Rochester Selectboard - September 14, 2026 [ROS]

[music] Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming to the select board meeting. Uh it is September 14th, 2026 and it is 5:00 p.m. We have posted the agenda uh three different places which includes the three places around town. We've posted it on our website and we have emailed it to a large list. So um I believe that we are ready to go with a legal open meeting. Are there any agendas to the agenda? Are there any >> additions? [laughter] >> Additions to the agenda. >> Okay. >> No hands. >> How many people do we have online? >> Um, three. And Orca. >> Okay. One, two, three. That's double. Um, >> first I guess we're skipping right into our departmental reports. Um, you want to do the meeting minutes >> on the minutes. Um, >> maybe not me. >> That's not me. >> Circle back to the minutes so I can look at it. >> Yeah. And then we can circle back to them. >> Um, >> you see those >> grant updates. >> Um, I have a couple. Um, I submitted today I submitted two reimbursement requests to the USDA for the Hannes project. Um, totaling 136 or 3960. Um, that'll come through pretty quickly. So, I expect probably within a week we should have full reimbursement for that. And our um Austin Hill Better Roads grant has been completed by the road crew. Um, and now I'm just working on the reimbursement and for checks to cash. So that'll take some time. >> Okay. >> When I have that total, I'll let you know. >> What's up with the highway department this week? >> Coverts. Done. I guess I don't mean to say that. >> Oh, that's me. Um, Rita is going to be here next week to Tory Hill Grant Park and Austin Hill. >> I get an indication the pavers may be here next week, but [laughter] that's for Quarry Hill. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Certainly not. Nothing. >> Nothing is okay. >> If I get out of here quick, I can still make my softball game. >> So, you're all set. Thank you. >> Thanks. Have a good night. >> You're welcome. Thank you, sir. >> We'll we'll cover it from here. >> Oh, >> anyone from the library? >> Um, no. select board updates. Um, carry forward from the last meeting. Um, I took a little bit of a different route when we had a discussion about school bus transportation to Mbury and um, I spoke directly to the bus company manager and um, she apologizes profusely. Um, the problem that she has with the missing bus driver was that the bus driver's out on maternity leave. So, she will be back is the good news. Um um so since then I have heard that they are running an afternoon school bus but it doesn't leave until after other bus routes are done. So I don't think it hits town till about 5:00. So I think the kids are sitting around for an hour, hour and a half hopefully doing their homework while they're waiting for the bus to show up. But um a lot of attention has been given to that and uh so we're we're doing everything we can. If if something develops where we get closer to wintertime, we certainly will be barking much louder. Um we had a business roundt meeting and um we did have a dozen business and entity owners in in the village. Um it was a nice little lunch meeting with way too much food, but we did have discussions about housing, um employment, employees, um how we would like to grow and that was sponsored by Two Rivers and um they took some good notes from it and they will be hopefully gathering information. We also had Green Mountain Economic Development here as well. So, we'll see if anything grants or anything come to us or ideas of how to improve our town. Um, I am told the Bethl Mountain sidewalk project will be taking place in the month of October. Hopefully, it's not delayed again because that would put it into next year and we don't want that. We want to get it done this year. Um, but I I do believe that now that they're locking into doing it. So >> to know on that project, did they decide how they were going to widen the road? They were going to take it from the other side, not the sidewalk side. >> No, they're going to do it all on this side of the road. And then >> this side is what? >> The same side that it's on. >> Sidewalk. >> The sidewalk between Brook Street and the parsonage. Brook Street and the parsonage. >> And are they going to make concrete sidewalks? >> I believe it is. They're not really important for us. We have not seen the design yet. There was some discussion about drainage from the sidewalk and we have yet to see what they've decided to do. So, um >> about the drainage. >> Yeah. >> Um I spoke with them about that. >> Yeah. I spoke with the the engineer from VOTE and the u the design engineer from from private firm. I'm drawing a blank on the name of the firm. Um and uh um there was some question about how uh deeply buried that um drainage pipe that crosses the road there. Um >> and you know, we had a discussion about that. I brought to their attention the fact that there's a water line there, which they didn't know. Um thank you, Terry, for pointing that out. Um and uh uh the decision I believe if I recall correctly a couple weeks ago now um they're going to they're going to bury that storm line 18 in which still should leave it um a good couple of feet above the water line and they're going to line the uh the bottom of that uh the trench that they're going to lay that pipe in with some insulation board to protect the the water line from freezing. >> Okay, great. Just curious to know why they're taking it from the sidewalk side which has already taken so much of the property owner's front yards as opposed to the space that's on the other side where there's a lot of setback >> from house to road >> where there isn't on the sidewalk side and that the last meeting I was in they were looking into taking it from the other side two to three years >> I know but what why would they decide that >> they were they were talking about engineering this the the road itself and moving it over to allow more room for the sidewalk. >> Yeah. >> So, they're going to the road. The sidewalk is going into the road, not into the yards. >> It's I really need to >> We're not in 100% sure of that. And it's also 100% funded by the state. So, >> Right. But the design is something that the town has to accept. >> I I don't think the sidewalk is moving. >> It has to be a little bit wider. >> Yeah. So Cteril's just left, so I'm gonna >> say what he said to me, but take it with a grain of salt because >> it it's unofficial. >> But at one point, he had a conversation about the sidewalk and um was a you know, to make it ADA accessible. Technically, it had to be so wide, but it doesn't have to be that wide the whole way. So, they had negotiated the width of the sidewalk back down to something closer to what it currently is and it still meets the ADA requirements. So, I don't I don't know if that answers your question or not because I came into this very late. Um, but I also haven't seen plans. Well, I think we all need to see plans over >> where there also were planning on curling it around a little bit so that someone was cross someone that was crossing the road by the parsonage going towards the Huntington house would be more visible and there will be a little flashy thing saying someone's crossing the road. Um that that was all part of the original design and I'm sure that did not go away. So it was just a matter of the drainage. So it's uh it it it is what it is. If we want that sidewalk, we have to bring it into this century. Um >> do we have do we have plans here somewhere in the magic town place? >> No. >> I I I have something. Um >> well, they should be posted the plans. >> Well, I mean it's >> it's not town funded, so it's state funed. It's the sidewalk is staying is staying where it is. >> The sidewalk is going to stay where it is, >> right? It's whether or not it's going to widen towards the the property owners or whether it's going to widen towards the street. And is it going to be concrete? >> All sidewalks are concrete now. >> A lot of them are are car. >> Well, that's good to know. But just to be assured of it, being a homeowner right there and just knowing the dangers of the accessibility of the road to the pedestrians, it's a concern to us. >> I've been on the sidewalk with a dog and passing traffic has hit the dog. I mean, nobody monitors the speed of that road. >> Yeah. I I was provided something to facilitate the conversation about the the uh the crossing and the of the road and the water line. So I >> But that's that's not a full plan. That was what you sent. >> Yeah, that's what I had. >> That's the water line. Yeah. Um can we get have they drawn up an engineering plan? >> Well, at our last meeting, we did not think so because they were waiting for us to answer a question, >> right, about this, >> right? So, >> well, I mean that that's just one detail of a bigger plan that right that was already completed. So, I mean it's it's not like, you know, okay, now they're going to make the plan. >> Yeah, >> the plan was almost already completed. This is one detail. >> I can see if we can get the plan, but >> yeah. >> Um, >> sidewalk and with >> you know, I've been in communication with these folks, so I probably should take this. >> Thank you. Okay, I'm going to continue with my select board report. >> I'm sorry. [clears throat] >> Um that that Oh, and then um it was also brought up that it is that time of year. There's a chill in the air about CB oil locking in prices again this year. I did have a conversation with um Charlie Martin of CB oil and um we have decided to you try to use some procrastination um to see what happens in a very volatile market. um we would not want to lock in an oil rate at this point in time when it is at its highest and we're keeping our fingers cross that if we get closer to October or the election might be a better time to have a discussion about how the balance of the winter would be. um most of the discussion that we're having um affects the hub because you are by far the biggest user of energy right now. So um if you are uh getting your oil deliveries automatically. >> Okay. So if you if any if anybody can can monitor it and hold off a little bit and see what happens. Right now it's at the highest the highest rate and uh you know I'm not saying run out of heat. >> Um we are going to have that discussion and for the time being I think we might be still under a contract with it but I'm not sure. >> I think so too. I'm not positive either, but I can limit >> right now they're losing money on selling fuel to our >> I wanted to ask you about that like with your discussions with Charlie is that firehouse, garage, town office, hub, library. >> Uh, yes. >> Everything that we did last year. >> Okay. >> I thought the library was included last year. >> They were included. She just said they did their own and I said not last year. >> I just saw their minutes they were talking about. >> Yeah, they were talking about it and I told Barb that is sort of what brought it all up. >> Yes. Okay. I just wanted to make sure >> is LP. >> Um that is >> Charlie. >> Yeah, I know it. I know that. But I don't know that we locked in rates for LP because our it was mostly oil that affected our budgets the most and you know the hub being 75% of that. Um that was where we were putting our emphasis on. >> Okay. >> Cuz this is going to be out here too. True. But it's going to be more efficient. It's going to have insulation around the >> Where did we get our propane? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> That's what I thought. >> Um and the last thing on my list is just a quick announcement and I think Mary might want to elaborate on it. Um, regarding the cell tower application, that application has been pulled by Vortex, um, the initiator of the tower. Um, and I can let Mary go further with it. [laughter] Uh, >> the state of the mirror. >> So, um, they the road as designed uh, crossed an abuing landowner property without permission. Um, and so they have to, in order to continue with the project, they would have to redesign the road. Um, and they were said they were in the process of so doing, but they hadn't submitted redesigned plans yet. Um, and so, um, there was an individual intervenor had made a motion to have the case dismissed with prejudice. and um the day before or so that that when that would have been ruled on um the applicant um chose to withdraw their petition um so the the project as it existed is closed and no longer exists. If they choose to redesign the road and move forward, then the process would start again and we would get an advanced notice with the 45 or 60 days, I forget which, and then they would have to refile a petition. Um and so >> like start from >> Yeah. >> Yep. It becomes a new project because it the it was a substantial enough change that they could have it it could have asked the hearing officer to say that this it's sort of like when we modify a grant like it's more than a materials change but is this a substantial enough change that it's a new project. Okay. and that's sort of where the conversation was happening, but since they didn't have the plans. Um [clears throat] >> Okay. >> So, yeah. Did did that answer your question? >> Yes. >> Um so, um we are done until further notice. Um yes. >> And that's what we've been up to >> since August 24th. Anything yet more? the housing committee um has chosen to disband as the entity that they were um and so they were if so the housing committee no longer exists um there is a meeting on the 23rd of September um let me just pull up the >> at the Huntington House >> at the Huntington House this is the second and final meeting for the area plan the first one had been at the um Pierce Hall this one will be at Huntington house from on Wednesday, September 23rd from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Um, it's going to start with a optional tour of Huntington House and then a facilitated discussion using Huntington House as kind of a case study for imagining a way to redevelop something um in town. So, Henry um is going to be there and it's going to be facilitated and there will not be a remote option for this um and Kristen's going to send it out um at the email. Um the reports for that came with this grant um the grant produced a market study and an environmental desktop review. The final version of the reports are in and they will be up on the town website tomorrow. Um and I'll give you language to put out in the email too. So they are they are done and they are there for public perusal. Um and to the best of my knowledge that closes out this grant. Um, I don't know what the next steps would be. I'm assuming that would be part of the conversation on the 23rd. >> What's next? >> Thank you. >> Um, so I have a call scheduled tomorrow um with a representative from Norwich Solar regarding the resiliency zone up in the gravel pit. >> Wonderful. Um >> I think >> well we'll see. Um you know they reached out to us so I think that that's a good sign. >> Mhm. >> Um you know I'm continuing to monitor this and trying to get it to happen and I I think it is going to happen but we have to still be patient. >> But uh I will learn more tomorrow. So, they still have a relationship with Green Mountain Power, a contract in place. >> They do. Uh, well, I'll learn more about that. It >> Okay. >> The legality of the deal between Norwich and Green Mountain Power had to be reconfigured. >> Yes. >> Um, and the state of that, uh, I guess I'll learn. >> Good. Good. It it good to know there's a glimmer of light there at the end. >> Yeah. The other thing I'll mention um and really this is just a something for discussion. I'd like to hear from both of you and end it from anybody. Um but uh I'm contemplating reaching out to the library um to kind of create more of a connection. Um, you know, there there's kind of an estrangement there between us and the library that I think is undesirable. And if we can kind of mend fences and become friends again, I think that would be a good thing. >> I tried eight years ago. [laughter] >> Well, there's a new board over there now. I think it's worth another shot. >> There is. >> Unless you disagree. >> Fine with me. >> Always keep trying. >> Good. I'm on it. [laughter] >> Okay. [clears throat] Be diplomatic. >> Absolutely. >> How about a utilities department update >> going? >> Okay. >> I'm got still working on getting wires growing in pumps cuz number one pump is working now. Did you have a chance to look at that space under the the hub? >> No. >> Okay. >> Haven't done it yet. >> Did the messet guy give you a call? The weather station guy? >> No. Okay. And we know that the old one the or the one you thought you had is not around anywhere. The harness. >> No, I you walked everywhere. >> But you you thought that we had it when we bought the pumps. >> Mhm. >> Wow. I didn't pick it up and walk away with it because I hear it's very heavy. >> No, one person did. >> Yeah. Um okay BHI management updates. >> So uh piggybacking on the discussion of fuel oil cost that's been topic of discussion and uh the approach you're taking is to try to reduce consumption. I mean the price is going to be the price and it's going to be higher than anybody wants to be. We made some assumptions about what that might be for the rest of this year and into next year but you don't really know till it arrives. Uh so meanwhile we're going to work very hard on reducing consumption which means trying to keep the building as cold as we can without freezing the pipes with people. Uh we'll have uh a walk through with efficiency Vermont uh in a couple weeks uh to take a look at what are the best opportunities for further insulation and heat reduction. We may need to buy some materials to do that. some blue board and some window plastic to put more of the uh we got the window treatment on to which really helped a lot and what was done last year was very beneficial. So uh Drew Hudson and Jeff Gard are both working with us on that. They're the current uh energy u uh leaders for the town. And uh so that's the tractor taken. Try to get it set up before the real cold weather arrives again minimize the consumption of fuel oil. That's another we can do at some of the >> the uh controls the heat controls. We know that some parts were adjusted um before the town took ownership of the building that resulted and there's some some work was done to um which resulted in some rooms being left wide open heat. So we may need to do some adjustments in the radiators. uh certain valves might need to be installed or replaced to be able to better control the heat flow and the demand for fuel oil therefore from the boilers. So looking at all the things that can be done short of replacing the heating system. Um so that's that front. U the bone builders group is in there three days a week. They seem happy. They are up around 30 people I think in the last time around and like the space. Um, so that's going well. Um, and then on the the phase one renovation project, we're still pursuing two tracks. One gave us getting the money, finishing up the money that's needed to get started. Uh, we have some very promising discussions going on, but it's still discussion at this point, which we want to convert to cash as soon as possible, but this it takes some time. And on the on the U regulatory front, the fact Kath I just got off a call with Sarah Ray to find out where things are and there's still a lot of work that needs to be done on that front documents that she needs to provide or needs to get from others uh to be provided for from the uh architect for example and get some clarification on certain regulations from Nap Cleveland and the a commerce and community development. So, it's going to be a while yet, but uh those are moving. >> We're moving. >> So, uh when does that money get released from the the Nathan? >> When all of the funding from the grants, it's after we have spent our money. >> So, we are working to close the funding gap. We have over four million >> in major grants. Uh and we have what we have we're close to the to closing the gap. Uh we have received money this summer. We have 2027 pledges we learned last week that the 2027 pledges in order to count so that we can start construction need to be converted to cash 2026 because we want to start the bidding as soon as possible. But we don't know. I think we're much more assured about money than we are at this moment than what it's going to take for the USDA to approve the deductions. We did three deductions. They're really sort of minor and more material uh changes and so it's just looking really close, guys. It really is to start phase one construction, which we're very excited about. But it would be a mistake for us right now to give dates when we're not in control of agencies like the USDA, which has is an unprecedented low staffing under this administration. >> So, >> okay, >> I don't know whether you know this, but they actually had >> the town address for the NEPA >> and so we had to get them to just do a clerical change. I think it took five months. >> So, uh, none of these grants have expiration dates on them, do they? >> No, we're good with all that. >> Five years on the >> good with all that, >> don't they? I've never heard of a grant to not have an expiration date. >> Yeah, >> especially with that amount of money. >> The big grant from U >> Sanders. >> Yeah, Sanders grant, they had a fiveyear window on it and it was in 24. Was that granted? >> Yeah, we got it. We got notification 24. Yeah. So, five years from that, the uh most recent grant from ACCCD, we have to have all the conditions met by December 1st. >> So, that's what we're It's not about >> December 1st or December 31st. >> December 1st. >> It's really not about the two bigger grants. It's really more about the state is so rigorous as you must know. Uh so it we've got to meet all their conditions and >> northern board >> and and that includes the program manager which is so loosely defined you couldn't even hire somebody and let them know what they're supposed to do. So, we're asking for very clear uh definition because we'd like to find a local person who would be able to fill that role and um clerk of the works and the construction manager is already in place and most of the you know most of the jobs are really under those two roles. So, um there's some more permits that have to be finalized and that's like what Kelly's doing the architect. So, but in terms of the actual fund campaign, we're feeling very positive. >> Okay, good. Yeah, >> very posit. >> We're going to be keeping it up for a long time beyond phase one because the the project is really both sides of the building. So, >> yeah. I and um Drew I don't know if >> Drew is here. I was told to put him on last. >> You can ask him if he has anything. >> He's here. He gave thumbs up. I guess he >> bring him in. Energy coordinator >> or VHI whichever hat you want to wear. >> Make him say no. Make >> Oh, Mary wants you to say no or you know. >> Can you unmute and say no or whatever she said? So, be official. >> Oh, see. Hold on. He's finding the unmute button. >> Pretty small. >> No, he's definitely just staring at us. >> All right, that's fine. Move on. He's good. >> Okay, let's move on to new business. Um, approve July 2026 treasures report from the treasurer. Um, I just hit this one. Um, July would be not a lot of neat to digest. I wouldn't mind if I could kick this down the road to the next meeting. >> Sorry. >> So that I can I can digest it a little bit more. Um, we'll even have a budget meeting or two under our belt so that we can chew on these numbers and those numbers at the same time. So I' I'd like to forward this on you two. Okay. >> Sounds fine. >> Yep. doesn't have a lot of data in it, but it's a start. Boom. Arrow. Um, number three, sign fiscal year 27 grants and age grant agreement. This is this right here. And this is um an annual thing for us. And is this Austin Hill? >> Um, right now that one's to be determined, I believe. Yep. >> This is the new one coming up. Yeah. Next Septemberish. >> Is this the the annual road grant that we get from the state? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Like ditching and Yeah. Ditching covers. done. Discussion of draft um requests for proposals for arborist park and cemetery state arborist report available at the town office or online. So I'm going to hand this over to Mary. It's uh her baby. >> Yes. So, Adam McCulla from the Vermont Community and Urban Forestry Foundation uh came down in July to do an inventory of um a partial inventory of the trees on the park. We also visited uh North Hollow Cemetery and the village cemetery. Um and he sent the report which um I have a couple of copies of here. There's a hard copy at the town office and at Dave Pawn uh the website under documents as well. Um it's a very user friendly report. Um his assessment um was looking at um risk and over three years. Um and uh because we asked him to do so much in a single visit, what he also did was um he did some video assessments for and some aggregate video assessments of the trees on the park. Um so he assessed the ash trees as a unit. He assessed the three pine trees um and then he did two individual ones for a maple tree um that has a deep cavity and a maple tree that's having some fungal issues. Um so those videos are also um on the town website and super fun if anybody wants to take a look at them. Um so um based on that report I'm pulling together um an RFP to get some quotes for the immediate needs. Um the I have copies if people are interested in this. You want it. Um anybody want it? You don't have that. Yeah. Um Nancy, I think you already have them in the center. Um this doesn't commit us to any money. It's it's basically to get some budgeting lines as we go into budgeting for the upcoming year. Um so the immediate needs um based on the thing there's three trees that he re recommended removing. There's a 33inch sugar maple in the park that's got a large cavity. You may stick your arm in all the way up to your shoulder and still not reach the end. Um there's a 34in sugar maple in the North Hollow cemetery and then there is a butternut um over here in village cemetery that's a lime tree. um he made some recommendations for um preventative pruning and support for a pine and a maple on the park and um some similar work for two sugar maples in North Hollow and for an asht tree in the cemetery down here. So that was the that was the immediate recommendations. Um, I'm also talking to arborists to try to get a sense of um, how to budget for longer term costs because one of the things from Adam's report was I asked him to kind of give us some general advice for um, how to care for the trees on a more regular basis so that we're not just planning for their removal. Um, the pine trees in particular are in really good shape. They're just really large. Um, and so that makes them um, susceptible to winds among other things. So, I've got um, some sort of long-term things here that I'm asking the arborist. The idea here is to see what it would cost for us to reestablish a relationship with a with a regular arborist. We're not going to be able to get that service from the state. His position has been cut. So, it's not he'll never come back and help us. Um, but he can't come back anytime soon. Um, so I'm trying to figure out what it would cost to establish a regular relationship with an arborist based on the recommendations from the state. Um, we may go through all of this work to this is me gathering data. This is what we should be doing based on the arborist from the state. When we have those numbers, the question then becomes, how shall we pay for it if we can't? And the answers are pretty straightforward, which is to say it comes out of taxes in the general fund. It comes out of donations. It comes out of grants. It comes out of volunteer labor. And so I might we might do all of this and not be able to pay for any of it. But I'm trying to get all of the information so that we can make an informed decision. Um I've got three and a half arborists that came through the treeboard list serve that I'm talking to who and um they want they all want to do site visits first. So I'm going to send this to them so they know, but they want to come and do site visits. And then I've got a couple more um local names that people recommended that I reach out to. I'm looking mostly for arborists, but I am considering also people who do tree work, but I've got to balance the all of those things. Um so if if there is an arborist or somebody who is interested in in bidding out for tree work for the town and the cemetery, they should feel free to reach out to me and it'll go in the paper. Um that's the long version. Um and then I sent this out to you guys. The only thing the cemetery I think I said this maybe I didn't the cemetery commission asked that we had when they do the site visit to add a couple of the cemeteries that Adam wasn't able to get to to take a look at a couple of trees at Woodlon and Bingo. Um and the ones that I've talked to said they're willing to do that. So that's my that's my spiel. >> Yeah. I guess the only thing I would add is I mean we have no idea how much n >> any of this is going to cost. Um uh you know another consideration is well you know you bite off what you can chew >> um year one and then year two year three it's going to be a multi-year program. I mean these hopefully these trees aren't going anywhere >> but they do need a little love. [clears throat] >> Yeah. I'm very much pitching this to the arborist as like we have a couple of very specific immediate needs and immediate just means like we need it now. It doesn't mean we have the money to pay for it now. It just means we need it now. And then yes, multi-year, >> which segus us into number five on our list, discussion regarding park committee and maintenance. >> We have a park that has things in it other than trees. Um and that um we have not had a park committee for several years. Um although we did have one for many years. And so, um, at a previous meeting, we had a number of people who said that they were interested in I'm just pulling up my, um, my notes here, um, who said that they were interested in volunteering to help take care of the park. Um, and so I had um come up with a um so I pulled together in talking with people who have cared for the park over the last many years a list of sort of what that would mean. And this is the discussion was do we want to reform the park committee? Um if so, what would it look like? Um and then yeah, you want me to go through this some more because it was the discussion first. Take it. >> Uh so this is what it this is what it means to take care of the park. Um which is to say um the park maintenance throughout the year is um pick up limbs and debris. Um in January they remove the trees and the lights from the band stand. April and May rake for spring, work with the road crew. In May arrange for lime fertilizing, arration is needed. May through October we have a mowing contract. December set up the tree and lights on the band stand. Um so this park committee as would be responsible for coordinating this and doing it. Um other things that they could be responsible for would be identifying external funding sources for the park care because as I have been saying these are all best practices but how we pay for them is unknown. Um that's that's sort of what the park committee has done in the past. My turn. [laughter] Okay. And um I'm thinking if we are going to form a committee um and they will have the the authority to oversee the park physically um I'd like to take it to the next level. And um since uh I'd like to see them do the approval for the park use permits and because the health of the park pivots on the usage of the park so they can coordinate who's using the park for what reason and then they can also inspect the park after the event to make sure that if these people wanted to come back and use the park again, they left it as good as they found it. So they would also be kind of the approval party and the policing of the events that take place on the park. Um another other other things other chores that are done for the park is um taking care of the American flag. Um when it does need to go half mass, bring it down. And when it does need to go back up, get it back up. Um I I do understand that because of the lights that we have around the the street lights that we have around the village that it's not necessary to light our flag at night. Therefore, it can stay up at night. Um I'm just saying that that it not somebody has to go out and move it up and down every day from what I'm from what I'm told. Um I also feel as though they'd be responsible for the picnic tables. Um, some of the picnic tables I remember were donated to the town and somebody should be in charge of making sure that they're being treated well. They go away in the fall and come back in the spring as well as monitoring any abuse or use of the portaotty that would need any attention. And um last but not least, dog poops on the park and and the select board has had a lot of has had discussion and requests from people in town about that. So um I'd like to have that park committee actually take care of all aspects of the park if we form the committee. That way they do have purpose to meeting virtually every month and they they would have a a good power and a good say over what happens on the park. So anybody that's interested in forming a committee if we decide that that's the direction we want to go um Mary can take it back from how she's going to come about for us to make that decision with a couple meetings. >> Yeah. Do you want to say anything else before I >> No, no, go ahead. Um [clears throat] so there'll be I will be here to have two informal info sessions for people who think they might want to join the park committee next week. Um one there one will be on [clears throat] states right before I um on Tuesday the 22nd and Thursday the 24th at 6 pm. So, if anybody is interested to come and talk through that, um, part of whether or not we choose to form a committee is going to depend on whether or not anybody is interested. Um, I'm just wondering if any of the if anyone from any of the organizations who routinely use the park for their events every year whether they would be interested in having a representative on the committee >> because they most invested in using it for >> it's open to the public. >> Yeah, it's open to anybody. I I have to say I'm not I'm not doing a ton of outreach on this because part of it's here and I'm going to put a little thing in the paper but I >> being on a committ forge forum >> um >> you too what >> I could put it in my >> Yeah. So, I mean, so we're like it's here. It'll be in the minutes, you know. Um, Crystal will put it out on the in her email. She can put it on front porch. >> What you're doing, >> but um part of part of this is somewhat self- selecting, which is to say being on the committee, you have to be able to have some initiative, right? Um you have you have to do things, not just wait to be told to do things. Um, so I I would be perfect I would be perfectly interested and happy for organizations that have gotten vetting permits from the park to be to have a member of that park committee. I'm not necessarily calling through our permits and to see if anybody wants to do it. Um, >> yeah, I'm not looking for a committee that's going to burn out in a year or two and then it disbands. I I'm looking for something that would is going to stick around to give them something to do and to expand to other parks as well. Um, Riverside Park definitely is another park that could be overseen. And if the Lion Club people ever want to give up the Lion Club park, then we could pick that one up as well. Um, at least the oversight of it. So, um, this committee will have power. We'll have will will have some good substance to what their duties are. So hopefully that brings a lot of people forward. >> You know, the last thing I'll just say is, you know, that park is a jewel. We are so lucky to have that. >> Yes. >> Um and you know, taking better care of it um is a fantastic thing. Uh getting more hands makes light work. Um so I'm with you. That's it. That's what I got. Yes, we don't have Orca here. The one time that we probably would want to have Orca here so that people could watch this. >> Go back to this. >> Okay. You want to come back to it? >> Yep. >> Okay. So, um we are going to circle back and approve the prior meeting minutes. Are there any changes? >> No. I have read them and I have also watched the orca. Um, so I move that we approve the prior meeting minutes from our meeting of August 24th, 2026. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Do we have any public comment? >> I have a question. >> We can take questions. Tomorrow night at Dockbridge, there's going to be a community forum on what's happening with the school and I'm just wondering whether there's anybody going to go and listen to it >> or participate in it. >> Yes. >> It's 6:00 down at Stockbridge School. >> Are they talking about RSUD? They are talking specifically about RSU >> and basically what's going to happen with our two elementary schools >> is well I'm sure they're probably well I don't know >> and this is the this is the result of the survey that went out to everyone in town. >> Uh I think they got a 100 responses. >> Um >> what time is it? But anyway, >> I'm going to go to the meeting. >> I'm not sure why, but I'm going. It's important. >> Yeah. I wonder uh which parents will be. But then >> probably nobody from Rochester will go. >> Yeah. This was not highly publicized. >> No, it has not been. But everybody in Stockbridge knows about it. Yeah. Because I think Stockbridge has some motivations. >> Yeah. They're probably more vulnerable. >> Yeah, I've been to all of these meetings. There's only been one or two people at these meetings from Rochester. From Rochester. Even the one that was in Rochester a couple weeks ago. Um, Bill, Debbie, and I were there. >> Yeah. Because they're not being publicized, >> right? Um if they are >> well it's posted everywhere. >> Okay. >> But we know [laughter] it posted in three places. >> We know what that means. >> So I just think it would be nice if people from Rochester would show up at the meeting at least to hear what's going on. >> Good point. Good point. I cannot >> I don't think we can be too confident without showing up quite frankly. >> I think a decision is going to be made rather quickly about what's going on. Really? >> Well, you've gone to the meetings. Can you give a little synopsis? They're going to give the final synopsis and and discuss what their what their plans are. They had a retreat school board had a retreat last week, I think it was. >> Yeah, that's an annual retreat though. >> It's um survey data >> and it was it was to review the data that came back from those surveys. >> The data said that there's no conclusive direction one way or another about what to do in a school, >> but they're going to be told what to do with the school, who's going to be told, >> right? But this just says community discussion. there was no decision to be made by the state. >> I I thought of the last iteration of that that the town's desires were going to be taken into full consideration, not just being forced to close down consolidation is a loophole you can drive a truck through. >> Yeah. What one thing that u I think it was Jamie said in that meeting was that the state meaning the legislature legislative intent was to create super centralized high schools somewhat centralized middle schools and and allow for more of the local elementary school just as a general thrust of where they want to go consolidation issue. So, and if that's the truly the direction, then you know, town both towns may end up having uh their own elementary school, which both towns want, far as I can tell, >> but they may divide up the classes differently. So, you might have [clears throat] >> four or five. Then, there's a whole question of the sixth graders, whether sixth grade is going to remain >> in the school or is it better to have sixth graders join junior high schools, >> right? >> They don't appear to [clears throat] be ready. And that was one of the questions on the survey. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, and there's the next meeting is uh 15th and >> tomorrow night. >> Tomorrow night. >> Yeah. I got way unfortunately otherwise we would have gone. >> Right. And and one of the things that they were talking about not siding on was removing school choice from a town like Rochester. And with the with the high school situation, making the super high schools. Um they were removing school choice and you would go to a design all the students in this town would go to that school, not that one, that one, that one, and that one. But that was going to be phased in over the course of five years from now. >> In other words, children that go to the current their current school would not be moved. >> One designated high school, >> one designated high school, but it's also going to phase in. So don't everyone panic. If you're going to Mberry, you're going to continue till that all those students graduate and then they'll phase in. >> Right? That was the only thing that that I thought would be a a major change to how we were because I mean we're having discussion now because >> when we when we went from not having a high school to school choice, one of the gratifying thing was that you could choose the school you wanted to go to. >> Absolutely. >> And now they're talking about taking that away too. So >> the state is talking about taking that away. They're they're having a look. >> It was and it was an option. It was a proposal. I don't think it's in, you know, written in pen. It's still in pencil. All of these are still in pencil. So, >> I think the point is Nancy made the point. We Rochester needs to be at these meetings. Need to be >> We do need to be there. >> I wish I could go tomorrow, >> right? But >> just need to go and the ones who got the kids. >> Yeah. >> But I can't call Jamie tomorrow. Okay. I move that we adjourn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I [music]