WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=bPLlBK2VCEk

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: bPLlBK2VCEk):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
- 00:00:44: Robert Floyd's Commendation of Town Government Branches
- 00:01:35: Early Voting Reminder and Memorial Day Parade Announcement
- 00:02:23: American Legion Announces Memorial Day Parade
- 00:03:28: Nilda Cohen Followup on Town Borrowing Questions
- 00:04:40: Treasurer's Explanation on Borrowing Delay, Disagreement Ensues
- 00:07:23: Accusations of Manipulation; Personnel and Financial Issues Discussed
- 00:10:16: Treasurer Confirms Borrowing; Town Administrator's Report
- 00:11:45: Old Town Hall Repairs, Election Reminder, Spray Pad Update
- 00:12:51: Significant Insurance Savings and Veterans Outreach Event
- 00:13:22: Warrant Deadlines, Cherry Sheets, and Revenue Concerns
- 00:14:44: Select Board Reports and Meeting Updates
- 00:19:22: Approval of One-Day Beer and Wine Permits
- 00:20:32: Southampton Historical Society's Celebrate Southampton Announcement
- 00:21:57: Reappointments to Grant Search, Bylaw, Registrar Committees
- 00:23:02: Reappointments in the Building and Veteran Affairs Departments
- 00:24:10: New Election Worker Appointments, Resignations
- 00:25:32: Conservation Commission Resignations and Vacancies
- 00:26:55: Town Meeting Review: Collaboration and Volunteer Efforts Praised
- 00:29:26: Town Clerk's Report and Challenges, Paddle Discussion
- 00:31:17: Election Warrant Approval and Constable Involvement
- 00:33:17: Special Town Meeting Date and Warrant Discussion
- 00:34:25: Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoption; MIMA & FEMA Approval
- 00:37:21: Vacation Time Carryover and Upcoming Absences Announced
- 00:38:27: Approval of Minutes from March 26th and 31st Meetings
- 00:38:58: Warrants Signed, Audit Status, and DLS Articles
- 00:41:29: Discussing Joint Meeting Dates and Capital Projects
- 00:43:38: Ongoing Audit Process Discussion, Data, and Bidding
- 00:45:18: Adjournment of the Meeting at 6:45 PM


Part: 1

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This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers board for May 12th to order. Uh it is 6:00 and uh hopefully East Hampton Media is watching us here and we are ready to start. So let's uh stand and say the

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pledge of allegiance please. I alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Let's start off with citizens speak tonight. Who do we have? Got a variety. So, we'll go ahead. >> Yep. >> Robert Floyd, college highway town moderator. just like to make three quick points. I'd >> like to commend the executive branch uh

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for getting their great warrant together in town meeting and all the work uh in the legislative branch. We had a sudden surge of civic passion almost unappended us but we pulled it together and I was really proud of all the individuals who helped getting us a separate room. I

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think we can do better next time. and uh for our third branch, judiciary branch, KP Law. She was brilliant in her support and I really appreciate it all. So, my comments, thank you. >> Okay. Thanks, Lucy.

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>> I just wanted to remind people about um early voting in person is happening right now. I was here till 5:30 today and we got a big rush in. Um we're open tomorrow 8:30 to 4:00. I had people at my office at 8:15, which was fine. I

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just asked if I could open the door, but um we're here Thursday 8:30 to 4:00 and Friday 9 to 12. So um so come in and vote if you don't >> that's the end of >> can't be here Monday. We're here 8:30 to 4. >> Yep. And then that's it. Yeah.

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>> So >> very good. >> And um I'm going to introduce Mark Nichols from the American Legion. >> Mhm. >> Regarding the Memorial Day parade. Okay, >> Lucy. Thank you for making early voting so easy. >> Oh, you're welcome. >> Really appreciate it.

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>> Okay, >> great. >> Hi, Mark. Yeah. >> Hi. Good evening. Um, >> just introduce yourself and tell us what you're here. >> I am Mark Nichols. I'm the commander of Post 168 Southampton Legion. >> We are having the Memorial Day parade on May 25th.

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And we would like to invite all uh the select board and town officials to participate in the parade with us. And one other note is it is the 100th anniversary of the Legion in town. Post 168 in town is 100 years old this year. >> September. And we're hoping to do

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something at Celebrate Southampton. >> Oh, great. >> With that. >> Great. >> Okay. >> Wow. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And what time does the parade start? Sorry. >> We leave the school at 9:00. >> 9:00. >> All right. All right. And then uh anybody's entering? Lucy's going to be organizing the the lineup in terms of

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>> whatever between the two of you. Yeah. >> Between. >> Well, thank you. So, all right. So, Memorial Day parade on the 25th. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> I make a motion to authorize the parade to be held on May 25th at 9:00 a.m. and that the police chief be authorized to close any and all streets that he deems fit. >> All right. >> For set purpose.

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>> Okay. Could I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> I All right. Thanks very much. >> Thank you. >> We'll see you on the 25th. All right. Next. Yeah. Nilda, come on up. >> Nilda Cohen, 12 Montgomery Road. I'm

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here as a followup to what was raised at the annual town meeting regarding the borrowing. Uh I accepted John's explanation. It is going to reflect in this year's

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fiscal year um financials. But I want to know why it took so long. Why did it take I think we bought that property in 23 and I think the sellers have been paid.

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So why do we still have the borrowing? >> The sellers have been paid. I don't believe we bought it in 23 though. I'd have to look that up. >> Okay. Well, 24 >> whatever difference, whether it's a year difference, we're in 26. >> Yeah. So, yep.

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>> So, can somebody bring that up? >> Give us an explanation. >> I don't have any other explanation except it was due to be done with our former treasurer and it was not done by the time she left and we figured that out after she left.

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>> Well, I I will I will say that the the treasur so there was an authorization to borrow >> and there was >> and it was denied. >> No, we had the green light. the financial institution supposedly denied your your uh borrowing application >> debate to that.

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>> Well, I'm I'm I'm explaining. >> Okay. But we also don't know that you have all the correct facts, but anyway, we believe we had authorization to borrow and it did not happen in time. >> So, okay, that's fine. So, I'm just saying that we do.

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>> Okay. Sorry, John. Go ahead. >> Go ahead. No. So the treasurer had an authorization to borrow from the voters, right? We we voted on the debt. So that's what I meant as an authorization to borrow. >> The transaction came up. The purchase

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and sale was signed. >> Unlike a real estate transaction on the private side, at the day of closing, you come with guaranteed funds, right? If you buy a house as a private citizen, but a treasurer can back if they have available funds in the bank, they don't have to borrow actually until the last

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day of the fiscal year, which is why the trans why the borrowing at the facility didn't now you could, but legally you can wait, but you have to do it within the fiscal year. The fiscal year came and went and the and the former treasurer vacated the office and it didn't come to light that the actual

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borrowing did not happen prior to the end of the fiscal year. So the current interim treasurer author, you know, executed the borrowing through state house notes, but because it happened after July June 30th, the O dings us for

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that one year and then the penalty will come back through the free cash next year because now we have done the borrowing. It just happened after June 30th. >> Um, okay. >> I can't speak to your other point about the financial institution. I don't I

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don't have any knowledge of that. >> Okay. So, I've done you know I went to a meeting on the 26th of March and I said I've asked questions, I've requested documents and they weren't coming and I thought, you know, these are red flags.

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If the town, the select board, the administrator, the accountant are manipulating a balance sheet, that's a big problem. a big big problem. >> Madam Chair, this is not a debate, but

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>> yeah, I don't think so. I mean, I don't know what else. You're welcome to say whatever you want to say. Our time is >> I I would underscore that we had a personnel problem. >> Yeah. That you didn't address >> because it was an elected person and we

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had very limited scope to deal with that situation at that time. There are other people that are not elected that are employees and we're not performing. >> There's one person that's allowed to do the borrowing and that is the treasur collector and that treasur collector at

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the time was an elected treasur collector does not report to anybody back. >> First of all, let me tell you >> I have documents. >> Okay. And if I if I have to produce those documents, >> I will. This administrator is

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>> by far the most the biggest disappointment during these critical time. The taxpayers deserve to have this information. >> The information has been provided to you tonight. We have borrowed for that property and the builder, the sellers of that property,

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>> not according to the not we have signed the note on this. It has been borrowed. So I will >> I will assure you that sign >> I thought John well you should have done it in a public meeting. We did you sign

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it in a public meeting the note the first one or the the recent one that we're referring to >> the one that we >> and stop looking at Scott. He is not your employee. >> Stop yelling at me please. >> Well because you you keep putting me off. >> This is not a debate. You're allowed to.

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is a debate because you continued not to answer questions. It's >> not during open time that we have a debate on issues. >> Chris, I was put on the agenda. I asked to be put on the agenda as a separate item. And you know what you did? You

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canled the meeting. >> Well, we did because we didn't have a quorum and we didn't have everybody here. >> What a surprise. What a surprise. >> We don't always have a quorum. And that's quite true. So, I'm sorry. If you've got other questions, we will try to deal with it. But I can assure you that we have borrowed for this under the

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new interim treasurer. It has been borrowed for and we have a note out there. So >> we need to disengage this if we need to schedule office hours with a separate time. >> Of course. >> I'm sorry. You said you're telling me to

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go to the town treasurer. >> I'm saying what you said. >> I'm saying that this is not the venue as you understand. Well, >> you're the town officials. You're the ones that are supposed to have oversight of town government. >> You're supposed to be responsible to

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anyone that comes in. >> Input from citizens and we've received it and we appreciate it. >> You don't appreciate it. Please. >> Citizen speak is only for a certain number of issues and amount of time and you've used up your time. >> I know I've exceeded it and I'm really

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surprised you haven't kicked me out because I expected it. >> I'm not going to kick you out. I'm just saying you have exceeded your >> Well, that's how it feels. Did you I'm sorry, but you >> I have served my purpose. And John, I have to tell you, if you have been aware of some things that are going on, I am

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disappointed. I am disappointed. I hope I hope that that's not the case because there's a paper trail. That's all I have to say. Thank you. All right. Anyone else? Lucy, >> I just want to confirm that U. Megan did

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to the borrowing. And um the previous treasurer left on June 27th of 2025, which is after before she wasn't able to do the borrowing because she just abruptly left. So Megan took it on. We just

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settled on it. I'm just confirming that it was done. All right. So, thank you. >> Anyone else? Any other open time? >> Kam agenda. >> You're going to wait for all your permit till the end?

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>> Well, we might move you up if you want to. Are you in a hurry? >> Okay. All right. >> All right. Um, okay. So, thank you for that. a counter administrator report. >> We're slowly getting back to business as

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usual. >> Yes. >> After the budget season, >> um so the repairs to the old town hall are continuing. Uh the ramp's been removed and uh we're slowly moving forward with the um the mortar um restoration. Uh just a reminder, early

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voting is going on as Lucy had mentioned and uh next week is election day for the annual town election. uh May 19th 12 to 8. Uh we also had a meeting of stakeholders from uh health department, highway department, parks, uh select board, um highway department to talk

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about the uh placement and um potential design changes for the proposed spray pad. Uh open enrollment was a pretty big success even though despite all the changes and uh in the middle of budget season. Um special thanks to the treasurer uh Kaine and uh Angie Bulock

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as well uh who really did a lot of really stepped up to get everything done at this point. Um so there will be some pretty significant savings this year. Uh we hit about maybe 70 to 80% uh moving into either um Health New England or Wellpoint which was which would be able to produce some some good savings. So,

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we should be saving at least $300 to $400,000 of what we would have realized uh staying with Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust and we'll be coming in six figures below budget. Just waiting for the final numbers on that. Um veterans outreach event will be uh June

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6 at Conan Park 11 to 3. Live music by Barry Barry Surl and Friends, free food and fun and games. And uh it's really the idea is to put veterans into contact with local nonprofit organizations. Um, also if you're department border

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commission, uh, the we're probably going to look for a couple more weeks to close the warrant, but please, uh, get anything you have to meet as soon as possible. Um, and the Senate released their version of the cherry sheets last week. Unfortunately, there isn't any major significant increases to local funding. Um, so now the governor, the

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House, and the Senate are all going to form their conference committee and uh, finalize their their numbers. Um, which probably still won't be until mid June anyway. So, uh, but unfortunately, there's not going to be any. >> There's no magic. >> We don't see any major increases or any

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increases really coming. My my reading of it, it was more the unrestricted government aid that was increased, but the House and the Senate or the school aid was not >> right. >> Very much at all. I think it was minor. >> Few thousand here and there, but it wasn't much of anything. >> And then our assessments would essentially take away any of that.

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>> The same. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> We still have three versions of a charity sheet. We don't have, contrary to some news on the street, we don't have a final cherry sheet that would come out of the conference committee and

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be signed by the governor with probably line item veto, right? >> Yeah. >> So, it ain't over until >> Yeah. No, until the conference committee does their thing, it's Thank you. >> Yep. Okay. Thanks. All right. Uh, select board reports. Ellen, anything from your

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side of things? had the met with the board of health a little while ago, last week of April. Um, and Caitlyn is still looking to working on having the the still work on the best project, the Pleasant Street

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project. Um, have the and she's been working really hard to have the to have the reg current regulations sort of the solar the existing working within those to uh have to amend those >> working with planning. >> Yeah. to uh and the public hearing is

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next week on the 20th. Anybody else? >> Okay, moving forward. All right, Stephen, anything? >> I missed an assessor's meeting and I may have missed some important information

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there. Um the housing authority meets on the 20th and the affordable housing trust is still looking for a response from legal counsel to finalize our establishment. uh we have to record

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it's funny term it's like articles of incorporation but it is the recordation of trust because we are a quasi governmental organization managing funds on behalf of the town

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>> and in this first instance also in accordance with the seat community preservation act restrictions ad hoc grants. I'll leave that to you. Okay. That's it, John.

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>> Uh, I haven't had any meetings since school committees tomorrow night. >> Okay. All right. On my end, it's basically just been the grant committee recently. Um, the bylaws committee has met again as well. We're still working on the draft of the scenic roads bylaw.

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Um, we're getting closer. We're hoping to have it probably for the fall. Uh it's a complicated one in terms of allowing designating scenic roads is not difficult, but it's all the all the whatifs uh in terms of temporary removal of a stone wall or somebody cutting down a tree and who has to be involved. So,

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it's gotten a little bit more complicated than we thought it might be, but we're looking at other towns as well to see what they've done and getting inspired by their language as well. But that's a a work in progress. Um, we expect that the wetlands bylaw that was

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pulled back from the town meeting will be uh okayed by the legal folks. They had an issue with some zoning issue related to that, but we will assume that that will come back. We're hoping it will come back for the special town meeting that we're having in June. And

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then on the on the grant committee, uh, working with Stephen and the grant committee, we've been working at uh, looking at the one-stop program grant program. This is a a major statewide program where you put in one application and it goes to six or seven or eight different agencies depending on how you

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qualify. And we're looking to do a lot of the site readiness uh up at Zero College Highway in terms of where would there be possibly layout of of uh roads and utilities and various other other things. So, we're looking to see how well we qualify for that. And we'll be

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having a meeting tomorrow with various partners to see where our best strategy is to to move forward to look at at least getting something on the uh drawing board for pre wayway pre-construction. It's a design effort kind of thing. So right

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>> and what just to underscore we're exploring state funding opportunities. We're not making any commitments. We're looking at what free help we can get to clarify the opportunities on the property that we've already

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invested in. We've heard about the investment earlier. Um and in fact um while our municipal building projects may be too expensive to move on immediately, it is possible that we could put out a

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property for commercial use, mixed use, and a housing parcel. Um but we need to make sure that everything actually pencils out and can be permitted. And um we're trying to unlock that return on

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your investment. >> Okay. All right. Nothing else on that. Um I would make a motion if uh since Tammy's here for the permits and licenses, I don't mind if we would like to move the um beer and wine permits up >> on the agenda. >> Second. >> Everybody. Okay. All right.

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>> So, I think we have three tonight. Um >> I >> Let me take up each one here. Let's see. We got um uh Hang on. I'd like to move one day beer and wine permit. Oh, >> okay. >> Juluier

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Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wow, I want to go to that party at Conan Park for Yankee Candle Picnic. Also, one day beer and wine permit Sadi Carlon Sicard. Sunday, June

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7th, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Conant Park for a graduation party. Also, one day beer and wine permit for Celebrate Southampton and the Southampton Historic Society. Saturday, August 15th, 2026 from 8:00

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a.m. to 700 p.m. That's another good party at Conan Park for party picnic to celebrate Southampton. >> Second. >> Okay. Okay. All those in favor? >> I I All right. Very good. Yeah. Thanks. Yeah. All the paperwork's in order. We have all the signed information. >> Did you have a speech

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>> from the park? >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, would did you want to say something about celebrate? Go ahead. >> Tammy Wunis 298 College Highway uh president of the Southampton Historical Society. Um yes, this year, Saturday,

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August 15th is Celebrate Southampton all day event. Starts at 10 in the morning. There's a memory hour that will be held at the church. Um we have Charlie Kiki that will be coming in doing our guest speaking for us. Um and then we have

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some new entertainment that's coming in. Um and some other celebrations that are happening. We're bringing the train back, but it's going to be in a different route within the park. Um there's going to be a lot of we Oh, we

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have 25 craft vendors in. But the big thing is if there are any clubs, organizations, committees that want a booth, I need to know now. We are mapping everything out.

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Um I have only heard back from like four different groups. Um, so that that's the big thing, but please put it on your calendar. 11:30 on, more games uh for the kids, more prizes for them, and um a

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lot of free family fun happening. >> Sounds great. Looking forward to it. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. All right. So, with that, let's go back to our regular agenda. We've got a bunch of appointments and resignations or mostly appointments on here. So, um, Ellen, would you start us off maybe and we'll

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just go we'll do them in small groups. This won't take long. >> Then move we accept the we accept their reappoint uh the following to their following assignments. Uh, Chris Fowls to the grant search committee reappoint

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of two-year term to expire June 30th of 2028. Bruce Bowman for the grant search committee reappointed for a two-year term to expire June 30th, 2028. Francine Tishman bylaw Review Committee are reappointed to a one-year term to expire June 30th, 2027. And Sylvia Galvin for

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the board of registars reappointed a three-year term to expire June 30th, 2029. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I All right. and Stephen. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to move uh Ronald Lauren, Building Department, building

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commissioner reappointment one-year term to expire June 30th, 2027. Also, Walter Merrick, building department alternate building commissioner reappoint one-year term to expire June 30th, 2027.

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Also, Glenn Rita, building department inspector, plumbing and gas reappoint one-year term to expire June 30th, 2027. Also, Anthony Lohan, Building Department, alternate inspector,

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plumbing and gas reappoint one year to expire June 30th, 2027. Also, James Fiser, building department inspector, electrical reappoint, one-year term to expire June 30th, 2027. And finally,

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James Mayo, building department alternate inspector electrical reappoint one year, term to expire June 30th, 2027. >> Okay, I have a second, please. >> All right, Ellen second. Okay, all those in favor? I >> I I

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>> All right, John, would you take the next two? >> Next two, >> the two veterans ones. Yeah, >> they're reappoints. >> Reappoints >> all to expire June 30th, 2027 of Michelle Murdoch, Veterans Agent, and William Wells, veteran grave officer.

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>> Okay, >> second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> All right. I'll pick up the new appointments. Uh Amy Guyette, this is through the uh from the town clerk's office, I take it, the way this is written. Uh Amy Gette, uh election worker, new appointment, one-year term

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to expire June 30th, 2027. And Richard John, election worker, also a new appointment, one-year term to expire June 30th, 2027. >> All those in favor? >> I I >> Oops, I didn't have a second. Excuse me. Somebody second that. All right. Second, Ellen. All those in favor?

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>> I >> I All right. >> The next one. >> Thank you. Would Amy like to say anything? >> No. >> Welcome. You're going to have to >> since you're here, introduce yourself. >> So, Amy Cooper at um Brickyard Road,

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Southampton. It'll be fun to be on this side of the on that side of the table. Having lived here my whole life and watching, I just hope that I get one of those little rubber thims so I can flip the pages. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. And then we have two resignations

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>> with regret from the conservation commission. both effective May 5, 2026. Nicole Marott and Hazel Ortiz, both of them have served u with distinction. They had u have um real solid

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professional skills and have really bolstered the credibility of our conservation commission. We dropped now from five members to three and that is not a good situation especially with

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major projects in front of the commission. >> So anybody out there who has got the interest and some of the background perhaps that could be useful for the concom uh please reach out and talk to either one of the existing members or the conservation agent George Russell and get a lowdown in terms of what

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that's all about. But I believe on the town website there is a description too about the duties of the concom and and responsibilities and u time commitment. So having only three out of the five makes it very difficult if somebody's not there and we don't have a quorum then they end up canceling their meeting. So please please do take that

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seriously. If you can be of help uh on the conservation side >> I'll second the motion to accept the resignations. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I All right. Very good. >> You're on the ball, man. >> Thank you. All right. Next, new

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business. So, Endontown meeting review. Scott, you want to >> What else could be said? Robert already touched everything. >> I say what? >> Robert already hit all the high points. >> I know. Yeah. Well, we did did get it together. So, I just just to say I mean, thanks everybody for the collaboration

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and the patients especially. Uh, we did not really realize we knew that we'd have more than usual, but honestly, I personally did not expect quite the number. And I believe Lucy >> 498 >> 498. Oh, okay. Three more than I thought. Okay. So, yeah, we we almost

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hit the 500 mark. Um, and uh the ability to quickly try to set up that other room, the overflow room with all those logistics and uh it worked out well. So, thanks to East Hampton Media, too. And I believe it was Chief Illingsworth with his walkie-talkie that helped us out. And um it was kind of make make do, but

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we managed. And so, thanks everybody for your patience on that. And uh Scott, anything to add to that? >> No, again, thanks to everyone. I think we we tried a few new things uh at town meeting. Um ultimately, I think everything worked pretty well. We were expecting maybe about 350 people cuz last year's override drew about 250, so

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we thought maybe 150 more. Um so we did have seating, but again, it exceeded expectations. So, uh thanks to the moderator. Um and we have a special town meeting coming up on June 20th. >> Okay. All right. Anybody else? Any other thoughts, comments? Of

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>> course. >> Nope. >> Um I think the citizen organiz organizing and volunteer effort was out of this world. It's just tremendous to get people out to express their opinions.

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and they're providing volunteer child care enabled >> a whole another sector of our community to participate. >> If we're missing people, please speak up on how we can better serve you. Uh but

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look at that. That was a whole bunch of volunteers who stepped up to take care of young families. Who else? Uh they also spontaneously printed handicapped parking signs and assisted people through the line at registration.

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And I applaud the volunteer effort. >> Lucy, we need more election workers or something. >> Oh, I know >> that rubber finger tab. >> We need more of those because um that was too long.

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I >> you did the you did the best that you could of >> everybody was resilient >> and still >> Lucy Dan town clerk I will not talk long because I know you all want to go home so don't I want you to sign this warranty by name um but

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>> the town meeting we tried to do it with having the precincts line uh sign up on the wall people still didn't know their precinct um so we had someone walking around with a checking their names. >> Unfortunately, the handout table was

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closer to the check-in tables cuz we did have two precinct tables. Um, so people were gathering there to talk. So that's where the >> the buy the >> Well, some lessons for another. >> Yeah. So for June, we're going to we're going to do a little bit better. All right.

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>> Sure. No, that's great. No one you guys did a massive job in terms of >> and thank you to all the volunteers, too. I appreciate walking alone was, you know, nothing I would envy. >> Yeah. >> So, thank you. >> I think I need more paddles, though. >> Yeah. >> And and related to that, I wonder if we

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could give notice that the doors open at a certain time and the business will begin at a certain time and you have half an hour or 45 minutes. >> We did this time. Yeah, we did. We told people to be there by around 9:30 at the latest. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. We gave people

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the opening, >> but there were a lot of people, so get >> and people, you know, like in my family, wait until the last minute to show up and that didn't work this time. And it was not fair to people who had shown up

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early to then >> it was fair in different ways. >> If we can avoid it by advanced notice, you know, the concert goes off at more or less certain time when the band is ready. Um, we could do the same thing if

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we make it well known well known abundantly well known to the voters. >> Y can be. Yep. >> All right. And yes, I I would just second the point about childcare. I think that was a good I know that's something that used to happen and it's nice to have that come back and maybe that's a feature that we can offer going

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forward because that certainly did help a lot of people I think. So good. All right. We have an election warrant to sign. Do you want to tell us about that or Yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. Yeah. Come on over. put my steps in. >> You can just strap yourself to the lecture.

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>> Um, this is the warrant for the election on May 19th. I won't read the whole thing cuz >> we want to go home. Um, but you just have to sign it. It's just for the um inhabitants of the town to know that there's a meeting or election going on.

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So, it's on Tuesday from 12:00 to 8:00 in the senior center. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. Why don't we just pass it right around? We'll get it signed while you're here. >> I was just confirming that we need the constables involved. >> Oh, I have a constable coming tomorrow

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to >> Perfect. >> to um >> post it, >> pick it up and and >> Very good. >> Seven days before >> we have to follow process. >> I know that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Pass it. Well, for the record, I move that we

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formally approve the election warrant, cause it signage, and then cause it to be posted seven days prior to the >> All right. Thank you. >> Hearing have a second, please. >> Second. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I thank you, John. >> Thank you very much.

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>> There you go, Lucy. I think that's all for you tonight. >> I think you can. >> Good. So that'll get posted around. >> There you go. >> Appreciate it. >> No problem. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Okay. You too. Thank you.

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>> So, special town meeting. I think we have a date of June 20th. We have to actually open the warrant though. Is that what we need to do? >> So, the warrant Oh, let's just review our dates on this. We have to have it posted for a special. It has to be posted two weeks ahead of time.

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>> All right. So, I would make a motion that we open the warrant as of tonight. And how about we close it on June 2nd? That would give us a full almost 3 weeks

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for anybody to get articles into us. That gets us still two and a half weeks before, correct me if I'm wrong, Robert, but I think that gets us enough time before >> the 20th. Okay. So, I'll make a motion to open the the warrant for the special town meeting as of today and um or

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tomorrow actually, I guess, since people won't hear much about it tonight. Uh and then close it on June 2nd. Any issues with that >> and simultaneously call for articles? >> Uh yes, articles as well. So, yes, people can do that. Um

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>> bring in your articles, let Scott know. Okay. All those in favor? Second. Sorry. >> I second it. >> You second. Okay. >> I All in favor? I I >> Okay, so the town meeting warrant is open for articles to be received by Scott um for the special.

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>> All right. Next up, we have a vote that we need to take on the hazard mitigation plan. And chair, I move that the ch the select board adopt the resolution titled the town of Southampton 2025 hazardous mitigation plan update. Whereas the town

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of Southampton established a committee to prepare the town of Southampton 2025 hazardous mitigation plan update. And whereas the town of Southampton 2025 hazard mitigation plan update contains several potential future projects to mitigate potential impacts from natural

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hazards in the town of Southampton. And whereas dually noticed public meetings were held by the hazards mitigation planning committee on November 12th, 2024 and September 9th225. And whereas the town of Southampton authorizes the responsible departments and/or agencies

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to execute their responsibilities demonstrated in the plan. And now therefore be it resolved that the town of Southampton Select Board adopts the Town of Southampton hazardous 2025 mitigation plan updated in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 40 subsection 4 of the charter and bylaws

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of the town Southampton adopted and signed this date. >> Second. >> Okay. All right. And just for note, uh the hazard mitigation plan update will be on the um town website. It looks like this. Uh and uh there's a draft up there now, but this this is now has gone

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through MIMA and FEMA and therefore it's allowed to be uh brought back before us for official adoption. And that's the motion before us. So all those in favor >> and madam chair. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh the Massachusetts in Emergency Management Agency, MIMA. Well,

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I'm just trying to help out the voters. and FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have both endorsed the final plan after our consultants presented at a public hearing here in town. So, there was early scoping and

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notice of meetings that mostly involved staff and then a presentation of the final plan. And now the federal agencies have said, "You did your work and now we're eligible for various grant programs." I just wanted to unpack what

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it was about and that >> this is the end of the stage, but sorry you missed several opportunities to engage our layer. >> Mhm. Okay. Very good. Thank you for the full explanation. Okay. Um if we didn't

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vote, let's have a vote. All those in favor? >> I I All right. Thank you. Let's call this adopted and we will date that as of today and we will get that up on the website. Okay. Thank you. pretty lengthy but um worth reading through. >> I move that we approve uh three

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individual requests all by the highway department to carry over unused vacation time into the next fiscal year. One week or 40 hours for Todd Jarso >> Das. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> One week of vacation, 40 hours for David CE

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and up to but no greater than one week of vacation for Randall Kemp. >> All right. Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I All right. Motion passes. Vacation leave carryover are are approved. Um do

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we have any other business that can't wait until the next regular meeting which is on May 26 off hand? No. Okay. We then have some minutes for approval. >> Madam Chair, just a reminder that I will be absent on May 26.

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>> Thank you. And sadly, I'll be absent from the parade this year. >> Okay. And we'll need to have somebody sign warrant in your absence, too. Or >> that is correct. The following week. >> Yeah. 26. >> Okay. I'm your backup on that. So, just to know.

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>> There you go. >> Just remind me of that. Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. So, we have minutes for March 26th and March 31st. >> I move without exception the approval of March 26 and March 31st. >> Okay. >> Anybody? Second.

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Is there a second? >> I didn't hear you. Sorry. Sorry. Second. All right. >> Not a booming voice. >> Okay. Uh yes, we have some very detailed minutes. The they're very very lengthy, but uh they're there. So, okay. All those in favor? >> I I >> I Okay. Minutes are approved. All right.

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And then Stephen, >> Madam Chair, I'd like to report out the warrants signed since well through this month, I suppose. Warrant 26- 39. and the amount is $143,29124. W26-39A,

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the amount is $5,775. P26-40 is in the amount of $348,74353. PD26-40. The amount is $55,7366. Next, W26-41,

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the amount is $858,402. PD26-14, the amount is 59,268.35. P26-42, the amount is $357,64.81. PD26-42A, the amount is $288,740.84.

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W26-43, the amount is $114,23122. So that's all I got. >> Lots of warrants, lots of bills being paid. So for those that are listening that may not get it, I'll I'll do Steven's little roll here. So P means payroll, PD means payroll deduction, and

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W is basically our vendor warrants or vendor payments. Okay. Um Scott, where are we with the 24 audit now that we've gotten through town meeting? Are we getting close to getting them all the information they need or what where are we at with that? >> Uh the audit and a few other things. So

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with the audit, we've just been back and forth with our CBiz providing them additional information. They had a few contracts they wanted to look at from previous. Um in the next probably two or three meetings as well with the select board, we need to get a joint meeting with FIN comp to do some of the end of the year transfers and closing

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everything out. Uh, also I want to bring up the I mean depending on what happens on Tuesday um before the uh July 1st is start getting some of the attention to some of the DLS articles that they uh requested in the audit to start working on over the summer. >> Okay. >> So

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>> Okay. All right. Good. And >> the um >> Yep. >> Well, just on the note on the joint >> meeting, we have until July 15th, right? Is it it's 15? I mean, I know we're going to do one early, but we can vote on transfers in joint session up until the

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15 days after the fiscal >> 15. Yeah. >> Like to get it done by July 1st if possible. I don't like the big >> I agree with you and I I guess I would just say for >> planning purposes, at least on my part that the sooner we can have a placeholder date and I can block my

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calendar, the less likely I am to >> arrange overnight travel out of the state. >> Yeah, that's a good point. >> I can avoid >> because our next Yeah. No, that's point because our next meeting's um so we've got May 26th, then our next meeting would be June 9th and June 23rd.

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So >> my my guess is it's going to be the later in June we can go, the more up-to-date information we'll have from Bradley. >> Yeah, my my only my main concern is just getting in everything ready for special town meeting in case we need to do any transfer of funds um just to be safe.

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Um, so I mean I think we could we'll have a plan in place to have everything transferred before the meeting >> and we could always do it as a standalone too. >> The standalone just come in for that one purpose joint session >> if we needed to. Yeah. >> One of the the other things is with the

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with the capital committee being folded into the fin and we're having a special town meeting come up depending on what the results are going to be for Tuesday. Um, if there's the capital project, I want to get maybe some of the borrowing at least on the uh on the radar because that some of the things are going to be two years going forward.

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>> Okay. Well, let's let's assume that we can take it up at the first meeting in June, but otherwise, you know, just to get ready for the special time meeting, but if we needed to have a special meeting in between time, still before the special, we could do that, too. >> Madam Chair, >> yeah, >> the moderator would like to be recognized. >> Sorry,

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>> you answer my question. >> Okay. A special meeting in between. Yeah. >> Yeah. if we need to do that. So, um but I I agree. We want to get anything ready for for the special town meeting. Okay, >> good. Anything else happening? >> Yeah. >> Question on the >> Uhhuh.

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>> ongoing on it. >> Mhm. Um, understandably we've been very busy trying to deal with the current budget situation, understanding what revenues we can rely on, not what expenses out of our control

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are going to be visited upon us. But uh I want to know whether the progress on the prior year audits is a bottleneck on our staff resources or at the auditors

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mostly on our staff resources at this point. It's just a matter of transitioning from the old Vadar the old system into Vadar and the transition the treasur's office just takes a significant amount of time. I always like to kick a little bit of

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product out so that somebody else can work on it while I go back to the urgencies of the day. >> Yeah, >> I don't know if that helps, but >> I know you had a you had a long sort of punch list of things that had to be submitted. I think from what you said, Ciz is coming back with other questions.

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They want to do sampling of certain things that we hadn't >> yet gotten ready for them. Is that it? >> Right. So like the latest one was like a contractor from from that year that we have to provide all the bidding documents to make sure everything was complied with. >> So they're doing their sample transaction looking at. Okay.

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All right. Do we have a a hope for date to get everything into them? What are we aiming for? >> Uh I'd have to talk to Megan about that. Okay. >> But yeah. >> All right. Let's see for our next meeting if we can get a better report in terms of how close we are, what we're still waiting to do. Okay. because we

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know that we're already got to get into FY 25 not long before >> soon we hope. >> Hey, you know, but I think we were talking too about checking about um I believe we were talking about going out for maybe bidding on on it's time to

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rebid the auditor contract, is it not? >> Yeah. >> So, we need to get all that in order to get ready for that. So, okay. Um I think that's the end of our agenda for tonight. Move to adjourn. >> All right. Have a second.

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>> Second, Stephen. All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> I. All right. We are adjourned at 6:45. >> Thank you very much. >> I'm on my line after all. >> Yeah.