WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=ZKHxP0f_fcU Part: 1 1 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:41.840 How we doing camerawise? There we go. Good enough. So, I have the honor of calling us to order at 3 o'clock on Wednesday, July 1st. Um, the first item of business is going to be to determine who is the 2 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:58.000 chair and who will be vice chair of the new position of the select board. And then I do want to highlight just one agenda change that is we will be doing our first interview for town clerk at 3:00 and the second interview at 3:45 and then the rest of the general 3 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:15.040 business. So I think what do I need a motion from you to start to open the meeting or no? >> No. All right, baby. >> Awesome. >> Mad with power. Um so can I have a nomination for chair please? 4 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:31.520 I I nominate Melissa. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. >> All right. Roll call vote. All those in favor >> stalker I >> I'll abstain. >> Okay. Well, you've been Do you accept your new position as 5 00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:47.520 >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I will make a motion for vice chair as Eric. Being a linear one, I think um you'll want to learn a little before that position. Although this is not we're all a team here 6 00:01:47.520 --> 00:02:02.719 >> as chairs that we can start meetings and end meetings. >> So I'll make a motion for Eric to be vice chair. >> I'd second. >> I'll I'll abstain. How's that? >> So yeah. >> Okay. Um so roll call vote. All those in favor say I. >> Bton I. 7 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:18.400 >> Okay. So it's official our new chair that well same >> chair the chairs in the class with Rita Eric and I is we've all really participated equally with agenda items and that sort of thing only when they need a chair or 8 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:34.080 vice chair like starting a meeting chairing a meeting that's the only use that so we're all e team players >> looking forward to working with you >> and welcome Jim >> regardless of official titles Right. 9 00:02:34.080 --> 00:03:00.239 >> Okay. So, before we have our interview, I just want to do a sound check cuz the AC is on. Can people hear well enough? >> Sure. I can turn it off. >> We'll see when the person >> Calvin, would you like to come up? >> So, this is Calvin Ellison. He is one of 10 00:03:00.239 --> 00:03:16.239 our our two finalists I guess for the position of town here. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> I have a quick question. Are you so you gota be Raphael's son, right? I'd say I'm saying I know you. That's >> No, that's that's right. >> I'm I don't know what that means, but 11 00:03:16.239 --> 00:03:32.319 >> Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I actually recognized you, >> right? >> Nothing bad. >> And you're Ron Burgerer's grandson, right? >> That's correct. >> Wow. This guy's connected. >> He was my secretary teacher. See, there you go. So, you know him, too. >> He's the best. 12 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:49.920 >> A lot of shoot connections. >> Yes. >> Well, hold out. >> You know, we'll decide on that later. >> The first question. >> Wait a second. Wait a second. >> Oh, okay. >> First, let's introduce ourselves >> and um and then we will um we will start 13 00:03:49.920 --> 00:04:05.200 asking you questions. So, um Eric, why don't you go first? >> I'm Eric Stalker. You know that apparently. Um, and I've been on the this will be my sixth year in this fine committee. >> Yeah. Jim Walton and this is my first 14 00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:22.960 minutes select but I've been on finance committee for quite a long time different I was a chair for a while and as a member was a good it was a good launch pad learning experience. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Great to meet you. >> And I'm Melissa Makepiece O'Neal. And 15 00:04:22.960 --> 00:04:40.960 this is my uh eighth year starting my eighth year um as select world member and um lived in town all my life. So >> great to meet >> So yeah. Um so can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about 16 00:04:40.960 --> 00:04:57.120 who you what draws you to this position here? >> Definitely. Um so uh my name is Calvin. Um, I grew up in Ammerst, but I spent a lot of my youth in Shootsberry. Um, because my grandparents lived here, uh, and because, frankly, it was a lot nicer 17 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:13.440 than hanging out in Ammerst. Um, um, when I graduated high school in 2014, I moved away. I moved to Washington DC. Um, where I went to American University for international relations for a bachelor's and for a master's um, later. 18 00:05:13.440 --> 00:05:30.800 And uh in DC I spent a lot of time in mostly academic administration but administration at large. I also did an internship in the US Senate. Um and I really you know went to DC with this idea that I was going to leave the 19 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:45.680 Pioneer Valley and I was going to go and I was going to change the world and I was going to you know walk the marble streets etc etc. Um, but what I well I won't say quickly, but what I what I found over my stay in DC was that it wasn't 20 00:05:45.680 --> 00:06:01.360 what was I I wasn't so motivated maybe by the actual streets of DC or by the work that was being done in DC. I was motivated by the work of you know communities like Shootsbury. had grown up with kind of this quintessential model of like New England direct 21 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:19.120 democracy right next door and kind of you know there was something about that and about New England town politics that really drew me back home. Um so I spent the pandemic uh working at American University in their academic 22 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:33.360 administration. I worked for several different departments um and really really felt really successful in that. But when I was looking for more mission sort of driven work and and work that I felt would have a real impact, I I came home. So I moved home in December of 23 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:49.840 last year. Um and that's kind of what brought me to find the shoots role uh the town clerk role. And I was really really excited to see it. Um this was exactly the kind of role I was looking for when I moved home and it was just kind of serendipitous that 24 00:06:49.840 --> 00:07:08.360 it happened to be open at the time. Um and yeah, I I think I bring a lot an extensive amount of administrative experience um a lot of, you know, really strong interpersonal skills and good organization and um if I can be of help, I I I hope I will. 25 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:25.280 >> Right. >> Thanks. >> Um my question is um as town clerk, you work closely with the select board, town administrator, and various committees. How do you view the ideal working relationship between the town clerk's office and the select board and how will 26 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:42.080 you ensure we are kept proactively informed about critical compliance or election matters. Mhm. So I you know and you all are the ones on the committee so you can you can correct me if I'm wrong if this is very naive but 27 00:07:42.080 --> 00:07:58.720 um in my head the relationship between the town clerk and the select board should be highly collaborative. Um, you know, the the the work that the board does is incredibly important and the way to to get the resources to you guys that you need in order to accomplish all that 28 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:15.039 you've accomplished, especially in the last couple of years, requires that kind of administrative acumen and like fluency. Um, so I guess for me, I I would I would see myself as really an asset for the committee. Um, I think I 29 00:08:15.039 --> 00:08:30.560 would also really hope to at least over time develop, you know, develop myself into a real resource for the committee so that if you guys have questions, you can come. You've got, you know, like I I should have all the background that would help to inform y'all when you are 30 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:47.519 making decisions or getting something organized. In terms of uh getting you critical information, uh, in case you can't tell, I'm a I'm a notetaker. Um, and so for me, you know, especially with critical communications like that, it's 31 00:08:47.519 --> 00:09:04.399 first thing before almost anything else, right? I I have I have a bit of a checklist I do when I sit down and and, you know, operate my work and um, one of the first checks I kind of make is does everyone have the information they need in order to kind of get get through their day and do what they need to do. 32 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:20.640 Um, so yeah. >> Okay, great. Mhm. >> Okay. During your the first round of interview first came in here, you talked about what that was outlined in the 30 to 60 day assessment plan. >> Yeah. >> Um so let's assume you you finished that 33 00:09:20.640 --> 00:09:37.519 plan and uh and you found some significant disorganization >> in our records management or digital archiving. How would you approach proposing and implementing a structural overhaul? Not a part-time. It's a part-time 25 34 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:53.360 hour a week job. >> Yeah. Uh and and I appreciate you're mentioning that it is it is part-time, right? So like a a massive overhaul isn't something that's necessarily going to happen like that. Um, but it's actually, oddly enough, one of my 35 00:09:53.360 --> 00:10:08.080 favorite things to do is to like walk into a situation where that kind of optimization is needed and to kind of see like, okay, based on the function, right, based on on who needs this information when, like let's say 36 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:25.680 this is um this is for like municipal records, right? Um I think for me the first question I ask is basically what's the tempo of how often do these records get you know kind of um consolidated 37 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:41.680 right? if they are significantly disorganized, does that disorganization affect the actual quality of the records or does it just mean that basically like it's kind of a pain, right? When you go and you you're looking for something specific and you can't find it, right? I kind of ask myself these questions 38 00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:58.160 around form and function. And I use that uh particularly in collaboration with people who have, you know, been in the system before, who know what they're looking at, who kind of want who who know more than I. Um, I would want to consult with with with with you all, 39 00:10:58.160 --> 00:11:14.240 with Haley, with with, you know, any of sort of the people who would kind of have a particular interest in, let's say, like a given municipality record um to understand like cuz cuz you can reorganize things a million different ways, but to me, what's really important 40 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:29.600 is that whoever needs that information can get it quickly and without a lot of trouble. Um, and so, you know, how the data is used to me affects that. Um, so if I I hope that makes sense. 41 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:44.320 >> Yep. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um, shoot is a highly engaged community where residents value transparency and accessibility. Um, in a small town, a town clerk position frequently interacts 42 00:11:44.320 --> 00:12:00.560 with neighbors and acquaintances in official capacity. How do you balance being approachable and customer serviceoriented while firmly upholding strict state statutory guidelines and regulations even when it's unpopular? >> Yeah, it's a it's a really good 43 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:17.279 question. Um I I think for me I really like to meet people where they are. And so I think a a true balance between maybe being uh being interpersonal and friendly and and you know getting 44 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:34.079 introduced to everyone um I think that balance you know often comes down at least in in many of the cases that I've worked in in administration um to kind of well you already used the word transparent but I think I think being as transparent as 45 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:49.120 you can about the situation that you're in and why you may or may not be able to fulfill someone's request. maybe right then, right? Or maybe not in that particular way. I I I've I've often found that, you know, a it's good 46 00:12:49.120 --> 00:13:05.920 to hear people out because, you know, especially if they're feeling an urgency about their request and you can't meet it, there's almost certainly a reason a good reason for that, right? Whether it can actually affect the timeline or not. So I I for me I think the balance is really between getting to know people and empathizing with the situation that 47 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:22.320 they happen to be in as well as um you know being honest with them when state regulations or laws find you in a certain way and just saying look like you know I want I want to get to the solution that you want to get to. There 48 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:38.600 might be a particular way I need to do it in order to uphold my obligations. Um, but we're going to get there and we'll get there together and whatever you need to kind of be with me on that path. >> Yeah. 49 00:13:48.160 --> 00:14:02.399 >> It's amazing. I'm almost a little chilly. I didn't think that would happen today. >> Yeah, right. >> I'd throw a sweatshirt in the car. You know, I know this air conditioned city, right? and [ __ ] Anyway, uh as previously noted, some systems need structural rebuilding, but our town 50 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:19.760 can't press pause on the calendar. >> You'll be stepping into this role right before a major election cycle and will have to hit the ground running with little room for error. How do you balance the demands of running an election while simultaneously diagnosing diagnosing and fixing the system 51 00:14:19.760 --> 00:14:35.120 systemic administrative gaps in the office? >> Yeah. It's a good question, right? >> It it is. It is. >> It's great. I mean, you know, obviously the priority, at least in my mind, 52 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:52.160 immediately is that, you know, things on election day go as smoothly as they possibly can. And that's, you know, aiming for perfection is always kind of a fool's errand. You're always going to end up disappointed. But, uh, I really aim for functional. And so, I think, 53 00:14:52.160 --> 00:15:07.279 well, I don't know maybe the particulars. I I think I can say that what I would be most interested in is like where is that disorganization causing actual issues the day of, right? Um and is there are there changes that could be implemented between now and 54 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:22.639 then that could make a difference, right? Um in which case that would definitely be something I would want to put a lot of priority on. Um but to me, I mean, it's all about democracy. It's all about the vote and that day has to go well, right? Um, in in my first 55 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:39.279 interview, you know, we were we were talking a bit about what happens if something goes wrong on election day or what what if something, you know, and and and the answer is to me like you do everything you can up until that point to make sure that people have the best chance they can to exercise their their 56 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:57.519 freedoms and duties as citizens. And you know, maybe a comprehensive rebuild of a particular organizational structure can happen after the election or maybe it can be partially built in a way that just makes things a lot more functional around the election, right? Um, but to 57 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:11.839 me, it's all like like the most important thing, especially coming up on a big midterm like this, is people shouldn't have to be like unduly waiting in line for a really really long time. and there should be expectations set around how they're able to cast their 58 00:16:11.839 --> 00:16:28.399 vote. And if between now and then we were able to overhaul something organizationally to make that smoother, that'd be great. Um, but the priority is definitely on the operations at least for in my mind the day of um at least for this and making sure that just as 59 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:44.240 smooth as as possible. over time um I get really excited about rebuilding uh you know organizational uh structures and particularly in recordkeeping and so you know that can all happen and in and and I would I 60 00:16:44.240 --> 00:17:00.959 would hope it will but what's really important on that day is that as everyone can get to vote. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> Okay. A two-part question. uh what does long-term success look like to you in this role >> and uh how does this part-time position 61 00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:16.720 in Shootsberry align with your broader professional goals? >> Sure. So, I think long-term success to me is really like like if I could, you know, and we we talked about this a bit around my like our 30 and 60 day 62 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:33.360 plan. Um, but can immediately on sort of hitting the ground running, can things that have a lot of urgency behind them be begun to be addressed? Right? If there's things that are in the pipeline that we that have been needing to get across the 63 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:48.880 finish line or get out um for a long time, that's obviously going to be my number one priority. Um, for me, like institutional knowledge, especially in a position like this, is huge, right? And so in terms of what I would call a 64 00:17:48.880 --> 00:18:03.679 success is if if if I if I got into this role would be to build, you know, funny as it sounds, just like very clear recordkeeping and institutional knowledge that would not be, you know, I I could be here 20 years, I could be 65 00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:20.400 here 5 years. Either way, I would consider a success. anything that I help build should be replicable by the by anyone else um essentially and should be referencable um because the number one thing I found that's that's the hardest about these 66 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:37.360 types of positions is if you step in and all the institutional knowledge is gone and you're just kind of like yeah the success is really building for the next town clerk in a certain sense right um in terms of what attracted me to kind of 67 00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:55.280 or how this fits into my long-term plans is I like I said I left the valley because I wanted to get into public service and I did certainly to a degree. Um but I also came back because I was really invested in getting into public service. And I think for me, you know, I 68 00:18:55.280 --> 00:19:11.120 like the grit of the day-to-day work. I like being a problem solver and I like, you know, helping people help make people's days 5% better, right? And this is exactly the kind of position where that is true. And that's not always true 69 00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:27.679 of all municipal positions. So to me, this is kind of this opportunity is kind of unique in that way. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> Um I thought of a question just as I looked at the next question. Um does the select have any other questions? I know I have one. 70 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:43.919 Just with regard to elections, do you feel like you're knowledgeable enough about election law to to >> to be the boss for this next election? >> I I think you know to be obviously we're sitting here July 1, >> right? >> I 71 00:19:43.919 --> 00:20:00.080 do. I think that there will need to be some knowledge catch up between now and then. Absolutely. I do. >> Okay. Um, but I think I'm knowledgeable enough generally about elections that it should it it it I think it'll feel pretty intuitive to me, especially because I 72 00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:17.360 grew up around here and I you know, I watched my parents, my grandparents and my aunts and cousins all vote. Not all of them were voting in Shootsberry, but obviously they all did. Um, and to me, I mean, not that you can make up for everything with uh with enthusiasm, but 73 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:33.679 I mean that's the core of the job. that's so important, right, is making sure that the town can get its business done and that everyone can participate in the beautiful way that only happens in towns like Shootsbury. And so, you know, I I I I think I would make it my 74 00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:50.159 business to to get as up to date as possible. And I would I would be excited genuinely. You know, I am a uh what's the word? Trial by fire guy. I don't I'm not super afraid of that. I I find that it often helps me like really lock in 75 00:20:50.159 --> 00:21:07.679 and I pick up things quick and you know >> might be some of those opportunities. >> But anyway, I hope that answered the question. It does. Thank you. >> Did you have any other >> I don't >> The one No, go ahead. Go ahead. 76 00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:23.520 >> Um the one question I have is and Eric touched on it a little bit about election day being stressful or election leading up to election being stressful. How do you handle stress and work in front of people? >> Yeah. >> Or in general, I suppose, you know, just 77 00:21:23.520 --> 00:21:41.280 speak in general. What's >> either or, right? >> Yeah. No. Um, thank you. I I I find that preparation is kind of nine10 gets me there. Um, I have done it's actually not on my 78 00:21:41.280 --> 00:21:57.120 resume. I've done a little work in the service industry. I' I've definitely been in situations where you're kind of in the thick of it, so to speak, >> customer service down at the bottom. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um and and things are, you know, when things get crazy and you're having a bunch of different, you know, 79 00:21:57.120 --> 00:22:11.840 kind of demands being put on you, that's that's certainly not see. Um like I said, I'm a list guy. I kind of the number one most important thing for me that helps me de-stress is to know that I have everything kind of in my 80 00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:26.880 view, right? and and that it's on my plate. I know what's on my plate. I know what I need to do. Generally speaking, no matter how stressful a given moment is, as long as I kind of keep that momentum of that motion, right, moving 81 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:43.679 forward, um I manage it pretty well. Uh I also know when to you know take a moment and ask for help and andor like you know be willing to defer to someone um who may be a little bit clearheaded 82 00:22:43.679 --> 00:22:59.520 than I am in that moment and just you know get their help, get their expertise, get their feedback and usually I can turn that back and you know the productive wheels sort of start to turn again. >> Yeah, might cut you off there for >> No, that's okay. Um, I didn't have any 83 00:22:59.520 --> 00:23:14.640 other questions. I just gonna go over the process timeline once we once we're ready to wrap up. >> Eric was the next one. >> Yeah. My next question was, do you have any do you have any questions for us? >> Well, I I asked uh Haley and the chief 84 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:31.280 this same question the other day, but I would love to hear from all of you. Uh, if I were to be offered this role, what's one piece of advice you would have for me kind of starting when I am in the election cycle and all that? Would you have kind of a a snippet of wisdom? 85 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:48.400 >> He's looking at me. >> You must you must be the wisdom guy. >> Um I mean I would say the whole ele just the whole election thing itself is >> Yeah. >> You know I I wouldn't make light of the light of it. Yeah. >> It's just a real you know Leslie can 86 00:23:48.400 --> 00:24:03.520 tell you she was she used to run she used to be a town clerk. But I mean, um, yeah, >> that's all. I just think I think just that would be my advice to you would be just make sure you've really confident about that. >> Yeah, absolutely. 87 00:24:03.520 --> 00:24:19.039 >> Yeah. Be ready for anything. Every day be people showing up inside your area here up above here. >> All right. >> You ready for anything? >> All right. I like that. >> So, mine goes along with the question I 88 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:34.799 stay calm and breathe. Don't hold your breath, >> right? >> It makes it worse. >> I love that. Yeah. >> Critical. >> Thank you all so much. That's that's that's all really helpful. >> Yeah. I think it was really cool. It's a 89 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:49.919 cool way to really understand the mechanisms of municipal government, all the different pieces. >> Yeah. >> The characters in town, whether it be select word people or people just members of town looking for whatever. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean it's it's where the 90 00:24:49.919 --> 00:25:07.120 sausage gets made, right? It's it's uh >> yeah, >> all substance and not a lot of flare, especially in a in like a smaller town like Shootsberry. And I I like that. I want I want substance and I want I want to do work that will actively like improve people's sense of like how the 91 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:23.600 town is operating and what they can expect. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> One thing regarding expectations, we we have to balance our budget every year. like you were in DC for quite a while, so they have a different way of doing things there. >> Occasionally, >> we have to balance budgets here. 92 00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:41.039 >> Oh, yeah. Well, lucky lucky for you. I I uh I was never put in charge of any money that I didn't I didn't have to answer for. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um Jim, do you want to give the our process timeline to >> Yeah. So, the first thing would be um 93 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:56.400 some references. If you have some references, like three references. Okay. >> If you could get those to Haley. >> Sure. >> And um sometime hopefully very quickly though an offer letter will be going out to the uh the selected candidate. 94 00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:12.640 >> Okay. >> Um and then there's a background check that happens pretty quickly. Does that >> Yeah. So usually once we we get like a signed offer letter back, we'll do the background check and the offer letter will say that the permanent position is contingent upon passing. Yeah. Um, yeah, 95 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:27.520 >> that's still possible to do all that by July 7th. >> I'm a fast mover. >> I'm a fast. >> Okay, it's July 7th. It's all gonna happen. Done. >> Well, and at least in my case, that background check. >> Yeah, >> I should pass with flying colors. Knock on wood. 96 00:26:27.520 --> 00:26:43.520 >> Good with your your DC. >> Yeah, hopefully >> six days from now should be all all wrapped up, >> right? Good to know. Yeah. >> Yeah. So for you the only is getting the references to to Haley. Okay. >> We'll do. All right. Well, thank you all for having me here. 97 00:26:43.520 --> 00:27:10.640 >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah, appreciate it. >> Hey, thanks for coming out. >> Of course. I will leave you to your business. >> Stay cool out there. >> Yes, likewise. >> Thanks to you as well. just know how to plug in a computer. 98 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:27.760 >> You know how to turn it off and turn it back on again. >> Plug it out the window. >> Thank you. >> Did you ask that in earlier sessions? What's that? >> Yeah, we had covered that. We went over that. So, yeah. So, 99 00:27:27.760 --> 00:27:44.799 >> it's pretty it's pretty self-explanatory on the >> Yeah, the um I didn't want to say earlier because I wanted to get into the interview, but Devon and I had done like screening interviews. We did those last week, so we had some similarish questions to this, but you know, a 100 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:58.720 little bit different. >> You were with you say Brennan. >> Devon. Devon and I. >> Oh, Deon. Okay. Okay. Yep. >> Okay. So, our next topic, um, what's our next one? 345. Yes, 101 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:20.679 >> we've got 15 minutes. Um, >> Calvin Ellison, I guess, >> parents. >> No, his grandfather is Ron Burger, >> right? But I thought >> his dad lives in Ammerst. I I just know him. Sonful. 102 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:46.399 Um, >> sometimes we need to take a second for the No, honestly. Um, let's see. So, we probably should move on to approving minutes, right? Okay. So, um, do do I hear a motion to approve the minute for 103 00:28:46.399 --> 00:29:01.919 >> June 22nd, 2026? >> So, moved. Okay. Um, do I hear a second if they're approving? >> I can second. I'd have to abstain on Yeah, I'll second. >> We're throwing everything at you. That's 104 00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:18.159 okay. I'm right. >> In fact, we're also having a meeting before our regular schedule just to do some of this stuff. >> Yeah. >> Um, so we can celebrate you more at our regular meetings. Um >> so 105 00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:35.919 >> uh do were there any edits or um clarifications in those minutes? I didn't see any. >> I didn't see either. No, they're good. >> Um all those in favor >> start. >> Make peace of Neil I >> bolton abstain. >> Um and then we have to accept the 106 00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:52.960 resignation of two people. Stein from the person and Jill Fra from the post she released it for us. So do you want to make a motion here or Jimmy? >> I yeah I move that we accept the 107 00:29:52.960 --> 00:30:14.640 resignations of April time the personnel board and Jill Vancra from the shoot police department. Um any second >> I'm a seconder. >> Oh yes. Usually he seconds. He make a 108 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:30.080 motion or I would make a motion. She'd say they're move. That's not what you have. >> We'll get a system down. Yeah. I'm sure we'll figure it out first like 15 20 minutes. >> I'm sure we'll figure it out. >> Um so okay. So, do I hear all those in favor of accepting those two 109 00:30:30.080 --> 00:30:45.600 resignations? >> Stalker, I >> would be I and then we also and those will have thank you notes. Brennan, >> they're right here. Perfect. I wasn't sure who would be chair so I didn't leave them in a pile. >> I have all the signing things right 110 00:30:45.600 --> 00:31:02.080 here. >> What a diplomat. >> Right. >> That was the right thing. >> Just can I ask a question regarding all this? Yeah. Yeah. >> Regarded the police uh resignation. Is there like an outgoing interview or as far as understanding how does that inter 111 00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:17.279 chief pelleter did an exit interview but this move is really she's leaving the state relocating. >> Okay. >> Um so that was why >> okay >> he did try to keep >> y >> yeah we did try pretty hard. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Right. 112 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:33.760 >> Um the commit would be a little long. >> Yep. Um uh so normally we do do um exit answers with >> employees. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. So moving on to two appointments. Um let's take these individually because 113 00:31:33.760 --> 00:31:50.240 they're so different from one another. Um so the first is Cliff Reed as the select board design for the board of parks commissioner on the community preservation committee. >> Do I hear a motion? >> So moved. >> Okay. I have a second. 114 00:31:50.240 --> 00:32:06.120 >> Second. >> Okay. >> Can I just ask a question? What what is what is the board of parks? Is this some state term? >> We don't have a board of parks, do we? >> Miss, are you listening? >> I'm always listening. 115 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:24.399 >> Uh, so in the um in the CP uh CPA statute, one of the uh seats on the committee is for the board of park commissioners. And if there is any u board or committee that's supposed to be on the CPC that does not actually exist 116 00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:48.159 in a town and the select board gets to designate somebody to serve in that position. So this seat is because we don't have a board of park commissioners. >> All right. >> Okay. Um any further questions before we vote? All those in favor 117 00:32:48.159 --> 00:33:02.080 >> I Walton I >> make peace O'Neal I next one is to appoint um April Stein to the board of assessors you did want to remain on the board of assessors do I hear a motion 118 00:33:02.080 --> 00:33:18.399 >> I move that we uh you want good >> so so moved >> okay >> yeah that's good >> second >> um so uh any questions on that All those in favor? >> Stark cry. Walton I 119 00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:35.120 >> make O'Neal I >> view special event application for historical commission set up anformational table on the town comment on July 5th. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Do you want to speak to Leslie or do you want me to go over the application? 120 00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:49.679 >> Uh I would just like to say that we're not going to be doing anything big. It's from Mary to got the 1776 flag. We got a little banner and I was just going to 121 00:33:49.679 --> 00:34:07.519 give you a little copy of just in 1976 the bulb was cleaned out probably for the first time in 80 years. And that is a fortunate thing because things got 122 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:28.879 kept and I'm going to give you folks a copy. I don't know that any of you know that uh Stu when it was infinit all the way down to the trail. So here 123 00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:44.560 for example what I'm going to give you is a copy of the alphabetical list of names of the u the poles for the north part of shoots which we 124 00:34:44.560 --> 00:35:01.359 the north part of and south garden buring became wed and on this particular list in the south part is Daniel she's name he lived in shsbury where his first child was born and shoots very 125 00:35:01.359 --> 00:35:19.920 kind of documents that we >> in the 70s for the 200th anniversary. >> Nice. >> These are important things for people to know about. We'll probably do something and the tradition will probably do something in the fall and um 126 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:37.440 exciting stuff for a hot summer day. It's really fascinating stuff. >> Awesome. And remind me of what time is happening. >> It's 10:30 to 1. >> Okay. >> We were going to have lemonades and cookies, but I don't know if that were 127 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:54.480 going to bake and it might be watermelon instead. >> Watermelon hydrating. >> Yes, please stop by if you authorize us to do this. We We're not advertising. I keep saying we but it's the historic 128 00:35:54.480 --> 00:36:11.440 commission that's mind with this. >> Okay. >> Any further questions? >> No, I think it's a great idea. Good. >> Yeah. >> Um so do I hear a motion? >> I move that we uh give the historical permission historical commission 129 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:29.160 permission have anformational table in the town comment on July 5th. >> Second. All those in favor >> start your eye while I >> make your eye. >> Well, I suppose we could have done that. 130 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:45.920 >> Time to do it. We didn't know the select day today. So, they're wondering question why are we not advertising? We're not prepared for a large crowd either. It's too short notice, but if you want to take these home and look at them, 131 00:36:45.920 --> 00:37:01.839 there's it's really fun information. And um this is just a sample of the kind of you know, your paper wasn't >> right. Typewriter paper. >> No, parchment paper. >> Well, they didn't have a right back then, did they? 132 00:37:01.839 --> 00:37:19.040 >> Yeah. Also, >> it was a it was a thing. >> Here you go. information about our penny tax. They're just one of the triggers for the house party here. >> Who would have written this out? Who 133 00:37:19.040 --> 00:37:36.160 would have been the actual >> handwriting? >> That's what I figured. >> We should have had Cal give us a s write a writing sample. You can think you want to read about what we did to distribute for the penny. 134 00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:55.440 If you don't want your documents, give me back. No idea. And and I also I didn't know anything about tax, but it was on paper. Um playing cards. I wouldn't have guessed 135 00:37:55.440 --> 00:38:09.119 they had playing cards. another gen or something but uh it was just breaking the backs of the subsistence farmers to be paying these 136 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:34.560 taxes and it erupted into >> the reolution by later and awesome. Well, thank you so much for that. That that's >> I think commissioner of view the members your request is actually partly why we 137 00:38:34.560 --> 00:38:50.000 met today. >> Thank you. >> It does seem like on the fourth July weekend of this event, it would be nice for the town to have something. And lo and behold, what do we have that our God 138 00:38:50.000 --> 00:39:06.079 warranted? >> That's pretty cool. >> What a what a hardworking Does that still need a base on there? There is a base just temporary base under now. >> It's the base that was in place before it went away. It needs 139 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:23.920 Williamstown people are recommending a concrete base and people aren't certain yet where that concrete from base should be. That's my understanding. So, you think it may be time before 140 00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:39.040 >> we have money set up for that? Yeah, I can't remember. >> I thought there was in restoration. I believe so, but someone would have to check on that. >> Matteo, >> yeah, there was a a CPA grant awarded for the concrete base uh two years ago 141 00:39:39.040 --> 00:39:55.280 >> and approved by our meeting. >> Good. Great. >> Okay. >> All right. >> All right. >> Well, thank you. I look forward to stopping by. I >> is there communication wise is there is 142 00:39:55.280 --> 00:40:09.760 what >> is there a lot of notice or not information people awareness >> well that was asked to the audience when I was up papers but the point is we didn't think this would happen because we knew there was no life board meeting 143 00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:28.480 yeah and I would not want to be having an event on the island >> and we're not really prepared this historical commission did not meet until June 23rd and that's when the idea was developed. 144 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:43.359 So there's been some scrambling. >> Yeah. Hope they get the word out there. Good. So >> well I'm not sure you know we've got to pass on to police and fire presence because uh we're describing it 145 00:40:43.359 --> 00:40:58.960 as a small thing. If if we get gauge that people are interested then we will have a more formal program in the fall that we will advertise and I can have a venue that's 146 00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:16.240 appropriate and more handouts and more explanations but this is just last minute because that was then the meeting I've heard and >> y >> get something on our telecom on They actually be done. 147 00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:34.960 >> Could a small display go to the library? >> Well, we haven't talked with we >> talked with Mary about that yet. Maryanne the one to say whether or not she would want to do that. 148 00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:50.880 >> True. Well, I would thought maybe you could do a small display here, but I I was hesitant because given the nature of the documents, I don't know if you would want them left out. You'd want some of the supervisor originals the originals stay in the vault. >> Okay. 149 00:41:50.880 --> 00:42:07.760 >> These actually these originals are really the town clerk's documents. The commission works with copies of things. I I did darl some of them because the 1976 150 00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:24.160 people commission vigor but they go they stay in fall. >> So maybe we could if >> yeah we could have that up like through the month of July. Why not? >> Why not fall over 151 00:42:24.160 --> 00:42:39.520 >> for that? >> Well >> yeah but we could definitely set up a table for that. And I guess I should just also say that Jan Stone is on commission and she's doing a lot of it was her concept. She's doing a lot of 152 00:42:39.520 --> 00:42:56.160 work and her daughter Carrie Stone who is an excellent poster maker is going to be providing posters. So they very much like what could be put on. >> Okay. Nice. Okay. >> Great. 153 00:42:56.160 --> 00:43:12.160 Um so the next item follows right through into the 4th of July is uh to vote to close town offices on Monday the 6th in observation or observance of July 4th holiday. Do you want to expl your fingers in it more than I? 154 00:43:12.160 --> 00:43:27.839 >> Yeah. Initially we had thought oh you observe it on a Friday but then there was there was some I think discrepancy in the bylaw and how it handles weekend holidays. So, what we're going to do or what I'm proposing, what I've asked is that we would just close on Monday and 155 00:43:27.839 --> 00:43:43.200 then we are going to have a special town meeting in the fall and this is thinking ahead, but I think it would be better if we remove all the language about holidays and time off from the bylaw and just have it be policy based. That way, we can be a little bit more flexible 156 00:43:43.200 --> 00:44:00.319 because bylaw will supersede policy. So, if we can just kind of button things up a little bit that way going forward, we'll always have more um flexibility. And when we started doing this year, thanks to Brennan, is just sending out new because this hadn't been done before, a list of all the town of all 157 00:44:00.319 --> 00:44:16.560 the federal holidays to town employees so that they could plan in advance when they're going to be off and if we have to make adjustments, it's better to do it via policy. So, so just a little um yeah, the bylaws just seem to say something a little bit different than what the the observance 158 00:44:16.560 --> 00:44:31.280 on for closing on the Friday before was. So, we've and not everyone works on the Friday. Um so that's why we've asked to do it on Monday >> and um Haley asked me and I said we should vote just to make it official. >> Yeah. >> Okay. 159 00:44:31.280 --> 00:44:48.000 >> So, uh any question? >> No. I've >> I move that we vote to close the town offices on Monday, July 6th in observance of the July 4th holiday. >> Second. >> Okay. Um all those in favor I 160 00:44:48.000 --> 00:45:02.319 >> Walton and I >> make peace from the outline. >> So I think it's time for our next interview. are coming in. We have these to sign for >> um Jim and Eric >> and um we'll do a town announce about 161 00:45:02.319 --> 00:45:39.800 the the Monday closure >> before the Friday. Here's a single signature, guys. There's one thing you learn how to do is sign your name. >> Don't have auto pass. >> No, don't worry. No, we don't have 162 00:45:46.560 --> 00:46:26.880 this. Not yet. Okay. How you doing? You can come have a the hot seat. It's all yours. >> Hi. >> How are you? >> Jim Walton. >> Yep. >> Eric. Nice to see you. 163 00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:43.040 >> Good to see you again. >> Likewise. >> Not for a while. I thought you were having a >> another meeting in here. So, I didn't want to >> a little little interview with a little bit of business, you know, back and forth ourselves up. 164 00:46:43.040 --> 00:46:58.319 >> Um, okay. So, uh, thank you for coming to meet with us and, um, answer our questions that we might have for you about the transition. Um, so first I think we'll go around and introduce 165 00:46:58.319 --> 00:47:14.079 ourselves and then we'll ask you to introduce yourself. Um, Eric, >> I am Eric Stalker on the select board obviously and have been this is my sixth year town stuff way too long. 166 00:47:14.079 --> 00:47:29.599 >> Well, sixth year on the select board, >> right? Exactly. >> Yeah. Jim Walton just starting on select board but coming from finance committee. >> Yeah. >> I think you and I met. Were you involved with the internet when we were deciding to put it in >> way back? Yeah. 167 00:47:29.599 --> 00:47:45.839 >> That was quite a while ago now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> I was I was in the broad >> that was Yeah. That was >> You look familiar, but I wasn't sure. But I definitely >> Yeah. Yeah. That was a cool time actually. Pretty cool the way that all came together. >> Yeah. >> And now we're using it. >> Yeah. >> Now we have internet out there. County. 168 00:47:45.839 --> 00:48:02.560 Is this the same internet here as we have in the house or government? >> My phone is very slow here whereas it at home I you know I tell my wife sometimes if I think about where I'm going to go sometimes it just pops up so fast. >> Maybe because there's so many machines 169 00:48:02.560 --> 00:48:17.440 on this. >> I remember right before we got it in I did a speed analysis of what I had because I was going through Verizon. It was um 75K. >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. I could go and click on something and I could go make a 170 00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:33.119 sandwich and take a short nap coming. So, >> all right. >> Sorry to interrupt. >> No, that's fine. Um, we've all been very pleased with that. Um, so Melissa Model made my eighth year for >> So, tell us introduce yourself and let 171 00:48:33.119 --> 00:48:49.200 us know what drives you to this position, what brought you here. >> Well, um, Damon Herring. I've been living in Shedesbury now for almost 12 years. Put my wife online. I dated and married 172 00:48:49.200 --> 00:49:06.079 and she owned a home and so I decided to move up here to stay where I am. I have zero years on the select board. Uh my background is mostly business. I've been an on the road um I would just say I'm the proverbial traveling 173 00:49:06.079 --> 00:49:22.640 salesman. I'm a territory manager. and uh dealing with uh the construction industry, kitchen and bath stones, things like that. Um within the job, I have to deal with literally I was about to say hundreds, but 174 00:49:22.640 --> 00:49:39.440 probably a couple thousand people and uh trying to always keep them um happy as I can. So I have a lot of experience in that regard even though I'm not a big believer that business is the best possible choice in government. I think 175 00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:55.599 they operate two different ways. Um but um I'm staying home now closer to home. Uh I've been traveling now for about 15 years on the road putting anywhere from 40 to 60,000 miles on a car a year. And 176 00:49:55.599 --> 00:50:12.800 I'm just ready to be a little bit closer here. Um, and I said I've been here all this time, but the thing is I've always been traveling through Connecticut or Eastern Mass or Rhode Island. I've spent very, very little time here, even though I do know my neighbors very well. But I 177 00:50:12.800 --> 00:50:28.319 thought if I'm here, you know, get to know the town, offer a little bit more. I mean, the last time I offered any really input was with the internet, >> you know, so, you know, and I pay attention to what's going on and watching what's going around town. But 178 00:50:28.319 --> 00:50:43.680 um I love this town. I was surprised when I first came here. I I thought you people were living out in the middle of the uh forest. >> We're the center. That's the people. >> I I joked my I with my wife in the 179 00:50:43.680 --> 00:51:01.200 beginning. I said, "I think I just heard Tarzan." >> Yeah. >> So I'm I'm used to living in um more u urban areas. I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and I uh lived in Connecticut for about 25 years. So, and very 180 00:51:01.200 --> 00:51:18.559 populated towns, things like that. >> All right. So, the first question is, as town clerk, you will work closely with the select board, town administrator, and committees. How do you view the ideal working relationship between the town clerk's office and the select 181 00:51:18.559 --> 00:51:35.119 board? And how will you ensure we are kept pro proactively involved with critical compliance of election matters or election matters? >> Well, what that is is just constantly being in 182 00:51:35.119 --> 00:51:51.119 communication with the different members of the board. Any situations that come up or any emergencies that come up to be able to know who to talk to if it's not myself. um and just keep everybody informed as to where the process is, how 183 00:51:51.119 --> 00:52:08.640 it's developing, how it's moving along. Uh one of my background things is I had to do a lot of projects for people and literally you go from A all the way to Z and making sure that everybody's on board so people aren't calling you up asking you questions or getting upset 184 00:52:08.640 --> 00:52:24.000 because you're not responding to what their needs are or their information. One of the questions we had last week was that exact thing is you have a person in the public who comes in and they're upset about something. They want something resolved. If it can't be 185 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:39.280 resolved right away, you need just to sort of keep them involved with the process so they don't have to keep calling back and asking you where you are, what's going on, and keeping that temperature high. You want to bring it down as low as possible. But we're dealing with the different members here 186 00:52:39.280 --> 00:52:55.520 is just to keep everybody informed. Do as much information gathering as you can for each situation that comes up. >> Hopefully. Okay. >> Okay. My turn. Uh your first round, your 187 00:52:55.520 --> 00:53:11.280 first interview here talked about a 30 to 60 day assessment plan. And uh let's say assume that's done. Now the assessment plan is done. um and found some significant disorganization in our records 188 00:53:11.280 --> 00:53:26.880 management or digital or digital archiving. How would you approach proposing and implementing a structural overhaul on a part-time 25h hour per week budget that that you're 189 00:53:26.880 --> 00:53:44.880 >> well um I keep hearing how important this job is and how little time you have to do it and >> those don't match. One of the nicest things I told her about her uh email to me was she always 190 00:53:44.880 --> 00:53:59.839 adds in there, I may not be in the office, but I will respond. I have the feeling in the beginning that 25 hours a week is probably not going to be uh a time frame that will be met 191 00:53:59.839 --> 00:54:15.760 probably a lot more in the beginning. Um I think you're asking the question because maybe that situation is already here where things are in disarray. No, I wouldn't draw that conclusion, but it's okay. You know, could be. >> Well, you're asking me the question. >> Hypothes hypothetically. 192 00:54:15.760 --> 00:54:31.680 >> It sounds like it's going to need some >> Yeah, if I could use some improvement. >> Well, I would say, you know, we haven't had, like I said in the first interview, there hasn't been a dedicated singular person in that office for quite a long time. So, naturally, things just kind of >> Yeah. >> You know, one person tucks it away here 193 00:54:31.680 --> 00:54:48.319 and then another person tucks the same kind of files and plays, that kind of Well, as we discussed in that meeting, the thing is if you have four intermediagers, you have four people doing the job in a somewhat different way. They're not all going to do the same way. They also probably also all have different projects that they're in 194 00:54:48.319 --> 00:55:03.680 the middle of working on. So, the most important thing is to get down with them individually, find out what they're working on, if there's any problems in any any of those areas that they're dealing with, how much they've done, and how much I can pick up from that point. 195 00:55:03.680 --> 00:55:20.000 Sometimes you don't want to pick up in the middle of a project with somebody, but you do want to help that guy, that person to get through the end of it if if that's what's needed. Um, the only way I can answer that question is is to meet with the individuals and then and 196 00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:37.440 pick it up from there and and move it forward and prioritize those issues that are glaring and in your face and need an immediate attention. One of the discussions that the uh chief of police brought up was the upcoming election 197 00:55:37.440 --> 00:55:54.000 and there was a priority. So that's something that it sounds like it needs to really be addressed upfront because we're what four months away from the election. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So I need to 198 00:55:54.000 --> 00:56:10.240 meet with the election board committee the people that you have involved with it now. I need to find out were there any problems in the past or is there any problems that anybody sees coming up that I'm not going to be aware of right at this moment and to address all of 199 00:56:10.240 --> 00:56:26.559 those. Uh sometimes you end up talking to town clerks in other towns saying hey what's your experience? Have you had any problems? Is there anything that is glaring? Anything that you have that I might not have thought of? And then you have to make a few adjustments. And um I 200 00:56:26.559 --> 00:56:42.319 think one of the words we used was how can you guarantee a perfect election? I never try to guarantee anything that I don't have 100% control of or 100% of say and even with that I probably wouldn't guarantee it. But the thing is you look at the process and you say well 201 00:56:42.319 --> 00:56:59.119 what could possibly go wrong? Um do some of the people that we have coming in do they get sick? What am I going to do? Well I need to have some people into reserve. You know any number of things can happen. >> Well, it's going to go going back to this assessment. You've assessed as an 202 00:56:59.119 --> 00:57:19.520 issue and you think you have a solution. How would you go about implementing the solution? >> Well, um this records issue you've identified as an issue during your assessment. Well, are you are you talking about a records 203 00:57:19.520 --> 00:57:35.680 issue in which something has been uh mishandled on a government level or just mis or just organizational would be an organizational >> I can offer an example. So, an example might be, let's say somebody um 204 00:57:35.680 --> 00:57:51.359 submitted a dog license, but in, you know, in the interim where there was no one, you know, uh maybe it came in on a day when our assistant town clerk wasn't there. So, we we put it someplace and now nobody knows where it went. You know, those maybe that kind of issue that you're talking about. >> Yeah. 205 00:57:51.359 --> 00:58:07.920 >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, if it's paperwork that's missing and nobody knows where it is, then the I think the obvious thing is you're gonna have to resubmit some paperwork. I I know it's going to be inconvenient to whoever the person is that has the dog, but u uh hopefully I can present it to 206 00:58:07.920 --> 00:58:22.559 them in such a way that they can be understanding and sit there and say, "Look, you know, I did it before, but >> yeah, >> you know, we're trying to get things a little bit straighter and and and and uh easier to to deal hearing somebody lost 207 00:58:22.559 --> 00:58:39.680 the paperwork." I find that most people be understanding. There are some people that aren't, but you know, as I say, I I I deal with hundreds of people every day or was dealing with hundreds of people every day. And in the construction industry, the saying is anything that 208 00:58:39.680 --> 00:58:55.920 can go wrong will go wrong. And whatever your budget is, that's not the real dollar. So, it's these are things that I have to deal with on a regular basis. And I sort of knew how to deal with people on that thing. As far as losing a piece of paperwork, it it has to be 209 00:58:55.920 --> 00:59:11.440 found. It has to be filed. You have to do whatever it takes to get that done. Uh I don't know if the dog um license is would be a priority right off the bat, but you know, anything of that nature, you know, the most important things, you 210 00:59:11.440 --> 00:59:26.799 know, we're talking about the elections. You know, we want to get that as smoothly as possible. We want to make sure that uh it's it appears that, you know, it's completely unbiased and we're not trying to help any one person over 211 00:59:26.799 --> 00:59:43.040 another person. We want to be able to do that and we want to be able to present that to the citizens of Shootsbury in in that manner. So, they feel confident that their vote matters and that it will go through and everything is is done above board. I don't see that being a 212 00:59:43.040 --> 01:00:00.720 problem here. I've been here 12 years. never heard once anybody felt like the vote didn't go their way. So, >> um so my question goes back to kind of the internet um the way the community surrounded themselves with the internet 213 01:00:00.720 --> 01:00:15.680 is a highly unique community um where residents value transparency and accessibility. In a small town, the town clerk frequently interacts with neighbors and acquaintances in an official capacity. How do you balance being approachable and customer service 214 01:00:15.680 --> 01:00:33.760 oriented while firmly holding strict state statutory deadlines and regulations even when it's unpopular? >> Well, once again, I think a lot of that is a new personality if you wrote something. Um, if headlines have to be 215 01:00:33.760 --> 01:00:49.119 made, it's you have to, you know, reinforce that to the person that you're dealing with. Um, I don't have a habit of getting mad at people or raising my voice over something. Um, you know, I will find the quickest and best path to 216 01:00:49.119 --> 01:01:06.240 get the person to adhere to what I need, but also reminding myself that uh not only uh am I the town clerk, but I pay taxes in this town as well. So, I'm a citizen here. Uh, I guess if we go back 217 01:01:06.240 --> 01:01:20.880 to the old I don't know if it's a biblical thing, but you know, treat everybody as you want to be treated yourself. I know that there are going to be people there are always somebody out there that just loses their mind and no matter what you say to them, it's not going to be 218 01:01:20.880 --> 01:01:41.520 good. Do the best I can possibly can to bring the temperature down. >> Okay. >> Okay. As previously noted, some systems need structural rebuilding, but our town can't press pause on the calendar. You'll be stepping into this role right 219 01:01:41.520 --> 01:01:57.920 before a major election cycle and will have to hit the ground running with little room for error. How do you balance the demands of running an election while simultaneously diagnosing and fixing the systematic administrative gaps in the office? 220 01:01:57.920 --> 01:02:14.240 >> Well, problems and administrative gaps are you fix one, another one shows up. It's that's the constant dance is to be able to identify it uh and make a decision on 221 01:02:14.240 --> 01:02:30.079 how best to approach it. Sometimes I'm the person that can do that, but sometimes I have to reach out to others and ask them for their advice, come up with the best possible advice. Um it's it's just a matter of keeping your eye 222 01:02:30.079 --> 01:02:48.799 on that ball. something's going to come up and it's there's going to be I'm sure your interim clerks have found that uh as soon as they fix one problem another one comes on you know um that's just constant um 223 01:02:48.799 --> 01:03:05.040 I can't begin to tell you the number of times in a week that I get a call like Damon this has gone wrong that's gone wrong sometimes I can answer it immediately because I have the information stored in my brain already to know how to do that. Um, that's going 224 01:03:05.040 --> 01:03:19.839 to be a little learn learning curve here for this position. Uh, you haven't had anybody doing it full-time for I think several years now. Um, and I have to collect information from other people. All that has to be gathered and and and 225 01:03:19.839 --> 01:03:36.000 put in a pot and looked at and and and determine really what are the first things that I have to do. I mean, um, is once again, I go back to the dog license. I might sit there and put that on the bottom of the page. Say, look, I don't 226 01:03:36.000 --> 01:03:50.720 have to deal with this for three, four weeks. But this thing for the election, this is going to consume all my thinking for the next two, three days because this is an emergency. This is a problem. Who do I talk? How do I fix it? What paperwork do I have to get in? So, I 227 01:03:50.720 --> 01:04:07.039 prioritize what the problem is and I address it full on. I think you would find that, you know, if you were to call any of the people that I've worked over, the number one thing they'll say is the demon is fantastic at service because I have this thing. I cannot sit on 228 01:04:07.039 --> 01:04:24.000 something. I I really can hodge it. I can't sit on something. I have to take care of the thing that is wrong as quickly as possible or somebody needs some help. That's where my focus goes. >> Okay. Thanks. uh what would uh long-term success look 229 01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:39.680 like to you in this role? And then second part would be u it's a part-time position here in Shoot Spear. How does that align with your broader professional goals? >> Um well, I guess the sign of success is 230 01:04:39.680 --> 01:04:55.200 that there's not a mob with torches out front calling my name. That's always a good sign. Um, I would think that, um, you know, I'm I'm going to constantly be 231 01:04:55.200 --> 01:05:14.079 asking or how am I doing? It's important for me to get some feedback along that way. Um, I would like to sit there and say, you know, it's not a success to get to the point where things move rather smoothly, 232 01:05:14.079 --> 01:05:34.799 but it is a town and things are constantly happening. Um, I guess the answer to that question is is that uh if I feel that the people coming in are looking at me and saying, you know, you're doing the job that I 233 01:05:34.799 --> 01:05:52.400 needed to get done, you were responsive and that the people in the town are sitting there saying, "Yes, he's getting he's moving forward. He's got the answers when we need them. we're not having to look over his shoulder and sit there and say what about this or what about that. Um even though there will be 234 01:05:52.400 --> 01:06:08.559 I'm sure occasions when people will do that but even with that just being responsive to that it could be something that you know I just let slip in my mind or something along those lines. But the overall is if if if I can see that that 235 01:06:08.559 --> 01:06:24.880 people from the town and and the administration here sees that things are going swimmingly, that's the only sign I need. I don't need anybody to call me up and say, "Wow, you're doing a great job or anything." I just as long as everybody is is happy and things are 236 01:06:24.880 --> 01:06:42.880 going okay and nobody gets a call from somebody saying, "What's that guy over there doing?" Because, you know, that's that's the important part. Thanks. >> Um, does the select board have any other questions that weren't outlined here? 237 01:06:42.880 --> 01:06:58.720 >> Just if do you feel confident about that you would have enough knowledge of the election law to uh basically step into that whole election process right at the beginning of your job? Did you have enough of that or could you do would you be able to get enough of that that 238 01:06:58.720 --> 01:07:15.680 knowledge? you thinking? >> Um, I could I could tell you I could, but what would that mean to you? >> Right. >> I I I'll give you a little piece of my past. Um, I got divorced, ended up giving my whole business to my wife, and I had to go out and start 239 01:07:15.680 --> 01:07:31.200 working again. And instead of starting a business, I got a job. And I got a job in in the world that I ended up staying at in in the construction and kitchens and baths. I will tell you this. What I knew about quartz and granite and marble 240 01:07:31.200 --> 01:07:48.480 and porcelain and you name it was no it was less than that. It's that movie less than zero. I had no clue. I really did. So what I had to do is I had to go in there. Not only did I have to do the job which was visiting people selling price, 241 01:07:48.480 --> 01:08:06.960 I had to learn the stuff too. And um it was quite the experience. Um and I really when I wasn't working, I'm sitting there talking to people asking them what 242 01:08:06.960 --> 01:08:22.000 I needed to know about all these different products. And the funny thing I kept finding is everybody had a different answer. I thought, okay, this is going to be pretty good. But within about four months, five months, people were asking me questions about the 243 01:08:22.000 --> 01:08:38.799 product, how to take care of it, how to clean it, what do you do this, what's it made of, what's the history and stuff and knew it all. Uh before six months in that company in the area that I was assigned with a couple of other people, I was the number one salesperson. 244 01:08:38.799 --> 01:08:54.560 Um, and so it was the information, all that information that I learned, all the stuff that I learned helped me with the sales. It wasn't just like going in here and hey, my product is a dollar cheaper than everybody else because my product wasn't. I was selling the most expensive 245 01:08:54.560 --> 01:09:10.880 stuff out there. So, I needed all that information. So, it is an education. What do I know about election laws? Uh, I know that you can't prevent me from voting. That's pretty much it. But you know once I start as I said my priority 246 01:09:10.880 --> 01:09:26.080 based on the conversation we had this week is that's the priority. That's the number one thing that has to be addressed. It's coming up quickly. I don't think there's anything really more important going on than the town unless there's something I haven't heard about anything more important than what's 247 01:09:26.080 --> 01:09:43.520 coming up. and the other these elections are more important than ever and and people are vastly, you know, excited or upset or whatever they are, but they want to be able to come in here and and make sure we're now had a voting problem 248 01:09:43.520 --> 01:09:58.159 here, right? That you know them. So, it's gone off pretty smoothly. I know every time I come, I'm in and out in five minutes, but totally. Um, >> we've had recounts and a couple specific things, but nothing that was overly um, 249 01:09:58.159 --> 01:10:14.480 >> nobody accused anybody cheating or so. >> I'm over anyway. >> Yeah. Well, recounts are are pretty uh common. I mean, they every election has some recounts going on. So, but um, yeah, I will throw myself into that as 250 01:10:14.480 --> 01:10:34.080 the priority of what's coming up. Do you have any further questions? So my my one question is um I also work in construction so I know how to can get. So how do you deal with stress in a work environment? What do you do when school 251 01:10:34.080 --> 01:10:49.360 moment or we or how do you handle the stress? >> Um this is going to be a little sacrant but u I don't drink. I don't do drugs. So, how do you how do you have relief? Now, I will tell you this. Um 252 01:10:49.360 --> 01:11:06.159 um anything that does with stress or anything like that, like my wife is my psychiatrist, my best friend, and you know, the thing is if I get upset about something, which does happen, it's very 253 01:11:06.159 --> 01:11:22.000 rare. Um you'll never see it. I guarantee you that. Um yeah, I just sit there and talk to her and about 30 minutes later I'm like, "Oh yeah, why didn't I think about that?" You know, so she's the alternative to it. So um I 254 01:11:22.000 --> 01:11:38.640 don't get super stressed out. I'm not going to lie and say I never do, but I I I don't get that stressed out. I really don't. Um I have a philosophy that no matter what the problem is in the long term there will be a day that I will forgot about 255 01:11:38.640 --> 01:11:53.600 that problem because I'm dealing with a new one. So yes >> that that philosophy is true. Yeah >> it is true. I learned that from Einstein. He he he he said no matter what happens in this world good or bad it doesn't matter what it is how bad it 256 01:11:53.600 --> 01:12:12.800 is or how good it is. It's always pushing you forward to something better. So I try to remember that every day. >> Um do you have any questions for us? That's the other last question you would ask. Well, I think one of the thing I 257 01:12:12.800 --> 01:12:30.239 guess the most important thing is the um well, first of all, when do you want somebody to come in because this election is coming up uh rather quickly. And on the other hand, I have my wife who I love, I have to take her to Boston for a few days between the uh 10th and 258 01:12:30.239 --> 01:12:46.719 the 15th for some medical stuff. So, um I wouldn't be available tomorrow. Uh even though I probably start on some stuff like the election loss like that. Um you know I I think the most important 259 01:12:46.719 --> 01:13:02.719 thing is you know is is trying to remember that um you know as I said before we're all we're the government but we're also the citizens here. And that's what I'm trying to maintain when I do this. I 260 01:13:02.719 --> 01:13:17.600 mean, I I don't know if you guys are familiar, but I tried to do the right in vote. Um, and I kept getting messages from people asking me which side I was on. I was like, I don't know which side there is on this, but I think it was are 261 01:13:17.600 --> 01:13:35.280 you Republican or a Democrat. So, um, yeah. So, avoiding that kind of of of stress with the people if that is a stress thing. Um, no. I I I don't have a lot right now. I mean, we went over so much on that first 262 01:13:35.280 --> 01:13:50.960 meeting and uh, as I say, I I already understand. I mean, a lot of it is paperwork, a lot of it is dog licenses and and marriage certificates and stuff like that, but um, the uh, the election, it seemed to be the major concern. And 263 01:13:50.960 --> 01:14:08.480 you know um I work with a lot of people so working with um you know the chief of police working with guys you know sharing information um I don't have any problem with that you know I get along pretty much with everybody uh and I do a good job in the 264 01:14:08.480 --> 01:14:25.920 business world. Uh this will be my first uh government job. Is it technically a government job? >> Yes. Municipal government. >> Does it give me any benefits? First of all, it's the government, I guess. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, as we also discussed, we are the 265 01:14:25.920 --> 01:14:43.520 government and the government is us. So, you know, it's it's if you get mad at the government, you can only just look in the mirror, right? You know, you're the problem. >> Okay. >> Jimmy, you can get >> Yeah. the process. This is the this as 266 01:14:43.520 --> 01:15:00.400 far as the process of timeline from here. hopefully wrapping this all up within the next six days, six days or so. So, by >> the 7th of July. >> Okay. >> Um should be word back. Um but next step for you is getting three references 267 01:15:00.400 --> 01:15:15.920 to Haley if you provide her with three references and um any particular type of reference. >> Um just hopefully professional references. Um yeah, if you can just send me three and if you know, for example, if it had to be a client or 268 01:15:15.920 --> 01:15:31.280 like a colleague, that's also that's fine. >> That will be no problem. >> Okay. So that and then uh an offer letter will go out uh sometime after that. There's a background check that's in there. >> Uh and then hopefully this is all wrapped up by the 7th, which is so it's 269 01:15:31.280 --> 01:15:47.360 a fast very fast timeline. >> Yeah. Six days. >> Yep. Start putting a little stress on stress. >> Okay. you for for getting three references to to alien that >> oh yeah probably have it tomorrow before 12:00. >> Okay. >> Or this afternoon. Who knows? 270 01:15:47.360 --> 01:16:02.239 >> Yeah. >> Um Oh, I do have to go to the library throw away my old toilets today. So maybe tomorrow. >> That's totally fine. >> So yeah, I did the background check. I've never been arrested. Never gone 271 01:16:02.239 --> 01:16:18.640 bankrupt or anything like that. So pretty. I did have to go once to Connecticut because uh for some reason my name came up as a murderer, but that was resolved within about an hour of sharing, >> right? Oh, >> heck of a story. 272 01:16:18.640 --> 01:16:35.120 >> It's a Connecticut record system. >> Yeah. Really? >> There's a record system to work on, right? >> Can you imagine walking into somebody's office and say, "You're gonna have this job because appeared murderer." And I'm like, "What?" >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Crazy. So anyway, long story, but I'm 273 01:16:35.120 --> 01:16:49.920 not um Yeah, I think you'll you'll you'll as far as background check and there's nothing there to say really. >> No, just explain the steps just so you know the steps. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Nope. >> Just part of the process. >> Yeah. 274 01:16:49.920 --> 01:17:06.080 >> Okay, perfect. Well, I think that's I think that's that's it. We're done. Okay. So, thank you for coming in and spending time with us and answering that question and >> for hopefully I'll be spending a lot more time with you. >> All right. 275 01:17:06.080 --> 01:17:22.520 >> Right. >> Well, thank you very much. >> Big pool out there. >> I will get you those references tomorrow. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thanks for being here. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Have a good day. No way. 276 01:17:24.320 --> 01:17:44.880 >> It was great. >> That's all she wrote. So, we did we did this. Haley, did you have any updates that you think we need other than what we've just all done? >> Nope. >> Um, I have my TA report for the next meeting. Y next meeting at what time on 277 01:17:44.880 --> 01:18:01.679 the seventh? Five. >> Five on the 7th. >> Yeah. And that's now at that time. How do we I can't remember how we do this hiring. Do we do that to just talk of that meeting as that'll be an agenda, right? >> It'll be it'll be on the agenda. And so 278 01:18:01.679 --> 01:18:17.120 I'll have um I'll have all the materials for you. >> Plus, you would have already done the background checks for and the reference checks. If I'm not able to do the background check, what I'll do is I'll have in the offer letter that it's that the final is contingent on that so that people know u because that part might 279 01:18:17.120 --> 01:18:35.040 I'm not sure Devon can do that. >> Okay. >> But the reference it should be easier. >> All right. >> But what do you need from us as far as in feedback? >> Yeah, that'll be um an agenda topic. So it'll be discussed at the next 280 01:18:35.040 --> 01:18:50.800 >> Yeah. because we have time to mul it over >> on the seventh. >> Yes. Okay. >> Because I Okay. >> I wanted you to have the references before you, you know, you always want to check references first. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Everyone has that story when you didn't check. >> I could pick up a story, you know. 281 01:18:50.800 --> 01:19:06.719 >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, that means do I hear a vote to adjourn? >> I mean a Sorry, not a vote. A motion. >> Can I I'd like my first motion. Go for it. >> Okay. To to adjurnn. Okay, Eric. 282 01:19:06.719 --> 01:19:21.400 >> Okay. All those in favor? >> All I start I >> make Thank you for attending. >> Yeah. >> See you. Hey.