John Compton: Good evening, everybody. John Compton: man. John Compton: Gonna be a lot of everybody's. Peter Nagrod: Alright. Peter Nagrod: I mean, I can email code no code here. Peter Nagrod: no other. Peter Nagrod: It not. John Compton: Okay? John Compton: since we have to do the public hearing on the ordinance 2,024, one. I'm going to call the John Compton: the public hearing John Compton: to order. We have all 6 council members are here. John Compton: This is the ordinance that adopts the town budget John Compton: and the tax rates for fiscal 25. John Compton: It is an ordinance within the ordinance is a summary of the revenue categories anticipated, and the expense categories as approved John Compton: in the budget by the town meeting. John Compton: This ordinance, is is John Compton: presented and and introduced by the Council, because the State of Maryland requires municipalities to adopt their tax rates and budgets by ordinance. John Compton: So John Compton: in fact. John Compton: as you, we all know, the town meeting has adopted the tax rates and the budget, and this always has to come after that, because we don't know exactly the numbers that will go in here. John Compton: But these are the numbers in in the approved budget. As such the public hearing is. As I've explained to a number of John Compton: times, is actually not entirely a formality. There could be some discussion about the the ordinance as proposed. John Compton: but it would be ill advised, and John Compton: generally counterproductive to alter this ordinance in any material way, because we are only passing it John Compton: to meet our state requirements. John Compton: The timing already is late. We we have our John Compton: taxes are collected by the county, and they want to know about the how much they prepare those tax bills in time for July first, and this is already later than they would like to have it. So. John Compton: That's why this ordinance is here, and we have must have a public hearing, because that's what our process John Compton: calls for. And, in fact, probably that's also mandated John Compton: in our charter in our state in the State. John Compton: Mandate for the town! John Compton: So here we are with the ordinance which was introduced, and so I will. John Compton: I will. Open the floor to any comments by council members. First. John Compton: any comments on the ordinance from a council member. John Compton: Okay? Seeing none. Then, if anyone is here to speak to the ordinance John Compton: in the public hearing, please raise your hand. John Compton: Okay. Seeing no one here for the public hearing. Then I'll John Compton: ask for a motion to close the public hearing, please, from a Council member. Peter Nagrod: I'll make the motion. John Compton: And John Compton: Rob. Okay, we'll move on to closing the public, hearing all in favor. Please raise your hand. I think I can see all of you, except for Ava he may. There she is. John Compton: very good. Alright. So the public hearing is ended, and we'll get back to voting on this ordinance in the regular meeting John Compton: which we will now move on to starting. John Compton: Call it to order. John Compton: So the first order of business is usually approval of the agenda. John Compton: But but I I have a small note, I I John Compton: and past virtual John Compton: sessions or other in person. We've had the swearing in of our newly elected John Compton: Town Council members. I was sworn in by the Clerk of Court last week. John Compton: Which I have to be, and now I can swear everybody else in John Compton: but I've already sworn them in. I did that separately, just to get on with it, so that just letting everybody know that Chris and Barbara have both taken their their positions, and for for 3 year terms John Compton: the Council. So that brings us to approval of the agenda. John Compton: I'm gonna show the agenda because John Compton: There are a few minor modifications have been made. If everyone is seeing that I'll make it a little bit bigger. John Compton: The modifications are highlighted yellow from what anybody else may have seen. John Compton: I've put this updated agenda in the materials folder just John Compton: half an hour or an hour ago. John Compton: One is I neglected to put the treasurer's report on the agenda. John Compton: So I have stuck that back in the April treasures. Report John Compton: In addition to which there is a document that I have prepared related to John Compton: the item number 6, review of the town annual town meeting, and that is in the documents John Compton: the materials folder. I'll be showing that one when we get to that as well John Compton: and John Compton: down under administrative matters. I've added an I John Compton: you you can read it there. It's written financial policies and procedures to be to be created John Compton: would help to have a B in there John Compton: alright, and the other the last thing is the second the last second, and one of the basic recommendations I've listed here. John Compton: He is. John Compton: When we get to it. It's because of the length of this meeting. John Compton: It may be perfect. It may be reasonable to defer it, or we may have handled it in the course of some other some other my my mayor's report. John Compton: Okay, so that's my additions. Any other comments on the agenda. Peter Nagrod: No Peter Nagrod: hmm! John Compton: You'll note that under new business I should have mentioned is the the the idea of potentially revising the guidelines on governance of committees John Compton: that has come up in various discussions, including John Compton: council members. So when we. TELEPHONE_USER: Joined the meeting. John Compton: Decide what to do. But in any event it it's on the agenda and on the radar. John Compton: Okay. Anybody else can now comment on the agenda. John Compton: Okay? Any any motion to approve this agenda, please. marywarfield: I move. Mary. John Compton: Okay. Thank you. Mary. Second. Eva: I'll second Eva. John Compton: Okay, thank you, Eva. John Compton: No further comments. Let's vote on adopting the agenda. All in favor. John Compton: Everybody's okay. Alright. 6. 0 agenda is adopted. John Compton: All right. So the first item of regular business are public appearances, as usual. John Compton: The council. Wants to hear public appearances, but we we would like to handle any public appearances related to an item on the agenda when we get there. John Compton: So I'm gonna try and be a little more rigorous. First thing I'm gonna do is ask for any public comment John Compton: when we get to a matter that may may have somebody here to to speak to it. John Compton: Okay, no public appearances at this point. John Compton: Then we'll move to the treasurer's report. John Compton: so Jean is here. If you have any questions concerning the treasurer's report. I will throw it up. John Compton: And, Jean, do you have anything. Jean Moyer: Just to point out to Chris, since he's a new counselor. Jean Moyer: This report comes out every month, and I put notes on Jean Moyer: key lineair line items, to help speed up understanding and any potential questions or understanding of the report. And so these notes have been here each month I add new ones as needed. Jean Moyer: we're well ahead on Jean Moyer: You know, our income is coming in nicely. It's a steady stream. It's state taxes and county taxes and fees. So it's very reliable. Jean Moyer: is the bulk of where money's coming from. Jean Moyer: But you know, with 2 months remaining in the year. We're Jean Moyer: getting close in on our budget. So I don't have any concerns on the income Jean Moyer: from. Jean Moyer: I don't hear any questions. We can move on to the expenses. Jean Moyer: also for Jean Moyer: kind of edification. We group our expenses in areas or departments. If you wanna think of them that way. The executive houses. The. You know, the the town business, the website records management, that type of thing. Jean Moyer: the next section being my domain. And the software I use for our payroll and our accounting as well as the audit Jean Moyer: And so you go down the report. You can see the primary groupings of how the town accounting is organized. Jean Moyer: I don't have any particular comments to call out in the expenses. Jean Moyer: As usual. We are Jean Moyer: well under budget on the expense side. Jean Moyer: Oftentimes things are put in the budget because committees would like to do them, or plan on doing them, or if it's general town business, we want to have Jean Moyer: the ability to do that, and it does not always come to fruition. Jean Moyer: So we tend to be under on expenses year to year. Jean Moyer: and then at the bottom, you'll see our actual cash balances, Jean Moyer: and Jean Moyer: that Jean Moyer: within the Maryland local Government Investment pool. I've noted how much of the remaining Arpa, the Federal Grant funds that we receive for the storm water work. How much remains? Jean Moyer: so that that's the end, unless there any questions. Kriss Grisham: This is Chris. Kriss Grisham: So you say you issue this every month. Kriss Grisham: Is that is that to all the counselors? Or is that on the website? Or how do we. Jean Moyer: It. It's always part of the Council meeting package. Jean Moyer: so you will get access to it ahead of each council meeting, and I do believe it ends up on the website. Kriss Grisham: Okay. Great. Thank you. Jean Moyer: And if you have any questions, you can always reach out to me. Kriss Grisham: Thank you. Jean Moyer: Sure. John Compton: Any other questions for Jean. John Compton: Okay, great John Compton: In that case. We need a motion to approve the treasurer's report. John Compton: Someone. Peter Nagrod: I'll make the motion motion to approve. marywarfield: Mary. Peter Nagrod: Thank you. John Compton: Alright! Peter moved, and who seconded somebody. Kathy Lehman: Married, and. marywarfield: Mary. John Compton: There. I did. Okay. Any other discussion John Compton: all in favor of the approving the support. Thank you. That's unanimous. John Compton: Alright, John Compton: fine. Now we move on to the item. I've called review of the the annual meeting, and the reason this isn't usually here, but because there were was a little controversy, a few missteps, and some John Compton: consternation. Plus some discussion of of of of why the town meeting is at 8 pm, can't we hold it some other time, and that I thought it would be useful to do a review? So I have prepared a a little, just a summary of of a few things that came came to mind. That is not to say that the Council John Compton: shouldn't contribute to this, and we're only going to take council comments at this point. John Compton: So John Compton: let me just show my screen. This document is in the materials folder. And now and so you can look at it yourself. At your leisure. So the first item was the termination of a quorum. John Compton: So I, I wanna note that a past annual town meetings is written here John Compton: at the when we were at the Hall and the 3 previous online town meetings. I think it's only 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, yes. John Compton: the resident status and voting status were determined upon entry into the meeting. John Compton: whether sitting at the door of the hall, or or in the waiting room John Compton: by the Board of Supervisors of Elections. John Compton: That's been the the the recent procedure. John Compton: The start of the of this year's meeting. However, there was no one John Compton: doing this. John Compton: and it came time to get the meeting going. John Compton: and in order to John Compton: have the meeting. We require a quorum which is 50 John Compton: residents, and and registered voters. Well, not not necessarily registered voters, but but usually that it's both. John Compton: And therefore I ruled John Compton: that aquorum was present, and that wasn't totally arbitrary. It was based on the fact that there were, I think, there were like over 70 named connections. John Compton: and many of whom those with visual images, and my inspection suggested that we certainly had well in excess of the required quorum. So I declared the rule that there was a quorum. John Compton: I wanna note no one objected to that John Compton: as which was perfectly reasonable on my mind. John Compton: Alright, we went on further on in the meeting, when John Compton: we took a vote, or I'm forgetting how many votes we certainly voted on the budget. John Compton: and at that time I felt a quorum was present, and once again no one John Compton: objective which would been a perfect right to say, I I'd like to have a quorum verified. John Compton: but no one did that, and we took the vote, and the vote was very lopsided, as most of you were there. No, so John Compton: That's my summary of the of the question of a quorum and the legitimacy of the vote. John Compton: Alright, any anybody have any any comments on this John Compton: from. Peter Nagrod: No. Peter Nagrod: No. John Compton: Alright. I'm gonna let the public have comments on these. But let me let's go through all of the the really, the 3 areas that I wanted that I thought to address. John Compton: okay, big elephant. And and it's in the room. And we're we're we're addressing it. It's not hidden. We clearly based on what happened, need to improve the application of Robert's rules of order John Compton: procedures. The charter specifies. We use those procedures around the meeting, and that's what we need should do. And it, as you know, that was not, there was a lot of confusion. And I admit I mishandled a the second to the budget motion that was made originally by Tom Land John Compton: alright. So without the laboring that what can we do to facilitate the use of Robert's rules of orders, and 2 things have come up. John Compton: And being suggested, one is that at the start of the meeting with that a Parliamentarian be assigned. John Compton: The point of a Parliamentarian is here is that they have John Compton: the last word on procedure. So if anybody questions the procedure Parliamentarian is consulted, and they make a ruling. John Compton: They may or may not be correct. Hopefully they are correct, but it takes it away from the chair, so that any objections to the way the chair is handling, meaning John Compton: has a you have recourse. John Compton: So this seems very sensible. We we used to do this. Actually, I recall it being done quite a while ago, but in recent John Compton: times there hasn't been really much controversial. Well, maybe I'm wrong. I thought there wasn't terribly John Compton: things terribly controversial about the way, the meeting, and the order of the meeting, but there was certainly on Saturday, and this would be one way John Compton: of at least John Compton: trying to avoid John Compton: those sorts of. Peter Nagrod: Versus. John Compton: Secondly, and and I'll you know I'll tribute this to Barbara. Barbara Romano. Oh, no, this is I'll tribute this. Sorry the second one was. Can I contribute to Dennis Kersbound? Is that for the, for for everyone at the meeting it would be a good idea to spend a few minutes reviewing those procedures that are most likely to be used in the meeting. That is how motions made. John Compton: How are amendments made? John Compton: What is calling the question John Compton: and the final voting? There's Robert's rules of order. John Compton: I have. I have a paperback book. It's about an inch plus thick. John Compton: And so you can do a lot of things. There are a lot of rules, most of which, hopefully, we will never, ever feel the need to use. John Compton: Alright. So that's at the start of the meeting. And and certainly, since I'm gonna run the next meeting, and we can do these things, John Compton: The other thing is is what I what what it was barbers John Compton: suggestion and approach, and that is to investigate the Robert's rules of order training John Compton: for John Compton: everyone in town, essentially, but certainly specifically for the mayor. John Compton: the council John Compton: chairs of the commissions, perhaps the chairs of committees, or if they're interested, and any other interested residents. John Compton: So the question is how we'll do that, whether we'll cost and and and who who might do it? And barbara started to look into that. This is not the time to discuss moving forward. When there's something substantive, we will certainly. John Compton: I think, move along John Compton: alright. So this is the improve the application of the procedure. Christine Dibble: Papa. John Compton: Or order having the meeting go in an orderly manner. John Compton: Alright. Then there's the more John Compton: the more John Compton: the more difficult. Yeah, I would say issue. John Compton: and that is the time of day and the length of the annual town meeting. John Compton: So John Compton: by starting that town meeting at 8 o'clock. It's already late in the evening, 8 o'clock for for some I mean everybody, and then then if the meeting goes 2, 2 and a half hours, which they inevitably do. John Compton: Then people are getting tired and John Compton: the business of the meeting. John Compton: That is required. John Compton: has. John Compton: If that was to take excessive amount of time, the meeting would be even worse. John Compton: So there were suggestions about changing the the time of day. There have been suggestions. Let me just go through what I've written down here. John Compton: Once again. The Council can certainly comment John Compton: on their thoughts as well as anyone else who cares to comment here. John Compton: So first point is, there's required business for the town meeting John Compton: the mayor is supposed to give a state of the town report, which I do. John Compton: We have to. The meeting must approve the next year's tax rates and budget, and, in fact, the election results are reported at at the town meeting. John Compton: So those need to be done. So how much time should be provided for discussing tax rates and budget line items which was required business. John Compton: So I put a few things for consideration here. John Compton: One is that the meeting needs to follow the election. So the election needs to be before the meeting. John Compton: The election, unlike the town meeting hour, is specifically John Compton: mandated in our charter. John Compton: so the charter would need to be altered to to alter the time of the election, which would be the sensible thing to do if you wanted to move the town meeting earlier. John Compton: Secondly, a quorum must be main maintained to approve, tax, raise, and budget. Well. John Compton: the longer a meeting is, the more the the John Compton: the potential for losing a quorum John Compton: increases. That's not to say it's going to happen, but it needs to be kept in mind. So so when voting or extended debate goes on. John Compton: Thirdly, John Compton: the budget preparation process, so the discussion of the budget, while John Compton: open to any comment. John Compton: can be John Compton: shortened. John Compton: if not John Compton: significantly. John Compton: If if one participates. If residents have participated in the budget preparation process. John Compton: Okay? And that has and will be well publicized. John Compton: Draft budget is made available as part of at least 2 meetings. John Compton: Where resident input is John Compton: solicited and accepted. So there's opportunity to sail in space to influence the the budget. John Compton: Both an open meeting of the Council, and prior to that when the initial budget is is put together. where? Where our unpaid staff the committees ask, you know, look at what they would like to do and propose appropriate budgets. John Compton: So the like, the town council John Compton: In my experience, and as long as I've been mayor, allows as much time for resident input as there is interest in providing. Input. John Compton: so once again, we are up against this situation where, when we get before, we get to the town meeting. There is lots of opportunity to John Compton: make input to the the budget, and certainly by the time you get to the town meeting you're either satisfied with how things went. John Compton: Recognize the John Compton: reasons they went that way. If you've listened to to responses, at least on the things you may be concerned about John Compton: or you're unhappy with what happened, in which case, you know, you would consider John Compton: perhaps. John Compton: if you thought you could influence it making a comment on. But the idea is to minimize that because of what I just said about the time constraints at the time meeting John Compton: time meeting can be made longer. John Compton: I'm I'm fully agree with that. I'm not saying you can't. But the question is, do you want to? And John Compton: and should it, should it should that be provision for it to be longer? John Compton: Okay? So lastly, I do wanna comment that historically, there have been very few years with the discussion of the budget. And where there was discussion of the budget. John Compton: and these have generally John Compton: addressed increases for specific purposes. When somebody's come and said, Look. John Compton: we, we came up with this. We have this plan we have, we? We think the something was underfunded, and so they want to add money. John Compton: All. Very rarely John Compton: is the town meeting used John Compton: to object to a spending item John Compton: in recent times. That's a important caveat. John Compton: Alright now, all of you know. John Compton: and it was said at the town meeting John Compton: that the charter John Compton: holds the Council responsible, and the mayor John Compton: to not exceeding the spending allowed in the budget. John Compton: It also explicitly allows the Council to move money around John Compton: from category to category. John Compton: Which John Compton: is usually done at the very end of the year, when something has been over spent, and we we wanna make sure the categories aren't haven't been over violated. So the Council moves the money around, and that's that's a power of the council, and so John Compton: objections to line items in the budget is an objection to a John Compton: a provision for funds. Explicit doesn't mean those funds will be spent. It. John Compton: If it's not there, it doesn't mean the funds might still be spent anyway, because there's a variety of ways to spend money on on things that we forgot about or become more. Ha! Ha! Have a priority as as a year progresses John Compton: alright, so John Compton: that that takes care of the require, that's all I had to say about the required business for the town meeting. John Compton: but we all know that. Well, if the budget isn't taking very long, and the state of the town. Report, even when I give it isn't taking up anywhere near the whole time. What is taking all the time? John Compton: Alright! Here's what's taking the time. And I'm gonna make, you know, express. Just just indicate why these things are there. So one is the recognitions John Compton: of volunteers, of accomplishments, of of milestones, of whatever from the Mayor, from the HP. And and the and Planning commission. John Compton: Also, we have the Town Council reports, which in recent times we spent very little time on John Compton: but the point, if the Town Council reports, is to have a written John Compton: summary of activities by the individual committees. John Compton: I call it. Our departments, our staff. John Compton: as well as the work of the town councillors on the town's behalf. John Compton: you know, when someone is responsible for roads or someone responsible for contracts. Someone is responsible for intergovernmental. So you you you get you. You get a report from this John Compton: and that, and that belongs, I believe, belongs in in the annual time meeting. It's not. It hasn't been a time sink, but it is a place where questions can be asked and explanations provided. John Compton: The our commissions, which are in our charter John Compton: and ordinances also report on the year's activities, and they provide a look ahead. John Compton: I think that's an important thing to do with the town meeting. John Compton: To to keep everybody informed about what has gone on and what may go on. John Compton: And lastly, there are presentations in areas deemed I. I wrote this out areas deemed of importance to residents because of ongoing projects and expenditures. John Compton: I'll say, for example, the elimination of non native invasives John Compton: in town and in the woods is one of those John Compton: potential future efforts and expenditures. John Compton: Storm water management is an example. There. road plans. John Compton: and other efforts relating to the recommendations in the comprehensive plan. So we have a comprehensive plan. It recommends that the town move in certain directions, and that's forward thinking. And so to have a presentation on the commercial corner John Compton: state and potential for redevelopment is A is is is, I think, an appropriate thing for the town meeting. John Compton: All of these take time and and go on. And there's other examples what that is. So so these are the kind of the the required business and the other business. And it's why the town meeting is is full of, you know, faces a pretty full schedule. John Compton: But that's all I have to say. If if anybody on the Council would like to add to this, reflecting on our the last town meeting. John Compton: please, yeah. Peter Nagrod: Would like. I would like to reflect. So to me this. So this is my fortieth year in Washington Grove. Peter Nagrod: and I think I didn't go to the first first 20 years. I never went to a meeting Peter Nagrod: play half since then, and it is such as as we all know. It's such a unique opportunity Peter Nagrod: to see democracy in action. Peter Nagrod: Yeah, we're only called to meet. And it's in this town meeting once a year. I do not think at all that the issue is the length of the meeting. Peter Nagrod: I think I think one thing is that if we had met in person like we have in the past. We we wouldn't be having this conversation, but I think the issue isn't about the Peter Nagrod: about the start time. Peter Nagrod: and I'm surprised we haven't discussed that yet. John Compton: Someone else calendar. I'm gonna add to this. Eva: I mean. Eva: I'll I'll just say, as a parent with young kids, I I find a start time of 8 Pm. With a 2 and a half hour meeting to be Eva: not pleasant, and and probably a deterrent to other people in my position. So you know, I would be all for changing the the charter. It seems reasonable that we just move voting to earlier in the day and then have the meeting earlier. Eva: so I mean Eva: that, you know. I I'm sure you'll find people on either end. But that's that would be my Eva: suggestion. Barbara: Yep, this is Barbara. I agree that earlier is better, because it does seem like a very late time to start. I think maybe 4 to 6, and then have time after that for people to see each other and have the have the social time. But, if we try to really keep the meeting to 2 h. I think we can do that, and have a very productive meeting. marywarfield: Someone told me who has been here longer than I, that in the old days that the town meetings actually would be followed by kind of a social hour with marywarfield: with some refreshments and stuff. And I think that would be wonderful, just in terms of town community, to be able to have the town meeting, and then to be able to be together kind of in person in a space, if which would require you be in earlier. Also, someone mentioned, you know, having babysitters, or you know other things to make it easier for families to attend. You know, whatever time it is, which I think is a great idea as well. marywarfield: I. Robert Gilmore: I think we did that as recently as like the the last meeting before Covid. John Compton: Yeah. Almost every meeting in person had a John Compton: refreshment. John Compton: you know, period afterwards, if the meeting went light, you know only a few. Some of the people stayed if the meeting ended earlier, maybe more did. But John Compton: definitely we're missing that by doing this virtual. Peter Nagrod: Hmm. Kathy Lehman: Only mayor year. Barbara: Excuse me. Kathy Lehman: Here. Kathy Lehman: This is part of. John Compton: Yeah, you're missing my beer. John Compton: Barbara. Barbara: Yeah, I was gonna say something. Barbara: No, I completely forgot. Barbara: Right? John Compton: Okay. Well. marywarfield: Is it time for questions? I have a questions about some of the things you said. John Compton: Yeah, what? What I wanted to do, Mary. I didn't mean this to be the end of the discussion. The this is not I I think we should treat this as sort of the opening John Compton: discussion. We've we've heard some some preference for moving the meeting earlier, which is a we, we may maybe the way to approach it is for actually to propose or charter amendment. John Compton: Moving the meeting earlier, or at least not moving it earlier, at least allowing the Council to decide when it will be John Compton: during the day rather than have it specified in the charter. It can specify the day. But John Compton: so why don't we? If I can can get agreement, we'll Peter Nagrod: Hmm. John Compton: We can leave this here. I I want I I think I think a lot of other people will want to comment on this. But maybe in the context, John Compton: of of of an actual proposal to John Compton: make changes would would be appropriate. So John Compton: does. Does everybody feel all right about that? Peter Nagrod: Yeah. Barbara: Well, well, why don't we put it in the form of a motion, and and just decide to vote on it after we get feedback. So I mean, I would be happy to move that the wh. What is it? The charter refers to the election time? Right? Not the meeting time. So that and it says 4 to 7. Is that right? So I would make a motion that we pursue, changing the charter Barbara: to make the voting 1, 2, 4, Barbara: and then after that we can decide, or you know, I'm sorry. Barbara: 12 to 4. Barbara: I'm sorry. 12 to 3 meeting. This is. This is what happens when you do it off the top of your head, and then the town meeting 4 to 6, so make that as a motion, and then people can comment on that proposal Barbara: rather than just leave it all. Well, you know. So that that is my motion. My motion is that we move to that. We take steps to amend the town charter, to have the voting from 12 to 3, Barbara: and separately have the meeting from 4 to 6. marywarfield: I would second that. marywarfield: Okay. Gary. marywarfield: why? John Compton: So that's been moved. Do we have any comments on that motion? Peter Nagrod: Well, I don't know. The Peter Nagrod: is there an hour is an hour enough time. John Compton: The. Let me just comment on that. This is a motion with some specifics. Peter Nagrod: And. John Compton: It. But but it still need you to do a charter amendment. You actually have to have real language, real, real, detailed proposal. And I think Ballparber saying is, well, let's outline it with this, but it doesn't have to be exactly this. It could be some some variation John Compton: which which makes the most sense to everybody, I mean. Peter Nagrod: Like a. John Compton: So just by by passing this, it puts, the the Council is then going to expect itself. John Compton: Come up with the language for a charter amendment. John Compton: Addressing this. Eva: Would it make sense to? And I don't. I don't know. But would it make sense to have it be something like the Eva: Council decides Eva: the time of voting so that we are not locked into the 12 to 3 like that Eva: each each year. We can decide what the the voting time is. Gonna be. John Compton: That's exactly what I was suggesting, because it seems John Compton: it's very cumbersome to have to John Compton: change the charter just to change the time of the election on a given day. It may be sufficient to have the council specify when the election will be. John Compton: the day is, can be left in the chartered will be the second Saturday of May. John Compton: But when we'll have to be decided. John Compton: you know, annually. John Compton: okay, those are possibilities. But I think we have. We have Barbara's motion, which is really an intention? John Compton: less less specific. I mean, it has some specifics. But, like those. John Compton: you know, it's like any ordinance. You introduce it, you and you, you, you amend, and you John Compton: or you amend it before you introduce it either way the discussion can go either way. So just to get it off our plates for this meeting. Anybody else have a comment about doing things that way. John Compton: Alright, we've got some some non council John Compton: would would like to comment on this motion John Compton: council. I'm I'm gonna try and run these meetings a little bit more rigorously. John Compton: this may not be John Compton: taking additional time to address John Compton: a potential charter amendment that hasn't yet been happened. John Compton: But instead addressing the intention to. Christine Dibble: Forgot. John Compton: Close it, which is still requires all of our discussion on the specific time, maybe inappropriate, but can do what you want. We'll we can stay here late into the night. John Compton: So I'm gonna ask just for a strawber. Take comments from none John Compton: Residents not on the Council. Christine Dibble: So it's. Peter Nagrod: So enjoy. Barbara: There! Peter Nagrod: I have just one concern, Barbara. It's it's by. Why do we have to put down? Why do we have to say 4 to 6. Barbara: Okay, because because we're. Peter Nagrod: My ras. My reason for that is that when people see 4 to 6 and they go oh, the Council decide. 4 to 6. I'm not gonna like Chain, rock the boat and ask for it at a different time. Barbara: Great. Peter Nagrod: It's a mindset. Yeah. Barbara: So the whole purpose of my making a motion was so that we would have something to discuss. So I think that's a legitimate point that you just made. But Barbara: so they can. That's something for all of us to consider when it comes time to vote. Maybe we vote it down because we don't like that. Or maybe we have an amendment because we like something else. So. But it's just the motion. Peter Nagrod: Can we just keep your emotion. patricenklein: Do we play with this ken? Peter Nagrod: And most Peter Nagrod: we could just keep the motion, but not specify any particular time is just leave it open that we will decide the time. Barbara: So maybe something a way to handle this would be to. Christine Dibble: Dave. Barbara: Comments Barbara: between now and our next meeting, you know. Have it out there open for comment. Have the counselors think about it, and you know we can have conversations with each other rather than trying to have a big discussion now, because it just came on to the table right now, so that might be a way of handling this. Christine Dibble: Thanks. Peter. John Compton: I was asking that the motion be that the the Council. Christine Dibble: The apple. John Compton: Intends to entertain a charter amendment. John Compton: altering John Compton: the time for the the the allowing flexibility for the town election, and therefore for the town meeting. John Compton: Annual. Peter Nagrod: Yes. John Compton: Alright! Shall I be formal about this? The motion maker and the second have to agree to that. Barbara: That's fine. I agree with. John Compton: Okay, alright. So we're talking about a more general without specific times. But but with the idea of of changing the time for the. Peter Nagrod: Which. John Compton: Right. John Compton: there's no further discussion. Let's move on to a vote all in favor of Barbara's motion. John Compton: I see everybody. I lost Chris in the process. Where is he? There he is. Okay. Alright good. That's passed. Thank you all. So patricenklein: I assume that means there's no additional discussion from downtown council members. John Compton: All that. Yeah. Very good. patricenklein: The chat, but. John Compton: Yeah, there'll be plenty of opportunity when this actually comes. John Compton: And I think Barbara is right. We we should with. We're putting out a call for comment John Compton: on this John Compton: on changing the charter John Compton: specification for the election. patricenklein: Thank you. I had suggested friendly amendment, and you already did it. Thank you. John Compton: Alright Barbara: Why are you? Joan Mahaffey: My hand went up before, though. John Compton: But minutes. John Compton: We're a little behind on minutes and I'll have to take responsibility for that. John Compton: The minutes before the Council is that of February twenty-seventh. John Compton: which John Compton: everyone, I'm sure, has pretty much forgotten about John Compton: I think Barbara offered some amendments which I didn't add, Barbara, so John Compton: if, if you remember what they are, you can tell me. Barbara: Okay. John Compton: Not amendments, but but correct corrections. John Compton: Additions. John Compton: So if someone will move to enter to John Compton: approve the February 20 seventh minutes. John Compton: I'd appreciate that. Eva: I'll move to approve. Eva: Eva. John Compton: Okay, here it is. And John Compton: I really do apologize. Whatever happened to. John Compton: Where did I put your comments? Somewhere? John Compton: Probably in John Compton: February 27. Barbara: I I have them, John, in front of me. John Compton: So I can tell you. Barbara: With it. John Compton: There! Go ahead! Kathy Lehman: Second, yet. Peter Nagrod: I'll second it. John Compton: Alright. Peter. Second. John Compton: thank you. Okay, Barbara, go ahead. Barbara: Okay, I'm looking just a second. Barbara: So on. Barbara: let's see, Page. Barbara: I guess it's the second page. Barbara: It says Barbara Raymondo suggested comments. Be limited to 3 min. Barbara: I think, Prior, I I'll put it in. The chat is the chat on. John Compton: Yes, I think it's. Barbara: Okay, let me, patricenklein: Don't lead to John. John Compton: Yeah, to me. Barbara: Okay, I'm not seeing a way. Barbara: Basically, what I said is in response to concerns raised that the meeting would go on too long if everyone spoke, Barbara, reminder suggested, comments. Be limited to 3 min. Barbara: I I can't use the chat. I don't know. Barbara: Correct thanks. John Compton: Yeah, hey? Here we have. John Compton: I'll just put to to to to limit John Compton: the John Compton: potential time. John Compton: for the John Compton: potential for potential time John Compton: or discussion. John Compton: Yeah. John Compton: alright. Barbara: Okay, then, Paul form Kesaya. His name is spelled THOR. Ne. John Compton: Where's that? Barbara: Kazaa, that is on. John Compton: And I didn't. Barbara: Last, page. John Compton: This. John Compton: say it again. Barbara: Yes, so it's THOR Ne Barbara: huh! John Compton: So aren't. Barbara: Nathan Kazaya. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: Yes, I think the reason it's highlighted is because I wasn't sure about it. Barbara: And then there was something else. Further up on the second page Barbara: it says, 5 presentations Ted Stanky would present. Barbara: The 5 presentations were presented by Chaz Wilson. Barbara: they would. The results of the survey. Tad, as far as I know, did not present Barbara: 5 presentations. So I think that's what that is supposed to be referring to, that the 5 Town Presentations that Chas. Gave. John Compton: I'm not finding it so. Barbara: It's under the diversity, equity and inclusion survey results, and then the first bullet Barbara: is 5 presentations. John Compton: Oh, yeah, the 5 presentations. John Compton: Oh, there was additional assessment. 5. John Compton: That, okay. Barbara: They? Barbara: So that was Chas. John Compton: Presented. How about that? Barbara: She she did, but she did present. That was done. John Compton: Present. John Compton: Yes. John Compton: Okay. Barbara: Don't know. John Compton: Okay. Peter Nagrod: I said, John, I have one. Peter Nagrod: Oh. John Compton: To. John Compton: isn't d John Compton: alright? John Compton: Okay. Peter Nagrod: John John, I have one. Just go down a little bit more. John Compton: Yep. Peter Nagrod: Next page 2. Next page. Then I'll say, page 2, keep going. Peter Nagrod: Keep going. Peter Nagrod: See? Okay. So following this, the Powerpoint begins following the public. It says council and egg rod. Peter Nagrod: That doesn't make any sense any sense. So I would, just Peter Nagrod: for simplicity's sake, I would just delete that sentence Peter Nagrod: unless unless somebody else thinks it means something. I can't understand. It. John Compton: Well, I just I left out the verb. So this is why you guys are supposed to read this. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. John Compton: Cows are neglig. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. John Compton: proposed John Compton: that. Peter Nagrod: Is that? Is that what I thought. John Compton: Of this idea be deferred until the next Council meeting. Peter Nagrod: Okay. John Compton: And then Christine supported that, and the vote was to take it up with the next meeting. John Compton: Alright. Good catch! John Compton: Alright! I'm sorry I didn't do this advance. This is why we do these things in advance, because we're we're John Compton: checking is is time consuming and John Compton: generally of low consequence. But nevertheless, nobody wants to have a. John Compton: you know. Bad English written John Compton: minutes, anything else. Peter Nagrod: No, just an observation that with all these public comments I was reading through those. It's very, very confusing what people are talking about, because there was several topics. Peter Nagrod: and you know, I guess I guess it's good that I kind of have it there. But Peter Nagrod: it's I. I just found it questionable as far as Peter Nagrod: what people were talking about. If somebody's reading that who wasn't at the meeting. Peter Nagrod: But I don't know. I don't know. You know. I don't know what you would do to change that. So. John Compton: Well, in this case it's it's very difficult to do minutes with. They, they said. Peter Nagrod: That's what I'm saying. Yeah, it was a lot of. John Compton: We don't have a trans, we do John Compton: these days. We actually have a transcript of the meeting video. So anybody who wonders what's going on John Compton: and is willing to get the transcript, which is just a written. You know, this is whatever you know, what what the tradition of statements. John Compton: Video. So we have a way unlike in the past, of of John Compton: clarifying and and and elaborating John Compton: on the minutes. Peter Nagrod: Right. John Compton: And that probably should be part of the minutes, and it may not be yet. I I've intended to do that. John Compton: that John Compton: I do say the the minutes are are here. But now that the videos are available which is relatively new. John Compton: Along with the, you know, potentially with the transcripts. I have the transcript so John Compton: we can certainly include that as part of the minutes, and ensure that the town retains those for future use. John Compton: Alright. Kathy Lehman: John. John Compton: Yes. Kathy Lehman: Joan has had her hand up for about an hour. John Compton: Yes, but okay, I'm gonna now. Ask Joan, what? What is it you'd like to address? Joan. Joan Mahaffey: I had my hand up before the motion was even made. About the time Joan Mahaffey: I was objecting to the length of time given to the voting Joan Mahaffey: you first of all, you said you were doing negative votes first, and there was just there was not even time to go to find. Raise your hand to make a negative vote. Joan Mahaffey: and then you asked for positive votes, and of the 68 people who are Joan Mahaffey: 68 links that were on 44 responded. Joan Mahaffey: But in the past, if there's been more than one person on the link, there was a second and sometimes a third round of voting. And that didn't happen. Joan Mahaffey: So basically, if anybody was on Joan Mahaffey: 2 people on one link, one person was denied a vote. Joan Mahaffey: and I did put that in the chat, but Joan Mahaffey: and the chat I mean. John Compton: German, when. Joan Mahaffey: You don't right. John Compton: Let let me just clarify the John Compton: the John Compton: the have have John Compton: the challenge. John Compton: The first vote is like a voice vote. John Compton: So you're asking all in favor. John Compton: or all opposed, and you hear opposed, opposed, and then all in favor. And then you hear a chorus of of eyes. So then, you then what what one does? In that case, you say, my opinion being the chair the motion passes. John Compton: If somebody was to object to that being there and not thinking it passed, then you would have to do a actual count when it comes to an actual count. So there's no count. John Compton: and unless it's requested. Then, when you do the count, that's when this you're you're right. The second person there would have a chance to vote, because there, that's their count. But prior to that the vote is just by, you know it's a voice vote John Compton: And. Joan Mahaffey: Thing happened so fast. I I. John Compton: That's a point. Yeah, too fast is not good. It should be an. Joan Mahaffey: I wrote my comments in the chat which I assumed went to you, but never received any response whatsoever from it. So I just wanted to make that comment. John Compton: Yeah, I would. I probably would. Joan Mahaffey: About it. If I'd had time. John Compton: You have. Joan Mahaffey: Ordered. If I'd had time. John Compton: Challenging me. Peter Nagrod: Okay. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: alright, let's go to about all in favor of the the minutes as as amended. John Compton: Any post. John Compton: Alright minutes are approved, and I will. John Compton: and and send out the Revised Version, as I always do. John Compton: alright John Compton: navigate to my report. John Compton: Okay. So I started. I report out first time, ever, and it's only because I'm gonna John Compton: I'm gonna John Compton: throw the brick bat at myself John Compton: wouldn't normally do this but clearly I misapplied Robert's rules of order, and not accepting the second John Compton: and for that I John Compton: I apologize. But otherwise I thought the meeting went. Well, I there may be disagreement. This is my opinion. So that's my kudo. I I thought, with over 70 town residents, the pro presenters. I thought we got through a lot of informative John Compton: material reviewing reviewing last year. John Compton: Honoring, you know our volunteers and John Compton: with the the Hpc preservation award, etc. John Compton: Alright. So the shared use pathway is on report. It's in the materials for anyone to read. Jay wrote an extensive report as to where the where the pathway construction process sets John Compton: we we are assured, though we haven't seen it, that the actual capital improvement plan for the county specifically mentions the Martian Grove Connector as being to be funded under the minor bike ways. John Compton: but a line item, budget John Compton: and meanwhile we are doing what we can to move Mcdot along John Compton: the process of additional engineering John Compton: and getting approvals from parks from John Compton: from John Compton: a little thing about forgetting John Compton: ultimately from Wssc, because there's a a John Compton: Am. John Compton: Wssc. Easement which the path would cross, etc. So that John Compton: the the planning board. The proposal has to. Oh, and the parts. Yeah, the parks department. The the proposal has to go through a mandatory referral. John Compton: to the planning board, who will discuss the plan John Compton: and take public comment. John Compton: And but unlikely to do anything negative although anything is possible that's targeted by Mcdot for October. John Compton: Alright, stormwater structure, infrastructure, maintenance. Rfp, you had. Patty gave a nice summary of what the what the Rfp. Consisted of. John Compton: We have since had a walkthrough with 4 potential bidders. Came and walked through to take a look at the John Compton: the existing water water runoff facilities and what we we're looking for in in their proposals. John Compton: so that John Compton: there are several others who are interested in a walkthrough, and I've agreed to do a walkthrough for them as well, which would would get us to maybe 6 bidders. John Compton: You don't have no bidders until we get a bidder, but this is the process to get to it. John Compton: The intention of the Rfp. Was to have a have the the bids in. By June seventh John Compton: there's been a request from at least one of the potential bidders who is kind of assembling a several different subcontractors to address the work John Compton: that how firm are we that it needs to be done in by June seventh. John Compton: and so John Compton: going to in in in June we may end up at the June meeting we may end up proposing to extend the deadline for the bid John Compton: Do you go to the next step of the bidding process till the July meeting John Compton: alright. That's my stormwater infrastructure. Maintenance. John Compton: Hi, hey, John, it's sorry. patricenklein: A quick question. I'm sorry, Peter. Just do. You have to wait until the June Town Council meeting to extend? Because if that's the case, all the current bidders will assume that they have to get their proposals in on the current deadline. Is there a different option where you can extend at this meeting, make that decision, and then announce that to all the bids. John Compton: I suppose we could do it that way. I thought we'd written the language so that we could actually do that. patricenklein: But the bidders won't know that right? So I'm just. John Compton: No, no, they would, because we we've already got a question. So I the person, the the the outfit that thought an extension would be helpful to them. John Compton: I said, Well, please include that as one of your questions. patricenklein: Hmm. John Compton: All, all of the vendors and the boot counters are allowed to ask questions. We then give answers that everybody sees the answers to everybody's question. So all the questions get answered, and if one of them, which all we already have, that question is, could it be extended? John Compton: And if the answer is Yes, then they'll all see. They can have extra time to. patricenklein: Could there be then a motion made tonight so that you can go ahead and just extend. John Compton: Yeah, we had suggested that in July. John Compton: So John Compton: alright John Compton: I don't know when to do that. Does everybody understand what what Patty threw in there. patricenklein: I assume I can't make the motion, but the. John Compton: Proud. You can't. patricenklein: And the deadline. John Compton: Shouldn't even be making the discussion. patricenklein: But I wanted to catch it. John Compton: So useful. Yeah, that that point is made. John Compton: so yeah. So I I I would favor that if it if it's desirable, which it appears to be. I I I kind of waffled a bit. John Compton: that to allow an additional month for responses. That we should grant it, which would mean that the the the the next step in the process which John Compton: I need to refresh everybody's memory memory is we have the option to interview John Compton: the council to interview the contractors. John Compton: the point being that they're going to submit some concepts for their work John Compton: hopefully. John Compton: not just a bunch of John Compton: bid amounts, and if they do, then the Council would be interested in seeing those and questioning. you know, perhaps getting clarification on what those what what? The what the proposal is. So we have the option. marywarfield: What's the deadline for marywarfield: for committing these funds? Is that going to come up against us if we extended. John Compton: The deadline is to have a contract to, to have committed the funds to spend, to spending, I mean committed being let out of contracts by the end of the calendar year. So we're still in good shape. Peter Nagrod: Mmh. John Compton: All of this is, to be sure, we get the best. John Compton: you know, the most work John Compton: done done in the best way. John Compton: And John Compton: so, man, so that's it. So so why don't you? I I will offer John Compton: suggestion that the Council will approve extending the deadline for submissions a month. John Compton: I I think we should just do that. I I really don't think we're gonna run up against our deadline too. Peter Nagrod: I motion to extend submissions by one month. John Compton: Thank you. John Compton: Rob. John Compton: Second, thank you. Anyway. John Compton: Any any other discussion about that? John Compton: Alright, all in favor of having the submission deadline extended? Thank you. Peter Nagrod: John, I just had one quick question. For you, Patty. It's just this. So you met with you met with these at 1 point. We were afraid that nobody would even bid on this, and it seems like it's the bidding. Do you get like a woman? Did you get like a a feel from the contractors about you did. Okay. That's why I was just wondering if they there was some enthusiasm about this. patricenklein: Very interested. Peter Nagrod: That's great! John Compton: Th. There's some other wrinkles also. John Compton: and which I guess this is the right play. I I need to tell everybody. So it turns out that in in our charter, but in general. John Compton: government entities are generally allowed to bypass the bidding process John Compton: by piggybacking on contracts John Compton: that other John Compton: government entities have with contract with with vendors, because they have gone through the bidding process, and they have selected their vendors, and they have a work and a price list as part of the contract, and we have the option of signing on and and using somebody else's contract John Compton: to get our work done assuming the vendor is agreeable to doing the work. John Compton: so that has John Compton: potentially huge advantages, because you don't have to John Compton: go through John Compton: the the, the detailed intervening. You know, parts of the bidding and design. John Compton: I I'm not gonna say, you know, this is new. It's new to me. I'm sure it's new to almost everybody here. So it but it is a possibility, and several of the several of those interested in doing the work John Compton: do have contracts with the county John Compton: which may well cover the work John Compton: we we are interested in having done. That is, they've already priced out John Compton: doing swail maintenance, doing bioswales John Compton: you know, doing water quality facilities, which is the, you know, we propose 3 of those in in different places. So John Compton: so that's possibility that John Compton: we may get John Compton: have to John Compton: it may be advantageous to entertain. But yeah, to your main point is at least John Compton: I would say at least 2 of the 4 John Compton: are almost certain to bid John Compton: maybe all 4, and I have 2 more that just missed that walk through. John Compton: So John. patricenklein: My Buddinsky, I would certainly patricenklein: wait to see what bid you get in before you decide. If you want to take on that sort of county patricenklein: contractor privilege statement that you just made, I think, would behoove the town to just take a look at what we get in. John Compton: Well, the con. Yeah, the the Council has to approve. patricenklein: Yes, I mean, yeah. John Compton: Spending, so it will definitely not John Compton: be on my say, ever. John Compton: okay. patricenklein: Good to know. We have options. Kriss Grisham: I. I have questions. Bruce: Gotcha. It's Bruce. Is there opportunity to make a comment. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: go ahead. Bruce: Well, thanks. I appreciate it and appreciate all the effort that's gone into developing this Bruce: storm water management Bruce: proposal head is a Storm water management group, in developing the proposal or moving forward. Bruce: made an effort to reach out to individuals who own property Bruce: or live in properties that are adjacent to the infrastructures that are proposed in order that they can get input and provide context and an opinion about what that might do or how it might affect their property. As the stormwater management proposal moves forward. John Compton: No. Bruce: Okay, thank you. Bruce: Have you? Anticipating that that might actually take place. John Compton: Yes. John Compton: absolutely. Bruce: And Bruce: wouldn't it have been better for it to have taken place Bruce: before the commitment of the proposal and the different kinds of infrastructure, so you could have gotten insights from individuals of things that might not have been Bruce: so obvious to those people who are making the proposal that the individuals could. John Compton: All the work. Bruce: Alternatives. John Compton: Th. This work is entirely on town property. Bruce: Understand. John Compton: Which obviously borders on private property John Compton: and the John Compton: The the John Compton: goals of the work John Compton: are are pretty much driving the whole John Compton: exercise. John Compton: and that you know nothing. Nothing that will be done should negatively impact John Compton: anybody. Any private property owner. Bruce: So just to reiterate that just to reiterate that, John, you've stated that nothing that's going to be done will negatively impact private Bruce: property owners. Have you thought about Bruce: things that could be done to positively impact those Bruce: private property owners. John Compton: Of course. Bruce: And what were they? John Compton: Well. So so that depends on exact, on the very specifics of what, in fact, is done John Compton: and what you define as positively impacting. John Compton: So I'll give you an example. John Compton: The water flow down. Let's use Center Street. John Compton: A John Compton: town property extends John Compton: in, you know, towards the private property, and there's no obvious boundary. The the town property doesn't end at the asphalt. It doesn't even end at the shoulder. It ends somewhere else. Bruce: Yeah. John Compton: And part of center is wider than the rest of center and has more asphalt, and that area is used is is convenient. It was put there as water run off as a water runoff control. John Compton: It's also convenient for parking, and it sits right in front of somebody's house. John Compton: Same thing is true on oak. John Compton: However, if we want to John Compton: control, do a better job of controlling runoff. John Compton: We have been advised that we should install John Compton: certain kinds of bio swail facilities John Compton: that would do that rather than just rushing the water down to the John Compton: Washington Grove Lane. We could hold up the water and allow more of it to to less of it, to leave John Compton: the town. So to do that we'd have to convert some of the asphalt swail John Compton: into a bio swell John Compton: show. John Compton: Yeah, that's a change in John Compton: the street. John Compton: But we haven't committed to doing that. It's. Bruce: I appreciate the extra. John Compton: Possibility. Bruce: Examples, John, it's it's very kind of you to offer those. I was just expecting to Bruce: receive more Bruce: interaction with the group that was developing the proposals as they were developing it, because it's well known that the intersection of Sylvie Faber's Steven Shapankas and my property is the recipient of a lot of town runoff. Robert Gilmore: Bruce. I I I think everyone on the Town Council agrees that Robert Gilmore: town residents input on projects like these is important. Robert Gilmore: I would say Robert Gilmore: that that Robert Gilmore: This is an out of the blue, though the the Storm Water Management Committee has beenings, and we've been discussing these projects at the Town Council meetings for Robert Gilmore: a long time for months as well. Robert Gilmore: Sure, Robin. Bruce: I appreciate your input on that. And I realize my participation has been low. But we also, have reviewed in in in depth the inapproachability of many town meetings because of their length and duration. Bruce: and internally long and drawn out, and sometimes diffuse Bruce: directions that make them unapproachable for many people who have otherwise full schedules. John Compton: Alright. This may be the appropriate time for me to make a comment, because I I'm I personally, and I John Compton: feel the Council should feel the same. John Compton: There seems to be a trend here in town to John Compton: address the town in some way, whether it's on a list serve. And now we have this very convenient way to send letters to the Mayor and the Council which is a form communication system John Compton: perfectly reasonable for many purposes. John Compton: But John Compton: you with your issues, and John Compton: virtually all other issues. John Compton: The first thing anybody ought to be doing is talking to one of the more of the council members or myself. John Compton: you know, don't make it a public John Compton: matter where everybody's gonna throw their opinions back and forth John Compton: when all you want is something to be considered, or to happen your best way to get that, and is to come directly to us. If you don't. Bruce: By widely. John Compton: And always do that. Bruce: Daniel. John Compton: And oh! Bruce: Photographs and of the problem. And that didn't evoke any Bruce: reaction or Bruce: contact from anyone on the Storm Matter Management Committee that I'm aware of. Bruce: But I sorry, and I also agree that arguing this in a public form is not good form, and I'm not addressing any one person in particular, but just a general idea that a better job could have been done, and I think I should leave it at that and thank you. I I also understand your opinions and appreciate the way that things should happen. Going forward. John Compton: Well, Bruce, in your particular case you definitely should talk to either myself or Patty John Compton: about John Compton: options that, based on our work, with the John Compton: attempting to, you know. John Compton: mitigate our stormwater management. Our stormwater flow, floodwater issues that some options that are now much clearer to us. That would help private property owners, and you know we haven't reached out with those, because we can only do so much in a sequential way. And it's not. We've got not gotten to the point where some of these John Compton: you know, some promising some promising approaches. can become, you know, make might make sense. So, so specifically, you should talk to me or Patty. Bruce: Yeah, thanks, John. And I wanted to flip on my camera. I'm I completely understand that you're in a kind of in a rock in a hard place. You got a lot of things going, and I will take this opportunity to get with some neighbors and develop an opportunity to specifically talk with you. Thanks. I appreciate it, and sorry to take up everyone's time. Joan Mahaffey: And can I just point out that once we moved into town, Bruce? It was your comments in that situation with Sylvie and your other neighbor and you that really instigated this whole stormwater infrastructure project. So Joan Mahaffey: your comments were invaluable in getting this whole thing started. Joan Mahaffey: And do you feel I mean to call me if you feel this doesn't Joan Mahaffey: satisfy Joan Mahaffey: keeping water from from a flooding and backing up in your property. Joan Mahaffey: because that was one of our con. That was one of our considerations all along. Bruce: Thanks, John, for the Bruce: speak with you, but I prefer to move forward with John. Joan Mahaffey: Okay. Oh, yes, yes, certainly. That's the way to go. John Compton: Okay, let me this is the wrong John Compton: agenda always helps to be on the right page. Kriss Grisham: Oh, hey, hey, John, this is Chris! Before we move on we were talking about moving the date a month. Kriss Grisham: What's the new due date? John Compton: Would be the before. John Compton: So probably the the the Friday before the July Council meeting. You wanna I mean the Council meetings are the second Monday of the month, unless we make the change. John Compton: So then, in June that our council meeting is the tenth sorry June that's we're not talking about June. We want July, July. It's the eighth. So that would make the deadline for submissions. The previous Friday 7, 6, 5, July fifth. Kriss Grisham: So, so. John Compton: Or third? Yeah. Kriss Grisham: I guess the thing is is the budget Kriss Grisham: starts. I mean, it ends. June thirtieth. Starts July first. Right? John Compton: That's correct. Kriss Grisham: So the. John Compton: But that is that that's doesn't have any impact. We're not letting any contract or anything. Kriss Grisham: Okay, so. John Compton: And the funds are coming out of restricted funds solely for this purpose. They're John Compton: there isn't any John Compton: any part of our regular expenditures going towards these. This project. Kriss Grisham: Okay, no, just seem kind of my part. Sorry. John Compton: No problem. John Compton: Alright. John Compton: alright. Lastly, on my mayor's report, which was added late in the game. You all may recall that as part of the 100 and fiftieth celebration that John Compton: Greg English offered to contribute his time and and artistic talent to create a poster. John Compton: We also the 100 and Fiftieth Committee also sold a variety of memorabilia. John Compton: and the committee proposed, and the Town Council agreed that profits from John Compton: all these say all of these would be donated to heritage. Emory Grove. John Compton: which is an organization that was being chartered to in conjunction with a redevelopment and reimagining of the Emory Grove area. John Compton: A bunch of housing is going to be going to be altered and redeveloped. John Compton: and John Compton: that would take place once they got their nonprofit status. John Compton: Well, they've gotten their nonprofit status as of a few weeks ago. So we need to move forward with this with making good on our donation. The amount is. John Compton: Jean's probably left. I forgotten the amount. It's in the several or $3,000 range. Maybe. Jean Moyer: I mean I'm John. I'm here, but I I'll have to go dig. John Compton: Yeah, I'm sorry I should have given you a heads up on this, but whatever it is, we we want to make the donation John Compton: it's earmarked for that John Compton: And to do that, I'm I'm I'm planning to contact the leaders of the Heritage, Emory Grove nonprofit John Compton: as well as Tim Warner, and maybe one on the same. John Compton: and arrange for this transfer money, perhaps in some presentation form, so that, you know, it'll be a recognition event. John Compton: Also, I wanna meet with him. And this impacts John Compton: the the last, the other basic recommendation. I wanted to discuss with him a number of other things that John Compton: that we have currently perhaps of interest with the Emory Grove community both related to that John Compton: renovation and and and John Compton: reimagining up there as well as maybe a few others. So I'm prop. I'm going to be arranging a meeting with just a very few of us and a few of John Compton: the the people with Heritage and Marie Grove to have these discussions. John Compton: All right. John Compton: That's the end of my report. But we have a long list of administration matters. And let's see, we can't race right through these, because these are pretty standard John Compton: for this for this meeting right after the town meeting. First of all, there's a document in the materials which reviews where the town revenue comes from, and all about the town accounts. Chris, it's most you're the you're the new new man on the John Compton: on the council, so you'll want to take a look at that in particular, but it doesn't hurt if anybody else needs to refresh their memory. It's I think it's pretty much up to date, although we created it a few years ago. John Compton: Next item, we have a new year. We need to elect a mayor pro tem. John Compton: And that mayor pro tem. Fills in for the mayor when he's out of town or incapacitated, or what whatever? And I'm then gonna propose that Barbara Romano serve as John Compton: mayor pro Tim John Compton: if she's willing to do so. She's told me she's willing to do so. John Compton: But anyone else can propose someone for Mayor pro Tim. John Compton: We'll need a nomination for somebody. Eva: Do you say you need someone to nominate Barbara? John Compton: That's correct. Eva: Okay, I will nominate Barbara Eva: us. So. marywarfield: Seconded, Mary. John Compton: Anybody else interested in this plumb position Robert Gilmore: Barbara, thank you for your willingness to serve. marywarfield: She actually. John Compton: Had to do it a couple of times, especially once. She was somewhere. John Compton: You weren't in Alaska, but you were somewhere almost in Alaska. Barbara: Yeah, I was in Wisconsin. John Compton: Because because she was closer than I was. I was in Africa so. Barbara: But. John Compton: Whatever. So yeah. Robert Gilmore: It's a town hall on wheels. Peter Nagrod: Wasn't. Shawn wasn't this year for a day. John Compton: I beg your pardon. Peter Nagrod: I think I was made a pretend for one. John Compton: We have to have somebody actually here in town. Peter Nagrod: That's right. I told my mom about it to make a decision. John Compton: And and and that shows you how slim the pickings were. We had to pick on. Kathy Lehman: I'll get your day job. John Compton: Alright any discussion. John Compton: Alright! Let's move to a vote for on on Barbara as Mayor pro Tim. John Compton: Eva raised her hand. Great alright. Looks like unanimous. John Compton: Alright, Barbara, you can update your Cv. John Compton: right? John Compton: Alright. I got a few more appointments. We also need to appoint the councils representative on the planning commission. John Compton: Peter came, you know, went, moved from being chairman of the Planning Commission to the Council last year, and I propose that the the Council continue, Peter, as a planning commissioner for the coming year. John Compton: Any discussion? John Compton: Anybody else want the job? John Compton: Alright John Compton: In that case we have a load of just just sort of approving the mayor's appointment, if you will John Compton: all in favor John Compton: any post. Alright, Peter, here John Compton: you're you're in for another year. John Compton: We've got a few more of these. We've got the appointment of sunshine John Compton: to the planning commission. He as a full member for a 5 year term. John Compton: He's currently the alternate. John Compton: It looks like John Compton: well. John Compton: georgette has requested that he be appointed in spite of the fact that John Compton: he may be John Compton: taking a job that will take him away from Washington. I don't know whether that means they're moving or not, but this may happen, but at that time, of course, he will have to resign from the planning commission, and we'll have to find a replacement. But meanwhile John Compton: Georgette, who's the chair, requested that he be appointed so that he can participate for as many months as he can. John Compton: So move I'm I'm proposing to appoint someone John Compton: to the full as a full member from being alternate John Compton: any comments on that. John Compton: All in favor. John Compton: Alright sounds appointed. John Compton: Yeah. So now we need a now we need an alternate and remarkably John Compton: Jeff Mccran has stepped up John Compton: and is willing to be the alternate John Compton: and John Compton: as you know the alternate attends the meetings. John Compton: and but only votes. If if not all, 5 of the voting members on the Commission are there, they then step in and can John Compton: can vote. So John Compton: I propose providing him for the 5 to fill out the 5 year term John Compton: which started June first in 2023, and goes to 2028. John Compton: Any comments. John Compton: Jections. John Compton: all in favor. John Compton: Alright, thanks. John Compton: Jeff has appointed John Compton: alright. Next item. It's the start of a New year. There's a document John Compton: in in the materials that addresses both orientation and ethics training John Compton: for municipal officials. The Mml. Offers this. There is a it's within connection with. John Compton: think you see University of Maryland. John Compton: but it's available to John Compton: elected officials, and everyone and all of you are welcome to investigate that John Compton: and part to end and and do the this training as you choose. The Lma training. That's the Open Meetings act. Training is more serious matter because we are required to follow the open meeting. Act prescriptions as to how to John Compton: Communicate with our constituents. You know it limits the limits. Having, I mean it. It specifies that all business must be transaction in open meetings, that John Compton: or council members cannot get together in a situation where they discuss any town matters, because that constitutes a quorum and other stuff like that. So I recommend. In fact, I I hope all of you, including myself, will again take the online training course John Compton: for the Oma, and that's also in the links to that are in the document in your in the folder John Compton: tag. John Compton: Alright. Now we come to council responsibilities. John Compton: I'm not gonna make a big deal out of this, either, because I believe I talked to everyone and John Compton: and you all saw I also distribute. I think, the John Compton: proposed John Compton: responsibilities. But for anyone who's interested. It's in the in the folder. John Compton: it's also going. I'm going to show it here, and John Compton: so they John Compton: There's a few changes. Rob has agreed to become a liaison for racic John Compton: where? And Barbara is going to move to the Hpc. John Compton: Christine was doing the Woods Committee. Eva has agreed to take that on John Compton: press has agreed to John Compton: do his best to resuscitate the Epsc, which is currently lacking at chairman. This does not make him chairman. John Compton: The challenge is to find members to residents to serve on the committee, and they can choose a John Compton: or we could find a chair. Also the Lighting Committee. John Compton: the John Compton: Meadow Committee. John Compton: which may or may not be John Compton: become a full fledged committee. It may just be. John Compton: I mean, they have a limit, a John Compton: a specific interest in. John Compton: in in John Compton: advancing the meadow John Compton: and and encouraging the parts department to manage the meadow per the management agreement that we all engaged in back when the meadow John Compton: went over to the county and for management. John Compton: and also the hall. So John Compton: those are the only ones I'm gonna gonna point out. John Compton: Mary is gonna do sustainability. Thank you, Mary. John Compton: And John Compton: that is all I'm going to point out. John Compton: These are all. Peter Nagrod: So. I have one. It's not a require kind of like Peter Nagrod: a request, I guess. For Rob for Rob Peter Nagrod: walkways. Really. Peter Nagrod: it would make a lot more sense to put that under maintenance, because I spend a lot of my time with them, and it just makes more sense. I don't know, Rob, if if you want to keep, it's fine, but Peter Nagrod: that's really a maintenance issue. Robert Gilmore: I'm happy to swap that and Robert Gilmore: or give that to you. If there's something that you'd like to trade alternatively. If you want to just fold that in as maintenance, coordinator. Peter Nagrod: Yeah, yeah, keep. I don't. Wanna. Robert Gilmore: I did. Robert Gilmore: Yeah, I and John, I I noted that the Storm Water management Robert Gilmore: committee doesn't have a Robert Gilmore: liaison here. Robert Gilmore: so I'm I'm happy to be that person. I Robert Gilmore: I don't. John Compton: Committee. Christine Dibble: Yeah. Robert Gilmore: There was a committee, is there? Is it no. John Compton: Yeah, that that could. That's long since. they've opted out because it was a very John Compton: too big a challenge. John Compton: So I'm just. patricenklein: So it fell to the Woods Committee. You're welcome right. John Compton: The Woods Committee has agreed to. Basically. John Compton: I shouldn't say the Woods Committee, Patty and John, maybe, Dave goes on also have have been, you know, have a sufficient interest in John Compton: in in stormwater situation in the Westwoods for sure John Compton: to to John Compton: help me John Compton: and the Council move ahead on this. So it's not really a committee. We're not working. patricenklein: Group. John Compton: We're not meeting in any sense of the of of the word word. It's most. It's at the level of me and the council John Compton: as to how we're proceeding there. There are other developments I could give you on that. This is not the time to do it. John Compton: But yeah. So there's no committee, rob. patricenklein: Well, and it involved other committees, too. Right, John. We had Peter, and we had Bob, so I think it was. John Compton: Oh, yeah, we've drawn people who have. patricenklein: Or that sort of joint working group, thing. John Compton: But you wanna you want. Yeah, if if Peter wants walkways, and Rob's just as happy to give it to him, I'll split roads and walkways. Roads is a contract business. We can leave that with Rob, or take it away. Robert Gilmore: I'm happy to keep roads, cause that that does. That's more. Peter Nagrod: Contracts. Robert Gilmore: Bye, bye. John Compton: So I'll I'll make an alteration here. John Compton: I can do this. It will be in a minute. Oh, maybe I John Compton: alright! John Compton: I'm putting this back here. John Compton: All I gotta do is John Compton: I don't need to do all that here. John Compton: Something like that. Okay. John Compton: okay. John Compton: alright. So that's everybody's on board with this and the these are the responsibilities for coming. Thanks. Everybody for working this out. John Compton: Oh. John Compton: okay, John Compton: alright. My next item. John Compton: an administrative item on the agenda is John Compton: This is just a John Compton: piece of information for the council John Compton: that there have been enough. Enough! John Compton: Enough residents expressing John Compton: perplexity as to. How are the town's finances actually managed? John Compton: That responsibility, of course, lies with the mayor John Compton: and the treasurer and anybody else we appoint to do it, and there are very definite procedures that we follow and we John Compton: request of anyone spending money or being authorized to spend money. So all of that we can write down so that we'll have something to refer to. John Compton: or when questions come up as to well, how is the tones spending manage? What is the oversight questions like that. So intention is to write up a a policy and procedures document John Compton: alright. Lastly, on the administrative list is the comprehensive road work. If we have any hopes of getting this in before the if committing any of the funds before the end of the fiscal year. I had indicated, or I thought that we could merely update some previous bids on segments of roads that had been identified John Compton: as possibly needing John Compton: meeting work. John Compton: Turns out that with with one exception or one and a partial exception. John Compton: most of the areas that really need work aren't those areas. They're new areas. And they're limited. John Compton: So I put that stuff in the John Compton: in the materials. Also, if anybody had bothered to look look at it. So what we're looking at today is I. I just want permission to issue the Rfp. In the same manner. We issued the last one, which was back in 22 John Compton: and what we did in 22 is, is we? Agreed with that on a whole bunch of of road segments, so that John Compton: seemed to be good targets for they're deteriorating. They may go go currently need something, or they will in the next year John Compton: and and and get the costs for them, and then, actually choose from among those to spend the money our current funds on on those that for which we have enough money to do, and which are the priorities. John Compton: So those are shown in this map. And this is the map associated with a draft Rfp, which I'm gonna ask you guys to approve. It's it's very the only the only wrinkle is that it is the specific areas John Compton: targeted for potential work. It's unlikely we can do all of them. It's most likely that we will just be able to do some, maybe the most depends which ones they are. But let me just point out where they are. John Compton: Day Lily Day. Lily John Compton: actually appears to be in need of repathing. John Compton: In addition, the turnaround is very narrow. I forget the name of the individual, the owners of the end, but they are have when trucks turn around there they have a John Compton: have been causing some damage. The property owners have made adjustments to, so it doesn't affect anything they've spent effort on. But the repaving could could potentially enlarge the turnaround to the extent it won't damage the woods or anything else. So day early is one John Compton: chestnut John Compton: road from Mccauley John Compton: ha! About halfway down, maybe less than halfway down. John Compton: It's deteriorating. I'm just pointing this out. Johnson Alley. There is a depression has developed in the side of the road. Basically John Compton: right where I'm pointing at the end of the road not at a quality, but on. Peter Nagrod: John, are you showing us? Peter Nagrod: I got something because it's not. John Compton: I mean I am, but you're not seeing it because I didn't share it. You know you gotta do these things. John Compton: Sorry. There is a map. Peter Nagrod: There we go! John Compton: Apologize. John Compton: Alright. I just pointed out John Compton: day, Lily pointed out. Chestnut Road. Little bit of this bit of Johnson Alley. This is the remainder of Acorn Lane. We have repaved all the way down here. John Compton: not quite all of this section here, but John Compton: but but but 1 one side of it, but otherwise this this will complete repaving. April lane John Compton: over on hickory the the John Compton: about 100 feet, or approximately 150 feet up to the turnaround, the dead end, the parking area, whatever you want to call it. The parking area is usable fine, but it's clearly, you know, suffering, deterioration. John Compton: and the segment of the road is another candidate, as shown here. John Compton: Okay. Hickory, the there's some damage at the corners of this intersection. Several of the corners and the intersection probably should be considered for repaving. The road itself is good going away from the intersection on John Compton: all 3 of these roads are good John Compton: with with in those in that regard. John Compton: this is also the side of one of the stormwater management. Rfp work. John Compton: So we're certainly not going to do it twice, or we're gonna be sure and do different things. John Compton: If if we choose this one up here where hickory hits railroad John Compton: the the the turn from hickory right turn there is, John Compton: you know, significant degradation of the road so that should be restored and repaved. John Compton: I've got this little segment, M. At oak and chestnut. This is where the pavement there are pavement heaves due to tree roots. John Compton: and it's not clear we should do anything there. We can do anything there which wouldn't John Compton: compromise the tree. John Compton: But John Compton: as you will see in this. In this Rfp. John Compton: I have 3 items I've put in where we where basically, this is, gonna ask for advice John Compton: as to what to do about these 3 locations. One of them was that Johnson Elli depression John Compton: one is this John Compton: Oak Street root damage at at Chestnut Road, and the last one is Locust Lane, which also has a route heave John Compton: in the road. John Compton: in the latter John Compton: a part of the paved portion of locus. So that's area K John Compton: alright going in very detail. F is part of Grove Road. John Compton: I you know this was bid in 2,022. It hasn't suffered much since then. John Compton: But it's still put. This is a longer stretch and maybe appropriate for repaving. So an updated bid John Compton: we're gonna can be sought. Similarly, this segment here on Brown is the the the only part of brown that really has some some crumbling John Compton: sections, nothing that John Compton: is terribly awful. But potentially going to get worse. So getting a bid on that. So that that's what this consists of. And John Compton: the this Rfp basically is just like the 12,022. One John Compton: details, all of these John Compton: these segments, and and and we'll go out for bid. John Compton: I will say hopefully. Beers will bid on it because they have proven to be John Compton: you know, their work here in town has been almost faultless. John Compton: For years, and they take they they handle our unusual John Compton: roads. John Compton: And yeah. John Compton: yes. Kathy Lehman: This afternoon I had a visit from Jennifer, from. John Compton: Oh, man, why didn't you tell me. Kathy Lehman: Well, she just showed up. John Compton: Okay. Kathy Lehman: And she showed up to tell me that AV veers is almost out of business. John Compton: -Oh. Kathy Lehman: And she is now working for Fo today. John Compton: Oh, man, that's a much bigger outfit. Kathy Lehman: Yeah, but they're trying to pick up some of the smaller things that have been lost since the pandemic. So Kathy Lehman: we won't be, we won't be sending a bid to avs, but we will add fo day Kathy Lehman: right. John Compton: Wow. Okay. Kathy Lehman: Now. John Compton: Alright. Well, there you go, so whether we can get this work in John Compton: under the wire for committing it this year? John Compton: just so everybody knows if we commit it, we don't actually have to have written any checks, or, in fact, the work doesn't have to have been done. We just need to commit to it. John Compton: which we did in in a past year. John Compton: And and we can do that again this year, but it will require some John Compton: some quick work, in other words, issuing this thing getting a bit. At least there's something competitive John Compton: and and awarding the contract. So we're gonna see if we can't get this done by the end of the fiscal year. John Compton: Alright. Peter Nagrod: If we don't, John, if we don't bid the funds flow over. John Compton: If we don't bid, the funds will not roll over. Peter Nagrod: Don't I think I was told it is. John Compton: Coming years funds will be available. Peter Nagrod: But without some of the some of this is, it's this is Grant. Money, isn't it? Highway? This isn't the highway money. Jean Moyer: Yeah, sure. But. John Compton: Yeah, we have a fund. Well, Jean's here. She can really explain it. Everybody. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. Jean Moyer: Yeah. John Compton: Go ahead! Jean Moyer: So we receive state money. Jean Moyer: and we have to account every year to the state Jean Moyer: how that, to what extent that money has been spent. Jean Moyer: and it's not just roads. It covers snow removal as well. Jean Moyer: And because we had up until this past winter, virtually no snow removal, we've developed a positive Jean Moyer: balance according to the State. And so we we set aside that money. Jean Moyer: I think you've seen it, Peter, before. I have a schedule that shows the different fund balances Jean Moyer: that we carry. Jean Moyer: and Jean Moyer: So if we have a contract. Jean Moyer: we can accrue the expense because we're obligated to spend this year's portion. Jean Moyer: and then we'll be spending kind of both this year's and some of next year's Jean Moyer: allocation from the State. Peter Nagrod: Oh, okay, so we do have to get this done. By the way, okay. Jean Moyer: Have to get it signed. Peter Nagrod: I thought it was Karen. John Compton: Think that's. Jean Moyer: Yes, we have to get the contract signed by the end of this fiscal year. John. John Compton: Well. John Compton: we can talk offline on that. I'm that's not been true in the past, but, John Compton: The money can accrue in that account. I don't know what point they say. Well, how come you're not spending it? But you know it doesn't take much to spend those funds. I mean you. You pay 500 feet of road, and you pretty much $40,000 goes. Poof. John Compton: yeah. John Compton: so it's we. We're not. My point is, we're not accruing that much money it's not like, oh, they're giving us money, and John Compton: that we're not using it. John Compton: It's that we're not using it immediately. John Compton: And and in the past. We've had a budget. We, I mean budget. We've carried a balance. John Compton: And in recent years, recent years being the last, maybe 5 years ago. John Compton: the balance has actually been negative. John Compton: It's crewed back up, as Gene said. John Compton: But when I was mayor previously in the 2 thousands it was positive, and we never spent the whole thing. John Compton: We may have spent the year a quote. John Compton: an accounting John Compton: years worth of accounting amount, but it carried a significant positive balance from you from years John Compton: without any question. Maybe it's you know, with what you're suggesting. That's not strictly kosher. John Compton: I don't. I can't speak to that. I assume Mary John Compton: knew what she was doing. So John Compton: okay, so, but but the point is really that. You know, we need we, we want to keep up with our roads. It gets expensive, and if we do it John Compton: annually systematically, we we won't suddenly be faced by a huge section of John Compton: road work which will cost, you know. John Compton: a large amount of money. John Compton: and I wanna point out to everybody and remind you, I know you probably don't need to be reminded of this, but we have. We were incredibly John Compton: fortunate John Compton: that Wss. John Compton: Dug up Bridge Road John Compton: because they then went and repaved John Compton: quite a long section of a ridge road near, you know. John Compton: from Brown John Compton: even the proud intersection, and much and earlier they done the far end of Bridge Road. John Compton: and they repaved that too. John Compton: So we have. You know we've gotten the benefit of their they're restoring everything to better condition than it was when it started. John Compton: We can't count on that and John Compton: on most of our loans going forward. John Compton: Okay, so I would like someone to propose to approve sending out this Rfp. With appropriate modifications. Nothing that would John Compton: change anything materially from what I've just described to you. But there may be some John Compton: T. Used to be crossed, and I used to be dotted. John Compton: Oh. Eva: I can. I can propose that we send out this. Rfb, this is Eva. John Compton: Thank you, ava! A second. Robert Gilmore: Becky. John Compton: Alright, Rob! John Compton: Anybody, have any John Compton: further discussion. John Compton: Feel free. Peter Nagrod: Yeah, charges. I have a so can I clue the bidder to this? Or is it. John Compton: Sorry. Peter Nagrod: I have some. I have a company that I'd like us. John Compton: George, let's go John Compton: we need. We need all the names we can get. We want. Peter Nagrod: Good, good, good, good. John Compton: Absolutely. John Compton: Yep. John Compton: Okay. All in favor. Peter Nagrod: Hi. John Compton: Any post. John Compton: Thank you. Peter Nagrod: Them. John Compton: We are. John Compton: That one is, I'll try and move that along. John Compton: Alright John Compton: now we come to the ordinance that we had a public hearing on. John Compton: So John Compton: It's now in front of the Council. We've had our public hearing. Do I hear a motion to adopt. Barbara: So moved Barbara. John Compton: Beckon John Compton: alright, Rob, sitting there seconding everything. John Compton: second is there any discussion, then, of this motion John Compton: of this ordinance? John Compton: Alright, all in favor of approving ordinance. John Compton: okay, by raising your hand. Any opposed John Compton: ordinance has been adopted. John Compton: Right? John Compton: Alright. So now we come to some some of the major business. The old business which is the basic recommendations. And John Compton: the one on the agenda tonight is the recommendation to hire a the first one on. There's a recommendation to hire diversity, equity inclusion specialist John Compton: as you all know. John Compton: they submitted this recommendation back in February, and more recently, in the last week they've elaborated on John Compton: with more details as to what sort of John Compton: what sort of specialists they would be. Would be recommending John Compton: for this John Compton: to if the to move forward with so John Compton: I guess. John Compton: Is Paula here? I see Lynn is here. paula: I'm. paula: I'm here. But Lynn and Chad worked very hard on this recommendation. paula: so questions need to be directed to them, and Lynn will speak. paula: I might chime in here and there, but Lynn will. John Compton: So let me ask the council of you. Would you like to have Lynn or and or Ted briefly summarize what the what the state of their per recommendation is? Or do you want to move right to questions John Compton: or comments? John Compton: Anybody. Robert Gilmore: I I think it would be helpful to give them a few minutes to briefly summarize it for us. John Compton: Okay, then, if one of you, when or Ted could just, you know, summarize the proposal. paula: Lynn, you're muted. John Compton: Muted. John Compton: Everybody forgets to unmute if you said so long, you know. Wow! Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: And think, after what 4 years. John Compton: Yeah, right. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Think you would think and and, by the way, John, it's Chaz not Tad who worked on this with me. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So yeah, yeah, let me just recap what this is. So this came off. This recommendation came off Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: of the approved town resolution. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: From May of last year, and there was a important line in that that said that the town will commit to further engage in individual and collective work to understand bias. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: and so the best place to start and have a productive process of understanding and working on individual and collective bias is to understand where we are individually and collectively. So we have a starting point. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: and we know where we wanna go on our individual and collective inclusion journeys. So in a nutshell, that's what this is. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: and we are proposing the way to do that. To fulfill against the approved town. Resolution is to bring in 2 consultants, and these are diversity, equity, inclusion, access, consultants with 2 different goals. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So the first consultant we are proposing, and you saw information on her will. Could do the idi assessment service, which is largest global diversity assessment. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: tool, that has been around for decades. And it's very effective. And what that does is that gives individuals a sense of where they are on the inclusion spectrum, and there's absolutely no judgment or value. There isn't a right. There isn't a wrong. It just says, here you are, and if you're interested in moving on the inclusion spectrum, here are some thoughts on what you could do and think about if you wanna do that. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So that's an individual piece, and that's very confidential and personal. So we are proposing that that consultant come in, do a proof of concept with a relatively small group Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: of town residents. Racic members understand? If that worked well, the way we think it will work and then propose to the town that that'd be available to more people. The second consultant. So that's the individual understanding and working on individual bias for the town resolution. The second piece of that town resolution was understanding and agreeing to work on collective bias. So for that one. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: we are proposing a consultant whose name is Naywa, and he works for the Intercultural Development Group, and that is the collective assessment and discussion. So he would come in and meet with Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: the town residents who out. And this is obviously nothing's being forced on anyone's throat. This is just for interested people, clearly so interested town residents who would like to come to this meeting would come, and Nawa would sort of me to understand where we were, meet us, where we are, and then help us understand how to evolve as a collective group Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: on the inclusion scale. And so that's the collective end of the work, and both pieces fit together nicely. They were all driven by the approved 10 resolution. So they fit together nicely to accomplish both the individual and the collective bias, understanding and growth. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: And you have the costs for the for that, so I'll I'll pause here, but happy to answer any questions. marywarfield: Are. Are they connected in any way this first session with individuals? Will they then feed into the community one to help facilitate that, or I'm just trying to understand how how they work. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: They are completely separate. Name, what has done idi work. But they are separate organizations and the people who choose to take the idi assessment. Obviously they're not share. No one sharing any of that information with anybody. So that will not be obviously shared in the group session. But those same people could clearly come to the group meeting and may choose to share some of the insights that they've learned. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: But they're separate. marywarfield: And who would be the individuals that would be doing this? How would you? How do you forese see that marywarfield: in terms of who would participate cause. It's a limited, limited number. Individuals. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So our thinking with it was that we would have a small group and do a proof of concept and the estimate that you have covers 20 people for the Idi. So that's both the A. Prep. Work meeting, the actual idi assessment. And then the individual conversation, which is individual and confidential conversation with Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: each of the idi participants. So that's for 20 people, and we're flexible on, on how those 20 people are selected. But we were thinking, we start with a proof of concept, with racic members and and others. So it could be there could be interested town council people who are like, yeah, you know what I would like to be part of this proof of concept before it gets offered more broadly. But. marywarfield: And this is really just individuals. marywarfield: The first one just ended marywarfield: selected individuals assessing there. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: That's right. The first one, there's 2 components of the resolution. One was individual understanding and growth to avoid bias, and then the second was collective. So Joanna with the Idi is the individual side. And then Naywah, with his group meeting, is the collective side. Barbara: So the Barbara: proof of concept is the 20 people. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yeah, that's what we're thinking. Barbara: So Barbara: then what I mean? You're Barbara: I don't. It's a I don't understand what the goal of the proof of concept is. I don't know Barbara: how that works. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yeah, okay, so it's to prove that it was effective or not effective or to optimize at any step along the way. So these folks take it and say we get together, and they say, Oh, that was hugely helpful, and I think the town would really benefit for it. And then we budget that into the basic budget Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: at the appropriate point. Barbara: So so it would be so that you're asking for funding for 20 people. And then, if you say, Oh, we think this is great. Barbara: There's no more money for it. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Well, there wouldn't probably in this fiscal year, or if everyone thought it was fantastic, there may be opportunities for budget movement, as John said at the start. I don't know. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: but through that. Eva: But so, but so basically, if it goes well, you guys are thinking in the future. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: You would. Eva: Do it more for more. Peter Nagrod: Can you? How can you have? How can you do this for basic Peter Nagrod: as a proof of concept? Peter Nagrod: Because, of course, of course, racic is. Gonna say, it's great. That's what they want. Peter Nagrod: You have to. You'd have to find the right 20 people Peter Nagrod: to make this a legitimate test. Peter Nagrod: and I don't know how you would do that. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Well, I'm sure 2 parts of that. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yeah. Address the second part first. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: we could certainly find 20 people within this town who'd want to take it. So I'm not worried about that. But the Peter Nagrod: Who want, but who but who want to take it? Peter Nagrod: That that's the that's that's the issue, though, is that you? What you wanna do is you wanna get the people who need it right? Peter Nagrod: And so. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: We I think. Eva: Peter, there. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. Eva: Gonna force anybody to take. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: It's always going to be. Eva: People who want to see. Peter Nagrod: Well, that's that's the that's the point, though, is that I'm not sure how effective this can be Peter Nagrod: based on the mindset of the town at this time. patricenklein: Why, I think I think. Peter Nagrod: You're trying to do is admirable, and I think it's great. But I'm I've been in the training business for 40 years, and you know it's Peter Nagrod: yeah. We don't want to spend the money on a check. The box. patricenklein: Springboard. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Why is it a check? The box? So so this is, we're all on an inclusion journey. Nobody, certainly no one is finished on their inclusion journey. So it's hugely helpful, no matter. Peter Nagrod: People haven't begun their journey. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Well, wouldn't it be wonderful, then, if they decided they wanted to? What? Fuzzy on what you're saying, Peter. Peter Nagrod: I'm I'm because because I I. This is. marywarfield: Burning whisky. Peter Nagrod: I think it makes. Yeah, I understand what you're saying. But being in the training business my entire life. Peter Nagrod: You know, this is what I've done. My entire life is sell these pro programs, especially to, you know, to the government, into the corporate corporate world. Peter Nagrod: And it just seems like Peter Nagrod: this is going to be very. Is it going to be a hard sell for this town? paula: There's a second piece to that that we when we first, when we originally were talking about this paula: and and Lynn, if you don't mind if I in. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: No, no. paula: Chime in if you want but the second piece is that our original idea was that paula: Rasik and the Council paula: who would be interested, the leaders of the town. paula: We would like to encourage the some community leaders to take the training and race it, and that we need it as much as anybody else for your own growth and development, but also that if some leaders in the town took it they would learn some skills. paula: so that we would be more facile in paula: respectively, respectfully being able to interrupt paula: insensitivities. paula: or marginalization actions, marginalizing actions, and that the leaders would prove to be role models, and that hopefully, eventually, word of mouth and just could help encourage other people eventually to take it. So it's not just paula: testing it. paula: It's also the people who first do it, learning from it and being role models and learning the skills and passing them on. paula: Yeah. Peter Nagrod: So thank you. Robert Gilmore: That's what I had thought. That was. The proposal was that it was that the initial Robert Gilmore: group would be Robert Gilmore: the the town council, the mayor, town employee. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: That'd be great. Robert Gilmore: Maybe heads of some of the the Key Sound volunteer committees. Robert Gilmore: and that's a good cross section of people with. Robert Gilmore: Different Robert Gilmore: views and and inclinations Robert Gilmore: of Robert Gilmore: I don't want to say about race specifically, but but I think different perspectives on the best way to go about Robert Gilmore: Dei Robert Gilmore: achieving dials and and what priorities should be in it. Whatnot? And we're not all Robert Gilmore: on the Town Council, and and certainly on the committee heads Robert Gilmore: of the same mind, I mean I I don't mean to say that we we aren't in our own ways generally. I'd like to think. And I and I do think you know, knowing who I'm talking about committed to the the principles, but how that. paula: That's it. Robert Gilmore: I think people have Robert Gilmore: definitely of different perspectives, and it would be good to have a little bit of a different cross section of people. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Me! Robert Gilmore: In. Yeah, but but at the same time, kind of people, as you said, like community leaders. And then that will also help the Town Council itself. If we've gone through it, then we can evaluate. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Hmm. Robert Gilmore: You know, and and kind of make the pitch to the people that we represent. Hey. Robert Gilmore: washington Grove, like we went through this and we think this is really valuable, and we think that an expanded program Robert Gilmore: for Robert Gilmore: anyone who who wants to do it. Robert Gilmore: I mean, I will say Robert Gilmore: that could get a little pricey right? I mean, if if we all thought it was really valuable. Robert Gilmore: seems like the next step would be making available to everyone in town, which is, you know, several 100 people, and that's that's a pretty big budget commitment down the road. This initial amount, you know. A few $1,000. That's not chump change, either, but it's you know it's not Robert Gilmore: a a huge portion of our budget, but Robert Gilmore: it could be down the road. Robert Gilmore: so that that that that is the only I don't want to say misgiving. But Robert Gilmore: The and and I it sounded like several people were were kind of asking. I think maybe Barbara was getting at this like, what's the next step after this? The the proof of concept Robert Gilmore: And and maybe we Robert Gilmore: just, you know, figure that out next but but we should be mindful of like Robert Gilmore: if we like this. We, wanna, you know, presumably wanna make it available Robert Gilmore: out of fairness would make it available to everyone in town. But then we'd be paying for that, and that could be Robert Gilmore: tens of thousands of dollars. paula: And there are ways to explore other ways to finance, to that we that we would look at. Robert Gilmore: Yeah, I imagine there must be. Well, I I imagine there could be grants and and funding as Robert Gilmore: we fund our roads and stormwater management projects. Robert Gilmore: I don't that that would be something that would be good for the Racet Committee to explore. paula: Yeah, if if we move in that direction that W. We would do that. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Mean. patricenklein: Can I ask a quick question? patricenklein: apologize. Let me know. Okay, let me know. I I'll just ask a question. John Compton: Yeah, I would call on you for sure. patricenklein: Okay. Thanks. John Compton: We're we're. We're still working on the Council's thoughts, at least at this point. John Compton: So John Compton: we've heard from Rob and others. Anybody else have any John Compton: so questions, yeah, yeah. Barbara: This is. Kriss Grisham: Chris, I I do have a question. I actually have several questions. And I guess you know, being a new kid on the block. Kriss Grisham: I'm still trying to figure out Kriss Grisham: what what this is all about. And you know, and I guess so I took a look at a lot of the documentation that was on the website. And you know the Kriss Grisham: and, in fact, during the Kriss Grisham: candidates form, you know, as mentioned Kriss Grisham: and I guess the question that I have is with these recommendations. It looks like by looking at the presentation that rezick provided Kriss Grisham: the towns back in 23. Kriss Grisham: it says, erasic work group developed specific recommendations in part based on survey results and discussions around the survey results. Kriss Grisham: And let me, let me, I guess. Kriss Grisham: go to this training effort Kriss Grisham: is this training Kriss Grisham: essentially because of what results you Kriss Grisham: gathered from these surveys. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Well, there were definitely there was definite feedback on the surveys of people feeling Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: uncomfortable within the town. And, Paul, I don't know if you want to. paula: I pulled out. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So. paula: Things. From the survey I figured this would come up. The the one question on the survey was, Is there paula: an issue with discrimination or bias in Washington Grove. paula: and almost 40% said yes. paula: and 38 said they were unsure. So either way, it sounds like, maybe the training would be useful. paula: Majority of the respondents felt like diversity was important, but didn't feel like Washington Grove met. Those needs. paula: where's the rest? They're in the comment sections the word clouds. paula: 3 of them paula: had comments paula: about. They noted discrimination and bias towards outsiders and unfair application of the rules, and they specifically mentioned the soccer field, the lake and the shared use path conversations. paula: As paula: evidence of that to them. paula: And there was another one. paula: Hold on. Let me see paula: that said that they were interested in defining and discussing Dei. paula: There were also, the year before last at the lake to racial, profiling incidents. paula: And paula: let me see. Yep. paula: And and so that was, it was based on some of that, amongst other things. But those are some very specific things that pointed to the need. paula: There are a whole lot of ways, you know. I mean, everybody has biases. There are a whole lot of ways to work on them. And raceic is, is paula: now involved in reckoning with race, which is storytelling of real experiences that have racial issues involved. paula: And that's a soft way that doesn't cost much money that we're dealing with on making everyone more aware of their biases and talking about it. paula: Those have gone very well. paula: but I was a teacher and the counselor, and I know that you have to have different ways to. Barbara: Broke and. paula: Learning. paula: because everybody has different learning styles. So this is one of the other ways. Kriss Grisham: So. So, you know, to continue with that, I guess. Kriss Grisham: A. And I and I don't think anybody is disagreeing. That training would be good. In fact, you know, is brought up, you know. Kriss Grisham: I know, in in the corporate world, you know, everybody has to go through some kind of training, be it central harassment, you know equal employment. You know that type of thing, and. paula: And. Kriss Grisham: And then so with that, said, I guess. Kriss Grisham: You know, and I guess the other question that I have is by taking a look at the survey. And again I brought this up during the candidates forum. paula: Hit it! Kriss Grisham: Looking at the survey. The census says there's 700 people estimate here in in Washington Grove, and there's only 120 people that responded. Kriss Grisham: so you know, you're looking at. You're looking at, you know, 17 and a half percent of the populace of Washington Grove. Kriss Grisham: And and and we're developing Kriss Grisham: these training needs a, is it? Is it the right kind of training? I guess that's my question. So you know. And to do trial runs with Kriss Grisham: that kind of money that we're talking about, and and wondering if it's if it, you know, if if it's a lead balloon, or if it's going to succeed. Kriss Grisham: you know. paula: First of all, the census is incorrect. paula: The census includes a larger area than Washington Grove. paula: secondly, the. Kriss Grisham: Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait before you. paula: That we got for the survey is that. Kriss Grisham: Before you go there. That's the case. Why, before you go there, if that's the case, why did it end up in in your report, and there, there's nothing in here that shows a disclaimer to say, here's 700. But the surveys wrong, and let me give you some better numbers. paula: Okay. Kriss Grisham: Then you know the numbers. paula: I'm telling you that now. Kriss Grisham: Okay, the numbers are off is what I'm saying. Right? Percentages are. paula: Really a 20% return rate on a survey is actually very high rate. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: New. paula: And and if people didn't take the survey they didn't take it. But it's not only the survey that points to the need I told you about about other racial, profiling incidents. paula: And also, you know, there, there has been a lot of paula: push back for a lot of things. paula: And a lot of sensitivity around. Even discussing paula: some of these issues. Kriss Grisham: No, I I agree that there's a a you know, a lot of sensitivities. And and and you know, if you Kriss Grisham: I I'm just what I'm trying to do is figure out, okay from a from a project management standpoint. Right? I mean, this whole thing is a project. Kriss Grisham: You know. You define a project, you define, you define your your scope of business. Kriss Grisham: then you go in and you measure it, which you try to do. You collected data. Kriss Grisham: and you analyze that. Kriss Grisham: So that's what your survey was doing. And what I'm getting at is 123 people out of a large, even if it's 500. paula: So. Are you saying that this training would not be valuable at all? Are you saying that if for sure that it would not have. Kriss Grisham: No, I'm not. I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is, it may not be the appropriate training. It may not be the appropriate. paula: Hold on a minute even. But, as I said, it's not just a proof of concept. It is also the concept that PE. Some people would be trained. They would pass that information on. They would be role models on how to handle situations. But you're just talking about one part of the training. The second part Lynn talked about is is paula: available to everyone, and it's not as high a price. Tag. paula: Well, yeah. Kriss Grisham: It it. So it so if that's you know, I don't understand why we need. Kriss Grisham: What I'm getting at is Kriss Grisham: if we're using a survey as Kriss Grisham: as the the the basis for the majority of the recommendations right? And and then. Now you're telling me that the some of the numbers in the survey are not right, because the census data was wrong, or or whatever Kriss Grisham: the the survey seems to be skewed. And and and you're saying, you know that people. Kriss Grisham: 20% is, yeah. paula: The survey is a statistician. Kriss Grisham: Well, the I'm not saying that the service. paula: She knows what she's doing. Eva: I'm just gonna jump in here, cause I I think it's been said a couple of times. The the survey is only a little part of it, and I think Eva: one thing that has been made clear to me when when Lynn was talking is that you know we passed this resolution, and this is coming from Eva: the resolution. That we will work both individually and collectively on our on our biases. So that so I I understand now. Why, there's the 2 different groups. Eva: And it's you know. I think the survey is is part of the picture. But I think if we look at the Resolution and say, Look, we passed this resolution. Eva: This is the next step from that. I I think we're getting in the weeds with the whole survey stuff. Kriss Grisham: So. So I guess the thing is, Eva, if you don't have the appropriate data, how do you know if you're getting the right training. I'm not saying that we don't need the training, right? Kriss Grisham: You know. I'm not saying that this whole thing is. Kriss Grisham: I'm just questioning Kriss Grisham: the types of training that we're seeking. Kriss Grisham: And then when you take a look at the overall cost. Kriss Grisham: you know, I Kriss Grisham: 20 people. If we're doing both training, it's $350 ahead. Kriss Grisham: And then that's just proof of concept. That's Kriss Grisham: quite expensive for a small town. Yeah. John Compton: Okay, John Compton: I I think those points have been made. John Compton: I'd I'd like to allow Patty's header. And this is not public comment on. John Compton: on, on, on the proposal, and then Marilyn, I think, would like to say something. So Patty first. patricenklein: Thank you. I appreciate that. And it's good conversation. One of my thoughts, too, is again. No disrespect for the patricenklein: interviews you've already conducted, and, sort of, you know, looking around for the right type of trainers. But you know, as the town of Washington grow, we also have the Maryland Municipal League, and I'm asking whether you have even patricenklein: done any outreach to Mml. Because they also may either provide or provide some resources. patricenklein: perhaps a much lower cost for this type of Dei training. So that is something. I was looking up on the website for my own information and thinking that that should be. One thing before any money is committed is that we actually turn to other municipalities or the Mml. To understand what they can guide us and and offer patricenklein: direction for us. That's number one number 2 real quickly is this Joanna Levy. Again, I was just trying to learn more about her. patricenklein: it is a hundred $10 per person, and I do have some reservations about the town patricenklein: expending money depending on what the selection process is which has been ill defined to point patricenklein: spending money on an individual situation where people do have personal growth. And I think that's excellent. That's a personal choice. On the other hand, looking at it as an informational meeting where the entire town could attend as a group that would include leadership that might actually be certainly worthwhile. But the Joanna Levy person, I thought, was curious. I I noticed that she's associated. Is it? With Conservation Nation Lynn. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Well. patricenklein: Association with your Organization. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: She was not any longer. I I can't remember actually where she is now. But she was trained in Idi, and it's good. Ide is a Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: global system. So the system is set and the surveys are set and the questions are set and the responses are against an enormous database. Enormous global database. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So it's quite stable. So what you look for is someone to be trained by idi in that process? They're not impacting the questions or the responses at all. They are facilitating people through this online, short, fairly easy training, and then they get a report at the individual, gets a report generated by Idi from that, and then in this case Joanna Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: would help them understand the report. So you find somebody who has been trained in Idi, and and Joanna has been trained in Idi, and then they're local, and it's quite easy. patricenklein: I was just worrying a little bit about perceived conflict of interest, that's all. And so. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: She's not with Conservation Nation. patricenklein: But whether it's Joanna I again $110 per person to do your own online, you know. Exam, in a way, your trains like Myers Briggs, and you know you do it yourself. You just need somebody to help sort of shepherd you through the process. That's still, I think. patricenklein: for the purposes of this conversation. patricenklein: Pretty expensive for individuals, and only 20 people. And then that opens up the question that hasn't yet been answered. Barbara asked. That as well, and others is what those next steps my my sense would be. You start out with an informational meeting that allows anybody in the town to come. You meet, make it open, you hopefully. You know, leadership comes, and then you sort of start big picture. And then people might be incentivized to go on and do some personal training. That's that's my thoughts. So thank you for the time, and check out. Mml. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So I will, Patty. Thank you. I will check them on, and the cost is very reasonable when considering what goes into it. So it's the a meeting with all of the participants, the 20 people, and how fabulous it would be if it was town council members. So a meeting with everyone, an in person meeting, and to get them prepared for the training access into the online training. And and all this money goes to idi access into the online training Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: the report that's generated from it. And then these individual half hour, 45 min conversations to go through the report. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So it's reasonable. patricenklein: Well again. It's town money. So. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: I mean. patricenklein: Reasonable if I want to pay for it. That's my choice. If I want to pay $110, and I want to get some personal training. That's patricenklein: my choice to do that. I just am a little reluctant to have that cost put on the town when we don't actually know where it's leading us, unless you start with a more holistic approach, as I had suggested. So those are my thoughts. But thank you. John Compton: Hey, Marilyn, you're up! Marilynn Frey: Okay, I have. I have a couple of questions one is, what Marilynn Frey: what if you are? Marilynn Frey: Do this? And you don't have 20 people who have any interest in taking it. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: You only pay for the number of people who take it so. Marilynn Frey: So okay. Marilynn Frey: The town seems to be paying a great deal of money Marilynn Frey: to support basic. How much is Emory Row adding to this? Are they underlying any of the cost. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: For up for our team residents to understand where they are on the spectrum. Marilynn Frey: Well, my, my understanding is, there are quite a few and we grow people who are on the committee. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: But no, Emory Grove is absolutely not contributing to Washington growth. In in inclusion and bias work. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Now, why would they. Marilynn Frey: Why wouldn't they. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Because it's always. Marilynn Frey: Interest in in educating us. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: It is not their responsibility to educate us or to help us. This is totally our responsibility. We own this, and they've been incredibly gracious to give their time and energy to help us in our journey. Marilynn Frey: Okay. Marilynn Frey: who is Marilynn Frey: sitting judgment on who or what Marilynn Frey: is racist? Marilynn Frey: I hear this. Okay, if it's perceived to be racist, who's making that decision. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: There's no judgment. Certainly, in this Idi, there's absolutely no judgment. It's just a a snapshot of where you are individually on the inclusion spectrum, and you can choose to do with that what you want. And then nay, wa, in a group setting there will be no judgment. He is. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: that is not what will happen. It was. It will be meeting us where we are and having conversations. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: so no one would ever call anyone a racist in either one at the Idi or in Nate, was meeting. Marilynn Frey: Boom. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Certainly. Marilynn Frey: Yeah. Sure. Then. Eva: I, I. Marilynn Frey: No. Eva: I also just wanna I wanna just put something in perspective here, too, because I know this is a hot button topic. But just keep in mind that we do put things in the budget that are not Eva: it of interest to all town residents. I mean, we put money in the budget every year for summer in the parks, and only a very small percentage of people send their kids or grandchildren there. You know, this is something that we're not. It's not something that every town resident is going to go to. But it's for people who are interested. Eva: So I just, I just wanna Eva: I feel like we're really singling this one thing out. Eva: And just to keep in mind that you know, the town pays for a lot of things that are not for every single person in town, that's all. Say. Marilynn Frey: Okay, I would. patricenklein: But don't forget people. Robert Gilmore: Very important point. Eva. patricenklein: But even don't the people who attend somewhere in the parks pay something for that for that. Marilynn Frey: Yes. patricenklein: Time. Eva: They pay the tiny, tiny amount. patricenklein: Okay, that's good. Eva: We do. So that's that's a good point. And maybe that's something that you know. If the we do the 20 people and we're like this would be great for people in town, or I don't know. Maybe we do say like, you know, the town is subsidizing this, and. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: That's interesting. paula: That's an idea. Eva: Pay a pay a certain amount like we do with summer in the park. So that's actually a really good idea. paula: Yeah, that's it. paula: Idea. paula: Take the playground, take a look at what's spent on the playground. I don't have young children. paula: but would I ever not support that paula: I would always support that. Marilynn Frey: I don't have the same concerns about somewhere in the Park that I have about some of the things I'm seeing and hearing. John Compton: Okay. paula: What do you. John Compton: You have. I think you're up. John Compton: Yeah. Joan Mahaffey: There's an estimate of cost for the idi person, the individual person. But I don't see any estimate of cost for new West program. Joan Mahaffey: What's up. paula: How's it going. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Oh, it's in there, so let me go down to it. patricenklein: 1,000. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: 4,000, Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: and that covers all of the Pre. Work, the in person meeting, and then, importantly, a written document for the town's use. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So this would be something that would be shared with everybody. Go up on our website, help help Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: further the town. Everyone in the town and their understanding whether you could make it to the meetings or not. patricenklein: Is there a limit to that number of people who attend that. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: No just space. Barbara: I. I have a question about the report. Are there samples of the reports that Nawa has written for other municipalities, that we could take a look at. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: That's a good idea. I could ask him for the one he did, one for Dubuque. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: I could see if he could. If there, if it's not conf share what's not confidential. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: I might just say. Barbara: His. His work was public, though I thought, that's what you just said that cause like. If if he did a document for us, you said it would be on our website, so he doesn't do that with other entities. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: I'm not sure what the scope of work was with Dubuque, but I can. I can reach out and see what you can send us. marywarfield: I'm I'm still stuck with the kind of separateness of the individual versus the community, and I would feel better if there was some marywarfield: continuity with it, like I see with Newa marywarfield: that his proposal is that he would meet with select basic monk members to plan the community conversations. It would just seem like, if you know, if you you do resource training for individuals. marywarfield: it would it would fit in if they then kind of carried over to, you know, developing the community. The I just. It's hard to to see one totally separate from the other. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Oh! So! marywarfield: The way they don't see them connected. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: You're saying. I wanna make sure I'm hearing you right, Mary. You're saying the people who took the Idi piece would then be invited in to help. marywarfield: Plan the community as as having training and having understanding. And it just kind of, you know, connects the 2. So it's not just okay, these are individuals. But these are individuals who are, you know, finding out about themselves and then taking that knowledge and then helping to develop some community plan. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yeah, until it. marywarfield: It kind of fits together a little bit more than just okay, we're gonna teach these. And then and then this is separate. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yeah, yeah. Barbara: Well, since you mentioned that I I think the idea of meeting only with racic members to plan the community. Conversation is too narrow, and I would think that we would have we would want Town Council representation in that prior meeting. That first meeting, so. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: No, I'm fine, that'd be great. Barbara: Disgust. Eva: Yeah, I I really like the idea that if we, you know, if we do this plan of that, the 20 people would be racist committee council members, you know, like we said, maybe chairs of committees, and then those would be the people that would help plan the the community meetings. I think that's a great idea. Barbara: I just wanna say, I don't think that's necessarily the case. I mean, you might have have 2 Barbara: just different population. Somebody who wants to take that original training and somebody who doesn't but is a representative of Town Council, I don't. Barbara: you know. Barbara: next to nothing about the the first training. So to just assume like, Oh, well, people get trained, and it'll be really great, and then they'll go on and do these other things that may happen, and it may not happen so. I would not put too much. marywarfield: I'm just trying to think of it in terms of kind of what Patty said in terms of town funds going in into this. You know, we have the goal of where we want to go, and it just seems that it makes sense. If this is this is part of it that leads into this, so that you kind of have an overview of where, where the whole thing is, is heading. Barbara: But we don't have to Barbara: approve Barbara: this the way exactly the way it's written. We can approve part of it, not approve another part of it. We can ask for changes. Barbara: There's been a request to look at other programs. I know. Eva asked them to explore another program that she had taken. So you know, we don't have to just Barbara: take what's here and approve it or not approve it. We can Barbara: edit it and modify it to to meet the needs of the town. Eva: Yeah, I guess. I I wonder, are we? Eva: Are we voting on this tonight? Or are we discussing it? Okay? Because I. Barbara: But not not that, not from my perspective. I don't think we're anywhere near a vote for on this. Eva: Cause. I do like the idea, that Patty suggested, of checking with Ml, am I getting that acronym right. paula: And L. Kathy Lehman: In, our. patricenklein: And L. Eva: Yeah. And then, yeah, and I did. Suggest a place that I had had a training from. So you know, I like, I like this as a jumping off point to maybe do some more investigating and discussing. paula: I'm I'm not necessarily opposed to that, but I I don't quite get it, because, first of all, this, an Rfp. Is not required, and Lynn and Chaz did interview 4 entities. Is that correct? paula: 4 different entities already. paula: So there are tons of people who do this work everywhere. paula: you know. I mean, we could, you know, they could look and look and look. But are you saying that you specifically want them to look to see if the price can be reduced? paula: Is that your. Is that why you want them to continue to look beyond this? 4. paula: Is that what you're saying? paula: What's the purpose? And it's not over 5,000, so they don't. Kriss Grisham: So so let me let me. paula: Rfp. Kriss Grisham: If we could, if we could get something for free online versus pay, why couldn't you know? So in other words, I think you know. Some of the some of the comments were, you know, go check out. These websites, check out these other training facilities. paula: We've done that. We've done some of that. Kriss Grisham: Where can you hear me? paula: I've checked out. If. Kriss Grisham: I know the counsel right, the research that you've done in order to get to the recommendations and and the selections of the of the training folks. I I'm still curious. Kriss Grisham: Is it the right training? I you know it just doesn't make sense to me, based on your survey data. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Call it training, too. paula: But be based on the survey data. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yeah, and training. So we don't use the word training necessarily for this, because that there's something almost punitive about that, like you were not where you're supposed to be, and you have to be trained to get to another place. That is not what this is about. Kriss Grisham: What? What is it then? Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: It is about. If you are interested in knowing where you are, on the inclusion spectrum, like understanding your bias for the approved town resolution, and evolving on the inclusion spectrum to whatever level and taste feels right to you. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Then this will help you in that process, and no one will be dragged kicking and screaming into this. So it is really a way for the town to live up to what they agreed to do. I and I believe. Kriss Grisham: Town is trying to, or we wouldn't be having this discussion right? Kriss Grisham: And I think you know, and and I have to say, I really, am impressed with the data that was Kriss Grisham: analyzed or how it was analyzed in in your survey. I'm just saying that I think Kriss Grisham: from my perspective, there isn't enough data, and in fact, I did not. Kriss Grisham: I did not, and quite a few people did not participate in the survey and and and then Kriss Grisham: or you know the. paula: Plantations. Kriss Grisham: You know, and but the thing is is, if you take a look at some of the questions. And I talked to the mayor about this. Where's the final report as he's seen it? Kriss Grisham: I don't think he has. Kriss Grisham: And then to think that. paula: It's it's. Kriss Grisham: Very confidential, very so. Who's the who's the keeper of the keys? And how do we. paula: It's on the website. Everything is there. Kriss Grisham: I. All I saw was the survey summary sheets. The presentation Kriss Grisham: are they is the actual recording. paula: All presented to the Council paula: already, and it was all there. Kriss Grisham: The report, the counseling. paula: Thing that he presented. Kriss Grisham: The final report. Barbara: So you're talking about the raw data. Is that what you're talking about? The answers. Kriss Grisham: I just whatever the final report is. Barbara: Yeah, because the final report was, what is on the website. Barbara: It's not. It's not the raw data, though. Barbara: This is the. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Confidence! Kriss Grisham: Presentation, I mean. Barbara: Yes. Kriss Grisham: Probably Kriss Grisham: it, says Washington, but. Barbara: Yeah, yeah, that's it. That's the final one. Kriss Grisham: It's. Kriss Grisham: This is the final report. Barbara: With the the interpretations of the Barbara: people. Putting the report together. Kriss Grisham: Okay? Because in here it does say that there's a final report coming. paula: Maybe it said that at one in one of the presentations. Kriss Grisham: I'm just saying this. Kriss Grisham: but I'm pulling off the website. And I'm confused. Kriss Grisham: You know, I. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: So we so survey or no survey. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: We said we would commit to further engage in individual and collective work. Kriss Grisham: That's what we're trying. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Understand bias. That's what we're trying to do. Exactly, Chris. And so the only jumping off point for that is to understand where you are for those interested Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: understand where you are. So you understand. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: should you choose to, how you can move forward and. Kriss Grisham: Are you still doing a study? Is that what it is? Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: What do you mean? Kriss Grisham: Well, okay, okay. So again, back to project management. This is a project in my mind. Okay? Kriss Grisham: And and then so initially, you define. So you outline project goals, project, scope of work or business. Right? Then you measure by collecting data. Kriss Grisham: current state of the project. And I think that's what the survey was trying to do. Then you analyze, review the data to identify root causes of problems. Kriss Grisham: And and I think that's what you're saying that this data Kriss Grisham: is showing you Kriss Grisham: with the percentiles. Kriss Grisham: And then Kriss Grisham: you you improve right. Kriss Grisham: fix or improve the root causes and process. Kriss Grisham: And and that's where you're saying that you selected these individuals to provide this training, it came up with Kriss Grisham: a proposal. Kriss Grisham: and and then overall is to Kriss Grisham: is to, you know, move forward with a controlled process. And Kriss Grisham: you know I'm I guess the question I'm having is, are we? Kriss Grisham: So? So Kriss Grisham: it's it's a crawl walk and run, and it seems to me that we're still figuring out how to how to crawl. We Kriss Grisham: we've we've done a survey, and all of a sudden Kriss Grisham: we're trying to propose money for for for individuals who are specific. Kriss Grisham: and, you know, extremely Kriss Grisham: experienced. Kriss Grisham: targeted Kriss Grisham: right? And and what I'm saying is, there's got to be generic training or or generic Kriss Grisham: awareness programs out there that we should maybe look at. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: It's yeah. I. It's not that the Idi is sophisticated. That's not the word used, but something along the sides. It's not for this. The idi assessment is for everybody and anyone. It is not. You don't need to be. Kriss Grisham: Talking about the individuals providing the services. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: You're talking about the people who are giving the Idi survey when you say that. And the person who's doing the collective group work with us. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Is that what you're talking about. Kriss Grisham: The the the 2 individuals that you're proposing. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Yes. Kriss Grisham: Yeah. paula: What about? Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: Like the question. Robert Gilmore: Yeah, Chris, I I'm completely lost. I I really don't understand Robert Gilmore: what what you're Robert Gilmore: the points that you're making. Kriss Grisham: I I guess the point that I'm trying to make is, first of all, is I, I you know, looking so if we're saying that this presentation is the final report. But somewhere in here it says, another report is coming. Kriss Grisham: you know. I'll look it up. Kriss Grisham: you know, if you want and share it with you after this, because it's it's it's been going on for quite a while this discussion. Kriss Grisham: but it Kriss Grisham: are we? Are we Kriss Grisham: bringing people in Kriss Grisham: I I guess what the approach that we're taking seems to be Kriss Grisham: it could be overkill right? Kriss Grisham: We don't know. And and I guess we're we're providing Kriss Grisham: big percentages. 40% of the people in here are biased based on the report. Kriss Grisham: But is that is that correct? Kriss Grisham: Can we can we do a a less Kriss Grisham: rigorous Kriss Grisham: indoctrination effort, you know, that might be available somewhere Kriss Grisham: cheaper. John Compton: Okay, more. Kriss Grisham: In other words, if you do 2020 people at $7,000, Kriss Grisham: there's say 5. But. Lynn Mento, Conservation Nation: 8 or 7,000. It's that a portion of that is for the Idi. Kriss Grisham: Okay. So so whatever it is. And and then you even said Kriss Grisham: during this presentation that you didn't think of the next step of of rolling this out after the concept. Kriss Grisham: So if we find it, wow! This is the greatest thing. Since you know, sliced bread. Kriss Grisham: How are we going to pursue this? Is it going to be $100,000 for for 500 people in the town that want to take it, and Kriss Grisham: to be inclusive? Are we going to allow Kriss Grisham: nonresidents and anybody that you know surrounding communities? Kriss Grisham: I you know it. Just in other words, the focus isn't here the training. I think I'm I'm questioning the validity of the training or or the I say training, but the validity of the folks coming in to do the work that they want to do. I'm not saying it's not gonna help us. paula: There research about the people who are going to do the train, the work. Kriss Grisham: Do we Kriss Grisham: look if if you go to buy a car Kriss Grisham: and and you know, would you buy the most expensive car on the lot. Or would you go with a car that has 4 wheels? That'll get you from point A to Point B. That's preference. Robert Gilmore: Guys, guys, we we spent like Robert Gilmore: about the same amount of money on like music, weekend and blues toberfest. Robert Gilmore: I like music, and I like beer. And I like for hours. Okay, but like, this is pretty serious, and we're not spending yet. Robert Gilmore: Tens and tens of thousands. Kriss Grisham: You might. Robert Gilmore: Well, we we. Kriss Grisham: Low. paula: My. Robert Gilmore: We're not going to on at on at this. paula: Like. Robert Gilmore: The the idea, as I understand, that is being presented. There's 2 things. There's the 4,000 for the town wide meeting. Robert Gilmore: and then there is the 2,000 for, and that's up to 20 people, and it may be fewer than that. Robert Gilmore: in which case we would spend less. Robert Gilmore: And that that would be for the the leadership. Robert Gilmore: I mean. I Robert Gilmore: you know I'm not going to pretend that I have have read every single word of the the 120 page Robert Gilmore: Pdf. Powerpoint. Robert Gilmore: But like the suggestion that all this stuff is like half baked, or like the razak, hasn't done its work, I mean, look, if people don't agree with the idea well, that that was clearly your suggestion. Kriss Grisham: No. Yeah. Yeah. Robert Gilmore: Well it it I could try that. What I interpreted is, I. Kriss Grisham: Sorry. I'm yeah. John Compton: I think this is a great conversation, and Barbara made the proposition that that this matter John Compton: be. We, we think on it and bring it back. At at the next council meeting. We can certainly do that in June. It's only 3 weeks or 2 weeks. John Compton: 3 weeks. Away John Compton: and John Compton: the John Compton: I mean. I don't know. John Compton: I I I'm I I have something to contribute. But I'm not gonna do it until the next time. Think this was a good John Compton: airing of of concerns. I I appreciate, Lynn, you giving a very clear, very complete John Compton: description of what the intent and what these, what these contractors would provide. John Compton: So if, unless there's an objection, I propose that we we table the matter for tonight, and some, how do we not for forever for tonight and defer it until the June meeting? John Compton: We can take it up again, and everybody will have a little additional chance to John Compton: consider any further town input will be welcome. Of course. John Compton: any objections to that. Peter Nagrod: No. paula: There any direction that you want to give Ray sec. Or that work group or or. John Compton: I, Paul? I can't quite hear you. paula: I'm sorry. paula: What were you? John Compton: Suggesting. paula: I said, do you do you? Are you going to give any more direction to basic? Or is this just time for the Council to think about it. John Compton: Well, you've heard the rest of you. You've heard plenty of comments, so if you'd like to. John Compton: you know, refine and elaborate and respond. You have a month or not a month. You have 3 weeks to do that, I mean I certainly John Compton: you know what that's. John Compton: Your prerogative to do so. Joan Mahaffey: And can I so also make the suggestion that she brings these details to the racy committee itself? Joan Mahaffey: We had a meeting Sunday, and these details were never mentioned. paula: The the, the. paula: the concept of the recommendations was ratified by the whole committee a long time ago. John Compton: Okay, that's a committee matter I don't want to get into don't no committee discussion. John Compton: No, alright. Peter Nagrod: Paul and Lynn, this was really this was really helpful. Peter Nagrod: And Peter Nagrod: and yeah, and hearing what you had to say, and I think. You know, I think we could fine tune this a little bit, but I think you have. You made some pretty good progress tonight? John Compton: Alright! paula: Okay. Thanks. John Compton: Thanks, everybody. John Compton: Alright. So. John Compton: there is one item of new business that we approved on the agenda. John Compton: and that is Ca consideration of revision to the resolution. That that provides a gover government advice on the governance of the the committees with which the town is essentially doing business. John Compton: I'm gonna start stating it that way. So everybody understands John Compton: that John Compton: we have been. We have up till now treated the committees as independent entities. John Compton: which we John Compton: contract with effective essentially John Compton: and cooperate with to do lots of the town's necessary John Compton: functions like maintaining the lake and the forest, and the woods, and beautification. paula: Right. John Compton: Rec. Events, but we also depend on them for expertise and advice. John Compton: to wit. John Compton: the recent committee has John Compton: put forth proposals. This is, you know, suggestions to the town, to the Council John Compton: on on the area that they're in so. John Compton: and that this governance document that's it's as we all know. John Compton: at least one. The issue of participation of non residents on committees has been. John Compton: or at least John Compton: posed. Certainly has posed problems for some of our residents and possibly the the council members as well. John Compton: It is late. It's approaching 1030. John Compton: I would suggest any suggestion, any discussion you'd like to have tonight. We can John Compton: do but keep in mind the hour, and then a more. John Compton: a more John Compton: appropriate way to approach this would be for a proposed John Compton: I I guess I'd call it a new resolution, or a modification of the existing resolution John Compton: to include whatever John Compton: one is seen fit to to deal with this issue. John Compton: And then we can have the debate and the discussion in that context. John Compton: So if anybody has some sort of just some some John Compton: opinion or view on moving in this direction. It's probably appropriate to to do that. But John Compton: you know, I suggest we defer the an actual, you know debate or this detailed discussion. John Compton: Once a a resolution is proposed that would provide these John Compton: updates to the guidance. John Compton: Anybody wanna say anything about this. Barbara: This is Barbara. I I think that's a good way to go. Barbara: Okay. John Compton: Thank you. Robert Gilmore: Yeah, alright, we. John Compton: We actually had one of our residents suggest modification to John Compton: some modifications to the the resolution. John Compton: So John Compton: If John Compton: If anyone, I'd be happy to participate in a very small John Compton: number effort to make up, make a proposal John Compton: that we can introduce. The Council can introduce, and then we can have whatever discussion John Compton: you wish. So I put that offer out there. Barbara: This is Barbara. I'll I'll work on that with you, John. John Compton: Thank you. Marilynn Frey: Want a non council member, I'll work with you. Marilynn Frey: Also. Question, would it help one way or the other if we brought in a petition Marilynn Frey: showing people's feelings on this. John Compton: Petitions are. Are John Compton: you want me to go into the the petition for a particular vehicle? If you petition. Marilynn Frey: It can be just a yes or no, it will help, or well. John Compton: Will not help at this point. Marilynn Frey: What I needed. John Compton: Gang. John Compton: The petition process is the is is John Compton: In my opinion the petition process is in place to be used in 2 ways. John Compton: 1 one is to coerce John Compton: the town Council to handle a matter that they're not handling. John Compton: you know. Resonance. Think you should be doing this, and we're going to go through this petition town meeting process to try to get you to do. That doesn't mean you. It's gonna happen. But that's the way to do it. The other is reason for the petition John Compton: purpose is to object to an action of the Council. John Compton: Well, that's obviously doesn't apply here. So I I usually the best. In my opinion, the best procedure is to see what the Council does as long as they move along, and you know, keep in mind. The position process exists as a fallback. John Compton: Should things go awry. John Compton: or whatever. Peter Nagrod: So your answer was, No. John Compton: Yeah. My, yes, thank you. Peter. patricenklein: It. It's not meant to be. It's not meant to be punitive, but you actually get, you know you hear what the town residents are thinking, or they can just contact you directly. John Compton: Of course, and that that's I mean clearly by John Compton: by introducing, you know, a revision to our our governance. John Compton: I think we will will elicit John Compton: and and John Compton: public input. Peter Nagrod: And and the town hasn't been shy about Peter Nagrod: giving their opinion on this. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. patricenklein: They have to do it officially. Not just on the list, sir, if I understand you correctly, so send your comments to. John Compton: Melissa. Marilynn Frey: I'm here for the new Mayor and town council at Washington Grove. Marilynn Frey: Maryland.org. John Compton: I'm pretty sure. Marilynn Frey: Bring us in. John Compton: Knows about this right now. Peter Nagrod: Hi. John Compton: Not everybody, but all who want to know. Okay, so and we're gonna move forward on that. Then we will come to the Council that will bring bring to the council a proposed revision. John Compton: in the near future. John Compton: possibly as early as John Compton: as the June meeting. John Compton: Alright. John Compton: Is there any other new business? John Compton: Alright, if not. John Compton: we are on to what I'm now calling. The concluding business, which which is the next meeting, is on June tenth John Compton: I'm back to the Mondays. It will be virtual John Compton: again. John Compton: and John Compton: anybody have anything else to say besides a motion to adjourn. Peter Nagrod: Welcome back! John! John Compton: Yeah. Wow. Vacation was. John Compton: well, yeah. Peter Nagrod: Longer. John Compton: Alright! Now, this is a good meeting, I think. We've got. John Compton: A lot of stuff. Thank you. We're adjourned John Compton: all the favor. marywarfield: Nights. Peter Nagrod: Good, everybody. marywarfield: Note. marywarfield: Thank you.