Hi, Susan. No. Can you hear me? And can I connected to the thing? It says it cannot hear me yet. Okay. Can you hear me? Yep. Okay. I'm sorry to be late. I was at my
book group. >> No problem. I can hear you now. >> Oh, good. Well, yeah, I turned on the vid the audio of my um cell. >> All right. So, we are waiting for Jess and I know she's going to be here.
>> All right. As Mary Joe pops in and out, so she's here. >> Janette. Um, >> Janette's got another thing. >> Yeah, >> there she is. Here she is. Jess, you're here, right? >> You're unmute. You need to unmute.
>> I'm here. >> I'm here. >> Okay, great. >> I'm just finishing a couple bites of my dinner. >> Oh, sorry. >> Oh, I I just got home at quarter after 5, so I had to put something in my mouth. >> Yeah, I just got home, too. But I'm
waiting to eat later. >> I haven't eat all day, so I couldn't wait. >> Oh my goodness. >> Yeah. >> Are we all here? >> We're all here because Janette can't come. >> Okay.
>> So, shall we let um Mary Joe tell us what's happening or ask for what how what we should do? I guess we should Are you ready? You want to say something, Mary Joe, before we vote on your letter? >> Sure. Um, first of all, I look really
dark and blurry to myself. Can you actually see me? >> Yeah. I'm not sure what's going on with my camera or my lighting. This is the first time I've used >> this um setup, you know, with not natural light.
And so, >> okay, >> this is the best I can do. I'm sorry. That's okay. We can still see you. >> Yeah, >> we can hear you. That's it. >> Uh, so we we had the meeting this morning. I did you all get to see that I
revised the letter just a little bit. >> Um, >> are you all I I guess the main question is are are you all okay with the letter? Do you have any questions? >> I do not and I'm okay with it. No, I'm fine. I'm fine with it, too.
>> Me, too. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um, then should we just vote to send it? The The one thing that I'm not sure of, having been at the meeting this morning, is whether we're actually going to be on
the agenda for the Council on Aging meeting, Haley referred to something called open invitation, which I did not know. I did not know what that means. >> Oh, okay. meeting tonight meeting for the for the select board isn't posted on the on the
website yet. So I haven't seen an agenda. >> Okay. >> So I would I would send the letter to Brennan. >> Okay. >> With a copy to Haley to get I would think that the one or the two of them would create the agenda.
>> Okay. And then just request that that we be on the agenda. Mhm. >> Okay. All right. >> And I guess um we need to ensure that our Well, if you send the letter to the select board, they're all going to see
it. >> Yeah. >> Does that sound okay with everybody? >> That sounds fine. >> Sounds fine to me. >> With a co with a copy to Haley. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
Sounds like that meeting today was good that you had with Haley and Mr. Beck and whoever else was with it. Mary Joe. >> Yeah, it was Haley and Rita >> and and Susan was able to come and Ron
Mack and he had an opportunity to present >> what he what he wanted to present. I thought that was good. Um, actually, um, I'll I'll just be honest with you based on my evolving
understanding of of what this actually is. Um, I think in its original sense it it is a complaint about the fact that the highway department stopped plowing
his property without prior notification >> and and without returning his phone calls when he when he was asking what was going on. Um and um for me
I I think that this kind of situation should have been resolved with an investigation um like by somebody within the town to see um what actually happened. And then that that investigation
ideally could have been documented um and potentially this whole thing could be handled without the need for a public meeting. >> No. >> Um but that's not
>> that's that's not what happened and that's not our our process right now. Um but but like I said to me that's the primary issue and it turned into Ron having to try to prove something
um that he in a way he shouldn't have had to do all of the stuff that he did. He should have just been provided with some sort of process whereby >> his story should have been heard by someone relatively objective. the other side should have been heard by
someone relatively objective and then a a fair um assessment and decision about how to deal with the situation because to me I think this is a personnel issue more than anything else. There's the bigger
issue of course of roads not being roads not being consistently sanded and I think that's been going on around the lake for quite some time. Um and I I did do some investigation some further investigation actually this afternoon
into that history. Um, and it's my understanding that that um William Clark um I think William is his first name >> um used to do the plowing until about five or six years ago when he got so frustrated
>> because people um that lived around the lake were landscaping into what was the roadways. the roadway was becoming smaller and then obviously with no culde-sacs at the end he was having to
pile snow somewhere where on the landscaping you know what I mean >> the other issue associated with this is that Clark does a tremendous amount of um contracting work for people around the lake
>> during the the off season like or the on season right So, not only is he having the issue of being frustrated by people not appreciating where he's putting the snow, you know, um, and him not the snow not being able to have a place to go.
But these are the same people that he wants to have as that he wants to do work for, right, in his private business. So, um, if things don't go well, that's a pretty big pretty big mess, >> right?
Um, so that's why from my understanding, one of the reasons why Clark quit. The other thing to explain about roads around the lake is that a lot of times you have to back up if like because there's no culde-sac at
the end of anything. Mhm. >> Um you have to back up and so if you're in a sander um which carries a lot of sand to be efficient um and you can't turn around. So you got this big truck
you've got to navigate a long increasingly narrow road, right? And so not only is that difficult and posing a potential danger to your truck, but it takes extra time.
And so I I think that there are issues around around that as well that kind of need to be dealt with um I don't know in in some way, shape or form. I don't know if a public meeting
is the best way um to deal with those negotiations. But but anyway, these are the issues. I think bringing it up in a public meeting is certainly appropriate though given where we are right now. Does that make sense to everybody?
>> Yeah. Can I can I add some two two perspectives? >> Yeah. Okay. One of the things I found out at this meeting um or before this meeting is that the town some years ago came to an agreement with a lot of the
private roads around the lake and elsewhere in town that the town would under uh would under the proper circumstances would um plow in sand. And this this is the background of what we're talking about this basic
agreement. And there's a list of the of the um >> page >> this the roads that are covered and you can access this policy. Brennan has it in his office. Um the pro the there are five points to the policy. Um and one of
them is that they don't have to plow and and sand if they consider it dangerous to their equip the roads dangerous to their equipment. Okay. So that's one of the issues that's there's long history to this. The other thing that I found
out at this meeting and should have been made clear from the beginning but wasn't is that the DPW has not been dealing with these roads at all even under Tim Hunting's time. He hired a contractor and the contractor was Clark. So, what
happened in the winter, this past fall or winter, all of a sudden seems to have tried to take it over and their trucks are much too big. >> Mhm. for these roads and and they should have they should have gone out to hire
another contractor in my opinion or use Boron who's been doing it I think who has been a contractor but it wasn't clear to me that he had been um actually um doing it just I think I got the
impression that he wasn't the person that stopped but anyway the issue of the Lenny and Devon came and took assess the roads the um Birch Road, Bronze Road, and said it was dangerous to would damage the
trucks. But I do not know whether they were talking about damaging the DPW trucks or damaging the truck >> contractor using that. That was not clear to me. So there's, you know, there's both the history and the policy.
And um and what Mary Joe is talking about is that the procedure that was used was it was not well thought through. Would that be fair to say, Mary Joe?
>> Yeah, I think that's fair to say. Um and just to provide some some context, too, um I did confirm with a neighbor that David Boron is the one who plowed in December. >> Okay. So what was so ironic in a way was that he was the one that prepared the
road for plowing >> and then >> he said it was okay for plowing. He plowed it and then he stopped for no apparent reason and his name was not even mentioned when we spoke this morning as someone that
was any part of the decision-making process. So, it just all of that kind of doesn't add up. >> I think that the content of Mayor Joe's letter definitely is appropriate for this situation. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. >> Did you have something you wanted to say or ask? >> Hi. Yes. Um, I was just at the select board meeting and in a it's on their agenda. the DPW is there this evening
and it's on their agenda and as you know I I I wouldn't want to like hurt your campaign or your letter or anything but it is as you know it's
of a worry to me the idea um I had my elderly mom living here you know so I have experience with with seniors and um getting her places was really important.
We have a a a really sticky driveway and we got the plow and everything set up. So to to learn what that I learned at your last meeting that there are two seniors who the town is saying they
won't plow which means the road must be being left really unsafe so that an ambulance can't even get in. I would like to talk tonight when the
DPW gentleman comes on and just speak generally as a public person concerned why are they saying they won't or can't plow
>> Mary Lou I appreciate your sentiment but this is exactly the situation that we are addressing >> I know that I do know that but I'm saying as someone from the public, >> you know, I don't have your your
um risk or or I don't know your even your power or authority. I just have a concern that I think
everybody in this town would want to know about. You know what I'm saying? Like do do those two seniors in particular who you spoke about pay lesser taxes cuz they don't get all the town services?
>> No. I I think what's going on was we didn't know what the previous administration for the DPW >> had a contract or agreement with to do the lake roads. >> Okay. how that it isn't. We're going to send this letter and making them aware
of things that are going on so that the town will be able to address this with the DPW. >> Okay. >> That's all this letter is for, >> right? So, so okay. >> And it's like it's like everything in town. Communication is the key. There is
no communication. >> I agree. >> When the guy left, >> when Tim left, it should have been brought up to the next one and so on and so forth. And so then whose responsibility does that sit with? Our select board or the town administrator? Like it
>> I guess they'll figure that out with this and the the town meeting that they have the board member board meeting that they're having now. They will find out who's supposed to be who's responsible. All we want to do is send this letter of our concern, >> right?
>> Persons on these streets that can't get sanded and uh plowed. >> Okay. So, did did they see it yet? Did the DPW people see it yet? >> This letter? No, it hasn't been sent out yet. >> Okay. >> I don't believe
>> I believe this item is going to be on the 1 February um select board. Mayor Joe, was that their their agenda? Wasn't that your impression >> that impression? I I think Marylu, why don't you reserve your comments for the
meeting where they're where they're dealing with this issue specifically? Um because I think I I looked at the agenda item for the DPW for this time and it was about some other topic. I think >> it it plowing. It was plowing but but um
and then he was there just going >> really. >> Yeah, it said plow but it but it specified something about town buildings. >> Yeah, I think it Yeah, that's what I mean. I I think it was another topic. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I think it'll be more
it'll be more um powerful of a comment if if it's offered during the meeting where they're making the where we they have this on the agenda specifically. >> I'll try and tuck it away. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, if you can remember, you know, the February 2nd or third meeting. >> I will.
>> Yeah. >> I also wanted to touch base. She she had mentioned about ambulances. Um, I spoke to um our our emergency um management people in town and I was told that on a good day um the ambulance probably will
not go down Ron's Hill um because in fear they wouldn't get back up even on a clear day with no snow. >> Oh my god. Yeah. >> So, so I asked, "Well, what happens if you won't go down there?" And they
explained that numerous things could happen. either they could use a um another pickup truck to bring them up to the null or carry him on a stretcher or they have they have different ways. Um and I was actually talking to um Devon
who told me that um not too long ago they had to carry someone with a broken hip all the way down their driveway to the end of the road because the the ambulance wouldn't um go into their driveway. So, it does happen an awful lot where ambulances will not enter
driveways and they have to um find a different way to get the patient from the house to the ambulance. >> You know, even even if the ambulance is parked in your driveway, and I had this experience, you're still not going to
have to be carried out in a special correct chair get into the ambulance. So it's just having to carry you further, >> right? >> It's unfortunate, but it's, you know, >> well, he he said that it a lot of the
factors is um the driver, too. Some drivers absolutely refuse to to um make any risky maneuver. And then there's others that will risk things that people other people won't. Um it's all to who's driving the ambulance, the conditions of
the road, the weather. There's a lot of different factors. >> Okay. Um, >> so, so, so we like like to say, well, what about if an ambulance can't get down there? Well, emergency management said on a good day, we don't even know
if the ambulance will go down there anyway, sadly. >> Okay. >> I just wanted to to say that that's all. Okay. >> I want to second what Mary Joe suggested, Mary Lou, that you come to
the February board meeting. >> February 2nd. >> Okay. Okay. And can the public see the letter, Mary Joe, or not till that day? We'll see it that day, the letter you guys wrote.
>> Well, I certainly think the select board needs to see it first. >> Uhhuh. And I really don't know what the policy is on something like that. >> I have to ask. Okay. >> Yeah. I I think the letter becomes part
of public record. >> Um sometimes you can read a letter at the select board meeting. I don't know if that would be appropriate in this instance, you know, and and make it public in that way. I'm not I'm not sure. I haven't been to so many select board meetings
that I would know. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you all. Um I'm gonna go. Thanks, >> Mary Lou. >> Yep. >> We appreciate your concern. >> Hey, I have a I have to go to cemetery commission in eight minutes. >> Okay.
>> But um Jessica, can you bring up your your >> Yes, I have eight minutes to sell this to you guys. So Haley put a bug in my ear um when we were talking about this about how there's grants um and one
there's a grant that's available now to apply for um which um is due February 1st. So I asked um Susan about it and we're like ah we're not we don't have the time to do it and whatever. But then I saw a a
Facebook post from my old memories and it got me thinking. And um the fa Facebook post was about the lockbox program where um we would you would supply a resident with a lock box. Um,
so if there was an ever an emergency, um, the police or the fire and then they they can't get into your home, we they install a lock box and your keys in there with the code. Dispatch has the code >> so that they don't have to break
windows, break down doors, climb through windows, and can easily access access the patient, >> access the patient. Um, and sometimes it's it is time consuming to do all those things. Yeah. >> Um, so in my brain I'm like, we could
actually do this. February 1st is right around the corner. But I spoke with Devin and I also spoke with Lenny who are both on board with supporting this um, if we are able to get this grant and I am here to seek approval for it for me
to write the grant for it or apply for it. >> Oh, sure. I second it. >> Yeah. We have a motion on the floor and it's been second. I I Okay, so let's I Yeah, Jessica, is it okay if I run this?
>> Yeah. >> Okay. So, all in favor? Let's see who goes first. Jessica does. Mary Joe. >> Uh Johnson I. >> Make peace. I >> Millinger I. >> Styman I.
>> So, it's been moved and seconded and passed. So, >> thank you so much. I'm very excited about this. I think it'll be really good for our community. >> Yeah, thanks for thinking about this. As as I told Jessica, I have been thinking about getting it myself and it'll be
nice if they're provided by the town. >> It's a really great program. It really is. and and there there are some residents that already supply their own, but if we can supply for people, you know, who who don't even think about it or right,
>> you know, can't afford it or whatever the the issue is. So, >> and that's what we're here for. >> Absolutely. It's a way to to make our community safe, >> and who and and as long as we can get grant money, why not try? >> Exactly.
>> Right. So, thank you guys. I really appreciate I'm very excited for this. >> Thank you for thinking of >> So um you were uh you know our agenda was just to deal with the letter and Jessica had an unanticipated piece of
business. >> Mhm. >> If you want to deal with an unanticipated business, I will disappear and um you all can because we are quorum is as uh free now. I'm all done. As long as I got that as
long as I got that voted on, I'm finished. >> Anybody else? >> I have nothing. >> Mayor Joe. >> No. Uh, do we have to vote to send the letter?
>> I think we voted on the letter, didn't we? >> We'll do it again. >> We voted to approve the letter. Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, okay. So, let's Okay, let's have a motion to um send the letter to the select board and Haley. A
>> second. >> Um Okay. Vote. Mary Joe. >> Johnson. I >> Muse I. >> Millinger. I >> Straman. I >> Okay. We don't have a secretary for this meeting. I guess I will write it up if
what I remember and send it around to you all and see if I got it. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you all. I'm gonna change my hat now. >> There you go. >> Nice seeing you all. Stay warm. >> Yes.
>> See you in February. >> Be good. >> Good night. >> Be good. Be careful. All right. Sit.