Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

Um, okay. Uh, we ready? Uh, yes. We don't Do we have any minutes? Mike had the minutes. Yeah, I had asked him. I hadn't heard back from I'm sure he's at the tournament right now. All right. Old business. We need somebody to take. Okay. Would somebody take I can take Thank you. Old business. Okay. Facilities update. We've had some irrigation concerns. again at West Road fields four through seven. It was a panel problem. I believe Kevin has fixed the problem. Yering Y,

it was a contact and you put a bigger contact, more amperage contact in or something. Yeah, it's two pieces and uh the overload needed to be a bigger one. Have to replace the contact. Had to upgrade the overload. So, that seems to be all set working now.

And that's working. The only because we had all that hot weather, some of the um the gold mouths, fixing of the gold mouths is not fixing itself as quickly as Sid would like, but it appears to be fine. We had some rain and the rain came down and then the irrigation was fixed and we will we will be okay. the grass. Sid had to go out today and he was um he was getting the dead grass off the field that we had cut because it was long and it's hard to get off. If you cut it more often, it chops it up better. So, good news is it's fixed. Bad news is it wasn't fixed. But now we're okay. So, it's just I think this is just part of the whole new system that we finally may have gotten down.

You think we're Yeah, I think almost everything's broken that could break except for the pump down at the pond, but we have a motor and impeller. Yeah. And I'm going to set that up so when it goes, you're going to be ready. We can unplug what's there and put in this. We probably should do that for the one at field six as well, but I'll work with it on that. Okay. put a sticker that says the last time this was done. That way we know. Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, really. That's a great idea. Well, Kevin has it hooked up because number one, it saves us a huge amount of money and two, it saves us a huge amount of time because if you send it out, you're one of however many are on the table.

The school's gone weeks in the summer without a pump. And we have never we haven't ever gone that long. And if you go weeks in the summer, if you go two weeks in the summer, it's going to look like everybody's lawn does now. That doesn't have super irrigation. So, all the fields are now fertilized. Um, so the water concerns have slowed the gold mouths, but we're okay. Can I ask what's a goal mount or whatever it is? Where the goal where the goalie stands?

Okay. So when they line the field, here's the field and the goal is here and the goal is here and field people would like to say, well, just, you know, move the field one way or the other so that you don't have the goalie standing in the same spot all day long. They kick their feet because they're

chew up the grass. Is that what you're saying? And then but what happens if you if you do move it now they've got to come out instead of the line being here now it's here and it gets very confusing. So normally it's not a problem. It takes care of it. It'll put the net down and it all works. It works well. Um but it's he was talking about overfertiliz overseeding it but I don't think we're going to have to though. So but the price of fertilizer like everything else has gone up. So that's the way it goes. Budget wise right now we're okay. We did have to put some stuff off at the end of the last in June. Um like the weed killer that we use um because it's expensive and we didn't want to go over our budget but we're okay. So now we Doug.

Okay. So, mine's actually fairly brief considering how busy we are um with all the camps because everything got started since last meeting. So, we're we're off and off and running. We're actually kind of I think we're at the midway point of both camps. This will be the halfway point for summer playground and we're at the four-week uh the seven week for the Voyager camp. So, uh I do have just some final numbers. Uh we did hit exactly 400 for summer playground. So, that's where we're at, which is a lot. Um but staff's done an awesome job over there. 17 total staffers managing between the south school gym and the cafeteria and all that space.

Um but and it's definitely kept us busy with everything that's going on. We've got 90 in Voyager camp. That's official number there. So again, our big trips coming up on Thursday to Canaby. That's our biggest one. People the amusement parks are still highest draw, but we had uh we actually last week did our own uh deep sea fishing trip private boat that we were able to get because we had high enough numbers. We had almost 40 people that went on that. So, it wasn't great fishing wise, but it was kids had fun anyway. Good.

Yeah. No, they they ended up with a bunch of mackerel, which kids took home and they said they tried it and said it was good. So, it's you teach their own. So, it wasn't what we were going for originally, but um so no, so each of the trips that's been they've been they've been busy, full, great group of kids, great uh great great staff there as well. Um, tennis is gonna tennis started yesterday um actually with so again we partnered with USA for that. So it's a little separate than what's already done in town. Um but we have 23 total in that between the grades three and five, grades six and eight and then we have an adult program this year too. So for introductory adults. So we weren't able to get the grades one to two off and running. So we were just below the cusp of what we needed. They need a minimum number of six to do that. So we'll try again in the fall. Um, but we do have an additional coach that's helping too. So hopefully that will keep expanding and and using that court space when it's available. Uh, Ken Lynch and Nicole Han, they have the summer fun run program that they'll be coaching starting next week. So that kicks off for their number of weeks that they do running up to the school year for everybody to kind of get back in endurance and shape. And then we've got our flag football clinic, the fiveweek clinic, uh, take starts on Wednesday. So that's its second year going around too. And that's over at West Road.

Um, How many you got into in that flag football? Uh there's 18 in that. And what did you say about the adult introductory tennis? So there's 23 total in that. 23 total. Yeah, we can max out in those lessons is eight. So it was eight, eight, and seven for the adults. Okay. Y great.

Uh no pickle ball. I don't think I was able to update. That wasn't at last meeting. So um Miss St. Thomas had to do a bunch of um uh renovations this year. So that's where they've been playing was indoors. So we we had to uh they they moved their masses indoors to that space. So, so nothing until the fall. So, we put that on hold for now. Uh that'll go out in the next brochure. Um the trips programs we've been trying to do for adult trips. That was uh we had some uh registrations, but it was too low of attendance to fill a bus. So, we're going to try to rework how that's offered. There's some other organizations and companies we can use and kind of work with other towns, too, to maybe fill that bus space. So, sometimes the towns that have a little bit less, if we all work together, we can fill those buses for those trips, too. for people that are interested in doing it. Um, and then my only other uh item is just old home day stuff. I work with Tristan Hilden in on that. So, that's coming along. We're a little less than five weeks out from that starting on August 13th. Um, one thing I was uh we wanted to ask was uh we are looking for volunteers for Food Truck Alley on Friday for setup and kind of organization. So, we thought maybe if there were members of the commission that wanted to help. Uh Tristan's usually over there doing that. That's on Friday. Uh she's over there usually around 3:00 is when the trucks start showing up. So that's that's all prior to the fireworks display.

It's called the what? The food food truck alley. Food truck alley. And that's Friday the 13th. What time? That's uh No, it's not Friday the 13th. We begin on the 13th. That's the 15th. Friday the 15th. Yeah, probably around 3:00. Uh we get that by 5:30 all the trucks are there and set up and getting ready to uh start serving food before patrons come up and then it's all great event. Great time. Great time. Yeah, that just don't show the time. So, if you're interested, just shoot me an email, shoot me a message. Okay.

Okay. Um, we also have the color run this year, too. So, we're always looking for people if you want to spread color. That's usually the big thing. It's kind of a fun thing to do. Uh, that's going to be at the town common this year, too. And then we're coordinating with the LPA, the Liner Police Association to do their movie night down there, too. So, everything's going to be at the common. Hopefully, weather holds out for us with all everything we've got planned for uh that week. Um, everything else is pretty standard. um with the color run that's going to be opening online this week. Uh this this year too, what we're going to be doing is um 25% of all the uh registration fees that come in are going to be going towards um kind of a uh scholarship program for somebody a resident that passed away last year that used to be involved with the summer playground program. So, that's going to be that money is going to be essentially deferred revenue that we're going to use to help help families in need next year that might need to um might need some financial assistance and want to join the the summer camps. So, that's going to be something too that'll be on the flyers. Uh family will be there. We'll make we'll make sure that that's noted as well as uh we get closer to that event. But, that'll be a nice tiein, too. Um something the the uh resident loved running as well as the summer playground program. So, it made sense to kind of work work with that family. We're working with that family directly to make sure that happens. And then the last item, uh, big thing is the softball tournament and home run derby. So, I don't know. I I know I just I sent you an email. I don't know if you get your school stuff, but I was just curious. Do you know if there's anybody from the school that would be interested in doing that? I had reached out prior to the end of the school year, but I know teachers scatter and stuff.

Yeah, I'm sure that we can I'll have Jimmy send out another email. I'm sure there's some coaches or something staff. Yeah, that's we're working on that here at town hall. So, we had a team last year. We'll see how many come back, but I know police and fire are already all set. So, it's just we need to find people to play against them. Um, and that'll be over at Laffa this year. So, we're going to have two games going on at the same to kind of move it along a little bit faster so everybody can get over to the food truck alley and the fireworks. Are that two is that two separate things or one? The softball tournament and home run. Home run derby will be early in the day. Yep. So, that'll be at noon for that'll be probably limited number because I don't expect you. Who are you going to play the games with? Uh, we're we're going to use the softball fields probably. Well, probably the 90 foot diamond for the for the police. We'll have to use the 90 foot.

Yeah, I was going to say we don't want we don't want to be hit. Well, yeah, you can't put them on you can't put the police on the 200 just be unfair. They'll just We'd have to use So will the town. I mean, if we bring the athletic department, we we as a rec department don't want to really brag about our softball prowess. [Music] We were that close last year. Very close. Can you send me a time for the fields that are you going to be using so I can make sure make sure there's Yeah. Yeah, we'll definitely get That's That flyer hasn't gone out yet. So, we've got Yeah, we got a few. Yep. Yep. Definitely going to do that. Friday. When's the When's the road race?

Uh, it's on Thursday. And the parade's on Saturday, right? Saturday. Yep. The road race is on Thursday night. Oh, sorry. You talking to Boot Scoop and Boogie? Yeah, that's Saturday night over there on Nelson. Okay. Color Run you were talking about.

Color runs on Thursday. Yep. Sorry. There is a schedule of events. They're on the website and everything and it's been going out. There'll be more each week. We're going to be posting more and more. Tristan and I will be we're finally getting all the sponsors are coming in. The vendors are coming in. The town common is uh it's almost completely full. I think we have 88 spots. About 65 are already filled. So, so that'll be locked down. Um still collecting for the parade. A lot of those organizations want to walk in the parade as well. Um, and then we're going to have a kind of, like I said, this year it's about the uh nonprofits and the and the groups in groups in town that, you know, trying to put emphasis on those that that help the community. So, uh, we're hoping we'll even get some community involvement. We're talking about opening a contest for neighbors and residents too, even if they want to have a float in the parade, too. So, um, putting those together. So, cool.

More information will come with the committee meetings that are going about, but it's moving along. We're getting there. Good. That's it. Um, Yeah, the summer program. Um, now we we offer the full day deal instead of going home at noon. Um, the average attendance so far has been about 207 kids per day or so. So, the total signed up is 400, but the average is 207 a day. Yeah. Yeah. No, 207 that stay the whole day.

No, 207 that are 10. I didn't break it down because we have some that stay just the morning, some that only come in the a very few that come just in the afternoon and then the bulk of them are are there. Um, but you also have to know that the heat was pretty bad. And so for a mom to say to the kids when they have a swimming pool outside, you got to go to summer wreck Mhm. when it's going to be 90° doesn't work out well. Does you guys have a cooling station in the uh does Cell School offer AC at all? No.

They got the vent they turned their ventilation system back on to keep the air flow going and then they found all the fans that they possibly could for the gym space and they help us out, but it's just Oh, it's brutal. I'm sure it's brutal. And you can't take the kids outside. No, too hot. We try to get that done in the morning and then they're in and you try to keep them a little calm. A little calmer. We we had a few problems. The first day the pickup was not good. Um we changed it a little bit and we are now it's in and out and I think every unless moms and dads forget to pick them up which we had two or three today.

Um takes about 10 15 minutes to get all of those kids going because we get all the counselors helping and we do five cars at once. Um, but the staff has been really I've been impressed with the staff. Um, because it is new, so people coming back. It's all new. We got people new coming in, but they're very attentive to the kids and it's it's been working out well. Um, how are they trained, the counselors?

So, this year too, we did a uh staff training prior to we started on the 25th. Camp started on the 30th. So, they did a staff training um went over a new manual that was put together with all the policies, reports, um kind of how um the new procedures were going to take place as well as um and some of that information goes out to the campers and their families too, so they're aware of what's expected of them. Um and then they did we all of them are first a CPR trade uh certified. So, we offered that through um fire department as well as some outsourganizations for those that couldn't make the actual date. uh a number of them already had certifications and then we did a parent orientation the Friday before too over at the high school.

So it took about a half hour. So we had oh 50 50 or so families showed up so we could go over all that information that's been going out too via email blast. So try to keep them informed. And we have a bunch of councils that are back so they help out the younger counselors. It's working out. It's working out well. It is new. There's been some kinks, but this how's the lunch program? It's been going well. I mean, the numbers have dropped off, which not surprised. The the meals are actually, you know, I think everybody in here would like eating them, but for, you know, six, seveny old kid eating a chicken salad sandwich, you know, but it's it's a free program that's offered. So, the fact Well, no, just look when you described it back in February or January, whenever it was, I mean, it sounded good.

It's Yeah, I mean, we there's been leftovers, so I know I've had one for on a truck or is they making it there? No. So, they already pre-make and then they drop off at the truck. Yeah. They have a refrigerated truck. So, cuz they go, they still have different destinations. So, they pre-make them the night before and then they uh But they're fresh every day. Yeah. For Yeah, that's what I mean. And they're different probably. Yeah. They're different. Yep. So, we send out the menu. It's Tuesday through Friday. So, I send out the menu either Sunday, Monday night when I get it. So, I sent it out last night so all the families know what they want and and they've been good responding. If they know their kids not going to eat, you know, they don't want it on Wednesday or Friday. We tried to update the list. There's a number of meals left over which is something we'll going forward but it's it's new to everybody here too. So I just I figured that I mean that was such a good idea when you did it.

Yeah. Pizza Monday has been a hit. So today was pizza day. So that's you know everybody likes their pizza. Everybody gets pizza. Can they bring their lunch if they want to bring? Yes they can. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Number do. I think we had 165 originally in the lunch sign up for the free lunches. We're probably down to about 100 now. So that's the amazing part is it's free. Yeah. for like they ser they give you some like little pit of bread small pieces with hummus like we'd eat it but I'm not sure no you're righty old

kids most kids are used to that they don't eat it they they'll throw it out it's not it's not like real easy like you can pick up a sandwich and yeah not drop it on the place so

okay the Um, I met with the town manager. I took him around to all the fields, went to the tennis courts, basketball courts, and um, he's very astute at what he does. And he get down, crouched down, and went to a crack and knocked on the knocked snuggles and heard hollow noise. And he looked at me and he said, "You better go to go through the CIP to get these redone." Um, what we discovered,

the first two tennis courts are over 50 years old now, and they were built with federal funds. And when you do that with when you do something like that with federal funds, you have to have drainage underneath. The upper tennis courts were built without drainage underneath. There was a there's a crown to it, but there was no underneath drainage, which is why we have a lot of problems with it. So, um I talked with the facilities director at the uh school district who is in agreement that you know patching it, it's just it's going to last a year or two if that. And so I I I presented to the CIP committee

CIPBA capital improvement plan. Thank you. And what happens next with that is they I don't remember how many people are presenting things like six or eight. Do you remember how many? I just came from capital. That's for the whole town. The school has one, two, three, four, maybe five. Town doesn't have anything. And then there's water. And then there's what? Water. So six water. Yeah. Yeah. Water pipes. And then traffic stuff, fixing roads, intersections, bridges, things like that in our town. Like So there may be seven or eight.

This is new though. Capital improvement plan is new. No, no. It's been around for I don't know how long. Been around for a long time. And has there been money in it always or?

No, there's no money in it. It's an advisory group that you would present and it it's put on a a strategical long plan. So, it gets um rated of importance and benefits to the community and you've got to, you know, have the receipts for everything you're saying that you're benefiting from. And then we we put it in numbers and if it's a number one, it gets moved to the ballot to be voted on. So like like the auditorium was on there at one time and it it went on to the ballot and people said no now people failed and it it I think it was twice now now it's back again. Oh it's going to be back on again?

Well not for the I think four or five years but it's kind of right now they they had it with the improvements to the high school. The what is it the module part of the high school they want to redo the old the old part of the high school like they said it was modular. Yeah, they want to do that and so they put that in with that and I asked to separate it because I think it's two different issues. One is safety for so where did we get here coach? We all you get certain number of points but they they listened to all of them. Yeah. Like I I presented I thought the committee was great. They listened. They asked questions. They seem to be enthusiastic. Mhm.

But it's kind of like at home, you know, where you like you may want new shrubbery and a new walkway, but then you find out the roof is leaking. So, you got to do the reef the roof and the sidewalk and the shrubbery goes away. So, they they have to rate it. They come up with the priorities. If we get that far, then they put it it'll go on the ballot as a warrant article. Um, but we could be talking years. Well, it's a safety issue, right? Gonna have a kids fall and break your ankle. It's It needs to be redone to be And I completely agree, but it just sound It just sounded like it wouldn't be

sound like Well, you guys I think what you're talking about with the tennis courts is higher than the turf fields and the want to put in that. They want to put these turf fields and I asked for the cons. I want to know the cost of maintaining those turf fields because now you're maintaining turf fields and dirt fields and that ch what is you gonna you know so yeah so hopefully they'll be able to and you're absolutely right that's what's the interim plan though the interim plan is if it takes three years or something you can also put it on the warrant article as a citizen's petition you you anybody in here well who lives in Londereerry

can get 25 signatures and you bring it to the T. First, you write down what you want. We are looking to raise $40,000, I don't know, whatever, $100,000 for tennis courts. You have the you bring it to the town manager and they have the town attorney look at it, make sure the verbiage is okay, like we're at it sites. And then you get 25 people to sign it. You got to do it like near Christmas time, January, like in that time. And then you bring it with the 25. It has to be registered voters. I always tell people get 35 to 40 because somebody says they're a voter and they're really not whatever you want to cover yourself and then that puts it on the ballot as a citizen's petition.

Now if the citizens vote for it like rail trail does that a lot um and the citizens will vote it and if you get if you go out there and campaign enough for yourselves you may you may get it. I I mean I can't say yes or no how people are going to vote. But that's another option for you guys for this year is prepare yourself to put it on the ballot. The problem that I've seen historically if you don't have the support of the town council, you don't have the support of the budget committee, it gets it makes it more difficult. Um doesn't make it impossible. No. But it makes it more difficult. Um but you might get that too. They throw it out. Yeah. You might get it.

You may, but you It's a lot of work to do that. And that's how we like all of the fields that we got built and all sorts of things, the track and everything else. That's how we did it. We got citizens petition warrant articles. Yeah. I think if you put it out as, you know, it's a capital improvement plan. It's in that process, but in the meantime, we've got courts that are falling apart and becoming a safety issue. So, here's what we proposed. 25,000 to repair. I don't know to to last that five years that's going to take to get we already talked the numbers are way above that. Yeah, the numbers are way above that to patch it and it won't last 5 years. They they sell your bill of goods but it's like minimum maximum of two years. Yeah, a couple years I was going to say numbers it was

my experience has been that they tell you it's going to last this long and it never does. You know, it starts going again. My big fear is if If we try to patch them at 60 or 70,000 and then a year later or two years later we're asking for big bucks to redo them. We've lost some credibility. I don't think we can keep going after it's got to be it's not 60 or 70,000 to repair. It's not what it's not 60 or 70,000 to repair them. We talked about that last time. It's no to repair them. It's with co but it only last seven or 20 one year for seven 25 for five years and and we've had this these guys.

No, first of all No, it's here's the other part. The company that we've been that we've used before, Vermont Tennis has gone downhill since the um the owner retired. I I can't even remember his name, but he was really good. Jeff and he didn't retire totally, but his his under his under guy Yeah. And I How do you know it's gone down if if they haven't even done? Because I've talked to other rec directors who have had problems with them. Okay.

They've had problems in sales, big problems in other places and I I would have a hard time getting past that because it just it hasn't worked. And it in order to do it and and have them have it do some good. it. I I can't see putting basically like a Rolls-Royce grill on a Volkswagen like they did back in the day and think it was a fast car. No, I can't see. I think that's a waste of the taxpayers money. I think we've got to go after getting them done getting them done right with with drainage so they last like the lower courts have lasted for basically close to you know close to 50 years and they're cracked but they're not as bad as the upper courts. So,

and where they're existing, it can't money come out of the maintenance trust fund like how much did we pull out for the playground last year for our maintenance trust fund? Any of the town a town? Yes, we don't have we don't No, but the town has a maintenance trust fund for all property, right? All it assets. Well, it does, but it's it's in a specific budget and even though it's a line item budget, it's a bottom line budget, but you're not in there. So it can only come from like so I don't know like the think of a department the the the finance department can't take something out of their money and swip it over to you. They can't just take money out of u a department and move

they can't take money out of fire police the big ones three biggies and say yeah recreation needs why doesn't recreation have a so line item in there? Well you you have a you go and you present your budget every year. You say we need this amount of money. this is why we need this amount of money. Now, if you need to increase your line item budget, you could say that you need to do that for a one-time. Yeah, our budget is really an operating budget,

right? But I'm just saying you can I mean, you can do that this year during the budget season. You could say we we need to increase this by this. The other good thing is is that, you know, hopefully um you know, we're looking at bringing back impact fees. We have a few counselors that are for it, few counselors against it. But like I just explained to them, it's to move this way. That wouldn't help, right? Immediately. No. When's the budget season? You're coming into it now. They're having meetings, I think, on it's a Thursday. I can't remember. I don't remember. I'm sorry. Impact fees. I'm sorry.

What are the impact fees? So when a builder builds, we get money from them for five years for improvements and needs for the town. So it has to be impacted by them. So we did them before, but you know that company that like Kevin Smith works for Woodmont. Mhm. They were the ones that actually sued us because we didn't use the money to for the right way and so we lost and we had to pay it back. Mhm. But it's supposed to be like if you bring in so many kids and they have to add you have to show the town has to show what the impact is. So, right. So, so you like she's building a um an apartment building.

She's building an apartment build a big huge apartment building with I don't knowund 200 apartments. What's the impact to the town? a lot of recreation get a little bit recreation the library but you have to have a project in you have to have something to show for example way back when we had those we used impact fees at west road because there was an influx of people coming into town an influx of kids we didn't have enough fields because we had more kids

so the number of kids playing soccer and I'll make up the numbers I don't really remember what they were but We went from like 400 kids playing soccer to 800 kids playing soccer. We had no place to put them. So that qualifies for that. We can't just say willy-nilly. We can't just we can't say, "Well, you know, it'd be nice if, right?" No, it's going to be it's going to be attached to the impact that the town has felt from that growth. And it can't be used for repairs. Is what you were saying for that? You can't use it because you're building it for the new

and it like it wouldn't be for these projects because it has to be expansion of use. So if you added parking, if you added, you know, a pavilion to sit under, something like that, something that's generating more participation, then that's how it can be used. And it's also just a 50% it's 50% match impact fees. So we still got to come up with 50%. And that bill didn't pass yet, though. So for what? No, that's that's typical. It's 50/50 usually. Right. So, where we're at with what we're talking about, the best place to go would be maintenance trust fund, right? Make some kind of a warrant article. A warrant article. Warren article. Citizens petition. I think conservation does it. Um rail trails does it

which again I think back to what Art was saying. Is the budget committee going, you know, are we going to get the approval by the budget committee? Because I mean, I'm only going to speak for myself here, but when I go into the booth and I look and I go, "Well, the budget committee doesn't want this. I haven't really stared at it, right? I I haven't I haven't taken hours upon hours to look at this." So, I put my trust in the budget committee and and at the town council, so I mean, yeah, but if you make your case that is a safety issue and I completely agree. We're a division one tennis team playing on dangerous. I completely agree. I just would love public opinion and getting the word out. Yes, I think the word you got a campaign.

Well, no. I think that the support will be there from from a the very select group of, you know, the athletic department and all that. I think that'll be there for the support. It's just we couldn't get pickle ball to pass here. Let's remember that. You know what I mean? But they didn't get their message out and they was a confusing message. How many How many people voted? Do you know how many people voted last election? It was almost 4,000. About 4,000. You know how many people like voted no on the free lunches and everything? I don't know because it's they I mean I do know it's I have it online and stuff but I don't any idea like is it 400? No, it was it's like a couple thousand. So

it's like the people that it's 50/50. It's always comes down to the people that vote no on free money. It doesn't cost us the the free lunches don't cost us anything. And people will vote no. They go in and vote no. Very very. So it's not like you're trying to get there's eight people in here. You're going to get five of them. No. Because there's going to be a couple people. If these are normal voters, they're going to vote no on everything. Who would we talk to? Because I know when I left the booth last time, I thought, you know what? I can read these things and understand it, but I bet a lot of people can't. I mean, they're they're written really they're not they're not friendly. They're not

legal ease. They're legal ease. And you know what? I don't even think people know are they voting yes or they voting no. They're just looking at like you said, oh, they did it. Okay, then I'm doing it. To me, that's electioneering. I would even I think that those things shouldn't be there personally. Right. You're using your influence to push something the way you want it to push. And I don't think that's Who does that though? Who sets all that up? What do you mean? Who writes those? who writes those things, who gets all that? It's it's it's written in part with state RSA. The state I RSAs and the lawyers look at it to make sure it's legal because if it's not perfect, it will get challenged. But the bottom tells you what the impact is. A yes or no cost this much. You know,

there's always information out there like on the town underground that does an in-depth one by one. This is what this means. This is how it affects you. You know, we do it too. This is what this means. This is what affects you. I mean, they do it. They do a TV show. The town manager will sit there and say, "This is what this means. This is how I mean, so they're putting it out there." No, don't please don't take the I didn't take you. You have to You have to want to really care if you you know what I mean, right? Yeah. It takes a while. Well, I also don't think that some of the residents here, you know, I think they just show up. Got to pay attention to vote on that. I have I have a friend who will vote no on everything. Yeah. I have a friend. What did they give a reason? Yeah. Yeah.

Because when they're just going, they just don't want to read. They just don't want too high. They just So they think it's all taxes. Taxes are too high. Period. Some people just It's inconvenient to go on a Tuesday. That's their choice. They they have their right to vote no on everything. They do. I don't necessarily There are some people who vote yes on everything. So you have the those wash everybody out. It's the people who actually take the time and look at it that are the deciding votes. So now the other thing with the courts is there's a we had a guy come in to the rec commission about replacing the backboards. He was going to do a fundraiser to replace the backboards and the rims because they're outdated basketball. Um, yeah. Mhm.

Because you don't get a real good bounce off the rim. And I always thought you hit it right in the middle, it doesn't hit anything. It goes in. The rims are rims are tough, coaches. The rims. The rims are tough, but they've been up there since like 1974. The backboards haven't changed. So anyway, somebody want to start a fundraiser. Um, there's another group that has taken over. Yeah. There's been a thing on Instagram. Instagram. They've exploded. Facebook. So, they've raised Do you remember how is like they've already raised as of last week, early last week, it was $20,000. That'll do a few backboards, I would think. Uh, not as many as you think.

Uh, so, but I think that's the whole thing of us having some skin in the game, so to speak, that people are out there raising funds to do this rather than just getting up and saying, "We need this. I need this. I need this." I think that's why pickle ball fade. Yeah, they didn't bring anything. I I do. I think that's the reason. I think if they had come in and said, "We raised, you know, 20,000 and we're looking for another 20," they would have got it. No, they could have asked for 600 as long as they raised 20. But they didn't raise any money. And literally, that's what's happened in the past. If you came in with 20,000, you can get 100 for lights. And they, you know, like with the pickle ball, they

the way it was worded six to eight courts for was, you know, I can't remember the verge was terrible. Yeah. 150 to 180 going to spend and they didn't a lot of people thought it was ambiguous. Correct. And but so but it didn't miss it by much, did it? The was pretty cool. Was it 200 or 300? Were we close? I don't remember. Most of the votes are always closed though. For the most part, they're like within reason, you know. So,

my citizens petitions, not last year, but the year before, each got 75% of the vote. So, none of those had money attached though. No, but they were big changes. They were changes. Yeah. Y, but they didn't have money. I think when people see the money it's like I don't know the real trail did you know they always they always tend to get their money and sort of conservation people need to feel for it. You got to you have to step tell your story and and get it done. So mark it.

We'll wait. I'm going to wait and see what the CIP does how it goes with the CIP. I'm going to talk to the um powers that be at town hall. I have a meeting with them next week anyway. Introductory so to speak and uh we'll see what happens. But I'd like to get them fixed and fixed 100% like as opposed to because it they've been a problem from day one and it it's just I think and if we don't do it right, we're just shoveling good money away and we may not ever get a chance to get them done right properly. So, and it's tough. So,

anybody have any other business they'd like to bring up and talk about? Wait a minute. We were talking about the the stuff you were talking about was getting rid of rabbits, correct? Yes. What are we doing for So, I I talked to Art about the um We've got these beautiful benches over at the courts. Got eight of them. People are using them like crazy, but the grass is sigh underneath. I need more it is. So, you got them? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. They're going to be weeks though. Well, here's what I did. I went up and I moved them. I moved them all that day. Then I contacted Bill just to mow them and he mowed them. I contacted our um the picnic areas was the same way.

Yeah. I I contacted Joe and he's going to move them. When Bill cuts over there, he's going to move them. So, it won't be a problem. So, we don't need a long-term fix for that. We were talking about whether or not we do something on the bottom of them that doesn't that would be or whatever. Somebody gave me an estimate on like a little like putting cement pavers down orment pad. Now we're we're going from just leaving them on grass to spending a lot of money for like how many p what did we get? Eight. Eight pavers

times eight, you know. And the problem I had is if you put pavers down or cement down and there's little kids crawling around I'd rather have them on grass. So and it'll work on them gum then you got to clean those. Yeah. So it'll you'll move them. They're not that hard to move. The the the octagon ones are a little harder. Yeah. I tried moving one of those. But he has heavy he has a uh I just I moved one side then I moved the other and it was off. So, it wasn't bad. Um, I was in the hospital for four days.

I was gonna say as long as you got the block cat if something is stuck, he can just like he can hook a rope up and just drag it slowly. So, and he'll do it. He is I went up, speaking of Joe, I went up on the 4th of July. Why I went up there, I don't know, but I drove up just to make sure everything was okay. And there he is. He's weed whacking under the guard rails. Nice. Because it'll look better. I said, "It's Fourth of July." Said, "Yeah, we didn't have anything going at home, so figured I'd come up, put in a couple of hours." He's very meticulous about what he does. And it's Who is it? Joe. Yeah.

Joe Nik. So, he's doing a great job. And he tell him to do something, he just he he does it. No. He's helping He helps Sid with He helps. He helps Sid with the heavy work. So, which means I don't have to move. 82 pound 82 bags of fertilizer that we don't know if they're 40 or 50 a piece. 50 pounds. Are they 50? 50. Yeah. How's our new employee working out from the high school? Doing a good job. That's Joe. Oh, that is Joe. Okay. Well, he's aces.

He's aces. He's He is really good. He's It's Well, Bill's there with them. Sid goes up and checks. I go drive through. Is he a kid who's going to stay with it for a while or is he Well, until he graduates him a couple years for a couple years. He He likes to work. He likes to do things. That's great. You know, so I think it's a good find. What about barrels? We talked about that. You said you might be able to get some new ones. We don't have enough when there's a ton of them. There's a at least a dozen over the tanks. Yeah, we got We got more down at West Road. Oh, okay. We also have a lot that have no covers. Yeah, we're going to get rid of those.

Squirrels get in here and the birds get in there. Well, the crows get in. The crows will get in. And I was out walking. Yeah, it's like 6:00 in the morning. I was out walking. And I saw these crows and it was garbage day in the back of me and the crow is like picking stuff out and they don't even want it and you know the squirrels will get in and chew stuff. So, we're going to get rid of the old ones. And we have some the ones down that we have are from a couple of I mean, they're old, too, but they they're old, but they haven't used. Is that something town provides the the recycling and the No, the trash company waste management.

Waste man. So, you can get a certain amount. Well, I I don't know how we can get what we need. and they get they take back they they will take back the old ones. So, for example, my my recycling bin was broken. So, my wife called and handled it and they said, "We'll just put it out and we will come and get it." I don't know what day it might be Monday or Wednesday. They come and they get it and they leave another one. Great. They throw a broken cover, too. So, that's a good solution. Yes. You can just call um John. Denise is in who is it? Engineering. Engineering. Don't call John Trodio though. Denise in engineering. Denise in engineering.

Yeah. She handles all of that. And okay, that's solution. My husband spray for you. Good. So, we've talked about in addition to our regular stuff, we've talked about getting keeping rabbits off of our food. Yes. I don't know about food. You don't want to use that spray for the food. I told you. I don't think so. You don't keep the rabbits. Well, that's what I'm I'm concerned with my garden. My wife has flowers all over. I don't care what happens. No, I don't know. My little garden, I want them to Mediterranean grow tomatoes, right? I have my tomato. They don't go near my tomatoes. Why? How do you do it? Well, first off, I have a raised bed.

Okay. and and but on things that I don't have a raised bed, I take these and I cut the top and then I cut it and I put two of them together and then I put it around the bottom and as soon as their paws hit the and it makes a noise they and then the Oh, that's clever. No problem if you get the deer though. Well, that's something big. I'm just saying the smaller things just to keep the rabbit. This was a baby rabbit that got into my garden through the through the fence hole that was like about this big. Andy Mack told me for deer just to hang bars of soap in the trees. Really? They they think it's a person nearby. They just they don't call. It's just like if you plant daffodils around tulips. Yeah.

Moles hate daffodil. So, but they love tulips. So, if you put the daffodils around the tulips, it won't eat. There's all sorts of things like that that actually I prefer red pepper spray. You have to make a water dilute it. put it on and then it's a little bit hot and you won't touch it. It just gets washed. I was away for I lost all my blueberries. Oh yeah, me too. When I came back, everyone Oh my god, that's sad. Usually I do it fast. I've seen them when we went home. Yeah. In a week everything was gone. Well, they're crazy. These they're getting crazy. We don't hear any more. I don't know about you guys, but I used to hear coyotes. Yeah. I haven't heard a coyote.

That's why we have so many rabbits. I don't know where they went, but I haven't heard one in like two years. And now I open up my back door and there's like 20 30 rabbits. No, 2030. Yeah, it's crazy. Oh, yeah. I know. Mine are just starting. Don't even tell me 2030. Do we want a motion? I'm sorry. Yes. Okay. Yeah, I'll motion to about that. Cut this. I got you.