001Good evening. It's May 20th, 7 o'clock. We're about to start our board selectly meeting. Please rise 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. Thank you to those that came here in person as well as those online. All right. Um, accepting the agenda, I have one addition, actually one subtraction from the agenda. Everyone should have received the email, but uh 7B uh the adoption of the non-unit admin administrative pay plan uh needs to be shelved until the June 3rd meeting. Was unable to get that resolved with Tom. So, I'd like to pull that up, but everything else is fine to me. Would someone
002like to make a motion to approve this with >> I'll make a motion we approve this agenda with the edit to remove item B 7B. And I'll second it. >> Jim seconds it. Further discussion. All those in favor? Uh opposed? Abstension. Motion passes. Thank you very much. Um item number four, approval of the minutes from our regular May 6th meeting. Has everyone reviewed that? >> Yes. >> Any issues? Any discrepancies in there? >> I did not find him either. Someone please make a motion. >> Motion to approve the minutes from May 6, 2016. Second it. >> Andrew makes the motion. Ben seconds it. Further discussion. All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion passes. >> All right. Communication and correspondence. Um I have a few, but I'm going to actually put this to the
003end. We have a guest and speak during public comment. So, um you can go to the next one, which is public comments. Anyone in the audience like to just up to the talking to the microphone and name address? >> Good evening. My name is Wayne Karini. My wife Lori Karini. Um, we reside at 17 Eisening Glass Hill Road and previously at Thompson Hill Road here in Portland. As some of you may know that I own F40 Motorsports on Route 66. I've been a resident of Portland since 1973. Lori and I last night celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. and uh and you know we we built our family. We built my business here. Um I've been very fortunate to have some really great things happen to me. Um I have a
004television show that was uh that we started many years ago uh 20ome years ago. Chasing Classic Cars which is shown all over the world and over a 100 countries. My voice is dubbed in 38 languages and it's the most popular automotive TV show in the world. So, uh, I'm very proud of that. And and we filmed, uh, 90% of it here in Portland. And we had, uh, customers and and, uh, fans from all over the world come in weekly to visit us and spend time and spend money here in Portland. Uh, they they love going to Ferrells. So, it's it's it's a great place. Uh, and and they and they love coming to visit us. The reason I want to speak tonight is that we have something that has been um a big problem to
005our family and I think a big problem to Portland right in our own backyard. Um we live at 17 Eisenlass Hill Road. We built a big beautiful house there a few years ago and uh in our backyard is is a quarry that Connecticut Explosives owns and um they store a lot of explosive materials there. um fertilizer, um blasting, we're not going to get into that, but fertilizer and and and I've been told firearms, um a lot of things that the um um different government agencies don't want anybody to know is up there, and it's a real scare to us. Now, they want to put um four 100 ft silos full of ammonium nitrate 500 ft from our home. Ammonium nitrate, as you well know, during the um um Kansas City bombing where they blew up
006the the building was was a van full of ammonium nitrate mixed with diesel fuel and blasting caps. It leveled the building. Um, there would be enough material up there that if ever something ever happened would wipe out Glastonbury, Portland, Middletown, all surrounding towns. And all you got to do is look it up online to see the devastation that this stuff can cause. In Texas, there's been hundreds of deaths in different places where this ammonium nitrate is stored. And we fought this a few years ago here in town uh for him to get a a permit to do this. in the town zoning board of appeals passed it through like a hot knife through butter. Um, not having a plan. Um, let's say that a lightning strike hits in the woods and this stuff catches on
007fire. What was the plan? We asked the fire marshall's office and they said, "Well, we don't have a plan. We're just the plan is is that our fire department will not go into the premises because they don't know how to handle a fire like that." and we are 500 feet away from that. It's going to affect the value of my property. It's going to affect my insurance, which I'm sure once that's done, the insurance company will drop me. And and we have other people um the gentleman just bought the farm next door from Mr. Hosley. He's very concerned and all of us should be very concerned in town. We really need to know what is there and what why is this going to be so close to me? He has over 90 acres there. He
008could put it way in the other side. It's still dangerous, but it's not next to our home. When this ammonium nitrate with these silos is put into these trucks, it's powder that flies in the air and it can cause all sorts of respiratory problems. We have our grandchildren that visit us quite often. We have a swimming pool right there and we we live there. I mean, this is affecting our lives drastically. emotionally it is it it causes great distress on a daily basis and yet nobody wants to do anything here in town about it. Now, I'm if you look at back in the records, at one time I was the 12th largest taxpayer here in town, a personal person because we own a beautiful home, my business, another piece of property here in town. And
009and we the 12th largest taxpayer. We pay over $110,000 to this town every year in taxes. Mr. Hosley pays a pittance to that because it's a tree farm. He he doesn't pay any taxes. Basically, he doesn't live here. He lives down in Essex. So, the town is not looking after its residents. They're looking at after a guy that wants to put a business in and with all sorts of problems. Now, would you think it would be okay to put these silos next to a school, next to a church in downtown Portland? Of course not. It shouldn't be put there. And the reason they said was is Mr. Hley has a grandfather clause that says that he can he can store explosives there and it was there since the 1800s. If there was a house of
010illreute on that property over 100 years ago, would that still be appropriate? Of course not. This is not appropriate. It should be in an industrial zone somewhere way far away from everyone, not 500 ft away from our home. So, I just wanted to bring it to your attention. There's a ZBA meeting tomorrow night about this. He is trying to move these silos further away from our house, but closer to our pool house, which is still 5800 ft. Who cares? It's it's not appropriate. And And so, I hope you pay attention to that. Um, I hope we can do something together to to fend this off because if the town of Portland allows this to happen and I lose value on my property, I'll have to go to to whoever is is responsible for this happening
011and just to be able to recoup my losses, to get insurance on our property, and to live the life that we've we've had here in Portland for so many years and and enjoyed it. I mean, our our kids went to school here. Our grandchildren come and visit. I mean, it's it's a nice place. We love Portland. I grew up in Glastonbury, just over the border. We love Glastonbury, but I have plenty of chances to move anywhere in the world I wanted to, and I chose Portland, and we're here to stay. We hope. So, thank you for listening to us tonight. And I hope that you can give it some thought, maybe some uh you can uh say something to the appropriate people that are going to be on the ZBA to see if we can
012put this to bed once and for all. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Mrs. Karini, did you want to say something? Did you want to say something? Okay, there you go. Thank you for coming tonight. Right. Anybody else? Is that go last? >> Judy Grippo. Judy Grio. It's not Kenery. Uh 10 Middle Hatam Road, Portland. Um I know the budget was passed. Um but the additional money that the state of Connecticut over $580,000 um was never addressed prior to the referendum passing. And I know that you will be passing a budget tonight or setting a um mill rate tonight. I would like the board to address the extra $580,000 that the state uh allocated to us and how you're going to use it and also um to assure the
013town's people that it's not going to be spent but added to the reduction in the mill rate. So I know you're going to be addressing that after public comments but I wanted to bring it up prior to Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else Jason Morocco, director of public works, um board of selectment. I just like to to each of you know that this week is public works week. Um so I just wanted to um read something that I put together. Uh, as we recognize public works week, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all the employees in our public works department, including building maintenance, grounds, water, sewer, highway, fleet maintenance, and resource recovery. These men and women are truly the unsung heroes who keep our town running every single day. Much
014of their work happens behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed, but their efforts are essential to the health, safety, and daily operations of our community. Whether it's maintaining our roads, ensuring safe drinking water, keeping our facilities operational, managing our parks and grounds, treating our sewage and responding to emergencies, or working long hours during storms and in different and in difficult situations and conditions, they're always there when the town needs them. Uh, public works is just not about equipment and infrastructure. It's about dedicated people who take pride in serving their community. On behalf of the town, I would like to sincerely thank our public works employees for their hard work, professionalism, and commitment throughout the year. Um, their efforts go are their efforts are appreciated more than they know, and this town would not function without
015them. >> Thank you, >> here. >> Yeah. Hello. Uh Andy Dion, a Portland resident. I'm also the parks and recck director. Mike asked me to stop by tonight and kind of give an overview of the stuff that uh Parks and Rec is working on right now. So, uh summer, of course, is going to be here before we know it. So, I want to mention our summer concert series that we put on every year with the Brownstone Cororum. Those are 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays starting on July 14th with the Mick Lewis Band. We also have July 21st, Great Hill Mountain Band. July 28th, Kings of Karma. August 4th, Don't Tell Le and August 11th, Wicked Peach. That's our lineup this year. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody down at Riverfront on Tuesdays. We also have our
016free fund runs program that's overseen by Parks and Rec Commission member Deb Ruth. That's starting on Thursdays at 6 PM at the Brett Complex from July 16th to August 13th. There's multiple age groups ranging from four and under to 60 plus. So, that's a great uh program for us and we look forward to seeing you there as well. Uh we're also partnering with the Portland Sports Hall of Fame to accept nominations for the class of 2026. The deadline to nominate someone is July 15th. Um we'll have a banquet and induction ceremony in November. And this group has been defunct since 2009. Uh Rick Borg is one of the original members of the first group. He's helping Portland residents, including myself, bring this group back. Uh, it's long overdue. Since 2009, we've had multiple state champions
017in multiple sports. You know, basketball, wrestling, golf, baseball, soccer. Um, I graduated in ' 07 from Portland High School. All those great girls cross country teams, none of them are in the Hall of Fame yet. So, we have a lot of ground to cover and we can't get anybody in unless they're nominated. So, you can nominate folks through the parks and recck website. There's paper forms available. So, just reach out to me and I'll help you nominate someone if you're interested. Uh, our kids blast program at biz, the afterchool program is going strong. That's for kids, students in uh, grades K through six. Registration for next year is already open. And since I'm here, I just want to urge this board to consider kids blast as the school consolidation plan moves forward. There needs to
018be a place at the new valley view or at Gildersleeve for Kids Blast or we need to keep biz as a town building to allow Parks and Rec to run Kids Blast out of that facility. Right now there's 40 Portland students at Kids Blast. There is currently a 23,500 uh net revenue uh for Kids Blast uh with an expense of mostly payroll about 1300 a week. So I feel confident telling this board right now that program will net about $17,000 this fiscal year. uh as recently as three years ago, it net just 1,000. But it's more than revenue. It's safe and affordable child care for Portland residents. Portland families pay two uh $22.50 a day or $7.50 an hour for this program. So, Kids Blast is the best of both worlds. It's a revenue generator
019and it's an essential service. But we can't generate that revenue and we can't provide that service without space. >> We also have our summer quest camp program open for registration. Uh we use the high school middle school uh for that program. I want to thank Bob Shay for making it work for us every single year. It's usually seven weeks. This year it's 6 and a half weeks because of the way the school calendar fell. The first day is June 24th. We have three age groups. Kitty camp ages three and a half to five. base camp grades one through six and teen camp grades seven through nine. That's an average of about a 100 kids uh a week. We also have men's drop in basketball at the middle school from 7:30 to 9 uh on Tuesdays.
020The last day is June 9th uh for that program. Now that we have access to your old meeting space at Buck Foreman, we're able to offer programs there again. Uh right now, actually, literally right now, there's a Pilates program going on uh in that space. And we have registration open for strength training, yoga, and Pilates that's going to take place in July. We have uh adult golf programs with Jerry tomorrow over at Golf West going on right now and also program in June. It's open for registration. Uh a new thing I'm super excited about is we're bringing back Adult softball. I'm starting a new co-ed softball league with East Hampton and Colchester. that's going to be uh starting in July at Nolan Field. It's an eight-week uh program. Uh we're gonna have at least one
021Portland team. I'm pretty confident we can probably get two. So, if you want to join a team, reach out to me. I'll get you assigned to a team. We're looking forward to that. We have multisport programs for kids ages two to five right now at Riverfront Park on Saturdays. We're offering a new uh session of that in July as well. We have a boating certificate class taking place in June that's taught by an instructor from Deep. uh folks will leave that program with a certificate, you know, certifying they're able to operate a a boat safely. We also have community garden registration just closed. Um those folks will be planting uh their flowers and produce very soon. I want to thank uh Jill Benson and the other master gardeners there because most of that produce is
022actually donated to the Portland Food Bank, which is great to see. Um we partnered with youth services to offer a babysitting course that just filled up today. ages 11 to 18 folks will leave that program with his certificate in first aid and CPR. Andy Bower, who you all know from the Clean Energy Task Force, as he always does, is helping us with adult horseshoes. It's also a free program on Wednesdays at Rose Hill. Um, so you can reach out to me to register for that. Like I said, it's free for Portland residents. Uh, Lego Steam Camps for ages five and six and 7 to nine taking place in July. Registration's open. Tai Chi, uh, on Wednesday and Saturdays is all year round. Uh when it's nice outside, they're over at Riverfront. If it's raining or
023cold, they're at the Buck Foreman building. We have Skyhawks tennis camp for ages 7 to 12. Week of July 13th. USDA tennis lessons for grades 1 and two and three through eight on Tuesdays and Thursdays in July. Uh we're super excited about the Brownstone Track Club. It's the second year we're doing this. Portland resident Chris Brown is running that program for kids ages 11 to 18 over at the high school track in July as well. We're partnering with the state through the Justice Education Center to offer once again inspire girls basketball. That's $20 uh for Portland residents. It's a seven-hour camp for girls ages 6 to 13. Um it's basketball focused, but here's where the state funding comes in. It's actually really about leadership, empathy, compassion, honesty, open-mindedness, opportunity. Uh food is provided, field trips
024are are included, and the cost to Portland residents for that program is zero dollars. Like I said, the funding is all through the state. Um, we also have Slam Gemma basketball going on the week of June 29th over at Biz. Junior golf workshops again at Golf West with Jerry. Uh, three age groups ranging from uh, kindergarten to 8th grade. U, right now we're focusing on also staff training for our summer request program. It's about 40 employees a year. Uh, there's adults work for the board of ed during the school year. adults who are parents of kids in town, but also a lot of the folks who work are Portland residents who are high school kids or college kids. It's their first job. We're teaching them how to be professional. We're, you know, teaching them what
025it means to have a job, filling out time cards, getting trained in many different things, including first aid and CPR. So, I want to thank Tommy Senkowitz from the fire department and grounds. He's the person that makes sure everyone's certified. So, we're very thankful for that. And that's just our kind of immediate, you know, programs, but we're also looking forward to the fall. Our 5K is scheduled for uh September 26th. We also have our youth basketball leagues, cheerleading, uh the tree lighting and Easter egg hunt among uh many other programs and activities. So, like I said, Mike asked me to come by and kind of let people know. So, I'm happy to answer any questions if you have have any. >> We don't do anything, do we? >> Yeah. >> That's amazing. Andy Andy, that's
026>> all I could think of in a couple hours. >> Great. >> Really appreciate that. Thank you everybody. Thanks. Thanks, Andy. >> It's great to see all the programs coming up. So, that is excellent. Um, all right. And last call. Any other All right, then we'll get on to budget matters and resolutions. >> I was going to let you do your budget and then bug you, but I'll bug you now. Um, I think the last time I got Kim Hannah, three Butler Lane, Portland. The last time I got up here and talked to you guys, I kind of made a promise that I was done beating the Butler Lane drum, but I'm reneging on that promise. Unfortunately, mainly I guess my biggest complaint, as you know, polls were put in on Butler Lane in the
027last couple weeks and the traffic control was awful. And I don't understand the reasoning when you have a paid company who's handling the traffic and you have a police officer who goes up and requests that the gate be closed for safety. They're there to ensure the safety of that area and are told no. I'm just appalled that I'm appalled. And then okay, so kids kids are kids. They don't have the greatest common sense. But when you have adults that come down and they see all that going on on the road, the road was narrowed to about a third of its width because the trucks don't park on the in the middle of the road. I sent you some pictures. They're, you know, and we have a school van with students on it coming down that
028road instead of going the other way. I was pretty upset because I'm thinking about number one, especially when they were doing the poll on the corner of High Street. Now the sight lines are terrible. They're trying to get traffic over High Street. They're trying to get traffic out of that street. And you've got a school van bringing students through that to avoid going through the parking lot and over the speed bumps. At some point, somebody's responsible and something's something's going to happen. So that part this particular circumstance was was really upsetting to me because there was just no the adults in the room were not using any common sense. I don't expect a lot of kids. They're kids, but I expect our employees that you are the boss of that are responsible for our children
029to make a common sense decision. And when they're asked by a safety company and a police officer to close that gate and they say no, they don't want to. That to me that's unacceptable. And anybody that's got parents that are in that dealing with these kids going through that situation should be really upset because that's a huge safety concern. We've talked all year I've been in this room and we've talked about safety. We've talked about safety on the roads and speed cameras and everything we can do to make the roads safer. You've got a deadend road with signs that say it's not a through road and you've got this kind of chaos going on there. So, I think it's time to really tackle that problem personally. >> Thank you, Kim. >> Thank you. >> And
030anybody else? I wasn't going to say anything. I'm Meg Scat of Five Freedom Way. I'm on the board of education. Um just as you deliberate the $580,000 that the state has allocated to the town of Portland. Um my understanding is that $527,951 was a supplemental um aid to education and $52,900 was a supplemental to the municipality. Um I understand tax relief is front and center to uh what we would like to see happen and I want to thank the town and the board of select selectmen for supporting our referendum and our town budget this year. Um, we appreciate everything that's done and I want to be fair about this, but I also want to make sure that the educational supplemental um, aid that was designated to offset special education um, excess costs, transportation, um, health
031insurance benefits and all of the above. um should be a consideration as you deliberate on how we can fairly and justly and equitably share the money with taxpayers and with the board of education. So I would just urge you to be thoughtful about it um and just um say thank you in advance for um for the deliberate the deliberation that you will do tonight and and I understand that uh there's it's a huge amount of money. We were very very fortunate in the government uh in the governor's um allocation to Portland. Some towns did not fare as well quite frankly. So thank you and um and I also would just like to say to um Andy, thank you for that report. I was very happy that I'm sitting in the um youth service office right
032now. we were able to find funding um through our DCF uh fund, our allocation to fund that babysitting program and offer it to um students and to um to the kids in town who want to start a babysitting business and and work to earn some college money or some crazy money. So, thank you and thank Andy. Thank you. >> Thank you, Meg. Thank you, Mick. All right, the last one. Anybody else? All right. Very good. All right. Let's get on. Let's move on to the budget. So, first of all, I have to thank all the folks that voted for not only the budget, but also for the school. Um, I want to review the numbers really quickly because I think it's worthwhile because I was absolutely blown away by not only the turnout that we
033had, but also the number of people that voted my mic's not going to hear you that sign. >> Can I Can you hear me now? >> It's because you're Yeah. >> How about that? All right, I'll talk louder. So, anyways, so we had a record turnout for the number of people that voted this time. Can you hear me? Okay, Nick. >> Thank you, Nick. Anyways, so we had 2203 registered voters cast a ballot, 32.4%. That is a re not at all. I DJ T. All right. So again, let me start again. So we had on this last election, 2203 registered voters cast a vote out of the Portland's voters of 6793. Uh 21 people that own property in town but don't live in town also voted. That's 32%. That's a third of the voters out
034there. We never get that on a non-presidential election. It just doesn't happen. But this time we had so many people come out and I think because they understood the plan and I'm talking school specifically but they understood the plan $ 109 million project but we explained it well I think collectively those that understood the plan I think people understood it they came out and they voted for a project that made sense to them certainly after the vote uh after two years ago when they voted down the last rank. So again, I thank everyone that went out and voted. That's fantastic. Uh the actual votes for each one for the budget referendum. The VSA was 1826 for 372 against it passed by almost a six to1 vote. That tells me that people trust this board and
035what we did during the process. I think a lot of people paid attention. Now some people may have still disagreed. I respect the nos. I respect the yeses. I I have I have less of an issue with the ones that chose not to vote at all if they felt passionate about it. But the second question on the school project, it was actually a little bit more in favor. 1867 voted yes, 350 voted no for a bigger project. So again, I just have to thank the voters that did that. The voters spoke. Um I think we did a great job out there and I'm happy that that happened. So thank you very much for everyone out there. We as a board worked hard to convey information about this project to everyone. also also about the details
036of the budget. So, want to thank all of us up here. David, I want to thank you as well at home uh for putting a lot of effort into it. We worked really hard to get that number down as low as we could and um I think they did a great job with that. So, thank you again. With regards to the money that the state has has given to the towns out there, there is f 52 52.9,000 from the Moheaggan fund uh has come in or will be coming in and we will be allocating that toward mill rate reductions. And the mill rate that's on tonight that we're going to reduce it that we're going to talk about reflects that $52,900. The $527,951 has had it's gone back and forth over the last week or
037two. I think to say to say fair, how will that be allocated? What did the Senate say? What did the governor say, etc. So, the last that I spoke today to one of our attorneys uh regarding this was that money should and needs to go to the board of education where they get to decide what they're going to do. Now, I have Charles on the phone as well. He should be online, I believe, and I'll have him clarify some of the rules on that, too, because I know they've been following it very closely. But uh that money uh will be able to be used by them for a variety of things. We have a number of things going on right now that reflect that have issues. For example, uh gas prices have gone up. Um
038for the for the budget that was picked, we had an insurance issue that caused, I believe, a deficit of 200 and something thousands. There are reasons and uses for that funds that I think will and again they'll best decide what's going to make the most sense for that funding, but they're taking that seriously. and Charles can jump on in a second to maybe walk through uh his vision of that. But that money will be going to board of ed in in October. I believe October 1st to 31st is when that funds will actually be transferred over. Um so tonight when we vote on this budget and when we vote on the mill rate, the mill rate reflected in what everyone has up here will reflect the $52,900 applied against that budget and that reduces the
039mill rate down slightly. So we'll go over those numbers when we come up to that vote. But with that is Charles if you're if you're on. >> Yes, I'm here. >> Okay. Beautiful. So if you can walk through your understanding of the process. I think it's important not only for the board members here but those watching at home and for uh someone they just went up there and expressed some concern about that. So >> yeah. Sure. You guys everybody can hear me. Right. My my camera is not working so right. Well right now. All right. So the way the way I understand it is that money is going to come uh to the board of ed the the 520,000 and the way that the Connecticut State Department of Education is advising us is that we
040should put that in a in a special fund and then we have to account for it um and spend it only for educational purposes. And it's pretty, you know, there's not a lot of strings attached to what they define as educational purposes, whether it's um equipment, supplies, staffing, um you know, all all of our different needs. But we do have to we are going to be asked to when the audit comes um account for that money very similar to the way that we had to account for the the COVID funds when they came in from the federal government several years ago in in the various different rounds. Um what you I'm going to be completely transparent. what you are allowed to do is reduce the amount that goes to the board, right? so that you're
041able to look at that that 520,000 and and reduce from the town's allocation to the board um that amount and then of course if if that were to happen which I'm definitely not going to advise and I'll explain why um we would then clearly know that you know we have to make up that that difference and and it's of course as long as you don't go below the minimum budget requirement established by the state- which you wouldn't at this point now at this clearly what I'm I'm going to recommend is um that you you you set the mill rate tonight based on the 6 to1 yes vote um and let those funds come to the board. Of course, I agree with you, Mike, and thank you to everybody that came out and voted. That was
042a a great night and an overwhelming success. Now, even though the budget passed at that level, you know, I'm just going to remind you, and I pointed this out during our budget deliberation process, we're we're right now, if I don't make any further cuts to to the budget in a little bit more than a $200,000 deficit, um that was caused by um two things. One, the $50,000 cut that that um the board of selectman made to the board of ed budget. And as we talked about, the calendar for the budget development is difficult because the board of education sets its budget before we know the actual health insurance increase because we're we're working on the budget very early in the year. Um, and the board of ed budget that was voted on and sent to
043the board of selectman was uh established before the final numbers came in on a very large health insurance premium increased which really punched all of us in the gut. Right. So, we're in we're right now in about a a $200,000 deficit. So, the first thing that I'm going to recommend to the board that we is that we allocate that funding from the state um to the health insurance line item and to offset the $50,000 cut which the board um placed in the salaries account last night on an action at the the board of education meeting last night. Just as a side note, we were all very much hoping that this would happen. I know that we were very active with our state legislators. We went to lots of legislative breakfasts. Um Meg is there and
044in her capacity as president of CABE lobbyed very hard. You all read the letters that we wrote to all of to Christy Carpino and Norm Needleman. Um I know CAB and CAPS. We all we all fought very hard this year for this additional funding because all superintendents in the state were making enormous cuts to our budgets already in a time of increasing special education costs and dramatic health insurance increases which are shocking and just absolutely obnoxious that we have to deal with. Um and and you know even to get to the board of education's number which was a 4.9% increase we made significant reductions. You know I I reduced a a teaching position. I we reduced a clinician position. We we cut the facilities. We cut supplies and equipment. we went right down to the
045bare bone even to get into that 4.9% increase simply because of that health insurance increase um and what we're we're up against um with that challenge. So, you know, would would I would I love to, you know, be able to put at least that one teaching position back? I would. Otherwise, you know, there are no lack of needs for supplies, equipment, repairs, air handling units, any number of things at the secondary school that we can apply that to um to help offset offset, you know, a lot of the cuts that we made and emerging needs that we're facing in the schools. And then I'm just going to point out two more things that very much has my attention and I'm very nervous about and I know Tom will probably be nodding his head because the
046town should be nervous about this too. We haven't yet realized the dramatic effect that is going to be caused by gas at $5 a gallon when when when that that starts to hit us in addition to all the downline inflationary pressures that that's going to cause. I mean, we saw this happen when Russia invaded Ukraine, right? Like a lot of the inflation and and pressures that we've experienced are about to happen again, right? I mean, things were getting better before just a a month or so ago things have now turned bad again. So, I know that Stephanie is very concerned and I'm very concerned about what that's going to look like when when we're making purchases, not only for heating fuel and fertilizer and all of the petroleum based products that we use, but the
047pressures that that places on the entire supply chain and and how that's going to start affecting us very shortly. um and certainly before the end of the year. So, you know, my ask tonight is of course set the mill rate based on the the the six to1 approval, yes to no approval for the budget. Trust that, you know, the first $200,000 of of that money is going to be used to offset the health insurance and the cut that we took. Right away, I may ask the board of education to add back that teaching position because I don't want large larger class sizes. And then, you know, the board of education and I, we have to be very thoughtful. You know, we have lots of needs and lots of places um that we can use those
048funds. And you know, we we we still want to wait and see and and be smart about, hey, it's nice to, you know, maybe not commit some of that fund yet until we realize the impact of the inflationary pressures that is is going to definitely hit us when I mean, anybody who's filled up their car with gas understands what we're dealing with now. And you know, we have minivans that we fill up and fertilizer that we buy and and you know, we're we're headed for a rough patch. So, I understand um that there would be an inclination to take that money to lower the mill rate. I'm not sure that that would be um the wisest thing to do now because if if we're in a deficit position later in the year um you know
049I I might be back to you like I was a couple years ago saying hey this is what we're experiencing. That was a lot of talking. I'll stop and see if there are any questions or if anybody wants me to unpack any of that. >> I ask question of course. So you you you you kind of said there was a $200,000 issue. It was my understanding was that it was $140. And if I understand this correctly, I just want to understand the process, right? The 529,000 needs to be used for education. I get it. But dollar for dollar, the town could just just follow the process here. the town could uh provide $529,000 less to the board of ed. Correct. Because we allocate the money. >> That is accurate. >> It's a yes or no.
050The answer is yes. >> Yes. That is accurate. >> So in you know I just can't help but say to myself, you know, here we got a $529,000 gift and I mean this is not a revenue problem. I think we have a spending problem, right? So, if this was 529,000 or if it was a million or three million, we're going to find a way to spend the money, right? And and I don't mean it to be to be, you know, arrogant, but this is an opportunity that we have to make sure that we properly fund our board of ed and also get some taxpayer relief, right? And I think we're starting with the opposite. We're starting with the $140,000 is now $200,000 gap that we need the money for. And what else, you know, and
051now we're come we're coming up with other things. I think at this point the town has already given the board of ed a budget, right? we will be getting that 529 there. But I mean at some point I think that the the starting point should be dollar for dollar the 529 needs to come out of the the board of ed and then backfill it with things that we know are needed as opposed to the money being taken at first and then trying to figure it out later. What I'm saying is is let the if there's line items of specific things, you know, gas just went through the roof. Hey, we have a teacher that we'd like to keep. Hey, we've got then we talk about those, but it's that's got to be like supplemental. It
052can't be like right off the top because ultimately this was supposed to be for trying to help education, but really it was for property tax relief. And if this number was 529 or a million or 1.5, I think we would find reason. We'd find things that we want to spend money on. And and we're no different at home, right? You get a raise and all of a sudden the money's gone. And you say, "How did that happen?" Well, it's not a revenue problem, it's a spending problem. So, I think we just got to be really, really careful. And I'm open to uh talking about things that we do need that we need to support. >> Just a thought. Yeah, I this is one I think that we definitely we we wrestle with a little bit.
053Um I thought we had really good deliberations as a board and came to a good agreement as you know the board of ed was being as careful as they could be. we were being as careful as we could be and then we gave it to the voters and they uh they approved that level of expenditures, >> right? They didn't approve how much revenue we were going to collect. They approved that level of expenditures. Um I look at this and I think that, you know, this is a good opportunity for us to help our taxpayers. I understand that from a town budget perspective, from a board of ed budget perspective, that gas is going to get more expensive. It's also going to get more expensive for every single taxpayer that's trying to to fill up their
054tank to get to work every week. Um, I think that's part of it. I think the whole goal of this was to provide some tax relief to our to our citizens. I also think we are very fortunate to have citizens in this town that voted for $ 109 million referendum and to rebuild two schools. And I think that's because they have a certain amount of trust and a certain amount of faith in how we've been trying to be very prudent with how we spend their money. Um I think we always argue about that. We're always very careful. I think this is also an opportunity for us to keep faith with that. Um I think the we we all came to an agreement on what the board of ed board of ed was comfortable with where
055they were as a level. The town was comfortable. Um, I think we should look at providing tax relief with this. I think that's what kind of keeps faith with the expenditures that were approved and with the taxpayers that voted for them. I think the board of ed, we also have a history where if the board of ed needs help in April as a board and as a town, we're going to be there to help. Um, we always are. You know, we're not we're not going to let that anything go negative. So, that's that's my view on it. C >> could I just can I add one one one one thought to this conversation before I I I stop talking? Um it it it would go like this. I think that this was if I were
056going to talk to our legislators, I I would say this was a very poorly written law, right? >> It it it is very >> I don't want to pit the the board of education against the the boards of select men in town. And that's what's happening across the state, right? I mean, this is it. You you it kind of came out both sides of your mouth. Hey, this is to help boards of education offset the massive cuts and inflationary pressures they're seeing from special education and um healthcare and all that, but it's also for tax relief. Well, you know, you can't have it both ways, legislature. If if it's for tax relief, don't say it's for education. Give it to the towns through whatever vehicles you have for that and let them use it for
057tax relief. If it's to help boards of education make up dramatic cuts that they've had to make, and we have had to make dramatic cuts, then then give it to us in our ECS grant and say that that's what it's for, right? But this is kind of like being too cute by half. And it's, you know, both for helping education and for tax relief. I I don't like that. And I don't like that because it it creates this dynamic or this perception that, oh, who's going to get the money? Is it going to be for more teachers or is it going to be for tax relief? And and that's that's not that's not what we want. That's not the spirit of this. Now, that said, I I I know I have not had a chance
058to talk to my board of education about this because we out of respect for this, we didn't talk about it last night because we knew you were going to discuss it tonight. But I know the board chair is there in the room and and she's probably going to nod her head when I say this. We have been talking about it and I'm wondering if there's not some compromised position. Right. Right now we are in the the board of education a $200,000 deficit caused by the $50,000 cut that was made when that last time I stood up in front of you and the calendar that forced us to set a board of ed budget before we knew the health health insurance premium and we're in that deficit. Um, I would be hoping that at minimum you
059could meet meet us halfway and at least make us whole so that I don't have to go cut an additional $200,000 out of the board of ed budget, which I promise you would be devastating. Like, you don't you don't want that because we're already at the bone. Now, we're talking positions and programs and activities for kids that I've got nowhere else to go because we have to I can't not give health insurance, right? So, if you could could meet us at a place where we can agree and then hear me say we also don't want larger class sizes and I I don't want to cut this teacher. I you know I want to keep the class sizes where they are this year. So, but in the spirit of this, it's a poorly written law. It's
060it's created this dynamic that I don't like. Um, but and I haven't had the chance to talk with my the board of edet about it, but I think we all agree that, you know, it does it do you have to cut it all or can you can you help make us whole? And then, you know, can can we get to a place where it that we're helping keep all of the educational programs whole and also providing some level of tax relief. I'm all I'm all for that conversation and and I I believe Laurel is in the room and if she's nodding her head maybe she would would say that that she believes the board of ed would also be interested in that level of compromise. >> I guess Charles my question to that would be
061this. When we sat in this room for budget deliberations all those dynamics were already known. the health care costs. Um, all of that was known when we sent this. And one of the reasons that we did not and I think I gave the give this board credit there was a lot of concern um with sending you know basically almost a 5% increase um you know to the which I think was 4.12 for our mill rate uh to to the voters was just that it's a tough year for our voters as well at the time when we talked about um the fact that there was $140,000 deficit orund for some reason I seem to remember it was more like 154,000 or 146,000 146. >> I knew if I said enough numbers I'd get to the right
062one. >> Yep. That's >> um but then there was another 50,000 that you you were comfortable with that given the normal rates you'd be able to make that up, right? And always knowing that again we're going to be there if you can't or if conditions jump um etc. And I guess the question would be is that other than the fact that gas prices have gone up, what has changed with that? >> Yeah. So, so I I'd have to go back and look at the tape, but we were in about the 140,000 and change was the deficit because of the calendar and the health insurance. The 50,000 cut you that you made put me up to the 200,000. That's the number I'm talking about. which which if I understand right which if I understand you were
063comfortable with 50 and you you requested that we not go deeper >> right I I think at that time and I'd have to go back and and look at the tape but you you likely heard me say and it is my hope that the legislature and the governor and others are hearing because of all of these lobbying efforts our plea for additional funding and that if that additional funding came in I would be looking to use that to help make up for that deficit instead of going and cutting more from the budget, right? Because, you know, and and that's like I think that's what I said or or some some version of that because at that time we were working hard with our legislators. We we were go again and starting to hear from um
064our lobbying groups and others that there is momentum and an understanding that the ECS grant base amount hasn't been increased since 2013 and all of our districts are struggling to keep budgets at a reasonable place and not cut services. Um so we were we were hoping that we'd be in in this place. Um, which is which which is why when it came out and then it was like, hey, is this for tax relief, further tax relief in addition to the cuts that were made or is this to help ma make up for the cuts that boards of ed have already made which I outlined for you in my presentation and included the teacher, the clinician, uh, all of the supplies and equipment and and um, extracurriculars and things that we've done. Um that's what makes
065this difficult, right? We we were hoping that clearly this money would come in in the form of additional money for education. And if that had been the point, then that's what they should have have done and been clear about that. But instead, they've that's why that's why I started by saying, you know, they they've put us in this position where hey, you can have the money and you have to spend the money on education, but the towns can cut the money and not give you that amount. Which, well, which is it? Is it to help make up for cuts that boards of education have already done or is it to help offset increases in the mill rate? You can't have both. You got, you know, that's why I I hate the way this law was
066written. It's frankly stupid. What is it for? Do you want to help offset the mill rate? Fine. Give it to the towns in some way, but don't be cute about it and say it's for education, but the towns can then cut it from you. And I hate that because I knew that that it would create this feeling and this dynamic. And it not only is here in Portland, it's in every every community that's now in this this boat. >> Well, I I think I think that there's a little bit of a difference, though. And and and this is I think where I wrestle. I understand the difficulty in trying to craft a law, although I do think the language could have been a little more straightforward, right? A little just, you know, a little less
067legal ease. But I think they were trying to craft a law that covered not only municipalities that were looking at making heavy cuts to education. Um, but also that provides some help and assistance to towns like Portland that were paying more to avoid making those heavy cuts. And the law is there to kind of craft and I think help both sides of the equation. So I think that's why it's it's definitely a little bit of odd. would rather they actually just fix >> the ECS formula. >> That would be right. That would be the the absolute best way to go >> um to go with this. >> But had that been the case, you know, we would have probably allocated less money from the town budget up front as opposed to right and it would
068have balanced out. And I think that's what we're trying to get to today. >> You know, what's the best way to handle that? >> I I kind of you kind of look at just kind of this just this year, right? Uh we're going to be we've already tapped into our for this budget year that we're in right now. We've already tapped into our general fund for like $85,000. Correct. Back in November. Uh we have resolutions here for an additional for additional money. So that's like four almost just under $500,000 that's coming out of our general fund. >> Right. Am I saying that right? >> It's it's money that's been allocated but not additional to what we spent >> for this year. One that we haven't approved yet. >> Right. >> Okay. >> So, >> right.
069So, that's coming out of our general fund, not out of an approved budget. >> It's No, it's it's it's already money either that's for example in some of the supplement supplemental capital improvements. That's money that we have set aside for that. That's not additional money we're asking for because we were able to balance. >> Right. >> Okay. And that's a dipping out of our no it's not >> balance but a uh but at some point if if we are a healthy town financially we're able to support other things right we're able to support the board van the way they need to be supported we're able to support our if we ever have a snowstorm if we ran out of salt which we did uh different vehicles that we're going to need right we got to
070plan for that and at some point if we if we bring in more money and we spend more money. There's going to come a point where our taxes are going to go through the roof or we're just going to stop spending on stuff and then we're in a a downward spiral. So, we just got to be real careful. Yeah, I agree with the real careful part. But, I'll give you an example uh with regards to salt and the whole bit because of circumstances there. That's why we have our contingency. That's why we have the money available for things like that because every year we have we'll have some kind of event that's either unknown and and we build that into that. So, but I but it but it's a good point. I do want to
071add something to what Charles has said and what we're talking about with the money from the state. I've been following this pretty closely for the last two weeks and have gone through multiple meetings with cost and CCM and others trying to decode exactly what the state wanted. So from Governor Lamont's office to the Senate and the intention of both and the the the dueling press releases um it has been genuinely a complicated issue because the intention of both have been completely diametrically opposed to each other like they they are separate things that the intention was. So it has been something that even today there was another there was another discussion about that uh in terms of what is an hour and a half ago I spoke with Matt Ritterder speaker of the house that probably
072knows more about the intention than anything and I asked him I said we have a meeting tonight where does the money go and he said it goes to board event because that that's what it is and I've heard tonight someone said that governor Lamont didn't sign it Matt Ritter said he did um so so it's so no at a minimum so there's been confusing messages out there um so Yes. Um I I'm hoping and the other complication with also is we've voted on the budget. There are some towns that haven't voted. We have a vote that was as of May 11th it was voted on. Nothing had been signed until then. So we had to as a board >> put out to the the folks in town to vote on something that there was there
073was no official rule on what the venue is going to be. Instead of us going back and forth then, >> right, >> why don't we just wait for another meeting until it says it's the board of ed's money or it's the town's money to allocate to the board of ed. >> Yeah. >> Because there's no reason for us going back and forth if we don't know what it's supposed to be, >> right? >> Yeah. We're just wasting time here. >> And yes, I think it's worth for people at home to hear that it was not a clear message. >> Few months ago, Mike, you You shared some information with this board. >> Yeah. >> And there was guidance from the Senate >> and then the Senate was going to modify their guidance and then chose
074not to. >> Right. >> Then there was guidance from the governor's office which as you said was diametrically opposed to the Senate. Right. >> And then the Office of Policy and Management came out with guidance that was different than those other two. >> Right. And I had hoped by this point in the game that cooler heads would have prevailed. They would have got their stuff together and put out a a final drop dead piece of guidance on how municipalities can allocate this money. So, it doesn't sound like it's there yet. >> The towns out there that have not had a budget voted on um have more flexibility to do something with it. For us, because we've already voted on it, um it complicates it. No, I I agree, John, with you that uh this needs
075to have further discussion and clarification. It's it's there's too many unknowns. I don't know if you wanted to say something as well. >> I think I think just another perspective. >> We're not in public comment. >> Yeah. Well, that's I'm sorry. We're not in public. >> There you go. I thought it might add to this conversation because it's important. >> Yeah. Why don't you Yeah. >> Yeah. >> public comment. But I think um it has been a mess for all of us. There's been a lot of, you know, horsepower put into deciding what to do with the money. And I understand both sides. I understand we have there's a war going on. Things are going to be more expensive. I understand that we also have passed a budget by a five or six to1 vote.
076We have a school project that also what we that that are probably 8 to10 million worth of other things that could be done to the school in addition to what was voted on. There are places that money could go to, but we also have voters in town and taxpayers that also need relief and need. So So we have a bunch of conflicting things. I I think we need further discussion about that. I don't feel comfortable voting on on the adopted millions. >> We should we should push it. >> I think that one we can we can vote on something and it can be pointless when the clarification comes out that we voted on something that we don't have control of. >> Well, if there's still if there's still a question whether the governor has even
077officially signed it. >> Yeah, there you go. >> That's a red flag for me right there. If if there's a question that he hasn't, it might be he hasn't because it's not clear what he's signing. >> Right. Right. Right. >> Well, and he Right. And and the governor's office had wanted a certain interpretation of it. Yeah. But so the intent is great. It's it's 500 500, you know, 527,000 plus the 52. The 52 is easy because that comes to the town. 52.9 the Moheaggan money. That's easy. That's clear. That's great. We got some of that. But the rest of it, it's it's just there's too many unknowns and I wouldn't feel comfortable. And to your point, Judy, in terms of talking about that, I think there's a lot of people out there that want to
078understand because uh you know, taxes are up. It's it's it's a lot of money. I get that and we need to pay attention to that. So my suggestion then would be um I would say we pass on 7A the reset mill rate um for our next meeting. Now my my query today would be Mike >> if we're going to pass on it till the next meeting >> then that is done with an assumption that we're going to get some >> crystal clear clarification >> question though and I don't know the answer >> right >> does the charter say we have to set the mill rate at this meeting >> no I think I I don't believe it does I think we target it but I mean if if our budget had failed >> we would
079not have a mill rate to set >> I'm just wondering does the does the charter per say the meeting after it passes the mill rate. I don't know if it says that. >> Maybe we should double check that. It's a good point. We can move on to something else and come back. >> So, so let's let's hold up on that. All right. >> I think that's fair >> because we've run into that before that we had to at the meeting do it because the charter says so. >> I'll look it up. >> I feel comfortable with that. So, let's let's temporarily shel >> Yep. >> 7A. All right. >> 7B. We are also putting that to June 3rd as well. I have not had a chance to sit down with Tom and f and finalize
080that. All right. In your budget, you'll see adoption of other operating budgets for the fiscal year 2627. Uh please review that. These are the other budgets that we normally vote on. Um we've already went over all this in the budget season. Correct. Correct. Yes. Approve it. >> It's just Exactly. So this does not >> I will make a motion that we accept the six budgets that are on here if we can wave the reading and move on to other things because it'll all be published in the minutes. >> I will second that. >> We good with that? >> All right. Any more discussion? >> I think we've read her many times. So that so on the agenda that would be 7F. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Just August 7th. >> Oh, I got
081you. I'm make a motion. All right. Okay. >> Yeah. Basically making a motion to adopt this resolution to right to accept. >> Okay. Yep. >> All right. So, so voted and seconded. No more discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Abstension. Motion passes on 7C. >> Oh, sorry, Dave. I'll wait a little bit longer for you. One more time, Dave. I >> there you go. All right. Just timing the the delay. So, all right. So, okay, that's good. We got another easy one coming up. So, uh Lou and Rick uh and their committee has talked about changing the name and they believe that we formally have to adopt the new name. So, they would like to call the river the riverfront access project the riverbend Landing. >> Yeah. Make a motion
082that we change the name to Riverbend Landing in New Park. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Bobby said Jim seconds it. Any further discussion? June 6th. Soft opening ribbon cutting. Please be there with your kayaks. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. I >> pass it. >> Thank you, Dave. All right. So, now we have several resolutions. So, first one is the lease agreement between board event and saber greeting. Um, Charles, would you like to maybe walk through that or Laurel, would you like to walk through either one for any further explanation if that's if that's needed by the board? Has everyone read this? >> Right. Does anyone have any questions for either Charles or Laurel on that? >> All right. Would you like to wave the meeting? >> No, I was just saying does
083everybody understand what it is? >> No, I don't. It's so it's I was ask >> I can answer too if if you want. >> Okay. >> All right, Charles. >> Again, please. >> Yeah. So, I'm I'm very happy about this one. This is um our our ability to open a revenue stream for the town and the funds will go to the town. We need to be clear on that. That we have space at the high school. Dave knows it well. used to be where he operated out of at the high school. I I see Dave shaking his head. He he knows the office area I'm talking about has its own private entrance and two beautiful rooms and there's actually a third room there with some office space. Um it's where our current um transition program
084is located. But now that we're moving our transition program to the Main Street location, which is the other lease you're going to talk about tonight, that that makes that space available. We've been approached by a outfit called Sabbrook Reading. They're an educational company. They provide um high quality reading services for dyslexic and other students with reading disabilities. And they would like to lease that space from us. So much like we lease space to Oak Hill at uh Brownstone, we would be leasing space to Sabbrook Reading at where Dave used to work at the high school. Um it's a really nice deal. We're very excited to work with them. We use them as a vendor. Uh they will be providing some outstanding professional development in how to instruct um uh students in who with with special
085needs in in reading. Um and uh also they will be bringing in some additional revenue to the town. >> We're not giving them the 20 the 27,300 for one student, are we? It's I don't know why that's in the lease, but >> ask me that question one more time, Benny. >> In the lease, it says uh tenant will provide Orton Gill Gilligum, >> correct? >> Uh sounds like tutoring uh to a for a student for $27,000. That's the uh equalizing 27,000. >> Correct. So right now the the way we we know this outfit is that we pay them to um provide services to one of our students because Orton Gillingham is a level of um especially at the fellowship level. It's a it's a very high quality program and we do provide that service to
086one of our students as part of their um individualized plan. So, as part of our agreement, they are going to pay us some rent and then we won't have to pay them for that student, but they will still provide that student the services that we would otherwise have to pay them for. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Charles, question. Uh, is uh is Bob uh Shay gonna relocate his office from that space? >> He already has. Okay. >> He's not there anymore, Dave. >> Okay. All right. Any more questions? >> All right. Um, someone make a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Dave makes the motion. >> I'll second it. >> Second it. We've waved the reading on this thing. We ready for the vote? All those in favor? >> I
087opposed. >> Extension. Motion passes. >> All right. We have two more things to do. We need to set up a public hearing as well as a special town meeting for this for our charter. So, uh, public hearing would be June 3rd at 5:20. Now, there's be a number of these. We kind them all out. We'll coordinate who's going to be doing that. But, um, do I get a motion for the public hearing June 3rd at 5:20? >> I'll make that motion. >> All right. >> I'll second it. >> All right. Jim seconds it. Further discussion. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Stunt. Your motion passes. We also need to do a special town meeting. Same date, June 3rd at 5:45. Someone make that motion, please. I'll make that motion. All right. >> I'll second
088it again. >> Second again. >> We'll make it easy on Sharon tonight. >> Very nice. Further discussion. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstension. Passes. >> Thank you very much. All right. 7F resolution for the lease agreement between Nay, did I pronounce that properly? And 259 Main Street. Um, Rob, would you like to wave the reading of this? Um, >> the resolution to recommend the authorization of lease agreement between the board of ed and naysay niced LLC. >> Yes. I just have one question for Charles on it. >> Um, on top of the yearly rent, it are we paying the taxes on the property as well on top of the rent payment? If Tom is there, I'm hoping he can answer that. >> He is not >> nuts. Um I Okay, so I I I
089think I'm gonna take my best shot at this and uh maybe I'll follow up with you with an email tomorrow in case I'm wrong in what I'm about to say. They originally came to us with something I've not heard of before called a triple net lease, right? that involved some combination of us paying their property taxes and and and lease rate and and some other thing, right? And and I was we weren't entirely comfortable with it and and Tom had reasons for us not to be comfortable with it. So, we went to Shipman and Goodwin and said, "Hey, we want to do this." And that the attorneys at Shipman and Goodwin have now negotiated the lease. And part of it has to do is we don't pay taxes. we're a taxexempt organization and there's some,
090you know, rules around that. So, the the lease that you're seeing is has been uh reviewed and negotiated in in consultation with with the attorneys and reflects um our obligations to remain tax exempt and not pay taxes and and that type of thing. Um I wish Tom was there. He would be potentially be able to explain it more eloquently than that, but I hope I made sense. >> So, I know we're not going to pay taxes to ourselves. So, right, >> you're saying we're just waving the taxes on the property then. >> So, I No, I we're definitely I don't I I got I I'm going to stumble all over my words. I don't I don't have an answer for that. Can I get back to you on that one? >> Yeah, because it because
091the way the way I read it before and I'm reading it again right now. It It's basically it's they're going to they're going to pay the taxes, but we're going to give them the money for the taxes. >> Correct. We're gonna It's just part of the lease, part of the rent. >> That's part of the lease. In addition, >> and it's in addition to the rent. >> Yeah. So, that might be the triple net part of it. Um I wish Tom was there. I'm so sorry. >> Correct. >> Yeah, because when I read it right, it says that the base rent is I'm assuming >> Yeah, there's base rent and there's >> the rent. >> Yeah, I'm trying to see that statement on the tax rent. I'm >> uh It's on page >> because it
092just says the rent and it does not include utilities, landscaping, and snow removal. Go up to number four where it says rent the second paragraph under the pricing. >> No, there you're He's looking at >> I'm looking Oh, yeah. You won't see it there. You got to go to the lease. >> Oh, that's that's what I'm saying. That's what I don't have here. >> Yeah. If you go to the lease and go to uh >> number four, skip back skip past lease year 1, year two, year three. It starts with base rent includes the payment of real property taxes as defined below. copy of >> because it all I don't have a copy of the leech down. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah, that's why you if you don't see it doesn't realize that if the taxes
093increase, the town pays 100% of the increase. >> So, >> yeah, >> the taxes are in addition to the lease payment. >> Yes. >> Yeah. That's not >> That's just like us paying the rent for the busy yard. Yeah. >> Now, a a residential lease is very different than a commercial lease, right? So, in my past commercial buildings that I've uh leased, I was the the lease and I paid the taxes, but it was for a factory and industry. Do you know what I mean? This is a little this is a little different here. So, I So, yeah, we got to get an answer on that one. >> I would also say that you're reading it from the agreement. I'm reading the resolution and the resolution doesn't address that. I think the res that if
094if that's an issue, we should have that addressed in this resolution, too. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Whatever we determine. >> Yeah. >> Right. What would the board like to do? Shelf this until the next meeting? >> I would say we clarification. >> All right. >> Because I don't want to approve it or deny it. I >> know. I think it's a great idea. >> Clarification. >> Can I just chime in on on one part of this? I I hear you and and I'm really sorry and and I wish that Tom was there and otherwise you know Stephanie and I could we could answer this question. The only challenge we have is that um there will be enough time but the time isn't entirely on our side because as we're working with the landlord um
095he's doing a lot of a ton a ton of work on the house to get it ready for us. you know, he's renovating the entire house and and he said that he's kind of on pause with some of those renovations until he has a signed lease. Um because, you know, he wants that commitment before he sinks his money into doing all of the other other things. Um, so I again I don't know if there's any way that that you can can move this forward for us so we can, you know, get get it be able and we can't sign a lease until it's all all approved by you and and at the town meeting, but if there's any way that we can move this forward while we concurrently make sure we address the concerns about
096any property tax increases or the other parts that you've raised. >> So So I have a suggestion. I'd like to call I'll call call a uh a temporary pause to the meeting and we'll and we'll I'll confer with Tom to get an answer to this thing. So I'd like >> Yeah. >> Yes. Would someone like to make a motion to pause this meeting? >> I make a motion we pause the meeting. >> A second. >> Sure. Second. All those in favor >> I take a break. >> Better to get the answer now. Yeah. And I'm also going to call Stephanie while you're doing that, Mike. All right. >> Wait, make sure Dave's back on. >> Yeah, let's get Dave back in as well. And also get Charles, Dr. Britain back. All right. >> Wait, don't
097don't start till they're both back. >> I'm here. I have Stephanie on the phone, too. So, >> all right. >> Okay, we all back. >> Good. Okay, good. All right. So, >> did we make a motion to re to >> So, someone make a motion to go back. >> I'll make a motion to go back in session. >> So, second that interse All right. So, so my apologies for the delay. Um, we needed 10 minutes to get confirmation on a question regarding this lease. Uh, we spoke with Hon Robinson who clarified that question. Um, and I think the board understands that the increase in the the the taxes are included in the rent cost and each year if there's an increase in the actual value of the home, we'll pay the differential and they've had
098shipment the shipment attorneys look at that. They feel comfortable with it. Uh, Dr. Britain has as well. So, does the does the board feel comfortable with with that lease as is as it's written right now as the understanding? So the taxes are included as part of the rent and if if taxes increase then the rent increases commensurate with the tax. >> And the reason that is is this is really the the important part is the lease in year 1, year two, year three is unchanged, right? >> That's why he's just trying to reduce his risk. >> Right. Okay. >> Fair. >> All right. That makes sense. Charles, are you still there? >> I have Stephanie on the phone and she said the exact same thing. So, beautiful. >> And Dave Kazinsky, >> synchronicity. I like
099that. >> Dave, did you hear that, too? >> Okay. >> All right. >> I did. >> Good. So, I'm going to recommend >> I'm going to recommend that we actually read this just because we talked about it. Someone we will read. >> All right. >> Okay. Here's the resolution. Town of Portland, Connecticut, board of select mandated to May 20, 2022. Resolution to recommend the authorization of a lease agreement between the board of education and NIE N AICE D LLC and to call a special town meeting to approve the authorization. Whereas benefits exist to the students of the post-secary transition program to have the program located outside of the high school middle school campus. And whereas space at 259 Main Street, Portland, Connecticut, is available to rent lease from Nayad LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company
100having an address of 423 Center Street, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492. And whereas the 36-month term is set to begin on April 1st, 2026 with options to renew at the end of the term. And whereas the base rent is listed as $41,56428 annually and does not include utilities, landscaping, and snow removal. Now therefore be it resolved the board of selectment approves of the Portland Board of Education to enter into a lease agreement with Nayad LLC a Connecticut limited liability company having an address of 423 Center Street Wallingford Connecticut 06492 to lease 259 Main Street Map 29 lot 258 for the educational purpose of providing a facility for a postsecondary transition program commencing August 1st 2026 for a 36-month term with the terms and cons conditions set forth in agreement and be it further resolved that in accordance
101with chapter 5 section 503F of the town charter a special town meeting must be held to approve this action. >> All right. Do I have a second it? >> Just going to second it. >> Any further discussion? Call for the vote. All those in favor? >> I opposed >> I. >> That's right. Thank you. Motion passes. Now we need to set the public hearing date. Um I have that. I'd like to make a motion we set that for June 3rd at 5:30. >> I'll second it. >> I made the motion and I seconded it. >> Right. Discussion. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstension. >> I. >> Motion passes. Um, I'd like to make I'd like to make a motion spe to set up a special town meeting. >> Are you making the
102motion or you asking? >> I'm going to make the motion. >> I'd like to make the motion that we set up a town special town meeting for June 3rd at 6:00. >> I'll second it that. >> John seconds it. Any further discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I. >> All those opposed? Abstension? Motion passes. Thank you. And uh just to interject um the three of us I've got a copy of the town charter. The three of us looked at this document. >> There doesn't appear to be any defining date in there that holds us to tonight. >> Okay. Correct. Great. Okay. That is good to know. I think that's the right thing to do as well. So >> fantastic. All right. 7G resolution for supplemental appropriations for capital improvement plans board
103of education. This is a short one. I'm going to ask that someone read this. Um, it's substantial dollars. I think it's important we do that. Who would like to read it? >> I'll do it. It's fine. >> All right. So, I'll make a motion uh that we adopt the resolution titled supplemental appropriation capital Plan Improvements for BOE security upgrades dated May 20, 2026. Whereas Portland public schools recently received a reimbursement of a state grant in the amount of $39,638.34 for multimedia school security grant program. And whereas Portland public schools is in need of additional security improvements and upgrades. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of ed board of selectment hereby approves an increase in the estimated revenue for state grants in number count number 08-141-0000-00214 in the amount of $39,638.34 by school check
104security grant program and a supplemental appropriation to number 0814. 41-0000-89010 uh board of education-system BOE security upgrades including doors for $39,638.34. >> I'll second that motion. John second it. Any further discussion? >> So, uh basically the uh the board of ed went in, they applied for a grant. They got the grant >> and all of this is for them to now spend the money that they got the grant. >> Yes. It's been >> Oh my god. Can Can this Is this for real? >> Yeah. >> Well, congratulations on getting the money that you applied for. >> You look shocked. >> It's getting used. I just can't I'll never get used to this. >> Oh. All right. That is a good sign. All right. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Extension? Motion passes. I'd like to
105make a motion that we Oh, >> can I ask one question before we move on? >> Yes. >> With us setting all these public hearings. Yes, >> the public hearings overlap with our public meeting times. >> Um I had So they should all be sequenced out properly. We >> we have we're setting public hearings for 5:40, 5:50, 5:55, >> right? >> We have our first town meeting at 5:45, >> right? >> In the middle of all those, >> right? We we spaced them out between five and 10 minutes based on what we thought the timing would be because we had to get it all in before the next meeting. I know it seems like a tight schedule. We're going have to fly on these things. >> Okay, go ahead. >> But when you see the
106schedule, you'll you'll you'll >> I'm just wrote the schedule down and it doesn't make sense. >> There there's not a lot of time. But >> no, but you're having a special town meeting between two of the hearings is what I'm saying. >> But they should be for separate ones. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> You're not going to fit them in there at the time to start. We're hoping we can because >> Go ahead. >> Yeah, we're hoping we can. >> I won't be there anyway, so go ahead. >> You might be choosing wisely. All right. Um, I made a motion to set a public hearing for June 3rd at 5:40. Would someone like to make >> a second? I'll second it. >> All right, I'll make a motion. >> You made the motion. I seconded
107it. >> All right. Further discussion? >> I know Bob won't be here. All those in favor? >> I. All those opposed. >> I think that's yes and abstension. Motion passes. All right. >> We now know what the time delay is from here to High Street. Well, >> pretty much. All right. Um I'd like to make a motion for a special town meeting to set June for 6:15. >> I'll uh I'll second that motion. >> Further discussion. All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. >> I >> That was an I. Abstension. Motion passes. >> All right. >> I kind of get what he's saying. This doesn't make sense. >> It's going to be really tight. It's going to be We made it, John. It doesn't make sense. >> No, but you do have things
108inserted. Like, at first I thought you had all the public hearings. Boom, boom, boom. But you don't. No. >> And you have a special meeting inserted in between a couple of the public hearings. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> So, it is very >> I'm I'm already >> when you write them down in two columns, it's not this one. All the >> public hearings finished and then you start all the meetings. The meetings start in the middle of the hearings. >> Yeah. >> Well, that is going to be a problem. So, let's get Okay. All right. What if can we just put it into a block and just say all of these are going to happen? >> No, they can't be but in the same day. >> Only the first one is wrong. This 5:45
109really special town meeting can't really happen because you should be going 5 in the blue. 520 5:30 5:40. >> Oh, I now I see it. >> 555, >> right? >> But this would have to start at 64 >> 610. It's It's this one that's messing everything up. >> Which one? Which one? The one that we did for the Overland. >> That's the one that's in the middle of >> If we have that meeting at 6:00 and the next meeting at 6:05, everything will be fine. >> Right. >> But right now, it's in the middle of two hearings. >> It's that one that's wrong. >> That Okay, that Okay. So, we need All right. So, we need to amend this. >> Yes. >> Which Which one are we amending? Oh, >> yes. You need to amend
110Well, then you're going to have to amend. >> No, you can just that one to be a 605, >> right? All right. put it after the 6:00 one. >> Which one is that? >> They don't have to be in order. >> We just have to do them in order that night, >> right? >> Yeah, that one just has to be 6:05 or 6:10. >> So, which one? >> The E 7E. >> So, we did that. >> You need to go back and make the special town meeting at a time that is after >> 6 o'clock. >> Okay. >> And for the ease of not changing everything else, you need to make it like 6:05. >> Okay. So, is 605 the time we want >> or 607 and >> Wait a minute. You're you're this one
111here. The next one on F, your special town meeting is at 6:00 >> because all the public hearings are over by then, >> right? Okay. >> That's the only one they messed up. De >> Bobby, I take that back. You were 100% right. >> Okay. >> I can admit when I'm wrong. I hope I never get used to this. >> So, do we need do we need to go back? >> We need to go back to that one. >> We just need to amend the timing for the meeting. Okay. So, I would like to make a motion to to amend the special town meeting time that we had set for uh item 7E from 5:45 to 605. >> I will second that. >> Bobby gets to second that. Anyone want to third it? >> Yep.
112>> Okay. >> Yes. The meeting time will be at 6:05. the public hearing. We approved originally a public hearing at 5:20. We're amending it to make the public hearing at 60:05. >> No, special meeting. >> I'm sorry. >> Special meeting. >> Is that 605? >> You guys 605. >> Yeah, >> Mike made it. >> I make a motion. Bobby enthusiastically seconded it. And we changed resolution 7E for a special time meeting from 545 to 605. That puts the universe back in the right place. It writes the wrong resign. Okay. All right. And have we already voted on the supplemental appropriation for >> Yes. >> G? We're at >> All right. >> Now you're at H. >> You're ready. >> Okay. Good. I want to make sure. All right. >> So, I'd like someone to read
113this as well, please. >> I'll take it. All right. >> Okay. >> We are on H >> H >> 7H. >> There you go. Snow removal resolution board of select Mana Portland dated May 20, 2026. Supplemental appropriation snow removal department and grounds department overtime. Whereas during this snow season, many storms fell on weekends and holidays. And whereas there were more snow and ice events than in recent past winter seasons. And whereas snow overtime line item 01- 038--0000-13002 or highway is over budget by approximately $86,000. And whereas grounds overtime count 01-036-0000-130002 is over budget by approximately $9,200 at the current time in brackets. And whereas the salt shed is at the lowest levels it has been and in years and the public works department is concerned to have the salt shed at such low levels. Now
114therefore be therefore be it resolved that the board of selectment hereby approves a supplemental appropriation from general fund balance in the amount of $122,000. The allocations for the general fund are increases to the snow removal budget, line item number 01-038-0000-130002, overtime $86,000, and increase line 01- 038-0000-65001 road materials for $24,000 and to the grounds department budget number 1 01- 036-0000-13002 overtime $12,000. >> So, we had the fortune of having storms hit us on the worst possible times this year. So, >> I just have one question and since Jason's here, what will the $24,000 get us in salt material? Like are we talking a quarter of the building and half of drop in the bucket? >> Jason Morocco, director of public works. If I remember correctly, I think it's going to get us about uh 300
115or 500 ton of of salt. So it'll be another, you know, third of the building. So let's say uh half of it. >> Okay. We're normally we're at about 3/4 to full at this point for next year. >> All right. >> Right. >> I'll sec I don't think it's been seconded, so I'll second it. >> Okay. Jim seconds it further discussion. >> Is is this already is this just a fund transfer to a previously approved 2026 >> current budget year? >> No, this is coming out of the fund balance. >> Right. >> So 100% out of our cash. Yes. >> Yeah. >> This and the next one. >> Okay. So, that's what I was saying previously. There go where someone Okay. >> It's coming out. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Feels good, does it? >>
116No, it doesn't feel good. But I understand it. >> It's in total is 356,000 out of our right. 357 on top of the 85 that we spent in November >> in the 300 we put in the budget already. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. So I'm not >> Yeah, these these two are >> that line right there. >> Yes, exactly. Okay. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> I'll call for the vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstension. >> Motion passes. Okay. I'll make a motion on item H that we set a public hearing for June 3rd, 2026 at 5:50 p.m. >> Second. >> Does that work? >> All right. All for the vote. All those all those in favor? I >> I >> All those opposed motion passes. And while
117I'm at it, I will make a motion for a special town meeting on June 3rd, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. >> For H, right? >> Or H. >> Second. >> Andrew seconds it. Further discussion. All those in favor? >> I I >> opposed. Extension. Motion passes. Thank you. And one more. So, a reminder um after the audit was done, the funds here that we're about to spend were um were um allocated for the um extra the um I guess the additional money that the town had left over. So, we had taken it out of the budget for next year to reduce down the mill rate as much as we can. And this surplus from the last from 2025 has now been allocated toward these things that were taken out of the capital with the capital bus.
118>> What was our surplus from 2020? I want to say it was 238,000. What was it? I think it was around 238,000. >> It was about a wash on this. Yeah. >> Ba basically this was this was instead of um we basically used the surplus from last year >> to fund these capital expenditures as opposed to collecting the money again that you know. >> Correct. Okay. Right. All right. Would someone like to read this? >> Sure. Sure. Why not? >> It's a quart million dollars. We need to let people know. >> Yeah. No, this is good to cover because these are this these fill some needs. But again, I do think from a discussion standpoint, it is important that this was what we did. This was what we decided to do when we removed we
119took these items out of the budget >> and said we would do a supplemental using the surplus from the previous fiscal year. >> Y >> and that's what this is, right? >> Um All right. So, I make a motion that we adopt the resolution titled supplemental appropriation various capital plan improvements dated May 20, 2026. Whereas there is a need to replace an equipped police SUV with a computer at the expected cost of $64,250. And whereas there is a need to replace an ATV for force suppression for the fire department for approximately $60,000. And whereas a new infield groomer for the grounds maintenance division is needed at an expected cost of $55,000. And whereas there is a need to replace the equipped vehicle that the director of public works uses at an expected cost of $55,000.
120Now therefore be it resolved that the board of selectment hereby approves a supplemental appropriation from the general fund balance in the amount of $234,250. The allocations of transfers for for the general fund are increases to 01-093-0000-90012 transfer out capital non-recurring towns by $234,250. The funds will be transferred to fund 8 with an increase to estimated revenue of 1-141-0000-001 transfer in general fund by $234,250 and increases to expenditure lines in fun as follows. Account number 08-141-0000-89080 Police Department Equipped Cruiser replacement vehicle replacement $64,250 account 08-141-0000-89040 Firefire Marshall Department ATV replacement /forest suppression explanation is ATV replacement in the amount of $60,000. Account number 08-141-0000-89050. The department is grounds maintenance. The account description is replace infield groomer. The explanation is equipment replacement and the amount is $55,000. And then account number 08-141-0000-89090. The department is public worth/off
121of the director. The account description is replace director's vehicle and the explanation is vehicle replacement with an amount of $55,000. The total being $234,250. >> I will second that motion. All right. Brother Stuffin. Um, I I know we talked about this at budget season and I support the the four things that are funded on here, but this total wipes out everything excess that we had from the 2025 budget year. and our fund balance in less than a year we've taken $900,000 out of it for different projects. So we've dropped almost a million dollars in less than a year. That's I just think that's a lot. And if we start to think about where you know impact to the taxpayer and taxpayer relief we got and we start talking about other revenues coming into our town.
122People say where's it going to go? It could potentially go to stuff like this. >> But this is that 234,000 is 100% coming out of our basically out of our cash >> the surplus from 2025. Yep. It's it's just like, you know, you you're you're taking money out of your CD to pay your to to to buy a car or whatever. That's, you know, you're putting it into your checkbook to to spend. >> It's it's coming out of your cash. Okay. All right. Well, to be clear, we're putting this on the table and approving this to go to a public hearing. >> I understand. >> Yeah. Yeah. And this is consistent with I think the deliberations that we had during budget season >> because we we were working to keep the mill rate re as
123reasonable as we could, >> right? >> And given all the other stressors and this was one of the >> I think if I mean we were aware but we weren't talking about it at the time of the overruns in the previous one that we just did which were out of our control because it all had to do with mother nature and storms and things that have to be done. But we all saw Tom's monthly report on what our status were on those things and we pushed this off instead of I think negotiating and moving other things out of the budget to pay for these things. I just it's just scary to me how how fast we're going through the the money and the fund balance. I think that's a lot of money. That's all. And
124the the the people get to vote at the meeting how they want to do it. >> Anybody else? Call for the vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. I >> abstension. Motion passed. All right. As it goes, public can have their you got to set your dates on. Oh, sorry. We haven't done that yet. No, please. All right. I'll uh we're on item I, capital Plan Improvements. I'll like to make a motion to set a public hearing for June 3rd, 2026 at 5:55 p.m. >> Second. Further discussion. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion passes. And I will make a motion uh for a special town meeting on June 3rd, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. >> Second. >> Discussion. All those in favor? >> I oppose. Abstension. Motion passes. Excellent. >> All
125right. I got an easy one for you because it's already been paid for. Um on number 7J, um I am requesting from contingency $1620 to pay for an event this Friday that everyone's invited to for the public works week. Um last year our public works team won $2,500 from Kerma to be used as they choose to see fit. Um they've chosen to wait until now to pick an event that they like to do that. Uh they left some of the money for the town to spend on some needed things as well, but uh it will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 this Friday. Please come down there. Um there'll be food, pizza, lot a lot of pizza and uh and Jason will be down there. So what what else do you need? So >> I'll
126make a motion that we approve that. >> Right. And and it needs to come out of continuity just the way the money flows. Bobby >> Bobby made it. >> I'll second it. Jim's got it. Second by Jimmy. It was just slightly faster. Um All right. All those in favor I opposed extension motion. Excellent. >> And congratulations to all our public works. They You're right. They very very hard and >> they do everything under the radar. Nobody knows what's getting done. It just gets done. >> It's it's like one of those things when it works, you don't notice it. When something stops working, that's when you notice it. So anyways, excellent job. Thank you, Jason. How long's it been now? We've been here. How many months? Since August. August will be a year. I was going
127to say I think right now he thinks he's going on year three. >> Three Portland years, right? So anyways, that's fantastic. Looking forward to that's going to be good. >> All right. Refunds of excess payments. We have two. >> Make a motion of refund of excess payment for CCAP Auto Lease Limited $538.74. >> I'll second it. >> All those in favor? I opposed. Abstension pass. Motion for a refund of excess payment Tesla lease trust $95367. >> I'll second it. >> Seconds. All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed extension motion passes. >> I um >> do we want to circle back to the mill right now? And >> sure. >> And would we want to officially table it till >> Yeah. So yeah. All right. So why don't you make a motion? uh
128make a motion that we table it until our June 3rd. >> Okay. So, B's making a motion that we table item number 7A >> until the June 3rd meeting to get more detailed explanation of the funding from the state. Did Jim second it? All right. I think that's the right thing to do. All right. Old business ongoing. Um Jason, do you want to do a quick update on some of the projects going on? This might be an opportunity to run through some of the things you stuck around this long. >> Jason Morocco, public works director. Um so the um I call it the kayak launch, but what did we just rename it? >> Riverbend. Riverbend Landing. >> Uh, Riverbend Landing is, I would say, 90% complete. We need to do the fencing. Uh, that's going
129to take place on the 27th. Uh, weather permitting. Other jobs that they come up, but they do know that we want to have it done um by the June uh ribbon cutting. Uh, so that's still in motion. Uh we have some signs that public works needs to put up, but we're going to wait till the fence is up just so that we know um exactly where they're going to go. There's going to be one up towards the entrance uh as you drive in and then one down towards the uh newly constructed parking lot towards the uh Connecticut River. Uh High Street, second uh phase of High Street is in the works. We're working out the final details so that we can go out to to bid uh High Street. The first phase is uh complete.
130The section that Birmingham did uh last fall, they came back this spring, switched over to the new main, and then we took out uh one of the there was two fire hydrants on High Street. We took one of them out and decommissioned it. And now, so we're now working on the new main up to Clear View. Well, a little past Clear View. Um the numbers estimating for phase two of High Street um from our engineer came back a little high. So we're scaling back that project a little bit with some ad alternates um depending on how the the project comes back. Um we are working on the well project at Gospel Lane that we're going to be doing some test borings um in the next week or so to see what the condition of the
131material is um at where the current well was drilled and also by the existing botchi courts horseshoe pits just to see what that material is like because my understanding is that's kind of where all the fill went when they built the fields kind of got pushed over Uh so we just want to see what that material is like as far as supporting a building um and so forth. So we're going to do two test borings over there uh next week or the week after. Once those are done, then we're going to decide potentially where the new wellhouse would go so we can move forward with uh designing that. We don't want to design it and then you know at the 11th hour change change change our mind. So, we're going to decide where that's going
132to go after the borings and then move forward with that. Uh, the two locations could be uh closer to the well that was drilled up on the hill or over by the horse pit botchi courts um depending on how the borings come back. um where our sidewalk project they finished um Homestead and >> Highland. Um I think if I'm not mistaken, they still have to do a little bit of restoration, but the sidewalks are done and they were supposed to move they're going to move over to Main Street, start by Company 2, and work their way down um to the uh north. We're going to save the um brownstone sidewalk that never in my life did I ever think that they would construct sidewalk out of brownstone, but they did. So, we're going to save
133it. >> Um you know, so we can use it in other places in other parts of town if they want. Some of the residents have expressed interest on keeping a slab or two and we said that we would gladly put that on their property, but we're not going to put it anywhere else besides, you know, right next to where we pulled it out of. Um uh what am I missing? >> Street. Oh. Uh, also with the connectivity project, we asked the state if we could we additionally asked for a change order to do curbing and uh island improvements on the south side of Main Street from Walgreens to um about uh just south of the post office because there potentially might be a project with the state to do a road diet. um we have
134abandoned that idea because I don't want to spend the money to then have it be ripped up in say 10 or 15 years. So I asked the state if we could do uh East Main Street from Freestone to Spring both sides and Waverly both sides which got approved and um we just got to do the change order paperwork for that. So that's going to be after they finish um Main Street. um kind of slowed down with the uh grant slash uh loan application for the sewer plant because we ran into an issue this week with our UV system. Um and we're trying to figure out a resolution. and our UV system at the sewer plant um is only operating on one of the two banks and we can't get any replacement parts uh because it's
13520 20 25 years old. So, we're looking into a temporary system or and coming up with prices to replace that, but it's probably in the 1 million range. >> So, uh we disinfect with UV from um May 1st to October. um before it gets discharged out to the Connecticut River. So, uh we might start having issues with those numbers as the discharge with the with the state. So, we're looking at avenues for that. >> We also have, as you can see, the air conditioning now in this building is um not working. We're working on getting that repaired as well. We've hung the banners for the America 250, one on our highway garage fence, one on the fence at uh the biz, and if I drove under it and I didn't see it on my way
136back to town, we're going to put the one up across 17. We were just trying to figure out u because we never hung it public works. We were trying to figure out how the uh how the um fair does it. >> So we're looking into that. >> Got it. >> Questions? So one thing one thing I think it's worth talking about um you approached about uh a truck that you thought might be helpful uh for you guys for cleaning out the back trough. So, we had talked as a board, we had talked about things that we can do to maybe make things more efficient or maybe do some things ourselves that might save money. Um, I thought it was something at least worth listening to. So, I like I'll like Jason to kind of present
137to you what his thinking was. It doesn't cost anymore. It might save us money, but it's one of the consolidations and efficiency things that I thought worked. So, it was brought to um our attention that there is a used uh jet truck for sale. It's a 2005 um vehicle with 17,000 miles on it. Um it could be used for um jetting sewer lines, catch basin lines, and also sucking out catch basins or any sewer uh emergencies that we have. Uh the price for it um as it sits and I I have pictures if you guys want to see them just uh is 25,000. Um when you first think about it, it's okay. I got to come back to this board and ask for $25,000. It's I get it. It's It's not an easy ask. So
138what I uh thought of was in my budget line item for next year, I have a catch basin cleaning line item that is uh once uh or approved or adopted is 30,000. I want to ask if I could take 25 of that 30,000 and buy this truck and then next year remove that line item for the budgets for pre uh previous year or in future years because we will be doing the catch basin cleaning ourselves instead of hiring a contractor to do it. Um it would take two guys to operate the truck. Uh but two guys already go out with the contractor when they are here because we write down the conditions of the catch basins. We write down that they did it and then um they do the they do the work. Um so
139in aspect of um labor hours, it's going to be pretty much the same. It would just be that we own the truck. Uh we could use it for sewer backups, sewer uh manhole cleanings, stoppages. um we could use it for uh you know catchbas and cleaning and then also when we had that um issue this fall uh at the high school we could have probably managed most of that ourselves instead of calling Middletown which Middletown is awesome when we call them but we probably could have managed that um sewer backup at the high school maybe a day faster >> than than we did with uh asking for help from other towns even So they responded very quickly. >> So you already have 30,000 budgeted for storm cleaning, storm drain cleaning, and we would just have
140to say it's pretty much storm drain cleaning. We would just do it ourselves by purchasing the truck for less than what you're budgeted for. >> Right. >> Correct. And then uh my thought would be next year to eliminate that line item from the budget moving forward, which would save the highway budget potentially 20 or 30,000. >> So year one, we save 5,000 and then we save the 30,000 recurring. >> Yeah. Yeah, I guess. So >> you you just take off little diesel and and maintenance, but it's it's not $30,000 a year. It's going to be a lot cheaper than the >> we would perform the we would perform the catch basin cleaning ourselves through the course of the you know year. We would have the truck for sewer uh issues and then potentially that line
141that budget line item for storm basin cleaning would be eliminated. >> So you could also use it for like water main breaks. >> Yes. So if >> of areas instead of using a backhoe you can >> correct. We could also because it will have onboard water. If we came into a situation where we were on a water main break and we needed to suck out the water out of the hole, we could use this truck. We could also use it to wet down the hole to make the uh ground softer and we could suck out around utilities. So, let's say we had a gas line and a water line or a gas line in our storm line, we could use it to suck it out instead of having to call in a a vendor. Yep.
142I thought it made a lot of sense and it kind of tied into what we had talked about during budget season money and it gives us like like you said you don't have to keep asking other towns to come in and help us. >> Our mechanics went and looked at the truck uh this uh week. They gave it their blessing. I haven't personally seen it but uh the guys who went and saw it, I you know have faith in them that it is what they say it is. Uh also we have a current our current jet truck that we have at the sewer plant. um we would not need that anymore. So, we could auction that piece of equipment off >> um because we wouldn't need two of them. >> It's older, has doesn't have
143a lot of hours on it, but we take care of it. It's been in a heated garage its whole life. Um so, we would auction that piece of equipment off. >> So, seems like a win. It it seems like a win to me as well. I don't know if we need to do an official bid waiver. Um but I'd like to get maybe a vote on. Is this something that the board would like him to pursue? >> It it seems like a no-brainer to me that you're you're going to save money and you can keep it in house and you can use it whenever you need it and >> we have needs for it year round. >> I was going to say I'll make the motion that we approve to use the money for catch
144basing cleaning to purchase the truck. >> And I'll second it. >> All right. >> Further discussion. I just it's a it's a win and it gives us not only savings on that one line item but more capacity, more capability. >> Do we need to do any bid waiver in the future to approve it? >> I'm I'm going to check but let's go with the vote tonight. I will confirm tomorrow with council >> lose this thing either. >> No, >> the gentleman who uh has it right now has pretty much said he's waiting for us to say yes or no. >> He hasn't showed it to anyone else. He he's he knows we're going through a little bit of a process. So we will let them know that you guys said to at least yes to
145exploring the next option to move forward. >> So I'm going to call for the vote. All those in favor >> I >> opposed. All right. Motion passes. >> Look pretty good up there. >> I will condition it with I >> Well, I have I have this question. Can we just take a consensus who would be in favor of the bid waiver to proceed with this so Jason can tell the person >> yes it will be >> I I vote on not just vote on it straight up >> and just >> even if we have to make it official at our next meeting he can go to the person and say yes or no the board will approve the bid waiver for us to do it. >> So by by a raise of hands um if
146this does require a bid waiver who would be in favor of that? >> I would. All right. You raise both hands. All right. So, all right. So, that's great. So, I will find out tomorrow if if it requires an official vote, we'll do it June 3rd, but I think you have the full support of the board. >> Thank you. Good. >> Any other questions on the projects that I was talking about? >> Uh, yeah. The just a uh uh I had been asking Michael and he had sent something to the board of selectment. Uh, Michael, you want to give us an update on uh that? Opifas. So, so we have we normally tested well every year or two. Um, the last testing of the well, I don't know if you have the copy of the
147latest report, he might have it. Um, showed no for for the well, the well that was test shows no PAS in the in the in the deep well where we're going to be going underneath the clay layer. In one of the tests, um I believe two years ago, there was a small level of it, but it was beneath uh any actionable level significantly. Um and the test can pick up like one per billion parts. So um our our water >> Are you talking about the deep wells? >> Yes. >> Deep well there was nothing in the deep. >> I was going to say the deep well there was nothing. And then we had also done samples from the well not our town well 62 feet but the intermediate right. We had we had gone through
148the first clay ladder. Yeah. And that's where it was like a trace >> trace below any kind of action. >> But it's below any kind of action. Um our our well is clean. The water is safe. I know it's come up in the past, but I'm glad you >> I just wanted to bring closure to that. I' I've been asked by a few people and I know we discussed this here. Well, >> people got scared when MDC came in and that >> said big scary stuff. >> That was his threats every time was you don't know what you have. You don't know what you have. Well, >> and >> people listen us to uh unfortunately the CEO Scott Jellison. >> Yeah. >> And I think they missed the whole that we did test it and
149it's it's okay. Yeah. >> Uh but now everybody hears it again. I It's something to be concerned about, right? >> And uh this is still >> being voted on. It might not even be They're still debating it. The whole PEOS thing. >> Oh. Oh, I know. I know. >> Correct. This isn't a mandated >> No, not yet. >> Yes. This isn't a mandated uh test or anything we have to do for our water system. Um and we don't even know if it becomes mandated what the levels are going to be. >> Correct. >> I just wanted to get it on record. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I have a question. Are you here till the end or are you going to leave soon? I can just ask you a simple question now if
150you want. >> Yeah. >> Permission to leave. >> I second that. >> I think it was before you came in. I think it was with Ryan O'Halpin that we had talked about work that needs to be done at the monument on Bartlett Street and we had talked about maybe if we had to put a curb around it because the water coming down Bartlett Street hits the back of it and it's eroding all the masonry work and separating the stones. >> Okay. >> Um I know you have a huge list but that's something >> that's the Civil War monument. Yes. So I did look at that because Mike asked me to do that. Um we do have grant we do have money from um >> LOIP >> but it doesn't can't use it for that. >>
151Okay. >> It have to be to fix a building or a a structure not a not a monument. >> Okay. >> So um I could we could look at doing something so with the water coming down um doesn't keep blasting it. I could look into that. Yes. uh the repairs of the wall and the monument just weren't covered under the same funds that we used to repair the buck forming. >> Okay. And speaking of the buck for I believe they're done with >> they are done with buck forming. Yeah. >> So uh GL Kapas and when they did that if you get a chance to to go by there they made it look they made it look great. They repaired was it been 17 18 grand worth of work over the last couple weeks. >>
152Yes. It came out very nice. >> It came it came out beautiful. And they we did not only did we fix the brownstone um appearance of the front, we also did a change order and we fixed some uh brick work in the back that we thought maybe um critters were getting into. Um so we did that too. >> Yeah, critters would be good. Any other questions for Jason while he's here? Did you get on? >> No. Good. All right. Thanks, Jason. All right. Very nice. All right. Um, >> support. Yeah, I don't think we have anything. >> I don't have any on our side. >> Nope. >> Fantastic. All right. Um, updates on the Nordic Spa. I'm just going to go really quickly through this. Nordic Spa. Uh, they're going to do some hiring starting
153July 1st through end of August. I believe they're going to be renting out a room over at Brainer to do interviews over there. I'll keep people posted. So, if someone's looking for a job or wants to apply, uh there's already a website out there. I'll post it this Friday on the Portland for selection page. So, you can link to that and apply there. But, they are looking right now. >> Um, River Access Project June 6th, Saturday. I I don't know the specific time. I believe it's 11. >> It's 10. >> Is it 10 o'clock? Okay. Okay. I just want to make sure it still has. So, 10 o'clock, it'll be a soft opening. There's a lot of invites there. Uh, it should be really, really good. Looking forward to if you can make it down
154there, that would be wonderful. Um, airline trail, nothing new with that. Nothing new since last time. POCD, nothing new with that. We've already talked about the water well. I am set. It's all that. So, from my left, status of committee reports. >> I think we've actually got great reports tonight on on our water, sewer, and uh, and from parks and recck. So, I have nothing to add. Beautiful. >> Before I do that, just quickly because I guess we're we're in updates too. Um, Jen, the librarian handed me this before the meeting and that's that I just want to get the information out. So, uh, they said changes coming. The library is migrating to a new software. So, there will be limited availability for placing holds on items starting May 12th. Uh, limited library services from
155May 26 to June 3. That's because I guess as you migrate on this new software every day the data gets older and older and older. So there will you'll need there'll be no new library cards provided, no new holds, no online account access and more. Um so you need to have your library card to check out especially non-Portland residents. And the library will be closed on May 29th and May 30th for staff training on the new software. Um and I went last night to uh the board of education meeting. Um actually the two items that we talked long about the first part of the meeting were discussed. Um there were and I I'm sorry kids I don't want to butcher these names but um there were student recognition awards provided last night to Ununice Neri
156and Toby Hunter. >> This is Toby. and uh student leadership awards to Anna Pic and Lucas Kersch. >> I just checked that. >> Um there was a Valley View um discussion of the playbased learning which sounds really cool. Uh which is going off quite well. Um and then quite a few course adoptions that they dealt with and then I got essentially kicked out for executive session. So the only other thing I will say is the POC um the the youth representatives, the student representatives on the board of education were very I'd say they were proud to have been involved in that POCC discussion. It was the student senate and um the student officers I guess that sat down and actually got to go through and have the POC explain to them and they were asked
157for their ideas and comments which they thought was very cool. including >> um yeah just we uh last week so in between meetings >> Mike if I can uh >> Oh sure you got it Dave >> oh uh just just a quick update Mike uh I I've reached out to Chris Pula from uh Pomeroy Ldings for the Nordic Spa and uh we're going to be doing a podcast with him in the next couple of weeks. Oh, great. Let me know when that is. I'd love to come down there. >> Be good. Dave's good. >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, yes, I attended >> Thanks, Dave. The um economic development um meeting last week. Um, just a couple of quick things. They continue. I think I brought it up um >> last time that they were working
158and had identified businesses that are over 100 years old and they're working on these commemorative plaques. Um there's a lot of great history there. Um they may ask the businesses to include something in the time capsule that's for the 250 and that is something that they're probably going to come to Mike if they haven't already to do some sort of presentation in a BOS meeting. Um and then the other thing they had some conversation around working with the 250 committee on pole banners you know the flags or whatever um you know in conjunction with those those two groups. So those were the main things that came out of that. >> Okay. Great. >> Vinnie >> uh we did have on May 7th the uh board of selectmen uh some of us participated in their uh
159POC. So, that happened. Um, and the Portland housing uh authority, they're getting ready to start their new year and they did elect uh new officers. Uh, basically no no change. >> Okay. All the same. >> Uh, capital doesn't meet and planning and zoning doesn't have anything big on their agendas. >> Okay. M. All right. Um, public comments. Kim Hannah Butler Lane. I just want to make a little addition to my rant from before. The request to close that gate was not for the entire day. It was just from 9 to 2. Eversource didn't start work till 9:00 and they beat feet out of there by two because they didn't want to be in the middle of any of that. And I know when we talked about this in February, you guys had said that you
160were going to have them only open at least for the month of March in the morning for for opening and in the afternoon for dismissal. And they did that for a week and they decided they didn't like it and they went back to their regular time. So, but this request was not for the whole day. It was just for that block of time, middle of the day when school's in session. And there really isn't a lot of shouldn't be a lot of use to the road. I think there's a flash sale at Duncan at 8:30 because there's a constant there's about 15 cars that head out about 8:30. So, they must be must be something going on. But, so, >> um, no, I I don't want to start back and forth. We talked about that
161before and we said about an hour in the morning when school goes in and an hour in the afternoon when school lets out, >> right? >> Because we said I think a lot of us agreed it was a big safety issue. >> If the gates open all day, >> that's a backway in for someone to get into the school and >> the administration school doesn't know about it >> because you're not coming over the >> the hill by the water towers by the main entrance and the offices see the car coming in, >> right? It's a get out and it's a get in without being noticed. >> So, I I just don't know what the school's reasoning would be for having it open all day. >> So, so I'd like to propose actually something. I
162I'd like to propose something because we've talked about this for a couple months. It's been a year and two months I've been hearing about this and I understand that. So, I'd like I'd like to make a motion to this board that we set the schedule for that gate officially as a board from in the morning time between whatever for the two hours in the morning >> towards the subject to to change or whatever if we need to change it because again I need to get them in there. But I think I'd like to set at least a standard a standard schedule with other exceptions being talked about other time. I'd like I'd like to get at least a vote from the board on whether we whether we agree or not. >> Well, I thought I
163think I'm referring to the same meeting you were talking about, Bobby. I thought we >> made a recommendation that you were going to talk with them and they were gonna >> try it out. >> I I did I I was told that they had done it for the whole month. I'm finding out that it is for a week. So, I'm just finding I'm just finding it out right now. So, um, because I've been told that it was, you know, there were some issues with it, but they were still able to handle that. So, that's kind of new information. >> I understand we have big events up there. If there's a a >> big track meeting, whatever, it's open, >> right? >> But it's a major safety concern to say that it's going to be open
164all day. Whether it's >> all right, >> kids cutting school and getting out and not being noticed or somebody coming on the campus and not being noticed. >> All right. So, so, so let me clarify. I'm going to make a motion that we we work with board of ed uh but we set a a schedule for that for a morning time open and yes afternoon time open for the safety of the children and safety of the students in the school and leaving and coming to the school so that we can set a routine and and set a pattern and routine for what we do. And I will also say beyond the safety of what what Bobby was referring to. I mean Kim Hannah lives on that street. I'm only going up and down it periodically,
165but I know getting on to High Street from that road is very blind >> for the cars coming down that hill. And I'm concerned about all the the young drivers. >> I am too. >> Right. And but if you go out the main driveway, the visibility pattern is much better. Correct. Right. Yeah. Now, >> you got you got a motion. I >> I and I'll caveat that with um I you know, I've spoken with Bob Shane over times. His concern is also a safety. So, he is in line with what we want as well. Um and they they do have some insight with different events as to when may need to change. So, so some of that gets deferred to them as well, but um >> on a daily basis there should be as good,
166>> right? And and we can at least start with that and then exceptions as we need to see. >> Yes. So, the motion's been made. Who's going to second it? >> I'll second it. >> John's going to second it. Any further discussion? >> Yeah, as long as I'm hearing you say that this is going to be a discussion with the board of education administration. Yes. Not that we're just single-handedly making >> We are we are going to we are going to we we will work with them to set up the schedule that we feel comfortable with and it involves the morning and afternoon times that we have done over the over the years and we want to make sure that's clarified. So, okay. um and if we need to um you know do a meeting
167with them or bring them into the meeting so we can establish that. I think there's enough we talked about enough times that I'd like to kind of >> so so yeah I mean we've been I mean ser this is I mean we I've been hearing this now since the 1st of November right and it's I guess I'm just this sounds like just a a tactical administrative thing. I mean, for it to maybe I'm missing it, but for this to rise to the level of we're discussing it at at 9:20 p.m. >> the board of selectment about a gate when it's going to get opened and closed. Maybe that's what we're what we're charged with doing, but I think it's something that should be handled at the people that work for the town and with you,
168Michael, and the board of ed. I don't think it has anything to do with us. I mean, maybe I'm totally wrong, but it's it's it's just it's escalated to this level because it sounds like nothing's been done about it, >> but I think we got better things to do. >> One of the reasons that I came to the board of selectment is because when this started last year and I was communicating with the principal and there was a few incidents that were scary and dangerous and everything and I let her know about them and couple questions we had. I got a very derogatory letter from the school resource officer that threatened to have me arrested if I communicated with them again about it. So I stopped and I forwarded that to Mike. He knows cuz
169he was in on that. So at that point I stopped bringing it to the school and brought it here. My biggest concern has always been, as I've said, that intersection is dangerous and you're putting a lot the inexperienced drivers scare me, but there's a lot of adults that don't care either. They're they're not exhibiting good good behavior to these kids to learn from. So, it's pretty scary thing. >> Yep. You know, Mike, just from a a standpoint of safety, uh there's there's two cameras on that end of the building uh that one that shines over the uh uh out at the student parking lot and there's one that sh on the uh just to the left of the greenhouse which shines uh over over the rock and uh over to the uh the fieldhouse. Uh
170they might want to consider putting another camera uh on that end of the building which is going to uh take in that gate. Good idea. >> Well, I I'll be talking to Bob tomorrow anyways just about what we discussed on it. But um All right. So So the motion is we are going to work with board of ed to solve this problem and we want to make sure we get the best and the safest solution possible. All right. All those in favor? >> I >> oppose. I >> extension motion passes. All right. >> Okay. >> So we'll set that. All right. Um Oh, please. you waited this long. >> Um, I'd like to address a couple issues that the um um superintendent brought up. >> You just got to say >> I'm sorry. Uh, Judy
171Grippo, 10 Middle Hatam Road, Portland. Um, uh, 32% of the population in Portland voted at the last referendum. I'm when I went to vote in middle of the day, there were a lot of people that don't have children in school. I supported the school referendum as I know a lot of older people did as well. >> When I voted for the um the budget, it was presented as the budget. So to go back and give the board of ed another $550,000, we voted on the budget as proposed. So I I I'm not sure how that how you can go go back and change things. Let me let me just finish. Um healthc care insurance went up uh a lot as far as the superintendent. I remember him bringing that up before. Well, my health care
172has gone up. My gas prices have gone up. Um, I went to the grocery store today and the yogurt I love to buy was $8. I walked by it. So, I say to the superintendent and the board of ed, you agreed to this budget and you have to live with that budget just like I had to live with walking by that yogurt. I know that sounds silly, but I walked by it cuz it was $8 and went up, you know, couple dollars since the last time I bought it. So, and I also think it's very uh disingenuous for the select uh the superintendent to say, "Make us whole." And I quoted him, I wrote it down when he was talking. Um, I'd like to be made whole, too. But I couldn't buy that yogurt today.
173I'll fill my gas tank up and it's going to cost me $70 the next time I go there. We all have to live within our budgets and that includes the board of ed. And I also voted for the school to be passed which is a over hundred million. I know we're going to get reimbursement. So you know we support the town. We support what you do. I'm just saying to you we need tax relief. And this would be a good time since the town overwhelmingly supported the building of these new schools and renovating the new, you know, the schools that you show the taxpayers of this town that you support us as well. And so I just wanted to make that clear. Thank you. I'm sorry it's 9:25. >> Why are we here? >> Thank
174you. I appreciate that. >> Just I'll just make one comment about what you said. Um because you're not the only one that's asked that. Um the budget that was voted on was the spending budget. So the town decid that was what their budgeted to spend next year. It didn't have anything to do with with how much money came in. So that was that was part of thing. But it I don't want to say the timing was was terrible, but um we had already voted on the budget, but it it this money dropped in. So it's great. It's like one of those good news, bad news things. The town gets $500 and something thousands, which is wonderful. Um I say the town of board of uh but the timing was terrible. there were there's towns all
175across the state that were struggling with budgets that hadn't been voted and not and and we still have don't have clarity on it. So, so stay tuned. I'm assuming you'll be in our next meeting either here or watching and stuff like that, but um they we should have a lot more clarity on that. But I agree with you. Um anything that can help out uh we need to do uh and and I am sure that the board of ed like the board of selectmen was also looking at all the numbers and being very careful. third two-thirds of the budget and they also uh you know have you know a lot of staff that are doing that too. So I I trust and believe that they're doing the best they can as they trust and believe
176that we're doing the same thing here. Um we're trying to get down as much as possible but there are still you can still debate numbers and have a a vigorous discussion about it and I think that's okay too. So we need to defend the numbers that we put up there and and if we need to do changes we do that. So all right with that said thank you again for coming up there and staying as long as you did. All right. Any more public comment? >> Nothing. All right. >> Anybody Anybody else online? >> I got a comment last time somebody was online and but they didn't notice. >> All right. Informal discussion. >> Yeah, I had a >> I was just going to say quick announcement or I one other hat I wear is
177I'm part of the parade committee. Just a reminder, the parade is Sunday. It kicks off at 2 o'clock from company to firehouse right across the street. Uh lineup is generally starting at 1:30 if you're if you're coming to March 1 1 makes sense. We get you all lined up stepping off for two and the weather is but remember the Portland Memorial play parade is rain or shine so keep that in mind. >> All right. Yeah. I was just going to um I just wanted to you know congratulate our fire department. >> Yes. For an excellent event on Saturday. Congratulations. Um I had never had an opportunity to go to a wet down before. >> Very cool. Um, and the bag pipes were playing and it was cool to see not only u um I think
178the the the ladder from company one was there but also we had other fire uh folks from other other districts that came and it was a nice celebration and a nice event and I congratulate them on that. >> Absolutely. >> It it's different seeing them all come together when it's not a tragedy. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. >> So, so I just had a couple things to say. um the last couple days um after the budget referendum and the whole bit I got a chance to spend two days unwinding after a crazy four or five months and during that time I got to thank John as deputy selectman for stepping up and doing a couple events. Uh one was the state sawmill event which I think is wonderful. I don't know if people saw
179that. Um but >> yes >> I did. >> All right. So but anyways I saw the videos. Um I don't know I'm not sure people at home know about much about that but that might be we're talking about the fire the wet ceremony but also the hometown festival and I don't know did charity take off. She just she knew that I was going to ask um but we had the Portland we had the hometown festival on Saturday. I heard it was wonderful. I saw the videos. I called in some people that were doing that. So a shout out to that committee that put that together. It was wonderful. Uh John, you were there. There was reenactments and and the whole bit. But it was just a great whole time. how you describe it today when
180we were talking. It was just a great feel from everyone that was there. >> I it it was one of those it was a perfect day. The it wasn't overcrowded and I saw families there literally for hours. It didn't appear that they rushed in and wanted to rush out. They were just there to have a good time for the day and it was was a very great event. house. Anything you got? Good. And >> um the only thing I have is like when we read about the the lease for the Sabbrook reading, >> right? >> This is one of the things I brought up at budget season that I think we need to put money aside for certain things. >> Yes. >> Um we don't plan enough for the future. Um, our land acquisition fund
181is pathetic for what we put aside and we plan on, you know, if we have to buy land for the airline trail or >> something more along the riverfront or whatever that the town needs, we don't have the money for it, >> right? >> Because any kind of revenue that we have come in, we just throw into a general fund and it disappears just like the state does. Y >> um we leased a parking lot on Lower Main Street and it goes to the general fund. >> That was one of the things that should have easily it's >> unexpected money. We could have put it aside for land acquisition. We don't >> we we never put anything aside. It's just >> throw it in there and everyone has at it. >> So I'm going to
182add something to what you said, but but I think it makes sense. We had talked about getting an efficiency committee together in terms of making sure like with the truck today where if we can spend a little money that it saves us because we can do some stuff ourselves. Um I think that's something we need to look at. So over the next course of the next fiscal year we need to look at that we can modify if we can get other other deals that bring more revenue in. We direct that into the funds that we think are going to have the biggest impact. So I think we need to we need to focus on that. So I think that's a really good idea. Um, the only other quick thing I have is it's not going
183to start tonight because it's too late. Is the school building committee? >> Are we talking about that at the first June meeting? >> Yes. Yes. So, we have a couple things to talk about there. So, that's a good segue. So, we had talked about reviewing the ethics um the ethics rules. Um, also reviewing all of our ordinances that we have. We've had people talk about blight and other things. Uh, our efficiency committee and also the town charter and the building committee. So, we have a number of things that we need to start taking action on. So, at the next meeting, I will be reaching out to you individually over the course of the next two weeks, uh, getting feedback from you on on how we need to set that up, how many people do we
184want on there. I've already done some research and looked at, you know, what what should be a what what would be a good mix for a building committee, you know, how how do we want to split that out? People have already started approaching me about wanting to be on there with the credentials. So, so people are interested. they want to be involved in this thing whether it's the building committee, whether it's what's going to happen with Brownstone. So, we have we're going to have a lot of work to do this summer. Um, but for the June for the next the early June meeting, um, I want to talk about each one of these committees. We will prep before then. I will talk each one individually in terms of getting your ideas uh for what it
185looks like. And I'm hoping that we will have a couple a couple um a couple things to vote on in terms of what what maybe what committees we could set up. So >> the only thing I would say to that is we have to be very strategic >> and really look at the right people for each committee because we all know >> absolutely >> that you see it in every organization in town. It always seems like it's that same handful of people that do everything and you have >> what four or five major committees you're looking to hear for people that you think could do a great job. And I I hate to say it, there's gonna be some overlap in the people you're going to think about for these committees. So, we really have
186to give some thought to find a large pool of qualified individuals. >> I I have three resonates with people for building committee already. Just >> that's only three people from one committee out of five. >> No, but no, I understand. But what I'm saying is already saying, but that that's the one that's caught a lot of people's eyes because they know it's a big project. Um but yeah, so we need to do that. >> Well, the thing is with the school committee too, it has to be a fastmoving committee. >> Absolutely. because their recommendations and what they want to see in the building, the architects then have to put into plans before it can go out to bid to the contractors. >> So, it's not a committee that can take >> a year to come
187up with this. Construction should be starting in just over a year. >> Yeah. There there's there's >> it has to be a fast-paced committee that wants to hit the ground running and meet often and get this job done, >> right? And there also Yeah. It also needs to be a variety of talents. you know, it needs to be someone that knows the money and someone needs to know all the details, right? The building, but there's there's a number of things. So, so that will come together, but yeah, we have a lot of work to do. Um, I know uh I know uh someone mentioned to me to remind everyone about the renters's rebates. Uh would you like to I don't mind you going up there and saying something really quickly. >> True. >> It's not
188public comment, but I just want to just mention it really quickly because you were handling that. >> Yeah. No, and I was and I'm enjoying it actually. I have a bunch of new friends. Um, Portland is uh very lucky to have a rent rebate program for people renting at Chattam Court, Quarry Heights, and other um independent landlords on Main Street and various other sun uh sunundry places. We have about 8 and a half% of our housing is rental properties, which is great. Um it's uh it's a wonderful thing. Um the rent rebates are available to uh anybody over the age of 65 and also disabled individuals. Um there's information at Quarry Heights and at Chattam Court that I was able to take over in the last couple of days, a checklist of documents that are
189required. And once you um know what you're supposed to bring as far as your um 1099, your disability statement, bank statements, Eversource, um any uh DSS money, um once you have all your documents, make an appointment with me and we'll process the um the paperwork and uh luckily the the checks are available after November. We have from uh April the 1st till September the 30th to process. I right now I think I have about 75 or 85 um folders that of people from the past years who have applied. So just a reminder at I did put a a river reminder uh for youth services that we are doing rent rebates at youth services. So um come down see me call me and uh the rent rebate program is well and alive. Thank you, Mick. >>
190You're welcome. >> All right, with that make motion we >> got he got you to it. All right, all those in favor I post abstension we are adjourned. Thank you very much.