would be able to just drive up, park on this on in front of their neighbor's property and walk in. So, we need to just measure that out. Basically, measure it to the intersection and then figure out when an appropriate um distance is the other direction from 14 stack.

And when you're talking intersection, are you talking that sharp turn? Yeah, the turn. So, it's it's the turn in the that almost 90 degree turn on the map. I mean, you can see on the map there's a scale so you can get kind of a I think we can wait till next week to deal with it. No, just saying that like we we have a pretty good sense of of that. But so is is the board agree with that approach? Yeah. And I I think input from fire and police would also be helpful. Can we So can both chiefs who are in attendance get us some input on that for next week as well?

Okay. And if there's a particular distance that um makes sense that we're throwing out 150 ft, you know, we're throwing out measurements, but if you need more room to get a fire truck around that corner, please tell us, you know, if we're not uh adequately accounting for that. And having said what we heard, the way things are parked now, is it is it worth saying for the next week we put out no parking signs just because it is a bit clogged?

Emergency lane snow. We have temporary signs, too, but I couldn't find temporary signs. Yeah, temporary. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the ones that go in the snowbank. And if if we have the authority to do that, then Right. We have the authority to say no parking. Yeah. Fortunately, it's dealt with in three different chapters. The problem with these Yeah. things the planning board. Yeah. Yeah. Needs to start because it it would be nice to offer some relief to the like Yes. ASAP. I know.

And it should be noted that Yeah,

I don't Yeah, I don't recall exactly, but I want to say the contract I reviewed might have out of the millions of contracts I looked at, uh, might have said something about having access for a medical emergency to get in the driveway. way, but I'm not 100% sure. David, since Yeah, David, since we put up temporary signs without an ordinance around Falcon Way, remember that I complained about how ugly they were. Yeah, that's really

clear. We clearly have the authority to put them up without putting in an ordinance. We did some comb, right, and stuff, but yeah, that's Can we do that? Can we do that as a temporary thing as no parking as a temporary thing until we come up with the exact language that we want to Is that a motion? Yes. Make a motion. I make a motion to install temporary no parking signs on Stack Drive uh in the area. How how narrow do you want you put on? I think we should go 300 feet on either side of the street of 14 Stack Drive. 300 feet on either side of uh 14 Stack Drive. Unless another amendment is recommended. Yeah, I would. So that's a motion. Do I have a second? I will second that.

Okay. I warn you they're ugly, but they are temporary. They are ugly. Just just FYI for neighbors. I think the the look of the signs is the least of concern.

So I have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Nay. For David and Tanya's sake, I think for next week, we need to get the ordinance updated to include the north and south side and a distance. I'd like to see the location um cited as a distance from Stack Drive on both sides. And then I'd like to also get something on the town Facebook page that we will be discussing this next week so that we are you know these agendas are up there but let's make it very clear if other people want to come and speak that is the time to come and speak. I don't think we have to go to a butter notifications that just takes time.

Yeah. Just something to say. Yeah. I'm sure. Yeah. If there are people in the neighborhood of Sack Drive like to reach out to their neighbors to provide feedback, I would encourage anyone listening who might be on stack drive to talk to their neighbors, provide us with some feedback and okay, just there we go. And then we'll put something on Facebook and we'll take a formal action next week. All right. All right. We're moving on. Thanks for that as well. Um, we vote. We We will vote. No, I mean on the temporary. No, I'm a vote.

Oh, okay. I'm trying to cover my ass. Did you say that? We have a motion in a second. Uh, all those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Nay. The eyes have four nothing. Alert the bow tie. Was there? Yeah, that's going in the paper. You're in trouble now. It's formal term. Uh, moving on to the to the acceptance of the November 12th minutes. Do I have a motion to accept the minutes? Motion to accept the minutes from the select board meeting of December of November 12th.

I will second. I have a motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Oppos? Nay. Yes. You can did it word for word. Yes. Okay. I just want to make sure you're okay with the verb. Yes. May be expelled. Yes. And and Yes. All of that looks good. Okay.

All right. Eyes have it for nothing. Moving on to the fire truck purchase. I'll just set the table and the chief and deputy can

come on up. They've done a lot of shopping. They can give you the background on that. Uh but my end of this is there's a co-op purchasing organization or group or semi-government agency in Minnesota. It was created by the legislature in 1976. So what they do is they do nationwide purchasing uh cooperative purchasing for schools. nonprofits, towns, they've slowly but surely expanded their reach. And so they had found uh that they had a a contract with Rosenbower, correct? That's correct.

Um to supply the truck and then you guys just fill them in on the the the cost um and what you saw well is the purchasing group. Source well. Source well. Source well. Are we speaking about the fire truck that was approved at last town meeting? That's correct. Okay. All right. I just want to make sure we're not adding another No adding. No adding. I'm not even gonna make a joke. I don't even I don't want could not handle another firetruck purchase. Right. So, what we had appropriated was right there 1,118,700. Okay.

So, that'll have an effect on what they tell you they've been able to work out for a price. 1,118700. Yeah. Okay. Do we not have any Do we have anything on this? No. No, just the purchase. Yeah, you should holler amounts to try. So, there's a a document here that Deputy Man Van Dyke has that explains all the ins and outs and the details and the canoiders and the pushers and the pumps and the motors and all the things. Um, we'll be glad to go with you line by line through it if you'd like. Um,

but very personal. What it is is this is a thousandgalon version of our engine 2 now which is 1500 gallons. We've been satisfied with that product. Uh we did shop uh and speak with two vendors. Uh one is Pierce Manufacturing. You might have heard them about them through the Senate hearings and their lovely business practices. Um they were similar in price. Their build time is 50 months. 50. So that's four years and two months. Um that's not appropriate. We're not going to do business with them.

Um Rosenbower, again, a company that we've done business with. Uh they have sound uh customer service. They have sound maintenance programs. They have, you know, it's a sound product. We've been happy with the one that we've had now for six years. 21

21 approaching six years. uh minimal issue uh beyond the normal you know wear and tear stuff. Uh good warranty program. It's a smaller tank of water. We have a certain amount of galloners that we maintain due IO ratings, insurance ratings and so forth. Uh this will be replacing in the 2009 Pierce. Uh and uh the David you have the the price there. This one actually isn't accurate. Yeah, the the price that they are asking is 1 million 113. There it is. 832. Okay. Uh slightly under what was allotted uh in the warrant in March.

Mhm. Uh the caveat to this is that it's 100% 100% pay up front. Saves us $73,000 to get to that number. Okay.

Okay. Now, there was obviously questions on the safety, reliability, and so forth and so on. This is actually becoming a norm uh due to the costs and cost savings of being able to pay up front if we're so fortunate to be able to save money like this town has been able to do over the years to have these purchases planned in the future. Um you can any other variance would throw us out of budget on this. That's where we're at. So obviously there is when we do sign a purchase and sale um if we're okay with that with you folks um you do have a period of time where they're contracting come that all the the documents that you would have a chance to peruse legal can peruse and all those things can uh you can be comfortable with before within a span of 30 days before we are set in stone and moving forward. Mhm.

Um, we do have time of the essence. We've been able to to hang along a long time. There's due to be price changing in the first of the year. So, why we sit here with you folks, we've been able to stretch it as long as we can. It's a pretty dynamic thing. They seem to change every most of the time it's every month or so. Now, we're into it's been quarterly changing, which is better than it was. It's a stabilizing market. So, we did have we did have uh town council review it because that was my first concern with going like a you're actually buying it from source wall who gets it from Rosenbower. So, my concern was okay warranties everything you know or they failed to they failed to give us a truck and this one's 660day bill

660 days. So, this is just under two years. Um and so he's he's looked at a lot of the documents. we just haven't finalized um because chief had sent off the questions from Eric to uh source well and they have some response back. We just need Eric and obviously nothing will be signed until you know he's comfortable with the process. So the chief had raised those questions with Eric about the warranty and the again performance and um so he's just asked for a few more things but you know where does liability where where does the liability change on on delivery you know all the nuances of of

driving a somebody else's property across country to get here you know all those those types of things. So, just to reiterate, this is a truck that has been the purchase of which has been approved already by town meeting. Yes. And we have a way to save money uh acquire this truck under budget under what the town had already approved at by a vote at town meeting. And what you're looking for today is a motion from the select board to authorize the purchase pending uh final approval public contract documents. Yes,

Eric and our town council and Doug is that yes you're looking forward to correct and the major so the major difference between the the two trucks um is you're looking at a,000 versus 1500. This is a thousand gallon truck. This is a thousand gallon truck. Just to let you know kind of how this market's moved. The truck we bought that was 1500 gallons was 667,000 and 5 years later now they're a million one.

And by the only real option we have because we are working with an amount that was already voted on at a previous town meeting. The only option we have to stay under budget is to pre to pay for the whole thing up front. That's right. And wait two years for the truck to actually be built and then delivered. That's correct. And previous Oh, sorry. Go ahead. How would that How would that process normally take place? So, what is a normal expectation of I'm going to go buy a fire truck. Um, I'm not going to see it. Do I make do I normally make payments like quarterly payments as they build or do

There's a there's a handful of ways folks uh do this in municipalities. They either bond the money and then those allotments go out over a period of time, right? They bond the money, they pay all up front to receive discounting that way and then, you know, depending on whether it makes sense to them to pay interest on top of that on the way. It it all it depends on what the town's comfort level is with this kind of situation. In the past, Dave, I think we've I think we've done a 50% 50% when we did that Rosenbower. Yeah, that's what we've done in the past. Um, is it um I just lost my train of thought. What?

And it was 7 like7 $78,000. 72,799 to pay up front will be saved. That's correct. If we pay 50% that deduction is 30,192 put us over budget by by somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. Gotcha. I'd like to make a motion to I had one more other thing to say. Are we having a discussion yet or make the motion and have a second the discussion or how do you

proceed with your motion? I'd like to make a motion to approve the purchase of fire truck as the chief has outlined uh pending the final review and approval of town council of the contract and uh all questions being answered um sufficiently have a motion. Is there a second? No second but okay have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Now's your discussion. We have to follow a process here.

Does does the difference in capacity negatively affect a typical operation? Like would you how do you make up for those 500 gallons? How like of water? Yeah. Like is it is it impactful or do you So this truck here would be replacing a truck that has a thousand gallons. Okay. So we're not losing anything. There's no change in overall. Okay. We maintain that gallon of ISO rate. Got it. Okay. Sorry if I missed that. I thought we were replacing the 15 for Yeah. No. No, there was some confusion there because the other truck's 1500. Right. My apologies. Yeah, I made a mistake. And the Pierce.

Uh yeah, it'll be replacing the Pierce. Yeah. Um, the smaller tank allows for more tool space. And this is the truck that we carry, shorter truck, smaller truck, more driveway friendly, car extrication tools on this truck because there's more compartment space. Got it. This is the one that goes to the highway and deals with those type of things. Yeah. Got it. Right. Motion a second. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Nay. Eyes have it for nothing. Thank you. Thank you. Next up, Fidium communication proposal with Mr. Andrews, I believe. In two years, can I get a ride in the new fire truck?

Okay. Just want I want to establish that for the record that when the new fire truck arrives, what get you have to pay for it now, but truck arrives, I want to ride in the fire truck. Thank you. Let me start off by saying I love going after the million-dollar project. beneficial. Um, I'll keep this as short or as lengthy as you.

Before you get started, let me just remind us that this firetruck purchase is done without a bond because we have appropriately saved through our CIP process. And um, so it might sound like a lot of money, but we prepared for this. We planned for it and we're able to do it without a bond. Uh, the voters the voters already approved. voters have already approved it in a position to save a lot of money and we get to save money which we all love. Okay, now go ahead now so you don't have to throw out the million dollars like we're good. I don't have a puppy either. Um

this uh project has been in the works now for a little bit over a year um and is included in my 2026 budget proposal. Um due to recent circumstances, uh it would be beneficial for us to um look at moving this up uh into this year's budget. Um I I don't want to go through my entire um memo that I had written the town manager, but the last couple months we've experienced some uh outages which have has affected both phone systems and our internet. Uh I say townwide, but what I mean by that is not the citizen townwide, but facilitywide. Um the the longest outage was a little over 14 hours. Um luckily that that occurred late in the afternoon. So the only folks that it really uh impacted was police and fire. Uh when that where their when their systems go down um when all of our systems go down, they're unable to access their their databases and their reports writing. um when it goes down during the afternoon, the town clerk is unable to access New Hampshire DMV to process the registrations that uh you guys spoke of last uh last session. So, we have been working with um our Fidium vendor um and if we were to enter an agreement uh now in December, they're able to give us some favorable pricing which then lowers the 2020 my 2026 budget uh request. Um this system would not be would not be going online until probably late March, early April. It's a three-month build process. Um and working with Cheryl uh we're comfortable that we can fit it into this year's budget. Um because there's there's going to be some immediate cost savings when we do this. We're looking at currently upgrading some of our firewalls and network switches um through Mainstay, which is our IT provider. Um moving to this system will will negate those

expenditures. And those expenditures were up up around8 or $10,000. Um the startup cost for this is a little over $3,000. And then it it does increase our um monthly subscription rate. Uh for the total of 2026, it looks to be about $5,500.

Elena, you had a question uh following the initial budget uh review about why some buildings are up and some buildings down. I really don't have a great answer for you other than to say that billing has um billing the billing our bills are really complicated in that you can't really point to one building. Uh and I'm not even really sure how finance uh divides it all up. Um but this will also provide much better billing. Yeah. On our end. Sure.

U each building will be its own entity. Right now, if we have an electrical problem here or at the safety center, the whole system goes down. Um, with this new proposal, each building is its own entity. So, for instance, if we had a a natural emergency in town and the EOCC was operating and the EOC for whatever reason lost power, lost the ability to to house that, they could move here. They could move to the rec center. They could actually move into conquered if they needed to and still function as the town of Bow. which is really beneficial

with with moving to this system. Um are we moving from three vendors to two? So we would be so um we're essentially moving from three to one but Mainstay provides our but mainstay would still be providing

they provide our security IT network uh systems. Um there will be some um there will be some overlap but essentially we're going from three service providers down to one. Fidium would would manage all of our internet access in all of our phone systems. Uh main stay would be providing our um IT support uh and firewalls. So we would still have the firewall in place. uh what we we what we would be losing is telet techniques and right now all three companies have to work together in order for the entire system to work. If one company whatever happens one component from one company goes down we lose the whole thing.

Yeah. It's it's I've said this you know when we get the emails that the systems down like it's it's one it's it's embarrassing. It's 2026. How how is this possible right? And you know it's unacceptable really like to have people come in and we have regular business that needs to happen you know never mind the safety services but um personal experience you know down the street at her business like with a certain provider we switched over to Fidium because we had outages for no reason and it's unacceptable and so

and Fidium is work for you is that you're saying um am I reading this uh letter correctly that If we were to approve this change, we would see a reduction in the monthly recurring costs. Are we talking less money overall?

That is a question that Cheryl and I have been trying to answer now for about six weeks. Um, and uh uh and I just ran the numbers again this morning. Um, there is a there is a facility overall increase, but it's it's only uh So the the monthly subscription rate uh what I'm anticipating for 2026 is a little over $5,500. The reductions would come from we are um we can cancel our uh yearly contract with tele techniques. Um and I don't recall the number off the top of my head. Um and then we can forego uh some recommended switching updates as well as firewall updates and those are coming in about$8 or $10,000 if I remember correctly.

So so there is an overall cost savings but only for that first year but not in the subscription. It's it's um there's an increase in the subscription free fee, but there's so our budget if you I just want to know if you look at all the numbers, do we see the numbers go down overall or do we see them go up over or do they stay about the same? So there's a portion that will go away. So our sub our um contract with telet techniques will go away. That's about $3,500. So per month or per year?

Per year. So that will go away permanently when we switch to this new plan and this new system if the board approves it. Uh we had been in conversation with Mainstay to upgrade some equipment in the town hall to try to offset because as Chris said the three systems have to work together. It's not ideal. It's kind of like a Frankenstein put together. So we take away that Frankenstein aspect. So, we will not need to upgrade our um our server, which was quoted to us at $8,000. But that's a onetime expense.

That's a one time, right? The other the other expense that we will save according to Mainstay are switches. So, we have switches in all of our buildings that help as a conduit to get everything working and and pieces where they need to be. So, we can take away one to two switches and we don't need to replace those which were due next next year or the year after. And that's they're $1,000 a piece. So, we will save $2,000 from not having to replace those switches. But the firewall is is $8,000 savings for next year, which is one time. So, there's another piece to this is um there is a lot of and this is why Chris and I have been trying to go back and forth to to kind of parcel out what the final amount is going to be for this because there's a lot of old infrastructure across the town. Some of it is still in use. Some of it we're still being built for. And we're not sure when this new system comes in. Our phone system is at end of life. We don't they're not supporting the phones anymore. We have some pieces down in the basement, but it it's not really being supported anymore except through telet techniques. So once we if we decide we're going to do this, they will go through all those old wires and see what we need for exchanges, what we need for switches, what we need for um the the other parts of the system and tell us we we think there's more we can get rid of that we're currently being built for. So we know that there will be some savings once that that evaluation is done. Uh but it it's not done right now and it won't be done for what another month maybe

as soon as I can get uh tell techniques in here. Um so like the sub the subscription rate will go up. Yeah. The budget in 20 the expenditures in late 25 and 26 a one time there would be a one-time savings. We I'm not 100% sure what that's going to be yet. Okay. For instance, we think we're still paying for systems at DPW left over from when the police department dispatch were there. Um, our is it there's going to be an audit that takes place. There's going to be an audit. So, we're going to go through identify what can go.

Everything we have correct, what can go, what can stay, what needs replacement. Another for instance is if you're familiar with the old copper telephones, you know, the old landline. We have a number of those that have left have been left over from just years and years and years that are more expensive than data driven uh phone lines. We are still paying for those. Uh we have to have those for fire fire alarms. Uh the elevator at the rec center for instance.

Um we still have a number of those in buildings that we don't need to use and maintain. So, we need to go through and find out what can then be ported over to the new system versus what in at a cheaper cost and what what can be actually deleted. Uh we we just I just don't I'm not comfortable with actually throwing out a number yet because we don't know yet. So, it the anticipated monthly subscription or annual subscription cost is an increase from what we've had before. Correct. Of about $5,500 per year. Total per year. per year for all all four of our facility main facilities.

Not a $5,500 increase, a $5,500 total subscription fee. I'm I'm just trying to make sure I follow that. We're not seeing a significant jump in the subscription fee. We're seeing an increase, but not like double the cost of our current subscription fee. So, it's about a little over $5,500 per year. And we're expecting to get better service, more reliable, streamlined, more efficient, more secure. Yeah. And included in this process is an audit to eliminate waste. Yeah. And I'll make a motion to approve. And the other just add one more benefit. We have a motion. Perfect. Sorry. A second. Second. Motion a second. Any further discussion?

Yes. Um I'm very concerned that our I want to make sure that we have the redundancy that is recommended especially in emergency situations that we are not I should rephrase this but I really am uncomfortable about the thought of not having a copper line. No, we'll have So I want to make sure. Okay, we'll have the copper lines and there are some infrastructure in the town that require the copper lines like the elevators, the alarm services and

so specific to your point, we have discussed with um uh both Fidium and TEA techniques. So for instance, this building has two copper lines dedicated to the fire alarm system. Yeah, we can simply run another line and put it in the town manager's office and have a conventional landline phone there if we choose to. Um so that's something that we have discussed. Yes. And we've expressed interest in doing that um for the same reasons that you're um

discussing. Great. The other the I just want to add to redundancy too. These phones uh if the primary phone system were to fail, it automatically without us knowing it goes to a data strictly a data driven and then worst case failure is there will be apps on our smartphones. So, we just push a button on our smartphone and and Dave can make a phone call from anywhere as the town manager. It sounds like it sounds like we are reaching technology that matches the year that we're entering and I'm excited about that because gosh, this is sounds like a positive change to me. So,

any further discussion for that? Yeah, I'm I'm just So we had an increase in the upcoming budget year. The municipal building the cost for telephone, internet, cable line, it's 3130 per year. The in the decrease is being seen at the safety center at a,000. Again, these are estimates. I'm not holding you to these. Yeah, public works shoots up to an increase of almost $10,000. Yeah. So, it it's really really hard

and I just it it's hard to um and then the community center has an increase of $5,000. So, I guess I'm trying to figure out how we go from what looks like a small a small increase on a monthly basis to this to how it really adds up over the course of a year. As best I can, I'll try to explain it. This proposal in itself has been in in discussion now for a little over a year. Those numbers that are in front of you were from the original quote from April of 2025. Mhm.

without an audit, without a discussion of what uh what equipment's in buildings, uh basically worst case scenario. Okay. Which I then put into my budget has as what is the most expensive, right? The last eight weeks has forced us to look at this sooner. Okay. And the big question is if we were to go through this to this sooner, can we fit it in 2025 year numbers? One of those things is we did a uh we did a more comprehensive audit of what's actually in place. Um which brings those numbers down substantially. I can share with you if you would like to know for the four buildings. Um I'm ready with

and I would and I would ask Cheryl to explain how what she's found on the billing side of things because I don't normally deal with billing. Um, when I read the the invoices, I can't I don't understand them to be honest with you because they're not per building. Yeah. No, they're super complicated. Per line, per switch, right? Per number. A lot of which the numbers don't show up. They're behind the scenes. When we look at the budget next year

and the lines that select women KBY is talking about in our budget where we're seeing this fluctuation where there's confusion with a change to this system that's more efficient um and eliminates waste. Should we expect it to be uh more easily understood when we look at the budget? Sure hope so. Okay. Yes. Thank you. We do have we do have you know some buildings have a larger increase um because they don't have the infrastructure currently. Right now our retirement system goes through this building and uh public safety.

So you have the new numbers for that we would plug into our budget books. Correct. You said for next year. So do you mind listing them? Yeah. Um we do that during the budget. We should do that during the budget. Yeah. I feel like that's a well and I don't want to be difficult. I just feel like I have this I don't know that I are we you're asking me to commit to a contract, right? To move forward with this. I I think it's and I just want to know what we're committing to financially. It'll take me 30 seconds if if words

Yeah. I just think that we don't really have much of a choice though based on the systems failures that we consistently have. Like we have to go this route. You forget when you when you lose hours of productivity. 50 people's time. I'm guessing you're losing all likely I'm going to if I want the Oreos, I'm likely going to buy the Oreos, but I still want to see what the price of the Oreos. Does that make sense? That's all I'm getting at here. Could I have the price of the Oreos, sir? So, being mindful that this is phone, internet, and cable. Yeah. A couple two of our rooms have still have cable to them.

Uh what uh what Cheryl's going to get tomorrow morning um that you guys can discuss next week. Uh the municipal building is going to go from $24,974 down to 17,934. Oh, sure. I want to lose my headings.

No, I just want to make sure I'm giving her the right year. Uh, safety center is going to go from 21,395 to 23,334. Public works, uh, 16,277 to 11,210. and the community center 10,152 to 7,945. And to uh select Flanigan's point, this new system will also now enable me uh or any staff that has access to perform live monitoring. So, if I get a a phone call says, "Hey, internet's down at the safety center." I can really jump on my laptop and see, okay, I can see what the problem is. We don't have that capability right now. Part of that 14-hour outage was three technicians working across three companies, literally working late into the night, first thing in the morning trying to figure out uh what the problem was.

Yes, it's inefficient. And so that so there will be substantial um uh staff time and technician time and and trying to get our systems back up and running. All right, we have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I oppose. Nay. Did you vote, Elena? I did not. I've not put the numbers in yet. I appreciate everyone very much. Three nothing succeeds. All right, moving on to the police detail feed through tomorrow.

Thank you. I apologize. These were supposed to be in the packet. If not, they were. Thank you. They just vote without me. That's fine. And so, you know, that's lovely. He speaks well. Oh no. Beef is efficient. Yeah.

So back in April I came we had public hearing to increase the detail rates at which time we had public hearing and detail rates were raised. Um, however, the part where $10 more to go to the officer at this time was uh denied. So, I'm here back um requesting that the officer get the $10 an hour. Now, um since that time um when I worked the Hopkin Fair, I found out every town in the area now is at $70 an hour. So, right now we're at 60 and every town is 70 and some are even higher. puts us at a disadvantage with recruitment and retention. Um, I feel like we have to have a level playing field, which is why I'm here. Um, and just regarding the union, you're saying that because it's sort of an 8:3 ratio right now of non-union to union. Um I if I remember correctly we wanted to deal with this because of that issue. You're saying it overwhelmingly favors just the group as a whole when we do this.

Yeah. Yeah. It benefits everybody. Like I said the union this was non-negotiated. This was not a union issue. Uh these were just town fees at the time. Okay. We just use what we had. Yeah. So that was never negotiated. That was never a thing. The unions already agreed to it. They already signed in the form uh that we're just waiting for Dave to sign it. So, it's really a non-issue. There's no additional cost to the town. We're already collecting that money. Public hearing is not needed again to do it. Um I just think at this point we need to be on a level playing field. Um recruitment is horrible as you might know. Yep.

Um so our what I really want to do is focus on retention. I really need to focus on retention and uh I don't want to lose people for something like this. Um so and just to just to reiterate and make sure I'm understanding this correctly because this is a fee that's already collected. We are not looking to spend additional tax dollars. This is no impact to the budget. This is merely a transfer of the fees that are already collected to the individual um officers or doing the work

doing that are doing the work. This is not a an increase in budget. This is not a a tax increase. This is not anything other than a transfer of the fees that's collected to the person doing the work. Correct. Okay. Redirect. It's a redirect. Yeah. Yeah. because initially when we proposed it, we had that $10 built in. Board approved the full amount. So, we've been collecting the money, but it has been going to the officer. I'd like to make a motion to approve uh the police detail fees as outlined by Chief Miller. A second.

Have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Oppos? Nay. Eyes have it. Four nothing. Thanks, Chief. I do. Thanks, Chief. Have a great Maybe that's quick. We could have put you up earlier on the agenda. I'm always fast.

All right, moving on to sale of town property for the Banger property. Where are we at with that? Yeah. Once so when the board changed uh the policy on selling of taxdeed properties, we would now go to there's a long fairly long list of uh steps that need to be taken to make it work um through the planning board and but really we're at the point I just need to know if the board wants to proceed with uh negotiating a a purchase and sale or at least some sort of um you letter of intent type of thing and come up with a dollar value so then he can proceed.

So do you need us to tell you a dollar value or a ballpark? Yeah, I mean we So do do everyone remember the like the lot? Yes, the Bander lot. Yeah, it it's my view is basically it's only valuable to one person because it's septic fields on it. Um I think we should pay they have to pay something because we don't give away town land. I think they when they left here he knew that that was the case and he was willing to pay something at least you know all the survey whatever any of the costs for surveying and recording and

anyone have a number in mind. I thought we had discussed something about um the tax rate going on the back taxes for that property and we were supposed to be getting a figure and that number I had 10,000 in my mind for some reason. So I don't know if that's accurate. Well, I do remember the conversation that we were supposed to get numbers before doing anything about this about the back taxes and so that we wouldn't be just guessing at a number. Do we have those numbers, David? Back taxes. No, we don't. Um, so that it's the amount of tax deed for. Can we just Can we go on the No, it's not on the

We don't have it on the um I don't feel comfortable just throwing out a random number and because we've asked for a specific number, I think that we need to try to get that specific number and then go from there. Um, I don't I wouldn't want it to be anything less than the amount of taxes that are owed from that property. So So the idea of like throwing out $1 or 10,000 or whatever, if I understand correctly, Sica McDaniel said that we should get something for the land and you're saying we should get at least back taxes. So that's that's two different things. No, we should get something for the land. She's saying we need to know that information. I think we need to know that information before we can plus a a a fair value for that for correct

for the next meeting. Would we be able to get the the back taxes on that property so then we can have a discussion about what we we would be targeting for in negotiations with them and I can have our assessor look take a quick look on if we're carving out a piece because that's all we're doing is carving y a section. Okay. So that we'll table that until next week. Just getting those numbers uh locked in, please.

Yes. Yep. Thank you. All right. The acceptance of a resignation from the recycling and solid waste committee. You have an email on page 10. Um member is moving to the beautiful white mountains uh effective immediately and is resigning immediately. So, do I have a motion to accept the resignation?

A motion. I'll make a motion to regretfully accept the resignation of Danielle uh from the recycling and solid waste committee and would ask that we send a thank you for her service to the town um by serving on this committee and wish her luck in her new in the move to the White Mountains. Second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I.

Oppos nays. Eyes have a four nothing. That's cool. We did. Um. All right. We've already done item seven. So, moving on to item eight. Adoption of updated flood plane management regulations. Is this what we have to sign? Can you give us a little bit of background? do this. actually carries double check. I'll make a motion to accept the updated flood plan flood plane management regulations submitted to us by Harry.

I'll second. I have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Just a quick question. Is it customary that we would approve a flood insurance study we haven't reviewed yet because it will be dated uh January 23rd 2026? I don't remember the last part of this actually I don't remember the last time they changed to this extent you know so I don't I haven't done it. I mean, not that I think you have a choice, but I don't know. It just seems odd.

And it comes It's Yeah, the areas from FEMA. We could look I I hadn't done a while. The town hadn't done it in a while. Crystal I think a lot of FEMA's maps were actually taking some of the and I don't know if it's the case with these older data having it on just a solid white background. I mean, I I'm just going to sign it because I don't think we have much of a choice, but

not like FEMA is going to take my phone call. So, we have we have a motion in a second. Uh, all those in favor say I. I I post ns. Eyes have it for nothing. We'll sign that. Moving on to number nine, acceptance of donation for the heritage commission. David, can you give us some background?

Yes. U Mr. and architect Myers. They um have donated both historic things. I know there was also five drawer uh flat file cabinet um antique wood saw value of approximately a thousand antique another cutting saw. Basically the uh these have been gifted to the heritage commission. Um so under the procedures the board needs to actually accept the donations. Okay. Have a motion.

I'll make a motion to accept uh the donations to the Bo Heritage Commission. Second. Have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Nay. Eyes have it or nothing. Annual report cover and title page review. is trying to get everyone ready for those.

Uh while we're looking at that, is it okay if we move on to do we have anything else that we need to 12 can't go into nonpublic. You want to table it for another week? Yeah, I think we'll table I want it to I want Chris to be here.

Yeah, we're going to table item 12 just because we value selectman Nicopoulos's viewpoint on this issue. So, we now have the and we will make a motion on the annual cover and page review and we've all seen it, Tanya. Um the budget and so we have one final session next week. I'd love to get the board's view on like what we would like to accomplish tonight. I know we sent away um David and Cheryl with sort of highlevel um changes that we were looking to make for tonight. I'd love to see where those changes ended up at really uh like what we got to but I don't know what the board would like to do otherwise and happy to help facilitate any requests there. I definitely would love to hear um the difference from where we were last week to where we are now after the changes.

Yes. Um and happy to go further into it as long as everyone would like to stay, but knowing that some people get hangry around here and so like let's not stay till midnight.

Yeah. And just so everyone, if there's people watching or in the room, we asked for sort of a relook at the health insurance assumptions um going forward, there was a sense that we were planning for sort of full employment with large uh health plans tied to every employee and we thought that might not be realistic given our past employment sort of rhythms. Um, we asked them to look at maybe increasing revenues from our motor vehicle registration since that's a unit that always seems to outperform. Um, we asked them to discuss, um, paving among other things. And so that was some of the main things we took away. And so, um, the outcome of that is what I'd love to hear right now before moving on to other stuff.

So, Cheryl or David?

Yes. So, what we we did was we uh Cheryl talked to um the DPW director Tim Sweeney about the paving. And you you probably have a better explanation of it than I do, but he had said that he would be in good shape as far as keeping up with the plan and what he has planned. it these funds kind of roll over year to year. So, he does have money available from projects he hasn't been able to get to. So, he would said we that he would be fine and we would be good with cutting another 83,000 from the Warner. We'd already cut a 100 from the six 663 was

665. So, we would 565. So, that's one possible area. The other was um Cheryl ran the numbers on health insurance and so for two employees of the f well of the five openings if we budgeted for two of the openings just a twoerson plan

it would be uh a reduction of 19,073. So then we also looked at revenues, you know, and we did talk to to uh the town clerk, the medulla, and you know, she her concern is that just the year where we we add on we add too much on or we estimate too much and the year that it doesn't happen. But Cheryl went and looked and has found what was our growth on there. So the growth year-over-year was about an average of $275,000. So she was up 250 one year, up 300,000 the next year. There's no guarantee that that will continue, but we did increase by 100,000 from what we had um estimated her budget to be last year. So, we were thinking that with the growth we've been seeing over the last three years, an additional $50,000 kind of cut cut that in half. Cut the the increases in half. So,

still relatively conservative, but it gives us a little more. Yes. And we wanted to be conservative with the revenues because if they don't materialize, then you have a gap that you need to fill. So, um, so being conservative, we thought if we increased her her collections by $50,000, that was still in the realm of of what we felt was doable. And we also looked at ambulance fees, and you had met with the chief on that.

Yes. So, Chief Como, um, the way we're billing now, we are not going to see any significant changes in that new legislation. uh there might be a little bit here or there, but we we really are not going to see any tremendous tremendous bumps in revenue. So, um and the chief's feeling on this is that you can never predict what your level of calls are going to be and and what's going to actually be able to be build through the ambulance service. So, he felt we were at a good level where we're at right now.

It's been fairly static the last three years. If you look back on the revenue um piece that that I provided you for the some of the history what we budgeted where we are year to date his does not his ambulance revenue does not fluctuate like our motor vehicle revenue does. So we'd like to keep that the same at the 295. So all that's in what's the outcome? What we'd end up with was a proposed or estimated tax rate of $4.83,

which is a 4.3% increase from the current rate. And if you remember, what was proposed to you was 491, which is a 6.2% increase in the tax rate. And again, we've gone down about 12% over the last three years.

So, okay. So, how would the board like to um proceed tonight? So, obviously this worked last time where we sort of gave high level um stuff. I know Suck and Colby had sent through a more detailed list and that helped as well and we got back answers as well. Um do people want to and I don't want to guide the I'm not trying to force either way. I'm I have nothing to do. Um, we could do that again and give some more highle guidance. We can go away and before next week submit more questions so they're ready with pretty much like detailed answers when we have them in in the vein of what Elena has done. What is what do you folks want to do? I should also say that is a great outcome from what we right. Yeah,

we we were we all know it sort of that we want to keep that number as low as possible and lowering at 1.5 um percentage points is no small feat. So, thank you. I think a really interesting point that I came across with Cheryl today was that um item marked three and four. I don't know if you guys have the which sheet are you referring to the questions Q&A the Q&A basically of the results from that it's in your

that cola line actually includes the step increases as well. So it's not just 100% cost of living. it includes what they were expecting in their step increases which really helped me understand that figure. Um so I thought I would just pass that along. Um DPW had something on his paving plan.

Yes. um talking about Hall Street 65,000 on hold conquered water main install and then he had an omit backside Brownh Hill Road. Yes. And then he had a note I'm just wondering is he saying

so Hall Street they're waiting on some utility work to be done on that street. So until that work is done and I believe that's in conjunction with the water and so we um so they want to wait obviously to pave that. So it's on the list for the he keeps it on the list for the upcoming year in case the utility work is done. Okay. But I'm trying to remember what was the Brown Hill Road uh Brown Hill piece. He said that they could hold on that for an additional year. Um, and if anything needed to be done with that ahead of time, he did have reserve funds that could be used for it. So,

so he's saying potentially there's more money in paving available, but he'd rather not get cut that close. Yes. So, just sticking with the 83. So, the two road he was okay with with postponing the two rows. one for the utility work and one could hold off a year. But if for some reason something came up on that backside of Brown Hill, he does have additional paving funds available because those do roll over as they can do the paving year after year. Gotcha. They don't they don't cease at the end of the year.

Perfect. Is there anything else people want to go over tonight or we happy doing our homework, asking questions in the interim and really coming back next week and you know where necessary going real deep that work? Yeah, I don't know when the appropriate time to bring this up is, but the Heritage Commission is looking for more details um as to Yeah, I think that's discuss

the warrant article discussion. So, when we look at how much we're anticipating in warrant articles, they're wondering if that Bob meeting house is included in a warrant article. Um I think I should maybe discuss that now. Give give the background because you sat through that meeting so everyone understands that so at least we're ready to make a decision next week. Yeah. So what's the give us the background if you

So we had asked a few months ago as a board to get information as to if there was because of a CIP recommendation and a um building and facilities committee recommendation that the Bob meeting house we look at selling it. Um then the board said this board said, "Well, if we were to do something like that, what would be stipulations that could be added?" Um we were supposed to get some followup on what stipulations could look like? We have not heard about um heard back on that, I guess. And so

they're kind of in a standstill right now, not knowing if we are going to be including the cost of painting and replacing some clapboards on the meeting house in a warrant article or if the board is still considering pursuing a sale of that property. Did we decide? I thought we would put that to a warrant article vote if we were going to sell the building. Didn't we say that's what we were going to do?

And if we if we if we were to put it to vote, there would be an accompanying warrant article with an expenditure. And what we're missing here in our

um warrant articles list in the budget is an expenditure. So it's it's just causing some confusion. Um so I think it warrants a further discussion maybe at the next meeting as to what the findings were um and you know and creating some warrant articles if necessary to address the issues. So the three options would be z upgrade do nothing. That's kind of what we need to discuss on that. Yeah. Is that accurate? Okay.

Fourth is just sell maintain or Yeah. Well, I said that's yeah spend some money to maintain right is the is the second option in my list. Yeah. Okay. So that's it. Have we heard about any um limits on, you know, what stipulations we might be able to put in place if we were to consider that? Eric could send something back. We could get a copy of that. That would be great.

We need to make a motion on the annual report. make a motion to accept the cover. Yeah, I don't think we're doing that yet. That the annual report cover and title pages. I think um I think there are a couple title pages that might need work, but I sorry you made a motion like editing. Yeah. uh like I think there might be some So do you want to go with the motion and second then we can have a discussion to maybe redirect some editing or do we want to

Yeah. And I think Chris I also want to just say I think Chris might want to take a look at it too but do you need this approved? Are we on time? I don't think we're on that deadline for we're going to table this as well just so is there a deadline that we table are we good you're I withdraw my motion okay thank you just a reminder the board of selection usually does a write up I don't know who's doing that but that will be turns out uh chairman McDaniel is a professional writer sounds like I'm being volunteered for that one turns out

can you give me can Do you send me an email detailing a deadline on that and maybe a la example or two of previous iterations? You don't keep the town reports and I not have them readable file certainly. Um any board committee reports that we want to go over

hearing? None. We'll move into bottom lines. Select woman. Um, I just want to, I guess, thank the garden club. They really, they do everything, uh, and really pick up the slack this time of year. I don't know. They've got wreaths on buildings all across town. They have, um, held a greens festival. They have done a fundraiser for poinsettas. They have collected books and pajamas and given those away. Uh, and I just I can't appreciate that group enough. So that is my bottom line today.

Suckman Flanigan, I don't have a bottom line today. Okay, vice chair. No bottom lines for me. I'd like to thank the BAC for putting on the turkey trot this year. I intentionally tried to come last and I think I succeeded because next year I'm going to try hard and see if I can have the greatest comeback in turkey trot history. So um shut up. creating my records to break. All right, we need a motion. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Do we need to go into non-public? If you have a reason to

uh I think is this the right number? Do you know? Yes. If that's 918. Yeah. So, I will withdraw my motion to I'd like to make a motion to go into nonpublic uh under RSA 91- A 3, two. I have a motion and a second. Who seconded it? Did you second it? We need a uh roll call vote. Slwoman Colby, I. Second Flanigan, I. Suckman Suckwoman. Zuck me. Okay. Select me.

Eyes have it. We will not be returning. We will into public session. And I And what's this about Angela?