001Everyone, it's 7:00. We're going to begin our Board of Selectmen meeting. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, I have just one addition to this. Um, under 8D, I'd like just a brief um comment on the state funding issue with ECS. So, add that real quickly. I'll make a motion we approve the agenda as modified. >> second that motion. Don seconds. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The abstention, motion passes. Thank you very much. Um Has everyone read the minutes of the last meeting? I found no errors on there. I I do have that. I do have I do have that. Beautiful.
002Uh there was a uh there was some some a comment that was made at the end of the meeting uh that was uh if we're looking for notes on it, it was actually captured very well in the River East, but uh there was the the fact that uh we did get a final ruling on the Committee Against Solidarity and their their political uh activities not being cannot be part of the committee that it was established by the Board of Selectmen. Uh we then said that Michael, you were going to use that as an opportunity to uh go to all the committees with a memo just putting that into writing so it's memorialized. That was missing. Okay, very good. >> Yep. We'll make sure we add that in. Thank you. Do you have a motion? Motion
003that we approve or we got them? Make a motion we approve approve the minutes as amended. As amended. >> Yeah, yeah. All right, so Vinny makes a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Does anyone second? >> I'll second. John seconds it. Any further comment? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Thank you. Um correspondence communications um I'm going to save the ones I have uh for later during status of committee reports. Um so the only thing we have next is the presentation by the Riverbend Access Committee. Would you like to go up there and make your presentation? We wouldn't do that. >> to advise by importance right in the beginning. I'm buffing the kayak. I'm getting ready. I know. Lou Pear 227 William Street, Portland, Connecticut. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening.
004Tonight we bring you good news. Good news is always good. Over an 8-year period one first selectwoman two first first selectmen many board members five environmental studies the selection of a fence and construction contractor the finish line is in sight. Yes, very nice. In accomplishing this vision a heartfelt thanks goes to our committee. We've had a committee of seven members counting ourselves where we have worked for eight years. Taken a while but we're we're getting there. Uh I want to thank co-chair Rick Sharr >> [clears throat] >> Jay Aschkenasy Tom Bransfield Michael Hennessey Karen Renner and Mark Tuttle. They've been with us for the whole eight years, which is I guess like you would say that it's perseverance and we appreciate their hard work. So for you guys, this is an invitation. Please join us
005up on June 6th at 10:00 in the morning at the river They call it the new river front access. Later I will talk more about the river bend landing. Uh we'd like to change that. Cuz some people get confused with the river front park and if we had a river front landing or a river another river front park, it would be confusing. But more than that when you go to the arch next to the police station, there is a plaque with information, historical information about the town. And when it talks about the Wangunks who were here before we were here, Wangunk means big bend. So it makes sense that we use the big bend in some way. Uh so our committee has voted uh unanimously to say, "Let's have a new park called the river
006bend landing park." And maybe at another board meeting uh the board members can vote to approve that recommendation from our committee. So that's all I have so far. I'm going to turn it over to Rick because he he has some more things that are just informational pieces uh about where we started, where we are now uh and I want to thank you people on the board and the board members before you that have gotten us to this point and Mike is our ex-officio member of every committee, so uh kudos to Mike and uh thank Mike a lot because this was a lot of hard work with the DEEP, with the contractors, with bidding, uh and thanks Tom, too, because we had to go through bidding process for a contractor. And there's more things that are
007happening. So, this is great. Rick Thank you, Lou. Uh Rick Rick Shaw, 168 Middle Haddam Road, Portland. Um well, Lou kind of you know, gave you a quick overview. It's been 8 years in the making. Um multiple meetings with DEEP and uh working with Sue Bransfield, Ryan Curley, and then Mike Pelton. Um getting shot down a few times. Um by DEEP. And really, I call it an exercise in perseverance. Because I wasn't going to take no for an answer. And I was riding Ryan Curley pretty hard to keep it moving. And then uh I have to say Mike uh Pelton's like the Energizer Bunny. It didn't take too much to to get him fired up and get us get us [snorts] to the finish line. Um so, I would like to just um kind [clears
008throat] of thank publicly um the Rockfall Foundation was the first grant we got when we had you know, no nothing to work with and we had to start with studies and um the various soft costs that go into a project like this. Um so, they gave they gave us initially $4,000. And then, of course the big grant that Norm Needleman got for us the $300,000 from the state. And since then um we with [clears throat] the help of Karen Renner and Carl Gyle, we we received a $7,500 grant from the National Realtors Association. And I have to thank the Connecticut River Conservancy because even though I have a real estate license they were the ones that said, "Hey, you should go chase this down." And um and we did and we you know, we were
009successful. I think we got the the most that they were handing out at you know, any one time. They basically do small grants. And then um Grant Sanborn who is a member of Portland Exchange Club and um used to own the hardware store in town is involved with the Middlesex Community Grant organization and our Middlesex Community Foundation. And he told me they had a He got a hold of me and told me that they had money available. And I was still working on the real estate grant. Um so I guess I wasn't moving fast enough for him. So he went after Tom Bransfield and he Tom applied for a $15,000 grant from them for both riverfront parks. And uh I'm told that came through or is going to come through. So what we're going to
010do with that money is we're going to put half of it toward the the current riverfront park and half of it toward this Riverbend Landing Park. Um Then um I sort of got on a kick to see if I was I was just curious how much money we could just raise from the public. And I bounced it off Mike Pelton and he said, "Yeah, go for it." So, I threw out there that I would match uh if we could raise $10,000. And we started out in this in it was right around the holidays and um you know, we were we were about maybe over halfway there and it was the end of December. And then Lou and I and the committee decided, "Well, we'll extend it." And by the end of January we had $12,000
011donated. And um then as you might have seen in the paper, I matched that. But I have to say um the people in Portland some people especially, there's been a lot of good support for this park and there's some individuals I think we had uh 1 2 3 4 We had five donations of a $1,000 or more. And we had participation from some of the civic groups like the the uh Knights of Columbus, the Exchange Club, the Jonah Center. So, I just thought you you guys might you know, like to know that. Um we've also had some great volunteers. Um we've had several work days down there. Um the last one being in April when um thanks to Jim Trip, the Connecticut River Lions Environmental Club, which is a new Lions Club devoted to environmental
012issues in the state. And um they had a work party a couple Saturdays ago and they actually cleaned up the beach area. Um if you've never gone down there, it's gorgeous. It's like It's like a beach and Lou invited um What was it? Peter Francis from Deep. We met him earlier today and walked him down there for the first time and asked him a few questions about what we can do and can't do. Just got his opinion on a few things. And he said, "Wow, this is This is nicer than I expected." Um and of course with with the work that was done a couple weeks ago where they cut down some of the the just the little shrubby thing scrubby things that were growing at the top of the beach. Um it's really nice
013and open and you get a nice view as you come down the road. And um I have to say despite the kind of inclement weather today that the sand as you get close to the waterline seems to be drying out. I mean, we were actually able to walk on it without sinking in. So, maybe this whole concern we had about people sinking in up to their ankles in this silty sort of sandy, muddy dirt may not be as bad once the spring fresh it's over and you know, we're past winter. Um so, we had help from the Connecticut River Lions. Connecticut River Conservancy was very helpful from day one. Um we just in finding and deciding this was the best site cuz we literally walked from the Glastonbury town line down to the boat marinas
014areas Burden and extensive time in the Wangunk Meadows and the current Riverfront Park and just for various reasons, strong current, too much slope, whatever, decided this was the best site. And then of course the big if was if Tilcon would give us an easement. and they've been a really good corporate citizen, so we need to thank them. Um we've had um Beside the River Access Committee, the Odd Fellows Group, the Jonah Center, and of course Public Works has been doing some stuff there, too. So, um and people are already down there using it. Um so, we've had some fisher uh blue saw two gentlemen and their and their boys down there fishing the other day. Um I when we put out word that June 6th was going to be our ribbon cutting, um a couple
015of my kayak friends picked up on that, put it on Facebook, and I was scrolling through and uh this is kind of interesting. I actually told them not to come, but the New Haven Outing Club wanted to do a group paddle at the new park on June 6th, and I'm there, "Please don't come on June 6th, because I just going to be too many cars and people there, but you know, any other time you're welcome." So, I think it's uh it's going to get used. Um my message to the selectmen is to keep in mind that we have a great natural resource there. Um and I think it could that you know, that we need to keep it up. I think it's a feather in the town's hat and it's going to make people more
016aware of Portland and more reasons to come here. And when people come here from out of town, um they're likely to spend some money here. You know, chances are a group of kayakers come or fishermen, they may go out to lunch or dinner. Um so, I think it's going to be good for our business community overall. And I also think being kind of an old fart now, you know, we have we talk a lot about the schools and the the rec parks and that's great, but for the older folks, this is a nice place to go. Beside the riverfront park we have, which is also great. And I'm hoping that this new park over time with the help of the Brownstown Quorum will evolve into what we currently have on Brownstown Avenue. But this new
017park is so nice that you could go down there with a beach chair and just sit on a warm summer day and stick your toes in the water. Um, you know, it's like being on the side of a lake or down at the ocean. And the current there is docile. So, and it's shallow. So, there's not the big fear of, you know, if you want to stick your toes in the water, you're not going to get swept away and you're not going to step in and go over your head because you got to go out pretty far before it gets deep. Um, so, just I think when it comes, you know, funding time, um, you're going to have to consider, uh, you know, between using public works and, you know, maybe maybe this both upkeep
018of these two parks is going to is going to have to become part of the budget process. Um, I think we're fortunate right now. We have Brownstown Quorum and Brownstown Quorum has agreed to essentially absorb the river access committee. So, they're going to take over this, you know, along with Lou and I are going to stay involved, but basically we're going to hopefully we're going to get most or all of the river access committee to sort of sign on with the Brownstown Quorum and we have a bigger group to act as stewards for these parks. Um with the money that we've raised and some of the smaller grants You're welcome. >> Say one thing. Go. Okay. Um we're planning to do landscaping and sort of put the frosting on the cake. You know, picnic table
019We have Odd Fellows group making us picnic tables. Um probably have to make some pad sites for the tables. Um we had um Dave Thompson from the Portland Exchange Club and he has a Thompson Landscaping. Um he's vol- he's already been down there a couple days with some equipment clearing brush and stuff that wasn't part of the Butler contract. And he's going to get us shrubs and native plants. And then actually well, we'll we'll pay I guess wholesale for the plants. He'll He'll provide the labor and and put them in the ground. Um I think we're going to need to think about Well, we definitely have to work on signage, Mike, like before June 6th and Peter uh from deep mentioned, you know, that we're we're going to need some signs up there. Um and
020we might want to consider a portable toilet. I don't like we have it River Riverfront Park. Um and I asked Peter if if we if there was an issue with us putting any more material on the road like processed stone. And he said, "No, as long as you're not in the flood plain area." Which the road is not. So we don't need As a matter of fact, he said, "Just talk with your town engineer people about that. You don't need a special We don't need a special permit to do anything like that. Um and uh I think that's about all it for me. It's kind of been a labor of love. So, now you're going to have to find a new project for me. Labor of love. I just want to say I'm kidding. Thank
021you. Thank you. Thank you, Pam. I shared this with Don earlier. Uh I got a hold of one of the Field family heirs. And I, you know, I know that the horses were grazed there after they finished their run of bakery uh goods to I thought Portland and Middletown. And he told me that, and I'm not sure how long it took, but by horse and wagon, this family serviced towns Essex, Haddam, Wow. Middletown from Portland. Wow. It may have taken a long time for that local bread to get to Essex, but they did that. And the horses were horses that were used for the Middletown Fire Department. And years ago, the horses drew the wagons that had the water. Uh and these were retired horses. And the horses that were retired became the horses that
022delivered the baked goods. So, uh I know John is a historian, so I wanted to share that with him. I don't know if you guys did. So, thank you very much. Yeah. And we're ready to vote. Thank you. Hey guys, can I I I just read something quickly? This is for Lou. Um I'm working with the library here on a presentation for the 250 festival in a couple weeks. And I've been looking quite a bit trying to find information. And I think there's about there's a um book here, The History of Middlesex County written in 1885. And in the opening couple paragraphs where where talking about Portland, when they start right out, it says in paragraph five, "The village is beautifully situated upon the eastern bank of the Connecticut River, where it sweeps around the
023bend opposite Middletown and Cromwell. Anyone looking at Portland as represented upon a good map will see at once the significance and appropriateness of its Indian name, Wangunk, meaning the bend." So, in the 1880s, they were talking about it right here. >> [laughter] >> He didn't know that right away. So, David went for a walk and my wife said, "Look at that on the sign." He read, you know, we don't always read that sign. He read it and it was that Wangunk means big bend. Yeah. And so, that's our history. There you go. We keep that history going. And and just just two quick comments about that. Um the one comment that Lou told me a year ago that really motivated me to get this moving. He said, he said, "If there's just one thing you
024could do before I die, is get me on the river." And No, there was a second one, but but that was enough motivation. You got that done some. Thank you, Lou. No, 100% It takes time. So, it does. It's been happening. It's And that one time, Dick and I were not happy with these these these suggestions that we can't use the piece of land by the Wangunk Meadow, by the fairground. He said, "Go down river." No one's hearing any of this. Expect no one to hear. Nobody's hearing you. So, you know, so we spent so much time trying to get to uh get this done, uh we just were hoping that we could get it done soon. And the state said, "You can't use the property near Gildersleeve Island." Obviously, there's an endangered species there
025that we don't want to interfere with. but the uh kind of commissioner from the EEP said to us, "Go down river." And fortunately, everything has aligned because we had the land, but we had to get to the land. The park and rec department built two Little League fields, decommissioned the Tomasso field. So, now we go to Tomasso and we ask them, "Can we use your former field for a road?" And and I guess that's how things happen. If we try to do this maybe 5, 6, 8 years ago when we started, the Little League was still playing there. So, we probably couldn't do that. So, timing is everything. We're looking forward to it. I get more calls about this small project, this $300,000 project, than pretty much anything else. So, thank you very much for
026everything you guys have done. Um all right. Uh public comment. One two. Hi, good evening. Uh my name is Matthew Solak, S O L A K, from 289 Middle Haddam Road in Portland, Connecticut. I just want to take a brief minute tonight to commend the Portland Police Department working with their state partners to successfully investigate the narcotics that may be dealing out of some of the smoke shops here in the community. I just wanted to take a minute to remind our neighbors who are on commissions like economic development and planning and zoning to uh just be mindful uh when granting out business permits for establishments that may be similar to this to encourage them to do their due diligence and a little bit of background to make sure that we are having sustainable and reputable
027businesses in our town. And I would far rather see a vacant storefront on Main Street than a business suspected to selling illegal drugs next to a public housing complex and nearby to an elementary school or intermediate school rather. So, that's all I have. Thank you for your time. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Yeah. Absolutely. Um Amen. I I will add on to that as well. Um earlier this week I had a a conference call with uh the state AG uh attorney general and six other towns in Connecticut that also experienced the same issue with the vape shops and and these types of businesses. Um and there are several tools that they've given the legislatures has given to towns and municipalities to fight that and to uh to have some teeth
028in terms of enforcement. We're looking at that right now to make sure that we do that. There's some things we can do internally in terms of uh what we do as a town. The ordinances we have, the zoning we have. So, uh it's being actively looked at. Um we do want you know, we want business. We want to be we want to be business friendly, but we also want to make sure that there's a business in town uh that is selling illegal drugs or has been busted multiple times for that. Uh uh shouldn't be shouldn't be here. We need to have some uh ways of of stopping that from happening. So, uh stay tuned for more, but we're actively looking at that as a town right now. So, This could get lumped into what we
029were talking about last at the last meeting about planning and zoning and what we were asking Dan to do, right? Kind of put it's a near neighbor question, right? Yeah. Absolutely. And and there's and and looking at that reviewing what we ordinances, how we do things. Planning and zoning I think it's it's it's good to stick with what we can do. So, Agreed. All right, Mr. Robinson. Our monthly budget report. You are on, sir. Everyone has a copy. Yep. Mhm. Uh good evening. Good evening, Tom. I know that uh recently I was able to give you guys an update. So, I uh just try to didn't want to repeat all those items. So, I just touched upon some of the newer ones or or the ones that were more significant. So, starting with the revenues
030on uh the prior year taxes that one we had some collections in the interim since the last time that is you know gone over budget on that which is a good thing. Sometimes that will change at the end of the fiscal year with a 60-day accrual activity but it's good it's positive we're getting collections on older money still. So, that's good. Um, the uh pilot telecommunications um pleasantly surprised on this one that uh this is a number that comes through that's more or less it's frontier and it can be an AT&T and it's based on this is how they pay their taxes on certain things on telecommunication improvements. And it looks like they had some additional improvements must have come through uh uh Portland is a they had gone up and it had gone down
031and now it kind of went back up again. So, that was a positive. We were happy to see that money come in. And uh you know, hopefully it will continue uh next year. Uh 00328 structural permits um this is a budget of 225,000 so far at 207 17810 remaining. So, that's good that's a good position at least to be in at this point. We're we're getting close to hitting that number. There's some years that were nowhere near that number. There's other years way above it but it looks like we're you know, possibly going to hit that number and and that's that's a positive. Going back to the uh expenditures on page three um the general town council same thing This is one that's you know, this uh 37013 General Town Council, that's going to keep
032going up throughout the rest of this year. It's we're we're over budget, but it's going to keep going up as we need to utilize the council here. Uh 37025 tax matters. This one we had a complex uh bankruptcy that we needed to utilize the attorney on for a a charge of around 1325 for this period. Uh page four, um notice that the fire marshal's office, um this will be a 01 uh they have uh been averaging uh more hours. Um some of these these uh items were related to the spa construction, uh the spa blasting, uh Brainerd Place, and then some of those historical buildings, that's what I've been told. And then there's other fire marshal projects that require the reviews. Um so they've been uh those are the uh they've still three months are
033not charged. They've been averaging between 4,500 and 7,000 uh dollars a month there. So, they will likely exceed the the their budget. Um but again, it's to the positive of buildings of the building number on the revenue side coming. Um it's it's a you know, that that's where it's you're seeing some of those you know, the building numbers that are coming in hopefully strong. Uh you might be seeing a little overage here um with the with the fire marshal's office as they're uh trying to accomplish all these things that are drawing revenue into the town uh to get things approved. So, I wanted to bring that to your attention. Um there's uh some of the time with some of the marshal maybe away a little bit, but uh so it might not be as uh
034might not be at that six or seven five or seven thousand dollar number. So, we'll keep watching it. He's watching it. He's been in discussions with uh First Selectman Pell, and he he told me about this matter. Page six. Uh page six is uh the highway division. Um Uh the 6103. Um what we did there is we go we look at uh looks like we have about 21,000 budgeted, 15,658 expended. 4,094 pre encumbrance, and 5,000 of encumbrances. It looks like the majority here of of what was causing the push in this number to be higher than expected was plow bi- uh plow blade purchases. A lot of plow blade purchases during the year. Um and uh the ability to get some of those blades um can be challenging. So, we try to get get them
035when we are able to get them. Um but uh that was uh you know, because the snow was so heavy this year, uh it caused um damage on those plow blades. So, just was uh looking at that and wanted to bring that uh number to your attention. Uh page eight. Building maintenance. Uh equipment repairs, we've been we've been talking about that. It was 7,000 was budgeted. So far today, 16 uh thousand. We have Perfect Temp number two furnaces for about 2,490. We had library uh repairs for about 1,000. Electrical repairs at library for about 2,400. Uh police door uh security repairs for about 1,800. And then overhead doors around uh 2,000. Um so, just uh you know, costs are higher. Repairs are coming up. Um and um you know, but the things are getting fixed
036and uh improvements are being made by this department. So, that's a quality thing as well. Uh same budget, 6106. Similar scenario, building supplies. This is we're getting supplies to make some of those uh repairs if as well and uh to make other improvements within the town. And you can see here there's 17,000 budgeted. 14,595 expended. Uh 3,808 is um in encumbrances. Uh rolling that to a negative 1413. Uh this is where door supplies is what we saw. We saw some handles and some locks locking system. We saw some plumbing supplies, electrical lighting, um and and uh other supplies of that matter. Uh page eight again, you know, snow snow removal still that number is out there. Um the 85,000. Uh we're going to you know, keep keep looking at that and determining whether uh we
037need to do something about that number. And um uh you know, whether to um supplemental appropriate funds there. We do want we we uh if if somehow salt becomes available again, um we may need to try to get some more funds in here. Our shed is very very low. That's a you you really don't like to go into a a nexus uh system without salt at all. Um so that's one of those things we're we're going to look keep keep keep looking at. And uh Mike and I will uh will let you know what we're what we're thinking about that and what we can try to accomplish. Uh page 11. Um just you know, I think this is the board here has made uh discussions that they're very interested in in providing this the the
038van driver services, but just wanted to make you aware that we were at 30,000 budgeted. We've spent 43 to date. Um I know that Mike uh Palton and uh and the uh senior center director work uh talk often about this and and work together on that, but I just wanted to make you aware that I'm sure that that rise will continue and and uh we're already in a a negative 5,000 on that position. Those are the ones that were the you the newer ones or things that continued, but I just wanted to bring to your attention in this cycle. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, let me know if you need anything else. Thank you so much. All right. Thanks, Tom. Thank you, Tom. Is the Is the next thing in the uh fourth quarter? Absolutely.
039The the two resolutions. Uh stay up to Might as well stay up to Absolutely. So, the next two, we typically do these type of resolutions >> quarter on the transfers. Um but I know we have two new members on the board, so um Tom, if you could kind of walk through both of these >> You tell me what it is, and I'll tell you what it is. >> All right. All right. The the the school lunch fund for $35,000. Yeah, so the school lunch So, what what we do here is every year there's this these funds are within the town's uh general fund under the Board of Ed. Uh the Board of Ed budgets uh money to go into fund five, which is the school lunch fund. It's one of the other funds within the
040town. So, we just wanted you know, just what we do is to to make that transfer of the money is that were set uh set aside to go to that fund five. Uh we just have a it's a formality to come to your to this board and get an approval of that money to be transferred over. Um so, we just, you know, every year we come and do that in May. Um in years where it looks like it's going to be needed, uh this year that you know, it's it seems like there will be a need of some of that money. If um if it's all needs to go in there, it will. If not, then uh then not then then all of uh not all of it will. Uh Stephanie and um I will
041go through that, and we'll we'll make the the help on that. But, uh you know, there's things that uh there's there's certain items that uh that that will kind of they fall within a deficit position within the operations of that that we there's certain things that we will have to cover, although uh Sodexo will cover a lot of it. There's certain things that uh based on the contract that we're responsible for. So, we need to put funds in there to help cover that those positions. That's that one. So, what happens every year you're saying this? >> Yeah. And just the amount varies? Yeah. So, the So, this might help the One of the questions that that I had asked was the adopted 2025-2026 expenditure budget. This is not incremental to that. This is part of
042that. So, they're not coming in for more money. It's [clears throat] part of what was already approved. >> Yeah, correct. Cuz that was a big question. That And just a Yeah. Part of the part another piece to the story. I was at the Board of Ed meeting last night when they they made the motions to move this over to start the process tonight for this. Yeah. Yeah, I'll make You want me to make a Uh yes. Right. You want to make a motion? All right, I'll make a motion that we adopt the resolution titled fourth quarter transfers BOE school lunch fund dated May 6th, 2026. Whereas the Board of Education has identified funds within its general fund budget to transfer to the school lunch fund. Now, therefore be it resolved that the Board of Selectmen
043hereby approves the transfer of up to but no more than $35,000 to the school lunch fund fund five from available fiscal year 2026 Board of Education appropriations. I will second that. Sean seconds it. Any further discussion? I might call for the vote. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Stanchion, motion passes. Thank you. Second one is a fourth quarter transfer for a hundred thousand. So, perhaps So, this is a this is a we have a building maintenance fund. Uh that's our fund 11. Uh the has um puts money in there. Therefore, the town and the board Um and then what we've been doing over over the years um is when there's funds that possibly would be available at the end of the year in the town in the board of ed's general fund, we would trans-
044we would have this board approve a transfer into fund 11. And uh it's twofold. One, uh often we um we we haven't provided a a lot of capital and type of improvements um it for the in the capital budgets over the years. And so, you know, repair items do occur all the time. Um so, we try to uh try to you know repair some of those major type of items or yeah, but it could be any type of a repair that related to the building, but we we try to do those. Um I know that uh Stephanie and and Bob have listed out uh but then items that may be uh repaired in there, but are not limited to within the resolution. Um and the uh And so, what this does is it it moves
045it into fund 11. It gives us that ability to make additional repairs to the school buildings um and to help hopefully mitigate future uh problems and concerns. So, this is a thing that we've been doing um for some years now. Um this year they went with a lower number of 100,000 because they don't expect to really have very much money if any at all at the end of this fiscal year. But if just in case there are any other additional money funds do become available for things that uh may um either either POs that close out or um any things that can come in under uh budget, this would give them the ability to transfer the money into fund 11 to make those uh subsequent repairs. Thank you. Any questions now? Bobby. I'll make a
046motion. Uh that we approve resolution dated May 6, 2026 entitled fourth quarter transfer to BOE. Whereas there's a need for various repair projects at the various school locations, and whereas [clears throat] the repairs improvements projects may include but are not limited to HVAC repairs and upgrades district-wide, security repairs and upgrades district district-wide, exterior interior door repairs replacements and roof repairs replacements district-wide. Now therefore be resolved the Board of Selectmen hereby approves the transfer of up to but no more than $100,000 to the Board of Education maintenance fund account fund 11 from available fiscal year 2026 Board of Education appropriations. I'll second that. Any further discussion? Seeing none, call for the vote. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Stention. Motion passes. Thank you. All right. Uh no refund of excess of payments. All right. Uh so
047the item I'd add and I just want to talk briefly about this. Um >> [clears throat] >> So on Monday of this week, we had our meeting at the at the at the middle school with regards to the budget with regards to the annual town budget meeting and discussed the budget. Um had a good meeting and it now is set for this coming Monday the 11th. In that time, we've been told by the state that there will be some funds available to each town. Um I just want to give a status for those people paying attention to this. There is they are still in uh Hartford working on um how the money's going to work, what the strings attached to it are. So there's no clarity on exactly how the towns will receive it and
048what's involved with the details of that. So um I just wanted to put out to the folks that are listening that the budget vote on Monday that we all are going to be voting on is for the spending. That is for what we've allocated for the spending for the town that this board has put together carefully over the last few months. Any money that is received in whatever form that it does come in will be applied to that and whatever the terms are that the state deems with that. And we as a board will be working closely to make sure that that is appropriately appropriately used to the benefit of the town in a way that makes the most sense. But we just don't know what the state is going to do. So with those
049unknowns, I would encourage folks that are out there that are maybe confused by the money and want to know what's going to happen, how it affects the mill rate. People are voting right now on the spending that we have put together. That's what the budget vote is on Monday. We still have to vote on the May 20th to set the mill rate. So if this is decided before then and before our meeting, we may be able to reset the mill rate based on the funding and how it is. So there's just a number of unknowns. I wish we had this. I mean this is both the good news and bad news, right? The great news is we're getting a half million dollars from the state and that will be very helpful. How we get it
050is to be determined, but we will have between now and May 20th to hopefully have the state sorted out. And then we'll be able to apply that to the mill rate in whatever way that they allow us to use the money for or or apply the money for. So just wanted to get that out there. All right. Next item. Um Old business active and ongoing. Do you have any appointments to boards of commissions? I do. All right. What do you have? Hey. Um yes, I'd like to make a motion to appoint Susan Sokolowski to the Clean Energy Task Force. I'll second that. And I'll just add that Susan was recommended by Andy Bauer, the chair of that committee. I know Sue personally. She's my neighbor and will be a great addition to that committee. If
051Andy recommends him. Yes. He's He's good. All right. Andy approved, basically. Yes. Andy certified. I don't know Susan, but I I trust his judgment. I trust your judgment. Any discussion about this? You decide. All right. Oh. Yeah. Let's call Almost in favor. Any opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Welcome aboard, Susan. All right. Um I'm just going to go through the updates very, very quickly. Um a few days ago I went to the Nordic Spa. Um posted a number of videos and pictures out there. Um my biggest takeaway was it it the size of it doesn't do justice when you're looking at it from the side. When you're actually in the village and among the 15 or so buildings that they're doing, uh it's it's seems huge inside there. Um it's it's got a great uh feel.
052The design of it uh is really impressive. I talked to the architect that designed the uh designed that whole layout. Um can't wait till it's open, but it it is impressive in what they're doing there. They are still on on track for a November-December opening. Uh there's a 100 plus people there every day um banging away at getting the inside uh done there, but uh it looks really good. Again, very impressive. Uh and uh the folks that are are doing this um are very excited about this opening up and bringing a great deal of business to the town. They also are starting to interview folks in uh in July and August. Um I've already posted that up, but I'll do that again over the next couple weeks. Uh but people can apply for jobs there.
053They'll be hiring locally on a number of the positions. Um and they're looking for different vendors, as well. So, uh they want to be a good uh a good neighbor to the community here, and that is good to see. Thank you. And >> [clears throat] >> looked at your pics online. I just I was curious. It looks like they created what looks like a little furrow where it's catching the water from coming down the wall and funneling it through the hole area. Yeah, it's so I I sent them I sent them all to Dean because obviously Dean I mean that this is the place that he just loves. Dean Zusi so they have they have a corporate adult the natural setting of that property and there is a natural waterfall that comes off the wall
054that they're kind of running through there so they've done a real nice job. So I'm going to set up another another tour there over the next week or two so I'll set something we'll find a time for everyone here or maybe two groups so we don't have a meeting but either way worth going down there and I'd love to have you guys check it out. Very impressive though so. No additional update on Brainard Place they're just cranking along the third building the Sage House new windows are in there they painted the frames of the windows and they're starting to work on the inside so you could finally see at least a clean coat of paint on all three buildings but that's coming along nicely a lot of people have noticed that. That is great to
055see. The Airline Trail project gentlemen thank you very much for for that whole thing. A lot of excitement I've already got my kayaks ready to go so excited about that. I do not have an Airline Trail update. Would one of you gentlemen like to go up there that would be great. I received the Clinton is I. Yeah another hat. Yeah my other hat we can't this is this is also uh an act of perseverance. We started this project in 2014 and it's now 2026. 2018 we were able to get 2 miles of the trail completed. All that land was it was an easement by Eversource. So that went pretty well. This spur was purchased by the the town of Portland and that spur was also developed by a grant from DEEP. So that's phase one.
056Phase two since 2018 to 2000 or 2020 six. Uh we're talking another 8 years. And uh Riz and I have worked with our committee and with several selectmen and boards of selectmen to see if we could get it move forward. The YMCA has given us approval to use a piece of their land. Eversource is the next person. We've had different leadership in Eversource. So every time we ask and we think we're getting close to an approval or a a letter of of approval that person leaves or those people leave and and we try again. Uh and then we've had since it takes so long we've had leadership here within Portland that have changed. So between the leadership here and leadership at Eversource we have not really moved the needle too far. However we have met
057with a gentleman from Easthampton who works for Eversource who is kind of like a well, he's the motivation for Eversource to make this move forward. And he has talked to the vice president of Eversource who is now is talking to the all the other vice presidents because when you get approval from a company like Eversource you need approval from the environmental person the engineering person the architectural whatever. There's lots of different vice presidents that need to check the box and say okay. Well we think by September we will have those all those box checked and then the next person who's already given us a verbal approval is Butler Construction. And then Mike is meeting with the owner of Dairy Queen, like I said, next week to see if we can get them to approve to
058give us a little bit of an easement less than what we really asked initially. We asked initially for some of their property that borders Butler, land that borders Jarvis, and then some of the land that borders 17. So, it'll be like a loop. That would be a lot of land for the uh the Dairy Queen owners to give us or to allow us. But, we don't need that now because Jarvis has now allowed us to use the piece of property that was the original trail that is behind their farm. So, if we were to go from Butler to Dairy Queen and follow that brick or stone wall, it's in a straight line to Jarvis. We wouldn't need to do that loop anymore. So, we're hoping that when we speak to Mike Cassetta to see if
059in fact we don't need all that other easement. It's just a short piece of easement that we need that would get us to Route 17. If we can get all of that done before November 1st with the application the memorandum of agreements, a map that Jacobson would put together of how this would work, we could then apply for grant through the EP for the trail. And again, it would get us to Route 17, phase two. And then phase three, phase three would be great if we get You know where Driven is? Ask the Driven people. They've given us a verbal approval a while ago. They might say again yes again. Uh but then from there it goes across William Street extension, and that's a pretty much a straight shot on the original trail that's owned
060by a an owner one owner in town. And if that owner was to say, "Yes." We could probably get to pretty much to Adams. And then we'd probably jump off the trail cuz then there's too many owners that own a piece of land from Adams to High Street. There's probably six or seven owners and that could take another 10 15 years. But the state owns a piece of property off of um Freestone Avenue. And if we could get into the state property, which they probably would say, "Yes." They have a parking lot. We could follow that parking lot to Freestone Avenue. And Freestone Avenue has sidewalks on both sides most of the way. And people could drive a bike, they could walk to Main Street and over the bridge. Long-term long-range. So, that's the plan.
061That's the report. Right. Yeah. So, I'll make the same commitment to you on this project. But if I fail It's I won't fail. It It won't fail. So, thank you very much. One one quick question. Have you heard any update at all on where the East Hampton section is to do the interconnection between the two? I I I know that's supposed to be getting closer, but I'm curious. And that's a good question. Uh Risen I usually meet once a month with our colleagues from the 12-town alliance, which is an alliance of towns on the Airline Trail. The Airline Trail is a state park from East Hampton to Willimantic. From Willimantic to Thompson, all that property is privately owned, so that they don't count it as a state park. So, there's a section that's called the
062state Park. We We're one of the 12 towns, and we're trying to see if we can work together to get the state to give us funding to get uh certain things done. But, to answer your question about the East Hampton piece, and this would be a great boon for the town of Portland, we have a nice parking lot in Middle Haddam Road. If you go up the trail and you go to the spot where it's wet in East Hampton, that's that's the end of your bike ride or walk. But, as soon as East Hampton finishes that, people can park in our parking lot and then go all the way to Willimantic without using a road. So, we've been told, and I you know, things always change, but the uh the park and rec director from
063East Hampton has said that they have the funding, Eversource is working with them, they should have that done by August, maybe November, but this year. That's excellent. Yeah. Thank you, Will. Yeah. You guys got to come every time. You got all the information. You know. So, I went up to that section in in, you know, in Cobalt where it where the trail ends, cuz I was curious what Eversource had done, and they disconnected the the lines. The poles are still there, but the lines are down in the in the section that is all wet that has to be rebuilt, and you could see where they ran new lines up from the like the sewage treatment plant. So, it looks like they did the electrical transfer bit that was holding things up. So, now they should
064be able to just go in there, and it should go quicker because the power's been moved, even though you if you don't if you look real fast you still see the poles but the wires aren't connected. So there's no electricity up there. So I I take that as progress. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Thank you. You guys got to get a monument yourselves. Um POCD no specific update on that. Water well we're working on Snyder has a contract for that. We have a solid plan in place. They have done some of the started some of the engineering right now. We're waiting for some of the test results back up in the last from the well drilled before they're still doing some analysis but we expect a final update a final report on that last test in
065terms of how much water we can pump out of out of our well there. That should be within the next week or two but beside that everything's rolling on on time with that. What else do we have? Upgrades no no update on the upgrades. That as well. So that's what I have. Status of committee reports. I have one question. Where are we on this the bid process for the High Street project for water main replacement? So they're they're having issues with some cost they I know so that Birmingham came back today to do some of the work that they needed to do. I think they may be out I stopped by earlier they may be out one moment but they were doing some you know cleaning of the pipes. There were some cost issues with
066the newest round so it's not put out yet. They're trying to work through that. Um I'll have Jason actually do an update on this for all of us and and email it out to you but there's no specifics. I don't know the details on it but if there was some cost things that went up that they're trying to mitigate and try to I'll try to figure it out but but they're they're trying to get it out and they ran across these things maybe a week or so ago. So maybe by Friday they'll have it done. So, good question. All right, status and committee reports? You don't Um no, I don't really the water and sewer and and parks and rec meet, you know, next next week. So, I went to Board of Ed last night.
067Um they they cram a lot into a very small window of time. Um the updates from the students was pretty interesting. Um having been to Portland High School with myself and having kids that have been there, I remember going to the Virginia Beach back my think my wife and I were chaperones with the kids uh where they go down to a music competition both band and chorus. They went to Virginia Beach over the vacation. The band and the chorus both got superior scores. I guess they did very well in that competition. And when we went down there with the kids years ago, I thought the band was good and they got swamped, but apparently they did amazing this time. So, kudos to them. Um the band extravaganza was hugely successful as well as the chorus.
068The art department is having an art show up there right now. The the kids are saying, "Please come up and see it." Uh in the sophomore class auction, unfortunately we're unable to go, but apparently they broke a record. They made like $14,000 on it, which was amazing. >> $14,011 was the final total. >> that was amazing. Um the couple things we voted on tonight, the the transfers were were acted on last night so we could do what we needed to do tonight. Um they moved to executive session and I left for the ratification of custodial maintenance bargaining unit agreement and paraprofessional bargaining unit agreement. Uh and they approved two policies last night. They were actually modifications to policies. One of them was had to do with uh kindergarten enrollment uh and the early waiver program
069for the children now that have to be five to go to kindergarten uh and a new uh orientation first year orientation for board of education members like a training. Both of those were approved and then they went on to uh executive session. They pack a lot in, don't they? They do. John, do you know where they stand on their bus contract? They finalize that yet? They didn't mention it, no. Um Charles wasn't there last night. His his son actually graduating and he was at a function for him. So, they gave a written update from Charles, but there wasn't a lot of discussion. Okay, [clears throat] yeah. I don't have anything on stats and committee, but I just wanted to backtrack just for one second. I know it's really off not in this agenda item, but
070to be clear the um Sue Sokolowski is we nominated as an alternate. I don't think I said alternate to clean energy task force, not a full member. So, I just want to make that clarification. Yeah, sorry. No problem. I meant to be clear with But, I don't have other reports. Good. Uh housing they uh we had a skip meeting in April, so there was nothing to report on. And uh planning and zoning is uh this Thursday. Nothing. Nothing, okay. Um just a few announcements. Um youth services uh we had four people to interview last week for the youth services position. Um uh Jen uh from the library and I uh were able to meet with uh with the three with the four. Um I think we have uh someone that we want uh for this
071position. We're checking references right now. Um I'll have a name to announce uh either Friday or Monday. Uh want to make sure we check that and get a hold of the client, but uh I think we'll have that position filled and filled within the next week or two whenever they're available to start. So, I'm excited about that. It's an important position in town. Uh and again, it's a very fair forward-facing. So, that library, a senior center, these are the these are the jobs that most people see when they come to do services to town. So, uh it was very important but >> still have the vacancy for the water pollution control? Yes. Um tag what town wide tag sale this Saturday. Uh signs are all over the place. So, uh it'll be busy. Drive carefully.
072It's not on Main Street. So, yes. It's going to rain? >> Yeah. Rain dates uh We're part of it and it's going to rain. Is there a rain date the next day? No. You said there's no rain date. Rain or shine. Rain or shine. >> rain goes away. There you go. Send out those vibes out there. So, As long as as the mud bog goes. There you go. Um On Saturday, um I had the opportunity uh to attend the Voices of Portland, um Finding Her Voice, uh Andy Hepino. It was wonderful. That room was packed. It was It was fantastic. Um I could not stay for the entire thing, but I'm looking forward to watching the video, but um if the way they had it set up and the way they did the interview, uh
073they kind of relived the interview that happened back then. I thought it was it was very impactful, but it was wonderful to see uh people there. That was absolutely really absolutely amazing. I was there for the whole Yeah. The whole time. It was It was very moving. Oh, really. Well, and it reminds you I mean it was such It's such an unusual thing to think about that happening in this country back then. I understand the historic reasons, but um the way they presented it um uh was was was amazing. Um Yeah, it it it it it was good to see. Um my only comment when it started and and I think it's true to to everything. With all the things going on in the world, we need more things like that to pull us together
074and remind us uh doing the right things and how important that is in in making a better world around us. So, I was very impressed by that. Couple other uh events, tomorrow is at 6:30 is a National Day of Prayer, Portland Food Bank uh Stories of Hope. Um that'll will 6:30 uh senior center. So, that looks exciting. We already talked about the tag sale town wide. Um, May 15th, 10:00 a.m. Uh, DEEP has invited us to a event at the sawmill. Um, I know John is going. I guess it's open to, uh, the other select men as and women as well. Uh, that is 10:00 a.m. Uh, I will give this to John and John can Out on Great Hollow Road, up behind company three. >> Yep. So, if you haven't been there, I went
075to last >> State sawmill, they've got a done upgrades out there. I didn't realize I camping Hammond asset for years and years years and never realized all the picnic all the wood from the picnic tables that they use there, they said comes from the Portland sawmill. That's interesting. Yeah. I I have no idea. I saw the sign at four corners for the DEEP one. I had no idea it was there. So, I drove there one time a year ago, about this time. Uh, and there were a couple cars there. Beautiful, had no idea it was on there. It just kind of rose out of out of the out of the woods. Um, I walked back there, couldn't find anyone. I finally walked into a building Building it's good. I got somebody sitting at the desk
076doing some work there. They're the only person in that building at that time, but I was it was impressive to see they do a lot. So, if if anyone any members can make it there, it's worth checking out if you have not seen it before. >> Can you send something on that or >> Um, yes, I have an email on I'll send it to you. And also John has he can even give you that copy. >> Yeah, just pass it down. Okay, good. I can cruise to you an official invite, too. And this this is this is just that silly information I have in my brain for no other purpose, but I believe that the for the state owned that property cuz many years ago that was the DEP UPA campus. I believe. See see
077see can can civilian conservation corps? Are you going to pick Yeah. Yeah. Bobby, you want I would. Oh, you can't be working. It's working out. I have a job. Good job. I have a job. How's that working out? That is. Keep working. All right. Uh, next Saturday is the, uh, Portland Hometown Festival. Lots of doings there. It's 11:00 to 4:00. Rain date is the next day. Should be huge. You should have heard of it by now. Uh it's going to be amazing. Uh last Friday of this month, May 28th, at the town hall field, Veterans Field, there will be the first uh farmers market that we've had in a long time. So, we have uh and I guess it's early in the farm season, so it'll there'll be crafts there, there'll be farms there. There
078may be baby goats there. Uh but that is coming up. Uh you'll see more signs out there. This was an interesting one that came up. Um has everyone uh heard of Paulie's Push? The gentleman that pushes the cart with the Paulie's So, he came through Portland a couple times, but uh the the last time he was through Portland, he I guess he really liked how we treated him during that time. So, he is planning on actually coming through Portland again. I'll give you the date shortly, but uh he'll be in town specifically uh in August as he's pushing it. Uh we're working together with Rob Quigley and the fire department and police and maybe the town, uh the schools to do something in town for him for a couple hours. So, we want to create
079an event where he comes onto Main Street. Uh he's has this year he's doing four carts, not just one. So, he'll have other people pushing the cart in honor of that. But it's their 25-year anniversary, which when I heard that uh kind of reminded me that a lot of time's gone by, but 25-year anniversary since 9/11. Um but I will let everyone know that, but that is happening. Again, it's months away, but the way that this year is going by, it's going to be here so quickly. Uh and then the last last thing is um last week I met with DOT to talk about a road diet on Main Street. And what could we do to slow down traffic? What can we do to maybe change the lineage uh there to make it uh better
080for parking, etc. Um DOT is very much in favor of uh doing something. They think it's an ideal road based on the amount of traffic we have coming on that road um and the parking situation now and and and other things. So, when I get that in, um I will bring all the all the select people in on that so you guys can see what's going on and what their ideas are, but I wanted to start that process. I know the POCD and the park grant, they also created a map. I'll share this with everyone afterwards as well that goes to how they would re-lane the road. And their ideas is the same as what DOT said is you do two you do one center lane for for changing and do it in in in
081certain places. And then you have the other two outside lanes. But you could reduce the speed down, you can increase parking. Because of this, because we're considering it, the two factors that are involved is when DOT actually has to redo that road. So they didn't have the date or the year that they want to redo Main Street. Because that's part of the factor in how we're doing this, but part of the sidewalk money that we were going to do from Walgreens to the police department, we're going to shift those funds because if we do that if we do that sidewalk and then we get a new plan that requires us to maybe change it. I didn't want to spend the money, so I made the decision to hold off and divert those funds to other
082locations where we may need sidewalks. Worked with Jason on that. Worked with worked with Joe to make sure that we had the right plans for other places, but we're redoing some other sidewalks that have also been a priority. I will share it with all of you tomorrow. I meant to bring it today, but we I didn't want to spend the money there in case we had to do some new curbing. So I also started the process with Eversource to see if we can move the poles. If you notice on the on the Walgreens side, there's poles right next to the street. I'd love to push those back. We can't We're not going to be able to bury them, but it's a long process, so I left a message with that Jayquan, our rep, to get
083that process started. I just want to see what it would take to move those. If we can, it'll also change the nature of that Main Street. And it's about 500 ft from you know, from you know, 66 and 17 to the post office. And that's kind of our prime space, so we're looking at that right now with the POCD. We're looking at that with the bar grant. And that's part of it. So there's a lot going on. I'll keep everyone posted on that, but that's that's what I've been spending my time on the last week or two especially is is what do we do on Main Street? How do we make it better to park at, easier to travel, safer for everyone. For example, raised walkways slow traffic down. and that's something that we talked
084about. So, a lot of a lot of options, but that is truly all I have. So, we have anything else? Very good. I got this aside. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um public comment? Sorry? Any public comment? Comment uh Sure. Okay. Seriously? This is your one last chance. And then we've got 2 minutes after that and then we're adjourning. Rick Shaw, 168 Middle Haddam Road. You're talking about sidewalks. So, something just popped into my head. How about a sidewalk from um down uh William Street between Main and High. There's There's no connection there. They only sidewalk I brought it up plenty of times and there's no connection from William Street down to Bartlett, either. That's true. >> I see kids walking in the road every day after school. >> William to High and and where's >>
085So, something to think about. >> What From High Street to Main Street to William? And from High Street down to Bartlett, there's no sidewalks. And we're talking All right, that's that's the area I'm referring to. High to Bartlett, okay. And even the one on Bartlett it ends just after the old passageway to Gildersleeve. And and starting next year I'll I'll use the sidewalk if it's there. Yep. There by Gildersleeve is one that's all like it's got some really um messed up pieces. Like that could be looked at and fixing that sidewalk because of Gildersleeve's still I don't know if it's in the plan for those walker kids still go down that sidewalk off of Bartlett. But Bartlett where it ends to Bobby's point, but the sidewalk from where it starts down to Main Street is
086not in very good shape. We'll look at that. I think we need to target some next one, so all right, we're good. We'll get on that. All right. General informal discussion. Nothing? I have one thing. You good? Sorry. No, no. Um Just quickly, I just wanted to bring up and I I don't remember if I responded to an email that was to all of you or just to Mike, but I I had mentioned that I just had a question about why it is that the Solidarity Committee is the one committee that seemed to have this monthly requirement that they report to us, but there is no other committee that gets onto our agenda every single month. I don't know if it just started that way. Not that I have a problem with it. >> Honestly,
087I don't know if it was a requirement or if they wanted to do it when it was started. >> That's what I'm asking. >> It's actually It's actually in there. If you look If you kind of look at their I don't want to It wasn't called their charter, but it was in the the resolution? The resolution, yeah. The The very last sentence says, "And you'll report to the selectmen." No other committee has that. Okay, that's my question. >> It says, "Report to the Board of Selectmen at least once a month on the on the Committee on Solidarity's findings, activities, and suggestions for positive change in our community." And I think they are the only one. And that's fine. >> And but But if you think about when that was written, right, and what was going
088on, I mean, you could see at that point it was like, "Let's keep close tabs on it." >> Right, but But to me, and this is a fine example tonight with with just happened because we heard from two other committees tonight because we were talking about River Bend and then we talked about Airline Trail, but typically we don't have them like come in on the And I would love to hear that periodically from the committees that are out there doing the work. So, it's nothing. I don't care if Solidarity comes every month if it's in their thing, but I just wonder why they were the only ones that did that. >> So so let's take that moment to resolve, right? So would it make sense for us to maybe put a requirement for each of
089the committees to come once a quarter? We'd like to have them >> No, but that's that's why we have right the status and committee reports because we're all attached to those committees and we report what they do. >> wanted to make sure I asked that. Well, we are on boards and commissions, but we're not attached necessarily to things like there's not a board of selectmen rep to the clean energy task force or the air There can be if somebody wants to. Well, right, but right now I don't think that that Yeah. I don't know if I can speak or not. Oh. You you can go ahead. It's our time we say yes. Huh? Yeah, he wants to come back. >> [laughter] >> Come on back. Um So what I think will happen if you if
090you you guys can't having been a selectman it's hard to go you know, do your job as a selectman and be prepared for the bi-monthly meetings and then go to all these other committee meetings. You're going to drive yourself crazy. So maybe what you're saying Andrew isn't a bad idea to have the committee chairman come I don't know if they have to come every month. It depends on the committee maybe, but you can invite them to come like like Mike well, we told we sort of asked Mike if he would come, but but you know, he went with it, but um you know, you just invite the committee or when Mike when you want them to come. You know, as a chair of two committees and on the on a third committee if there's nothing
091to present then there's no need to come every quarter. Uh for example, the Airline Trail has been working on this for 8 years. We're at the same place. So, there's no really new news. Uh but I think that it is incumbent on the committee. I know Andy comes periodically when there's something important. So, maybe you could word it so that chairs of a committee will report to the Board of Selectmen when there is information that is pertinent to come before the board. Something like that. Document what he just said. And I like that. Yeah, that's good. Right, makes sense. I was only suggesting to the audience or informal, not that there's some requirement that they do it. I'm just trying to understand and now you've explained to me why it was that that committee is
092every month on the agenda versus But like you know, but like the the Planning and Zoning, right? We kind of we kind of asked something of them, right? And then as we start getting closer to uh the well, maybe we invite them in and then uh 3 months from now when we're using you you maybe you say, "Hey, come on back." >> Yeah. Perfect. >> Yeah, it's a it's a good I think it's a good It's good to make the invitation and if they don't have anything to report, they can always let us know. Yeah. I like that. Well, and do we want to modify what we do with next video solidarity? My opinion, yeah. >> From monthly to as needed. >> To me, I don't Cuz I'm sure like any other committee, they have
093they have down months that they have nothing going on, right? Maybe needless worth for them to come in and say there's not really much going on. Although, I know they have a lot coming up, but they can also come in when there's a lot of activity. I I think to have a requirement for them and for nobody else That was my it doesn't make sense. >> Right. That was what I was getting at. If if they want to, they can appear like anybody else and you know, speak at their own will. With someone >> And we do, and I think that we we want to hear because any committees like that are formed by resolution of the Board of Selectmen, so you would want to hear from your committee. I mean, we those committees are
094there, so you want to know what they're doing, but if there is nothing to report, um you know, like you gave guys gave great stuff today, so um Would someone like to make a motion or a suggestion that we modify this? Uh I I'd like to do that. I make a motion that we uh remove the requirement for a monthly meeting from the committee on solidarity and extend the invitation to other committees. Uh No, it's just for them. Just for them. Then I make a motion to remove that last sentence. >> Requirement. >> And requirement and maybe maybe suggest as as events come up or as warranted. How how do we I I I think you can leave it flat and we just as a board That's an open >> Right. We're having an open
095discussion, we can as a board Right. I think the motion should just be that we remove that last line on that. Yeah, you leave it You leave it stand-alone, especially where I'll second that. Okay. Okay. Very good. All right. Um We close out. I just Well, we There's going to be Oh, we got to Well, is it something related to this? So, any more discussion? But I got to agree, I do. No. I'll second that. Okay. All right. Motion made. Motion seconded. No further discussion. All those in favor? I. I. I. Opposed? Abstention? Motion passes. Fantastic. We're removing the requirement for them to come once a month. >> you a copy of this. Have you copy that? And then you can you do it do it specifically. So, I think I think that's good, too,
096cuz I'm sure it's a burden on them every month to have to do another report. You know, and they do a lot of work, and they do a lot of good work out there. Yeah, if you hand that to her, it'll be right there. It'll It'll be the the removal of the monthly requirement for a report to the Board of Selectmen as needed. And as that's implied. Yeah. Along with to the other committees as well. 100%. >> Great. That's great, nice. Just just as a history geek and I don't I that stuff I read few minutes ago of that that book, the history of Middlesex County of Portland's history, written in the 1800s is really cool. But for this group, just a couple a short paragraph. The town was incorporated as Portland in May of
0971841. The first meeting held was on June 21st, at the town meeting house at the the congregational meeting house for the purpose of electing officers to serve until the regular the first regular meeting. And it goes on to say that the group which was essentially the first the the board of selectmen, it was voted that no money should be paid out of the town treasury without an order from the selectmen, that the town clerk should provide all suitable record books, that the selectmen be authorized to employ some person to clean the meeting house. And then they went on to thank uh Mr. Hall for his impartial and able manner in which he moderated the meeting and they adjourned. I thought that was appropriate. We have somebody to clean the place in here and we adjourned.
098Pretty pretty cool. The important thing is that meeting sounds like 5 minutes. Well, there was a lot I didn't read in between. >> [laughter] >> Yellins there? No. This was before they came over. All right. Um let's move on. Uh follow-up items, ethics ordinance and review of town charter. We're coming to the end of this block this week season. That's going to be coming up pretty soon. So uh we'll need to talk about that once the hopefully budget passes and the school referendum gets voted on. Um That's all I have. Someone make a motion? Make a motion we adjourn. Seconded by? Myself. Yeah. All those in favor? I. All those opposed, abstention, motion passes. Okay. Thanks. Take this um you're going to send that to all the committees, right? >> Yes, and then and then
099you can throw that out in the garbage.