Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting 6/3/2026

001All right, good evening everyone. It's now 7:03. My apologies for the 3-minute delay. We just finished a busy 2 hours. I'd like to call this meeting to order and please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. That was That was an exciting 2 hours, sir. All right, um I have no specific changes to the agenda. The only comments are Actually, no, just one change. The resolution 8A I'm sorry. 8B I am now moving that down to 14A. >> 8B to 14A. >> Okay. >> It'll be after executive session. So, I'd like to move it 8B to 14A. But then we'd like to make

002a motion. >> I'll make a motion to adopt um the agenda as amended. >> And I'll second that. >> John seconds it. Further discussion? All those in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? Abstention, motion passes. Thank you very much. Um everyone should review the May 20th minutes. Anyone have any comments, omissions, any mistakes on there? I've reviewed it. I found none. Vinnie, anything at your end? >> Nope. >> All right. >> I'll make a motion we accept the minutes as written. >> Wonderful. Second? Vinnie seconds. All those in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? Abstention, motion passes. Thank you very much. Communications and correspondence. We just have a few of these. We are Every month we get the updates from the City of Middletown, their central communication uh center for the month of May, police department received

003369 calls. The total for the year is 2,054, an average of 411 calls a month for the police department. A little bit quieter in the month of May. Um Portland fire department received 66 calls through the central communication center in Middletown. Their average is 68, so about the same. Uh total number of calls uh from from Portland into the 911 was 220. Average is 210 per month. So. That is the update from the communication center. Uh one note, uh we are we're coming up on the last of a 3-year contract with them. We'll need to we'll need to look at that next year, but they handle the calls for Portland uh for the surrounding towns. They do a nice job for us. Uh their total calls in typical month are approximately 20 So I'm sorry,

0047,600 total calls in that station every month. 2,427 911 calls. So, they get a lot of calls down there. So, that is good. We appreciate all of their help. Uh and I see we have the police here. Uh we have asked our officers to get out there and do more traffic stops. Uh several selectmen have have suggested that uh we need to have more visibility. Uh in a 7-week period from April 1st to May 25th, uh the officers did specifically 134 traffic cops uh traffic stops, excuse me. They were traffic cops as well. Uh that averages out to about 20 a week that they're out there doing. So, that number is a little bit a little bit ahead of the month to date previously. Um I have a copy of this that I'll provide to

005everyone at the end. I would have emailed today, but I didn't want to throw too much at everybody. So, this is specifics. Arrest logs for the month of May, there were 14 arrests that our police officers did. Some months are more, some months are less for a variety of different ones. That is all posted on their uh on the website for the police. Brett residents can go there and check it out. An extra copy for everyone. The case incident report, these are total number of stops outside of vehicle stops for the month of May was 475. Total stops or total calls by our police department including EMS and others. So, variety of calls, that's for the month of May. That is typical of a month that ranges between 450 to 500 in that range. So,

006that is all the stops with our 13 officers. So, all that information will be brought will be brought provided to everyone via email if you have not got it already. I have extra copies up here for the board to look at later on if they would like to bring some of those home. Uh reminder also, um we have a Riverbend Landing event this Saturday morning. Um I have some brochures up here that were sent to me as well. I'll give it to everyone up here. We can pass it around. All of you are invited as well as the residents in town to this this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. There will be ribbon cutting for the Riverbend Landing project. Um we do have a shuttle bus going back and forth or you can walk from the

007parking lot at Airline Avenue all the way down there, but the weather looks good. I encourage everyone to come. It's going to be a great thing. I will be out on my kayak that day perhaps with my wife and others. So, I encourage people to come down there. That would be great. And the only other thing I will bring up is uh the school referendum passed recently. We'll be setting up a committee today, but I have received a number of emails and calls and letters uh thanking this board for doing the work to get the word out for that. I want to thank the residents of town uh that have voted for it. I also want to acknowledge to those that voted against it cuz I've gotten a few calls from there as well concerned

008about taxes that uh we appreciate their voice. Um you know, the vote passed significantly, uh but we will pro we promise to be good stewards of the funding and tonight's uh action will require us uh setting up a school building committee which will be tasked with doing that. So, for those that voted, thank you. For those that voted no, um I can assure you that we will be paying attention and I hope that you will too out there. Attend meetings, watch the minutes, and ask questions and participate in the next 5 years. It's a long time to get it done, but we have grand goals and I think we can put together a great committee to get it done. So, those are the only communications I have that I wanted to bring up. Now, we

009have public comment now. Before we go into that, I want to remind those that want to talk about the the mill rate that we'll be setting tonight. We will not be able to go back and forth during that time when we're talking about it up here amongst the board. So, any comments or suggestions you want to tell us about that in particular, now would be the time. Otherwise, you'll need to wait until the public comment at the end of it, but by that time we will hopefully we will have voted on what the mill rates would be. So, I just want to actively encourage people that if they have comments where they want something that the board knows about that particular subject or really anything else that we're going to be covering, now is the

010time to do that. So, anyone has any comments or or any comments right now going forward. Please, just go up to there. Say your name and your address and then speak clearly cuz that's pretty loud over there. So, good to see you, Steve. >> Hey, Mike. My name's Steve Marcus. I still live at 48 Summer Street. I'm of the opinion that the supplemental funding that's going to be received in the state should be dedicated to lowering the mill rate. The mill rate goes up every year. I think also some consideration down the road should be given to the seniors that are in this town only because we've been here for decades and it gets more and more expensive to live every year. And I know that there are towns in this state that freeze taxes

011once a senior reaches a certain age. Walkit, for instance, does it when they're 70 years old. So, in your future deliberations, I think that would be something that I would welcome you discussing to see how feasible it might be. Thank you. >> Thank you, Steve. That's That's a good suggestion. >> Rick Shara, 168 Middle Haddam Road. I agree with Steve. Um I think that other than then I don't know the specifics of the budget that passed, um but other than something that you had to take out of there, um uh I would maybe give consideration to using some of this state appropriation to cover some sort of budget shortfall that you might feel is extremely necessary, but other than that, I think this is pretty much found money, and it should go back to the

012taxpayers. And um also along with Steve says, you know, we have I'm glad that the school new school uh referendum passed. I think that was needed, but I think we also have to keep in mind that we basically have declining school enrollment, and we have increasing elderly people or non-school people. And you know, one of the reasons I fought so hard to get a new park in town is because I felt the older folks this this gives the older people some recreational opportunities. Um you know, we even even us old farts in our 70s can still get in a canoe or kayak, most of us, or like to go fishing and dip our feet in the water. So, I'm just trying to in in the large picture, let's think about continuing to do things for

013the rest of the population now that we've I hope uh covered the need of our youth with the new schools coming on and the new new recreation park that we opened a few years ago. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Rick. Thank you, Rick. Oh, yeah, please. >> Uh Judy Grippo, 10 Middle Haddam Road, Moodus. Um I was at the last meeting and I just want to reiterate what I had um brought up last meeting. I 30 32% of the population in town passed the board uh the education school uh funding and um so, that's going to take into young people with children, uh seniors like myself, oh, I hate to say it, um and everybody in between. There were a lot of us that supported the schools. But, we also need some tax relief

014and you know, it was brought up by the superintendent last meeting, health insurance costs for the schools, uh gas prices for the schools. Well, townspeople also have been impacted by gas prices, health insurance, groceries. Um I think it's a little bit disingenuous to say that the school um budget should be made whole, quote unquote, from last meeting when the townspeople need to be made partially whole, I think. So, I hope that this board will have the courage and the fortitude to take that money and put it towards lowering the tax rate, the mill rate for this year, because we know in the future we will be having an increase because of the school renovations, which 32% of the town voted for. And that's great. And that's my that's my spiel. Thank you. >> Thanks a

015lot, Judy. Absolutely. >> [clears throat] >> I'm Mary Pelton, 124 Mary Pelton, 124 Eisen Glass Hill Road in Portland. And I'm going to echo a lot of what Judy said. Um the townspeople came together, they answered the call and your plea to increase not to increase, but to pass that budget referendum for the schools. The budgets had already been set by the time you had notification of this money and were agreed to by the Board of Education and the town of Portland by you by you specifically. So, the idea is that the people answered your call and delivered what you asked for. We're asking for a little bit of a break ourselves. Um feel it's the mill rates you tried the hardest to keep it as low as possible, but it's still an increase. And

016as Judy said, all of our expenses are going up. We all have our own expenses that we have to cover and it's not like we can ask other people to pay our bills because we want something extra. We have to do without, we have to sacrifice. Um having it come back to the mill rate, in my opinion, is a good act of faith and a reinvestment into the people that you are trying to serve. >> Thank you. >> I'm Meg Got a 5 Freedom Way. Um, I would like to just advocate for I want to give you a little history lesson. When this whole process started at the LOB back in February, a group of people including superintendents, board members, um, teachers, union members and and a very large number of stakeholders wanted the legislature,

017the education committee to fix the funding, the basic foundational funding for school um, pupil per pupil expenditures for schools. And because it had not been changed since 20 or 2013, we were always getting in Portland $11,250 per student. We spend between 21 and 22,000 dollars a year per pupil in in Portland. That's our budget and that's what that's approximately what we spend according to the EdSight the Department of Education database. $11,250 in in 2013 might have bought 1100 11,250 dollars worth of of resources and school supplies and and what we needed teachers. The inflation rate from 2013 to 2026 was 43%. So when the group of people met at the Connecticut Association of Board of Educations, we said we need $16,000 from the state in our districts every year per student with an index to

018look at the inflation rate. That would have been very satisfactory and we wouldn't be having this discussion tonight. Unfortunately, the governor had a better idea and that was to allocate money for municipalities who are struggling with budgets and school districts which are who are struggling with budgets because of health insurance costs and benefits. Unfortunately, our budget doesn't doesn't include you know, $22,000 is including all of the overhead expenses for teacher salaries and all the things that go on in a in a building. It's not just resources, it's not just books and and and whiteboards and computers. So, at the end of the day um I would would like you to honor the allocation that was given. 2/3 was given to educational supplemental educational funding and a third of it was going to be given to

019um to the the the town to ameliorate the tax burden on on taxpayers. And the other thing I would remind you is that if you lower your tax rate and you and reduce it, next year that money may not be there for towns to do the same and you may be in a less and you may have a cliff coming forward in the in the years to come because this year you would lower the tax rate bring in less revenue and not have that revenue next year. So, you'd be making up the difference and I think you know, math is math is math, but I think um if we could come to a compromise on how we could split that $590,000 which is a windfall. I Look, nobody expected that kind of money. Um but

020I'd like to see us at least um not going into 27 the 27 school year with a 200,000 deficit. So, um I think I'm urging everybody to be fair and and do the compromise and I'm a senior myself, so I get it. I I do get it and thanks Rick for the park. >> I appreciate that. >> Thanks, Meg. I appreciate it. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. I'm Laurel Steinhauser, 56 Prospect Street, and I have the privilege of serving as the chair of the Board of Education. And I wanted to start I mean, I will echo some of what Meg said, but I wanted to start by just expressing gratitude to the state for the 528,000 in supplemental education funding that they are sending to Portland, and to echo Meg's reminder that that funding

021is coming to us because of a lot of hard work that happened over the last uh 5-6 months and and earlier. I mean, really this is years in the making, right? This is years of advocacy work um by by members of Boards of Education, by First Selectman and Mayors, um by our own advocacy organizations, um Mike and I were up testifying at the Capitol this year, um and and so this is this this really does represent the work of a lot of individuals trying to speak with one voice about what our communities need, and the message was really clear to the legislature that um that we are that the that the legislature's commitment to education funding has been lagging. That that the fact that they have not updated uh the base calculation for the education

022cost-sharing formula since 2013 means that an ever-growing chunk of education funding is shifting to local taxpayers. Um and so the message was really clear that we need more support for public school funding, and we need relief for our taxpayers. I wish that the solution they came up with had been clearer. I wish that there had been more clarity in how they said to use this funding. I wish they had updated the ECS formula and not pushed it off till next year or the year after. Um instead what we got was a commitment of a significant chunk of money with two purposes. That money was established to supplement education funding and provide relief to strapped school budgets and to provide relief to taxpayers. And the legislature in their wisdom said, here's money, it's for these two

023purposes, have at it. And it creates a really unfortunate scenario that pits boards of education against boards of selectmen or against communities and it's happening across Connecticut and I want to be clear that that's not a scenario that I think should be or needs to happen in Portland. Um because I I think we all want the same thing. I want I think we want strong schools and I think we want to see real tax relief for our for our taxpayers. Um my ask tonight um is that we honor what the funding was initially intended to do. To provide some support for strapped school budgets and to provide some relief to taxpayers. And so I am asking that you consider uh a split of the supplemental education funding and allow the Board of Education to begin

024the next school year um in a solid position. As you all know and hopefully as our community understands our board had to set a budget before our um insurance contracts were settled. So the the ask we came to the town with did not account for an additional, you know, nearly $150,000 in health insurance costs. Um and we didn't go back as a board and adjust our ask to you. We came forward transparently and said this is the situation we're in. The Board of Selectmen as part of your process cut 50,000 in addition to that from the Board of Education's request. So, we are in a situation where if we don't make up for that $200,000 gap, we will have to make some significant cuts beyond the many things we already cut in order to get

025the budget to the position it was in. We will be looking at cutting staff. That's really the only way to manage a cut of that size. So, if you are able to do what the legislation has asked us to do and provide those provide both support for our school budget and relief for taxpayers, that would allow us to manage that $200,000 hole that we have as well as to bring back a K-6 teaching position that we had to eliminate in a in what was very very difficult budget deliberations. That would make a big difference if we can keep that position in district, not increase class sizes in our second grade. I think, you know, that's our hope and that's my job to advocate for um for the needs of our district and of our students.

026And so, that's my ask for you all and thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you, Laurel. Would anyone like to say something during public comment? Sure. You have something. >> Jennifer Telone, 27 Church Street. Um I'd like to echo um Mary Pelton uh as she said it way more eloquently than I did uh that I will or would. Um but I do feel that the tax break that taxpayers definitely need a break. Um it's been it's been quite some time now and um so, yeah, I think that the the money should be to use to lower the mill rate. Why is it not working? >> [laughter] >> You didn't hear what? >> Look behind you. >> What is it? >> Raise your hand. >> Julio's hot spot. >> Oh, Julio. Julio wants to >>

027High five him. >> There you go. I guess Julio wants to say something. All right. Julio. >> Hey guys, Michael Hernandez, 71 Stewart Hill Road. Um I'm just going to keep it short and sweet. Um I'm agreeing with what the first couple of speakers had said. I think Portland deserves a break. Uh some kind of relief and this is a great opportunity to do it. You've already set the budget for the school year. And I couldn't agree more with the first four speakers today. So, I just want to put my two cents in. Thanks, guys. >> Thanks, Michael. >> Thanks, Mike. >> All right. Is there anybody else online, Nick? That wants to say something? All right. Well, there'll be another public comment at the end of the meeting as well if you haven't gotten

028out what you want to say. But with that, let's go on to the next one. Tom Robinson, finance report. Everyone has their copy? >> Yes. >> So, good evening, board. So, I wanted to start on the budget revenues. Um looking at the uh the first uh few >> Tom, you're >> It's a little bit louder, I'm Well, it's it's loud over there, that's why. >> machine >> What should I Try Try to turn that off for a couple minutes, that might make it easier. >> No, it'll be all right. I I can talk louder if you want me to talk louder. >> I I I know you have volume. So, we're looking here at uh the property tax um return property tax revenue here for prior year account 0100000011. Um looking between that uh 12

029and 13. Um those are the ones of prior year and interest. So, we're slightly over um the uh amount that we had budgeted, so that's our positive things that we had uh >> Thanks. >> that we had gone after. Um also uh with the uh the stru supplemental uh motor vehicle has been coming uh s- uh slightly better than we'd expected, so that's a positive as well. And um the 01000000101 educational cost sharing um that one we're we've uh we're going to get it $44,000 less than um we had expected. Uh 16,000 was uh 16,618 was related to the budget uh that we had approved. Uh it came the uh the governor had lowered the expectation on that money um af- before we had set the mill rate or after we had set the mill

030rate, so that was uh so that 16,000 was a number that we had uh that we just weren't ever going to get once uh you know, they changed the budget after we had already done our process. And then um there was about 27,688 of ECS and excess cost adjustments. Those are things that are normal that occur just on change in what in reporting or in cost of people leave district and and things of those things we have to you know deal with annually. Um the thing to the the 16 is a little different than normal. Normally we have the number that we have adjusted initially and then it we just have to worry about those adjustments but uh uh they adopted the budget the the governor's budget came out later than we had already done

031ours um last year so uh that's why that 16 was there. Um 00312 conveyance tax and and 00314 recording fees. Um you know we have a those are just coming in low slower and lower than uh than obviously expected house sales have been slowed uh due to low inventory um and then um the interest rates um have been not as you know low as they had been in the past which causes people um for recording fees not to refi as much. Um and then and just and just global um amounts. Um we're also uh this we also need to have our May and June activity would need to be in this report. May was unavailable at that point. Um and then um in 00328 structural permits um that could that has come in slightly higher

032than uh we had budgeted. So some some good things some off some some items that are that are offsetting to the to the net good but uh overall doing okay. All right, moving on to expenditures. Uh page four we brushed upon that before with the fire marshals uh budget account 0102100 11003 part uh the payroll number there. Um what we are there's that would be a part-time payroll. There was a more hours with the spa construction with a spa blasting all that. Um, you know, that that that transpired and took place. The Brainerd place and historical buildings. And then other fire marshal uh fire marshal uh hours required additional hours. On uh page six um, which is uh 010320013002 overtime budget is 16,000 uh we've spent to date 20,000 e uh 52 um storms uh

033non-snow related um and also uh assisting the water department and sewer department in either in any of the breaks. And um any of type of any type of paving projects that sometimes require um that they work overtime on. telecommunications This is one of those ones where Comcast uh bill is just is just slightly higher than we had a budgeted. Um, so we uh we'll have we have an additional month left in that in that number. storm water monitoring was budgeted 4,000 10,000 837 uh we talked about this and it continued continued in additional monitoring and then there was some permit update requirements that uh the director of public works has worked on with >> other engineers. >> Uh 0103261003 equipment supplies 21,017 spent um encumbered around 7,922 between active and and pre-encumbrances and that's a

034lot of a plow blade blades were required multiple purchases this year due to the heavy snow volume. Other equipment supplies for the highway for safety and to complete the project work that they have. Page uh seven 032 This is a vehicle maintenance budget. Um so, just just look at it. 010330044003. Equipment repairs. Um we're about 131.95 expense. Encumbered around 30,000. We're at 4%. This is one of those um you know, the the uh that as we go through June, the director of public works will continue to monitor that budget and then as things need to get, you know, we'll try to monitor that and review and uh you know, fix things as we need it. But, uh you know, as uh we'll watch that budget globally. Page 8 overtime. Uh 7,000 budgeted, 11,000 spent. Over

035by 4688. This is for town projects. Um uh where they need to come in for overtime, storms, alarm call-ins, uh provide support. Um sometimes they come up provide support for opening the park when the park attendant's unavailable. Um the 01037004403 equipment repair and rental. Uh 7,000 uh budgeted uh budgeted 16,237. Um we've we've talked about uh this this issue here. Uh we have um we had some fur uh furnace improvements at company two. Uh library repairs for about That was uh for about 24,900 at company two. Uh library repairs for about over a thousand dollars. Library electrical for 2,400. Uh police door safety for 1885. Overhead door for fire company one and two for 2,099 and 1,025. And then, as you can see here, the rental of this air conditioning units for for one week

036at one uh 1,965. There's a possibility of an additional week on that as there was some additional um things that were uh wrong with the uh the air hissing unit and it required [clears throat] additional time to order the parts. Um uh 0061006 building supplies 17,000 budgeted 15 4 600 um expended um 3,584 encumbered. Uh these were for uh door supplies, door handles, locks, uh plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, lighting supplies, all types of supplies that are needed by the building uh maintenance department to work across all different towns and town buildings to buy supplies. Uh page 11 uh municipal agent of the elderly the van driver stipends um 38,000 budgeted 48 902 expended. Um To my knowledge on this it's a lot of appointments uh for uh driving. Um um various residents uh to um

037different types of appointments that they have and and uh so I know that the uh first selectman continues to monitor with this with the senior center director. Um that's what I have on expenditures for this cycle. All right. >> Anyone have any questions? >> Appreciate you all. >> Yeah. Yeah, so Tom like on some of these things, I mean does there become since it's like the end of the year where say it's supplies, say it's the driver, say it's whatever, where we just say you can't do that anymore? Or do we just keep going? Cuz there's still another month to go, right? So do we, you know, >> Yeah, that's a decision that the Michael would make with >> Right, yeah. He may say you just can't >> Absolutely. >> buy another door knob. >>

038Absolutely. >> Till July. >> Well, generally supplies, you know So, the So, the way that the budget's work globally is you're looking at the global budget. I'm bringing you areas of concerns within the actual budget. Um we look at globally at the total budget. Um some of the things that we did this evening earlier help us go mitigate the total storm there with the snow that I'll bring back. So, now kind of brings contingency back into the game where contingency it kind of got used up. If we If we had If we had moved contingency, it would have used it up for the snow. So, that transaction that we did earlier today kind of freed some of that back up. So, it allows So, now we still have some of the contingency remaining that we

039can move in the fourth quarter transfer. So, yeah. I mean, globally we look at the budgets if it If they get too far, generally, we tell the people to stop. The The van drivers, it's been my understanding from the board's direction normally is continue with that until someone tells us to Someone tells us to stop that. Um that's been the way that we we've kind of been instructed in the past. Um so, but you know, Mike um works with the director on that on that one directly. Um so, um you know, that's you know, there are needs for those people. And usually I'm public safety like for for repairs and supplies. Um we try to mitigate globally within the budget to make sure that we handle the you know, appropriate Some of these departments may

040require fourth quarter transfers in later when we do that when you're in the um when I get the audit ready for y'all in October, November range, usually November. So, you'll have the fourth quarter transfers. We'll do those in then, but so, you know, that's the answer to that question is that we watch the budgets global each budget with globally. Some of them will go over. Hopefully, we can resolve that with contingency. Um you know, and if they you know, somebody and generally we're not approving things that are not, you know, needed. >> Yeah. So, if this was a >> No, I wasn't >> No, I'm just saying like in this scenario, you can't really not provide uh repair, you know, you air conditioning to the >> I don't know, you're not providing it right now.

041[laughter] Yeah, thank you. >> Yeah. Oh, I did not turn it off. There you go. >> Thank you, Tom. >> All right, Tom, thank you very much. >> Mike, before we move on >> Yeah. >> Since Charles is here, can I ask him a question that's finance but on his side? >> It's related to finance? >> Yeah. Yeah. I just have a question as to what something is cuz these descriptions aren't always great. What does purchase professional technical services for the board of ed consist of? >> Oh, boy, that's things like our our contract with our um AOS. They They help manage our >> This is a bunch of different things within that. >> I'm I'm sorry. I said it again? >> No, she he was asking what page it was on. >> Yeah, page

04215. >> 7,000 >> This is on all the pages. It's under every school. >> Oh, I've under every school. It's the line at Okay, thank you. >> Yeah, but that that those are for things like we I just give you one example. We We use a system of a software company called AOS to help monitor our networks and servers. >> Mhm. >> And those are all the you know, the those are the types of purchased professional services that would fall under that. Is there a specific one you have a question about? >> No, I just saw it repeatedly through each school and you know, the overall system. So, I was just wondering >> Yeah, purchased professional service might be like our subs. Um we use um ESS, right? >> ESS Uh what else would be

043in that? Give me a few others. Yeah, that's cuz we have subs in here. >> Any Anything that's a professional service that for us. It's It's school based. It's a big number if the year ends there. >> Yeah, that's our We would see cuz we have subs for each of our building, that's how we account for them. But it would also be like perfect temp, um, you know, all of the contractors we use. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Are you usually over that much at the end of the year? >> [snorts] >> Um, for for this year, we are we are not going to end in a deficit. We're actually going to end in a little bit of a surplus. >> Okay. >> So, >> You can switch from an internal position >> Right. >>

044to a a contracted service. >> We >> And if you're saving there, you're saving something like a thousand. >> Okay. >> Right. It's all It's all offsetting. So, that Thank you for that. Specifically with respect to AOS, we used to have a network manager, somebody we hired and paid their salary and benefits. We found it was less expensive to contract with an outside vendor to monitor our network. Um, and that actually saved us money. So, where you might see an overage in professional services, it's balanced out because our our certified or classified salaries line item would be lower by the the the delta of the difference between the two. >> Okay. >> But at this like time of year, there's a also additional, you know, I don't know. There'll be additional, uh, transactions that will

045be journaled entries to various other parts of the budget as well. So, at times components are charged to the general fund and then related to the different grants that they need to go to or if it's a special education, if it's a excess cost item, some [clears throat] of that will get journaled entry out to that revenue generating fund. So, you might You'll see on the Board of Ed side it's a little challenging. You look at it, there's they're over, but then there'll be journal entries out that will bring them more back in line so that, uh, Stephanie and the church team a nice job of analyzing that throughout throughout the cycle in the season and then you know as as the entries need to be done she makes those entries. Okay. >> And just

046to be clear we we are not in a deficit. Very good. >> No I three weeks I know overall I was just concerned about that because if you add them up through all the categories it's over $150,000 over what it was budgeted for. >> Yeah, you'll we the board does a lot of these transfers in November like Tom said and we when we round out what's put Globally we are we're in good shape this year. >> Okay. Um I have a one other question. I believe it was I don't know. The middle school the extra extracurricular salaries why was that so high? It was budgeted for 17 and it's over 31. Was there a lot of extra of sports or something that wasn't planned? >> I don't know why that is. I have to take

047a look at it. I can I tell you what let me get Stephanie I'll send you an email tomorrow. But it wouldn't be $20,000 over like >> It's 21 >> No we didn't I mean to answer your question in terms of you talking about extracurriculars you said? >> It says extracurricular salaries Board of Ed 17 five was budgeted and they're at 31 one right now. >> Let me find out I'll send you an email tomorrow. Okay. >> Yeah thanks. >> I'll let you know. >> Okay. Good questions. >> Thank you Dr. Brennan. >> All right. So >> All right Um, new business. So we're going to have a discussion now about setting the mill rate and that discussion involves how do we split the money from the state. So, I want to just give a

048a quick overview from my point of view because I've been following this um, closely since um, we had gone to the state to advocate for more money for the schools uh, and testified um, and having talked to Matt Ritter and others uh, in the state uh, legislature for what the intention was, what they wanted to do. Um, it has been a legitimately confusing thing. The intention was initially for education and that's what they started with and it ended up with a concoction of different things and there was competing press releases regarding the money um, that was confusing to not just our town and to residents, but to many towns. Um, because the intention was education and then the governor put out a separate report or separate um, PR piece that said it really should be

049for reducing tax burden. Um, uh, yeah, it could be used for both, but they were but they were both kind of competing with that. So, so for our board um, with that confusion with those confusing signals, we chose at the last Board of Selectmen meeting to delay setting that because there were too many things that were confusing about that and there were too many things that were said um, that were conflicting on both sides. So, we wanted to regroup and and and come back again once we had more clarity and fortunately there's some additional clarity um, but the bottom line from um, everyone from CCM and other organizations that followed it and the legislature, uh, it can be used for both. And uh, it has put a created as Dr. Britton said, created a position

050where uh, we as a board can decide to put it all to education. We can decide to put it all to tax reduction. Uh, it's up to this board to decide and to kind of balance out the interest of that. My personal feelings um, was having set our town budget, um, we had extra time to know what the costs were for uh, for insurance. So, when we were going through the whole insurance process, we were uh, clear on what the cost of insurance were and we were able to use that to guide what our budget was going to be for government side. Um I understand uh from Dr. Britton's side that because of the way that we have it set up in the charter and the dates and all, they had to come up with

051a budget based on guestimates from the year before. So, uh they rolled the dice as best they could and then when the 27% came in and modified down to 19 and 1/2% came in, it was something that I I feel personally and everyone um can can chime in uh was a legitimate reason to to ask for something to fill that if possible. We went through the budget process and we pulled I think there was 144,000 if I'm getting it right and another 50,000. We ultimately ended up reducing your budget down by $200,000 through a long and and I think a positive um discussion at the board. We [clears throat] all talked about that. We did everything we could. There were givebacks. We ended up moving some things from the budget to capital improvements which we

052voted earlier tonight uh because we had a surplus from the year before that we were able to apply. So, so, to bring it all kind of full circle, I understand the need and as a result what I have put together tonight and I I I and everyone has been sent that I have three different um proposals for mill rates based on three different scenarios. Um and the three scenarios that I have that I'll have before the board tonight are one where we make whole the minimum $200,000 that uh the the Board of Ed budget was shorted based on the discussions we had before that we know about. Um a second proposal uh is based on splitting the $527,000 that was for education. What What exactly was it called? It's five Yes, education supplemental aid. Just

053cuz I had a couple different terms. Um that uh would split that money equally between the town and Board of Ed. And then there was another $52,000 that came from the the Mohegan fund that automatically goes to the town that we had automatically talked about putting that to a tax rate. Um and the third number is $300,000 toward Board of Ed and the balance 280 for the town based on the fact that the Board of Ed is about 62% of the budget, the town government is the other is the balance the 48, and that was a roughly a split on that. So, those are the three proposals that I have tonight. What I'm hoping we can do because we are the ones that are going to decide this tonight, is I want to have a

054vigorous debate about what makes sense. Before we do that, before we get into that to talk about the details, um I'd uh said I I wanted to uh offer to uh Dr. Britton the chance to go up there and maybe advocate for what you feel and what you think is the right thing to do as as Laurel did, and then I want to start the discussion amongst us and talk about those three. Now, if we can't decide at any one of those things, we can't get a vote on 200, split, and the 300,000, then we may not be able to set the budget and the uh mill rate tonight because we deal if it's a different number, um I'd like to, but I but anyways, but either way, we need to we need to discuss

055that first. So, with that in mind, I'd like to turn it over to Charles, Dr. Britton, to to tell us what you think we should do. >> Sure. So, I just I just a couple Let me just start by saying that if if there was any confusion on what I said last time, we have 3 weeks left in the school year. We are not going to end in a deficit. Very happy to say it. And we are going to have a little bit of money like I think last night Stephanie was projecting. We saw a couple payrolls to run, a few more bills to pay. We're probably going to end with, you know, 25 to 50,000 um in a surplus, which is really good, you know, pretty good landing a $25 budget with that left

056is good. So, we're not in a deficit. We're not in a deficit. Any deficit I talk about tonight would be next year's deficit. The deficit for the budget year starting July 1. Um I also want to just start by saying Laurel explained it really well tonight. And I'm going to kind of repeat what she said, but the thing I dislike most about this uh the way this law was passed is the feeling it creates, right? Like I don't like this us against them kind of mentality because we all share the same goals, right? We all recognize that the way schools are funded in the state has been disproportionately shifted to local property taxpayers and that the state is not not taking on the the right amount of share. We have been very vocal about that.

057Cave has been vocal. My organizations have been vocal vocal. We've asked the state to relieve the property taxpayers because it's getting burdensome on top property taxpayers. We share that goal. We also have to recognize that our school budgets are are being cut and being eaten away every year by Yes, by inflation. We're all experiencing it, but for and for my purposes our our special education costs went up. We got them under control. You know, that's why we did a lot of things this year like bring you the lease tonight and open that revenue stream from Sabre greeting. That's that we're we're working regularly and I do believe that ultimately this school consolidation it it long-term, especially after the 25-year repayment on the bond of this, is going to save the town significant money when when

058you reduce the number of people you need to run the number of schools you have and right-size your schools because yes, student population is going down. So, a lot of really good things have happened this year and it's just kind of crummy that we now have to have this sort of bad taste in our mouth talking about, you know, is this for property tax relief or is this for schools when I think we all share the same goal of both, right? That said, because of the calendar and the way I had to develop the budget, I put a 14%, which is obnoxiously high by the way, for an insurance increase in the budget, right? We found out the actual increase when it was said and done was 19 almost 20%. That difference between the placeholder

059I put in at 16% and what is actually our renewal rate at 19% is $146,000, right? But at that point I couldn't go back and ask you for more. I I could have, but you were managing a difficult budget season. So, the first part of my deficit is created by the calendar, right? I would love it if we could change the calendar and that I was actually building a budget not with guesses, but with real numbers. But that would require at least another month or two for us, you know, instead of me presenting you the budgets when I do, add four to six weeks on that. And of course, I do think it's a really good idea next year to have more involvement in this discussion with our insurance broker and choosing a path forward.

060I think that's a really good idea and something I would welcome. So, as of July 1, I'm I'm in that $146,000 deficit, right? To to start. Additionally, when I stood up in front of you last time, you had said, "Can you take a $50,000 cut?" You remember the look on my face? It was like, "Oof." You know, to me now, for me to have to have to cut 146 and 50 to cut another $200,000 out of the budget would would be a stinger, right? Cuz I I already made pretty significant cuts to help offset the blow from the the insurance and other increases. I I said at that time, "I'm willing to take it for now because I'm confident that Hartford is going to provide us some relief." Because I just want you to know,

061CABE is Mike Scott is president of CABE. Laurel went up and testified this year. I was very active this year with all of my personally at legislative breakfasts and with our superintendents groups. We worked really hard to make sure that Hartford heard us, that that we were struggling both on the property tax side and the school funding side. A lot and you saw our letters, right? Some really good advocacy work went into our appeal to Hartford. And at the time when you said, "Can you take the $50,000 cut?" I was hearing from, you know, our various lobbyist groups and our legislators and Norm Needleman and Christie Carpino and others that there's a lot of wind in the sails of this relief that was coming. Remember I I'd said that to you. And and here we

062are, right? That that this is good news that Hartford heard our appeals and it came in the form of this $527,000. Now, I think it in a show of good faith, I think we can accomplish both. I think we can help help the the schools with the budget deficit that we're facing, that that 200,000, and we can provide the property tax relief. It's up to you. It's entirely your decision. You know, to me, let's split it right down the middle. Um provide the property tax relief. Let me help make that insurance fund whole so that I don't have to reduce any more positions. Um and then we'll be in a really good spot come July 1. That's my pitch. All right. >> Any questions for Charles? You decide. Dr. Britton, thank you very much. I

063really appreciate that. I and and I will echo what it it it [clears throat] is uncomfortable. Um but the budget that was voted May 11th included a 1.5 mil rate increase. Whatever we do tonight is going to lower that. So, the good news is we end up getting $580,000 from the state. That's a good That's a really good thing. Um and I understand the concern of residents about we just voted for a big school project and tax relief is important. I get that. So, so tonight I'm hoping that we can come together on this. We have other things uh important as well tonight, but because I'm going to open it up to the floor and uh and uh and stop the conversation here. So, who wants to either express an opinion about one again, the

064the three that we have here as as a resolution are the $200,000 split, the balance goes to the town and produces a $267,000 to Board of Ed and the balance goes to town to tax reduction or 300,000 to Board of Ed. So, let's start with that and who wants to jump in first? >> It's the lower one, 263. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> What is it? 263. >> I'm sorry, 263, excuse me, 263. It's 527, thank you. >> What do you mean? >> It's $263,000 to Board of Ed and the balance to >> half of Yeah. >> That's half of it. 527, yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Tom. So, who wants to who wants to start this video? >> Okay. I'll kick it off. Yeah, I So, basically, you know, this whole I

065mean, this almost sounds like it it on the surface it's, you know, a complicated last will that's now making it to probate, right? And but but I think this is exactly what they intended. I really do. I don't, you know, every you know, we could put they Hartford is really screwed up, which they probably are, but I think the best control the best decision is made at the local level. The closest you are to here, somebody in Hartford is not listening to they weren't part of our budget deliberations. They didn't hear any of this. They're just up there and they gave us some leeway. Who best to make the decisions but selectmen and council people scattered points of light throughout the state. As I think that this was intentional. Maybe they didn't mean for it

066to be good, but I think it's a it was good. We had a a budget that we approved. Um and it was presented to our townspeople and it was overwhelming approval. I think it was like 83, 84%. Nobody agrees on that. And so, we had towns that agreed for the school consolidation as well as our our budget. Um the amount of money that we're asking for, I think we have an ability to satisfy everybody. We had a $147,000 gap, which we 100% identified in the Board of Ed that was due to crazy circumstances. Nobody argues with that. There was also an additional 50,000 dollars of which the Board of Ed uh had a solution for. Now the solution is gone. It's so it's So I'm not even going to get into the Is it 147

067or 200? But I think it solves the problem of closing the gap with the hardship that the Board of Ed really had. They didn't have a solution for the 147. In fact, I was actually upset at the time thinking we just agreed on a budget and they've already going into this thing on minute one with a 147,000 dollar problem. Okay, so unless they were creative throughout the year, they had a deficit of that. This is a way of making the our our legislators, our senators and uh representatives in Hartford, this is I think what the what the bill was. It was cuz this would be really really hurting our Board of Ed. Uh my position is we do not exceed the 200,000 dollars. That is my my recommendation. Uh and by doing that, it takes

068our mill rate and brings it to three versus the 4.26% increase that everybody voted for. Our townspeople voted for 4.26%. This is going to get it to three. That gap is what's going to cover us over the next 10 years, if you will. It lowers the water line as we start to absorb the cost increases for the schools that we just approved at 109 million dollars. It's a way, you know, we said the average over the next 10 years was going to be .65 or .85? >> .62. This is a 1.3% reduction. From 4.26 to about three. If If I did my math. What is it? 3.0 I I goes from 4.26 to >> for the 200,000 3.0 3.0 This actually takes significant cut at that. So, when the school consolidation starts to kick in,

069those expenses kick in, it will be a an increase, but it will be from an already lowered waterline. That's that's kind of my view and I guess I'll just say anything over a 200,000 I'm a no vote. Just >> Yeah, I I think that when I look at when I look at the bill and you read the language of the bill they they definitely had the intent of helping close the gap on with funding issues. Um I think we're very fortunate in Portland and I think we've always got to say and remind and kind of just very clearly say thank you to the voters in Portland. We're very lucky that in a tough year they were willing to fund a fairly, you know, um the necessary increase to keep our schools in pretty good shape.

070In great shape, really. Um this funding allows us to basically take care of the one remaining gap. I feel very much the same way, right? It's sort of a It It's like the bill has two sets of language in it, right? Reduction versus closing the gap, um which kind of hits up exactly where our problem is. We have a gap that was created by the excess cost in in in health care. Um I am glad that we'll all be working on that to try to do something aggressive with that next year. Um But it also gives us a chance to do tax relief and and to provide some um tax relief, which I think keeps faith with the voters that are looking for us to uh to to basically take care of them as well.

071Cuz I think everybody is seeing the same increases as the as on the board. Um I want to make sure that I've got sort of the numbers right though, right? We're looking at I think what is it? Five Is it 527 was education and 59? >> No, 527 was the education portion. >> For the education portion. >> 52.9 was the >> 52.9. See, I had a 59.2. That's the way my I always like to see the higher number coming in. >> The total was about 580. >> Right. So, um So, if we go with the $200,000 which allows the Board of Ed to start the year without a gap, that allows us between the remainder of the Board of Ed, the money's for education that we're allocated, and the money's that we're allocated directly to

072the town to reduce taxes, basically apply about 379,000, right, towards the reduction in taxes. Which when we look at it, that's gets us what, about uh >> It brings us from a 1.50 mil increase to a 1.06 mil. >> Yeah, I was going to say it's going to be about it's going to be a just over 0.4 mil. Um So, that's kind of that's the way that I lean. It keeps the Board of Ed To me, it's a very rational way for us to approach it. It fills the gap that we know we have, which is one of the intents of the bill, and it provides tax relief, which is the other statement of intent of the bill. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Yeah, please. >> Um So, a couple of things um that

073I thought and I I heard these from um both sides, and I had the same thing. I just took some in the research that I did in the conversations that I had, the intent of the funds were to be used to close critical school funding gaps and provide property tax relief to residents, both. Both things. Um and to maintain services really and offset stagnant state aid that has not kept pace with inflation. So, I do have to say a couple of things um that I feel the Board of Ed talked about the advocacy. I think it's very important that everybody hears that without their advocacy, we would not even be looking at this money and that that that really is a fact. So, I think that we have to applaud our our Board of Ed,

074our superintendent, our Board of Ed Mike and everybody and the other superintendents and Board of Eds in the state going there because since 2013 not to fund educational cost sharing is really a problem. So, I think and I heard this up there as well that they did muddy the waters um by the way that they just put it out there the intent and we could, you know, I think we're all saying the same thing and then saying maybe they were intentional with that, but I think they often, you know, kick it to us to do this. But, I think we have to find a way to do both. Where I'm at right now, I'm at minimum $200,000 goes to the Board of Ed. I would like to hear I heard what this minute if we

075were at the 263, what that is in >> bring It would bring down the mill rate from 1.50 to 1.13 or 0.37. >> Is there a real dollar figure that somebody can give me that I know what we're talking about? No. >> Um >> I just a >> So, we were we were we were doing some of the numbers earlier today just what what the what would a 0.37 mill rate be on someone's home? What would be the difference? Um and if someone knows the value of their home as it's as it's assessed, they can plug that number in and see what the difference would be. So, I'm not going to risk it cuz my mathing isn't mathing today. So, um if someone wants to put that number in, but that would be the actual

076mill rate difference from 1.5 to 0.3, so 0.3 would be the reduction of what's already been approved by the residents of Portland. The voters of Portland. >> Okay. >> I'm just giving a number. >> Well, no. I mean, that doesn't >> What's that? Okay. >> 125 to 150 annually. >> Okay. And that's for approximate. Okay. So, either way, it it will it will be a reduction. >> Right. So, what I'm saying is I So, I guess where I'm at I I I would like to hear from the other selectmen um as well, but 200,000 is minimum for me, and I would entertain I could possibly entertain a split. >> Thank you. Um >> Uh when when we I was hesitant at the last meeting to put it off quite honestly because I knew we were

077under a timeline to do that. But, I didn't feel that we actually had any clear information on how this was supposed to go. And actually, I believe it was after closing hours on the night of on the night of our meeting, we received Office of Policy Management further information, which quite honestly was probably as confusing as everything else. The Yeah, we're we live in a world of political sides. And I'm happy to say that we sit on a board where no matter which party you represent, we're all sitting here, and Portland is number one. And I think that's why we work so well together. Um but, I I was actively involved on that school project and I actively promoted the project because I thought it made sense for town. But, it's very difficult to be

078able to take off that hat and try to step back putting all your opinions aside and trying to represent what's best for the town all across the board. And, you know, you we have different factions in town. We have our children, our families with children. We also have our seniors, which I guess I'm one now, too. Um and it's, you know, and and we want to have a nice library. We want to have a nice senior center. We need good police and fire services. We need to have a great team that plows our roads, that maintains our buildings. There's so much that goes into this. I and I have to say when I step back and I'm really looking at this issue here and reading the language that's kind of arbitrary that comes out of

079out of Hartford, I I'm listening to quite honestly, there's a lot more concern from citizens coming out on this issue than I really thought there would be. And I I don't disagree. I mean, I think we have to be honest in the balancing all sides. Right now, as I sit, I agree with Jim. I think that I I'm all in for the the deficit reduction plan. I also have not written off uh partially or some of some additional funding. But, I'd have to hear a pretty good argument for that. Um you know, I I want to make sure that that like folks like my mother who still lives in the house that I grew up in can continue to afford her taxes. Uh she's 89 years old and I think we we have to think

080about those people, too. Um so, yeah, where where I sit right now, I I think I'm definitely fine with the deficit reduction of on what [clears throat] $200,000 $197,000. Um I'd I could go a little more, but I need to hear a good strong argument for that. >> John, thank you very much. Dave, do you want to go next? Dave, can you hear us? >> Here it's frozen. >> Uh-oh. >> Dave's frozen. >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah, I kind of agree with you uh Jim. 200,000 I could probably go a little bit more, but again we have to look at Wayne. Again, you're My internet connection up here is kind of glitchy. I don't know if you can hear me, but uh you know, I think uh >> You're cutting out, Dave. >> That's

081settled. I'm good with the 200,000. I think you know, possibly possibly a little bit more. >> Okay. All right, Dave. I got it. >> Um >> [clears throat] >> I agree with what Vinnie said. I agree with John and Jim. Um if I was going to approve anything, it wouldn't be more than the 200,000. I think we owe more to the taxpayers and the residents in town because we all know that the mill rate will be going up when the school projects are complete. >> [clears throat] >> And I you know, I don't have a problem with filling their budget shortfall on the board of ed, but I think the taxpayers need a break for once. >> And I I just will add one thing to this, one other element that came into my thought

082process. We all fought hard for a workable school plan. And the thing that made that plan workable was that state reimbursement at a fairly significant clip that came through. If the If you read the guidance that Office of Policy Management put out, this money has to be accounted for by towns, kind of like you accounted for the funds during COVID. It has to be put into a separate fund. It has to be reported as to how it's used. You know, and and the one you know, I I know it it's not an issue, but you know, I always like to think of the the downside. We We voted for a school plan which lays an awful lot on the state of Connecticut trusting us and giving us a substantial sum of money. And I want

083to make sure that however we do this, we are clean as a whistle. And nothing that we do nothing that we report nothing that we use is anything but the way that the state anticipated that we use it. You know, and that's why quite honestly I keep leaning back towards the lower number only because I want to make sure this in my mind, rather than just saying a percentage here, a percentage there, this I can actually assign something to. We are actually taking these funds to eliminate a deficit that we knew about when we negotiated our budget. But I I do have a little concern that we stay squeaky clean as far as the state is concerned with our use of this money and our reporting of this money because I don't want to jeopardize

084any of that funding that we're trying to get for our school. >> Well Well said, John. All right. So, a few things right now. So, I think what I'm hearing from everyone is everyone would be comfortable with 200,000, and some people have expressed an interest to go higher um possibly. Um some absolutely know after 200,000. Um my feeling is that I want to add to what everyone has said. I I understand the complication with this because the intentions and we again, it's an abundance of funding from the state that we didn't expect. We get to do something good with it. It reduces down what people have already voted yes for. So, it's going to be a benefit to everyone [clears throat] no matter what. Um I do want to say based on my history on

085the board Jim and others that have been here for a while is whenever the Board of Ed has needed funding for something um furnaces at Brownstone for a quarter million dollars or whatever um we as a town have always provided for them. Um they've come to us and and we have we have gone to cuz we've looked at it carefully. Um they've never in my in my experience cried wolf in the 16 years I've been doing this as a member or as as in this position. So, so whatever vote's going to be uh if there is funding or something that that happens that is of concern enough to come to us, I think this board would deliberate in a way that would would choose to support the schools should it be something that's needed. So,

086with that being said, what I have three resolutions that are out here. And I'm going to go through and start with the $300,000 one. Is there anyone here willing to make a motion uh for the uh for the resolution that provides $300,000 to the school and the rest to the town for tax relief. Does anyone want to make that motion? Okay. No one's made that motion. I will put that aside. The next one I have is a resolution that provides the uh Board of Education with a split and the $527,000. The total amount to Board of Ed would be 263, 957 and the balance would go to tax reduction. Does anyone would anyone like to make that motion? >> Well, to make a motion that >> Sure. >> doesn't have any votes >> If if

087>> that I've heard. So, >> Do you want to make that motion anyway? No. There'd have to be a the too. >> Right. >> All right. David? >> Sorry, Mike. I can't hear you. You're getting cut out here. >> I was going to say, do you want to make a motion or not? I don't know if you could hear what I just said. >> This this would be for this what Mike's asking about. He's running that that the plans down in order from 300 to split. This is for a split versus the 200,000. >> [clears throat] >> So, in order to do that, um Andrew is not going to make a motion or Why don't Why don't we, you know, you know, Mike, I know you want to run it down that way. Why don't

088we I think we've got a pretty good consensus of the board and rather than risk a problem with Zoom creating an issue, especially when it's glitching, um I will make a motion that we adopt the resolution titled entitled adoption of the mill rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Um and it would be the version for 200,000 dated June 1, 2026. Whereas, the 2026-2027 budget for the town of Portland estimates that 5,732,762 dollars will be received from the state of Connecticut and without this, the mill rate would be 43.03 mills. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mill rate for the fiscal year 2026-2027 be and is hereby set at 36.36 mills. I want to make sure I got that right. >> Mhm. >> For all taxes other than motor vehicle due and payable on July

0891, uh 2026 and January 1, 2027. And be it further resolved that the mill rate for the fiscal year 2026-2027 be and is hereby set at the state cap of 32.46 mills for motor vehicles due and payable on July 1, 2026 and motor vehicle supplemental due and payable on January 1, 2027. >> All right. Someone like to make a second on that. Anyone would like to second that? Any further discussion? With that, I'll call for a motion. A vote. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? >> Opposed. >> I. >> Oh. >> Dave, is that a yay or a nay? >> Yay. >> Please laugh. >> Yeah. >> So, that's a yay. So. >> I oppose. >> Oppose. Andrew opposes. No abstentions. All right. Motion passes. All right. Thank you very much

090for your thoughtful deliberation. We at least came to a conclusion tonight, so. All right. Next item. So, I have I have provided the board with an example of a charter revision resolution. Um, I'm not ready to provide that yet or to vote on that yet tonight, but I wanted to start it I wanted to start that discussion as we had talked about earlier in the year. Um, it's been since 2003 since our last charter 2004 since our last charter revision. A long time has gone by and we do need to look at that. Um, we we need to uh do several things. We need to uh find an attorney to do that and put out an RFP. We need to do a number of things to prep for this. We need to pick the right

091size committee uh to do this. So, there's a great deal of work, but I want this board thinking about what we need to do going forward. Uh, I want everyone to review the charter so we can get some more a more some details and at our next meeting, I will have a uh revised resolution uh that sets that uh that sets that up. Um, I want to confirm with our attorneys on a couple things as well. There's some loose ends that need to be reported on this, but we do want to start that process and we can get that committee hopefully seated quickly. >> Can I say something? >> Yes, absolutely. >> The one thing that I've been concerned about on this charter revision committee for a while is my understanding is statutorily once you

092begin the process of selecting your committee members, you have 30 days. >> A clock goes exactly >> Clock starts. >> Yes. >> If there's anything that we need to be doing at our next meeting, my suggestion would be to go through this charter document and try to identify, point this committee in some direction. Give them I'm not I'm not saying give them guardrails, but I just I think for a committee just to sit down at a table and have you know, 40-plus pages of charter >> We need to give them hot topics to look at. >> Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. >> How do you say the hot five things that we think are issues or something that needs change? >> Right. Right. >> And they can also review anything else on their own. >> Absolutely. >>

093But this is what we would like you to prioritize. >> a They have a tight timeline. >> Yes. >> And once we begin discussing membership, I think the clock starts ticking on us. >> Yes, once we start appointing people. So, that's why >> So, I I really think maybe the discussion we need to have we all need to bring this to our next meeting, give ourselves a lot of agenda time and just walk through this document publicly so that everybody understands what's in it, what sections say what. >> Yep. >> And identify some areas that we want to provide as as guidance, as priority items as we see it to the members that we ultimately choose. >> But it's I mean, we're talking 22 years nobody's looked at this thing, right? So, aren't they A

094committee is going to review the entire >> All I'm saying is it's it's easy It's easy to say review it, but if everybody has a different opinion, you they could be chasing their tail for a long time. We need to give them some direction, I think. >> Well, no. I I'm not disagreeing that we don't need to give them direction. I just don't want us to continue to um I want us to make an effort to address this sooner than later because this has been talked about for a very long time. >> Absolutely. >> And I'm not I'm saying one meeting is all we need to go through this. But I just to begin the discussion and to start naming names and hand them the book and say, "Okay, go to it." I don't think

095that's fair either. >> No, I No, I agree with you, but I mean, do we we drive what the hot topics are? >> I think we can convey you know, as a board that you know, basically has run into certain challenges >> Yeah. >> based on what it says. You know, we've got a pretty good view of where we know just operationally that if our current charter presents some challenges and needs to be updated. So, I think putting a focus on that to make sure those things are looked at in particular and knowing the committee when they look at it is still going to look at other things. They may come up with other ideas that they'll present. But at a minimum, if we target some and give them some targeted information, it at least

096ensures that some of the places where we know there are issues, you know, that we really should be looking at updating. We make sure those do get looked at. >> One of the things that we identified on more than one occasion is this was all written before electronic media, before emails, before text messaging, before any of that. >> outdated. >> You know, and and I think if we can just that's one thing right there. We can just point them in the direction of that. >> Yeah. >> It's it's the things about the RFP for >> Well, because we have to we have to choose an attorney that's going to that's going to handle this as well. So, choosing the person and also budgeting it. >> So, >> Before we even form a committee? >> There's

097a number of rules for for how we need to form this committee. So, >> Do we we have those or >> Michelle sent us an email of the guideline. >> Oh, I thought that. That was not what >> No, no, I But there's there's certain countdowns and clocks on it, but I wanted to at least start tonight cuz we need to do that. There's a lot of details. I'll give you an example. We're going to be doing We're going to be forming a building committee today. >> Right. >> And how we set that up, how many people that we have on there, what are the areas what are the what are the focuses we want is something that as a board we have the ability to to try to create that best team to get

098to get this done. So there's certain there's certain things that we can do and we need to discuss that. >> Right. >> We need to discuss that in in a >> Right. And I think somebody said once that that it was at least like an 18-month process and it has to go to voters in an election, correct? Am I correct? It has to go on >> But a charter revision >> Yeah. So I mean if you're talking about like no November of 2027, you maybe don't have time to get it done in that >> It depends on how much stuff they review. >> Right. Well, I thought somebody had >> It depends on how efficient they are. >> I mean like 18 months was the typical um time. >> Well, they have to periodically according

099to the guidelines report out but on you know give updates and that would be incumbent upon us and others that are monitoring it to make sure they're not losing ground. >> Correct. >> All right. So what's our action item on this? Then we're going to look >> There's no action on this. >> No, but I mean for us to look at them. I heard John saying >> Yes. >> But it's just a recommendation but I mean I don't know what everybody else says. >> I I've looked I've looked at it so many times right now. >> But we've never we've never as a group >> Right. >> talked about the document. >> Right. >> So it'll be on the agenda. >> It'll be on the agenda, yeah. So >> At our next meeting can we

100make it like the last thing on the agenda so we can go through everything else first so it's like people are online or sitting they don't have to listen to it if they don't want to if they're trying to get to to their piece. >> Can Can people mute us out? >> Yes. >> And I would try I would try to kind of make it a little agenda light. >> Right. We have more time. >> And and put a lot of weight on this >> Which That's why we said June because you know the budget's over everything else is there's June and July and August are our light months. >> All right. Um next agenda, resolution for the school building the schools project building committee. So, I put together a resolution that details that. I

101am so happy that the voters of Portland agreed with I think this board and board of ed and a number of other groups that this is a project that needs to get done and I want to get this thing started right away. Um has everyone reviewed this resolution? >> I I reviewed it. I read it. I'm willing to make a motion and read it into the record. Uh then with the second we can have a discussion whenever you want. >> Oh, absolutely. So, so again this this should cover the outline of that. Um I've already received a half a dozen applications, resumes from people that are interested, had a number of discussions. I don't know if people have talked to you as well, but there's a great deal of interest in this committee. It will

102be the group that will be shepherding this project from now for the next 5 years. Um so, we want to make sure we get it right. Um I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Britton and others in communicating with you in terms of what does the what does the fit of the committee need and what have other committees done in the past and other schools. So, I I've put together what I think is a reasonable committee in terms of like the number of people that are on the committee. You can't have too many, you can't have too few, alternates, ex officio members, etc. So, so I feel comfortable with this. Um I'd like you Johnny you don't have to read the whole thing. I'll read it to you in a back if people

103want to read some of this thing as well. >> Well, I mean I I'll go through it just because I think we worked hard on this for for quite a long time and I think if people are going to watch this meeting, I think they should be able to hear it. >> Yes. >> Do we want to discuss it before you read it in case we want to change something? >> Sure. Either way. I mean >> I'm just wondering because under membership and the fourth paragraph on the first page, there's parts that contradict each other on what the membership is. >> Which one? >> It says >> Are we looking at section 405? >> Director of Finance, First Selectman, Chairman of the Board of Ed, Superintendent of Schools will be ex officio. >> The way

104I read it is there's nine voting members, two alternates, and four ex officio. So that's that's uh nine to 15 members. >> Well, that's the first question. Do we want it at 11 people? >> But it also says consisting of two. So nine isn't >> Well, under membership it has >> nine. It lists nine people on the second page. >> The voting. >> Yeah, just voting. >> Yeah. >> Nine voting >> do we want it at nine people? >> Well, that that's a good question. Um the consensus that I've heard from other committees is seven might be too little depending on expertise, but here's the conflicting argument though. This committee has the ability to pull in any expert out there. So if we need an expert at um architectural design or interior design or anything,

105they can pull that into the group as well. So that's something we should decide before we do that. >> Once again, and uh the fourth paragraph on the front page it has up to nine voting members and on the under membership it says shall consist of up to nine voting members. It It's It gives you latitude there, too. I mean it's >> I Well, that's my question is if if you put it at nine plus two alternates plus all the ex officio on the front, you're going to have 20 people in a room. >> Well, I don't I don't disagree with Mike though. I mean a project like this I would love to have somebody that's got architectural background, engineering background, accounting background, um you know, there's a teaching background. We with the four ex

106officio members and the fact that this is going to be Mike said five years. I'm thinking more like seven years by the time this thing is done. >> I'm I'm sorry, Eric. >> Don't buy that house in Florida and >> How many How many years is the project going to take from start to finish? Five. And if you start the committee now, they're going to probably have close to another year working before we even kick it off. And then I believe in here it also talks about basically finalizing the books. And that may be another year at the opposite end. >> Which Which that might be a a hard thing to get people to sign up for 5 years. >> Right. But I'm also saying by having that number, if you end up if you

107gain people and lose people throughout the process, you start with a a slightly larger number, you're not going to have that brain drained at any point in the game. >> Well, I think too I think Yeah, and I think too that when you look at and I and I go back and forth, right? Having that many people, you know, can might make it more difficult at times to get to a consensus, right? But then you look at it and you say four of them you know, one's from Board of Selectmen, one's from Board of Ed. Um >> grounds >> Right. One's from yeah, building grounds um you know, a designee. Uh and then one that's um basically an educator, right? In terms of those those needs. So, it looks like five members at large is

108is the core. So, and then when you're trying to cover those specialties of you know, commercial construction, the architecture, engineering, right? Uh finance. Um you know, you know, the legal aspects of it. It's It's hard if you start to whittle that down, that's when you start running into a problem you may lose some of that expertise. So, that Nine nine seems high to me, but I but I think it's it's it's um >> Um so, I like the up to nine. I kept zoning in on that because nine is high, but I also thought then I immediately thought, "Oh my god, this is 5 6 7 years." >> Yeah. >> And And quite honestly, I've been on a number of committees in my work career and I know when you divvy up the workload and

109you set up subcommittees, that may not be so bad. >> So you know, the seven and nine, I mean I'm I'm like Jim, you know, I can go between the two. You know, I understand, right, with the attrition. The people are going to be things are going to happen, right? People are going to drop off and on and off and on. But I I do have a a question. It has the director of finance or or uh director of finance has a full-time job. So being a director of finance, right? And the I I thought is is having a a controller. Like in a typical factory or there's a person who's a controller, a financial controller. They're are keeping an eye on everything [clears throat] that has to do with money and they really don't

110concern themselves with nuts and bolts and the roof and they're just their only job is to make sure that we don't go over budget. I don't see that in here specifically or would that be something that would be added into the membership? Because I see that as a Look, at the end of the day, I think we all agree we're going to end up with a with two wonderful, wonderful schools. And this committee, I I really believe whoever they are are going to do a great job. They're going to pick this air conditioning unit versus that one. It doesn't matter. At the end of the day, are we going to blow $42 million or $50 million? Who's watching the numbers? That's going to keep us from that cliff every single day. >> So I think

111I think that's >> is that? Is that in here? >> That's in under the membership, five members. Uh and again, we're picking the folks that are that are flying to us. We had that would be one of the things, contract law, project management, financial, um let me just see. >> So that would fall to us to to make sure or try to get someone that would fill that role. >> Absolutely, cuz I think that's vital. And the ex officio members, um the reason that we put that in is it allows them to attend the meetings to be able to speak up during the meeting. Instead of, you know, they're they're not voting, but if let's say um Mr. Robinson is going to go to a meeting or at the that he provides to their as

112from the town finance point of view, it allows them to be able to designate someone to go there. So, it's more of being able to attend the meeting and be able to engage during the meeting. So, there was some reason. Of course not. Of course not. >> Like Tom will only go when they were talking finances. He's not going to be there when they're talking >> Right. >> what the exterior product is going to be. >> Right. Exactly. Exactly. And getting the right mix as well, too. >> Unless he sees the trend going and it's like, well, maybe you don't get that super Cadillac AC roof unit. >> You don't want Tom in the meeting, right? >> Well, no, I I do want Tom in the meeting. >> Unless there's something wrong. Right. >> Okay.

113And of And those positions, we're the entity that >> Yeah, we use them. >> Yeah, we're we're the ones Okay, so so we're going to create that what I guess my ask tonight is love to vote on this. Let's make sure if we need any edits in there, if we need to make any changes, if we discover something that we need to edit or modify, we could do that at the next meeting. But, we'd like once we approve this, we could start the interview process. We could start the ball rolling. I believe Dr. Britain is putting the paperwork together and maybe in 2 weeks or [clears throat] so, we'll be submitting it. 3 weeks, end of month. Yes. Yes. Okay. Are we putting putting that in? The grants, yes. Next week, right? So, so that's

114going to be put in as well. So, I'd love to start the interview process so we can get people under cuz again, people are talking to me. >> On a side note, when is the bid going out for the architectural firm? >> That's the first task of these guys, right? >> Charles, do you mind doing that up there just cuz there might be people ask the listening in and that's important. Repeat the question if you can that Bob asked him then. That's a great That's a great question. So, once the The grant's going to be in next week. You have to form the building committee first. The first job the building committee is going to have is to review the RFPs and RFQs for architectural services, operation projects manager, or clerk of the works, depending

115on which direction you want to go with that, and construction services. Um in an ideal in an ideal ideal The building committee will make that decision first, review those specs, and I have some really good you know, samples of them, um and then publish those Well, and then the of course there's going to have to be decision. Do you want to do a bidder's conference? Do you want to do interviews? How How do you want to weed out pe- different vendors? You know, there's lots of different ways, but that that's going to be the the building I mean, first, you know, selecting a chair, selecting a secretary, you know, establishing yourself as a building committee, but the very first important job is publish those RFPs, RFQs, and then get to a point, hopefully, by the

116end of the summer where you've hired those those professionals, and then you have your team, right? You have your your building committee and your architect, and kind of way you go. But, that's the That's the first meeting. Or second. Very quickly. Yes. Thank you, thank you, Dr. Burton. All right. Can anyone read it? So, someone like to make a motion? >> I'll read it out. >> first. The resolution I think it I It's long, but I think it needs to be in the record. >> All right, beautiful. >> Resolution Board of Selectmen, Town of Portland, Connecticut, dated June 21, 2026, creation of a Portland School Building Committee. Whereas on May 11, 2026, the voters of the Town of Portland overwhelmingly approved a referendum authorizing the renovation, reconstruction, and improvement of Portland school facilities, including renovate

117to new Valley View Elementary School, renovate to new Gildersleeve Elementary School, capital improvements to the middle school high school complex, and repurposing Brownstone Intermediate School. And whereas the approved project represents one of the most significant public investments in the history of the town of Portland and will shape the educational, financial, and community future of the town for generations. And whereas [clears throat] the Board of Selectmen finds it necessary and appropriate to establish a school building committee to oversee the planning, design, construction, renovation, and implementation of the approved project, and to serve as the primary public body responsible for project oversight. And be it further resolved that the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to Section 405, Subsection 5 of Portland's Town Charter, hereby creates a Portland School Building Committee, hereinafter the Committee, consisting of up to nine

118voting members and two alternate members. The Director of Finance, First Selectman, Board of Education Chairperson, and Super- intendent of Schools will be ex-officio non-voting members of the Committee. And be it further resolved that the Committee shall adhere to all aspects of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Law dealing with public agencies and Robert's Rules of Order. And be it further resolved the Board of Education retains the right to decide whether to replace any members who may resign or be removed for failure to participate in the work of the Committee. And be it further resolved that the Committee shall continue to function until such time as the works called for in this resolution is fully completed, at which time the Committee shall notify the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Selectmen shall disband the Committee. And

119be it further resolved that the Portland School Building Committee will act as the town's official building committee for purposes of Connecticut school construction reimbursement programs and requirements of the Connecticut Office of School Construction Grants and Review. Be it further resolved that the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to begin soliciting applications from residents and qualified interested parties immediately so the committee can be formed to begin its work as soon as possible. Purpose. The School Buildings Committee shall oversee and coordinate all phases of the approved school facilities project including but not limited to one, working collaboratively with the Board of Education, school administration, project architects, engineers, construction managers, and state agencies. Two, monitoring project scope, schedule, and budget. Three, reviewing and making recommendations regarding design and construction decisions. Four, ensuring compliance with all applicable state and

120local requirements. Five, work closely with BOS, BOE, superintendent to oversee all oversee applications for state reimbursement grant funding. Six, provide regular public updates on project progress. And seven, make recommendations to Board of Selectmen and Board of Education regarding project matters requiring approval. Membership. The School Building Committee shall consist of up to nine voting members and two alternates appointed by the Board of Selectmen as follows. One member designated by the Board of Selectmen. One member designated by the Board of Education chairperson or their designee. The PPS Director of Buildings and Grounds or designee. Five members with a breadth of relevant expertise including but not limited to experience with school or commercial construction, architecture, engineering, design, experience with finance, accounting, contracts, and law, and project management. And one member with elementary and or special education teaching expertise.

121The Board of Selectmen may adjust appointments as necessary necessary to ensure a broad range of expertise and community representation. Officers. The School Building Committee shall elect from among its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a secretary. The committee may establish subcommittees as necessary. Meetings, the school building committee shall conduct meetings in accordance with Connecticut Freedom of Information Act requirements, maintain agendas, minutes, and records of proceedings, meet as frequently as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Reporting, the school building committee shall provide regular reports to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education regarding project status, budget updates, schedule milestones, change orders, and contingencies, state reimbursement matters, and public outreach efforts. Duration, the school building committee shall remain in existence until one, completion of the approved school facilities project, two, completion of all financial

122closeout activities, three, acceptance of the project by the town and Board of Education, and four, dissolution by action of the Board of Selectmen, and effective date this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. >> Thank you, John. Were there any edits or changes that they saw in there? What's that? So, yes. Thank Thank you. So, on the first page, where it says that the director of finance for Selectman, Board of Education, Board of a Board of Education chairperson, and superintendent of schools will be ex officio non-voting members, uh Mr. Robinson would like to have either director of finance or designee. So, we can add that to that. So, okay, on the first page, resolved director of finance or designee. >> Okay. John, you did all the You did all of this as the liaison, do

123you want to make the motion or >> Um well, I just did, right? I read it. I'll make the motion. All right. Move the resolution. >> I will second it. >> You'll second it. All right. Any further discussion? I'm going to call for the vote. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? >> I. >> [laughter] >> All those in favor? These brows and I just want to make sure you had to make sure. >> [laughter] >> Okay. Okay. Very good. So, all in favor, none opposed, none abstained. Okay. Motion passes. We have a building committee. >> Okay. >> That's fantastic. Beginning. The start of it. Now we can start making that. So, thank you very, very much. On the fourth paragraph on resolve >> You're talking about for the change? >> Yeah.

124>> Fourth sentence, director of finance. >> There you go. Tom, thanks for the reminder. >> There's there's way too much paper. >> We need we need >> Do they have something that you could just type? >> I got to hesitate. >> All right. All right. Old business? Yes. >> We made that 14 act. >> The act made that 14 act. Yes. Yes. There you go. Thank you very much. Dr. Britain, have a good night. All right. So, under old business, any appointments or reappointments of boards or commissions? Okay, here we are. Okay, fantastic. All right. Um updates on various things. Nordic Spa Nordic Spa is still continuing. Um I met several of their employees um on Friday and Saturday. They came down to the quarry event. Um they were very well received. They're still targeting

125November. Construction continues on. Um the uh the owner and some of the key people will be coming down in about 2 weeks. Um and if the board members would like to participate in another uh I guess view of the property, they're going to walk people through again. They'll be a little closer to getting it done. So, I'll let everyone know what the dates are and times, but I think that would definitely be worthwhile if you have not already gone. So. Um river access project. Um actually uh Rick, would you like to actually make that update real quickly while you're here? Then go for it. I'll let you go up there. >> I think that he's coming. >> You spent 3 hours, so you might as well say something. >> [laughter] >> I wasn't expecting that.

126Or this. >> I know. >> Um as Mike mentioned earlier, uh the ribbon cutting sort of grand opening is Saturday. Um I'll just say it's still a work in progress. Um there's quite a you know, there's a lot more sprucing up to be done. And uh there's work plans work will be going on over the summer and into the fall. Um the uh I believe the town at some point is going to chip seal the road. Right now, it's a gravel road. It's wide enough for two cars. It's pretty well packed down. So, it it's not a problem getting down to the river parking lot. And there is a blacktop area in the lower parking lot for handicap uh people. Um We've had a great response from volunteers. Um and particularly this spring, Dave Thompson

127from Thompson Landscaping and Portland Exchange Club He's a member to Portland Exchange Club live lives in town. He's been down there on uh He was down there tonight, actually. He's been down there on three other occasions with equipment. He's moved a lot of the dead trees um and underbrush, kind of the tough stuff, so that we have a nice broad area cleared area at the riverfront. Um he's done some more seeding. And uh we asked the town this week to save some of the I'll call it semi-topsoil material um that we're going to spread in the coming Well, we'll we'll spread it in the next month or two, but we'll At this point, we'll probably be seeding in the fall. And um uh we we have some money from our fundraising that we'll be buying

128native native plants to fill in the disturbed areas. But basically, I see this is like our current riverfront park. It's it's going to be evolving over the next several years. But it's in good enough shape that people can go kayaking, canoeing, walk in the water. People have been down there fishing. As a matter of fact, I had the I had to ask some fishermen to move Monday night cuz we were down there with weed whackers and uh pruning shears trying to clear the overgrowth, what's what's regrown, so it'll be nice and clean for Saturday. But it's um Even though it's not officially open, people have been going down there. So I think it's something the town can be proud of. So. Thank you for your support on that. >> Yeah, thanks for all your help

129in this, too. >> The hearty applause and support, too. >> [laughter] >> All right. Um, also a quick public works update. Well, and some other things would be great. We've also spent 2 hours here. >> Jason Morocco, public works director. So, we're continuing High Street uh not High Street, but the connectivity uh sidewalk project. Um, currently we're on Main Street. Um, we're ran into a few issues with some state land, so we had to pull back from there, but uh we're in the process of getting a couple change or or one change order to extend the project onto Waverly, uh doing the sidewalks on both sides of Waverly, and then continuing the sidewalks up East Main from uh uh what is that? Free Fairview to Spring. >> Fairview to Spring. >> Just replacing what's already

130there. The nice part is that the ramps 88 ramps have already been done, so it's pretty much just replacing the sidewalk um you know, in kind. So, there's not much uh engineering-wise that needed to be done in those two areas. Um, the well for Gospel Lane the new well, we picked an area where we want to concentrate on of where we want to put the building, which will be kind of where the horseshoe pits are. Um, where it would be probably a most likely a single-story building instead of putting it on the hill or slope where the current well is drilled, because that would probably be a two-story building halfway into the into the ground like a bunker style, and uh then we'd have to have a way to get up around the back. So,

131we made the decision with uh the design to uh plan on the building being over where the horseshoe pits are. Um so that we can build it a little bit bigger with expansion in mind and maybe uh utilize some of the part of the building if it's bigger um to utilize as maybe some storage for a few years before we might need it for extra treatment. Um Rick talked about the kayak launch canoe. That's kind of we're helping them out as best as we can to move some uh brownstone around there and and give them anything that he possibly may need. We're also uh moving some of that uh stockpiled material that we used to save money to get the project done. We're trucking that uh to different sites and using it um here and

132there. Uh we had a water main break today on Strong Ave. That's already been corrected uh before I got here. And we are going to you know once the new year comes around new fiscal year comes around we're going to start with our you know chip sealing and um other projects. So that's kind of in a nutshell real quick cuz I know it you've all been here for a while. Um I don't know if you have any questions for myself if I missed something. The blank stare everyone looks good. All right, thank you. Have a good night. >> Thank you very much. Thank you very much. >> All right, status and committee reports. >> Um next week for for water and sewer and and parks and rec so >> Board of Ed last night um

133a good portion of the the meeting went into executive session. Um that the highlight really was uh retirements recognition of Lisa Kazinski and Isha Murphy retiring. Uh they're they're both great teachers been there a long time and they're they're They're to be a loss. And then um Liam Rowe, he's a great young man. He's the one of the student representatives has been for 3 years on the on the the board and he's going off to college. So they gave him a nice goodbye. And then there was a presentation from Brownstone Intermediate School. We we always talk about having rented leasing out our classrooms at BISS and at BISS. And the I guess the relationship was much more much closer before COVID from what I understand and then that kind of fell away. So they representatives

134from BISS went with the kids from the school and to Salmon River on a Salmon River field trip. And it sounded like it was it was really refreshing to hear how these kids got along and took care of one another. So Good meeting. >> Fantastic. >> I did have a senior advisory committee meeting basically you know they talk a lot about all the great programs that are happening at our senior center. I think you know Sarah's mentioned before she has upwards of a hundred plus programs a month and the growth of new members has been like a hundred and thirty one percent. So there's a real lot of activity happening there. Couple of really quick things. I didn't know that the the meals on wheels program and I didn't know if you guys knew this

135that it changed to a frozen food delivery system. It used to be that they They bring them 10 meals every other week like frozen stuff instead of the how they used to bring them. So Sarah also has this neighbor connect program that she works with the food bank to bring out like items to homebound individuals to fill some of that gap cuz maybe they're not having up all the interactions that they might have been having. And the last thing that I wanted to mention I don't know how we got on the topic but Sarah was mentioning how it sometimes have a commission on aging and I sort of like looked into that after she said it and that's one of the things that if we talk about like charter revision in some towns charters they

136actually it's more a commission on aging versus a senior center advisory. So when we talk about the population and aging in Portland maybe that is an area for our charter where we look at there being a more robust and commission on aging versus this. Not that there's anything wrong with the work that they're doing but maybe bringing more expertise into a commission on aging that are supporting the things and that that are happening there and the expansion that she's had. >> Beautiful. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> When you got anything? >> Uh no other than you know as as the uh the the zoning board of appeals enforcement and ordinances but that's it's going to we're going to kind of talk about it later later meetings. >> Yep, absolutely. >> I know the planning

137and zoning really is a big part of that. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Uh planning and zoning is going as usual. They have another gas station coming up this week. I'm sure everyone's excited about it. >> Yeah. >> Finally we'll have number nine. We almost got to double digits. >> Across the street from Winchester, right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. The only difference is he's also building a 3,000 square foot 4,000 square foot retail building plus a 3,700 square foot building for the gas station, right? >> Ah wow. >> I think it'll be kind of like the the big gas station they built in the center of Marlboro. So it's not just a gas station. There's other stores integrated into like a plaza. >> Oh. >> Yeah, that's a lot of square feet. >> Yes, it's

138pretty big. >> Oh you you're talking about the one that's on the corner of 66 and uh Main Street there that when you get up to Rochdale? Okay. >> Yep. >> That's a >> It's a good sign. >> All right. Any public comment? I know you were waiting for some reason. >> Good story. >> Yeah, no, listen, we like good stories. >> I'm coming up here to complain. Judy Grippo, 10 Middle Haddam Road. I wish that some of the school board was still here because this is a good news story. Um I'm part of a committee for the 50th reunion, 1976. It's bicentennial, and we're having our reunion next week. Um but I wanted to just let you guys know that um we're pairing with a 2020 um six graduates this year. We've already met

139with um the graduating class, a couple of them, and kind of told them what we did when high school and what and what they can look forward to in their life. Um we also had um a scholarship put together for our reunion and gave a $1,200 scholarship to um a senior this year. So, um there's some good news, and um we'll also be participating in the graduation. They're going to have a little um a little seating for us as well. So, 250 50 years. So, that's kind of a good news thing for us the school. So, >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Judy. Appreciate that. >> Just 50 years? Just I graduated 1980. 46 years, that's a That's a big number. I I I don't want to talk about that anymore,

140so. All right. Yeah, so there's nothing new since the last meeting. Um Jersey Mike's is now they're hiring, um and they've got about I think 70 days left for their build-out, but they're they're moving forward. Um they still have to put was it building C? They want to put next to Sage House. They have it They haven't gotten that going yet. They should have been doing it by now, but they're They got a couple slow downs there. Um the uh the uh foundation for the next building for the for the uh senior housing, you know, assisted living. That one, I know they still talked about getting that in before fall because they really do need to get that done so they can start building next year. That's still on target for that, but I don't

141know when they're going to start that. It's still a question mark, but we're still moving along. They're still filling up the second building. I think they have 13 rented so far. They just they just got a CEO three weeks ago, four weeks ago, not that long ago. So, they're working on that. They've had a couple of people migrate from the first building to get a better view, so that's happening right now, so. Oh, yes. Oh, please. No, we're not. Where are we? >> Yeah, we are. I'm good. >> Yep. >> Well, I'll keep it quick. Sorry. Laura 956 Prospect Street. I just wanted to offer two quick points of clarification about a couple of things that came up during the meeting that then just had been back in my head and I didn't want any

142confusion. And the first was just a point that that Meg Scott I was making during her public comment where she was talking about the the ECS formula, the funding that we get for education, and the foundation rate is $11,525. Portland does not receive $11,525 for every student. We receive on average about $4,100 per student. The foundation rate is part of a very complicated formula that factors in student need, students with disabilities, free and reduced lunch, the economic stuff. So, it's based on our current census. So, we receive about $4,100 per student and I thought that was important to say. We get about $5 million. We don't get you know, 10 or 12 million. And the second point of clarification just around your comment John around reporting on the funding that we do receive from the

143state. For clarity, that $527,000 that's earmarked as supplemental education funding goes to the Board of Education to be spent and tracked. And I want to reassure you that Stephanie um, and our and our team is incredibly skilled and adept at tracking how all of our grant funding is spent and how it's reported back to the state. >> neurosis about stuff like this. >> Of course. So, the funding that you reduced from the mill rate is on your end, but the entirety of that funding goes to the Board of Education for tracking and reporting, and Stephanie on her end will be incredibly careful with that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Laura. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. Joe, we're almost to the point where you get sick to your stomach. All right. Any any general

144informal discussion? Actually, we go right to the next thing. >> Really quick. >> Yeah, I think we should I think especially with Joe here. >> Very quick thing. Um, we not have to disband the, um, strategic capital committee? I thought I mean, once we we said after the referendum, we had to talk about disbanding them. They don't need to >> Yeah, cuz they're done. They don't >> Yeah, they they fit they fit in informally disband. So, let's Yeah, so we need to formally do that. Yeah. >> Do that next meeting. >> Yep. >> Hey, so we add one and delete >> So, it's the net that's zero, right? >> We hung on to one because we wanted to make sure if we needed an ample >> on there that could shift to our new one.

145>> All right. There you go. There you go. >> I could think of one. >> That is excellent. Very good. All right. Follow up, uh, I have no follow up with ethics ordinance, uh Nothing on my mind. Does anyone have any comments about that? >> No. >> Okay, thank God. Um, all right. I'd like to call for >> you do the the motion, uh, I just want to state while we're on the record that, uh, the, um, strategy on collective bargaining, uh, does not constitute a meeting at all under the, uh, FOI statute. So, uh, go ahead with the the motion, but in case anybody challenges it someday, it's not a meeting at all. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Very very good. >> I'll make a motion we go into executive session for strategy and

146collective bargaining with Bill McWayne present. >> I'll second that. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Thank you very much.