Select Board Meeting - September 2, 2026

Speakers are labeled SPEAKER_N. This transcript is machine-generated.

Recording

a little bit
every year.
Wow. Well, it was supposed to only last
people who weren't there as long as
they're alive.
>> Yeah.
>> Now, what meeting of Wednesday,
September 2nd, and we're going to start
with approval of their minutes. Did you
have any
>> No, I didn't have any problem.
>> No, there was one typo that I gave to
Steve. So,
I will I'll make a motion tonight that
we'll approve the minutes from our last
meeting.
>> I second it.
>> All right. All in favor?
>> I minutes are approved.
>> All right. Public comment. We have some
public here tonight. So, I'm guessing we
have public comment or or you're just
here to watch our
>> We're here. I don't know what the order
of this is. Just an open forum.
>> It is an open forum.
>> We'll just start with you.
>> Well, all right. Yeah.
>> Uh some you have no idea why we're here.
>> Uh uh I have had a very very brief uh
word I think I heard about why you
positively here.
>> Yeah. And why don't you just if you
could just tell everyone your name for
the minutes that would be super
>> Mike Martin. Uh my wife Sarah Jamie and
my neighbor we live on Flat Iron Road
and uh we're here to discuss what I
don't think you know is or we're here is
I want to I want to clear up some
miscommunications
>> have been possibly presented.
>> There's nothing been presented to me.
You are my neighbor which is why I know
>> Oh
>> yeah. Anyway, I'm right behind you but
go on. Thank you, ma'am, and thank you
for for letting me come to this meeting.
And um let me begin with uh this started
three and a half years ago when Flat
Iron Road was underwater. And it was
because this semi-truck was driving in
and out of our little community on a
regular basis, at least three days a
week, sometimes five. Uh two of my
neighbors came when we were finishing
shoveling up. It was in March. And uh we
discussed possibility of writing a
letter kindly to our neighbor and asking
him to not drive during a wet season
especially wet season but basically it's
from February if you're there you see
what that
>> well and and this is his work if I'm
getting to guessing the neighbor it's
his work truck right that he brings home
at night. So, there was some confusion
about which truck and that's part of the
misunderstanding because when I came up
to two week three weeks ago to get
permission and find out what the regs
are for planting grass back out to the
side of the road, Steve was still under
the impression he was driving a fuel
truck.
>> No, that that's not true. I told you he
switched to the fuel truck in the winter
that this time of the year he drives a
semi-tractor trailer that hauls block.
>> Not actually what you say, dude.
>> But anyway, that that really Yeah, let's
get
>> and that's not what's happen. He's
driving his semitr during the winter
time during the mud season. So three
years ago in March or so three and a
half.
>> We presented this I came up because we
didn't feel comfortable putting the
letter on his truck. He had had some
other issues with some people some of
the other neighbors.
>> And we decided it was better to come up
and start at the lowest level. I'm
retired military too. So was my wife.
And so we we went lowest level first. We
didn't jump to this meeting. We didn't
we came to Steve Howeron and Steve was
very kind and he said of all the things
that were were appropriately said and he
said I'll take care of I'll talk to the
guy. Well, the truck kept running and
then we sent in a a grater and the
grater graded everything out and
everything was fine. And so
we wondered what was going to happen the
next year and the same thing happens.
The truck continues to run. It's the
semi now. He may run a fuel truck
occasionally but it is the semi. I I
brought I brought some visuals just so
that uh
again that we we're all on the same page
because
that truck is so long I couldn't get it
into a one one frame on my camera. So,
uh that is the truck that's in question.
>> So, um Patty Bit's house then there's
where the kids live for a while and then
there's mechanics.
>> It's Yeah, it's still the mountains
house. It's right behind my house on
Flat Iron. They're very
>> So, by the way, here's some just some
general stats. I am told that that road
and so is being road. I don't know if
this is true because there's no postings
and when I approached my neighbor about
it, he says as long as there's no
placard, he can do what he wants. And
technically that's true in the law. He
it can go up to 80,000 pounds on any
road that's not
>> placed.
So, we did some math and we did some
work around. Um, I'll just go through
the pictures. This is what I did to my
corner two weeks ago and put two yard of
dirt and started planting uh grass. Uh,
I left it 6 in off the corner. I put
some brick there to kind of demarcate
what was going on. And then this is what
happened the next morning
when he uh pulls out. He has to drive
over 5 and 1/2 ft on them by property
line in the rightway to get in and out
of our building. He does a 9-point turn,
which means he digs his tires in and he
does a 9-point turn. Literally, you can
see the damage to Magnameir's lawn, too,
because the truck is so long. He has to
hang himself over on Magnum's
dig he digs up that side. He was digging
up Magnamera's driveway. Mr. Magname
asked him to stop doing it. He's he
stopped doing it as much as he had been.
So
there's the actual tape measure
demonstrating what the that's 5 1/2
foot. Uh I know that the rideway says
that he has the right to come and go,
but he does not have the right to damage
my property.
>> Mhm.
>> The problem is he isn't doing this
because he wants to do it. His truck is
too long.
>> Mhm.
>> And Flat Iron Road is only 13 ft wide.
It is not designed for a modern semi,
especially pulling a 53 foot flatbed
with whatever he's got on the back. I
thought it was cement hesco, but it's
not. It's some kind of giant pallets
full of boulders or cement blocks or
something. I'm figuring the load there
has got to be close to 10 tons in and of
itself. That means this trailer's got to
be running 50 ton or 50 50,000 lbs.
That's 20,000 lbs of wood. Our confusion
as a neighborhood is why has this been
allowed to happen during the mud season?
And this started three and a half years
ago. So, it's not a recent thing. This
isn't a grudge match between me and my
leader.
I am concerned about my property being
managed. That's I want to take care of
that different. What we would like to
know is and I've we've we've typed up a
a petition. May I read it? Just you want
to read it?
>> No, you can read it. I don't know. I'm
I'm the chair just saying that.
>> Sorry, ma'am.
>> Yeah. Uh we the undersign formally
request relief in the form of a seasonal
driving restrictions traffic control
placarding specifying 3,000lb load set
to be placed on flat iron road. For
several years, our neighbor has
commercially operated a full-size semi
pickup and fullsize flat bed trailer
year round, violating local and state
seasonal driving restrictions laws and
thus causing considerable damage to Flat
Iron Road as the village of Meridan and
Planefield can usually provide only one
grading a season. That's true. This year
we got two. We got heart pack for some
reason. I have no idea how that
happened, but we got graded and then
somebody paid generously for a about 14
in of hard pack and it really helps. But
typically we get one one plane or one
grading at the end of mud season. Uh
the damages that are caused by this
truck place an unreasonable burden
driving burden upon residents, visitors
and local servicing vehicles.
Additionally, we the undersigned feel
the use of the taxpayer money to rebuild
Flat Iron Road each spring due to the
damage caused by this one vehicle is an
unreasonable financial burden to our
community. We recommend placing
appropriate bond as stated per the law.
Then you can put a bond on his truck and
help him pay for the damages he if he
decides to continue to violate the law
uh upon the operator's vehicle to help
pay for road repairs each spring. Uh
when approached about the use of this
truck, I did approach him. He said,
"Without a placard, I can drive what I
want." Again, I it's that's basically
true. You can put up to you can put up
to 40 tons of cargo and truck on little
flat iron roll. Flat Iron Roll is only
13 foot wide, approximately 1 and 1/3
lanes. I checked it out. I called first
I called Enfield and then I called
Concord DOT. Talked to some civil
engineers in the headquarters building.
It's just simply not designed for a
full-size modern truck. son. Uh
this is what this is why the vehicle
cannot enter and leave the property
without doing damage to somebody's
property. So he's going to have to
damage somebody's right there. Uh we
request a formal pity and consider
consideration of a bond upon the vehicle
and publication of a clear chain of
communication to enforce these seasonal
driving restrictions in the future. We
submit this request faithfully and with
respect uh to the Meridian Planefield
city selects.
signed by four words. You know, that's
all we're here for today.
>> So, like a packard for one. I mean, so
do
>> other towns do have balls. Yeah.
>> on on road to but in the winter time.
Usually, usually they have field not
infield, but I think Hano has all the
time.
So, um
>> I mean you can all
>> Is it I mean
>> what's the width of
>> Can you speak? Yeah.
>> 13. Yeah, it is 136.
>> Really? One round or less than one run?
>> Yeah.
>> Well, it's Well, I don't know what the
right way is. I don't
>> The right of way is it's
a little over. It's three broad road.
So, it's 16 and 1/2 ft times three. So,
it's on everybody's grass on the road.
But you know in our lifetimes maybe
maybe Ken you can remember I cannot
remember the bridge ever being there.
>> Yes it was there when I was a boy.
>> So you you remember the bridge. I mean
it went to 120 right
>> and since it doesn't go to 120 anymore
it's it has narrowed in over the years.
It's just you know it's that it's a the
road for those very few houses that are
out there. And you know we have talked
over the years to the owner of the
truck. He works for Simple Energy,
drives fuel oil truck, and he drives his
transport truck in the winter. He told
me the transport truck was just about
done. Said he had about another week,
and he would would be switching to the
fuel oil truck. Um, and we've had more
conversations about the fuel oil truck
actually because it of its implications
for Meidan should it have a problem.
Right. We we have had this in the past
where people who work for those
companies bring the trucks. There was a
time when he brought the transport
truck, but he said that that was always
empty. It would would never have fuel in
it. Um, and so, you know, we have asked
him, we've offered him other solutions.
>> Yeah.
>> Park it at the highway garage. Jewel,
>> that was my question. Is there a
solution for park down at the highway
garage when he lived on Whitaker Road?
Not because mostly because he didn't he
couldn't back all the way down Whitaker.
I mean, where he lived it was would
would not have worked. Um, and so, you
know, this this is, as you pointed out,
this is how this person makes his
living. And so, the town typically is
not involved in trying to in any way
prevent somebody from making a living.
>> Have you had trouble during season of
the road, right?
>> Have you had trouble season?
>> Um, I I'm trying to remember back. I
mean, there was some times where it was
a little
a little deep. I mean, we probably
cannot stop him during the year other
than during the posted season,
>> but we could post the road
>> during mud season.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Which we haven't.
>> Well, actually, that's not true. Or
>> have we been posted right at the
beginning of the bean route?
>> Yeah. Right. And so, it's anything on to
be road. So, if he's coming on bean, he
shouldn't be getting on to flat iron,
right? Whether
>> it's or not.
>> In the spring season, we probably could
say to him, "You can't bring your truck
home." I mean, it's frustrating to him
because he'll see agricultural vehicles
overweight driving all over town, which
they do in the spring. They're exempt.
He'll see fuel oil trucks driving all
over town. They're exempt. Um, and he
may say, "Well, mine's a fuel oil
truck." But we'll have that discussion.
So,
>> during the during the summer months, I
don't think there's much. I mean, it's a
public road. It's a legally registered
truck. I don't know if there's any
>> Well, is there anything you can do if
he's driving onto people's property with
it?
>> I don't think I don't think he's driving
significantly onto anybody's Rich and I
went there today and looked at it. He is
he certainly gets off the gravel at the
apron,
>> but remember it's it's almost 55 ft wide
right there. That's that that is the
town's rightway. I mean, I didn't see
anything that was egregious. I agree
with you. If he was driving over the
Hines's lawn, significantly over their
lawn, he can't do that. or or these
folks lawn. Um I mean it we can tell him
whatever you want us to tell him, but I
think it's it's a slippery slope to tell
a legally registered vehicle who's
proper for the road. I know I mean you
can't be on a public road.
>> So how much leeway does the property
owner have put boulders there or
something like that?
>> Can't put anything in the right of way.
I read grave stakes the other day.
can't, you know, the right of way is is
the town's area to maintain its road,
you know, you know, I mean,
>> and this Yeah.
>> I mean, we could widen the road back to
18 or 19 ft. Nobody down there would
like that, right? They wouldn't they
would and it's not appropriate for
there, but the right of way is there. It
It can be done and it can be done
without I mean, we would hold hearings,
but we're not asking. It's a right of
way. We The town owns that.
>> Yeah. Can can I just ask what what would
be egregious because I thought that
photograph you read the internet lawyer
it says any any damage that's not normal
damage. So like if a power truck rolls
up onto the the rideway and it barks and
it leaves a little footprint that's
normal use. If it's a bus that stops and
kids get off and it makes a little skid
mark that's normal use. That's normal
rightway use. Mhm.
>> That doesn't look like normal right
away. It's only photo
>> which I paid taxes to through to through
the center line of that road.
>> So that's
>> Well, in fact, today when I was there,
that sign was flat. I mean, that sign
was on the ground, but that is that is
all within the town shoulder of the road
essentially.
>> That's one.
>> I mean, it's it's all
>> Jamie. Yeah. But wouldn't that be the
town's rightaway, not a private
citizen's right away with a privately
owned vehicle?
>> Well, he's using that did that. Yes,
he's
>> town has the right away. But a privately
owned citizen doesn't have the right to
destroy your property. It'd be like me
coming up to your house, parking in
front of your house, and peeling out and
ripping up your lawn. You would not like
that.
>> Don't do that to Steve.
>> No, I would anyone else. But but you can
see you can see here.
>> I mean you can see in the photo
historically where the grass has you can
see the flat iron sign.
>> This line the grass used to be out to
the edge of the road until the road was
paved. That road was never paved before.
>> That's right.
>> Right. Now it is now
at the entrance.
>> But there's always a should there's
always a shoulder area and it's wider at
the turns. I mean look at Bonner Road
and 120. Everybody that turns on to 120
goes onto the goes onto the gravel off
the pavement. You can see how so this
this is common to see on every
intersection. Um it's not I mean and
would we prefer he not back his truck
down there? Why why would we want him
to? But but he does have some rights.
It's a public road.
>> I have to drive to work every day. I got
to get on the road and go go over to the
VA. I got to put my time in uh the
mileage, the gas. I don't get to drag
the VA building home with me down the
new road and
>> well yeah I mean this is a different
different type of job and we we quite
frankly have a lot of people in our in
our town who drive their trucks home at
night and I'm not saying that you should
be getting onto your property but that's
just the reality of it and so we're we
can't limit
>> I mean I I think we should obviously
>> I think we do need to talk to Scott
>> right and we should have him he should
have an opportunity to talk
I think if we could have a a really a
start trying to have a nice conversation
with them. These are some concerns that
we have.
>> What you know, where can we go? And I
understand you've had a conversation
with them, but I think if the select
board did it might be a little bit
different. I don't think
>> that didn't go well.
>> Well, right. But
>> and there's another little situation
with him. Who wouldn't it?
>> He leaves at 1, 2, 3 in the morning. He
does leave early in the morning
>> and he pulls out and he does two or
three point turns out there and it wakes
up my mom. It wakes up me. It wakes up
everybody in the neighborhood. The brown
the brick house.
>> These guys get woken up. He drives down
>> we hear as well
>> in front of the four times. He pars his
rig while he gets out and does whatever
he does out there. He's there another
five, six, eight minutes. He's waking up
everybody in probably the White House.
>> So I think one of the issues here that I
hear it's well there a few things but I
don't think un you know I think it's
annoying. I think I I've woken up with
it too. I don't know that he's in
violation of any ordinance that we have.
>> Well, you had a few years back, we had
the situation where the place over in
Planefield on 128 were riding their
trucks in and out. It was a noise
pollution thing,
>> right? I don't know that it's the level
of the Fredo Lake noise pollution.
You know, just saying
>> it's a little more limited than that as
as an abunner. I I I I know exactly what
you're talking about. So, but it is more
limited I think than the freeto lay
trucks coming in and out and I'm not
sure were they in a violation of an
ordinance at the end of it. I know they
>> was a requirement of his own.
>> So, the hours they could come in and so
what I'd like to propose is that the
select board first has a conversation
with Scott because it may be different
than neighbors approaching him which may
>> I think that's a good idea
>> felt a little um
>> combative even if you were not trying to
be combative at all. Uh so so I think we
will have a conversation with him. We'll
try to find a solution
>> um that would work better for everybody.
I mean I I assume he's capable of coming
in and out without going on their lawn.
>> He doesn't do it every day,
>> right? I mean it is
>> not drive it.
>> Truck is too big to pass that things
without coming onto our lawn. Period. He
can back in but he cannot pull out. And
just so I understand, do you have the
same when he is driving the fuel truck,
are the issues the same or
>> about the fuel truck?
>> Okay.
>> So that's interesting.
>> We'll have a conversation
>> conversation. He's also he's parking on
school property which is across the
street from his house. That's
>> right. It's Kimble.
>> He goes up into the log landing.
>> Yes, he does.
>> He does which is I think a Kimble Union
issue. if they're okay with it, they're
you know that's
>> they probably don't even know that he's
doing that
>> and that that's fine. They can talk to
him about that as well and maybe maybe
they do and maybe they don't. Um so I
think uh the other piece is to have a
conversation with him about the fact
that that road is perhaps the road is
not posted but unless he's flying over
bean to get to it which he is not um
>> right it's not going to work. So, we
want to make sure he understands and
this can give him some time to think
about where he might
>> Right. Again, I told him that I thought
we could work a deal, you know, where he
could park a truck in the lower um
highway garage. Juel did it for months.
You know, he can get in there, you can
get out, he could leave his pickup truck
there. He hasn't been terribly receptive
of that, but he may have to.
>> No doubt, right? Like, you know, you
want to get out of your house and get in
your car, but or your truck, but you you
that may not be an option. One cable up
cable across the street field. I was
saying too where it's the gravel the
gravel part of big white they play ball.
>> Oh. Oh. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
You got a nice fog gate.
>> I hard to say.
>> And his employer may not want his truck
to be controversial either.
>> And so right, you know, I mean simple
may say, "Look, just just leave our
truck in our in our yard and come get
it. come and get it in the morning.
>> Today, did you actually take a tape
measure and see where the town right
away is? It's way inside of where they
just put the rocks or
>> Oh, it's way outside of where I mean the
rocks, the the rocks, the lilac bushes,
the lawn is all in the rightway. I mean,
the road's only 13 and the right ofway
is almost 60. But to Jamie's question
and and just so we have some clarity on
it, I mean I is the or I'm sorry it may
not have been Jamie's question to the
question about whether the right of way
is the town right of way so that the
snow plow can go into the lilac bushes.
We hope it doesn't. Um but I like bushes
are lovely but but does that I mean I
know we we
people are generally allowed to park in
the public right of way even though
right I mean so they so the public does
use the right of way of the road for
other things other than travel this
isn't an egregious violation of
>> I mean he's he's at the bell of the turn
and he's got too much truck so he gets
>> so his his parking elsewhere would solve
all of this
>> oh yeah we all right yeah Yes.
>> Yes. Oh, I think it does. And
>> so far, he's not been receptive to that.
>> I'm sure.
>> But but we can have a conversation
>> conversation with Scott. Yeah.
>> Be good fun. And
>> and I think we should do that before we
take any other action. At least give him
an opportunity to
>> Well, we got a phone line. So, I think
that would be good. Yeah. And I'm very
comfortable. Whatever you all decide, I
trust you and whatever decisions you
make, I will not be back. I'm going to
trust whatever it is.
>> Okay.
So, but but definitely during the the
wet season,
>> right? He can't be on the road on the
road, right? You know,
>> and does that include his fuel truck in
that?
>> Well, that'll be an interesting
discussion,
>> right? I mean, what is the weight of I
don't know the weight of an
exempt from from road posting. Doesn't
mean I think they're exempt for
deliveries. I don't know if they're
exempt from
>> Well, that's exactly right. So, let's
>> for let's have a more positive. And if
he's telling us it's an empty truck,
he's not delivering anything to anybody.
>> And I'm surpris I mean everybody he can
go get the fuel truck. I I I'm not sure
what the advantage is. I assume he wants
to get to 89 and it's just easier for
him with the with the transport truck,
but the fuel truck he can we we'll work
through it. But
>> we'll we'll
>> we will Yes. But further with this, I
appreciate you coming tonight and
letting us know about it. We will uh we
we'll take a look and have a have a
conversation um with
>> I trust you all very much. Thank you
neighbor.
>> Thank you. Appreciate that.
>> Thank you very much folks.
>> Thanks for coming.
>> All righty. Uh
>> Maria.
>> Yes.
Um, since Steve told us at the last
meeting about the police chief um that
they'll be police chief recruitment at
some point, but how much did we pay Beth
for the his recruitment?
>> Do you remember? I say it was I think I
was going it was like four is if Oh,
Beth is with us this evening, but I
think it's four between four and $5,000.
>> Four or five benefits. I don't remember
you know seeing that amount but um did
the search agreement require candidates
to complete
state certification within a few months
of hire or rather than allowing them to
>> there are laws around there it's not
it's not the uh terms of employment
there are some there are RSAs
>> the state laws
>> there are RSAs over uh Clint pleading
yeah certifications
>> and and I wouldn't think we would be at
liberty to talk about the details about
these chief's employment
>> no but if it's a state law I can
>> but there is a Right. Right. All police
officers in New Hampshire have to be
certified.
>> Now, if they're not certified, what are
the limitations? Can they still write
>> uh
>> They have They have full powers in the
state of New Hampshire
>> for two years qualified.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We haven't had Yeah.
>> You have two years to become certified
if you are in a qualifying state. And
Connecticut is a qualifying state. And
so so the the chief's leaving has
nothing to do with his certification.
No.
>> Yeah. No, I understand. That's what you
said. Um, so what is the total projected
cost utilizing state police or contract
officers? Have has that been figured
out?
>> No, we we have not had a proposal for
that yet. Maria, you're you're ahead of
uh you're ahead of us on all on that.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, we have a we have a chief right now
um through October 2nd.
>> All right. Uh, let me let me just
There's
on the job the office audit.
>> The office audit that we paid $6,500.
>> The study for the town. Are
>> you talking about the town office study?
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
I remember it started it said that it
would they would have there would be a
comparison between towns like a town our
size and another town does it have do
they have a town administrator was that
where where is that report
was that separate other than the thing
I'd like to find out
>> the only report is the one that you read
>> they did not compare
>> I think when they wrote their report
they They wrote it through a lens of
other small towns.
>> Yes,
>> through the lens. But I want to see what
the other what small towns did they look
at? What they
>> That's not
>> Was there another like how many towns
did they actually see that have town
administrators? And they did say that a
lot of your job was a lot of clerical
stuff. Um so based on that
could that job be half time
>> or you know
>> that report was not complete. I've never
seen a report.
>> We were happy with the report. So go on.
>> Go on if you have other things to say.
>> Now timekeeping uh protocols.
How does the board monitor timekeeping
and billing to prevent any what they
call theft of service? For example, um
if somebody has on their job description
a specific job, but they continually
hire an outside person to do the job
that's in the job description.
>> So that sounds like a hypothetical to
me. You have you have a case.
>> I have no idea what you're talking
about.
>> I'm not going to have the little ho
raising and all that. Do you have
something that is you can document
that's going on that's
>> right here? Right here in every every
meeting that happens in the select men.
>> I have the job description for
facilities manager. No. And part of the
facilities manager
includes carpentry.
And now every time there's carpentry
work, you hire Marshall.
>> So I'm gonna just say this and this is
all that I I'll say to the is that
>> two people.
>> No.
>> And one person is
>> we have more work than one person can do
in a week. We just that's just a fact.
We are, you know, it's more work than
one person who is not uh you know who
can can do. I'm not going to get into
the rest of it. Go on. If there's more
you'd like to say.
>> Okay. Uh let me just see.
I guess that will be all. I did have
other but you know thank you.
>> Again no response.
>> Well that's not what we do in public. We
listen in public and if we can
>> what I'm saying is
>> the job description says one thing
>> but I will just tell you that the select
board is confident in in the staff that
has been hired and we will leave it at
that. Uh we will go on to department
reports. Let's start with Chief.
>> Do you want to start with Rich?
>> Start with Rich. I'm so sorry. I knew
one.
>> Yeah, I did. I did. Thank you. Thank
you. It's more public comment than we're
used to.
>> Can we start with Skip L? Skips here. We
have Skip's here. Yeah,
>> we have Skip here who is from Beaver
Deceiver fame and we can talk about that
or not. And Megan Chapman, who is our
chairman of our conservation commission,
has also joined us. And we appreciate
you waiting through a little longer
public comment than we often have. Um,
Skip, I know you contact contacted us
this week. If you can maybe turn your
camera on and or maybe you don't have
to, but if you could and maybe you're on
a phone. Um, but do you have I mean,
give us an update and then Rich is also
will give us an update on Hedgehog Road.
>> Skip, are you there?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Yep. We hear you.
>> Yeah. Just a second. I'm going to turn
the video on.
Holy cow.
Video video. Sorry about that. Oh my
goodness. I was sitting here and I fell
asleep.
>> Well, we've done We've all done that.
>> I don't know why the video's not coming
on.
>> That's all right.
>> Sorry about that.
>> Wow.
Oh,
>> we have that effect on a lot of people.
Skip.
>> Good. Good. Good. Not that you're bor
Not that you're boring.
>> It's all right.
>> All right. So, uh, Skip, if you want to,
uh, give us just a, I guess, we'll see.
>> We had not talked to Skip in several
years. It been six or seven since you
did the project on Hedgehog, and you've
called us this week. Take it from there.
>> Okay. Well, it's good to be back.
>> Yeah. I just I just was I'm doing a job
a private job up that way. So, I stopped
by and looked at the uh the old sites a
few days ago and and saw the the one on
Hedgehog is totally clogged. And so, I
immediately called Steve, especially
with the rain in the forecast this week.
And then the next morning, I I began to
uh take the dam down carefully and I did
it again this morning. And I think by
the end of the week, we'll have the
water back down. But then then we need
to uh make sure the beaver deceiver is
working. It got silted in or something.
Um
>> yeah, that
>> and is that a common thing to have
happen to
>> uh not really but that
>> okay
>> and I I haven't been monitoring it for
quite a while but it's a
>> skip in a in a in a very
efficient way. Tell us about the
technology the beaver deceiver. It's
essentially you put two pipes inside our
existing pipe or very close to it to and
then the and then cage the inlet end of
the pipe so that beavers who are trying
to dam at the dam site can't figure out
that water is leaving from a site deeper
in the pond. I mean is that essentially
it?
>> That's essentially it. Yes. Um the the
initial fence on the culvert I call a
receiver fence because it it receives a
pipe system and that's the receiver
fence is simply to keep the beavers from
directly clogging the culvert. Um so
it's the uh the pipe system is the
crucial part and and beavers don't do a
lot of deductive reasoning. They don't
think like humans. um you know we would
automatically just step back and look at
the big picture and say ah we got a dam
at the upstream end here but they won't
they'll they'll they'll focus generally
on the uh on the receiver fence and so
the idea is just you know at the while
they're doing that you're you're
sneaking water away from them um through
the pipes and then a a what I call a
square fence filter on the end of the
pipes that's meant to filter beavers out
and filter water And um so yeah,
>> I mean essentially the the the backstory
is that around town since the 1970s, I
mean when I was a kid, beavers were very
rare. The state of New Hampshire would
come and trap them alive trap them and
take them away when they were a problem.
But since, you know, I've worked for the
town in many years before that and all
the years Rich has worked here, road
agents have spots in towns where beavers
are constantly putting the road network
at risk.
>> They agents have wide authority now to
remove the beavers just because life has
to go on and and humans have an impact
on on on the planet in a lot of ways.
And this is one of them with with the
road networks that we so dearly value.
And so Rich has one on Penman Road that
he runs a backhoe down there once a week
to clean the culvert out. Has done it
for years. Um that's easy. Hedgehog is
all the way across town up, you know,
getting toward the Lebanon line on Oak
County um up in that direction. And it
was really cost prohibitive to send
highway guys there regularly. And that
large culvert that goes under hedgehog
has been a problem. And people, we've
seen it on Penaman, which has been one
of the bigger areas over the years.
People react fairly negatively who live
in the on the roads and in the areas to
us killing the beavers. Whether the road
agent in some cases shoots them. I' I've
had road agents that I've worked with
that have done that. More commonly these
days, we hire a trapper and the trapper
is licensed by the state of New
Hampshire and can take the beavers at
the direction of the road agent anytime
during the year. Sometimes they have
more value than others, but essentially
it's a nuisance thing that they're
they're they're operating under. In this
case is a very very significant wetland
there. It's it's it's one of the larger
wetlands in Planefield. It drains out of
Mud Pond. It drains down through county
into the Pucker Pod Swamp under 12A down
Beaverbrook, well named Yes.
>> into the Connecticut River. Um, and we
decided and went to the conservation
commission 7 years ago now and said, you
know, we don't want to kill these
beavers. The neighbors don't want us to
kill them, but they're causing us more
trouble than we can deal with. Would you
try this technology? And I think most of
the seven years, the conservation
commission said yes, they bought it. I
mean, they paid for it out of the
conservation fund. Um, or at least a
very significant portion of it, if not
all of it. Rich, would you over the
years it has saved you a bunch? Yes,
>> it's saved a lot of work. I mean, we've
had to clean it out a couple times, but
yes.
>> And so, but what you saw, Skip, really
concerned you because of the volume of
water that's backed up.
>> Oh, yeah.
Yeah. combined, you know, combined with
the the value of the properties and
roads downstream and the the size of
that
>> reserv,
>> right?
>> And so tell us if we weren't going to go
the route that I know you you hate to
hear and we weren't going to trap the
beavers and remove them, at least some
of them. And you've even we've even
added a second beaver deceiver there.
There's a there's one downstream of the
first one closer to his place.
>> Um what what would you do to the to the
current setup to improve it and and
what would that cost?
>> Well, it's it's a little hard to know
exactly with the water still high.
Once we get the water down as low as
possible, then I can inspect the filter,
you know, and I I kind of suspect that
that may not be we may not be able to
recover and clean the filter, but but
time will tell. And if not,
>> so you're suspecting we would we would
have to replace it.
>> Yeah, there's a good chance you'll have
to replace the filter on the end. Of
course, the receiver fence has also been
destroyed and I I think Richard will
probably remove what remains of it
tomorrow. Um, so that has to be that has
to also be rebuilt.
>> So, I mean, is is about seven years, we
did this in 2019. Is seven years the
life of a beaver deceiver?
>> No. No. The average life is lifespan is
much more than that. Yes. Something's
happened. either the beavers got in
there or sometimes just, you know, fine
sediments build up in front of the pipe
and uh it becomes blocked. But no, I I I
typically expect them to last much
longer. Now, in in respect to killing
beavers, it's just it's just very
inefficient because these culverts are
are beaver magnets. They're they're
perfect damning sites. And even if you
remove all the beavers, then beavers are
also great at dispersing and and
exploring the landscape. And so it's
just an endless endless cycle. So that
it's really really good to to protect
these sites with fixed defenses. I mean,
what one of the challenges Rich is going
to have tomorrow, and he'll speak to
what he's seen up there, and I'll shut
up, but one of the challenges he's he's
going to have is the state culvert at
Pucker Pod must be backed up, must must
have a dam in it that hasn't been
removed because the work that you've
done in the last two days has raised the
water in the Pucker Pod swamp to where
it's up on the white line on 12A again.
And so he Rich doesn't have he can't go
work on the state dam, but he doesn't
have any capacity in the swamp below
without starting to put water over 12A.
>> Well, they need a they need a beaver
deceiver in that dam, too.
>> They really do.
>> That's the same problem I was having. It
was blocking it up going into the road.
>> Of course, it goes behind his house. It
makes
>> Well, he can show you pictures what it
does, but it does. It goes right behind
his house. So you do gradually, right?
You have to do it gradually. You can't
do it all at once,
>> right?
>> That the last two days. We've got a lot
of water's gone out the last two days.
So,
>> and I think if we don't if we don't
rehab the beaver deceiver,
>> then Rich is back to needing to run a
backo out there once a week, which is
what we were trying to avoid.
>> We're trying to avoid that.
>> And and so Megan, when does the
conservation commission meet again?
>> It's coming up, isn't it?
Uh, we meet at the end of the month.
>> End of September. Okay. I mean, I'm
trying to see what the commission's
appetite might be to fund a improvement
to the beaver deceiver or or are you
guys done with it, but you can't speak
with for the board? The board would have
to decide that,
>> right?
>> Correct. Yeah. I can't speak for the
rest of the commission. Um, and I wasn't
on the commission when the original um
deceiver was in place. Um, personally I
would be for um rehab as opposed to um
lethal trapping of beavers, but that's
just my personal opinion. Um, but I'd be
interested to also hear um from Skip,
you know, what kind of, you know,
maintenance plan there might be um, you
know, moving forward if it was something
that needed to be done on an annual
basis. Um, and then also hearing maybe
from um the road agent if there are
other opportunities in town where we
might install some of these devices.
>> Um, where you might what?
>> Install some of install more of the
deceivers.
>> Oh, go ahead.
>> Skip, we're going to go with you first
and then then we'll go to Rich. So, if
you want to answer Megan's questions.
>> I just want to add one comment saying
we're talking about conservation. I
mean, having beavers in the wetlands is
incredibly valuable for many reasons.
And even if they aren't creating a
wetland, they do a lot of things like
build lodges, for example, that are
tremendous microhabitats and nesting
places for a lot of animals. But at that
site, there's also a beautiful
downstream wetland and and and so if you
kill the beavers, that all the dams
decay and you lose a lot of ecological
and hydraological value. So I would I
would hope that would be factored in as
well. And but but you know the biggest
value you'll you'll lose is economic if
if Richard has to constantly go out
there and and and fight it in
perpetuity. that that. So, you also have
to recogn
the the two approaches because that's a
a phenomenal cost and if he doesn't if
he doesn't get to it for some reason and
you have the road wash out, you know, it
could be a really big cost with, you
know, given the downstream properties.
>> So, at this point, we don't have right
we you haven't taken a look. So we don't
have an actual cost for re
>> No, I think they've been trying I think
that the the device is so far below the
level of the pond now they're having
trouble seeing exactly what
>> right. So, we don't know exactly like to
we couldn't do a cost analysis at this
point.
>> Works too hard,
>> right? What what does one cost these
days when you install it typically? I
mean, seven years ago it was two or
three thousand bucks.
>> Yeah, that's changed.
>> Every site's different. Um I've been
giving people estimates like four to
five grand. That that's a really big
watershed. And so that's a you know
that's a above average site in terms of
this the size of the flow device and
which is the general term and the
difficulty of it.
>> But at this point you're not sure we'd
be replacing right. You could be rehab I
heard you talk about rehabbing it. Is
that
>> Yeah. I mean there's a lot of Yeah. I
mean I've already been there twice and
and have four hours of driving time and
and a couple hours on site, you know.
>> But that's critically important. I hope
you'll pay me for that.
Yeah, that that's that. And uh but
anyway, I don't know. I mean, I in an
ideal world, I'll be able to go out
there and clean the filter and and we
won't have to replace anything except
for the receiver fence. You know, the
pipes the pipes might be just fine.
>> Those two big pipes. So, that would be
ideal, but if not, you know, it'll get
more a little more expensive.
>> Megan, did that answer the questions you
had for Skip? I think there was a
question about like ongoing maintenance
if we were is that
>> Yeah, I thought I read something on your
website, Skip, about um like the cost of
maintenance over like a 30-year period,
and I didn't know if that was something
that was included in your installation.
>> Um, you know, for new ones, obviously,
we didn't have some sort of contract
with you for that. Um,
>> not usually because I they're they're so
good and they typically require so
little maintenance that I don't want to
hook customers into a yearly maintenance
plan. What I I usually tell them, I say,
"If you have any problems, you know,
just give me a call."
>> And particularly if something starts
going south like it has here, it's
important to to let me know as soon as
possible.
>> Okay, good to know.
>> Okay, Rich, I'd love to hear from you on
that. Someone's in the waiting room.
>> Oh,
gave me a bow praise on in the waiting
room. All right, Rich.
>> Imagine what you want to hear.
>> Well, what are your your thoughts?
You've heard, you know, from Skip.
You've seen it. You know exactly what
we're talking about. What are you Where
do you I mean, before Skip has gone to
look at it and and find and analyze the
damage, um did you want to tell us Yeah.
>> your thoughts on this?
>> We've cleaned it off a few times,
including the back down. Yeah. And um
but they just built back up
>> and what they happened is is they just
took and pushed all the mud right
towards that that screen. So that's how
it blocked it off.
>> Cuz right now you can it's tapered down
like that.
>> It's like a walker on top of that.
>> That is
>> okay. So
>> what happened is basically they just
pushed everything towards that that
great
>> but
>> if you I mean you could it lasted I'd
say six six and a half years. I mean I
don't see anything next one could last
same amount of time. It does save it
does save a lot of a lot of work.
>> Yeah.
>> It does save time going over and
checking it every I mean because now now
they've done that we do the new one. I'm
going to have to check at least once a
week to see how if they're going to do
the same thing. So at this although it
sounds like it was unusual that it did
that. Is that right? I mean
>> that's what
>> that's what he said. Is that what you
found?
>> I they didn't mess with it for the
longest time.
>> Yeah. And then they did and then all of
a sudden they decided
>> and so are you going to what's your
action plan? Are you going to continue
to lower the water level?
>> Oh absolutely.
>> Okay.
>> I'm going to do it gradually. I'm not
going to do it.
>> I just do a little every day.
>> Do you have any questions at all?
>> No. Okay. this whole me it's out of my
uh
>> and Kent, you can't
>> under um account for the risk that Rich
has like Skip's been doing it by hand
and Rich will probably do a very similar
thing
>> if the on the Pod swamp pulled
that dam back out took out River Road
right at the big culvert where it goes
into the Connecticut River
>> flooded the the flooded actually it
blocked off the over it and went right
over the top of the road. And that's
hot.
>> I mean I mean they had to repavement it.
It took so much material out and and
this pond is
100 feet or more higher than that pond
in and just as big and goes all the way
up into mud pond. And so Rich I mean the
Thursday before Labor Day Rich can't
wash out a bank.
>> You know I mean we have to go very I
would
>> please don't.
>> I'm taking baby step.
>> Yeah.
>> Dangerous work too. Right. It it is
>> pulling out sharpened sticks basically.
>> Basically. Yeah.
>> And and you never know when you pulled a
tea stick and bad things.
>> You know, you're
so for now, right? You know what I'm
hearing, and please correct me if I'm
wrong because I am really not an expert
in in the um
>> beaver world,
>> deceiving of beavers. Right.
>> Uh but what I hear you saying, so is
that we're gonna let try to get the
water level down.
>> Yeah.
>> Skip's gonna take a look. We're not
going to make any decisions till Skip
has taken
>> fix it this fall, Skip.
>> I'm sorry.
>> Could you fix it this fall? I mean, if
if if we decided it could be repaired or
replaced and we had funding for that,
could you get it fixed before winter?
>> The thing is, if we don't do it
immediately, all the work that that
Richard and I are going to have done in
are going to do to get that water down
is going to be wasted. It's going to
come back up. We don't want that to
happen. So, I'm ready to do it
immediately. I mean, I think that's it's
critical that we get the w water down,
then I I do whatever needs to be done.
And I'm willing I mean, I would hope to
get paid, but but it's so important that
I I'll you know,
we're
unless unless you really want to. I
mean, your plan would be to check your
plan would be to check back after the
the long weekend with Richard, see what
the water level is and see if you can
begin to assess what the what the
structure needs.
>> I don't want to wait. I don't want to
wait the if we wait over the long
weekend that that cover's going to be
completely clogged again. I'm in I'm a
job in Northern New Hampshire um the
next couple days, but I I come back and
I'd want to do something to something at
your site as soon as I get back.
>> Is it too But it's too deep right now
for you to work on the structure. Is
that right?
>> So,
>> Oh, yeah. Yeah.
>> So, to recap, so we've got uh a clogged
system there clogged by the that's
causing that pond to get the water level
to get really high. Rich is trying to
take out the dam slowly so that it can
uh ease the pressure and and bring the
water level down, but it can't happen
too fast because there's too much water
and it's too dangerous and and
>> you have a residential house right on
that river
>> and there's Yeah. And then you got
downstream
>> uh properties where I'm staying
>> and and I think at this point we're
already affecting 12A. We've heard it.
>> I think Can you pump the water? Can
>> No place for it. no place to put it. Um
can do it there a lot and then the
state's kind of responsibility because
the lower pond is is clogged as well.
>> Yeah. I mean and that's constant. If you
drive down 12A some days you'll see the
the the the swamp is nowhere near the
white line. Other days it's starting to
approach on the white line.
>> And there's a swamp that's right there
by uh uh by old county that dog place.
>> Yeah. And it's that it's that little
culvert. It's actually a little bridge
that's right there. They they right
there.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you ought to sell them a beaver
deceiver.
>> They have the state has something up.
It's not at that bridge. It's up in off
the off the
>> K9 is where the dam is.
>> Yeah. And the state does jump on it when
they start seeing water on the road. And
I don't know what the trigger is,
whether it's just their normal cycle of
things and they see it.
>> The summer they they go in and take some
of the dam out, get
>> right. But do they are are they
responsive to a phone call? I guess is I
would start with Ross and say is there
anything we could do to to try and get
them on board with either doing
maintenance now
>> call I can call
>> district
yeah let me know
>> so you're going to work on lowering the
water level slowly right I mean there's
not I mean we
>> it ain't going to be done this weekend I
can tell you
>> okay I mean cuz what I'm hearing
>> I don't want I don't want to blow out
something and next time we got other
problems we're going to be here all
weekend fixing something
But I'm hearing Skip advise us not to
wait on getting in there, right? I mean,
is that a conversation you and he can
have tomorrow? And
>> he can. It's don't want to take it all
out at once. I mean, you end up
either slowly, but you want to make sure
that the work you're doing is responded
to by DOT so that it keeps the water
keeps going.
>> Yeah. We got to be careful down on River
Road bridge too,
>> right? If you had not shown up this week
because of the old county road, that dam
would not have overttopped this weekend.
>> No.
>> Well, it depends. I mean, it depends on
what the rain gods do and rain was in
the forecast, you know. So, if you get a
big rain event, then you'd have
problems.
>> So, I think the decision has to be made
is whether you fix it before the next
board meeting.
>> This is the question, right? you know, I
think the
>> I mean, what I'm hearing is general
support for the structure.
>> That's what I'm hearing.
>> You know, people don't want to shoot
beavers, trap beavers, have Richard
drive a backho over there three times a
week, right? Um, all of that stuff. So,
I think where there's support for the
structure, we just have to figure the
timing out.
>> Great. And I feel like that you can all
do.
>> It sounds like Megan will advocate to
her group that if they could help, they
>> If they can help, they will.
>> They will. And so I think we move
forward as though we're going to save
the deceiver. Yes.
>> And and get it working again. Yes. And
we just have to deal with the realities
of where we are in the work week and the
long weekend and make sure we get get it
taken care of as quick as we can.
>> And I would say
>> but Rich can't take any chances tomorrow
with the dam.
>> No. No. No. No. We're not asking you. I
mean I think
>> I mean whether the state comes and
lowers the swamp or not.
>> Yeah.
>> It's just too much water back there to
push it.
So, could I suggest that um Skip when
he's thinking about
>> next steps,
>> if this looks like you should upsize
anything, this would be your opportunity
or the the best chance at doing it. Um
so, I don't know,
>> you know, the world is changing. Maybe
in seven years we've learned something
about whether that's a good size or
whether the next step up might be a more
prudent. I don't know enough about your
device to know, but I'm just saying this
is our our bite at the apple. We might
as well pay attention to the
opportunity. Doesn't mean we'll do
anything different. Just just ought to
know.
>> No, it's a good point. And and I' I've
>> although I agree over seven years too.
The town administrator would say from a
budgetary impact if there is a if there
is a maintenance of the existing one
that gets us another few years that
helps a great deal Scott and we'll just
we'll we'll take your advice and and
depend on your advice into into our
decision making but you know this is not
a budgetary expenditure we planned on
you know when we did the budget last
year we didn't say oh we're going to
work on the beaver deceiver and so so
again we we can help and we can do it
But we we we just got to be dollar
conscious.
>> And I will ask that any you know Skip if
you're going to take a peek like I just
you know to be really in communication
with with Steve and especially the with
Rich.
>> Um
>> when when you check it next time Skip
look at 12A until we get some relief on
12A. We can't put much more water down
there. I mean the state will notice it
tomorrow. Rich is going to call
tomorrow, but it sounds like there's
water on 12 day and so that you know
it's we we got to coordinate with them
as to how much water we
>> head goes off into the bog.
>> I mean
>> yesterday I noticed the water was down.
It may have been on its way up but the
last two days
>> on 12A I assumed DOT had been in there
pulling at the dam again. And so I think
it's quite possible it's up on the road
today. I'm not saying it isn't. I just
when I the last two times I was over
there, that's what I saw. You're looking
at the muddy roots of the cattails cuz
the water was down.
>> So So I think we we're there's general
agreement that we want to save the
structure, improve the structure. Um
it's it's served us well. It continues
to serve us well. It's got a little
issue. We got some clever beavers. We'll
we'll we'll we'll we'll deceive them
again. Um, but we got to just you and
>> I'd like to see an estimate, right, too,
before
>> we do need to have some idea what the
dollars are so I can, you know, beg from
the conservation commission a little
help if if they'd be willing. U, but we
can we can do all that, Skip, and we
appreciate you you taking a look at it
and bringing it to our attention.
>> Anything else we want to cover on this
uh the beaver deceiver before we move
on?
>> No. Okay. Thank you, Skip. That's right.
Thank you.
>> Thanks, guys. Yeah.
>> Thank you.
>> Bye.
>> All right, Rich. What else do you have
for us? You've had a lot already
tonight. Go.
>> So, anyways, every time we have these
little storms, I go around check the
robes and so at that point, I figure out
which ones I go to take have to take and
do a little touchup on. So, that's what
>> I've been doing
uh touching up here and there. And then
then I end up I did start the fall
grade. I have started that. Um
and then um
got the Methodist side done of the of
the mowing roadside mowing.
>> So we're on the planefield side now.
>> Um I say we're almost done playing
fields
>> which is pretty good. We got this like I
think rubber and
>> old county area I think. And then we got
the cemetery as well,
>> right? guilty there that
>> try to keep the ple trees out of the
field.
>> But right, they seem like they're going
>> Oh, and you know where I saw not not to
blindside you with it, but I it just
came to me. There's a little wash and on
the entrance to the the south entrance
of the Planefield Cemetery.
>> Okay.
>> You know, right there by by Nancy's
right there. The water I mean that's
another one. I don't know that water's
coming off of 12A, but it's it's it's
people, you know, on long weekends and
things do tend to want to go and visit
cemeteries and and loved ones and
>> take take a look at that. I saw that the
other day and mentioned
>> I'll I'll text you.
>> Thank you.
Yeah. So anyways, we're
got that hauled winter sand back to the
shop. We hauled some uh gravel back to
shop. We're getting low back there. We
are getting low on that. I got to get
some of that ready so we get some crush.
Um started doing the line striping and
the truck broke down. Truck broke down
and then well the truck didn't break
down but the sprayers broke down.
>> Okay.
>> Something happened to sprayer.
>> It's been a while since we heard about a
truck break. Right.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Not our truck either. Their their
truck's
>> just offering down by the school.
>> Yeah.
>> Um
>> that's why so soon as they they got it,
they had to do something else. Soon as
they get done that, I suspected next
week we'll have that finished.
>> We did have good success getting
Monte's. It's Frank's line striping guy
by the name of Trevor Monte who lives in
Newport, Vermont. He does the KUA
crosswalks and KUA.
>> Three years ago or two years ago, he
started doing Bonner Road with a safety
package for us to try to help the police
and the community's concern about kids
walking on Bonner Road. And last year,
we were unable to get him. They're
coming from Newport for
>> for a $700 job on Bonner Road. Um but
this year we were able to get it the
week before school and so we did we have
the safety markings in place um for the
for the pedestrians and and the the
traffic on on Bonner and this guy does a
better job. He uses bigger stencils the
and places the so it's a good it's a
good outcome and Rich got us 200 feet of
double yellow and then it stopped.
Well, we tried and then and then out of
the truck and then what happened to the
sprayer then it started raining almost
like 15 minutes later. So, we couldn't
do it. That's why I end up stopping.
>> Okay.
>> So, but we he is coming back and we are
finishing it up. Um I'm hoping next week
depends on his schedule. And then I did
a little repairs on Tom Thompson Road
down here to get ready for the pavement
down there.
Um ditched on Leoo Hill, did some
ditching up there. Uh did some up on
Freeman today.
Uh graded and enrolled on River Road, uh
Airman and Whitaker.
So the some of the places I've
picked some places a little touch off is
whole county leoo plum Jordan Kobe
>> center town and underhill and William
Gage
>> which
>> yeah go ahead
>> which u nothing that bad it's just yeah
>> just needs to be touched up you get two
inches of rain 15 minutes it's got to go
somewhere
>> and it's you know
>> least resistant place intended
>> how we doing on the um the grading you
know at other times We've talked about
hiring someone else to come in and do
some of the grading. Are we doing okay
on our own? Is that
>> when I've had conversations with Rich
about the fact that it is we have a five
person highway department where we
actually why we've had these
conversations
>> and so we've had seven in that if he
>> we would encourage him to use outside
contractors if it makes his life better
and and I think I think we need to
continue to look at that. Rich Rich
doesn't like to hear that, but I think
we we should continue to look at it.
>> I mean, I just wanna, you know,
>> I'll do an old face over. I mean,
>> yeah. I mean, that's
>> if I figured if I
>> I look at the situation by the end of
the month and I figure if I needed help,
>> I'd ask Kevin.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. That that would be I think, you
know, I mean, it's that winter crown
just trying to get Well, you don't want
a big crown in the winter. You don't
want those trucks off in a ditch. You
want less crown. Well, so I just want to
make sure you know that's available to
you because we all understand that you
are a fiveman, you know, for for seven
men's worth of work, which is probably
shy anyway, right? So that just to you
know reiterate that that's available to
>> I mean when we budget we budget monies
so that we can bring outside you know we
started doing that with some culvert
replacements and other projects where we
thought it just saved you know
>> we ask you to be road agent mechanic and
equipment operator and you can't do all
three I mean you I know you want to say
I know you want to say you can but you
need but to manage the crew your job is
to manage our road system and we want
you not in the graater every minute if
so that you can go do that. I mean
that's all.
>> It's it's a support of you. It's not a
it's not a negative.
You know I'm just trying
>> now you've got beavers to deal with too.
So
>> Oh never ended battle.
>> Yeah. I'm not going to win that battle.
>> Yeah. All right. So, just, you know,
just wanted to make sure we haven't
talked about it in a while and that
that's available to you and and uh no
one would blame you if you did because
there's just a certain amount of work.
>> Well, there's something to be said for a
road that that isn't perfectly smooth
like like when a Freeman road isn't
totally graded, it's actually good for
some of the residents because we don't
have a lot of traffic.
>> No, no, I hear that all the time. Well,
it's funny because I've heard the same
thing. You got my remote fix. It's like
>> no choice.
>> So, it's like 9 miles an hour up the
backside, which is which is fine for me.
>> And it keeps the little green lights
placed off there.
>> Put them on it puts them on the river
road.
>> Yeah.
>> Down there doing the river road. Oh my
god. And it seems to be bark cars go
down through there. Let's move along
nicely.
>> Yes, of course. Yes. All right. Great.
Anything else for us this evening? Um,
when do you think the new truck comes?
>> I haven't heard nothing about it. You
>> remember we by the end of the year we
have to close that grant out and get our
money
>> and I said that to them and I talked to
the guys down in Fairfields. I told them
that. I says,
>> "Yeah,
>> I need to have that before the end of
the year."
>> I will on
>> I'll give them a call and find out with
I know we've got Amy Bopre on who I
don't know that it's this
>> I've got Jordy Green also.
>> Oh, Jord's in the waiting room. There
you go. Um, one of the things that we
are struggling with right now, we have
the grant approved for the Grand Theon
Mountain Road Bridge and we thought that
our town engineering firm would do the
work. Yeah.
>> And they are a much bigger engineering
firm than than I have have recognized.
Um, we we use Dan Monet who lives in
Cornish and stops by in his blue jeans
and boots and we go look at what we need
to do and they helped us get the grant.
We probably didn't get the grant without
their assistance. Apparently their
bridge division is very busy and so they
are supposed to be putting together an
engineering proposal which is part of
the hiring of the bridge. If after Labor
Day I have not heard from him I will
call him again. We've already had one
conversation but I think at that point
we just have to look to other firms
because we have to you know in theory
work done right. put it off and we've
been lucky,
>> right? And we need to design it, permit
it, and then build it. And they they
could do that over the winter, but these
guys, I have been disappointed that they
haven't gotten back to us. You know,
they they did all the preliminary work
for us, so it seemed natural that they
would design the bridge, but we do need
to get an engineer doing the permitting
and and I'll work on that, but I just
want you guys to know that the next we
are 100% good to go. We just now have to
find a firm to to do the permitting. We
thought we had one.
>> If you could follow up after Labor Day
doesn't seem as solid as as I hoped it
was,
>> that would be great.
>> All right.
>> All set.
>> Thank you. You're all set.
>> Thank you, Rich. Have a good night,
>> Rich. Very gentle.
>> I just
stick by stick.
>> Well, that's what I was trying. I can't
There's no way you're getting that all
done tomorrow.
>> Okay.
>> And we're not asking you to,
>> right? And we are in fact, we are
begging not to.
>> We are not asking you to. Yeah, thanks.
>> Well, you only have one more work
>> I think.
>> It's lovely but not in charge of this
project.
>> Good night. Thank you.
>> Um, Chief,
>> for August, we had 143 calls for
service.
>> 143.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you. 21 motor vehicle stops,
deployed the speed feedback device nine
times,
and we had four motor vehicle accidents,
one of which was the fatality that we
suffered. Uh we were involved in the
opening day of school activities. The
kids were all excited. It was a great
experience. The kindergarters were there
and got to experience everything even
though a little shy, but they had a good
time. But, you know, we're just going to
do our thing. And
>> I had an inquiry the other day and I and
I said I would check with you guys and
and you may have to do some research on
it. Our
what did you just call it? Speed You
have a great little saying for
>> speed feedback.
>> Speed feedback. Can the speed feedback
device in New Hampshire legally give you
a ticket?
>> No.
>> No.
>> You So, it's not allowed to have
automatic tickets?
>> Not New Hampshire. Okay. So that's not a
I mean one person was like
>> on our so
>> well but right I think the person was
like why don't we buy one that just
write tickets to people for for and I
think there are places in the country
where tickets automatically
>> the law but also money
>> it's like the German style flash
>> they do it in Rhode Island but um
>> get it in the mail.
>> Yeah I think the answer is
>> no in New Hampshire it's not allowed.
Okay. Well, see that's the resident's
answer. How I can tell them
>> it's a nice idea.
>> Doesn't mean you can't publicly shame
them.
>> Very right. I like I like the feedback
that you guys can obviously tailor
messages. Like down here you've got
school zone going and the blue lights on
it are very effective because people are
trained in their psyche. When they see
blue lights they think they're in bigger
trouble than if they see yellow lights.
>> Attention. It absolutely does. So, I
think it's a good it's a good device,
but the the resident asked if we could
have one that actually issued tech
tickets, and sounds like we can. So,
>> I don't I don't think at this time.
>> That's my
>> All right. Thanks. And um did you hear
from Rob? I was wondering how uh
>> what
>> Oh, I'm sorry. No,
>> no, Rob Dero. I was just wondering how
spirit night went from the police
perspective.
>> I said it went well. Yeah. Um he said
that the tennis was a little lower than
he expected but
>> moving it to Saturday night three
people.
>> I think the sat well the Saturday things
on Sunday night are great because you
can have your whole weekend if you're
going to camp if you're driving some
doing a trip. You can still hit it
Sunday.
>> I heard from some people about Saturday.
>> You know Sunday is the preferred night
and we just didn't. But the fireworks
people remember they gave us they were
going to give us seven minutes of show
for $7,000.
>> Yes. Um, it went by my time it went
about 18 minutes.
>> Okay.
>> And the bill is the same. 7,000.
>> Fantastic.
>> So new this year with their regulations,
they didn't have any light them all with
the fusy. So it was all electronics.
They were just sitting back in there.
>> Yeah.
>> Program. So it was a little bit faster.
I thought there wasn't any delay in
between them going up.
>> And you were you would be as a baseball
fan. Yes. the guy the fire department
always takes they love to come to
playing field because the fire
department feeds them burgers, gives
them drinks and that kind of soft drinks
and that stuff. But we were talking to
the guy and he was in at Met Stadium the
night before
>> doing all this guy does is fireworks.
His full-time job is to set fireworks
off
>> and he it was his 13th or 14th year. So
he's always been in Planefield.
>> All right.
>> So he just So it was the band was good.
I mean, attendance could have been
stronger, but by the time we had a run
on the Magnum Magname couldn't bring the
trailer,
>> so they did a cart and turned out that
if you leave a card unattended, people
will find it if it has Magname Maple in
it. So, but we had good I think it was a
good time. I think all the credit in the
world again to Dan. It's absolutely,
>> you know, he and his his girlfriend are
out there before everyone. Brad helped
set up tables. Fire helped take tables
down and move grills. And maybe Brad,
you moved the grill. You guys were all
working together.
>> It's a ton of work. And Dan can, you
know, he roasts the corn, goes gets
picks the corn up at Edgewater Farm.
It's it's And do enjoy it. It's fun to
see the school fields full of kids
running around. Police gives them um you
know, the little glow sticks and uh
people are talking about their summers.
I mean, it's it's it's a good time.
>> It is a good time. Sorry. We learned a
new method. So, Will Dory got his drone
stuck in a tree.
>> Yeah. Very exciting stuff. Oh, boy.
Yeah.
>> Everyone, it would have been easy to
drive the ladder truck over there and
pluck it, but we didn't think we should
drive the ladder truck across the soccer
field because that would make them
>> Okay. So, what' you do?
>> So, overnight it was decided if we took
three aluminum roof racks and strung
them all together. The handles.
>> The handles cuz we could lift it up with
a handle. Bill didn't see it. So, he was
there. And so Dan was giving him the
front and back.
>> I saw the video today.
>> Saw the video.
>> It was out. He touched it. It fell down
and building.
>> Think it was going to be any good, but
he had insurance and everything. He
dried it all out and everything worked
fine.
>> Fantastic.
>> Memory card wasn't in it because it was
still a home in his reader, but it
stored all the footage internally. So he
he was psyched.
>> Well, that's fantastic.
>> So now we now the next time a cat's in a
tree, we got to use that.
>> Yeah. The move break method. We were
sitting, everybody was sitting there
watching the events and listening and
all of a sudden you look over and in
this tall tree there's a red and a green
light flashing. Yeah.
>> We're like uhoh thrown in the tree. But
that was a good call on
>> 15 minutes till the fireworks like well
we can't take the flag down now and
that's a soccer field.
>> Also the soccer field I'm sure that the
>> I think the tree cutting the tree down
was option two.
>> Correct. I had the electric chainsaw in
my truck but it was a good size birch
tree is more than a foot through. So
we're like well a little
all this excitement. Well, well, that's
a good segue. Why don't we go right to
>> Well, let me ask question real quick.
Have you seen that like incredible
rubber that's been laid on River Road?
>> I saw that today when I drove through
there.
>> Oh, what does that mean? Incredible
rubber. Somebody really got me.
>> I don't mean to be a stick in the mud,
but this guy was take whoever was laying
those patches down was taking some risk.
>> He's going to need some new tires. And I
looked at one point he almost went off
the road.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, there's two. Yeah.
And the Lebanon section of old gam is a
new set too. Right after adaptive leader
some active little buggers don't
>> I mean this is like some of that rubber
is like over a quarter inch thick.
>> Tires aren't cheap.
>> And it can't be what the transmission
was designed to do. It can't be good on
the drivetrain.
>> Sure is not. No, I don't like to be a
stick in the mud cuz my brother used to
do that all the time. But, uh, when we
were growing up like throwing his
brother right under the nuts spot on
River Road where I, you know, I was
like, "Oh, could have gone off the edge
right there."
>> Somebody got at the uh, Penman stage
intersection by highway.
>> That was always feeling the oats at the
end of summer.
>> Well, there was couple three minibikes.
Are they road worthy? Well, not
>> there was a kid who came today on an
electric like it looks like he has a
helmet on like he's riding and the bike
looks like a dirt bike, but I think it
was electric. It drove up to your place.
>> There's certain levels of e ebikes
ebikes depending on I think there's
three different levels depending on the
level. You have to be 16 years old or
older to to ride it. But you're still
required to wear a helmet because
there's different speeds that they go.
So depending on the bike, there's
certain rules.
>> And can you tell from the light? Is
there a license tag on them?
>> No.
>> No.
>> Okay.
>> Couple three. I don't I didn't I caught
them late coming up on the weekend right
up the the road.
>> Well, I had an interaction with three
juveniles on mini bikes with the short
fat tires.
>> Yes, exactly. um Willowbrook and
>> I caught up with all three of them and
came out and
>> took care of it and educated them that
although you're wearing helmets is nice
but they're not street legal, they don't
have lights and need a license to
operate on the public roadway. So,
>> okay,
>> that's been addressed.
>> Sounds like you're the people you saw.
>> Sounds like
>> there's a kid that goes by my house once
or twice a day since school started. So,
I don't
>> It's a right of passage to race around
on a dirt bike.
>> Maybe not on the road. over at least to
find these
>> two. Larry door chased me so many times.
>> All right.
>> All right. Yes.
>> Will you also Why not?
>> The fire department is now up to 118
calls for the years. We had 12 in
August. We had the two motor vehicle
accidents I talked about last time, the
fatal one and then one that ended up it
was in Cornish. So, we helped Cornish on
that one. They helped us on the other
one. Um, we sent our UTV to Cornish for
an ATV accident, but we got turned
around before we got there. Um, just on
Sunday while we're helping Dan pick up
picnic tables, we went up to Lebanon
because Lebanon had a bad accident and
we ended up doing a uh medical assist
with a handover in place. So, Dan and
Planefield are taking care of the
medical column Lebanon. So, that was
good. Um, we had eight alarms, four from
cooking, two unknown, and two from the
same spider back to back. We finally got
the spider out of the detector.
Mount Valley. Um, and we had a phone
fall off a car. Um, so that was solved
pretty quickly.
>> A phone?
>> What?
>> iPhone?
>> Yeah.
>> 15s and above. Now, if you put it on
your car and you drive off, it bounces
on the road or even if you drop it, it
automatically sends a crash alert.
>> So, the fatal accident we had on 128
came in as a crash alert. Most of my
guys said, "Well, Bruce is less than a
mile away. He'll go pick the phone up
and something big." So, you can't just
ignore them. But, It's a crap for having
a lot of them right near the the
interstate.
>> Oh, interesting.
>> Samsung 13 doesn't do that.
>> I dropped my phone one day and it looked
like it was calling. So, I disabled it
on my phone because, you know, I don't
want to drop my phone and have it.
>> That's interesting.
>> But anyway, so that that's not the first
one we've had. We That's at least the
third or fourth that had in Playfield
this this year.
>> Stop them on the roof.
>> And the cars call too, right? Most of
these cars nowadays, if they have a
wreck,
>> Yeah.
>> the newer cars will call. And so in
playing field that becomes a problem
because sometimes it'll try to call but
there's no signal and they get they
don't realize it or whatever and then it
will send a message somewhere else and
the positioning is off.
>> So I know Lime had one out in Lime
Center and they were they checked like
eight different roads. They were driving
all over because you know this if you
have one tower it can't triangulate your
position. So it could be someplace
different than where you think it is.
So that was the emergency calls and we
did the touch truck event over at the
church. I heard that went well. Did
spirit day. I didn't count. We must have
had 100 people at Frank Perry's birthday
party on Saturday before spirit day.
>> And um just to show you how things can
go arai in a family.
>> Do I have it correct that Frank's son
>> Frank lives in Carolina North I think.
>> And Frank's son in Planefield, New
Hampshire gave him a fire truck.
>> Windsor, Connecticut.
>> But was but the fire truck was in
Planefield, New Hampshire. Yes.
>> So we we gave Frank we didn't Yeah.
>> His son gave Frank a fire
>> bought
>> our own fire truck and painted it up.
You know
>> he's a he's a call firefighter in
Windsor.
>> Okay. So careful what you wish for. You
might get it.
>> Yeah. So then Doug plumber's son was
there and he said dude he's got a
precedent now.
>> So I told him we had one for him.
>> Right.
>> Um I did another oil burner permit. I
did the playing field school inspection.
We still don't have keys to the doors
for the addition because that's only
been nine days.
>> Yeah, I was wondering. Yeah,
>> the locks were installed nine days ago
and Jan's trying to get them on the with
the same master.
>> Gotcha.
>> But we'll get the keys to that.
>> Um,
>> yeah. So then I pulled the fire alarm
for Esther Brook School for the first
time. Um, she's one teacher. There's
eight students now, so she can't be
pulling the alarm and deal with
students. So every time she wants a fire
drill, I usually stop by and do that.
And then Rob and I were there for an
hour and a half on
what was yesterday Tuesday for their
their things. We talked about building
campfire fire safety. She we had she has
a schedule like every two weeks
throughout the fall for different things
from
>> that's what they're down to is eight
students.
>> Well, they're up to eight. They have
five.
>> We're brooming kindergarten through
seven. So it's hard for her. But anyway,
so we we try to help her out.
>> Yeah. Um,
so I'm doing the actually doing the
inspection on the Esther Brook school
midepptember.
Um, I haven't started Kway yet. It got
late enough that now we'll let the
students settle out. I think all of them
might have shown up today.
>> Right. Today was today was the day. They
start classes tomorrow.
>> So I I have some buildings I I've never
been in before. I don't hit all 40
buildings where I you probably know how
many buildings there are. And so the
goal is there's some that I have to do
and then I sprinkle a few others in
there.
>> Um and then I wrote a letter for
Mountain Valley Treatment Center to
accept a child that's 12 and three/4ers
because they're only licensed for 13
year old to 20 year old. So they just
needed needed a letter that they could
start her treatment now and she turns 13
in November. So just added two months on
but
>> that came out of the blue. That took a
little bit of bone calling. Um September
is going to be really busy with us
because we have the Kaway Brigade
showing up. So, we had four special
nights of training with them, the new
students. Um, next week we do a
classroom thing for auto extrication on
Wednesday and then next Sunday we're
going to cut at least three of the
vehicles up that are stored over to
annex.
>> That'll be a 9 to2 event over there.
>> Wow.
>> Not not to be the stick in the mud. I'm
sure it's a lot of fun when you clean
when you cut up a car.
>> Is there a plan to what happens to the
car after it's cut into pieces?
>> Yes. So, Scott Krueger hauled them from
Mrs. Alipets to his shop, drained all
the fluids out and took them down to the
annex for us.
>> They got that
>> his payment for doing that is going to
be whatever he gets for scrap when he
>> So he's taking he's taking the pieces
away.
>> He's taking the pieces away and whatever
he gets
>> we're not there, we'll pay for it. No,
we're not saving.
>> That's that's the right answer, too.
>> Cornish Rescue is getting a new battery
tool that won't be here in time. So,
we're not going to cut all four of them
up on Sunday. We're going to save at
least one so we can play with their new
tool when it arrives.
Um, perfect.
And then we have scheduled the
kindergarten. There's only nine
kindergarteners this year.
>> What?
>> There was 20 last year. There's nine
kindergarters.
>> There's nine kindergarters in all of
Planefield school.
>> Yep.
>> Wow.
>> So this is this is the co babies that
everyone thought there going to be more
cuz you were stuck in your house, but no
one dared to have a baby because of co.
>> Okay. Okay, that makes sense. Thank you.
>> This is
Scott.
>> I looked at the kindergarten n how did
that happen? And then we closer.
>> I did some math. Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Um,
>> so that's what's happening there. I did
pick up the rescue jacks and I just
ordered a couple hundred worth of um
chains and straps and attachments to go
onto those. So, we'll play with those
also on Wednesday. Great.
>> Get those out. I get those on the truck.
>> Yep. So, I kept thinking August was
busy, but September at least six drill
nights.
And I would say to you, um, Bruce,
>> when I went to Frank's party for just a
minute, just to say hi to Frank, because
we worked together for for a while,
>> you like Taylor, um, and and and
plumber. Um, you guys really keep nice
firehouses. They they they look
absolutely they they make us proud how
good those firehouses, how nice they are
inside, how organized the guys I mean,
I'm always impressed when I'm in one of
our fire.
>> Made me clean up the mess. So, I swept
the whole place.
>> Well, there you go.
yesterday. So,
>> but but it starts with you. You're the
chief. So, so kudos to you for for how
good both departments both buildings
look.
>> Yeah.
>> Yep. And I know Bill's tagged his wife
because he's still working on stuff down
here for the Maridan station. They have
money to put in he wants to put
industrial carpet in the meeting, right?
>> I don't know. I don't know if he's
talked with you recently or not.
>> I'm waiting to see the full whole full
list, but yeah, I know last I knew Liz
was hot on it. Yeah, I kind of threw it
back towards him. We said, "I'm too
busy." I said, "Bill, it's your station.
You figure it out."
>> Yeah. And I think that's how Liz got it.
>> Yeah.
>> Y gotcha.
>> Um, so I've been looking at budget a
little bit. I know that's further down,
but it looks like the fire department
has a lot of money, but it's less than
$12,000 a lot because we just ordered
5,000 sets of gear. So, Zach just turned
18, so he can have new gear. And, uh, we
ordered another gas meter that's around
$4 or $5,000. So, there's there's eight
gone right off the bat.
>> Yeah. I don't think $67,000 is a number
that or 75 whatever it is
>> 72 is a number that
>> and then we pay out our stipend at the
beginning of the summer right I can come
up with $30,000 that we know is going to
be but it looks like we have 70% of our
budget
>> the town of Planefield know residents
know they have a very very good deal
>> with the fire department.
>> Absolutely.
>> Yes. Absolutely. All right. Well, thank
you Brad. Alrighty. Um
so water department um bunch of little
fun facts. Um, so I've spent some time,
we've got
I have to respond to state, federal, and
our own accounting and stuff and there's
been some question marks each one um
after slightly different data. But in
the end, I've reconciled and I think
I've got agreement across all those
parties that we actually have 124 sites
in our water district. 118 of them are
active, six are inactive. Um, we've got
89 new meters installed since we took
over.
>> Um, that leaves 29 remaining to install.
Um, they're all in Spruce Park.
>> Spruce Park. Y
>> um and um then on the on the lead,
>> this is the fed stuff that I have to
validate what the service lines are. So
it goes water man water man to a curb
stop curb stop to the property the the
home or business and both of those hops
off the main are called service lines.
One is the private citizens service
line. Um so the first step of the lead
and copper rule is to identify whether
any lead or galvanized lines exist. And
of the 89 that we have inspected so far,
um, none of them are lead or galvanized.
And so that puts us far ahead of where
most municipalities are. Part of it's
because we're small and then we're able
to knock that off, but also because of
prioritizing the meter project that got
us in the basement and we're making the
most of that visit to identify those
things. Um, and then last thing about
water meters is spruce park number 15 is
actually getting replaced and I've been
working with their management group to
develop a new install using a new device
that's out in the yard um rather than
the pit that's underneath most of the
units. And so this will be the first one
being installed with the new
>> format and it'll let all the neighbors
see the benefits and see an actual
hands-on. And so they're working to
build that awareness so that they'll get
into a program to retrofit all of
theirs.
>> Yeah. And that's going to be a long time
coming, right? Like I feel like we've
heard a lot about Spruce Park, which I
understand, but like is there a timeline
when
>> Well, so we don't discuss Spruce Park
anymore.
>> No, I don't mean that. It just mean like
gosh that feels like that project is
>> so yeah
>> first off it's on my radar because it
has to happen in finance the len stuff
then it's on my radar because it's one
they all need new meters
>> third thing is they had this opportunity
and there was some thought amongst the
group that they might apply for
revolving grant federal grant
>> that sort of ran its course and petered
out people had concerns about privacy
and stuff like that so so that was tried
and
>> okay I didn't know the grant Okay. And
then but I'm still I still have those
needs to meet. The district still has
those needs. So now we're back into sort
of plan B. It's still their deal. It's
their property. We could master meter
them and say we're done at the property
line.
>> But that isn't what anybody deal. It's
not what the state wants. It's not what
equity wants. I'd
>> really like to impress. But to your
point, as we have replaced other meters
in the district, to be fair to everybody
in the district, the Spruce Park needs
to have good working meters in some set
period of time.
>> No, I'm not saying because you report on
you report on because it's still an open
project. It just feels
>> well the project has shifted and I think
the new focus, this first example is is
the example that will get them started
saying, "Okay, now we understand what
you're talking about. This is all
infrastructure for them." So they own it
collectively. They own their own homes,
>> but the water, sewer, electric, they
have been on a program since they bought
the park whenever 2019 anyway. Um
>> they're dealing with multiple septic
system replacements. They're dealing
with power that was brought in in
different eras and little things that
were done that aren't done that way now.
So they've already been on a track of
infrastructure improvement. And when
when the lead and copper rule came, it
was like one more thing to a small group
that is doing the right responsible
stuff, but they can only move so fast.
Absolutely. So, I've been trying to
support them wherever we can make sure
the district's needs are being met and
as to Steve's point
>> when I could ease off them, let them
know we have needs, but go focus on
other things because to me, I got to get
them all done.
>> Yeah.
>> Um,
>> we were able to do some other things and
let them work their course.
We're now done with all the rest of
those. And so now the pressure is on for
them to tell me over what time frame
they think this can happen. And we have
a choice. I can swap the meters in their
existing ugly places. They won't read as
well and we're exposing new equipment to
very harsh environment. So I really
don't want So I've been trying to gently
show them a better way and they are now
getting that first example that the
public is
>> I didn't realize that Grant
>> but but it is it is probably true that
if we said
>> a year from now we're going to master
meter you
>> and whenever you get your me whenever
you get the rest of it done let us know
and we'll we'll start billing
individual.
>> Be careful what you say because in order
to master meter you have to have a pit
you have to have an easement. You can
put it in your town road right away.
>> It's a structure. It costs money
and then have it the way
>> I don't want to threaten something we
really aren't prepared to do. It is not
the preferred direction. I think
>> I may have more patients than I should
and so Steve's good to push me to push
them and I think we have an excellent
chance of getting them to get on a
program, tell us what that program is
>> and and work together to get those
things changed. But the the basic
starting point for all of this was to
let you know we've made great progress
on swapping water meters. And so we now
know
>> far more about the accuracy of our
metering. So we know what we're
producing. We know we're billing for it.
And we get alarms if if consumption is
going unusual for the given site. So
that's all good and it's all um part of
that water meter replacement part. Um
the asset management um work on that is
they were supposed to be here a week ago
to finish up some field work. They're
heading here tomorrow and probably
Friday. We're very close to having stuff
to show. We're just not quite there yet.
U the engineering on the water treatment
is progressing. They've got one set of
tests and another set of tests. We're
waiting for the results. Um, and Mora
has just in last week reported a problem
with our arsenic treatment. A valve is
sticky. And I was on the phone today
trying to get somebody to service it.
Um, but other than that, you know, we've
been able to provide plenty of water.
Um, our chlorine is stable and and you
know, we're about to do a flushing on
the 19th. We're going to flush the whole
system on the 19th.
>> Um, let's see. Um, out of the facilities
stuff, we've got electrical work going
on at this building. Uh, Joanna Sharf
was in last week and replaced a couple
of the light fixtures, one in Steve's
office in the back room, the LEDs. That
was had some pressure behind it because
our new clerical person is bothered by
the flickering fluorescents and the
training needed to happen in Steve's
office. It was work we wanted to do
anyway,
>> but we now we got on Joanna was great.
She came out 99 bucks to replace.
>> Anyone likes the flickering or
>> And then we've got PD lights that's been
on the wish list to convert those. I've
got an electrician who finally gave me a
date of the 17th and I'm going to swap
those and some light switches to make
them occupancy based just to eliminate
the occasional leaving the light on or
when these guys come into this room to
use the uh recycling and stuff. There is
no strangely no light switch there that
when this is unoccupied and the lights
are shut off. They're walking into a
dark space and they have to get over by
Maria to get the light switch and
typically Rob says they have their hands
full or something or excitement. Anyway,
there's a there's a cure and we're going
to we're going to fix that.
>> Um
>> let's see. We've got painting happening
at Philip Reed. Uh Marshall was thinking
he'd be there this week. He's delayed a
little bit by rain. He's expected to
start next week. There was a broken
glass in the front sign at Philip Reed.
Hard to tell whether a mower kicked up a
rock. It could have been a BB gun a few
years back. We had a little BB gun
incident. So, I let PD know what we saw.
There wasn't much to see. Glass is
ready. I'll pick that up tomorrow and
put the thing back together. Um,
put a tarp down at the town hall in
Planefield. That's the book book sale.
You know, book sale is starting up and
so they're sort of ready for that. I'm a
little concerned as we head into the
fall about the electric heat not being
in place yet. We'll probably be fine.
We'll just have to keep an eye on it.
It's not the same as if it were fixed
and installed. We'd have to use um
portable equipment and it'll all depend
on the weather. They've got a December
6th, I think, is the last event.
>> Yeah.
>> Sometimes
and so so early December right now seems
to be when we'll have to call the shot
of are we keeping our Yeah, at this
point we would not offer a rental of the
town hall beyond the 5th of December or
the 6th of December, just whatever the
date is, and shut it down immediately
afterwards be using space heaters that
are plugged into the wall out. That's
not a great solution,
>> and we just, you know, we thought we'd
have it done by now. It it hasn't
happened. And and it's not I mean, it's
just the committee's asked us not, Brad
and I, not to be involved in it. They
have people that they're working with
and they want to handle it. But but we
got
>> we have that that's in the smaller grant
that we don't have the check yet.
But but at the end of the day, we can't
we can't chase the building in cold
weather to try to keep it warm. Let's
just drain the pipes and close her down
and and be done with it. Um Megan Buts
uh Upper Valley Lake Soni says they have
completed the road surface analysis um
work and the Culver survey work and
they're now in the QAQC which basically
means it'll be another couple three four
weeks before we see data on those two
things. Okay.
>> The road sur they're both grants.
They're both things that that we're
getting at almost no cost. Um the road
surface will get a chance because we did
this 10 years ago some some time before
and out of that came the spreadsheet by
which they manage the pavement.
>> And so this will give us a little
snapshot third party using a standard
protocol to say how's our management
system working. Yeah,
>> we we tend to think it's doing okay
because we're kind of staying on top of
stuff, but here's a here's an
independent review and and so we'll find
out a little bit about that. And then
the culvert work is the completion of
the stuff we started a couple years ago
where we did the active crossings and
now this is getting all the drainages,
all the culverts that are not always wet
but get wet when surface water comes.
that is a big chunk of our asset base
that we ought to know its general
condition. So this is surveying 100
point data points about all of these uh
culvers
that'll help us understand are we okay
on our maintenance are we behind how
does that compare with Richie's sense of
where we are and what would be the next
ones uh to repair you know what kind of
a program we are it's all sort of
inching toward understanding our asset
base and again it was these grants
became available and we all we had to do
was say yes to them or ask for them. And
so we'll we'll learn more and and have
more data in a month or so. Um the IT
stuff is all progressing. Hub 66 we
learned is now gotten an extension from
the federal government and so instead of
being needing to be done and have all
the fiber run in town by the end of this
month, it is March 31st is their new
deadline.
>> But they weren't here this week. The guy
parked in the driveway for about half an
hour and met somebody and they drove
off. So, were they thinking at all about
Planefield or was it a happy
>> But I have seen that truck around town.
I wonder that that
>> not the cider truck, right? The the
shop.
>> Yeah. So, so last I heard from different
phone calls was first it was coming
north from Cornish and they were active
on uh Burr Road and and I went down and
I actually could see some work and this
was two three months ago.
>> Yeah.
>> Then I called because I'd heard nothing
and I was told yes, we're working hard
and we're bringing it down from Hanover.
>> Right.
>> And I wondered if they remembered where
Planefield was. Um, but it does have to
do sometimes with the particular utility
company they're working for. And
obviously Liberty is running right down
12A uh 120. And so
>> it's possible, but it's mostly that
>> we're going to work on the stuff that
we're going to work on and we're going
to be able to move forward on just about
everything. We won't be getting the
internet penetration in all of our town
buildings at fiber bandwidth at least
till March as of now. But we'll be able
to convert our phone systems to VoIP.
We'll be able to do a bunch of the other
stuff that we already have on our plate.
And that, you know, so,
>> okay,
>> it's disappointing, but we'll be able to
make progress. Uh, Sagaro, our
Saguaro Technologies, Brian Davis, uh,
is now actively monitoring our systems
for intrusions and threats. Um, and we
had our first tech support call into
them yesterday. Uh Michelle experienced
the inability to find a printer that she
needs. And so we got the number, we
called, they answered, they got onto the
system, we could see what they were
doing, they fixed it in a couple of
minutes, right? And so so far so good.
They answered the phone when we needed
them. And so
>> a contract with them or is it like as we
call
>> it's a new world for us. It's a
contract.
>> So it's not like every time we call them
we get built.
>> No, a long term.
>> There are some things we get built,
>> right? I mean, we we used Mark so
little, but it's this is going to be a
new world and it's going to cost more
money, but but they were they they were
very good on the phone and helped us
very quickly.
>> Yep.
>> Um and and I have found them
increasingly responsive
>> as we got them under contract.
>> Yeah,
>> that seemed to help. Um, but I reached
out to them today about the phone
project and the PCs that are on order
and I saw that they well they responded
but they responded with an intro to
their ticket system which is just a more
methodical way of handling things. Um,
and so in that they have said that our
as expected the phones are in they are
working on setting them up in the cloud
>> probably. Um but next week they'll be
down to install and PCs are ordered and
and um
>> they had to get um some things through
the security grant that we're getting
the Overwatch stuff that tenant as they
referred to it that is the licensing is
needed for them to set up these new PCs.
So I saw the email traffic today about
that that meeting with Overwatch
happening to then get the word that some
of that was already in place. They just
needed to send some credentials. And so
all these things are sort of moving
forward and eventually the hardware will
arrive and they will be working on new
machines running Windows 11 and all the
other things that are currently in
progress.
um
setting up for voting on Friday,
>> right? And don't forget next Tuesday to
open up
>> my calendar.
>> We're going to set up the school doesn't
have classes Friday, so there'll be
staff in the building, but we're going
to set up at 8:00, 9:00,
>> and then voting 8 a.m. the
>> 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Yeah. For the New
Hampshire primary,
>> be counting ballots at 7 p.m.
>> and taking down all the stuff we set up
Monday, Friday. That's right. All right.
And um last thing is I'm just starting
to think about budgeting for the fall
season. That up.
>> So I will thank you.
>> I'm going to cover reval finance
committee and budget report in less than
one minute.
>> To be efficient. Um revaluation. We have
sent out a letter to every company on
the New Hampshire Department of Revenues
website that's listed
>> and that was the letter in our packet
>> to be qualified to be to to do revals.
And so far we have very nice responses
from most of them saying we're we're
just too we're not going to do
>> we kind of
>> Yeah. I mean but George felt like we had
to do this exercise. Um and so so the
reval is you know will be an ongoing
thing on your table for the next year
our table but uh but we're we're step
one was to see if anyone really wanted
to do it. So far no great responses. The
2027 finance committee has been
appointed by the moderator. It is the
same as the 26 finance committee. So if
you look at your notes and things who
the folks we had last year will be
exactly the folks we have this year down
to each all six of them. Um the budget
report I keep working mostly with Rich
not because his budget isn't in good
shape. It's because it is the largest
budget in the place. You know we do have
some challenges. Diesel fuel is going to
be way over because the price of diesel
fuel is nearly double and Rich took the
summer to do a lot of hauling of winter
sand hauling of ditchings and so doing
the maintenance we ask him to do means
we run trucks all year round right now
almost at a winter rate
>> and so I think the answer is we will be
very careful when we bring to you any
additional paving over what we've
approved we've got plenty of money to do
the paving plenty of money to do the
program that we have in the budget. We
thought we might be able to do a couple
of extra things.
>> That's right.
>> Just not sure. You know, I mean, nothing
I think everybody thought in the nation
with the midterm elections coming in
November thought that the fuel pricing
would be corrected quicker than it has
been. And in fact, it seems to be
getting worse again. And so, and that's
a huge piece of what we do. Everything
in a highway is petroleum based, right?
It just it just is. Um and so we do um
we will you know we'll continue to
monitor it but you know we're basically
a third of the year to go and 37 or 8%
of the budget to go and so we're not in
horrible shape. You could you could do
some doomsday scenarios but no need to
do that. I think we'll be fine. Um and
so that's what I had. We will I mean one
of the things I'd like to do if you guys
are are and I think you are at least
isn't here but it would be great at your
next meeting. I'll keep working with
Eric. As you know, Eric's got some
things in his own life that are in flux,
but it in and in and besides the the
October 2nd deadline, but we would like
to get you guys and Eric together for an
exit interview in non-public session
obviously, but just to have that
discussion and and so we will get that
scheduled in October when or in
September. In September at the next
meeting, I think I think that's when it
has to happen. Um and um beyond that um
you're on your last agenda item which is
I think an update from Bud Bev on the
town administrator search.
>> Yeah. And I just want to take a moment
and make sure um obviously Jordy Green
is welcome to come as a as a citizen but
I he's the select board chair. I mean
the school board chair this year. I want
to make sure he didn't have any you know
greetings from from the uh school board
that that he wanted to make sure we
heard tonight.
>> Oh, thank you. I've turned my camera off
because it's dark. I'm sitting. Okay.
>> Um uh no everything as school I'm
assured that school was started with uh
uh actually in both both towns but in
Planefield uh you know well um I haven't
you know I sort of know news is good
news. They're just going along. We have
a I think everyone knows we have a new
superintendent uh an I guess formerly an
interim superintendent. Um David Baker
very experienced guy. I've enjoyed
working with him. Um, and yeah, from the
school really nothing.
>> Great. And I'm not trying to put you on
the spot. I just thought
>> No, no, that's fine. It's great. Thank
you.
>> To make sure we heard.
>> And Jordan, you are now the chairperson
of the school board. Is that right?
>> Yep. For better, for for worse for
everybody. That is that is the case as
of uh I think as of a month ago.
>> Which reminds me, I do like to meet at
least once a year. We try to we always
say we're going to try to do it more
than once a year, but if we can work on
a little Steve,
>> I'd be h I'd be happy to come by. So
>> you come by, we'll go to you. We've gone
to you before
attendant came up. We that was on our
list to try to get you.
>> I think it's always a good thing,
especially especially maybe even before
budget season gets too far, you know,
underway so that we can talk about what
our priorities are and yours just
understand each other.
>> You typically do that with the whole
board or just with the chair?
>> We do.
>> Yeah, we do. We we have said we would do
it as oftenly as quarterly and that
never happened. We have annually.
Sometimes we do it once.
>> We went to you last year. Yeah, we
should.
>> Yeah, I think I recall now. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay, great.
>> It was sick and I can't I zoomed in for
it, but um
>> I'll uh I'll talk to David Baker and
we'll we'll work it out. That would be
great.
>> It's nothing, you know.
>> Yeah.
>> No, it's just a good opportunity.
>> It's just a good opportunity to to see.
>> Yeah, absolutely.
>> We would we would welcome it. Great.
>> All right. So, Bev, are you ready to
give us an update?
>> I am. And I'll be like Steve. I'll give
you a brief update. Um, so, uh, first of
all, the advisory committee, uh, is
meeting tomorrow at the Meridan Town
Hall. Um, and it'll be our first meeting
and, um, the agenda is out on the
calendar. Um, and I've asked Mike to set
up a place um, and and he did that
tonight where we can put um, our minutes
and our um, agendas out there for going
forward. Um, we're going to be going
over kind of the administration
piece of the meetings, you know, the
format. Um, I'm probably going to try to
convince somebody to take minutes for
me. um and the purpose of the committee,
things that we'd gone over before, the
uh charter. We'll go over the um ethics,
confidentiality, and conflict of
interest policies that are in the
handbook. Um we'll discuss the role of
the alternates um and the right to know
law as it as it relates to the
committee. We'll work on scheduling. Um,
I have
um some sample questions that I have um
I'm going to share with them to give
them some ideas between now and our next
meeting. Um the kinds of things that
they they'll be asking. Um and then I'm
going to go through what not what not to
ask.
>> Yeah.
>> Um so that we don't get any trouble with
that. Um so we've had a few more uh
resumeumés come in. So, I've had um 42
total received,
>> but I just want to say if you know
anything about Indeed, sometimes you get
automatic responses from people and they
don't even know what they've applied
for. And so, I immediately rejected 17
out of the 33 that came through um
Indeed. Um, and I've also been doing
some networking. I talked to the
recruiter that just hired um the um town
administ town manager in Hartford. Um,
and asked if he had a second candidate
that he might recommend. Um, and um,
also some of you may know Steve Forier.
Um, I've also talked to him and a couple
of other people to see if they had any
recommendations. So, I'm I'm trying to
uh just uncover that. Um I'm still
looking at the top candidates. I' I've
I've got about I would say between 10
and 15 that I'm interested in. Um and
the I'm starting the interviews with
them this actually this week.
>> Wow.
>> And um we're kind of doing it the same
way that we did with the police chief.
And I don't I'm not sure if you remember
how it was, but we had everybody in the
room take um a section of the questions
related to the job description. Um and
we'll probably do that the same way. Um
so um and we also had questions from
other applicants that they um they had
said that they would want to ask and um
I think we'll probably weave those
questions in. um because those were
important to I mean we had 17 people
that gave us questions and I think it's
important to look at those going
forward. Um I am uh on vacation
from the 12th to the 21st. I come back
for two days and then I go to a
conference. So um uh I'm going to be
working when I can. Um but I'm not going
to make your next meeting on the 16th.
So, there won't be an update.
>> So, uh, any questions at all? Oh, Kent,
I think you said you might want to be at
the meeting. I sorry that I didn't copy
you on that. So, I don't know if you're
tomorrow.
>> I wanted to just uh uh have a presence
uh from the board.
>> Yeah.
>> And um that's tomorrow at what time?
>> 1:15.
>> We have a couple of people that are
coming. um from Lebanon. So, it'll take
them time to come across Brook Road. So,
>> I'll have to check and see what my work
schedule is. Um uh if we if we've got
something hot going and all things
really kept us busy. Um
I guess all I can say is I will try to
be here, but if I'm not carry on without
me.
>> I It was I will tell you it was very
difficult to find a time that every
>> Sure. I imagine
>> I'm sure it was.
>> Um and um and I know um that it it's'll
be a great committee and we've got all
all kinds of experience. So that's
>> I will I will give it my best shot to
get over here at 1:15.
>> Okay. And that's all I had.
>> Thank you, Bev. if you have anything,
you know, that comes out of tomorrow's
meeting that you want to make sure that
we report on, like you could send me,
you know, a paragraph or two if you
think there's anything important for us
to get into the um minutes at our next
meeting. But otherwise, I I hope you
have a nice vacation. You deserve one.
>> And Bev, if you need if if there are
members who have struggled getting here,
you're welcome to use the Zoom in the in
the conference room. I mean, we can set
up a Zoom meeting if if that's helpful.
>> I have one person that was going to be
late, so I think we should set that up.
So, if you want to do that around
lunchtime and send me a link so I can
send it to them
>> and and do you want me to forward you
the link? Does that help you or hurt
you?
>> No, participate. I'll come here.
>> Okay.
Great.
>> And we have um the the staff committee,
have you been able to let them people?
>> I have not yet. Um Okay. And I don't I
was going to ask Steve and we can do
this offline if whether he has a staff
meeting or because I know that a couple
of people don't have email so I didn't
know.
>> Right. I can probably Bev get you either
emails or text or or numbers for
everybody. Um, you know, Sarah's been
away the last week. She's back tomorrow.
Um, and so I think we we can get you in
contact with anybody you need to reach.
>> Sarah,
>> and I'll plan that meeting, the same
kind of intro meeting with that group.
Maybe not quite as long. Um, but I'll do
that uh when I come back.
>> Okay,
>> great. Thank you so much. Any questions?
All right.
>> Yeah, we appreciate it all that you're
doing. Thank you.
All right. Anything else for us, Steve,
that we
>> just think we got through?
>> I think we we we we went through a lot,
which is good.
>> Um, no. And I will one thing I wasn't
clear on and let me know how you guys
want to play this.
>> Yeah.
>> And I'm We'll call him Scott because I
can never pronounce his last name. Do
you want him to come to a meeting or do
you want do you want me to have a
conversation? If you can have a
conversation with him, you feel like
you, you know, I don't want to make make
it seem like we are summoning him for
us. If we can't get to something that
sounds like a good answer, then then I
think we will have to have a
conversation,
>> right? I mean, I think there Yes. So,
all right, let me let me follow up with
him and I'll see how that goes and then
I'll report back.
>> You know, yeah, if we can we can get at
least to communicate. You know, you said
you think that he's done with the big
truck.
>> Yeah, I think the big truck's going to
be gone before you meet again. But I
think we should try to
>> course,
>> right? If we could try to set something
up that the big truck didn't come back
next summer, that would be much better.
That would be ideal.
>> That would be good. And you know, again,
I'll
>> And that there are some concerns that
>> Yeah. I mean, I mean, the neighbors are
not wrong in their concerns and the
owner isn't wrong and that he's trying
to make a living. And so we can come up
with a resolution that we can everybody
can live with that would be terrific
without um escalating.
>> Yeah. No, I will I will reach out to him
and have him come down to the office and
we will have a discussion.
>> But if you do feel like the slack board
needs to get
>> Let me let me see where that I just
wanted to understand what we were
setting up for the next
>> I think that's what we came to.
>> Yeah.
>> So that was done. All right.
Maria. Yes. Uh that was here. Yep. the
last time they had it's only like three
houses on the road.
>> Yeah,
>> there's a bridge.
>> Yeah.
>> Did that get settled?
>> Uh that's back at the planning board.
>> Oh, okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. The dwies.
>> Yes. Yeah.
>> So, uh coach me through this again. I I
make a motion.
>> You just say Yeah. I make a motion.
>> I make a motion that we close that we
adjourn the meeting.
>> Yes. And I will second that. All in
favor? I
>> Thank you very much.
>> We are adjourned. Thank you all.