call the meeting to order. First on the agenda is to approve the agenda that needs to be amended or are we good to approve as written? No, we're good. Move to approve as it meant as written. All in favour? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. All right. And first up we do have an appointment there. Chuck Davis is on the Zoom portion of it in regards to his interest in the health officer position. Can you hear us, Chuck? We can't hear you. Oh, perfect. Oh, and we can hear you fine. Oh, great. Great. I take it you made it safely to Boston. So Chuck had sent a letter in here expressing his interest in applying for the position of town health officer. Obviously his letter says as you know I'm a retired physician with more than 30 years experience in health care in a variety of settings. He's familiarized himself with the town health officer manual, did not run away screaming and is still interested after looking at the manual. Hey, at least you got to look at the manual before you. Some of us got thrown right into it. Oh, really? Are you the current town health officer? I am. Yes. Oh, you are. Oh, okay. My condolences. I had done some under the deputy portions of it a year ago in some of Neil's absences, and then when Neil getting done, it defers back to the chair of the select board until it's filled. So currently in its role, it's myself, and then Paul has been deputized as the other. So I think what we're looking for, obviously, is to have a citizen fulfill the needs of the town health officer position in a full-time basis. And I don't want to talk for Paul, but I think at this point Paul would continue to be the deputy help out. I know I will graciously step down because I have other stuff that's going on. But I don't know how much information you have on it, Chuck, but in the capacity that I've served in here a month, here in a month there type deal, obviously it's probably one of our more important appointing positions in the town. There's often lots of issues that happen that have to go or run through the health officer at some point, anything from someone eats something bad at the store to most recent we've had some bite, either animal bite type things. Some parts of it can be COVID related as we've had most recently. And then the most common is usually a tenant owner complaint in regards to living conditions or type thing. So those are anywhere from, I don't know, I've been to it the last month, maybe? Yeah, I think so. And Paul just became effective May 1st, and he just got a, I put something in his packet today for somebody faxed us an animal bite form. So I put that, gave that to Paul today. I'm taking the oath, yeah. Yeah, okay. Because you had, Chris did.  And that was just a animal bite, well, one animal bite and then one potential tenant owner type issue. Usually the wintertime becomes a little busier because you deal with like heating issues and things like that that need some attention really quickly. But I guess one thing that we are curious at, you know, Chuck, if you do end up doing it is documenting the time. And that's why we most recently changed it to an hourly instead of a stipend position just because we'd like to know a little bit more time or a little more information of what goes into the health officer's time. You know, as they say, make it up. Is it a four hour a week position or is it a 10 hour a week position or is it, you know? I'm just kind of curious on that. They also wanted paperwork to start coming to the town office. Some of the forms actually say to go to the town clerk and they hadn't in the past. So I think, Pam, we were going to create just a file drawer so things wouldn't have to be stored to anybody's private residence. They could just drop them off and we could file them and then have a better, like, yeah, then have better history of understanding exactly how many hours it takes to do the job. Okay. So I think that would not be difficult to add. It's not difficult to maintain a time log. I can do that. And not that it prevents you from moving in a year from now or something that comes up life-wise, but usually it's a three-year commitment. So once you submit your paperwork into the state, it's usually cycles on a three-year cycle. Right. That was contained in the manual, right? Yep. And the appointment, if appointed, it would begin June 1st. They only do them at the first of the month, as we recently found out. Sounds good. I have read the manual now three times. It's pretty comprehensive and it also has links to Title 18, which is much more comprehensive than even the manual is. So I'm comfortable with all of the information and I feel that I'm capable of carrying out the duties of the health officer. Sure. Yeah, the manual does a really good job outlining different possible instances. The state themselves, there's a couple of contacts to the state directly that if you ever have any questions when you're going through the process, they're really helpful.  There's usually others that can help you. I would just have to clarify what the working relationship would be between Paul and myself to make sure that we're coordinating and not overlapping. So we'd probably have to sit down and have a meeting about that, about coordination. Yeah, that's on an issue. I'm sure we could get together. You'd be the lead beagle and I'm the helper to assist. My background is more construction and contractor type stuff. My medical knowledge is only what I've gained over the past 70 years. So it's like... Yeah, probably, but yeah, we could get together at some point in time. Work all out the logistics. And so if you each would be required to submit a time card to get paid, so I think that you set the rate at $25 an hour last week. So if you want to be paid for the position, you just need to submit a time card other than that. If you chose not to do that, that's your choice, of course. And we would just ask that you track those hours again just so we could add them with your hours. So at the end of the year, we'd have an idea of what we were looking at, make sure the budget was... We know we had a proper budget and that sort of thing. So it sounds like, so even if we move forward with a motion for Chuck that we would still, for the month of May, that I would still be the health officer in charge, okay? Yep. Nine days late, Chuck. I apologize. I'm beginning this within a month. Yeah. So does anybody on the board have any questions at this time? I just have one additional question. Do you want me to fill out the Town Health Officer recommendation form for you guys, or is someone going to do that? I have it right here. So when you come to the office, if they point to take your oath, I would have you fill in some of it, but since Chris needs to sign it, I will have him do that tonight and then leave it out front with Kelly, so you could take your oath and complete the rest of the form and then we would get it to the health department. Okay. And that oath cannot commence until the first of the month, right? I have to wait until the first of the month for the oath? Yes. Okay. So I'll come in on June 1st and do that. Yep. And then you'd get, yeah, and then in the mail, you'll get your certificate and some other information. But that's got to go in now. Well, this will, yeah. We'll put this in. So, yeah, when you come back to Bethel, if you swing in the office, this just requires your, but we could actually, your full name, email address, actually we could fill this in. And then the select board has to bring in a brief statement, notice noting them why they believe that you'd be good at being a health officer, Chris has to sign it, and then so we can get that done. I'll leave your oath with Kelly. It usually takes about 10 days and you'll see something in the mail from the state.  So then, so that would be the only thing is what phone number you want. Some people only want their home. Some people don't want their cell phone number. I haven't had a landline for years and years. I just have my cell phone. That would be fine. Okay. All right. So we'll make note of that just because I just want you to be aware. Once you put the information out, it goes out. Great. Yes. And you don't have to put out your email address if you don't want to. You could just do your cell phone. Do you have a preference and what's out there? I can do both. I maintain my business email, which is Charles S. Davis MD at Gmail. I can use that as the town health officer email. Say that again slowly. What email did you want? It's my name, Charles S. Davis MD. Charles S. Davis MD. Yep. At gmail.com. Okay. Perfect. Yeah. We just like to make sure because once it goes out on that website as Chris Jarvis knows it takes an act of Congress to get it off. No, it's more than that.  All right. Perfect. So somebody would need to make a motion. I'd make a motion that we appoint Chuck Davis to the position of town health officer. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you, Chuck. Thank you very much. We'll be in touch. All right. Thank you so much. Have a safe trip home. Thank you again for your service. Yes. Thank you. Bye. To have to be in blue ink. I don't know. Listen, guys. So last week you were doing seconds. Now you're not doing seconds. Throwing out. Yes. Do the Julia. You got to get your train before she comes back. That's true. Yeah. That's right. We'll blame Linda because she's not here. All right. All right. So we'll open it up to public comment. So if there's anything that's not on the agenda this evening that you'd like to comment on that would be the time. Nothing. Don't have anything for us. Ellie. Gotcha. Okay. Anything out there? Jesse's only one. On zoom. No public comment for me. Okay. All right. We'll close public comment then. And we'll move forward to first item of the night. We have first glass liquor license for a cockatoo pizza cafe. So obviously there I explained the situation that he had. Jeff had left his liquor license. I with him. I had not realized that he had done so when I he came in and I spoke with him in March or April and I did not realize he'd left his liquor license with her. So because we had a discussion about status of some of their accounts. So anyways in here as you can see in the manager's report they have a payment plan and they really said that the lack of liquor sales is affecting their business. So obviously they want their liquor license approved because what happens is since it was as of May 1st they have to you know cover all the taps and can know what can be. I did give him the opportunity to send an email or to attend via zoom or in person if they had any else you know anything else they want to add and but I didn't receive any information from them. I know we had talked about maybe it was six months ago there when I had thrown the question out there in regards to you know what powers do we have at the time of liquor licenses to talk about accounts and things like that. And we found out that we actually do have some power at the time to make sure accounts are up to speed and things like that. And you know I think this is the first example that we've had since that discussion of of a liquor license coming before us with some with some rearage. You know and I guess I think my feelings are is this is a good example one for us to use where I mean I would like to see us approve the liquor license but I also would like to see it contingent upon or or or the business owner understanding that you know next year at this time if you know if this isn't caught up then this may be a different discussion that we're having. You know this is one of only you know a few tools that we have to get accounts up to to speed and you know I really thought hard about this this weekend. You know because some of the comments made was you know we had covid and you know business is slow and this and that and and now that I'm on the school board I've been talking about you know how can we bridge some of what the school is doing with the town. You know how can we make the ball fields busier so that you know when the ball fields are busy then people are going to buy gas buy food you know downtown.  Toasters open and I don't know if staffing shortage is an issue for their hours that I don't know I didn't have a conversation. I'm just saying no I know I'm just saying when somebody raises a question that it's business is slow but they're not taking full advantage of the opportunities that they're getting. I kind of have an issue with that. Yeah. When it comes to we owe money we need a liquor license. Yeah. You know type yeah. And they did agree with payment plan and that they would be and hopefully she would you know obviously pay it off sooner we went through the balances owed and exactly what they were and and taxes and that you know their main payment was also coming up and you know so we did talk about it. So I have I have a question I ordered a beer that last Friday and I got an earful instead which is fine but they own several properties evidently. They do. And does our ruling just impact the business or does it impact all of their accounts. Only the one that the liquor license. Okay. I mean that was a that was a question that came up in our conversation and I did want to I thought that was fair. Yeah. You know I had spoken with Jeff when he came in and gave him exactly what was owed water and sewer explained the process that the slack board is the local liquor liquor control and that they do not have to approve the liquor license if there's a balance to explain that I didn't realize at the time he left his license. I thought he just came in and so I explained it to him and I had assumed you know maybe someone would make a payment and do something and then he came in when I was out looking for his liquor license and then Pam approached me about it when I returned and I I didn't realize she had it was an oversight of my part I guess and hers miscommunication. So then I spoke to Jen staff she called and I said you know it'd be on the agenda for Monday night explain the situation apologize and we talked about the amounts and I said you know when Jeff left in March he knew exactly how much was owed and they had not made a payment since February. So I'm like you know I had assumed when he left that we would be receiving check and I said you know I can go to the slack board but you really need to agree to a payment plan if you have any hope of them possibly approving your liquor license. I said they're not anti-business but this is a tool they have. Yeah so anyways so that's where I said this and they actually agreed to a payment plan and hope to you know get it paid off quicker. And you know by all means I mean I'm a thousand percent business related but it's but you gotta you know take advantage of your opportunities and in this case I mean we have to understand that you know if you are not current on whatever it is if it's taxes or water and sewer it affects everybody doesn't just affect you it affects everybody everybody pays into this pie. So I'm fine with making a motion to move forward with the approval of the class one liquor license. I just hope that there's a discussion that has had with the owners about the expectancy that this would be cleaned up by next year at this time so that hopefully we don't have you know the same conversation but. Just texting Linley to make sure she's all right. All right. So I'd make a motion that we approve the first class liquor license for cockadoo pizza. Okay on favor. Aye. All right. Just one signature page. Yep. Yes Dave. Yeah. All right. Cover that camera for a minute. Yeah right. Yeah. I was just Jesse is saying I'm bugging them weekly to be open later and Sundays. Yeah. So I had a really good nice Jesse. You know maybe this is for something down the road but I've had a good discussion at the school board level of like you know obviously the school owns the ball fields right you know maybe someday maybe that changes or something but you know how do we the ball fields aren't as busy nowadays because the high school isn't there. Yeah. So you know how can we keep those ball fields busy because those ball fields being busy like let's say tournaments and having different sports come in to do training camps and stuff draws business right you know gas sandwiches pizzas and you know everything else. So that's going to be one thing I want to work on with the schools. How do we make this attractable in it on our end would be getting the business owners to want to take advantage of this and it just kind of really irked me when I drove through something and I was like you know ladies sitting there where their kids wanted to get you know sandwiches you know and then you drive by and there's like there was hundreds of people down there. Yeah those ball fields are busy from two or three weeks ago all the way until the end of summer. There are stuff down there every night. If it's July because they were but the other thing too is on the flip side of it is we are they don't charge much to allow them to play down there but what will happen at some point is if they come in to spend the day and they can't get food and stuff then they might seek elsewhere right you know where's a place that they can have those amenities too so but just like. Yeah but our rest but the eateries that we do have have to be able to get staff or they or they have to pick another day during the week when they're when I mean I'm just I'm just I can do what they want to do but I you just the last year in the downtown if you want to get something to eat on a Sunday Monday or sometimes Tuesday there is nothing open for almost three days down here you think maybe there would be some coordination where all right Salad shops going to be open but the pizza place is closed or you know like I said it's like they're just closed and you know I don't I don't disagree it was Monday it was Mother's Day it was soccer stuff I mean there was just so much opportunity I was like nothing's even open so I remember the old days when Jim when they owned it I mean that thing was open on the weekends it was hopping you know it was Saturday Sunday Monday you know yeah football time you want to have a pizza with your football and you can't get pizza you know it's like all right I'm not gonna poo poo on them anymore but it just irks me when we had this I drive through and I'm not kidding you there was like 200 plus people down at the field I mean there was just so much opportunity to do stuff yeah down at the fields and I know when my cousin was here from Maryland we wanted to go to cacao doodle on a Tuesday and it was closed so and like I said the snowmobile thing was one and I know just going through a you with my kids and stuff like we go to these tournaments in the small towns and like like there was like one sandwich shop open and there would be like 50 kids in line to get a sandwich like you know that sandwich shop just made more sandwiches in one day than they did probably the whole week prior to that so there's good opportunity and this would like to see continue you know and then we have next is request to increase cemetery plot prices by the cemetery commissioner well it's pretty straightforward the cemetery prices include four corner stones and perpetual care he sees was asking that the rate increase be effective immediately and he said the price for corner stones is increased increased obviously along with the cost of perpetual care so these are the current prices and then that's his requested increase when was the last time that any price increasing or years this is one of those things that's been kind of dated oh yeah remember we've ever had one yeah does is that go into a perpetual care and fund that endowment type thing or they have the cemetery money is all separate I mean the town pays for mowing cemeteries out of the general fund budget but their money the cemetery has their own you know check it account where all their money goes into for all the you know plots that they sell and it's hooked in somewhat with the trustee of public funds too because some of the endowment some of the will stuff is part of the cemetery upkeep to Calgary for example you know some of that money goes toward the care of his families did I guess the one thing that wasn't in here and I was is how how do the current prices or the requested prices line up towards neighboring towns or yeah I was trying to figure out where the where the baseline was you know I think I mean cemeteries are different every town some towns the town runs the cemeteries and takes care of the cemeteries some places like here in Bethel there's a cemetery commissioner that oversees all the cemeteries I think each town is different I'm not sure how much continuity there is so he made the request he's never I didn't I hadn't heard of a one in five years and I'm not before that I asked him I was like when would he's like I have no idea seven years I've been on the border never one yeah so he just said that what triggered it for him was the increase price in the corner stones so I said this is what you want he said yes this right well a lot of cemeteries you don't get the corner stones yeah basically you know you could put a headstone some cemeteries are restricted even to small just small markers I mean I gotta think knowing Cecil that he's probably done his homework I would assume so he made and he wouldn't ask for an increase if it wasn't absolutely I was surprised it was so small frankly once he told I mean corners just owns a loaner like a hundred and forty dollars or more now so I was surprised well I just started thinking of this just like when we were looking through other fees honestly no permitting fees that were like twenty five dollars that everybody else was like 150 you know and I was like there was such a gap yeah I have and I wondered if this was like the same deal is is the average plot a single plot thousand dollars and we only charge in 350 you know like we can certainly have Kelly yeah so that if he wants to do another rate increase in a few you know in a year so he cannot he came with a request I said we could approve this but we could ask him to see how it see how we compare with yeah maybe it's like you were saying maybe it's another one to examine here anybody have any questions in regards to the requester no we approve we approve okay motion to approve all in favor all strong half not today all right Cecil thanks and update on Pinello bridge design so I'm not gonna go through the whole thing I just I didn't give you I gave you the pages that I thought were pertinent to your you want to do obviously the bigger thing is page nine so we're and the page nine in the final page where I gave you the the integral bridge design so obviously it's you know one million it's a million dollars and remember we're on the we are we will be on the hook for twelve point five percent so we were meeting last week and that and Chris bump has been very helpful what I know about building bridges you could write on head of pin so we've gone through this and still kind of find the cheaper price here and so we're going to be doing the integral bridge design at first we thought about coming in with something that was already precast and just kind of put in place and that was obviously going to be very expensive we went back and forth about guardrail systems and what was required of us as far as guardrails versus the current you know roads and standards that we signed because you know if you're building a state highway bridge then the guardrail system has to be able to stand you know bigger trucks and things like that so I was concerned that if we didn't build to a specific standard that and then you know something happened to be reliable so we talked about it as far as our you know standards of what we had for bridge design and so we did not end up going with the extra you know bridge rail because obviously the main thing that goes over there is a truck to plow and you know fuel truck getting up to the Pinellas home we also stayed with the original went back to the original design original location so that we could we don't have to create this big you know hump to get from Gilead on to you know the bridge so the way that this thing will be designed is if there's a flood it will take out everything around it but this bridge will be standing the way that it's in the river right now yeah I'm telling you what they're saying you feel free this is what they're promising me and in the river now there's currently a pad concrete pad like a scour pad and that will be taken out what if we pick alternative number one which is do nothing right then you're is that you're going to suffer penalties we well I just do this because of money that was used will eat whatever we have into it so we will get nothing from Fina we will pay phb we will all the design fees we've got so far we will pay for all that will pay for out of pocket the original to remove the original bitch and put this in but we're renting that bridge from the state and they want it back so do we have to give it there is two years we don't have that baby bridge only we well we've gone past that because of COVID and some other stuff they've allowed us to go over that time frame we've asked for an extension and we'll need another extension which they'll hopefully grant because we're already in the design process will bid this winter and this will go in next spring or summer so we don't really have a lot of options because that's not our you know Bailey bridge or maybe bridge so you know 12 and a half percent of this is what I'm going to remember we know we had a big meeting 25,000 miles it is so we'll have 130 which and I will say I don't we wouldn't have engineered and purchased a Bailey bridge for that price it would be more than that and the other thing too is let us not forget that the Pinellas came with a whole parcel of residents from Gilead who wanted this replaced and upgraded and I'm not sure how long we have to maintain it if it may be five years or so you may be up the road or something but I know we are you kidding I this has been a process and I know going at this thing for I know we've been our hair out so anyways I just wanted to give you the update of where we were and how do these prices how do they reflect the current market and she just gave us this I'm assuming that these are have been done over the course of months she she just did this I just this report is I know that figure might have been there no no it wasn't it was not no because I mean a lot has happened in the construction industry in the last just 30 days yeah exactly well she she just she had updated her numbers recently but obviously by the time we go to construction next fall our next spring I don't know what it will be exactly but this is her estimate you know right now I know that I'm just hoping yeah exactly this number here reflects today and we're also hoping that they'll you know they're also looking at other design option to possibly reduce our costs a little bit so but it's hard right in the ball same ballpark I think our discussions that we've had over the last one or two years and a half now has been that we were thinking we would be on the hook for about 125 thousand or something like that roughly yeah so I guess the two questions I had written down was one well is this price reflected of today's current thing and then the second was kind of what Paul was saying which was you know how much do we have into it now and what does do nothing mean yeah do nothing is not an option I mean we can't we don't own the temp maybe bridge that's there the state will not sell it to us I have asked repeatedly if they will sell it to us and they will not so could we just squat on it well it's also time they won't kick you off it he told me that especially especially dirt between November and April I'll be able to do anything right he told me that it has been that it's also slated for I know it's not going back out again either so this isn't like one of those bridges that it was new and we might have stand a better chance on so well I think we also nothing is not an option I think one one discussion that we have talked about prior that we'll have to have is is what do we do going forward once there's a new bridge in place so does it make sense to the town and I think there's been other cases similar to it where we have a million-dollar bridge to one or two parcels of land yeah does is that I think that what that's like was that sustainable for yeah I think what the select board needs to look at is you know some of these roads that you know we really need to talk about throwing some stuff up that really are more private drives to one home or two homes then that we're maintaining so that's definitely something that we had talked about doing and and I'll make a note that we can work on that but anyways I just wanted to give you an update they'll be more you know obviously numbers a little bit harder you know numbers down the road we did myself Chris Bump Kelly from the HB and then generic his name escapes me so when would this go out to bid oh this winter this winter mm-hmm so anyway so we'll have more day I just want to let you know I hadn't talked to you about it in a long time I I deal with it but just wanted to give you an update that's what we're looking at so far and and I you know obviously we've talked about kind of you know trying to reduce the cost so hence the rail system will be a savings now that we don't have to do that so it's gone to FEMA has received this information and it was actually a larger packet that's gone to FEMA and for Andrew to review and certainly there's less humps you know hoops to jump through here and homes to get over since we're going to go back to the original location so they don't have to raise some no the H&H study because of the way they'll be anchored they'll be alright yeah but now that we're going to take the scour pad out that's in the river that's going to be helpful too so that'll buy us a little space there so it'll be a little bit higher but she said that she had worked with the road engineer at the HB to make sure that when they know that the access to Pinello is okay so you're not going like but over some big hump to get to from Gilead so it should be fine because that was one of the concerns originally was we were going to have this like coming down coming down that quick is flowing right toward the above and it's not right and then it turns there yeah so we've talked about that I've said letters to the Pinello's and to Dr. Christine Pinello she's the owner now about you know you really need to talk to someone by dealing with your issue up the river the scour issue on their side of the property and I'd sent photos and things and given her names of A&R places she could contact to see if there's money available to help her that that wasn't something we would assist with I was going to say that you know if you look at upstream from there that's what yeah you know there's a lot of issues but one of the largest issues why the bridge did get washed out was because of the erosion of the bank on that property and it's just the way it changed the car itself but again I mean it's hard to police the river too you know yeah well and that you know they've seen trees coming I know that someone who lives on Gilead had also sent them emails and photos of some trees and that had come down saying you know you're really losing that bank so and they're aware of it I've sent letters and photos and emails too so okay so we'll see something again here in early fall yeah early summer yeah all right and Board of Listers request for pay increase for a board chair well I was meeting with someone when this got put on my desk Louise dropped it off on my desk and then I didn't get a chance to follow up with Judy who is the chair as I was Jean trying to get my packet out late on the day on Friday I talked to Judy this morning and said okay look I have printed out your budget obviously her and Mo are working regular hours which is great and they're doing trainings and I had talked to her about this Judy and Judy said that she did not need this pay to be retroactive that she had not requested that and that if you wanted to make it effective like July 1st then you know she was fine with that her self or you know either starting it now or July 1st she didn't want you to feel any need to make this retroactive and Judy is the chair of the district. I had heard that there was a difference with the pay increase. I had never heard that. First I've heard that. Me too and I asked Judy about this and where is that written down I said she makes sound like well somewhere in a manual molester's office but obviously they're elected officials but it's nothing that's in our personnel policy nothing that I had I said I have five years I have never heard anything about it so and that was the question I had and I think I didn't know last we had talked to the listeners when we went through some pay probably a little over a year ago was more on their experience for the position yeah this was her we had talked about you know why somebody was a 16 versus an 18 or you know yeah because of their experience that's right because I don't remember ever there being like a chair not I didn't know they had a chair now along oh yeah they have they always have a chair difference for them because the last one we did was in one one 21 and that was when Judy received the increase and then remember also Mimi because she'd kind of had them this graded Lister one Lister two and so that was the last increase but today I got to speak with Judy and Judy's like hold the phone and the good news is they're making regularly of regular office hours it's so much easier for people to get you know in touch with them and so anyway so Judy but they're also at 111 112 which she said they have savings elsewhere in their budget but yeah that's part of you know new Listers and training and but it's I think it's great that they have regular hours because that's good to see two people in there that answer questions and yes and very committed so I would like clarified if the if the different is because of experience or whatever or is it because the chairperson gets paid more they were clear Louise was clear and I asked Judy about it today apparently there's something that written down in the Lister's office and that the reason that they feel that the chair should make more money is because they chair all the grievances so and not if it's not like we have hundreds so when so when did Louise stop being chair Louise stopped being chair to remember when you got the notice a few months ago because Judy in July first last year well right and then they gave Judy a raise because she fell on on sorry tongue tied January 1st 2021 Judy got a raise and at that point she was not yet the chair of the Lister's so at some point in the last July 2021 she became oh sorry I said oh I'm sorry Paul okay sorry so she was chair July 1st thank you Paul I misread that so but anyways apparently that's a thinking because the Lister's they all participate in grievances but the thinking behind it is that because the chair of the Lister's board you know they have to go through grievances and that was their thought I'm not sure because they all go through grievances however it's apparently just been a policy of our Lister's since maybe since Louise has been a Lister and she's been a Lister a long time but again it's not a policy I've seen or heard of and Judy did say it existed but again there are elected officials just like you guys so short Judy is saying now July 1st you know she's certainly fine with that she because it's nothing she's asking for to be retroactive the reason I'm asking is because the pay is for the position not for the person right so I'm still not clear when she if her current salary is 18 she's been receiving that since July last year no she no she received a just a raise on January 1st 2021 okay she received a raise that and at that time Louise was still there and that raise was based upon her her level of experience yes right right exactly so when Judy became chair she did not get an increase and they Mo and Judy chose not to that point so you know they're both you know the increase in January of 2021 was I would say sizable it was and remember at the same time it was also Mimi got a raise to $18 an hour for someone who prop their job is probably as important if not much more important than the health officer that we just agreed to pay $25 an hour it's true you're right I mean they're talking about the grand list they're talking about how we do our taxes now we get paid in this town and we're talking about a $7 an hour less and we're quibbling over that I think we're just clarifying okay well I'm hearing it back and forth but yes back and forth five time that's quibbling in my opinion here you go well I will say that you're you're absolutely 100% correct the entire state runs off the grand list that's how school taxes set that's how everything so it's a very important job it is a very important job I'm not disagreeing with you I'm just trying to figure out I want to make sure we're paying for the position to be at whatever level we decide rather than Judy or more or whoever the person in it and if the chair is compensated more because the person is the chair then I think that that needs to be reflected that is reflected here but if it's not and I agree it well I think I think that maybe the motion what the motion needs to be is not so much for Judy but it would be to it would be to increase I guess that the thing that I have right now is the formality thing so regardless of what we're paying the person do we actually have something in writing or voted on by the board somewhere that said that the chair gets an extra dollar I don't know that I don't so I'm thinking the motion should be that we approve that you know as of this day or whatever that you know or you know effective you know may may night through 10th that you know that the chair gets a dollar more an hour and then if Judy is in that capacity or whoever is in that capacity and then they automatically get it right that's a good way to work that and then and then we know that we've gone back that if there was something written down somewhere or not voted on that at least it's in stone right that's what I'm getting that yeah yeah I'm okay with this with our request does not say that they want to give Judy a raise right they want to give the chair yeah exactly and that's I mean they're just they did say Judy became the chair yeah right the question is the chair received an extra dollar per hour so yeah I see no problem with the way it's worded okay so someone wants to make a motion and pick an effective date to approve that as of blank well when when is your payroll running right now currently just did it today so it would be effective so today is the first day of your new we already submitted it for pay nobody I understand so today is your first day of your new this is the first day yesterday was the start of a new pay day pay week okay so then I would make the motion that effective the 8th right yeah May 8th yeah because we missed the pay yep okay and then I would just think going forward that whoever is the chair it's just that's great automatic and you know doesn't have to come back before the board right yep okay all in favor all right so did you just make that motion yep okay moving on okay all right and again you know the you know we may have to re-examine some of the appointed and yeah not appointed positions once again going on in the world make sure that we have things that are apples to apples bring up a question that I'll forget if I don't say it now has the IRS adjusted their mileage number yet January they usually adjust it for January yeah nothing no and it had gone I mean gas has gone up 46% yeah and I think that yeah I just paid 375 and I got 70 cents off sometimes they will make it an emergency or change I remember one year 2008 or whatever when we had that big jump they made one like that went into effect like July 1st so you may see something come down with that but not as of yet but everything I mean just the last two months everything has gone up I mean I hear every day on the news that it's gone up 9% inflation was like no way there's no way it's 9% like everything that you're buying right now is up way more than 9% are you kidding me but you know I think it would see something so security big phone all right so we got the Lister stuff done and American Rescue Plan I can hear you fine yeah you're good okay so because I missed I missed the April meetings that you had that so I'm not not sure what the status is we're still we're still mulling it over we had to we did a lot most recently was the federal guys who came out and said we should take the $10 million standard deduction so that's what we did and we had to make a motion to do that and we had to file our paperwork by the end of the month of April which we did and we are you know still kind of taking input making decisions about what to do with some of the money some people would like to see us spend a little bit on updating the town's website we have some plans to hopefully replace some the sewer pumps that are at the end of their useful life that would probably be about $120,000 also there's a large generator that at the base of lower church street and for the sewer that's also in the same position that means you know to be done then it would be something that would you know buy 30-40 years and wouldn't affect the sewer water rates for downtown so we wouldn't have to borrow money for that the other thing we're talking about is putting money obviously was not a great month season and to put some money into the roads because we've had you know we're just behind and so that's something that would also benefit a lot of people and make it easier for people to you know have access to you know to town so we're doing some money to help the downtown it's sort of a lot of rates then it would be nice to also do some roads but we have a specific amount of time that we have until we have to obligate the money and then we have to have to spend within a couple of years so are you going to have a committee to the slide board is the committee yeah so we've been on every agenda we did so we've been kind of keeping track of notes to see what people are you know interested in seeing it going on and because it's the slide boards they'll be the ones who have to decide in the end we're applying for a large grant to replace the sidewalk from in front of John and Janice Giffords all the way to the school we just did find out that that ARPA money can be used for that so if we're in the right time frame we'll be able to use our match offset it with ARPA money with this is American Rescue Plan money so it's going to depend on the time frame if we can um if not then we will use the money for something else. Is the Giffords the brick house? Excuse me? Is the Giffords the house? Yeah yeah yeah I'm sorry yeah yeah okay could could it go to any recreation things like um we have we applied for the land water conservation grant and um for and we were awarded that yes we could um get that grant for 25,000 and we're working to we've been doing fund raisings and to match that could any of it go and help us with that match so that we we would um be able to do the 25,000 please. If the slide board chose that as a priority it could because the money can be used to provide any governmental service that we already currently provide so if the slide board felt that that was a need that was um and they wanted to use a portion of the money for that instead of something else um it's really in the end it's going to be a priority of of urgency right because you know we could use it for it seems like a lot of money but we all know that there's so much need so but we'll certainly add your request oh sure yeah would it would it go to anything like the pool needs that that again it could it just really you know depends I know that something we need to get a price on of course and the other thing is too is the good news is in the end if the depending on how the slide board you know ends up spending the money it still helps us even if we put it you know sewer water roads or website or do some of these things with it it still frees up other money that we no longer now we have to spend on the roads or we don't have to spend on other capital projects so but I will definitely write down um so you're looking for a land water match yes and what was that how much did you need to come up with um we're working on coming up with twenty five thousand okay and then also make a note and again you know the real clincher is the time frame because you have to obligate the money by a specific date and you have to spend it by a specific date so I'm very happy to add keeping a list okay so if we had like um any other um ideas like um a um um a coordinated system for um a database for um to link all the volunteers from all the committees would that be something I mean I suppose in a way I mean I guess maybe because it's a you know it's to be used for any service for that the government currently provides I guess I would have to do read a little bit more into the final rule before I would comment on that um but obviously I think that the select board is looking to gain major ground with this um with this money whether it's roads or um you know matching you know maybe a larger grant or something like that so um but I'll make a note about that two database sorry. I think Ailey we had when we first um well received or knew about the money coming it was at that time it was very strict from what we were gathering at that point it was very strict it had to be used for XYZ which was you know water sewer um so we were broadband yeah right or broader right um so we had already in the pipeline some projects that luckily that um that we had been working on so we started thinking about that's where the money or the matches go for that and it's only been recently recently being two months that we have found out that now there's you know you know now we can kind of open that up to you know to include services that are already currently rendered but it's still kind of a really gray line so we're still trying to interpret what that gray line is right and so now I think what we've talked about the select board is how can we best partner that money towards either grants that we are in line for may have or can pursue but it has to be inside that timeline not just to um to design it but to build it so um so that's kind of where I don't think we're rushing into any judgment on it other than you know there are some things that we're going to be significant hits on either utility rates or taxes um you know like pumps generators and things like that at a very price that have um or over have been over their life expectancy um that now is kind of a relief because now we wouldn't have to potentially increase those rates um but now we you know we've went through a really bad mud season and now we're like you know is there opportunities of roads is there some opportunities to partner with some of the grants so you also have to go through the federal procurement process as well so even though they said you can take it in and it could be our money we have to spend it like it's their money so and you can't use it for a match for every single grant but originally they only wanted to give it to us for broadband and new sewer and new water infrastructure and we're like come on we need to save what we have and so it's been this particular thing um and um so we have to have the money obligated I want to say it's December 2020 December so so you're thinking you'll be taking ideas until December no we'll make a plan before that but we'll certainly we're just keeping it on the agenda for every meeting for the next couple of months I'm actually waiting right now because somebody is working on a um road construction plan for us for a seven-year plan and so I've been talking to the road foreman our new road foreman that just started you know a week ago or two weeks ago and um talking with uh Ryan Slack who helps me as as like a assistant road commissioner about making a bigger plan we finally just got the price last week of the generator and so just trying to lay out what all the need is and we do know like I said website is one of them um and roads and the sewer you know sewer pumps sewer generator um we even looked at possibly whether or not the roof on the sewer building needed to be replaced and so we're just trying to look at things that would take a real hit on but I'm sort of adding all years to the list so we leave it on every meeting so that people can come with ideas in case somebody missed a meeting it's we just leave it on okay like last week or last meeting was Gary Cougler and someone else and put the money into the roads so um you know but like I said we're just keeping a whole list of what we have so I'm going to add yours to that. Oh thank you because you know we like to do recreations. Absolutely yeah absolutely and um is it tonight or tomorrow night you're having the wreck the wreck there's a meeting. Did you watch Gary came in? There was one tonight. It was yeah okay he came in because he went away so I gave him a spreadsheet to help him so I don't want to know was there blind so I explained it all to him so okay. So and I and I had suggested that we include the uh Bethel for all that we think about if there will be matching funds needed to implement any of the Bethel for all stuff. Yeah and we're just really not going to know because. And we won't know that but that's that's a potential as well. Right because I think the steering committee like goes until this December and then Dubois and King once they get to their plan and the trans accepts it then my understanding is we'll have because we've gone through the better connections process we'll have a bunch of grants that are not a bunch of we will have the ability to apply for grants that we may not have been open to prior right but the good news here is just for arguments that we spent every money on roads when the better connections comes available we're going to have more money available to us in the capital roads on all of that yes that would not exactly so it helps the whole picture in the end so right now so time frame was just trying to build this back in my head here so I mean we obviously have budget season that's going to be coming up in you know yeah late September October November so are you thinking that we would make these decisions September right around budget season yeah is so yeah because by then I'm hoping to have the capital road plan I'll have I have two estimates so far we have you know we have we may by then have some understanding of the pool cost which we don't right now we have Ellie's amount we can get I want we need to get a price on you know redesign stuff of the website so by then we will have more data so you'll be able to make a better educated choice okay so we're kind of still taking input so I'm just saying in the meantime Ellie you know just work with Theresa these are her things which you know or any of those ideas and we can okay and it will stay on the agenda I leave it as I and Jen the items will be on every meeting you know September whatever till I make a decision I'll leave it on every two weeks so somebody that way it's just very accessible for people and not to come up they think about it and people have been good they've emailed Kelly called and see me said hey what about this or that okay and budget season is coming you know yeah wishlist time and you know filling out your Christmas list and see what you want to get and not get the cost of the pool so that the rec committee can make an idea on the appropriation request so that's something we need to that's like her and cats but right we'll get there so I'm trying to come up with that that number to see like if we tore it out and gun I did the whole thing what would it cost you know to replace and then place all the piping so we will have to get an estimate and we'll probably cry I'm crying already yeah I'm crying already I know it seems like it for since 2010 that pool is needed this amount of money this amount of money I know I know and then still need the adaptive and like I'm not you know access to access to access to access to access to access to access to access access and to access access separation every year come Wednesday you're gonna wanna be in the pool say come Wednesday you're gonna want to be in the pool because it's supposed to be much more clarify that's right yeah just the time for the mosquitoes everything else Yeah, I just wanted to comment on our but I really appreciate that you're putting it on the agenda so many weeks I guess I really would Request or ask is there a way to open up the process even more though? Because I think a lot of people have no idea that this is even happening as much as they can come in In part, you know conversations with Ellie and a couple of rep committee members who didn't realize this was even a thing Well, we did send out we put out invitation Personally home posters and flyers, and we put it on front porch forum and Facebook and the town website And we certainly can make that push one, you know multiple times, you know people don't read the agenda and stuff It's difficult, but we did we made You know we did posters and everything to get the word out No, I understand but I think as long as the only opportunity is to show up You know our they can call the office they can email any of us They need not any select board member. I mean we were just trying to get you know get the information out there And so, you know what we can we will certainly continue to do that I'll have Kelly design something more to keep putting out there, but you know Yeah, I think that's how we've said it for is just letting people know to call But we'll have Kelly work on a better post I think that's wait one thought that occurred to me just talking with Ali is if we could even get word out to each of the town Committees that you know, this is a question to consider are there things you're working on that might be Worth putting on the table and then I know a lot of towns are Appointing committees and they're generating kind of a project options list and then running that by the community again To make sure people really get a chance to have input on which of these should bubble up to the top as priorities It sounds like they're You know a number of core projects that really might make sense But I think it would mean a lot to be able to have that choice I did want to just share a few things that have come out being I'm so glad you brought up the better Connections grant and Bethel for all because we've been able to gather so much input from people over the last few months through Survey through forums through walking around town and doing walk surveys etc And there are definitely a few things that are bubbling to the top having just gone through all of those comments It is worth noting we don't have firm recommendations for the plan yet But I think we should have a pretty good list by about September So there may be a chance to at least know what's going to be in that plan the whole plan has to be done by December But for now I can just share a few of them that I think are bubbling up to get on to the table and just know These aren't personal recommendations for me. This is really just what we're hearing so Information is probably number one that people are just realizing there's so much amazing stuff in Bethel and happening in Bethel But they don't know about it. So I think town website would be really important to consider for that reason We did get vorac funding to do a town-wide way finding system design a system of signage so The design part will happen, but there's no funding on the table to do the signage that might be something to consider I think signage is one of the number one things again that we've been hearing from people would be Right but right will fund the design it won't find actually doing it It will in fact fund even accessible design making sure that the design we come up with will meet ADA specifications and really work for people Um So that's one category I think just because we've been out on the streets doing so much of the walk survey findings lately that one really bubbles up And in all the different events and activities we've had Just being able to walk around town and bike around town more easily is really coming to the surface So amazing that you're applying for the grant to do that sidewalk section. Yeah There are so many smaller things that have really bubbled up That's what's been really eye-opening to me how there aren't too many sections that need a massive grant in Massive overhaul, but there are a lot of sections that need little repairs And those little repairs are for the little problems I should say are a major barrier to somebody who's trying to get around In a wheelchair or with a mobility challenge So I don't have any idea what it would cost to fix any of those or to think about it systemically Yeah, and to go even simpler. What's really emerging is just the need for more regular maintenance Of sidewalks. It's just sweeping off the sand that accumulates and causes the tripping hazard or Making sure That you know, the sidewalks get cleared Sooner after a major snowfall so that people can get through Designating an actual accessible accessible parking space So, you know looking at capacity I don't know if there's a solution there in the ARPA funding or something to consider around town budget time There's already something in the works for town budget time and there is handicap accessible parking Downtown obviously I had the email view. We don't have the paint or the stencil for the ground But the signage is up. So there is not all mainstream. I think the only one is here is the only one is here there's I thought there was one by um I thought it was by Across from the street from the store, but no, I guess I thought No, no, they're not they're not It's only up here. I can find it. Well, you know, we'll find out because d and k or john capillan give us the information but um, so yeah, I need for regular regular maintenance that we know and and of course too with um You know sidewalk clearing that sort of stuff. Um, so yeah, we actually do have a plan to address that And that's great. But yeah, so thank you And then I guess the other category I just throw out is a capacity one again But thinking a little bit more toward economic development and community development so we had Trip Muldrow an economic development consultant in town in the fall And doing a market study those results are really just Or we're part of the presentation. So you'll be seeing the full study soon But one of the biggest findings and takeaways even anecdotally was just we need someone available who people can call if they want to start a business downtown Or I need some help or something like that, you know, when we were organizing the events in the fall I got several emails from people saying I can't be there But I'm really interested in opening a business or doing this and I don't have that You know what would be great is to do that on the certainly on the website to encourage people to call Either, um, you know greenbound economic development tours and the secretary of state has an amazing website on all these resources For people to start a business and I know that small business administration used to have retired business Folks that would come in and meet with people. So I do think that tying into the website is having some really good You know, hey if you want to start a business in Bethel and then link into evolving loan fund money and and then all this You know stuff available for people to start a business It could I think what they're actually looking for in this case is local information that we don't have though And I know your stuff is so stretched to recent the office. You don't have time for it Um, you know even looking at how much grant funding is available in the next few years I think because of recovery there's this huge opportunity To take advantage of it as a town to have committees applying for more grants to be helping businesses grow But it takes capacity. It really would take a person to be able to help coordinate some of that So and the problem is too is it's yeah as if you could share somebody that maybe did some economic Build for another town and I don't know what two rivers offers to you paul for economic development They have a staff member Yeah deals with all that that's a good point because I was talking to somebody the other day we've got five new businesses in town in the past Few months And it would be nice if somebody would go, you know, we could have an article in the herald trees could be shaking hands and Chris could be handed an operator's manual And do a little pr and I talked to yeah new in the neighborhood Yeah, I talked to kirk white about it to see if that's something that bri might get involved in and he said they're more than not It was more a bba. Yeah Function when the bba was Going but then but it's cycle and also maybe you need to fire up the bba again It could yeah, because I mean a couple of the companies Any doesn't matter anybody whoops a shop in town or to get a thank you. How do you do his picture of the paper? Absolutely. No, I think that's true. We did talk about that a while ago doing Some people didn't want to restart the bba. They wanted to do something different And I talked about just even an economic development committee And um, but we're having such a hard time staffing I can't even get anybody on the planning commission. We have we're trying to staff committees now And we're having tough time with our existing You know committees, but yeah, that's one of the things we had talked about and it wouldn't nice have you know More information to contact out there and it's difficult too because you know, what's your priority if You know, if I had to prioritize, you know more staffing and human resource, I mean I have things that would Prioritize over that Just because of the need because we're you know small in your Figure it out, but I added it to the list Yeah, I think you know from me firstly what I would hope is that we think not just about need but about potential impact An opportunity or could we leverage this funding to attract more that could then support some of the other Part of it is to some of the basics and we also know we're obviously still waiting to see how the state is going to get The bipartisan infrastructure bill and to see how that money is going to trickle down But obviously better infrastructure allows better business too. So if we know sidewalks and Roads and you know the ability to deal with stuff as far as sewer and water helps Also, you know, it's the unglamorous side of making sure that businesses that come here can stay here So but you know, so I think we're We all kind of want the same thing So anyway, so I have all your notes, so we'll add this to our list too We'll make sure we get you full compilations of ideas that I'm sure there are more nuanced details in there Yeah, I gave him a copy of the plan that um You know just the the one that we put out for um That didn't have a specific business needs the accessibility Yeah But no, this is helpful because they haven't had an update on the better connections I guess we talked about originally sending someone coming to report what we haven't done that. So we did Yeah, I'm happy to do a quick one. If it makes sense. I know that's not in this agenda block So that that I did your workshop. That was really top notch. That was that was really done I did give the select board this for Thursday. Yeah, I did And that workshop on Mayday was tip top Yeah, right. We had 50 people. Yeah, it was good. Give us more information. Yeah, it was really good. It was good I do think we want to be very careful that we Use the ARPA funds for things that are one-time expenditures And that's always a problem with additional staff You you engage staff and then what happens when that funding runs out Right And so I would hope that whatever we're doing That those are one time One-time expenditures. Yeah, not something not something that's good. That's you know going into the court Right Yeah, I mean look, there's a ton of need.  You know, what do you think about? Yes, it's so It doesn't go as far as it used to You need a half a billion Then we'd have something at any rate, you know, there's Yeah I think there are cases though where You know, if you put a position in place part of the job can be raising funds to continue the position or leveraging I I agree with you I'd suggest that before that we Join together with some other communities for a climate Coordinator And the experience with those is that they have saved money Yeah In the long run so it's There are arguments to be made pro pro time All the way down the road anyway Well, we'll keep looking at it and You know, we'll decide here in the late summer early fall You know, we're our best money That's spent for our buck, you know, type deal, so And we appreciate everybody, you know input and putting time into Coming up with different ideas that can better our community. So So thank you Well, thank you for all you do All right, anything else on the Okay, anything left on the town managers report Um No, no Nope Good Thanks, rebecca. Thank you. Okay. Thank you Then we had the select board meeting minutes So we'll just go through them one by one make it easier. So we had the Meeting minutes from the 25th of april, which was the normal select board meeting any Amendments to that. Are we good to prove it as written? yes, dave Three Date change, uh, lennie meek wanted to remind people that june 24th to june 2nd Oh Thank you. That was what the 26, I think 26, I think or 27. Yeah, I'll look. Okay, two six or two. Oh good. Yes. I was typing away I wasn't sure if Is lenny the name that he prefers to use? Oh, I don't know.  I don't know. I had a cousin He answers to both. He hated the name lenny. Oh, that's funny. And he responds to both, but yeah, I'll fix them But I'll fix them. That's a good. That's a good point. Thank you any other Changes Okay, all in favor. All right. All right. You good with that gene? Yeah. Okay, and then uh the may second Meeting Any changes to that? Are we good to approve it as written was lindley there? No. No. Oh, okay I move their adoption was written Okay, all in favor. All right And we did not have a whole lot of meeting minutes in there this time around EIC um had theirs In there Oh say so he has june 23rd 24th 25th 26 23rd. Yeah, that's what he says pride faced update june 23rd 24th 25 26 in his minutes So I guess I'll make mine 23rd. Yeah, I thought he said 24th through the 26. Me too, but So I guess I'll Make it match there, but I'll double check their email their post on their website Sounds good Any other business to come before the board before we head into executive session And we won't be making any decisions after executive session, so We'd probably pull on for another time, but All right, so I just need a motion to enter executive session and discuss The evaluation of the manager and discuss Negotiating or securing real estate purchase Of potential property on church street So moved Okay, all in favor


driving down Ells Road in Hampstead. This is the road that takes you right to the town beach which is called Sunset Lake, also known as Wash Pond. If you haven't been to Hampstead lately, you might be surprised to see how much this has really developed over the course of time. On this little parking area here it's by permit only and I don't have a permit. So here I'm at the entrance and of course they've got a little warning sign here saying not a public boat launch. So I probably won't be able to put my lovely kayaks in here. I have to go somewhere else to launch our kayaks. But the beach is pretty empty and not a surprise. It's late in the afternoon on a Sunday and even though it's a beautiful sunny day, it's a little chilly, a little windy and time of the day in the fall. This is a little bit shadowy here and makes it a little nippy. So here I am, I'm standing at the shore of Sunset Lake also known as Wash Pond, Hampstead. We're fishing out there. You can see some properties probably a lot of people, at least those that are here seasonally, have probably already pulled their docks in. Sunset Lake's a nice little lake in the town of Hampstead and the town maintains this beach for the residents. Of course you have to get a parking permit which I don't have. So it's interesting it says no boat launch but I see a trailer sitting here I'm gonna have to check into that because I'd like to kayak and I'm not too sure where I should put my kayak in then. Lovely fall day. I'm coming around the corner Sunset Lake to my right. Most of the properties on this side have water rights. Some of them put little docks out across here and obviously they put their boats or they sit there and they watch the sunset coming up across the hill a little bit.