001Are we just going >> To be live. All right. Good evening, everyone. It is 7:02, time to begin our regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. If you can. Thank you. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. >> All right. Good evening, everyone. It is 7:02, time to begin our regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Yeah, I think so. Is it Is it on? Okay. That was an interesting echo. Yep. >> A little slack. >> All right. So, I have good news and and I guess good news for tonight. Uh we have very few items on the on the meeting schedule for tonight. However, uh we only have one meeting in July. Um so,
002that second meeting will be packed full with a number of things. So, um just as an FYI. So, this tonight should be relatively quickly. Should be relatively quick. So, let's get started. Um agenda. Someone like to make a motion to accept the new agenda. >> the agenda. >> I'll I'll second that motion. >> All right. Further discussion. All those in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Thank you very much. >> Um so, no, so she is not here today to take minutes. The minutes are going to be taken um from the from the from the video as well as the notes we're taking here. So, again, and who second who who >> I second that motion. >> Jim and John second. >> John second. All right, J and J second. Excellent. Um The
003agenda, there are no changes on here as well. So, we're going to go forward on that. So, we we >> Wait a minute. I'm sorry. Back up. I >> Do we Do we accepted the agenda? >> I'm sorry. Excuse me. >> [clears throat] >> Excuse me, okay. Um so, the minutes from our last meeting, June 3rd, has everyone looked through those? >> Yes, and I >> Yes, too. >> Only one. >> Okay, and actually I have a I have a chat with you about that as well. >> Okay, so it says in the section of public comment, it said uh in Meg Scott's comment, it said inflation rate 43%. I believe that should be 4.3. >> Yes. >> Um and in the executive session number four item number 14, it is Joe McQuaid, not John
004McQuaid. >> Those are my comments. >> Got it. Thank you. Then you had something as well? >> Yeah, I do. It had um in the uh committee assignments, it had uh me with the uh on the zoning board of appeal, and really it's planning and zoning for me. It's planning and zoning. So, and also it had page 31. Um >> I just remembered that that's what I had to say. >> Okay. >> And then uh the other comment there was it had uh when we were talking about the mill rate increase, it Bobby Hedrick and I don't I don't want to speak for him, but I I know what he said. He didn't say I would uh I I would entertain anything over 200. He said, "I would entertain anything up to 200,000." >> actually
005saw saw that as well. >> And I I think he would want that corrected. >> Right, okay. Very, very good. All right, anything else? So, I have only one addition, and I'm going to ask the board if you want to do it now or later. Um we had we had um a resident of Portland reached out and had a question about how we had formed the school building committee, and asked whether um we could uh apply put on ex officio members to there that were unelected. So, I have checked with our town attorney. >> All set. >> And was that part of the minutes? >> Excuse me, yeah, let's do the minutes first, yeah. >> The only reason I'm going to say that is it's part of the minutes. So, in the minutes so we
006could either So, we have to adjust with that. We can do everything afterwards. >> We have to accept what was said. >> Yeah, we have to approve the minutes and then we have to and we can amend it with >> That's what I wanted to ask. So, I if you if everybody's okay, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes with the corrections noted by everyone here. Very nice. >> I'll second the motion. >> Okay, seconds. All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Excellent. Communication and correspondence. I have a Juneteenth proclamation as well as a Portland Stage Masters awards that were done um We can do two things at this point. If someone would like to read the proclamation >> I'll read it for >> That'll be wonderful. And
007John, if you need some help and want to pass it on to someone else, just look over and point when you're done talking. >> Proclamation Juneteenth. Whereas President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, declaring the slaves in Confederate territory free, paving the way for the passing of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States of America. And whereas the Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865 and the arrival arrival of Major General Gordon Granger's regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. And whereas one of the General Granger's first orders of business was to read to the
008people of Texas General Order number three, which began most significantly with {quote} The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer and quote. And whereas Juneteenth also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day combines the words June and 19th and commemorates the June 19th, 1865 announcement of abolition of slavery throughout the con- former Confederate States of America and has been celebrated by the African-American community for over 150 years. And whereas Juneteenth today celebrates African-American freedom and achievement with the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African-American history and
009culture while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. Now therefore be resolved that I Michael A. Pelton, First Selectman of the Town of Portland, Connecticut hereby proclaim June 19th, 2026 as Juneteenth Day in the Town of Portland, Connecticut and urge all citizens of become more aware of the significance of this celebration in African-American history and in the heritage of our nation, State of Connecticut, and Town of Portland. In witness whereof I do hereby set my hand and cause the seal of Portland to be affixed the 17th day of June in the year 2026. Signed Michael A. Pelton, First Selectman, Town of Portland. Signed Portland Board of Selectmen Andre J. L. Fonou, John H. Dillon, Robert W. Hetrick Jr., David J. Kuzminski, Vincent S. Petrillo, James K. Trip. All right. Thank you very much. I
010appreciate that. So, couple things for those that are around this weekend on Saturday, there will be a Juneteenth celebration at the Portland Middle School. If you can come if you can come there, that would be great. Last year's event was wonderful, a lot of vendors, a lot of great information and speakers. And Satur- on Friday, the high school is doing an event for Juneteenth at 1:00. I'll be there. I believe I'll be giving a talk at 1:00 at the track and they'll have other folks there as well. So, if you can make it down there, that would be great. Uh And again, a way to celebrate this very meaningful day. So, we appreciate that. Um the second part of the communications is something regarding the Portland Sage Masters Award. Now, about a week and a
011half ago, I attended a ceremony that Bo Doughty had put on. Bo Doughty is one of our photographers along with Chris Graham and and Michael. And uh the goal of that project over the last 2 months was to do a bird count in Connecticut. So, they did that. It was quite successful. They just They had over 75 different birds that they found. It was a wonderful It was a wonderful event and we celebrated the community coming together. A lot of the birds were found down at Wangunk Meadows, which is as I found out in talking to some of these many birders. I mean, people come from all over New England. Some from Canada to come down there. It's a very unique ecosystem with the river and the flooding that happens there. So, it creates a
012wonderful, you know, vibrant life life thing. So, it's It was wonderful. It was great. I'm not going to read all of these different awards, but I do want to thank Bo and Michael and Chris for all the work that they've done. They have publicized uh that themselves as naturalists over the last couple years with all the photos they've taken. And I think it's just again a small way that we've made we've made the town a better place. So, I want to thank them for all they do and Bo especially for helping put that together. Thank you. All right. Any public comments? >> Nick. >> That's a no. >> Anyone online? >> Mike, I just want to say congratulations to the class the senior class of 2026 uh graduated uh Monday night. They did a great
013job and uh uh congratulate all of the teacher staff and thank you for all you did, Mike. >> Where was graduation? >> So, it was down in uh it was down in Shelton at Sports Center. >> Okay. >> So, it was the first place I've been to that had two ice rinks, but not side by side, but one above the other. >> Wow. >> It was kind of it was kind of amazing. So, yeah, the kids were great. We had we had 50 I'm sorry, we had 60 kids, three chaperones. I think the class graduated 76 or 77 this year officially, but the kids were great. I've known most of these kids since they were younger and it's nice to see them grow up and and I just have a lot of fun. And as
014I've told people that have either done project graduation overnight, it's a neat thing to see at the end of the night these kids are sitting and they finally get tired and kind of get reflective and they all sit back and many of them get that look in their eye that this might be the last time they'll be around all of their friends, you know, before they go out to the world in jobs and Air Force and whatever they're going to do working. So, it was a it was nice and probably favorite part of the night, you know, and then they fall asleep in 2 seconds once they get on the bus. >> And I said at the Board of Ed meeting last night I I commented I thought it was great, but I said what
015was very cool and I think was a great idea was joining the class of 1976 walking down the aisle with them. I thought that was very very neat. >> I thought it was great. So, I I would be remiss thanking two of the other members that helped me on project graduation up until 2 days, 48 hours before this. I think I was the only one that was that was doing it. So, I want to thank Ryan Keaton who was there. Now, his he has a software in the senior and normally you don't you can't go if you have a senior that's graduating, but he was able to go because we needed that and he was wonderful. And Michael Laurin was there with Patrick and he was there as well. So, we had a great time,
016a lot of fun. I appreciated all their help. And I do want to thank the project graduation committee that put this together. They worked their butts off to make it happen. It is not cheap, but it is well worth it. I couldn't I can't speak highly enough about this and everyone involved in it. So, thank you very much for that. >> Great. >> It's wonderful. All right, so no comments or no comments online? All right. New business, I have no new business. Old business. Any appointments to committees? >> Not not on our side. >> I have no updates that will bring up to speed more on the updates. [clears throat] Nordic ski bus going good. Brainard Place, um I think just issued a CO today officially for the building a conditional one for the second
017apartment building back there. They've been working on that, but that one was issued um and that's the only update there. Um I guess River Access project we had our official grand opening since our last Board of Selectmen meeting on Saturday. Um I've got a bunch of pictures to get to you from there as well that you can download from that from that event, but um it was wonderful. We had We had to have had 130 people there, maybe more um that attended that. We had speakers, we had Norm, we had Christie, a number of others there. Um I I've got to give it to Lou and >> Bless Rick. >> Big one. >> So, I I got I want to give it to Lou and Rick for all the work they did to get this
018thing together and to put and put it It was amazing. Uh the committees that helped clean it up um and since then I've been down there every single day and people down there drinking their coffee, watching the river, fishing, etc. So, for again for a river, for a road and a parking lot, um it is a huge thing. And and with uh fireworks coming up I think little towns is the 26th of June. Uh that gate will be open and >> to be a hot spot. >> It's going to be a It's going to be a hot spot and I think you'll we'll have we'll have people down there to make sure that it it stays calm, but it it might be a perfect day for there, too. So, I know they're used to that,
019but I could be happy about that. >> I will say one other thing about that and this I again, I think the the leaders of that committee made a really good choice in having the Wampanoag tribal leader come and speak. >> It was wonderful. >> I think that was amazing and I know that uh it they were talking earlier about, you know, the bend in the river and that's that's what Wampanoag means. Um I I thought he was a very powerful speaker and it was just appropriate for the day. >> Yeah. >> It was a very very nice welcome. >> Absolutely. >> Start the benefit. >> And he And I'll tell you what they base I mean he just choked up a couple times but >> with and when he talked about Portland and how
020open we have been to tribal discussions and things over the years. I was kind of proud of this town. >> 100% 100%. I know also across the river there's a number of people in Middletown that know about it. And we know that because half the time I go down there is someone from Middletown that found it and they're sitting over there and relaxing. So So they too like the river access from across the river cycle. I think the last thing about that was neat was when the five kayaks pulled up. You know and and came from the river there and some of these guys had said they had done the entire Connecticut River all 412 miles of it. >> Well they they were diehards. >> The guy with the cedar strip kayak said he had
021already done five miles that morning before he pulled in. >> Oh, really? So So I have a bit of trivia for those at home and for us up here. So So how many how how many port stops there on the Connecticut River from where it originates up north to the exit on the Long Island Sound? How many times do you have to get out of a canoe if you had to if you were trying to go all the way down? >> Oh, god. >> The winner gets $5 from >> It's probably a lot. >> Like 10. He's saying 10. What do you What do we say on this side? >> I'll say about 15. >> You're 15? >> I have no idea. >> What do you say, you? >> 12. >> All right. Answer is
02213. >> Oh. >> That's all right. Yeah, Dave you were >> There are a lot of dams. There's a lot of old dams that are now kind of crumbled but you >> still got to get out. Still got to get out and get out. So I thought I found that interesting. Found that interesting. Anyways, so if anyone wants to volunteer to try that next summer. >> I've actually thought about it. >> [laughter] >> That was That was a longer delay than expected. So All right. So that's that. Nothing on the Airline Trail yet. We're still All these Anything I say we're still working on it behind the scenes but there's nothing notable that's happened. Same thing with the POCD. Water in town well that is progressing. They're they're on target. I'm going to ask I'm
023asking Jason to update his list of projects for us for the next week or so so you'll have that before our next meeting, but that is moving well. With regards to water, I've already reached out to Scott Jellison MDC. When we left it back earlier this year, we wanted to start the process certainly by the middle of this year, so he's aware he's responded back. I told him sometime in July we'd like to get that started, so I know Jim's been involved up until it now, but when we do have our next meeting up with anyone of the other members would like to either join in or participate or or provide input, you're welcome. I think it'll be it'll be it'll be a good process to go through. Um and again, I think we I
024think we need to get that settled sooner than later, so. All right. Um upgrades to WPC app, we're still working on the application and we have a list of things that need to get done, so we're trying to fine-tune that, but again, this board has to make a decision on what we do for funding for that, but we're gathering all the data so that we could make that decision. Status of committee status and committee reports. Let's start from my left. Anything on this end? >> Uh I actually don't have anything new. Anything new this evening. >> Um I went to the Board of Ed meeting last night and by their standards, it was actually a very short meeting. Um just a discussion topics. They talked about a highly successful graduation and wished all the students
025well. They noted that they had three resignations of a a secretary and two paraprofessionals are leaving for different things. Um they noted as we were actively involved in that both leases have been signed for the Main Street Transitional Program and the Shay Brook Reading. Um that the new teacher hiring is well underway. Uh and they are planning to do some kind of a Board of Education retreat like a one-day or a couple half-day retreat coming up soon. Um and then they went into executive session and I adjourned. Thank you. >> Interesting. >> Yeah. Um, I was at economic development last week I believe. Um, not a lot but they were reviewing as they do their business of the quarter and making that selection. One of the things that they have done which I think is
026interesting is that they reached out to the score. You know, that's the retired and score. I forgot what the acronym stands for. Do you any of you know? >> Okay. >> I think it's retired individual but anyway, to for business support programming. They want that they're going to help them put together a program on social media marketing for our businesses maybe later in the fall. So that's interesting and more will will come on that but they were just starting the preliminary talks on that. They also reviewed um, and this is more planning and zoning stuff and maybe Jen has an update when we get down there but just again went over for them certain certain zoning complaints updates related to middle housing and parking amendment. So he did go over that and they are going
027to be judging the of the flower garden stuff on the 24th >> Okay. >> of June. Um, >> 24th or 22nd? >> I have the 24th. Did it change? >> I I Alison >> It may be it did cuz I saw updated agenda. I So it's it's next week. Well, what the 24th is what day of the week? Next Wednesday. I think it is the 24th. >> Okay. >> But I we can double check. >> Yeah, no worries. >> Excellent. >> All right, beautiful. >> Yeah, back in the day there used to be we used to have the Aragona Business Alliance. And then we used to meet with the bacon guided store across the street and then guy they had a retired guy come over and talk to businesses. >> Yeah, this is definitely retired
028folks. The score is an acronym that I knew at one point. I'm I'm just it's escaping me right now. >> Uh it is it's it's well worthwhile. Especially with the you know, the social media climate and that that architecture out there it's you know, people are missing the boat if they don't. >> Yeah, I think people are are pretty interested in it. For sure. >> Sure. I'm going >> Do you have any updates on it? >> No. >> What about the Jersey Mike's for example? >> Jersey Mike's um they it's it's a franchise not a corporate store. So, they tend to run longer and they've gotten the they've got their permit approved for a while. >> Yeah, I know they're not doing it. >> Yeah, they haven't done anything yet. So, I don't have the
029reason why. I'll follow up on that but I think Dan and the rest of the gang wants to open as soon as possible. >> Uh the other thing too I was in talking with the mayor of town of South Hall yesterday. You were out and so forth. But I I I met with Dan uh on economic development and he showed me the uh the renderings of the streetscapes. Yeah. Okay, I was wondering if if he that could be shared with the Board of Selectmen. >> Sure. Sure. I'll get those out. Absolutely. >> you know, planning on making Main Street three lanes using diagonal parking and all that kind of stuff. >> So, yep. So, so I'll add a little bit to that. So, we've been talking to DOT about doing something with Main Street to
030try to give it a road diet. >> Yeah. >> Um am I talking loud enough? Is the volume okay at that end? Okay. Um so, we've talked about that for a while. I think 7-8 years ago it was attempted 19 2018 or 2019 in that time. And uh at some point it stopped. I think given the things that have happened and given the amount of of traffic that we're seeing with the development between one side of Main Street near you know, your broad of business and the other side where Grainne is. I think there's there's a need to look at that, but not only just for reducing speed on the road, but also for increasing the amount of parking spaces and just the whole look of the town. Um we had part of the sidewalk
031project was to renovate from Wal- Walgreens down to where the police station is. And we put that on hold and have diverted those funds somewhere else because we don't want to redo that and then come find out that we have to do something different like that. Now there's a couple things that potentially are things we have to pay attention to. Um the state because it's a state road, uh they also repave that road every 10 12 years, whatever the time is. Uh we don't know when they're going to repave it again. So we think it's going to be a couple years, two or three years. And if that's the case then, um that would be the timing of when we would want to do that. We wouldn't want to do a bunch of changes to
032the road now cuz once they redo it, we have to you know, restripe it and stuff, but it also gives us an opportunity to try something. So we know that they're going to repave the road let's say 6 months from now. Uh DOT has done this in other towns where they will change they will just re- repaint the lines. So it looks exactly how you want it once everything's done. You could try it for 6 months. They repave it and then let's say it's a successful thing, then that's how they would maybe repave it and do the side. So it's interesting, but they were very much in favor of doing something like with the amount of traffic we have on Main Street is about 8,000 cars uh versus about 29,000 on Route 66. So it
033has the right amount of traffic to allow for a road diet. Now I think we have to educate people in a in a way that we did with the school project. With people need to know the facts, how does it slow traffic, how does it impact uh parking, how does it affect business? There are more people able to you know, pull up and and do business with some someone on Main Street. Uh how how is it with traffic with with foot traffic or or car traffic? Um for example, they have walkways that are raised walkways that act as a speed hump, but also slow traffic down. Uh if If go to Middletown, you'll notice that they have the walkway start about one lane in. >> Mhm. And then the walkway starts, so it's safer for
034the walker, and it also slows traffic down there as well. So, there's a lot of tricks that they do to make the traffic less So, it's not just going from four lanes to center changing lane and then a single lane either way. There's other things that they can do, but I I will tell you they're they're very much in favor of they're pushing that where they can, just like they're pushing traffic circles because it's a safer design. It almost It also roundabouts. Um so, it it's a safer design. It does a lot more, so I don't want to put that. So, that's looking at All right. So, we're wait The The status is we're waiting on when they're going to repave it because we also have to look at if we have to do any
035kind of pipes underneath the road. We have to do any kind of changes there. We want to do it before that, exactly. So, but now's the time to start looking at the design. DOT's already started with the preliminary design, so they'll provide stuff to us. I know the POCD he's also looked at the design. They've done some renderings there, so it's worth the discussion. This and traffic cameras and the idea of kind of slowing people down by by making sure that they're aware of it and enforcing speeds are things that I think we'll be talking about and we're starting the process at the July meeting and then continuing on. So, we have a lot of big things to talk about. This is one of them. >> Yeah. >> I think you said there's also the
036renderings of the 110 E um hotel down in the middle of town that I I think now, so >> So, there's a lot of things and and I'm looking forward to the official um official proposal for the POCD in terms of what it looks like because it's it's taking into account all of the big factors that we need and what's happening now is a direct result of the POCD that was done 10 years ago, 2016, so um so, it it's a good blueprint for what we do as a town, so um anyway, good point. >> Yeah, I want to share that. Be great. >> 100%. All right. Vinnie. >> Okay, um >> [clears throat] >> I was uh I was asked if I would uh be a BOS liaison to the Conservation Committee. So, I
037attended. >> Smart. >> Okay, good. >> And uh so, I went to the first meeting. It's a small group. Uh and but what some of the conversations we got into cuz they're they're very uh strategic. Unlike the planning and zoning, which, you know, in any given night, you have people waiting to speak and but one of the discussions that we got into was uh on the POCD, what do we do to make sure that this 10-year vision all the steps that we're taking along the way are satisfied. And I just kind of shared a, you know, the strategic plan that I had and which we probably all had when we were working. And uh it was uh uh no offense, Tim, you're still working. >> I'm I'm I'm I'm working. >> Yeah, you're working hard
038again, Tim. But uh one of the things we I said was that, you know, we do we did create it a strategic plan, but then we reviewed it every year, you know, and there were some things that maybe you said didn't make sense, but at least we reviewed it. And one of the things is that the uh uh conservation committee, specifically Rebecca S. Amey, the chairperson, she's going to be reporting back to planning and zoning specifically on POCD. They had asked her and her committee to come back with. One of the things that she's going to present is a vehicle at the end of how do they report out and how do they make sure that we pulse it? Is it a, you know, the planning and zoning chairperson, he comes and he kind of
039goes through the five or six major milestones of where we should be one year in, how are we doing? Is it a report out to this group? I don't know, but she is actually going to present that as a way of making sure that whatever the POCD is, what the output is is that we actually look at it and it's being pulsed on a yearly basis or whatever frequency they decide on. But that's that's it. >> Thank you, Ben. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um actually, I would like to ask the board to allow an adjustment to the agenda. I'd like to add to the agenda for our next meeting to talk about the discussion of the resolution that we did to make a modification or change to the resolution regarding
040the school building committee. Is that appropriate at this point at this point? >> We posted the agenda. >> I know we can do that. We've also we've also amended it at the at the board of the board of the board can amend the agenda. >> Well, I'll tell you what, why don't we why don't we cover it and my suggestion would be let's cover it in um I I would think we would probably cuz I don't know if anybody else would want to weigh in on that. So somebody might want to right we might want to have it posted so we don't have anybody. So I would say why don't we talk about it um >> general information >> general general discussion and then we can always if we want to make a change post
041it and do it next time. >> That's how I can get comment. That's okay. And we'll do we'll do the vote next time. Whatever change we Okay, that's fine. >> That way that way it's not a >> I just want to make sure. All right, very nice. Um public comment. No, okay, good. All right. General discussion. So let me let me start with this. So we uh we recently I was recently approached and the question was raised whether when we uh did the resolution before whether we could um appoint non-elected officials as ex-officio non-voting members to the committee. And I thought it was a good question. I checked with our with our attorney. They said um you probably you probably should the charter says specifically that should be elected officials should be electors in the
042town. So what our attorney suggested and what we'll discuss next time is instead of ex-officio non-voting members um the suggestion was non-voting advisory participants. And this is for as a reminder for the director of finance or his or his or his designate, myself, who is ex-officio member of every committee. So I don't need to be in there but it's in there. A board of education chairperson and superintendent of schools or designated designated. So or designated, excuse me. So, um so that's the discussion I want to have next time. Uh it was brought up. We've looked into it. I think we I think we have a solution to it, but it's something that it's worth discussing. And my point in bringing up today is that um you know, we we're not perfect. Sometimes there will be
043a mistake, and I appreciate when someone points it out cuz if it is legitimate, we want to take care of that cuz we want to make sure that we are doing everything by the rules the way it should be done, etc. >> Point of clarification. What was the issue raised? That the the ad hoc members need to be elected officials. >> According to our charter >> They need >> I just read it to them. You go ahead. Just for the record, I'd like to clarify >> Oh, oh no, but and and I would point it it's >> The term ex officio >> Ex officio is a very specific term. It means by virtue of an office. So, uh because of that, it had it like I can appoint someone that's an elected official to an
044office ex officio, but it uh by a by our charter section 401, it does not specifically say you can. Now, our attorney had mixed feelings about >> But only but can I just add because I I read this myself as well, and I have comments on it. Um Board of Selectmen members, the charter's the ex officio can only come out of Board of Selectmen members. So, I think the question was not only about non-elected officials, it was questioning the Board of Education chair as well. If I'm reading through the lines of what the concern was. >> So, so I will distill everyone will have a copy of the issues and whatnot more clearly. Uh but that was the issue on that. So, again, we want to make sure it's it's it's everything makes sure board.
045And it it the answers can come from a number of people. So I'm glad people are paying attention, right? >> Right. I just what this lends to in my view when you go to it because you could interpret So I get that interpretation and I don't disagree with it. But I also say that you can interpret that that is related to boards and this is where we get into very muddy water with our and another reason why the charter needs to be updated because when we start forming these quote-unquote committees, they're not boards. >> Right. >> So there is a distinction and we've had several issues that have come over the years. We've gotten into the political arena on it that committees are different than the boards that have to be filled. So So it
046lends to that. So to me you almost could interpret that it only speaks to boards and it's not speaking to the committee, but I think you are better because as far as I'm concerned, I just want to make sure because there in no way would I want to see a school building committee that doesn't include and an advisory capacity, our superintendent, our finance director, and our Board of Ed chair. >> As as it as our as our attorney said clearly, we can we can as a body have whoever we want on there. Just how we how we label it. >> phrase it in the resolution and I think that was the concern. >> That was it. Exactly. And there's And there's different interpretations of the of the charter as well in terms of how it
047can be interpreted whether it's exclusive or inclusive. So there's a lot of nuances, but by our next meeting though, we will have an official legal explanation and you'll have all the details. So I just want to bring that up because it it came to my attention this week and I wanted to make sure you guys were filled in and informed. >> So I think we want to make sure there's no gray area. >> 100% >> So I read this thing and honestly, it's I I I I'll be honest, right? I read this thing like five times. I read the the the letter that we received. I I still don't get it. So I'm glad we're going to go through it in detail. >> Right. Yep. I think especially since this committee is going to be
048charged with doing a big project for a long period of time. >> Oh, to have any questions. >> multi-year project, so we got to get it right. >> I just want to make sure it's exactly. And if we learn something from this, then that's great. But that way it it lends to to the clarity. So >> Agreed. >> All right, beautiful. Um no public comment. Any more informal discussion? >> Yes. >> Well, go ahead. >> I was just going to ask for clarification. Go ahead. >> Um So a couple things. I think I brought up maybe at the last meeting. I don't know that are we dissolving the strategic capital improvement committee? >> I brought that up before. >> So I think we have to do that soon. >> Yeah, okay. >> Um and maybe
049we're going to talk about it so you can um say wait a minute, but I I mean I thought I heard at our last meeting when the charter revision thing came up again that we needed time to review and John suggested that everybody go home and review it before the next meeting, which in fact I did. But but but we have no item that we're discussing that. So maybe we're going to get to that in 12. >> It'll >> number 12 >> What we're doing we're not going to discuss it till you would have been an item as an active item. We're going to be we still are pricing out and getting the the parameters of that. The meeting that we're going to have in July we will kick off if we'll kick everything off
050with the charter revision that. >> Right, and that's fine, but I think for these selectmen I don't think it it hurts anything for us because to John's point that we're a little bit because we keep coming back and say, "Well, now we need to go back." So it every time we do that, it's just more time. I know that we need the parameters around it and the cost and that the minute we put it in motion, we have the 30 days. So we have to be very careful, but I think we have to get in and and that was a good exercise in your letter that you received and also so much more clarity needs to go into that charter in the the places. So I did personally spend some time looking at it and
051I think we all should be prepared so we can hit the ground running. >> Yeah, and I'll second that to you. I mean I've gone through the charter numerous times over the last year because something comes up, issue like this today, and I'm clarifying and getting and getting clarity from from not only attorneys but also from other charters. So, we have a lot of work to do there. I already have my list of things that I would change and modify in there or think would be good a good idea. But it's up to the charter >> Make that the agenda item for the next July meeting to go through that cuz again as I said the last meeting I think to hand a charter committee that book and just say go for it. We need
052to give them some guidance, some areas that we think are are important. They certainly can find others but I think we need to give them some guidance. >> Sure a lot of us will have similar similar things and especially you know any of us that have experienced trying to use it in other ways that we have to interpret absolutely. Yeah. >> Yeah, I agree with Andrea cuz it's like >> I did I did what you did. I I did I was I thought we were going to you know but I think the sooner we start so what noodling on this the better we're going to be. >> So I'm going to I'm going to add something we just said we both just said. So, we could start discussing some of the things that you noticed
053on there now when it comes to that because I think I'd love to see even just like one of the ideas that you had by looking at it that you would suggest and that'll I think wet the interest of people that may be paying attention now as the things that we're we're looking at. So, we're we're almost there. If you choose to if you have something you want to say about it, I think that's worthwhile but then the next when the next meeting I think we're all in >> As long as we're prepared that's what I most you know I didn't there were some very I just think that from a global I'll just talk at a high level. I I think about it. Right now we showed clearly that example um especially the when
054it comes to the boards, commissions, committees the distinction between those, what those mean. Um I think there's a lot of stuff in there that goes to in also in that arena, the the political nature of it in boards where you have to have majority representation, but we need to be thinking about the fact that 40% of the voters in Portland are unaffiliated voters. And it really always speaks to these and so say, you know, the the Republican Party puts an unaffiliated um person into a position or the Democrat or suggest that a selectman do it, but make those suggestions. It it's very muddy in the charter like who's in the 45 days because who who actually put them there and we lose track of that. When it's a Democrat or Republican, fine, but if it's
055a and we have plenty of unaffiliated voters and we should be seeking unaffiliated voters from 40% of the >> Absolutely. >> to be on boards and commissions. So, I there's a lot of work that I see that that could go um around that. Um what else did I have? Yeah, well, I saw an interesting thing that that that I think that we don't do now that maybe and I know that we're changing it, but I I think that this is something that makes sense to me. I think we've we've broached this subject before. In section 402, it currently states that the Board of Selectmen once a year um within a month of annual audit, so that calls a general meeting of the chairs of all town boards and other town officers to coordinate activities. I
056would love to see that. I I have never seen that happen. And it says clearly Now, maybe the charter gets away with it, but that those are the kind of things like not only are we finding things that need to be updated, but we're finding things that maybe were that would be productive to us that aren't even happening. So, I saw that. You know, then I saw things like you know, in a section of jury committee. I have no idea what that is. So, there there are titles of things that that don't even exist. Um there was that. There was um I think the sections around town meetings and public hearings are are not clear. I think all of us walked out of this last time when we had like five public hearings and five
057town meetings and we were saying the same thing in each one and understanding the need um and maybe we have to do it that way, but it needs to be defined better why we like I mean I was part of it, but it it's I think it's it's very confusing to the public um as well. Um >> I agree, Andrea. I think, you know, just for purpose of, you know, looking at maximizing and consolidating, maybe we have duplications of all these committees that we can >> You know, some of it's going to be driven by Connecticut General Statute, which some of that is like old from, you know, I don't know when pilgrims were, you know, roaming the earth, but You know, but honestly, um so some of it is driven and we all know
058that that we're driven that way, but but that it just needs to be um it needs to be clearer. And, you know, just think some things are called things that they aren't called now. So, there is a lot and obviously we're talking about something that hasn't been updated in 20 20 22 years. So, >> going to contradict to your statement at 4:02. I'm just reading it again. I hate to use the word enforce. That's the wrong word. But maybe one of the things we can suggest to them is to find a way within the charter to add language that ensures that where certain entities are supposed to do something pursuant to the charter, how do you ensure that they do? Right. >> Yeah. >> You know? Cuz that's a I mean I you just reading
059that and I've read this half a dozen times and I've always missed that point. But calling together the group, we've said this many times. We wait till the end of the of a of a year to do all of our fiscal work. But this is an opportunity to regroup everybody right after you've done that and have a very meaningful conversation. >> Sure. >> Right. And it lends to it because we talked about why you know, it goes back to that conversation about why we had more some committees were standing at the podium before it's like once a month and others we've never you know, we don't hear I know we're liaisons to all that but but the chair's responsibility of coming in and like you said we regroup and that that the board of selectmen
060is giving some sort of guidance that of of the expectations um of those groups. So Um I mean there's more and I was still working on it but those are just some of the high-level things for me anyway. Ben, I don't know if you saw some other >> Yeah, so I kind of I I'm actually going through my thing here checking off a lot a lot of the same items. Uh basically it's the the bureaucracy of kind of some of the things that we have seen, you know, reading the same stuff over and over. Um the even that uh section 402, that report, even that says it it kind of even if we try to do it it says within 30 days of the audit. So it becomes So how are you going to get
061all these people in within 30 days? >> Right. I mean that makes it easy. It doesn't have to be that defined but it it should happen but let's not define >> Absolutely. And then uh >> Yeah. >> And then uh section 4 412 which is the revi- revi- revisiting the whole you know, 20 20% rule in in chapter 4 and in section 1204 on you know, borrowing. Right? I mean I think that's all got to get looked at. I think between what we're what we're talking about and then once everybody you know, comes in with their notes I think if we could just kind of get it into like five or six bullets of areas like without specifically rattling off the section number and maybe that's what we want to do. >> Right. And I
062think we may want to add things that haven't been in there, right? There's there might be things missing. >> I'm sure there's other municipalities that have had charter commissions more recently than us. But I know that the the there's going to have to be almost a whole new chapter added on electronic media and electronic device usage and all that kind of stuff. That would be something that you we could just say in general this is this is a concern you should address. But I'm thinking that they don't need to necessarily reinvent the wheel. They could reach out to another charter commission that has some language and borrow it. Right? >> Agreed. And I saw some of the names that were in the previous charter revisions. Good people. >> Yeah. >> And also and some repeat
063people, right? Which that's kind of important. >> Knowledge base. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> And and they took it seriously when they did this from what I've heard, right? They they took this in >> Well, no one just reading the names these these >> Well, yeah. >> like good people. >> I think and I think it's important that you know, for people that have have at least you know, kind of a general like how the town runs and you know, the stuff that's in here um being a part of that committee. So Yeah. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that we were you know, So so I think >> talking about >> I think between now and our next meeting if there's not there's no reason why we can't share amongst ourselves um the
064ideas that we have so we can collect it up. But I think by the time we hit our next meeting we should have we should thoroughly have a list of everyone's ideas that they have so we can get solidated and and work on it. >> I don't want to make a lot of work for us and I don't want to I don't want to burden the volunteers. But in the electronic version of this I think it might be very a good user's tool and easy for the the commission that that we put together to just go through and every one of these sections where we think there could be a change, just add you know, go into whatever you call it um Google >> Google Docs and just add a note in the column. So,
065they can go right through immediately and and speak to our concerns at their very first meeting and and have a place to go. >> Well, listen, some of you are probably better at Google Doc Google Docs than I am, but if I >> Ben is, I heard. >> But if we create a Google Doc that all of us on the board have an ability to go in there and put our own notes in each one of those. So, we have one place where they're all put. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> That makes sense? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'll coordinate with you. Okay, good. So, >> I was just teasing, but he was just talking about Google the other day. I'm not >> Well, it's funny that it's Google Docs and >> I'm a Word guy,
066too. >> I'm a Word girl, but >> We're not judging. >> as well. >> So, so let's create one Word. We'll get that digital form in the document. >> Maybe Word for now for so forth. >> I think again we have to be careful about that. If we've got a document that we're all contributing to >> Right. >> like that, we got to be careful that we're not doing a digital meeting. >> Digital meeting, okay. >> I I will confer with with our legal to make sure. >> Yeah, or just everybody bring their I think just everybody bring their information to the next meeting. We talked about it. >> Right. >> And I honestly I think the the purpose of these meetings is so the public can see what we're doing. >> Right. >> See
067the process. >> And if if a lot of the the work that we're doing is done on the side and we just come in and talk about our final document, they're not understanding the logic behind how we got where we are. >> I think that's fair. How we got here? >> Yeah. >> And how we come to a consensus, I think is important. I agree. >> Okay. >> And so, everyone's got their homework. Let's work on that. >> Yeah. >> Very nice. Um we can make that the for our July meeting, that can be our >> Yeah. >> our agenda item. >> I know that that'll Yeah, that'll be on there. So, it's kind of interesting though, right? There's like 47 pages and you know, Andrea and I we just basically kind of zeroed in
068on kind of the same stuff. Right. Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> Yeah, well, you know, >> some of it's glaring, so. >> Yeah. >> I think that's the value of this board looking at it. I mean, it's sort of the operator's manual. So, we've got to we all see where we run into the same problems. >> 100% All right. Um follow-up items, ethics ordinance. Um we we we we we'll be pursuing that soon, but not yet. Charter revision, which we have discussed. Uh that's all I have. Anything Anything else for me to say? >> I make a motion. >> Dave makes a motion to adjourn. Who's seconding it? Seconded by Andrea. All those in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. We adjourned at 7:47.