TranscriptSelect Board Meeting ~ August 26, 2025

bed and fall asleep Give Josh a second to step in. Let's call this meeting to order here at 6:30 on August 26, 2025. And we will begin. Give up for these America to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all

we have any amendments to the agenda well actually I I'd like to um so we don't have to keep chief here longer. I would like to move um the new business ahead of old business tonight so she doesn't have to sit here for for a motion for that. So do I have a second?

Second. Any questions? All right. All in favor? Any opposition? Seeing none. So we're just going to move forward. This is always uh do we have any public comments um in reference to the July 22nd meeting there was a lot of discussion about economic development and um I understand that given George the town planner Mr. Debards to go ahead to pursue a grant through GPU. Um, I also heard that there was some interest from several board members in economic development. I just wanted to point out that um the uh town approved 2018 comprehensive plan um listed a short-term goal that the select board um appoint a economic development committee and I'm hoping that all of those that are interested in economic development make that a priority for the upcoming year. Thank you. Thank you very much.

the 2018 comp plan. Oh, okay. All righty. Any other public comments? Okay. Seeing none, we'll move into uh new business from the chief. the fire department's not used to asking for help. Uh, and we're pretty good savers, but I have to ask for permission to spend some some of our capital. Uh, last year or more, we uh we had to get a hunter off of Granite Hill Farm Road that had suffered a medical. Um, we had no way of getting, you know, into the woods. Uh, we started hiking in, you know, three of our members are over 70 during the day. Um, we ended up using somebody's private off-road vehicle, you know, the little UTVs. Uh we called for mutual aid, but you know, Sbatus and Auburn at the time are like an hour out just to load it up to get it here. Um recently, uh in the winter, we have a rescue tobogen that we've delivered for for snowmoilers in town that have been injured, but we have no way of really

getting it there. We have to wait for the woodens to come with a snowmobile. And then two weeks ago, we had to request five separate mutual aid for the for the off-road vehicles. As far as ways, uh Gray uh came to help us. Um, we went to Granite Hill Farm for a truck fire that ended up extending uh into the woods. We we had two UTVs there. Um, the power lines on Rabbit Road, we had two separate fires really grow. Um, we had guys like hiking in a half mile to find the fire and then we requested they fight a fire for 5 hours after hiking in. So, if you familiar with these vehicles, you know, they're UTV off-road vehicle. They really become the standard for the fire service. uh two people. Um I I gave you some quotes and let me just send you two pictures here so you really know what we're talking about. Um you pass this around. This is literally what we would do. And there's an insert. So, you know, there's a price and then

and then an insert, which is a water tank. It's a pump and it's also uh you can lash a victim. So, it's also EMS. Goes right in the back of it. Uh standard. Um, could use it. Uh, we would store it here, ensure it, and you can drive it over the road. Currently, it's the first year. The boys need to be trained. Uh, there's a policy that needs to be written. Um, we do have a trailer that we gave to the public works if we were have to trailer it somewhere, but it should be over the road capable. Um, my research is is is

up to $30,000. It's about 22 for the uh UTV. It's another 6 to 8 for for the slide in another,000 for lights. So, fire departments requesting $30,000 out of our capital. Our capital currently I believe said we have $592,000 in our capital reserve for the fire department. That's not the towns. That's just what we've been saving. Um, so we would offset that by, you know, 10 year plan out 3,000 more a year brings you back to what our plan is currently. And if you're familiar with the capital, that's always es and flows, right? If something were to wreck, you'd need something new. You wouldn't be able to refurb it. Um, anybody can drive it. There's several um dealers in the area that want to work with us. So, I'm requesting from you all um that just like the boat. So, I've looked for grants. We were waiting for the battery energy storage to come to town. That's sort of on hold. Really doesn't seem uh plausible anytime soon.

You know, SATA has got a got a um donation cuz they have a large solar array, but there's just no donations to be garnered. Um our again our grant was was for the boat. Um so there's really no um funding stream except the the capital that we have. Um going forward they have tracks sort of like snowmobile tracks. We could write a small grant. Those are 3 to 5,000 through Walmart or others. We could garner a grant for those and it can wait. Um I don't think this machine can you know again gray uh North Yarmouth uh we had five of them in two days. guys are using their personal vehicles. One of the guys brought his own personal uh four-wheeler, which is it needed, but but it's never an option, right? Had somebody use their own equipment at a fire. If anything were to happen, if it was to wreck it, you know, catch fire. I mean, how do you ensure it, right? It's sort of on the the member. Um so, it was brought to me, the

membership thought it was a good idea. I do um I've had one of these in mass for 20 years. Uh they last, right? You take care of them. you pride ownership in them. You you get them lettered up and we use it that long. So, uh so tonight that's that's what we're requesting. Any questions for Chief?

I sure um just because I I don't know anything. Yeah. Um how do you how would you get it to any location? Do you have to buy a separate trailer for it? No, it's a good question. So, so the town does have a trailer if need be, but these are these are onroad capable headlights, flashers. um we would equip it with a lights and sirens. Um they go over 40 miles an hour and we would fall w with either the utility or or another vehicle for safety purposes. Um currently that first year we would keep it in town. Anything mutual aid would be a trailer but the town own not a extra investment if you will

and it can drive in the snow. Yeah, these can drive in the snow. They're like four-wheel drive. Uh you can put snow tracks on like snowmobile tracks and they can go um if you're really bored. I didn't realize how many miles of trails Durham has. So there's you know backs and farms. Um we've had several EMS rescues uh recently even across the street on Roseboro. You wouldn't think so, but some uh people have really taken up camping and and and whatnot in the woods pretty far. and we had a medical call that we all got stuck and uh I had to think outside the box to

to render aid. Uh that this could this could do it. Uh certainly with with the uh insert you can strap a individual that's been injured and bring them out to to an ambulance. So um chief the photograph shows the two passenger. Is there four passenger options as well? So just two. So there is they're they're more expensive, right? The four-door more expensive, heavier machine. Um I'd rather get the staff there in equipment and and whatnot with I think they come with three seat belts. You can have a middle person. So three is good. I we we did go round and round about like a six-seater, but you know, the increased cost and whatnot, I really think three is sufficient for Durham. What was did you do you know off the top of your head increased cost for like the uh the two rows of ceilings how much of a difference it was?

Sure. I I um it depends on which machine you go with, right? So So Topsum has their own uh brand new sort of machines as compared to like a Polaris that everyone's familiar with or a John Deere. Um I did include quotes and and these aren't finalized. Um, you know, John Deere are 30 something thousand to begin with because of the the branding. Uh, others are are 20. Um, I built one on the government spec for Polaris and and it really gives you good funding, but from there $2,000 delivery, you know, there are some uptakes that really just eat away at the savings. Um, I I think it's a couple thousand increase. Um, we may have that, right? It it just depends on the deals we can get and the the lowest pricing. Uh I did talk with the town manager. Um I would have to get a committee together of the fire department and staff to see if if we can use a four-door. I thought maybe because you can certainly take a victim,

you know, sideways in the back seat. Uh it just depends on added cost. So my question then is is the proposal to do the the two one row of seating truly a cost concern or if you say if we said hey you know it's not a cost concern would you prefer two rows of seating? Cuz in my mind this is an important investment.

Um and I want us to get what we need not almost what we need. Um because just like full disclosure I responded to the fire. She didn't give credit, but I I I was one of the guys who hooked it in there and it's like that's a lot of work when you're in there for 5 hours and you've got a water tank on you and those sorts of things. And the whole time I was walking, it's like there was a previously used like four-wheeler trail ready to go on that we walked along. And it's like that's what the other departments could access when they come in. And we were very fortunate that the fire was where it was because then we found a different road. But if that that wasn't the case, um you're you're asking volunteers to walk a mile from the nearest road at at midnight, you know, and I'm worried and worried about public safety. And and one thing that noted is like we have amazing volunteers in the fire department, but in in my mind, it's

really unacceptable that a private citizen has to has to bring their own piece of equipment and their own trailer to a fire because we don't have one. Um because what happens if that catches on fire? now they're coming and asking us to replace theirs or with liability and you know we're fortunate to have those volunteers but that's just not not cool in my mind the it was a budget concern always a budget concern not not playing for the camera always a budget right we have it in our capital we'll bring good savers um I I think you know if if we increase it to 32,000 request as long as um the the four-door meets the specs and the weight requirement if it adds weight because we'll be adding 80 gallons of water, you know, the tank, the reel, everything right in the back. So, I have to confirm and they are built to slide right in. They'll slide in and then they're mounted. I just have to confirm

that um increased length and increased doors and and um occupants, it still can handle the weight. Josh, so I have a couple questions. Sure. I'll start with this. Of course there I guess I was surprised you didn't you would think for all the times I've been over here we had the open house and stuff I never realized we didn't have one. So I I do agree that it's probably a good purchase. Um and and there's enough room to store it safely and and take care of it.

Yes. And no special training needs to be done to take care of it, maintain it. I I did read a a training bulletin from from chiefs across the state. Uh North Yarmouth Fire Chief is a certified trainer in off-road vehicles and and before use a policy would be written, gear would be bought. Um I I believe probably through donation helmets, eyewear comes with a windshield. Uh and people would be certified at least to have the full legality with it. Um, so before service but and no extra cost and then the other the other question I have the right I I'll be the first to admit I know nothing. I mean there's the Polaris code is 42,000. The John Deere well for one is 36. The other is 33 but those don't look like they're they're outfitted. Those are like the basics. And then this Ranger

is 30 almost 32 31 550. That looks like it's got the accessories you'd want. So what I did when you start looking at all when we're looking at this thing, the one that says Polaris quote right on it with all the boxes and that's 42. I build that. That's the government spec, right? So So they'll give you money off. Um but then they really upcharge you on on some of the other stuff and delivery. So that that it's the it's the piece of equipment we want, but that's the government's balloon. The government's always here to help. So, you know, 42 um

uh the John Deere, you know, that's those are local. Um and those machines, as you can see, 335 just for that. Um the two that we're looking at are are two local vendors. Tom's uh in um to Thompson has certain vehicles and uh Lewon, um Central Main Powersports and they sell Polaris. So they came right in 17 or 21

for the machine and that's a twodoor. Everything was quoted two door. Uh the four is usually a couple thousand more. um that insert picture that I showed you, uh that's a drop ship and that's anywhere from seven to eight straight from them, straight from the website. Uh and then of course we save in taxes, that type of stuff. So I I think I'm in the ballpark. It is it is budgetary always. Um but you know, if if you vote up to 32 to spend it, we can make it work.

Yeah. I'm just I'm more inclined to explore the option to have the two the two seats, two rows of seating for additional folks cuz usually when you my understanding when you're going to need to use it, you're also going to need a lot of hands on deck and um you know, having to shuffle back and forth seems seems less than ideal.

It it is. And some of these come with front and back um uh trailer hitches. They all come with a back trailer hitch. Some would come with a front also. So we could use our boat down to run around or that type of stuff. And and frankly, when I first started coming by the fire department and I noticed we didn't have one, that really blew me away cuz I grew up in a small rural town just like this. It was a key piece of equipment that the town needs between the snowmobile trails, the four-wheeler trails. We got a lake that people go ice fishing on. We've got, you know, the river. We've got tons of rideaways that aren't really accessible. It seems like a no a no-brainer to me including with pursuing grants for the uh the tracks too. So um this all checks out to me. So I guess my question about the

cost comes down to um is is the best option for us to sort of give you okay to I mean somebody's going to go out to bid we always need at that price you try to garner three right um so I I can go back to the same and try to garner three for that

and and does it make sense for us to say can't bids for two the the two or three-seater and the six-seater and then and then we authorize it because I mean if it's a if it's a couple thousand more I think Joe's right that going to the bigger machine if it's going to work out is probably better for the town because if it's not big enough come find out then you're going to come back and say we need a second one which is going to be 30 something dollar more right uh and so I think long term But if it's going to be 10,000 more for a bigger one that's going to meet all the specs, then it starts then then I start to have more questions about is is that worth it?

Sure. So, I mean, I fully support doing this. I guess my question is, is it better to explore the two different options before we we say this is what we're going to let you spend? um and have you just come back with those options at our next meeting and say, "Here it is. It's it's two $2,500 more to get this bigger one, which

it's probably better for the town to do now. It's going to have the same life expectancy. It's going to, you know, everything else." Um but, you know, for for me that, you know, there's not much in terms of cost. It's not worth saving a life or allowing you to do the work that's necessary to help save a life or save a house or whatever. Uh so to me the I don't want to say money is not an option, but I want to make sure we get the right one. And I guess you you haven't sold me on on which one the right one is yet and I want to make sure we get the right one for you. Uh and and so that's just that's what I'm thinking. And if it's more work and too much work, then tell me. No, I just I just I just I I You know, I guess I had bought of a bigger one, even though that's, you know, I don't have one, but you know, I we went to a friend's house and they had had a bigger one and my kids love driving it. Uh, and so I see I see the

difference. And to me, maybe maybe it's worth it. And so I I'd rather have you I'd rather have you come back and say, "This is what I want than come back say I want more money." Sure. Yeah. That's just a person that's just a personal thing for me.

I'm with you, Josh. rather than just adding 2,000 on this 30 and saying 32. If if it works, I'd rather see you come back next meeting with a this is what a two row seat one would look like. Um just so we can get a rough idea of the difference because I'm more inclined I'm very big on buying ones, cry once, you know, and I think that department does a really good job making their equipment last a long time. We saw that with the boat. Um that thing was mint condition after what two two 20 years almost 20 years. Yeah. And so undercover, scheduled maintenance, all those sorts of things. I think that would the one that's going to last for 20 years and and get the job done, you know. So I I would like to um table this until uh you can come back and have a second quote of a larger piece of equipment for you. You could send Jerry if you don't want to step.

Uh no, I I appreciate the thoughtfulness, the opportunity. Um, I will get with a committee and and and get quotes and exactly so you can do side by side, no pun intended, comparison. Yeah. On all the wrong. Anything else? Any other questions? Just like Thank you. Like I said, until I just assumed we had

but he didn't have I just assumed he was just having something out there has some lights on it. It would be nice to So Chief and I had quite a conversation about this. So I I primed them out for you guys. You guys did a nice job. You said it all twice now.

I will I will take my homework and work. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. All right. So, we're going to table off-road vehicle requests until uh next meeting. You should put that down for this. Cool. All righty. Um officially,

yeah, I'll make I will make a motion to table uh the off-road vehicle capital request until chief can return with additional votes. I have Josh. Second from Josh. Do you have any additional discussion? Is there any questions? All in favor? Any opposition? Seeing none. All right.

thank you. Next on our agenda. Oh, sorry. Yeah. Do we have a motion to approve meeting minutes? So, motion from Josh. Do I have a second? A second. Do we have any questions? Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposition? Seeing none.

Old business. Finalizing our goals and objectives. So, put back here to my list. Um, I think I'm really I'm really happy so far as to the process we're going through with our goals and objectives and uh getting them um recorded here and kind of laid out. I think I'm I really feel like our committees are on on track with what we wanted from them. Does everyone else feel like we're in that position? Um, so I think our just I'm losing like I lost my notes trying to figure out what it was. So I think our committees are in a good position because they're already starting to work on things. You know, perfect example um conservation commission's already reached out to request a date to be on uh our agenda in October to go over the open space plan which is moving forward. Um, I know the ad committee met with you, Jerry, to talk a little bit about economic development

with with you and George um to give some insight on that grant opportunity and I know that the planning board's going to come back um with their uh their expected um where they want what they would recommend as the first section of the uh the edits for our land use ordinance to be our ordinance to be addressed because there's a bunch that George if you As I recall, George is kind of highlighted that we got from the codification process. So, I feel like most of those things are are in motion right now. We're just going to get some updates moving forward. Um, but I think what's important for us is to set what our pri um primary objectives are going to be for the next 12 or 11 months or 10

months at this point. So, did anyone want to start off on what if there's something that you wanted to highlight now before we go go through it a little bit more as something that's most important to you? Also, I think I guess I didn't read the guys if I closely remember that we said we have that committee, but that's a good place to start. to me that I mean the the tacticals have been out for what a week or so and I think people still don't understand everything. Uh, and I think the only way, you know, I've been asking my wife, "What would you cut? Should we cut the the plowing, the trash, the the town

office hours, fire department, what what do you cut?" She's like, "I don't know. I haven't seen anybody come up with a with an idea of what to cut other than just what I have to pay." Um, and I think the only way we can address that issue is to work on this issue when I say economic development. To me, uh, I think that should be that to me that's more

I agree. I had a very similar conversation in my household. Yeah. you, Jerry, and I mean, it's there's nothing. I mean, yeah, you can pick a couple hundred here or there, but I mean, and quite frankly, 3%. So, 50% is the six months additional,

right? It was like $300 something. Yeah, I saw a lot of chatter. We're talking about it's like $9 to $20 a month for for a lot of households. Um, you know, and we want to be mindful of that. Uh, but like you said, Josh, there's really, if we look at the budget going up 3%. That's the total budget. We don't control the school budget. We don't control the municipal budget, both of which went up double or triple that 3%. They went up, you know, closer to 9%. So, the fact that we're still budgeting and absorbing a 9% increase on what what is 72% of our expenses and still coming in at 3% is a testament to all the cost savings that Jerry's finding, all the all the hard work from all the boards and committees and all the hard work from the town staff. There's you you can only get so lean, right? And I just don't see an opportunity for us to at this point um

get a lower tax bill while still maintaining the same level of service. And ultimately we're we know from our community that while we might hear people raise concerns about the tax bill, people have raised concerns, but they still want the same level of service. And that's the only way we can address that is to generate more income at this point. You can only find so much savings. So, I think economic development is going to be key and like our public comment said tonight, you know, it was laid out in the 2018 plan. Um, and we kind of have the winds to our sales right now with a couple of grant opportunities that weren't really expected. Um, you know, one of which the open space plan might not fall tightly into that economic development, but it's adjacent. Um, you know, this downtown visioning plan also lays the framework for some of that economic development. And so I think that should be one of our

goals because last year we addressed, you know, the fees and expenses at the at the town to bring those up to up to snuff. We made a major adjustment there and many of those there's not a lot of op options to really make that a greater amount, you know. So at this point we've really tapped what we can save and we've tapped what revenue we can generate. We got to go to the the next big rock that's big rocks right you know. So would we say that that's our primary objective? You think

to me there's I I do think you're right that the the open space and the downtown I think that all it's all intertwined because I think one can help lead to the other help the other and that you know that feeds right into the budget with maintaining great people within the town too. So that we talked quite a lot about

of people's heads. Um for me another cuz I think that we told all the boards and committees to come to us with two objectives, right? So I think it makes sense for us to limit ourselves to two or three objectives as well and economic development being one of them. Um for me addressing the budgeting process is another is going to be another big plan. Um we don't have that process codified anywhere in terms of what the expectation is from the select board to provide to the budget committee what the uh charge to the budget committee is from our legislative body. At this point they're operating with a um a self-given um annually modified uh set of goals

that they have. But we don't have anything codified with the with and so there's nothing in our municipal documents or in the state statute saying this is what that committee is supposed to do and this is the expectation. I mean I was looking into this a little bit more and like the only legislation there is says if there is a budget committee their recommendation has to be included on warrant items. So there's not even a a laid out process in our municipality for us to even present the budget to the budget committee. I mean future boards could just say here's our warrant articles. Tell us what you think. We're not meeting with you. We're not telling you anything. Now we obviously aren't promoting that. There's when you don't have a process you you don't have that um laid out for how to proceed. So I think it's going to be really important for us to address uh what the process is with the budget

committee. And I think that it's a sensitive topic because the budget committee is an elected board. Um, and you know, we don't have oversight over that board, but we want to make sure that we have a collaborative process, but also we need to have in the community's best interest like understanding what everyone is supposed to do. You can look up our jobs, you can see the details on that sort of stuff. Um, so I think that's a really important thing to address this year as well. If I would put something at number two. Do I have any other people with thoughts on that?

formed? Years and years ago, 9030s 1930 33. Yeah. Yeah. And over time, I mean, you know, the situation changes. So, I think it's a good idea to just like, you know, step back, take a look at where we are today. What's our policies? Let's create policies if we need them. Let's reexamine on, you know, the value of the budget committee, what they bring to the table, you know, what the collaboration efforts are intended to, you know, um, accomplish. Um, and we'll we'll see where it goes. But I do think the the pro, you know, the the tension, the process and stuff that we went through in the last budget, I think it just shows it's warranted to take a look at this. And I think we owe it to not only the select board, but the budget committee, too. They're a group of residents who, you know, care as much about the community as we do. And everyone just wants to do the right thing.

Yeah, I agree with you, Deb. And I do think in terms of owing it to the board, owing it to the the the budget committee, but also owing it to the residents is that I'm just not like we need to have, you know, our residents are our legislative body in the town manager, select board form of government.

And so everything that gets done in this town, that power is given to the individual from the legislative body. And right now there's nothing defining that with the budget committee. And I when the budget committee was formed in 1933, I would imagine taxes were collected very differently. Imagine the needs were very different, but we also didn't have other mechanisms in place like we weren't in a town manager form of government. These are all things that have changed. So I just think that in order to make sure it's a holistic process that includes everyone and make sure everyone's on the same page, we got to do something like you said. So um is there anything else that people think is a primary goal or objective for us?

the last time I feel like we're deja vu because we had a meeting and yeah brought that those notes together um but I think we um need to address communication well I mean I'm not saying so last time I know we all kind of gave our our whole list and heard each other and now this is where I'm saying we come back and of every topic we heard how let's pick two or three to be our focus and these were the three that were on my top top of my mind. our communication from the board to the uh the residents our uh is going to be really something that I think that that's where we can have a a big say cuz you know a lot of our communication might be like things that town staff are communicating to the residents and that's that's of the purview of the town staff but when it comes to communicating policy or implications of policy that the select board is implementing that's where I think that we have opportunities to be

like how is our board communicating um from from this chamber to the the the community? And I think that there's ways to examine examine that, you know. Um speaking of I would just like to take the opportunity to say I really I don't know who puts the uh the blast the news blast out every week, but I think that is just excellent.

I mean, everything about it, the template, all of the information is really good. If we could get every resident to pay attention to it um more maybe um it would be better but we're not like we don't have a bad grade in communication I don't think I just think there are big ticket items that we can probably do better on.

Yeah. That's all right. I think we do really I I can say especially from three years ago to now the communication out of out of the select board and out of the town office is night and day to what what it was when I first moved to town years ago you know and so

um the website's awesome at this point you know news class is great um but like I'm just learning a lot more too and so what I want to do is each you know we can break each one of these down and have a separate workshop where we're figuring out how we want to address it, but the communication thing just learning more like I was talking with the communication person from GB Cog and I think I've said this before but he was talking about how towns used to just rely on a beat reporter who came to every select board meeting and in the newspaper this Sunday would be a report on what happened here. Um, and we don't have that anymore obviously, but also he was saying like things like social media, there's all these algorithms and things like that. So even if you're putting things on your town page, if you know if your town page isn't generating advertising opportunities, it's not going to show up. And I think we've all

seen this before where you post something to a social media page and then you can't find it the next day and it's buried way down deep because there wasn't enough comments or activities. And I won't pretend to understand it. um you know there's never going to be a career in in influencing me on social media. So

yeah, but there's just opportunities to learn how other municipalities do it. Real quick, I will say um you know talking with GP COG, one opportunity that they brought up was, hey, we as GP COG could hire a municipal communications person, split the cost with four or five towns and say we'll send someone there to assist your town with communication and outreach and things like that for 5 or 10 hours a week. And so it might be something we want to explore uh that has a fiscal note and that's a long-term thing. Um, but it's just one of those things that it's not something that we have to do alone. And our staff has a million things going on. And so, anything that's going to be something new, we have to figure out how because we can't say, "Oh, let's just add another task to the town manager who has to add another task to the town clerk and so on and so forth." So, back

yes, that point that they have quite a lot to do. I think this is also something to be discussed when we are discussing budget and line items for whether it is a social media manager, whether it is just a parttimer additional staffer who comes in and social media or outreach is that person falls under that person's responsibility or whatever it might be. But this is a separate conversation and I don't know if it's necessarily

I I think this falls under the budgeting budget like we got to deal with the budget and creating money for this because without money or not the communications right whether it whether we choose to hire another person or we choose to go with GP social media or manager communications person. So I think like to your point, we just need to make money for it.

Well, and I think that that's the the thing with these three things we have and I want to quickly now kind of transition into picking putting on the calendar when are we going to workshop these. I think sooner than later is important because that's where we determine if there is a fiscal note and what it looks like, you know.

Um I want I do um life's a little hectic. I I would like to come into the office and have a meeting whether you're there Joe just to kind of cuz I've also sort of mapped out some things not to go over in this meeting now but just to I guess spitball and find out what is a possibility and that's something that's on a smaller scale and then we can go further um and then we can bring in what we discussed to everybody.

All righty. Um I want to look at the calendar here and kind of plan out when we're going to take our next things. And so one thing Jerry brought up to me, I think last year or something is that a lot of times select boards will kind of like have a meeting once a month where they handle all the administrative work that they have to do. But if there's to-do items, they kind of have like a workshop and that nomenclature can be confusing for people. But it's kind of like a we're not going to do anything else that meeting besides, you know, sign AP warrant and work through what do we want here to talk? What do we want to do next? So like at the economic development thing is like are we going to create a committee? What's the charge of that committee? Those sorts of things. And so I wouldn't I would like to over the next few meetings um just take one of these and have that be a big take that so when I look at our

calendar our next meeting is September 9th um excuse me right now we have a followup discussion on the employee handbook and so that I think that we want to make sure we leave the appropriate time for that the following meeting is the um says 20 uh the following meeting would be the 23rd. So, I think that would be where we can put one of these topics on as a workshop for what we want to um like that's where we do the we're having the how discussion, not the what discussion. And so, what what would people like to begin with there?

I think development. I will say that the at the end of October is when the um um uh open space committee has asked to come in and meet with us too. So if we can have that economic discussion before that, I think it makes sense.

I think we come back on the 23rd here's what drafts of this committee is going to look like because I think that's where it starts keeping that we keep creating committees kind of work on them. I think um I think I can certainly say I don't think I have the time to put in the work that's necessary for that.

Yeah. But I don't think that this is us handing work off because we don't want to do it. I think it's also important that we have a community-led initiative here. Um we're hearing from people who want want to see that it's in our comprehensive plan. Um so I think you know their committee is a good approach. I I think if if I think we come in and at that meeting sort of hammer out here are the bylaws and then at that point we give a couple of weeks for people to apply for that committee.

Mhm. That's that's what I would see and and that way we're giving our charger what we're looking for them to do which I think is a lot of brainstorming and coming up with ideas and um but again that's something that's going to take time from staff that committee to come up with ideas and you know what do we have to do to implement these ideas you're going to need George you're going to need Jerry so I mean

and I will say I do think economic development this is not a we're going to solve this in three three months. You know this is a this is a we might not have an answer for now and the ne next budget cycle that has solved the economic needs but I think this is this is like a big lift like a you know long term and so getting

started sooner is better than later. It's going to get us started so that you know we have a reevaluation come in and yet here's our plan to address your concerns. Maybe some of them have been implemented. Here's the implementation. Here's where we're going to start and I think it has to start now so that so that when those reevaluations come up, we have a plan to address.

Yeah. And then so our next meeting will be October 14th. Um, I'd like to put the budget committee as the next topic that we workshop there. Um, that works for folks. Wait, just to back up. Okay. So, we have it's the 23rd and then it's not the 7th, it's the 14th.

Yes. Is that right? Okay. Yeah. It's we get these weird Yeah, I know. I just If the month starts on a Wednesday, it makes us if the month ends on a Tuesday, it makes it feel Um, and so I want to talk about the budget process uh on there because I do think um at minimum what might need to happen is some sort of codification will need to be pulled together for the annual meeting the following year. And so whatever to to make sure we can get all that squared away, getting started on that stuff sooner than later. It's crazy to think that we're already talking about October meetings cuz that starts making my eyes twitch thinking about budgets. Budget season is not terribly far away. And then October 28th I think would be our communications workshop.

Okay. Am I does this sound manageable and reasonable to you, Jerry? Yeah. Uh so 1020 are doing the communications and that's with conservation coming too. Yeah. And so they're well they just sent an email asking um this just came in uh yesterday today and I forwarded in a while. they want to get on to talk about um um kind of the first round of hey here's what the consulting firm has pulled together for maps here's what they're showing those sorts of things and kind of like an intro here's what's going on I don't think there's going to be a lot of like we need decisions to be made on that night it's going to be hey you know here here's where we're at so far um and here's where we're heading stuff

um so on 99 we have to a public hearing on JZ. Yeah. So that so we have to hand and the public hearing on Jesus. And what does that mean public hearing? So we're inviting the public. So there's a notification Yeah. notification process to say that there's a hearing on junkyards and I believe that's where people can come in and comment on existing

Yeah. code officer will notify the above the junkyards and they may have some comments that come in and gives them. So, of all the junkyards in the town, only two. There's only Yeah, that's all. There's only two registered.

There's only two in that Allen that Allen oversees and gives them. Yeah, there's only two registered. What about the ones that are not registered? Are there any junkyards in town that are not registered? Uh I think there are things that look like junkards, but

maybe a lot more than two. Yeah. I just remember one time I my the I lived in a home that had a street both in the front and the back and the backyard. I had three little kids at the time. The backyard was looked pretty messy. Someone walked up and thought I was having a yard sale, which I was not. So there could be places that look like junkyard but really don't operate as a junk. I I've always wondered what the legal definition of junkyard is. I was told years ago that if cars are stacked too high, it's a junkyard. I don't know if that's a true rule or not. Um, but like if you do a Google image scan of town, you can find more than two places where there are a dozen vehicles, which is truly so for the hearing, the two legs are going to notify all the come to

come here. I don't know about that. We're having a public hearing on junkyards. Gives the public a chance to come in and voice their concerns. And do you have any planning board to attend that as well? No. Or George? And then at this hearing, we're going to hear their comments and then

close the public hearing. Close it. Okay. And recall, there was a month that label that. So, Oh, that's right. It's like a requirement. It's every year. It's more of a formality than anything. My guess is you probably won't get anyone to comment, but you never know. So, that's why you have to do it.

But what can we do if there's an issue? We'll see what the issues are, right? Just address them. that goals but I do just want to make a comment. We've had a number of residents uh voice concerns about speeding and I think we are maybe on our one-year anniversary of addressing having a police force in this uh for our community which we know we don't want to go but someone wrote a note about you know the possibility of having speed signs is the wrong word but you know the electronic things posted in certain areas. I feel like maybe we should have a goal to just address like safety

related concerns that we've heard or things that we're doing to improve the safety of the town and to kind of put a bow around that topic. And maybe we should be doing something about that really high roads that people are concerned enough about that they're, you know, writing notes to this board and town manager and stuff. Maybe we should put that on the table.

Yeah, anything done to slow the speeder down unless you have law enforcement. And I can tell you uh today was the first day I saw uh the deputy chief did not make a comment about spending more time in Durham sitting in my front front yard. Uh um and then I on my way here tonight, you know, somebody passed four cars and almost hit another one.

I saw something. I mean, it's I I think it's it's I don't know how you address it. It's you can't you can't slow it down even even those digital signs. Yeah. And those don't mean anything. I don't I think that I think one thing they realized with those digital sciences they had to put an upper limit because when people put them out people try to see how fast they can get picked up going on it. Um, and so that's now why if you're over 20 mph over the speed of those, it says too fast. But I know that we've talked with Colin about this before and he moves it to the road where there's a complaint. Um, and it I don't

I don't know how much of a difference it ends up ends up making because, you know, even just talking with people, I get vocal complaints all the time on like, oh, the speeding is terrible on on my road and the speeding is terrible here. Um, so I and without the increased

police presence, I I really don't know what the I I don't what's our what's our direction or advice to the community if they have a problem? Are they calling call? So I've had a communication with the deputy sheriff. He says people call. They're they've done more enforcement here than they have in a long time recently.

Have people been calling? I know that I have seen sheriffs in town in the last two months on four or five separate occasions which is far and that's just anecdotally for me and I saw them and they always had someone pulled over in first meeting you know um and so I I think that we had someone who reached out to the sheriff and CC us a while back

um and it was the next day I saw some someone pulled over in town and and and I had had a communication not long after that communication to us. If there's an issue, uh, reach out to us and we I'll if it comes in, I'll pass it on. I mean, I talk to them almost on a weekly basis, if not more often. But he commented this this is the first time they've ever said, "Hey, there's this issue." Yes, we know there's an issue, but we, you know, they need a reason, and this is the reason for them to go address it. So, complain, tell us, and I'll pass it on. I'm sorry. So you you're saying that they're saying it's the first they've heard of it,

the first for this specific area. Oh, just in general here. Give give a specific area. I mean, and they know it's going to be Route 9, 136, 125. I mean, uh, Swamp Road. I mean, they know all of those, but um, you know, they have three, maybe four people on a time covering Durham and then the other half of the county. I mean that's the excuse we get and that's why we looked into adding that dedicated patrol which the day that was voted down someone got pulled over doing 110 on

okay so I think what I'm hearing is okay we all understand the problem it's not something we would put as a topic no to I think that we are addressing it the best we can with the tools we have without additional resources it's just let let the police let the sheriff know I I drive past that speed up. I'm wondering

of Brunswick probably more at night is when they come on they have blue flashing lights. I guarantee you'll take your foot off the gas for a minute if you see that cuz I do. But it's just a speed limit sign has blue flashing lights so you don't know what's there. you know, I will get your attention, but they're, you know, they're there to help, but you know,

it's social engineering. It's very difficult. Yes. I mean, call them and they'll they'll make an effort. That's what that's what they told me that I think that's what they said here and or I don't know what else to do. Go let the county commissioners know how you feel about it, too, you know.

Okay. All right. Thanks for that. No, I it's important to acknowledge though. Uh, all right. So, Jerry managers report. Yeah. sorry. Did you guys motion on the goals or objectives or No, I think we're good. I don't think we need a motion. All right. So, what I'm hearing out to you is apparently anc county wants to do something to the sheriff the link group. Okay. So, this is the spreadsheet that they sent to me uh

late last week. So you can see we're doing is so if they if this goes through if they vote for this and and ultimately the voters will vote in November 26 but um if they vote for that that's going to add 5.3% to the county budget on top of their regular operating budget. Okay. So, I talked to Brian Ames on the phone and uh he asked me what I thought and I said, "Well, as the manager, I'm going to encourage you to vote no on this so we don't get hit with this." And I think his other towns that he represents, which is part of Lewon and Green, they're all going to vote no. So, that's what he intends to do. Um they're having a meeting when tomorrow night. So he encourage anyone that's a taxpayer in Durham if they want to go to that meeting during public comment if they don't like what they see here they can encourage them to to vote this down.

Have they have they made that public or how have they made this public? It's probably on their website. Tomorrow is the commission meeting. I'm talking about budget items. Yeah. Oh. So this is this is what the annual for the for the bond.

So we would be responsible for 5% of it. Yeah. 5.3. Yeah. And they're and they're definitely going for the 29 million. How did they come up with these numbers? That's percentage because I see towns on here that I would expect to be a higher percentage than us.

Yeah, I population maybe. I'm not sure though. I mean cuz like Sebast is bigger than us. So um is a city falls bigger than us. So ultimately um the the residents will vote on this um at the November election in 2026. So they have the final say but

the residents of all these towns county he Brian doesn't think there's enough folks internally to stop it. Um, but it'll come down to the on. So, you're saying that they're willing to have public comments go in tomorrow to But I mean, no matter what comments, it's internal. They're going to

just like Yeah, very much like Can we issue a formal letter from Select Board of Durham encouraging them to vote against this? Well, they're voting tomorrow. Yeah, but I mean, can we do something like that? You could. Yeah,

but I I' expressed as the manager for at minimum. I would maybe say we could take a vote and just so you can when you send an email tomorrow say our select board voted and has has expressed you know that they would like to see this voted again. So you know that it's not just manager saying it but the select board should we vote that way? No.

Also, how long have they known about you since you just got this? Yeah, I got this last one. The numbers changed. So, still this is the final, but they're not voting on Sending it to a referendum for the municipalities in the county.

It's not the final call on whether they're going to We're going to get this as a will Durham get this to vote? Yes. measure ballot measure. Do you want a bond county bond for this amount? And who's um voting the county commissioners?

I think if we write a letter saying we're not favor whatever we all I I think it's a good point about how these percentages are calculated. Is it just based on resident count uh or number of like how Yeah, we should ask that. I mean, yeah, cuz my question is like we know that when we went through the process of figuring out like our call volume compared to the other towns and like I don't know

as a question if you know it would change at all. Um if they lowered our percentage maybe I think also to be fair Auburn and Louis have what 50% and they have their own Yeah. But I think also it's important for us to be on the record to say that we are not in favor of this

and we should No, I mean I think that putting in I'm abstaining but but I will tell you the building they're in mold it's not safe. Oh the courthouse building it's not safe. It is bad. It's it's it's not safe and the conditions for these the sheriffs. I mean, I I spend most of my time in the area of the detectives because there's a sitting area there when we're doing things. Um I would I wouldn't let my kid go work for them right now like they want to be in law enforcement.

Yeah. And I don't think people take this kind of thing lightly. This is a, you know, huge investment, but at some point you need to address the fact that you're have people, residents, community people working in a building that's, you know, 100 years old or whatever and really harmful.

The court's moving out of there in the next few years. And so, I mean, it's it's it's just it's it's it's not safe. There's ton of issues and they're putting money I I mean, I my questions would not be about the necessarily the percentage although that's a question is how much are you putting into these repairs because they just started putting in heat pumps I think the and and they're throwing money into this building now and I don't know if this new building out on Saturday turn wherever they're bought um is going to be good enough to house other departments um but you you know,

despite the expense, there could be long-term savings and and those are the questions that I I have. So, uh, you know, I'm abstaining because yeah, I'm close. But, uh, you know, I think I think despite the the expenses, it could be long-term saving, which might be beneficial and it might make the working environment better to get to keep the employees that they have. Uh because uh the sheriff's department does have some darn good employees there. Yeah. And when you look at Auburn's going to get a new police department, uh Lewis's police department is stunning. Um it's absolutely it's of all

the departments I've been in, including some brand new buildings, it's amazing. I've asked more offices there. It's so nice. Um and and I think it's helping their recruitment. Um, so you know, yeah, it's a lot. Yeah, I totally got spending that, but there are ways you can convince me that, you know, yes, this expense is going to save us money in the in the long long term. I mean, it's not a short-term solution, but it could be a long-term solution. So, uh,

you know, jumping at the expense because, uh, they're throwing money into that building. the percentages? Sure. Yeah, I think that might be our question. If we if we already know that our rep is, you know, not in favor, um just getting some more details from them would be would be great.

I think ultimately they they know how this all works and it will really come down to the and I think that's where they want to move it to just like you all would, right? That's that's how they're moving forward. I think that's I think that's the end result as well. And so my my recommendation is maybe is invite Brian

down to meet with us. Yeah. To to do a presentation and allow us to ask questions that he's not going to have answers to. He's going to have to go back and get and then come back um uh for uh for a meeting where he where we can get questions from the community uh and and and address our the answers to the questions that we've asked. He doesn't have.

Yeah. Uh, I did ask him to come today, but today's his wife's anniversary, so yeah, better off. But I I I think that's the better way to do it because I think I mean, yeah, how they got percentages is one thing, but yeah, let's not forget those numbers pay for I mean, yes, they use shares sometimes, but not very often. Uh um and well I

think I'm good with us just having them come in and give us a little bit more details after they have their vote just so we're we're aware. Um and then ultimately it goes to the voters of the county in November. So, okay. So, the Wi-Fi over the center is all set to go.

The password is to 2025 exclamation point. All capitals on the to town 2025 exclamation point. Excellent. All right. Uh, speaking of law enforcement, we have had a bunch of road signs that have been taken. there. Uh, someone's going around either with a sawzaw with a metal cut blade and cutting the post off halfway or something.

Wow. So, we're about $2,200 in the hole right now. So, Calvin's notified the sheriff. Power signs. Yes. Street signs. Yeah. Street signs, no signs, stop signs, power sign. Um, so been in touch with the sheriff. So, we'll keep an eye on these places that turn in metal and see what happens. So, there's that.

So, I'm sorry. So, street signs and traffic signs. Yeah, just signs. Someone wore it out of their mind with a metal car probably with a truck. If you got halfway down, you have to fit them. You're not going to put that in the small

and they're taking them. They're not. Yeah. So, kind of tal it up. So 2200 so far. Do we have insurance or anything that covers that? Probably not. I I Yeah, probably not. I I can So I mean can if we're feeling a police report here, I mean, are they going to try to do an investigation to figure out what's going on or

Yeah, I mean they're they're looking like I said to that go around to all the people that take in metals signs coming in. I mean I mean people people know right that Durham doesn't have any police. This is being done late at night.

I mean they took some signs off stone So is it how long has this been going on? Just the last couple weeks and it's still going on. Well Kevin didn't report anything today. It's been almost every day. No, it's been a couple days like Yeah. It wasn't like a couple days that happened.

Yeah. You can see half the hole on the counter road where the bulk of the panel was. Yeah, they took that one too. thought we had somebody, but we don't. So, we're still two down. Just to let you know, I'm working with Betsy to put the advertisement on MD. I'm going to We have some money in the budget. We're going to have to bump some people out in the meantime because otherwise we're not going to get we're not going to be in trouble.

So, I'll work with that. Let them just let you know that we're not getting any hits whatsoever. Um, so that's a problem. The Dempsey Challenge this year is on September 20th and they usually stop it here, but this year they changed the route. They're going to be stopping at runaround pawn. All right. And so it's a little early to tell you about September 20th. It's not that far away.

Um, I just have one copy pass this around. So, we just got a dividend check from MMA for $4,800 for pound um effective risk management and loss control. So, we've had no accidents, no safety violations. Our policies are science.

So, we can go or or we can put it towards the That's good. We got that. We actually got that today. That's awesome. That's a reflection of the department has and your leadership and having meetings doing what MA is asking us to do to keep our records up and stuff. Yeah, that's that's good. That'll be on the news to let people residents know

on. Cool. um board member reports. Uh I was just going to say um some of you might have seen I engaged in a little bit of outreach on some social media pages on the pro the process around um the or the the math behind our year and a half budget and stuff like that. And so, um, very much make sure if you see that I'm just speaking direct facts and not trying to make any opinions on the behalf of the board or anything like that, but I put out put out some information about the property taxes and answered a bunch of questions. And so, I just wanted to make you all aware if you hadn't seen that that that conversation was happening. Um, you know, while I didn't identify myself as the chair of the board, I don't want any of you all to think I'm speaking on your behalfs or the board's behalf at any point in time and didn't engage in policy. Just said, "Here's the information." And, you know, I had to check with Jerry. I said, "Can

I can we just make sure we send everyone to the town office if they have questions?" He said, "Oh, yeah. No, we're ready for any questions people have." So, um, just wanted to Did you get some questions? Oh, yeah. Did you get anyone to pay the taxes? Oh, yeah. Several people have. Yeah. And uh I one one thing that I was really happy to see is that there was a lot of people expressing complaints and saying that they didn't know this was coming and there's a lot of other people saying well we all got that thing in the mail and we all voted for this on town meeting and this is really just this. So there was it was showing to me that there was enough people who were like no we were told about this and you know one one conversation was like wait till you see what it is cuz you're not going to be happy with what you get. He goes, "It's exactly what I expected." So, it looked normal. So, our outreach was was

getting to some people. Um, and I think anytime that you get outreach to the community and then you see other members of the community like informing their peers of these sorts of things that that's moving the needle in the right direction. So,

so did you you posted it or you responded to one? I I put a post up explaining the um the 18-month budget process, linking it to the uh um linking it to the uh web page, putting some screenshots of the pamphlet and then doing a little bit of a just a written explanation and then um found some people who were asking me the questions and responded there um in my personal capacity. But I just wanted to make you all aware of it so you don't feel I'm speaking on everyone's behalf. I have nothing else. But

did you get any uh blowback with any or like Oh, yeah. I got some some some some foul responses, but a lot of people saying, "Oh, thank you. That was really helpful." So, but it was more positive than negative. So, that's cool.

Uh Josh, do you have anything? a motion to approve the consent agenda? Josh, do we have a second? I'll second. Any discussions? Any questions? All in favor? Any opposition? Seeing none, um we have some upcoming meetings. It's a busy time of the year. We got the planning board meeting September 3rd here at 6:30. Ad committee meeting September 3rd at the the Eureka Center now coming to you with Wi-Fi. Um we have

solar waste committee meeting September 8th at the Wi-Fi and powered Eureka Center. Um, and then we have a select board meeting here at, uh, September 9th. And just as an update, um, at our September 9th select board meeting, we're going to have a discussion to follow up on the employee handbook and our public junkyard hearing. We're going to be discussing our economic development goal uh, goals. On 9:23, on

10:14, we're going to discuss the budget budgeting process moving forward. On 10:28 we're going to have a discussion about our communication hopes and dreams for the coming coming years. Conservation Commission's office and the conservation commission is going to come in uh and discuss the pro what they've done for information so far from the consultant on the open space. So, uh we do have an executive session uh for personnel matters pursuant to 456A and we will make sure we take notes and submit those to you. Um if that works for everyone else. Um so seeing nothing else, do we have a motion to move into executive session?

Motion from Deb. Uh do we have a second? I'll second. All right. And do we have any questions or discussion? All right. Seeing none, we're going to move into that executive session at 7:43.