001Good evening. May the 4th be with you. Today is May 4th, 2026. It's 7:00 p.m. I'd like to call the regular Board of Selectmen's meeting to order. >> Troy Lemire. >> Kevin Bishop. >> Paul Harrington. >> John Arsalusian. >> Glenn Albanese. >> William Hester. >> Cheryl Heffernan McGlinn. >> William Pozo. >> Selectman Marino is excused. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Item three, agenda review. >> Mr. Mayor, I do have three items that I would like to discuss under agenda review. First one, I'd like if the board could remove the executive session in the new business following the executive session
002that's concerning the real estate. A few offers did come in later later in the day today, which I do not have prepared for you, and our realtor, Dave Soterion, is not present tonight. He is off. If we could remove item 11 and item 12 on our agenda. I do have two additionals. Would you like me to list them all or you want to vote on them separately? >> Let's vote on the removal of 11 and 12. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. >> Thank you. An additional one is, as we know, SB01 did pass the Senate and also the House over the weekend. I'd like to add additional state 826-27 budget and possible vote. >> Adding that to new
003business item A. >> So moved again. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. >> And last but not least, it does list on the agenda that the historic commission update historian Hamish. Unfortunately, he did get called away. He couldn't be here, but I do have an update for him, so I didn't want the board to be surprised when we got to what was the original item A. I do believe we should still keep it on the agenda, but I wanted to know that I will give the update. It's very small when we get to that item on the agenda. >> So, no action on that one. >> Noted. That's all I have. >> Anything Anyone else? All right. Item four, approval of minutes. The minutes of our regular meeting on April the 6th,
0042026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Troy. Is there a second? Thank you, Bill. Any discussion? Corrections? All in favor? Unanimous. Item B, minutes of the special budget workshop meeting on April 13th, 2026. It's the wrong year. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Just noticed that. My apologies. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Item C, the minutes of our special budget workshop meeting on April 15th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Troy. Is there a second? Thank you, Bill. Any discussion? Corrections? Seeing none, all in favor? Unanimous. Item D, special meeting from our budget workshop on April the 20th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Troy. Thank you, Bill. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? Unanimous. And lastly, the minutes of our regular meeting on April the 20th. >> So moved.
005>> Second. >> Thank you, Floyd. Thank you, Bill. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Thank you. Item five, citizens comments. The Board of Selectmen welcomes public comments. Speakers be limited to 3 minutes or less and may speak once this round. Please give your name and address. Anyone like to speak? Uh please hit the red microphone button to turn that on. And there is a sign-in sheet there for you as well. >> Is this judged over my 3 minutes? >> Yep. >> No. So, my name is Steve Robertson. Uh my wife, Jan and I, reside at 17 Hamel Drive. We've been there for many, many years. And uh what I'd like to say to you folks is I don't envy your position right now with the um needs for the Board of Education and also for
006the roads and other things that are necessary for the town of Winsted. So, you have a tremendous task and uh I think you're doing a good job so far. So. Um I'm not going to talk about the Board of Education. I did read a lot of the emails that were attached to the agenda for tonight's meeting and I saw some very passionate people talking about their situations with their children in the schools and everything. And um the Board of Education certainly needs all the support that they can get. And what I'm going to talk about just uh for the next 2 minutes are the roads, in particular Holabird Avenue or Holabird Road or whatever it's called. I live on Hamel Drive, which is at the top, and you know, Florence goes up above that. I
007received this. This was sanctioned by the town, right? Right. And it's a it's a very good tool. And I looked at, you know, the comments for Holabird, and there's been like 15 comments of the terrible condition of the road, and also 85 thumbs up people that agree. So, you know, I'm not saying anything that nobody doesn't know, because you know, the roads in Winsted have been terrible for many years. And we want to attract new people to come into the town and buy property. Well, you know, the roads are awful. So, I'm looking at a public works memo back from 2023, I believe it was. There was a 2019 study done on Holabird that rated it at that time very poor to poor. And it's gotten worse since then. If you've ever driven up there,
008you know, your suspension doesn't like it. So, nothing's been done to Holabird. And then in May 6, 2024, a infrastructure investment plan bond report um from Paul Harrington and Jim Rollins about, you know, the state of the roads and what was going to be done and everything. And I look at Holabird, it's sort of at the end. It's considered a dormant project way back then from Whiting Street to Florence Street. So, what I understand, painfully, as everyone in this room and everyone I think in the town, we don't have any money to fix our roads. If we raised our taxes 50%, I don't think it would cover it. You know, my taxes have gone up for the past 3 years and before that, too. And they're probably going to go up again. And you know,
009it justified, I understand. But we need a lot more money and I'm wondering where it's going to come from. You know, my wife and I were on a fixed income and well, aside from I have a YouTube channel and I get a little bit of money from that, but not a whole lot. Um But what can us citizens do? You know, I mean, I'm everyday citizen. Been living in Winsted for 20 years. My wife has lived here her entire life. What can we do to affect some kind of change either at the state level, the federal level to bring in money that needs to be taking care of the Board of Education and the road infrastructure cuz it's a mess, right? And uh you know, I cringe every time I go up Holabird to go
010home and I do it a few times a day. So, you know, I'm not asking for an answer right now because there isn't one, I have a feeling and this is not the forum for that. But [clears throat] just as concerned citizen, I just want to highlight this issue once again. So, thank you for your time. >> Thank you, sir. Anyone else wish to speak? >> Good evening. Aubrey English, 97 Hinsdale Avenue, Winsted. Uh citizen, voter, taxpayer. >> [clears throat] >> Um I'll just preface this by saying I'm I'm looking forward you know, as beautiful of the day it is today that we're going to be putting our flags back up on Main Street, right? And as a great patriotic citizen loves a flag, what I saw it displayed here 2 weeks ago when I
011was halfway across the country on vacation and was watching this meeting live a lot of it was just anything to me, was anything but patriotic. As a former city council member in Kansas, I understand how difficult decisions have to be made to pass a budget and everything. What really concerned me greatly though, was the fact that after a million dollars was basically taken like, you know, just like you were ordering a cup of coffee and a slice of pie was just the attitude displayed by certain members on this board against other members and and also members of the community. When I see I I I I I observed that uh people that were either emailing their concerns or comments in because they couldn't be here were being dismissed. And that the only uh comments that
012matter was people who ran into them in the store, the gas station, whatnot, too. Every citizen's voice, whether it be on paper or in person, matters. Nothing should be dismissed. Um when I to me that's not to me that type of attitude is not patriotic. When I see members certain members of this board get on social media and you're basically telling people they're running their mouths because they're expressing their First Amendment right for their concern. To me, that's unpatriotic. Okay? You got to have more compassion and concern for your citizens here. That's why you're all up here. That's what you all were elected to do. Okay? But also what concerns me, too, is also the attitude I have seen displayed by a majority on this some members of the majority against Mr. Bishop and Mrs.
013uh Heather and McQueen. To me, when I see that they're being uh scrutinized, patronized, and defamed as well, too, by uh members of this board and publicly shamed, that's unpatriotic to me. So, people are watching. People are paying attention. You know, as my father would tell me, choose your words wisely, okay? And I will just leave you with this. If you're going to If you're going to be proud to fly the flag, live the blessed flag. Thank you. >> Okay. Can you sign >> No, thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wish to speak? >> Uh right here. Got it right here. All righty. So, my name is Blaine O'Malley, 1187 Sawmill Hill Road, and I would like to start this off by reading you some quotes. Great leadership usually
014starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference. Mick Anderson. Good leaders make people feel that they're at the heart of things, not just at the edge. Warren Bennis. Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways. Sigmund Freud. Many leaders are internally unregulated, and wherever there is inner instability, the enemy waits. Darius Daniels. Based on the last Board of Selectmen meeting on April 20th, it is crystal clear that not only do the majority of our Board of Selectmen fail to show signs of a great leader, but two particular selectmen, based on the comments which can be compared to childhood bullying, that not only targeted, once again, Dr. Luby, who has been a fantastic advocate for our students' mental health both
015in speech and action. But, in the actions that can hardly be said about Paul Remi Marino, who claims to support Paris and specialist staff in words, but in actions has no remorse to eliminate their jobs. But, also to every parent, student, both neurotypical and neurodiverse, and advocates for the mental health of the town of Winsted. Now, thanks to the state of Connecticut, we have received $320,998 in supplemental education aid and $136,056 in supplemental town aid. We can do what we can to protect the mental health of our students, both neurotypical and neurodivergent, involves cracking open your mechanical hearts, to coin Troy's phrasing, and be leaders with willing hearts to move past how your parents and grandparents viewed emotions and mental health as a weakness, an enemy, or something to beat out of your youths through
016fear and bullying. For a leader who ignores emotions fails to build a foundation of safety. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak? Anyone else? Frank, can you turn the mic off? Moving on to item number six, town manager's report. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and good evening, board. I do want to address Mr. Robertson's comments, cuz I thought they were uh a call, and I appreciate that call, and it gives me an opportunity to say a couple of things. First, Halliburton Ave, uh the street that you particularly named, um we are waiting to the uh because we are getting a grant for that road. We are still awaiting the CT DOT to sign off on the plans to move forward with the project. So, the good news with Halliburton Ave is
017the money's in in place to get that road redone. Where help could be needed is reaching out to the DOT. We do quite often, but maybe an outcry from our residents to approve the plan so we can get some work done on Halliburton Ave. As far as your next question goes, is how we going to fund all of this? We're taking the first step at it. I believe it was the prior board that took action to put some money into uh do the Safe Streets for All. We did get a grant for $200,000. The town put in $50,000 of its own money. With that report, we will be ready to go after additional state and federal money because now what the experts are telling us how bad our roads are. We as residents know how
018bad our roads are, but sometimes the people that make decisions need to hear it from other experts to tell how bad our roads are. And I believe in you looking at other communities that have on like safe streets for all, they were very easily handed money from both the state and federal government with that report. So, a direct answer to your question, what can we residents do? Share that survey to as many people as you can, whether it be on the social media pages. I know we've had some great residents. I see one here tonight who literally stood at Stop & Shop with a pamphlet giving it to people that were walking out of Stop & Shop. That's great community involvement. That's going to help. And I'm so so proud and so glad that 85
019people alone just responded to Holabird Ave. But we have almost 11,000 residents. I know some of them are kids, but let's get thousands of people responding to how bad our roads are. So, your question couldn't have been any better. What can we do? Get that survey out. Get people responding to that survey. Get us the data and it's really going to go a long way. Moving on. Um that one was just I I had an opportunity. Um moving I have to go to my town manager report. I apologize cuz I did not print it before I came down. Um we did receive a citizen's question over the weekend. Um I did receive it from one of our uh select woman. Um and they wanted to know why the sidewalks around the schools have not been
020done considering that it was part of the the uh bond project when we went out to bond several years ago. I can't speak why it wasn't done before I got here. I can only speak for the time of when I was here and I can say that the first year I was still drinking a lot of water through a fire hose, but we did go out to bid. We did get a bid on that project. It was the same bidder that bid the Resa Beach repavement. Unfortunately, that particular contractor has gone silent on us. We still need work done on Resa Beach. When the repaving was done, we can't get the contractor to get back to us. My first response was, "Well, let's go to bidder number two." There was no bidder number two. We
021are going to have to go back out to rebid to get those sidewalks done, but I know it is a priority. I would love to have that done in the summer when kids are not walking on the sidewalk, so when they come back in September, they have fresh new sidewalks. So, that was a question that came in. I wanted to get the answer out there. Unfortunately, it's not a It's going to get done next week. I have to start the process all over again. I hope that answers. Moving on, Building Healthier Communities Grant, the town did receive $17,450 from Building Healthier Communities Grant from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation to support the development and maintenance of guidebooks for the Winsted Fire Department. Put this on because we want to thank NCCF for its continued support
022for the town of Winchester and also recognize the many many years of leadership from Guy Rovezzi from the Northwest Corner and to congratulate Brian Mattiello for the incoming CEO. We thank the entire team. Obviously, we'll have additional conversations about this grant a little bit later on on the agenda. As you know, the state of Connecticut additional for the fiscal year '27, state aid $320,998 in supplemental education aid, $136.50 $136,056 in supplemental Pequot Mohegan Sun Grant. We're going to talk about that a little bit later on. A reminder, May 11th, a week from today, 7:00 p.m., Gilbert School, where we do our annual town meeting on the budget. And uh run through all of that and then we'll adjourn that to referendum. Safe streets for all, obviously we talked about. Charter revision is doing some Herculean
023work. Um we did propose potentially a a few items. I was there last week to discuss budget timeline. We are looking to uh potentially speed up. Um just tonight the registers came in. It looks like we're potentially going to suggest first Monday of May we do the budget meeting. 2 weeks from there, it'll be the second third, excuse me, third Tuesday of the month. One of the biggest questions that the town manager office receives around this time of year, when's the budget vote? And my response is, I don't know. It gets decided at the annual town meeting. I think we're one of the only communities that decide it at the meeting. I think if we have a consistent date, well [clears throat] we're charter revision's going to come back. Potentially this board wants to push
024it forward, but we have a consistent date every year where the referendum happens, and everybody knows potentially the third Tuesday of the month is when the polls are open. If the town clerk's position becomes a hired, there will also be a change that they shall be open the Saturday before um that Tuesday uh vote, giving anyone that wants to potentially pick up a an absentee ballot to do it on that particular Saturday as well. Um Main Street uh momentum workshop in collaboration with Connecticut Main Street and the NHCOG, the town will host its first Main Street momentum workshop on May 27th at 10:00 a.m. at Town Hall. This initiative is aimed at bringing uh together residents, business owners, commercial property owners, and community leaders who are interested in playing an active role in strengthening and
025revitalizing our downtown. Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact Jeff Green, our director of land use and development. ARPA, I know this hasn't been talked about in a long time remember those COVID dollars. We are actively looking to close out everything. We have all of the money allocated, all of the money being spent. We obviously have to spend the money before December 31st, 2026. Um, we have a few late invoices coming in, but our goal is obviously not to turn back one penny to the federal government. Any money that um doesn't get spent by December 31st per the ARPA guidelines has to get turned back to the federal government. I will ensure that every invoice is in and every dollar that the federal government has given to the town of Winchester will be spent.
026And last but not least the mayor took a little bit of my thunder but on a lighter note in recognition of May 4th and as a favorite series among town hall's staff, may the force be with you all. I'll open it up to questions. >> Questions for the town manager. >> Um, I just had a question about something we haven't talked about in a while. Um, I know a while back you mentioned that there was some uh kind of uh study or something going on with the legacy buildings along the Mad River. Has has there been any movement on that? >> Yes, that is the BAR grant. Uh the BAR grant I believe I think it was at the last cog meeting in April has selected the firm. It's Ty and Bond. Um so work
027on that will begin if not already momentarily about them looking at it and figuring out what the And for those uh not familiar with the BAR grant we're looking at all of our legacy buildings along Main Street um and determining what they will be determining what remediation work and roughly the cost in remediating the remediating those buildings to bring them back into a use whether it be commercial, retail, whatever the case may be. They'll give us all different levels. So, um if not already should be happening soon. Ty and Bond was awarded the award to do it. And the cog took action at its April meeting to award the contract to them. >> Other questions? >> Yep. Bridge Street intersection, what's going on with that? >> Bridge Street intersection, we're still reworking the plan. Uh
028if the board is unfamiliar, we did receive 700 almost $800,000 worth of grant. We were going to try and turn that into a one-way street. Went to a public hearing. Might have been the roughest public hearing I've ever attended. Uh we went back to the drawing board and I can speak confidently that whatever design we do do will not be a one-way. It'll People are laughing at me in the audience, but that's okay. Uh it will not be a one-way. It'll be a two-way. We're going to straighten out some of the intersection. Most importantly, what we want to do is uh prevent that icing from that water that happens every wintertime. We think we know what the problem is. This money's going to help address that and try and clean up the intersection so it's
029a little bit safer. But rest assured, I heard you all loud and clear. We will not be proposing a one-way. >> Uh there's a I remember a couple of few years ago there were some buildings that got some tax relief for like 5 years, I believe. Where are we on some of those buildings? I think one was the Methodist church and was uh the old Redmen's Hall. Was that one of them or >> There were a few, obviously, before my time. I can tell you that obviously there is no extension. If you want, uh I can get a full list of when any tax abatement uh is is ending and and get a a list out to the board. Not an issue off the top of my head. I don't know exactly when they're ending,
030but I can confidently say that none have been uh increased because no board of selectmen has taken action in the 2 years I've been here. >> Okay. Uh and I I have one more here. Might ruffle a few feathers, but um Does And I could probably do this myself, but do we have any idea how much uh land that the land trust has actually taken off our our tax rolls over the last 5 years or so? You know, I just see um you know, the revenue side going down because we're losing some properties to land trust and I'm all for saving land in certain areas, but you know, this is some property that's you know, that maybe somebody might buy. You know, I'm just thinking less and less for education here. That's you know, on
031revenue side. >> Something you can look into. >> I see. It's like master you have stumped me. I I don't off the top of my head know exactly. I mean a probably a quick um search on the assessor's tax rolls and type in land trust. I don't know exactly if they go by the name or or anything like that. Um I guess I can get a list of properties that the land trust owns. >> I could probably do the same myself. I just was just wanted to ask the question. That's all. >> So I I yeah, unfortunately I I don't know the answer to that. Stumped me on that one. >> And then my last one here and I asked you before. Um I haven't seen it too much at the water and sewer meaning
032the solar panels are all up and running and we're getting all the reimbursements that we're supposed to be getting. I know there was some trouble for a while there. >> There was problems. I believe a year and a half ago there was a part that was on back order. We couldn't get it. The part did come in and and for as much as I know the credits are rolling in. I haven't heard any difference on that. But I'll double check to ensure that we are getting the credits, but I'm sure that would have hit my desk if we weren't. >> I have one one last one here, too. Sorry. >> That's like your third last one, but that's okay. >> What can I say? Is Mr. Rollins he's supposed to be kind of due coming
033back here now that paving season is coming, you know, can we have kind of like a report and not so much detail, but like what roads have actually been done out of this bonding? What roads are next and how much money is left to do whatever roads are left cuz I if I remember correctly he said we might not have enough money to do Lake Street." To go up to the lake off of Boyd, and that would be a nice road to have fixed besides Holbrook. >> More importantly, and I and I do think we could we could bring our director public works back and give you the play of what's going to happen over the summer. But more importantly, what we're working on in in the finance office is as our director of finance,
034Anne Marie, had said, "We're going to give you that bond report what money's been spent, what money's are left." We were planning on potentially doing that in April 20th, but we knew what we did at that meeting. We threw everything out south, but we are going to have Anne Marie at our next meeting. I'll make sure that we we get a bond update so that you guys have a clear picture on that. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> You have a question? Last one? >> No, I don't. Not yet, anyways. >> Uh Josh Kelly was still our town manager for the tax abatement, so there you're talking over 2 and 1/2 years ago. >> Yeah, and I think Mr. Hester said they were they were 5 years, so I know they exist. Let me get
035a list. That's not a problem. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions from the board? Item number seven, correspondence. We have correspondence from planning and zoning on 824 referrals for 32 Harbor Street, 82-84 Rockwell Street, 17 Birdsall Street, 132 Florence Street. >> So if you remember back, we did talk about these particular properties, potentially listing them on the MLS. The first step we needed to obviously do is get the referral from planning and zoning for I believe our ordinance. They've come back as planning and zoning sees no issue with any of those properties. This is correspondence. I did not have that on the agenda, but it is the board's pleasure on what the next step is. Do you want to add it as an agenda item? Do you want me have Mr. Satterana come in
036with the proposed prices? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I would like to have that on there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. up with some prices. Moving on the next one. We also have additional correspondence for planning and zoning 824 referral for 281 Walnut Street. >> This is an interesting one. So, 281 Walnut Street has not been talked about and for reference this is a little bit or right near Tatrous Pond. It's about a 5-acre parcel of land. Um, I think I mentioned several meetings ago that um Habitat for Humanity was looking very much in this town. Habitat for Humanity uh potentially would like a small half acre of 281 Walnut Street to build a Habitat for Humanity home and then the remaining 4 and 1/2 acres would would stay still stay as the town for potential
037uh increase of Tatrous Pond. Um Again, correspondence to planning and zoning 281 says buildable half an acre. Would the board like to see 281 Walnut Street on a future agenda with a potential of Habitat for Humanity potentially building a house there. >> For discussion. For discussion. We have a busy meeting tonight. >> Item number eight, boards and commissions. Kevin, you there? >> I have nothing new for boards and commissions. >> Yep. >> Um We have We have a couple appointments reappointments. So, um I'd like to make a motion that Alan Colavecchio uh be reappointed to the Economic Development Committee Friday Republican member seat with a term ending April 2031. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? unanimous >> We have another reappointment to I'd like to make a motion that Beth Whitney uh be
038reappointed to the Recreation Commission uh Republican Party member seat with an term ending in April of 2032. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. >> We have one resignation, Ali Gunn from the Zoning Board of Appeals, uh, with a member seat. Is that correct? Hm? >> Regrets. >> With regrets. Thank you, Ali, for your work on the ZBA. And, uh, one nomination. So, this is I'd like to make a motion to appoint Candy Perez to the Winchester Housing Authority, Democratic Party, uh, member seat ending in April of 2031. >> The mayor had asked me to ensure that she was the liaison when she was out. >> Okay. >> And we have a motion, do we have a second? >> You made the motion, I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Abstain?
039Abstain. So, 4-1-1. Congratulations. Anything else? That's all. Thank you, Selectman Bishop. Item nine, unfinished business. There is nothing on the agenda. Item 10, A, state aid. Town Manager Harrington. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, as I, uh, alluded to earlier when we were adding the agenda item, the Senate and the House acted this week in under SB 01. I'm going to pull it up real quickly. I believe it's an act of affordable bill. Let me get the exact name. An act concerning affordability. Um, it did grant the town two buckets, technically three buckets of money. Um, whatever the board's pleasure, but I'll I'll list what they are. Let me get all my cheat sheets. First one being um a supplemental Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan grant in the amount of $136, $136,056. That's the twice I've done
040that. The second and third bucket $160,499 for education equalization grant and $160,499 for school district relief uh in compensatory compen- compensatory use learning aid grant. Um we do need to take each one separately. Um we can take the Mashantucket Pequot one first or the Board of uh Education, the educational one, whichever the board's pleasure, and I'm ready to go in either way. >> Does the board have a >> Start with the town one. >> Okay. Town >> Yeah. I'll stick with the same thing. >> So after several conversations with attorneys this morning, our our town attorney, obviously, um we are stuck in a pretty unique situation right now. We have what we called a proposed budget that has been noticed, sent to the papers, and going to town meeting on May May 11th to then
041be adjourned to referendum. This particular $136,000 grant uh was meant to soften mill rate impact. Um you can lower your mill rate by it, or you could increase your budget uh by $136,000 and in in essence offset it with this additional $136,000 uh uh money that's coming into the town. If we were to increase our appropriation, we wouldn't be able to do that right now because we'd be changing the appropriation that we have noticed to town meeting and put in the paper. Our current appropriated amount is $42,290,600. We could go to town meeting. We could advise our residents to potentially vote no, so we could take this $136,000 in and increase our budget. Or what we could do is leave our appropriation at $42,290,600. Take the $136,056 in as revenue and offset that line item
042of town roads roughly as $585,000. We are just changing the revenue line of the budget, where before we were going to levy roughly we're we're we're we're decreasing the levy of $136,000 to our taxpayers. We're saying we're going to find we have other sources of revenue that we're going to now fund a portion of that line item in the budget. And in fact, if we do that, originally the budget that's being proposed has a mill rate change of 0.96 roughly or exactly 3.29% of a tax increase. If we just change the revenue side of the budget, which is in the appropriated budget, right? Because we're keeping it at $42,290,600, we then have a mill rate change of 0.83 and a new mill rate tax rate going up 2.85%. So, we're lowering the mill rate because
043we're saying we don't need to raise $136,000 from taxpayer money. We're going to have have source come in and in fact lower the rate to our taxpayers out there. >> But this does not change the ask. >> Does not change the >> of the ask. >> It does change the impact of the ask. So, when we go out, notice we and we'll call you all back once we have an approved budget from our voters, we'll have a special meeting or or or what have you. We're going to come back and set the mill rate, right? Cuz that's set once the voters approve the appropriated budget. The voters are approving the amount of if they approved it, 42,296,000. We're not asking to change what we've noticed. What we're only doing is going in and changing how
044we're paying for stuff. >> If we did it the other way, we'd have to go through referendum, have them vote no, come back, rework the budget, have spent $5,000 on a referendum. I think it's a no-brainer. >> I I I tend to agree. Then Kevin gives us >> you need our permission to do this? To add that or lower the mill rate? >> [laughter] >> So, um >> Oh, I don't need it. Um there might be extra copies. >> So, what's it drop the >> So, just uh wait till you get the sheets. You'll see what I'm suggesting. Um up above, you'll see the motion. Um how we're going to take that revenue in um and we're going to work We're basically going to take that revenue in and ultimately lower the ask of what
045we want our residents or taxpayers uh to pay. You'll see the difference you see currently, April 20th, 3.29. With this 1.36 bringing in this new revenue, 2.85. And truly, I'm sure a lot of people have heard um either in the papers on social media, that state officials are this is going to help towns lower their mill rate, right? Well, it did. We're going to lower our mill rate. Um there there was no rhyme or reason. I urge everybody to look at the Excel sheets that have been produced. There are some towns that got $20,000. There's some towns that got $700,000. There's towns that got millions of dollars. Um where it ended up, I I don't know how that was made. I'm I'm very appreciative of $136,000 cuz it's more than I had Saturday morning. Um
046and we can we can obviously lower our our ask if the board so chooses. >> Well, I think every little bit helps cuz if you look around Was it Granby was less than 3% and their budget was soundly defeated with everyone in agreement and support of it on town committees, Board of Education, Board of Selectmen. I think every little bit will help us hopefully get this across the finish line sooner. >> And I'll note I know there's debate about where exactly inflation rate is. Some's at three, some's at three. This definitely drops us below the inflation rate. >> So, just to be clear before we make this motion, these are one-time influx of money on all three of these that we're going to be voting on. They're not reoccurring, correct? >> Well, the Pequot is
047reoccurring. >> The Pequot reoccurring, there's just a little extra money. And we're only I'm only talking the the the Pequot grant right now. We'll get into education a bit cuz that's a whole 'nother conversation. Um right now, 136 um potentially could create a slight hole in next year's budget, right? Because right now um we don't get the 136, we get 49. So, we're getting 49 plus the 136. but literally the state of Connecticut is saying to apply this money to provide relief in your mill rate for this year. >> And we don't know what it'll be next >> know what's going to happen next year. For those keeping track and score, as of June 30th, they're next year the bi-annual budgets are done. They have to go back and craft another new bi-annual budget for
0482 years. Where the chips fall on that, nobody knows. So. >> All right, so I move that the Board of Selectmen increase the Pequot Mohegan Grant Revenue line by 136,056 dollars from 49 uh thousand 474 to 185 530 in accordance with SB 01 as of May 4th, 2026 and that the total uh fiscal year 2027 budget appropriation of 42 296,000 42 million remain unchanged from the April 20th, 2026 proposed budget for presentation at the May 11th, 2026 annual town budget meeting in accordance in accordance with the town charter. >> Thank you, Troy. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank Thank you, Bill. Is there discussion? >> [clears throat] >> Any discussion? >> Like as I said, I think every little bit helps. >> No discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. >> Moving on to the
049education ones. Uh we did get two buckets of money. Uh as I stated earlier, 160,499 in two sections. Um I'm going to read a few lines of the actual bill. Um there's 717 pages of the bill. I had the pleasure almost reading all 700 said Julie's laughing at me. Dr. Looney's laughing at me. Uh cuz we compared notes. Um and I was had the pleasure of watching them debate this bill on Saturday night. Um so that happens when you have young kids you don't go out and you watch CTN. Um So, when we get down to the section of the education, "$162,200 of such amount should be used to supplement the amount appropriated in section 1 of public act 25-168 to the Department of Education for educational equalization grants and shall be distributed as supplemental
050education grants by the Department of Education in accordance with the provision of section 391 of this act." There was emphasis on the word grant for a reason. pages. As I stated, 160,499. For the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2027, each town shall be paid a supplemental education aid grant equal to the amount prescribed in section 390 of this act. The amount due to each town shall be paid by the comptroller upon certification of the Commissioner of Education to the treasurer of each town not later than June 30th of said fiscal year. All aid distributed to a town pursuant to the provision of subdivision shall be expended for educational purposes only and shall be expended upon the authorization of local or regional Board of Education. Such grant shall not be used to supplant local funding for
051educational purposes. Such grant shall not be considered part of the budget dated budgeted appropriation for education for the town of purpose of calculating the minimum budget requirement for the town pursuant to section 10-262j of the general statute. In summation, the $320,000, roughly, goes directly to the Board of Education. It may stop over here real quickly. We've reached out to the CCM. We reached out to a bunch of people. There's still a lot of questions, but the 320 is going right over to the education. We are unsure at this point if we're taking it as a revenue side of things or not, but ultimately 320 What is it? 32690? >> 998 >> 32998 is going directly to the Board of Education. May have a slight pass-through through us, but as you I've stated that such grant
052shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational purposes. So, we can't say, "Oh, we got 320." We can't. It can't supplant any of the decisions that were already made. That money's going right to the Board of Ed. >> So, we can't reduce education budget by that amount. >> That is correct. >> So, it's not going to change the budget that's being >> going to change the budget. >> presented directly. >> Yeah. This does So, messaging is obviously very important because a lot of people I've read on social media quickly a lot of people are excited about this new money, right? What's it going to do? What's it not going to do? Ultimately, the messaging is is that the Board of Education is going to elect where the $320,000 goes and what's being spent
053by it. This board, per the law, has absolutely zero say in it. So, no action really is needed. This is just simply to inform the board that when the town does, if it receives The interesting part is now the Board of Ed and the town have separate EIN numbers, right? It may go directly and and when we met with the commissioner, it sounded like any additional money, because we're an alliance district, would go directly to them. I think there's still a little bit that needs to get confirmed, but I'm letting you know when the money hits our coffers, it's just going to get pushed over to the Board of Education to make decisions on, you know, what they want to do with the 320. I'm not looking for any action on that particular item because
054I can't take any action on that particular item per the law. Option And I can talk about each bucket, but each bucket of the roughly $160,000 states the exact thing I read on the first bucket. Is there questions? >> Questions from the board. >> So, if the budget fails, okay? >> Okay. >> And we have to go back to budget hearing. >> Mhm. >> Are we not allowed to lower the education budget at that at to that amount? >> I am not a lawyer. There is questions that still need to be surrounded. The way this bill is written, such grant No, let me wrong wrong section. Such grant shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational purposes. Sounds like you can't. Again, not the attorney. Reached out to the attorney. Still trying to
055get clarification on that. I can't answer that right now. >> So, as long as you don't use the same exact number, then you could. >> No, I I didn't I'm not saying that. >> You can't. That's when they say shall not. in legislation. Excuse me, I'm talking. When the legislation specifies shall not, that means you shall not. So, we've already determined that you you I mean, I know you're looking to cut the education as much as we can you can to reduce, you know, what our children get benefit from. But, it's shall not. It's a grant to the Board of Ed. They're going to decide what programs, what teachers to save from the budget cuts that this board made you know, at the last meeting. And that's what they can use it for. We shall
056not reduce the education budget even if the if it fails cuz that money can't be used to take the place of what funded we have. >> As long as you don't use and and first of all, I'm trying to lower the mill rate. It has nothing to do with the kids. So, you don't have to throw that little piece in there that I'm against the kids cuz I'm not. I'm against the high mill rate. So, uh with that being said, if we you if if the budget fails and you don't use that exact number, that's still the the the budget can still go down through the education. You can still cut the education budget. >> Which you're salivating to do, it seems. >> I do want to When a And the word shall is used
057in a when the word shall is used, there is no wiggle room. It There's a reason they use the word shall. We use shall in our town charter because whoever came before us and set the ground rules the the time you use shall is there's no other way of doing it. This is what you have to do. So, when I read such grant shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational purposes, I think it's telling you the story. Again, this is state law, you know, and and there's a lot of I like about this bill. There's a lot of things that I could say differently about this bill, but the word shall not be used to supplant local funding. >> So, so I have a question on it, Paul. Um, the way it's
058worded as well, grant. I'm assuming this is just a little treat the state's throwing us this year. That's it. There's nothing added about next year. What does this do to the total for education next year? They're getting an additional total 320. Um, next year is the town liable for the education budget plus the 320 should the state say, "We're not giving you anything?" >> So, it does say such grant shall not be considered part of the budgeted appropriation for education for the town for purposes of calculating, I'll just say MBAR, minimum budget requirement. Now, I think it's important to note, and we said this a little bit earlier, that this is the last, you know, year of the bi-annual budget. Governor Lamont a few weeks ago was going to do that blue ribbon commission to
059look at the ECS formula. It's easy to try and predict what may happen next year, but you can't. Cuz if you can, let me know and we're going to talk about lottery tickets and horses and all that. [laughter] So, again, I think it's it's it's it's wise to be cautious, obviously, but none of us have that crystal ball of what's going to happen come next year a new bi-annual budget comes out. >> as we're concerned, this is a one-time grant of $20,000 direct infusion just for the board of education. >> And I'll know. I mean, Mr. Robinson brought up a good point. Sorry, it's just it's fun tonight, but um, what can we do? Well, let's say next year the bi-annual budget comes out and they either flat fund ECS without the additional $320,000 or
060cut ECS. Well, I think we all have a mic up down in in Hartford that we can make, right? We have to advocate for our town to say, "Wait, they gave us 320 and then they took it away. You know, we need more. You're sitting on hundreds of billion" What was it? Four four billion? Six six billion dollars in surplus money? Loosen it up a little bit, you know. Our our our towns need money. Um so again, no crystal ball. Um it was a day's work today trying to get to where we got to tonight. We're in I'm confident, our attorney's confident, um in what I displayed to you tonight. I think we are on very firm ground um with the Pequot grant. We didn't change the appropriation, checked that box. This direct funding through
061the Board of Education, I emphasize the word grant for a reason. Because it's a grant. Um That's a bright future. >> It was a good question, Bill, because that's what I was concerned about, that it was going to make the MBR go up. >> No, I mean, they did say it's not going to make the MBR go up. Um >> That's what you were saying earlier. So, George, and and just you know, word of caution, if we the budget referendum does fail, because you've now mentioned about maybe reduced in the education budget, as long as you don't use the same amount, that's going to put any reduction to the the education budget as suspect, and we could lose the grant. So, you know, you've made that an issue that's here on the record by even
062contemplating reducing the education budget as long as it's not the same amount as what we received. So, I would caution this board, don't even if you for some reason this budget fails, do not contemplate cutting the education budget any further, cuz it's going to be a problem. >> Yeah, it sounds like it would open us up to the possibility of lawsuits, right? If we you know, especially now that that's been mentioned if if we were to cut it and just change the number a little bit. I mean, that's pretty suspect. I mean, we've um enraged so many uh people in town already over the last couple of weeks. I I think that we just have a people itching to to open up some lawsuits about that. So, I think we need to be really careful.
063As you said, we're on some firm ground right now. I I'd hate to see us uh you know, lose that firm footing over something like that now that it's especially now that it's been mentioned as you said. >> Bringing us back to where we are, you know, this money that we're receiving allows us to use the town slide to lower the requested tax increase. It allows us to soften the reduction we made to the Board of Education without affecting the overall amount of taxes that we're going to take in next year. So, I think it's I don't want to say a win-win situation for the town, but it's the best of both worlds for right now. >> I think we're clear. Is there any other questions? No, we're again yeah, this was through the I
064did ask the town attorney to be here tonight. This was at early this morning. He unfortunately couldn't, but we went through this all that full agreement and uh we're good. So, uh we'll do nothing with the 360 um until it hits our coffers and then if it does hit our coffers, we'll send it right over to the BOE. Um Dr. Luby is here. I know you're meeting on Thursday. I would if you need a memo from me or or not, but it's your Board of Ed to decide, you know, what to do with it, but the law this is clear as that. I don't think a memo from me is even warranted because the law says what you have to do. So, let's do what the law says. So. >> All right, moving on to
065item B, Historic Commission updates. In Hommes Lutris' absence, Town Manager Harrington. >> He wanted me to state that on Saturday, May 23rd at 11:00 a.m. until noon in the First Church of Winsted, a service and short concert honoring those who served and sacrificed for our nation will be held. There will be two short speeches and a performance by the Litchfield County Choral Union to commemorate the area's history of service and its people. For more information, you can contact [email protected]. >> I need to decide. >> Could you repeat that date? >> Sorry. May 23rd at 11:00 a.m. In fact, what we'll do is um let me get something up on our website. Um let me see if they got a graphic or something that, but um let me do that. That's all I have for that
066one. >> All right, sir. Item C, 26-01. A resolution supporting the acceptance of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation Building Healthier Communities Grant. Town Manager Harrington. >> So, as stated during the Town Manager's report, uh we did go out and apply for the grant. We did receive the grant for $17,450. I'll note the most important part, other than the $17,000, the grant does not require any explicit local match as a condition of accepting the grant. This resolution just allows us or you to receive this grant from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. >> Do we have a motion? You can make it as simple as I uh move to adopt resolution 26-01. >> I make a motion to adopt 26-01. >> Thank you, Bill. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Troy. Any discussion? Seeing
067no discussion, all in favor? Unanimous, thank you. Item 26-19, consider and possibly act on the appointment of a moderator for the annual town meeting to be held on Monday, May the 11th, 2026. Town Manager Harrington. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As you're aware, we're going to town meeting next week. We do need to uh elect a moderator. Um prior to the meeting, I did reach out to Mr. Dressel, who served as the moderator for the 2 years that I've been here. He has agreed to do it if the board is willing to have him. I open it to the board for discussion on the moderator for next week's town meeting. >> I move that the Board of Selectmen appoint Dennis Dressel to serve as moderator at the annual town budget meeting to be held at
0687:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11th, 2026 at the Gildersleeve Auditorium. >> Thank you, those in favor. Second, try. Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Unanimous. Congratulations, Mr. Dressel. Item E, 26-20, consider and possibly act on a bid waiver for the Enaline guidebook system. Town Manager Harrington. >> So, this goes back and we should have done this differently on the agenda. We should have accepted the grant and or done the bid waiver. But, when uh the town and Chesterfield applied for the grant, we did use Let me get the right name cuz I don't want uh Enaline uh as the uh firm that specialized in developing the fire service guidebook system. They did put together the proposal. We included their proposal with the grant. Um we feel it best that we continue
069with Enaline in that we're in essence keeping with the grant that we did receive. We are asking for a bid waiver uh in the interest of the uh the best interest of the town and to authorize, uh, the town manager to execute the contract with Anna Land. >> I move that the Board of Select- Selectmen waive the town's standard bidding and procedure requirements in the best interest of the town and authorize the town manager to execute a contract with Anna Land. >> Second. >> All right, Bill. >> Thank you. Troy. >> Discussion. All in favor. Unanimous. Thank you. They weren't in order, either. >> Item 26-21, proposed line item transfer by the Director of Finance. Town Manager Harrington. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just catch my breath and see which one we're batting around. First
070is, okay. Um, end of the year, uh, we do need to, uh, contracted services and maintenance of office equipment. Seems like things are breaking a little bit more than we want. We do have money within the fire department budget of $450. [clears throat] Um, we do need to, uh, keep our contracted services and maintenance of office equipment so we can make copies and print things and, um, we're looking for a transfer of $450. >> Do we have a motion? >> By recommendation of the town manager, I move the Board of Selectmen approve the above action step 26-21 budget transfer 2020 6-13 totaling $450. >> Thank you, Bill. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Troy, any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor. Uh, Troy, was that in favor? Okay. Unanimous, thank you.
071Item 26-22, proposed line item transfer by the Director of Finance. Town Manager Harrington. >> This is from our Land Use Department. We will not use the training and education or exhaust the training and education line. We are looking to get two of the vehicles, uh the Eco They crack me up every single time, but I'll read it. The EcoSport and uh and and the Booger um to get those in for service and get some repairs that are needed on those aging vehicles. >> By recommendation By recommendation >> this every time and I laugh at them. >> I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the action step 26-22 budget transfer 2026-14 totaling $1,000 and fix that Booger Mobile, please. >> Do we have a motion? Do we have a second? >> I'll second it, but
072I'm not sure about the Booger. >> I can try and for those that do not know, we have a green vehicle that is synonymous. >> Who says government can't be fun? >> I do. >> [laughter] >> Any other discussion? All in favor? Unanimous, thank you. Item H 26-23 proposed line item transfer by the Director of Revenue, Town Manager Harrington. >> Obviously a quite larger transfer, but the cemetery maintainer's position has been vacant for several months, so there is a surplus of those funds available. Um $20,000 will be used to purchase parts for equipment uh while funds are available in the current year. To put it bluntly, our equipment took a pretty good beating this winter. Um and we need to keep maintaining these vehicles, obviously. So, we want to get them fixed now. We'd rather
073use money that we know is going to be unspent to get those vehicles back in working condition. And then also, uh we need a little bit more money in our engineering services because of the Newfield Bridge, uh we need inspection work done to potentially apply for federal local bridge program. Um we could go to the This goes back when you have the experts telling you you have a bad bridge, it goes a lot further with the federal government. We're looking to bring in an expert to tell us that the Newfield bridge is really, really bad. Having the expert tell us will help us apply for uh the federal state local bridge program, which could potentially get us that whole bridge done for free. >> And the winter was also pretty rough on our roads as
074well, as people already can tell. Um by recommendation of the town manager, I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the above action step 26-23 budget transfer 2026-15, totaling $22,000. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? Thank you, Troy. Any discussion? All in favor? Thank you. Unanimous. Item I. 26-24 refunds as recommended by the collector of revenue. Town manager, Harrington. >> As you see that we do have a list of refunds totaling $4,387.78. Most of them are certif- are corrections and then a couple overpayments. They are recommended by our tax collector. >> Do we have a motion? >> I move that the Board of Selectmen authorize the refunds recommended by the collector of revenue in the amount of $4,387.78. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Selectman >> Any discussion? Seeing none, all
075in favor? Thank you. Unanimous. Item J. Discussion, possibly action on the Pearson School Roof Project Building Committee applications. >> Uh I think I got cut off from it, so I'm going to take this one. And I guess I'm in the right folder. So, as such, we obviously know we have a project that went through a referendum. One of the items that Mr. Lefleur, who is our outside consultant working with us on the project, recommended that we put a building committee together. We did have the application up for several weeks. We did receive 1 2 3 4 5 6 names that were willing to step forward on the building committee. I leave it to the Board of Selectmen to decide how big the building committee will be and who's going on it. Thoughts? >> Well, there's
076since there's two selectmen that actually applied and there's four people, I'm I'm fine with all six of them unless other people think that's too many. Um some of these applications, there's some pretty skilled and talented people that are in there, so I think all six wouldn't hurt. >> We've had bigger committees, we've had smaller committees. I think five, six >> is a a good number. Yeah, so it'd be the two selectmen and the four other people. >> And I agree. I think, you know, these people were willing to step forward. Let them step forward and maybe you know, having a combination could be interesting. There's there are some very interesting people who want to participate with different viewpoints. So, it could be interesting. Let's tape record some of the sessions, guys. >> Diverse backgrounds. >>
077Yes, without a doubt. >> I my recommendation is that whoever makes the motion, they list the six individuals by name to putting them on the and I apologize, I did not have a motion prepared for this. Putting them on the building committee for the Pearson School roof project. >> So, I'll make the motion to have Troy Lemire, David Cruden, um Richard and excuse me if I pronounce it wrong, Mazie. Uh who's ones. >> Uh Jason Kemp. I believe >> William Pozo, and the last one was Rob Asselin. >> [cough] >> We have motion, we have second. To accept them. >> Second. >> Thank you, Kevin. Any discussion? >> Do we know when they Do we need to set a first meeting for them or do they >> They set that so um in discussion uh
078the building committee I will get a letter out to them in first thing tomorrow morning. They will need to decide when their first meeting is, and they will also need to elect the chairman. >> Any other discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Abstaining? 4 0 2. Congratulations, all six of you. >> Get that roof on. Next summer, not this one. >> Item 11 and 12 have been removed. New item 11, citizens comments. The Board of Selectmen welcomes public comments. Speakers be limited to 3 minutes. May speak once. Does anyone wish to speak? Anyone at all? >> I'm just wanting to know that I've never seen the booger car. >> It's parked It's parked out in the back. So It's out back. >> So I'm going to check out shortly. >> Damn it, well Uh good question.
079Jay, they didn't hear you. The question only cuz >> I'm sorry. >> How many times can you say booger in a in a in a in a government meeting? Uh if it's not in the back, it's in the other lot uh that we keep other cars. So >> Or wait, is it in the shop? >> No, it's not in the shop right now. >> Okay. No. >> It's always running. >> [laughter] >> We're losing control, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, let's go on to item 13. You're like Does anyone else wish to speak? I think it's time to Item 13, selectmen's comments and reports. Does anyone have anything? >> I would just like to share I think it was last Saturday I helped the Friends of Main Street clean up for Earth Day along Main
080Street. I also happened to go to the Beauty and the Beast at the Gilbert School that the middle school put on or the elementary school, excuse me, which was a pretty awesome show. And and then on Saturday I had the privilege to go to the American Mural Project and have Hamish to actually a live kind of teaching session about the women of the Revolutionary War. It was quite an interesting uh um what some of the women actually did dressed up as men, fought in the war, followed their husbands around pretty much like they did in the Civil War as well. So, it was quite quite interesting and there's some a couple quotes that Hamish had said and uh I'm going to share one on Monday at the town meeting, so. It was It was a
081good time. >> Other selectmen have comments? >> Um since it was brought up, flags better be up before Memorial Day. That's all I got to say. >> Got a couple of weeks. Anyone else? >> I think that was in order. >> So, I did have a couple of things. This past Saturday I got to celebrate at the Winchester Elks Club uh for their annual youth month, which is uh April-May. Uh there was a We celebrated the awards of the soccer shoot winners uh winners from the fishing derby and winners from a hoop shoot. I did put out a challenge for the hoop shoot. Thank God nobody took it up. >> [laughter] >> But um So, I was happy to be there this past Saturday. Also, just a reminder, you can see our newest Rotarian in
082town on May 16th at 2:00 p.m. the >> pet parade >> 88th 88th pet parade >> That was a test. >> So, make sure everyone comes out for the pet parade Saturday, May 16th, 2:00 p.m. And next Monday, 7:00 p.m. the Gilbert School annual town meeting for the budget. >> I I just had a comment. I'm sorry. So, I just wanted to say that we've got a new cultural district commission going. We finally got enough people who have agreed to serve on it that we're getting it going. The purpose of the cultural district commission is to get the downtown area designated as a cultural district with the state of Connecticut. With that comes all sorts of of perks and advantages at the state level. If they get it approved, we would be the 14th town
083to have that. We have actually a large number of cultural institutions in our in our area, music venues, and museums and such like. We have quite a lot for such a small town. So, it'd be really cool to get that. With it comes all sorts of, you know, free advertising and stuff through the state that brings people to town, brings tourists to town, you know, gets people to our businesses. So, I'm really excited about about that. It's a project that was started in 2022 with the previous board before any of us were here. And well, I think I think Todd was there. Sorry. And um you know, once we get that going, it's really really exciting. I just wanted to say there are several positions still left. We've got enough. We've got a quorum to
084get going, but there are still we can have several more members. So, if there's anybody here or anybody listening at home who would like to be part of the cultural district commission, it's brand new. It's never met. We don't even have a date and time yet. We need to figure that out. But, it's it's really exciting and I'm really excited to to get that going. So, if you're interested, please join. Please follow what we're doing. It's a great thing for the town and it's a great way to get more aid from the state, and it doesn't cost anybody a penny, so perfect. >> Motion to adjourn. >> So second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Good night, everyone. The meeting is adjourned. >> Mic's, everybody. >> Mhm.