All right, welcome everyone. I'm going to call to order the meeting of the February 9th meeting of the Conway Select Board. Um, >> first item on the agenda.
>> Vote to approve the minutes of February 2nd, which looked good to me. >> Yep. Same here. So, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. >> Uh, second. >> All in favor? >> I >> We do have a Elaine is here, but that's technically a quorum. So, >> she's here, but I stopped her. >> Yeah, it's fine. She didn't need to vote
on that one. We have a quum. Um, meetings attended by select board members. >> Sorry. Uh, none since last week. >> Same for me. Elaine >> meetings last week. >> None. >> None. Okay. Great.
>> Uh, schools Thursday. >> Um, anyone here for public comments? Um, >> let's go to unfinished business, which is discuss and vote to approve the new environmentally perform purchasing
policy, which Can you remind? Let me see. Um so it's basically just a policy that you know directs town employees and committees to um you know make environmentally friendly purchases
whenever possible. So conserving energy and water. We reviewed this at um at a previous >> Yeah. It just the format was wonky. >> Yeah. So I'm going to pass this down to you guys to look at. Um, I'm going to make a motion to approve the
environmentally preferred purchasing policy. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Um, and let's just go ahead and move on to new business. Um, Bob Armstrong's going to be here a little bit later to talk about our electrical
aggregate aggregation pricing that's changing due to the extremely cold weather we've been experiencing. Um but uh the next item is discuss and vote to approve change in wording for transfer station policy regarding loss
decals and bag stickers. So we did have a policy um that said if your decal if your decal is lost a replacement is the same cost as the original. But we didn't say we didn't have anything about >> it does say about the bag stickers but it says
>> we were mixing the word stickers and decal. No, no, because it wasn't because decals said it was the same price and then we talk about bag stickers and say it was $20. >> Oh. >> So, so I have the revised wording on there that I I'm recommending >> if you want to.
>> So, okay. So, the revised policy would be if a vehicle decal is lost, replacement is the same cost as the original, which means $20 between July and December and $10 from January through June. If you can bring in the old decal from a car being sold or a windshield replaced, the replacement is
free. Replacement bag stickers cost a dollar a piece, which means $52 for a full envelope. And everyone all residents who have the the everyone gets it gets a full envelope of stickers annually anyway. Um but if you do happen to use them all or if you lose
them um then it's $52 for an additional envelope >> instead of the 20. Well, that's you know the problem is you could have people just come in and say I lost my >> Yeah. >> Yeah. you know, and we're actually getting since the number changed, we've gotten quite a few more people coming in
and buying >> more stickers more. So, >> yeah, >> already in February. >> I guess that's incentive not to lose your stickers. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, they also might have a lot more trash. >> And they don't have to buy 52. They can buy >> Yeah, it's a dollar a dollar a piece or
however many they need. So, if they lose the decal or the decal gets scratched off, you know, windshield breaks and they forgot to take it off before replacing, >> they have to pay $20 for the decal. They don't get any stickers. >> Correct. >> Okay.
>> And I could put in there decal only. I mean, I don't if you want to make that clear that you don't >> because the decal stickers aren't >> package. No, I think this makes it says if the decal is lost. Yeah, there you place the dollar piece. >> Right. Exactly. Yeah.
>> All right. So, I'm going to make a motion that we change the wording to clarify the policy that if you lose or need if you lose your envelope of stickers or you need to buy more stickers or a dollar a piece or $52 for a full envelope. >> Um,
>> and the decal. >> Yeah. And the decal is going to be uh $20 between July and December or $10 between January and June. Why is it short of January? >> Half year. >> Half a year. >> Yeah, you guys made that policy a while back. >> So that's not changed because we already
had the >> Right. That's why I specified on there that it wouldn't be >> Yeah. Just the sticker. >> Okay. All right. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, since we have our finance committee here, let's proceed with our
budget review. And >> we got a whole full whole quorum full. >> That's it. You're going to call the meeting to order. Yeah. I make a motion to call the meeting to order. Okay. And I make a motion to approve the enormous 17th finance meeting minutes as presented.
>> Uh second. All in favor? >> I >> I >> Thank you. >> Are you okay? Um All right. So, what are we looking at? >> Well, well, we have the town here. >> Budget review. Yep. We're starting with
the town. Is that the one you want to start with? >> I doesn't matter to me. Okay. >> I mean, all there four of them are >> I'm just going in numerical order. >> I mean, Cat's not here, so I got all four. So, >> okay. >> Okay. >> All right.
I assume you guys all have it. >> No, I haven't seen him and I haven't heard a ding or anything. >> Yeah, I was he would you said that he would. That's why I was on >> Oh, well, it's not 610 yet, so maybe he's good. He's making his rice roll.
>> All right. So, you know what? I'll share this just so if we get the ding, it'll be obvious. >> Okay, here we go. Did I get it correctly up there? >> This is the person you sent out earlier this afternoon.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. I haven't The only on this it has a possibility of changing is if we get something from the shelter changing I think it's only going to be 385 for this fiscal year but I don't trust them after
what they did last year bumping us to $2,100 >> which line are you talking >> that is uh which one is the shelter where are they what are they under no they're the dogs, they're under a
different thing. They're in the dogs, >> so it won't matter. >> Okay, >> that all comes out of the the puppy money. >> The um just a quick question on this. The the difference in the stipen does that includes what we increased last time.
>> So last time it increased from 41 to 49. >> Yeah. And now it's 54. >> Yep. I'm honestly trying to work my way up to our surrounding areas. So, >> hence the comparison with um
Weightley next door. >> Okay. So, you're proposing an increase to 54. >> I am. >> Okay. >> I am. I'm I'm trying to work my way back to work my way up to being comparable to the surrounding towns that are the same size. >> Correct. that are not only getting
higher salaries, but they're also having they also have assistants >> that are, >> you know, and I'm not asking for an assistant, but >> sounds fair to me. >> Thank you, Elaine. >> And then there's just a small increase
in supplies. >> Yeah, >> I can't help that. >> Yeah, >> in fact, I think I've already used all my supply budget for this year off a year ago. Does that include like toner and ink and paper and all that or you >> paper is covered by the
>> It's postage that's going up 600. >> Yeah, but postage >> postage is the main one that's going up. >> The postage is going up. Um yeah, that'll be going up in elections and under the town clerk because postage rates are going up and vote by mail is killing me. >> Vote by mail, the census, the
confirmations is absolutely killing me with postage. All right, questions on this one. I >> We're not voting now. >> First thought. >> I also agree. We need to be in line with
our surrounding communities. >> Absolutely. >> I mean, I'm going by their fiscal year 26 salaries is what I'm looking at. I didn't even look at what they were putting in for 2017. So, I'm still a year behind, but at least it's a
little closer. >> Next one. >> Next one is registers. don't I think that's >> just a increase in supplies and that basically covers the envelopes for mailing the census because
I use approximately 2500 to 3,000 envelopes each year just for the census mailings. >> And that's not really an increase because you did a decrease in fiscal year 26. >> Did I? >> Yeah. Ah, you're right then. It's not.
>> I'm I guess I found that it wasn't cutting it with the decrease. >> Yeah, >> because I bought envelopes this year and went, "Oh, >> yeah. >> I just returned one to you." >> And I appreciate that because I'll have to do a second round to about half of
who I sent the first round to. So, if we could get our people to just sign it the first time and send it back, then we're cool. >> Okay. So, I think that one's easy. >> Yep. >> Elections. >> That you're going to see is more
comparable to the FY25. I decreased it in 26 because we only had one election, but in FY27, we're up to three elections. >> So, it's an increase to cover the wages and the supplies and the
postage. So if you look at 25 or fiscal year 25 >> Yep. >> or 24, no 25. >> You can see it it does this depending on how many elections there were that year. >> And postage is again for your mail in
>> fill by mail. >> Yeah. >> Which is now probably at least 50% of our voters want their ballots mailed to them. >> Okay. And that's two ounces. >> So it's like a buck 10 right now to mail it
>> and then postage coming back. >> So yeah, it's hurt. >> Should hire a courier. >> I wish we could. I really wish we could. I wish they'd
>> go back to vote by mail for only people who had legitimate medical reasons, not just because they don't feel like walking across the street >> or they want to increase their options, right? So, they may end up showing it personally. >> A lot of people do and believe it or not, a lot do. They either handwalk it
into my office on election day >> or they throw it away and come in and vote in person anyway. And I can't if they request it, I have to mail it. >> And they they request it just in case. >> Y
there should be some education on that. >> I put a chart up in the front hallway >> that shows the election process before vote by mail and now. And it went from three steps to 12 steps to process a ballot. It doesn't include the cost, but it shows the steps prior to and the
steps now >> for processing a ballot. >> So, and it's right out on that outside B. >> You sent the notice out dur with the census. Is that correct? >> I did. The state postcards never include the local elections. Yeah. So, I sent it
out with the census so we can get them in and then whoever didn't send whoever isn't in there, the state will be mailing postcards in. >> Oh, so there's there's another mailing out. >> There will be another mailing by the state with the postcards and that will cover like the primaries and the general
election and then they'll do it again >> in September. Okay. >> For anyone who didn't respond, >> right? And right now you're just compiling the list, >> right? It it all gets entered into the election system and when the ballots are
ready, >> we can >> print the labels and the lists for whoever. And then we have to actually make kits. >> Yep. >> Everything that goes in each kit. We have to put the kits together. We have to label the stuff coming back. >> Um the stuff going out, stuff it all,
mail it all, >> you know, scan it out, scan it in. It's huge. >> It's extremely time consuming. Yeah. >> All right. >> And is that something that you do all >> I do that by myself by yourself? Yes, I do. >> But that but in theory that's something
that like one of our senior like the senior tax work off program we could get someone to help with that >> potentially. >> Maybe it's a it's an iffy got to be really really careful thing. So maybe >> Yeah.
>> Um I mean I'd love it if my election workers did but they have jobs. >> Yeah. you know, and they don't want to be here on the weekend. >> Yeah. Right. >> It's on me. >> And one more. Do we have one more? >> Uh, board of health.
And I think the only increase on the board of health is the contract with Furog, >> which didn't even go up that much. 600. >> Yeah. I mean, >> yeah, I think it was like 4%. Yeah, but we had um
they had option packages CPHs was doing. They had like A, B, and C that the towns all voted on what they wanted. >> And the one we went with kind of balanced the increase between the residents and the towns, whereas one option put all the increase in cost on
the residents. One put it all on the town >> and we took one that kind of balanced it. Which one is the dogs in again? Is that >> the dogs doesn't have a budget because that's that's a special revenue. >> That's right. It's a special revenue. >> Yeah. Last year it was such a big thing because they tried to increase our
kennel fees from 350 to 2100. >> And this year I think it's going to be 385. And I've been getting intake reports from them. And in the past six years, seven years, they have only picked up four animals in Conway. Mhm.
>> Um, only one of them being a dog that was returned to the owner. The other ones have been a cow, a ground hog, a skunk, >> an evil, and >> Yeah, but it's like, >> but it's like, how can you justify raising our kennel fees if you've never
had a dog from Conway in your kennel in the past 10 years? >> That's very good. >> It's like, that's how you need to look at this. You've never kennled one of our dogs. It was immediately returned to its owner the same day. >> And so, how do you justify bumping this up to $2,100?
>> Yeah. It's just >> This is Isn't this the person I sent that very worded email to? >> Yeah. >> Well, it's all about the new shelter, right? The new building, right? Isn't that why they're trying to increase the fees? I think so, but I mean they haven't increased the fees in a long time in they were supposed to step them
up percentages every year like you do and they just didn't >> and then decided the new sheriff decided that she was just going to all at once. >> Yeah. Yeah. So none and every town I think. >> Oh yeah, everybody. Yeah. >> Yeah. We all we all had fun with that.
>> Yeah. >> All right. But yeah, that that's that's all I got folks. That's it. >> That's pretty clear. >> I try and I have salary comparison charts if anyone wants to see where
other people are. I'm more than happy to share that. >> I would like to actually Well, yeah, these kind of um >> the mass time alerts >> surveys. These are basically Yeah, we all know how they're accurate there, right?
>> Those are the comparable towns based on popular trouble with >> Exactly. >> the sheriff and you on that I think it's Ro $53 an hour. >> Yeah. Numbers they have for the sheriff way off. >> John, you can have your own.
>> Oh, okay. >> Oh, I see why we have increased office supplies. Just keep I'll smack them for you. I smacked them for you, Lord. >> I know where you live, Mr. >> And
there, buddy. So, >> do not mess around. >> That's right. >> Do not mess with the park. >> Oh jeez. >> Exactly. >> Who were you looking at? >> You know who. >> What's interesting is how many of them >> Yeah. >> Exactly. >> That's crazy. And this is what's I mean
this is what's going into their hourly rate going into their offices. >> And I'm like half of that. >> Oh, I see some of them are high because they're adding the >> right. You'll see the the clerk's hourly rate, the assistance hourly rate, and that's what's going. >> Got it.
>> But you've got people. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, I see. Yep. 8 hours. Yeah, this is helpful. Thank you, Laura. It doesn't seem you didn't get the rate for Monroe. >> What? What?
>> You get the rate from Monroe. >> Is it on there? No. >> If if it's not on there, they didn't answer the survey for the um courts association. >> Yeah, there's a few that won't answer the survey. They won't >> comparison.
Similar. Rose is a tiny town and she gets 50 something dollars an hour. >> Really? >> Yes. That's probably the highest paying jobs. >> Yeah. So, I mean, some of the small towns pay. >> Yeah. You know, >> Deerfield pays well. Monu pays very well. >> Wow.
>> Monagu is at right around 90. >> Wow. >> Well, they're much bigger than us. >> Oh, yeah. They are. But she has two assistants. >> Mhm. >> Which is always nice. And >> you know, >> unless you have to manage them. >> Unless you have what?
>> Have to manage them. >> Yeah. But I you'd feel a whole lot better if you're sick or want to take a vacation or go to a conference knowing that there's somebody answering the phone. >> All right, guys. Thank you. >> Okay.
>> All right. >> Transfer station. >> Last one is transfer station. And I have I think some good news. >> Less crash in town. Well, maybe actually um part of it is
let me see if I can highlight the line. >> Oh, come on. Okay, trash tipping. Yes, actually that's the one that is going down significantly. Part of that I think is because in past years I think I've been misreading. Either
that or we've really reduced that much because it might just be because Yeah, maybe it wasn't my error. Maybe it was >> I mean the stickers should have reduced. >> Do we have any confirmation data about the impact cost of the
>> about the cost of terms of tonnage? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It went down about 25%. >> Yeah. Which is what almost exactly what we expected. >> Yeah. That's great. >> Yeah. >> They're burning getting more. Yeah. They're burying in the backyard.
>> Well, I think in all honesty, I I think it it did away with what was the concern, which was that people were just kind of like, "Oh, trash is free in Conway. Just give it give me your trash. We'll take care of it >> from all neighboring towns and construction crews." >> Mhm. So, so yeah. So, there's the good
news. It's actually going down. >> Yeah. I put the numbers in there. So trash hauling is reduced by 2700, bulky waste by 2500, and tipping by 7,000. >> So that's not bad. >> I mean, that's over 10,000.
>> Yeah, >> there's a lot of increases. So I see >> there are well the admin this is one of the ones that went up quite a bit and you're going to find this all across the budget as we look every big increase is because of health insurance >> inspections you've got a 15 a 50%
increase in >> inspections yeah but um where where is inspections due to the top >> um because you see how much I spent this year so >> but then you spent nothing in 25 >> right so it depends it's kind of every
other Assuming that number is updated, >> but in 24 we >> Yeah. >> spent 84 budgeted one. >> A boatload. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> okay. >> Yeah. >> And we've made a lot of improvements up there. >> I mean, those should be noted. You know,
>> those inspections are done by >> Well, they're third party inspections. So, we actually have three. We have the transfer station, we have the landfill, and now I'm going to forget the third one, uh, which happens every other year. So they do wellwater testing because of the landfill and that's part of what
bumps it up. Although this year >> I think the reason it wasn't quite as expensive this year as it was back here is because we're not using the same engineering firm that costs an arm and a leg. >> Got so that >> sorry. Yeah. So inspections went up
1,500. >> The admin like you said because of health insurance went up 1,200. >> Right. the contracted services, which includes Yep. 3,000. >> Then the recycling actually went up just
above 3,000. But again, that's great. More people are recycling instead of just dumping in the >> trash. >> And you can see I put the current cost per ton now. So, we've we've definitely gotten to the place where everything we're throwing away costs us or recycling costs over a hundred a ton.
>> And then the MRF fee went up to by 2,000. >> Well, yeah. So, that's actually not how much it would cost if um how do I put this how it was how it was figured out. I
think I added in tiny buffers in each of these from what the information that Jan sent me. Um, but yeah, I mean that year we only spent that much, which is which is not very much, but you never know what the market's going to do.
>> And that's the trouble I ran into that one year when we put nothing in >> um and then we had to go back and put the money in because because the market stanked. So anyway, and the line, let me see here. This is
the line originally that was 18,000 when this budget switched from the board of health to the select board and I've been trying to whittle it down every year but of course now that we've got to pay for it's going
to cost uh just shy of oh actually and and bag stickers are in there too um it's going to cost just shy of 2,000 for us to order the next set of bag stickers so it's not cheap to to buy those unfortunately.
But at least the overall budget's going down. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> No questions. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Like Elaine said, I think it is better up there. It's getting better. >> Oh, yeah.
>> Definitely. >> Oh, >> there's Roy. >> There's Roy. >> That's a good choice. You've always been nominated. >> So congratulations. >> Has anybody has finance looked at the
first draft of the school budget or >> No, we haven't seen it. >> Okay. All right. >> Which one? Grammar or Frontier >> Union 38? >> Union. >> I thought I sent you the first draft. Uh
>> level funded is like a 5.71 increase. >> Okay. Because I thought Frontiers meeting tomorrow night, so we'll know. >> We had one meeting on the budget that they So they're they were and we have a school committee meeting Thursday.
>> Okay. >> So they were sort of like >> how's that number sound basically? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, I I have a question. So this is what the uh the subcommittee of the school committee has has drafted the proposed budget. Right. So when is the
formal go by school >> months down a few months? >> Yeah, it should be listed on the budget schedule that I sent out. >> Oh, it is. Yeah. I have all the >> like I said this was first >> first blush. >> Do we have any estimates on the tech school build?
>> There's a meeting tomorrow night at 6 o'clock. >> Yeah. I'm just wondering if we have any estimates on what >> only what they gave us. >> Only what we've read in the news. >> There's only three >> 13 million. >> Yeah, but the share >> two 200 some.
>> We >> But half of that's reimbured. >> Yes. >> Well, yeah. But >> yeah, but the number in the paper, the total number in the paper, it's increased since then. >> Oh, it has. Yeah, >> of course. >> Yeah. There's a meeting this week at night. 6 o'clock. Do you do we know what
percentage of that total that we will be? >> Three something >> 3%. We're assessed to 3%. >> Yeah. >> Which would be like $2 million. >> Yeah. >> Something like that. I did the math before when we were >> so a frightening amount. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. An amount that's not >> would require an override for us to do it and all that kind of thing. >> Yeah. >> It would take you know and how many students? Seven. >> Four. >> Is it four? Yeah. >> So, what would that So, how many is that? >> It could be seven at some point, but
>> 500,000 per student. >> They're building the capacity of the new school for 600 students. >> Yeah. >> We can take that 500,000 and put it in a high interest >> account. Give them all put all the Trump accounts for them.
>> Yeah. >> And then they never have to work or go to school anyway. So, >> yeah, it's a ridiculous >> I have a question. I'm assuming there'll be step state reps now that Natalie Bla is officially retired from the position as our state rep. Is there an interim?
>> Yes. So, um, Senator Mark's office reached out to us and said that they will be filling in the gaps as much as they can. And Natalie's assistant, Karen Corette, is still there and still >> and planning to run. >> And planning to run for her spot. Yeah. >> Oh, I thought that's why
>> 27 27. I am working to have her come in on in sometime in March on our meetings so we can all talk. >> Good. >> Figure out what her ideas are. >> Yeah. Because that means we won't have any representation until next what January. So
>> that's a long way. >> Yeah. >> I'm hoping that some of the state our state elected officials will gain attendance tomorrow night. >> They've been a lot of things already too. They may have already gone to >> Yeah. certain
their second presentation. I mean, I presentation. I mean, I don't they want don't they want to come and and give to come and and give that same that same presentation to us, but I presentation to us, but I don't think don't think that's going to be that's going to be necessary. necessary. >> I'm not interested unless it's on site. >> I'm not interested unless it's on site. >> Even then, I you know, >> Even then, I you know, >> I agree. >> I agree. >> It's a non-negotiable at this point. >> It's a non-negotiable at this point. >> The quotes and all that
>> The quotes and all that >> and it is a reimburseable thing too. So, >> and it is a reimburseable thing too. So, you would actually have to fund it. you would actually have to fund it. Yeah. Yeah. >> In advance. Yeah. So, 3% of the total, >> In advance. Yeah. So, 3% of the total, right? right? >> And then you hope to get back half of >> And then you hope to get back half of it, right? certain their second it, right? If you don't have cost overlap. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Well, there's going to be a lot of people at the meeting tomorrow night if you can go. Sounds like they're it was on the radio multiple times. They're really >> plugging it. >> Yeah. >> Engineers, the construction. >> We'll have a whole dog and party show. >> Yeah. >> I can't go.
Maybe I can watch it afterwards. I don't know if it's Is it virtual too do you? >> Um I don't know but the the last one is on YouTube. I think this is basically the same >> November one is on YouTube. >> I'm sure I'm sure >> All righty.
>> Okay. Thank you finance. >> Thanks to >> now that Roy. >> Thank you Roy. By the way, your nominators >> um okay, we have
Bob. Would you like to come to talk to us about our community electric aggregation pricing? >> Where would you like me to sit right there in the end right next to >> whatever you want? >> I'm closer to you here. I don't know. How's the parole?
>> Um, uh, so I sent you a note and I didn't know if that was helpful. >> Um, actually I sent you a note that had some errors and I corrected those, but mostly so I sent you notes so you would know what we're asking. And so this is
um an official request from our broker being made for all of the towns in our group aggregation which as you know our aggregation is all individual town aggregations. So we could not do this if we wanted, but in general we try to have
all of the towns in this group of towns all act in concert and and that is to increase the cost of our electricity by a penny per kilowatt hour. >> And
um I mean and in a way so on a average home uh the state says we should use the 600 kilowatt hour number. So, I'll go with that. I don't know if everyone knows what they use, but at 600 kilowatts
hours per month, that's $6. So, your bill would go up $6 a month. >> What size family is that? >> I don't know. That's the state in all of the state publications. They want us to
use that number. model. >> Could be >> a family of two like >> could be could be a family of four too. >> I don't know. I don't know. >> But if you use 600 kilowatts >> at a penny per kilowatt hour and that's
$6 a month. >> So, but this is only for people who've opted into aggregate pricing which not everybody. >> So, right. Yes. So, so right now there's three ways you can buy your electricity. You can get it, have Eversource purchase
it on your behalf, have the aggregation purchase it on your behalf or get it through private supply. And um right now we are very slightly less expensive than Eversource. And if if by adding a penny
our price for the basic electricity will be about the same as Eversource and our but most people in Conway are buying 25% additional renewable energy. They're buying at that level and we will be about a half a penny more than or almost
a penny more than Eversource uh >> for now until August when they >> until August now and then and we can talk about why we believe Eversource is their price is going to go up and we can talk about and what I don't know is how much you want to know about why this
happened. >> So I have two things. >> Go ahead. I thought we had already signed into the aggregate. >> Me, too. >> Which is a signed contract. Yes. >> And now we're renegotiating the contract after it's been signed. >> No.
So, so, so um right now our the money that we pay goes to two places. Most of it all goes to the electricity provider, but a small amount of it goes to ISO New
England who collects money that then they pay to a set of infrequently used providers to have them stay ready. >> Okay. and in the past. And they also and they also kind of try to make up for the
fact that that when those providers actually make electricity, they cost a lot more than all of the normal providers. And so, so they kind of pay them a little bit of money for that.
This is all a deal between ISO New England. We are six states called ISO New England run by the independent system operator our six states as a group and there's ISOs all over the country and um but most of that most of
the ISO money is paid to a set of providers that very rarely produce but for them to stay ready to produce if they're needed. And that's what ISO's job is to make sure there's always electricity available so the lights
don't go out. >> And in our and and and we can when we go out to bid, Eversource is required by law to go out to bid to get a bid that says the provider is responsible for the
electricity cost and any other costs that happen to come along except for some cost that might be due to a change in the law. But and and so those costs would mainly be these get you know ISO New England costs.
The aggregations not just us all of the aggregations have always gone out to bid saying we will pay those ISO New England costs which are have up until this winter been virtually nothing.
And we always add a f a fraction of a penny to the bid that we get from the provider and that pays all of our ISO charges. And this winter ISO New England said we estimate you should allocate a tenth of
a penny to add a tenth of a penny to your bid and that's what you should charge for your electricity and that should cover it. And we thought, uh, you know, this might be a cold winter. We added 6 ten of a penny
to our bid and figured we're good. And we're not good. And it's really looks like it's costing us a penny on top of that. So that's what this penny is for. So it's not that we are now up until now we are not giving our provider
the money and our provider is paying that money to ISO >> but they can't and won't do it forever. We really are we really should be paying it. >> The other point I just wanted to make and it goes back to
um insurance as well. you know, it was unforeseeable that insurance was going to increase because GLP or whatever. I get that. And they had to turn off the faucet after I it is I think it's a BS excuse, too. But they turn the faucet off to anybody that doesn't have
diabetes. >> But this in particular where they're like, "Oh, it was a cold winter. It was the coldest in 25 years. Plus, we have EV charging." Well, guess what? There's also solar. >> Has nothing to do with EV charging. Has nothing to do with solar. It's it's
purely the cold weather, but it's that >> but why didn't they account for that, right? I mean, I I don't understand how these large companies aren't accounting for, oh, you could have a mild winter or a cold. Are they going to let us decrease the pricing once it's a mild winter?
Uh um this this bid that we have from our provider has nothing to do with these charges that have to we have to pay to ISO mainland >> but they anticipate the increase from Eversource >> but we haven't had no well I believe
Eversource is required by law to put out a bid where all of those costs go to the on the provider. Now we could put out that kind of a bid but we have always chosen not to. >> Yeah. Now, you could say that's not a good choice and but you know the
aggregation law has been around a long time and we've never had a winter like this one. >> Yeah. >> In 20 >> uh I I can I can tell you my a long time. I hesitate to say this, but so ISO New
England and FK FK authorized ISO New England to change the cost structure for what these infrequently used providers get paid. >> And they're now paying them more generously.
And personally, I think it's because FK and ISO New England are very fossil fuel friendly organizations and all of the providers who are receiving this money are fossil fuel
companies who >> make their electricity using natural gas or oil and can't compete with solar and wind and uh hydro. It's a free market. Bye-bye. >> So, ISO's job right now is to pay these
people. And I mean, if you remember the coal plant down in Holio, the owners of that plant lived off of these kinds of payments. >> Yeah. >> For years, never producing one bit of electricity. >> They finally gave up and they gave the
plant to Holio. But those now personally I think all of those plants should be converted to battery storage and not natural gas or oil. But you know >> Yeah. >> But but we are required to make these
payments >> and so we >> and there's no backup system that is less fossil fuel friendly that we can tap into. Uh,
no, no. I mean, we are, right? ISO New England is in charge of determining which plants generate electricity. They're orchestrating all of these performers. They are the conductor and saying, "You produce, you produce, you
produce, and they always turn on the cheapest ones first and move up the stack of by ordered by cost." And the ones on the top are the fossil fuel plants. and and then there's the ones above them that aren't being called on
and they but they will call on them but they are allowed by law to fund them to stay ready having nothing to do with us and where we get our >> but are there stay ready companies that are more >> environmentally friendly
>> environmentally friendly or is this >> no they're all >> so isn't the whole thing I mean environmentally friendly companies have to have extra extra power also. I mean, I'm just wondering if this is like an inside job to support fossil
fuel companies. >> Say that again. >> Like it's an like why is it just fossil fuels that are the ISOs? >> No, the ISO manages all of them, but the ones at the top that are rarely used are all fossil fuel companies because they're the most expensive.
>> Okay. So they go up the chain of more environmentally friendly until they hit fossil fuel >> of less environmentally friendly, >> right? >> But they start with more environment. >> They start with cheapest. It's all money. It's not environmentally friendly. It's just that who are the
cheapest providers and who are the most expensive providers. >> Can't store solar either without battery. >> We've got all that oil and oil now. >> Yes. So, do we we need to basically I mean probably vote to authorize you as our select board representative to sign
>> or or Bernie or whatever. Bernie has the document. I I didn't bring it with me, but I'm I'm sure I'm sure you have the document. >> It's it's your name on there. >> Okay. >> I'm the alternate. >> Great. Great. I mean, you the board is in charge of our aggregation. Well, I
just, you know, I also want to put in that I appreciate your work and like your emails on this because it's complicated. Yeah, I think I should write something for the for for the current. >> Yeah. >> How do you know how many um households in Conway are part of the aggregation?
>> Uh I it's probably like over 80% 85%. >> That's Are we in it automatically unless we opt out? Uh, you were in it automatically unless you opt out when we first created it. No, you were you were in it automatically
if you were purchasing your electricity from Eversource. If you were purchasing from private supply, >> okay, >> then then you're not in it. >> Okay. >> Um, and anybody that's moved to town or started a new account is automatically in it.
>> Okay. And people still have the option to opt out, correct? >> Yes, absolutely. and and people can opt out. And so people that are upset about the penny, they can either move back to Eversource at any time for free. All they do is make a phone call or they can
change their electricity from 25% more to no no additional, you know, no additional renewable and and save a penny um and then come back in August. Most people don't watch their electric
bills that closely. >> But they can. >> How do I see if I'm in it or not? >> It'll say on your bill. >> On your bill, it'll say your electricity is provided by and it may say Eversource. It might say, you know, the town municipal aggregation.
>> Okay. >> It was dyn. >> So that's what should be on your bills now. First point. >> But you have to look. The bills are >> yeah are written to make them hard to find that stuff. >> I think I still have to bring in next time and show you.
>> All right. So, we need a vote. >> Um, no. I think >> Yeah, we don't actually have to vote because as our repres as our representative, I think you know already authorized. >> I think he's asking for a vote. >> Uh, I believe that that you're in charge. You may may authorize me to sign
it. >> Well, we I mean, we don't have a vote. >> It wasn't on the agenda to vote. That was my bet. So >> I see I don't think we need to vote for that though. We can just authorize him, right? >> He is your representative. So I think if you all agree then >> Okay, >> we agree. I think so.
>> You want me to come sign her right now? >> You can right here. >> So then we're set. >> Was that ch that pie chart was real for >> that was I New England's um >> only 10% renewable.
>> Yeah, that's crazy. And you see 38% natural gas. >> How did how did Bush used to say it? >> Nuclear. >> Nuclear. >> Nuclear. No. Nuclear. Nuclear. >> Nuclear. >> Nuclear. >> Well, it's 0% full. That's nice.
>> But this this isn't this isn't what we have to sign. >> Oh, in the back. Okay. Stay for the science. Sure. >> Thank you. Finance. >> Oh, yeah. Finance. Um, okay. All right. I think that does
it for everything that we've got on the agenda. And thank you, Bob, for all your work on this. And also, I think this is a great thing. >> More understandable than it would normally be. >> Well, I just love the way Bob makes it
understandable. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Bob. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'm glad I'm not in those meetings. I'd be like, >> "What the All right. Items not anticipated 48 hours in advance. >> Is there anything?
>> Um, no. I didn't have anything. You just have those two pieces of mail. Um, that one was concerned about the sidewalks from Karen Eldrid and the other was asking the select board to look into
basically signing uh statewide initiative for healthare healthare single >> is that Roy again >> but yes we we added way more to it >> finance just left Roy >> what we were told we should have
>> just came back in >> Royy's in a tunnel he's in a cave >> roy spelunking >> with the sound um okay yeah so we had a mail from a resident about uh sidewalks or lack thereof on Chelvin Falls Road, which Janeique is following
up um on. And then a request um from Mass Care, statewide organization advocating singlepayer healthcare financing um for us to check out their website and uh basically sign a petition um in support
of singlepayer healthcare. >> I'll sign it, but it's not going to go anywhere unfortunately. Well, because there is actually currently a bill that is >> Oh, in the it's already in the House, isn't it? >> It's um what was the Yes. bottled up in
the state legislaturator's joint committee on healthcare financing. So >> um >> basically Medicare for all. >> Yeah. >> Um okay. Uh TA update the same one this week. >> Didn't package. >> It was actually a longer one. >> Okay. I didn't didn't look at that yet.
Do you want to? >> Um sure. So it we're plugging along. All the firewalls and and management machines are in. Now we have to get the staff to move all their files to one drive so that
eventually we can do sharepoint. And when that's done then we get our new machines so that we can hopefully be done with this migration. Oh, I should have said this while finance was here, but I am unfortunately anticipating um and maybe
Roy can talk to this. Um there's there's been more of an overlap in some of the services than I was expecting. We were expecting to be up and running in September and here it is February. So, we're paying duplicate for some things in our IT budget. So, we're probably going to have to ask for a reserve fund
transfer to cover a few things um >> sometime in May. Um, and community aggregation. Obviously, we just did that. Um, MVP FY26. This is the one about the Jim Manuel property, but also includes the river corridor. I can't remember how much I updated you before,
but Kimberly Noah McI is retiring. >> Okay. So, we have met um I've met with MVP and I've met with the team from Furkog and GZA. They redid the budget. GCA is taking over what FURCOG would have been doing and we're going to try
to get all that done um all the contracts signed with the state, the updated one with Furcog and the updated one with GZA by March 1st so that they can get what they need to get done by June 30th, which is when this money has to be spent. It's a two-year thing, but
those items were all in >> right >> this fiscal year. Um, I met, you know, we have the $75,000 earmark with um through uh Senator Mark's office
and I've been working with the Furcog on this and they had the idea to have me apply to the LEAP program which is through Mass Eot. It's a new program for technical assistance and basically it's
twoprong. One is that they're not sure that the 75,000 will cover as much as is needed to scope out. We're going to try to do Shelurn Falls Road from 116 to the Buckland line >> because the South River comes up against it so often that it just makes sense to
study the whole thing there. And this way if we combined it with technical assistance from LEAP, we might we'll go further and they're doing this is through Mass DOT. So then mass DOT is well aware of this project and eventually it's going to cost a lot of
money that we don't have and what you do is you get it on the transportation improvement program >> on the tip and so all of these steps are going to lead to getting it onto the tip. So I'm just thrilled with Furco really being proactive with me about this. So
>> well and Shelburn has done work from their end or Buckland from their end to our line >> along the bank in banks. >> Yeah, there's done a ton of work done there. So I wonder if we can >> tap into what they've done, researched, whatever.
>> And well, one of the things that I did bring up with with the Furcog was that we really want to pursue as much environmentally friendly work as we can. >> Oh, that's what I meant. Yeah. because, you know, if you just pour a lot of rip
wrap there, it's not really gonna, you know, so we're we're trying to research or trying to promote doing something else. Riparian plantings, willows, whatever, whatever it is that we could do that would >> try to solve the problem, >> right? >> Um, I'm not applying for MVP again this
year because I have two MVP projects right now that are two years each. So, >> that's a lot of fun. >> Yeah. Um, the I did meet with USDA about the $700,000 earmark for the new firetruck. And the exciting thing about
that, yes, Conway has to do a match, but it doesn't have to be 25%. We're going to get the whole 700,000, >> which is so exciting. >> What do I mean by match? What's the >> Well, just that we have to have some skin in the game. >> Oh, okay. >> So, I'm working with Chief Herman on
this and he's going to be getting me an estimate so that I can >> put these together. Yeah. >> Um anyway, so the next thing the next step is I fill out these applications, all these forms, and that will move the
funding from the Department of Treasury over to USDA where it will be, you know, under our under our Conway ID. Mhm. >> Um and then the last thing was that we had the meeting here uh last Thursday
um for the public meeting for the accessibility. >> Um so there was only a couple people who showed up but um it was a good meeting and we're going to we explored a lot of things talking a lot about um our public
outdoor spaces as well because the Institute for Human Center Design had done our our update in 2018. So they're basically just going over what happened then, what they suggested then, what we've done so far, and then giving us. So it's not quite as involved as building normal building >> with all the buildings, all of our
buildings, including the new public safety office building. Mhm. >> Um so but they're talking a lot about um and we're going to work with Deb Donson from Forest and Trails and I reached out to Open Space and um trying to figure
out other ways where we can get more accessible mobility like and so one brainstorm that um we had was to there's this um company called Out Adventures and I think they have ties to I want to
say it was Tom McCarthy. >> Um >> I think that is Joe Cole's work. >> I think it is. Yeah, that's I know. We're just looking at website. >> Oh, on the website. >> Yep, I think you're right. I think that is I knew it was Yeah. Yep, >> that's Joe.
>> Um so it it just seemed like it could be really fun to have them bring their equipment here during the Festival of the Hills. >> Yeah. and in the South River Meadow where a lot of people like to go, but if we had some and it's all about having the motorized wheelchair, whatever, but
having it in a place where somebody can actually access it, you know, we kind of researched this with Mass and Motion for a while there, but it was difficult to figure out, well, okay, we need a shed where we can put it, and then somebody has to figure out the do we do a combination lock and tell how do we how
do we manage it? So anyway, um but I'm really excited. I think this this group is fantastic and I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to say about updating us. And I did actually speak with Ron today about the front door here, which does we're going to update. That was one of the things on
the last and we have some money left over, but we need that to be the accessible door. And that I think is the key right away to getting this building a little >> Oh, absolutely. >> Yeah. And I have my last class on Friday with
for HR and it's fantastic and I'm learning a lot and I'll be making some changes. >> Cool. Great. >> I used to drop on a few of those when Jen did the class and I was like that's great. >> Yeah, there's there's so much information in there and the nice thing
is that now I have connections with people who can answer my questions. >> Right. Totally. >> Okay. So, our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 17th at 6 p.m. because Monday is the President's Day holiday. So,
>> Oh, so no meeting next week. >> No meeting next Monday. >> It's Tuesday instead. >> Next Tuesday instead. >> 17. >> I know, right? >> Yeah. >> But it was not dark when I drove down here today. >> It's true.
>> Um, I see. >> All right. So, uh, I'm going to make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you, everyone.