001We're all going. All right. Good evening everyone. It's 7 o'clock. I'd like to start our regular board of selectment meeting. Let's all rise. Pledge algiance. 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. Right. Uh like to make a motion to accept the agenda. Everyone reviewed the agenda? So moved. All right. Second. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. All right. Has everyone reviewed the minutes from the March 5th and 12th? Any changes? Any updates, any edits? All right. Someone make a motion. I move we accept the minutes for March 5th and 12th. I'll second them. All those in favor? I I opposed. Motion passes. All right. Communications and correspondence. I just
002have one communication. Mike, did you want to hit the March 12? I see. Oh, sorry. March 129. We should do it separately. Thank you. Y All right. So, that was the March. So, for the March 12th, we get a motion to approve those minutes. Motion to approve. I added March 12th to that when I did my motion. Not that Oh, they were they were both Oh, I didn't hear it. I'm sorry. Yeah, I Yeah, I did. My apologies. I didn't hear that. So, if we did it then Well, we can do it again. Pretty sure I did. Oh, you did. Okay. Yeah. I thought maybe All right. We have to vote on it separately. No, no, no, no, no. We usually do them one at a time and I and I just didn't hear. Yeah.
003No, my bad. So, that's not how the board of ed used to do it. So to make the motion I made the motion. Yeah. And Rick's second I think. No, the first motion. The first one I seconded. You got to square it away. You all set? Second. Well, there really is no second motion. I think Rich withdrawing his motion. I'm withdrawing. All right. So, and and the first motion covered both sets of minutes. Okay. First motion. Jim made it June. Correct. That was for the March 5th. No, we we did one motion for both. Oh, you did one for both. Yes. I'm sorry. I'm just Don't worry. Apparently, I missed that. Got it. All right. We're all set. All right. Now, it's all Now it's all easier from this point. All right. So, I only
004have one communication from today. Um, at one of the last meetings, we talked about the the discussion for the local option for the car tax. I had a call from a gentleman in town, a business owner who expressed a concern about the impact that that particular issue might have with his business um and wanted to know more details about that. So, he wanted to let us know that uh you know, he would be paying attention and following tonight, but it was a communication directly to me uh with regards to that issue. Um I also have another another visit to my office today as well discussing the same issue wanting to know more details about that. So it is one of the one of the agenda items. Uh we are going to have a discussion. We're
005not going to vote on anything tonight. Um I feel like we need to discuss understand and then at our next meeting uh we can go into further but I know tonight I want to discuss that as as one of the options. I'll I'll let everyone know the details I have about that from my understanding, give an update on what other towns have done and reasons why. But u but anyway, so that's the only only correspondence I have. Michael, I have one under correspondence. Um there may be a a potential conflict for me uh under new business item B uh the resolution for supplemental appropriations for transfer. Um, I'll probably be taking myself out of the the vote for that. Okay, just so you know. Thank you, Michael. Very good. Um, all right. Public comments. Anybody
006online? No. All right. Um, so we have our monthly report for the committee on solidarity. Do we have Liz or one of them on the line? Oh, you're gonna be Dwayne. I'm so used to Come on up. recently appointed chair of solidarity. To begin, I want to thank you, Mike, for helping us to get our solidarity message on the community homepage. We offered a message of support and solidarity, reminding Portland citizens to stay strong against racism, bigotry, prejudice, and violence. We also were offering some self-care tips from one of our members, Jackie Davis, who's a certified diversity professional. Uh hopefully you all noticed we now have a monthly column in River East from the Committee on Solidarity. The next one is this Friday. Uh we are typically going to begin those by announcing heritage celebrations
007from a list that we're also circulating to town offices and to the schools. Our work with the historical society contributed to the success of the February 22nd Black History Month uh voices of Portland presentation. So that was part of the Black History reminder for folks. On April 22nd, we're going to be co-sponsoring a film screening and discussion of Americans with no addresses. The other co-sponsors are Portland Faith Leaders, the Portland Historical Society, and a Brownstone Quorum. The discussion will be led by representatives from Street Fire Ministries. On February 27th, we held the first State of Black Portland discussion group. And this is something I raised with you all before. It's framed very loosely on the state of black America, which is a report the National Urban League has been producing for over 30 years. Um,
008our hope is to talk with African-American Portland residents who identify as African-American or black to discuss their take given the the framework of that report, their take of life in Portland. Uh, so we had that first meeting. It was instructive. It was interesting. And eventually, you know, we will roll it into some kind of report back, but for now, it's just going to be a series of discussions. The next one's going to be at the end of April. And we are continuing to encourage black and African-American residents or parents of black and African-American children in Portland to to join us with this. So, you'll probably see that in our monthly announcements. We are also as part of the heritage reminding folks that March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility and we're reminding our Portland
009neighbors to stand as allies with our trans and non-binary community members. A meth message with increased relevance each day. On May 8th, we'll be having a book discussion to honor African-American and Pacific Islanders Month. We'll be discussing the George Takai biography, They Called Us Enemy, about the US internment of 120,000 people of Japanese descent in World War II. Again, a topic that is also increasingly relevant today. Those are the more immediate things we've been doing and are upcoming. Uh, further down the agenda, we're continuing to work on our role in Middletown's June 7th Pride event. There will be more about that to follow and the Junth event which this year will be June 14th questions. No. All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Um, so the next issue is or
010next next agenda item is the recent House bill that was passed 7067 which discusses a local option for calculating property taxes or car taxes. Um, I've had a lot of discussion over the last four or five days about this. Um, I've been looking at other towns as to what they're doing and trying to better understand all the details. I've had our assessor review numbers. Let me share some of the information I have with you. Um, I'd like to have a discussion, get a feeling for everyone as to what they know or what else they want to know. Um, but there are towns that are both rejecting it for good reasons as well as taking it in for good reasons. So, uh, quick summary of the bill. The way car taxes are done right now is
011based on, I guess, the Kelly Blue Book or the NAT NADA evaluations. Um, and there's a there's a step starting from, I believe, 85% to 90% and it works its way down over the years. That's been used for uh for a couple years now. Um they um the state realized when they when they capped out the car tax at 32.46% a couple years ago that it would have an effect on towns. It has uh Portland over the last two to three years has probably lost 750 to $800,000 in taxable money through car taxes which is great if you're a home if you're a car owner. Um but it did force us to um increase uh increase the uh taxes on other places with the home. So, it did have an impact on us uh when
012they cap that. Um the state has come back and and done this bill uh as something that may remedy that uh in terms of some of the tax falls. So, um I've looked at some of the numbers and I tried to look at the examples of the typical homeowner in town to get an idea at least of what that impact would be. So, I'll share some of the information I have. Now, this is down. This is courtesy of Rich just to give you an idea of one impact where it may be extra competency. So for example uh in tax year 2023 our uh we had a total of 9729 cars. Out of that number of cars um about 6,500 were passenger cars. um those passenger cars. Um if you looked at the tax that was
013paid on those cars in average in the town, the cost to We don't have that. Yeah, I have. Yes. The next one. You see on the top it has all cars. There we go. Has all cars on the top. 2023 9729 cars. The total grand list was $105 million. The average tax bill was $351 overall for all of the cars across the boards. Um, if we keep the same tax right now, the total uh the total number of cars is just a couple less when one year later, uh, the total grand list is $90 million and change. Um, a $14 million reduction. The average cost for taxes for for carers to be $32. Under HBA7067, the grand list for those same cars, the 9726 will be about hund00 million. Uh the average tax for every
014car spread out over all of those would be $337. So the difference would be just $29 or so between 2003 and now difference between what it would be if we keep the same thing would be um at $32. So, it would save money under the um HH HB767. Um it would be about a again about a $14 difference between two years ago or between last year and now. Um but the problem with that is that it doesn't include all the businesses in town and the trucks and other things. So, what I need to do, and I've asked Rich to do this, I've asked him to pull the fleet businesses in town and the other business accounts in town to get an idea of what impact it would be on there. For residences only, a typical
015residence, two and a half cars, uh the impact will be negligible and maybe a little reduction in taxes. Um but, uh versus uh you know, with the current plan, but for businesses, it may be dramatically more. So, I'm trying to look into that. I will have more information for you on that as well. Um, but again, it's it it may be the the tax burden may be um on a smaller group of people that we want, but for homeowners, it doesn't seem like it would be a big difference and it may be um it may be again it may be a small difference. So, um I will get additional information back to you on that, but that those are those numbers. Mike, can I ask you a question? Yes. on on this example that you're
016going over, right? Are these vehicles being taxed at the the town mill rate or is or is it So it's it's at the it's at the cap rate. Oh, it's at the cap rate 3246. 3246. Yes. So it's at at the cap rate. The only difference between the between the way the way it's done now and the way that that bill allows for the local option is um we're just we're just valuing the car differently. So u it goes up 5% it starts at 90% for year one and then works its way down. So the valuation of the car becomes more but the mill rate stays the same. But again I wanted to get a sense of how much it would impact our voters and our co our so on the average value is that
017um at 90% on this example like in this 10,89. So that that number is is a combination of all the cars in town. So Rich took all the numbers in every individual one uh for all of the different uh home all the different car owners and that's a valuation based on his computer. I just consolidated that and that's using the like Kelly blue book nata. Um that that's no that's yes that's using the Kelly blue book of that. Yes. Okay. Now you talk about the 2003 or 2023 I mean um yeah was it different in 23? So 23 was was was the blue book value. Okay. NADA the newer one um is with a new with the new valuation. Oh this is with the new with the new valuation. Yes. So it's still an increase
018from last year then it would be an it's well it's a two. Yeah. For it would still be a slight increase. Okay. from 302 to 337. Yeah. So, it would be a slight increase. The other side of that is by again and and I'm still undecided on if it makes the most sense to even uh push for this, but uh on the other side, we've had to keep we kick up the mill rate um um for for for homeowners in town. So, so it's it's it's a little bit more here, a little bit less on the other side, but they again they're balancing out. sucks. I just don't like how the scale doesn't depreciate as fast as cars depreciate, right? And and that is that makes no sense to me. And and that is one
019of the reasons why some towns have not done it. So, for example, right now, um you know, Clinton, Deep River, uh Middletown have done it. Uh Berlin just did it the other night because for them it made sense. The numbers made sense for what they had. Um but there's a number of towns in the area that have not. Chester is not doing it. Old Line, Old Sabbrook. I know it doesn't matter what other towns do, but they all did it for different reasons. Either their existing mill rates were already below what the what the what the what the impact it didn't make a difference at all. So, but I thought it was worth the discussion. Again, I don't have enough information, so I want to dig a little deeper, but we talked about this. Um,
020it's it's something that um may double the dollars around. When is our re-evaluation? Is that this year? No, next year. So, so everybody should say that. So, it's starting um it's starting at the end of this year, I believe in July, if I'm not mistaken. Um I talked to Rich earlier today. The last time he did a reevaluation, the average taxes for or car taxes went up about 11 or 12%. Um so, across the board once he once he did the reeval, so that impact back then was about 2 mil on our rates overall for for homeowners. So, it had a significant impact when they did a reevaluation for for uh for residents in town. that may be the same. You don't want to put any money on it. You didn't want to say for
021sure. But based on the valuation increase in the last four or five years um you know something similar was was I think possible is what you said. So because usually when we have a re-evaluation the values of things go up but our mill rate goes down. Exactly. Right. So now it wouldn't kick in for this would be bad for car owners to accept this and then we have a lower mill rate next year. Well, it it wouldn't kick in for two years for two until 28 or 29 because once it gets it's done per Rich today, it's at least two years from now. But at that point, mill rate would drop down based on what happened last time, whatever the number is going to be, you know, and and look at houses with what's unless
022something completely crashes over the next year, right? But right now, the way housing housing prices are, I can't imagine it's going to go down. I mean, it's already gone up significantly. Yeah. You know, and and a 30% increase or 40% increase in housing value the last five years. um isn't going to translate to that same percentage increase, but the last evaluation it was about I think 11 or 12% is what he just what he had. So So that's coming. It won't affect this budget uh and probably the next one, but it will affect um you know budget or two from now. So anyways, so I think my only intent tonight was just to at least get the conversation going. Um I'm following uh the minutes of the other meetings as to what the rationale are.
023Um, I'm having Rich look into the numbers deeper so I can understand how it will impact everyone, businesses, uh, etc. And I'll have more data. Yeah, I think I think a little bit more granular look at this to understand how it's going to hit, you know, different different constituencies in Portland's important. Um, I think it's also important for us to take a look based on those books. I know that a few years ago coming out of the pandemic and not being able to get new cars that the value of used cars really spiked, right? And I think that that is abated quite a bit now. So I think we probably should try to get a view because what we may also find is that the value of used cars when we go through reval are
024going to actually fall more just like they went up more than we thought you know four years ago. I think they may you know we have we should see how that's going that comparison is going to play out as well. Yeah. Just so that you know as a board we have all the all that information. It's been very volatile you know. So absolutely over the last couple years. So, and Mike, I just want to understand on here with the sheet you gave us with all cars versus passenger cars. And all cars includes all vehicles. All vehicles whether they're own mean like commercial flees whether they're business owned or personal loans. Yes. Okay. Yeah. I I misunderstood. Yeah. But if we could get that breakdown and have passenger vehicles say versus commercial. Yes. Right. Working on
025that right now. It's also picking out maybe the top half dozen or so businesses now with large fleets to see what the impact would be on that. So we're getting grand on that as well just to see what it would be. So Mike, yes. So I understand it's 23 the average value was based on the Kelly Blue Book. Yes. And then in 24 where it dropped to 9,300. Yes. What was that? Was that also based on No, that that No, that should be that should be the same. The same that that didn't change. So, oh, so that 93 because those cars aged, right? Okay. So, they All right. And then the 10,372 is per this and it was about, if I'm not mistaken, it was about 16% that it increased in value over that time.
026So, and that has to do with the falling value of the use. So, They're pretty dramatic. Yeah. So, all right. So, no no no real action to be done on that, but I just wanted to at least present some stuff. I'll provide you with additional information uh from other towns in terms of what you know what details they're seeing, but specifically details in our town, what's going on with uh you know, how it affects the businesses and other stuff. Well, is this going to be an issue with this year's budget? Um, it it has a potential impact on our budget. Um, one of the one of the one of the key points right now is if we decide not to adopt this, um, if we decide to adopt it, there'll be it'll be a shift
027of of taxes, right? It'll go more on cars. Um, and there's and I've heard valid reasons for that. Uh, you know, if you're driving a car, you're using the roads, maybe having a little more of a burden, you know, with that car, easing up the roads, you know, wear and tear, whatever the case is. Um, that that could justify a small increase there. But then you know the effect on the homeowners and what what the impact was there because it's still beating the same pot. What was the estimate if it was implemented exactly as it is right now? What's the estimated impact on the average on the mill rate right now? The mill rate um as it is right now if you don't do anything with this is 1.49 is what it is increased right
028now. Obviously the car tax is frozen or or it's capped at the 32.46. Um if we incorporate this um it generates about $320,000 additional tax money um at that end and it lowers the mill rate to 1.11. So it's like a third of a mill. So the impact would be a third of a mill less for homeowners and it would be an increase in probably close to a wash for most homeowners, you know, most single family residents, but the business owners would probably incur a greater uh a greater cost. So if you have newer cars, obviously that's going to have a bigger impact because you're now valuating those cars at MSRP 90% of that 85% of that. And I think you may remember this is why I think at at 8 years or 9 years
029it goes to 50% of the value. So if you look at your car, if you buy a car for 40 grand, uh is it worth half that value? After eight years, they're worth 20. Well, that that's what I'd like to see from Rich is and I know every car is different, right? But if he could show us a couple of common cars and what their depreciation value is compared to the scale. Yeah. Because like I said, after five years, I don't know many cars that are still worth 70% of what you paid for them. Right. Right. So it's it seems that we're overvaluing the vehicles just to keep our tax base up. Right. Yeah. We we need to I agree, Bob. We need to make sure it's not an art an artificial shift. Yeah. towards
030you know and and I believe the state the legislators were doing that to try to undo some of the damage they did because uh as those of you following the capital I mean there's a lot of unfund unfunded mandates we got from the state this is one of those where they they decided to do that but it had an impact on a lot of towns certainly affected because they only funded the difference for one year correct so they capped what we passed and helped us once and then said figure it out the rest on your own look at the life for special ed money right you know the back and forth and and and so it's it's it's an ongoing it's an ongoing dynamic equilibrium between that but uh but it's at least worth the
031discussion or whatever whatever we end up deciding to do um is is ultimately worth the best interest of the town have it make sense be explainable to someone in a way that justifies it um and then we can move forward but um it's the start of the discussion so I will get more information for all of you and we'll discuss this at a further time any other questions on that one Hey, Mike. Can you hear me? All right. Uh, appointments to boards and commissions. What do we have? Um, I have one. Um, I have Marilyn McGrath. I'd like to nominate Marilyn McGrath uh to a seat on the Inland Wetlands Commission. This is the one replacing Nancy Bal who resigns. Second. Thank you, Tim. Any discussion? All right. Ready for the vote? All those in
032favor? All right. Hi, John. I'm here. I'm here, guys. Just want you to know. All right. I'm nominating. I nominate Terry Grady for the uh two American 250 Portland, Connecticut committee. I'll second that. Great. Any discussion? So, I've known Terry for a while. I think many of you have. Uh he's been involved in a lot of town activities and committees before. He's motivated. Uh he wants to get back into this thing. He'll probably document the whole thing with 10,000 photographs over the time, but he's he's a good man for the for the case. Ready for the vote? All those in favor? Opposed? Abstain. Motion carries. Welcome aboard, Terry. All right. I have one more nomination for the same the America 2504 Connecticut committee and that's been served. I'll second that. Any discussion? All right. Ready
033for the vote? All those in favor? Opposed? I extensions. Motion carries. So is that committee down to one full time and two alternates? We now have all seven all seven of our and we are about to have another alternate. Yeah, I I'll nominate Sharon later to as an alternate. I'll second that. Any discussion? Have we all known him for a while? Well, I think it'll be helpful with fireworks and with with all the things. Outstanding experience. Yeah, I Yeah, lots and lots and lots of experience. Plus, she can take the minutes. Ben gets to do that. So, all right. All those in favor? I opposed. Carries. All right. So, we have one alternate spot. So, we're close to getting that meeting that committee started and moving. So, that is fantastic. Welcome, board chair. All right.
034[Music] Um, new business [Music] So, every year we need to read up our participation in this event. Does anyone want to read the resolution describing what we're going to be doing? Um, sure. All right. Do you want me to do this in the form of a Yes. A motion? Yes. Um, and the motion would be to set the public hearing on April 2nd at 6:50 p.m. U for the 2025 Neighborhood Assistance Act, NNA, program participation dated March 19. The form is here is dated March 19th. Whereas the state of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services is providing the town of Portland the opportunity to participate in the 2025 Neighborhood Assistance Act, thus allowing interested nonprofit organizations with any municipality to submit applications. And whereas in accordance with the state of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, the
035Board of Selectment shall hold a public hearing on all programs. The governing body of the municipality must vote to approve these programs. Now therefore, now therefore, be it resolved that the town of Portland selectman does hereby designate the first selectman, Michael A. Pelton, as liaison to handle all neighborhood assistance act matters. Second that. Any discussion? I just have one question for the next public hearing that we're setting and then the the special town meeting. We have our regular meeting that day. So, how are we going to have our regular meeting and special town meeting both start at 7 o'clock? [Music] It's set at the same time. That is correct. So, should this be set for 6:45 and then 650 6 minutes? It actually should be 650, right? 64. This should be 645. I'll tell you
036what, I'll amend the motion. I think it's a good idea. I'll amend the motion to make it 6:45 for the public hearing. Yeah. Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. I second the amended motion. All right. Any more discussion now? Good catch by All right. All those in favor? I I opposed extensions. All right. This next one I want to have a discussion about because we have two things that have come up in the last couple days especially. But um as you know we have um a boiler situation at Brownstone uh an expensive boil uh boiler situation. I have Bob Shay here to maybe explain a little more details on that but it's quite expensive. Um we have the funding to be able to do that from some excess excessive funding available. Um, so we we do have
037that. Um, we'll start with that first. So, come on up here. Good evening everyone. So, here I am again. Uh, so just a real real quick uh recap on it. A few weeks ago, I got called down to Brownstone because we were experiencing um some failures uh with boiler number one. And uh when I got there, we had a considerable amount of uh water on the floor. Um we were having a steam issue, so we immediately shut it down. Once we were able to disassemble the housing and some of the insulation that protects the boiler itself, we found a significant leak in more than one section, about four different sections. Unfortunately, not on the end of the boiler sections, but in the center. It's a 15 section boiler. Each boiler section weighs about 850 pounds.
038Those boilers are monsters. Um, and they are steam. And these particular boilers have two chambers. You have a a basically a water jacket and a burner jacket or fire water and fire. What I did find um through the investigation was that I felt based on the evidence of the boiler that we were leaking into the chamber, the fire chamber. Not a good situation at all. So immediately I shut that boiler down. We're in a warmer environment now, which is nice. We're getting warmer. That school has a tendency to be pretty warm as it is because it's a steam system. So, um, we try to control that. But what where we are now is, um, we I brought in an expert to really go over the boiler, and the experts are the boiler manufacturer, and he
039came in and worked with me for a good hour. Um, really taking a look at the boiler. Vintage boiler, 1988ish. um it's seen its day. They're both the same. Boiler one and two, both installed basically around the same time. So, we're seeing evidence on boiler number two that we could be in potential losing that in the near future as well. So, that was pretty concerning. So, with that said, um he did some overall investigation, uh pulling some of the material off, scraping down some of the areas where the gaskets are, and he felt that the existing segments that exist there now, not the the ones that would need to be replaced, but the other ones that haven't failed yet are too pitted, and if we were to break apart the boiler and start trying to
040repair those areas that are uh damaged now, the other ones would fail. So basically on the cost to rip it all apart and try to do that and the percentage that we would get back that it would work was too low. So he recommended a full replacement. So that's where we are today. So currently I have one boiler running same vintage same age showing extreme signs of wear as well. And as I run that boiler with an auto lag or or a backup, I'm putting more wear and tear on that boiler as it is. The concerned with this whole project, not only is money, these are very expensive uh boilers to put in. A lot of the money is in rigging. The boiler room is in the basement for the brownstone. We have to rig
041each individual section in and build the boilers in place. So we'll have to do that. So there's quite a bit of money in rigging. We have to rig it in through the small window and the larger window or smaller door on the Middle Sex Avenue side of the building which is going to take quite a bit of time and money. So that's all in the estimate. We've had professional riggers come down more than one and taken a look at it and they certainly can do it. It's just a long a long time to do that. There's many hours in that and it's certainly not a a very safe environment to do that. So they have to make sure that they bring enough people in to do it safely. So So that's really where we are.
042My concern is no matter what we do today, tomorrow, a week from now, I have a 28w week lead time to get steel, that brings me into heating season. That's a concern. So, the sooner we can get these things on order, go through our process of bid, which I would recommend to see if we can save some money. I've already read a bitspec. Tom has reviewed that for me and he's been wonderful. I brought this to his attention last week and he's been all over it with all that he's doing here with the budget and this being this season. He's taken that time to work with me to really come up with an opportunity for some funding so we can get this done because to be perfectly honest with you, my capital budget is nil
043to none. Um my fund bal my maintenance fund 11 is something that I rely on for emergencies every day. That's becoming limited and I didn't really know what to do. we need those I need that contingency there to continue to keep the schools open. So I was concerned that if we had to use all that money and then with some other I'd be in a tough situation going into the new school year. So I can't thank him enough for all he did to try to come up with ways that we can fund this to get this done. But the recommendation from the manufacturer is and we spoke with with Mike and we had a nice conversation last week. The recommendation as well from the manufacturer is to save your to to do the two boilers
044because eventually we're going to be in the same situation to do the other. So, at least to get the controls done. I've worked with our our control contractor. They've been wonderful. Um, we're hoping to get all the new controls in there at the same time so we have some great longevity um as well as being able to operate those. Right now, we're working on I work on a 98 Windows-based computer to try to run the three elementary schools. It's got a floppy disc. So, we're moving in the better. We're moving in a better direction each day, I hope. And this is going to bring us up with the help of our contractor who does our controls now at the high school and helps me every day. That's part of this as well. So Tom was
045very concerned that if we didn't do that, we'd be in a pickle and we wouldn't be able to even control the boilers, which we have to efficiently. Is there anyone else that would be able to supply them? Not for price reasons, but for delivery reasons that could get us the equivalent, but but faster. So we have to go with the same board. Yeah. So we are going to go out to bid and hopefully we'll have some bites on that. And then I'm hoping as well, Bob, that we might be able to get a better lead time from those that are in the industry. They're all around 26 to 28 weeks. They're all floating that same number to me because I was concerned that maybe, you know, this distributor was a little busy or so I
046did look at that. It could happen. You know, we don't know. But I also look at potential that it could get worse based on where we're moving um in our country. Tariffs, we don't we're not sure. pricing could affect that. We could have delays. But right now, as of last week, the quote was 28 weeks. They hope to be able to pull that up. Whatever they can do for me will be better because I'm going to be firing up that boiler in November. Mhm. And it's going to be one. And I'm, you know, you're just going to pray that it's going to fire up and it's going to run for that month or so while we get these boilers installed. So, and that's not the greatest time to be doing work um you know in
047a school in a basement if it's cold already. But, you know, we'll get it done. We'll get it done. Um the other thing, not that it matters, what's the difference between material and the labor and rigging? Like what's the rough breakdown? It's hard to say. I mean, um labor is big. You know, labor is big. It could be it's not really a 50/50. I think labor is a little less. I think the materials are up in the 80s for the boilers, you know, each. Yeah. Um, you know, the biggest part of the boiler is we did some boilers at Valley View and I was confused at first because they seem to be much cheaper. But when I looked in into what was actually done, we didn't do in burners and controls. Those are the ones.
048So, these are going to incorporate all new burners and controls. And really, it's in the burners. The controls aren't too bad. But it's the burners and their controls that are an expensive part of that network. Now, once you get the materials, Bobs, I know you're saying we're looking at that 26 to 28 week lead. How long does it actually take to do the the install? Right. And then the second question would be, would those be would it be sequenced with, for example, you'd replace burner one that's down and then you can use burner two to because it will hopefully be in the, you know, the warmer part of heating season, right? um and hopefully burn it two pers. But um would that would you kind of sequence them that way so you've got something running
049at that time and then shut it you know once the new one's in shut it down and do the second one or do they need to be built in parallel? No, we can't do that because we're going to be building during heating season. So unfortunately the one that failed is behind the one that didn't. So it makes it a little harder for rigging. And the biggest part is it's probably two full days just to break it down and rig the old one out. Yeah. Before you even rig the new one in. So there's a lot of rigging time bringing the sections in and stuff. So you have a disassembly safely rigging stuff out as we go, prepping the pad, making sure that our existing piping um is good. And we're unfortunately, and I say unfortunately
050because I was hoping in the future, depending on what we were going to do, because they needed to replace anyways, get away from steam. I was really, you know, working with our consultants with controls and our HVAC consultant. I was pushing to try to get away from Steam and and and you know, do something a little more efficient. Um, but you know, the new stuff is efficient for Steam. It just takes a little more. We can't do that now because I would have to replace all the headers. We'd be way up in money. All the header pipes and everything would have to be changed. So, this is the best fit to get the school up and longevity on the boilers, you know, 20 years. It'll it'll just lock us in the scheme now for as
051we move forward. Yeah. Which is fine. Which is fine. You know, we we we'll in the future probably do some upgrading on our steam exchangers and we've done a whole bunch of steam traps and there's more stuff to do related to that. But, you know, you're it's you put new in old school and sometimes the old stuff shows itself again. It's attached to the new stuff. So, but we're going to do as much as we can down there with this funding to get that thing up and running and in really good shape. I mean, the school really needs a new power plant. Really does. So, is that assuming that this school is going to stay active as a school? Well, it's either way, you know, if it's active as a school, it's it's a benefit.
052It's a if it's active as a town building, it's a huge benefit as well. And if it's if it ends up not staying with the town, it's a benefit, too, because it's got a brand new system in it. It's really the heart of the You're not going to do much without, you know, a good heating system in a building like that for sure. So, I don't think it's a loss either way. Well, good. So, this is the first I'm seeing this. So, what are we go through the whole process of? Actually, there's there's two things about this that we have. So, what we were going to be asking for tonight was two things. was one. Thank you, Bob. Thanks, Bob. Appreciate it. Thanks. Thanks, Bob. So, the the furnace and getting the boiler fixed came
053up a couple days ago. It was a big deal. Tom was able to find the resources to do that. Um, and I'm glad we were able to do that. Um, the second part of this is um additional funding for the sidewalk project that was started under Ryan for a connectivity grant that we had. Um, so we've already done Highland and Homestead and some there's additional work we can do, but it has to be assigned to sidewalks. Uh, that that was what the specific grant was for. So, um, so they have looked for where else they can use some of this money. They've talked about starting from the drugstore and working north on Main Street, uh, as well as a couple additional places. Um, I was hoping to have Ryan on tonight to kind of walk
054through more details with you. um uh really should have had two separate ones, but we combined this together tonight. Um I don't think we can separate this out since the resolution is already written. We may not be able to approve the money that he needs for the Boilers tonight. If we if anyone has any questions, I know Bobby, you were um asking more details about why we need that additional funding. Well, that's my question. Right. this $100,000 for the sidewalks. Is that for Highland and Homestead or it's left over from Highland and Homestead? It's it's money needed to uh it's already been homeland and Highland and Homeland Highland uh and Homestead has already been done. Um this is for additional sidewalks that they're looking to fill out the grant. They're looking to spend all the
055money, but we have to match some in order to do that. So um so our and so is this our match? this m this this allows us to spend the rest of the grant money. They don't want to back it safe. They said spend it. So Jacobson and those that are trying to find the best way for us to utilize this money and spend it. But I think more details are needed and I'd rather have a full explanation um especially for details on this in ter they're still trying to figure out exactly where they can go with it to get the most use of the money. Well, that's my question is this this doesn't specifically say where it goes to. It just goes to a sidewalk project. Right. Right. And because it's still an ongoing
056process, I I spoke to Joe Dylan earlier today in terms of where the where they're working on where they're going to get this to get the most impact and they're still working on that. It is not it has not been finalized yet. Um but they're working on it. They're they're trying to find the best use of it right now, but it's not 100% completed yet. How come we don't get this? Will it come back to us? Yeah. So yeah, it'll it'll it'll come back. It'll come back to us. So if we approve this tonight, we'll get the say in where it's going to be used. Um I I will fill you in on where they're looking at. I'll invite you to the meeting that they have. Um so that we can you know because there's
057some requirements because of the connectivity grant part of it. So there's certain ones that are qualified. I'll make sure you're involved in that process. But again, if you feel more comfortable having it explained first, which I understand. Well, I just I hate when we bundle stuff together because I don't want to hold Bob and the school up, right, with the funding for the boilers, right? To wait till our April meeting, right, and either get it explained better to us or split it into two different resolutions, right? I I I understand that. I understand that. So now, Bob, if we What's that? Break it up. I'm just trying to look and see if there's a way to to strike part to do what we want to do tonight. Right. So, this 100,000 for the sidewalk, right?
058That's in addition to the grant money we got. So, the grant money they have to they have to match some dollars from us. So, we need another $100,000 in order to complete it to be able to spend down that grant. So, and then the boiler is 325. 325 for that. Yes. So, and that's for two boilers. Uh, it's for both boilers. Yes. And um perhaps one of the controllers if they need it, but it covers the two boilers and and insulator. And where's where are we getting this money? Uh, so we did have more funds available as the year's winding down. had money available in a couple. So Tom was able to find it uh for for both of these. Um so it's available from money that was not spent. So I was pleasantly surprised
059as well, but I know Tom also was digging to to be able to find it because of the emergency nature of this. So all right. So we got I'm fine with approving it. I just want a better say in where the sidewalk money goes. Yeah. Well, I was going to say where is the where is the current plan? So, the sidewalk to go. It is it is it is in flux because they're doing the engineering right now and looking at at at the different areas. So, some of it is being worked on right now, but it is not completed yet. Okay. Do we do but but it's when I say it's it's I know we looking at for example trying to go down from you know the the intersection in town coming back right that
060was one of them do you know the other areas that are being looked at? Um no because there there's a couple different options on the table right now. So yeah it's a couple different options but um again I' I've spoken to Ryan about it. uh talked to Joe today, Dylan. Uh and they're they're working on it, but because of the urgency here and because it's close and because I believe there is a deadline with uh spending the state grant money, uh they don't want to take it back. So that that's why the urgency of adding it, but it's up to the board to decide if you want to do it. We combine them together. I'll make sure that everyone's aware that I'll let you know when we have the next meeting. You guys are welcome
061to come into there and we can walk through this process together. So I say we vote on it tonight then and just move on. The only other question I have about about the sidewalks is in our I don't have my budget book with me, but we do have a capital expenditure for sidewalks for 75,000. Can we get rid of that line item if we do this? I don't know because then we could take it right out of cap like that would it would be a good deduction from our budget. I I know Tom I know Tom was working on a number of things to make this happen um or whatever. So I don't have him here tonight. Um, so because I'd like to see that line item go away if we can just incorporate it
062in the sidewalk and unfortunately now I can't vote on this, right? Because I've stained myself, but I am abstaining myself on the boiler end of it. But the sidewalk stuff I'm concerned with, right? So I'm going to catch 20. I can't really do much about that. You're bringing up a good point. Yep. Yeah, bundling these things just it makes a logistical nightmare out of the whole thing. Unfortunately, it it it made it simpler for from the accounting point of view at that end because of some other necessary steps. But I think I think Bob may have some information shared. I mean, the only thing I don't like about it is it ties you into something where you can want to vote for one thing but not the other, right? Yeah. I And you're you're stuck.
063You have to vote for it. Well, what I'm thinking, Bob, is maybe we structure the motion that we approve the resolution as is so that the monies are authorized, but but we with the restriction that before the monies for the sidewalk are authorized, it comes back before the board. Right. Maybe for review or for or explanation of all the details finalized. Yeah, something like that. And then that's fair. At least then we're kind of covering both, but we're also giving Bob what he needs to get that clock started. Yeah. So, just briefly, and I don't want to confuse you anymore. I did a lot of connectivity stuff with the state. Um, and it is a process. So, what they're doing right now is Tom is looking for the hundred to match the money that we
064have to get that a project done with money that's left. What happens is with the state during your application, your connectivity grant money can only be used in certain areas in town. It has to connect to your rural areas. So that's one parameter. So you can't go anywhere you want. You got to kind of come into your center. But for the grant we got, we already matched it. We gave $200,000 for the million dollars to finish Main Street. So I think there's money left. This is over from So we'd have to the Highland Homestead project, right? So that does fall into that area because it was always on the original one four or five years ago that we looked at. And then with that said, the engineers need to look at how far can you
065get with curb cuts, areas like that that reduce your linear footage because you have to do a lot of driveways or curb cuts or new ADA compliant intersections and stuff. So that all folds into how far can you get and then you look on the map and you start looking at what's the best bang for our buck as far as linear footage. But we have to still stay in that mapped area. They have to stay in that connectivity area. So it's it's hard. That's the that's the area that we would like to know. What is that area? Yeah. We'd like to see a diagram. So right and and and they can do that too. I will tell you it it's it's your central downtown area. Well, with the one that was on High Street in
066' 66 to airline, we use the excess money from that to go up High Street because it connects to the schools. That is correct. That's still part of your and that's a a major artery considered. So anything like that bars lit on high street. Correct. So you have to look at your connecting foot traffic to your business or your schools or your health area or your town boats. So it does get it drops off pretty quick when you start working your way out and so do sidewalks. Yeah. As well once you get out of there. So that can the connectivity process is it's big. It's and it requires all that engineering work prior to even talking to them about it. You have to submit the plans which is an awful lot of work just to
067just to get the flavor on the approvals. So being off Main Street is a little easier but it's slow. I think you will have a choice, but I think the engineers are probably going to give you the best choice that you have to get the most done because they always have. So, right. Thank you, Bobby. You know how much money? I told I know they need the hundred in order to complet that that was the number they do that. So, Jim, I like your idea. So, we make a motion move this with a caveat that we want to know some of the details. I was gonna say it's um I I can if you want I'll just say I'll make a motion that we approve uh the resolution um you know dated March 19th and
068basically actually how do we want to structure so I want to make sure we're good with this um the meeting will be basically we have to set the public hearing date right so is that what we want 7:50 yeah we're going to move yeah we'll move it um 7 or 650 right 650 and then the special town meeting at 6:55 y All right. Let me make sure I get that. Someone want to read the resolution? Yeah. We gota don't we have to put a I think that we're going to read it as written. I think we can read it as written, but basically make that our what I'm thinking is that make when we make the motion that we're going to to adopt it and move to the, you know, go to the hearing, right?
069Is that we add the caveat that before the project is released, right? Because this is going to release the the fun like the hearing would release the funding, but before the actual project is released that the selectman have basically gotten all the details on where this and been able to discuss where where the project's going to be completed. That's very fair. Okay. All right. I'm good with that. Everyone okay with that? Yeah. Michael, you too. Go ahead. I think I think Michael's uh he's recused himself. He's recused. All right. All right. Tim, you got this. So, we already have a motion on the table or we got to read it from the top. Right. Resolution board of selectman Portland March 19th, 2025. some supplemental appropriations for transfer out non cap um non-recurring BOE and transfer
070out cap non-recurring town and increase to estimated structural permits and use of general fund fund balance. Whereas two funding matters will be addressed in this resolution. Brownstone intermediate school boiler replacement and sidewalk restoration non-grant and whereas the biz operates using two wheel MLAN boilers that are over 35 years old and whereas one of the boilers recently failed and cannot be repaired. And whereas due to the age of the boilers it would be optimal to replace both within the same project. And whereas approximately $325,000 will be needed for the replacement of the boilers and potentially control upgrades. And whereas there is a long lead time on the delivery of the boilers and funds needed to be in place in order for the to order the boilers. And whereas the town has received grant funding via connectivity
071grant and local capital improvement grants for sidewalk projects. And whereas the funds available were used for design of the connectivity grant and the Highland Homestead sidewalk projects. And whereas it is anticipated that an additional $100,000 of funds will be needed to complete these projects above allowable grants cost. and funds that have already been set aside. And whereas the connectivity project and the Highland Homestead sidewalk projects are going out to bid at the same time in the near future. hand. Whereas revenues in line item 01-0000-00 00328 structural permits exceeds the original budget estimate due to higher large dollar permits coming in fiscal year 2025 than expected. The estimated revenues can be increased by at least $275,000 for the above projects. And whereas the remainder of the $150,000 additional funds needed for both projects would be funded
072by an allocation of unassigned fund balance of the general fund. And whereas an increase in appropriation would be needed to the general fund line item number 01-093- 0000-90012 transfer out capped non-recurring town in the amount of $100,000 for the sidewalk reconstruction and non-grant and whereas an increase in appropriation would be needed to the general fund light item number [Music] 01-093-0000-90013 transfer out cap non-recurring BOE in the amount of $325,000 for the systemwide BOE HVAC upgrades and now therefore it be resolved The board of selectment hereby approves a supplemental appropriation in line item number 01-093 00-90012 transfer out cap non-recurring town in the amount of $100,000 in a supplemental appropriation and line item number 01- 093-0000-90013. three transfer out uh cap non-recurring BOE in the amount of 25,000 I'm sorry 325,000 funded through an increase in
073estimated revenue to line item number 01-0000-00-00328 structural permits of $275,000 and $150,000 from unassigned general fund fund balance and be it further resolved that the board of selectment hereby approves an increase in estimated revenues number [Music] 08-141-0000-001 transfers in general fund town of $425,000 an increase in supplemental appropriation to expenditure line item number 08-1 141-0000- 89010 Board of Education systemwide BOE HVAC upgrades in the amount of $325,000 and an increase in supplemental appropriation to expenditure line item number 08-141-0000- 89090 public works Highway Division back slash vehicle maintenance sidewalk construction non-grant in the amount of $100,000. Done. Can you repeat that backwards? All right. Um, we ready to vote? So I wait a sec. Yeah. So, I was going to say, did you do that in the in the as a motion or were you just
074reading it? I did. I Or you just basically just basically using the language that we talked about, right? Okay. Right. So, I'll second it. Any more discussion? So, from my understanding, we're going to um I think the only other thing are we going to set you do motions to set the the um the public hearing date? That's all included in this motion. Are we going to do that? We could do that. We could we could add that in or we could do that right after. That's for Yeah. So Tim, would you I can amend the motion to include setting of public hearing date for 42, excuse me, 2025 at 6:50 p.m. for a public hearing and a uh to a set a town special meeting of 42205 at 6:55 p.m. And I'll second that as
075amended. Okay. All right. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I abstensions. Motion carries. No, I I think that that was what he accepted as the verbiage we talked about. Right. So the the verbiage up front, Sharon, and included the fact that the with respect to the release of the sidewalk project before the sidewalk project would be released that the the location of that project, the recommendation for that project would come back before the board of select then that was part of the original motion. Y it's all wrapped together. Yeah, that's everyone's in favor of it, but I'm abstaining because I was waiting for your your question to get answered. Everyone's I'm abstaining. Everyone else voted in favor. Okay. All right. By the way, thank you very much for your cooperation and flexibility today. Um
076I'll make sure that you guys are kept informed and we'll we'll keep you posted on that. And Bob, do the best you can to keep those schools running. All right. Uh status and committee reports. Who's got what? Um I I don't have a ton of of um a ton to report other than I did get a report back that the um that they have been going back to do the final sealing of the well. Um they had to let that set for a bit and they were back doing that. Um I think right now before we can do the pump down test, we've now hit, you know, a flood stage through the river and and all that good stuff. So, um, we we know that that's going to we have to kind of wait for
077that to abate and and then we can get the pump down test going. Um, no, we're going to be hearing from L pair and some uh items for river access. Um, but I guess for the rest of the fellas, we're we're waiting for a site plan. Um once we get that uh we'll we're going to have to go through inland wetlands. Um, we're also Lupair is going to Blue Loop Pair or Mike, we're going to get in touch with uh Chris Costello at Tilcon to talk about um getting in there and what where they want the fence, how much fencing they want. um and uh where they want the uh there's some big concrete blocks that are blocking the pathway that have to be moved. So, um we need to have a probably a site
078visit with with somebody from Tilcon and um then uh Jacobson's going to uh be able to u stake out where the roadway is going to go. So, it's moving along. What's the sign going up? Oh, that's the other thing. Um, yeah, thanks for um, actually Lou's going to be on your case tomorrow, I think. Talk to public works. Yeah, he actually went down there and put some stakes in the ground where he thought the sign should go. Nice. My son lied. So, Mike's gonna have some fun tomorrow. Oh, yeah. Very good. Future future home. Future home of Yeah. Very good. Very good. Nice to get that sign up after a couple years. Yeah. Very nice. I don't have anything particular tonight. I don't have any n good so only thing left uh starting next week
079Tuesday and Wednesday we started doing budget uh discussions and deliberations so uh you have you have all the numbers uh please review it um and uh we got a lot of work to do next week forget the meeting time yeah 7 o'clock on Tuesday yeah I'll remind you I'll text I'll send you a message Jim and and yeah Jim Yeah, I'll send you a Texas type, too. All right. Um, any public comment? Serb 139 West Cotton Hill Road. Uh, like to thank you all for approving me for the 250 committee. Thank you. And then I just had a quick question uh on the on the motor vehicle because I'm still very confused on it. The lower option. it. Did I hear that? It's a 16% essentially a six 16% increase from the way we're using
080the formula now. Correct. No, the um the 16% was the amount that um our revenue on car taxes dropped from 2024 down. It was it was about 16%. What using the different formula, what's the percentage increase? There has to be one for motor vehicle. Um it if I'm not mistaken the the difference and I won't hold it. No no no the difference like was like it was it was 4% um I want to say it was about 4% difference. So what I want to say say is I believe it's a 4% increase right looking at it with a different formula going from the MSRP right versus the Kelly blue book. Um so that 4% is going to be to everybody right not just businesses. So, right, anybody with a motor vehicle that you would get
081the 4% increase. What I'm seeing is so the commercial properties would be the ones that benefit the most with no motor vehicles, right? Because if if we're not raising the mill by a third and we're shifting that burden over to the motor vehicles, which is mostly homeowners and businesses, right? But the then the landlords of businesses would be the direct benefit of the whole shuffling everything, right? because they in no scenario would they go up then other than if we did the the normal way that we've always done across the board the one-third of a mill increase would then just get spread evenly across everybody but if we shift it to motor vehicle commercial landlords would then benefit because the homeowners are still getting their increase on the motor vehicles just like the commercial people
082you follow and I don't know the exact numbers so I my point is I appreciate you guys looking into a little more because I'm not even sure it's I think it's a wash in my world but it's so it's very and and all the all the towns that I've seen, they're all struggling with that because it looks like potentially could it could, you know, generate some more dollars and and most municipalities need those dollars. How they get it is obviously the hard part, but they're it was an attempt to fix a mistake that they did by reducing the taxes down, but uh it's it's gray area on both sides. It really is. And then the and because I got a handful of phone calls on it, so I guess I'll stand up for people that
083call me. Um, the other thing that a lot of business owners that call me with large fleets wanted to point out, they have options what towns to put them in, whether it's a guy taking them home or whatever. Um, homeowner doesn't have options. They're getting their 4% increase regardless. Businesses have options and if we want to be known as business friendly, and I believe we've been moving in that direction as a community over the past 10 years, I can say that I I think we've done pretty good job moving that way. I would think we might not want to then um create something that would make us less attractive as far as bring fleets in because that's free money. Uh we can't control that. We can only control the the buildings that are here. The
084big variable, you know, when you talk thousands of dollars on an oil truck or whatever that comes into town, those are great. We they're major if if and I hope you guys ask those questions to get spreadsheets because these companies pay massive amounts of money and don't necessarily have to give it to us. They could easily put it in one of their other yards. So, I just want it's a double-edged sword. So, keep good word up. Thank you again about the landlords. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. So, yeah. So, more information to come. Rich last be working pretty hard for the next couple days to get all the details. So, that will be forthcoming. All right. Uh any informal discussion? Do we have anything else we need to discuss that we haven't already? Budget numbers. I'll have
085a couple of things probably, but uh I think right now we have enough on our plate. Were you going to do uh at some point the liaison boards of commission? You know, yeah, we could do that. Well, I don't know if you Well, let me I know at some point we were going to do that. I just wasn't sure where it fits in. Yeah. So, we have a couple spots on our boards and commissions that are open and there um and has everyone looked at the existing boards of commissions it cited? No, I haven't. I haven't actually looked at it. So, so here's what I would suggest then. Take a look at the ones that are on there. Make sure that the ones that you're assigned to at the leazison are the ones you want
086to be on. And at our next meeting, let's either confirm uh verify there are some gaps on there as well that have appeared. We want to make sure we have good continuity, good communication with all the committees out there. I think we have a really good group here in terms of uh keeping our you know, our eyes open to everything happening. But uh I think that'll be good. I'm trying to attend as many meetings as I can uh either virtually or in person. I know you guys have limited time with jobs and everything else, but I know you guys are staying on top of these things as well, but um let's make sure we have everything filled in there. Let's get going. We need one more person. We need one more person for our 250
087committee to get that started. Ben, thank you for joining on that. Well, I have seven people here now. Yeah, we can get started. I I think we all but we just need one also. But I mean we can get right. Absolutely. We got Cheryl. Absolutely. Sharon counts as two. Maybe more. So we will get that going. I know we're start we're we're starting the brownfield committee uh on Monday. Uh they will be charged and and go off. So uh maybe we'll see we get that for next week as well. So um fantastic. Some of these don't have liaison. Is there a reason for that or No, they either have been removed or dropped off or or something happened, but we could still That's what we have to fill in. That's what we have to fill
088in because I removed some of the names on there and and some resigned and and decided not to. So, um all right. I have nothing with ethics ordinance and town charter. We have too much to do with the budget first. Um so, if that is being said, motion to adjurnn. Make a motion we adjourn. Second. I'll second. All those in favor? Rick or whoever? All those in favor? Hi. Hi. Richard is I think so. He's on. That's what I heard.