Board of Selectmen - Regular Meeting

And it is now 6:30. So that's already normal. um introduction. Um we pledge of allegiance by the United States of America. begin by opening the bids.

Y sounds great.

These are the bids for the uh trash removal. This is from waste management. Wish I could help you, but I haven't looked at you. So, [laughter] um, just looking there are Oops. Not really. Okay. Thank you. The waste management is not providing a bid. This is from Cassell

there. to raise these. Yeah. Yeah. So, you have the pricing for year one as $96,39. Year 2 at 100,841 and year 3 at 106 387. Um MSW will be delivered under the town's existing direct contract with ends site the disposal rate. Um that's for the solid waste. For the single street recycling it's 89,265 for year 1. Uh as a processing rate I don't know what ACR minus 154 is year 2 is 93,7485. Year 3 is 98,41466. And then they provided an explanation of that average commodity formula that they have process. So it looks like the first would be 1367 time.

a readout for school building rights as well in addition to the commercial. Um That's an addition too. Okay. So, town hall fire department the year one that is solid waste 12,340. Year 2 is 12,957. Year 3 is 13,65. And then the recycling for year 1 12,340. 2 12,97 and year three,605.

Um, So we have two options from L. Option one is weekly solid waste and recycling collection. Year one would be 165,000. Year two is 171600 and year three is the 178464 and option two would be weekly solid waste and bi-weekly recycling. Uh year 1 is 150,000 year 2 157500 and year 3 165 375. Looks like option two with the bi-weekly recycling wouldn't uh corugate the cardboard as we move from the cliff side collection. So it's an alternative option complection processing and corugated method which would be encouraging and recommending that residents bring their corrugated cardboard to dumpsters located right in the top.

Is there an add comparison here? Um well we can add so Cassella broke out solid waste and recycling and non combined I know just for the curb side for year one for Cassella looks like it's 185 304 compared to 165 for um not clear if the Ellen includes me. because the 185 or doesn't include the fact that a town hall would school right and Alan doesn't seem to to mention that at all. I don't know if that means that they would not be doing that or it's just assumed not included.

I'm answering the questions if you have problem. Yes. Oh, great. Um so the one of the other proposals included broke out um pick up of trash here at town hall the school fire department and part of a separate line item. Would that be included in the price area? Yes was it was assumed is fine.

Okay. Thank you. Looks like then Castella comes in at 209 and change once we include solid waste recycling the town which is significantly more. I'm curious a little bit about the um moving to bi-weekly recycling with the car corrugated cardboard option. Can you tell us more about how folks in other towns have responded to that?

Sure. Yeah. So, um we've been very successful in the smaller towns. That's why we could why we could propose it. Mhm.

The uh the codullet, the corugated codulant um makes up approximately 45% of your um streamed weight, you know, the the glass, the um the plates and all that. So, we've been successful in um uh removing that cardwood from the stream, asking the residents, you know, working with the town, asking the residents to bring that corrugated card to um containers, container containers located within within the town. Um and you know, the residents have uh have adapted to it for a couple reasons. One is that they're not um no longer have to um cut it up and get it into their bins. Um, it does have to be broken down. It can't just be boxes thrown in in a dumpster. But they might rather do that. You know, spend the time and throw them in their vehicle or whatnot and drive it to the to the container and to the end down opposed to getting it into the bins. And then the then then the benefit back to the town is that the uh the town is removing that weight from the uh from the um disposal stream, the recycling disposal stream. Um BLM would take ownership of that wood. um we we recycle it 100%. We we we take it, we bail it, and uh you know, we put it on the market to uh to resell it. So, you know, it's a um uh it's something that we're doing in the small towns. You know, we can't get away with it in the big towns. It's just, you know, it's too it's too cumbersome. Um but in in this town, I see it as, you know, you know, a very viable option. um you know if the town was taking a seat uh I think [clears throat] it neted out to about $10,000 in disposal savings um you know if the town wanted to move moving that budget and so and then in doing that um you could explore uh whether or not you want to entertain every other week cycling you know so I proposed that way because you know I

think I I put some pictures in there you know I went around and I just spot checked a lot of your your cars you know on recycling day on on you They're full of cotton, you know, um mostly full of cardboard. So, if you're able to get that cardboard out of the wheel um stream, put them into some some containers um than doing every other week recycling is um you know, could be something that you consider. You know, it's something that we're doing in two to two to three other small towns. Um they made that transition and it's going, you know, it's going very well for them. Um you know, again, repetitive because that top one was so cumbersome and uh um they what was left, you know, didn't really warrant picking up every every week recycling. And so if you could save the tower a little bit more money and go to every other week recycling, you know, so that was intested just for that program. So, does that mean that for recycling there's no curbside? There would not be curbside. No, there would be curbside every other week.

Okay. And if someone still wanted to put cardboard in that every other week, they would,

right? you would, you know, you through communication, you would encourage um to um to not do that, you know, and uh and bring it to the containers. You know, it's a it's a cost savings for the savings to the town. And uh you know, anytime there's a little bit of change, you know, there's always a little bit of angst with it, but you know, I can tell you that it's uh you know, we're we're five years in, five years plus in in Hampton Falls and and um it's it's it's not a big deal, you know. um over in uh South Afric um you know three plus years in and um you know it's it's not a big deal you know the hardwood containers are you know u we put uh we started with six yard containers and and operators have two sixy containers and uh they're full you know go twice a week you know so if uh and then we argue that you know there's no additional charge as you saw there was a $25 kind of island uh um service fee for that. That's right. That's what assume that we're going to get two six yard containers and uh um you know so that you know that that um that weight that's real weight you know I mean u um 45% is we all know how heavy the carpet is you know so that that's real weight being moved in the stream

you know so it's uh um it it's been it's been very successful with those kinds of containers I the car.

They did not dumpsters. Dumpsters located the dumpsters located downstairs. I don't know where that would be. I don't know if that behind the wall there. I don't know if that was if this park along across the street here. That's that's like over it was something I I put my eye on. um you know and so they're you know they're the the container there is is fairly accurate of the the the container you know so it's low profile um easy for the resident um you know lids on both sides um not very heavy easy enough for the for the resident to lift the uh the lid and slide in wood

you know if the other towns have these demand for I not on time or people just drop it off as they have it.

Yeah. So, okay. They're located at at um they're now behind lock gates. So, they're located towns uh once at the fire station, one's at the uh um the town hall and um Panther [clears throat] Falls. U we put the containers outside of the gates. Um so, they would be dropped off at 2007. move forward committee that

yeah we had a committee um what you can do is um well you can either accept um one of bids or you could reconvene in a couple days and make your decision then just so that you have time to look through the bids and you're kind of fit for tab and if you have any questions after actually reading them unfortunately this is your first look at them. So if you um if you wanted to do something like that, you could have another meeting Tuesday morning Thursday morning or Wednesday morning Wednesday night.

That might be a better option. Give people a chance to look at dates and stuff a little closer. [clears throat] that to you as the board. Yeah, I mean to look at them and I think um I know notice that I'll include some reference towns here if we are to consider moving to a new vendor. I think talking to those other towns would be good. Yeah, okay. Do you want to set a time um for another meeting this week now so that it's in the record?

Sure. I don't think it's going to take you more than a day to to read through them. And I can I've already done the spreadsheet pretty well. Um my Thursday's wide open right now. So, and you're finishing. Okay. But I don't know what time until 11. Oh, was that Thursday morning? Yeah. Okay. Thursday night or we can do 8:00 whatever. Huh? What do you want to do?

I'd rather not do eight. Okay. [laughter] Okay. Sure. [clears throat and cough] Any public comment on this bids? Would you like to make a public comment? I have a couple of questions. Okay. Um there's just two bids, the seller and Elm. Okay. Um is Elm from what you've read a lot less money than are they equal? I think from our first

Yeah. It's kind of going through and just looking putting the numbers in my phone. It looks like L. Is it Elm or ELM? Uh, ELM. Elm um is a cost savings for us. A pretty decent one. Um I want to make sure that I'm understanding the way that Cassella have broken theirs out because GLM has given us one number and Cassella's given us four separate ones. Okay. Um but so far it does look like that.

Yeah, I I think you should take your time. Um I I have a question for Elm. Um because I see you're picking on Anon Falls. Uh, do they have the uh modern type trunks that pick the uh bins up because they don't typically do that and make it false.

Um, correct. Good question. Um, so um we are what you refer to as a semi-automatic um company. Um, we will be providing the carts. So that that um um function will not change. Um and so we have um we are semi semi-auto semi semi-auto meaning that we have the automated um cockpit is um attached to the trucks. Okay. Is it you don't use them if you have to call them up. Right. Um so are the cars the same size? 65 gallon I think they are.

Yes. you know, the um so and um Kathine and I had quite a few back and forth emails. I thank you for that, Kathy. Um and um it's my understanding that there's some some exceptions with some um some 35gallon cars there, but consistent with what your policy has been, the 65gallon carts and then um some exceptions with some 95gallon carts. So, whatever whatever you have in place um we will just replace. Perfect. So seller will take back the their their carts and they would buy your cards. Nope. Okay. You're going to swap. Well, you're going to give them to the town,

correct? Okay. Thank you. The way the way does it right now is they regain ownership of them. So that's why you're able to give a cart back the Troken and they'll replace it for you. Okay. Is would that that would be the same sort of Okay. Yeah, I like the idea cross the street or you can use the town park somewhere some accessible easy for truck to get in and out one or the other both. You

guys have any questions? Um, my only concern is that the fire station does not have a man person to run the cardboard to the bin. So, that just kind of creates a little bit of a logistical problem for a fire runner, but we'll figure it out. We work it out. Whatever you guys decide, we'll we'll adapt and overcome and we'll figure it out. Thank you. Probably like to show up on Thursday night. Sure. All right.

Okay. Great. In the meantime, I'll let you know. All right. Perfect. Thank you. Thanks for coming.

I can make a copy of it. inch. Yeah, there was a bunch. There was a bunch. Okay, everybody's got one.

Do you have it underneath your back there? might be sticking out underneath here. So, I got another one. Yeah. Okay, perfect. And then there's a spreadsheet attached to your agenda that looks like this, but it doesn't have any agenda in it. So, I'll I'll do this, too. Right. I'll make it a little receiver. engage with uh driver. Oh, welcome.

All right. Is there anyone else? We have some other people here. Anybody looking for public comment? I'd like to ask a question. How much can we pay this year for tracking? What should we pay now?

So, as far we have it separated out. So, we have um solid waste and then we have the recycling. So, for solid waste it's $167,89 and then for the recycling it's uh 76,000. Actually, that's the disposal fee. So, sorry about that. Trash disposal is $98,922. Recycling uh pickup is $67,886. And then the disposal fees are for trash uh $52,422 and recycling lane is $23,913. And you add them all, right?

That's roughly 241,000. Yeah.

So, I mean, I think I think Elm provides a a pretty significant cost savings. Yeah. Wasn't it 165? Yeah. For both. Yeah. Okay. For both. And then this is because I was actually going back on their prices. So some of that disposal fees is from waste management. So they don't have that figured in there. We pay waste management directly. So the 52,000 can be on top of that for waste management. Jessica sell it for both for both of these. They need another 550,000.

Okay. Cuz he didn't mention that. Yeah. Well, it's a tipping fee. So, that's the town's responsibility. Got it. And I will clarify that with him especially um to see if they are going to what they'll do with the recycling who whether they have a place like Cella does that they can bring the recycling into or are they going to be bringing it to another plant that fluctuates cuz that's what we had for Cassella and it just closely planned on us. So that market is very up and down. So, we'll see. There's a few more questions.

There two figures up there for Cassella. Um because 96 and the other was 185. It's recycled and Yep. Um trash. Yep. So, I total I don't get what the total is because that doesn't work.

No. So, the total is this. So the 209 is this plus the added municipal charges. So for recycling that Pella put in their code for the downstairs for all for the town. So this would be the proposal the 209 for this year. Okay. This includes the downstairs. This does

the downstairs throughout the town. What's year one, two, and three? Year. Year two, year three. Yeah. Yep. And Elm is the same. One, two, three. Yep. Yeah. Okay. I think it's a no-brainer when we're ready. I I think the cost is obvious. I think I personally just want to make sure I've done my due diligence and read the thick packet that Cassell gave us. Um Sure. Take your time. Take another day or two.

Yeah. Just to make sure that we're doing apples to apples. We're going to get the same somewhat same service. Thank you for being diligent. for the trash bids. Is there anything else in the public comments questions? We just saw Yeah, you guys were just talking about dumpsters that provided. Is that what you were saying? Yeah. Yeah.

The downstairs are trash. So when if you offer BLM, would that mean the those dumpsters go away? Is there something replacing that or Right. They would put the same downstairs out from what he was saying. So everything is replaced. Yes. Got um as I understood it, you're going to have trash dumpster um at the school and another one out back here, but you're also going to have cardboard dumpster, right? If we if we do that option, you're going to have at least four of those probably. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

That would be in addition to what we have now, right? We don't have that right now. I know. Anything else? Let's move on. Agenda be a couple things. Um [clears throat] started working on the emergency operation plans for 267 South Road for the private school that's going to go there. Um, one of our members here was on a SWAT review working on that and it clear are logistics anywhere. So, we've looked at couple options as as we talked before with these two schools going in and adding I think it's 152 kids over 140. We already have them sleep in the school. we are now uh some of responsibility for both uh to respond to some of the humanities. So, you know, obviously we looked at u you know, possibly put on a police officer to have enough staffing during the day if there was an unusual event that took place. I'm also looking into um a USA, which is in other words, the drone um looking into into that for very particular the 267. self. The drone we're looking at, it has um a style length cameras in it, which means that it sees night vision, see day vision, has a GPS, has a high resolution mapping, you know, speakers, audio, you can talk. It's it's got a flight time of 47 minutes before you swap the battery out. Uh they're pretty expensive when you get into these type of systems with this. uh

looking at $17,449 for this for this drone, but that would include uh training which you have to be FA FAA certified as a small aircraft um to fly these things. So, it's six six classes which UNH puts on. So, that's part of the pricing that I put into this as well as, you know, the cost of training and miscellaneous uh accessories like adding more batteries, having more batteries and chargers and having one of the cars outfitted to charge the batteries. So, um with this being said, you know, we looked at this emergency operation plan, how we would respond there if there was search and rescue situation. You know, we looked at um you know, where the school's going to go. Oh, it's been a lot of high ground which is dangerous as how we would respond that and would not be responding as we would typically do to the botanical school uh that we have here because of the high ground. So you're looking at you know you got a lot of acorage behind there that goes all the way back into Muddy Pond all the way to 107. It's all water back there. You get across the street that's got a big pond out there. You also have the power lines that are right there as well as you know if there's a situation they're trying to shut down that intersection is is four officers immediately trying to shut it down. But what we're looking at with the drone is if we need to get something up in the air to see what's going on there. We're going to get that without having anybody injured. Um or we got to do a search and rescue is that the infrared thermals and you're going to be able to see you know in the woods which you'll never see up there you know going up into the woods. So, I looked at this as two ways of looking at it to purchase it. Um, I talked to Kathy. I could still get a more article in if we do that. Um, I also reviewed what I had left of funds at the end of the year. Looks like I have if I'm right, my numbers are right. I think they are about $20,000 if it'll work. So, I

looked at a cost to number that divide this drone. We can start the training. I'd like to get the training done because the training does start in February um for these classes. And like I said, there they're about six classes. So, it's going to take six weeks or so, like praying in the office to be able to fly this. Um, and that that has FA regulations of, you know, flying flying in the air, license to fly, and uh obviously FJA stuff that I don't know yet about how to fly these. So that's that's kind of what I want to talk about tonight is like, you know, we're just trying to be ahead of the game with this emergency operation plan for the school and it's it's just it's it stresses me out. It's not it's not a good place to the whole thing. Um so I'd like to start, you know, if some reason we don't get a budget, we don't get an approved another officer figure out how to operate when when these two schools start open. The only thing with newcomering is we're past the end of the year. So, we're past that.

I have no problem doing this tomorrow. I'm just trying to get an idea, you know, which way to possibly put it out there. You know, I think it's a it is expensive, but it's it's also not inexpensive for what it does. Um doesn't record everything. Um, you know, there are some agencies that have these, but getting someone here shares power and has fun, but um, you know, by the time you get it here, it's a lot of time. We can have it right back. So, all I can do is I've already up. I think I accepted Kathy anyway. So, that could be approved. I know Slate going into the game here with these. Is are there other towns that have these? name just said the sheriff

just the sheriff at the bottom that I know it's locked in search team emergency response team they're reports with and but they could use on that be using a search and rescue cuz that's how search works so you know there's a couple small agency that Barington has one you know they're becoming you know just starting to purchase these and you know there's cheaper models but you know the flight times what's getting a lot of flight time with the thermal um camera system. It does see when you know if you're out and we have police officers out there, they can see the lasers on the firearms, but you can't see by your eye with some of them. And uh you know, so we can pick out who's out there.

I think you've expressed, you know, concerns in terms of the the number of staff that you have that could come out and and be available in that type of situation. Well, again, emergency emergency, you know, people live all over the place, so getting them here and they're not driving, they're driving the regular cars from wherever they're going. You're going to get a response from other agencies. Don't don't get me wrong, but again, you're with with that intersection down there trying to shut that road down. That's, you know, you got to shut it down. It's all over the place. Keep traffic out of that space. That's just like one piece of apart, you know, trying to create a, you know, we're looking at trying to figure out like a command post for there. And there is no keeping a post because agencies are going to be coming from everywhere. Everybody was going to be driving right in front, right? So it's it's just a really tough place, you know, and you have a lot of traffic there. Um we're also looking into we haven't got it, but we're looking to see Brook has some cameras up on their lights and they can see the intersection. So, we're going to look to uh possibly try to put a camera up there see that it's putting up by the blinking light so we can see that intersection. I look at it this way and I look at worst scenario sometimes and you have a drive by and someone you know does a shot at school or you have someone in a kidnapped situation or anything like that. We can't by the time we get down there long.

I think so. But in terms of the drone, how does the drone help? the drone's going to help and it can get up in the air and you can see the area what what's above you know what's below. So you're going to be able to see what's below. If it was let's say an active shooter situation you're going to be able to see possibly where that active shooter is. Now that from what I understand from you know planning on the school is kind of a local place right now. So you know some of it's open campus some of it's not open campus. Again it's got high ground. It's got barns that we don't know what they're using them for. So you you want to get that up and find out where the threat is first. And then in in other terms, if we have a search and rescue situation,

again, if you're going to get up in the air and you're going to see what's out those woods or power lines or anywhere before we could even get close to getting out there, you know, by the foot. Mhm. You're going to cut down on just one time and get a better idea where someone could be. Um, you know, just the whole area is just a really uh it's got a lot going on,

you know, and and I look at it as it's open. There's a lot there's a lot of traffic there. So, you have, you know, kids out there, you don't know what you're getting. You don't know who's driving through, you know, and and something like that. So, we're trying to figure out a best game plan with this, you know, as well as that. That's my one that bothers me the most right now. the other the other you know Kensington Elementary we have our plan for that as far as the uh country Brook over there you know that again that's you get a little bit more containment over there but you still have with that too again search and rescue in the back of it drops down into Santa you know you know getting out there to look for a kid that's those are small children out there if someone launchers off um you try and find a kid is this is going to take a lot of time from getting out there and trying to establish a command post and get people What's the cost of the training versus the cost of the uh the drone?

Uh the training is about um the the training class is 1350 and then you're looking at probably right around 2500 for for the officers training in that time. There's concern that you only have one officer who's trained in it

right now. Yeah. started starting first and you know eventually I'd like to get more you know again this is kind of was putting this together last week and and kind of went with this and you know I would like to see two but you know I'm push push it right now but I'm going to try again I'd rather get the tools and then figure out where you know if I use my train we have the two other funds that we usually say all the fun that we can use that money for training out of that money the certified officers physically. [clears throat] I have a question. [clears throat] How many situations have you had that you would need that? We got What's that?

How many situations have you had in the past years since you've been here? We always have kids that go missing or we have we've had an active shooter situation. So, we've had many different things that I'm not saying they hopefully they're not every day, but you're trying to be prepared than not be prepared, right? Because when you're not prepared, you're going to get caught up in the litigation problem telling when people are saying you weren't prepared for what you have here. [clears throat] Um, you said that uh sir has a a drone in the sheriff's department. Yeah,

that's it. that as far as I I think Baron has one too. What about our answer? I don't think they have a grown superh I can't tell you from what I you know as far as I know like I'm just trying I'm not worried I'm more concerned about Kensington. I know they may have one but if they don't have an officer available to do it then I don't have a drone right if they only have one guy certified just like we do. I I appreciate it being proactive. Um, but Seabrook and Axive have huge school systems and they don't have a drone. I'm not sure why Kensington all of a sudden needs a drone.

Uh, again, we don't we don't have the staff in like Sebrook, Lorax, and Bats. [clears throat] True. We don't have the highways that they have either, but we we have a lot a lot of traffic

or the commercial district. So it it's argues that it's not the same. Um, so I'm not sure why you don't need I don't think you need a drone right away. I I would like rather let you whatever's happening down there is not happen. I guess um I've also heard rumors that they they're they're not um required to pay taxes. Is that true? They're 501c3.

I I believe the school is not a 501c3 and so they are paying tax. the the one at South Road, the one at uh 150. The one at Gold Country Brook is a nonprofit and therefore they are not taxed. And okay, let's separate the two. Um you got 67 students going to Eastman's. That building's not moving for 67 kids. Is it?

I think I think that's probably a better question maybe for the planning board than it is us. I know that that it is both an indoor and outdoor school. I think that's something that the chief is saying is one of the issues that they're not all contained like they're using the the greenhouse buildings and different things along those um are they going to open soon? I don't know what the current timeline is. Okay. So, I would see an emergency here to raise funds for drone that we may not need for 3 or 4 years. They're going to have they're going to have to build something that hold that many kids. Yeah. They're not building the structure that they have. Yeah. This is going to be tight. There's both floors.

Mhm. and the outside areas that make them everything's full will be engineered their homep.

Yep. Wow. Uh I be amazed. I don't think we need a drone yet. I just don't

I have a question. Um, if we do need it at home, if that's a private school, then the school parents should pay for it. There's no reason for the town to to even have a warranty or is it system? I'm wondering if there are other things that have been thought like another caution light or something. I I don't know what the problem is there. It doesn't seem to be here because the uh parking lot is off to the side. So relocating the way the traffic comes out. I don't that's another state issue. So the state's deal with that right now. So it's in the process of state permits right now. So we must have let me talk.

What' you say?

I said the state is in the process of doing the the driveway permits right now. I I spent suggestion um I think it might be a good really good idea but I think if you could share it with another town we would give you two officers train. So say we went to East Kingston or um Hley Falls and said hey we're thinking about doing this and if we could they could send an officer and we could send an officer. Now we have we solve your problem by having one officer in this both now sharing the cost and the both officers get trained and it gives you double the protection. I think it's a good idea. Uh but here's here's the thing. If so goes home at midnight or or goes home at midnight and they have the drone. What happens?

No. I don't think they someone shooting kids. I I think the challenge if the challenge is the children at a certain period of time [clears throat] and this is the goal for this. You have this new capability and you were able to, you know, offset it and you have two officers that are close by cuz I think East Kingston has a lot of just as much open space as Kensington does. So I think it, you know, it gives you I I I think it's a good idea. I just think there's maybe a better way to combine. [clears throat] Okay, there's some input on

what what would the war ask the members of the town? Are you asking for money or are you asking for permission to have thermal imaging drone capabilities over the town? Well, that we're asking to purchase the the drone and train the time. Yeah.

But not specifically because of this. You know, I'm going to say it's a lot to do with the school because if you're working on these type of emergency operation plans and you're trying to figure it out and you got one or two guys on duty and and it's just an impossible task to respond there if there was an active shooter there. I think what I would do is try to get the school itself involved in, you know, [clears throat] dishing out some money for the the video and I think that would be a good thing to do. I think the schools have their own security. Well, they can to a certain extent.

That's what I'm saying. They should ask your town once capability in this town. To me, that's the first question. And then the second question is what are we going to use it for and how are we going to pay it? And the third is on one small school needs to taxation for res that can work. I don't have the tax implications on here. No, I think we have to I mean we have to look overall everything to figure that out. I think based on Yeah.

the warrant there.

I know we have to come over. Yes. Well, as a as a gauge, so 25,000 is 0036 cents per $1,000 evaluation, but I don't think the cost was a main thing for many people.

We don't have street lights in this town. Mhm. All right. that would make the town safer.

Well, the ch needs to know if you would it would if you would support this to go on the ballot um for this year or if or the month or something whether you want it on the ballot for the people to decide this year or not. I thought it was a deadline. There

it does by the selected would be the ones uh putting this on the ballot, but there's also the petition wars that are due on the 13th. So, we're still within the realm of being able to add things. Well, do we have to be able to make decision on this stuffing? We need to start tonight.

Yeah, because we have to get it all ready for the public hearings on the 14th and you don't meet again before that. you're meeting on Thursday morning. I mean, I I certainly hear your concerns and I know, you know, talking about the school and what that rents into the town and and be able to address something in in the right way and it doesn't put the town of liability for not being ready to I also I mean knowing that out of all the towns in this community in our kind of extended sea coast community, Kensington doesn't seem like the first one in my mind that would need a drone. Um, and I guess I just, you know, personally have some discomfort with the idea of a drone over my house anyway. Like, not that this is what it's for, but like h I don't know. I've got some mixed feelings.

And I think we're going to learn a lot in the first year or two having the school down there and what we really need.

Okay. I don't know if we know that as much certainty right now as we would. Well, I don't think it's a bad idea to have it. I mean, I think there's you got 145 students, you know, going to go on hikes and stuff like that sometimes, too. So, you never know when you somebody's going to even be out in the woods and stuff like that. Sometimes it's a tool that might help [clears throat] you when you're looking for lost children's adults that are having difficulties. They're trying to get [clears throat] themselves selfies and stuff. So, I don't think it's a bad idea to have it. I think that there's times that it would be a [clears throat] valuable tool to app even if there was a an incident at the school where you had an act or something like that drone be used as a a valuable tool to keep an eye on the site the movement of the people and stuff like that. So from a law enforcement perspective, I think I got married also.

Mhm. So it's two against one in favor. Somebody says we don't want to bring it forward. Yeah. Two if you don't want to and that would be Yeah.

So that wouldn't be included on the battle this Anything else? That's it.

Uh for the fire department, um we are currently working with Kathy. Um we kind of got a a little bit of a surprise from the state and the governor. um they decided to um pass a new house our Senate bill 245 for um ambulance billing which um kind of takes away our um ability to set the rates that we were getting. Now we can only charge 3.25% 25% of the Medicare rate and we have to enroll with all of the private insurance agents. So you can imagine um dealing with your own insurance company. We have to deal with all of them. Um luckily the state is only one portion of contract. We have to review it, agree to it and um sign it. But on top of this for this one year um from December January 1st to December 31st um we can charge the 3.25 25 um rate, but we also have to participate in a cost based rate study. And then next year that will be they will set the rate of whatever we can charge for the rest of until this bill goes away or something happens. So, um just wanted to keep you guys informed. Uh we've got the two contracts back from two insurance companies that we're responding back and forth with. Um so you know that's kind of where we stand. It's kind of out of our hands. It was passed by the state and that's kind of where we we stand. So

unfortunately might it might hurt us a little bit on our revenue for the movements. I'm hoping not. We don't do a lot of uh ambulance calls in town. So, um, you know, it won't hurt us as bad as like Exod or the bigger towns, but we'll still feel a little bit of expect from that. [clears throat] So, just want to let you know. No. And that's it for fire. Um, for EOC, I have nothing for USC. The billing, how does that impact then like the the ALS um that we share with the other towns that we have access to?

Yeah. So that um that contract is separate. Um and we have to we got to find out how that building cuz they they build for the parame they built this for the service.

Um but I have to figure out and I have to talk to them to see if um I haven't added them into these contracts as a subcontractor or not. Um I have to [clears throat] talk to the plaster chief but um right now it I don't think it's going to affect anything because we have a contract with plasma and we get charged a rate for ALS1 service and ALS2 service and ALS2 service is kind of rare that's usually you're really in really bad shape doing a lot of medical stuff and a lot of drugs and a lot of stuff and the parameters do its magic and that's where the higher cost Usually um I think our current ALS bill for the paramedics to come out and assess the patient is like $85 and something. It is going up to $110 because uh the donors that have made donations to the program and who are continuing to donate and fund the program. um on their side that just asked that the towns um start contributing a little more. So uh we decided as the area fire chiefs that um we would bump up from 85 to 110 the AOS rate status.

Yep. That kind of ties to the warm heart goal that the chief has. Yes. for for that program we started. Um yeah, it's going to be valid for the bayless service. It's just preparing for the future that when the donors go away for that paramedic service cuz eventually they will,

you know, um we will be have the money in the bank, you know, and into the banking to find, you know, money to pay for that source. is a skill much cheaper option than just going out and hiring a full-time firefighter paramedic. Gina um another mill uh permits were about 20% of the last year. So people are you know fixing their homes. Um, other than that, we're just waiting on as far as the school goes, we're just waiting on uh engineering and and uh do plans and so so that's moving along. Uh the school, the daycare is no longer going to be uh demolishing a section of the building. They were planning on taking the middle section out there and widening. Uh again, it's not their budget. So, I did talk with their architect. Uh you should have something for them in about a month. Uh they're going to renovate uh the existing section. So, we're waiting for that. And again, they're looking to see the spring sometime in April. So, uh things are moving along in both sides and that's about it. [clears throat] starting to get pretty active in the weather department for the road crews. Um, expecting one to three inches of inclement weather tonight. Uh, the road crews are rested up, trucks are fueled up, we're ready to go, and um, also ordered two loads um, 64 tons of salt to replenish what we've been what we use in

the past couple weeks for the salt shed. And yeah, like I said, we're ready to go. Another one season. Yeah. Been pretty active.

Yeah. How many times have we been out so far? Three. All um three. Four in the past. Four in the past two weeks. You know, more more salting and sanding than acting just due to the ice, the rain, the ice we have. Yeah. Yeah. And um Yeah. Do you have anything? Nothing really. I just uh you have to review the total as what would be outstanding for the taxes. It's just over 264 minutes. Yes. Um there's a spot here for uh conservation commission as I read. correct me if I'm wrong. Uh in the last minutes of their meeting, um [clears throat] the the the signs on Mo Bridge Road, which seems to be a big deal, uh they finally got their new sign up on the existing town sign [clears throat] and now she wants Pam Holland is what I read wants uh the old sign removed. I I'll take it down if you want.

The one that's got the garbage bag over the top of it backgrounds. That's been a bone of contention here a year. That's ridiculous. You want to make it disappear? I got it. I just would like your permission. Yeah. I don't say it disappear on that. Yeah. Okay. Go on. Feel free. Okay. Thank you. Nobody knows it's in history, right? No. No. We put gas in. We did. We turn close. Yeah. Oh, we did.

Okay. Well, it's bad. You want You want to take him down? I I'll do it. Yeah. That's what the That's what the decision was of the board once the other signs were put in. Um I hadn't heard anything from him. about it was in the minutes I believe.

And it might show up at the town shed. You could use the post. Who knows? I'll repurpose it. Recycle it. Okay. So, we road drainage. Um, the resident that was going to be here is sick. So, she asked that we continue this until the next meeting, which is going to be the 29th 26th. 26th. Um that'll be here next beginning of January and that's when we'll give a budget and one article and sign all that and post it that way.

Is the road agent aware of the problem? Yes. Probably um you want to get into it or you want to say I don't know. I think the resident wanted to be here when it was discussed um because they asked for this to be discussed. So just simply that there's a drainage issue with one of the pro one of the properties on road and they wanted to come to the board. So it's at the request of our president. So

okay there 45 years I don't see a problem but um but it'll be on the agenda so I know when to come. Yeah, it'll be the 26th Thanksgiving 26. Yeah. Okay. So, we don't have anything on zoning and planning board members. We haven't had anybody to my knowledge that's come forward. So, there's anybody out there that would like to donate their time for planning and zoning. People are needed. So, if you have a little bit of spare time that you can give to the town, it would be greatly appreciated. Um, what is it for? I can't see it.

Planning and zoning board members. Oh, okay. Yeah. What's the estimated time commitment? [clears throat] Time commitment. Uh, the only is when they need it. So, they meet once a month if they have a if they don't have a case, they don't meet. We've had years when zoning board hasn't met at all. And then we've had years where zoning boards met almost every month. Um, so it really depends on them, but the planning boards does have to meet month and they do have workshops the first Wednesday.

Yeah, first Wednesday of the month in certain in certain months so that they can get caught up on some of the stuff that they're doing. I know they need training. Um, not necessarily. No,

no, there is there is information once you become a member that you get given. Um, there's there's a lot of information out there and you're definitely guided uh by the other board members and the chairman would definitely meet with anybody that's interested if you had more questions. So, if you have questions, just get a hold of Pete and uh he can he can get you to the right spot. Uh rental of the town property, we haven't gone any further with that. Uh right away impact, we haven't gone any further with that. Um I do have a few things here. So, I have the mosquito contract for the year. Um, this is the new budget proposal. I don't know if one of you would just find out on this for 2026 mosquito contract went to 185 and that's instead of the 25. [clears throat] So he's going to get amended a machine and then that's the skin contract so that we can or application that we can actually perform large subject one needs design we'll stick Not really sure where

they're on the There's two little signs in these left hand. Yeah. I think it just signals great. It's the same exact name. It's just the state of Thanksgiving. And then this one here is for the 185 just so he has something to say. That's what we're going to we're going to do.

Signature. Um just just by the H5 if the three of you wouldn't mind signing that as an approval. That estimate be kind of his contract.

He has a new state of New Hampshire is also looking into feas. They did a feasibility study for a hydrant waste regional site. So this is a little bit of information for you all on that. It's still in the process of being recommended. So the next steps are to figure out where they would put a permanent facility. What the hours would be um reassess what municipalities are interested and then to identify the potential sites

for waste. Yeah. An actual site. Yep. Yep. Instead of having them all around, they would have this one area where you could go to more often. special. It's the New Hampshire division. Uh we did get a response back as well from the large groundwater permit application. The state had put out some questions for Emry and Garrett and they came back with their answers and I believe that I've given this to you guys, but we haven't heard anything else from the state since I've gotten this. So, I'm not sure where that permit is at this point, but until the state got more information, they were not approving that um permit for the loud large groundwater removal yet. They were waiting to get this information back. And one of the one of the reasons was due to UNO in the groundwater and that would impact any of the wells. Um, and they they put a few um ideas in there about what to do and what wells to look at that are in the same vein. So the like so it's just a wait and hear from them.

Yeah.

Yep. I just wanted to let you know that we did receive correspondence from them. Um, we also have talked to the library about the bond today. We talked to their legal or bond attorney um, which is townism and they gave us a quote for the cough to help the town with the bond. This has been like a four-year process that we started and the legal idea at the time we signed a contract saying that you know when we were it was time to put the warrant argument on they would give us the cost. So I got the cost today and there is ranges. So at the high it's 13,000 um for legal cost for one more and the costs are per bond. So if we were to do more than one bond in a year that would be double. Um so 65 to 95 for just the legal cost and then 25 to 35 for any of their things. Let me see what they called it. Additional fees. They called it. So, I just wanted you guys to be able to I just got this today. So, that's going to have to be added to the library one article for I'm not sure how you want to go about paying that. if you want to put it on in a bond or if you want to raise and appropriate that that amount of money

along with the further payment instead of having 13,000 for the bond payment. I just don't see 13,000 in for a bond. Yeah. [clears throat] Um, honestly, I would add it to the to the payment for the first year's payment, which 877 or 875 the first payment. So, you have to sign it. Uh, no, we don't need to sign this. No, you don't need to sign it. Is it watering? It says switching.

Yeah, there was nothing to sign on the ground. Um there is a signature that notice that they're seeking an additional I think they want you to sign them back and that you are in agreement with those with the contract board. I don't know if somebody wants to make a motion. Sure. Uh motion to approve uh legal costs for library bond at uh 13,000. I'll second. All those in favor?

I thank you. Please show you just session learning. Is it on your website? Um, we are starting to get that information out. They're going to have their public hearing on the 12th. So, I have more information coming from the library and then it'll be posted on the website. So, just a second question then. How will you approve legal fees? How why would you be approving legal case until that meeting?

We're we're approving an agreement. What is it? Then they call it fe. So you're not you're not tied into we're not tied into this. No, this is a range. This is a range up to 13,000. Okay. So if this bond didn't pass, we wouldn't have to pay. What I'm saying, right, she's not going to get any funding until until the bond passes. So if this doesn't pass this year and it goes to next year, this will just they'll end us with another agreement with a possibly different funding. [clears throat] I think it was just a one one line. Yeah. Yeah. [clears throat]

Perfect. Can you remind us what the term bond is that? a 10 year bond. 25 right now. 25 bond. Yep. What it's what it's figured out to be right now is 25. And um you must have an amortization schedule already to come up with a piece. I do. Something you could share. I mean, I know it's meeting, but it would be great if we could see that. Yep. I can do that. I'm going to be putting that all on the website this week, but I will I will come down. Thank you very much.

Just a good question. Meeting is usually the first and third Mondays, correct? But I know there's a ton of other meetings this month. Is that the reason that the next one is on the 26th? Yeah, the the 19th is a holiday. Oh, that would be the 30.

Yeah. No, [laughter] um I noticed um you just gave an update on the library. Thank you. Uh but you breezed over the safety building uh committee. Uh, is there any updates that we're going to talk about because it's on the agenda? Yeah, there's no updates. We just have it on there in case we have something. Okay. So, this is there going to be a warrant this year

for the property? No. From what I understand, there's like two in contention. Is is that a dead end? Um, we're not particularly dead yet, but we were just waiting to figure out which would be the best. The we have can't say very much about something that's pending in an open session. Okay. Um,

well, if you're close, I mean, why aren't you apparently you can't make it happen in two weeks to get it on this year's warrant? So, we're going to have to go another year. They still have time to put it on the warrant if if something comes to to light with the board.

Okay. Okay. So, as [clears throat] a citizen, not sure who's on the committee, but I would urge the four of you that are probably on the committee, I don't even know who's on here, um, to come up with something soon to move forward. It It seems to be at a stalemate. And if there's two properties in contention, work a deal. And I don't know who's in charge of that. Maybe there's too many cooks in the kitchen, but I I don't don't know. I don't understand.

What is a safety building? Okay. [clears throat] It It's a It's a public safety complex combining between the uh police station with the fire station, which both agencies have outgrown their current inhabitations. I'm more worried about how much it's going to make the taxes go up cuz you all are killing us right now with the taxes. You guys been sat thinking about that cuz you're going to have a problem. Library, fire station, police station.

I got a good idea. Let's take the kids from the school 72 Kingston. take the school, make it into a fire station, police station, and a library. That would solve a big problem. Again, we would have to build any new buildings. Just have to find out what to do with this building here. We got to do something because we can't keep doing it doing there's not going to be any elderly people here because they can't afford it anymore. This is really important. I I I hear you. Like I think I mean we're all town taxpayers as well, so we know what that is. Um I think the town's done a good job of managing the costs where they can, but everything in life is getting more expensive and that means that it costs more to run the town too, right? Ah, that's why I'm saying, you know, let's let's start combining the things. I know you got to do work, but you know, we're paying what almost $40,000 a kid to go to school. The taxpayers are that's ridiculous. That's Michael. That's a private school right there.

Oh, 35. Still, it's a private school. I mean the other towns that are around us having the same problems. It's it's not just us, right? It's it can't be false. It's these kids. The population is killing less and less children and we're we're in this epidemic right now of you know capital costs that are in that school alone is 75 years old. It's going to need a boiler. So it's say half a million dollars. I mean we're at some point it's doesn't make any sense anymore like students and and dropping. Yeah. The more you guys make the taxes go up, the less people less young people can afford to move and the old people can't afford it. So, we need to start figuring out how to consolidate things so we're not wasting money, I guess.

Okay. I mean, as we've said before, this board is not the school board. Um, so school board budgets are not for them, but we as a board can can speak to here. Um, there are board, you know, hearings coming up for the school board and their budgets and all of those which are appropriate places to have I think those conversations. Definitely we understand that and we've come late to the conversation about the schools. So we certainly don't pretend that we have answers to what it's a very complicated issue. But I do think the selectman have an important role to play in weighing all the war articles and all the options and colors have because there are tradeoffs and their taxes are are you know fairly high and it's a pretty affluent town overall especially if you have a lot of town but at some point if you add all the everything on the if you found it affordable and there's no there's no benefit to having a perfect little school if the kids who grow up in the town and go to school in this area can't afford to ever live here, whether they're renting or renting. And I think having realistic assessments and a transparent discussion with the numbers available ahead of time. I sent my list of questions to Kathleen shortly after our last meeting. Um, and I try to keep the list as succinct and relevant as possible. But people need to have the information so that we can have an informed conversation as a town. And I'm encouraging everyone I know to to step up and be present to really understand the issues so that we can be supportive of you guys and the school board in, you know, making our vision count and also being as realistic as possible. Um because I think that we as a society we don't care. I mean all across this country sort of yes I want this yes I want that and I want the other and we can't afford to have everything we want

but we can afford to have we can afford to have most anything we want but we have to decide as a as a town and the slack men are are going to be closer to the numbers on all these clients and the more transparency you guys can provide on everything the better we'll all feel about whatever decision you know it's not

the other thing I would board two is that you don't endorse you know in the past you would the board uh select that endorse this and do that I suggest at this time we don't do that because there time fingers a lot of people come to the menu you have a lot of the information a lot of people don't come to public meetings in the top it's not and but I think sometimes the way to be you say yes we lose this you know library or story whatever not it's relative to you but I think weighs unfairly and I think you should take a different position and moving forward especially as these costs have realized in unsustainable ways so just pass it on consider it I mean what are you looking at for these buildings that you want to build how much is it going to We haven't even gotten that far yet.

We haven't. Yeah. No. And then then this is right at the town either. No, we would stay out of the town. The town offices would stay here. [clears throat]

I'm just trying to think of different ways to do stuff. you know, 140 kids. That's a lot of money to pay for these kids to go to school. And school, we definitely need school. No doubt. But we consolidate two schools together and do something different. You know, cuz the gymnasium would be perfect for the fire department over there. I know that the fire [clears throat] chief would agree. No, but I think

she might. I think no, but I think I think being creative and open to ideas is going to be the key to coming up with a solution that everybody can afford and agree with. Well, not everybody can agree, but a solution that everybody can afford.

Oh, by the way, who owns the school building? Is that the school district? Yeah. of the town. The discipline still in 198 comes back if someone say to the other agenda, I guess.

Um, yeah, that's it. Uh we have the library bond public hearing at 6 o'clock on the 12th um budget public hearing and warrant article on Wednesday. And then the 26 will be the warrant and regular meeting of the board. And now we're going to add in the games at at 9.

Yeah. 6:30. Yeah. Did we also need to talk about the the deliberative session? I think we emailed it earlier today.

Yep. That would be great. Thank you. Um I have in my calendar and I didn't go until second, but I think that the SAU delivered a session is that day or for the things that I pulled up which space-wise isn't an issue where people want to attend both. So, we're talking about possibly separating the town school deliberative sessions this year due to the subject matter um in both areas. They're not there until midnight again. Um so, the thought is to have the Kensington Elementary School on Tuesday and then the town on Wednesday. This just came up today. Um but Sarah's not sure. I'm going to look down about the cooperatives public hearing. It would be CNF middle school.

I think so. I you know shortened into my calendar exop. So yeah, [clears throat] I budget ER would be affected regional operative. Yep. February 4th 6:30 to 8:30. All right. So, what do you think? [laughter] 27.

[laughter]

Thank you. birth. I just wanted That's okay. delivery session.

No, sure.

Yeah. Mhm. [laughter]

Instead of what people usually know about 6:30. 6:30. Yeah. Are you thinking people aren't going to like it separately?

Just making the point that people Start by prescribing the worst. He's not coming back to

Okay. Yeah. All right. Yeah. We're taking Thursday. Sorry, but it'll give me time to get in touch with Sarah.

Okay, that's the moderator's English. Perfect. And that's payroll and bills. So, I had a couple bills come in a little bit um later today. So this payroll and then these are bills that need to be signed individually. There's three of them. You don't mind those. I put a little statement. Okay, that's

the other thing that we have going on is the Hatch communication plan meeting. is going to be doing night online for department head and they're still looking for pictures. I don't know if anybody's gotten around pictures yet. Yeah, Scott pictures of like hazards that have been in the town or she's looking for something to add to the hazard mitigation plan. So down trees, I sent her a couple of those when the trees were across the roads. Um

water on the side of the road wash down the culvers and in the rocks and stuff just just to show so that she can put them through all the plan because it's these hazards. Um so she thought photos will be not

great. Perfect. Thank you. And then those three bills conduct these two packets. One is a 2025 bill, the other is 2026. So this is the last bund of bills that's going to go in towards the 2025 budget. Okay. This is the only meeting we can do back and then the rest go on 2026. I don't want you want that.

Yeah. Separate. [clears throat] So waste management sent that just says it will not be it was sealed by the If you have any questions after looking through these um bids, just let me know. Um I think all the contact information is on there. You can always reach out individually if you want um to either one of the contractors that submitted the bids if you got questions or if you can send them to me. spent a lot of time. So

I know I wasn't there.

Right. Right. When we went to the automated Yeah. in the parks. So he would do the same thing. Um, but instead of making sure that everything is included in that, um, because Pel was very careful to put all of their pasta to say that they were, but I just want to be sure. Right.

Okay. So 8th at 9:00 a.m. And did you read the December 1st in 50 minutes? Are you guys okay to approve those? I don't know. December is like [laughter] we can wait if you want. Yeah, go Thursday. Then I can make sure I read them. Yep. Perfect. That's it. Unless John second.

Thank you.