001[music] >> And I say, come over, come over. >> [music] >> Come on over, you'll say. >> Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the town of Portland {slash} Board of Education podcast. Uh we're here live at the Connecticut Valley School of Music and Dance podcast studio, and with us is our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Charles Britton, and also our First Selectman, Mr. Mike Pelton. So, hey guys, thanks for coming down. >> All right, good afternoon. >> Hey, good meeting last night, Matt. Good week, you know, so I think we got we we we got it in the end zone. >> We we we did. We did. It was it's been >> Landed the plane. >> We landed the plane. We finally got all the numbers settled last night, so it was good. What
002did you think of it last night? >> You know, I I just I would just say as I end the year and I'm like parsing out the emotions of the reflections of the year, I think the one that that pops in my mind is mostly gratitude, right? I mean, I couldn't be happier and more appreciative of pretty much everybody in this town. You know, everybody who came out to support the budget, the school bonding referendum, the the Board of Education on their all their hard work, and the Board of Selectmen. I mean, I I'm I am equal parts grateful and impressed with with the work you do and both boards. You're the both Boards of Education and Boards of Selectmen incredibly thorough, yeah, incredibly thoughtful, ask hard questions, balance needs, balance emotions, um I guess
003I would just only describe it as very professional. >> Well, and and think about how much work we did over the last year or so. There's been more collaboration. We've communicated that to the residents of town. I've gotten more conversations with folks that say, "Thank god you're talking about the big issues." Um it's not just all one way, so people are hearing with the the they're seeing the process, and sometimes the process is loud and noisy, but that's great though. And I think people see the work that we're doing, and we've come to a good place. This has been great. say >> Same gratitude. >> And in very bipartisan, you know, I don't think it's uh you know, one way or the other. I think the board is has a good chemistry together. We work
004together. We communicate together. So, you know, that's a win-win. >> Yeah. You can't ask for more. >> Right. And what is it they say about making the sausage? Right? I mean, >> [laughter] >> that's what we're doing. >> Well, well, that's sometimes the hard work. >> Yeah, exactly. You know, you don't It's in there. >> So, so I'd like to think Portland did it better than the state this year with the you know, funding for the schools. >> Yeah. >> Well, you know, I think that's that's the thing. Uh all right. So, why don't you Mike, why don't you go over your your spreadsheet there on basically we we did we're able to get the mill rate set last night. >> So, so the headlines from last night's meeting, we we couldn't set the mill
005rate two meetings ago because we just hadn't we had some confusion about how the state wanted us to use the money for education or for for reduction in taxes. So, what we did last night is we decided to split the money that we got from the state. So, the state gave Portland, Connecticut $527,000. With the with the funding that was devoted to education and or budget reduction because they couldn't they couldn't get it straight. They gave us another $52,000 for the other Pequot fund that we put directly to tax reduction. So, we had to decide what to do with that money. So, last night after a lot of debate and deliberation, we decided that we would take 200,000 of that money and provide it to the Board of Education. And the balance of that about
006380, we are applying toward reducing the taxes in town. So, last night we reduced taxes uh down by again about $380,000. So, our mill rate increased for next year, this coming year starting July 1st, will be only 1.06. And I say only, zero would be great, but it's it's not realistic, but it's 3% for the increase. And our mill rate now is 36.36 up from 35.3. So, we worked really hard to get that number. We collaborated with Board of Education and his team. We found every savings we could and applying that money is going to give additional savings. And this is additional savings to the budget that was approved by residents by a 6-1 vote. You know, on May 11th. So, I'm really proud of this. We did a good job and we get to
007reduce down that. >> Well, and the thing is that people they have to realize there's a lot of contractual expenses in there which are out of your control. Obviously, Charles, you had the unexpected insurance you know, rates that came in and kind of that was a punch in the gut. So, you know, giving all of that I think you guys did a yeoman's job. >> Yeah, and you know, it's it's complicated, right? I mean, there are multiple layers of government, multiple agencies. And and you know, I think I also want to start by saying, you know, I I sometimes worry that that our friends in Hartford our our state reps and our governor will will hear us saying always complaining, always asking for more money, right? And look, I I've got to say I got
008to remind everybody >> the state does a ton for us. They're great partners, too, right? They're you know, the state funds your teacher retirement. If teacher retirement were a liability on the town, can you imagine what your mill rate would be? >> That would be huge. >> It'd be over 45, I promise you. If you had to fund teacher retirement. You know, the state does give us funding in ECS. This the state does give us grants. The state does um imagine if we had to certify teachers. >> Right. State the state manages an awful lot that you don't see, right? That And the state is going to give us $66 million for the school building project. So, I and that we got an extra 520 4,000 from Hartford. I think the first message that we
009have to give to the state is a recognition and an a show of appreciation, too. >> Absolutely. >> Right. >> At the same time, here's the fact. Education is not cheap. No. is expensive. At the same time, think how much it would cost if everybody was ignorant. Yeah, right? And education, the thing that that motivates me as I think about it, education is the foundation of every other career. >> Sure. There would be no other career. There isn't a single person employed in any position that doesn't benefit from the work I do. >> Absolutely. >> Directly every year. And And you want me to cheap out on that? No. You want me to cut corners on that? Maybe we won't teach you how to read as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Maybe we won't teach
010you how to do math as well. >> Yeah. >> So, this is a a public good that every You drive on safe streets and and have things done well because of the work that I do with our children. >> 100%. >> And And it's not supposed to be cheap. It shouldn't be cheap. You get what you pay for in life, right? But at the same time, you have to balance that against the reality is that people are on fixed incomes. You do have seniors living in town. Not everybody has disposable income. You know, would I love to see a more progressive, mean-tested income of course income tax of course or property tax of course. But, you know, property tax is a blunt instrument. >> Yeah. >> It It's right. It's not There's no way to
011make that a a more progressive tax. >> And we have to do what we what we can with what we have right now. So, >> Well, and the thing is and and that was evident in the meeting last night. Okay? So, you guys listen to the residents. I mean, we had great audience participation, a lot of public comment. Uh and I think overall, I think uh everybody was amenable and I think they were satisfied with uh you know, what you guys came up with and uh it worked out. >> I I was fair. >> Yeah, it was fair. And I couldn't be happier with the team that we have. We we debated every issue. We looked at it from different angles. It was a lot of thought put into it. And And I got to
012say to what Charles said, I'm so incredibly grateful for the last couple months because we've had big asks. We've had big asks. We've asked the town residents uh to say yes to a $109 million project that we've been talking about for years and years. But to get it past the finish line and get people to vote six to one in favor of that, I think it's fantastic. But that I think speaks to everyone's communication and getting it out there. And people once they understood, they understood the need. And then the budget they're failing all around us. So to get that passed before is fantastic. And then even the committee that we're forming for the building committee, we're going to be looking for people in town with specific skills help us with that project so that
013we can shepherd it from now to two brand new schools and you know a renovated high school fixed up. So there's a lot of work to do. But again, I've just been very grateful. I've had a lot of conversations with my wife and friends about it's been a crazy six months. And looking back, I think we've accomplished a lot and I'm proud of how we've done it. >> Sure. >> More so than anything. >> Well, and you guys got a lot of work in front of you, you know, Charles you know over the committee that you got to put together and so forth and you know, work for consultants and you know, >> I felt like if I'm going to give an analogy to I feel like I just finished the Boston Marathon in two
014hours and 18 minutes, which is great. [laughter] But I feel like I get up maybe two weeks to rest and then I'm going to start a triathlon. Yeah, yeah. It's I'm under no illusion that the next five years are going to go perfectly smooth. I think I think we have to go into this with eyes wide open. Sure. That said, you know, one of the things I said to my wife on the last election for the referendum, I said, you know, if if this bonding package and this what we're asking for fails, you know, what does that mean for me? It means I I I've I've not done a good job convincing this community that this must happen. And it must happen because the schools are falling apart. >> Right. >> Sure. >> And what
015does that mean? Like you know, I failed. I failed as a superintendent. And I'm glad I didn't fail because it's too important for your children, Portland's children that I didn't, right? That said, I also would have been majorly stressed if it had been a 51-49 vote. >> Yeah. >> Right. And that half the town was opposed to this. >> Right. Right. >> Cuz to lead a building project of this magnitude with half the town not supporting it >> Yeah. >> would have been almost worse than it have failing. >> Well, yeah. >> But instead, what did we get? An overwhelming recognition that yes, the water coming in through the roof is not a good thing. >> We're learning. >> And that you should fix that before mold settles in and you have to condemn a
016school. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But also that that overwhelming support is going to give us a little bit of bandwidth to have some rocky days. >> Sure. >> Right. It's It's not all going to be perfect. I'm going to work my tail off and I know this committee is to do everything we can to make this go as smooth, under or on budget, and in a reasonable way. But I also live in the real world. >> Sure. >> Uh an op- a a a plan this big is I know it's going to have moments of of turmoil and we will be transparent. We will communicate those. And because the this number of people support this, I think we're going to get some grace. >> Oh, yeah. And I think so. >> And really, I think
017that's what we have to ask our community for. >> Well, exactly. And you guys have been transparent right along. I mean, at all of those uh you know, tours that you gave to the schools, they you you actually showed the people, "Hey, you know, I'm not blowing smoke here." I mean, look at look at the ceiling leaking. Look at this and you know, uh So, I think you guys are very transparent in that and I think people realize that obviously with 70% of the vote. >> Oh, sure. Well, and I think the nice thing is people knew that uh it needed it. So, the the way the vote was 6:1, people are going to be cheering on the sides for us to do this right. And that kind of pressure, I think is even better
018because they want it to succeed. They want to give input. They're going to engage with us. Um I'm going to hear it You're going to hear it whenever we're out in town, "What's going on? How's it you know, how are you going to What's the next step?" So, I think we'll have a lot of people paying attention to us which I think is fantastic. >> No joke. No joke. >> And and it's going to be hard to miss when the construction crews arrive at Valley View and start tearing that place apart, right? I mean it's going to it's going to look like the Nordic Spa right now at some >> Well, you know, there's there's there's a lot of action going on down there. That's for sure. So I I got to share one more
019thing that that was something Charles and I did this week. So we were invited to a civics class. >> And one of the questions they were asking was what impact does local government have on it versus federal. And I thought it was a great question especially now with all the things going on crazy in the world. And this is a reminder that the thing that's going to have the biggest impact on anyone in Portland right now is this school project, the growth that we have, all things that are here much more than state, certainly much more than federal >> Yeah. >> on a day-to-day basis. So so I feel very very proud and and privileged to be able to kind of help that along with Charles and the other ones that my board, the board
020of education, we're all kind of doing this together. So that feels great to do and that motivates and energizes me. >> Yeah, I I loved that visit. One of the things I said to the the kids there, I said, you know, if I were to get you know cast aspersions on on most Americans, I think most Americans know more about what's happening at the federal government and especially the federal government executive branch >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> than they do about what the town government is doing. >> Right, right. >> And my contention is is that the work that Mike Pelton does in Portland has a greater a far greater influence on your quality of life than anything Donald Trump has ever done. >> Yeah, yeah. >> I mean, who cares about a ballroom? >>
021Yeah. >> But you should definitely care about a new Valley View. >> Who cares about an ultimate fighting ring, you know? >> Right. I mean, that's all that's all nonsense. >> Well, and and unfortunately that takes all the oxygen out of the room, you know, and so forth and all of the good stuff that's happening, you know, at our level, okay, is sometimes, you know, you're >> Yeah, and and the hard part, the reason for that, like there's a reason why. And I think it has everything to do with you know, people only see the national news. Maybe they get some state news. They you know, they the algorithms that feed us our information, whether they're filtered through Fox News or MSNBC or whatever you choose. It's that comes to us. It It pierces our
022lives every day. >> Sure. >> But the work of local government >> Yeah. >> you actually have to go out of your way >> Yeah. >> to figure that out. >> Sure. >> Right? You have to read the River East or watch the long boring meetings that you're in or listen to these podcasts. >> Yes. >> You have to invest yourself to understand what Mike Pelton and Charles Britton are doing. Whereas what Donald Trump does, I'll hear about it on NPR driving home and be like a reflecting pool? I don't care. I mean, like it's rage bait. It's nonsense. But the work that we do here is going to going to affect you far more than anything happening on Pennsylvania. >> So So one of the small lessons of this whole process with with Dr.
023Britton and myself over the budget was so many people finally understand what percentage of the budget that Board of Ed is and how many people are involved and it's real people. It's neighbors that are teachers and the whole bit. So humanizing that >> Yeah. >> has been, I think, one of the reasons why people have been more receptive. >> Well, sure. >> Cuz it's easy to be mad at a big line item until you realize that's Lisa, the teacher that teaches second school >> or whoever. And and I kind of like that. I think that made it easier for everyone. And even even the no votes on the budget and the refer- and the uh the school project were no for, I think, good reason. Maybe it's someone retired that was just concerned about that.
024>> Right. >> And that's great, but they most of them still wanted it to be successful or want the kids to be educated properly. So I kind of like that. That that makes me That gives me a little more hope in mankind. >> Uh well, you you had you had the broad perspective, you know, plus not to mention the advocacy that you guys did at the state capital, you know, between Laurel and and between Meg. Now, look at Meg. I mean, she's she's retired. She's on a fixed income. Yet she's, you know, advocating for for for education and so forth. So, you know, that was huge, you >> No, I mean, look, both of them glad you called them out by name. Meg is also the in addition to being on our board, the president
025of Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. >> Yeah. >> She led massive lobbying efforts with with our legislators. Laurel spent hours of her life testifying >> Sure. >> and all of it saying, "Help us, we need more funds." >> Yeah. >> That money we got is a direct link from that advocacy work >> No joke. >> to the check in the mail. >> Sure. >> Right. Um, so thank you to them. And and they're not getting paid. >> Well, and the thing is, you >> They're volunteer citizens. >> You got to realize the legislature, they they have so much hitting them, you know, from every aspect, government, schools, uh, you know, it's it's like uh, you know, and to have that kind of parceled out and spoon-fed to them. So, it educates them and it
026makes them, you know, more, uh, you know, able to, you know, get get a good decision. >> Right. Yeah, that's it. And you know, the the neat thing is like at at some point developing school budgets and town budgets, it's it's complicated. There's lots of departments, there's lots of needs, um, and and of course, you know, anybody that goes into public education understands, you know, we work on a shoestring. Sure. And we and we really do. I mean, it's it's tough every year. Um, >> You mean you don't have those Velcro straps? >> Right. >> [laughter] >> And the budget on my side and I'm I'm maybe even more so than the town side, it's so it's subject to things that are so far outside of my control. >> Yeah, yeah. >> How many kids
027are going to move into town that might need special service. >> Sure. >> What what a war in Iran is going to do to gas prices. Whether that new teacher I hired is going to take a no health insurance or a family health insurance plan. Um, it it's so difficult, right? Every day that budget is going from the black to the red, right? It's it's going back and forth. And you know, I always can tell I look at Stephanie, our business manager's cuticles, right? If she's if they're showing chewed down to the nub on a given day, I I know, right? Some something's something's happening. Or if she's, you know, in a good mood. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> But that's how fast it changes. >> Well, that's for sure. >> And
028it's hard because you know, again, we have to hire people. >> Well, exactly. >> Whether they're step one staying on mom's health insurance or top step with a family plan >> Yeah. >> is going to swing the budget. Literally, that difference alone will swing a budget $80,000 one way or the other because we pay beginning teachers a lot less than veteran. >> Oh, yeah. >> Well, that's it. >> So, I I got to give an example of this just money cuz people they they hear the numbers, but they don't appreciate what it means. So, we're opening up a river access project, our river land landing this Saturday. We got a $300,000 grant from the state 2022 Norm Needleman, thank you very much, provided that and we have taken that money and we've used 260 No,
029I'm sorry, 220,000 of it actually to construction. The rest of it was just a design and everything. Why am I saying that number? Two students that are special ed that need to go to a school outside of the town could be up to 150 to 200,000 each. So, it takes two students at his side to equal a whole project that we're going to have access to a river and that is a huge thing in town. And I don't I don't think people realize those numbers, you know, it it's it's big deal. Um and that's why even some of the the two leases that you're doing I think are wonderful. >> Yeah, great. >> But those things I think people appreciate that more now because we've communicated that. And they understand the numbers and why Board
030of Ed tends to be six out of 10 out, you know, $6 out of every 10. >> Absolutely. And thank God we have the Brownstone School to be our swing school because that is that is key and a linchpin to you know making all of this happen. You know, you know, and it's you know, obviously it's it's a historic building on Main Street and it's going to stay there, but you know, it's the type of thing that it gives us a lot of flexibility in making all of these numbers mesh together and being able to you know, get all of these state reimbursements. >> And it makes it so that while we're working on the school kids aren't dealing with dust and construction jackhammers going off during their math lesson. >> I can remember when
031I was in high school there adding the additions on on the on the wing up there. >> I've heard the stories. I had to ride your horse to school back then. >> [laughter] >> A Model T. >> Uphill both ways in the snowstorm. >> Yeah, barefoot. >> Yeah, no, for sure, for sure. Exactly. Uh, but you know, that that's the thing you and you guys have you know, you've worked together well and so forth. So >> That's very good. >> Uh, but anyway, we've got uh, coming up uh, we've got graduation on >> 15th graduation. I can't wait for that. I got to say one of my favorite things is giving the graduation speech. >> I I have my I have my invitation. >> I love that. And and I I have to say that
032um, I don't pick favorites. I just won't do it, but we all have our favorites. Let's be honest. This year's senior class might be my favorite. Now, I'm completely biased because 3 days after that graduation I will be in an audience watching my son graduate with the class of 2026. >> See there you go. >> My son is a member of the class of 2026. This group of kids I've watched like I'm sure some of these parents if they had their children born in January in 2008 at St. Mary's in Waterbury, we were in the delivery room together. So I've watched this group through my son commiserated with all of the parents. We've raised our kids together through 12 grades through 12 grades and and Oh my god, it's been such an incredibly awesome experience
033to be a the parent of a kid graduating in 2026. >> Yeah. >> That I I just this year's graduation speech I might cry. Like I have my real emotions both as a professional and as a parent having experienced what we Gen X parents experienced >> Yeah. Yeah. >> raising our kids since when they were born in the last housing crisis bubble burst thing and we were all under water in our homes terrified that we were entering a great depression and that our kids were going to >> Yeah. >> have to be raised in this, >> Yeah. >> right? >> Yeah. Yeah. That That's what That was the world when my son was born and all these kids graduating were born. >> There you go. >> And and we parents made it through. So I
034have a lot of great things to say about about this group of kids. They're They're awesome. They're going to go into the world and and >> They're going to do good things. >> And take care of us when we're old. >> There we go. >> That's what we did. >> That's what we need. Question, Charles. Do you have copies of all of the past yearbooks in the >> I do. Yeah, they're in the library. >> In the library at the high school? >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> actually order them online, too. >> Can you order past because I can't find my senior yearbook? >> Google it. >> Okay. >> They're all They're all I think you have to pay a little bit more, but you can order it. >> Okay. Yeah, cuz I mean
035Jostens still does most of our yearbooks. >> Lifetouch, Jostens, uh I forgot the name of other vendors are that are out, but there's a a way to order old yearbooks on You can even order them back to the '40s or >> Oh, no kidding. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> Go there. >> That's good. >> I have to go there. >> Fantastic. What year did you graduate, Mike? >> I can't even think back that far. >> [laughter] >> Ronald Reagan wasn't president. >> Yeah. Jimmy Carter >> Yeah, Jimmy Carter was still president. Yes. Yes, and he had a sweater >> Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Oh, for sure. >> So, I I got to add one more thing to the graduation. I cannot wait till the graduation. Um I will be doing, I think, for the
03610th year project graduation that night. So, I need somebody to help me. I'm the only one that's so far on there. So, if there's any parent out there with a junior or a sophomore at Portland High School, and you want to spend you want to do one overnight this year, let's do an overnight. We need We need some help with that. We need a couple of people. >> Is Is Is the destination announced yet for Project Graduation, or is that still a secret? >> I know, but I don't know if it's been released yet. It might be a >> You're not supposed to tell. I think I think they're just supposed to get on a bus and show up, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I thought it was Iceland. >> [laughter] >> I don't know,
037but I'm not going to put >> It's Greenland. >> Greenland isn't in Iceland. Yeah, there you go. >> [laughter] >> All right, Mike. Tell us What's What are the updates in the town here? >> I'll take one deep breath. I'll go through all 25 of them. So, we'll start with Brener Place. That's still rolling. They're going to start the foundation for the third apartment building, the assisted living, by the end of the summer. And that third building will have a rooftop restaurant, so that's that's on on track. Jersey Mike's should be open in 65 days. I think it's the last of it. >> Okay. >> They have a pool for the residents there that they are opening up in a couple of weeks. We can't swim in it unless we're resident, but we're working on
038that. >> Okay. >> Nordic Spa, they came down this last weekend and visited during the Quarry Celebration Day. So, they are still targeting November. And they'll be interviewing people and talking to folks starting in July and August over the summertime. So, they'll do in-person visits. I think they're getting an apartment over at Brener Place, too, to kind of set up shop and then interview in their business center. >> Cool. >> So, that's going to happen. That's I'm very excited about that. The The Quarry looks beautiful. I've taken two tours since Dave and I talked last. >> Yeah. >> And I spoke with the architect that designed that, and it's a beautiful village setup. When it's done, it's even going to be better than I thought. So, that's I'm excited about. We're working on a number
039of other smaller projects in town, but one I hear a lot about now with the weather getting nicer is beautifying Main Street. We're working on on doing that just that over the coming weeks in terms of maybe introducing trees on Main Street uh in in planters and making it look better. So, uh we want the first thing you see when you come into Portland to look as as nice as possible. So, working on that and any volunteers out there, gardeners that want to help and participate, we are always looking for folks that want to help out with that. >> I have uh uh Chris Paciulla, okay, who is basically um the executive vice president of Pomeroy Lodging who is okay. Um we're trying to arrange him for a podcast to come down. I'd like you
040to come down with him. >> Sure. Uh him and I think Nick, uh another fellow, that that's They're they're coming out in a couple weeks, I think a week and a half. I'll let you know when. That'd be great. >> Yeah, cuz again, you know, giving people a little backstory on on Nordic Spa, they're a Canadian [clears throat] company. >> Yeah. >> Uh and uh so they're they're investing buku bucks down there. >> They are. Big bucks. >> Yeah, and it's it's going to be great. Yeah, it's going to be great. So, fantastic. >> Amazing. >> Uh what else? >> So, I mean, there's a lot of smaller projects right now. So, you want You want some bad news or some good news? >> Um you can give us both. >> All right. So, so
041I think it's it's a combination So, >> a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. >> Get that spoon ready. So, uh so we have a One of the things that's in zoning, one of the small things that's gotten a lot of attention lately is we have another gas station that might be coming to town. Uh this would be number nine and it's tripping some and I'm only bringing it up because it's tripping some people that say, "Well, we shouldn't have as many." And I understand that. So, zoning may change the rules so that maybe maximize it. That's all that we're going to do. But, what I like about it is at least there's businesses out there that go, "Hey, there's enough traffic on Route 66." And they're going to build a gas station
042and another 3,000 square foot >> of retail >> mixed-use business for retail and also. So, it is more business in town, but we people are coming to Portland and and wanted to do businesses in town. I think that's a good sign. So, so it's it's that it's a catch-22. >> Sure. Sure. >> We'll work on it. And that'll be right across from um >> Um >> the Winchester >> Winchester, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Well, that's good. It's by Main Boulevard, so >> Absolutely. >> Well, if you know >> Yeah. And then our water project, we're working on the well right now at the uh at the Route 17 park. So, we have an engineer working on the design of the building. We know where we're going to bring the water out. We're gate We're We're shooting
043for about a year and a half to actually have the water flowing and have it be all set. So, that one is right on schedule. That's going well. That's going well. >> And we can get water out on 66 and we're off and running. >> 100% I know you've been trying to do that for 40 years. So, 30 years? >> A while. >> long time. So, So, I think that's going to happen. I really do, Dave. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um we're we're there and we've got everything in place and >> Well, it's it's it's it's natural. I mean, you know, build it and they will come. You know, I mean, it's 30,000 cars one way that go travel 66. >> So, think about for those people in town when you go to Dairy Queen
044on on the intersection 60 uh 17 and 66, that big field that's right behind there. They've wanted to do something there for a while and what's held them back is lack of water, right? Uh they wanted to put a big box store there whether you like that or not, uh but it was water. So, that can't be developed until we can figure that out. So, >> Sure. >> and all along 66, there's a tremendous amount we can do. >> Sure. Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah, so we're looking at all that stuff. And again, if if people want to participate or get involved, I welcome that. We're We're in a business renaissance right now. We're growing as a town. We're going to have new schools uh in 5 years and all that means that it's a
045it's a great reason to move to Portland, stay in Portland, uh you know, get involved in Portland. Do so come on over. >> There you go. >> Come on over and play. >> That's what the sign says. >> That's what it says. Yes. >> So, bring your kayak and come on Saturday. >> we'll do it. And we're going to do some paddling Saturday. And get a life vest, please. >> Yeah, yes. >> Swimming, yes. Kayaking, no. >> Swimming, >> [laughter] >> All right. Uh anything else, Charles? >> No, I'm good. Have a great day. Thank >> right. Guys, thank you so much. Ladies and gentlemen, >> [music] >> that concludes this episode of the Town of Portland Board of Education podcast with our first [music] selectman, Mr. Ryan McEvoy, and our Superintendent of Schools, Dr.
046Charles Britton. So, for now, uh get out there, enjoy the weather. It's going to be great weather this weekend and >> [music] >> that is all. >> And be aware of supposed >> to be. And if you're thinking of me, don't be worried. Cuz I'm as happy as [music and singing] you are surely soon to see. And I say, "Come over. Come over. Come on over yourself." Yeah, I say, "Come over. [music] Come over. Come on over yourself."