TranscriptSelect Board Meeting ~ April 22, 2025

[Music] Thank you. I'll call this meeting uh to order. It is 6 6:30 on the dot. Look at us. Uh Joe Roy and Rebecca Per are both excused tonight. So it's just the three of us. Um you have a quorum. Stand for the pledge. States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Um, right. No public comment. There's nobody here. Um, so approve the meeting uh minutes from April 8th, 2025. I'll make a motion to approve. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? No. All in favor? the Sawyer Cemetery conveyance letter. Uh, this is a letter that, um, Miss Larby needed us to sign. It just says, "This letter is to formally confirm that the town of Durham voted to accept the conveyance of the Durham Sawyer Cemetery at the annual town meeting held on April 5th, 2025. We appreciate your efforts and contributions in facilitating this process. And we look forward to continuing to preserve and care for this important historical site. If you have any f further questions or required documentation regarding acceptance, please feel free to reach out uh to the town office. Uh this is something that that we supported and the town voted on. Um, and so I think we should vote on uh

accepting the letter. Any edits or anything? Motion. I'll make a motion to accept the letter as written. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Nothing. All right. New business. referendum warrant and notice of election. So that is do you want to talk about that? Sure. So um so this is the give

you guys the numbers um that they have come up with and this is on the website um and so those are the proposed numbers. So there'll be the tri town meeting, the annual budget committee meeting. Um that is actually happening in Durham this year. They take turns um town. So that is on May 14th at 6:30 at the Durham Community School. So that's kind of like town meeting. The voters come in, they check in with me, I give them a voting card, they go in and they get to vote on the budget, on the school budget.

it's a referendum vote. Correct. Yeah. So they would do any adjustments that they would have um at that meeting. So if people are interested in make I think it's really important because a lot of people talk about how they feel like we don't have any say or any control regarding the school budget. This meeting on May 14th is the meeting to attend in order to make any item, any

article change before it goes out to the referendum vote. So, I'll make sure that I make a Facebook post to make sure that people know that if they want to change any items in the school budget, this is the one that they up or down or whatever, this is the meeting to do it. I believe um when it was at the school a couple years ago, I think I had 21 registered voters from Darlington. Last year when it was in Freeport, I believe we had like six. Yeah. So, okay. Uh do

you remember what time? May 14th at 6:30. 6:30. 6:30. Okay. And what day of the week is that? Let's see. May 14th is a Wednesday. Wednesday. Wednesday. And we'll um we'll put it in the news blast. think they call I think that Oh, you're right. They do. Please put it in the news. But I was going to say maybe that's something that we text, but then I do think that the they do the town stuff is different than the school stuff. And I think that the school definitely calls and perhaps they might also text, but they definitely call. So they call they call they call if you're registered, right? That's true. They call if you're registered in the automated system. So like if you get a call that school's canceled, you're going to get this call, but it's not everybody. So maybe we should do the town text. What do you think? I think I think it's a it's the biggest part of our budget. Um what does this

say? We're come up with $3.65 million. Oh, I think I think our portion is raised. Well, our portion is a 9 million, right? But the amount that we're raising and assessments is is $3.5 million. So, um I think people will want to come out here. I I want to talk about the texting thing during the board member reports, but I think this because it's such a big portion of the budget and there's discussion, I think, uh you know, if people truly want to discuss the budget, uh it's something they should come to. So, I I'm in support of having the the text message go out, but I also think it should be in the news blast and all the places, Facebook, all and the web and all that stuff. Y um so

we don't need to vote on the warrant, but we on that warrant, but we do need to uh vote on the the warrant and notice of election calling and that's for the election on June 10th. And that'll take place at the Amvets on 1049 Roseboro Road from 8 to 8.

read it out loud, or are we okay? I think if as long as this I mean I'm sure that's on the school website, but we'll put this on definitely put the numbers on there. Okay. So I think it's fine. Okay. Uh is there a motion to uh accept this order? So move. Second. I'll

second. Any discussion? All in favor? applications. We had a lengthy discussion uh and executive session at our last meeting about the applications. So um before we we discuss those in public, I want to first have a go back into executive session to decide if the three of us want to continue that discussion or

um uh how we want to handle this tonight. that I think that makes sense. Yeah, because I think I think we we kind of left because we hit the time we had we we had to finish the meeting. So, I don't I don't know if there's more to discuss. Um so, we'll come back to the solid waste committee appointment application and the board of appeals appointment application. Jess, do you have anything to add in the manager report? I do. Yep. I have a couple things. Go ahead. Go ahead. Okay. Okay. So, first is um roadside cleanup is underway. I don't know if you guys have noticed the bags on the side of the road. Yep. So, we're going to be passing out those bags until um the end of this week. So, it is going to end on April 27th. That's when um Cassella will stop picking them up. But if there's a couple strays, Calvin will pick them up. That's this. It's like Sunday. Sunday. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um so, that's underway. And then I

just got this today and what it is is the Anderson County is requesting members from each town, residents from each town um for their budget committee. So you guys and what it is is um a caucus to um elect the members um and that's going to occur on Wednesday May 21st at 6 p.m. at the Andogen County um building um where um two residents from each town will be nominated. One resident has to be a municipal official. So that would be one of you or um Jerry. Um so I just wanted to make sure you guys had a heads up for that. So if we wanted to participate in the the budget committee if you guys have any questions on that. So do Oh, sorry. Go ahead. No, go ahead. So one has to be us and then one can be a just a resident that's not on a board currently that lives in Durham. Yep. And so do we set a time frame like or are we

going to put that out there that we're looking for one resident and like set a time frame for anybody that's interested to let us know. So I think um because this meeting is on the 21st, we have one meeting between now and then. Um so if anyone's interested, they should probably fill out send send a a letter of interest because I don't think it I don't think the um the uh the application for the committee application we have is really appropriate, but if they if if people want to send a letter of interest to you um and and we can we can review

at our next meeting. Can you put that in the news? Yes. and also a Facebook post like when we have a a vacancy on a committee. Can we just put that out there through those formats so that if someone's interested because I know that there was during our budget conversation there were people that brought up the county how the county tax had gone up so much and wanted to have an opportunity to weigh in on that. So maybe there would be somebody who was interested. Did we want to set a deadline for that letter of interest? I think it needs to definitely be before you said by uh are we we're meeting early on the 11th I think. I mean so I I would I would say the 11th I'd say by 5:00. Oh that's the meeting where we're meeting early right we're meeting at 5:30 on the 13th. The 11th the 11th is a Sunday. Oh, 14th. No, Tuesday. Oh, 13th.

Yes, you're you're right. The 13th. 13th. Yes, Tuesday the 13th. Okay. Tuesday. out to the budget committee, our budget committee, about this request? I mean, maybe somebody from that committee Yeah. would be interested. I mean, I think I I think it should be to the town. I think it should be it's Oh, to the town. I I was meaning to that, but this is a courtesy. I don't know. This is I I think it's it's something very different than the budget committee uh than our budget committee. Um you think there's a town notice. Okay. Um who is our current representatives on this? Do we know? I don't know. We have we've done it before. Yeah, that was that was what some of the feedback was is that one of us really needs to be there. I know that

committee last year went to a meeting and provided the feedback that they took into consideration. I don't remember who or exactly what it was, but I I know that a couple people went to at least one of their meetings, but um but it's Yeah, it's definitely something that we should be sending people to. Yep. The information out there. Okay. And then the last thing I have is so um Peter Wagner, he runs the RC5 community programs um in Freeport. So this is a program that they did um in Freeport. It's called Civics 101. So, he asked me to bring this to you guys. Um, so basically, it's kind of a it's a

program to inspire participants and residents to learn about local government and how things work. And so, this is just how they did it. Um, I talked to Peter about it and he's flexible. Um, and if we do do it, um, they want to

put it in the program, the catalog that they send out. Um, Pel said they were interested as well. Um, I did talk to the Freeport town clerk today and, um, basically, um, they did like that module where it says town manager, town clerk. Um, they did it kind of together. So like she went and did her, you know, informative um piece on what she does as the town clerk and then like I think they had council members and then a manager um go and just it was like a 2hour um session. Mhm. So um so I guess

my question would be like we would I just start talking. Sorry. Um, you know, because a lot of this, well, I mean, obviously public safety, like if we were going to do it in this type of format, it wouldn't obviously be exactly like this because a lot of these things are Jerry. Yeah. And like we don't have a library, right? We don't police. Yeah. Like the finance department like that's Jerry. Yeah. Public works that would be or public services we could do. I mean Yeah. So, I think maybe our format would look a little bit different, right? Um, but uh do you know how many people from Freeport attended this? 20. They capped it at 20 and they filled it with 20. Wow. And they um they got great feedback. I know Freeport's a little different, a little bigger. Um and yeah, so I just wanted to bring it to you guys. And I like the idea. I love the idea. Yeah. And I think it's flexible. like even if we don't, you know, we

don't plan anything right away, I I think that this is going to maybe stick around as a program. Mhm. So, shoot, the last one was already I would say I would tune into the tune into it to see what their format looks like, how they manage that, but Oh, yeah. Um, I think it's a great idea and I don't know if it's possible to maybe even combine with Donald, you know, I don't know, but I think Yeah. I

think it's I think I think we all agree that's something that if you would explore further. Yeah. Yeah. If you guys Yeah. And if you give me feedback and because it would obviously you know it would be some staff um so their sal most of them are salary there. So some you know I don't know how we want to work that but it's another aspect but right

if it gets more people involved I think it's always a good thing. So yeah I agree. Yeah. Okay, good. And that's all we have. All right. Uh, board member reports. Deb, do you want to start? Yep. Wait, did we start with you? Did Joe start with you last time? I think he goes down the list. Okay, then we'll I think he does go down the list. For some reason, I thought I started with you. I was going to start with Heather because she never gets to start. I don't care. It doesn't hurt my um Okay. So, I would like to inquire and I did send a note to Joe about what it would take to connect or to at least have internet at the Eureka Center. We had our solid waste meeting there on Monday. And so, and I just wanted to say it publicly and bring it out to you guys that someone brought it up. I think it's worth exploring. We looked at that a couple years ago. It would have take it take would take taking a trench from the

town office, cutting down some trees, and doing some other stuff. It was a lot of work. But I do remember that in our budget when we did our budget when we had all that conversation about the technology fee and the this the that the other thing a lot of that discussion hinged on the out and we're going to get the report on that at our next meeting. And so I think after we have that that will give us a better sense of the direction that we're going to go in and then we'll be able to figure out that. But we did set money aside. Yeah. So, it's relatively near-term. Well, I guess

I can't really say that either. It is a tough It's a tough situation, especially where we're holding meetings there. You can't do anything. And um Deon did mention there's a possibility um that he's looked into boosting the signal from here over to there. So, that won't require any infrastructure. So, I could talk to him. So, maybe Jerry's having conversations because Joe did tell me that that was going to be happening. Um we also requested this is

at at our solid waste committee meeting it came up the um door the automatic door the door that's you know it it has a it has a timer on it sort of um so if you are um handicapped or whatever to go in and out it kind of goes a little bit too fast office at at the Eureka center. So Kelvin was going to look at that um and maybe get that adjusted. So that was good. Um and there was an inquiry about what was the timeline of the new automated Cassella bins and stuff and I just got it confirmed that was July of next year. So that's all up to that's not up to the solid waste committee. Um and that's about all I had. I know I know we do have some um applicants for the solid waste committee in our package which is good because that group um is looking forward to having

over you? No. Um so at town meeting we made changes to the Durham Historic District Commission. we their name changed and their role changed and um I just want to make sure that there's clear communication and understanding of that between either us

and them or town manager and them. I I don't I think a huge change took place and there needs to be some sort of you know understanding of that change and what that looks like now because it's significant. Um, and also what the makeup not only of

that commission, but all of our boards and committees and commissions and what vacancies we have. Yep. To make sure that we're filling vacancies as needed, like an inventory. Yes. And then reset, right? And then also because we have the attorney coming to do FOA training. Mhm. That I'm trying to close the loop here. We talked about it, but making sure that all of the boards and committees are invited to that and know that and you know what I mean? I just don't maybe that's on someone's radar and that's getting taken care of. But I thought Jerry was going to send that email. Okay. My brain just didn't close that loop. write it down to make sure that that has happened because that's coming up quickly and I don't know if people have been notified or not and maybe they have but um and then the other thing is that I just want to say thank you to all the residents who are taking part in the roadside cleanup. Um and also just call

out Lee Buller sheep Fisher. I don't know what her last name is. Lee Buller Fisher. You know who I'm talking Thank you. she always really does like a campaign to try to get people to pick up spot in town and get that part of the road cleaned up. Um, and so I just appreciate everybody that's taking part in that um from now until um Sunday.

And that's all I have. Thank you. Um I want to follow up uh with I I already forgot what what we're calling the I know that's what I mean. Like I really want to That was something I meant to follow up with at our at our last at our last meeting is I I wanted to ask if Joe and Jerry or Jerry and I or whoever can sit down and make sure they understand the new role. Um and the historic district I think it's president. I think I can't I'm drawing a complete blank right now. But that's something I'll follow up with an email. Okay. uh to Joe and Jerry uh because you're right, it's it's changed and we need to make sure we're all on the same page of what their expectations are. They know what their expectations are. Um and also that uh I

think it's Allen's going to know when to contact them and and how best to do that, right? I I think it's really important because there's actually deadlines now around like application reviews and and that type of stuff. And so I think it's really important for them to understand that, you know, their role has significantly changed. They have a meeting coming up on the 24th. Okay. And I was I've talked to David. He has three members right now, including himself. So yeah.

of members? I can't do we do five or seven? I can't remember. historic district. I believe it's in their bylaw as well. Yeah. Um so I I'll make sure that that Joe and Jerry at least reach out to David and have that conversation because I I agree that's something that's important. Uh the other thing that was mentioned to me and I can't remember who mentioned it to me. We had a conversation in the last meeting about um the text messaging and there was a com there was well there were multiple comments on the Facebook page and other places about um why certain things don't get sent out and a specific example given to me was the fire on Pinkle Brook Road and one thing that we have to remember is is that it's staff members who were sending that out and so that happened at 8:00 at night. Mhm. Uh so they were off for the day. um you know, they may may not have had access to everything. And so, um you

know, not everything is going to be set out in in that system because if it happens at night, if it happens on a weekend when people aren't available and aren't able to do it, uh it just can't happen. Um so, it's not a perfect system. Um but, uh I think, uh from what

I've I've been told is some some people were a little upset about how things were going and wanted that explanation out there. Yeah. Um, so we need a policy. I Yeah, I think we need a plan that has those hours covered somehow. I don't know what it would be, but I mean that's the purpose of the text messages. I mean, it won't still be perfect, but the pro problem is is that, you know, with the fire, who's going to send that information? It's going to come from the chief. And are we going to ask him to take time out of doing what he's doing to provide Kimberly or Jerry or somebody that information? I think we need to have a a policy that like, you know, we go through and we outline and we because like the fire department has a communications officer, public communications officer. And so I don't know and we do not need to have this conversation right now who has access to the town text messaging, right? But

maybe in that the public safety realm that gets written into the public safety communication officer also has access because that person is already communicating. They're not necessarily there at the fire, right? So maybe that person is the one doing it in that situation. And then and again this is something that we all have like a policy that we can design and talk about of like the role of who is actually doing that communicating given whatever the circumstances. Yeah. And we've been talking about that need for policy for a long long time since we talked about it. So um volunteer to uh well talk to Jerry about Yeah. Get that. Okay.

moment. There was something else I wanted to raise, but I can't remember. So, uh, consent agenda. Um, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? So, move and a second. And I'll second. All right. Uh, all those in favor?

a conservation commission meeting April 23rd at the Eureka Center at 6:30, historic district commission meeting. Um although the the name has changed, April 24th at the Eureka Center at 6:30, planning board meeting uh May 7th here at the fire station at 6:30. Agriculture Committee meeting May 7th at the Eureka Center at 6:00. Solid Waste Committee uh Monday, May 12th at the Eureka Center at 6:30 and our next meeting is May 13th at I think we're meeting at 5:30. Yeah, we'll uh here at the fire station

meeting. I'm in Florida. I won't be at the May 13th meeting. I'll watch but I will be here. And um I think we do need an executive session under it's not written here is minutes if you want me to. Is that 405? Just talking about confidential I

4056 A executive session? I'll make a motion to go into executive session. Second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? All right, we'll go in. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Hello heat.

is 7:19. who just came out of executive session. Um the uh issue still on the agenda is the solid waste and board of appeals appointment applications. Um and so I am looking we we started a discussion at our last meeting uh with all five of us here about about appointments. Um and there were oh sorry there were some um questions raised and some uh discussion topics that we were going through. Um, and so in fairness to the two members who are not here, uh, I would I I'm I'm looking for a motion to table, uh, these three applications and the applications that were tabled until tonight. Um, there were seven, there were a few um, that were tabled tonight. uh to table them all until the May 27th meeting which will be a busy meeting for us but I think it's the next meeting where all five of us will be present. So is there a motion? So move in a second. I'll second. Any discussion?

Um just that we're going to contact the applicants and encourage them to attend whatever committee Yes. meeting uh they're applying for as a resident just to to to continue to be in the know of what's happening at those committees um until the discussion is had. Yes. And and so I'll just add uh I think this is an issue that we need to address and it's just the timing of it is unfortunate uh with uh with absences and there's nothing obviously nothing we can do about that. But uh in fairness to all the members, I I think I think it's the right thing to do. I'd agree. Yeah, I agree too. So if there's no further discussion, all those in favor, right? Um and uh is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. Second. Second. All those in favor? Thank you. Oh, I should also add we do have the meeting on May No, we don't. May 13th. Very Yeah. is just and that has to still be posted the basics but it's just executive at

the session public but