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Swanzey Select Board Meeting August 26th, 2026

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You are watching a Fact TV presentation
of the town of Swansea.
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>> Heat. Hey, Heat.
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All right. Okay. Then we'll start.
Hi everybody.
So I guess we'll open the meeting
officially. It's 4:30. Um this is going
to be a public meeting on the West
Swansea pump station design development.
Would I say that right, Terry? Right.
>> Okay. Maybe we should start off with
just a quick introduction so everybody
knows each other. We This is the select
board here.
>> Jay Ward,
>> Bill Welker,
>> Jimmy Chesta, Mark Leville,
>> and we have Sue over here is the minute
does a fine job. And who do we have
here?
>> Terry Dearis with Underwood Engineers.
>> Yep.
>> Uh Ryan with Underwood Engineers.
>> And we
>> and Sarah Rapture.
>> And you guys are
Okay. All right. So, we'll give you the
floor there, Terry, and you can talk a
little about what's going on with the
engineering part of this. Thank you.
>> Great. We uh we appreciate it. Um
looking forward to this project. It's a
carry on from the wastewater treatment
facility planning study which was
completed in May of 2026
uh earlier this year. Uh you might
remember that that was a deesf funded
planning study that looked at kind of
the condition of your existing
wastewater treatment facility and
whether or not there was benefit to an
upgrade of that plant to meet future
permit limits. Um one of the
alternatives that were reviewed were
converting that pump sorry the existing
lagoon treatment system into a pump
station and redirecting that to the city
of ultimately to the city of Keen for
treatment.
So as a result of that study um we
brought our recommendation forward in
the May time frame or it was a little
bit before May but the result of that
was that it was much more much more cost
effective to convert it to a pump
station and redirect your flows to Keen.
Um, following on with that, there was
some discussion back and forth with the
select board and the water and sewer
committee ultimately um agreed with the
approach and I think the select board in
the June time period uh recommended
moving forward with the pump station
approach. So following from that there
was um you know this this project that
we have now is to further develop the
engineering side of this concept. There
were some comments that came out of the
study from the state and they said,
"Hey, there there might be some other
other options here in terms of
alignments." Joe had been looking at
some different alignments. I think the
select board had some ideas on different
alignments. So, one of the parts of this
particular effort is really to look at
those other alternatives.
Um, and what you get from those is
essentially is there a lesser cost
approach or is there a better approach?
So, we'll talk about those alignments
this evening.
Um,
separately to the engineering side, the
town submitted for a pre-application to
the clean water state revolving loan
fund. So, we refer to that a lot of
times as CWSRF
and the state um once all those
applications are received
identifies and short lists projects that
will potentially ref receive funding.
that happened in July and um and was on
and this project was on the list for a
little over $1.6 million. So that is not
the total cost of the project. The the
project cost as a whole was over $19
million. That $ 1.6 million would cover
the design phase of the work.
So that happened um or is ongoing I
should say. They submit an initial
intended or project priority list that
goes through a public process and then
it gets finalized and
>> it is final now.
>> It is final. Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you sir.
>> So that is final um and it is still on
the list.
So right now uh I guess just on on this
slide just at the bottom is the the
meeting tonight um to kind of kick this
off at least at this level get some
input and run through the proposed
alignments and what we have to date. And
if I could just add to that too, just to
refresh your memory, that the town had
some ideas about the different
alignments. And the reason why we're
looking at several more of them is
because the requirements that would uh
potentially eliminate some funding if we
didn't pursue other cost effective
options. So that's why there are four
options that we are looking at and it's
not narrowed down to less.
as far as the scope of work for this
particular um contract. So it's we
referred to as design development
um it's kind of a middle ground between
the concepts that we looked at and then
we're going to we're going to look at
these additional concepts and then we're
going to develop the recommended concept
further. So you get somewhere between uh
conceptual design and a preliminary
design in this effort and as as Joe
mentioned it's critical to the the
funding side of things as well. So I I
won't go through the four different
options in detail now. Ryan's going to
actually walk through those in schematic
format in a moment. Um but after we go
through and identify the specific
routes, the conditions associated with
those routes, you know, the the
alignment, the um different
infrastructure they have to put in
place, whether there's more than one
pump station or not, areas where you
might have to directionally drill to go
underneath rivers, uh areas where there
might be rock, you know, we have to
factor all those items into the proposed
costs, the capital costs. And we're
going to essentially develop a a
comparative cost that includes capital
operation and maintenance and then a
full life cycle cost. So that allows you
to have a nice comparative estimate with
these four different concepts.
Um we'll carry on the conversations with
Keen. You might recall the option that
was presented in the planning study uh
discharge to the Keen collection system
up by market basket on route 10. the
section from that point out to 101 had
to be based on our conversations at that
time had to be upgraded. So there was a
significant cost included in there for
that that effort. You'll see in the
proposed alignments some of those we
have two that go in that direction,
other two go a different direction,
different complexities,
but all those will be factored in. But
regardless, we'll carry on the
conversations with the city just to
confirm capacity needs. Um and then at
the end of this first set, we'll have a
recommended conveyance route which will
get further developed um into more of a
closer to a preliminary design level for
the recommended version.
[snorts]
So in that preliminary design kind of
look of the recommended version, we're
going to be looking at things like the
high and low points because you need
certain infrastructure for a sewer force
main at those points. We'll be looking
at how we construct this in a way that
allows the hydraulics to work for the
pump station. This is a very long force
man, so there's going to be a lot of
consideration for trying to stay flat
underneath
lower high points that you can avoid,
you know, so deeper excavation along
different points. Um, as I mentioned,
there's a couple alignments that have
river crossings, so it's going to
require likely directional drilling and
some infrastructure on either side of
it. Um, most of these routes have
different types of gravity collection
system within it. So, you're
transitioning between force main, which
is pressure pipe from the pump to a
gravity back to a force main. um and
that that can pres present some pros and
cons because generally you can connect
to those areas of gravity. So there
might be some benefits to that. Uh odor
control will be a consideration and a
cost that we we look at for these for
this uh alignment. And then there there
may be other things that we don't yet
know uh that that we'll have to uh
consider and can't necessarily identify
at this time.
And then in addition, so that a lot of
that focus that I've talked about to
date is all about the the force main
routing from the pump station up, but we
still have to look at the pump station.
So in the in this phase, uh this
preliminary design development phase,
we'll advance the work at the treatment
plant, which would be the conversion to
the pump station. Um, you know, we'll be
talking about how we deal with rags and
control of those types of things up
front as well as the pump station layout
itself and then how to accommodate the
infrastructure for the surge protection
for that type of system. So that'll get
incorporated into this this this
version.
Next slide please. And then um we we
have some other components to this scope
of work. The second one is uh or task
two rather is some subsurface
geotechnical work to if if we know that
there are areas that
might have rock you know that that is
something that will start to twist c you
know we'll modify the cost dramatically.
So we want to be able to identify that.
So we do have um a set aside to bring
out a driller if we want to on certain
routes to make sure that we are making
our best estimate of the cost at the
conceptual level. So that's what task
two is. And lastly, task three is just
to support the town for um any kind of
funding assistance moving forward,
including the SRF application later on
um next year.
So, with that, I'm going to I'm going to
pass it off to Ryan and ask him to walk
through uh kind of this overview and all
the individual routes and then I'll I'll
finish up.
>> All right.
Yeah. Thank you, Derry. Uh so, what
we're looking at here is
uh the overview show representing all
four routes. So we uh named them route
A, A1, and B and B1. So we kind of broke
them up that way. So you can see the A
routes are shown in red. The B routes
are shown in purple or pink there. Um,
so just to kind of get a sense on how
they relate to each other and you know
how the A routes relate and how the B
routes relate and we looked at some
conceptual align you know with these
conceptual alignments we utilized uh
lidar which is uh detailed topographic
information as well as procured you know
all you know online a you know all
available information online, you know,
such as GIS. So, was we did it as as a
desktop analysis
and uh so as you can see, they all start
at the new pump station on Denman
Thompson Highway down there to the south
and uh we can start with uh the A routes
on the next slide there.
So, this is option A. This was
previously
evaluated as part of the uh the the
wastewater the overall uh wastewater
plan uh issued in May of 26. So this was
the concept used for that evaluation.
And
uh as you can see here for for all four
of these options as Terry mentioned it's
a it's somewhat of a mix of pressurized
force main and gravity main. So on all
of these, the pressurized force main is
shown in red, the gravity main is shown
in orange. Uh so for the section of red,
um you know, it starts on the left hand
side at the uh wastewater treatment
facility. Um the majority of it you'll
see is you know is is along route 10.
um in the very um beginning part as as
we approach Route 10, there is an
existing uh baseball field and it looks
like there's an easement that that would
be um potentially utilized, you know, to
uh to go cross country through there and
then um where we meet up with Route 10
on the uh left hand side there. So, so
that first stretch of Route 10 uh moving
eastward or northward is uh generally
uphill. There's a high point that's
pretty significant. Uh there's two high
points. The latter one is is more
significant. And then from there, it's a
it's a it's a significant downhill
um as shown in that orange section. So,
at the base of that, you know, we're at
the bottom of that downhill, we'll need
an intermediate pump station to get it
back up to connect to the existing, uh,
Keen system there. So, um, so that, you
know, that section of gravity main would
potentially allow for new or it would
allow for easier service connections in
that in that general vicinity. Um and as
you know as as Terry mentioned earlier
the the the downstream capacity is also
a key consideration in uh option A uh
ensuring that you know the connection
point and the downstream sewer
infrastructure
uh can accommodate you know these
additional flows this connection here.
Um so overall in and for the stretch of
uh route 10 the intent is to stay off
the pavement as much as practically
possible. Uh and in this case on route
10 it seems feasible um for a good
majority of it um given the rightway
width. Um so potentially less uh less
pavement work there. Um and then if we
go to the next slide, uh it's a
variation of a next one is A1. Oh yeah,
>> just to add to that too, just to
reiterate, so that that ground gravity
name would allow for collection. So you
could essentially
add more collection system, base hill,
the industrial park. So you can tie into
that gravity section of the brown. You
obviously can't tie into the forest man
or the red, but that area would allow
for a little build out
in that area. And then just the one
thing to reiterate that she discussed is
coming out of the plant. It's not
depicted on this map, but we have a
right away where the
>> Yes.
>> collection system runs in between
Brownfield and the residency. So we
would not be going out South Winchester
and West Street. The force main would be
going directly out to Route 10 between
Brownfield. So we wouldn't have to touch
the roads in that area. That's not
>> where it goes from force to gravity. The
first part of it, is there a building
needed there to to transfer the the
force to the gravity? You I understand
there's a pump on the other end, right?
To get the force back going, right? But
how does it connect from force to
gravity? Does is there a structures
there? Is there going to be no pump
house, right? How does that work? Yeah,
just um at the end of the the forest man
is a will be probably an 8 or 10 inch
diameter pipe. Um and then it connects
right into a sewer manhole
>> and it just dumps and then it flows
>> then it flows downhill. Yep.
>> So there's so there's one pump station
down toward the end right at the end of
the cavity, right? And there's is there
another pump up further? Is there
another pump station?
>> There's a new pump station at the
treatment plant.
>> Yeah. So go from the treatment to the
gravity with nothing.
>> Yep. So the treatment goes uh pumps up
to that highest point. So the second the
circle in the furthest right there
>> then goes into the gravity will flow
downhill and then there'll be another
pump station
and then you have another force main and
then it repeats goes to the keen
collection system by market basket.
>> Got it.
Um Joe, just before you go to that one,
>> just wanted to point out.
>> So as you look at this next route,
what's important is see how there's two
high points there.
>> The one that's closest to the on the
treatment plant side in this next
version, we're going to go around it. So
that that's a benefit possibly. you
know, we have to look at some of the
hydraulics, but you'll see uh for the
next route that there are some, you
know,
>> so when you say high points changes
>> that the cost of it, it's going to be
more costly in the high points cuz we
got to go down deeper with the line or
we have to push harder. Do we have to
have pump stations before the high
point? Where is what does the high point
mean in in building this whole thing?
>> Sure.
>> How does it affect us when it goes high
point when we're force man is what I'm
trying to get to. Yeah. So with a pump
system that the the challenge with the
high points is it's an area where it
collects air and you have to be able to
release the air.
>> So you end up with two things, right? So
if you have two high points and a low
point in the middle, you have to have an
air release valve at the high point, you
have to have a drain at the low point so
you can do maintenance on that system.
So now it's not a huge deal, but air
relief valves are are a maintenance
item. And in your in this particular
case because of the distance of this
force mane it becomes a very important
maintenance item like you don't want
them to fail
>> uh because then you have surge issues
and things of things of that nature. So
we like to avoid high points as best we
can. Um and then the secondary point is
a a high point will determine your
overall hydraulic condition that you
have to pump against. So if it's a
really high point, that's a a bigger
deal than if it's a lower high point in
terms of elevation relative to the the
pump station. So and there is a big
difference here between the A routes and
the B routes in terms of the the high
points as a relative elevation.
>> Those two high points are the same
elevation.
>> Those ones are generally about the same.
Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Uh yeah, good good questions. Thanks for
uh clarifying there. So this is uh we
moved on to option A1. So as you can see
it it does a detour around that stretch
of Route 10 where that uh first high
point was shown. It goes down a Sawyer's
crossing and then uh moving to the right
is a currently a class 6 road. Uh it was
the old Route 10. Um, so we'd be
traversing through there for a a good
portion of that that force main and then
it when it rejoins route 10, it follows
the the same, you know, the same path as
option A um transitions back to the
gravity to the intermediate pump station
and then um into the Keen system. Uh so
this option yeah the benefit is the high
point is eliminated. Um the
um and you stay out of route 10 for
longer so less um you know less less
construction you know um considerations
and that class 6 road is you know a dirt
road. looks like the restoration would
be um minimal compared to restoring, you
know, a a DOT rightway. And uh it does
add some length. It adds about um 1,900
almost 2,000 linear feet. Um but you
know, it's it's part of the you know,
weighing the pros and cons of each.
>> And that goes through the Yale Forest.
>> It's still over town. We have to do
>> Yes, it does. We have to do some
research on it because the state tells
me that it's more than likely when that
road was discontinued it was given back
to the town and then the question will
be if it's record anywhere the town gave
it to Gail Forest or whoever owned that
land then it may not be recorded but the
state tells me that when they did
discontinue roads it goes back to the
town. So there needs to be some work on
who owns it and if it is the towns or if
y forest owns it would they be
interested in giving us an ement
>> on the soy crossing part how does that
is that where frog places
>> would so would that go down that road
and then cut over how far down does it
go I can't really tell from here does it
go
>> additional ft offline I got
approximately
>> yeah
Okay.
>> Yeah. All Yeah. So, those are the 2A
options. As you can see, they're they're
they're very similar to each other. Um
they're they're um largely follow that
that route 10 corridor. Um and then
we'll we can move on to the B options
here. Um so so B takes a different path
out of the
uh treatment plant where the new pump
station will be. Um it goes the opposite
way on Denim Thompson Road and generally
follows the Eaton Road corridor uh for
you know the first you know half of it
roughly. Um, this one, you know, as we
previously kind of talked about the high
and low points, this one has quite a bit
of variation with high and low points.
They're not as extreme as the A options
were. Um, but to maintain, you know,
avoid high points, perhaps we need
deeper excavation in certain areas.
uh the Eaton Road corridor. Um you know
is uh one consideration is the
restoration. You know there it looks
like we would be within the paved
roadway for a good majority of it. Um
however it there doesn't appear to be
too many conflicts uh necessarily. There
are a handful of uh drainage crossings
particularly in the very there's two
major ones here um which would require
directional drill. Uh so they are in the
very beginning um it uh it's a pretty
significant river crossing along uh
Denim Thompson Road right right outside
of the treatment facility. Um, and then
the second one is uh further down. We'll
we'll we'll get to that as we continue
on here. Um, it's it's right after the
uh the orange which represents gravity
main. So, similar to the A options where
you know pumps uphill to a high point
and then where where gravity where
topography allows will gravity flow for
as long as we can. And uh kind of the
same concept here for B. That orange is
a is a stretch of you know uh downhill
where we can gravity flow down to that
next um next crossing there. And uh
again that gravity flow allows
um you know for connections and uh one
you know one consideration is it passes
you know those school zone areas which
potentially will provide a connection
benefit uh to those facilities.
And um and then yeah at the crossing
there uh the second directional drill
river crossing
uh it uh it will need to be pumped back
up. So therefore another intermediate
pump station similar to the A options um
until it keeps you know advancing you
know northeast until it connects to uh
the existing gravity system there in
Swansea on route 32. Um it'll connect to
the there's an upstream manhole there
which is uh which is where that red line
touches the uh green line. The green
line represents the existing uh gravity
sewer
and uh so it'll it'll physically connect
there but the flow will
um will be directed towards the existing
route 32 pump station. And one of the uh
variables of of this option is
evaluating that route 32 pump station in
terms of capacity for uh current
capacity, future growth capacity, you
know, um evaluating like current
metrics. Uh there's a lot of
information, but it needs to be kind of
sorted through to um make sure it's, you
know, this meets the intent of that of
that pump station, that existing pump
station. Um, so this one, you know,
there's there's a lot of considerations.
This one of the this one is the longest
option of the of the bunch. Um, you
know, uh, they're all similar. Option A
is about tw, you know, uh, 21,000.
A1 was about 23,000. This is about
24,000.
Um, so they're they're similar, but this
one's a little bit longer. Um
>> when you're you're talking about maybe
having to possibly improve the Route 32
pump station if necessary. Is that what
you're talking about?
>> Yeah, it's under evaluation. Yeah, it
would need to be evaluated.
>> So when that pump station was designed,
there was consideration for some
buildout. What we're trying to do is
just go back and confirm was that is
that build out enough? Is it was it just
for the North Swansea area? You know,
were they considering West Swansea? they
uh you know the the group considering
West Swansea at that time or would it
essentially be con you know if we were
to
pump it pump West Swansea that way now
would it be consuming the future growth
for North Swansea which would not be
>> or the area on Eaten Road and and uh and
32 there. So both of those would be
opened up to possible sewer connections.
>> Um only
>> only the the gravity feed area.
>> Correct. Yeah. Unless you extend that
gravity system past the force main,
which it's pretty hard to do that
because right you you can get very
limited. Usually you go out away from it
versus uh meaning like if you're in a
valley or something you go uphill.
>> Um
>> is it is that what basically happen when
you connect the red and the green? Cuz
that's green is gravity, right? That's
Keen, right?
>> So we're forcing to the gravity, right?
>> That's north North Swansea.
>> That's ours by the fire station. Yeah,
but that the green is gravity f. No, not
a pressure. Right.
>> Right.
>> Existing.
>> Yeah.
>> This is a lot more eerie to connect to
that plan now.
>> And then uh so here's uh the the final
option uh B1. So as you can see similar
uh you know the first half is the same
as B follows that Eden road corridor.
However, here uh where that gravity
start, you know, we still have that same
high point and transition to gravity um
which is shown in the orange, but here
we take more of a direct route towards
the uh existing Swansea treatment
facility or sorry, Keen. Um so we um we
cut over uh uh it's called Cedar Street
and then uh eventually uh no um uh
Causeway uh Causeway Street and Causeway
terminates
um at the end of that orange line and
then at in order to connect it we would
have to directionally drill
um kind of it's maybe hard to see but
you kind of see some overhead power. Um
there's a there's overhead power line
through there and that's roughly the
start of the directional drill to
connect to the um treatment facility. Uh
one consideration here is the evaluating
the uh hydraulics of that gravity line
and the connection to the existing
treatment facility.
uh since the existing treatment facility
it's at a it's at a higher grade
elevationwise
um than where the gravity would um the
gravity line would enter that area. So
that so we would need to you know um
design a system to to have it be
pressurized enough to um enter that
facility. So there's there's options
we're evaluating um like such as an
inverted siphon uh type of system. Um
and uh but a pumping but a pumping some
type of improvement or another
intermediate pump station could still
possibly be needed. Um but it it
warrants further uh evaluation there.
>> And that that goes through some wetlands
there too, right?
>> Yeah. said the and the directional drill
the intent is to stay underneath it as
much as practically possible but yeah
that there are will be significant
wetlands through through there.
Yeah, if I could just add um I don't
know we didn't really describe what the
directional drill is. I'm not sure how
familiar folks are, but that's a a
trenchless type technology. So it's it's
going underneath the ground. They they
have an entrance pit and an exit pit.
Um, so it, you know, in the sense of
wetlands, it works out great because you
don't have to, you may have to do a
permit anyways, but you don't actually
have impact on the wetland because
you're drilling underneath the earth.
>> you're not going through any, you're not
going through any aquifer down there.
You're not going through any water or
>> uh, uh, in that particular case,
depending on the hydraology, yes,
possibly. But, you know, it's all stuff
that we'd have to we have to look at in
more detail.
>> But in terms of the surface area of the
wetland, you're not disturbing it is
what you're saying.
Did you say um power lines too? You
drill under the even if they're
overhead, you drill below your power
lines. What did you say about the power
lines? I missed that. There's a section
here with power lines, overhead lines.
You
>> Oh, yeah. I I just mentioned them as a
as a visual reference point.
>> There run through. Oh,
>> okay. Um
so, just as a overall schedule here, our
our contract had some stipulated dates
in it. Um, we got the authorization to
proceed in June. We're intended to have
the majority of this alternative routes
analysis done um, this month. It's
probably going to be it'll be next
month. Um, and then we'll work on
advancing the recommended route further
along um, and then have a technical
memo. Right now is proposed for the
November time frame. The intent was to
be in advance of your uh, needs for
funding which would be your March Warren
article. So, we want to make sure we
gave plenty of time to um have the
conclusions of this study prior to your
development of the Warren article. Um
and then following up from that, if the
vote is, you know, affirmative, then
you'd want we'd be in need of doing a
clean water SRF application in in April.
Um I would just learned that the the
deadline is likely May one, so that May
is really not applicable in here. So it'
be be the April time frame of 2027 and
then um it takes a while to get those
loans in place. Couple months by the
time it gets approval through governor
and council and things of that nature.
So you're probably looking at a August
September time frame to begin any kind
of final you know uh design effort after
that.
I think with that Joe unless you you
have more we'll open it up to questions
or Sarah just think as they get further
along with their the route the cost is
going to be one of the big driving
forces but then we'll have through
through the board and further
discussions on which way we see
beneficial like obviously the one that
goes by the school has potential for
some some good connection but one of the
biggest driving forces will be not just
the cost of the construction but which
one of these designs is going to be more
expensive to operate in the future with
all that costs.
>> I never realized remember we were
talking about just route 10, but this
really opened our eyes to these other
roots cuz there's a lot of benefits on
some of these other routes and there's
there's benefits to route 10. I I see it
all now. There's no directional drilling
on on A, just B. Right. Right. Just a
there's no A, just B.
We uh we we are likely going to be
forced to directional drill if we have
to cross the roadway cuz it's DOT.
>> So there may be shorter directional
drills and when we get um you know we we
factored that into that original concept
even though they aren't directly shown
there cuz we got to figure out you know
which side of the road and it flops back
and forth based on cuts and fills at all
the all wherever you see a guardrail is
a a spot we got to really look at. So
there would be some directional
drilling. explain that a little more. So
if you see a guardrail that means
there's a big dip down there and you
would have to go too low. I don't know
what you mean.
>> Yeah. So sorry the reference to guard
rail rails generally is you know DOT
wants a nice flat roadway because of
their speeds.
>> So there's wherever you see a guardrail
it's generally because there's a a slope
on one side.
>> Absolutely.
>> So all of a sudden you lose the area
that's off the edge of the road.
>> Um so then you're you're looking at an
option. You're either in the roadway and
you're restoring a DOT roadway which is
very costly. um they generally want full
restoration. So that that's a big cost.
So we want to try to avoid that. If we
are construct, you know, if our align
proposed alignment's on one side, all of
a sudden the slope drops off, we can't
construct there. That means we want to
jump to the other side. We'd have to
drill underneath the road. Um assuming
there is another side to go in otherwise
you're stuck in the middle of the road.
Now you're looking at restoration.
>> So that's that's
>> there is potential of direct drilling on
option A. Yes.
>> Short period, a short amount
>> shorter. Um unless you know as we get
further into it, if we decide that
there's some value that a longer
directional drill makes sense in one
particular area, we'll propose that.
>> Wow, that was interesting.
>> Good job.
>> Thank you. On on B, Terry,
I've been told that the school did did
put a line in at at the bridge there.
Did you determine that there is no line
there?
In other words, it would alleviate the
the need to directional drill.
>> Sorry, where is that, Bill?
>> At the school. Um, we're on 32 option B
with second directional drill.
Um, I'm not I'll have to catch up with
Joe to confirm it. But
>> are you saying though there might be a
line under there already?
>> So they are all possibly already
connected.
>> It could be already
school's not connected.
>> No, it's not connected.
>> They may put a line underneath
>> when they did it.
>> Oh,
>> to be ready for that
>> preemptively.
>> If that is the case, it be interesting.
type of line is
>> sure
>> and the size
I don't think
>> is there any um public input out there
to anybody want to ask any questions
about that
>> okay none
>> you do more curiosity
>> hi Joe
>> is the the source rightway an option for
this path
I I guess anything's an option, but one
of the reasons I'm looking at that is
the rail railroad still owns the right
way there and it's very problematic to
do construction with the railroad and
then the contaminants that are in the
ground in the railroad. So that was one
of the reasons we didn't look at that
option.
>> Not the rail trail, but where the
dinosaurs where their power was.
>> See, they use some
road.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
>> Thank you, Brian. Thank you.
>> Sarah, thank you.
Make a motion to close the public
hearing.
>> Second. All
>> in favor?
I.
>> So now we're officially still in a
meeting. Just close the public hearing.
>> Job bud.
>> We're about to go into a non-public
session for a half hour or so.
>> We're not going to answer.
>> So right now
>> we'd have to ask people to vacate their
premises until 5:30. conference that I
have on my board.
session until 5:30.
>> Um, so we're asking people who aren't
involved in the non-public session to
leave this room and go downstairs and
wait.
>> Um, this is not for the public to uh be
part of. Okay.
Can we take 45 seconds and get a motion?
I just have that classified section of
rabbit hollow that was extended or we
can do it next week if not.
>> Yeah. What is the tell what what do we
need to get the motion?
>> Do we need a motion to Richard Whitney?
We authorized him to extend the road 450
ft. He's completed that. I've inspected
it and we just need a motion to accept
it as class 5 road extending across.
Make a motion to accept the class 5 road
on Rabbit Hall Road.
>> Second.
>> Well, the the
>> extension 450 ft.
>> Except I second that.
>> Do you have that, sir?
>> So, you got
>> Okay. So, M made the motion. Second it.
All in favor?
>> I
>> I.
>> Joe, you're all set on that.
>> You finished grading that?
>> Great.
>> In great shape.
>> Way to go.
>> I don't know if I should
Thank you.
>> Don't have to wear
it.
>> Make a motion to nonpublic.
>> Yeah, I already have one.
>> Sue, I guess, right?
>> Reputation, I guess.
have a reputation.
>> I think it's a negotiation
>> or it could be negotiation. I guess
>> I think it would be negotiation.
>> You are watching a Fact TV presentation
Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey.
Hey, hey, hey.
>> Heat.
Hey, heat. Hey, heat.
Heat. Hey, Heat.
Heat. Heat. N.
>> Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat.
>> Heat. Heat. N.
>> Oh.
Oh.
>> Hey. Hey. Hey.
Would
you like to lead us in the pledge
Allegiance tonight
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God,
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all.
>> All right. So Mark make a motion to
approve regular minutes for August 11th,
August 12th, and August 18th.
>> So you had some questions
all these
minutes,
but
>> I think we approved it in a morning
meeting.
I'm not sure whether they
>> Madison isn't in here right now. So, why
don't we just finish the motion?
>> We'll finish this motion and we'll deal
with that.
>> So, you made the motion, Mark.
>> I second it.
>> All in favor?
>> I make a motion to approve the
non-public meeting for August 18th,
sessions 1, 2, 3, and four.
>> I I
>> So, Sue, we we needed that for the uh
pre-application for Northern Borders
Regional. So, there was one section of
those minutes that we absolutely had to
have approved. So, we approved them.
>> And I'm not sure it was me taking the
minutes or whether it was Megan or or
Katie, but somehow it must have not made
it in the minutes that got to you.
>> Yeah, I haven't seen any minutes from I
hadn't seen those, but until
I
>> I didn't see any from that approved
them. So, we need we need that.
>> So, you need the August 21st.
Y we'll get those for you.
>> Yeah, we'll we'll get them.
>> There's nothing at all from August 25th.
>> We already done.
>> She just she just needs to see
>> she just needs to see them.
>> She needs to see the minutes of the
night of the 21st meeting that approved
the 19th.
>> Falls apart when you leave us like this.
See what happens.
>> That's right.
>> Exactly.
>> Don't do it again.
>> Make a motion to approve the consent
agenda.
>> Second. All in favor? I
>> He could you please step up at the t
table here tonight with us.
>> How are you tonight?
>> I'm good. How are you all?
>> Good. Could you state your name for the
record?
>> And have none.
>> So, I wanted to give you a quick update
about Saturday and the community
conversation. So, everything's in place.
Pilgrim Pines, thank you, has been so
wonderful about accommodating us. Um,
the food's all set.
Um, we will be doing a couple things
that I got permission for. We will at
the check-in table be giving these out
for Kevin
and we will have also been allowed to
have the Swansea Gardening Club sit with
me so that she can try to hustle
volunteers because she's looking for
them, I guess, and that just seemed like
a good fit. Um, so I'll do a quick
introduction and then the facil excuse
me, the facilitator from New Hampshire
Humanities will take over and lead it
from there. His part of the the meeting
is about it's 45 minutes to an hour and
it's an interactive thing. I went to
Keen last week to see how it worked
because they did theirs last week and it
was very interesting. They had a lot of
nonprofits there. Um, so ours is going
to be completely different because ours
will be towns people, not people looking
for inter agency interactions.
So we have that open discussion and then
we break out into groups and the intent
is for each group to come up with an
idea of something that we can do as a
town together. And then we come back
together and figure out which one is
best.
and then they give us a grant for $3,000
to accommodate whatever that is. And it
could be anything. I'm kind of hopeful
it will be something geared towards
young parents and kids, but I don't
steer the conversation. It's up to the
people that are there.
And that's pretty much what happens.
Kai will be taping it, so we'll have it
for the record.
>> It'll be live, but tap. Just taped.
>> Taped.
>> Yeah. and and um we're going to see it
doesn't look like the um the grant or
the the humanities will cover the cost
of Kai doing it, but if that happens
then uh and and the select board doesn't
want to pick up the the cost of it, then
Ann and I will pay for it. It's all it's
all it's all cut.
>> Perfect.
>> Reason for taping it?
>> What is the reason? Oh, well, we thought
it would be something that other people
would want to see if they couldn't make
it cuz it's something that's never
really happened here before and it might
be if it's if it's good, and I think it
will be, then other people can look and
maybe they'll get psyched about whatever
it is that we're going to do.
>> And several people have told an that
they can't make it, but they really wish
they could. They've got conflicts.
>> How do you how did you get it out there
for people? How do people know about it?
So um it's been on several Facebook
pages and we did an invite from the
Swansea government governance page which
our committee has which has gotten a lot
of um feedback and response as has the
one I just posted on um the Swansea
community page. Also I took some advice
and talked to the um SAU people and they
told me that they would consider it if I
did it X. So, I did exactly what they
told me to do and they did put it in the
last blast before school started, which
as Ashley showed me was great because
there was all this black and white and
then there was our mini fullcolor poster
of what was happening. So, um Josh Gion,
who's on the governance committee,
seemed to think that that was a very
good thing. So, we had that. I went to
the coffee connections thing. I went to
the last chamber breakfast so I could
talk to people which is how I connected
with the um garden club.
>> You're with
>> Danny Mitchell show.
>> Oh, I was on Danny Mitchell show
>> big time.
>> I did I invited Marty Fisk from the
library to join me so we could both talk
about it. But we were both on
>> the week before last.
>> He gets a good audience.
>> He does get a good audience. Yeah. I got
some texts afterwards about that. It
sounded good. Who knows? Would you like
to give the details so people that don't
know have a better idea of what I know
you said Pilgrim Pines but where
>> Pilgrim Pines there'll be signs at the
end of each road east and west to with
arrows showing where to go and the
actual event will be in the Camp Squanto
building so it's really nice it's down
on the overlooking the water um it'll
start at 10:00
and
>> on
>> I'm sorry
>> what was the date on Saturday
>> the 29th se August 29th 9 10:00 a.m.
till noon and it should wrap up pretty
quickly right after noon. So I don't I
mean it's not a huge time commitment. We
do have kids from Interact coming from
the high school to entertain kids and I
spoke to that. Oh, it's also um recorded
by an artist and it's really cool. He um
I saw the book from the ones that he did
last year. He's an apparently a
well-known Merrick I can't remember his
last name. He's a well-known artist from
New Hampshire. He's kind of a graphic
artist. He teaches. But he suggested
that I have the any kids that show up do
a a art thing on what community means to
them, which is pretty perfect because it
pretty much is what their parents will
be talking about. So
that's what the kids will be doing if
they show up.
>> Very exciting. You put a lot into this.
Good for you.
Hey, and can you get some rest after
this because we have a lot of things
coming up. We're going to need your help
with the governance committee.
>> You got a lot in your plate this year.
>> Yeah, we are.
>> We got big plans for you. [laughter]
>> So, we need you to get some good rest.
>> Yeah, we know. We're We're ready.
>> You do a good job. You help out us.
>> You are unbelievable help.
>> You have enthusiasm. I love it. Love it.
>> Good.
>> And I love that committee that you have
that that committee is going to do
wonders for us.
>> Yeah. and we're going to need him this
year.
>> We're ready to work on Scott's project.
>> We're going to give you projects. Trust
me, we're building them up right now.
Bill's got a big list in his back
pocket.
>> Oh, dear God. I see a resignation in my
future. [laughter]
>> You've got a marathon in your future too
to run. So,
>> thank you for the update and good luck.
And I
>> hope you can come even if this is falls
on a Saturday.
>> This Saturday.
>> This Saturday at 10:00. Yes.
>> Till noon. Yes. this Saturday
>> at Pines
>> Camp Squanto. There'll be signs to get
you there.
>> And thanks for helping me make
>> whoever's listening in tonight, please
show and it'll be fun to do.
>> Thank you.
>> It will be. Yep.
>> Thanks, Sam.
>> Okay. So, next on our appointments was
Joe Duso, but unfortunately Joe had
something he had to do. But what we did
what I did found out that the gentleman
two gentlemen down from me has the
information that Joe was going to give
us. So I'm going to let Jay
>> tell give us the update of Wilson Ponds.
>> Joe Joe stopped in um last couple days
and we went over what he's doing. He um
he's put another full board in. They're
now six and a half boards in the dam and
he's the intent is that he will leave it
in there till the water level comes up.
If the water level gets up too high, he
will take start taking some boards out.
He may have he may have he has a 2in
board. He thinks he might settle on 5' 7
3/4 5 foot and a and 3/4 boards instead
of 5 1/2 or six, but he's going to let
the water determine that. And we talked
about um how that will be um uh we hope
the main goal right now is to keep the
water in the pond as it is replenished
by rain. Uh we'll see how that works.
But the um
the other
part of what what the Wilson bond update
is is that tomorrow we have our uh
company coming and doing a survey of the
pond for what vegetation and they'll get
back to us with management ideas. So
>> So I'll add to that too. So after the
meeting, which was on a Wednesday night,
the next morning I got up extra early
because in that meeting I was told there
was a broken fence, there was a broken
bench, and there was ruts, right? So I
wanted to go out and see how we could
help out with that. So I drove out there
and I called
Mark cuz I didn't know where the broken
bench was, the broken fence was, and I
wasn't sure the ground where people
park. I didn't see the ruts, but I guess
he meant the ruts along the the edge of
the water, right?
>> So, what what happened is, of course, as
you found out, uh Joe repaired that last
year, and the the ruts are um repaired
as well. Now, I'm not sure how much Joe
does. There's a man named Richard who
comes out to the to the to the boat
launch a lot. Uh he was there just last
Sunday with his with a with a dependent
of his. Um, and they were um, enjoying
the water. They were they had a little
motorized boat they were playing with.
And Richard is an older older guy who's
who loves the boat launch and his he
brings in gravel periodically to fill in
the holes on his own. He is offering uh
right now he's he's got some some
financial things going on. He's not
quite sure, but he offered last year and
again on Sunday he offered to pay for
upgrading those benches that are there.
Uh, and I'm waiting for him to, you
know, actually do that. But he he he
said he's he each foot of or each yard
there is is like half a ton of gravel,
and he's he's getting he's going to
bring some more in. So Joe's done some,
he's done some, but the there's no real
ruts there right now. And there uh the
benches are repaired. It doesn't it's
not sat on them all the way down to see
if I I'm missing something, a loose
board. I wiggled everyone. I called Mark
and I asked Mark and Mark said, "Well,
maybe they must have been fixed."
>> They were fixed last year.
>> Then I called Joe and I asked Joe who
maintains out here and he says that
Angel in video from the town, they come
out, they weed whack, they mow
regularly.
>> So, right,
>> I was trying to help out on how we can
keep that. And I said, and I called you
the night, didn't I?
>> I woke you up, didn't I? Yep. Didn't
wake me up. Go asleep after.
>> But anyways, you know, cuz I did
understand their point that, you know,
people do go there and we need to make
it look nice. So, I was just trying to
>> and and thank you, Jimmy, because that
was the other part of what I was
supposed to report from Joe was the fact
that he had take he he'd inspected and
it was still fixed and all that,
>> right?
>> So,
>> great. It would be nice if we could
upgrade those benches and stuff. So, if
he does do that, that would be
wonderful.
>> Right. Do you folks have any questions?
What does the water look like right now?
Like is it up like
>> I think it's up.
>> It's what?
>> What about over at Sue's coat when she
talked about those pylons?
>> You don't
go down there.
only except in the middle of the sort.
>> But I can't I can't come. But I could
get back to you, but I I don't know.
It's still low there. I kayed through
there the other day. It was pretty low.
>> But it kind of always is.
>> Yeah. When I went there, when I went
there, the water was coming over the the
wood. I mean, the water was coming over.
There was water going in there.
>> We had a little issue. We had a little
issue because
>> he made more tire than the
>> Yes. But and I I asked him to go out
there because the top board that was in
there wasn't flush with the bar beneath
>> So water was running out between the two
boards and they fixed that.
>> And that is now higher than it has been.
And it's there to keep the water in the
pond until we get it up a little higher.
And so it it it was not going to run
over the boards the way it has left it.
It may not ever run over the boards now
until we get the pond level up to where
we like it.
So,
>> who's we?
>> Uh, Joe.
>> So, you guys come to
Right. Because there's there's people
that don't want it that there's people
>> at this point.
>> They never see anybody proposing
some information that
maybe people think I know and I don't.
So, I just came
on my face, but I don't have
>> Thank you, Vicki.
>> Thank you, Lisa.
>> Vicky, sorry, Lisa. Brian,
>> do you have anything else you would like
to add and discuss while you're here
about Wilson Pond?
>> When is the the meeting? Would you like
to when is the meeting then?
>> Uh it's Saturday Labor Day. So
>> it's the 5th I believe.
>> 10 a.m.
>> You remind me at
>> 10:00 a.m. on Saturday the 5th.
>> 11 a.m.
>> Well, anyways, we did go out there and
we did look around. or trying to
>> you know I don't even understand are
those things
>> are the white
boards that to me look like guard rail
or are what we're referring to as
dentist or actual dentist
>> I guess that's a good question cuz when
I stepped back and I was looking they're
like a telephone pole in the ground and
they look like they've been actually hit
cuz some of them are tilted and that's
what thinks the B and I'm thinking this
wasn't made for a bench. I think this is
just some people won't drive into the
water, right? And it makes a lot of
sense. But I think what they did is they
saw two things with one thing, right?
They they use it as a bench and then
they use it as a guardrail. So those
have to be pretty strong. And cuz when I
step back and looked, I'm realizing this
is a guardrail, not a bench because I
was trying to figure out where the
broken fence was. And what Richard's
talking about is trying to make it look
more attractive and and also still be as
solid if he can if he can pull that off.
>> I issues that 10 years ago. Those were
that was
>> and they were put on top.
>> As far as the water level, it was never
maintained the way it was. So we used
when I lived on Wilson pond, six of us
took over and made the water level
higher.
>> So I'm not sure if you wanted it lower
or not. I can tell you in the past we
had
>> we had it to the top of the dam and then
Ela would come and take it pour it out
because there were three people who were
complaining water was getting into their
basement which was part of the water
which was also affecting their furnace
and we had a huge issue with that. We
would actually put the boards in
illegally, screw them in illegally, and
then like a mother to get them out in
the fall time so the water levels would
go down in
>> Well, you know, back.
>> Thank you for your question.
>> What was your name?
>> Yeah, cuz just for the record that you
spoken so Sue can put it in the minutes.
>> David Mason.
>> Did you get that?
David what makes me
I used to sing all the time and you know
I just disagree.
>> All right so I'm going to move on here.
Um who do we have here? Energy
commission. Who's that? Joe.
>> Huh?
>> Barbara Barbara.
>> Barbara's coming.
>> Oh hi Barbara.
How are you?
This sun is hitting me right in my eyes,
Barbara. So seeing black out there
coming through this window right here.
>> Is there anything I can do?
>> No, that's unfortunate.
>> We're getting I see you need to move.
>> How are you doing, Barbara?
>> Good. So, um I'm here because of, you
know, potential sale of the Rex from the
um
solar array that we have at the
wastewater treatment plant. And so, I'm
guessing everybody got a copy of or saw
a copy of the proposed contract with
Revision.
>> Okay. So just as a little summary, um,
revision acts as what's called an
aggregator. So, Revision has projects
like this one that they've done and
other projects that they've done and
they um aggregate those wrecks and then
they sell them to a broker and the
broker
deals in much larger volumes than what
Revision has as an aggregator.
So, um, that's why when you look at the
contract, it has revision with their
Portland address because that's their
headquarters. And then at the last part,
there's a um,
what do they call this? The service
agreement, the wreck uh, certif
renewable energy certificate service
agreement. That's Massachusetts. because
Revision uses Massachusetts market
because it's a much more robust market
and they're most likely to be able to
sell the Rex there than to try to deal
with some place in New Hampshire. So
that's why that is in there.
>> I appreciate you getting that
clarification because it didn't make
sense until you you brought it back.
>> So the way this works, we already have
um what what do they call it? uh DAS uh
data acquisition system we already have
that incorporated in the solar array
that we have. So what that means is that
data automatically gets fed into um knee
pool which is the New England pool and
then what happens is revision will pull
that information and it'll tell them
exactly how many kilowatt hour or watt
hour kilowatts we have produced and then
that's how they determine
the value of the wreck and they they do
that they they're able they have an
account. So, they're able to go into
that knee pool, pull that information,
and then they pay us. But they will be
retaining $3.50
based on this contract
per Rex sold.
So, you know, that's their fee.
>> How much does a Rex solar go for? You
>> They go like for like the last I heard
it was like $40 or a kilowatt hour. I
mean a kilowatt.
>> Well, I think it's kilowatt hours.
That's the energy.
>> Kilowatt hours.
>> Kilowatt hours is energy. Kilowatts is
power. Kilowatt hours.
>> Kilowatt is power. Yeah.
>> Kilowatts is power, but kilowatts
energy. Energy is kilowatt hours.
>> Right. But it was expected like he was
saying he was based on our system that I
mean we could expect like 5,000
dollars, you know, from
>> from that um
>> per month year per month. 5,000 per
month.
>> That's good.
>> How How is the broker paid?
>> Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I just
want to rethink about that. 5,000 a
month or a year? Because 5,000 a month
sounds a little high. If you if you
figure $40,000.
>> Yeah. Yeah. No, maybe it's a year. Um,
how is the broker paid? because they uh
I think revision pays the broker like a
$150 or something like that per wreck
>> out of their three something.
>> Yeah. But again, the broker is dealing
in much larger volumes so they can
afford to just charge that little bit
whereas revision
has a smaller amount that they're
representing and so that's why they do.
But I guess according to Revision,
they're competitive. You know, that's
what you're going to get. Um, so I
originally we thought priority power
would be able to do this, but they don't
deal in Rex. So we can't, you know,
that's not going anywhere. So if we
don't do revision, then we can always
try the other one which was in what was
it? Nullwood or something like that.
There's another company. But it seems to
me that these guys would be pretty
straightforward and you know this is
what no matter where you go this is what
we're going to get. Um and it we have a
relationship with revision you know so
it would just be maintaining you know
that or extending that. So I guess the
thing is is to look at
this and see if it is agreeable to what
you think the town should be doing. I
mean, the nitty-gritty is just what I
said. You know, they're going to pay us,
you know, whatever the going rate is
based on the Massachusetts market,
whatever they, you know, however they
sell them to the broker. Um, and then
they're just going to keep $3.50 out of
that, say, $40. And then they they pull
out the information and they send us the
check. Revision sends us,
>> we get the checks, come to the town, and
the amount we get might vary as the
market varies. So, so there's no
guarantee. Exactly. But it's going to be
more money we're getting now, right?
>> That's [laughter] right. That's right.
We're getting nothing now.
>> Um, so that's what I mean. Some people
choose to do what they call retire their
wrecks and so they never really sell
them because they think they're doing a
good thing because they're just creating
this green energy without, you know,
the rerecks go to um there's two kind of
markets. There's the voluntary market
and there's the compliance market and
basically revision says they deal with
the compliance market. I mean so like
your utility has to have so much green
energy and if they don't then they buy
Rex and that makes up for the amount. So
they're they're buying the fact that we
are creating that energy instead of the
utility. All right. So, some people feel
that if they just retire their racks,
they don't sell them, then they're doing
something that's better for the
environment because somebody else can't
say that, you know,
they're creating this anyway. But I
don't think that's an option that we
want to do. I don't think people um in
the municipality would be interested in
retiring their Rex. I think they'd
rather get the income off the Rex.
[laughter]
>> Probably right.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And this is for one year.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Well,
I'll have to look at this. Um, I think
it's one-year contract, automatically
renewable, and there's terms in here in
terms of, you know, if you want to back
out.
>> Yeah, there's some lag time.
>> I forgot whether lag time. I think 18
months that if if we were to back out,
they still have 18 months based on their
>> work to to sell them,
>> right? Um,
so yeah, I mean, you know, I looked at
this and you know, I'm not a legal ease
person and I don't know what the how you
do this. I mean, do you have our lawyer
look at it before we sign stuff like
that?
>> So, you know, basically, I think what
you need to decide is if you think this
makes sense and this is what you want to
do and then
move forward. I mean, this is the
contract. um other than it doesn't have,
you know, the specifics like the co our
name and and the facility. So that would
just be filled in um by revision and
then we would sign the contract. Uh
so
>> so what you'd like from us is to
authorize this the board chair to sign
on behalf of of of the town subject to
attorney's review.
>> I believe so. I second that motion.
>> No, Mark's got to make the motion happen
as he just did.
>> I make a motion that we authorize the
chair of board to sign a contract with
the revision
after it being reviewed by a town
attorney.
>> I'll second that.
>> Hey, thanks for pursuing this, Barbara.
>> Really? I was really
>> sending that one.
>> No, got to go send it to
>> you. We have a copy of that, right? Yes.
>> Barbara emailed it.
>> So, we can print it off. I have a
pardon.
>> We can print it off. We have it. So,
we'll do it and send it to Cordell and
I'll sign it.
>> Oh, yeah. Um, but they have to, you
know, uh, revision has to fill in that
other information. So, if you want a
copy, you know, then we'll you could
print that one up. But Oh, but you can
have this reviewed by the lawyer, right?
Without our stuff on it. I don't know.
Whatever. You guys know how to
>> then we we'll let you know that we're
ready to do it and you you get Revision
to send us a copy with their name in I
mean how does revision get their name on
it?
>> Say that again.
>> You said that revision has to have their
name on it and
>> it has to have our name on it.
>> It doesn't have our name on it,
>> right? So,
how is that going to happen? We're going
to put our name on it.
>> Well, if we if you want to do it, then
they will do it. They'll they'll print
it up and send it back out to us, I
believe.
>> And then we'll just or
>> because really we don't have this
template
>> to to be able to do it. So, they'll do
it send it out to us. I'll send it to
you
>> and you do whatever you guys do because
>> the next thing we get from you is is the
final version of it that then Jimmy
would take to the lawyer and decide
about. Okay.
>> Right. Right. And
>> I I I just question that because that's
timing. We we can forward this to
Cordell tomorrow,
>> Because the only thing that's going to
change is the addition of the the
client,
>> So, we could
>> Right. So, we can get the lawyer to look
at it before you send us the revision
revis.
>> That's that's the best way to do it.
>> Right. Right. Yep.
>> Um and there was a second part to that
email. It had to do with a management
agreement and I don't know if you looked
at that.
>> I did.
>> Okay. But that's the revision is also um
offering to do that. And again, I don't
know if you feel we need someone to
manage the solar array. Uh it explains
exactly what they do and maybe perhaps
that's something you might want Joe to
look at or you know if you again there's
a fee attached to that and but do we
need it? I I don't know that we need it.
Um but then again I'm not the one who's
managing it. So um perhaps You could
take a look at that and or send it to
Joe see I mean he's the manager right
now of that solar array isn't he?
>> Yeah. So I I would say you know take a
look at that because it talks about you
know um not
it's comprehensive. So it's the
technical component as well as you know
the physical component of ma you know
management. So,
um, I would just ask you to take a look
at it.
>> I was personally hoping that you would
bring the details forward so that
>> of of the plan
>> of the of the of the management plan.
So, I I'd at least understand what I was
going to be reading. So,
>> okay. Well,
>> not necessarily you, but you and the
committee and after you've all re
reviewed it.
>> Okay. Well,
>> advise as to whether it makes sense.
>> I guess, you know, I I can't make that
decision because I'm not the one who's
managing it. So, I mean, I don't know
how much of a,
you know, uh, issue it is to try to do
this, you know, is this kind of like
making it a bigger deal than it needs to
be or, you know, and that's why I think
maybe if Joe reviewed it, he would say,
I'm doing this. I don't need anybody
else to do it. or boy, that would be a
load off my hands, you know, or it might
be um an assurance, you know, if
something fails technically, we've got
someone there to fix it without us
having to call somebody to fix it, you
know, that kind of a thing.
>> So, you know, I would suggest maybe
having Joe take a look at it and see if
you think it's worth the expense.
>> Okay,
>> we can do that.
>> Thanks a lot, Barbara. Thanks for
watching this.
>> There's a lot of work you put into that.
Well, a lot of emails back and forth,
right? Oh gosh. All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Bob. Crawl your help.
>> Okay. Where are we? Public input. That's
right.
Public input. We have any more people
out there that would love to speak or
come right up.
sit in the big chair right there and
state your name and
let us know what you need.
>> My name is David Mason.
>> Hi, David.
>> Uh, three things. Number one, you're a
tax man at Swansea is amazing. I
literally made a mistake uh two years
ago for like $100 or something. I
overpaid by mistake. He could have
easily kept the money and he was 100%
call me the next day after it went
through two or three times. He said,
"Nope, you have over you paid me too
much." I mean, I sat there and counted
out. So, I want
>> We're talking about Kevin.
>> So, amazing person. Um, your register
for vehicles.
>> Uh, what's her name? Heather. Heather.
Amazing person. So, two shout outs to
those.
>> We also have Amanda, too, right?
>> I haven't met Amanda, but but Heather,
>> we'll give a shout out to both of them,
right?
>> I want both of those recognized if I
could please.
>> Fantastic. The reason I'm here is a
question and I've gone to a couple
people and nobody wants to either admit
to it or know the answers to it from the
elementary school. Joe, can I actually
talked to Joe yesterday about this and
Joe was going to get back to me cuz I
kept forgetting when you asked me and I
remembered yesterday. So, I called him
and he's getting back to he thinks the
state owns it though.
>> Okay. That's what my thought was too.
So, can you can we make the state do
anything about it?
>> Fill us in on the question first because
I don't know what he's what you guys are
talking about.
>> Okay. on uh Sawyer's crossing from the
elementary school all the way to where I
live on on 37 Sawyers element the the
between the sidewalk and the school's
fence.
There's a piece of grass that's there
that's like 12 ft wide by how many yards
long. It took three years for them to
mow it
in Swansea Center. We're all talking
about how beautiful Swansea is. Um Kevin
Bell and I have taken it upon ourselves
to mow every now and then. I mow it from
my property all the way to where the um
fiber optics garage is. I mow that every
other week so it doesn't look horrible.
But from the fiber optics garage all the
way to the usually to the street where
the driveway is for the elementary
school is it very rarely if ever mode.
>> David, hold on. Let me tell you. I know
where Kevin lives, right?
>> Are you talking going toward the police
station? No.
>> From Kevin.
>> From my house.
>> I live right.
>> Oh jeez. You're killing me. You're
killing me. Right across the street from
Kevin is me. Okay.
>> White colonial green shutters.
>> Beautiful Christmas display on keeps the
house.
>> David, I apologize. It's beautiful.
>> Now I've been Now I've been in your
place.
>> It's beautiful. I get it. [laughter]
>> I see it. I see it. I see it. It's
beautiful. So from my property which is
the white colonial
>> towards the store
>> towards the school that property from
the sidewalk to where the stone fences
um is never been mowed
>> ever.
>> 3 years ago the school mowed it up to a
point but from the end of the fence
where the school has their fence and all
the do not parking signs that part has
never been mowed. There's huge branches
where the trees have fallen. Kevin and I
have a couple times have gone out there
and moved some of them. It's just a pl
pain pain in the butt. Um I mow and I
don't I don't mind mowing from my place
to the um driveway for the fiber optics,
but the rest of it, I mean, you know, I
can't control our neighbors down the
street that Tarians their their place is
different looking. Um but I'd like to
have somebody be, you know, once in a
while and and thank you, Mark, for
looking into that. So,
>> but unfortunately, I guess the state
owns the state doesn't give a rat's
derriè.
So, I don't know how
>> maybe it was just a spot that they
thought they were doing it. We thought
we were doing it. We missed it. And
you're you're bringing it to light. So,
maybe we'll get it done. Maybe we can
fix this problem.
>> I don't think it would take much, but
I'm not trying
>> problem. I think we're going to probably
figure this out and fix it.
>> I I don't think it would take I I went
to Tony Brian at the high school and he
goes, I I don't own that one. I went to
the town and they said, "No, the school
owns it. The school says they don't own
it." I figured it was the state because
they own to the fence the the the stone
fence there and I know they don't give a
rat's derriè here but it
>> you know it just looks not that anyone
cares but I care I try and maintain my
property bill you understand the concept
of making a a nice looking place so
>> you do it every Christmas all year but
>> yeah I try so anyways that was my
question I just was wondering and I
didn't need to come here Mark you
answered for me so thank you very much
I'm sorry that you had to come in and do
this but we will get that we'll get
looked in. Mark will will push Mark
right into getting this fixed.
>> I also wanted two shout outs for the to
town employees that do a great job. So,
>> that's really nice to hear. It's nice to
hear that once in a while, you know.
Very seldom you you hear the bad things,
you don't hear the good sides, you know,
and it's nice and boy is pretty good
once in a while.
>> Every time I've gone to register my
vehicles with Heather, she's always been
amazing. I mean, she's very polite, very
kind, very whatever. And the uh Kevin, I
believe his name is.
>> Yes, Kevin.
>> Um I mean, he could have I believe 50
bucks or 100 bucks. I I was convinced I
paid everything. I what I I mean I
counted it twice. He counted it twice. I
was short. So I put more money in. I'm
like, "God, I got to be short. I count
it." And literally he called me the next
day and said, "I got your money here."
He could have easily pocketed that and
no one would have
>> I told him to keep it, David, so we can
mow that little section. I said, "Now we
can get that section. We can pay for the
gas." [clears throat]
Oh, no.
>> So, anyways, I just want to give the two
shout outs and positive question and
we'll we'll send that message off to the
town hall that you just gave us tonight.
>> And off the record, I heard your
commercial, not your commercial, you
went to your son on the radio the other
week talking about your going to the
great job on the baseball with the uh
helping out the first responders.
>> Thank you for that.
>> And his place down there is great. Your
place is great.
>> Great. Thank you very much, David.
>> And uh your house is beautiful, David,
by the way. It's unbelievable, David.
No, I always almost get in an accident
cuz my head is turning over there all
the time. It looks I'll show him
tomorrow.
>> Have a great night, David.
>> Are you guys here to approach us?
>> Hi, Joe.
>> Good evening.
I want to say I registered my daughter
the other day and Amanda was great.
>> So you had that call up, right? For her.
>> Let her know.
>> Uh
>> what brings you here tonight?
>> Sort of uh step two of the process that
we started last week. Uh again the the
lake association
is uh preparing a grant application
under section 319
which is a water quality improvement
grant. Uh it is administered by state
dees.
They did not offer any grants last year
uh due to some funding issues in
Washington. So our expectation is this
year is going to be very very
competitive for the small amount of
money that is available. Uh we are
working with southwest region planning
commission as basically our grant
writer. In our pre
I think preconcept meeting with
Southwest and dees
they both recommended that we have a
letter of support from the town. And
again, as I mentioned last week, we're
not seeking any money. The TAN really
has no functional responsibility here,
but they felt that a letter of support
would be very helpful uh with our grant
application.
That grant is targeted at two places.
one as we work down the list of both
high and medium priority items from our
watershed base management report. Uh two
items that have now sort of bubbled up,
excuse the pun, are the uh the shoreline
uh at Camp Squanto and the work would be
to target that the erosion that's going
on there through various means. The
other part of the uh the grant request
is to set up a fund to reimburse
partially reimburse homeowners on
improvements to their septic systems.
We're seeking a grant of about $70,000.
That grant proposal needs to be
submitted, I believe, by the 10th or the
11th. Uh, and as I mentioned last week,
I go on vacation on the 3 and I'm trying
to get everything done before that date.
I believe Stefon has prepared that
letter of support. I know Jay has a
copy. I don't know who else has it. And
that letter, I think, is
but I don't want to speak for you guys.
>> I have two letters here, Joe. I have the
319 grant letter and I have the uh on
call engineering.
>> Yeah. Let's let's put the Han calls to
the side and let's focus on the 319
before I know I tend to get confused
between the two.
>> This is hot off the presses.
>> Anything you want to add?
>> I won't talk about on call yet.
>> Who who drafted the letter?
>> Stefan did.
>> We had a meeting with Stefan.
Uh no, Sherry and I had a meeting with
Stefan last Wednesday. talked through a
lot of the background uh and he drafted
that letter which frankly I saw when I
showed up here at 4:30. So I did a quick
review on my phone and looks good to me.
>> There was one part of it that Stfan took
out because it was not good.
>> Yeah, but we both recognize that.
>> Did he see the pat that you took out?
Did he read it after you took that pat
out?
>> Yes, I'm sure. Because Stefan would have
>> You know what he's talking about?
>> No, I do not. I I didn't hear the whole
thing.
>> There was a final sentence at the end
which was basically gobbleygook and we
took it out.
>> Yeah. Mine did not have gobbleygook.
>> So I assume mine said it said yes I did.
>> This is the part I'm good with.
>> This is the part that he took out. The
town of Swansea thanks its residents,
collaborators, and stakeholders in the
consideration of assisting Swansea in
its pursuit of a happier, healthier
community.
>> we took that out. If you give me a
second, I can tell you if it's out of
the version that
>> that was
>> I have no problem if you take that out.
>> Read this.
>> Maybe you should read it.
>> Everybody's read.
>> We all have to sign it. So, you know,
>> like to give it to Joe tonight if we
could.
>> No, that's not in the version that I
Are you all set for Saturday morning at
10 o'clock?
>> We just about that, too.
>> All right. So,
>> I hope to be there.
>> So, what do we do? What do we do about
Allan?
>> Well, I think four signatures are
enough.
>> We just need three.
>> Yeah, but do you really want to leave
one blank that that we'll that
>> Joan needs it? Well, I've got I need it
by next Tuesday.
>> So, what you bring it to the office?
We'll tell Allan to go. And I'd like to
see five on there. I I don't think we
should leave a blank.
>> Allan can come in tomorrow.
>> Allan didn't couldn't show tonight. And
I just want to make sure I I would like
to see all five of us on that.
>> I I agree. If if Ken meet the deadline,
>> So, then you could pick it up from Bill
tomorrow. He'll be in the office
>> He'll be in the office. Okay. I'm not
sure what time, but
>> I won't be tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm taking
a day off.
>> We'll get a hold of Allan.
>> I just
>> While you're signing that very quickly
on the on call engineering program. Uh
we have been talking with Southwest
since last April uh regarding taking
advantage of their on call engineering
program where they sponsor
small conceptual engineering projects
related to transportation.
Uh and the one that they earmarked
actually before us was uh doing a
conceptual engineering study on Talbot
Hill Road to prevent er further erosion
on Eastshore Road which from our
standpoint then winds up in the lake.
We've been began serious discussions
with Stefan at the conservation
commission meeting early August.
>> Yes. And um the conservation commission
supports this and is willing to put some
money up um to make it happen. Maybe
some matching money from the town. U but
the last time Talbt Hill Road washed
into East Shore Road uh we were lucky
enough to get FEMA money to help fix it
and I don't know if that money would be
available if this happens again. So the
conceptual study is just to see what's
possible for Talbot Hill and um what
could improve that situation to stop a
lot of the runoff which I've got to say
the town has already addressed a lot of
it um
from the last flood uh the improvements
they've made have been great but uh if
we did have a storm of the magnitude
that happened three years ago uh we may
have further damage to East Road and
Again, like Joe said, our concern is
that Washington to the lake, but it is a
transportation
uh type of thing to protect East Shore
Road. Uh so that's sort of the
background on that. So
to put maybe a little finer point on
this, know we do water testing on the
lake and I happen to actually go out and
do the dissolved oxygen testing and you
want a lot of oxygen in the water.
uh based on the history I actually
detesting the morning of the flooding.
So we have a great baseline.
Uh you definitely see deterioration
of the water quality
being supported by all of this sediment
that has been dumped into the lake. Uh
it is consuming large amounts of oxygen
which isn't there now for other things.
So preventing future flooding of the
lake uh to date for us is a very very
high priority.
This particular program the maximum
grant I believe is 11,500.
Some of the early estimates from the
cost of the conceptual engineering
project have been on the order of 15 to
two to $20,000.
So we as a community would need to come
up with a match on the order of 3500 to
8,500.
>> What would you do with this? What is
what are you going to do?
>> An engineering firm would come in
>> just get the engineering part of it
done.
>> To look at Tablet Hill why the water's
coming down washing out East Shore Road.
Right.
>> Particularly the road why Tabith Hill
Road. Uh probably the most powerful
thing is there'd be a stakeholder
meeting that the engineering firm would
initiate with ourselves the various
stakeholders involved with the town and
start talking about what options can be
could be. They would then do a complete
study, come back to us and say, "Here
are the two, three, four options. Here
are the approximate cost." And then we
as a town would have to decide
>> how we're going to do it.
>> Do what we want to do. Is it worth that
investment?
>> I I don't have this all about this.
Excuse me. Is that what this is about?
>> That's the letter we talked about
before. This is I think staff. No, this
is the letter. They're now looking at
the at
>> I have not seen that.
>> We haven't seen that, but we have been
meeting with Stefan.
>> This came from Stefan this afternoon as
well. So it
>> Yeah. You want to look at it?
>> Is this the same time constraint?
>> No.
This has got
we've been talking with Southwest for 14
15 months and at the beginning of those
discussions we are at the top of the
list. As their effort drags on my
concern quite frankly there's going to
be more and more people vying for a very
small pool of money. So I've got a sense
of urgency because I want to stay at the
top of that list.
the longer we take it's a sort of a
first come first serve basis. I think
they only have allocated about $35,000
for this program. So they're con
considering giving out three grants
>> what
>> 3,000
you said
>> of that 35,000 three grand of 11,000.
>> Yes. I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry. I thought you had a D in
there. No,
>> three grand.
Does that read okay, bud?
>> Looks good. Yeah,
>> I trust bud. And then quick read. Let's
check.
>> What is that?
>> That That's the letter of support. It's
not a letter for the for the we just
we're talking about
So if everybody's up with that, we could
sign that too.
>> I'd rather wait till next week.
>> Yeah. Okay. So we'll put that up.
>> If there's no hold,
>> we're going to get this one signed by
Alan, the one you originally came, the
319, and we'll sit on that for a week or
so. Is that okay?
>> That's perfectly fine.
>> Yeah, cuz the most emergency one is the
319.
>> All right. And just uh before we leave
on call, just full transparency, we're
going to be coming back and saying with
that letter, we need we in total need
some money.
>> Yeah. Which we may or may not have.
>> Exactly. Right. But I just want I just
want to be upfront.
>> The first one there's no money attached.
>> This one
>> the on call there is.
>> That's why we want to sit on it for a
little bit. I think
>> understand.
>> What'd you grab your wallet for? just
said when he said that
>> uh I I I did shift my weight over the
walls. [laughter]
>> Now the lake association has a very very
small budget and we are willing to kick
in some money ourselves. You know this
does show a good faith.
>> Well
all that's in the negotiation phase as
we get closer to
>> All right. Sounds good.
>> Oh it's very nice visit guys. Thank you
for coming in again. Thank you.
>> Take care.
>> Hey, and if we don't see you, have a
good vacation.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Where you going? Italy.
>> No, that was last year. We're going to
the UK.
>> Joe, we'll we'll leave this at the front
desk with Kate.
>> Okay. When does Alan When When's the
earliest I should consider coming?
>> We're going to call him tomorrow.
>> So, thanks for coming and I'll let we'll
let you know. Okay. Great. Thank you.
Okay. Mass grant.
>> Okay. So, Stefan, also
uh the next item on the agenda is the
mass grant. We asked Stfan to
>> list some possible projects. Um I'm not
sure this list is got any meat to it,
but I I can read it to you. I I didn't
make copies of it because it seemed like
a waste, but uh he's he's listed three
ideas and then has the fourth one is
additional suggestions by the DPW
director, select board, and residents.
So, it's it's it's that it's in that
stage of development. But these are the
three continued southerntherly extension
of sidewalk along Old Homestead Highway
towards Talwood Hill Road. Second one,
engineering analysis for the
construction of an easterly road for
emergency services traveling from old
Homestead Highway to the rear of Marcy
Hill through map 219, lot 42.
If you're picturing that, that's from
the fire station basically to Marcy Hill
and that potential development in that
area. And the third one is engineering
analysis for reconstruction of class 5
road along Oliver Hill Road to
intersection at CL Lane Road and
Woodland Heights Drive connecting uh
through Oliver Hill Road to the Woodland
Heights area from Route 32 to making
making that a a viable connection. Well,
these are engineering studies, those two
things. So, I'm attracted to the idea of
east west corridors being available for
emergency services and communications in
the town. And both of these engineering
studies would be preliminary toward
potential development of the town in
those areas. However, uh they're they're
just engineering studies. They don't
actually get anything built. Whereas the
first one, the sidewalks, actually
builds sidewalks that go down a Toddale
Road and might be extended at some other
time. And then there are other ideas we
might want to use for the mass award.
So that's what Stefan has given us and
we need to think about it and either
discuss it now or later.
>> Yeah, the grant application is due in
mid October,
>> something like that. and Joe would need
to be talked and spoken with with regard
to extending the sidewalk. He's taking
it to the church this year and then this
would extend it further which he's got
to do research on.
>> Stfan said that um Joe simply said to
him uh why don't we just continue with
the sidewalk. That's what Joe said to
Stefan, but we'd have to ask Joe for a
little more detail about that.
We got a lot of sidewalks out of the
mass grants.
>> So what is that really the question
whether we want to go after a mass grant
for this in particular thing or is there
other things is that what we're trying
to say right now?
>> Well, this is a transportation early to
grant, right? I mean that's what the
mass grant is and it's a donor who's
given this money
>> has to be in by October.
>> Early October. early to
>> and this is something we've we've
received at least three.
>> If not more, but at least three.
>> We have.
>> And there's some concern that the donor
>> behind the engineering not the
>> one one of them is
>> the sidewalks and the other two are just
>> engineering and looking how it would be
done, right?
>> How costly are these things? Well,
>> like where do they run? Hundreds of
thousands.
>> No, I think the last one we got was
50,000.
>> 50 or 75. So Joe runs the pavement
>> as far as it will go.
>> Interesting.
>> Yeah. And the the um other argument for
the engineering analysis is that um
having done that study, it makes it a
little easier for someone who wants to
develop those areas because then they
know they had the engineering done, they
can then focus on the construction
costs.
That's what that is, you know. So if we
want to induce somebody to come up with
something like that, then that's that's
a inducement for a developer to go look
at that project.
>> So that's the only these are the
arguments that Savon gave me and I'm
just passing.
>> So this is a board of this would be a
board thing that we make the most to
send them out. But you want we want to
give Joe time to look into more of this,
>> So just giving us a heads up being
And Joe's already aware of this.
>> Uh, I don't think Joe's seen this little
memo, but he and Stefan have had a talk.
And all I did, all I know is that Stefan
said that Joe said, "Well, why don't we
just do sidewalks?" That's what Joe
said. Now, we can ask Joe for a more
definitive answer to that. But that's
that's what we got here.
>> Right. Exactly.
>> And that that would be part of that.
>> Yep. That'd be part of the
the on call engineering grant.
>> That wasn't
>> It was not a came in as public input.
>> Yeah. Came in as public input. That was
319 grant. Did you um
>> do you want to see a copy of that letter
that they that we are thinking about
>> And then the on call engineering grant
letter is here.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I don't think you need this.
Just just that we discussed it. We're
going to look into it. She wants the
other member though.
>> I didn't hear what you were saying.
>> Oh, she meant the other meal.
>> Oh, this this the other one.
>> I'm apolog
update if you want to.
>> Yeah. Uh, hold on. Over there.
Yeah.
Well, any other business? I just want to
briefly touch the administrative update.
>> Okay. Go ahead.
>> But okay. Um,
just the phones. Um, I had a nice talk
with the people from Fidium today about
um what we're paying for through Fidium
for phone lines in the town. And there
are a couple interesting things that I
discovered. Um, we were specifically
first of all focusing on the town hall
and the police station. The idea is that
they're proposing and they sent me a
proposal which we're considering I hope
um for
running internet service basically to
both places that would be would cost
about the same as what we're paying now,
but it's four times better in terms of
capacity. and so on. It's fiber. Yeah.
And um it would replace the spectrum
internet in the in these places. And
currently in in town hall, we have both
spectrum and um first light first light
u providing internet. And Chris Emerson
was on the phone with us and he refers
to the the first light as uh crappy
internet, crappy fiber. Um but but
basically this would be an upgrade and
they're proposing to to um do that for
us. There's um if if we were to sign
this contract uh by Friday um they could
give us 3 months free. Chris and I spoke
after our our team's call and he says
and I felt the same way. We've gotten in
trouble before rushing into things, so
we don't really want to rush into
things. And we're talking about $450 a
month um for 3 months. The savings we
get there is pretty minimal in terms of
making sure we want to make sure we're
getting what we want here. So, we we
thought we'd wait a little bit. It takes
45 to 60 days for them to install this.
And they they basically install it and
we'd be running under both systems for a
day as they test it all out. And then we
we go on to the other. And the other
other part of that is we have to find
out what it takes to get out of
contracts with First Light and Spectrum.
Um Christine did some digging and
discovered that the First Light contract
is a three-year contract which expires
in uh end of December this year. And so
it maybe we can't get out of that until
then. We have to figure out whether
there's any early exit provisions and
stuff like that. But that's that's what
we've done today. looking into it so
far. Um Chris advises that there's no
reason to rush that uh there's a small
cost to wait that looking into first
light and spectrum contracts discover
cancellation costs which we started to
do and he says that we first need to
switch from sang etc
and uh then we'll be then we could
upgrade the internet on top after that.
So, we basically we want to get better
phones in there and then get better
service and and having the 45 to 60
60-day installation
means that we we don't have to rush. We
we eventually get that before the end of
the year. But if we can't get out of the
spectrum and the the light the first
light, then that maybe we have to wait
till the end of the year to do the
upgrade of the system. the spectrum
contract we're trying to track down.
Christine wasn't able to find it in the
this afternoon. The um
first light is our backup. We're all
we're running spectrum and town hall
right now. That's the internet we're
using. The first light is fiber as a
backup in case the spectrum goes down.
And we all talked about how we didn't
necessarily need to pay for a backup.
So that's the idea. Chris's idea was
that we should cancel first light
first and save the money on that while
we're going to but we may not be able
to. We have to look into that
>> and wait for the contract.
>> Yeah, the contract ends then. Um, also
we have a list of all the lines that
we're paying Fidium for and some of them
are lines which we have decided to
discontinue. The select board apparently
decided to discontinue the alarm lines
on the covered bridges for instance.
They haven't been cancelled and we've
been paying several hundred dollars in
in monthly fees for for those lines. And
I have a
>> supposed to cancel those.
>> Lori apparently was asked to cancel
those. Um I have a spreadsheet of all
the stuff we're paying with and we've
Christine and I have identified where
all these are. Some of them are ones we
just don't want to upgrade to fiber. You
know, they're and we can do that easily
where there's um internets. For
instance, at DPW there's internet and at
at the uh uh transfer station there's
internet. So all we have to do is
arrange for them to be changed over to
fiber. Uh copper is going away. They're
they're everywhere.
>> They're ripping the copper lines out.
And what Fidium is doing is they're
raising the price of the copper lines to
force people to go to fiber.
So, the costs we're paying already are
are going to go up. Right now, we're
paying $1,438
for $28 a month for these phones, of
which at least
seven of them uh we were supposed to be
we don't use.
Okay. We don't we don't use the the fire
panels in um the um
transfer station. We don't use the fire
panels in uh the um
uh I don't even know what this is.
181 Sawyers Crossing Road is a
but we discovered that that
>> that might be the bridge.
>> That's the bridge.
>> That's the bridge. That's the bridge. We
don't use the the alarm panels there.
There's a bridge there. Two lines there.
There's a line at the um at the bridge
by um the fire station on Main Street
down the road here. There's one at the
Westport Village Road that on the on the
Slate Bridge. There's one for the
Carlton Bridge. Those are all ones that
were supposed to be cancelled.
>> Can these all be cancelled? Like by the
way, it's got nothing to do with the
contract or not.
>> Yes. Yes, I can.
>> As as easy as just calling them and
saying take these lines off of
>> Actually, there's a there's a form he
sent me. The Fidium guy sent me a form
to fill out to cancel those
>> which with your approval I will do.
when I get in the office on Friday, I'll
do that. Um,
>> how did this come alive? How did this
>> Well, the fidium guy called
>> Fidium guy called me and said, you know,
we need to review your service. I think
there's some lines that you don't need
that you're not using. Uh, but we need
to review your service and because we
need to upgrade from copper to
>> And then you went to Theresa and asked
for that.
>> Uh, no, this came from him.
>> Oh, that came from him.
>> Yeah. And this is the the prices we're
paying for each of these phones. and the
numbers and the locations and some of
them we we've been looking for who we
were paying for the phone at Richardson
Park for instance it's on here and
that's a a copper line that we're paying
them for that we can change to fit him
and he says it's it's cheaper to go with
the fiber anyway so if we go to fiber
we're going to save some money and
we'll have better service and so on and
Chris was on the line to advise us and I
expect to lean on him a lot to advise
how we go forward on this, but that's
where we are on that.
>> So, when he started that conversation,
you seem like you wanted to add
something to it. If he answer your
question and the conversation, I'll talk
about it after
>> and we do have a proposal from the
Fidium people and um I do have a copy of
the contract with the first light people
here
which I'll
>> um that's the phones. That's my first.
So, you're all going to follow up and
cancel those.
>> I will I can easily do that um for those
those ones that are clear. And then the
others are ones we are using currently
and I think those are ones we want to
>> upgrade.
>> But then the then far as the police
station goes, there's some phones in the
police station that are copper right now
and I don't know particularly if if
we're using them or not. We need to
figure that out as part of the transfer
and Chris is going to work with us on
that I think.
Where is the update on the new phones?
What's going on there? How long where do
we stand with the the new phones?
>> Well, Christine finished an analysis of
what our phone usage is.
>> And she's put that report together and
sent it off to
>> that helps us come up with the plan we
need.
>> We need to know which phones need to be
a special the higher grade and which
ones be the lower grade.
>> She sent that over so Tanya can order.
>> So, it's in movement.
>> Yep. And we're shooting for a 911 a 911
target date.
>> That's what we're actually in and start
bringing phones in.
>> Yep. They want to be set up. And as Jay
mentioned, they want to have a few days
of simultaneous working because as of
9:14, our contract with Sang ends.
>> Wow.
>> And then there's then there's this other
that Lisa's been working on.
>> There's so many layers to to this stuff.
>> Yeah. fire station police station.
>> So, she's working on a company called
TCE, and I I don't know that she's
gotten what she needs.
>> She got a contact finally, but she
doesn't have the numbers that they bill
us for.
>> Yeah, they won't give us the numbers.
They won't give us a copy of their
contract. So, we're probably in a in a
monthto-month situation now, unless it
auto renewed.
>> Yeah. Don't know.
>> How we doing?
So that so in terms of the phones
everything is moving forward.
>> The um other thing next thing to mention
is that the um in terms of the hazard
mitigation thing that we talked about
last week. Um there's now a form for
people to provide input on hazard
mitigation that's on the town website.
It's the first item on the left on the
community news section of the the town
website. And I just want to make sure
that people listening and uh if they
wish to fill out that form, they they
should go to the town website to do so.
I want to announce that
>> we all got an email with that. Did you
get
>> Yeah, it's a survey.
>> So, we can we can answer the survey. And
the the third thing is what you and
Megan dis discussed about the the actual
cost of carrying inactive fire
department members on the on our on the
roles that we we have to pay for
disability insurance. Uh, and it's
important for us to manage those rules
so that we don't pay as much don't pay
too much for
>> Well, there it goes back to what I read
through. I mean, there it goes back to
the roster and and how important it was
to have that updated. And then when I
read that, I went, there it is. You
know, there's some of the reasons why
>> and and I was going to call Eric today,
but I figured I'd wait till we discuss
it tonight and have him make sure he
updates it and give it bring it to you
and have it brought to you. And if you
want, I can call him tomorrow and make
sure he brings you an exact who is and
who isn't and everything like that up to
date of today. Because when I asked, can
you go get that? Do you remember? Right
now, cuz you supply it to me. And then
there was questions about certain people
on there. Do you remember? Nick went,
well, wait a minute. There's this and
that. So, we need to clarify that
>> and and he needs to understand why
>> it's it's going to be real money in a
few years.
>> That's right. So
>> not that it's not real money now, but
>> but eventually it's going to
>> this is going to be from now till 2030.
>> They're going to gradually raise, right?
>> Yeah. But to get to
>> it's 2400 per person. Now it'll be
>> 9,600
>> 4,800 and and get to 9600
>> for each person.
>> For each person
>> each on call person. So if they're not
if they're not participating and then as
Megan mentioned there's other things
like pagers and equipment and everything
else.
>> It's incredible. So go ahead. We're
really going to have to look deep into
this. This is you're looking at how many
we got on call. Right.
>> You just if you got 10 people that's
100,000.
>> A few years.
>> And it wouldn't change if they were
full-time. We still have to pay the same
amount.
>> Wow. Okay. So do you guys want me to do
that? call Eric and tell him to get us
>> to one of us at town. We need that
>> and I'll get it to get it to you.
>> Well, Bill's in there tomorrow. I'm in
there.
>> He's working on it with Megan.
>> Oh, you already done that?
>> He's working with Megan.
>> He and Megan have been collaborating on
this.
>> No, you don't.
>> The last thing I have is that
>> I I do think the fact that we have that
email, you might want to have a
conversation with him.
>> Because I'm not sure if he got that.
>> Yeah. Well, I had a conversation with
him today and I told him that um sooner
than later to get everything out of the
center station. I said, "You got to go
in there and get everything out
immediately." I said, "Get right on it."
So, anything that's going to be left in
there in a few days, we're either going
to junk or figure out.
So that that nice segue into my last
item is that we we are to to help Steve
Bidd out. We need to start thinking how
we want to go what we want to have as
part of phase two of the town hall
renovation.
U Joe has gotten a he's getting a quote
from um Grayson about uh putting a
bathroom down there so that we didn't
have to so we don't have to have the
Lula to make the the the space ADA
compliant. And if we have a bathroom
downstairs, we don't have to have a lift
to get people upstairs to the bathroom.
So, that would seem to be a an item that
we need in order to expand down below.
And we don't know how much we'll have
left over from the money that was
approved last spring because we hasn't
we haven't got the final bill on the
staircase and so on. But any money
that's left over could go towards some
reorganization of the space to make
office space or or whatever down there.
But we also want to look at what we want
to do there. Bill is also interested in
removing the pillars in the in the bays
to make that room open and so on. And we
need to look at that as a possibility,
but we need to come up with something
>> for Steve for the CIP
>> and we need to do that within a week or
so. So he wants all the stuff by the
11th of September with a little bit of
cleaning waiting.
>> So then so then we should schedule like
a sit down with Joe and us and and maybe
get those plans that we had to even look
at. Right. And so when are we going to
be able to do that if he needs it in a
week? Well, Steve Steve said when he he
asked me to send this out to all the
department heads, which I've done,
>> and he asked me to do that and he said
he thought the the 11th was a good
deadline date, September 11th. And he
said, but it could be later, like the
18th, but he was hoping it would get in
by the 11th. So, I left it as the 11th.
And I hope they're not listening
because, you know, but it may be that in
our case, we could go a little longer
since we have so much trouble. We have
to do it collectively. We can't just
have one person decide all this. So, we
have to talk about what we want as a
board in the in the basement of town
hall. And we don't have an administrator
to chime in. We don't have that kind of
stuff.
>> When is the first CIP meeting again? I
thought I read it. Um, who is who is
going to be on that? Because I didn't
see you. Were you on that mark? Cuz I
didn't see him sent to it. It was me.
>> So, I guess it's me.
>> Well, we had to sign it tomorrow. It was
mom.
>> But you can both go cuz this is this is
pretty critical.
>> What time is it tomorrow?
>> Well, no.
>> I thought it was tomorrow, wasn't it? Or
>> we got
>> No, it's a Monday.
>> It's Monday. It's this Monday.
>> It's a Monday.
>> Water sewer meeting tomorrow.
>> Right. That's I'm getting confused.
>> But the Jeez, I won't be going to Main
Street tomorrow.
>> We're supposed to be at Main Street
>> I know. I have a tow tomorrow. I got to
do that.
>> It's Monday for the
>> CIL.
I saw the email. Ask Katie to
>> It's Yeah, it's Monday, Mark. I want to
say um I'll call Steve, but I'm pretty
sure I read Monday, but I was looking at
it who is from the select board and I
did see Mike I was on there, but I
thought it was Mark, you know, and I
asked Steve if he'd minded if I just
said even if Mark was on there. Um so,
are you going to
>> Yeah, I'll go. Good.
>> But but I I'm curious what other people
think. I mean, I I would like to see
myself I'd like to see us come out of
this with a a couple office spaces down
there um in in a break room. But
>> yeah, but we have other issues, too. We
have a water issue, right? Bathroom now
issue.
>> I think the bathrooms are important,
>> But spending $100,000 on a Lula doesn't
make sense right now.
>> And when you say money left over, I
think we put what? 200 and we're
probably 120 in
>> right now, aren't we? We're
>> closer to 80. It goes because there were
some change orders.
>> We have we just approved two change
orders.
>> Two change orders. So it's it's up to
about
>> 10 to 20,000 to play with and that's not
going to be enough I don't think to make
the bathroom, but we have to see what he
comes back with.
>> So what's the issue with the bathroom
that's there? Cuz it's there
>> and what we need to knock that down.
>> Yeah, cuz it needs to be handicap
accessible.
>> I got to or put a lift in.
>> I see.
So, it's it's basically
um that that's more of a priority for
the warrant or whatever for the CIP,
whatever. We have to think about that.
>> All right. So, when are we going to find
time to do this?
>> Yeah,
>> that's what we got to figure out. I
mean,
we're really eating a lot lately, but we
have to find some time to have Joe.
Maybe we meet there, right? We should
have a meeting there.
What do you guys look like next week at
the beginning of the week?
>> Monday
because of the CIP and that CIP 10
>> and I have a governance meeting.
>> Monday's not
>> When's that
>> on Monday?
>> What time is that?
>> 8 something
>> cuz I'm wondering if we could fit it in
with cuz you know they're going to be
there Monday. CIP,
>> What time is the CIP Monday? Huh?
>> What time is this here?
>> 10 o'clock. I want to say
>> we're at
>> downstairs.
Okay. Thank Don't I'm just remembering I
saw 10 o'clock.
we're obviously we're not going to have
nothing for Steve for that meeting. It's
just a kickoff thing. I think Steve is
doing getting everybody together. And
>> if you two are going to be at that
meeting, would you you know the meeting
after that meeting? Is there time when
we all could gather?
>> Well, that's what I was thinking. You're
already getting 1 hour.
>> Oh, yeah. He won't go over an hour on
that. We could say 11:00 on Monday. Meet
downstairs. But now he has a government.
>> That's not till later on in the
afternoon.
>> Governor is governance is in the
>> So your day is no golfing, no Red Sox,
no nothing.
>> Yeah. Thanks.
>> Okay. Put that in the minutes.
>> So So 11:00
>> 11:00 on Monday, I guess, right?
>> I could still play nine holes of golf
and get there. I was done at 8 8:30 this
morning.
>> Oh my god.
>> I had to pick up my wife, so she's
getting
to be careful.
>> Anyway, you you have an appointment.
>> Yeah, but I Let me see what mine is. But
keep this. Do it at 11 cuz you know what
I mean?
>> Cuz you guys can fill me in on it if you
guys need to.
>> We're going to We need to all be
together.
>> Well, to make it a final decision and we
need to discuss it and all the pros and
cons, right? That's what you're looking
for.
>> We got to get Allan.
>> I'll get a hold of everybody. We'll get
together and we'll get a hold of
everybody. But we'll shoot for right now
Monday at 11. Okay.
>> All right. Unless something pops up and
we we email everybody. Okay. That's
closer to that you've done.
>> That's my administrative update.
>> All right. So, where are we after that?
>> Well, we got to see
one quick question for you guys. That's
all I can give you tonight is
>> I I I've purchased 50 uh chair covers
myself. I just cuz Katie [clears throat]
told me that I had to go through the
select board in order to purchase them.
It was 135 bucks and I just want to know
if there's a way that I can get refunded
for those chairs.
That's all.
She said I had to go to it for $135 and
I was like seriously
>> and you already did it, bud.
>> You already purchased them?
>> I bought them. Yes. And if you can't pay
>> See how you put pressure on us?
>> Well, you buy them and then you ask for
them.
>> So I don't put pressure on you. So I got
two big events coming up here where I
need more than 100 chair covers
>> and I don't have them.
>> Are they they match the other ones?
>> Yes, they're identical. Yes. So, and
there's, you know, a bunch of torn ones
that are coming up. And plus, I'm taking
the ones that I'm using and washing them
and doing that also. So, that was just
my quick question. What do you guys feel
about um the chair covers?
>> Check the budget.
>> We got to look at the budget.
>> Yeah, we got to see all the revenue.
>> We'll have to get back to you on that.
Let me look in because we have to check
the budget. It's over there. But it's
$135.
>> I can get you a receipt, too. There is a
there is a requisition form. There's a
requisition form to fill out for
anything that you want to have paid from
the town hall. So there you can get one
from
>> Katie and Maggie.
>> Yeah. Katie can get it for you, but it's
on the website as well, but but you can
you should
>> it it just you list the expenses and you
put the receipts on the back of it and
you turn it in. Just provides a paper
trail for our auditors
>> if we're going to pay you. If we don't
pay you, then we'll get you'll get it
back. If you don't maybe then it's a
donation that I made to them all
>> Right. But but you could get started
with that by organizing your receipts on
the back of that.
>> I don't know if Sharon's got in touch
with you with the committee is for a
list of things that they were going to
ask you for um you know like the the
snow rake and the electric. Hey, she
done she generated a big list of stuff
>> she was given a form for CIP to for the
capital improvement thing to fill out
and I'm sure that's on
>> she did that. Yeah.
>> And Joe has solicited quotes for the
snow breaks.
>> Yeah. For that stuff and the electric
and stuff.
>> Mhm.
>> Thank you. Appreciate it.
>> Have a great night.
>> You too.
>> Just have a quick non public.
>> Make a motion to go into non public.
>> All in favor? Under I'll second it, but
under what?
>> I just drawing a blank. What somebody
else have I done publicly want to do? I
don't
>> Well, I did want to before you get into
that, I went to say something and you
said he was giving the administrator
update.
>> I'm done with that.
>> Stop me. I just wanted to give you an
update on the phone call I got from Joe,
the chief of police.
>> About the school this morning. What
happened over there?
>> Oh, yeah. We heard.
>> Yeah. So, you got it all
>> or Allan and I.
>> All right. So, we're going to give it
till Friday. I'm gonna go meet with Joe
tomorrow in the morning because well,
not in the morning. I got to sign that
paper for the radar, right? So, I'm
going to sign that grant and then he's
going to tell me. His first opinion was
opening day, everybody drives the kids
to school. It should wean down. I don't
see it. I think we're going to have an
issue that we're going to have to So, my
question was, where does the select
board step in? Isn't this the school,
the superintendent, and maybe you? and
then if you guys can't come to a
decision of making changes because it is
a um a safety issue. So I think it will
end up on our lap.
>> I I I would hope that one of the things
they'd look at is adjusting the opening
times for the two schools because that's
the that's another way of
adjusting the opening times. Now it may
not be convenient for them
>> but
>> they are adjusting.
>> But if if you've got
>> high school to Mount Cesa
>> Yeah. But he's thinking Mount Caesar
first through third 3rd to six an
alternating status that makes
>> I'm not sure how that works.
>> That would change the whole day for the
teachers. That would change a lot.
>> Yes, it would change a lot for the
administrators and all that. But that's
one way of doing it is to look at your
populations and decide maybe maybe the
junior high comes in a different time
than the high school, whatever.
>> We won't discuss it until it's put on
our lap, but I was just giving you a
heads up. There was a situation there,
so you were all aware of it. The traffic
was back down 32 [clears throat]
past your house, I think, and all the
way up over the bridge and up that way.
>> It was It was backed up.
>> I'm all set.
>> You don't have to do it?
>> what happened?
>> Totally spaced it.
>> You solved it.
>> I should have I should have written it
down.
>> Do you honestly spaced it?
>> Really?
>> Well, we'll
>> I'll give you those memory pills that I
bought.
Make a motion to adjurnn then.
>> All in.
>> Oh, wait a minute.