001Good evening everyone. It's 7:00. Let's start our meeting tonight. Let's please stand if you're able 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. >> [snorts] [clears throat and cough] >> All right. Um I just have two changes to the agenda tonight. There is on 7 C the date indicates uh for the public hearing date of April 8th. It actually should be April 15th. The time is still 6:00 p.m. but it's April 15th instead of 3rd. And the other thing uh small if we don't need to make a specific adjustment, but we do have the Committee on Solidarity doing an uh doing a update today. I don't know
002what time she will be here. Uh she may log on or come here in person, but uh I asked the uh board to uh approve when she is ready to give the presentation to allow her to do that. And those are the two changes. Everything else looks good. I'll make a motion we approve the agenda as amended. I'll second that. All right, Bobby seconds it. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Opposed, abstention, motion passes. Thank you. Um has everyone reviewed the minutes from March 11th? I reviewed it as well. I saw no changes necessary. Someone make a motion? Make a motion to approve the minutes of March 11th. All right, Andrea makes the motion. Second? I'll second it. All right, Jim seconds it. All those in favor? I. Opposed, abstention, motion passes. Thank you
003very much. Uh communications and correspondence. I was privileged several days ago, Ken. I gave it I gave them all away. So, I was privileged a couple days ago to um provide uh to present to Logan Prince a certificate of congratulations for earning his Eagle Scout um award. Um I have never been to an Eagle Scout presentation before. Um I got to hear the history of it during that time. Um there were at least five Eagle Scouts there in ages ranging from 75 to uh Logan uh at his age. Um what they have to do to get that done is impressive. Um Logan has been a student of mine as a middle school track coach. I've seen him grow up. I've seen him uh do a number of things so far. Couldn't be prouder of him.
004And I have presented to him the certificate of congrat- of congratulations from our board. Uh would someone like to read this? If not, I'm happy to. I just volunteered myself. >> I was going to say. I think you'd be disappointed. >> I would I would I would be happy to. And again, I'm real proud of him and his family. Uh and it's just nice to see that that band of brothers and sisters there uh to uh to to honor him. So, may it be known this certificate has been presented by the Portland Board of Selectmen to honor Logan Prince on his achievement of the Eagle Scout Court of Honor Award, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program, for his outstanding work performance, dedication, and unselfish service as a member of the Portland Troop
005Number Two Boy Scouts of America. Logan's leadersh- a leadership service project provided him the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to lead others while performing a project for the benefit of the community. Logan's Eagle Scout service project was to design, build, and lead a group to install octagon picnic tables sourced from lumber obtained from Portland's own Deep Sawmill and pour a large handicap accessible concrete pad at the Portland Senior Center. His project is to His project is a collaborative project including Town Services, Senior Center, State Deep Sawmill, Scouts, Scout Leaders, family, and friends. This project achieved great success and appreciation by all. On behalf of all the citizens of Portland, we commend your exceptional accomplishments and congratulations. Presented by me uh as well as signed by all the board members here as well. So, uh Logan,
006congratulations. Nice job. Uh you're going to do great things. So, congratulations to him. Yeah, congratulations. Very nice. All right. Um public comments. Is there anyone online? Anyone in the audience? Not yet? Very good. All right. New business. Um so, we have before us tonight a contract agreement with Tyler Technologies. Uh they're the ones that will be doing uh will be doing our reval. Um I have Richard, our assessor, here as well. Uh I don't know if anyone has any questions, but want you to review this and uh they have done work with us before. Uh they were the only bidder sole bidder on this. Yeah, they were the only one. Okay. Okay. Actually, I'll I'll just have to dis go for a second then. I'll have to go up just for a second. Yeah, just
007for a Well, I've got you here. You came all the way out. Yeah. No worries. So, do you just give a kind of a quick rundown on the reval and the half year you know how we do that real quickly? >> Well, we're going to be doing a reval update this year. Just a physical reval update, which is not the full knocking on the doors, you know, visit every property one. Um you know, and it's going to be in effect for October 1st, 2026. So, this is basically the Tyler Technology company that um been doing our reval last probably all all three of us since I can remember here, probably the last 20 years or so. So, um yeah, they came they gave us a bid and um we'll be able to get that down
008to our budget numbers. So, uh we can go ahead and utilize them and do that. Probably start sooner sooner or later, you know. What when will it start and when should it be completed, do you think? Um probably uh I like you know, I would like for them to start in the spring. And uh you know, the we'll have like probably get notices out in formal formal hearings out probably November. So, they're going to be probably here through uh you know, probably you know, through through the course of the year, February, March next year, you know, type of thing. Something like that. Year or so once they start. All right. Any questions at all? That's right. Thank you very much, gentlemen. I really appreciate it. Yeah, no problem. All right. All right. Uh who would
009like to uh Yeah, I'll do it. All right, I'll make a motion that we adopt the resolution um titled Contract Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc. dated March 18th, 2026. Resolved that the Board of Selectmen hereby authorizes the First Selectman to enter into an agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc. of 7701 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas with RFP number 2026-27 to provide reappraisal and revaluation services of real property for the October 1, 2026 grand list. Total contract amount is approximately $135,000. All right. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. Second. Um any discussion? All right. Uh they've been with us for a while. They know they know us. We got the We got it under budget. So, very good. All right. Call for the vote. All those in favor? I. Opposed. Abstentions? Motion passes. Thank
010you very much. All right, thank you, Rich. We also have next a resolution request for waiver of bid requirements for Knapp Engineering. Um I have Jason here as well to talk a little bit more about this. We got a little We got a little bit earlier today at 6:00 but now you get to hear the rest of the story. Jason Raco, Director of Public Works. Uh so, before you is a bid uh waiver request for Knapp uh Engineering for our um chart reader for the sewer plant. So, we have uh chart readers down at the sewer plant that uh keep track of uh vital records and data over time. And uh those readers, one of them uh is not working. Another one, the pen on it is very uh temperamental. So, every time we have
011to change the paper, we we uh we say a little prayer uh before we do so. So, um the reason for the bid waiver is because Knapp Engineering is our sole provider for our all our SCADA in our um current plant in in our pump stations. So, uh yes, we could have went out to bid, uh but going out to bid would have been you know, this is the exact equipment we want, no substitutions. So, uh I felt that it was appropriate to come before the board and ask for a bid waiver uh because we all are over the 15,000 uh threshold. Uh just so that all the equipment in our stations will all be the same. Uh this uh so this these chart readers will be uh kind of like the first step to
012upgrading um our plant uh moving forward in the near future. I have one more question. Would you expect a big difference in price if you did go out to bid? Uh no. I I I talked with Knapp trying to lower their price. The it We got a little lower, but not a lot. So, no. No, because we they are the sole provider of this technology and software that anybody else who would bid it would be a different type of equipment and software that we already don't have. Uh with Knapp and this with this uh software and this equipment, we already have it in our other stations. So, there'll be no There's no learning curve. We already use it now. Any other questions? All right. Jason, thank you very much. >> I always like to ask
013Mr. Dillon cuz I don't want him to feel left out. Mr. Dillon. All sounds good, Jason. Thank you. Thank you. All right. All right, you got it right. All right, um if we're ready would you like to read this? Yes, I'd I'd like to make a motion to adopt a resolution by the Board of Selectmen dated March 18th, 2026, request for waiver of bid requirements Knapp Engineering. Whereas the town of Portland Water Pollution Control Facility hereafter WPCF has chart readers that are beginning to fail and the WPCF is interested in new paperless videographic recorder equipment as part of the continual plant and system improvements. And whereas WPCF personnel have identified issues with the current chart readers and equipment and proper functioning equipment and the chart recordings provide valuable data to the WPCF personnel in the
014operations of the plant. And whereas a quote from Knapp Engineering of Prospect, Connecticut for a Eurotherm to sell 6180A large case large case paperless videographic recorder with related required equipment, software, and labor has been received at approximately $23,500. $23,500. Whereas Knapp Engineering has worked as a vendor for the department for and has much experience with the systems at WPCF. Now therefore be it resolved that in the best interests of the town pursuant to sections 1208 section 7 of the Portland Charter the Board of Selectmen hereby waves the bidding requirement of section 1208 of the Portland Charter as it pertains to utilizing Knapp Engineering as the vendor to provide new updated chart recorder equipment, related software, and services to get the new plant and systems improvement operational. And be it further resolved that the Board of
015Selectmen authorizes the First Selectman Michael A. Pelton to act on behalf of the town of Portland to enter into any agreement related to those improvements. All right, I'll second it. Seconded by Jim. All right, any further discussion? Having done this in the past, I know exactly why he's doing it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it makes sense. It makes sense. Keeps us consistent. Absolutely. All right, with that I'll call for the vote. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstention, motion passes. Again, thank you very much. Uh Jason, one question, when will they how long does it take to get this in and how long to get it set up? Three or four weeks between the time of the equipment Thank you very All right, so so so in about two months or so it may be
016ready to go. Okay, all right, very good. Yeah, or or sooner. Okay, very good. All right, I see we have our Committee on Solidarity member here. Would you would you like to go up does the would the board mind if she goes up now? It's all right. Do that right and then we'll do the school. All right. Come on up, just identify your name and who you're with. Um Janet Ellsworth, I'm the newest member of the Solidarity Committee. Um >> [clears throat] >> they told me what to say. >> [laughter] >> Anyways, so first thank you for all your continued support for the Solidarity Committee. It's an important in these times. So just to update you on what they've been working on. On Saturday, February 21st and I think some of you might have been
017there was the Voices of Portland that we focused on Black History Month. It was really successful and there was over 100 attendees. The room was packed. It was it was great. The next Voices of Did I say Voices of Portland or America? I keep saying Voices of America. >> [laughter] >> I did. So the next Voices of Portland is Saturday, May 2nd and they're going to focus on Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month and there's going to be speakers from both Portland's present and past that will that will be doing presentations at that. And Pride updates, um a craft swap was held in February that had great turnout. They will be holding another one in the future. I don't know the date of it yet. And all the of the leftover craft items were donated
018to the Revive Art Supply Revive Art Supply in Middletown. And then um on this on on Thursday, May 14th, there [snorts] will be uh Solidarity will be having an event for tie-dying and sign making event to prepare for the Pride Parade that's going to be held in Middletown on June 2nd and there'll be more information coming on where and exact time and stuff. A quick reminder that some members of the Solidarity Committee meet every Thursday morning at 7:30 to 8:30 for a democracy rally on the corner of Main and 66 and everyone is welcome to join us. And the last thing, this is very quick, the last thing is >> [snorts] >> just a reminder that anybody is welcome to join our meetings that are held the second Tuesday of every month at the Senior
019Center at 7:00 and they can either join in person or or Zoom. And that's it. That's awesome. No questions? Actually, I have one question. Okay. >> There's always one easy one. What Why did you join the group? Why did you become part of this? Well, oh this is on tape. Actually, I've been involved in the town for a while. And for years. I did different things. When my kids were in school, bottle drives and sports boosters and stuff like that and scouting. Then I moved on and I was actually on the original committee that did the ethics ordinance that wrote it. And then I stepped back, was working. Well, I was working through all that, too. And then I needed something and I wanted to be involved in the town and I think it's really
020important, especially in a small town, that people get involved. And I know there's a lot of our age group that's involved. I wish we had younger folks involved, you know, but it's hard when you've got school-age kids and working full-time. So I think whoever can do it should do it. And so I tried a couple of other places and they weren't the right fit. So I'm hoping this is the right fit cuz I wanted to do something that would make an impact with the community. That's wonderful. That's one I'm sure they're they're getting a lot from you, so this Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you very much. We really appreciate that. See, that was easy, right? You can go up again if you want to. I think once was enough. >> That was All right, there
021you go. There you go. We're one for one. It's working out good, so. All right, have a good night. Absolutely. All right, so 7C, um this board has talked a great deal over the last couple months about the school renovation project. Um there's a number of your history with different committees that have talked about what we do with the schools, what what plan we want to follow, et cetera. And I guess the process starts in earnest tonight. Tonight what what I'm asking everyone to do what I'm asking us to do is we want to authorize our first meeting that we want to set up. We want to authorize a public meeting for April 15th to start this process off. What I'm hoping happens over the next eight weeks, six weeks, between now and ideal ideally
022referendum day on May 11th is to get a great deal of engagement from the town, to get a great deal of conversation, a great deal of discussion, and questions about the project in detail. I want everyone that's a voter in town to understand the details of the project, what the goals are of the project, and how we're going to pay for it and feel comfortable with that. So tonight I want to start with that process by setting up the first public meeting so that people can hear about it and understand more about it. So um I have in front of you the language of of tonight. Who wanted to read this? I just want to make sure. Very good. So if you could read this resolution. Um Yes, I have to make a motion on
023the resolution to set a public hearing on bond projects. The Board of Selectmen of the town of Portland, Connecticut shall hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 at the Portland Public Library, 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, Connecticut at 6:00 p.m. to obtain public comments and questions regarding a proposal to appropriate $109 million for the following projects. One, the renovation and expansion of Valley View Elementary School into a pre-K to grade two school. The Valley View School project. Two, the renovation of Gildersleeve Elementary School into a grades three to five school. The Gildersleeve School project. Three, various capital improvements at the Portland Middle School. The Middle School project. And four, various capital improvements at Portland High School. The High School project. And collectively with the Valley View School project, the Gildersleeve School project, and the
024Middle School project, the projects. And to authorize the issuance of the town's bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed $58 million to finance the appropriation with the balance to be funded by grants received for the projects. The town is projecting reimbursement from the State of Connecticut in the amount of $66,502,080 for the projects. >> Mike, if you need a second, I will second that. I would love that. John Dillon seconds. Yep. All right. Very nice. >> [clears throat] >> Any discussion before we vote on this any comments discussion? No. All right, you ready to call for the vote? All those in favor? I. I. Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passes. Thank you very much. Much to be seen. Thank you. Thank you, Doc. Might be your Tuesday. Okay. All right, we're flying through 7D refunds
025excess payments. Make a motion for a refund of excess payment for Joshua Brown $6.18. Seconded. All those in favor? Opposed? Abstentions? Passes. Motion for a refund of excess payment for Ally Financial $180.41. Seconded. All those in favor? I. I. Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passes. Motion for a refund of excess payment John P. Daniels $1,077.89 and $1,339.22. Seconded. All those in favor? I. I. Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passes. Thank you. Motion for a refund of excess payment Nissan Infiniti Trust Lease Trust LLC $226.60 $122.44 $232.42 $201.28 and $64.01. Seconded. All those in favor? I. I. Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passes. That was quick. All right, next one. Old business. Um [clears throat] do we have any appointments or reappointments to boards or commissions? We don't. We do not. >> Okay, do not. Okay, great. Um updates on various projects.
026Nordic Spa, I have no specific update on that. They're continuing the project. Um every again every week I go there they they they're continuing to work on it. They're still targeting November as a soft opening. Brainard Place Um again they are working on getting the second building CO'd. Um our our folks our building officials are working with them to uh work through some issues that they have. So, um but it's progressing um and they should have that CO for the second building within a couple weeks per our team. So, that is moving along. Now, Mike, I know we talked about this. Um one of the requirements I believe is to have the historic building weather tightened. Yes. Um I know we did the temporary CO for the first two floors. >> Yes. Um is the
027weather tightening of those other buildings in in accordance with the the agreement? >> Yes. Um going to be completed before we do the full CO? Yes, they will not give I'll give a full CO until they have those all three buildings done. So, they're working they State House right now they have started some of the work on there to get the outside done. So, that will be that will be in force soon. Um they're talking about the next week or so. Okay. So, yes they're they're fully they're fully aware of the requirements. >> Absolutely, yes. Yep, they're reminded constantly by our team that they need to follow what they signed on. So, yes. Well, we gave them a partial CO. Right. >> Which they shouldn't have. Our >> Because they're not holding up their end
028of the bargain. They they were our in in fairness our our team was comfortable with It doesn't matter what our team says. It's what our agreement is. >> No, I understand. I understand that but they it was based on the totality of the situation. So, I can offline I can give you the more of the rationale there but that was that was that was the rationale. But they're but they're not giving them the full one because they need to have it done before that. But it doesn't matter. They're already using half the building. They're they have two floors that they have six units in there filled right now. Yes. So. But it was a decision made by the team based on the totality of itself. >> Well, I think the board should have made that
029decision and not a team. Because we were the ones that signed the agreement with them, not the team. That's just my opinion. I understand. I'll get I'll get you I'll get you more details on that. >> I don't I don't need more details. It's we just keep giving and giving and we don't seem to ever get anything back from that development. We're always the one that adjusts to please him and we never get anything in return. In in fairness there's they they've had to in a number of times stop projects, redo projects, redo portions. They they've they've been held to the fire on a number of things that they've wanted to get done and haven't gotten done. Jersey Mike's is a great example. There was there was issues with a payment and a relatively small
030payment too that held up a project that they could have finished maybe three months ago. And part of that was on their dime because they didn't do it. They didn't have it. Part of it was on us. Some of it didn't get sent to the right place. So, there was a number of things but there's been there's been a give and take. Um Ray and and the entire team that's doing that have in cases um you know, been flexible in other cases um have not done that. So, it's not a straight thing with this one incident. It's it's again it's a it's a complicated situation but I hear what you're saying and they they do hold them to the fire but there's there's been some back and forth on on various issues. So, but I
031but I will I I will look into it again though. It is the uh significance is noted. So. All right, any other questions on Brainard? Nope. All right. Uh river access project um they uh they have the road down to the river. Um they haven't picked up the project over the last two weeks. They were waiting for the snow to melt. Weather's better they had reassigned some of their crews uh with the cold weather. They are now rescheduling uh to start again. There isn't a lot left to do down there. Um they still have to put the fence up. I'll have to finalize the fence. They have to finalize the road but a lot of the hard work has been done already uh with the good weather we had about six seven weeks ago. So,
032uh they're still we're still aiming for a May uh a May ribbon cutting I guess is what we're shooting for. Um so, that's coming up quick but they feel confident in that. I will keep everyone posted on that as well. I should be talking to them uh this Friday to get the details. Airline Trail uh we're still waiting for Eversource. Um they they have indicated that um they will be assisting us with funds as well. Uh they are contributing additional funds and helping us with a grant that they are going to help sponsor. So, we may have that but we will be we'll be applying for that uh in October November of this year when when that grant becomes available. So, uh nothing will happen before then. What we will see between now and summer
033is East Hampton's uh portion of the trail which is not connected to ours yet will be completed by the summer time. So, that will allow someone uh to go from Portland up to up to uh Willimantic. So, that'll be nice. And for those that use the trail a lot whether they're runners or bikers uh that's a big deal. So, that should spur interest in getting the rest of it done between where we are right now and getting over the bridge to Middletown. So, so that is moving along as well. Uh POCD they're actively going I I I should have brought Dan tonight. We'll cover it on our next meeting but there's a a lot of work that's happened with that. They've had a couple meetings and a lot of in impact from residents on what
034uh our folks want this town to look like over the next 10 years. So, um I'll make sure that we have a full presentation on that um in the next meeting. The water and town well we talked about that tonight. We pushed that along as well. So, thank you very much. And uh upgrades to WPC um when I bring Jason in next time um we'll get a full update on all the projects going on as well as as well as what's going on down there. And that's all I have. Status and committee reports. Yeah, I was not able to go to the uh to the the water resource or uh parks and rec. So, I'm going to try to get with the chair the chairs and get an update for the next time. Okay, great.
035All right, nothing else on that. Good. Um public comment. All right. Kim Hanna, 50 Golden Lane, Portland. Um I'm really happy that you guys made the motion tonight and are going to pursue the school project and get that out to referendum. I think this time I think it's really well thought out project. I think the work that the committee did was great and it's a necessity for the town. It it just is. We I didn't make the Valley View tour but I did the Gildersleeve one. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, in all fairness to the the students, the teachers, they need this. I think your challenges are going to be getting people to understand. It's it's can't be kitschy and gimmicky. It's just got to be clear and concise. And unfortunately social media is your
036friend and your enemy. It's you know, it's a great tool to reach masses and it's a great tool for people that don't want to help out or approve to take one little tidbit and twist it and get a lot of attention. So, going to be a little bit of a challenge I think for you guys to get the right message out to get this because if this referendum doesn't go through I don't know where we're going to be. It takes too long to start over again and get another project and the deterioration is not going to stop. So, good luck to you on that. That's [laughter] all I can say. Good luck to you on that. And then the other thing just a personal observation. It's something that stuck with me after Monday night down
037there at Gildersleeve. There's a term I've heard for a little while now from some of our town volunteers, employees, you know, like the committee and stuff. And it kind of bothers me. You know, last year in June we had a meeting like an EDC meeting down at Brainard Place that Dan ran and there was a lot of business owners there and they had a lot of suggestions what would make things better for them. And what they wanted him to go forward with and he said, "I'm perfectly willing to work on that, but I've got a little bit of PTSD after going through Brainard Place and everything." And I'm like, "Huh?" I think he probably should have PTSD, you know. And then a couple weeks ago talking to Carla Johnson and he said, "One night he
038hears pouring rain and he's like, 'Oh my god, the leak at at Gildersleeve.' And Debbie looked at him and said, 'You're retired. It's not your problem.' He says, 'That job gave me so much PTSD that it still wakes me up at night." And the other night Bob Shea said the same thing. He said, "This place gives me PTSD." That's hard for me to hear personally. Because they're doing their jobs. And it's not fair I don't know how I There's nothing I don't think there's a solution to that, you know, you can't control what people say on social media, what people put in a news a letter to the River East. You know, how people approach things, but it's kind of concerning that so many people are so stressed out over just doing what they think
039is best for us. And maybe you guys have got a smarter mind than mine and maybe there's a a way to kind of help them out, but it's it's it's something to hear it a few times in a short amount of time. This is kind of concerning. You know what I found and and I think that's really insightful. I think I found that people that really care about what they do. Teacher child >> Absolutely. Um get having a good result. They own that. They take that home. And you know, it's like the nurse that takes them home all the stresses. And I get that and I guess you kind of want some of that people you want them to care enough and and and maybe do the actions that are necessary, but even with the
040school I mean I'm I'm very much in favor of the project just because I've listened to everything and the cost of not doing anything is far more. Because it's fixing old buildings. It's it's going to cost more every year and and and we're not going to get the money back from the state. There's a whole bunch of reasons why. And you know, we're at a point where we're starting to grow as a town and we have more funding available with Brainard, which I know a lot of people were against initially. Now they want the tax money to be able to. So, but I think it's just the caring bit. And I think that's a double-edged sword. It is. I I get that part, you know, I was the same way. But it's just you know,
041it kind of bothers you a little bit on And I did have one more other question about the school. When you read the how that's going to be worded the parts of the work that are going to be done at the high school and the middle school. Will that have the same presentation? Will we be able to tell people just like we can tell them what's going on at Valley View and Gildersleeve exactly what that work is going to be? Because the reason I ask that when we cuz I'm old when we voted on the high school project, that was actually a three-phase project. When we voted on that, it was doing the middle school high school and then there was work at Valley View that was going to be done and then there was
042work at Gildersleeve that was going to be done. And when they presented it they went into detail about what was going to be done at the high school middle school. And then there was just these beautiful pictures of Valley View and Gildersleeve and they kind of got pushed in a closet as that work went along and that work never got done. That's where we are now. So, I think you have to be specific with the with that part of it even though it's more than general, you know, it's not the important stuff. People need to know that if it's a roof, it's a roof. If it's heating and air conditioning, it's heating and air conditioning. So that it doesn't get forgotten when all the pretty stuff is done. You know? So that's just my opinion.
043No, I I think that's I think that's another good observation. We we're very specific about like the plans for renovation Gildersleeve and Valley View. Um and the high school middle school there's a very specific plan in terms of HVAC and roofing, um which are expensive, but we still get some reimbursement back from the state. So So yes, it's very clear. It's very outlined. There's no fuzz in here in terms of unknowns. And I know I again, I I moved into town 2000. And so I I wasn't even aware of all the details of this project. My kids, you know, um they they weren't about they were in the younger. Um but I know that if they built the Taj Mahal, they built a lot of wasted space and they spent a lot of money foolishly
044on that project and that will not be repeated here. Um they they've looked at the schools. They've tried to right-size them so it fits in. So I think that lesson was definitely taken and learned. So but that's that's a point taken for the people that grew up with that project. They want to know that's not going to be repeated. >> Right. And it's we've done it with other projects in town. I can tell you I've been voting on in referendums for 50 years. We've had a lot of two-part referendums and one part got done. Cuz the pretty stuff gets done and then the other stuff gets pushed aside. We can't keep doing that. So but that was just one question I had when I was looking over that stuff if it was specified just like
045Valley View and Gildersleeve are. Yeah. I'm I'm glad you came to that meeting though. I wish we had more people there, but I'm glad you came. >> I Well, I wish more were too because they're all going to be in the River East on Friday saying something about it, but they weren't there. >> Right. So. You know, that's why I said good luck to you. And when you're promoting it, I think the really it just has to be clear and concise and not kitschy or you know, just the facts because that's what people hear. What I think I mean for me the biggest sell point of this if I had to and I'm not trying to sell it. I'm just trying to present it is we finally get to right-size our schools, right? We get
046six we get sixth grade up to middle school. Now we finally have the right number of kids up there. And we don't need three schools, right? We don't we we've been overpaying a million dollars a year uh and plus on three schools and I think we're closing the right one. And I know the one big question that comes up at least the last referendums what do you do with Brownstone? And we have five years if this plan this plan passes and passes, which I hope, we have five years to get the smartest people in town that really want to see something with that building done. And five years from now is a long time with all the projects coming up. It could be a different town in a lot of ways with different needs. It
047could be. So so I so I like that, but there's definitely ideas about what we could do with with that school. Concrete plans with that that could be done. Um but but I think it just it kind of checks all the boxes, I think. In my opinion. I mean we're not a big school system and five buildings is way too much to maintain for 1200 kids. Yeah. For safety, for cost, for >> Everything. The safety factors at Gildersleeve, I was just blown I was like, "These poor kids There's no safety there." Absolute right now there's no safety no security for those kids. So it needs to needs to be done. Yeah. And it's going to fall on you guys to edit Yeah. to the town the right way. So Yeah. And and one last question
048for you while you're up there. So uh you grew up in town. Yep. >> a lot of people. So So as a board, um I think collectively I think we we feel good about this, right? And we want to get the word out. Um so what would you say to your friends out there that grew up in town uh here from what you've heard, why should they consider this and think about this and and perhaps vote yes if if that's what you feel as well? Well, from my perspective there's a lot of reasons. Number one, the conditions of those schools are not good. It's not fair to the kids and it's not fair to the teachers. I'm always one and I said it even with the other project. Give them a great building that they
049can do their job in. We don't need granite curbs. We don't need marble facades and I don't see that in these pictures. We need to provide the teachers with a room that they can do their job the way it's done in 2024 not the way it was done when my kids were in school in 1990. It you know, things have changed. And the other thing is I think what I've seen is this committee that put this together did a lot of due diligence. They really went down to the bottom and came up. The last project the high school project, I didn't see that happening. At all. I I saw a lot of hurry up because we want as you said this Taj Mahal. So let's sell the Taj Mahal and not worry about the rest
050of it. But I think that they have covered all their bases. I don't know how to answer the people that keep insisting that either we're in this position because the Board of Education raided their maintenance budget to pay for drills or I you know, I you I've heard it when I was younger and I didn't like it when senior citizens said it, but it's a fact of life that now they're struggling a little bit and so their answer is, "I don't have kids in school, why should I do this?" And that I don't really have an answer for other than when your kids were in school, we did the best we could with what we knew and what we had. That's you know, but we put it off too long. You can't rewrite what didn't
051get done. It didn't get done. Right. But you can't ignore it because it didn't get done. We're here because we had more schools than we needed. That cost and you can't maintain five schools without spending a lot of money and we didn't have a lot of money to do it. And what I didn't understand until the track issue came up was the town is responsible for all of that. All of our buildings, towns, firehouses, you know, town hall. I thought that the schools actually had their own fund, you know, their own capital fund. I didn't know it all came out of you know, non-recurring capital budget. So you can only put so much in there every year and I know that their list comes in this long and every year you guys have to cut
052it and things get cut and you know, firehouses get delayed sometimes. Things get delayed. In your own home things get delayed sometimes. Sometimes you put a band-aid on it knowing that it's going to have to be fixed in 5 or 10 years and it's going to cost you more than if you'd done it the first time, but you didn't have the money the first time. Band-aids happen because they're a necessity sometimes. Thanks, yeah. I really appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well said. All right, informal discussion. I don't have anything. I I actually do. Oh, perfect. So, um the the committee and I just got a question for basically this is open discussion for us, right? The committee on solidarity, right? It was a an officially sanctioned committee of the Board of Selectmen
053back in 2021, right? I just read the charter. Um but what are your thoughts as as Selectmen on the uh the mentioning of the No Kings Rally, the Democracy Rallies to us here. Is that part of what the original scope of I mean, people are entitled to do whatever they want, but is under the the umbrella of an official officially sanctioned com- uh uh town committee that was voted on unanimously bipartisanly uh back in 2021. We think about what was happening in the world. Excellent. I applaud it. Uh I would support anything they do. Uh but this is I think I I just kind of welcome what your your thoughts are on this. Basically, report We part of their charter is once a month they come in and they report to the Board of Selectmen.
054And in light of everything that was happening in our country it's appropriate, right? Uh but to be talking about the No Kings Rally and the Democracy Rally where it's seems to me to be something I'm just curious what the thoughts are Selectmen. I just had a feeling that that that seems political. I don't know. It's simple. Yeah. That's that's what I'm asking. And and believe me, I'm just asking it um I'm just curious and my concern is really 100% strictly one of governance, really. That's really what it is. Uh it was established in 2021 as an officially sanctioned committee of the Board of Selectmen. Uh and rightfully so. Uh it should not in its official capacity, in my opinion, sponsor or endorse political rallies of any kind regardless of viewpoint. So, that would be almost
055like the America 250 committee goes and goes the other way, right? And but this was an officially sanctioned committee, not like just a And uh I think the standard should apply equally to everyone, all parties and I'm just curious what the thoughts are at this table. From my perspective, I don't see them coming in here making it We could perceive that it's political what what they're doing. They've to me, they've come in here and reported that that's that it happens. We all know it happens. It's there and there are members of that committee that obviously participated that. That's okay. >> But they've not presented it They have not been out there or at this podium presenting it as a political event or asking for our I don't think they're here that it saying that we're
056as a board are sanctioning that. They're just reporting on their activities. Should they be Should that sentence have been left out, I guess is my point. They're doing a bunch of wonderful things. Why can't we not report on it? Well, no, it's it was said to join them at their Oh, and >> from this time to this time and it's a one-sided political meeting that goes on at that time. So, imagine the America 250 committee. I I can't believe I even said that, but imagine if they went one way, right? And said we're going to have pro XYZ. If it was going to be anti-American. And and I guess I'm just kind of looking at some notes from the uh from the December 9th uh meeting of the Committee on Solidarity where they actually said
057uh is it okay to bring up these democracy uh No Kings Rallies and mention it at the Board of Selectmen meeting. And they agreed, yes, I think it would be okay to do that. It's actually in their notes. So, I'm just wondering I Hey, look, I applaud everything they do. Uh I may join them. You know, if something comes up that I'm glad that there's someone watching, right? To make sure that you know, all that ugliness doesn't make its way into our town, but I think this crossed the line in my opinion. And I think everything that they're doing and everything that they said is fantastic and I acknowledge that 90% of the people are on that committee. Fine, you could do whatever you want. We are a free country, right? But I think for
058it to be reported here, I think is inappropriate. But is it Well, but is it reporting to the So, the town is listening and is it the join us? Is it people in the town or is it join us the Board of Selectmen? Or the Board of Selectmen thinks that the town I mean, I'm just asking. I'm not I hear what you're saying, Ben. I I do hear and I think that it was in their minutes um I think anybody else can >> it was questioned by I think there was I think we all recall a letter was in the River East about it, I believe. There were things on social media about it, believe I think Mike might have gotten had a conversation I about it. It was asked. >> I'm not even thinking
059about So, it is a sub you know, a subject that before this [clears throat] has been brought up in the same, you know, asking the same questions that you're asking. So, I I I'll ask my question again, I guess is uh is reference to that committee working on that what this Selectman approved in their charter. And I'm I'm reading their charter. It doesn't appear that that's in there. It was basically, in a nutshell, it was to take care of all you know, make sure that none of the ugliness in the world makes its way into our nice town. That assembly on Thursdays is against what their title says, solidarity. That's not solidarity on Thursdays. That's a one-sided political statement. And my concern is 100% one of governance, really. It has nothing to do with I'm
060not picking sides one way or the other. I think >> Honestly. I I think their whole focus is is it's democracy, okay? That they're You know, I've been involved I know Lisa Bino has been a champion of that committee. She basically formed that committee. She's been reporting uh on that. Um they brought the um uh Black History Month. We did presentations at the high school. Uh she's going to be I just got an email from her today. Uh they're going to be focusing on uh uh Asian Americans, okay? So, this is all part of their general That all falls under the Committee on Solidarity. Perfect. That doesn't on Thursdays. That that's what he's saying. >> do what they want. And and >> Every other thing they've done Juneteenth, Black History Month >> Veterans events, all
061of that is what the committee is supposed to be about. The protesting on Main Street on Thursdays is political. The committee shouldn't be political. If it's going to be political, then it shouldn't be funded. Cuz we're not funding anyone to oppose them. It's supposed to be a solidarity committee that represents everyone and brings everyone together. Well, and and is it is it the members of the committee going there on their own or they or they're holding solidarity banner or down there? Oh, they go on their own, of course. Sorry, I mean, we're This is the United States. Solidarity doesn't sponsor it. There are two groups that sponsor it. Um CAT, I I forget the other one. Um Cindy Tyler's put it out there. They don't sponsor that. Members of their committee attend that, but it's
062not a Committee on Solidarity function. So, But the Committee on Solidarity shouldn't promote it. Yeah. Well, right. I know, but I just want to be clear that it's not their you know, that it's not the Committee on Solidarity who has organized that. But when a representative from the committee stands at the podium and says, "Join us." Right. Right. But they So, it's implied that they're they're sponsoring it. I do hear what you guys say and I know that you know, it's a slippery slope here. Um but they're they will tell you that everyone is welcome there. So, okay, you know, right. And I've seen the signs that are there as well, but they aren't coming in, you know, I don't know. It's it's it's a tough I I don't care that that the people are
063there doing it. It's I know you don't. And I know that thing doesn't either. It's money is what the committee likes. shouldn't be done. I think it's great that we live in a country where you could do that and and protest something peacefully. That that's why we love our country, right? Uh but to for it to be mentioned as part of a report out to us multiple times in since I've been here this is the second time. And I'm just saying is this I just curious what your thoughts are, but I just think everything was just that one sentence. Cuz they do wonderful wonderful work. So so just to get close to the line is and come on down. That one that one last step. Right. That that they were inviting. His concern is the
064invitation. And and it's the promotion of the event. from the town committee. And the invite the invitation was coming from the committee, not hey I personally will be there, you know, those that So that's the fuzzy line. So and how do we demarcate that, right? Okay. Yeah. Yeah, no I understand what you're saying. I understand. Okay. This is why we have these discussions, right? >> is yeah, this is good. >> this is healthy. It's democracy. You need to >> It totally is, right? You need to move up here. You're way too far away. Is that better? >> [laughter] >> And again, it's a 100% one of governance has nothing to do with I don't care if they're talking about you know, being nice to animals or whatever. I really I honestly I really has nothing
065to do with it. So so I think what it what it reminds me to especially this time this age, we are just being able to talk about difficult things is hard for people. People can't disagree without being disagreeable nowadays. So finding common ground and finding things we can agree upon, but I do understand what you're saying. I I think it's a it's a it's a slightly gray area in terms of how you do that, but I could see the line that you're drawing on that and where that would trip something that says yeah, you can go there on your own, you can be part of it, you're not organizing, but if you want to invite everyone, if you want to invite the entire board there to personally come down there because I'll be there, I
066get that. But there's a line where it's it's doing it as the group. So I understand that. So what I will do is is I will speak with our attorney just to get again get a legal view on this thing and how it's done in other places and how it's viewed to get a legal handle on and how that would be in terms of how we create it and responsibility. So I will have something >> I don't think the attorney needs to be involved. It's that political talk is not part of the committee. >> No, I understand it, but I want to make sure >> side. Right. >> On either side. Right, but I That's not what the committee on solidarity is supposed to be doing. Right. >> Well, their other events are [clears throat]
067fine and good. But I want to make sure there's not another issue with this that maybe I'm not thinking of or we're not considering either legal or ethical. Yeah, I mean I think it sort of it comes into you know, why when we give our personal points of view in the paper, right? We will basically say we are writing this as an individual even though we're a member of the board, right? But we're not presenting we're very clear not to present those views our personal views as the will of this board. And I think that's probably the differentiation that has to happen if you're if somebody wants to come up here if that same to me if that same that member wants to come up here and give a report they should keep probably the
068the political stuff out of it, stick to what's in the charter. But that same member is very much welcome to stick around to public comment and say we're going to be running, hey I'm I'm going to be there as a an individual and I invite you all to be there or feel to join us. And that that thing is completely different. And depending on what they're talking about, I Yeah. I may join them. There you go. And I and I think having that demarcation of ensuring we keep the politics out will ensure that that board remains um sort of as successful as they have been. Agreed. And it's fun. Great conversation. Good point then. All right. There you go. Right. Agreed. And and a very well may you know, they they do a lot of
069things and And she's new and I just felt that a new member and nervous and it's something that she does and she reported out. So I don't think the intent was Yeah. Right. Stay stay in your lane. I think that's I think that's fair. By the way, I mentioned she mentioned she had done ethics ordinances before, didn't she? I know so I wrote her name and you wrote her name. Who's that? Cuz she's been volunteered. I'm not worried. Yeah, I wasn't going to say a word. But everyone just went what? All right. So speaking of that, we have a couple of any more informal discussion? This is great. I'll this this >> runs on Dunkin Donuts and Portland runs on volunteers. 100% Exactly. Whoever needs to get medicated to think that. Uh all right. Um
070the follow-up item is ethics ordinance. We will reach out to Janet and see if she wants to help. But I say that with a smile on my face. But we will we will be attacking and of course we do have to talk about um how much money we want to put into the charter revision. I will have an estimate of what it was last time, but that will be something we'll need to discuss next week in terms of how much we want to put aside for that cuz we did uh commit to that starting after this budget process in June that's coming up quick. So um we'll we'll try to come up with some numbers for you at that time. And with that being said, Bobby Make a motion we adjourn. And >> Second. All
071those in favor? I. Opposed? Hey, John's waving vigorously so I'd say yes for him. All right, motion passes. We adjourn.