Rochester Selectboard - August 24, 2026 [ROS]

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the select board meeting. It is August 24th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. We have been posted, the agenda has been posted in three different places around town on our website and has been emailed to interested parties. So, I'm going to assume we conform to the open meeting law and we can proceed with this meeting. Um, minutes from our prior meeting which was dated August 8th or was it August 10th? >> Yeah, August 8th. August 10th. >> August 10th. So, that's one correction we have. Correct. >> I have it right here. No, it says August 10th on there. >> Okay. It just says August 8th here on my Oh, okay. So, we don't need to correct the meeting minutes. I didn't think so. Um, I have read them over. They seem accurate. I move that we accept the meeting minutes for posting. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Are there any additions to the agenda? There are a couple of things I'd like to bring up >> and they are >> the first is having access to the last two parking places at the corner of my house and the beginning of the town office parking lot. And the second is I just would like to briefly share a conversation I had with the sheriff while we was parked on Route 100 regarding the actions they take regarding speeders coming through town. >> Can we put that under discussion instead of an actual agenda item? >> Both of them. >> Um well one is a request but the other one is just discussion. So, okay. >> No one else. Okay. Um, we are going to start with our departmental reports. uh energy coordinator is not with us this evening so we will await for his next report. Do we have any grant updates? >> No. >> Do we have a grant on the maple Maple Hill project >> on the slide now? >> Yeah. No. Okay. That's all out of our pocket. Okay. I just when I was going over the bills I was >> Yes. >> It didn't qualify for anything. We have um started a file keeping documentation for all of that, but no grant. >> Okay. Which moves us right into highway department updates. >> Aren't you lucky? >> Yeah. Aren't we lucky here? We're on brace. >> Uh the mowing is done. >> Yes. >> Maple Hill is back together. >> Mhm. Wednesday we are going to start the Austin Hill project and that's the good news. >> And you got a nice compliment on your work on Cory Hill. >> Very nice. >> Um I got an email from the sidewalk engineer over here on school street. >> Yep. and they would like to drop the elevation of the pipe that dumps onto the park to give the pipe more coverage and probably allow them to use a bigger catch basin. >> Mhm. >> So, they want permission to dig down the ditch down that mini park so that it will drain. Got a water line down goes to the post office that probably is not real deep. >> They're going 60 ft. So they should be above that, right? >> How deep are they going to be? The water line, I'm guessing it's only 3 ft. >> Yeah, but they're going to stop before they get to the water line. >> You're coming 60 ft this way from >> 60 ft from the outlet of the culbert >> down the road. Par Road >> down the road down Beth Mountain Road. >> Okay. >> So I I don't know what you want to do. I don't know how to answer his question. They can put it back the way it is and it won't be as good or we can do it right and not have to deal with it maybe for a long >> Oh, I'm I'm for doing it right because it is 100% funded. What do you want to do? >> I'm for doing it right. So maybe I don't have to mess with it again. >> Is is have you seen the actual design on the sidewalk? >> Say that again. >> Have you seen their design besides just this pipe? >> Uh just what he sent me here. And it really doesn't show the sidewalk at all. It shows >> You had some questions about the sidewalk too, didn't you? about how >> we >> I think we've covered that. >> Okay. >> Do we have a a single document with like a site plan for what they want to do on it anywhere? >> I don't have anything. I was just >> I think he wants us to answer this question answered before >> before he does it >> as to back up on his plan. >> Should we ask for a site plan before we make the decision? >> Well, I think he needs a decision to make the site plan. >> Okay. Well, can you describe? >> He needs He's asking direction to >> put the pipe down with the proper amount of cover or leave it up with minimal cover. >> You know, I mean, the request sounds reasonable. I mean, I feel like look, I don't have anywhere near enough information to even opine on this. I mean there I would think that there's got to be some kind of a drawing or something even if it's in draft form that we could better understand what he's what he's saying here. >> Yeah, I don't have any message for that. >> Maybe he can design it both ways and you can look at the plans. I can ask him that. I wouldn't mind that if you think he's a mean on it, >> but we do want to get this done this year. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I it it sounds as though I'm in favor of >> Or maybe I can ask He wants to go two feet lower. Maybe I can ask him to split the difference and go and then he wouldn't have to go down the >> Why don't you jump in the park as far? >> Uh, okay. Yeah. I mean, I'd be happy to speak with this fella and get a better understanding if you think that that would be productive. I don't want to hold it up. So, I mean, I'm not I'm not looking to make work here. >> Can you do me a favor just for Julie? Can you just read me again what he wants to do so that I have it accurate for the minutes since she's not here? You got anything? >> I didn't find it again. Sorry. A question has come up about the outlet of the pipe highlighted below, which is the pipe that goes across school. We're considering lowering the outlet elevation 2 feet to provide more coverage over the pipe at School Street, which would result in approximately 60 ft of ditch work. Alternately, we could reduce coverage for a shallower ditch. Does the town have a preference? >> I don't think we have a preference. >> Um, you know, it what he's asking seems sounds reasonable to me, but I I I I feel like I can't endorse it because I don't I don't really understand how it all fits together on the ground. If the if the if it's going two feet further down >> into the ground, there will be a three foot. >> It's going to be that should be outside of the road >> and we will need to most >> cover it so that people walking their dogs at night don't get swallowed up into the hole. We'll have to consider safety about that. Is that what he's trying to get at that there'll be there'll be this big or we do something that looks like a catch basin on top of where the outlet is? >> Maybe they could angle it, put it further away from the road and have a gradual >> Yeah. I mean there is So they're not changing the one on the that goes to the park. No, >> just the one in the mini park. So, >> yeah. I mean, my my concern is, you know, people that are walking around. I don't want them falling into a hole. >> The way that is right now, when we dig it out, you could fall in that hole, too. >> And that's the way it's been for >> true. >> Since that pipe ft deeper now, >> it's probably older than >> We might not find it was put together. What do you mean by Are you saying mid park or mini park? >> The the small section of the park that's between Bethl Mountain Road and the post office road. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'm we go ahead. >> Is that part of the park? >> What we plan to do, you give the guy a call and this >> the the deed from the park comes all the way over to this side of the mini park. I know like the right of way basically covers it, but the deed comes all the way over to the >> Yep. >> I think it's town. Um, >> okay. You're going to call him an >> Yeah. >> Even if it even if it was just a sketch. It doesn't have to be like >> an engineering drawing, but if if >> that guy's name >> Yeah. I >> if I can get that. >> You have this email, right? >> Yep. I got you. >> So, you can forward it to Mike. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. I'm after it. >> Okay. >> If we don't I know they he wants an answer as soon as possible, but >> definitely. But um so if Mike talks >> tomorrow, >> yeah, it's the end of August. Let's move along. We've been waiting what, three or four years? >> But no, but if you call him tomorrow, our next meeting is two weeks from today. Is that fast enough for him or does he need an answer sooner than that? >> I think sooner would be nice. >> No, >> I I think that we can make that decision. >> No, no, that's not soon enough. >> Agreed. We said it. >> I got there. Yeah. Um, in which case then we would just have to have a special meeting after you talk to him to give him an answer. Yes. >> If that Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. I'll send it to you first thing in the morning and we'll go from there. >> Uh, do you got more bad news? Well, I don't know if it's bad news, but we need to buy a truck. And it's $182,248 for the cabin chassis. >> Mhm. If we order it before the end of the month, >> budget and finance committee, >> if we don't order it by the end of the month, we can add between 15 and 25,000 because then it goes into next year's emissions. We can order the truck and they will put a we can put a clause in. We don't have to accept the truck if it's not okay at town meeting. >> Okay. And what's the delivery time on this new truck? >> Well, probably a year and a half, two years before we get done. >> But if we wait a month, it's still going to be 24 months from now. >> If we order it, we don't have to pay for it until it comes in. So, >> right. Well, we wouldn't have to pay for it till after meeting. So, you've got >> correct and with a clause to it's not approved at town meeting. >> And that is a fairly common practice. >> And it also gives us time to look into financing. So, we will have ordered a truck. We would have a VIN number and everything to go out and look for financing, which is a better way to approach it. Right? We have selected a truck in here. This is what it is. >> But they're only allowed to order trucks to a certain date and we're only allowed so many trucks per year, which I just found this out Thursday. >> Who are we dealing with? >> Acceliner. >> Well, yeah. >> Okay. >> It's a western staff. >> Okay. We also do >> he's over his proto on freight liners >> for the year. So we could buy a western stack or add 20,000 to the freight liner and spend the same money for a less truck next year. >> You happy enough with the Western Star you have? >> Yes. >> Okay. And that doesn't Well, that's just the cabin chassis. The equipment's another 122,500. >> Mhm. And nothing from the the current Western Star. >> That's from Viking. >> Nothing from our current truck would go over. You would trade it in or >> Well, he get give me a price. I sent him stuff today and he's going to get back with me with a estimated but he won't give a a hard price until it's the a done deal. These trucks are out of service. >> And you're talking about the end of this week, which is the end of the month or the end of September? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The end of August? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, I think we should proceed. Um, if you promise that it saves us 25 grand, >> you're going to end up spending it somewhere. >> Have you ever seen the price anything go down? >> No. There's a new >> lock that if they want to lock that in. >> There's new emissions coming >> and we don't really want to deal with that to begin with >> next year. >> Mhm. >> The 28s and that is driving the price of every new truck. >> Is this is this truck an automatic? >> No, that's another 19,000. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. >> So, I didn't even but it's in the corner of my desk. >> Well, how old is the uh the truck that we're replacing? Um >> it's an 18. So, it's 8 years old now. >> Supposed to be on a seven-year rotation. And the way this works, that truck's going to be 10 years by the time a new truck comes into service. cut >> and we have dumped a lot of money into it in the last two years. >> Aggravation too. >> You want another one? >> Well, this is, you know, if we get questions, this is the kind of background we need to to answer. >> So, you can order it. You don't need to give them any money. You can put a clause in there so that we if it doesn't pass a town meeting, we've got >> no skin in the game. Yeah. I say yes. >> Yeah. And we knew this was coming. >> When I asked him about that, he he didn't hesitate. They do it all the time, >> right? It's it's in the capital. >> And in the honest truth, if we don't buy it, some other count is going to. >> So, does that mean most of the equipment is going to go another year? Loader greater. >> You don't. Well, I mean, it's not it's not on your agenda to replace them at this point in time. Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. >> This is this is the one. >> My agenda is probably the last year I'm here before I retired. The western star that's here. >> This is all I hear from this guy. >> It's not any fun to buy stuff. >> No, it isn't. >> It's a lot of work. >> Yes, it is. Okay. So, yes. Um, I move that we go ahead and place an order for a 2026. Is that true? 2026. >> Excuse me. >> 2026. The year. >> Yeah. >> 2026 Western Star. >> I think it look paperwork. >> Let's Let's move to buy the right truck. And that's going to take me a while because this is a lot of writing. >> Give it to Mary. She's smart. >> I move that we >> Mary's already done. >> Order a 2026 or a 2027 Western Star truck. >> There you go. >> Um, >> just put a call. >> And what we're what we're purchasing right at this point in time is the truck and chassis only. >> It is with the extended warrant. >> That means it has no dump body on it. Correct. That's 20,000 >> party. >> Yeah. >> Can I hold that? >> Mercy. >> I'll second that. >> All in favor? >> I made it the wrong. >> It's okay to do it. >> So instead of getting a new co the covert installed, he got the truck. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> We're good parents, aren't we? >> Um, any more bad news? >> No. >> No. Getting a new truck is not bad news. >> Fixing the old truck. >> I don't mind. That's bad news. >> Well, fixing the old truck. You've shown me how much money we could put into repairs on old trucks. So, I've learned my lesson. >> Do we have anyone from the library here? No, I do not. Nope, we do not. >> Select board updates is um I really don't have anything. We we have um represent our representation of the cell tower is um in a state of flux. We will let you know how that outcome settles in at our next meeting. And that's it for me. Anything from you guys? >> Not for me. >> And you've been away. >> Yes. >> We'll let you go. >> Thank you. >> Utilities department. >> Go on. I think I got a pump that's bad now. Pretty sure. But I haven't got wiring harness for the pumps. They're downstairs. And we're looking. >> You're looking? >> Yeah. Couple places looking for me to find. >> Oh, the wiring harness. >> Yeah, it's going to be couple minutes before we find one. >> So, he's got the pumps downstairs. We have the pumps. I'm pretty sure we used to have the wiring harnesses, but somewhere they're gone. >> So, trying to get another one. >> You might have to buy a new one. >> No question about it. >> Is that a costly item? >> I got an idea. >> How big is the item? It's heavy. >> No, I'm serious. Like, how big is the wiring harness? >> Like 10 gauge wire? >> No, it's number two copper. >> Oh. Oh, big stuff. >> Be four runs of number two copper and then six runs of number 12 all in one cable. >> Okay. So, it couldn't have mistakenly been >> Oh, no. You can't. One guy can't pick it up. >> Roger. and copper 18. >> But that's it for you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. VHI updates. >> Yeah. Uh I think first of all it be well to just clarify for the record that VHI stands for Valley Hub Inc. There was something some different name was reported in the paper last week. >> I got it corrected. >> Valley Housing. >> Yeah. Something. Anyway, so just for our friends here, >> I didn't even pick up the paper. >> Yeah. Um, so, uh, we are actively pursuing getting out to bid for phase one of construction. There are two things, uh, two tasks that have to be accomplished. One is all the documentation that needs to go to the USDA for approval and secondly, money. Uh, and on the first one, I got a note from uh, Sarah Ray today that there still some documentation that she needs to get from the architect. And, uh, there may be some new requirements that went along with the $650,000 grant we got from the state. She's going to review that with Kelly D. Roshi, the architect, as well. They're going to set up a meeting to do that this week. Hopefully, get that resolved and done on the money front. So, we've had a $500,000 uh campaign to finish up the funding for the $5 million project. Uh we're halfway there. We have $250,000 in cash and signed pledges and we're pursuing the rest actively. Hope to get that done within the next weeks to maybe the end of September. It's, you know, hard to tell on these, but uh it's going well so far. >> Good. The building survived another summer of summer camps and uh now we have school beginning for that. >> I know. Yeah. And now we have school beginning to roll out. We also just hosted the Big Town Gallery um wild film festival which always brings a lot of people. Um and you know the our arts alliance will start rolling out um a fall calendar of classes here coming up soon. So rolling right into fall. >> Yep. There we go. and heating system season. >> Yep. >> Mhm. >> Are you guys showing the Rob Gardner film? >> Not yet. >> We will. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> The Rob Gardner film in support of the hub. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Not quite ready for prime time, but soon. >> I'm sure it will be fine. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, added to our agenda, we have um, well, moving into new new business. Added to our agenda is access the last two parking spots on the town lot. Um, in my memory, >> can we get softball out of here first? >> Sure. Sure. Number three, request use of softball fields for tournament on September 6. >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Thank you. like sure they can have it. That's it. Oh, perfect. Thanks for coming, Cody. Appreciate it. >> I I move that uh we allow What's the organization that's sponsoring it? >> Everybody. Um it's for Stacy this year. So, there's >> like 71 sponsors right now. >> Is there any type of liability insurance that you will have? >> We carry that event insurance. >> Yep. So, every player that plays has to sign the event waiver and then we have a meeting at 8:30 going over field rules, town rules. >> So, you coached very well. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Because you're six now. >> Yep. >> So, >> awesome. Um, it makes mowing worth it. Um, I I move that uh we allow this September 9th softball tournament in a September 6th. >> September 6th. Yeah, that would that would be >> the Sunday. >> Oh, I'm looking at August. Um >> I move that we allow the September 6th tournament to use town property down beyond the ball fields. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Good to go. >> Appreciate it. >> Thanks later. >> Have a good night. Put >> them out of the park. No, like the Red Sox. >> Oh, just kidding. >> Okay. Okay. Um Susie was talking about access accessing the last two parking spots on the town office lot. Um if I remember right, you have a a deed access to your prop the last two spots there already, don't you? That you pull up onto your own property. Isn't there a space where you pull up onto your own property right there? >> We try. However, people other people often park there, not on the grass on the pavement, which makes it impossible for us to access it. And there are times when there are cars parked on the grass, people parked behind us, so we can't get out. which is why I originally asked about an easement that would allow us to cross the few feet of town property. You know, something with stripe lines or or or moving the sign saying, you know, town property parking begins here and the very end is private parking. What if we just put some stripes there said reserved so that people see that it's a reserved parking spot area? >> Whatever would be work and and and be the least inconvenience and expense I would I I fine with. Yes. >> Okay. Because the vehicles that you are parking there >> fit totally on your property. It's just access to that part of the property. >> I I cannot answer that question. 20 years ago when uh my husband and I bought the property, um I came to the town office and was told that there is no ser there's there's no record of a survey of the of the town office lines. I spoke to the people at the credit union here and the Harveys asking if the four of us chipped in on the cost of a survey because apparently none of us have surveys. The White River 80 what is now 802 when it was White River Credit Union. They have no record of a survey. The Harvey said that they had no record of a survey and I don't have a record of a survey and the town has no record of a survey. So I was told when I bought the house by the eminent town historian Marcus Blair that my landline was the the mesh fence where the wild grapes grow, which is much closer to the parking lot than Are we still talking about this side of the building? >> Yeah. Yeah. If you look out here, where are we? >> Yeah, there's a there's a a what's left of a mesh fence here >> and it used to go all the way up to the road apparently or but that line is what I was told. But again, there is no record of any of these buildings that I've been told that there are surveys on record with the town. So, the answer to my question is you don't know >> exactly. >> Yeah. Okay. Um I know that we have granted that in the past. Um and all you're wanting to do is protect something and it was only two spots >> and um what you're asking is to protect access to those two spots. So, um, the best I could come up with is suggesting that we paint lines on those two spots saying reserved and hope that people see it, respect it, and honor it unless there's snow on the ground. >> Well, there's also I do have a sign on my building that says tenant parking. >> Correct. >> That should help. >> Hopefully, >> one two the one two punch. So, we'll get in touch with uh Cter to see if he can lay out some paint there and see if it's effective for the rest of the summer. >> Okay. Thank you. >> In the winter might not be as visible what we do on the ground, but >> I understand. But I I think I would hope that over time >> that, you know, people would become aware of it >> and the only thing off the top of my head >> of snow in your parking spot and not dumping it into this town lot. Well, we got that I got that worked out with the road crew many years ago because the snow used to just get pushed up this way and pushed up that way and that way. And I spoke with with uh I believe it was John about instead just coming in off of school street and pushing it this way. And that's what they've been doing. Okay. >> So instead of having this a pile this wide, I only have a pile this wide. >> Everyone's happy. >> Yeah. So, are we just confirming something that's been agreed to and in place before? >> I believe so. I I think I remember this conversation. >> No, I I I have spoken to the select board at least three times, perhaps four, but I was never given a clear yes >> for access. >> So, um but having access is useless if you can't get in or out. Uh which is what I I brought up. Um yeah, the only other thing is is that that doesn't work. As I said, um moving the s existing sign further in a little bit, you know, and something above snow level um that says private parking, but hopefully the lines will work. You know, as you said, it's not going to be very efficient in the winter time. >> Make a note and see if Carter could lay some lines down. Um, and we'll test it for the fall time to see if it works. >> I just want to add just so people understand, I've actually had to turn away ten tenants because if it's a couple with two cars and in each apartment, I can't rent both apartments because there's no place for us to park all of us. So, um, when we bought the house, the previous owner was told the only place he could put parking in was the backyard, which didn't work out very well. So, it's a there's a practical reason other than convenience, you know. >> Several homes in the village have that issue. >> No, I'm sure that's the case, but that's part of why the whole idea of that an easement >> has been created. Yeah. >> Right. I mean that the whole idea of an easement. Yeah. For landlocked what they refer to as landlocked buildings. >> Thank you. Okay. Um next we have a planning commission appointment. So uh Sandy Hos is stepping down from the planning commission after something approaching >> way too long. Yes. >> Something approaching four decades. Um and um the planning commission has recommended that the select board appoint Ethan Hild Debrand to uh join the planning commission as of the October uh 2026 meeting. So Sy's last meeting will be September 8th. Um Ethan um expressed interest in the position. Uh came and spoke with the various members of the planning commission, came to some meetings. Um seems fairly interested and wellversed. He's the co-owner of Iron Springs Farm and as well as an engineer at Velco. Um, and so the planning commission recommends that the select board appoint him to the planning commission as of October. >> Go ahead and propose it. >> I propose that the select board nominate Ethan Hildebrand to join the planning commission as of October 2026. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I was at that meeting so I totally agree. He's a young, hardworking guy and uh I think he'll be good. Next on our new business agenda is discussion about putting a weather station in town. I believe we have someone on Zoom. >> Yeah, you do. Hi, I'm I'm I'm Josh Banish with the University of Vermont. How are you? >> I'm good. How's Josh tonight? >> Good. Good. U Yeah, thanks thanks for having me. And um uh if I share my screen, can people see things or should I just talk? >> You should just talk. >> Okay, great. Um so yeah, so uh I'm at the University of Vermont. I'm at the Water Resources Institute at the university. Um and uh we've been working to develop a statewide network of weather stations uh that's called a mezzanet. Uh a mezzanet is a system of weather stations that observes weather at the meos scale. So things like thunderstorms, floods, snow, all in real time. Um the existing weather monitoring infrastructure that we have across the state is much more heavily uh geared toward aviation or fire safety and not so much against flooding and uh real-time kind of preparedness against flood events um and drought. Uh and so uh what we're kind of aiming to do is to develop a statewide network of these stations that's really kind of focused on flood forecasting and prediction. Uh and then also supporting kind of a lot of other um entities like uh utility providers across the state um to enhance forecasts for where to send their crews during certain times or be able to support agriculture about um uh you know agriculture producers and making more informed decisions on when to harvest crops in relation to frost events. um you know, kind of really having more hyper local uh forecasts to be able to support uh uh support um kind of these key different uh industries and and uh and kind of the resilience of our state um going forward. Um and so 38 states across the country have a mezzanet. Um and Vermont is one of 12 states that doesn't. Um, New York has a really sophisticated mezzanet right next door to us with 127 stations um that are all 10 meter towers. So, they're are 33 feet tall and they have a 33 ft by 33 ft area associated with it. Um, they they installed this network of stations shortly after Hurricane Sandy um struck uh the state back in 2012. And so the New York State Medat has been operational for about 10 years and it's operated by um the State University of New York in Albany. Um and uh and so similarly um we're at the University of Vermont, we're kind of thinking we're working to be able to develop um a statewide network that's also managed by um a university similar to New York and similar to many other mezzanets across the whole country. Um and so we had this um initial seat funding from a grant that we received from the Lehey Institute for Real Partnerships at UVM to catalyze the start of a mezznet allowed us to be able to install one station um which we have already completed. It's up at the Calonia County Fairgrounds up in the Northeast Kingdom. Um this was kind of one area that was a key radar blockage in the state uh that we wanted to address. Um and uh and then we also uh before doing that we heavily engaged the National Weather Service um state of Vermont Emergency Management and Dam Safety um and other got other entities involved like the chief recovery officer with the state of Vermont to really think about what the needs were for the state. Um and uh and we kind of incorporate all that feedback and and hired a senior meteorological technician. Um, so we have a new new staff member that's um her expertise is everything that goes into these weather stations. All of the hardware, instrumentation, um, communications. Um, every single one of these stations has a a precipitation weighing gauge, uh, which is a lot more advanced than current, uh, precipitation monitoring infrastructure that we have in the state. That's usually tipping buckets. Um it's known to catch precipitation a lot better. Um especially during flash flooding events. Um and each of our stations will also have soil moisture and temperature sensors at various depths. Um that really helps with flash flood forecasting because it's one thing to know how much precipitation is falling out of the sky. Um and it's a whole other thing to know how much is going to actually permeate into the ground. Um and uh or or just wash off the surface and cause flooding events. Um and so we have um we're proposing to have roughly 20 of these stations uh distributed across the state. Um and with our kind of distribution uh uh that we're looking at, we're uh thinking that Rochester would be a really good community to have it. Um and uh and we've also been in communication with um uh Land Webb and Abe Collins. Uh he does a lot of kind of uh work in the Rochester area in collaboration with North Hollow Farm. uh and uh and he's he's really enthusiastic about the development of a mezzanet uh in the state and particularly in Rochester and what it can do for um kind of better supporting uh farmers to better understand uh water retention as a as a result of falling rain um by kind of uh grass-fed beef operations and and uh and so so he's really interested in the data that can that this network can provide and and how to be able to do it. Um, and so I'm meeting with the planning commission uh next month. Um, and we are thinking about a few different potential locations. And that's kind of the reason why I wanted to uh approach the select board to kind of get some uh initial feedback. Um, let's see. I have it on my slides here. So, let me kind of uh scroll through. Um, we uh we're we're looking at well, I've been in touch with Abe Collins and and he's going to be in touch with Mike with North Hollow Farm. um about a you know a location that would be like along route 100. Um so that's one option but the visibility there you know is is uh quite significant right along Route 100 and um you know one thing that we think about is you know having the station not be in a place that so many people see it you know just because it's you know it is a it is a 33 ft tower uh that you have um so so uh so that's one location that's was considered the other location and one of the main reasons why I want to talk to this select board was um that we came up in our in our kind of when we were looking at different locations is uh off of Bean Be uh Beans Bridge Road uh the town's Leechfield that's there. Um I don't know too much about this location, but I uh one thing that we would have to know is like if there's a space where uh like adjacent to the leech field that um it's possible to be able to have this the small amount of excavation that's needed for the mezzanet station. There is some cement that is poured uh underground so we wouldn't want to interfere with the leech field itself. So it depends on where exactly the bounds of the leech field are and if there would be a potential location there. We really need places that are don't have nearby trees or buildings. They need to be wide open spaces. And so North Hall Farm and the the Leechfield area kind of offer that. And the last place that we're looking at is the the school fields around Rochester Elementary School um outside of the flood zone area. Um, so those are the three places we're looking at. And I really appreciate some feedback from the select board or others in the community. Um, and uh, yeah, trying to get, you know, more feedback and think about what's right for Rochester in terms of, um, you know, one of these stations that can really help, uh, your community be um, yeah, more aware of, uh, certain types of, uh, real-time conditions, um, and, uh, be better prepared for, uh, potential flooding events. Um the New York State mezzanine has already shown to um has had a number of success stories about kind of increasing the amount of time associated with having a flash forecast. Um that has kind of resulted in uh businesses being able to move their inventory or um you know uh road crews to be able to position uh you know their um uh their personnel in in different locations across the state to be able to uh better respond to flooding events. Um and so we really see, you know, this network as something that can be really beneficial um to the communities that they're within, but also to the um state of Vermont uh overall. Um so yeah, that's a little bit of a narrative summary and happy to answer any questions that any of you have and also uh yeah, kind of eager to hear some feedback on uh potential locations that we are considering. >> Well, we're going to start out with just letting you know that uh this was uh posted as a discussion. So, we're going to have a discussion and we are aware that you're going to be going before the planning board with the request to see if it conforms to both zoning and plan and the town plan. Um, and uh then it would come back to us for a final decision. Um, the select board does weigh in heavily on the planning board's opinion decisions. So what we're starting out here is anformational uh forum for you to get the word out and we will get the word out if there's any further discussion beyond this meeting that people would want to attend the planning meeting as well. So be prepared. You're going to go through this again and then come back to us for the final decision which would be the end of September at that point. Um, so, um, does anybody here on the floor have any questions? >> You need power. >> Does it need power? >> Um, it's all self, it's all self-powered, so it has its own solar panel and batteries. Um, and that's part of the design. If the if the power were to go out across the entire state, these stations would still be reporting real-time data to the weather service to Vermont Emergency Management and others. Um, so yeah, uh, it's all self-powered. Mhm. Um, if this technology is no longer used, becomes obsolete, breaks down, um, will you be preparing an exit plan for it? Um, we actually have a piece of equipment out here at the town office that's obsolete and it just sits there. So, >> yeah, it's it's all outlined in theou uh, memorandum of understanding and like a permit that we have that we set up with the land owners. Um, so we have an example with the Calonia County Fairgrounds that we've already established and so the university is in charge of Yeah. if if we the network were to ever be something that we wouldn't need anymore, which we it's not our intended purpose, but uh but um yeah, we do have it written in the permit um associated with the kind of understanding of the use of that land that if we are not maintaining it and we are um you know, the the network is obsolete that it would be removed by the university. >> Okay, that that's mine. Um we have one. Wow. >> It was choice three, but I'm curious about where you're mentioning at the school. Are you talking Thrilkills property or the school property itself? So, would it be like in the middle of soccer fields or off to the side? I happen to be a teacher who uses the land a lot. So, curious. >> Yeah, I you know, it would depend on um kind of the exact um we we would meet with the school and others that are interested in the area. We'd want not have it be in the middle of any soccer fields or baseball diamonds or anything like that. It would be off to the side. It's a 30 it takes a 33 foot by 33 foot section that we fence in as well. >> Pass that too. Perfect. >> Yeah. So, it's it's completely fenced in. Um and uh and then you know having adjacent to schools also provides a great educational opportunity too. Um all the data is going to be available in real time. Um and uh it's freely accessible and available to students and and everyone in the community. Um so uh so yeah, so um yeah, we want to put it in a place that works for the school if if that's a location that's identif that it seems like it would be the best location. Um and uh and yeah, it would require a site visit to um yeah, our our um senior meteorological technician would come out um who is had really wellversed with um yeah, the development of mezzanet stations and where the best placement is um and see kind of what would work for the school and and what would potentially work for us. >> Thank you. >> Does it make any noise? the the wind. There's a little wind ananometer that spins around in a circle, but it you don't really hear unless the wind if the wind is really gusting maybe a little bit, but uh you really have to be blowing quite a bit. >> And what does it use for communication? Uh cell service. >> Cell service. It connects um yeah, cellular connectivity. Um if there is issues with self-service in the community um we could have satellite connectivity too. Um so that's another option for us. Uh but it would be a little bit more costly. So ideally it's in a location that also has cell phone coverage. Uh and um and it uses less less data than a typical smartphone in your pocket. Um so you know just just transmits um the numbers in real time. every five minutes uh there's a new new reading uh that comes out um and yeah uses less >> it's less less less data transfer than than a typical cell phone. >> Okay. You want to check your service levels at your locations and um you want to be made aware that we do not have Verizon coverage in this town at all. >> Okay. Yep. And I think I think um we're we're flexible we're flexible on the cell provider. we can pivot um based off of um yeah the ATG or Verizon others. We're not committed to one. >> Uh I I just want to confirm that uh this is something that you're funding. You're not asking the town for any uh financial contribution to this. >> That that's correct. We have initial funding. So what we're doing right now with the Lehey Institute funding is is um kind of trying to uh kind of identify all the locations where these stations would be. Um we've already identified what the cost is per station. Um and we're getting as as prepared as possible to go after grant funding, external grant funding, um federal and state funding um in some cases philanthropy as well uh to um to build out this network. Um, so the funding right now is not secured. Um, what we're doing is kind of laying the groundwork and having it be as shovel ready as possible. Um, so that when we are able to identify a funding source, we're able to apply and we can show that, hey, we have this land own these land owners and these communities already identified and we want to be able to this is where we want to be able to install the stations. This is the hardware that's going to be associated with it. have all of our homework kind of come completely done um and be a lot more competitive for for grant funding uh to um to build out this network. Uh I I guess the other thing I wanted to ask uh this is really directed to uh Terry, our water and sewer operator um regarding the the leechfield location that he spoke of. Uh any initial reaction concerns you may have? There's a couple places you could put it up there >> and not >> okay >> bother anything. >> I mean, I think that's probably of the three locations the the least obtrusive. >> Yeah, you wouldn't see it from 100 or anything. That's for sure. I mean, you might be able to see the pole sticking up, but >> Right. >> I don't think that's going to be enough. So, >> you're going to see it. You probably wouldn't even see the fence or anything. >> Right. >> That's all I have. Thank you. Uh Josh, my name is Mary. I'm also on the planning commission. Um great. So the the meeting is September 8th. Um I'm gonna ask you I'm going to ask you for a couple of things and then you and I are going to communicate a lot more between now and then. Um which is to say um whatever PowerPoint you are going to show tonight um send it to the planning commission tomorrow so that we can start looking at it. The other thing that I'm going to say is uh based on our previous experiences with potential towers that this is probably going to move rather slowly through public conversation. >> Um so I would say assume that you're coming to the September 8th meeting presenting um information to the planning commission but not for a decision. I would assume that that that's probably going to follow up with holding a general public information session and then the planning board will probably have another meeting and then it will come back to the select board. So, um, one of the things you and I can talk about is what kind of timeline you're on. Um, so, um, I don't have any other questions that are relevant for tonight other than you have the General Rochester Planning Commission email. I think that's where you've been contacting Dan. >> Yes, I do. >> So, send I was in correspondence with Dan. Yep. Yeah. And I have access to that too. So, but send so send the PowerPoint to that address. Um and and I will start communicating with you about some more stuff. Um but just in terms of I would imagine several more weeks or months of this. Um just when you're thinking about it, >> we're we're we're ready. That's kind one of the reasons why we're doing this so early. I I not because I think people will be opposed to it, but just based on how things went with the cell phone tower. What the planning commission decided to do was we had a presentation at a planning commission meeting. Then that then we had a general public information meeting and then the planning commission talked about that before. So I'm looking at three meetings before. Hang on a second. >> Three meetings before it comes back to the select board. So and I know that we don't have time for special meetings. So I'd be looking at September, October, November, December. >> Okay. under that sounds. I don't think there'll be that >> I just want >> problem. >> Yep. >> It's It's literally fine. I just wanted to acknowledge that uh we ran into the same thing in Lynenville, too, that there's a lot of people that kind of were thinking that we're trying to install a cell phone tower and and you know, our tower is only 33 feet tall and not nearly the size of a cell phone tower. And so, there's a lot of communication that we had to do with the community about what we're actually trying to do and what what the station looks like. So, >> yeah. And I I'm mine is purely a procedural thing about the number of meetings the planning commission will be able to have around. So it's and I won't speak for all of them because there are seven of us, but I would assume you'll talk to us. We'll hold a public information session. We'll talk again and then it'll come back to the select board and I know we don't have a lot of room in our schedule for scheduling additional meetings right now. >> Um so we'll go quickly but that's about as quickly as I would anticipate it. >> Totally understood. Thank you so much. >> Anybody else have anything to share with the subject? >> Well then, thank you, Josh. >> Yeah, thank you so much. Is there contact for the leechfield, too, that if we wanted to set up a site visit at some point that um that we might be able to take a look at that site? >> I'll I'll I'll talk to Terry and get that to you through the Rochester Planning Commission email. >> Okay, fantastic. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay, moving along. We on next on our list, we will be signing a MERP. >> Let's go with what? What did I forget? Oh, smallcale local highway safety improvement. That is what's in front of me. Um, smallcale local highway safety improvement program grant clearance form. Um, this is for something designated to something or just a grant? >> A grant that we're we're looking into. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yep. It's something that we're looking >> with Rita. No. This memo serves to verify that the town municipality has reviewed their proposed scope of work contained within their application for a 2026 small-scale local highway safety improvement program grant and certifies the following. No acquisitions of land or rights is necessary as all construction will be within existing town municipality controlled rightway. There are no known conflicts with existing aerial or subsurface utilities. as a result of construction activities under this grant and no utility adjustments or and or relocations are required. There are no known impacts to existing railroad infrastructure blah blah blah. The signer of this document is authorized to represent the town and municipality and that would be me at this point in time. So I move that I sign this application for a grant for town Smallcale Local Highway Safety Improvement Program. HSIP. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Hey, you know, if we don't laugh, we'll end up crying. >> 82426. And then we move on to signing the MERP implementation grant agreement amendment number two. >> Okay, let's uh let me back up a little bit. Um give a little background here. Uh so this grant was awarded um our MER grant that we've spoke of many times at at these meetings. Um it had a draft scope of work associated with that. Um and that was the basis of the uh the uh the amount of money that we were granted um to improve uh the town office and the town garage. Um the reason uh well subsequent to that um we we worked with two rivers and the the contractors that are going to be doing the work and there's been some minor modifications to the scope of work. Um this is all normal course of business uh in the MURF program. Um you know and we've discussed the various contracts that we've executed to do the work. This is a formality that's required by the state that they have to actually approve the the the changes in the scope of work from the the draft that was in the original grant. Um so that's uh say a legal formality with the state. um all the all the work that it uh entails has already been discussed and we've signed contracts to do it and uh this is just the last step to make it all legal. >> Y >> so I move that u we sign this uh amendment to our MER grant >> amendment number two. I second that. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. Thank you. >> Mer man. >> Murf man. I'm the merc man. done. >> Under old business, we have continued discussion on town office garage. Who's continuing the discussion? >> Um I don't know, maybe I'll kick it off. Um you know, Terry came to us uh at the last meeting. Um he has stuff that he's currently storing in his pump house. um that pump house has become kind of overcrowded um and uh it's becoming difficult to find things um and uh uh to be better organized um you know for the future and perhaps beyond Terry's uh uh time as our water and sewer operator for someone new to be able to find things. uh he he would like to have a little more storage space and uh thought that the uh the garage uh here at the town office uh could be a potential location for that. Um currently that space is being used um to collect returnable cans and bottles. Um and um uh so some compromise if if if Terry was to to move in there, there would have to be some compromise about uh the use of that space. Uh Terry doesn't has told me he doesn't need the entire space. So we may be able to work something out um where both both things could continue. the, you know, the the collection of the bottles and cans um has raised a surprising amount of money and has contributed that to a lot of good causes here in the town. So, it would be nice if that would be able to continue. Um, you know, uh Bruce, I'm thinking that you're here to represent that. Yeah, I don't know how much discussion there was at the last meeting, but um the background is starting in 2020 at least, Nancy was the one that started collecting returnable deposit cans and bottles. And I joined in sometime after that, maybe 21, 22. And every Saturday, either Nancy or I have been there. No matter whether it's snowing, raining, sunny weather, 10 below, we've collected those cans of bottles. And we were taking them up to the Granville store and leaving them there to be counted, but then they went out of business and couldn't do it anymore. So, we've been taking them over to Brandon on occasion when they can accept uh truckloads of cans and bottles. And what's happened lately is that they've lost the person that was doing the counting. So, the store owner has stepped in and she gets behind. When she gets behind, we can't take cans and bottles. And that's why more and more accumulate downstairs. Um, the amount of money that's been raised since 2020 is $48,000 and that's been contributed primarily to the Veterans Monument at Woodlon and the new fountain at Wood Lawn. So, there's money that the town has not had to come up with. $48,000. You know how many cans and bottles that is? >> So, You know, it it's hard to say, well, Terry, you use the back half and you will use the front or vice versa because a lot of the storage depends on when we can return them. And we don't want to try to run here and there every single week. You know, we're doing this on our own time and our own dollar. So, uh, to say, well, take a load every week and go, you know, cash them in. It's not practical. And, uh, you know, well, I'll just say that I'd like to have my cake and eat it, too. Um, I would like to see, you know, both uh uses accommodated. Um, I'm wondering if uh we can have a little meeting there and and look at the space and talk about the needs and u maybe come to a meeting of the minds on how we could have both things continue. >> Well, has any thought been given to other locations for your storage, Terry? >> There is none. >> What about the old firehouse? >> That's full stuff. Bust the moisture in there. is going to eat my copper stuff up. Terrible. It's going to raise hell with all the extra meters. >> Okay, I can understand. >> It's just you got to have something that you haven't got a bunch of moisture. >> Moisture is not going to be good. And down there grows on the walls. >> It's not exactly 100% dry down in the >> It's not bad. >> The garage down there. >> You go down the other state down. You were in a firehouse. >> Oh, yeah. I know. Yeah. No, I agree the firehouse wouldn't be good for instruments and stuff, but I mean, I don't mind having a meeting, but you know, this uh most Saturdays there's I load my truck up to move them down there and there's more than a truckload. So the the excess we just carry down which it you know it's convenient and we can just take it down and leave it until we can get trucks together and they can take the the returnables over Brandon. >> Can I ask a question? I know how many are in there now but and I know they've gotten backed up because you had um because it's hard to find anywhere to return bottles, right? But if you were starting from an empty space, if we were able to clear out your backlog, um how much are you getting in any given week? Do you know what I mean? Like if if you were starting from zero, how quickly would it build up again, do you think? >> Well, on a typical Saturday, I fill the back of my truck and we have maybe another dozen or so garbage bags full. So like two pickup trucks if you if you had >> pretty pretty close. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And some weekends or Saturdays after a holiday, >> right? Unless >> after a Fourth of July there's four trucks. >> So we could I'm I'm perfectly happy to pass this over to make to Mike and have him hold the meetings and and find the common ground. But I am wondering just as a data point because if we can start from an empty space and anticipate that there's two or three truckloads per week, think about how many how much how to not get it backed up again. Um but the first question but that there is a huge backlog there. So there there's can we negotiate the space in common moving forward, but there's also h having to empty it first and their related problems. Um, but I'm I think Mike is a great mediator. >> Is there enough headroom there to build a loft and double the space like a first and second floor? >> Not really. >> I don't the garage door. You got, for instance, you you got the overhead door to begin with. >> You can't interfere with that. >> Mhm. >> Um, >> I know the ambulance was in there. I remember it being fairly tall, but >> we have not because the arrangement in Brandon has worked so well for us. We we take the usually uh there are three trucks that get together. We take two loads. So, six truck loads. And these are the other two trucks don't have a cap like mine. So, they we heap them up and put a net over them. And uh you know, we run them over there. They count they have a container, shipping container. We leave them there. They count them when they can and then send us a check. So it, you know, pretty convenient doing it that way. And uh it's it's not a real um delightful job, >> especially when people leave their garbage in with their returnables. Or we have some individuals that like to drink half of a white claw and and the rest of it gets dumped in the bag. >> Yeah. >> What about those? >> So all I'm saying is we don't need any more problems. It's difficult as it is and if it gets too bad, we're just not going. >> No, that's that's understood. >> Let me ask this question. Um, I'm pro there's probably an easy answer to this, but since you're >> you're moving them to into the down to the garage in your truck, >> I mean, could you just as easily take it to the old firehouse? >> Well, like I said, we we fill up one truck and then we carry the rest of them. >> So, are we going to carry another two dozen bags over there? And it's easy for me just to coast down here rather than go around and down to the old firehouse and you know it's a tough enough job and we don't really look forward to more inconvenience >> and and yet you know I understand Terry's position >> looks like she wants to say something. >> Well, I'm just I you know I don't think it's helpful at all. I'm just thinking of, you know, like underneath the music room at the hub, there's that storage area that's a cement floor. So, one of the things one of one of the things that Nancy said both at the last meeting and then in between and I think this is what you were saying, Bruce, is is basically if um adding any one extra step of transporting the bottles makes the whole system not worth the volunteer stuff. Oh, >> who has access to it though? That's the thing. >> Well, it's a town building. So, you would have the only key, >> would he? >> Because I can't have anybody. I mean, that's why I'm thinking I'm missing my stuff for my pumps down there because I'm pretty sure we bought stuff. >> Oh, can you see again where it was? >> So, there's no key for it. So, we'd have to re key the door any >> behind the high school. And there's a door that opens up where the lawnmowers used to go back when they used to mow their own lawn. large and um it has the floodgate barrier >> for the wood shop. >> I'm sorry, >> the wood shop area. There's a section there. >> You literally if you're >> suggesting that so it's like a welding room. >> It has a big door. It has a cement floor, >> right? I know where it is. >> Do you know what I'm talking about? It's like looking at the soccer fields >> and the school has cameras now pointed right in that direction. >> So there's one entrance. >> There's one entrance. >> One entrance. one door. There would be no keys to it. So, it would be rekeyed >> and the tower would never be a single key. >> The only >> I mean, I don't know if it meets the moisture. I >> would not. Yeah. >> I have never been in it. I couldn't tell you. I don't know whether it's real damp down there, >> right? >> Look at Stop and look at it. >> Nice it looked. >> Is it heated? >> No. >> I doubt it. >> No. >> Does it need to be? >> I was just surprised at how nice it was. Like I thought it was going to be like a dirt floor >> and then I went in there and I was like, >> "Well, why don't you take a look? >> I will." >> You know, we'll continue the discussion. Maybe that's an easy fix. >> See, that was helpful. >> We don't use it. So, >> and there are cameras. >> Um, the only the only timeline on this was the doors, which are not going in yet. >> No, I'm not going to fix them. If I'm in space, you guys can pay for that. Not on my budget. >> Well, that's a line item movement. >> Yeah. Well, >> so if you So, if you don't end up using the space, then it doesn't matter. The doors don't matter. >> No. >> Right. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, I think we'll uh continue the discussion. >> Out of there as soon as we can. You made quite a dent. >> If anybody wants to volunteer at River Street Grocery Come 10 bottles, they're welcome to help. >> Does anybody want to drive the bus to Mbury and back? Cuz >> Oh, that's on my >> school starts to day after tomorrow. There's no bus service to Mbury because there's no one to drive the bus. >> So, the kids are all walking over the mountain. It's uphill both ways. >> Yep. >> Crazy. Um, you can you can check out the spot at the hub before the next meeting, Terry. >> Yeah. >> Um, under public comment, we have >> Sus's discussion with sheriff. Um, >> yes. >> Briefly. Let's go. >> Regardless of what the speed limit is, the sheriff does not consider stopping the vehicle until it was at least seven miles over the speed limit. meaning that because we have 30 mph speed signs, we um that's a thumbs up to people driving 36 37 miles through town and they don't always get stopped. And because the sheriff is here so infrequently, I think it's safe to assume there are people going much faster than that. He also pointed out that in pretty much every town he's ever been in, the only time that the speeding um violations are taken absolutely seriously and never ignored is something we don't have, which is a sign for 25 miles an hour because it's a school zone. That is the only thing that would guarantee somebody going 27 or 28 miles an hour. So when the cars are going past the entryway to the school, they're also going close to 40 miles an hour. >> Do we have any authority on a state highway speed? >> We can't. The state has to set speed limit. >> So let's eliminate route 100 from the discussion. >> So the town can't reach out to the state. Okay. So is that true of the signs that have been made um now illegal with the full sticker putting on them? That's come up at the >> when you deface a road sign, that road sign is no longer enforcable, right? >> Oh my god. >> And we can do nothing about that because that's also >> someone could peel the full sticker off of it. I guess I don't know how. >> Are they going to be arrested if they get caught? >> They'd be undefacing the sign. Actually, >> that's not my question. Is if I go out there tonight and I'm caught taking those stickers down. >> I don't think you should do that. Neither do I. >> I don't know if it would be possible. I don't I don't know how the what they are or how they got there, but >> All right. It's just that that that was brought up. >> I wouldn't go standing in front of a stop sign. >> No, but Walt did and he counted 46 cars go through it without stopping. So, >> stop the sign. >> So, I I just wanted to share that. Um >> there two stop sign. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, >> Asha. >> Well, I wanted to actually go with what you were saying because I want to >> formally um tell people about what's happened. Um, obviously we have school choice for middle and high school starting in seventh grade. Um, a significant amount of families have chosen to send their kids to Mbury. Um, and school in Mbury starts this coming Wednesday, which is the 26th, >> day after tomorrow. >> Yes, the day after tomorrow. On August 21st, we received an email saying that as of today, we do not have a bus driver for your town, which means you will be responsible for getting your child to school. >> Um there are no offered solutions or there is no anything. So, um parents are scrambling. There are a lot of families who think they just won't be able to bring their child to school because of their work schedule. There are a lot of families who are trying to communicate about co you know car pooling but there are only certain amount of parents who are able to make that trek twice a day every day for an undefined amount of time. Um I reached out to Jamie Canardi who's a super uh superintendent of our union and encouraged him to put pressure on Addison County. um they can be creative using Tri Valley Transit, which is something that our union has done before when we've had a bus driver shortage. So, he is putting pressure on them. Um I do think it would be important for Rochester citizens and the select board to reach out to Addison County and impress upon them the importance um of transportation for the kids that the families that live here. >> I don't disagree with that. Um, and I think I did reach out to Senator Ruth Hardy as well, who is the senator for um, Addison, including Rochester and Hancock, and she is trying, she's making phone calls trying to, but I think >> he too. >> I need to I need to contact Hein, but I think volume at this point would be helpful and as many people who have something a comma something after their names would be helpful. Um, but I think it's really important that the town of Rochester says like, "Listen, this is this will put a huge strain on our on our town's families and our communities and this will not help chronic absenteeism that the state has been trying." Yeah. Or tardies. >> So, I just wanted to officially call that to your attention and hope that maybe encourage everyone who's listening or reading this to reach out to Addison County. Who has the because presumably you want whatever we write to go to somebody who has the power to make a change. Yeah. >> So who has the power to make the change over school buses or other transportation? >> So I mean I would I would deliver it all to the Addison County Super um school district. >> That's who signing it. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, Addison County School District um and there are a number of different people that they have used as people who would receive it, but I think um yeah, there's a woman called Darcy Ersen, Mayor >> who sent the email, what was their title? >> Matthew Matthew Corin, director Ren T, >> director of finance and operations, Addison Central School District. >> I'll send you his message. >> I'm not writing it, but yeah. M karante a cd. >> Yeah. So if you could Yeah. My point is it's like you want you want the comment to go to the person who has the power to make the change. >> So this to me >> so if if Patty has his contact I would really >> yeah I have letterhead too but >> I think it would be really great if the town you know >> made a point. Um, do we, and this might be an thing for our school board members to provide rather than our town clerk, but if you can provide numbers on how many students from Rochester go to Mbury >> and how much their tuition is so that we can say X number of students are going at YZ tuitions, >> right? Um, I I can't leave work to I can't leave work to bring my child is true for everybody. So therefore, likely to be less persuasive than we have 32 students that earn you $60 million. Obviously not, but do you know what I mean? Like >> it's a from the Rochester Hang. It's a full bus. >> So it's on the bus. >> I'm sure it is. I would just I'm not writing it for us, so we'll see. But it's like I would encourage people to use numbers. >> Okay. um first and an emotional appeal second because >> that's more likely to get some kind of traction >> then if you start with why I can't do it right um but if you want something to come from come from the select board then >> right I mean their final comments we will send any updates as soon as we know them we know this is a challenging message to receive so close to the beginning of school we are working to resolve it as quickly as possible. So, they do claim that they're looking for a driver for the school bus. Um, they have the bus, they just don't have a driver. It's a driver shortage for their bus provider, which is Betcha. Um, and so they had to call priorities about what buses were going to roll and what were not. we're at the bottom of the totem pole. >> Um Hancock and Granville have a lot more at stake because it's all of their children. >> Yeah. >> Elementary is complete school choice. So all of their children will not have bus service. They are also offering a limited access to um if you were to get your child to the Ripton Community House, they could pick up the Ripton bus, but there's only a certain amount of availability left on that bus. So, it's probably for 20 kids, 20 extra kids because the rip ripped in community house is picks up a lot of kids, too. So, um getting in touch with Jamie is it was a very good powerful thing to do. And I was out of town this weekend, so I I had couldn't react to this until today. And >> there was one family who didn't get the email. >> That's funny because I got it. My kid graduated. >> Yeah. There was one family who didn't receive the email. >> So that was a nasty surprise. >> So you're asking the select board to write a letter. >> I am encouraging anyone and I think it would be most impactful for someone like the select board individually or collectively to address the situation that's happening to the families in their town. >> I'll send it to Phil Scott. Well, and the other point of this is that this is a direct result of closing schools. >> The more schools we close, the more situations like this we will have because there will be more kids to put on buses and there are not enough school bus drivers apparently. Um, and so there will be sit and this will affect rural Vermont. This isn't going to affect Burlington. This isn't going to This is going to be rural Vermont kids and families who suffer who will might have to move out of these towns >> or go remote >> or go remote or home school, you know. I mean, but this is this is a serious thing that could snowball if they keep trying to close our schools >> or the families with children will move elsewhere. >> Yes, that's also a possibility. >> So noted. Sorry. Anything else? >> Go ahead. >> Public comment. >> Yes. Um Amy and I came tonight to uh discuss um what um I guess we'd like to clear the air as to um the park parcels that are in front of residences on the park. You know, we live on the park. And we learned only recently, maybe within the last 2 or 3 years actually, that those plots of land that are in front in front of, you know, um after the sidewalk and before the road are actually part of the park and um and that may be so, but it seems like um that they really haven't been used. Um then it it seems like uh I know that that so you remember when we planted flowers in that one park parcel in front of the consolidated and then you requested that we dig them up because it was causing a problem with the mowing. So I guess whoever um I'm not sure who it was that was mowing that patch. If it was the same person that ms the park ms that area and it was a problem for them. But then we're wondering if why all all the other park parcels aren't also mowed by the person that mows the park, you know, and so we've been living in that house for 12 years and no one has ever said that we couldn't that that that wasn't part of our yard. Um and because it's so close to our house, you know, and um it was brought to our attention that there was an issue with parking um on those park parcels because we, you know, there's rules around parking on the park, right? So, um, but we are, I guess if that's the case, we're we're coming here to humbly ask if we could make if we could we could continue to use our park parcel. Uh, because we are we're a very active family. We have a lot of people coming in and out of our property and um we, you know, and our driveway is only, you know, one lane. Um, and we can't, it's not always conducive to for everybody that comes to our house to park in our driveway. We'd like to be able to use that to people to park not maybe directly on the grass, but be able to park like right right on the, you know, next to the grass on the road. Um, I know that the there So, we're guess what we're saying is there's a sign on the other side of the street saying do not park here. >> It says do not park on the roadway. >> Right. >> Right. So, if if it's not on the roadway, I just want to add that part. if it's not on the roadway, >> like are are where are people parking? Because in this case, it was a man who was picking up a kid and it was like a fiveminute moment of just pulling up, picking up a child that was at my camp that I had at my house. The kid got into the truck and then they left. But that was a problem. But then the rest of that day, cars were coming and going on all over the place of the park. I mean, it's constantly cars are parking and not parking. So, do we need to make the signage clearer? >> What do you mean by that was a problem? >> Well, no. I I stopped over because we had talked about the park. We had talked about parking at two meetings that >> I just wasn't aware of. >> Yeah. I I didn't want to be very specific. It was just there was a father who was picking up a child and then Mary came up and said, "You can't park there." And he was like, "What? I'm only here for a few minutes." Yeah. >> And I'd rather somebody pull up where they can see >> kids coming and going. And kids are constantly, especially when the portaotti was there, kids were coming across the street or whatever. It was a safety thing of just being able to see. So, we just want to be clear like we've been mowing that spot all the whole time we've lived here. And the park parcel that we're referring to with the flowers, nobody was maintaining. When we moved in, it was overgrown. So, it we thought it was ours because it's part of our land, but it's also part of the park. So, we just want to be clear. >> Part of it is on the border of our property. >> We just want to be clear about like the signage needs to be clear to say don't park on the grass because it currently says don't park on the road. And their their point is it it's not just valid, it's true. Which is to say that one day >> there happened to be a free-for-all for parking on that side of the street as well as on the park. >> People were parking everywhere. >> Um >> not so like it was not >> for an event at their house. >> No, it was it was a free it was a bit of a free-for-all. It was drove by drove by your house. I think it was last week sometime and you were having a gathering. I don't know if it was a family gathering or a camp gathering. There was a lot of people in your yard and a lot of cars parked around the park around that area, but I was like, "Yeah, it's just it's just a gathering." So, I kept on going. >> Yeah. No, this this particular day there were it was there were three cars on the park. There was one and like there were four cars parked along the park um on the house side and then three on the thing as well. So, and that was not them. that was a free-for-all for parking >> just overall. Yeah. >> So, I guess it just needs to be a conversation just so that we're clear because as he's saying >> because it's not clear. >> It's not and we don't want to break the rules if there are rules, you know. So, >> well, and also the rules should be evenly if if there's going to be a rule, it should be >> evenly and fairly. >> When when we moved in and bought the house, there wasn't anything that was given to us in the closure that said like whatever. Like, we didn't get rules. eventually rules came into our possession, but like we've lived in HOAs where you have to like you can't hang laundry or you you know whatever. So, we just want to know like is there something that is you know that we need to be able to tell people like don't park there or whatever, right? So, >> are there a set of park rules or park residents? >> Well, don't sleep on the park, don't metal detect, don't dig like there are >> I will I will I will tell you what the literal thing says which is not necessarily going to solve anything. Okay. Right. And I I that which is to say there um the first question is where are the limits of the park according to the park deed which is not in front of me but does exist. Um so the and then the park ordinance applies to the whatever the deed spot is for the park and it says there shall be no parking on the park except for special events such as gradu. There's a couple of things in there. So >> is that approved events that the select board approved that can happen? >> It seems to suggest that. Yes. Um, so the the first question is a deed does exist. That would that is worth looking at again to see to confirm where does it actually end? This is because this is part of what we were talking about with the triangle the mini park um when we were just talking about the culvert was that was my question is does the park the deed park go all the way over to the mini park. So there's the where does the deed put the boundaries of the park is the first question so that it's clear and then the second one is the park ordinance as written says that parking is prohibited except for special events and it seems to imply that those special events are things permitted by the select board. Um it's not evenly enforced. Um and then the third question is it's also not clearly signed. So >> my friends last night for example and they had to park because somebody in our drive needed to get out. They had you know >> when I say it is not you I mean it is like you know there's it's a free-for-all. >> Um so the what you're talking about is where is the park? What is the rule? >> Is it well signed >> and who mows it? Like we've been mowing it. >> Well and that's that goes into the question because if it's park property it's park property, right? And so that's at that first question of where is the deed or what are the limits according to the deed. >> So I guess the question is are we going to change uh what's been um happening for you know u time in memorial or we just going to keep it the way it is. We'll we will continue to mow it >> on the agenda. So we can't make any type of real >> you can't make a decision. We just wanted to just talk. >> Yeah I know right. Um, >> I I am here to tell you what the park ordinance says. >> Doesn't have to be worms. >> It doesn't have to be tonight. I just wanted to talk. >> She opened it. Um, >> I didn't open it. The trees opened it. I didn't even know the park ordinance existed. >> I have I have very little vested interest in this park. >> We used to love the park. >> No, I I my vested interest is uniformally in is What is the process? Is it clear >> to everybody involved? And is it evenly >> enforced is the wrong word, but it's like I my investment in the trees and the actual parking is secondary to my investment in the clarity of the process. Um, so I would say the first question is is where are the limits of the park? And then the second question is are we >> well the limits of the park have been defined to across including the road and >> through the sidewalk and in front of the park house down the roadways and um in to the road that goes to the post office. park is much larger than just the park. >> Um, so with that being the revelation, we're we're we're now this sort of situation is coming out. And what it may do is we will rewrite that ordinance and tighten up the rules about how the park is being treated. And some may like it and some may not. Mhm. >> So what you're saying is like then you could come up with something where then you say to us >> not immediately it's going to be a process >> but but eventually you might say you guys can't use that that plot of land. >> I wouldn't that conclusion. I mean uh I I mean from my own perspective >> this is a funky thing on your the front of your house. You should be part of the process that develops this. >> Sounds good because we play cornhole from time to time in that front. Well, and so you there's also a two-part question here, which is to say like >> what are the rules? Nobody understands them. So that that's the state of this. >> Um, nobody understands them. So they're being unevenly enforced and the ordinance is 30 years old. Perhaps it should be revisited. That's its own process. The what should people do between now and then is actually a third question. And um >> and I and I don't I don't have an answer for what to do with the in between time. I mean, we'll keep mowing. We've been mowing as well. So, >> just like >> Well, but I mean I think I am I think it's important that you ask the question you are, which is to say, >> what do you want me to do between now and when you decide what the rules are >> and I don't know what we want to tell them to do between now and when the parking >> living their life the way they have been for the last 12 years >> until we hear from you otherwise. >> Right. >> Well, yeah. innocent to >> and we will hear from you while >> it'll be a two-way street. >> Great. >> It's just the current sign says no parking on roadway and so people aren't parking on the roadway is what's happening. People are following directions with the current signage. >> It's the one sign across from your driveway. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Um then >> we should put somewhere in the minutes and I I we can't agree on this because it wasn't on the agenda. So I would say put on the next agenda something like parking I don't know I'll tell you something better to put on it but it's something >> we are having so much discussion about parking on the park >> that it's unfortunately >> going to get a lot of rebuttal >> but it looks as though we need to allow some parking on the park >> come for the concert >> take concert make it parking spot >> so the permanent events >> can park on the board. >> People still park right in front of our house to use trees. So >> yes, they do. >> There's still a lot of a lot of moving parts. >> So of course, but >> when there's an event at Pierce Hall, sometimes like there's so many cars that they actually they have no choice but to park on on our road. Right. Uh so what I would say to put on the put it on the agenda for the next meeting, but what we would be doing at that time is coming to some sort of agreement about like we agree the ordinance says X and isn't being enforced. We're going to think about how to rewrite the ordinance, but this is what we're this is how we're going to apply the ordinance until it's rewritten because there's it's the inconsistency that's making people a little nutty, >> right? >> Um and so if we can provide some kind of temporary consistency. >> Yeah, we're nutty. No, not you. Me? No, no, no. I'm sorry. Let me No, no. Let me try. It's the inconsistency which is making Mary a little nutty. I genuinely meant that. >> Well, it's hard because you want to be able to do your job. And >> No, it's No, it's it's the it's the it's the inconsistency, right? Like if if you if you can't park there, neither neither can the bikes across the street. Well, if the bikes across the street can park there, then you should be able to park there. And So yeah, no, like the nutty was the Mary, not you. It's >> all good. >> Thank you for your time. Appreciate >> it. And for people to enjoy the park, we actually should allow some parking for them so that they don't drive through town because there's no place to park, right? >> They can they can stop, enjoy enjoy the town green, and have a place to park and maybe stick around and become part of our community. I it's there there's a lot of considerations to take into account here. So, what we would be doing at the next meeting is something like a temporary. >> Okay. >> While you're discussing the whole thing there, thinking out of the box because those lots are in front of residences, maybe it's time to change the park boundary and get rid of those little not the mini park, which basically is in front of the the post office and a business. Maybe the other ones that are in front of residents >> or use them for parking. >> Yeah, >> let's use it comes around. >> That's okay. >> I'm serious. >> No, I mean Oh, and and >> I won't say we, but it has been thought about, right? But it part of part of the challenge of this is that when you create an ordinance, changing it takes time, right? And changing it takes time. Not just in terms of making people feel comfortable about it, but just literally the process takes time. And changing a deed is another process that takes even more time >> and expense >> um and expense. And so it's >> I my my pedentry for process >> is a policy is easier to change than an ordinance. >> Infinitely infinitely easier to change than an ordinance. And what we have is an ordinance. >> Okay. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thanks. >> Don't worry. The mowing is a thing. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I just want to go back very briefly to the discussion of the old firehouse. The fellow who manages the Simpson Apartments and a couple of the tenants have been telling me that there were rats coming in and out of that building and occasionally they find dead rats. >> Great. >> So, I think that's >> probably because of the garbage there at Simpsons. There's no nothing for him to eat inside. No, I I'm in regular touch with Simpsons about their dumpsters because the bear likes eating in my backyard. >> Table. >> Oh, I I'm working on it. >> Table, >> but rats are serious business. So, >> it's a nice break from the bear conversation. >> Yeah, >> more you can bear. >> Well, maybe we can get trained bears all sorts of everyone's welcome. >> Just don't park. I move that we adjourn. >> Maybe if you want to put a tower there. >> All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. It was a good meeting.