Board of Selectmen - Regular Meeting

Excuse me. Trying to get started here. That's my fault, isn't it? I'll wait too long for just

All right. I call the uh meeting of the selections meeting to order on Monday, December 15th at 6:30 p.m. Um again with our pledge of allegiance. All right. We're going to begin tonight with a public hearing. Um I don't know if I heard I'll read what the hearing is about unanticipated funds a public hearing pursuant to RSA 31 95 B and apply or accept and expand expend unanticipated funds for 2025 to includes state and grant funds as well as donations. It's that's the first topic. Have we had any discussion?

No, actually we have not gotten any more grant funds in. So, we're all set to um just close the close the public hearing on that. There would be any more to accept. We accepted them. All right. What about the second uh

uh we are going to have to discuss the humped funds. So we'll have to take no action on the first one the anticipated funds and on the encumbered funds pursuant to RSA 3247 the board will also accept be accepting final incumbent funds request from department that yeah Scott First, those who are already in Humber. Um, so we have the fire department from WD Perkins. They're doing home testing and servicing for 99750. There's an invoice. We have town offices. The HVAC which was already accepted that was approved December 1st as well. And then uh there's a computer that is not able to be updated to Windows 11. So we have to replace that computer for Windows being able to do work. Um so the price of the computer is 1358. Um it's a full workstation, not the screens. The screens are fine. Just the station itself. option. So would be just encountering these these two items here at this point and then engraved warrant article. They also had money left over and they'd like to encumber um tree removal for 2500 and then they need to clean the septic. There's roots growing into the septic system. So they need to clean those out and have enough quote for 500. So it's a

total of 3,000 from their war funds that are linked. So there would be two different versions. One from the budget and one from the war to be and then you have the the totals in front of you that those department Yep. Police department um the police department's already done. So would Jeff be for the 99750 and the 1350 for the computer? Uh so I make a motion to approve the to encumber the funds for fire department for 99750 and for a computer 1358.

All those in favor I'll second. All in favor? Then motion to approve encumbering the funds for the graange for the warrant article for $3,000.

Okay. Second that in favor. Perfect. Thank you. We can close the public. Motion to close public hear. Motion to close.

Second that in favor. hearing close. Let's begin the regular meeting. Start with public comment. Is there anyone there? Five minutes in front of the board. Right. Nothing really. We uh I will report we had a contractor that was working on a fail with a ladder that didn't have a police detail behind him and his target hit which hit him up on the fold and he did get hurt to get behind stuck up on the so we were out forcing with the contractor. catching a lot of contractors coming in knock on calling us and letting us know that they have different ways. Um so we've been issuing some fines for that build and we're going to continue to enforce it with any meeting and drive at this point. our our ordinance does have it written so that any vehicle that impedes traffic uh you know we can deal with that in the manner that we have to deal with it whether it's a contractor and needs a detail or having you know the power necessary that's it looks like we don't have any other department heads So you take up the energy committee here and then you

have um you have Lily and then so those are department heads if you wanted to see I good chair. Um, yes, just by the direction, normally it's Sarah, but I'm here tonight. So, I just the biggest reason, the biggest question I have for you guys, we had a lovely Kensington alumni here at Claire and Graves. We used to do a fundraiser in school, a food grazer called Jingle Bell J. Claire decided that she'd like to kum on Christmas Eve morning raising money for the um sens food bank. So all these old kids were coming in my own track Christmas morning 30 minutes with me playing holiday music and encouragement just like the old days. The question is they're going to raise money and then give it to the food bank. Is there anything we need to worry about with that? They think that replic is you.

So you're you're running it through the rep. It's got to go through the rep. Okay. As long as there's somebody from the rep collecting the funds. Okay. Signing off on them. By signing off, you mean like counting it? Yeah. Saying this is how much and then we're going to we would have to pull it into the town. the board would have to accept it and then we can cut same things into pol. Okay. So the money goes through the town and then we can So that's it. Yep. All right. So I'll just collect the money Christmas morning. I will not let you down until after the holiday and then we'll get it organized. Okay. Sound good? That sounds wonderful. That sounds I'm involved in just just tracking down a spreadsheet or something. Yeah, absolutely. No worries.

Okay. And then the other things like just update about some things. some exciting news going on. Wednesday nights we've started adult basketball. So spread the word. We have a very hard time getting information out there to the town. Um every month we have what I don't even know what we call it. We used to call it coffee touch. I don't know what it is but it's we're trying to get the community into the schools and so we've had a pretty good job. The kindergartens come down and they feel all good, warm and fuzzy and people get to talk and mingle. So this um in two weeks we're going to have another one. I know next week we're going to have it again. If there's any suggestions on how to get the information out to the town, we need to somehow cuz I know some people would really I mean it's just really nice and they can come into the school, see what the school what's going on in the school and all that kind of thing. So we're doing those every month. Um um I always want to call you know when you are awesome right she's going to and

Mar I met tonight um they're going to start pickle ball on Saturday on the portal so that's going to happen and you're going to get um did you get sworn are you going to meet them? No you said that we have to come in with they need to come to you because they're the ones that are going to be on site on Saturdays. Okay. actually. All right. So, it's Wendy Larson and Okay. So, they'll be coming in. Um the only other thing Saturday is our um rescheduled horse holiday stroll. Oh, okay. From the park to the church. And we do have the carriage. 4:00 4:30. Yeah. It's 4:30. So, you have 4:30.

Yeah. Well, then I'm going 4:30. I thought it was 4:00. Just making sure that Michelle welcome. You're the right. Yes. Sarah said she okay with you guys. So whatever she told you that's what I started. That's good. Oh, I remember meeting down there at 4 and doing the whole Santa thing and then the the wagons don't start to fall. So other than that, I mean I meeting just let me see if there's anything else I want to tell you because you know how I like to talk. But um let's say we've really gotten a lot going on and again if there is any way to help get the information across because we are trying to get the community out and

I've talked to um the fire chief about maybe using the the solar signs. We have not checked into that. Oh, good. Good. That sounds great. We can set it up if I'm show you can't we can set up too he wants to put on it. Oh, I can tell that. Yeah, we we can do that. I'm just saying. All right. So, you got to give me a date and a time.

So, do you think I mean how can we get something up for next? Oh, wait. I'm tired. I need to be like this. Thursday is the call at the school 10:00 kes community environment. Um I guess that's it. Thursday, whatever that date is, 18th. And then maybe for the stroll on Saturday and the stroll, like you said, I think it's four o'clock at sort of 4:30. That's Thursday. Just call tomorrow. Yeah. I'll send the time out to you. All that long as they're the signs were over the where they should be, right? I think they are. Post them up. We put one up in the back over here and one up in front of the library.

Excellent. Thanks so much. And does Marty and Wendy know about the um liability waiverss that you need to have people sign? We told you that the checking sheet. Each individual has to sign a sheet each time they come because we got to get it to you 24 within 24 hours. Yes. Yes. Any funds that you collect, make sure that you The cost everybody zero. Okay. There's no funds. Okay. Perfect. Yeah. We told her she could put them in the mailbox down there after it's Saturday. Of course. Right. Yes. Yeah. Just please put it in. It's people's signatures. So, if you could just put it in an envelope. And you're going to provide us with these forms. Yep. Do you want me to mail them to you during times up?

Email them. Um I have already I might have yours too, but Okay. I'll get them up to And then something about we have to be scored in or something, right? will have to do the appointments up and the board will have to come back in and and sign them. So, if you want to appoint them tonight, then you would just have to come back in and sign off on that. When is your first Saturday? It's either going to be Saturday, January 3rd, or Saturday the 10th. Okay. Their next meeting is the 5th. Yeah, the next meeting is until the 5th. So, if you wanted to appoint them as Oh, so we have to be at a meeting to do that?

No, they have to appoint you at a meeting. the board. So, if the board wanted to make a motion tonight to appoint you as the pickle ball um coordinators, we have on behalf of the department um or probably the 25 26th season or the 26th season, however you want to do that. I didn't hear anything go in charge. Okay, we're going to say do you have to specify how long?

So, how long should we just go for 206 and then reevaluate? Yeah. So, what are we saying? Uh, we're saying we're going to start then the 10th. Whatever you choose. If they appoint you tonight, you can do the third. Okay. So, do you want you guys want to vote on that and we we can My only concern with the third is I don't know if school's back in session and if it's if it starts but since we're both here whether we do it the third or the 10th we just get this part done we can move forward we'll decide on a motion So

I make a motion to approve Wendy Larson and Marty Sylvia as pickball coordinators for the recreation committee for next. All those in favor. Okay. get that beat up for you and we'll let you know as soon as the um we have to come and sign. You'll have to come and sign them and then we'll let I'll let you know when it's all signed. You can come in there and explain. So, we got to come back to a meeting. No. No, you just have to make an appointment with the town. Okay.

Y Okay. And fireworks as well. So if you want to do that,

do we need a motion for this? Yeah, agree. Okay, it's a motion to approve the fireworks contract for New Year's Eve.

I thanks silence. for a long story tonight. I think Charlie was here the first and we're talking about the pain program and I just I don't know if you needed any if you have any questions for me if there was anything further we needed before we had to vote on um putting forward a more article on this a lot of information that I would have to yeah I think the remaining question is a little bit about really understanding what the the lift on the town is I know you Kathy reached out to some folks. We with it being the first year that they had this intermediary, I don't think we've been able to get a good example of what how that works in practice, not just on paper. Um, so I don't know if you have anything else that you can

share with us around that. I think that that's my biggest concern is how much administrative work it may still put on a town. Yeah, if uh the way the blog was rewritten last year to remove almost all the learning from the town um administrative burden, you can contract out with this positive comp and they will they will work with the loan company with the private um company getting the loan. And then the town's responsibility basically is to put the special assessment on the property and reward that and then when it's paid off to remove that. Um you can contract out all the other um for no cost to the physical finance. I I can't even believe it's because the law was just amended and the way it was written before it wasn't very attractive to towns because it's so much administrative burden but this makes it clear there's no town fund you know the town need no governmental money at all involved in this program. They just enable its people to have access to a a loan program that helps them with their operating cost and it's good for bringing renewable energy and rehabbing buildings. And it also has the potential to the housing crisis by allowing these kinds of loans or residential properties that are five units over the home room. That's really the goal of the state is to um foster economic development both in housing and then as you mentioned as the daycarees is is what building be having in terms of energy efficiencies that will save them money from the start and um so there is I

can't give an example of a town yet where this has I think I'm it's with it being brand new with the new setup is just the part that makes me nervous. I think it sounds like a great program and something we should find a way to make available to to f to business as a town. But I'm wondering if waiting maybe not being the guinea pig here

and letting some other towns figure it out particularly because we are so small if maybe waiting a year would be smart. Yeah, I think I think the reason we brought it to you was the concern about um that this particular property that we didn't have yet, but it was something we use to them sooner than later. Mhm. I will say thank you. We um there is a statute that was part of the amend amendment bill last year and it was not it did not pass last year and um that would take a war. There was a statute um or a bill that's pending that would take any requirement that you have to have a war about the board of selection could make that vote um on to designated this by way of CP the time being a little further down the road and you sure can pass but that would give us the second um I wonder if um going ahead with a warrant article and if the statute passes would that be something that would be amendable to you the statute if the statute that says you don't have to have to pass the board article but the court go forward without having to go through the law article if that statute passes this this term and then you all that respect by me.

Tend to agree with Sarah that this is brand new. We haven't had the town has not had a lawyer look at this. I'd be apprehensive about signing anything or adopting anything without legal counsel. Yeah. So the whole thing feels like it's being rushed, leaving us a little bit exposed.

Yeah, I understand that. It is certainly it's it's a program. It's been around for a long time, but it was very to them. So we don't have good examples from this state of he has worked in 29 other states. uh they have active programs at the right but I I hear your concern and understand I think so to back to your question about putting because if we put the warrant article out though the warrant article passes then the board selecting wouldn't need that statute right I feel like put if we're if we're going to if we're waiting for that statute anyways putting out the warrant article sort of feels like a false

I actually I think just because they put the statute out last year. They put a bill that language in last year and it got tagged with something else and it didn't pass. So there's no guarantee that it would pass. I think they're optimistic. But if not another year for

Yeah. Yeah, I think my it's just really comes down to I think really getting a good grip on what that means to have the inter intermediary managing it, but we still have to manage the leans on the properties as the town um I'd like to see it let them work their kinks out for a year before we put ourselves into it. But I do think it's a great it sounds like a great opportunity that we should keep in mind and you know if the statute goes through and folks want to come to us beforehand you know I think I'd be happy to have that conversation again

earlier I'd be happy to also finance authority and um does this day in and day out to to give you ideas in you can certainly know some of it but I'm not an expert on all the details they might have concerns with I appreciate you we'll look at. We'll be back. Thank you. move on to new

um the town the town hall water filtration quote I'm still waiting for um that to come back. There was another company that came in and did the water test free and they're going to give us some ideas of what the iron in the water could be. Um, this particular company didn't believe that it would be necessarily the pipes for the well, it would be the water itself. Um, and that the the well probably didn't tear it. Um, but there was some quotes to do the to do the work. One was 2500 and the other was 800 with another 500 on top to take the the love apart. and you're working on to to get the distance to the pump, pull the pump and all that stuff. Um, so I mean the difference in cost is for them were quite large.

Yes. So there there's one more company coming back with water test. So I don't know if you want to hang on for a little bit longer. I mean, I know they're still having some issues downstairs with the showers and stuff being colored. Our toilets upstairs looking a little better. I mean, the weather is not as yellow as it was. Seems like it's a fall thing versus I remember this happening last year, too. Um, it must be it must be um I don't remember it as bad as this year, but it's something something to look at.

Yeah. um and kind of prompt to the warrant article for uh maintenance for the town hall that I was it's it's in a list of war articles for this year. Uh I didn't know if we wanted to put something like that on there and star fund or that it would be a capital reserve fund. It wouldn't be a revolver and we saw it with that to um be approved by the board of selectment and there would only be certain things that would be able to be used for um and it would be in an emergency case. It wouldn't just be oh we need to buy something. So if we needed to put a new well in next year we don't know. So if we had put a new well in next year it's not going to cost 45 hopefully. I think they're about 16 right now. 16 to 20 depending on how you think them. Um is what I've been hearing. Um so that's I just put in there 40. If you want to do less, we can do less. Um it's up to you. But that kind of brought

you're suggesting a cat will be very fun for the town hall and and maintenance to it. Eventually we're going to need to be doing things things have been popping up the last few years. We have doors that need to be fixed. You can see through some of the outside doors. Um the security isn't isn't great for for some of those doors. We we just walk in the don um we have a maintain I mean the building is what almost 10 years old. Yes. Yeah. No the police department has water damage from when the

dams backed up and and went into the police department and that hasn't been fixed yet. Um there's no mold or anything down there but it's still there's there's still big water sitting on the ceilings. Uh there is a water stand and bathroom in the ceiling and we just have to figure out where that is coming from. It's not getting any bigger, but we do need to research and figure out where it's coming from and see if there's like a shingle. We had some shingles pop off in the storm. So it might have just been it or not.

Um just look into stuff like that and they had the ability to get it fixed without going. No, I think that makes a lot more sense to start. Okay. Okay. Um the offg good road drainage complaint um is going to be tabled. Um Matt had an emergency he had to tend to on his own tonight. Um and I was able to get a hold of the land owner that was in question and wanted to talk to the board and she was fine with waiting until June 5th to discuss that. So she had no problem at all. I think she was a little relieved before Christmas gets a little free. So, um she'll be here on the 5th to discuss that and we'll have more information from um from now on too. Um zoning and planning board members who needed still um where you have do you remember how many positions are out there? Um, two specifically on the zoning board,

two zoning, I think two for planning board and two for plan and Okay. Okay. Hopefully there's people that have a wooden time in their schedule. The zoning board is much planning. Um, but it's not boring. uh the rental of the town property, the continued discussion on the Graange Hall. Um I don't know, Mia, do you have more information? Hi, I can't hear during what's going on. No, it's no problem.

I'm trying to talk loud. I'm sorry. On the article, I didn't hear what the ultimate decision was earlier about the in Congress. Yep. Stay in.

Okay. So we've given you that and then the rest of the rangefall warrant articul is just the basics to run it for the year. So if you have any questions that I have answered about that you try to be as lean as possible in regard to that. I think you have to learn seven $4,929. Yep. So, if if you have everything you need to be able to do that, we'll wait and see. And then on the other m the uh um continued discussion on rental or use of the drainage. We're working with both the um cases as the proposers and they are working on a a draft lease agreement that they're going to submit. And then on the other side of the equation, as I talked to you, Kathy, yeah, we I sent out emails to the town officials, um trying to recapture the comments that were made at at the original discussion that night and asking them to um talk with us, meet with us if if need to, but what are their concerns? were the items they think we needed to delve more into or make more recommendations to you. And so far I've heard from two of the um tower officials that received that reported their discussions and our process we thought would be this way till we've gathered the feedback from everyone and then kind of present that to you for you to then

indicate whether you wanted us to do more whether you know next steps kind of thing. So that's kind of where we are right now. Have you run into anything that feels like it's going to be easier than expected or any major roadblocks that would make it un unlikely for this to work for them? I have not run into anything either way. I've run into, it's been really good, further discussion on the comments that were made that night and time for the background as to why they were thinking about what they said and then also um sort of looking at what the thoughts were or the concerns were and trying to see if there is kind of another way to accomplish this same thing. Um, and I think we we're just in the talking speeches right now to tell you and recognize the legends made. So, we're we're fully aware of that. So, but it we have not run into a situation that anyone has said, well, I forget it or even put it. But so I I think it's everyone's trying to think of the whole process

what that might take. Thank you.

Um policies for the right of way impact that is still uh pending. We don't have any more information on that right now. And that's another map. I don't believe there's any public safety building updates.

And then J 2026 budget discussions. The only thing I had was that the only budget was 20 4.28%. standing number.

Um, this was after we went back and forth with the cemetery. They were they were not able to take out as much as we had taken out. So, I put some back in. So, I only took out 2,000 because they're they were going to take out the 7,000, but they're or five. I think it's 500, I'm sorry. Um, their landscaping alone is going to be 12 or 2,000. They're going to be going up on their price. So, she didn't think that would work for them. So we just stopped in a little bit of English. We're still at 028 which almost the exact same.

Oh really? Oh my gosh. Yeah. To be official. Can you speak into the microphones? We were just talking about the 4.28%. Yeah, I just couldn't hear what you just mentioning that it's sounds sounds like the same number at the school board. You were at that school board meeting. When you say the same number, you're talking about the annual increase. Yes. Yeah.

I'm not sure what the school is. I wasn't there. I don't know. Um, and then what I also did was the warrant impact for each of the warrant articles that is propos that are proposed here. So you have one on your sheets. I'll try to make it bigger. So the operating budget is 120,000 more than last year's. So that intact is 17 cents per this is per thousand. And then we have the road reconstruction. So what I did is I highlighted the ones that were not in the tax rate last year. So these ones that aren't in the tax rate will actually be an an increase to your tax rate. The other ones are kind of baked in already. Um, so this is the municipal facilities, fire and emergency services. They they put in another $5,000, the 75,000 last year. I just put the whole decision in there. It's only $5,000. It's different. Um, the 150 for the officer, the 87 would be the first payment to the library. It's a bond to pass. So, in order to figure the tax impact, I wanted to put that out there to make sure that maybe it's going to have an impact. It's true. Um, if it passes, then there's the 20,000 for intercept services. So, this is the ambulance. So the new service that we have with plastic can explain it better um than I

than I can with the agreement is good for this year but starting next year we're going to start paying and then the increments get larger as the years go on. So he wants to start a fund to start putting money into that. It's going to be paid out of the ambulance revolver. So, there'll be some funds that come in from the ambulance that will help to pay for that, but there's going to be a there's going to be a a cost for that ambulance that's going to be more than what we've been paying. We didn't used to have to pay anything for that.

It was I think it's like $85 a run. It depends on what they use on the ambulance. So the runs are different determined by if you have IV or you what what what happens to you in there? They're giving you FE pens or whatever they're kind of I don't know. I didn't know that the runs are different depending on the stage I guess of of what they do. Um but right now it's like 85 83 129 um for different runs. Those are just numbers I didn't think off the top of my head. Um,

as long we're going to be paying significantly more for service that it seems with the increments that they had can't be free. No. Right. Exit hospital was given to us for free pretty much. Yeah. There it was because they were a nonprofit,

right? And um that option wasn't there wasn't that option. I don't believe in any of the three that were the were the ending options, but I I don't I'm I'm not as well versed in that. Um and then we have our social services down here that have the same as last year. So there's really no impact. So 73 cents is pretty much your impact with the war articles that we have going forward.

We calculated um 61 cents from the yellow items. Uh did you add I added the 17? Oh yeah from the budget. The yellow the yellow is what's not included in the current tax rate. Yeah. I Is that fair? So 61 would be additional to the current tax rate. Yes. From the from the addition that's just the

additional 17 cents that Kathy has at the top is the operational the town budget. So the 73 cents would be the war if all the warrant articles passed plus the increase to the town budget. Well, it's not really Yeah, it's not the tax. It's not that I kind of misspoke there. It's not the tax rate. It's the um rate per thousand, but the rate the tax rate is quoted in per thousand, right? So, it's 14.28 per thousand now.

Yeah. And these warrant articles when they go on the ballot they're presented in terms of the tax rate. Correct. They're not the tax rate. They're the amount it's your tax per thousand not the actual tax rate. So they don't add up. No. Yes. Because the overall because the school the tax rate is the school the town. Yeah. And the school is separate from the town, right? Um so how would one translate these items to the actual tax rate to the to the town portion of the tax rate? Yes,

I can do that for you, but I don't have that. I don't have that right in front of me. Um, but for someone who's looking at this when you vote, I think this, tell me if I'm wrong, Kathy, but that 7 the 73 cents. Well, I know that's way disproportionate to the total tax rate. That's why I asked. Yeah. Um but um I guess when the war articles come around, will these numbers be converted into an increment to the overall tax rate when they're presented um as part of the burn article or are they presented in terms of their contribution to the town's portion of the overall texture? It's just the talents portion.

I can only do the talents portion. I I don't even want to dig into what the schools are doing. Sure. No, that makes sense. I'm just wondering how someone who's at the ballot making a decision is able to connect the two pieces cuz what they see on their well tax bill is the overall tax rate. Now I've seen in various places where it's broken out like on the town website and other places but I'm not sure that anyone would easily be able to and is that unless these numbers were all converted into a contribution to the total texture on on the there's so many different that yeah there's so many different things that that go into that.

But how is it done on the ballot? It would be done this way. These are the numbers that you will see at the bottom per thousand. Okay. So the town budget um last year that I saw numbers was 3 million budget roughly 4 million. So could you take this ratio and apply to the town budget and then sort of scale it down to the whole? So what I do is I take the I take the difference because the budget from last year passed. So that full amount is accounted for in our tax rate.

Yeah. So your difference is the 17 cents which is that 120,000. That's that 4.28% increase that we have on our budget right now. That's 17 cents is what your what your increase is per thousand. So it's figured on your valuation. Yep. on this one on the on the bas school is doing right got it take your valuation let's go by valuation okay

the school I'm not sure if they do the tax rate computation at the bottom of their articles or not I don't I don't remember I don't think they I don't think they did last year

okay but these are all these are just remember these are all increases not totals Right. Uh these these here. Yes. In the in the yellow. Yes. Those will be increases. These are already baked in this one here cuz these were all last year. Yes. So those are already part of your tax rate. They still have to put that it's a tax rate increase but it's not a real increase. You're saying it's already factored in because it's already factored in. Yeah. Yeah.

So, I was trying to I've never done this before. I was just trying to break it out to see if it would be confusing or not. So, I appreciate the feedback. Um to see what would be easier for people to understand. So, 1.14 is the total. Yeah. Some of which has already been reflected in the recent text.

Right. And then the other 7.3 not all of it is baked in because like the library warrant articles have not been approved although recommended it but if all the warrant arguments are approved and based on the town planning 73 would be the increase applied to people's assessments just for the town budget items. Yes.

Yes. Yep. And on the $716,000 homes, it's about $522 a year. Um, can I just follow up? Um, this is very helpful. Um, if I have questions that might be other people might be asking, is there a way to submit that into the the minutes or the town process? I assume all this is going to be discussed at the annual meeting. Yeah, but to make the best use of everybody's time before we get to the annual meeting, um, is there a venue or a process to submit general questions that other people might be able to to see and and or maybe add to? I don't want to do it through Facebook. I don't think that's the

No, I think you would. Yeah. Um we don't track that.

Yeah. Yeah. Um but but I do think that it might be a general uh use to cuz you know a lot and I've been getting myself up to speed a lot of things about the New Hampshire tax property Texas and it's confusing to a lot of people and I know it was confusing to me for a long time and I'm sure with the with the school budget you know the cooperative budget and the town budget you know a lot of people may ask this ask these questions when they see a big increase like what what's happening so um I I have a list of questions. Um I did not type them up because I'm still learning. But I think it would be good everyone if there was a way forum maybe the town has a place where people could just post questions and then you guys could gather all the questions and maybe answer any that are general relevance ahead of the annual meeting. I don't know if you thought about that, but I think you could save everybody time and advance people's understanding of how the budgets are formulated, what goes into it, just like you did today.

Almost like an FAQ, like a tax rate FAQ.

Yeah. And people can keep putting questions. Now, you you hope that they read the Q&A and that really kind of flows. Um, and maybe wait for a critical number of questions and then someone goes into this sort of batch of answers and then by the time you get to the meeting um, all the obvious questions have been answered and then people can debate the ones that are really kind of pertinent and live if you will. set up page just for it is similar to blog to my email and I post that on the page and people can go on there if you want.

Yeah, I'm trying to think. Um, you can always email them to us and then we could pose the questions and answer and do like a fact page. Yeah. you know, needs to be a well formulated although right if you ignorant we have a well formulated question but anyway try to flow through the questions and answers you can always email me and and I'll I'll get back to you

but I but my goal is to have not a hub and spoke system but kind of a general information page where people can ask questions and hear the answers. Otherwise, what's going to happen at this? You're going to get the same questions and have to decide, is this the same question or is this a slightly different question? Someone, why didn't you answer my question, right? But but I think if you gathered a bunch like if you if you sent out a notice to the town and say, "Hey, we're gathering questions ahead of the annual meeting, you know, and you can you can decide these are three categories or five category and here's our I mean, just trying to be efficient.

No, I I appreciate that. I just I would feel terrible if I missed a question for one and I'm just trying to figure out how to Well, I would say let's not let the perfect efforts. I mean, if it's the first time the town has done this, you're only going to get gratitude. I wonder if we could start with like what we assume some of the FAQs would be and you know if you have some that you've come up with that we could start with to kind of cut up it to like make sure that we're catching everything but start with a list and then take additional questions based from that. So

it can be tricky because I mean there's a lot of information already on the town website. So I went and there's this long PDF about the New Hampshire property tax system here which is very good and I read the little story at the beginning you know why we have property taxes and everything and uh but I think a lot of people who want to learn a little bit it's not exactly an FAQ right so then to start you'd be trying to take condense information from that into the simplest version to get people started otherwise you'll be repeating the basics like it really starts from the town budget and then the state collects the assessments and they calculate the rate and here's how the June rate varies from the December rate. Um I'm just like imagining how I would appreciate what I think I know. Um which probably still is only like 70% correct. Anyway, it's a suggestion because I I do have questions, but I don't want to put questions forward in a way that sounds like, you know, I'm accusing anybody of anything. I think if I would if I were to be accusatory, it would be toward the members of the town who, you know, don't really know what's happening because they're not participating in the process. And then they get frustrated like I did. and then they're scrambling to find out what's what's really happening and ask question and you know things have been decided a year ago or two years ago or five years ago. So but you know if I see a 16% increase in my property yeah that's that's we can we can start on something. Okay. In the meantime, I'll email you some questions and um they're not going to be

necessarily the same questions other people would ask, but just to get the ball rolling. Okay, that sounds great. Thank you. Thank you.

Right. So, this is pretty much the final one. I think so. Yeah,

I think we're there. Um, and then and by the way, when is the annual meeting? Is it It's nothing on the schedule. February 3rd. It's the same night as the school. We're just back and we try to hold them on the same night. Makes sense. Yes, they're sure today related to that. I know the school is doing public hearings this year ahead of the deliberative session. No, last year's was really long and I think that's part of it. So I don't know if we want to discuss doing that. Yeah. Playing with them as well like beyond our normal because we have a little public hearing. So it's going to be um January 14th. Okay. Okay. Wednesday. The last uh petition warrant articles are June 13th.

So, it's scheduled on the 14th so that we'll have all the warrant articles in. They won't be able to put any more in. So, that's the thought of doing it on the Wednesday. Um school had some big items last year. Yeah. So, we have to have it period anyways. Okay. And we we always have it in January. So they're having one besides they're having one January 6 that's for their budget. Yeah. That would be their statuto requirement. Yeah. As we ours are separated. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I definitely wouldn't hold those on the same night. Yeah. Okay.

End of your department request. We're all set. And then the only other thing I had was the bail for unit.

Um I did get uh pre-development loan program information from um Rockham Planning Commission. So there's a pamphlet to look through. Uh there was a few grants out there that were for municipalities, but they're going more towards water and sewer than they are complex. So that's not going to be something that we could go into for the this program is something that we might be able to um we did get update from the large ground roller with our own permit application. Um who was it? Emory and Garrett. They submitted a response to the state's requirements. They wanted them to give them more information. Um I haven't seen anything back from the state yet. This was um we just got it on the 11th, but they sent it into the state on the 3rd. So, I haven't received anything from the state yet on it. So, they haven't responded yet. There was uh the Veterans Council sent us a letter and there is a request to support support honoring men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Gulf War. Um, and there is cost to doing this in they want the town to pay to have the person's name engraved and and know if it was something it's a donation of $200 with a 12 by 12 paper. Um, I've never seen anything like that before. So, It was a request they sent to the town which wasn't why they sent it to the town. I was

thinking maybe of sending into the veterans um the local veterans um American Legion to see if they might have anything to give or it says it's just a donation but it's sure the $200 is to pay for the engraving for the stone then but I I mean, if you do it for one of town, I mean, you're spending town funds. Yeah.

Recognition. Hypothetically, if we were to do something like that, where would we build it into a future budget? Would it be a warranty? And where would we even like actually pull that? Pull up from one of your line, but thank you. You're welcome. Have a good night. You too.

We don't have anything specific. Yeah, we also have the grace of the car, right? Something for sale. Yes, there is. Feel guilty. You'd be able to not Right. Right. I'm not sure what was behind the program. So, I can reach out I'll reach out to um the American Legion. Okay. They still have a local tour here.

Yeah, there's still a local person in town that's um that was heading it. So, I'll reach out to him and see if he's still um but I wanted to let you know that. And I believe that's it. and signing the contract for Oh, we need to minutes. Yeah. Okay. Did you guys have a chance to read those? Yes. Oh, yeah.

The word makes more sense. Did you see the law articles? Did you get a copy of them? Okay. Thank you. So, if you wanted to make a a motion for the more articles, that's up to you. November 3rd, November 13th, and November 17th. Yep. Motion to approve meeting minutes from November 3rd, November 13th to November 17th. Second that. All those in favor.

Perfect. Thank you. And then we have payroll andability. I don't have the information on how the percentage of the tax bills that have been paid yet, but we we're getting we're getting a steady stream with of tax bills being paid. So, okay. We have the money to pay those bills. Y.

Okay. She needs that. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

They have an extra specific. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. And that's it. We have a few things um pending for a couple properties. I had a right to know request that came in today that I'm working on and I should have that done. And I have a few questions about treat bag that I have to get back to the individual on. Um, and then we have a few things with label, but there's no resolutions or information to go into tonight.

We just go through those meetings, the dates for January. Are we Oh, right after the 12th 12th and the 14th. Sure. Yep. I have it. Okay. The library is going to be the 12th at 6. The budget will be the 14th. The select meeting will be the 5th and the 26th. Hang on. Yeah. Start with January 12th at 6 p.m. is the library.

Yep. That's just just the volunteer week. You have to hold that one separately. Um the 5th is going to be a regular selection meeting and the 26th will be a regular selection meeting because the 26th is the last day that we can sign the warrant and post it. So what I'll do is after the meeting I'll have the guys sign the warrant and all the warrant articles and then post it and I'll go post it at school. Okay. That night um the 14th the 19th is a holiday so the offices will be closed.

Mhm. Um the 14th is going to be the budget. I think that's it. The filing period is the 21st through the 30th and then the 3rd of February is the deliberate session and that's going to be the school starting at 6. So, we're probably 6:30, 7ish. I I don't know if it'll be 6:30. That's the only problem with going after the school is whenever they're finished. That's true. It was like eight or

Yeah. Really, really, really great. So, respect that we're back and forth. Oh, that's wonderful. Spectacity. Wonderful. That's wonderful. Good conversations is what it's about. But I'm glad that that worked out well. That can be a stressful situation. So, it's nice to hear that they're able there. That's wonderful. Very good. Very good. Okay. I think that's I think that's everything. Yep. Okay. There. Thank you. Somebody wants to adjourn to

second. Hi. Wonderful. Thank you very much.