Great. Well, good evening everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of the Community Preservation Act committee to order. Thursday, February 5th, 2026 um at 6:03 p.m.
Um welcome. And the first um we have on the agenda we have announcements um then approving the minutes and I'd just like to um switch those two around and approve the minutes first if that's all right with folks.
Um we have a quorum. Angus, go ahead. >> I just wanted to apologize to everyone. I uh was meaning before I sent it off to Leah to do a search and replace so that everyone's first and last name appeared
and I I had done it for my name and the staff names and then it was like 11 p.m. after our meeting and I was I went to bed and then I meant to redo it. So, I'm sorry that all of your names appear throughout the document as just your last names. But >> it was the most detailed minutes ever.
So, it was one it was very good. >> The name thing totally pissed me off though. So Bob will vote against it on >> so impersonal. I mean >> I loved it. I I I like I like being called by my last name. It's all good.
Um no I if if no one minds, we'll keep it as is. But if did did anyone have any other any corrections that they wanted to make additions? Yeah. Okay. Um hi Jason, welcome. We're on on minutes. Um, and
so we'll just do a roll call vote on the January 22nd, 2026 minutes. Thank you, Angus, for preparing them. Um, so I'll start uh yay or nay um or abstaining. I'll start with Ellen.
>> Yay. or I >> Jim. >> Hi >> Bob. >> Hi >> Jonas. >> I >> Angus. >> Hi >> Jason. >> Hi
>> Robin. >> Hi. >> And I am an I as well. So that those minutes are approved. Um Oh, I didn't get a motion and a second, did I? >> No. Uh, so moved to approve the minutes
for January 22nd. >> Second. >> Yes. Second. >> Thank you, Ellen. Um, I don't know if we could do that retros retroactively, but I think it will be okay for the minutes. Thank you. Um, and tonight, uh, I guess I'm the
last one who hasn't taken minutes, so I get the, uh, the gift of doing the minutes for tonight. This is the This chair roll is the gift that keeps on giving. I must say for those of you who haven't been chaired, it's
>> Well, Katie, you are a gift to us. So, >> I highly recommend it. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Okay. So, um with that approval, we'll move just to the announcements section. Um and I just have a couple of
um couple of comments I just wanted to share. um with you all and those who are watching. Um I wanted to just thank you um all of you, the staff and
each committee member for taking the extra time at our last meeting and extending it so we can we got through all of those proposals and I just so appreciated that. Um I also appreciate we were just talking a little bit about um there's been some medical challenges.
We've had a couple of joint replacements during this season, child care challenges, there's work demands, travel snafoos, um people have had the flu. Um I just really appreciate each of you showing up. You're prepared and you're super engaged. So, I just wanted to say
thank you for that, especially for the last um the last meeting. And at our last meeting, Jason brought up a point of order question about process, which I really appreciated. um I had the chance to connect with him on that today and I just think it's
critical that each of us has the you know was able to speak up and share our concerns in order for this group to function well. So I really appreciated that and I also wanted to make note that um in case there was any question staff are proceeding as they have for years
the same process we've been following for years and supporting the CPA and acting upon my direction as chair. Um so they haven't deviated in any way. Um and the work of their work you know is really important
to us. So the work of this committee just it requires significant support. It's a very staff intensive committee and their expertise and advice and logistical support are invaluable. Um and they essentially help us function
effectively. So I just wanted to say thank you to them. And you know, Jason's question came up for me through my time here. You know, this is my sixth year and um it occurred to me, you know, that the CPA process has always felt a little bit
clunky to me. And I I think, you know, just representative government is clunky. It is not wrinkle-free. And um you know, taking everyone's perspective into consideration and making decisions together is hard. Um, so I think we've
been using this process for years. Um, we've been using it throughout this year's meeting itself. And I'm also eager to explore possible adjustments um to make help make the process more equitable, maybe more accessible, and maybe even
more effective for uh for all of us and for our town residents who we serve. So, while I have some ideas for adjustments and you know to the process, I know you all will have good ideas. So, tonight I just want to make sure that we're
focused on our deliberations and our voting. And so I'm going to recommend that we continue our deliberation process and set aside um a meeting later in the spring for administrative work to review the current CPA plan and offer up
some adjustments so that you all think as a committee are would be necessary for next fiscal year. Um, I also just want to thank the um public uh for
what we I think we've had a record and Leah, you've been amazing. I to keeping track of we've had hundreds of public uh emails and letters and comments and um the pro- library and pro-war memorial
pool totally um I think have met or even exceeded the pro pickle ball correspondents we had a couple of years ago which was a huge record um for CPA. So, I just want to thank the public for
speaking up and being so enthusiastic about um their opinions. So, um unless there's any contrary views of, you know, what I've expressed about having, you know, another
administrative meeting later in the spring or anything else that I've shared um with my commentary here. Um, if there is contrary views, I want to hear them, of course. But if there aren't any, we would move on to deliberations. But if anybody has any
other any comments to add. And Bob, you're up. >> If this meeting ends quickly and we don't get a chance to acknowledge the best chairperson ever, I want to make sure we do that.
>> All in favor say I. Bob is on some heavy duty drugs right now after but thank you Bob. I appreciate you. Um he's prone to uh hyperbole too. So um
>> some morphine talking. >> Yeah, exactly. All right. So if that's all right, we'll move on to deliberations. Any any other Okay, great. So I just wanted to set just remind those viewers who weren't with us in the
last few sessions and also to just remind each of us at the end of last you know at the January 22nd meeting we did a quick run through of all the projects to get a sense of the committee's interest in the levels of funding for each of the
projects. And of course they're no means binding. Um, we wanted it to be directional so that the we could we asked the town to review this list and offer an option or an illustration or two uh for how we might fund the projects with a combination of debt and
cash. Um, and then to also share with us an illustration of how that level of debt might affect future funding from CPA. So, we've invited Sean to join us to to do that. But you also brought up some
questions um during our last deliberations that you wanted answered and I wanted to be sure everyone received the information from in the packet. Leah included the answers to the questions as well as um we've had two subsequent pieces of correspondence. One
from Jones Library Inc. from Kent Ferour and one from Maria Copeki. And I just want to make sure that the committee has all received those bits. I just a I see some head nods. Okay, great. Um I I know that one of the other
questions that was sitting out was outstanding was whether or not the town hall had historic preservation restriction on it. Um and it does not. So we did get that answer um from the town. It's not um
a standard practice for municipalities to do that with their buildings because it's really designed more for a building that might be sold. Um so that's that isn't usually done and you need an independent body to hold the restriction
which is complicated for a municipal you know a townowned building. So there is an historic pres there is no historic preservation on the town hall. That was a question regard related to the roof. Um I also had asked Dave um specifically
about the issue of supplanting that relates to the Jones Library um Inc. application and the town has explored this um and they do not believe it's that using CPA funds for the Jones um project is supplanting. So, if the
committee recommends the project, it's going to be up to the town council to make the final decision, as you know, and they may request a legal opinion on the matter from the town's attorney. That has not been um done yet. Um but that would be up to the the um town
council to do. So, I think those were the outstanding other outstanding questions that you didn't get in writing. And Robin, you had a comment. I just wanted um I mean I'll just put the question out there. It doesn't have to be answered right now, but I'm
curious if municipalities ever have preservation restrictions on their buildings and one of the um functions that they serve also in relationship not just in relationship to sale but in terms of future alterations to the building. So an investment in uh
historic property um is essentially saying we recognize this whole building as a historic structure and the preservation restriction serves to continue um the integrity of of the entire structure so that we're not just preserving one aspect of it. We're kind
of um helping to keep and that doesn't just just to add that doesn't mean that changes can't take place. It just means that they have to be reviewed. So people should, you know, should understand that too about preservation restrictions. They're a review function. Um they are
not necessarily a stop function. >> Got it. Well, thank you. That that would be I my understanding is they're not generally municipalities don't generally cities and towns don't generally hold historic um preservation restrictions on their buildings. Um well, they can't
hold it themselves. It would have to be a neutral party. So, um, but I we can find out more for later on that. Um, okay. So, just to just to review the process um for tonight, Sean is going to
share his illustrations um for us to consider. You're going to have the opportunity to ask some questions of course and then we'll as a committee consider those options as well as any you might propose um in terms of how we might fund these projects and we'll have
that discussion. Then we're going to start at the top of the list, you know, the spreadsheet list of projects and just move down one by one and I'll move on to the next project after everyone has had a chance to speak who wishes to
speak. Um, and we'll just try to get to a majority opinion of the amount to put in for funding. And we won't vote because we've got to make sure when we get down to the bottom of the column that it adds up to the amount of money
um or debt we're willing to take on and the amount of money that we have. So, we're going to go one by one by one through those proposals. Some of them may be super quick. Um, others there could be longer discussions. Um, but once we have the numbers line up the way
we intend them to and we have money for, then we'll move um I'll move for a roll call vote for each project. And we have to do that for each one so that everyone has the chance to vote um yes or no to that project and we keep track of
that, you know, vote count. And that is something that I bring to town council um with our recommendations so that they see the what the vote count looked like if it was unanimous or if it was split in some way. Um, and just like the
Supreme Court, if you're in the minority opinion, you're absolutely welcome to submit your minority opinion to town council about that particular project if you feel so strongly about it that you either for it or against it depending on
how the majority votes. Um, so you're welcome to do that. Folks have done that in the past. It's not common. It doesn't happen all the time, but it is it does happen. So, I just wanted folks who are especially who are new to know that you have that ability if you wish. Um, and then I present the slate of
recommendations to the town council that we voted on with the t with the vote tallies and then they vote on the projects and they can either approve as recommended, they can reject it totally or they can lower the amount that we recommend. They cannot increase the
amount. Um, any questions on the steps we'll take? Jonas, do you have a comment or question? >> Yeah, a question. Um, so >> yeah, >> uh, Sean has consulted with town council or is more he just he's just looked at
it from his own finance lens. He's looked at what we've kind of proposed. >> That's right. >> Looked at funding. So there's not not been any >> No, >> nothing beyond Sean. >> No. >> Okay. >> No. >> Thanks. >> No, no. Yeah, that's how the process
works. Um, town council gets to decide based on our recommendations what they wish to do. Any other questions about the process? Does it make sense? Did anyone have any other Okay, great. Angus nodded his head, so I said we're
ready to go. Um, okay. So, why don't we start with Sean? >> Hello, everybody. I'll be relatively quick. Let me share my screen. Maybe just a little bigger. I'm going to turn my daughter's tablet
down a little bit. Just a little bit. There you go. You're good. All right. Um, so thank you. Um, just a recap of the funding sources that are available. Um, or the amount of funds available. Uh, so this hasn't really changed since last time you
looked at it. um total estimated appropriation or funds available for next year is 3.6. When we subtract the debt that we anticipate, it leaves you with 3,93,000. Um one thing I want to just emphasize at this point is you don't have to
appropriate or make a recommendation to appropriate the full amount. Um you know, it's certainly within um your scope if you have money left over that you wanted it to roll over to next year that you could. Um just like this year you started with a balance of 1.9. If um
you know if everything is appropriated and nothing rolls over to next year, uh it could just mean next year's a lighter year potentially. So um we have been more you know we updated our estimates to be more in line with recent experience. So I'm not anticipating there's going to be as much extra money
coming in between now and next year to to start off the FY 28 CPA cycle. So just keep that in mind. You don't have to recommend appropriation of all the funds. That's up to you. Um, but I just wanted to make sure that was clear.
Um, this is just a recap of what the estimated debt is for next year currently. So, um, the three projects on the bottom of that little yellow table are the ones that are just getting started. uh Jones Library, Fort River field um fields and the region track and
field um our new debt that will be coming online. So we looked at three different options um uh based on the straw poll estimates that you uh came up with at your last meeting. So option one, if you chose not
to recommend any borrowing, then you would have to reduce your project recommendations by about 1.5 million. Um the straw pole amount exceeded uh the amount of funds available by that amount. Option two, you could borrow 1.5 million and I think
the cleanest one would be just to borrow for the war memorial pool house. And if you did that, you would have to make a small reduction to what you had set aside for each of the projects, 62,000 to essentially align it with the funding available.
And option three, borrow 2.1. So it would be borrowing for the war memorial pool house and then partial uh borrowing for the town hall roof. If you did that, it would actually leave you $537,000 unallocated that you could either leave
for starting fund balance next year or appropriate to other projects um this year or some combination of the two. And one thing I want to bring up also at this point is we talked about the debt and how you know we looked at it from a very CPA specific lens, how much debt um
CPA has authorized in the past and what it looks like in the future. I did want to call out that CPA debt does impact the overall debt rating for the town and we recently had a bond rating call and when we look out four or five years uh when we're taking on the school debt,
the library, um potentially the DPW, our debt does start to creep up and so I I do want to just caution that we don't want to take on a lot of debt from um new debt because of that because we have these other projects coming down the line. So, it's not that you can't
recommend it, but I would just put that in the back of your mind that we do have other projects coming online that are outside of CPA. And when our bond rating agencies look at our debt load, they look at all taxfunded sources. So, they look at CPA, general fund, um, and even
debt exclusion like the the elementary school. Um, so just keep that in mind that that is a consideration that I would like you all to have. Do you want me to pause, Katie? about this question. >> Uh, sure. Um, you're you're not totally
finished, right? >> Do you want to ask a question now? Yeah. Go ahead. >> Before we move on from this slide, I don't get the math between two and three that we borrow an extra 600,000
for the partial town hall roof. And that really hammers our starting fund balance. Whereas up above it looks like we're only paying 62,000 in debt service. I assume for the woman
pull house. I don't get why that's such a a hit. >> Let me let me um go through those one more time. I think you're Let me just go through one more time and see if it clarifies. So if you option one is if you chose not to borrow for any of the projects and you paid you know cash 1.5
million for the memorial pool house and you paid cash for the town hall roof you would have to take out from the other projects that were approvable from those projects that were approved >> you would have to take out 1.5 um >> million essentially just to balance the
appropriations with the funds available. If you borrow 1.5 million, essentially that 1.5 million comes out. You're you're essentially not having to come up with the cash for that in the first year. >> So, >> right, >> um that means of that 1.562 in option
one, you can essentially take >> Thank you, Sean. I got it. Sorry, I was a little little slow there. I got it now. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> It just blame the just blame the drugs the Okay. Thank you, Sean. And then so this is the last slide and this is just
a you've seen version of this in the past. So the light blue background that's the estimated CPA search charge. So the funds available that are kind of reliable and predictable year after year. The dark blue at the very bottom is the current debt and you can see the
numbers in the table of uh what that is expected to be. Then in the gray is if you were to add the 1.5 million and the in that column that's what the total debt new debt would be with that project. So for War Memorial it's not
664,000 by itself. It's that's how much it adds to the current debt. Just so to make that clear. Um so that would be the new total debt going forward. And then if you were to do option three which is 2.1 million it would bring it up um a little bit higher to 748. Now in this
model, war memorial is um built in as over 15 years and town hall roof is built in as over 10 years. Um just so you know the terms those could be you know tweaked a little bit um and it would have you know an impact either way depending if we lengthened it or
shortened it. But um just so you know what terms were used as assumptions. Leah, >> um I just wanted to say that we can I can share my screen with the um workbook and we can plug the different numbers in if people wanted to see it.
>> Yeah, >> that's it. >> Any questions on before we switch over who's sharing? >> Sean, I guess Jason. >> Jason. >> Yeah, thanks. Uh Sean, how how did or
why was the war memorial at 15 years and the roof at 10? I thought the roof is a much longer would >> so so we don't necessarily have to align the term of the borrowing. Um and we don't typically align it with how long
the the building will last or how long it will last. Um, I mean the war memorial would probably actually have a longer life expectancy as a building than the roof will, right? The roof would probably be 20 to 25 years. The building will hopefully be, you know, 30
to 50 years. Um, so so mainly that was chosen based on the amount, the 1.5 million being larger a larger amount spread out over more years. >> All right. And I'm sorry, but isn't I I thought the slate roof was going to have >> Oh, yeah. You're right. Sorry. I
apologize. I got a slate roof. It could be It could be 50 to 100 years. You're right. Um but the main driver there was the the amount. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Jonas. >> Yeah. So, uh, Sean, this what we're seeing here is modeling one of the
scenarios or this is actually covering >> um it gives you kind of all three, right? So, option one would be the solid blue uh section at the bottom. That would be taking on no new debt. >> Um, >> okay.
>> Option two would be the gray. That would be if you took on just the 1.5 million. And then option three would be if you did 2.1. And so really one thing to look at is how much money do you do you then have for other projects with that debt. So for example FY28
um if you did option three you'd have you know that debt comes up to about 750,000 and we're estimating the search charge at 1.4. So you'd have the difference between those two for new projects plus whatever we bring in in state reimbursements.
>> Yeah. Just I wanted to just add that fine line that Sean just said which is he is choosing a very conservative baseline of that 1.4 growing over time. Um there it you know in my experience there
always is has been state funding and you know other sort of projects that don't go forward and then get re you know added back in. So, um there's usually more than that, but I prefer to have that conservative model, but I just want to make sure everybody is aware of that
um when thinking about this. Angus. >> Yeah. So, so just to clarify the uh estimates that Sean you're providing here don't include any state matching funds. >> Yeah. So, the the light background sort of the fund the CPA search charge estimates that it's it's solely the
amount of money that is raised locally again because that amount is very predictable. we know what it is and it's essentially through the tax taxation process. The it doesn't include state reimbursements which have really fluctuated over the years. >> Okay. And then um oh I had another
question but I forgot it so I'm going to let Jonas go and then I'll try to remember. >> Sounds good. Jonas, >> Sean, so you mentioned um debt the bond rating. Would is current current borrowing >> um could that be affected if if our bond
rating slips and our rates go? >> Would that increase or are things already in books basically fixed rates like locked in right now? So all we we only have fixed rate debt um for our current debt obligations and
it's not necessarily like a issue this year or an issue next year but we're planning out 5 to 10 years um especially because we have these building projects right and so we're looking you know we we put on the debt that we know we have we project the debt and you know of what it could be with with these projects
coming online and so yeah it's it's always going to be fixed but we um if if our total debt service that we're carrying becomes too high a percentage of our operating revenues. That can be a viewed as a negative. It doesn't mean we can't afford it and doesn't mean um you know
we can't plan for it but we want to do everything we can to avoid sort of those negative marks against us for our bond rating right now. We're a double A plus which is the the second highest level you can be. Um, we really want to be AAA, but there's a couple things outside of our control that that are kind of
preventing us from getting there, but we also don't want to go back to like a a straight double A or or something lower than double A plus. >> Angus, >> I remember it was about debt issuance. So, um, the clarifying question that I
have is, uh, I presume this is actually a pretty small amount of debt. Both of these proposals are pretty small amounts of debt relative to the overall debt burden of the town, right? >> Yeah. Individually they are. Um, you know, so the war memorial is like
estimate is about $160,000 a year. Um, the extra $600,000 is another, you know, roughly $80,000 a year. So, it's not that individually, um, it's not that individually they're a problem. it's that every year there's
different projects that come up where we might want to do a little bit here and a little bit there and they do add up over time, right? I think that's that's what I'm trying to caution here is that um to the extent we can control it, we we want to try to limit how much new debt we add given these other big projects we have
coming up. >> Thank you, Sean. This is great. Yeah. And it's helpful that we have this sort of layered approach of having the town council review and approve or reject our recommendations because of this as well as you know other reasons
but because of the debt issue. Any other questions for Sean? Thank you Sean. That was great. I I don't know if would it is it helpful at all? Do people want to see those options
up or everybody got their notes and know how they Yeah. Okay. How you feel about it? So I if um if there aren't any other questions for Sean, why don't we I would love to hear from any of you to share with with all of us
sort of how you feel about those options or if you have a a separate and distinct option that you wanted to offer the committee to consider. Um, just take a few minutes now to hear where you all thinking, leaning.
Yes, Angus, I can jump off uh or start us off. I I'm I'm always reticent about um debt um taking out debt yet that the town clearly has a huge amount of capital needs projects. So, it seems to me like we're we're pretty inevitably
going to have to um and there's a lot of worthy projects. So, I think my inclination would be to go with the middle option, which is approving the 1.5 million for war memorial debt and then trying to cut the 60,000 from other projects. Um, I think we can nibble at the edges um here and there and get
under that. Um, >> and that would still take a a fairly large chunk out of future CPA budgets, but I think it would be would be manageable. It would be clean. It would be clear. So, that's what I would advocate.
>> Thank you. I would agree with that, Angus. I think that's a good approach. Maybe the only modification I might make would be a little bit less debt for the War Memorial Pool House only in that they're
both bondworthy projects and we might free up a little capital for future CPAC. That's that's the only modification. Um, so Bob, what you'd be saying is like, let me just as an example, you're saying, you know,
uh, borrow 1.2 or something like that. >> Yeah, exactly. Somewhere in between there, >> but then we'd have to reduce, >> right? A half million for the for the, um, roof and a million for the bath house. >> Oh, okay. Okay.
Got it. All right, Tim. Uh, I would help and like to see Leah's chart because I wanted to >> Sean based his numbers off of what we decided last time and I forget what numbers have been allocated to each
projects and that would be if you don't mind. >> Thank you. Perfect. >> Yeah, we will definitely have this up for the remainder of the meeting, I guess. Um, for sure. So um it looks like you're illustrating Leah
if option two. It looks like >> that we left it when we were moving numbers so I can change anything. >> Yeah, change that back to 1.5 in the millions. That was Thank you. Um other
other um reactions, comments? Um I think Yes. Jonas. >> Yeah. you in your kind of introductory remarks, you were talking about how the the great um you saw so many pro library
pro um um uh >> war memorial >> war memorial comments >> that they rivaled the pro pickle ball comments of >> y >> however many years ago. I was not privy to that time. >> Yeah. >> And I know I was absent when we first kicked off the discussion on pickle
ball, but to see it >> being the only one of the only zeros here, um I just that doesn't seem somehow to match
>> the demand for it and the utility of it. So, um maybe it's too late to revisit that, but I wanted to be on the record again, um that that seems like, um you know, the town spent a lot of time looking at
alternatives. Stanley Stanley Field was rejected. Um and a lot of work was put into finding a a viable alternative and I think it was it was identified and to see it. Um, unless there's an idea that this is going to be revisited next, CPA,
I don't know. But it seems like it's just um it's a long time coming. So, >> thank you, Jonas. I appreciate that. Would you would you have a um recommendation if you're in favor of
that? >> Well, extreme for me to I mean, I feel like I'm an extreme polar. Obviously the others agree to zero and I'm here asking for anything. I don't know where I don't know where I would begin that number would be but um
I know that it can be partial because it's >> right >> it's no I I did ask >> it can't happen to 650. So yeah, >> I did ask that question um about partial. I think it was in the response that you know we really can't
can't phase it and if it doesn't go through certainly the town is welcome to come back to this next year, but my my sense was that that's probably unlikely that if it doesn't go through um with this
cycle, it probably wouldn't come back. So, um, your comments are appreciated. It's just to make this work, the numbers work, we'd have to reduce other projects, um, or borrow more. I mean, that's those are the two options. Um,
and it seems like the committee is less inclined to borrow more. Um, so, Ellen, we'll go to you next. >> Um, yes. First of all, um Leah, is it
possible to make this um larger? Like maybe take out the vote part for now? It's just I'm having trouble reading it. Um and yeah, my other qu my question was sort of about the pickle ball. Um what um how much money has been spent on that
already? And I guess I I've just been thinking over the past two weeks like did that does this mean it gets nowhere or hopefully the town would reapply next year? I maybe I'm asking a rhetorical question here, but um
it does seem that a lot of time and money has been spent already on the pickle ball and I was just concerned about that would we would put the kibash on the on the project all together.
Yeah, I mean we're deciding not if we were to go with the way this looks, we would be deciding as a committee not to recommend this project. That doesn't mean there aren't other avenues. Um but this was the avenue that town was, you
know, hoping for. And again, as I said, my um my understanding is that they are unlikely to come back next year. Doesn't mean, you know, they won't, but that is it's unlikely. Um, and to answer your question, Ellen, I don't know the amount
that's been spent on that um already for for um feasibility and sound and all of that. Um, I don't have that, but you're right, there has been an investment. Um, so if those of you are sort of
thinking about this and thinking about that you might lean in a different direction for pickle ball, maybe coming up with a recommendation of how to do that. Um, with the funding we have would be helpful. Um, and we could take that into
consideration. Angus. >> Yeah, I was just going to say I I I don't think this is a good year for the pickle ball proposal. I think there's too many other pressing proposals. um especially maintenance of existing facilities that need a lot of work. So I I guess one question I have for you
Katie, do you have the the way I read the response from the town is that they it's not something that they could do something with a partial funding this year, but I didn't read that as that they're not planning on coming back next year. I just read it that it wouldn't move forward right now if we don't
approve this funding. Is there is there some other you don't have any other information about that? >> Well, I did very briefly speak to Dave who said that it would be hard to Yeah, it was be hard to come back um to do it
again. He felt that if it was not voted to go forward this year, probably wouldn't go forward. But >> I guess I would just end by saying I I I would highly recommend the town come back next year. um possibly with fewer capital other capital project
recommendations because I think it's a good project. I also think that it it would benefit from more involvement from the community speaking out in favor of the pickle ball courts because I think if we had gotten an influx of comments like we got for the war memorial pool
and the Jones Library, I think we'd be we'd feel under more pressure to act than >> we we currently do. That's just the way politics works. >> Yeah. Thank you, Angus. I appreciate that, Tim.
>> Um, yeah, I I read the pickle ball zero as not or this committee not disproving the project, but rather disproving the dollars for this year because of all the other needs. >> So, I do think it's a
>> should come back next year as well. And I don't think there's any reflection if we recommend not to approve it that we do not approve of pickle ball. We do not approve of the dollars within this uh um grouping. So that would be my comment
there. >> Thank you Tim Bob. Um, is it premature to start to play with some of these numbers in the sense that if we drop the war memorial
bath house to a number and the roof to a number, presuming that we have some agreement about bonding, that given this year the way these proposals have come in, we're going to have to do some bonding, it it might help focus the mind
a little bit. Yeah. No, I appreciate that. I'd like to hear from Robin and I I do think um I I got the sense from a few people that um I just want to make sure that I'm getting the sense around the bonding
Angus and you both sort of lean towards the 1.5 borrowing option, the number two, which I'm also leaning toward, but I'd love to hear from others if that's in line with what you're thinking. Robin.
>> Yeah, I just wanted to echo pretty much what everybody was saying about pickle ball. Um I would be concerned um and I don't know if there's an opportunity given our procedural issue last time. Um whether we could get a clearer stance on
whether this project can come back. I mean, I gave it a four because I thought thought it was a great project and if it could wait another year, that would be great. Um, I don't have a particularly strong opinion around bonding. I think if the but I I would say that where I
lean is if the town feels comfortable with option three. I'm comfortable with option three if we feel strongly about getting all these projects needs met. >> Thank you, Robin Jason. Yeah, I just want to chime in Katie with my I think
option two is a good option combination of cash and bonding for the two projects and I you know I I I think once that total is column K is changed that will inform some other decision making
>> for me. >> Yeah that thank you. So so thanks Jason. I so I think we can move to what Bob's suggestion is sort of looking at um what the numbers look like. I think Leah
you just put in bond for that >> in bond for the war memorial >> war memorial. So that's that's a total of $1.5 million borrowed. Um I know Bob said he'd like a little less debt, but Bob, can we just go with this figure for
a minute and see? Um, sorry. Go go go down a little bit, Leah. Okay. >> So, does that Oh, that includes Wait, >> that includes >> the 524 of debt. >> The 524. Yes.
>> So, it would be just what would be the amount? Oh, we're 62 over. That's what um Yeah, John had said. Okay. Y Thank Angus. You had a >> No, it's okay. No. Oh, are you sure?
>> Okay. >> Yeah, I'm good. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, >> can everyone see how it changed like in the difference? >> Yes. Okay, >> I can. Um, everybody see that clearly? >> It is too bad we can't just make this
whole thing a little bit bigger. Um, >> no. And I don't know how to get rid of the top. Uh >> if you double click uh Leah on like the next to where it says draw in the
um toolbar, it might disappear. And used to do it used to do that. I don't know if it still does. >> Where it says draw >> next to it to the right of it. If you double click, not on draw, but to the right of it. Double click right there.
>> No. >> What about the carrot just above the W column? Two carrots above the W column. You go to the W column and then >> Oh, yeah. I have you guys there. Wait a minute. >> Tim, you had a
>> One more. One more up. Go. One more up. >> That No, never mind. >> Tim, go. Oh, you're Tim, you're you're muted. Tim, Tim, you're muted. Tim,
Tim, you're muted. >> Sorry. Uh, >> it was brilliant whatever you said. So, >> thank you. Should I repeat it? >> Thank you. Yes. >> Uh, I was going to say that the the reason the word bond is in there rather than a dollar amount is because no
bonding would be necessary in fiscal 27. Correct. we would have no debt payment in in FY27 because we wouldn't go out the project can't start until next fiscal year. So we wouldn't borrow the money till okay >> later in the year. So your first
principal and interest payment would be in FY28 at the earliest. >> Right. So for next year there's going to have to be some consideration of the cost of that bonding but not for this year. Okay. Got it. That's why. All right. Understand?
Okay. So, if unless there's anyone who would like to make a significant change like Robin's suggestion about borrowing the 2.1, which would then potentially give
us enough money or close to enough money for pickle ball. Um, we could talk about that or we could move to the projects. It looks like Angus, you have a >> I was I was going to suggest moving to the actual projects. I I I would prefer
us to try and cut down rather than >> increase the borrowing more. >> Yeah, just that was Robin's suggestion. If anyone wants to speak in favor of Robin's suggestion
um besides Robin, no, I'm just kidding. um you know otherwise I think we'll go we'll start at the top from the projects. Go ahead Robin. >> Yeah I just I I I feel like we have this question about pickle ball which we had
decided we weren't going to fund and then it sounded like maybe people weren't clear that that might kill pickle ball and I just want to make sure that we're clear on that before we go project by project. >> Clear on it in what? clear on it on the
sense that it it seemed like some of us thought it was it would be good for pickle ball to come back next year and what you're saying you're hearing from the town or the the understanding from the town side is that it is unlikely that it will come back that that will be the end.
>> I'm happy to ask Dave to speak to this >> so that everyone can have the answer directly. Yes, if Dave is uh I can't see him, but I'm sure he's there. And if he's able and would like to speak to the pickle ball possibilities for the
future, um maybe we could stop share so we can see each other. There he is. >> Sure. Good evening everybody. Um, in
terms of what monies have been spent, um, not a significant money, uh, amount of money has been spent on pickle ball. Uh, you may recall a few years ago, uh, I believe CPAC, uh, allocated aboutund voted to and the town council voted for
about $120,000 for pickle ball. Um, some of that money has been spent. Uh, as you know, we have uh uh relined the uh courts up at Mil River, the tennis courts. So, they uh serve both tennis and um and pickle
ball. Um and then we are engaged in a sound study at um at G Park for that site. I believe that contract is under $10,000. So, uh the bulk of the 120 um
there's probably $100,000 left. So, we really have not spent much of that. I will say it's really about the amount of staff time we've spent on this over the last three to five years pretty intensely. And I think there's there's s I I know from meeting with the pickle
ball folks there's um pretty significant um fatigue uh you know just project fatigue and I think that's one of the reasons why you didn't you you know we did not get a lot of um letters this year as Katie indicated I think a few
years ago when when this was coming before seatback I think we got over a hundred support letters but I think the pickle ball community has to some degree moved on a little bit and is, you know, playing in other communities. I honestly can't say whether we would bring this
back next year. I think there's a significant amount of staff fatigue around this project. We've we've invested a lot of staff time in in looking at sites. Um and um you know, G Park is not honestly it's it's not a
sure thing. Uh we did some outreach to the community there, but um there were some significant concerns from the community. I'll be perfectly honest. There were significant concerns from the community, even if we did the the sound study, as to whether they want pickle
ball there given the potential for noise impacts. So, I think that's the best I can do. I I can't really say for sure that staff would bring this back next year, but we fully understand the uh the budgetary um stresses that are, you
know, engaged in this conversation and and uh this year. So that's probably the best I have for this year. >> Thank you, Dave. I appreciate that. So, um why don't we um that's food for
thought as we go through. We're going to get to pickle ball again as we go down this um down the chart and we we can continue the conversation. Oh, Ellen, >> I'm I'm just curious how that works. If only approximately 20,000 has been spent
um from 120 roughly 120,000 um awarded >> it comes back in. >> Does it come back in? >> Yeah. >> And when is that decision made? Like can we c can we factor in that 100,000
possibly coming back in this year or is it sort of held indefinitely >> or a per No, it's a per I forget. I'm I don't know if somebody from town can answer that, but it's a period of time in which you then have to Sean. >> Yeah, I can speak to it. So, we're going
to send out um project update forms to all the current plan holders or current project holders. We typically do that in the spring so that we'll and ask for them back over the summer so that we'll know which projects are either done and
have money left over that can come back in before the next cycle or just so we know the status of the projects. Um you know we typically give projects about three years before we start getting concerned. Um, so for example, Dave will get about 27 project request activity
forms for the areas, you know, because he supports planning and conservation, all these different projects. Um, and him and his team will have to work with the with the applicants to provide those updates and let us know what money can come back and which projects could be closed out. So, for example, if pickle
ball if if they're done with it and nothing more is going to be done, he could release that money this summer and it could come back in for the next cycle. if if they're done >> and and that's Ellen, that's what I meant by that conservative line of how much money we were getting from the sir
charge. There's also the state match that it does fluctuate. Um but then there's that, you know, projects that don't go forward or don't spend as much as they thought they needed to and that money comes back in from time to time. >> Katie, could I just add one thing to that?
>> Yes. I think it it just to be crystal clear, the money never leaves the town account, >> right? >> So, a nonprofit, you know, any entity, whether it be the town or or a non-town entity, uh does not it's it's a
reimburseable program, right? >> My my staff is working with every applicant for the last teen years. We are working with every applicant be it a town entity, a town department or a
nonprofit or or anyone else uh to move those projects along. So part of those updates will come through the town, even if it's non-town money. How is the uh the church in North Ammerst doing with their structural uh project up there uh
uh off of Pine Street, etc., etc. So, >> right, it's part of >> No, thank you for that. When I say come back in, I it's really it gives a different perspective. Um >> it's that project update. Where are they in that? Yeah. >> In that process. Thanks. >> Yeah. We just don't have that in our
cash because it's been allocated and then sometimes it comes it is reallocated back to us if it's not completed. I really appreciate that note, Dave, because I don't think it's clear to everyone. It wasn't clear to me when I first started that this is a
reimbursement project. you know it's reimburseable projects so that is really helpful. Um, okay. So, I think we'll move to um back to sharing, Leah, so we could
see our see our spreadsheet, our trusty spreadsheet. Um, and we'll start with the war memorial tablets. Um, I don't think we have Oh, Tim,
>> sorry. Just so I understand as we're going through, we have to now reduce projects by 60 something thousand if we don't want to bond anything other
than the memorial bath house. That's correct. >> Yes. Or if we Yeah. If we don't want we could reduce by more if we want to not allocate some money and save it for the next year. >> So as we go through talking about each of this project uh we have to come up
basically with 60,000 of cuts. >> Yeah. 6280. So yeah 63,000 I would say. >> That's what I just wanted to be clear. Thank you. >> At a minimum, right? And um what we're doing now is going through each project and seeing if we have
a majority agreement on the amount that's in there. Um and and doing what Tim suggested, which is making some reductions where we can um and then we can go back and vote on
each project. Jonas. >> Yeah. I don't want to sherk our duties here and look for a shortcut, but um would would it make sense to just take that 1.5 and make it be 1.562? Um,
like SH I mean Sean came up it seems like a 1.5 seems like a cleaner number than 1.562 but like I'm just wondering >> well we don't want to borrow more for a project and we don't want to borrow 62,000 for some other project.
>> No why if we've arrived at 1.5 million I just don't understand why that can't be just 1.562 million >> if the 1.5 this exercise. Yeah, those numbers are sim are similar in amounts, Jonas, but they're not related. The 1.5
was the request for the war memorial. >> Okay. >> The 1.562 was how much um you guys would have to remove from projects if we didn't borrow for anything. Um that was just the delta between if you did non-debt allocations
for all these projects and the amount of money we have available. So when you borrow 1.5, it reduces that 1.562 down to 62,000, >> right? >> I think as well you're borrowing for a particular project,
>> right? We can't just now just call war memorial 1.52 and be done and somehow put >> that'd be not I like I like your thinking of >> any shortcuts are welcome here. Okay. Wait, did Robin have
somebody had a hand up, but no longer. Okay. All right. Well, I think we're in agreement with the amount on the Civil War memorial tablets. Unless I hear anyone speak to that, I
will move on to Amity Street. Okay. So, um it looked like it felt like we were the majority was in um in favor of the 450 last time we we spoke. Um
I think there are other places where we could reduce the 62,000 than here, but I would welcome other suggestions if there was somebody who wanted to reduce this. but felt like we were all okay. I'm not
seeing any hands up. So, we'll keep keep going. Simeon Strong, we had a great conversation about this and why why different committee members some
questions and why some folks thought this was um critical to fund fully. Are we all still on that page for that full amount? Robin. >> Yeah, I'm still on the same page. Um I
did speak to Gigi Barnhill and she is going to reach out. Um uh they're going to they're going to seek additional funding which might eventually reduce the amount of CPA funds, but for the purposes of right now since they have nothing in hand, um yeah, I that was
that amount would stand >> and thanks for that reminder. So, that's another Ellen, that's another good example of how sometimes this is approved or recommended and the town council might approve it, but it turns out that they might get a $50,000 grant,
so they would they would need less money and some of that could be reallocated back. Thank you, Robin. Okay, so on to the part-time planning and housing coordinator at 90,000.
This is a three-year temporary position. We can't fund regular ongoing operations. This is a temporary um planning position that really helps with
affordable housing. Um, any thoughts on any reactions to this amount? All right, let's move down to open space improvements. There's a lot of some even wanted to
increase the amount to the of this. Um, so there was a lot of folks in favor of the full amount. Um I do think you know with this and this could be shaved slightly even though we are all in you know fully
affirming that this is an important part of our community. Um but if we need to shave this could be a place where we could take 10,000 or 20,000 out. No one is in favor of that at the
moment, so we'll keep going. Okay, Robin. Um, I'm not not in favor of taking a 10% or 20% there if there's
if there's other interests just so >> Thank you, Ellen. >> Um, yes, I agree, but I need to cycle through the full list before >> Okay. making a decision on that. >> Sure. >> Tim,
>> um I jumped the gun. I thought you were moving on to the municipal housing trust. I had a comment about that one. >> I think I think that's fine. Keep going. Let's do it. >> I would take the money out of there. I would take 62,000 out of the 325. We've
given this group uh large amounts every single year. They have a decent balance and we are agreed to some immediate housing with the Amity Street proposal. So I think we could uh cut the 325 down
by 625 is my opinion. >> Thank you. So reactions to that idea, Angus? >> Yeah, I I' I think that cutting it down um could make sense. I' I'd prefer to see a few other reductions in other
places potentially. >> Um the All Wheels skatepark has given us two different options for moving forward with their project. So I think that could be potentially reduced. And then >> I'm also I expressed reservations about the Goodwin Church restoration given our
uh what I feel is is not due diligence on the project and getting a a clear uh proposal on it. Um, I know Robin has has proposed an alternative, but I'm not comfortable with voting on that um without more information. And so I think
there's ways to cobble together 20,000 here, 20,000 there. That's what I would say. >> Jason, >> thanks. I would prefer to not >> take any money out of the housing trust
and rather look at the library project for cuts. Um there's a funding already or you know there's money, it's a large project, there's a lot of money. There's a lot of I think still questions about
maybe the appropriateness of CPA money being used for that project. Um, so I would I would you know and and the the municipal housing trust the money that they get they do have a
good balance but it's my understanding that the money that they get and the money that they have generally goes out and is used um on something of an emergency basis as well as I'll say future planning projects for housing which we just
desperately need in this own. Um, and it really helps people out that may not have any other place to turn to for help. And so, while I agree with the number that we have here, 325, I would not like to see that number reduced
anymore. And I would prefer I would prefer the whole 60,000 come out of the library project. I would prefer, frankly, I would prefer not to fund the library project at all. But if we're gonna fund it, I would like to see if we're looking for 60 some thousand to cut, I would like to cut it all from the
library project. >> Thank you, Jason. Ellen, >> yeah. Um, I'm also not feeling that I want to cut more because we've already cut it by 200,000 the requests. So, um, I would not like to take the 62 out of
that. Um, I am on board with Angus about the 48,000 for the church, even though that is painful. I have some thoughts on that when we get to it. And then maybe take 20 out of the open space improvements or something and then we've
reached our goal, but again, more to discuss. No, that's it is really helpful to get ideas like that out on the table. So, I welcome that and um encourage folks to do because we may hit on something that a lot of us agree on. Um Robin, go
ahead, >> Robin. There you are. >> Uh yeah, not in favor of reducing this one. Thank you. Very succinct. Thank you, Tim. >> You've convinced me. I I would agree
that's not the place now to take the 62. Let's talk about the other ones and see if we can shave it from there. So, I'll change my original proposal. >> Okay. You're a convincing lot. That's good. Okay. So, we'll keep moving down to the
restoration of the town hall slate roof at a million. Jonas. >> Well, I would say if we don't um shave from their Jones or that would be a place I mean 1 million um
nice round number. I know obviously the war memorial was coming in at 1.5 million but um is it truly a million? I don't know. It could be 912, could be 930. Um maybe maybe that um making it 9:30
um forces some like fiscal restraint or um uh I I'll say again I feel like um it's um a a project that maybe has mothalled and
has been undermanaged and now it's um this big expense be and that because it wasn't manage. Now it's all hitting at once and it's a big number and so um I'm not obviously I'm in the minority about the
the the overall rating of it. But um uh yeah, I would say that um money may come from there. Um but I would also agree um with the Goodwin Goodwin Church I I would want to have more information as well um looking down the list. So,
>> thank you, Jonas Robin. >> Um, I think I'd be comfortable with the $50,000 reduction here. I don't think that it would impede the town's ability to go forward with the project. Um,
that would be my my main concern. And it is it's a large amount and it is a round number and um I think moving it down 50 would I think it would do little little harm.
Thank you. So, a reduction of the slate roof from a million to 950 is your possible suggestion. Okay. Excuse me. Um Jason, >> I would support that reduction.
>> Anyone else? Excuse me. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Well, that is a possibility. It sounds like we've got a couple of folks. I'd be in favor of that. Um Jonas, >> I'm just wondering like it would is it seems like we're vacasillating between a
couple of options like maybe take a little bit hair there. Um and obviously the town council can take this with as much weight as they want. Um, but would we consider just recommending, you know, one of these two places we want you to take 62 out of if we don't come to an
agreement tonight or do we want to >> No, we've got to come up with a recommendation specifically. Yeah. Yeah. >> I'm still looking for short. >> I know. I love I appreciate you. That's great. That's awesome. Yeah, >> Angus. >> Yeah. I think my my only concern I I'd
be fine with reducing this. I did not rate this the town hall sleep roof as a high priority. It seems to me like the town should be coming up with more funds for that, but I know that they have they do have a a grant of some kind. And so I guess I I would want confirmation. I
don't want I don't want us reducing it by 50,000 to sync the project. I I can't imagine that it would, but I guess I'd like a sense that the town could could if they wanted to appropriate that additional $50,000. Um cuz I would hate for us to be $50,000
short and that would stop the entire project, which I don't think is our intention, but I'd love to reduce it by 50,000 if the project could continue. >> Sorry. Um daughter decided to get crushed ice right at the right time. Um no, I mean we until we get bids, we
won't know the exact cost. So I think um to other other points made it could bids could come in lower. So, I think we can manage um a $50,000 reduction in that line. >> Thank you, Sean. >> Okay. Well, do we want to It sounds to
me I I I heard three or four people that seemed we didn't want to reduce the housing trust. We But can we look at what 950 looks like? We know it's going to mean
12,000 $13,000 somewhere else. Ellen, >> yeah, I'd like to um suggest uh that we discuss all of the projects before doing that. >> That's fine. >> I can see I I can see where I would take
the 62 out without that, but I just I just feel we need to talk about it. So, you'd prefer to go through each one and not do any and then have a discussion. >> Correct. >> Okay, that fine by me.
Uh, all-wheel skate park. Angus. >> Yeah, as I as I noted earlier, I'll just quickly reiterate. I think this is a place that we could shave $20,000 off especially um because it's potentially leading to the creation of new recreation space and we're already
having trouble funding other attempts to create new recreation space. So I think that would allow them to move forward with their project but not all the way and they could come back another year when there's fewer asks. >> Thank you Angus.
Anyone in agreement with that? Um >> yeah I I agree with I was in um uh they presented to the rec department the first um in a in a meeting and I think he they were very they were open to the 20 or the 40. The 20 is the full is that
the option A was a full 20. Is that the actual number? >> Yeah, 20 or 40. >> Perfect. So I and I do think they um yeah that they are going to be doing assessment anyway. that 20,000 will give them their assessment and that they will
I'm sure come back to us next year. So, I think that's a good idea, >> Ellen. I agree. >> Okay, great. Thanks, Robin. >> The same. >> Yeah, I'm also in agreement with that.
Um, anyone Oh, Robin, you still have your hand up, do you? Okay, got it. Um, anyone? Okay, let's keep moving on then. Um, the conservation area recreation signs,
we made the recommendation last time at 50. Are people feeling like that's the amount they'd like to land on there? Well, does it the question of if we
>> I mean this still back in the napkin because to Ellen's point, which we like to go with on the whole list, but like let's say in the back of our mind we could take 20 off all skate with a skate park and maybe not off the roof, but then then we're looking at the Goodwin.
Does that then are we then thinking of >> putting money >> putting money back in something like this? Are we going the opposite direction at all? >> Yes, of course. >> We absolutely we absolutely could make that, you know, a consideration um for
sure. Um because it it wasn't binding. So if people felt strongly the other way, we just would have to shave 113,000 off, you know. So if we added I'm I mean I feel comfortable with this
amount, Bob. I I really want to see it fully funded at 100 and would shave other places. So, let me just go on the record for that. >> Yes. Great. Thank you, Ellen.
>> Yeah, we've already cut it by 50% so I would not want to cut it any further. But are you comfortable with that amount or would you want to increase it as Bob suggested >> if we cut other things? Yes. Then I would up it back higher.
>> Yeah. Uh Tim >> Oh, Tim, you're muted again. >> Sorry. I think in the minutes I was dubbed the sign guy, so I'll take advantage of that, right? Or somewhere I read that. Anyway, uh I would agree with
what Ellen just said. I think we can cut other places and I'd like to fully fund it. So when we get to that point, that's my opinion. >> Okay. Um, and Ellen, I would just say that um, sometimes putting numbers in helps us
figure out along the way where we want to, you know, it sort of like keeps modeling you. We just keep do that's in my experience in the past, we just sort of keep putting numbers in and then saying, "Wait a minute, you know, that's too much." But >> that that's fine.
>> You just made me nervous. >> Yeah. No, there's no nothing to be nervous about until we vote and then it's a that's then it's a final recommendation. >> I understand that's whatever's the best method I defer to you. >> It's Listen,
this is very tough to do. Um but what I'm hearing is some real clarity around um you know sort of this top half folks feeling pretty strongly about the funding numbers. Um and not surprisingly
as we get into you know into the middle and and bottom it's a little more complicated. So it did seem like there was uh a sense around the 40 thou going to 20 was we we're sort of sounding like we're in agreement around that. I'm not moving to Leah. Don't change anything
yet. Um the slate roof is another place where we might possibly if we need to take from. Um the town sign sounds like folks are interested in giving more there. So we'd have to reduce um elsewhere. Um so let's keep that. That's just my
very quick summary. Um let's go down to the um completion of the industrial history mill river. That was $125,000 ask. We had a lengthy conversation about that and came down at $75,000
as a recommendation. Does anyone have Looks like Robin's got a comment on that. Um, so go for it, Robin. >> Okay. Um, I'm not quite sure how I didn't quite
make this point before, so I apologize for having to deliberate a little bit more heavily on this project. And I'm going to try to be as brief as I can, but um, I just want to start off by saying that, um, there's history and there's historic
preservation. And in order to meet the preservation aspect of a CPA grant, it's my feeling uh in my read of the law and looking at this project that what should come out
of it are documents that go into the macro system that can be used for the town in its preservation planning purposes. the the project had a number of different
line items and um my $75,000 was based on uh I I don't think I said this at the time. It seemed like we were moving very quickly, but it was based on um my proposal would be $40,000 for
historic research. Um they have a line item of they call it exhibits but it seems to be a digit dig digitization of historic resources for $25,000 that would be considered preservation of you know historic photographs and
articles and that sort of thing. And then there was another $10,000 um for archaeological and physical data because we have some ruins in that area. Um, so my only point here and and Brian Harvey
and I had a couple of emails back and forth. We weren't able to connect by phone. Uh, I don't know if everybody remembers the Verizon outage that happened, but that was my scheduled phone call with him. But, um, he did send me a list. I mean when I know that when we talked about this um when they
were presenting about uh the properties that would fall under the creation of these macros forms he did send me a list. I looked at it. I identified 36 properties. I felt very comfortable with that. But his last email that we got in
our um in our material said um his last statement was while our funding will not pay for any actual filings with the state. And my concern is that funding this at $75,000 without those macros
forms for that or 40,000 portion that I'm looking at um makes it a history project and not a preservation project. And I feel pretty strongly about avoiding CPA going for history education. This is a fantastic project.
I mean, I can only say that a hundred times over to stress how in support I am of the project as a whole, but from a CPA perspective, I want people to know, and I'm I think I'm making a proposal here that we make that 75,000 contingent
on those numbers. And I realize it's kind of late in the game to do that. And if people don't want to do that and are fine with awarding it as is, that's fine. But I just wanted to make that clear that that that was my um my understanding. It was part of the reason
why the historical commission didn't make a recommendation at the time of their meeting because it wasn't clear what the deliverables would be and how they would relate to preservation. And so these documents that go into macrosert, they're considered part of preservation planning. Macros forms can
be used for um the establishment of historic districts and they're also really essential in terms of the demolition delay process. Um and these uh all the all these 36 um buildings have outdated forms that the state
considers out of date and need to be updated. So that's my pitch. So Robin, just to be clear, you're you enumerated the 40 for the historic research, 25 for digitization, and
10,000 for this sort of ar I'm doing shorthand archaeologicals for 75. and that you're recommending if we were to make this grant as a committee, you would want that 75,000 with a
contingency that the macros forms was a deliverable of the project. Is that what you're I just want to make sure I'm clear on what your proposal is. >> Yes. Yeah. >> And that's becau because that would be
the m just to be clear. I just want to get that in my head about the macros forms, you know, being in the system is what is historic preservation. >> It's considered part of preservation planning. So if a if a building comes up for demolition and we have a macros form
that h the old forms have like four lines of information on them um and that doesn't give us enough historic information to go on in terms of our demolition review, an updated form. um makes the case much better for the
historic significance of the building. >> Okay, >> that's Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Yeah. And then they're also used if you're I mean we're in the process of looking at uh a creating another local historic district. They're used for that
in any uh any district that um you know down the line that the town might want to consider. Um those forms are the basis of the historic information. So all this research is being done. I've prepared um forbes myself um from start
to finish if you're working really fast. You can do it in about five to six hours of form. So, it's not um it's not a huge amount. It's not a huge time investment. It doesn't have to be incredibly detailed um narratives, but um yeah,
I I don't I don't feel like funding research alone is sufficient to meet the >> preservation >> the preservation aspect. I see. Okay, Bob. >> Well, that that's incredibly interesting
and um useful information. I if we translate that into what your recommendation would be, it would be to fund the whole thing. >> No, it would be funding. I mean, my $75,000 is based on $40,000
contingent on those macros forms. And then there's another $25,000 that they outlined for digitization of resources and then another $10,000 related to archaeology. So, uh, yeah,
but it's up to the it's up to this committee to see if they want to make that a contingency because that's not how it was presented. That was my suggestion and my cons. It's still my concern. The town has put it before us um presuming that it's that it meets eligibility
uh without the requirement because they pass they they don't pass things on to us that they don't feel meet that requirement. But that's my sense. And the other thing I wanted I'm sorry. The other thing that I wanted to address was that in Brian's email, he also requested um 20,000 I think he said moving 20,000
from I won't complicate things. $20,000 for a website. I will say firmly that website development again, fabulous project, amazing it is not a it's not preservation. It's not related to historic preservation. And so I would
not um would not add that additional 20,000 that he requested in his email if people if people got a chance to look at that. >> Thank you. Any other questions for Robin or how are folks feeling about that
proposal? Any reactions to that? Jonas? >> Yes. Just to recap, Robin, I believe in the in the session where we kind of delved into this, you you just thought there were some it could be leaner. There were some like the website and just you thought
that it had good merit, but that like let's shrink it a little bit. And it's and I agree with it. I think I I defer to you and I and then I think as for um stipulating I'm that sounds like a seems like it's the right thing to do is to ask for those stipulations in earmarks
and then um it seems like I would think they'd be amendable to them if it meant either getting the 75,000 or not getting the 75,000. So it seems like the right thing from what you >> just to be clear um of that 75,000
40,000 would be uh 40,000 >> contingency >> would be would be the contingent like I'm not as concerned about the digitization or the archaeological um areas. Thank you Angus.
>> Sounds good to me. Ellen, >> I agree and defer to Robin's expertise. I'm just wondering could could the uh group come back in a future year under recreation to do a website or is a
website just completely out of um CPA purview? Do you know? >> That is a good question. I I don't know the answer of if a website could go under recreation. I I don't know. because that seemed like a high priority
to Brian in his email, but um Right. >> I just can't think of where it would fall under of our funding categories. >> Yeah, maybe something like Mass Humanities or another funding source. I don't know.
I I I appreciate Robin's thoughtfulness in this and I um I really like this project and so I' I'd love to be able to provide some funding and I think the contingency on the $40,000 historic
research piece um makes sense, you know. >> Great. >> Any other reactions? Okay. So, we are moving on to cemeteries where we had reduced the request from 100 to a $50,000
funding. Are folks still good with that? Want to make any changes there? Okay. Hearing none. I think we'll stick with that since we have produced it already. Robin, >> sorry, I'm jumping the gun.
>> Oh, Goodwin Church. I think that's >> um >> um I just want to make um another plea for this project. Um I I can inform you that um two members of the historical
commission u met with representatives of the church and did a site visit. um I haven't had a chance to um delve too deeply into uh having that conversation with them, but um I wanted to just make
a couple of reminders. Um again, my proposal to put this money in reserve, which is different than awarding it to the the project applicant. It's to hold it. Um there is precedent for that both with
the North Church and I believe we also had a just just to just to address the fact that we do do things off cycle. I believe that we had um um Dave can speak to this but I believe that we had a an offcycle award that was related to a
park grant. Um but um my historical memory may not be correct on that. Um >> well we did vote also on the track off cycle. >> Okay. Right. So just just to give since a lot of people are new here to give them a sense that going off cycle isn't isn't extremely unusual.
>> Um and then the next thing I would say I would just talk about this church in relationship to I know that we have some issues with um with the challenge of their proposal. Um, I did let everyone know that they lost their pastor who had been the point person, which is probably
the reason for a lot of uh the lack of response that we weren't getting in this particular cycle. And that when we look at these resources from a perspective of equity, um, marginalized communities just have a much harder time coming up with the
resources. And this building is on the National Register and it's currently uh leaking water at the chimney and there's water damage inside. It's not something if it waits another year uh for a better proposal. It's a small
amount of money. Um I think that um it will be deletterious to the resource itself which is part of Ammerst history which isn't the main narrative of Ammeris history and so I feel part a little emotional tonight particularly
strongly about trying to keep that perspective on this project and the historical commission is really making an effort to connect with and move it forward so that we can get an appropriate proposal um in front in the committee in front of the town and also
just like I've been um um asking and suggesting of other projects to see if there's additional funding outside of CPA um for this. So that's I would really um I would not like to see that $62,000 come from this particular small
amount and I do want to hold it in reserve and hope that we can give the proposal a chance to grow to something that um that works for everybody. Thank you, Robin. Thank you very much, Ellen.
>> I desperately want to fund this project, too, for all the reasons that Robin just outlined. Um, but I am worried about um doing something um putting aside money when there's so
much requests for money. Um, and I don't know what the um, rules or ethics are, but I mean, is there a way, and it sounds like the historical commission is trying to work with them for some type of emergency funding, and I mean, I'd be
willing to help in that. you know, grant writing is something I do and I just I don't know if that's something I can offer, but I I just am having I'm struggling because their application was not complete and people spent a lot of
time and money completing their applications and I know they've they've come across um some really difficult times, but I I again am just having trouble when we need to cut money um with a with a proposal that's not
complete. >> And Ellen, thank you very much. And you can offer your volunteer services and I appreciate that very much. Um, >> good. Thank you. >> Yes, of course. Um, and you know, thank you for your comments, Jason.
>> I'm going to echo what uh was previously said. I think that this this project is a worthy project and um likely that the the alternative funding sources for for the Goodwin Church
project or for the the applicants, they probably have far less alternatives to try to find funding sources than some other projects, especially the library project. Um I'll say it again, I don't think we should fund the library project at all. that would free up a large amount of money allowing us to fund most
other most of the other projects. Um, and I would I would hate to even just set I would like to set the money aside, you know, I would like to try to work with them because it's it is a worthy project. It's preservation.
It's a it's a it's a community, you know, it's a community asset that I think while the library will also be a community asset, there's far more funding there. It's far more um they have a far greater ability to find additional funding sources than I
believe the church would. And um it's not it's not really a large amount of money either in the grand scheme of the total, especially when you look at some of these larger projects just in this year alone. So, for for all the reasons stated previously and for the ones that I just
said, I really would like to not I would like to try to dissuade everybody from from not funding this project if if you are thinking of it or at least setting aside the money to potent, you know, >> thank you. >> You're in favor? Yeah. In favor of that.
Okay. Thank you, Jason Jonas. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean I I don't want to penalize the applicants for um you know, for the reasons stated and um it's good to have that background. Robin, um I guess one concern would be um kind of
how would the if we if the money went through, how what's the oversight on that? I think that's one of the biggest questions we had without without a good um presentation was wondering, you know, what's what's the plan for the 48,000? What's kind of who do you think is going
to be um um how how will that money be used? Are there mechanisms that you're confident with Robin? As much as you can assess um their mechanism in place that that money is going to go where it needs to go and >> um
not it would be misappropriated but like just having you know that plan helps you just feel confident that >> there's a plan for the money >> um once we disperse it. So, um, and but I also would say Jones Library, I'm I'm with you, uh,
Jason. Um, I don't know about going to zero, but definitely um I think uh it could go to the Goodwin Church. So, thanks. So, so Jonas, um, just to be
clear, the Yeah. $40,000 would be in reserve until an appropriate plan could be developed. >> Oh, okay. >> And that would then come back to us. >> Yeah. That's >> for review and approval. And the town
would be involved. And again, just another reminder of this is a reimbursement. You know, it's >> right. >> It's Oh, I see. >> There's a lot of checks and balances on that. So >> that is right. >> But that's that would be the >> David mentioned earlier. Yeah.
>> Yeah. We wouldn't be approving the project tonight based on Robin's um recommendation. We could some folks might want it to go to zero, which I totally understand because there's so much need. on the other hand,
it is urgent and that would be one of the reasons why I would want to hold the money aside because it's not something like, oh, this can wait till, you know, July of uh 27. Um, and so being able to work with
them to get a plan that was we would that we would all review and be in agreement with, I I'd be in favor of that. Um, does that make sense, Jonas? Yeah, thanks. >> Okay. I just want to make sure about
that that we wouldn't be approving something tonight or just letting you know Robin decide to go with something we would be seeing then. Okay, Robin, you're you're up. >> Yeah, and it looks like Dave is going to maybe speak to that. I I was just going to add one more thing. I think maybe I've changed some hearts and minds, but
um the other uh I was reminded that the other issue with active churches is that they are excluded from a lot of historic preservation funding. Um, so it it it that's yet another reason why it's challenging for them to CPA is one of
the few places that they can come. So I just wanted to add that. >> Thank you. I didn't know that, Dave. >> Yes. A couple of things. One, I I I agree with a lot of the sentiment that's being shared here. I think staff, my
staff is is very supportive of of trying to work with with uh this project and the applicants here to try to make something happen. I was curious if Sean might be able to speak to this idea of reserve. I'm not sure I know exactly
what that means and coming back means going back through the council. It's just a little more complicated. So, I'm curious if Sean might speak to that. And I did just want to clarify one thing I said earlier in the meeting. There are two ways and and Leah can um correct me
if I'm wrong on this. So, um money doesn't go out to the applicants. It's either a reimbursement or we are paying invoices once the the work has been done. So, I just wanted to clarify that's a I can be a little bit of a
subtle uh u thing. So, I just wanted to be crystal clear on that because I I didn't include that in my my statements if you >> Thank you. I I so appreciate that because it's not as if the Goodwin Church would have to be out the 48,000 themselves and get
>> and lots of applicants lots of applicants >> invoices. Yeah. But staff work with every applicant, whether it's a town project or another a community project. We work with all of them and we verify the work has been done and an invoice
should be paid. Thanks. >> Thank you. I appreciate that, Sean. >> Yeah. Quickly on the budget reserve. So, if you do go that route, um it's different than just not appropriating the funds, which would fall back to the CPA kind of carrying account. um you
would recommend the 48,000 go to a budgeted reserve and then you'd essentially have a mini CPA process at some point during the year when that project was ready. They would come present to CPA. Um you would hold the hearing, you'd go through the whole process again um and make that recommendation to council who would
would go through their process again. Um and as Robin mentioned, we've done it before. Um and I believe Rob or Dave can correct me if I'm wrong, but um we've awarded CPA funds to Goodwin in the past. We've worked with them in the past. Um, you know, so we've invested money in that building and, you know, I
think we all would like to make sure the building stays in good shape. >> Thank you, Sean. Appreciate that. Angus, >> just two clarifying questions. So, would we be voting tonight on holding something in reserve? Is that something that we'd have to vote on? >> Yes.
>> Okay. And then, uh, and this would have to happen before the end of June, correct? >> That's right. I mean, the proposal would have to come in, we would have to meet, we'd have to vote. And then the town council, would they also have to vote before the end of June?
>> That's my understanding. Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. Katie, I'll Katie, I'll clarify. Go ahead. >> Yeah. Sorry. Um, I'll clarify the end of June. I don't know necessarily that has to happen before the end of June if you have it as a budgeted reserve. Um,
>> okay. for most for most things that's that's the trigger and I'll have to double check that. It may be until sort of the next CPA cycle um starts, but let me double check that and I can send that back to the committee. Hopefully that won't, you know, change the way to vote on this now, but I can get clarification
on that. >> Okay. Thank you. I I was going to just say um I see Ellen's got her hand up. It just it's time check. We're almost to the end of the list and then
it does take time to vote on each of these. So, we want and we're not totally in agreement. I think we have a couple of proposals out there of how we might reduce. We're getting very close. Um, so people, you know, we're going to stick with this, right, till we get it done.
Okay, Ellen. >> Yeah, I know. Um there was um we encountered difficulty like two months of trying to get in touch with members of the church um to answer our questions and which we never um received. So, if
we hold the money in reserve, um, which it sounds like we're leaning toward, do we have any, um, has anyone been in touch with the church? Like, are do we know if there's even anyone willing to redo the application and answer the
questions and, you know, do go through process? >> Yeah, Robin did say that the historic commission has met with them and done a site visit. think that I think that was indicating Robin correct me that there was in there's need and it's an urgent
need and they're interested. >> Yeah. No, HDI uh HDI startup and and Joel K uh um met with them on Tuesday. I wasn't able to be there because I was out of town. So, I'm going to have a I tried to have a conversation with Hedi
before uh we met today, but I wasn't able to reach her. So, um but we were they've made contact. They've done a site visit. Um we've talked about it at the historical commission. We're really committed on trying to help the um the proposer
um move forward and um get something uh that's that's um a good proposal in in due time. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Oh, and yes, >> I'll email you, Ellen, >> regarding your offer. Yep.
>> Yes. Um, okay. So, it sounds like there may be folks who would vote against this, but there's seems like there's some movement towards a reserve um, you know, pending a new proposal and
approval. Okay. So, we are going to move on to pickle ball. And I know we've had some conversation already tonight about this. We had Dave speak to this. Um, any more comments? I know we know Jonas's
um stance on wanting to bring this back into the fold. Um, is anyone uh in agreement with that or fine? Are folks fine with how we're Whoops. how we're landing?
Oh, thanks, Leah. Um, Robin. >> Yeah. Um, after Dave spoke, um, I felt like perhaps, um, I don't know, the air had come out of the balloon on this
project and maybe we the the lack of a sign significant amount of public comment indicated, um, not as much interest in moving forward, which wasn't necessarily the sense that I I mean, I came into this these meetings, you know, remembering the
enthusiasm from past years and um, so I'm feeling just more inclined to uh keep it as you've ranked it >> as is. Okay. >> I think I'm leaning in that direction, Jonas.
>> Yeah. And I'm not trying to >> we here at all. Um I will just say maybe it's like a recommendation for future process. >> Um I'm just wondering why people members of the pickleball community didn't make this presentation. Maybe it's because by
then it was in the town's hands, but I think that can maybe have a little bit of an influence. Just like in one way, we wanted the Goodwin Church people to come talk about their enthusiasm, why this should happen. Um like for instance the um off the list of one of the top
the $450,000 for the AMD AMD that to me was very convincing because the people directly involved uh spoke to it. So, I'm wondering if that maybe um you know that that that's a subtle
I think maybe you know the fact that pickle ball didn't didn't present um personally maybe it would have moved the needle a little bit if they had and that might have just been a quirk of the fact that they've done it so many times in the past now it's in the town's hands because the town has done the studies
and um so that's just uh just a comment for the future. Sure. >> Yeah. Thank you. Appreciate that, Angus. >> Yeah, just a quick comment in response. I I think the town did a fine job presenting. I think my issue is the lack
of public comment. Um, and I don't know if that's mobilization or awareness, but the um I feel like we got um I don't know. I feel like we got one or two comments about the skate park and I don't recall really any comments about
pickle ball. Um, so I to me that's a I used to teach AP government and that's a problem of political mobilization and there's a lot of reasons why that happens, things fade. Um, people have a couple of courts that work right now and so there's maybe not as much of an >> the sorry the the rec the wreck
department meetings there was there was a lot of um representation by the pickle ball community and they were on they've been coming to all of our recck department meetings. Obviously, you were not in on that, so I'm not gonna expect you to have channeled that, but um just for the record.
>> No, >> yeah, I appreciate you sharing that, Jonas. I wish we' known that earlier. >> It's not in our records or our minutes, so it's not >> and I wish they'd come to these meetings as well. >> Yep. >> Thank you, Robin.
>> Yeah, Jonas. So, is it your your feeling that there is still a strong >> Well, I'm not I think there is, but I'm not gonna >> not gonna wait. Okay. All right. >> I'm um I'm not going to be a proxy for them. And and uh um to Angus's point,
they didn't they haven't come out and represent here. Um I I don't know that we've seen them in the in the attendees. I don't know if I would recognize names of folks, but um um I
would say that um it's primacia at this point. It we've we've seen other other causes get more traction in the comments and the in the email. So, um >> well, we did have public comment at each meeting available to the right um public
and um also our public hearing. So there's there was um whether or not they were in attendance, but they they there was there was an opportunity for the public to speak. Leah, have we lost our um
>> No, I can get it back. Um I just want to let you know I did send out there was only one comment, written comment that I received on pickle ball that was sent to everybody, but that was the only one that I had received by email. >> Thank you.
That's a good reminder. Okay. So, um, should Okay. Oh, Jason, you have a comment. >> All right. Leah, do you know how many comments you received for the skate park >> off the top of your head there? Or could you just out of curiosity?
>> Um, let me see if I can go back to it. >> Thanks. >> Oh, we don't need to. >> Yeah, it's because I'm sharing the screen. Um, >> we can, um,
>> I don't think I remember receiving any for the skate park though. >> Yeah, >> there's pickle ball, war memorial in the library mainly. >> Yeah, for and against the library. And um,
I don't think we should take time to do that. Sorry, Jason. Just um, I want to keep us moving here. I don't think we had an allout. We certainly didn't have multiple, you know, for the skate park. Um,
we're going to the Jones Library next and then the last one is the industrial history of the Mil River passive recreation piece. Um, Sean has his hand up. So, Sean, >> yeah, Katie, I I phoned a friend Sonia
who did CPA for >> Yes. 30 years uh to get the answer to that reserve that reserve question. So um >> so there's different types of reserves. So if you do if you did it as a general reserve, >> you would have it available through June
30 of next year. So of FY because this is for FY20. So So you would have it through June 30 of FY27. So you you'd have time. Um, if you do it as a historic preservation reserve, it'll stay there forever until
you appropriate it. So, you have two options. You could do it as a general reserve where it has to be used sometime next year or as a historic preservation reserve where it would last forever until it's appropriated. >> Wow, Sean, impressive. Thanks.
>> Yeah, I will. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. I have one other question about process. >> Yes, Angus, go. So, would the new CPA be hearing that discussion if it happened in 2027?
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> I think the goal is to move this as quickly as possible because of the destruction, you know, this damage. So, >> for sure, for sure. >> Hope, but yes, if it went past June, >> it would be a new It's a new fiscal year, new committee.
Yeah. Okay. So, we're back to the Jones Library. Um, what I've heard tonight from Jason is the desire to zero that out or reduce it. Some folks have talked about
reducing this um as a way to get to the goal of reaching the other factors. Um, we've reduc we've had a general sense of reducing by 20,000 the
skate park and an increase of to the signs. Um, so what are folks thinking about? We've heard Jason. Um,
I'm not sure if we've heard anyone else, so why don't we go Angus? >> Sure. I'll keep it brief. I I uh this is the only project that is actually already funded. Um I mean when I asked about whether this work would happen, whether we approve it or not, it will happen. It's required to happen. So I
think it makes sense to reduce this number. Um I think one option we could consider um right now this 577 number is a combination of two things in their proposal. 477 for wood carpentry repair and restoration and 100,000 for wood
floor repairs. So, I think we could potentially just reduce cut out the wood floor repairs, cut a h 100,000 from this, which would get us under the $60,000, fully fund everything else, and we could even add 20, 30,000 to the conservation
area signs, which a lot of people expressed an interest in. >> So, that's kind of the thing that I would recommend. >> Great suggestion. Thank you. I appreciate that. Um I just one uh tiny note on what you said about it
is going to go ahead because it's required to go ahead. I think um that is true and um and it also requires this fundraising on this one section. Um and if that doesn't go through then the use
of endowment dollars. Um so you're right and there's just a little bit of a um library endowment dollar. So that there's just a little um nuance there. Just wanted to mention um what do folks
think of Angus' proposal, Ellen? >> Yeah, I'm not sure that's quite accurate to what our last discussion was. I think it was the money, the 577 was to fund the um restoration of the interior
woodwork and the uh exterior trim. We had cut out the um the windows, putting in new windows. I don't think the floor was part of that. So, >> the floor is part of the 577 >> of the of the woodwork. Okay. But then it was also the exterior trim. I thought
those were the two >> Yes. Yeah, they gave us three things they needed funding and we cut the windows out. So, >> right. And so, >> thank you. >> And so, but Angus was suggesting we also
cut the $100,000 for a floor repair so we'd have that money to put back into signs and um other places. Does that make sense? So that so then
doing the would it still fund the trim all the the woodwork interior woodwork. >> Yes. >> Yes. It would just it would pull out the floor the wood floor restoration. >> Okay.
>> I als I I should just quickly interject. I actually don't care what how they spend the money um on these on the various woodwork or trim. I just think we should cut 100,000 there. and use that money in other places. And looking at their original proposal, it seems like they had a h 100,000 they were
dedicating to one particular thing. >> Yeah. No, no, I appreciate I appreciate that. It's a proposal. Okay, Bob, you're up. >> Um, yeah, Angus, I support that proposal. Um, I'm I'm not sure the math works out perfectly because I think we
had the $48,000 contingent on Goodland Church. We still need to cut the roof by 50. Do I have that right? Well, if we cut the skate park by 20 and we reduce another 100 from the Jones
Library, that's 120. And we had to reduce it by 60. So if we put 50 back into the signs. Sorry. No, I wait. No, I didn't say that, Leah. Sorry. Keep that at a million for a second and
do the 50 back into the signs. Sorry. Keep going. Yeah. Does Does that is 3617 our target. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I mean, don't forget you also don't have to spend every penny. So, you >> Right. Absolutely.
>> Delete 400,000 from somewhere. And >> I just wanted to >> Yeah. Um, make sure >> Katie before I lose lose the floor and at the risk of not being professional, I'm I'm in profound pain and I'm just
going to say that I support that proposal. You guys can modify it however the votes go. I just I can't hang on anymore. I'm sorry. >> My morphine's going out going down. >> Bob, you're so good to be with us. I
really appreciate your input. Thank you. >> I've so I've so enjoyed working with you all this season and I look forward to reconvening about the Gubin church later on. >> Be well. Take good care. >> Thank you. >> That's amazing. He was he just had his
his shoulder replaced repaired replaced. I think a full replacement. So that's what I mean by you all keep showing up even coming out of the hospital. Um, okay. So, are we zeroing in? How, let's just, this
is not binding or anything, but how are folks feeling with this? Looking at where we're landing on numbers if you go down from the top. Bond. Oh, sorry. Bond. >> That's okay, Leah. bonding
the 1.5 fully funding those top um five or six projects till you get to the housing trust having that at 325 reducing all skate park
and just look down the rest of that how are folks feeling about these numbers any other recommendations Jonas Sorry, I didn't see you. >> Just to clarification, is the is does 1.5 totally cover war memorial
>> or did they ask for they asked for more? Didn't they ask did they ask for more than 1.5? >> No, that was their proposal. >> Oh, okay. Great. >> Yeah, >> we have another appropriation in addition to this one. So, >> yes, there's more. >> Yeah, the full cost would be more than the 1.5. >> Okay.
>> Sorry, Sean. Yes, it's they do need more money, but it's this is their request was 1.5. Yeah. Any other recommendations for changes? Um, so does this get us to where we need to
be with the as the numbers as they are in now? >> Get you with $7,900 remaining. >> Oh. to carry over to next year. >> Yeah. >> And again, that's, you know, the 48, we
have to see where that lands. Um, how are I I mean, hearing nothing else, but I want people to take time to think this through and then we'll go through the process of voting.
And again, you may be fully in favor of every single thing on here. You may not be in favor of one or more projects. And you'll get a chance to vote up or down on this. But generally speaking, for the majority
of the committee, how you know, I don't see other changes. I don't see any hands up. So, all right, folks. Do you need more time? Anyone need more time to review?
Speak now or forever. Oh, Sean, do you need >> No, just um Leah, I think Leah maybe put in parenthesis next to Goodwin Church. Um, I don't know, Katie, if you if you want to discuss what type of reserve or if folks I think the general reserve is
probably the better one to go with because >> it gives you plenty of time. If you do a historic reserve, you can never get it back. It stays there forever. Um, not that you wouldn't appropriate it eventually, but it just it would be there forever. Um, so the general budget reserve would give you till the end of
next fiscal year. And so just putting that noting that before you vote so that it's clear. >> Yes. Thank you. I appreciate that. when we get to that, we will vote with a particular um reserve. And I appreciate your recommendation. I think since it's an
urgent need, that would be my recommendation is to do a general reserve. Any other questions? All right. So, what we'll do, this is the tedious part is what we have to do now is go to
each project and we have to um there's a voting option over to the side here. I mean a voting record which Leah will take. We're going to go one by one in the order in which we see that. So, you
can unmute yourself. Um and what we need someone to move someone to second and then we're going to do a roll call vote. Um so it's for example, somebody would move to fund um
the town of Ammer Civil War Memorial Tablets project at a at $75,000. Somebody else would second it. Then I will call on you and Leo will record the votes. Make sense?
>> All right. So, feel free to unmute unless you have, you know, dogs barking or something that would really distract us, but we can hopefully make this efficient. Um, so, oh, Tim, do you have a question?
>> No, I I was going to move that we approved 75,000 for Civil War memorial tablets. >> Do I have a second? >> Second it. >> Thank you. That was Jonas, right? >> Yeah.
Okay, thank you. So, uh, we're going to vote one by one. We'll start with Jonas. >> I, >> Jason, >> hi. >> Robin, >> abstain. >> Ellen,
>> I >> Angus. >> Hi, Tim. >> Uh, yes. >> Um, we move pass Bob. It doesn't I don't think Mark's here. Is that correct? Yeah. Okay. And I'm an
I. >> Okay. Anyone like to make a motion to fund AMD Street redevelopment? >> I will move that we fund Amity Street redevelopment for 400 to the total of $450,000.
Have >> a second. Second. That was Robin. >> Yep. All right, motion is seconded. Let's go through the votes and um we'll start with Jonas again.
>> I Yes, >> Jason. >> Hi, >> Robin. >> Hi, >> Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus. >> Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi.
>> And I'm an I. Feel free. Do I have a motion for War Memorial Bath House? >> Uh, I move that we Are we moving to bond at this point? Is that the motion? Uh, I move that we bond uh funding for the War
Memorial Bath House at $1.5 million. That's correct. Anyone second that motion? >> Second. >> Is that Tim? Thank you. >> Thank you for the record. So when I go
um okay Jonas >> hi >> Jason >> hi >> Robin >> I >> Ellen >> I >> Angus >> I >> Tim
>> I >> and I'm an I uh motion for the restoration of Simeon Strong >> I motion to fund the restoration project at $275,148.
>> I have a second. >> Oh, Robin, I think I heard you. Um, so we'll take a roll call. Jonas, >> hi, >> Jason. >> Hi, >> Robin. >> Hi,
>> Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus. Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi. >> And I'm an I. >> Okay. Part-time planning and housing coordinator. Somebody make a motion. >> I move that we fund the town of Amoris
parttime planning and housing coordinator at the amount of $90,000. >> I second that. >> Jason seconds it. Thank you. >> Roll call. Start with Jonas. >> I. >> Jason. >> Hi.
>> Robin. Hi, Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus. >> Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi, >> and I'm an I. >> Thank you, Leah. You're doing a great job. Okay. Open space improvements.
>> I move that fund >> I move that we fund open space improvements for $100,000 town of Ammerst. >> I second. >> Thank you. Let's vote. Jonas, >> hi. >> Jason,
>> I >> Robin, >> I. >> Ellen, >> I >> Angus. >> Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi, >> and I'm an I. Municipal Housing Trust Fund. >> Motion. I move that we uh fund the town
of Ammerst to Ammerst Municipal Housing Trust the amount of $325,000. >> I'll second that. >> Melon seconds. Thank you. And we vote Jonas. >> I >> Jason >> I. >> Robin.
>> Hi. >> Ellen, >> I >> Angus. >> I >> Tim. >> Hi. and I'm an I. And the town hall slate roof restoration.
>> I move that we uh fund the town hall slate roof restoration town of Ammerst in the amount of $1 million. >> Second. >> Second, Tim. >> Thank you, Tim. And a vote. Jonas
>> I. Jason, >> hi >> Robin. >> Hi >> Ellen. >> Hi >> Angus. >> Hi >> Tim. >> Hi. >> And I'm an I.
>> Thank you. We're doing it you guys. We're making it happen. All wheels skate park. Do I have a motion? >> Move that we fund the Ammerst Allhees skate park in the amount of $20,000. Second.
>> Robin seconds. Thank you. And a vote. We'll start with Jonas. >> Hi. >> Jason. >> I. >> Robin. >> Hi. >> Ellen. >> Hi. >> Angus. >> Hi. >> Tim. >> Hi.
>> And I'm an I. Okay. We're at the town of Ammeris Recreation and Conservation Area signs. >> I move that the committee approves $100,000 to fund the recreation
conservation area signs. >> The sign man says it. And >> do we have a second? >> I second. >> Ellen seconds it and the vote. Jonas >> I. >> Jason. >> I. >> Robin.
>> I. >> Ellen. Hi >> Angus. >> Hi >> Tim. >> Hi. >> And I'm an I. >> Okay. This um motion. >> Thank you. Thank you, Robin. I appreciate that.
>> Sure. Um, I motion that we fund the completion of the industrial history mill river uh survey at $75,000 with $40,000 contingent on completion of
36 identified uh properties. Sorry. Completion of 36 macros forms for buildings identified in the survey.
>> Thank you. Do I have a second? That was Angus. >> Let's vote. Jonas. >> Hi, >> Jason. >> Hi, >> Robin. >> Hi, >> Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus.
>> Hi, >> Tim. I >> I'm an I on that. And this is the restoration north and south cemeteries. I'll motion to approve the restoration of
some cemetery, whichever one they choose for uh 50,000. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Okay, let's start with a vote. Jonas, >> hi. >> Jason, >> hi. >> Robin,
>> hi >> Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus. >> Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi, >> and I'm an I. >> Okay, >> we need a motion for reserve here, Katie. General reserve. Yes, this this
is this would be a motion for a general reserve unless somebody felt otherwise strongly, but yes. >> Uh so I move that we place $48,000 into general reserve. I think that's all we say, right? We don't tie it.
>> Okay. Uh into general reserve. >> Second. Oh, >> wait. Let's the point of order here. I'm not sure. I might need some help from Sean or Dave. Is it just simply putting it in reserve or do we have to tie it to
the project? >> Sorry, I was drawing a mermaid for my four-year-old. Um, >> we want to see >> it can just be it's No, you don't. Um, it can just be if you're going leaning the general reserve way, it would be just to budget recommended uh general
reserve of 48,000 or the amount that you decide. >> So, we use a line on the on the tally sheet so that it the votes don't come up under good win. Sean, >> yeah, I mean I think Leah, what I would recommend is to change that line or or
Yeah, add a new line for the amount. >> Okay. >> Can we say good add a new line, Leah? So you keep the the kind of history of it. >> Actually, sorry. There there's a line already there. I think that's what you're pointing out, Robin. There's a line on line 20. You can put it there.
Oh, look at that. So, the motion will get voted on on that line and the Goodman Church will essentially want to vote it on it, >> right? You would Yeah. reduce it to zero or Yeah. >> Great. >> So, I
go ahead. >> We still I think we still could vote on a gen and But you're saying you'd pref Okay. I I think we can we we're not tying it to a particular project. Instead, we're voting to
appropriate $48,000 in general reserve. >> Correct. Yep. So, the motion is uh I I motion that we appropriate $48,000 general reserve. Do >> I have a second? >> I second. >> I have a com excuse me. I have a
comment. And >> I think part of the motion should be that we not fund in this meeting the Goodwin Church. So that's why the zero appears and instead allocate $48,000 to
general revenue just so >> okay >> or some wording to that effect. >> Isn't that just the record of the meeting? >> Pardon me. >> Isn't that just the record of the meeting? Uh, I'm not sure. Uh,
>> I don't know if the motion needs that. >> Oh, well then there's no motion to move the 48,000 for the Goodwin Church to zero. >> We don't have to make a We don't have to
make a motion for that. Um, >> I I don't know. you're essentially tableabling that proposal until it can come back. >> Um, so I don't think you necessarily have to vote no or vote it down. You're essentially tableing it. >> That's a good use of the phrase. Good.
Good. >> Yeah. Um, so the motion on the floor is to appropriate $48,000 to general reserve. And I thought I heard Jason second that >> I did
>> had some discuss. Thank you. >> The motion is moving it to general reserve. >> Yes. >> And um he's almost done. Um okay. So that was the motion. It was seconded. Um there was some discussion
in terms of tableabling the Goodwin Church um proposal for this for tonight. >> And so we'll go to vote on that general reserve appropriation of 48,000. Jonas
>> I >> Jason I >> Robin Hi >> Ellen. I >> Angus >> abstain. >> Abstained Tim. >> I
>> and I'm an I. >> Okay. Um I guess we do. We need to we have to vote. Yes, we have to vote on the pickle ball project. It's I mean what we're recommending is zero. So maybe
>> we should probably affirm the negative. >> Yeah, >> in a way. Yeah. >> So do we need to vote? >> Seems like we should for the record like have it be a final. I move to >> Okay. >> Not fun the pickle ball courts.
>> Second. >> Angus seconds that. So, we're voting in the negative. Okay. Just to be clear, we're voting to reject this um for this year. Um I would like to in discussion
phase just to state that we if people are in agreement that we're encouraging town to um come back because we're not opposed to the project. It was simply the amount
of money we had available and difficult decisions. Um, okay. So, I think we've got a motion to second. Any further discussion? So, we will move to vote and start with um Jonas. >> Hi,
>> Jason. Hi, >> Robin. Hi, Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus. >> Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi, >> and I'm an I as well.
>> And two more. Let's go. Restoration and preservation of the Jones Library. Do we have a motion? I move that we fund the restoration and preservation of the Jones Library in the amount of $477,000.
Have >> a second. >> Second. >> Tim seconds it and we'll vote starting with Jonas. >> I Jason >> nay. >> Robin
>> abstains. Ellen >> I >> Angus >> I >> Tim >> I >> I'm an I. >> Okay. And the last one is similar to
pickle ball. Um a motion not to fund but to encourage the applicant to return to CPA. Do I have a motion on the floor? >> I'm I will move that uh we this
committee this year not fund the request for the passive recreation project uh at Mil River. >> Sorry. Who second it? Angus. >> I did. >> Okay. Thank you. and we'll vote on that. Jonas, >> hi
>> Jason. >> Hi. >> Robin, >> I >> Ellen. >> Hi, >> Angus. >> Hi, >> Tim. >> Hi. >> And I'm an I.
>> Okay. I think we've voted on the debt in the past, but just as like a lump. I feel like last year's file, it looked like they voted on the debt and probably to be safe, it's a good idea to do do so. >> Okay. Thank you. >> But I don't think you have to do each individual project.
>> Okay. So, the motion that would um be put forward is to fund the debt service at 524080. Is that correct? That's the total amount. Okay. >> That's correct. >> So moved.
Oh, there we go. Seconded. And Jonas, >> hi >> Jason. >> Hi >> Robin. >> Hi >> Alen. >> Hi >> Angus.
>> Hi >> Tim. >> Hi. >> And I'm an I. >> Sean. Thank you for noting that. Appreciate it. Um, I always want to double check those
numbers, Leah. They look good to you. Yes. Wow. Well, folks, we did it. This was a real team effort. I really appreciate everything that the
town staff did. Leah, thank you so much for your incredible support um all along the way. Having never done this before, Leah stepped in and did an amazing job. This this um this cycle was there and every time I asked for something, she
was ahead of me usually, but um and all of you, I mean, this was this was a really really challenging year. For those of us who've been on for a few years, this was hard. And I felt like with all of your thoughtful comments,
suggestions, ideas, proposals, it um I'm not going to say you made it easy cuz it wasn't easy. It was hard. Uh but thank you so much. Really appreciate it. Tim. >> Yeah. I just wanted to uh thank the committee as well. Uh I've had such a
good time at I'm leaving town. >> I appreciate that. This is uh this is my last meeting uh committee meeting for the town of Ammerst and uh this committee has been exemplary uh this year and previous year. So uh I just
wanted for the record to say that this has been the deliberations, the thoughtfulness, the preparation. Uh I've been on many town committees. This is by far uh tops in my mind. So appreciate that. That to be raised in the record.
>> Thank you. so much, Tim, and thank you for your service over 30 years um being in the town and supporting many, many different committees and um as a volunteer. Really, thank you so much for everything you've done. It's
been a pleasure working with you. Again, thank you so much for your service and best wishes >> to you and out there in in Colorado. >> Yeah. Great. Ellen. >> Um, yeah. I just would like to also,
this was my first go-around on the committee and it was really rewarding and challenging and all those good things. Um, I'm happy where we landed and um, I'd like to propose um, maybe a very very casual meet in person
celebration sometime after this. I'm happy to host something at my house. Perhaps it's a bonvoyage to Tim, but um just seems like I spend my life on Zoom and I'd like to just acknowledge everybody in person. So um do that in
the spring whenever people Yeah. But I'm happy to host something. >> Thank you so much. That was very kind, Ellen. And um great idea. And we'll I Leah and I will put our heads together and get back to you with that. um with
an idea for uh a spring meeting um to talk through some of the uh adjustments to the process that we we might want to we might want to suggest. So, we'll res we'll get back I'll talk
to Ellen and we'll talk to Leah and we'll we'll be in touch. But for now, your job is done. You did a great job. We've got through it. Um and feel really good about it. So, do I have
>> Oh, do I have the last is uh items that topics I didn't not reasonably anticipate. I don't have any. So, a motion to adjourn the meeting would be welcome. >> I have one last question. Sorry. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um Katie, do you have any idea when you
will go before town council? >> No, I they they let me know based on their process. So I um I'll work with town. >> You'll let us know. >> Yes. And absolutely. And you'll you'll absolutely know. First of all, you're going to I'm going to do work with the
town on what the report looks like that we're presenting to the town council with our recommendations. You'll see that and then we'll let you know when the meeting is. So if you wish to attend, we'd love it. I'd love it. I'd love to not be the only one there. >> We'll support you.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um and yeah, so we'll we'll be in touch. So motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> 8:30. >> We did it.
>> Second. Yes. All in favor? >> Yay. Okay. Thanks everyone. Really appreciate it. >> Thanks Sean. Thanks Dave. Thanks Leah.