--- title: "Stamford Select Board — November 21, 2024" date: 2024-11-21 session: regular speaker_labels: 1 cluster(s) named from the roll call and that meeting's chair in the minutes, 1 named from roster attendance, 4 of 6 clusters unnamed voice_ids: {"SPEAKER_00":12,"SPEAKER_01":3,"SPEAKER_03":11,"SPEAKER_04":1,"SPEAKER_05":9,"SPEAKER_06":6} duration_min: 56 audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2mpcZtHZM audio_source: YouTube (@jgramlin78) minutes: https://townofstamfordvermont.org/mediaItems/Sbd%20Minutes%2011-21-24.pdf minutes_pending: false present: [Nancy L. Bushika, Michael G. Denault, John Dunn, Douglas Wright] absent: [Kurt Gamari] transcribed: 2026-10-12 (faster-whisper large-v3, CUDA; names corrected per data/name_fixes.json) diarization: pyannote/speaker-diarization-3.1 (automated; cluster labels may over-split a single voice; unattributed paragraphs have no reliable speaker) --- # Stamford Select Board — November 21, 2024 **Session:** Regular · **Duration:** 56 min · [Audio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2mpcZtHZM) · [Minutes](https://townofstamfordvermont.org/mediaItems/Sbd%20Minutes%2011-21-24.pdf) **Present:** Nancy L. Bushika, Michael G. Denault, John Dunn, Douglas Wright **Absent:** Kurt Gamari --- I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I call the stand for the select board. If you have a matter to discuss, you will notice that all our meetings are recorded and this is to aid with the summarization of the minutes. Visitors are welcome and we allow five minutes of comment per visitor and 15 minutes for topic. Discussions will be held in civilized manner and respectful of others. Select board members present are... **Speaker 1:** Michael G. Denault, Nancy L. Bushika, John Dunn **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Will there be any adding of items or removing of items from tonight's agenda? We have correspondence. Will there be any adjustments to the agenda? Agenda such as changing the order of the items. Hearing of visitors. Marta? **Speaker 2:** Either way, go on Marta. **Speaker 3:** I've been really heartened by the fact that, for instance, Bob Riggs has offered water to folks. I know it's raining right now, so it's like, oh, everything's going to be fine. However, there's, you know, drought situation going on and I hope it rains for 40 days and nights, maybe not that much. Anyway, the fact that he offered water and also when Carolyn... Bobowitz? Bobowitz? Asked for people to help an elderly person with getting water carried to them. There was, you know, a great response. It was like, okay, enough already. But I'm wondering if maybe the conservation committee that I'm on or emergency management, we should organize something a little bit more accessible. Because I've heard, you know, like, Dave McKay ran out of water. He's up the mountain, but it's not even like, you know, it's a shallow well. But, you know, people would get accessing water from the streams, which have been happening. Or I'm thinking, the fire department. So, I'm wondering if there's a... **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I ran out of water twice since I've been up here. And I've called the fire department both times. And they both, both times. Once was in January. It was in the middle of the winter. My driveway was so bad that they couldn't get up the driveway. So they... I think it was Glenn. I don't think it was Paul. About eight years. They came up. And another younger fellow with them parked at the bottom of my driveway. Ran the hose. I offered to help. They said, no, we got Mike. We're all set. They went out and filled my well. Donation. You know, I think they asked for a $50 donation. But if you're poor, you know, I'm sure that... You know, I would reach out to someone who would get help. But the fire department will help out. So, if people say, well, can I drink the water? No. So, they won't. They won't tell you you can drink the water. Put a little bit of bleach in it. Run it. Let it sit for a day. Okay. Hydrate it. Okay. You know, I'm like that. You know, I'm goofy. Oh, clearly. Yeah, they will. Yeah. But they will help you. Hair loss. Hair loss. Yeah. Hair loss. Yeah. It actually just goes down every day. But yeah, they will help you. They're awesome. They... Paul's great. He responds. All the guys will respond. Okay. And what they did reaching out like that on Facebook was great, too. That was amazing. Beth also said she's got a spring of overabundance. Exactly. I think that whole mountain's got overabundance of water on that. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. And, you know, if people need help, like you said, people had... When I saw it, they were like, yeah, we got to help people bring the water. Yes. It was good. It was really heartening. So, it was a great testimony to our town helping out. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. They're amazing. Yeah. Yeah. **Speaker 3:** Yeah. **Speaker 4:** Yeah. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. **Speaker 3:** Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think they were really человек-oriented. Yeah. Yeah. They really, they really stood out, you know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. **Speaker 5:** Yeah. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Yeah. Yeah. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Yeah. Yeah. Like I said. Yeah. **Speaker 3:** Yeah. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. what they call draft water they draft it out they don't have high light hydrants they draft them right right right you'll see hydrants but that just goes into the brook great yeah like that's what we'll have down by the right okay road has one yeah okay good so they draft although the **Speaker 4:** brook's pretty low but yeah that was my worry it was like what happens if the brook is up you know **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** well they actually see these brooks and it's like yes yes they'll throw a portable dam in it's like a big fiber canvas that goes across they damp the water up in no time it's full and you had enough to draft out okay good they're pretty good at it great thank you pete so i just **Speaker 2:** have a couple questions for the board um would you guys agree that nobody should hold a position on any board in the town that stands to make a financial gain would you say that **Speaker 6:** that's probably a conflict of interest financial gain from the town you mean being so if you're on **Speaker 2:** a board yeah but you're also um a paid employee would you think that holding both positions with one possibly giving you a financial gain would be a conflict of interest **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** uh the state does have a guideline on the conflict of interest i think we should look at that well because i know it's small towns they are pretty lenient on conflict of interest because it's a small town a lot of times you **Speaker 2:** don't get a lot of volunteers so conflict of interest from the state the stamford vermont.net that we have on our site says a person should not participate on any board in any matter where they **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** have a real or financial interest correct so if there's a if there's an issue up that would have a impact on their financial issues they could still sit on a board correct but not like um yeah like yeah okay yeah john wants to mow the lawn yeah and he says well i'm going to accuse myself on the boat **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** okay so wait wait um i believe there's going to be a new conflict of interest this january 1st yes yes but we can't really discuss that until that it may just trump ours like i know that we **Speaker 7:** can't be the treasurer we can't run for treasurer and be honest so my point is that you know that **Speaker 2:** there's possible seats that could hold a conflict of interest yeah sure okay do you know how our delinquent tax collector is paid yes okay five percent of the taxes collected the delinquent taxes collected yes perfect so we you guys budget for that every year yes yes so you like for example you had i think in 2023 you had budgeted like three grand and then it over that so you budgeted for the extra 1700 made it five thousand dollars in essence if you want to call it a raise to cover what she's doing yeah okay do you think she should sit on a board where her decision could affect her pay i think we're getting that decision these are just a basic question do you think that she should sit on a board a question is not really a question if you already know well no so like my point is the statement is is that you you believe you believe that somebody heard the fact that she sits on two boards so she is directly paid based on people who don't pay their taxes but you budget for that so you are anticipating every year that there's i'm going to be the same okay and that always goes up since i've looked i only looked probably three years back and it's it's gone up so with that being said she drove around with the assessor and went because her other job title is **Speaker 8:** what without she's an assessor clerk she has no right she does the finance or she does the **Speaker 2:** clerical work for the assessor just clerical perfect no values okay but do you think that that could be a conflict of interest because she's there stating and giving her opinion of what these properties should be assessed at do you think **Speaker 8:** that that could be a conflict of interest i don't think he's taking well well she sat on the board **Speaker 2:** and made it very clear about me personally that she had ideas of reasons why my property had to be valued at what it was valued at because she said there was upgrades her specific words okay so she gave an opinion to the assessor which ultimately to me is a conflict of interest because she stands to gain because at that point i'm already delinquent because i haven't paid my taxes because most people don't pay their taxes when they go into they're trying to get them abated or they're going to the board of civil authority they become delinquent and then because i'm not going to pay it and have to wait for you giving me a check back so i'm just going to go and follow that suit which i did so how many abatements has she been a part of and then then from the abatement standpoint so she collects the boy with taxes had a say in the assessment goes down to the abatement has a say in that and then it goes all the way down into the board of civil authority so she has a voice the entire way down which every decision could directly affect her pay do we think that **Speaker 9:** that i mean that's to me too personal it's not personal this is public knowledge no this is a **Speaker 10:** process i agree with pete 100 i don't think the process okay i don't want to get let's say **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** it's too sticky the person holding a job's name is apps right yep so i don't think it's personal um it's a position yeah it's a position i've said no names i just simply said i don't like the text know who it is but i'm saying that to me names and personalities don't matter to me it doesn't matter who the position is whether just whether or not it's complicated or not um and on the surface it sounds like it could be could be uh you know i'd look into the state rules see if that happens feel like you know what you read with the state rules is if you know like i said if there was a time where one of us if it was a conflict i could see that but not all the time and but if this isn't all the time of that and all the time of that well she hasn't refused herself or anything yeah right so i i don't believe that the conflict interest would be her as a clerk no oh and when she drove around uh i drove around with her accessibility she did um that's just to get them to access to some places and show them uh one time i took my truck because nobody could walk risky manager stuff like that um so i don't think that's **Speaker 2:** but she gave an opinion because it happened to me personally that's that meaning we don't know what **Speaker 7:** she said we know exactly what she said we don't know what they said she said to the person at this **Speaker 6:** site right you heard her in a meeting it's written down that she said it to him that she **Speaker 2:** that there is upgrades to the property and kirk amari asked what are those upgrades and she said well he's got a well and he's got septic and he's got a driveway right so so never nevertheless she had a say in it regardless if she said it it's just that process to me screams bad and it looks bad for our town and to me personally we now have two people that have to have a runoff election okay for justice of the peace that we have to spend money on we have to take time to do it when one person can recuse themselves and save us that money in that position and who am i to say that she should do that but as if it could potentially be a conflict of interest why wouldn't that person want to step away and let the other people be a part of the jlp i mean i don't know i just there's a lot to it that i would love for there to be an advisory opinion asked for and people i was told that can request that and that's her the actual positioning question in the select **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** board i'm not sure what the jp and the it's not i'm going to check that out what does the jp and **Speaker 2:** the taxes because she's part of the board of civil authority so she can go in for tax appeal right okay okay so she starts as collecting the bad taxes then she has a say in what the assessment **Speaker 6:** well you were talking about the runoff that's why you're confusing me you mean she's already on the **Speaker 7:** jp correct **Speaker 2:** yeah so well she's technically we've all been technically voted in but is that she correct okay so i understand you know well technically there's kind of like a two-way tie i mean whatever however you want to put it nevertheless we have to get to this point so for me if she's going to collect the taxes she shouldn't sit on the board of abatement and the board of and the in the board of civil authority because you can't even recuse yourself from just one specific thing you have to sit out of all of it like you can't hear anything because it could directly affect your pay if she votes no to obey something that only benefits her because those taxes are already accounted for you're accounting for them as a board saying that we're going to collect 0.97 thousand dollars this year in delinquent taxes you budgeted for it okay so you we know that that's going to happen so if she says no on an abatement okay it's money in her pocket i understand that she doesn't get taxes and penalties okay but still i don't believe she does to my knowledge get any part of the taxes and penalties but how she could yeah sorry penalty interest i misspoke i apologize so you could see how her saying no to an abatement and then no to a tax appeal could directly affect her pocket as well as having a say in an assessment in essence if she's got to say an assessment she's giving herself a raise because if that money goes up and it goes up every year to me i just think it's something that should be looked into and it should be made known that people that people should know that she has her hand in the entire pot and it goes right from the top all the way to the bottom and to me that's a conflict of interest jp is kind of like the whatever portion of it okay and i'm just talking as far as the runoff for that that would be an easy fix and save the town money if she did just removed herself from that election because to me it's a conflict of interest but also the other portion is or she just doesn't need to sit on the board of civil authority i don't know how that works jp you're on the board right so that's what i'm saying i i you can't like you can't recuse yourself from sitting in in every single meeting is what my point is so i'm i'm i'm thinking that it would it would be cool right you can't be all of them you can't if you recuse yourself **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** that's what i'm saying i understand so well she she's not part of the runoff election no no well no **Speaker 2:** i understand that but when we were looking so if somebody like let's say me personally because i was voted and i you know i said you know what i'm going to back out and i back out then those people could sit could sit in there i'm not saying that i was confused too but i understand my apologies for not explaining the other two wouldn't have to happen and it saves the town money and i'll be able to get out of the way we go but that's just an opinion that's that holds no clout my biggest thing is being a conflict of interest like to me just having your hand in the entire part and the entire part if she wasn't paid based on five percent of the tax delinquent taxes she collected it'd be a debt issue right but that's not how it is and i know that you can say it's a salary in the book but we know that that's not the case because we know how she sends in her **Speaker 7:** papers we know how she budgets for are you guys but you're right the budget does go up because more that makes sense yeah more people don't pay their taxes on time and the taxes go up **Speaker 2:** correct it's a no-brainer so i think it's something that should be looked into and discussed **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** yeah um moving forward you can't say every year they go up for some years she doesn't get what's **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** budgeted either so oh no no you can never tell like i was saying is if if let's just say we have five people that don't pay their taxes every year and taxes go up every year those same people that budget or that wage whatever you want to call it would always go up yes the other thing is if no one doesn't pay it is delinquent then she'd get zero right but that's not what i understand you can't even give a registered a dog for four bucks so i think there would be something that she's looking to i'd like to look into it and and again it's not i don't believe at least where i'm coming from is it's a good question to look into it's been it's one of those things that it's always been right since i've been here it's always been and i never thought about it the way we've all done it right and there was a lot of things like that when i came to this town it was it's always been a lot of things **Speaker 1:** have changed but i would like to look into it and i don't want to know the answer i mean you **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** seem to be very knowledgeable on this jp and delinquent tax collection is it a conflict through the statutes **Speaker 11:** it's vague yeah it's it's great and so it's hard for me to tell because i'm waiting i'm waiting **Speaker 2:** for my response back from the vlct as well as the um board of ethics and i i think you're going to get a lot farther with the board of ethics than i am although i hold the position on the planning commission they stand in the vlct will listen listen a little bit more to you and again this isn't personal this is **Speaker 6:** just i won't be a jp until january february 1st but oh yeah yeah technically you wouldn't care if **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** i was sitting in that position i don't care who's there your best friend my wife doesn't it's right to me it's a conflict but she caught you in order as a tax collector yeah just kidding but yeah no i understand it well so that's waiting to see some of the conflict **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** of interest because it seems like it's going to be more thorough than what we **Speaker 2:** have here so just well yeah and i have to wait to for that stuff to kind of i requested all of it you know i'm just waiting for it to be finalized and come down through but i mean regardless if the state comes in and wants to leave it vague that specific thing it's still shady business how it looks for the town and how you could see it can really ruffle a lot of feathers if all of a sudden like i'm constantly paying my taxes late but she had a say in my property value going up you know a plethora of stuff could come out okay i'm not saying it's going to i don't think i don't know if she's done anything she wasn't supposed to do that's not my position my point is is moving forward i don't think that i think that **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** it's i don't i don't think we should speculate any wrong doing i think that if there's that that feeling yeah you know i mean it's just that that image yeah that if it could happen and there is an ethical thing and we we don't need to do that and she can do her job here not be jp saying board of a payment it would ease a little bit of that well it would eliminate uh i think it **Speaker 2:** would eliminate the conflict completely she was just collecting taxes or bill was collecting taxes **Speaker 7:** or john was collecting taxes right because i mean her driving with john i i do i understand that she **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** had time she knew where everything was i understand that yeah she could give an opinion but john has a formula i mean i understand that but john didn't know much you know oh i'm not i'm not going to speculate that either i don't do his job um it wasn't a speculation i went through the meetings i do that he didn't even well no i said i'm not going to i mean yeah we won't get into it but um nevertheless we had someone before him that i drove around with also and i had an opinion about that woman so there's you know opinions nevertheless i think it's a good thing to bring up should look into it and if there's some a few things that can alleviate that feeling throughout **Speaker 12:** the town and it might be a good thing to do uh wait yeah jim you had your hand up where you sit **Speaker 13:** yes probably for saying it's it's on the same topic okay it's an alternative basically okay and what she would have to do or the board would have to do what she would have to step down and we would eliminate the tax clock period and then it falls back on the treasure and at which time we don't have to pay or or we're not paying somebody that much money because it doesn't so she wouldn't get that five percent or anything else and we just have to do the treasurer's job and collect well i think we **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** could also keep her as the minister of the clerk well she's actually such a clerk we don't have but the jp's harder she has asked to step down because that's an election question correct she would have to say okay **Speaker 13:** if she were to step down my point is here is that she doesn't if she doesn't step down then the select board eliminates the tax collector position period she just said that's elected **Speaker 12:** that's election we can't oh well no we cannot eliminate an elected position **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** you might have to vote on it **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** we might have to vote on it you can't eliminate don't vote on it during the terms if she has a three-year term you can't like eliminate the position in the middle of it you have to let her finish out her term it's like we can't eliminate laurie's position we **Speaker 13:** could not fund her we take away the funding title 32 taxation and finance chapter 17. here's the **Speaker 14:** other thing too if we do eliminate an elected position until the term is over right the way **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** i read it was pointed positions but now there's not enough i think there's no point no but that's what i'm saying there's a big difference in our town we have a lot of important decisions oh i **Speaker 13:** did that this was a this was the language was and i can basically read it you'll understand it it says that if a town elects decides to eliminate that position or not have that position at all then then the **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** treasurer is okay but the people but the people had elected her for x amount of years i don't know if it's a one-year term or a three-year term it would have to go full-time but you can't cut her off in the middle here's the other thing you're saying that's like the slight board number you can't say well we're going to bring them down to three four to slack for it in the middle of the time what do you give it i know it's me but i don't care let me put this so if you go if the **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** delinquent taxes goes to the current tax collector we're going to have to fund some more time for **Speaker 15:** somebody oh well i don't know about that oh she doesn't have anything to do yeah all right **Speaker 13:** yeah i'm just saying i know i know this is just an alternative to that but i do believe what pete is saying is absolutely 100 correct and i do believe she needs to step down as a jp **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** with tax collection so i do believe she needs to step down as a jp **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** i really would like to see delinquent taxes go to the current tax collector but i do believe she needs to step down as a jp to hear from Deb. She's had her hand up. I lost all the **Speaker 16:** blood in my fingers. I put it back down. Two things. I can never just do one. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Well, you've been waiting so long **Speaker 16:** you probably should have five things. So when I brought this to you guys way back when I had asked her to recuse herself during my hearing was a very similar thing to what we're talking about now. Yep. And she told you no. She told me no. Wouldn't leave. And my thing was ethically she should have but that was a personality but the position itself should not have inserted itself in a property that she has knowledge of and that's what was happening with Club Road. Anyway, so back then I was doing research in case law for conflicts of interest between tax collectors, board of abatement, all these things and Pownall recently as recent as 2017 it went all the way up to Burlington so just imagine how expensive that was for one person to want to keep their position. And the last point is, yes I agree towns are given a lot of leeway with multiple jobs but when there is a conflict of interest it should be severed so if it's brought to someone's attention, I don't care how long it's been going on, you guys are aware of that. People know. So that's not the case in this town. You've said it multiple times. We're so fortunate that we have lots of people who want to sit **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** on boards. Except the listers. **Speaker 16:** Well there's a reason but **Speaker 17:** I don't know what that reason is. There's a reason. That's the reason. Right here. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I've been going back and forth on that lister thing for **Speaker 16:** No, we'll talk aside. It's not a conversation for the public. But we're very fortunate as a town that we have a lot of people that are active. So I don't understand why people are so intent on being on multiple boards. Is it a control thing or what? I mean seriously. **Speaker 18:** Do they run? **Speaker 13:** Do they run? Yeah. They're mostly appointed. I think what you're referring to right there. Mostly appointed. **Speaker 16:** Yeah, a lot of them are appointed. **Speaker 13:** But we do, we have some great people on boards here in Sanford. Great people. I mean like for instance, I'm going to throw your name out there and my name together. Deb didn't want to sit on the planning commission or resign from the planning commission. I'm not mistaken because being the AO. I did the same thing. I never went on the planning commission but I was at every meeting and we did the bylaws for two years. And I stepped down and I could have **Speaker 16:** been on the planning commission. **Speaker 19:** I stepped down to let other people. **Speaker 13:** That's what I'm talking about. We've got really good people that have moral **Speaker 19:** ability. I'm afraid to let **Speaker 16:** other people step in there. **Speaker 13:** But there's people on some of our boards here that we really got to look at this from time to time because they're just holding the boards back. It's not good. There's conflict of interest going on. Not according to the rules **Speaker 10:** but. Well it's hard **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** for me to understand and just and I know we've talked about this a lot of time now so I want to move on but one more thing I would say when it comes to the boards it's very hard for me to understand especially because the sign issue. They keep talking about it but when when I first came here there was a person sitting on a board who was on three boards. The select board, the planning board and the zoning board. Now if that was still happening the select board brings to the zoning board an issue how does that person decide what to do on that board and if there's two of us it makes it difficult. You're right. If we had new people coming up you feel that they're capable of doing the job I wouldn't have a problem with that. Step aside and there's good board members. But I think this issue here we should definitely look into it and again I don't think it's a personal thing I think we should look into it because it makes us feel better for the town. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Thank you. Anybody else? Laura, you're quiet. Reading and approval of records and orders Regular minutes of effort set. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I won't say anything. Motion to approve. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Second. All in favor? From conditions. Signed grant agreement for a MERC implementation grant. This is the one that They came and did an assessment of the garage and felt that the doors needed replacing and there was a lot of things and we submitted a grant. They gave us $33,000 We can have some of that done and I have a grant agreement here. I was given names of companies that would do this kind of work and the EPCRC wants to know if we just want to do our own request for proposal and handle it ourselves or do we want to pay them to create their request for proposals and kind of **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** So what kind of work is it? Something that we have **Speaker 12:** people **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Replace the doors going in and out and then replace the main garage doors? **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** We have people in the town If we have people in the town that can do this type of work They pay taxes in the town and there's some contractors that have gone above and beyond the call of duty and helped out this time I would like to have a little bit of control on who gets the job I don't really want to see some and nothing against them Some guy from Burlington come down here to do the job We have no idea who he is I'd rather have a little control and if we can't get someone then maybe we'll have to It just seems to me on this type of work If it was a specialized thing I would say no You're putting a door in and we've got guys in this town that are contractors **Speaker 12:** They're licensed insured contractors **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** What is the match for this grant? It's a 20% match Okay What did we put in for for the grant? I think it's more because it included our portion of it We didn't get estimates really We just based it off from their assessment and their anticipated numbers So what did we request having done? The doors? The big doors and then the small doors **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Hand doors? They're giving us 33 and we're paying 20% of the number to 80% **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** of that is 33 We'll get 33 and then we'll pay the 20 And did they say in this what type of doors they wanted? If we look at the original system there I think they just said thin ceiling doors or ceilings They talked about the ceiling they talked about the roof but we had already moved forward with that We know we need no doors We said we'll just replace the bottom panel Right, I think we went for let's just do the whole doors We're going to get a grant Replace it to some solid insulated ceiling entry Replace it to some overhead doors insulated Those are both high priority too Yep **Speaker 16:** It's probably high priority **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** because of the energy That's what it is We just put a roof on didn't put insulation on We only have so much money What they had up there before **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** So see the door replacement and ceilings The small doors and then the big doors We didn't do a heat pump We didn't do the ceiling tightness We didn't do the window replacement So for this $33,000 grant do we have to specify what we're doing I guess that's what I'm asking It doesn't specify here on the grant agreement I mean I think it says by December 16th there are other forms online that we will have to fill out So there's probably going to be more coming down the pipe specifically Because it does say utility We'll have to install a new electric heater contact the utility and have them install the heater because ours is cracked So this is just the big doors insulated doors the ceiling around it and then the small doors That's all we're doing I think we should sign it **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Use it fine **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Where's the grant? When will this be awarded? When we're awarded the grant We should do it and announce I'm sure we can do it this coming summer Motion to sign Second I'll do it I agree **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** That's it Just one signature At this point So what will we do When we get actual quotes from their estimated numbers from their assessment we'll have a better feel of it Anything else under early conditions? No, haven't heard from anybody Did you get snow on your road, Mark? We got it Yeah It was snowing at my house Right Somewhere right between It must be in the south **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Big bad It was like slush iron I know As high as they are Yeah 23 or more **Speaker 12:** You're 22? **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** You're higher than us **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** It's up there **Speaker 12:** Recycling **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Just from my son's house to my house **Speaker 12:** Recycling monitor **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** substitute position **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** You told me **Speaker 1:** So **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Buzz has been out for help and reason for a few weeks and Carol's been working There's no substitute no helper for Sadie So Roy, who has been filling in for backup at the transfer station for several years He said he's just very busy especially from now until Christmas Um **Speaker 13:** Sorry to you **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Carol **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** She never stops smiling **Speaker 12:** whether she's mad or not **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** She didn't think of all my Saturdays coming up **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** So **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Roy did not resign Roy did not resign He just said he's way too busy Way too busy So I guess he still could be backup if we really needed some But we do have an application for someone that's interested in working **Speaker 13:** If I might ask Do they have a amount of money that they budgeted for this position? Yes And could it be like I'll call anybody soon Who would I talk to about that? **Speaker 15:** A what? **Speaker 13:** I can possibly have somebody do it part time **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Who's the school here? The um It's only just like on call Buzz has not resigned **Speaker 1:** Right, so it's part time, part time? He's just out there **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Part time, part time **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** But it'd be good to still have their name That in case Roy can't do it This one can't do it **Speaker 3:** It's just like having a group of substitute teachers Right That you can call upon **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** It's funny, a substitute teacher No, no, no **Speaker 3:** A substitute **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** A help carrel A backup help carrel You know what's sad is **Speaker 20:** I don't know why **Speaker 21:** What's sad is **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** We had volunteers And because our insurance policies Can't be up there We're all being insured **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Be an employee You have to be an employee **Speaker 1:** I mean we should be able to Go up and help out **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** And we did have a couple That just helped out I'll do it but You can't You need to be on the list **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** On the payroll Thank you about that I cut a tree out on the main road The other day Me and Nancy and her husband **Speaker 13:** And we don't work for the state We'll probably get in trouble Are board members covered **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** On your insurance So this is Townsville Stamford I Joseph Puccini Would like you to consider me As an alternate for the transfer station With Townsville Stamford Joseph Puccini Jr This is carrel's husband **Speaker 12:** I wonder if they get along **Speaker 1:** She's going to be his boss **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** And I don't know if that's **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Going to be good or not **Speaker 1:** So nothing's changed **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** So do you think You want to do this **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I don't have a problem with that I think John's right Back up back up These guys just want to help out **Speaker 20:** There's no money And you can get the same pay **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** As the substitute gets now Yeah **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** It's just little money Everybody's got stuff going on It's 120 bucks an hour For a couple hours a week Yeah **Speaker 20:** You're pretty much just going to Make sure they put the stuff In the right spot That's what you pay **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Some people $15 a month **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Do you have a motion To approve hiring Joe Puccini Jr **Speaker 1:** I'll make a motion **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** All in favor Aye Can you let him know Come in and fill out some paperwork I don't think I have anything else On recycling Discussion review and revise Highway ordinance Unfortunately that didn't get done Laura's computer Has been really Terrible The school internet has been down More than it's up Terrible Taxes in this year So with this **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Casey no With this Do we have a time period No **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** We probably did $750,000 Because we haven't had It to put in It's been long **Speaker 20:** How come we don't have the D.V. fiber Isn't that something that the county wanted to install **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Well I guess We need to get ourselves Information We need a lot of things We can't just get D.V. fiber I have sensitive information And payroll **Speaker 3:** Did we use the figure In the D.V. fiber Can't we just use the D.V. fiber Well no **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** We are in need **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** That's for sure I mean honestly Nobody claimed it It's amazing **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Oh it just needs to be designated Yeah right As long as it's designated **Speaker 3:** Or the ARPA money **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** That's what it is That money is from ARPA Like you were saying It's already designated for that project So we could use it I don't know **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** There's something to look into I took some feelers out this week With my frustration And they're going to look at pricing I think it will be much more expensive To just piggyback them off from the school And just paying the portion **Speaker 3:** That the school gets And the school doesn't use D.V. fiber **Speaker 22:** They're using what **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Way before D.V. fiber Because of their standardized testing Being online They had to have a high speed internet That wasn't offered here So the school has special internet Being a school And so we piggyback off from that So we have very high internet When it works But the router is dying And it's just kind of difficult Okay Correspondence **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I have a letter **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** From Dan Pavlin Who wanted to come tonight But due to planning commission commitments He was unable to come Is that where Kurt is He went to the BCRC thing He may be there too They went to the BCRC thing **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I think a handful of them were **Speaker 20:** You said you might be doing something **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** So Dan wanted to be here tonight Dan wanted to be here tonight Yeah go ahead Dan wanted to be here tonight To deliver this in person But he's at the regional planning meeting In Manchester The regional planning commission Wants to change the plan To allow windows in Stamford On Hoosier Grange Which is this number two site In the entire state Anyway we have bigger fish To fry Now I have to tell you It's the largest In the United States France and England May be praying permission To use our long ranged missiles Inside Russia Russia has said on several occasions This would amount to NATO Being at war with Russia That's World War 3 people And Russia has stated They will use nukes in response So please revisit my letter Dated May 18th of this year which is what Dan was writing this letter, Ukraine launched U.S. missiles inside Russia on Monday night. Just so you know, when first nuke goes off in Europe, the markets worldwide will collapse. The grid nationwide is very vulnerable to attack. And according to my sources, Dan's sources, it is a likely target early on. May the good Lord's protection be over Stamford and all of its inhabitants. Thank you. And attached to this is the main team where you can get the canned water pump, shumways, heirloom, pollinated seeds, water filters, natural news, wellness company, keep three months minimum supply of food on hand. That's Dan's. Any other correspondence, Laura? I guess just to let you know, I gave all of you financial reports for the quarter ending in September. Income, expenses, the first sheets are the town, the last sheets of each are the highway. So if you have any questions, if you want to sit down with me and look through it, please agree. You can't touch me. There you go. Thank you, everyone. Any other? Any other old business that we have? **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Did we get any response at all for Christmas tree lighting? Anything? **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** No volunteers. Okay. I did have one question about it. It was with his mom. His mom wanted to take him home with it, and then I never heard back. She did it one year, didn't she? Yeah, she did it one year. Yeah. But I'm assuming, you know, I would have heard back. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Kind of like the Listers, I guess. They'll be my step to the plate. **Speaker 20:** I will. I'm a volunteer tree, but I don't have time to decorate and all that. So if somebody wanted to, you know, I could help set it up, make sure it's all standing up right. But if somebody wanted to decorate it and put the lights on it, whatever, you know, I can get the tree to the town. It's not an issue. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I shouldn't say anything about it. In previous years, Deb has volunteered a beautiful tree, too, but... Where? Thank you, Deb. We don't have the... Thank you for having me. I shouldn't... **Speaker 16:** We don't have the really big ones. I shouldn't say anything about it. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. **Speaker 20:** Yeah, so I don't know if the board wants to stop down and pick one out, or I can bring one or whatever, you know. Well, let's wait and see. It just has no time to decorate it. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Let's wait and see if we have some volunteers who want to help decorate it. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I mean, if you just want to do a tree and light it and go with that, and he wants to come up... I got the stand. We can put it in the stand. The stand I made, they'll drive it into the ground, get the bolts coming inside, put a couple of stakes in. You might have to work it to the building or something. Yeah, yeah, I put a couple of work, you know, I'll help you out with that if you want to do that. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** It doesn't have to be like it's always been either, like we've always... **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Well, I'll probably deal with it this week, but maybe after things get in the way, if you want to do that. Yeah, it's up to you. I mean, I'll decorate it. I think Teresa said she might... I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. No, she's just done doing that, but she will come down to help. **Speaker 20:** Well, it's a nice walk, drive by the school, and see the tree live. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I didn't see it not happening at all, but... **Speaker 20:** Maybe in the future, maybe we could get one from Deb, we could plant it or something, and have one just set up out there. We don't have to... **Speaker 16:** We've talked about that. **Speaker 23:** Just decorate it. **Speaker 16:** Yeah, we were going to... We wanted to just get a tree down here. We would have donated it, but there was... Something... There was a reason why. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I think they were wondering where to put it. Like, see, where we put this one, a really good plant one, because there's water lines and stuff under there. **Speaker 16:** And there's no electricity going right out there. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** If you go from the pole that way, there's... Apparently, there was electricity, but now they don't know where it is. There is a well there. There's got to be a pump to it, right? Yeah. **Speaker 16:** Yeah. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** So, I don't know. And then we talked about up on the side here. I feel like I have to get a permit. **Speaker 24:** I feel like I have to get a permit. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Oh, my gosh. That would be wonderful. **Speaker 16:** Yeah, you might have to get a permit for that. Give me a call. I'll have you fill one out, okay? **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Any other new business? Well, our $10,000 deposit has been returned. Okay. So, we should know that. Just a reminder that December 2nd is the runoff election. I will make counters. And especially being a JV election, I'm going to have two less people able to count. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Is it a Tuesday? **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** No, Monday. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Oh, Monday. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** It's Monday. Monday. I'll be there. **Speaker 16:** It's going to be somewhat last minute, depending on the dog. Well, really, it can be that. **Speaker 2:** It's only two minutes. **Speaker 18:** Yeah. **Speaker 3:** You and I can do it, Gloria. We can do it. We got it. **Speaker 22:** Just one more thing. **Speaker 25:** He's coming out. **Speaker 3:** I know, but I can't do it. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** You probably can do it on that phone. Not there yet. You can call me, too. She's working up at the dog. Yeah. So, Connie can't do it. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I was going to say, does Connie can't do it? **Speaker 22:** Okay. **Speaker 2:** I'll ask my wife tonight. I might be able to volunteer. **Speaker 3:** Tina, supposedly, right? **Speaker 2:** I'll ask. I probably could. What time did they start counting? **Speaker 16:** I probably could do it, too. It's just a few minutes. **Speaker 2:** Right, like at 7. **Speaker 16:** Right, like at 8, 8, 9, 10, 11. No, 7. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Well, 7 is the end of the poll, right? **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I don't think we hit that right away. **Speaker 2:** I'll be here. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I don't think I need volunteers. I think I want to stick with the words. Okay. **Speaker 26:** So, maybe. **Speaker 2:** If anything changes, let me know. **Speaker 3:** Maybe Deb will be able to do it. Yeah. And then Deb and I can. We can pick you up in March. We can knock it out. We can knock his words out of the park. We're experience counters. Yes. **Speaker 16:** So, we'll just. **Speaker 3:** And we got Kurt, too. Don't laugh. It's a hard job. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** If you have a. **Speaker 3:** Yeah. Yeah. **Speaker 4:** Hashtag five. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Hashtag five. **Speaker 3:** You don't know how to add. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Well, I'll read it. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Okay. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I'll count the cards. Make sure it's right. **Speaker 12:** All right. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** No, I'm not. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Okay. I have another new business. We're getting to the end of the year. We're going to be starting budgets. Do we want to have employee review? We shouldn't start moving. Yeah. I hate waiting. I know. We shouldn't wait until January because that doesn't count Gloria. **Speaker 12:** I would. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** I would. I would like an hour before the meeting on Thursday because my Thursday is already shopped. So, I might as well just do it on. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Okay. So, let's figure and set something up for the next meeting. Is that December? We're going to have two in December. And then in January, December, it's probably every week we're working on budgets and counting and all that. December 5th. When's your first meeting in December? 5 and 9-10. 5 and 9-10. So, whoever can come that night. An hour early? **Speaker 1:** Yeah. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Just an hour early. 5 o'clock. Yep. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** December 5th, 5 o'clock. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Employee review. Okay. We'll start them. And the first person that shows up gets treated better than the last person. So, that would give them incentive to show up. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Well, I would think that the last one would be in a hurry to get him out. So, say 50% raise out. No raises this year. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. **Speaker 14:** 10-4. **Speaker 13:** 10-4. 10-4. **Speaker 27:** 10-4. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** 10-4. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. **Speaker 13:** 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. 10-4. Okay. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I'd like to see an open question, please. Okay. So, excuse me. What? No. What are you saying? What? **Speaker 13:** We want to hear your opinion. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** Can we hear your opinion? Okay. Thank you. There's a motion to adjourn. **Speaker 20:** There's a motion on the table. Right now, everybody's stopped during the meeting. Make sure we're getting the minutes right. Oh, fuck. No, we're going to get it adjourned. **Speaker 28:** OK. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Yeah, make sure you get the minutes right this time. Why not? I've got so much stuff to say right here. You've got a new position. Match your arm. Hey, there's a motion on the table. Point of order. I've got a motion. You can't cut me off from the vote. Come on, John. Oh, Dan's not here. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** I'll take your motion to adjourn the meeting. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** You didn't even say anything. **Nancy L. Bushika (Chair):** No. **Michael G. Denault (inferred):** Thanks for coming. I know. **Speaker 20:** Yeah, no problem.