Okay, welcome everyone to the December 15th meeting of the Penrise Select Boards. Um, since we have some guests here already, we're going to start um Oh, I call the meeting to order.
Um, and since we have some guests here, we're going to start with the presentation of the right farm signs with Susan Schroeder and Amy Anderson. >> Hi, I'm Amy. >> Hi, I'm Susan. We've come a long way and we have presentation.
Uh the reason we're here is we are wanting to get four of the designs that we have printed up. So we're going to have six signs total. We will have either five or six different designs we
have that hasn't been final finalized. And >> um we have the money now. So, we want to get four of them that you're about to see. If you approve of them, we'll have them printed up just as soon as we can. >> Okay. Okay.
>> Got the floor. >> I brought this along just for size reference. This is the size of the sun. >> Yeah. Oh, nice. >> So, we've named them. >> Yeah, >> that's Dolly. >> Dolly.
>> I knew an alpine a long time ago. Drank her milk. It was great. >> Bessie did. >> They saw that but not colored. Very good. >> Oh, nice. That's Millie. >> Love it.
>> Nice. >> So, four So, four different designs and then potentially six signs total. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank God. >> Okay. And you didn't get to see them all set.
>> Yes. I was gonna ask if you could send them to me and then I >> Nobody can see them either. >> Oh, yeah. I love the I love the variety. I think that's great. >> She's noticing Greenfield's right to farm signs. Yes.
>> Today. I had never really noticed that before and I was like, >> I think it'd be pretty amazing. And Amy and I talked about that some time ago and but the way she writes Conway sets it apart
is already artistic, you know, and she painted. I would like to say this. She's I'm gonna totally embarrass her. >> Okay, so we originally started this in 2017
>> and at that time Amy was still exempting her children. They're now adults and we have full focus and Annie has gone from a person who puts things on paper because she enjoys it to an artist. The very first animals
she's ever painted are um Millie Mil Mildred >> Mildred >> and and um >> that's pretty impressive. >> Okay. >> I use a pencil mostly colored pencils,
pencils. So this was new for me but >> and she has never made signs. And not only is there painting involved and scanning and then figuring out how to put the sign together with the different parts on
>> and so working on that and doing I mean and I have three of the four signs that we've finished at this point on my computer. I've been looking at them and
the variety I really like too. Okay. So, Mildred I'm calling Millie in the Sky with Diamond. So, I mean I think that it's going to be just very exciting and I have already gotten this new idea. So, I'm going to
write um an article for the current near the time the signs are up or maybe just immediately afterwards. It'll be four or five months. And I would like your advice on this because we do have two horses that portraits.
They have harnesses on. There were horses. They have no names. I thought we could do in the current article >> a a a contest for getting the names on the two courses because our whole point
is to raise the visibility of farming in town because some things have happened that have been hurtful to me anyway. >> And um I just think that would be fun and I was thinking probably the select board would be the appropriate people to make the final choices.
>> I think so. And you like you like that idea. >> David Fischer's horses will probably get nominated. >> Right. Well, we're gonna put the horses on Shelurn Falls Road. Not near David, but >> yeah, >> that makes sense. >> So, I'm thinking that that would just be a whole lot of fun to bring in more
activity. >> Absolutely. >> That would be fun. >> I'm glad you like that idea. >> Yeah. >> And you want me to send these to you? >> I'd love it. Those are gorgeous. >> Yeah. Oh, did a show. I haven't seen >> here. I have an idea. I don't know how
you feel about this, but the Festival of the Hills website sells Conway merchandise, which even which like we're still selling people are selling, you know. >> I'm sorry. >> The Festival of the Hills website. >> Yes. >> Um, so people are still buying uh like
Conway t-shirts even though the festival happened. Um, but this might be a really cool thing to sell prints of these to. I mean, obviously it's your it's your artwork, but I mean, just to raise money for the festival scholarship or it's I mean, all the proceeds go to
scholarships, but I can see someone wanting like a print of this to frame and hang in their house. >> Definitely. >> Yeah. So, just an idea. >> Yeah, we can think about that. >> Yeah. The more we can do with it, the better for the town and for
>> the work that we've put together this time. Now, most right to farm signs, I think, are smaller than this, aren't they? >> No. No. The one in Montikue is the largest one, the 24 by 36 or whatever.
Okay. >> We made it as large as we could without having to make special get special permits. >> Yeah. >> They're going to be same size as the bike leg. >> Yeah. And that's a nice size.
And Amy knew how to keep them simply simple enough so that they can be quickly. What are they then? >> The sign guy told me that too. >> Keep it simple. >> Yeah. >> No clip art.
>> Yeah. No clip art and keep it simple. >> Excellent. >> So I I need to know when we order them. I need to know um how what we do about billing. >> Do I have just give it to you? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Just get the bill.
>> It actually Yeah. What would be best is actually if I speak with the vendor because then I'm going to move against Deb and everything soon. So >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> So you can work with her to get the order. Okay. >> Awesome.
>> And we anticipate coming back in the spring and having one or two more designs of horses. >> Which are coming on beautifully. Um and um we'll let you know when the time comes. >> Great. >> Thank you so much for your >> Thank you. Looks great.
>> Excited about that. >> Just started a whole new career for yourself, huh? >> Yeah. >> Um All right. So, since um Bobby Novel is here now, we're gonna skip to um
The next the item discussion vote on additional n bill property and we have the most recent email that you've all reviewed. Um, so I, as I understand it, one of your questions is,
does the Conway Board of Health want to weigh in on the septic issues and whether or not you can sell the property without >> uh that's been settled. I already talked to um what's his name? >> Randy. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. And he said yes. >> Um the surveying of the property, you're still working on finding a surveyor. That's something you're the buyer is
going to be taking care of that expense essentially. >> Yes, definitely. have the surveyor, his name is Tim with Hilltown, Hilltown Surveying in Coington. Um,
and actually in the next week when the weather warms up to 40, we're going to go out and mark with crime scene tape
>> the u the line that we were. So, with this email, which was November 24th, you were looking for two mortgage payments. The number November 1st mortgage payment and the December 1 mortgage payments. Were those still the two that that need to be made to
>> No, the November 1st one um was paid. >> Okay. >> Um and the December 1st one has not been >> Okay. And then will that take them through to January 1st or do you anticipate also needing a January 1
mortgage payment? >> Um I hope not. But you know this whole property sale thing it's not exactly a you know humong it's more like >> you know leisurely stroll.
>> I know what that's like. Yes. >> Yeah. So but it is in the a draft of the it's a lease of a five month lease to purchase and it's the kind of lease that will
commit you >> to purchasing it. It's not an option to purchase least. >> So once that finds people that assume the mortgage payments for those it's not it's probably not going to be
signed until June. I told them I told everyone that you know June is the deadline. I can't you know I can't go through another summer with this. >> Um you know so >> so how many mortgage payments are you looking to cover?
>> Well at this point >> the December one definitely. >> Yeah >> and possibly in the January 1. >> I'm just not sure. >> Okay. Sean Bos Sullivan Greenfield met um who seems very very
savvy. >> He's very >> Yeah. And I'm glad he's on my side. Yeah. He's um of course this is a very busy time for him too. So >> So mortgage payments are $1,300 a piece.
So, you're basically asking if that's acceptable to spend $2,600 of what we've allocated for this to the mortgage. >> Are the property taxes separate or are they grouped in?
>> Uh, no, the property taxes are separate. Yeah. and that >> and um Ken met uh has done a little bit. I mean, he's he's taken out the toilets and he had to
take out the sinks because the mold paper said the vanities had to go. Uh uh but I talked to him this last week and there was in the downstairs bathroom which is right adjacent to where the dog they kept the dogs
um there's a a short stretch where you think they were just putting dog poop down and that you know the dogs were chewing up the carpets and you know they ate the the closet doors.
Um, so he's having uh Skip Desovich come out again. Skip is the one who came in the summer and used his camera to determine that yes, that pipe is clogged
on all the way on the inside. So only a little bit of water can get through. So, he's going to come up with Ken and they'll take a look at it and try to unplug it
so they don't have to replace the >> So, it sounds like about half of the money has been spent and there's still some outstanding bills. >> Um, just can >> just Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Um, so I I mean this seems I mean this is what we allocated the money for. vacines received me to cover um two more mortgage payments. So I will make a motion to >> Yeah. As long as they excluded the property taxes. >> Yeah. Yeah. So I So I'll make a motion
that um that yes, we approve up to $2,600 for mortgage payments. It's money that we've allocated for property. >> Second. >> All in favor? I do have a question that I have no idea the property abatements.
I don't know if I'm too late for them this year and I don't even know if that block house property would qualify. It certainly is worth less than an appraised value now. I know a few years ago you would have been but I
don't know you well um it's usually within the time period of the taxes are due so you need to speak right away with the assessors >> yeah like immediately >> okay is that a planning thing >> no it's the board of assessors which is
right next to >> I know is is the whole thing the board of >> and he's in every Wednesday but he answers emails and stuff. So, we can send you the >> assessors at Conway. >> Yeah, assessors at Conway.
>> Okay. Well, I'm glad it's I mean, progress is being made a little bit surely. >> Thanks for coming, Bobby. >> Final stretch hopefully. >> Yes. But you know, the good news for the town anyway is that the man who's buying
it is Jake Alexander and he owns CM the lair log homes. >> Oh. >> Oh, wow. Perfect. >> Right. Okay. Great. >> And yes. Uh and he's he's told me a little bit about what he wants to do
because we talked about what I was going to do with the flooring. Um, and he said, "Well, no, because he was going to put in radiant tiles instead." >> So, he's he's going to really >> Yeah. >> fix it up.
>> That's great that you caught fire. >> Yeah. And it's great that he's he's really nice, too. >> And he owns a he owns a farm in Athel. Uh, and he has 16 cows, >> so I'm sure he's going to get along with
Chris. Yeah, >> great. Thank you very Thank you very much. >> Great. >> Okay. >> That was very >> Okay, so Jeff is Okay, so we're gonna
move on to Jeff Belino and discussion and vote on the Colbert grant program application for Rester Road. >> Hello. >> Hi, welcome. So, Vane, did you want to touch on it or
>> Um, >> you want me to >> you you want me to give an intro? >> Oh, sure. >> Um, okay. Uh, so Jeff had approached me a while back. He's a Conway native, right? You grew up here. >> Oh, yeah. Reeds Ridge Road.
>> Yeah. My neighbor. >> Hi, Elaine. Yeah. >> Hi, neighbor. How you doing? >> It's been 30 years, I think. Just a few. >> Yeah. >> I wonder how your mom and dad enjoyed watching that game. Yeah. Last night. >> Oh, Bill's fan and he's
>> My mom was happy. >> Your mom was happy. Your dad was crying with me. >> We were all crying. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Except your mom. Yeah. >> Exactly. >> So, no intro needed. >> No need.
>> So, >> yeah. Well, I own and operate a small consulting engineering firm in Shelurn. Um, Bolino Engineering. I do mainly municipal water resources engineering projects like roadway, small bridges,
culverts, dams, >> storm water, stuff like that, channel restoration, stabilization. Um, I do a lot of grant work. I apply for grants for many towns in the surrounding area, Eastern Mass also. um had I'd say almost
for the last 20 years yeah for the last 20 years most of my work has been grant funded um design permitting you know planning construction administration stuff like that so um I approached the town of Conway I just I wanted to work for the
town because I thought it would be rewarding I love Conway um live in Shelurn now but I'm I still consider myself you know practically living in Conway I'm only a mile over the border um But so yeah, I approached Baronique about applying for grant funding for some
failed culverts that have been identified in town. There's I think I looked at maybe 10 or 12 of them in town. We had spent the last couple of months, month and a half looking at these culverts, kind of game planning which ones may be, you know, the most likely to receive grant funding. And we
um narrowed it down to Breaster Road. Um yeah, I'm it's there's a small culvert there, you know, that's a short dead end road. There's a small culvert there. It's been identified as failed by the county. Um structurally failed,
hydraulically failed. It's impassible to fish. Um uh you know, it directs it connects directly into the South River. So, it's a cold water fisheries resource. Um uh yeah, the what is I never can remember this acronym. North Atlantic Aquatic
Connectivity Collaborative. They also identified it similarly with being failed, undersized, impassable. So ones like this are, in my experience, have been pretty successful as far as getting grant funding. Um,
I I try to only go after the ones that I think, you know, I don't want to waste your time, my time, anyone's time, but it's a perfect perfect little project for that community culvert replacement grant, which is a new mass DOT grant for replacing structures just like this
small less than 10 foot span. Um, yeah, structures like this. So, it's I think it's worth trying. And um I think there's a pretty good shot at getting, you know, getting funding for it for the design. Um the this there's other ways
to pay for construction. Um but start with the design permitting and then do the construction. But there's there is funding to do all of that. So I like to tell >> Sorry, I'm just bl,000 would cover basically the design and
permitting but not the actual repair of the culvert. Correct. Yeah, it would be it would be permit level design. Uh like to replace a co I worked for a big firm for almost 15 years, so I know the what it costs to replace a culvert and it's
you know over six figures. So um I I'm willing to help to do it for the permit level design for the town for 50,000 um which is you know good value. Um I I I like Conway. Um,
Veraneique has been very easy to work with. So, that's that goes a long way. She's actually motivated and cares about the town and, you know, wants to help and I can tell that she's, you know, she's definitely an asset to the town. So, thank you for making it easy, Veronique. Um, we agree.
>> Um, that's not always the case at all. Yeah. Um, >> so yeah, that that would get I I that would be for permit level design and I just did this application for another town on Friday. I I sat and we submitted
it together and it looks like there's another round of grant funding in April for the same thing. So you can probably do final final design which is only addressing permit level comments and permitting and then in a year get it
constructed. I think they'll give there's like a million dollars per project for construction. >> So this will get us to the place that we can then apply for grant for the construction for the >> Exactly. Okay. All right. >> Yeah. No match no match fully funded.
>> That's right. It's a reimbursement grant fully. Yes. Right. Yep. I do have a question about Brester Road. I I only know it a little bit, but we're positive this is a road and not a common driveway. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Because it's so short.
>> There are very few houses on it. >> Three houses on it, right? >> Yeah. Which is actually there's a um one thing they care about obviously is for emergency vehicle passage and everything. And if you have one, if it's a dead end and your C cover culvert
blows out, there's a problem there. So that that makes it score highly also. Um, and there was sort of a a strange fix done to the culvert. I don't know. It looks like within the last 10 years ast installed above it, probably
because it was undersized and flooding is my guess. But it's it's it would be temporary um what what's been done. So yeah, it should it's definitely in need of repair. >> Yeah.
>> Um so in the other part of this just to kind of go through the steps. So Jeff had approached us and he's willing to put forth the application >> for the design level, but we the town would need to hire him like we put a little bit of skin in the game game even
though there's no match required, >> right? >> To pay for his services to do all the design work or do all the work to get the grant >> an inspection. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's so
>> that that's so the the DOT one I think the the this one I believe it asks about that but it wants a professional engineer to actually make the call not sort of nothing wrong with this but volunteers
from you know just kind of going out w that with the group they want to know a roadway person has looked at it. Um yeah >> so >> yeah that that goes a long way. Um, >> and so the the town just recently voted that out of the grant administration and
the match budget that Baronic has access to that she does have funds that could be used basically to pay for your services too because to get this grant submitted. >> Sure. Nice. Okay. Yeah, that's that's fantastic. >> We're still going to pay for the
services. >> We'd be paying for Jeff to do the inspection that's needed to do the application. Do I have that right? >> Yeah, exactly. Like I I happy to apply for the grant for free and do all that stuff like that, but to
make it every worthwhile for everyone, there's got to be some engineers report on it. It's a it's a very short pretty simple memo. um talks about it does it's a field inspection uh memorandum that talks about you know the condition all
the stuff I mentioned before and a small alternatives analysis and estimated construction cost permits and timeline >> and and the DOT wants an engineer to provide that as opposed to like you said a volunteer who goes out and says
>> yeah yes I believe I believe there's it mentions yes and it's so competitive that if you all these grants are so competitive that if you don't show a little good faith effort, you know, you might not have as good of a chance of get
>> re it's going to put us in a better position if we have a licensed engineer who has actually, you know, reviewed and said >> 100%. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Sorry. Didn't you mention that the the grant itself takes about 50 to 60 hours of
work to apply for >> that? So, not this one. No, this that's the deer cover culvert one. >> Oh, the covert one. >> Yeah, that's the that's another one which I do and I just also was successful getting funding for it. But this is a this one's simpler. Um
but still it yeah it it you definitely want to show that it's you know you've had it looked at by somebody. It's pretty, you know, spending a very small amount up small amount of money up front can go a long way, you know, to
get Yeah. in this case, $50,000. >> Right. I don't have any more questions either. >> I do not. Sounds like it's going to be a problem if we don't address it. >> Actually, I do have one quick question. Um, how does it work in a road like that
that only has like three houses on it when it gets shut down for construction? How do people get in? I just don't know. >> It has to remain passible. You'll do a one phase. It'll be one lane at a time. Like like the 8 foot sections like box cover culvert or something like that. So
you can do a lane flop and do the other. It's a little annoying, but that you could do that in the whole project in a couple weeks, you know. Okay. Um but yeah, it's definitely has to remain passable and that would be in the in the engineering drawings, a traffic management plan or detour. No, there's
no detour here, but um phase construction sequence or something like that. >> The detail would be over the river and through the woods. >> Yeah, right. Exactly. >> Take the kayak, >> right? >> Exactly. >> All right. So, um I'm going to make a
motion that we submit the 50,000 this grants um to the mass DOT for $50,000. It requires no match and um to approve uh the payment
of $3,500 for um Bell LLC's >> Bino um engineering um to help prepare the grant application. Sounds good. >> Second.
>> Right. All in favor? I >> Okay. >> Hey, thank you very much, Jeff. >> All right. Thank you. I'm excited to work with you. Yeah. >> Nice. Nice to see you again. >> Yeah, you too. Have a good one. Happy holidays. >> Happy holidays. Take care. >> Thanks, Jeff.
>> Okay. And is Janet still there? >> Yes. Yes. >> You are next. discussion and vote to approve biodiversity grant application for the open space committee. >> Yes. Um so this was a
a not long ago announced grant to showcase biodiversity. Um and it's got a deadline of later in December. Uh, I've been working with Furcog and
uh, GZA to help prepare the application. I got those on Friday. There were two documents, one at a description of it and a budget. I don't know if Bernique passed those along along or >> Yes, they're in their packet. Yeah.
Yeah. >> Okay. So, it is uh, let me explain. We had this beautiful report done by a important local naturalist Lorie Sanders
done in 2016 and that's the one that produced the maps the the um geographic the biological maps of the different sections of the meadow and that led to us getting treatment
for the knotweed along the river and and basically we treated and have continued to treat and manage the notweed and the bittersweet along the river which opened up the views and made it such a nice place to
be. But there are other sections of the meadow sort of interior big section near Jim behind Jim Moore's house there's a little isolated wetland and and we've been a bit stymied about how to handle
that area and what to do there. There's a lot of other invasives um is purple loose strife and pansy and and what should be there instead is real wildlife
plants uh native wild flowers that um that support a whole bigger range of pollinators. Uh so my initial thought was kind of I I know where the area is and there's some
different methods because there's good there's some good plants good golden rod in there it any treatment requires different treatment than what they do with notweed uh because everything is so overgrown.
Um so working with these experts and uh GZA has ecological scientists on their team um and Furog for Cog did this right off. We had we had a good meeting
um to brainstorm it and they all determined that especially given the time frame uh that what really needed was a planning was planning detailed planning and so what they proposed here and laid out is the steps to produce a a
a comp comprehensive master plan focusing on these unattended areas. Um, and they'd have a kickoff meeting and we'd have invite when a preliminary plan site plan is in place, we'd invite,
you know, a lot of people to look at it and have a site walk and um hopefully come up with plans that are acceptable so next time around whenever that is or somehow that that we would get funding
to actually tackle and renovate these areas. So that's basically it. They we would do an open space event, a little education
for community members, community science project um in June. Everything the grant gets announced um in February and then they want you to spend it all by the end of June. So it's
this very short time frame but to come up with these plans and and have the public discussion of them which will also involve you know a bunch of education and get people excited. So
>> So $30,000 no match. Um, but it does say, you checked off, yes, that it will require current or additional salaries or benefits for the purchase of materials or supplies. Can you elaborate what that might be the $30,000?
>> No, we're not. What are you reading? Um, you know, there's no we're we're not having staff. We're not paying staff. I mean, there would be payments to these firms. So there'd be pay some payment to frog and most of it to GZA.
>> Okay. >> On the grant form you had just checked off. Yes. Where it says will this require current or additional salaries or benefit? >> So that's that's a preliminary grant form that I quickly filled out to
get it on your radar and yeah you to approve that grant form. And what we're now what what we've now got before it is is the actual draft of the submission which is quite different. >> Okay.
>> And and this that's in your package. This one totals $57,000. You know, I was just completely eyeball, you know, just completely guessing before. >> Yeah. I didn't print those out, but
they're in the package. So, so 57,000. >> Another Yeah, there's a budget thing. >> Okay. All right. So, does this should we amend this? So, I mean, >> yeah, you'd have to amend that. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> No. And >> Okay. So, I'm >> I mean, I think you're I think you're going to have to sign um sign initially somehow on this actual submission. We haven't submitted it yet. You know, this is all good stuff.
>> So, there's, you know, the county has to approve it before it goes in. So, you would be >> Well, that's what we're doing right now is signing it, but we need the right amount to put in there. >> Yeah, we're signing the grant application or authorization application authorization form. So, I'm going to
amend that to amount of grant $57,000. I'm going to check off no because beyond that 57 there won't be additional salaries, benefits, materials, supplies. Um, >> I'll make a motion to approve the amended biodiversity grant application. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> Okay. Thank you for your work on this, Janet. >> So, were you saying that you need the actual application that they have in their packet signed? >> I'm not sure what when the open space committee is meeting tomorrow night and
we're going to kind of fine-tune it and I'm going to get back with them. >> Okay. like Furco who's been working on it and then we will get it all wrapped up to be submitted. I think it's got to go through the common through like computer
app where Commonwealth something or other. >> Oh yeah. >> Oh this is still >> okay because I actually go on vac if you needed me to do that I go on vacation starting Friday. So >> Oh really? >> Yeah.
For I'm sorry. >> Oh, okay. No, we'll we'll have it done before that >> before Friday. Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, we'll come to you or let you know you know what?
I didn't want to put you on the spot, but did you want to discuss what we discussed over the weekend >> about the resilient? >> I'm sorry. This is going to fall under items not anticipated 48 hours. I apologize.
Um, >> yes. >> So, this Yeah, go ahead. You can explain. >> Okay. Briefly. So, some some months ago, you all appointed me as the Conway rep to um the Deerfield River Watershed
Resiliency Group Coalition. >> And we they've done a lot of meetings. It's a big grant. They've got representatives from all the towns. Um, recently we went on a bus tour of different
restoration sites, one up in Cold Rain and we went to the um South River Meadow where we they showed off the flood plane work there. They are uh working with I think Weston and Samson. and they've got a contract with them
who's going to do hydraulic flood modeling for the all the towns for the whole watershed to try to determine what improvements would make the biggest impact. Um, and they've asked us to submit to them on
these big maps all the places in each town that have a problem that had flooding and serious erosion. And so I turned um to Chris for help with that cuz he told me he had a list of everything. So I gave him the map.
>> So I started on my map like I did with the um >> street legs. The problem is is this is the spaces I know of. Um so I know there's more than this. So that's
this map isn't going to work to put it on the map. So, I figured I I did the same exact legend down here >> and anybody with the link can view it. Um, it's just about knowing each location because as we all know, there's plenty of areas that have flooded.
I I don't know. The problem I'm having also is are we only worried about waterways or because we had those torrential downpours and everything flooded. >> Yeah. So, are we cons are we concerned
about those as well or just the actual watershed area? >> Well, everything in the wershed. >> Doesn't the fur cub have some of this already mapped out for all the fans? >> Oh, they do. They do. But but I mean our
mapping is a little more advanced, but but they this is a double check and and you know they don't necessarily know in the the last summer's floods that they don't have a a list of everything. I mean I don't think it has
to be perfect. I'd air on on anything that was a problem I would put down or try to mark. >> I can do that about the the floods, the damage. I know each I know each road and the major locations where it happened. >> Yeah,
>> I can at least I might not pinpoint it exactly, but I can at least give that. Okay. All right. >> And they want us to include things like I mean do we include anything that was on 116 since that's state? >> Yes, >> I am. Okay. I'm showing that on here.
>> Yeah. I mean probably just air on the side of >> Yeah. I mean most everything is South River. I almost everything's off South River and then all the other stuff is you know what are the areas
where we know like uh you know big hills with um roads on them. We know Cricut Hill and uh >> Fields Hill. >> Fields hill. Exactly. like all all those
roads were pineill were completely damaged because of the same thing. So I can I can redo this. Um Boring Brook, we know the area of Boring Brook that got destroyed. >> Matthews, there was stuff on Matthew. >> Matthews. Um who's the gentleman that lives
the two homes from the family that the whole culverts got washed out? >> Adams Road. >> Adams Road. Well, I can send you the um uh the initial damage assessments for both >> storms. Yes, and you made me feel
better, Janet, because I I'm a kind of a perfectionist. So, if this is kind of just a double check for them, I feel better about this map. >> Good. No, we want to >> Well, you know, I think we're sort of going to be competing with other towns.
what >> um uh and a lot of action, you know, it's not going to come as a result of this, but but I think they'll we'll have they'll have the points on their final modeling. That's that's what we want.
All these points will go in. >> Got it. Okay. I'll continue to work on this and provide you the link >> and Yep. Anybody with the link can view it. >> All right. >> All right. Thank you, Janet. >> Great. Thanks, Chris. Okay.
>> Keep up. Good work, guys. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, I'm gonna go back to a vote to approve the minutes of November 17th, 2025. Those looked good to me. I'll make a motion to approve. >> Second. All >> in favor?
>> I. >> Okay. Meetings attended by select board members past week. >> Yes. Uh Erinique and I went to the fire station and met with all the um fire department captains to talk about um how
we could move forward with um allowing Bob to retire. Uh I thought it was a good conversation. It's kind of in their hands to get back to us about some of their ideas. Um and then I met with Janet uh over the
weekend about this resiliency um map. So I will complete that in the next few days here. Back to >> I went to a meeting chairs. So, speaking of meetings, the um the
Conway Grammar School the update the presentation of their findings from the building audit um anyone like it's in the middle of a work >> it's like January 5th at
>> I'm going to be at I'm going to be on duty. >> Oh, I don't know. And will you will you be back? >> I think that's what I'm on. >> No, I I should That was the seventh I believe. I have that on my schedule. >> Either way, on the 5th through the 10th, so I just wanted to make sure that it's
someone add >> No, I have it. It's on January 7th at noon and I have that on my schedule. So, I'll be there. >> If they can send me a link, they can maybe try. >> Uh, no one's here for public comments. I
don't see anything under unfinished business. So back to the topic of new business discussion and vote on transfer station electricity and creation of volunteer space. >> You me you you you.
Uh so we had uh a quote for the electrical work. Do I need to wait >> to plug it in? Can you plug in? >> It's still on though, right? >> But my battery is running low because I forgot to plug Okay.
This just ripped. This just ripped the thing in there. >> Oh, the pump. >> Thank you. Thank you. Hopefully that will >> the pump just anticipates. >> Yeah, it's charging now. Okay. Sorry about that. >> Um, yes. So, we have a quote for the
electrical work, but we're asked to remove everything out of the mall before they did the work. Now, um I understand why he wants to do that, but I've also been working with um
>> Nelson >> Nelson Shifflet, excuse me, on getting insulation um for the mall. Uh the original idea we had uh kind of fell through. The guy originally was saying it was going to be for free
and kind of backtracked and was asking for pricing. We talked about it a little further about what would be needed to one avoid any creatures getting in and out of there because it is at the transfer station. There's a lot of >> rodents running around.
>> Um and also for the purpose of um mold. So, um, we need like foil shielded, um, insulation, but probably also some some spray cellulose foam insulation to
keep the rodents out. Uh, I also talked to him. He actually came up with the same idea you had about building a wall and separating where the volunteers will be and where the act some of the other stuff will be. So,
long story short, um we want to wait to do the electrical work at the same time as the insulation because we're going to have to take everything out anyway. >> So, you might as well just pair both of them at the same time. >> Um Erin has already asked that people
don't work there. >> Well, I haven't I was waiting till tonight. >> Yeah. So, I don't think people should be working there because of the insane coldness >> of this winter so far. >> Um, >> even if we put space heaters in there, even if we had electric and put space
heaters in, it wouldn't do much without insulation >> or new doors. Um, but, uh, you know, Nelson has offered his labor and, uh, he's been working on getting, you know,
contacts for the insulation and everything. I've offered my labor as well. So, I think um if we can pair this all off, it'll not only uh be done at a cheaper cost, but will be uh less invasive of having to move
stuff out of the mall back in again. So, I would like to put a motion, I guess, forward to um wait on the electrical work um until the installation work is done at the same time in early spring.
>> I'll second that. >> All in favor? >> I And then what I will do um with your permission is put in an article in the currents the deadlines today. So um let me slide up tomorrow but just to explain to people that it's too cold.
>> Yeah. >> There may it may be you know just a very few volunteer hours if any >> and explain that we'll be doing this work in the spring. >> Thank you. >> Okay. um vote to sign 2026 business
licenses which fun way in uh Bakers Country Store uh Cost again J&J auto sales
um J&J Mags Antiques Orchard Equipment Osco and Bites Garage. Thanks. >> So make motion that we continue to allow all of these businesses to
>> at the same price. Where's >> mentioned? >> I don't know. >> Is that >> I don't think we've ever had a business. >> Never had one. >> Interesting. >> That's right. I never thought of that.
Yeah, >> look into that. >> So, um and and uh so I'm going to make a motion that we um sign these business licenses at the same rate that we charged everyone last year. >> Those two.
>> Oh, right. Second. Yeah. Like the farmers. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Gotcha. >> Is those two, >> right? >> Oh, gotcha. Uh, I'll second. All >> in favor? >> Yeah. felt somewhere
to talk too. >> All right. Um so that is new business. Um items not anticipated update on green communities grant application. >> Move out the police. Oh, sorry. Um,
thank you. Um, so discussion and vote on new police detail rates. So, um, chief of police recommended that we increase to at least $75 an hour, which is in line with what the rest of the towns are. Um, so that just makes us
more. Okay. >> Um, are we going to remove that farmland license? I think we should hand deliver it a little. >> I think we should too. >> Um, so I'm going to make a motion. I mean, this this makes sense to me. If that's what the rest of the towns are
paying, we kind of have to, you know, be in line. Um, so I'm going to make a motion that we increase the police detail rate to $75 an hour for the recommendation of our chief of police. Second. All in favor? >> I.
>> Yes. I was just making sure that was the >> um items not anticipated update on green communities grants application. >> So yes, I actually just had a a virtual meeting today with Chris Mason who is retiring from green communities and Ted
Harvey who is um our new Allison Gage at Fbug who has been helping us with all of this. Um, so they changed, we hadn't really realized they changed the formula for how they give out where green communities is sort of backing away a
little bit from funding street light replacements just in time for us, right? Um, and mostly because they're trying to get the most bang for the buck and this is is not a huge savings for anyway. So, the longer the short of it is, um, and I
can show this around the in in yellow there, you'll see what the savings are in our chart. And where it says remove, um, we we already paid RTE. So, that's not going to be put into this
table because the town's already paid that money and it doesn't matter to the to the state. Then um I don't know if he's going to change it to 3500, but the 3,000 was in there for what the town is going to pay for the street lights. That doesn't need to be in this calculation either because the town's paying for it.
But the upshot is whatever our savings are, that's the max the green communities will actually fund. So when you redo this table, the total comes out to about 28,000 and we would be getting about 16,000. So, we'd still have to find about 12,000
to do the full project, which is not what we were expecting. >> But, however, >> you want to tell them because um however, we were awarded the full amount of the ADA grants for the self-study for
ADA compliance. So, >> saw that. Yeah. So that was money that was voted at um our most recent special town meeting, but that we don't actually have to spend because we have a grant for that. So it's, you know, it's some good and some
>> yeah. Anyway, so I just wanted to be sure that you all were aware of this. >> There's no other pots of money for fun >> to fund it. No, I don't know of any other grant. >> And how much are we going to save a year on the street lights? Uh oh.
The lifetime over 20 years is like 2004 million dollars. >> Yeah, that's the lifetime over 20 years. But well, here pass it down. It's all >> I had it all in my head before, but we've changed the numbers. >> Oh, I know. All right. Yeah. Yeah. So, anyway, I just wanted to be sure you all
were aware that if we do get this green, that will probably be the max. 16,344. >> Okay. Well, it's better than nothing. I still >> I think what? Okay. So, we're currently paying another 9,000 a year. Um, before we did the decom of the lights, I
believe that we are anticipated to pay 1,500 a year after the after the swap of the LEDs. >> So, >> so it's a huge savings. >> I mean, you factor that in every time, >> right? The grant pays even if we're
paying that amount, it pays for itself within less than three years, >> especially with electricity rates going up. >> Uh, all right. Some administrator updates. Um, >> so yeah, there wasn't a whole lot on
there to be honest with you. I was looking at my and it's been a month, but I was looking at my schedule. But a lot of my I've been spending my time on is the Hendrick County Group Insurance Trust. >> I just had a meeting with that's the only thing I really wanted to mention
today. I just had a meeting again today with Frontier and Deerfield um to talk with Alliance again because um they are willing to help us get the
par make sure that we will have healthcare no matter what happens from the trust. And unfortunately the the last um numbers that have come in from the trust are not looking good. It's and it's it's all over. But they were hoping that the pharmaceutical
would come down because of GLP, but it hasn't. Um, so there's >> I know. >> Is it just because it's like I don't know cold and flu season or something. I don't know. >> I don't know. I don't know. Anyway, so um
>> I have a theory. >> People are stressed. >> It's only my theory though, not theory. But so, you know, I'm really pleased that at least I can sleep at night because they've basically said, "We'll make sure that we get something in place
for you." >> What's in it for them? >> Um, well, you know, this is part of their market. That was the first question I asked literally when they came to us all all those months ago. And this is part of their marketing. And you know he even said to me like you know
one in six of the towns that we go with you know um that we come to offer this go with us but you know I don't know if there if if they help us with this parachute if there's some kind of brokerage to be worked into it. I don't know, but we
can't. >> Yeah, there's there's got to be something. But so they did um we did request of the trust our census data and our claims data which Alliant has to have in order to be able to give us any information
uh moving forward because they can't they can't go out and try to sell us as a group unless they have that information from us. >> So um I'm hoping that will come in soon. We were told it was like a 4 to 8 week window. We asked beginning of December.
So um if that all that information comes into align and they can work on the numbers for us, we should have some solid numbers by February and then you know hopefully by February we'll get a better sense of what's going on with the trust and whether or not
it's going to survive. But so basically a lot of my time for the last six months has been taken >> health care. I know >> with trying to make sure we have something for healthcare. So, I'm just thrilled going to get worse and and I mean there's there's it's very complicated to be honest with you and he
was talking a lot about this stop loss company. >> Yeah. The stop loss and the reinsurance which Roy had brought up way back when that's like the crux of what's going on here is that they didn't have enough and the right kind of reinsurance. So, in stop-loss so that
once you got to a certain point, you know, it was covered for you. In other words, you knew what your max was going to be. Um, so and I did say to him, you know, I am not going to be able to explain this to the board. So they're like, okay,
we'll come in and talk. So when they >> have never heard the term reinsurance, which I deal with insurance all the time, so >> I have learned so much, but I'm still such terms. >> Yeah. But anyway, so hopefully, you know, somewhere around February, they'll
have numbers for us. We can come in and speak to you and then >> Yes, please. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so that's pretty much all I wanted to update you on in the report. >> Um, hey, discussion and vote to sign
letter of fun way priorities to the purchase terms. So I thought this looked great. The only thing that I would like so in in the first paragraph where you talk about, you know, commercial food business will now have an equivalent of a nine bedroom system even if it's just
a two table cafe. I would just I'd like to see that like broken out in one of these like numbered like I don't see it under you know one of the numbered kind of sections here. >> Oh. Oh, I see what you mean. Not just septic. Well,
>> yeah. But so so I guess so so something specific about you know like having what I'm looking for um some kind of like I don't know is it variance what I looking for some kind of like flexibility >> for small towns who can't
>> so I need to break this out and say basically we need you to redo your regulations to make it easier for small town >> or grant variances to that don't so I just wanted more >> just like you would for a house >> for town. >> Yeah,
>> we don't need to have the same rules as Boston. It's ridiculous. >> So that was otherwise that was this looks great, but I think it's very comprehensive, but I just like So yeah, we just like have a number 10. >> We'll make it 10. Yeah, absolutely. Very explicitly >> except that should be a one.
>> Yeah. So maybe Yeah, >> that could be number one. >> Yeah, sure. Absolutely. And if you want to throw in another couple, we could have >> Let's make this a three-page letter. Yeah. >> Well, and I also I I I think I sent the beginnings of my charts with the
comparison between con, >> but it's not the form that will look good in the letter. So, I need to I need to play with that. So, >> um >> so if you can update that um and just leave it in boxes for our signature. >> Oh, okay. Sure. >> And then Adam can send it when you're on
vacation. But it seemed legislators seems like they should be like capitalized even though it doesn't set. >> Well, they already are aware of this because Baron and I have talked to Goi. We've talked to >> Oh, you just mean you want to capitalize
and legisl Oh, I see what you're saying. >> Yeah. >> Natalie talked to everybody about this very sensitive to like capitalization when it's not necessary. certain >> true certain capitalization that happens
all the time >> esteemed in quotation marks >> that'll help. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But otherwise, thank you Ernie. This looks great. >> Yeah, that's >> but but I don't know which one you want. >> Uh I would stay away from capital.
>> I think that looks good though. >> RSD like that. Oh, E and L. Yeah. Okay. Just E and L. Okay. Yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. The Oxford rule. >> Yeah. >> I mean, like when it's to whom it
>> looks very plain for how important it is. >> I mean, I'm fine with >> when you say to whom it may concern, all the words are >> all the words. Power esteem legis. >> Yes. Got it. Okay. Perfect.
>> All right. And then otherwise >> that looks >> I have no clue asking you. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Should be an expert on style or something. >> Um, okay. >> AP.
>> Oh, the mail. >> Oh, is that >> is it's from This is not the first time this letter has come, but I wanted you all to be aware. >> Vote on. You're going to sign it as soon as it's done. >> Oh, yes. I I make a motion that we sign um this letter once Baron has made um
some of those edits. >> Second. >> Hopefully, we'll do that before vacation. >> Yeah. If you get the letter done before vacation, we'll find it. >> So, where's all favor? >> I I'm not sure they are going to pay attention to it all. It' be fine in the
first of the year, right? Um well the 16th is actually a date where they're I'd rather get it out sooner. Okay. Anyway, so um the Sun Property Group once again is interested in purchasing property at 24 school.
It's not >> Oh yeah, I remember that. Okay. So I >> a potential brownfield. Yeah. >> Former landfield or historic disposal site and they would like to put a solar array on it. But no. So I've already emailed them back specifically and said
this is you know right grammar school you know but I wanted you to be aware particularly since there are going to be I think more and more companies that are trying to buy land in town >> for solar arrays or batteries.
>> Yeah. And I hope the planning board I know they're already listening to one >> idea but yeah >> I don't like it. Well, it's the state doesn't >> Well, the difficulty is that the state has regulations,
>> right, that prevents us >> from from saying exactly. Yeah. Which is >> Yes. >> I mean, I >> um announcements. I don't have any. If anyone else does. >> Happy holidays. >> Happy holidays.
>> We'll be back before after Christmas. >> Uh yeah. No. So our and so our next meeting is December 30th and I believe we're going to have it's a Tuesday. It's not going to be on Monday. Um and I believe we're going to have a full hearing that day. >> I don't know. It hasn't been scheduled
yet. You know, we'll see. But you will have the presentation from Superintendent Martin. >> Oh. From um the Franklin. Okay. All right. And are they coming in person? >> He usually does. >> He prefers to come in person. So >> Right.
Um, okay. So, with that, I'm going to make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> All right.