WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.320 --> 00:00:03.380 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 2 00:00:03.650 --> 00:00:07.350 Plainfield VT Select Board: This is the Select Board meeting for June 9th 3 00:00:07.830 --> 00:00:10.409 Plainfield VT Select Board: town of Plainfield at 6 o'clock 4 00:00:11.770 --> 00:00:21.300 Plainfield VT Select Board: And we will call the meeting to order changes to agenda anything to come up? 5 00:00:26.670 --> 00:00:35.650 Plainfield VT Select Board: The only thing I would say is that there is a future I'd like on a future meeting to talk about the whether we should have a rotating chair or not. 6 00:00:36.720 --> 00:00:40.390 Plainfield VT Select Board: My my term will be up next town meeting. 7 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:47.429 Plainfield VT Select Board: which means I'll I'm happy to stay until then, but it also might make sense for someone else to step in and 8 00:00:48.530 --> 00:00:51.679 Plainfield VT Select Board: do it. So I just would like to add that to the next 9 00:00:52.340 --> 00:00:57.900 Plainfield VT Select Board: or a future meeting. You want that for a future meeting. Future meeting? Not for this. No, no future meeting noted. 10 00:00:58.120 --> 00:01:05.920 Plainfield VT Select Board: Note in notice yet, and announcements, any announcements anybody wants to make. 11 00:01:08.870 --> 00:01:10.590 Plainfield VT Select Board: It's nice to be able to see everybody. 12 00:01:13.906 --> 00:01:30.439 Plainfield VT Select Board: It's it's only brighter. If it was only brighter. Yeah, I can open those curtains. Yeah. Josh or Grant are one of you. Gonna mention the wastewater water award in your report somewhere. 13 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:44.290 Plainfield VT Select Board: They are now. Well, we can do it as an announcement. I can just read what? What that can fill out. Yeah, if you want me to. Yeah. Great. Yeah. Please let me just stop, Brian. Sorry. 14 00:01:51.450 --> 00:01:58.651 Plainfield VT Select Board: Oh, apologies! Well, well, while you're looking for that I just want to acknowledge 15 00:01:59.190 --> 00:02:05.410 Plainfield VT Select Board: our own Lister Gary Smith, who is is going to step down from the Grants group. 16 00:02:07.320 --> 00:02:09.610 Plainfield VT Select Board: Amazing work he's done. I just wanna 17 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:12.900 Plainfield VT Select Board: I've been part of that group since the start, and 18 00:02:13.170 --> 00:02:21.109 Plainfield VT Select Board: he has put in so much time. So I just want to acknowledge him for that. He's he's done a great job, and he he will continue as a lister. But 19 00:02:22.190 --> 00:02:27.400 Plainfield VT Select Board: step back from the that board here. 20 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:37.869 Plainfield VT Select Board: He's probably gonna allow us to get money from the government if it ever sends money anywhere. 21 00:02:39.190 --> 00:03:08.520 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yes, so I just want to make an announcement. Tim Phillips, who's a former water wastewater trustee, though still hosting on their behalf, and and keeping people apprised about what's going on with them. Noted yesterday that the Plainfield Water Operators, Chief Operator Tristan Mcgregor Stewart, and assistant operator, Scott Franks, received the Green Mountain Water Environment Association facility, excellence award for water. Yeah, the award cited the reason. 22 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.870 Plainfield VT Select Board: The facility excellent of powater award is presented to facilities 23 00:03:11.870 --> 00:03:24.059 Plainfield VT Select Board: through exceeding system. Operation requirements. Recognition is for the entire facility and staff. The town of Plainfield water and Wastewater department manages, treatment, distribution, and collection with remarkable efficiency. 24 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:48.289 Plainfield VT Select Board: Last July, in response to catastrophic damage caused by hurricane Beryl staff worked over 12 h every day to restore water service. Chief operator, Tristan Mcgregor Stewart, and assistant operator. Scott ranks have demonstrated exceptional initiative driving system improvements even prior to last summer's devastating floods and just congratulations to Tristan and Scott for the amazing work that is congratulations. That is great. 25 00:03:49.350 --> 00:03:52.612 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, we had a big audience. We could. 26 00:03:53.610 --> 00:03:59.089 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay, any other announcements, public comments. 27 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:13.889 Plainfield VT Select Board: We had a great meeting today. This is today at the Town Hall office. We'll talk about that for a second. It's on the agenda later. Oh, oh, okay, thanks. 28 00:04:14.100 --> 00:04:16.870 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay. I guess we're set with the comments 29 00:04:17.575 --> 00:04:19.950 Plainfield VT Select Board: town clerk's report. RAM you got. 30 00:04:21.250 --> 00:04:28.199 Plainfield VT Select Board: Do you want me to go to the microphone? Well, it's only to help people be able to hear you if you don't mind. Yeah, yeah. 31 00:04:35.440 --> 00:04:36.640 Plainfield VT Select Board: thanks. Everyone. 32 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:38.680 Plainfield VT Select Board: Grandchildren's on clerk. 33 00:04:39.577 --> 00:04:41.309 Plainfield VT Select Board: Couple of things. 34 00:04:41.730 --> 00:04:52.139 Plainfield VT Select Board: These are not expense issues, but I do want to bring them to the Board's attention 35 00:04:52.910 --> 00:04:57.060 Plainfield VT Select Board: going down the line. At present the town 36 00:04:57.470 --> 00:05:03.639 Plainfield VT Select Board: uses the Nemerick system for everything, including land records. 37 00:05:05.700 --> 00:05:13.519 Plainfield VT Select Board: Is this working? Okay, yeah, it's working fine. It's just awkward for you. Thanks so much. 38 00:05:15.280 --> 00:05:24.839 Plainfield VT Select Board: There is a very. There's a there's another system that's called cost that many, many towns uses. Co. 39 00:05:25.170 --> 00:05:34.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: And I had a meeting with the person. The value add here is that it takes extremely 40 00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:46.240 Plainfield VT Select Board: less. It takes less time to do the actual work, so the way it is. Now, when you're recording these and all this, you have to duplicate work. 41 00:05:46.520 --> 00:05:55.989 Plainfield VT Select Board: So this would would make it a a much smoother system, and also a better interaction experience for the people who are looking up stuff online. 42 00:05:56.250 --> 00:05:58.590 Plainfield VT Select Board: So it's the touch system. I mean. 43 00:05:58.850 --> 00:06:12.839 Plainfield VT Select Board: it's very hard to to judge how much this would cost, but it's probably in the neighborhood of $30,000 to do the whole install, and then there'll be, you know there'll be fees after that. But I just wanted to. 44 00:06:13.605 --> 00:06:19.009 Plainfield VT Select Board: Make the board aware down the line. The other thing is is that 45 00:06:19.630 --> 00:06:26.209 Plainfield VT Select Board: regarding Internet in the Municipal Building, which I think by all measures, is adequate. 46 00:06:26.974 --> 00:06:36.049 Plainfield VT Select Board: It josh and I were upstairs, and we noticed that actually, that building is actually hooked up 47 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:37.660 Plainfield VT Select Board: for firing 48 00:06:38.422 --> 00:06:52.707 Plainfield VT Select Board: which is, an exponentially more powerful experience. And in talking to the people at Charter there might be the possibility of including the fire house. 49 00:06:53.310 --> 00:07:08.780 Plainfield VT Select Board: in that improvement and overall town needs to organize and streamline how it's buying Internet and phone across the board. It's it's right now. It's a very 50 00:07:08.930 --> 00:07:11.300 Plainfield VT Select Board: chaotic patchwork system. 51 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:18.395 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think. If we can get it all under one roof, I'll have sort of numbers and expectations. 52 00:07:18.960 --> 00:07:37.729 Plainfield VT Select Board: this is more. Once again, I think that the Internet that we have now is adequate, however, going forward with the increased demands of different things. Perhaps that won't be the case in the near future. One other thing that the board should be aware of is, I know that this discussion last meeting 53 00:07:37.870 --> 00:07:40.829 Plainfield VT Select Board: of the abandoned building ordinance. 54 00:07:43.200 --> 00:07:48.899 Plainfield VT Select Board: Just so. Everybody has a sort of feeling history. In 2,014 55 00:07:49.190 --> 00:07:52.170 Plainfield VT Select Board: an abandoned building ordinance was proposed. 56 00:07:52.410 --> 00:07:56.589 Plainfield VT Select Board: and the reaction from the public was 57 00:07:56.870 --> 00:08:01.667 Plainfield VT Select Board: fairly negative. I will send the copy of that 58 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:09.540 Plainfield VT Select Board: ordinance and the discussion around it so that you can look at it and make determinations. 59 00:08:10.258 --> 00:08:12.211 Plainfield VT Select Board: I would note that. 60 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:27.819 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think that the I think Peter found the model ordinance, which is, looks a little bit less onerous. But one of the things that spooked people was the idea of appointing a building inspector, and you can read what the comments were back. Then 61 00:08:28.260 --> 00:08:30.520 Plainfield VT Select Board: I would note that this 62 00:08:30.890 --> 00:08:46.089 Plainfield VT Select Board: so that was like late 2,014 in 2,015. The push to make that change forced the adoption of a solid waste ordinance which is on the books, and we do have now. 63 00:08:46.500 --> 00:09:15.088 Plainfield VT Select Board: once again, that could probably be more robustly enforced when we get the ticketing and all that organized which is going to take some time, because we have to not only shape our ordinances, but train everybody and all that. So that's in the works. So that's it for me. Okay, I have a question. Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see it just just going back to the nimrex and versus cots. 64 00:09:15.540 --> 00:09:42.259 Plainfield VT Select Board: So we'll we'll get a presentation at some point from you, does cots. It has better features in certain areas like recording deeds. But is it also have other benefits over Nimrex, would you say? For land records? It's sort of if you go to most of the neighboring towns they've adopted either cots or some other system. I mean, Nimrec has some great features, but for this particular entity they're they're not 65 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:45.779 Plainfield VT Select Board: okay. It's not insane. I I think that people 66 00:09:46.463 --> 00:09:55.240 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, can speak to the logistical advantages and also the having an online experience. 67 00:09:55.520 --> 00:10:15.149 Plainfield VT Select Board: That's a little bit better and also easier to monetize. You know, when people go on and make payments and so forth. Okay, but you can decide whether or not it's a value. Add enough to spend money. Okay? So that's 1 of the stuff we'll have to look at. Okay, thank you. 68 00:10:15.390 --> 00:10:20.560 Plainfield VT Select Board: So if we get rid of that functionality on them. Does it save us 69 00:10:20.790 --> 00:10:38.553 Plainfield VT Select Board: money on our account? Or I think that that module. I I didn't run the numbers, but I'm sure that module is an extra charge, and yes, but we would. I don't know that I don't think you should think of it as significant enough. 70 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:54.060 Plainfield VT Select Board: I was just the same questions, basically, just wanted to confirm that you'd be bringing this back to us when it was time to do something about. Oh, yeah, no, this is very. This is very preliminary. And it's just trying to think ahead. 71 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:57.620 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yup, great, thank you. Any other questions. 72 00:10:58.210 --> 00:11:04.400 Plainfield VT Select Board: Oh, one more about the Internet and the phone. Are you gonna be looking at 73 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:28.560 Plainfield VT Select Board: like all buildings? So like, obviously, there's the Municipal Building and the firehouse. But then there's also the town garage. There's this building, all have some levels of phone and Internet. I think that the the building that will most come into focus is this building with the Municipal Building, and that has to do with logistics of where fiber is run. So fiber is run along Route 2, 74 00:11:28.750 --> 00:11:47.730 Plainfield VT Select Board: and I think it's easier to get everything on board, whereas when I started talking about the water plant and 99 Cameron, it got a little more. They weren't convinced that they could throw the signal that far without. It's a huge expense. 75 00:11:49.545 --> 00:11:50.695 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 76 00:11:51.770 --> 00:11:57.999 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yes, just a quick comment that in terms of the the viability of the present systems. 77 00:11:58.300 --> 00:12:04.279 Plainfield VT Select Board: It's pretty good for everything. Where it gets clogged up and we experience it is in the Zoom Meetings. 78 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:23.150 Plainfield VT Select Board: and then sometimes collapse on us, which would be nice if that didn't happen, and the other part is now that so relevant is doing Gis mapping out of the office upstairs from the town clerk. That puts a tremendous amount of data demand on us. It slows down almost to clunky. Nothing 79 00:12:23.470 --> 00:12:34.999 Plainfield VT Select Board: depending on how much the bill case that she's doing. But she has to move a lot of data. So I think it is a helpful idea. Yeah, it's nice to do something besides flood work. 80 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:37.009 Plainfield VT Select Board: No, thank you for that. 81 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:42.250 Plainfield VT Select Board: The treasurer. Report, please. 82 00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:55.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: A lot of the work that I've been doing 83 00:12:56.260 --> 00:13:05.559 Plainfield VT Select Board: over the last couple of weeks is really just a lot of little tasks sort of to clean up the books for the end of the year. Sort of moving 84 00:13:06.370 --> 00:13:12.780 Plainfield VT Select Board: money out of our service or funds, for example. The 85 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:27.280 Plainfield VT Select Board: like. The reappraisal funds we've now incurred a lot of the expenses for the reappraisal in this fiscal year. So drawing down from those reserves is one example of that and 86 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.970 Plainfield VT Select Board: the 87 00:13:29.522 --> 00:13:37.657 Plainfield VT Select Board: bachelor and associates. I got a hold of them today and had a lot of back and forth emails. They're still working their way through the 88 00:13:38.350 --> 00:13:50.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: up to the end of 2024. And I've been working backwards from 2025. One of the things to kind of hang off something. Bram was talking about the Internet 89 00:13:51.710 --> 00:13:58.303 Plainfield VT Select Board: like, because I've been making sure that all of the bills have been allocated correctly to the correct 90 00:13:58.770 --> 00:14:06.460 Plainfield VT Select Board: line items. I've taken a lot of time to look at them today. So the like for 91 00:14:06.660 --> 00:14:22.849 Plainfield VT Select Board: the savings to you know where we could eliminate the Internet to the firehouse and use one service drop for both municipal buildings would save us about $1,800 a year and 92 00:14:23.490 --> 00:14:26.160 Plainfield VT Select Board: And then we currently have 93 00:14:27.075 --> 00:14:45.330 Plainfield VT Select Board: Consolidated here as phone line. But we're actually paying for Consolidated Internet as well. So I'm gonna get a hold of them and work out the lower deal, because and then the spectrum connection here also carries a voice line. 94 00:14:45.490 --> 00:14:51.670 Plainfield VT Select Board: So I'm going to work on renegotiating some of those things. I also found that 95 00:14:52.442 --> 00:14:55.340 Plainfield VT Select Board: closely examining the bills for the 96 00:14:55.928 --> 00:15:10.060 Plainfield VT Select Board: municipal office we have, we have a solar credit that we haven't applied to some things this year, and I'm not sure why that hasn't been applied. But that's something I'm looking into. So it's just been quite a lot of little 97 00:15:11.690 --> 00:15:14.623 Plainfield VT Select Board: little bit of things here and there regarding 98 00:15:15.260 --> 00:15:21.680 Plainfield VT Select Board: You know what's going on in the accounts, but I expect to have something hopefully 99 00:15:22.430 --> 00:15:24.898 Plainfield VT Select Board: where we can get into a 100 00:15:25.430 --> 00:15:30.789 Plainfield VT Select Board: You know the statement of net position for the town. 101 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:37.078 Plainfield VT Select Board: There's I'm relying on that shoulder to kind of get us there. It's it's taking some time. 102 00:15:37.550 --> 00:15:42.950 Plainfield VT Select Board: but make it pretty good progress. And there's been 500. Yeah. 103 00:15:43.070 --> 00:15:59.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: good. Good question, by solar credit, do you mean the offset for what we're generating like up at the Park and ride. Yeah, it hasn't been applied right? And why there, I don't know why, but 104 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:03.655 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, that's an extra $900. So it's been 105 00:16:04.310 --> 00:16:07.252 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, every dollar is paid a dinos right? 106 00:16:09.390 --> 00:16:11.869 Plainfield VT Select Board: Other questions for our treasurer. 107 00:16:12.290 --> 00:16:20.379 Plainfield VT Select Board: Nope, thank you. Thank you for finding money. Yeah. Good job, I bet. 108 00:16:25.281 --> 00:16:38.139 Plainfield VT Select Board: Granted group is anyone here who can address it? I think Karen's out of town. Karen Hutcher is experiencing a non-specified family emergency. Yeah. Yeah. So Karen won't be able to report. 109 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:43.529 Plainfield VT Select Board: And I don't have much. She did email us a report. 110 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:46.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: I want to say a few days ago. 111 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:53.370 Plainfield VT Select Board: Things. Things, I think, are pretty much basically talks about 112 00:16:53.650 --> 00:17:08.509 Plainfield VT Select Board: sort of ramping back from a year's worth of blood work. Yeah, yes. Well, with with the suggestion that other committees in town should be looking for grants on their own. Yes, 113 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:16.209 Plainfield VT Select Board: And you know, it's like, okay, I think that probably needs to be organized in some way. It's 114 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.559 Plainfield VT Select Board: what I have heard other than just have 115 00:17:18.770 --> 00:17:20.909 Plainfield VT Select Board: a bunch of people running off on it. 116 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:26.969 Plainfield VT Select Board: Well, she's happy to help guide folks. She just can't do the work she's focusing on the 117 00:17:27.190 --> 00:17:35.520 Plainfield VT Select Board: on the multimillion dollar potential grants that we can get, we hope. But that takes a lot of work and a lot of focus. 118 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:39.639 Plainfield VT Select Board: So I think that's where we're at. Still, she was describing. 119 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:48.500 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, go ahead. I would say that that to characterize what she wrote, that he's 120 00:17:49.180 --> 00:18:10.729 Plainfield VT Select Board: left it to the committees, as Peter said, to find their money, but I think we have to inform her everybody that might be doing that. For instance, I'm working on 2 grants, and she knows about it. The reason is because all grants that have gone done through town committees ultimately get paid to the town. 121 00:18:10.950 --> 00:18:25.849 Plainfield VT Select Board: Someone needs to be able to coordinate the reporting and the even if she's not doing it herself. Someone needs to coordinate the reporting and also to make sure there's no duplication. In other words, if she's got a Grant application to the Vermont Community Foundation. She doesn't want somebody else independently 122 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:34.752 Plainfield VT Select Board: applying to the Vermont Community Foundation, which will throw off our relationship with them. There seemed to be an implicit suggestion that 123 00:18:35.260 --> 00:18:42.069 Plainfield VT Select Board: the work of the Grants group has been 1st large and long, consistent. 124 00:18:42.764 --> 00:18:48.939 Plainfield VT Select Board: That there was need to focus, as was spoken on flood relief, particularly 125 00:18:49.340 --> 00:19:08.500 Plainfield VT Select Board: the implication of the message to me was we could put out another call for a Grants group, a refreshed grants group to work on grants that are not explicitly flood related. And so I guess this is me putting out the call on behalf of 126 00:19:08.931 --> 00:19:32.799 Plainfield VT Select Board: Carer and ourselves. I think I think I can speak to the Board, where, when I say that there still is a lot of potential money to come into playing field for those who are seeking it and finding it and writing the grants for it. And so we're being told that the group who had been doing this is out of capacity to do this in all realms, not Flood related. 127 00:19:33.308 --> 00:19:48.841 Plainfield VT Select Board: So to those in this room, to those on zoom. Start spreading this word. It'll probably come through on the front porch. Forum. Also notice that there is want again for advanced group whatever 2.0 to 128 00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:52.948 Plainfield VT Select Board: on on that subject. 129 00:19:54.390 --> 00:20:12.499 Plainfield VT Select Board: there could be a Grant group that's going to focus on the once the buyouts happen, the park that will be created there. We have the National Forest Service coming here on a team at no charge to the town and no money with them, although they do know of grant opportunities. So 130 00:20:12.570 --> 00:20:24.810 Plainfield VT Select Board: anyone who's interested in what might happen to our downtown near the brook should take part in that, and perhaps start a Grant group there. So 131 00:20:24.970 --> 00:20:28.550 Plainfield VT Select Board: good point, thank you. 132 00:20:28.780 --> 00:20:32.559 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'm working on 2 2 grants, one of which is. 133 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:38.409 Plainfield VT Select Board: it's nearing the closure. Can you speak to the microphone? Speak up? Yeah, just for the people on 134 00:20:43.570 --> 00:20:52.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: Crampsey. So there's a grant that's wrapping up, which is the grant to prepare the town better for 135 00:20:52.610 --> 00:20:57.769 Plainfield VT Select Board: upcoming disasters and emergencies which has been primarily applied here in this building. 136 00:20:58.110 --> 00:21:06.379 Plainfield VT Select Board: and that's wrapping up. It should have been finished by now, but a lot of contractors to do the work haven't been available. So we're probably going to go past a year. 137 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:17.980 Plainfield VT Select Board: but at the same time knowing that this work here is finished. The next piece, which is to deal with air, quality and air temperature in this room. 138 00:21:18.090 --> 00:21:34.050 Plainfield VT Select Board: So I'll be working out to write a second grant to put to improve the air quality and the air coolness in this room. And then also, there's another grant which I'm pretty sure we've already got, which will be to improve 139 00:21:34.450 --> 00:21:57.290 Plainfield VT Select Board: security at the Municipal Building. It's basically a grant to us from the Department of Homeland Security, where they will be evaluating many vulnerabilities on a level in that room and helping us remedy them, and also providing access to funds to do that repair or that upgrade, whatever it is. 140 00:21:57.860 --> 00:21:59.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: Great. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. 141 00:22:03.588 --> 00:22:10.020 Plainfield VT Select Board: Does anyone know what the evaic group is do is gonna have a report on. 142 00:22:10.250 --> 00:22:16.669 Plainfield VT Select Board: They have a meeting on Thursday. Yeah, they have a meeting on Thursday. But there was. I guess they were 143 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:26.790 Plainfield VT Select Board: slated to be on a regular they they are a slotted standard agenda. Item. Yeah, I don't see any reps from them. I don't, either. Yeah. 144 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:31.579 Plainfield VT Select Board: So we'll I'm gonna be helping them set up Thursday. So 145 00:22:31.850 --> 00:22:35.539 Plainfield VT Select Board: we can. Do you want to say anything about the emails we've been getting. 146 00:22:37.270 --> 00:22:43.654 Plainfield VT Select Board: And well, prior to the last Select Board meeting, Rose and I had met with 147 00:22:45.153 --> 00:22:58.566 Plainfield VT Select Board: oh, Lawrence Miller around the foundation, and Lauren Geiger was there, and Arian, I think, and we came from that meeting, and 148 00:22:59.370 --> 00:23:10.985 Plainfield VT Select Board: we voted here at at the Select Board meeting to ask Eli Emerson to take a look at the loan papers. 149 00:23:11.810 --> 00:23:19.800 Plainfield VT Select Board: We've both been asked. Has there been any follow up on that? And I don't know that there has. They were sent out to him. 150 00:23:20.290 --> 00:23:21.770 Plainfield VT Select Board: but only Friday. 151 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:49.070 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay. So we got word from Eli that he would look at them for us. Yes, and the documents have been delivered to Eli right. And so you haven't heard back from Eli? I have not heard back, and you haven't, either. He probably didn't look at them over the weekend. Yeah, probably probably is busy. Okay, so that's where we are there. And they've we've also been asked about the status of the negotiations on purchase, and I have no. 152 00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:54.669 Plainfield VT Select Board: I have no idea where the Dns is. Okay, because that's what we're waiting for. 153 00:23:56.630 --> 00:24:00.410 Plainfield VT Select Board: So a lot of non activities there. 154 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.880 Plainfield VT Select Board: Road Commissioner. 155 00:24:12.270 --> 00:24:19.850 Plainfield VT Select Board: I do have one how we call it be there. 156 00:24:20.614 --> 00:24:41.499 Plainfield VT Select Board: Item spoke with Rick Burrows today about the amount of added labor. And you know, and time and attention, material cost of managing the that area. Rick being on the committee and what I 157 00:24:41.950 --> 00:24:49.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: what I told him today was that I didn't feel as though the length of road constituted them 158 00:24:49.390 --> 00:24:54.341 Plainfield VT Select Board: much of an increase overall. That wouldn't be, 159 00:24:55.110 --> 00:25:10.940 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know. Tear down to almost round the air. Considering the length of road we have, like one little loop, is not huge, comparatively with one exception. In that we have very little paving. So the impact of the the project 160 00:25:11.090 --> 00:25:14.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: primarily being one of. 161 00:25:14.570 --> 00:25:43.970 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, a slight adjustment in the paving reserve landing. So that was a little discussion that we had, and they might bring that back to you or not, but I'd roll it in to the front of road. Commissioner, report. The big, exciting thing that we that I've got is a draft version of the report that kind of outlines the condition of Brook Road going through from Middle Street to 162 00:25:44.850 --> 00:25:52.285 Plainfield VT Select Board: to East Hill Road. Where a large portion of that work has been done and 163 00:25:52.890 --> 00:25:54.170 Plainfield VT Select Board: And so 164 00:25:55.120 --> 00:26:02.643 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'm gonna review this and then give notes back to Brian lesson from the boys of King, and then 165 00:26:03.190 --> 00:26:07.720 Plainfield VT Select Board: Well, I'll then distribute that out to 166 00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:18.009 Plainfield VT Select Board: folks who would like to take a look at it. It's quite well documented about the current state of things. I kind of think of it as a 167 00:26:18.645 --> 00:26:45.894 Plainfield VT Select Board: quality assurance quality control measure. You know, we've had this huge event. We've responded to it with emergency response. That that type of work is not necessarily going to always be up to standards. So this was in anticipation of that largely in one part, to understand. What are we going to need to do to correct some of the areas that 168 00:26:46.590 --> 00:26:52.610 Plainfield VT Select Board: where we may have done emergency repairs. The road is open. It's not necessarily 169 00:26:53.840 --> 00:27:02.622 Plainfield VT Select Board: right? It doesn't necessarily rise to the level of what the Federal Highway Administration would deem a permanent project. But it gives us a lot of 170 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:18.610 Plainfield VT Select Board: a lot of detail so that we can plan our our reconstruction of the roadway outside of those permanent projects in a way that is like methodical and logical. So 171 00:27:19.246 --> 00:27:24.143 Plainfield VT Select Board: but I have a hard copy here. People want to come through it. The other 172 00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:37.200 Plainfield VT Select Board: and speaking of those permanent projects we kind of essentially finalized our project. Locations project numbers we have. The 1st 3 are 173 00:27:38.470 --> 00:27:39.910 Plainfield VT Select Board: should be 174 00:27:41.180 --> 00:28:06.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: having a kickoff meeting for the 1st 2 projects, the Road Bridge 21 and Mill Street Bridge. We'll combine those dates because, for efficiency of people's time and attention. And then, the selection of municipal project management has been made, and so I've reached out to the firm Gbi to 175 00:28:07.540 --> 00:28:17.860 Plainfield VT Select Board: negotiate there project management from town on those those 3 projects remaining which for shorthand is 176 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:32.919 Plainfield VT Select Board: 5, 6, and 8. They have longer hard to remember numbers or the official number, that's everything between Cameron Road and Gray Road for the most part. 177 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:37.490 Plainfield VT Select Board: and then and then the 178 00:28:39.030 --> 00:28:41.659 Plainfield VT Select Board: let's see a few other things. 179 00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:46.440 Plainfield VT Select Board: That's correct. 180 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:50.980 Plainfield VT Select Board: But we already covered that all right. Any questions 181 00:28:52.626 --> 00:29:02.083 Plainfield VT Select Board: the Treasurer question, road, Commissioner. But what point do you? And I'm going back to the Grants. Report that that Karen Grants could report that Karen sent along 182 00:29:03.490 --> 00:29:12.050 Plainfield VT Select Board: all the data has been submitted for Federal highway reimbursement. At what point do you expect to start seeing 183 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:14.050 Plainfield VT Select Board: money showing up? 184 00:29:15.206 --> 00:29:21.039 Plainfield VT Select Board: For the for site? 3, 185 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:26.640 Plainfield VT Select Board: 12 and 11. I'd expect to come back 186 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:31.550 Plainfield VT Select Board: probably early in the fiscal year, like 187 00:29:32.520 --> 00:29:38.170 Plainfield VT Select Board: I haven't seen it go through to back to me to submit the 188 00:29:38.310 --> 00:29:44.839 Plainfield VT Select Board: cover letter right away. Clearance and things like that which is kind of for those 189 00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:51.560 Plainfield VT Select Board: for those areas. That's just kind of a formality. But the 190 00:29:52.250 --> 00:30:04.150 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know the difference between the ones we submitted in 2023. The reason the last one took so long to come back is because I think you know, it hadn't been initiated at the same time, and then 191 00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:06.110 Plainfield VT Select Board: the payment 192 00:30:06.290 --> 00:30:13.413 Plainfield VT Select Board: peer period was very close to the end of the fiscal year for the state. I think, that stretched out the payment there. But 193 00:30:13.990 --> 00:30:19.370 Plainfield VT Select Board: The I would say, probably in like the 1st couple of months. 194 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:28.890 Plainfield VT Select Board: Can you give us a give everybody a sense of how much we've submitted. Dollars, rough numbers. 195 00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:41.420 Plainfield VT Select Board: Oh, I would guess the it's somewhere around $850,000 to Federal highway. Okay? 196 00:30:41.850 --> 00:30:48.860 Plainfield VT Select Board: And but with the non permanent projects that don't have a a permanent components, those will come back faster. 197 00:30:49.450 --> 00:30:54.799 Plainfield VT Select Board: And this is all the emergency work we're still talking about at this point. Yeah, yeah. 198 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:57.360 Plainfield VT Select Board: okay, thank you. Any other questions. 199 00:30:58.320 --> 00:31:00.100 Plainfield VT Select Board: I guess we're set. Thanks. 200 00:31:00.770 --> 00:31:01.730 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 201 00:31:05.270 --> 00:31:09.679 Plainfield VT Select Board: Hazard mitigation report, good and comfortable. 202 00:31:10.770 --> 00:31:12.669 Plainfield VT Select Board: The town Council is. 203 00:31:12.870 --> 00:31:27.071 Plainfield VT Select Board: but I don't see Dan. Dan is still deployed. Last last I knew Dan was deployed. Yeah, he was not here, but not in state. All right. You are up, then 204 00:31:31.390 --> 00:31:35.220 Plainfield VT Select Board: everybody. Chair of the Conflict Litigation Committee. 205 00:31:35.390 --> 00:31:41.290 Plainfield VT Select Board: and we had something really exciting happen about a year and a half's worth of work sort of 206 00:31:42.110 --> 00:31:55.880 Plainfield VT Select Board: culminated. And that is our dam feasibility report. So post 2023 flooding, we got in touch with friends of the news P to talk about whether lowering. 207 00:31:56.360 --> 00:32:16.984 Plainfield VT Select Board: whether the dam was influencing the amount of flooding in the inside of the village. And so Michelle Braun and friends of Minewski got a grant for us to have this feasibility study done. And now we just recently got the report and the completed study. Had a lot of really interesting things to say. So 208 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:24.834 Plainfield VT Select Board: basically, friends alongside us. Let's see. 209 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:40.340 Plainfield VT Select Board: So what we have done at this point is, we have completed what would be considered phase one of this project if the select board in town decide to vote to remove the dam. They, Renzola Minowski, found a 210 00:32:41.290 --> 00:32:52.270 Plainfield VT Select Board: contracting company, an engineering company called Slr, consulting, and they did the feasibility study for us, and their end result was that they do recommend removing the dam. 211 00:32:52.430 --> 00:33:11.669 Plainfield VT Select Board: They had some really interesting ways of doing hydrology, figuring out how much sediment was behind the dam, which there's considerable amount of sediment, approximately 4,000 dump trucks worth of sediment impounded behind the dam, which is affecting water quality and raising the left 212 00:33:12.470 --> 00:33:34.009 Plainfield VT Select Board: levels, you know, like by removing the dam and the sediment that's impounded Slr that it would lower the rates in the village with blood levels to reduce the window speed down about 7 to 11 feet behind the dam, up all the way up to down Ballara down a foot. 213 00:33:34.190 --> 00:34:00.797 Plainfield VT Select Board: it would increase the velocity. So there's definitely some considerations within that, because then the water would be flowing faster, but it would be cleaner and free flowing. They also estimate that there would be a natural cascade of rock formation underneath the dam. Now the dam has definitely had considerable repair. It hasn't been inspected since the point. It was considered like 214 00:34:01.540 --> 00:34:24.590 Plainfield VT Select Board: acceptable, and now they think that when it does get examined again it'll be considered poor. There's leakage and seepage in the old instruction, the snow reconstruction, and you can look at the sides and see that the abutments are being eroded. And so that definitely puts us at risk, even in winter, like 215 00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:49.349 Plainfield VT Select Board: water could get inside, you know, which is going inside it could freeze and make a rock slip out, or it could take out one of the abutments. And the way that they described it is, if it does a partial abandonment like that, it's not so much that like it would be a huge tsunami of water, but it would be more likely that it would suck away that all that sediment, and it would like erode the 216 00:34:49.830 --> 00:34:53.280 Plainfield VT Select Board: sides of the bank, which would put a lot of structures at risk. 217 00:34:53.894 --> 00:35:11.270 Plainfield VT Select Board: So what we have done with this information actually, before this information, as we, you know, Grant deadline at the beginning of the year, Michael and the Grants Group, and Michelle Braun submitted an application to the State of Vermont Hazard Medication Grant program. 218 00:35:12.090 --> 00:35:19.187 Plainfield VT Select Board: and that has been received. The application is due in April, and so 219 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:28.590 Plainfield VT Select Board: There's been a little like Michael will report more on the grant, so I'll let him answer the questions is directly involved in that. 220 00:35:29.162 --> 00:35:34.939 Plainfield VT Select Board: I just have a yeah. I went to one of the meetings. That 221 00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:51.019 Plainfield VT Select Board: that was. This was all explained about the dam, and people should know that it was built with blocks. Right? I mean, this is the construction of the dam. It's not a poor dam. It was built long ago enough that it's just big concrete blocks that are leaking. 222 00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:52.799 Plainfield VT Select Board: So that's 1 of the problems. 223 00:35:53.893 --> 00:36:01.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: And the and what was the reason again for not letting the sediment run down the river. 224 00:36:02.995 --> 00:36:25.330 Plainfield VT Select Board: There's several reasons. It's full of phosphorus, which is, can make algae, which is runoff generally from agriculture, which is very common here in Vermont, and then also like it, causes different problems as it moves through downstream, so they definitely recommend the sediment removal as part of it. 225 00:36:25.410 --> 00:36:49.940 Plainfield VT Select Board: Michelle Braun President is devoted to figuring out ways to help us pay for this. So if we do, for instance, get the State of Vermont, Grant, or we find other funding. If it's not covered 100, she's going to work single-handedly to like. Figure out how to also make it to where it's no cost to the town, I was struck by the ecological report that came with it. 226 00:36:50.010 --> 00:36:58.899 Plainfield VT Select Board: There are 2 communities of brook trout that haven't been together in 150 years that have been evolving separately. 227 00:36:59.040 --> 00:37:26.810 Plainfield VT Select Board: and the removal of the dam would unite these genetic streams now and also provide, I think, something like 150 kilometers of tributaries and new spawning. 110 kilometers. Yeah, and the brook trap need to be in cold headwaters in order to survive our summers. So it would also open up a whole bunch of cold headwaters that they didn't have access to. Or 228 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:42.689 Plainfield VT Select Board: yeah, I watched the the meeting on the the video, and was struck by that in particular and other things that have been mentioned. One thing that kind of stuck out was with the lowering of the river. 229 00:37:44.080 --> 00:37:48.449 Plainfield VT Select Board: There will be structures exposed 230 00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:56.940 Plainfield VT Select Board: on the houses and buildings, and could you comment on what was said to that would address that in that part of the grant. 231 00:37:56.940 --> 00:38:26.049 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, I had to have Michael talk about the grant specifically, but I can say that part of the reason why we, in conjunction with the route of trying to find, like Federal grant or safe grant money for hazard mitigation, is that that shoring up those structures can be part of our costs. If we went for a grant which we could get very easily to pay for it. For the ecological value. The ecological Grant money is not going to help pay it to shore up 232 00:38:26.050 --> 00:38:45.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: structures in town that are privately owned, you know, whereas the avenue we're going, which is a little bit more competitive and maybe a little bit more complicated, will actually allow us to help out the homeowners in town. That would be impacted. They're also the most impacted by the flooding as well. So 233 00:38:46.650 --> 00:38:54.819 Plainfield VT Select Board: yeah, I'll let you talk about the grant specifically great. Thank you. Thank you, Betty, thank you about the structure thing as much as 234 00:38:55.400 --> 00:39:11.029 Plainfield VT Select Board: I went with the building owners and the structural engineers from sor, from house to house and looked at the potential impact that would occur if the rivers were not passing against the house. In other words, the river acts as a stabilizing thing when it's not flooded. 235 00:39:11.150 --> 00:39:17.157 Plainfield VT Select Board: And so, what's the email? Which fairly recent email, I got, 236 00:39:17.670 --> 00:39:42.800 Plainfield VT Select Board: 1st of all, explain that there's a the funding group is broken into subgroups, and the subgroups continue to work even when the main funding group doesn't meet regularly anymore. So one of the subgroups is Michael Zahner and myself working with Brian Burhardt and 2 other state employees who are basically putting this grant through with Michelle Broad. So we have a lot of expertise 237 00:39:42.860 --> 00:40:07.159 Plainfield VT Select Board: at the state level, and Brian informed me, because the source of the money to pay for this has moved from 2 different pots to a 3rd pot, and we did qualify initially for a grant who has a mitigation, but it was not as high a priority as it could have been to actually successfully get that money. So now it's been moved 238 00:40:07.300 --> 00:40:13.139 Plainfield VT Select Board: to a fema related program. And what he writes is that 239 00:40:14.040 --> 00:40:39.971 Plainfield VT Select Board: congratulations. The playing field dam removal floodplain restoration has been prioritized amongst the submitted projects. So we are sending at the bottom of the middle of the list, with the top of the list for this new funding, and the amount of money involved is 3 million dollars, of which approximately 240 00:40:41.370 --> 00:40:48.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: less than 500,000 is allocated to the engineering study and actually planning and specifically 241 00:40:48.440 --> 00:40:58.679 Plainfield VT Select Board: working out the steps to remove the dam physically. And then there is a project list which includes, as as was referred to by Maggie. 242 00:40:59.112 --> 00:41:22.347 Plainfield VT Select Board: It also includes, by the way, repairing the bridge button. It's another thing that's part of this is that the bridge of button has weaknesses, and as part of this project, the funding includes that it also means new support meetings. Underneath the building that's called the River House, right downstream. A new repairing, retraining wall for what goes through the old Plainfield hardware 243 00:41:22.790 --> 00:41:46.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: removing the concrete under the bank that used to be the Plainfield firehouse before it was raised, and then going upstream from there, looking at House Foundation by house foundation, except for the ones that are, of course, going to be taken away by by a program, and then on the other side, also extremely important, which Maggie records referred to is that when the river drops in elevation and increases speed. 244 00:41:46.480 --> 00:42:11.970 Plainfield VT Select Board: It will be eroding the backyards of places like Foster, Pine and Vancouverings, and so the grant also includes stabilizing the bank that is facing the river on what would be their north side of that property and then upstream. Actually, it's dredging away in the quantity that Maggie mentioned all the way up to, and passing John Fowler Road, but also includes reinforcing Room 2. 245 00:42:12.130 --> 00:42:31.840 Plainfield VT Select Board: In other words, the route 2 is extremely close to to the river, just past the John fallow, and so that will be destabilized by dropping river levels. So they're going to also stabilize the riverbank there. And the last part, the restoration is a reference to 246 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:49.916 Plainfield VT Select Board: what the size of the building is, what the size of the river will look like, and they're going to be plantings, and there will be quite a bit of what they call riparian planting in the upstream area, so that when it does flood it won't tear away big chunks of fields and things like that. So the 247 00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:56.260 Plainfield VT Select Board: approximately 2 and a half to 2.7 billion dollars will be allocated for 248 00:42:57.846 --> 00:43:24.259 Plainfield VT Select Board: not just the engineering study, but completing the work, and then there is a post phase which is another 4 to 3, 400,000 500,000, to monitor the work, to improve it to stabilize it if it destabilizes doesn't just end when it's done, but it also increases into the future. And so that grant application the particular price coming up 249 00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:35.279 Plainfield VT Select Board: the deadline is June 20.th We're we're going through a common phase, and we're having another meeting tomorrow about that. And presumably, since almost everything is done it'd be tied up and ready to go. 250 00:43:35.900 --> 00:43:52.385 Plainfield VT Select Board: Fantastic questions. Since a bunch of this is in the town of Marshfield. Is there anything formally that we are going to need to do between us and the Marshfield. It'll be between the engineering firm and Marshfield, and, in other words, the 251 00:43:52.930 --> 00:43:58.599 Plainfield VT Select Board: As soon as you get past, as was earlier mentioned, as soon as you get past, out of Spicer and Monster. 252 00:43:58.810 --> 00:44:02.060 Plainfield VT Select Board: and we have 253 00:44:02.300 --> 00:44:08.669 Plainfield VT Select Board: been bringing this up repeatedly. So yeah, Slr will be opening up a conversation with the select board 254 00:44:08.970 --> 00:44:13.820 Plainfield VT Select Board: in Marshfield to get permission to do this for, and 255 00:44:14.030 --> 00:44:19.269 Plainfield VT Select Board: since the grant, while the grant is to the town of Plainfield. It is, and upstream. 256 00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:22.240 Plainfield VT Select Board: Honestly, so, it it obviously needs 257 00:44:23.410 --> 00:44:27.890 Plainfield VT Select Board: putting this grant toward a budget that would extend into our street. 258 00:44:28.900 --> 00:44:31.780 Plainfield VT Select Board: Do they need to sign off on the application? 259 00:44:31.890 --> 00:44:34.020 Plainfield VT Select Board: They do not need to sign up for the application. 260 00:44:36.160 --> 00:44:45.239 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yes, Dan, I guess maybe, for Maggie has organizational just to give them 261 00:44:45.430 --> 00:44:47.539 Plainfield VT Select Board: and opening the conversation just so that 262 00:44:48.010 --> 00:44:52.230 Plainfield VT Select Board: we're making sure that they're not gonna cause any problems and working with, I mean. 263 00:44:54.220 --> 00:45:17.518 Plainfield VT Select Board: yeah, this is sort of just for potentially even go to Marshfield to do a presentation. We do have a member on the Hazard Mitigation Committee that is a member of or lives in Marshfield. And so I can also approach him. And maybe he and I to do that together. Yeah, that's a great idea. And just another question is, 264 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:32.530 Plainfield VT Select Board: river, riparian plantings and and things? I'm sure that there's some crossover to the Conservation Commission's mission. Is that something? Are you in communication with playing field conservation. It would actually be the Marsh Field 265 00:45:32.860 --> 00:45:38.990 Plainfield VT Select Board: observation. There's not going to be any plantings happening between the dam and Howard spice. You're talking about. Okay. 266 00:45:39.420 --> 00:45:59.200 Plainfield VT Select Board: thank you. It's friends of the Banous be offered to project. Manage this for us. So they're going to be, you know, holding our hands through this whole project, which is wonderful, because they have a lot of experience with that, and they do the repairing and plantings themselves so, and they have a strong relationship. So it's not like. 267 00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:25.459 Plainfield VT Select Board: we're going to have to build bridges. I mean, build relationships that aren't there? Yeah, actually, Michelle Brown may want to attend a select Board meeting, so I'll be in touch with Barry and trouble. What do you need just to know, timeline? What I remember from the presentation was barring emergency. We're looking at 16 to 24 months just to design the removal. 268 00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:47.049 Plainfield VT Select Board: Well, that is, the grant. And then the design and the engineering. You know what I mean. So it's it's quite significant. But Michael can update you on that, because this grant he's applying for has an accelerated timeline. But we are looking closer to more like 2 years, because in the State of Vermont you can only work in a waterway 3 months out of the year. So 269 00:46:47.270 --> 00:47:00.580 Plainfield VT Select Board: whenever we got done with the process of the design stuff, it would have to be the following summer that we would actually be able to do the work. I was just gonna ask, what do you need us to do? And when 270 00:47:00.730 --> 00:47:22.066 Plainfield VT Select Board: right now, nothing. But when we get to the point where we have approved funding. We would definitely need to have you guys sign off on that because all of the funding will go to the town of Plainfield, or, I guess, partially the but through the town of Plainfield, because we're the Grant applicants which the town is, and then 271 00:47:23.090 --> 00:47:38.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: when the dam like when it actually start getting into the design phase, we would obviously have a lot of informational sessions and keep the public aware of it. You know what I mean and and have their input, because, of course, it's extremely important to us to have the public feedback. 272 00:47:39.128 --> 00:47:41.069 Plainfield VT Select Board: and I should add that 273 00:47:41.180 --> 00:47:49.509 Plainfield VT Select Board: while the work is happening in Marshfield will not be paid for in any way by the town of Marshfield. In other words, the money won't go to Marshfield. 274 00:47:49.790 --> 00:47:50.759 Plainfield VT Select Board: It will be 275 00:47:50.890 --> 00:48:02.880 Plainfield VT Select Board: major construction firms and trucking firms and people who are actually employed by the grant. So they they've been basically improving the situation downstream in Plainfield by working upstream. 276 00:48:03.535 --> 00:48:06.889 Plainfield VT Select Board: And the last thing which we didn't say then is that 277 00:48:07.460 --> 00:48:35.980 Plainfield VT Select Board: the ledge that has been identified that is, under the impounded water above the dam is very rippling. It has lots of changes in elevation, so it will produce what they are anticipating. What we call the water cascade, which is kind of an attractive feature, with water running over various levels of rock that will be in the center of town. And last thing, I should say, for people listening publicly 278 00:48:35.980 --> 00:48:47.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: is that we definitely pushed in the beginning to maintain the dam. I mean it was, it wasn't necessarily given that the dam would need to be removed, or and until we saw the study. 279 00:48:47.630 --> 00:48:58.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: But the dam self is deteriorating in a way that would require great deal of repair, about 150% more in cost. 280 00:48:58.170 --> 00:49:01.310 Plainfield VT Select Board: and a very different way of looking. 281 00:49:01.750 --> 00:49:05.255 Plainfield VT Select Board: So it's good. So it was 282 00:49:06.250 --> 00:49:12.170 Plainfield VT Select Board: strongly recommend for physical benefits to wildlife and brook trout and that sort of thing for alternative. 283 00:49:12.740 --> 00:49:15.749 Plainfield VT Select Board: And do I do I remember that 284 00:49:16.380 --> 00:49:34.319 Plainfield VT Select Board: as years progress. If we were to maintain the dam, we would be getting fees from the State who has to do inspections on the dam, and we'd be responsible for repairs. Yes, any any repair. In other words, the grant over this fee 285 00:49:34.470 --> 00:50:01.000 Plainfield VT Select Board: future new dam legislation that kicks in on the 1st of July does require every town or every dam owner, for that matter, if we are a dam owner for every dam owner to maintain a dam to the highest standards, they have new inspection team with new engineers that it's going to go on a regular basis and to pay for them. Every town has to pay exceed annually to that agency. Natural resources. 286 00:50:01.570 --> 00:50:02.640 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 287 00:50:03.150 --> 00:50:06.329 Plainfield VT Select Board: And it is higher based off the 288 00:50:08.170 --> 00:50:38.090 Plainfield VT Select Board: like. The more damage that it is, the more you have to pay as a municipality. Another thing that I actually get questioned a lot about is like, are we actually the dam owners? And that we are because the mill part, the land that was given to the town of playing field also included the dam, because it was also part of the bad shelter build. So when they burnt down, and that land was donated. That is part of how became the owners. 289 00:50:38.290 --> 00:50:43.781 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. Lucky us! Well, thank you, and thank you for all the work on that. That's really great. 290 00:50:51.520 --> 00:50:53.010 Plainfield VT Select Board: Route. 2 intersection. 291 00:50:54.250 --> 00:51:05.649 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah. So Patty, Patty and I met with Josh and Patty Coburn. From V trans. Last Tuesday. 292 00:51:05.780 --> 00:51:15.399 Plainfield VT Select Board: And we sent you an email sent them everybody on board an email but couple of points. I wanted to read for for the public. 293 00:51:16.030 --> 00:51:16.825 Plainfield VT Select Board: that 294 00:51:18.330 --> 00:51:40.159 Plainfield VT Select Board: Ken Roby, who had come here a couple of meetings ago, and Patty was with him at the time. But Ken basically made the presentation. Ken used to work for the State. He now works for Du Bois and King. However, Patty clarified that he still works under contract to V. Trans. And so he is an official person on this project. 295 00:51:42.250 --> 00:51:52.500 Plainfield VT Select Board: Patty also clarified that no one at Vtrans has given a green light to any reduced project yet. 296 00:51:53.553 --> 00:52:07.206 Plainfield VT Select Board: It was pretty clear that they want to have a reduced project. However, we don't have anything official, and I know both Bram and Carl. You had asked for some information. 297 00:52:07.710 --> 00:52:25.291 Plainfield VT Select Board: And she told us that within 2 to 3 weeks, which will now we're down to one to 2 weeks. We should be receiving some kind of formal something from the State to which we can then figure out a response. 298 00:52:26.200 --> 00:52:54.288 Plainfield VT Select Board: It was an interesting conversation. It was a pleasant conversation. I mean, we went over some history and stuff like that. We talked about can we do something in the interim with crosswalks or signalizing you know we have. For example, at the post at the post Office there is a crosswalk. There is a sign. There are landings on both sides. But the painting has disappeared. 299 00:52:55.154 --> 00:53:16.180 Plainfield VT Select Board: and Patty said. That's actually something that is the responsible of the district highway garage. And so she was going to follow up on that to see why that isn't hasn't been painted but if we were to do something here at the Town Hall. We would need to put in a up to standard landing pad 300 00:53:16.688 --> 00:53:27.091 Plainfield VT Select Board: to receive the crosswalk in order it for it to meet the Federal highway standards. And the same thing. If we reduce to do something at the library. 301 00:53:27.640 --> 00:53:29.970 Plainfield VT Select Board: whether that's gonna be part of 302 00:53:30.450 --> 00:53:37.074 Plainfield VT Select Board: they propose or write to us. I don't know. I think we're gonna have to say that one thing I would 303 00:53:37.680 --> 00:53:41.180 Plainfield VT Select Board: say. And Josh was very helpful in 304 00:53:41.330 --> 00:53:47.649 Plainfield VT Select Board: putting and this is a concept that I think we would do well to weigh, lean into. 305 00:53:47.770 --> 00:53:53.560 Plainfield VT Select Board: which is that this project here is a Federal highway project. 306 00:53:53.780 --> 00:53:57.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: And what if you go to the town website 307 00:53:57.430 --> 00:54:03.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: on the home page. Up at the top, under community, there's a tab that drops down where you can see 308 00:54:04.100 --> 00:54:27.580 Plainfield VT Select Board: years worth of correspondence, the Powerpoint presentation. It was in all the documents, the financial agreement, everything about the big project. So there's a lot of information that anybody who wants to can get off on the town website. But this is a Federal highway project, and other than the responsibility of the town to move sewer and water lines. It would be 100 paid for 309 00:54:27.580 --> 00:54:37.739 Plainfield VT Select Board: by Federal highways just as the emergency repairs on the Brook road. Okay, our Federal highway and Josh. 310 00:54:37.880 --> 00:54:40.562 Plainfield VT Select Board: I thought was very strong in 311 00:54:41.120 --> 00:54:58.689 Plainfield VT Select Board: basically saying he seems to be hearing 2 different Federal highway voices. One is, we got to fix the Brook road. It's a major thoroughfare. It's a connector designated Federal Connector between Route 302 and Route 2. 312 00:54:59.020 --> 00:55:14.969 Plainfield VT Select Board: This intersection is the connection. Yeah, it's not, you know. So it's not a. It's not something that exists in as an island unto itself. It is part of a system, and yet we 313 00:55:15.270 --> 00:55:31.850 Plainfield VT Select Board: seem to be hearing, you know, from 2 different Federal highway voices that may not be on the same page here. So I thought it was an interesting discussion that way, but the upshot is, we do have to wait for a document. I would also say that I did send out 314 00:55:32.130 --> 00:55:59.149 Plainfield VT Select Board: at Graham's suggestion, he suggested. We might need some allies here I had a long phone conversation with Senator Andrew Perklick, probably about a half hour, 45 min. He's very familiar with the situation. He was very much involved in the public hearings way back, when he used to chair the Senate Transportation Committee. Now chairs, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and his sense was, he would like to help 315 00:55:59.696 --> 00:56:07.069 Plainfield VT Select Board: and he he believes that V, trans. Would be interested in negotiating something here. 316 00:56:07.090 --> 00:56:28.709 Plainfield VT Select Board: So what? What? We don't know. Graham also suggested that we might find some other allies. So I did write, send a lengthy email to Mike Davidson, the new owner of Goddard, but also the new potential owner of the play field in right here. I've not heard back from him. I did reach out to Travis Hodgkins, who owns the 317 00:56:28.730 --> 00:56:54.599 Plainfield VT Select Board: your brother's old law office building over here, so he's aware of the project. Josh gave me his landlord, Ruben Ramirez's contacts, and I had a conversation with Ruben which was immediately followed up by a phone call from Carol at the office, because Ruben had already contacted his attorney to go and try and clarify whether the road in front of the old 318 00:56:54.780 --> 00:57:16.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: hardware store is actually a public highway or part of the property of that building itself. So there's some land research going on there. That's an interesting little wrinkle in there that that's not actually a road. That's the the building owner is allowing people to drive across their land 319 00:57:16.610 --> 00:57:19.610 Plainfield VT Select Board: number of feet from the center line of route route. 2 320 00:57:21.387 --> 00:57:40.612 Plainfield VT Select Board: at least part of it. Well, yes, at least part of it, or whatever, anyway. The attorney, Sarah. I'm blanking on her last name, anyway, she was getting. Carol had already pulled the few files out. And you know, whatever they do 321 00:57:41.140 --> 00:57:55.440 Plainfield VT Select Board: whether it's the old project, the old big project, or some new project they thought it was important to for them to have an understanding of what their land and property rights are. Yeah, that's good homework to do. 322 00:57:55.550 --> 00:57:57.810 Plainfield VT Select Board: Graham has a tone. 323 00:57:58.910 --> 00:58:08.120 Plainfield VT Select Board: The question of who owns the the space in front of that building is actually the old one. I came up with the town with the parking spaces. 324 00:58:08.320 --> 00:58:11.770 Plainfield VT Select Board: the town attorney at the time Jim Janelli 325 00:58:12.453 --> 00:58:27.629 Plainfield VT Select Board: did do research on this, and felt that the old deeds were very vague, referencing landmarks that don't exist anymore, and all that. So it's an open question. But what's not really an open question 326 00:58:27.880 --> 00:58:36.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: is, there is no eminent domain claim that can be made against the town or the state. So whatever 327 00:58:36.850 --> 00:58:43.609 Plainfield VT Select Board: they want to fight about. There's no way that that's going to be shut down just by coming up. 328 00:58:44.080 --> 00:59:03.949 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think eminent. I don't know about eminent domains, and nobody mentioned anything like that? The attorney asked the question in terms of where these projects were in terms of their process, and I said, Oh, they're not. They haven't started down anything, I said, but if the project itself 329 00:59:03.950 --> 00:59:17.699 Plainfield VT Select Board: needed to take some land, they would need to exert eminent domain over the property owner, not the other way around it was. But I what I'm referencing is many years back previous owner wanted to try to exert 330 00:59:17.770 --> 00:59:34.559 Plainfield VT Select Board: domain because there was they had an ownership claim in front of the building. Oh, I see I don't. And I'm just saying that that didn't go any. Yeah, yeah. Back then I don't know what? The well, there's going to be new research underway right now on that question. 331 00:59:34.830 --> 00:59:35.730 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah. 332 00:59:42.448 --> 00:59:54.159 Plainfield VT Select Board: Peter, you mentioned the boss walk and the the possible solution, that sort of thing. One of the questions that sort of bugged me, and I don't know if it came up in any of the research is. 333 00:59:54.260 --> 00:59:59.140 Plainfield VT Select Board: I've also heard that the project will lower the level of 334 00:59:59.795 --> 01:00:11.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: School Street, 10 inches at the corner. Here, in other words, part of part of the improving. At least the old plan is to lower it, and that seems like it would cause a 10 inch curb 335 01:00:11.800 --> 01:00:27.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: higher to get up to the sidewalk like in front of Town Hall. In other words, if they drop the street 10 inches, do you happen to know anything about that? If yeah, if you go. The old project actually lowers parts of route 2 by almost 3 feet. 336 01:00:28.061 --> 01:00:52.310 Plainfield VT Select Board: Although I've heard people this this week say, oh, they were gonna lower it 11 feet. No, no, if you look@the.the drawings on on the website on the town website, we'll we'll actually show you that cross section as it comes up closer here to the Town Hall and the crosswalk that lowering lowers. So I'm not sure at what point it might only be 337 01:00:52.410 --> 01:01:03.340 Plainfield VT Select Board: a foot or whatever. Well, the new. I thought I heard that right out front in other recent corner of the hill road. And and you know, right right at this corner, right here at the entrance to our 338 01:01:03.460 --> 01:01:12.130 Plainfield VT Select Board: handicapped parking. That'd be about 10 inches there. And I was just thinking, that's gonna be kind of an unreal issue as far as getting people safely across the street. 339 01:01:12.360 --> 01:01:19.700 Plainfield VT Select Board: Well, what what, I wonder if 10 inches increasing it by 10 inches would make it a legal curb or not. They may have to redo the curves 340 01:01:19.900 --> 01:01:46.770 Plainfield VT Select Board: if it made them too high of a curve and not a legal curb. Yeah, yeah, this is Federal standards, the big, the big project has all of that design and drawings on it, and you can go look at it. The new. The new, you know, downscoped version that Ken Roby sent us last November or something that nobody knew anyone was even working on. Doesn't lower anything. 341 01:01:47.040 --> 01:02:04.150 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay? So it does change the location of the crosswalk. If you look at the big project, the crosswalk actually does not occur right here. It occurs on the other side of this of Harvey Hill Road. The new one moves it up here. Okay, so 342 01:02:04.770 --> 01:02:13.570 Plainfield VT Select Board: I I do know that the road did used to be lower, and that the wall in front, that is, right next to the sidewalk, between the sidewalk and lawn. 343 01:02:14.070 --> 01:02:33.330 Plainfield VT Select Board: used to be exposed almost a foot and a half, whereas now it's only exposed about 10 inches, and, in other words, the old roadway was also quite a bit lower, and some of the old photographs, document that and show that that's the case. And so I just knew if we're getting, we use the parking lot across the road all the time and getting people 344 01:02:33.680 --> 01:02:49.389 Plainfield VT Select Board: across our road, also leaking, lowering the sidewalk. I guess I mean I I don't. I'll have to look at the plans, but it felt to me that the speech, yeah, but there's a lot of that that kind of thing, though. But yeah, there's also I mean, I see Alicia Weiss is is here. But the 345 01:02:49.940 --> 01:03:13.719 Plainfield VT Select Board: Travis Hodgkins asked about the extension of the sidewalk from that up past his property over there. Whether that grade meets Ada standards for a sidewalk. And so I you know it seems a little steep to me. But you know, would they have to, you know, do something different? There? Open question. Yeah, there's a lot of lot of research there. 346 01:03:14.020 --> 01:03:17.864 Plainfield VT Select Board: But questions. I have a question for you. 347 01:03:18.830 --> 01:03:24.020 Plainfield VT Select Board: Did they explain in the meeting why they decided to 348 01:03:24.560 --> 01:03:36.983 Plainfield VT Select Board: like, forget our contract with them. And look at this smaller project, this less costly project. Was it cost, or is it something cost is part of it. And Andrew Perchlick 349 01:03:38.154 --> 01:04:02.029 Plainfield VT Select Board: reiterated the call. The fact that the Transportation fund for the State of Vermont is suffering, and so they are looking at down, scoping and delaying things across the board. And so, you know I don't think there's any particular animosity towards the town playing field. But you know this was a project where 350 01:04:02.420 --> 01:04:25.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, they thought they might be able to do something. But again Patty Coburn stressed that no one has. No one at Vtrans has given any downscoping the green light. We currently have a big project that's on the books. However, when will that happen? That's the problem. Yeah, it's been on the books for 3 years. Yeah. 351 01:04:28.115 --> 01:04:32.170 Plainfield VT Select Board: just wanna make it very clear a couple of things. 352 01:04:33.220 --> 01:04:36.060 Plainfield VT Select Board: If you look, I think I sent around 353 01:04:36.210 --> 01:04:40.619 Plainfield VT Select Board: number of multi-million dollar projects tumbled to neighboring towns 354 01:04:42.390 --> 01:04:46.970 Plainfield VT Select Board: exponentially, some of them exponentially bigger than the one in front. Here 355 01:04:47.800 --> 01:04:58.910 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think that in looking at this problem, you have to understand that this is really about conveniencing 356 01:04:59.420 --> 01:05:05.140 Plainfield VT Select Board: the trends. In other words, why did they think that they could cut back on our project. 357 01:05:05.640 --> 01:05:10.330 Plainfield VT Select Board: And I think that that's an interesting question. And I think that that's why I have 358 01:05:10.490 --> 01:05:18.519 Plainfield VT Select Board: constantly said we need Mr. Flynn involved. We need other people, and I also think it's unconscionable 359 01:05:18.770 --> 01:05:25.639 Plainfield VT Select Board: that be. Trans. Would send a representative to this meeting and and misrepresent known facts. I think that's really troubling. 360 01:05:26.800 --> 01:05:35.539 Plainfield VT Select Board: So in the past decades that this problem has festered. The trans has done 2 things. 361 01:05:36.360 --> 01:05:44.089 Plainfield VT Select Board: They replaced the guardrail, which makes the situation worse, and they re-cemented the staircase humbled. 362 01:05:44.270 --> 01:05:48.949 Plainfield VT Select Board: You're late. So I think that we really need to. 363 01:05:49.110 --> 01:05:53.819 Plainfield VT Select Board: If if we don't have political pressure on them, they're just gonna roll over us. 364 01:05:57.760 --> 01:06:06.048 Plainfield VT Select Board: Do you have any thoughts on the meeting, Patty, that you my thoughts, my thoughts? I listen. I I heard Josh told us that 365 01:06:06.560 --> 01:06:07.650 Plainfield VT Select Board: didn't 366 01:06:07.810 --> 01:06:15.760 Plainfield VT Select Board: trying to get the village safe, for since somebody was little since little kids or something, and it's been like almost 20 years. 367 01:06:15.870 --> 01:06:32.189 Plainfield VT Select Board: And I feel like we need to stay on it. We just really need to stay on it when they send us more information. We need to write back to them. We need to respond to it. We need to not let it go. Yeah, I just feel like it's been, maybe for some reason, gathering dust for a long time, and we've not been on it. 368 01:06:35.040 --> 01:06:35.910 Plainfield VT Select Board: No. 369 01:06:36.230 --> 01:06:55.988 Plainfield VT Select Board: I will send everybody on the board a newspaper article from the Times Artists in 1969. Talking about this. Yeah, is that, Patty? She was saying that. 370 01:06:57.380 --> 01:07:00.049 Plainfield VT Select Board: I can't. I can't remember where I was going with this. Now. 371 01:07:00.460 --> 01:07:25.519 Plainfield VT Select Board: It's it's just been going up for so long, and I've seen we've all seen. We asked for little things like, Can we have the crosswalks repainted because there's 1 in front of the library, one in front of here, and one in front of where our post office, and we just and she just kind of like shook her. I think there's little things we should be able to do right now, and we kept asking that we do these little things right now to make people safe in crossing 372 01:07:25.590 --> 01:07:35.219 Plainfield VT Select Board: just right now. Right now. I was hoping they'd give us a paper actually do it that weekend. But it sounds like if we don't stay on on them. It's not gonna happen. No, it's gonna be another 20 years. 373 01:07:36.160 --> 01:07:41.189 Plainfield VT Select Board: It sounds like the the post office. One can be repainted. Is there an actual official 374 01:07:41.330 --> 01:07:48.550 Plainfield VT Select Board: crosswalk and the library? No, no, and definitely not one here, not one here. Well, there's no sidewalk, but there used to be 375 01:07:48.630 --> 01:08:18.290 Plainfield VT Select Board: well landing. You don't necessarily have to have a sidewalk. You have to have a landing pad. What does that mean? If you go up and look look by the post office where the crosswalk is, you'll see. It's basically a square concrete with the little thing with bumps on a little plastic thing with bumps on it. It does go to the it does go to the shelter. There's that little bus shelter. Yeah. Okay? So you can see if we had a pad here and a pad at the library, you know. Well, then, it could receive the cross. I guess the question is, how do we? 376 01:08:18.350 --> 01:08:20.180 Plainfield VT Select Board: What what can we do to 377 01:08:20.680 --> 01:08:27.499 Plainfield VT Select Board: do that kind of smaller work. But I know there's also an issue with right out here being too close to the curve. 378 01:08:27.630 --> 01:08:47.299 Plainfield VT Select Board: You can't have a crosswalk right after a curve, because it's not safe. So it has to be farther. Well, that's why they put those temporary signs up towards yeah. And we talked about the fact that Patty Patty Coburn had been unaware that we had the temporary traffic lights here during the yeah. And that worked. 379 01:08:47.300 --> 01:09:06.919 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know. Yeah, yes. People got backed up and stuff. And you know, if you go back and listen to some of the public comments about this like, well, you know we're going to have exhaust fumes, if you know, coming into my house. But it really, you know, Alicia, you have a comment. 380 01:09:07.510 --> 01:09:08.370 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 381 01:09:11.410 --> 01:09:13.850 Plainfield VT Select Board: Who is she, Alicia? Alicia? 382 01:09:17.100 --> 01:09:19.990 Plainfield VT Select Board: Say here, maybe not working. 383 01:09:21.220 --> 01:09:24.140 Plainfield VT Select Board: We see you on mute an Alicia. But we can't hear you. 384 01:09:25.010 --> 01:09:25.790 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah. 385 01:09:33.010 --> 01:09:35.430 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay. 386 01:09:35.540 --> 01:09:37.130 Plainfield VT Select Board: Do you have a point? 387 01:09:42.569 --> 01:09:47.260 Plainfield VT Select Board: One possibility that might be possible to effect with their help. 388 01:09:47.370 --> 01:09:49.000 Plainfield VT Select Board: Looking at that, his phone 389 01:09:49.140 --> 01:10:04.019 Plainfield VT Select Board: is that we have in the equivalent of a landing pad to the right of the outgrows as we face out, which is the entry to the drive. The background is is road level. It has a ramp up to the sidewalk level. 390 01:10:04.130 --> 01:10:13.940 Plainfield VT Select Board: What's missing on the opposite side is a sidewalk of any kind, and the other possibility is to have a strict sidewalk from the parking lot to a ramp 391 01:10:14.340 --> 01:10:30.409 Plainfield VT Select Board: opposite the one that's already in place, so that the Crosswalk could be almost right where that temporary crosswalk sign is right now. The one that says Crosswalk, within 300 feet, and that's an option that perhaps we could persuade them to do in a short time. 392 01:10:31.230 --> 01:10:48.100 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, I think we need more than just a landing pad on that other side. You know, because we have to have a wheelchair be able to go somewhere. But it occurs to me that we could perhaps get the get it. So it's in line with the driveway that goes down to the parking so people could. 393 01:10:48.490 --> 01:10:56.569 Plainfield VT Select Board: or probably more realistically, if we're using this driveways, a sidewalk from kind of the edge of the playing field Arts 394 01:10:57.180 --> 01:10:58.390 Plainfield VT Select Board: property 395 01:10:58.690 --> 01:11:17.262 Plainfield VT Select Board: just to the municipal parking lot. The municipal parking lot would be an official town. Then it's something people can get to, and so we could just have. I'm sure the sidewalk is easier to figure out from there to there than the one from the bridge up the hill. Well, the the down scoped 396 01:11:17.850 --> 01:11:33.410 Plainfield VT Select Board: illustration that they sent us includes extending the sidewalk from the bridge up to and including a crosswalk overview. Yeah, you know. I don't think I don't think anybody had any issue with that part of the design. 397 01:11:33.410 --> 01:12:02.560 Plainfield VT Select Board: The issue was with what they were doing with the island and not doing. Yeah, yeah. So I'm wondering if, like, as we negotiate. If there are short term things that we could get that built towards the bigger problems. I mean, obviously, the big clubs right there. I mean those shorter term things. I look to Josh and Patty. I think we left Patty covered with the wrong feeling that playing field would like to see some short term stuff. Yes, right? Yeah, right right away. Betsy has her hand up, too. Yeah. 398 01:12:03.630 --> 01:12:04.610 Plainfield VT Select Board: Betsy. 399 01:12:04.610 --> 01:12:11.797 Betsy Ziegler: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I'm I'm very glad to hear that. I'm trying to be on video. But anyway, okay. 400 01:12:12.390 --> 01:12:26.749 Betsy Ziegler: I'm very glad to hear that you mentioned and brought up short term solutions, and maybe when talking with them, I know we're trying to figure it out. What do we? What would need to be done so that we could have a crosswalk 401 01:12:27.510 --> 01:12:28.530 Betsy Ziegler: by next? 402 01:12:28.660 --> 01:12:48.020 Betsy Ziegler: Why, whatever? By October, so that by, you know, for next town meeting we could have a safe crosswalk, and, if that is possible, also at the library and at the post office. But the other thing I thought we should hopefully continue to 403 01:12:48.570 --> 01:12:54.140 Betsy Ziegler: demand or is it that we get the money we get? 404 01:12:54.300 --> 01:13:01.890 Betsy Ziegler: We had prioritized as a town in need and as a town that has been overlooked, so that 405 01:13:02.160 --> 01:13:25.219 Betsy Ziegler: that the project that needed to be done 30 years ago is yet to be done, and it still needs to be done so if they could do anything such as improve that. do the do the quick fix, and have us on the list for the law, for the real improvement that's needed. 406 01:13:25.955 --> 01:13:37.684 Betsy Ziegler: I think that's where we have to. I think we should be negotiating, asking for both and I like the idea of having. Why don't we talk about a stop sign? I mean a 407 01:13:38.400 --> 01:13:51.839 Betsy Ziegler: a light even as it is, and without major improvements, with a light of any, any kind of light. As you said, it was working when we had that small repair, that the bridge repair. 408 01:13:53.454 --> 01:14:19.410 Plainfield VT Select Board: Can I speak to Betsy, Betsy? We we asked for all those things we said. We want crosswalks right away. We have a lake. We have signalization. We asked for it right away. We talked about how kids should be able to be able to walk to their library safely or go to an event. All she did this 1st meeting was take a lot of notes. She's gonna send this to the in 10 days, and we are going to be on it. We're not going to let a lot of time go by anymore. 409 01:14:20.110 --> 01:14:22.440 Betsy Ziegler: Thank you. Great! I'm glad to hear that. 410 01:14:25.590 --> 01:14:28.993 Plainfield VT Select Board: Keep. I would also come back to 411 01:14:29.580 --> 01:14:59.349 Plainfield VT Select Board: Andy perchlick who said he was a great listener, and and again knowledgeable on this, and he said he would be willing to help and so I think you know, I said, well, at this point, you know we're waiting for something formal from the State. So you know, once we figure out see see that we can figure out, you know, are we gonna have like a subcommittee, you know. Maybe invite Andy to come and meet with with us. 412 01:14:59.726 --> 01:15:15.749 Plainfield VT Select Board: He he almost sounded like, you know, he would would have come out to the meeting last Tuesday, except he was trying to get caught up at work while he was on legislative break at the moment. But, you know. I think 413 01:15:15.750 --> 01:15:31.300 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know Bram is right. You know there is some political muscle there, and I think we should would use that with Andy to to help negotiate something that will work here. I think it's time we, we apply the political pressure, we can, because it's been so long. 414 01:15:31.590 --> 01:15:39.088 Plainfield VT Select Board: And and if there's a real real need for this as well. It's been so long. But we just need to stay on it when we get the we get the 415 01:15:39.470 --> 01:16:03.639 Plainfield VT Select Board: right up from her. We can all go over it again and decide what we're going to do, but just just not let it fall apart. Let's not let it go by the wayside anymore. Yeah, yeah, I know Doug pretty well. We could talk to him if we need to. I'd like to bring in Alicia's voice, just because she can't, for whatever reason, bring in her own voice. So, just to read the message she dropped in the chat. 416 01:16:03.690 --> 01:16:19.379 Plainfield VT Select Board: Do you want to read it. Yeah, I agree that we need to continue to apply pressure and appeal to our legislators. I understand the agency has many pressures, but frankly, that's not our problem, and the squeaky wheel will get the oil. Yeah, it is egregious that this intersection has remained dangerous for so long. 417 01:16:20.580 --> 01:16:27.789 Plainfield VT Select Board: But they said there hadn't been enough access. Whatever we do, we want to. We want to keep sight of the original project in my mind. 418 01:16:28.070 --> 01:16:33.250 Plainfield VT Select Board: which was a pretty substantial project that that fixed a lot of things 419 01:16:33.380 --> 01:16:57.243 Plainfield VT Select Board: just going to be a lot more complicated. And it sounds like it'll also take a lot of years still from now, even though we have a contract. So anything we can get done now, whether it's a light or this this reduced project, even that, then, would be somewhat redone or adjusted down the road. You know, it's interesting because my memory and and the the 420 01:16:57.680 --> 01:17:12.320 Plainfield VT Select Board: the documents that are on the town website. Don't say the year the project, but my memory seems to be that it was 27, or 20 years. Okay. And so this new downscaled thing. 421 01:17:12.460 --> 01:17:32.459 Plainfield VT Select Board: which was proposed for 2029, when they're going to be doing a major paving repaving project here, which Patty Coburn says includes removing the concrete that is under the asphalt. Apparently there's concrete old concrete roadway. 422 01:17:32.560 --> 01:17:33.959 Plainfield VT Select Board: I mean, this is a 423 01:17:35.400 --> 01:17:43.829 Plainfield VT Select Board: if you look at Route 2. You know how you, when you, when you leave town you go out into the rural countryside. There's always like 2 feet 424 01:17:44.090 --> 01:17:51.040 Plainfield VT Select Board: of pavement, that kind of cracks and sinks down on the right hand side of the road onto the shoulder. The same on the left. 425 01:17:51.290 --> 01:18:08.049 Plainfield VT Select Board: That's because that's because the main road base goes back to the 19 twenties when the Federal highway standards, said your base road underneath only had to be that wide. So as we've widened this, we have these things which 426 01:18:08.990 --> 01:18:15.210 Plainfield VT Select Board: sink after every repaving and reconstruction, you know. And so you know. 427 01:18:15.210 --> 01:18:40.439 Plainfield VT Select Board: that's a substantial project. That is a substantial project. So they will be removing concrete as part of that. But you know, 2029. So if this is not in, if this is current, the big project is currently, you know, scheduled for 2027, how how did it get delayed? Has it, in fact, been delayed? We don't know. We don't know, we don't know, but but we have to stay on it, that's for sure. 428 01:18:41.340 --> 01:18:42.330 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 429 01:18:43.230 --> 01:18:51.340 Plainfield VT Select Board: Any other comments. Questions, well, thank you, too, for enjoy. Yeah, for doing that. That's really 430 01:18:51.960 --> 01:18:54.700 Plainfield VT Select Board: good. And I think we just have to maintain pressure. 431 01:18:55.480 --> 01:19:02.220 Plainfield VT Select Board: So we're waiting for the next step, which is the report or the proposal some correspondence from. 432 01:19:03.496 --> 01:19:15.930 Plainfield VT Select Board: unless they don't send it, which will also be an item. But our next, our next meeting will have a just as an agenda item. Once again. Yeah, it would seem like it, I will hope. Yeah. 433 01:19:16.930 --> 01:19:23.019 Plainfield VT Select Board: Good. Do you wanna? Patty did mention some other names. There was a woman who 434 01:19:24.650 --> 01:19:50.359 Plainfield VT Select Board: was in part of the correspondence, but now she has a new last name. So Erin somebody used to be parito now and then the big engineer person above not not the Secretary of Transportation, but the the head of the engineering section. So I mean, she did give us the list. You know, these are the people who were involved. Okay. 435 01:19:50.800 --> 01:19:51.830 Plainfield VT Select Board: Betsy. 436 01:19:51.830 --> 01:20:15.389 Betsy Ziegler: Yes, Hi, I just want to say that after we approved the project a few years ago, I know that Alice was Alice Merle was on continuing to communicate with the Department of Transportation, and they were saying that the project would be done in 2028, as I recall. And 437 01:20:15.750 --> 01:20:17.020 Betsy Ziegler: they just. 438 01:20:17.450 --> 01:20:35.649 Betsy Ziegler: you know, they just kept pushing it, whatever back they didn't. They didn't contact the town. They didn't contact the town. She periodically would contact them get the same information. So they dropped us as far as I'm seeing it. They put us on the back burner 439 01:20:35.940 --> 01:20:41.610 Betsy Ziegler: and it. It's a disservice. Yeah, to the community. 440 01:20:42.140 --> 01:20:44.410 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah. Yep, thank you. 441 01:20:44.910 --> 01:20:47.890 Plainfield VT Select Board: We're on it. That's what I that's what I remember, too. 442 01:20:48.150 --> 01:20:49.550 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, yeah. 443 01:20:49.550 --> 01:20:50.220 Betsy Ziegler: Okay. 444 01:20:51.005 --> 01:20:53.029 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay, we have a zoning 445 01:20:53.570 --> 01:21:00.719 Plainfield VT Select Board: violation. Can you? Is this yours? Who brought this zoning violation for 20 schools with treat? 446 01:21:02.690 --> 01:21:06.379 Plainfield VT Select Board: Is that the old hardware. 447 01:21:07.510 --> 01:21:09.980 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, I think I think that 448 01:21:10.300 --> 01:21:13.929 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think, Karen submitted this. So 449 01:21:14.050 --> 01:21:18.219 Plainfield VT Select Board: this this gets back to the challenge of of 450 01:21:18.740 --> 01:21:33.339 Plainfield VT Select Board: I can't speak to the specifics of that particular building. But I think it's a wider issue regarding enforcement and time rules. Oh, okay. So I I think. And once again, this will fall into place 451 01:21:33.890 --> 01:21:40.720 Plainfield VT Select Board: once we have the ability to ticket and all that which will take a while. I I mean, I think, that 452 01:21:41.390 --> 01:21:47.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: there doesn't seem to be any sanction for people who 453 01:21:47.860 --> 01:22:14.219 Plainfield VT Select Board: don't apply for an extra water hookup don't get permission to do interior changes, and I think that this was sort of the poster one of the poster children of this particular problem. So I don't know if it's anything. Should we invite Karen to the next meeting? Yeah, I think Karen can speak to that and other you know, and other things. But once again, I think we're just going to have to redo 454 01:22:14.430 --> 01:22:26.319 Plainfield VT Select Board: our our zoning reps and and start. You know, I think once an owner feels they're facing X number of dollars of problems unless they address it. 455 01:22:27.230 --> 01:22:29.960 Plainfield VT Select Board: they won't address. I mean, yeah, yeah, just 456 01:22:30.687 --> 01:22:55.899 Plainfield VT Select Board: there, there's a building very nearby where I'm standing, that the closing was delayed because they didn't get the permits correctly, and and that seems to be the only thing. When when a property owner sells their property it becomes a problem, but not before that. So, Carl, can you just for the record you guys mentioned to Karen. 457 01:22:55.900 --> 01:23:06.480 Plainfield VT Select Board: There's we've already mentioned one Karen tonight, which is Karen Hatcher. Oh, right, I'm sorry. And the title of the person. Yeah, yeah, that'd be helpful. Karen. Story zoning administrator. 458 01:23:06.580 --> 01:23:11.949 Plainfield VT Select Board: So so I have a question. Thank you. How did this item get on? The agenda. 459 01:23:12.300 --> 01:23:38.139 Plainfield VT Select Board: I mean is, is there a violation, a zoning violation at one of it in my email right now? But I think that it was submitted because I remember, the site board was in the town office at the time, and Karen was mailing yet another letter regarding violations. There are a number of violations, as I understand. 460 01:23:38.560 --> 01:23:44.029 Plainfield VT Select Board: Oh, you think it may be here? I think it's I think there's a hard copy, is it? In the folders? Oh. 461 01:23:45.630 --> 01:23:47.452 Plainfield VT Select Board: here we go! 462 01:23:56.400 --> 01:24:00.065 Plainfield VT Select Board: I don't. I don't know if I want to read the whole thing, but it's 463 01:24:02.240 --> 01:24:05.390 Plainfield VT Select Board: a 4th apartment at the former hardware store 464 01:24:05.810 --> 01:24:11.090 Plainfield VT Select Board: that requires requires a conditional use permit for multifamily dwelling 465 01:24:12.930 --> 01:24:18.950 Plainfield VT Select Board: and then she has dates. And when she was issued notice of alleged violations, no tickets yet 466 01:24:19.320 --> 01:24:26.929 Plainfield VT Select Board: so yeah. And no land developed on delinquent 467 01:24:27.200 --> 01:24:31.019 Plainfield VT Select Board: defined here, and including a change of use, shall be 468 01:24:31.180 --> 01:24:37.380 Plainfield VT Select Board: commenced in Plainfield until a zoning permit has been issued by the zoning administrator. 469 01:24:37.810 --> 01:24:48.400 Plainfield VT Select Board: So there's a whole series. I'll pass this around of violations that I think what we should do is get Karen story here to talk about. Yes. 470 01:24:48.640 --> 01:24:55.459 Plainfield VT Select Board: I want to pass that around. Yeah. But but back to the municipal ticketing, right? Is it? Is it your interpretation of the 471 01:24:55.720 --> 01:24:59.130 Plainfield VT Select Board: the judge's ruling? We had on the Bean road issue. 472 01:24:59.320 --> 01:25:05.929 Plainfield VT Select Board: That playing field basically can't enforce anything until we have this municipal ticket system. That's a horrible message. 473 01:25:07.100 --> 01:25:19.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: I I think it's a horrible message. I don't think it's as precise and legal as that. I think that what we need to do is bring our our ordinances up to quote unquote spend. 474 01:25:19.270 --> 01:25:37.230 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think that the old system presumed a good citizen who wants to cooperate. That was the default mode, and what we have in these cases are people who blatantly defy the rules. Now, once they do that, we're kind of flat footed, because. 475 01:25:37.460 --> 01:25:49.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: although Karen has written complaints and so forth, it's a little bit distinct than writing specific violations over a period of time. 476 01:25:49.670 --> 01:25:53.290 Plainfield VT Select Board: And it took us, I mean, think, Peter, of how long 477 01:25:53.680 --> 01:26:06.709 Plainfield VT Select Board: there were latent violations, and it took us to go to court, whereas I think that if we had a stack of very clearly defined with date violations, specifically naming problems. 478 01:26:06.960 --> 01:26:15.690 Plainfield VT Select Board: our standing in the court system would be much greater. So I don't think it's a question of no enforcement at this point, but it's just very difficult for us to move. 479 01:26:16.170 --> 01:26:20.770 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay? So then, maybe this is, maybe this is on the agenda to. 480 01:26:21.090 --> 01:26:30.380 Plainfield VT Select Board: so that we might schedule a moment to update our ordinances. It seems like a lot of this is hinging upon updated ordinances. 481 01:26:30.600 --> 01:26:40.379 Plainfield VT Select Board: And so then, like which what special group, what special team, what special time, is being designated to update ordinances. 482 01:26:41.140 --> 01:26:56.250 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, and I think it's clear we have to have a clear ordinances, so that when tickets are being written they're being written against a real a rule, right? And I think that probably I think it would be good if Karen 483 01:26:56.300 --> 01:27:22.870 Plainfield VT Select Board: met with a couple of slide board members, I'd be available as well. There are other towns or model ordinances. There's a way of doing this. The process of creating an ordinance is a little bit cumbersome in that there has to be a hearing. The ordinance doesn't take effect immediately, even if it passes. There's a 60 day. Wait period. So it's a process. Something we haven't done in many years 484 01:27:24.790 --> 01:27:30.520 Plainfield VT Select Board: can not that we can implement it. But can we 485 01:27:30.960 --> 01:27:34.340 Plainfield VT Select Board: figure out all the steps to a ticketing process so that way 486 01:27:34.530 --> 01:27:45.279 Plainfield VT Select Board: when the ordinances are updated. Officially, there's also the ticketing process exists. No, no, absolutely. I think that what I I would want to do is have 487 01:27:45.733 --> 01:27:52.800 Plainfield VT Select Board: all the different agents. And I I designated, you know, the zoning administrator, dog board, and all the different people 488 01:27:53.311 --> 01:27:59.419 Plainfield VT Select Board: to sit with and take yet another class. We we've had sort of an overview class. 489 01:27:59.710 --> 01:28:02.080 Plainfield VT Select Board: We do have a ticket books now. 490 01:28:02.300 --> 01:28:07.629 Plainfield VT Select Board: and it's, you know. So it's just a it's it's a step by step process. 491 01:28:07.980 --> 01:28:11.399 Plainfield VT Select Board: But I I think that once we 492 01:28:11.610 --> 01:28:25.109 Plainfield VT Select Board: but I think, Dan, you're absolutely right. It doesn't require training, and there are people available, and there are different departments that are going to be able to issue tickets. So each department had may have different and will have different ordinances. 493 01:28:26.890 --> 01:28:27.790 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yes. 494 01:28:28.690 --> 01:28:37.060 Plainfield VT Select Board: I guess I wanted to put before the board. Are there 2 volunteers to pilot? What is the ordinance 495 01:28:38.046 --> 01:28:46.160 Plainfield VT Select Board: Work group to get together, probably separately, with our zoning administrator, our 496 01:28:47.343 --> 01:28:53.990 Plainfield VT Select Board: health officer, health officer, constable, animal control. The animal control. 497 01:28:54.400 --> 01:29:05.789 Plainfield VT Select Board: wasn't there? 4? There was. It was Peter Karen, zoning constable, animal control health officer and zoning. And okay, constable address. Okay, yeah. 498 01:29:07.630 --> 01:29:08.640 Plainfield VT Select Board: can I? 499 01:29:09.550 --> 01:29:21.100 Plainfield VT Select Board: We're through questions on this to answer your question. I am not volunteering until the damn personnel policy is done personally. 500 01:29:21.760 --> 01:29:35.969 Plainfield VT Select Board: I want to get that one clear cleared off before I jump into anything else. But I was just reading through there. There are 2 notices that Karen sent out one from 2022, one from June 5.th That says, please reply, by 501 01:29:36.220 --> 01:30:05.649 Plainfield VT Select Board: June 9, th I think, was, you know, so they'd have a 7 day. So it's a work in progress. I don't think there's a official, she basically is saying you need to have an application in, you know, by this date other. Otherwise, you know, there'll be a violation so. And and right now there's no penalty for violation. But if we get an ordinance put together that has a penalty, then that will start to get attention. 502 01:30:08.840 --> 01:30:12.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: So we'll have to think about what how that committee would be formed. 503 01:30:12.780 --> 01:30:35.359 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think our ordinances do have penalties in them. The question is, you know, must we use this municipal ticket, or can we go and alternate? I think there are ordinances that do have provisions for penalizing, but you have to specifically name that there is a specific official 504 01:30:35.910 --> 01:30:56.570 Plainfield VT Select Board: from the municipal level writing tickets on that ordinance. It has to be kind of specified. So I think that the best attempts in the past we're just not. It wasn't. We weren't really in a ticket writing mode, we assumed a good compliant citizen, and I think that we need to sort of step up our game 505 01:30:58.390 --> 01:30:59.070 Plainfield VT Select Board: everything. 506 01:31:07.180 --> 01:31:08.739 Plainfield VT Select Board: This original offhand. 507 01:31:09.320 --> 01:31:12.490 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think we all got the. 508 01:31:12.970 --> 01:31:15.549 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'm still thinking of ticketing and and 509 01:31:16.210 --> 01:31:19.550 Plainfield VT Select Board: violation, and I'm thinking about Bean Road 510 01:31:20.060 --> 01:31:24.249 Plainfield VT Select Board: and the dog at Bean Road, and according to Dan Caddy. 511 01:31:25.330 --> 01:31:33.699 Plainfield VT Select Board: they're considered to still be in residence there. If the dogs there is that that's and yeah, that was confirmed by yeah by the State. 512 01:31:34.850 --> 01:31:42.409 Plainfield VT Select Board: So just we received a number of calls once again regarding the situation at Beaver Road, and the situation was. 513 01:31:42.660 --> 01:31:51.490 Plainfield VT Select Board: the dog was chained out with no water and food during those incredibly hot days, and neighbors were. 514 01:31:52.200 --> 01:32:11.110 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, saying the dog is going to die, and so forth. And so in these situations of animal abuse. It's actually not the local animal control officer. It's the game ward takes over the gentleman named Mr. Cerise. I believe his name is. 515 01:32:11.300 --> 01:32:19.810 Plainfield VT Select Board: and he the State police reported him and I. 516 01:32:20.020 --> 01:32:21.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: I went up there. 517 01:32:23.640 --> 01:32:31.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, and I gave water to the dog and food, and I just did not let that happen on my watch. 518 01:32:31.970 --> 01:32:36.779 Plainfield VT Select Board: and he backed me up on the game work and backed me up. 519 01:32:37.200 --> 01:32:38.830 Plainfield VT Select Board: It turns out that 520 01:32:39.930 --> 01:32:56.300 Plainfield VT Select Board: you're right. The admission was made that he's keeping the dog there to protect the residents, inferring that he is still there. Therefore that is a violation of court order. So that works in our favor. Unfortunately. 521 01:32:56.890 --> 01:33:02.210 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, the thing with the dog is gonna drag on, and I have a very 522 01:33:02.760 --> 01:33:12.120 Plainfield VT Select Board: great concerns, because I I just you know this is animal abuse period, and the idea that the dog is there to protect the 523 01:33:12.440 --> 01:33:24.969 Plainfield VT Select Board: trailer is a little sketchy because you can enter the trailer. The dog is tied up at that, you know. You could enter that trailer. So so it's kind of flimsy all around. I don't think that the person's really thinking about anything. 524 01:33:25.460 --> 01:33:50.130 Plainfield VT Select Board: the game warden or the State police do anything about it according to the game warden, because as long as the dog is fed and water and outside, and quote unquote, protecting the property. They can't seize the animal. In other words, it's it's I mean, I think that the person is hiding behind the law. 525 01:33:50.240 --> 01:33:52.560 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, and and you know 526 01:33:52.870 --> 01:34:03.529 Plainfield VT Select Board: we can't. You know. Now the you know there seems to be water there, you know. So forth. I I mean we are. I have 527 01:34:04.480 --> 01:34:11.129 Plainfield VT Select Board: One of the road crew is looking in on that actually contact me this morning with concern, and I said. 528 01:34:11.840 --> 01:34:16.070 Plainfield VT Select Board: You know our hands are tied in terms of seizing the animal. 529 01:34:17.270 --> 01:34:24.179 Plainfield VT Select Board: I mean. Even what I did does not conform to the letter of the law. But just it was an emergency situation. 530 01:34:25.720 --> 01:34:29.489 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. Thanks for following up on that. 531 01:34:31.527 --> 01:34:37.580 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay, so let's talk about the disability insurance for personnel 532 01:34:38.010 --> 01:34:46.489 Plainfield VT Select Board: we were. There was a comment, Josh, that you gave me that we should consider that especially given what happened to Sean. 533 01:34:47.380 --> 01:34:48.260 Plainfield VT Select Board: Well. 534 01:34:48.600 --> 01:34:59.169 Plainfield VT Select Board: I don't think it would have necessarily come into play in that exact instance, but you could easily have an accident outside of work, and that's the kind of insurance that this is for 535 01:34:59.640 --> 01:35:08.260 Plainfield VT Select Board: oh, like or you know, issues of like your you know you are 536 01:35:08.921 --> 01:35:14.820 Plainfield VT Select Board: disable temporarily, you have something to fall back on as insurance. 537 01:35:17.000 --> 01:35:21.649 Plainfield VT Select Board: I didn't have the follow up on the details for that. But 538 01:35:22.314 --> 01:35:26.215 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think it's something that we should look into further the 539 01:35:26.890 --> 01:35:29.855 Plainfield VT Select Board: it's I certainly benefited from that 540 01:35:31.093 --> 01:35:36.170 Plainfield VT Select Board: the summer for last summer, when I had an issue with 541 01:35:36.704 --> 01:35:49.300 Plainfield VT Select Board: well, my cervical spine, I was unable to work for for months straight. And the insurance was able to provide like 60% of my my income. 542 01:35:50.159 --> 01:35:54.290 Plainfield VT Select Board: I don't know what this particular plan would provide. 543 01:35:54.940 --> 01:36:03.129 Plainfield VT Select Board: but the I don't think it's a very costly benefit to add. And it can really make a big difference with people. 544 01:36:05.340 --> 01:36:07.890 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, my recollection is that 545 01:36:08.490 --> 01:36:17.499 Plainfield VT Select Board: they're adjustable or variable. You can have. You can select features that you want in those policies, and I also remember them not being that expensive. 546 01:36:18.090 --> 01:36:19.900 Plainfield VT Select Board: But that's all 547 01:36:20.020 --> 01:36:26.881 Plainfield VT Select Board: old news. I don't know. It could be expensive today. Can you get some information for us so we can look at something. 548 01:36:27.430 --> 01:36:28.941 Plainfield VT Select Board: I know I'd like. 549 01:36:29.690 --> 01:36:36.920 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'd ask you guys to reach out to the the the folks, because I'm like I'm swamped right now. And all the other things. 550 01:36:37.400 --> 01:36:40.989 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay? So you're just bringing up to up to our attention. 551 01:36:41.410 --> 01:36:45.049 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, my goodness, yeah, that Will has his hand up. 552 01:36:45.610 --> 01:37:09.670 Plainfield VT Select Board: What's that? Oh, sorry. I just wonder. I mean, this feels like specifically a thing that should be part of the personnel policy. And I'm wondering why we're not having this conversation within that document, and why we would have a whole separate conversation about adding an insurance when we're having a whole personnel overhaul. Well, that was kind of timed, I think, because Josh mentioned it to me. Well, no, I know. I just don't know why, like 553 01:37:09.750 --> 01:37:29.370 Plainfield VT Select Board: with Peter getting feedback on personnel policy from all of us right now. I don't know why that conversation. Why wouldn't wouldn't that just be something raised in that process rather than it has an open meeting. It hasn't been raised in that process right? And and my approach to the personnel policy document has been to 554 01:37:29.510 --> 01:37:57.469 Plainfield VT Select Board: correct correct typos, errors and omissions and incorporate things, where the voters or we, the Select Board, have taken action, such as Juneteenth health Savings accounts, dental insurance, clarifying the family policy, clarifying that our town treasurer and town clerk are appointed, not elected. In other words, not creating new policy. Okay? And I have sent out. 555 01:37:57.470 --> 01:38:06.760 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, multiple communications at this point, and no one has mentioned disability insurance back in feedback. I've gotten other 556 01:38:06.890 --> 01:38:13.260 Plainfield VT Select Board: comments. So far, but we always have the we always have the option to 557 01:38:13.840 --> 01:38:23.880 Plainfield VT Select Board: bring bring. Yeah, we can do it anytime. I understand. I just feel like it feels like a better process than yeah, like, no, I mean no offense to Josh. But like 558 01:38:24.230 --> 01:38:31.940 Plainfield VT Select Board: the idea, like, we may need a disability insurance with no information and no research like I 559 01:38:32.240 --> 01:38:48.459 Plainfield VT Select Board: feels like it could have went to Peter, and, like Peter, could have said, I don't have time to research this, or I will research this. Yeah, since he's doing the personnel policy stuff. I don't know. It just feels like a better process. I wasn't looking for new stuff. I'm happy. I'm happy to do that I mean it's like. 560 01:38:48.470 --> 01:39:13.249 Plainfield VT Select Board: you know, when? When do you actually, you know, adopt the policy because it could be changed tomorrow as well. But like, I think there's plenty here for us to like. Okay, let's get this out of it's kind of like what we're doing with zoning, you know. Okay, get this. And then there's still some stuff we need to clean up this. If we were to offer disability as a disability insurance as a benefit, we could clearly add it to the benefits section of the policy. I don't 561 01:39:13.250 --> 01:39:19.540 Plainfield VT Select Board: think very technically, that's a big issue I would have questions of. And you know you alluded to this 562 01:39:19.610 --> 01:39:30.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: that it probably didn't apply with the road you're like, how does this interface with workers? Comp workers? Comp is hurt on the job? Disability is hurt off the job, do they? Mesh? 563 01:39:30.610 --> 01:39:40.920 Plainfield VT Select Board: I mean, that's the kind of question I would want to know. In addition to you know what the cost is, and what our neighboring towns do. Well, it's it. It sounds to me like this, yeah, go ahead. 564 01:39:42.660 --> 01:40:05.210 Plainfield VT Select Board: this is new business for the personnel policy, I think is why it's why it's before us now. Granted, yeah, we don't have all the data in terms of what are the numbers to back it up for us to, you know, make a fiscal, fiscally responsible decision about and though that list that you just brought Peter of the things that have come to our table 565 01:40:05.210 --> 01:40:20.289 Plainfield VT Select Board: because it is, does represent new business that it's not just filling in the holes of the policy. We actually need to clarify policy together. And this is a unique opportunity to do so because we are foreign able to discuss it. 566 01:40:20.970 --> 01:40:26.360 Plainfield VT Select Board: But I'm yeah. Hearing that a reply to that email 567 01:40:27.630 --> 01:40:33.430 Plainfield VT Select Board: proposing a disability insurance policy gets it in your channel of 568 01:40:33.580 --> 01:40:59.410 Plainfield VT Select Board: inclusion to the policy. But then, without the Board saying, we're on board with that, that's just changing the policy without necessarily getting the Board's consensus. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I think I think we need to discuss it more. But I'm trying to figure out when when you want to, when we want to get the new policy approved, and whether it includes something like this 569 01:40:59.630 --> 01:41:04.163 Plainfield VT Select Board: like you say, there's there's a moving target. If it's all those things along. Well, I had 570 01:41:04.600 --> 01:41:11.069 Plainfield VT Select Board: I had the the latest thing I sent out to everybody. Was. 571 01:41:11.220 --> 01:41:22.470 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'd really like to get feedback by June 20, th right? I'm going to be away the following week. So I'm not here for the next select board meeting, but back for July 9th 572 01:41:22.774 --> 01:41:45.879 Plainfield VT Select Board: and I was hoping that we could get that now. Carol Smith did reply, and she says she's too busy to look at anything before before then. So is it going to be, not July 9, th but 2 weeks after that. But you know we're not on a statutory deadline here, you know, but I'd like to get it out of the way before we move on to ordinances, you know, or you know the next 573 01:41:45.880 --> 01:41:57.830 Plainfield VT Select Board: blood, or you know well, it was a huge amount of work. And we yeah, it's really, really appreciate it. And it's. And you know, as soon as we adopt whatever we're going to adopt. 574 01:41:57.970 --> 01:42:26.510 Plainfield VT Select Board: We may have a disability insurance clause that we want to add to it. We may have something else to come up that we may want to add to it, you know that's fine. It's a living, breathing document, and you know you can't wait forever. Because you do have to get something cleaned up and our current one isn't clean right. And I looked at all the all over the years, all the changes in the document as it was okay. So let's we'll we'll put that one 575 01:42:27.210 --> 01:42:30.880 Plainfield VT Select Board: aside. But we'll still try to get you comments. By the 20.th 576 01:42:33.490 --> 01:42:38.600 Plainfield VT Select Board: And Brandon, you said you were. Gonna look into. 577 01:42:38.890 --> 01:42:51.089 Plainfield VT Select Board: I mean, does the League offer that? I'll I'll ask our broker. Yeah. Who does the you know the others? Other policy? It's he was. I can't think of the company, but 578 01:42:51.310 --> 01:42:57.839 Plainfield VT Select Board: they'll they'll be able to give us a figure. Okay, that's yeah. We'd want to have that and kind of the features. 579 01:42:57.950 --> 01:42:59.660 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, yeah. 580 01:42:59.930 --> 01:43:01.590 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yep, okay. 581 01:43:03.192 --> 01:43:11.740 Plainfield VT Select Board: Zoning amendment, hearing warning. So we have to warn a hearing for the zoning 582 01:43:12.960 --> 01:43:17.750 Plainfield VT Select Board: amendment that we, I assume just pat just voted on, and oh. 583 01:43:18.420 --> 01:43:27.529 Plainfield VT Select Board: I misunderstood that, because the agenda says town of Plainfield Select Board meeting and zoning hearing. So I thought this was the. 584 01:43:28.434 --> 01:43:28.920 Will Colgan: Yeah. 585 01:43:28.920 --> 01:43:42.459 Plainfield VT Select Board: I thought that the hearing was part of this meeting as well, and I instructed Jane to put that as a title. So okay, that's my error. I'm sorry I didn't realize. So we haven't actually warned it yet. 586 01:43:44.194 --> 01:44:02.319 Plainfield VT Select Board: thought it was. Basically we can incorporate it into one of the meetings. 587 01:44:02.320 --> 01:44:09.369 Will Colgan: Yeah, yeah, this this is just to set the date for the hearing. It's just a brief recap. 588 01:44:09.839 --> 01:44:25.499 Will Colgan: We had the we had the major zoning amendments at the Town Hall, which we held. The planning commission held a hearing on, and the slight board held a hearing on. But there were certain items that we couldn't fit in the timeline to fit that town meeting vote. 589 01:44:25.930 --> 01:44:28.850 Will Colgan: Then the planning commission held a set of amendments. 590 01:44:28.960 --> 01:44:49.419 Will Colgan: held a hearing on that set of amendments sent them to you, and then the vote to rescind showed up, and that put a kibosh on everything. I remember Bram getting an opinion from the Vermont League of Cities and town, saying, Don't do anything until the rescind vote is is resolved. So that's been resolved. 591 01:44:49.660 --> 01:44:58.930 Will Colgan: The you had 150 days to hold your hearing between the time we held our hearing on this, I'll call it second set of amendments. 592 01:44:59.230 --> 01:45:17.140 Will Colgan: So you need to the slip board needs to hold another hearing or hold their 1st hearing. On the second set of amendments. Which you which you have. I I sent Rose the the sample, hearing 593 01:45:17.620 --> 01:45:20.190 Will Colgan: warning which you need to 594 01:45:20.380 --> 01:45:31.010 Will Colgan: 15 days out. But Bram needs to put a ad in the Times Argus, which always takes a little extra time, so I would think your July meeting 595 01:45:31.210 --> 01:45:34.819 Will Colgan: would would meet that deadline 596 01:45:35.280 --> 01:45:44.629 Will Colgan: it. It turns out that once you warn your the select board, hearing the zoning administrator can take any permit and 597 01:45:44.780 --> 01:45:49.489 Will Colgan: proceed to review it under the set of amendments 598 01:45:50.040 --> 01:45:54.959 Will Colgan: for the hearing. So there are a couple of things on Goddard College about residential care homes. 599 01:45:55.438 --> 01:46:12.529 Will Colgan: That once you set your date, that she can then review those under the set of amendments, because there's a restriction of a thousand feet between them, and they're going to be closer to 1,000 feet. So this set of amendments would recent would take that strike that 600 01:46:13.260 --> 01:46:15.909 Will Colgan: restriction. So pick a date 601 01:46:16.310 --> 01:46:26.367 Will Colgan: and and and do the warning, using the sample that I sent. That explains all the different details, and then get an ad into the 602 01:46:27.230 --> 01:46:28.350 Will Colgan: times. Argus. 603 01:46:29.700 --> 01:46:30.510 Plainfield VT Select Board: Dan. 604 01:46:30.930 --> 01:46:41.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: I move that we warn a zoning amendment hearing for Monday, July 14, th and instruct the town clerk to put that out to all appropriate channels. 605 01:46:41.960 --> 01:46:45.780 Plainfield VT Select Board: Second, any discussion. 606 01:46:46.910 --> 01:46:57.259 Plainfield VT Select Board: all those in favor of incorporating the zoning hearing on our June, July 14th meeting. Say I, I 607 01:46:58.030 --> 01:47:00.870 Plainfield VT Select Board: unanimous. So we will do that well. 608 01:47:00.870 --> 01:47:01.610 Will Colgan: Thank you. 609 01:47:02.580 --> 01:47:05.860 Plainfield VT Select Board: We'll have you there, won't we? 610 01:47:06.040 --> 01:47:09.950 Plainfield VT Select Board: Oh, yeah, good. Thank you. 611 01:47:14.100 --> 01:47:16.270 Plainfield VT Select Board: There was a town office update. 612 01:47:16.890 --> 01:47:30.270 Plainfield VT Select Board: That's that's me, I suppose. Although it could be any more, any one of us. There was a something of a a storm, a cliff level personnel issue moved through the town office. 613 01:47:32.060 --> 01:47:35.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: Someone was let go out of process. 614 01:47:35.640 --> 01:47:38.240 Plainfield VT Select Board: That person has since been reinstated. 615 01:47:38.905 --> 01:47:52.339 Plainfield VT Select Board: We held an executive session to speak about this 2 weeks ago. The reason this is being spoken about now is to kind of circumscribe any rumors that may or may not be 616 01:47:53.127 --> 01:47:57.400 Plainfield VT Select Board: being shared about this this event. The series of events. 617 01:47:58.181 --> 01:48:09.340 Plainfield VT Select Board: The person who was let go has been reinstated. And today, at the town office, circle of 618 01:48:09.670 --> 01:48:15.530 Plainfield VT Select Board: 5 sat together and kind of worked through 619 01:48:15.800 --> 01:48:24.138 Plainfield VT Select Board: the dynamics, the processes, the feelings, and the the yield of it was, 620 01:48:25.160 --> 01:48:34.519 Plainfield VT Select Board: yeah. A fully consensual set of intentions, proposals to move forward to 621 01:48:34.760 --> 01:48:42.359 Plainfield VT Select Board: for the dynamics within and around the town office to be that much more cooperative and functional. 622 01:48:43.330 --> 01:48:50.934 Plainfield VT Select Board: Great. Well, thank you, for that's the broad update, I mean Patty was there today. I don't know if you want to add anything, Patty, I was there. I feel like 623 01:48:51.390 --> 01:48:53.200 Plainfield VT Select Board: in layman's terms. 624 01:48:53.440 --> 01:48:56.310 Plainfield VT Select Board: Some bad things happened because we didn't have the right 625 01:48:56.480 --> 01:49:01.500 Plainfield VT Select Board: policy is really in place. There's a lot of people that are working really hard and 626 01:49:02.010 --> 01:49:14.429 Plainfield VT Select Board: getting upset about things not always being done the right way, and I think we just needed to have those things put in place. I feel like everyone felt really safe. Good. So somebody even said, it's a really safe and valued thing. 627 01:49:15.280 --> 01:49:17.960 Plainfield VT Select Board: So it was, it was good. It was really good. 628 01:49:18.470 --> 01:49:20.140 Plainfield VT Select Board: Well, thank you for organizing it. 629 01:49:20.410 --> 01:49:21.660 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'm doing that. 630 01:49:23.890 --> 01:49:32.189 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay, we're down to appointments. There was a there are 2, we we have 2 appointments. Okay, can you tell us what they are? If you make a motion for that 631 01:49:33.130 --> 01:49:39.490 Plainfield VT Select Board: terms of the word, I would say, you guys are hiring the 632 01:49:40.530 --> 01:49:50.609 Plainfield VT Select Board: thank you. Hiring, not appointing, appointing. Thank you. Yeah. It says appointments. But you're right. We're we're hiring. Okay, thank you. 633 01:49:51.410 --> 01:49:52.720 Plainfield VT Select Board: Thank you. 634 01:49:53.764 --> 01:50:05.210 Plainfield VT Select Board: So one of the appointments is, excuse me. Excuse me. One of the hires is Kara Smith, as the assistant town clerk and assistant treasurer. Since the 635 01:50:05.560 --> 01:50:17.880 Plainfield VT Select Board: the the change of form of how town office staff is now appointed rather than elected. 636 01:50:18.554 --> 01:50:25.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: We have as a board appointed and hired as town clerk. 637 01:50:25.290 --> 01:50:36.945 Plainfield VT Select Board: Graham Tobin, and as town town treasurer, Josh Pitts, and this leaves Carol Smith not yet actually appointed. Kind of a 638 01:50:38.573 --> 01:50:54.809 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, she's like fallen through the cracks temporarily. This is a moment to address that and formally hire her, which is a a natural consequence of shifting our methods of hiring at the town office. 639 01:50:55.530 --> 01:50:59.983 Plainfield VT Select Board: And John, is the other one correct? 640 01:51:02.100 --> 01:51:05.042 Plainfield VT Select Board: Could I? Could I make a comment. Yeah. 641 01:51:05.790 --> 01:51:11.309 Plainfield VT Select Board: I did contact the League of Cities and Towns during this Kerfuffle and 642 01:51:11.650 --> 01:51:16.940 Plainfield VT Select Board: the underlying statute for town clerks and treasurer remain 643 01:51:17.280 --> 01:51:30.599 Plainfield VT Select Board: that the town clerk shall appoint at least one assistant town clerk. The town treasurer shall appoint, may appoint one assistant treasurer. 644 01:51:30.790 --> 01:51:46.649 Plainfield VT Select Board: The town clerk may appoint a second treasurer, however, since assuming second assist, whatever the the tripping over the the terminology here, but the attorney said, and their online, you know, guidance for 645 01:51:46.820 --> 01:52:01.529 Plainfield VT Select Board: towns that have switched to appointment rather than election. Of those 2 major offices, said they still are required to do that, but they should seek the approval of the legislative body. 646 01:52:01.980 --> 01:52:03.040 Plainfield VT Select Board: So 647 01:52:04.640 --> 01:52:18.220 Plainfield VT Select Board: it it so it basically says that the process starts with the town clerk and the town treasurer for their assistance and comes to us for approval. Yeah. So I think Carol Smith's 648 01:52:18.350 --> 01:52:21.850 Plainfield VT Select Board: would still be appointments, because she's hired to the town 649 01:52:22.440 --> 01:52:40.500 Plainfield VT Select Board: people, but would then be appointed by Josh and Bram in those roles. Specifically, we would do it based on the recommendation. We're not rehiring, Carol, so just want to make sure to say I was confused. I read the State statute as saying. 650 01:52:40.920 --> 01:52:53.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: the State statute specifically says, elected, not appointed, but I will support whatever the Board, however, the Board wishes to proceed, or whatever you want me to do, I'll do it 651 01:52:55.100 --> 01:53:07.599 Plainfield VT Select Board: so if I may just read what I wrote, and see if you want to change it at all. Francis Rose, that Francis Rose moves, that we appoint Carol Smith as assistant town clerk and assistant town treasurer 652 01:53:07.780 --> 01:53:09.310 Plainfield VT Select Board: for the town of Flamefield. 653 01:53:12.230 --> 01:53:21.780 Plainfield VT Select Board: So she's already hired. Well, she yes, she's on a payroll. I think it's just a like a lot of roles in town. 654 01:53:22.010 --> 01:53:41.279 Plainfield VT Select Board: I think there's a regular reapp like after town meeting. I don't know if it's yearly, or if it's less likely than that you reappoint, you can either appoint new people or reappoint. This is one of those yearly yeah. So every year in March, right after town meeting, we should be reappointing Carol, or whoever is serving in the roles of assistant treasurer and assistant clerk. 655 01:53:41.500 --> 01:54:07.319 Plainfield VT Select Board: I can't say here what I've heard tonight. I know exactly what to do, so I defer stronger opinions about how to word. This, I think what it is is like. Every time we finish a town meeting we're like in a new session of town government. There's some new select board members. Sometimes there's new clerks or treasurers when they used to be elected. And so there's these appointments that have to happen 656 01:54:07.320 --> 01:54:21.860 Plainfield VT Select Board: on a regular basis. Conceptually I get it. But in terms of actual language. To me it's like this isn't my wheelhouse of of expertise. So I want to defer to those who have a stronger sense of what language is required. 657 01:54:23.080 --> 01:54:30.309 Plainfield VT Select Board: I will say yes to each other, and I'll just second, okay, you'll second that. 658 01:54:31.110 --> 01:54:35.459 Plainfield VT Select Board: And is this, just for Cara. We're doing both here. Well, no, because the other one is a hiring. Yes. Okay. 659 01:54:35.620 --> 01:54:38.860 Plainfield VT Select Board: well, it should be a different one motion. Probably. 660 01:54:40.090 --> 01:54:53.030 Plainfield VT Select Board: So did we vote on? No, you need to call the vote on Carol. Okay, we're going to have a vote on Carol Smith being appointed, reappointed. All those in favor, say, aye, aye, aye. 661 01:54:53.190 --> 01:54:56.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: music and no opposed. 662 01:54:58.180 --> 01:55:10.379 Plainfield VT Select Board: So Carol is back with us. Okay, we need a we need a motion to to hire John Phelps. 663 01:55:10.800 --> 01:55:19.009 Plainfield VT Select Board: And is that spelled PHEL. Yes, it is. Okay. What's the position? 664 01:55:19.240 --> 01:55:19.970 Plainfield VT Select Board: See? 665 01:55:22.280 --> 01:55:31.729 Plainfield VT Select Board: So, driver of driver, heavy equipment operators? Okay, driver, driver, heavy equipment operator. 666 01:55:32.800 --> 01:55:54.490 Plainfield VT Select Board: so we can make a motion to do that effective May 20.th Yes, go ahead. I'd like to make a motion that we hire John Phelps to be? What is it? Heavy equipment, heavy equipment, operator and driver, heavy equipment, operator and driver for the counter playing field effective. May 20, th 2025 effective may 20, th 2025 at a pay rate of $28 an hour. 667 01:55:54.760 --> 01:55:57.780 Plainfield VT Select Board: All right. 668 01:55:57.930 --> 01:56:04.559 Plainfield VT Select Board: Do you have the full? Yay? 669 01:56:05.520 --> 01:56:14.801 Plainfield VT Select Board: Sorry you got it all, Dan? Yeah, all those in favor say, aye, I just wanted to say, Oh, 670 01:56:16.620 --> 01:56:45.349 Plainfield VT Select Board: member of the road from Dylan. Mears will be his last day he's relocating, but his last day would be June 12.th Just want to thank him for his service. Yes. Who's that, please? Dylan? Okay, Dylan. Yeah. He has been great. He's moving to Ocala, Florida. So good luck. Yeah, I have friends down there. Okay, approval of warrants approval of draft minutes. I'm sorry 671 01:56:45.430 --> 01:57:15.219 Plainfield VT Select Board: can I move that we approve the minutes of the May 27, th 2025 meeting you. May I second that we have a motion, and second, we have a question I I had contacted Jamie, because I had, I voted no on the one motion right? And when when somebody votes? No, you have to do a roll call, a roll call. So so she said, Okay, it was. It was 4 to 4. She said it was it now says 4 0 1 672 01:57:15.220 --> 01:57:31.409 Plainfield VT Select Board: as opposed to 4, 1 0. Okay, so it was 4 in favor. One opposed. I was the one opposed, so she put it down as 4 in favor. 0 opposed one absent, one absent. Oh, okay. So you learned she learned something, pronounce. 673 01:57:31.430 --> 01:57:46.760 Plainfield VT Select Board: yes, thank you. And in the writing it, says Peter Youngbird passed the single. No vote. You just need to miss move the one. Yeah. Yeah. Move the one over. Yeah, yeah, that's correct. 674 01:57:46.850 --> 01:57:58.249 Plainfield VT Select Board: Okay, you'll be listening to this in the next couple of days. If you could do that, all those do we vote on this? Yeah, yes. 675 01:57:59.070 --> 01:58:02.770 Plainfield VT Select Board: Can I make a motion that we approve the account payable 676 01:58:03.390 --> 01:58:15.450 Plainfield VT Select Board: 5, 30, 25, 5, 30. Wait. 5, 5, 3, 25, 5, 3. Where these checks here? 5, 2925, 5, 30, 25, 6, 5, 25. 677 01:58:16.940 --> 01:58:21.719 Plainfield VT Select Board: They make it a motion that we approve those and the payroll as well, and the payroll as well. 678 01:58:24.280 --> 01:58:32.540 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah. I gotta say that, too. Okay, just to check 2, 84, check, 2, 85, that it 679 01:58:34.020 --> 01:58:36.600 Plainfield VT Select Board: accounts payable. 6, 4, 25 680 01:58:36.800 --> 01:58:38.959 Plainfield VT Select Board: house tables. It's 4, 25, 681 01:58:39.590 --> 01:58:48.319 Plainfield VT Select Board: and then payroll for the rain. Oh, 5, 25, payroll, 529-25-5325 and 6, 5, 25 682 01:58:48.460 --> 01:58:57.200 Plainfield VT Select Board: seconds, and all those in favor. Aye, aye, aye, we're animus. 683 01:58:57.870 --> 01:59:08.180 Plainfield VT Select Board: And next select board meeting date is boom 23. Okay, and 684 01:59:09.970 --> 01:59:12.159 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'll take a motion to adjourn. 685 01:59:12.860 --> 01:59:15.570 Plainfield VT Select Board: That means that we adjourned this meeting. 686 01:59:16.080 --> 01:59:27.330 Plainfield VT Select Board: I'll second that motion to adjourn. I'm not going to be here on the 27, th either, Peter said he was going to be here. But it doesn't matter. Okay, all those in favor of adjournment at 8 o'clock. 687 01:59:27.740 --> 01:59:37.609 Plainfield VT Select Board: Yeah, thank you all. I will be away? And did Patty just say she's up. You're also away now. Yeah, 27.th