WEBVTT 102 01:36:09.820 --> 01:36:15.239 Tom in the Hall: alright. Welcome everybody to our 1st in 5 years 103 01:36:16.130 --> 01:36:32.479 Tom in the Hall: in person. Town meeting. It's a hybrid meeting, so we have a whole bunch of people online. I see 19. Well, subtract our connection. So maybe 15 or 16 connections in addition to everyone here. 104 01:36:33.000 --> 01:36:36.340 Tom in the Hall: the 1st thing to do is determine if we have a quorum. 105 01:36:37.080 --> 01:36:38.040 Tom in the Hall: So 106 01:36:39.430 --> 01:36:46.600 Tom in the Hall: I we need to make sure that the residents here are counted. I'm just going to do a count quickly 107 01:36:46.910 --> 01:36:54.420 Tom in the Hall: 6, 7, 8, 9, 1011, 1213, 1415, 1617, 1819, 21, 2, 108 01:36:54.840 --> 01:37:02.380 Tom in the Hall: 5, 6, 7, 8, 31, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 36, 109 01:37:02.710 --> 01:37:15.629 Tom in the Hall: and there are 20 of us online and and somebody else just calling. So it looks like we have a quorum which means the business of the meeting can proceed. 110 01:37:17.670 --> 01:37:27.060 Tom in the Hall: that's great. So we're going to start the meeting off with an invocation. Which Joe Clark is. 111 01:37:27.270 --> 01:37:31.830 Tom in the Hall: Reverend Joe Clark has graciously agreed. 112 01:37:32.030 --> 01:37:39.600 Tom in the Hall: He'll come up and and do a invitation. Joe's done this quite a few times. He, huge 113 01:37:39.920 --> 01:37:41.629 Tom in the Hall: use this one or that was. 114 01:37:42.856 --> 01:37:44.209 Tom in the Hall: Get out. 115 01:37:48.130 --> 01:37:58.129 Tom in the Hall: I don't need 5 min either. Gracious God! Of our good times and bad. We give thanks for the springtime flowers. 116 01:37:58.710 --> 01:38:06.449 Tom in the Hall: the early morning birdsong and the seasonal rain, maybe not so much for the high pollen counts and the humps and bumps 117 01:38:06.620 --> 01:38:08.480 Tom in the Hall: the railroad crossings. 118 01:38:08.870 --> 01:38:14.329 Tom in the Hall: But we do give thanks for the beautiful azaleas, the fledgling bluebirds. 119 01:38:14.610 --> 01:38:17.980 Tom in the Hall: and the barred owls, calling us in the evenings 120 01:38:19.120 --> 01:38:24.459 Tom in the Hall: for the rich trap and tapestry of colors, and the sounds of summer in the parks 121 01:38:24.810 --> 01:38:28.909 Tom in the Hall: in the park, changing of the seasons, help us preserve 122 01:38:29.310 --> 01:38:33.009 Tom in the Hall: what gives us meaning, joy and purpose. 123 01:38:34.410 --> 01:38:36.110 Tom in the Hall: We live in abundance. 124 01:38:36.900 --> 01:38:44.669 Tom in the Hall: help us to remember the poor, and value the marginalized, and those who clean our houses and pick up our trash 125 01:38:44.790 --> 01:38:46.769 Tom in the Hall: and mow our lawns. 126 01:38:47.760 --> 01:38:56.050 Tom in the Hall: We give thanks for our neighbors, who spend their time, energy, and good sense, to keep this town working. 127 01:38:56.540 --> 01:39:03.600 Tom in the Hall: working for the preservation of our good fortune, to weave a community that cares for the earth. 128 01:39:04.100 --> 01:39:08.089 Tom in the Hall: and puts the common good ahead of personal gain or comfort. 129 01:39:09.000 --> 01:39:14.530 Tom in the Hall: Let us listen to the impatient voices of the younger people who live here 130 01:39:15.270 --> 01:39:19.260 Tom in the Hall: and bring a view that is of important value. 131 01:39:20.120 --> 01:39:26.290 Tom in the Hall: Thank you for our town council and mayor for the commissions and volunteers. 132 01:39:26.610 --> 01:39:32.079 Tom in the Hall: knowing that what we hold in common is more than what might divide us. 133 01:39:33.240 --> 01:39:39.650 Tom in the Hall: Bless this gathering this evening. Bless our families, our children, and grandchildren. 134 01:39:40.000 --> 01:39:51.369 Tom in the Hall: and let us remember those who are no longer with us, Alan Janis, Joan Mahaffey, Doris Gordon, Terry Cox. 135 01:39:52.030 --> 01:39:56.440 Tom in the Hall: Jimmy Shifflett, and Birgut Henninger. 136 01:39:57.230 --> 01:40:00.580 Tom in the Hall: May their lives be a quiet reminder 137 01:40:00.680 --> 01:40:03.559 Tom in the Hall: of the preciousness of each one of us. 138 01:40:03.970 --> 01:40:07.020 Tom in the Hall: and let us abide in your mercy. Amen. 139 01:40:16.290 --> 01:40:22.028 Tom in the Hall: Excellent words to to contemplate and start this meeting off with. 140 01:40:22.890 --> 01:40:29.509 Tom in the Hall: So the meeting, as always, is a combination of required business and the opportunity to have. 141 01:40:30.140 --> 01:40:39.290 Tom in the Hall: if you will, reports in various aspects, and I'm sure you've all seen the agenda. So the 1st 142 01:40:41.680 --> 01:40:46.554 Tom in the Hall: business for the meeting is to approve the agenda. I I need a motion to. 143 01:40:47.460 --> 01:40:53.220 Tom in the Hall: okay, does anyone have anything to contribute about the agenda at this point. 144 01:40:55.230 --> 01:41:01.910 Tom in the Hall: hearing none, then the agenda will be as as presented in this draft. 145 01:41:02.596 --> 01:41:04.739 Tom in the Hall: If I can have the next slide. 146 01:41:12.160 --> 01:41:17.210 Tom in the Hall: Well, the ocean's nice, but probably be about the next slide. 147 01:41:27.940 --> 01:41:50.110 Tom in the Hall: There you go. Okay, I I have this here to start the meeting off just with with some operational matters. We've done the quorum. It's been verified by my count. No, none of the Board objected. We see all the members who are here virtually 148 01:41:51.010 --> 01:42:19.919 Tom in the Hall: as everyone should know. Roberts. Rules of order prevails at at the town meeting. It now also prevails at the Town Council meetings. And we we will operate relatively an informal version of the of the Roberts rules of orders, but not so informal that we won't require motions and ordered ordered discussions. 149 01:42:20.050 --> 01:42:30.659 Tom in the Hall: So also, because last year we had some controversy over how some of the process was handled. 150 01:42:30.770 --> 01:42:37.599 Tom in the Hall: determined that we would have a Parliamentarian who serves as a consultant 151 01:42:37.720 --> 01:42:57.279 Tom in the Hall: to the chair, and, in fact, to anyone any other person wishing to speak. That means that he will confer with me about anything that I have a problem with, or in rare cases. He will try and remind me or anyone of the correct procedure. 152 01:42:57.883 --> 01:43:04.086 Tom in the Hall: Should we encounter something going a little awry? Dennis? Thank you very much for 153 01:43:05.095 --> 01:43:09.340 Tom in the Hall: agreeing to do this. So we can have a 154 01:43:09.660 --> 01:43:16.190 Tom in the Hall: not the chair entirely have to wing it here with Robert's rules of order. 155 01:43:17.447 --> 01:43:40.519 Tom in the Hall: And lastly, the voting procedure. We're we're have. We have virtual attendees. The Council directed that they be full participants in the meeting, so they're entitled to vote. So when it comes time for a vote. We're going to include them, and I'll go into any details when we get to a vote. 156 01:43:41.152 --> 01:43:48.160 Tom in the Hall: We already had one about on the agenda. So a a any, any matter that that 157 01:43:48.960 --> 01:43:56.662 Tom in the Hall: for which there is a clear majority. We won't have to invoke. A more systematic approach to 158 01:43:57.490 --> 01:44:00.649 Tom in the Hall: the voting. We'll deal with that when we get there. 159 01:44:01.262 --> 01:44:07.460 Tom in the Hall: Alright, then, the next item is the approval of town meeting minutes 160 01:44:07.580 --> 01:44:11.899 Tom in the Hall: from last town meeting. They were in the packet of material. 161 01:44:12.350 --> 01:44:15.450 Tom in the Hall: Hope some of you had a chance to read it. 162 01:44:15.730 --> 01:44:21.840 Tom in the Hall: I need a motion to approve the minutes from last year 163 01:44:24.520 --> 01:44:28.820 Tom in the Hall: Georgette has moved to approve the minutes. 164 01:44:29.488 --> 01:44:36.950 Tom in the Hall: Anybody have any to to anything, any problem or comments on the minutes from last year? 165 01:44:39.460 --> 01:44:50.749 Tom in the Hall: Okay, then, we will move on to a vote to approve the minutes. I'll ask for the nays first.st Anyone not approve those minutes 166 01:44:51.540 --> 01:44:56.280 Tom in the Hall: hearing none. All in favor. 167 01:44:56.920 --> 01:45:02.139 Tom in the Hall: Hell, all right. The majority, in my opinion, has approved the minutes. 168 01:45:03.460 --> 01:45:14.592 Tom in the Hall: All right. We'll now move on to my state of the town report. Maybe a comment about the agendas in in order. I'm going to give a state of the town report. 169 01:45:15.010 --> 01:45:41.339 Tom in the Hall: we're going to do the the volunteer of the year. Then we're going to have 2 presentations which I put here in front of consideration of the budget and the tax rate, because they those matters include items in the budget, and I wanted to be sure that the discussion it was clear when when you take a look at the budget. Consider it that what? What was about? 170 01:45:41.693 --> 01:45:57.560 Tom in the Hall: So we'll have 2 presentations. Then we'll deal with the budget and tax rates that shouldn't be more than an hour hour and 15 min into this meeting, so nobody's going to be staying up terribly late, and hopefully everyone will stay to hear the rest of the reports 171 01:45:57.680 --> 01:46:00.240 Tom in the Hall: which consist of 172 01:46:01.680 --> 01:46:22.029 Tom in the Hall: the Hpc's report. The award, the Planning Commission will give a brief report, and then also in line with the planning commission will be a report on the future, the considerations of the future of the commercial corner. Something, I hope all of you are paying begin to pay attention to now 173 01:46:22.190 --> 01:46:34.990 Tom in the Hall: and then, Patty's going to do a summary of our stormwater management programs and projects that we have going 174 01:46:36.010 --> 01:46:39.950 Tom in the Hall: alright. So let me get on with my report. Next slide. 175 01:46:40.630 --> 01:46:43.859 Tom in the Hall: We'll get on with that. The 176 01:46:44.880 --> 01:47:05.900 Tom in the Hall: want to always at the top of the meeting recognize, you know how the town works, all of the individuals who make the town work. And that begins with our our actual formal employees. Kathy is full time, and she's the face of the town, as you know. 177 01:47:07.840 --> 01:47:08.650 Tom in the Hall: Yes. 178 01:47:10.010 --> 01:47:27.950 Tom in the Hall: he's the face of the town, handles all the residents and and other other inquiries and issues, and also does a myriad of other things. In addition to helping the mayor, she's the secretary of the planning. 179 01:47:28.160 --> 01:47:31.049 Tom in the Hall: Believe she does the minutes. And 180 01:47:31.566 --> 01:47:41.103 Tom in the Hall: you know the bulletin she puts together the bulletin, which is a a seriously complicated job. Given all the inputs to the bulletin. So Pat Kathy. 181 01:47:41.760 --> 01:48:01.843 Tom in the Hall: really, contributes a lot, and this town wouldn't be anywhere as well, functioning without her. And then Jean Moyer, who is only our second treasurer. In about 30 years I made up 30. It may be longer than that, being serious. 182 01:48:03.340 --> 01:48:04.170 Tom in the Hall: you know. 183 01:48:04.490 --> 01:48:13.650 Tom in the Hall: Great. In my opinion, we've been beyond lucky to have Gene willing to do the treasurer's job. 184 01:48:14.195 --> 01:48:34.510 Tom in the Hall: You wouldn't have thought we could get someone who would approach the competency and and skill of Mary Chalstrom. But Jean is really having been a mayor under with Mary, and now with with Jean, she is doing a spectacular job. 185 01:48:34.710 --> 01:48:57.459 Tom in the Hall: keeping me in line, keeping our money in order, keeping everybody else doing what they should. She's just recently taken upon herself to to update our personnel handbook, read that as create most much of the personnel handbook. So Jean is really excuse the pun of treasure 186 01:48:57.910 --> 01:48:59.510 Tom in the Hall: in this position. 187 01:49:00.650 --> 01:49:16.329 Tom in the Hall: Thank you, Gene. All right, let's have the next slide go a little bit faster. Our contract employees who are really part time are the town archivist, Pat Petula, and our records management officer Marilyn Fry. Thank you very much. 188 01:49:19.080 --> 01:49:26.820 Tom in the Hall: Next slide, then a webmaster. She deserves a bigger page than this. Okay. 189 01:49:28.288 --> 01:49:41.871 Tom in the Hall: Christine has, contributed so much to the quality of our our website. While she was a town councilor. And now since and is is 190 01:49:42.450 --> 01:49:48.180 Tom in the Hall: continuing to really manage the content on the website 191 01:49:48.450 --> 01:50:10.000 Tom in the Hall: in a spectacular fashion. I know all of you already. Most of you have had to use the website, and the amount of information it contains has expanded dramatically, and its functions will continue to get better, as you will see, because we are looking at adding additional 192 01:50:10.670 --> 01:50:14.270 Tom in the Hall: modernizing functions on the website. 193 01:50:14.710 --> 01:50:27.980 Tom in the Hall: For that. We have an item in the budget and we'll be hiring someone who has expertise in areas. Christine doesn't and has more time than Christine is already spending. 194 01:50:28.440 --> 01:50:39.290 Tom in the Hall: Okay, next slide audit financial review committee of one is John interesting. 195 01:50:39.300 --> 01:50:58.279 Tom in the Hall: So fiduciary responsibility. Requires that someone look at what the treasurer is up to with our monthly accounts, and that's what John does, just to see that everything appears to be on track. 196 01:50:58.280 --> 01:51:09.440 Tom in the Hall: and the records are being kept in the way we we want them to be be kept. So, John, thank you so much for doing that regular basis next slide 197 01:51:10.120 --> 01:51:30.330 Tom in the Hall: council. Of course I'm not going to say much about them. Some of you are here Rob Gilmore's here. Chris Grisham is here. Peter's here, of course, and Barbara ava patron, I think, is at home may not even be logged in yet. I don't know if she's there, but 198 01:51:30.360 --> 01:51:42.489 Tom in the Hall: Paul is out of town, so she's got kid responsibilities, and Mary Warfield is not present at the meeting. She has a conflicting engagement for tonight. 199 01:51:42.960 --> 01:52:02.248 Tom in the Hall: so I have to say. I've you know I've been mayor of way way too many years, and I've had a lot of town councils and the and those town councils have varied in the commitment of the councilors in their in their their 200 01:52:03.100 --> 01:52:21.809 Tom in the Hall: preparedness. When we come into meetings, the kind of things we need to to do to get consensus to get everybody working together. And the current council this past year has been absolutely top notch in terms of taking their responsibility seriously. 201 01:52:22.560 --> 01:52:24.860 Tom in the Hall: And yeah. 202 01:52:25.060 --> 01:52:44.340 Tom in the Hall: this town and that when I say this town I mean you. You know, we when we get get individuals who volunteer their time for for this. It's spectacularly gratifying that that things work as well as they do so great. Next slide 203 01:52:44.790 --> 01:52:55.689 Tom in the Hall: planning commission, all of whom are appointed, and Georgette is the chair has been the chair for a bunch of years. They've 204 01:52:56.070 --> 01:53:18.236 Tom in the Hall: been running pretty well, I believe, and with her other commissioners, Sylvie, Robert Johnson, Jeff Mccrean. Peter is the council representative. You'll recall he was planning commission chair prior to becoming a Council member, and Bob Kristen is the alternate thank you all 205 01:53:18.920 --> 01:53:22.259 Tom in the Hall: for for serving on the Commission next slide 206 01:53:22.850 --> 01:53:52.190 Tom in the Hall: board of supervisors of elections. They literally or figuratively, twiddle their thumbs for much of the year, and then everything happens right around the election, an election or or a town meeting, should there be a special town meeting? So Nick is still the chair he's here, and so is Mary and Margo. You saw doing taking the ballots. Thank you guys for continuing. 207 01:53:55.280 --> 01:54:02.027 Tom in the Hall: all right. The Historic Preservation Commission, who has, you know, plays a 208 01:54:02.720 --> 01:54:06.010 Tom in the Hall: a a significant role here in Washington Grove. 209 01:54:06.330 --> 01:54:32.196 Tom in the Hall: and they have had a single chair since inception, which is like 2,001 or something like that. He's covering his face. But I I think the success of the Hpc. And their contributions in myriad areas of of the towns of interest in the town, from me from from 210 01:54:33.610 --> 01:54:35.110 Tom in the Hall: working with 211 01:54:35.890 --> 01:54:56.750 Tom in the Hall: residents to renovate their homes and and keeping them, encouraging them to retain historic features to the comprehensive plan. Where we want to emphasize our historic character in many, many areas now, and in the future. 212 01:54:56.990 --> 01:55:02.124 Tom in the Hall: the field we got. We got the the field preserved over there in the meadow, 213 01:55:02.690 --> 01:55:16.029 Tom in the Hall: using using the Hpc. And their the arguments for historic preservation. So there's a lot of things, and and every time we turn around there's another one. So we have very fortunate to have such a committed 214 01:55:16.600 --> 01:55:33.590 Tom in the Hall: Do I have something wrong up there. Oh, I'm sorry, of course. I didn't put Kirk on there. We did disapprove him last meeting meeting before so right. Kirk Greenway is now the ultimate. Thank you, Bob. I knew that I 215 01:55:34.405 --> 01:55:50.620 Tom in the Hall: but the rest of them are Wendy Harris, Bill, Earl Mimi Styles and Dave stopack. A number of those have are also longtime serving on the Hpc. And their their commitment is is as appreciated as much as Bob's 216 01:55:50.780 --> 01:55:51.920 Tom in the Hall: next slide 217 01:55:55.190 --> 01:56:01.020 Tom in the Hall: board of zoning appeals has been moribund, which is actually a good thing. 218 01:56:02.073 --> 01:56:06.294 Tom in the Hall: So Charlie Charleston was is the 219 01:56:07.690 --> 01:56:24.840 Tom in the Hall: recently took himself off the board. Sad Amagay is the only one with board experience and he agreed to remain. James is on this, agreed to join recently, and we're still looking for a 3rd member. 220 01:56:25.250 --> 01:56:31.516 Tom in the Hall: The Board only functions when there is an appeal on A, on A, on a 221 01:56:32.450 --> 01:56:41.070 Tom in the Hall: on a decision by the planning commission which the applicant feels is incorrect or wants relief from 222 01:56:41.580 --> 01:56:42.979 Tom in the Hall: next slide. Man 223 01:56:44.150 --> 01:57:04.610 Tom in the Hall: shared. Use pathway committee has been regularly breathing down the necks of the county's Department of Transportation. in order to develop the Washington Grove Connector pathway into the end of Brown Street. There 224 01:57:05.140 --> 01:57:16.229 Tom in the Hall: we do not have a report on that tonight, but I'll mention it a few times coming up, but they've they've been very conscientious about 225 01:57:16.410 --> 01:57:25.219 Tom in the Hall: communicating and and ensuring that the town's interests in many areas are being 226 01:57:25.360 --> 01:57:47.430 Tom in the Hall: are being taken seriously. In fact, the alignment of the of the connector which has been presented will be presented to the planning board. Soon the 35% design that alignment was actually suggested by the the committee Bob. 227 01:57:48.200 --> 01:57:51.869 Tom in the Hall: Bob, or, you know, sketched it out, and 228 01:57:51.990 --> 01:58:02.039 Tom in the Hall: we all went down and walked it out. And and so we've been playing a pretty active role in getting this thing moving, thanks to that committee for their work next slide. 229 01:58:03.360 --> 01:58:19.359 Tom in the Hall: All right. Now we move on to the our volunteer committees and and the chairs. Now, I'm sure all of you, probably in one way or the other, participate in one or more of these committees. It's the backbone of the town. 230 01:58:19.914 --> 01:58:23.759 Tom in the Hall: You've all heard me call the committees the town staff. 231 01:58:23.910 --> 01:58:33.990 Tom in the Hall: They really do the research. They they make proposals for improvements in their areas of interest, and they bring 232 01:58:34.350 --> 01:58:45.426 Tom in the Hall: Mayor and to the Council. Ideas and and plans that you would expect from a staff were we to have a staff. So 233 01:58:46.610 --> 01:58:55.519 Tom in the Hall: We want as many people to participate in those committees as we can, which is why they remain volunteer and not appointed. 234 01:58:56.510 --> 01:58:59.599 Tom in the Hall: But I've listed here just the chairs. 235 01:59:00.080 --> 01:59:27.290 Tom in the Hall: Many of these. The chair is the driving force, or just kind of the organizing force, and the members of the committee are active and play a big role. So yeah, I'm not going to read them all I want to mention now, the Town Council reports for this meeting summarizes the activities of all of the committees. In addition to a few other areas, they're very comprehensive 236 01:59:27.340 --> 01:59:44.260 Tom in the Hall: concerning what the committees have done in the past year, and I urge everyone to at least skim over and see that because it it's a major eye opener to see how much 237 01:59:44.660 --> 01:59:49.490 Tom in the Hall: has actually been done by all of you 238 01:59:49.610 --> 01:59:55.019 Tom in the Hall: and others through the year. And as always so 239 01:59:55.830 --> 02:00:07.820 Tom in the Hall: they deserve. Certainly get my appreciation and and the talent as well. So here here you see 5 of them of the committees next slide. 240 02:00:08.070 --> 02:00:13.082 Tom in the Hall: or others, or newer committees like the Meadows Committee, 241 02:00:13.980 --> 02:00:17.939 Tom in the Hall: and old committees, such as the woods and recreation. 242 02:00:18.450 --> 02:00:27.830 Tom in the Hall: I want to mention the Emergency Preparedness and Safety Committee, and in particular we do not have a chair. In fact, we don't even have members. But we do have 243 02:00:28.130 --> 02:00:32.392 Tom in the Hall: playing all those roles. Is Chris Grisham 244 02:00:33.880 --> 02:00:40.909 Tom in the Hall: and and Chris is, I mean he really does deserve a real great round round of applause because he's taken that 245 02:00:45.180 --> 02:00:48.443 Tom in the Hall: He's really really. You know. 246 02:00:49.370 --> 02:00:58.899 Tom in the Hall: keeping on top of a lot of things that the the safety of a former safety committee and emergency preparedness now had been doing, and 247 02:00:59.420 --> 02:01:01.839 Tom in the Hall: I hope somebody here. 248 02:01:02.408 --> 02:01:31.780 Tom in the Hall: or several somebody's will step up and work with him to get this committee flush it out so that the it can. It can actually do a lot more when the burden is shared. Dave Carson served on it for quite a while, so he knows the kind of things that the committee has done. So. I hope people will consider getting in involved in this 249 02:01:32.290 --> 02:01:33.600 Tom in the Hall: all right next slide. 250 02:01:34.170 --> 02:01:38.030 Tom in the Hall: I had to put this in here. This isn't a committee. 251 02:01:38.200 --> 02:01:50.747 Tom in the Hall: This is an individual who, on the Council who agreed to one of his areas of responsibility to be maintenance. Well, you know, ever since we have a contracted 252 02:01:52.174 --> 02:01:54.629 Tom in the Hall: landscaping and and maintenance. 253 02:01:55.418 --> 02:02:08.170 Tom in the Hall: We have had needed a coordinator. So Peter served as a coordinator. Practically everybody knows him. He walks around town all the time trying to trying to keep up with Silas. 254 02:02:08.886 --> 02:02:33.429 Tom in the Hall: But yeah, Peter has has really you know, he's the one who interacts with our, our landscape contractor, and he's always taking it very seriously and been very responsible, and there's no no question he deserve. We. We're very lucky that he is taken on this role. And does it. So 255 02:02:36.290 --> 02:02:42.299 Tom in the Hall: okay, so next slide here. I did want to put up a contractor, if you will. 256 02:02:42.600 --> 02:03:03.550 Tom in the Hall: but Peter would be standing up here singing their praises. He certainly has been in council meetings. They have proven to be very adept and energetic about handling things that the town wants done. 257 02:03:04.010 --> 02:03:09.539 Tom in the Hall: the way the town wants it done. Peter communicates that others communicate 258 02:03:10.260 --> 02:03:20.100 Tom in the Hall: and so they've been a terrific partner who have been, I think, managing a good deal of the town's landscape maintenance and a great life. 259 02:03:23.820 --> 02:03:25.390 Tom in the Hall: Okay, next slide. 260 02:03:26.060 --> 02:03:39.019 Tom in the Hall: Finally, we're out of. We're out of recognition. Well, so now let's go on to what I usually do. And I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it quickly, because everybody should have been following most of these things. 261 02:03:39.508 --> 02:03:53.040 Tom in the Hall: I usually do that some highlights from the past year. So you guys can read. I'm not going to read this to you. But these are things that happened in roughly the last year. The Meadow Restoration plan was implemented 262 02:03:53.390 --> 02:04:01.270 Tom in the Hall: that required reaching town consensus. That was a process, a classic Washington and Grove process. But I think we got there. 263 02:04:01.280 --> 02:04:26.369 Tom in the Hall: and phase one has, I have certainly heard from many of those who were skeptical, that they thought the phase one results were very good, so we have more to do, but that was great. The renewable Energy Conversion Center program was renewed for a second year. This last year there were more awardees of Grants, and 264 02:04:26.370 --> 02:04:33.350 Tom in the Hall: everybody feels it's successful. I'm not going to say anymore. We have a presentation on the renewable energy conversion program coming up 265 02:04:33.580 --> 02:04:35.340 Tom in the Hall: next slide. 266 02:04:36.192 --> 02:04:42.730 Tom in the Hall: The Washington Grove connector. I'm not gonna say any more about that. The the, the. 267 02:04:43.050 --> 02:04:56.139 Tom in the Hall: the step we're all waiting for is a mandatory review by the planning board of the of the 35% design, after which they'll go to the 100% design and start construction. 268 02:04:57.087 --> 02:04:59.972 Tom in the Hall: Town ownership of our streetlights. 269 02:05:00.660 --> 02:05:19.679 Tom in the Hall: many of you may think this is a small matter, and you would think, except that Pepco has proposed to replace and upgrade, quote upgrade all their old streetlights throughout their service area. 270 02:05:19.890 --> 02:05:26.499 Tom in the Hall: and they came out with this in A In in their tariff proposal to the public services. 271 02:05:26.670 --> 02:05:34.480 Tom in the Hall: a commission, and they had 4 options for lights, not one of which we want anywhere near the town. 272 02:05:35.240 --> 02:05:50.790 Tom in the Hall: So we, you know, we were already discussing the idea of owning our own streetlights, and that just pushed us way over, so that we've we've been in discussions with with jointly, with other municipalities, to make 273 02:05:51.320 --> 02:05:56.120 Tom in the Hall: ownership of streetlights by municipalities, a practical thing 274 02:05:56.240 --> 02:06:02.239 Tom in the Hall: they were directed to do that in 19. I think it was 88 a long time ago. 275 02:06:02.810 --> 02:06:16.769 Tom in the Hall: and not a single municipality, the only the only ones who have ever gotten ownership of their own streetlights in the Pepco service area is Washington, DC. And the reason is obvious. Once you start and look and see what the hell they 276 02:06:17.110 --> 02:06:28.449 Tom in the Hall: they wanted you to do to do that. Anyway, we've made great progress. It looks like we're going to have an agreement this year that will make it possible for the town to decide whether or not we want 277 02:06:28.580 --> 02:06:33.010 Tom in the Hall: to buy these old streetlights and maintain them. 278 02:06:33.600 --> 02:06:55.190 Tom in the Hall: And that's coming up. Okay, next contract bids ordered during the year we got, we did the refuse and recycling contracts. They will be good for 3 years if we choose to renew them annually leaf collection also was renewed. I think that's for 5 years the leaf connection 279 02:06:55.729 --> 02:07:24.379 Tom in the Hall: should we choose to renew it year by year, and we did the road paving, which in the last couple of times we've done that. We've done it by combining the budget of 2 years. So we do it like in July and and do the work, and then we don't have to do it every year, because it is somewhat of an effort to manage a road paving bid and contracting. So, for example, this year we're not doing anything 280 02:07:24.580 --> 02:07:29.380 Tom in the Hall: in July, but we will in in fiscal 26 281 02:07:30.050 --> 02:07:34.099 Tom in the Hall: toward the end of the year in combination with fiscal 27, 282 02:07:34.160 --> 02:07:49.495 Tom in the Hall: all right the stormwater infrastructure maintenance project is also a contract. Hopefully, everybody was has been following that. We did execute a contract worth $577,000 to to do work. 283 02:07:49.910 --> 02:08:08.869 Tom in the Hall: here west of Grove Avenue, and Patty's going to talk a little bit about more about that. So I'm not going to go into it anymore. But we're using Arpa funds and state funds. The Arpa funds must be expended by the end of next year, and we should be able to have that done 284 02:08:09.790 --> 02:08:13.489 Tom in the Hall: all right next slide. Hybrid town meetings 285 02:08:13.670 --> 02:08:20.690 Tom in the Hall: I mentioned not town meetings, council meetings. We've had several. We'll have one on a week from Monday 286 02:08:21.240 --> 02:08:23.370 Tom in the Hall: renovation of the commercial corner. 287 02:08:24.483 --> 02:08:40.099 Tom in the Hall: With the planning commission activity and and Peter pushing it. We've had discussions with the property owner concerning her interest in upgrading that property. So it's a better property for her. 288 02:08:40.390 --> 02:09:07.510 Tom in the Hall: and to do that. We wanted a better property for us, so we think we believe the time is right to that. We can. Everybody can get what they want. We'll see. But that happened this this year, and moving into next year, you'll see in a moment when I go on to looking ahead. Playground work group. So Eva, who is going off the Council as of tonight. 289 02:09:08.465 --> 02:09:13.109 Tom in the Hall: Was very proactive in looking at the playground and 290 02:09:14.290 --> 02:09:29.899 Tom in the Hall: and promoting the fact that, hey? We haven't added any equipment there. Some of the equipment's old and tired. Maybe we can. We should. We should be upgrading. We should be renovating, we should be doing something to the playground. So an ad hoc work group 291 02:09:30.310 --> 02:09:34.610 Tom in the Hall: has been formed. It's under the umbrella of the rec committee. 292 02:09:35.473 --> 02:09:44.329 Tom in the Hall: And they are exploring new equipment and the renovation all right. Next slide. 293 02:09:44.978 --> 02:09:52.139 Tom in the Hall: all right. So we're now on the next slide. Then I'll move on to looking ahead. This is quick stormwater projects. There's a few 294 02:09:52.470 --> 02:09:55.020 Tom in the Hall: there's there's there's and I'll go back up. 295 02:09:55.450 --> 02:10:07.499 Tom in the Hall: Thank you. 1st one's just there. That's this, the project that we executed on the last day of last year. We're in the design phase that we're hoping to complete 296 02:10:07.660 --> 02:10:08.650 Tom in the Hall: at least 297 02:10:09.290 --> 02:10:27.390 Tom in the Hall: two-thirds of it by June and get the Council's approval to move ahead with construction, completing the rest of it in the next month after that, and then move ahead with construction. Whole thing to be finished hopefully by in the spring of next year, if not sooner. Next slide. 298 02:10:27.700 --> 02:10:35.159 Tom in the Hall: The other Stormwater project is is the Westwoods. That's the elephant in the room or the elephant in the town. 299 02:10:35.400 --> 02:10:43.119 Tom in the Hall: which really really needs addressing the problem is that anybody who looks at it says we'll need a lot of dollars. 300 02:10:43.619 --> 02:10:51.409 Tom in the Hall: We also need, we need a way to get those dollars. And to do that, we need some preliminary 301 02:10:52.250 --> 02:10:57.940 Tom in the Hall: high level engineering proposal to focus on to look for funding. 302 02:10:58.410 --> 02:11:10.709 Tom in the Hall: So we we got that with a joint project with the Ca Montgomery County Green Bank, they calling it the Climate Resilience Project, which they're working with us 303 02:11:10.890 --> 02:11:22.199 Tom in the Hall: for that, and a study has been going on to make these recommendations to the town as to what might be done in terms of actual physical 304 02:11:24.810 --> 02:11:36.349 Tom in the Hall: a mitigation to which we can use to go out and get the kind of money we're talking well over a million dollars, possibly 2 million dollars 305 02:11:36.700 --> 02:11:41.030 Tom in the Hall: for this. At least, that's what we're told by those who know how the Msd. Sinks goes. 306 02:11:41.420 --> 02:11:50.230 Tom in the Hall: Okay? And so we hope to. We're going to get that study, and then we need to set the scope of work for for the project and pursue funding next slide. 307 02:11:51.360 --> 02:12:10.830 Tom in the Hall: And then the whole the rest of the program. There's more than just the westward study. There's further flood management strategy, and also the Green Bank would like to offer us a residents, a way of addressing their stormwater, flooding 308 02:12:11.210 --> 02:12:12.460 Tom in the Hall: climate. 309 02:12:14.017 --> 02:12:26.840 Tom in the Hall: conversion, energy, conversion, whatever needs and support that in some way, whether it's with low interest loans or advice, or whatever. So that's also part of that project next slide 310 02:12:27.960 --> 02:12:34.629 Tom in the Hall: sustainability. Renew the renew the renewable energy conversion incentive program 311 02:12:35.136 --> 02:12:43.629 Tom in the Hall: it's coming to the Council in June for next year. It's in the budget. The renewal will renew it for 5 years. 312 02:12:45.550 --> 02:12:51.920 Tom in the Hall: The intention would be to renew it. It's to renew it for 5 years. So it doesn't need annual renewal. It just needs annual 313 02:12:52.080 --> 02:12:53.040 Tom in the Hall: funding. 314 02:12:53.280 --> 02:12:57.239 Tom in the Hall: That's that would be a whole lot easier for everybody next 315 02:12:58.449 --> 02:13:15.720 Tom in the Hall: the Washington roof Connector, we want to get the final approval and engineering. And hopefully, the the department transportation wants to start construction in fiscal 26, completing it, maybe by fiscal 27. But 316 02:13:16.010 --> 02:13:18.240 Tom in the Hall: I have no idea. Oh, next 317 02:13:19.250 --> 02:13:26.169 Tom in the Hall: the commercial corner I mentioned earlier. I'm not going to go over that again. Except that I have information that 318 02:13:26.630 --> 02:13:28.480 Tom in the Hall: nobody else has, because I would. 319 02:13:28.610 --> 02:13:35.705 Tom in the Hall: was tasked with talking to the town attorney and the the 320 02:13:36.640 --> 02:13:42.090 Tom in the Hall: the appropriate strategy to make possible what we have in mind, and Peter's going to go into that 321 02:13:42.260 --> 02:13:52.660 Tom in the Hall: is to alter our zoning requirements in the commercial corner to offer carrots 322 02:13:53.330 --> 02:14:00.379 Tom in the Hall: a carrot to the or more, or one or more carrots to the property owner. If they 323 02:14:01.050 --> 02:14:12.469 Tom in the Hall: do a renovation, they spend so much money, and we can. You can put things like the facade needs to be meet our requirements, whatever whatever. That's where we're going. This is coming up the 324 02:14:12.790 --> 02:14:22.480 Tom in the Hall: the Tatiana bell as well as the town, and the planning want to get on with this. So we're going to try and do this quickly as quickly as these things can be done which sometimes isn't so quickly. 325 02:14:22.700 --> 02:14:23.570 Tom in the Hall: Next 326 02:14:24.430 --> 02:14:32.560 Tom in the Hall: the playground I already mentioned. Playground. The idea of creating a master plan for the playground. So if you're gonna do a lot of changes. 327 02:14:32.770 --> 02:14:34.989 Tom in the Hall: it's gonna cost money, and 328 02:14:35.190 --> 02:14:56.880 Tom in the Hall: you know, it needs a plan. It should have a plan. And the funding needs to be made available, whether all, whether in one year or over several years. So the budget we're proposing here tonight includes money for one piece of equipment $30,000. That's for how much these things cost. 329 02:14:57.020 --> 02:15:00.030 Tom in the Hall: So so this ad hoc work group 330 02:15:00.160 --> 02:15:07.130 Tom in the Hall: is going has indicated their intention to bring to the town and the Council a master plan for the playground. 331 02:15:07.660 --> 02:15:10.340 Tom in the Hall: And I think that's it for us. 332 02:15:11.200 --> 02:15:13.590 Tom in the Hall: No, yeah. 333 02:15:13.710 --> 02:15:17.740 Tom in the Hall: Sure. Yeah, just that 30,000. We're meeting with equipment. 334 02:15:17.850 --> 02:15:32.170 Tom in the Hall: Well, think about it, though, that was like on his own, and I think that's something that should be recognizable, even though they both don't like getting recognized. 335 02:15:32.730 --> 02:15:36.685 Tom in the Hall: Okay? Well, maybe maybe we might do that. 336 02:15:37.300 --> 02:15:46.240 Tom in the Hall: alright, that's the end of my report. Are there any other? Any questions given the fact, we're going to have presentations in most of those areas here shortly. 337 02:15:47.030 --> 02:15:59.080 Tom in the Hall: Okay, that'll be time to ask questions anywhere along along the way. But let's move on to the last thing I'm going to do before we hear from Bob about the renewable energy conversion. And that's the volunteer of the year award. 338 02:15:59.210 --> 02:16:10.880 Tom in the Hall: Something I started way back when and try try to recognize one or more of our residents who have 339 02:16:12.258 --> 02:16:17.890 Tom in the Hall: made really over and above contributions. 340 02:16:18.180 --> 02:16:39.250 Tom in the Hall: either over a period or in recent past, in an area which which has made the town better, or or caught the imagination of the town and residents and just resulted in in things. And we're so lucky to have them. So this year next slide. 341 02:16:40.660 --> 02:16:42.125 Tom in the Hall: yeah. 342 02:16:50.469 --> 02:16:54.806 Tom in the Hall: okay, well, we couldn't give this to Steve while he was an employee. 343 02:16:55.250 --> 02:17:21.700 Tom in the Hall: but he's not an employee yet. He still contributes to the town, you know. Almost as much as if he was an employee. I'm calling him handyman extraordinaire. He's he's he serves as a project advisor for things around town. When you ask, how do we do this, or what do you think we should do over here? He's got something something valuable to say about it. 344 02:17:22.229 --> 02:17:42.010 Tom in the Hall: He's a facilities expert, of course, so he knows the ins and outs of all, for example, or or or the drainage areas you name it. And lastly, he's an all around good Guy, so you know he's he's so great for 345 02:17:43.120 --> 02:17:50.949 Tom in the Hall: for for contributing to the town. He deserves this absolutely. He's not here. I think he's he's he's 346 02:17:51.469 --> 02:17:54.889 Tom in the Hall: he's having a glass of wine. The rest of us aren't 347 02:17:55.430 --> 02:18:08.729 Tom in the Hall: but as you know what about the the volunteer? And we're behind in passing these out. We're going to fix that in the next couple of weeks. But what we've been awarding is this, 348 02:18:10.639 --> 02:18:19.630 Tom in the Hall: playing the page from the Maryland's 157 municipalities. And so it's something like this 349 02:18:19.740 --> 02:18:29.570 Tom in the Hall: which we give to Steve and backlog to give to others. Gonna put a little plaque on it to indicate who got it and whatever. 350 02:18:29.690 --> 02:18:40.630 Tom in the Hall: And if they're really unlucky, I'll sign this if you're a man. Right? 351 02:18:40.780 --> 02:18:58.289 Tom in the Hall: Okay? So that brings to the end of my long monologue here. So let's move right along to the renewable energy conversion program which Bob is going to summarize for us. Let's discuss. 352 02:18:59.770 --> 02:19:09.089 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, John, John said a lot about it. But just to remind you, the the incentive program is put in place to reduce the carbon footprint of the town 353 02:19:09.856 --> 02:19:25.709 Tom in the Hall: and we're updating the inventory for this year. But for the the last last we did it was 2, 2023, and it was 6,000 tons of carbon. Our community puts out 6,000 tons per year 354 02:19:25.889 --> 02:19:26.820 Tom in the Hall: per year. 355 02:19:27.456 --> 02:19:33.279 Tom in the Hall: So the biggest components of those no surprise are our electricity. Our heat 356 02:19:33.600 --> 02:19:36.440 Tom in the Hall: heating our homes, cars and food. 357 02:19:36.559 --> 02:19:45.080 Tom in the Hall: So the incentive program is meant to address the 1st 3 of those heat and and the cars. 358 02:19:45.340 --> 02:19:51.759 Tom in the Hall: And so if you put in a high efficiency. Heat pump and get renewable electricity. 359 02:19:52.450 --> 02:20:18.399 Tom in the Hall: You're eligible. If you get an Ev, replace your gas guzzling car with an Ev and get renewal power. You're eligible as well. So we awarded 5 ev incentives so far, and 4 heat pump incentives. So far, there's 4 that are still in various states of process 5 rather in various states of process. 360 02:20:18.540 --> 02:20:24.600 Tom in the Hall: and there were 5 heat pump conversions that were done without the incentive. Interestingly enough. 361 02:20:25.406 --> 02:20:29.769 Tom in the Hall: so we have funds to do about 13 per year. 362 02:20:30.030 --> 02:20:35.349 Tom in the Hall: and the State's target of reaching 60% reduction by 2030 363 02:20:35.550 --> 02:20:51.260 Tom in the Hall: requires the town. If we follow that the 60% requires the town to do 20 heat pump conversions per year and 60 cars per year. So that's obviously very ambitious. But that's part of the State's 364 02:20:51.590 --> 02:20:53.380 Tom in the Hall: the State's ambition. 365 02:20:53.840 --> 02:20:55.949 Tom in the Hall: So we 366 02:20:56.932 --> 02:21:25.930 Tom in the Hall: so this is here. We also the Federal tax credit may go away. We don't know. It's all sort of up in the air right now, but if you're going to do it this year may be the the good year to do it. So if your if your heat pump is, and your air conditioner is is looking like it's on its last legs, your furnace. If your cars on its last legs, you might want to push up that ambition a little bit. There's plenty of information on the website. And you can always call me. 367 02:21:26.450 --> 02:21:51.039 Tom in the Hall: We're also arranging for an advisor to the town utility advisor to actually go around and knock on doors and ask the residents who have not signed up for renewable power whether they're interested in signing up. And it's usually for community solar community solar seems to be the best way to actually get renewable power at this point. 368 02:21:53.070 --> 02:21:58.850 Tom in the Hall: So he's gonna he's gonna start knocking on doors late late May, May, June sometime. 369 02:21:59.580 --> 02:22:20.269 Tom in the Hall: So we're also just a couple other projects. We're working on a leaf composting project, and we're working on a food waste composting project, and we're going to be sending out a survey to people to sort of gauge the interest and garner interest in those 2 projects. So look for that. Thanks. 370 02:22:27.170 --> 02:22:34.699 Tom in the Hall: The the Council will be discussing the renewal of the program, as I mentioned earlier in June. 371 02:22:37.110 --> 02:22:45.390 Tom in the Hall: I think could be May 19th a week from tomorrow Monday, but certainly by, if not, then in June. 372 02:22:46.440 --> 02:22:47.025 Tom in the Hall: So 373 02:22:48.040 --> 02:22:55.624 Tom in the Hall: Any any residents interested or having questions can can tune in and attend and 374 02:22:56.440 --> 02:22:58.439 Tom in the Hall: and have something to say about that. 375 02:22:58.740 --> 02:23:08.480 Tom in the Hall: Alright. So let's move along, then, to the item 9 on the agenda which addresses diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and the growth. 376 02:23:10.200 --> 02:23:16.419 Tom in the Hall: we. We all recall the the effort. Hello! And thank you so much for including us in your meeting. 377 02:23:18.961 --> 02:23:21.726 Tom in the Hall: It's like they were right there. 378 02:23:23.590 --> 02:23:36.299 Tom in the Hall: yeah, we. We all recall the the formation of the racial. And how does it go racial and social equity committee rasec 379 02:23:36.840 --> 02:24:04.039 Tom in the Hall: back during the pandemic and the significant amount of work and interest that they they did, and garnered in improving improving and looking at the town's handling of diversity in our relate in our relationship with our neighbors in Emory grove and and overall the the the town's past. 380 02:24:05.350 --> 02:24:12.350 Tom in the Hall: History of of racial, of racism and racial discrimination. 381 02:24:13.120 --> 02:24:19.580 Tom in the Hall: They've self dissolved, and and no one stepped up to form it again. But 382 02:24:20.352 --> 02:24:37.350 Tom in the Hall: the last thing that the town did was to and the Council did was to agree that some education in in diversity, and we'll call it Deib. Now, Dei, would stand the town well. 383 02:24:38.050 --> 02:24:44.640 Tom in the Hall: individuals, and the town going forward, and Barbara Raimondo and Mary Warfield. 384 02:24:44.820 --> 02:24:46.590 Tom in the Hall: Due to their efforts. 385 02:24:47.746 --> 02:24:48.173 Tom in the Hall: They 386 02:24:51.060 --> 02:25:10.370 Tom in the Hall: arranged and located and arranged for leadership, Montgomery to offer some education seminar active sessions both to town residents in general first, st and then to town leaders, committee leaders. 387 02:25:11.039 --> 02:25:19.670 Tom in the Hall: and those of us who have participated were extremely impressed and stimulated. And 388 02:25:21.290 --> 02:25:24.590 Tom in the Hall: are interested in carrying forward 389 02:25:25.050 --> 02:25:35.420 Tom in the Hall: on the ideas and the issues that this that have been raised, both starting with rasic and now continuing. 390 02:25:35.910 --> 02:25:36.670 Tom in the Hall: So 391 02:25:37.540 --> 02:25:51.509 Tom in the Hall: we, I want to show you we we I asked. We we asked the facilitators leadership, Montgomery, to prepare to do a little presentation, so rather than have them ruin one of their nights they recorded the presentation. 392 02:25:51.620 --> 02:26:09.150 Tom in the Hall: We're going to show that now, so that hopefully all of you at this meeting will get an idea as to what happened what they, what they taught, and what what we think we learned and what we 393 02:26:09.250 --> 02:26:12.640 Tom in the Hall: believe will be, are helpful going forward. So let's hear it. 394 02:26:49.060 --> 02:26:50.240 Tom in the Hall: Not sharing. 395 02:26:51.270 --> 02:26:52.579 Tom in the Hall: I haven't. 396 02:26:52.710 --> 02:26:57.620 Tom in the Hall: Excellent. I have it loaded. It's not here, but I I have it on the zoom. 397 02:26:59.160 --> 02:27:06.190 Tom in the Hall: Hello, and thank you so much for for including us in your meeting. 398 02:27:09.930 --> 02:27:11.730 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, we're stopping 399 02:27:21.320 --> 02:27:28.830 Tom in the Hall: the explorer window, which one is good. 400 02:27:29.600 --> 02:27:33.490 Tom in the Hall: So I'm gonna share right here. 401 02:27:34.770 --> 02:27:36.469 Tom in the Hall: So right now showing. 402 02:27:36.910 --> 02:27:37.980 Tom in the Hall: See what? 403 02:27:38.080 --> 02:27:51.080 Tom in the Hall: Why don't you also drag it over there and then share screen? 404 02:27:56.540 --> 02:28:09.660 Tom in the Hall: Yes, go ahead and do a full screen maximize. Here. 405 02:28:11.630 --> 02:28:14.100 Tom in the Hall: get the message to work with you. 406 02:28:20.110 --> 02:28:21.590 Tom in the Hall: So yeah. 407 02:28:24.850 --> 02:28:26.150 Tom in the Hall: yeah, yeah. 408 02:28:28.490 --> 02:28:35.660 Tom in the Hall: Anyone who thinks it's fun when you know, with everybody watching. There you go. 409 02:28:37.440 --> 02:28:38.180 Tom in the Hall: Thank you. 410 02:29:25.710 --> 02:29:26.450 Tom in the Hall: Thanks. 411 02:29:26.880 --> 02:29:30.749 Tom in the Hall: Well, we're sorry we can't join you in person this evening. We're grateful for the champ. 412 02:29:52.560 --> 02:29:53.280 Tom in the Hall: Yeah. 413 02:29:56.110 --> 02:30:06.470 Tom in the Hall: to share this brief recorded presentation. We hope it reflects not only the work we did together, but also the energy, reflection, and commitment your town leaders brought to each conversation. 414 02:30:06.510 --> 02:30:33.399 Tom in the Hall: Tonight's presentation is both a recap and an invitation. We'll share highlights from the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging training and workshop series. We facilitated over the winter and spring, and we'll reflect on what we heard from participants about the progress made and the opportunities ahead. Most importantly, we hope this gives more members of the Washington Grove community a sense of what this work looks like, and why it matters and encourages you to take part in the next phase. 415 02:30:34.000 --> 02:30:51.979 Tom in the Hall: My name is Sarah Burnett, and I serve as the senior director of programs and training at leadership. Montgomery, we're a nonprofit that works to develop and support leaders who are informed, equipped, and connected to strengthen Montgomery County. Our mission is to connect and prepare leaders to build thriving and inclusive workplaces and communities. 416 02:30:52.360 --> 02:30:58.930 Tom in the Hall: We do this through a variety of programs, training and partnerships like the one. We've had the pleasure of building here in Washington Grove. 417 02:30:59.970 --> 02:31:11.020 Tom in the Hall: the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work. You've embarked on aligns closely with our community leadership framework, and it's been a privilege to support your efforts. I'm excited to share more about what we've accomplished together. 418 02:31:13.790 --> 02:31:42.409 Tom in the Hall: So Hello! My name is yesenia regalado, and I'm the director of training and community impact. And I want to take us back to the beginning of how this journey began with Washington Grove and leadership, Montgomery. So 1st I'll start off with Washington Grove. You all passed Resolution number 23, 0, 1! And this was an acknowledging of the exclusionary pass of Washington grove. 419 02:31:42.630 --> 02:31:45.090 Tom in the Hall: and just as a reminder 420 02:31:46.710 --> 02:32:14.290 Tom in the Hall: these goals were set forth in that resolution to commit to further engaging in individual collective work towards bias, further addressing policies and practices that have been racially biased or harmful towards any group, treating all people fairly and equitably, regardless of their identities, supporting ties with neighboring communities, and continuing to build a town where all are welcome to prosper. 421 02:32:14.770 --> 02:32:28.869 Tom in the Hall: And so with this Barbara, Mary, and John reached out to us to help you advance on this help. You really make this not just a value and a statement, but a way of being in action. 422 02:32:31.940 --> 02:32:56.979 Tom in the Hall: So we started off 1st with an introductory training to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. And this was open to any town resident. We did this back in November, and we started here because we wanted to make sure that people had a common understanding and shared language of certain concepts. As we moved forward towards action 423 02:32:57.620 --> 02:32:59.700 Tom in the Hall: related to the resolution. 424 02:33:01.810 --> 02:33:13.050 Tom in the Hall: So, as Yesenia mentioned. We really wanted to focus on building the foundations and building that shared understanding and connection. We started with something simple but powerful reflection 425 02:33:13.150 --> 02:33:28.100 Tom in the Hall: through an activity called the web of identities, participants explored aspects of their own social and personal identities, things like race, gender, class ability. And more. This wasn't just about labels. It was about understanding the experiences that shape, how each of us sees the world 426 02:33:28.200 --> 02:33:36.170 Tom in the Hall: in small groups they shared their reflections which we created, which created space for empathy, trust and relationship building right from the start. 427 02:33:36.950 --> 02:33:56.930 Tom in the Hall: From there we built a common language around key deib concepts. We unpacked the differences between diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and also explored some deeper layers like how dominant cultural norms show up in our everyday lives the difference between race and ethnicity, and how bias operates in our brains, often without us even realizing it. 428 02:33:57.030 --> 02:34:06.900 Tom in the Hall: we looked at real life scenarios where assumptions and microaggressions can show up and participants work together to identify how bias may be playing a role, and, more importantly, how to interrupt it. 429 02:34:07.210 --> 02:34:15.140 Tom in the Hall: We closed with some practical strategies for de-biasing, and invited everyone to begin thinking about how they could apply these approaches in their own day-to-day roles. 430 02:34:15.400 --> 02:34:23.350 Tom in the Hall: The goal wasn't just to build knowledge. It was to build readiness and the energy in the room made it clear that people are eager to keep learning and taking action. 431 02:34:23.510 --> 02:34:33.119 Tom in the Hall: If you're watching this and wondering if this kind of session is for you. The answer is, yes, there's value here for everyone, and we'd love to have more community members join us in future offerings 432 02:34:38.240 --> 02:35:00.500 Tom in the Hall: and future offerings are really made possible by a small group of town residents that engaged in a deeper exploration into how to operationalize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the town, and so, after the introductory workshop in November. 433 02:35:00.500 --> 02:35:09.290 Tom in the Hall: we embarked on a process with 15 residents, including the town mayor, town councilors, members of town commissions, and committees 434 02:35:09.340 --> 02:35:11.889 Tom in the Hall: who engaged in this three-part series. 435 02:35:12.030 --> 02:35:31.850 Tom in the Hall: and the overarching goal of this series was to plan equitable and inclusive practices and policy, so that all members could feel all members in the community and outside the community can interact with one another in ways that people feel treated, fairly welcomed, safe and respected 436 02:35:36.010 --> 02:35:50.290 Tom in the Hall: in each session participants engaged in a mix of formats, individual reflection, interactive group activities, small group dialogue and whole group discussions. The goal wasn't to just share information. It was to build skills that could be applied in real time. 437 02:35:50.460 --> 02:36:03.190 Tom in the Hall: We also wove in homework assignments to support continued application and reflection between sessions. This helped to ground the work in people's lived experiences and encourage participants to think actively about how these concepts show up in their roles in the community. 438 02:36:03.450 --> 02:36:11.309 Tom in the Hall: Across all 3 workshops. The emphasis was on practice, not just thinking about Deib, but doing the work together. 439 02:36:15.010 --> 02:36:30.300 Tom in the Hall: In our 1st workshop we laid the foundation for strategic deid action. We explored core competencies like cultural competence, inclusive engagement and conflict resolution, all key pieces for anyone working to build a more inclusive and equitable community. 440 02:36:30.650 --> 02:36:32.630 Tom in the Hall: Then we introduced 2 tools. 441 02:36:32.810 --> 02:36:45.280 Tom in the Hall: root cause analysis and gap analysis. These helped participants look critically at the current state of Deib in Washington Grove envision what they'd like to see in the future and begin identifying what's getting in the way. 442 02:36:45.560 --> 02:36:55.770 Tom in the Hall: Throughout the session small groups focused on foundational knowledge as a coming off point, not only to build understanding, but to begin practicing the skills of inquiry, analysis, and collaborative reflection. 443 02:36:55.880 --> 02:36:59.589 Tom in the Hall: It was the beginning of a shift from ideas to strategy. 444 02:37:02.470 --> 02:37:09.739 Tom in the Hall: So I want to take a moment to highlight an example that really gained traction. As the sessions progressed. 445 02:37:09.780 --> 02:37:28.380 Tom in the Hall: As Sarah mentioned, the focus of this was to practice, so there wasn't a single issue that we were looking at, but there was one that kind of kept revealing itself in different ways. And so I want to directly show you what one group came up with. 446 02:37:28.410 --> 02:37:43.599 Tom in the Hall: and it's very relevant to the reason why we're also doing this presentation. So in the Root Cause analysis, they explored the idea of why there aren't enough town residents involved in these div conversations. 447 02:37:43.910 --> 02:37:47.929 Tom in the Hall: and as they drill down to the why, the why, the why 448 02:37:47.950 --> 02:38:15.269 Tom in the Hall: they realize that there may not even be a clearly written or consensus on community goals related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, while the resolution was in place that's different than having goals to carry that out in a way that has different experiences and viewpoints, shaping what those next steps can be. 449 02:38:15.520 --> 02:38:23.480 Tom in the Hall: And so we found this really relevant in terms of, and we'll show you later some of the future action planning 450 02:38:24.000 --> 02:38:39.740 Tom in the Hall: session 2 was all about taking what we learned in session one, and beginning to map out a plan, we introduced the ghost framework, goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics, and guided participants through using it to design actionable steps for for deib efforts 451 02:38:39.980 --> 02:38:44.449 Tom in the Hall: we focused on a specific line from the town's own deib resolution. 452 02:38:44.610 --> 02:38:49.819 Tom in the Hall: commit to further engage in individual and collective work to understand bias. 453 02:38:50.260 --> 02:38:55.550 Tom in the Hall: and we asked, what would it look like to move from that commitment to concrete action 454 02:38:55.840 --> 02:39:03.730 Tom in the Hall: through the through discussion and hands-on practice participants begin outlining what the town might want to work on, and how to structure it, to make it real. 455 02:39:03.930 --> 02:39:09.810 Tom in the Hall: This session helped move the group from insight to intention, and then towards implementation. 456 02:39:15.880 --> 02:39:41.109 Tom in the Hall: So again, I want to share notes that came directly out of the session, and as Sarah mentioned, we started with the goal of strengthening individual and collective awareness of bias, but really breaking that down into what it meant. This is just an example of the synthesis that leadership Montgomery did, and some recommendations that we overlaid with what came out of the different groups. 457 02:39:41.640 --> 02:39:44.830 Tom in the Hall: So when we break this down into objectives. 458 02:39:45.700 --> 02:40:04.799 Tom in the Hall: participants in our group said they wanted to increase personal awareness of implicit and explicit bias, and engage more residents. In these conversations. Again we went into the root causes of what those barriers might be. But then we went into some strategies of how that goal can be achieved. 459 02:40:04.950 --> 02:40:31.370 Tom in the Hall: Some of it was community education. Some of it was getting input, through community Forum surveys and focus groups. Again, being very clear on the community goals. And the why. Behind this exploration, we wanted to make sure that there's an inclusive bidirectional community communication plan and the continued education specifically on 460 02:40:31.460 --> 02:40:38.129 Tom in the Hall: Washington girls racially exclusionary past and the town's commitment to undoing those lasting effects. 461 02:40:38.960 --> 02:40:41.790 Tom in the Hall: We then broke this down into tactics. 462 02:40:42.180 --> 02:41:09.170 Tom in the Hall: And this is where we took those strategies and really outlines, what those steps could be in a way that were measurable, measurable, and in a way that we could later set a timeline, for I'm not going to review every single strategy here, but we'll talk a little bit about where we landed. I did want to show this to you all, because there were a lot of great ideas that were generated that you can certainly go back to 463 02:41:11.560 --> 02:41:26.730 Tom in the Hall: in our final workshop. We focused on moving from planning to doing with roadmaps in hand participants worked to identify timelines, accountability strategies and implementation roles. They reflected on key takeaways from the previous sessions and mapped out what comes next. 464 02:41:26.960 --> 02:41:37.920 Tom in the Hall: This also this session also opened up space for courageous dialogue. Participants named the very real challenges of working across difference, differences in opinion, experience, and perspective. 465 02:41:38.260 --> 02:41:44.299 Tom in the Hall: And we modeled how to hold that complexity, how to facilitate conversations that go deep, but don't get stuck. 466 02:41:44.430 --> 02:41:52.249 Tom in the Hall: This work isn't easy, but it is possible. And this session helped participants practice the kinds of conversations that can move a community forward. 467 02:41:57.340 --> 02:42:25.460 Tom in the Hall: And so here is with where the group landed with its 1st round of implementation. And again, I want to emphasize that this is a iterative process. So, although this was laid out, there might be changes and areas for improvement as you get ready to implement this. But one of the goals was examining the comprehensive plan to be aligned with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 468 02:42:25.520 --> 02:42:48.610 Tom in the Hall: The objective to that goal is to get 25% of residents to come to consensus on those goals. And again, in order to do that, we believe that town residents should go through the same intro to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging workshop, to have that foundational knowledge so that you can come to the table at this point and contribute in positive ways. 469 02:42:48.860 --> 02:42:59.066 Tom in the Hall: and we believe that by doing so the strategy here of increasing increasing civic engagement in Washington growth will be even more 470 02:42:59.850 --> 02:43:03.020 Tom in the Hall: influential and even more impactful. 471 02:43:03.530 --> 02:43:10.150 Tom in the Hall: and some tactic tactics to get there. And again. This is what the group came up with in their immediate action. Steps 472 02:43:10.250 --> 02:43:35.939 Tom in the Hall: are ways to look at increasing volunteerism within the town, a book, club, community events and future trainings, and again, through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We hope that we're able to support you to implement these goals further, and to make sure that you're living out your values and putting that into action. 473 02:43:39.730 --> 02:44:05.020 Tom in the Hall: I want to go into a consideration that we gave the group during our last session, and this was to acknowledge the backdrop that we're in right now, as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We know that there are attacks on this work. We know that people come with varying perspectives and lived experiences, but this work is still important 474 02:44:05.100 --> 02:44:25.870 Tom in the Hall: and really believing in the power of small actions that can change a greater society. And so I'm going to read you a quote from Adrian Marie Brown that really emphasizes how we want you all to look at this process as a journey. 475 02:44:27.970 --> 02:44:39.329 Tom in the Hall: How we live and grow and stay purposeful in the face of constant change, actually does determine both the quality of our lives and the impact that we have when we move into action together. 476 02:44:39.960 --> 02:44:47.750 Tom in the Hall: Let's spend less time on the imperfection of the process and more time articulating and crystallizing our lessons. 477 02:44:48.270 --> 02:45:03.230 Tom in the Hall: So I want to transition us into the evaluation themes, because again we kept reiterating throughout the workshops that it wasn't about landing on the perfect plan. It wasn't about having all the answers all at once. 478 02:45:04.900 --> 02:45:11.669 Tom in the Hall: We'll go over some of the things that came out that can inform how this work moves forward 479 02:45:15.730 --> 02:45:36.529 Tom in the Hall: as we look back across the participant evaluations, a few core themes really stood out. First, st there was a strong appreciation for the structured tools and frameworks. We introduced things like root cause, analysis, gap analysis and the ghost framework. These weren't just abstract concepts. They were seen as practical ways to break down complex issues and move from conversation to action. 480 02:45:36.670 --> 02:45:42.330 Tom in the Hall: What really came through was that how we do the work matters just as much as what we're trying to achieve. 481 02:45:43.110 --> 02:46:02.279 Tom in the Hall: Another big theme was about building a stronger, more inclusive community. Participants shared a renewed commitment to increasing engagement on town committees and creating more pathways for diverse participation. There's a sense of readiness, but also a recognition that growing this work beyond a small group will require intention and clear communication. 482 02:46:02.630 --> 02:46:09.019 Tom in the Hall: Finally, there was a deep understanding that this work takes time. It's not something that can or should be rushed. 483 02:46:09.180 --> 02:46:14.470 Tom in the Hall: Many spoke about the need for patience, persistence and a mindset that embraces learning. 484 02:46:14.630 --> 02:46:22.069 Tom in the Hall: There's also a call to speak up, to keep Deib visible, and to approach this work with both urgency and care. 485 02:46:23.770 --> 02:46:32.760 Tom in the Hall: Of course, with any meaningful process. There are questions that remain, and participants were honest about the ones still on their minds. A big one is how we sustain the work. 486 02:46:32.930 --> 02:46:43.239 Tom in the Hall: There's real interest in continuing what's been started, but also some uncertainty around. Who will carry the torch, and how momentum can be maintained, especially without outside facilitation. 487 02:46:43.740 --> 02:46:56.100 Tom in the Hall: There were also conversations about implementation. It's 1 thing to talk strategy and another to bring it into practice. Participants wondered how to ensure follow through, expand, outreach, and stay connected to the goals we've set. 488 02:46:56.630 --> 02:47:10.670 Tom in the Hall: And finally, people named the challenges of navigating disagreement, especially when opinions differ about whether enough is being done. There's a desire for accountability, but also for trust and for dialogue that moves us forward rather than deepening divides. 489 02:47:10.780 --> 02:47:18.169 Tom in the Hall: These are tough topics, but naming them as part of the process, and assign that this group is ready to keep doing the work together. 490 02:47:20.750 --> 02:47:35.310 Tom in the Hall: We wrap up this recap. We want to take a moment to share some reflections, not from us, but from the participants themselves. Throughout the series we heard heartfelt appreciation for the space that was created, one where people felt, heard, challenged, and supported. 491 02:47:35.700 --> 02:47:51.020 Tom in the Hall: participants shared that they valued the way diverse communication styles were welcomed, and how moments of discomfort were met with care and transparency. They noted the importance of having facilitators who could hold that complexity while still making room for reflection, accountability, and learning. 492 02:47:51.270 --> 02:47:58.929 Tom in the Hall: Several people also spoke to the effectiveness of the structure, how the sessions were thoughtfully designed to build trust, and encourage honest dialogue. 493 02:47:59.120 --> 02:48:05.340 Tom in the Hall: while some wished we had a bit more time together. There was a shared sense of hope and momentum coming out of each session. 494 02:48:05.470 --> 02:48:14.849 Tom in the Hall: We share this, not to center ourselves, but to acknowledge the courage and openness of the 15 town leaders who engaged in this work, and to invite others to join in 495 02:48:14.980 --> 02:48:22.229 Tom in the Hall: these conversations are just the beginning, and the more voices we include the stronger the Washington growth community becomes. 496 02:48:27.520 --> 02:48:28.260 Tom in the Hall: The. 497 02:48:30.280 --> 02:48:43.900 Tom in the Hall: With that we want to again express so much gratitude. Our emails are there, if you have any questions. But I believe at this portion of your meeting you can direct your questions 498 02:48:43.900 --> 02:49:00.770 Tom in the Hall: to participants that were a part of this experience, and also we look forward to being with you all in the fall, when we launch another introduction to Deib workshop, and again, we'll make that open to the whole town. We hope to see you there. 499 02:49:06.000 --> 02:49:06.670 Tom in the Hall: Okay. 500 02:49:10.220 --> 02:49:20.569 Tom in the Hall: so yeah, I maybe. I mean, I probably should let Barbara comment on this. But we'll be saying more about this. And at the council. 501 02:49:22.160 --> 02:49:31.266 Tom in the Hall: Those of us who attended all of the sessions were felt felt even our 502 02:49:34.410 --> 02:49:43.160 Tom in the Hall: early attempts, if you will, to apply the the tools that they 503 02:49:43.390 --> 02:49:50.870 Tom in the Hall: presented to to some, you know, to issues that we think that some of us think 504 02:49:51.395 --> 02:49:57.570 Tom in the Hall: the the town, the interest of the town right off when racing was originally founded 505 02:49:58.432 --> 02:50:07.719 Tom in the Hall: started, and I'm not going to go into any more of this, except to say there was a dichotomy between how individuals handle their implicit 506 02:50:07.830 --> 02:50:20.740 Tom in the Hall: bias and and approach to racism and individuals versus how the community 507 02:50:21.400 --> 02:50:43.029 Tom in the Hall: addresses those sorts of things and some of us, or most of us, believe that there was a significant significant opportunity. To both identify what wash where Washington Grove needs could be could improve. And I'm not talking any specifics 508 02:50:43.640 --> 02:50:45.740 Tom in the Hall: and how to get there. So 509 02:50:46.460 --> 02:50:54.549 Tom in the Hall: hence the feeling that, you know, we we got started. We were optimistic, and we'd like to see if the town will 510 02:50:55.200 --> 02:51:04.490 Tom in the Hall: get on board with addressing and approaching some of these issues in a way that can can can be sustained 511 02:51:05.140 --> 02:51:12.649 Tom in the Hall: for more than just a short time and through through effective 512 02:51:13.346 --> 02:51:16.310 Tom in the Hall: actions. So that's all I'm going to say on that. 513 02:51:16.510 --> 02:51:21.450 Tom in the Hall: Let's go on, then to the next item, which is the town budget. 514 02:51:23.230 --> 02:51:34.450 Tom in the Hall: and of course I have a few slides. I hope you everybody has looked at the budget. I'm just going to review some top level things that I think should be pointed out 515 02:51:35.048 --> 02:51:47.400 Tom in the Hall: and and and then we'll go on to some specific discussions. So let me just do this, and we'll open it up to a discussion of the of the budget. 516 02:51:47.560 --> 02:52:06.189 Tom in the Hall: So 1st off there's the tax rate and the dwelling tax. And here just summarizes that we're the Council is proposing a constant yield tax rate, which, in fact, is slightly lower than last year's rate 517 02:52:06.946 --> 02:52:16.113 Tom in the Hall: to yield the same roughly, essentially the same revenue which is a per a projection from property tax. It's an estimate. 518 02:52:17.390 --> 02:52:20.139 Tom in the Hall: as we got for fiscal 25. 519 02:52:21.240 --> 02:52:29.599 Tom in the Hall: The dwelling tax assessment, which is strictly based on the cost of refuse and recycling. 520 02:52:29.770 --> 02:52:36.929 Tom in the Hall: will be higher than last year, because last year. Well, for 2 reasons. Last year we included a rebate. 521 02:52:37.100 --> 02:52:42.219 Tom in the Hall: because the previous year we we because we had over collected 522 02:52:42.920 --> 02:52:49.120 Tom in the Hall: for the cost. And so we rebated to everyone who every property who had paid. 523 02:52:49.620 --> 02:53:09.160 Tom in the Hall: But this year we saw a slight increase in our refuse and recycling. So it's slightly higher, as I have it $11 more than what it would have been this year this current year were it not for the rebate. So it's a nominal increase about 10% 524 02:53:09.470 --> 02:53:11.240 Tom in the Hall: next slide 525 02:53:21.580 --> 02:53:26.849 Tom in the Hall: you're sharing. You just need to. Wasn't sharing for the people on. 526 02:53:27.560 --> 02:53:31.299 Tom in the Hall: Oh, I see it. I see it online. Okay. 527 02:53:34.470 --> 02:53:35.859 Tom in the Hall: Oh, you killed it. 528 02:53:42.220 --> 02:53:43.830 Tom in the Hall: It's more popular. 529 02:53:56.680 --> 02:53:58.150 Tom in the Hall: S. File 530 02:54:34.010 --> 02:54:37.389 Tom in the Hall: you're sharing. All you have to do is advance the slide. 531 02:54:43.620 --> 02:54:49.020 Tom in the Hall: No, you lost it, can't you just hit next page. 532 02:54:50.337 --> 02:54:52.900 Tom in the Hall: There's a p. For the business. 533 02:54:53.760 --> 02:55:00.330 Tom in the Hall: Only if you're quick in the original, that would be the share. You have to go back to the all right. Well, here we go. 534 02:55:00.640 --> 02:55:06.309 Tom in the Hall: What happens if I share that's me. 535 02:55:08.700 --> 02:55:10.580 Tom in the Hall: But it's not showing up there. 536 02:55:11.600 --> 02:55:13.319 Tom in the Hall: I'm showing on the zoom. 537 02:55:15.660 --> 02:55:18.670 Tom in the Hall: Where am I? No, I'm not sharing it oops. 538 02:55:31.010 --> 02:55:31.730 Tom in the Hall: I don't know. 539 02:55:33.790 --> 02:55:35.430 Tom in the Hall: Let's see. 540 02:55:37.900 --> 02:55:39.779 Tom in the Hall: Here we go, you know. 541 02:56:08.210 --> 02:56:08.970 Tom in the Hall: Let's see. 542 02:56:33.870 --> 02:56:36.080 Tom in the Hall: Oh. 543 02:56:45.030 --> 02:56:45.750 Tom in the Hall: there you go. 544 02:57:03.320 --> 02:57:04.510 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, it's all that. 545 02:57:07.621 --> 02:57:17.230 Tom in the Hall: Is that me or Yale? 546 02:57:18.090 --> 02:57:28.340 Tom in the Hall: 500,000 can't usually do it. 547 02:57:44.730 --> 02:57:45.860 Tom in the Hall: Yes. 548 02:58:35.486 --> 02:58:38.710 Tom in the Hall: I cannot sure effectively. 549 02:58:55.510 --> 02:59:04.930 Tom in the Hall: All right. 550 02:59:08.950 --> 02:59:14.989 Tom in the Hall: alright! Well, we're clearly having a break. Let's go for the break. 551 02:59:16.570 --> 02:59:18.399 Tom in the Hall: There you go. Let's see, you guys 552 02:59:21.560 --> 02:59:25.210 Tom in the Hall: sorry it's okay. 553 02:59:35.070 --> 02:59:41.869 Tom in the Hall: Nobody really cares about the budget tax rates. Stay the same 554 02:59:42.070 --> 02:59:48.989 Tom in the Hall: guys make it quick, and we'll we'll get get. Thank you. Very busy. 555 02:59:52.360 --> 02:59:57.980 Tom in the Hall: There are only a couple more slides. Mine. Good job. 556 02:59:59.116 --> 03:00:00.023 Tom in the Hall: Oh. 557 03:00:04.105 --> 03:00:08.980 Tom in the Hall: only 3 min. 558 03:00:09.100 --> 03:00:10.230 Tom in the Hall: Okay. 559 03:00:11.920 --> 03:00:12.840 Tom in the Hall: Good morning. 560 03:00:20.930 --> 03:00:34.840 Tom in the Hall: all right. Closing the bar. This is like the show will begin in 20 seconds. 561 03:00:36.180 --> 03:00:46.259 Tom in the Hall: Alright, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna continue so I I went through the re. I went through. You have to back up I went through the tax 562 03:00:47.110 --> 03:01:02.169 Tom in the Hall: revenue. Now we have revenue from from other sources. So from income tax, which is estimated by the State. For us, they estimated 7% increase to 146 563 03:01:02.930 --> 03:01:04.510 Tom in the Hall: 1,700. 564 03:01:05.422 --> 03:01:26.040 Tom in the Hall: The State highway user funds are the same as we got this year. This is estimated. I think it's probably been signed into law already. So that's a firm number. And the county tax duplication funds were in the are in the current county's budget, which is not yet approved. 565 03:01:26.912 --> 03:01:28.240 Tom in the Hall: There next slide. 566 03:01:29.320 --> 03:01:39.947 Tom in the Hall: Now, some ex expenses, and this is the highlights of the expense issues. In my opinion, salaries were raised by the cost of living 567 03:01:40.530 --> 03:01:44.429 Tom in the Hall: adjustment of 2.7% for our region 568 03:01:45.407 --> 03:01:54.929 Tom in the Hall: the landscaping and facility services. We rebid the contract we have yet to award it, but it looks likely it will be at the same rate as the current year. 569 03:01:56.160 --> 03:02:10.879 Tom in the Hall: Which is 66,000 for the groundskeeping, and the contract, and we allot an additional 30,000 for other projects as as they come up during the year 570 03:02:11.230 --> 03:02:16.300 Tom in the Hall: the same refuse and recycling costs of 59,000. 571 03:02:16.540 --> 03:02:22.804 Tom in the Hall: No change slightly higher leaf collection costs based on the new contract. 572 03:02:23.610 --> 03:02:27.130 Tom in the Hall: but this number stays constant for 5 years. 573 03:02:27.250 --> 03:02:38.250 Tom in the Hall: and the renewal renewable energy incentive program, Bob described again. Budgeted at $20,000, which is the same as this year next slide. 574 03:02:39.378 --> 03:03:00.889 Tom in the Hall: Here's a few others of note, and these are the ones that are, you know, are of importance to the New Year. Mcatherine Hall. Maintenance, is $50,000 $40,000 more than this year. That is because the hall needs exterior painting and the windows need painting. 575 03:03:01.070 --> 03:03:09.069 Tom in the Hall: and this is roughly the amount that was estimated that we required to do this. This maintenance upkeep on the on the Hall 576 03:03:09.340 --> 03:03:20.220 Tom in the Hall: roadwork. I already mentioned at about $50,000, has been budgeted for this year, which will probably will be expended next next June into July. 577 03:03:20.440 --> 03:03:41.790 Tom in the Hall: Tree removal slightly higher to from 30 to $35,000. Unfortunately, the trees continue to suffer, and we remove the ones that fall, and we take down those that are dead, both, because sometimes they present a danger, but often because we want to plant new 578 03:03:41.970 --> 03:03:53.280 Tom in the Hall: new trees, and we need to take the old one away to make room for a live tree playground equipment. We already discussed that a bit. There's $30,000 for a new piece. 579 03:03:53.966 --> 03:04:02.740 Tom in the Hall: Playground refurbishing went up about 14,500, which was one estimate for resurfacing the basketball court. 580 03:04:03.830 --> 03:04:10.300 Tom in the Hall: So that's why that particular item is is up and we call it playground refurbishing 581 03:04:11.280 --> 03:04:15.659 Tom in the Hall: website. Modernization I mentioned at the top of the my report. 582 03:04:16.283 --> 03:04:30.780 Tom in the Hall: At 20,000 which is a steep increase, but will allow us to contract for all kinds of new functions on the web. 583 03:04:31.236 --> 03:04:34.200 Tom in the Hall: The the fellow who's probably we're probably gonna contract with 584 03:04:34.860 --> 03:04:45.669 Tom in the Hall: has been doing some work this year with this year's funds and he seems to be extremely good, and easy to work with Christine. 585 03:04:46.170 --> 03:05:12.289 Tom in the Hall: I think. Agree he she found him, and that's where that, anyway, the money will be spent on the website and the Deib education which you saw report us through what we're the outcome of this year's education programs. And the Council will look at at expanding those education offerings to more individuals in town getting them getting you all interested? 586 03:05:13.526 --> 03:05:15.339 Tom in the Hall: And also 587 03:05:16.370 --> 03:05:25.550 Tom in the Hall: defining some actual strategies to apply. That will, will stand the town. Well, moving forward next slide. 588 03:05:26.260 --> 03:05:39.184 Tom in the Hall: Okay, that's all I'm gonna mention about the budget. So at this point, we will have a open the floor to any budget discussion. 589 03:05:39.980 --> 03:05:43.570 Tom in the Hall: so I will 1st need a motion 590 03:05:43.870 --> 03:05:49.600 Tom in the Hall: to approve the budget as presented to the this meeting. 591 03:05:50.900 --> 03:06:04.339 Tom in the Hall: Peter Peter Negro has moved, and john flinger seconded approving the budget as presented. So discussion. Any discussion of the budget? 592 03:06:08.270 --> 03:06:10.349 Tom in the Hall: No. Anybody online? 593 03:06:11.980 --> 03:06:18.790 Tom in the Hall: No. The the budget implicitly includes those tax rates 594 03:06:18.900 --> 03:06:28.449 Tom in the Hall: that they're very clearly identified at the top of the income of section of the budget. 595 03:06:28.770 --> 03:06:34.440 Tom in the Hall: So we, in approving the budget, will be approving the tax rates as well. 596 03:06:36.760 --> 03:06:42.189 Tom in the Hall: I'll just recall that's the con. A rate that is a constant yield 597 03:06:42.750 --> 03:06:58.269 Tom in the Hall: will raise this. This is estimated to raise the same money from property tax as the current year based on the State's estimated valuation of property in Washington Grove. 598 03:07:00.420 --> 03:07:04.790 Tom in the Hall: which which is a slight increase, I mean the rate is a decrease, but 599 03:07:06.090 --> 03:07:11.299 Tom in the Hall: to get the same amount of of revenue it means some of our properties. 600 03:07:11.630 --> 03:07:19.140 Tom in the Hall: and the dwelling tax at $212 per dwelling. 601 03:07:21.280 --> 03:07:25.129 Tom in the Hall: Well, not hearing any discussion, we can move on 602 03:07:25.300 --> 03:07:36.529 Tom in the Hall: to a vote. So now's the time we're going to do a vote. So the 1st round of voting is, it will simply do it by a show of hands. And I will 603 03:07:36.990 --> 03:07:44.855 Tom in the Hall: determine whether or not there was a clear consensus based on that vote and 604 03:07:46.470 --> 03:07:53.790 Tom in the Hall: in. In case there isn't, we'll have a second round of voting to to get an accurate count. 605 03:07:54.130 --> 03:08:13.209 Tom in the Hall: But let's do the 1st round. Now, please, here in the hall, raise your hand, you those of you wanting to vote. You're going to have to hold them up a bit. Hold on. You're going to have to raise your electronic hand would be the best, because then everybody can, if can, look in the participant list and count 606 03:08:13.805 --> 03:08:18.160 Tom in the Hall: the votes. So okay, all in favor in the hall. 607 03:08:18.510 --> 03:08:25.760 Tom in the Hall: I see virtually everybody with raised hands. How are we doing on the here? 608 03:08:26.380 --> 03:08:35.303 Tom in the Hall: I'm looking, and most of you have raised hands based on that. I'm going to call the vote a 609 03:08:36.360 --> 03:08:43.990 Tom in the Hall: a majority, a significant majority in favor of approving the budget budgets approved. Tax rate is approved. 610 03:08:45.710 --> 03:08:46.710 Tom in the Hall: Thank you. 611 03:08:48.080 --> 03:08:52.950 Tom in the Hall: I hope everybody appreciate. We went to great effort to make sure the town knew 612 03:08:53.580 --> 03:08:59.409 Tom in the Hall: throughout the budget preparation process that that their input 613 03:08:59.710 --> 03:09:11.399 Tom in the Hall: was welcome and and requested so that by the time we get to the town meeting we will have identified any issues and hopefully resolve them. 614 03:09:11.550 --> 03:09:17.979 Tom in the Hall: The because the town meeting is very difficult to fine, tune a budget in this sort of a meeting. 615 03:09:18.660 --> 03:09:19.630 Tom in the Hall: All right. 616 03:09:19.780 --> 03:09:27.150 Tom in the Hall: then, let's move on to the Hpc. Commission's report and award. So Bob's gonna come up here and change hats. 617 03:09:27.360 --> 03:09:28.809 Tom in the Hall: Chats. Yes. 618 03:09:28.890 --> 03:09:39.660 Tom in the Hall: Okay. Well, it's been kind of a a quiet year for the Hpc. Along with what it's been doing with the other Commission, the planning Commission and the other committees. 619 03:09:39.690 --> 03:09:51.050 Tom in the Hall: There are 2 efforts that we are focusing on this year. The 1st is to update the design guidelines. As you know, we updated the historic register 620 03:09:51.050 --> 03:10:11.589 Tom in the Hall: nomination, which includes now houses between the 1937 and 1968. So all houses up till 1968 are now considered contributing structures to the to the town and part of the district. So we're updating the guidelines to reflect that information 621 03:10:12.354 --> 03:10:33.959 Tom in the Hall: the second comes from the 150.th You may recall we had the posters which showed the the various buildings that are now missing, such as the Tabernacle and the Auditorium, the hotel the train station, the 2 athletic clubs. 622 03:10:34.070 --> 03:10:55.185 Tom in the Hall: And so we're we're looking at having commemorative signage that indicate all of those throughout the town, so that that will be a sort of a permanent education for for the town. It's been less of a quiet year for construction. There have been quite a few projects that we had to review for the Award and the 623 03:10:55.810 --> 03:11:08.780 Tom in the Hall: Commission selected a project that represents sort of a hopeful turn for one of the problems we have here in the town, which is vacant houses. 624 03:11:09.511 --> 03:11:17.939 Tom in the Hall: and the one that we has been selected has been vacant. As long as I have lived in town, which is 30 years. 625 03:11:18.270 --> 03:11:21.180 Tom in the Hall: It was built in 1911, 626 03:11:21.330 --> 03:11:29.310 Tom in the Hall: and not as a cottage, but what we call a foursquare. There have been some details that have been simplified with it. 627 03:11:29.780 --> 03:11:41.339 Tom in the Hall: And we felt that the but we felt that the substantial work that was done on the house to bring it into the 21st century and preserve the overall character, made it the winner. 628 03:11:41.620 --> 03:11:43.963 Tom in the Hall: So do the before 629 03:11:44.890 --> 03:12:02.124 Tom in the Hall: you go back to the floor. So this was as it as it stood for 30 years. As long as I can remember. I don't know. It's what people used to call it the Kenvin House, and I don't know if anybody knew the people that lived there. Yes, all right. Fantastic. 630 03:12:03.260 --> 03:12:17.550 Tom in the Hall: but it was it was on the list of abandoned structures for a very long time, and it was purchased just last year, and by a contractor who who renovated it. 631 03:12:17.550 --> 03:12:35.009 Tom in the Hall: They did change some of the details. You notice that the porch was not quite so delicate in the new one, and the and the front door is now the back door, which is a little bit different. The town has an unusual aspect of facing the walkways, not facing the roadways. 632 03:12:35.010 --> 03:12:43.819 Tom in the Hall: and then in the back, they removed the the shed addition on the back, made a porch and a front door. Oddly enough. 633 03:12:44.020 --> 03:12:50.682 Tom in the Hall: so this is. This is this is what is getting the award this year. And 634 03:12:56.960 --> 03:13:07.900 Tom in the Hall: so let me just read the the inscription on the certificate. They'll also get a bronze plaque for the rehabilitation of a long, vacant contributing structure built in 1911. 635 03:13:08.010 --> 03:13:21.279 Tom in the Hall: While there were some changes from the original character. The overall high quality resurrection of the House ensures it will long remain a contributing resource to the historic district, and this is to Jorge Matamoros. 636 03:13:25.210 --> 03:13:34.569 Tom in the Hall: I I went. I dropped by the house and talked to their son today to see if they wanted to come to the meeting, and he said he would tell them. So 637 03:13:35.310 --> 03:13:37.860 Tom in the Hall: we'll we'll deliver the order. 638 03:13:39.860 --> 03:13:41.300 Tom in the Hall: Okay, thanks a lot. 639 03:13:44.370 --> 03:13:51.160 Tom in the Hall: alrighty. So now we'll move on to the planning commission report from Georgette and 640 03:14:10.977 --> 03:14:13.249 Tom in the Hall: my 1st slide 641 03:14:20.120 --> 03:14:29.929 Tom in the Hall: is is actually another recognition of the members of the planning commission, all of whom I greatly appreciate. 642 03:14:31.310 --> 03:14:38.290 Tom in the Hall: And Peter Nagrod, in spite of having stepped down his chair when he became a town Council member. 643 03:14:38.500 --> 03:14:39.430 Tom in the Hall: I 644 03:14:39.530 --> 03:14:48.509 Tom in the Hall: is actually very important to everything that the planning Commission is doing. I'm I'm really grateful to have him as our as our backup. 645 03:14:50.570 --> 03:14:52.110 Tom in the Hall: Second slide, please. 646 03:14:55.700 --> 03:15:08.209 Tom in the Hall: Okay, these are all listed in the town council reports. I'm not going to go over them in detail. It's the usual mixture of regular building permits and fences and public waste permits. 647 03:15:08.815 --> 03:15:31.380 Tom in the Hall: And I was going to point out under the building permits that we had one sign off for heat pump location. I would just like to point out to everybody in town that, in spite of the fact that the town does not require you to get a sign off for heat pumps or propane tanks or 648 03:15:31.700 --> 03:15:45.660 Tom in the Hall: A/C units, Montgomery county does, and they seem to be very unwilling to accept that Montgomery can't sorry that Washington Grove doesn't, so they keep sending the permits back to us. 649 03:15:45.800 --> 03:15:54.980 Tom in the Hall: So we try and tell people, if you want anything like this done, send it to us before you send it to Montgomery County. It will make your life somewhat easier. 650 03:15:55.730 --> 03:15:56.910 Tom in the Hall: Okay, 651 03:15:59.080 --> 03:16:05.270 Tom in the Hall: We had an interesting permit, for 652 03:16:05.560 --> 03:16:12.059 Tom in the Hall: if you go to the next slide, the one for plastic paving grids and grass at 103 brown street. 653 03:16:13.133 --> 03:16:31.896 Tom in the Hall: There's been problems for years, because in many areas of town the verge next to the pavement it gets driven on, it gets parked on, and when it's rainy or wet it gets very muddy and mucky, and 654 03:16:33.970 --> 03:16:34.770 Tom in the Hall: M. 655 03:16:36.780 --> 03:16:44.389 Tom in the Hall: New resident at 1 0. 3 Brown Street. Bill Earle is also on the Historic Preservation Commission. 656 03:16:45.091 --> 03:16:54.720 Tom in the Hall: actually suggested that he had seen in other places he'd live a system where they put down a base of 657 03:16:55.380 --> 03:17:24.549 Tom in the Hall: find one inch gravel and topsoil and plastic paving grids, and then sod, and the net result is something that is more resilient to parking and driving on, but looks a lot nicer than what we usually wind up next to the streets. So I really appreciate Bill and his having done that, and it'll be interesting to see how well it works. And if it's something that we want to do other places in town. 658 03:17:25.790 --> 03:17:28.860 Tom in the Hall: Okay, next slide, please. 659 03:17:29.350 --> 03:17:33.240 Tom in the Hall: And the one other thing that I was going to point out was that 660 03:17:36.280 --> 03:17:41.380 Tom in the Hall: The planning commission came to the conclusion that another thing that 661 03:17:42.140 --> 03:17:54.069 Tom in the Hall: we didn't really need to have was for town residents to have to go and get a Montgomery County permit for a fence after getting one from the town. Basically. 662 03:17:54.310 --> 03:17:57.310 Tom in the Hall: our fence restrictions are 663 03:17:58.330 --> 03:18:15.091 Tom in the Hall: at least as protective as Montgomery County's, and so, really having to get a Montgomery County permit after hours, just added another layer of time and money to what's already a fairly expensive project. So 664 03:18:16.140 --> 03:18:30.459 Tom in the Hall: the planning Commission put together a couple of new ordinances. One of them adds fences to the structures in Article 4 section 5 B. For which a town, but not a county permit is required. 665 03:18:30.730 --> 03:18:37.209 Tom in the Hall: And then, because Rob Gilmore very intelligently pointed out at the council meeting. 666 03:18:37.440 --> 03:19:04.010 Tom in the Hall: can we really do that? And the answer is, Yes, we can. But in order to make it completely legal, we need to add an exception to Article 13, because the town adopted the Montgomery County Building code, and we have to tell them, oh, by the way, we have an exception for any structure listed in Article 4, section 5, B. 667 03:19:04.230 --> 03:19:20.349 Tom in the Hall: And then Robert Johnson, one of the other planning commission members, actually found the person down at the department of permitting services that we have to talk to and let them know once we've passed all of this. So that's in progress. And 668 03:19:21.300 --> 03:19:24.949 Tom in the Hall: I think it's going very smoothly. Thank you. 669 03:19:31.090 --> 03:19:33.401 Tom in the Hall: Alright. Thank you, Georgette. 670 03:19:34.630 --> 03:19:41.190 Tom in the Hall: Next up is the future of the commercial corner. Peter's going to entertain us 671 03:19:41.490 --> 03:19:46.949 Tom in the Hall: with a with a rousing presentation on this. 672 03:19:47.450 --> 03:19:48.410 Tom in the Hall: Thank you. 673 03:19:49.350 --> 03:19:50.880 Tom in the Hall: Hello, everybody. 674 03:19:53.430 --> 03:19:57.172 Tom in the Hall: We need an intermission, you know. By the way, I'm sick of that picture. 675 03:19:58.640 --> 03:20:01.690 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, it's Maple Lake. 676 03:20:03.520 --> 03:20:08.219 Tom in the Hall: Bye, yeah, it does bottom list here. 677 03:20:10.200 --> 03:20:13.340 Tom in the Hall: so he's doing that. I'll begin by just saying that 678 03:20:15.430 --> 03:20:27.230 Tom in the Hall: John asked me to do a little update on the commercial corner, and I said, Oh, I don't know what I'm going to talk about. I don't feel like doing a Powerpoint. I looked at the Powerpoint. They did. I think it was 2 years ago, and 679 03:20:27.370 --> 03:20:31.984 Tom in the Hall: I was happy to see and unhappy to see that nothing has changed. 680 03:20:32.840 --> 03:20:35.530 Tom in the Hall: So let's the next slide. 681 03:20:35.880 --> 03:20:54.919 Tom in the Hall: So what I'd like to do, and John's already stolen my thunder about what's happening here tonight twice. So we're even a little bit with what I said about Steve. Okay. But what I think is really helpful. Now that I'm talking to the town, it's it's in my mind. I talked to a few people that are very excited about what's happening at the commercial corner. 682 03:20:55.453 --> 03:21:01.350 Tom in the Hall: But there's always a few people out there who are not too thrilled with change. 683 03:21:01.530 --> 03:21:06.890 Tom in the Hall: and so I'd like to do just quickly is. Talk a little bit about I have up here David verse Goliath 684 03:21:07.040 --> 03:21:17.069 Tom in the Hall: and I know we have some newer members who haven't been here forever, who may not know the history of the Southland Company which owns seven-eleven. 685 03:21:17.120 --> 03:21:37.809 Tom in the Hall: and 40 years ago, I think it was around 40 years ago we had the seven-eleven. There was a lot of problems with Lithering loitering, you can't say. Well, now we have a new president, I can say undesirables. But it was not a good situation. So the town took on the Southland Company Corporation. 686 03:21:38.200 --> 03:21:51.750 Tom in the Hall: and they won. And you know, I think, for a lot of people, this is one of the highlights of their life was getting a victory like this. And the reason why I bring this up is that it's been 40 years. 687 03:21:51.910 --> 03:22:07.139 Tom in the Hall: and nothing has really changed that commercial corner in 40 years. But times have changed, and when I look at the commercial corner bob said, you know that could be the was it the archway, the 688 03:22:07.270 --> 03:22:26.529 Tom in the Hall: the keystone, the keystone. When you drive down East Diamond, and you look at that, we live here forever, so we don't see what it really looks like, but for our visitors and guests when they come down and they look at this is what they see. This is what Washington grove is, and it's not a very attractive building. 689 03:22:26.720 --> 03:22:46.560 Tom in the Hall: And and there's a lot of other things which we'll talk about real quickly, because I'm not going to be here that long. But basically we won that battle. But in a sense we lost something because we made it so restrictive. We were so afraid of having different types of retail businesses coming in or doing things with that area that 690 03:22:46.710 --> 03:23:07.780 Tom in the Hall: I say, you know, it's really true. For, like 40 years we did not talk to the owners of of, you know, when they wanted to get permission to put a new retail person in, they were allowed to do that. But we we did not talk when I wanted to talk with them about moving the Dumpster. It took forever to find out who I would even be talking with. 691 03:23:07.980 --> 03:23:30.559 Tom in the Hall: And so and we I felt like there was an adversarial relationship between us and the bell properties, and in reality they were. They wanted to be part of our community. They wanted to be, you know, to really, you know, to make it into a win-win situation. And now so it's been about 2 years that we've been talking with them and moving in that direction. So let's get next slide. 692 03:23:31.830 --> 03:24:01.610 Tom in the Hall: Okay? So I and I say, those comprehensive plans go to the rescue, and you know it's really true. We worked, Georgette. I can give her a compliment. We worked, and Charlie and the whole Planet Commission and over 80 grovers worked on this comprehensive plan, and when I was looking at and we were looking at, what could we do to change the commercial corner in the past we would just be making things up, and people would be going. Oh, where do you get the power from? Where is this? Where is that 693 03:24:01.690 --> 03:24:26.330 Tom in the Hall: you go into the comprehensive plan, and the empowerment is there. And I'm really saying this to the town, not just because of the commercial corner, but anytime you want to do something that's different or create change. Go to the comprehensive plan. It's a living document, and it really gives you the power to make things better than they are. So let's go back. Go back real quick. 694 03:24:26.370 --> 03:24:34.359 Tom in the Hall: Okay, so so this is what's going on. I already mentioned the appearance of the of the building itself. 695 03:24:37.570 --> 03:24:44.060 Tom in the Hall: And Bob, of course. Historic preservation there was once the Odd Fellows Hall there. 696 03:24:44.880 --> 03:24:48.183 Tom in the Hall: The other thing is with the dumpster being removed. 697 03:24:48.840 --> 03:25:14.020 Tom in the Hall: so? Oh, yeah, so so yeah, the big deal. The 2 things of this. Okay, flexibility with retail of what goes in there. That's 1. The second thing is residential housing. That's 2. Those are 2 big changes. And let's go down. So let's go through here. Okay, so this is the commercial. This is not, you know, us wishing for things. This is in our comprehensive plan, and it's written right in there, all right. We want flexibility. Oh, you're too fast. 698 03:25:15.640 --> 03:25:25.200 Tom in the Hall: Alright! We want flexibility. And and the whole goal here is, as John mentioned before, instead of us, just changing the ordinance and and 699 03:25:25.510 --> 03:25:35.699 Tom in the Hall: trying to go that direction. We want to be proactive, and we're gonna go and work with the owners of this and make it into a win win situation. Where not only are we gonna 700 03:25:35.830 --> 03:25:48.030 Tom in the Hall: give, we're going to get. And what we want to get is we want to give by allowing them to have a revenue stream. So it's profitable for them to do this renovation. To possibly put in residential housing above 701 03:25:48.080 --> 03:26:15.020 Tom in the Hall: exciting to me is to have something in there that we, you know, haircutting. It's not happening for me, you know. We really to get something that would be a grove place, a coffee shop, or something where grovers can go and meet, make it more relevant. So the residential housing is also is where some of that revenue stream would come from, and that's all going to be happening. Soon. 702 03:26:15.210 --> 03:26:22.880 Tom in the Hall: Put put a little fire under this guy, and we're we're moving really nicely now with that and the other thing I just wanted to mention was 703 03:26:23.000 --> 03:26:51.659 Tom in the Hall: in the rear of the building, which is the rear. It's very unattractive, obviously, and it's the butt facing our town. So it really makes it feel like that's not part of our town. And by by putting retail shops along there, fixing it up, making it basically having 2 fronts. I think that would really make it more of a rove place and yes. 704 03:26:52.150 --> 03:27:04.400 Tom in the Hall: will rove residents still be able to park on hickory side of the building to get their mail. All things will be made clear when I'm finished. Yes. 705 03:27:04.890 --> 03:27:06.349 Tom in the Hall: yes. Okay. 706 03:27:06.580 --> 03:27:09.290 Tom in the Hall: Okay. Okay. Let's do next slide. 707 03:27:09.440 --> 03:27:34.470 Tom in the Hall: Okay? And then the other thing that John I surprisingly didn't mention today was that besides the shared use pass coming in from Brown Street, it's also coming from Gaithersburg and goes through the commercial corner, and we need to get an easement from them. So this relationship also would be a bargaining chip for us as far as working with them to do that, and that is really we met with Gaithersburg 708 03:27:34.470 --> 03:27:43.059 Tom in the Hall: several times, and you know everything takes takes forever. But it's moving along very nicely. I think that's going to really help the dynamics 709 03:27:43.090 --> 03:27:51.050 Tom in the Hall: of you know of the grove and the commercial corner as far as how to how to get from the grove towards the Gaithersburg area. Okay? 710 03:27:52.930 --> 03:28:03.220 Tom in the Hall: okay. And then you have it in here. Okay? Accomplishments. Yeah. You've seen all this stuff. We're good with that. And then just I'm just gonna revisit real quick next slide. 711 03:28:04.110 --> 03:28:09.280 Tom in the Hall: Okay? So if you can see that now, you've seen this before most of you, but just 712 03:28:09.400 --> 03:28:12.680 Tom in the Hall: once again it would be retail at the bottom. 713 03:28:14.260 --> 03:28:16.789 Tom in the Hall: Jean, see the parallel parking. 714 03:28:17.290 --> 03:28:38.300 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, but that's for the residents, and it's Hickory Road, not street. Yeah. Well, anyway, this is not nothing's happening yet. So that all these questions everybody is going to be having lots of opportunity to comment on their concerns. And what takes place. This is just an initial draft. The importance of this draft, though, is that we did not make this draft. 715 03:28:38.650 --> 03:28:55.630 Tom in the Hall: We we met with them, and we told them what our comprehensive plan was looking for, and the architect came back. And basically everything we said we were interested in doing. They basically put the renovations on there. The front facing Hickory Street is on there. 716 03:28:56.090 --> 03:28:57.163 Tom in the Hall: Oh, what? 717 03:28:57.960 --> 03:29:11.839 Tom in the Hall: Oh, Hickory, all right, Hickory Road. We're changing the name. Okay? And okay, so let's do the next next slide. And then this would be right here. They have 9 small apartments on top. 718 03:29:12.440 --> 03:29:22.819 Tom in the Hall: And I'm sure that the people that that just took over all state insurance wouldn't be too thrilled with this diagram. But and so I mean, that's basically what we have so far. 719 03:29:23.240 --> 03:29:34.639 Tom in the Hall: And this is just this is just 1st step. So nothing isn't, you know. Nothing's nothing's done yet. And there'll be lots of opportunities for the town to get involved and share their opinions on this. 720 03:29:35.170 --> 03:29:54.369 Tom in the Hall: But I'm excited. I think that this is going to really change a feel. And being on the gateway committee. We talk about this all the time, too, because we're really concerned with how the town is, you know, is viewed from people who are going through the town, and I think that this is an exciting step, and the last thing I'll say is that I wish 721 03:29:54.520 --> 03:30:15.230 Tom in the Hall: you could sense the enthusiasm of of the Bell Bell people. They're really, really excited about being more a part of the grove, and I think they're really willing to make this a win-win situation. Okay? And the last thing I want to say is that if you voted today, Monica designed that wonderful. 722 03:30:15.290 --> 03:30:27.859 Tom in the Hall: May 24th circle fest. Okay, we have 3 bands, lots of beer, lots of food. I hope everybody's gonna come with their families and join us there last slide says. 723 03:30:28.978 --> 03:30:32.629 Tom in the Hall: any questions? No. Okay, thank you. 724 03:30:41.880 --> 03:30:47.539 Tom in the Hall: Okay. Tha, thank you, Peter. And just to re repeat. 725 03:30:48.700 --> 03:31:00.129 Tom in the Hall: the town attorney has verbally discussed. How she believes we need to move forward, and she'll be putting that into writing 726 03:31:01.192 --> 03:31:05.689 Tom in the Hall: and I'll be discussing that with Georgetta 727 03:31:05.810 --> 03:31:08.439 Tom in the Hall: and the council at the next meeting. 728 03:31:10.190 --> 03:31:19.770 Tom in the Hall: Alrighty our last report tonight is going to be from Patty Klein on stormwater management. Projects 729 03:31:20.190 --> 03:31:21.250 Tom in the Hall: ongoing. 730 03:31:28.750 --> 03:31:29.940 Tom in the Hall: Take your time. 731 03:31:37.770 --> 03:31:50.376 Tom in the Hall: There you go. Okay, I'll try to condense this, so we can continue to move forward with our meeting. So just to kind of give you a couple of updates. John has kind of stolen the thunder. But that's fine 732 03:31:50.830 --> 03:31:56.159 Tom in the Hall: initially, in his report, I just wanted to next slide, please. 733 03:31:57.710 --> 03:32:14.079 Tom in the Hall: So I actually just wanted to kind of give everybody a quick reference. Point is town of Washington Grove sits on top of 3 watersheds, you know, headwaters to both Seneca Creek, Rock Creek and muddy branch, and that becomes very relevant to some of our 734 03:32:14.490 --> 03:32:22.549 Tom in the Hall: burgeoning water issues. Nice news is that we are at the top. In the headwaters of these 3 drainage areas or watersheds. 735 03:32:22.660 --> 03:32:36.620 Tom in the Hall: they eventually, of course, all drain into Chesapeake Bay, and that is certainly part of issues that we are part of the larger scheme of making sure that there's a good water quality that goes downstream as well. Next slide, please. 736 03:32:37.810 --> 03:32:46.219 Tom in the Hall: So again, just a little bit of history here. Short term history is actually in 2023, we started working with a company called Soltez. 737 03:32:46.320 --> 03:33:06.409 Tom in the Hall: an environmental engineering company. And because we were realizing that these were more wicked problems that were just increasing over time. Given these water flows through town, and a lot of it was really focused from the Woods Committee about what was happening in the Westwoods, which was receiving a lot of the downstream water coming through the town 738 03:33:06.410 --> 03:33:16.539 Tom in the Hall: as well as issues within the town itself. So Soltez conducted a stormwater management assessment, a high level assessment that really was focused on this west side of town 739 03:33:16.580 --> 03:33:41.970 Tom in the Hall: for the purposes of looking at what was happening downstream in the west woods, but it also they evaluated. If you can see the little drawing there is. They looked at 7 different areas within the town to just understand what is our actually limited but existing stormwater infrastructure, which is very limited, and also the impacts of all of that conveyance through town, and ultimately into the West Woods. 740 03:33:42.480 --> 03:33:49.339 Tom in the Hall: So they looked at how we would think about reducing both volume and velocity of stormwater conveyance 741 03:33:49.340 --> 03:33:56.959 Tom in the Hall: to mitigate flooding on private property, you know, town property and roadways, but also the consequences of what happens downstream 742 03:33:56.960 --> 03:34:21.670 Tom in the Hall: with tree damage and soil erosion that we were really starting to acknowledge that was happening in the West woods. So again, they looked at these sort of 7 different areas, and then gave us this sort of high level report. They wanted to look at a hundred year storm event which basically evaluates flooding issues and erosion and looks for the future, but also the more local 10 year storm situation, which is looking at storm 743 03:34:21.670 --> 03:34:43.429 Tom in the Hall: issues and conveyance and sort of infrastructure issues. So their recommendations at the time your existing facilities need to be inspected and maintained. We have a lot of what we call asphalt swales. You'll see them like in the church parking lot and other places around town that probably need to be upgraded to something like a regular swale or bioswale to be more efficient 744 03:34:43.750 --> 03:34:52.570 Tom in the Hall: because those asphalt swales are really just taking water away. But the other things, like bioswales, actually help to slow down the velocity 745 03:34:52.570 --> 03:35:14.289 Tom in the Hall: surface drainage easements. Also looking at things that surface water that goes across various yards, and then looking at potentially some type of a retention system even within town, which we'll talk about a little bit in in what happened thereafter. Which is this kind of like gravel wetland feature that we were thinking to install. So that was just where we started next slide, please. 746 03:35:14.620 --> 03:35:34.319 Tom in the Hall: and from that particular issue, looking at what was happening in town, we then moved into putting together this request for proposals, or Rfp. Which, as of 2024. So last year we finally put a package together, put out a request for proposals of what we called a design build 747 03:35:34.629 --> 03:36:03.690 Tom in the Hall: without getting too much into the details. Instead of just doing one version would be just getting a company to do a design project for us and basically designing something. And then we'd have to move on from that to put another Rfp out. To then get a contractor to build it. So given some of the concerns we had about external funding and deadlines. For a variety of reasons, we thought we would try to consolidate both into what we call a design build and put a combination Rfp out, which we did 748 03:36:04.373 --> 03:36:22.896 Tom in the Hall: looking again at existing stormwater issues in in our, in our town and in public right of way areas and focusing really on the town side first.st But again, what we do here upstream would have benefit to what is happening downstream in the Westwoods. So we had a couple of companies that did 749 03:36:23.240 --> 03:36:36.290 Tom in the Hall: come and do a site visit, as was requested for the Rfp. We looked at their bids, you know, and the Town Council obviously reviewed those, and we awarded a contract by December of 2024 to a company called Smi. 750 03:36:36.520 --> 03:36:53.230 Tom in the Hall: and again, this project, as John had mentioned earlier. Mayor, excuse me, was, is funded by both Federal and State funds with Arpa money, which we actually had to commit by December of 2024, otherwise we would be vulnerable to losing it. And also we have a state bond. 751 03:36:53.230 --> 03:37:08.579 Tom in the Hall: So we were able to thankfully get everything done within that deadline window. Now, we're starting to work with that company to go through and and refine some of their original proposal and look at building what they call a 35% 752 03:37:08.630 --> 03:37:33.570 Tom in the Hall: design build. So we're just going through those meetings, those weekly meetings with them. Now, the contracted work will be both a design and construction to best manage the storm. Water flows through town, and if you, I don't go into too much detail, but I'll point out, you see, these areas that are numbered like one through 9, and the ones with circles are more like culverts. And if you walk through town you know that those culverts exist. 753 03:37:33.730 --> 03:37:46.360 Tom in the Hall: they're those little pipes that run underneath the roadways, and they're just really conveying water from one place to another. But they're not slowing it down. They're not absorbing it. It's just really traversing 754 03:37:46.360 --> 03:38:15.800 Tom in the Hall: areas that have lines on them like the pink or the purple lines are areas where either are asphalt swales existing. Now that we may want to then transition or transform into more of an earthen swale or potentially a bioswale depending on what's needed in that location. And so that's basically what we're looking at. Area 6 is where there's a potential gravel wetland at the end of Center Street, which, again, if water is not already slowed down through these swales that are 755 03:38:16.282 --> 03:38:17.930 Tom in the Hall: on the design build 756 03:38:18.380 --> 03:38:45.080 Tom in the Hall: plan right now. Again water comes through town. You need it to sort of be a sponge. You need to basically sponge up a lot of the water, slow it down, let it then, eventually sort of continue to trickle, and then even so, water that may not be captured well enough. There might wind up in this little retention pond, or called a gravel wetland. And so these are things that are still in planning, but not necessarily finalized. Next slide, please. 757 03:38:46.290 --> 03:39:14.580 Tom in the Hall: So the progress right now is having these sort of weekly meetings with Smi. And this is with our stormwater working group to discuss these final plans, to kind of, think through some of the details, and maybe make some slight adjustments to the design and looking at what they consider a 35% build plan, something that you need to have in place. So you can literally start the construction and continue to finalize the design. Build from there. 758 03:39:14.860 --> 03:39:20.270 Tom in the Hall: So that's kind of where we are at the moment with the Smi. And now the next slide after that. 759 03:39:20.480 --> 03:39:41.530 Tom in the Hall: and then sort of in a parallel universe, as John mentioned earlier, working with the Green Bank, we, while we're trying to deal with the stormwater management issues up here in town, obviously to improve, for all those reasons about the public right of ways, and also people's private property and sheeting of water. We also are trying to look 760 03:39:41.560 --> 03:40:05.729 Tom in the Hall: towards the future is what is also still happening in the Westwoods, regardless of the water that comes through town and heads into the woods is not 100% of the water going into the Westwoods. The Westwoods is getting water that's coming directly off Washington Grove Lane. It's coming in from town Crest. It's coming in from other directions. So this is only one piece of that larger puzzle that the Westwoods is really suffering, and it's really being degraded 761 03:40:05.750 --> 03:40:19.249 Tom in the Hall: as much as we're trying to do something here. We're also needing to look at other points of entrance. So back in 2022. Still we worked with Soltz at that time for them to look at the Westwoods. 762 03:40:19.250 --> 03:40:36.589 Tom in the Hall: This is now 3, 4, almost 4 years ago, but to look at the Westwoods from that point of view is to see how much erosion, soil, erosion, tree damage, etc, was happening. So between those 2 reports that they did for us in 2022, and 2023, we had a better understanding of 763 03:40:36.590 --> 03:40:57.310 Tom in the Hall: not only of our wicked problems, but of some of the plans that we need to work towards in trying to improve that. So they did a stormwater damage assessment of the Westwood. You can see some of the photographs here. The most infamous one in that upper right hand corner is showing the edge of the lake fence, and that used to be a stream. It's now a trench 764 03:40:57.310 --> 03:41:12.930 Tom in the Hall: over many years of water that's coming directly off of Washington Grove Lane, for the most part, some of it still also coming through town, and it has etched out so much of that little stream bed into a trench that we literally had to move the lake fence back. 765 03:41:12.930 --> 03:41:28.699 Tom in the Hall: I don't know, 6 feet 4 feet, and that was only maybe 6 or so years ago. And even now there's even more erosion along those banks. We've literally had to top off trees because you can see where all the tree roots are. It's really just a total disaster. 766 03:41:28.900 --> 03:41:46.860 Tom in the Hall: So we really need to get something done to try to figure out how to spare that and restore it. So there's shorter and longer term solutions that were identified through the Soltes report now, in 2024. Just to kind of conclude, as John mentioned, we're now working with the Green Bank 767 03:41:46.860 --> 03:42:16.199 Tom in the Hall: and their Environmental Engineering Company, which is called Maryland Environmental services right? Mes. And so in a parallel situation, we're starting early discussions with them to look specifically at the Westwoods and what they would suggest and recommend. That could be done in trying to do some environmental restoration in the Westwoods. Now they've given us initially a draft mitigation plan which is under review by the Mayor and the Council. Some comments were already sent back to Mes 768 03:42:16.280 --> 03:42:17.420 Tom in the Hall: to 769 03:42:17.550 --> 03:42:42.010 Tom in the Hall: sort of I wouldn't say debate, but to sort of consider. You know what is working better for the town's point of view versus what some of their initial suggestions were. So that's underway. Okay, that's still. Again, as John mentioned, is going to need a lot of external funding to actually realize that project. The other thing that the town is also starting to participate in. There's a bigger picture going on which is the Gaithersburg watershed planning 770 03:42:42.130 --> 03:43:05.360 Tom in the Hall: meetings. And so we're starting to join them, because whatever happens here in town is also happening with Gaithersburg. And and again, what you don't want to do with your community neighbor is basically make it their problem or vice versa. So we are actually impacted by Gaithersburg and their issues with water stormwater issues. And so we're trying to use this as a more of a regional solution next slide. 771 03:43:05.840 --> 03:43:20.929 Tom in the Hall: And I just want to leave you with 2 happy thoughts. So one is, you remember, a couple years ago, fortunately we were able to restore Whetstone Spring, and that is one of our natural springs. That is past. If you go to the far end of the Westwoods just before you hit Kelly Park. 772 03:43:20.960 --> 03:43:45.089 Tom in the Hall: it wasn't totally overgrown and degraded and neglected little area for many, many years I used to ask a variety of people like, Where is it? I can't find it until we found it, and then we took out a lot of the overgrowth vegetation you can see in 2022 was what it looked like. Then it was just in invisible until we removed a lot of the old vegetation. We realized there's a little stream. 773 03:43:45.090 --> 03:44:09.629 Tom in the Hall: you know, that still comes from there, and, thanks to Jim Quinn and Rj. Actually thanks John for and the Council the time for approving us to do this. We had that whole thing restored. It's a miracle, and it's like a spiritual blessing right now to go there, and I have yet to see any vandalism. And we we went over there a couple of weekends ago, and that's 1 of my fears, is it's right by that ball field and that school and Kelly Park. 774 03:44:09.700 --> 03:44:34.909 Tom in the Hall: and I believe that whoever decides to go there finds it as sort of like a spiritual moment, because nobody's done any spray painting or garbage, or anything like that. And so that's what it still looks like we were just there recently. We need a little more sort of spring cleanup over there, but it's beautiful, and we have a plaque over there that says that this is Whetstone Spring, and it was restored in 2023, which was just in time for 150th anniversary. 775 03:44:35.260 --> 03:44:48.749 Tom in the Hall: Last slide last slide is to also talk about another spring. Okay? And so this is called Maple Spring. And for those of you who love and enjoy going to Maple lake. This is the spring that was the original sort of 776 03:44:48.750 --> 03:45:07.129 Tom in the Hall: water feed into what eventually became Maple Lake, which has a whole other history behind it. But the spring is still there. The old slide. This is something that Joan had shared with me years ago. Those of you who grew up in town probably know a little bit more about its true history, but it's somewhere around 1,900. Forgive me if that's a little bit off. 777 03:45:07.130 --> 03:45:19.720 Tom in the Hall: but that's what the spring looked like originally, and people would take their cattle, their livestock there, and they would go and have, you know, fresh water. You can see the nice little lady somebody told me was that the Walker kids? Where's Marilyn? I don't know if that's the 778 03:45:19.720 --> 03:45:40.939 Tom in the Hall: yes, okay, Major Walker's daughters or something. But these lovely ladies, and thank you in their little like spring outfits or white linen outfits. And they're sitting on this cement ledge, and it's you could see it's like 1, 2, 3 right steps down, and there's the the spring right there, and it was very open. And you can imagine what this area looked like right that time. 779 03:45:41.190 --> 03:46:08.959 Tom in the Hall: That's open field right? That's still farmland. If you look at the slide on the right, that's what it looks like right now. So last fall Jim came in, and he got rid of a lot of overgrown vegetation in and around the spring, so you could actually see the spring again. And so that's what it looks like right now. There's beautiful skunk cabbage, and there's beautiful ferns that are now starting to fill in along the stream banks. If you go to the back of that photograph you can see a little kind of stream that's heading out of the 780 03:46:08.960 --> 03:46:16.719 Tom in the Hall: the cemented area that's Maple Lake back there, and that little stream still continues to feed into the back end of Maple Lake. 781 03:46:17.060 --> 03:46:41.599 Tom in the Hall: So what we want to do and Jim is willing to do this is he wants to do the cement work, to repair as best as possible that ledge, that cement ledge, restore that area around the spring itself. We've already cleared out a lot of vegetation. We want to put in a lot of those boulders like you saw at Whetstone to reinforce the stream banks, and it's still going to feed into Maple Lake. So that's what we are looking. To try to get done 782 03:46:42.010 --> 03:46:46.829 Tom in the Hall: is to really just restore the area. However, unlike Whetstone Spring. 783 03:46:46.860 --> 03:47:11.770 Tom in the Hall: What we see back in Maple Spring is the back of that section. Now to let's say, to the left of that photograph 2025 is where Newport estates is, and where community services are, and every time we go out there, right, Mary and others who are at our recent cleanup is we have a lot of trash that gets deposited over there. So we're a little more worried about vandalism potentially, after we restore the spring. 784 03:47:11.770 --> 03:47:34.510 Tom in the Hall: So under consideration, it requires a lot more. Further conversation is whether we need to enclose a separate fence enclosure around that. We'll figure that out later, you know, but it'll be part of the larger plan. So I just wanted to have a little moment to advertise that. Forgive me. And then the last slide, just to thank everybody who's on our stormwater management working group. Thank you all for 785 03:47:34.933 --> 03:47:40.440 Tom in the Hall: all your efforts. I apologize because in recent months I have been 786 03:47:40.450 --> 03:47:51.889 Tom in the Hall: buried in my Federal work situation, and I haven't been able to attend a lot of the meetings, but I know that they're still ongoing, and I'm trying to keep up by reading the notes. So thank you very much for your time. 787 03:47:58.430 --> 03:48:04.800 Tom in the Hall: Thank you, Patty. I you know I know all of you. Recognize that 788 03:48:04.940 --> 03:48:19.380 Tom in the Hall: the efforts has been made on both the East and the West Woods by the Woods Committee, which has been chaired by Patty and and Joan for so many years, and before that, by jolie, or whoever I forget, was in 789 03:48:19.770 --> 03:48:25.465 Tom in the Hall: and and bridge. Yeah, you know, have, you know, really. 790 03:48:28.640 --> 03:48:33.409 Tom in the Hall: contribute to maintaining one of the major assets of the town. 791 03:48:33.590 --> 03:49:03.160 Tom in the Hall: which are these 2 woods reserve forest areas and the the unfortunate part is that time is time, and weather changes, and just cycles of of growth and predation. Quote predation by deer have all compromised to once one extent or another. And and that means we can ignore it and let it 792 03:49:03.490 --> 03:49:26.980 Tom in the Hall: play out, or we can do something about it. Try and do something about it. And the Woods Committee has been trying to do something about it for many years, and we expend reasonable amount of resources. You've seen this potential project here in the Westwoods will require even more resources, but we certainly have the interest and the energy to try and pursue it. Thanks. 793 03:49:28.480 --> 03:49:34.600 Tom in the Hall: The Senate of those 3 women sitting around is at a party. 794 03:49:36.990 --> 03:49:40.170 Tom in the Hall: Oh, we'll have to take a picture of you sitting there. 795 03:49:41.770 --> 03:49:44.110 Tom in the Hall: Yeah. And you're 796 03:49:44.230 --> 03:50:01.709 Tom in the Hall: okay. Next item nearing toward the end is discussion of the Town Council reports. The reports were all made available. They're in the electronically in the folder that I gave out links to. They were available 797 03:50:02.450 --> 03:50:10.449 Tom in the Hall: during voting. So this is the time, if you have any questions concerning those reports, to 798 03:50:10.560 --> 03:50:12.680 Tom in the Hall: to ask them anyone. 799 03:50:13.460 --> 03:50:19.710 Tom in the Hall: Yes, Mary, so I was wondering if we are in training. 800 03:50:19.860 --> 03:50:27.210 Tom in the Hall: will there be announcements going on? 801 03:50:27.890 --> 03:50:40.449 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, yeah, okay, we we we will absolutely. We what? Once the Council approves the the programs that will be 802 03:50:41.200 --> 03:50:44.170 Tom in the Hall: we'll be put offering 803 03:50:45.380 --> 03:50:51.170 Tom in the Hall: in. In fact, they may not actually be approved until we get a significant amount of interest. So we'll be 804 03:50:51.500 --> 03:50:59.929 Tom in the Hall: absolutely publicizing their availability. Yes, text the Id. 805 03:51:00.160 --> 03:51:06.615 Tom in the Hall: Yes, there's a link. 806 03:51:08.430 --> 03:51:18.979 Tom in the Hall: that that link is also in the materials the the folder that you can get to which has the budget information. It also has the Ib folder 807 03:51:19.280 --> 03:51:39.810 Tom in the Hall: that contains a word file with which has the link in it to the Youtube presentation. So you can go listen to it and look at it. It also contains the summaries of the 4 sessions that they conducted the 3 h session to residents, and the 3 1 h Sessions. 808 03:51:40.460 --> 03:51:42.049 Tom in the Hall: which were described 809 03:51:45.620 --> 03:51:52.610 Tom in the Hall: well, probably on the town website as well. The Christine will put it up there, but you know, when I distribute the 810 03:51:52.940 --> 03:52:01.640 Tom in the Hall: agenda in my grove, alert also here, the grove alert and 811 03:52:02.630 --> 03:52:09.110 Tom in the Hall: dropbox. It's a dropbox folder, and it contains this information. 812 03:52:09.760 --> 03:52:14.748 Tom in the Hall: Yeah, you go go to the Alert. All those links work. They should work just fine. 813 03:52:15.330 --> 03:52:24.719 Tom in the Hall: And you'll be able to get there and and see all of this. These presentations, the slides from these presentations will also be in that folder. 814 03:52:25.550 --> 03:52:27.430 Tom in the Hall: Alright any other questions. 815 03:52:27.975 --> 03:52:39.450 Tom in the Hall: But there's like not very many people in this meeting, and I'm just wondering there are a lot of people that probably didn't know about it. And I know. 816 03:52:39.960 --> 03:52:48.020 Tom in the Hall: you know, there's lots of discussion about being able to print newsletter anymore, and I know not have it. But 817 03:52:48.280 --> 03:52:54.450 Tom in the Hall: is it a concern that maybe people can't even know if it was. 818 03:52:56.270 --> 03:53:00.109 Tom in the Hall: I literally don't know what to say. Judy. 819 03:53:01.350 --> 03:53:10.840 Tom in the Hall: It's a mystery to me how so many people frequently say they didn't know something was going on. 820 03:53:11.090 --> 03:53:16.360 Tom in the Hall: I can only conclude, is they totally ignore communications from town. 821 03:53:16.930 --> 03:53:26.170 Tom in the Hall: They aren't regular readers of the Town Bulletin, which basically presents repeatedly 822 03:53:26.450 --> 03:53:29.449 Tom in the Hall: all of the information. The town meeting 823 03:53:29.590 --> 03:53:35.819 Tom in the Hall: available for several months, and has been in the Bulletin. I sent several grove alerts 824 03:53:36.380 --> 03:53:43.030 Tom in the Hall: on the subject, which every household, for sure, has one recipient and any resident. 825 03:53:43.490 --> 03:53:53.160 Tom in the Hall: Most households have multiple resin have multiple recipients. So you know, I'm I just don't know what more we can do. It's constantly 826 03:53:54.195 --> 03:53:57.349 Tom in the Hall: a mystery as to why people 827 03:53:59.700 --> 03:54:04.620 Tom in the Hall: don't know about it, I can only conclude, is they're not really interested in what's going on 828 03:54:04.750 --> 03:54:06.049 Tom in the Hall: until they are 829 03:54:13.090 --> 03:54:16.599 Tom in the Hall: anybody. Have any other questions we've got plenty of. 830 03:54:17.300 --> 03:54:18.110 Tom in the Hall: But 831 03:54:18.300 --> 03:54:26.949 Tom in the Hall: no, there's some ale. I don't make lager. I make ale. It's not an Ipa, but it's it's also not a lager. So 832 03:54:27.220 --> 03:54:34.380 Tom in the Hall: you know, to make lager, you have to have some temperature control. It's fermented at a a 833 03:54:34.480 --> 03:54:43.910 Tom in the Hall: cooler temperature. So that was an important question. Be sure, that's in the minutes okay. 834 03:54:44.550 --> 03:54:46.079 Tom in the Hall: Questions on the councils. 835 03:54:47.960 --> 03:54:55.530 Tom in the Hall: All right. If if not, I thought that council did a a very, very good job summarizing their areas of responsibility. 836 03:54:56.303 --> 03:54:57.310 Tom in the Hall: This year. 837 03:54:57.460 --> 03:54:59.710 Tom in the Hall: Alright, let me. Yes. 838 03:55:00.480 --> 03:55:04.930 Tom in the Hall: Oh, Betsy Klinger. 839 03:55:12.210 --> 03:55:28.120 Tom in the Hall: maybe not an appropriate time to bring this up. But I've had different impressions of what's happening. The idea of having kiosks in town, instead of those stupid things that we do to publicize things. And I thought it was going to happen. 840 03:55:28.330 --> 03:55:39.790 Tom in the Hall: and I'm hearing that it's not about to happen. And can somebody fill me in on it? Well, it's never going to happen till a proposal is brought to the town Council until what 841 03:55:39.980 --> 03:55:43.800 Tom in the Hall: a proposal is brought to the town council 842 03:55:45.690 --> 03:55:55.020 Tom in the Hall: when there's a priority, there's a series of priorities. 843 03:55:57.330 --> 03:55:57.850 Tom in the Hall: Okay? 844 03:56:00.910 --> 03:56:03.559 Tom in the Hall: So the priorities appear to be. 845 03:56:04.560 --> 03:56:09.722 Tom in the Hall: the dog waist is a neck and neck with locking the tennis courts. 846 03:56:10.400 --> 03:56:13.339 Tom in the Hall: and then we have the kiosks 847 03:56:14.170 --> 03:56:24.740 Tom in the Hall: making a run for it. So yeah, you're you hear correctly, it's just, you know, yeah, as in everything where the town does. No, nobody's gonna 848 03:56:25.600 --> 03:56:31.769 Tom in the Hall: charge out and do something without some thought being put into it. And I believe that's what's going on now. 849 03:56:31.870 --> 03:56:41.630 Tom in the Hall: Some thoughtful research into what? What sort of kiosk don't work where they should go whatever 850 03:56:43.190 --> 03:56:44.370 Tom in the Hall: anymore. 851 03:56:44.880 --> 03:56:50.589 Tom in the Hall: Alright? Well, we have a few more things. We have new business. 852 03:56:51.670 --> 03:56:56.469 Tom in the Hall: There, hopefully, there's no new business, I will say to everybody, listening 853 03:56:57.270 --> 03:57:21.720 Tom in the Hall: virtually, and here you are always welcome to suggest to your counselors, to Kathy, to me anybody business for the town meeting, so that we we really want to address things and not have to kind of wing it on the fly. So glad to hear no new business. We're under election results. 854 03:57:21.960 --> 03:57:27.284 Tom in the Hall: So that's yeah. Everybody's been holding their breath. 855 03:57:31.590 --> 03:57:45.329 Tom in the Hall: We have Mary Blake. Hi, everybody. Thanks to everybody who came out to vote. It really matters when you let your voices be heard, and we know this was a riveting election this year. 856 03:57:45.934 --> 03:57:51.370 Tom in the Hall: And without further ado. So for the for the town mayor. 857 03:57:51.590 --> 03:57:55.269 Tom in the Hall: We have 69 votes for John Compton. 858 03:57:56.080 --> 03:58:08.179 Tom in the Hall: We have 2 votes for Allie Galanders, and we have one vote for Jonathan Dale. So congratulations, John. 859 03:58:10.930 --> 03:58:22.030 Tom in the Hall: and for for we had 2 seats for counselor open for John Porter got 75 votes. 860 03:58:24.950 --> 03:58:34.629 Tom in the Hall: and then Mary Warfield received 73 votes. So congratulations and no write-ins. 861 03:58:35.610 --> 03:58:36.970 Tom in the Hall: Thank you. Everybody. 862 03:58:40.640 --> 03:58:41.360 Tom in the Hall: Okay. 863 03:58:42.470 --> 03:58:54.510 Tom in the Hall: there, John, see how easy you go from being a laid back retiree to a a put upon town counselor. Yeah. 864 03:58:56.098 --> 03:59:05.381 Tom in the Hall: everybody just supports your your your work. Ethic now, anyway. Okay. Great 865 03:59:06.330 --> 03:59:08.590 Tom in the Hall: in that if there's no further. 866 03:59:09.780 --> 03:59:14.080 Tom in the Hall: So, Kathy, yes, I thought on our escape. 867 03:59:25.940 --> 03:59:26.760 Tom in the Hall: Okay. 868 03:59:34.510 --> 03:59:39.330 Tom in the Hall: that. Thank you. I I've often tried to 869 03:59:40.080 --> 03:59:43.729 Tom in the Hall: when when other people learn I'm the mayor of even a small town. 870 03:59:44.110 --> 04:00:09.409 Tom in the Hall: you know they want to know. Well, you know, how can you know? Isn't that a lot of work? And you know, how do you do it? And and you know, and I I usually end up describing that if after these many years, it's it seems well, well, you know I may not be the smartest person in the room, or or the most organized 871 04:00:10.061 --> 04:00:12.868 Tom in the Hall: but I seem to be good at 872 04:00:13.986 --> 04:00:29.370 Tom in the Hall: organizing people to do the work. So I'll take credit for delegating and encouraging everyone in what what they do for the town, because this is such a great community. 873 04:00:30.223 --> 04:00:39.130 Tom in the Hall: You know it's it's it's it's remarkable, year after year that we manage our grounds, our facilities. 874 04:00:39.350 --> 04:01:03.390 Tom in the Hall: our external business with our neighbors, and all these issues, with virtually entirely with volunteers who are members of the community and who are invested. And that's what it's all about. And I'm privileged to be mayor of all of you people who continue to do all the work. Thank you. 875 04:01:06.140 --> 04:01:06.990 Tom in the Hall: Wow! 876 04:01:07.760 --> 04:01:14.970 Tom in the Hall: In that case, hearing no objection, we will adjourn the 2525 town meeting. We have 877 04:01:15.190 --> 04:01:18.950 Tom in the Hall: some, some snacks, and finally the alcohol 878 04:01:19.470 --> 04:01:34.919 Tom in the Hall: opened. Yeah, we have wine, and I brought some. I brought some home brew beer for those of you who tolerate? Peter was asking. I do prefer Ipas, but there are some ales which aren't are not very bitter. 879 04:01:35.848 --> 04:01:38.539 Tom in the Hall: Some thanks to Tom, too. Frank. 880 04:01:38.800 --> 04:01:40.849 Tom in the Hall: Oh, yeah, we have to thank them. 881 04:01:41.780 --> 04:01:43.229 Tom in the Hall: That's that's a dozen.