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John Compton: Good evening, good evening.

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John Compton: hey! Rob!

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Kathy Lehman: Can you hear me now?

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John Compton: Here's somebody!

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Kathy Lehman: It's Kathy.

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John Compton: Right.

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Kathy Lehman: Okay.

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Kathy Lehman: you look like you have a hat on.

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John Compton: Yeah.

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John Compton: that's what I expect the gazebo to look like tomorrow. Wednesday morning.

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Kathy Lehman: Yeah. So they say.

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Peter Nagrod: Hmm.

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Robert Gilmore: Finally a snowy winter.

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John Compton: Yeah, I know it's been been a bunch of years.

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John Compton: Alright, I'm busy arranging everybody.

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John Compton: Think we're waiting waiting for Eva here for a few moments.

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Kathy Lehman: Do you have all the counsel present.

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John Compton: Waiting for Eva.

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Kathy Lehman: Okay.

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Peter Nagrod: Well, you're really pushy tonight, Kathy.

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John Compton: Yeah, you do.

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Kathy Lehman: I didn't think I was going to make it. I was helping a friend fix a water heater, and I ran out of time.

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Peter Nagrod: Good to know.

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John Compton: Yeah, right? Yeah, yeah, we'll need someone to help with the water heater.

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Kathy Lehman: I called Steve.

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John Compton: Oh, yeah, that was your help. Was calling.

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Kathy Lehman: And not not, and finding the water, I did do that.

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John Compton: Right.

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Kathy Lehman: Come on!

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John Compton: Okay, I'll give it a couple more minutes. Here.

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John Compton: there we go.

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John Compton: Okay.

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John Compton: Alright. Let's do it. Welcome everybody to the February Town council meeting.

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John Compton: calling it to order. 1st of business will be approval of the agenda. I'm on wanna move to approve the agenda.

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Peter Nagrod: I'll move to approve the agenda.

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John Compton: Peter has.

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Eva Langston: Second.

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John Compton: Has it moved? And who's seconding.

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Kathy Lehman: Yeah.

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John Compton: Okay, Eva, thank you.

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John Compton: Okay. The agenda as as provided and has been altered in only one way.

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John Compton: And the next meeting is not today. The next meeting is next month.

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John Compton: Hello!

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John Compton: March 10.th Otherwise it's the

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John Compton: agenda that was distributed. Any comments on the agenda.

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John Compton: hearing no comments on the agenda. We'll consider it approved.

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Peter Nagrod: Do it that way as long as I remember how to do it.

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John Compton: Okay.

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Kathy Lehman: Do you have a full council? I can't see.

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Peter Nagrod: Yeah.

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John Compton: Oh, yes, everyone is here. We have Counselor Rob Gilmore.

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John Compton: Mary Warfield, Eva Patron, Peter Negra, Barbara Raimondo.

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John Compton: And Chris Grisham. They're all here.

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Kathy Lehman: Thank you.

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John Compton: Okay. Alright!

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marywarfield: You hear me?

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marywarfield: Can you hear me?

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John Compton: Yes.

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marywarfield: Okay, cause it. It wasn't. It wasn't working. Okay, just checking. Sorry.

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John Compton: Okay?

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John Compton: So I, because this is the 1st meeting we're going to operate under Robert's rules of order. I

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John Compton: consulted with the the council and prepared a an orders, orders of the of the meeting

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John Compton: statement which I'm going to deliver. Everybody now.

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Kathy Lehman: Sure.

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John Compton: Oh, so I included in the document folder for the meeting a 1 page table

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John Compton: of motions that are most frequently used, and many of which we we probably won't even use

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John Compton: but let's see, I've stopped the share. Have I? No

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John Compton: make sure I stop the share?

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John Compton: Stopped it right? Yes, okay. So and Robert's rules of order looks like sorry

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John Compton: looks get in front of me. Looks like this.

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John Compton: It's that thick.

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John Compton: It has almost a hundred, and not a hundred almost has almost 600 pages. So that's what

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John Compton: it consists of. But we won't be using this one hopefully ever we do have a

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John Compton: Ravis rules of order newly revised, and this newly revised the current version. But this is, in brief, it's only that thick, and the printing is a little bit larger.

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John Compton: This really contains everything that we will conceivably be using.

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John Compton: but this is much more than we actually will be using. I think we all expect.

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Kathy Lehman: As far as it goes.

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John Compton: All right. So

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John Compton: it's important to tell everybody we're going to have a learning period here until the Council and everyone is, and I, and

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John Compton: enough comfortable with the with the rules. So let's all be patient while we figure it out.

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John Compton: So let me now move on to other aspects of the meeting. We continue to encourage residents who want to provide their input to the town, on the town, to the mayor and council to do so in writing at the single email address, you mostly all know about

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John Compton: it's it's in the Bulletin, and it's on the website.

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John Compton: Also any residents making public comments in person

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John Compton: are strongly urged to also provide those comments in writing, whether before

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John Compton: or after the the meeting. That is because it makes it much more. If you want your comments to be be reviewed by the council members, and myself having them in writing is a much, much preferred

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John Compton: additional option.

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John Compton: Okay, residents will continue to be able to comment publicly in person. The public appearances is still at the top of the menu.

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John Compton: during which now residents may comment on any matter whether or not it's listed on the agenda.

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John Compton: For 3 min the Council is going to listen to your comments.

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John Compton: They're going to take note of your comments.

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John Compton: and when, if the matter that you're speaking to comes up later in the agenda, they may refer to your comments.

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John Compton: While they discuss the Council discusses the matter.

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John Compton: Residents will be allowed to speak only once

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John Compton: at the public appearances, and that's the only time we're going to have resident input.

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John Compton: There'll be no exchanges between residents over a public comment.

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John Compton: So

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John Compton: so while you can refer to someone else's comment, you will not, you should not and will not

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John Compton: discuss with them.

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John Compton: we're going to insist that all non-council attendees at the meeting remain muted on the virtual screen. If necessary. I will mute all the council members will then be able to unmute themselves. Certainly all, all can be mute, unmuted for the meeting. Once in a while a public comment

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John Compton: has benefited and will benefit for some clarification. So the counselors or myself

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John Compton: can ask us, have one opportunity to ask for clarification from the speaker

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John Compton: after they deliver their 3 min comment.

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John Compton: It's important to note that for counselors and myself that we're not going to state, and our opinion.

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John Compton: and we will should avoid engaging in discussion with the the Resident during that question. It's it's it's it's an option. So that we everyone feels they understood the public comment.

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John Compton: we're hoping that this makes it easier to enforce the public comments by having them all at the top of the meeting. It's what was the policy for years, although what was was less, the policy was that no additional input from non council

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John Compton: members will be heard.

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John Compton: So let's see they're

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John Compton: The Council will be able to at any time.

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John Compton: Ask for a issue, a motion to request information.

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John Compton: because that frequently happens at which time they may ask me to call upon a commission or a committee representative.

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John Compton: Someone knowledgeable to answer that question. So certainly we're going to treat those individuals

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John Compton: as staff as staff, providing information to the Council, since we're certainly not going to know the answer to everything that arises.

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John Compton: Okay, that's pretty much what I wanted to go through. Let me ask the council if there were any any questions.

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John Compton: and just this once let me ask the

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John Compton: those present that they, if they understand that those orders of business, if anyone had, I'm sorry. Not that you understand whether you have any questions about

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John Compton: okay hearing none, we can then move on with the meeting to our public appearances.

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John Compton: Agenda. Item.

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John Compton: recall. This is the time, if you want to make a comment on anything to do with the town. This is your opportunity for the meeting, so you'll do so by raising your hand if you will, since you're all supposed to be

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John Compton: be

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John Compton: muted, and I see a physical hand from from Paula. 1st I see that Bob has raised his hand

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John Compton: using the virtual hand. The advantage of that is, as most you know. If somebody raises their hand, they're they're they move to the top left of the gallery view.

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John Compton: And that's also listed that that there's a hand raised. Okay? So I'll call on Paula for her.

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John Compton: for her public statement. Paula, go ahead.

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Paula Puglisi: Okay, well, I'm here on behalf of Peggy Cones, Bouer, Bob Bouer, Arlene Mccrean, Georgette Cole, and myself regarding a letter that we sent to the Council and posted on the website about our concerns of unintended consequences. As a result of the Council's adoption of Robert's rules and our suggestions to remedy. Those concerns.

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Paula Puglisi: The Council stated reasons for adopting the rules were fairness and efficiency, but we're primarily concerned that residents actually have less opportunities to voice their opinions. If an issue is raised during a meeting, and a motion to vote is introduced.

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Paula Puglisi: please see the letter for more details. I'm going to summarize our suggestions which encompass our main concerns. Even though John has addressed some of these, I think we still need clarification number One, acknowledging that Robert's rules of order are quite intricate and long. It was suggested during the January town meeting that the Council adopt a specific set of sub rules

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Paula Puglisi: for use in town meetings. We request that the counselors clarify which of the rules the Council meetings will operate under in the future. That's still vague. We suggest that a clear explanation of the adopted rules be published on the town Webpage, Newsletter, and a specific town alert, and that a direct link to the adopted set of rules, and Q. And a. Be posted on the homepage, and when the agenda for town meetings is sent that a reminder to read about the policy on the website is included

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Paula Puglisi: to avoid potential manipulation of the rules during council meetings, we also suggest that if a resident or councilor states that a rule has been violated, that that specific rule adopted by Washington Grove be cited number 4. During the January Town Council meeting, Mayor Compton noted that the Council could decide to allow residents, comments about items on the agenda.

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Paula Puglisi: As he said previously, items were only allowed to be talked about that were not on the agenda. The information on the town website is a little vague regarding this. So we suggest that the Council clarify this on the website. I think it was already confirmed right here that that is the case. We can

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Paula Puglisi: number 5. We strongly suggest that the Council open the floor to include an additional round of public comments, length to be defined before a vote is taken on a motion. Since Robert's rule saves time, this extra comment period should be feasible.

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Paula Puglisi: and we are respectfully asking for a written response from the Council, addressing our specific suggestions. Please thank you.

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John Compton: Maggie, Paula.

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John Compton: Just for everybody's information. That was 2 and a half minutes.

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Paula Puglisi: Yeah. I raced.

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John Compton: All right, Bob.

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Robert Booher: I have a comment on the vacant house proposal to actually amend it, to

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Robert Booher: broaden the inspection requirement that the owner has to submit when they make the application from just a pest inspection to a house inspection. These are commonly done whenever there's a real estate transaction

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Robert Booher: done. So there are many available home inspectors to to do this sort of thing. It could either be just the the typical home inspection report, or it could be a tailored set of questions that the town wants the inspector to to do.

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Robert Booher: I think that the advantage of that is is that we get a whole lot more information about the status of the house.

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Robert Booher: The other, and the other suggestion is that since there are a number of

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Robert Booher: houses in town that are considered vacant is that we send some notice to these folks, and maybe even the ordinance as

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Robert Booher: as proposed, so that they can actually respond.

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Robert Booher: That's it.

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John Compton: Okay, Bob, all right, we're still in public appearances. Anyone else.

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Jonathan Dail & Kristina Kough: I can't find the hand gesture. I would like to.

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John Compton: You got your right hand there that the other one was your left hand. There, Jonathan. All right, Jonathan, you're on.

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Jonathan Dail & Kristina Kough: All right. Hi, everyone. I hope not to take more than a minute of the Council's time tonight. So I want to speak on. Item 11, A, which is the playground. So I sent a letter to the Mayor and Council about a week ago about the playground work group, and what we would like to accomplish.

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Jonathan Dail & Kristina Kough: I hope that the Council has had time to read the letter from the work group. I just wanted to add that we're really excited about the group's energy and enthusiasm in gathering ideas. And input already. So this is going to be a huge collaborative effort. And we're really excited to keep the momentum going over the coming months, and probably even longer.

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Jonathan Dail & Kristina Kough: In the short term. We're going to be developing a master plan for the playground and keeping with the grove's history, and feel, while adding what we feel is adding value for children and families, and all others who would like to use the park. So I just look forward to working with the Council and the mayor on this effort.

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Jonathan Dail & Kristina Kough: Thank you.

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John Compton: Okay.

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John Compton: thank you, Jonathan. All right.

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John Compton: I don't see anyone else.

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John Compton: Okay, so

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John Compton: We will then continue to the next item on the agenda, which is the treasurer's report.

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John Compton: and we have Gene, where the town treasurer here to

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John Compton: answer questions and add anything that she wishes.

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Jean Moyer: Yeah. Usually you put it up on the screen, John, if you wanna do that

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John Compton: In the process. There you go!

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Jean Moyer: There we go. Okay, I'll just make one quick comment at the top.

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Jean Moyer: The public utility property tax. I was surprised there was nothing yet I went back and looked

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Jean Moyer: previous years. It's really comes in in the second half of the fiscal year.

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Jean Moyer: So hopefully this February, I should be seeing some of that. It usually comes the middle of the month.

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Jean Moyer: A little farther down.

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Jean Moyer: Since we have the stump contributions coming in, you'll see, I'm keeping track of special money that was not budgeted for coming in. I'm tracking that at the very bottom, so you'll see that comment. See below for tracking of new funds

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Jean Moyer: and yay, we are selling equipment.

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Jean Moyer: we've sold the skid loader. We've sold the truck.

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Jean Moyer: and hopefully, a few more items will go trying to clean up the garage area, therefore, freeing up some space for some items that are currently stored outside can come in undercover, and the area that where, like summer in the park stores, some things holiday show has sometimes stored. Some things can be better organized, found, and reused.

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Jean Moyer: Going down farther into the expenses. The only comment I wanted to make was in the parks. Section.

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Jean Moyer: yeah. Farther, farther, farther, farther. There we go right there. We have received approval from the folks that

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Jean Moyer: responsible for the Nicos Trees Fund and the George Payne Fund, that we can release fully, release that restricted revenue and apply it to this year's expenses.

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Jean Moyer: So you'll see that reflected

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Jean Moyer: in that. And I understand another check came in this afternoon for this stump carving. I have not seen it.

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Jean Moyer: What I do know is 4,050 has been donated.

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Jean Moyer: which will be matched dollar for dollar by the town.

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Jean Moyer: And we'll see what came in this afternoon after I picked up my mail.

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Jean Moyer: Stay tuned for that, but the town is only committed to 5,000 on that one.

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Jean Moyer: My understanding is, we think it'll get scheduled for July, so the money will actually be spent next fiscal year. And that is really the bulk of what I was going to comment on

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Jean Moyer: at the very bottom. You'll see where I've tracked the fund balances. We still have the meadow, Grant deferred revenue

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Jean Moyer: to be spent.

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Jean Moyer: we have donations of about a thousand for the Terry Cox Memorial. I'll have to work with F. And B. On how we're going to use that money, and that's where the stump carving is being trucked. So

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Jean Moyer: that is all I wanted to make comments on.

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Jean Moyer: I'm happy to answer any questions.

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John Compton: Okay.

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Jean Moyer: I think Kathy has a question.

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Kathy Lehman: I just want to tell you that that check you were waiting for was $500.

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Jean Moyer: Whoa!

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Jean Moyer: Nice.

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John Compton: Okay.

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Jean Moyer: Nice. So that is what we have.

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John Compton: All right. Any questions all right, hearing none. We need a motion.

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John Compton: or we're hearing no questions. Anybody object to accepting the treasurer's report.

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John Compton: seeing none, we have accepted the treasurer's report.

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John Compton: Great. So next item, yeah, Jean's going to just review Gene. The the imminent steps in the budget process.

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Jean Moyer: The budget process this Saturday. I think you might have seen a grove alert went out. Today. I will hold. I guess you could call it office hours for 30 min for anybody who wants to learn about the process, have questions, etc, etc. I will be on zoom for anybody who is

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Jean Moyer: curious. On that. Thank you for everyone who has submitted a budget to me.

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Jean Moyer: I'm I'm still waiting on a few

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Jean Moyer: but we have, I believe. What is it now? The 21st so shortly.

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Jean Moyer: I'll be

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Jean Moyer: maybe making a few emails or phone calls just to tap, touch base with folks that I haven't heard back from

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Jean Moyer: And John has up here the complete process. So basically.

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Jean Moyer: the the budget I put together, I'm pulling all the the details together that I know of.

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Jean Moyer: I call it the treasurer's draft budget

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Jean Moyer: and the financial plan which encompasses the capital budget as well. And then John and I will go through it and tweak to the extent we feel we need to. It then becomes the mayor's draft budget

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Jean Moyer: and then we'll have

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Jean Moyer: in March. The Council will review that and tweak whatever they tweak.

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Jean Moyer: and it then becomes the Council's draft budget, which is what ultimately the town will be voting on in May.

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Jean Moyer: And along the way you'll be getting the town. All residents will be getting lots of

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Jean Moyer: updates and reminders so that they can weigh in on any item that concerns them. So we're aiming for

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Jean Moyer: an overabundance of transparency and education of what the process is.

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John Compton: Okay, thanks, Gene. And this overabundance is in response to the comments in in at the the annual town meeting. And after

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John Compton: basically to do what we can to encourage residents to participate in the budget process if they are so inclined. And this is this is getting out all of the the timeline for it.

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John Compton: So everyone knows when when they they can do that. And then it starts. Now, of course.

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John Compton: So thank you.

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John Compton: Okay, so. Let's move on, then, to my report.

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John Compton: this month's kudos go to the commission and committee chairs, who attended the the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging workshop

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John Compton: a week a week ago Saturday,

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John Compton: And Barbara wanted to be sure that we we let everyone know that this is a a key commitment.

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John Compton: and everyone participating who is participating to improve our

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John Compton: the welcoming hatred to the town, so

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John Compton: kudos to everyone who was there, and will be there at the coming at the 2

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John Compton: the second and the 3rd of the 3 h and a half sessions which will be held on Saturday, February 15, th and then 2 weeks after that

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John Compton: march first.st

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John Compton: Okay,

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John Compton: we I and Peter wanted to be sure that the town and everyone is aware that there will be zoning changes proposed.

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John Compton: For the zoning at the commercial corner, and I'm going to call upon Peter. Who's the planning commission liaison

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John Compton: to speak to that.

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Peter Nagrod: I'm gonna make this really simple.

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Peter Nagrod: We had our planning commission meeting last week, and we're 97% there. But we decided to have a. I was hoping to present

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Peter Nagrod: tonight the final amendment. But we are having a work group next Wednesday.

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Peter Nagrod: and we will be presenting at the March meeting. And so in the meantime, once we after that meeting, we'll send out all the documentation to the Council and put it on the website so everybody can see it. What's happening?

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Peter Nagrod: Any? Okay? Any questions or

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Peter Nagrod: good.

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John Compton: Hey? Thank you, Peter.

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Peter Nagrod: Does that mean? It was passed, or.

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John Compton: Yeah, I'm sure there'll be no controversy.

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Peter Nagrod: Okay.

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John Compton: Okay, okay. Next next thing to report, as I reported last month, the Meadow Restoration plan is has phase one being executed, and, as I understand it. The tree removal is now scheduled for either this or next week.

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John Compton: weather permitting. If we

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John Compton: I don't know how a new snow will impact that. But but the the idea is to finish the tree work. Before nesting and other other spring

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John Compton: activities for our fauna and for begin.

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John Compton: Okay, speaking to the our street lights, most of you know that we have had a lighting committee for some years now they've been spending a large amount of time.

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John Compton: responding to and working with. I use that working with in quotes with Pepco to improve Pepco's process, and options for municipalities to own their own streetlights, not going to go into that anymore at this time. But once more Pepco is submitting a tariff

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John Compton: to the Public Services Commission of Maryland with some ask, with aspects of that, their policy?

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John Compton: So

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John Compton: In connection with with potential purchase of the street lights, I transmitted a letter to Pepco that was drafted by the lighting committee to start the process of discussing.

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John Compton: purchasing our streetlights.

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John Compton: So this is not purchasing. It is discussing key aspects of that.

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John Compton: what will it actually, what actually will it cost?

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John Compton: And we need to understand, if we own them, what it will cost us to maintain.

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John Compton: Some of those specifics remain

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John Compton: remain to be settled upon with with the with this tariff proposal, and the process continues.

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John Compton: Okay, the shared use path pathway committee report, Jay ever submitted. It's in the it's in the meeting materials.

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John Compton: last month or since the last meeting, I provided a letter

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John Compton: to Eli Glazer, who's the park and planning staff member? Who will be who is putting together the staff report

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John Compton: for the mandatory referral of the Washington Growth Connector

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John Compton: engineering proposal that Mcdot has been working on with with close cooperation with our liaison committee.

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John Compton: So that's that's in preparation for the mandatory referral. It had been scheduled, but it's now been unscheduled, unfortunately, because the there there was a

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John Compton: incomplete I'll call it an incomplete Forest Conservation review

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John Compton: submitted or not submitted, and the Mcdot is going through that process to to complete the required materials for this mandatory referral

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John Compton: that, by the way, includes meeting the Towns forest Conservation plan.

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John Compton: which, just for everyone's information, doesn't actually apply here. But by reaching out they'll want a statement of that, because you know

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John Compton: their forest conservation plan. The counties does not apply

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John Compton: and in that process we're able to through via the planning commission.

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John Compton: our forestry, we'll be able to provide a statement of our expectations for or

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John Compton: new planting in connection with those trees

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John Compton: in Washington Grove at the end of Brown Street that do have to, and and other

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John Compton: rush. And what have you? The will be removed in during the construction?

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John Compton: So Georgette Cole has been preparing and and delivering our our statement that forest conservation

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John Compton: is met, such as it is.

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John Compton: all right. That was the unfortunate. Fortunately, however, Mcdot has, stated that the given that the the hold up is essentially a formality.

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John Compton: and I'll say, as an aside, formalities with respect to the county are always

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John Compton: are always dangerous to to State. But they're going to proceed with engineering while the plan we get to the Planning Board's mandatory referral

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John Compton: which will be scheduled once the forest conservation thing is met.

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John Compton: Meanwhile the Mcdot agreed with with the liaison committees and and and my

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John Compton: Urging that they could go ahead and hold a public meeting which they would help would would hold in connection with

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John Compton: the planning of the Washington Grove connector to present this 35% engineering plan route.

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John Compton: How it's connecting to Brown Street, and we're going that's going to be held as a hybrid in-person meeting in Mccatherne Hall on March 6th

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John Compton: at 7 o'clock.

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John Compton: And I think that's a Thursday

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John Compton: in the agenda you'll find a link to the documentation that Mcdot has submitted so so to the planning

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John Compton: the planning board for that mandatory review. It obviously doesn't contain a forest conservation statement, but it contains lots of drawings and lots of drawings.

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John Compton: So anyone interested has will have that has that link, and can look at the the plants.

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John Compton: Any questions there?

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John Compton: All right. Now we get to my, I haven't had to do one of these in a while, but we we need to do it, and that is that we. We need some volunteers for our for that we need a volunteer for the Historic Preservation Commission

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John Compton: a great appreciation to Samantha Susick for her service as the alternate.

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John Compton: but her personal family situation has led her to

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John Compton: temporarily at least, resign from that position. So we are seeking an alternate Commissioner.

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John Compton: And I received a formal

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John Compton: resignation. Retirement letter from Charlie Charleston, from the Board of Zoning appeals.

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John Compton: Many of you may never have

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John Compton: experience. An actual action of the Board of Attorney appeals, which is actually a good thing.

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John Compton: but the Charter Charter provides for

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John Compton: a board of zoning appeals which allows residents to

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John Compton: request a review of a ruling about permits about most most often used with respect to construction of fences or or renovations or plans. Board has 3 members.

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John Compton: Charlie's served on the board, off and on. Since the 2 thousands, the best I can determine, I can't give you the exact dates. There have been a few appeals in that period. Mark Hansen, late Mark Hansen.

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John Compton: our esteemed former mayor and and resident.

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John Compton: Was the chair, and those those proceedings were always conducted very.

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John Compton: very carefully and and thoroughly by mark but right now we currently have a single member and that only because Satya hadn't realized he was the only person who that was last involved in the board appeals. And so he is. He's he's going to stay on. But we need 2 members, 2 other individuals

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John Compton: who have some. Some, you know, are willing to apply their their analytical and skills. And that's and when I say analytical in any respect to the town's ordinances and to the board.

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John Compton: So hopefully, someone, some several, we actually want 2 members and an alternate to appoint to the board.

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John Compton: Okay, that's all I have in my report.

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John Compton: We will then

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John Compton: move on to an administrative matter which was raised, and the Council took an action concerning delivery of the Town Bulletin to post office boxes, and

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John Compton: that's wrong, has a I'm now open that issue. I believe Eva has a motion tonight.

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Eva Langston: Yeah. Did you want to put up the? I think I sent you 2 documents? But it's not.

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Eva Langston: I can just read them if I can invite them myself.

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John Compton: Which one is it? It's your.

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Eva Langston: I can. I can also just read it. Yeah.

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John Compton: Go ahead and read it while I'm doing that.

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Eva Langston: Okay, yeah. So so last time we had approved the motion of exploring, giving residents the option of receiving the monthly bulletin in their po box as well as through email. And so we did kind of explore that with

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Eva Langston: Kathy and with, you know what that would cost and what that would look like. And in the meantime, also, as I know, there was some discussion about Kathy has changed the formatting of the bulletin, so that it does read easier on personal devices, but it also makes it much longer. So given that you know, we're now playing around with a new format of the bulletin, which is longer.

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Eva Langston: That kind of

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Eva Langston: is partially making me think it doesn't make sense to print it out. And also, you know, the Bulletin is now often so full of these active, clickable links that you know a printed bulletin. You're not going to be able to click on the links so just given, you know all of these factors. The new format of the Bulletin, which again, one of the complaints was that it was hard to read the Bulletin on, you know, laptops and phones

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Eva Langston: and given environmental concerns. Since the Bulletin has gotten longer, it doesn't really make sense. At least, I think it doesn't really make sense to offer the mailed copy. So I move that we continue offering paper copies for pickup in the town office. So if somebody really wants a paper copy. They can go and get one from Kathy in the town office. We continue, of course, emailing the bulletins out as Grove alert.

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Eva Langston: We continue working to make the Bulletin easier to read on tech devices, although it sounds like people were pretty happy with the way Kathy did it for the February meeting, and I'm also moving that we do mail out a 1 page. Informational flyer, just a 1 time

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Eva Langston: informational flyer to all residents, you know, alerting them to their bulletin options and encouraging them to update their email addresses or add new email addresses with the town clerk if needed. You know, my one concern is that people who aren't getting the email. Bulletins

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Eva Langston: aren't getting all of this information. And so we need to at least one time put something in their in everybody's Po boxes to to say, Okay, now they know their options.

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Eva Langston: And now they know why it's important to have an updated email on file with the town. Now they know that the grove alert is not something they can just delete whatever you know. So that is my motion. And yeah, does anybody have any thoughts or questions about that. Oh, and I guess I can show John the informational flyer. I don't know if it's important. But

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Eva Langston: I did kind of create. And of course I'm open to suggestions with this. But I did create the informational flyer that basically just tells people here are ways to read the Bulletin and obtain the Bulletin.

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Eva Langston: you know, from a grove email alert from the town website. Pick up a paper copy of the town office. If you're not getting the email bulletin provider update your email address.

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Eva Langston: Explains why. And then at the bottom, the pros of the electronic bulletin format.

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Eva Langston: so that would just go out, maybe on brightly colored paper. I don't know to every every resident, and then, hopefully, everyone will know how to get the bulletin and and why? It's important.

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John Compton: So before I Peter has has wants to

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John Compton: speak to this. But before I do, I want to thank Ava for writing up her motion with the explanatory material for everyone, so that everyone had a chance in advance, and certainly now to

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John Compton: to understand the the motion. And now so we have it in writing, which makes it much easier to record. I guess I would say that formally. What we should have done is you should have made your motion, which granted, was long, and then then done all your explanation afterwards. That's the 1st right of the person making the motion is to is to.

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Eva Langston: That's true.

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John Compton: That's fine. You did it all together. We need a second. We don't.

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Eva Langston: Learning.

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Barbara: Second, we ought to have a second. So somebody weekend Barbara.

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John Compton: Seconding. Okay, Peter. Then, you're on.

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Peter Nagrod: I hope, John, you're impressed that I've raised my hand.

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John Compton: I am around the box.

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Peter Nagrod: Maybe Robert's rules demands that I don't know, Eva, that's a fantastic job. Communication is so important. And you've covered everything. I just. I'm just curious. Did you or Kathy find out why so many people were not getting?

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Peter Nagrod: Yes.

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Eva Langston: Time. I don't I don't know, but literally.

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Kathy Lehman: Okay, yeah. Let me- let me answer that.

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Kathy Lehman: Not for tonight.

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John Compton: Yeah, well, it is.

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Peter Nagrod: Well, I'm but hey.

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John Compton: I wanna know this was appears to be a problem with the the mailing list outfit. Because

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John Compton: the majority vast majority. Not a large majority of our email addresses got the Bulletin.

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John Compton: A subset, a not insignificant subset, apparently did not.

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John Compton: We're still trying to work on. Why that happened, have we? Do? We have, you know, we said. I sent out a grove alert this afternoon.

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John Compton: No, no comments on that yet, Kathy. I was gonna ask Kathy to reach out to the people who

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John Compton: who were were did not get the bulletin to see if they got the alert to see if this is a recurring problem or a

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John Compton: one time Glitch so apologies to everybody. Go ahead, Kevin.

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Kathy Lehman: I just wanted to say one thing about what what Eva was talking about with the bulletin and changing of the format, and all of that.

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Kathy Lehman: and that was really Marilyn Fry. She worked really hard on that and did it, and I didn't really have much to do with it. So I want you to know that she did.

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Kathy Lehman: She is also working with me on trying to fix this problem with the Mailchimp software or whatever.

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Kathy Lehman: So we'll get it.

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Kathy Lehman: Thank you.

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Eva Langston: So. Thanks. Yeah, thank you to Marilyn. If she's here.

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Kathy Lehman: Yeah.

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John Compton: Okay, so the Council, we're open to discussion of Eva's, of the motion on the floor.

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John Compton: Oh, so a great job to see, just to.

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marywarfield: To see the, to see the process, and to gather, you know. Take the time to gather the information and to come to a you know, a decision based on, you know, finding out no so great job on that.

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John Compton: I brought it. Thank you, man.

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Barbara: Yeah, I was gonna basically say the same thing that even you were really thorough in this. And you looked at the different sides of it. And you weren't just stuck on doing one thing, but really open to what was going to be the most effective thing. And I think we all appreciate that. So I'm definitely in support of this plan.

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John Compton: Okay.

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John Compton: Hearing no further discussion, I will repeat the motion that is on the floor, that is, that the town continue to offer paper copies for pickup in the town office continue providing email bulletins only

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John Compton: continue to look for ways to make the bulletin easier, to read on tech devices and to mail out.

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marywarfield: Okay.

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00:49:39.580 --> 00:49:43.350
John Compton: 1, 1 time a 1 page, informational flyer.

365
00:49:43.480 --> 00:49:53.360
John Compton: alerting everyone to their bulletin options and encouraging them to update or add their email addresses to the town's email.

366
00:49:55.020 --> 00:49:57.639
John Compton: So all in favor. Raise your hands.

367
00:49:58.620 --> 00:49:59.800
John Compton: I count.

368
00:50:00.550 --> 00:50:03.330
John Compton: That's unanimous. 6 in favor.

369
00:50:03.930 --> 00:50:05.530
John Compton: All right, thank you.

370
00:50:06.650 --> 00:50:09.699
John Compton: In which case I will now try and find my

371
00:50:10.230 --> 00:50:18.578
John Compton: agenda, so we can move on there. It is okay. So the next administrative matter which

372
00:50:19.580 --> 00:50:41.649
John Compton: arose in several respects, partly in in discussions that the playground work group had, and then then other discussions that our mutants liaison Peter Negrud, was involved in, and that is resurfacing the basketball court.

373
00:50:42.280 --> 00:50:53.930
John Compton: So I'm going to, I believe. So. We have funds in our budget.

374
00:50:54.892 --> 00:51:00.419
John Compton: That provides for maintenance. I forget exactly. It's in the.

375
00:51:00.730 --> 00:51:01.817
John Compton: It's in the

376
00:51:02.300 --> 00:51:12.130
John Compton: saying, we have a playground refurbishment budget item which may may suffice to do that. So we would

377
00:51:12.490 --> 00:51:17.339
John Compton: we? I think I, in order to

378
00:51:18.340 --> 00:51:27.200
John Compton: put the council on record regarding the playground. Hopefully, Peter, you'll offer the motion, if you will, to

379
00:51:27.800 --> 00:51:28.890
John Compton: do whatever you want.

380
00:51:28.890 --> 00:51:38.129
Eva Langston: I can. I can make the motion. I move that we resurface the basketball court with the remaining fiscal year, 25 funds from the playground.

381
00:51:40.670 --> 00:51:42.010
John Compton: Okay, second.

382
00:51:42.770 --> 00:51:43.950
Peter Nagrod: I'll second it.

383
00:51:43.950 --> 00:51:47.660
John Compton: Okay, so floor is open to discussion of this proposal.

384
00:51:47.660 --> 00:52:15.360
Eva Langston: Yeah, I can just say I'm looking at the looking at this right now that we have $5,000 for playground refurbishment in the budget, and 2,500 for playground equipment and supplies. And as far as I know, we have not used any of that, or very, very little. Maybe we've used a little, but so we have, you know, quite a bit of money left over in 25 fiscal year 25 that we can use, and I think Peter's been getting quotes right so he can speak to that.

385
00:52:16.990 --> 00:52:18.630
Peter Nagrod: Okay? So

386
00:52:18.820 --> 00:52:30.941
Peter Nagrod: we have. We have 2 contractors that are gonna come in probably next week and 1 1 i've used in a different location, who is very

387
00:52:31.550 --> 00:52:59.389
Peter Nagrod: I'm pretty sure he's going to come at a very good rate for us, but in talking with I don't want to mention his name because he doesn't like publicity. But he was the maintenance director here for 20 years. He's he. There's 2 things you can do. One is, you can put a kind of like a sealer on top of the basketball court, which would make it shine a little bit, but the court is so old and cracked that it really needs to be resurfaced, which would mean kind of shredding up

388
00:52:59.740 --> 00:53:05.830
Peter Nagrod: a layer of the existing port, and then resurfacing that with asphalt.

389
00:53:06.080 --> 00:53:35.979
Peter Nagrod: and then the town with volunteers can do the lining. Steve has done that in the past. We could do that, but we're not obviously going to do that. And this maintenance person? You know, I was thinking 5,000 would do it. He thinks it's going to be more expensive, like maybe up to 15. So when we get our bids we will have to revisit what we what has to be done? I just want to just throw in one other thing that I think is really exciting and out of the box thinking is that somebody mentioned.

390
00:53:35.980 --> 00:53:53.549
Peter Nagrod: and the possibility of also on half the court you can have a another court going sideways for kids and have basketball hoops there that are a little bit lower for the kids to use to make it more available for them, because I see these little 5 year olds trying to throw that ball up, and

391
00:53:53.550 --> 00:54:07.569
Peter Nagrod: you know they can't even reach the rim. So I think that this is a win win for us. It wouldn't cost us any more money, and we would be doing the lining anyway, so all it would be, would be lining and buying the 2 goals. So you know already I see some real benefits from the playground group

392
00:54:07.700 --> 00:54:11.410
Peter Nagrod: and the the energy that people are putting into this with the creativity.

393
00:54:11.700 --> 00:54:19.070
Peter Nagrod: So I think I guess at the next meeting. If if it does come over 5,000, we'll be begging the council for maybe some more money.

394
00:54:23.440 --> 00:54:26.070
John Compton: Anyone else have any contribution to this.

395
00:54:26.530 --> 00:54:35.529
Barbara: This is Barbara. I have a question. So if it comes in over $5,000, then in the next meeting you'll be asking for more money. But

396
00:54:35.640 --> 00:54:41.419
Barbara: if our budget for this fiscal year is already spent or allocated, I should say.

397
00:54:41.570 --> 00:54:43.949
Barbara: where would that money come from?

398
00:54:43.950 --> 00:54:46.230
Peter Nagrod: I would just ask our treasurer.

399
00:54:47.696 --> 00:54:54.489
Jean Moyer: Barbara. We would just reallocate from one budget line item down to.

400
00:54:54.740 --> 00:54:58.829
John Compton: I was. Excuse me for interrupting, but I was gonna suggest you just print more money.

401
00:55:00.150 --> 00:55:00.710
Kathy Lehman: Hey!

402
00:55:02.050 --> 00:55:03.659
John Compton: But okay, but.

403
00:55:03.660 --> 00:55:05.649
Peter Nagrod: I don't know. Yeah.

404
00:55:05.650 --> 00:55:13.949
Jean Moyer: Yeah, Barbara, we would just move. We would find other money somewhere within the budget that we don't think will be spent.

405
00:55:14.280 --> 00:55:20.229
Jean Moyer: and then the Council approves that it be reshuffled, basically.

406
00:55:20.230 --> 00:55:33.649
Peter Nagrod: Right. But I would. I would wait until we actually know what we're talking about before we worry about, because it may, it may come out a lot, you know. I'm I'm hoping it's gonna come out closer to the 5,000. So it's not that much of an expense.

407
00:55:33.650 --> 00:55:38.039
Eva Langston: And and like, I said, we do have, I think, more like 7,500.

408
00:55:38.260 --> 00:55:42.820
Peter Nagrod: Because of the 2 playground line items, mulch, mulch.

409
00:55:43.430 --> 00:55:55.889
Jean Moyer: Yeah, yeah, I mean, we. I anticipate. In the spring we'll be spending money from the supplies line for mulch so I really don't want to tap that.

410
00:55:56.150 --> 00:55:56.490
Eva Langston: Okay.

411
00:55:56.490 --> 00:56:02.760
Jean Moyer: But no, I think we can find money elsewhere is, if the Council approves that we should.

412
00:56:02.760 --> 00:56:06.680
Peter Nagrod: Yeah, yeah. So we can discuss this again at the next meeting.

413
00:56:06.680 --> 00:56:07.220
John Compton: Okay.

414
00:56:07.220 --> 00:56:08.400
Eva Langston: So should.

415
00:56:08.400 --> 00:56:10.530
John Compton: Let me explain. Let me to the next.

416
00:56:10.530 --> 00:56:13.380
John Compton: Robert's rules of order procedure.

417
00:56:13.660 --> 00:56:17.449
John Compton: We're dealing with a motion on the floor, as I understand it.

418
00:56:18.150 --> 00:56:24.340
John Compton: I always got to put, as I understand it, because I certainly am. I'm more than likely to get it. Get it wrong.

419
00:56:24.610 --> 00:56:31.957
John Compton: So there are 2 ways to deal with this. At least 2. 1 is to

420
00:56:32.700 --> 00:56:36.410
John Compton: simply postpone action on this

421
00:56:38.100 --> 00:56:43.000
John Compton: motion to a fixed date. You could say the March meeting.

422
00:56:43.350 --> 00:56:47.289
John Compton: You could say the April meeting, or you could say the work group meeting

423
00:56:48.095 --> 00:56:50.769
John Compton: and then take it back up

424
00:56:51.268 --> 00:56:57.739
John Compton: when you, you know, and at which point you either proceed with it or you offer amendments.

425
00:56:58.520 --> 00:57:10.729
John Compton: Okay? And you would then propose to amend the motion to say something that works with with your with what you think should be done alternatively. You

426
00:57:12.780 --> 00:57:18.089
John Compton: vote down the emotion, the motion. I think we could. I have to look and see if it can be withdrawn.

427
00:57:18.590 --> 00:57:26.910
John Compton: and then anticipate a new motion, which accounts for the findings in the next.

428
00:57:27.250 --> 00:57:29.899
John Compton: In the next month or 2.

429
00:57:30.090 --> 00:57:39.569
John Compton: So something like that has has to happen. You know we we the Council has to agree what to do with this motion

430
00:57:39.770 --> 00:57:40.760
John Compton: now.

431
00:57:41.420 --> 00:57:42.370
John Compton: Yes, Barbara.

432
00:57:42.610 --> 00:58:07.800
Barbara: So I move that we postpone this vote until we receive the bid that Peter is getting, and Jean goes through, and if the bid is over the 5,000. Jean finds the money somewhere wherever it is, and then we have one vote on the entire. You know Mcgillah, rather than vote tonight and then vote again in an in a subsequent meeting.

433
00:58:07.990 --> 00:58:08.520
Peter Nagrod: Hey!

434
00:58:09.890 --> 00:58:11.660
Barbara: So I don't know, Kathy, if you got all of.

435
00:58:11.660 --> 00:58:13.443
Kathy Lehman: I did not. I'm.

436
00:58:13.890 --> 00:58:14.600
Barbara: I moved.

437
00:58:14.600 --> 00:58:17.359
John Compton: No, no, basically, she wants to postpone

438
00:58:17.480 --> 00:58:20.739
John Compton: action on this motion until March.

439
00:58:21.900 --> 00:58:36.080
Barbara: Well until we receive a bid, and Jean has, and if the bid is over $5,000, Jean has identified the source of the additional funding.

440
00:58:36.810 --> 00:58:37.550
John Compton: Good.

441
00:58:38.850 --> 00:58:40.919
John Compton: Alright! So that is.

442
00:58:40.920 --> 00:58:41.590
Eva Langston: Second, app.

443
00:58:41.590 --> 00:58:46.049
John Compton: Proper, and we we have a we do not do. We need a second. I should have brought up.

444
00:58:46.050 --> 00:58:48.809
Barbara: Yes, you need a second, I think. Eva was seconding it.

445
00:58:49.060 --> 00:58:50.530
Eva Langston: Second, it? Yeah.

446
00:58:50.720 --> 00:58:57.940
John Compton: Okay, so any discussion on postponing action on this motion.

447
00:58:58.140 --> 00:58:58.690
Peter Nagrod: No.

448
00:58:59.110 --> 00:59:01.150
John Compton: All in favor of postponing action.

449
00:59:01.150 --> 00:59:03.100
John Compton: I'm sorry I have a point of information.

450
00:59:03.100 --> 00:59:04.370
John Compton: Oh, absolutely.

451
00:59:04.751 --> 00:59:12.390
Robert Gilmore: Do, for do we need to have a competitive bidding process? If the if it's more than $5,000.

452
00:59:12.390 --> 00:59:13.600
John Compton: Absolutely.

453
00:59:15.520 --> 00:59:20.369
Peter Nagrod: And we will. We have at least 2 people that are going to be bidding right now, and we need more. We can get

454
00:59:20.830 --> 00:59:21.920
Peter Nagrod: somebody else.

455
00:59:22.470 --> 00:59:22.930
John Compton: Right.

456
00:59:22.930 --> 00:59:26.539
Eva Langston: Is it? Do you need 3? Is that what the rule is, or.

457
00:59:26.824 --> 00:59:31.090
Robert Gilmore: Well, I thought that we need to put it out for bid as opposed to.

458
00:59:31.090 --> 00:59:36.800
John Compton: Yeah, unfortunately, we probably have to put it out for bid. So yeah,

459
00:59:37.630 --> 00:59:39.759
Eva Langston: Is 5,000, the threshold.

460
00:59:40.240 --> 00:59:40.590
John Compton: Yes.

461
00:59:40.970 --> 00:59:41.700
Eva Langston: Okay.

462
00:59:41.910 --> 00:59:48.089
John Compton: So if somebody says to do what you want to do, and it's going definitely going to be over 5,000,

463
00:59:48.440 --> 00:59:55.379
John Compton: or can't reasonably divide be divided into under $5,000.

464
00:59:55.979 --> 01:00:00.290
John Compton: Arts. Yeah, then we need to do that. And

465
01:00:01.480 --> 01:00:05.560
Peter Nagrod: So we would need an Rfp. It can be the world's shortest Rfp. But.

466
01:00:06.650 --> 01:00:09.160
John Compton: You know, specialized? Yeah.

467
01:00:11.300 --> 01:00:15.869
John Compton: You know, our Rfps are very formal. That's that's to.

468
01:00:16.630 --> 01:00:23.329
John Compton: That's to ensure that for the Council to ensure that what we want is very clearly

469
01:00:25.413 --> 01:00:35.150
John Compton: put out there to any potential bidders. So it's it only needs to include the the key items that we

470
01:00:35.260 --> 01:00:41.130
John Compton: look at. So keep that in mind, I think, brought up a valid point.

471
01:00:44.110 --> 01:01:02.479
John Compton: the the option that you was unsaid, and I'm sure everybody recognizes. If this process was to drag out into fiscal 26, you put the money specifically into this fiscal 26, just

472
01:01:03.110 --> 01:01:04.270
John Compton: increase the amount.

473
01:01:06.850 --> 01:01:12.689
John Compton: Okay, we're moving to a vote on the postponement. So all in favor.

474
01:01:15.570 --> 01:01:20.950
John Compton: Okay, that's all. 6 of you. The is postponed.

475
01:01:25.200 --> 01:01:33.059
John Compton: That takes us to our unfinished business, which is resolution 2025, 0, 1,

476
01:01:33.330 --> 01:01:37.230
John Compton: the vacant properties, registration and maintenance standards.

477
01:01:37.340 --> 01:01:46.819
John Compton: So it's unfinished business. So discussion is in order. I'm going to call on Mary to start us off.

478
01:01:48.060 --> 01:01:56.189
marywarfield: Okay, you have to help me help me out here, so should I be making a motion to withdraw the resolution and then

479
01:01:56.680 --> 01:02:02.469
marywarfield: reintroduce it as the ordinance. Is that the best way to proceed with this.

480
01:02:03.630 --> 01:02:10.760
John Compton: Yeah, that's certainly. I think that's the best way to proceed with this is to is to.

481
01:02:11.760 --> 01:02:13.100
marywarfield: Or lay it on the table.

482
01:02:13.360 --> 01:02:13.950
John Compton: To deal.

483
01:02:13.950 --> 01:02:14.939
marywarfield: You said those were the 2.

484
01:02:14.940 --> 01:02:21.170
John Compton: Non judgmental way, and and then

485
01:02:21.780 --> 01:02:24.369
John Compton: introduce it as the ordinance revision.

486
01:02:25.130 --> 01:02:30.969
John Compton: So once again, I'm I believe that's fine.

487
01:02:30.970 --> 01:02:32.490
John Compton: Fine. Let's see the.

488
01:02:33.000 --> 01:02:42.171
Barbara: This is Barbara. I'm sorry for speaking out of order, but you could amend it, you know. You could just move to

489
01:02:43.080 --> 01:02:47.889
Barbara: amended in the way that the new version reflects.

490
01:02:48.870 --> 01:02:55.040
John Compton: Well, absolutely. But it's a total replacement, Barbara, because it's an ordinance which

491
01:02:56.650 --> 01:03:07.149
John Compton: and yes, certainly going to incorporate a fair amount of the resolution, and almost all of it, as a matter. But it's been recast in a in a way

492
01:03:07.310 --> 01:03:14.140
John Compton: that more fits in an ordinance. So I mean, yeah, you could. You could do it that way.

493
01:03:14.680 --> 01:03:19.120
John Compton: what what you can do is you can lay it on the table.

494
01:03:19.240 --> 01:03:24.070
John Compton: lay it on the tail, and then you put the resolution away indefinitely.

495
01:03:24.780 --> 01:03:33.180
John Compton: and then you can propose this. Then a new motion can be to to, for an ordinance can be introduced.

496
01:03:34.610 --> 01:03:36.890
John Compton: I think that's what I would do at this point.

497
01:03:37.400 --> 01:03:42.450
John Compton: There may be there's certainly other ways to deal with it. Barbara just expressed one, but I think

498
01:03:42.800 --> 01:03:47.890
John Compton: it's the motion called for the resolution. And this is a big difference. This is

499
01:03:49.370 --> 01:03:57.339
John Compton: doesn't seem like it, but it is a big difference. It's it's an ordinance, so it has to be inserted into our our ordinances.

500
01:03:58.010 --> 01:03:58.949
John Compton: It is different.

501
01:03:59.830 --> 01:04:02.160
marywarfield: Okay. So I will make a motion to

502
01:04:02.590 --> 01:04:04.490
marywarfield: lay that motion on the table

503
01:04:04.860 --> 01:04:09.290
marywarfield: and to reintroduce a new motion to adopt

504
01:04:09.550 --> 01:04:17.070
marywarfield: the ordinance, to require the registration of vacant properties and establish vacant property, maintenance and security standards.

505
01:04:17.560 --> 01:04:20.259
marywarfield: amending articles one and 9.

506
01:04:20.740 --> 01:04:24.799
John Compton: I think we need to do that in 2 steps. First, st is that needs.

507
01:04:24.800 --> 01:04:29.820
marywarfield: Oh, okay, okay, I move to lay the resolution on the table.

508
01:04:30.420 --> 01:04:31.529
Peter Nagrod: I'll second that.

509
01:04:32.050 --> 01:04:39.179
John Compton: Okay. So Peter's second, that any discussion of laying the resolution on the table all in favor, raise your hand

510
01:04:39.660 --> 01:04:44.477
John Compton: unanimous. The resolution is put away

511
01:04:45.820 --> 01:04:47.630
John Compton: And Mary.

512
01:04:47.630 --> 01:04:51.700
marywarfield: You want me to? Okay. So I will now make a motion to

513
01:04:53.800 --> 01:05:05.279
marywarfield: to adopt an ordinance, to to require the registration of vacant properties and establish vacant property, maintenance and security standards, amending articles one and 9.

514
01:05:05.860 --> 01:05:07.280
marywarfield: To get that Kathy.

515
01:05:07.280 --> 01:05:08.980
Kathy Lehman: I will. I don't have it right now.

516
01:05:09.190 --> 01:05:12.640
John Compton: Yeah, it's it's in the the ordinance.

517
01:05:12.640 --> 01:05:13.260
marywarfield: Coordinates.

518
01:05:13.260 --> 01:05:13.980
John Compton: No.

519
01:05:13.980 --> 01:05:15.459
Robert Gilmore: I'll second the motion.

520
01:05:15.920 --> 01:05:16.430
Kathy Lehman: Who is that?

521
01:05:16.430 --> 01:05:16.900
John Compton: Okay.

522
01:05:16.900 --> 01:05:17.270
Kathy Lehman: Peter.

523
01:05:17.270 --> 01:05:17.660
John Compton: Yes, sir.

524
01:05:17.660 --> 01:05:18.580
Peter Nagrod: No problem.

525
01:05:18.580 --> 01:05:19.000
marywarfield: Rob.

526
01:05:19.000 --> 01:05:19.670
Kathy Lehman: Yeah, thank, you.

527
01:05:19.670 --> 01:05:20.440
John Compton: And a second.

528
01:05:21.410 --> 01:05:30.539
John Compton: Okay? And let's it doesn't require any vote. But now we have the this ordinance on the table

529
01:05:30.680 --> 01:05:37.789
John Compton: in front of the meeting as Mary just wrote it. So, Mary, you want to speak to the ordinance at all.

530
01:05:38.655 --> 01:05:58.239
marywarfield: Basically, we, just, as you said, took the resolution and pretty much intact, just put it in the form of an ordinance and figured out which ordinance it fit best under, and we decided it was best under Article One, which is public public nuisance and

531
01:05:59.430 --> 01:06:04.320
marywarfield: and it it fit quite nicely in there. Without a whole lot of changes.

532
01:06:05.940 --> 01:06:07.960
marywarfield: In fact, I don't think we really changed

533
01:06:08.250 --> 01:06:14.900
marywarfield: anything is just the the wording and and the some of the some of the numbering

534
01:06:16.430 --> 01:06:18.710
marywarfield: that was in the original resolution.

535
01:06:20.230 --> 01:06:32.099
marywarfield: and took out the in the resolution. We had the citation and fines, and and as part of the resolution. But we took that out and moved that into the into

536
01:06:32.450 --> 01:06:38.916
marywarfield: Article 9, which actually deals with specific fines for

537
01:06:40.400 --> 01:06:44.449
marywarfield: or citations. So that's all in there, but separate.

538
01:06:53.260 --> 01:06:56.100
John Compton: Okay, is there any just

539
01:06:56.530 --> 01:07:05.670
John Compton: council care to discuss any of the specifics of the once again we have the We. We have previously discussed it to a certain extent.

540
01:07:05.800 --> 01:07:22.420
John Compton: has a resolution, the the creation of the registry, the requirements for the registration, the the phase, the

541
01:07:22.800 --> 01:07:29.249
John Compton: penalties, etc, but may want to address those again. Barbara has her hand up, Barbara.

542
01:07:29.250 --> 01:07:45.830
Barbara: So I don't have a question about the specifics of the ordinance. But I'm just curious. What is the process when we're doing an ordinance of of running it by the town attorney. Does it? Has it happened, or is it going to happen, or like? Where is that in the process.

543
01:07:46.280 --> 01:07:51.202
John Compton: Yeah, and we we should run it by Sue Ellen. Absolutely

544
01:07:52.240 --> 01:08:08.170
John Compton: in in my written explanation when I submitted of the the orders. You know how we how we organized and took care of this meeting. I had included a recommendation to the Council that when a motion

545
01:08:08.340 --> 01:08:14.770
John Compton: for action is materially altered at a meeting that

546
01:08:16.540 --> 01:08:24.559
John Compton: it, that the town be afforded an opportunity to comment on the revised.

547
01:08:24.950 --> 01:08:35.550
John Compton: the revised specifics. So this is one of those cases, and I expected that you know that as an ordinance this, the town should have an

548
01:08:36.040 --> 01:08:57.419
John Compton: opportunity to weigh weigh in on it in that period. Obviously the thing to do is to have would be to have our town attorney weigh in on it, even if the town doesn't weigh in on it. Nobody has any comments we still need. I still think I agree that Sue Ellen should just review it.

549
01:08:57.750 --> 01:09:05.040
John Compton: She may have some suggestions just to ensure it's consistent with her understanding of our ordinances.

550
01:09:11.080 --> 01:09:23.705
marywarfield: I just want to address bob brought up in the public comments. Asking if we could. He felt that we should include as one of the re requirements.

551
01:09:24.250 --> 01:09:30.960
marywarfield: an actual internal inspection. To make it more complete in terms of information which

552
01:09:31.090 --> 01:09:36.444
marywarfield: you know, I I think that would be ideal. The question is, how much on the front?

553
01:09:37.700 --> 01:09:42.329
marywarfield: I I we I guess we kind of considered it. When we were initially writing up the resolution. But

554
01:09:43.729 --> 01:09:47.380
marywarfield: just considering how much upfront expenses

555
01:09:49.630 --> 01:09:54.580
marywarfield: would we require. And the other thing is what what actually would be in the checklist.

556
01:09:55.170 --> 01:10:14.590
marywarfield: you know. Would we make? As Bob suggested? I guess we could make up our own check checklist. I mean, basically, our concerns are mainly fire safety, I would I would think. So do we make like a specific you know, fire, safety checklist that maybe we could get from, you know, a housing inspector, but you know, then the question would be, you know.

557
01:10:14.880 --> 01:10:25.320
marywarfield: do they call the inspector? Is it our inspectors? I mean? There's, you know, they're kind of details to that that we would have to of complexity. I think we'd have to add, if we put that in.

558
01:10:33.920 --> 01:10:39.151
marywarfield: they will have to get a you know, a pest test company which costs money.

559
01:10:42.480 --> 01:10:46.663
marywarfield: I mean, I guess a lot of this is, how are you going to? Actually, you know

560
01:10:47.340 --> 01:10:51.380
marywarfield: verify that people are doing the things that we're requesting them to do.

561
01:10:53.240 --> 01:11:00.150
marywarfield: You know, if a Liar Electric trustee is on, they need to put in fire alarms. So we're going to have inspectors, you know, that will require

562
01:11:00.370 --> 01:11:09.920
marywarfield: someone going into house to inspect, or I guess they can, you know, give a certification that someone has done it. So it doesn't actually require you to get into the house. I mean.

563
01:11:10.100 --> 01:11:16.289
marywarfield: this is kind of the sticky part of all this is access to inside people's houses.

564
01:11:16.290 --> 01:11:17.180
Peter Nagrod: Right.

565
01:11:17.530 --> 01:11:23.790
Peter Nagrod: I agree with you, Mary, and also I mean, in an ideal world, it'd be wonderful to have an inspector come in. But

566
01:11:24.300 --> 01:11:53.989
Peter Nagrod: yeah, I think that we should. This is a great 1st step for us moving forward and getting this done, I think this would be a real discouragement for people to sign up with this program, and I know that my house would never pass an inspection, and I think a lot of those older houses in the grove would have a very difficult time with it, too, so I would just be happy with passing this the way it is, and see how it goes, and then in the future we could maybe

567
01:11:54.610 --> 01:11:56.200
Peter Nagrod: improve on what we're doing.

568
01:11:57.030 --> 01:12:20.899
marywarfield: And actually, we, we do have written in here that the mayor has the authority to require an inspection. So if we feel like, yeah, there, if we feel like people are not doing you know, not in compliance with the registration, then the mayor can require an inspection of the premises. So I think we do have that ability to written in here again, you know.

569
01:12:20.990 --> 01:12:28.389
marywarfield: enforcing it. But we do have that ability to do that should it come to, you know, proving that they have done what we've asked them to do.

570
01:12:33.870 --> 01:12:47.829
Eva Langston: Yeah, I mean that what you're saying, Mayor, makes sense because I do think it's often like a case by case basis. And so having that stipulation that if if needed, the mayor can require it. But we don't necessarily have to require it for every

571
01:12:48.596 --> 01:12:57.800
Eva Langston: everyone. But and and yeah, I mean, we can always add to this later, I guess, like, see how it goes. And like like, Peter said, it's a good 1st step.

572
01:12:58.180 --> 01:13:03.570
marywarfield: Right and it and it is the sticky area which is, you know, kind of putting a

573
01:13:03.890 --> 01:13:31.369
marywarfield: a magnifying glass on the vacant houses that, as Peter said, some of the inhabited houses might not pass. So you really have to go back to what what it is that we're trying to do here, and we're concerned with safety, primarily fire, safety, and you know, pestilence. So you know, public nuisances like that not not enforcing, you know, other other parts of you know maintenance, or you know what's going on inside a house, because then then it becomes unfair.

574
01:13:39.660 --> 01:13:50.720
marywarfield: And as to as to Bob's comment about notifying people. I think that's nice, but I'm not sure how we can notify somebody until we've determined

575
01:13:51.070 --> 01:13:57.460
marywarfield: that they fall under under the requirements.

576
01:13:57.950 --> 01:14:03.305
John Compton: That makes sense thing about notification. Here.

577
01:14:04.450 --> 01:14:06.840
John Compton: Where is it? Where is it? Requirement?

578
01:14:10.450 --> 01:14:21.850
John Compton: Sorry. I'm not as transparent as somewhere we have the here vacant property not registered.

579
01:14:25.010 --> 01:14:28.960
John Compton: The town will be will issue the party a notice.

580
01:14:29.490 --> 01:14:34.109
John Compton: and then they must register it within 30 days and pay the fee

581
01:14:35.683 --> 01:14:40.779
John Compton: if they fail to do that. There is a there is a late fee

582
01:14:41.390 --> 01:14:43.290
John Compton: was called a fine before, but

583
01:14:43.710 --> 01:15:00.890
John Compton: I want to put all the fines we discussed that the fines all fall into into Article 9. But a late fee. Well, they should, to the extent we can do it, they should all be in one place. But a late fee is something else entirely so. This is a late fee for not registering

584
01:15:02.590 --> 01:15:07.000
John Compton: which here says it is 200. Now

585
01:15:07.120 --> 01:15:11.039
John Compton: somebody may simply not pay the late fee.

586
01:15:11.650 --> 01:15:16.129
John Compton: So if they haven't paid the late fee, you then go on to this.

587
01:15:16.270 --> 01:15:29.799
John Compton: which and the late fee, you know, it depends on whether they're protesting, you know. Oh, it's not a vacant property or another or not, but once the once the late fee isn't paid.

588
01:15:30.180 --> 01:15:36.849
John Compton: it will be in violation of this section, and then the citation and fines would apply

589
01:15:38.030 --> 01:15:41.960
John Compton: all right. The citation and fines that apply

590
01:15:42.260 --> 01:15:46.599
John Compton: are pretty severe. Actually, they're not severe

591
01:15:47.510 --> 01:15:51.280
John Compton: except for the fact that they're a hundred dollars per day.

592
01:15:51.820 --> 01:15:53.830
John Compton: So this will add up in a hurry.

593
01:15:54.240 --> 01:15:57.000
John Compton: mind you, they they, you know.

594
01:15:57.110 --> 01:15:59.540
John Compton: might be worth it to go to court to

595
01:15:59.800 --> 01:16:06.380
John Compton: protest. Oh, but I wasn't, you know, wasn't a vacant property, and they they? Therefore I don't owe anything

596
01:16:07.190 --> 01:16:09.920
John Compton: but that that would be the procedure.

597
01:16:13.470 --> 01:16:18.499
John Compton: and that that's the enforceability with respect to having failed.

598
01:16:18.680 --> 01:16:23.519
John Compton: If if the town feels that a property should have been registered. That's what this is about.

599
01:16:24.200 --> 01:16:29.620
marywarfield: So I guess my question. This is just kind of coming to me. We say the town will determine. Is that going to be you, John.

600
01:16:30.290 --> 01:16:31.489
marywarfield: to look. Look at the.

601
01:16:31.490 --> 01:16:31.859
John Compton: In other words.

602
01:16:31.860 --> 01:16:32.410
marywarfield: Requirements.

603
01:16:32.410 --> 01:16:32.950
John Compton: That would be.

604
01:16:32.950 --> 01:16:33.300
John Compton: Where is.

605
01:16:34.495 --> 01:16:34.940
marywarfield: Okay.

606
01:16:34.940 --> 01:16:44.950
John Compton: I mean, of course, the Council could in principle direct the Mayor, I mean you always have an option to remember. The mayor is the Administrator.

607
01:16:45.320 --> 01:16:59.519
John Compton: Normally, you wouldn't expect the Council to get involved, you know. Maybe counselors say, Oh, look! This property's in bad shape. Have they met the registration. The answer is, No, you know. Can you do? We should do something about that.

608
01:17:00.420 --> 01:17:01.240
John Compton: Oh.

609
01:17:03.090 --> 01:17:08.919
marywarfield: This will start with with you, the town making the list okay. Awesome.

610
01:17:09.200 --> 01:17:15.149
John Compton: You know, asserting that the property should have been registered.

611
01:17:15.770 --> 01:17:16.750
marywarfield: Okay. Great.

612
01:17:20.440 --> 01:17:26.960
John Compton: Well, the one other thing. Well, the thing up here on this inspection section, which is what it was in the resolution.

613
01:17:29.020 --> 01:17:29.710
John Compton: They're

614
01:17:31.340 --> 01:17:40.499
John Compton: We've discussed this not a number of times this has been discussed. Look, if if the town we feel there needs to be an inspection.

615
01:17:41.010 --> 01:17:43.700
John Compton: and we order that there be an inspection.

616
01:17:44.080 --> 01:17:46.390
John Compton: What is the enforcement on that?

617
01:17:46.880 --> 01:17:50.969
John Compton: All right. And that is not in this ordinance? Specifically

618
01:17:52.130 --> 01:17:54.840
John Compton: so. I've put in this comment.

619
01:17:56.590 --> 01:18:04.380
John Compton: You know. Should should a a provision for issuing citations

620
01:18:05.930 --> 01:18:14.950
John Compton: based on the inspection be be here so that raised 2 things one is, how do you enforce that? They do an inspection.

621
01:18:15.360 --> 01:18:37.730
John Compton: and that could be done the same way as we just outlined, as the ordinance says. You know there's a fine for not doing the inspection, and then, if there's no if the fine isn't paid it, then segues to the the infraction, the municipal fraction. It's not a fine, it's a late fee. It's a fee for not doing the inspection.

622
01:18:39.250 --> 01:18:41.909
John Compton: But then it goes to that $100 a day

623
01:18:42.120 --> 01:18:55.030
John Compton: a day thing. So that's the 1st thing about not doing the inspection. But once again, you know what? What if the inspection reveals that something should be done

624
01:18:56.870 --> 01:19:05.909
John Compton: need to say something that about, you know, of correcting, correcting.

625
01:19:07.140 --> 01:19:08.030
John Compton: You know.

626
01:19:08.030 --> 01:19:13.819
marywarfield: Basically it's complying with, because what you're inspecting to see if they've complied with the requirements.

627
01:19:13.820 --> 01:19:14.520
John Compton: Exactly. Okay.

628
01:19:14.520 --> 01:19:17.733
marywarfield: So they're specific. So it goes back to that

629
01:19:18.650 --> 01:19:29.680
marywarfield: cause. Cause. This just says require an inspection enforcing insurance compliance with the provisions of this ordinance. So it's pretty specific about what that inspection is for.

630
01:19:30.720 --> 01:19:31.390
John Compton: Right.

631
01:19:31.530 --> 01:19:36.510
marywarfield: So it would be fire alarms, and I guess fire alarms and.

632
01:19:36.930 --> 01:19:38.320
John Compton: Yes, and then pat.

633
01:19:38.320 --> 01:19:39.700
marywarfield: Pest, control.

634
01:19:41.130 --> 01:19:41.940
John Compton: Yeah.

635
01:19:42.970 --> 01:19:43.830
John Compton: Fire. Code.

636
01:19:43.830 --> 01:19:47.259
marywarfield: Actually only be fire alarms, whether electricity is on or off

637
01:19:47.390 --> 01:19:50.500
marywarfield: documenting of. You know any of those things.

638
01:19:50.500 --> 01:19:55.349
John Compton: These are the things that the point of the inspection is to ensure. These are. This is the case.

639
01:19:55.350 --> 01:19:56.719
marywarfield: Exactly. Yeah.

640
01:19:57.100 --> 01:19:57.630
Peter Nagrod: Yeah.

641
01:20:03.440 --> 01:20:06.149
John Compton: So maybe we can in in the.

642
01:20:06.150 --> 01:20:09.050
marywarfield: You can find them until they comply or.

643
01:20:10.630 --> 01:20:11.880
John Compton: Well, yeah, I would.

644
01:20:11.880 --> 01:20:13.800
marywarfield: Or you give them a period of time to comply.

645
01:20:13.800 --> 01:20:23.879
John Compton: The inspection shows they're in, not in compliance. They have whatever number of days to meet beat it. After which the the fines and Sue.

646
01:20:24.690 --> 01:20:25.440
John Compton: yeah.

647
01:20:25.710 --> 01:20:30.740
marywarfield: So that's my suggestion is, we consider how to how the language that would.

648
01:20:31.650 --> 01:20:36.039
John Compton: Could be added to put some teeth into this inspector.

649
01:20:37.060 --> 01:20:37.750
marywarfield: Okay.

650
01:20:39.040 --> 01:20:43.242
Robert Gilmore: We, the town would ultimately have to go to court to

651
01:20:44.240 --> 01:20:45.410
John Compton: Might be, yeah.

652
01:20:45.450 --> 01:20:46.590
Robert Gilmore: Be right.

653
01:20:47.360 --> 01:20:51.830
marywarfield: If they. If they won't let you in the door with the inspector, then you have to go to court.

654
01:20:54.776 --> 01:21:01.680
marywarfield: That's where the break it down will be they they. You can't get anybody to go in unless somebody lets them in unless you have a court order.

655
01:21:01.680 --> 01:21:02.390
Peter Nagrod: Yeah.

656
01:21:03.270 --> 01:21:10.790
Peter Nagrod: I think that would be very helpful to actually put that in writing in here that the people see, because I think that would be a good motivator for them to know. We're serious about this.

657
01:21:10.790 --> 01:21:18.190
John Compton: So that's it? Well, it's in this article 9. So way down here where we

658
01:21:18.360 --> 01:21:22.169
John Compton: this is only the change to Article 9,

659
01:21:23.130 --> 01:21:27.460
John Compton: that that section 14 of Article one is here.

660
01:21:27.560 --> 01:21:33.499
John Compton: but the rest of Article 9 provides for how you collect.

661
01:21:33.680 --> 01:21:38.159
John Compton: If you can issue a lien on the property. All of that stuff is in Article 9.

662
01:21:38.160 --> 01:21:39.030
Peter Nagrod: Okay.

663
01:21:39.030 --> 01:21:44.169
John Compton: And go to court, etc, etc. Those options, those are specified.

664
01:21:44.170 --> 01:21:46.480
Peter Nagrod: Why? Why are you asking that question?

665
01:21:46.870 --> 01:21:47.420
John Compton: Yep.

666
01:21:47.810 --> 01:21:51.839
Peter Nagrod: Oh, aren't you asking that question? How you do that?

667
01:21:52.750 --> 01:21:55.320
John Compton: Yeah, you're directing your question to rob right?

668
01:21:55.320 --> 01:22:01.239
Peter Nagrod: No, I'm I'm directing it to you. What you what you put in yellow highlighted your questions.

669
01:22:01.420 --> 01:22:02.559
marywarfield: Okay. Okay.

670
01:22:02.560 --> 01:22:04.470
Peter Nagrod: It seems like they're self evident.

671
01:22:06.560 --> 01:22:11.110
John Compton: No, there's nothing self-evident about this. How do we go.

672
01:22:13.150 --> 01:22:16.909
Peter Nagrod: You're the only one you just said you already said. You're the only one that can issue

673
01:22:17.150 --> 01:22:22.780
Peter Nagrod: a citation. You're you're the only enforcement we have so, and then.

674
01:22:22.780 --> 01:22:27.719
John Compton: Provide for a citation. It just says we should. There we can. We can ask for an inspection

675
01:22:29.650 --> 01:22:30.780
John Compton: if I've missed it.

676
01:22:30.780 --> 01:22:31.490
Peter Nagrod: How.

677
01:22:32.550 --> 01:22:37.479
John Compton: See, then, this deals with the vacant property not registered unpaid fees.

678
01:22:37.670 --> 01:22:44.740
John Compton: Well, the only fee so far is is for not for the registration fee, and this late fee that's in here.

679
01:22:46.420 --> 01:22:48.570
John Compton: And then it just tells you how the

680
01:22:48.710 --> 01:22:51.349
John Compton: violation should look. The notice should look

681
01:22:51.660 --> 01:22:58.589
John Compton: so. But there's nothing it needs to be to be explicit that the yes, the you know. If if this doesn't happen, what happened.

682
01:23:00.050 --> 01:23:00.740
marywarfield: Okay.

683
01:23:01.720 --> 01:23:02.540
Peter Nagrod: That's all.

684
01:23:02.540 --> 01:23:03.130
John Compton: Okay.

685
01:23:03.130 --> 01:23:04.979
John Compton: It doesn't have to be huge. It just.

686
01:23:04.980 --> 01:23:06.590
Peter Nagrod: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

687
01:23:06.929 --> 01:23:10.660
Peter Nagrod: If you want, you can take a look at section 13.

688
01:23:10.830 --> 01:23:15.209
John Compton: Article one which deals with condemnation of buildings.

689
01:23:15.630 --> 01:23:22.179
John Compton: It goes on about inspectors and the pro and and the process and the notices.

690
01:23:23.665 --> 01:23:26.260
John Compton: So yeah.

691
01:23:32.680 --> 01:23:35.551
marywarfield: Alright! So look, we have the option of

692
01:23:36.500 --> 01:23:38.369
John Compton: Voting on this motion.

693
01:23:38.560 --> 01:23:43.700
John Compton: If someone wants to propose to postpone till March 10th

694
01:23:43.870 --> 01:23:48.069
John Compton: action, you know any action on this motion?

695
01:23:50.250 --> 01:24:03.149
John Compton: I recommend. We do that to allow time for the the town attorney to react, and also to come up with language, if you will, to what we were just speaking about to

696
01:24:03.380 --> 01:24:05.877
John Compton: amend it slightly.

697
01:24:10.000 --> 01:24:10.660
marywarfield: Okay.

698
01:24:11.340 --> 01:24:15.950
marywarfield: So I should make a motion to postpone.

699
01:24:16.403 --> 01:24:17.310
John Compton: 10, yes.

700
01:24:17.310 --> 01:24:18.850
marywarfield: Till until March 10.th

701
01:24:18.970 --> 01:24:20.329
marywarfield: Decision. On this.

702
01:24:20.330 --> 01:24:21.540
John Compton: Fracture, motion.

703
01:24:22.750 --> 01:24:23.510
marywarfield: Okay.

704
01:24:26.090 --> 01:24:26.830
Barbara: Settings.

705
01:24:27.240 --> 01:24:36.260
John Compton: Barber. Second, any discussion on the postponement all in favor that's unanimous.

706
01:24:36.260 --> 01:24:36.969
Peter Nagrod: That's right.

707
01:24:37.300 --> 01:24:47.429
John Compton: But now now we're dealing with an ordinance. You're all aware of the process, you know, when you vote in favor of a

708
01:24:47.730 --> 01:24:55.000
John Compton: you need to have a public hearing that needs to be notice. I think there needs to be notice.

709
01:24:55.750 --> 01:25:00.689
John Compton: I'm real forgetting it's it's not. I don't think we have to publish it, and

710
01:25:01.340 --> 01:25:05.479
John Compton: you know, newspaper. But we have to do notice, and a few other simple.

711
01:25:05.480 --> 01:25:09.200
Kathy Lehman: I think. Isn't the newspapers just for the article 7? Is that right?

712
01:25:09.540 --> 01:25:11.270
John Compton: Yeah, I think.

713
01:25:11.270 --> 01:25:12.220
Kathy Lehman: I think you're good.

714
01:25:12.220 --> 01:25:13.450
Kathy Lehman: Yeah, exactly.

715
01:25:15.280 --> 01:25:17.510
John Compton: Right, all right.

716
01:25:20.130 --> 01:25:27.470
John Compton: So we are now on to our other regular business, which is the town Council reports.

717
01:25:28.020 --> 01:25:33.050
Kathy Lehman: Thank you all for your town Council reports. I've picked out some things of note.

718
01:25:33.260 --> 01:25:43.369
John Compton: After which you, any counselor, may comment on their report if they they feel it's worth it doing it here.

719
01:25:44.910 --> 01:26:12.679
John Compton: So Eva wrote in her summary of the playground Work group activities, and as we heard from Jonathan Dale, the Work group intends to develop a comprehensive playground plan for review and approval by the Council, and they plan to propose budgeting some funds for fiscal 26 to begin in implementing the plan once the plan is.

720
01:26:12.900 --> 01:26:14.699
John Compton: is that is is approved.

721
01:26:18.970 --> 01:26:37.080
John Compton: I'm speaking for Eva particularly here. She wants to, in respect to the click on work group kudos to Oscar Ramos, who's been chairing that group, and the entire work group, especially Jonathan Dale, Peggy Boer and Arlene Mccrean for their energy.

722
01:26:37.550 --> 01:26:43.530
John Compton: time, energy, and positivity put into the new playground effort.

723
01:26:44.010 --> 01:26:46.740
John Compton: You can read more in her report, of course.

724
01:26:48.910 --> 01:26:59.509
John Compton: for the gateway committee. Peter reported that they have been discussing the pros and cons of creating a 10 foot cleared strip along both sides of Railroad Street.

725
01:27:02.270 --> 01:27:03.010
John Compton: So

726
01:27:04.970 --> 01:27:14.310
John Compton: That is an interesting idea that is being discussed with regard to maintenance.

727
01:27:17.310 --> 01:27:32.729
John Compton: Peter also reports that this, the snow and ice was a challenge, obviously, but it was very well done. This, maybe old news. It's important

728
01:27:33.731 --> 01:27:39.480
John Compton: to to recognize that we the these, the the

729
01:27:39.900 --> 01:27:43.650
John Compton: salt policy, had very beneficial effects.

730
01:27:44.780 --> 01:27:51.489
John Compton: Barbara reports from the Hpc. That they continued to work on a proposal

731
01:27:51.970 --> 01:27:59.070
John Compton: to bring to the Council in the town to install commemorative language at the former sites of historic buildings.

732
01:27:59.930 --> 01:28:21.590
John Compton: Read more about that in her report from the planning commission several things. Peter note again noted that Peter notes that the planning Commission has been discussing and may produce a make a proposal.

733
01:28:21.910 --> 01:28:31.259
John Compton: No, they haven't yet this is discussion of amending the ordinances to require only the town permit for fence installation

734
01:28:31.440 --> 01:28:36.810
John Compton: and remove the requirement for a Montgomery County fence permit.

735
01:28:38.770 --> 01:28:50.260
John Compton: and finally back to Railroad Street. The planning commission is proposing is proposed to use the Survey funds in the current year's budget to survey

736
01:28:50.410 --> 01:28:57.109
John Compton: accurately the town property lines along Railroad Street.

737
01:29:00.750 --> 01:29:04.230
John Compton: all right. So or they.

738
01:29:04.230 --> 01:29:06.549
Peter Nagrod: And so can I just add one thing from the gateway.

739
01:29:06.850 --> 01:29:18.710
Peter Nagrod: because, having freshly come off pickup duty on Saturday, you know, Jonathan Dale organizes that with donuts and coffee.

740
01:29:18.950 --> 01:29:21.310
Peter Nagrod: and we only had

741
01:29:21.690 --> 01:29:47.479
Peter Nagrod: Jay and Liz did Railroad Street afterwards. But I don't know if I'm sure everybody on this call drives along Washington Grove Lane and Railroad Street once in a while, and I'm sure you saw the amazing amount of trash that built up along there. It is huge. And you know the people in town. We're a volunteer organization, right? This town, and everybody just like takes it for granted that this stuff is going to be picked up.

742
01:29:47.780 --> 01:29:52.960
Peter Nagrod: And yeah, we've sometimes we have a lot of people like 10 to 12 this time. We only had

743
01:29:53.494 --> 01:30:00.949
Peter Nagrod: I think 3 on Saturday, and, you know, just spread the word. We'll do some more marketing. But

744
01:30:01.070 --> 01:30:19.179
Peter Nagrod: we really could use some more help with people coming out and doing this. It's only once a month. It's really fun to do it. Jonathan will tell you. It's really gratifying to see the streets cleaned after you after you get over the fact that how annoying it is that people just throw their trash on our streets. So

745
01:30:19.760 --> 01:30:23.940
Peter Nagrod: just a little bit of a plug and a thank you to all the people that do come out and volunteer and do this

746
01:30:26.370 --> 01:30:38.980
Peter Nagrod: thankless job, especially Joan and Dan, who have been doing this every week for forever. And you know now that they're not doing it because of a few injuries and things. It really makes me appreciate how much of an effort they have made over the years.

747
01:30:39.710 --> 01:30:43.430
Peter Nagrod: Really, really great citizens done. John.

748
01:30:44.250 --> 01:30:48.110
John Compton: Okay, hopefully, hopefully, the weather might have had something to do with it.

749
01:30:48.110 --> 01:30:48.999
Peter Nagrod: It did it did.

750
01:30:49.000 --> 01:30:58.880
John Compton: Not the world's most pleasant activity in in cold weather. So yeah, but noted anyone else.

751
01:31:01.150 --> 01:31:07.070
John Compton: Okay, well, I could hurry. And and and actually, we could actually end this meeting at 9. My clock says.

752
01:31:07.070 --> 01:31:07.730
Peter Nagrod: No.

753
01:31:07.970 --> 01:31:13.499
John Compton: So the the next meeting, of course, is March 10.th

754
01:31:13.860 --> 01:31:16.319
John Compton: Any objection to adjournment.

755
01:31:16.890 --> 01:31:18.050
Peter Nagrod: Very bad.

756
01:31:18.890 --> 01:31:21.840
John Compton: Council meeting is adjourned.

757
01:31:21.840 --> 01:31:26.109
marywarfield: Kudos. Good job, all right. Everybody.

758
01:31:27.410 --> 01:31:27.970
Peter Nagrod: Thank you.

759
01:31:28.335 --> 01:31:28.700
marywarfield: Right.

760
01:31:29.422 --> 01:31:30.487
Robert Gilmore: Rule, rule.

761
01:31:31.020 --> 01:31:32.830
marywarfield: Yay, totally! Totally!