Middlesex Selectboard - August 4, 2026 [MSB]

Hi everybody. Welcome to uh the Middle Sex Tuesday, August 4th select board meeting. Um welcome to the guests who are here in attendance. And if you would like to speak, just raise your hand and state your name would be helpful um so that we can get those for the minutes. The uh Stacy is taking minutes online, so we might ask for some clarification and um or we may ask that you actually come up to talk if it's we're having a hard time hearing if that's okay. Um and uh so we need to approve the minutes of the July 21st um select board meeting. Um is there a motion to approve those minutes? >> I'll make I had already made some some changes, some minor changes, so I'll I'll motion to approve the minutes. >> Okay. And is there a second? I'll second them. So, they've been moved and seconded. Moved by Zara, seconded by Liz. All those in favor say I. >> I. Okay. And the eyes have it. Um, so then we have the agenda for today. Um, so we're approving the agenda for today of August 4th and considering any amendments to the agenda. Um, uh, Eric just announced that he has a last minute driveway permit that we're going to add to his section under the highway report for approval by the board. Um, are there any other um, amendments to the agenda? Okay. Hearing none, I'll make the motion to approve. Um, okay. And with the addition of the driveway. >> Okay. Is there a second? Okay, I'll second it. Um, all those in favor of said agenda with the amendment say I. >> I. >> Okay, Stacy says I. Okay, so um we are moving on now to an update from the fit committee on the town hall garage and the structural engineering bids from Kevin Thompson and an update on wetlands. We had Mary Nean here from Fair Creek Environmental uh around the town garage and I just have action possible in case we're you're asking us to potentially vote on Northeast. I'm not sure but anyway, why don't you like to take it? >> A possibility. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um which did you want to start or >> um Well, what are you prepared to talk about? >> Um not much, but we can do both. >> Okay. Why don't you just >> let's start with the engineering bids. Um >> okay >> I justly I have not had a chance to read the engineer and adventures run in a lot of detail. Um both scopes of work seem to be pretty similar and the idea is just to come in take a look at the building um report it strengths its weaknesses what we can and can't do with it. um what we can add to the roof if anything uh without and we can you know if we were to tighten the whole thing up what we what we would need to do um similar to what was done several years ago and this would just be you know updating to the current conditions um bids were pretty much the same covering the same stuff. I I only had contact with one of the engineers as he was looking at the structure. Um I've been doing this filling in for John Rahill who was in charge of getting this stuff together and John wasn't available tonight. So um I'm not sure if we're ready to make a decision on this. >> So did you take this? Has the FIT committee looked at this? The f the fifth committee has not looked at this. Uh we were not meeting this month >> and the reason but the reason I wanted to bring this in was because of discussions at the last select board meeting. >> Right. Um just to make it clear that we are looking at these things and that we have gotten some some pricing on some um from some engineering firms to to to look at to look at the structures and and give us some ideas. >> Okay. And where does um weight design come up with what they think the total cost is going to be? Uh the weight designs >> I see an hourly rate. I just don't know. >> Uh they were 3,000 I believe. >> Oh structural engineering services outlined above will be provided on a lump sum basis in the amount of $3,000. >> Yeah. >> Um so the schedule of fees for all these engineers and junior engineers is is incorporated with about $3,000. Yes. >> So I have a question. How is this different than what the wolf gave us in 2019 and what the guy for free from STO came and they get told us for free? >> Uh the guy for free from Stow was not willing to give us anything in writing. This this gives us the same sort of thing that we got several years ago from the wolf. We did ask if the wolf would come and and update their studies from before uh and they were not able to do that. They were they were contacted first. >> Okay. Because the person who lives in town who works for DeWolf who gave you the was going to come by and and visit with Eric and just take a look again and see if anything would change. I guess for me, everybody is saying that you can't add insulation unless you do more pearlings. And it seems I don't know. It seems to me like we already know what we need to do is wrap, do the jams, and do the um doors, but I don't know that we need to spend another $3,000. I can't I can't answer that. Um >> some some thing I believe some things have changed on the building. >> You know, it is several years older. >> It's old. It's aged. >> It has aged. It's um >> you know, there is a difference >> crack in the concrete. There's [clears throat] >> It doesn't hurt to do another assessment. Um, but I don't know if that's if it's critical. >> I mean, >> that's just that's just my opinion. It's not >> this is I'm not I'm not speaking for the committee, >> right? >> And this is not my area of expertise. >> Nor nor am I. Um, >> but it's it it is a good question. I just felt that the money would be better spent to just fix what we know needs to be fixed because as moving forward we know we're not going to add on to it. Um especially since we show our wetlands we're pretty much sandwiched in this little wetland area. So we are going to have to build real something somewhere. It seems like for me just shoring it up so that we're not wasting all the heat that's blowing out of all the holes in the in the sides. Yeah, I guess I kind of thought that part of the reason to do this would be to ensure that it makes sense even to do what you're saying like or or are they going to find something that's like this building is not worth even >> Yeah, we've already been told the structure is sound, the bones are good, >> but that adding um insulation would mean have to having to shore up the buildings and add the earlings. And I think what we had discussed some of us and again we need to have the fit committee in September but um that this building needs to be fixed and we will save money in heat if we can if we can at least get it weatherized >> and we'll continue to use it for cold storage. I I would point out that the opinions that is structurally sound and and all that has been on the basis of very limited eyeballing that and not an in-depth study and look at the structure and look at I mean fortunately thank you for getting the plans um and for whoever looks at this that will be incredibly helpful. Um, I agree. I'm worried about the crack on that one side and that foundation that definitely needs to be worked at. >> Stacy, do you have thoughts as a board member? >> You're on mute. >> Yeah, I I have I can like see the merit of like why pay, you know, from where is coming from. We did have a study done previously. It sounds like um I also think that for the we didn't have a fit committee tasked with modernizing um or you know developing options for modernizing the building in the like we didn't have a fit committee when that first study was done. I believe I think the fit committee is pretty new and so I think to the extent that um the fit committee you know needs this kind of like expert um opinion to continue carrying out their mandate of developing options for the town to consider like I would I would support this um I don't uh yeah so I think it's you know it's not fun spending money, but I think this would be a good spend. Um, and I appreciate that that Kevin checked with the original engineer um that did the report and it sounds like they're not available. So, we are going to have to build off of what was done but with someone new um if I heard that right. I also thought, thank you Stacy. I also thought that part of the purpose behind this um exercise was for them to come up with the cost of wrapping it and that >> so that we could move forward with with getting bids on actually. >> We were asking them to when they when their report is complete asking them for recommendations on what to do to the structure >> to make it more usable. >> Yes. than it is now. And and also if we did want to really tighten it up and and add to the roof insulation, then what would be necessary for that? Right. So, we're we're looking for some um specific recommendations. >> That's my that's my understanding. I was not part of getting getting these reports. Um, and like I said, we haven't presented these to the committee yet. Um, I'm not sure that I'm I'm not here really asking for money today. I just wanted to to get this information to you >> and and let you know that we are working on all these things, all these questions that >> that you had a couple weeks ago. Um these these are all things that are being worked on and we have you know small groups and individuals doing certain things. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> So I don't think we need to talk about this a lot tonight. I'm certainly not going to vote yes um until we talk more in fit committee with with the fit committee itself. I think we can table this for another for maybe next for >> Yeah. I guess I would Yeah, I would recommend that the PIT committee review this also to um and I can track down the um the the efficiency Vermont's assessment. They came in and assessed the whole building for weatherization, right, with recommendations and things like that which do include this problem with the roof, right? Um but um I think give it to them and if they decide as a committee they'd like to they would like to pursue this and have a recommendation for one of these two that that we bring that to the board in September right after your meeting. So have that be your check. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Thank you for doing that. I appreciate it. >> And I'm wondering too just like and I I guess um Yeah. So this doesn't actually include the next step of providing recommendations of how to um make the building usable, save the building and make the building usable for cold storage. >> I'd kind of like to leave that question to John. >> Okay. >> Exactly what we end up with. >> Well, it does here. It says provide an this one does says provide analysis and recommendations regarding the general feasibility of the various uses and occupancies to be considered from a structural standpoint. So this does yeah so I would assume John would as well >> and we certainly have talked about that regardless of what happens next we are going to hold on to that for at least for cold storage that we keep it 45 and at least have room for some of the vehicles so that when we do build something else it doesn't have to be as big and all encompassing. Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, the whole idea behind looking at looking at this structure and not just automatically tearing it down to to build new, >> Yeah. >> was that if if we can reuse this structure and it's >> going to be >> solid for many, many years, it saves us building several days in a new garage, which would be millions of dollars, >> right? Okay. >> So, I think it's at that point I think it's worth spending some money to see if that is a feasible idea. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Where where you put the garage or >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um >> weapon. >> That kind of that kind of slides us into and the other reason that I wasn't ready to ask for any money for any of these studies tonight is because of the weapons. Um, >> do you want to invite Mary up here? Would that be helpful to you or not? >> Mary, do you want to come up here so we can be heard a little better? >> You can sit right next to me. >> Got a map. >> There's a map. >> If Does anyone in the audience want a wetland map? >> Anybody wants a copy of these? Have some extras. wetland maps. >> Very good read. [laughter] >> Take your word for it. >> So, um, with the committee, one of the first things that we asked for spending on was a wetlands delineation at the site because we knew there are wetlands there. We just nobody knew quite the extent of them. Um, and we priced up with a couple different companies and and I And I talked with Mary at at Bear Creek and she very generously contributed her time. Um we did pay for her helper. Thank you. >> Um Mary has done the delineation and uh I have there are three maps here and the one you have on top is what is currently on the ANR website. the wet or maps. Um, and then the second second map in is the delineation that that Mary did for us showing the wetlands. And then the third map and this is where all the trouble starts shows the wetlands with the 50 foot buffer. Um, >> and basically treats the buffer the same as they do the wetlands is that you don't touch them. Um, as you can see, touch them. Uh, yeah, we've been touching them for a while. >> Um, >> like a boat. We really can't do anything with the garage because it's grandfathered in, right? >> I don't think they're going to take it out. [laughter] Yeah, they won't make a stair. >> Yeah, both stare. >> It's not green here. >> Or is it >> green? You say >> like here it says buffer wetland advisory layer. >> The first map is is is what they have currently >> on the ANR site as the map wetlands. >> But I don't see map wetlands appear. >> Right. It's not >> the ANR site is not correct, which is why we got Mary to give us the >> I think I just want to say that's pretty typical that you go out to a site and there end up being more wetlands than shown on the the wetland map. That's why when people develop they make people go out and do delineation. So it's not uncommon, but I have to say a lot of wetlands here. >> Mary, can you just introduce yourself for me? um full name and are you coming? >> Sure. Mary Nea L and my company is Fair Creek Environmental and I'm a water resources scientist. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> All right. So you guys were looking you are looking at the first map which is kind of the first map on the agency of natural resources is oh not nearly as exhaustive in its wetlands as looks like the one that you prepared for us. >> Yeah. And I also wanted to point out so there are some areas with like dashed red lines and and that just means I I took all this information and I just um did the delineation of of this parcel that's shown the electronic parcel but the wetlands do extend out to the east um like south of the tennis courts. So which this dotted line just means those wetlands extend they they don't end there and then that's true of here. >> Gotcha. >> It means the wetlands extend beyond the slime. >> So like they don't extend beyond the slime. >> That's right. >> Gotcha. Okay. Or >> up there >> or even here like it doesn't extend beyond there. Gotcha. >> Okay. >> So that's just along the edge of the parcel. >> Okay. Although I understand the parcel does go further to the east. The real >> Yeah. >> parcel. >> The last one we were looking at, remember, showed that we owned >> the tennis court. The other one cuts us off before. >> So, but I don't think that's a property boundary per se. So, >> that is the property boundary. >> It is. And it is. >> The red line is the property boundary on the electronic on the state parcel. um for middle sex. Okay. But you're right. I don't think it is >> the state parcel map is derived from our tax maps. So our tax maps are nine. Correct. >> I think the we do own the tennis courts. >> That's my understand. It almost looks like if we were going to build down here, then this is the only place that we could do it. >> Unless in the middle of the mall, >> right, right? >> Unless we want to take off the gazebo. But are there wetlands? Oh, there are wetlands right here. >> Yeah. um or run these schools use as the space for offices. I mean I think that is not out of the realm of possibility given what's happening with consolidation. There's no guarantee that Romney is one world that stays open. Listen, I'm I agree with Sarah's post. If I had my brothers, I got bust everywhere. And it built strength and uh you know, a valuable knowing of people from towns around me and I'm still friends with today. >> Well, so I don't think we should, you know, not consider that uh asset the the town of school as a hospitality or something. Um, >> let's stay on track. We're really looking at wetlands. I don't want to get too far off on this much as I, you know, >> much as all of this resonates. Um, so, uh, Mary, what you know, are there any other key takeaways from the wetland maps or >> corrective action? >> Yes. >> Yeah, I hope so. So, Kevin, do you want to talk about that or should I talk about that? I did have a phone conversation with Shannon Morris and office um yesterday. >> So when she was out there um he was asking questions about you know has the the site grown in terms of the the footprint of the site? She went back to her office and she looked at historic ortho photos and in her opinion um there's been fill that's been put over the bank that's increased the size of the site and at this point she and so we're talking about that >> yeah sort of like surrounding here and I don't know the specific area she hasn't given us that information yet, but she's talking about action that would involve an after the fact permit for the fill and restoration of the site. So, um she was talking about she was saying this the town would have to shrink the size of that area to allow for what probably was wetland or wetland. Okay. So, >> and that um Eric, this area that she's talking about here, it sounds like it's over here would have to be shrunk back towards here. Do do you think that makes makes us think about >> our It would be very very tight looking at when we walk around um where the buffer would be. It would be very tight to have all of our litter stand. >> So, we'd have to have some over in the old sand pile on natural. >> I don't think we would have room to store everything that we have in there. >> And and when we buy our sand, we buy it in like bulk or something and it's shipped in bulk like it's there for the winter. It's not something we go pick up. Um, and okay, >> so at this point we're hoping that maybe the next step is for the town to reach out to her and set up a site visit so we can better understand what she's thinking. >> I think that should be done sooner than later. >> I do too. >> Okay. Yeah. I mean I actually thinks we should be reaching out to her tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I agree and >> Okay. So >> kind of holding off until after we had this discussion tonight and getting permission from the board to >> right >> have one of us do that. >> Okay. Who do you think should do that? I mean I talked to her about our other weapons problem but it doesn't >> either someone from the board or I can call her senator. >> Okay. Do do you have time tomorrow to do that? Okay. So, Eric's gonna call Shannon Morrison, Stacy, and uh to set up an appointment to do a walk through with um I mean probably um >> I think it would be >> he would also come. I can't remember his name. No, not Paul. Um, the man from wetlands. >> Are you talking about DNR? Are you talking about Rachel Zar? >> No, the the enforcement. >> Yeah, the enforcement officer. >> I think we should just meet with her first. >> Well, I think that was the other thing I forgot to mention. So, she's already contacted the enforcement officer. >> So, he's going to be involved. >> I don't know. She didn't mention the name but um yeah >> I think it might be the advantage if we have Paul there because he has some historical >> so maybe we can schedule I mean so the other thing too Eric is that her schedule is it Shannon >> yeah Shannon has a funny schedule system so if she says to you yeah just go to my scheduling system I think I have that information so because I've scheduled in the past with And it's not easy. It's a very complicated process to schedule something because you have to identify also the wetland itself. Like it has to there's like a number that it's going to ask for if we have that number. >> Find that out though. It's probably >> on here. Maybe >> it's on the wetland atlas. I can pull that off. >> So >> I'd be comfortable with Eric doing that. I clearly think he's capable of going to her um scheduling and doing that. >> Okay. It's usually on the bottom of the signal. Call her and see what Yeah. She's okay. >> Okay. >> I mean, I did call her yesterday morning and she called me at 5:30 last night or 5:15. So, she got right back. >> Okay. Good. That's fine. All right. Okay. So, Eric will be in charge of that and um just let us know when it will be. I think you're right. Paul needs to be there. And um >> he's back next week. >> He's back. Yeah, they're both back next week. >> Paul is back this week. >> No, next week. He's on He's on vacation. >> I think mornings are best for him, too. 9:00 after the kids, well, the kids aren't sport yet, but they will be sitting probably a couple weeks. >> Um >> and if you let me know when it is not sure, >> that'd be great. Thanks. >> Definitely. >> All right. Well, that's not good news, but thank you, Mary. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> The bearer of bad news. Thank you, Mary. >> Well, I'd rather find out about it now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Before we spend a lot of money on design, >> right? And then find out. Yeah. That Oh, look. We have wetland. We can't do that. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. And thank you for your work on this. It's really good. Appreciate you, Kevin. >> I have I have one other thing if you don't mind me making announcement. >> Um, this weekend we are doing some redecorating downstairs. >> Okay. >> To get ready for a new town administrator. And I'm looking for some people with some muscles to move some furniture. And I'm looking for painters. Um, so if anyone's volunteer ye here, did you put it out on front porch? >> I put on front forum the other day. >> Oh, and Larry was supposed to be collecting >> and Larry's supposed to be collecting names. So call Larry Shar. >> Can I talk to you or just call here and leave a message for me at the office? >> Can I talk? >> What's that, Bill? >> Yeah, I will I will offer it. I went down to see you today to see what they were doing. But if that's what what it is, I will be there at 9:00 if you want me. >> Thank you, Bill. That's one Saturday. >> Saturday. >> Nine o'clock Saturday. Thank you, Bill. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. >> Hopefully, it's a one day project and not a >> god. Me, too. Okay. Thank you, Mary, for coming. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Thanks, Kevin. Okay. Um, so we're a little bit behind schedule. We're at the highway report and FEMA roadwork update from Eric and updates from FEMA from Zara and I know we have the access permit as well. Yep. >> And you had a great vacation. >> I did. >> Yay. >> Amazing. >> Um, so as far as equipment, we're still waiting on the international comeback from Allegiance. Um, we finished ditching on Heath Bear Swamp and we're grading this week. Uh, the grater had an issue with solenoid. Uh we replaced that this week or Friday or last Thursday we replaced it. So we're back in actually. >> Yay. >> Um as far as the access permit, um it is on for East Hill Road >> uh clear line of sight. Uh this the property slopes away from the roadway, so there's no need for a uh alert. >> Oh, so >> that's good news. >> We need to sign up on that. >> Uh no, we have to vote on it. Yeah. I'll make a motion to approve that driveway covert. >> Okay. This is a driveway covert for um Greg and Barb Wit Church >> Stacy >> on East Hill Road. Want a second? >> Um I'll second it. >> All those in favor of approving the driveway permit say I. >> I. >> I. Okay. The eyes have it right. I'm signing that right now for you, Eric. All righty. There you go. Great. And is that it on your road updates? Any questions for Eric on the roads? Uh will we also have higher out road construction starting? I just did a front board forum for tonight. >> There be uh the well Friday they're going to start um doing the bypass rail road. So, lower Sunny Brook Road or the box 12 sessions. >> Okay. It's going to be closed. >> No, they'll they'll keep it open. >> Okay. >> Um that's going to take probably three weeks to do those. >> Okay. >> And then they got a week on Martin Road to do that >> to do the um >> the squash cover. >> These are both repairs that uh happened from the 232. So, this wraps up the repairs for the 2023. >> So, this isn't related to fixing and our problem. Okay. >> We're going to have to disc we're going to have to talk about that the next meeting because I'm not sure where we're at with that because I believe the stones have to be replaced regardless and we're not waiting to see if something happens like they have to be replaced. Yeah, let's start discussing that prior to the next meeting. >> Yeah, we also uh will have to discuss um there's an issue with Bridge Okay, >> the peers in the bottom are starting to get undermined and I've been in talk talks with Spven who is the state's bridge engineer. >> Okay. >> Did you say that that was Woodro Eric? Sorry. >> Yeah. Wood Road Bridge. And Eric's talking to Sven Scriber. >> Yeah. >> Who is he he's the state uh engineer for bridges. >> State engineer for bridges. and he's he drafted a uh scope of work and we don't have the >> You don't have what? >> We don't really I don't know if we want to go over it tonight. It wasn't on the thing, but I I printed it out um the issues and I could send you guys the emails. >> Hey, why don't you do that and we'll talk about it at the next meeting, but that would be helpful um >> to have maybe a better discussion and and to talk about how we would fund it. I mean, bridges are really expensive. They're they're talking he's ex a figure between 75 and 120,000. >> Yeah. But this isn't related to like somehow FEMA damage not >> right. >> Unfortunately >> and I and I think there may be some some grants for bridges. Yeah. But we have to Okay. >> Yes. And I I >> Good job. >> Well, we need to reach out to Michelle Redmond about that too because there is monies out there. >> Reach out to who? >> Michelle Redmond. Oh, Michelle Red for the money for some money, some grant money. >> Will you be uh Eric, will you be shutting down the river road for the repairs? >> It's wood road. >> No, they wouldn't have to shut it down because it's all underneath. It's just a concrete work. >> Oh, on the on the piping. >> Yeah, it's on the It's on the buckets. >> Okay. And is that something that's um imminent? >> Not imminent, but it needs to be doubly. >> Okay. >> So that would be something for our um budget committee to also think about because we may have match or something that for this. So okay. So are you getting in touch with Michelle Redmond as well? >> Right. >> Thank you. He does it all. >> Well, I think just to find out what funding sources are available. >> Yeah, because S told me to reach out to her because there are options. >> Excellent. >> Okay. Additionally, for FEMA, really everybody's been on vacation. There's been no movement. Did you get your money for Portal Road yet? No. I'm going to ask why because they said a couple of weeks, six weeks ago. I'm talking >> I will meet with them on Thursday. So, I have an answer for you then. >> See what the hold is. [laughter] >> All righty. Um, okay. Any other um questions for uh Oh, I will say Zara that I did um have a conversation with someone and and this is maybe of interest to you as well. um someone who works at the treasurer's office who is interested in in doing some sort of sort of roundt discussion about like our flood recovery um in terms of the financial piece around it and you know especially you know around the treasurers um that 10% for Vermont that helped us with um with paying those paying our contractors. So, um, they're hoping to do something, I think, this this fall. Um, and they want to invite Middle Sex. So, I thought it'd be helpful to have you there. Maybe you there, Cheryl, as well, just to talk about especially about I think they're interested to really hear are also people getting their money back from FEMA, right? Like what's happening town by town level. We've also been invited to a round table about Brook Road specifically that my client is going to be on. >> Yeah, that's coming up this summer. So, >> okay. All right. Thank you for all of that work, everyone. Um Okay. So, it is uh Oh, we're just right on schedule for you, Jessica. Welcome. Um so, can Jessica, you might want to come up here again. I'm worried about people can not being able to hear. It's because of that fan. I can be loud. Okay, good. So, we have Jessica Bowden here um joining us. She is the chair of the hiring committee for the town administrator um and she's here to give us an update about that process and the next steps. So, take it away. >> Yes. So, we started with um we met with Zara and she kind of talked about, you know, what other than the job description, what we're looking for. So, we took it from there. It was It's been about a month. It was 624, I think, was our first meeting without Zara, and we set up um well, we looked at what other towns did to get an idea of how to do it. We looked at Waterberry and Callus uh you know, how you know, their process went and we we followed we followed suit. We first came up with a set of questions for each candidate. Uh we had eight candidates. Uh we had the same questions for each so to be fair. Uh we used scorec cards. This was all stuff that we got off the Vermont league cities and towns. And then we last week we did three interviews. We there was four set up. Uh there was four people that we wanted to interview. One person had already found a job. So we did the three interviews and then we have the two candidates to present to the select board. We're going to meet with the select board uh Monday, August 10th at 6 o'clock and then the select board will interview the two candidates on Wednesday, August 12th at 6 and 7. >> Um, >> wait, I'm sorry. Monday, August 10th is 6 o'clock is who? >> Is the hiring committee in the site board? >> Okay. So, no candidate. >> No candidate. >> That'll be Wednesday. Okay. And then Wednesday, August 12th. >> 12th >> at 6 and 7. Six and seven are interviews. Are is anyone from the interview committee going to be there too? >> It's going to be the five select. >> Yeah, it was just going to be the five slide. And if there's that's something you guys would like to do, we can talk about that in Monday's meeting. >> Okay. Um and so I think I need to warn a meeting that's just an executive session. >> Yeah, I'm going to do those agendas for you. >> Oh, you are? Okay, perfect. Thank you for doing that. Y >> um and um busy executive session. >> Yeah. Okay. And are they and they'll be in person? You think >> they will both be in person? Yes. Uh we have one person from the hiring committee on Monday that is out of town but said she would be on but you had >> and will you also provide the resumes of those people on Monday? >> I'm sorry. You know what? I can do that. I already promised I would do that but I have all >> Okay. Uh actually just I guess the two that were so I'll let the rest. >> Yes. Okay. Um all righty. Is there any question? Yes. >> Yeah. Just clarify. Um I want to make sure I got the dates right for the minutes. Uh we're the select board will meet with the hiring committee in executive session on Monday 8:10 at 6:00 p.m. >> Correct. Yes. >> And in person or on Zoom. Um, do we clarify? Yeah. And then, um, the select board, the two two candidates will be interviewing with the select board at 6 p.m. and 700 p.m. >> um, via executive session, but in person at town hall or I guess on Zoom if someone can't physically make it. And that's just the five me the five person select board and these candidates. >> Okay. Correct. >> Cool. Cool. Thank you. >> One at six, one at seven. and they both have to learn. >> Very good. Thank you so much, Jessica. >> And how many people were on your hiring committee? >> Seven. >> Seven. Wow, that's good. >> Yeah, it was a great group. >> Well, thank you for all your time doing that. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Thank you. >> The same committee for the road commissioner or is that something totally different? >> How did what did you never got for road commission? >> We got no resumes. Okay. So, we did advertise. Okay. >> All right. Um, okay. >> Um, it is. Yeah. Now we're ahead of schedule. >> 5:41. Okay. So, we have the clerk the town clerk's update um including uh land an update on what is happening with land recordings and also the um where you're at with the primary election action unlikely. So, Bridgen, that's you. >> Um so, Stacy emailed Steve and um others have um spoken with my office. um about the backlog on the time reporting. Um currently all the documents that we've received are in the daybook as of today for the documents that we [clears throat] have received. So at least we're leaving there. Uh right now uh the we're cashiered up to June 4th which means that everything has a book and page. Steve's document was dated June 30th and we have to go in order. Um, and there's no wiggle room for that. We just have to go based on how the documents have come into the office. Um, Neil Sullivan and James Bino um are also on the list of folks that I really want to make happy by getting the the reporting done because it's all wrapped in the current use. Um, and so, uh, James has just been completed. We're going to get through the next couple of documents and I hope to have Steve ready by the end of the week. Um, we've got people voting and so the office is super busy with tax bills, too. Um, have had a couple of volunteers in today, which was great. Um, to put together out some ballots for votes, that kind of thing. Um, and the goal is to get there, um, even if we're working nights. So, we're going to do everything we can to get it done. Um, and I do apologize for the background. >> Can you clarify what you mean by daybook? I don't know what a daybook is. >> So, the daybook is as a reporting document comes into the office, it has to be recorded for the date and time that it was received. And legally you have 3 days to receive it and enter it into the daybook. Um so uh Steve's document per se is a um a map for a personal name change. Um and so that document gets put into either the zoding um daybook or the leing daybook. So, um, permits versus, um, mortgages, that type of thing. And then, um, it lists the type of the document, the grantor, the grantee, the reference, uh, to the page so that if a researcher comes into the office, it's readily available. even if it isn't online scanned um and searchable, they know that we have the document and that they would need to take a look at the document as it would impact their research for for a deed or that >> and then you said cashiered could please repeat what cashier >> there's three different chunks in the processing. So you have the daybook, you have the cashiering which gives it a book page and then you have the indexing scanning. So, we've made gains on cashiering so that we were trying to get people booking pages because I can then go back and index and scan in um I can prioritize people based on needs once it's cashier. So, we're just trying to get we were um at Rosy's recommendation, we were trying to cashier everything um so that people could get a book page and then we could jump into people who needed their information right away. scan in um we believe from um directly their documents. >> Okay. And are are you saying everything is not yet cashier? Is that correct? >> Up to June 4th were cashier. >> Okay. So Steve's is June 30th. Like so in other words >> I have um there's it's not that bad actually. One 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 nine 10 documents ahead of Steve and it takes about an hour a document at the rate that I'm going. Um, and some documents will have three different chunks with the PTR of the with the transferred property tax. So, it varies. Sometimes it doesn't take me that long to get through it. So, what I'm going to do is I'm going to finish cashiering those and try to just stay focused on getting those in and then jump into the scanning of Steve's document as soon as I can because everybody has to be booked in a page chronologically. Okay. >> It goes into the book based on as it comes into the office. Okay. So, I guess some of the complaints that I've heard more is that it's not searchable online and that's normally how people come in and research. Is that correct? >> That's because it's not indexed and scanning. >> That's the index and scanning piece that hasn't been done yet. Right. >> Yeah. So, if I were index and scanning, I have to go all the way I'm still in May, >> but for cashiering, I'm I'm up into June. So, every everyone has a book page so that we can get our PTRs processed. Um, but they haven't documents haven't been scanned and it's just a matter of staffing and draining. >> How did you I'm sorry. Can I ask you? >> Yeah. How did you deal with it when you were the the clerk? What was your process? >> Obviously, when I did it, I did it all at once. the cashier in that scene and then went back and searched because then you're eliminating things and you can get them out the door, you know, one at a time or whatever and then um you have a backlog. >> Um if I did, I usually just come on Saturday. Plus, sometimes you might have one come in in a week, sometimes you might have five in a day, you know what I mean? in the day um to come in but >> and is an hour is that normally how long it takes to do all those three things >> if you're learning probably a little you know close to that but I was actually able to do it a little faster >> yeah and I are training at the same time so it's kind of done and done I'm sorry that's not accurate it's um it's trainee and trainee with a woman on the phone who can't see the That's um and so even though we're ushered through the process, there are still it's still cumbersome. So it's it's not easy and I would love if we could pull in volunteers or I mean it's hard because you're in front of the computer and it's not something that's intuitive for even a person that is familiar with legal documents. Well, and I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, I could be wrong about this, that this is a statutory requirement that is of the town clerk and potentially a town clerk assistant. So, volunteers are not people we want doing this work. >> We want you to get better at it. So, you can be doing >> if you have a volunteer who could man the the desk to do the absentee ballots and that type of thing on the phone. It's really super busy. Like, do you have any stories before today? Yeah, today I think this is the first time I've ever had this happen with August 20th being think two things happening at once with elections and tax payments. So the office has been people are coming in every like crazy and then they're also making their tax payments when they come in which actually isn't a bad thing because some people are paying in full for the whole the whole year you know what I mean? So because I just are here really busy actually I think for the last about two and a half weeks it's been like a revolving door >> crazy the other thing is the but that would be with the volunteer we sort of um that type of thing and um take messages but also um stat requirement this is 15 days so for the for the indexing and the scanning it's 15 days from the date that it was the the the day book I have 15 days so that's way you're way behind >> well we're yes we're way behind and we have been since March >> Steve did you want to comment or de right now who's speaking you want do you mind saying your name out loud so that Stacy can get it >> I'll just ask some before Steve Deborah Martin >> Deborah Martin just wondered how many days a week you work and how many days a week is she required to Do we have a certain amount of days that we are asking our counor to work? How many days are you working? >> Well, last week was 40 and I kept it under 40 book, but it was honestly more than that. I'm only supposed to work 32. So, I've been working every day including Saturdays and Sunday. So, it's just a lot. And I'm behind on elections materials as well. I do. It's a lot especially as someone this will be my first election. This is my first training session for the recordings and um yeah um so um I was thinking that maybe we'll together I'd like to be able to raise a little money to possibly have an additional um additional um assistance with her hours other than the aid. Um, so at least they could do the phones possibly one day. >> And just as a um to clarify, we um are we she does not report to the select board as an elected official. She sets her own hours. Um and you know, statutoily is required to do the job that she was elected to do. Um, and so, you know, we can't tell her when her hours are or when she opens the town hall or we have budgeted 32 hours uh for the job. Um, >> twice as much as, >> right, which is more than what Sarah had as town clerk. Um there was also I think more of a there was maybe 20 hours for a town clerk assistant, but we um we've been we've been without a town um clerk assistant. Not not town assistant, a select word assistant, which is what Sarah did. She did both, you know, town clerk and select assistant. So this is a more hours for the actual town clerk than in the past. Steve Martin here. Um >> Steve Martin, >> I'm waiting on on six different documents. There's uh three of the documents are deeds. They've been here for quite a while. It's not imperative, but three of the documents that are there um it is costing both devise and money all the time that we don't get this. And I'm not trying to throw anybody under the bus. Um, I don't know all of what Bridget can do or can't do. I don't know all of the inner workings like what you just explained the select board can do. Bottom line is the select board does take charge of the town and what happens to its residents. Maybe you can't set her hours, but I think the select board, this is the problem. in the select board needs to fix somehow. I don't know the answers, but it needs to be fixed so that these documents can get out whether you're hiring somebody. I don't know the answers. >> And and I honestly wish I could say that we could fix it, Steve. But literally now, if you recall at town meeting, we had requested the possibility of a vote to turn both the town clerk and the treasurer into appointed positions, which would give the select board the authority to hire and also to fire. They would be an employee of the town. as an elected official, you are her boss and we have we our hands are tied >> hands. I understand that part. I'm So you're saying there is no way that you can find something for money to help out and get this situation fixed. You're just going to have to let the situation go until it is fixed. >> I >> Is that what you're saying >> at this point? That is what we're saying. Yes. Unfortunately, >> I think that's unacceptable, but >> Yep. And this is there there are challenges associated with having elected officials >> and how it's laid out >> and how it's laid out. And it is literally now, okay, maybe yes, we could hire someone to do that job, but they'd have to be the town clerk or we they'd have to be the town clerk assistant while the town clerk didn't do the job. >> There might be other duties that they could do so that this stuff could happen. I don't know the answers. I'm just saying I I really feel that the select board needs to be totally on top of it and doing every possible thing that they could do to fix it. It's a problem that's been festering for quite a while. >> I know feelings are feelings and >> reality is reality. >> Um there are some things that we could do if you could authorize perhaps a little bit of of grant work um to hire someone additionally um outside of the eight hours um if you could authorize that. Yeah. Um there are different grant opportunities. Um and it's just someone to answer the phone. Um and an assistant clerk of it. During the budgeting process, there was a discussion of having 16 hours the as the assistant clerk. I know that you're saying that Sarah it's twice of what the hours that Sarah had, but Sarah also had a fully trained assistant child clerk who could accept a dog license. So he could walk someone through this. Now she is She hadn't done when >> she it was like Mara. It was, you know, not for the last year or two. >> She There was Who was it? It was you. >> Right. [laughter] >> But last year, Cheryl did very little. >> Yeah. >> On being an assistant. >> I'd like to I I'd like to um recognize Shellyley um who's on the Zoom who has a question. >> Yeah. Hi. I I missed some of it. I apologize. I got kicked off on center road on my way back home, but and I think you're talking about the PTTRs and um unfortunately when our cut off on April 1st happens for the grand list, everything gets on hold until we roll over the new grand list which is normally around July 15th and then we start inputting all the new PTTRs that are done after April 1st. Um, and I I caught some of it and I don't I Sam might be on and she might have answered it, but I know that um that I talked a little bit with um uh gosh, my mind's blank here with our new town clerk because I think they're in the the book, but they're not online. And since we're all part-time, a lot of times we'll do the PTRs off hours online because we don't have access to the vault. So, if the PTTRs are in a book and in the vault, we have to review the deed before we enter the PTTRs uh because there's a lot of changes that are done uh that need a requirement to look at the deeds and look at the land if there's a subdivision. Um and I and this might have been said when I lost you guys and I signed back in when I got home, but uh but that's imperative that I think what uh Cheryl used to do and what Sarah did, it was all done at once. So, when the listister got handed the PTTR, it was online and in the vault at the same time. Uh, and again, you guys might have already discussed this before I get home and if I'm repeating something, I apologize. >> I think Yeah, Derinda. >> Um, I agree with what Shel's saying that, you know, I think we're adding more work by creating a daily book and [clears throat] then doing the other part of it. Um, if it was all done at once, this has been since April 27th was when the last document was recorded. There was no taxes due in April, May, June. There was no, you know, there was no election being worked on during April, May, June. I I just find it and I'm having the same difficulty which is not germaine for this but with what's happening with the election. I'm on the board of civil authority work is not getting done >> and I think it's it's a shame. Well, I think part of it is because we have a very new um town clerk that's learning, you know, and I think that that's a big part of it. And another part of it is that again, we're shut down until we roll the grand list, which we can't really do anything until we have the new grand list, which we just did on July 15th when we set the tax rate. But I mean, they spent six months on us now, and I don't feel we're any further ahead than we were six months ago, and I don't I had to back out doing the elections because there's nothing being done. >> I hear you and I don't agree with you, but I hear you. >> No, I got the proof. I think we as a board are aware that you guys could use more help. I just I for me I I want you to learn the job be versus taking the time to fill out grants to have somebody else do the job. >> Understood. And I think it, you know, I mean, as a voter and as as a citizen, um, I, you know, really think it's important that, you know, you're able to be in the office to focus on the work. um so that you have the support of Cheryl if you need it if you have questions um or Darinda if you're in the office so that you're present in the office to be able to to be you know focusing on getting your land records in. Um it it's a concern for sure. And you know, again, we can't tell you that you can't work from home. We can't tell you that you can't leave the building. And we can't tell you when you can set your hours, but the town's people expect a certain level of service. And we have to, you know, figure out how that's going to happen while you're in this position. You know, how are we going to make sure that you're going to be successful at your in your role at the restaurant? >> Um, in East when Rosie had her back up, they hired someone physically trained her. Um, and that was through the the municipal works association. um that woman from St. >> Rosie also worked with you. Did she not work to help train you? >> She did. Um all she wasn't able to to participate more than where she >> So when we met Len City, they have that person who can help train our town administrator. Maybe that person can also help Georgia. What is Abby? Yeah, ask. Um, >> is there anything else you want to anyone else wants to say regarding this land records? How are we doing on the election process? Bridget, um, we currently have the calculator before the first, which is the deadline. Um, I have um a number of items to ballots that I have to um register in the BIS um on the Secretary of State's website. Um I have the checklist here for when we go into the BCA meeting. Um and there's there's a lot of work to do between now and election day, but at the same time, I feel like we are if it hasn't been done, we're I am aware that it needs to get done. Did you know comment? >> I do. I mean, not one thing has been updated in them. Not one. Every single >> um ballot. >> It's the voting election system, >> voting. So, I've been talking with every day. >> And there's still nothing in there. I was on it this morning and as of now you have not said you have not recorded whether or not you've received any ballots back. You have not recorded if you've sent any out. There is people still sitting in there waiting to get ballots. >> No, no one's waiting to get a ballot. >> Well, there was as of this morning because my husband is one of them. >> His ballot was mailed on his ballot was mailed last week. last week. >> How would we know this if it's not updated in the system? >> I I think that um I was on front porch forum and I said if you haven't received it, please reach out. Um but all of the ballots have been mailed. I think I was clear about the fact that I wouldn't be mailing that past uh the 30th unless I spoke directly with the individual uh because it's the secretary state recommended cut off was the 30th. So the work has been done. It's a matter of having time to sit at the computer without interruption to get the data entered. >> That's the problem. That's the that's the problem. I used to work with the Department of Labor 30 years and we learned how to organize our time. The phone calls were put on reporting for two hours. You spent two hours dedicated to that one thing and you spent that time and then you organized your work so you at least had some time every day to work on what's really priority. I'm not trying to bring you down, but >> there has to be a um you know there >> I think I I think I get the message. >> You have three days by law to upstate that >> system and Danny today. I'm very aware of what I need to do. >> I'm sure you are, but being aware and doing it are two different things. >> Okay. But I think you were very clear about the fact that you are interested in helping me. I was very interested until I had to do the whole thing myself at the last election >> and then got a terrible email >> about me. >> It wasn't a terrible >> Oh, it was. So, >> okay. So, it sounds to me like Bridget is aware and um that this is going to be, you know, an ongoing um concern unless we see changes, you know, that we want to make sure that uh town clerk statutory duties, which are elections and land records top priority, that those things are being done. >> Okay. Um I do and I guess we could talk about this also in the BCA meeting. Uh but I I guess I do have some concerns about um what you just said about people's names, you know, if people are getting um ballots that have been sent out to them and that's doesn't get recorded. >> It does get it's recorded because I just have to go in and update the record after mailing it out. It's a three-step process. So if I received the information that they need to get the ballot, then we there was we don't need to bring the state vote into it. Um then we process the absentee ballot. Then you go then I have to go into event and say that it was actually sent out. So it's a report is generated based on who has asked. Everybody has sent everybody's ballot has been sent out that has asked as of today. Um we probably had I don't know 15 people today who actually voted in the office or picked up an absentee ballot. And so it's a matter of people continually coming in and it's information that then gets to be after hours entered into the into the website. >> Where is it being recorded? Just a minute. >> That they have found that people have voted by absent, too. >> They have actually put their ballots into the bin and I have a certain amount of time to look at that and to make sure that the ballot has been cured. Um, and that process was initiated. >> You have three days to do that. But what about the ones coming in the mail? These people don't know if you received their ballot or not. because the system is not updated and the way the system sits as of today, you cannot produce a checklist for the election that is due on Tuesday >> and it will be done. >> Okay, let's move on. Stacy, did you have a comment? >> I just have a co I have like a comment and a clarifying question. What is the system the voting election system? I heard it NEMS. What's the acronym? V VMS. Okay. >> Voting electronic >> voting >> election management system and tracks the status of like every ballot in to every registered voter in the town of Middle Sex. That's what I'm hearing. I guess I just I wanted to just I know we're going to move on, but to me I see a pattern here both in like the issues with the recording delay. You know, there's we have a split of the work where we have the date, we have our indexing, we have our cashiering, and we have our daybook and they're all at varying degrees of backlog, you know. And similarly now we have this issue with our uh ballot the the ballot updates being recorded and reported to them where like things are happening but not contemporaneously updated. Um and so I think that you know I don't know what the solution is. I don't think it's the select board's role to like we don't dictate solutions but we are the receptacle of frustration and and complaints and grievances and so like this is going to be an ongoing thing and I think as the board as the select board it's also our obligation to make sure that you know voters that the town is aware of these issues because to this point they've been relatively confined to just the select board uh members or a meeting like this and I do think the public deserves to know what's going on. Um, so that is my three cents and I will stop talking now. Thank you. >> Thank you, Stacy. Yeah, Steve just has one more comment. >> I do have one more comment. Um, >> Steve Martin, >> I wonder u if say come 1 of October, which isn't that far away, if things aren't caught up, I mean, there's a midterm election coming up and then so you've got that. When would people be able to expect something to happen? Next year. >> I'm trying to beious. I'm trying to be realistic. There's a problem. So the the the thing that the that the select board could do that they do have the power to do is to put again on the ballot like we did in Feb in March a question to the floor voters whether or not they would like the town clerk position to be an appointed position and also do the treasurer at the same time if we wanted to um for the reasons that we had stated originally which is that it allows for a greater pool of candidates who may be qualified to do the job. It also then becomes at the select the select board is the boss of this person as opposed to an elected official. The voters resoundingly turned that down at town meeting. They said no, we want it to be an elected position. If we brought it up again and they said yes at town the after town meeting the board would that the person who is in a three-year term currently would report to the board and they would be appoint they would then revert to an appointed position. >> I wouldn't call six of those resounding but okay. >> No that's what it was. Six six people said they would rather for the treasurer it was resounding for the clerk that we didn't have yet. It was six votes. I don't remember that they won by six votes six. >> Okay. But it was a lot of people still said it wasn't. Yeah. I mean there were half the people plus six more said that they wanted it to be that would be the one thing that the select board could do. >> There is no solution. You just have to >> I I think good budget budgeting. >> Um I think that there's also the select board pulls the the first to the town. Therefore, we could budget for less hours for town clerk and then hire an assistant clerk or somebody else >> to some >> to do whether they >> I'm not sure there's anything we can do right now. >> I don't think the only thing even if they were to do that it would be to select someone who actually has the familiarity with the with the reporting process. Um, and I would fully support um pulling additional staff more and more volunteers on to just again to answer the phone so that you can actually look at something um for more than a stretch. And um I'll do um Steve, I'll I will um check in with you um end of day Friday. Um your cemetery needs have been reported. Everything's done there. It's just the document that I had from June 30th that I asked for. >> Okay. >> Um I think we need to move on. Um >> 613. >> Oh yeah. So we are at 6 uh >> Yeah. So Oh, did Bill Dor Bill Doran? >> Can we just do Bill quickly? Um because uh before we start the um board of civil authority meeting. So um Mr. Doran graciously volunteered his time to be a volunteer on the development review board um for a vacancy that we had and he is here today just to introduce himself and you did provide us with your um your resume and your cover letter and your interest and we want to thank you for that and if there's something that you would like to add to that um or just to say hi Bill that would be great. >> Sure. Um, can't do come over here, Bill. [laughter] >> You're >> Can I just chime in real before like I'm excited to hear from Bill, but also I feel like I have a conflict like I need to make my disclosure. I sit like I'm vice chair of the development review board. >> Oh, shoot. I, you know, based on that, like if like I I think like I'm comfortable and don't foresee an like a a true conflict in voting on Bill's >> I don't either appointment, but I would leave it to the floor or bill if anyone hasn't asked any objection, then we can have a conversation and bring him back because otherwise we won't have a quorum. I don't I don't want to hold the appointment hostage, but I do want to make that right known that I'm voting and I'm also a member of the DRB. >> Is there anyone here who thinks that Stacy should recuse herself from voting because she's a member of the DRB? Because without Stacy, we don't have a form to vote. And if there is someone, that's fine. We can still hear from Bill and move it to another meeting to do the actual vote. >> But we have two open positions and one candidate. >> Yeah. Is there anyone who objects to Stacy voting? >> Okay. So, Stacy, we don't object to that. So, Bill, if you want to just go ahead and >> Sure. >> share some information. >> Well, it's nice to see some familiar faces. Um, yeah, I I've always my whole career, my whole life, as much as I can, I've tried to find a way to be of service. And where I find it most rewarding, particularly as I've gotten apparently starting to get older and as I've got gotten older, um I particularly look for situations where there's something really meaningful that I could do particularly where it involves where I my education, my experience, uh my skills. And so when I saw this particular position, I thought to myself that that's precisely the kind of a thing where I I really feel I could bring some value to to the job. And uh I really like this community. I I I'm I've read the 2022 plan. For the most part, it resonates with me. I I think the community is something I want to participate in preserving. And they're also where possible prudently growing. And uh I I think I could bring something from the table. For people who don't don't know, I I spent my most of my career all my career as a trial attorney and and the bulk of it was working on a whole range of environmental issues, development issues, um litigation or I mean literally looking at permits. There was a time I represented the state of Minnesota um in environmental impact statement and power plant sightings, power line sightings where everything we did was looking at at applications and looking at regulatory schemes, making sure that the application was in compliance, working with the developers to try to get it in compliance, fighting with the developers going forward completely. And so that uh I think it's just it's experience is just sitting up on East Hill kind of going places. >> Well, why haven't you been here sooner? [laughter] >> Well, what can I say? I love the question. >> So, that that's all. >> That's great. Well, we really appreciate folks stepping up especially with someone like your expertise, Bill. I think you will make a great asset to the development review board. >> And I will make the motion that we move forward with Bill Doran. And I will heartily and happily second it. All those in favor of appointing bill to the DRB say I. >> I. >> I. Well, actually, you don't get to vote, Jan. But that's nice of >> And Stacy, are you voting? Yes. >> Yes, she did. >> Okay. I didn't see her hand. Okay, great. So, congratulations on your new appointment. And I probably Stacy will be in touch with when the meetings are and stuff. Is that right? >> Is I was going to say, is Kevin still in the is he still around or did he dip? >> Oh, yes. Still here. >> He's here. Yep. >> All right. So, we'll get we'll get Bill and Kevin connected. Kevin is kind of our um >> Y >> gentle shepherd of the DRB. >> Great. >> Among other things. [laughter] >> So, do we want to take do we want to put off the treasurer's update or do you want to wait till after the D because we have the U BCA meeting. I don't want to put that. >> I'm just doing this for you. >> Give me two minutes. >> All right. Stay still. >> Okay. So, you have the you have the payroll and you have the accounts payable. Y >> um I have had no issues other than the you know the chaos in the office is chaos. Um and people coming in to pay their taxes, you know, it's amazing you know that they're coming in. >> Yeah. >> So that's good. 2024 tax did taxes went knocked on people's doors, collected all that money. We have zero due for 2024. >> That's amazing. Good for you. >> Yeah. We do have a few people for 2025 that owe, but we're working on payment plans and working on getting that money in. Um, I am unofficially the IT person in this office. So, I've actually worked with RB Tech to have the public computer moved over to Kevin's new spot um with one monitor. And then now today we've got the quote for the administrator for the laptop, two monitors, and the document station that is going to be set up. We have an effort to get the painting set up. So I just want to approve them. This comes to $3,18365. >> Okay. So you want us to move to make a motion to approve that? >> Yep. Just to give >> What is it called again? >> It's RVtech. It's the laptop and docking station. >> Okay. Laptop and docking station for 3000. I don't think we need to approve it. No, you don't need to, but I just want to develop. >> Oh, okay. >> I raised my signature. It has to be on there. >> Okay. >> Um, >> and then see the other thing is, you know, the SAM.gov thing took today probably about an hour and 20 minutes to get that resolved. >> Um, and so now we're registered now. It's just a matter of them getting a confirmation from the IRS. Um, the other thing is is there was a small thing like when Brenda was here, she thought she had made a payment, but she didn't push hit the send button. So, um, they just kept saying we didn't make a payment and so that happened and, um, in 2020, it happened in 2025 at the end of that and I argued and said because they charged us a big penalty of $7 million and I said, "Hey, can you please debate this today?" They sent us a letter saying they were going to levy our stuff and I told the girl and she says, >> "No, that's been done a month ago. We already evaded the $700. It's not an issue. And the letter dated August the 3. >> Oh. >> So that's kind of a little behind schedule. >> Yeah. But for $32 that got >> We had had an employee lose their check. So it kind >> Make a note that you talked to that one. >> Oh, I did. Okay. >> Alled and their employee ID number and everything. >> Oh, perfect. >> But for this $32, it kept going back and forth a different $32 with the IRS. went back and forth for a year with them sending me letters every single month saying that they were working on the problem and working on the problem. Finally, tell me that they figured out that I was correct with the quarters crossing. Oh, geez. $32. Um, so sending me a letter every single month for this $32. That's our That's our federal government there. Um, other than that, I think it seems like everything's good. Oh, return. That's Alexa. I got a whole stack of checks that were returning that I mailed at the beginning of July and they so I mailed them in my player. They came back it took them almost a month to make it back to my desk and what happened was they went from Mont Pleasure they went to Connecticut and rejected and a lot of them were businesses that were right in Monty. >> So the city of Mont Pleasure was rejected as being an unknown address. those back in envelopes themselves and the same thing happened to several tax bills. >> Oh no. >> Yeah, they went to Connecticut. >> We've got problems with the US Postal Service. Okay. Um so that's all I got. >> Okay. And just quickly under other correspondents, I'm going to put it on next week's agenda. I did get an email from um the engineering firm um that did do work on the um uh on the designs um the New England engineering asking us when we were going to pay those old yes those old and I believe that I probably um we need to have a meeting about it and um I think we probably need to figure out how much we're going to put toward paying for some of that um some of that work. But because there was no contract and it was done without a contract um I you know don't think it's necessary for us to pay for any planning and evaluation that was reported to have been done that wasn't done. So, I just think that we will we get together with her. I think Yeah, I know. Everything. >> Oh, I was >> Yeah. >> Is that something like I I don't know if I've seen that, but that sounds like >> possibly an executive session discussion with Rob. Uh, and it's a contractual it's a liability for the town. That's like >> um I mean, we can do an open meeting, too. But I I can double check which exe like which executive session, but I' I'd like to have a conversation with council about how to respond to that if that's >> there's a whole there's a whole backstory there. >> There's a whole backstory and there's many conversations I've already had with Rob about it. >> You just you had me at like if there was no contract, we're in like Freddy Krueger territory. Like this is terrifying. Um so okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Agreed, Stacy. >> Yeah. Okay. So anyway, I'll put that on the agenda and maybe I'll just do a quick call to Rob >> Monday after >> hiring. Oh. >> Um okay. So we are going to Is there a motion to adjourn um this meeting just don't forget to sign the orders and Stacy if you could because you've been in this meeting if you wouldn't mind at some point popping in to sign or at the next meeting sign these orders that would be helpful. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Okay. Second. I'll second it. All those in favor of returning the meeting say I. >> I. >> Okay. The eyes have it. [music]