I have 530, Olly, I'd like to convene this meeting of the Board of Directors for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District for February 16th, 2023, Olly would you take roll please? President Smalley? Here. Vice President Hill? Here. Director Ackerman? Here. Director Fouls? Here. Director Mayhood? Here. District Manager, are there any additions or deletions to the closed session agenda? Yes. I would like to remove item A, the public employee's annual performance evaluation from the closed session agenda. Okay. Okay. Oral communications regarding items in the closed session. I see no one from the public in attendance. So I think we can move beyond that. Yes. Okay. Well, given that, I'd like to adjourn to the closed session then. And we will see you there. Yes. Hi. It's 630. We will get information from Olly at a later point as to the list of movies. So I'd like to convene this meeting of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District for February 16th, 2023. Olly would you take roll? President Smalley? Here. Vice President Hill? Here. Director Ackerman? Here. Director Fultz? Here. Director Mayhood? Here. Rick, are there any additions or deletions? Staff has none. Open session. Staff has none. Okay. Okay. Oral communications. This is for the, this portion of the meeting is for the public to bring up any items that are not on the agenda for this evening. Does anybody from the public have anything that they want to bring up? I see that Jim Mosier has his hand up. So Jim. Can you hear me? Yes. We can have a quick question. I've been very curious about what the next steps will be about replacing that pipeline, whether we're going to put it underground or not. And I just thought we would have had a next step by now since it was, since we've had the two opinions. So I just wondered when the board and the staff was going to let the public know what's going on with that decision. Thank you. Okay. Thanks, Jim. Since this is not on our agenda, we can't discuss that this evening, but I think it would be appropriate Rick, for you to bring that back at a subsequent one. Yes. And we're getting close to coming back to the board. Okay. Good. Thank you then. Moving on then to the precedence report. I have none this evening. Thank you. Rick. Moving to unfinished business. The first item is the quick base and water company. Yeah, so it'll be a joint presentation and I'll let, I'll let Gina kick it off. District council kick this item off to the board. Jim. Thank you, Mark and Rick. I was asked to co-present this item with. Because of our status as the designated co negotiators for the district in connection with big base and water company. Potential consolidation and of course the board will recall that in. November of 2021, roughly 18 months ago. Use the board direct authorized the district manager to explore the possibility of consolidation. Following its extensive damage in the CGU wildfire. At that time, you authorized the district to expend limited resources to explore feasibility. Including various barriers such as legal barriers to consolidation and to determine in particular consolidation could be accomplished out the district. Without the cost being borne by the district's existing customers. We have since that time. Well, I should say the district staff has since that time been evaluating the state of the base and water company facilities and the costs. And it would entail to bring the system into compliance with state water quality regulations. In August of this past year, about six months ago, the board formally designated Rick and myself. As the district's negotiators and. We and other representatives of the district have in that, in that capacity have participated in a number of meetings with stakeholders. Including the owners of the water company. The PUC, the state waterborne and the county. And despite these, these fairly extensive efforts. We as the negotiators and staff have not been able to identify a path forward for consolidation that protects. The existing district customers from absorbing the cost of consolidation, which may be substantial. And there's additional information about those potential costs presented in the background section of the memo and Rick may want to further as well. But I'm just going to state the staff recommendation before turning it back to Rick. I think the point is that the board by motion directs the district manager and staff. To suspend efforts to evaluate a potential consolidation based in water company and he designate the manager as negotiators. Okay, thank you Gina. Rick. Anything that that. I think district council laid this out pretty well. The memo stated, we do not see a path forward at this time. And this would also sunset the district's emergency and other support that we have been giving big Mason. Okay. Thank you for that. I'd also like to recognize that the board did receive a letter from county supervisor Bruce McPherson that expressed the county's viewpoints on this. They recognized that. The city of San Lorenzo Valley water district has put a considerable efforts into us like this for those efforts. County also indicated that they have spent considerable amount of time on this. But they are no farther along. Enable in getting to any kind of a solution or seeing anything from the state on that. So, with that said, I also wanted to reflect. As a board member, I participated as the board's representative in a number of the discussions with both county and state, starting in about December of 2021. Since that time, I have not been able to hear anything from the state as to a viable path forward financially that they could provide to the district on how this consolidation might happen. So, with that, before we go out to the public to hear any comments that like to hear from members of the board. Any comments that they have regarding this or questions. Start with Bob. Just a quick follow up our efforts with Bracken Bray and for springs will continue unabated and unaffected and correct. That is correct. That's very important to make sure we, we let that be known and in those cases we do. And in case there's, there is a funding path that that we can see to support those efforts. So, it's not like we're saying we're going to do nothing in the wake of the fire but but there is some issues around big basin water. I mean before the election, the recent election during the election and after the election I've made it very clear to the people that of our community that I did not support investing district resources their money into this effort. Without there being a funding mechanism for this from the state the feds County somebody. And I'm consistent in that position I don't expect to change that position. For any reason going forward. This has to be resolved in a way that does not put our district constituent communities on the book for for funding. I did have one other question, Rick with respect to cutting off the emergency support that we've been given with that also include for example the water filling station that we put up periodically when big basin water does have issues supplying water. I would not recommend taking that down. It's very little expense to the district, and it is a vital water supply to those folks. I do believe that they're back in possible water so we will take it down but we wouldn't hesitate to put that back up. Well that's exactly what I want to hear because I think it's you know water is life and and we're going to continue to be good neighbors in that respect. And we've we've done so I think right from the beginning. So, people can can count on us for that too. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I would echo many of the things that Bob said and it's it's regrettable that we're in this circumstances where we haven't been able to elicit from the state. Commitments that would make it possible for us to move forward. And I think it's right that we adopt the motion that's here because I know that the staff has been spending a lot of time. Evaluating things. We've been spending the time of our legal counsel, which, you know, all these things cost us money and distract us from our other activities. And yet there's been no progress. And so there has to come a point at which we say that's enough it's in the. All court of the state and other agencies and that we simply cannot be the backstop or big base and water company anymore. Thank you. Jeff. So, I'm the newcomer on this issue here. But I think it's important that everyone understands that our district has had a number of mergers and consolidations over the recent history, but every one of those has had either the rate payers of the group that was joining us. And I think that's important to understand. So, I also am in favor of this motion. Jamie. I'm not going to surprising when I say I'm also in favor. I just want to say, for the record, I don't think, you know, there are very many big base and water customers that are on the call today but even though this is, you know, the end of our ongoing process to try and find a path to consolidation, you know, as a as a resident of the valley. I remain open to helping support on a personal basis any, you know, needs they may have in terms of, you know, outreach or engagement or thoughts about you know how they might continue to make their case to the various authorities that will be able to help with this. So I just, you know, want to say that to any residents who might be watching right now or might might tune in and watch this later. Okay. Now I would like to hear any questions from members of the public. Before we go out to that, like to get a sense of the number of individuals that want to ask questions or speak on this subject. If you could use the raise hand function. So that we could see that. Seeing one only. Any questions that come up from either Jim Moser or subsequent ones would like to address at the end of the discussion. So, Jim, go ahead with your questions. Jeremy. I don't actually have a question I was expecting there'd be a fair number of people from from the big basin to be here and talk I just want to express as Jamie did as a citizen of the valley I would really like to help those folks up there. Deal with this problem. And I totally agree with what the board is indicated they're going to take in the staff that we have to step out and hopefully by us stepping out of the process that might put a little more pressure on the county and state to actually get engaged here because this is just really unacceptable to let these people in this situation and it's there's a lot of responsibility to spread around but I feel like the district has done everything reasonable to try to be a positive neighbor and I and it just makes me sad. That's all. Thank you. Okay. Seeing no other commenters from the public. We have a motion in front of us. As read by district council nickels. To direct the district manager and staff to suspend efforts on evaluating the potential consolidation. I would like to make that motion. Second. Okay. Holly. Will you take a vote on this. President Smalley. Yes. Vice president Hill. Yes. Director Ackerman. Yes. Director Falls. Yes. Director Mayhood. Aye. Motion passes. Okay. Moving on to the next item of the fall creek. Fish ladder. Rehabilitation project. Yes. The district engineer will present this project to the board. Josh. Thank you, Rick. This one's fairly straightforward. We put the fall creek fish ladder rehabilitation project back out to bid. We received two bids. From McGuire and Hester and sibling reconstruction. Siblin Reed was low at just shy of 2.4 million. So we're going to move on to the next item of the fall creek project. I think the staff recommends that the district award. To sibling Reed and have provided. A recommended motion. With that, I'll take questions. Okay. All right. Questions from the board. Gail. I don't have any questions. Okay. Jamie. No. We have two bids. How many did we go out for? How many companies did we ask? I directly emailed. Over 25. Almost 30. And made contact with a couple others via phone or. Folks that I ran into in other situations. So we have been. Scouring. The landscape trying to get more bids on this. Any reason. You. Would care to. To speculate on why we got of all those contractors only to. I think that the compressed timeframe scared a bunch of people off because of the arm. And I think that. I think it's important for the department of fish and wildlife requirement. That work within the stream be completed between June 15th and October 15th. And I think that the access to the site being as limited as it is. And some of the challenges about how it's going to have to be built. Are scaring off some of the others. Okay. Thank you. Well. You know. Even even more so with, without everything around it. So I, you know, while I'm disappointed that we only got two. I am happy that we got somebody with whom we're not familiar with. I mean, as you know, Josh, I'm very interested in expanding the. Portfolio of companies that we've worked with that may in the future. Want to continue working with us and continue bidding on things. But I do have a lot of work that we have to do. So thank you for your efforts and getting that. I had one other question, which was. At one point in time, I think we had a grant. To cover part of the cost of this. Is that. Is that grant gone or is that grant still available to us. To the best of my knowledge, it's still available. Rick would know better than I. And how much is that grant? Do you want to give a. Amount again. Sure. It's a million dollars that we have towards the project. So we're on the hood for 1.3. Plus, yeah, plus a little more for the project. And Rick, in terms of the. The 2019 COP. How are we doing on that relative to what we are spending on the lion pipe. And now this, are we still okay? Or are we going to have to dip into other funds? I do believe we're still okay. We still need to come back to the board with. A modification amendment to the resolution because we pulled one of the projects. And we do that million dollar grant on this. And we need to factor in the FEMA money for the lion. So we'll first, we'll bring an update on the, on those projects to the budget committee and into the board. Including the, including an update on the numbers and where we are with that. Correct. Correct. I think that's really great. I'd like to, I'd like to see that. But yeah, I mean, I'm. And I'm Josh, I'm glad you checked them out. Given that they are new. So, so that's great. Let's, let's do it. Okay. Two things that I wanted to bring up regarding. The project experience. I looked at their project experience sheets. And to me, they were impressive. The project experience that they provided to us. Were for fish ladders. Some of them ranging up to seven and eight million. So they were interested in this project because they have experience in this type of work. And I think that's great to have a contractor that. I hope knows what they're doing with this. And from the project description sheets, I believe that they do. So Josh. Good job in getting a hold of somebody like this. And getting a bit from them. The question that I have is on their overtime. We asked the question about, can they do the work in standard hours? They said, no, they want to work up to 10 hours a day. And some Saturdays. I don't expect that 10 hours a day are going to be an issue. Will Saturdays. Given the fact that they're in a neighborhood. Do we anticipate or is that. Likely.  But it will require some additional time spent. Largely by myself and engineering staff. In. Some PR work. In making sure that the folks who live in that area live on Fall Creek and to a lesser extent. On farmer across the bridge. Are aware of what's going on and. Have a good picture of what we're doing, why we're doing it and how long it's going to take us. Okay. Good. Okay. Before we go out to the public. I'd like to put the motion on the table then. We direct the district manager. To enter into a contract with slide bond read construction. For the construction of the fall Creek fish ladder rehabilitation project in the amount of. $1,365,720. Not a penny more. Okay. Thank you for that. Wait, is that legally binding? Cause we might. I think that was tongue in cheek. Very much. The one that was in the packet. The motion that has read. Yes. Thank you. So, uh, with that motion, do we have any comments. From the members of the public. Yes. I see none. Um, Holly, would you take a roll call, please. President Smalley. Yes. Vice president Hill. Yes. Director Ackman. Yes. Director falls. Yes. Director May hood. Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Okay. Moving on to new business. Um, first item is the policy for the return to in person board and committee meetings. Ask district council to present this to the board. Thanks, Mark and Rick. I'm going to do my best to summarize the recent changes to the Brown act in a way that that kind of simplifies them. Um, it is as easy as to understand as possible. Um, unfortunately, that's not. The easiest thing to do because the new changes to the Brown act are a little bit convoluted in terms of how they deal with remote eating situations. So I'm going to start briefly by jumping back to before COVID. Um, when the Brown act did have certain provisions to allow for teleconferencing, which includes teleconferencing, by the way, in this context includes any kind of remote. Um, use of remote meeting technology so it can include video conferencing, but it's called teleconferencing in the, in the Brown act. Um, so we had before COVID. Uh, provisions in the Brown act that allowed. Board members or committee members to participate remotely. For any reason, as long as a quorum of the board or the committee was present within the within the boundaries of the district. And at the location where the board or committee member wanted to participate from, they posted the copy of the agenda and make it. The location open and available to the public. And the agenda itself has to describe what each of those remote meeting locations is. Um, so those provisions haven't changed. They still continue. There's additional provisions that predate COVID that allow for remote meetings to be conducted under emergency circumstances and a declared state of emergency and those provisions. Still continue with COVID. What happened is that, um. Initially, we had a governor's executive order that. Modified the Brown act to allow for remote meetings, and then we had AB 361, which codified some of those changes. And that's what we're operating under right now is AB 361. Which allows board and committee members all to participate from remote locations. Subject to certain limitations. Those provisions are no longer going to be applicable. At the end of February and the reason for that is that the governor has indicated and we don't have any intel to the contrary. We fully expect that the governor is going to. Lift the COVID state of emergency declaration at the end of this month. And when that goes away, the basis for continuing to conduct. These fully remote meetings under AB 361 also goes away. Those provisions will still exist, but the basis for these meetings will be gone. So now we get to the most recent change in the Brown act, which is AB 2449, which was enacted in September and took effect at the beginning of this year. AB 2449. Retains some aspects of AB 361. And it creates sort of a new regime to allow that would allow board and committee members and members of the public to participate in remote meetings. But it puts a lot of red tape on the ability to do that. And in particular, some of the red tape that I think may be important to the members of the board here include that. There are only certain reasons why a board member can participate remotely. And those are. Define terms, just cause and emergencies. And I think to kind of cut cut to the chase on what is not an emergency or just cause. Business or personal travel wouldn't qualify for either of those categories. So district we're conducting meetings under these. AB 2449 provisions, or I'm sorry, partially remote meetings under the AB 2449 provisions. And board members would not be able to participate remotely where they have business or personal travel or any reason that isn't one of the specifically defined reasons in this new law. Another aspect of AB 2449 if we're taking advantage of those new provisions to conduct remote me partially remote meetings. Some of the board has to be present in a single location within the district's boundaries. And there's also a bunch of rules that apply to what happens if the district were to experience a remote meeting disruption. And one of the most significant disruption provisions is that if a board member is participating remotely and the board member, the board member must participate by video. Video is lost, which in our experience happens, you know, not infrequently because of various types of internet disruptions and so forth. Then the board member can no longer participate in deliberating on items on the agenda. So there's more nuance to it than that, but I think that's kind of the short version of what it looks like to conduct a meeting under AB 2449 because of the limitations and the red tape that go with the AB 2449 provisions. The administration, the district's administration committee and considering how to implement a hybrid meeting policy for post COVID recommended and this is the policy that you'll see in the board packet. There's a recommended and approach that sticks to the old pre COVID provisions of the Brown Act that, you know, folks who've been serving on boards longer will be well familiar with where, for example, if a board member is going to take a business trip, then you would tell where you're going to be for the board meeting. That information that's put in the posted agenda and then you have to post the agenda at that location and make it open to the public. So that's the approach that's been taken in the proposed policy that you see in the packet that's been developed with a lot of input from the administration committee. A few other features of this proposed policy that I'd like to point out and I'm just scrolling down to it now if you'll bear with me. This proposed policy would make, would affirm that it's the district's intent to make meetings accessible remotely to the public to the maximum maximum extent practicable. However, it's not, it doesn't sort of guarantee remote access for members of the public. The primary meeting location would be the district's physical meeting location. And because we're not using the more complicated remote meeting provisions of the Brown Act, if the video broadcasting gets lost during a meeting, the district would not necessarily have to stop a meeting because the meeting, the physical meeting location is the primary meeting location. A quorum would be present there and the district has the opportunity to participate in the meeting from that location. So the remote access is being provided as a courtesy and not as something the district has to have in order to proceed with the meeting. I think that's important to understand about this proposed approach. And it also contains a number of provisions related to staff and consultants use of remote meeting technology because of course the Brown Act doesn't dictate how staff and consultants participate in meetings. And so some guidelines have been created around how that would occur in sort of the hybrid meeting environment. And Rick may want to speak to what the district has actually done to outfit the hybrid meeting room for use as we transition for this new approach. Well, we have been preparing two offices in our what we call the Johnson building. And the address is 12778 highway nine in Boulder Creek, which is adjacent to foster freeze to have to go back in person they operate building just as a large enough to to conduct meetings. We are doing a setting up a hybrid situation where we're using zoom technology for to have these meetings video or teleconference as well as in person. We will be setting up a YouTube account. So we can store these videos online. We hope to be ready. For the March 2nd board meeting we're still getting parts of our technology in doing a supply chain delays. We will be putting out some information to the board with the Wi-Fi address of that building and some other instructions before the the board meeting in March. So there's there's more to follow on that subject. If it would be helpful, I could actually walk through quickly through each element of a proposed policy, but I will share a mark with that be helpful. I believe I read the policy and the board has had in my mind sufficient time to look at this also. I'd rather solicit questions from the board at this point. Since I take it that we've all read this at this point. So, with that, I'd like to hear first from Jamie Ackerman who chairs the admin committee and has been heavily involved in developing this policy. So, Jamie, you want to comment on it further or any questions. I don't have any questions. I think Gina has done a good job of laying out the reasons for the recommendation. I, you know, would also say that as a as a board member who joined the board during the COVID pandemic and so under the emergency authorization rules. It would be helpful, just in terms of like, okay process. If there was something Gina that you or Holly might send the board members just feel like, okay. So, so now you have to be away somewhere here's what you need to do contact Holly and give her these three pieces of information. Whatever just like sort of a clear, you know, step by step so that we when it does come up we don't miss anything important that would make our ourselves legal in terms of hosting the meeting but you know we can cross that bridge down the road so I support this. I think, you know, hopefully it'll be the best of both situations for our community and that they'll still have hybrid access, but we'll have a little more flexibility as board members. Okay. I like your request to Holly for a procedural description of what we need to do, but also when since we understand that this is supposed to be an alternate address if if we intend to have a meeting from there needs to be part of the agenda packet. So, if you can lay that out for us Holly as board members, so that we can see that. Okay, Jeff. So, so to follow up on Jamie's suggestion and you're passing that on to Holly. I think this should be something like a checklist rather than a long bunch of long legal paragraphs. You know, step one step two step three check check check and get it done. I'm not particularly happy with any of it, but that's either here or there and I will follow through with what needs to be done. Okay, thanks Jeff. Bob. I believe you were involved in developing some of this last year. Yeah, I mean, given the fact that our legislature is still struggling to enter the 21st century. And apparently doesn't travel for business. You know when Gina laid out the changes that were made to the Brown act to support. Remote meetings became very clear that that wasn't something I could support, given my upcoming work schedule and travel and the like. So I was advocating for exactly what has come to this board, which is the ability for the public to participate remotely, as I think that is the key aspect of this particular policy change. You know, so that so that people don't have to leave their house if they don't wish to and drive, you know, half hour each way in the dark usually going back to be able to attend the board meeting and I think that is a really important part. And frankly, to me, it is even more transparent than what the original Brown act was attempting to do. So, so that's why I'm definitely in support of this. I've because I just find it so quaint. I mean, when I was in Germany participating for some reason not a lot of people there wanted to come into my room and and engage in a board meeting I was shocked actually by that. They probably couldn't read what I posted in the hotel. So, yeah, it's it's just quite quite comical actually. In that regard, I did have one comment though I wanted to make about this. And that is while I'm okay with a policy that says that, you know, the meeting is at the board facility. And that's where the quorum is. If we were to lose power or broadband or what have you on a very significant issue, like for example, a rate increase, proposed rate increase or budgets or something like that. I would advocate for a delay in the meeting unless there was some really super urgent reason why we couldn't have a special meeting or or reconvene at a later time. And I think the policy gives us the flexibility to be able to do that. And I would definitely support that kind of a decision that if the board were to make that under those circumstances. So, yeah, let's, I can hardly wait to see the room. Rick, thank you for your guys doing all this work. I think I'm the only board member that actually has participated in a meeting. So it's going to be very interesting to see all of you. It was four different people, but the last happened. So it's going to be great to see all of you in person when, when we do get back together. I share Bob's horror at AB 2449. I mean, when I read it, I was just dismayed. It's like, who are these people. They must all live in metropolitan areas and don't understand any of the challenges that those of us out in the hinterlands might have or have real lives. But I, so I, I want to compliment the admin committee and coming up with what I think is a very sensible and clearly written policy that I can support. I just would add that I think it's really important that we did this because if we'd actually followed AB 2449, I think that most of our public members on committees would have quit because the demands for them to will have to come up with that. Basically, there was some terrible family emergency as an excuse to be remote would have just been too much. So I think that this is a good compromise and hopefully most of our public members can continue to participate as we value them. That's all. Okay, thanks. On the public members side, though, I think there's still the need for a quorum locally. It's just, it does give people that can't make it for whatever reason, the flexibility to do that. Yeah, and also Gina to just to make you feel better to Santa Margarita groundwater agencies attorney had exactly the same reaction that you did, which was this was quite, quite not a workable policy to the changes that were made for, quote, hybrid meetings. So we're not alone in our disdain for this new law. Jeff.  My, my beef is with the legislature and like Bob, I have conducted global meetings around the world. I've hired and fired people across continents. Managed teams that were global. This is just ridiculous. I think those guys up in Sacramento have. They've never been out of town. You've never been out of Sacramento. I think I don't know. Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. Okay, Jamie. I just have to get on my soapbox for just a second and say that I work for my professional life for a joint powers authority similar to Santa Margarita board it's it's different jurisdictions. We have 37 board members that we have to get together in person starting next month. Whoa. Oh, good luck. That's a 19 quorum. Okay. Um, so given the distasteful nature of what we're being presented with. I don't see any way around this. I'm not happy with it either, but this is what the state has presented us. This is where we have to be going at this point. So given that I'll put the motion out there before I solicit comments from the public. We adopt the attached hybrid remote meeting policy attached to this memo. And staff included in the forthcoming update to the board's district policy manual. I second it. Okay. Do we have any comments from members of the public. Okay. Alina Lang. Go ahead. Hi, Alina Lang, Boulder Creek. Let's sit on the committee. So I had some questions, you know, COVID isn't over and actually COVID cases here on the rise in Santa Cruz County again and I'm just curious what safety measures have been put in place to protect those that are participating in these meetings or committee meetings for both of them, like ventilation, you know, appropriate room size for the number of people they're going to be there. I'm just wondering what steps have already been taken. Rick, can you address that for us? Rick, you're muted. Elaine, I'm sorry I didn't hear you. Could you repeat that please? Did we lose you already? No, I just had to unmute it again. So I was just asking since COVID cases like are again on the rise here in Santa Cruz County, like what safety measures have been put in place to protect the people that are participating in the meetings like ventilation or room size or anything. Gotcha. Okay, I'm sorry. The room will be quite large for committee meetings. The desks that we purchase are, I do believe they're two and a half three feet that we can separate so you're not bunched up. We feel that we'll have good separation. There's at least two doors for ventilation. It's a big room. In that sense, you know, with masks, I don't think there'll be any issues and obviously we'll take the disinfection type precautions. It is a much, much larger room. It's pretty close to the same size. I don't know if you've been in the Santa Marta Rita room at Scott's Valley Water. It's a pretty good size room, especially for committee meetings. We'll have social distance. Okay. Thank you for that comment, Rick. Mark Wilson. Hi, can you hear me? Yes. So I appreciate this too. As a member of the admin committee, there was a question that came up at our last meeting that I'm still a little unclear on the answer to so I wonder if Gina could just clarify this. It leaves open the possibility, at least the impression of one that a committee member could be part of a core and while attending a committee meeting from their home within the district's boundaries. And I'm wanting to understand whether that's in fact the way we will operate or not the way we will operate. Thanks. Mark, did you want me to. Yes, Gina, please. So the Brown act. Does allow when we're using the older Brown Act provisions as we are with the policy, it does allow for the possibility of multiple. Locate that the quorum could participate from multiple locations within the district's boundaries. I think to those would have to be identified as a meeting location. And the policies it's written right now does say that board committee members would be expected to attend hybrid meetings in person unless arrangements are made to participate telephonically. The presumption would be that. Board and committee members would participate. In person from the designated physical location within the district's boundaries. But the Brown act does leave open the possibility that the district could designate multiple locations within the district's boundaries from which the quorum participated gets a little unwieldy, but it is possible. Okay. Jamie, one of the comments. Yeah, I think that it's a, it's an interesting loophole. I mean, I loophole maybe is the wrong word or, you know, but I, I would want to know how much. I guess I don't really have a sense of like how much extra work and impact does this place on on district staff. You know, when people are participating from disparate locations because you know I want us to have the flexibility to do this but I also don't want to make it a burden. And so, you know, I, I was sort of leaning towards the interpretation of the policy that said that a quorum had to be together in person. If, you know, but an individual could be elsewhere. So, Mark. Mark, you're muted. We're getting reverb from somebody that's either has a radio on in the background, or a second computer. Could the participants please mute your computer devices or however else you're listening. Thank you. Sorry, Jamie. I think it was me and I'm sorry because I, there was something else going on in the background. So I think that that was coming from me, which is why it was difficult to hear. So do you need to repeat that? I heard most of it. I heard it and I guess I would dispute what Jamie said a little bit because I think we need to make it clear that we've written the policy in a particular way. To say that your expectation is that people will, you know, must show up and you have to have a quorum in one place is. I think that the way it's written is the way we interpret it, which, and we may say that we hope that there will be a physical quorum in a room in the Johnson building but that's not at all required by this policy. And so I just want to clarify that because I think especially for the case of committees, that may, you know, just, it may not be the right thing to do. I guess the other thing I would also say is that I would say let's adopt this with under the understanding that it can be changed. You know, if we after a number of months find out, you know, Holly says, Oh my God, this is just way to, you know, burden some or unwieldy to keep track of different people in different places. You know, we can come back and revisit this but I think the way it's written right now is good. Yeah, I also want to mention that I think it's great that there's flexibility for the staff I've been an advocate right from the beginning of my time on the board that it should be that that if there are circumstances staff wants to participate from home that they're able to do that I know people have families and home lives and evenings they want to spend maybe doing other things and I'm glad that this is in there so big thumbs up. Okay, thank you. And I want to reiterate what Gail said. The policy as written is what we're going by. I understand the intent of what we would like, but it's the policy is written that we will be going by. And if necessary, we will make adjustments down the line. This is going to be a learning curve since there's only one board member now who's been in public board meetings. Bob. And it was different back then it was all in one room. I attended a lot of those meetings crammed into that. But as board members, one has, so we will be on a bit of a learning curve at least for the next three or four months I believe and if we need to make adjustments down the line because of difficulties that we see, or other flexibilities that we see that could legally be built into this. And we'll go there. We're going to have to take that experiences first. So, okay. James has a stand up. Oh, okay. Question about the alternative locations that are identified on the agenda. When this does happen. Are they required to be open to the public. Yes. That's what I thought I thought. Yes. Thank you. I'm going to go to Bob's house whenever Bob's at his house for a meeting. I will be in my house for a meeting I might be in Germany. I believe that the policy does state that that locations have to be posted. Okay.  Okay. Can you take a roll call vote on this? President Smalley. A very begrudging. Yes. Vice president Hill. Yes. Director Ackerman. Yes. Director Falls. Yes. Director Mayhood. Hi. Okay. Ocean passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next item on. We received a notification from Lafko from Santa Cruz County Lafko commission regarding an election for the regular member representative. The election will be conducted by mail. There are two candidates. The first one is from Lafko Lather from Soquel Water District. And James Joseph Gallagher from the Parro Valley health care. We need to vote for one and the ballot is due no later than 4pm on March 24th. Okay. Thank you for that. So is the motion asking us to designate a representative to put this vote in? And that representative votes or are we to authorize a voting designee to execute the ballot on behalf of the two members is what I'm reading. Holly. That's correct. So we need to decide who, what the vote is going to be. And then the designee has to, and we also need to designate someone to do the actual voting. So there's two parts to this. What we're going to, who you choose to vote for, as well as who is going to sign the designee, who's going to sign the ballot. And I think, I believe that can actually be me. I can be designated as the person that sends in the vote that you make. Okay. All right. Well then any questions or comments from the board? Jeff. I don't know either of these people. So I have no idea. Okay. Okay. I move that we cast our vote for Rachel Lather, given that she's also part of a water district. Designate Holly as the person to send in our vote. Second to that the combined motion, it sounds like. Okay. Not too separate one. Yeah, I agree.  Representing. Okay. Jamie. I was going to nominate Rachel if nobody else did. So it sounds like there's a broad consensus. I concur. I don't have any questions on this. I think the motion has been put out in front of us and seconded. Holly public public comment. Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. Any members of the public to comment on this? I see none. Okay. Holly. President Smalley. Yes. Yes. Vice president Hill. Yes. Director Ackerman. Yes. Director Fultz. Yes. Director Mayhood. Aye. Motion passes unanimously. Moving on to the consent agenda. Are there any items on the consent agenda that anybody wishes to have pulled? Seeing none. We will move on then. District reports. The district managers report. I have two items to personnel items to report to the board. The first one we want to welcome Devin Jackson to the district as a new environmental planner one. Devin comes from the city of San Jose where he was a environmental specialist. He's also had past employment with the Santa Cruz mountain trails stewardship. He was a trail project manager there. Devin has a bachelor's of science degree in environmental management from Cal Poly. My second announcement is that we've done an in-house promotion of Jesse Geiber a 10-year employee to the water quality and treatment manager. Jesse's been with the districts like I said for 10 years. He was a treatment supervisor. He's been in that position for almost a year now since Nate left. He has a TE4, D4, and is a certified lab manager. So those are two changes that have been made. Yay. Well I'd like to say welcome to Devin and to Jesse. That's great. In particular the certified lab manager that's not an easy achievement. So congrats and that's great to hear Rick. Thank you. Okay department status reports. Questions on these if any. Bob you want to start? Yeah Mark did you want me to run through all of them across all reports? Yes. I don't have that many but I do scan the reports. Yeah go ahead. Yeah first question was on engineering report. Any news on the Fulton Heights situation? I can I'll let me answer that Josh. We have any communications with the property owner and we're looks like we're scheduling a meeting a week from today to tour the new site with the property owner and we're moving ahead working on that. Definitely keep us up to date on the Huckleberry Island main. Any issues with getting the easements? Well there are two different sets of easements if you will that we need for that main. One is on the south side of the river on the Howard property that they've already agreed to. We are finishing up the paperwork there on the bridge and the easements across the two breed parcels. We are still working on this. Okay on the Stewart Street main break as the county finished their evaluation of the extent of the slide and provided that data to the district. If they have completed it they have not provided data. But you don't know if they've completed it yet. That is correct I do not know. Have they given you an indication of when that might happen? They have not. Turning to the environmental report on the DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant program the application submitted in December 2022. I'm sorry what were the target projects for that one? I believe that date might be wrong. It should have been 2023. That was the recent grant that we had the board for resolution for on the tank replacements. Okay gotcha. Okay that's one of the views was that. Okay and the other one that was just submitted the 2022 urban community relief grant projects for that one. Yes maybe let me take a look there Bob. That's the one I actually think I was referring to. So what was the 2022? It says DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant program application submitted in December 2022. Is it a dupe? It might be. It might honestly have just fallen in there because that doesn't seem correct. The most recent one we submitted was the one that the board approved the resolution for recently. Yeah that's why I was that's why I was asking about it because I didn't recall. I thought maybe I was just having a senior moment. Okay no worries no worries. Next one on there sandhills habitat conservation plan. Please can you tell us that this is done? It is not done unfortunately but we do have the drafted chapters. We're currently waiting for internal staff review. There's just with all the storms and everything going on. It's been difficult to have operation staff and Rick's time to dedicate to that review of that document but as soon as they complete their review we'll be bringing it to the environmental committee so it is it is not held up on the consultant side at this point. Oh good that's the main thing that I was because this has been going on for seven years eight years. Right yeah it's been a good amount of time. It's been a long time and we could definitely use that report. Okay and then on the just a comment on the operation production comparison and this I think probably is for Rick but you know it would be it would be really great if we could get a at least for me my opinion that'd be really great if we could get a report that had the production and sales for a month on the same page and it would even be better if it was on the same graph because I know we have a forecast and an actual and if we could put production on a line on that would just be phenomenal. That way I could just kind of look at everything at once and see how we're doing relative to the production versus sales. And I think that is it thank you very much. Okay Jeff any questions? No comment no questions. Okay Gail hearing none seeing none Jamie. Okay I don't have any questions at this point yet either James. Yeah I'd just like to make sure everybody noticed that the flushing district-wide flushing is going to begin and that was highlighted in the report just want to be sure everybody realizes that. Okay thank you for that. Okay with that oh I do want to comment that during the closed session and I don't think we reflected that at the beginning of this meeting we have nothing to report on the closed session item that we discussed so the public can hear that. Okay with that I think we can adjourn this meeting without objections and I do have to say I'm sorry to say that this is our last official by Zoom meeting. Maybe you never know what Gavin's going to do. And you never know. Okay good night folks.


Welcome to the 2019 National Awards of Excellence Ceremony. I am Esther Matthew, your mistress of ceremonies for today. This ceremony has been a staple on the Nobel Laureate Festival's activities for years, and this year's theme for the Nobel Laureate Festival is celebrating excellence 40 years on. This is in keeping with our upcoming milestone of 40 years of independence, as well as commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Sir Arthur Lewis Nobel Prize in Economics. At this time, I now invite the Minister of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Honourable Dr. Gail Rigabet, who will now give you the welcome remarks. Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you all a pleasant good morning. It is indeed an honour to welcome you to the 15th National Awards of Excellence under the patronage of Governor-General Emeritus Dame Pullet-Louisey with the theme, Celebrating Excellence 40 Years On. The attainment of excellence is by no means an easy feat. It requires adaptation, determination, zealousness and commitment. Undoubtedly, these are attributes that are clearly evident in all of today's awardees who have flourished in their academic pursuits. At a time when our education sector appears to be encumbered by significant challenges, it is vital that we pause to acknowledge the accomplishments of those who have successfully risen above those challenges and have made the conscious decision to tap into their talents, abilities and the resources available to them to fulfil their ambitions. We celebrate you and implore you to maintain this thirst, this hunger for excellence. The awards you receive today celebrate your milestone achievements, which I am sure required intense and focused effort. It is important to note that while we celebrate the accomplishments of the exceptional use gathered here today, the Ministry of Education remains steadfastly committed to developing an education sector that is more inclusive and equipped with the resources to allow for all learners to maximise their capabilities. With this vision, we aim in the ensuing years to celebrate the achievements of an even larger number of awardees within more diversified areas of accomplishments. The mandate of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development is to be proactive and responsive to the needs of learners within the ever-changing global landscape and to foster the holistic development of individuals who are literate, informed, productive and civic-minded. We recognise the need to develop classrooms which actively foster 21st century learning. The introduction of smart classrooms accompanied by the training of teachers to be technologically savvy with the various learning modalities continues to be our priority in support of excellence in education. The aim is to ensure that positive morals and attitudes, likewise skills of critical thinking and digital literacy as well as a culture of inclusion, equity, innovation and entrepreneurship are engendered within our schools. I wish to stress that the Ministry's vision is to create a culture of equity and equality where every learner is empowered and provided with the requisite tools and opportunities to excel optimally within their areas of interest and in keeping with their capabilities. It is therefore imperative that our institutions at all levels of St. Lucia's education sector continue the process of curriculum reform to ensure that the natural capabilities of our learners are magnified, recognised and developed. It is against that backdrop we gather here today to salute the diverse achievements of our youth. I encourage you to continue along your individual journeys, pursue your ambitions with much tenacity always bearing in mind that similar to a circle the pursuit of excellence is infinite or without end. It is in fact a journey of a lifetime, always anticipate challenges they are inevitable. However, plan for them, embrace them, manoeuvre around them and press on. Before I close, permit me please to recognise the department and the units within the Ministry of Education, gender relations and innovation, the parents, guardians of today's awardees as well as our good corporate citizens and external partners who through your generosity and our many strategic alliances continue to provide the necessary support as we seek to further enhance St. Lucia's education sector. Today's awards ceremony is indeed a reflection of the synergies among all of these agencies and we thank you. It is also the mandate of this ministry to create an education sector where our parents, guardians, community members and corporate citizens are more actively involved in shaping our education sector and the holistic development of our youths. The banner of excellence must continually be lifted higher in schools, homes, communities and the wider society. This culture of excellence can be achieved through a change in mindsets nationally. On its own, the Ministry of Education can only do so much in catering to the needs of our learners and of society at large. However, with the active participation of our parents, communities and corporate stakeholders, the world as they say becomes our oyster. It is on that basis that I thank you for your efforts, your dedication and look forward to a sustained partnership with you as we pursue the development of an education sector that is globally competitive and responsive to the needs of our society. I once again congratulate our award recipients and implore you to continue along this path of excellence with a vision of making a sustained contribution to national development. Congratulations, well done and welcome to all of you. Let us all bask in the joy and the exuberance of our awardees. I thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, the awards which will be given today are to encourage excellence in all departments and their related activity of the Ministry of Education. The time period represented here is the recently concluded academic year, September 2017 through July 2018. We shall start with our 2018 Common Entrance Awards. This year there is an addition to this component. There will be two awards given for top performing schools which are top performing small school with under 250 students and top performing large school with over 250 students. Therefore we now invite Ms. Camillette Matthew, Registrar of Examinations and Mr. Eddie Paul, Principal of Cicero Secondary School who will present the awards on behalf of BNB Money Savers Incorporated. The top performing public school for Common Entrance, Small School, Fonce Jacques Combined, Large School, Dame Perlet-Louise Primary School and Top Performing Private School for Common Entrance, the Montessori Center. The top achiever in the Common Entrance Examinations, April Degana from the Camill Henry Memorial School. Thank you Ms. Matthew, Mr. Paul and BNB Money Savers. At this time I now invite Mr. Dale Sanjist, the Education Officer for Special Education Unit to hand out the awards for Special Education. Mr. Johnson is the Physical Education Teacher and Football Coach at the Viewfort Special Education Center. He led his team to win the District Football Championship against all the mainstream schools. In addition, Mr. Johnson has created a photography club where students with special needs are not only developing an eye for photography, but he has also incorporated this skill into the school's academic program. At this time we welcome Mr. Johnson James. Shomari Rages is a graduate from the Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School where he obtained seven CSEC GCE passes, three grade ones and four grade twos. He has consistently been an excellent student. This is a reminder to us that disability is not inability. Let's welcome Mr. Shomari Rages. Ms. Austin is a teacher at the Camille Henry Memorial School. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty to coordinate the professional development of the special education needs teachers in her district. She was instrumental in having nine teachers complete an introduction to counseling course with Yui Open Campus in the last academic year. We now invite Ms. Miranda Austin to accept her award. Thank you, Mr. Sanjis. We now move to our Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Awards, formerly known as the CSEC or CSEC examinations. For the 2018 period, 12,854 students sat exams in 33 subject areas, of which 76.47%, which is 9,830 students were successful. We will now invite the Chief Planning Officer, Mr. Kendall Kodra, to the stage to assist with the presentation of these awards. For outstanding performance in the humanities, additional mathematics, we have Kayla Z George. And outstanding performance in mathematics, Maya N. Simister. Outstanding performance, English A. Charis A. Joseph. Outstanding performance, English B. Khadija A. Halliday. Outstanding performance, Visual Arts. Rene C. L. Fontenal. Outstanding performance, Theatre Arts. Yasha K. Satney. Outstanding performance, Music. Zoe Rages. Outstanding performance, French. Kelly P. Michaud. Outstanding performance, Spanish. Kelly P. Michaud. I'll have to have Kelly do a rewind. Outstanding performance, Spanish. Kelly P. Michaud. Now for the awards in the natural sciences. Outstanding performance, Human and Social Biology. Valindel Esnad. Outstanding performance, Biology. Kayla Z. George. Outstanding performance, Physics. Matilda J. Angeloni. Outstanding performance, Chemistry. Povana L. Dalso. Outstanding performance, Integrated Science. Noah B. H. Joye. Outstanding performance, Agricultural Science. Double award, Darla Willey. Outstanding performance, Agricultural Science. Single award, Valindel Esnad. Thank you, Mr. Kulcher. At this point, we will take a break from the awards to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of Sir Arthur Lewis' receipt of the Nobel Laureate Prize for Economics.  A performance, a reading of un-being different by teachers from the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, Ruzan Alexander, and the Corinth Secondary, Trisha Kwashi, Roxanne Cox, and Shakir Lubin. He really does see a set of old papers, old papers, old papers since 19 or not. Throw that. More papers again. Sir Arthur. Interesting. Let me see this, let me see this. Well, Nobel Laureate Festival coming up, so maybe it can be useful. Let's see what it has. Make our job easier. Okay, I think I'll begin reading. Yes, Mr. Sir Arthur. A constant theme in today's West Indies is that we should stop imitating other people and do our own thing. We would be different than West Indian. West Indian, yes. But just what does this mean that is intended to distinguish us from other human beings? What? He's looking for a faster sea route to India by going west because he thought the world was round. He landed here in the Caribbean and since he thought he was in India, he called the place Indies of the West, West Indies. Missy, how can you not know that? You see, that's why we have to make history a compulsory subject in schools. Excuse me. What? It's easier to read, you know. There's a person from the country with the most Nobel Laureates per capita in the world. One of them was a master at English literature. So the ability to analyze texts in your DNA... Well, clearly she didn't get the DNA. Or maybe as English did not compulsory, the DNA did not get activated. Excuse me. Excuse me. Let us not forget why we are here. Yes, yes, yes. Now, where were we? Oh yes. What difference is the human achievement? So when we say that Westinians are to be different, we mean that they must make something different. Our achievements must be unique. And before you ask, he explains what he means there. He meant to work a universal body of knowledge. The world of many nations have contributed each building on the work of his predecessor from many nations at many times. And what has resulted in this is a body of knowledge. I can read you now. Well, read. This knowledge divides into three areas. First, knowledge of how phenomena work, which includes the natural and social sciences. Secondly, moral knowledge.  Let's acknowledge. Or how to be creative in the arts. Well, elaborate. She means to explain what the alpha meant. Zoy, leave me alone. Please, focus. Set in me. No need to let her get to you. He continues to explain. Any scientific group is bound to contribute more to the study of its own environment or its own history than will be contributed by other groups elsewhere. If you want to be a revolutionary in science, achieving some new great breakthrough, you have to understand the existing system which you wish to overthrow better than it is understood by its supporters. Not less so. Second, morals of what behavior towards each other should be. This divides into two parts. Personality and social structure. There is a distinct West Indian personality. Marked by its aggressive nature. Not all West Indians are aggressive, but it is the quality we most admire in our leaders. Well, now I know why they make you supervisor. Stop letting her get to you. What? Your hair is, hair is. Finally, I come to aesthetics. Music, literature and art are as important and part of the heritage of mankind are science and morals. They differ from science in that they do not represent what is, but are products of the creative imagination. They differ. They have therefore infinite scope for variation. And yet, they tend to be distinctly national in character. It is the very nature of the game that as aesthetics, activity, burdens in the West Indies, our art and music and literature will be clearly distinguishable from that of other peoples. So, he's implying that the only way we can be different and make our mark is through the creative arts? Yes, Miss Professor. That is what he is saying. You couldn't deduce that. I thought you know everything. Listen, listen, listen, man.  Yes, yes, yes. We shall have our own schools of painting and music and poetry and drama and all the rest. This is the essential and most valuable sense in which West Indians must be different from other peoples. This is the contribution which we all know is above all others to make the human heritage, the common human heritage.  It will come into our statesmen that they put a lot more money into the creative arts departments of our secondary schools. Didn't see that coming. But it makes sense. Yes, the creative arts subjects focus a lot on developing critical thinking. But of course. Yeah, which is why most schools are moving away from the stem to the steam in education. Steam? Yes. That means moving away from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. And adding the arts. Therefore, steam. It seems the gene finally gets activated, boy. Good points. It makes sense though, because what makes products unique are the aesthetic and cultural qualities. Come on guys, let's finish reading this. Okay, okay, let's go. As I look ahead at the evolution of the West Indies, I see many respects in which we should strive to be like other people. Like having a well-rounded personality or scientists and scholars of world repute. And the many respects in which we will be different. Like having some distinctive manners and customs. Oh, look ahead at that. Our own curricula in schools, our own applied science, natural and social. And our own musical and other artistic achievements. The main point that I would leave with you is that our chance to make something good of our own depends on our studying carefully what other peoples have done and learning from their mistakes and their successes. And this was written when? In 1957. And it's still relevant today. Yeah. And we're still there trying to figure out what to do. And here, Arthur left us a framework so long ago. Yep. Thank you, Arthur. Thank you, Arthur. You know, one thing I love about this ceremony is the fact that we get to recognize the private sector that supports schools. And that's very important. We need the private sector as well as all the other ministries. So I now invite Mr. Dawson Raghunanan, Acting Deputy Chief Education Officer, Instructions to assist in presenting the next set of awards as well as the representative from the Darren Sammy Foundation. We will continue with outstanding performance in the CSEC, CXE, Physical Education and Sports, Ms. Matilda J. Angeloni. Thank you, Darren Sammy Foundation, for your assistance and support. For outstanding performance in Caribbean history, Nisa J. Francis, Outstanding Performance Social Studies, Javerne P. Joseph, Outstanding Performance in Geography, Arizane K. St. Paul. Outstanding Performance in Principles of Accounts, Kelly R. Henry. We will continue with Principles of Business, and we will ask Ms. Berinda K. Bahia for Outstanding Performance in Principles of Business. I'm saying this student did CXE a few times over. For Outstanding Performance in Economics, Kayla Z. George. Although they're not here, I would like to thank Computer Wolves in Lucia Limited for their support and assistance towards these awards. For Outstanding Performance in Information Technology, Kaylee P. Michaud. You guys, we have some wonderful outstanding students who are all around, and Kaylee seems to be one of them. Very good, Kaylee, and the others. We thank A and C Limited for their assistance and support, and thank you, Mr. Raghunanan. At this time, we move on to the presentation of CXE awards, CSEC awards, for technical, vocational, and education training. So we invite Mr. Clovis Samuel, the Education Officer for TVET, to assist with the presentation of the awards. For Outstanding Performance in Office Administration, Crystal Centage. For Outstanding Performance in Industrial Technology Building, Devi Ferdinand. For Outstanding Performance in Industrial Technology, Electrical, Obadele Elevik. Outstanding Performance in Industrial Technology, Mechanical, Craig J. Antoine. Outstanding Performance in Technical Drawing, Kenrick C. Albert. We thank the Embassy of the Republic of China, Taiwan, for their support and assistance. For Outstanding Performance in Electronic Document Preparation Management, Tori Adonis. For Outstanding Performance in Clothing and Textiles, Zandali V. Immanuel. For Outstanding Performance in Family and Resource Management, Danika V. Augustine. For Outstanding Performance in Food, Nutrition, and Health, Jeanette J. Joseph. We're moving on to the presentation of Post-Secondary and Tertiary Education Awards. So I invite Mrs. Rufina Frederick, the Acting Chief Education Officer, to assist with the presentation of these awards. Yes, Mrs. Rufina Charles. The top performer in the Division of Arts, Sciences, and General Studies, Mr. Daniel Cotter. Mr. Cotter is not here with us today because right now as we speak and as you are sitting listening, he is presently studying mathematics and economics in France. So his dad will receive the award in his honour. The top performer for the Division of Agriculture, Tyrik James. Top performer, Division of Teacher Education and Educational Administration, Stacey Favre. Top performer of the Division of Technical Education and Management Studies, Cheyenne Quinlan. Cheyenne was also the recipient of the CXC CSEC Awards for Principles of Business and Economics in 2016. Congrats for keeping up the trend. Thank you, Mrs. Charles. I now invite Representative from Spartan Health Services University to present the next awards. Top performer. You got that right? Top performer. Division of Health Services, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. This year, there are two students who tied in their GPA and they are Talia Centrose and Hannah Rages. You see normally there is a top performer, but we have the top performers. Talia Centrose. So possibly Hannah Rages is absent. Is there someone who will receive in her absence? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Spartan Services, for your support. Most outstanding graduate national enrichment learning programme, NELU, Mr. Stephen James. The next award we would like the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms. Michelle Charles, to deliver the award. This vibrant individual joined the Ministry of Education on the 17th of March, 1994, as a receptionist. When she entered the ministry, it was located in the building situated in the corner of Meekood and Library Street directly opposite the Derrickwell Cutts Square. I don't even know where that is. Okay. So many of you may be too young to remember that as 25 years ago is indeed a long time, quarter of a century. Throughout her years of dedicated service at the ministry, she continues to forge numerous links with both the old and the young alike. In fact, she is viewed as the great matriarch. Everyone comes to for advice. She is the well sought-after councillor who counsels those in need. One of her many great attributes as a public servant is her ability to listen and empathise with fellow colleagues and customers. She is a true professional. Despite health challenges, her resilience is akin to our very own massive tree. She perseveres against all odds and executes her duties regardless of excruciating pain and discomfort. She goes over and beyond her job description to assist with the administration of the ministry's many services to the public. She is a devoted and loyal employee, colleague and friend. She is truly a stalwart who has worked with numerous ministers, permanent secretaries, chief education officers to name a few. Moreover, the Ministry of Education has undergone several nomenclatures that she has experienced them all. Without a doubt, you will agree that Miss Gertrude George Charles deserves recognition for her long dedicated service at the most auspicious event. So we now welcome Miss Gertrude George Charles to the stage. Wow. Just a small stature with big responsibility. Like they say in Jamaica, she's a little but she's a stalwart. You go, girl. This other recipient entered the service in 2000. Over the years, she has become a popular and central figure of policy and administration with all those who have worked and currently work in this Department of Education. Her popularity has soared over the years due to her calm demeanor and willingness to lend a listening ear to all those who especially needed a respite from the pressure cooker environment of administration and other units within the Department. She goes beyond her call of duty and extends her helping hand by performing secretarial duties. Her contribution can be described as priceless, as she ensures that those who occupy the offices of policy and administration are at ease in a clean environment. It does not matter what time, how long it takes, or who occupies these offices, she has remained committed and invaluable to the smooth functioning of the section. Her easy banter has made her an extremely pleasant individual to work with and the troubles of the office can be perceptively reduced for those who have actually taken the time to know her. Her kindness has left an indelible mark on those who have passed through these offices and the warmth which she is greeted by those individuals is testimony to the worth she has held and continues to hold in their estimation. Let us welcome Miss Angela Felicien to receive her awards. In theatre, there is something that we say there is no small part. Everybody has a major role. And this individual entered the public service on a temporary employment mission in February 1980. In October 1984, he was appointed as an office assistant one attached to the Registry and Correspondence Unit. He was then promoted to office assistant slash driver in October 1999. He has given over 35 years and is undoubtedly respected and loved at the Ministry of Education. During those years, he has shown exemplary behaviour which is not only characterized by his regularity and punctuality but by his nature. He demonstrates honesty, commitment, cooperation, dependability and is very conscientious in carrying out his assigned duties. He has played an integral role in social activities and was a member of the football team and supported other sporting activities such as cricket, netball, etc. These are the qualities that we as public servants should all adopt for the betterment and advancement of our department. He is well deserving of a long-standing award and so we welcome Mr. Philip Sinclair. Thank you, Ms. Charles. At this time, we will invite the representative from B&B Money Savers to receive a token and we also have an award for outstanding corporate social responsibility by an organisation, the Embassy of China, Taiwan. I know their representative may not be here but I think I still have to give them their accolades. Apart from being a partner with the National Awards of Excellence programme for the few years, the Embassy has also partnered with the Ministry with its ICT related initiatives as well as providing annually, sometimes up to 15 scholarships to St. Lucian's to further their academic development at the tertiary level. Let's thank Embassy of China and Taiwan. At this time, I would like to invite the Chairperson of the Noble Laureate Festival, Dame Pallet-Louise, to join us on stage to give the next award. The top performing school, CXC CSEC examinations, the St. Joseph's Convent Secondary School. The school obtained 100% rate in 20 of the 22 subjects students sat at the examinations and achieved a pass rate of 99.44%. Thank you, Your Excellency. At this time, I will re-invite Miss Michelle Charles to deliver the next award. The top performing student for the CAPE exams, Miss Shania Joseph. Shania placed five originally in Unit 2 of the French exam. Shania, does she have a representative? Thank you, Miss Charles. At this time, I would like to ask you to focus your attention on the screen while you view the year in review. To invite Your Excellency Sir Neville Snack, the Governor-General of St. Lucia, to deliver the next and that award is for best overall performance at the CXC CSEC examinations. This student topped the island in CXC chemistry history and was in the top 10 in seven of the subjects she sat for the examinations. So we now welcome Miss Povana Aydalsou from the St. Joseph's Convent, another all-round student. Our young people are doing great things. Thank you, Your Excellency. As the matter is about to be concluded, I want to say to the students, in fact, give them the advice of a pirate. Pirates can advise, you know. I believe it was Francis Drake who said, there must be a beginning of every great matter, but the continuing onto the end until it is finally finished yields the true glory. And I want to remind them of what the great poet said. I'll say it in French first. For those who love French, il y a de les affaires humaines un mari montant. Con la saisisse au passage elle mène à la fortune qu'on la marque tous les voyages de la vie ces prises dans les bas-fonds et dans les détresse. Teller la pleine mer sur laquelle nous flottons à ce moment. Il nous fait suivre le courant tandis qu'il nous sert ou ruiné notre expédition. There's a tide in the face of men which taken at the flood, this is the flood, leads on to fortune who mitted all the voyage of their lives is bound in shallows and in misery. On such a full sea are we now afloat and we must take the current when it serves or lose our venture. Thank you, this is my advice to you. Merci votre excellence. Merci. We will now invite Mrs. Sophia Edward Gabriel, the Acting Education Officer at Camdu to present the vote of thanks. We know the Governor-General did do a very good one though. Your Excellency, Sir Emmanuel Neville Snark, Governor-General of St. Lucia and Lady Jolita Snark, Honourable Dr. Gail Rigobert, Minister of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Benjamin Emmanuel, Your Excellency, Dame Paulette-Louise, Chairperson of the Nobel Laureates Festival Committee, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Miss Michelle Charles, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Corporate Partners, Ministry Officials, Awardees, other invited guests. Thank you for coming here today to celebrate excellence by our students, teachers and employees. I would like to say a special thank you to Dame Paulette-Louise and the Nobel Laureates Festival Committee for their continuous support and commend them on this year's program. To our Corporate Partners, who contributed significantly to the awards and who continue to provide support to us, the Embassy of the Republic of China, Taiwan, BNB Money Savers Incorporated, Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Computer World, Financial Investments and Consultancy Services Limited, Darren Sammi Foundation, ANC Limited, and Trophy Center, we thank you sincerely. To the Mistress of Ceremony, Miss Esther Matthews, you did an excellent job. Thank you. We also want to thank everyone else who contributed to the ceremony, including the students from St. Joseph's Convent for leading us in the National Anthem and Mr. Cyrus Cipal for leading us in praise. Our ushers, men and ladies in black, thank you for contributing to the prestige of this ceremony. We express sincere gratitude to the Communications Unit and the Government Information Service for their measurable support to recording of the event and to post-production. The recording will be aired on NTN in a few days. A special thank you to our teachers who performed, as well as those who provided support in stage management. And we also want to thank the schools, students and teachers who were involved in catering for this event. You will get the opportunity to sample what they've provided shortly. As you see, this event has been an opportunity to showcase the many talents of the various departments of the ministry. Your hard work and dedication throughout the years continue to contribute to our development and success. And without you, we would not be here today. So we want to say thank you to everyone who has come to share in this experience and celebration. And thank you for continuing our journey with us. Thanks. Indeed, you were a wonderful audience. Thank you once again for coming. Have a wonderful day.


Well, it's day number 412 We're still here No, it's actually day seven. I think on the overall seven or eight seven Eight, I don't know. We're doing really well. We got Brandon and doobie for I think we got them for a half day today So we're gonna push pretty hard this morning Try to get as much done on the top of them ladders because none of these three guys in here want to be on the top So that's the plan for today, Stevie's gonna make another great pot of coffee and we're gonna get after it Yeah, well, I'll show you guys around camp One stove going in here Stevie's cooking up some Rock yet coffee over here. It's my specialty. Yeah, right Yeah, you got bed there.  Yeah, yeah, donny. How you doing this morning feel pretty good. Good. Yeah Late one last night. Yeah late for me eight thirty-quarter nine We'll put a push on today. Yeah. Yeah, this is the last to wrap Think we can get our clothes up. Oh, yeah everything with windows and doors today Yeah, maybe we might not get all those in today. Oh, oh, you think we might get into one of them We're gonna get these two in for sure. Nice. Yeah We're definitely gonna get these in because they're heavy Donny grab Brandon's keys. He said we're getting these in before they Yeah, this these are heavy No, that's why we got to put the push on Yeah, he's probably leaving like two o'clock, so I'd say he's got to get on the roof I'll help them cut the trim. Yeah, they got to put up that other Overhang you cut that trim with them and I'll cut the gable end wall wall with Stevie or or uh, yeah, or this guy John Or do be or whoever Or maybe I'll take do be actually Somebody's gonna have to get up in the It's when I tap out. Yeah You did good yesterday you were up on the frigging ladder on top of staging Oh, you didn't get on that ladder We didn't go up there yesterday. I looked up. I said how you planning to get up there and Brandon said Step ladder, I said, not me Yeah This episode you may want to switch That's what I started with After this job, he's switched over to Carpenter There's a half one for everybody and two for me and Stevie Come across the bridge no tires move two tires Hit something the road and I didn't see it I know for well, that's what happened a pallet or something was nailing it Call and text me and said he found some bait right outside of Bangor I was like, oh, yeah, I was like you get off the boats afternoon We'll run up and grab it outside of Bangor. That ain't nothing. You know a couple hours We got to Bangor and he's like, yeah, we're going to Whitefield. I was like I was like, I know my way around There ain't no whitefield around It's around Tower 40 type in the GPS where we had it. He's like, yeah, I was like, yeah, I had my 35 foot gooseneck and Jesus, I didn't think them barrels weighed over 400 apiece. They were heavy They got he had a rig like a few mushroom anchor that he put right on the forks of his tractor And he'd put the bait in he'd take this mushroom anchor squish them down in the air out of them That's biggest thing with donuts if they ain't packed tight, they're gonna mold fast They won't they won't take it you get them got to be in so high that you got to chisel the bait up So anyway We bought 40 barrels. We put 18,000 on the deck and gooseneck my cheese this truck and Going on I was like me and calling something feels weird. It feels like this thing's right on the ice I was like something I know are heavy, but I was like something weird And I hit my tire. This is like 9 30 10 o'clock at night hit my tire thing drive aside front driver side rear Pulled over that turn around right before the Verona bridge Got jacked out jack the trailer up picks into the truck out. There's some heavy Got that tire changed calling got a hole somebody from triple a Guys like that. We you know, we're busy. That's not calling it. I told I was like calling just tell him We need a fan pump. That's all I need. I was like you put I got a plug Just plug that tire get out of here. We got the other we took the spare and put it on the worst one Was this in the middle of night? We built midnight for triple a showed up. We got home. I think we got home at 2 30 a quarter three We had to be on the boat at four You go do Brandon's on your side. I could tell over for now But we'll we'll put it in while you're roofing Yeah You need the staging right we probably will oh, yeah, yeah, they ask him to throw that window and throw the window right in Hi Well, yeah, we'll cut it out get ready to put in then yeah before we move that stage They had me multitasking Yes, this was a little bit bigger than the other side sweet you guys charge extra for a window window installation Yeah, usually you get your Milwaukee tape back.  I'm short. Thank you. You see that now I cut it off at 36 and spliced it back. Yeah, I sure taped you I Can come this way No You've got to come to you Brandon hit it. Oh on the end you need a hammer because we're gonna box it in If you need more you can't hit it my way more I think yeah It'd be coming down right? How much can you go? Whatever you want Donnie? How much you need? Yeah, I think you got it's coming back down donnie. Are you saying? Yeah, I think you can come my way Let's throw this on the deck up there. I got the nails to Maybe grab that ladder for showing so we can get that car a little bit of Stevie Went some more than that keep going. I mean, I don't if we're boxing that in I don't even care Oh Can somebody look from in the law TV's in the law. Okay. He'll give it with shingles if you need it. It's level is level can be right now Let's just hand it to do be and the right to do be Put a bottom on yeah Really All right, we got the soffit board trim in We'll vent that after with some three inch round vents Got a gun up tight For a good Google review on the food I know the accommodation work. We weren't expecting much more than two three times Well, yeah, thank you guys enough you put us like years ahead of schedule we're gonna hate to see you guys go I know it perhaps Side of that house never saw any rain That's pretty dang good. That's impressive. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's great That doesn't happen very often buddy's building house, you know, it's a good thing you met these characters ice fishing Here's the gross because now I know even more of them There's a whole clan of them. We're just the first four But If you thought they have a phone there if you are running close just go home. Yeah, I will. Yeah, I don't what time is it? 2325 yeah, just in case Yeah, can't thank you guys enough. Yeah, you see my phone that was Am I down if we find anything Thanks again guys Yeah Thank you, they don't come much better than those guys That's for me. I'm sure you know because they got to go pick up stuff to go to a job first thing in the morning They don't make them like that Down east well, well, well they're dropping like flies now. We're about to lose one of the best ones Sean is heading home. He snuck out a couple days ago didn't tell the lady where he's going to go see Joe And now it's time But John we can't thank you enough for all the help I know you guys I don't know if you guys recognize Sean from ice fishing videos But Sean owns jack traps and you've seen him a bunch of the videos in the store And you've also seen him on the ice with me some really good Actually, we had two really good videos coming up that we've been keeping in our back pocket and Sean's in both of them So stay tuned, but Sean we can't thank you We're looking for some awesome memories up here with you just future fishing. It's what we're doing You pretty happy with it We'll see you guys later. Yeah, thanks again really really really appreciate it my pleasure our money That were great Absolutely Okay, well we got all the windows in Stevie just button up the last window We got our one door in We're gonna we came up with like a used door that's Doesn't make any sense to put in on this nice building It's kind of a stupid looking door. So we're gonna get rid of that thing And we're gonna regroup and down get go downstate when we go we need to pick up a few more items And we're gonna pick up a nice door for the front here because you can't put this much work and effort and time into something and Then throw in a piece of junk door It's it's pretty important to put something decent in so we're gonna buy a nice door and And we'll put that in we got a little bit of work to do with these screens, you know, these are all used windows That we got super cheap so we'll do a little work on the screens and Other than that We got our pretty well weather tight Yeah, pretty awesome couple days Got all the cedar the v-match ready for the bedroom and a little bit beyond right here and First I got to put down that snap floor and I think the next stage is gonna be to We're gonna measure for the wood stove And get that boxed out to come down through the loft And then I'll do the snap floor and at some point and then we're gonna put the install the wood stove And run it for about a week here just to make sure everything's good and dry before we insulate and then it's insulation time We got to put a floor down in the loft And then there maybe I'll get to that v-match and at least in the bedroom For the cedar and decide if I want to do cedar a pine for the rest of the building Well, donnie, what do you think? What day is this? No, that we've been working on it. It's seven legit days not you know not counting the day really. Yeah, I Can't believe seven days you got to place up water tight Quite amazing Had a good crew. Yeah, we couldn't have had any more people have been walking over each other I think but The only person we really missed was Pat But he had to work just when we needed him But anyway, it's gonna be a great great camp the leaves have fallen when it's coming And we don't give a damn We're closed in we're closed in yeah, I really want smooth we really didn't have to rebuild anything here. No Not many injuries just had one injury on last day I had a little mishap with a plank in the ear Took it off side of the head Which is good because it my shoulder doesn't hurt as bad geez God, but otherwise pretty good. Yeah. Yeah, still got all our fingers that we started with And the weather for the last two weeks have been just awesome. Yeah, we got a few small more things to Finish up we're gonna get a new front door and we're gonna add a little bit more Hemlock decking and other than that. I mean, that's it Yeah, and then after that it's just picking apart if we want to do some foreign Yeah, let it dry out then do some click floor and do some v-match and I got all the cedar v-match right here Ready to go in there. It's quite a charge of it. Yeah, it's like good stuff, too You know reasonably Good good for This use for sure Yeah, I'm doing a quick walk around inside. Yeah, I'll do a little walk around We're ready for our wood stove At the metal bestest home right at three ceiling Well for if we want to use that big 16 inch wide pine woods There's our foreign Leave some tools windows But that's what she looks like pretty amazing Just the layout that's all


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