NH Muni WatchStatewide meeting record

All towns · new-london

CIP Meeting August 27, 2026

The August 27, 2026 CIP meeting focused on reviewing departmental capital requests with the goal of finalizing the plan for an October public hearing. Key decisions included the Fire Chief removing the $1.5-$2 million tanker bay expansion after finding a smaller ladder truck that fits the existing building. The Police Department shifted its $2.5 million land acquisition and $9.5 million new station placeholders from FY28/29 to FY29/30. The Library plans a 2028 interior renovation and mechanical system upgrades. Police Chief Cop presented a plan to replace four patrol cruisers at $85,000 each through 2032 and budgeted for dispatch console replacements in FY28. The group agreed to meet Friday, September 18, at 8 a.m. to finalize the narrative before the public hearing.

Video

Good morning, folks.
>> All right, good morning everybody.
[cough and clears throat]
We'll go ahead and get started. Thank
you all for coming. Uh, this is the
Thursday, August 27th, 2026 meeting of
the planning board and the board of
selectmen. Hey, Marian. Sorry. We're
just going to jump in. Hi. That's all
right. Good morning, everybody. Thanks
for coming. Uh just a reminder, we're
recording today, so this uh can be
watched back later. Um Adam's going to
kick us off here, but I appreciate
everybody coming out. I know it's hard
to align schedules and appreciate all
the department heads and other folks
being here, as well as of course
planning board.
Um great. So, for planning board members
who uh grabbed a spreadsheet the other
night at the planning board meeting,
just want to make sure everybody saw
Vicki on your way and then got a
different one. We found where one um
project did not actually turn up in the
one you were given the other night. So,
everyone have the new one.
>> Okay. Um so, Lynn is here and has the um
the software live on the screen, which
you probably can't see very closely.
That's okay. um it's just a matter of
her being able to make the changes in um
the software in real time if we have any
changes um and hopefully that will help
um with efficiency. Um so we will go
through each one of the four departments
um and hear what they um have for
highlights if there's new projects, if
there's updated projects, if there's a
particular project of interest. Um and
then feel free to ask um relatively
minor um questions that are department
specific. Um but the idea being once
we've gone through all of the department
presentations then the um you can all
sort of deliberate on if there's things
that you want to move around year to
year once you have a more holistic view
of um of the plan. Um
things that you might notice are
slightly different from years past. We
have um held a threshold of $50,000 um
for what is capital um in discussion um
[clears throat] with department heads,
we decided that we're not going to pay
super close attention to that threshold
um because that can create a scenario
where um for public works especially,
some tractors are over $50,000 and some
are under. And so you end up with this
plan that shows half of the mowers that
have to be replaced and half that um
need to be replaced are not there. And
so if we want department heads to and
the community at large to be able to use
this and have a better understanding, it
makes sense to put like things with them
regardless of the the monetary value.
And there's some um police equipment and
things that Emily will get into that
also fall into that category. Um so
that's a a difference that you might
notice. Um other than that I think we
should just let um folks get started. Um
any procedural questions from anybody?
One other thing I guess to mention too
for um so it's technically a document of
the planning board. So um when uh
adoption actually happens, it's a public
hearing at the planning board meeting.
We typically shoot for the first meeting
in October. Um so our goal will be if we
can get the the actual projects pretty
solidified today um in September we can
um update the narrative that um from
last year's session uh and then be ready
for
if we could hit our end of September
meeting for public hearing that's
fantastic but the ideal being um I think
it's like October 11th is the or 13th is
the target here and that's 10 days prior
to the selectman's uh budget workshop.
So that gives us time to turn that over
to the selectman. Let them sort of
marinate on it before they get into
that. So any questions?
All right. So uh we have the fire
department up first. So um Mike, all
yours.
>> Well, good morning everyone. I'm new to
this, so bear with me. So I'm not 100%
sure with the format, but basically I'll
go through my line items. But before I
start, the first thing
>> absolutely the first thing I would say
is coming in as the chief, one of the
items that was on the CIP was the
expansion of the fire department tanker
bay, which I looked at,
[cough and clears throat] excuse me, did
not see any reason to not or to do that.
Um, based on,
excuse [clears throat] me, the reason
the expansion was there was because the
former chief thought with the
replacement of the new ladder truck, it
would have to go into a bigger area. But
we've looked at options to figure out
that there are different things we could
do to use the envelope of the building
right now. one of them which was we just
recently had a vendor from Quebec come
down with um a ladder truck that they
build up there that we demonstrated to
the selectman to the town and to our
members um that basically fits in the
envelope of the building comes in at a
substantial price tag a lot less than a
full ladder truck does under a million
dollars actually and um so we put it
through everything we have some
opposition to it because the mentality
is that that the town needs a full-size
ladder truck. So, we formed a truck
committee to look at the all the
aspects, not only purchasing this truck,
replacing it with a full-size ladder
truck down the road or refurbishing the
current ladder truck. So, that's in the
works right now. So, that's my savings
right there is it's basically one and a
half to $2 million not doing the
building expansion um because there's
definitely other options. So, excuse
[clears throat] me. So, the first thing
I'm looking to replace is the 2015 Dodge
Durango that we've had for quite a while
now that basically has 92,000 miles. Um,
it's used as not only for inspections,
but because we have drone operations
now, we need to have a platform for that
as well. So, we do have a couple of of
licensed drone operators, and the drone
gets used quite a bit, as well as by
other officers around the town. So, it
has 92,000 miles. Um, it's in rough
shape transmissionwise and it has quite
a bit of rust on the under body as well.
All right,
>> back in service.
>> Any questions on that?
Good. Okay. So, as you see, the 2032 is
the replacement year for our current
ladder truck as it stands. Um, the $1.9
million was put back in there. Just the
worst case scenario that we do have to
you go forward with the full-time
replacement of this truck. So that's
based on current pricing right now. And
obviously it's going to go up by the
time that rolls around.
And then the third item I have on there
is the replacement of our current
utility truck, which is our first due
piece for medical calls and and basic
calls around town. That was just
replaced in 2024, so it's not due till
till 2034.
>> Yes, sir. [clears throat]
Um, in regard to the latter truck, the
DES I apologize I haven't been part of
the meetings leading up to this. Um,
how will that decision be made and over
what period of time will it be made?
>> So, the board of firewards would like it
made fairly quickly. We have actually we
don't have a contract with this company
because we wanted everyone to come and
see it first to make their own
conclusions on it. Um, we're still
waiting for some things to be worked out
on the legal side, but the board of
firewards would like to see resolution
to this within, I think, 6 months at the
most. The build, this is a build on this
truck, if they do ultimately go with
this one. It's a two-year build, just
like everything else. We would be the
first
department in the United States to have
this. they only want to work with us
because of a proximity to Quebec and
they'd be able to do the maintenance on
it. Um, you know, without having to find
a vendor down here. The biggest thing is
with this truck, and I think this is the
opposition, it's on a Ford F600 chass
chassis. It's a smaller truck, but it's
more maneuverable. It's four-wheel
drive. It can get to a lot of the houses
where our ladder truck can't can't get
to. So, it would be me, you know, it
would be serviced by a Ford dealership
here locally as far as the chassis is
concerned.
>> Yeah. And so if that timeline is
correct, is the
um placeholder of a million nine in the
right year? Because that decision by the
firewards would be made this year and
then
once the decision's made, then the
contract,
if it's a purchase, would be initiated.
And that would put you into, wouldn't it
be in 2031 you'd get the truck? 2032 was
the year that was initially on the books
for replacement of that of of our ladder
truck right now, which is the 2012. So,
it's on the 20-year cycle basically.
>> Okay.
>> Yep.
>> All right. Thanks.
>> Yeah.
>> Did you have any other details you
wanted to add?
>> I think I've covered everything. Those
are just the three line items. Our
biggest tickets was just our SCBA was
just purchased this year. So that's good
for another 15 to 20 years. So we're all
set there.
>> Perfect. All right. Thank you, Chief.
>> Thank you. Um
>> questions from others.
Yep.
>> Okay. Next up, we'll hear from the
library.
Thank you.
which the just so everyone is in the
right spot, library is on page four
about midway through. Um it's under
cultural and recreation.
>> Thanks. Y
>> good morning everybody. I'm Richard
Tottweiler. I'm the library director for
the Tracy Memorial Library System. So
good morning to you all. Bright and
early ready to go. Uh so for RCIP this
year, not too much has really changed
since uh the last time I spoke with you
all last year. Of course, we're a year
ahead. Um and for 2028,
we're our big project is interior
renovation of the building. Uh so
that'll encompass uh a lot. We'll be
repainting the building, ripping up some
very old and well past its prime
flooring. Uh redoing some tiles, redoing
the bathrooms and things like that. So,
we're also probably going to entertain
the possibility of retrofitting one of
our supply areas in the basement of the
library uh for the creation of an
expanded teen space. Um although that's
something we're probably going to go out
on a capital campaign for in terms of
funding. I know that this isn't a a
funding mechanism meeting, but just so
you all have a idea of the breadth of
that project.
Um, for years in the future, um, we do
have, uh, new furnaces to be put in to
replace two old cast iron boilers that
are already at end of life. We've, you
know, maintained them quite well, so
we're pretty happy with the performance
so far. Um but they are about 5 years
past their you know expected and so it's
just about time to get them done. Um
past that in 2030 we have mechanical
systems which would be the replacement
of basically some of our air handling
equipment uh mechanical equipment tied
to the um the elevator that's just you
know need of repair and beyond that um
not as much uh building painting two
years later again we just need to make
sure that we're on top of building
painting so that the um the framework of
the building is protected year-over-year
from the weather. Um, right now there's
some, you know, wear, but I think we
still can get quite a few years out of
it before we need a full repainting of
the building. And the garden shed in the
back of the building that's used by the
garden of the Tracy Memorial Library,
but it is our perview to maintain it.
Um, and the the top of the building, the
roof in particular, uh, it is also a
slate roof building just like the
library proper, and it's starting to
fall into disrepair. There's some mild
leaks and what have you. It's a shed, so
it's not a huge pressing need, but it is
something we want to make sure that
we're not letting just kind of fall off.
And that's pretty much what I have for
you all. Again, there's not a whole lot
changed from last year when I presented
in front of you all, but I'm happy to
have any discussion about any of these
projects.
>> It's great. Thank you. Uh questions.
>> Question. Um Richard, the paving of the
front um area is being done this year.
>> That's correct.
>> Okay. And what maybe Sam can help us
with this. What's the life of paving um
generally if it's done properly? So,
when would it need to be re redone again
is I guess my my question.
>> Uh, if the base is good underneath and
it's used, you know, like like
commercial like the library, I would
think 15 years would probably be the
life expectancy of it. That's my guess.
But
>> yeah. Okay. Thanks.
>> And just an FYI for everybody, that
project should be happening uh just
after Labor Day. We'll begin with the
curbs and then later in that month,
we're going to be doing the full paving
of the the space.
I saw a question.
>> This is a general question. Are the
dollars cited here in present present
dollars? Okay. Thank you.
Okay. Uh other questions from folks.
Uh the only other thing that I probably
should have mentioned at the beginning
is that um one of the limitations of the
software is um how much you're able to
see in descriptions. So um the planned
replacements uh line is a good example
of that where while the report that we
can get from the software doesn't show
you the description behind that. Um we
actually if you were to go in and click
on that $60,000 year um we can see what
it is. So we're not necessarily losing
track of of what that 60,000 is
allocated for. It's just a limitation of
the reporting system of the software.
Yep. So Lynn's hovering over this. This
is what Lynn and I see when we are in
there. Um and so you can see when you
hover over we get the descriptions. Um
so just so everyone's aware they are
there. It's just a reporting limitation.
>> Yep. Good reminder. Thanks, Adam. So any
other questions for the library?
[clears throat]
>> Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate
>> Thank you all. Yeah. All right. Next up,
PD
Chief Cop.
So, this is the middle of page two.
Okay. Thank you. Um I will start with
the cruisers. Um those are the items
that I'll cover today. This is the first
year that in in working with that and we
really decided to delineate the cruisers
in the CIP so that it wasn't just kind
of one big bucket of just cruisers. So
just as a reminder for folks, we have
four marked cruisers, one uh and two
unmarked, one of which is mine and the
other is the detective car. So you can
see it says chief cruiser, detective
cruiser, and then patrol cruisers. So
there's four in that um patrol cruisers
line item. So the $85,000 that we put in
for CI for um planning purposes is
typically what it has cost us over the
past few years um for patrol cars. So
the cost to replace um either the
detective vehicle or the chief vehicle
might be a little bit more or less
because we don't need some of the
equipment in the cruiser like um a
partition in the back to hold prisoners.
So, that number might fluctuate a little
bit, but I think the 85,000 is a safe
number to put in there. And as you can
see, the um it's due out for the next
six years. Um and every year we evaluate
the health of the fleet and what we have
put into the each cruiser for vehicle
maintenance and just kind of what the
vehicles are are saying to us at the
time, if you will. So certainly it might
fluctuate if we decide to push out one
of the lesser used vehicles, but
generally I think this would be the plan
going forward.
Any questions on cruisers?
>> Chief, thank you. Um are these sourced
in the United States or?
>> Uh yes, we usually um go through the
state bid process so we get the cheapest
price we can for cruisers. Um, so yes,
that's we try to stay I don't think
they're made all in the United States,
but uh we do try to go with the state
bid and we work with one company for the
upfit uh of those vehicles and another
company who's local that does the uh
painting of and the um striping on the
side of everything. So
>> Emily, just as a reminder, what's what's
I'm I didn't mean to No, that's okay.
Cruiser related. What's the general
replacement
schedule that you work with in terms of
mileage or wear or to?
>> We typically run them for about six
years, give or take. The patrol vehicles
anyway and sometime somewhere between
four and six years for the patrol
vehicles typically because they're not
used as much and as hard every day, the
unmarked cars can go longer. So, for
example, the detective cruiser that's
supposed to be replaced in 2029, that's
a 2019. So, we will have had that
vehicle for 10 years. Um, and so that's
just a good example, a good example of
that. Another um item to point out is
that in FY27, which we're in right now,
I had not budgeted for a cruiser. And I
feel like it was no sooner that I made
that decision that the cruiser started
breaking down. And we've had some real
issues with one of the our last charger
actually. So, um I think I mentioned it
at a select board meeting. You might see
my cruiser in town with uh patrolman in
it doing work because we were down
cruisers. Uh we had one that was in an
accident and then one that was down and
is giving us a lot of problems. So, um,
in an effort to,
uh, skip a year with a cruiser, I think
honestly that just kind of bit me, um,
quite frankly, and in an effort to keep
cost down. I know cruises are expensive.
Um, I skipped this year of FY27, but I
do think ultimately that will be
detrimental.
>> Um, Chief, the $85,000, does that
include all the technology and
everything else that should go in one of
the
>> Yes. Yes. That's the purchase purchase
price for the cruiser itself and all of
the upfitting. Okay.
>> All the technology and and those cars
are about as
full as as an office is. I mean, there's
a computer in there. There's body
cameras. There's radars or dash cameras.
There's radars in it. There's there's a
lot of equipment in those cruisers. So,
yes, that is inclusive of all of the
technology and the cruiser price itself.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Thanks Shar. Thanks Chief. Other
questions.
>> Um then I'll move on to police
equipment.
Again, like Adam had mentioned, this was
the first year that we had put police
equipment into the CIP, which I think
ultimately is a good idea because it
highlights the the cost to maintain some
of our equipment. So, for this police
equipment, this is really encompassing
our tasers and our body cameras and
dashboard cameras. In 2023, we um got
the body cameras and the dash cameras as
part of a grant. And so, it was um just
over $100,000 to outfit all of our
police officers, all of our cruisers.
And so, the grant had paid for about
half of that. So this year um in 2028,
March of 2028 is when we will be due to
replace those. And so that's cost is
into this first year of 2028 as well as
our tasers. Um and with those we go on a
yearly cycle with those. And so the
reason that the number in 2028 is more
than in subsequent years that is that
there are some upfront costs when you
start a new plan essentially with both
tasers and or body cameras. So that's
why that that number is a little bit
more. But going forward I know what the
cost will be for those larger police
equipment related items um going
forward.
Chief,
>> what's what's the status of VO? How how
are we still have a dog or
>> Yes. Yep. VO is still on the road. Um he
is going to be
11 this year. Um so he is getting up
there in age a little bit. Um so you
know he's he does take some I think it's
like arthritis medication and [laughter]
things to try to keep it. He is he he is
still being used. Um I would say that he
is not as active as he was at one point
just due to the nature of the calls that
we do or do not receive.
>> Um many years ago when he was kind of in
his prime if you will. Um there were
other opportunities that departments
would call on us or that we would use VO
for. um like in the state of New
Hampshire, he would get called on to
help with search warrants or other
things with the New Hampshire Drug Task
Force um which was a a task force
through the AG's office and that that
entity went away and it's transitioned
into something different now. So, we
just don't get as many calls to use the
dog for those reasons. So, some of those
things have changed. Also, other
departments um in our area have also
started K-9 programs. Um so he he isn't
used as much as he has been in the past,
I would say, but he is still active.
>> Are you planning on um getting another
dog if something happens to VO?
>> I don't know that that is a direction
that we're going to go at this point.
Um, I would have to say that when we do
decide to retire VO, it would be a
conversation that we would have
internally at the police department. And
it is it is such a huge commitment for
the handler
>> to commit to for years and years. Um,
that I think that the the current
handler might be looking to do some
different things um in his career. And I
don't know that we have anyone else
lined up ready to take on that type of a
commitment going forward. So, um, I
would say that the K9 program has been
overall a benefit to the town of New
London certainly over the years. Um, but
I'm just not sure that the the need is
going to be there going forward to
justify that cost.
>> Who is the officer that is hand
>> Jeff Dailyy?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Excuse Corporal Daily.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks, Shannon. Thanks, Chief.
Um [clears throat]
and then next for me to discuss is going
to be dispatch uh replacing the dispatch
consoles.
And those consoles were purchased and
implemented in 2015. And when I say
dispatch console, it's the it's all of
the equipment that the dispatcher has in
front of them, the radio screen, and
basically our whole communication system
um of of how we do those how they
dispatch every day. So those were brand
new, state-of-the-art in 2015. So they
are definitely due to replace. Um we had
scheduled to replace them in FY27.
Um, but I was asked to inquire if we
could put it off one more year, which I
did. And the the answer was yes, you
can, but they would not recommend
putting it off any longer at this point,
replacing those consoles. Um, so they
can keep updating the software,
firmware, etc., but it they are truly
due for replacement. So that would be
the the cost of replacing the the
dispatch consoles, of which there are
two in our dispatch center.
>> Yeah. Marian, go ahead.
The dispatch uh function services a
number of towns. Is that correct?
>> Yes, we're a regional dispatch center.
So we service uh New London, Newberry,
Sunip, Sutton, and Wilmont and New
London Ambulance Service.
>> Do the towns
um contribute to the replacement of the
console uh equipment?
>> Yes. So over the years they have
contributed to the capital reserve fund
that we have established for
communications equipment and I believe
there's about $250ish,000.
The one thing Lynn doesn't have up on
her desk there, but [clears throat]
there there is uh some money in the
capital reserve account for that
purpose. And that capital reserve
account was established back when this
was done in 2014 2015 because um I
wasn't here at the time, but the the
police department had a um had a
technology issue and some things crashed
and went wrong. So they got the new
consoles. Um they had done the two
dispatch studies, determined that yes,
this is a service that the town would
like to keep and maintain. And so the
town made those capital investments into
the dispatch center which included
starting that capital reserve fund. And
so over the years there's been
contributions to that. Typically it was
$34,000 over the years. One year it was
um cut in half to 17,000 and then a
couple of years there wasn't anything
put in there. But I think that there's
Oh, Lynn might have an answer for
>> I do after my after the contribution for
this year 2027 it'll be 301.
>> 301. Okay, great. Thank you.
Um, so in answer to your question, a
longer roundabout way, Marian, thank you
for it, is yes, the towns do contribute
to that. Thank you.
>> Thanks.
>> Um, and I think that's it for my
presentation. Um, as far as the, um,
police facility and land acquisition, I
think that is going to be someone else.
You want me to say something?
Thanks, Chief.
>> So, you will see in the CIP that we've
shifted the police station project
funding from one year to another. So,
we've shifted it. We've shifted that uh
$2.5 million placeholder for land
acquisition. Closing planning and design
is being moved from FY28 to FY29 along
with a $9.5 million placeholder for
construction of a new police facility
from 2029 to 2030. The board of
selectmen don't have anything new to
report at this time, but they believe
that it makes the most sense to maintain
these placeholders in the CIP for
planning purposes and provide
flexibility should a project develop. So
those are really just placeholders and
we're just shifting them out a year.
>> A general question to us. Yeah,
>> I apolog um Maryanne asked earlier
whether these dollars are present
dollars. We've had discussions in prior
years is whether or not we should think
about inflation um in our number
projections, particularly these that are
longer bigger numbers. And um based on
timeline I didn't I didn't know what the
sense of the committee is at at this
point on doing that in the CIP. I'm a
proponent of putting inflation in unless
we have selected a range of cost
um that allows for a low and a high
assuming you're going to land in the
middle. But I I don't have a full
appreciation for the assumptions
utilized to drive the actual number
present and I'm not singularing out the
police facility by any stretch. I think
any of the numbers would we might
consider uh thinking about inflation
because it's a real it's a real cost
that will will bear and I don't see
prices going down I guess is the other
component. So I don't know where
everybody else is on that and Adam if
you have any thoughts.
>> Yeah, I think when we've had this debate
in years past the I think the most
challenging part has been that there's
not an easy standard across all of the
different components of the um CIP. So
asphalt for example um changes
much more dramatically than um some
other components. And so the the general
consensus has always been that picking
it in an even
number of that year, knowing that you're
updating it every year. Um, and as you
get closer, those numbers get closer to
accurate is the sort of best
standardization. Um,
I'm not sure. I guess I would look to
department heads a little bit also to
give some insight into their
>> I would if if we don't apply it um
across the board you we could select
percentage that's reasonable over
historically and what we think is
reasonable going forward. Maybe on the
larger projects we ought to do that but
the smaller
may not warrant it. And I think that
Charlie, one thing that could be done,
and we'd have to probably do this
outside of Questica, unless there's a
custom report thing that we could come
up with, but is maybe like a bottom
line. Um, I mean, obviously all of these
get totaled out, but um, maybe you could
say, you know, these are the the six
departments or whatever that are in
here. These are the bottom lines for
each fiscal year adjusted by 3%, 4%, 5%,
whatever you say. sort of a separate
table that can be a resource, but it
doesn't actually change the project.
Okay, Lynn and I can look at if there's
a way to do a report like that. If
there's not, we can that's fairly small.
We can export to Excel and do something.
Um, and maybe that lives as part of the
narrative or we'll figure something out
to display it.
>> Adam, I would and I would like to I I
volunteer to actually sit down and work
on that for a morning with you. I'd love
to do that. got a bunch of smaller
things like that that I think would be
helpful to all of the committees,
planning board, budget, selectman that
might be nice ways of kind of getting at
long range costs and and kind of
understanding them a little bit more.
>> All in the realm of presentation.
Uh, thank you, Chief. I know you you
pushed that over, but I have a question
relative to that. I think that is more
in your and that is, uh, given that
we're maintaining where we are,
is there a number
that doesn't show up on here that you're
investing or feel the need to invest in
where we are
to maintain
>> your function? on a yearly basis. I um
>> one thing that we added in the last year
was we updated the security system, all
of the cameras and all of those uh the
door keypads next to every single door
that you see. And we were forced into
that situation because there was a a
small fire in the panels of our old door
keypads um because the equipment was so
old. So we were really forced into that
situation. So that would have been
something that I would say that we
should look at if we're going to be
there for the long term, but we were
forced into that situation anyway, which
ultimately I do think was beneficial
because we encompassed the town office
um in some of those security measures
that we updated and improved upon.
As for other things, um right now we're
having a problem with the Sallyport roof
and it's it's got some leaks and some
things which um Department of Public
Works is already addressing. So I guess
I don't know of any other numbers or big
ticket things that I can think of right
now aside from what we've already had to
do because we were forced into it or
that aren't already being addressed.
Paul, if I can jump in on that a little
bit too, just as facilities, um, we do
still keep up with the like planning and
maintenance of the building as far as
exterior and interior shell. So, uh,
Chief touched on the Sallyport roof. Um,
it's not necessarily leaking. I don't
want someone to think that there's just
water pouring into the Sally Port.
>> That's fair. Thanks for that
clarification. You're right.
>> Um, but it's getting close to the end of
life. Um, we have that in the plan.
You'll see that when I go through my
presentation as well, along with the
roof. Um the restoration work that UCB
done to Buer or to Whipple right now
also extends partially over into Buer.
So we are protecting the building still.
We're not just letting it, you know,
fall to the wayside and not maintaining
it. Um we do have things within our
budgets of our facilities that continue
to maintain the interior like flooring
and um sheetrock work and all those
types of things along with, you know, we
keep the fire panels up to date and
sprinklers inspected and all that. So
it's not that we're just neglecting the
building.
>> Oh yeah. I wasn't I wasn't implying
that, but I was saying functionally,
[snorts]
>> you know, with all the dis discussions
that have been had and things like that,
are there
hidden expenses that you would
anticipate having to
>> modify the building or equipment or
whatever?
>> No, not at this point. It really would
have been just the security system and
the the keypads, but we've done that.
>> Maryanne, you had a question. I've got a
a couple of questions. Um, first of all,
Chief, does the population I'm woefully
um ignorant on this. The population in
New London increase substantially
um in projections and do you have
sufficient staff to address that if
that's the case? And you know, that
would certainly imply that you would
need additional capital investment in to
support that.
Yes, I think we're adequately staffed
currently as we are, but if the
population were to increase uh
dramatically, then that would definitely
be a conversation that we should have.
>> Okay. And Maryann from the state
demographer does do population
projections by community. Um we are not
projected to see a substantial increase
in population. If you look at our
historic trends over the last 30 years,
it's been fairly minor. Um and certainly
we don't have a whole lot of new housing
for those folks. So
>> one could hope for additional housing um
availability, workforce housing and
things like that, but certainly wouldn't
move the needle that much. I guess I
have another um comment if I could. Um
Charles,
um the discussion about how to factor in
inflation, I think, is a very
substantive one. And um
the impression I've got from what I've
heard so far is that the rates of
inflation would really be
um
tied to the materials
that would be in what that would be
being invested in. Excuse me. And um it
would get a little confusing I guess
unless we kept really good notes about
what the what the assumptions are behind
each of the numbers. Otherwise, you
know, we could do a straightforward, you
know, up 5% or whatever the historical
or projected inflation rates are. Um, I
understand the issue because g whiz 9
million5 could be 12 million by the time
we get there depending on what happens.
And I I think you raised a very good
issue. I'm not sure that we can solve it
today, but I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss it further.
If I may, I think we face that not only
in this document, in this planning
document, but in our just every year
annual budgeting. I mean, the money that
we're trying to project now or trying to
plan for now is what we're going to be
spending potentially almost two years
from now or just shy of two years. So,
it is a really difficult thing to, you
know, to try to crystal ball at some
point of, well, I think this is what
this might cost, but um it's a really
hard thing. And so when when I'm
building my budget anyway, I do try to
account for that not knowing if it's
going to be a 3% 4% 5% increase for
whatever goods I'm trying to provide um
for the police department. So it is a
tough thing. And then additionally um
you were talking about putting in a a
flat across the fee price. Some of the
things in the police um lines anyway
might be subject to that, but others
would not be like the police equipment.
Those are costs that I know going
forward when we enter into those
agreements like for our tasers and body
cameras. Those are set fees going
forward. So, it wouldn't be an all or
nothing, but it kind of comes out in the
wash if if that's an all allin and
something is more than what you expect
it. Um, it might kind of even out that
way, but it is a tough thing to try to
navigate, not only in this document, but
in our operating budgets.
>> Thanks, Chief.
Okay. Yeah. The only other thing I would
add to that for not to put something on
Charlie and John, but it could also be
that there's a sort of budget committee
process that happens between when CIP is
adopted and when you are getting into
the work of figuring out what transfers
of capital reserves and stuff are where
there's sort of a a subset group that
kind of takes this document and
manipulates it to to better help members
that you know that it might not happen
wholly within this process, but doesn't
mean that it's not part of the larger
process.
>> Not trying to refute that, but um this
is I mean this is a nuanced conversation
and a difficult one. I mean their entire
industries, banking, investment setup to
actually calculating this figure. It's
how they make their money. So this is
something that is not really that easy
to do. I mean, I think from a business
standpoint, which essentially is what
we're talking about here, we need to
make some sort of estimate that is
reasonable and then
more or less stick with it and and re
readress it every year. I mean, I don't
know how. So, so in in my own world, I
do around $600,000 worth of capex every
year. Every five or six years, we may do
a couple of million dollars worth of
capex. um on the buildings at at camp.
I have no idea how the tariffs are going
to affect that because that's lumber
prices. I have no idea how
unemployment's going to imp impact that
because that's uh labor prices. I mean,
that's where that's where your major
cost centers are going to come when
you're doing construction, that and
steel in this particular case. And um so
you have no idea what steel is going to
do. Also because of of various policies
and pick a figure, make sure you're
comfortable with it, address it every
year, and move on. We'll sit here in the
weeds for years trying to figure that
out and not get any farther than Goldman
Sachs has and not make nearly as much
money.
>> Thanks, John. Uh, okay. Yeah. Any other
questions? Yeah. Right. Good context.
>> Emily, are anything else you want to add
on yours before we move on? Okay. All
right.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Sam, uh, you are up. Um, for everybody
else, um, Sam starts first on page one,
and I imagine he's going to go page by
page because his is filtered out between
here and the end of the document. So,
>> all right. Good morning everyone. Glad
uh you got the quick ones out of the
way. We should only be here for four to
six hours on this. So it'll it'll go
really fast. Trust me.
>> Our day is yours. [laughter]
>> Excellent. You're going to need it.
All right. So we're going to start like
Adam said on page one, uh general
government buildings. Um I'll try to be
as brief as I can just because we do
have a bit of information to get
through. Happy to go through kind of a
block of it and then stop and take
questions then we can go on to the next
category. Um, the first like five to six
that you see, fire station furnace,
Elkins Dam spillway, fire generator,
town office generator, town office
carpet, town office furnace, and town
office roof will stop at town office
roof. The ones all above that um have
been existing within this plan for quite
a while now. So, there shouldn't be
anything new there. And I think there is
essentially no changes to cost there.
Um,
moving down, the town office roof was
prior approved like five or six years
ago um at a town meeting, but we just
felt it was appropriate to read it since
it's kind of been long enough that we
want to make sure that it's falling
within here and then um it's recognized.
So once we get into town facility
paving, this is a new line this year. Um
it does two things. I think Charlie will
be happy to hear about some of this even
though I know he loves paving.
[laughter]
um we broke out facilities out of my
operating budget. So in this current
state um we handled facility paving
usually within the operating budget. The
problem is that really took away from
what we could do on town roads and with
a very small paving line that we have.
It's difficult to complete a sufficient
amount of roadway paving to keep up with
our paving index which is quickly
falling behind. So we chose to break
this out but it also just is better
document planning for all of you to see.
Um and so we can go through which each
one of those numbers represents. The
first in 2028 um for $20,000 is Whipple
and Buer. That's this location here. Uh
the next is 2029 at 40,000 for the
transfer station. We have a short break
and then go to 2031. That's the
municipal lot. Um that's a relatively
high number for a simple paving lot, but
we're hoping to handle multiple storm
water infrastructure improvements there
and a small parking lot expansion just
to improve the um municipal lot in
general. 2032 we go to town office at
25,000. 2033 is the sewer pump stations.
We have five pump stations and that
would handle all of those. uh 2035
20,000 for cemeteries that is West Park,
Old Main Street and Elkins. And then
lastly is 2036 for Buckland. Um the fire
station and the Elkins um beach is not
included because the fire station is
being paved this year and the Elkins
beach you'll hear about in just a
minute. So um just for the planning
board members perspective, this is one
where we have changed the style of how
we're presenting it um pretty
dramatically where each one of these
used to fall in as an individual
[clears throat] item. Um so looking for
feedback I guess from folks when we get
there as to whether or not this is
preferable for um for planning purposes.
It helps to illustrate the cadence of um
paving that it never really goes away
that every year instead of having these
random projects that are just kind of
hidden among Sam's five pages of um of
items. So, um just keep that in mind if
you have feedback on how that gets
presented.
>> All right, any questions up until this
point or halfway through facilities?
Yeah, good. All right. Uh Elkins Dam
maintenance that uh remains unchanged
along Yeah. 150,000 in 2033. The next is
Ilen's uh gazebo replacement. So through
assessment of that structure in the last
two years, um it's kind of been
determined that it's a light
construction gazebo that needs a decent
amount of repairs. Along with that, if
we do too many repairs, it would get us
above the threshold of an ADA compliance
upgrade. And to do that, it would
require us to add a like very extensive
ramp onto a structure that probably
couldn't handle that ramp. Um, so Adam
and I did some planning and just kind of
looking into what gazeos cost and if we
could do a ground level or close to
ground level mounted gazebo upgrade. Um,
and based on the structure that's there,
the condition that it's in and such, we
felt that um, replacement is probably
the most financially responsible option
to go with. And you'll see that in 2032
for $40,000.
Um, Elkins Beach Leechfield is a new
item, 2031. It's $40,000. Um, the
current condition and exact location of
that leechfield is unknown. And with the
town having our own um sewer pumping
regulations, we decided that that was uh
something we wanted to work on. So, we
are working with a um surveyor and
septic designer now to start working on
plans for that. um it is in operational
condition that is not abnormal to have
um leech fields and septic systems that
aren't exactly known. We do know where
the tank is and it is pumped regularly
and we don't there's no issues at this
time but we want to make sure we're
staying ahead of that. So that's why you
see that that most likely is a leech
field that's under the parking lot now.
So when it was replaced we would also be
doing a parking lot you know repave and
such. So that's why you didn't see the
Elkins Beach land within um the paving
plan above. So,
Sallyport roof. Um, as chief touched on
that already, that is something that
we're planning for. Um, it we couldn't
do this any sooner even if we wanted to
just because all the contractors are not
taking on flat work roof for pretty much
the rest of the year. Um, so it will be
a summer of 2027 plan regardless. So,
that's why we put it within the CIP.
This $50,000 represents like a worst
case scenario or we're hoping worst case
scenario. um there's a chance that we
may be able to just reskin the roof and
remove the ballast, which is the stone
on top of it, and just put a new roof on
it. Um the 50,000 represents if we need
to there's a layer of insulation on top
of that roof. If that insulation has
absorbed water, we may have to replace
that as well. So,
uh Elkins post office repairs, one of my
favorites, is still on here at 135. I
believe we increased that number about
$15,000 just based on the condition of
the building. Um, that'll be a fun one
for the selectman to debate when we get
there. So, uh, next one.
>> Does the federal government contribute
anything to the maintenance?
>> No, they pay rent to the town. Um, and
then they obviously make adjustments
interior to like P.O. boxes and just
general operational things, but they
contribute nothing to the repairs or the
like.
>> So, we're the landlord for them.
>> You got it. Yep.
>> All right. Um the next one is a big
ticket one, which is the public works
complex at um South Pleasant Street.
This number is to the conversation that
we've been having a projected number
with inflation included. Um this was
given us to us by the architects. Um,
and this would be a completion of 2028
if it was approved at um, town meeting
this year. So, it's a $10 million
number. Um, that's in the area that
they're hoping to land and we're hoping
it's going to stay close to that.
>> Questions?
>> Yep. Please.
>> Yeah, David, go ahead.
for for that um complex um when you have
down there 10 million. Does that
includes anything for for land in the
future for maybe a police department or
or or is that just for your your complex
for your your operation? So, we did go
down the um exit ramp of looking into
seeing if we could fit a police
department on the DPW complex site, and
it was determined that while a structure
could go there of size that the police
department needs, it wouldn't be
functionally efficient for us to do
that. Um so, we've chosen to abandon
that option of potentially putting
police at public works. Um so that it
gives public works the ability in the
next 50 to 100 years to expand to other
areas of its lot. So unfortunately it
wouldn't work out there but we did
explore those options pretty intensely.
So
>> thanks David Paul you have a question.
>> Thank you Sam. Um just my lack of
knowledge is the 10 million to replace
what
had to be taken down or is there more
involved?
>> Yeah, so the 10 million represents Great
question Paul and I should have touched
on it more so thank you. Um, it
represents replacing what was lost with
modern-day, you know, equipment and size
and things like that. So, the shop that
was torn down was obviously six bays,
but they were very small bays, so most
of our equipment didn't fit within them.
Um, these will be to today's standards
of bay sizes and such so that all
equipment can universally move freely
through it. This also includes um space
for the employees, you know, a break
room, locker rooms, things like that. uh
no bunk rooms but also office staff area
training space and those types of things
along with a renovation to the existing
building the 2004 building that was
completed in 2005. Um that building
needs you know new siding, interior
renovations and things like that. It
addresses all that along with um storm
water management of the site. That's one
of our biggest concerns and areas that
we want to improve upon and potentially
a new um sand salt shed and such. So it
does address basically the entire
complex as a whole is represented in
that 10 million. It's not just to build
a structure of 10 million. It's the
entire complex will be redesigned,
reimagined and improved. So yeah, thank
you.
Any other questions on that one?
No. All right. Whipple exterior repairs.
I left this one in here at 120,000 in
2034. As you know, right now we are
undergoing um repairs to the exterior of
this building right now with the lol
front. you can see that um we thought
that the best thing to do would be you
know every eight years kind of do a look
at the exterior of the building and see
what we need to do as our next options
and things like that. Um through talking
with the current contractor that we have
now he's recommended that we potentially
do a um service plan where for the next
10 years we would lock into a number. He
hasn't determined that number based on
the condition of the building yet. He'll
give us that once he's done um which is
basically a warranty on the building. So
after the work is completed that he's
doing now, he says that if we agreed to
this contract, which might be, you know,
8 to10,000 a year, it would basically
guarantee any work that needs to be done
would be covered within that money. Um,
which has worked out well for other
towns. He gave us references. I've
called a couple of them. Wilton was one
of them, and they pay the $10,000 a
year. They just had an $80,000 job due
to snow damage have to be done, and it
was all covered under that $10,000. So,
it might be a great option for us, but I
haven't fleshed all that out yet. So,
we're still working on it. And so, since
I don't have those hard numbers yet,
I've left it in there at 2034.
Uh, the last one you see, which is still
remaining from prior, is the wastewater
main plant renovation. Um, that's just
upgrade roofing, siding. That's a brick
building um with some pretty old cedar
clapboards and such that need to be
replaced. So,
and that completes general government
buildings.
>> Yeah. David, another question.
under your Whipple Hall.
>> Mhm.
>> For the interior here,
>> have we completed all the renovations to
this for the interior of this building?
>> Almost. We're 98%. I'm looking at Janet.
We have a few small areas that we want
to touch up. The electioneer um closet
or corner over there needs some work
done to it. And then the stairway going
down to the police department first
floor. Other than that, yeah. All after
the exterior, we're 99% done with the
structure.
>> So if there's work to be done, it's not
listed in here. This is the general work
that you will do.
>> Correct. Within my operating budget, we
will handle the maintenance of this
portion of the building moving forward.
Correct. Yep.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Good question.
>> One quick Sam, how talk a little bit
about um dams.
Is there a line of demarcation between
the dam bureau
with the state that has responsibility
for some component of the dams versus
what the town incurs?
Where's where does that fit? Do they own
any of the 150,000 dam repair, I guess,
is what I'm asking. Little Suny, Lake
Suny has a similar
>> but less. That's a I believe a state
controlled dam to begin with. Like the
state owns that dam. So all the dams in
town that you see listed within here are
town controlled and in typical state
fashion. They govern what we do to it um
and tell us when we do it. So talking
with when they do the inspections with
the inspectors, they've kind of
recommended some options moving forward
as to what we could do just based on
maintenance. So we have nothing that is
of major concern in any of these areas,
but maintenance on dams is relatively
complex. This only represents the Elkins
Dam, which controls the level of um
Pleasant Lake as you all know, but it
does require us to do a decent amount of
um renovations and just repairs. You'll
also see that we have the spillway and
then the dam listed. Maybe that was
partially what you were kind of
commenting on as well, Charlie, is that
the spillway is separate from the dam.
So, the spillway would hopefully prevent
the dam from ever having a catastrophic
breach in a, you know, 500year flood or
anything like that. It relieves the
pressure of the lake, but that does
still again require maintenance. It's a
concrete structure that was installed in
the 40s or 50s and then the dam is, you
know, what it was originally installed
to make Pleasant Lake what you see
today. Um, so to more directly quickly
answer your question, they tell us what
will need to be done and it's usually
only on a one-year notice unless you can
catch the inspector and ask them to tell
you, you know, what do you project us
needing to do? At this current time,
again, it's just basic maintenance of
crack fill, um mortar repair, some um
armoring done to the banks and the sides
of the dam so that like as the outlet
comes out, it doesn't continue to erode
the banks, things like that.
[clears throat] But nothing of extreme
measures. So,
>> okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. Very good.
>> Um thanks for the explanations of your
varying numbers, I should say. I have a
question, a sort of a general question
and it relates also to the fire
department. Um, somewhere
the lint in the velcro of my mind has uh
filed away the idea that or the concept
that the fire department structure would
have to change in order to accommodate
this new gigunda thing. Is that still
the case? And who under whose budget
would that appear? No, that's incorrect.
So, we've scrapped the idea of the
building expansion and this truck would
fit in the current envelope of the
building, which means we don't need the
building expansion.
>> Okay?
>> And it would fall under the category
that you're seeing now of the um general
government buildings, it would fall
under there. If there was to be larger
projects to be done there, most of the
work that's going to be done at the fire
station in the next, you know, 5 to 10
years is going to be covered within the
general budget, not within capital. So,
>> yeah. Thank you.
Yeah, David,
>> ju just going back to um
the the um the money for land in in a
couple of years. Um
2.2.
Do we know what type of land and where
that land is that we're looking at right
now?
>> Are you talking for the police station?
I assume 2.2.
>> I'm sorry. Are you talking about the
police station?
>> I'm talking under the under the um
police department.
>> Yeah, the 2.25, right, David?
>> Land acquisition, closing, and planning.
>> I'll leave that to a select minority.
>> But do you do you have an idea what land
that you're looking at?
>> Yeah, Janet's gonna talk to that
>> David over here.
>> Thank you. Um [laughter]
there there are several areas in this
town that we are looking at as a
possibility for a new police station.
However, none of them um have moved
forward. We're we're still pursuing it
and as soon as we know um we'll let you
know, but at this point we don't.
>> Thanks, David. Thanks, Janet.
Um, while we're still on page one, um,
give Sam a minute to catch his breath.
And if you're okay covering the energy
committee while we're right here instead
of going back, um, at the bottom, the
energy committee's, um, $750,000
um, buyout of the solar is um, unchanged
from previous years. Um, and Tim, if you
have anything else to add, but I told
Jamie we could cover it. Um, so
>> did you want to talk about it, BB? Or
who who did you ask to talk about?
>> I didn't know if the energy committee
you guys had.
>> Sorry, I was confused.
>> I told Jamie we weren't changing it and
so he didn't need to be here.
>> Yeah. No, it's fine. I I [clears throat]
don't think there's any change there. I
think that was same uh with all these
things. It's kind of an estimate of what
we think it would cost to buy out that
array that's at the uh
>> on one of Sam's buildings then across
the street.
Yeah, I was I asked Sam a question uh
about whether this document contained
all of our buildings all inclusive and
he said oh no there's you know 32
structures overall
and and so one of the things that I
would like to point us to especially as
it as it inter as as planning intersects
with budgeting I think it I I in in the
future, not today. Let's not get bogged
down in this. I think it would be good
to include those even even if we're
saying none or even if we're carrying
many of the repairs to those in the
general budget, it would be it would be
nice for us to actually plot out and
we're going to I'm going to hit this up
in a couple of different ways. plot out
all of our capital all of our capital
expenditures and sort of set up a
regular funding mechanism for them. This
is how I see it in my own head. So that
we have we have regular M capital capex
expenses going out and then more AB
one-time or special capex expenses going
out so that it's an easier way for
everyone the citizens the committees the
the staff uh everyone to sort of like
think about it and and prioritize it and
put it in different buckets. So that was
more of a statement, less of a question.
Just wanted to kind of put a marker on
the table for that.
>> Yeah. John, I think the other thing that
um we think about is the the building
asset management report that was done on
those 32 buildings, we kind of use as a
planning document and a north star. And
so sometimes that will have it
represents numbers that may be accurate
or not, but we use those numbers to
still give us a like it's a you know
it's a light bulb turning on so that we
can say all right let's look into that
and see what we need to do. Um and so
that just becomes a planning document
for us and that's why some so much of
those 32 buildings don't end up in the
CIP is because they're less than that
amount or they're unnecessary or we've
you know we've decided to pause on them
until we decide what exactly is going on
with the building. So, yep.
>> And that's where I I think mostly of
what you have exists. That document is
overwhelming for general consumption. I
don't what is it like 90 pages of like
spreadsheets this big. Um, and so it
definitely exists. We can send you the
link.
>> Yeah, it is a public document that's
available for anybody. We do have copies
at the town office, too. So, if anyone's
really curious and wants to melt their
brain, it's there.
>> I have a a question. Um Tim, this is
probably yours. Um in regard to solar,
do don't we have additional expenditure
for the two new fields that we're
planning?
>> Yeah, I I actually missed our last
meeting, so I'm not sure what the latest
is on that. Um or the last meeting
actually where that was discussed
rather. Uh there is additional money,
but I don't know off the top of my head
what it is,
>> but my understanding was that that's
within this fiscal year,
>> I believe. Yeah, I
Maybe that's incorrect.
>> I think that's incorrect because I think
>> there there was an approval in the
operating budget um and I think on the
capital reserve help me with this actual
numbers of an amount that would in
aggregate allow for the deposits to be
made on the two new fields.
But the total acquisition price
is the delta between that deposit rate
and the purchase price of the fields.
And I think I don't know what that
number is now. I I had understood that
the original projections were different
because of the vendor or vendors
involved vendors involved um and some
changing in their original pricing. So I
I think we might need to look at
something in the 2829 year if those
installations and those projects are
moving forward.
>> So Tim, can we charge you with Yeah, I
can follow up with Jamie. I honestly
haven't kept up with with the latestes
on that because he's been kind of
running point on that, but I can
>> Yes.
>> follow that.
>> I I think the total number I remember
was a million. So if you took the if we
took the capital reserve amount off of
that million, it probably leaves us with
about 700,000 is just quick quick
numbers.
>> Yep. I can follow up on that memory.
I believe so, but I'm not 100%.
>> Yeah, sorry. I was I was not thinking
energy this morning, so I didn't look at
those numbers. So, but I can follow up.
>> All right. Um I just have a small blip
on page two at the very top of the page
which is transfer station. Um the first
item is the refuge tractor or trash
tractor. Refuse is just the fancy word
for trash. Uh that's what hauls your
trash from the New London um transfer
station to Meredith and then from
Meredith it gets transferred to the
landfill. Um that will be the purchase
of a new tractor. And then the next item
is the transfer station cottage which is
65,000 in 2031. Uh that remains the
same. That's just kind of a brief and
quick uh remodel of the cottage or just
upkeep of it. So I think something
that's kind of
>> Sam one question is that still mostly
storage?
>> Yep, mostly storage. It's also where the
facilities are and a small break room
that's in there that the guys use as
well. It's one of the best and only
heated spaces at the transfer station
too. So in the winter time that's where
they go and then obviously there's AC in
the summer. So
>> yeah. Perfect. Okay. I just wanted to
know
>> Sam I'm sorry Maryanne go ahead please.
>> Somewhere again in the velcro of my mind
um I recall that there was an effort
sort of an exploratory effort to change
the location of the transfer station.
Does that have any impact on any of the
numbers going forward? Uh, at this
current time, I don't think in a 10-year
plan there's any plan to change the
transfer station location and such. I
know that it was done in the 90s. They
researched it and then most recently
2007, I believe, or 2009. Um, but I
think ultimately decided at this time
that the best thing to do is just leave
it where it is. Personally, if in a
perfect world, I think that the next
time the transfer station is changed,
that would be where hopefully
communities would band together and do a
tri- town transfer station or something
like that to reduce capital cost of all
towns, reduced employee cost, but also
improve your ability um to get better
rates at landfills. You'd improve your
recycling power. Um and I think it just
be improvement to this area in general.
So, I hope that when that time comes,
that would be something that towns would
look to do.
>> Yep. Um, and John, if you do jump into
the buildings report, the transfer
station cottage line in here is a good
one to just sort of use as a display for
where some of the limitations of the
full building report are. I think if you
look at the number in that report, it
shows something in the
>> 3500,000.
Yeah.
>> And so that is a number that the
engineers say is a total replacement of
the transfer station cottage. This is
sort of the practical application of
what needs to be done to maintain the
service of life of that knowing we don't
need a brand new. Yep. So, it's a good
spot to sort of look at both ends.
>> Yeah. Two other quick points about the
transfer station. Uh, one, we do have
like the trash trailers end up getting
moved into the um like highway and
streets. I think that is just basically
a Questica issue that it jumped over to
there. Um, so I'll touch on that when I
get there. But another thing is uh the
town of London's fortunate that we have
such a robust uh recycling program that
makes us quite a bit of revenue. And so
we've actually kept some items out of
CIP and the operating budget just due to
the fact that we're able to use our
recycling fund um to either do
maintenance on the recycling buildings.
It can only be used on things that
involve recycling, but that's pretty
much everything at the transfer station
except the compactor building. Uh so
this year or 2026's budget at the end
before it was the account was swept we
were able to purchase a $10,000 shed for
the stump dump. And so in the buildings
and facilities report that was
represented as a $50,000 shed
replacement for the swap shop and area
for the employees and we were able to
handle it 100% with recycling money but
also outside of the operating budget in
general. So I think that's just a pretty
cool point that the town should be very
proud of and that's being everyone in
this room. So
>> and for far less than $50,000
>> and far less than $50,000. Yeah, that's
a good point as well.
>> I'd like to make a
Go ahead, David. No, please.
>> Go ahead, David.
>> Sam, I have just one other question
about the dispatch and and the fire and
the police department.
>> When is that area going to be handicap
accessessible?
>> The police department current
>> to get into the police division and the
dispatch, you've got to go downstairs.
It's not handicap accessessible.
>> It It is actually, David. If you come
down the um like the entrance that the
police use, there's handicap spots at
the end where the chief parks and then
there's a paved ramp that meets ADA to
get into the police department.
>> And the public knows this.
>> I I I would believe so.
>> Yeah. I don't Chief can probably touch
on it better. I don't spend a lot of
time in the police department. I'm
thankful of that. But um [laughter]
>> yeah,
>> I'm I don't think they've
>> you come in a different entrance when
you come down. [laughter]
>> Uh yes, I I think the public
>> the Sallyport is also ADA.
>> Yeah,
>> I think the public is aware of it. Um
and matter of fact, we we had an
employee um who required the handicap
accessibility a few years ago. Um so I
think folks are aware that it's there.
>> My question I'm sorry, Tim, did you want
to
>> No, thanks Charlie. Go ahead.
>> Long range planning.
Um the the topic of
recycling waste
statewide is big. It's a problem. Um
it's a challenge and our environment
needs better solutions.
If we're looking at a 10-year plan and
Sam's would recommendation or hope of
may maybe thinking about a regional uh
transfer station recycling operation
um on face makes a whole lot of sense
but there's intricacies ownership etc
and operation that come into play
if not by some number but by certainly
notation in the narrative. I think this
is an area that the town really should
be planning for in our future. And in
[clears throat] the event that we went
to a regional facility,
state-of-the-art of recycling of
whatever we can and optimizing the
economies of scale, there's going to be
a significant capital number associated
with that. And if it's multiple towns,
you divide the pi, but the pi has a
value. If we don't do that, then the
status quo of maintaining a transfer
station at its current um configuration
and operating capabilities
um would I would I would advocate that
we be planning for something that the
town should be doing regardless.
And in the event a regional facility
could move forward certainly within 10
years that the number we place in the
CIP
could be transferred to a regional
allocation versus
um so it wouldn't be
um I guess it would be a realistic
reflection of capital whether it
ultimately went regionally or was
retained locally. If it helps, Charlie,
the reason that you don't really see
more in the transfer station in general
is even if you know my pie in the sky is
that we would go to a regional and all
that, um I would still represent items
that needed to be in capital now if they
needed to be just currently there isn't
anything that needs to be added to the
capital that what that isn't already
there. Um so we have paving and we have
the cottage and things like that. the
rest of the buildings there. One, the
compactor was just um refurbished three
years ago, I think, right before I took
over. So, one was four. So, it's not
within its cycle yet to show up in the
um CIP along with the other structures
there are just the reason you don't is
there's nothing complicated about the
transfer station in the like nothing's
an expensive building. Nothing is overly
complicated. Like we re- roofed the
recycling building this year out of one
again that was recycling money 100% paid
for but it was just it's a smallish
building that doesn't require high
dollar amounts. There's not sheetrock in
them. They're uninsulated all those
things. So that the numbers represented
to continue to maintain them is just
small. So you end up being that the most
expensive things are the compactor, the
paving, the cottage maintenance and
things like that. But or the tractor,
the equipment, that stuff can be a
little bit more money. But even people
always get scared of like bailers. Like
what happens if a bailor goes down?
They're 10 to$15,000 items that are
easily purchased. So you just don't see
them because they don't need to be there
yet and we handle mostly within our
operating budget. So
hopefully that helps a little bit
though. I mean I understand where you
were also coming from from a bigger
picture. If the town that that's a
little outside my wheelhouse, but if the
town were to agree that we should do
something in 10 to 15 years to do
something regional, they should start
putting money aside. But that's not my
number to determine yet, I don't think.
So,
thanks both you guys.
>> All right, Sam. So, should we
>> Yep. Yeah. Moving on to page three. um
highway and streets.
Um for for the planning board members,
uh the first item is sidewalk uh
improvements. Uh at Tuesday, we
presented our 10-year sidewalk
preservation improvement plan. All the
numbers that you see within this plan
are represented within this document.
So, if you're unfamiliar, I would kind
of put push you towards that to review
that document. Um and then you might
develop questions after that, but maybe
on the spot right now might be a little
bit difficult. Happy to take any
lingering questions if anyone has them
on sidewalks. It's probably the biggest
ticket item or to a lot of people the
most important item in the page that
we're about to go through.
That means we must have done a good job
on Tuesday. Nice job, Adam. [laughter]
All right. Uh moving on, we have gravel
road paving, which is just a placeholder
at 2031. Um most likely at this time,
we're projecting that would actually be
Camp Sun Cipe Road, but um to be
determined. Uh the next item loader uh
unchanged at 2030. Uh this is where we
talked about the trash trailers repres
being being represented in highway and
streets. Uh 170 and 29 and then 235.
Excavator is this year 2028 coming up um
at $200,000. That was a reduction I
think of about $70,000 via a new
partnership we have with a um company
that's been giving us really competitive
prices. Um, and so I was happy to be
able to reduce that number and get more
excavator. So,
>> yes, please. That would be great if we
can, please. Thank you, Lynn.
Um, grater, again, I'm going to call it
a placeholder just because I have no
intentions to replace the grater, but in
the event that we do not um get gravel
roads paved before our grater somehow
has a catastrophic failure, we may need
to purchase one. I really do not plan
to. I also think that there's options
that if our grader was to have a
catastrophic failure, there's other
options to have companies come in and
grade once a year at much less than
600,000. But I think similar to the fire
truck and what we were talking about for
the transfer station, it makes sense to
keep that in there just as a realistic
number of this is what it could cost us.
Um, ground maintenance equipment, that's
just lawnmowers. Um, but kind of what
Adam was saying is, and I want to
actually add to that in the beginning
where he talked about we didn't stick
specifically to that $50,000 threshold
just so you understand what's going on
with our items and what we have for
inventory of equipment. But also, even
though $15,000 doesn't seem like a lot
of money and maybe shouldn't be within
capital, that's a lot for me to absorb
within an operating budget where some of
my biggest lines are only, you know, 15
to $80,000. But you know 80,000 is built
is equipment maintenance and so I can't
buy a lawnmower out of that and then not
maintain my equipment. So some of those
items we choose to leave in CIP so that
it doesn't add such um spikes in our
operating budgets in general. So
uh facilities vehicle um currently we
have been passing down our wastewater
truck to facilities. Um this was our
first round of doing that. has been
working very well, but I that truck is
already uh 12 years 12 years old. Um so
we know that in a few years it will most
likely have to be replaced and you know
we will adjust that number and that
timeline based on the vehicle condition
at that time but it is a new addition to
the CIP. Uh 10 wheel dump truck in 2032
at 225,000. That is also a new addition
um that this truck has usually not
appeared within the CIP. It's currently
a 2006 truck. Um, and we put no timeline
usually on the replacement until it
needs to be replaced based on the
condition and the cost that it is that
it's incurring for us to maintain it.
So, um, we've gotten really good
longevity of that vehicle just due to
maintaining it well. So,
uh, six wheel dump trucks, uh, those are
just one tons, but we classify them as
six wheel dump trucks because they're no
longer called one tons because they all
more than one ton. Um, [laughter]
so you'll see that represented in a few
areas, 2028, 2030, and 2033. Uh, the
2028 will be replacing a 2012 uh plow
truck. So definitely due to be replaced
at that time. Then you'll see below that
line, six wheel plow trucks. Those are
our full-size um trucks. The we just
completed our cycle of purchasing our
five new fleet trucks that are frontline
um plow trucks, but unfortunately that
means they have to start appearing again
in our CIP. So, sidewalk plow at 2032,
that number is unchanged. And then a
highway pickup. We maintain two pickups
within um the highway department, which
is the foreman's truck or my truck um or
the director's truck and then a like
general use pickup that the crew uses to
as a mow vehicle or um to get parts or
so on. So,
and that completes Highway and Streets
questions, thoughts, concerns.
Um, and just for uh PB, John, and
Charlie, um I should have put these up
your seat. I think Sam actually has the
stack, but um copies of the sidewalk
plan that have the details that the
planning board was given the other
night.
All right, going to everyone's favorite
uh sewage collection.
Not a whole lot of changes there other
than just some increases in numbers
based on um what we're seeing in the
world as we're doing them. So um sewer
pipe uh supplyline and manhole
rehabilitation those are in the 29 31 33
and 35 those are what's continuing to
maintain your wastewater system that's
over 100 years old in places. Uh we had
really great success this year in our
work that we were able to do with the
money that we had. But um you know
systems age quickly when they're in the
ground. So, uh, Job's Creek valves and
manhole. Uh, that's just continuing
maintenance on our force main system
that gets your waste water from George's
Mills to Sunipe to be treated.
>> Uh,
>> hey Sam, quick question. Sorry. On the
slip line, I've always wondered how long
do those when you do that, how long do
they last generally?
>> So, slip lining lasts usually 75 to 100
years. It's essentially a brand new pipe
within the old one. Um, which is great.
So, yeah, 75 to 100 years. And then the
manhole rehabilitation we use is it's
through a company called Quadrretch and
it's um
I'm dropping the name of this the
material that they use to put in the
manholes but basically it's a polymer
style concrete that they spray in and
then trow into the inside of the
manholes. And those have that system's
been around for about 25 years but they
project that to last 100 years. And they
tell us that the existing manhole could
essentially like dissolve around and the
new system that they spray in it or
product would remain and continue to
support that for the next 50 to 100
years. So
>> and at you know onetenth the cost of
replacing manhole structures or sewer
pipes. So
>> yeah that's great. That's longer than I
would have thought. So I appreciate
that.
>> Yeah absolutely good question. Thank
you. Uh Job Seammens pump replacement.
Those are just the wastewater pumps that
move it. Um Edmonds Road pump
replacement. same there. And then sewer
realignment on Whipple Court. Um that is
to straighten and bring the sewer
pipeline that currently runs from behind
uh Woodcrest down to Barrett Road onto
Whipple Court and then down South
Pleasant Street. The reason that we want
to do this is currently the wastewater
line that's there runs under a
resident's house. So the sewer line
itself was actually underneath a house
and they continued to build an addition
over it. Had it been done during modern
times, I don't think that would have
happened. But
and then uh you'll see a main plant
electrical upgrade. That's obviously
just due to the fact similar to dispatch
that there's a large amount of um
electrical requirements at these pump
stations, three-phase power with a lot
of um phase inverters and things like
that that we just want to keep up on so
they don't cost us bigger money down the
road. Uh main plant pump upgrade. We're
starting on page four. Sorry. uh
George's Mills wastewater grinder
unchanged and then a sewer department
pickup in 203485.
Uh again, similar to the facilities
truck and all actually equipment in the
highway department and sewer department
transfer station. Um we don't we put
them there as placeholders, but that
doesn't mean that that might not change
in the sense of we may push it out based
on the condition being wellmaintained or
if the vehicle starts to give us
problems, we may move it closer, but we
always put something there as a
placeholder. So,
and I think in a relatively short
period, we got through all of public
works,
but I might make you guys all hang out.
We'll go get the the building's asset
report. We'll make we'll go through
>> just to kind of experience it together.
>> Sam, we're in the thinking generally
this is vehicles
and large equipment.
>> Lease versus buy versus contracted out.
So grading might be contracted greater
could be leased possibly. Where where in
are you at a place where you've started
to conclude whether it it makes any
sense to lease versus buy in particular?
>> Yeah. So we have looked into leasing
even for the six wheeled plow trucks and
most of the time it hasn't been cost
effective. It also puts you usually at a
very limited date so you're always stuck
in a payment. So like to lease a six
wheel plow truck, they the max they'll
let you lease it is five years and your
payment each year is like $75,000. So
you quickly exceed the cost of just
building a truck and keeping it. We
usually keep our trucks for anywhere
from 10 to 15 years. Um so currently it
has not made financial sense with the
numbers given to us by um companies when
we've done that because we have gone
through those exercises each time. We've
also, you know, sold some equipment
before, um, like last year that we
decided we just didn't need anymore and
it was cheaper just to rent the
equipment occasionally each year versus
trying to maintain a full-size piece of
equipment. Um, so it's kind of handled
on a base by a case- by case basis, but
we haven't found something yet that's
been specifically sticking and working
because the lease just seems to be like
you're paying just to always have
something new and we don't always just
need something new. So,
>> um, and we always try to purchase when
we can and negotiate extended warranties
on all of the equipment that we buy, and
that's worked out really well for us.
>> yeah, thank you.
>> Thanks, guys. Uh,
questions from folks.
>> Yeah, Charlie. Actually, David, then
Charlie,
>> thank you. [clears throat] on page four
under culture and recreation.
There's no budget for that. I I have to
tell you, I think Putman's doing a
phenomenal job with the kids in the
summertime
um providing instructions for swimming
and activities for them. I would like to
see that expanded to include more kids
during the during the winter and and
springtime and also for senior citizens
for seniors to be able to go on some
cultural trips and and under the
recreation department and expand that
program. So I I would love to see an an
item in there for future recreation
developments and for kids and seniors.
David, so I did have discussions with
Putinham last week about capital
expenses that he may foresee. Um he
didn't see anything as ready to include
this year. Um they are working with a
playground consultant, I guess you would
call it, um on some future playground
work that I think next year it's likely
that you'll see a capital um project
related to that. As far as his
programming and his annual um budget, I
think when Putnham is on the docket for
this Lechman's um budget day or with the
budget committee, um he would likely be
very receptive to um those discussions
as part of his operating budget.
>> Thanks, David. Charlie, did you have a
question?
>> Um [clears throat and cough]
we we've not put anything in this plan
uh related to water. Is there anything
we should be thinking about along those
lines?
>> I think the hardest part for the way we
have things set up now is that all of
these are tied back into our budget
setups and so when we don't use the
the water department's actual budgets
are not part of our system. Um you know
I did have discussions with a planner at
the state last year um about you know
how that interfaces and um because
obviously we don't include the school
either and they do their own um capital
improvement and um any other sort of the
county or whatever it may be all these
other layers of government um that those
are really the sort of obligation of
those organizations. The difference
being if there is something foreseen as
far as a cost sharing goes that it's
actually an expenditure of the town of
New London's. Um in that case I think
what it would go in is under um sort of
under public works we'd have to sort of
put some expense in um one of their
existing siloed budgets of X for
investment in system. Um, but as far as,
you know, the water systems, trucks, and
all of those individual items, we
couldn't easily roll that into our
system.
>> And I would just add to that to say that
those conversations are ongoing with the
water precinct about the possibility of
cost sharing models and they're in the
middle of another engineering study on
the on the well fields at the moment. So
it might be too early at this point to
put money in for that.
>> Does that answer your question, Charlie,
for now? Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah. Paul, this is in the nature of a
general question. Uh
more to um help the planning board at
looking at the CIP.
Um, and I just I would I guess John,
Charlie, and the select people, I would
ask
when the CIP is approved and it goes to
the budget and and select persons,
um, do you look at anything other than
the next year, possibly the year after?
>> I can talk to the budget committee. Um
we look at the immediate capital
requirements for the fiscal year we are
budgeting for
and we then look out what is the
obligation that comes with that capital
expenditure and that comes into the
funding area of funding discussion. How
how will it be funded? Bond other
mechanism over what term what period and
how does that project out over the
length of the bond or the length of the
financing instrument?
um and where there's a recurring
expenditure
the aggregation of debt for example then
I think at least not speaking for the
select board but budget committee as
well would be what is our budget
threshold what's our constraint from to
handle debt um at what level over what
period of time so that's generally how
we try to think about it and treat it.
>> Um the only
>> Can I make that can I make a make that
question even muddier? Um, so, so when I
looked at this, I one of the things that
I came in here kind of wanting to get my
head around was what do we as a town
spend every year just to sort of run and
by looking at this, you know, using
these numbers and even listening to some
of Sam's um, explanation of operating
budgets and which is great. Thank you.
Really well answered. Um, you know, I'm
I I came up with a a window that we
spend around $900,000 to$1.3 million to
keep the town running every year. Now,
here's what I mean by that. Roofs,
pumps, um, trucks, equipment, cars,
cruisers, like that's all of the
replacement value. It's almost any any
expenditure under $500,000 per year. I
sort of lump that in a normal category.
we got to we have to replace our
greater. We have to you know all of
these things are just sort of come up.
So when you get to a year that's over
1.3 all of a sudden you're looking at
something that is special. And then I
think that goes back to Charlie's
question. How do we finance? How do we
fund that? Do we fund that knowing that
we have this regular expenditure every
year? Um and and do we can maybe say
that we're going to assess taxes for
that amount if we break it up in that
direction, but do we want to fund these
other what I'm going to call exceptional
amounts? And I mean that they are the
exception, not I'm not trying to place a
value on them, but these um exceptional
amounts of over 1.3 million, do we levy
taxes? Do we set aside a capital
improvement fund? Do we take out debt?
Do how do we finance those in the long
run? And I do think that that's where
the water system, the water precinct in
the school, even though we're talking
about things that are outside of our
purview and we have no control over, I
understand that those things matter
because they do still end up on the same
tax bill. So, they're conflated by the
citizen. And um we would be wise to
think about those so-called exceptional
expenses, as I called them. Sorry if
that muddied the water, but that's how I
was approaching this meeting. If that
made any sense.
>> Yeah, it does.
I think this I I think this is gerine to
exactly what you said because I'm
looking at
this 10-year thing that we've labored
over and you know obviously all the
departments have labored over and
there's nothing out I mean essentially
if you take your number there's nothing
out there after the first two or three
years and
I I guess to that point
to my knowledge, we haven't set up
a capital reserve account for the police
department.
Um, I think we did. I think we have a an
account for the ladder truck, things
like that. But
I I'm just interested in the process
that then goes on after this comes in of
saying, you know, what are we are we
properly
acknowledging things to the future?
and are we, you know, are we really
thinking that we don't have $5 million,
$10 million out in these seven years
that that we've looked at? And
I think Charlie and I have had the
discussion about bonding and thinking
about the debt and stuff like that. I'm
just I honestly I'm just wondering on a
yearly basis, which I know the focus
comes down to what's the tax rate and
what what are we spending
um how this plays into that.
I just want to add um when you guys are
done and you adopt your CIP, I marry
that to a capital reserve spreadsheet
that looks pretty similar to what you
guys are seeing, but what it does is it
takes into account what we already have
in capital reserve, what we're going to
add, and what we're going to use over
the next 10 years so that they can see,
everybody can see where we're going to
land, when we go negative, and that. So,
I I can share that document with you if
you want to see it. Um, but I know that
that's a document that they look at very
closely to see where are we going to
land and and when are we going to have
to increase things. So we do marry this
to that
>> which if that helps
>> which then helps us with our discussions
and decisions how much to ask the
taxpayers to put to add back into
capital reserve. And I just wanted to
say we did establish a police department
capital reserve this past uh town
meeting and we put $100,000 into it.
>> Okay. I have nothing more. [laughter]
>> Thanks Paul.
>> Um I think there's only one item that we
haven't discussed yet. Um and it's under
conservation. Um, and so most of you
will remember from conversations in
previous years that this number is just
sort of a placeholder that is
essentially in a random year out in the
future knowing that at some point
there's going to be some land purchase
that comes along and it's not
necessarily tied to a particular parcel.
Um, I talked to Mark Vernon on Tuesday
just to obviously he's the new chair of
the conservation commission. He may have
a different outlook on that. he shared
that he thought that was still a
relevant planning tool that um this is
really just a a placeholder so that in
the spreadsheet like Lynn is talking
about and and um BB mentioning that it
still stays in the mind of the budget
committee and the selectman as they're
figuring out transfers to capital
reserve which we have a land acquisition
fund that there may not be a specific
parcel identified in the future we know
that there's always a desire to um have
the ability to act on a parcel that's
desire desirable that comes available.
>> great. Thanks. Good context, Adam. Uh,
other questions from folks on any of
this?
I know we've covered a lot of ground
here.
And so then I think the the next
question is having heard everything now,
is there a desire to um move anything or
make any adjustments to what you've
heard or do you think everything is um
you know justified in the year that it's
in the the project and we can move
forward with um finalizing the the
narrative that goes ahead. So that the
next meeting would be probably
midepptember.
Um and we would um bring to you the
narrative based on um this document
being very solid at this point and then
at that meeting we would leave saying
yes this is ready to go forward to
public hearing.
>> I don't have anything to say right now
but I'm absorbing this and there may be
further questions. It's likely there
will be, but
>> I've I have historically been an
advocate and remain that in the
narrative we if we we consider including
a little more detail around assumptions
associated with particularly large
expenditure capital expenditure items
primarily from the standpoint that
I think this is an incredibly
well-informed and talented group. And um
rather than be questioned in a public
forum, um well, how'd you come up with
10 million for that one? Oh, well, we
estimated it based on what the
contractor said. And I I don't think
that I don't think that
I I think by adding a little more
substance to support a particular
expenditure, especially the larger ones,
would serve
the presentation at the public hearing
as well as ongoing discussions so that
people aren't sitting there thinking
actually they did, you know, this and
it's not that. It's a lot of thought has
gone into this and whether the
assumptions accurate or not that's a
that's a different discussion point but
that there is an assumption to support
particularly larger expenditures.
>> Um and Charlie I was planning on asking
you if you were I know you did the lion
share of our narrative work with me last
year. So if you're willing to
participate in that. Um I think what we
to understand what those assumptions are
that's going to fall back on the
department heads to provide to us. Um so
if maybe we could um in the next couple
of weeks get them feedback on which
items you think they should focus that
on they can get some of that information
to us. Um Maryanne as far as additional
questions go we have a regular planning
board meeting on September 8th. Um, I
think if we add CIP as just sort of a
very quick um, agenda item that night as
a okay, we've had a couple of weeks to
think about it. We need all of your sort
of final questions then and then we can
plan to meet as a CIP committee that
second time the following week, the week
of the 14th. um we can hopefully take
anything into account in that um that
week's time so that hopefully the week
of the 14th we are pretty well tied up
and ready to move forward for um public
hearing if that sounds fair to
everybody.
>> Adam is it would it be too much work
to ask for a fiveyear actual going
backward?
Here's here's why I asked that.
Here here's why I asked that. So, I'm
I'm I'm trying to figure out what the
normalized expenses are over the years.
And and I can and and some of this I can
sort of easily get my head around by the
amounts and what they are in here. But
then you've got these more exceptional
expenses in here. Like for example, the
$10 million down on Pleasant Street um
for the Department of Public Works,
that's going to obviously be, you know,
an unusually high amount. What I'm
wondering, and we've got three of those
right in a row.
>> And so what I want to know is
as the window gets closer, do the
amounts go way up? And [clears throat]
this is simply factoring back out to our
normal expenses minus what it costs to
actually maintain the 32 structures that
exist in town
>> or
are these truly exceptional events and
and we should budget for them in the
short term because one would suggest
different taxation strategies, one would
suggest different reserve policies. I
mean there's a lot of policy things that
we could address by having sort of a 5
to 10 year uh report that goes backwards
so that we could see if if what we're
proposing forward is normal.
It's
>> all you Lynn.
>> It's not [laughter]
>> I know. [gasps] So, it's not just like I
can't just run a report, but if I can if
you and I can just talk and I can get a
better understanding of what you want to
see, I can probably marry a couple
together and and and figure out
something and that will help you.
>> And it won't tie back necessarily to our
CIP of those years. The CIP has changed
dramatically in the last 24 months. I
think 10 years ago it was like three
items each year. Um, and they were like
the three priorities. So, um, Lynn's
information may not be directly
pluggable into our old plans, but
>> yeah, it's and I I what is it was it two
years ago that I started marrying CIP to
capital reserve, but we can look at
capital reserve in relation to, you
know, what we thought we were going to
spend. So, yeah, we'll get it together.
>> That would be the next question, but
this one would be before that obviously.
>> Okay,
>> great. Any other questions?
>> Okay. So then as far as planning board.
>> Yep. So we have um some regular items on
on the ETH and um there's just a couple
of things. Um so we'll have some time to
just sort of collect thoughts. Um
Charlie John um and I'll make sure BB
knows this. You're welcome to attend on
the ETH, but I don't anticipate that we
will um get deep into discussion. So,
and it will be videotaped. So, if you
have better things that you want to do
with your Tuesday night, understandable.
Um, otherwise, we're happy to have you
join us at the planning board meeting.
Um, and then for the week of the 14th,
um, I think
if we could
maybe take a quick look at folks
calendars and try to identify a day
while we're all in the same room. Um,
do Thursday mornings tend to work well
for folks? If we were to do Thursday the
17th at 8 a.m., does that
>> Yes. Yep. That way if we have any
questions, we can sort of answer on the
fly. And
>> the 17th doesn't work. Okay. Um, are
there other days that week? Wednesday
the 16th. No,
>> would this be tentative? I mean, if
there's no changes,
>> well, we'll still have the narrative to
review. So, I think we'll need to we'll
need to meet in some fashion. Um, it may
not be a very long meeting. I wouldn't
anticipate it'll have the length of this
meeting, but um,
>> 18th, Friday morning, the 18th.
>> 18th is better for me.
Sorry, I'm in an email chain right now
with Darren and Shannon and we have
identified Friday the 18th for Tritown.
>> Oh, okay.
>> What What time is that meeting at Ash?
>> 8:30 here in New London.
>> Could they adjust that to 9:00 a.m. and
we could have 8 to 9?
>> Yes, as long as Janet and Emily are
okay.
>> I won't be here.
Janet's not here.
>> So, if you guys are okay with the double
header, I think it's realistic that we
could do 8 to 9. If we if we made it
through all of this in an hour and 50
minutes, I think we can make it through
the next in an hour if we're efficient.
>> Yeah, that works for you guys. Friday
morning the 18th, 8 a.m.
>> I'm out that I'm out that whole week,
which is fine. It'll just make your
meeting shorter.
>> Okay. [laughter]
>> And John, you and I can connect the week
before if you have stuff that
>> Yeah. 18th is better for me, too.
>> Okay. So, we'll plan 9:18
at 8 a.m.
uh right here.
>> Perfect. Yep.
Great. Thank you guys for all uh making
this big block of time in your schedule.
>> Yeah, I really appreciate everybody, all
the department heads, budget committee,
select board, planning board. Um yeah,
this is great. Good to get everyone in
one room and just knock it out as
quickly and efficiently as possible. So,
thanks for all the prep that went into
this too for all the people who
Great. I just need a motion to adjurnn.
Second.
>> All in favor? I.