Select Board - Regular Meeting

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, I hope everybody has a good . Hey, I'll be back in a second. Me and my eagle. Welcome to Bristol.

Welcome to the leadership of Bristol.

All right.

All right, so I understand that you have enough time constraints, so we're gonna bring you right up to the front.

Okay.

So please, come up and join us.

That's it.

I said hello the other night, but please do give us an, please do give us an introduction, and we'll get to know you a little bit.

Hello, my name is Jess Ross. I am the new library director at Minot Sleeper Library, and I'm thrilled to be here. I currently live up north in Gorham, so I am commuting until that can be remedied, which we're working on. But I've been working in libraries and nonprofits for about 15 years in New Hampshire. It was just a really wonderful opportunity to make my way back down south after my kid graduated a couple weeks ago. I was actually at his track meet at Newfound when somebody sent me the posting and said, hey, apply to this. It was lovely timing, and I'm really happy to be here.

What were the nonprofits you were working for?

The New Hampshire College and University Council in conjunction with the Education Alliance for New Hampshire. So we did kind of what a library does on a larger scale. So just provide educational resources and supplementary programming to rural townships and school districts around the state.

sorry were you going to say something i look like you're going to say something yeah um actually we've actually started looking at um justice shared a cip listing and we're going to probably come back to you to talk about um what portions of the cip plan for buildings rephrase that but um will be responsibility of library which part will be responsibility of the And then we can start working on the MOU.

That'd be great. When did you start?

Three weeks ago. Three weeks.

So you've got your feet wet and you're going through things. What are you seeing as your challenge and what are you seeing as something that you're excited about?

Well, I think definitely getting this MOU lined out is going to be a big priority over the coming year. But in terms of, I think I was just mentioning it outside, but in terms of the staffing, in terms of the current position of the library, it's really solid. And it's obviously a... center point of this community. That's been very, very clear. So building and growing those partnerships along with creating some new ones and really solidifying the relationship with the town in terms of the building and the infrastructure is really important to me.

I grew up in Maryland, so I know where I'm at. Nice, you know where I'm at. I'll be warm on Saturday. All right, but welcome to the area. Thank you. There's a lot of transplants down this area.

Yeah.

Is it another transplant? Yeah, a lot of time, yeah. There is actually. There's some transplants. Yeah.

All right. All right. Do you have any questions or comments or concerns?

I don't think so. Not yet. I'm sure I will. Okay.

Very good. Please don't be a stranger with Christine. Don't be a stranger with us. And if there's something that needs to be addressed, we'd rather go at it than push it aside. And I think the MOU is important.

We've set up... So if she needs them, then we'll meet. If she doesn't, then we don't need to meet. So we'll probably meet them for the first few times.

Are you coming from a position as a director?

As a director of Northern Ops. So I was responsible at the Ed Alliance for the northern half of the state. So that and then previously as assistant director and head of adult services and then the only librarian at the DOC in Berlin, so.

All right. Gotcha. All right. Very good. Well, thank you. We're so happy to have you here. Thank you. And we look forward to it.

Thank you. I'm really happy to be here.

Awesome. Great.

Have a good drive. Drive carefully. Happy holidays.

Take care. Enjoy the Fourth.

Yes.

See you soon.

See you. I didn't want to do the back button. It takes me out.

Just click on the V. I know, I know, but I have a habit of doing the back button. Are we on time?

No, minutes. There are four, five sets of minutes.

What? Five, yes. See?

you actually could just motion two different motions because i put the work session i did separately all right just give me one more second all right the work session

anybody have a motion for that uh i'll move that we approve i thought we were waiting for the minutes so you're good we're waiting for the minutes until after our meeting with the library oh oh i'm sorry oh that's what it was pardon me all right uh yeah so i'll move to be improved for work session meeting minutes of may 20 20 26. second all right we have motion and a second any discussion on the minutes hearing not all those in favor please say aye aye aye those opposed abstentions that's four zero

Make a motion to approve the non-public and public meeting minutes for June 11th and June 18th of 2026. Second.

All right. Any comments or questions? Hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye.

Commit a motion to approve the consent agenda for July 2nd, 2026. Counts payable special payment manifest dated 062526. Counts payable ACH manifest NHRS and Harper's 062526. Counts payable payment manifest 062526. Payroll payment manifest dated zero seven zero two 26. Counts payable ACH manifest Harpers zero two, zero seven zero two 26. Counts payable manifest dated zero seven zero two 26. Land use change tax for map lot number 205-029 in the amount of $10,156. Land use tax change for map lot number 220-015-001 in the amount of $11,816. Administrative abatement for map lot number 220-015-152 in the amount of $326.70. Administrative abatement for MAP lot number 220-015-117 in the amount of $35.53. Removal of veterans credit for MAP lot number 22-029 as it no longer qualifies. Warrant for unlicensed dog issued to the Bristol Police Department per RSA 466. colon one four and four six six colon one six for the total of 109 dogs all right any any questions or comments on any consent agenda

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed? That's 4-0. All right. Let's talk about the highway department and equipment replacement. How you doing, Victor?

Good. How are you?

Good.

Scott.

So I went to the CIP we all had our about to go through them last year I requested moving the backhoe

up to this summer, and we moved two or three trucks further down the line due to the maintenance that we're doing on them. But the backhoe is the primary piece of equipment for all of our work. We bought it used. It came from a state shed, heavy laden with salt, so it basically had deep cancer when we got it. We were down for, just prior to snow season, we were down for three weeks. We had no backhoe. Late in the early spring, just as the season was wrapping up, we were down for four weeks for one of the ramps that blew. We had to replace it completely after trying to rebuild it. And we were just down for two weeks for a blown water pump on it. We've put a lot of money into it, but it's something that is so primary for the function of the department. What I'm asking for is I don't want to spend you know, for me to do the research and go talk to Milton Kett and go talk to JCB and go talk to John Deere and talk to them takes me out of pocket. If you guys aren't willing to talk about it for replacing it this year, then just say so, so I don't have to waste my time doing that. But if you're willing to talk to me about it, that's really what I'm here for, then I will put the effort into getting quotes and all that if it is something that you guys agree with me should be moved and upgraded to this summer like we had moved it last year on the cip to this summer we have and that would that those monies would come from the cip well i didn't see the last hour because you haven't moved this year's into it yeah you think there's any value in the old machine Not enough. When we traded the last one in, I was shocked at how low the number was that they gave us. It's not like they gave us 38,000 for it. They gave us seven. I've just put between the year and a half that I've been in there and the breakdown that Mark took care of early in the spring of the year, So from that last breakdown that Mark took care of on it and then what I've done in the year and a half, we've put about $6,000 some odd dollars, and the last bill isn't in yet, so I'm thinking it's going to be right around $8,000 to $9,000. So I don't want to take that $8,000 or $9,000 and lose it, but what I can say is, And especially with where the department's going with its training, to hold that machine, if we're only going to get $6,000 for it, why trade it? Just put it and we can run two machines. And then if it happens to break down, we can now consider the money and go, okay, we can piecemeal this, do this in this part of the budget and do this in next year's budget and still have a machine operating. Yeah. But it also gives us the opportunity also to put two machines out there in two directions to handle multiple problems, which we've been crippled at doing for years. And it would cause me to go to the CIP and say, well, since we have two backhoes, let's get some things off the CIP, like the wish list of the excavator and some other things, and go, okay, we can narrow our margin down there and look at what's really padding the CIP for us.

I would agree with you that if The value is $6,000, $8,000, $9,000. If it's $30,000, that's another matter. Exactly. Are you thinking of looking at a used machine?

I would like to look new. Again, every issue we've ever had is when we bought a used piece of equipment. We've learned that with the holders. They can only do about five years, and we're rotating them every five years. So when someone gets rid of a piece of machinery, it's because it's become a financial burden to them. So that means all we're doing is picking up someone else's financial burden. If you get a new machine and you've got a good maintenance program, we can make that machine last much longer than being doctors to something that we just put in the yard. And that would be my intent is to look new.

Okay, so I guess I'm going to be the naysayer on the, I'm not sure that having a second machine that's having the problems that you're describing is a good idea for us in any way, shape, or form. Because if the issues that you're having are coming up to be $6,000 or $8,000 issues and you get $6,000 or $8,000 from it now in that process, I'm not saying don't replace the machine. I'm saying that doesn't tend to make a lot of sense to me. And the other things that I would really want to understand and answer is how many hours a year we do. I know it's a primary machine for us, but like, so the thing that should help us figure out whether we need equipment or not should be the utilization of said equipment. So if there's a 40-hour work week and it's in use 30 hours every week, that's great. You do the math and you go, okay, it's this long and we know how long the machines generally last, right? So I completely agree on the new versus used because you're right. Somebody's already done that calculation and they've gone and said, okay, this is the maintenance cycle and then this is what we've got to spend. Before we get, in all candidness, before we get to do we keep two, I think we have to sort of like go through the, all right, if it's really time to replace that and the money's in the CIP and we understand the utilization of the machine, we figure that out and then we go, okay, what's the most cost effective way to handle that machine? Trying to do that at the same moment in time doesn't, But the math doesn't lie out to me.

Yeah, you're just skewing the number a little bit, though. We didn't put $9,000 into an about at one time. We did a $1,000 repair. Six months later, we did an $800 repair. The two big repairs which took the machine out of service are the ones, and they were $2,000 or $3,000 service. And a lot of that is also coming from that is when my guys aren't doing the work. That is when I have to bring John Deere in, and that's $250 an hour to have the on-site. So again, all I want to say is so that we can have this discussion and we could discuss further about whether we keep that machine or sell it or auction it off at a later date. It's just I want a heads up on whether I can look now and not waste my time if you guys are going, we're not willing to replace it this year.

I'll speak from here. If the money's in the CIP, okay, here's what the utilization is, here's what we need, then that makes sense to me if the money's there. The question becomes is what's the carry-on? Because you mentioned about the pieces, about the excavator and some other pieces. So it's just making sure that we've got the right plan in place and it's like, okay, we're moving this to here and here's the carry-on effect.

Right.

I'm totally in support of looking into it. The choices are either to look into replacing it or not. I don't see any choice. If this machine is becoming the financial burden that you don't want to buy from other departments, then it's one of the choices we have. We need a machine.

Well, we need a much more reliable machine is what I'm trying to say.

Any idea, ballpark?

I haven't looked in years. Mark, the only new machine that Mark bought, brand new, was that Hyundai loader and everything else he's always looked used for. So I haven't played in that market in a while. And that's why, because they'll let me do demo tests and stuff like that. It means I've got to drive to Milton Cat or they're going to haul to us or whatever. And it takes a lot of time to pull me out of pocket.

Yeah, it's a lot of time and effort that you're not doing something else. Right, right. But it is important. It is. It seems like there's consensus here that it's worth spending.

Right. And like I said, if we look at the numbers, and like I said, and we have a general conversation, and we all agree, I mean, I'll be the first one to tell you, we can't pay that kind of money for something like this. I might have to change the avenue and go look for a five-year-old machine or a three-year-old machine. Yes. and change the approach. But if I just go into the first approach and we think it's something that we can afford for the tax base, I want to have that conversation first before wasting any more time.

If it comes, like I'm looking at the CIP from last year and it looks like 125 was slated in there for this, 125,000?

Yeah, but that would be a used machine. Okay. So I guess how far, how do you feel for how much bigger a new machine would run than that? Because I guess that is important.

Yeah, I would say that.

310 again like that.

Yeah, I want to stay in the same series. It's more than strong enough to do the work that we're doing. I would look at the equivalent in CAT and possibly JCB and a couple models like that. The tough thing is getting it to have the JRB quick disconnect on the front end. That's owned by John Deere, and then I got to pay a lot of money if I have to put it on a cat to apply it to our implements that we already have here. I'm sorry?

I was just going to say, the search I just did, and this is just a quick search, just said with extended warranty couplers, specialty buckets, or additional equipment, it could run up to $200,000. But it's talking load-based machine 162. So they could be anywhere between there and 200?

Yeah, 310 would be in the lower base machines.

The other thing is, I mean, because how far away is Milton versus United, right?

Yes, United Construction Technology. Milton, cast out of Milton, New Hampshire.

Yeah, so they're just Milton.

Milton. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

No, you're all good.

Yeah.

So once we move money, so 2026 Warren article was $180,000 going into the capital reserve. If you add that in, this is an estimate because I don't have the perfect number yet, is $372,000 when we move the money.

Do they ever do, like, lease purchases?

They do. We did the loader on a lease purchase, and we did the, it was the internationals on a lease purchase.

Yeah, we're paying, so it's our last payment on the international.

In July, yeah. That's on the CV, not the...

Sometimes the math on that is way in their favor. So, like, and I know what you're doing, like, I'm spreading it out over... So just, you know, we just have to...

Right, and that's, and again, once we have the number, we can have those discussions. So I'll have the discussions with them. I want to quote two different...

Sometimes that math is worth it if I'm trying to juggle everything.

Right.

Especially with, you know, like if they're, like Kubota's this way right now, right? Like they've got... a whole bunch of things where they're there there's a bunch of programs that are advantageous they the dealers don't want to talk about the difference in price but the manufacturer has given them some some stuff so they're making their money on the front end there's maybe programs to use that way for sure we could probably move the fire pretty easily too what's that i'm sorry i'm sorry i'm seeing a piece of weight

So I can look into it then. I really appreciate that. Other than that, a quick, the guys have been really killing it. We had our short staff. We lost Dylan. We haven't met a lot of hopefuls. We've got one that's looking at possibly putting an application in that I'm interested to talk to. We just did Baton Road. We just did the bike path, the first phase of the bike path. Very interesting job yesterday. so i just ended up with the machine they've done a lot yeah john was running the machine yesterday um but we hit the old wooden pipe that that uh came from the from the stock pens and now it's bleeding out pretty heavy but we've controlled the drainage now uh the guys have just done an outstanding job did you say a wooden pipe yeah it's not i don't think it's good if you look

You said it was really hard, like it had petrified. Yeah. The original documents talk about a cement-lined iron pipe. I'm wondering if that...

So when they hit it with the machine and pulled the metal strapping off, you saw grains of wood peel off?

Yeah, well, then that's pretty...

In the discussion folder, there's a video showing... Yeah, so there is...

Before the water system as we know it, they drew water in the late 1800s, they started the Bristol Aqueduct Company and brought water from the lake to downtown and the pipe,

runs right along that ditch line right straight down that ditch line and so the problem that dig is we've got fiber optic cable just on the other side of that and then the asphalt line was there so we were in a really bad tough dig a lot of hand digging yesterday uh and then we clipped the top of that because we thought we thought from the descriptions of when they put the bike path in that the pipe was in the embankment and bleeding out and it's underneath And we're like, holy cow. So they never hit it when they put the bike down? No. No. They were operating it in the same thing. They were within 18 inches of that. So they stayed as shallow as they could to get out of there.

Is that pipe being fed from some original source?

Somewhere up the river. It's got to tap in somewhere from one of the old penstocks.

I suspect it's there's some workings just south of the dam. It's suspected somewhere in there.

Yeah, it's got to be. There's got to be a deep hole, probably a great fishing hole, but a deep hole and strong, you know. So other than that, you know, vacations have started. We're shorthanded even more when someone's on vacation like next week, but we've got a lot of work ahead of us, and they're doing a great job of it.

That's your video there? Yeah.

That's it pumping out of the ground this morning. Yeah, you know.

There is a picture.

Yeah, you've given it a place to go now.

Yeah. So if there's nothing else for me, guys, enjoy your evening and have a great weekend.

Thank you. Bye, Victor.

Have a good fourth of July.

See you then. Okay.

It's easier, yes.

What? Sorry, go ahead.

Ben's here to talk to you about trailer disposal.

Yeah, so we have a 2005 US cargo I think it's a 16-foot double axle trailer. We got it on an emergency management grant right after something I started here. And we don't use it. We haven't used it. Even after we got it, we used it a couple times. We used it on a task force deployment. We used it, so originally it was purchased and set up, outfitted as like a mobile command post, couple radios, a work area, and like an AC unit. And then at the time, right, early, mid-2000, before 2010, 11, whenever that stopped, We had the triathlons every year at the lake, so it was good for that and set up a mobile command post. And since that's gone away, we really haven't used it. We stripped it out in 2016 to get a few pieces of equipment that were still reusable in it and then to maybe do something with it. And we haven't done anything with it in 10 years. The only thing it's done is act as a storage unit during the PSB project.

Is it up in the old fire station?

Yeah. The other part of it, too, is even if we made up a use for it, because that's all we'd be doing at this point, when we bought it, we had a Suburbans. We don't. We have Tahoe's and a 1500 that you can get it from point A to point B in town going 25 miles an hour, but they're not the vehicles to drive it. We put it out at the last department head meeting, I guess it was. The only real interest was from Victor around an idea to have something like that with all the cones and barricades in it. It's just too big for that use. And then kind of the idea that, you know, PD could have access to it and water and sewer could have access to it, right? A water main break, it's just a quick way to move everything from point A to point B. You're not going to tow it with water and sewers ranger. You're not going to tow it with their explorers and, So if that were to ever come to fruition, it would probably likely need to be a smaller trailer. So it is 20 years old, 21 years old, but there's probably some value to it. So I just need permission or for you guys to surplus it so that we can put it on the bid process and see what we can't get for it and get it out of High Street.

And if you did get it out of High Street... I don't place the store of golf carts.

There you go.

Did I say that?

No.

No, I don't think they fit.

No, they won't both fit. You could put one in it, but you can't put both in it.

So Chuck has no use for it for the styrofoam. I know he just fixed up the other trailer.

Yeah, I think he's all set with that. There's no more room right now. That's something that's going to be a big discussion in the future. I would say right now, I don't think so. I think what they're doing is working well. They're taking and filling up the bags and taking the bags down. I don't remember how many he said, but we'll get you an update on that. But we've already taken a couple of trips down delivering styrofoam. It's actually pretty interesting how much.

Are we still getting the cardboard from Alexandria?

As far as I know, yes. But I know they open their recycling centers, so as far as I know, yes. All right.

Any questions or concerns or concerns? Seems like it makes sense.

Yep. One last thing.

All right. We'll put something together and put it out to bed, and I'm sure we'll get something for it. Awesome.

Thank you.

Have a good night. All right.

Happy 4th, Ben.

Yeah, see you guys.

See you. Sorry. What was the other question? So styrofoam, cardboard. Got it. Thank you. Okay. Am I up? Yep, you're up. If you want to look at first at the info folder, there's a bunch of items. There's 15 things in there, and I don't know if you have any questions. A lot of them are just FYIs. Info three, you might have a question on.

Why are we, what's the issue with the mortar sign?

Did you know that they were installing something?

Who did it?

It looks like they stole it. The picture's there, so it looks nice. But I'm getting concerned that things are going on, and I don't remember having a conversation about it. It is a nice addition. I said I remember having a conversation. OK. I wanted to make sure, because I might be wrong. But the mortars, it does look very nice. There's a picture there, so you can see it. It tells about the mortar. And then Storkwood Society, I believe, did it.

And then are we going to have to remake the transfer station sign?

No, we're going to try to do stencil or higher bliss just to do something. Stencil should work. Stencil I think will work. It's just the TI missing in two words. So when we picked it up, it was completely packaged. And then when we went to install it, things were missing. So I put the picture so you could see it.

It's weird how it just cut out the I-O.

The T-I. T-I. Yeah, that's it.

Yeah. All right. We're rolling through things pretty quickly tonight, John, so it won't be too long. Okay. You ready for discussion? Yep.

First one is I just do the monthly employee appreciation. Congratulations on another year with the town of Bristol. We're grateful for your continued dedication, positive attitude, and the quality of work you bring to the town each day for the month of July. had two employees that joined us one assessing and land use janet cody for this is her fourth year anniversary and then in the police department ron taylor this is his second year so um in your folders ta number two is the transfer station building we um the building was lifted leveled So that's been taken care of. They lifted the front about two and a quarter inches, but the back was six inches. So it definitely was sinking. They put six by six posts across the middle and the back. Check reports that they no longer roll backwards when sitting in the chair. We pursued quotes for the relocation of the door and the squaring off of the corner. We got two quotes, and I add, In one of the quarterly sessions, I think a year ago, we talked about a sun visor, because when you're there, that sun feeds right into the window. So I asked him to add that into this, because they hadn't done it yet. So we did get two quotes received. One was 6,500, and the other was 3,000. So we are going with the 3,000, because I have the authority to approve that. And they're supposed to go ahead and do the work. The work is anticipated to start next week. Any questions on that one? Okay. The number three you've already talked to Victor was the bike path repair. There's some pictures about how they took care of it. There's a couple videos there. It shows the aqueduct I showed you already. So I'll move on. It's not done yet, obviously. They did a really good job putting in the pipe. It looks really good. So now it's just figuring out how we stop that water and then we'll pave it eventually. Um, paving update for the public of the new date for paving for Danforth Brook road to New Hampton town line on one Oh four is July seven. So next week, so expect delays. So I did update it on Facebook, updated it on the town site as well. So, um, number five, if you want to take a look at it, there's a proof there. So it's the monument repair. because of the typo, yep. So the proof is there, I've reviewed it, Deb reviewed it, and I even took and put the picture I took of the monument and I've compared the two. So the only one that has come to us that had a typo was Hollis Monroe, that is fixed, I've double checked that, but I also looked through the rest of the names to make sure, and I wanted to, in case you knew anybody and wanted to make sure that they were all spelled correctly before we put the new The old one's still down there, because they didn't know if we were doing anything. And the new one will go on as soon as we approve the proof. Townwide Darksdale, I want to put it out to the board. We have some participation, but not as much as I had hoped. Next year, the PD would like to do it again. The PD would like to do it, but they have to solicit to dispose of evidence because then they would like to sell it at the yard sale next year. So I said, well, the whole plan would have been if this went well, we'd do it again. This isn't going as well. But we'll see. But I wouldn't put it out there if you were having any interest in it. Right now there's.

You mean going well in terms of on the town properties?

Yeah. Well, no.

The number of people.

The number of people signing up to do it. We've already recorded this. We're recording this property as on the map. I've already paid for it and taken care of it. And I've got three groups so far.

But you're saying town-wide the registration is down? Oh, no. Just for us. Town employees.

Town employees are a benefit we were trying to do.

Sure, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So I will still, I'll come back to you on July 16th with prices, but I still will sell the smaller equipment we've already talked about. I'll come to you on that. But I'm selling something, and then... there are one, two employees, and then there's a group of employees that are doing lemonade sales. But I wanted to put it up there in case you had an interest. July 18th, eight to one. Under number seven, I've been communicating with the Masons, trying to get the MOU. And I had started, if you look at the email that's under number seven, I had started with Clarifying, I just wanted to make sure what we were doing with the MOU with them. Town parking lot during daytime hours and snow storage on the back lot in the winter. Above they've come back with some adjustments and I just want to make sure, it says it's pretty much the same but they want, they're spelling it out a little bit more and I want to make sure that you were good with that before I pursue going forward. I'll still prepare and bring them back to the board. I think it's good that they can spell it out.

Yeah, absolutely. One of their bullet points on certain rare occasions involving community events is that the parking lot may be closed after 5 p.m. I don't know.

They do a haunted house on Halloween.

Yeah, so if they're gonna, and it's okay that they are being more specific. I agree, I'd rather spell it out. They know they have regular events. It would be better.

It would be better if we know what they are. Yeah. I like that. Otherwise, it looks good.

Okay. Yeah, exactly. All right. I will move forward and get that done. number eight the property discussion site visits on the newly acquired properties only two of three have been scheduled for tuesday july 7th at 10 a.m if anybody wanted to visit them we will take pictures share information back with the board members the third property i've sent the information to the town's attorney to begin their process because that property is not vacant south main street property in the folder there's an attorney opinion under sms property discussion the property was taken in april 2025 unless i could locate the owner to do a first right of refusal we can't sell it for three years three years So I've got some feelers out. It's been a year, right? Yeah, because we took it April 2025. So it's been a year. We can't sell it until, did I say the wrong, I said the wrong year. No, I didn't. 28, yeah. But we know this person's in Laconia. We just don't have an address to do the certified mailing that we have to do. Even asked about personal property because this, so I'm adding this property to the site visits because I do have to have a better idea of what's over there.

It's going to be tricky. Yes. You may want to reach out to Donna and Danny. Yes. Yep.

I can.

Just in terms of getting to the lot. Ask them if we can park. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, because we've blocked off the driveway.

Yeah, and I backed in there one day. I'm still sticking out a little bit. There's no way you can get more than one vehicle.

So the personal property is considered abandoned, but... He did say that we should still do some type of notice. So he suggested if we have to wait the full time before we sell it, we should wait before we try to dispose or sell any of the property that's left there.

It's already rotting into the ground.

Yeah. But it would be nice to know what's there because There was a lot there, a lot.

Yeah, we should have someone doing an inventory.

Yeah.

Don't go in anywhere. No.

I'm good with that.

I have not seen this.

Yeah. Number nine is July's Inside Scoop. There's some nice articles in there. How's the garden going?

What?

How's the garden going? I like the pictures.

Of the garden outside? Yeah, did you see the joke? That's why I asked. Yeah. yeah the garden is actually growing it's actually pretty good i'm actually in the veggie garden so and i thought what you know i wanted people to know that we that deb and shannon did the flower girls that are making the stone wall i mean the concrete wall look a little better so um but there's a nice article in there on the tuesday night um so that's uh tuesday night the community service Community Outstanding, Outstanding Community Service Award, there we go. So there is a nice article in there, and then there's a nice article in there about Officer Henry to Sergeant Henry, I mean, so. But the, and then your blurb's in there, mine's in there. And then the only thing that, the only department, there's one department missing, and that's because they didn't submit on time, so. On number 10, 4th of July updates, just a reminder, the parade is Saturday, July 4th. Set up begins at 8 a.m. and the parade will step off at 10 a.m. The events committee is in need of volunteers, so if the board has any time and wants to help, you're welcome to join. I've apparently been volunteered for station one. And then we'll be in the square too to help downtown. We live streamed the video. I live streamed the video on Facebook. I live streamed the parade on Facebook. But if anybody has any time and wants to help out with registration and lineups, they're welcome to. I also posted, Hebron is hosting a great event, it looks like, for the afternoon. And we don't have an event that afternoon, So I did post their information. They've invited the area towns and their flyers under number 10. They have a Hebron Blue Angel flyover.

I was wondering what that is. And I want to know what it is. Yeah.

Because when the gentleman talked to me at the community night out, he said they're going to fly over Hebron and out over Bristol over the lake. And I'm like, I can't.

Really?

You have real blue angels coming? But it looks like a nice event, so if anybody's interested. Fireworks. For our fireworks, they're set for July 11th, and as of today, the weather is looking good. It could change. We have novelty vendor. The DJ is set. Chesley's is bringing two booths, fried dough and lemonade. Food Hound Truck has only one vehicle this year, so they will be there, Lions Club will be there, and Kona Ice will be there. We're still working to add to the event, but it's been very hard this year period to get vendors to get fireworks, we all know. So I don't know what else we'll get. The golf carts, they are scheduled for servicing at the Highway Department on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. The company's coming here. We set up an account with them. They're going to do general service. We're having them rekeyed, because you can jump in them and take off. So we didn't want that. So we're having them keyed. And we're having one of them with the back seat. And they're replaced, but they're going to get us a quote on the other one. They've advised that they would have them ready and available to use for the fireworks event. number 11 trees i met with belknap landscaping today on the trees downtown trees and bushes we looked at the bushes we looked at the three trees the christmas tree and the oak he pretty much the gist of the conversation is he's not concerned um on the oak there were some dead branches breaking off but he said overall the tree is looking much better you can see that there's still some spots where there's some death but Where they pruned it, it looks much greener, it looks much healthier, so I wasn't as concerned.

I wasn't as concerned with the three, although they did have some dead branches, but that happens when you're tree planting.

Yeah. There are three, the three small planted trees that we did along between us and Beano's property.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about.

What?

Yeah, go ahead. Oh, sorry.

They did, they looked a little, for lack of a better word, wilty. But he was not concerned. He said that we should water them extra. And especially during this heat wave, he said each tree should get 15 to 20 gallons of water, but you don't put it on So you know it has the brown dirt bowl. Don't put it there. He said the mistake is when people water them, they fill that up. He said water outside of that circle because you want your roots to spread. Under the drip line. Yeah. So I'm talking to Downtown Decorating to see if that's something that they can add to their watering or not. If they can't, then Victor's will make it work, he said, because we have to make sure we get them watered. The Christmas tree, he said, He said that they're coming to treat next week. They're going to treat the Christmas tree and they're going to cut the leader off. He said that he's not, his comment again, not concerned, it's looking good. He said that the tree, it is expected that there will be some areas as the tree had a shock being pulled out and replanted. So, and then he reiterated all four of those trees are covered. So, but he didn't, he doesn't anticipate that anything's going south with them right now.

Did he look at the other bushes?

Yes, so he said definitely something is eating the bushes. He saw no evidence of the insect currently though. He did you because he couldn't see any. He's suggesting, actually, when they come next week to do the Christmas tree treatment, they're going to do the bushes. He said even though it's not hard, they'd be willing to do that. And they're said to water them a lot. He's really surprised that they look so bad. And there's a picture in there if you want to see how bad they look. And the ones by the monument, look great. I'm like, don't jinx us. But he said during the heat wave, he said that there's no guarantee that the treatment they're going to do and us watering will save them. But he could see where something was eating them. So that's it on the trees. Under number 12, I couldn't get this on the consent agenda. It came in late this afternoon. It's quarter three water sewer warrant. I'm hoping the board can approve it. If they do agree, I'd put a motion there. But water, this is the third quarter. Water would be $159,588.98. And sewer would be $165,885.05. And this is the third quarter bills. Are you open to a report to leave a motion?

all right make a motion to approve the bristol water sewer warrant uh quarter three 2026 uh walk in the amount water 159 588 and 98 cents in the sewer for a total of 165 885

and five cents all right motion by scott sandstrom and second by john miller um any questions or comments hearing that all those in favor please say aye aye aye great that's four zero uh 13 um budget schedule um i want uh we said that we would set some deadlines so i wanted to

The budget committee has set their schedule, so I'm working around their schedule. So I'm recommending Thursday, October 8th would be our department head deadline. And then Tuesday, October 13th would be an all-day session with department heads of the select board. We would have to end by 5 p.m. because the weather committee had a meeting that night. But what time, if you want to do it that day, what time would you want to start? And we'll provide food and drink.

It's Tuesday. Tuesday, October 13th. I know. I'm trying to get it done.

And we're shooting for one day.

I'm worried about Tuesday, July 8th. I mean, did it take all day last year? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I think we were out by, well, we didn't start, I don't think, until 9.

And then I think we were out by 4. Yeah.

All right. But we did take a half hour to an hour lunch. Yeah. But we tried to work through during my budgets. We threw them in wherever we had time. Yeah. So.

I think 9 is fine. Okay.

Thursday, October 15th, you have a select board meeting that night. So I figured after you meet with everybody, you may not be ready to vote. So you could still have time to vote on the 15th, and that would be your final vote. Okay. And then Tuesday, October 20th, it's already on the budget committee. That's the night you would present the proposed budget to the budget committee.

Sounds good.

Okay.

Is that the order we signed? Can you sign the folder?

It's sitting right there. He's holding it up.

I just don't want to be here all day signing. I know. So here's my question. Let's talk expectations.

And the reason I am is because John has a specific set of expectations. And I want to make sure that we all agree to those expectations so I can make sure department heads are clear on what they need to do. So these are my quick questions. Is there specific guidance? Is there a percent goal? Are there specific things board members are going to want to review? Thoughts on increases, colon, steps? I did check our current policy is to check the consumer price index, New England, and I did. So as of May 2026, it is plus 4.6% from May 2025 through May 2026. And then it also gave a comparison from April to May, and that was plus 3.2%. This is the current policy, but if you want me to do something different to check it so that you can make a better decision, let me know. And then anything else?

So the piece that Christina is referring to was a few weeks ago there was a discussion around the transfer station looking to do some other part-time help and some other things. And my question was what does this mean to be fully staffed?

Like how does the budget sort of work backwards into the number of people because, you know,

All the time we do, I think, a really good job of having this person coming back with this and that, right? But if we all agree that it's three people, you know, always there, or whatever it is, right? I'm not even saying what it should be. I'm saying how does that equate to the budget plan? And then when you come in and say, I'm moving this and changing that, we always have a way to talk about it. So that's basically what I was getting at.

John's question to me about the transportation, well, how many people do you need to staff it? And when I tried to do the comparison, telling him this is what, when we do the budget, we're saying these are who we have and these are what they work for hours and that's what we're putting in the budget. But his point, and I'm like, well, I think you need to have that conversation as a board because I don't think that the departments all do it that way. We're budgeting based on what there's currently there and how many hours they're currently working.

And all I'm saying is if we agree that it's, just using a number, is 100 person hours every week to run the transfer station and then it's times X per hour equals this budget line, And then we know. Or we say it doesn't or we have that discussion.

And it doesn't really matter if you have eight or ten people. Correct. Right. Right. It's, it's, this is. Yeah.

This is my staffing level that's needed to achieve this.

Hours amount to this. Yeah. Yeah. Except then you go, you get different, you know, full-time versus part-time benefits and all that. Yeah. Yeah. Well, there's only one. Right, only one full-time?

Oh, using the transportation is equal. There is no, none of them are full-time, technically.

The truck is under part-time.

Yeah, because of retirement. Yeah, yeah. So he's technically part-time. Yeah.

Yeah, there's always that point of, okay, you can stick one person in, and they might be a little bit more expensive than the person that got it before.

I just think it gives us an opportunity to have a good conversation around what does it mean to run the service levels that we have.

I can reschedule this conversation, too. I mean, we can think about these questions.

Yeah, I think we do need to sort of steep on that a little bit.

So I'll bring it back to the July 16th meeting. So that gives, because that would give, I just want to give department heads enough time to come back. Yeah, absolutely. Anybody got windows open? No. Okay, it's raining.

How is it?

Yeah. That's fine. 15, Batten Road culvert, there's just a picture there to show you it's completed. That was the build culvert, but they did a nice job on it.

Yeah, I was walking the dog the other day and I literally texted Christina a picture because I got to the end of Batten and there's the road closed And I was like, what contractor thinks they've closed the room?

I said, we are.

Oh, I'm good. Where is that?

Under discussion, it's number 14.

They did a great job with the headers. That's where most people get crazy.

Yeah, they did. The number 15 isn't on your list, but so there's a picture in there of the bench. Yeah. So the funny thing was this gentleman spoke to me last year at the fireworks. He wanted to donate a bench for near, on Avery Krause near the sign. Yeah. We didn't, couldn't find his phone number because he spoke to me at the fireworks. So he called this week. It actually worked out. They got, he still got the bench. He'd still like to donate it for that spot. The other bench was smashed. Right. It's perfect to put that there. And he's going to put a little plaque. There's a little plaque that they put on it. His wife passed away. And they lived right across from Avery Cross. And she would sit on the other bench waiting for her friends. So I just want to make sure you're good. I'm going to talk to Victor, if you are, and have it secured so it can't be removed. And then we'll take it out in the winter. We will not leave that there. Great. OK. This, two quick things. This building, I've scheduled, Paul and I met with, I don't know, they're from Quality Installation and another company, and we went, Paul took him through the building, took him through the attic, and then I talked to them about the crawl space. So we have some problems. We're waiting for a phone. Paul will be here. So under the building, there's a lot of water getting in. There's a hole, apparently, and we have animals getting in, doing things under the building, under where we are, so. So here it is. He came out across the space, and he's like, well, you have animals that are defecating. And I'm like, oh, good god. I said, why didn't our pest company notice that? He said they should have. So there's going to be a poll coming. Paul's going to come talk to you. We figured out why my office got gassed. We've actually been able to figure that out. We figured out a few of the other things that we're having problems with. They're also going to add into the quote the diverter because the other company hadn't followed through. So if we can get the rain diverter in, that'll help keep the ice off the walkways. But Paul will be here on the 16th, so I just wanted to give you that heads up. And the last thing, water sewer came when we talked about the vehicle bids. I've asked him if he was thinking of a reserve price. He wants them gone, so he wasn't thinking of a reserve price, but he said if you were going to do a reserve price, he said $2,500 for the trucks, $2,500 for the plow. Do we want to do a reserve price on anything or just put it out?

I don't. Yeah, I don't think it's worth it.

I don't think, yeah. Okay.

You do a reserved, yeah, I mean, what's the difference? They're just going to sit there. Yeah. Yeah. You do a reserved so you're not underwater and, you know, you don't lose a $40,000, you know, classic Mustang for $42,000. You know, the first one to argue for us a month, and yeah.

Yeah, we did the, I mean, with the fire truck, we did the reserve price because that, there was some benefit to having a reserve price. We did it with the international only, the big truck, too. But, so, okay, we'll finish getting these. These should go out in the next week, probably. So, okay. I'm done.

All right. Thank you. John's been waiting for 24 hours because he showed up at the Conservation Commission last night to give us an update on state stuff and your plans.

You should have three pages.

Five all together.

Three pieces of paper. So you should have page one through five if you have that. Just to make sure anybody is online, I'm John Sellers. I'm the estate rep here for Grafton Tent, Bristol and Bridgewater. And I just want to bring this as an informal information type thing, what's going on, not just at the state level, but also the county, all right? So at that point there, right? So let me just see if I have my pictures right. Of course not. Here we go. So on page one, this is just a real snapshot of how New Hampshire is placing among all the states in the nation. And this is just some of the information that maybe some people don't get to see or you're not aware of. And I think it's good that these things not have taken over one or two years. It's probably taken over maybe the last six, eight, 10 years to get where we are on these at this point. So... I don't think it's just one legislative session that has brought you all these great numbers. I'll just read a couple of them off just for the people. Overall freedom from the Cato Institute, number one. Economic freedom, Fraser Institute, number one. Jumping down, in child well-being and lowest child poverty rate, the Annie B. Casey Institute, number one. and also the highest and medium household annual income of a hundred eleven thousand eight hundred from the st. Louis Fed and Going down at the bottom with the lowest unemployment rate at three point one from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Any case this this a dozen or so on here, but those are a few and I wanted the people that See that and I'm gonna leave these with you. And if you want a soft copy, I'll send that out to you as well Looking at page two I'm not sure how anybody is up with county government, but there's a lot of moving parts up there, especially financially. It's about a $60 million budget. The delegation just passed it probably a week ago, maybe a week and a half ago. What's on here, I'm going to list right now. That's just in general for you to know. But I'm just saying some things maybe to watch for. The commissioners would like to build a new courthouse. And I've had some informal meetings around the county. Our county is really large.

We actually had, what, a month ago? Yeah.

We had a lot of commissioners come in and kind of went through the budget. Yeah.

Do they come in here or does that okay? All right, so I'm just I just want to point this out. I don't know what they did I'm just saying I'm coming from the delegation side. So we only look at the money.

That's it So then because it feels like no matter what we what opinions we have or say or do. It really doesn't matter. The county's going to do what the county's going to do. And then we have to issue them a check by RSA in December, regardless of whatever they're doing. From your perspective, how do we sort of improve the communications with the county so we understand what the benefits to Bristol should be? Because right now, I mean, a couple things, even on your list, when you're talking about the DOJ won't sign a long-term contract, but yet they want to build an extra building, and they need, because they need the space, but the DOJ won't sign a lease, like, It seems to me like how do we apply pressure to go, our guys get to take on all the burden because you guys can't seem to figure out that you're either signing a long-term lease or not, and we get to take the depreciation. You know what I mean? Like it's unfair to the taxpayers.

I tend to agree at that point. I can only tell you that, again, we only deal with the money. So if they want a bond, they have to come to the delegation.

Yeah.

All right. And it takes two thirds. All right. And right now the makeup is 17 Democrats and nine Republicans.

Yeah.

And because there's nine Republicans, we if we all voted the same to say no to it, we stopped the bond by point zero one seven percent. So one more. one way or the other, on the other side, they could go for a bond any time they want, that have a super majority. But that said, I mean, the building is 58 years old, and there's work that needs to be done, there's no doubt, and I've talked to the fire marshal, the state fire marshal, that is, because there's been some back and forth with the building management up there, Jim Oakes and myself, and some email threads that I have. And they were under the impression from the architect that they have to do A, B, and C if they touch, you know, X, Y, and Z. And that's not the case. And that's what I tried to get him involved with the state file marshal to make sure. Let's make sure we're following the RSAs and what the state says, not just what an architect wrote down on a document. So you can see on this, there's definitely things that need to be done and concerns and stuff. And some of the things, like they want to add 33,000 square feet to the building because they said we need more building space, which is yes, true, no, true. It's kind of in the middle. They're managing now, so unless we're planning to do a lot more crime or something like that or... know going to be using the sheriff's office a lot more or something like that that i could see that not necessary at this point but any case this is some information like i said you can look it over and just see what it is all right and looking at page three continues on there with the county stuff here at this point one thing that happened is enough and i'm I won't disagree, but we did pass bail reform, all right, because whatever reason, we said we wanted to relax bail reform. So now we went back and we passed bail reform. So because we relaxed it, they weren't getting the inmates. Now we said bail reform's back on, so now they're getting more inmates. Well, the one thing I found out, which was a surprise to me, is as soon as that person becomes an inmate, We take all control over health, health insurance, 100%. So it would be my suggestion, I am not running next year, just so you know, but it would be my suggestion that we find a state senator or one of the two reps that actually represent Bristol or something like that, to put in a bill to say that the state picks up whatever, 10%, 50%, whatever. Pass the burden on to them instead of to the county. There's a problem there because now we've gone from say 100 inmates to 130 inmates. So now we've just had to hire two nurses overnight and stuff like that and full-time.

The county commissioner actually talked about that specifically.

So there's definitely a cost increase there, there's no doubt. And the only other one I want to bring up about county is probably insurance. You guys probably see it here. Insurances just keep rising, and they're not just 5% or 10%. They're 15%, 20%, and 30%. And it's just blowing these budgets out of the water, and it's hurting all the way around at that point. Going on page four is legislative hotspots. I just want to bring them up. Education, housing municipalities, planning, zoning, you want to call it, elections, and also science and technology. These seem to be the hot committees where they're getting a lot of the bills. People are putting in a lot of bills in this area. And I think some of it, especially around the municipalities and zoning, I think a lot of times that... I don't think they realize they could be stepping on our Constitution rights at that point. There's just, you know, you get so many people in town that says something to a state rep or whatever and say, hey, we need to stop this, put in a bill for this. So now you're saying, well, now you're taking over local control. And so that's the problem that's happening at the state level. We're stepping on local control, but again, at the state level, when you start to read the Constitution even more, the state gives local control at that point. So it gives and it can take, but... At the same time, we love our local control and therefore that's an area that's been brought up a lot. Education, same thing. You know, who's going to fund it and why? And I highlighted one little word in there in that number one where it says the use of school or institutions. Believe it or not, that was just recently, in the last two, three months, four months maybe, they found, going through the archives, someone found the word that used to say schools OF, O-F, instead of O-R. And you think about that one small word, it changes the whole concept of that Part 2, Article 83.

Well, the way people expressed letters was different.

Say what? If you look at the old handwriting, you'll see it looks like an F, but it's used as an R. Well, they went through it, and Secretary of State Scanlon and those in power have said, no, that is the correct word. It was supposed to be OR. So, yeah, and you're right. How they wrote back then is, you know. We can read cursive today, it'll be good, and I think we're doing all right. Overall, on the last page, I'm just saying, in the two-year period for legislators and also senators, there's 2,500 bills we're actually voting on. We probably listen, depending on what committee you're on, you could listen to 60 to 100 bills. that in any case this you know, there's quite a few and you have to rely on those that around you and You know and on other committees and what they suggest, you know at that point So that happens a lot. We are trying to do some help here. We've got HB 1300 I believe the governor is getting may sign it should sign it has signed it. But in any case That is giving Every town in the state, the authority on the November ballot of this year, 26, and also 28, if they want their school district to have a tax gap. And it's a basic, I think it's a 6% cap at that point, or 5%. Excuse me?

There's some wording, did they change any of the wording? Because there's some wording in that that's not clear if they already have an existing tax cap. Right.

And I don't know. And you're right, yeah, there's been a lot of change there.

Yeah, the wording is really ambiguous. It doesn't really say what happens. For instance, this town has a tax cap, what happens?

And that may be under another RSA, so that's why it's not there, but I can find that out.

Okay. Is it also good to ask NHMA?

Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's a go-to.

I don't know if NHMA is an interpretation of it yet, because it has to come from...

Well, you need to look back at the RSA. But that's a good point. It's a good concern because some people say, well, we already got one. Why do we need to vote on one? And what happens if we do vote on one?

Can you explain 1610, John?

Yes.

1610 you mean? Yeah. What's the question? On balance.

What is it? What's the question? Fund balance cannot exceed 3% of the budget.

This is for schools. Oh, okay. This is schools only. I should have poked it there. It's a way that they're just making sure that the schools don't end up with a runaway, you know, Not just runaway, but the unassigned fund balance. They're saying, hey, there's a million and a half here. Let's go and spend that on X, Y, and Z. They need to have good reason, and also they can't keep that much at that point. Most they can do is like 3%, and that's a cumulative. They can't do like 3% this year, 3% next year. The total is 3%. And, of course, the vehicle inspections, we had a lot of people going both ways. So it was probably a 65-35, 60-40 split on that as far as people not wanting it and wanting it. And in any case... Since it's passed, I haven't heard anything much myself, you know, and I'm still involved on like a, what do they call that, a signal thread, you know, so, and any case.

It messed me all up.

Yeah, it sounds like there might still be some.

There's still something else, yeah. Technically, there's still something out there, but as far as the state, I don't believe the state has any inspection stickers, physical stickers, so you couldn't get one if you wanted one, so. Other than that, I don't see anything else in here but, you know, to just make note of things, that's all. That's it, just kind of really just giving an update, trying not to be biased one way or the other, but, you know, just really to... You know, let you know. And the county government, the only way you can watch that is through your delegation, which is all your state reps in the county, is they're the only ones that control the money. That's all we do. We don't do any policy or anything like that.

I mean, listen, they have a job to do, but for me, it's just super interesting that regardless of the conversations that happen, they take the bill, it gets sent, and we We have to issue a check on that day per RSA to be an end of story.

That's true.

Yeah, what's with that, John?

Yeah.

All you have to do is ask a state rep and please go in and change that RSA to say we pay it twice a year or four times a year. You can do that.

That would be great. It would definitely be much better and simpler. I mean, anything to align honestly to the tax bill. We send out two taxables a year, right? Like, to me, that's what sort of makes the most sense. But then even operationally, right? What was it? 90% of the overall county budget was in IT. IT's got what they call a middle-mile project. When we ask the question about what's the middle-mile project doing, we haven't got great answers yet. Now, this is a lot, you know, a lot that people are working on. So we have to continue to dig into that. That's on us to try to do more of that. But if the county's going to project like that, it should be something that everybody's figuring out how to benefit from.

Right.

What are we paying for?

Well, that was because of a grant they get. I think it was like a $17 million grant, and we had to put up like six or seven.

There's still operating costs that go into it.

Yeah, but they're operating all of it within that, including the project manager in that aspect. My understanding is it's all on time, it's all on schedule, and it will be done by the time the grant expires.

I'm talking about the long-term management of the thing.

Yeah, long-term, that's a different animal. You're right, there's been no... That's what I'm getting at.

So you're part of the county. yeah i would expect that if the county's doing something it's like it's like the reason we have the jail for the county and the reason for the county the reason we have the nursing home for the county is people in this county have access to those facilities i'm not saying it's perfect right i'm saying that's what it is but if they're investing in things like those technologies they should be reaching out and going here's what we're going to do at a county level because this is what you guys are spending for

No, it's a good point because it's always after the fact. You've got to maintain it. You've got to manage it, right? So you're right.

Thank you, John. Thanks, John.

All right. Much appreciated. You guys take care. Have a good night. Good seeing you. Nice to come in. Good to see you.

Yeah, you're welcome. All right. Can I announce Christine?

Christina? I didn't... I don't have a follow-up item. All right.

Selectment items. Scott.

Did the conservation commission connect with the highway department?

for the spring. I talked to Victor. He was supposed to cut them already.

I didn't notice if he did or not.

I'll follow back up Monday because they did get told to do it. They had a lot on my list. Every time I follow them, I'm like, don't hate me. Can you do this?

Yeah, there's a few limbs. There's some hardwood and then some pine. Yeah, I know that. If you stand at the spring and he looks up and sees the light, you can see the light and he can use his judgment. I mean, I'm sure there's like maybe four or five. But if you stand at the spring and look at the light, you'll be like, oh yeah, that's in the way, that's in the way. Because all that makes a difference.

I mean, I couldn't tell if he did cut it, but I know that they said they were going to go out that week and...

I don't know if it matters, I mean there are some smaller, lower ones growing into the parking area.

I don't know if you guys want to... We can take a look at that as a connection. Yeah. We did talk last night and we did talk about opening that out. Increase volume. What's that? Increase volume. Yeah. So we're going to do that.

With the rain we've been in, I think we're... It's a little bit safer, yeah. That'd be great. Increase the flow. I mean, people are using it again. Yes.

I'll talk to them. They're not here Monday because they have the four-day weeks.

It's when Friday's the holiday. Yeah. Monday is their holiday. But they will be here Tuesday. I'll talk to them Tuesday.

Other than that... Looks like the state completed that Calvert project on Lake Street.

Oh, yes, Union Street. Yes, they did, yeah.

I think there's a bump, but I think that we- It's better now. I think it's better now.

I think it's settled, yeah. I will refer to Central Street. We're coming closer. So I don't know if it will be a real I-16 meeting or if there will be a conversation at that meeting. Not the Central Street project, let me rephrase that. So we might have more information on it by that meeting. They're still not doing anything with the horse main yet, but they are still working in Central Street. And after I met with um we're back on we're back good um but we're not doing we're waiting for the central street project to finish then we'll clean the parking lot up and then we'll paint i'm making off this year but we will be painting and um and i think we're in a good place so with our understanding so as jeff

giving you an update on the benches that he was purchasing?

No, and I did, see that's the other thing, I asked how he would do his inventory on the benches, I asked him at the same time. Inventory on the benches and picnic tables. But I think I will double check where that's at too. Correct. But no, Jeff Pauson, You did see the comment under the information about the no parking signs, so they've gone to the PD, complained to the PD level, but to... Who has? The owner.

The business owner?

The business owner, yeah.

For which, no parking on North Bay? No, yeah. No, no. Oh, yeah, you have the two corner ones.

Yeah, it's not so much the... The new space that we eliminated, the one we eliminated, that one's not so much. It's the other one that's an issue. But I did put it in the report. The concern is if we went with anything short, people are going to run it over because they're not going to see it.

That's a safety. So we've already had issues there. So I think we're all in favor of that.

I told the downtown decorating committee if they can come up with a different plan, come back to me and let me know. But it needs to be tall and reflective. And so I left it in their ballpark. Okay.

I just had something else to add.

Let me come back. So just actually a follow-up. You made me think of the highway. When the highway, let's just say we get through this whole thing, I mean, clearly there's going to be a bunch of stuff to do to make sure he gets the specs down for what they may need, okay? But wouldn't we go out to RFP? For what? For a backup.

We usually do quotes.

Okay.

There's a requirement to have three quotes.

All right, so they'll get three quotes. Three quotes, yeah. Because the other thing that struck me, just thinking about it, was Waterman 2 has got a case. I think they have a case of 580, not the 590, which is new. It's really old. Right? All I'm saying is, should we... try to from a parts and repair perspective should we try to be similar right because we're doing um it was always much easier when i had accessible things from machines i didn't as a town like does it make it easier for us well like he said it makes a difference because he already has all the attachments so

He could go with the case. Is it going to function similar to his needs? I'm not saying the case is the answer.

No, no, no. But then let's just say because he ends up with a John Deere, which totally fine by me, whatever. But then maybe if one or two, when they get this happy replacement, it maybe gives us to focus on John Deere. Just from that simplicity of how we look at repairs and having parts. you know, things that we do. So that was sort of one. I didn't know if there was an IRP process specific to it.

We do IRPs, but mostly we do IRPs for projects or soliciting like cleaning or things like that. when they start purchasing equipment, there is a requirement that anything over $10,000 or higher has to have currently. Okay, cool. That's all. And it has to come to the board. Anything between $3,000 and $99.99 can come to me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And anything below $3,000, they just have to make sure that they've done their due diligence.

Okay. It was that. And then we had a discussion yesterday Was it yesterday? No, it was yesterday, right?

I don't know.

It was yesterday morning, right? Yeah, I mean, so I think there's still some more stuff that they're kind of digging around for the EDC or whatever Bruce is ultimately trying to call it. He's going to be coming in here, what, the 16th? No, August. Oh, it's August. Okay, all right. Anyways. Yeah. Ultimately, I think it was a decent conversation. I think there's still more work to be done. We came away with a task to try to give them, if we had any municipal properties, to identify for housing.

John, can you take a step back, because if anybody's listening, they don't know what we were doing yesterday. Oh, yeah, that's true. but they don't know what work they should do.

It's true, true. We met with BEA, Bureau of Economic Affairs, the commissioner, Lucy Lang, and Joe Kenney and Lakes Region Planning and just trying to figure out sort of from an economic development perspective, a bunch of things that are going on. So like I said, basically a good conversation. We need to, there's a bunch of things we need to do there. I have not sent them the email yet, but I got an email where I kind of want to also get a couple of things out of that. We have our homework around that, but for them, I'm looking to try to see where we get some of these inputs. Because at one point, like I said, in that meeting, there was, They do a good job of highlighting when they go out into the community and they do some of these discussions. One of the ones for Upper Valley was linking together workforce development. And I kind of want to understand their thoughts in that regard as well. We didn't really get a chance to get to that one at all. How do they look at that from a personal perspective? We did a lot of discussion on housing. Anyways, so there you go.

That's what I had. Anything you want to add to that? No, I was just frankly appalled and surprised when she mentioned that we don't have the housing issue. Right off the bat. I know, yeah, yeah. Well, I was waiting kind of. Yeah, correct her, but... Every community in the state is dealing with that, and certainly any community that's around water.

I've been doing some trainings with the ICMA, which is an international managers association. It's not just New Hampshire. It's pretty interesting to see some of these other planes in these other states that are having the same problem.

Planning is a massive thing. It's so easy to only be in the day-to-day. You know, the planning stuff is, I don't know, the planning stuff is hard because it requires you to put a stake in the ground and then go, okay, I've got to put a lot of effort to go in a particular direction. Anyway, there you go.

Nothing? All right, I've got a couple more. I thought of something else, but it just came up to mind. On Overlook Drive, there's a lot of erosion coming down the street. Maybe it should start with land use and seeing if there was an actual driveway permit pulled for the one driveway that's not being used that's having water run right down it. It's like a stream that rains. On Overlook?

It's off the lot. How do I say it in public?

Is it one of the last properties that was built?

No, no, no. It's a neighboring street. It's just past the first house on the right. There's a lot that has frontage on both Pine Street and Overlock. And years ago, they built a driveway out to Overlook, and I don't think they ever had a driveway permit because they ended up never using it. Who wants to live on Overlook?

But it's super private, but they did it on Overlook.

Okay, I got it. And then when the gentleman died, they sold an old vehicle, and when they dragged the old vehicle out, they changed the way the water flowed from going down into the... Ditch line and through the culverts to coming down the drive line and into the street. So the water's coming from private property, but it's affecting the drainage on the beginning of Oval Road.

Okay.

Now you know who I mean?

No.

Well, I have the video.

I was going to fill up the map, but I was writing myself notes.

Yeah, I can show you after.

Yeah. I think I know, but...

and if it's not if it's not permitted they probably should pull that culvert and ask i don't know i guess you have to ask the people if they can go up in there and put the water back in the original Who takes care of the landscaping at Mill Stream?

The landscape? Well, there's no landscaping.

The problem is there is. There's, you know, there's the plantings around the sign.

Oh, that was actually, so that was a project. And you're right, the sign, that plant should be cut back.

Yeah, it's got a lot of dead...

I don't know who put the plant in though now. Was it?

I would just ask the.

I'll ask Lucille, but I think it was probably, The more I think about it, I think the Pasquani Garden Club might have put it in, but it should be cut back because it's going to overgrow the sign.

Well, not only that, but it's got a lot of, like, a couple of years, you know, like the growth dies off and then it comes back. But it's got a lot of dead wood on it.

My plant bloomed.

Bloomed outside. So they could just take a look at that. Yeah, I can ask them to. It just looks bad. Jeff Charter reached out to me yesterday morning. I went and looked at, you all got the email that there was a break, or the text that there was a break the other day in the water, in the water line. And for the public, it is not a break in the water and sewer with them mixing. Thank you very much. That was something I ran across on one of the groups. It affects the state highway, barn, our highway, and water and sewer. And the problem with water and sewer is they need to keep enough flow to stay in compliance, right?

Help carrying water.

Carrying water, right. So Jeff described to me the situation. They ended up going all the way up to Danforth-Brook Road and grabbing a one-inch line and connecting it to the hydrant. And then that line is serving those buildings now, but obviously not enough pressure and time, of course. And when they needed it at the water and sewer, they needed it at the water and sewer. But the problem is it's a complex fix. It's an old line. It's the line that goes right out behind, it goes right out behind the two racetracks, the settling pools, and it crosses Danforth Brook and goes right up the hill. That's really steep.

Forty foot incline, he said.

So they do have someone who can come out and start work on it. The problem is it's complicated, but it's not huge, right? So they can't do it themselves. How big is the size of the main? I don't know.

don't know well so when it broke it was dumping 250 gallons per minute into the brook right right and jack said something about it at one point it dumped more he's talking about three or four hundred at one point but um but he said average 250 gallons per minute so best case scenario they're on that temporary water service for another week he thinks it can be done

next week.

Did you hear of the transfer station?

Yeah, I was there, I saw it. So it was causing a little bit of discolored water in a few places, but that's something that's okay now.

There was no water Monday for about five buildings, but they tried to get the tent put in as quickly as possible.

So it's where, if you're looking, it's right here. I can show you a blurry picture. Yeah. So there's a water line that comes right down through here and it goes up right along the boundary line here. Yeah. And then it crosses and it comes up to the, it goes under the road. And then that hits the main over there. Yeah.

So it's, you can actually go to... Yeah, the calculation says it's a one-inch line, but it's got to be bigger than a one-inch line. Oh, yeah.

Because he did say it was dumping more. So a local contractor is going to do the work.

Another local contractor is going to supply free of charge the mats to work by the river, construction mats. So that's good, but it'll be at least a week before that gets addressed.

And then... You know what would be interesting? Joe, in Jeff's How old is that line? And then how does that compare to other?

Is it a wood box? It might be. No, because I know it's not a wood box because we know that it was repaired 26 years ago. Okay. And so and so doesn't really remember exactly because he was out on vacation that week. Yeah. That was done 26 years ago. Yeah. Which is another point, that institutional memory that we have to get on paper somehow.

But that should already be in that, because we did the water asset management. Yeah, okay. So it should be, some of that should already be there.

Yeah, yeah.

So we're doing wastewater now.

We should literally. almost just to make it simple, sit him down on a Zoom call and just record the damn thing and then you take the transcript now from an AI perspective, that's easy to extract it up, and just try to go street by street and go, what do you think about this street? And then he'll go, and as soon as you say the street, he'll come up with all that and this and that and this. or whatever, anyway, something like that. Oh, good.

But anyways, so that they're gonna be working on that. There's a, and the only reason I bring this up because I didn't see anything in land use or planning or anything like that. There was a, and I don't bring this up to dissuade anybody, but there's an antique shop that's operating out of the old skips gun shop? I don't know if that ever came.

I don't know if it's a... I mean, it's already zoned business. Well, but if it's an approved use to an approved use and there's no exterior changes, there's no parking change, they may not have had to come back.

Okay.

I don't think they came to plan for it. The only thing... But with site plan jurisdiction, they have to have, they fall under certain rules and they may not have had to come back. Okay. If their site plan changed in any way, they should have come back. But if they didn't do anything.

And as far as signs go, they just have one of those lawn signs stuck in the base.

That probably won't fly, but yes. So I'll ask to make sure that they're off.

I think that's it.

All right, I'll make a motion to adjourn.

Second. Second.

All those in favor? Aye. Thank you.