Town Council - Regular Meeting

You can all rise for the pledge, please. Okay. Zach, can you lead us in the pledge, sir? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

A moment of silence for the men and women in the armed forces, our first responders, our veterans, those fighting the good fight in Ukraine, and those suffering from the military conflict in the Middle East. Thank you. Katie, can you lead us in the American Certainly. This is the America's Creed by William Tyler Page. I believe in the United States of America as a government by the people by the people for the people whose just powers are derived from the consent of the govern. A democracy and a republic, a sovereign nation of many sovereign states, a perfect union, one and inseparable, established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrifice their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support it, to obey its to defend it against all enemies.

Thank you. Thank you, Diane.

We'll start with your name. address. All right. Hi there. Good evening. Adrien Bigalow Kern, 76 Second Hill Road, New Milford. Um, as my shirt, I like your shirt.

I I Well, I just came from the high school because, uh, tennis is in full swing. This is the last week of it. So, um, wanted to to talk about that a little bit as well because I know pickle ball has been the topic lately and well But I think we should also remember that tennis is important as well. And uh as one of the I could hear one of the girls from another team saying, "Boy, it's kind of difficult to see the lines when the pickle ball lines are on the tennis courts." So, but just for us to think about as we're talking about the parks and everything, the tennis is important as well. Um, we went down to the park. Both courts were taken. Had to go to the high school. All of eight of them. We got the one court, but all of them were taken. So, obviously tennis is important as well. So, just thought I'd share that. Um, and then, uh, I think last time you mentioned how there was independent bookstore day and we have the honeybee and that's an amazing place. Also, uh last month uh was National Librarian Week. That was April 19th to the 25th. And then to also so May is uh AsianPacific Island Heritage Month. And so just thought I picked this up at the library and um this is from George Taki, the one from Star Trek. And the name of the book is My Lost Freedom, a Japanese American World War II story. So, I just wanted to read a little bit of it. Um, because I think one of the things that we know as Americans that there's been many things that have happened and we need to learn from our history. So, Japanese Americans during World War II after President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt declared war on Japan,

people began spitting and yelling at us on the street. We were called spies, saboturs, and that painful word of hate, But we were Americans who had done nothing wrong. We only looked like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. Our homes, our cars, our businesses were graffitied with venomfilled words. Weeks later, the president signed a decree classifying all Japanese Americans as enemy aliens. It made no sense. So, this uh book and also if you guys use Hoopla, he has another book as well that talks about his experiences. Um so but yep just wanted to bring about awareness of that. So thank you.

Thank you. Next we have your name and your address. Should I start my timer?

Um thank you Mr. Mayor and members of the town council. My name is M. Lipkcom, 37 Mary Acres Road uh Lane in New Milford. I am a volunteer on the member and a member of the arts commission and a riverfront commission. And tonight I'm here in another capacity. I'm the vice president of the theater works board, which is a nonprofit 501c3 live performance theater here in New Milford. And I was invited a few months ago by Councilwoman Paul Murphy to uh give you an update on a couple of shows, a creative announcement and an innovative program with Yale Ventures in the state of Connecticut. Recently, we had a research study called the 2024 AE number six, which is a national arts and council cultural research study, and we had actually a breakout capability for Northwestern Connecticut. I want to just give you a couple of facts. First of all, nonprofit arts and culture organizations are businesses. We generate $30.2 million in arts and culture sales in Northwest Connecticut, which actually spins from Ridgefield all the way to the state line. We have $9.2 million in our particular region of tax revenue for local, state, and federal. We support 596 plus jobs, depending on who's having shows and who's not. We also have $32.23 spent above and beyond the cost of a ticket by every individual that happens to be in town to either go to an event or go to a show. We also have 23.2% or almost a quarter of our audience travel to Fairfield in Lefield County for events. And 92% of non-local attendees survey reported primary purpose specifically to attend the performance, the event, the exhibit, the venue or the facility. Thank Gilmore Girls New Milford in Australia. 85% when asked agree I would feel a

great sense of loss if this activity or venue were no longer available. That brings me to Theater Works. We're doing well and thank to our ticket buyers, giftgivers, and donators. They keep us alive, well, and performing. Currently live on stage is King Lear, and it is a likely hit with more than 800 people actually driving to New Milford to see that show. We have two more weekends that we're performing this Friday and Saturday night at 8 o'clock and a second matinea, which is a new addition for us, at 2 o'clock. Yesterday's matinea had 80 people attending. Tonight, I'm announcing also something brand new. We have appointed Dorothy Lyman, our two-time Emmy award-winning actress and an art as our artistic director for the 2027 season. After her two Emmy award-winning performances Opel Gardner for On All My Children, I know most of us watched a little of that. She is widely known for her co-starring role in Mama's Family alongside Mickey Lawrence, Carol Bernett, and Betty White. Her original play Upstate premiered on our stage in 2025. Miss Lyman has also directed 75 episodes of Fran Drestler's sitcom The Nanny. A one-time resident of New Milford, she now lives in neighboring Washington, Connecticut. She is currently a co-producer along with fellow Theater Works board member Kelly Solomon of this summer's 10 minute play festival, Summer Shorts, August 13th through August the 16th. Our current board has welcomed new members with significant skills such as an investment banker with a masters in fine arts and theater management as our treasurer, the former executive director of the Aspen Film Festival and two theater oriented individuals from the Canterbury School and a recently retired New Milford public school teacher. We're also adding acting theater works

director Marina Kasus um the uh daughter of the man that owns Grea. She is going to be uh and is a music teacher as well as a music theater graduate and is uh stepping in to run our rising stars introduction to musical theater program for five and eight year olds which uh is a Tuesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon after school and Saturday mornings from May 16th through June the 6th. Folks need to go online. There is a place to both find out more and sign up. Jack, I hate to interrupt you. 30 seconds left. 30? Yep.

Okay, that's what it says. Well, I'm very close to that. We're most excited about our new association with Yale Ventures, our connective Connecticut and the state of Connecticut. Five in five individuals are mentored by theater works in a pilot year of a state sponsored program. The creative founders learn start business skills with an incubator model like Tech Stars, Y Combinator, and Shark Tank. New Milford's K. Mickelson, a teacher at Pratt, George Bennett, Patricia White, and two other creative individuals are presenting their businesses based on plays, podcast, community arts, and television shows at the Yale Venture Capital Conference May 27th and 28th in New Haven. More than 3,000 tech, biotech, and now arts and culture investors are expected to attend there. Theater Works is looking forward to giving you updates on a an occasion, and we'd love to see you at the theater. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much for the presentation. Thank you, Paul. Thank you. I printed copies just for you. Okay, next we have Ron Sharesha. Uh Ron, um if you could please step to the podium and say your name, address and you have five minutes. Certainly. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mayor and Councel. Uh my name is Ron Serata. I live at 25th Street in Wilfford and u I have a two-part question. U first of all is uh regarding the historical properties commission of which uh I am formerly a chair um and which seems to have no purpose at this point. uh and I would like some uh to to hear some discourse on what exactly uh is the point of continuing to have it when there apparently are no members and no chairperson. Um the second question it regards the uh old Boardman Bridge commission which as I understand was recently uh reconstituted um and uh only included uh one council member uh Katie uh except under duress was added another former uh member of that commission. I was just an alternate member of that uh commission, but it is something that I think that we all hold very dear to ourselves. And um I'd like to know what was the point of reconstituting this when there were no meetings called. Uh, Bill Develin actually told me that he had never heard, you know, a word about uh what the reconstituted uh commission was supposed to uh accomplish or or do. So, I would be very interested in hearing um uh about that.

That's all I have to say. Thank you, Ron. Thank you, Ron. Uh, lastly, Tom Papiaak. Tom, you know the drill. I bet.

Good evening. I'm Tom Capsiac, 94 Long Mountain Road. Later this evening, the council will be asked to consider the engagement of a consultant to provide the options for a site for an enhanced DPW facility. I am hopeful that the town council will authorize the engagement of such a consultant to review the options available to address the current and likely future needs of the DPW for an enhanced facility. Ideally, such a review will also include the needs of any other group that might be located at the same site, such as the town's emergency response organization. The town's POC in 2020 recommended that such an analysis take place. The town has also received two hazard mitigation plans from Westcog that recommend that the Scoville Street site not be used for critical facilities since the area is prone to flooding that would render the site inaccessible. The effort for the DPW should result in a facility that is storm resistant, capable of being fully functional in an emergency that might include loss of normal power and communications capability and which can be renovated as the department's needs evolve. During the projects in which I have been involved, a corporation would have engaged the out an outside program management firm or an in-house department to coordinate the development of a document describing the issues to be addressed by any new construction or renovation of a facility for a user group to invest to investigate the options available to address the group's needs and their respective costs, benefits, and timelines to oversee the development of the construction documents, their bidding

and the engagement of the needed contractors to oversee the construction renovation itself to coordinate the occupancy of the new facility. And lastly, to oversee the disposition of the vacated site and any rem related remediation that would be required to allow the vacated site to be repurposed. The assumption is always that the affected user group has the skills and resources to address their normal responsibilities but not those needed to provide an alternative site for their operations. A consultant res retained to coordinate the needed set of activities would report to the town council, proceed only with its authorization, follow norm normal town processes, and provide regular and frequent updates to the council and the community as a whole. I recommend that the town not assign the the responsibility for the needed planning and oversight of such a program on behalf of the DPW to the town's municipal building committee. The activities will occur during the develop the activi the activities that will occur during the development of an alternative facility for the DPW are well outside the NBC's capability especially now that their responsibilities have been res reduced as a result of the changes to the NBC ordinance which makes them only an advisory body to the mayor and and to the town council a committee that meets only occasionally and which is composed of volunteers cannot do what will be needed. Thank you.

Thank you. That's it. Thank you, Katie. All right, moving on. I'd like to move item 4 A and B, prior minutes and tax collector. Have a second. Any discussion? Thank you. All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstension? Thank you. Item five, uh, mayor's comments, proclamation.

Yep. So, I'd like to do a couple of proclamations if I could. First one is going to be for foster care is this is National Foster Care Month. Uh, whereas the family serving as the primary source of love, identity, self-esteem, and support creates the foundation of our communities and our state. And whereas foster families help every child realize their worth and inherent value, instilling them with courage, character, and confidence to achieve their dreams and goals. Whereas nationally, there are more than 3,000 350,000 children and youth in foster care and approximately 3,400 in Connecticut. And whereas for reasons beyond their control, children and youth find themselves in situations without an avenue for safe and loving care. And whereas foster parents across the United States who rise to the occasion with selfless compassion and acceptance to ensure these children receive love, support, and a sense of belonging. And whereas dedicated foster families frequently adopt foster children, which results in the greater need for more foster families. And now therefore, I on behalf of the town of De Milford, Pete Bass, to hereby proclaim May as National Foster Care Month and encourage citizens to come forward and offer something positive that will change a lifetime for a young child or a young person in foster care. Next one is this week is National Police Week. Whereas the Congress and the President of the United States have designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week. And whereas the members of the New Milford Police Department play an essential role

in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the citizens of the town of New Milford. And whereas the de Milford Police Department is a skilled and professional law enforcement agency which unceasingly provides a vital public service. Now therefore, I, Pete Bass, mayor of the town of New Milford, call upon all citizens of the town of New Milford, and upon all patriotic, civil, and educational organizations to observe the week of May 10th through the 16th, 2026 as National Police Week with appropriate ceremonies in which all of our people may join in commemorating police officers past and present, who by their faithful and loyal devotion to their responsibilities have rendered a dedicated service to their communities and in doing so have established for themselves an inevitable and enduring reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens. I further call upon all citizens of the town of Demilford to observe Friday May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of those peace officers who through their courageous deeds have lost their lives or become disabled in the performance of their duty. Thank you. Uh, a brief reminder that this Saturday is our budget vote. All districts will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This is a Saturday uh budget. Um, as the registars had asked the town council to kind of look at different uh day to try to see if we can get some additional people to come out and vote. So, we're asking all if you can't make it that Saturday, you can get an absentee ballot. You can either uh go to the state uh website or you can go to our town website or you can go in person to the town clerk's office to pick one up. Big congratulations to the Milford High School wrestler Emmy Lim who competed in the New York State Freestyle

Wrestling Championship. She placed third. She's now qualified for the Fargo Freestyle Nationals in North Dakota in July. So we wish her much success in going to the nationals. Also big congratulations to our Nilford cadetses for their performance in the NERLA stations day competition. They competed against agencies from across the region. Our cadets uh took first place male tactical obstacle course, first place female tactical obstacle course, second place robbery response. So abs absolutely great job by our cadetses. Also a big congratulations to our 2026 Da Vinci award winners that we had the award ceremonies for Miss Julie Bailey and Lou Manler and a big thank you Katie to you and to Mr. Capola uh for really spearheading this as you do each and uh every year and it's great to see uh our award winnies and family and community members that were at the awards. Big congratulations to the Milford varsity softball team who are now 16-0

and uh coach Rolando. What was the score against Immaculate today? So they are well on their way. My girls are rolling. Outstanding. So go Greenway. Great job. Green.

Absolutely. Congratulations to our New Dem Milford youth baseball softball 90 boys is they won over the weekend 12 to nothing. And then a big opening day for our New Milford's farmers market. Even if it was a little wet, we still had a lot of people come out and support our vendors and farmers. And that's every Saturday 9:00 a.m. to noon. Northern green. Every once in a while we'll move to the middle green, but most of the time it's at the northern green. So big huge thank you. Also, a huge thank you to the Roger Sherman chapter, the Daughters of the American Revolution, uh, and their their um, regent, Heidi Norcross, who is also our chairwoman of the Celebrate America 250 committee as they put on the airing of the quilts this pack past weekend at St. John's Church in the First Congregational Churches. There were quilts from the Civil War all the way to today. Uh I believe there's over 142 quilts and it was a wonderful uh site and again this is part of our uh really events that was driving us to America's 250. So big big huge thank you as well as to our historical society is uh they featured over 100 antique sewing machines over the weekend as well. So that was uh really cool to see. Uh, and uh, I know my grandmother, that's how she how she actually had made a living was as a seamstress. So, getting to see the old sewing machines. Lanesville Fire Department renovation product uh, project. The the painting contractor continued with the prep of the eastern garage bay and existing building. The electrical contractor continued with wiring, installing the floor boxes in the training room. The contractor planted trees along the new drive access and they continue with the hardware on the doors and then the interior building. Uh the mason stripped the

forms for the concrete that was placed. The tile contractor began prep to level the floor to grade in the bathrooms and uh uh and speaking with uh Sean who is the fire chief of fire of water witch once they get close to completion. They're going to do an open house so that you the public can see uh how wonderful uh this uh fire station is and much needed especially across the river. Speaking of the fire department, they did training this past Saturday at Century Brass and uh a big thank you uh to to Chief uh Delaney and the Water Witch Fire. They hosted 30 area firefighters for technical training on lifting and stabilization. They call it the day of destruction where uh you would go and if we have a calamity, they're there and how they take care of that. This was the conclusion of two nights of classroom instruction on techniques and hazard of technical rescues. Also, big thank you to Nilford FSM services modules towing and goat boy soaps for all of their support for the training exercise that happened over the weekend. Speaking with Chief Siruto today, uh going over our traffic statistics. So far, motor vehicle stops this year has been 1,381. Uh, motor vehicle accidents so far this year have been 308. There was 291 same time last year. We talked about this a couple weeks prior. There was a little bit of an uptick due to all the winter weather that we did have. We did have an uptick in parking lot uh accidents again. Last year was 57 this time and so far this year is at 62. DUIs have gone down. There was 31 at

this time in 2025. There's 25 uh so far this year. One is too many. We all know. Speaking of events that are going to be going on in town, a big huge uh thank you. I was able to stop in today for the Lichfield County Irishamean Club. They did their country. They did their golf tournament today. The proceeds to that go to help our youth sports organizations. Last year they helped the Bulls. They helped the baseball team and some individual athletes. Uh they had overund and how many did you say, Mur?

Over 125 golfers that were there. So again, big thank you uh to the club as they help uh this year our young athletes. Uh, we've got on May 13th, 9:00 am to noon at Petty Bone, senior preseason park pass sales where you can pick up your uh, Len Deming Park pass for $20. Also, uh, tomorrow and the 14th at Petty Bone, you can, uh, pick up a preseason park pass for everyone else. Cruise night at Kimberly Farm is going to be on May 14th, 5:00 pm to dark at Kimberly Farm. We also have May 15th, 16th, and 17th is the 6th annual Goat Days that kicks off our big event series. That's going to be at Youngsfield 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Also on May 16th, Village Center of the Arts is going to be doing their art fair and tag sale 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. right here on Church Street. So, that'll be a great thing in the downtown. You can do all sorts of wonderful things. and they're going to be celebrating their 26th year uh in operation. So big huge uh congratulations uh to Sharon and Jason. May 16th also 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the senior center is a senior and center open house for those you know seniors the seniors think 60 and above is qualifies for the senior center. I've got my membership there and uh if you haven't seen it already, please come and check out all the wonderful uh opportunities. They're there for seniors programs, events, all sorts of great stuff. Uh Jasmine and her team will be there to answer any questions that you have. Also on May 16th, 6:30 p.m. I believe there's a few tickets still available. A Canowwood Valley Country Club, the comedy show featuring John

Romangh and WRKI uh personality uh Lou Milano will also be headlining as well. May 21st, 5:00 pm to dark at Kimberly Farm is another cruise night. Music, food, great ice cream as well. May 23rd, Lendming Park officially opens. So, there'll be lifeguards. Uh, obviously, you have the wonderful um we'll have some uh uh what's it called? Uh food trucks that'll be there. We've got the grills, two new grills that are there.

Uh we also have uh uh for those that need it. Uh we're also going to have uh some float floating devices for those a nice sunny day. I wish I could, but I don't think I can. Well, you could try.

Well, we can try. Uh May 23rd 10:00 a.m. to 7:30m is the great nutbagger scra scavenger event that event was postponed. Uh that's for Harry Park. Farmers market is again at 9:00 a.m. to noon on the green. Music by swing set. That's from 10 to noon on the band stand. And then May 25th starting at 8:00 a.m. is the Memorial Day parade. That's at Gaylordsville. And then at 10:00 a.m. the downtown Memorial Day parade kicks off here in town. And it's great that we have two Memorial Days to honor our fallen uh service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Also on the 25th, right, Katie? Right after the Memorial Day parade is the annual Rotary Duck Race.

31st. Can people still buy ducks? Absolutely. And you know who's going to be in the parade? It's going to be a secret, but it's hard to keep a secret. Okay. Mr. Duck, okay, is going to ride in the Duck will be riding around. Yes, Mr. Kick is going to drive him. Okay. So, I say keep your eyes open down there.

All right. Uh May 26 at Village Center of the Arts is a studio affair. Great chance to come down and see what Village Center has to offer. The Milford Library 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the 28th is doing lawyers in the libraries. Big thank you to the to the lawyers. These are scheduled 20 minute sessions pro bono. So if you do have a legal question you like to get answered, doesn't cost anything. Big thank you to the lawyers that are doing this. Again, you need to contact the library to schedule uh your appointment for that night. May 28th, Kimberly Farm again is doing their cruise night. Then Paul May 28th first rock the block

6:30 p.m. on Bank Street 100 proof. The rain date will be on the 29th. Farmers Market again is on the 30th 9:00 a.m. to noon. And Don Low, great musician. He's also select Sherman. He's going to be performing on the band stand from 10 to noon. And then May 30th, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the ambulance barn is the wellness fair fundraiser. May 31st, 9 uh actually 10:00 a.m. to 4 pm. Petty Bone is the Cruis & New Milford car show. Don Clay's car show. Going to be a lot of cars, bikes.

Great event. May 30th and 31st, the Boy Scouts Troop 158 are doing their camping for cans. Right on the middle green, if you can bring your non-p perishable goods, uh they will go to our N Milford food bank. Uh that we're going to need much needed uh non-p perishables. So, big huge thank you to the scouts. They do that each and every year. You're going to camp. Stay over. They stay overnight. Yep. 10:00 a.m. till 10:00 a.m. on Saturday till 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. And that's what we have going on for the month of May. A lot's going to be going on in June as well. I ask you to mention the garden club. Absolutely. Sale on the 30th.

30th plant sale. Make sure that's in there on the on the green. It's going to be a big one. Okay. Love it. Thank you. Thank you. Be busy. And yes, um Ron Russia had uh mentioned the historical properties commission and the old boardman bridge commission. Is that something you could address if not today at the next

Absolutely. So we can quickly address it. The old Boardman bridge the re the really has not been constituted as yet. We were looking to reform it as we put in for a lot grant. Uh if we were to would have awarded that grant, then we would have reconstituted it because we had the funds to do the project. We're putting back in for that again. Hopefully this time around we get the grant and then we'll reconstitute it. Just Ron, you weren't excluded. It was just needed a few people when we put the grant in. That's all. You're still on the list. Don't worry. You'll be part of it. Well, it just seems never heard from you. So

I didn't hear from you. If you had worried about it, I would have been happy to talk to you about why. It was just a few people. Uh I was out of recovery for the last six months. Oh, good for you. But uh that's beside the point. Uh my question is why wasn't there an organization structured to support this on? You know,

there's nothing to support. There's nothing to support unless as our people over here uh Jack and and Chuck uh until we know that we'll get the grant and can do it without the grant there'll just be a few of us weeping in a committee there's nothing nothing to do hopefully we'll have good news with with lot and then we can reconstitute the the actual committee and get going on it which would be a wonderful asset as we all know over there that would really solidify That's right. Not only Sega Meadows, but the Riverwalk going north. Uh be a true destination point there. So that's what we're waiting for. Hopefully uh the state will give us some money.

Certainly. I mean, also there's the remediation factor if the concrete of the bridge starts falling into the river. Um we're looking at paint issue worse much more serious. Yeah, absolutely. One of the things that we did uh talk about Jack and Chuck presented to the town council because we used American relief funds to get a engineering study done. And the good news, Jack, right, is right now that's very stable. Uh so though, we need to get this thing taken care of. It's something that's not imminent like right second,

right? As far as historic properties, um there really hasn't been anything uh that's uh property specific, but uh as I was going to be talking at our next town council meeting because now the budget is over and we're going to get a chance to kind of get all the uh uh the narratives uh especially when it comes to the new housing bills that have been approved by the state uh that historic properties, especially in the village center, we will need to reconstitute that just because of the now the new um guidelines that the state is allowing especially for residential devel development.

Yes, sir. Thank you. Absolutely. Okay. Road closures, Katie.

Okay. Item number six. Uh I'd like to move the following uh for our approval and that would be Parks and Recreation is requesting the following roads to be closed for the 8mile 5K races on July 25th and that would be Bennett Street 8:30 a.m. to 8:45. Church Street Crossover 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The intersection of Church Street 5:30 a.m. to 8:45. Elm Street 8:30 a.m. to 7 10:30 a.m. or as needed for the runners to get across the street. Uh then Main Street northbound and the northern crossover from 5:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. And then the main Main Street southbound 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Item number Okay, we'll do them individually then. Okay. Thank you, Tom.

Okay, we have a motion and a second on the parks and wreck request. All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstensions? Thank you. Item 6B, the Women's Club. Uh I would like to move that we uh approve their request. They would like to close the Southern Crossover from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June the 6th. Sorry, Paul. Any discussion? All those This is for the Teddy Bear Festival. Any other questions? All those in favor? I Item opposed. Any abstensions? Thank you.

Item 6 C. I'd like to move that the uh for the Mariel Center of the Arts, they would like to re uh close Chapel Hill Road on various dates. There's a list that was uh along with the agenda uh when they have their performances at the Marielall Center. And I don't really want to read all 12 of them. Thank you. True gem up there, that's for sure. Yep. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstensions? Thank you.

And item 6D, I'd like to move uh for Lichfield County artisans. The closure uh they would requested was Church Street crossover and Church Street from Main Street to the municipal parking lot behind the town hall on Saturday, July 18th from 6:00 a.m. to 700 p.m. Thank you. Any discussion? I have Oh, sorry. No, go ahead. discuss go back. We didn't we didn't say what the crossover for what southern crossover for the women's club of greater Milford. It just says the crossover. It's the crossovered one teddy be what street?

So the crossover is right at crossover for church street. Okay. So this Yeah. No, she doesn't. The southern crossover is the one here and then the northern is the one up by in front of the congregational. All right. Thank you. Yeah. And that's for the teddy bear. Yeah. Okay. So, uh, Litfield Artisans. So, we have we had a motion in a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I oppose. Any abstensions? Thank you.

Item seven, uh, youth agency. I'd like to appro we uh to request that we move that to approve the youth agency to accept a $750 stipen from the substant abuse and mental health services administration. This stipen is to support the youth agency's participation in the 2026 community's talk to prevent alcohol and other drug misuse initiative. The awarded money would be deposited in an existing grant project as the youth agency has received this funding previously. So here we have account 430 5 0000 49506 42022 revenue and account 430 500 0000 59902 42022 expense miscellaneous account. So moved. Second.

Thank you. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Any other extensions? Thank you.

Okay. Now we move on to uh grant compliance uh specialist things that have uh done a nice job to get these. So this would be item 8A. The town of New Milford's been awarded $5,000 through the Connecticut Department of Transportation in partnership with the Western Connecticut Council of Governments. This is to host a new Milford bike day. This incentive is designed to give children from low-income families the chance to enjoy biking in a safe and supported environment. Through this event, children in need will receive new bicycles, helmets, and reflective vests, helping remove financial barriers and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle. Item B, and these don't we don't really need to do uh a motion here, do we?

Yeah, because these are separate. So, we'd have to make I thought I thought at the end they did it. Okay. So this I move that. Do I have a second for that? Aa and this will be our third year of doing you. This will be our third year of doing bike day. So a big huge thank you to Department of Transportation as we've been able to get those children in need uh some wonderful bikes so they can enjoy. Absolutely. Are you working with Walmart to get? Yep. Yes sir. For years the Rotary did that, you know, but now it's nice that you do it because you can the town can handle more kids. So, we have a motion in a second. All those in favor? Any opposition? Any Okay, thank you.

Okay. Item 8 B. I'd like to move the following uh from the small cities grant. That's a CDBG grant. To be eligible as a recipient, we would be to be eligible for future funding. The Connecticut Department of Housing requires that each community actively evidence its commitment and actions to support fair housing and equal opportunity principles and practices by adopting an annual fair housing resolution as this. Whereas all persons are afforded a right to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice. And whereas federal fair housing laws require that all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familiar status, or national origin, be given equal access to all housing related opportunities, including rental home ownership opportunities and be allowed to make free choices regarding housing, housing location. And whereas Connecticut fair housing laws require that all individuals regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income or familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, or expression be given equal or inexpression be given equal access to all housing related opportunities including rental and home ownership properties. opportunities and be allowed to make free choice regarding housing location. And whereas the town of New Milford is committed to upholding these laws and realizes that these laws must be supplemented by an affirmative statement publicly endorsing the right of all people to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice. Now, therefore, it is resolved that the town of New Milford hereby endorses a fair housing policy to ensure equal opportunity for all persons

to rent, purchase, obtained financing, and enjoy all other housing related services of their choice on a non-discriminatory basis as provided by state and federal federal law and be further resolved that the chief executive officer of the town of New Milford or his or her designated representative is responsible for respond responding to and assisting any person who alleges to be a victim of illegal discriminatory housing practice in the town of New Milford and for advising such person of the right to file a complaint with the state of Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities or the US Department of Housing and Urban Development or to seek assistance from the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, legal services or other fair housing organizations to protect his or her right to equal housing opportunities.

Thank you. Any other any other discussion? Yes. Um do we routinely get CBG allocations in New Milford? I know like Danbury like every year they get some. Do we also sporadically we get we do apply? Uh but sometimes ours is denied. Okay. So we will be applying again this year. Not as often as Danbury because they go a lot of them go through United Way as the you know fiduciary. So I know I see a lot of them but we no too small. And um you know there were several references to different grants. Is there like who is applying for these grants like like is that a position in the city that somebody does? Victoria, she's our grant writer.

So she's the one that not only uh does the grant writing but also the compliance to make sure that we fully That's our job. Yeah. Thank you. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstensions? Thank you.

Great. Item 8 C. I'd like to move uh along with the following statements. Uh, the town of Nim Milford is eligible to receive up to $15,551 in reimbursements for expenses related to municipal emergency operations centers, staffing, and other emergency management activities through the 2025 emergency management performance grant program for the funding period of October 1st through September 30th of 2026. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Emergency Management Performance Grant Program, EMPG. This Okay. This reimburseable grant can be used for funds spent related to the emergency operations center, the associated staffing, and other emergency management activities such as salaries and or stipens for emergency management directors and support staff. Organizational costs such as phone, fax, internet, equipment cost, radios, computers, printers, travel, training, EOC activations, emergency responses, etc. resolved that the town of New Milford may enter into with and deliver to the state of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security any and all documents which it deems to be necessary or appropriate. And be it further resolved that Pete Bass as mayor of the town of New Milford is authorized and directed to execute and deliver any and all documents on behalf of the town of New Milford council and to do so and perform all acts and things which he deems to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the term of such documents.

And I think that's the end of that. Yep. Okay. Discussion call. All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstensions? Okay. Next is uh the discussion and update on Century Press. That's good. I don't have to read. I've asked Jack to come in and update the council on uh kind of where we are as far as uh the remediation process and the good news that came with that, right?

Yeah. Good evening. Um, we're continuing doing the environmental assessment and work at the Century Brass site. And I think the first thing and I may I think I mentioned this last meeting, but I'll just It is good news. Um, on April 29th, excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt you.

Yeah. Uh but just for the people that are watching uh both uh on camera and here in the audience and for some of our newer town council members, can you go over your work history? Yeah, I can. Um actually end of this month it'll be 48 years of doing engineering work. I started June 1st, 1978 at Anaconda. Yeah, I'm not I haven't done as long as you. Um and but over that time I've spent time at uh multiple companies start um and I started to transition into doing facilities and environmental work uh in 1982 and 83 and at that time I went to Waterberry State Tech picked up a um like an associates degree certificate there um and then became in 1989 I became a an adjunct professor and taught there until 2020 in their environmental um division. I continued to teach at Ames College in Colorado doing energy work. Um I at Anaconda I stayed until 85 doing environmental facilities work and then I uh took a job at the toranting company where I was the environmental I call me environmental guy but the environmental it started off as the engineer and ended up being the facil plant engineering manager for uh worldwide operations. I also served on Ingresol Rand's environmental health and safety council um until 2024. Uh went to work at a company called environmental u erm environmental resource management as one of their environmental managers. I worked on uh due diligence of acquisition divestatures of companies doing the due diligence for environ environmental that was worldwide. I was involved with also with uh building manufacturing plants in China and in the Czech Republic along with many in the United States. Um when returned to Ingresol ran for a couple

years um as an environmental health and safety person um at some at multiple facilities at which time I then took a position in uh town of Lichfield as their public works director. Then it went to Burlin as a public works director, town manager, and then you hired me. Um, so Jack, in the private sector, we'll go back to that and environmental. What would be something that they would call you on? I know when we were uh having to go up uh to uh Torington where the new courthouse is. You're telling me that used to be an old factory? Yeah.

That you actually were called upon. Could you kind of explain like why they would call you?

Well, one my office sat there u but um most of the reason was when I was hired they had some environmental compliance issues. Um and over well in in 18 years we went from when I got there to where we actually had people from D coming over and working with us and us training them in manufacturing processes. We also got the governors of war in South Carolina. We are ISO 14,000 certified. Um we worked on remediation uh recites. Uh we talk about century brass. It is a recropart fee facility. Uh toring company had multiple recra part B facilities which I managed uh including the dellisting and remediation of those. I managed the remediation budget including the u budgeting and reporting for the end report. you have to show financial assurance. So every year I would sit with uh the vice president of toring company ringol ran and we would go through and establish the financial assurance for the company on environmental impairment. So Jack, on this particular project, Century Brass, which the town has spent millions of dollars, and we'll get into that a little bit more, especially when we got our revolving loan from DEC, right, that we need to comply to because that's revolving loan money. We don't comply to the DEC. They could call that loan back.

Yeah. Yep. We we are working on Oh, sorry. So, I was just going to say, so Jack, you not only uh uh when you came on, we talked about that you kind of have to lead the charge on that, but you were also intimate intimately involved with the consultants that are still on site and have been on site when it comes to the remediation progress. Yeah. And when it comes to making sure that the facility would be clean enough for any kind of use that we would put on.

Absolutely. Um TRC was brought on. There was there's been a couple time bond and TRC. The the town transitioned from Tyion Bond to TRC probably around 2014 or 15. Um TRC has been your environmental consultant since for that site. We have others for other sites for that site. Um we are working with them. We're up in the third iteration of people. The other two retired and we're on to the third iteration. Um they've been very diligent. Um in the past couple months we have received an approval for what they call a quap. It's a quality assurance program for the um remediation program. Uh we filed a remediation plan about a year and a half ago. Uh you have to produce a quality assurance plan so that when you do the sampling and when you identify areas you follow this plan. So there's quality control on this the entire time. Uh the quap if somebody wants to read it's about a thousand pages or something. Um you won't won't have trouble sleeping. Um but it's it's it's a very detailed plan. Um D approved that. Uh oh, February 17th. Um this is a history. There's been about 50 reports just environmental reports on that site over over its history. 15 or 50

50 5-0. Um also the when we when they started there were 33 AOC's areas of concern. We're down to 13 which right now we're just working through closure. Um the quality assurance program will be what we'll be using when we go through to identify areas where we're going to do the closure. Uh also in 2004 there was an identification of a significant environmental hazard. uh they found MTBE in the groundwater and it was a concern about manganesees. Um we did some we did some checking uh with the health department. We need to go out and sample a drinking water well. We've received the data. We submitted the data to this state of South Carolina. Excuse me. I'm sorry. Moved on you. I spent a lot of time in South Carolina. So I'm uh Connecticut. And um we received on the 29th a certificate of compliance on the in there. They say we we're in full compliance with that. And of course, as only one as a good regulatory body says, you still have to uh do your remediation stuff, which we are doing.

So So Jack, for a layman like myself, right? A lot of acronyms there. So you talked a little bit about water and then you just talked about an acronym AOC. N AOC. Yeah. And that now it is areas of concern. area of concern and that has now been lifted. Can you talk

33 of them have started. We're down to 13 and these are what areas of concern is when when you start a part B permit, you hire someone like me at the time when I was consultant. I come out and I walk through your facility and I say, "Okay, you stored hazardous waste drums there. You got underground storage tank there. You have lagoons out here. Um, you may have had a PCB transport." and you go through and you identify all these areas and you write a detailed report saying these are areas of concern. Those areas of concern then go to the go to the the department and then you identify what you're going to do, how you rec how you're going to go and you're going to identify these may potentially sample them. You may make visual observations like if the transformer is not leaking, there's no staining, you may say, okay, that transformer does not need to be and you check it off. So, they start off at 33. They're down to we're down to 13. And some of these are very minor types of things. Some of them are going to take a little more work. And we're we're working through that right now. Um these some of these areas are in locations where if the if the town was to move the public works facility there, they would have to be closed out before. And that's we're we're put we're um focusing on those areas.

And Jack, you mentioned water. Yeah. Right. they went ahead and you did a testing on a well or wells and they came back how clean that's the only way you would get a certificate of um compliance from D. We actually worked very closely with uh D on identifying those. Uh they had brought them up to me and they said we needed to do this to close that out. We went back and forth. We we established what we were going to do. We produce the uh information to them. We they go through a review of it. It goes up to the department head before they will give you an approval. They gave us an approval on that and that ended that part right there with that approval.

Yeah, we don't with that. We know the significant environmental hazard is now removed and um well, it's closed. You never remove it, but it does you'll see on there it's closed. All right. Um, J, have there been two hazard mitigation plan reports that recommend that we not use the Century Brass site for DPW or other critical facilities, not because the water underneath is bad, but because the flooding being in a flood zone could spread hazardous waste from the DPW if it were there.

They're the one not from our consultants. Those were done by Westcog and they're not part of our our plan. And that's, you know, we are located now in a flood plane that that's open for uh the the um 100-year flood plane uh potentially would uh come up to just inside the property line and that's it. But if Westco's concerned, you're not why why is your position different?

I think that you know there could be concern but I if you look at the history of when how often this gets flooded, it's very infrequent. In fact, I've been here now eight years. There's not nothing even remotely close to that. If you go back over time, it's I don't remember I don't think it was back until like the early 80s that even um Youngsville Road flooded. And when we do get any type of uh heavy rain, which we've had quite a bit in the last couple of years, uh part of Route 7's uh flooded um you know over top and that's been it. And so you have no concerns if we put the DPW there that you know because that's in a flood zone. You you have no concerns about that? limited concern about that. Yes.

Also, a lot has changed since those studies. We the bridges have changed in the town. If you look at the bridge on West Aspect Ridge, that's a new bridge. You're building bridges now to to um standards of 1.2 times the bank width and above the flood plane. So, and we are continuing to do that. Uh if you look at all the bridges we're building, they are above that. Um so, I think that it's a not it is a good location to put this. It's a good use of a brownfield facility. Um, and there are, you know, if we are, if we got overly concerned about it, there are options of putting it in a different way out of the out of the facility.

But if we were to put DPW there, we'd have like a gas station there. There would be kinds of waste that would be there then that aren't there now, right? So, if it they were there before and they're on the site on the public works site now and we've taken but if we were to move them to Century Grass, that's where they'd be located, right? There'd be like a a gas station there which has already been approved by the active protection agency, right? But but being in a flooding zone, you know, maybe it doesn't happen every year, but when it would happen, where would that waste go?

You could Well, first of all, there you don't you operate it such that there's a process so that you're not discharging any waste to the ground. You do have to have that in place. Um, as far as the tank goes, we put a tank right next to public works like three years ago and as part of we we met with wetlands and we met with them about that and we you can chain it down and bolt it down. We took that plan to both the AC protection and to D and the location of the a potential location for a gasoline facility there was approved. Thank you. Any other questions to Jack on the update so far? I just want to make sure

and we'll discuss uh Ari had asked uh to put put uh the third party thing that's going to be later on on the agenda. Um but this I just wanted the uh town council to kind of get an update where we are so far in the process of Century Brass. Thank you, Jack. Mary Jane, um Jeff, how many wells are actually on the property?

Uh there was one well associated with Century Brass. Uh there was a well, it was a permitted there's two withdrawal permits at the Century Brass site when I got here. They're both closed out. There was a withdrawal well registered with D that was in the center of this facility. Uh we got a notice from them probably in 2021 or so asking if we want to renew it. we didn't renew it and therefore what you do is you close it out using their closure process. You have a you hire a registered firm. They come in, they properly close the well, they put bentonite in there and close the well. So there's no possibility of water moving from the surface to things that are groundwater. There are no more wells on the site. As part of remediation, we probably will have to put a couple of monitoring wells on. That's typical for a record facility.

Thank you. Thank you, Jack. If you can still stand here for a second, we have uh the request uh okay for using uh uh some of the money from some of the uh roofs that we had. Oh, yeah. Some of the extra money. Do you want me to do that? Yep.

Okay. So item 9B, I'd like to move that we take the action of transferring 56,850 of the unexpended balance from the free senior center roof project. And that account is 430 500 0000 59902 96003 and 39,665 of the unexpended balance from the max roof project account 43050 0 59907. That would go to the JPCC roof project account 43000 0 59902 96003 within the capital reserve fund.

Thank you. And a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I oppose. Any Thank you. Okay, Katie. Next.

Okay. Is the uh discussion uh and possible action? And I'd like to move that uh there's a resolution and this is number 9C uh from the Still River Drive and Pumpkin Hill Road intersection improvement project and it is resolved that Pete Bass, mayor of the town of New Milford, is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the town of New Milford a grading and drainage easement and agreement by and between the state of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. as we know deep to enable the town of New Milford to roadway construction activities at land owned by Deep being known as a portion of Lovers Leap State Park and it is authorized to execute and enter into all documents necessary to consummate the agreement above contemplated.

Thank you.

Thank you. And Chuck, you could give a little update on this project that's been a while uh in the making. Hey, good afternoon. Uh Chuck Ballard, design engineer for the town of New Milford. This is the Pumpkin Hill Still River Drive intersection improvement project. This is where we're kind of teeing up that intersection and adding a turn lane on Still River Drive, Rogue Street. Uh so that way they can make safely make that turn. Uh what this really entails is D is asking for a formal easement so that way we could drain water like we currently are doing onto their property. Uh right now there's no formal easement. They just basically want to document what we're doing now. We're going to make repairs to that so we can outlet water and put in some proper basically uh spillways onto their property. So all this does is just formalize exactly what we're doing currently now. It's just taking the road water uh out through the catch basins into the property and and it eventually empties into the river. Now so this is just a a survey, a map um documentation and then eventually be signed off on an agreement. Uh this just gives the mayor permission to sign off on set easements and move forward. Uh this comes along with basically a $2,000 document documentation fee through the state of Connecticut. All all the survey maps and documentation is being handled by the state. Um but again, this is just the resolution to be allowed to perform these activities. and Chuck for the minutes and for those watching just to confirm the Still River Drive and Pumpkin Hill Road intersection project would would do what? This uh will improve the traffic safety for that intersection by allowing a turn lane specifically for traffic heading in the southbound direction coming down Grove Street heading towards Still River. It'll provide a turn lane for those wanting to turn left into Pumpkin Hill. Uh right now we we see a high incident uh rear-end crashes specifically in that intersection. So it'll provide uh safer

turning movements for those and provide a little bit of better sight line for those coming out of Pumpkin Hill wanting to take a left as well. So uh we're not looking to do a traffic signal there. It's just more improved kind of tea up tea up that intersection allow for better sight lines and just better traffic flow. reduce some congestion as well. So that that way cars can free flow for instead of just queuing up in and waiting for people to turn left onto Pumpkin Hill. Any questions for Chuck? Oh, that's really needed. I just, you know, if you're coming down Pumpkin Hill and it's high traffic time, like at 5:00 in the afternoon, and you want to take a left, it's horrible.

Good luck. That's right. You can't get out. Yeah, unless somebody's going to be kind to and they're not. They speed up. You are still waiting on the courtesy of other drivers. I do agree. But at least for those that are waiting in a queue, you know, there there will be some ability to pass and it'll, you know, there is a high frequency of, you know, rear end crashes or crashes in general there. So, another bad spot as bad as high. Yeah, it'll help. Anyone? Any other discussion? All in favor? I oppose. Extensions. Thank you, Chuck. Thanks, Chuck. Uh, mayor, item 10. Uh, would you like me to read 10 A? Yes, please.

Okay. I would uh like for discussion, but I will move that uh we take action on hiring a third party to investigate alternative locations for the Department of Public Works, which includes analysis, space, programming, concept, design with an amount not to exceed $200,000. Second. I know Ari, you had brought this up. If you'd like to talk a little bit about your motion.

Sure. Uh well, I think there could be some advantages to moving DPW to the Century Brass site. Um we already own it. Um and so there's a cost savings to that. Um but I wouldn't want us to be pennywise and a pound foolish. I would want to explore all of the options that are available. Um sometimes if you go with the least expensive thing, there are unanticipated expenses and opportunity costs that can come up afterwards. Uh, so it seems reasonable and prudent to uh have a third party investigate what are the options available to us so that we can make a wise decision. Thank you, Ari. I'd like to bring Jack back up if you can, Jack.

Oops. And kind of just some brief history for those watching and those that are new on the council. This is something that we've been talking about uh since 1993. Uh couple things. You can look at the POC from 2010. When you look at the POCD page 82, there's a section public works. The needs for general public works facilities are included here. Discussions about waste disposal and road maintenance are outlined uh later. The DPW facilities are located on Youngsfield Road. Facilities include offices, equipment storage, assault storage barn, fuel station, and recycling center. According to the DPW, the facilities, some of which are 80 years old, are outdated and undersized to meet the modern needs. Specific needs include indoor and outdoor storage space for equipment, upgrades to comply with state and federal federal environmental and safety regulations, wash space for vehicles. The DPW facilities are not in an optimal location. The property located between the downtown and the historic Husat and Husatonic River could be put to better use. DPW facilities have an industrial nature and are not compar compatible with nearby residents. DPWs indicated that its preference would be to relocate to an industrial zone where they would have adequate space for their facilities and a few hours nearby. I preface this first that this was in 2010. I believe Mary Jane, you and I were on town council. I was not mayor in 2010. I was on town council so I was not mayor. Um couple other housekeeping uh items as well

is give me just uh one moment here. This was back in January 26th 2020 2015. Randy remembers this. This was from Laura Reagan, our zoning enforcement officer. The town has submitted a map amendment application for a zone change of 12 Scoville Street, commonly referred to as the Century Brass Enter uh Enterprise Center property, consisting of two tax lots, maps 35, lots four and five, totaling 65.88 acres from the industrial zone to the government service GSD zone. I have reviewed the following documents. Petition to amend the zoning map. Letter of request from mayor Patricia Murphy. Tax assessor's map. List of abuing property owners. Schedule a legal description. And it goes on. Legal description. Property line adjustment memo from Joseph uh Judor Planning Commission Chairman. The subject is 65.8 an 8acre site as frontage on the west side of the aspuk ridge road northern side of the husatonic avenue is accessed from Scoville Street which is a deadend road off the west side of the aspuk ridge road. The site is currently located in the industrial eye zone and it is surrounded by a diverse mix of zoning districts and uses to the north. It is bordered by vacant land and has been approved for development at that time of a 64 unit active adult community called the Sycamores. That hasn't happened. The south it is bordered by the Husatonic Railroad, Husatonic Avenue, the Milford Ambulance headquarters. To the east, it is bordered by a vacant lot, a single family residence, and a contractor shop with caretakers apartment. Across Aspatuck Ridge Road to the east there is

landscaping business attorney's office single family homes. Two Rivers Lane it's called. To the west side is bordered by the Milford farms. Two vacant properties that have been approved for construction of two multi-unit warehouse buildings but that currently contains single family homes. The west bless you. The west aspuk river borders the northeast corner of the property and the easterly quarter of the property is located in a 100redyear flood plane. A majority of the site is located in the town's aquafer protection area site and history of the existing conditions. Uh they talk about the lot numbers and they said in 1999 the the town obtained the property by tax foreclosure with financial assistance from both the state and federal governments. over the last 15 years. At that time, the property has undergone a multi-million dollar environmental assessment and cleanup. However, the vacant building contaminated with asbesus and PD PCB still remains and now it's been taken down. So, in March 2014, the town was awarded 2.5 million from the state department of economic and community development. That's the revolving loan we talk about, which is the to assist in the demolition and proper disposal of the building, which is targeted to begin in the spring. And this is where Mayor Murphy gave her proposal to the Department of Economic uh development. Mayor Patricia Murphy on behalf of the town is requesting a zone change of the 65.88 acre site from the industrial zone to the government services district. Now I remind you this is in 2015. So that was 11 years ago. The GSD is an overlay zone, so it will

be placed on top of or in addition to the underlying base district, which in this case is the industrial zone. According to the mayor's letter of request, the addition of the GSD will allow the town more flexibility in the use of the property by allowing potential for some government service district uses on portions of the property. The government service zone is a class of district in addition to an overlapping one or more of the other districts. The purpose of the government service zone is to ensure that the use of land, buildings and other structures in safe development within the zone are conditioned in a manner that protects the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the town in the Milford and will not hinder nor discourage the appropriate development and use of adjacent property or impair value thereof. So, Jack, as I'm going to continue to read that, but with your extensive experience doing all of these type of projects, one of the things that we need to be cognizant of is the town in New Milford. If we were to move forward with a project of public works moving from where it is right now, 80-year-old buildings that are very non-compliant as it is into a state-of-the-art facility, would we be uh protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens as we would be at Century Brass? Yeah, I think um when you build a new facility, you bring it up to current standards both um from a facil from a building code to a fire code to environmental regulations. And you know, those buildings were built before EPA or D or anybody existed. Um as part of when you apply for a aquifer protection and uh permits, you have to give them a

materials management plan. You have to describe how you handle your materials, any waste, any raw materials, things like that. There's secondary containment. There's ways of making sure that you protect the environment and having any material go in into the environment. That's a requirement of what you do today. Um whether you're in a public facility, whether you're in a private facility, that's what you do. Um you're you're subject to audits or inspections by D, by OSHA um to come in. That's while you while you'll say you're subject to that, you shouldn't operate at a minimum. You should operate above that. And that's the goal of what we're doing as we meet. And if you ask any of my staff to come up here and talk to you now, they'll tell you that when I teach environmental regulations, the first thing I say when I start the course is comp compliance is not the goal. That's just the starting point. And that's how we're operating here. as we go forward, we're going to design this so that we're an example of how you design a public works facility in 2026. And going forward, um we look at if we look at uh looking at alterative materials, making sure whatever we use is as least hazardous as possible. Um when we design something like a salt shed, it's going to make sure that we have a membrane underneath it. and you put uh you put down asphalt underneath, not concrete, which is, you know, somewhat, you know, different from what people would think. Concrete gets eaten by the salt, so you use an asphalt. It's all contained there. Um we're going to make sure that we do that kind of thing. And then it's well maintained and swept. Um there will be there will be um industrial you have to comply with the storm water sampling. So, we doing making sure our systems work so that uh that there's not material getting into any of the any of the drains as we do now. Um we're we're doing this today. We're improving and we're constantly talking. We're going for an accreditation right now for public works. We'll be one of like three in the state that is accredited. As part of that, you have to put in your

processes and your procedures just as you would with ISO 14,000. So, all I'm doing is taking ISO 14,000 and I'm saying, "Okay, use that as an example of what we got to do." And I mean, Chuck's here and I the other staff, if you asked them, I'd be I'm more than willing to say, "You asked anyone." And they'll tell you that's our discussion every day.

Jack, as I'm continuing to to read this, the government service uh district uh section 08502 use classifications. This is obviously subject to approval. Zoning. The following municipal regional uses of land in addition to uses of land permitted by right or by special permit and underlining zone are permitted in the government service zone upon acquisition of a special permit from the commission. Number one, a public works yarding, storage and repair of all public works vehicles. Two, operation of a heavy equipment. Three, storage of sand, gravel, salt and construction materials. Four, recycle activities. Five, storage of tire and white goods. Six, a sign shop. Seven, ambulance building and storage. Eight, service trailers. Nine, leaf pile storage and composting, which would be in a vector building uh because we want to be compliant. 10, any public services activity necessary to respond to an emergency. 11, bulky solid waste transfer station. Bulky waste transfer station. And then uh this is Laura. In my opinion, the additional uses permitted within GSC are consistent and compatible with the uses already permitted on the property in the industrial zone. Conclusion chaining the zoning designation of the property is a legislative power. Uh uh the highest level discretion of zoning commission. Therefore, from a reg regulatory standpoint, the only guidance she could offer is that the commission should find the change to be in accordance with the plan. reasonably related to the normal police power purchases. Randy, was this approved by zoning?

It was like to go to the north zoning commission regular meeting minutes of February 10th, 2015. This would be page three. And I'll make sure you have all these so you can put it in the minutes. Mayor Patricia Murphy gave an overview of how the grant was obtained by the Department of Economic and Community Development. Therefore, the expectation is that the property be used for economic development. She said that the town is looking to potentially move some if not all of the Department of Public Works activities to this location. Mind you, again, minutes February 10th, 2015. This this relocation of the DPW activities such as rock crushing should also improve conditions for the residents that are so close to the current operation. The town is looking to market this property to cleaner light industrial manufacturing as well. Mayor Murphy explained the entire relocation of DPW would likely occur out of an agreement should someone desire to do something on the riverfront. The town would look for financial assistance from interested parties to move DPW from its current location to this site. The front side of the property has been presented to the state as potentially four or five parcels that could be used for current businesses. Mr. Taylor opened the floor to the public. There was no participation. Mr. Ward moved to close a public hearing for the town of New Milford map amendment application for the zone change 12 Scoville Street Centry Enterprise Center consisting of two tax lots map 35 lots four five totaling approximately 65.88

acres from the industrial zone to the government services district. The motion was seconded by Miss Florio and carried unanimously. So as you can see this is now a government zone. This was not done a year ago, two years ago, one year ago, seven years ago. This was done by former administrations. Ari, I'll let you, you had a question, and I have some other information I'd like to pass out as well.

Thank you. First of all, I just want to say, um, Jack, we're lucky to have you on the team. Uh, there's probably nobody within a radius of 100 miles with your experience and expertise, and we're fortunate to have you. Thank you for your service. Um, that being said, you know, I'm sure you can understand that there's still going to be a lot of people in this town that are still going to be concerned about the aquifer and the wetlands nearby and aren't going to necessarily be convinced by your assessment because most of the calamities that have happened have been approved and accepted by science. But, you know, nature runs its course and we're living in a time of extreme climate change and that can lead to heavier storms. Maybe the bridges are different, but the storms are getting worse and there could certainly be more severe flooding in that flooding zone. So, that's a concern people are going to have notwithstanding your expertise on the subject. And and and Mr. Mayor, I just want to say um you've been referring to several documents from 2010 through 2015. And um first of all, I want to say we're not necessarily bound to follow through on the aspirations of 10, 15 years ago. But some of these are good ideas. Like I agree that public works, the whole town would be better served if public works were relocated, if we had a state-of-the-art facility. Like, you've got no objection from me, and I think most people would really like to see that. And I don't think anyone's got any objections to the zone change, but just because the zone was changed in an aspiration of the DPW moving there, my understanding is it can't actually happen without the town approving and that kind of thing. So,

correct. Yes, sir. Um, Jack, I know that uh one of the things I wanted the council to see was I believe you have a map uh that shows what the government overlay zone would look like. And this was done when was this done, Jack? 2016. So the pen mark on the bottom right corner is my pen mark. I looked up the date today. This was a plan produced in 2016 that shows multiple uses for the site, including public works. Mhm. Um, this was in our class. If we could Yeah, exactly. If we could start over with Mary, Jane, and Diane and kind of move it around. So, you can see this is something has been just about 10 years.

Yep. This is something that's been talked about for uh for several years. For several years. And I know Tom, you were also involved when Mayor Murphy was uh talking about the government services zone to get the revolving loan. And one of those was talking about how we could be energy efficient there as well. Yeah, there there should be a tenants courts size piece there that showed a potential fuel cell

uh which was one of the u you know, one of the key things the state was looking for. uh having energy efficiency as part of um any of their grants for any cleanup was always a benefit. But we started this I mean the the the meetings for the 2010 POC where we had hundreds of people coming out um to these sessions again in 2020. I participated in both of them. Uh and these are long range studies. what the plan of conservation and development is uh based on uh public input and we had a tremendous amount of public input.

Thank you. Thank you, Tom. And one of the thing Thank you, Jack. Jack, if you could move over here. One of the things when uh I I did become mayor and Jack became uh public works um director I was going to say one of the things when I became mayor and then Jack became public works director we were looking at this this was precoid uh we looked at uh you know seeing the needs of as we did a need needs assessment seeing the needs of the current facility how woefully lacking that was all the investment they we're putting in in machinery and how it sits outside environmentally not the best thing to have especially when you're a stones throw across from the river. So Jack, we did look at other locations

for uh the brass milk site.

One of them was uh right now where the roundabout was with OMG with their property. They've now kind of parcled that out, but we looked at that as one area. We looked at Petty Bone as another area. And we also looked at Century Brass. Jack, in your opinion, as you had stated to me before, what is in your opinion the best site, the best uh area for our soontobe or hopefully with public approval a new public works state-of-the-art facility. We we came to the conclusion after doing that because the proximity it's just not when when it's a brownfield site and you should reuse brownfield site. It's you don't want to use virgin property to to develop. So that's I mean that's something you go through with EPA and and when you're working on these things you should you I was involved with the Fafner sites in New Britain and Torington. I'm still involved with the Torington sites. A friend of mine is the engineer there. But you should reuse a site like this one. two, it's flat. And I know Tom and the mayor were very much involved and I'm still working on this as being able to get solar u power there and being able to generate more than what we would need. And we're looking at different ways of being able to use that power. We looked at setting up a a micro grid and Randy was involved. We looked at all kinds of different ways of doing this. We're still looking at this and there's there is, you know, state we got we state grants and things for doing that, but we have to get past this point. It's C and maybe one of the more important things, it's central to the town.

It's a it's, you know, if you look at the way the Milford's configured, it's like central to the town. It's a good location as far as getting out, you know, um you can go up to Mariel, you can go out to the out to River Road and uh you can go down through the center of town. Um, you have to be we have to be careful where else we go we go to put this as far as also you know I've been involved as a selectman and a board of finance in Lisville. I was a town manager in Burwin. One of the things that I constantly was and I still talk to the town of Lisville about is the town doesn't want to o one remove a lot of property out of off tax roles. You need that and you shouldn't take on any more property than you need. So when you have a site like this you already own it. You're not going to take it off the tax rail roles. It's a good relication and if we're able to generate electrical power there. It's a good utilization and we're not buying piece of green field property and having to develop that and taking that off the tax roles. I just that was the way I managed where wherever I'd been. I looked at doing that. Um and all right, one thing um just so you know I understand uh and it is a new you know world today as far as argument but I can tell you my experience of trying to get two two schools through the town of Lichfield um from 2002 to 2006 it's exciting and you have a lot of public meetings so I I'm familiar and I think it's a good thing debate is always a good thing

and uh you know Jack to kind of stay on that because there are concerns as Ari said from some of our public when it comes to water when it comes to really being environmentally sound. So, what it did is the council sees here and for the public, you have the minutes here. We may not understand, some people may just think our aquafer zone is just century brass. No, that's not anywhere the case. It's pretty huge.

Huge. Matter of fact, so huge. I'm going to give you some of the places that are in this zone. So, if we're concerned about the aquifer and we're concerned about the zone, then I should probably be talking to these entities, too,

to let them know. Canterbury School, uh, Mr. Cool Beth, uh, Sin Winston McKenna, Yard Apes, uh, New Milford Internal Medicines, the Mallet Group, A1 Auto Body, A Muddy Paw, Bike Express, J&J Auto Body, uh, Mr. Gardner, who's right there on the bridge. Uh just going here the the let's see Oddfellows the gas stations that are up along there. I already talked to you Rolando. You know your area there. McDonald's.

Um oh yeah, the gasaries. Yep.

Yep. Uh let's see some of the uh let's see. I'm just going through this right here. some of the uh retail spaces that we have the karate studio um retail retails veterans plaza big y savings bank of Danberry Litchview uh let's see uhatonic valley radiology Connecticut orthopedic services advanced specialty care um uh it's now Echo church used to be a Bible baptist church, the temple, um these are all ones. Aquarian water, O'Brien Insurance, um the deli, Maron, Marendola Fuel, Canowit Animal Hospital, um let's see who else we have here. Lilis funeral home, uh J&J Collision and Repair, West Street Power, the New Milford Foundry, the Bleachery, Mitchell Oil. These are just to name a few that are in the aquifer. And the reason why and the reason why I brought that up tonight and I continue to bring it up is we don't live in a perfect world. don't live in one. But what we can do is use ingenuity, technology that God gave us to overcome things. And if we are going to set a standard, so I hear a standard when people come at public participation, the standard, then you need to have the standard throughout the whole the whole whole aquifer protection.

That means all these that means a way that means all those entities. Or do we do it the smart way? We listen to our own DPW director with you heard his extensive experience. Oh my gosh. Who's taking a look at other locations who just told you today this is the best spot that we have for many reasons. Jack, quick question. Does Connecticut have their own Department of Transportation DPW facility? The one that's on Camp Road, across the street from the brewery. Is that on the

Yep. Sorry. So um you mentioned several places that are already on top of the aquifer but that doesn't mean that we would just want you know unbridled development beyond what we already have and most of the places that you mentioned some have you know storage of some toxins but not at the same level that the DPW would have I mean it would have a gas station it would have a giant pile of salt and it's in a flood zone not all of those they might be over the aquifer, but they might not be in a flood zone all the time. And so there's a difference for this and I I think that's why a lot of people are concerned.

Great question. As far as the flood zone area, you would be talking from uh probably Nestle or the old Ma um Medstill property all the way down the Husatonic all the way the bleachery. You'd be talking about Big Y. uh even before that all the way down Route 7 all the way almost to McDonald's they're all in a flood zone

they're all there and the point that I was just trying to make is we can use technology to help mitigate that risk so that we don't have issues right now at our DPW facility those are 1940 buildings we're more at risk today with those being there than if we moved it to a state-of-the-art facility Jack.

Um because there's the terminology flood zone, there's different levels on the on the Century Brass site, there's two different there's well actually three different levels. Um the 100red-year flood plane, which is the one when we if we when we apply to zoning, we have to stay out of the 100-year flood plane. If you drive in, it's if you drive in, you'll notice there's like a depression and the road goes up like this. It's that depressed area. Once you get out of that, that's you're out of the 100-year flood plane. You are now up into the 500-year flood plane. The only place on the property it's not in a 500-year flood plane is the actual concrete that the old building sat on. But most of when you apply to zoning all along Route 7 or any place there, you're talking about the 100-year flood plane. So, we are not building in the 100-year flood plane. Um, just as the public works, um, for the state of Connecticut, if you look, there's some odd walls and things, you're going to say, "Why did they build it that way?" It's out of the 100-year flood plane.

Climate change, the 100red-year flood plane might not be a hundred years. It might be a lot less than that, right? I mean, we're seeing a lot of severe weather already, and it's definitely going to be getting worse. I I don't think anyone's in disagreement about that. Sorry. Sorry, S. I wasn't done talking. S, point of order. I was talking. We're all being really respectful today. You don't need to interrupt. I don't talk nonsense. You do. I mean, we're talking about climate change. You propose 200,000. There's no need for you to interrupt. You propose 200,000. Now, we're talking climate change. Okay. Go ahead. It's not necessary. Makes no sense. We're sitting here. There's plenty of opportunities to crap. I'd like to go for it. It's not gibberish crap. Go.

I've been distracted and I've lost my train of thought. Exactly. Because you never had one. Climate change. Yeah. So to just speak and then

I find it kind of ironic that the same people that are opposing this move of the DPW to the brass mill never spoke up when there was steel with concentrations of as asphalt and PCBs laying on the property during the last administration. Nor do I remember them complaining about the fact that we were going to have ammonia gas transferred through the town by rail to go over to the new plan of a power plant on that property. Nobody that was on this council ever ever took and opposed that. And I find it very ironic during this construction, if I'm not mistaken, we got two big brothers that are going to be watching us. We got the state of Connecticut and we've got this the federal government. Both of them are going to be looking at whatever we do on that property and ensuring the fact it's safe. And before we go spend $200,000 of money that we can use to build the property, I find it ironic that the taxpayers are already paying the state and the federal government tax money for their agencies to be watching us. So I think enough is enough. I've had enough listening to everybody. I've listened to emails. I've listened to people on the street. 70% of the people that voted in the last three elections or four elections want DBW moved over to the brass mill. And uh I don't know where we can go from there, but I've had it right to here.

Uh so I mean you seem to be suggesting that it's politicized, but I it is politicized. Well, it's politicized. Perhaps it is. Of course it is. It isn't for me. I don't think it's politicized for the most going through some of your followers. So, let's stop it. So, the last administration if we've got an authorization to put the DPW over on the brass mill, then I'm all for it. Somebody Somebody's going to make a stop sooner or later, either the federal government or the state if there's a problem. We've already almost all of your motions. So, it's not

I understand that. This has nothing to do with my emotions or or seconds or anything else. It's it's basic fact. We're sitting here and arguing about a move of a DPW that's been going on for years and years and years. I'm a ninth generation. I'm sure other people here the same thing. Ninth generation of person living in this town. I've got 11th generation nieces and nephews that are living in this town. I'm not going to do anything that's going to hurt my future dependence. Period. Not purposefully, but we can all make mistakes. Um, we have a motion and second. Oh, S, you want to speak? Want to stop?

All right. So, we've been listening for about an hour now. Jack explaining

is kind of sort of. So, as far as I'm concerned, DPW right now is in a big time flawed zone, right? because if anything happens and the the building is old and everything else. So if anything anything what we're planning to do is going to improve the situation or make it worse. So what's in front of us is right now $200,000. And who's going to pay for this? You. Everybody who's watching us? Me too. $200,000 for a fantasy. Fantasy. Someone's going to come. Someone's going to produce AI presentation. Someone's gonna do something and it's gonna walk away. I don't know consultants who's not gonna take $200,000 and walk with another So for $200,000, this is pure fluff. We've got expertise. We've got this thing going on. I've been I've been listening to this way before you did uh when you joined this council. So this is not new. We've discussed it to the point of fascination. $200,000 for what? For something for the climate change. Ridiculous. Let's cut it off. It's people that that are paying for this. They want watching us. $200,000. Give them the money if you want to spend that kind of money for the for the energy bill that they pay right now for all the crap that they that the Connecticut give it to them. It's nonsense. We spent we spent 500

excuse me, we spent $5 million few years ago to buy equipment for this town. Besides it, to save the taxpayers money, the same equipment is sitting out in front of the the building that we've got right now rusting damaged by snow, wind, rain, and anything else environment. And not only that, but we also have uh probably kids busting into some of this stuff. So, we've got to do something sooner or we're throwing $5 million down the drain.

It's I agree with Paul that we've got to do something. Um I just I don't think $200,000 is unreasonable. I think that's due diligence and we could subject ourselves to a liability that would vastly exceed $200,000 if we don't play our cards right and be smart about it. You don't have to cut me off every time, S. I'm talking right now and you're cutting me off every time. You sabotaging the problem with you. You're sabotaging. You're sabotaging something. It's not okay to talk on top of people all the time. I'm telling you, sabotage. Excuse me. Pardon me, Diane.

Thank you, Pete. So, as a member of the uh 2020 POC and a member uh right now of Riverfront Revitalization, I have heard Jack and his people describing what has been done and what will be done at um Century Brass if if DPW goes there. And um I am completely convinced I'm blown away by your um your uh qualifications. I heard about those for the first time tonight. That was unbelievable. Um, just a little. Yeah. Um, I am completely convinced that Century Brass is the best place for it. I've always felt that way. And if we I cannot imagine spending money to hire consultants because we have we have gentlemen here. We have Chuck Ballard and uh Jack Healey and Dan Calhoun who know this town, you know, every single inch. And I don't think for a moment that they haven't considered everything that could be considered and this is the best thing for us. So I'm going to be voting against um hiring a any sort of consultant.

So Mary Jane, so if if we were to look at another area to put the DPW, what what would be what would eliminate the area? like do you need to be on the um east side of the river versus the west side of the river? I think you get that's sort of like one of these, you know, if you're on I mean because if you did have a big flood and you were on the west side of the river. Yeah. You'd be we'd be screwed basically, right? Is there any other property like how many? It's what 16 acres that

there's 60 acres there. What I would say is 54 acres is nice and flat that it's that, you know, when you drive out, you see that flat area. How many acres are you going to be using? Did you say we're going to Well, we're going to use probably like about 25 to 30 of it because we're still doing a remediation on top of the uh the slab and stuff. And then there's also the smoke tower. Remember, we've got the smoke tower, which the fire department's already purchased. It's sitting there waiting so we can erect the smoke tower. So, they're going to be using part of the site, too. Yeah. Um, if you had to look around the town to another area, is there any other area that that could provide you what you need? Is there any place?

Not really. I mean, not that's readily available that you're not having to p No, not really. It's This is flat. It's It's well located. Um, it's centrally located. It's got a good distribution in multiple directions to leave um tax roles. Yeah. Well, that's, you know, so let's let's bring that up to the people who, you know, our bank taxes. Um, District Road, you No, you don't want to be on, you know, that's pretty much used up. Um, you don't want to put it at Petty Bone because, you know, we're we're at one point, if you remember, mayor, in 2019 or 20, we looked at Petty Bone. We said, well, but, you know, it's a nice location, but now it's it's really your center. I mean, you get we're looking at pickle ball courts and all that there. You don't want to put it there.

That's too valuable piece of property. Yeah. There really I don't know any other Excuse me. I Tom Tom, hold on. I can't hear you. Mary Jane, stop talking. Okay. Do you have something to say, Tom? Because you haven't been heard from. Well, I'm not. Oh, you're still talking. I'm sorry, Mary Jane. Just a second. Tom not only um I have a lot of respect for you and your opinions. Absolutely. and your education. I think we are very lucky to have you here and I do believe that with yes

with the technology that we have now um we can you know contain any real issues that um I worry about all these other places along here that have been approved and are they who's monitoring them? Are they still being monitored by deep or

DE would only look at things that are in certain levels of activity? You know, one of the things is because it was a quote unquote has this waste site and that's sort of because of what their operations were and it's a part B because it's got PCBs. Um it's it's gets much more attention. We're able right now between every time we get an approval to I don't want to say de deescalate but we're they see that we're moving forward and they're saying okay that box is checked that box is checked and that helps us um a lot and the other thing I'd like to say is you know I know we've talking like I guess it's part of where I come out of I come out of plating facilities manufacturing half a million square feet of just you know sch smuts everywhere that's a technical term sch smuts and you work on it. And so we made those processes. We closed loop plating systems. We took acid treatment systems and we made them so they're closed loop. We made them so they were safe and they weren't entering the environment. To me, when I look at this, this is not that difficult. You you know, we have Yeah, we have the the salt, but that the salt's going to be in a shed. It's going to be undercover. And your your exposure to salt is more because what we put on the road than what you what you got there. Um there's minuscule amounts of oil. I mean, you're talking just what we put in trucks. It's not like we have a large tank. The fuel is going to be either electricity off of the the um solar panels or we're going to use get natural gas. So, we're not going to have a large amount of tanks. You already have diesel tanks. Um and in fact, these will be bolted down. There's a standard that D is going to expect us to to do. There's a collection system to make sure that we don't spill it. This is something we do. Um I've put in over 220 um tank systems over my career. uh we can you know we can make this so it's not going you know you could you could you know the flood of 55 could come again too and I'm a student of the flood of 55 so um you know if that happens all bets are off and you know I talked to

the mayor about what happened two years in Oxford you there's there's nothing your your problem that that's not going to be the public works facility it's going to be that you got 69 bridges that we've got to figure out how to rebuild and how do we get people here to do so I'm more concerned about things like that. I think the public works facility when we're done, you could come down and you're going to say, you know, this is this is really how something should go. you walk take a look sometime at like the the if go on and watch the um History Channel and they talk about manufact I went to Bethlehem Steel a couple weeks ago. Huh. That's what you do for your birthday. Um but I you watch this stuff and you go and you look at what Ford was 20 years ago and you watch the automation now and you can go into their factories and you just about eat out the floor. That that's how that's how far we've progressed.

Thank you, Jack. You want to give Tom a chance? Yep. Tom, thank you. Can you guys hear me? Yes.

I appreciate Ari. I appreciate Ari's concern and everybody's concern about, you know, obviously clean water and the aquaers, but for many of us who have been doing this for a a long time, we had asked those same questions many years ago. We had engineering teams. We had all sorts of folks guiding us through both planet conservation and development. We had both sides of the aisle. This was the these were not political meetings. This was what were what were we looking for for the future of the town. And across the board, everybody felt that that this location to move DPW number one was essential to move it out of downtown and redevelop that area. And then and and second, the better spot for it was Sentry Brass because we were reusing what was a Brownsfield uh cleanup site, which was recommended and and was looked positively upon by the people who were giving us the grant money to clean it up. So, I I appreciate the the the you know, the concern, but these are the same questions that we were answering and posing to folks 15 and 20 years ago. If you go back and look at the history of this thing, um this has been going on a long time and uh and I'm glad to see that people that that just get on the council uh are asking the same type of aggressive questions that we did years ago. Um

Thank you, John. People people spoke about this multiple times. We've went over this at nauseium to make sure that this was going to be whatever we were going to do was going to be environmentally friendly. Thank you, Tom. Thank you. Um, short please because we have a motion and I will you go ahead and say what you want and then I'm going to call the vote.

I just want to say a lot has changed in 15 years and we're not bound to the aspirations of people 15 years ago. There are a lot more concerns now about climate disasters and the effect that this would have on the drinking water of New Milford and Brookfield and part of New Town. And um science makes mistakes, you know, like that's happens all the time. And I think a lot of people are not concerned out of political reasons. It's not political for me. It's out of concern for the drinking water and the environment. We all shared concerns about flat iron and a lot of those concerns are very similar about this site. And you know, I know some prominent Republicans that are also concerned about this. Okay. I don't think

I'm sorry, but you're you've continued this and so we have enough people here. I'm going to say it. I would like to call the vote. We have a motion. We had a second. So, okay. So, the motion is what, Stephanie? To hire a third party to hire for public works, which includes analysis space program design with an amount left to exceed $200,000. Right. Arie, you seconded it. Yep. All those in favor of the Oh, Mary J. So, if um instead of having at $200,000, wouldn't we be looking for an RFP from somebody versus allocating $200,000?

Something of this nature when you when you look at other towns that have done this, it runs about this price. So, I think the public, if we're going to be transparent, it would be up to. So, yeah, if we were to do that, not to exceed that. fully well letting everyone know that this would be what a price would be. If you're going to do that motion, there's going to have to be a motion that includes an appropriation and a recommendation, a request to the board of finance for $200,000 because that's Before we do that, Randy, just to get a clear this is something that that council even wants to do. Okay. We can make another motion to amend the the council and then add that on.

Okay. Can I I just have one more question. Sure. And what if we had to buy this property somewhere in town for this acreage that they would need for their facility? What do you What do we think that would cost if there was such an area? Yeah, there was such an area. Millions. Millions. I know it's kind of ambiguous question. 250,000 an acre. Those are millions. Yeah, millions. Okay. You'd probably be looking at and don't hold me to a Mary Jane, please, but it would be many millions of dollars, right? Yeah. About 250,000 acre for that type of And meanwhile, the could be a cost savings also.

Meanwhile, the brownfield would still sit there or we can make that pickle ball courts. Okay. So, we've heard uh the motion read to us. I would like to call the vote. Yep. All those in favor of the motion signal by saying I. All those opposed. Thank you. Thank you. Did you get that, Stephanie? Yes. Okay. Thank you. All right. Next

on to item 10B. I'd like to make a move that uh an a like to make a motion to recommend to the board of finance that they set the mill rate after the budget approval including the unanticipated tax relief revenue from the state which will be $654,84. This action is to reduce the proposed mill rate. I have a second. Thank you Paul. And we have a motion and a second. Uh the town received uh an additional 6 54

54,000 Thank you. Uh $84. And uh this was done uh in several uh in uh in iterations, let's just say. Yes.

The very last one done, the very last moment of the very last day. Uh this was always intended for this to be something to stabilize or lower the uh mill rate for this year as the um legislator legislation had felt that there needed to be some relief from our taxpayers. This came in two tranches uh uh $188,9992 and $465,812. One was for uh helping with the educational costs that are b born b born by the municipality and the other is 188,000 which is the pequa mohein sun uh fund that has been dormant uh at all. Uh so what would this do if approved? Uh this recommendation sent to the board of finance if the town approves our budgets. The board of finance sets the mill rate. So currently if the uh uh budget was to uh be passed we would be going uh down from our current 30.96% mill rate or 30.96 mill rate to 23.60 mills which is a 23.76% decrease in our mill rate. By adding this additional funding, we would then go down from 23.60 to 2350, which would then be a 24.11% decrease in our mill rate.

Excellent. Very good. Thank you. It's already been a motion and so and seconded. All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstensions? Thank you everyone. Uh like I we don't have anybody here. Just I want to remind everybody when you're watching this and those of you sitting here that because of the holiday that our scheduled next meeting will be a Tuesday, May the 25th is a holiday. So Tuesday the 26th. Everybody got that? A motion to motion. Thank you. A second. All those in favor? I opposed. Any abstensions? Thank you everyone. Thank you.