TranscriptSelect Board Meeting ~ July 28, 2026

chatting and Oh, we are at 6:32. Oops. to start the meeting at 6:33. Apologize we're late. Uh Joe Roy is uh excused, but we have a quorum. And so, we will uh start with the Pledge of Allegiance. allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic [clears throat] for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

No. I'm going to give you a chance to talk again. No, I'm good. I was just checking the the volume to see if it was working. I think I heard somebody. So, I'm going to make a motion that we amend the agenda to include under new business a discussion about the new trash bags and delaying the implementation of those bags for 1 month.

I'll second. No. All those in favor? 4 to nothing. No, seeing none. minutes from the July 14th meeting. Is there a motion to accept those minutes? I'll motion to accept. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Opposed? None.

review of and discuss the economic development committee applications. one? Just that one. And I know that we had an email I think today about from one of the boards was it the planning board or about them appointing Brian, yeah.

Wasn't Brian? Brian's in the email with him and Juliet. Juliet. And Juliet was going to be their representative and Brian was going to be their alternate. Correct. Okay. And so we have the the one application from the from the public.

Can I Can I ask I have nothing to ask Mr. Hamilton. Don't know him. I'm sure he's a good candidate, but he's the only one. And so do we want to wait until see if we get somebody else and and elect a slate of them or elect them individually? And I mean I would recommend waiting until we had more than one Not that and he may be the only one, so

I was actually going to say something similar, John, and ask if we um I could not find the deadline that we gave for it. Does anybody have that or You had Monday at at 5:00 on uh the 27th. Yeah, yesterday at 5:00. Oh, yesterday.

Yep. Oh, well, then there you go. And we had how many There were just the one public member, right? And one alternate, presumably. Oh, no, you had two at large Two at large, that's right. Two at large and one Um I I mean if the deadline's passed, I'm I'm fine with deciding today. And then, you know, I guess the other half of that is um do we need a we {slash} you know, the George and the GP cog guys need to set a start date for it, so.

I think they're waiting for us to to make the appointments. So, I think um I would ask for a motion to accept the appointment of Bryce Hamilton to be a member of the Economic Development Committee. I'll make a motion to accept Bryce Hamilton um as a member of the Economic Development Committee.

Second. Is there any discussion? Just appreciate his willingness to work on this new thing and he comes with some real estate background, so he's qualified. I I I would second that. I also I think it's important um for us to get this process started because they are waiting for us and I and I think we can still encourage people to apply even though it's past the deadline because there's there's the one open spot and then the one alternate.

Right. Um No, there is no open alternate. The at large is there's two at large and one public alternate I thought. Yes. So that's what you guys agreed on? There's three in the for the public? Three three public, two two two members and one alternate.

on this? Seeing none, is there a motion to appoint Bryce Hamilton as a member of the economic development committee? Yes, I made the motion. Oh, sorry. We'll vote on it. Thank you, you're right. We'll we'll vote on it. All those in favor?

Opposed? We've already appointed our member. Yeah. We've already appointed you. I am and Am I an alternate? You are the You are the alternate. Okay, so yeah, because I saw that when I was going through George's um uh planning the town manager the town planner report, you listed you, Josh, as the alternate. So I was confused and I thought maybe I I dreamed dreamt it or something. I I think it was you.

Okay. I'll just be in the background. Sounds good. All right. The first order of new business is the authorization to purchase public works truck. So Calvin, can I invite you up to discuss this. replacement last year, 2025.

All right. 2020. We just switched them. One year or our calendar year or your fiscal year July instead of a calendar year, so Yeah. We didn't get that done before this switch over to the new But, they uh this and the loader were on last year's

Um We got the loader done, but not this truck. So, the UCA has three bids uh uh You have to cut it. Yeah. Yep. Mhm. Uh the uh lowest one is 89,997. uh trucks. The [clears throat] O'Connor GMCs or I should say the next the next one is the Bell Dodge GMC 79.

All in with the trade and the O'Connor 70 all in with the trade. This is the inspection report for that current truck that the list was so long that they Every year they ended up telling us it's probably not going to not going to pass again. We've been kicking the can down the road, but uh the They said they wouldn't even give us a price on transfer case is leaking again. We've already changed it once, and that's that's an expensive [snorts] item. Uh I think it would be This truck has cost us a lot of money with the the after-treatment system. It was the first year that truck was put out with that system, and so it was a guinea pig and it spent last like so. We're glad to see it go. Uh So, that's that's what I have there now. As I say, the 70 grand all in, I'm still going to need some more money to get lights, radio, and similar We had 94 in the budget for it, but the bids came in lower than that, so

we're happy with it. We're both happy, so I would I would like to see 76 for that being [clears throat] to get the radio, lights, other similar equipment that needs tool box. Can you remind us again of the year of the truck that we're replacing?

15. so that's big trucks daily. That's That's when they do most of their work, so no matter how much you wash them, you can't get it all out. [clears throat] So, are you leaning towards one specific It's all the same for the same truck, right? Everything is

Well, two all comparable. Two of them. Same truck. The other one's a Ford, which is essentially Oh, I see. Right there. Essentially, they're all the same. Which one are you leaning towards? The lowest price, the 70. And then I'd like another six for outfitting for additional.

any flashing lights you need or bells and whistles on it? That's what I need. Like six 6,000 more for the lights. So, 76K all in with it. These When I said all in here, these were with the trade. And that's with the rack body and the plow. It's all up There were a few things that

Radio, flashing lights, and so on. That'd be the extra 6K. The decals. Yep. That'll be the extra 6K. And you said you budgeted 94. We had 94 in the budget for it, yeah. Perfect. Okay. And prices have come down and a lot more availability on sup- supplies, so.

[snorts] Any other questions? Uh so it didn't We were going to do this last year and then postponed for a year and then so it would have gone It's not on a 2027 CIP, but it was because it was last year, so. Right. And I I would say it would save me that confusion if we just carried that over on the CIP as well, so. But I have no idea I mean that's I'm ready to make a motion that

I'll put Um I make a motion that we approve purchasing uh from O'Connor Motor um I don't know what the 2026 GMC Sierra 3500 uh and allocate 76,000 to it. I'll second. Good second. Any further discussion? No? All those in favor? Opposed? Thank you for that, Calvin. I think that goes to show this the the new way we're doing this the purchasing we You got an extra year out of it and prices came down a lot from what we were expecting, so.

Thanks. Thank you. Thank you, Calvin. All right. Uh the next issue not on the agenda is what I I added at the beginning uh is a just a brief discussion about the new trash bags. Uh I know we have been receiving a number of emails. There's been a number of posts my wife keeps telling me about on Facebook. Um and uh now that I don't I don't get any notifications for emails or Facebook or anything like that, so I don't go on anymore uh to clear them out. Um so I don't see them very often. Uh but there's been some concerns about where they're available. Uh I know I made a comment to Jessica tonight that uh I was at the Get & Go, forgot to get some, and she said, "Well, they're sold out for the second time already." Um and there's been a number of people posting about um not having them and some of the stores not having them until August 1st. Which is within the the range of when we would start, but also if people are

buying the regular size bags and they're going to throw those into the bin and not put them in the bigger bin, then it might be late for that. Okay. Uh uh so um I know I was at the um Hannaford in Brunswick last night and he asked me if I needed any trash bags. I said, "Yeah, I'd love some for Durham." I said, "Thank you for reminding me." He goes, "Well, we don't have those yet." And the cashier behind me came over and said, "I just had someone ask. We got to check on that." So, um you know, I it's not there. Uh so, I will I I would like to make a motion uh and and for what it's worth, because this does impact um the the fiscal note that we voted on at the budget last month.

Mhm. Uh I did have a conversation with Joe just to to bring it up because I knowing he wasn't here, I thought it was only fair for him to uh to provide some input. Um and and he and I were in agreement uh that uh because they're not available in all of the stores and they're sold out of Ken at the Get & Go, um it's uh it would be the fair and prudent thing to do is to push it out the implementation out. Um and uh I guess before I make a motion, he was talking about pushing it out a couple of weeks. I thought pushing it out to the beginning of September and I don't know what people think. It's There's a fiscal note. What that fiscal note would be um you know, I think it's impossible for us to tell. But um but I wanted to raise that and see if there was any thoughts about

Yeah. about that before I before I made a motion. Jerry, have we do we have any preliminary numbers if it's a month versus a couple weeks? Nothing we can really go off of. No, so we we we estimated at 125 for revenue. All right, so so the revenue is about $10,000, $12,000, but there's also the added increase in the tonnage.

Right. So you're So I I don't recall exactly what a year's worth, but it was more than 125, but because we were not laying we were not starting it, we reduced the amount. Um so we will have more we don't have any data to really draw anything from, so I think I think you know, if you're going to start it September, that's and give everybody a more chance to get these in. I think that's a nice consideration.

Yeah. I think I'll just see where the revenue falls at the end of the year or whatever. yeah, I think it would be easier than starting it mid-month. I I agree. Rather, yeah, just in giving it like a specific like the week of the 30th. I'm looking at a calendar now. There is the week of the 31st, but starting that week trash pick up begins on September 2nd in Doral. So we could in theory start that.

I was just looking up that same thing. I meant to do it earlier. Uh so uh Thank you. Uh so normally I would defer, but because I raised it, I I would make a motion that we defer the implementation of the uh the town trash bag usage uh from August 1st to uh September 1st. And so starting I already forgot, September 2nd.

2nd one. Starting September 2nd pick up, so it would be essentially the last week of the last starting the last Wednesday of August Wednesday, Thursday, Friday of August for people to start using the new bags. Right. So, the week technically it is the week of August 30th that it will start to be implemented if we want to put it that way.

Sure. So, Yeah. to start the implementation then on the the week of August 30th on the late by delaying it one month. Mhm. Is there a second? 12 second. Any discussion? Yeah. Uh yeah, I just so we're going to I'm going to vote yes, but we're going to come up 9 to 11 K short in our budget that you know, now's now's the time to realize that and we got a contingency, but I think I read somewhere that a chunk of that contingency is going to someone is going full family uh health for actual 32 K or whatever it's going to be. So, I think we've already spent our our contingency and we're 2 weeks into the fiscal year.

I I agree with you 100%. I think the the issue I have is uh if we can't if people can't find the bags I do. Um Yeah, it will be delayed I haven't gone I haven't gone to Food City. I was going to go that way tonight, but I ended up working late. Um

Uh so, I don't know how they're doing on bags and if Food City and and and they got North Audi places right now that have them and the others aren't implementing them till August 1st. Uh you know, people are going to have trash in bags that they that aren't the town bags and uh to ask them to then put it in another bag, I don't think is is the fair thing to do.

It'll It's going to be somewhat of a goat rope just changing them all. Oh, yes. But, you know, some people going to put them in purple bags next week, some people aren't. So, we do need to get the word out in a million different ways to say this isn't going to start until the week of the 30th

Yeah. before somebody throws the purple bag in and wants their $3 back. So, that's my next statement is you know, we've had a number I'm trying to think of the polite way to say it. A number of emails about you know, how we're not getting the word out and we need to do more. I think the the issue that I have is is that we put it on Facebook, the news blast, the text message, the town website. Joe has gotten out there and done those videos. I I've only watched portions of them. I'm glad it's him and not me doing that. And you know, at at some point we have to say, you know, we can only do so much. You know, there's been asking us to do mailers. We don't have that in the budget because that's expensive to send it to 2,000 homes. And so, you know, we've been talking about this for a long time. It came up a number of years ago at the town meeting that this was going to happen when we voted on

this contract. That was the only one we had. And so, I think at some point people have to take the initiative of step reaching out and and following and and looking and and talking to neighbors. And that's certainly you know, what I've done talking to to people who have raised that issue with me. So, is there any more discussion about this?

I would just like to I'm in favor of the change and will vote yes, but I just like to say that I think the Durham website has been very good in this topic. And adding, you know, where the bag availability is and keeping that updated is important for people. And I agree with you that at some point the initiative has to come from the resident to understand the details. And lots of questions come up that if you looked at the website and looked at the information, the answer is there. So, um thank you for whosoever monitoring that and making sure

take down um part of that information cuz the retailers are um there's some updates to the retailers. I think Jerry's going to give you some. Okay. Just to let you know that. The website is the best place everybody has access to the website. Not everybody is signed up for text messages or social media. We can get the message out there a million different ways.

Mhm. But if we put it on the website, a million different people can go to that. Yes. So, it's you know, they just got to use the technology. We do the best we can on updating that stuff. And it's doing a good job. Yeah, but like to your point, it is up to the resident to go forth and find the source of the information. It's not it we have exhausted it and put it everywhere. So, it is not it is not our responsibility to knock on people's doors. They are adults, they can go and find the information.

And I'll just say um you can always call the town office and staff is happy to answer the questions. I would I would prefer people to go to the town office for their information than All Things Durham. Yes. And and until they learn that and

I I would just if that's with that said, I would like to reiterate All Things Durham is not the town Facebook page. It is not where you go for the information. For local information, you can go there, but for town information, you go to the town Facebook page.

And the town website. And the town website. I just I cannot stress that enough. Yeah, good work. We are in a transition period and it changes daily, you know, pages. So, that's we try to do the best to keep it updated. That's what we do. Absolutely right.

Okay. All right. Uh with uh any more discussion, seeing none, all those in favor of delaying the implementation of the purple bags, trash bags by 1 month. By 1 month, sorry about that part. Uh all opposed, seeing none. Um you know what, I forgot. I think we also need to amend the agenda to take out the um 9B, the uh abatement discussion out of the consent agenda because we have to move into um the Board of Assessors and we can't do that in the consent agenda.

Right. Um so uh I know it's a little late, but I would make that motion to to move that. Uh second. If you're moving it, I'll second. Uh is there any discussion? All those in favor? All opposed, none. So, why don't we do that uh now because that is a new item. Um I would uh take a motion to move it to the Board of Assessors.

So moved. Is there a second? Second. Uh any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? Hey, we are now the Board of Assessors. Jared, um do you want me to do this or do you want to pick? Yeah. Uh so there is uh we have a letter um

uh uh from uh Donna Hayes uh our assessor uh asking that an abatement uh be granted uh for taxes on land that should have been exempt as a subdivision common area uh for the Quaker Ridge subdivision. Um uh the amount of the abatement for the tax year of April 1, 2025 is $54.

for the um named it uh Quaker Ridge subdivision common area of $54. I'll second it. Do we need to add the map and lot number to make it clearer? Or do we do we have my motion for map three, lot 45 J as in Juliet. Do you accept the amendment?

I'll accept the amendment. Yes. I second. Uh is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? All opposed? Seeing none, the motion passes. Uh so I'll take a motion to move out of the Board of Assessors. I'll make the motion.

I'll second. Uh any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? Seeing none, that passes. And so now we will move on. Jerry, finally we get to you. Sorry. Uh for the manager report. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um just a couple things. Um I'm going to go over the pages you threw me, tailors. Who's out, who's not. Um just want to apologize. I'm kind of out of action for a little bit. Um so I'm not 100%. I'm 100% sure on this, but I haven't been 100% sure. So I will I'll go over the pages you threw. Let me just explain how it works. I get updates every Thursday and it and it changes. So that's why we're a little bit behind. There's a lot of folks involved. You know, you have Waste Zero who sets up these accounts with corporate. And corporate isn't the individual grocery stores. So once corporate has the accounts set up, then it's up to the store managers to order the bags [clears throat] cuz the account

is set up and they can do that. So some of that's taking some time, especially with the amount of retailers that you all wanted, right? You you had almost like a dozen. So like in Brunswick, you're going to buy your bags in Brunswick and Tops. That's it. Again, I don't believe you can get them anywhere else. But so currently available right now that way you can buy them is the Get and Go, Food City, and Market Basket, and Tops. Okay? So, coming soon but not yet as you talked about both Hannaford locations in Brunswick, they're about ready to go. Uh but they just have they're just not set up there. They will have them. They've got to order them and you get them on um However, the uh Hannaford in Auburn and Lewiston, they're not interested. So, you're not going to be able to pick them up there. So, we'll update that list and drop them. Um we have gotten in touch with Bow Street Haven Market in Freeport. Not really

sure where they're at. I think they're going to they'll do them. Just keep in mind that these this shelf space is primo even though they don't make a dime on them. So, if they don't move, they may say, "You know what? We're not moving enough of these sugars and so we're not going to do it anymore." So, this thing will just keep on moving and then I'm guessing within 6 months you will have your established retailers that will will come in and this this will be updated on uh on this week's update. And I would encourage people again to go to the website for this. We'll We'll throw it out there on the news blast and stuff. Yeah, our website is really the better place to get the information. So, I'll get another update um this Thursday.

Do you want to mention that we took a bunch of operations in the back? look for where these are at cuz they're not like oh, where you can see them. They might be behind the the counter at the cashier's place. In Brunswick, they're right there. You just get them like you normally do your other stuff. So, again, this it's update. I'll get another update on Thursday where we are and I'll I'll just keep you posted. We'll keep you posted. I think this is already maybe already on the website.

It is on the Um Okay, good. Jerry, when they came here to pitch themselves, they did say that they would be available to sell bags online. At our last meeting, Joe had mentioned he had spoken to you and they are not available online.

Right, they don't provide that service. They do not. So, he was mistaken. Mistaken. Right. And that's not even an option at all. They don't do that service. I I I work with an individual every week and I asked that question. She wrote back and said, "We don't provide that service." So, maybe that person misspoke and thought I said something.

Okay. Thank you for clarifying. Yeah. Yep. So, that's that and and I don't have a lot of updates cuz I kind of been missing in action, but one update I do have I thought I sent you all an email in this regard cuz I can give more detail on it cuz I don't want to give a lot of detail here, but we're we're an employee down in the in the town office and probably will be for I don't know. It could be a month, could be two, could be three. So, that's going to put a um a little bit of an impact on what we do here cuz now everybody's going to have to pick up a little bit of that slack. So, I would ask um residents to be patient with us. We still have to pay bills. We still have to do everything, but we are an employee down, unfortunately. So, I'm not going to say a whole lot about that cuz of HIPAA laws, but that's that's where we're at. And I think we'll do fine. No worries. We'll get we'll we'll get through it.

So, So, it's temporary for that employee? Yes. I mean, long temporary, but yeah, as far as I know right now. Okay. Um so, I I like I said, I meant to Just an email cuz I can maybe talk a little bit more about it, but I'm not going to talk about an employee and all that.

Sure. Mhm. No. I'm not going to do so. Um and that's that's all I have for now. Um so I am going to Well, I I may be going. I'm signed up for a two of the town managers conference the second week in August. If I can make

it, it all depends on my health, too. But uh other than that I don't believe there's really a whole lot to to really update you on. The pay the bags things seem to be the thing. I can You know, there's been a lot of talk about gravel pits. There's been a lot of talk about truck traffic. There's been a lot of talk about this. We get it. But there's a process to deal with these gravel pits and they they all have to be treated at the same time the same way. We got to follow our land use ordinance. This will This is a process to get you know some compliance with all of the gravel pits. We'll We'll work through that. It's It's probably a a workshop meeting meeting with the board when the time is appropriate, but staff is working on it. Attorney's involved. That's an administration piece that the staff takes care of and we'll keep you updated as as we as we move if that is what the the board wants. I mean, we have a land

use ordinance. We'll follow it. But there's there's a lot of there's a lot of talk out there, which is good. But there's only so much we do and the town has a process. There's a planning board process. There's a There's It's just a and we're going to follow that process. So if you have any questions with that, I'm happy to answer them if I can. I I won't say a ton, but

No, thank you. Um so, we'll move on to the board member reports. I meant to ask Joe if he had anything he wanted me to update. I forgot. Um and so, he'll have a couple a month's worth when he comes back at our next meeting. Um Uh I would just ask Jerry, you and I have spoken about the roads and the gravel pits, and I and I agree with you that

take care of the first steps, and that is, you know, determining what, if any, uh violations there are, what, if anything, we can do about the roads, how to make them safe. Does changing uh pathways on Rabbit Road uh make other roads more dangerous? Um and

uh and what effect other things would have, and that's something that you need to bring to us. Uh and so, uh in that regard, I know I mentioned it in the last meeting, and I would mention I I told you I would mention it again tonight. I would ask that um uh you raise our concerns uh with uh somebody from uh the main DOT uh about um about the uh truck traffic. Um as I I'm assuming that

they would be people to monitor uh along with uh the you know, the state police commercial uh vehicle division. Um and I'm happy to make some phone calls and inquiries about that if if people would like. Um but I think we need to determine uh before we start making decisions here uh based on emotion, we need to determine whether or not uh what what the safest avenue is for the entire town. Um uh because it we need something needs to be done uh to make the road safer, but what that is I have no expertise in making that decision. And so, I would ask you to reach out, explain the situation. I mean, you know what's going on. You're you're copied on the emails. And see if they have suggestions, things that we may need to do, things that most likely that that you and Calvin and Chief and others would would need to to do first. Um And um that includes, you know, I'm thinking not only speed limits.

Um but also, you know, truck traffic. Um, and and anything like that. Uh, and so I I I know that you you would do that. You're working on it. And so, I appreciate it. I'm glad to see you here and healthy. I hope that continues. And I hope, you know, everybody in the office is healthy. And I did I did want to reiterate what you said. It is a change being down one person and having you out so much and adding responsibilities. Jessica's making a face right now behind you.

[laughter] Uh, and and so, um you know, I was going to come into the town the office today and then I got that text message about how the computers were down. And then I got I got home and I got it, oh, they're back on. And I said, you know what, you know, I'll I'll register my car online to save a little bit of work. Um And so, you know, if there are things people can do to help out in the office, you know, I think they'll handle it. And they'll be happy to handle it. But, you know, any little way we can help you get through this this tough situation now. Uh, um you know, I think we can we can try to help out with. Uh, and again, I just want to thank everybody. Chief, I know uh you've been busy recently. Uh My daughter asked me why I waved to you last night. And I said, cuz I was hoping he wouldn't make fun of me the next time I see him. Uh Calvin, I saw your guys out last night. Um she didn't ask why I waved to them. I

don't know I don't know why they're not as special, but um uh so uh you know, I think everybody's doing a fantastic job and so I really appreciate what everybody's doing. Uh so keep it up. Um and uh you know, it's it's it may not be perfect, but everything everybody's doing the best they can in this doing pretty well.

Yeah. Um so with that uh Dev, do you have anything? Um just that a couple things that appreciate the department heads' reports. There's a lot of good information in there and I want to specifically uh note that George's planning board report includes some information about gravel pit businesses and a path ahead and I appreciate both of you commenting on that topic. Um So thank you to folks on the department head side. Also on the bandstand uh where we are is um T and I met with Adam Daley. I think I might have mentioned Adam at the last meeting. Um they're currently putting together a material list and a documented strategy

of what the proposal is to move forward and once we have that, I'm going to have uh as the select board rep um dealing with this, I'm going to meet with Calvin and Jerry, just go through a few details and then be ready to bring it to the board for authorization to move forward with that plan. So um actually well, bring it to the board to talk through what the plan is and whether that requires a vote or not, we'll we'll cross that when we get there. Um

Have we given them the 30,000? So we have to approve spending the 30,000. We being the know if we have to approve it, but The town Town meeting approved it. Yeah. Right. And So they have to give the bills Yeah, okay. to the town.

Right. And we want to follow the purchasing policy which Jerry and I've been discussing and it currently reads any expenditure over $5,000 will require open bids. So, that's why I want to find out what Adam has for information and then meet with Jerry and Calvin go over that detail. But people are pretty excited. The historical society um Facebook page is communicating some awareness on this topic which I think is great and kudos to Tia and Emily both taking the lead on getting things moving and I'm acting as the liaison between the town and the group. So. And that's all I have. Thank you.

I'm excited for that. Yeah. Rebecca Dunn. Okay. Um So, last year last fall I was on the early childhood task force to discuss the cohorts for RSU 5 and they are bringing it back for the 2027-28 school year for free appropriate public education for 3-year-olds beginning in C 2027 school year. So, I have been asked to come back to that and we will be meeting three times in September and I will report back when I know information.

Great. So, there you go. Thank you. Okay. That's it. Is that a volunteer to do it again or were you just told? A little bit of both. But thank you for doing it. Yes. And and last but certainly not least John. Uh thank you. Um We got an email from I'm not sure what his title is with the county sheriff addressing um

Major Cornelio. Yeah. He's he's like the whatever he is. He's very high up in the county sheriff's office and I think it was very well written. Yeah. And it went through the roles of the the sheriff's department, what they can do, what and what importantly what they can't do. Or you know, so I don't know. I'm sure everybody here has read it. I don't know if we want to put that out to the town. Um I think it was very professionally written and I think it was in response maybe to somebody's question at town meeting somebody's question. So um I think it's important to get that information out there. Uh that's my thought. I'm throwing that out as far as I agree.

No. I I I think I think if you'd like that I think if we can do it I think we should just do his response and not the initial question without asking permission first. But I think I think you can get the gist of the question through the response. So um if I I think I think it's a relevant topic. Um and it's something that I was going to touch on but I I didn't and also it's you know, there's only so much that they can do for us.

They um they were very active this weekend. This past weekend. The sheriff's office. They're all over Durham. Mhm. Came by my house, too. putting it out there. Yeah, I don't know if they because it was a response I mean, a number of people we've been talking about speeding around here for quite some time. Um and I'm trying myself to settle what the balance is between addressing every resident's comments and then um putting more on the table for people to

tack on to who don't know details and maybe just I don't stirring up this not the right term, but I I we should move with caution. How about How about I I I propose something sort of in the middle? How about Jared and I you and I can talk about finding a meeting coming up in the next month or so where there's not a a lot on the agenda and I will invite the sheriff, the deputy sheriff, and Major Cornelio over to talk with us. Um and and see if there's anything uh cuz I I know, you know, they're they're always willing to come out and chat uh with the community and um they're three three good people who who care about the community even though they don't they don't live in Durham. Uh you know, they still care about our safety, so.

Yeah. I think if you may I may I just remind you all and remind of and the residents too that it wasn't that long ago. I mean, if you look at these emails that are coming in, it's all surrounded around safety or the speed of trucks or this or that. And this this board did a poll or voted had a vote for more law enforcement in town, not even our own, using contracting out to the sheriff, using grant money. Like they like the grant money was going to like pay for 75% of the first year, 50%, and overwhelmingly the residents said, "No." And when you have speeding problems and you have that sort of thing, the biggest deterrent is law enforcement because when it's that's hitting your back pocket because you're getting speeding tickets, you'll slow down then. But the the in a town meeting form of government, the residents voted and they did not want the actual people that provide safety. They didn't want any more of that in

this town. So, I'm kind of optimistic of the complaints cuz I think it's unusual for a town to be creeping up around 5,000 population and not have a lot of law enforcement in your community. Mhm. And that's fine if that's what the resident if they don't want it, okay, that's fine. But, it's just unusual, so you know, there's you know, maybe they'll be coming another time when they're like you'll all of a sudden well, maybe we should ask the residents again.

Mhm. Cuz I mean that's, you know, maybe maybe at some point you'll I feel like I know move back. I think it's important to note though that one, North Yarmouth, which is significantly bigger than us, it does not have a police force. And two, that sheriff's message in reading in between the lines, and I think bringing them in, the sheriff or the deputy, was, you know, there's only so much speed traps could do or or speed checking. And people are still going to speed. We can't be So, I think that there's a just because we either create our own or they show up more, doesn't mean that we're suddenly going to be safer.

No, but to Jerry's point, I do feel that actually two points to your point. I don't think the residents knew what they were voting for, to be honest. I think when I had the conversation, because I was not on the board at that time, and I voted for it. But, when I speak to people who also were voting, they're they were under a different impression, that it was just to have cops and it was coming out of our pocket in terms of cost. So, there was a lot of misinformation that had been spreading around that. And I think that it should be brought up again. It should be put to a vote again, because now with all of these concerns that people are having, rightly so, with the facts, with the information, there could be a different outcome.

And note, one of the things with grants always, 75% first year, 25% the next year, and maybe zero for the, you know, once we're $500,000 into it. Third year, fourth year, that is coming off the tax base. But is that it Does that mean that we shouldn't do it at all? Well, I mean, I feel like why shouldn't we give it a chance? Why shouldn't we try again and continue with the grants and see what we can get out of it. And if we just don't try, then why are we even here up here as a select board?

Well, I mean, it's There's two sides to the There's No, I know. I'm just saying, like, I just I feel like there have been so many complaints. Why shouldn't we try again? Why shouldn't we do something about it? So, so we're having a goal session meeting. I think it's at our next meeting. And I will tell you one of the things I wanted to raise was this issue and not necessarily going back to where we were, but uh, you know, and again, I feel like every every everything we do puts more on on Jerry your plate. But I think a conversation with uh, you know, uh, the

state police, their commercial vehicle division about the the concerns about the the truck the dump trucks, uh, the sheriff about uh, where we can look for grants for um, you know, more coverage, speed speed coverage, OUI checkpoint, those sorts of things. Um, uh, it's something that should be done. I know that in in the past, uh, the sheriff has been very open. I have complained to him a lot and his chief deputy about how we need more people here, how I would take one of their old cruisers and just leave it on my front yard so people slow down in front of my house. Um, and so they take it seriously. Uh, but I think that's a discussion uh, we need to set up. Um, and uh, and invite them back, make sure they're still willing to work with us before we get too deep into the weeds and and see if there are other options knowing where it ended up last time and what smaller steps we can do leading up

to going to a more in-depth uh coverage with them and more expenses. And and the last thing I have is uh we've been talking about putting before survey or something about changing the way we do uh town meetings to uh having the budget vote be part of a general election and we talked about doing a survey at that. I think at the November election. So, that's coming up sooner rather than later if we want to have that see if that's what we really want to do.

Critical session. What's that? topic. That's a good goal session. I was going to say the same thing. Yeah, I think that's for our next meeting. Yeah, no, not tonight. I'm sorry. I think you can you can you can come you can come to the next meeting with ideas for questions.

Okay. Uh but I think that's a topic that will um Okay. that that someone's going to raise. And that's the 25th, not our next meeting. The 25th, you're right. I'm sorry. Yeah, you're right. I apologize, the 25th. Uh I'm good.

All right. Then, uh we have the consent agenda. We moved uh B the abatement out, so it's just uh A C uh and D. Uh is there a motion to uh approve the consent agenda? Uh I do have a a question about the code enforcement report if I may.

And and then I will be happy to make that motion. Um the codes the report on the number of buildings and it I may be wrong, but it only shows one building permit for all of 2026. Yeah, that's not correct. Okay. So, if we could just get a get an updated one.

I'll I'll get it fixed. Yeah, thank you. And I will be happy to make a motion that we approve the consent agenda. Second. I'll second. No, that's That. I'll second. All those in favor? Opposed? Four nothing. Uh and Jerry, we didn't discuss the resolution establishing an interim economic development committee. Did we need to do that?

I was under the impression you did last meeting where I corrected it. Yep. And so That. And so that's the corrected one. It's really just a matter of signing it. Okay. So So do we need to vote on it? Uh I Well, you don't You You could vote on it and sign it, I guess.

We have a motion and a second. If we vote, then the motion is moved. Okay. Is there a motion to it accept and approve this resolution establishing an interim economic development committee? My motion was for the entire consent agenda, which I think that is part of it, isn't it, Brian?

Was it? You're right. I'm sorry. Yes, that's right. No. I just missed it. You're right. It was. I Yep, that's Okay. Just missed it. I'll just confirm. There you go. Okay. So then, sorry. board meeting August 5th here at the fire station at 6:30. Solid waste meeting August 10th at 6:30 at the Eureka Center. Our next meeting is August 11th here at 6:30. Uh and the agriculture committee meeting August 12th at Eureka Center at 7:00. Um Do we have topics for the upcoming discussions? The 25th is our goal setting. I'm sorry.

48 seconds. Tax committee meeting is the 11th. Tax committee meeting is the 11th. I know that. So that'll be at your next meeting. All right. Thank you. Uh I don't believe we need an executive session. No, so is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved. Second. I'll second. All in favor? So. Thank you. Josh, good job. Really? Good job, boss. Well done. Thanks. I I don't know why I completely missed this on these. Yeah, I went through the whole pound and I I looked at it and I went

to the dog pound.