TranscriptSelect Board Meeting ~ June 13, 2017

got it. Okay. All right. Call this meeting to order. Four select men are all present. We rise for the pledge of allegiance. United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Howdy. I need your name. Michelle Harrison. put that on there? No, that will come after public comment. All right. Uh, public comments. That's you. [laughter] Just in time. Just in time. So, um, you want to set up that way they can record you so everybody will knowbody

who you are. Okay. I'm okay. [laughter] I'm Michelle Harrison and uh, let's see what you do. Know you. Okay. Thank you. So, um, I don't know where I should start, but I'm having some troubles. I got a building permit from Paul before he left on a lot. It's now known as 7 New Glouester Road in Durm. Okay. And it was um when I purchased it, I purchased

it, at the time I purchased it, we had divided it into two lots. Okay. And it's just on May 26, Kelvin left me a voice message that he was concerned that it was an illegal subdivision. So, I've got a couple hundred,000 in this property, and Kelvin had been there on at least four other occasions, which I've outlined in a timeline, and never did anything come up about this. As well as when Paul was here prior to getting the permit, Paul knew what my plan was. My plan was to purchase the land and to divide it into two lots. It doesn't require, according to the Durham statute, doesn't require subdivision because it's met the 5-year rule. Um, I forwarded today just to Todd. I don't know if you got a chance to send it around to the group or not.

Um, all the previous deeds. Cumberland Title's been on it. My lawyer's [clears throat] been on it. So, I was um, a lot taken aback when Paul called, I mean, when Kelvin, excuse me, when Kelvin called on May 26 and stated that it was a potential legal subdivision. And so, I've been trying since then to get feedback from him. Well, and and in the meantime, I have put a stop to the project, which is now costing me money every single day, that this project isn't proceeding. Um, I don't think it's unreasonable to request that an email that goes to a town official on the 26th, I'm sitting here 2 and 1/2 weeks later with no response.

So, and I'm starting to feel like there's some kind of personal vendetta against me. I'm not sure why. Um, but I've had other issues and I kind of went back through a timeline today because I was like, uh, you know, I I think I've probably let some things slide. But, you know, for example, I asked for a septic incept uh, septic, excuse me, inspection on 418. It didn't happen until 5:26.

Completely unreasonable. And the entire time I had an excavator sitting on site. So on 4:20, I followed up on the septic inspection request and again didn't hear until 5:26. I'm not sure what transpired or where things went south or if Kelvin's just overwhelmed. I mean, he's not rude to me by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm not here to beat up on him. That's not my intention. But I need some answers. And you know, I've lived in this town my entire life. I pay my taxes. I'm a [snorts] good citizen in my opinion. But um I'm now feeling a very concerned for the direction of the town.

So ask questions, please. Well, you said that you'd sent Todd some information. What can you enlighten us about this? Well, she's pretty much said what was has happened. Is is the law a legal lot being split in two? As far as I can tell, it is. So, it's been 5 years since it was last split off the off the larger piece.

Okay, that's my only question cuz I remember Ruth mentioned something about to me about it today and I I was trying to think back how it was worded. I know you can split it once, you got to wait 5 years and split it again. Can you split it in two in five years or can you only

Well, you kind of have to split, right? And but to build on that second lot, do you have to wait or is that it's it's not okay. Well, that that might be where Kelvin was trying to make sure that it was correct. I don't know. But he's not here, so we can't ask him. But

so I can give you a little more and I'm just going completely factual. So I don't think Kevin will Can I ask one question before you do that? Is the issue that he has actually told you that it's an illegal subdivision and you want to contest that actual finding or is it that he raised the question that it might be and he just hasn't followed up? Correct.

Okay. Second. Correct. And and that's the problem like and and he's you know it was a heated conversation between him and I as as you know I think it would be with anybody when you've got this amount of money out on the table and you're like not getting answers.

So you have you you have an existing permit? I do for one of the lots. I haven't even pulled a second permit because I haven't decided on the house on the house design for the second permit yet. Are we talking a total of two lots here?

Yeah. We're talking Yeah. So, it doesn't even We're not even at three lots, right? It doesn't even fall into subdivision based on the Durham statue. It's not It should never even be called a subdivision. Shouldn't even be in question as a subdivision. It was a land division. That's it.

Technically, that is what it is. But that's only technically. Got it. Could you just repeat one more time? You said you have a permit for one of the lots, correct? And who issued that permit? Paul did. and and pri and trust me, you know, like I I think the world of Paul and he's was a very thorough individual and he went through this with me prior to he knew what I was doing and he questioned it and I brought all of this in and we went through it. So now to have another interm guy going through it again, I'm looking at you guys going something's not right, folks. So, what what has other than the risk of

him following up and saying it is a a legal subdivision, what is that what has stopped you from working? Yeah, because um so the house is sold. It was a speck house. It's sold. The current the potential new owners can't afford to buy the house if the other lot then has to become back as one. Do you see what I'm saying? Like

the price of the lot more than what they were and they can't they've got a very clear I thought the lots were already divided. They're already divided. Yes, they are. I don't understand. Yeah. I don't understand. Oh, go ahead.

I don't understand that. You're saying that we might have to like bring the lots back together as one. If if it's deemed if if Kelvin feels that it's deemed like it wasn't legal to divide it. Okay. That's right. Then in order for me to sell it to the potential new owners,

I revert back. How long ago were they divided? So, and let me just walk you through that real quick. In 2000, so visualize in 2001, this lot had a farmhouse on it as well as like it was a farmhouse and some land. So, in 2001, this whole process started in two in June of 2011.

And that's the critical date, June 2011. That is when the piece that I purchased was broke off and it's like a five two acres. It's I think it's 4.2 4.2 acres. So that 4 the split off piece is 4.2. Exactly. And what was left?

Okay. What was what was you had? It was 4.2 plus what the other house is on that you're going to sell. Yes. It was like uh I don't I don't want to quote you and have it wrong, but I want to say that the house the house still has like seven acres with it or something. Does that sound relatively

So it was an 11 acre piece roughly with a farmhouse. 4.2 got split off as a separate lot. That's what you bought, right? Somebody else still owned the farmhouse, the other seven. Okay. So we're talking about the 4.2. The 4.2. So being split in half, that 4.2 though was created in June of 2011.

That's what this deed and he has all this the book um 8177 page 156 the house that resides there now the spec home. Yes. How many how many acres is that encompassing? 2.1 2.1 you're going to you're splitting a 4.2 you need two acres per

So you purchased the land in 2011? No I did not. Nope did not. Okay. In 2011 sorry in 2011 that's when the people who were selling the land that's when they split it. Oh, okay. I think that may be Calvin's confusion because Calvin has a date of 2012.

Exactly. So, I'll get there. I'll get there. So, then so just remember June 16th, 2011. This land was created the 4.2 acres. It exists. Has nothing to do with me. Okay. So then fast forward 5 years. We're now in June of 2016.

5-year rule has passed. Okay. that land is now able to be split without going through subdivision. There's plenty of frontage, there's the required acreage, and so there's no subdivision rules or laws for that. So, prior to me purchasing it in August of 2016, they wouldn't negotiate on price. So, I said, "That's fine. You can pay the money to have all the land split." So, when I purchased this, I purchased property with two lots. I purchased two different deeds. How did you do that? How

you just have the, you know, like they create the deed. Whether they're creating the deed or I create the deed, the deed gets created. 4.2 you, that's how you bought it is with split. Somebody wrote up a legal description of two pieces of property. That's what you bought was two pieces of property.

Exactly. And so that's what these deeds are. Who was the surveyor that split that for you? Do you um the you know the survey was actually done quite a long time ago. It was actually done in 2011. It was point Okay. They didn't split. When you did the 4.2, two. They didn't survey each one to make sure that you had they did

they did they created at the time they did the 4.2 they the people who were selling it knew in their mind we're going to hold on to this for 5 years and then we're going to sell it as two separate lots. So that that 4.2 has been surveyed and it's defined as two lots on the survey and it shows the equal or not equal but it shows um each lot's road frontage etc.

Yes, it does all and they're very clear detail. So they both meet town lot requirements in terms of 2 acre minimum 200 ft of road frontage. Y it's a corner lot so it was very easy to meet the road frontage requirements. Yep.

300 ft. Then what happens? 300 ft of road frontage. Yeah. Yeah. It is three. Oh yeah, but they meet the three. So it's they both meet the three. No, no, no. It's okay. Good question. Well, you bought the 4.2, but you bought it as two 2.1s.

Technically, I bought two 2.1s. Really? From all legality, it was split as part of the transfer. Exactly. Okay. Y. Yep. So, when I purchased, I purchased two deeds. Okay. Okay. Cumberland Title did all the deed work. I have all the, you know, my lawyer did all of the leg work on it. Everything is covered in title insurance. It is buttoned up.

Yeah. I mean, it's So, this is where Calvin's confused though, and I've gone over this with him, and that's what's extra frustrating about this because take the time, give it to your lawyers, give it to whoever you got to give it to, but give me an answer.

Mhm. So, where he's confused is there was a deed on September 7th, 2012. Okay? So, that means we wouldn't meet the 5-year rule until September 7th, 2017, which was this fall. This is not the end of the world, but it's this fall. All this deed was, and anyone who can read a deed can clearly see this has nothing to do with the land. The land is already done. This was two people broke up and one person's names been removed from the deed. It's nothing more than that.

May I see that? Yes, please. date. The other area that he's concerned about, he's expressed concern to me about is he's like, "Well, there's a word called portion in there." And the portion word, he's getting hung up on the portion word. Well, every deed is going to be written that way because everything came from one piece here and you took a portion of this and you took a portion of this. It's how they're written.

So, was one of these So, I'm assuming the deeds on June of 2016 you bought they for in your name. You bought them. Yes. So, where along the And here we're changing the name. Where along the lines did these people obtain property to begin?

So they obtained the property in 2001, the original property. They originally owned the whole piece. Exactly. And then they set the farm at at that time they broke the farm off at x amount of property and they had 4.2 that they split into two before when they did that. So that's actually three lots, correct?

Oh, I see. This is before you bought 2001, right? Before you bought it. Okay. All right. That might be where the confusion is. Now, can you do that that way? Yeah. I mean, I I know that there was a I know there was a thing about being able to split them.

Well, if they go into three laws, then it becomes a subdivision. That that may not matter because you actually have two separate D's, but I'm just trying to trying to clear. Yeah. When did did they do that? When they split that 4.2, they split it in two at the same time. They sold the farmhouse in the way I'm understanding it, the farmhouse was sold in 2001 and they created the 4.2 in

2001. Is that where they kept it? They kept it or 2000 2011. Yeah, this 2001 is the first part and then 2011 is the second part. So this is the first deed with the farmhouse that was too low. And then in 2011 they took the 4.2 and cut it in half.

Nope. They they created the 4.2 in 2011. So, when did they cut it? Didn't get it cut in half. It didn't get cut in half until 2016, 5 years later. Okay. They split it and then you and then I purchased two split lots. Okay.

purchased two lots. You didn't purchase one? No, I purchased two separate lots. And they were split before you purchased them. Mhm. you purchase and sale when you when when you bought those where there's two different tax map IDs on those each lots.

Well, it gets created when they create the deed. That's um so there is now there is now it wasn't when I purchased it. There is now. So there are two separate lots already from the town's standpoint. Well, from the town's tax standpoint, there's two different but yes, according to the tax assessor, there are two separate lots. But that has nothing to do with codes. Just so you I mean I'm not

No, I understand it has nothing to do with codes, but I I don't I don't I'm trying to figure out where the what the holdup is here. I don't Well, the whole Kelvin's initial it's very interesting to me. I would like to know, too, cuz his whole initial thing dated back to the 2012.

So, we we've gotten over that hurdle. So, what's the what's the remedy here? I mean because there is no there's no official finding that you that you that you can't proceed with your well the voicemail which my lawyer has advised me to hold on to that okay and if we have to escalate this we will and the voicemail is basically him saying like whoa I I don't want you to have a problem when you go to sell this

and and unfortunately and you know what and and it's I I said, you know, my word against his word. And you know, I'm not here to really argue about this. These are just factual things from lawyers. Cloud removed. I want the cloud removed. And and I continue to have problems. I mean, I should have never waited three plus weeks to have a septic inspection. And then in addition to that, on 66, he came out to do the framing, electrical, and plumbing. And here we are. I called him on 69. I pass. Framing, electrical, plumbing. All passes. I said, "Do you want to write something up? Do you do anything? Nothing was written up. Nothing was done. You have to call CMP so I can essentially get a meter put in. Okay. I've worked in a lot of towns. Cape Elizabeth, Felmouth, Freeport, North Yarmouth, Panel. Haven't really worked that much in Durham, but you know, I've built a couple houses in Durham. And so I've never experienced

this. It is now on 6:13. As of today, at 12:12, he still hadn't called my electrical permit in. So now he has made me lose another week. It's a simple call. You call, you give them the work order, they come set the meter. That's unacceptable. And under any circumstances, so now it's starting to feel a little bit like there's a little more there's an underlying current here. And so I'm trying to clear that cloud.

Todd. Todd, just Yeah. If I could just ask Todd real quick, it sounded like you got these documents earlier. I mean, you know, you know this stuff better than anybody. Does this conforming? I I don't see where he gets it's not conforming. I I get that he's looks at that 2012 deed and he doesn't understand it. He should have he should have called the town lawyer or something, talked to somebody. So, I want the people that can read that and and make heads and tails of it

and not waste their time. And I'm not saying that I'm right. I'm I'm going by what the lawyers and the title companies are saying. Yeah. A lot of people have looked at that. You do you you the call was made for the electrical I understand today.

So, that you're able to move forward with. Yes. Ryan, thankfully we have I think I mean unfortunately we can't give you some answers tonight cuz Kelvin's in the hospital right now somewhere. He's Yeah, we wish we could issues turn things take care of so we can't ask him at this point.

Um and honestly I thought this would pass so I would have brought it up sooner but then when this whole electrical thing has occurred and I mean I had a conversation with him yesterday you know and he says well when I get into the office I will you know I don't have the work order in front of me or if you can email me the work order number within 5 minutes I emailed him the work order number at 3:11 yesterday. This is all well documented and he still didn't call CMP, you know. So, this is starting to feel like guys, if I start adding up the cost, it's going chuch-ching, chuch-ching, chuch-ching, and nobody else would like to be treated this way.

No, I No, I agree. So, can with what you have, other than clearing up this cloud, which I don't think we can clear it tonight till we at least talk to him. Um, can you move forward with what you have at this point? The only thing you're concerned about is you want that if you want to be able to get that permit on that second piece. Yes. And I haven't applied for the permit. I just want to be able to move forward with with a recognition that these are that I'm not going to separate that it's two separate rots and I'm not going to run into any other trouble before I continue. I need to blast on the other law. I mean, there's a lot of things I need to plans still need to be drawn. I don't want to keep incurring costs,

right? If this is going to be something that you guys are going to come back and say, "Whoa." And you know, frankly, the the people of the existing house that's being built are going to want to close on that in a timely manner,

right? And so if we need to get lawyers involved, I know that takes time. Does do you know, Ruth, if Kelvin has copies of all those? Don't he has all the book and pages of everything he's copies of what you Yes, he does.

Yeah. And and um it was emailed to him. Pam can can look those up on the registry. Okay. So, yeah. And Todd could forward the same email that I sent to forward everything to me. So, I think the best that we can give you for an answer tonight and because we're not going to be able probably see him until Thursday.

Do Do you want me to forward this stuff to Jack and ask him for an opinion or do we want to just I mean, I don't know. Well, I haven't read the two deeds, but it seems to be if she actually bought them as two separate laws that that part is pretty much gone by. I mean, it should be

unless it was illegally done. Well, well, do you have I'm assuming did you buy them? I don't want to get too personal with No, I have title insurance on You have title insurance. So, a lawyer issued you title insurance on both leg and Cumberland title very regularly. And I Cumberland titles who the seller used. I used royal title. This is just, you know, this is a personal vendetta for some reason.

Well, I hope that's not the case. I like to think not, but we will clear that up as soon as as soon as we can get in touch with him. So, so do you think it's a reasonable expectation if by the beginning of next week I hear from somebody?

What? I think it's a reasonable explanation unless for whatever reason, whatever's going on with it tonight, we should have some kind of an answer for you Thursday sometime. I you know, Friday at the latest, I would think. Yeah. I mean, I can't understand why we wouldn't.

Okay, good. And then CMP's that's taken care of, thankfully. So, um we'll move forward with that. Okay. Yeah. I don't see why we wouldn't get you an answer by Okay. We'll try hard to do it by Thursday. I appreciate that.

Friday at the latest, I would think. Okay. Does that sound reasonable? Does to me. It does. Apologize. No, it's it's happens. What kind I'm just curious what answer are we going to get? Well, it it's just if if he's confused about something, he still has to he still got to uh issue the permit. So,

there's no request for permit on it. Well, I know, but that's part of what she wants to have cleared up so that she can proceed with it, right? Because if if he still says no and it gets pushed further out, then as she said earlier, she's either got to add the price to that for that.

I mean, not to to put a wrench in the system or anything, but Calvin theoretically won't be the code enforcement officer when you become and I'm not saying that like I don't need to, you know, like there's a lot of other variables that go into issuing the permit,

you know. So, I'm not saying like, hey, just give me a clean slate and the permit will get issued. I'm saying he made an accusation that's incorrect and I want that like retracted basically. I I think the only part I don't know if it's a plan of war. I don't is it it seems like she bought two deeds. It's it's a conforming lot. So what what are we holding her up any further? I don't get what we're waiting on either.

And if it if it was you're with everybody else in this if it was sold to her as a legal lot but it was done illegally. What standard do you have at that point? You've been on the other board. Well, I mean to me if she's got two separate days, that's what she bought.

But it passed First Americans sniff test and they wouldn't have issued that. They wouldn't issued those policies if it was that's one of the things they look at, right? Conforming. So I research I don't know we could I don't know if we can give you any more than that other until we at least talk to him. I mean,

I think if we talk to I think he just needs some direction on how to I think there's some confusion on some of the some of the dates here cuz you're going to be confused for a minute or two to be confused. We'll have the lawyer to take a look at it.

You know how that is cost money does and and it doesn't seem like it should. It's pretty clear, right? You know, it's not like it's this was an easy one in my mind. So that's 1700s where you got to this tree from this tree to this tree is your land and

the timing is very suspicious. I mean he was there on four different occasions and then all of a sudden this crops up. I mean there's doesn't pass a normal sniff test guys. I don't know what else to say. Well I mean I don't know I I'm assuming you and Kelvin didn't have any personal relation that I know of too. So I don't know why he would have any type of vendetta towards you. I think I think he's just very c I think he's overly cautious and just trying to do some due diligence on his end. And I'm not making excuses for anybody. I just that's the only conclusion I could draw cuz I don't think he knows you personally. So I don't

think he would form any type of negative vendetta or anything of that nature that you want us to. I just think he and and not really to stick up for him, but we have we have as a town or as a board have kind of pushed him pretty thin and I know he's trying to make sure he does everything right so he don't have it come back and bite him. But this

but I'm the one also too that's my neck's out there with a couple thousand invested going hey wait a minute this is supposed to be a you know business friendly town. It's not feeling very business friendly. Yeah. So your your your project that you're doing now is is getting the air completion and you need to sell it. Um so you can you can you can do everything that you need to do currently to get that uh keep keep on track with that process. Well, I I've actually pulled all my subs off in because, you know, cuz, you know, this isn't been like one or two conversations. This has been multiple conversations, you know, and push back of like, oh, when I get in the office or when I have time to get to this, it's not really acceptable to me when I've got this kind of financial investment out there.

So, what in not remedy, but what do you want to see happen? I I just need Calvin to understand the deeds. I just need a rec. All I need is a simple recognition of like a letter from him. You know, I just acknowledge the email from 531 just saying, "Okay, I've I've evaluated the other deeds. I see how this was split. Thank you." Simple as that. Don't need anything else anymore than that. And any future, you know, inspections that he's to perform, I need him to do it in a timely manner. I don't need to be waiting a week for someone to call CMP for me.

I don't think it should take 5 weeks to get a septic inspection. And this is all well documented. I mean, these are all emails, follow-up phone calls. It's all completely documented. More than 2 days. Well, we should be able to clear that up with him. I I believe, and I'm not trying to make this worse, but I believe that if if you was denied it, then it would have to go to the appeals board. Correct.

I think so. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I I don't think that that's the case. I think we can probably clear this up, but we still should talk. Still, I need to know that now to know what my next steps are to, you know, that I need to take.

So, you're not going to put your subs back on until you hear So, that's why if I hear Thursday, great. If I hear next week, great. Well, we'll try not to make it that one one sub. He doesn't he he has to kind of go back on when I tell him anyhow. [laughter]

Sorry. Oh, that sounds good. All right. So, somebody will get a hold of you. No, appreciate it. I I which we try hard Thursdays just so we can see if we can clear that up and then we'll let you know what we have to do at that point. I

and maybe if you guys put your eyes on the deeds too will help you understand too. Yeah. Okay. Thanks for letting me sneak in first too. Appreciate you the only sit for a long time. Okay. Thanks guys. Consent agenda. Yes sir.

Yeah. I had uh uh two things. Um I want to pull off the um B and C from the consent agenda. B You want to take B and C? Uh let's see. Oh, you want to take them? I talked about them. Yep. And talk. Okay. Uh B and C. Uh so that's a motion.

Yes. Do I hear a second? I don't think you need a motion for that. I think you just you just make a request and that's it. Yeah. So, you can make a motion to approve A. Yes. I I move we approve A from the consent agenda. I'll second. Okay. Move the second that we approve A on the consent agenda. All in favor? Okay. And so the reason I asked to have those two things pulled out for discussion uh on the minutes uh the minutes through nobody's fault is just uh an oversight. Um the minutes don't reflect that last at our last meeting we did make Calvin the full-time uh road commissioner effective July 1st and uh we did we we had two executive sessions that night and in between the two executive sessions we were in normal session but the recording secretary had gone home and we weren't being recorded at that point. So um but we so the minutes should be updated to reflect um that we did do that. I think that was the one

thing we was there was. Yeah. Oh, I missed that motion. I don't think you were here. Yeah, I thought you was here. That and Kevin recall. Do you recall who made the motion? Number one, what the motion actually said number two and who seconded the motion so I can get down right and amend the minutes.

I think I made the motion to um make I think I made the motion to make Calvin the full-time road commissioner effective July 1st. I don't remember who seconded it. I'll I second it for all intents and purposes. right? Yeah.

And we also did I don't know if it has to be noted. We also noted that we that would um uh that we would not hire not hire the secondary have to vote on not going to do that. So that's so for anybody watching that's that's how we're funding that.

Right. Correct. I'm not hiring and and it'll be and it was also with the understanding that it was commissioner more of a um uh more of a working commissioner type of a role so it would be in the field more so and then on the uh on the correspondence uh I just I had a question uh on both of these actually on the acco report there was a couple of incidences that um one

uh where someone was actually bitten by an animal and another one where neighbors animals are fighting each other and things that would seem to rise to the level that where law enforcement might uh become involved. And so I'm just wondering uh maybe it's just clarification with the new acco, you know, if he has referred something to law enforcement to include that in his in his remarks um so that we know whether he has or not.

Okay. Um because if if things are happening and the animal control officer is learning about these things and then we don't take it any further that that seems like we're not closing the loop on some of those especially people getting bit.

Yeah. And then uh on the fly runaround pond celebration on that one um I just want I think that would be an excellent thing to uh put on the new website to kind of promote that that's happening and uh you the PDF of that flyer or whatever. But um I think that's a uh that's a pretty nice uh nice celebration. So

that's 11:00 in the middle of the day 10 to 2 on Thursday. 11 o'clock is when they're doing the dedication. Anybody want to go speak? I wish I could. I have a meeting I can't get out of that day. If if it's something that's a precedent that we have to be there, I'll be there. If it's

Well, I'm going to go. I prefer not to speak. So therefore, I usually try and get a select person to speak. I'm horrible at speaking. If you write something down for me, I'll say it for you. I think Yeah, I [laughter] think it's it's it's largely commentary about, [snorts] you know, [clears throat]

that we appreciate the partnership with the Royal River Conservation Association. No, you can. I'll be more than happy to go with you that if you feel like some one of us need to be here, I I will make that happen. Okay. Awesome.

It's my birthday that day. So, you know, [laughter] maybe we'll have to bring you some cake. All right. There we go. Deal. [laughter] We got that. Huh? So, now um as far as approving these, uh we can't approve the minutes cuz we have to wait for them to be

right edited. You can approve them with with the uh Oh, okay. Approve them as amended. Right. Okay. Well, then I move that we uh approve B uh from the consent agenda B as amended and C as presented. Good. Speak at once. [laughter] All those in favor?

Second. I see it. They're going to fight it out later. [laughter] All right. Uh act action and discussion items act on the pit position. So um Shannon has come to talk to me, Shannon Brown, not Shannon Floyd, um who is our public information technology person. Um and she's indicated to me that that she is going to work her way out of of the position because she is way too busy. Um she does want to stay on until um we have hired somebody and so she can train the person. Um, so we're looking for a date at the end of July when she would be finished with a position. So what I need from you guys is, um, first of all, we should probably go over the, uh, job description and make sure it's what we want. And the other thing is I need a motion to put it out, um, to get applications for

is what you sent us the current job description. That is the current job description. And I was taking a quick look at it and the only thing that I saw that really jumped out at me was she does the person doesn't need their own computer system because uh there's a laptop associated with this position that leaves the building

it does leave the building. Okay. Shannon has it. Yeah. So Shannon is the one that's built this website. Uh well that's kind of a trick question. [laughter] along with you. I've done most of it. Oh, really? U and the reason is she's been short of time and

Okay. Well, with Ruth's uh suggestion that we remove they need their own computer. I'll second that. Yeah. Move seconded. Any more discussion? All those in favor? Now, does that include putting it up to Yes. Yes. Okay. secret.

That would be bad. [laughter] Okay. Now, you want to act on the CEO position. So, you want that advertised in the usual manner as part of your motion. Yes, please. Thank you. Uh CEO, uh we have four applications for CEO. Um, I think that I would like uh

you guys to set a date for interviewing and decide who you want to be involved in the interviews. You mean who we want to interview or who we want to do the interviewing? Well, my assumption is since all four candidates are qualified, you would interview all four candidates. Um, but I mean as far as do you want somebody from the planning board or ask invite somebody from the planning board? Do you want

Well, I spoke I mentioned I spoke with Ann from the planning board and uh she's certainly willing to be part of um when I spoke to her well several weeks ago, she was she said she would be interested in being involved in the

or Mindy Mindy's chairman. Yeah. Can we um set up a date between us and if they're they're welcome to attend, can we leave it at that? Yes. Can we just set, you know, whether it's going to be two of us or all of us or what's the normal process or is there a normal process?

Maybe [laughter] that's the first question. It is kind of somewhat normal. Yeah. Uh generally the select board does the interviewing and the hiring. Um, but I I would certainly uh think that it would be a good idea to maybe get input from some of the other people that are

cuz they're going to have to deal with them and and both of them uh are pretty well verssed in what they what they need. So you could maybe invite um either of them, right? And then if one of them can make it, that would be great. If both of them can make it, then

Yeah. I I was asking that like can we set a time between us and if it works for them it works for them but that way we're not juggling and it takes seven months for everybody to get on the same page to get here. I think the the one thing we would want though is it's uh you got to be all in, you know, because it's not going to be fair if one of somebody heard two interviews and not and someone only heard the other two and you you couldn't really have a

the tenative date that Ruth had thrown out was the 20th which is next year because that was the date we were hoping if all goes good to set the tax commitment and a lot of that may depend on what happens what tax commitment. Oh, so

that's a different subject and we'll get to that one. Yeah. So, that really shouldn't take a huge amount of time setting the tax commitment if everything falls into place and then we could possibly do the the interviews that night.

We do them at night, not Okay. Well, and you'll see we try to start a little early if people can get here. We can start, you know, 5:00, 5:30 or something if you want. Try to set, you know, half hour between them or something like that. I I'm I'm

Do you want to do them all in the same night? I would think. That's what I was thinking. Yeah, I would think so. And there is one that's quite a ways away. So, if we're going to do that and they can make it, that's the other thing. If they can make it this night, um probably set

we start with this night, I think, and then, you know, decide if you know, see who can make it and see if Yeah. See what happens. So, do we want to use the 20th as a the date and even if something happen goes fooy and the tax amendment goes array because of whatever the state does whatever do the interviews that night anyways.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Move this forward. We got to get right even more obvious after tonight. Just a matter of [laughter] it comes down to a matter of what time do we want to start? Earlier the better. 5:30. 5:30 works for me.

Okay. Let's do 5:30. 5:30. Yeah. That work for you? Yep. And make it work hopefully. yes, I will invite Ann and Mindy. One of one of you. [snorts] There's no reason they both couldn't come, right? The more the marrier, I think.

Yeah, cuz both of them have good. Let's get this one, right? You know, let's let's get get somebody good. Yeah. Yeah. Uh All right. All right. So, we're all set on that. Okay. Now, insert for the tax bill. I think we have a prototype.

This This is just a question because we had talked several times about putting something in the tax bill that uh would give people um information. Uh you're talking about $270. So, it's not a huge amount of money. Um, and I had given you guys an example of what uh gardener does, which is the last place that I had worked. Um, and we can, you know, decide to do it, decide to not do it, look at it, and decide what you want to put in the tax [clears throat] thing. I'm looking for input.

I I actually think it's a it's a good idea. And one of the things I was reading down through here that I liked that uh I know we get questions once the tax bills go out, people start coming to pay, they always come to the the window and ask where's my taxes going and usually the girls ask, did you look at the tax bill? And they say yes. But they didn't notice how what the percentage was that went to this one or what the percentage. So in here it actually spells that out. So I think that's kind of a if they read this I think that's kind of a good thing. I they may still get the questions, but I think they'll get the questions.

I think you're right. It would be just a matter of what we want to put in. and now and then? Which is Well, if you guys give me a an idea of what you might want to go with, um, I could do a rough draft and we can have it available the night that we hopefully do commitment.

You know, I I don't have a problem with the letter. I mean, how much was the cost again? I don't $270. I don't have a problem with I I don't want to I don't know if it's fair or right to get the whole state government involved, per se. Just give them a brief update of what's going on rather than passing the buck as to where the problem was.

This was the increase from town. This is the increase from school. This is where the tax breaks out on where it goes. Yeah. I don't I don't I wouldn't send out this. I wouldn't be fair. No. And and it probably I don't know if it would help to put in our cleanup day cuz by that time we'll be back into town meeting so it'll be out of that again. So,

right. Yeah. I mean, we could put some general stuff on there. Yeah. Fairly simple explanation of the numbers, you know, type thing. Yep. I suppose you talked to the conser comprehensive committee about maybe putting something a little blurb in

uh we didn't we didn't talk about it. Um, but we're we're not at a phase right now where a message would be relevant. So, okay. So, we'll have Ruth draft something up. Okay. We'll look at it on the 20th. We need that. Sounds good.

I don't need that. Yeah, we don't need We haven't decided anything yet, right? I just wanted to know if I should draft one up or not. Okay. So, D we've taken care of with the 20th of the commitment and the interviews. Um,

no. Well, I wanted to discuss the commitment with you guys. Okay. Um, [cough] ACTUALLY [laughter] REALLY hurt. Uh, so I just wanted to update you guys on the issue with the commitment. The issue is that uh the legislature hasn't passed all of the things that they have to pass yet in order for us to get our numbers. Um, and so I have my fingers crossed they're supposed to do it by the 21st because if they don't do it by the 21st, I believe the government shuts down. There's going to be a government shut down.

No, it's not going to save us any money though, Todd. [laughter] Um, maybe they'll get a hint. So, so we're we're kind of keeping our ears open and playing this by um u by ear, but the the issue is that because we're so late um in committing our taxes every year, um we're starting to run on fumes as far as money is concerned. Um I had enough for this month, but next month we're going to have issues being able to pay the um school bill um unless we get tax money. So, um,

what if they we're late? Do they foreclose on the office or something or No, they got understand they got to understand the situation. No, if we're late, I guess we're just going to be late. [laughter] Yeah, it's not our fault.

But I just wanted to let you guys know that it's unforeseen circumstances, right? And and of course, we have to make sure that that the RSU budget passes because if the budget doesn't pass, then that is another kink in our our issue of committing taxes cuz um we can't commit without that budget.

Yeah. And we're and we're not looking to get a tan. So if if none of this works to our advantage, then it's it's going to be tough to get a tan to make things work. Correct. I I have people. [laughter] Is that a guarantee, Ruth?

That's not a guarantee. But uh I I think we could probably get a tan if we really needed to, but I would prefer not to. Yeah. Um so I'll keep you guys updated on Sure. Okay. on what's happening. Okay. Now you can go ahead. Do we want do the the 5:30 for the interviews? Do we want to show up, you know, 15 minutes before that or so, so we can take care of the commitment or we'll just start at 5:30, take a few minutes, take care of that if it falls into place, and then we'll start the interviews right after that.

Yeah, why don't we do that? That's fine. 5:30. Yeah, we'll just take a couple minutes before we do the first interview. So, I I just want to comment this tax club that the God time of God now has, that sounds like hell idea. It

It is. It's an awesome idea. It You know, you send in. It's a club. [laughter] It's like a Christmas club, right? It It is cuz you pay your taxes in nine separate installments. Yeah. But the issue is the way our tax year runs. It'd be very hard for us to do that unless we go to a fiscal year and then we can work towards that.

At what point are we going to discuss doing up your alley? Oh, yeah. After I get [clears throat] to do something, [laughter] people [snorts] people can and do come in and pay Yeah. a little bit heat. Absolutely. People can [laughter] pay whatever they want whenever they want.

Yeah. But but as long as eventually they pay the whole thing on. Yes. [laughter] for you this month. [laughter] It's my club contribution. Yeah. All right. Uh we all set with that one. Act on pine tree waste contract. I kind of briefed over this a little bit and it seems like it's pretty much the standard that we've had in the past.

Yeah, I did pass it by um Jack, our lawyer. Um and he did add a couple things to it. Um he added an indemnity clause and then the other thing he added was an what I call an out clause. And um basically it states that if we don't appropriate the money then we can get out of the contract as of uh the end of that fiscal year. Now we're not on a fiscal year so I thought about changing the date of June 30th but I mean you'd

have to have some money. Well the contract runs the contract runs on a fiscal year. the contract runs. So, I think to keep it clean, it would make sense to keep it. Yeah. Would that way, right? Have has pine um pine trees seen this amendment that

No, the the um attachment basically comes directly from the bid specs. Okay. So, that's where all that information. My guess is this is not the first time we've signed one of these with Pineree. They're probably familiar. They've probably had a clause like this from my attorney in the past.

I think this boiler plate. Well, I I took the um the boiler plate from the last one. Um and so it did not have Okay. the clause the last time. Well, the attorney's good with it. That's the way I look at it. Yeah. Unless Pine Tree is going to object to it.

Well, then we'll be back here again, right? I mean, I can't imagine. Please. You don't have to come pick up the trash if they decide not to pay you. Right. [laughter] Right. It's probably not going to Okay. Be a lot more burn permits around here. Chief [laughter] website up and running, buddy.

Everybody's telling you, [laughter] everybody's going to have a fireplace. Burn barrels for everybody. We used to do that all the time. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we used to. Okay. So, all we need to do is have a uh motion to approve this.

Mhm. I will accept that motion. All right. I would move that we accept the uh contract with Pine Tree Waste with the uh changes suggested by the lawyer. accept the contract with the adjustments. Uh any more discussion? All those in favors.

here for us to sign. Well, actually, I seem to be missing the agreement part of the copy. So, if you guys This one. Yeah, that one is So, if you guys could just pick one and sign the same. Okay. Yeah, it's on the rest of it's on the back.

You want to You want to start it? Sure. You got the one page one? I got the one page one. Yeah, that'll work. I just Oh, we probably should do two copies so I can I've got one here. It's good and clean. I started it back.

Everybody wants an original these days. It's a copy. though. Yeah, that's true. on F the PAP contract. I'm going to hand that one over to Chief so he can Yeah. Welcome aware all of you are is what in regards to what it is but it's PAP is the public safety answering point is what the acronym stands for and they actually answer your 911 calls it's then either dispatched by them that's where you dispatch from or it's disseminated to a dispatch center which in our case a contract that uh I wasn't I [clears throat] see no issues with the contract. It's basically the same as we've had in the past. The only thing I would hope that and and I see no option for us on paying it or not paying it or signing it or not signing it. We could go out for prices, but if you look at the date range on that contract, we're already halfway through the contract.

That was going to be my first [clears throat] uh Yeah. So that the and they do that primarily so that the revenues come in in their next budget year because they won't get them more than likely and process them until after July 1. So they'll be in the next budget year. But the thing they don't take into consideration is those of us in a calendar budget year because unless Ruth got notification, I didn't see any notification saying it was going up. Didn't go up drastically. It's never gone up since we've been having them paying them for peaceapping services, but it went up 10 cents per capita, which doesn't sound like much, but it equates to $384.80 is what the increase on it is. So, I actually didn't have that budgeted. I'm not worried about that piece. I'll somehow figure it out, or else I'll come to you and tell you that, hey, I couldn't make it work. But, um, I guess I would hope if you've approved signing

it and sending it in and paying it because you already approved paying it because I think it was on the warrant for the pay. Um, but I would hope it would be accompanied with a letter saying that, hey, we're on a calendar year. We really need to see these notifications of increases prior to our budget cycle,

which means we need the ne if there's an increase next year, we really need to know by November or so. So, I mean, I just wanted to hear you guys up. We really need to be notified cuz 10 cents we can probably make 10 cents work but if they start talking

50 cents it uh that adds up. It sounds trivial but when you start doing per capita it adds up. Yeah. not sure that's what Ruth wanted it on there for but I I wanted to explain to you that it's actually an increase and an increase that they never notified of. So we can pay the bill if we choose to pay it with that little note there. That should be

we don't have a lot of options. I mean we can shop around but it the paps are all about the same price. It actually Androskgins that's actually a pretty reasonable price. So it uh I mean I think we're you know we went through the dispatch research

y accompanied with the pap research and between Lisbon and the sheriff's department. Those are probably our two best deals that we Yeah. I think you did a whole You did a whole bunch of that last year. Yes, I did. They haven't raised their rates in how long? You said it's been how long since they raised their rates last

since they were charging initially. There was no charge for PAPs. Um it was you were assigned they were assigned that by the state legislature, but there was never ever every there was never any funding for bricks, mortar and labor. it was just for the PAP equipment that went in there. So eventually legislation got passed that allowed them to start billing for it. So we've been probably paying that PAP fee for and actually even initially county commissioners didn't implement it. I think our dispatch fee has been three four years somewhere in that vicinity.

Okay. And it's never it's since we've been be getting build it's never gone up. So that's really not the point of the matter. The point of the matter is that it'd be nice to be told in advance that, hey, we need to do a price increase. I don't think 10 cents is off the charts, but

no, it doesn't seem like looks better in our pocket than in there. So, and I need a motion authorizing me to sign the contracts. for the PAP with the county. I'll second that. It's been moved and seconded. Any more discussion? All those in favor

Yes, I opened my IT RFP and to my surprise, I got one. [laughter] Um, so I actually got two bids. Um, one was from a company called BEK and they they were ones that bid last time and then they also got a company named CMC Technology who also bid. Um, they actually called me uh yesterday morning when it was due yesterday afternoon and said, "Do you guys have any IT needs?" And I said, "Well, we have an RFP out if you want to bid it now." Um, so, so the CMC technology bid came in more like my last RFP where they have a beginning assessment and then they want to charge a per month reoccurring charge um, of $1,200 a month, which is not unreasonable, but um, that's not what I was looking for. The BEK bid this time um, came in. they want to char well they don't want to um they would charge a $2,160 fee upfront that is for them to go through our entire system all three um sites go through our system map it for

us take pictures of the equipment write down what all the equipment that we have is and make um recommendations as far as what they think would be good for us to what direction they would be good for us to go. Um, then in addition to that, they gave us hourly rates. And the hourly rates depend on what kind of work that they're performing. The $215 rate is obviously emergency. Um, if I need them right away because my server just crashed and burned or something like that,

irregardless of the hour of the day, right? Irregardless of the hour of the day. Um, the 135 is what we would most likely go with. So, with our present budget, if we go with them, we would have enough money left over after the assessment um for approximately 20 hours for the rest of the year. And and I think that's probably doable.

budget to act on any of the recommendations that might come out of the assessment? we have money in the budget to procure a new server uh because that had been a previous suggestion from some other IT people that we had discussed stuff with. Um so we did put money in to buy a server um but beyond that not really so it's kind of something that would be for next year

for next year based upon if we bought a server how much of this time would be typically when you buy the server you got to have somebody set it up and all that stuff. So, if we did purchase service someone down, I mean, I'm I'm assuming there's going to be a pretty big expense at a buck 35 an hour to set that up.

I have absolutely no idea. Okay. Sorry. [laughter] That's fine. Would that either be part of their assessment to I I don't think the setup would be part of their assessment. No, but the the need for they'd be looking because we kind of made the call outside of their assessment that we need a new server,

right? So they may come in they can confirm that or say nah you don't need that you really need this right um and then they could give us an estimate of this what it would cost to implement whatever they're suggesting. Okay.

Exactly. Okay. So Ruth just cuz um I get it. Um which one of these do you think fits the town's needs in your opinion best? BK. BK. And it's closer to and most of these places charge mileage. So that's another issue. It's located in the bath uh the old station.

Mhm. Yeah. I think you told me that a couple weeks ago. Okay. So, you'd like a motion to move forward with BEK? I would. I'll make that a motion. Second. It's been moved and seconded that we let Ruth move forward with BEK. All those in favor?

So I have written up a special town meeting warrant and I have now one. For the special town meeting we had discussed um in regards to the public works project titled Durham Auburn tunnel road road culverts. Um I [sighs] I went back and forth around a date. Um and I settled on July 17th, a Monday, which is not set in stone. This is a discussion thing. Um and the reason I chose that date is because it gives a month to advertise and to get everybody, you know, on the same page. The issue with that date is I will not be here. although it is uh an election type of thing. So Shannon technically would be running the election but but I will not be around during that time. So I don't know if you feel more comfortable if I'm around we can push it off a little bit further um or if if you feel comfortable that you guys can make it through a special town meeting.

I think we can make it through. I guess my question would be is what's the what's the how bad of the emergency that we got to get this done? I mean is it time is of the essence here? Is the damn or is the levy ready to break or not?

Well, we can't put it out to bid until we have the money, right? So, we need to appropriate the money and then you would put it out to bid and then, you know, I'm assuming that some of the work would would want to be done this fall. So, we're I mean, I suppose you could put it off to the beginning of August if you wanted, but I wouldn't go much further than that.

I think we should step forward. Um, do we have a moderator for this? Uh, we do not yet. Um Shannon was going to invite um Joshua Klein Golden to be the moderator. He's gonna be the one that's going to do the town meet next year. Yeah.

About to pay for that. We haven't. Not usually. Although they can charge. I was just I get it on the town aspect. That's an all day affair. But I was thinking something like this. Maybe we could just handle this in house.

Yeah. It's a one ord required to have a moderator. Okay. Independent of the town, I assume. Yeah. Oh, that's No, not independent of the town. Technically, anybody can be moderator, right? I mean, you could be moderator. Well, well, that's what I mean. I mean, I I It's one question. It's kind of a black and white. It's really not a

I don't care. I don't care. I mean, if the gentleman's willing to do it, I'll do it. He was the one Yeah. He was the one that was that was going to do it last year and uh and then Gary said he wanted to do it one more year.

Why don't we see if he's willing and available and if he's not, we can see go to plan B. Yeah, sounds like a point. So, do we want to hang with the July 17th? Yes, sounds good. I mean, it's just it's basically the one thing. So,

yeah. And we're not raising money, so right shouldn't be. So, so the other um the only ones in the room. Well, I I guess I should probably um [laughter] you should probably do a motion for that first for the 17th. All right. I take a motion for the special town meeting on July 17th. Second.

I'll make a motion to have the town meeting on the Monday, July 17th at 7 p.m. at the center. I'll second to move to second. Any more discussion? All [clears throat] those in favor? Okay. Are you guys interested in having a public hearing to for this? I don't think it's wanted. Since we're not raising money, it doesn't feel like we would

I think if we we need to put it out there somehow so people understand what this is about um without making a big long newspaper article about it. But just put a link on our new website on the website. I can do that. Yeah.

Yeah, that's probably the best way. Okay. No. Department missing committees? Fire chief, you want to go first? But he has to stay anyways. He does. All right. You want to go first? And while you're right there, [laughter] doesn't matter. You're on there first. I got to stay till we end, so it doesn't matter. Okay.

I uh I don't really have much tonight. I mean, cuz you know, usually I put everything on the agenda that I want. I did want to let you guys know that um the tax sale that we had up has been redeemed. So So it it came back. Uh the people who have previously owned it and we had foreclosed upon have redeemed the property. It's off the the tax sale. So it's there's no tax sale.

The one up here on Route 9 on Hollow Road. That's Yeah. That's great. Cool. Um other than that So that tax sale was cancelled. Is that what Yes, the tax sale was canled. That's good. That's good. Yeah, that's good. Okay, Chief.

Okay. [laughter] Good as off as you can get. Yeah, I told you. got you should get your Yeah, that's [clears throat] so everybody's got a copy one way or the other. All right, we'll start off the apparatus committee. We met last night uh and uh

went back and revisited the engine again. One of the assignments of every everybody was to walk away and ponder it for a month because we'd hashed it around and we looked at services provided, how how we fulfilled the need for those services and stuff that we actually went up and looked at uh an engine that was up to Northeast that had been ordered which was smaller, actually cost more, but it was smaller to see if maybe something smaller might be something we could do. But anyways, where we ended up after hashing it out is we're going to try to invite an offender in. The committee is still at a point that no, the the engine right now that's not the piece to look at. If we're going to look at consolidation, now's not where we should be looking at consolidation. It's one of the other pieces perhaps down the road. Perhaps we can do some things to set the stage for the consolidation. They're not against

consolidation and they do in all honesty sooner or later we're probably going to have to discuss a second rescue. And if we discuss a second rescue, we got six baby wars. We don't need a seventh one. So, at some point in time, we'd have to figure out how we make a second rescue fit in there and stuff. So, it uh they don't feel now's the time. So, we're actually going to try to next month in July, hopefully on the July 10th meeting, invite a a engine fire truck manufacturer in to salesman to actually take a look at our engine, take a look at our needs. We actually have two salesmen from different companies that live in the town of Durham. So, they'll they're going to give us a biased opinion obviously, but it's all going to be proportional. Yes, it's all going to be proportional. And the the one individual I'm probably going to invite in, he's he's helped us along the way with information and he's still

never sold us a truck. So, um he's got to keep plugging, but he's also willing to keep trying. So, we're going to try to invite them in hopefully on the 10th and then on the 24th we're going to try to invite somebody in to discuss a vendor for rescue because that was the other piece of what we discussed was the rescue is actually slated for replacement in 19 and the buildout time for those same as it is for fire app not quite as long but almost as long as it is [clears throat] for fire apparatus. The other thing that a rescue throws at us if if you follow communities and what they're doing with rescues is they replace them um because of some of the changes it's most communities now are starting to go to gasoline which sounds trivial but it puts a whole different twist on it to us. Everything we have over there is diesel. We have on site diesel. So now we have to look at fuel. Um, so we we have a bunch of questions

we need to talk to vendors about and see what our options are for especially staying with diesel so we can continue with the on-site. Why? Yeah. Why [clears throat] it's because of the engines and the size chassis that we need. Um, you can go to the larger chassis if I'm understanding this correctly. Part of this is why we're inviting in a vendor so that we understand it better. If I understand this correctly, to go with a diesel engine, the size chassis we need with the type box we need, we either go with a retrofit on a commercial chassis, which is going to leak continually if we do the, you know, this the built the seam built on there and stuff. Um, is it going to twist differently and it's going to be a constant issue or

we have to go with something extremely large which in all honesty ours is really about the right size to get something about our size. If my understanding is correct, we have to most communities are looking at gasoline just in or actually going with gasoline. A lot of them are around us and gradually switching to gas engines. So that's probably one of the bigger questions. the rest of it is somewhat uh the system we have and the way it's set up is really workable. So, it's really just a case of looking at the updates like I know we have to put three point harnesses in for the passengers, the the EMS providers in the back and things like that, but um the safety requirements and then really looking at just uh yeah, the most part of is pretty much where we need to be. Just needs to be updated. So, anyways, those are the two dates. I didn't put times, but usually we meet at 7:00. So, I'm pretty

sure in the month of July that we are going to meet at 7, not earlier unless we have to because of the vendors. description, it went through the process. It uh had to make a few tweaks to it. The actually the attorney sent it back and said, "It's perfect. There's nothing that needs to be changed." [laughter]

Expect nothing less. made uh made the adjustment to it and stuff. Now I I need to slide it into our uh department handbook. We have a section that's strictly job descriptions and stuff. It's not up on the website, I don't believe, yet. Is it?

No. Yeah, I'm sure it's one of the pieces you and Diana discussed, but I want to merge that piece in before we cuz I know that one's ready to go. I just have to merge it in before we do a conversion and put it up. Um, but anyways, actually by word of mouth, I've already had two people from outside the department that have submitted applications. So, it uh I'm not sure how much advertising we really have to do otherwise and making sure there's some type of public notice out there that the opportunity is there. Uh as I the other side of as I thought it through the word of mouth thing word of mouth it uh even a citizen for the most part is not going to go to an individual that they don't think would be a good asset to the community and recommend they apply for the position. So one of the things it does do by doing it that way is it weeds out a lot of the applications that we may have to weed

out as we progress. But anyway, so we've started the pdium staffing internally uh going through so it's the summer time and it's the toughest time uh but I [clears throat] have those applications and hopefully by the end of the week I'll start sorting through those two applications. We'll get that merged together, get that up on the website and I'll probably do some type of public notice and press a little bit more to try to get them to start to flow. Uh, but actually it appears like that's probably going to gradually come together and work well.

I assume because you're usually pretty good at this stuff, you're keeping pretty good track of like um, you know, shifts you weren't able to fill and with the with the stipen model and, you know, unanswered calls or calls that had to be referred, you know, stuff like that. So when we come around next year,

we'll be able to say is working, is it not working? Yep. it uh it's going to be hard to completely gauge it on this year where I mean in reality I've started doing the stipens and which was the next piece the stipens piece of it and the coverage that that's really filling it in good and it uh uh some of my stuff talks about the additional we added one person with a new person with a license a younger person which really the stipen system is designed for younger people people I think I told you this people that are established in KN, they don't care about that stipen to to to give up an evening sleep, they'd rather have that evening sleep than that stipen. So for young people that just bought a house or something in the town or trying to make changes in their life, they're all over that stuff. So what I need to do is press to. So if anybody's listening and they're young and they want to get their

EMS license, it [laughter] uh it [clears throat] uh but it designed it's ideal for those. So we've got one that's licensed and we've got a few more in the wings. So, as we add those people, we're starting to actually plug a lot of those gaps. We did have one fallacy in the system that uh with an individual and it's been addressed u and uh hope we don't have to go there, but I'm hoping there is not a second time for that to happen. But um some of

it becomes a personnel issue, but I forwarded the information to Ruth and stuff in regards to the the fallacy within the system. It was taken care of. that there was coverage. It just was not necessarily who was signed up for coverage.

Who? Yeah. So, something we discussed initially. I did not think it would happen this soon, but I was already tested. So, um yeah. Uh but anyway, I I think both of the that system piece of the system really seems to we have very few gaps. I actually checked earlier today and I didn't write it down and include it in the report, but I probably have maybe

two, three shifts at the most that absolutely nobody has signed up. There might be some of them I only have an EMS provider, but or a driver, but there are not many of them. Uh, so I I think that that's coming along that piece of it coming along pretty good. Um, I feel good about it. I was a little apprehensive about it after recommending it, especially with that glitch, but I feel good about it. I think it's coming along. Uh we kind of covered the two and three seven um not four this we've had seven members. I talked to about it before and they were still in the class but all seven of us seven of them passed their basic fire officer. Um we had one other individual that took fire officer one and two which is actually quite a commitment. It you go for two weekends and then you go for nine days straight to an academy and you stay at the academy. So, it's actually [clears throat] quite an achievement and

quite a commitment. And uh um but he's achieved his fire office one and two certification. As I mentioned, we had the one complete the basic EMT, but we've got several others that this is the time of year they start testing out. So hopefully they're all successful with it because we've got at least two, if not three more. Three, we have three more that hopefully if they're successful with their testing, we could add to the roles for new basics. Uh then

we had one individual that just passed their firefighter one and two. Their final exam was this this uh Saturday [clears throat] they passed. So we'll be adding a new firefighter to the roster as well. It uh we have seven enrolled the 20 23rd 24th and 25th. I think that's Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We have several of seven of them actually enrolled in a basic pumps class and we've actually met and have the dates all worked out for doing an aerial operators class inhouse based on our specifically on our aerial apparatus. Any of the training we've had before this where we didn't buy it new was based on the people from New Jersey training us and then us training our people internally at Main Fire Service Institute is one of their services. They're actually putting together aerial operations and it's specific to your aerial device which so that ought to be a good class. I'm hoping we fill that.

Um [clears throat] EMS week it uh that actually went very well. It grades five through eight. We have them over and um we try to add something a little different every time and it uh that went over very good and was very [clears throat] successful and the weather cooperated. Um

six uh few weeks ago I I think few weeks ago I'm not sure I sent Ruth a piece on NIMS a NIMS class in Lewon and I just wanted to touch on that because I know there was some questions asked in regard to well hey what is this what what's required um and it uh so anyways that NIMS we're required to be communities by federal law are required to be government is required to be NIMS compliant which NIMS compliant basically ends meaning that you need to adopt some type of local ordinance ruling or something like that, which we've done actually prior long prior to me becoming the the EMA director. Debbie actually moved it through and it was approved at town meeting. I'd have to research to tell you for sure if it's an ordinance or how it was written. Um, but I actually I know we voted it in at town meeting and I believe it was an ordinance. But that's the first piece of it. The second piece of it is um we need

to uh do an emergency operations plan which myself and my assistant EMA director usually work on the emergency operation plans. It usually covers weather emergencies, snow emergency, things like that. It know some of you were around during the ice storm and stuff like that. Well, most of the planning and the contingencies were actually listed in that plan and here's where you go, here's how you do it. Not all of it always hold true and it's 100% up to date, but it gives you that basic guideline to build upon. So, we have to have that in place. That's maintained by county EMA. We provide them the input and the updates and they keep it updated for us and they house it there. Um, I've got a copy of it at the station. There should be a copy of it here. I'm assuming I believe there was in a class. It should be labeled Durham EOP. Uh and actually some of the some of the things that you see here like the PowerPoint

projector, the whiteboard, the flip charts. So we have a radio that we actually store at the station, but the connection for us over there and there's an antenna on the roof is our emergency operations plans actually designates this as the emergency operations center should we have an event. Um as well as some many of the generators that were purchased and town the school was set up. So segments of it can be split off as a shelter. And when we turn it over to the RSU if in the event of a major disaster, we can use that section of the school. That was not part of the deed. There was an well, it was, but there was an easement placed on the deed so that we can use that as a shelter if we need to for a major emergency. Um that generator there was actually purchased

as e under the emergency management system as well as the one at the uh cooling and warming shelter is the community center and that's how that generator was purchased and this one was purchased prior to that wasn't part of this purchase but this purchase here was actually based on emergency operations center and stuff. So all the generators in town with the exclusion of the fire department, go figure in the public works [clears throat] actually came through homeland security funds based on uh NIM's compliance and and the system that they've established. So your tax money, but somebody else is going to get it. So we really need it here. And it's definitely been a plus because it in the meantime, you can utilize it. You guys have probably got the money's worth out of the PowerPoint projector without us ever using it for an emergency operations center. Uh but [clears throat] that's piece number two.

Piece number three is credentiing of personnel and it uh we're required to we have to pass a straight face test. Everybody doesn't have to always be up to snuff. They realize there's going to be occasionally gaps. For the longest time, the ones for municipal officials were totally ridiculous. It uh you know that really I'm going to probably come to you in the event of a disaster and emergency and I'm going to going to the ice stom. What I met with the selectman for was to actually give them an update in regards to what was happening, what we'd had for emergencies, what we had for losses and what they could expect for followup expenses. So some of the levels they took it to was totally ridiculous. So what I've actually given you to help you get a grasp on it and stuff is if you look actually you guys fall under the very first line on that top sheet senior local county appointed elected officials

and if you look you're a 402 it's a twohour class u is what it is it uh I actually thought it couldn't be taught otherwise by county EMA or somebody that was authorized but I actually went in my research to come up with some of this stuff. The next sheets after this first sheet are sheets from the PowerPoint presentation that you can download from the FEMA website. So, I actually have downloaded the I got to do more research because we may be able to do it without actually having to have county EMA come in.

Feel like maybe you could take us through it. Is that what you're saying? Well, that's what I was kind of wondering after I found that the instructor notes are up on the FEMA website as well as the PowerPoint presentation. These are the first three slides out of like a 71point PowerPoint presentation. Um, so I'm going to do some research and see if that could happen. But, uh, the other option we have rather than credentiing because and we have had selectmen before that have opted not to take the training. Uh, I just I just need to put a waiver on file saying, "Well, now in the event of an emergency, I'm going to sit there and listen, but I'm not going to be part of the decision-making process that for 2 hours worth of training." I don't recommend it, but other people have said that they do that. I I'd recommend taking the training and I actually think if you haven't been subjected to it and stuff

that 2 hours that's not bad and that's kind of eye opening when you start to think you're subjected to it. Yeah. When you start if you look at mine I've had all of these plus going across here and it uh some of it is a little over

the time of Durham system. So that's where the subjected term comes from. Uh but anyways and then the uh [clears throat] the fourth item is credentiing of resources which county again keeps for us every [clears throat] annually we report changes in equipment and they've established databases so that in the event of an emergency if I need uh two

water rescue boats that's house I one I have a disc but rather than relying on people that are unfamiliar I'd actually probably contact county EMA or the sheriff's department and say, "Well, hey, I I need a couple of rescue boats." And they maintain that and it's all typed according to FEMA resourcing, which FEMA resourcing an engine is not just what we talk about at town meeting because that's actually that's just the vehicle and an engine needs to have certain equipment and it needs to have certain staffing on it and stuff so it covers all that. Um, [music]

enough information, more than enough. Was that my shut off? Was that the to say it's enough? Time's up. Cue the music. Um, [clears throat] Bailey, there's questions on the Do we Are we thinking of something on the website? Maybe it's already there. I haven't seen it. Um, detailing I don't want to scare people, but detailing an emergency operation. You know, what happens if you know and who do you call, where do you go? Not everybody knows

the fact that the school is a shelter. Well, thing of it is is if it happens, unless we staff it, it's not going to do you any good to go to the school. So, I guess we have to open it first. We could put the part pieces of the plan up there, but we'd also need to make sure people realize that without staffing, like the cooling shelter, I got to be honest with you, the cooling shelter, I think we're I don't think we've ever opened it as a cooling shelter. We opened it once as a warming shelter when we lost power for like a day and we had maybe three people come by um even during the ice storm. Not sure Debbie was overseeing it and I had my hands full, but I don't think we ever had more than six or eight families that actually went and stayed at the hall. People in Maine, this is designed for a national system. People in Maine, especially if you live in rural environments, tend to become fairly self-sufficient. We can I

can put together something and make sure it's up there so people have a better handle on it. Um and it's not necessarily scare people, but I mean then it depends. I'll see what I can put together because it's the depth of it to to me one of the um one of our instant disasters short of something that you can't really predict or foresee uh you know like maybe a hurricane hitting or a tornado or something like that or a major you know flooding dam dam breach dam failure the dams on the endogen river are getting older at the the flood inundation maps which actually there should be copies of the flood inundation maps here as well. You know, we only have 30 minutes to react for with the changes in 136. That's changed the people that are at risk. It reduced the at risk population substantially. But, uh, you know, we go back to the the floods of 87. Is it 87? We go back to that the third largest flood. And that's actually

we'd have to go back to the flood of 46 before we had the equivalent of a a damn breach situation. and we have we'd have 30 minutes to react whereas a flood we tend to go watch and wow it's come up a little today and we go watch the next day it

hey look at that u but yeah I can put together some stuff it uh you know I don't think it'd be so much on where to go it would be how to more how to prepare there is stuff up there in regard to how to prepare yourself for these emergencies cuz

really to actually get where you need to go you need to be able to be self-sufficient for at least a little bit of I'll look at it, see what I can do. But we do have some information that was on our website in regard to preparation [clears throat] for

simple links links to the homeland security site that's got all shelter in place. The links to the our old website there was links to a lot of that stuff. So I'll look at some of it up on the stuff. Yep. Yeah. Okay. [clears throat] um county pap we talked about that one's report website we really didn't talk about that but I think I heard a little something about that but it [clears throat] one's report website it uh they it's not so much they shut it down it's the fact that of how they shut it down that actually uh they actually they I received a notice from the individual that runs one's report an email from them on Saturday saying it'd been shut Um, the letter from the state of Maine showed up on Saturday. It's I saved the envelope. It was postmarked the 8th, which is Thursday. Um, so they they to me they show total disregard for the the citizens and the the systems that were in place. Little history so that if you

are comfortable with it, maybe you'll help campaign because I think it's a good thing. Before Warden's Report website, we had the option of paper permits at the station. We paid for two hours staffing at the station on Saturday and Sunday. It cost roughly $2,100 a year.

One report website. When we did our trial year, we didn't change it right away, but since then, we've done away with staffing on Saturday and Sunday. I mean, eventually with PDM, we may have it there and stuff, but I think Saturday and Sunday are going to be the tough days to fill. And I guess I don't think we should be doing it for burn permits if we have was a cheaper and viable option. Um it uh if

you figure it out, seven bucks per permit on the state website. We issued 699 permits on Warden's report. We still issued some on the state site and we issued a bunch of paper ones, but we issued 699. is in last year's town report in 2016 from Wharton's report website that c would have cost the citizens on a personal level almost $4,700 to go on to the state website and draw that number permit. So no matter how we stack it that wins report was providing a quality service. It was

just as safe as the state website service is going to be and it was affordable. It uh u people in town really How do they what's their revenue stream? How do they really if you think about it, what do they have to do? They have to manage a website get paid to do that.

Yeah, they don't. Why would they just do that for the guy's a firefighter and he has a number of communities in the first place that uh you've been doing it? We we've been there for over a probably a year and a half, maybe two years, but there were other communities that were there for a year to two years prior to that, which kind of makes you Yeah. We pay 75 bucks a year. Okay. Well, still that's not

No, no, it's pretty trivial really. It probably barely covers maintenance cost, but he does have probably his report and I I'm not going to quote this because I have sent email to both uh representatives um in regard to it because I I think it's a disservice to the citizens of the town of Durham. In reality, if the state shut it down because it wasn't an authorized electronic permitting site and state law says they issue permits and we can issue them by paper. Well, I I don't think state law probably says paper. So, in reality, by us authorizing wardens report or an in-house system, which some communities will shut down on their in-house systems, we are issuing those permits. We gave Wardens's report permission to issue burning permits for the town of Durham. So I don't know what the reason is. I had I'm not going to say what I my thoughts are on camera, but I have thoughts in regard to the reason. There

was a system that's been in place. It according to the WS report website serviced almost 400,000 citizens in the state of Maine, which is what about onethird of the population. What are we 1.3 1.4 million? It's at least 1/5 to somewhere between 1/5if and 1/3 of the population had serviced and we shut it down after four to five years of existence. something underlying that I'm not seeing and

I don't know if you distributed the letter but this is the letter I received it and I was a little upset and set back with a letter because we we subscribed to a system that had been in place for numerous years prior to it's always been part of my report [clears throat] and this really is a letter that says you need to cease and desist your criminal activities in my opinion [laughter]

bottom line makes it sound like it's a criminal act to take a permit from that website that it's in violation of state law. Put the cuffs on me. Chief, does that does that website update daily? Like, do you guys call into that whoever's the host of that website say, "Hey, the burn conditions for this Saturday are good or is it just done, didn't you?"

I don't think so. I thought I gave you. Thank you. Oh, no. it uh the uh they take their information. This the state we're all divided into zones, right? Uh Durham, we use zone three and it's only because of our dispatch cuz the zone actually like it does for a lot of our construction like the hurricane zone and everything else runs through the town of Durham. Um but we use zone 3 because of we dispatched with Lisbon and Lisbon is completely zone 3. Uh so we use zone 3 so we don't have to call in. They pull it from the state website. The state posts every day on daily once snow cover is permanent snow cover is gone they start posting class days and that's what our sign at the station is updated on and that's what they do. The only thing that would make any changes to that and it's one of the things that I have hit wardens report up about is based on available availability of personnel. I can go to

the state website and shut it down saying that I don't have enough people. So now you can't get a permit. I can't do that with Warden's report. Once I put it up, it's up there based on the class day. They're going to issue a permit. they're going to not, you know, if I wanted to say, well, now we don't have enough people like that weekend of the 23rd, 24th, 25th, I talked about, we have the pumps class going on at uh

we actually have the New [clears throat] England Association of Fire Chief that there's going to be three or four of us that are going to be gone to that show. We we are going to be very short-handed that weekend, but I can't call Warden's report and shut it down for the weekend. The state side, I can't.

Okay. I was I was just curious how they So, but anyways, it wasn't as severe as it put a cuffs on me, but it really made it sound like we've been in violation of state law and that we should have known that it I was not pleased with the letter, especially when I get it on the after I'd been notified by W's report they were shut down. I think the questionable thing in reading this letter because I'm I I have the statute in front of me too is it says that the director can delegate

and it says they have a line here that delegation of authority occurs with paper permits but I don't see anything in the law that actually specifies that delegation right um so yeah I would agree I went to actually the statute and looked and I didn't see anything that said paper actually numerous people have written the main fire chief so that hopefully we can do a consolidated effort I've contacted did I send emails to both our representatives and stuff like that. Um, and it's it's nothing against the state or the state's website, but they do it very well. They do it affordably and it's pretty obvious to me when you issue 699 permits that way that there's a few people out there that are good with that type of system and they like it. Well, and you know, just to play devil's advocate, I think part of the reason you is because that's the link that's on our town website or was is to the I mean,

that's where we were sending people. Previously, the state website was there. Oh, really? [laughter] Yes. When I got one earlier this spring, it was through the main and [clears throat] it was probably fairly easy to through.

I couldn't believe it. And I was actually And you probably spent the $7 and then got an email. No, no, no, no. I was we were linking the warden's report and I went that's where I got and I was actually shocked that it was free

cuz I just I said I can't imag I can't believe there's no fee for this. [clears throat] The town paid $75 a they can't stick you for everything. I know. Well, that's why I was so shocked. You went back and got another one just free. [laughter]

I mean when they talk about the paper permits I mean today's technology probably other than me everybody out there works out of internet. So yeah, it uh yeah, actually the biggest difficulty I've had people come to me with is, well, hey, I'm going to do this on my cell phone. How do I print it? Because both both sites, if you really pay attention to it, say you're supposed to print it.

Both of them say you're supposed to print it. You're supposed to have a copy in your possession. The state's website is a two-day permit, and it's a different burning time frame. If people really paid attention, you can't burn during the daytime. on the state's website is 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. There is no daytime burning on the state's website.

But the state Yeah. This in certain areas, no. Anyway, unorganized townships, but if you go up north and you're going to do a campfire and you get a campfire permit, um that might perhaps be different. But actually, if you look at the state, if you get a state of Maine burning permit on their website, their website will only issue you a permit from to burn from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

It's a two-day permit. However, you have to go back on on the second day and verify that the class days are low enough so that you can still burn. So, so, so if somebody's got a little fireplace out back that they cook on,

never required it. But after this, I'm gonna check with our forest warden again because our our r I'm sorry, our ranger, I'm the warden, our ranger, this area has changed um with that change because in the past it's always my some communities require permits for the little campfire, but it most people you know and some people do season long permits for the campfires. I've always told people that they and this is actually what our previous ranger said. If it's a campfire and it's used, the exclusion for campfires in the permit system says that it needs to be used for recreational purposes. I can't be out there burning my newspapers and magazines. I got to have that to start it. And I can't be off in the house watching TV while I'm burning up the the the junk boards and stuff. It has to be for recreational purposes. So, I have to be cooking and I have to be or I have to be just sitting there. I can be just

sitting there staring at the fire. Sitting there with a drink, staring at the fire, right? talking to a bunch of people, having a good time, that's recreational. Yeah. And the description he always used, because there's no definitive description. If you look at state law on campfires versus bonfires,

they're going to reference size, but they're really very vague on the difference in size. He used to say, "This is a campfire. What you're going to have in a campground if you rent a campsite, that's a campfire. This is a bonfire." And that's what he used to say. That's what I used to always tell people. But no, not for sure after this. [laughter]

That's okay. That's a campfire for a lot of people. [clears throat] No. Anything for the chief? Well, just the only thing I I would say um I've sent those letters. I'd kind of like to to let it see set and see what happens with the wardens report website and if it comes back. I don't think people are gonna the the 699 people are going to instantly want to convert. We're getting ready to try to implement the podium system, but I guess my thoughts are is that we gradually go to the podium system. We will have staffing perhaps again on Saturdays and Sundays. I think that's going to be my most difficult time frame to fill. However, as we progress, and I don't think we should do it now. I think we should wait and see how it rolls out. Maybe in a month or so if it's report is gone for good. See where the PDM staffing is. And even if I can't fill the day with a predium staff for the full day, maybe I

can get somebody that's on the stipened coverage to come in for that two hours and cover at the station so we could go back to the twoour system. Well, you could still link on to the states. Yeah, up to you guys. I'm putting it out for my recommendation. I think we better hold off and see,

you know, if the Forest Service, like you say, if the Forest Service will relent on this, going to my, you know, I don't think we should implement it right away. Yeah. But I do think we should keep it in back of our heads for an auction because I don't think a lot of people are going to.

We didn't all of a sudden when we had the state website up there, we didn't issue 700 permits at seven bucks a piece. A lot of people figured it was worthwhile to come to the station and get a permit rather than pay $7 for a burning permit. So it wasn't because of the convenience of electronics.

It's free at the station. It was the right going there was free. [clears throat] We don't charge for the paper ones. Now I follow why you wanted. Now I follow you. [clears throat] We don't charge for the paper ones. The only ones that actually get charged for are the state's electronic ones, you know, and part of the things they put out is that well, the communities get back $2. At the height of our return check, we might have got a check for maybeundred and a quarter or something like that at the height of our return. So, I don't see that as a incentive.

Okay, that's it for my report. Anything for the chief? Good. Uh upcoming meetings, regular SUMMAS meetings will be held Tuesday, June 27th at 6 p.m. and July 11th at 6:30 p.m. Anything else before we go into executive session? All right. I move that we go into executive session.