001Hi everyone. I think Kathy's gonna go for a walk in the water. Nope, she's back. How are you, Good. How are you? >> Hello. >> I like your new do, Susan. >> It's a mess. I've been zooming all day. >> I like it. It looks good. >> Hi, >> Rosemary. >> How we doing today? >> I'm doing well. I am doing well. I'm cold, so I'm just gonna wrap myself up. >> All righty. >> Hi, Miss Andrea. >> Hello. [Applause] >> So, my divine white baby seal is back. Do you see like the two eyes and the >> Oh my god, it is >> streams. >> Cool. It's this is what this is what happens when you zoom for the past year. You find divine white baby fur seals in your lights. Hopefully that will
002be all that I do. Um do we have someone from RTM, we have town council, we have city council, >> we do >> and we have here >> we are we are all here. So, um, I apologize. I have my dog barking downstairs and there's no one home to help remind him that he's being rude. Um, so I would like to call the Um, I just need Hey, Kathy, could you take notes? Can you unmute? >> Mark, could you make could you make everyone unmute, please? I've requested everyone to be unmuted. >> I think you have to I got it. I got a sign that says mute. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I think we've had a couple of experiences in district where we've had a couple Zoom bombers um both in our town
003meetings and also in the district. And so I think Mark is just trying to be um incredibly protective for the town. So um >> what are Zoom bombers? That's people who kind of enter the Zoom and say very fun things and then leave and fun being operative word word. >> So I think that Mark is just being incredibly careful um for us and so I appreciate that. Um >> I promise not to say anything bad. >> Um so but Kathy, I am just wondering you do such a great job with the minutes. Um, can I can I can I lean on you again? >> Sure. This the same price. >> I'll go for a walk with you on that scene behind you. >> Okay. >> All right. So, I am still call I've still called
004the um the meeting to order at 5 um 5:34. Um and um we have the the incredible meeting minutes done by Kathy um in front of O in front of us. Um it came it came this past week, Andrea, um when she sent us the agenda. Um and uh do I have a motion for acceptance of the meeting minutes that happened on January 26th? >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second it. Kathy >> and Reggie, thank you. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of accepting the uh meeting minutes for January 6th, please say I. >> I. >> Abstain. That motion has carried. Um and so um we're just going to go into our reports. Um Susan, I think you've been kind of busy. >> Well, I am feeling so hopeful and
005optimistic today. Can I tell you >> please? our teachers and educators and bus drivers, everybody's getting appointments for their vaccines and it was quite a process, I'll tell you, trying to to do all of that. Um, and I met with a committee today of um phased in strategic planning for more in-person learning and a message will go out from me. We looked at a sample um schedule and I think everybody's um in agreement. I'm going to get back to the principles one more time, but a letter will go out from me welcoming back our kids to starting with four days in person and then going to four and a half days because our teachers will still can teach continue to teach those children who are with them and those children who are remote. Some districts
006have actually rearranged everybody's schedule and kids have new teachers. I don't know how they've hired so many teachers and certified teachers at that. I don't know that they've hired highly qualified certified teachers in every discipline at every grade level to do the remote learning. But we do have all of our highly qualified certified teachers who've been teaching our children since September and will continue to do so. We're just hoping more of them will be in person. And I know that's a heavy lift. So, I'm really um maintaining that afternoon on Wednesdays for them to continue doing the planning for that. But a a comment came up from educators and I've heard it from a lot of parents. Less screen time is needed. We need to be making those connections, those in-person connections. We need to
007use, you'll love this, Andrea Acriman, get those writing journals out with paper and pencil writing, you know. Let's get those art brushes out. Let's like get them out to play. Let's re-engage them and make it exciting. And even some of the summer programming we're talking about, I just talked to Peter Bass and he says, "I want to run a steam camp this summer in the school with some really fun things for kids to do and some learning opportunities." So, we you are really our our mission is to re-engage kids. We'll be assessing them, too, but it looks like instruction the way we're assessing them. So, we're learning about them and learning what they know and what they don't know and what they need to know. So, um I'm feeling very hopeful today in that this
008large committee of about 40 people um across the district, some were teachers, some were paraprofessionals, board members, um administrators. So, um all coming together and really being able to have a voice in all of this. I think that's so important. I know some districts probably are a couple weeks ahead of us, but I don't think they probably had a committee of 40 people and really have been as thoughtful as we've tried to be about our kids. So, um, starting from uh March 22nd, we're going to start bringing back our elementary students and we're going to phase them in preK through two and then three through five the next week along with some sixth grade. We were talking sixth grade and ninth grade because those are the transition years to middle school and high school. And
009then they really want to bring all the rest of middle school and high school first week of April back to school. So, and then we'll have an April break, but then they'll all be back um ready to go for April, May, and June. So, and then >> four days until May. So, four days for that month of April and then four and a half. So, you know, a good half day for, you know, especially middle school, high school, even elementary because you kind of compact the curriculum. You get all your mini lessons and then you send them home with a little homework. Um, that can be really um done well. So, you know, it I think it'll be a lot more um instruction and connection than we've had. And everybody seems to be looking forward
010to it. You know, they I think there's a little bit of relief. I don't know if you're feeling this way, Patrice, but just with the news from Ledgelight and people being able to get on and and get, you know, those vaccines scheduled seemed to be after the frustration seemed to be the calm. After the storm came the calm. I don't know. But um so so that's what we're doing along with a lot of other things. We had our magnet um kind of open house on Zoom for elementary parents and we had about 150 elementary parents joining all the elementary principles. Um and that was last night. So um we they've filled out a survey for um what they're thinking about, what they're you know intending if they're interested in any of the um five magnet
011schools or if they want to stay at their own school. So that information will be helpful for us and we're collecting those surveys and we're sending out the survey on are you ready to commit to four days in person and then four and a half or are you wanting to stay full remote? So >> a lot of communication, >> right? Um and so I'm just going to throw out all the board of ed stuff and then we people can ask questions about that as um what what it is. So >> did come in with a 0% budget my first time around. Woohoo. >> Um so, um, yep, it's now the board's budget and, um, we approved it at our last, um, regular board of ed, um, uh, meeting. It is a 0% um, increase, um,
012or decrease, however you want to, whatever way your glass is full. Um and um uh that budget um we um have been able to we um will be h we have um increased our athletic director to be a full-time athletic director um and they will service the campus um on the hill. So they'll service between 6 grade um to 12th um and do all those things. So the board is just really kind of excited about that. And it's not just can I add this part because this part I really was thrilled about. It was the decision between principal bass and also principal Keller that it was athletics and activities. So looking at clubs and it's really about engaging kids before and after school to be part of that school community. So um I think that's
013super important. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Um and and and so um I think that the board um budget really kind of made that commitment to really sort of enhance as much as the campus as we that campus feel the secondary with Graten Middle School and the high school. Um, so in this budget is also approved for an assistant principal that once again will be for the be for the high school, but it will allow for more fluidity between um once we get back full-time Graten Graten Middle School um and and the high school. So um I think that the board feels really good about how we were able to sort of think about that campus and put and put monies there. Um >> and that was these aren't additional positions. These were positions that
014we had, but we've kind of extended. So, the dean is dean position became an assistant principal. So, it's more time that they'll be able to spend, especially in the summer with summer school and all the things that activities that occur. >> Um, and so um uh and and um and and we sort of met that. So, we've been able to meet a lot of our current needs um using the CARES Act for any of the COVID or pandemic um um things. Um so, I don't mean to be things, but there's just like a ton of that stuff. It's the it's the health and safety. It's also staff. It it is um it is technology. We have um we have a but we've been able to sort of use our current budget um and and do
015some of the CARES Act. We also have some CARES act goes out to 2023 um and so um once again to help kind of cover the issues that have happened for us um because of the pandemic and so that that is in our place. We've also used our impact aid um to al also help um get us to that 0% um budget. In years past we have we have got used our health insurance um that corridor that funding um but the board was very weary um about weary leerary, not weary. I'm I am feeling weary, but we were leerary um about using of that health insurance um because of um uh the fact that many of our teachers and staff um have not been able to go to their doctors or have the procedures that
016they needed. So, we anticipate that there's going to be a lot more use of that. And so we wanted to make sure that that that we didn't um underfund that or deplete that so that we couldn't cover the health insurance costs. So that's what why we moved more towards that. Um and um our business manager Ken Knight, he felt like we were in good stand with the impact a that we could touch some of that just to make sure that um we could give you guys what we have promised you which is a really good budget that meets the needs of our district but also doesn't drain the town um of of funding. So um I feel really good especially when other towns around us have come in with 6.8 budgets um four point budgets
017um three-point budgets. I feel really proud that we once again were able to meet meet a district needs um but also um help the town. Um, >> also can I just add this that today John Bert and Cindy and Ken and I met together. Um, we've met before and last month. So, we're going to try to do that on a regular basis and kind of check with each other on different funding sources and just to make sure our numbers are driving and and that they have a heads up that more impact aid came to the town than was um expected. So, we've gotten additional funds last year and this year. Um, and we may even get some next year, too. So, just to let the board know, um, the town know that it comes directly
018to them. Um, you know, and you know, just checking to make sure that our numbers are all adding up. So the um the other current thing that's happening for us is um we're uh Susan and um the human um resource director is finalizing the stuff around hiring an assistant superintendent um for the past three months. Susan has sort of um along with her staff have um been really doing both the superintendent and assistant superintendent's job. Um so we're hoping to um have that finalized um soon um so that she can have a a complement of a team. Um so just that's sort of like not that that's not enough but that's what we're sort of doing um in our current place. Um we're excited or I'm excited our next meeting um on Monday we are
019going to have um Slam who is the um architect come in and um they're going to actually present um what the our two elementary school designs are looking like and we're also going to look at our tech plan and then also approve the tech plan afterwards. So, our our our elementary schools, man, they're they're going they're happening. I don't know if you guys have driven by, but it's just really exciting to see those those buildings just kind of um rise. >> We also um have Jerry coming in to talk to us about the fields task force, too. And um Steve Mansfield has agreed to come in kind of in the mid mid portion like around 6:20 to give us an update on health. >> Right. And then so the fields because I know that the
020town council and the RTM I I think the RTM but I know that the town council has had a presentation about the fields um and um so I just we haven't been able to kind of get that to happen so we are going to have that. So those are the things that are happening sort of like in our midst but we're also um I know that the district is working pretty hard. We have chosen all the themes for our magnet schools. So come when we open up our school district next year for next year's school there is going to be five elementary schools that are going to have magnet themes and they are for just the district. It's not that we're taking kids from New London and whatever it is it is magnet themes. Susan
021spoke to that about a survey we we are going to be going through um our process of um doing the lottery and that should all be done by May. Is that is that your thinking Susan? Yep. >> Um and that we will then have up and running our Grten Middle School and then with on the campus of the high school. So um it's exciting times about what we think about what's going to happen in 2021. >> We have had students from outside the district make requests especially being an international balarat campus to pay tuition to come to our schools. So that's something that we have contemplated. we have um you know the per pupil cost but that seems a little high for a lot of families. So but that is something we've talked about and
022the reason we're intra district and not interd district and allowing other towns to come in is there's a moratorum on that from the state. So, we couldn't do that, but we could have families who wish to come in um and pay a tuition um that was the cost of the per pupil spending, but otherwise what we have intra district, so kids in town will either have a wonderful neighborhood school or they can choose from the other schools. >> And um also on the website, we have a ton of stuff on our website. Um but one of the things that's on the website is the neighborhood schools. So if you have people who are saying like I don't especially for those of us who live in the city and they don't know is it a Katherryn
023Kowski is it um the Thes River Elementary u magnet um school if they go on to that Ontario website they can kind of see where their neighborhood falls in terms of those two things. So once again, um um we're busy. Um but I think um at this point we could entertain any questions if that you might have about any of the stuff that we that Susan and I talked about or Andrea or Rosemary and Jane if you feel like or um wanted to add something that I might have forgotten. >> Patrice, >> very I'm just very interested, very excited about so many teachers wanting to come to Graten Schools. The interviews for assistant superintendent are are going very very well. Lots of talent, lots of enthusiasm and admiration for this district. >> Thank you, Jane.
024>> They certainly have done their homework. >> Hi, thank you. Um I just I was trying to get some notes down. um not having children in the district. I don't have the information that probably some of you already have, but you're going back four days and you're starting with prek to two, then you're gradually inching up 35. What is the high school looking like and when when will a transition take place for the high school? >> So, the high school has about 50% out fully remote. We've we've actually since the beginning of the year brought back a lot of kids four days a week. We looked at high needs. We looked at special education e disconnected kids um to have four days a week. So it's not like we haven't had students in four days
025a week. However, the high school, you know, has been making phone calls and so is the middle school personally inviting kids back four days a week who really are either failing or they're just not doing well with it. and they've gotten a really positive response. So, we're getting them in now, those kids, not waiting, but um I I'm trying to remember the chart in my head, but I think it's um the first week of April that or actually it's the 29th of March that 9th grade will come in and then the rest of the grades will come in the next week. >> And are they going to be four days or are you going to have 50? How is it going to look? >> They're going to be four days. Um, you know, there we
026really can't cohort. The cohorting was really good for contact tracing, but we're hoping that with u most the adults having their vaccine. We and we've got we're buying more death shields. So, we're doing things to support um you know, if we're not as socially distanced, what else can we be doing? The masking is essential. You know, our numbers have really gone down and Steve Mansfield made me feel real confident. he joined the committee and really talked to the committee about how things were really improving and um that this is really the right time to start bringing kids back. So by May and June for the last two months they'll probably be four and a half days. So we'll include Wednesday as a half day um and then send them home early with some homework and
027the teachers can do their homework. >> Okay. We're we're still though in the red, are we not? I think I think Rotten is still in the red as far as um rates. So I'm just a little concerned. Um you know >> Pat Lrice that's you know I've gotten a lot of push back from parents but >> you know especially when we went remote but I kept saying that Graten and New London are a little different than Old Line >> right >> and North Stonington you know as far as the the number of people in our community and the number of the spread. So, I feel pretty confident that, you know, waiting the 3 weeks like we're doing until March 22nd and bringing our littlest learners in first, that that's going to give us the right
028amount of time to make sure we're super safe. So, >> so you're starting, so for the people who might be listening, you're starting with groups that you can actually cohort and then you're working your way up and as we progress and hopefully we come out of the red, then you'll be bringing in the kids where it's harder to cohort, >> right? >> Thank you. >> Can you talk about the high school? >> That will also be on the website really soon. Kathy, >> yeah, I just wanted to get this straight for the the minutes. So you increased an existing employee to an athletic director for next year and you have an additional assistant principal for the high school. Is that >> it's not additional? No. So it's not additional. So thank you Kathy. So we
029took a part-time athletic director and we made that person full-time. >> Okay. >> And then we took >> he was a full-time employee though >> and he had um a case load of students. So, we're just making sure that his full position will be um for athletic directing and making sure he covers both the middle school and the high school. >> Okay. Middle school. >> And then the athlet the um assistant principal, we took a dean position and expanded the hours that that that person would be working because deans you work the school year. the assistance principal, you have a you tack you tack on some more weeks. Um, and that's what we're doing for this other for this position. So, it's a full-time position, but we're just we've moved it to the category of
030assistant principal. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And we don't I I the board in three weeks, two weeks are is going to be hearing from the high school um about and the um and also about the athletic position. like we've we've approved these positions, but now they're going to come back and kind of take tell us about what it's going to look like. >> Okay. Thank you. And I love that expression, littlest learners. >> Yeah, >> Bruce. >> Thank you. >> Um, thank you. Uh, I was just wondering since you've gotten to high school and the and the elementary schools, if you had the dates like we have sixth graders, just like when the middle school's going back four days. So, sixth graders we're bringing back with us with the third graders through fifth graders
031at the end of March, the week the last week of March. So, they'll they'll come back. Um, so I did three through or the committee did three through six and then nine. Um and that that way I think our sixth graders coming in the four days a week will have time without you know such a large number of the seventh and eighth graders and they kind of get acclimated the cafeteria the hallway navigating everything >> and then we'll bring back the seventh and eth and the 10th through 12th the following week. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That will be on the website. Correct. Everything's going to be on the website in different languages um with a chart um with you know kind of laying out the expectations and really the safety protocols that'll be in
032place. So parents will be able to make that decision you know on whether they're ready to send them back four days and there's no more two-day cohort. So they'll either do four days or they'll do full remote and we're hoping for they'll want to send them four days. Any other questions around the board stuff? If not, the town council. >> Hello. Thank you. Um, thank you for the news on the budget and the news on your plan to get the kids back. That's wonderful. Um, we, uh, met last night and, um, just cleaning up some excess property things. Um, we are moving the athletic the middle school athletic field lights. We move that forward out of council. So, that'll be that'll be going forward. Um, we are working on um some resilience and sustainability things.
033Um, trying to get some focus going forward. Um, as far as what's coming up, we have, sorry, I've been constantly since I got out of work in meetings and on phone calls. I apologize. Um, oh, here it is. We're going to be looking at um short-term rentals. We've we had been meeting on this and then we got delayed because of um COVID and the council is going to be trying to come to some consensus as to whether we want to try regulating short-term rentals or not. We've been hearing from different parts of town, all over town. Um not just unique to Mystic or Rotten Longpoint. It's pretty much every part of town. We're hearing from people that are having concerns about short-term rentals. So, uh, we're going to be talking about that and, um, Chief
034Assaro will be with us to talk about, um, what what they are seeing happening. Um, we're looking at, um, the, uh, Pratt building on the grounds of the Mystic Education Center, and there's going to be a new survey going out um, about what we would like to see happen in the space within the Pratt building. Let's see. We are also looking at um an open space parcel that is significant for um natural wildlife and historical significance. Um and we're going to be discussing that and just cleaning up some odds and ends of um some tax abatements that counselors wanted to talk about. And um we're going to be talking um yeah, sewer tax abatement, all those fun things that counselors talk about. >> Patrice, I had heard that they're building a little neighborhood over on
035the Noank school property. Is that true or is that a rumor? >> On the Noank school property, they're building what? on and some kind of a I don't know if it's a over 55 community. >> No, that's not true. >> Someone was saying >> that's not true. Maybe maybe they were thinking mystic education center. >> Maybe that's what it was. >> That's going to be >> oral mystic oral school. Yeah, that could be it. >> Yeah, that might have been the confusion. >> The proposal that's the stateowned property um and the the preferred developer that was chosen. It will be a little neighborhood and it will be a little walkable neighborhood, mixed use um with the amenities there. Um it's over 80 acres of land and more than half of it's going to be preserved.
036So it's um it's something that will kind of keep us moving in the direction we've been wanting to go with reusing spaces, right? >> Rather than developing untouched spaces. So, you know, the state said, "Here's this property. what are we going to do with it? And here's your options and okay, well, let's take this one. And just like we've been trying to do with the with the buildings that um when you guys are done with them and you turn them over to the town, we've got a lot of action coming up on those as well. So, um it's it's part of what we wanted to do was to use the existing developed land, >> right? >> To try to grow the tax base and >> not have these eyes. >> And then I had one
037other question for you. The public hearing for the town council is the 25th, which is a Thursday. I had had it written down as a different date, but then I um talked to John Bert and he was saying it was the 25th. >> That sounds right. But if you talk to him, he would know. I for some reason that makes more sense than the other date that I was thinking it was. >> I'll get that out to the board members in my board notes and on the calendar because I had had a different date. Okay, it is um he did release it to everybody. I can make a note. Well, did you get a did you get the schedule from him >> okay? >> I just happened to ask him today. >> Okay. When >>
038we were meeting because I >> Joyce had called over to find out what the date is, but she had like the date of the 30th. >> So, it's the 25th. >> So, it seems like it's the 25th. I can I when I'm done talking I'll look it up. Hi Simma. I mean hi moderator Evan. How are you? I didn't see you come in. >> I can um I can look it up. I have to dig through my mail though. So I'll do that after. >> May I ask what was the uh public hearing for? >> Council for the budgets. We're we're going back to a full schedule um the normal budget schedule where we're going to have the Saturday meetings and the evening meetings and >> I don't know what has planned. I'm sorry. >>
039They're going to be on Zoom. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I haven't planned yet. >> I had asked for uh feedback. I didn't get much except I think we'll probably go back to what we usually do also. >> Yeah. Good. I think it that's a good idea. >> Is that at six? >> I'm sorry. >> She'll get she'll >> I don't know the time yet, Rosemary. We'll make sure you get it, though. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'm looking now. Um I have March 25th at 700 p.m. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. and and and Patrice, um Susan and I will do our little bit of a presentation about what how we got to where we're we are at um which is our sort of more normative thing that we have done in the past.
040>> That's great. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Um and just also just to let people know that we um the board plans to starting in April to do sort of a mixed zoom also inperson meeting. We found that we do have some technology where for people who still are feeling like they don't want to um be meet in person, they can come into us by Zoom and then for those of us who want to be in person can be in person. I it's a little bit easier because we're a smaller group of people. But I just wanted to let you know that we're going to try that transition starting in April. I have a question for the the town. Um, so do we do you see where we're having new
041development, where we're going to have families? Like, you know, I always get um not concerned, but I just always ponder about where we might be having new apartments with families. Um, and then also what does that do to our schools? So, as far as um what is being targeted, the developers that are coming in are pretty much reading the market and our town staff is reading the market and um we need housing for um singles, right, and empty nesters, right? So, you're looking kind of like both ends of the spectrum. So, um, right now most of the projects that are being put forth are not housing for three bedrooms, right? So, you're looking at having um single people or young couples. Um, not really the room to have the children in the apartments is what
042the developers are are um trying to build. And then at the very other end of the spectrum, people that want to downsize, right? So you've your kids are all gone and you've got this big house and now you want somewhere with all these amenities and so then there are apartments that are smaller for the people at that end of the spectrum as well. So it's really targeting kind of both ends of the spectrum um because um you know somebody was asking about affordable housing. We have um I think it's 23 23% of our housing stock is affordable housing. And you compare that to Stonington which is at 5%. >> Wow. >> So So we have we have a lot we have um the only people that have like more affordable housing than we do are
043places like Bridgeport and Hartford, right? So we have a lot of affordable housing. Um so we really need to kind of fill those other niches to try to get people in. And it's not really, from what I've seen, it's not targeting families at this point because we have a lot of the housing stock for families already. >> What about all the apartments that are going up over by Charles Barnum? >> I'm sorry. >> The ones that are um being built over by Charles Barnum in Pleasant Valley, those condos or apartments. >> So, that's a private developer. So, I'm not sure what's there. >> I can find out though. or um >> yeah, any help you could give us in our planning. >> Okay. >> Would be wonderful, you know. >> Yeah, I'm more in tune
044with what the um what we're trying to what we're right because we can't really, you know, if a private developer buys private land, they can pretty much do >> whatever >> on it, right? >> Or nothing on it. They can just leave it sitting there with empty storefronts and we pull our hair out trying to get them to do things. But Thank you. Is Reggie still here? >> Yep. >> Oh, there you are. He comes back. >> So, what's happening for you? Well, uh, in the city, we have an upcoming primary election. >> No, >> which, you know, um, it's going to be interesting moving forward, you know, with the between the two candidates. Um in the city right now also I know the city has been working with um Ledge Light Health District to
045have um vaccination clinics at the municipal building which has been really good for you know those individuals who have been eligible to receive the COVID vaccine at this time. Um, on a personal note, I am stepping down from the city council >> effective two weeks from today because I am um in the process of trying to get a position with the city and it would not be um good for me to be on a city council and also a city employee. That makes sense. >> Sad for the city council, but good luck. Good luck. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, >> our loss. >> Now, I'm I'll still be serving the community, but unfortunately, just not in a capacity as a on a city council. >> And that's that's really it in regards to reports
046for this time. >> And the city police Chief has resigned. >> Yeah. Unfortunately, the uh Chief is um retiring, you know, and it's going to be a a huge loss, I would say, the city, but I do believe his replacement is going to continue to move the city, you know, police department in a in a good direction, public safety in the city. That is all I have to report at this time. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. I'll miss seeing you on the screen. >> Yeah, I you know I took it down just to run an errand and I made it back in time. >> I hear you. I hear you. Um RTM, if if there's no other questions for Reggie, sorry. >> If not, then RTM. Yeah, the RTM doesn't you know we are
047just uh having our meeting next week and we are going to be focusing on the Goldstar property and um the Colonel Ledger school property sale. So those are the the two items I think we're going to have. Uh and then I think there's another one which is the um uh there's a um so those are the two items that have been passed on to finance and then uh we had a um referral from one of our members to look into the unassigned fund balance. So, um there there was a opinion from the town attorney that that which was first um suggested by representative Lauren Gothier um as under power of initiative. It's not um legal because it uh does um the charter lays out the budget process. So things that um would try to redirect
048the budget process aren't things that the RTM can has a jurisdiction to deal with. Um and we can't do that by power of initiative either. So, uh, that, uh, will go back to has gone back to finance to try to see what they want to do with that, um, idea because there was interest on the finance committee, um, in pursuing it maybe as a recommendation to the town council or in fact, I did, um, reach out to the the mayor um to see if there was a possibility of um, having a joint meeting of our finance committee with some subset of the town council or the town council. uh to to discuss this issue and and see if something could come out of that. So, that's kind of, you know, another issue. Um we're moving
049into budget season, so um I have to make my own schedule. I haven't I know Betsy sent it to me a few days ago, um for the town council. Um so, you know, we are we don't really get going until May, so it's not too imminent, but um those are the main issues I think we have. um some folks who are going to come speak with our group uh on Wednesday on artificial turf uh that's heating up with the um sports um with the the um the task force that Bruce served on that Representative Flax served on. Sorry, the uh forgetting the name of your task force. It was the sports fields and track fields advisory task force. Um, and so those those are the main things we we that we're addressing. And if uh
050Representative Chase or Flax have anything they want to add, please do. >> Cassie, >> what we worked on last month was the RTM authorized the town manager to execute all grant documents and accept grant funding in the amount of $344,388 for the community connectivity program grant. And um there was a discussion on the criteria for selection of student liaison for the RTM. >> That didn't go anywhere unfortunately yet. >> That's a for some reason has proved to be a thorny issue for some members. Um even though the board seems to find it a fabulous thing and I think it would be a good thing. Um for some reason uh we have several members who are uh have very uh strong opinions about it. >> I need to tell you some of this year we've really
051lost our students um just they're so tired of zooming. So by the time that they come at night um we it's been it's been pretty difficult. In fact, we've asked um our our principal to kind of re, you know, resee what they were because we at one point we had very active student representatives and I think it's a cycle. I think sometimes they're just kind of don't know where their place is. But this year it was such an off year um that I we just didn't have the student reps um and then you know the quality the audio quality it just it um so it it was a disappointment for this year. I think >> we missed them. >> Yeah. >> So, can I just ask this? I know that um Patrice had said that
052the lights um were approved for the athletic fields from the town council um for the middle school and I think they're going to the RTM next. Is that right, Patrice? I'm flipping through my papers to be sure I said the right thing. But yes, we approved it last night. Um, we also approved a pump track. But anyway, um, let me see. Public hearing for Pleasant Valley. So, if you need us to speak to it, Sam and I can come or Sam and Kim and I can come, whatever you need. Um, just to give information on that. But we're we're kind of excited. Um, our middle school came under budget by $6 million and the lights are about 800,000 and that's what we're kind of looking for from that. Um, but we're not planning on spending
053all of the six million, believe me. But the lights were a big request by a lot of people in town because we'll be able to use the fields longer. >> Yes. >> Actually, um, I may have misspoke. I don't think it has to go to the RTM. >> Oh, okay. because I think um what we were doing the the resolved right the resolved was to change the scope of the plan that we voted and so the resolve does not have unless they made a mistake when they when they did the resolve. The resolved is not sending it to the RTM. So, the resolve said that the town council determines the scope of the Graten 2020 plan project approved by voters um to include the athletic fields outdoor lighting to the allowable uses of the funding
054in the amount of 825,000 um and resolve that the Graten Public Schools will not charge a fee for those fields aside from incurred utility costs. So, it looks like uh what we voted was just to change the scope of the project and it looks like it does not go or at least it was not referred to RTM last night. So, I was wrong. We could throw something else your way though, moderator Eban, if you'd like. >> No, we're we're good. >> Is um do we have any new business >> about night? Guess not. >> I I I guess not. Um, so hearing >> what does that mean? Um, >> Andrea, >> so your honor, >> so if there is no new business, um, it's good to see everyone. And I, um, there was a part
055of me that wanted to cancel, but I just think that there's so much going on with the schools reopening that you guys needed to kind of hear what we're doing um, and and stuff so that you can kind of get that information or direct people to the website. I think Susan is trying very hard to make sure that that website is as upto-date as possible so that parents could kind of get get information from there versus trying to find it in social media and not necessarily getting the correct information. >> Can you give me the correct website so I can put it in the minutes please? >> Yeah. Yeah. Graten gratenschools.org. Right. >> Yep. That's it. >> Oh, okay. That's >> simple. I thought it was the CT dash this and >> that's the emails
056that's got to go too. >> But if not hearing >> motion to motion to adjourn. >> I have a second. >> Say good night Gracie. >> Good night Gracie. >> Good luck to you Reggie. >> Yeah Reggie. >> Yes. Good luck. >> Thank you Mark. Thank you Mark.