Board of Selectmen - Regular Meeting

America welcome everyone we will start with public comments. about the community and this is we have seniors graduating. Becky Smith, this is we're here because we have senior senior graduating this year and we have been to class with the now traditional hanging of the Kington senior banners. So, we just wanted um to inform you guys that we'll have 18 banners this year. Um we are hoping to be installed the first week for two weeks or second week first week in May, which would be May 4th through the 15th. Um once again, uh video has graciously volunteered to paint them for us. And again, just wanted to um thanks any other information that you need from us. That's all we need.

We did last year, but I think they had consolidated put them up so Yeah, I'm not sure. They just have souls. So you can get get a contact that emails with you.

Oh, I don't know. Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I feel is it moving? So last week I was the last meeting I was here and my opening statement was I don't trust you. I gave a reason why I don't trust the select board. When I opened the meeting last week, which I thought was pretty decent, by the way, I was actually disturbed. We opened the meeting. We gave 100k to the conservation, rightfully so. No problem with that. Then we gave a car that we don't need to the police department. Then we spoke about $352,000 worth of special warrant money that I have a real problem with. But in the interim, 12 people went into tax leans. We did nothing. We just roughed the evidence and said fine. Doesn't it disturb you as select people that 12 families in this town are now in tax when we are wasting money. So that's why contribution so far for tonight. Sir, uh I'm just going to start off by saying cuz last meeting was our my first meeting in the Lord. So I'm going to start off by saying that we're volunteers and there's a level of respect that that we should be given just as I have given to everybody in this audience and the way you spoke to the board last time was absolutely inappropriate. No, not I stand by at least appropriate. You can go to the podium, sir, if you'd like to be. If you'd like

to speak, you go to the podium so we can all be heard. And this could be recorded cuz that was one of your comments. The the folks in this town have not given the board 5 seconds to settle in and we're being treated like trash. Sir, I haven't given 5 seconds to show my you sir. Sir, you were really serious about that. I came from a baseball practice. So yes, before I ran for this board, I told everybody that I've got multiple commitments and as long as the board can work around my schedule, which is also of my three sons, my wife right now to be here for this town. You can smirk, you can smile, sir.

You can smirk and you can smile.

You can smirk and you can smile, sir. I have been given no chance to settle into a role that I'm taking more seriously than you know. Sir, give me a chance to speak because I've given you your chance to speak. We're all adults here. For starters, you can begin to act like one and we're all here too. There is a level of respect that everyone should be given. In this world in total, my personal opinion, Tom Aliban, no poor piece of his board, the world is going to a level where everybody is willing to disrespect others without any comprehension. I've got three boys that I'm trying to show them what it really means to be a part of a contributing society, which is why I stepped up. If you were dis if you were bothered, sir, because I had a hat on and I I I wasn't dressed appropriately. Sir, I just came from a a company that that went public the $50 billion and my CEO went and had for his meeting. So So I think we're in a world where where I'm being treated because of because of the way I'm dressed. It should be it should be judged because of the way I treat my my my role on this board. I I also have three kids in this town, right? And I want them to stay in this town, but I tell you what, the affordability is not going to be here. So get back on point and talk about fiscal responsibility. Well, am I self-s served like you're you're you're obvious statements today. We're we're all opinion based. As the chief stated in the last one, we took the money for the the cruisers that the chief I think went above and beyond showing why they were necessary. And said, "Come on, if you're not if we're not going to have said, sir, I will go." Oh, we

he said you don't need six cars. I thought you said do you need any kisses? I'm sorry. I assured what you just said because we are so dang damn far away.

Okay. So, so the it I don't know if you're aware, ma'am, if you were here last week for the entire night, the the pool of money that the the the cruisers are coming from is something that is specifically there for a revolving cruiser fund which comes from our officers doing details and that money is specifically set aside for some specific purposes and the chief is pulling from an appropriate place that has no tax. That's six tasks. You don't need them. You don't go down there. That's not going to serve. That's what people say to them. Three of them are in the shop or somebody's out on detail and somebody needs to respond to your notes. So I I wasted on that piece. All I wanted to say, sir, you haven't given us a chance to settle into a role. The the the the assessment values, let's just jump to that. We're reaching out to Chattars. We're working with that. You haven't given us five sinners. We don't even have a complete board as to why we blew past the 12 people who've been in tax lead.

Do you know what their personal situations are? Do they all live here full-time? Are they all fulltime? That's I only heard what was said here. So maybe you should give us a chance to know the proper information. We blow money on special detail. We blow money on six cars. We blow money on conservation trails. Six families. What will be the difference between what we won't do is react with an announcer. We're going to look into the details. We we're pulling the steps. You're not giving anybody a chance to actually do our job. You just need to lift your game. I told you I don't trust you. You don't describe performance. I will learn. I've got three years to do. Thank you.

There is one more. By the way, um I did ask about job descriptions, but I was told on the website. There's nothing on the website. I haven't put it out. So, where where are the job descriptions for the department heads? I was told they're on the website. I believe we have responsibilities in of each department on the website. I don't know that we have specific job descriptions for their role and I think that's what we refer you to for the role of the board of selectmen more than a job description, but our responsibilities are listed out there.

Very, very loosey goosey. I'd like you to be a minute. We need to review those responsibilities. Sir, could I ask you to go to the court and and could you tell me in detail? No, no, I'm asking you, please. I'd like for you in detail to explain what it is you're looking for so that if it's not there, we can look into to what actions you can take to get there. There was a gentleman who was here at the last meeting who had a an approach to fixing the the website as well. He's working with other local. So, let us know what you're looking for. I'll repeat myself again. I asked at the previous meeting about job descriptions for the department and this web I was told by the the third lady the second lady there forget your name um it was on the website nothing on the website just loosey juicy stuff my problem is there's no accountabilities no transition no responsibilities if you don't have a job description how do you know what you've got to do how can you be held accountable

sir you referring to a job description as if somebody were to be applying for that job what the responsibilities would be. Well, surely surely when you stood for select you said what are my responsibilities and you were handed a list of what you had to do. No, as a matter of fact that was not a problem. That's the problem. No, the problem is No, you know the problem is is out of the number of residents in this town. I see a number of people show up here regularly. But aside from Dewey Watkins and myself, no one else ran for your term. I I don't know why you bring that nonsense into it. We're talking about job descriptions. You apply for a job and there's no job description. Well, you were sorry.

I was because I was willing to take on the task of helping fix this. Why do you know what is your fundamentally responsibility when there's nothing on paper? So I'll read you a little bit about them, right? Because I think there was a something that happened. I successfully run teams. I successfully run budgets. I successfully look into so you can skip past the role of the sled is defined by the state and that's how we know our responsibilities.

What other thing? There's nothing there. If you look the state RSA has described the role of the SLboard in a town and our our responsibility such which includes governance and fiscal responsibility, managing the budget, managing the town departments. Again, this all awkward, but it is I believe pulled up a whole description of the role of select. It's not formatted like a job description that you might apply for, but the roles responsibilities of select very lucid loosely. Can we limit that they need to be reviewed please? I mean, we're viewing that as a state issue. Let's start because let's start with ourselves and the town. Don't throw that state thing at me.

No, but that's what that's what holds us responsible. We are responsible to the state with that stuff. We'll comply with that stuff. Sorry. We'll comply with that stuff. But in the town, we're talking about ourselves in the town here.

Can I make a point from Colorado did it? Would it be possible just to uh on the website is to refer to the uh RSA that describes the functional dyslexment and put it on there so people know where to look. I think the challenge for everybody is not everyone that reads the RSAs, right? And they don't know where to find things. So the challenge for most people is on your goodwill, you have goodwill. It's just that they don't know where to find the information. And if they can't find the information, they automatically think or go to someone's hiding something. That's not the case. But it would be helpful when people look at something to say this is the responsibility. And then people feel like, oh, okay. But when it's not there, unfortunately, as the gentleman was saying in this world today, we go to the menu. So if you could as a point of order, just reference the RSA and put it in there, that would be fabulous.

Yeah, we I have not looked at that section of the website in a while. We want to take a look and make sure that it's

very difficult. Um, I'm sorry that the meeting opened up in such a terminal passion. Um, and I think you made a very important point that you're just settling into the job. Sarah had a year under her belt, but there's no person on the board who's already served two years and not even a third year. And it does, I'm sure, take time to figure out how to what's required of you, not to mention a changing town conversation. Um, so I would ask my fellow Tom people to be a little bit patient. Um, we sent a letter, the Kensington Citizens Advisory Committee sent a letter with some suggestions um that we think would improve communication. One of which is a very practical um thing which is to change the seating the town hall so it's easier to hear each other and I just want to read and and people can hear each other and they end up shouting and being shouted at. Um, so, uh, I know you said that you guys weren't going to take it up tonight, but I I think that this is a time where we should give this board, um, benefit of the doubt and the board should give the citizens who are trying in good faith to, um, change the nature of the conversation into one that's collaborative and effective given um, the credit, pretty striking results of the election. um change the conversation into one where everybody can feel heard and offer uh concrete and practical suggestions. So I would ask that you take that up as soon as you possibly can and I think um people don't have a shelf anymore.

Um I just I just do want to address just for folks who are wondering the the letter that was sent. So, we did receive a letter from the group that's organizing to um serve in an advisory role. I I ask that we postpone the full conversation because I think it's important to have a full board here for that. Um we also want to make sure that we are looking at the inherent ideas and how to properly interact with an organization, a group that is not elected or appointed. Um it is different than engaging with um someone who's had their name on the ballot or that has been appointed either the moderator or the board of selectmen. So, we want to make sure that we are doing that the right way. And there's been a lot of questions within the community about who the group is and how they're engaging. So, I just want to point that out that that's, you know, they have reached out to us. We're open to conversation. Um, but we do want to make sure that we are approaching it appropriately and so for uh the next meeting, I have a couple other concerns. Um, one of them you guys are going to put snow slots on this building. Is that right? just stop this building from falling off.

There was discussion about it after receiving the solar panels and snow that make a slide out of this. I think the subsequently enter the committee in post was that maybe one row of them needed uh something, but I'm not sure if we've made a decision. I don't I haven't heard about a decision that's been made on that yet. I don't know.

Okay. Well, my concern is is that you're creating ice dams and if I remember right, there was an IC stand in the building 3 or 4 months ago. Um, and if you're going to put those stops on, whoever's putting them on, I hope you're going to responsible for the damage or something cuz we're not going to get a new building. We can't afford it. People don't mind and you guys aren't listening. It was about 3 months ago that told you guys that we did want to do this and you're still spending money like it grows on trees. A new cockpit right now. Really? How much is the clock? I don't have a price right now.

Let's Let's get the price so we can all know how much. Thank you. That was also within the the default budget for pulling for money that was already approved by voters. the money was already approved by voters because it it is that we had a line item in the budget for and we didn't need any of the money that was left over. I mean any of that $2 million that we have sitting in the bank, we didn't use any of that or the for the clock. Some of it was pulled from the revolver, right? Okay. Now, as far as the people that are suffering, we should take that money and give it to them if they need it. That's how I feel. Thank you,

Andrea. School. Thank you. And I I'm excited for, you know, you guys to settle in in world. I'm excited to have a a new pathway. You know, I drive by this building and I realized that nobody shows up. For a long time on Mondays, Monday nights, I drive by even myself. I wondered why I stopped coming. And I stopped coming because I believe when you come here, the hardest part is no one hears you. And that's not going to be you. I know that's not going to be you, but I mean that sincerely. For a long time, our civic duty, the New Hampshire Constitution requires us to do this. Our 18 38 and 32 require us. This is our job exact oversight and we stopped coming and then and you watch what happened for a long time and now you have this vote that is profound. I mean we have a school budget that didn't pass, a teachers contract that didn't pass and a town budget that didn't pass. That was profound. And if you if people were so angry, you would think they would have been showing up here, but I but every time I went by, nobody showed up. So there's there's a problem for people and I think we can help change it. And I think even the simple step that we talked about is is you know facing the public. It's a simple step right but it is the beginning of saying to somebody instead of just listening and hearing you. And I think if people are reacting heard then they'll feel more confident. More people will come here and I think the the interaction will be more positive. We're we're, you know, we're coming from a place that wasn't this way. I'm willing and open to help both and helpful to to do whatever

I can to make your, you know, your your space successful. So, thank you. I agree with you. I would love to have more people come to the meetings. I think especially as I hear people complain about lack of transparency or decisions that they think were made without input. They were made in this room on a Monday night conversation had there just weren't people here that knew about it. Um and I think that could be beneficial.

One of the one of the challenges is knowing what's on the agenda. Time know you have a website. I've been to your website many times. Very challenging for a lot of people to find information. So I'm saying that maybe there's another way but um I think the real positive part is that you know now moving forward if if you know little changes are facing the people showing that you want to be and the past is the past I think we can move forward so I'm excited. Thank you. you just want right I'm I am stepping into this this is some of this is newer to me because I'm I'm becoming um the RSA defining the roles of the selectman and having some reference to that on the site if that's not on there I think that's a great one you know I will say the agenda and and the minutes could not be more identifiable on the website I mean that's if you click on the homepage it is right there agenda and minutes so I I do just want to say anyone who needs help finding that, you know, like reach out to reach out to me personally. TV select kensington.gov. If you need me to go walk you through how to find an agenda on your website, I'll do it over the phone with you. But but that you have to just say it's like it could not be more because one of the suggestions from the the the new committee was to I think polish the agenda and and send it out which if we're worried about costs that's an additional cost to the town is absolutely unnecessary. And I think if we were to suddenly do that and say there's a new minor on the budget for mailing the agenda in today's society, we'd all have a ton of people yelling at us just as equally as we are tonight for making that decision. I mean, so I just want to disagree with post. There are ways you're not municipal posting. You could do postcard. I'm not there. There's other ways to say 90% of the

folks in this town within the church. But but I think that once once again I think this next you know make being heard and listening. Listening is one thing I've become many times before not this and have spoken and no one has spoken back to me and I just left because it wasn't that even though you know back and forth may not be constructive sometimes right but at least people feel heard and not just listen to and then you know they go home. Um, and that's where I think this this transition has happened in the in the town where people finally said they've got enough not with you but with the way it's going and I think small changes if you can do that thing you know just spacing and people feeling more comfortable I think it will go a long way. Thank you.

Just want to follow up on the agenda issue for clarity. Um yes, of course the agenda is posted on the website, but the agenda is about as high level as you could possibly do while still combining the agenda. Um I was here at the meeting on January 5th when the trash was discussed and uh the um police chief's request for a heat seeeking drone was discussed. Um all that was said on the police item was the police department reporting and that's a pretty vague um in my opinion issue on that um drone option but nobody would have known that that's what was going to be discussed that day. So in order to have an effective agenda it needs to outline the issues that are going to be discussed in some level of detail that people can decide whether it's worth their time to participate in the discussion. And they also need to see relevant documents pertinent to the discussion. things like how much the voice scooter costs. Are we leasing it? Are we buying it? The library functions are going to be advised by 10. These are material facts that alter the budget profile that's going to result from these decisions. And members of the town have a right to know ahead of time what's on the table. No one is suggesting mailing the agenda or the minutes. We're suggesting posting on the website and adding it to the system of alerts that currently go out for other important things. But that agenda would be much more detailed and would come with linked attachments to all the permanent documents that pertain to that whatever the matter is under discussion. Um you can get a notification for the agenda. Um there's a function right now on the website if you go to like where the board of site meeting uh agenda and minutes are. It's kind of small on that page in particular, but there's a little thing that says notify me and there's also a big button at the bottom of the page and you can sign up for alerts for anything that's happening in town. So, you can get notified when that uh agenda

is posted. Yeah, I I am familiar with that function. But again, unless the agenda is sufficiently detailed that people understand what's coming up for discussion and they have the relevant information to participate effectively in the discussion, um there's not much point in uh looking at the agenda ahead of time. It doesn't tell you anything. But I think if we had a media agenda and attached documents and people were made aware that the notified function can be utilized in that direction, that would be a nice plus. Go ahead and we'll come back to that discussion when we have the opportunity to approve.

Hi Martell with Hel Road. Um I don't know if you're all familiar with the U 14 road property in Kensington. Are you okay? Well, recently I I think just for sale to back to the matter is that's not the point. The point is this property is 140 acres. This is how it started. A rare opportunity in Kensington, New Hampshire where privacy space and possibility deep. Rolling pastures would free serene ponds and mature archers creating a set a stunning backdrop for a private retreat. A working farm for tremendous family estate. 5,000 square foot post and beam guest garage and sub buildings provide a ready foundation while paved roads and underground utilities make the property equilibly accessible. 995 blah blah blah. Okay. Guess what that was? Just under $2 million. 1.992718. That's that was disheartening. I I my my heart was like, "Wow, you kidding me?" And they've been getting away with this for many years, maybe six. The point I'm making is maybe we can make a little committee to go over properties that are missed in Kensington or maybe this is I mean this is 140 acres with health buildings and underground utilities. It was only assessed that I'm sorry, my house and my barn. I've been doing that and it's 26 acres and it's just a barn, a house, a lot of building, you know. So, my point is this. We're looking to get money. We're looking to save money. So, let's try and find resources to to get the money that we're entitled to. We can't go back now and and get money from this. There's no way we can go back. They can reassess it, of course, but that's a future thing. But we might be

missing out on opportunities that we don't know about. So my suggestion is to create some kind of little committee to go over all the tax maps and compare them with the assessed values and maybe we can find some money. And that's just my idea. Thanks. Um at a previous meeting, you know, I think it was my first that um was meeting. So this is number two for me. Um, I specifically brought that up because when we were looking at home sales in Kensington versus assessed values, it it immediately jumped out to me in time or whatever that there was, you know, the shards. Now, we have reached out to Avatar who handles that. We did already get a response back that I would say at a high level could could explain some situations. The one you're referring to couldn't agree more. As soon as you I didn't know the address. As soon as you mentioned it, it it's something that my my son actually showed me because he's like, "Look at this place." The exact same thing.

So, absolutely. This is here's what I hope I'm going to die is is the the assessment values in this town versus actual values. and let's make sure they're they're fair owner because I think we've got some folks in overvalued homes on the assessment paying significant giving more because they live in a town that kind of just gets summed up and I'm I'm speaking on my my this is my personal opinion on this

but then you've also got significant discrepancies where someone's got I believe that's an 89 million property that probably going to sell if I have to guess it probably go over it'll probably end up selling for So that's that's to me absolutely and this is something that that again I'm just settling in but there's already emails back and forth and something that we're starting to explore but thank you for bringing that specific one up to our attention. Thanks for listening.

Hi Vince I just want to bring to your attention I understand that you're new. I understand that you need to settle in. I get that we all understand that. But you are inheriting some really frustrated citizens of this town who's watched the town budget in the last few years go up by $1 billion. What have we gotten? What have we gotten for a million dollars besides higher taxes? It's nothing uninflammatory.

Yeah, we got we got all of these clues. Do you know, and I'm really curious about this because I'm not anti- police at all. My eldest son is a police detective, so definitely not anti- police. We asked him if everybody on his police force has their own vehicle. He's like, I don't. What? He said, "No." You get off, you hand the keys to the next guy, they take the car, and boom, they have to say, "Because Kensington is a champagne little town, all our little police officers have to have their own vehicle." That's what it was said last week. What in the world? Like, that's a very easy fix. Very easy fix. And that's a lot of money that we could be saving right there. So, it's these kinds of things, this transparency that needs there are so many things that could be cut. We don't need to spend $100,000 on some person coming into our town to assess where we could be building a new safety center. We're not cutting a new safety center. For God's sake, we're counting the budget. We are saving money. We're not spending money on this new pretend fire station and police. No. So like and and I know it's very hush hush. You're not supposed to know about it. 100 grand. That's atrocious. You wouldn't do that in your own budget, would you? I I'm not sure even what you're you're referencing. There is there has been many years of conversation about building a new public safety complex, but I don't know what this brand is that

you're referenc um company that came in and assessed where it would be best in this town. They went around and say, "Oh, this area or this area, this plot, that plot." We don't we're not number one, we're not there. And number two, like no, for a second to hear your opinion on on number one wanting a public safety building, but there are a lot of issues that we do have with both the fire station and police uh station here in terms of space and capacity. So, it is a conversation that's happening and it's one that the town will absolutely have opportunities to weigh in on. Um, but I just want to be cautious that we're not spreading, you know, information, but there's only being spent right now. No, it's not already. It's in the past. We're not having but you guys please also remember we have 719 households right? Is that how many households that we have in Kensington?

So we're a little town. We're a little town. You don't need all these grandiose ideas. She related with developing the year was and I just I want to clarify the budget has not gone up by a million dollars in the last few years and and we didn't hold the actual number of people on but I just I feel like there was I know it has gone up but it's not gone million dollars in a few years 1.8 to 2.8 You know, this last one that was on the ballot was they we didn't allow it to go through, but it only came down by a couple hundred,000. So, we didn't allow it, but it's very very close to a million. We're going to I looked at it recently. I I want to say it's over maybe 10 years that

I know what my taxes were. I think it's about five years. Five years. I know what my taxes were when we moved in here and they they've gone up three times.

Triple y tripled from 5,000 to about 15,000. would you suggest because we don't have the numbers in front of us at this time that that that we take this no we take this action item as a followup to actually at a following meeting go over what the town's budget actually looks like. So one we're we're all on the same page we just add remember that I I I'm one of those residents that you said you know we I inherited my own my own self that that was just equally as upset. So, just please don't forget that that we are we're residents of this town, too.

Yeah, I'm sure you guys don't want your taxes going up, but it's if there's money for Kensington to spend, Kensington goes, "Oh, yes, that's spend money." No, we could use the utilize the word no or not spend any money. Yep. Just a recommendation. Do you think maybe it's we could go to zerobased budgeting? Um, at least what happens is right now unfunded balances for a lot of people. I think that's where the constonation is because it doesn't show up or people don't know that it was taxed money that was already taxed and had been put into a budget and not used. Uh, and for for a lot of people, they don't see that when they look at the unfunded. They don't know where to look at what it means. Would it be possible to consider in the future moving toward a zerobased budgeting process where people can see at the end of every year what happens in the following year? Maybe they just think about it. Um it might be something that would be helpful to everybody and helpful to you because then there's no none of these u you know catches have we found something um you could consider Good.

I'll move on to um department heads updates. So start uh J uh again start off with this the 2027 grant application that we applied for grant for next year 2017 office of highway safety. Um this is the grant we receive every year uh for $13,300 in terms of patrols that we put out for uh speed patrols, UI, extracted drivers as well asization which are extracted drivers that the state uh replied for the state public. Um,

so we have an amended we spoke about it and we go to the next phase, you know, again start they don't start until November actually November of this year they will start. Okay. So this is just an FYI approval to keep going forward with it. I think it's a conference. I just need you to approve that go forward with it and you accept that motion. I will make a motion to approve the police chief and team going after the grant of,300 for the 2027 grants.

Elementary is one of the bus routes which they take in the kids can ride their bikes to school. Uh we're going to assign two police officers uh to patrol behind them as they're riding. They're going to meet at the uh self work. They're going to meet the country book for the first one and the young park and then we're just going to follow them in traffic to the school. Um there six days uh every Tuesday, Saturday. So we're going to start doing um on April 4th this year, our one of our police officers on the search team. The search team is SOS emergency response team. In other words, it's called SWAT. Okay. They responded he responded over to Raven or individ um so he was tied up over there at one point most of the day and then few hours later he was activated again. So been uh busy with the SWAT teams mental health stuff. Last week alone, we took 12 calls for services for domestic uh related incidents and mental health related incidents. Super busy week out. We also took in two active juvenile sex assault influence. So through DCI again was ties up the officers were doing those investigated. We gave arrest to individuals for the burglary that happened at the old country book. They were taken into custody last week. took about three months for the investigation building.

The other thing is we have some major problems for phones in the internet last few weeks. I don't know if we want to discuss that now or not but um we we use right now which is terrible system. We don't even know when the phones are down. Doesn't tell us. We're still going to rock for the calls. their phones out of working on the Cath, you know, may contact another individual working, you know, phone systems or um, you know, Catholics. I'm not going to say anything that she didn't know. I think it's cheap.

Um, yeah, we moved into telephone company. They work with um I guess it's fiber. Yeah, fiber. Uh they came in for a meeting with the department heads that were able to make it and gave us the full milk. Um it was more than what we needed in a whole like 100.

Yeah. We we can't even our hand. So we have to get it once. So that's going to be the less of the cost. The monthly came to 87978 for the fire, police, town hall. Um yeah, fire police and town hall. Right now we're paying over about 1,800 for um cast and pumps. Uh the reason that we had to switch the biping last year, the police department lines went down uh which they can't have and so we put out a bed to see who was around to do things and we had to get it done fast. So Comcast came back to us with a very reasonable deal saying that they would save us money and that our bills were going to get consolidated. That didn't happen. um they doubled our bills instead of consolidating them. So, we're looking into trying to fix the situation and instead of getting an internet bill and a phone bill, um this company will handle a little bit the internet phone. Um it'll work with our servers. Uh they provide loans if we do a five-year contract with them. Um, we still have more information to come back from them. So, they're going to they gave us a bulk like a bulk list. So, they're going to take and break out each department and then give us the price for each department so we can better compare alphabet instead of just getting this whole and so that we can look through it and make sure that we're going to have what we need. We need certain lines for the

elevator. certain lines for our servers. Um the PD needs to keep a bag fire.

Yeah. Depending on the cost. Yeah, we've had home health before um that have gone further um than they should have. And unfortunately, the ability to be able to record the phone calls is something that we're going to have to look into. Well, we have it now.

And so, this would use or consolidated. Is it the standard company now? Yeah. Okay. I know that there was other options there in line actually for computer systems. Um I'm not sure if the town clerk will be able to do that because I was talking to her today. uh she's on a VPN with the state during her interactions and to have to make a phone call she had to go to a different screen and sometimes that messes up the whole situation that she got with the state. So I'm not sure how I mean to is this the only this is all we have right now there actually came in when we were discussing it so we actually just we're just losing randomly for hours at a time. Comcast has a problem in the area. They had a problem for weeks and

yeah,

you know, they have a private contractor that comes in and does all these boosters and I was out of them the other day and the booster goes backwards, you know, so things like that. Who knows how many, you know, issues with these contract. But, you know, come cast and get here the service. So, great. We do the legal not something here. And some might have potential to get extra state money.

Yes. Yes. This company would actually help with the service of the phone like a quick spot. So it's it's very hard to get a hold of them to walk out. We first put the phones in. It was trying to figure out how we all worked and it went to um and it took us a little bit to figure that all out. But we're trying to Yeah, I think it's probably worth also, you know, just looking at a couple other options as well for a cost comparison. Um, the first thing that stood out to what I said this afternoon came through the step cost, right?

Um, so I don't know if that if there's options for us to say all that's in place, but I think we can get a lot of um price points. Yeah. But it looks like either way we can save money. previous caucus. We were private company that you know in that person was located in the center of the state here and you know we had they did the addition of the building was obsolet

right and the the cost of the phones and the adapter and the line and then run the other thing is it's pricey. It's at 9,200. Um if you do sign a 5year contract, they said that they would give us a better price on some of the lines as well as travel for a 5year contract. This does come for you. Okay. Do you know any other talents that you sell in your fields? Yeah. Um she she loved it. Um but we would also get to other

Yeah. If we could just potentially see what other options are out there, right? I'm a big fan of letting them know getting a quote from somebody else and make sure they they they're giving them the best, right? Yeah. Our upstairs keeps going off too. with their moms three at least three or four times a week. We had it going. We set the whole thing in there and they said there's nothing wrong with it. They can't find out what's right. Yeah. Yeah. So every time it broke down the internet switch from video. Yeah.

Great. Okay. So, I don't know. It's probably similar, but it sounds like we need to fix our problem. Like consolidated sold recently with those for years at King James five times in the last 10 12 years cuz they keep going back. So, I've been very, you know, cautious with the consolidating right now to see what happens. We'll keep looking for a couple more folks maybe. Yeah.

Thank you.

Uh so on the Sunday the 12th um we sent out to street and myself to handle balls for their um reported brush fight. for them. We've been there for about 4 hours. We've done about approximately eight calls for service since then. Um a little busy for us, but not not over. Um and I am still uh getting on the ice damn roof repair for a flight station. We got one going back and waiting for two years to come back so I can present to you guys. And um that's it for fire. Um for EOC, the only thing I have is that the bill is coming up in June the 3rd. That's the morning till from like 8 a.m. till 9:00 p.m.

And you need the the board president. Uh just one board representative that wants to play the role. So I could do that if needed. Um is it June 3rd? Yes, June. I hope that's the last thing. You can potentially make sure one of us

Yeah. come up and then you wait for the seat belt and do a little Yeah. All right. Sounds great. That's all I do.

Uh the road department is transitioning from winter to summer maintenance. Uh now that the props is out of the ground, uh turning attention to posal repair townwide. Uh also now that the ash ball plants have opened, I'll be putting together a scope of work um to put to put road constru reconstruction out to bid for the summer summer 2026. So stay tuned for that. How we end up doing on on salt budget um with all the storms this year?

The the salt and sand we we're um I we're all right in that department, but the the actual winter maintenance contracts. We're pretty much tapped out. Um I've only got $2,175.31 left for the 20 206 season. So that we may come into a bind coming into the the fall if we do get winter if if we do get winter weather, you know, prior to the fiscal time of the year. So, but I I have a lot of line items I can I can pull from. We'll just have to, you know, be mindful of that moving forward in the in the year. Do we have any uh committee representatives here? No.

All right. Then um moving on to assist then. Um so everybody talk a little bit about the fire.

Yes. Um, and we have a setting for uh alternate appointments for your collegate, But now that I'm hearing it, um I had at our last meeting got to meet him. Seems like a great guy. Um he seems like he will be very much uh fit with the board and do great things. I did want if possible to push an actual vote if possible just until we have a chance to meet again with him. And the reason for that is strictly because at the last meeting we had a very short board 93 members. I would really like if you know a full board had a chance to meet this man first. It's up to you. And again, I don't see any issues coming up from this, but if possible, uh, and I've talked about this with Peter, if possible, we would I personally prefer if we just pushed off actual confirming until the rest of the mortgage needed. But again, it's I don't necessarily have problem if you want to if you want to get this done, he's going to be great. So, it's entirely up to you.

I mean, I there's no conflict for us to push it off or anything. It's easy enough agenda. um whether that's in two weeks or with him we all meet again whenever you want to start. Perfect. Yeah, I I don't want to meet again so I don't think we have application for this coming month. Um but after that I'll talk to Peter and Kathy and we'll get you on this uh agenda. Perfect.

Thank you. Yes. So veterans credit for map 12 lap 31-2. Yeah. Um, I make a motion to approve the reference credit for 12. Second This application actually is for disabled too. So with the new law they must be able to have disabled and the veterans credit. So just get the disabled credit. Thank you. Yes, there is that. Okay. Um, I did talk to Jim and she has a lot

of the 35gallon um parts, but he said he doesn't have many 95 left. So, he suggested possibly going with a 65 because I've talked to a few of the people that have come in to request them and they had had 95 and 65s um previously. So I think a 35 is just not going to be enough. 65 65 all four of these. Yeah.

Yeah. Some have eight, some have Five tomorrow. Okay. Do we have any more information on this? I didn't include count. Um she was the one that had both table and information. Yeah. backgrounds.

Yeah.

Yeah. Just to be to be fair information.

Yeah. sense the name. Okay. And then you do a motion to make it. Um I would just call. Okay.

Perfect. This is the W2 the speed on charges for ribbon. Can you can you speak to the other hand prior to that? It was just very hard to do. They have no idea. So apologies and and so we'll we'll try to do better speaking into the microphone. um the sorry

or face. So the challenge we're facing up is when we pull stuff up there then we can't see it. So that is part of why we're set up this way and a lot of the stuff that we're going over too is just kind of regular board business. Uh we sign on some veteran credits. Um we signed up on we're looking at a couple folks who were requesting additional trash barrels that they had to say how many people lived in their homes and things like that. So sometimes we are kind of mumbling the wood. We're not sharing everybody's home address on some of these things even just for their own privacy purposes. So it is just a little bit of a a business meeting debate more so than it is uh here's information for everybody to wait.

Yeah. So we were you know request because I I didn't know you were talking about trashing. We were discussing some specific requests that came in from a couple of residents in town. Right. Regarding of getting additional.

That's interesting to me because you know what? My trash cards are overflowing. I'm like, what in the world? Like literally, it's only Monday and I need another part, too. So, I would I'm interested in that discussion. Yep. So, we have and I don't have a number of this is something that was put in place with the last trash pickup tax company in terms of if you have more than a certain number of household residents, then there is an opportunity that you can request an additional card. That information is on the website. I don't have it in what the numbers are and when that is. Um and I do know that the folks that are requesting this is you know eight people in their house. That's very different than a two two person four person. Right. Correct. Mhm. Okay.

But was speaking to everybody right now because there's one person who requested it and they did not include the number in their housing. So I'm a believer, you know, you do it for one, you do it for all everybody else included in. So Kathy's trying to reach out to them to find out the number of people in the house just so we have a little more clarification before we make a motion to approve.

Right. And in the meantime, in the meantime, we're just we don't I've I'm just starting to look at the the next piece on the agenda, which is the land use change tax street. So, I'm just saying that you guys know what the dead value. So, we're right right here on the top of the page, right below three additional carpet. was looking at the mold bridge.

Y what do we need to what do we need to do with this? That's the issue. Um, so Chad had written another letter to the board that I have right here. Somebody sent this today. Yes. And there's no statutory authority for the board to change an assessment um when it's uh a land use change. Mhm.

So when he suggested going through the motions, he he gave his reasoning for why they were assessing they were and it was the cost of the sale. Um, so there is recourse for the owner to go to the ETLA and I will make sure that I get him the form. He fell out of he wants to see that. Um it was that he had the letter to the award and he was involved with his application railway but still saying that's the appropriate value for the property and that's that change tax should be the inp I hadn't gotten a chance when I was going through those emails. The fine was there. Did you know what the original assessment for the two parcels was? What the estimate? Sorry, what the estimate that was given?

Okay. Um, it's included in his paperwork today. It is.

So, one of them was a value that uh 30,000 for the land exchange tax. The estimate he was given was 29,900 or something like I I went to school. Um, but the one he was most concerned about was the seven acre parallel that was valued for land exchange tax of 40,000 and it was valued in the quote at about 30 something. Um, so that was a big difference for him, but it was like we said it's an estimate, you know, given the estimates. It's it's more of a a placeholder because it depends on when Everything happens on the lots. So, and so my understanding was that the the assessment was made before, but the actual change tax is is determined based on assessment at the time of sale, right? Like they make the assessment after that sale is made based on something.

Yeah, they got the they got the quote before the sale was even made. It was because they were trying to figure out what funds. Um there was just cuz I know more about it the person who sold the property agreed to pay the tax change. So that was all part of your agreement. Um you know that liability issue reli it makes sense. Um, personally, as I've said in the email earlier, this has been my opinion writing into the womb on an expert in terms of the assessment of the, you know, and he mentioned multiple RSAs and and you know, for compliance purposes, reasoning why it went the way it went. I I personally have no reason to see why they would be the case. And it's I think it'd be interesting to see the percentage of the difference because just hearing the number in Walmart, it it's not significant. However, for I understand for someone who they're paying that, it could be a significant amount of money, but as a percentage and in a real estate market like we're in, I think that there's there's components that are out of our control. An estimate is exactly that. Okay. Um, if this does go to the BTLA, um, Avatar will defend the balance for you and they will present to the BTLA in place of so they will defend themselves to the court.

Um, we don't need a motion. Um, there's no reaction on the board. Um it was a discussion and I mean just made a statement whether or not we think the values that they are um but a motion there's no action. Yeah, I would stick with the recommendation that I would have that's coming through May. Yeah, maybe. exchange for building. Yes.

So in building blocks um but they changed and did a lot adjustment with the property that was adjacent to that. When they did that, they made the particle smaller, which made it not be able to stay um

Yeah. addressification. So,

no changes to her by doing so like is there a significant impact? adjust the amount they have to and the price will no longer have current use on it. They're already paying the full price without current use because it's this is just the tax. Usually when they do the sales, they know that this is part of it and they'll keep it in escrow. um in real the bank or whatever contour.

I guess a quick question you guys are talking so tax amount is around $70,000 right who better is estimated tax. Yep. Where's that money going? Please don't tell me to conservation.

Yeah, that's not a decision. Thank you.

I'm trying to explain that. That is not a decision that I know you guys can't I know it's just on you guys. Motion to issue the land exchange 30 to remove 6.62 62 no longer qualify because not enough ac was there discussion whether or not to assess the current use tax or not we don't have that then we just were doing what discussion about we were discussing what the content of it was and then we sign on it but we don't have a decision to make as far like what the assessment value is and where it goes. It's just confirming that that is what they were, you know, put in the report signing that they don't agree with you. So you may I ask you you don't know the value of your property the taxes take a port in time

I do and it it is 4500 so we're talking about $110,000 going to the cost Yeah,

we still have a lot. We still have another lot over at Bolton Bridge. Yeah. I'm not comparing what we had. That's potentially $300,000 with another 30,000. Yeah. So um when it's done about 150,000 will probably go with you. Yeah. Okay.

Okay. Next is going to be like everything else there. I guess a few things come in at the end of the week and are not on the agenda because they came in after. So I have um ideal tax level for um lumber that was taken off of one building and this is the tax that the town gets a portion of that 10%. um of the video of whatever was taken.

I'd like to make a motion to sign the yield tax levy and certification of yield tax assessed for map 3 lot 91 road in the amount $335.77. Second all in favor I And on that same note, I have an intent to cut that was just this morning. Um the board, there's only three or four reasons that the board could deny an intent to cut. Um we don't really have any say over that. It goes to the board. So the forester will go out and check on the lot and um make sure with with all state regulations and all that sets up so that we can get the tax.

So you're that's the intent this we exactly get our 10% cut tax. Exactly. Exactly. I'd like to file a motion to approve the intent to cut for MAT 17 lot 31 intent number 26-239-01-T.

Yeah. that just came in today was uh the declaration or proclamation from the state for the municipal clerk's week and we've done this before for our municipal clerk to just kind of recognize her and everything that she does for the town. Um, it's a we set aside for it just to keep in our office appreciates the hard work she does and things.

But I hope the rest of the town appreciates there as well. Trust us for sure.

Thank you. There is another option that's coming out too for avatar affiliates and BB2.gov. So when you go on the the town website, you can pay a registration online. The town will pass a check with the information you can put on the website and then that's how paid. So Carly and Sarah have been looking into doing this for tax collector and there is an option for them to do the same kind of check um payment options for people with bigger tax. So they would be local and pay their taxes. Avatar asked was asked to do um a third party access application data. um they said it was something that I could sign off on. It's just saying that we're we're going to go into a contract with them. It's there's no money. They don't charge us that. Um EB2 is not going to charge us because we've already got the account done with the word zero. So this is all under current agreement. Um there's no fees to the town. The user fee at the time of the payment is going to be a percentage of like you do with your registrations. Um so they'll be a small um pages to get involved. So go to PB2 after getting um but avatar will update nightly what is due with the interest payment. So there's not going to be the issue of paying out. Um, there's also an option because we were discussing this today in case someone clicked something wrong. You can stop the process before you

actually print the check. So, there's a check that's done by Marlene in the morning. It's going to be done the night before or over the weekend if they've gone on their paying their taxes. She would be able to go on and reconcile everything and then print the checks. and if there any discrepancies before that, she would be able to call her in and and work things out with them that way and figure out how to do it. But more often than not, there's pretty things um Sarah has had some good luck with it. We have had some jobs checked from it. Um quite a few actually because people don't

and they don't necessarily keep that from that. they're just the registration you like um and they'll come in with stress. So we haven't had problems collecting the funds just just um sometimes the account numbers I just caution everyone to be very careful when putting the account numbers in the bank um because it comes back for there will be that convenience fee But um it's an ech so it's not as much as it was to be kind of paying option. Um so it's just trying to help for the for the tax.

Yeah. But there's no additional charge for the town. No, we've already got paid accounts for sold out a car and easy to do because it's just and this is also not the only option personally. So they didn't want to go through this method still is the fee based on transaction or a percentage of is it like a flat fee?

I think I think it's transactional check. I I I don't know. We're still exploring um Sarah because she handles the registrations and stuff and the registration line is um um but I believe it's just the transaction fee the percentage will come in a credit card which we don't

No, it's actually I just wanted you to be aware this is the pay sheet for the director for the summer I didn't need to have somebody you've already made on it signature and then we have bills and funeral Um, we did have something come through from the state about doing the traffic study. I don't know if you guys I know I thought about Did you see it, Jack? I'm not sure if you saw it yet.

Did not. I emailed it to you. Um, they're going to put traffic study um what they East uh 107 East Kingston line 107 line and then 150. It's about temporary traffic. They did ask a couple races coming through town and junior bike races. So, they're going to make sure they're not in place racing country.

Yeah. And that's just information from the public for you guys so that you know that they're going to be out there um with stuff across the road. Be careful on you guys. start because I gave them the dates for the right.

Okay, perfect. Um, and I don't have anything back from Oh y requesting another that question came up when you also do more of the old or more individuals no new kids or at home visited or improved complet and he doesn't have to put a reason for the request. Did you hear that? So there's the the the guidelines are on the form. Um but essentially an occupancy of of a residence of four or more individuals, no no business or business um or unaccurred ADU/ apartments. And then just give the reason for your request. What is the request for? What's the best?

Thank you. So, I'd like to make a motion to allow four additional carts for four Laura Lane, 31 road, 32 Mun Ridge Road, and 22 Mry Road. Second one. Okay. And if you want an update on the HVAC um that's all going very well. Uh do you know been a lot of it? Is going to be doing a lot of it. They they've got a lot of people going in and downstairs. They're going to be finished on Wednesday. Wednesday is going to be the live day. So they will turn it on. There's two air handlers. um one downstairs and one upstairs. The upstairs didn't have the same air as downstairs did before, but now it does. Um there's a capability to keep running all the time. He was running through a bunch of stuff today. Um there was a caution that he did say with doing this kind of system, you don't want to go more than 3° at a time. So it's it's kind of fix it and leave it. just find a temperature that's good for your ground and just complete it. Um, and their their planning to go live on Wednesday. They didn't run into any problems. They were able to keep all the piping and the electricity and everything inside. Uh, there was minimal minimal um disruption to any of the sheetrock. They originally thought we're going to have to take a bath out. They didn't have to do any of that. it'll be able to go up right next to the um the chimney that's downstairs. Um there is a hole in the floor that was draining for the old system that they suggested that we just seal off so that there's no

radon coming up from that system going um because it was you you think you're talking about the um it looks like a valley yet has a pump. No, that's the No, underneath the um underneath the boiler, there was a a big hole in the floor that went live down here like so it could drain into it. I believe so. Okay. Yeah, I love you talking about it because that's the key to keep the water out of the building. No, no, we know that

that's the only thing. Okay, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Because Yes, sir. Because all the walls down there have plastic on it. Anything that comes in comes down into the wall into the drain and then is pumped out. So, so we couldn't seal that.

No, no, thank you for that clarification. Appreciate that. Um, and yeah, other things seems to be going going okay. guys have been great working on everything and um going through your offices there. Um and uh the day comes live on Wednesday. That's when I can find the Lord. So we'll know more about that process and how it goes. I'm all signed up for it. All I'm going to do is put in I signed that most. So they said it took a long time to add um building.

Yeah. Who is the town's electric company? They don't the electrician. No, the electric company like you know unit whoever it is. I want to make sure we got to be the power.

Yeah. Yeah. Um Yeah. Okay. Yeah, we're good. We're good. I just wanted to give you that. So, if anybody wants to be here, anything say or you want to pop in to see if it's running. The um energy committee is going to be doing a an event, but they're going to have to go to it. Okay. um the board in the morning that um

and your next meeting. Yeah. Uh do you think that would be going to Yeah, we'll say for me. Perfect. Um congratulations. Thank you. And then we wait till then to do another meeting. just have everybody look at their schedule and then go through and see it's a real thing, guys. So,

yeah, it'll be a real night for um and just two things that were there too. So, so we do have a meeting tomorrow being the branch trustees um up on the agenda. It's kind of like the old old business that we keep saying we'll revisit at some point. I don't know. There is uh some folks are interested in leasing in the grand building to open a um a store. Um so we're meeting with takes it'll be here. It's on the website and the agenda is just discussing

where would they park this country store that part of the discussion that part of the discussion they do have the ability they have land in the parking lot um in the back of the need to be clear and they had donated that to the town few years ago um they do have parking there so getting parking and figuring out the property there. Um, and then we have the old on board. Do you all still need members? And if so,

zoning with Peter will be full. That said, uh our current alternate we're expecting will be moving in the not too distant future. Um I don't know if it's 3 months, 6 months or 12, but I would think that another alternate spot will be coming up sometime in the next year or so. And um we would like to fill that when it comes open because having an alternate really help. But um we'll let Peter know when that if one I think it's going to happen. So based on when that person moves, we'll let me know. We can reopen for another alternative.

Same um two alternative as well. Okay. So do you guys want to meet or do you want to you are all there? Are you going to approve it too or you can wait? I reviewed I mean I approve. Okay. Yeah. I'd like to make a motion to approve the last board minutes of March 28th, 2026 meetings.

I'll second. Okay. Okay. Please sign. Yep. Lord, it's That's it.

I didn't have a question. Um about the local do you have any? No. Okay. Thank you.

Correct. Yeah. Okay.

I would like to make a motion to adjourn our meeting. Second. I'll never Thank you.