Town Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda. I'd like to add under number nine, new business. Item D will be a request from the VFW for the yellow ribbon tree. And then I would like to add as number 15, an executive session regarding union negotiations.

Second. Is there any discussion? Questions? Those in favor of the amendment to the agenda signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay.

Motion that we adopt the agenda as amended.

Second. Motion made and seconded. Those in favor of the motion of the agenda as amended, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay. Adopted. Agenda item three, approval of minutes, regular meeting of June 9, 2026.

Move to approve those minutes.

Second. Motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion, any errors, omissions, or changes to the minutes as presented? Hearing none, those in favor of accepting the minutes as presented, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay. So moved and carried. public remarks. Is there anyone who would desire to make public remarks at this time?

Good evening, for those of you who don't know, but you probably do by now. My name is Haley Gite. I'm a parent and taxpayer, and I care deeply about our town and its future. Over the past several weeks, I've spoken with many residents, parents, grandparents, teachers, and taxpayers have reached out with concerns, ideas, and hopes for our community. One thing has been made very clear. People here care. They care about our schools, our children, our seniors, our services, and the future of East Hampton. But caring is only the first step. Our children do not have a vote. They cannot stand at this microphone and they cannot attend these meetings and ask adults to protect the opportunities that help them to learn, grow, and succeed. They are relying on us to do that for them. If there is one thing I hope people take away, it is this, your voice matters, but only if you use it. Too often people assume someone else will show up, someone else will speak, someone else will vote. I myself was that way. But the future of our town cannot be left to someone else. Whether you agree with me or not, whether you support certain programs or believe changes are necessary, I encourage you to get involved. Attend the meetings, ask questions, share your perspective, and most importantly, vote when the opportunity comes. The decisions being made today will shape what our town looks like tomorrow and for the future. They will affect families moving in, children, seniors, taxpayers, and the opportunities available to future generations here in East Hampton. If residents do not participate in this process, they cannot expect to have a say in the outcome. Before I finish, I'd like to say something directly to the town council. Many residents are paying attention right now. They're attending meetings, reading agendas, and asking lots of questions and trying to understand the difficult decisions that affect our community. I ask you to encourage public participation and ensure residents feel that their voices matter. When people take the time to show up, speak and vote, they should be heard. Our community is looking to its leaders to not only make difficult decisions, which I can't even imagine, but to help bring people together during a challenging time for all. We may not all agree on every solution, but I believe we all want what is best for East Hampton. The greater risk to our town is not disagreement. It is disengagement. We need more people at these meetings. We need more people asking questions. We need more people speaking up and we need more people voting. When years pass and today's children become tomorrow, I hope they can look back and say that important decisions had to be made. This community showed up and that we listened, that we participated, that we cared enough to make our voices heard. Please don't assume that your vote doesn't matter. Don't assume your vote won't make a difference. It does. Our children are counting on us to be engaged, informed, and involved. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else who would care to make public remarks this afternoon?

Sound the Sephora 147 Colchester Avenue. I encourage the board to do some deep thinking and make some structural changes to show the public that you're serious about this budget. Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul is not serious. It's basically kicking the can down the road and knowing that the schools are going to have a ventilation problem by By mandate, that's going to cost potentially millions of dollars. And if you take away. Our, um, our excess that we have now to spend now means we're going to be deficit. To pay for that in the future and could be even worse than it is now. So, so we've really got to look into making fundamental changes. make important decisions and communicate to the public why these decisions are being made. And I'm sure the public will go along with you as long as they understand it. I am in favor of structurally making the middle school and the high school start at the same time so that we'd have to rearrange the bus schedules and stuff may cost a little more upfront, but it would allow us to move teachers between the schools easier. So we don't have a teacher. So, if the teacher lays retires or stuff, we can move them from 1 school to the other much more easily saving potentially to be the replacement of that teacher because we can use the people we have now more efficiently structural changes like that. I encourage. Also, as a reminder, we have in the past, the board of education has gone to deficit spending and that was made up. Uh, the years afterwards, we remember we had, um, 2, um, tax forms that went out that year. Uh. Maybe maybe something like that should happen to maintain our education now plus by delaying the, um. reconciliation. It allows teachers to retire. It does kick the can a little bit down the road, but having teachers retire at a very high salary and replacing them with someone at half the price, it may, over time, over a couple of years, it may balance out. Just my suggestion. Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would Care to make public comments or remarks at this time?

Crystal Chan, 34, sorry, 34 Walnut Avenue. Similar to Haley spoke, I've been in this town for over 10 years and not till recently have become more involved and more engaged in these meetings, trying to learn and understand the process and the challenges that you all face with making decisions that would benefit and would be important for the future of our community. To speak to the surplus or the fund, as you call it, the fund balance, This is something that I learned recently coming to meetings, did not understand what that really meant. And I think there's possibly a population similar to me that didn't really understand when the referendum was put out last about the parking lot and how that meant money was already available from the taxpayers that have been previously paid. It was not an increase to what we were expecting for the taxes for this year. So in that vein, there are items that the BOF had very judiciously looked through to consider as items that could be paid down with using that capital or sorry, that surplus for capital and infrastructure items. So these items would not be rolled over into future budgets. This is, I believe, a smart move, and that is the best of my understanding. And I believe it's your job to present that to the community so that they understand how that works. And also, a couple other notes that were brought up in prior meetings was that our police, our fire department, our seniors, and our students, they're all vital to our community. And these are resources and resources needs that we cannot take for granted. I know that there are concerns about the affordability of our town, but the safety and the education of our students, I think, are critical. And these are important items that will benefit our future and will bring families into our town because they will feel safe. They will feel like our community is supporting them and they will want to continue to be part of this community and grow with their families here. So I thank you for your time. And I know this is difficult, but I appreciate that you will do what is right for our community. Thank you.

Anyone else like to make public remarks or comments at this time? There's no one online. Moving on. Agenda item five, presentations. Do we have any presentations this evening?

No presentations.

Agenda item six, bids and contracts.

No bids or contracts, aye.

Agenda item seven, resolutions, ordinances, policies, proclamations.

None of those, aye.

Agenda item eight, continued business. A, subcommittee reports and updates. Do any members have subcommittee reports or updates they'd like to make at this time? Not this time. Nope. Nope. Moving on. Eight B, review, discussion, and possible actions on fiscal year 2026, 2027, general government, board of education. debt service and capital improvement budgets for the second referendum.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the town general government budget in the amount of $19,699,909 as recommended by the Board of Finance. Is there a second to that? Motion has been made and seconded to adopt.

the general fund budget as presented by the Board of Finance in the amount of $19,699,909. Is there any discussion or comments on that?

Ted?

I didn't know if you had something on that and where to start.

I just couldn't believe the meeting actually. And I absolutely disagree with what they did. I do have a question on the use of the surplus for this year. Does that now go into an appropriation that has to be voted on by an additional appropriation that has to be voted on separately by the taxpayers?

Because it is funded with a revenue source other than surplus, it does not.

but they said directly that it was coming from surplus is what they were using.

Other than, I should say, an obligated surplus that's not as part of that fiscal year. The council will have to deal with that before the end of the current fiscal year closings out, but it's not a matter that requires attention of the town meeting. Because it's funded other than by use of accumulated surplus that's not a current year revenue source.

But they're not current year expenses.

They would be, the funds would be transferred to the capital reserve account and then used from the capital reserve account.

So again, that's an action that the council takes it out of the taxpayers. away from the taxpayer's vote.

That sort of action has not been a role of the taxpayers for a while.

And how often do we buy down the budget?

We have done it a few times.

Okay. It's irresponsible.

No questions?

I'm just going to slightly comment because that goes back a number of years, Ted, to when you were first on the council. I don't think that policy or the procedure has changed at all in 20 years.

When you're using fund balance, it was part of the budget. It was presented to the taxpayers and it was voted on.

Not what is taking place here.

I know. You'll always find a way to circumvent the taxpayer. It's okay.

Jack? Call the question. Question? No, I'm calling the question. There's no further discussion or comments on the general fund budget. Put it to vote. Those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

No.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the fiscal year 2026-2027 Board of Education budget in the amount of $39,937 as recommended by the Board of Finance. Second. Motion made and seconded. That's $19,000,000. Excuse me. $39,000,000.

Ron won. Got it.

39,900,937. Discussion, comments? This is the budget that was adopted by the Board of Finance and passed to us last evening. There's no comments, further remarks? I'll put the question to you. Those in favor of the motion signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Nay. Voters 5-2.

I move to approve the fiscal year 2027 capital improvement plan in the amount of 2,364,530 as approved by the Boyd Finance.

Second. Motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, move to vote. Those in favor of the motion to adopt the capital budget of $2,090,000. 2,364,530. Please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay.

Nay.

Motion is adopted by a vote of 5-2. David, what are the Clarification on the dates for the town meeting.

So here to our normal pattern, the town meeting would be two weeks from today, which would be the 7th of July. Staff would propose a 545 timeframe for that. It would fall immediately before the WPCA meeting, which many of you will attend. And then the referendum would be the following Tuesday, July 14th. presumably here at the town hall.

Excuse me for interruption. I just got two texts. There's something wrong with the website that people can't get into the meeting from the town website. I don't know what's going on, but I just got two texts saying that people can't get into the meeting.

I mean, there's 19 people on.

I know they were coming in through the, if you try to link through the town website, it is not working for the agenda on the town website.

Yeah, I think so.

At any rate, the meeting, the ballot itself would be July 14th, presumably here at the town hall. The council will have to decide what it wants to do about its meeting schedule for that night, presumably hold it elsewhere in the building or what have you.

My husband just messaged me that he came in through the town website with no issues.

So we're looking at July 7th, is it?

So it would be appropriate to have a motion to set the budget town meeting for Tuesday, July 7th, beginning at 5.45 p.m. in the town hall, and to set a budget referendum for Tuesday, July 14th, 2026, beginning between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the town hall.

Okay, I so move. Town meeting on July 7th at 5.45 p.m. here at the town meeting. In addition, set a referendum for the vote on July 14th between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. here at the town hall.

Second. Motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion on the dates proposed for the town meeting and for the referendum? If not, all those in favor, signify by saying aye. Opposed, nay. Adopted town meeting July 7, 5.45 PM here. And referendum July 14, 6 AM to 8 PM, probably here. NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE MOTION TO SET A MONTHLY BUDGET FOR JULY 2026.

THE COUNCIL HAS IN FRONT OF IT A PROPOSED MONTHLY TOWN BUDGET it's set prepared by finance director Jilka and the business manager for the school district breadth and identifies costs that will be incurred that month, including anything that is front-loaded, so to speak, in the budget year. Sometimes that can be insurance payments, that can be pension contributions, but the material that you have identifies where those dollars fall and where they're identified as being spent. The overall proposed budget for that month would be $6,746,000. $496. Of course, that budget would become moot as soon as the community approves budget for the full fiscal year.

I move to approve that monthly budget as proposed by the town manager.

I second. Motion made and seconded on approving the monthly budget. Is there any discussion? If not, call the vote. Those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay. Monthly budget has stopped. Thank you. Agenda item 9B. Discussion and possible action on amendment and restatement of the town. Beast Hampton, volunteer firefighters, length of service awards program and trust agreement.

So I'm going to invite Jeff Jilko, the finance director, up to talk about this one and the item after it, the security grants. So Jeff.

Good evening the agenda item. For the restatement of the volunteer firefighters, low sapling the service award program. I'd started this project about 18 months ago, working with the town's pension attorney to rewrite and amend and restate the plan. It hadn't been looked at since probably the late 80s, early 90s. And we wanted our pension attorney to kind of just look through and give it a once over and look for any IRS changes that need to be made. And there was also some issues with... how the members and volunteers are getting taxed on distributions. So we made a change there. So effectively some of the changes that we're making aside from the grammatical changes are we're restating and having effective date of July 1, 2026. We're reducing the normal retirement age from 60 to 55. We're revising the town contribution provision. We're adding in some federal contribution limits. And probably the most important for the members, we're updating the benefit payment provisions. So anyone who's going to receive $10,000 or more will receive that payment over four annual installments, thereby reducing the tax that they would have to pay all at once because it would be considered a constructive receipt. Anyone that had less than $10,000 would receive that payment in a lump sum. I had spoken to the chief and Marty Swan who said both the members and the fire commissioners approved these changes. So I'll be looking for a motion to amend and restate the plan. And I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Okay. Jack, I'll make that motion to amend and restate the plan.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

Are there any Any further discussion or questions regarding what's presented here?

So what type of plan is it still going? What is the type of plan? Is it still going to remain?

Yeah, it's a length of service award program, yep.

No further discussion? No. call for vote. Those in favor of the amended plan for the East Hampton Volunteer Firefighters Length of Service Awards Program signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay.

You're welcome, Marty.

Thank you. Appreciate it. Really appreciate it as well. The next item is an acceptance of a grant, a local cybersecurity grant program. About a year ago, I had applied for this grant through the state of Connecticut. We recently, maybe a couple of weeks ago, had received notice that we were awarded the grant. So we were awarded $40,000. There is a $10,000 match. So the grant primarily is going to, we're going to do some penetration testing and we're going to look for vulnerabilities within our network. So that's the primary goal for this funding. The town manager, so the motion that we're going to need is to authorize the top manager to sign the grand award document and any related grant documents and authorize the transfer of 10,000 dollars. To a special revenue fund, because we have to account for it and report it report on it separately. And that 10,000 dollars would cover the town's grant match. What we'll do is when we're closing. The books for the year, probably around October, we'll go and have that incorporated into our end-of-year budget transfer.

I'll make a motion to accept the grant to authorize execution of the documents and allocate the match funds. Second.

Motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion on the matter?

There's going to be 10,000 left after they just took it off.

Yes. Okay.

Sir, another question. If not, those in favor of the grant, filing the grant application and suing this award, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay.

Thank you.

Thanks, Chad. Good job. Agenda item 9b, regarding the decoration of the tree in the village center. I think it's known as the yellow ribbon tree. Is Kelly Essel here?

Kelly's not here, but Ted Turner has been drafted by them to come forward and explain the request. Sorry, Ted, once again. Nice hat.

Good job.

Right here, if you could. That way we can get you on the mic.

Ted Turner, 223 Hog Hill Road. I'm the commander at a VFW in town. And just a side note, I'm glad everybody attended the indoor Memorial Day ceremony. We had a good time up there. And your VFW in town puts that on every year. And we appreciate the attendance. And every once in a while, a Thank you, Rhett, for your service. We like that too. But tonight I'm here for the auxiliary, my auxiliary, which I call the best auxiliary in the state. And they like that. They're all smiles when I tell them that in a meeting. But they have a project that I think is worthy of a yes vote. We had 30 signers of the Declaration of Independence. They want to put a little information card, something I don't, they didn't show me what it was, but they want to tie these cards, information cards to the tree down there. And it'll be about these 30 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Their picture will be on the front and their name will be underneath the picture. And then the back of it And as we call it nowadays, a bio, the bio of these original signers will be on the back. And it's for the 250th anniversary, obviously. So they asked me to come down here and ask for your permission to get it done. So I think it's a great project. So hopefully you'll approve it. Thank you.

Thank you, Ted.

Mr. Chair, I'll motion that we allow the VFW to use the yellow ribbon tree for their founding fathers tribute. Second.

I would just modify that the VFW and auxiliary.

And auxiliary, yes. The VFW and the auxiliary. I'll second.

Second. Is there any discussion? Not. Good job. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed nay. So adopted. Dave Kuntz, agenda item 10 town managers report.

Well.

Thank you very much. As always, the town manager's report is up online. I'll be a little bit late today or this week. It is out there. A few items that it includes. I just want to highlight two items. Earlier this evening, of course, you sent forward the town's budget to referendum. So based on that decision, we anticipate that absentee ballots should be available starting Friday here at the town hall in the clerk's office. There are some changes in the state law that allow no excuse, so that information is a little bit different, and folks can, I believe, act on that now. Also, the system for absentee ballots is a little bit different, a little bit easier, and folks will see that there's some information about that in the town manager's report. That's effective now, as I understand it, and will be effective, of course, for future voting. So folks can start to get used to that and how that works. The other thing I'll mention is the Village Center. That creeps along toward its final closure. We're in a period of time now where the contractor's trying to work on punch list items and get the last few things taken care of. Clearly, the community has noticed that there were some lines placed that have been removed. Those lines were placed erroneously by the contractor and needed to be removed so that the proper material can go in for the crosswalks, which is a red thermal plastic that gets impressed into the pavement with a brick pattern so that it creates not only an aesthetic appeal and defines the crosswalk. It does rumble a little bit as you cross it so that it makes you pay attention. So those are coming as soon as we can get a break in the weather and it'll stop raining. The contractor is also working on other items that are getting installed, garbage cans, benches, and things like that. As I understand it, some of those are a bit backordered. But as soon as those come in, they'll be installed. The other thing that Matt wanted me to mention, the public works director wanted me to mention, just for everybody's sake, there's a section of sidewalk that will get pulled up and redone because the craftsmanship wasn't quite right on it. So that's going to get redone kind of in the area around 82 Main Street, just to the south of the parking lot entrance there. So that's coming. So we'll pull up a piece of sidewalk and have that redone. Otherwise, as I said, the items are included in the town manager report and I'll certainly take any questions.

The restriping, do we have to pay for that as well? Double?

The removal? No, no. The contractor did that in error. So probably the line striping contractor has to eat that. That doesn't come to the town.

Any questions or comments regarding the manager's report?

I'd just like, Mr. Chair, I'd just like to make one comment. I don't know if it's mentioned in your report, but just wanted to mention that I, as a member of the East Hampton Prevention Partnership Committee, had the opportunity this weekend to volunteer at their table at Ride Stroll. It was my first time being at Pride Stroll, and I just want to thank Stephanie Hine for organizing it. For people who have never been, again, it was my first time, and it was such a wonderful event. I can't say enough about it, and it was just an honor to be able to represent the prevention partnership plan there. It was really a great event, so I just wanted to thank Stephanie and everybody else who volunteered on Saturday.

Good.

Anything else? Otherwise, that's it.

Thank you. Thank you. Attend item 11, appointments.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, we have a number of appointments and reappointments this evening. And I'll start with the new appointments to commissions. We have two. I'd like to nominate or recommend the appointment of Amanda Mullane to be an alternate to Parks and Rec's advisory board for the term ending December 31st, 2027.

Second.

Motion made. Seconded. Is there any discussion? Any comments? Vote on that. Those in favor of the appointment of Amanda Mullane, Arc and Rec alternate, be signified by saying aye.

Aye. Aye.

Opposed, nay. So appointed.

Next, Mr. Sharon, I'd like to nominate Leah Post as an alternate to the Conservation Lake Commission for the term ending June 30, 2029. Second.

Motion made to appoint Leah Post, alternate to the Conservation of Lake Commission for the term ending June 30, 2029. Is there any discussion, questions? If not, those in favor of the appointment, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay. So adopted and appointed.

Mr. Chair, we also have some reappointments to take care of. I'd like to nominate the reappointment of Virginia Yankner to the Brownfields Redevelopment Agency with a term ending of June 30th, 2031.

Second.

Motion made and seconded to reappoint Virginia Yankner to the Brownfields. The term ended 20, 20, 20, 31. Is there any discussion? Comments? If not, those in favor of the appointment, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Reappointed.

I motion that we reappoint David Zebrowski and move him from an alternate to a full member on the Conservation Lake Commission with the term ending June 30, 2030. Second. Motion made.

And seconded to a point, David Dabrowski. It's the Lake Commission. Conservation Lake Commission. Conservation Lake Commission. Moving up as a full member, term ended 2030. Is there any discussion or comments? If not, those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Nay opposed. Aye's adopted.

I'll make a motion to reappoint Robert Hart to the Conservation Lake Commission for the term ending June 30th, 2030.

Second. Motion made and seconded to appoint Robert Hart, reappoint Robert Hart to the Conservation Lake Commission for the term ending 2030. Is there any discussion or comments? If not, those in favor of the appointments signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. All appointed.

Make a motion to reappoint Zachary Nelson to the Design Review Board for the term ending June 30th, 2028.

Second.

Motion made and seconded. That was Zachary Nelson. Design Review Board. Yep. 2028. The term ended 2028. Is there any discussion, comments? Those in favor of the appointment, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay. Appointed.

Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion to reappoint Allison Cain, the Ethics Commission, term ending April of 2030. Second.

Motion made and seconded to appoint that's reappoint reappoint reappoint allison kane kane correct to the ethics commission the term ended 2020 2030. is there any discussion or comments regarding the appointment if not those in favor of appointee allison kane please signify by saying aye aye aye opposed nay reappointed

Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion to reappoint Christopher Briggs to the Ethics Commission, also an ending term of April 30th of 2030. Second.

Motion made and seconded to reappoint Christopher Briggs to the Ethics Commission. The term ended 2030, April 20, 2030. Any discussion on the matter on the point A? If not, those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Opposed, nay. Reappointed.

Mr. Chair, I would like to reappoint Mary Crowe to the Ethics Commission, also ending on April 30th, 2030.

Second.

Motion made and seconded to reappoint Mary Crowe to the Ethics Commission. Term ended 2030. Is there any discussion on the candidate if not those in favor of the appointment please signify by saying aye aye opposed nay nay two nays mary is appointed uh mr chair i would like to reappoint josh wilson wilson to inland wetlands

Watercourses Agency term ending June 1st, 2029. Second.

Motion made and seconded to reappoint Josh Wilson to the Inland Wetlands Commission for the term ended 2029. Is there any discussion on the candidate? If not, those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Opposed nay. Mr.

Chair, I would like to reappoint Kathy Horn for the Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency, also ending in June 1st, 2029. Second.

Motion made and seconded to reappoint Kathy Horn to the Inland Wetlands Commission for the term ended June 1st, 2029. Is there any discussion of the matter on the If not, those in favor, signify by saying aye. Opposed, nay. Reappointed.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to reappoint Megan Joseph to the Inland Wetlands Water Course Agency, also term ending June 1st, 2029. Second.

Motion made and seconded to reappoint Megan Joseph to the Inland Wetlands Water Course Agency. Commission. It's a term that ends June 1st, 2029. Is there any discussion on the candidate? If not, those in favor of the appointment, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed nay. Reappointed. Any other appointments?

No, I think that's it, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much. It's appreciated that we have people willing to serve and that we do this quickly and make sure that those boards and commissions are functioning.

Absolutely. They're all great people. We're proud to put them forth.

Moving on to the agenda, tax refunds.

Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion. Mr. Fiegel. Yes. I'm still up, aren't I? I'd like to make a motion to return two refunds totaling $699.03 to the rightful owners. Second.

Motion made and seconded to return tax refunds to their rightful owners. The amount is a total amount of $699.03. Is there any discussion or comments regarding the motion? Seeing none, hearing none. Those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. We're at the point of public remarks. Now, could I just suggest that you were bringing a lot of things up that we don't have purview over, but the Board of Education does. So You're certainly welcome to speak on anything, but you should probably go to their meetings as well. Right.

All right. This is Sandra Sephora, 147 Colchester Avenue. Since the town manager brought it up, line striping. We are missing a space in front of Mateo's. used to be the pizza place that people would just go in, park, go and grab or take out pizza and leave. That is no longer available. I'd like to know if I or a member of the public were to not park properly and go in, grab what needed and come out, is there a problem? Is there a fine? What's the issue if I decide or member of the public decides to just park in front of Mateo's, go in and out? Because a quick two minutes, three minutes. I think there should have been one space in front of Mateo's. I like how everything else was done, especially the parking in front of the post office. That was a big, that's always been a problem for years. But I think we're missing one spot in front of Mateo's. Thanks.

That was all over Facebook already. We parked there overnight.

Or anyone else who would like to make public remarks or comments at this time?

Will you respond to that comment since there aren't a lot?

Go ahead.

The chief would have to answer the question as to the legality of parking in a travel lane. That's what you're doing. That's what you were always doing when you parked in front of Mateo's. There was never a parking space in front of Mateo's, but there was a wide enough shoulder there that many people took advantage of that. When we re-striped and planned for the change to the configuration of Main Street at that particular location, and we added formal parking. Remember, again, I'll go back to my previous statement. There was never parking on Main Street between Skinner and Summit, at least not in recent times. When we added parking on the west side of Main Street in order to have a full parking lane and two travel lanes, we didn't have enough space to put parking on the other side. We moved the lane over, as many people have observed, and left that yellowed-out space in the middle so that the fire department can turn right off of Barton Hill and go south on Main Street without traveling into the oncoming traffic. So that's why that whole thing is configured the way it is. In response to the question about what do I do if I just want to pick up a pizza... Public Works Department is installing a sign at the first parking space in the corner of the Main Street parking lot adjacent to the walkway to Mateo's front door, a 15-minute pickup-only parking space. I invite you to use that once that sign is there. Happy to take any questions that people may have about that, either here in the room or if they want to contact me at the town hall, certainly feel free.

Just out of curiosity, the one that was all over Facebook for parking there overnight, did they ever get ticketed?

For which one are you talking about?

The one that parked in front of Mateos overnight that was all over Facebook a few weeks ago.

I don't know. I didn't know there was one there, so I don't know whether the department saw that and took care of it or what happened.

There's no one on... hand-raised agenda item, 14 communications correspondence and announcements. There's stuff, I guess, all over social media, River East and the like. I'm not aware of anything additional that we have in our package. Agenda item 15, executive session.

Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion that we enter executive session. I invite the town manager to join us. We will not be conducting any business following the executive session, and we'll immediately adjourn the meeting.

That's second. Motion made and seconded to go into executive session. Is there any discussion? Those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. You're now in executive session.

Yes. Yeah. And I feel the executive.