001about the school project renovation project ran lake let's get let's get one stand please of allegiance >> no one >> I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all be seated thank Right. Um I have just one change on the on the agenda. Um uh after public comment 6A like to add Jason Morocco. I want to do his update. Then he should have emailed everyone the details. But if I can have a motion to accept that change, that's the only one I have. I'll >> make a motion to accept the agenda as as amended. >> I'll second that motion. All right. All those in favor >> I >> opposed abstension. Motion passes. So now 6A
002will be JS Morocco's presentation an update. Um >> did everyone review the minutes of our last meeting and the special meeting? Changes. >> Yeah, I have one change on 7D. >> It was about the the people that presented on the garden. [clears throat] We need to change wouldn't to wood. >> Okay. So, it says wouldn't be a community garden, but it would be a community garden. >> Okay. >> It said, actually, I thought it wouldn't actually. >> No, it wouldn't. It wouldn't. It would not be. It's a for-profit business. >> It's a for-profit business. >> No, but I thought they said the community would be So, it was I just misinterpreting. >> They said they would allow people into a be open anytime they weren't. >> No community flowers. So, >> yeah, by community garden,
003>> they said the community is welcome there. So that's I was taking as it would be a community garden. >> Understandable. Yeah, they they want to grow flowers. >> They said people have asked like to to go in there and read books or you know do whatever they would they would allow it but it wouldn't be open. >> Okay. I just misinterpreted that. Sorry. >> No problem. >> Sorry, Sherry. You're good. >> You actually read it. So that's good. >> Yeah. And and I think the other part was that when they were talking about that was the community garden, like for example what we have up at Rose Hill where people can go get a plot and plant. So it wouldn't be like >> right they're not going to be coming in a plan. It
004would be exactly >> sorry my misinterpretation. >> It would be open to the community but they wouldn't be planning. >> Gotcha. >> All right. >> So I'm good. >> Anybody else with that said can have approval of those minutes. The regular and the special meeting >> make a motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I David. >> Me. >> All right. Uh communication and correspondence. I only have one thing. discussion. You >> probably correct. All right, let's All right. All those that approve the meeting on February 18th, say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> Abstension. Motion passes. Um, someone need approve the >> I'll make a motion to approve the meeting the minutes for the special meeting of February 18th. >> Second. >> I second chair. >> All right. >> All those in
005favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Did we do it right? >> We got it right. >> You're very welcome. >> Sharon's happy. We're happy. >> Absolutely. All right. So, communication correspondence. Um, everyone here should have gotten this flyer that came in the mail. Uh, we are asking everyone to attend the workshop, scan, take the survey. We need the feedback from everyone with regards to our downtown and riverfront master plan. Um, get involved. Let your voices be heard as to what you see. ties in what we were talking about with the school. Um, please please please get involved. We should have that. This will be posted on our website if it isn't already. Um, but we want this we want this uh as much attendance as possible. In person is always better. You can interact with your
006neighbors and see what they like. But definitely do that. I've already I've already taken the survey. Everyone else should as well. So, that was good. Um, public comments. Anybody online? This might be a quick one tonight. All right. Um Jason, your update. You come on up. That would be great. Did everyone receive his update via email? Good. >> Can you hear us? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> All right. Beautiful. We're back. The wizard worked. Nice. >> Okay. Uh Jayce Morocco, director of public works. I sent out uh uh yesterday or today. So much going on, I can't remember. Uh uh I was asked to put together a project um kind of outline list for the board um just so that you will know what's going on, have it kind of in your back pocket um
007if you come across a residence uh anywhere while you're out and about. Um first it was thought to maybe put together a bar graph um showing all the projects that that's a little bit more involved. It takes a little bit more time. So, what I did was I put together just a quick um little spreadsheet to show you what's going on with each project. Um know that it's going to be a live document. Uh things are going to change. I will make it a point to make sure that I send it to you all at the beginning of every month whether or not it changed or not. So, just pay attention to the revised date up top. So uh the first thing uh high street water main phase one uh we got majority of that
008project done and we did uh some change order work uh to extend that uh line. Uh Birmingham came in, they did uh most of the mainline work. They got it tested, chlorinated, tested, everything past uh winter set in. So they didn't get a chance to switch it over to the existing line over to the new line or put any services. So, they need to come they need to come back um for that. I'm saying, you know, they'll probably hopefully around May. I really haven't had that conversation with them. We're more trying to get them to come in and fix some of the sinking of the trenches that that's happening up there. Uh phase two, uh I talked to the our town engineer who was saying that the design would be complete hopefully by April 1st.
009Uh we would then you know have a you know a review and then uh go out to bid uh for that section. Any questions on High Street? Um we're going from between clear William down to parlet. Do we plan on paving from the high street William Street intersection towards Main Street of Land? Because we came halfway up William Street the other way from Maine. Um, I don't know the answer to that. Okay. Offhand. I will I know that we're going from the high school, wherever that paving seam was to Williams, but I don't know if we're going up Williams. >> Okay. >> That that's what you're asking? >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, let me um let me look into that and I will get I'll get back to you on that. I haven't seen any
010of the any type of preliminary plans or anything for phase two from the town engineer. Okay. Uh I asked for an update and he said he was hopefully going to get it back to me by April 1st. We're having some issues with ADA compliance with uh crosswalk slopes and uh uh sidewalk ramps. So we're trying to work with the he's trying to work with the state to figure out what the best way to handle that is. >> Yeah. Those sidewalks are like three feet higher than the road. >> Correct. Correct. And the existing grades don't help us out there. >> Y >> um Gospel Lane. Well, we sent out the in fe uh January, we sent out the RFP. It got returned in February. Uh myself, uh Pelton, uh Mr. Trip, and uh well, Tom
011was involved when we opened it. Um there was four consultants that it was sent to. We uh all each of us read the four packets. We scored them. We have a consultant that we want to pick. I'm just not ready to announce it yet because I am talking with uh DPH just to finalize that uh paperwork and then we will let the the board know what that final decision was. >> Um with that being said, once that um consultant gets picked, the yellow section that says design state construction construction complete, we will change those dates to how they project out their project to go once that gets uh officially awarded and we know that that's going to be a go. the timeline is very tight. Um, so it's going to be something that we're going
012to be pushing to um have [clears throat] at least weekly or bi-weekly uh meetings with them to see what the progress is. And majority of those four consultants that we talked to, we're fine with that. Um, but once once it becomes uh public, then we'll I'll update those. Um, will you take the uh will you take the challenge of December 31st, 2027? Well, I'll take December. Where do you see December? >> No, it's a challenge. >> Oh, will I? >> Yeah. I mean, is it, you know what I mean? Kind of take that as a and then kind of if there's any overflow because things are going to happen, right? But by the way, Jason, very very nice. Thank you. Uh >> well, I didn't do that. I didn't do that. Larger spreadsheet. Yes. >>
013Yep. But just you don't have to answer, but just uh you can always go on. >> Yeah. My my ultimate goal would be for it to be complete before we have to go back to MDC um as we know and and and renegotiate for for that contract. >> We we were very clear in our conversations with with all who we talked to that >> we needed to certify by the end of 27 and we needed to be off by the mid 28. >> That's just throwing a challenge. That's all. >> A challenge accepted. How about that's what he was waiting for. >> I know he was he wasn't going to let it go. I tried to I tried to scoot around it. Um any questions about the well? It's it's a very big project for
014the town. Uh very excited. Uh there's going to be little drips and drabs going through. Uh >> drips. I cut this one. >> I didn't say leaks. I said drips and dabs. >> This one did not. uh going through and then um you know hopefully that's it's it's a smooth uh goaround with the consultant and then uh finally when we go out to bid and and hire a contractor to do it. Uh it's been a long time coming. Uh kind of came in you know a little bit halfway through but looking forward to moving that to Anybody have any questions about the new well on gospel? >> N uh sidewalk connectivity. So, Main Street Connectivity was awarded to Martin Lavo Construction out of Bristol. I've worked with them many times. They are very good. They've
015done sidewalks projects for me in the past, streetscape projects, uh drainage projects. So, uh I met with them last week. Uh they're looking for a May a minimum at minimum may start um depending on how the weather goes. um they're going to start um towards the closest to 66 as possible where we already left off and work uh north. We also are going to do homestead and uh >> island >> Highland Highland. >> Um that's also part of the project. Uh we are working with them because we do have some money left over in the grant to do some curbing on the uh nor would it be the east side on the Walgreens side. Working towards um the north to redo some curb in some of those islands that are a little um either already
016missing curb or a little the parking angles are a little odd. So uh they're supposed to get back to me on price for that. But but the thought of that would be um it some of it would be well most of it would be extruded concrete curb um where they come in with a machine they extrude the the the curb below grade um then we butt up our sidewalk up against it. We'll have a joint expansion joint and then we'll seal it with uh with coaul. That way all the curbing matches instead of some monolithic some uh extruded curb. I just don't want it to I want to look appeasing to the eye. >> I ask you one question. It's It's about sidewalks but separate from that. >> Could you [clears throat] look at Waverly
017Avenue extension? It's literally like one or two houses on it. Um years ago when they did Freestone and East Main Street, that was forgotten about. >> Yep. And there's sidewalks on both sides of the road that are the worst in town. >> Okay. >> Like you can't even walk on one side of it. >> John and I looked at it and we were hoping to >> I used my snowb blower at the last storm for him and I threw half the sidewalk in the road. The one at Hail's house like >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> We were talking about removing both sides and only having sidewalk on one side. So the other side would just be driveways and and lawn. >> Okay. >> Yep. or just restore or just put a new one in
018one side for starters, you know. Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, I will look into that. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh kayak launch. Um the uh we hired uh Burns Construction out of Portland. They started in January. They have the road uh all boxed out. They have the parking lot towards the river all boxed out, ready to go. Uh they're just waiting for the snow to melt and the uh everything to kind of dry out and the plants to open so that they get a little bit of paving to do down at the parking lot where the handicap spot's going to be and a little bit more paving up towards uh Airline Avenue where the entrance is going to go in. We do have one catch basin that public works is going to replace. It's a
019regular catch basin with a throat. It's right in the driveway apron. For some reason, we kind of missed it. Uh we need to make that a flat top, but instead of having Burns do it, we're going to do it ourselves. Um just to save a little bit. So, uh that project is going I see that, you know, being complete once, you know, once the plants open up, they want to finish it. We do have a pile of excess material that, um we needed to save a little bit of money. So, there's a huge pile of excess material to the backside of where the little league field was. Uh, I just have to figure out what to do with that. Um, we originally had an idea for, but it's way more material than than we thought.
020So, uh, I need to come up with a plan B for that. >> How much material is it? >> You know, it's a lot. It's a lot. [laughter] I don't know off hand. Uh, we did I did have a I could look it up, but we we had an idea of what we were going to do with it. Um, but I I I is too much and then we won't have anything for any future uh you know material if we ever want to store it or or or get rid of it. >> What's the What's the surface of the road down to the landing? Is it just gravel? >> Yeah, it's going to be Yep. >> Is it that material that you're using? >> No. Okay. >> No. No. this was so when I say
021excess material when they boxed out the road and they took let's say the top soil to get down to to grade um to to lower the cost of the project we did a change order to say we'll keep that material and we'll haul it off ourselves um >> but to make some of the grades we had we had to go down a little deeper than we thought um just to make things a little bit nicer >> uh so there's a little bit more material there okay and there's a lot of if anyone's looking for some nice >> flat uh brownstone for any type of rock wall or maybe a pet rock. There's plenty down there. Um, sewer plant grant. I I had to uh create a few different accounts uh through our federal government. Uh
022I'm waiting to for them to approve that so then I can go in and start the application process. U I'm going to get assistance from another consultant on that. So, I'm just waiting for that email to say that I've been I've been approved to be the one that's going to input the information and uh answer any questions uh they may have. And then from there, we will then decide whether or not it's something that the town wants to pursue, whether or not be a grant or some type of of loan through USDA. Um, we also have uh monies to redo the parking lot entrance at 24 Middle Sex Avenue. Um, it was thought that uh it would happen this fall. Uh, but it just the way that the weather turned uh they didn't uh the
023contractor didn't have a chance so we held off on that. But that same contractor is also doing uh the parking lot at Middle Sex Avenue and the parking lot entrance at Brownstone Avenue. Well, we're going to widen it, make it a little bit better for buses to when they're coming down um Brownstone A to make the right-hand turn into that park where now it's re it's really tight. So, we're going to make that apron a little bit wider. Um it's already set up with the sidewalk to make it wider. So, all we have to do is just a little bit of improvements and then we're going to have an island in the middle where the uh brownstone quorum is going to put a uh another sign to say riverview park, right? >> Riverfront park. Um
024so that will make that nice and accusing. And then the Middle Sex AB parking lot, it's going to get redone, reboxed out, paved, um handicap spots. So um and marked and painted so that if uh residents or anyone are going there for any type of game, there's handicap parking. >> Jason, is there any plan to to repave Brownstone out of that? the road is atrocious with all the settling and >> uh I heard I I heard from Ryan that there was but I don't know how far it was. It's not something that has come up in the last few months while I've been here. I definitely agree that something needs to be done out there. Yeah. >> But I would say we probably should wait to see what other development goes on in there so
025that we're not uh doing it twice or three times. >> Yeah. Um, last thing I want to do is spend a bunch of money out there, get it looking really nice, and then another developer wants to come in and cut it the tie in for water or or anything else, and then we have patches over the place. >> Even right for Main Street, it's I mean, you've got so many cuts and holes where it's set a little. >> We did. We did do some uh some leveling out there this past fall. >> Yeah. >> Um, we could look at doing a little bit more just to bandaid it for a little bit. >> Yeah. >> Um, but I do agree it is cut up. Um the spa cut up a lot of it and it's
026just a lot of it settling. I hear that's where they dump the brownstone scraps. Is that is that >> Well, that's that's where they they Yeah. >> That's what almost that whole area is ground spoils for the boring project. >> That that's actually what that's what made the architecture of the park itself. If you go out, if you ever walk out to the extreme north end of the park and you go up to the high view, you'll actually see the gaps in the stone. And yeah, very interesting landscape. >> Yes. Yes. I've never thought that so many things would be built out of brownstone until I came to pouring. [laughter] >> Um, I have one question and it was in the email. I asked the last meeting. Do you have an idea of what you
027want your next project to be? Like big project? Because I know like Sidewalks was a couple years in the making. The water man High Street was a couple years in the making. Um you're still finishing on uh Russell Avenue got a water man, but the pump station on CO Avenue isn't finished yet. And that's been >> the pump station on CO Avenue is finished. >> Okay. >> Uh that's why that's not on here. We did the final punch list and uh that's all that's all set. We got the asbuilt drawings. So yes, that was a uh long lengthy process just trying to get the last few punch items done with our engineer and the contractor. Contractor's been great. There's been uh you a little back and forth with the engineer, but that is currently done.
028>> Okay. >> Um I do have some extensive work to do at the reservoir dam. That's probably going to be the next priority to figure out how we're going to get that done. Um there's money that's been allocated for that for the last few years and it's time to now um make that happen. Uh I know Ryan tried in the past and the number was very large. So I'm going to try again and see if I can find some other contractors or put it out to bid or some other avenue to try to get that done. But that's a um from my understanding that's a um should have been done a long time ago. Um, what would you think our next water man replacement would be? Because Dave thought down in the Russell AB area,
029all those roads through there, it's all the asbestous pipes that tends to break every year. >> So, I would agree with that. I'd have to look at a little bit a little bit closer. Um, to be honest, I've been focusing on what we have going on right now. I do need once the well starts going and then we see what happens with whatever the grant is for the sewer. Um or just once the well gets moving that takes up a lot of time right now because I'm trying to push it along so it doesn't sit. Uh then yes, we will look at other projects of what water manes we need to replace. Um and even how we're even going to connect the new well that's going to be looked at as well. So the project
030for the new well is not just constructing the well. It's also possibly a generate backup generator at the current well and then changing over our chlorination um from a gas system up at the chlorination plant um to the same time we have on barlet. So um there's going to be a bunch of >> you going to do away with the chlorine. Yes. >> Yes. Oh, you use hypo? >> Yes. So, from what I understand, there was a gentleman who used to service all that stuff. He has either retired or no longer >> with us. The V notch. >> Yeah. And uh we have some issues with them and we we've bandated them to get them >> where they are, but we're only running one one side. >> Got it. Thank you. >> You're welcome. I
031guess I do. A question for the board would be is the, you know, uh, spreadsheet that I put together, does that work for everyone? Is there anything anything you want to add me to add to it or expand on um, moving forward? It was just what I put I don't want to say I put it together real quick, but it was just some it's it's fairly simple and it gets uh, the board an idea of what we're what we're doing moving forward. And then I guess would you rather I email it to you or I get you a copy physical copy when um >> no email >> yeah email >> bring some copies with you >> bring a couple copies but you know maybe instead of start dates you know anticipating you know you know
032the next steps or okay you know each project >> you know whether it's going to be one month or three months or whatever. Okay. The only I'm looking at the gospel lane well and I made an attempt with the document that the state put out originally to see if I could simplify that and I know I think what you mentioned where you have highlighted here in yellow once the design stage gets going. I anticipate you're going to add a few more subcategories. >> Yes. I didn't want I didn't want to overburden you with tentative dates that might not mean anything at this particular time. But yes, it would be um exactly what uh it would be like a 50% submission, 90% submission, bid uh bid documents, DPH review, all that. We'll list all that. >>
033Yeah, because I remember on the stage document, they had in the right hand side, you know, they had a 90-day, a 60-day, this is when DPH does it. The AG's review was another one. So yeah, I anticipated you kind of bust it out a little bit more when you get there. >> Yes. >> And that's perfect. Perfect for me. >> Okay. Yes. >> 48 hours in advance. Fine. Actually be perfect. >> Yeah. I would definitely >> get it before your meeting. >> Jason, do you have um a rough idea when we expect DPH's concurrence >> or for a for a choice? >> So I emailed them >> um yesterday. I have not heard back yet because I have a few questions for uh for Sarah. >> Okay. >> And she's and uh I had a
034meeting with her Monday, but it got interrupted with the uh situation that happened at town hall. Y I had to get off the call and she said reach out and we can continue the conversation. So I reached out and I haven't heard back. >> So that's what I'm waiting for. I'm just curious because I know that we've got our next meeting's not for two weeks and I didn't know whether or not if we get that approval. Obviously, if we get it a couple days before the meeting, then we approve it at the meeting. But if we get it sooner, >> Well, it's already approved. You already approved the money. >> No, no, I'm saying for us to approve hiring the contractor. Yeah, >> that's what I'm talking about. Okay. >> Because I know we were
035looking to vote on that tonight if we had everything, but we don't. >> We want to we want to keep that moving as quick as we can. So, >> absolutely. >> I think your update was good, Jason. It's the kind of thing. I just I want to know where we stand and where the red flags might be on the horizon. >> I would rather you all be informed so that the right information gets to the right people instead of the wrong information. >> If you need somebody to rattle a cage, you got a group here that will do it. Absolutely. >> All right. Jason, thank you very much. >> Really appreciate it. >> Good night. Thank you. >> So before we go to the next item, budget report. Um I'm going to pass something out
036to everyone here as well. Um Tom is here. Pass it on. Tom is here right now. Pass. Um, last week, >> as everyone knows, you're going >> I was taking, as you know, last week was the week that Tom and I needed to get the budget done. Uh, we had some incidences at the town hall that that created some um some additional uh detours from our normal our normal work. It's been it's been quite a week, the last week or so. Um, I was hoping to get these numbers to at least a week ahead of time. Uh but we were focused on the budget and getting that done. We we passed that in on Monday. Tom, I appreciate all your help on that stuff. Um Tom was not here yesterday. Um so he is not
037fully prepared for to review every single thing, but he's here to answer questions. What I've done is I've gone through and done a quick summary of the numbers that you have. The summary sheet I gave you summarizes some of the highlights in here. So um I reviewed I I kind of ran it through uh checked some of the numbers, but these are the ones that I have. Um, please review what I've given to you as some of the highlights in this report and then if there's any specific questions that you might have for Tom or something that you want to know that you may not be able to get today but something that we can get back to you, let me know as well. But this summarizes not only the budget review report but also
038authorized spending. So first three pages are the first one, but it's just a quick overtake. You'll notice some of the numbers, for example, uh we've collected 37 million out of the 41 million or overall revenue. Um we're we're on track on there. Um major re revenue drivers, you know, right now property tax collection is on track. The collection rate is quite high. That stood out. Uh the building and permit revenue continues to be strong. state education cost sharing uh we're about 50% but that falls in line with the way the state does that in terms of how they pay. So there was there was nothing that jumped out in terms of overall summary and then the spending position the second three pages cover some of the highlights by various departments just some notes on there.
039Again these are general but I wanted to get at least give you something. I hadn't I hadn't actually anticipated Tom being here today because he wasn't feeling well, but I wanted to um I dragged you here anyways, but I wanted to at least give you something on this. Um if there are more questions, I know you've just gotten this. Um let me know, let Tom know, but at least I wanted to give you something as a summary of what these numbers are. But the big budget, everyone should have those numbers. I've reviewed it with four of you so far. We've gone over the numbers in the office. Um I'm hoping that's helpful. I'm trying to make sure that we go over each of the numbers, each of the departments to find areas that we can
040improve upon. So, um, some of the ideas that came out during that time was are there things that we can do together with board of ed. Are there certain departments that we can share together, technology or others? So, there were some great ideas from from the four that I've met so far. Um, and I want to do more of that. The overall budget, not to dive into the into the big budget, um, we we have a couple challenges ahead. We've got a referendum coming up. We have um we have taxes we have to look at. We have an initial number that I put out where our mill rate right now as it is right now is an increase of 1.89. It was a little bit higher than last year where we started and we end
041up finishing up at one. But one of the biggest drivers of that right now are the health insurance costs. Um so there are certain things here that we really have to work hard to try to minimize and talk about. One of the things that's been brought up about the budget as well is health insurance. Are we going to go with the existing plan? Do we consider the state the decision was made for example to stay with existing because many of the employees don't want to have to do another change over and the pricing comparable to that should be a discussion when we start our budget negotiations. But um I just in general I appreciate the feedback so far. I'm glad you guys are looking at it uh and ladies are looking at these numbers. um
042this is going to be an intense next couple weeks to to get that number as low as you can and still fulfill all the all the priorities that we need to do for the town. So um so look at the numbers. I think we have um very good members on on this board that are looking closely at all the numbers. Uh and I hope everyone continues to do that. So >> one thing I would I would ask just because I know it's going to come up. Can we get a view of if if we did look at health care via the state plan >> because I I believe when we talked about that the increase would be a little bit less with the state plan. Um can we see get a view of what the
043cost would be for the state plan if we did that versus the cost for the uh the existing plan as it is? I think that's a good number to have because we're going to be we're going to be looking at you know nickels and dimes as well and and that's that's that could be a a much bigger ticket item. forward. >> So you So So we're already committed in the budget. >> All right. I guess I still would like to see it so we can understand it. Was that >> Yeah, I'd like Yeah, I'd like to I know I'd like to see the number just cuz >> And we do have >> we were talking about that and so it's kind of odd that it's accepted, but I'm sorry. We do have the full presentation
044that was provided to us with the amount that they cut back, the initial increase of I think 19.5% and then the cut down to there. But um it it was it was a lot of debate and there was a lot a lot of discussion back and forth about that. And again, I think if I had to if I had to pick one, one of the biggest deciders was uh the folks that are on the insurance plan. Um the idea of changing over and doing another change over after one year was was the biggest. >> It's what it cost the town. the end >> and and >> it's the same insurance. I don't care what somebody thinks about changing insurance companies. They're having the same insurance and save the town hundreds of thousands of dollars. That
045that should be the the factor that matters most. >> And and the state insurance actually would it would probably be an improvement um in in terms of the insurance because I do not believe it's a high deductible um plan the way they have now. As I as I said to you the other day, if you have family with two or three young children with multiple ear infections, I'll bet you what they're paying in a moxicillin under the state plan would probably save him a few dollars on prescriptions. The state plan is good. Um I can vouch for that. But um no, I just I think even if it's the decisions already been made, I think we need to look at it in planning for our next step. >> I I agree. I think I think
046we keep getting bumped along with the permit plan that we have where they they just keep it try to keep it on the bubble and that's got our folks paying a high deductible plan and we're paying a lot of money for insurance. So >> So I I agree. I mean it's like we just we absolutely got to look at this and uh honestly just from listening to all the conversation on this over the last two three four weeks there's a little bit of uh not invented here. You know it be I think this is something we absolutely got to look at. A lot of towns are doing it. Uh, and I think the the reasoning is, you know, because, you know, because we just we're we're going to stay with what we got. Why? Well,
047because I think we absolutely got to look at it. for each other. >> Does anyone have any and looking at either the numbers or what any general questions for Tom or any >> how we're going to get this uh is um it's 24 to 48 hours before the the details and then the executive summary. >> Well, this is way better than I I I wasn't expecting this. >> I thought it provides you to Well, but there you go. But um in fairness though um we were hoping to get it last week, but because we and and was I have x amount of time. It's been crazy and and we had to get the budget down. Um and Tom and I were there late doing things to get it done. So in case I'll give myself
048a mully on this one, but I did want to give you at least a summary of what I thought would be helpful, too. >> You're welcome, sir. >> So I don't mean that. The reports that I present presented for years now are reports that come from inopri developed with inopri with me >> and they show the overages and underage of all the all the items and then I've always gone through the overages and underages of where I feel that there's issues and discuss them and I tell you the object number I tell you the amount and then I discuss why there's an issue. So that's I I feel that the reports that I've been providing are very good reports and they are in informative. >> The the we do these on a two usually a
049two to three day basis from the when the month end is ended and the people post their entries uh into that. So in the first couple days my people are posting entries. So, I'm trying to do a review of all the activity as well as proving all the purchase orders, making all various other journal entries, and that's why they get I try to get you as good of a number as I can get you. And that's why they usually are on the day of the meeting, and then I present that as I'm doing as I'm trying to get you to the most current accurate numbers as possible. So, that's why those are there. That's why I've always done it the way that I do it. To get you sooner the numbers, you're missing a lot
050of the activity. So, you're almost talking about the prior month. I have some people that are out. So, that's why uh some of the things I couldn't post this month, so we're working toward that. But, I mean, I just feel that the, you know, I do feel that the PDF reports [clears throat] that we have provided for years are very good reports. They do show the over and underage of the activity. And I try to be as very specific and detailed as possible when I had the opportunity to uh speak on the matter. I was out yesterday and then today there was other items that they had asked me to work on and I presented I wanted to get you a report so that you would have that too when you go over the next
051um couple meetings that we're going to be at because we're going to be out numerous times in March. I wanted you really be able something to look at while you're looking at the numbers that are in the book. So I really wanted you to have that have it available to you as much as possible so that you really can go you know go through. >> Thank you for the opportunity. >> Thank you. I hope you feel better. >> Mike the only question I have on the document you gave us second to last page areas worth watching going forward under police overtime it says fluctuations due to staffing shortage. Now is is that >> that that is just because we had for folks out on leave and things. It's not it's not a long-term concern. >>
052No. No, it's not. Okay. It's not. No. All right. >> So, okay. >> Um and again, um I'm not trying to give excuses here because you guys need the numbers and everyone needs to know what's going on and be able to understand that. Um but you you'll get it. As soon as he can get that, we'll do it. We'll do kind of a summary of of the things that stand out and then specific questions. >> We don't need the summary. We were just asking to have it earlier, >> right? So, you can review it. Absolutely. >> Because then he'll say, "Is is there any questions?" >> Yeah. >> Well, I don't know because I haven't read it. >> Of course, he does a great job of putting this together and running us through, you know,
053what the the red flags are. It's just by the time we take it home and review it and then we have questions, it's we're on to something else and we we don't ask the question. >> What what I what I would suggest on this one because I I understand I think in this in this case u a small mully but what I would do is take a look at this bring this home figure out what the questions you might have on there and either reach out to me or Tom and we'll get you answered specifically. >> But it's not it's not even that because yeah I can get the question. The public doesn't know the question or the answer. >> Right. And we'll need >> that's the point of asking it here, >> right? >>
054So the town knows, >> right? >> That that that's why we were saying just if even if we get the day before or the morning of >> with a star, >> right? Fair enough. We we can look at it and then when Tom presents it to us, hey, I have a question of this, right? >> You mean this morning? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So, is that realistic for us? I'll I'll help you with it. We get it that Monday before the Wednesday meeting. The executive summary was a nice surprise. >> Even if if it's the next day before the meeting, it gives you 24 hours to look at it. That's all. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We don't want to make >> No, of course. >> Yep. >> But you also
055want to be connected with it and understand and there are people watching that want to know, hey, tell me about this particular item 100%. >> Thank you. >> All right. Excellent, Tom. Thank you very much. We really appreciate that. >> Hope you feel better, Tom. >> Go home. Please >> go home. >> All right. Um, new business, refunds of excess [clears throat] payments. >> I'll make a motion for a refund of excess payment. Hyundai lease titling trust $31025. >> I'll second it. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Jim Jimson. >> All those opposed? Abstension. Motion passes. >> All right. Number nine, old business, active ongoing business and town projects. Um, we added an ongoing discussion of school facility. I think we've talked that out from our last meeting. >> Okay, good. Thank you.
056Uh, appointments or reappointments to boards and commissions. Do we have any? >> Yeah, >> I do. >> Please. >> Um, we have Sarah Copac Ko P A C um to nominate as an alternate on the committee solid solidarity committee. Alternate solidarity. >> I'll second that. >> All right. Jim seconds it. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed abstension. Motion passes. Welcome Sarah. All right. Um just a few quick updates on here. I know Jason's already covered most of this. Uh regarding Nordic Spa and the Brainer Place, the only comment those projects are moving forward. Um they're on target. Um I will get to all of the board the numbers tomorrow on the anticipated revenue that they should generate as the last piece for these school projects. So that beside that the projects
057are rolling forward. Um and there's going to be some additional revenue from there that Rich realized based on the personal property and the and the business funding. So uh he is he is updating the numbers. It'll reflect it'll it'll reflect and be helpful for the project. But I will have that tomorrow morning. I will send that to all of you along with whatever date that you have. I'll send that to you as well so you can plug that into yours and we will uh we will have all the final numbers on that too. >> I hate to sound silly, but he'll also provide that to Dr. Britain because he needs to put that in his stuff too. >> He'll probably get it before anybody else. >> Okay, my guy one question for Brainer Place is
058do you know or have we been told yet when they plan >> on starting on the next three buildings? >> The last um the LA the big one the assistant that are the two retail ones on the planner because we've been told of places that are coming in, >> right? >> But they need a building to go. >> I was going to say I think building B, right? >> So, what I'll do, I will bring it down next time, but the latest the last from a couple months ago was they wanted to put the footprint down for the assisted living building this summer. >> Um, the other two buildings they were targeting for early summer. So, they were looking at all three buildings this year. They're still targeting end of 28 to have everything done.
059Um so so they're they're being pretty aggressive about that and it'll be a longer buildout for the assisted living with the restaurant on top as well. So that was the plan. The last time I talked to Dan um Dan Bertram was maybe two weeks ago, three weeks ago and there had been hadn't been any changes on that so far. Okay. >> So um he does have a seal for the top two floors for the second building. He's looking at getting the seal for the bottom two floors uh at the end of this month is >> Has he met all the conditions in the contract to get that in the agreement? He um he's working on that. He he has his punch list. Uh and I tell you Ray and and the gang there are making
060sure that he follows that because he has to do some renovation to the historic building as well and get that going. >> Yeah, I know. I think he had to weather tight it. I think he had to make sure everything was weathertighted and >> y so he he he's fully aware of that and he's working on that. Um our our inspectors aren't going to let him have that unless he follows what the what the rules are right now for that. So >> yes. Yeah, that that's important especially because I think the the next sequencing is the the B which gives us the majority of the commercial we're going to get >> has to come online before we can get a CO for A. Right. So there's there's there's some we want to make sure we're
061holding the sequencing so that we can enforce it later as well. >> Oh sure. Absolutely. So um all the other projects on here um Jason already did update so I'm good. That's all I have. Uh status of committee reports. I'll start from my right this time instead of on the left being on this side. I love baby. >> all right meeting the John and >> um I my um board of education meeting was postponed due to weather. It's tomorrow night, but I do have my library board that I went to on February 19th. Um looking at my notes real quick, they've they've I believe submitted and they an application for a summer enrichment grant which I think is is really cool. It all it all ties in with the 250 celebration. Um they talked a
062little bit about the operating the town's operating budget and the budget session that's coming up. We had an update from our secretary there who is also the 250 committee member. Uh and um and the friends of Portland Library have no February meeting. That's about what I've got. Mr. >> Water and Sewer and Parks and Rec have not met since our last meeting. That's that is next week. Um the only thing I'll say from the water perspective is uh we did have the meetings um with folks that submitted for the RFP. Um those were those were good meetings. Um so it's it was it was good to meet with folks. We made sure they understood the timeline. And I think important to this body is that one of the things we said we wanted to make
063sure of is that we were getting regular monthly reports that we that this body would be um ensuring that that we would be getting the updates that we are that we want to get. So um that's probably uh leave it there. >> Okay. Excellent. Excellent. Right. Uh public comment waiting online before but is anyone online? Oh, please >> have a quick question. A quick comment really is um I actually know somebody that was in the first building replaced. They've already moved to the second building. So, how can that happen if they don't have a CO >> uh top two floors? >> Top two floors. >> Top two floor. >> But why would we allow that if the rules are that they've got to get the CO or they got to do the other buildings before
064the CO? They they can do they can do a temporary CO of of a portion of it and still conform to that. That's what our inspectors have told us. >> My my opinion and I think a lot of people share this is we're not holding this finger to the fire on this thing. >> Thank you. sound on the left hand corner of the screen [snorts] all the way to the left. See, he's working on the sound here. >> Somebody tripped on a wire. Don't start a video. You cannot start your video. It is disabled by the host. [clears throat] Having audio issues, but you may speak. We can hear you. No, we're not going to do it. Go ahead. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Elwin, go ahead. >> Elvin, can you hear us? >>
065Yeah, finally. [laughter] >> We we've been here. We've been listening in on you for the last couple minutes. >> [gasps] >> I just want to uh point out that uh we've got two planning efforts going on in town here and everyone in town is has I think already received this gigantic u postcard that has a QR codes on it that's for the plan of conservation and development on one side and on the other side it has the uh master plan for the riverfront and downtown. Um, I've argued that I found that confusing to have everything on it that people won't recognize that they're two different uh planning efforts on the same card. But in any event, it needs publicity. Uh, and I hope that um you'll take attention to the town's website so that citizens
066can just go to the homepage and find um a link that they can just click on that will allow them to engage both of the surveys. Right now, you can do the plan of conservation survey on the town's homepage website on the banner, but when you go to the master plan for downtown and riverfront, it will not allow you to go to their survey. So, some something needs to get fixed there so that they can have a link where you can just click at that point. people are going to lose that single card that they got in the mail and without that they won't be able to access the uh the surveys and the surveys are going to be important. That's it. That's what I wanted to say. >> Thanks. >> Thank you very much.
067>> Yep. >> We'll put the tech team on it here. They'll figure it out. >> Y I agree with them though. That is confusing because I got that in my mail. I mean, and I obviously was going to do it, but it is confusing on that they're two different things, >> right? >> One from column A and one from column B, >> right? >> The survey, attend a workshop, take another survey. So, yeah. >> Well, it's for the PCD and the master plan. So, two different things. >> All right. Um, >> any general informal discussion? >> I have one item. Um, I just wanted to um say thank you publicly to our public works. We've had a tough tough couple of weeks with some nasty weather. Um they've had some long hours and you know
068by and large our roads were in really really good shape. >> Sounds pretty darn good. >> Yep. So it's just thanks to them and uh for all they did during this period. >> I agree. I agree. And happened to fall on the weekends too. Yeah. >> You know on their time off normally and they were out there hustling and getting it done. >> Yeah. And you could hear you could hear them in all all all time and night and um you just they were keeping it they were doing a good job. >> Yeah. >> I gota tell you I gotta give a shout out to Jason also. He's been here for a little while now. He's gotten his feet wet and he's done a real good job. He's staying on top of of things. I
069did talk to Rhino Halpern earlier today as well. Um he had for those of you that kept in touch with me, he had a little child a couple days ago. >> Oh, good for him. >> So, he's when I called him, he had he had his baby sleeping on his chest. He still picked up the phone and I told him he makes terrible decision. Should not have picked up to talk to me, but uh but yeah, they have a baby in the family. So, he's excited. But he said he wanted to make sure I said hello to everybody. So, we still reach out to him every now and then. get get us feedback on stuff. So, um I think that's great. Um nothing else? Uh follow-up items, ethic ordinance, nothing going on with that now.
070>> So, is there is there work going on behind the scenes? So, it's going to come back to us >> there. There is not. We we need to >> So, we'll go to the second one. Town town charter will be forming a committee once we do referendum and budget and all that kind of stuff. That makes sense. That one's going to happen. >> That summer project, >> that's our summer project or whatever. So, >> ethics discussion, right? We kind of left it as Andre and I, we kind of said someone else has got to look at it. >> That was being reviewed by the town attorney. >> Right. Right. >> Closer to come. No, >> we're not. Um, there's been other projects that that have taken the time, so we haven't, but um I have
071a meeting with the town attorney tomorrow on a couple other issues involving the gentleman that came to the town hall. So, it's on my list with her. Okay. So, we'll follow up on that. We do need to do that. Um there's been some questions raised about ethics uh and I think we need to reook at that anyway >> and any uh progress since the last meeting on uh our land lease policy. >> So we are we have a sample of Middletown what they did. Um and we pulled a couple others from towns farther away. Um it's it's more common than I thought the whole bidding process and it's usually smaller farming towns. Colombia has a program that they do. So um with in our next meeting and probably before we'll have a couple sample ones
072I'll share it with everyone between the meetings but um >> why reinvent the wheel. >> I like that idea we can modify Dan Beret is looking into it also so he's investigated but um that that meeting I thought was really positive and they came with a solution to doing that and I thought that solution bidding on it and opening up for everyone it doesn't do favoritism and it solves the problem and it gets a property used that now isn't used. Um so it improves it. So yeah, I I think that's a really good thing. So with that, we are at the adjourn meeting stage. >> Make a motion we adjourn. >> I'll second it. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Opposed extension. Motion passes. 8:30. >> Domino. >> There you go. [clears throat]
073>> I lost the P that box in. >> Nope. You haven't started a half hour late yet.