John Compton: Good evening, Charlie. Charlie Challstrom: Drawn. John Compton: Right. Charlie Challstrom: Not a big crowd yet. John Compton: No. John Compton: I may. We may have to go out and knock on doors. Charlie Challstrom: Yeah. John Compton: Hope not. Charlie Challstrom: Ring the town bell. John Compton: Yeah. John Compton: why do people? Never. They never listen and John Compton: change their names? I can put it on on 27 different. Charlie Challstrom: Out! John Compton: In. Charlie Challstrom: And out. John Compton: And still doesn't happen. John Compton: I need someone from the board of John Compton: Supervisors of elections to I mean, I recognize names, but John Compton: and I. Charlie Challstrom: They should be. John Compton: The other. Charlie Challstrom: Should use their list. Kathy Lehman: Can you hear me? John Compton: Kathy, we can. Kathy Lehman: Oh, boy! Charlie Challstrom: Good. John Compton: But now you don't have to say anything. Kathy Lehman: That's good, too. Kathy Lehman: We had a good turnout today, I think. John Compton: I've got a Paula who the heck is, Paula, and they still don't allow you to John Compton: message waiting room. John Compton: Yeah. John Compton: please. John Compton: There's Craig. John Compton: Don't John Compton: me. Kathy Lehman: Through that. Kathy Lehman: Hmm! Peter Nagrod: Hey? Congratulations! Sean. Peter Nagrod: John's a grandad. Peter Nagrod: but he's not speaking. Kathy Lehman: I can't hear you, John. John Compton: Yeah, of course I'm I'm muted. John Compton: Charlie. You want to help me out. I can make you a co-host. Robert Gilmore: I hope everyone got to see the Rainbow. Peggy Koniz-Booher: No. Robert Gilmore: It was spectacular. Robert Gilmore: I know Joan saw it. She never at the meadow. AJSTYLES IPAD: Yeah, I saw it right AJSTYLES IPAD: Sandy. It was beautiful over the field, huh! Over the meadow. Robert Gilmore: Yeah. AJSTYLES IPAD: Yeah. Robert Gilmore: Really amazing. It was a double rainbow, actually. AJSTYLES IPAD: Oh, was it? Yeah. AJSTYLES IPAD: I almost saw the one. Kathy Lehman: Hi! Jean! Bill robertson: Me, Jane Bill robertson: Gene. Bill robertson: Oh. Bill robertson: well. Bill robertson: oh, will. Kathy Lehman: Hi, Jane! Sheila’s ipad mini (2): Really Sheila’s ipad mini (2): me. Bill robertson: Hmm! Hmm! Bill robertson: You mean. Craig: Hey! Bill! Bill robertson: A. Craig: Can you hear me? Okay. Bill robertson: I can hear you. Yes. Craig: Good. Okay. Bill robertson: I was just noticing it. It's past 8 o'clock where we were working on Grove time. Bill robertson: A thought. Craig: Must be. John Compton: Always working on grove time. Kathy Lehman: How many do we. Craig: Yeah. Craig: 51. John Compton: Connections! Kathy Lehman: 51. Charlie Challstrom: And to Charlie Challstrom: 52. Now, yeah, yeah. Kathy Lehman: Good. Charlie Challstrom: Connections. Yeah, that's right. Charlie Challstrom: Multiple people. One number of them. John Compton: Right. John Compton: Yummy. Bill robertson: On! Craig: Okay, that's. Robert Booher: Do we still have the picture of the old sign establishing us Robert Booher: in 1893. Charlie Challstrom: On it. Charlie Challstrom: and. John Compton: Yeah. Sorry about that. I couldn't find my new. Tom Land: One over by day. Lily is actually peeling the the the addition at the bottom. Peter Nagrod: Yeah, they're they're they're the signed company is repairing that. Craig: That's awesome. Charlie Challstrom: My answers. John Compton: Well. John Compton: I suppose John Compton: 57. John Compton: I can presume we have a quorum. John Compton: Anybody disagree with that? John Compton: Alright. We presume we have a quorum. John Compton: So let's start the meeting. Welcome to the 88 John Compton: annual town meeting in Washington Grove. John Compton: the first order of business is order. Bill robertson: Since I knew. John Compton: I'm going to John Compton: start out John Compton: before we do the invocation, and we have credit English here to provide us the words of wisdom about John Compton: about John Compton: conducting our meeting. John Compton: But let me let me John Compton: find out what I'm doing here, where the heck John Compton: let me go to the first slide here. John Compton: I can do it. John Compton: Where are we? John Compton: Right? John Compton: So John Compton: rules of order. This is just a review. It was written. It's been written up but there are a few additional things. John Compton: There is a document in the material folder for the meeting. John Compton: The chat may be used to communicate with me or co-hosts, which at the moment is only Charlie John Compton: otherwise it's disabled. So there's no chatting among participants. John Compton: And we find that that works the best because the John Compton: texting side conversations John Compton: is distracting, and John Compton: is not appropriate John Compton: way of communicating. In this meeting. John Compton: You can whisper to the person in the same room as you have. You are John Compton: A quorum of 50 participants is required, verified by the Board of Supervisors of Elections. I saw Dave Hicks here. Hopefully, he's gonna be able to do that. John Compton: And Nick, Nick is here, too. John Compton: to be recognized for speaking. John Compton: We're gonna allow 3 different ways here. John Compton: One is to make a verbal verbal request. We're gonna allow those as long as nobody interrupts other people. So please wait to an appropriate moment. John Compton: or you may raise your electronic hand. That's the most effective, because, as you all should know, at least in zoom, people with their hand up, get a priority position in the upper left corner John Compton: of the Hollywood squares display. John Compton: Finally, you can use the chat to communicate with the with me or co-host requesting opportunity to speak John Compton: the voting procedure. Will be reviewed specifically when a vote is in order. John Compton: and finally, and importantly, the Roberts. Rules of order prevails at town meeting. John Compton: I'm not sure anybody is an authentic expert in the robber's rules of order, but we'll try and stick as close to to what we is the correct procedure. I think Dennis is here, Dennis Kers from he may have more John Compton: detailed familiarity, and can can help us out if that's necessary. John Compton: Alright. So, having said all of that, I'd like to move along and ask Craig to give us an invitation. John Compton: or or the meeting. Craig: That Craig: of Craig: yesterday evening when John called me and asked me to do the and invitation, I Craig: said I'd be happy to Craig: This morning I left the Grove at 6 Am. Craig: To go down to Bethesda Craig: to participate in the Craig: attest a Fine Arts festival, and assume my unofficial job as Ambassador Craig: for Washington Grove. Craig: Now my sign, says Craig: Joseph Craig, English, Washington Grove, Maryland. Craig: and over the course of the day Craig: I talked to hundreds of people. Craig: and maybe 6 Craig: knew or had ever heard of Washington Grove. Craig: so I had lots of opportunities Craig: to talk about. What a wonderful place Washington Grove is. Craig: and what makes Washington Grove unique Craig: and special. Craig: And I think Craig: what makes Craig: Washington Grove Craig: unique and special Craig: people here care. Craig: And Craig: you could say a lot about, you know Craig: country atmosphere, you can say about the Craig: insulated quality we enjoy here small town life. Craig: I've seen more and more Craig: in my almost 50 years of living here Craig: that Craig: people are genuine and that they care, and that they help each other. Craig: And so that's what my invitation is going to be about Craig: now in John's defense. Craig: He didn't know I was going to sing a song for the invocation. Craig: but I'm going to, and it expresses my feelings about Washington Grove Craig: some time to know life. We all have pain, we all have, so Craig: if they go wide and still we know that they're Craig: always tomorrow. Craig: me, when you're not strong. I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. Craig: Da da! Craig: These Craig: swallow your pride. If you have things you need to borrow. Craig: one can feel Craig: those of your needs Craig: get you. Don't let your Craig: just call on the brother when you need a man we all need somebody to lead. I just like to have a problem. Understand? We all need somebody Craig: lean on me when you that strong I'll be your friend. Craig: But you need Craig: a Craig: you can't call me. Craig: Just call on me, brother, if you need a man Craig: we don't need somebody on. Craig: I'm glad to live in Washington Grove. Craig: I know so many people here Craig: that I can lean on Craig: times of trouble. Craig: It's a great place to live. Craig: Thank you all. Craig: being my neighbors and friends. John Compton: Hey, Craig? Thank you so much. John Compton: you know. Don't give up your day job. Craig: I won't. Kathy Lehman: Jeez Kathy Lehman: I I. John Compton: You can do the circuit of invocations at. Kathy Lehman: Go. John Compton: Found meetings. John Compton: No, thanks a lot that that was it. It was John Compton: a a a good message to send, and hopefully everybody. John Compton: all I mean already has that John Compton: that sort of feeling in their heart. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: so I'm gonna show the agenda. Which is the next business. John Compton: yes, I hope everybody had a chance to look at it. John Compton: There it is in smallish John Compton: print. I need a motion to approve the town meeting agenda. Eva: Our motion to approve. This is Eva. John Compton: Okay, Eva, thank you. John Compton: Second. Peter Nagrod: Peter Peter will second. John Compton: Alright. Any discussion or comments about the agenda. Peter Nagrod: yeah, I wanna know. I wanna know why I have to go last all the time. John Compton: You don't really want to know that, do you? Peter Nagrod: No, I don't. I know why. John Compton: I did want to point out that I have a very ambitious adjournment time. It's to the second. John Compton: So we're never gonna make it, of course. But John Compton: I always am optimistic. John Compton: and anything. Okay. If there are no no comments for the comments, we'll move on to a vote John Compton: all in favor of approving the agenda as shown. You need to raise your hand with your little raise your hand, thing. John Compton: I know everybody's gonna have to figure out where it is. John Compton: I see lots of them popping up. Everybody is John Compton: moving around the screen. I'm sure it's moving around your screen, too. John Compton: okay, actually did it wrong. But I'm gonna assume it's approved, based on how many I see John Compton: in in the next boats. Remind me if I forget John Compton: to ask first for those opposed. John Compton: because if the imposed are clearly John Compton: a minority, it'll be easier to deal with the the John Compton: in favor. John Compton: Okay, great. So katherine: Making it. Yeah. John Compton: And that is approved. John Compton: And which means we will move on John Compton: to approve the minutes. John Compton: Now, that's up early in the agenda just to get some business out of the way. John Compton: The the minutes didn't go in until yesterday, I think. John Compton: For last year's town meeting. I hope everyone took a look at it. It's a pretty John Compton: dry account of the business that was conducted. John Compton: but John Compton: so I'll now need a motion to approve the minutes for John Compton: from from that. marywarfield: I'll move. Mary! marywarfield: Mary! Eva: 1 s. This is Eva. John Compton: Okay. Anybody have any comments, corrections. John Compton: additions last year's minutes? John Compton: I John Compton: now, I mean, for the last few years you could actually go back and view John Compton: the meeting John Compton: on a recording. If you really were a masochist and compare it to the minutes. John Compton: And apparently Kathy did a great job capturing everything. I made a few edits. John Compton: Where's that? John Compton: Okay, in that case, is there anyone who is opposed to approving the minutes John Compton: Post? John Compton: Alright? In that case. I will assume there aren't John Compton: 65 extensions, so minutes are approved. Thank you. John Compton: Alright. So we're now on to John Compton: The the best part of the meeting. John Compton: which is my report. John Compton: It's also the longest. John Compton: probably the most tedious. John Compton: and John Compton: but hopefully, we'll cover a lot of ground here John Compton: reasonably quickly. So you should be seeing my rules of order screen John Compton: and we will get started. John Compton: The first order of business, and the, you know, among the most important is to recognize John Compton: all of our employees of the town John Compton: who keep the operations of the town going, if not day to day. John Compton: at least all the nitty gritty John Compton: They used to keep the office going first. Kathy, our our town clerk. John Compton: Keeps the office open. I don't need to go into everything that she she does. John Compton: And Jean Moyer, who is the treasurer and has has a lot, is the next most knowledgeable to what's going on. John Compton: I probably am third or fifth, or something like that. John Compton: In town. So Jean is. You know, I consider Jean a key person. And John Compton: we're we're we're really lucky to have her and lives in town, of course, as does Kathy. John Compton: Alright, we have some other employees I call them so employees. Their contract employees are archivist pat patu. It's been archivist for a whole bunch of years. John Compton: Converting and and records and of the town. Archiving them? So that we have them online and organized and records management officer as well as Marilyn. She does a lot of the of the hard copy stuff. John Compton: and is also our. Kathy Lehman: She's our IT person. John Compton: Yeah, our software. It person John Compton: to help out when John Compton: the inevitable snafus of of John Compton: computers show up. So that keeps things running day to day day, you know, hours out John Compton: alright. I've got in here our webmaster, Christine Dibble, who's also been our town counselor. Everybody, I hope, uses the website. John Compton: you know frequently, and can appreciate that it's now John Compton: pretty attractive, in my opinion, easy to use. John Compton: And the most difficult thing it's John Compton: pretty extensively up to date. John Compton: That is a challenge for any website about for a town in which we have things happening. So Christine has devoted lots of hours, and she's very good at this, and we're lucky to have her John Compton: so we'll come back to Christine a little bit further in the meeting. John Compton: We have John Klinger. We're down to just John doing the audit and financial review, so we'll call it a committee and quotes. John Compton: But he looks over the books monthly to as a as a check to ensure that all of the accounting and financial affairs are in order. John Compton: Thanks to John. John Compton: Alright, then we have your elected town council. This is the John Compton: the current town Council. John Compton: We have a new individual down here. I see Mar Warfield John Compton: to new. We're gonna have to John Compton: have to start calling her that John Compton: So John Compton: That's the Council. And then we have appointed John Compton: are appointed commissions. John Compton: The planning commission where Georgette is the chairman. John Compton: Jonathan Dale has been a member up until probably bespoke his name. There. Up until John Compton: This month John Compton: he's going to step down, and the Council will be looking at appointing, and I will be looking at appointing a new planning commission member. John Compton: Peter, is the Council Town Council representative for the current year John Compton: on the new Council will decide who will be for the next year, Robert. So the John Compton: everybody did a great job, and you know that they produced the John Compton: the John Compton: adu ordn accessory dwelling unit or ordinance revision, which was no small feat John Compton: to craft that in a way that seemed to be successful with the majority of John Compton: of the town John Compton: board of supervisors of elections getting to do their thing this week, and a few weeks John Compton: earlier. John Compton: Nick, Susick's the chair, Dave Hicks, Margo Cavanaugh and Larry Blake. John Compton: The Historic Preservation Commission. John Compton: who John Compton: are very active. Provide integral advice to residents. They provide advice to the Council. John Compton: And they provide advice to their significant others, I'm sure. John Compton: so this is the the current composition of the Historic Preservation Commission, and John Compton: we I I, for one, I'm very grateful that they're willing to put in the time and effort to address, the John Compton: the, the the John Compton: pretty broad. John Compton: almost nothing that goes on in town doesn't have a connection, either history or retaining our historic John Compton: a character. Peter Nagrod: Hey, hey, John, did you leave some? Did you leave sung off the planning commission. Peter Nagrod: or Georgia can speak to that. Peter Nagrod: I I think he should have mentioned. Charlie Challstrom: Here, you shouldn't. John Compton: No, I didn't leave him, hasn't. Peter Nagrod: Easy, bolted. John Compton: He's he's an alternate. You're right. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. Peter Nagrod: yeah. John Compton: Apologies to some. Robert Booher: And along those lines. John Robert Booher: Samantha Suzitch is now. John Compton: Now the alternate. Yes, but I have. Yeah sort of recognizing the year. You're right. I should have had her on this. But John Compton: all right. John Compton: I get a break. I'll fix that John Compton: board of zoning appeals which hasn't had any any issues in the past year. John Compton: is is currently composed of, sat on a Guy Carly and Kathy Evans. John Compton: also appointed, was the shared use pathway Committee. Liaison committee. John Compton: Members are here. I, I, Wendy, may no longer be a member. I John Compton: wasn't certain I left her name on. She certainly has been a member and been active. John Compton: Oh, yeah. Robert Booher: That's correct. That's correct. She's not. John Compton: Earlier, earlier, probably in this fiscal year. So John Compton: But we'll hear more about the shared use pathway. John Compton: further on in the meeting. John Compton: Now we come to the town's volunteer committees and I'm gonna recognize the chairs. So in alphabetical order, and you know, I need to. I need to say sorry. That, of course the and I've said this many times. So the the committees, as a whole, act as the town staff John Compton: in carrying out. You know the the bulk John Compton: of the work and the attention to all of the John Compton: the physical as well as the event, and other and other affairs of the town. John Compton: And the town has operated with with volunteers on committees for decades. John Compton: and it has worked well. John Compton: We have John Compton: in recent times John Compton: tweaked. How? How the John Compton: The official town elected officials, the town Council, and and the committees are related, and it's possible John Compton: not likely, that we're going to look at that again. John Compton: But but John Compton: I have said many times that there the John Compton: the nature of our town staff. That is our committees. It's volunteer. John Compton: Requires us to deal with these committees John Compton: at at arm's length, because John Compton: most of the everybody's a volunteer and volunteers, as we have learned over the years. John Compton: Many people are not fond of excessive formality John Compton: or rigor John Compton: or requirements for them to volunteer their time. John Compton: And so we have arrived at the current system. John Compton: which I think is generating a fair amount of volunteerism. We've we've had ups and downs with that. John Compton: But in in criticizing John Compton: the way committees are, related to the official town John Compton: activities, the those who are responsible for the town myself, the town council. John Compton: One needs to keep in mind that. John Compton: that John Compton: the functioning of the town John Compton: overall with the with the committee structure, with the way it works has been John Compton: spectacularly successful. John Compton: and any any adjustments John Compton: need to be need to take that into account. So we do not interfere with how important all of these are John Compton: alright. So I so let me go through it. Just go through the kids, you know who they are. They are. We have a dark Park committee Liz Galenders has just become the chair, I believe John Compton: Forestry and beautification shared by Georgette and Audrey. John Compton: the Gateway Committee, Jonathan Vail. John Compton: the lighting committee. Virginia and I could stop and say a few words about what each of these committees did in the last year. But I think you don't want to stay here that long. We'll probably hear hear about it. In various other contexts. John Compton: The Maple Light Committee John Compton: shared by Tom Land. John Compton: the new Meadow Committee, chaired by Bruce. John Compton: the Race Act, the Racial and Social Equity Committee. Has 3 town John Compton: leaders, Lynn, Mendo, Ted Stankey and Paul up, and Lucy John Compton: Recreation Committee, Eva and Christina Co. I'm sharing. Eva: So that should actually be Lisa Bielan and Christina. John Compton: Okay, thank you. I tried to John Compton: extract that information, but I. Eva: Yeah, Lisa Bielin and Christina Co. And I'm the just the council liaison. John Compton: That's good to hear. John Compton: Sustainability committee is Bob Moore. John Compton: the Woods Committee, Joan Behaffe and Pat Patty Klein. I keep sorry I keep John Compton: hitting the wrong thing. John Compton: and lastly, out of alphabetical order is the Emergency Preparedness and Safety Committee, which, unfortunately, is somewhat more abundant. John Compton: We everybody out there are here in in the town meeting. Who has some time and isn't currently, you know. John Compton: doing something for the town ought to consider joining that committee. It it. John Compton: It. It has John Compton: substantial John Compton: responsibility, and has has pursued all sorts of aspects of of safety John Compton: in in the town from from hazard hazard, mitigation plans John Compton: right now leftover from when the kid meeting was was functioning, and I I should say that Patty, and John Compton: I believe ava, who's the liaison? John Compton: Our our John Compton: going to try and keep the committee meeting, but less frequently than it than it probably should. John Compton: But we're we're trying to determine what? What? What the the hazards are. Any specific hazards, or at least the process John Compton: should a trail train. The original one occur John Compton: with hazardous materials. The. The main responsibility for that is in the John Compton: is in the emergency response. Teams of the county and John Compton: and John Compton: and the state. John Compton: Okay? John Compton: So John Compton: that that ends my, my, thank yous. John Compton: and recognition. Of course. There, you know, lots of people. Don't get named and are, are, you know, as active as as those that have been on the committees? And John Compton: appreciation goes out from me from the Council. John Compton: and I hope from everyone else, for all the time, and the interest and and and expertise they bring to the various John Compton: various activities. John Compton: Okay, so let me move this along. I'm gonna go through some highlights from the the year that's will end in June. John Compton: I'm not gonna be labor. Too many of these, I hope. First of all, the 100 and fiftieth anniversary celebration which concluded clearly at the end of 2,024 so half of this year, this this fiscal year since the last town meeting John Compton: had so many meaningful events and activities. I think the volunteers who put together all of the events, all of the historic presentations, the walking tour, the you know, the the exhibits, the. I'm not gonna name them all. But it was a a pretty pretty amazing job put together by volunteers. John Compton: I think it was a great accomplishment for the year John Compton: money wise we got the $250,000 Maryland State Bond award, which is we got that in order to aid us with our stormwater management projects the bond funds. We have until 2,029 to extend those funds. They are given to us as as reimbursements when we we pay for them first, and they reimburse us for John Compton: for appropriate expenses. John Compton: We've had almost had a year now not quite a year of the renewable energy conversion, incentive pilot program. John Compton: And we haven't had a lot of awards there. I here there are more John Compton: more John Compton: applicants who are on the verge of being approved. John Compton: But we'll see exactly how how John Compton: whether this program gains more momentum. That is more. More people use it. John Compton: And I'm going to propose course. And and it's in the budget to continue this program John Compton: in the next years. John Compton: Alright, the lighting. We have a lighting committee, and we've had a John Compton: a a John Compton: underlying John Compton: interest of whether or not we should own our own streets. Street lights! There's a number of reasons for that are not going to go into that here. John Compton: But last year, as it was earlier this year, a a significant John Compton: negotiation with Pepco. I came to a a I think, a a John Compton: good conclusion for us and other municipalities. John Compton: If you're reading what you what it says here, and it it now it opens the way to to buying our own streetlights. Should we decide to do so at a very low capital cost. John Compton: So that was quite an accomplishment that sets us up for some interesting possibilities in the in the future. John Compton: Of course, the transition to no fee post office boxes occurred since last May. Few hiccups for a bunch of you out there. And when I heard about it I I and you know it was John Compton: the the John Compton: I could. I could definitely solve. The annoying problems of being charged of having your boxes closed. What have you? But I think it's now pretty much going to close out the year shortly, and and everybody should be John Compton: have their their post office boxes. For free. John Compton: All right. Of course, we just recently passed the ordinance permitting accessory dwelling units. John Compton: This is potentially a big deal, and we'll see how it plays out. John Compton: But it's it provides a new opportunity for residents to have relatives of extended family in it or not. unrelated individuals. In a small extra dwelling as an income source. So John Compton: That was a successful John Compton: proposal, and and executed by the planning Commission and the Council. Peter Nagrod: Hey, John, you may want to mention that we actually that planning commission approved our first Edu. Peter Nagrod: that guy that was singing in the beginning of the meeting. John Compton: You can always report it. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. It's at his house. John Compton: Right? John Compton: Yeah. So the planning Commissioner. Yes. So there was. Approve myself to go through John Compton: Montgomery County. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. John Compton: And we're working out as in any new John Compton: new John Compton: construction zoning where the county is involved. Even when it was just us. We need to work out any kinks in in executing, and and and the John Compton: the adu ordinance here. John Compton: as Washington Grove expects it to be, which is not exactly the same as the county's expectation. So John Compton: right? John Compton: Continuing we have couple of things with the stormwater management. So we we successfully put together an Rfp. To get a we called it the comprehensive stormwater management plan. Last summer. John Compton: We received a report from Solz and the aim of that was to advise us on what sort of infrastructure and maintenance and installations would work in town to help control Stormwater run off John Compton: west of Grove Avenue, not the whole town, but west of Grove Avenue. John Compton: and all of water which runs into the West Woods, where we have a as everyone should know, a a major problem. John Compton: Which is big enough that it will require some funding and an approach that we don't yet John Compton: haven't yet John Compton: addressed John Compton: completely. John Compton: but we now have prospects of doing that. John Compton: We'll get to that a bit in a bit. John Compton: And just recently we finalized a storm water, infrastructure, maintenance. Rfp, which is now out for bids. John Compton: And that is the result of this earlier comprehensive management plan, storm, water management plan. John Compton: so this is proposes some specific specific work. And Patty Klein's going to give a little overview of what that that Rfp. Proposes. John Compton: but that what? The, what work we are requesting interest and and costs on. John Compton: Alright John Compton: so that looks like the end of the end of last year. So let's quickly move on to the coming year John Compton: back to stormwater management. John Compton: So we need to award a contract to use our Arpa funds to do the renovation upgrades. I just was explaining that we are currently John Compton: seeking bids on John Compton: and the funds need to be committed. We're committed equals. A contract signed by the end of this this calendar year. John Compton: also in storm water management, and this is not known by very many people in town. John Compton: This is a new, a new John Compton: development. We are going to partner with the Montgomery County Green Bank. John Compton: To implement what they are calling climate resilience John Compton: pilot program. John Compton: They have received funding to work with. John Compton: smaller municipalities. John Compton: such as Washington and Grove John Compton: to to help with climate resilience which John Compton: spans a variety of things in our case. It's, you know, floodwater due to excessive rain John Compton: and and damage there, too, and and they have approved a pilot program with us. John Compton: It has 3 components. That's the Restoration study what I mentioned earlier, where where we need to get. Look at, look at exactly what sort of what sort of solutions will stabilize and preserve the West woods from Stormwater. John Compton: the stormwater flood management, strategy execution. That means, you know, executing any of those recommendations. John Compton: and, lastly, which they are interested in, and which could be a big benefit to residents who need it. Storm water management, flood management assistance program for Washington Grove residents. John Compton: This is, could be in the form of low low interest loans, grants, and other things. But the this would be through the town for for application for the use of residents on their own properties. John Compton: So this is just getting started literally John Compton: last week John Compton: in sustainability. As I told you around, continue the renewable Energy Conversion Center pilot program for for another year and and evaluate you know how successful it it, how helpful it is in reducing the town's carbon footprint and helping out residents John Compton: with their heating and vehicle John Compton: shared. Use path the Washington Grove Connector. John Compton: we're going to, we when I say we, I mean me and the shared use Path Committee. John Compton: We're gonna continue to monitor the Montgomery County Department transportation progress and on the connector and we are hoping to get it construction started by the end of fiscal 2025 John Compton: and see do was pessimistic. But there we we were successful in getting John Compton: the county to put funds in their capital. But budget or John Compton: fiscal 25 for construction of the of the of the bike path, John Compton: should it get to the point of of actually being. If not, we'll have to move it into the next year. John Compton: a, as as all of you know, this bike path has been excruciatingly long John Compton: in planning so. John Compton: and executing John Compton: alright also on the shared use path. Subject. Gathersberg is well into design John Compton: of a bikeway bike path. John Compton: a bike path from Old Town to connect all the way to Brown Street. John Compton: Which includes work in town from the commercial corner to Brown Street. And Peter's gonna talk a little bit about that in connection with his review of things at the commercial corner, so I won't say any more about that John Compton: oh, well, I will say a little bit more. The the bikeway plans the Gaithersburg has shown us. John Compton: include that segment to Brown street, which John Compton: which will require a small piece of land. John Compton: From the property owner at the commercial corner. John Compton: Alright. Speaking of the commercial corner again, we're going to it. This could be the year based on contacts with John Compton: bell properties. Touch on a bell. That that. We make make some real progress toward renovation of the commercial corner as envisioned in the comprehensive plan. So I won't say any more about that. But those have been John Compton: watching this or working on this for some time are pretty optimistic that we, we may be able to move that idea around which could include new uses at the commercial corner. John Compton: alright, and there's the ad easement thing again. That's the second point. John Compton: and this, I believe, is the last one. So John Compton: this meeting is being held virtually because we we, I believe, and John Compton: 3 of the Council, believe all the Council believes that. John Compton: that that that the virtual meeting attracts more attendance than than an in person meeting, and and that's because you're able to be in your own John Compton: comfort of your own home and yet participate in the meeting. We like to be able to get back to in-person meetings, but we can't. John Compton: We can't do a hybrid meeting without the technology and some experience. So again. John Compton: this year. John Compton: we're going to try and John Compton: develop that capability. We, we will start with the town council. John Compton: So this is a heads up to the Town Council. John Compton: We're going to have to meet in person John Compton: but in order to test whether hybrid the hybrid technology and work out the wrinkles in it. By the way, the Mount Montgomery municipal cable John Compton: has offered to assist the town. They've assisted a number of towns. They've even provided hardware equipment to do it. John Compton: And as an aside I am currently the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Mon a Montgomery municipal channel John Compton: representing Washington Row. John Compton: Alright, so that I think, is going to conclude John Compton: my presentation of the state of the town. So at this point, if I can. John Compton: I share. John Compton: I'll take some questions. John Compton: or not. There'll be plenty of time to ask questions later. John Compton: With other presentations and the finding control. John Compton: part of the discussion. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: right? So we will. Then John Compton: move on to the next item on the agenda, which is the storm water management. John Compton: presentation John Compton: by Patty. So now I have to find Patty. Patrice Klein: Here. John Compton: Make sure she's a Co. Host, cause she has her. Patrice Klein: Good point. Can you hear me? Okay. John Compton: Yes, we can hear you, and now you should be able to. Patrice Klein: Can I share. John Compton: Share, your your. Patrice Klein: Very good. Patrice Klein: Thanks. I'll just pull up my Patrice Klein: presentation. Give me a second Patrice Klein: and oops sorry. Let me go into Speaker mode. When that happens. There we go. John Compton: Disappeared. Patrice Klein: There you go. Patrice Klein: Okay. Patrice Klein: hopefully, you can see that. Yes. Patrice Klein: Okay. Lovely, alright. Well, to be mindful of time, John, you thankfully done. A pretty good background introduction. I just kind of go through some more updates. And, as John mentioned, as you know, we all have been experiencing more frequent and heavier rainstorms in recent years, and noticeable. Patrice Klein: often rapid buildup of of water, ponding water along our town roads, our walkways, and their intersections as pictured here, sort of classic. Patrice Klein: Starting about 5 years ago, though, there was a group of town residents that began looking into storm water management and mitigation options. So it has been kind of going on and off for a while. And tonight I'm just representing the current stormwater management or mitigation working group, and I'm going to give you the latest updates, maybe piggyback on what John had said to provide you with that and some next steps. Patrice Klein: Okay, moving on. We have the storm order management assessment. So back in 2,023, Patrice Klein: we did contract, as John mentioned, with a company called Soltas, Llc. They're an environmental engineering company Patrice Klein: to provide a storm, water management or mitigation assessment of our limited town infrastructure, and to determine frankly if it was still functioning acceptably in these sort of quote reasonable storm events. Patrice Klein: focus for the assessment was really from the high point on the west side of town, John mentioned starting at Grove Avenue, going westward towards Washington Grove Lane, and that's where the storm water is then conveyed across or under actually Washington Grove Lane into the West woods, and we were trying to look at Patrice Klein: what could be done within the public right of way to mitigate both the quality and the quantity of this downstream discharge into the West Woods. So the Soltees Environmental Engineers, led by Jason Patrice Klein: Mills, looked at 7 sites in the town, and that's pictured here on that diagram on the right of your screen that showed where they looked at 7 areas within the town to evaluate the existing storm order Patrice Klein: infrastructure that included these culverts and swells, for example. Patrice Klein: and remembering that a hundred year storm event is looked at to evaluate. If there are flooding issues and things like erosion that actually can, you know, happen down the road in the future. The 10 year storm is generally looked at to look at storm drain systems, to see if they're adequate to convey proper amounts of water, so just kind of keeping those timelines. Patrice Klein: So that assessment report in 2023 their recommendations came down to a few items. The existing facilities that we have need to be inspected and maintained. Some of them are asphalt swails which actually need to be upgraded to what we're calling bios I'll talk about in a second and even more efficient inlets and then surface drainage easements also need to ensure adequate drainage, you know, across roadways and even across, you know, private properties. Patrice Klein: And then there was a suggestion about a submerged gravel wetland. I'll show you that in a second that would capture a portion of this runoff also sort of treat the water while it was retained, and then conveyed that ultimately what was left over into the Westwoods from various town roads Patrice Klein: and culverts. Patrice Klein: Let's see. Okay, so here, this is just stepping back for 1 s in 2,022. So the year before that Patrice Klein: we had already contracted with Soltez and and Jason to first conduct the storm water damage assessment in the West Woods that frankly from the West from the Woods Committee Perspective. That was kind of our emphasis is to figure out what the heck was going on there Patrice Klein: from both increasing volume and velocity of stormwater drainage into the woods that was coming from town from Washington Grove, from Town Crest, which is just north of us, and also just along the roadway. The Washington Grove Lane runoff. Patrice Klein: I just want to pick. Point out really quickly here for your if you're looking at the top right hand corner. That gully there is, and that fence line that's Maple Lake. Patrice Klein: Okay? So that's the Maple Lake fence line. And that gully has been getting worse and worse for the past number of years. You can even see then, the middle or upper left of the picture those 2 large trees with their roots exposed. It is truly just etching water is flushing through there and etching out the the banks. Patrice Klein: We've also had to actually move the fence line back from Maple lake. There's 2 little posts there you might be able to identify metal posts in the ground that are left over from the old fence line that was now being undermined by all this water Patrice Klein: on the lower right hand corner is actually showing. If you happen to be in the woods during a heavy rainstorm, it. Literally, it looks almost like a flash flood situation that is actually the other side of that gully just coming pouring down in that sheeting water. And that's also undermining tree roots. And actually some trees we actually topped off Patrice Klein: to avoid them from falling over on the bottom part of your screen in the middle, and to the far left is town crest to the north of us, and they have a huge culvert cement culvert that comes off their parking lot, which is higher than where we are in the woods, and that's where that Patrice Klein: chain link fence area is there? But if you notice, if you go to the bottom of the chain link fence. The cement footers have been actually already exposed, and all of that wash out in that little section. It used to be a tiny stream. It's now developing into another gully. Patrice Klein: So that's just again things that are been happening for the past years. Jason, I know him even pointed out that over by Maple Lake that that trench and gully there is eroding faster than he even expected it was, and getting wider and deeper. Patrice Klein: So we had this assessment report done in 2,022, and they had short and longer term solutions and recommendations to find ways for us to reduce the impacts of all this runoff in the woods. But the first approach, excuse me, would be to address the storm water drainage coming into the woods upstream from the town. Patrice Klein: So just giving you sort of a little history about, you know how we've been working through this problem so quickly onto what we are doing currently. And I'm just trying to adjust my screen here. So I can Patrice Klein: make it a little easier for me to see. Okay, so here on. This is Patrice Klein: this is part of the design. Build. Rfp, so we did recently develop. And as John pointed out, it's already out for bid. Now it's released. Patrice Klein: This design build requests for proposals for the maintenance and improvement of existing stormwater system within these selected public right of way areas in town that, again, is based on the Soltes assessment report from last year. Patrice Klein: as he mentioned. We also are hoping to be able to fund all of this with our Federal and State funds, the Arpa funds, which is the American rescue Plan monies. That's about $450,000. The State bond is about $250,000. Good news for some or all that, but we do have some time line commitments on the Federal funding. Patrice Klein: So we are. We are experiencing all these negative impacts. And what I wanted to point out here is that the goal of this project, now that we've gotten these background assessment reports and sort of talked with Jason and Patrice Klein: and his team to figure out kind of where we can start working. Remember, this is just a start. This is not 100 fix everything. But we've got to focus on getting some things moving forward. So the goal this project is to obviously try to improve our current stormwater system, and to mitigate the damage not only within town, but obviously the downstream effects in the woods, and this again is to achieve stormwater resilience to at least that 100 Patrice Klein: a year storm event level going back to that 100 year Patrice Klein: timeline. So the contracted work would include the design and the construction to manage a storm. Water flows by improving our existing swales, upgrading some to Biosales. I'll show you that in a second repairing or replacing some of our worn down culverts and even installing a few of those like water retention facilities. I don't know. I don't want to take up too much time, but here you can see there's a number of areas that are listed. Patrice Klein: I can go through them if you want me to smooth this over here. So area one, for example, is at acorn and chestnut intersection, and that is actually to improve the existing culverts and some of the swell retention areas there to really improve Patrice Klein: the capture of water that is, at that intersection that again flows over, then into the back of the church. Parking lot areas to A and B are renovation of existing swells that are along Chestnut Avenue between Oak and Center and then also north of Center Street. So that's where we're going to be putting some swells there. That's in the sort of purple area. 2, a and 2 B. Patrice Klein: I'm sorry. Yeah, 2, a 2, a and 2 b 3 A and B is a culvert and sump. Repair down at hickory where those circles are that's at hickory intersections of chestnut. I'm sorry of center and of oak. So those are culverts that need to be repairs because some of them are collapsed and just not really functional areas 4, A and 4 B. Those are. Patrice Klein: whereas 4 A and 4 okay down there. So 4 A and 4 B swell maintenance that's on the south side of oak Patrice Klein: that goes between Chestnut Road and Chestnut Avenue, and then a little further is also a replacement of an asphalt swell section, probably with some earthen swales. Again, on the south side of Patrice Klein: between Chestnut and Hickory. Patrice Klein: going to 5 A. And 5 B. Again. Swale maintenance on the south side of Center Street, between Chestnut Road and Chestnut Avenue. Patrice Klein: and then Area 6 is area 6. I don't. You can't probably see my cursor. But Area 6 is then that submerged gravel wetland, which is really at the base of center, where it intersects with Washington Grove Lane, so that, depending on on costs, and Patrice Klein: and you know what we get back from the bidders. That would be where that gravel wetland would then retain the water that's coming down through some of those culverts. It could hold the water, allow it to percolate, and then eventually slowly drain out, so that again prevents that sort of flushing across into the West Woods Patrice Klein: area 7 is also removal of a little existing asphalt swail. That's that walkway Patrice Klein: between. Is it? The behind the church? I'm sorry. Yeah. So there's a walkway now, an asphalt walkway that helps you to sort of cut through to get over to the lake, so part of that would be turned into a bio swell. But still there'd be an adjacent walkway alongside of it. And again, it's to hold water so that it doesn't flush too quickly. Across and into the woods Patrice Klein: and area 8 is also a swell renovation on the west side of Chestnut Road that then allows it to drain into the culvert that's on Center Street, and that is actually labeled as Area 9. So again, we're trying to funnel water into these conveyances and then also slow it down and retain it along the way. And then 9, as I mentioned, is already Patrice Klein: a culvert that was repaired when the electric charging stations were put in. But the the sump area or the holding area is not adequate enough, so some of that needs to be improved Patrice Klein: quickly. Let me just show you. I mentioned several times what a bio swell is. This is just an example. It's not necessarily what we're going to build. Patrice Klein: But the idea of a bio soil in general is a water retention unit, so that it's a mixture in this case of sand gravel, some sod or top soil, and it basically is a sponge. It then allows the water to absorb into that bio swell system. It also percolates some of the water which helps to improve water quality, and it slows the discharge Patrice Klein: alright. And similarly I mentioned about the gravel wetland. Again, this is just an example, not necessarily what would be built for us. But again, the idea is that it's a water retention system, and you can actually funnel water into it through. You know, various culverts and piping again. It settles out. It percolates a little bit, and then it also will slowly discharge. In this case, you know, either under Washington Grove Lane. Patrice Klein: and eventually maybe into the West woods. You can also do plantings on the surface. So that would also help for some of the aesthetics. I think that's about what I've got for an update. I just also want to thank. I forgive me if I've missed anybody. But I wanted to thank folks that have been part of this discussion over the years and most recently. So thank you all very much. And since I had the microphone really quickly, I just wanted to make a quick Patrice Klein: shout out to the Whetstone Spring Restoration, which is in part helping the West Woods overall, and I want I came across these. Certainly the old picture you may have seen before from 1,961 was what the Whetstone spring area used to look like. I found a picture 60 years later, in 2,022, when we came upon Wetstone Spring Patrice Klein: in this really silted and overgrown vegetation condition. That's what it used to look like almost a couple of years ago. You could hardly even know that there was a spring in there other than it looked like. It was just kind of soggy all the time. Patrice Klein: And then, thanks to Rj. Landscaping. Thanks to Steve words. Thanks to folks who helped out, this is what it looks like as of the 100 and fiftieth anniversary this past year, and it is beautiful. It has been completely restored. So I just wanted to, you know, have a moment to appreciate that. And we were just out there not too long ago to do a spring clean up, and it actually still looks wonderful. It hasn't been vandalized, thank heavens! Patrice Klein: And so last thing is Patrice Klein: we also are looking at. There's another major spring that's actually right behind the maples lake, because that was the original source water for Maple Lake, and that is the Maple spring and this photo. I don't have a date on it. Perhaps somebody can help me with that. But let's go back to the 18 hundreds right. This is what Maple Spring used to look like. Obviously a lot of farmland there at the time. Now behind the senior, is probably where our lake is Patrice Klein: but that remnant of that cement rim around there where the ladies are sitting, it is still very degraded, but that that cement rim and and reinforcing edge is still there. It's just really in bad shape. So we're gonna try to get in there and also clean out a lot of the overgrown vegetation, and see what we can do to repair and restore that area. Patrice Klein: So heads up on that one and thank you. That's all I've got Patrice Klein: back to you, John. Patrice Klein: unless there's any questions. Patrice Klein: I can't hear anybody. So maybe there's no questions. John, you're on mute. John Compton: Yeah, I am on mute. There'll be questions when we actually address the actual work. John Compton: And you know what it's really going to cost. And John Compton: the people who the the residents that will be impacted either by the work John Compton: or the plans will, of course, get John Compton: can well be able to be, you know, involved in. Patrice Klein: What's the due date? I I lost track of. You've got the bids out now. When are they supposedly due back? Is it. John Compton: They're due June fifth, or something like that. They were planning to start John Compton: talking to Con to the contractors at the Council John Compton: in June, but if it slips, it slips. Patrice Klein: Okay. Thank you. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: Alright, so now we are going to have here about an update on the sustainability. John Compton: In Washington Grove. And Paul patron is here and I'm going to run. His John Compton: is John Compton: slide program. If I can start up. All here are here alive and well and John Compton: Okay. Paul P: Okay. Great, yeah. Can you all hear me? Okay. Paul P: yeah. Yeah. Paul P: Okay. It's the looks like it's a little Paul P: weird, is it? Are you running it in presentation mode. The Pdf. John Compton: He just opened it. What do you want me to do. Paul P: Normally there's a. John Compton: It's a it's a Pdf, so I can't run a new presentation. Paul P: Oh, okay, does it not have? Sometimes you can. I'm like, Oh, that's fine. You just scroll. Okay? Yeah. So you can go to the next. Paul P: yeah. Paul P: Okay, so just a quick reminder. You know, one of the goals of the committee. Paul P: The Sustainability Committee is really to identify and and quantify and just understand our sources of admissions. And and to make sure that the estimates that we come up with are really consistent with sort of nationally and internationally recognized methods for estimating carbon Paul P: emissions, because this is really in some sense an accounting exercise Paul P: and the end result is we we wanna be able to provide actionable information to the town? Really with cost benefit analysis to help inform some of the the mitigation strategies. So you can go to the next Paul P: next slide here. Paul P: And so this is just a summary of the key findings. Folks have probably seen this before. This is from our 2021 22 carbon emission survey. We're we're currently updating that for the current year. But as of the last time we looked, our emissions were about 6,000 tons of carbon per year, which is about 2,500% more. Paul P: it's about 25 times more Co. 2 than our forest sequester. So this is quite a lot. If you go to the next slide. Paul P: it'll really show the breakdown about 2 thirds of that actually comes from Paul P: 3 main sources. And that's basically our transportation, our heating and cooling and the electricity. So if we could address all of those sources that would reduce our emissions at least the the part that we modeled by about 2 thirds, or about 4,000 some tons, and that's really the goal of the incentives program. And so one of the key Paul P: aspects of the incentive program that really distinguishes this from other such programs, both in the state and nationwide is that one of the requirements is switching to renewable electricity. Electricity, and the reason for that is that actually comprises a really large part of the carbon footprint. So we're actually in some sense getting 2 for one with the incentives program. We either get a heat pump or an electric vehicle in addition to Paul P: or yeah. And in addition to that, the the conversion to renewal electricity. Paul P: You can go to the next slide. Now. Paul P: so just to give you a status update. John mentioned that. You know, we haven't had too many applications so far in part. That's just because you know, took some time to ramp up the program. And one of the things we've actually discovered is that it's easy to buy a car, and it's hard to install a heat pump in your home. Paul P: so we've actually got several heat pump applications on the way. But as of right now the top line. We've got 2 Paul P: ev applications that have been fully pro processed and reimbursed. Those are. Oh, this is the old presentation. John, I sent you an update one. It's okay. This is the 6 tons. That's just the that's just the emissions from the car for the ev applications. We've actually got an additional. Paul P: roughly, 10 tons of carbon dioxide associated with the electric conversion. So that number is actually closer to about 16 tons. These are just average estimates based on on some of our town wide analysis. We've also got Paul P: one ev, and our first heat pump application have been submitted, and we're now in the process of reviewing those we've got an Ev and 3. Are you looking for the newest. John Compton: Have it. John Compton: I apologize. It's. Paul P: That's okay. Paul P: Yeah. The the the numbers with the electricity. Paul P: Better. John Compton: The right one. That's the wrong one. So. Paul P: Yeah, it's okay. It's I. I remember the numbers. Paul P: So Paul P: are you? Gonna look for it? Okay. John Compton: Trying to get the right one. Paul P: Okay. John Compton: It was. John Compton: there! John Compton: That's the one. Paul P: No, no, that's still the old one. It's okay. Paul P: I'll like, I said. Basically, every the short of it is, every application Paul P: comes with an additional 5 tons on top of these numbers associated with the electricity. So you know the first line, the 2 ev applications that's really 1616 tons. The next one's really about 15 tons. The the third line. We've got one Ev and 3 heat pump conversions. Those are actually in process. So these are in various stage of process where, in some cases, they've already got the heat pumps installed, and we're just working with people Paul P: to get the renewable electricity converted. That's about 45 tons Paul P: reduction. If you add any electricity, and then we've got 3 more heat pumps expected this year, which is going to give us about 42. So if you go down to the next slide. Paul P: so the basically, it's 38 tons. If you look at just the Paul P: just the emissions due to the heat pumps and the burning fossil fuels Paul P: and or sorry burning fossil fuels and driving cars. If you add in the electricity. It's not the numbers aren't here, but it's actually closer to about 118 tons. Paul P: One of the really cool things that's been happening with this, though, is that there are far more conversions happening than are actually Paul P: being associated with the program, or that are they're more applicable. There are more conversions that are happening, that applications being submitted because there's some cases where people either don't fully qualify, because for whatever reason, they didn't quite meet all the criteria associated with the program. Or you know, they just we had one instance where someone wanted to keep an oil back up. So these aren't perfect cases in the sense that they're not. Paul P: you know, achieving 100% of the goal that we want. But we've got several heat pumps and Evs Paul P: that are happening, you know, without applications. And we've got an additional 4 heat pumps under consideration. Where we think there's a good chance that we're gonna get those within the next year. So so if you go down to the I think just the last slide here. Paul P: so kind of the summary of this is that we're anticipating a total of 11 conversions this year. Again, it's gonna be a 38 tons direct carbon. If we add in the electricity, it's about 118 tons. We've got the potential, you know. If we get all these applications submitted for about 60 direct tons of carbon emissions. As far as the the Paul P: direct combustion goes. If we add in the electricity, it's actually closer to about 200, some tons. So this is really good. This is this is actually several percent of our carbon footprint. One other takeaway from this, I think, is really nice. Is that Washington Grove and Tacoma Park are actually also leading Paul P: Montgomery County for some of the Elysian energy audits which are being used to help people plan out and identify heat pump systems and more energy efficient upgrades for the system. So, despite being one of the smallest towns in the county, we are really in some sense leaders in this field now. Paul P: So that's it. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: any quick questions for Paul. John Compton: I. I urge you and any of your friends and neighbors to consider whether you may. John Compton: would qualify for this rebate. It's not a rebate, this. John Compton: grant John Compton: calm. John Compton: If you went ahead with the plans you were thinking about regarding your your oil heat, or your John Compton: my gas using cars to to John Compton: electric vehicles. So John Compton: we want it to be a success. John Compton: It's not breaking the bank here in Washington Grove, obviously at this time. And you know, the Sustainability Committee has made a good case John Compton: or John Compton: for the town. You know, making the effort John Compton: finding the sources of resources John Compton: move, move these conversions along. Robert Booher: John, and just wanted to add, that one of the features that we can do one of the great things that we could do here in Washington Grove is Stack the benefits both from the town and the county, and the and the Federal Government and the State. One of the principal things for the heat pumps is that most of the houses in town will qualify for tax credit money from the Maryland Historic Trust. Robert Booher: It's a little bit of a ponderous process. But it's a lot of a lot of funding. John Compton: Right John Compton: good. John Compton: all right John Compton: next item on John Compton: The agenda is is a good part. Good good John Compton: fun time of for me, anyway. And if I can. John Compton: at my John Compton: screen shared, we're going to move on to the volunteer. It's actually I modified the John Compton: the agenda slightly, because it's going to be volunteers this year. John Compton: Yeah, should we get back to Christine? John Compton: yes, is well deserving of a recognition here. John Compton: for all the reasons I said at at the outset. But you know the it's not. It's it's both the time she spends making making the website up to date and adding things to it. John Compton: But of course she's also been creative about it, and John Compton: is committed has been committed to to improving its usability. So this is a huge volunteer effort. John Compton: And while Christine is John Compton: leaving the the the council John Compton: she's continuing as webmaster and we really, really it really has been a significant John Compton: effort and contribution to the town. And Christine, I personally think it's yeah. I've been around very skeptical about websites. We had one for my company. Very. John Compton: very familiar, that a website can actually be a detriment if it fails to John Compton: either contain the useful information John Compton: that users are looking for, or almost as bad out of date information. John Compton: And that's a super challenge. And I think you're doing fantastic job. Christine Dibble: Come up! John Compton: Trying to keep up with that challenge. Christine Dibble: Thank thank you very much, John. And I I think I've identified a lot of long term projects. Christine Dibble: For the next year. Aside from sort of maintaining the Christine Dibble: the Christine Dibble: you know, the news and the updates and that sort of thing. You know. I hope to vastly Christine Dibble: enhance the search engine for one thing which still Christine Dibble: does not give very good results, and there are a lot of other projects behind the scenes that won't be evident to you, but that will make the site run more smoothly. Christine Dibble: So that's what I want to focus on in the next year. Christine Dibble: Thank you so much. John Compton: Right. I and I I I since you've you've mentioned that Christine has spoken to the Council and and to me that. You know, we're we're probably gonna have to, you know, hire both, spend some money and possibly hire hire someone to to John Compton: realize some of these improvements. That will will stand the website well going forward. So not happening this year clearly with Budget. But it's it certainly could be in a in future years. John Compton: Okay? Well. John Compton: well, so I had a had a problem this year, because, it's a good problem. It was. It was actually there were no shortage of candidates for volunteer the year, and I'll say right at the outset. There are many who have yet to be recognized for their ongoing contributions. And hopefully they're hire, or somebody else will get to them. In in an appropriate way. But John Compton: going on front for today. But I do, went the wrong way. Good. John Compton: I also have another volunteer of the year award to Meredith Haran. Simply because of of the of the hu tremendous, her tremendous influence John Compton: in in developing our 100 and fiftieth anniversary year John Compton: events in putting the committee together, she I, as far as I know she was pretty much the, you know, took took the reins in in in late 2,022 John Compton: to start this going. I'm crediting her with being the organizer. Mind you, there are lots of people involved. We we all know how many tech to to put it to, to, to realize all of events. But I I think, Meredith, if you had to pick someone out who John Compton: who John Compton: really John Compton: you know got the thing going and kept it going. So she was the organizer, recruiter, motivator, and cheerleader for everybody else as well as doing a lot of work herself and Meredith, I apologize. These are the pictures I had. John Compton: for her. And well, while they are in a posed picture they they capture her spirit, I think. horan: Thank you. John. Very nice. John Compton: Okay? Good. Right? Well, I'm not done. There's one more because you know, we with there, there John Compton: have been John Compton: many people here in town have spent years John Compton: doing making contributions, and you know they don't expect any, any, necessarily any any recognition but they have a big impact on the town, and so I don't have a picture of Audrey. John Compton: So instead, that is a picture of Balorax. John Compton: because I've characterized Audrey as speaking for the trees, which is what the Lorox says. He speaks for the trees. John Compton: So I hope everyone knows that not only is Audrey Co-chair in the Forestry and Beautification John Compton: Committee. John Compton: But she has shouldered the the time consuming and task of keeping up with the trees all all throughout the except for the woods all throughout the resident part of town John Compton: to monitor how they're doing, where pruning is needed. John Compton: where dead trees need to be removed. John Compton: and all the while working with a forestry beautification for planting new trees to to, you know both John Compton: both ornamental trees that look great in the short term and also canopy trees to you know, make John Compton: to to do something now which may hopefully will pay off in many years with new, a new large trees. So Audrey has done this now. Well, since I've been mayor. I I basically you know, rely on her John Compton: judgment and concerning John Compton: tree pruning requests and did tree removal requests John Compton: and she's really very thorough, and contributes a lot of time. So she's well deserving of a volunteer year award. iPad 2 Audrey: Thank you, John. I do not have a beard. John Compton: I might be. iPad 2 Audrey: That shape, but I don't have a beard. John Compton: Right? Okay. Well, Audrey, thanks so much. John Compton: Alright. iPad 2 Audrey: So come. John Compton: Okay, I have no more. 3 3 was was was the number for this year? John Compton: so our next the next part of meeting concerns budget and tax rate. John Compton: which is the required activity. Well, the town, the state of the town report, is required by our charter. Oh, I didn't show this. The the volunteer. Sorry the volunteers we get. We present the vol each of our volunteers of the year with a with a John Compton: We're giving them the. Kathy Lehman: Picture. John Compton: Page, the page which is here on the right. John Compton: From this book, Maryland's 150 Incorporated Cities and Towns. This page we frame it, and present it. It's a rather nice page, and, you know, hopefully be something to add to put in between that Craig English prints John Compton: on their on their wall somewhere. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: no. Has helped to remember. Alright. So on with the the budget, the tax rate. Item, hopefully, you've all looked at that. The. It's been in the materials for deferral for you know, for a week or or so. John Compton: Before we get onto it. I want to. I wanna run through some of the some some things just to inform everyone John Compton: about the about the the budget and and finances. John Compton: so let me just start out. I'm going to go through this pretty quickly. John Compton: So the proposed revenue from tax assessments. The property tax rate is kept, was calculated on constant yield, which yielded, which ends up with a slight decrease in the per $100 tax rate, and raises the same amount of money as last year, $260,000. John Compton: The dwelling tax revenue. The dwelling tax represents a pass through of the cost of refuse and recycling. John Compton: As it turns out, our we had a new. We're having a new, referencing, recycling contracts, starting July first. John Compton: That that kind of those contracts are are higher than the previous contract, which was John Compton: 3 years ago. John Compton: But lower than the one we expected for this year. Because our expenses in the last year were lower. Then we John Compton: we expected and we charge. The dwelling tax John Compton: town approved a dwelling tax. What? Which was in excess of what the actual cost. John Compton: The dwelling tax revenue proposed for the for the coming year John Compton: is the actual cost of the new contract, which is, would be $216. I think it's 216 John Compton: dollars per per dwelling unit. John Compton: but reduced by the overcharge John Compton: from last year, which was $39. John Compton: So we will be collecting less dwelling tax revenue this year because we over collected last year. John Compton: and the amount charged to individual property owners is $67 lower than we charged last year. John Compton: That's the proposal. John Compton: Alright John Compton: also on revenue, we got the state how our user funds will be up John Compton: that was in peril at the state level due to the State's budgetary situation. But in the end they restored the user funds being given to localities. So we will be getting about 75. We expect to get about 7,500 or more than we got this year. John Compton: We also get county tax duplication funds. The county is making good on an agreement with the municipalities here in Montgomery County John Compton: to array, to increase the amount they provide. And this year we're slated to get $95,000 this coming year. John Compton: alright. So onto expenses. Our landscaping and facilities services. That's John Compton: we we John Compton: with with our contracted landscapers. Sorry John Compton: we have a contract which is the second. In. In the last year of the previous contract we did the year before the $66,000, and in addition, there's a contingency added for other projects that we that are not part of a contract of $30,000. John Compton: That was the same amount as we had in here in for the current year, and seemed to be sufficient to cover our one off needs for maintenance projects. John Compton: We have the lower refuse and recycling costs as I John Compton: as I alluded to in the dwelling tax discussion. John Compton: We just awarded a leaf collection cost which could go for goes for one year, but could go for 5 years, and it was actually lower John Compton: than our previous contract was John Compton: and finally, just put it put again, mentioning the renewal by energy incentive program. Where the budget contains $20,000 the same amount that was in there for this year. John Compton: And we're gonna be going to be the Council is going to be asked to renew that project for the coming year. John Compton: Alright, there's a few other expenses just to quickly know road work at $40,000 for for the coming year. That's the same amount we John Compton: intended to spend this year, and we may still spend it in the last month and a half here of the year. I I putting together a it's either going to be an Rfp. Or at least an updated a previous bidding John Compton: for work around town. John Compton: for tree removal on proning the budget is is up 10% John Compton: as we all know. Unfortunately, the trees continue to. We see attrition going on at a increasing rate John Compton: Mccatherine Hall. Maintenance John Compton: was budgeted lower because we took care of the leaking pipe problem which was budgeted last year. John Compton: Playground. Refurbishing is a new item. It's the result of Eva's comprehensive review of the playground. There is no money for a no money in the budget for a new piece of polygon equipment. John Compton: Simply because the the John Compton: the John Compton: yeah, the effort to identify one and to move forward with it. Just. And to get program open space matching funds just couldn't be completed. So the the equipment has been deferred for another year. The new equipment John Compton: maintenance coordinator. We had $6,000 in there for this year for this current year. John Compton: but next year we're only going to have $0. That's because Peter Negrod, for his usual at his usual rate. John Compton: that he gets for being on the Council as maintenance coordinator. That is nothing. So Peter, very generously is, and and agreeably is taken on the task of coordinating all the activities that Rj landscape John Compton: scapers does around town. It's a it's a. It's a large job, but somebody has to do it. John Compton: I I've promised to go easy on him on the tennis court if he keeps this keeps up the good work. John Compton: Lastly, there is $5,000 in the budget for the Stump carving project. John Compton: That's $5,000 that it would be matching funds. So up to 5,000 to match donations that the group interested, promoting the stump carving and tends to to sake. Donations and the Council agreed to match John Compton: set donations up to 5,000, which would be $10,000 total John Compton: at the Max, which was deemed John Compton: by by consulting with a stump Carver to be an adequate amount. So that's that. John Compton: Lastly, just a quick review of our restricted capital project funding. You've already heard about it. The American Rescue Plan Funds we still have for about $450,000 attributable to the Rescue Plan funds as interest and a balance John Compton: which need to be committed by the end of this year. And we have the $250,000 from the State bond initiative. John Compton: Okay? So that brings me to the end of just the review of some of the budget items. John Compton: But before I ask for a motion to John Compton: Approve the budget. John Compton: I am going to request John Compton: that the meeting consider John Compton: making an adjustment to the existing, the proposed budget. John Compton: As all of you know, and some of you know more acutely than others. John Compton: our, our John Compton: our racial equity and Equity Inclusivity John Compton: Committee has been very active in pursuing John Compton: improving relationships between the town and our neighbors. John Compton: and in addressing John Compton: some of our potentially, some of our town policies that may be giving Washington Grove a a reputation as to as being as being exclusive and basically turning that John Compton: to John Compton: where it actually is. The town passed this anti-racism. John Compton: Resolution. John Compton: and that resolution, looking forward, says that the town will John Compton: will John Compton: will examine its policies and John Compton: and actions John Compton: to include the the John Compton: the the effect on diversity inclusivity John Compton: effect. John Compton: And to do that, you know. We can all, just. John Compton: you know, raise our hands and say, Oh, hey! We pass this. That's great. But to actually do it. John Compton: means there's there's some tough things need to be thought about, at least thought about. John Compton: So one of the things that the John Compton: the basic proposed to the Council among the things they proposed, and I'm not going to address the Mccatherine Hall, renaming. That's gone away for now. John Compton: When they produce some diversity, equity and inclusivity training Dei training John Compton: in the coming year. John Compton: The Council did not get a chance to actually discuss that proposal. John Compton: And in fact, the the the proposal raises some questions and and concerns, and I think those are great enough. John Compton: I should step back. My personal experience with with Dei training is very positive. John Compton: I'm not. Gonna I'm not gonna explain John Compton: detail. Why I thought it was. Well, I will explain. It was. It was. It was important, it it was useful to me, because it exposed my own biases John Compton: that I was not aware of, that I had, and and I, my unconscious treatment of others. John Compton: Who of of minorities John Compton: was John Compton: was John Compton: needed to be John Compton: overtly controlled. So I do a better job. John Compton: But more than that, it was also eye opener to understand the reaction of minorities, of blacks, of Hispanics John Compton: and their sensitivities. Which? John Compton: I, you know, was something that John Compton: I I would not necessarily consider, or did not consider, because I assumed everybody has a hard skin like I do. John Compton: No, that's not true, I but but the fact is that the training was valuable to me personally. John Compton: But it was a certain kind of training. John Compton: And there are other kinds of the training, and I think the concern there's concern both with the Council, with within the town John Compton: that that John Compton: that the kind of training that the town supports needs to be appropriate to the town. So John Compton: having said that because the Council hasn't been involved. I am going to ask that the funding for the training, which is $6,000, John Compton: be be removed from the budget. John Compton: and the basic budget can then go forward with all their other activities, which are John Compton: have been largely extremely positive. John Compton: Our relationship with Emory Grove is is much improved. Our sense of John Compton: sense of John Compton: a community I think of has been sharpened. Our our assessment of ourselves has has been John Compton: in some cases painful, but in mostly it's been John Compton: helped bring bring the town, at least many of us John Compton: into a develop a better John Compton: appreciation of of how the town is is is doing with respect John Compton: to John Compton: to diversity. We all know we're not as terribly. We do not represent Montgomery county in diversity. John Compton: And while we may never represent Montgomery County University. John Compton: Yeah, there, there is, no doubt something. John Compton: some some some basis to try and understand. Why do we not represent John Compton: that diversity? And John Compton: what if anything, should we do about it? John Compton: I'm not saying we need to do something, but but evaluating it and thinking about it is a valuable exercise. So Race doing a lot of good things, they did some controversial things. The Dei training is premature, in my opinion. So I'll now open up. Having said my piece, I will now open the floor to a resolution to a proposal John Compton: for for the budget, and Tom Land is sitting there with his hand up, so I'll let Tom. John Compton: I had. Tom Land: So. Tom Land: So thank you, John, for that, and my motion is to adopt the budget as it was presented. With the modification that you suggested removing the $6,000 for the race. 6, proposed Dei, consultant. John Compton: Before we go for a second does anybody else wish to discuss the nature of of the motion? So the the story about a motion of of floor is, it can be altered John Compton: prior to being seconded John Compton: after it's seconded. You then have to John Compton: either vote it down or get the agreement of the of the mover, and the second, it's more complicated. So let me see if somebody wants to address this prior to seconding, this this motion, and the first one I see is Sarah Reck and Tessa John Compton: is. And and is that Cobrun? I don't know who exactly that is. I don't see any any video. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: Real. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: Oh, you have to online. Oh, we're here. Can you hear us. John Compton: Yeah, now, we can see. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: Okay, yeah, here we are. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: Okay. Hands. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: Okay? So so we're appreciate the Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: supportive remarks that you made about the progress that the town is working to make, and Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: just want to understand Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: whether the Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: the decision that's on the table to remove that piece of from the budget for right now should be understood as a slowing, as a altering, as a it doesn't feel supportive of Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: the approaches of racic. And so I'm trying to understand it better. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: Yeah. And just to continue that just that. I I wonder Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: if if our neighbors were to find out that funding was being removed Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: that if that itself would be taken as a Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: you know a negative move by the town towards our overall goals. And so that's seems like. John Compton: I'm out. Sarah, Rick, & Tessa: The word. I don't know. John Compton: I'm interrupting you only because John Compton: any, any discussion at this point, because we don't have a we don't have the motion seconded. John Compton: The only thing to discuss now is the form of the motion. John Compton: not the John Compton: the, the, the value of the motion, or whether you agree with it or don't agree with it. And I, yeah, we will. We're going to get to that. John Compton: So what I'm really asking is, does anybody have any any? Any problem with the motion, as it was proposed. John Compton: Charlotte. Charlie Challstrom: I believe the motion is out of order. We have a process to present and deliberate on a budget as presented by the council that's stipulated in our town charter. I think your individual opinion might be quite valid, but I think it's improperly presented. There isn't a adequate time Charlie Challstrom: to give rational evaluation of such a knee jerk red flag and as one who has been immersed in Charlie Challstrom: the some of the projects of of racic. I I recognize that Charlie Challstrom: some aspects were Charlie Challstrom: difficult to present, because there wasn't a correct balance of some of the information I'm talking specifically about the name change. So I'm glad that I was pleased to be a member of the basic committee to make the motion to withdraw that. But we went through a process, and I think you're jumping out of a committee process in this case causing angst and pinpointed Charlie Challstrom: negativity. Charlie Challstrom: that would be associated if the town were to remove this money in this short term process at this time. So I I'm pleased there's not been a second, and I hope there isn't one. John Compton: So let me review what Charlie is saying. And John Compton: This is exactly the kind of comment I John Compton: glad to get. John Compton: the the John Compton: as you know, the the Washington groves. Budgets John Compton: are like most budgets are simply authorized spending limits. John Compton: There's no requirement that the money be spent. John Compton: There may be consequences to not spending it. People may not be happy, or someone may may be angry. John Compton: But the fact is that if if something's in the budget, and there are many, many examples. We all know that where the money is is under spent, and often just not spent, so having it in the budget does not require it to be spent. John Compton: and John Compton: In the case of a controversial expense, the answer. John Compton: at least the way my answer is always to involve the Council John Compton: in deciding how to proceed with with with spending that money. So John Compton: while John Compton: while the money may be intended John Compton: for racic to spend. They don't have any authority to spend it without approval. John Compton: Not only, or at least approval is by myself and the treasurer, but also it can be the John Compton: So what Charlie is saying? You can leave it in the budget, and that doesn't mean it's going to be spent, that's all I'm saying. So let's move on to the next one. I'm gonna try and stay in order. I think, Dave. John Compton: Well, I don't know what order you guys came up in. Charlene McClelland: Well, John. John Compton: We're still talking only about the resolution, the the proposed motion. Charlene McClelland: I'd like to second that motion. John Compton: I'm not recognizing who is. Charlene McClelland: John Mcclellan. John Compton: John, you're not recognized. Go ahead, Dave. Dave Cosson: Sure substantively where or figure where this fits in. But the my reaction and and dealing with Dave Cosson: how you proceed here is the problem in part, maybe because Dave Cosson: of the use of the word training, and I was brought to this point by your recollection and company training. I think training is Dave Cosson: as a connotation. It's something that employees are are required to do. I. I support the Dave Cosson: efforts of basic to Dave Cosson: provide educational resources for town residents and to help them to understand. I think training seems to be too compulsory, so that, however you come out in this. Dave Cosson: I would try to find a Dave Cosson: a different title for it. Dave Cosson: Thank you. John Compton: Alright. I'm just working away my way across. I've got Patty. John Compton: Rob John Compton: and Gilmore, and then Dennis. John Compton: and then John Compton: maybe John Mccallum. Patrice Klein: Alright. I assume I'm up next, so I. John Compton: Yes. Patrice Klein: If I heard you correctly at the beginning, John. Patrice Klein: I I thought I heard you say that in the case of this request Patrice Klein: that was listed in the proposed budget for this committee, that the Town Council had not had an opportunity yet to review it. Patrice Klein: All of our town committees were required to submit our budgets, I believe, back at the end of February. Patrice Klein: with whatever items we wanted for this coming fiscal year. Patrice Klein: and that also was part of the opportunity for the Town Council to review those requests. There was a Budget meeting. Patrice Klein: and if this was not actually discussed Patrice Klein: with the Town Council, then it really should not be on the budget for this fiscal year. Patrice Klein: That was just. I'm just trying to work through this logically as to what we need to do, as probably in our processes. Patrice Klein: So it doesn't mean that it couldn't happen later. The other item is that it's also above $5,000, which would require an Rfp. Patrice Klein: so I'm just looking at it from Patrice Klein: the point of view of Patrice Klein: what is our process in our town budget. Patrice Klein: Okay, thanks. John Compton: Alright. You guys are addressing the item directly. John Compton: I don't really want to have to respond to all of these. John Compton: If if it's if the contracts going to be more than $5,000. Yes, then we're going to have to bid it. Nobody's proposed the contract over $5,000 or a proposal that's would be over that. So that's moat. That's something for the for the future. John Compton: The fact that the Council saw this in this request and put it in John Compton: to to the budget does is not the same John Compton: as reviewing how the money exactly is spent on what was categorized as Dei training. John Compton: so Council cannot be expected to debate every potential expense John Compton: in a budget until the the details of it are brought forth. John Compton: The Council can approve the spending. So the the fact that it stays in the budget John Compton: does not import mean it's being spent, for in any particular way, because it's both says is, is train is Dei training. It doesn't give you any details. John Compton: Alright, I don't want to belabor that. But let's go on with Rob. Robert Gilmore: I strongly oppose the motion. Robert Gilmore: I I think that the it raising this, singling out Robert Gilmore: all of the various items in our budget, this one item Robert Gilmore: potentially hiring A. D, and I consultant Robert Gilmore: is sends a terrible message Robert Gilmore: to, I think, in the town. Robert Gilmore: That's Robert Gilmore: we aren't really Robert Gilmore: we, that we still have Robert Gilmore: a great deal of hesitation about Robert Gilmore: grappling with Robert Gilmore: racial equity and our relationships with Robert Gilmore: neighboring Robert Gilmore: the communities. Robert Gilmore: it may be that the Town Council Robert Gilmore: decides that it doesn't want to spend that money, but if we take it out of the budget, then we're not going to be in a position to do that, and it is true that we haven't had that deliberation, but I don't know why on earth we would pretermit that deliberation now Robert Gilmore: we should keep it in the budget. We all saw that it was in the budget. Robert Gilmore: There are various items every year that don't get end up getting appropriated. That don't end up getting spent, and you know the the money gets deferred. Maybe that will be the outcome here. But we, as the town Council, the elected representatives of the town ought to have that power, and I think Robert Gilmore: again terrible message. I move under Robert's rules of order to postpone this matter indefinitely. The motion. Robert Gilmore: I asked someone to second it. I believe Robert Gilmore: if someone seconds it, that that requires an immediate vote. Eva: I will forget that motion. John Compton: It's easier to ask the person John Compton: making the motion to withdraw it. Robert Gilmore: I asked the person, making the motion to withdraw it. Robert Gilmore: But I don't. My motion to postpone indefinitely was Tom. If you withdraw it, that'd be great, but my motion stands and spend second in. I think it requires a vote. Dennis Kirschbaum: John, you can't. There can't be a motion to postpone indefinitely when there hasn't been a second on the main motion. John Compton: No. Robert Gilmore: I'm not sure that that's right. Dennis Kirschbaum: No, that's that's correct. There has to be a second to the motion before it's even discussed. John Compton: Yeah, that's correct. We've we've gotten a little too far. I thought somebody would, would. John Compton: would just say, No, we don't have anything. Let's go on and second it. John Compton: Let's just be more forthright on this. John Compton: Tom, do you want to withdraw the motion. Tom Land: I will withdraw the motion. I have heard the comments and the Tom Land: the unusual nature of of what I was proposing doing, and that you talked about in presenting the budget, and I would withdraw the motion and let the town council in the future take this up Tom Land: as Tom Land: 2 of the 5 proposals from Racic still need to be considered by the Town Council in coming meetings. John Compton: Okay, thank you. Thank you. So in that case. John Compton: rob your, your, your your motion to postpone indefinitely and John Compton: doesn't have a target. John Compton: so we are at the point of. I'm requesting a motion to approve the budget as presented. John Compton: I know I have a second got John Mcclellan. No, yeah. He was seconding the the the other one. Robert Gilmore: I second. John Compton: I need. I need a motion to approve the budget. Tom Land: John, I'll. Robert Gilmore: Budget, as originally entered. John Compton: Sorry I didn't hear who. Robert Gilmore: Rob. I moved to approve the budget as originally introduced. John Compton: Okay, second. Charlie Challstrom: Second. Tom Land: Second. John Compton: Alright! Charlie has seconded alright. So now John Compton: we can now discuss the budget John Compton: traditionally, and I I think Charlie made a really John Compton: what wasn't wasn't Charlie was rob rob made a John Compton: very cogent point. John Compton: and that is, you know, is it really? Do we really want somebody like the town meeting to start picking John Compton: at specific John Compton: budgeted items. John Compton: which John Compton: which is not a spending authority per se. John Compton: but but rather is simply allow an allowance John Compton: for funds to be available that the decision making John Compton: is John Compton: is in the hands of the Council. It's also in my hands, and the council John Compton: and that's where it belongs, and since it's in the proposed budget, it ought to be approved, and the John Compton: the decision to spend it, or how it's going to be spent should be placed in the hands of. John Compton: you know the elected officials. John Compton: So John Compton: alright. So now we have the current John Compton: current budget. Traditionally. John Compton: what usually happens is there's motions to add money which is perfectly in order. John Compton: or there's motions to alter the tax rate. John Compton: for you know. John Compton: for any reason whatsoever. John Compton: So I'm not saying there aren't other things. But let's let's move along. We we have the motion before us, so we're discussing the budget. I see Bill Earl over here. William Earl: Okay. So William Earl: I just wanted to respond to your statement about that. This was not an appropriate place to discuss the content of the budget. I mean, that's the point of whether approving the budget or not. William Earl: While we may well approve it today, I don't think it's out of order to have motions to amend the budget at this stage. John Compton: I didn't say you couldn't do it. I I it was my opinion that it probably was, would be John Compton: a John Compton: in a poorly conceived approach to opposing. John Compton: spending John Compton: alright. I see Patty again. Do I got anybody else? She's already had a little bit to say. John Compton: Alright, Patty, go ahead. Patrice Klein: No, sure, and I just needed some clarification. Patrice Klein: along the lines of what Bill just said is my understanding. This is the annual town meeting at which the town Patrice Klein: votes for the proposed budget granted. It's been reviewed by the Council, and the Mayor Patrice Klein: committees have put forward their proposals as well. Patrice Klein: But isn't this where the town actually steps up the residence and say. Patrice Klein: Hey, we're all in agreement, or Hey, we have some concerns about part of the budget. Patrice Klein: So help me understand that because I'm missing that right now. John Compton: No, I just agreed with. I agree with Bill. Yes, that can be done. Patrice Klein: So if somebody in the town said, Hey. Patrice Klein: we have a concern about something that's listed in the proposed budget. Patrice Klein: it could potentially be removed. If the town so wishes. That's not correct. John Compton: Yes. Patrice Klein: Okay, I just want to be clear, because Patrice Klein: we're here to allow the town residents to weigh in. Thank you. John Compton: All right. John Compton: rob. Robert Gilmore: Sure I Robert Gilmore: And just to respond to Robert Gilmore: Patty's comments. Robert Gilmore: I wasn't suggesting that Robert Gilmore: it's improper for the town to consider the budget or specific items. My. Robert Gilmore: I did think that it was unfortunate. Robert Gilmore: and that of all the various items in our lengthy budget Robert Gilmore: only one was singled out Robert Gilmore: a rather small one that hasn't actually even been debated yet hiring a Dni consultant Robert Gilmore: and so Robert Gilmore: I I don't think that Robert Gilmore: it is kind of a prudent or wise Robert Gilmore: approach to Robert Gilmore: have singled out that item. And I'm I'm glad, I hope, that we don't single that one item. Now. John Compton: Okay, Charlie, I'm gonna bypass you and let Liz go John Compton: possession. Liz Everhart: Hey? I'm just. I'm just confused. What are we talking about? The town hiring a Dei coordinator who is an employee of the town? Liz Everhart: Or are we talking about Dei training Liz Everhart: for people to take if they're interested? Because I think that's Liz Everhart: that's a totally different. I mean, those are 2 different things. If you were talking about spending $6,000 to hire a coordinator in town. That's just Liz Everhart: that's very different than spending $6,000 to hire somebody to offer some training, and so it both Liz Everhart: terms have been thrown around, and I don't understand exactly what Liz Everhart: the $6,000 is for an employee or offering some training. Thanks. John Compton: It was for training. Liz Everhart: For training. Okay? So not a coordinator to be hired in town. Okay. John Compton: For anything like that. Liz Everhart: Okay. Liz Everhart: Thanks. John Compton: And aware of. John Compton: Alright! I see Charlie, and then Barbara. Charlie Challstrom: I wanted to. Return to the Charlie Challstrom: the notion of what is Charlie Challstrom: specified and and by the town charter. With respect to this process we're going through. Charlie Challstrom: I did second the motion of approving the budget. The charter specifies that the town Charlie Challstrom: meeting gathered approves the maximum of allowed expenditures and approves the tax rates. Charlie Challstrom: it does not specify, and has not usually been interpreted as approving specific items at the town meeting. Charlie Challstrom: So Charlie Challstrom: the town meeting. Charlie Challstrom: Separately. There is a an action Charlie Challstrom: where the Council approves the budget by ordinance, because that's required by State law. Charlie Challstrom: But again, the town meeting approves the maximum expenditure limit. John Compton: Barbara. Barbara: I wanted to respond to Liz's question the recommendation that was sent to the town Council by Racic, and it's in the town. The Council reports that were handed out today. The recommendation from Rasik is, quote, Hire a Dei specialist to do training for the town Council members and all interested town residents on how to recognize racist and inappropriate behaviors. Barbara: receive feedback constructively, call it out without shaming, and use that knowledge to create inclusive change. So that is the recommendation from racic. John Compton: Alright any other comments on the budget. John Compton: or we move to a vote John Compton: alright, seeing none, we'll move to a vote on the John Compton: on the on the budget, which is a vote on the tax rates. John Compton: as well. John Compton: So we're going to do this attempt to do this by without account. John Compton: We'll we'll do it by with account, if we, if necessary. John Compton: But I'm gonna ask for those opposed to approving the tax rates John Compton: and budget as presented to raise your hand John Compton: pose. John Compton: Nick is talking, but he's not hearing. Nicholas Suzich: I am. I have hearing. I'm slow to react. So Nicholas Suzich: oh. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: alright. So those opposed to approving the tax rate budget as proposed. John Compton: I am seeing one. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: Thank you. John Compton: Now, if you those in favor of passing the tax rates in the budget. Please raise your hand. John Compton: and good John Compton: do they get enough to John Compton: avoid account? John Compton: Alright. John Compton: alright! I'm getting 40, 40 hands are raised and we have 64 connections. So at one John Compton: motor per connection, that is a majority, there's more coming up. John Compton: So my assessment is that the motion passes John Compton: and I will pause a moment. Does anybody object to that? Conclusion? John Compton: Okay? If not, then the motion passes and the tax rate and budget has been passed. John Compton: Blanket. John Compton: alright, we're gonna move right along my, my, ever optimistic. We can actually take a break. But we're already rather late. John Compton: Let's move on to the hpc. Report. Nicholas Suzich: Pop. Robert Booher: Hello, folks you! Pulling up the slides. John Compton: Momentarily. Oh, don't do that. Robert Booher: Anyway, I'll just. I'll just start much much of the much of the year. The the HP. Was engrossed in the sesquicentennial celebration. So, as John had mentioned before, which was a a great hit, I think. Robert Booher: and one of the first events had, Robert Booher: excuse me, I am a little bit under the weather. Daria Gasparini, of Robertson associates, who's the principal author of the Robert Booher: of the Store District Update? Do a formal presentation of that of that. Update it. She went through all of the parts of it. Robert Booher: and Robert Booher: and the new material that's in it, and and and pointed out the future benefits from Robert Booher: that that effort. And one of the last events. Robert Booher: had the former President of the Maryland Archaeological Society go through Robert Booher: some ongoing research. That is, he's doing, and a bunch of people are doing on the Pre Columbian artifacts found both in the walked quarry and in the in the surrounding areas, and it look back 10,000 years. So between those those events, so we did our usual dozen or so review projects, assisted the Planning commission with the adu Robert Booher: effort, the Women's Club, with the garden walk and Robert Booher: house and garden stroll. Robert Booher: and also with Montgomery county's archaeological office with the registration of the steotite Quarry arch archaeological site. Wendy Harris, on the Hbc. Robert Booher: Is our own registered professional archaeologist who has been leading that work. Robert Booher: Thank you. Wendy. Robert Booher: Look into looking forward to this year. 2 areas stand out right now. One is continuing our our look at the permitting process, and the other is to help Peter with his new commercial corner project. Robert Booher: Right at the end of the year we had 2 members step down. Jeff Mccrean and Marilyn Fry, both of whom had very unique views and skills for the Robert Booher: Commission. Thank you, Jeff, and thank you, Maryland. Robert Booher: which that, of course, means that we have 2 new members, Bill Earl and Samantha Suzitch. As the alternate. Robert Booher: they both bring very diverse skills to the, to the team as well. Robert Booher: And thank you, Bill, and thank you, Sam. So that sort of brings us to Robert Booher: to the fun part, which is the award. Robert Booher: and Robert Booher: this year's project involves one of the oldest and storied most storied cottages, the hardy Shanks cottage, also known as Peaceful Valley. Robert Booher: It was made actually from 3 cottages, I'm told, one of which started next to Peter's house, and I am also told that it actually shared the same chimney Robert Booher: with with Peter, said. Robert Booher: Yeah, you can. You can advance. The slides Robert Booher: went to the next line once Robert Booher: it most notably Robert Booher: belong to Rosalie Shantz. Robert Booher: so so the the the dashed line indicates where it used to be, and the photographs in the lower right Robert Booher: photograph Robert Booher: on the upper left is what it looks like today. And and the location at 102. Robert Booher: So go ahead and go to the Rosalie Robert Booher: picture. So Rosalie Robert Booher: Shantz was the granddaughter of Major Walker, who sired one of the most influential families in the Grove. Robert Booher: the daughter of the and she was also the daughter of the first woman to serve on the So Association Board, and the first woman to ever serve on the town Council Robert Booher: so Robert Booher: very storied. Location. Robert Booher: history. Go to the next slide, please. So the pro project Robert Booher: made fairly subtle. changes Robert Booher: almost unnoticeable changes. Robert Booher: but serve to stabilize the structure, making it, making sure it would live a longer and better life Robert Booher: stewardship at its best. So in this photo you see the the existing of a 4 shot, and in the next shot you'll notice there's a sort of a dormer like structure behind the Robert Booher: yeah. The original structure. Better than that shot. Sound Robert Booher: delete zip call. John Compton: Hey? I'm awake here! Robert Booher: So this is this is the the same. This you can see that the structure behind the the main. The original structure was was raised under the next shop. Robert Booher: And so here you see the lead before. Robert Booher: and Robert Booher: and then the active. Robert Booher: So Robert Booher: We believe that this this fairly minor Robert Booher: minor Robert Booher: aesthetic difference actually mediates between the old and the the very large newer structure that was was built. And so does a nice job of of stitching them together. Robert Booher: So we're presenting the award. You can go to the next shot slide. Robert Booher: We're presented over to Phil and Lynn Mento. Robert Booher: And for what's quoted on the certificate is for a modification that subtly improves the transition between the original Pre. 1,900 cottage Robert Booher: to the existing newer edition. So congratulations, Phil and and Lynn, and what we do. This certificate will be delivered to them. Robert Booher: And in a couple of weeks, or Robert Booher: maybe a month or so later on you'll get a actually a a cast bronze, small cast bronze plaque Robert Booher: to a fix to your house. So congratulations and thank you for being good stewards to the. Philip Mento: Well, this this is amazing. It was a surprise. So thank you very much. And Philip Mento: yeah, it's quite a surprise. So I was wondering why you were taking pictures of the house recently, Bob now. Robert Booher: Nice. Philip Mento: To. Robert Booher: And. Philip Mento: Anyone that's interested in stopping by and and taking a look at it. Please come by they're just doing the punch list now. So. Philip Mento: it's it's about over. We're looking forward to getting rid of the Dumpster and the port of Potty as well. Philip Mento: But thank you. Thanks for for thinking of us. I appreciate it. Philip Mento: share. John Compton: Okay, great John Compton: thanks, Bob. John Compton: alright then we'll move along to the planning commission report that Georgette is going to John Compton: The brief planning point of mission part that Georgette has prepared. So John Compton: let me get it up here as quickly as I can. John Compton: and we'll be good to go. John Compton: Georgette. Georgette Cole: Okay. Actually, the main thing from this slide is to mention that Jonathan Dale is retiring from the planning commission. He's been a wonderful planning commission member, and we're gonna miss him like hack. Georgette Cole: Sung Chang, who was our alternate, is going to be joining as a full member. Georgette Cole: and I have been talking to someone about becoming PC. Alternate, and that will happen around the May or June Council meetings Georgette Cole: so in addition to Georgette Cole: doing permits, which is where we get to interact with most of the town residents. Georgette Cole: Our big project for 2023 was the ad use Georgette Cole: which Georgette Cole: I'm just gonna say briefly, go to the next slide, John. Georgette Cole: our ad use are similar to Montgomery County, but we have changes that were made either by the planning Commission or by the Town Council Georgette Cole: to make them more grove specific. Georgette Cole: And we're hoping that Georgette Cole: all of this works out well. Georgette Cole: One of the reasons for implementing the ad use Georgette Cole: first. Of course, it's a good idea. It's supported by the comprehensive plan. Georgette Cole: and we also had a feeling that if we didn't do something about it. Georgette Cole: The State of Maryland might be doing it for us, and we'd really rather have Georgette Cole: our own zoning ordinances that control this. Georgette Cole: So these conditions. Address the concerns of residents Georgette Cole: next slide. Georgette Cole: and we're going to skip this one because most of you will have already seen it before. If you want any additional information I need to use. Georgette Cole: Contact us at the Planning Commission will be happy to help you. Georgette Cole: And moving forward. Georgette Cole: we're going to try and focus on going over the recommendations in the comprehensive plan to find areas that might need particular work. But the top priorities at the moment are looking at anti-magionization strategies. Because we want Georgette Cole: more long-term preservation of our historic integrity. We'll be working with the Cert Preservation Commission on this. Georgette Cole: and we're also going to be looking at ordnance changes Georgette Cole: for the uses at the commercial corner. Georgette Cole: So that it can better serve the needs of both town residents and the owners of the commercial corner. And this interesting topic is what Peter's going Georgette Cole: to address next. Peter Nagrod: Wow! Georgia. Great segue. Peter Nagrod: you know. John. Georgette Cole: You anything for you, Peter? Peter Nagrod: Thank you, John. Can I? John Compton: And if you know. Peter Nagrod: Screen. Peter Nagrod: Yes. Peter Nagrod: alright! Alright! Let me see if I can get this. -Oh! There we go. Okay. Can you see that. John Compton: In both green and black. Yeah. Peter Nagrod: Alright. Okay, that's I'm gonna go through this and skip a lot of this. But basically, I just wanted to just look at the history. I think most of the people on this call know this, but the famous lawsuit, with 7, 11, which was actually open 24 HA day, which was part of the problem. Peter Nagrod: and as a result of that Peter Nagrod: they were Peter Nagrod: some pretty serious limits. But on what could be put Peter Nagrod: in the commercial corner, and as a result of those limits it was not very profitable Peter Nagrod: for the owners, which right now Peter Nagrod: are bell properties. Peter Nagrod: And so without that revenue coming in. They really couldn't do anything as far as renovations Peter Nagrod: or any other really types of improvements. And we were kind of like in a stalemate, because the town. Peter Nagrod: Well, I finally contacted them. I contacted them originally about putting the welcome to Washington Grove sign, and like we had a hard time finding out who to talk to, and we just didn't have a very good relationship. Peter Nagrod: And Peter Nagrod: that was kind of like the way it's been for quite a while. And Peter Nagrod: -oh! Peter Nagrod: Man! Peter Nagrod: Oh, come on, here we go. Okay. So Georgette mentioned the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is a total game changer Peter Nagrod: for Peter Nagrod: a lot of the things that we do in the grove as far as moving forward, and Peter Nagrod: what I did is I went through the comprehensive plan, and I just pulled out a few things about the commercial corner Peter Nagrod: that Peter Nagrod: we, as a town would like to see, and before the company has a plan came out we really had no power to really talk about these things, but one is, and this is Bob and the Hpc. The fact that we're the side where the church is. Now. That building is actually a historic, and it was an Odd Fellows Hall. Peter Nagrod: and obviously you can't tell it was anything historic when you look at it now. But one of the things we would like to do is to restore that to its original glory if it had any glory. Peter Nagrod: The other thing was just the total appearance. It's it's a very. It was a very unattractive location and site. The Dumpster and the Dumpster enclosure on the corner pretty much Peter Nagrod: make it like a blight, for the area of our goal was to make it into a gateway. So when people come into the town they? You know, they see this. And it's it's something that you know, basically has a Washington growth. Feel to it. Peter Nagrod: Another thing that came up at the comprehensive plan was exploring, allowing residential units Peter Nagrod: in there which was not allowed before. Peter Nagrod: We also talked about some flexibility, so that Peter Nagrod: 2 things, one that you could have more profitable businesses in there. Peter Nagrod: so that that some of that money could come back into renovations, and also Peter Nagrod: to see if we could put some shops in that. Besides the post office. I don't think too many grovers use the commercial corner as far as retail, and so we were wondering like, what can we put in there that I would make it a place that people in the growth can walk to? And Peter Nagrod: whenever a coffee shop or something like a coffee shop is mentioned. Peter Nagrod: most of the people I've talked to were very positive, positive. And they're really excited about having something like that. Peter Nagrod: Bob, again influential as far as making it more green, more trees, and making it more attractive with trees. Peter Nagrod: Safety was an issue. Getting across the pedestrian walkway to Gaithersburg has been a challenge with the Peter Nagrod: with a new. It's been upgraded. But the Dumpster was blocking the view of cars driving around the corner there. Peter Nagrod: So that was something else that the comprehensive plan helped us to move forward with. And then the last thing is that when you look at the commercial corner you only see it from the front in the back, you see Atac, and now we have the trash back there, and it looks like the back of a building. Peter Nagrod: and that's what faces Peter Nagrod: the grove. And so one of our goals was to think about, how can we make that more attractive? So that Peter Nagrod: that just makes it part of the growth and not totally separate. Peter Nagrod: So what I have here is Peter Nagrod: because Peter Nagrod: what I have here is actually verbiage from the commercial, from the comprehensive plan Peter Nagrod: that talks about Peter Nagrod: where these things I just mentioned where they stand. But we can look at those. So I'm going to go through this I just want to mention. Peter Nagrod: and you have to excuse me for 1 s. It's so dry. Peter Nagrod: Okay, some of our accomplishments. This year Peter Nagrod: we have developed a really really good rapport with bell properties we are when I say we right now, Bob, Georgette, Barbara on the Council, and John and myself Peter Nagrod: have been meeting monthly with Bell to talk about Peter Nagrod: some of the issues that you know we want to move forward with. Peter Nagrod: and Peter Nagrod: and and at Peter Nagrod: the highlight of this will be. I'll show you the draft of what Bell sent to us working with Bell. We need one of the main things, as as John mentioned before was to get right away of way. Some of the basically we need a couple feet of their land Peter Nagrod: to complete their bike path shared use path. So this relationship is very helpful. And they're very, very, you know. Peter Nagrod: There's no question that they're not going to give us any problem as far as helping get that bike pathway through there the dumpster has been removed, and the enclosure is has been removed. Peter Nagrod: and as a result we have better safety. At the crosswalk. Peter Nagrod: We have the welcome sign that's been installed. Peter Nagrod: Okay? And then the last thing I just want to show you is Barbara, Bob. Peter Nagrod: John and myself met with Peter Nagrod: Bell's architect Peter Nagrod: couple of weeks ago to talk about basically the comprehensive plan. And Peter Nagrod: you know the things that we would like to see change within the commercial corner. And those are the things that I kind of led with here. So I'm gonna see if I can do this right. Now, let's see. Peter Nagrod: Okay. Can we see that? Peter Nagrod: Yes. Peter Nagrod: no. Peter Nagrod: you can't say it. John Compton: We still have your slide. Peter Nagrod: Okay, I'm gonna stop sharing. And then I guess I have to share again. Peter Nagrod: If this doesn't work, let's say. Peter Nagrod: how's that? John Compton: And there it is. Peter Nagrod: Got it. Okay. John Compton: Large. You're gonna want to reduce it. Peter Nagrod: You think so? I'm not going to move it around. John Compton: Yeah, okay. Peter Nagrod: Okay. So at the very top is where the welcome to Washington Growth sign is Peter Nagrod: alright. On the left is Railroad Street, and then Washington Grove Lane Peter Nagrod: going across the top. If that makes sense, is the parking lot. The bike path you can see is I'll use my cursor is going along here. Peter Nagrod: and so we'll be taking a little bit of their property. And then the bike path is going to go past here to Brown Street, so that's being taken care of. Peter Nagrod: There's trees for Bob that are going to be planted around here. But what's really kind of exciting Peter Nagrod: is that Peter Nagrod: what they'd like to do is put. The this is where the church is right now. Peter Nagrod: and what they'd like to do is put something like a coffee shop, something that would attract some grovers into Peter Nagrod: this area here, and then they would Peter Nagrod: redo this space Peter Nagrod: so that they'd have some retail in the front. The post office just signed a 5 year lease. So it's not going anywhere with the 5 year extension if they want to do that, so the post office will stay here. Peter Nagrod: And then the really exciting thing is in the back of the building. Peter Nagrod: They would totally renovate this and put retail here. Peter Nagrod: and Peter Nagrod: these would all have openings off of hickory. Peter Nagrod: and so these would be trees planted along here, and then it'd be some parking back here. I'm not sure how they would do that, but what they would do is they would make hickory Peter Nagrod: Avenue. This would actually be more of the front of the commercial corner than on the other side Peter Nagrod: and Peter Nagrod: it'd be just great way of making them more incorporated within the grove. So that is the retail. And then Peter Nagrod: on the second floor Peter Nagrod: they would Peter Nagrod: the renovating, as I say here, rehabbing the Odd Fellows Hall over here. Peter Nagrod: and then they would above the Post Office. Peter Nagrod: They would be building a second floor. Peter Nagrod: and according to this draft they could get, they take 9 small apartments above there. Peter Nagrod: and this would satisfy the residential needs. And these 2, these additions would really help them with revenue, flow and help fund this. Now this is as John mentioned before. I'm sure this is this is their first draft, based on what we said. We don't know if it's viable to have a Peter Nagrod: a coffee shop. Peter Nagrod: you know, it's gotta. It's gotta obviously make money. It's gotta be traffic going through it. We, as a town, have to go through all this and approve everything. So this is just the first steps. But kind of the exciting thing is that Bell is very interested in becoming more a part of the grove. Peter Nagrod: and you know, and moving forward with. Peter Nagrod: you know, making this a much more attractive and more profitable. This is one of those situations in life where it's a win-win for everybody. So Peter Nagrod: that's basically it. Does anybody hate to ask this. Are there any questions Peter Nagrod: I have? I have just one more. I just have one more political slide here. I want to pop up. Peter Nagrod: If I can. Patrice Klein: So, Peter, while you're doing that, just a quick question is just about parking Patrice Klein: that, that's all I'm just asking like, where would all those people park who live in those apartments. Peter Nagrod: You can't ask that question. It's not allowed. Patrice Klein: I'm just being. Peter Nagrod: No. So that's so, that's like it. Well, there's gonna be Peter Nagrod: I can't find Monday. There's there's gonna be. Kathy Lehman: Blue. Peter Nagrod: So many things you know, to work on. This is just. Peter Nagrod: you know, the initial draft. Peter Nagrod: So Peter Nagrod: you know. Peter Nagrod: that's going to be addressed just like, you know, smells, you know, of others. If there's a coffee shop, you know, in in the comprehensive plan, it's addressed Peter Nagrod: about parking is addressed to the comprehensive plan and you know, a sensitivity to the neighbours is in the comprehensive plan, and so obviously they need to have enough parking to do this, and that's all going to be. You know that all has to be worked out as we move forward with this Peter Nagrod: and that could be. We're not going to. We only have what we have as far as space, and they're not going to be putting in underground garage, so that might be a limitation. Peter Nagrod: Oh, that's it! Peter Nagrod: You're muted. Betsy Klinger: Yeah, got it? Betsy Klinger: this is maybe a silly question. Betsy Klinger: But does Betsy Klinger: is it possible for that barbershop to remain there? Betsy Klinger: It's. Peter Nagrod: You're asking me. You're asking me that question. No. Betsy Klinger: Know I mean I don't know. Peter Nagrod: No, it's it's we I mean. My my answer was gonna be that we have nothing to do with who they lease to. That's really between Bell and just like with the church and everything else. We certainly don't want to push a church out. Betsy Klinger: But when you say. Peter Nagrod: Yeah. Betsy Klinger: Retail doesn't exclude a barbershop. Betsy Klinger: I think. Patrice Klein: Shop's gone. Peter Nagrod: So. But that's already allowed in there. Betsy Klinger: Okay. Okay. Peter Nagrod: Yeah, that I know what John's question is gonna be cause it's probably related Peter Nagrod: to John. Charlene McClelland: I have to speak. Peter Nagrod: Yes, you are allowed to speak. Charlene McClelland: Okay. Well, John's comment earlier implied that I might be able to speak. Charlene McClelland: The barbershop already relocated at the end of East Diamond and Chestnut, and Gaithersburg, the one on the back. Charlene McClelland: Hayes. Peter Nagrod: Now Peter Nagrod: you're you're not gonna complain about all. State your offices. Peter Nagrod: Well, that's between you and and Tatiana. So thank you. Charlene McClelland: Now I want. That's what you guys have always been saying, and that this isn't the venue to discuss that. But thank you. Peter Nagrod: And thanks, thanks for not bringing it up. I appreciate it. So if that's all the questions I had, I just wanted to put up this slide. You'll see the roundtown for coming up May 20, fifth circle fest. Peter Nagrod: It's going to be a lot bigger. We're going to have a lot of our neighbors from outside of the grove. Peter Nagrod: including Emory Grove. And it's going to be a lot of fun that I hope all of you can come out and bring an interesting dish when you show up something from your heritage. Peter Nagrod: Okay, John. I'm done. John Compton: Alright! John Compton: Good job. John Compton: Good way to John Compton: get to the get to get to. Charlene McClelland: I click something it just has like the white zoom button. How do I get back into Zoom? Charlene McClelland: I mean, I'm still in there because I'm listening to everything. But. Charlene McClelland: and the camera is probably still on. But I don't know how to get to the. John Compton: Okay. Then. We are now onto town council reports. John Compton: They were deposited somewhat late. John Compton: but I hope everyone who was interested John Compton: took a look you've got can look at at any time. They'll still be available electronically. John Compton: so the Council is here and would be happy to answer any questions that you have about their reports. John Compton: Okay? If there are no comments, that's great. John Compton: it, as always, was a full year, and John Compton: the council reports give a fairly comprehensive review of in the specific areas John Compton: and and somewhat of others. Sometimes I look forward John Compton: alright. Do we have any new business? John Compton: It's not here. Kathy Lehman: Don't you need to vote to put the. John Compton: We never vote on the Town Council reports John Compton: that not not part of our the procedure. Kathy Lehman: Thought you voted you voted to put them on the website. John Compton: They're going on the website John Compton: because they John Compton: it's a beauty. Robert Gilmore: I don't think we normally vote on that. John Compton: No, you don't. Kathy Lehman: I must be tired. John Compton: Don't delay the meeting with John Compton: Huh? When. Kathy Lehman: Don't! Peter Nagrod: It was it. John Compton: Alright we come to the pen the penultimate item, and that is the election results. John Compton: Who on the board is going to present the results. Nicholas Suzich: John, that would be me. John Compton: Okay, Nick, go for it. Nicholas Suzich: Alright! Let me not to send the meeting, but. Nicholas Suzich: thanks to everyone who ran and who has served this past year, and thanks for everyone who participated in the vote Nicholas Suzich: as on a personal note. It was just great to see so many people who Nicholas Suzich: haven't been seen I hadn't seen in a year, and I hope that next year Nicholas Suzich: we're all having a drink. After a live town meeting Nicholas Suzich: John Compton Nicholas Suzich: acquired a hundred 22 votes for mayor. Nicholas Suzich: There were write-ins for Joel Lee, too. Nicholas Suzich: for Christine. Nicholas Suzich: for Nicholas Suzich: Finlay Johnson. Nicholas Suzich: 2 roads. Nicholas Suzich: for the Council. Nicholas Suzich: Barbara Romando was reelected with 119 votes. Nicholas Suzich: Chris Nicholas Suzich: Grisham was elected with 95 votes. Nicholas Suzich: and Phil a first time nominee Nicholas Suzich: accrued 49 votes. So Chris and Barbara are elected to the Council, and John, by acclamation, is reelected as mayor. Nicholas Suzich: Thanks for to everybody who came up. John Compton: Okay. John Compton: great. Thank you, Nick, for guys run run up John Compton: a good election. That's a lot of votes. That's many more than we're last year. Nicholas Suzich: But it's very heartening. John Compton: And interesting. Yeah. John Compton: great and John Compton: congratulations to to Barbara, and to Chris. John Compton: And John Compton: just to inform everyone who didn't read the Grove alert. John Compton: The there will be a May Council meeting on Tuesday. John Compton: twenty-first, a week from this Tuesday, the first Council, where in new John Compton: reelected, and the new Council member will be sworn in. John Compton: and the Council will do some organizing John Compton: with responsibilities. John Compton: Mayor pro tem. And such John Compton: but there may also be some business. There probably will be some business. John Compton: Perhaps one more of the basic recommendation for some other business. So. John Compton: yeah. Anyone, any of you who are interested will be watching the John Compton: the John Compton: publishing of the the posting of the agenda. John Compton: when it comes out John Compton: all right. John Compton: We are somewhat later than my fantasy, ending point. John Compton: As you can see, we've got a I I you know I know everybody appreciates the John Compton: myriad John Compton: things that John Compton: go on in town, the, the, the large number of people who make things happen. John Compton: We can only report our accomplishments and our. John Compton: you know our grander plans, because so many of you John Compton: pitch in and and and do do the the work John Compton: and inform John Compton: each other and and us as to what, how things are going, and we want to keep that going. John Compton: For next year and many years. John Compton: Alright in that case I'll entertain a motion to adjourn John Compton: of somebody. Tom Land: So moved. Charlie Challstrom: Second. John Compton: Okay, I assume nobody is going to object. John Compton: Introductions. Thank you all, and John Compton: and I. Robert Booher: You. Josh, thanks, John. Barbara: Yeah. The. Peter Nagrod: Good night, everybody! Robert Gilmore: Everyone. Tom Land: Good night. Thanks, everyone.