Remarks by Mathew Salter
94 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 4
Mayor Mrakas, On parts but. That that's how our vpa I believe that's what I brought forward to your board a couple months ago with yeah full report, I know it was so I just wanted it to be clear that it's based a parcel tax in every community so it's just the number of parcels in each community and then we're we all pay the same rate that rate is actually standardized cracked.
Okay, and then the last is for Krista. Do you think that these allocations are fair and equitable for Ross?
Well, I feel like the council members should be able to have a discussion. Terry, that's sort of sort of I'm glad you're ready to move it.
I don't know if you're, I don't want to interrupt you.
So I think that the issue that I have is the JPA language says all costs shall be fairly and equitably allocated among all members the members here by acknowledge and agree that the percentage shares in this section 8.1 represent such a fair and equitable allocation as the 4th amendment effective date. So I understand what what that we are here to that they people on the council feel like our job is to sort of end this third amendment, take these savings and move on. But when we sign this agreement, we are attesting that this is a fair and equitable allocation. And to me, it is not. It just…
Mayor Tory I would like to respond since you publicly attacked me in this little session I didn't mention your name once and I would like to say that my job is to look at things with a fresh eye I wasn't here back when all these agreements were done so I always do my homework and I do my reading and this amendment does say we need to attest to a fair and equitable share And I can appreciate that people feel like we're saving money because we don't have to have a fire station anymore to pay for. So we're not paying for their fire stations. But the other three towns all have fire stations and…
Mayor Mrakas, So I can appreciate, thank you for that report Jeff I want to make a couple of things clear, we have our entire balances are $27 million, so we, we have close to $30 million and only 10 million is in this TVI portfolio. And when we set this up, it was for that reason we said, let's just take a third or a small portion to go into the longer portfolio that goes out five years because we have tons of liquidity. We have over two-thirds of the portfolios in life. And so yields have backed up tremendously right now. So right now for a three-year bond, a treasury is yielding 4.7%.…
But I think it's a great idea to bring it to the Finance Committee, Chris.
Mayor Mrakas, So I feel like there's a big disconnect with what is what is being asked of staff and what's being asked of gensler. And so I actually went back to the video and looked. We asked Gensler to evaluate Sleepy Hollow and the Fairfax rebuild and incorporate their learnings into a smaller footprint because they were able to remodel their stations and bring them all up to code for far less money. So why are you doing this report? Why is Gensler not just working on this? I don't understand why you created this report.
David, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you go on for a long time. This is a very long presentation. We asked Gensler to do this work because they're architects, and we want them to look at these different models. And honestly, the CAC and people who are experts, which is not you. And so what I'm saying is the direction was to Gensler to do this, and so I'm surprised this entire analysis was done by staff. I'm sorry you had to waste all your time doing this. because it's not relevant. We want people who are architects to look at how other cities and towns have tackled these issues…
Yeah, so I would say that it is not clear. I think the report was very confusing. And I thought the conclusions were very confusing. And so I would just like to tell you that I don't think it was helpful. And then the second thing is on, I don't know why you keep bringing up the Mary McGrath report that was done for the elections code. That was a standalone fire and paramedic facility, a 7,600 square foot facility that was costed out at 21.7 million just to build that standalone facility, which is totally irrelevant to the discussion here of us trying to put a lot of our functions into one…
Mayor, if I can just- We really need to move on. I have one last question. This slide showed 5,000 square feet for a fire station, 3,000 for a paramedic, 8,700 total square feet. Where on earth are you getting these numbers? This is not appropriate. This is the part that's difficult. Why would you come up with these numbers that we need a 9,000 square foot fire and paramedic station? Why are you bringing this to us?
Mayor Mrakas, CAC created a spacing program and it has little pieces already in it and we veered so far now there's was not 9000 feet for these two two functions. Mayor Mrakas, But you're coming and saying Oh, we have a lease and we've got to do this that's not what was in the CAC plan that's not what we discussed we discussed trying to come and fit these pieces together. And I actually believe the CAC letter said don't let the perfect get in the way of the good like where are we going with this project that you keep adding more and more square footage and needs after the direction was let's…
I'm 100% for the integration of these services. We are trying to solve a problem, okay? And we can do it. If we actually solve the problem instead of coming up with reasons why we can't and I think this is just a bit a pattern that has happened here like the last meeting fire chief won't talk to us unless we get approval from his board there have just been too many what I would say undermining roadblocks put in the way of of coming together to solve this problem and I honestly don't know why I don't know why we waste so much time and energy quite frankly and hearing the public get so upset…
City Council Chambers, Okay, I would like to say one thing about this until we have the plan. I think we shouldn't start negotiating a new lease with the paramedics. And I just want to make it clear, when we did the paramedic lease negotiation, we had a facilities master plan done. And that was the basis of that negotiation. Right now, it's no surprise, everybody knows we're redoing the master plan. That's what all of this work is. But we don't have the plan yet. So there's really nothing to negotiate until we know what the plan is. So I really feel like this is, again, jumping the shark. We…
Mayor Mrakas, I just wanted to bring up the when I was researching this, I see the Council member cultures not recusing himself, but in school boards it's it's against the school board rule for somebody to pine on. Mayor Mrakas, To be a part of this, so I was worried about a conflict. with him being a part of this discussion. So I would love to hear. Obviously, you probably looked at it and yeah, he probably talked to you, but I think it's important that we bring this to light to make sure it's I'm I'm happy to start.
I think this is important that we discuss it.
Mayor Mrakas, So I just look at our town goals and the first one says provide transparency consistency and fairness and government. Mayor Mrakas, And I don't know anything that would be less transparent consistent or fair to appoint somebody who is on the ballot currently pluck them off the ballot and not let voters a pine on that candidate, I mean it just screams like a back room deal which it is. And it makes me sad for our government that we've kind of gotten to this point where we are doing backroom deals and trying to pluck somebody off the ballot. I respect Jeff Kuhn, and I was the one…
Mayor Mrakas, We have that ability it's not with you, you don't have us i'm sorry we five of us and we don't agree matt matt let me can I finish.
So I'm going to say something. You can't just say these things about us. It's very rude, and I don't appreciate you saying you two are going to do this. I would tell you both Elizabeth and I respect Jeff. And you know, Julie, from the Finance Committee, you did not want Jeff Koons, and I did, and Thank you for choosing him because we both agree that he's a great treasurer. Okay, even though you and I are the finance committee and we don't agree, we do and we can come to conclusion. And I absolutely, I actually think Jeff will rise to the top and I think Elizabeth does too. But we have a duty…
Mayor Mrakas, Was that a five zero vote, because I mean right here you're you're putting this yeah I think it was okay so. Mayor Mrakas, So that is that's what's different now Julie there's a contentious election coming you're on the ballot there's this candidates on the ballot there's two others. It is terrible timing. That's why you're not getting 5-0 right now.
Yes, and I feel bad you're putting him in this position. It's not fair to him. Let the public have a process, Julie. You rushing this is just showing you're too rigid. It's like, why not let there be a process? It will work out. I promise it will happen. We'll fill the seat. Don't put this pressure on him. It's not fair. And it's not fair to Jeff to be thrown into this mess knowing that two council members voted against him.
Again, we have Bob Herbst as well, who is eminently qualified, who sit in every meeting and came up with the fourth plan to stop the demolition. He stopped the plan and he helped form the fourth or the CAC with him. There are qualified people. And I'm not making this up. Molly Gamble is imminently qualified. So is Stephanie DeMarco. There are so many people that could, we haven't even had a process. You haven't even opened it up. I told you someone approached me from the ADR who's interested. You're shutting this process down. For what reason, Terry? Just for expediency, but not for the…
Mayor Mrakas, Yes, it would we the 20th I think the times perfect 17th so people have a week. Mayor Mrakas, If we only get one application again we'll know exactly who we have, and then we select we do the interviews and selection on the 23rd because we've all already taken that meet that time for the meeting.
hammer out these details. For now, since everyone's late, can we just move I would like to make a motion that we accept applications for this position. And the application deadline will be September 17, a week from now, and that the selection process will be at on the 23rd, which is our scheduled meeting special town council meeting.